The Fourth.

July 4th has always been one of my favorite holidays. Maybe because it's summer. Maybe because it's America. But most of all, it's because having "no plans" on the 4th are all the plans you need.

On Independence Day Eve, I drove the 263 miles back to my parent's house to see my sister, my four nieces, and one nephew. It's never a quiet stay at home. There is a better noise that bounces off the walls at high volume. You constantly have to watch your steps to make sure you don't crush a lacrosse stick, iTouch, or a little human. Hunter, Lauren, Kellie, Carly, and Cassidy all love to swim, which makes Cha-Chi a happy aunt. July 4th weekend should absolutely be spent by the pool with no intention of brushing your hair.

I just wish I had bikinis as cute as my nieces. Such cute little bikini bodies!

The whole Dement/Shuler/Little clan watched fireworks on a golf course in our old neighborhood. Watching fireworks is awesome at any age... except when you're Kellie. She covered her ears the whole time.

July 5th is my mom's birthday. Being the amazing, selfless mother she is, we celebrated her day of birth at Chuck E Cheese. This has become quite a tradition. She spends money on tokens, the kids go off and try to win a bouncy-ball or fun-dip for two hours, and my mom gets to read the newspaper. To be honest, there is still some sort of adrenaline that runs through your veins as a 22 year-old in Chuck E Cheese. Of course I wait patiently for an age appropriate kid to ask for my help winning tickets, but when they do I am more than happy to offer my assistance.

Long weekends full of family always makes Monday morning so dreadful. Especially when you have to say goodbye to five little ones that won't let go of your leg as you head out the door. Luckily I made it back to Dallas with some great pictures and clean clothes (thanks mom!!!).

Dallas Things.

Sometimes I forget that I have only been a Dallas resident for 6 weeks. "I live in Dallas" just rolls off my tongue now. It's weird. I live somewhere. I'm not visiting. I'm not graduating in 4 years. I live. Woah.

I guess I had zero problem adjusting. I have not lost any sleep over being in a new city. Actually, I probably sleep more. The fact that so many friends surround my little apartment in Uptown, and now some cousin kin, has made this new phase of life so natural. I'm also one of the only recent college graduates that likes work. I like my job. I don't even roll my eyes when my alarm goes off at 7AM! Sure, all I can think about is coffee from about 7-11AM, but I don't even mind putting on professional clothes, not coming home until 5PM, and then going to bed 6... no 5 hours later. Liking your job seriously makes all the difference. Check out my cute little cubical!

Because I'm still new to this town, doing typical Dallas things really excite me! Tanner and I went to a summer concert at the Dallas Arboretum. Of course I chose country western night. Besides the outrageous heat, the concert was so much fun! We packed a picnic basket and a bottle of wine and just enjoyed a summer evening outside. Because of the temperatures a Dallas summer can bring, the concerts don't come back until the fall. I can't wait to go to another!



I also experienced the House of Blues during one of my first weekends at my apartment. A large group of us bought tickets to go see The Dan Band. He is the singer from Old School and The Hangover. Honestly, the best concert I have ever seen, if you can even call it a concert. I was laughing the entire time. I would recommended him to anyone. I think my own dad would enjoy him the most.

My roommates and I have settled into a routine now after work. Monday nights we enjoy The Bachelorette. Recently, Patrick and Mitchell haven't been able to stay away from watching Desiree have her shot at love. These past couple of Tuesdays, Leigh and I have attended "The Porch" at Watermark. Speaking of Bachelor/Bachelorette, Leigh and I have had a new sighting each Tuesday at Watermark! The first time we went, we saw Ben from this current season, the one with the kid who caused quite a stir among the other male contestants, and yesterday I almost ran into Sean and Catherine with a cup of hot coffee in my hand. Because I follow them on every social media platform out there, I feel like I know them. I almost said "Hi Catherine!" like she was an old sorority sister. I'm glad I didn't because I immediately would have turned bright red as soon as I realized that this chick doesn't know me at all....

Also on Tuesdays is So You Think You Can Dance. Seriously the best show in the world. If time travel ever becomes available to me, I would go back in time and choose dance over softball. Watching talented dancers is one of the most entertaining things.

Leigh and I also found the time to really break in our kitchen and try new Pinterest recipes. We chose two cauliflower items because they sounded healthy enough. I made the Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower and Leigh made the Cauliflower pizza. Both were amazing but let me tell you, Cauliflower pizza is OUT OF THIS WORLD! I never want my pizza any other way! If only I could now find a restaurant that serves this because it's pretty time-consuming and messy to make.

Yes, they taste just as good as they look!

Tonight I am trying one more new Dallas thing! My cousin Jenni and I will be attending our very first Pure Barre class. I cannot wait to see what all the fuss is about. I went ahead and bought 15 classes so I hope this first class doesn't kill me. There is a Pinkberry next door so in case I chicken out, you'll know where to find me!



Hello again.

I have been too busy exploring my new city to sit down with my computer and think. By exploring, I mean eating and attending happy hours. Not going to lie, waking up before 7 A.M. has not gotten any easier. As I enter my 4th week of work, I continue to snooze my alarm for 40 minutes every single morning. My coffee intake has doubled, my bed-time comes earlier, and if I don't work out the second I get home from work, it just doesn't happen. My apartment faces the pool that I have only gotten to appreciate twice since I moved in. When you finish work at 5 and have no homework to finish, no test to study for, no extra-curricular activity to attend, you think you have the whole night ahead to just play. By the time you drive up five levels of a parking garage, change clothes, work out, and have dinner in-front of prime time television, it's time to go to bed and start the whole work-day over again. To try to fast-forward the last 4 weeks, I will break up events into things I love and things I... could live without.

I love:

Walking to restaurants with patio seating

Being less that 2 miles away from my office

The ability to go to my apartment for lunch

And having a Starbucks one floor away

My job. Yes that is actually the truth.

Feeling more comfortable in my role at the firm

Starting the process of finding a new church and getting plugged in

Sunday Brunch

My George Foreman grill

Walking the Katy Trail.... all the way to Katy Trail Ice House

Dallas Shopping

My cozy little apartment and my cozy little roommates

Pay Day

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Feeling like a grown-up

Crossing things off my To-Do List 

I could live without:

My parents being 4 hours away

Sitting for 8 hours Monday-Friday

The cable bill, the trash bill, the energy bill, the rent bill, the insurance bill, the gas bill, the grocery bill, the credit-card bill, the iTunes bill... 

All the e-mails... so many e-mails...

Being tired

The ability to no-longer sleep in

The concept of a job

Dishes not washing themselves

Loud pipes every time I turn on the shower

The amount of time it takes to park in a garage

The amount of money it would take to own a kitty

The slim chance of retiring at age 24

This past weekend my wonderful boss let me leave the office early to catch a plane to Park City, Utah. My cousin Jenni was getting married on my Uncle's ranch, a place I had never seen with my own eyes. Even more amazing than the mountains was the fact that my whole family was gathered together to celebrate. My cousins and I all reside in different states and area codes, but once we all sit down at the "cousin table" no distance can be found. The hugging and laughing doesn't stop until we have to say  our goodbyes again. The get-togethers don't happen near enough, but when they do they are nothing less than memorable. Spending time with our grandparents is special to each of us grandchildren. Seeing how much my mom loves her parents makes me realize how much I love mine. :)

Here are some pictures I simply must share in order for you all to be jealous of my weekend:

side note: My cousin Michael, the bride's brother, broke his jaw the night before the wedding. He was rushed into surgery, spend the night in the hospital, and stood as a groomsman just hours later. Poor fella was still able to get into the party spirit with his wine-straw. 

Meet Joanie.

I would like everyone to meet "Joanie the Jeep". She is my newest (and most expensive) pride and joy. Her name is Joanie because my nickname is Chachi. Therefore Joanie has to love Chachi to fulfill the saying, and yes indeed, Joanie loves me very much. She gives me amazing directions for my travels, she heats and cools my seats, warms my steering wheel when my hands are cold, starts at the push of a button, calls whoever I command, and unlocks the car when she knows I'm coming. This came in handy when my newly-polished nails were still drying and Joanie understood that I did not want to dig through my purse to find my keys. She is such a babe. This is the first car that I will be paying insurance on and the last car my dad will ever purchase for me. For that reason, I need Joanie to stay healthy and strong for the next 10-12 years. When I was car-shopping, I knew I was looking for a car that will last me until I was 32 years old. Not only did I want a car that would look professional and mature parked at my office, but also one that will be able to fit a family one day. Woah, weird. I cringe at the thought of Joanie's clean leather seats smudged with stale fruit loops and spit up. Luckily, right now Joanie and I get to spend quality time with just each other and I plan to keep her looking fancy for all the other jeeps she might meet in Uptown. And on that note, I leave tomorrow for good! As in, my home address will be a Dallas one. My zip-code will be a Dallas one. I'll be going to bed in Dallas and waking up in Dallas. Dallas is now "home." AHHHHHH!

After graduation, I only had 9 days to say goodbye to my Waco house, my Baylor friends, my unemployeed lifestyle, and my FJ Cruiser. That's a lot a goodbyes for my poor little heart in a short amount of time. Just looking at my FJ Cruiser screams "college." My Jeep Cherokee shouts "mature." I am very happy/sad that my cars are metaphors for my life.

My big 5 hour drive with Joanie takes place tomorrow. I am sure we will learn a lot about each other. Tomorrow is the beginning of a monumental week for me. Tomorrow night will be my first official night in Dallas. Monday will be my first Memorial Day Weekend at the Cobbs' residence. Tuesday is my first day at a real full-time job, and by Friday I will be sleeping in my brand new apartment with my brand new roommates. I can not wait until the move is over and I can stop living out of a suitcase. I am such a home-body and love when I can relax on a couch and watch reality TV. Or have the chance to wake up and enjoy a cup of coffee made in my own kitchen. 

I have gotten used to my life being on fast-forward for the past two weeks. I'm a little nervous for when time starts to slow down. I'm going to really miss my mom and dad. A five hour drive seems way further than a three hour trip. I'm going to really miss knowing where I am going without a GPS system. I'm really going to miss $3 pitchers of beer and Shorty's pizza. I'm seriously thinking about getting a cat. 

Class of 2013.

 Today I said goodbye to my home for the past three years. The tears hit me going south on Hwy 6. My beautiful campus started shrinking in my review mirror, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I have wanted to go to Baylor University for my entire life. Have you ever wanted something for 22 years? A dream that you have kept with you for over 8,030 days can't be an easy thing to let go. As a kid visiting Baylor, I would get butterflies in my stomach as we approached the 5th street Baylor Bookstore. The glowing light from the top of Pat Neff hall would warm my heart. The stairs of Waco Hall seemed endless to me. I would envy the students walking around campus with their heavy backpacks because they could call this place home. Attending Baylor University was my ultimate goal, and the biggest plan I ever created in my mind. I never once thought about where the students go once they were no longer invited back into the classrooms. My experience at Baylor University was far more than I could have ever dreamed up as a kid. It was extraordinary. Experiencing Baylor first hand surpassed my parents' stories, my sister's stories, and my aunt's, uncle's, and cousins' stories.

I am so thankful for the three girls that chose to live with me throughout all of college. I am also thankful for every single person that walked through that white door of 2039. Each one of you has changed me, shaped me, and touched my life. So many nights I would come home from the business school to see a light on in the living room and laughter booming through the walls. I'm going to miss that sound. There is not a better sound in the world.

Graduation day was happy. Tanner graduated one day before me, and my parents and his entire family got to celebrate him together. Seeing our families enjoying each other's company was so special to me.

On Saturday, I was able to take pictures with my friends before the ceremony and memorize their smiling faces. After graduation, my friends and our parents gathered together at Cameron Park Zoo to attend one of the most amazing parties I have ever been to. Everyone had something to celebrate. If a student wasn't yet graduating, they were still celebrating some of the best years, and friends, of their life. I enjoyed talking to every one's parents, realizing exactly where my friends got their amazing personalities. If this party was any inclination of how our class reunions will be, I plan on attending every single one.

Today was a sad day. Like I said, the emotions hit me like a ton of bricks as I sat all alone in a car that used to pile in 12 comrades wanting a ride to Scruffs. I had held it together until I could no longer see any sign of green and gold. Then rain started to fall and Eric Church came on my iPod. I know a part of me will always miss these past four years. There is no getting over it. I have so many things to look forward to in the future, but there won't be a phase left in life where that many people grow that much in the same area code. I am thankful for my heavy heart, because that means I have loved something so much that it hurts. But I believe the soft ache will be a constant reminder to keep in touch with my Baylor family. If you're reading this because you are trying to do the same and keep in touch, call me right now! Let's plan our next round of Big O's.

Weddings.

I'm 22. I am now old enough to know people that are getting married. Not like my mom's bunco friend's daughter's wedding, but my actual friends. It's so exciting! I love seeing people celebrate their love in different ways. Being from Babtist Baylor University, people are known to get hitched in their early/mid twenties. This May kicked off the beginning of a busy wedding season that will predominately take over my Saturdays for the next decade. Maggie and Byron's wedding in Waco on May 4th was the very first wedding I ever attended as a "guest." Tanner was a groomsman and Maggie and Byron were so sweet to include me on all the wedding party festivities. Tanner even caught the garter.

The next weekend, Tanner and I flew out to Denver, Colorado to see one of my very good friends, Tessa Trimble, marry the man of her dreams, Matt Johnson. Tessa was a Kappa with me and Matt was a Kappa Sigma with Tanner. I have missed Tessa so much this past year. Tessa and her roommates were always so great at including me in everyting they did, even though I was a year younger. The wedding was beautiful, as I knew it would be. Tessa and Matt are blessed with unbelieveable genetics, but even more beautiful was the way they looked at each other on their wedding day. I am so happy I got to take a study break from finals to witness them become man and wife. And any excuse to go to Colorado for 24 hours and share a hotel room with 6 girls is a good one. 

The next wedding on my calendar for this summer is my cousin Jenni's. The date is now a little less than one month away in Utah! I have never been to Utah, but I am anticpating awesome weather with even better scenery. Gosh weddings are fun!

The Next Step.

Today is the first day of May. I graduate in 18 days. I start my very first full-time job in 28 days. I officially moved to Uptown in 31 days. May is going to be nuts.

Twelve hours earlier I attended my very last Kappa Kappa Gamma meeting at Baylor. I gave a speech, shed a few tears, and that was a wrap. I no longer have any obligations here on campus. They have chosen the new sweethearts for fraternities. I don't have to tear my kitchen apart making treats for Kappa Sigma on Mondays. And soon, my key card won't allow me to enter Stacy Riddle anymore. Times are a-changing ladies and gentlemen. I sure hope I'm ready.

Tonight, after senior meeting and a few margaritas at Ninfa's, Suzy, Sarah, Maribeth, Allaire, Leigh and I sat on "Thugz" porch and overlooked the infamous 10th street. God has planned out so many different directions for us all. Leigh and I will be heading North to Dallas while Suzy and Sarah make their way down to Houston. Maribeth will continue her education here at Baylor and Alliare will be planning a wedding and a life with her future husband. Our lives are just getting started, but the Baylor Bubble is ending. 

How in the world can we  convince our future husbands to all get a job in the same city? How can we get our children to attend the same school, and join the same t-ball team? I'm never going to give up on this idea because it just makes sense for all of us to be neighbors forever. 

I can't help but feel a bit sad when all this change hits you at once. I'm hoping this blog will help me remember events that might be forgotten over time. And I hope this will provide a way for me to continue to stay connected with the people that matter most to me here at Baylor. That is all this blog is meant for, a way to hold a piece of the past as I'm shaping my unseen future.