I'd Rather Marry for Money.

        I'm sure everyone has heard of the recent $640 million dollar lotto coming up. People are scurrying  to gas stations to buy a ticket or 50. I am almost positive that there are a few of you also that are guilty of buying a ticket in hopes to win the lottery riches. Don't worry, even I, who never partakes in a single scratch off ticket, was tempted to buy a lottery ticket for this big win. BUT is winning the lottery all its cracked up to be? It seems like it, but there are many downsides to becoming a rich lotto winner. It is probably a good idea to inform you of why you probably don't want to win the lottery, even though you think you do. In this link, there are some scary, but true stories of lotto winners that show that winning the lottery is not always a good thing. What you think is the American Dream, might actually be the American Nightmare. Some downsides could include; poverty- after spending all the money on drugs and hookers, poverty- after excessive gambling, losing friends, being looked down on for the winnings, ending up in debt for failing to manage the money properly, ending up murdered, and attempting suicide. There is a story of Abraham Shakespeare who wont the $31 million jackpot in Florida in 2006. He disappeared in 2009, and his body was found in early 2010 under a concrete slab. Does that sound fun to you? No. See more stories of lottery riches winners gone bad here. Another bad thing about winner lottery money, is the taxes you have to pay out. You only end up getting about half of what you win, once the taxes are taken out. See how this works here. My brother in law won $1000 dollars from a scratch off ticket, and had to claim the taxes at the end of the year. They ended up not getting as much money back, which stank. But with every horror story, there is always a silver lining for somewhere else. The Wests and the Chaney's won previously before and still living a normal (more rich, of course) life. Since depositing their checks, they have bought new houses, some toys, and traveled to Europe, and Hawaii. Unlike many lottery winners, there is one place they haven't gone: the deep end. The wife still admits to clipping coupons, and still working a 30 hour a week job. Read this story here. This article gives you an idea that even though, the family kept it together after winning, they did go through some of the downfalls as discussed above. Although, the downsides, sound bad, I'm sure I didn't persuade to not win the lottery. I still want to win the lottery, just with better money control. We're all human. It's understandable. :)

A Week in the Life of Me.

Well, it was back to school for me this week, and I was not happy about going back. A week was just not long enough. This week did go pretty fast for me, because I had a test to study for, and a paper to write. Although, it wasn't such a fun week, it still did go fast. BUT let's not talk about my boring week at school with retarded teachers this week. Let's focus more on how I really do like this class, and writing these blogs. I am thankful that I had a week off last week, because after so long, my brain runs out of ideas for blogs! My spring break was cram packed with relaxation, cleaning, and shopping. Thank goodness. The week before spring break, I had to work, so I honestly didn't start my spring break until Monday. I was planning on working out all week and eating healthy, but my dad had taken a week of vacation all week, too, so my diet was filled with pizza inn, Crackle Barrel breakfast, Popeye's chicken, THE WORKS. I couldn't resist, right? Right. On Monday, I spent the day relaxing, and beginning to deep clean my room. I was in the mood, which is the only time I will clean it. Ever. I managed to dejunk my whole room. I also made it to the gym that day!!!! The reason why I am so adamant about my diet and exercise is because I am determined to have a bikini body by the time we go to Siesta Key. If I do this Good Housekeeping: 7 day Smart Diet, I can easily lose 10 lbs in one month if I stay strict to my diet. I also just ordered a Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred workout DVD for the days that I can't make it up to the gym, but since I've seen all the awesome reviews it has gotten, I am now going to be doing it for 30 days straight, like the video says. Anyway, on Tuesday, I worked on my research paper that was due that Friday for my nutrition class. I know what you're thinking, What kind of teacher gives you a nutrition paper due on SPRING BREAK?! I know, I'm thinking exactly that. So, once I finished that I was ready to go shopping with my sister the next day! We drove up to St. Louis to do some shopping, and we ate at Red Robin, yummmmmm. And yummmm it was. I have never eaten there and it was so neat! I would definitely go back. Once, Thursday rolled around, I finished cleaning my room, and relaxed. That weekend, my boyfriend and I went to Indiana for a beagle trial (It is a hobby/sport he does. He owns many beagles, and runs them for competition, on how well they run a rabbit). We drove to Evansville, In on Friday, ordered pizza, and enjoyed just relaxing in the hotel room. On Saturday, we went to the beagle trial ALL day long, and didn't get to eat dinner until like 10 o'clock! Then Sunday, we did some more shopping! :) (The only reason I went of course.) All in All, I had a wonderful break, and I hope you did too!!! Stay Tuned for my life next week!:)

Diet Dangers.

     With the new upcoming technology, America is finding ways to make everything a little more convenient. Most fast food restaurants are open late, or 24 hours, which makes late night eating easier than ever. Once cupcake vendor in Beverly Hills is so popular, that her customers are demanding longer business hours, but her staff is too short. Her solution to this problem is a cupcake vending machine! Sounds cool, right? The vending machine is baby pink, and very eye appealing. It contains fresh boxed cupcakes, and a robot arm picks it up, and dispenses it to you. The cupcakes are running four dollars a box, while the instore price is $3.25 for a cupcake without the box. This makes it easy for people to stop by and get a cupcake after dinner, or late at night, which is the worst time to binge eat, on empty calories. See an article about the cupcake vendor here. Why is eating late at night unhealth, you ask? See why here. Americans spend $21 billion on food and drinks from vending machines. While, most of the vending snacks are unhealthy to eat, there are some that are nutritional and good for you. The average American works about eight to ten hours a day and, according to food-services giant Aramark about 15% of workers don't even have time to take a lunch break. For them, the vending machine is a straight shot down the hall, and the snacks inside it are usually fattening and not so healthy--that is until recently.

    In January 2005, the National Automatic Merchandising Association started a million-dollar campaign called "Balanced for Life." It highlights the need for a balanced diet and fitness, and starting January 2006, will focus on nutrition in the workplace--where vending sales are highest. According to NAMA, a large part of the campaign is to encourage vending and snack food leaders to develop healthier choices, which, so far, seems to be working. Already, calorie-conscious consumers can find nutrition bars and baked Lays, or Cheetos.  These programs give consumers more variety when it comes to choosing snacks and beverages, while keeping items like the number one selling Snickers bar. See which vending machine snacks are healthy and not healthy. By reading health articles shown here, you can become aware of what you are putting into your body, and start making better decisions for your health.

A Week in the Life of Me.

LACEY MADE CHEERLEADING!!!! Go us!!! Our hard work actually paid off! I'm so happy for her. She called me shortly after I wrote my blog last week, squealing and being so happy. :) It will be the time of her life! After she found out she made the squad, she went to a cheerleading sleepover directly after! See? Complete and absolute fun. The rest of Friday, I relaxed at home in preparation for my weekend full of work. Saturday, I went into work, and made $130 dollars, and didn't get out of there until 11 pm, and then woke up and worked Sunday all day until 4:30, and made $64. I guess all in all, it was a great money making weekend. I need to save my money, so I will have enough for when we go to Florida for vacation and for my best friend's wedding! I also love having money pre-summer, so I can buy all sorts of cute bathing suits and summer clothes. Ahh. Can't wait. Monday of this week, was pretty great for me. I managed to get all homework that I wanted to get done, and watch The Voice with my love. It was a perfect night. I love The Voice WAY better than American Idol. It's better voices, with better celebrities, and lots of fun, too. I have a television show for every day of the week! I love never having a dull moment on the television. Although, sometimes I can't watch television for weeks at a time because of tests or homework, my favorite thing to do is watch multiple shows in one sitting. :) The rest of the week flew by with studying and tons of homework it seems like. This week has felt amazing outside, too. Usually that happens when I have to be stuck inside of the computer typing or studying, but next week is Spring Break, and I hope to utilize EVERY minute of it. I stll do have two research papers I have to write, but hopefully it won't take too long, and I will still be able to enjoy my break. I actually have a to do list for my week of spring break, but it consists of mostly non school related tasks, such as deep cleaning my room, and finish painting it, planning decorations for my dental hygiene pinning ceremony, planning my bride's bachelorette party, and having lunch with the girls. Next Week sounds perfect! I can't wait to be done with this wretched week, and live next week. :) Stay Tuned!

Make KONY Famous. KONY 2012.

If you haven't noticed the video that went viral recently, you should watch it! It will really touch your heart, and get you thinking. I don't know all of the information, and I'm not saying send your money immediately to this cause because you never know where that money is going BUT the video is very touching to watch, and interesting. Watch it here. The video is 30 minutes, but well worth it to watch. I promise, you won't regret watching it! This video is about The Invisible Children. Invisible Children uses film, creativity and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony's rebel war and restore LRA-affected communities in central Africa to peace and prosperity. My sorority also did a charity a couple years back to help donate to the Invisible Children donation fund. It was fun to be able to help a greater cause, and help others desperately in need. In the spring of 2003, three young filmmakers traveled to Africa in search of a story. What started out as a film making adventure became much more when Jason, Laren, and Bobby stumbled upon Africa’s longest-running war--a conflict where children were both the weapons and the victims. They produced the documentary Invisible Children: Rough Cut in 2005. At first they just showed it to their friends and family, but it wasn’t long before millions of people had seen the documentary and knew about the “invisible children.” See this information and the Invisible Children website here. Many people disagree with this sudden uproar, and have criticized Invisible Children for many reasons. See this article here. It was a very touching video, and they those children should be helped and Kony SHOULD be stopped. So, please watch this video, and share. Help make Kony famous.  

A Week in the Life of Me.

This week has been pretty relaxed for me! To start off, I do want to tell you how practicing with Lacey for cheerleading tryouts went this week! It was so fun! I saw so much improvement in her with each and every day! Today was her tryouts, so we are both really nervous, and we aren't sure if she made it yet, but we should know in an hour or so. Cross your fingers! I also judged High School Cheerleading tryouts today, and it was so exciting to be on the other side with my previous coach. I miss it so much, but the tryouts went great, and there were a lot of girls that were absolutely amazing! Miss Heuring left us a Thank you note, and some money, which was really sweet, but the money was not necessary! I would do it for free over and over again! As far as the rest of the week went, there wasn't much to talk about this week. On Saturday of last weekend, I spent the day with my best friend/bride. It was so nice to get to spend time with her, and laugh, and just talk. I was also able to play with my god son Teagan. I love him, and he loves me, or just thinks I'm funny. :) We actually got a little bit done. We printed out her invitations and tried to order her cake and flowers, but they were closed. I was originally supposed to be staying the night with her and Teagan, because her fiance was out of the town that week. We had this planned weeks in advance, and I requested off work, but when I got there her fiance called and said he was on his way home, so I ended up leaving early with nothing else to do on a Saturday night, but overall the day was awesome, and refreshing to spend time with my bestest friend. On Sunday I worked, and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were all kind of a blur. I came home from class, picked Lacey up, practiced cheer until seven o clock, and then did homework! I hope all of our hard work pays off! I did, however, start my diet, and workout routine this week! I'm really excited about it, and I 've been really good on my diet ALL week! I can already tell a difference in the way I feel! I am so excited to see how it turns out! I am ready to get in shape and be ready for bikini season!!! I am not too happy I have to work all weekend, but I do need the money, so work here I come! Stay Tuned! :)

"Auntie Em! Auntie Em!"

     A swarm of tornadoes ripped through the U.S. midsection on Friday, tearing homes apart, killing four people, and leaving many families distressed in the state of Indiana. Read this article here. It was a sad story to hear, not being too far from the area, and leaving me in fear of the spring to come.  Last spring, the tornado warnings, and tornadoes were frequent, leaving Joplin in despair. Here in Scott County, MO, we came close to many tornadoes ripping through the area as well. I found myself last spring, watching the weather channel, and taking cover in my bath tub many times. There was a day that my family and I were driving, when one storm decided to hit. The skies turned dark, and the wind levels rose. A power line dropped down in front of us. It was those moments when I realized how afraid of tornadoes and storms I really was. I found myself crying on my eight year old nephew's shoulder, and him comforting me. I really hope that I do not have to experience another spring like the last. After that spring, I started wondering why tornadoes have been frequenting the mid area of the United States, and why they are most commonly occuring in the United State more than any other country. The United States recieves more than 1,200 tornadoes annually, four times the amount seen in Europe. Most tornadoes in the United States occur in "Tornado Alley", an area including the states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Iowa. Central Tornado Alley experiences the most activity, with about five tornadoes per latitude-longitude radius (a circle about 50 miles (80 km) wide) per year. See an article about this here.  I feel that with the weather changes, "Tornado Alley," has shifted, which could be a cause of the tornadoes recently occuring in Missouri. I remember watching Wizard of Oz when I was smaller, and never realized the amount they damage they really can cause. After last spring, I watched many videos of tornadoes, because I became interested in what they look like, and how they sound, so that I could be aware, and know if one were to occur. See videos of a tornados that stupid people stayed around and taped here. There are many type of tornadoes. They come in various sizes and can form in different locations. They are graded on a level scale called the Fujita scale, which tells how dangerous they are. Being aware of the levels of tornadoes are an imporant precaution to stay in the know and be safe. See a Fujita chart scale here. Hopefully with more knowledge of tornadoes, and having a safe place to take shelter in, will ease my fear a litte, but I think I will always be deathly afraid of Mr. Twister.

A Week In The Life of Me.

     This week has been pretty busy for me with the usual boring things, such as exams, homework, and paper writing. This past weekend was awesome, and I was able to relax all weekend. On Friday, I went out for my best friend's 21st birthday again. I got her this really pretty present consisting of two champagne glasses, with the stems dipped in chalkboard paint, and a 101 champagne cocktail recipe book. I got the idea of the chalkboard paint from pinterest, which is my number one love. It is where I find most of my creative ideas, where I plan my imaginary wedding, and where I pretend that I own all things expensive. She loved her present, and her shot pages that I worked very hard on last week. It was a fun night, a little dramatic, but that's one of the downsides of going out to bars and drinking in a college town. On Saturday, my boyfriend and I woke up and went to eat Ryan's breakfast, which is our favorite thing to do, but is not executed very often since I am usually working, or he is at a beagle trial. The rest of the day was peaceful, and relaxing with my family, doing absolutely NOTHING. Sometimes that feels GREAT! On Sunday, I relaxed as well, but soon started to dread the night for when I had to begin studying for my radiology exam. The usual study habits took place. Boring, Boring, Boring. BUT I am glad I took the time to study, because I ended up making a 97% on my test. Thank Goodness. The rest of the week is very muddy because it consisted of me, locked in my room, studying. Last night, though, I did decide before I started studying that I would take a break to watch One Tree Hill. If you any of you watch it, you know why I HAD to take the break for this week. My mom brought be Chick Fil A, and a Starbuck's Chai Tea home, and we were just getting ready to watch, when we realized the t.v. was unplugged from the storm the night before. When the DVR is unplugged, nothing records. My excitement changed to defeatment. We called my sister immediately to see if it recorded on her television, and it had! So we trekked to her house to watch OTH, and take my break from studying. IT WAS INTENSE. I highly recommend everyone to watch one tree hill from season one. I love it so much, and am so sad to see it end in the 9th season. It had a great run. I took my Perio test today, and now I am trying to get these blogs finished, so I can relax without a computer or book in sight, tonight. I was supposed to be helping my boyfriend's sister practice for Cheerleading tryouts, but she called and said she couldn't come today, which makes me sad. I think I was more excited for practicing than she was. I used to be a cheerleader, 7th grade- my Senior year, and I loved it so. I was a choreographer of our state routines, and I wish I could go back. It was the best. Up above is an oldie of my lovely squad when I was a cheerleader (Im the second one from the right on the top), and I want nothing less for my boyfriend's sister. :) I REALLY want to be a cheerleading coach one day. It would be my dream come true, but until then, my former cheer coach did ask me to judge HIGHSCHOOL cheer tryouts! This is a big deal! I cannot wait. I am judging them next Friday. It will be the best thing ever, and I will have so much to tell about, so Stay Tuned!!! :)