Birthdays Are The Best

     The other day I turned 31 years old! Wow!!! :) I got lots of calls, texts, and facebook messages which is always fun! I have to say, I had a pretty legit birthday weekend. I went with a friend to see The Lion King which was amazing! The music, the actors, the costumes, all very creative! The actors were completely in character of the animal they were portraying. The giraffes were probably my favorite! The people were in the middle and there hands and feet were on stilt like legs. I seriously don't know how they walked! It was a fun night! My friend also gave me a baby name book, hahaha! Not because I'm having a baby but simple because I love all things name related :) She knows me well. The fun continued when I got back home. My parents came to visit me for the weekend. They brought my gift from my brother and sister-in-law. It was a set of really cool owl coasters handmade by women overseas saved from human trafficking and poverty. Their card also revealed my future niece's name!!! But, I won't say it here because I don't know if I have permission, lol. Our Saturday consisted of shopping and going out to eat at Chili's with my aunt and uncle. It was a fun time! Afterwards, my mom and I went back shopping for my birthday present, lol. She had the best idea...a new Bible! My Bible is very worn and starting to tear up. So, we scoured the Bibles at the bookstore and I finally found one I liked. It's an English Standard Version which I've never read before, but I like it and it is easy to understand. I also really wanted one with lots of references. I like to refer back to other verses in the Bible that relate to each other so this was a must have! I am so glad she thought of this for a gift! The next day, my friend brought me a present to church- butterfly earrings and a really pretty necklace/earring set. Her card was so very sweet! I'm thankful for her friendship. Last but not least, my friend from work gave me a present at work the next week. I had mentioned the other day how I really loved Ronaldo bracelets. I had no idea she would get me one for my birthday! \ I still can't believe she did that for me. I absolutely love it! It was very thoughtful and sweet of her and I am very appreciative! I'm very appreciative of all the gifts, cards, calls, texts, etc that I received on my birthday! It was a fun day! I am a very blessed lady!!!!!! :)

My dress is not black/blue or white/gold lol

I took this picture to capture the grandeur of the theatre and got seriously reprimanded because that background is copyright of Disney. So, all credit to those stick drawings belongs to Disney. Just look at how pretty the columns, chandeliers, and decorations are!

Sunday night, I got an unexpected gift for my birthday....severe stomach pain. I seriously came this close to going to the ER. I thought I was having an appendicitis or something. Thankfully, the pain subsided and didn't have to go. I went to the doctor the next day and found out what the culprit was. Thankfully, it's not anything serious like I thought it was! I thought I was going to die! I'm now on the road to recovery :)

Snow Day!!!

     Last Wednesday, we were out of school due to the possibility of wintry weather. All morning long, I was watching out my window, patiently waiting to see the first snowflakes to fall. Finally, around 11:30, I saw them! Then it turned to rain/sleet. I was kinda sad. But, it eventually turned to snow again and it was actually sticking! It was a blizzard! A Southern blizzard, lol!!! I've only seen snow like this a handful of times in my life. It was so beautiful! We got a near record of 7.3 inches! The previous record of snowfall in a 24 hour period of 8 inches was set in 1940. So, this was a record for me! I enjoyed walking in it and making a little snowman. Effie loved it as well! The snow clumped to her fur and made it difficult for her to walk in it. All in all it was a perfect snow day and I had a lot of fun! The best part is that it mostly melted the next day! That's the best kind! Today, we are actually out because it sleeted last night. The roads are very icy. Here in the South, we just aren't equipped to get the roads safe for travel. I suspect we will be going to school through the month of June to make up all the days! 

When I realized a blizzard was a'brewin ;)

It's sticking!

"Do you want to build a snowman?"

Mid-shake

Effie tracks

It looks like Christmas!

So pretty!

Winter Wonderland

What is this white stuff?

My Favorite! 

The Abominable Snow Effie

6.5 inches and still falling

  

Couldn't miss a chance to make Snow Cream, lol

My 100th Post!!!

     I started this little bloggity blog about 3 years ago as an outlet to tell my story. And here we are now, 100 posts later!!! Seriously?! 100! I love telling my story whether anyone reads it or not. I've looked back at previous entries and thought "Oh, wow, I completely forgot about that!" It's great to remember what God has taught me and brought me through. It's great to remember all the little moments that make up my life. And although I may not always have something grand to write about, I truly enjoy blogging. When I was a little girl, I always wrote stories and wanted to be an author. Now in some small way I kinda am one. Writing is how I express my thoughts. It's kinda my thing. :)

Here are my top 5 most viewed posts:

Hang Up the Holly!

Today I Made a Dress!

My Last Day As A Twenty-Something

GPS

Flashback Friday: My Most Embarrassing Moment!!!

And here are some of my favorite posts: 

Chronicles of a Non-Dater {The One That Started Them All}

Thankful Thursdays: Lessons From Little Ones

Candace's Psalm

GPS

Truths From Gone With The Wind

This One is For All the Single Ladies!

What God Showed Me While I Was Making Jello

Effie And Her Rabbit

The Single Girl's Car Buying Guide!


     Here's to the next 100! Candace's Chronicles.....To Be Continued. 

The Parenthood Series Finale and Braverman Names

     Last Thursday was the series finale of the NBC series Parenthood. I enjoyed watching the Braverman family week in and week out and will miss the show. 
     As you know, I have a deep interest in all things names :) One of the characters, Amber, has been expecting all season long. So of course, I couldn't wait to find out if she was going to have a little girl or a little boy, and most importantly, what was she going to name him/her! Well, in the next to last episode, she gave birth to a beautiful little boy who she named Zeek---after her great grandfather and one of the main characters on the show. I thought that was very fitting, since he is the patriarch of the family, the one they all look up to and respect and love. He also was facing significant health issues, and it was a nice way for her to honor him. 
     Fast forward a week later to the series finale. The very last episode. One of the couples, Joel and Julia, were offered the opportunity to adopt a little girl-the sister of their adopted son. And they took the opportunity! So of course, I'm like, "Oooh, what are they going to name her?!" But, it is never mentioned. Instead, the ending took a different approach. Zeek the patriarch passed away, and as the Braverman family scattered his ashes on the baseball field and then played a game, we see an overview of several important moments in each of the characters' lives: Max's graduation; Christmas morning with the adopted daughter AND another baby---a boy; Crosby and Jasmine who is obviously expecting another baby working in the studio; family dinner with Amber and her husband and a daughter. Basically, it was showing that everyone's life carried on as you would expect. It was a wonderful ending to a great show. But I can't help but wonder---what would those new Braverman children be named? And so, here is what I would like to think those unnamed characters would be named if the show had continued. (Let my fun begin!)

A Quick Review of the Family:

~Zeek and Camille Braverman
     Adam, Sarah, Crosby, and Julia

~Adam and Kristina Braverman
     Haddie, Max, and Nora

~Sarah Braverman
      Amber and Drew
         -Amber: Zeek and daughter

~Crosby and Jasmine Braverman
       Jabbar, Aida, and brother or sister

~Joel and Julia Graham
        Sydney, Victor, adopted daughter, and baby son


Ok, so Amber is a really cool girl. So, I think she would pick a pretty cool name for her daughter. Something that fits with Zeek. Hazel. Yep. I think Hazel fits perfectly!

Now, on to Crosby and Jasmine's baby. She was pregnant in the overview, so we don't know the gender. But, we do know that their children, Jabbar and Aida, have names of Arabic origin with great meanings. Jabbar means powerful, mighty, and Aida means happy. So, they would likely choose a name of similar origin with a nice meaning. Maybe something like Kahlil for a boy- meaning friend or Nadira for a girl- meaning precious, rare. Ah! The more I think about it, those are such perfect fitting names for their family!

And lastly, Joel and Julia. We know they adopted Victor's half-sister. But, what did they name her? This family is the trickiest. I'm not exactly sure what their name style is, lol. I can see them naming her Abigail. As for their son, I imagine his name being Nolan. Sydney, Vicor, Abigail, and Nolan make a great sibset! 

Whew! That was fun! :) I should be a name consultant for writers hahaha.

Non-Resolutions in 2015

     I know we are nearly 2 weeks into the new year and it's a little late for resolutions. So, it's a good thing I'm not making any right?! I usually love to start the new year fresh with goals and good intentions to improve myself. This year, I just wasn't feeling it. I just want to live, you know? Not make a list of requirements or reach a certain size or read a certain number of books, etc, etc lol. And I was okay with my decision. But there are a couple of ideas that have been circulating in my mind the past couple of days. Driving home today, I thought these could be my Non-Resolutions, so to speak. Things I want to do that I would absolutely LOVE, but if they don't work out, I'm not going to beat myself up for not achieving them. And I decided to write this post so I don't forget these things hahaha! Maybe I will think of some other things to add to my list later!

1. Buy a home. Whoa, this is big. HUGE. But I'm seriously considering this. I would love a home of my own and to have a craft room. Like this one I saw on Pinterest!! Seriously, how cute is that??!! I totally want a pretty chandelier in mine too ;)

2. This is very random---Apply to be a contestant on WHEEL OF FORTUNE. I love watching the show and especially solving the final puzzle. The chances of being chosen are very low, but hey, it doesn't hurt to try, right?! I really think it would be fun just to apply, lol. 

3. This is random too. But, I really love names and often read baby name blogs. There are TONS by the way. My friend Meghan tells me a lot that I should have my own baby name blog. I honestly don't have enough ideas to pull that off, but for the first time today I actually seriously considered writing a blog post about names and submitting it to be featured on one of the blogs I follow. I just need a good idea and research it, lol!

4. I enjoy sewing. I am interested in finding a way to combine this hobby/interest with helping people. Fingers crossed!

So, wish me luck!! I have plenty of time to figure these things out, and they are things I genuinely will enjoy doing, so I have high hopes that I will accomplish my Non-Resolutions this year!

Ringing in 2015

     I decided it would be fun to go somewhere for New Year's Eve. But where?? I heard about Lady Antebellum being in Nashville, so I looked it up and sure enough, it was FREE! I asked my friend Lauren, if she wanted to go and she was totally game! I haven't seen her in about a year and a half, so it was SO much fun to be able to catch up. Plus, she has a talent for finding fun things to do and she is a big fan of Nashville and was pretty much my tour guide. We went to a really fun restaurant NYE and I ordered hot chicken. It was sooooo delicious!!! We then hung out downtown with thousands of people waiting for midnight. I really enjoyed watching the fireworks and confetti at midnight! Oh and they have a music note that drops too! The next day we went to the Opryland area and shopped and walked around the Gaylord Inn. It is soooo huge and decorated pretty on the inside. We did a lot of walking which was kinda tough but good overall to help burn off calories lol. I had a ton of fun and I'm so glad I got to make the trip!!!

2014: A Look Back

2014 is now history. But it was quite a remarkable year.......

Bought a car
Turned 30! What?!
Paid off my student loans :)
Color Run!
Went Parasailing, what an adventure!
Went to the Beach
Got to see Michael Buble in concert!!!!!!
Toured Helen Keller's birthplace
Found out I will be an AUNT to a baby GIRL!
Completed my quilt!!!
Made new friends
Celebrated weddings and births with old friends
And last but not least, rang in 2015 in Nashville!!! 

And let's not forget these fun moments:

*** As I was writing this, I realized how glad I am that I have a blog because I forgot about a lot of these things!!!***