High Five for Friday

  I have no idea where this week went.  No, seriously!

  I was on the phone with my best friend yesterday and she asked me what I had been up to.  My reply, "I don't remember."  For the life of me, I could not remember what I did.

  And that's the kind of week I've had.  Nothing really stands out to me but I know I was productive because I have lots of things crossed off on my to do list.  Here are my five favorite things from this week and truthfully probably the only memories I have of this week.

    1.  My Dad was here last weekend and we spent lots of quality time together.  I LOVE when my Daddy comes to visit me!  On Easter (remember my week starts on Sunday!), we went to the beach with Cheyenne.  We mostly just walked along the beach and did a little people watching.  It was a beautiful day.

    2.  I have a new unhealthy obsession.  Steel town spuds from Wild Wing Cafe!  Homemade potato chips smothered with ranch, bacon, scallions and melted cheese.  My mouth is watering just thinking about them!  I ordered them to go this week and I could not wait until I was home to eat them.  I ate every last bite within the 10 minute drive home! True story!

  3.  I bought this super cute dress from Old Navy.  It's feminine and looks a lot cuter on than in this picture.  I also paired mine with a brown belt and received so many compliments.  This may just be my go to summer dress.

  4.  I received this great text message from my aunt this week.  My Auntie Lori (and yes I use the term auntie and no, its not pronounced "antie") and my not so little cousin Brooke are coming to visit for a couple of days next week.  What a wonderful surprise!! Have I ever mentioned that, I LOVE VISITORS!!  I am wicked excited for their visit!  I hope the weather is perfect so we can explore Charleston.

  5.  If you know me at all, you know that I love my sweets!  We have this great cupcake bakery here in Charleston called "Cupcake."  They have different flavors every day and change their flavors every season.  I have yet to try a cupcake there that I did not like.  The cake is so moist and delicious.  Today I tried bourbon pecan pie and OH MY GOODNESS it was AMAZING!!

  Enjoy your weekend!  And hopefully next week I actually remember all the great things I did!

High Five for Friday

  This week just seemed to drag on for me.  I still have this awful cough that keeps me up at night which means I have not been getting much sleep.  Lack of sleep leads to a cranky Crystal.

  Thank goodness, it's finally Friday (the day my Dad comes to visit)!  

  Here are some of my favorite things from this week:  

    1.  I had my first Rita's of the season and I think I found my new favorite flavor, JUICY PEAR!  It reminds me of my favorite jelly belly flavor with the same name.  Rita's definitely puts me in my happy place.

    2.  I saw this license plate cover in the Rita's parking lot and it reminded me of my hot handsome husband.  Of course it brought tears to my eyes.  I am always extra emotional when my husband is deployed.  I miss him so much but I am so proud of all the sacrifices he makes.

    3.  I redecorated our fireplace mantel and I LOVE it!  From the handmade wine cork "F" to the birdcage to some of my favorite engagement photos and a little splash of a beachy theme.  It makes my heart happy.

 
    4.  A freshly groomed yard and a freshly groomed puppy.  We're all ready for my Dad's visit.  As a side note, I refer to Cheyenne as my Dad's furry granddaughter and call him Grandpa when she's around.  I think I'm hilarious, my Dad thinks I've lost my mind!

    5.  My new mani/pedi reminds me of Spring!

What was your favorite part of the week?

I hope everyone has a great  weekend!  I know I am going to enjoy some Daddy/Daughter/Granddaughter time!

Back in Action

  Hi loyal blog readers!  I am so very sorry that I have been MIA for about a month now.  I have been dealing with some personal issues the past few months. 

  It began back at the end of January when I started having anxiety.  I have always had a little bit of anxiety associated with my OCD tendencies but it had elevated drastically.  I even had two full blown panic attacks.  SCARIEST MOMENT EVER! 

  After my second anxiety attack, I knew I needed help STAT.  I felt like I was going crazy and I did not like that feeling at all.  I was put on an antidepressant/anti anxiety medication.  The first few days I felt high and like I was having an out of body experience.  Not my favorite feeling.  For the next three weeks, I felt like a zombie.  I was completely drained of all my energy and motivation.  I would spend days in bed, only to leave the house for scheduled appointments.  If I did muster up the energy to accomplish something, I was right back in bed as soon as that one task was complete. And forget about my to do list!  My house was a disaster and I had piles of laundry all over my bedroom.  This was not me at all!  The antidepressant had made me depressed. 
  
  I have since been taken off that medication and am now trying talk therapy to work through my anxiety. I am happy to report that I was officially told that I do not have OCD.  I have minor obsessive disorder and minor anxiety disorder NOS.  I am so thankful that my anxiety is considered minor.  My therapist and I believe that my anxiety attacks where linked to my Nana's death (which lead to multiple flashbacks of my Mom's death) and the "surprise" deployment that was sprung on us.  My anxiety is back down to my baseline and mostly associated with my obsessive list making, to do list, organizing, always need to have a clean house tendencies.  And that I can handle!
  
  Unfortunately, March was not the month I hoped and dreamed it would be.  I did not complete the 30 day shred and I started eating sweets the day my hot handsome husband deployed.  I continue to eat sweets on a daily basis but now limit myself to one "sweet" per day.  The only goal I managed to complete was finishing the Cooper River Bridge run.  I did walk for 3 minutes during the second half of the incline of the bridge which I was disappointed about.  However, as my BFF and husband reminded me, I did have an upper respiratory infection at the time and only walking for 3 minutes is pretty impressive.  Next year, I plan to train a little more so that I am better prepared for the incline.  


  March wasn't a complete wash, it did have its positive moments.  Let me catch you up on what you missed:

•   I had the opportunity to be an extra on the Lifetime show Army Wives.  I played an OR nurse in several scenes and also a nurse in the background on another scene.  I will be in the last few scenes of one episode and the first few of another.  I will let you know when the episode is going to air so that y'all can look for me!

•   Here in Charleston, we have this really fun art studio that you bring your own bottle of wine (or choice of beverage) and they teach you how to paint.  I went to Wine & Design with some other military gals and painted the C-17 flying over the Ravenal Bridge (also known as the Cooper River Bridge!)  Yes, its the same bride I ran over!

My Masterpiece

•   I am obsessed with the Hunger Games.  I have read all three books and I plan to reread them again very soon.  I was also one of those crazy people who went to the midnight premier and I am so glad I did.  It was so much fun letting my inner teenage girl come out!  And of course, the movie was AMAZING!  If you haven't seen it, go out and watch it ASAP!  As a matter of fact, there is a very good chance that I am going to see it for a second time tomorrow night!  

•   Charleston Fashion Week is the biggest fashion week in the South East.  It showcases emerging designers and model talent from the East Coast and I was lucky enough to attend one of the several events.  It was a great night with some amazing ladies. We enjoyed some adult beverages and free samples at the pre-party and became instant fashion critics as soon as the fashion show started.  I felt like we were on Sex and the City (you know when they attend Fashion Week in NYC).  I cannot wait to go again next year!  It was such a blast!

Walking the Red Carpet

My beautiful Sister Wives

•   Another HUGE event in March was the TCSC Silent Auction to benefit the TCSC scholarship.  It was held in a Nose Dock (like an airplane hangar except only the nose of the airplane fits in it) on the flight line. We had the backdrop of the big, beautiful C-17.  And to make the night even better, it was 40's themed.  Some of my favorite ladies and myself had a great time getting all dolled up for this event.

In front of the mini C-17

Some of my favorite ladies

leftover flowers from the centerpieces that I used to brighten up my house

•   It's already beach weather here in Charleston.  Be jealous, be very jealous!  I have yet to go to the beach during the day to soak up some vitamin D.  However, Cheyenne and I went to the beach one evening to play in the ocean and take a walk in the sand.  We had such a great time!  The weather was perfect and the water was already warm enough to go in (maybe this is just the New England girl in me who is used to cold ocean water all summer long!)  I cannot wait to bring her back!  

Picture Perfect

Enjoying the sun, sand and salt water

•   I ended March with the Cooper River Bridge 10K (6.2 miles).  The race was on my Mom's birthday so I felt extra motivated to run the race in her honor.  Although I was disappointed I walked for a few minutes, I am pretty impressed with my time.  Not bad for my first 10K!  My time was 1 hour 7 min and 11 sec (average 10 min 49 sec mile) and I placed 15,423 out of 36,652 runners/walkers.

wearing my purple ribbon for my Mom and my parachute cord bracelet for my hot handsome husband

My name (and time!) qualified to be in the newspaper!

   Well folks, that pretty much summed up my March.  It was not as great as I had imagined but it definitely had its great moments.  I am so grateful for the life I live and for the many amazing opportunities I am able to experience.  

  Note to self: blog more in April!!