The MooMoo

My sister, Jennifer, got a MooMoo about 5 years ago from her former boyfriend's mom. It was part of her Christmas present. Little did we know at the time that Jennifer would proceed to wear it year round!!! She not only wears it to sleep in, but she'll also wear it in public!! Seriously, think the local grocery store in this thing! Well, Jennifer and a few friends headed to Wal-Mart to get some fun Christmas stuff for this Ugly Christmas Sweater Party we attended last night. She comes home with lots of fun jingle bell earrings....and a MooMoo for me! She thought I secretly wanted one all these years. Now, if you could have seen the excitement on her face, I could not disappoint. So I put on my high top converse, black tights, and my candy striped shirt underneath my amazing new article of clothing. Jennifer did the same. And this is what we looked like!

Mine says "Let It Snow" and it actually did a bit last night! Jennifer's says "Happy Holly Days" and yes there is some holly attached! We had such a great time at this party! We had some great gumbo, hash brown casserole, spinach and cheese dip, and some amazing cookies. Of course, there were also 2 kegs and a ton of jello shots. Jennifer and I competed in Twister, and I won!! It's so nice to have Jennifer back from the law school caves!!!

Yarn Coma

Ok, so in the past few months I have picked up crocheting! It's really exciting and fun! My friend Rachel has been knitting for years and decided she wanted to learn how to crochet. So she basically taught herself. Isn't she awesome!?

Well I'm not sure how it happened exactly but Rachel, Jamie, Aeja and I all decided we wanted to start a little group to learn all about it! So we meet every Wednesday and work on our projects. It's basically my favorite day of the week!

I crochet all the time. I think I've made 8 or so hats, 3 scarves, 2 boxes, and one glitten...among countless other unfinished projects. It's kinda funny to think about how a few balls of yarn can turn into something amazing that will keep your head warm! I even stopped at a walmart in Clarksville on the way back to Fayetteville...to get a phone charger..and just happened to stop in the yarn section. Yes, I bought 2 rolls of yarn. I have a problem. Rachel calls it a yarn coma! I just stare and stare, wanting to buy every single ball of yarn there ever was!

Here's Rachel trying to help me with my yarn dilema!

La vita mia

Lately I've been thinking alot about just doing nothing. I think it's because I'm so overwhelmed with school and trying to apply to these places that I just want time to stop for a minute so I can get everything finished...and then time can start again and then I can REST!!!!! It seems like I have something to do every single minute!
On a brighter note...I love to say two things all the time it seems. Rachel and Jamie make fun of me all the time for saying "P.S.....(and then whatever I'm thinking)....."
I also just started saying "Shut the front door"....instead of "Shut the F*** up"...which is such a G-rated alternative. Not that I was saying the latter in a mean way...just after something shocking was said. That was confusing, I think. Oh well.

Finally, I have been having a "short" day...really, a "short" week. Ugh. This basically means that I'm already short....and because of crappy circumstances, I feel even shorter...boo!

Updates

Sorry I haven't blogged in a month..but here are some updates on my life lately....

.........I didn't win Monopoly...but I gained like 5 pounds from eating there every flippin' day!

My parents came to town a couple of weeks ago and bought a bunch of fun things for me...like running shoes :) I guess they saw the added Mcdeezy LBs

I am currently applying to nursing schools all over the country...I guess I wouldn't mind a change of scenery...even though I'd love to live in Arkansas when I'm finished travelling.

Oh, I dressed up as Hannah Montana for Halloween..I know, I rock :) My sister, Jennifer, was Billy Ray Cyrus..circa 1992...mullet and all. Here s/he is!

Finally, last night Jennifer and I hosted the 7th or 8th annual Corbin friends' Thanksgiving! It's so fun to have everyone bring a dish and really enjoy a good plate of food! I was a little stressed, but once we started eating everything went smoothly! My friends, like I've said before, are totally amazing. Each of them really knows how to put a smile on my face in their own way. So, I'm completely thankful for them!

One last thing, it's my oldest brother, Kyle's, 28th Birthday! I CANNOT believe he is that old! whew, how time flies when you're having fun!

I'm lovin' it!

Ok, So I freaking LOVE McDonald's!!!!!!!!! I'm serious. I know that alot of people think it's gross and unhealthy..and that's probably true, but I don't care. Five years ago, I came home from a year abroad in Italy. That's around the time I truly fell in love....with McDeezy. I would eat McDonald's every few days...and I LOST weight! Probably because I was running every day..but it could have been the #2, No Onions, and a diet coke. I dunno. I just fell in love with it.

I must confess, I was always a "Wendy's" girl in highschool...but oh no..not anymore. I'm a "McDonald's" girl all the way. I especially love McDonald's during Monopoly. If you don't play, GIVE ME YOUR GAME PIECES! I honestly feel that as one of their most valued and frequent customers, I should win BIG! Don't you agree? So help me out people! Email me your codes at acorbin7@gmail.com . Thanks!!

Y's Words

I got this in an email today. I love how simple and true it is. SO, I want to share it. I printed it off and put it on my "Grow Up" board. I'll post about that later. It looks long, but only takes a couple of minutes to read through! Enjoy!
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of ThePlain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 44 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'dgrab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Thanksgiving 2009

I am so excited about Thanksgiving! Every year, my siblings and I host a friends' Thanksgiving at the Corbin Compound. Everyone brings a dish and we all eat soooo much! I think my brother, Kyle, started this tradition because he really loves his friends! And so do I!! He may not even be able to come, but I'm still really looking forward to it. I love having everyone together. It's always interesting to mix old and new friends..but hey, there will be plenty of beer..so it should all go smoothly!

I'm really excited for Jennifer's new law school friends to get a share in our day! She is studying so hard everyday and her friends are becoming really close to her...because they are the only ones who know what she going through. I hope they can cook :)

This is last year's spread.....sooooo good!!!

I'm pretty sure that this is the 8th annual Thanksgiving..it's my 5th!! Get excited!

Thanks! Grazie! Gracias! Danka?

Thanks for your comments on the last blog! I'm still trying to decide..but I think I'm just going to pick like 5 places to apply (including AR state in Jonesboro) and go from there. Who knows..maybe the decision will be made for me!

I have some other ideas about where I want to spend next semester/year...but those are probably going to need some more thought before I pick up and leave!

As far as the rest of my life...I have to say that I love my friends! I feel so blessed to have such amazing people who pick me up of the floor and get me going again! Yall have been awesome. So today's blog is a BIG FAT THANK YOU! If I had a bunch of money(and someday I plan to) I would take yall all out on a sailing trip..and we would spend the night in my favorite place in the entire world....

You decide for me :)

I've been trying to plan out the next year or so of my life. Where I'll be...what I'll be doing....what classes I'll be taking...which schools to apply. This has usually worked for me in the past....but for some reason I don't have much confidence to go in any direction. I feel like I need someone to tell me what to do...what will happen...what's best for me! I guess these are normal feelings...but I feel like I am having them an un-normal amount of time these days. (I just realized that "abnormal" was the word I couldn't think of for "un-normal"....i'm super smart, ha!).
So, if someone would kindly tell me what to do for the next year of my life...I'd greatly appreciate it! (hey, it's not like I asked for someone to tell me what to do for the rest of my life :) just a year )

Weekend Warrior

I didn't do a darn thing today.....and I loved it! Hope everyone had a great Labor Day/Weekend!

I went to Little Rock for the game on Saturday and ended up having a blast! Jean and I had such a hard time getting down to the golf course to tailgate, but once we did we couldn't stop the fun! I just don't think there is anywhere else that puts on a party the way Razorback fans do! I'm so excited about this season and all the things that are going to happen...even though I don't know what they are! That's an improvement :)

ah! I love my friends!

Quotes I love today, but maybe not tomorrow.

“ If your head tells you one thing and your heart tells you another, before you do anything, you should first decide whether you have a better head or a better heart. — Marilyn Vos Savant



“ We are not the same person this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy change if we, changing, continue to love a changed person. — W. Somerset Maugham



“ Your absence has gone through me like a thread through a needle,everything I do is stitched with it’s color. — W.S. Merwin

Life Saver

Ben & Jerry's Half-baked ice cream is baller. I mean, I do not think I would be where I am today without it. (maybe 10 pounds lighter..hehe) Yesterday was a hard day...and I woke up wanting my go-to comfort food. Who cares if it was 7am? I ate it. all. The entire pint. For some reason, just a few spoonfuls doesn't work. However, it didn't do the trick in the end sooo I need a new go-to food/activity! Let me know what yall do?

Total Neglect

My goal now is to blog once a month. ha!

But, I thought today would be a good day to blog about that fact that I do not smoke anymore. I quit on July 2nd, just before I left for Italy. So today it has been two months! Holy crapola. Those who know me probably thought this could never really happen. hey, I don't really believe it. BUT, I'm incredibly proud of myself for doing something so difficult and getting through it a better, healthier person. It gives me hope for the rest of my life! Jennifer also quit, so now we are all nonsmokers at the Corbin Compound! We quit with the help of a hypnotist named Penny Rae. She is amazing. My dad quit 10 years ago with her help. So if you know anyone who really wants to quit and seems to have tried everything, she is definitely worth looking into! awesomeness!

Blah Blog

Ok, My bad. I was so excited about starting this blog...but now I keep forgetting to update!
I'm going to Italy in 16 days!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to see my host family again! We are going sailing on the med. sea. SUPER EXCITED! i love sailing. I'm sure I'll have plenty to share....especially because the captain will be travelling with me!
The last time she came to visit me while I was living there, she made me translate every little thing. I'm talking "cafe" to "coffee"....I was like....really?! It gets old...fast. But I love her and I'm glad she gets to experience this with me :)
Oh well, it's gonna be baller! "baller" is my new fun word!
I think we are going to the big hole tomorrow! I really love this place! I haven't been there yet this year and it's gonna be awesome!
Yay. I blogged. the end :)

Rachel and Neill's Wedding Extravaganza!!!

What a blast! My friends Rachel and Neill got married this weekend...and it was AMAZING! It was so much fun to have all our good friends together for such a great celebration!

Ryan went to his cousin's wedding in Dallas on Friday and didn't get back til Sunday afternoon, so he missed most of it--sucks for him...because it was awesome!

Saturday, Aeja, Jonnie, Megan, Jamie, and I somehow all ended up at McAlister's for lunch. Megan and I decided to go after leaving Old Navy(we tried to get $1 flip flops--but the line was to the back of the store so we left) sadness. Anywho, after lunch Aeja, Jonnie and I went to Dillard's to fine me a dress. It took two hours, but we finally did it! Aeja came over and got ready at my house and then we headed to the Rehearsal Dinner. The food was soo yummy!

1st pic is an intense moment with Christian...and the 2nd is Jamie, Cara, and me at the Rehearsal Dinner.

Sunday finally came around and Ryan came home! I felt like we hadn't seen each other in so long! haha. We got all ready and went to Bella Vista for the ceremony...which was GORGEOUS! Rachel looked so pretty in her dress! I love weddings...someday I will have my own :)

The pic below is of Ryan and me at the wedding...sorta dancing?!

Best news of the week; however, is that I got the "go ahead'' from my doctor (the nurse, actually) to drink this weekend at S.O.B.B.E.R!!!! SUPER EXCITED!!!

I do not think the captain is too happy about this news...I think she thought I would be SoBer forever....ya right ;)

Florida/ER

WOW. The events that have taken place since my last post are just ridiculous.
I had such a great time in Florida with Mary Nell and her family. I got a bit of a tan and got to relax!
I got home on Friday night and then we(the fam) drove to fayetteville. We went to Cafe Rue for dinner and beer and had a great time. I think I had a little too much fun, actually. The next morning I was not feeling it....but the captain wanted us to all go together to the drive-thru zoo in Gentry. It was so cool!!! We saw a bird lay an egg and a camel tried to eat the box out of my dad's truck.
At the end of the day, I was in extreme pain and my parents took me to the emergency room. I had apparently ruptured a golf ball sized cyst on my left ovary that was causing internal bleeding. OUCH! I would not wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy.
Now, I am finally home and trying to get better. My stomach is so swollen full of blood that I look pregnant. Hopefully, the blood will reabsorb quickly and I can get back to summer fun!
Thanks friends for all of your prayers and thoughts! I have the best friends ever!

Fun times at the DMV

I woke up around 2 today and was instantly annoyed that it was so late! I had to rush to the DMV to get a new license because my old one is still in Eureka Springs at the Tiki Torch Lounge. I think they decided to close their business and run off with my debit card and I.D....too bad the joke's on them, they couldn't have made it very far with my limited funds. No seriously though....they HAVE NOT answered the phone ALL week!!! who does that?

So, I'm in line and the woman asked me if I wanted to take a new picture....ha! I finally have a good one and now they want me to change it! I was like, 'no thank you, I just got out of the shower and have no makeup on.' Why would I do that to myself!? I learned my lesson the hard way. I don't have my first picture I.D. anymore, but this is about how I looked: poor woman.

I'm off to go run more errands with Ryan. It's funny how I can get him to go shopping with me only when I'm about to leave him for a week. Poor thing has to study for the LSAT while I get to sit my happy bottom on the beach! If you give me your address I will try to remember to send you a postcard!

Hello Florida!

I get to go to Destin on Saturday!!! I haven't been to the Destin since high school--at least 6 years! I am so excited!! My friend, Mary Nell, is going down there with her family and asked me to go along! How amazing are my friends? AMAZING! That's Mary Nell on the left in the pic below. She is from Camden, AR. I met her a few summers ago while taking Organic Chem I&II. We had ALOT of serious/funny breakdowns during that horrible class. To this day, she has to hold me back when I see that professor on campus. What a great friend---she keeps me from committing crimes and takes me to Florida with her!

Of course I had to call the Captain(my loving mother) to ask for permission....and money. I was worried she would say 'no'. I thought she would make me finish my CNA class that I started 2 weeks ago, or be upset that I was asking for more money (I do that alot :)), no, she just wanted to make sure that I could come home to take a family picture. UGH! family pictures are the worst! Let me tell you why.

1. Kyle and Slater NEVER have their hair cut, smile correctly, or stand up straight enough for the captain to be happy.

2. There are 5 kids in my family (ages 20-27), so it's really hard to get everyone together. The perfect example is the picture at the top of this blog--family vacation in Mexico last Christmas. Do you see Kyle? no. He "had to work."

3. Captain is NEVER happy. This is the 8th effin family picture this year! That's a record number of family pictures in one year that she is not happy with!

This one she said would be perfect, except it's at the bar--and I think we are all a little happy if you know what I mean. :)

I have finally gathered the troops for a 2pm sitting on saturday with a photographer. Wish us luck...or I might not be going to Florida after all!

Don't worry friends, Ryan is taking care of Miss Mac for the week! What a great boyfriend!