It was such a hard secret to keep for the first few months, but now Matt and I can scream to the world that we're having a baby in September!
You might be asking "Why the rush? Aren't you two planning on getting married in May? Why didn't you wait until after the wedding?" Here's a little explanation of what Matt and I have been going through for the last year.
Back in the late summer, I started getting some serious pain in my abdomen. It felt like someone was sticking knives in my gut and twisting them around.I knew what it was before I went to the doctor. My mom, cousin, and other female family members all battled endometriosis, which is when scar tissue takes over your uterus and reproductive organs. My mom's was horrible and painful and she had a hysterectomy when she was in her 30s.
Sure enough, after a few ultrasounds, the doctor told me that my genetics were against me. Not only did I have endometriosis growing pretty quickly outside of my uterus, I also adenmyosis, which is when scar tissue takes over the inside of your uterus. The doctor told me flat out that pregnancy might not be an option and if Matt and I wanted kids, we had to start trying ASAP before the scar tissue did anymore damage. The great thing about pregnancy with endometriosis and adenmyosis is that the pregnancy hormones shrink the scar tissue! Matt and I didn't have to think about it. We both really wanted kids more than anything. The doctor told us to start trying and to come back in January if we still weren't pregnant.
That next month, Matt and I discussed adoption, surrogacy (my amazing sister even offered to carry the baby if we needed her to), and fertility treatments.
January came and I felt a little nauseous and tired, but chalked it up to stress. I even took 3 pregnancy tests but they were all negative. I went in for another ultrasound and the doctor decided that they needed to schedule an immediate D and C (where they scrape your scar tissue) and a hydrotubation (where they make sure all of your reproductive organs still work.) Then, I would start serious fertility treatments that my doctor admitted wouldn't be fun and would make me a headcase.
My surgery was scheduled for the first week in February and it was the worst moment of my life. I cried every night and begged Matt to be patient with me as I came to terms with the fact that I might never get pregnant. I stressed so hard I made my self sick every day and decided that my ridiculous stress level was also the reason my moods were all over the place and I hadn't had my monthly visitor since November.
The week before surgery, I went in for my pre-op. I had test after test done, including a blood pregnancy test. This was on a Thursday.
The next day, the nurse called and congratulated me on not having to have surgery because we were already pregnant! I can't describe the emotions I went through. Just the day before I had hit my lowest point thinking that I could never have babies. 24 hours later my prayers had been answered! Talk about a rollercoaster! I actually hid under the sound board in the studio and sobbed. Then I had to do the rest of my show while trying to hide my crying! It was so tough!
Matt and I are thrilled that we get to have the child we've always wanted and everything turned out ok. I have family members that struggled with infertility and it's one of the toughest things anyone can go through.
I'll try to keep everyone updated with preggo pics and ultrasounds. As of now, I'm still pretty nauseous and exhausted, but I'm hoping that should clear up any day now since we're at the end of our first trimester. We heard the heartbeat the other day and the doctor says everything looks perfect! Feel free to email me any suggestions or advice. I've never had a baby so I have no idea what's going on!
And yes, I'll be huge at my wedding in 2 months. And I don't care!
One of my favorite events every year is The Human Race. I love running 5k's (even though I'm an extremely slow runner) and most of the races help one charity. But the Human Race has about 75 non profit charities to choose from! Or, you can register your own non profit to raise money for!
I think this is my 4th year running the race and I forget every year how much fun I have. Last year I ran it with Fox 8's Julie Luck and my buddy Heather. The course is tough but everyone running encourages each other to finish.
This year the race is on March 20th at Grimsley High School in Greensboro.
Even if you're not a runner, their is a non competitive walk. Or, do the 5k on rollerskates! One guy last year did the entire run while juggling! You can even bring your dogs to run with you! Even though it's considered a competitive race, everyone involved has a great time!
This year since I'll be about 4 months pregnant, I'll have to see if I can run the course. If I feel too fat, I'll still be taking part in the walk and cheering the runners on.
Come out and raise money for your favorite non profit and get a little exercise. People of all ages come out each year. You can register and get all the details here!
Ok, I'll admit it. I'm completely broke right now. This wedding is draining my finances and I am scrimping and saving to pay my bills. But, being tight on cash has caused me to find ways to be more frugal than I ever have before. Now, it's almost like I get a high when I save money at the store! Here are some ways to save money I've discovered in the last few weeks:
#1-Groceries. Everyone buys them, but no one really should pay full price! First thing, coupons coupons COUPONS!! And, you don't have to wait until the Sunday paper to cut coupons. Heck, you don't even need to cut them anymore. Everything's online now. Just go to www.smartsource.com or www.wow-coupons.com/grocery.php and you can print the coupons from your computer! Also, make sure you register your MVP, VIC, Rewards, etc. cards online! I registered my VIC card with Harris Teeter online and now get emails notifying me about amazing deals days before anyone else knows about the sale. I went shopping Saturday and had a $70 grocery bill, but only paid $30 because of all my savings!!!!!!! And, remember that certain grocery stores will double, even triple your coupons of a certain amount! Also, if you haven't checked out our local farmer's market off of Sandy Ridge Rd, you're really missing out on amazing prices on produce and meats!!!!!
#2-Restaurants. Usually eating out is the first thing people stop doing when they're trying to save money. But you really don't have to! There are so many ways to have an inexpensive meal at a nice restaurant! First, go to 1075KZL's Dining Deals and get $50 gift certificates to local restaurants for only $25! And, check out www.wow-coupons.com/restaurants.php for other great offers. A lot of restaurants have "clubs" and by joining for free online, you get coupons in the mail on a weekly or monthly basis. I joined Denny's Breakfast Club and have a 20% coupon for my next visit!
#3-Clothes. Who says being fashionable should cost an arm and a leg?! Absolutely not! There's the obvious "sale rack" at every store, but definitely check out your favorite stores' websites for deals! A lot of times, the stores don't carry items that are almost out of stock, but those items are featured online and at a great discounted price.
#4-Other savings. Check out 1075KZL's Coupons Rock Page! We're always updating it and finding new ways to save you money on every day items! Also, check out big companies's websites like Proctor and Gamble and Kraft Foods. Sometimes they offer free samples and coupons for their products. I got my fiance a free sample of Prilosec (a heartburn medicine that costs a fortune) and a sample of Purina One for my dogs.
I hope that this helps save you a little money in the new year! If you have any other ideas for me to pass along, just email me!
october 26th-Marley and Me (tear!)
Everyone warned me not to do it. I didn't go see it in theaters. I refused to read the book. But the other night, I finally gave in and sat down to watch Marley and Me on HBO. I knew the ending was sad, but I forgot to prepare myself as I watched the other entertaining 90 minutes of the movie.
Right when Marley the dog starts getting old and feeble, my fiance leaned over and turned off the movie. He turned to me and said, "No way are you watching the end to that movie. You can't handle it." Ha! Nobody tells me what I can and cannot do. When he got in the shower, I flipped the tv back on and watched the saddest thing I've ever seen. It's hard to explain. The family had no other choice but to put their old dog, Marley, who was sick, to sleep. And, Owen Wilson's character sat and pet the dog until he took his last breath.
Ok, excuse me for a minute while I cry...again!....
Anyway, the dog had a happy life and knew he was loved. But, it was still the saddest ending to any move I've ever seen. My fiance found me face first in my pillow, sobbing. Not your usually end-of-movie-tears where you cry a little, get over it, and move on with your life. No, I was sobbing loudly, heaving, and couldn't stop!!! I would finally calm down and then take one look at my dogs, Ozzy and Tucker, and immediately start wailing again. And the wailing didn't stop that night. The next morning, I rolled over, took one look at my dogs and WAAAAAAAAAAAA! Ridiculous. Maybe I was so sad because it was a true story. Or maybe it was so hard for me because my dogs are getting older. Whatever the reason, I will never, EVER take advantage of mytime with my pups.
When I first met my neighbor, Sherry, she looked like your average 30-something soccer mom with 3 kids, a mini van, and a goofy husband that made me laugh. But, what I didn't see was the extreme strength and patience this woman had under her skin. Sherry has 3 kids, Allison, Jessica and Evan. Allison and Jessica are two perfect little girls with manners and a love for Hannah Montana. Evan, absolutely perfect in his own way, has Down's Syndrome. He's a ball of energy that talks to my dogs in his own little language everytime we take a walk by his house. Most of the time, you think that children with Down's have been born to parents who were a little older when they decided to have kids. But, Sherry and her husband are young, healthy, and didn't have any of the stereotypical characteristic that most Down's kids' parents have.
Before I got to know this amazing family, Sherry emailed me and asked that I host the Winston Salem Buddy Walk, a yearly event that brings kids with Down's and their families together for a short walk and a talent show. Tomorrow, I'll be hosting my 4th Buddy Walk and I can't wait. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing these kids take the stage at the talent show and amaze everyone with their confidence and skills. We have kids that show off their martial arts skills, sing Keith Urban, and dance to The Wiggles.
The Piedmont Down's Syndrome Support Network is a great group, and if you don't have plans tomorrow morning, you should bring the family out to join us tomorrow at Tanglewood from 8-12. Last year it was pouring rain and I thought, "Oh no! None of the kids will do the walk and they won't want to do their talents in the show if they're soaking wet." I was totally wrong. Last year was one of the most fun walks we've ever had, even though we were totally soaked!
If you'd like more info on the event, or if you'd like to learn more about the group, click HERE.
October 2nd-Blink 182's Mark Hoppus calls Josie!
One of my favorite memories of my teenage years was getting together with a bunch of my friends and traveling to Washington DC to a Chili Cookoff Concert they had every year in front of the White House. One year, the lineup included Smash Mouth, Everclear, and, one of my favorite bands, Blink 182! Because my friend's band was an opening act, we got backstage and I watched in awe as the guys of Blink 182 sat next to me backstage. I was instantly a fan of their music, not only because of their incredible performance, but also because of their down to earth attitude and cute smiles:)
Over 10 years later, I got an email telling me that Blink 182's front man, Mark Hoppus would be calling into my show! I instantly knew that there was only one person more excited than me to talk to Mark...my little sister, Lexi. I called Lexi bright and early Friday morning (she lives in San Jose, CA so it was NICE and early for her) and told her she needed to help me interview him. She has yet to get mad at me for doing this since so far she's gotten the chance to talk to Matt Nathanson, One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray, and now, Mark Hoppus.
Seven months to go!
Apparently, when you join the wedding planning website, The Knot.com, they send you an update once a month counting down the days until your wedding. On October 15th, we'll hit the 7 month mark! I can't believe it! By the way, if you want to visit our wedding website,click HERE!
I think we're in pretty good shape. We've put the deposit down on Walnut Lane Bed and Breakfast. The pictures on the website don't do it justice. It's amazingly gorgeous and there's a ton of room so our guests won't be cramped.
I also got my dress!!!! Click HERE to see it! I'm so excited to wear it! My mom bought me a 3-string pearl necklace to wear with it and I'm going to have flowers in my hair. I've never really wanted a poofy dress (even though my mom talked me into trying one on) and I've never been a veil/tiara girl. My style's more laid back and chill. As for flowers, we're just going to use the Farmer's Market. If you've never seen the flowers there, check them out this weekend! You can't miss their stand full of amazing bouquets! My bridesmaids are wearing gorgeous, simple blue dresses (click HERE to see them). I found my flower girls' dresses at Dillards and I have some friends cooking big pots of pasta for dinner.
I'm really excited about the band! We got my buddy's band The Plaid's! Obviously, we're spending most of our money on the party after the wedding. I try to think of all the weddings I've been to and what I remember about them. I don't really remember the food, flowers, or dresses, but I do remember if I had a good time or not. THAT's what we're spending the majority of our money on! I can't wait. Only seven more months and I'll be a married woman!
I understand that people let themselves go. I can admit that I've put on 10...20...ok, about 25 pounds in the last 10 years. But this is ridiculous! Just a few short years ago, this was the man we all hated for turning Britney Spears into someone we didn't recognize! After an impulse marriage to KFed, Britney immediately started going down hill. Getting pregnant twice within 2 years and showing off what was under her panties. I remember thinking "If I ever see that KFed, I'd slap him."
Then, a year or 2 later, we all turned our backs on Britney for her poor mothering skills and cheered KFed on for stepping in as dad of the year. Isn't it funny how our loyalty changes so quickly?!
But, thru his quickie marriage to Britney, his career as her backup dancer, and his failed attempt at being a rapper (remember Papa Zao?!), KFed at least looked somewhat attractive. Time has not been good to KFed's body.
But to be honest, I don't care how fat the man gets. As long as he's good to his 4 kids (Britney's and Shar Jackson's).
August 18th-Wanted: Inexpensive, big venue that doesn't mind a rowdy wedding....
Who knew there were so many choices when it comes to wedding venues?!!!! There's Castle McCulloch, Magnolia Manor, Centennial Station, Kress Terrace, the Carolina Theatre, the Empire Room, tons of country clubs!
The problem is, our wedding budget is minimal because our families aren't really financially able to help us out. No wonder the average wedding is over $20k! After you get a place, rent chairs and tables and find a caterer, you've already spent several thousand dollars!
The good news is, you can have the perfect wedding at one of these beautiful venues and not spend a fortune. I'm so glad everyone's been so nice and worked with me on my teeny tiny budget. I don't want anything fancy anyway!
Today, Matt and I are going to check out Harmon Park and Harmon House in Kernersville. It's beautiful, inexpensive, and right down the street from my house.
I'm also lucky enough to have some friends who are starting an event planning business and have offered to do a lot of the decorating and catering at cost. WHEW!!!
This is what I think we're going to do: blue Hydrangeas as centerpieces (cheap!) , pasta for dinner (cheap!), flowers from the Farmer's Market for the bouquets (cheap!), and a photo booth from Triad Photo Booths to use for people's gifts (cheap!)!!!!!!!
With every day that goes by, we're getting more and more excited!
August 11th-Wedding sickness...seriously!
I finally went to the doctor yesterday after 5 days of headaches and stomach pain that I thought was allergies or the virus that's been revolving around the office. The first thing the doctor asked me after I explained all of my aches and pains was "Are you under any stress?!"
I giggled as soon as she said it! Of course I'm under stress. In the last week, my fiance and I had to make the decision to move our wedding from Maryland to North Carolina, cancelling caterers, venues, and hotel reservations. It just made more sense to get married down here because his entire family is here, as well as most of our friends. My family is scattered all over the country so they'll have to fly no matter where we have the wedding.
Now, I just need to find the perfect venue. It needs to hold 200+ people, allow alcohol, and not cost my ENTIRE wedding budget. Speaking of cost, how do these brides spend 10s of thousands of dollars without even thinking twice?! Our budget is about $5k and I think we'll pull it off. Neither of us want anything extravagant and we know we need to focus on the important things that people will remember-the booze, the food, and the party.
Today, we're starting the tours of all the wedding venues in the area. If you know of any affordable, simple wedding venues (even if just for the reception) please email me!!!!!
July 28th-Wedding Weight Woes...
T-minus 291 days until the day I picked to marry the man of my dreams! Whoa!!! That's sneaking up quickly!
I've got the planning under control and I don't have any jitters about marrying Matt, but there is one thing I HAVE to fix before 291 days are up...my body! Granted, I'm at one of my lowest weights ever thanks to LA Weightloss, NuBody Solutions, and The Rush...but I need to do more. I want my grandkids to look at my wedding pictures and say "Wow Grandma! You were a hottie!" I think I'm going to hire a trainer and whip my body into shape before the big day. I'm not so worried about losing the weight, but I really need to tone up! Nothing says hot bride like a pair of "bye bye" arms shaking like crazy when you throw the bouquet!!!!!
Last night, I went to the gym, ran 45 minutes and did some core exercises. I can't walk today. Just proof of how much work I have ahead of me!
On Saturday, Matt and I went to our friend, Bethany's wedding in Kernersville. At the reception, Bethany's new husband, Bradley, threw the garter and all the other guys ran away so Matt was the only one there to catch it. When it was time to catch the bouquet, girls were scratching and pushing, trying to catch the flowers. It landed in two girls' hands and they fought over it until it flew out of their hands and landed at my feet. So, Matt got to put the garter on my leg.
After the wedding, we were driving home and Matt missed my exit and told me he wanted to surprise me with something. We went to his house in downtown Greensboro. I went to use the bathroom and when I came out, he had a chair in the middle of the kitchen and his roommate was standing there with a camera. Matt explained that he wanted some more pictures of him putting the garter on my leg. I sat down and he slid the garter up my leg and posed for the camera. Then he turned, dropped to one knee, reached in his pocket and pulled out the most gorgeous diamond ring I've ever seen! That's when I blacked out, but he says that my mouth dropped and I said "of course I will!" But, I have to laugh that in all my proposal pictures, I'm wearing a garter on my thigh and holding a big bouquet of fake white roses!
We're thinking of getting married in May. I can't wait to marry my best friend. I keep looking down and staring at this amazing ring on my finger. It still doesn't seem real!
4 days of mud, porta-johns, hippies, $7 showers, leaky tents, and the most fun I've ever had! Last weekend my friend, Heather, and I loaded up my Jeep and travelled 8 hours to little Manchester, Tennessee. We joined 70,000 other people in celebrating one of the biggest music festivals in the country. The line up included Jimmy Buffet (left), Phish, the Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen, WILCO, Al Green, Elvis Costello, Nine Inch Nails, M.O.E., The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and more!
The first night we were blessed with a tornado warning, huge gusts of wind, and sheets of rain. We had walked into "Centeroo" which is where the bands play, but we had know idea when we left our campsite that it was going to rain. The heavens opened up on us and absolutely soaked us. At one point, the rain started coming down so hard, it was stinging us as we ran back to the campsite. Our tent leaked right into our suitcases, leaving us with nothing to wear but rain boots and bathing suits the next day...which was fine because it was about 100 degrees. We trudged through ankle deep mud to lay our soaking wet clothes out on a barbed wire fence to dry.
The first day, we got to see Galactic, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Al Green, and the Beastie Boys. Even though the heat and mud were horrific, we had a blast. No one seemed to let their mud covered feet stop them from partying all day. The amount of drugs that were offered to me every 5 minutes was unreal. I hadn't even heard of some of the drugs until I went there! To behonest, I came home on Sunday night and googled some of the drugs to see what was being offered to me over the last few days. After reading the description of the drugs, I realized why some of the concert goers were acting the way they were!
Saturday morning, we were covered in mud from the day before and I told my friend I could NOT wait another day to shower. So, we walked about a mile to the showers and waited in line for over an hour to pay $7 for a luke warm shower with brown water. But, it was so worth at least washing the mud, sunscreen, and bugspray off of our bodies! After the shower, we headed to Centeroo to see Jimmy Buffett (who was a last minute performer), Elvis Costello, and then we did some shopping at all the cool shops. Later that night, we headed back to the stages and saw Bruce Springsteen and Nine Inch Nails put on what they were claiming to be their last US show. During Bruce's show, my friend and I met some cool guys from the local airforce base. The group of us checked out the "Silent Disco." It's an outdoor night club where club goers are given cordless headphones that play whatever the deejay is playing. But, people watching from outside the club just see a bunch of people with headphones on dancing to silence. No one can hear the music but those with the headphones on! It was hilarious! We danced until 5 am and then started the long walk back to camp in the mud and heat.
After 3 hours of sleep, my friend and I headed home sunburned, blisterer, muddy, and exhausted, but full of memories!! If you have a love for music and can spare a few vacation days and $250 a ticket, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Bonnaroo 2010!
Wow! I just got back from Chicago Sunday night and if you've never been, you're missing out on such a cool city! No, it's not exactly a tropical vacation, but in the warm summer months, you can lay out by Lake Michigan:) But, it's just a great place to site see, shop, and meet so many different kinds of people.
After staying with my sister in an area called Bucktown, I'm very thankful for my nice big backyard in Kernersville and my affordable mortgage! There is a little strip of grass that runs along the sidewalk and people actually call this "their yard". Residents spend all day outside when there's sun, pruning the tiny bushes and trimming the patch of grass. It's cute, and hilarious. And, the housing prices blew me away! My sister lives in a tiny 3 bedroom 3rd floor apartment that's at least 75 years old and her rent split 3 ways is almost as much as my mortgage for my 1400 square foot home!!!! But, you also get the convenience of having a major city down the street, great public transportation, amazing boutiques and shops within walking distance, and a coffee shop on every corner! But, I'm not sure that's enough to convince me to live in a 900 sqare foot condo that costs half a million dollars!!
I got to (window) shop in boutiques that had $2600 shirts, walk through Millenium Park at dusk and see "The Bean" which is the most amazing piece of art, drove by Obama's house, went to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and got to see some of the worst parts of the city (my sister works for the Housing Urban Development Department so we had to check on some homeless shelters). I even got to see Cabrini Green. If you've ever seen the movie, The Candy Man, it's the freaky scary housing project in the movie. Of course, seeing these things isn's as relaxing as palm trees and blue water, but it was so enlightening!
Flights are so cheap right now to "Chi-Town" so if you can get away for a 3 day weekend, do it! I got my roundtrip flight for only $140! It's so worth it!
Wow! It's been a crazy month full of 1075KZL Courtyard performances, interviews, and meet n greets with different bands and singers. First of all, I've always said, if I ever left radio and had to get a real job, I would never survive. Don't get me wrong, I work my tale off. But my work involves making sure we have orange tea for Dexter of the Offspring and finding enough room for Fall Out Boy to park their tour bus in our parking lot! It's amazing how much your perception of a band can change after you meet them. Earlier this month, The Offspring stopped by the 1075KZL studio for an interview and a courtyard concert. I've been a fan of theirs since I was 12, listening to their music while spray painting railroad bridges and riding my bike around town. Now, 15 years later, I was finally going to meet the band that gave me the soundtrack to my delinquent youth! I assumed that Dexter and Noodles would be wild, loud, and a blast to hang out with (how could they not with names like Dexter and Noodles?!!) Their music was always really upbeat and they always seemed like bada**es in interviews. But the minute they walked in the studio, I realized that either their crazy personalities had either been an act, or they'd grown up a lot and chilled out since my spray painting days. The guys were super nice, but completely threw me off guard with their manners and mild personalities. They did put on a heck of a show! To see the video of their show, click here!
The next day, we had the band, Shinedown, come by the 1075KZL studios for another courtyard concert and interview. I'd heard rumors that even though their music is hard rock n roll and their image is very dark, the band was made up of some of the nicest guys you'll ever meet! First thing that morning, I pulled in to the parking lot and noticed a huge tour bus outside the radio station. Most of the time, bands are "fashionably late", but Shinedown had gotten there hours earlier just to make sure they were on time! Right before my on air shift started, Eric from the band asked me to take him to get some coffee. We walked down to the Green Bean and it was like we had known each other for years. He was polite and sincere, acting like a nice normal guy instead of a member of a famous rock band. He invited me back on their tour bus and I got to meet Brent and Zach of the band. Those 2 were just as nice as Eric and promised to do whatever we needed them to for the listeners who were coming to their courtyard concert in a few hours. The guys followed me into the studio for a very fun interview and then sat around waiting for their fans to fill the seats outside (it's usually the fans waiting for the band!!!) Then, Shinedown put on one heck of a show. To see it, click here!
I found out last week that in a few days, I would have one of today's pop cultures icons in the studio to interview....The Pete Wentz! You know, of Fall Out Boy! Ashlee Simpson's husband! The man who brought back guy-liner! Anyway, their tour bus pulled up and I didn't know what to think. Would he be a butthead because he's so famous, or would he surprise me like Shinedown did and be a totally nice guy?! Pete jumped off the bus, all 5'5' and 130 lbs of him! He seemed pretty easy to deal with, but was having trouble waking up his bandmate, Joe, who was going to join him for the interview. The 2 of them finally shuffled into the studio 20 minutes later and I could tell it would be tough getting the 2 sleepy guys to open up. Thank goodness for Jared from the Murphy in the Morning Show! He started talking about his daughter, Ava, and that got Pete talking non stop about his little boy, Bronx. The two of them went on and on about their babies. Apparently, Bronx is quite the little flirt and looks a lot like Ashlee. Then, Pete and Joe met listeners, ate pizza with us, and took pictures with everyone. Pete acted really goofy and told everyone about his addiction to his Twitter account. To see the pictures for Pete and Joe's visit to the 1075KZL studios, click here!
Shinedown's lead singer, Brent, introduced his song "Second Chance" by starting off with a story and a lesson learned encouraging everyone in the audience to follow their dreams by being the best they can be at what they want to be. For example, if you want to be a dentist...GREAT! Just be the best darn dentist out there! Life is all about living your dream and he encouraged everyone to make the change in their life so that they're living their dream. I realized right then and there, no change needed in my life. I am definitely living my dream!!!!!!!!!
Shelter Pets
This morning on the Murphy in the Morning Show, Jack and the gang were talking about the debate concerning euthanasia for shelter animals. A lot of people want to steer away from the "gas chamber" and only use lethal injection.
Some of you might know, I'm a huge supporter of our local animal shelters. I've been a foster parent to kittens, donated money to sponsor pets, and hosted events for the shelters. When talking to people, a lot of them that are interested in getting a pet don't really know how the animal shelters and rescue programs work. While prices and guidelines for adoption vary with each group, they're all pretty reasonable. If you're thinking about getting a dog, cat, bunny, or other pet, please check the shelter first! Both of my dogs, Ozzy and Tucker, and my cat, Mama cat, came from the Guilford County Animal Shelter on Wendover and I wouldn't trade them for the world! Rather than spend $800 on a dog, check out these websites to see if they have the breed you're looking for at a fraction of the price!
It was such a hard secret to keep for the first few months, but now Matt and I can scream to the world that we're having a baby in September!
negative. I went in for another ultrasound and the doctor decided that they needed to schedule an immediate D and C (where they scrape your scar tissue) and a hydrotubation (where they make sure all of your reproductive organs still work.) Then, I would start serious fertility treatments that my doctor admitted wouldn't be fun and would make me a headcase. 
One of my favorite events every year is The Human Race. I love running 5k's (even though I'm an extremely slow runner) and most of the races help one charity. But the Human Race has about 75 non profit charities to choose from! Or, you can register your own non profit to raise money for! 
Ok, I'll admit it. I'm completely broke right now. This wedding is draining my finances and I am scrimping and saving to pay my bills. But, being tight on cash has caused me to find ways to be more frugal than I ever have before. Now, it's almost like I get a high when I save money at the store! Here are some ways to save money I've discovered in the last few weeks:
have to! There are so many ways to have an inexpensive meal at a nice restaurant! First, go to 
Everyone warned me not to do it. I didn't go see it in theaters. I refused to read the book. But the other night, I finally gave in and sat down to watch Marley and Me on HBO. I knew the ending was sad, but I forgot to prepare myself as I watched the other entertaining 90 minutes of the movie. .bmp)
saddest thing I've ever seen. It's hard to explain. The family had no other choice but to put their old dog, Marley, who was sick, to sleep. And, Owen Wilson's character sat and pet the dog until he took his last breath. 
night. The next morning, I rolled over, took one look at my dogs and WAAAAAAAAAAAA! Ridiculous. Maybe I was so sad because it was a true story. Or maybe it was so hard for me because my dogs are getting older. Whatever the reason, I will never, EVER take advantage of mytime with my pups.
When I first met my neighbor, Sherry, she looked like your average 30-something soccer mom with 3 kids, a mini van, and a goofy husband that made me laugh. But, what I didn't see was the extreme strength and patience this woman had under her skin. Sherry has 3 kids, Allison, Jessica and Evan. Allison and Jessica are two perfect little girls with manners and a love for Hannah Montana. Evan, absolutely perfect in his own way, has Down's Syndrome. He's a ball 
of energy that talks to my dogs in his own little language everytime we take a walk by his house. Most of the time, you think that children with Down's have been born to parents who were a little older when they decided to have kids. But, Sherry and her husband are young, healthy, and didn't have any of the stereotypical characteristic that most Down's kids' parents have.
short walk and a talent show. Tomorrow, I'll be hosting my 4th Buddy Walk and I can't wait. There is nothing more heartwarming than seeing these kids take the stage at the talent show and amaze everyone with their confidence and skills. We have kids that show off their martial arts skills, sing Keith Urban, and dance to The Wiggles. 
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Apparently, when you join the wedding planning website, The Knot.com, they send you an update once a month counting down the days until your wedding. On October 15th, we'll hit the 7 month mark! I can't believe it! By the way, if you want to visit our wedding website,
I understand that people let themselves go. I can admit that I've put on 10...20...ok, about 25 
pounds in the last 10 years. But this is ridiculous! Just a few short years ago, this was the man we all hated for turning Britney Spears into someone we didn't recognize! After an impulse marriage to KFed, Britney immediately started going down hill. Getting pregnant twice within 2 years and showing off what was under her panties. I remember thinking "If I ever see that KFed, I'd slap him." 
Who knew there were so many choices when it comes to wedding venues?!!!! There's Castle McCulloch, Magnolia Manor, Centennial Station, Kress Terrace, the Carolina Theatre, the Empire Room, tons of country clubs! 
I finally went to the doctor yesterday after 5 days of headaches and stomach pain that I thought was allergies or the virus that's been revolving around the office. The first thing the doctor asked me after I explained all of my aches and pains was "Are you under any stress?!" 
T-minus 291 days until the day I picked to marry the man of my dreams! Whoa!!! That's sneaking up quickly! 
On Saturday, Matt and I went to our friend, Bethany's wedding in Kernersville. At the reception, Bethany's new husband, Bradley, threw the garter and all the other guys ran away so Matt was the only one there to catch it. When it was time to catch the bouquet, girls were scratching and pushing, trying to catch the flowers. It landed in two girls' hands and they fought over it until it flew out of their hands and landed at my feet. So, Matt got to put the garter on my leg.
went to his house in downtown Greensboro. I went to use the bathroom and when I came out, he had a chair in the middle of the kitchen and his roommate was standing there with a camera. Matt explained that he wanted some more pictures of him putting the garter on my leg. I sat down and he slid the garter up my leg and posed for the camera. Then he turned, dropped to one knee, reached in his pocket and pulled out the most gorgeous diamond ring I've ever seen! That's when I blacked out, but he says that my mouth dropped and I said "of course I will!" 
But, I have to laugh that in all my proposal pictures, I'm wearing a garter on my thigh and holding a big bouquet of fake white roses!
4 days of mud, porta-johns, hippies, $7 showers, leaky tents, and the most fun I've ever had! Last weekend my friend, Heather, and I loaded up my Jeep and travelled 8 hours to little Manchester, Tennessee. We joined 70,000 other people in celebrating one of the biggest music festivals in the country. The line up included Jimmy Buffet (left), Phish, the Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen, WILCO, Al Green, Elvis Costello, Nine Inch Nails, M.O.E., The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and more! 
suitcases, leaving us with nothing to wear but rain boots and bathing suits the next day...which was fine because it was about 100 degrees. We trudged through ankle deep mud to lay our soaking wet clothes out on a barbed wire fence to dry. 
Saturday morning, we were covered in mud from the day before and I told my friend I could NOT wait another day to shower. So, we walked about a mile to the showers and waited in line for over an hour to pay $7 for a luke warm shower with brown water. But, it was so worth at least washing the mud, sunscreen, and bugspray off of our bodies! After the shower, we headed to Centeroo to see Jimmy Buffett (who was a last minute performer), Elvis Costello, and then we did some shopping at all the cool shops. Later that night, we headed back to the stages and saw Bruce Springsteen and Nine Inch Nails put on what they were claiming to be their last US show. During Bruce's show, my friend and I met some cool guys from the local airforce base. The group of us checked out the "Silent Disco." It's an outdoor night club where club goers are given cordless headphones that play whatever the deejay is playing. But, people watching from outside the club just see a bunch of people with headphones on dancing to silence. No one can hear the music but those with the headphones on! It was hilarious! We danced until 5 am and then started the long walk back to camp in the mud and heat.
Wow! I just got back from Chicago Sunday night and if you've never been, you're missing out on such a cool city! No, it's not exactly a tropical vacation, but in the warm summer months, you can lay out by Lake Michigan:) But, it's just a great place to site see, shop, and meet so many different kinds of people.
It's amazing how much your perception of a band can change after you meet them. Earlier this month, The Offspring stopped by the 1075KZL studio for an interview and a courtyard concert. I've been a fan of theirs since I was 12, listening to their music while spray painting railroad bridges and riding my bike around town. Now, 15 years later, I was finally going to meet the band that gave me the soundtrack to my delinquent youth! I assumed that Dexter and Noodles would be wild, loud, and a blast to hang out with (how could they not with names like Dexter and Noodles?!!) Their music was always really upbeat and they always seemed like bada**es in interviews. But the minute they walked in the studio, I realized that either their crazy personalities had either been an act, or they'd grown up a lot and chilled out since my spray painting days. The guys were super nice, but completely threw me off guard with their manners and mild personalities. They did put on a heck of a show! To see the video of their show, 
heard rumors that even though their music is hard rock n roll and their image is very dark, the band was made up of some of the nicest guys you'll ever meet! First thing that morning, I pulled in to the parking lot and noticed a huge tour bus outside the radio station. Most of the time, bands are "fashionably late", but Shinedown had gotten there hours earlier just to make sure they were on time! Right before my on air shift started, Eric from the band asked me to take him to get some coffee. We walked down to the Green Bean and it was like we had known each other for years. He was polite and sincere, acting like a nice normal guy instead of a member of a famous rock band. He invited me back on their tour bus and I got to meet Brent and Zach of the band. Those 2 were just as nice as Eric and promised to do whatever we needed them to for the listeners who were coming to their courtyard concert in a few hours. The guys followed me into the studio for a very fun interview and then sat around waiting for their fans to fill the seats outside (it's usually the fans waiting for the band!!!) Then, Shinedown put on one heck of a show. To see it, 
I found out last week that in a few days, I would have one of today's pop cultures icons in the studio to interview....The Pete Wentz! You know, of Fall Out Boy! Ashlee Simpson's husband! The man who brought back guy-liner! Anyway, their tour bus pulled up and I didn't know what to think. Would he be a butthead because he's so famous, or would he surprise me like Shinedown did and be a totally nice guy?! Pete jumped off the bus, all 5'5' and 130 lbs of him! He seemed pretty easy to deal with, but was having trouble waking up his bandmate, Joe, who was going to join him for the interview. The 2 of them finally shuffled into the studio 20 minutes later and I could tell it would be tough getting the 2 sleepy guys to open up. Thank goodness for Jared from the Murphy in the Morning Show! He started talking about his daughter, Ava, and that got Pete talking non stop about his little boy, Bronx. The two of them went on and on about their babies. Apparently, Bronx is quite the little flirt and looks a lot like Ashlee. Then, Pete and Joe met listeners, ate pizza with us, and took pictures with everyone. Pete acted really goofy and told everyone about his addiction to his Twitter account. To see the pictures for Pete and Joe's visit to the 1075KZL studios, 
