the BEST night

Wednesday night I went to the Fun. concert here in town, and it was the BEST night of my life. Why?

Because of this! 

that's Andrew McMahon, former lead singer of Jack's Mannequin, and Something Corporate, also known as 2 of my most favorite bands EVER! AND I GOT TO MEET HIM!!! I didn't really go to the concert for Fun. I went for Andrew. 

Some people behind come rushing down the stairs and say "he's there, he's there! By the merch table" And I was on my way to buy a water (which was 5 bucks so no thank you,) and so I went to check it out, AND I MET HIM.

The best night. 

2013, a healthier me.

Well I've seen all over blog world that everyone wants to get fit. Well I guess I'm "joining in" because I also want to get fit. But it's not even that, I want to be healthier, and if that means I'm more fit, whether it be by losing weight, or just by eating right well then so be it.

I'm tired of feeling crappy, I don't feel it all the time but I get down on myself a lot because I know I could be making better choices but it's just so much easier to make the crappy ones. I'm tired of looking down and seeing this big gut and then seeing pictures of skinny minis and being jealous when really, they're skinny both because they work out and because of their genetics. I can't really say anyone in my family both immediate or extended is a skinny mini, so genetics isn't really working for me. And by that i mean no one in my family is a size 0. When I look in the mirror though, I don't see a fat person I see someone that could lose a little weight. I feel like I should see a fat person though, because for my age I know I'm overweight, heck maybe even "obese" I don't really pay attention to what my weight should be at for my age and height but I know it's not what I'm at right now.  Would I love to lose weight? Yeah absolutely, but I don't want to do it by becoming some crazy lady that works out all the time, and eats next to nothing. I need to figure out a way that I can lose weight that works for me. Which probably means getting back on my diet.

A year and half ago, I was put on a "diet." It was when I was diagnosed with PCOS and Insulin Resistance, where my pancreas had to work twice as hard to break down sugars. It was more of a pre-cautionary thing because I was classified as pre-diabetic, so in order to not become diabetic I was put on a diabetic diet. Meaning my carb intake had to be no more than 60g per meal. I was doing really well for a long time probably 6 months. Then I just got sick of having to monitor everything I ate and just kind of stopped. But in that time I lost 30 pounds, since then? Yeah not one single pound has been dropped. And at that i'm angry at myself for stopping. A lot of my health problems went away or decreased as I lost those 30 pounds and as an incentive my parents added that every 10 pounds I lost they would by me something that I wanted, and what teenager could pass that up? So I saved my "points" and at 30 pounds I bought some fleece and made myself a fleece blanket, and maybe in my head after that 30 pounds I thought that I didn't need to lose anymore because well that was a pretty big number. I'm wrong, I don't feel healthy and that's going to change.

Since last January I stopped working out. It's kind of because I started school and that was my excuse not to work out. I was too busy. Well in November I kind of started again, really sporadically but it was something. And now I want to continue. As much as I absolutely hate working out I know it's good for me. Well actually no, I don't hate it, but i hate to sweat. So in this new year, I'm making myself workout my goal would be to start with 3 times a week, will I be able to do it? Maybe. But I'm not going to beat myself up if I only go twice. And I'm going to start counting carbs again. Whether I like it or not.

Another reason I want to do this is because this summer I want to feel comfortable in a swimsuit. I don't want to see a big gut when I look at myself.


There it's written down and now I have to start doing it.

Trans- Siberian Orchestra!

Every year up my Godparents bring me to a show for my birthday and christmas! I'm so spoiled in the Godparent department it's ridiculous! Up until my 18th birthday, they did birthday and christmas, and now we kind of went down to just 1 show, mostly because I'm growing up (booo) and becoming more busy and they're always busy so it just works that we only do one show. 

And we never got together to even celebrate my birthday this year because of some health stuff going on with them, so come christmas time they asked if I would rather see "The Story"  that was a concert with like 3 different artists or Trans Siberian Orchestra. And I decided TSO. I have a thing for cello's. Seriously the best instrument ever. Kind of wish I had started with that instead of French Horn! 

Anyway, what the show actually turned out to be was nothing like the expectations I had in mind. It was very minimal orchestra and lots of heavy guitaring and electric violin( who WAY over performed because you couldn't even hear her. 

I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I would go again, unless it was strictly orchestra. The light show, however was amazing! 

This little blondie (is it weird that I'm referring to a guy as that?) could SING. He only sang one song but I wish he would have sung them all. 

These sweet "firetruck" ladders that went out over the audience. 

The show was all about the "lost christmas eve" and this boy being born in New York. 

Jingle Ball

December 4th I went to Jingle Ball. It's a concert put on by a local radio station, and while I kind of don't like what is associated with everything that Jingle Ball stands for(ever single 13 yr olds first concert, screaming their pre-pubescent heads off) I went because one of my favorite bands was there, so I "sucked" it up and went with a couple friends. There were 8 bands there.

• Conor Maynard 
• Cher Loyd
• Ellie Goulding
• Train
• Onerepublic
• Owl City
• Psy
• Ed Sheeran

FYI, I pretty much only go to concerts with my co-workers.

words, 2012, and maybe 2013

So today has made me contemplate this year. And since we're only 6 days into it, that's kind of a problem.

Today I was offered a synth part in Minnesota Brass, which is a drumline corp. I was in drumline in high school and decided to quit after my junior year so I could work. And that is probably the one and only thing I regret in my life. As soon as I was told there was an opening I was interested but there were a couple things going through my mind

• how much does it cost
• when would I work
• how often do you practice
• and how often are shows 

Money has always been in an issue in my life, but only because I make it one. It's not like I'm a billionaire but I'm also not poor, so theoretically I shouldn't be so worried about it. However, to make me worry even more I just bought a new car and have monthly payments to make, and I know that I can make them, maybe even easily but it freaks me out to even think about it.

And because I'm always worried about money, I'm therefore always worried about how much I need to work.

The real world kind of sucks, and so does reality.

Anyone with advice, feel free to chime in. I know you're out there when I view my stats of blog posts read.

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Anyway, on to my 2012 recap. For whatever reason I decided to do one.
While I'm not going month to month because my life is truly not that exciting.

my top 6 moments of 2012(in chronological order, but not in best-"worst"):

I started the year off with a Brad Paisley concert, from my parents for christmas. 

I went to the Basilica Block party with these guys. Seriously, it was the BEST TIME! Making it an annual thing now. (Also, the reason I added this blurry picture, is because I love it. I love that everyone is so happy in it. 

This guy, got me involved in TEC! I don't have pictures from the weekend, so this one in the mountains will have to do! I love TEC and every person I met on the weekend. 

I met this amazing group of people, 2 of which are from MN and one from SD. 

I crossed my number 1 concert wish, off my bucket list. 

(Coldplay) 

I did my very first photoshoot! 

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As far as resolutions or goals for 2013. I'm not much of a resolution person, I think that you can start something new any day of the year so why associate it with the beginning of the year? Anyway, the only real goal I have is to become a better photographer. 

And to remember to put watermarks on any pictures posted here. 

Thanks for reading this extremely long post! 

The rest of D.C

Okay so I realize that JUST posting this now, 2 months later is a little absurd, but bare with me. I JUST downloaded the pictures. It's unusual for me to wait this long to download pictures, but I have this rule that in order to not wear out the memory card, the card must have over 50 pictures on it be downloaded and well that didn't happen until recently.


But with that said, here are pictures from the Air and Space Museum in D.C, and then our trip to Ocean City, MD.

And a week later this was all damaged by hurricane Sandy. 

What I wouldn't do to be back there. Walking on the beach barefoot!...While it was snowing here no less! =]

my people

2012 has been a year for friends. I'm not a big people person, I actually prefer time by myself, but this year I guess i've just "broadened" my horizon's and become really good friends with some really great people.

Bailey

My Abraham! 

Literally my best friend

Troy! 

Bailey is one of my co-workers and she can make me laugh so hard at work, whether it's one of her stories or just something she says. I love (some) of my co-workers but she can make me laugh the hardest. 

Abe and I have just become good friends this year, and that's all thanks to church. 

Briana, has been my partner in crime since roughly 2010. We've had some great times. 

Troy, oh troy, he's a funny one. He doesn't have a whole lot of common sense sometimes but that's what makes this friendship work. 

And these are 4 of my favorite people in 2012. (Obviously my family, but i figured I didn't need to list them) 

up next: 2 concert recap's and possibly a "year in review". but sometimes I don't like to be like everyone else. 

top 6 songs of 2012

Well since every blog is doing the best of 2012 post, and well I might do that, I would rather do a post about my favorite songs of 2012. And when I say that, I mean my favorite songs that I listened to in 2012, not songs that came out in 2012. So here we go.


#6
Apologize- One Republic 

#5 

Crazy- Gnarls Barkley

#4 
Matchbox Twenty- English Tower

so freaking awesome. I'm a sucker for a good cello and brass section, and this has all of them.

#3
Imagine Dragons- Bleeding Out 

I saw these guys live in July and fell in love. I bought their album as soon as it came out in September and I'm going to see them again, in March. This is by far my most favorite song on the album.

#2

Muse- Madness 

This has been basically on repeat since I bought the album back in September

#1 

Michael Jackson- Man in the Mirror

I'm not sure how I JUST came across this song this year, but I'm seriously in love. Every time it comes on my iPod I turn the radio up real loud and jam.



Looking at this list, 3 are from this year I believe, and then 3 are from other years past.

Hope you enjoy!