Two Songs

<one>

My favorite song of ALL TIME is "Just The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra. I actually like any version of this song- I love Micheal Buble's version, American Idol winner Kris Allen's version....but the best version of this song is when my DADDY sings it!!! :)

Check out this website and you can listen to the CD he made!! :)

http://www.patsallarulo.com/Scripts/PublicSite/?template=CDPage

 

<two>

"Restless" by Audrey Assad. Ever since I heard Audrey sing and heard this song- it has become one of my favorite worship songs of all time!!! She has an incredible voice and it is just an amazing song!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0B2ybZpDeM

Three Films

<one>

Sleepless in Seatle

<two>

My Best Friend's Wedding

<three>

I Cento Passi

** I got an Italian Studies minor while at Auburn and one of the classes I took was a class about the Mafia and an Italian Films class. We watched this movie and I just LOVED it- I know that is kind of strange because its all about the Mafia- but it was a great movie all about Italian history and it had a beautiful story that went along with it about Italians**

Day 7: Four Books

FOUR BOOKS

<one>

"Love you forever"

Literally one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOKS growing up!!! I wanted to read it ALL the time. I can probably quote the whole book, without even looking at it.

"I love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be" I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS TO MY CHILDREN!!!!

<two>

"Time Traveler's Wife"

I love love love books that become movies, like seriously....I think I've read almost every single book that was turned into a movie (okay, maybe that an exageration, but pretty close). I love the love story of this book and just all the emotions that the book makes you feel.

<three>

 "The Shack"

One of the best books I've ever read. I could totally feel like I was in this story. I felt like I had known the characters my entire life and that i was living their journey with them at the same time they were. It really helped me deepen my faith and I just again love a book that pulls on so many different emotions.

<four>

Anything Emily Giffin....I've read all of her books up to now except for "The Heart of the Matter" (its my next read after I finish "The Help")

I love her style of writing and i just have enjoyed reading all her books. Those would be

"Something Borrowed"

"Something Blue"

"Baby Proof"

"Love the One You're With"

Day 6: Five Foods

Five Foods:

<one>

My Mamie Mare's (my grandma) Goulash. It was one of my favorite things to eat and she was such a good cook! :) (and one of the best babysitters I've EVER had)

<two>

Cheese Dip!!!

<three>

London Broil (especially when my mom makes it!!! AHH so good!!!)

<four>

Seafood!!! It's my favorite....I love anything shrimp, crabs, any type of fish!!! Yum Yum!!

<five>

Chick-fil-a!!!!!! I love everything from Chick-fil-a!!!!

Day 5: Six Places

Six Places

I'm not sure if this is place that you would want to go or places you have been. So I think I'm going to split it up and do 3 of my FAVORITE places and 3 Places on my Wish List to visit.

<one>

My all time favorite place to go is to our beach condo right near Rosemary Beach. We have been going to that beach as a family for over 15 years and I have so many great memories and can't wait to bring my family there someday and great so many more memories.

<two>

I've always wanted to go to California, there are way too many cities that I want to visit. Seriously, I could probably just go for an entire month and travel all around and still not see everything I want to see! :)

<three>

Another one of my favorite places to go is Taormina, Sicily. I studied abroad there for an entire month the summer before my Senior Year at Auburn. And I LOVED everything about that place. It's so beautiful, there is so much history and really cool places to see there. The people there are so nice, life is so laid back there and its just beautiful.

<four>

I really want to go to Alaska too. After watching the show Sarah Palin's Alaska, it just seems like such a beautiful place. I don't think I would go looking for grisly bears or go Salmon fishing (not really into getting all dirty and gross) but the scenery from the show is just so beautiful.

<five>

My last favorite place is IRELAND. I went with my family when I was in high school I believe and it is SOO PRETTY. Ironically even though my last name is REALLY italian. I am more Irish than anything! :) I loved our trip, we traveled all around Ireland visiting castles, kissing the blarney stone, etc.

<six>

AUSTRALIA. (I know I've talked about it a lot, so I am just saying Australia, enough said! :) )

I need to start saving to go to all the places I want to go! :)

Day 4: Seven Wants

<one>

I want to be able to speak Italian fluently.

<two>

I want to see a cure found for cancer in my lifetime.

<three>

I want a family of my own someday SOON.

<four>

I want to go to Australia and meet a cute Australian boy! :)

<five>

I want to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy in my lifetime.

<six>

I want more time to sit and relax and read and just chill out from life sometimes.

<seven>

I want 5 kids.

What do YOU WANT? Please share! :)

Day 3: 10 Day You Challenge: Eight Fears

Eight fears.....  (this was really a lot harder to do...I thought I could easily find 8 fears....its really difficult)

<one>

I have a huge fear of INSECTS, and any kind of bug, from the tiniest spider to roaches to anything that is gross and silmey and has little legs. (this should not surprise anyone)

<two>

I have a fear of falling down, (again if you know me, no shock there- I FALL ALL THE TIME standing up a lot of times too)

<three>

I have a fear of loved ones passing away. I am always on alert when I hear sirens and get nervous when I can't get in touch with someone when I know they should answer their phones.

(Yes, it is probably a really annoying trait if you are my loved ones, but you should just feel special because that means i just love you all so much i don't want anything bad to happen to you)

<four>

I am not a big fan of darkness and being alone walking places, I think I watch WAY too much Law and Order SVU :)

<five>

I have a fear of taking off and landing while in a plane. I am fine once we get up in the air but its the before and after that freaks me out. I am always saying a Hail Mary on the way up and way down in the sky!

<six>

I fear that I worry too much about things I can't control and it holds me back in some aspects. I spend too much time worrying instead of doing and also instead of trusting the LORD with everything because i know he has a plan far greater than my plans ever will be.

<seven>

I have a fear of water in terms of sea creatures being around me. I'm not a fan of fish or sharks or any type of sea creature near me while being in the water. Yes-I'm an easy target for pulling pranks while swimming in lakes or oceans! :)

<eight>

I have a fear that I won't find "the one" (my prince charming). Again I just need to TRUST.....

Day 2: 10 Day You Challenge- Nine Loves

<one>

I LOVE ONE TREE HILL!!!

<two>

I love sunsets!!

<three>

I love my family!

<four>

I love great conversations with great friends!!!

<five>

I love working with teenagers at my church....I learn so much about my faith from them! They are truly inspiring!

<six>

I love staying up late!

(beautiful starry night)

<seven>

I love to read. Wish I had more time to do it, but I love getting lost in a great book.

(one of my favorite books and favorite author, Emily Giffin)

<eight>

I LOVE JESUS!!! :)

<nine>

I love, love, love to laugh and be silly!!!!

10 Day You Challenge

So I am still new to this whole blog world, in terms of writing my own blog- I've been reading blogs for almost two years and have been truly moved by the words and posts that I have read this far. I am going to make an effort to continue blogging. It's very therapeutic and really helps get thoughts out of my mind and out so I'm not always thinking about them.

Anyways, I found this 10 day You Challenge and I am going to try it out... So here goes..

TEN SECRETS

<one>

I used to be deathly afraid of dogs, and now I can't imagine my life without our family dog, Sugar.

<two>

I love long trips in the car by myself, it gives me a lot of time to think and rock out to my favorite songs and SING-I am not a good singer- but i still love to do it.

<three>

I have a very uncommon disease for women, Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, but I can't imagine my life without it, because it opened my eyes to other kids who have it a lot more worse off than I do and I am able to help raise awareness and money for this awful disease.

<four>

I really have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life. I know I want to help change the world somehow and help others, but other than that I have no idea what career path I want to take...and I am somehow okay with that at the moment...

<five>

Even though I graduated from Auburn and LOVED EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF IT and love everything about Auburn and can't wait to share all the traditions of Auburn with my children in the future, I used to be a Georgia fan, before I knew any better.....

<six>

I HATE CANCER. I have for many years. It has taken way too many people who I love away from me way too early and it also has affected a lot of people I know who are still living, and most recently my Dad....I have worked with Relay for Life for years and I HATE CANCER and hope in my lifetime we will be able to find the cure.

<seven>

I really want to take a year off of everything and go travel, just like in the book "Eat, Pray, Love"- I want to explore the world and all its wonders and learn about different cultures and in turn learn a whole lot more about myself. I also just LOVE ITALY!!!

(Here's a picture from Taormina, Sicily from when I went and studied abroad while at Auburn)

<eight>

(this may not be such a secret....but...)

I love to watch the Disney Channel.....and still act like a child in a lot of ways... I just like to think of it as having a "child like heart" and if I stay that way... I will never grow old

<nine>

I am scared of SILENCE. Some people may not find that hard to believe because if you know me... I am always talking and love to just be around people. I truly am a people person.

<ten>

Not really a secret but more like a really fun fact.... Frank Sinatra died on my birthday, May 14th when I was 13 years old. You might ask, why the heck is that something fun? Well my Dad is a Frank Sinatra Tribute Artist and I have grown up listening to Frank Sinatra as well as listening to my dad sing Frank Sinatra...I love that genre of music and if it was possible to go back in time I would love to go back to the Rat Pack Decade...

Next post, nine loves.....

Life is Simple at the Beach

After getting to spend a few days at the beach last week with my family, I have come to some conclusions about the beach and God's love. This is a picture of the BEAUTIFUL beach in Rosemary Beach/Sea Grove, FL. My family and I have been going there since I was in 4th grade...(you can do the math), but we were there before Rosemary Beach even existed and we were one of the only buildings near the end of 30-A.

I used to hate going down there- because all my friends were staying in Destin or Panama City but now I can't imagine having a condo anywhere else. It's the prettiest beach in the whole WORLD and the sunsets are even more breathtaking than the picture above.

AHH GLORIOUS.....

Life is simple at the beach....the only worries you have are... how can we spend every second on the beach?...whatever we do we have to be on the porch every night to watch the sunset, what book can i read next?....Did you just see those dolphins?...Life is just slow, and relaxed when you are at the beach and nothing really matters....

It was nice to experience that even though it was just for a few days. It really makes you forget about your problems and realize how small they actually are when you are staring out into the vast ocean. Our problems are a drop in the ocean compared to God's love for us. Looking around at the beach you can't help but look and THANK GOD for everything he created and just praise Him for allowing you to experience His beauty.

We don't deserve everything God has created for us, but it doesn't matter to Him- He still wants us to enjoy it. HE LOVES US THAT MUCH. It's sometimes hard for me to believe that God loves me enough to create this beautiful world we live in and has give me all the beautiful people in my life.

Wow, God is amazing, and sometimes we just need these moments of clarity at the beach to realize just how blessed we are and try and grasp how much God loves us.

(The pictures are courtesy of my Mom....Thanks Mom :) )

The Power of Fear

Fear is real. Everyone experiences different forms of fear. Real fear that something really bad is going to happen or will happen or silly fear, like fear of spiders or fear during scary movies but a lot of people are driven by their fear that something bad will happen. I sometimes struggle with the fear that love ones are going to leave me or pass away suddenly, and I always have a fear that I'm letting people down when I say "no" to things. My silly fears are ALL BUGS, any scary or suspenseful movies or T.V. Shows, fear of tripping or falling (and if you know me well enough you would understand why).

I feel like fear is a really strong emotion that I face on a daily basis. Some of them are the real fears and some the silly fears but I want to take a moment to talk about how much fear can affect our daily lives. Deacon Dennis from St. Brigid wrote in our bulletin this weekend all about fear and it really got me thinking especially because I am a Christian and believe in external life. He says

 "What do we really have to fear? As Christians we believe that this life is temporary. We are made for something more, something unimaginably wonderful in this life to come. A peace and joy that will last forever when we are in the presence of our Creator"

WOAH- this is amazing! And really made me think, why am I driven by fear??....God has a plan for me and I just need to TRUST in Him and His promises and stop constantly living in fear and worry every day. Sometimes this is easy to say and harder to do, but to truly be a Christian I have to stop living in fear and BELIEVE that i was made for something MORE and that it is UNIMAGINABLY wonderful...I feel like there is not much to say about that...the words speak for themselves.

This is a year of changes for me, and I am working on a lot of things...and fear having control over me is something that I am working on changing!!

Change is Inevitable....

So I know it's been a few months since I've written a blog post, saying that these past few month have been CRAZY is an understatement. I want to make a commitment to write more in my blog, since I love reading others blogs and learning so much about myself in the process. 

In a nutshell, here is what my June and July have been like....

June:
Quitting my job at a nonprofit that I had for almost 2 years...going on an amazing long weekend with a bunch of teen leaders from my church that I volunteer at with no cell service the day i quit my job...the most beautiful part of that weekend, seeing teens on fire for their faith and learning so much from them. Another amazing long weekend trip to visit one of my best friends in Washington DC...was fun to catch up with her, be all touristy in DC and go on so many site seeing trips, while on that trip able to see one of my cousins Chris, who i hadn't seen since I graduated from Auburn. Overall one of my favorite trips I've had in a long time! Also started working for my Dad as a front desk manager at his Chiropractic Office and in turn started a 28 day detox cleanse program... (I will talk more about that in July).

Here's a picture of my friend Laura and I on our DC Ducks Tour...Its a truck and a boat in one...we saw the DC on land and on water...it was amazing!!!!

Here's one of my touristy pictures...more pictures to come!!!

Here's a picture of my cousin Chris and I at my graduation from Auburn 2 years ago.... I forgot to take a picture of us together from DC

Here's another picture from my graduation...ALL the cousins on my dad's side in age order...no one was really happy about this picture but since it was my graduation I believe they just smiled to make me happy! :) This was the last time all 5 of us were together at once!!

July:
Had an awesome July 4th weekend, hanging out by the pool, hanging out with friends, going to watch fireworks and see Cars 2...

Then last weekend I went as an adult chaperone on Steubenville Atlanta, which is held at the Gwinnett Arena...Its a weekend conference for high school teens, there is really no way to truly describe Steubenville Atlanta except amazing and life changing... there were over 2400 teens ON FIRE FOR THEIR FAITH AND LIVED THEIR FAITH OUT LOUD and were not afraid to be CATHOLIC!!! I had a life changing experience at my first Steubenville Atlanta in high school and I love being a apart of it now and being able to see the change in the teens that i volunteer with at St. Brigid. Other than that July has been pretty quite...I've really enjoyed getting the know the girls in my bible study so much better, we've been meeting every week for at least 2-3 months now and its just amazing...We've been reading this book "Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha's World" and it is AMAZING- I will blog about it later- But it has a built in Bible Study in the back- so its great for a girls book club or bible study!!

I am in the process now of looking for a new place to live- I am going to get a 1 bedroom probably in the Sandy Springs/ Dunwoody Perimeter area!!!

The other big thing going on, is I've given up dating for ONE YEAR!! I started on July 18th 2011 and will not start dating again until July 18th, 2012. My aunt let me borrow Andy Stanley's DVD "The new rules on Love, Sex and Dating" and it is AMAZING!!!! I will be blogging about that experience as well, it's something new and fresh and since I had decided at the very beginning of 2011- that this would be MY YEAR... I am working on myself, my health, my faith and learning how to become the daughter of Christ I was made to be...I am falling in love with Jesus before I can fall in love with my prince charming!!

A lot of changes have happened over the past few months, but its been an awesome journey...change is inevitable, but there is always something better that happens after the change...

Stay tuned for more updates!!!