Internet Out? No Problem Do These Things Instead

Hello Lovelies,

At the beginning of month Travis and I spent an entire 84 hours without internet, which in our case means no cable, no computers, and no gaming.  Our wonderful horrible internet service decided that a few houses in our neighborhood weren't worth working the weekend to fix an internet leak. Small town internet companies tend to suck BIG time. Since we work nights and sleep during the day. I was actually at home using the computer when the internet went out at 2 am so I called the cable company and was greeted by a recording ( don't you love that? ) that stated they were doing maintenance in my air from 1am to 6am. After hearing that Travis and I decided to hit the sheets and when I woke up at 10:30 am the internet was still down. Once again I called customer service and actually spoke with someone however was told that the internet was down due to weather. I was shocked well because the entire week had been bright, sunny, and beautiful, so to say he was full of shit was an understatement. When I questioned his statement and made it pretty clear that I knew he was talking out his butt, he hung up on me. Say What?!? Travis wasn't having it, so he called back and demanded to speak with a supervisor. He spoke with this sweet girl and all was going well until she decided to tell us that because there was only so many houses that were out of internet it wasn't considered an outage and wasn't a top priority.  Those were her exact words, I promise. When Travis started questioning where the company's priorities were and the fact that the other representative lied about weather issues, she disconnected. Anger levels were hitting the rough but during each call we kept it cool and professional so we didn't deserve to be hung up on. 

After an afternoon of running errands and our tempers cooling down we contacted the customer service again. This time we were told that an official outage was declared at 2:30pm that afternoon, we asked how long it would take for them to make repairs. We were advised that there was not an estimated time frame and that they are working on it. For once the phone was disconnected peacefully on both side of the phone. Travis and I called around 10pm that night to see where the repairs were and again they did not know but they wanted to schedule a in house repair. Confused as all heck I said okay but was told the earliest someone could come to repair our internet would be on Wednesday, it was Thursday. I wasn't happy to hear that news but there wasn't anything else that could be done. Our internet was finally repaired Sunday afternoon and I made sure to cancel my "in house repair". This girl doesn't need any surprise charges because I didn't cancel it. 

At the end of all this madness, I realized that Travis and I both rely on internet so much. I am sure it isn't the healthiest thing we do but that doesn't mean I am going to stop blogging, streaming Game of Thrones, or playing Black Ops 2. One of the things we did agree on after this experience was that we needed to cut the internet cord ( not literally ) one day a week so we can enjoy other things in life. So far we have had very productive moments and packing has went a little quicker. I guess that first 84 hours of no internet, no option allowed us to open the door to a few interesting things to do when you're wanting an internet cleanse or your internet company decides you're not a priority. 

1. Break out the old school board games and start playing. Travis and I love playing candy land but get us in a game of monopoly and our competitive sides come out. 

2. Try a new look and make it fierce. All of my ladies who love to use makeup well now would be the time to break out that new palette and try something new. I practiced my wing skills quite a bit over these 84 hours but let's just say it still needs some work. 

3. Channel your inner clean freak. Put on your rubber gloves, grab some paper towels or simply do the dishes. Just clean something that you haven't had time to clean or needs cleaning after a long winter. Beauty girls, clean that makeup stash! 

4. Sit back on the couch and pop in a classic. Travis and I love to do this every so often but when the internet is down it is perfect. Recently we watched Mama Mia, Fast and Furious 6, Dark Shadows, and 127 Hours. 

5. Catch up on some reading. This would be the perfect opportunity to start or finish that book you haven't had a chance to read. Not into reading books? Grab a magazine at your local store and see what's hot and happening in the world. 

6. Visit a family member or friend you haven't seen in a long time. I promise they will love seeing your lovely face. 

7. Start a project. I suck at DIY but give me a few hours without internet and this girl can make some magic with a crochet needle and yarn. Travis loves to paint so his inner Picasso comes out when the internet isn't working. 

  

10 Things I Never Want To Do Again

Over the last 24 years I have learned my lesson more than 10 times and I am sure I will continue to learn. There are things I have done that I am not proud of but I am not ashamed of them. Most of them I do not wish to repeat as they will only end the same way while others may end in a better light. You can't change the past though and I don't wish to. Some of my lessons are humors while others are quite serious either way, let me share with you a few things I would rather not repeat in my life time.



1. Get Married : Every since I was a little girl I dreamed of finding my "True Love" at a young age and growing old together. Never separating, divorcing, or even taking a break, that love that works out anything. At the age of 15, I found the man I now call my husband and so far my dream has came true. We have worked hard for what we have and even though we may not agree on everything we also compromise to work past it. Our wedding was a big event and one day I hope to renew our vows but as for the whole marrying another man, I don't wish to repeat that.

2. Roommate with a Stranger : Travis and I have had a handful of roommates since starting our "adulting" life. First it started out with long time friends than one thing lead to another and we opened our home to three strangers over the last 6 years. One of them were out of our hands but later became unmanageable and the other two were strangers we thought we knew but we were wrong. We wasted thousands of dollars trying to help others but only getting disrespected in the end. I am sure I should turn our room-mating experiences into a full post because there is so much to share. Both good and bad but the bad ones impacted us so much that we have made an agreement to never open our doors to someone we didn't have a history with, unless it is an emergency circumstance. If we can help it, living in a house with no roommates is our dream that we plan to make a reality. I mean heck we have been the only lease holders on everyone of our homes (other than my brother in law when he shared a house with us) and yet we let these people negatively impact our lives numerous times.

3. Ride on Top of a Car : Not much to explain here. In high school I had a good friend who was five months older so he received his Driver license sooner. We would take his car and drive to the closest park to do stupid stuff. Ride on top of the hood or roof was a reoccurring event. It was fun but completely stupid. We were lucky we never fell off and cracked our heads open or got ran over. I never want to test that luck again and I only get more fragile with age. 

4. Get a Tattoo from a House Artist : I go into detail a lot more about about my experience with getting a tattoo from a house artist in this post. After that experience I swore to always do my research and never go to an artist that didn't have years of experience that I could see on paper and skin. Shops also provide a sense of safety and tend to be more health aware.

5. Self Harm or Self Hatred : I have always been a larger pant size than the "average" girl my age. Even in middle school and high school when I was extremely active in Basketball and Softball, I could never seem to be "skinny". I hated the way my body looked even my breasts which I constantly got approached about. They were too big, and so were my thighs, hips, and stomach. I had my moments when I was proud of my body because rarely any girls my age had been developed like I was. That would quickly change because the more confident I became about my womanhood the more I was hit on and treated rudely by both boys and girls. I would go home and cut my inner thighs because the pain I felt from the cut helped me not to focus on the pain I felt about my own self. Once I got older and especially when I meet Travis, I learned to love certain things about my body. I learned to not focus so hard on what other people liked about my body. It is my body and I am the only person that should truly love my body. So in 2008 I vowed to never harm myself especially over something so silly like what other people think of my body. 

6. Own a Large Snake : For my sixteenth birthday I gathered up all of my birthday money and decided to buy a snake. My step father at the time owned a large constrictor and I fell in love with having one. My mom agreed to the purchase probably had no idea I would come home with a 12 foot albino python. After a year of growth, she reached up to 16 feet and my step fathers snake reached over 20 feet long. They both became so big and at times dangerous that we had to donate them to a local zoo. I understand the dangers of having a snake that large and don't wish to experience the uneasiness again.

7. Wear Braces : After having braces for 6 1/2 years I never want to have them again. This one is pretty plain and simple so no long description or reason why is needed in my opinion. They hurt like a B***h and were constantly cutting up the inside of my mouth. I was teased for having them but I always tried to remember that the pain would be worth it in the end. It was but I don't wish to repeat it.  

8. Stay at a Job I can't Stand : In 2006 I began my first "real" job at an lighting office where my mom was the office manager. I worked the entire summer coping and organizing paperwork, it wasn't the best job I have had but I loved it. When the summer ended I picked up some seasonal work at a Halloween and event store. I got to help people pick out what the wanted to be for Halloween or what gross stuff to decorate their house with. It was awesome, but the position was only available for three months. That following summer I started working at a grooming and daycare shop for pets. It wasn't easy work and it got a little messy but I loved every moment of it. Who wouldn't want to spend their day playing with dogs and get paid for it? When the company began to have financial problems I started looking for a new job. Luckily it didn't take long and I was offered a position working in a sandwich shop. I stayed for two years and enjoyed it before I choosing to leave for a better paying job. At first the job was interesting and at times fun but slowly it became something that I hated. If it wasn't for the people I worked with I would have went crazy. I was treated horribly buy potential clients and the companies leadership only cared about themselves. Big changes happened and I was eventually able to quit due to uncontrollable circumstances. Now I work for a company that at times drives me crazy but I love what I do and the people I work with.

9. Try Hardcore Drugs : For a short year or so in high school I experimented with one or two things and I made a big mistake that cost me my senior year experience. I don't regret what I did because I wouldn't be where I am today but I will never repeat it. This is another story I will have to save for another day.

10. To Sign an Agreement Before Sleeping On It : Over the last six years I have signed a few agreements, most of them being rental agreements. There were times were I took the agreement home and went over it a few times with Travis while others we signed on the spot. There were times where it worked out and others that we wished we would have paid more attention. As I get older more and more agreements seem to be coming up and reading them can be boring but it is worth knowing. Being burned is never fun and I don't wish to experience that again so reading every agreement that comes my way is a must.

There are probably more than ten things that I never want to do again but these are the appropriate ones that come to mind. Is there anything you have done that you never want to do again? 

7 Things You Should Ask Yourself Before Getting A New Tattoo?

Since I was a teenager getting a tattoo was a priority in addition to moving out of my parents and marrying my now husband. I loved everything about tattoos, the stories they tell and the beautiful art work artist create. The fact that they are permanent didn't scare me because I knew I would plan every one of them out perfectly. Once I turned eighteen, and I literally mean the moment I turned eighteen I got a tattoo. At 11:59 pm I was sitting in my tattoo artists house preparing to be tattooed at 12:01. My tattoo artist pierced my nose and had shown me a little book of all the tattoos she had done while living in New York. I was so excited that she was available to do my tattoo "under the table" because she was charging me a quarter of what I was quoted from "in shop" artists. Tattoos are expensive and I found that out really quick. I was working a minimum wage job, living with Travis in our own apartment, and barely getting by. I didn't have an extra $200+ laying around to waste on a tattoo so hearing that she would do it for only $60 was music to my ears. Looking back I wish I would have saved up the money and went the more expensive and professional route but I don't regret it. It taught me a lesson because after 3 hours of tattooing I had a crooked lined tri-cycle on my shoulder and it wasn't even finished. It wasn't what I dreamed of and now years later I am looking into getting it covered up. No artist will touch it unless I allow them to cover it up, because they can't promise good quality work if they work with what is already there.


When Travis and I decided to get a new tattoo, I really sat down and did my research. After a year I made the final commitment and contacted one of the best shops in Oklahoma City. We visited the shop before making appointments, meet the artists and looked at previous work on paper and on skin. Later that night we talked and agreed it was the right fit for us so we made an appointment. It wasn't cheap but it was good clean, quality work and I love it. I will have to do a touch up on it in a few years to make sure that it continues to stay bright and beautiful even for just words and I am okay with that. During the entire year of planning and preparing, I asked myself a handful of questions. I thought it would make for a good post and hopefully help out anyone who is considering getting a tattoo now or in the future.

Can you cover it up if you need to?

Even before I was old enough to get a tattoo this question was constantly in my head. I had and still have goals in life that requires a certain amount of professional appearance. Let's be honest, tattoos are still very "new" to the professional world even if they don't have any provocative or disrespectful meanings. When I first started working as a dispatcher and later a security officer tattoos were opened to be displayed as long as they weren't considered offensive to guests. Beautiful art work was displayed openly and guests commented on them daily, it was nothing short of wonderful. Recently though a new policy has been implemented that any employee who is visible to guests has to cover all piercings and tattoos. It sucks and even though I only have two tattoos, one of them visible it still had an impact. I had to wear a long sleeve shirt on every single day even when it was hot as an oven in the building. Even though I don't regret the placement of my tattoo, it is something I would recommend thinking about to anyone considering a first tattoo or a new one.


Will it delay or destroy any future career or personal goals you may have?
Let's continue with the question above because they kind of go hand in hand. Everyone in the world has career goals and always wants to excel. Professional bloggers want to have consistent traffic flow and growth, while creating a business and doing what they love. Athletic players, Movie Stars, and Singers want to have a large fan base, celebrity endorsements, and personal product lines. You and Me well we probably want promotions, better paying jobs, and career changers. Will your tattoos effect these from happening? It is kind of silly when you think about a piece of art work dictating if you advance or remain in place, but it's reality. Before getting your tattoo ask yourself if it will hold you back now or in the future.

When you get older will you dislike how it will look?

The internet is filled with badass 50+ men and women who are rocking amazing art work and some pretty sexy beards. (more men than women on that point) At the age of 24 how I look at the age of 50 shouldn't be on my mind but it is. Will my tattoos hold up to the way my body will change? Will the color be as appealing as they were when I first got them? The answer to that second question is probably not but I can keep it on point by getting touch ups and pre planning. Proper spacing, good quality work, and after care is the key to having tattoos that last.

Will your children, significant other, or family members be embarrassed or feel offended when they see your tattoo?

When you ask yourself this question also think about the reason why you are getting the tattoo. If you family is against equality and you want to get an equality symbol, do it! Don't allow someone's opinion on certain things dictate how you live your life and what you put on your body. I am not talking about those kind of things, more like words that the world see possibly offensive. Some of my friends during their younger years tattooed words like Slut, B**ch, F**k, and C**t. These words should bring a question mark to your brain. Now if you already have something like that on your body, no judgement coming from this corner of the world. People make mistakes and even if it wasn't a mistake, it tells a story.

Can you tell someone what your tattoo means, if they ask?

Both the tattoos on my body have a meaning behind them and I am not ashamed to tell each of their stories. The internet is filled with "cool" tattoos and their meaning to the person sporting them are most likely have a strong meaning for getting each and everyone of them. Heck I have even seen a tattoo and thought to myself, that would be a BA tattoo to get. After thinking for hours and hours I would slowly talk myself out of it especially when it comes to tattoos in other languages. Other languages or symbols are hard for me to wrap my head around for one simple reason. Is what I am getting tattooed on my body actually what I think it means? I have heard of the horror stories of friends who thought they were getting "love" tattoos and they mean dog, or nothing at all. True story right there. Always remember to do your research and I am not talking about asking the artist that is tattooing it. They probably don't care or don't even know.

How long will it take you artist to complete your tattoo? Can you stand the pain?

Tattoos hurt even if they provide pleasure at some point. In case that made no sense to you, when you get a tattoo your adrenalin pumps through your body rapidly and can provide a pleasure or numb feeling. Which is why some people say that they can be addicting. An average size tattoo with little detail can take about an hour to two. Large tattoos with more details have taken four times longer and numerous sessions. Beware though, sometimes spending to long on a tattoo can be dangerous and cause long term scaring and infection if not cared properly. What I have found helpful is going to a handful of tattoo shops and asking how long your tattoo should take. If one of them says an hour but three of them says three hours, I would choose one of the three hour shops. It sucks but its the truth.

Do you understand that it is permanent? 

Once you get a tattoo there is no going back well unless you have an extra $500 laying around and would like to sport a scar for a little while. The wrong tattoo or the wrong artist can cost you a life time of explaining and personal hatred. I have made this mistake and soon will be paying another artist $300 plus to have it fixed. When I was eighteen I was so excited to get a tattoo I took the word of a friend and went to someone who did tattoo out of their home. She had years of experience (so she said) and so looked professional as possible but after sitting in a chair for three hours and feeling like she was tattooing the same spot for twenty minutes straight. I ended up with an uneven shoulder tattoo that doesn't have a single straight line and is unfinished. The worst part is it has an incredible story behind it and it means the world to me but its not what I expected or wanted. Now I have to have it covered up because no artist will touch it in fear of making it worse. So before you make any final decisions, ask yourself if your willing to risk quality for a price discount.


If you are planning on getting a tattoo and have already asked yourself all of these questions then go for it. Get that tattoo appointment scheduled and share your finished work. Travis and I love seeing new art work especially when its something we have never seen before. If you read this and are confused or struggling to answer the questions above then simple sit back and think about. Even if it takes years, take as long as you need before putting something permanent on your body. You won't regret waiting and your older self with thank you. 

Things You Can Do in Oklahoma City

Traveling across the united states has always been a realistic goal of mine since I was a young teen and I am sure many of you also share this goal. Thanks to Katie at House. Life. Girl for leaving a comment on my most recent giveaway about her love for traveling and recommending a post about things people can do in my area if traveling. I will be honest I currently live in a very small town with probably around 20,000 people and there isn't really anything someone should travel 50+ miles to see. So I thought it would be fun to share what cool things travelers should include in their must see while visiting the Oklahoma City area.

Oklahoma City Zoo - Admission Cost is $8.00 per adult - Travis and I are huge zoo fans and coming from a city that has one of the worst zoo I have ever been too the Oklahoma City Zoo is worth seeing. We visit the Oklahoma City Zoo at least every three to six months because zoos aren't just for kids. It doesn't matter if they have new animals because each time we go I am able to catch a different view of the animal. Believe it or not they are not always sleeping. You won't see us complain when we get to see brand new babies or new exhibits.  Interacting with the staff is also a hoot. They are so friendly and informative so if you are like my adorable husband and ask a thousand questions about the animals they never look annoyed. Their under water exhibit has tons of salt water fish, sharks, sea lions, and otters, which is something you can't skip on. The last few visits we were able to bring along my adorable nephews and lets just say that is an adventure in itself. Bringing kids to the zoo is a completely different experience but the Oklahoma City Zoo makes it a little easier. There Kid Space is incredible with a barn style petting zoo, splash pad, and plenty of play grounds across they entire zoo. Two of our favorite parts of the zoo for kids is the Carlisle which is never a regret and the water fall and clean water stream where little ones can play and you can put your feet in after walking. Speaking of walking, if you aren't in a walking mood or have a messed up knee like Travis catch a ride on their zoo train.

Museum of Osteology - Admission Cost is $8.00 per adult - Along with loving animals we love to know more about them under neither their appearance. What better way to learn then by visiting a skeleton museum? This museum has over 300 different skeletons and a few different learning stations. Recently the Oklahoma City Zoo donated their Elephant Chai's skeleton to the museum so we are super excited to be able to view that soon and see how they display this beautiful animal. The entire museum is clean, informative, and well presented with such a large variety of specimens from around the world. Most of their skeletons are displayed as though the animal is actually in motion or as realistic as possible, hard to explain but it is pretty cool. If you are into seeing some bones and learning more about how animals and other specimens function under their skin, check this place out. Heads Up : This is a small museum and only has a small gift shop so if you are hungry or have children who like to snack make sure to eat prior to admission or bring a snack along.

Frontier City - Admission Cost is $38.99 per adult - Roller Coasters, Cotton Candy, Water Rides, Old West Shows, and hours of Fun is the only way to describe why you should visit Frontier City. I have visited this park as an adult and as a pre teen and don't regret it either way. There is so much to do and a whole day is pretty much what it takes to visit every part of it. You can see live actors in the wild west, dancers and illusions in The World of Magic, clowns and comedy in the circus, or attend a free concert with admission. Who wouldn't want to see entertainment like Hunter Hayes, Brett Michaels, and American Authors? Just to list a few that are coming soon. Frontier City is a great place for kids and adults to enjoy an afternoon of fun and adventures. Some of our favorite rides are the Renegade Rapids, Silver Bullet, Steel Lasso, and Geronimo Skycoaster. Looking for more fun? Grab a Two Park Pass and visit White Water Bay for a day of water slides, water rides, and lounging in a float.

Oklahoma City National Memorial - Admission Cost is $15.00 per Adult - One of the most remembered days in Oklahoma is April 19 1995, which was the day a horrible person decided to take the lives of 168 lives. This museum and memorial represents that day and allows people from across the state and world to remember the lives that were lost that day. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is absolutely beautiful and allows visitors to learn and bring thoughts and prayers. The Museum allows visitors to become familiar with that tragic day, the lives that were lost, and the steps Oklahoma City has taken to bring hope. Travis and I have only visited once since our move to Oklahoma and even though we don't prefer to return due to the emotional toll it has for some of my friends and family, I would recommend a visit to anyone who would like to learn about the history behind this memorial.

Memorial not your cup of tea? Visit Bricktown which is the area surrounding the memorial. Great Food, Friendly People, and Plenty of Shops to Explore.

After typing these all up I believe Travis and I will be making some new weekend plans for the upcoming months. If you are planning a trip to Oklahoma City, feel free to take a few pictures and share them with me. I would love to see and hear about your experience with any of the above locations. Come across a place that isn't listed? Share! Travis and I are always down to view new places and explore new adventures. Before you go, make sure to enter into our first giveaway to win  $25 Starbucks Gift Card, you could use it as a treat for your next road trip.

30 Things That Make Me Happier

Yesterday I came across an awesome blog post by one of the queens of blogging, Helene at Helene In Between who shared 30 Things That Make Her Extremely Happy. After reading the list of things that make Helene happy, I couldn't help but create my own list. Plus with all the changes around here what better way to show all of you the happier side of me. 

1. Fresh Smelling Candles

2. Long Lasting Lipstick, Mac Matte Velvet Teddy and almost any NYX Soft Matte Liquid Lippies. 

3. Having a Shiny Wedding Ring

4. Watching a Body Positive YouTube Video, Kendall Rae, Sarah Rae Vargas, Learning To Be Fearless, and Brittney, to name a few. 

5. Puppies, even when they are 3+ years old and taking control of my house. 

6. Clean Dishes, well in that case a clean house and car while we are at it. 

7. New Vape Juice. Our current favorites are Fruit Hoops, Murica, and Goblin Energy by Vape Wild. 

8. Surprise Gifts

9. My Nephews

10. Road Trips

11. Concerts

12. A Well Organized Planner, couldn't agree with Helene more about this subject. 

13. Relaxing Days Off

14. When I come across forgotten property. Packing and moving has brought a lot of this. 

15. New Episodes on Hulu and Netflix. TV shows like Jane the Virgin, The Voice, and Quantico. 

16. Non Chipped Nail Polish

17. Half Priced Sonic Shakes. Loving the Peanut Butter, Hot Fudge, & Cheesecake Shake after 8 pm. 

18. Learning New Blogging Tricks

19. Trips to the Zoo

20. Adult Coloring Books

21. Good Deals. Travis almost always benefits from this happiness with new toys and adventures. 

22. When DIY Projects Work Out.

23. Sweet Tea & Lemonade, because Sweet Tea alone is unpleasant. 

24. Visiting the Farm and Seeing My Family.

25. Taking the Perfect Photograph

26. Playing Shuffle Board with Good Friends, a pitcher of Angry Orchard tends to make it an even happier moment. 

27. A Solid Savings, Extra Cash from our Budget, and a Good Budget Planning. 

28. Comfy Clothes

29. New Packages in the Mail

30. Travis. 

Another thing that brings a smile to my face and makes me super happy is winning a giveaway and getting free money to one of my favorite coffee shops. If giveaways also make you happier, be sure to enter to win a $25 Gift Card to Starbucks, HERE.