Troubled by Toddlers & Tiaras

Okay, so I have to admit that several months ago I got sucked into TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras. It was an accident, really. I was never a pageant girl and I didn't know anyone that was when I was growing up. I think I initially was fascinated by the families that were so sucked into the crazy lifestyle of pageantry (at least it appears that way on TLC).
For the most part, I laughed off the stereotypical pageant mom's. The over-dosing of the girls with pixie stix before a pageant irritated me, but other than that I had the attitude, "to each his own".



However, after watching the last episode I was heart broken. There are a brother and sister pair, Braxton and Alaska. The mother and step-father were absolutely awful. They did not treat their kids equally. Both the boy and girl were put in pageants. The mother and father continuously complimented Braxton and always neglected and even put down Alaska. I felt awful for the little girl.






She was not only beautiful, but she seemed to be a great kid. Regardless, no child should be treated the way that they treated Alaska. To really understand the scope of just how bad these parents were, you'd have to watch the whole video. While Braxton typically wins the pageants they both enter, this grand finale he did not and his sister won. Of course, the parents ended up adoring her because she won. It was awful. I couldn't get over that having a title was what made a mom love (or at least show love) to her own daughter. I know you're probably thinking, why did you keep watching if you thought it was so awful. The best I can explain is that it's like a scary movie, you want to look away at certain parts but you also don't want to miss anything.

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/toddlers-tiaras-season-4-videos/

The Love Bug is Biting

So, if you keep up with my blog you know that I am happily engaged and wedding planning is in full-swing. But, my own wedding is not the only planning that is going on in my life. Two of my closest friends (both from college) are also engaged and getting married in 2012!!! I am so excited for them and us just to be able to experience all of this stuff together.
So, I am going to be a bride first, a maid of honor second, and a bridesmaid third but all before the end of 2012. : )

Here is Mary and her fiance, Andrew. Mary lives in Florida and is going to school to be an elementary education teacher. She is amazing with kids and will be a great Mom one day! Mary and I met in college by fate. She moved into the empty suite next door to me my junior year. We instantly clicked. We both cheered in college together for the Barry Buccaneers. We were pretty much inseperable from the time that we met. We coached cheerleading together, traveled together, and became part of each other's families. Honestly, Mary is like a sister to me. I am an only child but she definitely filled that role. Her family is like my family and visa versa. It's so nice to have a friend like that. Mary is spontaneous and free-spirited. She has always been a good friend and is always fun to be around. I was honored when she asked me to be her maid of honor. : ) Believe it or not, I have never met her fiance, Andrew! He is in the Army Florida National Guard. So she is having to plan on a wedding on her own while he is Iraq. As her maid of honor, I wished I lived closer to be more of a part of her planning. But, I know it will all work out and the wedding will be even more meaningful since they have had to have a long distance relationship for so long.



And here is Jamie and her fiance, Scott. They live in New York. Jamie is an event planner. She is amazing at what she does, but luckily in college she thought she wanted to get into broadcast radio and we had most of our classes together. Jamie, also known as "Roomie" because she was the first roommate I ever had. (I'm an only child so that is a big deal) ha. Jamie and I met before freshmen year of school in a program that the university offered to introduce all the newbies. We instantly became friends and even kept in touch in the weeks leading up to starting college. It was so comforting knowing someone before entering that chapter in my life. We have so many memories throughout the four years of college but even after. Jamie is such a caring and honest friend. She is also a ball of fun. Again, I have not met her fiance, Scott either. Unfortunately, that is what happens when you live far away from your college friends.



These two girls mean the world to me and it really does make me so happy to see them so happy too! I have to be honest though, one of the the reasons I am most excited for all of these weddings is for us to all be together and to meet these two Romeo's of my friends.

P.S. I wouldn't be surprised if I have to update this blog with two of my other closest friends getting engaged. (I'll refrain from details because I don't want to jinx it) But, I'm telling you, the love bug is biting. But at the same time, I also know we are "at that age" when it's all about the weddings. In a few years, we'll be planning the baby showers and all that fun stuff. Believe me though, I am in no rush. I think I'll enjoy the wedding festivities for now! Cheers to my fiance and my good friends and theirs!

Saying Farewell to a Dear Friend

For many of us here at KRBC, we move to Abilene to jump start our career in journalism. My journey began 2.5 years ago and a week after I started, Maria Oliver (KRBC's former weekend anchor/weekday reporter; most recently assignments manager)started too.
We instantly became friends. We were probably each others first friends here, since the first week is just a lot of adjusting. It was so nice to have a close friend so quick after moving to a foreign place. Maria helped make that transition easier for me.

We have had so much fun together and made so many memories over the past 2.5 years. Today is her last day at KRBC and in Abilene. She is moving on to Alabama for the next adventure in her life. While, she will be dearly missed. I am really happy for my friend. I know that Maria and I will continue to be friends no matter where we live. Best of luck to you, Maria. : )

Is Nikki's Swirl Shoppe Taking Over?

If you watch me on KRBC or follow my blog here, it's obvious that I have a sweet tooth (especially for frozen treats). The past two summer's in Abilene, I had a snow cone or two every week.




Several snow cone owners in town will even tell you, we became friends based on the amount of times that I went for a snow cone.
When snow cone stands started popping up this year, I was anxious to go (and I did...maybe two or three times). For me, that is very unusual. I haven't had the cravings like I used to in the past (could it be from the cavities I had filled?) or it is the new Nikki's Swirl Shoppe?
My boss had mentioned the possibility of people ditching the snow cone stands for the new self-service frozen yogurt bar. I didn't really think of that as a possibility.



I am not a regular at Nikki's, but I have been a handful of times since they opened in Abilene.
Nikki's frozen yogurt satisfies the sweet tooth and offers a fun atmosphere (which is obviously why it is so successful. Now, I'm curious to know how you would compare snow cones to frozen yogurt?! What's your guilty pleasure?

He proposed and I said Yes!

The day I have been dreaming about since I was a little girl arrived on May 7th 2011.
We've been dating for one month shy of two years. I've known he was the one for a long time now, but was definitely surprised when he popped the question. While I'm going to keep much of the proposal a secret, I will share where it happened. We were in Fort Worth for the weekend (last weekend) and it happened inside the Fort Worth Gardens. Neither of us had been there before but it was gorgeous and the whole thing was perfect.



I am such a lucky girl. I came to Abilene in September 2008 to gain experience and jump start my career in tv news. Little did I know, that I'd find the love of my life on top of finding a job that I love. Now I know to some, this blog may be sappy but hey you can't blame a newly engaged girl, can you?

Loving the Voice

So I've never been a fan of American Idol, America's Got Talent, or basically any other show that has the same audition format. However, the previews of "The Voice," sucked me in. Even in it's debut week, it didn't disappoint. I am thoroughly impressed with the amount of talent displayed on the show. I never knew there were this many talented singers just waiting for their big break.
I'll be honest, I have a terrible singing voice. That doesn't mean that I don't like to sing but let's just my friends have told me to zip it even during karaoke. So I guess because it is something I am really pour at, I like to live vicariously through those that have amazing voices.



Every time, I picked someone who I thought was my favorite, the next singer changes my mind. As for the judges, I love the variety. The producers did a really great job casting and bringing in musicians of all genres. I still haven't picked my favorite judge just yet. It's hard to compare. I guess the one comment I have to single one of the judges out is Ceelo! Is it just me or is he girl crazy?! He finds some flirtatious comment to say to the majority of the female contestants. His comments are pretty predictable too.
What are your thoughts of the show? Do tell.

Meet the Parents

So since you get to see me every week day on KRBC First at Five and the News at six, I figured I'd introduce you to my lovely parents. My mother lives on the East Coast of Florida and my Dad lives on the West Coast of Florida (not bad places to visit the parents, is it)?

As an only child, I never had to share these two with anyone else (am I spoiled? Maybe just a little). No, but seriously these two are great. Although there are some things that they tell me they wished they did differently as I was growing up, I'm thankful for all that they did because I wouldn't be who I am today.

Both my Mom, Laurie and my Dad, Marc are my biggest fans, my biggest cheerleaders and I am very thankful for all of their love and support. I love my parents very much.