katie b.

Times they are a'changing.

2011-06-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

So it's a new year (welcome 2011), I've finished another year of ol law school, and I'm officially another year older. That would be the broad stroak of changes since I've lasted posted. To post all the little things may take way longer than anyone would want to read but I'll number off some highlights.

1. I'm in love with my clerkship this summer. If they would have me forever I'd happily accept but knowing the job market these days I'm trying to look for similar positions elsewhere if nothing is available come graduation time. Working on a case from the police report all the way to seeing it carried out in the courtroom is a pretty amazing process.

2. Blessed with an amazing bible study. Our smaller bible study joined a larger one that was just beginning and it's been such a highlight of my week. It's a great mixture of girls from all sorts of backgrounds and lives, so refreshing to hear their spiritual take on things. Our leader Lori is just wonderful and I've really enjoyed learning from her joys, mistakes, etc...

3. Friends and Family. God just has made it so clear to me how blessed I am with friends and a wonderful family. Moving back to my hometown has been a great way to reconnect with my friends growing up and even if I don't end up here, I'm so thankful for this time to all be back together. In addition, I've loved meeting new people since I've moved and have really felt God has put many of these people in my life for a reason. Finally, after the most amazing weekend with my college friends, I know my college girls are one of a kind. No clue what I would do without them. Now my fam should probably have it's own reality show because we are all crazy but I love them all beyond belief. It has been the biggest blessing of all being so close to my parents and Sam and getting to see them so much these days.

Now for the really important much less cheesy stuff:

4. Live music. Never realized how much better a Friday night can be when you are listening to a band live rather than sitting in a movie? While I love me some movies, sometimes its just way more fun to go to a concert. Whoever I marry someday, just so you, it's a non-negotiable for us to have a band play the reception. End of story.

5. Vegas is my new favorite city. My brother Jordan is still out there for grad school (have you met him? he's kind of a big deal) and so all the Bond fam has visited now a few times. I'd always heard all the horror stories but you really can make of the city what you want and create your own trip apart from the scuzzy parts.

6. Netflix Live. I mean what more could you ask for? Rent movies/tv shows/etc... straight to your tv? Don't mind if I do.

7. Casa don Gallo. The little mexican restaurant that could. The friendliest staff and the best mexican this side of the interstate. Love this place.

8. Girls' night. I've really loved getting together with all my girls each week to go out to eat, make something, catch a movie, etc... This really has become something I so look forward to!

I know there are way more exciting (maybe!??) or interesting things that have happened or are currently going on these days but this is all I could think of at 1:32 on a Thursday...I would normally promise to be better about blogging but usually everytime I say that I fail miserably.

Fall Break: Las Vegas

2010-09-26T19:47:00.002-04:00

"Man, I really like Vegas."
Elvis Presley

Why Elvis, I do too. I do too. Three more days of class and then Thursday I am headed to Sin City with Bunny and Emmy to see Jordan for a few days! Can't wait for a break in one of my new favorite places!

Run Forrest Run!

2010-09-22T11:39:00.004-04:00

I grew up a swimmer. Running has never been my thing, and I definitely don't claim for it to be. I have asthma and let's be honest, I'd rather sit on my couch in the air conditioning any day over out in the heat sucking wind!

I'm working to change this thinking and aversion I have against running because so many of my friends and my dad just love it. It's healthy, and I need to get more healthy. I've decided I'm going to run the Race for the Cure 5K and the Buddy's Race against Cancer 5K this fall and hopefully move on up to a 10k someday, and maybe maybe MAYBE a half marathon eventually. Not promising anything but why not shoot for the stars right?!?! Gotta keep telling myself if Oprah can do it, then I can too!

Okay, here goes!

Fall, my dear old friend

2010-09-02T10:42:00.002-04:00

So I am def a girl that loves me some summer. I love the weather, the food, the clothing, and the holidays. And my birthday is the start to summer, what's not to love about that?

Fall may just rival summer for my favorite season. This week signifies the start of SEC football, the return of the pumpkin spice latte, and finally, cooler weather here in TN. I couldn't be more excited for all these things! I really forgot how exciting Knoxville can be in the fall and how happy everyone is here this time of year!!

The Knoxville adventure

2010-08-26T14:27:00.003-04:00

I was blessed to call Knoxville my home for 18 years until I embarked on the adventure that was college in Birmingham. After living in Atlanta and Birmingham again, I'm finally living in Knoxville for this first time in 7 years. 7 years?!!? Man, does time fly when you are having fun.

I felt God led me to the decision of leaving the world I loved at Cumberland School of Law and starting a new journey in my life as a transfer student at UT's College of Law. The Lord really has had everything fall into place and my parents and friends have been beyond supportive of the move. Miles and I found a place to live that I absolutely love and it has plenty of room for everyone to come visit! So start planning those Knoxville trips now! I really miss my friends in Alabama but I know God has brought me here for a reason other than that it is wayyy more affordable with in-state tuition. I'm excited to reconnect with all my friends in Knoxville and be closer to my family and also my friends in Nashville.

I know God has some great times ahead here in Knoxville and I'm just holding on for the ride...

Forever

2010-06-18T13:31:00.002-04:00

So I haven't blogged in forever, well make that three months! Way too many things have happened and to discuss so let me give you guys the Cliff Notes version: finished my first year of law school, Jordan graduated college, I moved home for the summer, Christine got married, beach trip, I turned 25, clerkship, Miles is growing like a weed, ERay is having baby Avery, the list goes on and on!

These last few months have been such a blessing/whirlwind/experience. Couldn't decide on just one word to describe it all! And I promise to be a better blogger from now on...On my honor I will try to...

Spring Break 2010

2010-03-15T16:41:00.006-04:00

Destin, Mexico, Caribbean cruises, etc...These would all be Spring Destinations I could get excited about this year. Unfortunately, I will be spending my week at home in Tennessee working on a big, boring, Appellate brief for school. See below.

Don't get me wrong, I am really excited to be here at home with my family and friends. It is nice having a week to just catch up in school, and with life in Knoxville. This coming weekend will be a great wedding weekend with friends. Bonnie Gay, my dear friend and old roommate is getting married in Nashville. I can't wait to celebrate this pretty girl's big day! I know it will make for a stellar celebration with a bunch of college friends and I'm staying with my Nana and Papa Lech. Can't wait to spend a few days with them!
Lovely pic above of Bonnie and I with Katie Ware who I also am psyched to see! Thankful for this week off!

In Honor of this Celeb Lookalike thing on Facebook...

2010-02-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

SO funny! Can you tell I am bored in class?

Counting down!

2009-12-28T12:39:00.003-05:00

This is coming out my birthday weekend 2010~ can't think of a better way to bring in 25!! Who's with me?

Perspective.

2009-12-17T22:04:00.005-05:00

So I know it has been way too long since I last posted but I have been a tad predisposed. I survived my first semester of law school (hopefully, still waiting on those grades to come on in ;)) and a move back to Birmingham. This semester has shown me so much and I feel that God has really shown me this fall how important leaning on him really can be.

I will admit I can be quite the stress basket especially around finals and this year was no different. Add onto my stress the fact that in law school your entire grade rests on that final exam. Last Wednesday the Lord ripped me out of my selfish haze that I had been living in the past month. My tests are so hard, my life is so stressful, etc...You can imagine the usual self-centered rants! At around 3am in Knoxville, our neighbors' home exploded. In an instant their lives were forever changed. They had our same house (but with a basement) and from what we now know, a gas leak just like we have in our house at the present moment. My family has been staying in a hotel the past few nights until the leak can be fixed but I can't even begin to complain. Just as I found no words for complaining about my finals or situation last week when I got the news of what had happened in my neighborhood.

My brothers are alive to annoy me and for that I am so grateful. My parents are in good health and were not thrown from our home in a horrific accident. God has a way of putting everything in perspective and bringing us back to the important things in life just at the right moment. I have family, friends and most importantly, a Savior that loves me. As I learn more about the Lord in my bible study class, I have learned to see his footprints and influence everywhere in my life. I pray for his healing for our neighbors who lost their beloved son, dogs and home in a second. I have to thank him for each day and each opportunity I am afforded in this short time on earth. And as Christmas approaches, I am reminded that the only things that really matter are the eternal things that no fire can destroy: faith, hope, and love.

Shrimp, Swimsuits, and South Beach: OH MY!

2009-10-26T12:08:00.005-04:00

So a few weekends ago, I was blessed to go with my family to Palm Beach, FL for a few days. It was 90 degrees when I landed which automatically made me flash the biggest smile because I had just left rainy, cold weather. We ate so much good food, shopped (and window shopped a ton on Worth, the Rodeo Drive of Palm Beach), and just relaxed and enjoyed each others company. Jordan was not able to come on this excursion but he was certainly missed!

We took in a little South Beach Miami action with a lunch at Joe's Stone Crabs...so good and such a fun experience! I had never been to South Florida other than stepping off a plane and onto a cruise ship, so this was a great first-time visit! I took way too many pictures but I just posted a few to give you a glimpse at our amazing long weekend.

I am so thankful to have had a few days away before law school really kicks into overdrive! I apologize if I fall off the face of the earth until finals are over in December! Thank you again Mom and Dad for inviting me on such a great vacation!

Fall Break: Florida here I come!

2009-10-14T16:54:00.002-04:00

My law school does not honor a fall break so what does a girl who is in bad need of a vacation do? You create your own!

Tomorrow, I leave for a quick and much-needed vacation with my family in Florida. Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami: oh my! I plan on tons of good food, sunshine, and of course, some studying! Can't wait to spend some good quality time with the family but we will miss Jordan!

Please pray for safe travels and I will post a ton of great pics when I get back!

Rain, rain, GO AWAY!

2009-09-21T23:49:00.003-04:00

The south can never complain of a drought again! It has been non-stop rain this last week and it is expected to continue into the weekend! Where are you sun, my old friend?

Labor Day Weekend!

2009-09-09T22:32:00.005-04:00

Not only was this the last weekend of fall, but I was lucky enough to be home with the fam to bring in the first UT game weekend!

Frazier Wedding

2009-09-01T19:56:00.007-04:00

I was so excited to be apart of my friend Lindsay Lenore Greer's wedding a few weeks ago! I was ashamed that I didn't have my camera with me at all during the weekend so I stole a few shots courtesy of the lovely Aubrey West (thank you Aubs). Unfortunately, I had to miss alot of the festivities due to my first week of school but I was just honored to be apart of such a pretty wedding and special day!

All the girls at the Rehearsal dinner

Samford Bridesmaids

Meg and I getting ready

Fanch, Dane, and I with our pretty flowers

Things to look forward to this fall...

2009-09-01T19:37:00.007-04:00

My fall will likely be consumed with studying, reading, and writing in the lovely building below...

But I am very excited to have a few fun trips to look forward to this semester! I am going home a few weekends to see the family and to take in some UT games! There is nothing like a Saturday in Neyland Stadium.

I hope for a few good return visits to Atlanta this fall, one will be to a wedding in September and then my great friend, Kate's wedding in December! I can't wait to celebrate for Stacia and Tyler's wedding then Kate and David's!

Last but certainly not least, I am going with the family to Palm Beach, FL in October! Can't even wait for this trip and a little time away with my favorite people. As soon as I get back from this trip my finals studying will be in high gear so it will be nice for a little break! Look how gorgeous our hotel for the trip, the Four Seasons is! Can I go now?

Justice

2009-08-25T12:39:00.003-04:00

This morning I gained a new respect for our courts and all the crazy statutes, processes, etc....that we take into account. Some of you may not be familiar with the case, but two years ago in Knoxville a young couple was carjacked, subsequently beaten, raped, and murdered. It was all done in the most brutal fashion and would make chills permanently go down your spine. I don't understand why but I became obsessed with hearing all the facts on the case, maybe because I knew the female victim in our childhood, maybe because she was my same age and finishing up her final year of college as I was, or maybe my heart just wrenched to think that this could have happened to me or any of my friends.

I can't imagine the grief of her family and friends but I pray the Lord gives them some sort of peace now that the first perpetrator of this heinous acts was convicted today. Jurors from a different part of the state were brought in with no prior hatred like most of the city of Knoxville harbors and they still found this man to be evil and guilty. Our judicial process gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and today it was still found and proven how horrid the crime was to this beautiful couple.

One down and four to go....

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And we're off!

2009-07-31T10:20:00.003-04:00

This morning is my last day here at work and my mom and Jordan are already beginning the loading process at my apartment. It really is the most surreal feeling and I know the magnitude of everything still will not hit me for a bit. I feel almost mad at myself for being so sad about leaving because I know I have a great adventure ahead that the Lord has planned for me but I can't help but feel so bittersweet about the situation.

The last two years have been so many things but most of all, they have been an incredible period of learning about myself and what I am capable of now. I can pay my own bills, get my oil changed on time, take myself to the doctor when I feel sick, etc....The list could go on and on. I met some incredible people through work, Young Life, and just mutual friends. This period of independence will likely continue but not in this fun, Sex and the City way I have grown accustomed to here in Atlanta. I had the amazing apartment with an even more incredible roommate, a great job with fun swanky perks, and finally, tons of great shopping and eating attractions. So many good girl trips were had in this city with friends coming to visit and my family's trips down here were such a blast as well. I know all this will continue in Bham but I am definitely sad to see this chapter of my life close.

Thank you to all of you that have been there for me through these past few years, here's to three new exciting years in law school!

Atlanta Memories

2009-07-29T11:32:00.009-04:00

So I am getting all mushy and sad about leaving Atlanta and this past chapter of my life so I thought what better way to remember and honor these two years then through a blog post?

Above are some great pics documenting what an amazing few years it has been here in the ATL! I know I will be back all the time to visit!

Law school, new house, and no job! Oh my!

2009-07-17T15:00:00.002-04:00

This time next month things will be SO different. I will no longer be working at OMD, I will be a student at Cumberland law school, and finally, I will be living in a fabulous house with some great girls in Birmingham.

I am really so excited but at the same time it is definately the end of a great chapter in my life. My job has been such a blessing and the people I work with everyday are incredible. A pseudo second family of sorts! It is sad knowing I am leaving this world but I know God has clearly laid the path for this next step. I will miss all my amazing friends I have here in Atlanta, the places I have loved eating at all the time, my great apartment, the list really could go on and on...and on.

Whenever I become overwhelmed with all that there is to accomplish in this short time I am trying to put my trust in God because I know this is his plan. My family and friends that have been so supportive through this process are amazing!

Birmingham City Stages

2009-06-24T13:33:00.004-04:00

Fanch and Andin were so kind to invite me to Birmingham this last weekend. We took in a ton of concerts for free thanks to Cayenne Creative and Fanch sharing her passes with me! We had such a blast despite the sweltering heat. The music was great and on top of everything, we had corn dogs and funnel cakes! What more could you want for a summer weekend?!!?

My fabulous Dad

2009-06-18T15:08:00.007-04:00

So this Sunday is Father's day and in anticipation and because I can't be with my fabulous daddy on the actual day, I figured I would go ahead and let him and the rest of the online world know just how much he means to me. My dad is taking Sam, with my mom, to tennis camp in North Carolina this weekend but we got to hang out a good bit the last few weekends and will next weekend when they come in for Jordan's return to the States.

God blessed me beyond belief with a dad that constantly serves others and keeps such a great attitude about it. Both my parents have been such incredible examples of Christ's love to each of us kids. They have also shown us the importance of our relationship with Christ and the actions that are becoming of a believer. He showed me how important it is to balance resposibilities in life and to keep the importance in the truly important parts! Dad works EXTREMELY hard but also was there for every swim meet, went on field trips with us kids (SGA trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas anyone?), etc...He found a way to be successful both in his career but more importantly in his family life. I know I speak for Jordan and Sam when I say, thank you Dad for being so amazing to each of us and loving us unconditionally!

Online pop

2009-06-18T14:38:00.004-04:00

Online pop culture is pretty grand. My life lately has been new buys, revisions, posts, etc.. for tv and radio so any diversion such as the following are welcomed and enjoyed! Take a look if you haven't already caught these!

I love Jon and Kate, and all this marital strife is so sad. My parents got me addicted to the show and they are taking the issues much harder than I. :) I pray that the kids are spared as much pain as possible from their parents issues and the media fallout. This promo is everywhere on the internet now...really hoping its not an announcement that they are divorcing...go to counseling and quit the show people!

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/jon-kate-plus-8-season-5-webisodes/

I also love Taylor Swift. At first, her songs seemed a tad annoying because the radio stations would NOT stop wearing them out. As she has released more music and I have seen a few interviews with her, I really like the girl! The girl is so talented, wears sassy but age appropriate clothes, carries herself with class but yet still appears down to earch, and finally to top it all off, she is from the Gallatin area outside Nashville (Hendersonville to be exact). My mom and I both are fans of her and I hope we can catch one of her shows this fall. Check out her latest faux video with T-Pain, hilarious. Did I also say she has a great sense of humor?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgMLJbvcl9I

Enjoy! Off to Birmingham for a long weekend of friends, food, and good music!

A little ABC fun for Friday

2009-06-12T12:41:00.006-04:00

A - Age: 24

B - Bed size: Queen, perfect size for a single chica but when I am married I will likely join the King ranks
C - Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathtub. It just breeds nasty-dirtiness. I know it needs to be done all the time, but I cringe at the thought.

D - Dog's name: Max and Maddie, we keep it easy in the Bondurant household with the M's.
E - Essential start your day item: Toothpaste.
F - Favorite color: Purple simply as a color and red as a color to wear.
G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Def silver or platinum for the rocks on your hand but gold for fun night on the town jewelry.

H - Height: 5'5 1/2 but on my license I took some creative liberties and rounded up to 5'6
I - Instruments you play: Attempted the piano but found a way out of that one and tried the flute for a bit in middle school band. Don't hate, I got to go to Washington DC for a field trip, that makes it cool.

J - Job title: Media Buyer
K - Kid(s): Not for awhile but I would love in the far out future.
L - Living arrangements: ? Christine is my awesome roommate, until she leaves me for her own swanky place in the near future
M - Mom's name: Mom, Lesa, Lesa with an E, you get the picture....
N - Nicknames: Kitty cat, in Jim Bond voice, "because my first Halloween I was dressed up as a kitty cat," Bondage (don't ask, B. Fanch is to blame for that one), Katie B.
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Spent the night with my mom this spring while she was here in Atlanta at Piedmont

P - Pet Peeve: Mean people and filing nails
Q - Quote from a movie:
When Harry Met Sally

"I love that you get cold when it is 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle in your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

R - Right handed or left handed: Left

S - Siblings: 2 brothers
T - Time you wake up: hahah probably 8am usually

U- Underwear: Yes I do wear my "drawers" unlike most of young Hollywood

V - Vegetable you dislike: HATE beets, Jordan hates them all the more, just ask him his story with the infamous beets
W - Ways you run late: This is the million dollar question. I will likely be late to my own funeral. I know its a terrible flaw and my New Years resolution always includes something about trying to be more on time.
X - X-rays you've had: Mouth xrays at the dentist's office (had some yesterday actually) and an x-ray of my wrist in 3rd grade when I broke the bone playing an intense game of kickball

Y - Yummy food you make: I have mastered the art of basic mexican and chili
Z - Zoo favorite: Cheetahs and river otters. River otters are the dauchsaunds of the water.

i feel pretty, oh so pretty

2009-06-11T19:28:00.001-04:00

Well my blog sure feels pretty! I took some time today giving the 'ol blog an extreme website makeover. Check it out and make yourself at home...

Zach Attack!

2009-06-11T14:50:00.005-04:00

So...I know most blogs have a posting about this recent event and I had to give a shoutout as well! The other night on Jimmy Fallon a certain childhood crush of mine was back! Zach Morris from Bayside High School all grown up! Yes, that is the Zach from Saved By the Bell and yes, I dreamt of meeting my Zach in high school.

Mark Paul Gosselar who is the actor that plays Zach stayed in character the entire time and even performs at the end of the clip with the Roots! Gotta love it! Take a stroll down nostalgia lane...

http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/clips/saved-by-the-bell-reunion-update-3-6809/1121321/

London Chaos

2009-06-10T09:57:00.003-04:00

I studied in London exactly four summers ago now, man does time fly by....and above is a pic of Christine and I when she came up to visit me for a weekend while I was there. She was studying with UGA in Spain and came up with a few great girls to visit and take in some London sites. My brother Jordan is across the pond studying as we speak and just as I expected, he has already taken in famous celebs, incredible plays, and some great food. He even met Jude Law and made him laugh! That is something only Jordan Davis could do.

I was catching up on my news today and saw this about the tube strike...after studying in the city for a month I can't imagine what havoc this is causing. The whole city of London rides the tube so I am sure this strike is causing some major aggrevations! My mom and I had the great opportunity to head to Rome after my studies in London and a taxi strike was going on during our trip. What a pain it was! Prayers this silly strike will be over before you know it and the people of London can go back to normal. And safe travels home for Jordan and all the kids from Samford that are traveling abroad!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8090608.stm

windy city trip pics

2009-06-04T08:37:00.005-04:00

On the move

2009-06-03T18:01:00.004-04:00

So I left Facebook which we all know is a HUGE step for me! I figure best to learn some self control and take a minor sabbatical from my obsession (well behind diet coke, tivo, and my blackberry). Trying to last until August but we shall see...just like AA members...taking it one day at a time.

I also turned a whole year older! I am officially 24 now. :) Mid-twenties are off to a good start and my bday was so nice and relaxing at home with my family. They had come down to visit the weekend before for the start to Jordan's European tour and then on Memorial day we headed back to TN for my day! My parents and friends were so sweet to make my day and week super special with calls, texts, cards, etc...I am a blessed girl for sure.

This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Chicago with some of my best girlfriends from college. What a great couple days away from work and with such great people. We ate tons of delish food, shopped every sale that existed, and wore our poor feet out walking the city. I even was lucky to get to meet up with my cousin Emily and her husband Josh Saturday night in Wrigleyville. I was so sad coming home on Monday but work is crazy busy these days so that shocked me back into reality come Tuesday morning. I will post some great pics from our adventure soon...

I also have some exciting news to come as soon as it is verified! Stay tuned in...

XOXO kb :)

Rejoice!

2009-04-14T16:13:00.005-04:00

"Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah!"

Easter is such a great holiday and when you really take the time to think about what it all means, it is even more enthralling. Sam and I were talking on the way to church on Sunday morning and we both decided Jesus is the ultimate blockbuster movie. Yes I would make an analogy here....but its true. Who else would prove all the neysayers wrong and rise from the dead? I mean no character in Harry Potter or Batman can do that. The most exciting part of it all is it really happened and he did it for me. That is still hard to process on my most ugly days.

I had the best time at home with my friends and family this past weekend in Knoxville. My dad's birthday was on Friday so we had the best celebration for Jim Bond's big day! He is the most fabulous dad any kid could DREAM of and I am blessed to call him my very own! Maybe I am a tad partial but its true!

The sermon on Easter morning at CSPC really hit me hard. Among the things discussed, Rev. Wood talked about always wanting to fix things and how in life he has realized sometimes God wants us to learn from these hard times and realize that we don't always need to jump in and try to fix a thing. Somethings are better left to work themselves out in its proper time naturally. I am really trying to live this as I embark on some exciting changes this coming year and more and more I am aware life is constantly about evolving and learning new things.

Mary's going to the chapel

2009-04-07T14:07:00.003-04:00

And she's going to get married! Yay!! This past weekend we had mary's bachelorette party here in atlanta. What a blast. I could not have asked for a better weekend of good food, fellowship, and friendship! Next weekend is her big day and i am super excited for my beautiful friend that i love so!

Really?

2009-03-02T22:36:00.004-05:00

So I did not watch a single episode of this season's Bachelor until tonight and boy, can I see why I never watch this show. Every year I get into this show and really WANT to try and like it but I never do. Everyone this year has been talking about how great this Jason Mesnick guy is and as I watch the beginning two hours of the episode I start thinking everyone is right. For once, the Bachelor is picking the wholesome, girl next door that just happens to be beautiful to boot. This would be Melissa, and she is very reminiscent to me of Bachelor Bob's sweet girl he sent home. Well after the episode they do the usual "After the Final Rose" reunion special and Jason admits at this that he is still in love with the other girl, the annoying guys' girl Molly. Bleah. My stomach drops and I realize this guy is a fool like all the other bachelors before him.

My conclusion from this is that guys always want what they can't have and that the Bachelor is the WORST show. Wish this show would finally pick a good guy to prove these past jerks wrong on national tv!

favorite day of the week

2009-02-20T12:58:00.003-05:00

Friday. Just the word makes my heart skip a beat. I had a conversation with a friend recently about the greatest day of the week and while my friend disagreed, in my life, Fridays have always been the best day.

Let me give you some reasons why...

Fridays were hamburger day in the cafeteria in school growing up. At Samford, Fridays were fried chicken friday. Equally, glorious and artery-clogging. Until the recession went into full force, we also got free breakfast at work on Friday mornings.

Fridays in Knoxville public schools included Rocky Top playing over the intercom instead of the national anthem and all the kids wearing orange to support our Vols. I had the cutest Vols sweater and my Mom did a great job of choosing a sweater that was by no means tacky or redneck. Lesa has always found a way to support TN but in the least tacky orange way possible.

Its the end of the school, work, etc...week. Yes you do have to work or go to school that day but you know by the afternoon/evening you will be starting off on the adventure of another weekend. Who knows what can be expected?

In my many years of experience (1.5 years to be exact) work is generally much easier on Fridays. Everyone is talking about their weekends or took the day off. In the summer time, I am blessed to work for a company that still has 'Summer Fridays' which means we get every other Friday off between Memorial and Labor Day. Once again, awesome.

These are only a few of the many great reasons why I love Fridays. Thought I would share today since we are blessed it is a Friday! :) Enjoy your weekend!

friday special recipe

2009-02-19T12:08:00.002-05:00

So in my post below I discussed my love for Taziki's Friday Special and even posted a pic of this scrumptious creation. When i first moved to Atlanta, I scoured the internet for recipes since sadly the NYC of the south has no Taziki's. Today i searched again and found it! Enjoy!

Taziki's Friday Pasta(Serves 6)
3 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon shallot, minced
½ cup balsamic vinegar
Juice from one lemon
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 ½ cups blended olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
6 cups mixed lettuces
1 ½ pounds penne pasta, cooked
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled and cubed
2 cups feta cheese crumbled
3 tomatoes seeded and diced
1 handful fresh basil chopped

To make vinaigrette: Mix thyme, shallots, balsamic vinegar, lemon, sugar, Dijon mustard. Slowly whisk in oil. Add salt and pepper. Place about 1 cup mixed lettuces on each plate. Toss cooked pasta with 12 ounces (or to taste) vinaigrette. Toss grilled chicken with 6 ounces vinaigrette. Spoon approximately 3 cups pasta onto lettuce, then add chicken. Top with diced tomato, feta cheese and fresh basil, to taste.

long weekend in bham

2009-02-18T15:20:00.005-05:00

I went to birmingham this past weekend for many different festivities. the first being the beloved Step Sing. I have always had a love for Step Sing and could not imagine missing it! Especially this year because my brother Jordan did a FABULOUS job directing Sigma Chi's show. Jordan has been blessed with so many musical gifts and it is always a blast for me to get to see what his creative mind can come up with when combined with a group of frat boys. Above is a picture of Jordan's group at some point in the show. Their theme was "Braveheart" which the audience seemed to just love! The songs were great, the theme was creative, and and the costumes would crack anyone up. I really think they were robbed and deserved to win the Step Sing trophy for best act once again this year. Jordan: next year is all you guys! :) Above also is a pic of a few senior Chi O's in their costumes this year from their show, "Go Green". It was a cute theme and you could tell the girls worked hard. It was not my favorite show but Chi O will always hold a special place in my heart every year.

Whenever I get to Birmingham, I am always SO excited to see my friends that live there (obviously) but many people not familiar with the area would now know how amazing the food is there. I think it blows Atlanta away but maybe I am partial. I was able to get in a meal at Cocina Superior, Taziki's Friday Special, and some yummy La Paz (all pictured above too). If you are ever going to Birmingham and unsure of where to go, let me know and I will so hook you up with some of the tastiest places south of the Mason Dixon line!

Finally, this weekend I was able to be apart of one of my closest college friend's showers. Brittany (Fancher) Faison and Dana (Warren) Herring threw a shower for our dear friend, Mary Keown. I loved getting to do something for someone that has been so good to me over these past years. It was great to see a ton of our girl friends at the shower Sunday afternoon and catch up about what each person is up to now. We really have grown to appreciate these events to all get together and catch up because everyone is so spread out across the country now and just busy in general. I will make sure to post some pics from the afternoon soon!

The weekend was a blast and probably so much of a blast I got sick Monday afternoon. I can't complain though, it was definately worth getting sick to have the fantastic weekend I did in Alabama with so many of my favorite people.

thank you!

2009-02-09T13:07:00.000-05:00

to all my great family and friends for all your prayers and support these past few weeks! you guys are incredible and God has blessed me beyond measure with you all in my life!

Didn't want to like it...

2009-01-26T14:54:00.003-05:00

I was told by several people who know of my love for television that I should try "30 Rock" and that I would just love it. For the longest time I stayed strong and refused to give into their suggestions by watching an episode or two. I am too busy, addicted to too many shows, etc... were my many excuses I tried but finally this month I gave in and got the first season on Netflix.

This show really is so good and I love the storylines, the characters, and the humor. The Office is kinda dragging this year so if you need a good new NBC replacement show on Thursday nights, try 30 Rock. Thank you to all of you whose suggestion has me addicted to a new and yet another show!

the prom for the pretty, really talented people

2009-01-26T14:31:00.003-05:00

So in about a month it will be the academy awards and I can honestly say it is like my version of the Super Bowl. I love the designer dresses (above are some of my all-time favorites), the glitz, and the glamour: it really is the prom for all the famous, talented movie people! My goal for this year is to try and see all the best picture nominees before the awards show. Right now, I have seen one. Four to go! I have seen "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and really enjoyed it. It was such a moving story and the backdrop of New Orleans made for such a beautiful setting. The movie was a tad long, so don't get the large Coke before you see this. I still have to now see: Slumdog Millionaire (Winner of the Golden Globe for the same category), The Reader, Frost/Nixon, and finally, Milk. Hope I can knock all these out in the upcoming weeks!

"takes a little time sometimes"

2009-01-26T13:14:00.003-05:00

"It takes a little time sometimes
To get your feet back on the ground
It takes a little time sometimes
To get the titanic turned back around
It takes a little time sometimes
But baby you're not going down
It takes more than you've got right now
Give it time"

So in the fashion of this Amy Grant song, it does take a little time sometimes to get your feet back on the ground. I feel like many of my friends are in a sort of crossroads where it is taking a little time to get your feet on the ground and on a definite path. Our country and world in general is so uncertain with jobs, money, and leaders which cannot be helping the cause for the rest of us!

I have been brought to my knees more in these few years after college than all the past years I think combined. I have been more unsure of my path and decisions these past years but I know this has already made me so much stronger. This period has also finally made clear the fact that as believers in Christ we are never meant to feel at home in this world. The uncertainty is just finally realizing we are certain that heaven is our true home.

My experiences have shown me too that we never will have a plan, things will never be working out exactly how you had imagined, and that is the case for everyone at every age. The only thing in this life we can know for certain is where you will end up and that the Lord sending us down this path has the best possible intent for us all as his children. You just have to trust in his leading and it will all work out much better than you could ever imagine. This not knowing is the best part and we have to embrace this! Its like being taken on a scavenger hunt as a child by your parents, they love you and you trust them implicitly, so you have no fears and you just enjoy the ride. You also know at the end will be a prize and who doesn't love a prize from the creator of the universe? Personally, I am all for it and willing to wait.

2009 is going to be fine.

2009-01-04T16:50:00.003-05:00

So to copy my good friend Claire, I am going to put my New Year's resolutions online so hopefully that will make these finally stick! Here's to hoping at least...

I really want to focus this year on being strong as a whole package: mind, body, and spirit.

1. Mind-Focus on reading more because I really have always loved books. I want to try and pursue learning more about my career and where I really feel the Lord is leading me professionally. Mind also encompasses the fact that I want to become more secure in getting lost in my own thoughts and spending time alone. I think I am so obsessed with being around people and always doing something that I am not content in the silence.

2. Body-So I need an overhaul these days. I want to find away to get back to my ideal weight and figure while doing it in a healthy way that I can keep up for the rest of my life. It has been a hard transition learning to sit in a chair all day at work and having relentless yummy meals and treats brought in the office. Finding a balance between eating healthy and working out more is key. I am going to be better to myself too and try to cut out my love for soda and fried foods (hope i can survive the Diet Coke withdrawal) for Lent this year too. Fingers crossed and Lord willing I can do it!

3. Spirit-I as always want to focus on nurturing my relationship with the Lord and really listening to what he is telling me in my life. He has shown me so many things in my 23 years on this earth and I hope that this year he will teach me all sorts of new things and take me to places I never imagined in my walk with him. Some of us girls here in ATL are trying to get a girls bible study together so I think that will be another way to have a good accountability network.

Finally, I ate my black-eyed pea on Jan 2nd, really hoping that doesn't mean bad luck but instead is twice the luck of eating it on New Years Day!

so true these days...

2008-12-16T11:44:00.000-05:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28196734/

really makes you think...

five favorites of the moment.

2008-12-16T10:56:00.009-05:00

Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous -Carrie Bradshaw

I found that someone and it is my tivo. This past quote is actually from my favorite television show of all time, Sex and the City. Yes, a man is nice but I do love me some good tv. Some may say that this depletes your brain cells and I could not disagree more. A good tv show is such an escape from the stress of your own world and for 30 minutes, an hour, etc... you can be transported somewhere else...I love reading too but lately I have been having such a great time with these shows and since I make a living out of advertising on tv, figured I would share some suggestions with all of you! And I would like to hear your favorites as well!

1. Lost-probably my favorite show. You have already heard me brag and blog about this one but it is incredible. Amazing cast, storylines, etc...If you have not seen this, I strongly urge you to watch a few episodes (from the beginning) and you will be addicted! The battle between science versus faith is incredible and all the twists and turns keep you constantly on the edge of your seat. I would recommend watching this show in its entirety by season if you have plenty of time on your hands...

2. Gossip Girl-the guilty obsession show. NY Magazine has validated mine and Mary's and Dana's insane love of this show so now we can just say we are NYC hipsters watching GG. Or in the same category as 12 year old girls but I would rather stick with the first category. The best part of this show is the ongoing love-hate relationship of Chuck and Blair, and this young cast of respective actors really is the best up and comers on television today.

3. Heroes-give it a try. I got into this show through the wonders of Netflix. I had heard all the buzz about its amazing first season but never saw it on air. The second season was cut short because of the writer's strike and I think it has had a hard time getting its footing again after the strike but this show has some really creative storylines and I love all the science-fiction ideas. If you enjoy Lost, my bet is you would really like this show.

4. The Office-didn't want to like it. Everyone LOVES this show and so that really made me not want to but I couldn't help but love it. The characters are so lovable and real and now working in a cube world, I really feel all of their pain. I even tried to love the British version at my brother Jordan's suggestion but it just didn't have the same edge.

5. Ugly Betty-best underrated show. I have loved this show since it first came on the air. Love the outfits, the NYC publishing setting, and the heart that is put into this 30 min show. Patricia Field, who was the costume genius behind my favorite of all favorite shows, SATC, also outfits this cast. This show has had some interesting guest spots but this cast by itself really gels so well with one another. Amanda and Mark have the best chemistry you could ever imagine for a platonic couple and some fabulous one-liners.

samuel grant bondurant

2008-12-10T14:12:00.003-05:00

so i feel like in my mind sam bondurant is still five maybe six years old but no....add 10 years on to that number. sam turns 15 today which just blows my mind, 16 may just put me into shock.

sam is a successful bearden high school freshman, a good friend, and a great baby brother. he is so thoughtful and can be very selfless which is pretty unheard of at any age but especially a teenage boy! watch out TN drivers, sam bondurant will be hitting the roads soon (with an adult over the age of 18).

happy birthday sam! i love you and wish i could be there for your big day!

holiday blessings.

2008-12-06T15:44:00.010-05:00

economic recession, thousands of dollars and jobs lost, death and destruction, war, murder and rape, etc... i feel like this is ALL we hear on the news these days. doom and gloom. it is so easy to get caught up in how hard and awful things seem to be these days.

i will be honest lately i have found tons of things that i want, need, am jealous others have, etc... i get so mad at myself for being consumed with such thoughts but i know it is really all part of human nature. we see a friend in a situation and think "gosh how easy or great would life be if mine was the same" but this is so far from the truth. i have been reminded lately that we all think the grass is always greener on the side.

whether its having that it coat, boots, or video game or a significant other, child, nice house, job, etc... there is ALWAYS something out there you can want. my parents raised my brothers and i to know that there will always be someone with more clothes, money, bigger house, etc... there is always a bigger pond and we should be blessed with the many things we DO have in our lives. i used to roll my eyes when my parents would say this, because i thought i just had to have that new barbie townhouse with an elevator or prom dress that cost my rent for two months, but as i get older i see more and more how dead-on my parent's advice really was.

i think during Christmas time this wanting and wishing becomes extremely bad. i am such a blessed girl, i have incredible friends and family, a good job, a nice apartment, and good health. not too shabby. things could be so much worse. i am thankful the Lord has blessed me with all he has and i want to stay cognisant of my attitude this holiday season. why is it when you have so many great things in your life you become obsessed with the one thing you don't have? guess that will be one of my questions when i am at the pearly gates someday...enjoy your life and realize how good we all really have it!

two becomes one-meg and ricky get married!

2008-11-10T13:50:00.007-05:00

what a great weekend! it was so much fun to see two great friends of mine get married and pledge their lives to one another. megan looked beautiful and ricky looked more than happy and snazzy. they are now off on their honeymoon to the bahamas and will be living in this great historic house in birmingham. yay guys so excited for you both!!!

it also was great to see all my friends this weekend, we have all been spread out this past few months and what a great excuse to get together and watch our friends marry. weddings now are double the fun acting as a great celebration of the couple's love and a reunion of friends! what more could you want?

pics from tampa

2008-10-24T19:40:00.005-04:00

tampa bound!

2008-10-17T14:28:00.002-04:00

tomorrow morning the bondurant family (me included, thank you remaining vacation days :) ) will be headed to tampa for fall break. on tap will be some good eating, shopping, and we have some amazing tix to a tampa bay buccs game! i am even excited about this! the weather is supposed to be in the 90's too so don't get too jealous of me! i will post all sorts of good pics on here when i get back! say a prayer for safe travels!!

Hitting Home

2008-10-14T13:10:00.002-04:00

Below is a song I ran into and the lyrics really are just touching my heart and where I am at these days! I want to thank everyone that has been praying and loving on me during this difficult time. It really means the world to me. God has blessed me beyond comprehension with some of the most amazing people in my life!!

Less Like Scars by Sara Groves

It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's
Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember
And I feel you here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like character
Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending
Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come
And I need you and I want you here
And I feel you and I know you're here
And you're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But you are able
And in your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars
And more like Character

pics from the weekend!

2008-09-28T14:43:00.003-04:00

had such a great time and ready for the fam to come back already...now prepping for the long journey to ohio for my cousin emily's wedding this coming weekend!

bondurants invade atl

2008-09-26T16:24:00.004-04:00

yay! my parents and sam are coming in this weekend to visit! it has been quite awhile since the bond family has made a pilgrimage to the big city of the south and i couldn't be happier to have them in. we are going to do some good shopping, eating and lets not forget, watching les miserables the musical! we have tickets on saturday night to see the performance of the musical at the fabulous fox theatre. i love that it is not just the fox, but the fabulous fox! :) its just that great.

we really wish jordan could make it too but he is uber busy with play practices, studying, etc... can't wait for this weekend to get started and don't worry i will post some pics later next week of all our antics! think the national lampoon family but much louder!

young life resumes!

2008-09-22T13:26:00.002-04:00

this week young life resumes, yay!! we had training a few weeks ago and our annual muckfest get together but this week will be the start of club! i am a leader at the one of a kind and glorious marist school. it is a private school in perimeter that is stellar and renowned for their sports and academics! holla! the kids are pretty beyond fab too! ;)

young life was one of the most important parts of my high school years and i really owe the organization so much for my spiritual journey. many of you unfamiliar with the club may ask, what is young life? and to answer that question i have a handy dandy explanation from the yl website!

"Picture a sea of teenage faces in a crowded school hallway. Some kids are trying to blend in; some are being carried along by the crowd; others are deliberately swimming against the tide. All of them are trying to find their way in a culture that is crowded with the noise and glare of media messages and peer expectations.

Young Life seeks to carry the message of Jesus Christ into that tumultuous tide and points teenagers toward life as they were created to live it. Since 1941, the dynamic that has characterized Young Life is its commitment to relationships — Young Life leaders meeting kids on their turf in the interest of friendship. As leaders get to know teenagers, they are able to share the love of Jesus Christ through platforms like Young Life club, Campaigners and trips to camp.

Whether kids are seeking answers or just acceptance, Young Life is there for them, armed with a desire for fun and the ultimate message of hope."

basically, yl brings the reality of Christ to high school kids and shows them his love right where they are without pressuring them to make decisions, exuding any judgment, etc... while i was a very straight-laced student and always raised in the church, i had never really been shown how incredibly cool our Savior really is and this was proven to me through young life. since moving to atlanta last fall, i was able to become involved as a leader at marist. if you have never heard of yl, i really urge you to google and check it out...beyond worth your time.

touchdown in tennessee

2008-09-21T21:53:00.006-04:00

this weekend i went home for my first TN home game of the season. i had a blast with my family and friends even if the outcome of the game was pretty dismal. the vols were put in their place by the florida gators but we didn't let that affect our spirit. it was a glorious fall day in tn filled with tailgating, football, and stadium hot dogs. my favorite. boot camp would not approve but i couldn't deny myself that piece of football goodness! hopefully i can get back to ktown this fall for another game!

five things i really like right now...(and everyone else should too)

2008-09-03T11:20:00.006-04:00

1. NeedtoBreathe-great band! saw them in concert last night at the tabernacle and loved them even more than i already did, which was alot! thank you d for turning me on to such a fab band. seriously check them out on itunes...

2. My Blackberry-"crackberry" is a fitting name for this device. internet, phone, oh my! it truly is glorious.

3. Gov. Palin-i am just in awe of a woman being able to wrangle five kids, stand by her beliefs, and rise to such a prominent position in our country. politics is certainly breaking down barriors with this upcoming election and it is exciting to be voting and a part of this change!

4. Gossip Girl-the season 2 premiere was monday night and i wait on baited breath for next week's episode. i know i have gotten many of my girls addicted to this show and i can't wait to get more of you into it...

5. Being off facebook-i made a conscious decision to get off facebook because i was addicted. the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right? :) It is actually pretty liberating! So now i will really know when people love me because they will have to actually pick up the phone and give me a ring...

book club.

2008-08-26T15:58:00.003-04:00

so i need some good new book suggestions? i love me some harry potter and cult classics such as that but then a thought-provoker like kite runner can also be big favs of mine. anybody read anything lately that i just have to get? thank you kindly.

end of summer.

2008-08-26T15:12:00.011-04:00

so rather than being bummed about the end of summer i am choosing to take the positive view of this changing of seasons. it was a great summer but i am looking ahead to an even BETTER fall.

this coming weekend as the close to my summer, i am headed to destin for labor day with a few churches here in atlanta. i am going associated with buckhead church in particular for the labor day retreat. this church has a really strong young adult program and great speakers, so i am really looking forward to it. i have a few girls that i love going but it will be also nice to just meet new people that share a core interest of mine, my faith. i will be sure to post some good pics and stories when i get back!

first off, the weather is incredible in the fall. love the smells and the colors, it all is amazing. if you have never been to east tennessee in the fall, i recommend it. fall is gorgeous everywhere but i personally believe it is most beautiful in tn. everything is sweeter in tn.

this weekend also is the start of university of tennessee football. i have been ragged on by all sorts of people for not being the most educated vol fan and more of a atmosphere fan so this year i plan to change that. i will at least know the names of five players on the team (thank you sam) and i am trying to get to knoxville for a few games with the fam and friends. a home ut game is another experience that everyone should take in before they die.

young life starts back up again in september and i am hoping for an even stronger year with kids at marist. last year was our first year with yl at the school and it went really well but here's to hoping this year God will bless it with even more growth and interest. above is a pic of christine and i at sharp top last year. can't wait to go this year but sadly i found out it is the weekend of the ut-bama game. boo.

i have a fun vacation planned now for my brothers' fall breaks to tampa in october. i have never been to tampa so i am looking forward to some exploring and some good shopping. lesa and i can tackle any locale for a good deal! above is a pic of our hotel, the renaissance hotel in tampa. looks nice and relaxing...

in november, i have megan and ricky's wedding in destin which should be a romantic and fun affair while at the same time being a good reunion of all my friends. now that we are all spread out and working it is nice having joyful occasions like this to get together and catch up! i am going to try and work out a trip to new orleans to see dana and warren this fall as well if money allows.

then there is thanksgiving and christmas!! can't wait! i know there will be many other exciting things to look forward to but wanted to touch on a few highlights for me! god bless!

new beginnings

2008-08-06T15:24:00.003-04:00

i feel like this title sounds like the title to a menopause pamphlet but i am not discussing hot flashes here, just the upcoming changes my friends are going through.

a large group of my friends graduated from college this last year and are now looking for jobs! welcome to the fun of grown up land! no, but really, so excited for you girls and all the fun you have ahead this next year. buns i swear it really is great!

megan bird actually just got a job yesterday and will be moving to the big a-t-l next week. congrats bird! i can't wait to have her down here for good and be reunited once again! kate foster got a really important internship with the rally foundation in atlanta which supports children with cancer. can't wait to hear your moving stories from a day on the job kate!

dana and warren herring are moving to new orleans next week and i can't tell you how excited i am to visit! warren will be attending the prestigious tulane mba program (which he is on scholarship for and everthing, can we say big deal!) and dana will be decorating their beautiful house while also working! come on girls, the house is a much bigger deal to us than jobs! i am already planning my first trip down to nola which is basically as soon as i get together enough money not to be stranded down there!

a few of my close friends have gotten married this past year and are getting married this next year. congrats to them too!! and a pat on the back should go out to my girlfriends that just celebrated their first anniversary, that is a HUGE feat.

so hey, i think the future is bright and only good things are ahead for my friends.

girls just want to have fun.

2008-08-06T15:18:00.004-04:00

this past weekend was megan leland's last hooray as a single woman and was also a great reunion for all our college girls! we got together in the big A for a weekend of good food, shopping, and even better conversations with our college girlfriends and meg's amazing fam.

i especially loved the weekend because i don't feel like i get to see the girls nearly enough and so the quality time with them all was beyond overdue. they mean the world to me even if we are all spread out across the world it feels some days...

had a blast celebrating megan's upcoming wedding to ricky and can't wait for the trip to destin for their upcoming nuptials in november!

free falling

2008-07-15T21:52:00.002-04:00

okay so do you have songs that just make you happy on the inside? i have numerous songs that spark this smile all the way down to my belly and one in particular is "free falling." the tom petty version is pretty classic but i heard the new john mayer live version on the radio the other night. its great. i rolled my windows down, took in some good clean (humid) summer air and just smiled. a good song makes you escape for a second even if you are in bumper to bumper atlanta traffic. you can, even for only a second, imagine you are totally free...free falling...free falling...

got any songs that make you happy to recommend?

hot child in the city

2008-06-19T09:43:00.002-04:00

so it has been quite awhile since i have blogged and i miss it. journaling and writing is just a great release for me and i know there are sooo many people out there that are wondering about the exciting goings on in my life! right... :)

the title to this post i also used for my new facebook album. it is an episode of sex and the city where carrie realizes she is much more grown up than she had ever thought before. i agree with this more than ever now. i know i have many years of maturing to go but it has been nice just sitting still for a moment this summer and realizing how far i have come in this past year. i have had the opportunity to see some of my very best friends recently and it has been so refreshing to see how well they are doing and all the changes they have experienced, survived, etc... this year as well.

i have moved to a new city knowing relatively no one, i have been on my first big girl work trip to nyc and have experienced the laying off of several colleagues too (thank you economic recession). many mistakes have been made but i have tried to learn from them and follow the path i feel God is leading me down. it is a really confusing time and i am confused kinda daily by what i want, what i am doing and the like but i know if i stay true to the Lord's will it will all end up much better than i have ever imagined.

okay enough deep thoughts before 10am today...

partner in crime.

2008-05-16T16:24:00.004-04:00

jordan davis bondurant, my brother was born three years after me. our closeness in age was a blessing and a curse at the same time because like any siblings who played together all the time, we would bicker. i can still remember jordan singing the cc's pizza jingle so many times i started bawling in the car (the real embarrassing thing here is that it wasn't THAT many years ago). jordan was the talent when we played video games and i claimed to be the brains. i remember us sitting together for days in the playroom trying to beat zelda. that was before baby sam accidently deleted our whole saved game...that's another story to tell. jordan and i would get on each other's nerves so badly but the second someone threatened either of us with a mean comment or the like, the other one was there to step in. we could mess with each other but we would never allow anyone else to even try.

as we have gotten older, we bicker much less and really respect each other. i think he can make me laugh like noone else can and his talents don't end there, jordan is one of the best vocalists/actors i have ever seen. i honestly am not bragging on him simply because he is my brother but if you have seen jordan perform then you know God really gave him some amazing gifts. jordan is loving, responsible, and sharp. he has grown into such an amazing man and i couldn't be more proud of my little brother. i have been so blessed in this life to have been given two incredibly different but both incredibly wonderful brothers. jordan's birthday is this coming tuesday and i know next week will be crazy so i figured while i have some time on my hands, why not wish him the happiest birthday! welcome to the 20's jordan!!

media buying 101.

2008-05-16T13:47:00.005-04:00

i feel like i am always getting asked by people what exactly it is that i do now. so i thought why not expand on my occupation, company, etc...i work at omd worldwide which is a global media agency. we are owned by omnicom corporation which is a major media holding company like time warner or news corp. omnicom took the media side of their three biggest advertising agencies, bbdo, tbwa chiat day, and ddb and formed omd. we have offices around the globe and in our office in atlanta we work on all the southern regions of the united states.

i had heard of media buying and planning but we never really studied the art of either at samford. i remember going over nielson ratings in my journalism intro class and thinking, "how boring, i will never need this." right...i am reminded more and more of God's sense of humor because i use these ratings everyday.

i work as an assistant media buyer where i assist three buyers on several different markets. my largest markets for tv and radio would be atlanta, orlando, nashville, and raleigh. buying assistants help our buyers out with orders, billing discrepancies and makegood. you may ask, "what are any of these things?" well... we have orders come down from our clients. omd's largest clients are lowe's, sterling, hershey, frito lay, pepsi, clorox, and i better not forget our biggest breadwinner, nissan. nissan will give us parameters that the media planners put together for buying on, for example, atlanta radio. my buyer, stacie will negotiate the space and which stations would be best for our demographic. for nissan it is generally a broad one such as adults 25-54. she will often go back and forth with stations about getting the lowest price for a morning drive or afternoon drive. they are both the most expensive spots on radio. prime and sports would be the most expensive for television. once she has the buy all together i will send it out for her and then take in all the confirmations. the confirmations come from each station and basically is the contract saying that they are held responsible to run what was ordered.

billing discrepancies happen when the stations do not run what was ordered. the money is often the same but they may have switched up the times. as an assistant this is our most important job. the invoice discrepancies must be cleared and matched up before any client is paid. i have stations contacting me all the time about payment and invoices. probably 2/3 of my day is consumed with some aspect of billing. while this may seem kinda boring, it is the building blocks to learning how to buy and making it to the next step. i even enjoy doing this stuff because i love media and working with it daily, i know that sounds so nerdy but its true!

finally, the last big thing i work on is analyzing and approving makegoods. television stations will send over a makegood if they have missed and spot and want to offer another. there can be numerous spots on the makegood offer and they all have to be researched. the money and the nielson points earned must stay the same for it to be approved. it also must be programming that is acceptable for the client. i love me some 'gossip girl' but it is hitlisted for all of our clients. some clients have very picky parameters for makegoods while others give the stations more flexibility.

i hope that answered some questions people had about what i do and who i work for. i really love it and feel so blessed to have an incredible boss, coworkers, etc...i have had the bad jobs that make you wonder what your purpose is and so now i know what its like to enjoy going to work. i still don't like waking up early but i sure do love my job.

my best friend's day

2008-05-11T15:29:00.005-04:00

i thought before when i heard people say, "my mom is my best friend" that is was the biggest lie. i would roll my eyes immediately after hearing this and just blow the comment off because i couldn't believe it to be possible.

as i have gotten older i have realized just how much my mom means to me and that she really is my best friend. i have even been known to call her after a few drinks just like my other close friends! my mom gives all she can to us kids and i hope someday to return the favor on the level she gave to us.

this weekend my mom and grandmother, who i affectionately call "nana" came to town to visit for mother's day. sam and my dad came and met us too (jordan was busy finishing up finals and his many other projects...sad) for the relaxing weekend. we had a blast and i loved just getting to spend time with both women (and the boys too). i would love to end up even a little bit like either of them! happy mother's day mom and nana! love you both so much!

the greatest.

2008-04-10T11:24:00.005-04:00

i have the best dad ever. no, i mean really he is. if you have met my dad, jim bondurant i am sure you remember meeting him. his love for life is contagious, you can't help but smile when you are around him. he is selfless, loving, caring, the list could go on and on. if you haven't met him, i recommend you do soon. today is his big 50th birthday and i can't even wait to celebrate it with the family this weekend in knoxville. i have a few surprises up my sleeve for him on saturday night too! to be continued...

the pictures above are over the years. the top one is the family at wild dunes resort outside charleston a few summers ago. the middle pic is a polaroid taken right after my parents got engaged. finally the last pic up is my dad and i before i went trick or treating. from a few years before that my dad gave me my nick name kitty cat bc my very first halloween i went as a cat. the name stuck and my dad still sometimes calls me that.

God really blessed me when he gave me both of my parents. they are pretty dang fantastic. i could rave about each of them for hours...

so you had a bad day.

2008-04-09T21:06:00.006-04:00

so i had a really rough day yesterday. there was no real reason for it at all to have been so bad but yet by 5pm i wanted to crawl back in my bed and just cry. i think it was a accumulation of several different things: i miss my family and friends at home, miss all my girls from college, felt so sad for jonathan's best friend tyler who this past weekend lost his amazing mother, had an extremely long work day, etc... to sum it up it equaled a crappy day. i think everyone has had those days that bring you back to being five years old and getting sad and just wanting your mommy or daddy.

when i was in college i didn't know how to take these days because i am an extremely emotional person already by nature but on these low days for me, it is really rough. i think since i can be a pretty positive person most of the time it surprises people that i have these depressed days. i had some great friends (thank you so much nat, dana, mares, fanch, and mary kathryn for being so sweet) and my incredible mom try and cheer me up yesterday which meant so much to me. what i realized most importantly in this situation is that God gives us these low kind of days to remind us that we are only human and we need our great one and only Father. those days that bring us to our knees (or beds, a tub of ben and jerrys, etc...) show us how much we need God's love and life is simply incomplete without it.

spring madness

2008-03-27T14:58:00.004-04:00

i love spring. the smells, the sounds, the activities...it is all great to me. my first spring in the atl has been off to a good start. vacation with the fam in arizona was the most amazing way to bring in the new season. i got to relax, recoup, and recharge my batteries with some of my favorite people in the entire world. i am really beyond lucky to have a family that not only do i love in theory but i also really love hanging out with and respect.

so many fun things coming up for me in the coming months. these next few weekends i have several of my best friends coming to town. can't even wait. it will be so great to catch up and spend some good qt together. marist young life has nothing but great things coming up in the coming months too. tonight is our big dessert club for not only marist students but also their parents. they can come and see what exactly young life is all about. i am praying we open some new eyes to the wonders of young life but most importantly bring some news ears to Christ's word. my dad's birthday is coming up in two weeks and i can't wait to see my fam again and celebrate the best dad in the world's birth. if God had asked me what all i would like in a dad, i couldn't have asked for anything better then what i was blessed with with jim bondurant (pic above in honor of my lovely dad). he is fantastic! that same weekend i have the dave barnes concert with sarah grace (can't wait sarah, thank you thom for the incredible seats!) and a few other shows. in may i have claire's wedding which will be such a blast and reunion of sorts with so many of our friends! so excited for claire!

can't wait to see what else God has planned for me this spring. i am sure it will be much more than i could ever imagine!

fierce. hot mess. fierce. love it.

2008-03-11T20:15:00.003-04:00

okay so i love television...one of my favorite television shows is project runway. it is no sex and the city or lost but it is still pretty fantastic. this year christian siriano won who was my favorite the whole season long. he is the perfect reality show ego but the thing is that he has the talent to back it up. this past saturday night snl did a sketch on the show (bird i will catch you up on all this when you get back) and it was hilarious...enjoy!

http://huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/10/snl-creates-fierce-brav_n_90725.html

make new friends but keep the old...

2008-03-11T19:23:00.004-04:00

okay so in this year filled with changes i have really learned so many things about myself. i am sure these realizations will only continue as i get older.

i have learned this year how important new and old friendships really can be but the thing that matters most is what those friendships are based on. my mom imparted some wisdom to me this past summer after graduation when she said that in this next stage of life when you have little free time it really will become clear who you want to keep in touch with and spend that precious time with. she was so right (as you always are mom).

in my life i have been very very blessed with some amazing friends. they are all so different and from all sorts of different walks of life but each one really is special and means so much to me. i don't think i really realized and appreciated this fact until this year. i became very immeshed in the sorority thinking (i still love you tons though chi o) that my group was better then any other and anyone different wasn't worth my time. my friends at school were much better at keeping up with old friends but i just became so busy i didn't make time for some of the people that i love most. i don't think i consciously thought this out but my actions probably portrayed it. that is so far from who i really am it makes me sick. my parents raised me to know you can't ever have too many friends but i don't think i lived by this motto at all the past few years of college. many of my best friends from home who helped truly make me who i am i lost touch with rarely spoke to or saw. that makes me so sad to think about now.

this past year it has meant the world to me to reconnect with my old girls (and you too derek) and meet new friends. to everyone that i fell out of touch with during college, i am so so sorry and i look forward to many good times ahead. to my friends from college, you girls are amazing and i wouldn't trade our relationships for the world either. you all were there for me through some really hard and transformative years. and finally to the girls i have grown to know in atlanta already, i am thankful for you and can't wait to make all sorts of new memories.

it really drove this point home this most this past weekend in knoxville. i had the best saturday night. i went to dinner with old friends (sarah, jobeth, adrienne, and claire it was so good to see you guys), then went down to campus to see natalia's new apartment. the picture above was only a snapshot of the fun i had with sarah, nat, and derek. sarah and i started talking about this subject at one point in the night and she said that she could honestly count the times we talked over the four years of college on one hand. that just crushed me because i knew it was so true. sarah hinton who i have known my whole life and has always been one of my best friends i only talked to maybe four times throughout college. i hate that and realize that long distance friendships do take work but they are so beyond worth it. i am really going to work hard to be better at that!

oh sparks...

2008-03-11T19:15:00.005-04:00

so in my absence from blogging i missed emily sparks birthday too! i love this picture above of em and toby (dar dar) from em ray's wedding fiesta. emily is one of the most beautiful people inside and out. she is so caring and is always willing to do anything in her power to help a friend (or anyone) out.

i was so blessed to meet em my freshman year down the hall and now have been really blessed to have her back near me at auburn in grad school. we have gotten close again and it really means so much to me to call her one of my best friends. i know as years go by we will still stay friends and that is what matters.

hope you had a fabulous bday em!

Belated but still so important to me...

2008-03-11T18:59:00.004-04:00

so i have been awful in my keeping up with posts so i am writing now (a week later) to wish ashley a happy happy birthday! we celebrated her birth the weekend of and above are a few pictures from it. christine was even so sweet to make a yummy homemade cake!

ashley stephen is incredible. i am really blessed God brought her into my life as a friend. we met the day we both interviewed at southern progress, then both interned together for southern living, and now work together here in atlanta at omd. i know ashley will be a friend for a lifetime because she is so supportive, loyal, and encouraging. this is if she doesn't get sick of me before then! she is a pretty amazing listener too and is a great judge of character. i don't think i ever would have survived this move to atlanta without ashley. we both have been fortunate enough to be on this adventure conquering a new city together and i couldn't ask for a better best friend for the process.

happy birthday ashley!

i can't even wait

2008-02-24T14:41:00.006-05:00

i absolutely ABSOLUTELY love sex and the city. my girlfriends in college and i quickly became obsessed with the show watching every dvd, rerun, etc... we could get our hands on. anyone that watches the show will immediately decide, "am i more a carrie, charlotte, samantha, or miranda?" i would like to think of myself as a carrie. i am not terribly old-fashioned or provocative and i am indecisive at everything in my life much like sarah jessica parker's beloved character.

ask anyone that knows me well at all what my favorite show would be and in a second they could tell you sex and the city. i was ecstatic at the news that my favorite show was becoming a movie. many people would be fearful that it will not hold up against the original but i have no fear. sjp (who i have the biggest girl crush on) is the executive producer again like on the hbo series, all the actresses and actors are signed on, and the original writers are penning the screenplay. dang is it going to be good. what is even better is that the movie is coming out my birthday weekend in may so i am all the more excited about the big 2-3 this spring. today online they have a released a longer trailer (an uber short trailer was released in the fall but revealed nothing about the plot) and the movie looks amazing. for all you other die hard satc fans, here it is...what do you think about the idea of the movie, the trailers, etc?

http://jezebel.com/359633/extended-sex-and-the-city-trailer-carrie-gets-jilted-lol

step sing 2008

2008-02-20T15:54:00.011-05:00

above are two pictures from one of my favorite things! step sing! these pictures are formations in chi omega's show this year which was a play on the lost boys and staying "forever young." the girls looked amazing and the harmonies were very tight. so impressed...and sad i couldn't be out there with the cheesy face too! step sing is an annual tradition at samford and is an absolute must as a student there. i have some of my favorite memories from that month of rehearsals and three days of performances. i met a certain boy named jonathan snyder at step sing my freshman year.

the winner of this year's step sing was my brother jordan's show with sigma chi. they really did deserve to win (girls you should have placed up there too)because the theme of Jesus and the disciples was so creative, the songs were upbeat and challenging, and the choreography was surprisingly together especially for guys! jordan worked so hard on the show and you could really tell it paid off. he even had an amazing solo to "oh happy day" one of my favorite songs from "sister act." below is a link for a snippet of the incredible winning show by sigma chi. enjoy!

i had a great time seeing my family and all my friends from college. i only wish i had had more time to spend with everyone! what a great weekend! i am already counting down for next year's step sing show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lgs9REJ0Tw

oh you.

2008-02-14T11:08:00.004-05:00

sarah grace hinton turns 23 tomorrow. i know i won't be near a computer for most of tomorrow so i wanted to give her overdue shout out on my blog.

i don't even know where to begin with my post about sarah because i have known this girl since i was born. we have been through so much together and have so many amazing memories as best friends. there are some people that can change and time can pass but nothing changes in your relationship, this is how i feel like mine and sarah's friendship would be. sarah will make you laugh with her innate sense of humor and then cry with her beautiful voice. above all else she is an incredible friend. i wish everyone could have a friend like sarah, i really do. your life would be much better because of it.

in addition, i feel like sarah was the person that helped me think i could find love someday. i can admit i never had great luck with the whole love thing until i met jonathan and at times found myself getting bitter towards love but sarah has always been the eternal optimist for love. she is such a great cheerleader for love and that spirit of hers in infectious. sarah i love you and hope you have a beautiful birthday bc you are truly beautiful! wish i could be there with you for it!

happy valentine's day!

2008-02-14T10:56:00.004-05:00

chocolate, flowers, and love! what's not to love about valentine's day? i don't think this day is all about spending it with one special someone but instead i feel like vday is letting all the people in your life know how much you love them. so show a little love to anyone that means something special to you today!

i have a pretty amazing valentine, mr. jonathan snyder. we are going to dinner tonight at this supposedly fabulous restaurant (i have yet to go but we have both heard it is great) the pleasant peasant. i am really excited just to get to spend time with him and enjoy each other's company. how lucky am i that i have someone in my life that loves me for who i am and nothing more or less. he is great.

hope you all have a great valentine's day! love to each and every one of you!

A woman can be perceived as competent or as likable, but not both.

2008-02-11T11:25:00.000-05:00

my dear friend mary kathryn covert sent me this article this morning and it is so true. please read.
mr. kristof brings up some really dead on points such as the fact that women more than men are turned off by fellow strong women. Why is this so true? Shouldn't we be supporting and encouraging our fellow ladies?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/opinion/10kristof.html?ex=1203310800&en=443ed2634dd0c09e&ei=5070&emc=eta1

confusion.

2008-02-06T15:49:00.001-05:00

i have been really confused and frustrated with politics lately. as a political science minor, i pride myself on having an interest in our country's leadership. as a young girl i voted the same party and candidates as my parents but as i have gotten older i decided my vote on my own based on issues (even though it still lined up with my parents vote). this time around i am really lost as to whom i should vote for because i am not inspired by any of the candidates. i can admit i voted for and was a fan of bush until this last term. our country is now so disillusioned and detached from politics. we desperately need someone to unite us. i don't even care about party right now (even though i wish the gop could find someone more impressive then the options we have now) but i am more interested in a candidate that will make this nation stronger after their term in office. does anyone else feel this way too? where is ronald reagan when we need him?

my amazing mom.

2008-01-31T10:31:00.000-05:00

yesterday was my mom's birthday and i was so sad not to get to be with her on it. thank goodness, i am blessed to get to go home this weekend and celebrate her big day with her. she and my dad have always given us kids the most amazing birthdays (i know jordan and sam can vouch for that)and i someday hope to be able to give them celebrations even close to the likes of what they gave us!

my mom is beautiful to start with, inside and out. i look at pictures of her and have always died to look somewhere near as beautiful and put together. mom is most importantly though an incredibly selfless and spiritual woman. the best thing about this characteristic with her is that is so unassuming. she volunteers all over the place but never once will you hear her complain about all that she does. in addition, she loves the Lord with all her heart and her actions show this but she never has pressed faith on any of us kids or anyone around her in a way that would turn people off. if anything her love for the Lord makes me daily strive to have a closer relationship with him. i think that is the best testimony you can give someone else and my mom daily does that.

mom i am so glad you were born and can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend! we gonna party like rock starts!

can't wait to get lost

2008-01-29T10:26:00.000-05:00

so darn this whole writer's strike. i am one of those people that loves tv. i know its not as intellectual as reading or as artsy as movies but since i was little i have had this obsession with good tv. my best friends from college and i even made an event each week with our favorite show, grey's anatomy. each week we would get dinner together and then pile around the tv at someone's apartment to watch our beloved hour of television.

sadly now with the writer's strike many of my favorite programs are finished until further notice. so disappointing. the one light at the end of this sad tunnel is LOST! if any of you have never seen this show you have to start watching it this week. this thursday, it returns for season four and i just can't wait. jonathan and i began our obsession with this show a few years ago during jan term when we watched the whole first season on dvd in a matter of days. we actually just finished watching the third season on dvd and now we are so pumped up and enthused for the season four premiere thursday night. lost has great actors, intriguing story lines, etc...what more could you want for good tv?

so when you are bored of the same reruns of your favorite show, you really ought to turn to lost. believe me, you won't be disappointed! and if any of you have other tv show recommendations for me i am always open to becoming addicted to a new show!

jonathan. kinda glad you were born.

2008-01-21T23:46:00.000-05:00

happy birthday to my love, jonathan snyder. my boyfriend turns 23 today and sadly (but great for him) he is out in california with his cousins celebrating his big day. he got to take a few days off work and catch up with his family on the west coast while also skiing in the beauty of lake tahoe. so beyond jealous. a proper east coast celebration will be in order though as soon as he returns!

jonathan has taught me so many things about myself and also has opened my eyes to many things i would have refused to see before. i can honestly say i was a very judgmental person before i met him but he quickly changed that thinking. jonathan can speak with anyone from a ceo of a nationally traded company to a homeless man staying warm in marta: he treats every person no matter their standing with the same respect and devoted attention. i could go on and on about the admirable traits jonathan posses but if you get to meet him then you will quickly get the picture.

our relationship has certainly had its fair share of ups and downs in the past but through it all i have realized that my life is truly incomplete without him. my life can go on, this i know, but my life is much more colorful and meaningful with him in it. i am blessed to call him my love!

snow.

2008-01-17T13:14:00.000-05:00

last night I got to experience my first snow living in atlanta. it really is so magical how despite your age, snow makes you giddy like you're five years old again. i still enjoy watching the school closings, seeing everyone flock to the local kroger's to load up on milk and bread, etc... i know here in the south we really don't know what snow truly is because we have never experienced the magnitude of snows in the north (like this pic in NYC) but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate it the same if not more.

my thought while watching the snow fall outside my office in the middle of buckhead yesterday was how can people refuse to believe in God after experiencing snow. such a beautiful thing happens and then the whole area covered is calm and peaceful. i remember the one really large snowfall of my lifetime, the blizzard of 1993. i walked with my dad and jordan out to ebeneezer road, a main thoroughfare in knoxville, where not a single car, person, etc... was around in either direction. i will always cherish that sight and how for once that busy road seemed calm. i think God can remind us through snow how we all need a little calm and peace in our lives.

cult remix 2008

2008-01-03T16:20:00.001-05:00

i hate change. generally after giving the change a chance and praying about the situation, i end up much happier than i ever was before. i really have learned that life is a journey of changes taking us closer and closer to our final destination.

one change that i struggled immensely with was going to college. i hated samford at first. hated it. many of you may not believe this because by the end of the four years i adored the tiny campus on lakeshore drive and everything that was encompassed in it. i had (and still have...) a supportive family and close knit high school friends and i really didn't want to leave them. in my heart of hearts i knew getting out of tn was the answer for me but it was really hard to accept.

megan bird will always be one of my best friends partly because she was the brave soul that took the task of being my freshman year roommate. i cried probably everyday in that tiny 10 by 10 room the first few weeks and everyday bird would be so sweet and encouraging.

God not only blessed me with bird in my life as my roommate that year but he also blessed me with two of the most amazing girls in the world right across the hall, emily ray and emily sparks. at first, bird and i thought they were the most stuck up girls. this is so funny to think about now because if you know either of them you would know that is the complete opposite of either of their personalities.

i have cried and laughed with these girls more times than i could ever begin to count. i would never ever ever ever have survived samford and stayed if the Lord hadn't brought these three girls into my life. i feel like Christ really puts people in our life for certain reasons and i know that they came in right at the perfect time to help me survive my transition to college.

i love these girls so much and am so blessed to get to see them this weekend! we are having a cult reunion in the a! (we were deemed the cult when we were going through rush our freshman year because the four of us truly were a package deal)can't wait to show the girls around but most importantly catch up on life and spend time together!

congrats in order.

2008-01-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

two amazing people that i think make a fabulous couple are now engaged. ricky popped the question to megan on a romantic ski trip in utah. so jealous. i love megan so much and know that she will make one beautiful bride. ricky really is a great guy and treats her like every girl should be treated. i couldn't ask for more for one of my friends. when you meet the two of them you can't help but tell how much they are in love and i don't see that ever changing. congrats again and i can't wait to see you both and celebrate with you in person!

happy birthday christine

2007-12-11T16:44:00.001-05:00

my roommate and friend from way way back is turning 23 tomorrow! christine and i grew up swimming together and going to school in knoxville together. the picture above is such a fun one from when d, bird, and i went down to see christine in athens before new years '06. we had such a great time! can't wait to all be reunited for christmas! i am really spoiled and get to see the lovely christine smiley everyday now! she has been incredibly supportive and uplifting to me not only in the usual confines of friendship but also spiritually as well. she is great with people of all ages but i have loved seeing Christ work through her with some of the young life girls. her servant heart is so obvious in all she does and it is so refreshing in a world where everyone is out for themselves. thank you christine for your incredible friendship-i am blessed to have you in my life!

christine i can't wait to celebrate your big day tomorrow and many more birthdays with you!!

cookies, cakes, and cupcakes..oh my!

2007-12-11T16:22:00.000-05:00

my mom, lesa is the ultimate dessert connoisseur. she can without any argument take the crown for that but I would have always considered myself the ultimate chips and cheese dip critic (rotel anyone??). my years at samford being surrounded by the likes of blue ribbon bakeries, incredibly hard classes and life decisions, etc... caused me to truly hone my taste and love for things sweet as well. trips to savages with the girls to get the best tasting petitfours in the world probably alone helped me gain an extra five or so pounds in school. you know its bad when the guy that works at the counter knows your name and your favorite! i have had to start running so much more since then now that i have a love for sweets!

today at work i got thinking about my favorite desserts after my uber romantic boyfriend took me to lunch and surprised me with a red velvet cupcake. the cute bakery where he took me was called 'little cake' right off roswell road where they specialize in any kind of cupcake. it was so good and if any of you know me well you know how much i love red velvet cake! i can tell you though if you are looking for the best red velvet around, hands down its from 'piece of cake bakery' also here in buckhead. i have never in my life had better cake. they have all sorts of varities and every flavor i have tried is amazing. it beats ham n goodys and evas in knoxville, savages and edgars in birmingham, etc.. it will change your life. no lie. so next time any of you are in atlanta and are dying for something sweet you have to try one of the slices of cake at piece of cake!

welcome home bird!

2007-12-09T19:41:00.000-05:00

one of my best friends in the entire world and funniest person I know, megan leigh bird is now back in the States! she has been working in rural mexico at an orphanage where she has been helping out with adorable little girls and perfecting her spanish. bird is my soul mate with pop culture, my tutor in every kind of music, and an incredibly supportive and encouraging friend. her jokes and presence have been sorely missed by all who love and appreciate her (which is pretty much anyone who has met megan). welcome back bird! can't wait to see you!!!

sam-i-am.

2007-12-07T15:23:00.000-05:00

this coming monday, december 10 is the glorious day sam bondurant was born (well fourteen years ago). if you don't know my little brother sam you have got to meet him. he truly is one of a kind and such a blessing in my life! sam is not only intelligent and great at all sorts of different sports but he has other characteristics that i feel are really valuable in life. he is probably the most selfless kid you will ever meet. if you know me at all then you know that honestly that would not be one of my best assets, ESPECIALLY, when i was his age! he is also very thoughtful and caring which can be so hard to find in guys(and girls alike). ladies look out! ...in like twenty years...

happy early birthday sam-i-am! so proud to be able to call you my brother!

fantasy of trees

2007-11-20T15:21:00.000-05:00

today begins one of my favorite things the whole year through: fantasy of trees(fot)! fantasy of trees takes place each year during the week of thanksgiving. it is a holiday wonderland with trees decorated by fifth-graders and interior designers alike, numerous children's games, musical performances, etc...and all the proceeds from fot benefit east tennessee children's hospital. my mom has been really involved in fot since i was little and she has always had our whole family and many of my friends involved in some aspect.

i remember helping my mom at fantasy when i was younger and knowing it helped sick children but i didn't really understand the impact of children's hospital until i was older. my baby brother sam was born with a life-threatening immune deficiency and he spent his first year of life constantly in children's hospital. everyone at the hospital was incredible to him and to my family!

not only am i proud of the cause behind fot but i am especially proud of my hard-working, amazing mom. she is the busiest woman i know but every year her world stops for the two weeks that surround fot so she can fully devote herself to whatever needs to be done. too bad volunteering is free because otherwise my mom would be a millionaire from all her time at fot and the other causes she works with.

if anyone is in knoxville this weekend i really would urge you to head out to fantasy of trees. you will have the most incredible time and you are helping a priceless cause! and you can come see me selling raffle tix! (now if that isn't a selling point i don't know what is!) if you can't be in tn this weekend, find a cause that you are passionate about and try to find a way to volunteer or get involved in any way possible. honestly, it is much more rewarding than any gift you are going to receive! happy thanksgiving all!

i love fall.

2007-11-12T20:13:00.000-05:00

there is something about fall that i can't help but love. one of the many things i love about this time of year is the changing of the leaves. when i was a little girl we had a bush in our yard that would transform from a boring muted green to a vibrant bright red. my parents deemed this tree "the burning bush" and every year i looked forward to seeing the beauty emerge from something so seemingly plain. i think life is best appreciated in the simple things.

as i get older, the importance of the fall colors and simple pleasures hasn't diminished. this past weekend i had the amazing opportunity to travel to the young life camp, sharp top cove. sharp top is located in jasper, ga about an hour and a half from atlanta. one of the traditions of camp is giving the campers (and us leaders too) fifteen minutes to be silent and really listen/speak to God. in my quiet time, i looked around at the beauty of my surrondings and could not help but recognize just how great our God is. lately, i have been so wrapped up in my selfish wants, complaints, etc... that i have failed to open my eyes and really see the colors of the fall and all the other blessings that surrond me. i am such a blessed girl. in the quiet cold saturday night i sat and thanked God for everything in my life that i consider blessings. parents that selflessly and unconditionally love me. brothers that can make me laugh like noone else can. a boyfriend who treats me like a princess but also challenges me. friends that lift me up and support me through anything i may encounter. this list could go on and on. but most important i sat and realized i have a savior, Christ Jesus who gave his life so i could experience all these blessings.

the "burning bush" from my childhood is named from the beloved biblical story of moses finding the burning bush. God was that literally burning bush but he was also behind the "burning bush" of 1240 halifax road. i remembered this weekend that while i usually recognize God is behind the big blessings, he also sacrificed his life so that i could experience and cherish even the most simple blessings in my life such as colorful fall leaves.

Changes...

2007-10-11T13:27:00.000-04:00

so i figure since now i am such a big important grown up (right...) i need to join not only the world of paying bills and working 9-5, but also blogging! with many of my friends and family, the computer is the closest way of keeping in touch and up to date on each others lives. i have great expectations-perez hilton here i come! :)