Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

Finally!  The day had arrived for the Daytona 500!! I could barely contain my excitement.  I couldn't wait to go to the biggest race of the year and I was so happy to be experiencing it with my dad.  Even though we had to wake up at a time I'm still denying, it was totally worth it.

Once arriving at the track, we decided to check out the team booths and all the pre-race activities.  Before the trip, I had read about the Sprint Daytona Rewards Program.  Basically you have this pass that you scan at every Sprint station you see and you can win different prizes.  I admit it, I'm a sucker for these things.  I mean, if it's free to register and you can win free stuff what's the hold up for everyone else?  So of course as soon as we saw the registration area I was all over it.  No one else would sign up but I thought hey, it's worth 5 minutes and I could win a t-shirt.  Wouldn't you know on my first scan I was a winner?!  I got so excited thinking I would win a cool t-shirt or hat and feeling quite happy that I had proved my naysayers wrong on signing up :)  Well, well, well....I won something way cooler than a hat or t-shirt, two Sprint Fan Zone Passes!!  I was SO excited.

My winning pass :)

We all walked around and looked at the team trailers, found some souvenirs and enjoyed the pre-race activities :)

 Dad hanging out by Smoke's trailer :)

We walked around and checked out all the booths and then Dylan and I headed to the Sprint Fan Zone to use our passes.  I was super pumped to share this experience with my brother.  We had lunch and then were able to see some incredible things!  We hung out in Victory Lane, walked part of the track, and explored pit road.

Danica's spot on pit road

Tony Stewart's Pit Tools

Hanging out on pit road :)

Dyl with the 2012 Daytona 500 winning car

Watching inspections

Waiting for the concert to start

Not to mention we saw a few celebrities :)

We saw Korie & Willie from Duck Dynasty but I wasn't quick enough to get a picture!

James Franco!

Zac Brown Band

Even 50 Cent was at the race

During our time in the Fan Zone, it really started to cloud up and I had a huge sense of dread that it was going to rain.  If the race was delayed to the next day, there was no way we would be able to stay.  Our flight was early Monday morning so it was now or nothing.  My brother and I were praying that the rain would hold off long enough for our Dad to see at least part of the race.  I really didn't want to get him all the way there and then not get to enjoy the race.  Thankfully, we were blessed with zero rain.  It was a little chilly and cloudy but I was happy to deal with it if we could avoid the rain.

Love that #5 :)

We all enjoyed the race and had a great time!  It was really cool getting to see Danica Patrick lead a lap and make history as the first woman to do so.  We all enjoy NASCAR so it was great that we were able to experience the biggest race of the year together :) 

Love my new Kasey Kahne shirt!

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Under the Sea

We flew into Daytona for the race on Friday and spent the afternoon relaxing at our condo and resting.  We found the condo on VRBO.  I highly recommend using this resource to find places to stay when traveling.  I have always lucked out and found great places for a lot cheaper than going the traditional route.

Beautiful lake by our condo

Entrance to our condo

The Saturday before the race we decided to spend the day at Sea World.  My brother and I had been once before when we were younger but were super excited to go check it out again!  We had such a wonderful day checking out all the exhibits and playing with the animals :)

Feeding the dolphins :)

Shamu Stadium



I would love to have you as a follower on GFC or Bloglovin :)

I love to hear any comments, tips or thoughts anyone likes to share so please comment below!

Also, follow me here to see more of our daily lives:

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A Christmas Surprise

My dad is the type who is always doing something for other people and rarely treats himself.  This past Christmas we wanted to surprise him with a present he wouldn't see coming.  My stepmom and I joked about getting NASCAR tickets and the more we thought about it, the less crazy it sounded.  We had been trying to get my Dad to go to the Daytona 500 for years and knew if his Christmas present was tickets he wouldn't have the option to say no.  Lucky for my brother and I, my step-mom decided this could be a family trip.  No way was this NASCAR fan turning down that offer!   We carefully selected tickets that we thought Dad would enjoy, he likes being up higher so that you can see more of the track.  Then, we patiently (who are we kidding? I was busting at the seams) waited for the tickets to come in and for Christmas Eve to give them to him.  

We were told the actual tickets wouldn't arrive until after Christmas but, of course, they arrived in the mail just in time for Dad to check the mail that day.  Luckily, he didn't pay any attention to it and just laid the stack on the kitchen counter.  We wrapped up a package with an image of the Daytona track in it and patiently waited for present time.  To keep him from accidentally opening it earlier, it was kept hidden as the last present of the day.  

He knew we were up to something :)

Daytona, here we come!!!

Dad was excited and we were all looking forward to a fun family trip and to get away from the cold to the Florida sunshine for a weekend :)

Stay tuned for pictures from the trip, it was so much fun!

I would love to have you as a follower on GFC or Bloglovin :)

I love to hear any comments, tips or thoughts anyone likes to share so please comment below!

Also, follow me here to see more of our daily lives:

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Baby Shower for Parker

Event planning has always been a passion of mine!  I love figuring out decorations, menus, locations, etc.  It's so much fun creating an event that fits the personality of the person and that you know they'll enjoy.  I've had so many people tell me how stressful it is but I honestly thrive on it.  Deadlines, being out and about & shopping are all favorites of mine and event planning is the perfect combination of them all!!

This past Spring, my step-mom and aunt were planning a baby shower for my cousin.  They do not happen to find event planning as fun, entertaining and relaxing as I do.  As a matter of fact, they find it dreadful.  Once there is a plan in place they enjoy it but coming up with the ideas and working on the deadline doesn't do much for their fun scale, whereas it puts me on an 11 out of 10.  The week before they were truly struggling with decorations and centerpieces and recruited Miss Self-Named Party Planner to help.  The shower was for a baby boy and animal themed.  With limited time, I had to get creative and fast.

My first project was a jungle diaper cake.  It was my first one and I must say I was quite happy with how it turned out!

The diaper cake was placed on the gift table along with this poem from Baby Parker!

On the cake table, we used a registry book so that Parker would always have a record of who was at his shower as well as a book that was a special keepsake.  We used Giraffes Can't Dance and asked all the guests to sign the pages with a message for Parker.

Below are pictures of all the centerpieces as well as the shower.  I can't take all the credit though!  My aunt & step-mom were instrumental in helping to put them together, not to mention they made an amazing lunch for all the guests!  (They're not as bad at decorating as they think!! :) )  All in all it was a great day and everyone had a great time!

Yummy lunch :)

On Friendship

My aunt has always said that friends come into your life for a reason, a season, or forever.  I never really paid attention to that quote much until lately.  In high school and college you make tons of friends and truly believe that you will all be just as close for the rest of your lives.  It's hard to imagine life without each other in it and you aren't even willing to consider it.  With adult life comes bills, meetings, errands, work obligations, etc.  As a result, it becomes increasingly more difficult to stay in contact with all your friends from the past much less to keep up with new ones you are meeting.  It was during this transition period in my life that I discovered what my aunt truly meant when she told me that.

There are friends that entered my life during my high school and college years who were not in my life for a super long period of time but who were still significant.  I had a lot of fun nights with these people and learned a lot from them.  Whether it was a new hobby, a new perspective on life or just a life lesson that needed to be learned, I feel that God put these people in my life for a reason but that they weren't meant to be forever.

College brought along seasonal friends as well.  These are friends who I stayed close with throughout my college years.  Friends I spent countless nights laughing and having a blast with.  We spent hours studying, pulling all-nighters to finish papers, and trying to stay on top of classes together.  There were sorority functions, retreats, and on-campus activities that wouldn't have been the same without these people.  They will always hold a special place in my heart even though they are not as big of a part in my life anymore.  During this season of my life, these are the friends that I needed to evolve into the person I am today.

What I am the most thankful for, are the forever friends that are here to stay.  I am blessed with several people who have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember or care to count (yes I'm finally at the age where I already do not want to date myself).  These are the friends that have been there through it all over the years and I wouldn't know what to do without them in my life. 

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to spend the weekend at the lake with my best forever friend.  Suzanne and I met as GSP roommates at Morehead.  The GSP coordinators didn't know what they were doing putting a cheerleader from OHS and her Henderson cheerleading rival in the same room!  We have been inseparable ever since.  This friendship has taught me some of the greatest life lessons I have learned thus far.  My best friend is a PA school rockstar and I cannot even begin to describe the great things she's going to do in this world!  I couldn't ask for a better best friend.  No matter the trials, boyfriends, towns, schools, and life challenges we have gone through we have always stuck together and I am so thankful that God sent this amazing best friend into my life!  Suzanne, thank you for your constant support, for calling me to the carpet when I needed it, for countless laughs and priceless memories. 

Today, and everyday, this girl is feeling blessed for all of the above.  For the friends who taught me a lesson I needed to learn, to those who were there for so many fun moments, and to those who are here to stay for life! 

Hanging out at the lake!