Looking Into My Future...

So, I'm a public relations major and minor in enterprise studies. I'd love to follow PR into an exciting field or company for a good, few years, but something that is a dream in the back of my mind is to own a wedding & event venue. I frequently keep up with wedding blogs like SMP, and I've worked at two venues with really different creative atmospheres. Today, I fell in love with this beautiful, luxury camping venue!

It's the sweetest, yet massive piece of land with wonderful sights to see. I love the open spaces and the simplistic decorations. It all makes a wedding day less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone involved. Plus, it is a bonus to get away for a weekend! 

If I own a venue one day, I'd like something similar to this concept. A place so free makes the wedding party and guests feel secluded, away from civilization. Give me wide-open spaces in a grand setting with somewhere to put a ceremony and dance floor and I'll give you a celebration! 

The best part of owning a venue is meeting different types of people in such a joyous time in their lives. You get to help nurture, inspire, encourage and support moments that will last a lifetime. I truly would be working my dream job waking up everyday to be apart of such kinds of fun! Who knows when this will happen for me, but I believe hard work and passion won't let this dream slip from my hands. 

The New Normal

My History of Journalism class has been talking about the KKK for the past few weeks. The learning part of it is to be aware of how crucial journalism was in bringing down the klansmen. Even though I've been learning, I can't get over how cruel the American South once was and to a large degree still is!

Below I have provided a link. Once you click on it, you will see a map of the U.S. The number inside each state represents the number of hate groups in each state. Texas has 45 and Wyoming has 2. While California has a whopping 84. Click on a state, then scroll down to see a list of the hate groups and see who they hate. Also, click on the hate group titles to see what they do and what they believe. 

If you're like me, then you'll be very surprised and outraged at all the hate!

Go here. http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/hate-map

Really?! Really people?! From Anti-Gay, Racist Skinhead, Holocaust Denial, to General Hate! All this hate renders me speechless....yeah, right! Just the opposite! 

When will people realize that we're all people just trying to get from one place in life to the next? I know people have strong beliefs and inflexible ideas, but should those drive a person to kill or wish harm on another person? 

Klansmen killed men in the streets simply because they were black men. Laws have been passed to keep same sex marriages from legitimacy. People have been beaten because of their religion. All of this is ridiculous! You guys, we all have beliefs, but don't stop someone else from having their own beliefs or for simply being born a certain way. Nothing pisses me off more when someone, who lives a healthy, worry-free lifestyle, discriminates someone else who is already under other discriminations from other people of hate.

There is one simple thing we can all do to make a positive change. ACCEPTANCE. Accept that there are people that are different from you. Religion, race, sexual orientation, the list goes on. Isn't the beautiful thing that we are all different? Live your life with purpose and be a positive influence for others by accepting the differences in the people around you. If you can take it a step further, then STAND UP for the oppressed when you see discrimination taking place, whether in a small way or a grand way. How about one step even further? Extend unconditional LOVE to people in your daily life. Be the example that people of hate need to see. 

Accept. Stand up. Extend the love. 

Together, we can make this the new normal. 

Buried Treasure

This weekend me, my sister's, their husbands and my parents cleaned out the WHOLE house! You know all the drawers, attics, closets, etc. that store all the pointless, forgotten stuff? Yeah, we cleaned it all. My dad started a new job in Midland, Texas, and my parents needed us to help clean/pack up the house. My almost 2-year-old niece wasn't much help, but she sure did make a cute reason to take a break! : )

Going through the house, we found some great stuff! A lot of it from the early days of my parent's marriage. It made me think about how their 33 years of marriage began. Mom and Dad were married at the age of 19! Here's some pics of their sweet wedding invites:

Honestly, it would scare the crap out of me to be married that young, but they made it work! My dad went to OU, worked, then received his degree and first job. Mom worked and helped support my dad through his degree, and she kept to her passions at the same time.

 My dad as a senior at OU. His year book and textbooks. Boomer! Sooner! 

 My mom made custom stain glass pieces. This one she made soon after her and dad got married. 

It's a testament of their love that they chose to begin and build their lives together from the start. Isn't that how it should be? Sharing our lives, good and bad, with the people we love. That's what I want. I think it's best when people fall in love with their best friend. I know my parents did. : ) 

Fresh Flowers

So, today is rainy and muggy outside, but that doesn't mean you have to imitate that into your attitude. I made a stop at Birdie's floral shop on campus corner to gather some fresh flowers to brighten my day! 

Lately, I've really recognized my own ability to turn a bland experience into something purposeful. Tough situations happen, yet it is up to us to take them in to strengthen our characters and be the better person.

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."
- Mother Teresa

First Post!

Hey everyone! If you don't know me I'm a junior at The University of Oklahoma studying public relations and minoring in enterprise studies. I work at a wedding & event venue cause I'm a romantic nerd, ha. Other than the typical introduction, I love life, my friends and family are the best, I believe you should take your passions and make them your everyday work and inspire people to be their best. Cheesy. I know, ha.

I'm starting this blog because I've always wanted to keep a blog, but I don't know how often I'll be posting. I'm sure the content and subjects will be constantly changing. I've got plenty of opinions. I may be in a good mood one day, a brash mood the next, then an ecstatic mood the third day. That's life though, right? Although, I am very excited I'm finally doing this! I want to share so many things! If you want to leave a funny/honest/supportive/cool comment, then go for it. I'd love to hear feedback!

Okay, it's Sunday night approaching 1 a.m. this means I'm off to watch Chelsea Lately reruns and work on my Temple Run high score. G'night!