Quick Facts: 25. Textbook Libra. Afraid of snakes. An open soul. Happiest when working with my hands. In love with the best male specimen on the planet (see below). A lover of characters. Creative to a fault. A big believer in staying positive. Often found in yoga pants. Girly-girl. Lender of shoes, purses and dresses. Dreamer. Emotional. Appreciative of the unexpected good in people. Traveler. Freakishly good at tying memories to clothing. Dancing drunk. Always looking for a reason to celebrate. Silly. Big sister. Risk taker.

I grew up in rural East Texas, so at my heart I am forever a country girl. I have always had a big imagination and a desire to follow my bliss. My childhood was filled with Barbie dolls, Bob Dylan and Joseph Campbell. My upbringing shaped me into the person that I am, and I am not one of those people who puts blame on things outside of my control. I love and respect my parents for the people they are and am grateful everyday for the course my life has taken. Obviously, my life is far from perfect, but I have always learned from my mistakes, attempted to capitalize on moments of growth, and dusted myself off after falling on my face.

I love who I am, where I am, and where I am going.

I left my hometown at age 18 to study advertising and marketing at the University of North Texas in Denton, outside of Dallas. Always the over-achiever, I sped through life in more ways than one by graduating with my bachelor’s in three years, getting engaged to my high school sweetheart, and working full-time by age 21. I was married at 22 and unhappy by 23 and divorced by 24.

I had continuously pressed fast forward on my life. I never once hit pause.

Long story short, that’s all changed and I am very familiar with the location of the pause button on my life remote.

Thanks in many ways to this dashing fellow.

This is Shelton. When I met him, he motivated me to totally change my life. I don’t know where I’d be or who I’d be if our paths hadn’t crossed, and though our love story is far from conventional it is my very favorite.

He comes up often on S&S Life, and even posts from time to time. He is my best friend, the savory to my sweet, the peanut butter to my jelly, the rainbow in the sky that is my life.

Too mushy for you? Sorry. I get like that from time to time.

So, I have bounced around a lot. From East Texas to North Texas, working in advertising to higher education and now back to advertising, from North Texas to East Carolina, I like to think of my life as one continuous adventure after the next. I never expected to be physically, mentally or emotionally where I am right now. I always wanted to live a life I couldn’t plan, and I believe wholeheartedly that I am doing just that.

Through trial and error, I have learned that I am happiest when I am sharing my experiences and put quite simply: that is why I blog. I love to talk about life in general, the (sometimes) endless struggle to balance happiness along with human nature, creativity, relationships, food and anything else that comes across my mind.

My goal is that through sharing my adventures you are entertained, inspired, and compelled to live your happiest life–whatever that entails!