Easter 2013

Sadly, we were not able to be in St. Louis for Easter with our family.  But that didn't mean we didn't celebrate on our own  =)

If you don't know me, then I need to tell you that I'm truly a big kid at heart.  I love holidays and partaking in all the traditional festivities.  So of course that means that the Easter Bunny visits our house leaving baskets of sugary goodness and hiding eggs.
In our house, there are two Easter Bunnies...Nick and I.  Nick of course plays Easter Bunny for me, and I for him.  We each secretly fill each other's baskets to wake up to on Easter morning.  But Nick didn't get all his wonderful candy in his basket.  Some of it was tucked inside plastic eggs that he had to find around the house.  Yep, that's right, I sent Nick on an Easter egg hunt throughout the house.  It was too cute watching him walk around, carrying his basket, finding his eggs.

Happy Easter!!!  Just after waking up!

The baskets left by the Easter Bunny.  I'm sure you can guess which one is mine.  

Obviously my favorite items in my basket.

I was pretty sad to not be indulging in our huge Easter brunch full of wonderful breakfast foods, a giant ham, and of course, mimosas.  Nick doesn't eat breakfast foods (yeah, I know, I married a dud) otherwise I would have cooked a delicious breakfast spread for ourselves but I cannot eat that much food.  So we settled for cinnamon rolls...one thing Nick will eat.

After the Easter fun and breakfast, we lounged around a bit, snacking on candy.  I didn't want to sit around all day and do nothing because I would just be sad, thinking about how much I'd like to be in St. Louis and how I'm always so busy on Easter.  Last year, I Skyped with my family during Easter and that helped a bit, but this year, Easter was being celebrated at my Grandparents, which means no internet (and FaceTiming isn't an option because we are all on the old unlimited data plan with ATT which means no FaceTiming over 4G even though we have the newer phones.)  So instead, we opted to take advantage of the amazing life here in Florida and headed to the gorgeous beaches with Yadi, Vino, and great friends (human and dog.)  The day really couldn't have been any better.

Their typical car riding position...even though there's plenty of room on the seat for Vino.  Yadi doesn't mind at all!

This is the reason Vino is tied up.  Her hunter instincts just take over and when she spots a bird, she's GONE!  No amount of training, commands, or even highest setting of e-collars will stop her.  She was born to hunt.  She will chase them over a mile before realizing she can't get it and come back.  We tie her up to save ourselves the heart attack.

Our standoff

After arriving home, I got a call from my mother telling me to check Facebook.  Apparently my sister, (stationed in Alabama and not able to go home either), and I actually DID make it to my family's Easter this year....courtesy of my brother ;)

My family =)  ....thanks Teeny and Liss for stepping in as us lol.  This made my day!

If I can't be with my family back home, this was the next best way to spend it....Easter baskets, egg hunt, and beach time with great friends.  I hope you all had an amazing Easter!!!

{If you'd like to see all the pictures today, you can look through my April photo album found HERE}

Think Twice Before You Speak

I don't have much to say on this topic because the video really says it all.

But something that really stings my heart and gets my blood boiling is when I hear people say,
"That's so retarded."  Or "That's so gay."
When those words (and any other variations such as "fag") are used in this manner, or a similar manner, it is downright rude, disrespectful, and hurtful.  Those are DEROGATORY terms.
You sound ignorant, heartless, and hateful.

Watch this and the next time you think about using one of these words, stop.  Think about what you're actually saying.
Click HERE for the link or just watch below:

I know some people do not understand this.
If your professor does something you don't like and you say "That's so gay" you've just substituted a word such as "stupid" for gay.  You've used it as a synonym.
Gay refers to a homosexual.  By choosing the word "gay" for that sentence, you've now said that homosexuals and stupid mean the same thing.
Same situation when you refer to a buddy as a "fag".  Sure, in your mind you're not thinking "he's gay."  You're thinking "he's stupid."  Therefore calling homosexuals, stupid.
It is the exact same thing when you use the word "retarded" to describe something you don't like, think is stupid, etc.

Think about all the people you could offend.  What if you used this word in this derogatory context in front of your boss, your husband's CO, etc and they had a child or family member that was gay or mentally retarded.  You have now highly offended someone you probably didn't want to. (And made yourself look highly uneducated.)

I will be the first to admit I used the words gay and fag too often in the past.
It was not until my brother enlightened me as to why that's so offensive and hurtful, as well as other words such as retarded (and many others).  It was a very tough habit to break but I did it.  I owned up to my actions and would apologize anytime those words exited my mouth.  It helped when others called me out on it.  That's truly the only way to stop.  Call yourself and others out on it.  Own up to it and apologize for it.

Being around a lot of guys (due to being in the military lifestyle now), I come across way too many guys who use the word "fag" in a casual manner.  It really bothers me but I sit there silently.  After watching this, I will take her advice.  I am going to grow the balls to say something and do as the video says.  I am going to try to "say something.  Because in the end, it takes a village."

There are no more excuses.  Now you know.  Think before you speak.  Take responsibility for your words and apologize when you slip.  Correct others.  Remember, it takes a village.