The day before

2 years ago today I had no idea the love of my life would walk into my favorite beach bar ~ the palm room. 2 years ago I can't tell you what I was doing....I can't remember, imagine that. You know they say pictures are for those who can't remember...thank God for cameras! And 2 years ago I would have told ya I met my buddies friend from Mooresville...cute, tattoos, and a beard....hmmmmm. Who would have thought 2 years later....and here we are...driving 100s of miles to be with each other for New Year's Eve! I guess you could say its the night he knew..waking up face to face clinching each others hand...and that's all it took...that afternoon I got the text. The text "you're the one". Bah ha ha ha and you're fucking crazy was somewhat my response...yeah right. To this day he has never been wrong ;)
I'm so excited to see him tomorrow. He lights up my soul. He truly is my soulmate...we found each other in a dirty ole dive bar at the beach...my love.

So in honor of our 2 years of meeting I thought I'd shave, shower, and wash my hair...so that's exactly what I'm doing the night before....lol yep I'm shaving my legs!

Cheers

Dmb success

Front row at dmb was amazing! Dave came out and introduced the lumineers..he was so cute! Everyone ROCKED the stage and we were up close and personal.eeeeek no other way to see a show! Waiting outside in the parking lot and line since 10am was definitely worth it. every minute. Met some awesome people, hung out with ours! Played games. Once up front...we weren't leaving so had to pee in a cup lol like a champ! anywho...I wore my monkey earrings and threw one at dave! He picked it up and giggled lol I about died! To top it off I got a drum stick from carter! Overall an awesome, fantastical show! Thanks to all who made it so incredibly

Cheers

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121212

Well, its here! Dave day!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

Eeeeeeeeeeesssk

Dmb front row baby....we're coming for ya dave...sharpie in hand!

Cheers

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Air Drums

Last night otw home from work.. in front of me at a red light.. what do I see? a chick playing the hell out of some air drums!!! Hilarious!!! 10 seconds later, I joined in! too much fun not too! Go play some air drums today!!!

Reflection Time Bye Bye 2012

As I'm driving to work this morning, in the dark...dmb playing. I realized it's really December!! Holy Cow! 2012 has come and gone...again.. another year down. geeze! Stop the Madness!!!! the year of the dragon....the year of 30...the year of I traveled my ass off and that's why I'm broke lol. At first I thought.. hmmm what did I do this year? did I make a difference? did I improve my life? FUCK YEAH I DID...pffft! this is ME you're talking to :)
So, here it is.. my 2012 year in review for all you out there who cares to be informed:

January - Raised over $1,000 for the Polar Plunge and Special Olympics and jumped in..dove into the ocean! Continued my Yoga Teacher Training Classes
Feb - Continued weekly Yoga Traning
March - Work flew me to California for a week to get trained by the one and only Richard Miller in iRest Yoga Nidra! Boom! I teach iRest now!
April - Offically graduated the Yoga Training, became an RYT200. Turned 30. and went to a PTSD Yoga workshop. oh and got my yoga/30 tattoo on my foot! Boom again.
May - Little sis graduated from NC State! Went Kayaking for the first time, fell in love with it and Matt came home for the weekend! Memorial day weekend bash at the beach! Oh and started teaching this little thing called SUP Yoga! Stand up paddle board Yoga. oh yeah
June - Flew to NOLA to visit my honey, see Stu and "other" Matt. Played on Bourbon Street, lost my monkey, gambled in the casino, went to my first Tattoo Convention, got a new one..sugar skull with "dad", and ate crawfish for the first time!
JULY - Summer, HELLO! Worked, played, bartend.
August - Hurricane hit Louisanna, so Matt came home for a few! So, what did we do.. stay at home and relax? nah.. drove to savannah for a night to see American Aquarium and Zach Palmer!
Sept - Thai Yoga Workshop with one of the best! Boom.
October - Matt's home for good..well for now. Trip to DC with him and Krys for Dispatch 5th row! Saw the white house and all that jazz for the first time. Went to the zoo, drank way too much starbucks, oh and otw home stopped by a lil place called BUSCH GARDENS! ! ! Great freakin' trip! Thanks guys! Ya'll make great travel buddies!
November - Went to a Panthers Game, visited with the g-parents which was much needed. Thanksgiving with them, and saw American Aquarium in Charlotte. yeah, they're pretty awesome!

Which brings us to December 2012...Well the first day of the month we went Paddle Boarding and the 2nd! I have a super awesome private party this week I'm bartending. Dave Matthews Concert coming up! then right after that, Savannah for the weekend to Meet and Practice and LEARN from Kathryn Budig herself! 3 days! eeek! then a nice quite Christmas with Mom and Matt (hopefully he's still here). Then NYE MB style HOB.. with you guessed it AMERICAN AQUARIUM! booha!

So in a nutshell 2012~

5 Yoga Trainings
5 States (not including NC of course)
5 Concerts
2 Tattoos
1 NFL Game
1 Theme Park

....not bad 2012, not bad. Looking forward to another great one.. Like mom says...can't take it with ya.. might as well enjoy life when you can! Be happy, surround yourself with people who are happy, and follow your heart's calling. Do more yoga, eat less meat, and Stand up and PADDLE!

Prost~

Day 30

Today I'm thankful for the love of yoga!

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Day 29

Today I'm thankful for ....coffee in my office, msnbc, and the fact someone brought in chocolate covered strawberries!! and MOM! Mom's are the best!

14 days until DAVE

HOLY COW!!!!!! 14 days from now we will be doing something I've always wished and dreamed about...Dave Matthews Front Row! Holy Crap! EEEK! Oh boy, this is going to be quite the adventure and with some of the most awesome people!! I can't wait for our planning meeting this weekend!! Oh yeah, we have a planning date just to plan for the trip! have to... this is DMB Front Row baby! whoa.. 2 weeks EEK! can you tell I"m excited?! I may be broke and eating soup and peanut butter, but this is for sure going to be the best Christmas Ever!

Dave Matthews with my besties, then turn and burn to Savannah for Kathryn Budig!!! I'm in Heaven! THEN...NYE with my boys aka American Aquarium. rockin December...if the Mayans are right and the world does end next month...we're going out with a BANG!

Cheers~

Day 28

Thankful for sexy time ;)

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Day 27

I'm thankful the Panthers won! Lol

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Pinterest Projects

HOLY Pin Projects!! So we get home last night from Thanksgiving vaca.. and the first thing I rush into...laundry? nope. Unpacking, naw. Projects from pinterest!!! I LOVE Crafting now!! So far I've made a rug out of shirts, Christmas Tree center pieces, snow bottles for winter wonderland effect, glitter shoes for NYE, and working on much more!! I'm excited to be gifting homemade gifts this year!

cheers~

Day 26

I am really enjoying posting what I'm thankful for everyday.. I think I'm going to do that pinterest thing where you create a book and write one thing you're thankful for everyday for one year.. hmmmm new project..

anyways.

Today I'm thankful for time with my honey during the holidays. I know too soon he will be on the road again. sigh...life of a millwright.

Day 25

Today I'm thankful for local live music ... American Aquarium.

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Day 24

Thankful for sleeping in and me time

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Day 23

Today I'm thankful for not shopping at walmart

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Day 22

I'm thankful for alarm clocks and homemade leg warmers

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Day 21 thanks

Day 21 - Today I'm thankful for Matt making coffee in the mornings. thanks love.

muwah

Day 1-19 Thankfulness

Jumping on the band wagon of being thankful for something everyday this month.. yeah, I'm behind, what's new? So here it is world.. my 19 things I'm thankful for.. I'll try and stay updated throughout the rest of the month...I'll try.

1. My Family
2. Matt
3. Matt's Family
4. Drake and Jax
5. My girls
6. Roof over my head and food in my belly
7. My job
8. Yoga
9. having $30 in my savings account.. could be worse.
10. Debbie and her yoga studio in Jville
11. Teaching Yoga at the studio
12. iRest
13. Teaching Yoga to the most awesome patients ever
14. it's not snowing
15. Not having 2 legged kids
16. Coffee
17. Fire pits in the yard
18. Pinterest
19. Gas in my tank

Cheers :)

funk is over...?

This was written last week.. having problems with my blogger webpage:

Finally!!! I feel good…man this funk I’ve been in for the past 2 weeks is no joke. No, I’m not sick. I’ve just been uggg, ick, grrrrrrr. I’m sure this makes sense to someone out there.. feeling grumpy and pissy at everything and everyone…maybe it was the venting sesh with the girls last night or the yoga today… probably a combo. J After teaching staff yoga today, I feel like a new woman! It was a great, energizing class. Short, but action packed! I’m getting better at teaching these short classes….bam bam bam.. and we’re done.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

Ahhhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhh one of those days

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Shower More..

So the anticipation of Matty coming home grows! "don't get your hopes up he says, but it could be just a couple more weeks"...WHAT? Still that long? sigh :( Then he says..well "1-2 weeks"...EEEK! I have a lot to do...I need a new vaccuum bag, but have no idea what I'm doing lol... then he tells me I'm going to have to shower more regularly...pffft. doesn't he know I like being a dirty hippie...but maybe I can make an exception..I'll shower more, but I'm still not shaving my legs ;P I'm totally on my OFP and with him returning soon.. makes me a little nervous, excited, happy! I've been trying to clean out the closet to make room for him.. and clear out some junk.. I feel like the whole house is just all my stuff..i feel bad.. It'll all be better once he's home. love you babe. be safe.

Drakie Poo

So, here's an update on my kid; Drake. Yes, he's my kid - 8 year old Yorkshire. The month of August has been tough on him and his mommy and daddy.. he had some fungus under his toe...which turned out to be a tumor, but not cancer! Still had to have it removed, yeah the whole TOE. Poor lil guy. After his first surgery, he had stitches and a cone he had to wear..the cone was too short. He kept getting to his toe, so had to have a 2nd surgery one week later. Got him a bigger cone, now all decorated with kick ass stickers. He is not a fan though...oh and to make matters worse - the vet says we can't get the foot wet...seems easy right? FUCK NO.. it's rained everyday this month!! EVERYTHING IS WET! So, on top of his foot being wrapped, every time he needs to go outside, I have to wrap it with a plastic bag and tape it up...pain in my butt and his. after 2 full weeks of this mess...and every other day check ups at the vet and $900 later...his poor lil foot still wasn't healing. NOW, he needed two staples in his foot...on top of this...pain meds and antibiotics...uggg this lil guy has been through it. Should have would have gotten pet insurance...but no.. i didn't.
The day the staples were to come out, I get home from work, and he had vomited everywhere..3x and diarrhea. He looked so pitiful..like he was in trouble. We went to the vet for his foot and told them about his tummy. They told me to hold his food that night, then feed him some chicken and rice the next day...I did..he did not want anything to do with the chicken broth and brown rice I made for him...he was drinking water, but no food...I even put the broth in a syringe and shot some in his mouth...and put some in my mouth like a momma bird and fed it to him that way...my lil baby just laid there and panted all night...had a fever, so I patted him down with a cold wash cloth. THe next day we were at the vet the minute they opened...Checked his toe - surprise surprise needs another surgery to close his toe AGAIN .. OMG PEOPLE FOR REAL? Took his temperature, had a fever so no go on surgery or rabies shot today..which he's due for rabies, flea, and heart pill...not today. Doc came in said they needed to do blood work and an xray for his tummy to see what was going on in there.. ok. both come back as pancreatitis (sp)...FUCK. No wonder he didn't want to eat or move or walk or jump up on the bed.. this is serious. Then the doc comes back in and says drake needs to be hospitalized! I LOST MY SHIT! And this is why I don't do 2 legged kids....They gave me time with him...So his tummy ache has now turned into at least a 2 night stay in the hospital, iv's, injection medication, and monitoring his belly...the good thing I can visit him as much as I want while they're open and call. Gma called twice the first day! I visited him twice the first day..doing much better, still weak..it's so sad to see him hooked up to the iv's, but i know it's for his own good.
Today is day two in the hospital..I get to only see him once today because I"m working 2 jobs...it was so hard being home last night without my lil guy running around and sleeping with me.. even harder when I woke up and felt he wasn't by my side.. sigh. I don't think I've ever cried so much and so hard as I did yesterday..I would have thought I'd be all dried up today...nope..teary just writing this...anyways...he's safe and getting the best care for now...one thing after the other with my kid.. and next month is his 9th bday..come on lil guy.. you can do it! So, once he is in the clear, then it'll be another surgery and hopefully no more...he will have to be on a super strict diet..him and me! :)  so there you have it...the trauma of our kid. BIG thanks to gma and daddy! Couldn't do this without ya'll! Ya'll have come to the rescue time and time again! Just wish daddy was here.. poor Matty had to take a half day yesterday bc he couldn't concentrate at work...that's his lil buddy...When daddy gets home they'll be out fishing together! love you drakie poo kisses.

AM

2 Facts I learned

So, Matty was home this past week due to the Hurricane.. and I am always learning so much from him...this time it was about my new Truck..
1) when guys have smaller trucks then me, I get to say to them "awww that's cute"
2) having a lift on the truck makes for better road head. . just saying :)

cheers people! Read on!

Summer may be over, but

Hey Hey! Summer may be officially over, but this is going to be another crazy month! Whoa. Talk about super busy...
Lets see, this weekend it's Thai Yoga massage training!! yeah! Means I will be partaking in Wilmington this weekend! Then, it's back to the bar business...4 gigs this month! Saweet! Bartending is like psych...it's just in my blood!
Cousin's bday month..which means another trip to Wilmington! Pretty much every other weekend this month I'll be back in Sin City! Super Stoked! Still teaching SUP Yoga this month too...no way it's getting cold until the end of the year!! So let people know! Still organizing the yoga shop...soon Flatwaters will be moving to the island and we'll be teaching yoga out of it! Yep, Yep, yoga on the island! Oh and hopefully Matty will be home for good sometime this month. However, I'm not dwelling on this much now that I got to see him last week...we recharged the old battery and I think I can last another month...don't want to..but that's the name of the game.
So, even though summer is over, schools back in session, and the tourist are all going home...life is busy as ever! Can't wait to take the boat out too! :) keep in touch..

cheers readers~am

Pics of my new truck

Here she is...

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Miss him

It's only been a few days and I miss him terribly. Two days to be exact. But what a glorious couple of days we did have. I guess that's one of the perks of him being on the road...it's always a honeymoon when he comes home:)

So, due to the hurricane in Louisiana Matty evacuated and came home. I had to work and take a day to Wilmington, but then it was on lol...literally ;)

Out Thursday night with Kb, live music, and margaritas...he looks at me and says lets go to Savannah tomorrow night and see American Aquarium! My love knows me so well. And so that's what we did ha ha ha. We did! We took my new truck on the road for another adventure...Every moment with him is a magical adventure. Like my very own modern day cinderella story. Swept off my feet and I'm not looking back.

Just wish he was home. I love you dear..thank you for all you do for us and our little family. You are so thoughtful. So damn sexy. And you make me smile and laugh everyday.

So grateful you are in my life...muwwaaah

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We have a Date!

Woohoo! We have a date!

Matty's coming home heehaw! So excited! Let the planning begin. I can not wait! Seems like forever since he left..I'm glad I got the chance to go to NOLA to see him...but we are ready for him to come home for a while! 5 months feels like forever.

Happy :)

xoxo

Another Fallen Alumni RIP

Death sucks. We're born, we live, we die..fact of life. It's a never ending circle of life. Death never gets easier - I don't care what your therapist says. I've been dealing with death since the age of 3. And I am convinced my high school is cursed with the grim reaper as the mascot...not the pirate. I can't even keep track anymore of all of the fallen SHS alumni and those who didn't make it to graduate. Every year it's not just one or two...it's 3-4 or 6.. this shit is crazy. Your friends and classmates are not supposed to be dying off when you're still in your late 20's and 30s...this happens when we actually get old...older. I mean who's next? Could be anyone of us...we never know. It puts shit in perspective real quick, you know? I mean I was bummed I didn't make it to reggae fest this weekend, and bummed I missed Matt's bday...all the while people are dying. You could say life's not fair, but is it? We live and learn. How we live determines what we learn and how we grow...If it wasn't for death how would we appreciate the little time we have with each other?
Dying never gets eaiser to deal with and hearing about the news of a fellow classmate never gets eaiser.. you would think by now we would all be numb to the fact we have lost so many. No, sir. My mouth still drops, breathing is hard, the heart skips a beat, my throat has that stupid lump in it, and then I cry behind close doors. How precious life really is. . . I am so grateful to be alive today. Grateful for my mom. Grateful for my family and my cousin Ang who is my sister. Grateful for Matt and Drake. Grateful for my friends who are here and who have passed. But we must keep swimming. Keep trucking along. Keep living for ourselves and for those who can't. Keep loving. Loving ourselves, others, and the planet. And with that...I ask you all to pick up the phone today and tomorrow and everyday and call one person to just say hey dude, I love you. before it's too late. RIP Joe Croom.

Much Love.

AM

My first TRUCK

EEEEK!!! I. AM. SO. FREAKIN'. EXCITED......
My very own big ass truck!!! I've been talking and wanting to trade my POS bug in for some time now... and Friday between work I did! Tim at Bogue Auto Sales was awesome!!! We looked around...trucks, suv's...then out of the corner of my eye.. i saw her.. she was big and beautiful!!! Tim asked if I wanted to test drive her...love at first lift! lol. Now, I'll give you a visual of me at the dealership..prob why my picture wasn't taken lol.. I had just gotten out of the water from teaching SUP Yoga...I was still wet, short shorts, flatwaters shirt with wet boob prints.. hot mess! After I drove it..that was it! Let the paperwork begin!!!!

So, I've had her for the weekend and I am so in love! Still figuring her out..but it's awesome! I even washed her yesterday!!! YOu know how long it has been that I've had windows that WORK?!?! and their tinted!! woohoo.

It's definitely an adventure backing up and driving thru parking lots, but I Loooove being the biggest truck in the lot most days! It even has a tool box in the back! Granted Drake cannot jump in and out of it, and there's no step, so ladies please remember if wearing a dress in my new ride, bring panties...and no heels.. maybe I need to get a waiver to ride with me.. hmmmm.

So, now if you are moving, I have a truck.
If you're driveway is flooded, I can help.
Oh it's snowed, I have 4 wheel drive.
oooh you wanna drive on the beach..i can do that too.
hmmm wanna go watch the Mudbog..I'll drive!

Now all that's left is for Matty to get his hands on her and pimp her out a lil for me...I've already been eyeballing a pink bowtie and a sticker that reads "silly boys, trucks are for girls", and maybe a new cd/DVD player....

Yeah, it's gonna to eat gas, but I have a truck! A big ass beast truck. Kim calls it Butch...but I'm not set on a name yet...any suggestions?

cheers

Swimming Thoughts (take 2)

July 7th, 2012

While I'm ranting....What's up with all these damn "engagement pics" on facebook?

Is it me or aren't they super annoying?....

They're so cheesy and staged. So unnatural looking uggg makes me want to stracth my eyes out...ikr.. horrible. Isn't changing your status on fb enough? before fb didn't people send hand written announcements? I'm not the wedding expert...I just know what annoys me.

If it were me, I would like to go to a carnival and take pics in the photo booth - you know the ones that have 4 pics in a row...that would my MY PHOTOS!!! In fact we should do that this summer - photo booth pics! ! !

In addition to my previous blog, it's still swimming. Faster in my head..probably because I haven't said it out loud...was gonna tell the girls last night, but didn't...talking to him last night, this morning, texting ... I just love him more and more everyday...this is all his fault really lol.

I dont' want engagement pics
I don't want a rehearsal dinner
I dont' want the dress
I don't want 200 people

I just want HIM - I wanna walk to frozen waterfalls and video him walking across the ice, I wanna jump in freezing water with him, I wanna walk through a pumpkin patch and watch the stars in the mountains with cows in the back yard, I wanna ride roller coasters with you, I want wild animals to ram your truck so I can feed them out of my hands and take pictures, I want you to drag me to two weddings in one summer (and I hate going to weddings), I want to travel to all the places you work, I want to be on bourbon street with you, I wanna go to MC parties and drink whiskey with you, I want to sit in public places and people watch with you, I want to go to tattoo conventions with you and get fuck cancer tats, I wanna take long hot bubble baths with you, and shoot guns, I want you to watch me play volleyball and do yoga ;), I want to go to all the AA shows we possibly can, I wanna travel across the state with a wedding cake in my lap for your sister's wedding, I wanna take the afternoon and drive thru the blue ridge parkway, oooh I wanna go white water rafting with you and try to climb rocks lol, I wanna climb rope courses with you and have you encourage me the whole way, I wanna throw surprise parties for you and watch you squirm when an ostrich comes to the truck, I wanna go roller skating and ice skating with you and go to my Friends kids' bday party and have a blast playing on the water slide and throwing kids in the pool, I wanna wake up next to you everyday I can, I wanna run in the warrior dash with you after drinking all night, I wanna watch porn and football games with you, I wanna go fishing and carve pumpkins, I wanna go see the penguins with you, I wanna drink fun beers and play board games, I wanna spend Christmas with your family over and over again, and grow veggies with you, I wanna go on date night in yoga pants, I want to build things with you from pinterest and for you to come to my yoga graduation, I wanna work the beer tent with you on st. patty's day....
wait...we've done all of that...

I love our adventures together dude. I love doing everything with you. I'm excited for our next chapters of adventures...for the rest of my life.

Cheers Love

Muwah

Swimming Thoughts (take 1)

So, idk why these thoughts have been swimming around in my head, but they have. I have been saying over and over for the last 5 years I would never, ever do it again --- up until now I have been 100% certain I wouldn't nor want to do that ever again. If anyone asked, I'd be quick to answer - NOPE. Fuck that, one of the top 3 best decisions in my life was my Divorce!

So, why lately is that all I can think about?....probably tv. Yep, I blame tv shows lol. It's not that I'm constantly day dreaming about a "fairy tale wedding" - I just want to spend the rest of my life with Matty, the good, the bad, the ugly...who am I kidding...there's no ugly lol..

I'm 110% sure I was intoxicated throughout all of my previous relationships - blinded by something - always drawn to the losers...no car, no drivers license, no "real" job...probation...ugggg. When mom met matty that was her first 3 questions...job? car? drivers license? he passed the test with flying colors! :)

I was this close to shunning men all together, then Matt came along. It took me a minute to realize what he knew the first night we met. I'm convinced he has super human powers...no one can be that smart, funny, sexy, and psychic without super human powers.

I'm putting this on paper to get it out of my head - it's driving me crazy - this fucking thoughts....

I love Matty - he's become more then my bff, he's my FPE! I can always talk to him and he always listens, no judgment.

So, like I said it's not the typical girl day dreaming and pinning about dress ideas, cakes, decorations, destinations...I had all that and more once upon a time.. and we see how well that worked out. Just with the wrong person. I don't even really like diamonds...shhhhh. I want an adventure. I want to experience and enjoy life. I want a tropical vaca with us or with all our friends/family....i want to stand in front of you all and say "hey dude, I love this man! A Lot! I'm tapping out - I found what I've been searching for all my life. Someone who's just as fucked up in the head as me...no more, no less. He's the smartest, sexiest, funniest, man ever. He can fix everything, he loves drake, he's up for every wacky adventure I bring to him...whether it's polar plunging into the ocean in January or white water rafting or sleeping in the back of your truck when it's freezing outside. I am the luckiest girl in the world. You're so thoughtful, sweet, romantic - in your own way, and still completely Bad Ass...and always know how to put me in my place. You are your own person, and I love that! I believe we came into each others lives at the perfect time. December 30th, 2010.

I'm rambling now...back on track.

Then other times I think I want us to go on a vac and come back hitched lol ~

No planning, no cake, no dj, no dress, no gifts...doesn't even matter where - inside, outside, at a concert, gmas backyard, jeans, flops, and a t-shirt. I want to be with this man for the rest of my life.

I've even thought of the whole matching tats like on that show where they got "i do" on their ribs..no tattoo rings though...

These are the thoughts swimming about...i haven't said them out loud to ANYONE - this feels good. .

I've always felt I didn't need the "papers" or even want them again. So, why NOW? is it the season? working all these damn weddings every weekend? or is it him? He is the one :)

Everyone keeps saying "you have to work on relationships" "you have to compromise and make sacrifices" - what a crock of shit we have been fed all our lives. Relationships are suppose to be FUN! Adventurous! Exciting!!! Think about your bff for a moment...we're in relationships with people we like and want to play with and make memories with...This is the most awesome relationship EVER! Easy, FUN, EXCITING!!! I still get butterflies when he flies home and I"m waiting at the airport to see him get off the plane. Or when I'm walking through the airport knowing he's just over the stairs...I never want the butterflies to fly away...he's the most perfect person to complete my little family.

So, why not do it right? It doesn't have to be a wedding....commitment ceremony...tattoos....I just want to stand up in front of him, look him in the eyes, holding his hands and say I love you dude. Lets spend the rest of our lives being happy together.

I can't even believe I'm about to post this...but here it goes...

EEEK!

New Ink...again!

Look what my love got me for a late bday present in NOLA!!!! And it was at a Tattoo Convention!! EEEK! bucket list! IT's a sugar skull..day of the dead...to celebrate the ones who have passed...and I got it on father's day weekend! Love you dad! PS.. mom's mad because your tattoo is bigger then hers...go figure.

And Thank you MATTY!! making another dream come true!!

Muwah AM

I lost my monkey on Bourbon St.

What a glorious mini vacation this past weekend!!! My honey flew me down to Baton Rouge, LA to see him :) I'm one lucky girl!! Our plan was to go down to NOLA Friday night, kick it with our friends, then chill back at Matt's Saturday...I love making plans, then finding better ones!

From the airport we drove down to New Orleans and met up with Stu - who by the way is the best host EVER!! And I'm sure I said that 1,000 times Friday night on Bourbon St lol. He hooked it up with a free hotel all weekend, free parking, and our own personal tour guide of Bourbon Street Friday night!!! After being in our room for 5 minutes, Matty looks at me and says, yeah I think we'll stay 2 nights :) !!! YAY! Friday night was a blast!!! Our goal was to EAT before drinking even though we weren't hungry..but we knew where the night would take us if we didn't... So we ate in the Casino of course!! Matts first time...:) We had a lot of first this weekend...like always...and like fifty ;)

We did some gambling and drinking..then all headed down to Bourbon Street!! Check that off my bucket list!!! Was a great crowd!! Not too many though. I felt like Bourbon Street just kept going and going...it was awesome for my bar ADD! and drinking in and out of the bars- amazing!! NOLA has it down!! No cover charges...drinking on balcony's!! I could get use to this town!!! Then OMG we ate THE BEST Burrito EVER!!! We were chillin in this bar...and all of the sudden got super hungry...Stu looks at us and says, "oh they have tacos here". Matt and I looked at each other, mouth's dropped open! SAWWEET! We stood at the Taco bar, I ordered a veggie Burrito and proceeded to stuff my face for the next 5-7 minutes...no talking, no drinking, just pure stuffing my face with the most delicious tasting Burrito I have ever had! Thank you Burrito bar!

After that, I just remember thanking Stu for being the best host ever...walking down Bourbon Street what felt like kept going for miles...and thinking to myself or out loud..we should do a hangover/beer fest movie here!! Because frankly that's what I felt like :)

Being we had walked for "miles"...matt and I were ready to hit the hotel...we cabbed it back...just to walk to the CVS for contact solution for yours truly! Poor Matt practically drug me down the street...whining it was too far lol.. God I love that man! Back in the room..i'm pretty sure he took out my contacts because that's what he does when I've had one too many... and hey... it was bourbon street! He's so fucking thoughtful...he stayed more sober then me so I could have a good time - my first time on bourbon St.. Damn I'm lucky! :) 

Saturday was our day to be a tourist.. walk around, shop, do a little day drinking.. eat, listen to some amazing jazz on the streets...see the Mississippi River! SHOP! Got to see good ole Bourbon St during the day :) then it was off to another first...our very first Tattoo Convention!!! Boy did we luck out on this weekend!!! Had no clue it was going on.. always wanted to go to one.. and always wanted to get inked at one... So we did.. My honey wine, dined, and tatted me up this weekend!! (my very own christian grey)

Saturday evening was glorious as well!! We stayed in bed ;)

Sunday time to adventure out to where he's living and eat some crawfish and of course bless his camper! It was a fantastic mini vaca with my honey and friends! Can't wait to go back!

Cheers ~

50 Shades

Ok, Ok.. i have succumb to reading 50 Shades of Grey!!! OMG and am I glad I have..probably not the best time to read it though while Matty's gone because now I'm even more horny then usual... Jesus Christ this book is good!!! I can't fucking put it down!! I'm not a big reader either...but DAMN! I want a Red Room of Pain!!! I want Matt to read this and become Christian Grey..and all his 50 shades of fucked upness... this is one hell of a book.

I have been putting this book off, mainly because of all the buzz...thinking it's a fad on fb... it'll pass. Until HB said to me super serious like.."DUDE - YOU. HAVE.TO.READ.THIS.BOOK. and since she's our lil "nazi" I ran out and bought it...last week I think.. didn't really get into it until a few days ago...and boy... once chapter 8 hits...BAM. BOOM.. DONE SON!! Can not stop reading....the chapters are short too, which is good!! but I don't' want to stop.. I want to know more, learn more...damn it MATT!!! I wish you were here....you may just come home to a contract and our own RED ROOM OF PAIN ;) hhehehehhehe

I think all men should read this .... that way they know how to do a little foreplay....that's the shit that gets us all hot and bothered....this is just a very very well written book! Bravo!!! Bravo!!! I can't wait to finish it and read the others...and more importantly lend mine out to friends...and start on a contract lol....I wonder if my ceiling can hold a swing??? hmmmmm I know someone who has one though....

Matty, you have until August to read this book :) or else...

CHeers

Back at it...again

So...I'm back at the insanity again...why not right!! I can't seem to drop these 10lbs I neeeeeeeeeeeeed to desperately shed...so it's a new month...new training regiment...I started on the 1st of the month...so today is my "rest" day...I've been doing the videos after work at home...after of course I walk the dogs, sweep the house...so about 7pm...last night I was exhausted from road tripping to Wilmington and back with 2 4-legged kids...I said fuck it..i'll get up early and do it lol...the thing is I DID!! I woke up at 330am..and kicked ass! walked the dogs afterwards, showered...bam! done for the day... well besides the 2 yoga classes I'm teaching today!!! I've planned it well too.. THursdays this month I'm teaching after work to the EI EMS station.. so no time for insanity after work...but you know what? I enjoyed working out early!! Waking up at 330am SUCKS..but totally worth it.. I feel Great...besides the pains of getting older....my right lower back hurts...left hip hurts... I need a massage!!!!

I figured, Matt's gone... I need to use this time to shape up!!! I'm tired of being blah...I mean I'm healthy, I kick butt in yoga... but still not 100% happy with the way I look...uggg especially in pictures... geeze a Pete!!! so I'm fucking DOING IT...and doing it all month.. that's my goal!!! tomorrow will be one week on insanity...I can do this... I want this...I'm focused now..

here we go... cheers ya'll

AM

2 kids vs 1

So, Matt and I recently adopted Harley - a 5 year old English Bulldog! Matt was home for the weekend, so it was wonderful. Lots of people in and out, lots of love for both our kids..Drake and Harley. They seem to be getting along well, until feeding time...they have to eat separate, and they are on different eating schedules..so the baby gate is up while I'm at work. Harley stays in the Kitchen/Living room because he likes to pee on the trashcan and puke on the floor and couch...and my sweet baby Drake stays in my room with his food and toys and moms bed...Haryley has taken over Drake's bed...he's ok with that though...So, this week it's just been me and the kids...routine is still the same..I have to take more poop bags on our walks because dear ole Harley has to poop all the time! Wiping 8 feet instead of 4, and wiping Harley's butt every time he poops...well before he comes back inside, because apparently Bulldogs have dirty butts...and they're smelly, and big, and shed...I'm adjusting...I've been trying to let Harley sleep in bed, but he smells...and was just bathed Monday...I never realized how much Drake does NOT smell like a dog...So now Harley is a floor dog...no couch, no bed. Which I'm sure he is laying on the couch as I type. He is a mess! A cute, lovable, mess, but a mess. Matt told me last night, Drake is our son and Harley is our dog! Makes perfect sense to me!! Drake is my baby! and always will be. Can't wait for daddy to be home to help out with the family! We miss you! We are gonna have one hell of a Christmas card this year!

Cheers ~

Love of my life

What a wonderful weekend! Matty was able to fly home for memorial weekend!! He left April 11th..it has been tough without him around. Although I have my routine down, it's so awesome having him here to help out with the house and our kids. Yep, kids. On top of him being home, we adopted a 5 year old English Bulldog, Harley. Thanks mom! So, it was a fun filled, action packed weekend! Garrett and his new girl came down Friday night...kicked it with them at the eclub!! And when Matt flew in, he had no idea!! He thought he was coming home to surprise Drake and our new kid...when in fact we surprised him with his bff, a keg of pbr in the kegerator, waxed peek-a-choo...and his new son. It was a great weekend, live music, Garrett riding the bike with a cast on!!! Aquarium to see the penguins, Sushi, movie - where we both fell asleep..not because the movie was lame, but we were both so tired..walking the kids to the beach, biking all over the island...beer tasting..beachin' it...my favorite of the whole weekend though was napping in the middle of the day with him. Just holding me and snuggling. So nice! Hopefully I can go see him in July...it feels like forever until August. Sucks he is gone during the summer...I guess I'll go back to my routine...work work work, kids, kids, kids, cook, eat, sleep, work, play, play laundry, sleep, work...lol. Until next time ~ Cheers.

Blast from the Past

OMG. So, Sunday at my cousin's kids 6th bday party...I had a run in with someone from the past...a looonnng time ago...talking 1995/96! Lets start from the beginning of my day..bday party is at the park, cool...I can bring my 4 legged kid! I also thought I could bring my 3 rent-a-kids to the party and let them run and play and play and bond with their cool "Aunt Marie". Loaded in 2 cars..I have the boys my mom has the girl and my kid..and we're off to help set up for the party! Kids are excited, I'm awake and ready to roll. My rent-a-kids were great! Helped set up, helped with Drake, scooped pooped, played on the jungle gym!! Just awesome! Parties just getting started..people are starting to show up...weather's nice! Food, silly string, candy, cake, all the goods!! After 2 hours of setting up and playing with my 3 rent-a-kids, drake, and my cousin...i have already taken a beaten lol....The way to do it though is have multiple kids so one looks after the other and so on! As people are showing up, talking to Ang (my cuz) bringing dozens of presents..I see this tan surfer guy with a brace on his knee talking to Ang...I thought, huh he's cute..then went on with my playing and tracking my kids..and drake...Oh Drake was awesome!!! Did all his circus tricks, had some pizza crust, pooped, didn't bite any kids, and even got into some cake! He had the best day ever...ran and ran and ran and played! So grateful I was able to bring him along too! I love my furry kid...

Anyways...I'm not thinking twice about cute surfer guy...i'm in "aunt Marie" mode...which translates to kids chasing me on the playground with silly string, running my ass off, kids climbing on my shoulders, hanging upside down on the monkey bars, did i mention running? more playing, eating, tending to drake...tending to my rent-a-kids...then out of no where..I'm talking to one of my kids off to the side and surfer guy walks up to me and says, "I'm sorry, so rude of me to not say hey"...in my head I'm thinking who is this guy...I don't recognize the voice at first...then he takes his sunglasses off and does this little toss of the hair(but he doesn't have long hair now)..Holy Moly...Marc Fuckin' Warren...you know how many times I have tried to stalk him, I mean look him up on fb!? probably once/twice a year since I've had fb...lol...you know just curious to see what he's up too, where he's been. I don't know if we dated or just hung out..that was some time ago...what I do remember is mom driving him back to his house and us sitting in the back seat holding hands..he he he. I was working a this pizza joint in AB..i think it was the summer before HS...not too too sure on that one..and in he walks...cute lil tan, long haired surfer dude...that's when it all started! My love for the water!! LOL. Surfing, simpsons, guitar playing, pot smoking surfer dudes. . . I guess we kicked it for a minute...again, not too clear on the details...I think there was this one time he wrote a song for me LOL...omg...takes me back to chillin underneath the beach house on that hideous couch...smoking pot...i believe he was the first person I'd ever smoked with too...bah ha ha. Then there was this one time at prom week...i believe we got kicked out of a prom house or something....you knows.. what I do know is that it's always fun running into people from your past when you have silly string in your hair! At last! I can rest easier knowing he's married with a kid...a kid whose in my cousins class, and never has had a fb page! Small world Carteret County...small world! Cheers to you...my first hot surfer dude.

 

Shame on you

Beware! I'm ranting...this time about HANDICAPPED PARKING. How are you going to park in the Handicapped Parking at work, but then walk for 30 minutes during lunch???????
Really? Granted, you have a Handicapped Parking Decal...BUT COME ON!!!!
YOU ARE PERFECTLY FINE TO WALK  - YOU DO IT AT LUNCH!!! I KNOW< I SEE YOU...uggg. just irritates me...wanted to share.

Have a good one~

My love

I truly have the most wonderful man in my life! Took 28 years to find...I'm so happy I wanna shout it from the rooftop. My life feels complete! I'm back on the island, I have the sweetest four legged kid, and the most awesome guy to call my love. My fpe. My boyfriend. My roommate. My lover. I finally know what a real relationship is. A healthy relationship. Communication. Love. So much love...I could cry...the way he loves me. The way he looks at me..I'm so blessed...thank you baybeee. Muwah.

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Matty

I miss him sooooooo much. I miss waking up to him. I miss falling asleep on his chest. I miss that he mows the lawn lol. I miss his smile and laugh.  I miss the smell of him. I miss just being with him....can't wait to see him soon. I love love love you dude. Muwah

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Our Own Reality TV Show

So, for a while now...we've been saying we are way funnier then the Jersey Shore, or MTV's the Real World, or even the Bad Girls Club (at times). Matty and I always talk about needing cameras to follow us around and catch the random adventures we find ourselves in...
Well, this weekend working at the OC, we met these totally chill guys from NOLA...within an hour of hanging out they were like "we need to come down here and film you guys" "yall need your own TV show" LOL...RIGHT!!! That's what we've been saying. I mean we could probably do this ourselves to start...film us for even just a weekend, load it up to youtube and see what happens. I mean if Snookie can write a freakin' book, I'm damn sure we could have our own Island Reality TV Show...The Ex-Wives of EI...the Dirty 30 Of EI...Locals to the Left...something fun...can you imagine...LOL. Just from this weekend...not even the whole weekend...well yeah maybe the whole weekend, we are pretty funny to be around...and our friends we come into contact with are hilarious. You wouldn't believe some of our stories if we told you...that's why we need footage of it :)

Maybe one day...or maybe we should add this to our bucket list and just back it happen :)

Until next time~ we'll see what happens...

FB Rant

I have a lot to say today, so if you are having a bad day and do not want to be offended stop reading now. I mean it..if you don't want to be butt hurt. Please go on to the next blog. With that said.....

So, I get it...i guess, fb is a great way to reach a ton of people and ask for help...who's a good doctor, tattoo artist, plumber...wedding planner, whatever. But to put on fb you need child care so you can go out and do fun stuff on a Friday or Saturday night completely baffles me.

For the past 6 months almost everyday there is a post on someones page that reads something like this: "need someone to watch Drake Saturday night, any takers?" or "going to a concert Friday, who wants to watch Drake for a few hours"...or recently, the one that really did it for me, just pushed it over the edge..."does anyone want to watch the boys for me on Saturday for a couple of hours so I can go skydiving?" Are you kidding me? really? you want someone to watch your kids while you go jump out of a plane!? WOW. I'm speechless. I understand just because you procreate doesn't mean you can't have fun...but I have one word for you Priority!!! You had the choice to have children, they are your responsibility, put your big girl panties on and take care of them - if that means giving up your weekends and that's too hard for you...stop making babies. Maybe I do need to hide everyone's updates on fb with a kid. That is except for family of course. Feel free to rip me a new one or leave a fun comment.

until next time - I'm hiding you.

Pinning

All morning meetings have been canceled...so what am I doing!?!? Reviewing my FOOD pins and making list of what I want to cook this weekend!! LOL ON the list: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Lentils, Lemon Quinoa Cilantro CHickpea Salad, Refrigerator Oatmeal, Cucumber Sandwiches, and salads in a jar!!! I can't wait for Friday so I can go shopping for Food!!!! YAY...GOing super healthy while Matt's away! Excited to cook and prep food for the week! Oh wow...did that just make me sound old? when you are excited to prep food for the week...hmmmm. Oh well! I am excited so suck it! :)

Until Next TIme ~ keep pinning

https://pinterest.com/yogiannmo/

30 and one day

It's official! I survived to 30. I am officially in my 30's. O M G! I can not believe it...like that country song says..by dena carter..I remember when 30 was old...oh Lord.

It's hitting me slowly I guess. Yesterday was just another day at work...except I wore a dress and got a few cards and a plant. Same ole, same ole! No huge plans for my 30's. No marriage, no kids. More traveling and more yoga workshops. I'd like to learn how to do that stand up paddle board, go sky diving, save more, spend less. Downsize my "stuff". Eat right, exercise often. Love life, enjoy the beach. Keepin' it simple.

It really hit, when Ruthie posted on fb...maybe we could all go to Ireland on our 40th Bday!!! WWWHHHHAAAAAT! We are just hitting 30 dude...whoa....halt, stop...no one said anything about over the hill yet. by then though, we're all gonna be lean, mean, fighting machines..kicking ass taking names still I'm sure. Hopefully we are aging like fine wine and cheese and not aging like an old Duck Rabbit Milk Stout - lesson learned. Either way, it's gonna be a good year. And just because we're 30 now, doesn't mean we're gonna be lame...we will still out dance your ass any day/night at the club...we may just leave earlier, and drink more water...love you guys. Happy 30th to all you 1982 Babies!!!

YeeeHaaaaa~

Today's the Day

It's finally here. Matt leaves today to start his new adventure 1,000 miles away. It's so hard to walk out of the house knowing he won't be there tonight. Luckily I have work to keep me busy today, and Drake to keep me busy tonight. I have lots of projects to keep me busy, with the house, spring cleaning, getting rid of crap, my gardens...herbs, veggies, flowers...now I'm in charge of EVERYTHING...yard work, trash, vacuum (booo), laundry, renters, bikes, cooking, dishes, drake...it's been so wonderful these past few months having a partner in crime to divide everything with..and to ask to do things when I don't feel like it lol. and to make me coffee, or make sure the coffee is set in the morning. And let drake out late at night when i'm already in bed..Well, vaca is over for me...time to man up, and put my big girl panties on and take over like an Aries should! Probably take me a few days to get into my own routine, but I have confidence I will. Determination. 44 Days isn't that bad...44 days until he will come and visit. hmmmm. I already miss him. Drake's gonna miss him. WIth all the bad luck lately with his truck and all...I gave him my mala bracelet I made in yoga training for good luck and grounding, and saged him and Joesph this morning before I left. Say a little pray, chant a little protection chant...

So I figure my new routine will consist of more walks/jogs with Drake, cleaning something everyday, getting my pictures developed (i don't even know how to do that with my new phone), working out everyday either yoga or insanity or both..would love to start insanity again and be ripped in 44 days :) Like the commerical says, you just have to press play everyday..hmmm. We shall see. I'll definitely keep ya'll updated. For now, I'm ok. Trying to keep it together while at work. And no water proof mascara helps fight back the tears.

Until Next time ~ keep the heart smiling

It's Finally Come to an End

Well, here we go again...after about a 7 month "vaca" he's going back on the road. We knew this was happening eventually, and now it's a reality. Come next month, Matty will be headed to the deep south! Hopefully run into Troy and the gang from Swamp People! Fortunately I have so much here to keep me busy with work, yoga, trainings, the garden, drake, the house, the renters, the girls :) I will blink my eyes and he'll be back. I'm both excited and sad of course. Excited he can get back to doing what he loves and making some real money. Sad I'll be without him, and sad for Drake too...Drake's Gonna miss him....Luckily it's a short one, then it'll be his bday again....take a few days off and travel, kick it, celebrate, go to the country and what not. Same ole story for my bday this year...he'll be gone :( ...looks like we'll celebrate this weekend...oh well...not too worried about it..like I said, I have plenty to keep me busy. And grateful to have a wonderful support system close by with the girls and the neighbors, and if all else fails, I've got my shotgun! Who knows...maybe I'll find some time to venture down there...never been. We'll see. What I do know is it's about a17 hour drive from home, that's 1,026 miles away...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Muwah Matty.

No Sugar

So, now that Matty's dad has diabetes...he's getting more and more aware of what he's eating. When he first found out, he turns to me and says, "maybe I should listen to you about what i eat". yep. Now, my mom, his dad, both his grandma's are all diabetic...this weekend he says, i need to cut out sugar! whoa...that's hardcore...even for me. NO sugar! I don't think he know's what he's in for...carbs, bread, everything has sugar. Don't get me wrong, we could all stand to drop a few...and I'm totally stoked he's on a health kick...but baby steps...black coffee - already doing, no soda, getting there...no alcohol...hmmmm. carbs...i love carbs...oh well...it's nice to have a partner conscious about food too! I got mom doing the Coconut Palm Sugar..suppose to be the best kind for diabetes...so next time I'm in Wilmington I'll be stocking up for us too...no more splenda, stevia, agave...oh no...what about honey?? hmmmm Gonna have to consult with my foodies at yoga about this one...

Until Next Time ....think twice next time you put something in your body....

party girl to yoga bad ass

Going from drinking every night, parting it up.....to yoga, breathing, yoga workshops, meditating - ahhh i love it....wonder if its me maturing into me and the fact I'll be 30 soon...or if this is my path..after 29.7 years.. I've found it!


No kids, not married, living at the beach, working a fabulous job with fabulous bosses, and now yoga..yoga has completed me! holy freakin' cow! I've seen the light. "yoga - it really is a way of life"


I'm less interested in the bar/club thing ..not saying I won't enjoy a nice bottle of wine from time to time..or celebrate St. patty's day....and Lord knows I love being behind the bar, but I'm just like yeah whatever.. i don't need it...



Until Next Time ~ Namaste.

St Patty's Day Volunteer Work

Matty's first St.Patty's Day Fest on the Island!

 And we put him to work lol :)

Cheers ~ 

Spring has Sprung

It's getting hot in here...So this week's weather is off the chain warm! Stoked! And Friday the girls and I have the whole day off!! WOrd! time to hit the beach, sand, warm sun...and chill. Kickin' it off old school! Excited to have some girl time and beach time...my legs need a tan! if they were tan, I might be more incline to shave them lol.

Question. So if it's already 70-80 degrees now in March...does that mean it's gonna hit 100-110 in August?!?!? Eeeek. One word for the summer = hydration.

later ya'll

AM

Gardening

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a day with yourself

it's nice sometimes to have a day with yourself. to just be alone with yourself, your thoughts, emotions. in a room full of strangers - just you, your books, and phone of course..these days. ahhhhh the evil spawn of the ell phone. i need to go back to having one day a week with no phone, no facebook, no twitter, NO CELL PHONE DAY. walking down the street downtown, just you, your thoughts. . . then you stop to write a thought down and continue with your purpose - SUSHI! ah ha! And to people watch with just you and your thoughts. to listen to others conversations  so blah blah blah - and i think to myself - this is soooo meaningless. i mean others conversations...geeze. real world activity is going on around you people - i love sitting window side, staring out at the street, sipping soup. I do miss something about Wilmington ..downtown, but not enough to leave my cute and quite beach~ i just got mistaken for a college kid! how wonderful!! ooh i was walking downtown this morning walking down the steps when i see out in front a man peeing behind a dumpster lol - this town - God Bless It - love it. I'm at super peace right now. good karma building up inside. love love love walking around downtown. the cute shops. coffee. smells. the different type of people. everywhere. just everything about it.

muwah.

People Watching

Love Love Love it - one of my favorite hobbies.

So, watching this mom and child or aunt..the child is probably 1 yo running around, babbling, climbing all over things. Not hurting anyone, and not annoying the crowd too bad..it's just fun to watch at this point. The kid's starring out the window "bah bah BHA" I wonder what the kid is thinking? so carefree. the adult is talking to herself and totally not engaged with the kid, she's annoyed and thinking FML. Then she restrains the kid to the chair thingy...stroller. strapped him in and he starts screaming bloody murder. I'd scream too lady...let me walk and run and play. I'm happy free and not screaming...ahhhhh.

chow

1 year

Yep I made it a successful year with matty...been fantastic! He is truly a gift  from God. so happy  waking up every morning with him. I love you dude.

Muwah

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No wheat no dairy

So last Monday 6FEB12 I started to go no wheat no dairy in my diet...the no wheat thing lasted 2 days..i didn't know there was wheat in my soy nuggets booooo... so now just super decreasing wheat..no bread, no pitas, only my veggie chips...organic pasta on occasion...but i have been kicking ass on no dairy, no milk, no ice cream...went completely dairy free...soy and almond milk only from now on...and only organic dark chocolate when needed....we'll see we'll see.

chow.

Go heels

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live to 100

An Article I came across the other day...pretty good stuff.


Content provided by:

11 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100

You don't need to eat yogurt and live on a mountaintop, but you do need to floss

 

One of the biggest factors that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A study published in 2009 in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. (Recent research suggests that centenarians are 20 times as likely as the average person to have at least one long-lived relative.) Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits. Follow these 12 habits and check out Perls' lifetime risk calculator to see how long you can expect to live.

1. Don't retire.

"Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement," says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

2. Floss every day.

That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease. "I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," says Perls.

Cancer and Age: Why We May Face a Tradeoff Between Cancer Risk and Aging

3. Move around.

"Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "It's like the oil and lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.

4. Eat a fiber-rich cereal for breakfast.

Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. "Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging," he says.

Could Getting More Fiber Help You Live Longer?

5. Get at least six hours of shut-eye.

Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. "Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells," says Ferrucci. "We've calculated that the minimum amount of sleep that older people need to get those healing REM phases is about six hours." Those who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.

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6. Consume whole foods, not supplements.

Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients—selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E—age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those antiaging benefits. "There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato," points out Ferrucci, "and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C." Avoid nutrient-lacking white foods (breads, flour, sugar) and go for all those colorful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cereals with their host of hidden nutrients.

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7. Be less neurotic.

It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. "We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles," says Perls. "They are great at rolling with the punches." If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you're stressed: Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips in front of the TV, binge drinking? Bad, very bad.

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist.

Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They're also very focused on family and community.

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9. Be a creature of habit.

Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.

10. Stay connected.

Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers. Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. "They'll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn," says Perls, "and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."

11. Be conscientious.

The strongest personality predictor of a long life is conscientiousness—that is, being prudent, persistent, and well organized, according to The Longevity Project, coauthored by Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin. The book describes a study that followed 1,500 children for eight decades, collecting exhaustive details about their personal histories, health, activities, beliefs, attitudes, and families. The children who were prudent and dependable lived the longest, Friedman says, likely because conscientious types are more inclined to follow doctors' orders, take the right medicines at the right doses, and undergo routine checkups. They're also likelier to report happier marriages and more satisfying work lives than their less conscientious peers.

hmmm.