Cancer..hits close to home...

With it being Breast Cancer Awareness in October, I wanted to share my own experience about this.

My mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1998, rediagnosed in July of 1999 and then the cancer had spread to her lower back in November of 2007. Since 2007 she hasn't had another occurrence and currently is cancer free, but there is always a chance that it could come back, we just play the waiting game, but we don't let it stop us from living life.

I remember the day when I found out my mom had cancer the first time. I was 9 years old that summer, laying on the living room floor watching tv, my mom was in the recliner and my dad was on the couch. My mom was talking to someone and told that person that she had gotten the results back from the doctor and she had cancer.

I wasn't suppose to be listening to my mom's conversation, but its hard when she was right there. I remember I started to cry and my dad asked what was wrong. I had told him nothing, but he's my dad and knows that wasn't the correct answer he asked me again and I said mom has cancer, I didn't really know what it was but I knew it was bad. Dad had asked if I knew what it meant, of course I didn't but I answered yes, but you know what was next, my dad had questioned me what it was, but I had to say no and we had a family discussion about it.

I didn't know what was in store for my mom and my parents did a good job of keeping me sheltered from it. I remember going into the 4th grade in 1999 and my mom didn't have any hair and I was embarrassed for her to go to meet the teacher with me that year. It wasn't because she didn't have any hair but it was because I was afraid my classmates would make fun of her.

Over the next 2 or 3 years, my mom was in and out of hospitals doing treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. I don't really remember those nights of throwing up or not being able to get out of bed. My parents did a good job of hiding that part. I never really thought my mom was sick, because she always did her "motherly" duty and always did whatever I wanted, because she wanted to be apart of my life in case she had not won the battle against cancer.

Looking back over the last 12 years, my mom would have missed so much had she not fought the fight against breast cancer. She's had crappy doctors, for example the last one from November 2007 that helped her through treatments, he told her she was going to die, and look 4 years later, my mom is still alive. But she has had some doctors that told her she would beat it and just needed to stay positive.

Those who have friends or family members with any kind of cancer, keep them positive and don't think negative. There are miracles and they do come true.

"Breast cancer is not just a disease that strikes at women. It strikes at the very heart of who we are as women: how others perceive us, how we perceive ourselves, how we live, work and raise our families-or whether we do these things at all. " Debbie Wasserman Schultz

#12 Graduate from North Texas

I never thought college was going to ever end!! Really it wasn't about the college experience or college life it was just paying for classes, tuition & books but also doing the homework & late nights pulling all-nighters for exams.

After you graduate high school you feel like you're done, but reality is you're only just beginning. Entering college is preparing you for the REAL real world. I went to a community college for two years, because I had gotten in a car accident and was paying for a car & didn't want to be paying for an education when all the scholarships I had received would pay for my first two years at a community college.


After graduating from Hill College with a Associate's Degree, I started looking for other colleges to attend to finish my Bachelor's degree. I applied to University of North Carolina at Charlotte, but when financial aid came back and it was going to be $40,000 for my first year there I was still going to have to go another year, so I decided financially I couldn't do it, so I started looking at colleges in Texas and thought about Houston, A&M, Tarleton, Texas Tech and there wasn't any colleges that I really wanted to go to, except UNCC, but I chose to University of North Texas because it was 20 minutes from Texas Motor Speedway and that place truly makes me happy.


UNT was only an option because of how close they were to TMS. My parents didn't graduate from a 4 year university, they both went but never finished, so I really didn't have ties to a college, therefore I made ties to UNT.


College isn't about making the grades and choosing a degree, but it is about making life decisions and making the best out of life with trying to attain a college degree and managing your outside life with that. 2 years at UNT was not the easiest thing in the world. My first year there I was in a sorority, lived with a girl who turned out to not be such a great roommate, changing majors and getting to do some of the neatest things at the racetrack. My second year there I left the sorority due to financial difficulties, started working a 40 hour a week job & attending full time at UNT, taking some difficult classes & managing life outside of college and really getting to experience things at the racetrack that I would have never been able to do had I not been so close to the track.


First two years moving away from my parents, family & high school friends I wouldn't exactly give it an A, but I survived. The summer before graduation, I didn't know if I was going to even graduate because I had fallen behind so bad. I didn't even know the day of graduation, I didn't find out until August 15th - 2 days after graduation.


Here I am, 4 years after taking the journey of college, a stronger person, more independent than I have ever been, enjoying a job that may not exactly be the highest paying job, but it definitely has no stress and I get to work around something that I love. I'm getting my own place and for once not have to rely on someone else to keep my place clean.


Did I ever think I'd make it to this point in life, the answer is NO. I thought it'd take forever and here it is and some days I think shouldn't I be studying or doing homework and that answer is No. It's a great feeling, so I encourage everyone who thinks they won't make it through a stressful time in your life. You will trust me!


Wanted to put a college quote, but none were worth sharing. So here's my own experience of college.

"I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I made the decision to leave home, my parents weren't there for when I needed them, when I got myself into pickle situations. I had to step back and figure out which road to take. I made mistakes and I made some of the best decisions, if I could do it all again, I'd change the mistakes, but I wouldn't live through college again. Truly it made me stronger, but sometimes that road looked dark and finally found the light."

Little things like Best Friends ♥

"When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead you can look beside you and your best friend will be there." - Unknown

Anyone have that one person that is your bestest best friend? My best friend is currently my roommate right now...I've known here since I was 11, going on our 11th year as best friends. She's been there through everything and continues to give me advice when I need it most. She's younger than me and taller than me and graduated college before me. Something wrong with this picture here.

She went with me to meet Dale Earnhardt, Jr back in 2002, she's been to two NASCAR races she's been there through all the silly boys that I've ever cried over, she opened her apartment up to me when I didn't have anywhere to live, because I didn't want to sign another lease since I'm graduating next month. We've had a lot of great memories through the years, she knows more than me and has helped me out when things were way over my head.

11 years ago, I never thought that I'd at least have one best friend through the years, looking back we were so young, looking at the present we're still young and trying to figure out our place in life, but 20 years from now I hope we're still best friends. We'll be looking at our kids laughing and knowing that they are making the same mistakes we did, but we had each other to help us get through it all. 20 years from now we'll be looking back through our life, my scrapbooks since I keep everything and be thinking why did we wear that, why did we act that way, but we'll laugh and cry and remember it was all in good fun!!

Hope you all have that person that is your best friend, they are truly a miracle when you need someone the most. I couldn't have asked for anyone better for God to put by my side and help when I need help the most!!

"If you should die before me, ask if you can bring a friend." - Stone Temple Pilots

#118 Meet Dale Jr

2000, this hat backwards, cool guy, walk to the beat of his own tune, was Dale Earnhardt Jr. I never knew back in 2000, that I would be one of his biggest fans. I've seen the bad races, I've seen him carry the weight of his dad's death on his shoulders, I've seen that famous 2001 Pepsi 400 that still brings tears to my eyes when I watch it and hes just my favorite racer.

December 2001, my mom and I were walking through the North East Mall in Hurst, Texas that's when I saw a poster of Dale Jr's face hanging from the ceiling and I made my mom go over there to see what it was all about. Of course Dale Jr was endorsing Drakkar Noir at the time, so for a Christmas present, mom dropped $75 dollars that day so I could have a guaranteed spot to meet Dale Jr. Only problem was I had to wait an excruciating 4 months until I actually got to meet him.

April 3, 2002 (which I'm weird about numbers and that day happened to be 04/03/02) Literally meeting Dale Jr was the only thing I talked about for 4 months. I was so dang excited!! I got ready, put on my one and only Dale Jr shirt I had at the time and we went to pick up my best friend to go with us and headed to the mall. I was smiling from ear to ear and was nervous too.

We arrived at the mall, in front of the JcPenney they had a stage set up and a roped off line you had to line up in and a whole bunch of people. I was so ecstatic, I knew within a few minutes Dale Jr would be on stage doing a quick interview type question and answer for the crowd, the line would move and I'd be on my way to getting to talk to him.

I walk through the ropes slowly just looking at him as he signed autographs for people and realizing within a few minutes I'd be up there. I didn't know what he was going to say, I didn't know what I would say, I just was nervous.

There was a lady standing in front of the stage, I'm not sure if she was security or who she was, that part is all fuzzy, but you couldn't stand next to him and get a picture so I politely asked the lady to take my picture when I got up there on stage. She kindly said yes and I was at the bottom of steps about to walk up and meet my favorite race car driver.

A lady handed me the cologne bottle told me he would sign this and when you get across stage they will give you a bag and the box for the cologne. I walked up on stage and handed my bottle to him, Jr asked "How are you?" and all that could come out was "FFFFFIIIIIINNNNEEE!!!" (stutter voice). I kept turning around, because that lady had not taken my picture yet, Jr kept looking around me like what is she looking at as if he was missing something. I turned back around and I knew my time was almost up so I blurted out "Can I have a hug?" and Jr responded "Sure" I about died. I was shocked. I couldn't believe it and I just remember the crowd going "AWWW" so I'm pretty sure after I got off stage he was giving hugs like crazy. (Sorry Jr). I just remember ducking down to get the camera from the lady and walking off stage, I remember the minute I hit the step tears started rolling down my face. I was the happiest 13 year old kid!

April 4, 2002 - Dale Jr was doing a book signing of his Driver #8 book at a local Barnes and Noble, this meet and greet wasn't a sure deal as the Drakkar Noir meet and greet, but luckily I was able to meet him again. Once we made it through the doors I knew I was safe if they happened to shut the doors for time limit reasons. I remember walking to the table and there was a book jam and Jr asked "Are those your books?" I told him "yes" and he signed my books. Mom once again dropped $100 on books because you had to purchase 1 each from that Barnes and Noble or something, I don't know I just know we walked out of there with 4 copies autographed. My mom of course told him, "This is your year!" He just looked at her and gave her the Earnhardt grin.

April 16, 2010 - I had previously been in the pit area for race weekends at Texas Motor Speedway and Dale Jr never walks through, but who would want to if you're Dale Jr. I know I wouldn't want to walk down pit road, he gets mobbed and I had noticed this with my previous times down there. For some reason, it was my 8th year from the first time I met him and he was walking through pit road. I was so ecstatic. I know he's just a person, but for some reason I just get happy when I get to see him in person. I know from experience you have to walk fast if you want to get an autograph. So I was quickly walking and turning pages in my program and his hand was on the book, but some HUGE football player man knocked into me and about knocked me to the ground and Dale Jr was walking away slowly. I was so mad and by the time I got up the guy had disappeared as did Dale Jr. Though through it all Dale Jr had bumped shoulders with me and ended up having a bruise on my arm for a few days so I didn't complain. :)

April 8, 2011 - This day I actually had a sneeky way of getting to meet him, but it was only because I knew someone who works for a race team that helped me. It was right after qualifying and he was in a hurry anyways, but by the time he had drove the car back to the garage, got out and be there waiting was ridiculous for me to ask for an autograph. I was in a different area where no one was around and I had spun around real quickly and I (stutteringly - I know its not a word but you get the point) said, "Dale will you sign my picture I met you back in 2002!" He just looked at me tired and said "yes" As he was walking away I was like me and my twitter friends we just love you, good luck & thank you!" I know it sounds cheesy but it's all that I could get out fast enough" He just looked at me and gave me that Earnhardt smile.

I don't ever have to get another Jr autograph I just want to work on #88 Have a conversation with Dale Jr and not get tongue tied - it's on my bucket list and each time I see him I'll try to get better. Not saying that I'll get lucky and meet him ever again, but I'll try.

#14 Ride a Mechanical Bull

When I went to North Carolina back in 2009, it was to visit University of North Carolina at Charlotte and that was it. My parents didn't like the idea of me going to college out there, but it is what I wanted, so my mom and I got on a plane and was headed to North Carolina.

With only visiting the college on the agenda, race shops and other adventures were out the window....Well until we got out there and my mother wanted to know if I had directions to all the shops and things we would want to see. Of course I did, I was one step ahead of my mother, because I knew she'd want to go once we got out there.

One stop on the trip was to go to Whisky River in downtown Charlotte. At the time I was only 19, we went on a Tuesday night since it was college night and I could get in. I went with my mom and there weren't many people that night and it wasn't the experience I wanted, it wasn't very fun LOL. But they did have a mechanical bull of course I didn't get on it, but one girl did. After that night, I always told myself if I went back to Charlotte, I wanted to ride the bull!

Second time going to Charlotte, I told my friend Brittany that we had to go to Whisky River, because I wanted to ride the bull! After 3 drinks I got in line and rode the dang thing...1st time I fell off rather quickly, 2nd time I was up there a little longer, 3rd I rode with a girl who was standing behind me and wanted too, so I was like what the heck...and we were on the thing for at least 34 seconds. I rode it about 5 times and had a blast. Riding and then falling off were both a thrill rush haha!!

I'm actually going to post the video, because last night when my best friend and I were watching it literally made us laugh for the whole video and we had to watch it again! The end of the video is the funniest...the falling off is a pure laugh! Happy Laughing!

http://youtu.be/bIKwIteqCB0 - I wanted to upload the video from the computer but it wouldn't work, but it's posted to you tube! Just copy and paste into a web page..sorry I couldn't make this easier to view...New at all this :]

A laugh is a smile that bursts. -- Mary H. Waldrip

Little things like the color Pink

There is something about the color pink that just makes me happy! One it's bright and you can't miss it! Two if it is just the right shade it goes with everything & Third it looks amazing against black!

Well for the Coca Cola 600, Robby Gordon was running his Pink Speed Energy paint scheme for the race. When I found out he was running this, I literally squealed like a pig. I couldn't wait to get the track to see it in person. I've always wanted to design a paint scheme for a race car, which is on my bucket list somewhere (besides the point), and on this paint scheme I wanted the car HOT PINK, just as Robby's above just with glitter paint added to it as well; so that when the car raced under the lights it would literally glimmer as it drove down the front & back stretch. Which I know they shine during night races, but my vision for the glitter was for it to be like how a diamond does in the sun!

Though Robby didn't have glitter on the car, just a PINK car on a race track was good enough for me. Not to mention it was at a race track that I've never been to before, but since I happened to be in North Carolina and going to the race, I thought it was amazing that I'd get to see a pink race car at the track! :] If he hadn't raced this car that weekend I may have never gotten to see a pink race car live & in person! So Thank You Robby for having a Pink Energy drink sponsor!

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” - Robert Brault

#67 Have Garage Passes to a NASCAR event

#67 Have Garage Passes to a NASCAR event - accomplished April 2011

Ever since I was little, I've always talked about getting garage passes/pit passes for a NASCAR event. From 1997 - 2000 I only got to watch qualifying when the races were in town; from 2001 - 2008 I only had race tickets! I always sat in the grand stands looking at those people in the garage area, thinking I wanna be down there and get to see all the excitement from a different angle.

November 2008 - November 2010 I had pit passes, but then in April 2011, I had a NASCAR officials stay with us at our hotel. Clint had made a comment about me being a Dale Jr fan, and one of the guys had given me a hard time about it. By the end of the night he said since I played along and handle the joke well, he was going to see if he could get me garage passes.

Well the next day when I came to work he stopped by the desk and he told me that I could go pick them up on Thursday, well I had to work so I wasn't able to enjoy the festivities until Friday, but I was ok with that!

I got to stand on pit road for both National Anthems, meet Dale Jr & Steve Letarte (my camera wouldn't work & he was in a big hurry and I felt bad for making him wait, but he was kind enough to wait, but of course the camera captured my funny face & not my smiling face), got to be in Victory Lane while David Ragan received his pole award, watch the race from Dale Jr's pit, meet Daytona 500 Winner, Trevor Bayne, & walk in the garage area (which I didn't think you could do) I was seriously a kid in a candy store all day Friday & Saturday. Every race fan should be able to experience this!

This was one amazing weekend! I can't wait to do it again! I'm not greedy and I don't assume I'll ever be able to do it again, but if I do I can't wait!

Here is my ever growing list....

“The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” ~Unknown

Here are a few of the items I want to do before I leave this earth. I've already completed some, which I will post in later blogs! Enjoy reading the crazy & silly things I wanna do in life. I'm sure there are more, but 100 is all I could think of for now!
Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. --John Lennon

1. Marry in the church where my parents got married
2. Move to North Carolina
3. Visit all 50 states
4. Own my own ice cream shop
5. Be who I am all the time
6. Work for NASCAR
7. Be a mother x3
8. Ice skate at the Rockefeller Center during Christmas time.
9. Learn from my mistakes
10. Never Regret
11. Happiness is only what you make of it...Don't let others be my Happiness
12. Graduate University of North Texas
13. Go to all the races
14. Ride Mechanical Bull - Completed May 2011
15. Invent Something

“There is fun to be done!" Dr. Seuss”

16. Be an extra (that you actually see) in a movie
17. France
18. Sky dive
19. Bungee Jump
20. VEGAS
21. Ride an Elephant
22. Own my own scrapbooking store
23. Italy
24. Learn to Cook
25. Read 5 books a year

“Consciously seek out experiences that expand your sense of who you are and what you are capable of.” - Unknown

26. Complete and get up to date with my scrapbooks
27. Greece
28. Watch a race from Pit Road - Completed Nov 2008, Nov 2009, June 2010 & April 2011
29. Adopt a pet
30. Learn about something new every year
31. Spain
32. Go Skiing
33. Safari Ride
34. Go to an award's show
35. Learn to recycle
36. Touch someone's life
37. Visit a Jungle
38. Go to Wrestlemania
39. Own a 1970 Hot Pink Convertible volkswagen
40. Hold a snake (I hate them)

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela”

41. India
42. Meet Sandra Bullock
43. Swim with PINK dolphins (Pampers, Bolivia)
44. Be a photographer
45. Be someone's rock
46. Australia
47. Scuba Diving
48. Meet Julia Roberts
49. Paint a painting
50. Spend New Year's in Times Square

"If you're bored with life - or you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things - you don't have enough goals."-- Lou Holtz

51. Go to NBA Finals
52. Ride on a Motorcycle
53. Dance in the Rain
54. Have a Fairy Tale Ending
55. Go to a Drive-In Movie Theater
56. Hot air balloon Ride
57. Camp in a Tent
58. Attend a Movie Premiere
59. Leave a mark in this world
60. Learn to swim without holding my nose
61. Crowd Surf
62. Go to World Series
63. Have a pen pal
64. Ride in a racecar with a NASCAR driver :)
65. Go to the Master's

"As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death." - Leonardo da Vinci

66. Rome
67. Have Garage Passes to a NASCAR event - Completed April 2010 & November 2010
68. Tahiti
69. Design a racecar & have it be raced
70. Kiss in the rain
71. Learn how to use a gun
72. Meet Dennis Quaid
73. Scrapbooking room in my house
74. Go to the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in late November.
75. Have a birthday cake from Ace of Cakes

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." Helen Keller

76. Get a tattoo from Miami Ink
77. Be backstage at a concert
78. Ride a Cable Car in California
79. Meet Tom Hanks
80. Own a house like in Gone with the Wind
81. Drive on Route 66
82. Go to the Macy's Day Parade
83. Help build someone a house
84. Build my perfect scrapbooking table on my own
85. Learn to manage money
86. Go Zorbing
87. Meet Richard Gere
88. Have a conversation with Dale Jr & not get tongue tied
89. Learning to say no without feeling guilty about it
90. Each place I visit buy something pink!

“Life is too short to let it pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.”

91. Have a photography darkroom
92. Paint scrapbooking room PINK
93. Play golf without getting upset
94. Pay off College
95. Window Shop on Rodeo Drive
96. Go Hunting & wear Camo :)
97. Go to Oktoberfest
98. Learn Glassblowing
99. Go to the Hill where Full House filmed
100.Visit the Wreckage of the Titanic Aboard a Submarine"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW - What a Ride!" - Anonymous

101. Throw a Murder Mystery Party for Halloween
102. Find treasure from a shipwreck
103. Make sure my kids have birthday parties every year until they don't want them anymore
104. Be on Wheel of Fortune
105. Go to the Superbowl
106. Have a race car run my paint scheme!
107. Go on a road trip to anywhere...no planning involved at all
108. Have a shoe closet
109. See a movie before it's in theaters - Completed June 2010 - Twilight: New Moon
110. Sleep in a haunted house
111. Ireland
112. Photograph under water life of the ocean
113. Have a bar at my house
114. Wear dresses and heels like I Love Lucy did
115. Go to the Price is Right
116. Be in Victory Lane for a Victory with a team I know one of the team members
117. Make a 50 License plate map!
118. Meet Dale Jr - Completed April 2002, April 2010 & April 2011


“Every man dies – Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross

Bucket List

I'm not really much of a blogger, which is surprising since I love to talk and share stories with my friends! Last week on twitter, a girl named Alice wanted to trend on twitter, after looking into this it was because it was on her bucket list. I'm not terminally ill or dying any time soon! Though realizing this little girl only has a short amount of time left, she doesn't know when her fight is up with cancer, but yet she's trying to accomplish her bucket list or accomplish as many things as possible.

I don't want to wait until a doctor one day tells me oh you have 6 months to live. I want to start living life the way I use to. I've been through some trials and hardships over the past 3 years; It has caused me to stop living the way I used to and I turned into an introvert; which I have never been. I'm as extrovert as you can think, I don't hide and I rarely do I not talk to someone.

I decided to share my bucket list and little things of life that make me happy! I've accomplished a lot of things off my bucket list, but there are many that I still come up with day to day!