LyricalBEX

Just wanted to let everyone know that I also have a blog:

http://thelyricalbexblog.blogspot.com/

Total Loss - Kristen Kelly & The Modern Day Drifters

Miss Me - Kristen Kelly

Lord Help Me - Rachel Holder

Could It Be - Charlie Worsham

Overnight Success - Zane Williams

Mine Would Be You - Blake Shelton

I Will Fight On - Colby Dee

Look At Me Fly - Stoney LaRue

Drunk Last Night - Eli Young Band

So I am a HUGE music fan. This might not come as a shocker to most of you guys because by now you have already most likely figured that out by the main title of my blog ("Lyrical Bex")...so I want to start something new!!

Taaa- da! A monthly playlist of all of my favorite tunes!!

I really am a open book when it comes to music. I love songs, and lyrics and the stories that they all tell, the melodies that make you feel something. When you are happy, when you are sad, there is always a song there to make you feel better about what is going on. There is always a lyric that summarizes how you are feeling, how you are coping.

I am unique in the fact that I love EVERY type of music. So you are going to see all sorts of stuff come and go on the playlists but I must be honest with you....I love myself some good ol' COUNTRY MUSIC. I grew up on it, and I just love it. It's the best stuff because it tells a story to a beat. I also love Texas Music...also known to many as Texas Red Dirt. So a lot of my playlist might include some Texas artists. And no, I'm not even from Texas. I stumbled across it... loved it, and never let it go. The Texas sound is a common theme in my likes and loves, I mean it just always seems to be there. It doesn't even have to be Country music, I just love people from Texas for some reason!! :)

Update on something I blogged about like a year ago. I was trying to run more and I wanted to do a marathon or something crazy like that. Well I haven't quite done a marathon yet but I have really started becoming more active. Not to the level I want to be, but ya know--getting there. Actually in my brain a lot of the time I don't even feel like I've been very active in achieving my goal of running a race, etc but I was going through pictures and realized that I did do something!!! The COLOR RUN! It was back in April at the Atlanta Motor Speedway but I did it. I think it is one of the very first things that I have ever done that I wanted to do, set my mind to it, and really did it. My boyfriend's parents, sister-in-law, and two brothers did it with me and I was so pumped!! I had a great experience and would recommend it to anyone who is wanting to get out and do something active and fun!

^ We attempted to pick up the race packets the day prior to the event but the line was SUPER long so we got up like extra early to go grab them before the race!!

^ This is a picture I snapped before the race!!

WARNING: The after race picture below is kinda scary...but you can tell that I had a lot of fun right?!

First off I don't understand why I can't smooth, sexy legs all year round and not have to work SO hard to achieve it. I have sensitive skin and so every single time I shave, I get:

-Red bumps

-A rash

-Itchy skin

And this is NOT cool with me at all....so I am wondering how some girls do it? What's the secret? I just want to have smooth legs! And I'm a tall girl, can you imagine that awesome legs I could have it only my skin would want this too bad enough. Yea, it's heartbreaking I know, ha!

So I thought it would be super fun if I posted a blog on all of my favorite shows, and YouTube channels...(cause let's face it, YT is the new TV!!) I would LOVE to know if anybody out there has any of the same favorites as me!!!

1. "New Girl"  starring Zooey Deschanel as this quirky 20 something year old living with guy roommates. I cry laughing sometimes. I feel like all the characters are just so rich with comedy and it's just this awesome show to have when you are having a bad day and just want to laugh and feel silly. My boyfriend just started watching it on Netflix.

2. "Grey's Anatomy"  Simply because I feel I am able to relate to all of the charaters and they feel very real, and have emotional reactions, and etc. It is basically my fancy soap. Over the years it has gotten more and more "Hollywood" but it's a classic good show. Again...get on Netflix.

3. "Tia & Tamera" ....it's like a girl party, they are awesome sisters, and the show is great because they are intelligent and highlight special moments, and it's just a fun show. I don't feel like I'm watching a trashy reality show when I watch it. I just feel like the 3rd sister...or a good friend. 

4."Pretty Wicked Moms"...I saw it on a fly, got invested in the storyline, and just couldn't not keep up, cause I sometimes have a lot of time on my hands and it's my "fluff" show. And yes, I feel like I'm watching a trashy reality show when I watch this. (No offense to the cast...just...saying!) It's also filmed in my hometown of Atlanta...that adds charm!

5. "Army Wives"  I have invested myself in all the seasons. And my favorite character was always Roxy. I just started watching during a bad break-up and couldn't stop. Now it's been awhile and Ian watches with my all the time. It's fun because it's got the Army background that is cool for the male crowd, and the girly emotional stuff that is good for the female crowd. Win, win.

6. "Parks and Recreation" Reminds me of the reasons I love New Girl. And I love Amy Poehler!!!

7. "How I Met Your Mother" Look, the humor and the friendships, and the crazy times, and Barney. And I've been waiting on this whole MOTHER thing for like YEARS!!!! Love this show!!!

8. "Nashville" because hello! I love that city, and the show. It's got some drama sure but the overall storyline is good. I love that they pull real songs into the show from real life Nashville singer-songwriters. I'm really big into that scene and it's my absolute passion...music! So this show ROCKS!

I also like watching shows like What Would You Do and 20/20, those are cool too. And yes I'm gonna go ahead and mention the job shows. Undercover Boss and Be The Boss! I really love the competition factor and the stories and rewards, I think it's nice, and I get a kick out of it.

Now let's talk some YouTube....the great thing about this platform is that sometimes things can be a little less planned and you can get a more real content. About 2 years ago I started watching the SHAYTARDS channel, which was Shay Carl Butler, and his wife Colette Butler, and their at the time 3 kids. Since then they have had another little boy and are expecting AGAIN right now another little boy. So 5 kids, yea, crazy stuff!! But they are very candid and real with their audience showing their life. They've really communicated to me a "REAL" family, that is special. They belong to a faith and are a real inspirational. Shay is always focused on fitness, and his wife is always so sweet and faithful, and loving to their kids. You can't help but feel like that's what a real family feels like, and it's so amazing. Shay has two brothers that also video log their life too now. Logan just graduated college and Casey vlogs with his wife Kayli...together they have 2 kids. Then we have Carlie who is my age and has a son named Cooper. As you can see the WHOLE family is involved and it makes you feel like a part of their awesome family too. I love watching them. They have taught me so much about faith, fitness, family, love, relationships and about just generally being happy.

I also watch a couple by the name of Gabe and Chad. Similar to the Butler family video's....I just love watching their interaction and laughing along with all of the their fun adventures. They are so cute together. And they just had their first son Chad Jr. :) Just search Gabe and Babe on YouTube and you can check out their videos!! I recently got hooked on them and actually started back tracking to like 2010 cause I can't stand waiting for a new video. Once again, cute family.

Also I watch various make-up and beauty channels such as Lindsay (lafemme5278) and Melissa (melmps) and Kandee Johnson. All are great girls with a great knowledge. Their videos are never long enough.

My boyfriend and I got the awesome opportunity to attend the Braves game on the 4th of July. It was a true experience. I just couldn't get over how moving it was to be in a stadium of 30,000+ people all celebrating being an American. And you can't get much more American than baseball, hotdogs, summertime.... I mean right?!

On the way to the game it was raining pretty heavy, so I got a little nervous that the game was going to be cancelled. I was SUPER happy about it because it is my first REAL 4th of July event in YEARS. I worked retail for several years, and now I am so blessed to have a job that allows me to be off on the 4th....so I was readdddyyyy to CELEBRATE!!!!

The game was nice. I'm not really a baseball girl. But I'm gonna be!!! My best friend Ashley is, but I'm not really that knowledgeable with the sport. Still I paid attention the best I could, did some research and learned as much as I could. The next day my boyfriend Ian schooled me for awhile so I think I'm ready to go back soon and like really do some hardcore supporting. The Atlanta Braves are my hometown team, so I gotta get this together soon. GOAL#1 for the summer: Finish learning all about BASEBALL and GO BACK, AND CHEER!!!

Also got to see Corey Smith sing the National Anthem, and preform after the game before the FIREWORKS. All of that was AWESOME. I am sorta familiar with his tunes, and so I thought it was a real treat to finally get to see him preform live....he did not disappoint. So check out Corey Smith, and his tunes!!

Reasons why:

a) Humiliation- In 6th grade we walked the outline of the school parking lot and every lap we got a bead to the end of the year. I walked a lot faster cause I had no friends and I wasn’t worried about socializing. So at the end of the year I won this contest to run a race around the High School track. I was a little nervous cause I didn’t feel like I won the contest based off of fitness per say…..but it felt kinda cool to be able to run with the other kids so I attempted the race. Lost. Badly. Last place. AND MY WHOLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS IN THE STANDS. And if that wasn’t enough….I was the girl that always wanted to sit out the Phys Ed final because I couldn’t do a cart wheel. I also couldn’t even run the full mile around the track in high school without walking half of it. So I just kinda failed all of my middle/high school finals. Because I refused to humiliate myself again. So many memories of just not being that good at fitness. But in my adulthood, I realize that it really all just came down to practice, and practice and more practice. I could of done all of those things if I had of just spent some extra time practicing.

b) Health problems-The last I heard in April of 12’ ….I have 5 cysts on my left ovary. I have had to conquer a lot of physical things from a hurt shoulder, colds, fractured foot, you name it, it’s happened to me. But the cysts are what scare me the most. I have insurance now, so no worries, going back to the doctor REALLY soon, but if I ever have a kid, I want them to know that I got so healthy so I could have them. :)

c.) Inspiration- Shay and Colette Butler….. A husband and wife duo that became famous from YouTube. They vlog their 4 kids and life and post it online. Shay was almost 300 pounds when he started walking/running and now to date has completed 2 Marathons and 1 Half-marathon. He also pushed and encouraged his wife Colette to start running and she just completed her first half-marathon. She didn’t have a wold record breaking time, but she did GREAT and made realize that she is normal, just like me, and that if she could have 4 kids and do that. Then I could do that too!! 

Check Shay/Colette out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prq8YA_aqqI&feature=youtu.be

Also it has been a big help to watch the Olympic games this year. It is amazing that these individuals grow, train and get so much out of the entire experience. It’s full of patriotic cheers, and exciting wins, and just fitness in general. How amazing is it that our bodies can do such amazing things!?!?! :)

Have you ran a marathon?? Anyone out there have any tips? Encouragement???

My main goals are to just push my body to new limits. Endurance is key in growing stronger and feeling better. I just want to be healthy and happy and feel good!!

It really seems that America is all abuzz these days!! Recently when the Chic-Fil-A spark lit a fire across America— I was quick to analyze my stance and write a blog post about it. I’m a 23 year old female, who really has taken a interest in this world over the last few years. I think it’s important to figure out your views with the proper education from both sides, some slight compromise, and maturity. I am still really satisfied with that blog post for the most part but I wanted to write a new updated version of my views and ideas based off the conversation I have had with many of my friends, family, and complete strangers.

1.) It upsets me that this even became a big deal to start with. It’s posted on the signs on the interstate, and likewise on their building that they are closed on Sundays. This leads most of society to the logical conclusion that Chic-Fil-A is a Christian based company. And I have personally known this for YEARS.

2.) Mr. Cathy never said a gay slur, he wasn’t rude about anything, he simply answered one question: “Our family strongly believes in the Biblical purposes….." and to boot, he was taking to a Baptist magazine! So naturally he was going to be talking about religion.

3.) Let me make it clear that I am a big supporter of marriage in general. I personally believe in finding someone that you can love, support, and build a common foundation with and then well— marrying them. I think marriage means you become one, and the commitment you have with that person is sealed. I am a big fan of commitment so naturally I feel sad that the LGBT community feels that they can’t have that. You can love it or hate it, but gay people are everywhere and they are always going be people whom want to have a relationship with the same sex. And I don’t blame them for wanting some sort of fair right. I have no problem with the government setting up a way for those couples to have legal and civil benefits. But I know in my mind, that the word marriage for me means a woman and a man, and religiously I at the moment can’t compromise and say that I am for gay marriage. Fair rights, yes. Marriage, no. But that doesn’t mean that I am for hate crimes, or that I say gay slurs, or hate gay people. I have friends that are gay. At the end of the day I know the truth I try to follow, and if they have another route, that’s okay, I respect their right to do that.

4.) The other day I had coffee with a friend at Starbucks, and I paid good money to a company that supports gay marriage. I didn’t buy their belief, I bought their coffee. And I am okay with that. I think more people should be more open to this concept. We can still eat chicken sandwiches and drink coffee. It’s okay.