Christmas Memories: Spiel the Beans Linkup

Today Shelly and I thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane and share our favorite Christmas memories. Narrowing 37 years of memories seems like an incredibly hard task but I'm going to do my best to try. Every single Christmas holds special moments and joy, I can't possibly remember which one means the most...

Christmas Traditions

Of course I love all the traditions we have each year but I really love how much the kids love our traditions each year. From decorating our house, and trimming the tree, to our Christmas countdown that may or may not include the same activities each and every year... traditions are what make those memories last. I love that we celebrate with the Munsons by giving back to others... 

And I really love...

Christmas Eve

Growing up we shared a tradition with a family that we don't really see anymore. I believe the story goes that my parents met them at the swimming pool one summer and the rest was history. They became part of our village and we loved each other like family. At Christmas we would always come together to celebrate and as an adult I find our tradition especially incredible; you see this family was baptist and we are Catholic and while the most important connection is that we believe in a Savior that was sent to forgive our sins, there are some minor differences that would make this pairing seem odd to some people. But for us, it worked. Each Christmas Eve we would go to their church for a 6pm candle light service and as soon as it was over we would head to either our home or theirs; trading off each year. We'd eat and eat and laugh and eat and play games and eat and watch movies and eat and then we'd all bundle up, jump in the car and head to midnight mass. I love midnight mass. LOVE. I love that the priest walks in carrying baby Jesus to add him to the manger and that we celebrate the moment that changed our lives.

I still love Christmas Eve... the day looks a little different, except that eating part. Mainly because we are making enough meatballs to prep for...

Christmas Day

I can't possibly think of one gift that was my favorite - I'd say every Christmas morning was amazing. The way the flood light over our fireplace would spotlight our special gifts and stockings; how my brother and I would sort the gifts and make sure Mom had her Dr Pepper ready to go and how no matter what we asked for or how much we could afford, Santa always seemed to deliver. These traditions have now spread to our kids and my heart grows more thankful with each year. But perhaps my favorite thing about Christmas is that there is always room for one more. As long as I can remember, we've fed the masses. Guercio Gravy, meatballs, boiled eggs, bread and crab mornay multiply as if Jesus himself was feeding those 5000. We have room for anyone that finds themselves without a destination and we haven't run out of food yet. I actually get sad when friends make plans and can't join us for Christmas spaghetti - so if you don't have plans, then make sure to come over to our house!

I'd have to say my most favorite Christmas Day recently, I mean, if I HAD to pick one, would be when Jody, Sonya and Owen were here for Christmas morning.

It was the first time the five of us had been together on Christmas in 15 years!!! 

I could keep going and going because even though it's stressful and crazy and overwhelming and I don't see my husband near as much as either of us would like... this season really is full of magic. Blessings to you and yours... may the magic of the season fill you with joy!

Now it's your turn to share a special Christmas memory!  Be sure to mark your calendar for December 27th and come back for a new spin on New Years resolutions where we will be sharing something we will resolve NOT to do in 2017!  

Please place a link back to this link-up in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too.  It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!  

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!

Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {FacebookFollow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}

ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

An InLinkz Link-up

Holiday Movie Favorites - Spiel the Beans Linkup

I have been in a blog slump y'all. I feel like I'm on repeat with the late recaps of our lives. We did this, went here, ate that, etc.... and I just can't seem to get out of the fog. But, I'm hoping that the next few weeks will get me out of it. I know it seems strange since this time of year is just filled with "busy" but in between all of that, I'll be sitting on my green couch, with a cup of coffee, Christmas tree on, maybe a fire burning and watching one of these.... 

Every year I gather all my favorite Christmas flicks and just stack them next to our old bulb television and look forward to those quiet moments here and there that I can catch a glimpse at one of my favorites. From time to time I blog while I'm watching, I most definitely wrap a ton of gifts and I also get in some awesome snuggle time with those #Wee3Kings. Seriously one of my favorite views, day... 

or night... 

Shelly and I are so excited to read about your favorites. I know that we will share some, but I'm hoping to get some new ideas, too! So what's on my list??? 

For Family:

All I Want for Christmas

Original Christmas Classic Gift Set

Polar Express

Rise of the Guardians

For Momma:

The Family Stone

Love Actually

The Holiday

 I will add that I also adore I Don't Know How She Does It (also known as the story of every moms's life), Fred Clause, Home Alone, and of course Christmas Vacation. I could probably keep going, but well, it's almost embarrassing.

Happy watching friends - hope you get some time to cozy up on the couch and just enjoy the view. It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!
Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {FacebookFollow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}
ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

An InLinkz Link-up

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

Spiel the Beans: Being Grateful

Hi there friends! Tis the season of thanks giving - my favorite of all. Shelly and I really wanted to devote a post to sharing what we are thankful for or perhaps what we take for granted. I love the crispness in the air, my favorite fall candles and all that delicious food in my belly, but I'm not gonna lie - this season has been hard this year. 

Ryan has been traveling for work since April 2015 and I know that there are people that do this day in, day out every single day (I'm looking at that rock star SHELLY) but y'all - I am tired. My kids miss their daddy and I miss my husband. I've thrown about 1000 pity parties lately, yelled at every person I know, and cried a million tears. 

I can do hard. 

I just don't want to. 

But, blessings come in many ways and I think the Lord is blessing me with this topic today. I honestly have been so busy at work and life, that I haven't prepped a thing, so today you're gonna get a little of my heart.... here goes... 

Grateful...

Grateful for sunshine, grateful for rain

grateful for joy and grateful for pain

Grateful for courage, grateful for fear

Grateful for the gift of laughter through tears

Grateful for work, grateful for rest

Grateful for friends, I've got some of the best

Grateful for music, grateful for art

Grateful for words that come from the heart

Grateful for my kiddos that love me so well

Grateful for this crazy fairy tale

Grateful for love the unending kind

And the fact that I know someone is mine

Grateful for forgiveness, it hangs on a cross

His mercy is new, His grace is not lost

Grateful he knows that I'm a big mess

And loves me even though I fail every test

Grateful for kindness and strangers that hug

Grateful for the coffee that fills my big mug

Grateful for pizza and wine and cheese

I'll have a little more of each if you please

Grateful for friends the old and the new

Grateful for readers, ones just like you

Grateful for a space to share how I feel

Grateful to be welcomed for just being real

Grateful for the easy and even the hard

Grateful the world is our own backyard

Grateful for people that are different from me

Grateful for blessings that I just may not see

Grateful through the hard that helps make me grow

Thankful beyond measure, more than you know. 

Now it's your turn to share what you are feeling thankful for! Your words will surely shine a light for someone today, so thank you in advance for sharing your heart. Be sure to mark your calendar for November 29 as we come back to share our favorite holiday movies!! (THIS POST IS GOING TO BE EPIC!) 

It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!
Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {FacebookFollow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}
ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

Spiel the Beans... SCARY Tales

Shelly and I are so glad y'all are stopping by to link today! Even we have to admit, that we had a hard time coming up with stories for this week.... so If you already visited from Andrea's then you are in for a {repeat} scary tale. Rest assured... what I am about to tell you will shock and frighten you in ways that you can't prepare for.

Once upon a time there were three high school freshman girls. They decided to dress up for Halloween in  theme. One went as Snow White, one as the Evil Queen, and one as... 

AND THAT IS THE SCARIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

Seriously.

Y'all. 

The story behind this genius idea is that every year for Halloween the cheerleaders dressed up in themes. The Varsity Cheerleaders went as these ADORABLE clowns that I had waited my whole life to be able to dress up as (and the dang tradition got nixed the year before I was on Varsity. I know. The worst.)  JV got to pick their theme and I don't remember how this theme got picked but I do remember that at one point, I thought this would be funny. 

Not funny. 

There is a picture of us all three somewhere and I spent a ton of time looking for it last night, but I couldn't find it. But you are welcome for that little gem above. 

A couple of years later a group of us got "dressed up" to go visit some haunted houses in town. We had access to some county issue prisoner uniforms and police jackets. Naturally this happened... 

(I'm not sure why Charis' wrist is glowing). 

We actually got stopped at the haunted house (which was terrifying) by some sheriff's asking where we got the prisoner uniforms and we assured them that we hadn't broken these lovely gentlemen out of jail. I'm not sure if my mom had made a call to tell these officers to scare us but at one point we thought we were all going to be brought to county. 

My senior year of high school we coordinated a prank with a bunch of our guy friends to drive out to a hill that was being haunted by a family that had died in a tragic accident. We loaded up our cars and  drove out to this random piece of land and once we got to a certain point, all the drivers pretended to make the cars stall. The guys were waiting in the bushes dressed all in black and once we stopped driving they ran up the cars and starting banging on the doors as if the family was forcing us to stop. 

I have never laughed so hard in my life!!! Mainly because I didn't think the prank would work, but holy cow did it ever. I can still hear the squeals!! 

And that concludes the most boring Halloween stories in the history of ever.

So now it's time for the fun... please place a link back to your specific post URL and not your blog homepage and use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media! And link back to both hosts in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too.

It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!
Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {FacebookFollow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}
ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

An InLinkz Link-up

Spiel the Beans: Falling for Fitness

I know, I know... how can Shelly and I be thinking about fitness in the fall? Well, because that's when we need it most. I mean, how else can we indulge in all things pumpkin or cheesy or gooey or chocolatey or .... FALL?!?! So, blog sisters, we are here for you... and if I don't have the answers and Shelly doesn't have the answers, then all of you fabulous linkers will surely have the answers!!

In full disclosure, my husband and I are about to indulge in a frozen pizza for dinner. It's 9:20pm, we are home alone and we won't BE DRIVEN BY RULES. Ok...I feel better. 

Here we go... 

Step 1:

Buy cute work out clothes.... 

It's true. Whenever I start a new workout program/commitment/decide after 6 months (or years) of doing nothing, my first stop is to buy new gear. And not just because my old gear suddenly shrunk but because it's important to feel good! And these clothes don't have to be expensive - I love the BCG line at Academy... comfortable, durable and cute! 

Champion Sports Bra / BCG Capri Pants / BCG Tank / Nike Shoes

Step 2:

Schedule time!!!

And stick to it! Quit making excuses - some of my best workouts happen in 30 minutes or less... in the parking garage at my work, or in a field next to the girls dance class, or at the park while Radley is at soccer. Make time to sweat it out and you will be so dang glad you did!

Step 3:

Do things you enjoy!

Y'all. I am not a runner. Like for real. I am just not. I try and I try...

but I don't love it. But, I do love spending time with the kiddos, so I've gotten in the habit of bringing the girls scooters to soccer practice and we laugh and giggle. Well, the laugh and giggle as they fly on those scooters... I gasp and cringe trying to keep up, but... I'm doing it. 

What I do love are "boot camp" type workouts, so I've saved tons on my Pinterest board and rotate my favorites. 

This one by Hairspray and High heels is especially awesome. I especially love that I can change things up if I need it... alternating times/increasing reps....make it work for you.

Step 4: 

80/20... 

I'm sure you've heard this a million times... but all the working out in the world is nothing compared to what it is we actually put into our bodies. Nothing taught this more than my first Whole30 last November. Sometimes this makes eating harder, sometimes you get annoyed, sometimes you just don't wanna... but you will NEVER regret making that choice that is right for you. 

(And you can give yourself some grace for eating that frozen pizza with your hubby every once in a while!)

And all God's people said, AMEN! 

(Bc I TOTALLY eat the whole thing in one sitting to just get it over with). 

So now it's time for the fun... please place a link back to your specific post URL and not your blog homepage and use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media! And link back to both hosts in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too. 

It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!  

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!

Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook

Follow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}

ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

An InLinkz Link-up

Spiel the Beans: Pinners Anonymous

Hi. My name is Katy. And I'm a recovering Pinterest addict. 

Can I get an AMEN!

Today is going to be so much fun and Shelly and I couldn't be more excited about today's topic.  It's like looking into fantasy worlds and being able to laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of Pinterest. I mean, don't get me wrong, I have found some awesome stuff on Pinterest, like my fabulous faux valences, yummy recipes, and ALL sorts of pinspiration for Landry's pink party. 

But y'all. This is my reaction about 97% of the time I open Pinterest... 

Source

I mean, like all of us... I have the greatest of intentions of being a complete ninja badass at all things crafting, gardening, cooking, organizing, and sewing. But y'all.... 

I mean, what am I thinking? I pinned this. Four years ago y'all. I have yet to make a photo block.

I was also kind enough to start a "Daddy Projects and Honey-Dos" board for Ryan. You know, for when he's just playing around on Pinterest. 

I should probably pay more attention to pins like this...

But I'll probably just keep shooting in auto for eternity. 

We also have big plans for an amazing garden in our beautifully manicured backyard. I've pinned all sorts of things to my "The Great Outdoors" board... but truthfully, I'm lucky if I don't kill something in the first week. 

I love the idea of Pinterest. Pinny has saved me time and time again for free printables, yummy recipes, party favor ideas, fun teacher gifts and the like. But in reality... 

And some days, I don't even take a shower. 

;)

I'm sure you have NO IDEA what I'm talking about though. So now it's time for the fun... please place a link back to your specific post URL and not your blog homepage and use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media! And link back to both hosts in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too. 

It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!  

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!

Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook

Follow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}

ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

An InLinkz Link-up

Spiel the Beans: Little White Lies

Hey y'all.

I feel like I have to start this week's link-up with Shelly with a reminder that I never lie. Especially about the big three: food, clothes, and food.

I really don't lie. I think my parents really scared the shizzz out of me when I was younger because I am honest to a fault. Like too honest. Like, "girl that dress looks like crap on you" honest.

That being said... I will admit that I do tell the occasional "story" to my children.

Well, because.

#parenting

So, my top ten false truths are...

10. The amount of time that has actually passed. If I tell them something will happen in 5 minutes, it's almost guaranteed to be at least triple that. For example... Every day when we get home from school, I tell the kids that I need 7 minutes. It's probably a good 15 before I come out of my room. This one is getting harder since the kids are getting smarter and all. #damnschool

9. Sometimes I "pretend" that their friends can't come play because they already have plans. This really just means that I never sent the text to ask.

8. Ingredients of food.

7. Pages in a book. I am definitely a page skipper, especially if it's long and especially if I'm not a big fan. Again, can't do this with Radley and Emersyn's reading skills are also throwing a kink in this maneuver.

6. What really happened to their party favor/Valentine/Easter/Halloween candy.... "you ate it all" is code for "I hid it and will eat it when I want to."

5. How much power my phone battery actually has.

4. Whether or not I have gum in my purse.

3. If the Buddy Bucks machine is "sleeping".

2. That we don't have any batteries when an annoying toy dies.

1. And of course the existence of the big four.... Santa, Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost, and Elsa.

Haha - okay, maybe I tell a few more fibs than I'd like to admit. How about you? Any of these sound familiar...

I'm sure you will all have a hard time coming up with things, too and something tells me I'm gonna laugh out loud a lot today! Please place a link back to your specific post URL and not your blog homepage and use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media!

Please place a link back to both hosts in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too. It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!  

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!

Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook

Follow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}

ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

An InLinkz Link-up

Spiel the Beans: Who Ya Rootin' For

Has it really been two weeks already? Seems like yesterday Shelly and I were gabbing about our school days. Whew, I may need a nap just thinking about all that has happened since then. But we made it mommas! The first week of school is done and now it's time for one of the most fun seasons of the year .... FOOTBALL!!

Here's the truth. I try to act like I'm not a "die hard". I play it off like I'm not competitive, or that I don't really care. But y'all... I am simply cray on football day. We basically can't watch the games because I go through every emotion possible in those four quarters. Twice.

I watch all the hype videos, I let my hopes get up. I talk about how high we are ranked, I analyze stats as if I know what I'm talking about. I GO CRAY. It's ridiculous and hilarious.

This is seriously me during the Bama game in 2013.

But beyond all of that behind-the-couch-sitting, there is just something about the start of Fall that makes Aggieland even more of a special place. All my Aggie friends will/can agree that we have some unusual traditions that my non-Aggie friends think are crazy.

Source

And, well, maybe we are a little crazy, but we are also bound together by a "Spirit that can ne'er be told".  As the fall begins and the anniversary of the Bonfire tragedy approaches, I'm reminded just why this place is so special. It seems odd, but that day, that moment in time, while tragic, will also remain one of my proudest moments as an Aggie. In the days that followed 40,000+ students, community members, former students and others came together to support a fallen school. Every one did as much as they could and no matter how big or small the gesture, it was felt by all of us. 

I LOVE living in College Station and I love working at Texas A&M. Now, while I may joke about the small things that sometimes drive me crazy, I am glad that my kids will grow up here and hopefully grow to love this school as much as Ryan and I do.

We've been hitting the tailgates since Radley was tiny which means the brainwashing started early. I'm pretty sure he's hooked because he's won money on more than one occasion.

I know we have "Aggie jokes" and people don't always take us seriously. We have the reputation for being conservative to a fault and a little on the cultish side....BUT there isn't a day that goes by that I'm not proud to wear that ring on my right hand.

Because we also have Maroon Out, the 12th Man, Silver Taps and Muster.

As a student, I got to witness some great football games - I don't know that we ever lost at Kyle Field when I was here...(Maybe we did and that was one of those times I don't remember)....but more than that I got to LIVE the Aggie Spirit.

Personal top three proudest Aggie moments:

1. Aggie Bonfire 1999 - see above

2. Red, White and Blue Out 2001 - In eleven days 1 student's idea came to life as over 80,000 people stood in Red, White and Blue to "Stand for America". They raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for victims of 9-11 while showcasing what Texas A&M is all about. I can remember exactly where I stood that game.

3. Getting my Aggie Ring, April 6, 2001.

We are a campus full of energy and spirit. Committed to something bigger than ourselves. When I arrived in Aggieland in August of 1997, I never in a million years would have thought I would have made this home. And I don't know that I did. I do know that this home made me. This place holds countless memories, laughter through tears moments and some of the greatest friends a girl could ask for. I met the man of my dreams, started a family and created a life.

It's sounds weird to those that have never lived it. Even as I type I want to roll my eyes at myself - because this can't be real life. But it is. Aggies are a different breed. We believe in a "spirit that can ne'er be told" and we live that spirit every day. It's more than just a school. I have tried countless times to describe it but I guess our saying is true... "From the inside looking out you can't explain it and from the outside looking in you can't understand it." It may just be impossible.

I am proud to be a 12th Man.

And love every bit of crazy that I am.

Howdy.Gig'em.Whoop. 

Can't wait to hear all about your schools!!! Tell us your favorite traditions, best memories, big games, special moments, even those tough losses. Please place a link back to your specific post URL and not your blog homepage and use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media!

Please place a link back to both hosts in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too. It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!  

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!

Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook

Follow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}

ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

SaveSave

An InLinkz Link-up

Spiel the Beans: School Days Memories

Welcome to Spiel the Beans! Shelly and I can't wait to read all of your posts from today - I just know there are going to be some great stories, fun memories and lots of awesome advice. I'm also excited to read everyone's letters from Andrea's Show and Tell series. 

I loved school and one of my prayers is that my kids have as much fun learning as I did. Here are some of my favorite memories through the years.... 

Kindergarten - Totally tackled and kissed Craig Schwartinsky on the playground. 

First Grade - Met my bestest friend in the whole wide world and happened to have the most amazing teacher ever. This was the year the Challenger exploded and I remember Mrs. Sadler turning off the TV and having us all pray.

Second Grade - Got my first and only "lick" in school. Jenni and I were bamboozled by a boy who was on trash duty that told us we could throw our trash under the table at lunch. So we did. AND HE TOLD ON US. 

Third Grade - I had the most awesome outfit ever that year. Pink mini skirt and white shirt with a tiger face on front. So amazing. 

Fourth Grade - Mrs. Sadler, my 1st grade teacher, asked me to be one of her special helpers, so I got to go to her class once a week and read to the little kids and grade papers. 

Fifth Grade - New campus way out in Rosenthal. It was just 5th and 6th graders and I thought that made us so cool. 

Sixth Grade - The spring musical. I still know all of the words and most of the dance moves and made one amazing Hatfield. Or was I a McCoy?

Seventh Grade - First year in junior high, first year as a cheerleader. First school dances, first real sports competitions, first time to really feel like I was growing up. 

Eighth Grade  - Our girls basketball team went undefeated in district play. We had the best time, made the best memories and grew up to be some pretty amazing ballers. 

haha - that's actually my junior year - the two middle rows were some of my teammates from 8th grade. 

Most of my memories are full of goodness. Life wasn't perfect by any means, but I really feel like a lucky duck to have grown up surrounded by the people I had in my life. I went straight to the source of my memories, my senior book, and thought about some of the things I'd tell myself...

Keep being you... 

I had such confidence in high school. Growing up in small town gave us the freedom to do it all, and I did. Band, athletics, cheerleading, student council, you name it... I was in it. I feel like I was just "me"  - that I did things that made me happy and not because anyone else wanted me to. I didn't feel a pressure to be anyone but the person that God made. Sure, I had my moments of insecurity, I had my doubts on an outfit, or a boyfriend, but overall, I think I did a pretty great job of just being myself. Loud, crazy, obnoxious, confident, silly, sassy... me. 

Watch your mouth

This may or may not still be an area of growth for me - ha! Words are a powerful tool, and you can never take them back. You can apologize, you can try better, but you can't erase them. My mouth got me into the most trouble when I tried to stick up for people, to fight the good fight, to defend, but it wasn't always my place. Be intentional with words.

Surround yourself with good

I had the best group of friends growing up. We weren't all perfect, we got into some stupid trouble, we did dumb things and made bad decisions - BUT - they still are some of the most special people in my life. They helped shape me and define me. They held my hand when I was scared, cheered me on when I was nervous, drove me home when I was... (kidding)... we grew up together. And in a weird way, I feel like we still are... just growing up. Pick your friends. Pick them wisely. You will be better because you surrounded yourself with the people that made you do so. 

Get to know your teachers

This wasn't so hard in our town - we had the same teacher for multiple classes. They were our cheerleader sponsors and student council advisors. They came to every game and competition. I love that our teachers let us have fun. The key was that we gave them respect. We could joke around and laugh, but we also knew when it was time to get down to business. We had a mutual respect for each other and because of that, we all had fun. 

Join a team

Any team! Again, we grew up small...so we were on ALL THE TEAMS, but that doesn't have to be the case. Do something that forces you to really count on someone else. I wasn't the best player on our team - but I hustled and my teammates could depend on me to give my best and I could do the same. And remember... life's battles don't always go to the stronger, faster man... but sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can. WE CAN!

(How on earth do I still remember that?!)

By now you are probably aware that we liked band in Robinson. I've only posted about it 383 times. This year. This team was a force fueled by pride and driven by hard work. We never lost a single competition during my time in school. We didn't want to let each other down, so we showed up at 7am. We came back at 7pm. We marched and played and twirled. We knew that we represented something bigger than ourselves and that made all the difference. 

Girls can do anything

My senior year was (I believe) the first time our student council executive team was comprised of all women. I was so excited to lead this group that year, and we really did some pretty cool things for a bunch of high school teenagers. 

Never give up on your dreams

Although the car situation is a tad bit different. And I'm not a CPA...I'd say mine came true.

Well, that was fun!

Now it's your turn to tell us all about your school days! Please place a link back to your specific post URL and not your blog homepage and use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media!

Please place a link back to both hosts in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too. It's a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love!  This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else - don't just link and run!  

We would love, love, love for you to follow us on some form of social media!

Follow Shelly: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook

Follow Katy: {Instagram} {Bloglovin} {Pinterest} {Facebook}

ps. We are also both on Snapchat and pretty darn funny. You can find Shelly @queeninbetween1 and Katy @Katygking 

And don't forget to keep spieling the beans... 

SaveSave

An InLinkz Link-up