Apparently I Suck At Blogging

So I started this blog a while ago and I've never really found a way to get into it.

...I think that I was trying too hard....

Right?! Me? Try to hard? You are SO funny.

So I think what I'm going to do is just start writing. And I'll see where it goes.

Cross your fingers...

ITS HERE! ITS HERE!

ITS GAMEDAY!!! I'm so excited! And hopefully I don't do anything embarrassing today because of that....like this guy...

Please Lord, don't let me make a fool of myself.

And to quote my friend Marin "Business casual dress code is no excuse to skip garnet on gameday." So you best believe that I have got my garnet on!

So anybody out there that has games tonight, I hope you have a fun filled evening of football! (Unless you're Vandy, sorry 'Dores, I gotta root against ya'll tonight!)

-Allison

A Letter For Football Season

Dear family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and any one else that might run into me at any point during this season,

College football season is once again upon us. As such, I would like to point out a few things:

1. I apologize for any screaming, temper tantrums, and any looks I may give you like I would bite your head off. That is not me, that is the college football obsessed person that lives inside of me and only comes out between the months of September and January. Don't mind her. She just is a little football crazy.

2. I will be on ESPN, Rivals, Bleacher Report, and every other sports outlet I can think of for the next 5 months. If all updates on facebook, twitter and other social media outlets are related and have links, please don't worry. It'll all be over soon.

3. SEC over anyone else. I apologize now to ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 12 fans I am friends with. Nothing personal, we're just better than you.. 

4. If that other team loses - you best bet that I will be giving said teams followers a hard time. Whether it is to us - or some other team in their Almost Competitive Conference.

5a. If we lose, please avoid me at all costs and know that I will give you "you're dead to me" look if you even mention the game we just lost before our next win. Also, I will be drinking. Lots of drown away my sorrows drinking. 

5b. If my, freaking awesome, Garnet and Black clad, Beast Mode, Win Anyway, team wins, please know that I will be jumping up and down, singing the fight song, rubbing it in any ones face that I can, and drinking. Lots of celebratory drinking.

Happy College Football Season! #SEC #GoGamecocks #ForeverToThee

I'm on a boat, I'm on a boat...

Goodbye America! I'm off to pink sand and crystal clear waters, all with a drink in my hand. See you in 8 days!

Death of the BCS

In the 2014 season, Division I football will officially have A 4 TEAM PLAYOFF.

I'm so excited right now to see this. As an avid SEC fan, I know that this could potentially mean our streak would break. But honestly, that's okay with me. This really will be the best way to determine who is the best college football team in the country. The only question now is who will be determining those 4 teams. Will they take into account the polls? Will there be current and former coaches on the committee?

More on this later. Just know, come December 31, 2014 or January 1, 2015, there will be a playoff in force.

-Allison

Boys of Summer

Baseball is just as important as football, at least for the teams involved...

My Gamecocks are headed to Omaha this week after Monday nights win against the Oklahoma Sooners. And I'm THRILLED they did and in a spectacular fashion. 5-0 in the first game, 5-1 in the second. This means that I will be jumping around, having heart atttacks, and causing quite a bit of ruckus to where my neighbors might kill me. Oh yeah, and probably going to annoy Katie and Tanner at the same time. Whoops, sorry guys. 

Here's the thing though: 

I do NOT watch the games.

I can't. It's not going to happen. Because of my superstition and because let's be real, baseball is in my opinon one of the biggest superstitious sports, I follow the games on twitter. The last time I actually watched anything Carolina baseball on TV for an extended period of time, was the last batter of the 2011 College World Series just to watch the dog pile and the festivities afterwards.

This year will be difficult but I can't wait to see what they do in Omaha and am hoping for that Three-peat!

Planning For The Season

College football is about 3 months away. Yes, three. That may sound like a lot of time to you, but for me, that's about saying I have to be ready tomorrow.

So here's the confirmed plans so far:

UMMMM.....

That's right. I have not gotten any plans confirmed yet. WHAT AM I THINKING???

Here's what I know though about what will be happening this season.

1. Unless I have enough time to take off from work, drive to Nashville, book a hotel room, AND get a ticket to the game, I will not be going to the opening game against Vanderbilt. AKA I will be watching from a bar here in Columbia with my friends.

What I expect us to look like Thursday, August 30th.

2. I will be missing the UAB and Missouri games at home this year. I'll be on a cruise. It's okay though, I'll be able to catch it on TV...hopefully.

3. I am attempting to get out to Baton Rouge in October for the LSU game and to Gainesville in November for the Florida game.

4. I still need to buy tickets for the other games here in Columbia. Otherwise, it looks like I'm scalping.

That's currently where I am on the football front. I'm hoping to get some more definitive plans set up soon so that I can figure out what I'm doing for sure. The planner in me is going bezerk berzerk burzurk crazy right now. I'm going to start shopping for football attire for the season soon so keep an eye out for what a girl finds!

-Allison

TV Season Finales (and Season Premieres!)

The past few weeks, and hopefully the next two weeks will be the beginning of new seasons of some of my favorite shows, while some other shows are ending for either the season, or entirely all together.

My absolute, all time, favorite show is How I Met Your Mother. It's a show that I don't only watch, but I relate to. My friends call me the Lily of our group, not only because of the fact that I'm a redhead, but because Jordan and I have been together forever just like Lily and Marshall.

So with HIMYM ending on Monday for the season, along with Once Upon a Time, Grey's Anatomy and a whole bunch of other shows ending for the summer, I get to be excited about some of my favorite summertime shows!

The Bachelorette starts on Monday and I'm thrilled to see Emily is the bachelorette this season. :)
Katie and I are going to be spreadsheeting and ranking these men to see who has the best entrance, best one liners and best looking! (and possibly more...)

Not to mention the Scripps National Spelling Bee adds some entertainment! Hopefully I'll have some friends in town who we can make this exciting this year!

I can't wait for this summer's shows and this weeks season finales. They just look too good to disappoint!
Can't wait!

-Allison

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

I'm going to take today to wish all the mom's out there, and especially my mom, a happy mothers day! Hopefully you have a wonderful day!
-Allison

Going the Distance

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." 
-Oprah Winfrey


Recently, my roommate Katie went to Disney World (aka what I like to think of as my second home). We talked about how they do a Princess Half Marathon every February, and we thought about how one of our goals was to complete some sort of race. What better place to do a half marathon than the house of mouse? 

So here's the fun part. I am not a very athletic person. I was more of a "artist" in high school than an "athlete". And when I say artist, I mean I was in Drama and Chorus. Yeah, not athletic AT ALL.


Therefore, after graduating college and realizing that the walking I did on campus was the reason I was so in shape, and that sitting at a desk was not going to do that, I needed to get active again. 


So here's the plan world. I, Allison, am going to do a half marathon in 10 months. But I also had a thought. Maybe in order to TRAIN for this, I should go run a 5K and/or 10K to practice my longer distance running skills as well. Right now in order to get my butt off the couch and get to that 5K I'm trying a variety of running workouts to see which is the best one for me. In a few months, I hope that I can take run a 5K and a few months later possibly a 10K. I'm on the lookout for runs in Columbia and as soon as I find one I'm doing it! Wish me luck!
 -Allison

NFL DRAFT NIGHT! WOO!

"I like linebackers. I collect 'em. You can't have too many good ones."
-Bill Parcels

NFL DRAFT 2012

Draft Night for a girl who loves football as much as me is a great way to get my fix in before I have to wait months for SEC media days, and fall practice. As you can see, Tanner and I were supporting not only the Gamecocks, but also the NY Giants!

Tanner loves watching football with his  mommy! 

Margaritas in my NY Giants Tumbler. #mmmm

Basically, the first two draft picks were pretty much known before last night. Andrew Luck- the quarterback from Stanford - is on his way to the Indianapolis Colts while Robert Griffin III - AKA RG3 The quarterback from Baylor - was on his way to the Washington Redskins. So the first two picks were relatively boring, but the next 30 should have been interesting! I was pulling for top picks for Stephon and Melvin which I was so excited to see them go in the first round! Although, I can't root for them now that they are no longer Gamecocks and are NOT Giants (sigh...)

#10 overall pick in the draft!

One of the BEST handshakes of the night!

Round 2 and 3 tonight! You best believe Tanner and I will be watching! Come on Giants! Pick a Gamecock! :)
-Allison

Things I've Learned In My First Year

It's been almost a full year since I've graduated (May 6 will be the actual date). And I'm finishing up what my roommate and I have called "The Rookie Year". So here are a few things that I've learned the past year:

1. All-nighters don't end when you graduate. There are still due dates. And work is just as hard. Only now you do it all day without really a "break".
2. Coffee/Diet Coke was necessary in college (at least for me), in the real world, its essential.
3. That first month or so you see your bank account and go "WOOHOO! I HAVE MONEY", then you realize your parents don't help pay for your rent/bills anymore and all you can think is "damn...".

WHAT?! uhhh...Mom, Dad, little help?....please?

4. It's okay to nap in your car on your lunch break.
5. Your outfits change from sweatshirts and running shorts everyday, to having to be put together. No Makeup days are no longer possible. This leads me to say that I have to repurpose all my sorority tshirts that are no longer worn.
6. Diet Coke Diet Coke Diet Coke
7. You still think in terms of semesters (especially if you still live close to all of your friends still in school) for that first year.
8.  Having a friend there that has known you for 11+ years makes things a little bit easier. Especially when she's going through the same things you are.

9.    Spotify has become my best friend at work. - Free Pandora just couldn't keep up with my 50+ hours a week. And for the drives to Atlanta, and when I'm getting dressed in the morning, and... 

10. Have I mentioned that Diet Coke is really really good?

Story of my life.

-Allison