I'm a huge animal lover, and I fully support advocating for those that need forever homes. If I had endless funds and resources, I would create a huge sanctuary and be a craaaaazy lady. You know, the kind that talks to the animals and expects a response back...I don't currently volunteer at a shelter, but I try to spread the word the best I can.

There are a few Facebook pages that I follow that do SUCH good work getting the word out about abused, abandoned, neglected, or special needs animals that need a forever home. If you can take the sad with the amazing and uplifting, I suggest looking at these pages yourselves!

No Trouble with This Tribble Tribble was a kitten with a cleft lip and nose, and a neurological disorder that caused him to have balance issues. Tribble has since sadly taken a trip over the rainbow bridge, but the foster family that took him in still does amazing work with other special needs animals.

Oskar the Blind Cat (and Klaus!) Oskar is this adorable blind cat that caught my eye on YouTube with this video. He has an equally adorable brother Klaus, and together, they make quite the duo! Throughout the years, their owners created a little mini empire with Christmas cards, calendars, and more! They also help advocate for other blind or special needs cats.

Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary I came across the Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary through Oskar's page, and it just warms my heart. It is a shelter in North Carolina that takes in blind cats that may otherwise be euthanized. They live full lives with a lot of love. The best part? Their website has a live feed, so you can watch the cats in all their zany glory.

Mama Jade Mama Jade is a beautiful pit bull that was found on a doorstep in Nashville in rough shape. She had been used as a bait and breeding dog, and also had cancer. Rather than euthanize her, her rescuer did all that she could to get the word out and raise funds. Last I heard, Mama Jade is doing well, and the Facebook page has been used to get the word out on other animals.

Batgirl Batgirl is a former shelter cat that was close to being euthanized before her rescuer came along. She's rebounded beautifully, and like the others, she advocates for other cats at shelters. Come on, look at that face!

Lucky-A Survivor Kitty Lucky unfortunately suffered animal cruelty earlier in his life. He was found on the streets with acid burns on his neck. His recovery has given him this adorable, almost surprised look (I personally think he's adorable!) He also brings attention to animals in need, especially those that have also suffered cruelty.

I can't believe it's almost November! It appears I've taken a bit of a break from my blog this year, and I tell myself it was to go live life a little more. Maybe that's true. Either way, I'm back to share some of my favorites I've been sitting on for a few weeks. Happy Friday! Enjoy. :)

Favorite Find on YouTube
This artist is so incredibly gifted at making realistic looking celebrity portraits. I highly recommend checking out her other videos.

Favorite Song
Pink joined forces with Dallas Green from City and Colour to create the duo You+Me. Considering The Civil Wars is no longer (I don't want to talk about it yet...I'm still in mourning), You+Me may be a solid replacement. I also highly recommend checking out City and Colour's music.

Favorite Animal Videos
These are both pretty self-explanatory. They're cute animals doing cute and/or inspiring things. Enjoy. :)

Favorite Buzzfeed List
It's no secret that I'm kind of obsessed with Buzzfeed and their lists. This one takes the cake though; The 43 Funniest GIFs of All Time. Be prepared to laugh...hard.

I've had a bit of a Minnesota-themed bucket list since I moved here 7 years ago. Seeing as how there is always so much to do in the Cities, it's quite long! However, I've been able to cross a lot off, including going to a Wild game, a Red Bull Crashed Ice, and a show at First Ave. This weekend, I was able to cross one off I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to: the Zombie Pub Crawl!

Here's a look at my supplies beforehand:

Cathy and I decided to go as zombie Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Here's the final product!

We saw some really creative costumes and had a lot of fun. At this time I'm undecided on whether I'll go again, but at least I can cross another thing off my bucket list!

P.S. We apparently made the Guiness Book of World Records!!

I'm not usually one to share about my shopping experiences on social media or my blog, but in this case, I'm making an exception. :)

As most of you know by now, I volunteer with Make-A-Wish. (I cannot sing the praises of this organization enough. If you're interested in getting involved, I'm happy to answer any questions!) I was at the Mall of America all weekend, fulfilling the wishes of two children in one family. One child wasn't able to make it to the mall on Saturday to get her gifts herself, so I went on Sunday to pick them up for her. (I am super excited to drop them off to her tonight!!)

One of the gifts she wanted was a gold bracelet. When I was at the mall with the other child on Saturday, I saw the Michael Hill store, and thought that'd be a great place to start. I'm happy I did, because they had an AMAZING sale going on! I knew I'd be able to pick out something great with the budget I had. The saleswoman who helped me was so incredibly nice and thoughtful with the choices she gave me. Her coworker was really nice as well, and they were so sweet about the fact I was there for Make-A-Wish. She priced up the bracelet I chose, and with taxes, it was more than the gift card I had left. This is when the really amazing part comes in.

Not only did the saleswoman Katie sell me the bracelet without charging the taxes, she threw in a free pair of pearl earrings for me, because of the work I'm doing with Make-A-Wish. I was speechless! I can't say enough about how great they were at that store. If you are ever looking for jewelry and at the Mall of America, please check their store out! I fully intend on going back to buy a bracelet for myself. :) You can find their locations and browse their jewelry here.

*I had this post all geared up for Friday, and I completely blanked on publishing it! Well, a few days late and a few dollars short, but I hope you enjoy either way. :)*

Favorite Quote

Favorite Commerical
I lose it every time he says "You're killing me!" Too cute!

Favorite Guilty Pleasure Show
I'm sure by now most of you have seen the incredible video of the 5'0 gymnast who became the first woman to complete the American Ninja Warrior course. This video is pretty impressive in my book as well! This guy was a rookie to the course and just killed it.

Favorite Happy Yet Sad Moment

This sweet dog lost a leg to cancer, but the tumor came back and it was making him very uncomfortable. :( On his last day on Earth, he was fed hamburgers, taken to a splash park, and given lots of love. This smile says his last day was a good one. (If you haven't already seen this all over the internet, you can read the story here. I STILL cry when I look at this, and I've looked at the pictures a million times already.) I just hope he truly enjoyed life while he was here.

Favorite Recipe
Homemade Pop Tarts

I have an unfortunate addiction to reading the comment sections on YouTube videos and online articles of any kind. (Come July 1st, I started my attempt to go 30 days without it, in hopes my faith in humanity can be restored. Thanks for the motivation Ashley!) I've been noticing a strange trend lately, where the comments always turn political. (Ok, I'm sure this is nothing new, but it seems like it's popping up now more than ever!) It could be an article about something as simple as Kelly Clarkson having her baby, and someone makes it about "stupid liberals". In fact, liberals tend to be the only ones called out in these comment sections. Apparently we're ruining America? I don't know. Here is a small sampling of what I've seen lately:

Happy Friday everyone! While I have a lot of great rants and random thoughts coming your way (Yippee! Or "Oh no!"), I have more favorites to share with you in the meantime. There is just too much awesome stuff floating around the internet NOT to share. Enjoy!

Favorite/Cutest Video
This video was made from a couple right here in Minnesota, and it's been getting national attention. I can see why, because it's so darn cute!

Favorite Meme
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know this felon named Jeremy Meeks has been getting crazy attention online for his smoldering mug shot. This meme puts it all into perspective.

Favorite Funnies
There are two funnies today, because these both made me laugh harder than I should have.

Favorite Cat Video
Yes, cat videos are now getting their own Friday Favorites category, because a)I love cats, and b)they're usually really funny/cute!

Here is a round up of some of the awesomely hilarious/cool/crazy videos I found this week. Happy Friday!

I have shown this video to SO many people, and for good reason! I just think it's so funny! Hugh Jackman is clearly a good sport, and to hear him laughing as he goes around the track makes it even better. I'm pretty sure the frat-guy-high-five is the best part.



Thriller Cat! I honestly laugh harder each time I see this. What is UP with that cat?? And how does it move like that?



How...? Magic!



Ok, dude in the shorts has AMAZING legs. And they dance better than I ever could! Officially jealous.

For better or worse, I was an MTV/VH1 baby. I remember the days when cable came with an A and B side, and I would switch it over to B to watch music videos. (Remember when these channels actually played music videos?!) I would watch every morning before my ride picked me up for school. There sure were some gems back in the day, so this is in no way an exhaustive list. Tell me you all remember and love these too!

Those outfits. Those moves. SO 90's!



For whatever reason, my favorite part of this video was when the dancers slapped the ground. I remember watching it with a friend in high school, and she agreed. I was not alone! Ha.



This video was an epic mind f*ck when it first came out.



And to round out this awesome list, I give you Lisa Loeb. (This song also doubles as a karaoke favorite!

Favorite Song/Music Video
I LOVE this song, and I think the video just looks like it was fun to make...for everyone but the main singer of course. (Ouch. Some of this looks like it hurt!)

Favorite Heartwarming Moment
This man is homeless, yet he so selflessly offers to give half of the lottery earnings to the guy who gave him the ticket. Such a big heart!

Favorite Funny
Well, Jimmy Fallon has done it again. This little sketch combined my love of Jimmy's humor, with my nostalgia of the 90's and N Sync.

Favorite Show
Dumb humor? Hilariously weird characters? Count me in! (Here's The League's website.)

Favorite App
With patio and rooftop season among us, this app is a must for all of my Twin Cities friends! You can search for all the best deals based by time and location, including Uptown and Northeast. Drink responsibly friends. :)

I've been on a DIY kick lately, grabbing whatever lonely piece of furniture I can find to rehab and breathe new life into. It may be because of my love for HGTV shows, but I am starting to see the potential in items I normally wouldn't. (It's probably also because of this fabulous blog I follow: LiveLoveDIY.

It all started with my friend Shannon's dresser. She sold it to me for a really good price, but it was clearly a bit dated. I decided to throw some classic black paint on there and change out the hardware. It made such a difference for so little money; I was hooked!



I decided my next project would be a bar cart for my apartment. I went to Goodwill one day and found an old but sturdy microwave cart. Despite the years of caked-on spider webs, I could see the potential in it, so I bought it. At $7, it was a steal! I used the same black paint as the dresser (there was more than half a gallon left, why not?), grey and white chevron-printed shelf liner, and some silver spray paint for the wheels.

I had a gorgeous white and silver tray that my mom got me from Pier 1 that worked perfectly for the top of the cart. I bought a hanging stemware rack, and found a 4 bottle wine rack for $2 at Goodwill. With that, my car was complete! I added some finishing touches, like a mason jar full of adorable paper straws. (I just don't know why, but I think they're so cute!) I'd like to get some bar art for the wall behind the cart, as well as more variety in the liquor. After that, we're good to have a party! :)

If you recall, I have the obnoxious but awesome talent of recognizing people in obscure roles, and connecting the dots to their other work. (You can see that post here.) My newest revelations have come from reality tv, with stars who have what I call second careers. They somehow stretched their 15 minutes of fame into regular work, and for that, I applaud them.





David Giuntoli
The day I saw the first trailer for Grimm, I knew I recognized the main actor. Lo and behold, he was on an ollllddd season of Road Rules on MTV! If you've ever watched Grimm, take a look at this YouTube video and see if you can reconcile the two. I sure can't! (This video is from his time on The Gauntlet, not his season of Road Rules.)

Danielle Evans
Danielle won Season 6 of America's Next Top Model. Most contestants on this show don't parlay their time into a real career, which is understandable. It takes a lot more than a Tyra Banks-backed reality show to become a successful model. Well, Danielle is a model for New York & Company now, if nothing else! I came across her picture shopping on their site a few weeks ago, and I thought it was pretty cool. I understand her win a lot more looking at these photos.

Chantal Jones
Chantal was runner-up in Season 9 of ANTM. Same as Danielle, I came across Chantal while looking at a website, Rent the Runway to be exact. (If you haven't checked out this site before, I recommend you do! You can rent designer fashions for really cheap. I think I know where I'm getting my birthday outfit! :P) I'm sure she has done other work, but this is where I've most recently seen her.

I'm not sure what it was that initially got me walking down memory lane, but I started thinking about all of these random things from my childhood. Each and every one of them brings me back to a certain time in elementary school, a much simpler time that I sort of miss! The days where we would go to the library and play bingo with corn kernels when we couldn't go outside for recess. :) (Did anyone else do this? No fancy daubers at my school! And as a side note...I had no idea they were called daubers.) Anywho, do you remember:

Slim Goodbody

It's both nice and slightly horrifying to see that Slim Goodbody still exists, and does school tours. If you're so inclined, check out his website here.

Reading Rainbow


This theme song-enough said.

Amelia Bedelia

Reading Amelia Bedelia books was another rainy-day-no-recess activity in elementary school. Are these books still around?

Where The Sidewalk Ends

My third grade teacher would read the poems from this book all the time, adding random voices and actions. She was a bit nuts, but that's why she was one of my favorites. :)

Is there anything you distinctly remember from your childhood?

I'm the worst blogger in the world. I go months in between posts! (You've all missed me, right?) I will say, however, that I usually need to be inspired to post something, hence the hiatus. So thank you for bearing with me while I wait for inspiration!

I've run across a lot of favorites this week, so I thought it'd be the best way to transition back into posting. Enjoy, and Happy Friday!

Favorite Funny

Favorite Video
I saw this episode when it aired last Thursday, and I'm STILL laughing about it. If you're not a Jimmy Fallon fan, you probably won't think this is funny. But if you do like him, enjoy. :)

Favorite Song/Music Video
"Dance In The Graveyards"-Delta Rae

Favorite Kitchen Gadget

I know quite a few people who, in my mind, are dead ringers for celebrities or characters they play. I just had to share them in hopes others would agree! Do you see the similarities?



*I apologize in advance to those pictured above, because I didn't ask for permission to use these pictures. If any of you actually look at my blog and would like me to take them down, please let me know!*