Happy Blog Anniversary to Me!

It’s been one year since I launched Take Your Pic and this blog has by far been one of my favorite hobbies! November 27, 2012.
It started off as a work-based blog when I worked at The Reporter and quickly transformed into a blog about writing what I want, when I want, about what I want on

So here you are, 365 days later and you’re all still hanging on with me. THANK YOU to everyone who reads Take Your Pic (when I post of course – I’ve been so busy which I will explain.) It truly makes my day when I look at how many people read my posts. At first it was 13 people and now on average its about 100 people. WHATTTT?!?!? It’s all because of you – thanks sweets!

As you can tell by my last post date it’s been a while but life has been wild – a little like this entire year, actually! During 2012 I had a bit of a rut with life: my sister went through a divorce that of course affected the entire family, my dad was sick but luckily is healthy again after good care, and I was at a pretty low point mentally.

But at the end of 2012 I was determined to make 2013 my bitch and I definitely have! This year so far as been FILLED with excitement, love, success and motivation. I started a new job at the beginning of the year and it has brought me plenty of other opportunities. My lack of blogging lately was because this summer I was offered a freelance position with another country club in Montgomery County. They brought me on board and had be assist in COMPLETELY redesigning their website – everything from the layout, all of the content, the site map and pictures. Click here to check it out. While it sure was exhausting working nights after 8 hours at work and seeing my main squeeze/playing soccer/playing with the pup, staying up until 2 a.m. was rough especially when my wake up is at 5 a.m... every minute was worth it!! In addition to that I’ve also been helping out a local realtor create marketing materials for his homes for sale.

Also this past year I’ve had vacations and girls getaways, I’ve fell in love with a man I can absolutely consider my better half, I’ve been able to watch (soon-to-be) EIGHT of my greatest friends marry the loves of their lives and after 26 years I’ve officially got my shit together and I’m focusing on taking care of my body physically working with Nextdoor Wellness (one of my college roomies, Emily!).

I’m absolutely looking forward to what the rest of the year holds – starting off with a wedding this weekend!

My next blog goals:
Try to post once a week
Try and get more reader comments
Have a series of guest bloggers again (it was a HUGE hit!)

Love you all! xox

Three Weekends of Celebration Madness

I’m exhausted. I am mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted after three straight weekends of traveling, celebrating and drinking/eating wayyy too much. I miss my Gatsby boy and miss being lazy on a Friday night.

All bitching aside, the last three weekends have been some of the most exciting times of my life. I was able to see 6 friends confess their love and commitment to each other, I celebrated one bride-to-be and I was able to show my cousin the best 30th birthday possible.

I slept in four different hotels, drove over 1,000 miles in the Juke and spent over 15 hours in the car with Mr. Shrimp (which honestly I was worried we were going to kill each other – but it was an amazing time….OK confession time: When I was co-pilot I had a three strike rule, three back seat driver comments/out bursts or I was walking home. Luckily he gave me 4 strikes because he likes me, thanks babe).

Every single dollar spent, mile driven and sleepless night was worth it because these individuals mean the world to me. I am so honored each of you allowed me to be a part of your special day and I’m truly honored to call you a friend.  


P.S. – Great bloggers think alike because my best friend Donavan (who also had three weekends of traveling) posted today about being beat from her travels. So happy during our travels we ran into each other (or running into Kyle on the Blue Route.

B-I-N-G-OMG!

Almost a whole month without a post again, I swear I’m not slacking – life has just been TOO busy. I’ve had weddings, bridal shower, bachelorette parties, traveling up and down the east coast. I’m doing my best I promise. On top of it, I have a freelance job I’m working on at nights which I will blog about eventually. But here is a post I’ve been dying to write. 

When I worked at The Reporter inputting dreadful calendar items (yes, I was the poor asshole typing in every event because for some reason we didn’t have an online submission form), I feel like I was ALWAYS adding Bingo nights at local churches. Monday night here, Wednesday night there, Friday nights at this place with Vera Bradley prizes (woo-freakin-hoo!!!)


To be honest when I thought of Bingo I thought of a few old people sitting around playing the game, not really a big deal. BOYYYYY AM I WRONG!

Last month I had the pleasure of experiencing my first night out for bingo. Taylor’s grandfather is an avid player and he asked us to tag along. From the start we made some rookie moves and it continued throughout the evening...or atleast for me, I’m not sure about Taylor! We went to Corpus Christi to play – games started at 6:30, I think we rolled right in at 6:30. Games already started, old people gave us the stink eye as the gym door closed and echoed throughout the whole gymnasium. No joke, there was well over 150 people (mostly over the age of 60) stamping away on their big sheets.

We headed back into this tiny room to buy bingo sheets (which they were already counting the money they collected and we screwed them up a bit.) When I think bingo, I think of small grids you stamp, buy as many as youd like. Right? WRONG! Bingo cards are in sheets – you get this big packet that looks like this picture. In each game you get 9 cards and you play a total of 35ish rounds. When you buy your packets there is a schedule – what the games are worth in money, if it’s regular bingo (straight line, diagonal, 4 corner or postage stamp which is the top right area) or if you have to make a crazy shape (like a letter Z, all outside lines, etc.)

So here I am, sitting at this table, pink ink stamper in hand and the lady starts rattling off numbers. “A 12”..ok ok stamp A 12s…ok one there…ok one ….and another there “N 31!” GOD DAMN IT! I’m not even done stamping the A number!!! Bingo is hard as shit! I could not keep up with what letter was called, Taylor’s mom sat across me stamping my sheet after she was done hers in no time. Haha

About 10 minutes in I told Taylor I will play Bingo when I’m older…the speed at which numbers are called is SOO good for your mental strength – you need to read numbers quick, stamp like a mofo and listen. I’ve never failed more miserably at something in my life then I did in Bingo.

Finally by MAYBE the 6th or 7th round I got in my groove, just in time for them to let you use your “bonus” cards for a round making me stamp my 9 original cards and another 6 on the bonus sheet…sweet Lord I lasted about three letter/number calls and just stuck to the 9 card sheet which I couldn’t even get.

You can pay more money for special tickets that look like lottery tickets (I’m going for them next time, some woman won $600!!!) I’m telling you, this entire event boggled my mind!

Things got REAL weird when certain bingo junkies have special cat calls for certain numbers. One lady up by the stage every time she heard B11 she blew this annoying wood train whistle. Another lady every time the caller read this certain G letter she’d ring some damn bell. My favorite by FAR was when the caller would say O69 and you’d get some giggles out of a few of the old church ladies (KILLED ME!)

Long story short, bingo is tough as hell – my eyes were burning from reading the letters, I had zero luck at winning (I’m bringing a troll next time!!) and the chairs are more than uncomfortable. Maybe I’ll go grandpop’s route next time and buy one of the electrical game boards. Either way, I’m going back, I’m redeeming my winning and I want a fancy sound when a certain letter is called. Any suggestions on a bell/whistle/sound and Ill take suggestions for a letter. GO!