A little advice from my friend Ghia!

To all the girls who are in a hurry to have a boyfriend or get married,

a piece of Biblical advice:

" Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz."

While you are waiting on YOUR Boaz, don't settle for any of his relatives;

Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheating-az, Dumb-az, Drunk-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, , Goodfornothing-az, Lazy-az, and especially his third cousin Beatinyo-az.

Wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yoaz....

All things will be made new >>> even PROM>

The last six months have been unreal. However the last month or so has been even completely different. I am no longer overwhelmed with intense emotion at all times. There are moments, on some days, that I can breathe. I often feel very very confused about life, the ins and outs of my days and how or what to think about anything.

How ever there are things about me that have NOT changed. One is my love for themed parties. The former and I hosted PROM at our house ever year. The first one started off when a girl lived with us who was home schooled and had never been to a prom so we threw one! It was so much fun! So from then on every spring we hosted the Bilbrey PROM! Complete with a keg, beer pong, dancing, and a photo booth. Four years in a row, but I can only find pictures from two.

Prom 2009

This year spring came around and I just couldn't get my act together enough to host a prom. It was sad to watch spring turn to summer and let a tradition die, but last night I had the joy of participating in a Second Chance PROM, to raise money for United Way to help victims of the tornados that hit our area back in April. Even though it wasn't "Bilbrey PROM", there was spiked punch, dancing, poofy dresses, and my photo booth.

Prom 2010

Its odd to me that memories are beginning to become layered. There are experiences I have had and places I have been only with the Former. As time passes I have those same experiences and go to those places on my own and in those moments all I can think of is him. I hate him that he ruined something beautiful, my heart hurts like I have never felt pain before and my nose burns. With a few deep breathes I can collect myself and make new memories.

Life is going on.

Prom 2011

Rather I like it or not, the world just keeps spinning. The next time I go to or host a prom, I won't only have to compare it "Bilbrey PROM", my prom memories have been layered and made new.

The Former may have ruined and broken a lot of things, but he no longer has that power in my life. I want to choose to keep on going. To move forward and allow things to be made new.

Thank you to divas in my life, for the love and support it takes to keep dancing!

The last time the night fell.

Night fall is one of my favorite events of the year. A few reasons really, it is not a bar but a great place to meet people, you can bring your dog, lots of beer and friendly people just hanging out in the city, and oh yeah there is some good music and dancing. Tonight was the last nightfall of the season and it was perfect.

This is the sun right before it completely hid behind the mountain.

This stage was decorate with balloons. Which I loved.

So my room mate Stephanie and I took one!!!! BUT late gave it to some children who asked... (boo)

Stephanie.

A total cutie.

What a wonderful evening with a wonderful roomie!

ALSO you may have noticed I got and iphone today!!!! HINT all of the instagram photographs!!! EEEEKS~~!!!!

Sailing.

There are red ships and blue ships,

that sail across the sea,

but the best ship is friendship,

that sails between you and me!

#allmydivasberockin'thosepumps

The perfect shoe for sailing!

Mess with the bull, and you get the horns.

I have the best friends.

My girls go up to bat for me and they are big hitters.

Tonight while gathered a table of women I love, we talked about relationships. The kind with ourselves, the kind with God, and with others. That table housed a couple of bottles of wine, high school french tests,a red pen, a six pack of beer, scratch paper, an ipod touch, menthol cigarettes, a good book or two, many dinners, and 10 beautiful women. The conversation was long, thoughtful and refreshingly honest. The love of my friends that they consistently display brings me to tears. It is absolutely humbling to be cherished by some of the worlds finest people and in turn be able to love and enjoy them.

The Spice Girls were right, "if you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends!"

Let me share an excerpt from a famous and well written letter...

"When you ask a truthful woman what her opinion is I suggest you start expecting the truth. The next time you take out a woman (and I can assure you it will certainly not be anyone I know because they will have already been forewarned) I can only hope that you will have taken a good hard look at yourself and they way you have chosen to treat women. Set your ego aside. Grow up. And move on good sir."

Good evening.

6 months

I have officially reached the 6 month mark of my newly found single life. They by far have been the most intense 6 months of my entire life, but at the same time, the self growth and discovery I have experienced has been monumental.

In the last 192 days I have

-Moved into a Winnebago

-Gone to therapy all but 3 weeks in the last 28

-Expanded my business and booked 19 weddings for 2011

-Got a job at a flower shop and quit

-Had a super cute and successful booth in a wedding expo

-Made a new best friend

-Went to the Kentucky Derby

-Learned how to smoke cigarettes and quit

-Went to the beach

-Saw Miranda Lambert live for free

-Booked 2 weddings for 2012

-Tubed down the Hiwasee and didn't get left there

-Got an iMac

-Rented a super cute house and moved out of the camper

-Saw Britney Spears in ATL for only $36

-Had my company rebranded to Our Ampersand Photography

-Built a new website

-Starting riding my bike

and through it all I have begun to realize that friends and family are the really bread & butter of life.

First Date = EPIC FAIL

In the last week I have been asked out by two guys, the second was a bit more persistent, so yesterday at therapy I threw out the idea. My therapist didn't act like it was the worst idea ever, so last night we made plans to have a drink. My therapist said if the desire to date is there and you think its okay, then it is okay.

There is no rule, or guideline, I am not going to get in trouble with God for dating within a certain time limit. That was refreshing to hear. I think often I put so many restrictions and limitations on my life that I find my self pinned in a corner, unsure of how to get out. These rules I enforce are self made and honestly crippling, so the idea of there not being a black and white answer felt good!

So I went home, threw a bit of fit over what to wear and bolted out the door. I met a my friend Donald out for a drink before hand to talk it over an get rid of nervous jitters. I built up the idea of a first date to the point that it was a big deal.... I shouldn't of.

Well let me tell you... it was probably the worst first date in the history of people dating.

10 things that should never EVER happen on a first date {but did}

1. Ask to meet at 11:00 pm

2. Postpone multiple times, and then show up late

3. Showing up 60 lbs. heavier than your most recent profile picture

4. Arriving drunk

5. Ordering a sissy drink

6. Touching my leg and arm awkwardly and at odd times in conversation

7. Asking me three times if I graduated from CSAS, after I kept explaining I didn't go to high school in Chattanooga, but I am from Kentucky

8.Taking a dip of tobacco at the bar and then spitting in your cup while trying to still carry conversation. (Excuse me while I vomit on you)

9. NOT PAYING

10. Asking me to drive your ass home.

Well, needless to say, the dating topic has been returned to the back burner, probably going to be left there for a LONG TIME>