while my birthday is still four months away...

...i already know what i want:

omg i'm freaking in love.

p.s. it's a hedgehog, not a porcupine. 
and i've unofficially named him trevor.  trevor the hedgehog.

remember when i was gone for so long? well, this is where i was: camp in photographic review.

i had over 200 pictures from the week at camp, but i'll spare you and just put some of them.  the week was absolutely amazing, and i'm already counting down the days when i get to go back!!

camp eagle on the nueces river in the texas hill country

"acquire the tire" = a sort of wrestle tog-of-war game that consists of mud, rocks, mayonnaise, syrup, chocolate sauce, powdered sugar, bbq sauce, pickle relish, baked beans, fruit loops, ranch dressing, and lots of battle wounds.  it's way dirty and way disgusting.

(lil bro's on the left)

it took a few days for my campers to actually realize i was their adult sponsor.  key word there being adult.

rec time with my clan!  we dominated, if you can believe that.  it may or may not have been because i threatened them that i would make them run during their free time if we lost. 

that is the face of determination and victory at the annual 'saints and sinners' softball game.  (a.k.a. sponsors vs. seniors)  we killed them, by the way.

my clan: the village of capernaum, hole in the roof gang

yes, that is a tight rope tied between two trees.  no, i was not very good.  three steps was the best i could do.

little bro and me.

little brudder's last year at camp as a camper.

getting ready to do the BLOB!

senior celebration the last night.

the pictures don't really do the week justice.  let's just say it was one of the most amazing weeks of my life and since then, my life has truly been different and i'm so grateful that i was able to go.

happy monday everyone!  it's gonna be ridiculously busy from here on out for me.  wrapping up a series of projects at work and interviewing candidates for my position.

remember me??

 

my loverlies.  you may or may not remember me.  let's get re-aquainted, since i know some of you feel like orphan children (i'm talking to you, surferwoman and jessypants).  i left for camp and have since been on sabbatical from blogging for a few weeks.  it wasn't really planned, it kind of just happened.

i've been going through a lot of life changes recently, and quite honestly, i'm having trouble keeping up with them myself.  in the past three weeks, i have grown and become strengthened in ways i never thought possible.  

i'm not intentionally being vague, i'm just still feeling both overwhelmed and incredibly excited about the amazing things God has for me in my life.  pretty much everything that could change in a person's life has changed, so i just need to get my bearings again.

just yesterday in fact, i told the CEO of my company that my last day of employment with them would be at the end of this month.  i'll begin law school mid-august.  i am hastily helping them find an amazing replacement.  this next couple of weeks will probably prove to be a whirlwind, but i approach these changes with open arms.  my faith has been renewed and strengthened and my course in life has been set.

thank you all for your sweet messages.  i promise not to leave again without warning!!

x's and o's to you all.

FINALLY news you can use #21: the best thing that happens every four years - the WORLD CUP, yo

because i'm getting ready to leave you all for SO long (a whole week!!! ::gasps fill the blogosphere::), i thought it was only fair for me to show you my love by providing you with some very important news you can use!  

by now, you've probably forgotten what that even is, so let me remind you: some of you don't have time to or choose not to keep yourself in the know about important events.  no need to fear, in each edition of news you can use! i supply you with only the very best weekly news.  this news includes - but is not limited to - such important things as: world news, famies news, movie news, reality tv news, interesting and weird happenings news, things i happen to find important or freakishly cool news, and my news (aka - what's going on in my life news). i know. all really exciting stuff.  so sit back, grab a grande skinny vanilla soy latte or a bottle of wine and know you are will be more informed after reading this.  

please know that this week's edition is going to be a little different; really, the only news you can use! right now revolves around the world cup.  and of course, the most gorgeous world cup players.  i'll give a little background and some facts on the players and teams, though i'm sure hutch will be the only one who actually reads that.  the rest of you will just be looking, jaw-dropped and the pictures.  (and by the way, i'm half italian and half swiss; clearly, the italians take the cake on this whole contest.)

name: cristiano ronaldo

country: portugal

position: striker

cool facts: not only is he gorgeous, but he's an amazing player - he's the high paid footballer (soccer, for you americans) in the world.  and he looks amazing in armani underwear.  i'm sorry i can't say that is due to personal experience.

why we love him:not only is he gorgeous, but he's pretty amazing.  i don't particularly like his dating choices, but that doesn't change the fact that i like looking at him.

name: diego forlan

country: uruguay

position: striker

name: freddie ljungberg

country: sweden

position: goalkeeper

why we love him: he's swedish. he models underwear. he's athletic. he has his own blog. yep, he's got everything on our boyfriend checklist. and if he tastes anything like swedish fish, then i'm sure he's delicious.

name: fabio cannavaro

country: italy

position: defense (center back)

cool facts: he's the captain of the italian national team and won the FIFA world player of the year back in the 2006 world cup. 

why we love him: hellllllllo.  he name is freaking FABIO.  and look at him!  do i really need to elaborate????  didn't think so.

 name: carlos bocanegra

country: usa

position: defense (center back or left back)

why we love him: he's sort of kind of adorably cute.

name: yoann gourcuff

country: france

position: midfielder

why we love him: he's a bit of a newbie, but he's dang good.

have a good day.

you're welcome.

p.s. i recently joined a really sweet gym and signed up for some personal training sessions.  i'm planning to do a lot of intense cardio kickboxing courses as well as some MMA (mixed martial arts) training techniques.  my first class was last night and i can barely lift my arms today.  i'm considering taking a page out of shandal's book and posting some before and after type pics.  the thing is, i'm not sure how much my body is really going to change, at least in terms of weight.  i'm not looking to lose any weight, i'm just looking to get ripped (haha!) and really toned.  'm not doing p90x or any type of video training, so i'm wondering if i posted before and after pics would just be lame.  what do y'all think??  yea or nay??

i miss you. you miss me. it's time to catch up a little.

gahhhh, to say i miss you all is a gross understatement.  work and life in general have been a whirlwind.  since work is ultra unexciting for those of you not interesting in politics and environmental sustainability, let's get personal.

- i had a huge work even last week that consumed my life for a good solid 72 hours.  the event was a great success, so it paid off.  getting a mani-pedi and massage afterward was nice, too.

- i spent the weekend in austin (my fave city in texas) at a sorority sister's wedding.  she got married at this awesome venue that specializes in serving only organic food.  totally up my alley.  it was great getting to see and catch up with old sorority sisters and friends.  i forgot my camera (something i nevvvvver do), but fortunately they had a photobooth which quasi and i had tons of fun in.  i'll try to scan the photobooth pics and post them soon.

ZTA - only the best wear a crown!

clearly, i missed the "solid-colored dress" memo.

- i'm headed to the lake on friday for a company "team retreat."  should be interesting...

- then on sunday, i leave for church camp for... get ready for it... A WHOLE WEEK.  i'm going as a camp sponsor for a whole week in the hill-country-middle-of-nowhere-texas-with-no-access-to-cell-phone-service-or-internet for a sold week.  crazy, i know.

** don't forget - CSN stores giveaway ends tomorrow!! ** 

don't ever say i didn't do anything for you. giveaway time, my loverlies. *CSN stores $40 gift card*

i was recently laying on one of my platform beds checking emails when i received a message from CSN stores asking if i'd be interested in either doing a review of one of their products or a giveaway on my blog for my readers.  duh, i am always thinking of you guys, so i went with the second option.

for those of you who don't know or who are not familiar with amazingness that is CSN stores, i highly recommend you to get familiar with these stores. 

seriously, have you ever checked out any of their websites??  (CSN stores, all modern, cookware, or luxe by CSN stores)  i'm not kidding you - they have everything you can think of.  their website is seriously your one-stop shop kinda place.  wanting something for yourself?  got it.  your mother-in-law?  done.  your house, your kid, your dog, your bird, your tarantula, your backyard, your boss, your family member who is impossible to shop for??  i promise they have stuff for all of them, too.  don't believe me?  check it out for yourself:

need some new throw pillows because your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/dog/bird/cat/child thinks it's okay to sleep on and/or slobber all over decorative throw pillows.  you'll find what you need here.

bird need a mansion?  duh, every bird needs a mansion.  get it here.

your mother-in-law thinks you're a bad cook and you want to show her that although you may be a bad cook, you do have awesome taste in bake ware.  find it here.

ladies, got a hot date and you need a new pair of fierce heels?  go here.

see something you like up there?  well, lucky for one of you, CSN stores if offering one of (flash)'s readers a $40 gift card to get whatever your little heart desires!  

all you have to do is follow tha rules:

entry 1. you must be a follower of my blog in order to win.  following is easy.  leave a comment telling me you're a follower and be sure and check out one of CSN stores' websites (CSN stores, all modern, cookware, or luxe by CSN stores) and tell me what you'd get if you won. (mandatory entry)

for extra entries:

entry 2. follow me on twitter (1 extra entry)

entry 3. tweet about this giveaway and be sure to include @flashpasteurize and link to this post in your tweet (1 extra entry)

entry 4-5. grab my button and put it on your sidebar (2 extra entries)

entry 6-7. blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (2 extra entries)

you've got up to 7 ways you can be entered!  giveaway ends next wednesday, june 16th and a random winner will be chosen and announced the following day.