Internet Life Blargh

Hello there fellow bloggers and blog readers and internet stalkers alike :)


I got busy. But I'm writing now! HUZZAH.

Also, I have this thing of watching tons of YouTube videos for hours and then thinking "I could do that." Then I just don't. But I'm seriously considering occasionally vlogging! Would ya'll be interested in that? (I say ya'll, I have no idea who actually reads this thing, but I have the hopes that somebody does!)

Speaking of presence on the internet, you know Felicia Day? Well, she's definitely my spirit animal, and I'm SUPER excited for her book to come out next month. Well....SHE FAVORITED MY TWEET YA'LL. Forreals. I cannot stop smiling. I was nerding out on twitter (Follow me! AlexandraAnne27 ) and was sharing this link to an excerpt from Felicia Day's new book "You're Never Weird On The Internet (Almost)" and.... she favorited my tweet! XD

Seriously.

Aaaand I recently did the math and got my hotel $$ figured out and, I AM GOING TO DRAGON CON THIS YEAR. I just have to get my ticket sometime in the next month, haha, and then I'll be able to officially say I'm going. But it's in my plan and budget, and it is happening.


I've never been, and have always wanted to go! I think it was last summer, Michael and I were cleaning stuff from my old bedroom/house, and I found journal entries from middle school where I wrote about wanting to go to Dragon Con and how I planned to cosplay as Agatha Clay from the Girl Genius comic series. I still totally would/could! But would anyone even know who I am? Maybe.

Michael will be attending as Captain Malcom Reynolds from Firefly, because he IS the captain.

I'm marrying a handsome fellow, aren't I? 

Anyway. I would LOVE to do something of the Browncoat realm, but...there aren't a whole lot of blondes in Firefly :( I mean I still could do a blonde version, or wear a wig. 

I've never cosplayed before...and I have a little over a month to pull something together. 

Heh, now that I've grown up since that middle school entry I could do Lara Croft from Tomb Raider ;) Or a female assassin from Assassin's Creed?  Or my original idea of Agatha Clay pictured below:

Isn't she cool? She's what got me into steampunk before I knew steampunk was a thing! (hipster much? oops, but seriously though, it wasn't a word/style I knew back then!) 

I'm gonna have to learn how to deal with the masses of people that attend this convention, hello anxiety attacks, but I have gone to three conventions now (of a smaller stature) and am getting the idea. Heh, after this con I should be a pro, right? 

The other con I've been to is Space City Con (which is now Space City Comic Con, I believe) in Houston/Galveston, where I met a whole ton of Babylon5 actors! I didn't cosplay, but I made myself a Psi Corps pin that only lasted me that weekend... I'm a noob, ya'll. I'll get it eventually. (Oh, I also met Gil Gerard who played Buck Rogers. BUCK ROGERS YA'LL)

I think later this week I'm gonna post a Historicon (speaking of conventions) update/review since that's where we were at last week! I will also include an awesome photo dump, Historicon is such an amazing event for me though, honestly. 

I cannot speak for the world of gamers, but the tabletop gamers that I have met in my time are some genuinely amazing people, and I would trust most of them with my life! (I say most, because there are always some butt-nugget-self-centered people out there, so I can't just say "all") 

Speaking of nerdy things, we recently (and by we I mean my awesome engineer fiance) updated my computer so now it runs Windows 7 not XP, so I had to wipe it completely (sad day, but thank goodness for external hard drives!). Since I lost/wiped most of my files, I had to pick a new background. I had been sporting an awesome picture of Serenity for the two years of having this computer. Now it's time for my first gaming fandom to be the background: 

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation was my absolute all time favorite game of the series, and still is to this day! 

For a personal udpate: I've been hitting the gym yo! I'm feeling stronger and more energized all the day (it helps to have a free fitness center right next to the apartment, and when I go back to school I will have an even larger gym also for free! Well, paid for by student fees...blegh) 

But yeah, I'm feeling good, thanks endorphins!!!

I think that's enough rambling, don't you? ;) 

Are you on twitter? Let's be twitter friends!

Are you going to DragonCon? Let's try to meet up!

Got any suggestions for what I should cosplay?

Have you ever had a celebrity moment on the internet you'd like to share? Comment below! 

And as always, have a lovely day and lovely almost weekend! Huzzah!

xoxo,

Alexandra Anne 

Best Friend's Day (fiance version)

I'm really lucky. No, I mean super duper lucky. I have had a wonderful day with my best friend; we hung out at NASA On The Square downtown, we got sushi, and we traded in some video games for the Mass Effect series on xbox360. We've just been hanging out and gaming all day long, being our fabulous nerdy selves.

The best part? I get to kiss him between battles and I get to hug on him while we learn new tactics and derp around.

I've been a gamer girl my whole life, but my fiance has unleashed a monster in me. See, I wasn't allowed to have video games as a kid, but I could play tabletop games (i.e. Dungeons and Dragons, that sort of thing) and some computer games (Tomb Raider WAS my childhood, which might explain my love of firearms). I never had a gameboy, or playstation, or xbox.

So now that I'm an "adult" and have been with the fiance, I have access to allllll sorts of games. He even gave me his old gaming computer when he upgraded to a newer one. And a few years ago I bought my own xbox360.

Monster = me.

Do you know how many games I'm playing through right now? Oh good grief, it's too much. And I'm SO happy about it.

I'm an adult, yes. But my summer is consisting of: planning my wedding, getting a job (interview on Wednesday, fingers crossed!!!), learning music for my recital in the fall, and gaming gaming GAMING.

Here's a list of games and series I'm loving or have recently finished and wish I still were playing...

Bioshock (beat the 1st one, playing Infinite now)
Assassin's Creed series (I'm on Revelations)
Mass Effect
Battleblock Theatre
Red Dead Redemption
Tomb Raider (any/all of them)
Deus Ex
Half Life 2

yeah, it's a good summer so far :)

But I'm just grateful to get to spend my day of nerdiness with my best friend and true love <3

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What games are you playing?
Follow me on twitter and instagram at AlexandraAnne27 to see more of my gaming adventures!

xoxo, alexandra anne 

#committedtothesexy

I've never done a post with a hashtag in the title, but I want this to be my focus.

When I got engaged on February 28th, I knew that I had a reason (officially) to push myself to be the best version of myself I can be. It's not just about me anymore, I am going to marry my best friend and commit my life to him. He deserves the best Alexandra Anne there can be. So we came up with a phrase to get us through the health journey we are both taking; we are #committedtothesexy.

Every workout, every veggie-packed meal, every sore muscle, it's all worth it for us. We are committed to making healthier choices.

Now that we are setting a date for a January wedding (YAY!) that gives me about six months to get healthy and get sexy for that wedding dress. I want to be a beautiful bride, and a hot wife.

Longterm, however, I want to be healthy and happy. I want to feel strong and capable of anything. Feeling sluggish SUCKS. Having clothes not fit SUCKS. You know what doesn't suck? Endorphins, yo. I'm serious, the high I get post-workout is fantastic and keeps me coming back.

I'm NOT a morning person, and I'm not a person who gets excited about going to the gym. But I'm working on both of those. I am excited about the sexy wife I'm going to be :)

It's ok if I have a bad day, we are all human. I want to document this journey in my life, my fitness journey. I am committed.

Are you?

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*This month I am utilizing the awesome program from Beachbody called 21 Day Fix, and drinking chocolate Shakeology
*I am also going to start taking fencing lessons/class
*And I'm utilizing the fitness center at my current apartment complex :)

Do you like my pink hair? I am practicing for when I'm a rockstar ;) 

If you're on a fitness journey too, I would love to connect with you! I'm all for encouragement and accountability. Check out my contact page :)


xoxo, Alexandra Anne

Life Is Intense...

You know what else is intense???... CAMPING!!! ;)

I have no idea how to even start writing about camp...I lived on a mountain for 10 weeks. That was my summer. It was work, yes, and it was fun, yes, but it was more than that. Camp is a game changer, that's what they told us at orientation. But how do I truly process the 10 weeks where hundreds of girls were placed under my care?? Where I taught riflery and voice/music classes? Where I killed a scorpion? Where I decided 10 weeks on a mountain is way too much? How do I even begin to write it all down? Good grief.

I can start with pictures. Pictures are good. I'm glad I got some photograph evidence :)

Superheros!

Chibi heroes!

Post from camper :)

I spent most of my time at the rifle range

Great hair day right?

I wore superhero shirts a lot ....

Gimp necklace from a camper

Coffee on nights out!!!

Went a little stir crazy and missed school (gasp)

Campers liked to do things to my hair

Mmm rifles

Iron man shirt <3

Counselor roomies :)

Counselor Name Buddies :)

So cute =P

Honor cabin!!

Uniform and a smile :)

I relearned how to knit ;)

Night out :) :) :) 

 So many stories to come! (hopefully, ha!) I start classes next Monday, but I hope to write in my *spare time* <3

xoxoxo,
Alexandra Anne

Those Moments

I am so blessed by the people in my life; including you wonderful readers! Thank you all for the comments about reaching 10 months :) I spent the day with the boyfriend yesterday, and it was a lovely time. It's so funny to look back to 10 months ago; I said yes to a stalker on facebook (it's not as bad as it sounds hehe). Little did I know I'd be *this* happy. God is good.

The night I met boyfriend- August, 2008

The reason he asked me out ;)

Night he met Mom, Jessika, and Jarrod :)

July 22, 2012 :) Look at us now!

God is also so so good by providing me the friends He needs me to have, and providing me the education I need. A year ago He opened my heart, in a whole new way, to opera. I'm so excited to go to school on a partial music scholarship; I'm getting paid to study music? Thank you, Jesus!

It's not always easy, especially because I am thoroughly attached to my ways and don't like change, but this journey of mine is so neat. Each of us is on a unique journey, and that is wonderful. My journey is filled with opera, rifles, writing, dancing, loving, and lots of hugs ;)

What gets me through this crazy life? Today is filled with music and timeless scripture. <3

"God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." -Hebrews 11:40 


"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11


"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalm 73:26


"If you're goin through hell keep on movin, face that fire; walk right through it. You might get out before the devil even knows you're there."- Rodney Atkins 


New music on my ipod:
Lindsey Stirling- Phantom of the Opera Medley
Two Steps From Hell- Archangel (whole album)
Lindsey Stirling- Shadows
Demi Lovato- Give Your Heart A Break

Have a good weekend ya'll!

xoxo, alexandra anne

Going For A Ride

EDIT: Written by my lovely sponsor Emily!! :) :) :) Check her out at Love Woke Me Up This Morning

They always say you should write what you know.

I've tried that - and it doesn't work. Not for me at least.

I'm not quite sure what it is. Maybe I feel like what I know is too boring. Maybe I just don't know how to make it sound interesting and entertaining.

Seriously though - dragons, fairies, and unicorns are much more fun. That's part of why I write fairy tales. If you get stuck in a boring spot, just throw in a dragon and you have an adventure.

However, I feel the real reason is that I don't know how it ends. When you write fantasy and re-tell fairy tales, you can come up with an ending. You can make everyone "live happily ever after" or put some dark twist on "happily ever after."

With real life, you don't know how it ends.

In real life, you don't know if they "get the girl" (or guy... depending on who you are). You could land the job or get into the college you want, but those might change along the way. You'll get bumps in the road and never really understand why they happened. You can travel to far away places, but you come back home eventually. The family drama may or may not stop. The friendship and relationship drama may or may not stop. You might have kids along the way, but you have no idea how they're going to turn out.

In real life - you don't always know how it ends.

While sometimes that can make it work with writing what you know. Write stories based on your own experiences. But what happens when you can't tie up the story in a pretty box and put a bow on it and say "and that's how I figured it out?"

At the same time... isn't that the beautiful part of this journey of life? The not knowing?

Yeah, there are times when we get frustrated not knowing what's going to happen. It's stressful when you aren't sure which path you should take next and where you're going to end up.

But that's all part of what makes it exciting.

Whenever I think about maybe changing my life and I'm not sure what to do I have a friend who is always telling me "You can do anything!"

Usually I roll my eyes and respond with "That's too many options. It doesn't help me at all."

At the same time ... you really can do anything.

That's all part of life.

Sometimes we just need to chill and pick a path. Doesn't matter what path. God will be with you either way.

Source

Just pick one and go.

Because it can always change.

That's life.

You don't know how it ends until... well... it ends.

Just enjoy the ride.

Pshh

Hello blogworld! I haven't written in a few days, but I have been keeping active so to speak.
What am I up to?

*My Daddy comes home in just a few days! We are so so excited to see him for two weeks, especially me because I won't see him again before I leave for school. So our house is preparing for his arrival.

*I need a new ipod...I cannot go off to college without some form of portable music. I'm a MUSIC MAJOR, I think it is a valid need. (Try telling a chemist he can't have a lab, or a copy of the periodic table, or telling an athlete they can't have a bouncy ball, don't tell me I cannot have music!) :)

*Obviously, anyone who has a blog and commits to it must like writing to a certain extent. Well, I love love love writing actually. And as a matter of fact, I've been working on some pieces of fiction in my "spare time." :) It feels so good to be writing again. I haven't composed a story in years, and I am enjoying getting to know my characters.

*I've been going to the pool so so much this year! I'm quite proud of myself, because I honestly detest the public pool (neighborhood pool) but I take my siblings so I get sister-points, AND I get exercise and a slight tan. ;)

*While I haven't been writing here daily, I HAVE been reading other blogs too =) I love the friends I am making! And I can't wait to meet some lovely bloggers when I move to Houston (7 weeks left ya'll....can I make it?)

*My recital is two weeks from tomorrow, but a few nights ago I dreamed it was this weekend. OH MY GOODNESS that freaked me out so so much. I need my two weeks ;) Preparing this music is such a fun adventure though. Hard work, yes, but lots of fun. I can't wait to share my passion with my friends and family!

*Time for a link-up :) Working on that 15 day challenge. I'll not bore you by catching up on missed days, but I shall do today's! 

"Day 7: Recommend a book for us to read. Why is it important/special to you?"

Oh boy. That's a tough one...I have fallen in love with so many books...and in so many different genres...I have to pick one? Mamma mia...Remember, I'm the girl who had to get ANOTHER bookshelf in my room because I just didn't have enough... ;) 
I'm gonna go with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (sister to Emily and Anne). This classic story has been one of my favorites for a long long time. And while my Dad says the Bronte sisters encourage women to make bad choices in men, I still love this book. 
Why?
I remember the first time I read the story and kept coming upon the word "peruse." I was fairly young when I was reading it, so I didn't know that word yet. Well, it kept showing up, in my face! "Figure me out, you don't know what I mean yet, do you?" Ok, so the word didn't actually taunt me like that. Actually, I eventually came to love the word, because through this book, it revealed its meaning to me :) 

 *PS. I would LOVE to have your button on my page, in fact, for some of ya'll, I already found your button ;) Will you please follow me and grab my button too? Email me if you're interested in free button swaps!*

Have an awesome weekend! <3