Backstreet's Back

Last week I enjoyed a blast from the past, and saw the Backstreet Boys in concert for their 

In a World Like This tour. 

My friend and coworker Yaping and I, sang along to all the words and screamed like teenagers whenever Brian opened his mouth to sing...or maybe that was just me.

I'm Team Brian all the way. ...and you should be too

 

They're touring for their new CD, but if we're being honest, I'm pretty sure everyone went to see
them perform the oldies.

The goodies.

The oldies but goodies.

In case you were wondering, Kevin's eyebrows are as thick as ever, Nick still thinks he's the sexy one, Brian still is the sexy one, Howie got rid of his ponytail, and AJ is still weird.

And I love all of it.

When I posted about the concert on Insta I used the hashtag #90sgirlsolutions...cause, well the Backstreet Boys were, and still are full of solutions to your 90s girl problems.

I dub them: Backstreet Solutions

Problem: You're afraid to get into a relationship cause you don't wanna get hurt

Backstreet solution: They'll never break your heart

Problem: There's nothing going on this Friday night
Backstreet solution: They've got it goin' on
...for years mind you.

Problem: You can't find good dating advice in high school
Backstreet solution: If you want it to be good girl, get yourself a bad boy

Problem: It's impossible to find a good, open-minded guy
Backstreet soultion: They don't care who you are, where you're from...heck they don't even care what you did, as long as you love them

Problem: You can't decide if your denim skirt is too short
Backstreet solution: They want it that way

See, and you thought BSB was just a bunch of boy-banders.
I would even go so far as to say, not only do they have a plethora of solutions to offer for your most pressing issues, they also pose deep, though-provoking questions on the issues of the day.
Things like,
Am I original?
Am I the only one?
Am I sexual?...yes, Nick Carter. Yes you are.

On that note, I'm gonna go find my favorite flavor Lip Smacker in my hot pink Caboodle, sit down in my blow-up chair and listen to some more BSB on my Walkman.

6 Things You Should Know, Plus a Few More

Some of you may have noticed this "6 Things You Should Know" post going around blogland. Thanks to my new bloggy friend Savannah over at Arizona Sunshine, I'm happy to report I've been tagged. 

I'm not gonna lie, it makes me feel like a cool kid when I get tagged for the latest blog trends.

Also, my good bloggy friend Lauren from Letters and Lipstick also tagged me in a series of get-to-know-you Q and A's. And since she said, and I quote, "...you girls better answer them. Please." I figured I better oblige. 

I'd hate to see Lauren get all cray up in hurr.

6 Things You Should Know...

1.) What is the story behind your blog name?

Easy - my last name starts with a T. Ergo de facto...T is for Townsend.

2.) What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

Pick your battles.

I've heard this piece of advice, in particular, go out to parents...I'm no parent but I'm finding it especially helpful with husbands too.

3.) Why do you blog?

Easy - for the text I get from my mom that says, "LOVE your blog!" after a good post.

Just kidding.

Kind of.

But really, umm, it's a creative outlet? It gives me an excuse for the obscene amount of pictures I take on a regular basis? "It's for the blog, you can't be mad at me..."

It's an awesome tool for memory-keeping? It's cheaper than scrapbooking?

4.) What is one thing you love about yourself?

My height. Sort of. I'm 5 ft. nothing.

I hate it when I can't reach the dishware in my own kitchen cabinets without climbing on the counters, BUT I can get pretty comfy in most any situation. My specialties are road trips and planes. I can fold up and go to sleep a lot easier than the 6 ft. tall dude sitting next to me.

Also, backseat passengers love me as I don't require a lot of leg room in the front seat. 

5.) What is the naughtiest thing you've ever done?

Scandalous! 

Probably nothing. I pretty much walk the straight and narrow on a regular basis. 

And I'm totally cool with that, by the way...even if you're judging me right now.

I got so drunk I threw up at my bachelorette party. Does that count? 

...It was the first and the last time I ever did that.

A couple girlfriends and I stole the portable heater in the girls bathroom and put it in our cabin at church camp one year. How about that?

Oooh, my mom and I drove around the round-about twice today. WITH a car waiting on us.

Provocative. I know.

6.) What is your favorite song and why?

Who can really pick a favorite song. A SONG. One. Singular. It's impossible. So I'm gonna list a few...cause I'm rebellious like that. Maybe that should've gone in my #5?

Ooh Child - The Five Stairsteps 

Don't ask me why. All I know is that my mom used to listen to the oldies radio station when I was a kid and I just loved this song. Still do. 

Jesus Paid it All - Kristian Stanfill 

Cause I love Jesus and I love to worship him. 

"Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead."

Tim McGraw - All We Ever Find

Cause Nate told me he listened to it every night before he went to bed while he was in Iraq. Cause the words were really real for those 15 months.

And then it was the last song we danced to at our wedding.

Justin Moore - Bait a Hook

Cause I have a bit of a superiority complex and I really feel like my husband is better than your husband. He can bait a hook, and skin a buck, and a bunch of other manly things.

Lauren's Q and A

1.) If you could be paid to do your hobby what would you do?

Write.

2.) Favorite Disney Princess?

That's tricky, cause I like Ariel cause she gets to swim around all day unda da sea, but I also like Belle's really pretty yellow ball gown, and Sleeping Beauty gets some killer naps I'm pretty jealous of.

3.) If you could have any superpower what would it be?

That's a loaded question if I ever heard one.

Maybe to be able to wish for any superpower at any point in time and have it be granted to me?

4.) What kind of car do you drive?

Hyundai Tucson. Just got it this summer!

5.) City or country?

Country...probably. I think. As long as there's a Target.

6.) What do you drink at Sonic?

A Route 44 Diet Coke with regular cherry flavor and easy ice please.

7.) What is your favorite clothing item?

Umm..?? Undies? You kind of have to have them right? Actually, I guess that can be open to interpretation for some people. Whoa TMI.

Can I change my answer?

8.) What is your favorite sport to watch?

Baseball. Basketball. Football. And Gymnastics.

And curling.

Just kidding. Curling's not a sport. Nobody watches curling.

I'm tagging Tyah, Kayla, and Ashley. 

All real-life friends and blog-life friends.

I always love a good two-fer.

Your questions are:

1.) How much do you love Carissa Townsend?

Just kidding. That's totally not your question. But I'm funny right?!

For reals: 

1.) What made you want to start blogging?

2.) If you had to go back and re-name your dog based on their personality, what would it be?

3.) Favorite TV show?

4.) If you were stuck on a deserted island for a bunch of years, a la Castaway, and you could bring three items, what would you bring? (I know, it's a oldie but a goodie)

5.) Most embarrassing moment?

6.) If Expedia offered you a trip, but you had to leave tomorrow (as advertised), would you do it? And where would you pick to go?  

13 Everyday Decisions I'm Really Bad at Making

1.) Wake up when my alarm goes off, or figure out what I can eliminate from my morning routine to sleep an extra 20 minutes?

2.) Is my hair too greasy to go another day without washing it?

3.) Clean my house on Saturday mornings, or catch up on pre-recorded episodes of 

Real Housewives of anywhere?

4.) Wash the tupperware with moldy leftovers from last week, or throw it all away and
buy new tupperware?

5.) Peruse Pinterest and be reminded of everything I don't have, don't cook, don't make, don't look like...or be content with my life?

6.) Vacuum, or just manually pick up the really big, really obvious clumps of dog hair on the floor?

7.) Should I tweet this?

8.) Should I Instagram this?

9.) Wash my dishes now, or later tonight? Or next week?

10.) Be productive at work, or refresh Google News every 15 minutes in hopes of
something interesting?

11.) Should I add a smiley face to this work email?

12.) Go to bed at a reasonable hour, or stay up all night blogging?

13.) Think of something to blog about on my own, or browse Buzzfeed until I find something I wish I would've written...and then write it.

Thanks Buzzfeed for this gem of a post.

Meet My Friend Mosby

Guess what's going down today?

A blog swap.

Oh yeah.

Can I get a hoo-ha two times Tuesday?!...hopefully you all remember that Dominos Commercial...

You can find me over at Mosby's blog today, at Simplicity is Key. Which also means that, per the definition of "swap" you will find Mosby here today! 

Mosby is one of my best bloggy friends, and just recently we took our blogging relationship 

to the next level.

...We exchanged phone numbers.

I know, cray right?!

Mosby is so wonderful I wanted you all to meet her...take it away girlfriend!

--------------------------------------------------------

Hello T is for Townsend readers and friends!! I am Mosby and I blog over at Simplicity is Key.  

I am so beyond thrilled to be taking over Carissa's blog! I have only done one other of these guest posts things, so I am pretty dang excited to be doing it again!

I pretty much love Carissa to pieces (we like text and everything) and I about peed my pants when she asked to trade blogs for the day! I mean me?! Mosby?!  I guess I am pretty awesome...JK!

I figured yall might need to get to know a little bit about me.  I mean isn't that why we all read blogs in the first place? So without further ado, I give all the things you could ever possibly need to know to be my friend!

1.  You have to say my name properly.  Because if you go around calling me Mos-by or Mooseby I may never talk to you again.  It is pronounce with a long O.  The same way as Mr. Mosby from the Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother.  

2.  My top Love Language is quality time.  This can be even over text message like me and Carissa here have done!  But the more time I spend with you, the more I feel loved.  And in return my Love Language to you is giving gifts.  So it's a win win if you ask me!

3. I am a nerd.  I love school.  Which is why I have always said I would be a forever student if I could afford it.  For now I am going to grad school for my Masters in Mental Health Counseling.  And there may be a doctorate plan in the near future...

4.  I am a sucker for sweets.  Mainly ice cream.  That is totally the way to my heart.  Froyo works too!  I seriously could eat ice cream all day everyday and never get tired of it!

5.  I go with flow.  I really am a simple person to please.  I'm not super picky, I can always find food to eat at any restaurant, and I am very flexible.  I make time for the people I love even if it isn't always the best time for me.

6.  I am a very loyal person.  When we become friends I will have your back no matter what through everything.  I hate losing friends and will do whatever it takes to keep them.  Case in point: these girls have been with me since day 1 of freshmen year!

7.  I love the beach and the sun.  The best day to me is laying out by the pool or at the beach with a cold drink and a good book in my hand.  It really doesn't ever get much better than that!

And because I love to end things on awkward numbers those are all the things you need to know to be my friend! I hope you will stop by the blog and learn more about me so that we can become friends!!

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And there it is ladies and gents. Go check out her blog, and love her as much as I do!

Happy Tuesday!

8 Ways You Know You're on a Hunt With Your Wife

This weekend was a good one.

Wanna know why?

Cause I went on my first ever deer hunt.

My first ever archery deer hunt...there's a two-fer if I ever heard one.

I didn't kill anything, though. ...which would've made the weekend even better.

But I think my mom is happy about it - that I didn't "kill Bambi."

Thanks mom. Thanks for wishing failure upon me.

Even though I didn't kill anything, I saw six bucks and 2 does (the plural of "doe,"...don't worry I googled it) between Saturday and Sunday, and as long as I see an animal or two, and know there out there somehwere, I can't even be mad about not killing one.

I'm still a newb at this hunting/archery thing, so I didn't have high expectations for myself.

I just enjoyed the weekend with my husband in the great outdoors.

...Speaking of my husband.

Like I said, this whole hunting thing is still pretty new for me. So, likewise, having me around on a hunt is new for Nate too. 

That said...

You know you're hunting with your wife when...  

-You have to hike slower.

A lot slower.

-The noise coming from the ground blind is louder and more frequent.

...I just can't sit still for three hours straight.

I just can't.

-It takes longer to describe where the deer are when you find 'em in your binoculars

"Where? I don't see them. Where did you say? I still don't see them." 

-You have to take pictures...often...cause your wife's a blogger.

...and if you don't, she will.

...picture taking is really hard when you're in a camp full of men.

Men just don't appreciate picture taking the way women do.

-It takes 3-4 alarms before you're up and ready to go in the morning

...5am is freakin' earlllly for a weekend

-You have to hear about how "cute" the "little" does are

-There's pink in your camo bin

-You have to keep using the Scent-Away cause your wife keeps putting on 

lip gloss and hand lotion - which naturally, smells much too human

And there you have it.

I asked Nate if he regretted taking me with him this weekend, and he said 

"No. I just know I need to change my tactics a little now."

Thanks for putting that softly.

'preciate it.

Some Serious Survival Skills

Has anyone seen the show, Naked and Afraid on the Discovery Channel?

I know, it's a little weird.

Two strangers have to survive for 21 days in crazy environments, with no food, water, etc., and of course...no clothes.

I'm usually all about a good survival show, butt (no pun intended) I can't understand why the TV networks want to add this element of naked-ness.

I've seen a few episodes, but I don't watch it religiously...so you can't judge me, K?

All the contestants are given a Personal Survival Rating at the beginning and end of the show based on their skill set and how they developed over the course of 21 days.

The fun part is you can go to the website and take a quiz and get your own Personal Survival Rating.

So because I'm awesome and I live a glamorous fast-paced life...I logged onto the Discovery Channel website and took the quiz.

...I won't blame you if you judge me now.

Here's my score:

3 out of 10.

THREE out of TEN.

Well, Discovery Channel, perhaps your quiz didn't enable me to put my full repertoire of survival skills on display, because believe me...they're there.

For example:

-I can braid hair.

I'm pretty sure that would come in handy when I need to make a roof for my shelter and like, braid leaves together or something.

-I was a cheerleader in high school.

So I can yell for help really loud.

...and there's a little #throwbackthursday for your Monday evening.

-I use proper grammar.

So when we need to write messages in the sand for help, they'll be spelled correctly, have the right punctuation and the correct form of "your."

Some people probably never made it off an island because their SOS message didn't make sense.

-I'm a really good snuggler.

So we'll totally be warm at night.  

Just ask Gunther...

-I'm also pretty good at Marco Polo.

So when we're in a survival situation with no cell phones and I can't call you to find out where you are should you decide to wander too far from the shelter, I'm almost positive I could track 

you down anyway.

-Animals love me.

I'm sure I could get a wild hyena to warm up to me.

-I've watched a crap-ton of hunting shows on TV, so I totally know how to track an animal and 

kill it for dinner.

You just have to like, be quiet and stuff. And aim well too.

Easy peasy.

You can't tell me all these survival skills only warrants a 3 out of 10 survival rating.

I'm the next Bear Grylls. 

I just know it.

I Wrote a Post About Absolutely Nothing

Since I have nothing terribly exciting to write about from this weekend, this post is going to be a 

mish-mash of items. 

That, and plus, I've had 2 glasses of wine already and I'm having a hard time keeping one train of thought.

Has anyone heard Randy Houser's, "Absolutely Nothing?" If not, I've provided it for you below for your convenience... 

...that's what I say in my work emails, "I've attached the flowchart here for your convenience. Please review and return to me by close of business day [insert date here]."

Not that that's improtant or anything... 

It's a fun little number, no?

That said, this is a song a post about absolutely nothing.

Has anyone ever made dumplings? Or potstickers? I can't decide if they're one in the same, cause every time I ask I get a different answer. But either way, I learned how to make them this weekend.

I can't guarantee they were pretty, but nonetheless, I made them. And ate them. And they tasted delish.

My coworkers and I all got together this weekend for one big dumpling party. Three of our interns this summer are from China, so they gave us the run-down and taught us how to make them.

I in particular, was pretty pumped since I've been eating a whole bag of frozen potstickers in one 

sitting these days. 

I love them.

And I love my coworkers. 

And we had fun eating, and drinking, and teaching the Chinese girls what it means if I tell you you're "the bomb.com."

Cause they are, the bomb.com. 

Yaping!

Wenhui, me, and Megan. 

        

I would've taken more pictures, but I had flour on my hands all night and I was busy 

making dumplings.

And eating dumplings.

I just had to ask Nate how to spell "flour"...like, the baking flour. Cause I totally typed "flower" originally. 

Too much wine.

Who else can't stop listening to this song?

Who else is reminded of their Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper from elementary school, by this 

album artwork?

Me.

That's who.

This song has been on repeat all weekend.

Yes, I'm that person that listens to songs on repeat.

#sorrynotsorry

Moreover, word on the street is she (Katy Perry) has a cat name "Kitty Purry."

I like you even more when you have a good sense of humor.

I thought I had more to add to this post, but I feel like I'm all out.

Soooooo hope everyone had a good weekend!

Happy Monday!