Lifestyles of the Audacious: f.r.i.e.n.d.s.

TaKiNG CeNTeR STaGe

10:42 PM

i DaNCe FoR Me... If you don't like it, get off my stage If you like it, take a number and you'll get your turn. Dancing is t...

10:42 PM

i DaNCe FoR Me...

If you don't like it, get off my stage

If you like it, take a number and you'll get your turn.

Dancing is the one thing I know how to do when my world falls apart, whether I be in my underwear dancing along with my bathroom radio, or dressed to impress on a public dance floor.

When I'm dancing, I'm right where I belong. And I also have no cares in the world. I sometimes let myself forget how important it is to me. And sometimes I forget that when I'm down, dancing will always cure the gross, disgusting, not so great days!

So to all the others in this world that can't imagine why God would ever create legs unless it were to dance through life, this one's for you.

And here's to doing more than just taking steps in life.

Because I will forever moon walk, glide, chassé, pas de basque, piroutté, cha-cha and yes.. the good old grapevine through life.

Jess, remember this night? haha Sooo long ago!

A new blog and a new me...

4:21 PM

Why, hello there!! Can you believe it's already September? I sure can't. Due to this beautiful summer winding down and this oh so...

4:21 PM

Why, hello there!! Can you believe it's already September? I sure can't. Due to this beautiful summer winding down and this oh so exciting fall approaching, I figured I would change my blog up a little. I hope you like it! Iit's been quite some time since I have updated my readers on what's been going on in my world, so I am going to try to sum it up. I promise, I will try not to make this post a novel like I've been known to do in the past!!

My Bucket List

As some of you know, I went sky diving a little over a month ago. I tried posting a couple of the short viedeos but they didn't seem to want to work, so here are a few pictures. I went with a friend from work, Courtney. We both did a lot better than we thought we would! No problems with my "bum ticker" that day!

Notice two things: 1. My nervous face as I put my harness on, and two: my North Carolina TARHEELS shirt (incase I died that day, I wanted to die in my shirt) Chris (my partner in crime who was helping me with my harness) notified me that he had plans later that day, so dying would not be happening.

Right before putting our harnesses on!

Do we look like pro's or what?

It's a little hard to read, but the reddish/orange things say DANGER (our middle names that day)

It was overall a fantastic day!! I'm so happy I had nothing planned for later that evening though, becuase as soon as I got home, I slept for about 5 hours. That wind really knocks the energy right out of you. But it takes a while to notice it because your adrenaline is pumping for a good hour and a half after the dive!

Remember that hotdog expedition I was trying out? 30 ways to top a hot dog? Well 30 ended up being only two. My stomach is not the biggest fan of hotdogs (or lips and assholes as my best friend schmee calls them). The first one was fantastic. The second one however, did not sit well. So no more hotdogs for me.

I have also added a new item to my bucket list... An African Safari! Doesn't that sound like so much fun? I did some research on it a couple of days ago. I think it will be one of my favorite "traveling" items on the list. I love animals, and I think it would be the most fascinating thing in the world to get to see all the animals in their own habitat, instead of a zoo!

Letting go and free falling

Well it certainly took some time, but I am finally feeling like myself again. Chris and I tried to be friends but as we all know, it can be so hard to be friends when the love factor still exists. But sometimes letting go is also just as difficult because one or both of you are afraid of leaving a comfortable pattern, or just the comfort in knowing that someone will always be there to fall back on if you are feeling alone and insecure. I am a frequent flyer when it comes to sticking to what's comfortable and what's "safe". But I recently took a leap of faith. I finally let go of the past and allowed myself to free fall into the world of unknown. It might be a lonely world for a little bit, but I can't even begin to explain how uplifting it has been. There is still doubt and fear but atleast now I am not holding him back. And even better, I'm not holding myself back. I had to really take a step back and realize for myself that I am WAAAAYY too young to be worried about falling in love. It will happen when my heart is ready for it. And there is no reason to settle. (Not that Chris isn't a great guy, he's just not the right guy for me)

Plus, I've been having such a great time making new friends and going on some pretty fun dates.

One night, I went to dinner and had drinks with some of Marcus' dental school friends. Then we proceeded to get into a fountain and take pictures. So random but a very fun night!

It's hard to read but this is me kicking some butt in a friendly game of bowling. It was the only game I won out of three, so I took a picture so my dad would believe me!

Family & Friends

Here are a few pics of some other fun things I've been up to. And I promise this is the last of my post =)

My mom and I at the breast cancer awareness run!

My sister and cousin at dinner! yummm

The most handsome lil man ever taking a nap on my (just cleaned) towels

I got to watch Lil Bug while the Jagoda's were on a family vacation. Lilly loved my pajama bottoms and of course her dino!

My favorite new apron!!! love it to pieces. Anthropology= awesome!

I had the girls over for dinner. We made some good italian food

libby= priceless faces

Joey caught in action!!

My family on Father's Day!

Thursday Night concert series in Park Place!!

Neilz.. Love you!! Miss you too! so come back already =)

Sushi time =)

Evan teaching Chris a thing or two!

One big happy family =)

Dinner with the girls on the plaza

A couple of my favorites!

Me and the most beautiful dancer in the world!

Libby and Patrick. SO happy that he finally picked up and moved from Colombia!! Welcome to Kansas City!!

Michael and Jess in a somewhat strange but possibly serious conversation

Summer Country Series concert with my parents at P&L

Cooking up some dinner for the fam =)

Othello keeping a close eye on me. Such a good watch-cat!

I got tired of loading photos so there will have to be a part two coming soon (or maybe a month from now). Just kidding =)

Hope you all have a happy Labor Day Weekend!!

Thanks for reading,

SPaRKLiNG GLiTTeR WaY uP HiGH, FiReWoRKS LiGHT uP THe SKY!

12:59 AM

Happy Fourth of July, Everyone!! (even though I'm about an hour late) I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! I Started off m...

12:59 AM

Happy Fourth of July, Everyone!!

(even though I'm about an hour late)

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!

I Started off my weekend a little early. Chanell had been planning to move on July 2nd to Atlanta, where she will be attending PA school (SO proud of you for getting in). And as happy as I am for her and her wonderful adventures she is about to experience, I am very sad that she is gone. She has been my shoulder, my rock, my words of wisdom and my favorite dance buddy for a little while now. To congratulate with her and to have one last hoorah before she left me, we went to what became our favorite place to go together; The Boom Boom Room at the Dirty B-Sider, formerly known as Brooksider. I had a wonderful time getting to see her once more before she left me! We had fun and danced quite a bit before saying our goodbyes! I only got one picture of us that night =(

I cried when she left, and I felt like such a baby. It made me smile when she texted me the next day to tell me she cried on the way home that night, too! (I always knew there was a reason I liked her)

The next day I headed off to Dallas! I bought the tickets a while back. Knowing that I would not be apart of the Jagoda July Festivities anymore made me a little upset so I made sure that I spent the holiday in my second hometown. Sometimes, all you need is your best friend to help you cope with things like that. And she did a wonderful job. (PROUD-UH-YOUUU Schmee haha)

Friday night was a nice relaxing night. Never a dull moment in the Burkart home. Schmee and I are still curious as to why there hasn't been a reality tv show offer to record our lives when we're together. We would help make thousands of viewers laugh at some of the crazy things we do together. Something as simple as going to the store to get some bottles of wine gives people (or the store security guards) the need to know what's going on down isle 12. But don't worry Mr. Officer, it was only the backwards moonwalk (which happens to face forward)

Saturday was highly eventful as well. After some much needed pool time with Schmee, I headed to the Rangers stadium to watch a little baseball. I went with Jeff (Our good friend who is ALSO from Kansas) We met him two years ago today, actually, and a couple of his friends. We had a wonderful time. We sat behind home plate and to the left a smidge, second row. It was awesome. I loved it! I am such a sports fanatic. I don't always like to watch certain sports on television, but get me out to the actual game and I'm in heaven. It's such a fun atmosphere! Here are some pics at the game.

That's Brian, Heather, Moi and Jeff. Great people, had a lot of fun with them!

That's Bonfacio from the Marlins. Loved his name, and I helped him out with a pocket issue, so even though I was supposed to be cheering on the Rangers, number 1 and I became good friends =)

Pretty close, huh? Loved it!

After the LONGEST game ever, we decided to head up to this incredibly country, hick town bar called Red River. Pretty fun!! For once, someone actually had to show me how to do a dance. Jeff taught me the two step that night.

It's all smokey in there from something (Not cigarettes, though)

There's a reason why I don't wear stripes! Anyway, that's my partner in crime on the "river" dance floor

The four of us

Sunday and Monday were pretty much spend at the Feherty Household. I have been to their home plenty of times while Schmee would dog sit, but it was nice to actually get to meet the Feherty's. As I've probably mentioned before, David Feherty is the Irish golf commentator. Very nice, down to earth man! His wife, Anita, is WONDERFUL! She is a fantastic woman! Their daughter, Erin is something else! I can't get over how beautiful she is, and so mature for a thirteen year old! The best part about her is her personality. It is the same kind of humor that Schmee and I have, so the three of us become little kids when we're together! I am so happy that I got to meet the Feherty's because they have become such a big part of Katy's world. And anyone who is important to Katy is important to me. And I can totally see why she love's them so much! Here are a few pics..

Katy and Erin (They look like they could be sisters)

This is Lola... Lola decided to take my lawn chair and catch some rays.

Katy, Erin and I eating Mrs. Feherty's DELICIOUS lunch on their screened in porch

July 4th = Willie's "Birfday" Happy 14!!

Erin and her friend Savannah sporting their bday hats!

Lola think's that Leighton is her baby! She get's very protective of her!

Ziggy; My favorite of the Feherty pups!

Ziggy giving me a BIG smacker! I always HATED dog kisses. Even when Lily tried to give me some I'd usually back away a little bit. Having Jackson for a month kinda changed that for me. Now I LOVE puppy kisses, even though it still looks gross!

That tongue is ginormous!

One of my favorite things about getting to go to Dallas was seeing my sweet little mini schmee (Leighton) I was able to go see her for her one month bday, and coinsidentily I also got to be there for her two month bday as well.

Sleeping in her little baby bjourn (or however you spell it!)

Why does she have to be so gosh darn precious? I'm so sad that I can't be there ALL THE TIME to see her =(

OMG heaven! I literally walked around and rocked her in my arms for about 45 minutes, she slept so well. I learned two things: I'm better with babies than I give myself credit for and my arms are definetly not prepared for motherhood yet! I think my arms were numb for most of the afternoon! haha

So yea, overall a delightful independence weekend.

Can't wait to go back and see my second home/second family again. Miss you guys already!