First, let's just get it out of the way: Anne Hathaway is amazing and deserves an Oscar for stealing an entire movie during which her character died 1/3 of the way into the film. Many nods of respect have been sent her way from my corner of the peanut gallery. Also, singing while you're crying? Mad props. So freaking hard.

This is Cupcake. She is my dog  (squeeeeee!!!). Look at that punam. And the tiara... So cute.

This is me. To find out why I am so fracking classy, read on. I came home last night to a note stuck in my door. It read as follows (CAPS and other grammatical errors unaltered): "Your UNSUPERVISED DOG has been barking All Night If this continues I am going to report this to YOUR LANDLORD and the HOMEOWNERS ASSOC. TAKE CARE of this problem immediately. If you cannot care for a DOG correctly get RID OF IT." 

Remember when I went to Italy ? It was an amazing experience, and I plan to go there again later on in life (you all should too!). Being that I'm too poor to do that for right now, I am going to create a framed wall collage out of 10 pictures I took while over there. This is where you come in. I have created an online photo album on Picasa containing a total of 19 pictures, and I need your help to narrow down some of my options. What I need is this: Which 10 pictures do you like the best (there are 19 total to choose from)? Which one would be best for a focal piece? Which has no business being in this collage at all? Any and all comments are more than welcome! I'm pretty proud of the work I created, and I really hope you like it. Once I get it all squared away, I'll post photos of the finished product. Thanks in advance for your input! I can't wait to see what you all say! :)

This one is going to be short and sweet (I don't think that has ever happened before here at 50 Weeks...), so you can all heave a collective sigh of verbose-less relief. I've had some people asking me for a little while now what I think about the Chick Fil-A debacle that occurred earlier last month, but it took me the better part of July to process the information and decide where it is that I stand. Even now, I'm not all that sure. I understand and empathize with both sides. Side A: I have a belief system that I stand by and am unafraid to speak my beliefs due to the fact that, as an American, I am free to express said beliefs. Side B: My lifestyle choice may not fit with your belief system, but that is no reason to publicly denounce my way of life simply because you do not agree with it. Those are gross generalizations, of course, but I feel that both statements get to the root of the tension here. Like I said, I get both view points, but I find mysel

Ok. Get ready, 'cause I'm gonna take y'all to church . This particular story has been in the media spectrum of women's health and fashion for around a month now, and I only caught wind of it today because I have been so busy at work, moving, and adopting a dog (posts to come later!!). I will not be referencing the main website's name or link to it here simply because I have no desire to give it more traffic. If your curiosity simply must be assuaged, use your GoogleFu skills. For those of you who are completely removed from the idea of "thinspiration" / "thinspo" forums or pro-ana and pro-mia websites, let me give you a quick rundown.

I just read an article in a magazine that truly stunned me, and we all know what I like to do when something makes me turn my head to the side and say, "hmm..." To the blogosphere I go! So here I am, readers! I'm going to pick your brains on this one, and perhaps you'll be able to shed some light on what appears to me to be sheer lunacy. Maybe I'm wrong, and you can change my opinion. I doubt that'll happen, though. I have the sneaking suspicion that you'll be right there with me in my confusion.

What things are turquoise? Make a list. Stefers the Great Factoid: Turquoise is my absolute favorite color. Hands-down. I don't know what it is; there's something so calming, yet so vivid about it. It's almost like it has some sort of secret, like it's saying, "The blue part of me implies demureness and quietness, but the green part suggests fervor and vivacity." Love it. 1,2,3, GO!

They were told that the only way to make it safely through the forest to the city was to stay off the path. So they entered the forest where it was thickest... Keep writing. Ooh! I like this one already! Let's get started, shall we? 1,2,3, GO!

Nearly a year ago (holy crap, was that really a year ago??), I posted about how the Traffic Warrant Division of Davidson County was trying to gobble up my savings like the money-grubbing jerks that they are . I sent a strongly worded letter requesting that they lift the charges that they were levying against me, and that was that. I didn't hear anything after that. Until... Earlier this year, I received an angry phone call from my mother, informing me that a police officer showed up at my parents' door with a warrant. A warrant , folks.

HAH! Prepare for my return, folks! It's going to be one hell of a ride! Peace. Stef.

I'm 25 years old. I've got all the time in the world to grow up, to be an adult, to be responsible and clean my bathroom like I should. I've got all the time in the world to meet my future husband, buy a house, and have 2.5 kids and a dog. I've got all the time in the world to move up the corporate ladder and bring in the big bucks. I've got a load of time, right? If that's true, then why did I nearly pass out from panic when a friend mentioned to me (in no way meaning to upset me) that I would be 30 in 5 years? Seriously, guys. I about lost my shit.