Wow, Did I Really Voluntarily Sign Up For This?!?

Ever since I was in high school I have said that I wanted to go skydiving. Each year my birthday came and went, and I did not go. So, this year I thought I am just going to sign up, I'm going to do it! I think part of me knew that once I have kids (still way down the road) I would chicken out. So I talked to all of my family, and I had two takers to make the jump with me.

My cousin Logan (on my mom's side) was just about to graduate high school.

And my cousin Joya (on my dad's side) had just celebrated her birthday.

So in the name of our celebrations, we signed up. Once you sign up, that's in, you're doing it, because they get you to pay when you sign up. We went to SkyDive Carolina in Chester because we had heard great things about it. Everyone was right, they were so great. When we got there we laid out a picnic blanket and set up some chairs under some nice shade trees, and just had a good time hanging out with all of the family members.

Then, Joya, Logan, and I went for our training. I imagined we would have at least an hour of training, but no, we watched about a 10 minute video, and then Peanut (our instructor) said "Any Questions?" Ha! But, since we were skydiving tandem (someone was on our back who knew what they were doing) I figured we would be ok. Two things I was interested to learn was that on a clear day, right before you jump, you are so high that you can see the curvature of the Earth! (There were too many clouds the day we jumped to see this-I think-it all went really fast, but more on that in a minute.) And also that there are two parachutes packed in the backpack and even if neither are pulled at 2,000 feet, a computer in the backpack automatically releases one. So overall, I was feeling pretty safe, and was not nearly as nervous as I thought I would be.

After the training we went back to our picnic for a little while, and then our names were called out over the loud speaker. From this point until we were back on the ground was only about 25 minutes, it all went so fast! We went and put on the jumpsuits. Met our tandem person, they had told us you will never get closer to a stranger, which is true! And then we all three met our videographers/photographer. We all got the dvd/photo package, which I am so grateful for! Then, next thing I knew we were getting in the plane.

This is me getting into the plane. We went in a pretty small plane, it was just the three of us, our three tandem flyers, our three videographers, and then two solo jumpers. The solo jumpers went first, but I was the first of us to jump, so I was right beside the open door the whole way up. At about 7,000 feet my tandem flyer started hooking me to him, and then at 14,000 feet, we were ready to jump!

Me jumping. The person taking the video and pictures actually jumps before you and hangs on to the plane while you jump, I know, crazy right?! Obviously, my training had not stuck, my form is less than professional, ha!

My favorite part of the free-fall was at the very beginning when we flipped upside down and were going all over the place.

This is me during my free-fall, which lasted about 50 seconds. A few seconds after you jump, a small blip is let out (that's what that rope coming up is-not our parachute) that slows you to 120 mph, so you are still free falling, you just don't flip upside down anymore.

Flying high at 120 mph!

When the three of us were walking back towards our family (all lined up on the other side of a fence) we were cracking up because we felt like we were in the movie Armageddon and we had just saved the World or something, ha!

It was great to have family there to watch us, and get to experience this with us!

My mom was taking the group picture, so here is one of us.

Will was much more relaxed after the jump! Beforehand, he was just pacing around looking worried. But afterwards he even said that he thought he might do it in the future. It was such a great adventure, and so much fun. I am so glad that I did it!

Shower Time!

Will and I are in the full swing of wedding season, and a couple of weekends ago we had the huge honor of hosting a shower for Erin and Hunter. We hosted it along with Hunter's sister and her husband. We had a great time playing outside for the day with some good food and corn hole.

The precious couple!

We all had a lot of fun playing a game and then watching them open their gifts!

All the girls at the shower.

We had some yummy cupcakes to eat after we opened gifts!

It was such a fun Saturday to be able to spend with friends and celebrate Erin and Hunter's upcoming wedding! We are getting so excited for October 8th!

Exam Insomnia

So before I write this post, I just want to say that I realize how lucky I am to be able to attend law school and work towards my dream of becoming an attorney. Yes, I am stressed, but I am not dying, and it will all be worth it in the end (unless I fail, haha). With that being said...

There is something that I like to call "exam insomnia." I know that I am not the only one that experiences this, and maybe y'all have this or have had this at some point in life. I never experienced it until law school, and traditionally have been someone who could fall asleep anywhere, sleep for twelve hours straight if I got the chance, and sleep through a tornado. But, ahhh, last night I realized that exam insomnia is back for yet another round of its torture.

I will study all day until I feel that my eyes have gone crossed, and that is when I decide to go to bed. Usually, I am so tired that I can barely speak in full sentences. And finally, I am able to crawl in the bed....and then nothing happens; I just lay there. My brain refuses to shut down. It methodically goes over my outlines in my head and pictures my notecards. Periodically looking at the clock and re-evaluating how much sleep I could get if I feel asleep at that moment only makes it worse. Then, after some sheep counting or something of that nature, I finally fall asleep-but only to a sleep filled with exam questions and essay answers. So here is to powering through two weeks of sleepless nights. I guess it isn't completely terrible, maybe I am absorbing the material better by dreaming about it too, ha.

So, to get me through my weariness, I will share a few of my favorite things that help me through exams. No, it is absolutely not things like hard work, planning ahead, and confidence; although these things help me to achieve the results I want, they do not keep me from turning into a zombie. Will provides most of these, as he is the most amazing husband-and is actually the only reason I have a chance of making it to May 5th. Don't worry, I will be throwing him a party when I graduate.

I love sharpie pens. They help keep me organized, and I love the way they write. I keep several extra packages on backup, just in case.

Hershey's Cookies & Cream candy bars are the fabulous sweet snack I need. I love to keep them in the refrigerator before I eat them.

Hallelujah! That is pretty much all I have to say about my Grande White Mocha Skinny Latte. (But at $4.70 a piece, I can't say it nearly enough.)

My outlines are pretty intense, with a good bit of color coding going on, and can be kind of lengthy. So, during exams, I usually go through 2 cartridges of each, black ink and color ink. But, I'm so glad I have my own printer, because I would hate to just see all my painstaking color coding go to waste on the school's black and white printer.

I just love nerd ropes because they are fun to eat. Also, are you seeing the trend in things that get me through exams, don't judge if I have gained a few pounds at the end!

Don't worry, law school is not all bad, and I really do love it. But, if you see me over the next two weeks, please do not hold me responsible for my appearance, and I will be rejoining the human race soon.

Fabulous Wedding Weekend

Two weekends ago, one of Will's best friends got married. Jeremy and Brittany are good friends of ours, and we were so happy to be a part of their amazing weekend. Everything was absolutely beautiful and the bride look gorgeous (I didn't get any good pictures of the bride and groom Saturday night, sorry!)

We got into Lexington for the rehearsal Friday night. (Sidenote: It was a little strange, being at Mt. Horeb for the rehearsal since that is where we got married as well, and I cannot believe it has been almost two years since Will and I were standing there!!!)

Here are the groomsmen from Lexington (minus Zac). Jamie, Jacob, and Will all played soccer together growing up and have been friends forever. Will Wantland also grew up with us and lived with Will and Jeremy in Clemson-it has been great having him live in Charleston now because we get to see him a good bit.

Me and Will at the rehearsal. Brittany asked me to be the "stand-in-bride" which was such an honor. If you are not from the south or not sure of what this is, there is an old superstition that the actual bride should not walk down the aisle or stand at the alter when the vows are being gone through until the actual wedding.

Here is the beautiful couple at the rehearsal. On the second run through, Brittany stepped in at the end so that she would know when to kneel and all. Let's face it brides, we're not paying attention at this point anyway-I mean I completely kneeled at the wrong time in our wedding and threw the whole program off, ha!

Me, Alicia, and Lindsay at the Rehearsal Dinner. The dinner was at a private dinner club downtown Columbia, and it was so nice! They had a great slideshow of the couple, and wonderful toasts!

Me and Will in the church after the ceremony. The ceremony was so special and beautiful. It was obvious that Brittany and Jeremy are so in love and they were so ready and excited to commit their lives to each other. The reception was in Columbia, so they had a bus to take all of the wedding party and their dates to the reception. It was so nice, and worry free!

It is always fun to go to Lexington weddings because you get to see so many people that you haven't seen in a while. This is my friend from high school Caroline. We actually lived part of a summer together in Clemson as well. Caroline is such a sweet person, and I wish I could see her smiling face more!

Yes, Will and Sara Beth are posing in front of the carriage (don't worry, no one else had come outside yet). It was great getting to see SB, and that beautiful engagement ring she is sporting these days!

I know most people say they love weddings, and I am no exception! But, I will say that since I have gotten married, weddings have taken on a whole new meaning for me. Each time as the couple says their vows, and they are joined together, it makes me remember the vows that I promised to Will. I am reminded of how I need to live up to those promises everyday, and how sacred and special our marriage is. I hope as we get older, we will always be excited to go to weddings, not only to celebrate with the couple, but also to remember our own commitment to each other.

What is your favorite part about going to weddings?

My Favorite Day

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I have been MIA for the last two weeks, they have been a little crazy. We got moved into our townhouse, but I completely underestimated how long it would take to get everything unpacked and set up. The massive job absolutely hijacked my spring break, as well as every moment Will was home from work last week!

Obviously I did not get all the school work done last week that I needed to. I am now down to six weeks until exams, and so comes the outlines, color coding, bad moods, hysterical laughing (because otherwise I would cry), stacks of note cards, ENDLESS hours in the library, people going psycho from their own endless hours in the library, and more caffeine than any one person some consume in a year. Needless to say, I am sure those most around me are just as excited for this to start all over again as I am. I am telling you all this to know that if you notice my blog a little bare until May, do not worry, I am still alive and will return more frequently in May.

Well, as you may have figured from the title, today, March 14, is my favorite day!

March 14 is known as "pi" day. For all of you who are not absolute nerds, this is because the mathematical term pi is equal to 3.1415.... Therefore, March 14 is pi day because it is 3/14. I cannot wait until 2015 when it is 3/14/15, that is going to be one heck of a party!

March 14 is also Albert Einstein's birthday. I love Albert Einstein. Not just because of his mathematical and scientific contributions, but also for his writings. I love reading books of his ideas and opinions, it gives you the slightest glimpse into what it must have been like to be inside his head. One of my favorite stories was that when Einstein died, they studied his brain. The scientists assumed they would find enlarged sections of activity or abnormalities in the logical and analytical sections of his brain. However, there was only one part of his brain that was abnormally large, and it was the portion that controlled passion-he loved what he did. With pi day and Einstein's birthday on the same day, I always convinced our physics professors in college to have a pi day party, complete with pi treats and games, ha, I know I am a loser, don't worry about telling me!

As both of these things are fabulous, I have not even told you why March 14th is my favorite day. It is Will's birthday! If nothing else had, this shows me that we were meant to be! Will is turning 24 today! He has to go to a meeting in Richland tonight, and spend his birthday at a Lizard's Thicket with farmers, ha! So we did a big meal, cake, and opened presents, just the two of us last night. We went to breakfast this morning together, which we decided we need to do a lot more often! We are also hoping to have some of our friends down here in Charleston over Friday night to celebrate and see the new place while grilling out.

I am enjoying my favorite day, but still wishing I was spending the whole day with William. I hope everyone else is having a great March 14th!

Valentines & Awesome 25% Off Deal

Hello Lovely Blog Readers,

I have a few things to catch up on. As much as I am loving this spring weather, it knocked me out last week with a horrible sinus infection, so I am just now getting back to the blog. Will and I had a wonderful Valentine's celebration. We went to Riverbanks Zoo on Saturday night. If you know Will, you know he is obsessed with all things zoo related. I saw that they had a Valentine's package there and jumped on it.

We got to the zoo at 6:00 and it was only other couples. Everyone got a cocktail and a few employees were walking around with small animals that you could hear about and pet. Then we were split up into small groups where we toured the zoo and learned all about the different mating rituals of animals. The koala bears were the best because they are nocturnal, so I had never seen them out before.

It is hard to see in the picture, but there is a baby koala bear with the mom. He was so cute.

There were games to play along the way. One game was after we learned about the frogs. The tour guide choose about 5 couples (we were chosen) and we had to come up with a frog call that our significant other would recognize. Then we were all blindfolded and had to find each other with our frog calls. It was pretty hilarious. I know all this might sound dorky, but it really was so much fun and great to do something different than just a normal date.

After the tour we had a beautiful dinner. Overall, it was a blast, and I would definitely recommend it.

On another note, it is time for a really amazing Mary Kay 25% off. For the next two weeks I am offering 25% off all Mary Kay compacts and any items to go in them. If you know about our compacts, you know what an amazing deal this is and are probably as excited as I am.

Our compacts come in two sizes...

Mary Kay Compact
Only $13.50! ($14.76 w/ tax)

Mary Kay Compact Pro
Only $26.25! ($28.70 w/ tax)


These compacts are phenomenal. They have magnets in them that hold your makeup, eyeshadows, blushes, or bronzers in place, but when you want to trade them out it is as simple as the push of a button. They also hold your lipgloss or lipstick. People love to have the small compact to keep in their purse, while having the big one at home. These compacts are very durable, but if yours ever does drop and something in it, or the compact itself, cracks I will replace it all at no charge! Also, visit my website to see all the shades of everything that you can put in your compact since it is 25% off as well! This makes it pretty much a sale on almost all MK cosmetics!!!

If you would like to book a personal facial appointment or a facial party, (skin care and cosmetic makeover for 4-10 friends where, as hostess, you also receive $75 of product for $35) you will get this week's product free!

As always, if you would like to purchase the item there are a few easy ways...

• Go to my personal website: www.marykay.com/jordanfaulkner. On here you can pay using your debit card (I will take the discount when I actually run your card), or pay in cash or check when I deliver your product;
• Call me to place your order, 843-277-2001 (home) or 803-917-4644 (cell);
  
• Email me: JordanLFaulkner@gmail.com;
  
• Or, just leave a comment below this post, how easy is that!

This product will be 25% off until the item of the week in two weeks is posted! Hope you enjoy!

Summerville, Here We Come!

Since Will found out that he was going to be staying in St. Matthews for work we knew that we wanted to at least consider moving for the last year or so that we would be down here for me to finish school. We love our apartment, but we also knew that we would love a little more space and LOVE a fenced in backyard for Grady.

We wanted to look for a place to rent in Summerville since it would put Will two more exits closer to work and we do pretty much everything up there anyway. Well, we were pretty discouraged at first. Everything in Summerville that was close to the interstate was way out of our budget and we didn't think we would be able to move. Then we found a townhouse for rent just about two miles off the interstate but since it was on the other side of the interstate from all the shopping it was in our price range.

It is a fairly new townhouse with two bedrooms and 2 and 1/2 baths. Both bedrooms and full baths are upstairs and are both set up as potential master bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and walk-in closets. Then, downstairs there is a garage (yeah!), kitchen, eat-in area, and den. There is also a little screened porch and pretty nice sized backyard (best part)! It is an end unit, which is nice especially since the fence comes off to the side so there is a bigger yard.

We move in March 1st and we are getting so excited! Here are a few pictures...

This is our unit. I forgot to take a picture of the outside, but I got this one from the posting ad. It must be from when it was first built because now the fence comes out to the side.

This is when you walk in the front door once you get through the entryway which has a coat closet. In this picture the door to the left is the 1/2 bath, the door to the right is the garage, the eat-in cove is further up to the left with the kitchen across from that and then you get to the den.

This is the kitchen. It has an awesome pantry and a great work triangle. Alyssa and I love to talk about our work triangles like we are fabulous chefs, ha!

This is a picture from the back of the den.

We are looking forward to having you all over and can't wait to get in our new townhouse!