The Game on Monday Night: How the Bachelor is a lot Like Watching Football

Being new in Huntington Beach, I was in no position to decline an invitation to a Bachelor viewing party. Not to mention it is hosted at my house by my awesome new room mate. We had a total of five of us watching this show.

Imagine this: a beautiful dinner of pasta and salad followed by a couple hours of Bachelor entertainment. And, like football, everybody has a favorite and thinks she will win the Bachelor's heart. When something crazy happens, we all yell at the TV. It is such a beautiful thing. We can also tell when somebody really screws up, like an emotional fumble. I think that Bachelor viewing parties have perfected the art of trash television viewing.

Plus, just like football we have snacks! And what better snacks than cookies and ice cream!? (None, the answer is none).

I also have recently been introduced to the art of Twitter during the show. When something really stresses you out or makes you laugh, you tweet about it! My top two favorite Tweets that I came up with: I can't wait to see what happens during next weeks game!

Katelyn Phenicie ‏@Phantacie5  13h13 hours ago

Don't spit out delicious food and say that you love hot dogs. Jubilee, you are so gross #TheBachelor #nomanners

Katelyn Phenicie ‏@Phantacie5  14h14 hours ago

Every lady on the bachelor has a profession like event planner, teacher, news anchor, unemployed,&,my personal favorite, twin #TheBachelor

I can't wait to see what happens during next weeks game! If you have anything to add please feel free to do so below!!

Also, if you have time this video is so funny and gives every guy a reason to watch The Bachelor:
https://youtu.be/ahPAaKnKHNU

Going Out on a Limb

I just packed up everything that would fit in my car and I moved over 1,000 miles away from home. I can't help but feel scared. I am honest to myself about my fears and the worst that could happen isn't really that bad, but it doesn't stop me from feeling scared. I can't believe I am doing this.

Do you remember being a kid and trying to run away from home? I tried to do it a few times, however by the time my teddy bear and I got to the corner, we were afraid and lonely and felt like nobody else in the world would love us, so we went back home. I couldn't even walk as far as the park, which I walked to almost everyday. It was incredibly scary.

I'm not that little girl anymore and I am not running away from anything. However, it is still scary thinking about being all alone in this huge world. I know I have family and friends that will always love me. I know that I will make more friends, but in the mean time I am nervous about standing out on the limb of a tree. I am reaching for the fruit, which can only be reached on the limb, however I can feel that the sturdy base of the tree is missing.

I think back to what life was before my adventures ever started. I remember how I felt and I remember what I did from day to day. I don't want to go back there. There is no going back. I may return one day to Colorado, but that life is forever gone to me. The thought keeps me going. Colorado was the strong tree base. Although steady and sturdy, it produces no fruit for me.

Here is to the risk-taker inside of me, and inside of all of us!

Road Trip Ready: The Things You Don't Think Of

I am setting out on a trip across the country and here are a few things that you need to think about before you go:

1. Take your car in well before your trip. I left Saturday and took my car in the Tuesday before. Luckily it was ready, but now I know that I need to get it fully inspected about 1 month before. This allows for parts to come in for things that you need fixed. Also, if your car has issues immediately after you take it in, you have time to work those issues out.
2. Make sure that your car insurance includes towing. You can get roadside assistance added on for less than $10 more a month. And for the short trip, it is worth the peace of mind. Do this the day before your trip because a lot of time policies do not kick in the same day.
3. If you are taking a lot of things/expensive items with you, then, while you are on the phone with your insurance company, ask about getting those items covered as well. I found that I could get coverage for my items under renters insurance for about $7/month. You may already be covered under renters insurance!
4. Think of all of your long distance relatives and give them a notice that you will be in town. This will allow you to see the precious ones in your life and since you are family, you might get a place to rest your head for a night. Also, you may want to bring a thoughtful gift for them, like wine and thank you cards.
5. Tell everyone the route you will take so that they can suggest awesome places for you to visit on the way, or better scenic routes to take.
6. Download all of your songs that you want to rock out to! In addition, if you have Spotify like I do, you can download comedy skits (Robin Williams is on there!), books (The Great Gatsby is also on there), and even languages to learn (I started Italian so maybe I can brush up).
7. Get a car charger for your phone if you don't have one.
8. Have people you check in with every so often so that they know you are okay.

Anything else you can think of to get road trip ready? Leave a comment below!

8 Reasons Why Technology is Ruining My Dating Life

8 Reasons Why Technology Is Ruining My Dating Life

1.  I would rather be on Pinterest instead of waste my time dating a “nice” guy who I know is going to start talking to me about his favorite dragon themed video game…so I spend some prime date nights on Pinterest. But maybe that really saved my dating life instead of ruined it.
2.  My prime date nights spent on Pinterest show those cute photos of couples and now I hold men to higher standards that they never fail to disappoint.
3. When you think you find a decent guy and you show up on a date where this boy decides to wear a phone on his ear, his face, and his wrist. Thank God those Google Goggles (or whatever those loser devices are called) failed, or else I could never date again!
4. A movie, where no interaction is required (and even discouraged), is now considered a quality date even in a relationship.
5. The day I had a boyfriend that made me watch 8 hours worth of Archer reruns. Needless to say, it didn’t work out.
6. Tinder. You can guess why yourself.
7. Full on conversations were not meant to be over text messages. Can I get an Amen?!?
8. Thanks to my Facebook account, boys are too afraid to ask me out to my face and suddenly have a hidden Internet confidence to ask me out over Facebook Messenger; or worse, I have no idea who he is and he thinks I have been waiting my whole life for him to notice me. 

Exhibit A:
Boy: I saw you at the party last night and want to take you on a date.
Me: Why did you not ask me last night when you saw me at the party?

Exhibit B:
Boy: Hey wuts up? I met you once when I was five I think. Anyway, I think we should get together for drinks.
Me: I don’t remember, clearly I wasn’t interested then and I am not interested now. And we can never have kids or grandkids because I would be too ashamed to tell them this is how we started dating.

~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, technology is ruining my dating life because of myself sometimes, and I also know that it can be used in good ways too. My point is that you should not ask people out over Facebook, and when you are with a person, spend quality time with him/her.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Phantacie Phriday: A Fresh Start

I am starting over in a new city. I am going into a completely different career path that I'm not really sure what it is yet. I do not know anyone, I do not have a job, and I do not have a place to live. I am starting completely over. It scares me to death, but at the same time I have always wanted this and now is a better time than any. Some people tell me I am crazy or brave. Some people don't say it, but I can tell that they think I am making a mistake. Others have a slight hint of envy. But, out of everyone that I have told, the people that are most happy for me and that understand it the most, have done something similar in their lives.

The hardest person to convince is my mom. She still thinks I should live in her house forever. I know that she comes from a place of love, so, as hard as it is to see her sad, I love her for loving me. I don't feel like I am leaving her, I feel like I am running toward my dreams. If I ever have children, I hope they have the opportunity to explore like I have.

I really am lucky to live in the United States. The politics, taxes, and communities are on the side of entrepreneurs, which I want to be. I know that if I dream it, I can achieve it. However, I also know it is not easy. I know that I have to make sacrifices. Inevitably, I am going to make my mom cry and my peers question my sanity. I am going to appear crazy and bold. I have to give up my comfortable lifestyle for a questionable income for a while. I am going to have to start over--the only thing I have is the skills that I have acquired from my past experiences plus the drive of wanting an incredible life.

I used to joke about how being at work was another day of "living the dream" and now I am not joking. Everyday will be living my dream and working towards what I want. Time is about to fly faster than it ever has. As I began this piece of writing telling you all that I do not have much, the one thing that I do have is faith in myself. I woke up knowing that I was not meant to live a mediocre life.  I always have had a good life. I don't want a good life, I want a great life. I want greatness. I hope we all choose a life of greatness. It is the hope of greatness that I am holding onto.

I am venturing out into the unknown. For some reason I am gravitating there. I know people here and I have a shot at a decent career. However, I already know what that is like. It is not bad, but at the same time it isn't great. I want to at least try. I HAVE TO TRY!

The First Page of a 365 Page Book

Last year at this time I was single, living with two awesome room mates in the Cherry Creek area of Denver, and working for the best company in Denver (really though...it has been ranked by the Denver Post as a Top Work Place in Colorado). This year I am still single, living in the suburbs with Mom and Dad, and funemployed (it's like unemployed except more fun).

It sounds like things have really digressed for me, however the truth is that I am now more free than ever. I can choose whatever career path I want, I can move wherever I want, and I can date whoever I want.

Truthfully, it is very freeing not having anything, but it is also very scary. Last year I started the New Year declaring that 2015 was my year. I took several risks and gave up a lot. However, a lot of my risks paid off and I gained more than I gave up. I have positioned myself to make 2016 an even better year. I plan on taking more risks and adding more to my life.

I have started this blog for a few reasons. First, I want to share my thoughts and ideas with people and I want people to do the same with me. Second, I want to own my own business one day. I am already an entrepreneur, I just need to reach my full potential. This is a fun way for me to figure out where my talents can meet a paycheck. Lastly, I am writing a book and want it to be a New York Times Best Seller. This is the first step I am taking towards my incredibly huge and crazy dream.

Now that 2016 has rolled in, I am continuing on my journey of adventure, love, laughter, happiness, and a fuller life. I have spent a lot of time doing boring things and a lot of time doing amazingly fun things. Whether I was working or not, I felt like there was more to life then just being. I feel like I need to work towards something. This year, I am spending my time trying to reach goals. If it is true that the average person spends 40 years of their life and around 90,000 hours working, then I want to make every second count!

This year I am going to fall in love with my job. I am going to work hard and see results. I am going to chase it with all that I have.

I am declaring 2016 as the Year of the Career.


Happy New Year!