I'M BACK!

Ok so I didn't think that I would keep up with this blog. I figured after I graduated I would just forget about it and not even remember I started it. Eventually it came back to me when I was sitting at home reading other people's blogs and thinking whatever happened to mine? That's when I realized maybe I should start it up again... and if I happen to forget about it again well then it just wasn't meant to be.

A lot has happened since my last post. The most important thing I would say is that I GOT ENGAGED!

For those who don't know I have been with my now fiancé for 5 years now. I won't go into much detail about how he did it, I'll just say I couldn't be happier! This happened on July on 3rd. Short after our engagement we made a BIG move almost 12 hours away to South Texas. Never did I ever think that I would move that far away from my family but if there is one person who could talk me into it it's him.

Then the other amazing thing that happened is I got a puppy! Well I guess I should say we.

We got Rufus in June and I couldn't imagine what it would be like without him! I know I probably sound a little crazy saying that about a dog. But I can't help it, I mean look at him. He is a full-blood rotty and in the picture he is 6 weeks but he has grown up and is now 6 months!

I also recently became and Arbonne consultant. I'm not the type of person who normally joins these things but I can't help it if I love something and want to tell people about it and get paid for doing it! All of these products are natural and make you feel great so whats not to love. My site is nicolebradyfalfurrias.arbonne.com for those who want to check it out!

That is just a little bit of what has happened with him ever since my last post. Don't worry there is A LOT more but I'll get to the rest later this week.

XO,
Nicole

The Final Countdown

Never thought I would finally be done with school. I finally get to move on and not have to worry about my grades or professors (except Clark) getting mad at me for missing because of softball.

I am the first to graduate college in my family so they are probably more excited than I am. I don't know if they know the only reason I am graduating is because of them.

If it wasn't for them I wouldn't of been able to play the sport I love and get a scholarship out of it. And if it wasn't for the scholarship then I wouldn't of been able to go to college. My parents spent so many weekends just sitting there watching me play in the blazing heat of even the freezing rain all so I could live out my dream of playing college ball.

So it is only right that I repay them by graduating.

I usually don't post sentimental stuff because i'm just not like that, I never have. But my parents really have done everything for me and I don't know what I would do without them.

They tell me they are proud of me everyday and I always just say thank you. But they don't know I am saying thank you because they are the main reason I am even here getting my degree and living out my dream to play college ball.

The thing that I will miss the most is by far my team. It wasn't just my parents that got me through these four years, It was my team as well. If I didn't have them no telling where I would be.

Its been real and its been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. (Just kidding college was the best time of my life).

Favorite Season Is Finally Here

Almost any person that you know who plays a sport will tell you that heir favorite part of the whole season is post-season.

Post-season games is one of the most high intensity and pressured games I have ever played. A team either comes together as one and succeeds or falls hard and fails. Whenever you keep winning during post-season you really feel like you can't be stopped.

Winning a National Championship is something that every single player and team is striving for. It is what you work everyday towards and it is the reason we get up and have weights at 6:00 a.m. and 4 hour practices in the afternoon. Because once you win the Championship there is no other feeling like it.

You can't help but what that feeling again. We weren't expected to win my freshmen year, we were good but nobody thought we were the ultimate best. We surprised a lot of people, even ourselves at one point.

The conference tournament that year didn't go as planned, we lost 2 and we were out. Thankfully we were ranked high enough to still make it to regionals. That's where all the fun started.

We went undefeated in post-season and going undefeated in post-season is one of the hardest things you can do. When we got to the National Tournament and won the first two games we all said "well we haven't lost yet we might as well win it all."

When we got the ring we knew that this is why everyone wants to win. The ring doesn't just symbolize winning a National Championship it stands for how we all came together and finally won it all. Not many teams can say that.

Trading In Our Cleats For Heels For a Night

The academic athletic banquet happens once a year. It is a banquet where the student athletes with either 4.0, 3.0 and are about to graduate get together and celebrate being a successful student athlete.

Normally when you see any one of us on campus or on the field we are either looking like we just woke up probably because we had to go to class straight from 6:00 a.m. weights. If you have seen us on the field we are in a uniform and usually unrecognizable if we are dressed up and not on a field.

Getting to celebrate my last year with these girls is honestly the best thing I could ever ask for. They each have effected me in different ways that they probably don't even realize.

Brooke is technically a red-shirt senior next year because she broke her ulna while batting this year. She is someone who I can always count one, she will always be there no matter what and never seems to give up on people. I always know she will tell me how it is even if I don't want to hear it.

These are my catchers, they are the ones that put up with me the most during season. Whether I am doing bad or good they always know what to do to help. I know that if they can handle me throwing them dirt balls everyday and still love me then they can handle whatever comes at them.

We don't look half bad when we try.

I am so thankful that I got to spend my last year with softball and UCO with these girls (plus 13 girls that aren't in this picture). If it weren't for my team I wouldn't of been able to get through this year.

Senior Day

Whenever I was little I fell in love with the game of softball. I never thought about if I would get to play in college because when I was little it was all for fun.

The older I got the more that changed, I still had fun but playing in college became more of a reality and it was something that I needed. If it wasn't for my softball scholarship I wouldn't have a college education.

Senior day in highschool was sad and all but all of us seniors knew we had at least 4 more years left to play the game. Senior day of college was different because once you are done you won't get to play this game ever again (except beer league).

I had mixed feelings on senior day on one hand I was honestly happy. Happy that I am almost done and get to move on and see what the next chapter in my life has in store for me. On the other hand it was sad because playing with these girls for 4 years and winning a national championship together is something that is irreplaceable.

Also not being able to play the game in general is something that I am going to miss. The best feeling is winning together as a team and beating that one team we have always hated or that team that we weren't supposed to beat.

The intensity and adrenaline that came with pitching to one of the best teams or best players and being successful is a feeling that nobody else can feel but you.

I know that picture is not very flattering but not many people can look good in the middle of a pitch. Being done for good is bitter sweet but it also means you have to make the most of the time you have left with your team.

Considering we are approaching post-season it is time to leave everything you have on the field. I wouldn't want to do this season with any other group of girls especially the seniors I got to enjoy my last year with.

Chocolate Wasted

I'm not much of sweets person but when it comes to chocolate it's just something that I can't control.

If there is one thing that I probably couldn't give up it would be chocolate for sure (and potatoes) but thankfully chocolate can actually be good for you. 

One of the best things that you can hear is sweets are actually good for you. Chocolate is not only good for you but it can benefit you in ways you didn't even think were possible.

Benefits of eating this delicious sweet: 

1. Reduces stroke risk

- In 2011 there was a study that found the women that ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20% lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams. 

2. Boosts heart health

- People who eat chocolate regularly benefits from lower blood pressure, lower "bad" LDL cholesterol and lower risk of heart disease. Dark chocolate is the best for this because its inflammation-fighting that reduces cardiovascular risk. 

3. It fills you up

- Chocolate is rich in fiber, dark chocolate can actually keep you full so you won't eat as much. If you eat this sweet regularly it could even reduce the cravings you have for the sweet, salty and fatty foods.

4. May fight diabetes

- A small study in 2005 found that regularly eating chocolate increases insulin, which reduces risk for diabetes. 

5. Protects you skin

- If you have heard of chocolate causing breakouts it is wrong. Dark chocolate is actually good for you skin. The type of antioxidants called flavonoids that is in dark chocolate offer protection from UV damage from the sun. 

6. It can quiet coughs

- If you can't stop coughing try chocolate. There is an ingredient called theobromine that reduces the activity of the part of the brain that triggers those hard to get rid of coughs. Instead of spending money on medicine that you could have side effects from just eat some chocolate. 

7. Boosts your mood. 

- Chocolate eaters have reported to feel less stressed. Who isn't happy when they are eating chocolate. 

8. Improves blood flow

- Cocoa has a anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties that work in a similar way to aspirin that can improve blood flow and circulation. 

9. Improves vision

- Because chocolate can improve blood flow there was another study that showed choclate may also increase blood flow to the retina giving the your vision a boost. 

10. May make you smarter 

- The boost of blood flow to the brain created by coca's flavanols seems to make people feel more awake and alert.

Green Smoothie

A lot of people don't eat the right amount of vegetables that an average person should have. One way that I have found that is easy for me to get the right intake of veggies is making a green smoothie. I know it might look a little off just because a lot of people see a green liquid and say no thanks. But this smoothie is actually really good!

Not only is it good for you but it is incredibly easy to make and takes about 5 minutes. You can see the 10 benefits that the green smoothie gives and the recipe below.

The recipe:
1 c coconut milk
1/2 mango chunks
1 c super greens (spinach, kale)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup ice

1. Green smoothies have pure nutrition and vitamins that you get from the certain type of fruit and vegetables you choose to put in the smoothie.

2. When you just get fruit juice you can get the vitamins and minerals but you can't get the fiber that you can get from the smoothies.

3. If you don't like eating your veggies making a smoothie is a great way to get your greens. The vegetable is hidden by the fruit and yogurt or whatever else you put in the smoothies.

4. These smoothies take about 5 minutes so it quick and easy to make, all you need is a blender.

5. Making the smoothies at home can also save you money. If you go to a juice bar it can cost you at least $5 for one glass. Not only do you get the vitamins you need you save money instead of buying multivitamins.

6. If you have kids it is a good way to get them to "eat" their greens.

7. Green smoothies is also a great source of energy. Eating fruits by itself will only provide short bursts of energy but combining the veggies will give you the long lasting energy that you need.

8. The smoothies are low in calories but also very filling. It contains high amounts of water and fiber that makes you feel like you just ate a meal.

9. If you need something that is easy to digest then green smoothies are the best thing. Since they are already blended and it's liquid it is way easier to digest.

10. These smoothies also keep you hydrated. Experts say that you are supposed to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and that people don't even drink half that. Adding water to the smoothies can keep you hydrated and get you drinking water without even realizing it.