Why I Blog... Or Don't

I've fallen off the blogging bandwagon for the past... I don't know... forever. It's not that I haven't wanted to blog, I just was busy and by the time I thought about sitting down to blog I had other things in mind. It got me thinking about why I started blogging in the first place and why I continued to blog for a few years after I initially started my blog.

When I first started my blog, it was because my sister talked me into it. She was into blogging at the time and it was a fun way to keep tabs on her cute little fam. I don't care how old you get... the younger sister will always think the older sister is the coolest and immediately needs to get a slice of her awesome ideas. Hence the conception of my blog. I jumped into the blogging world.

After a while of blogging my post started to dwindle until I finally stopped blogging. Freshman year of college rolled around and again my sister encouraged me to start blogging again. My best friend also had a blog that she used in the past and it was then that we decided we should start blogging. So we did. It became kind of our "thing". We got a kick-start by doing one of the 30 day blog challenges. I have countless memories of just hanging out on our dorm room beds blogging our little hearts out. It was a lot of fun and one of my favorite and happiest memories from freshman year.

Freshman year got me on a blogging roll and it was a hobby that I loved dearly. I was blogging for me. Strictly for me. This didn't last terribly long and soon I got sucked into the whole blogging community, which I love don't get me wrong, but it changed the reason I was blogging. I became super into others blogs, give-aways, sponsorships, page views, stats, followers, etc. I was blogging for everything except the right reasons. Yes, it was fun to throw myself completely into my blog but I wasn't doing it for the real reasons that I started blogging to begin with.

Unfortunately I've seen this with many blogs lately that I once loved. It seems that everyone is more into making money than actually producing good blog content. It's as if they've turned into nothing but an infomercial and I'm just super not into that. I feel like it's a total sham and you can pretend that you LOVE every single product and that you promise all opinions are your own but I bet that money and free stuff gives you a little push to "like" that product a little more. End rant.

After this stage I blogged because I felt obligated. Simple as that. It makes no sense at all and it's completely stupid and I wish I could explain it more but I can't. There's nothing more to it than that. I eventually stopped blogging mostly when I got busy trying to finish my two degrees, my dad got super sick, I was in the process of purchasing and moving into my first house, and I just got caught up in life.... like we all do.

And now here I am. Back at it... for now. I've graduated and I finally feel like I can start blogging again for what I see as "the right reasons". It's going to be a hobby. Strictly a fun outlet that I can put energy into and write about whatever I want. If people read it, that's great. And if not, that's cool too. I'm blogging for me now. I think it's a good way for me to express myself and it's therapeutic in a way. I'm not going to put pressure on myself about blogging a certain amount of times per week or meeting a quota or anything of that sorts. I feel like I can finally take my blog and make it something I enjoy again and be myself and I'm excited about it.

Farmer Chris: A Serial Kisser AKA Bachelor Week 3

Okay, I've been super super sick lately and didn't even start doing recaps when the season first started. I thought about doing it last week and then it just didn't happen. I almost didn't do it this week either but I thought, why not? It's kind of been a staple on my blog for quite some time now. I know I'm starting on week 3 but this whole consistent blogging thing hasn't been my forte lately. So hopefully we'll get some weekly recaps going. 

The episode starts with Jimmy Kimmel creeping in on a sleeping Farmer Chris. Apparently he’s “taking over” this week and we had no idea because ABC didn’t clue us in at all. He makes an appearance at the mansion and brings out the “amazing jar” and tells them he’s just there to sleep with them all. I wonder how his wife feels about that. He never lets this “joke” go for the rest of the episode. Let's be honest. Chris Harrison doesn't do anything on the show so why in the world would we need a co-host of sorts? If the girls were wondering why the dates weren't as extravagant this week I think they could find the answer by that check in Jimmy Kimmel's pocket. 

Kaitlyn gets the first date card and everyone thinks it is going to be extravagant. Well, they went to Costco. I think the only person who would like this date would be my dad. Costco is the only store he goes to. Anyways, Farmer Chris has probably never seen a store this size since he is from Podunk farm town, population: him. Once he asked where the "toy isle" was I am sure he has never been to Costco before. 

I’m not quite sure what Kaitlyn decided to wear on the date. It was an interesting outfit choice if I do say so myself. She made it clear that she was bummed they went to Costco for their date but if she can’t handle that then she isn’t the one for Farmer Chris. If going to Costco isn’t exciting for her then sitting at home with a weekly trip to the Piggly Wiggly isn’t going to suffice.

They go back to his place and make out and Farmer Chris has lipstick smeared all over his face. It was safe to say his lips were a full on Revlon Strawberry Topaz shade of pink. Jimmy of course has to show up. They cook dinner and Jimmy awkwardly stays the rest of the night. Kaitlyn says she’s into farmers and Jimmy asks her questions about it…

Jimmy: you’ve dated farmers

Kaitlyn: … uhhh yeah……

Jimmy: What kind of farmers were they?

Kaitlyn:…… umm…. Like legit farmers. Like with cows.

Jimmy: So how many farmers have you dated.

Kaitilyn…uhhh just one actually.

Nothing like catching you in your lies Kaitlyn.

Ever since she stepped out of the limo and said something along the lines of “You can plow my field anytime” I haven’t liked Kaitlyn. She’s not very lady like. So on second thought, maybe she does belong in a field in the middle of no where. Anyways, still don’t like her. She also has some really weird choices for tattoo placement.

Group date time….

They have a little farm obstacle course and Carly wins. As her prize she gets a photo op where they dress up like the famous American Gothic painting. Do they realize that in the painting it is supposed to be a farmer and his daughter? Not like husband and wife …. So there’s that.

Carly kisses Farmer Chris during their alone time.

Amber kisses Farmer Chris during their alone time.

Jillian kisses Farmer Chris during their alone time.

Mackenzie, little 21 year old Mackenzie, gets pissed off because he’s kissing other girls. Has she ever seen The Bachelor before? Probably not. it was probably on after her bedtime.  How did she even get cast on this show? She’s 21. 21! And Farmer Chris is 33. 33! I totally understand age gaps in relationships. I do. But the maturity level between 21 and 33 is quite drastic. How she made it on the show and how she is still around is beyond me.

Becca gets the group date rose. I actually really like Becca even though I feel like we haven’t seen much of her yet. One of my top favorites. 

Whitney gets the next one on one date with Farmer Chris. They go to a winery and sit and have awkward conversation and “decide” they’re going to go “crash” this wedding. They go change and get a present… more like the producers handed them one…. And they head off to the reception. And of course they have to make it dramatic by having Farmer Chris say, “we could end up in jail.” hahaha Riiiiiiight. Don't fret Farmer Chris, ABC already made sure it was okay to have you go. 

I’m pretty sure this was super set up… they have video of them at the wedding. Whether it was with an actual camera or a phone is beside the point. If someone was videoing that much, regardless on what device, someone was bound to know. Also the people’s faces weren’t blurred out which means ABC must have gotten their permission. So yeah that was super “spontaneous”! Just like the rest of the show, right? 

I wonder if they paid for Farmer Chris to take dance lessons... because it really paid off. 

It must have been super convenient that they didn’t have another activity planned for that night.

Also I’m pretty sure the song they had playing when they were slow dancing was on previous seasons of this show. Like pretty sure. How could any of us Bachelor fans forget that cringe worthy song? 

Anyways Whitney gets a rose.

Surprise, no cocktail party. Pool party instead. We’ve seen it before.

Ashley I. was super bummed that she couldn’t do her “Kardashian look” tonight. Cue the limo. We’ve had enough of her.

Juelia tells Farmer Chris about how she lost her husband and it was pretty sad.

Cut to commercial break… come back and they pretend that whole depressing conversation didn’t just happen.

Jade gets Farmer Chris to take her to his place. There she decides they need to “test his bed”. Also, did you check out her hooker shoes she brought to the pool party? So they make out while Jillian is awkwardly standing outside in his hot tub, which, by the way, is not filled up with ketchup. Blame Farmer Chris and Kaitlyn for that one. 

Megan, Mackenzie, and Ashley I. go and awkwardly meet up with Jillian and Farmer Chris in the hot tub. The three of them talk about who should get the next alone time and Farmer Chris just sits there awkwardly watching. Man up Farmer Chris and take some initiative. He obviously didn't want to take to any of the three. 

Ashley I. Finally gets her alone time after having a cry fest and she’s happy.

So the kiss count this far if you weren’t keeping track….

Kaitylyn, Carly, Amber, Jillian, Whitney, Britt, Jade, and Ashley I.

I think it’s safe to say that Farmer Chris is a serial kisser compared to previous bachelors. And we thought they were bad. 

Rose Ceremony time… Ashley I. is called last and about craps her pants.

Amber, Trina, and Tracy are sent packing.

2 last things….

1. How is crazy eyed Ashley still around??

And

2. I caught 2 “amazings” that they didn’t ding that stupid bell for. How many did you catch?

Oh, Hey!

Well, it's been a hot minute since I blogged last. It's hard to just jump back in after such a long hiatus. But why not just jump in.

 Let's see.... I disappeared because...

    1) My internship... (to all you Bachelor fans out there) did I mention I got to work with Michelle
        Money? I didn't do much at my internship but it kept me busy for a few hours a week.
    2) Finals - I had finals and papers to write in November. I also had to turn them in earlier than they
        were really due because of reason 3...
    3) Spain! - I spent a good 2 weeks in Spain over Thanksgiving. You bet it was amazing and you bet
        there will be a photo dump post of all the pics from Spain. I've been quite a few places over seas
        and this one is definitely on the top of my list.
    4) The day after I got back from Spain I got an excruciating sore throat. It never went away. I was,
         have been, and still am pretty sick. I've spent the last two days passed out on the couch. Long
         story short I get to get my tonsils out on Feb. 10th.
    5) My sister came from California to visit for Christmas and was here almost the whole month of
         December. Woo woo! It was so much fun. Especially with her 4 little munchkins running
         around... okay well only 3 of them can run. But still.
    6) And lastly, but not leastly (ha) there may be a new special guy friend in my life. And he gets a
          good chunk of my time. And I'm not complaining.


But yeah... I'm back and I have plans to stick around. At least I hope to! I've missed blogging and it feels good to be back!