Carefree Cassi

I have a thirst for adventure and a need to read until I'm lost in a fairytale.

[carefreecassi]

#TBT: A Bittersweet Memory

#TBT: A Bittersweet Memory

I think the weirdest thing about the featured image for this post is that I can’t remember who took it. Actually, looking back, I can’t remember anything about the day I graduated from high school. I think we were in the gym for the ceremony. However, since my brother has part of that floor in his living room, I probably wouldn’t recognize it anymore. This picture really resembles a single moment…

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I Stand With Ahmed, Do You?

I Stand With Ahmed, Do You?

Normally, I steer clear of politics, or any matter that concerns actions taken by officials. However, in this case, I can’t do that. In high school, the only thing I ever successfully built was a bird feeder. Honestly, I’m not even sure if that lasted through one year of outdoor weather. Even if I had wanted to, I probably never would have been able to make a clock, but there’s someone who did…

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It's camouflage! #imabiggirlnow #growingup #babylove #summer2015 #avamay #octaviamay #bigblueeyes @mel_waba

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I'm such a big girl! I got my ears pierced and everything! #octaviamay #avamay #summer2015 #babylove #growingup #imabiggirlnow

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Look what my bestest friend got me! #imabiggirlnow #growingup #babylove #summer2015 #avamay #octaviamay

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So beautiful #avamay #summer #summer2015 #love #octaviamay @mel_waba

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Love doesn't make sense! I mean, you can't logic your way into or out of it. Love is totally nonsensical! But we have to keep doing it, or else... we're lost and love is dead and humanity should just pack it in. Because love is the best thing we do.

Ted Mosby - How I Met Your Mother

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Fourth of July memories

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This Marine nails what it’s like to get out of the military

I think that for most of us we leave the military wanting desperately to escape. At some point, the majesty and nobility and glamour runs out. The pride ha

Fact!

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The other night, I decided it was time to break my no dating rule. To provide disclosure, it was a massive failure. It’s amazing how someone can seem so perfect through text messages and then when you meet them, they’re just not.

As I showed up to Riverwest Filling Station, I allowed myself to get my hopes up. Then I walked in. At first, everything appeared to be good. Then he started twitching nervously. Tapping his hands, cracking his knuckles, and eating endless amounts of popcorn. Suddenly I realized something, he wasn’t him. In a split second, I realized that the man sitting next to me at the bar was not the one.

In my mind, I suddenly became incredibly self critical. How could I make that judgement without giving him a chance? How could I be so cynical? Why is he “not the one”?

Before I pulled into my apartment parking lot, I knew one thing for sure; I am not the only girl out there who is running into these issues. So this is for the girls (or guys) who know exactly what they’re looking for, but they aren’t quite sure how to find it.

First, and foremost, don’t settle. Odds are, you are probably starting to date for marriage, so settling is literally the last thing you want to do. If he seems like he has annoying habits that really irritate you, then he’s not it. Even if you manage to date him for a couple months, eventually those annoying habits are going to eventually be the death of your relationship.

Obviously I’m single, but when I think of what I want, I recall something one of my cousins boyfriends said a couple weeks ago on a camping trip. I asked him what one thing he disliked the most about her, and he responded, “There’s nothing I don’t like about her.” That’s exactly what you should want to be able to say.

Second, don’t second guess yourself. Realistically, I’ve been on a lot of dates. Truthfully, none of them were exceptionally awesome. Sure, a few of them turned into relationships, but they weren’t my forever. So here’s the thing, don’t question your instincts.

Instincts are amazing! Think of motherly instinct for a moment. Your mom always knows who should be in your life and who shouldn’t. Mothers have literally lifted entire cars to save their children. They go through countless hours of horrific pain to give birth to you, but would stop at nothing to protect you. All based on motherly instinct!

So if your instincts tell you he’s not the one, he isn’t. Don’t try to force it, don’t try to rush it, and don’t try to conform him into the one you’re searching for.

Third, the feelings are probably mutual. If you aren’t feeling it, he probably isn’t either. To be honest, you could probably just walk out and cut your losses. In my case, I normally let the events play out and at the end of the night, I try to convince myself not to waste the time. Be careful, though, because he might still try to get you in bed.

That leads to the fourth guideline, set your standards. You’ve been on enough dates with guys that weren’t dishing out what you were craving. You know what you want, so find it. Don’t lower standards because your desperate for love. Don’t fight destiny, it’s not worth it.

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A Letter to the 3 Men I’ve Fallen For

** I won’t say their names. If you know them, you do. But otherwise, just realize that they were all so special to me**

To my First Love:

I wish I could say I remember the first time we met. I think it was in seventh grade, in the hallway at school. 

The first thing you should know is that I miss you and I always will. I don’t really miss you as much as I miss being a teenager, living in the backwoods of Wisconsin, with the entire world in front of me.

I remember the day I left, and I remember wondering if I’d ever stop regretting leaving you behind. Eventually I did. As much as I wish we were, we aren’t meant to be together. You have your life and I have mine and, realistically, one day our paths will stop crossing. But know this, I will always remember you. You weren’t the perfect person, and neither was I. 

You were my first love and you will always have this incredible place in my heart, but it’s time to let you go. I know you’ll read this one day and wonder why. Know it’s not me and it’s not you; instead it’s time. We were teenagers and now we’re not. We’re adults and we grew into very different people.

To the Love I Left Behind:

I will never forget the day I met you. I’ll never forget the moment you put your number in my cell phone. I’ll never forget the last time I saw you, locked out of your room. I will never forget how I loved you, but I will eventually stop. I honestly already have.

You made my Walk to Remember dreams come true. I waited so long to have a late September love. You were him. You were so incredible and you made me smile more than I ever thought I could.

You’ve moved on now, and I’m glad you did. I will always look back on you as the perfect love, because before we could mess it up, I was gone. You’ll always be in this perfect little package of happy memories from a moment in my life when I couldn’t slow down, but you saved me from drowning.

To the Love I’ll Never Forget:

Ah, it’s time for you. 

With you, our relationship was horrible. We loved each other more when we weren’t together. We never discussed our love, but it was always there. We fought so much, that it never worked. But you are the one I will never forget. 

You were there for two years, and we dated for about two weeks. I talk to you still, but it’s different. You were such an ass, but you always cared about me. Realistically, you are both the worst and the best thing that ever happened to me.

I will remember you forever, even if I never see you again. Our love was unique because it developed after we were friends and you’ve only said it in one sloppy, drunk voicemail.

Sincerely, 

Cassi

P.s. I miss you, but you’re not the one. Thanks for teaching me some lessons and changing my life. 

[carefreecassi]

The moment Josh fell hard for Michelle @joshlangers @michellejnorm #summer #summer2015 #4thofjuly #independenceday #cousins

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Well, I've been down a time or two, but it never lasts long I can always make it through on a wing and a prayer and a song Ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory Take you to another place in time

Clint Black, “State of Mind”

Check out my Apple Music post to find out more about how you can stream music for free!

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Book Four: The Night Is Forever

The eleventh book in the Krewe of Hunters Series

Once again, Heather Graham produced a five star paranormal romance/mystery! This one takes place in the outskirts of Nashville, the first city that was won back from the confederates during the civil war!

Olivia works at the Horse Farm, which is a therapeutical program that integrates animals and troubled individuals of all ages. The founder, Marcus, suddenly passes away after over dosing on heroin and falling in a ravine. Of course, this fall would be more believable if Marcus hadn’t been in recovery for over twenty years. Then again, maybe it’s Olivia’s ability to communicate with the dead that gives in away.

Olivia immediately calls her cousin Malachi and asks that he sends an agent out to do some snooping around. However, she didn’t think it would be heart throb Agent Dustin Blake who would grace her presence. As the sexual tension rises between the two, the seriousness of the murder rises when the villain hits another bulls eye.

Suddenly, Marcus’s successor ends up electrocuted after a close call with drowning. When the local sheriff realizes that disaster has struck, he encourages Dustin to call in more federal agents.

However the mystery continues when the law officials are unable to decide which employee at the Horse Farm is committing these heinous crimes. More questions remain in regards to why an employee is committing the crimes. More significantly, is an employee committing the crimes? 

With assistance from the voices of the past and thoughts of the present, a murderer is caught. To see who committed the crime, take a day or two to read the book! 

[carefreecassi]

Apple Music: The Beginning

It’s here, and I’m hoping it’s wonderful. 

Like many other Apple addicts (iPhone, Mac Book, iPad, etc.), I’ve tried other to use other music streaming venues on my iPhone. I’ve use Beats and I’ve used Google Play Music, and both were great. That is, until the didn’t work with a running app, or until they crashed abruptly while I was driving down the road because the “app was not compatible” with my iPhone while the GPS was running. Hopefully it’s time for that to change.

The Beginning

As usual, every adjustment to Apple products begins with an update. So I’ve already went through that process. I then opened the Music symbol (very pretty, FYI) and chose to begin my 3-month free trial. It then asked me if I would like to use a singular payment plan or a family plan. Family plan is five dollars more, but it can be shared with up to six different people.

This family plan thing has me curious, so I’m going to test out what exactly I can do with family sharing with a friend. If it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, I will not continue participating.

My Hopes

I sincerely hope that Apple Music is everything I want and more. Now you may be wondering what I want. I want the following:

Unlimited Selection of Streamable Music

For me, music is a part of my daily life. Certain songs make me happy, certain songs help me relieve stress, and certain songs carry a thousand memories. I want all of those songs at the tips of my fingers.

Easy Organization Standards

I want to be able to organize all my favorite hits at the tap of a button. I don’t like putting in unnecessary work when I know something is already possible.

Compatibility

Yes, I need Apple Music to be compatible with my life. But really, I need it to be compatible with all of my apps. In other words, I don’t want to have any songs downloaded on my phone more than once. I want my playlists to transfer to all of my devices, as well

So, the game plan is that I test out Apple Music for about a week and then I give you my post review. But here’s my challenge to all the other Apple lovers out there, try it yourself! It’s a 3-month free trial. Honestly, there isn’t much to lose!

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How Not Dating Saved My Life

Let me start with a disclosure, I’m not a virgin, I’m not a prude, and I’m not a Bible thumper. 

This being said, last January I woke and realized I was not happy. I was going through the motions and not getting much in return. Sure, I would date guys, it would go well and they’d text for weeks after. The problem was, if I was feeling it, they weren’t and if they were feeling it, I wasn’t. So I decided it was time for a change, and I stopped dating. The end result is, the past six months have been bliss and I am so happy with my single life! (That doesn’t mean I want to be single forever.)

Since I’ve stopped dating, some pretty amazing things have happened to me.

First, I found myself.

Cheesy, I know. But it’s true. Since I quit dating, I stopped focusing as much on what people wanted from me and started focusing more on what I wanted to give people. I truly love that I am who I want to be and absolutely no one alters my desires. I do what I want, when I want, where I want and with whom I want.

Second, I don’t cry.

That’s an abrupt lie. I cry all of the time. For example, I cry when I here sad songs, I cry when I watch sad (or happy) movies, and I cry when someone passes away or gets married. I don’t cry over petty relationship drama. I don’t worry if someone doesn’t call because, since I’m not dating, there is no one that should be calling.

Third, I’m free.

No one else has any say in my decisions and it is so empowering. I get to do anything I set my mind to! No one else has any control over my mind. Since I’ve quit dating, I have developed so many friendships with so many incredible people because I no longer have all my focus on finding my soul mate.

All good things come to an end.

As I’ve stated before, I don’t want to spend my entire life single. As a matter of fact, I want to have a family and a loving husband one day. Hell, like most girls, I plan my wedding on a daily basis. However, I now know who I am and who I don’t want to be. The man who convinces me to become “unsingle” will have a lot of work to do and a lot of determination! I’m sure I will meet him when the time is just right!

[carefreecassi]

New “Kindler” Advice

Okay, so you’ve finally went and purchased your first (or if you’re like me, your third) Kindle! Everyone has a different reason for wanting one, but personally I love my Kindle Paperwhite because I honestly don’t want to have my book allow me access to the entire social media world. But here is some serious advice regarding how to save money while getting the most out of your Kindle.

Don’t put a card on your account! Just don’t. It’s so easy to buy new books, but I recommend a gift card so that you don’t over spend.

Don’t sign up for Kindle Unlimited! You’ve probably seen this more than once. But understand that it’s really not worth it. I had it for over three months and never actually read a single book offered through Kindle Unlimited.

Do get a library card! Now you’re probably wondering what kind of idiot I am (especially if you’re new to the whole e-reader world). I’m not, and this is probably the best piece of advice anyone has ever given me. Most states (and I say this on the premise that Wisconsin has one, so other states probably do) have a state wide e-library. That means you can still borrow books, read them, and not have to worry about a due date!

Do get a case! I highly recommend a case, especially if you and your kindle are as inseparable as mine and me. I keep mine in my purse and connect it to every wifi port I can find. (That’s another do, by the way!)

Remember, you can still buy your favorite books (with your handy dandy gift card)! Save money and read more with your Kindle! Maybe you can even take up a summer challenge!