Through despair and hope, Through faith and love.

The last few months have taught me that life is an amazing thing.

As most of you know, my sister gave birth last month to two beautiful, identical baby girls. Depending on how well you know me, you may know that identical twins have always disturbed me. Not only is it alarming that they look exactly the same, but there are always those strange ones that insist on living identical lives: the way they dress, act, and live…all done in unison. There were these girls in college that we called “The Frat Row Bus Twin” that were always alike down to their hair scrunchie (Note: I did not go to college in the 80’s, which made the hair scrunchie weird enough on its own). And they didn’t even talk to each other. They just stood there, in silence, waiting for the bus, and matching.

When Pam told me she was pregnant with twins, she paused and asked, “Are you going to be ok with this?” genuinely concerned that I would not love my nieces. Of course I answered, “Yes!” but quickly followed up by saying that she cannot dress them alike. My gorgeous nieces (Alyssa and Brianna) came into this world on 12/5/13 and were both just over 4 pounds. I had never held anything so tiny…except the 3lb dumbbells I lift on occasion. I’m kinda a big deal around the gym – NBD.

Since the girls were so tiny, they spent two weeks in the NICU and I got to watch my sister become a mother, spending 15-hour days in the hospital supporting them. I have seen the change to motherhood before with Kim, but it is still unbelievable to me how quickly parents can attach to their children. How they instantly become their whole life.        

Look how tiny they are!!

 Within weeks, I was able to see six of my friends go through the same thing, bringing three new babies into the world – enter Desmond, Nathan and Brody (last names omitted for their protection). These boys would not only be future husbands to the Armstrong babies (obvi) but also would bring their parents more joy than they could imagine.

Me and little Brody - my future nephew-in-law

Recently, we have needed that joy as myself and those close to me have gone through some pretty terrible losses. Death is a strange thing. There are times that you can see it coming for months, and sometimes it happens faster than a sunset. Whether a parent, a grandparent, a pet or a friend, it brings on heartbreak, confusion and questions that rarely have answers.

Losing my aunt this week was absolutely heartbreaking, but seeing the strength of her family through it all was extraordinary. Somehow, they found faith in the circle of life that came in the birth of little Brody, and it magnified the love they are able to pass onto him and each other. We are able to remember my Aunt Char with a smile, knowing what an unbelievable life she had lived. Her legacy lives on with the following advice that will surely be passed onto the beautiful new babies in our lives:

Love your friends and family, find a job you love, treat yourself and vacation often, don’t sweat the small stuff, and always keep smiling and laughing.

Love to you all.

I'm a schizophrenic, and so am I.

There are many different faces to the Carrie you all know and (usually) love.

This is Ahoy Carrie. 

There is Comedian Carrie, who laughs at her own jokes before she gets them out (and repeats them louder if no one laughs the first time).

There is Freakishly Positive Carrie, who believes everything happens for a reason and tries to help you see the silver lining in any situation (admittedly, she can be pretty annoying). 

There is Justify Carrie, who thinks you should do things that make you happy and can justify any bad decision from skipping a work out, drinking on a weekday or buying those new jeans you can’t afford (her law of division is genius).

There is Family Carrie, who is best friends with her sisters no matter how mean they are to her (she has a mental block on the years 1993-1997 and a strange hatred for Michael Bolton).

There is Social ADD Carrie, who typically starts a conversation at a party and leaves before the thought is complete to move onto another party-goer (she is clearly an offspring of Bob Keller).

This is Gator Fan Carrie. 

There is OCD Carrie, who only really comes out if something on her shelves is not in perfect order (Carreen somehow stayed friends with her throughout many redecorating disasters).

There is People Pleasing Carrie, who tries to do little things to help her friends and family just to try and make everyone happy (she likes when people are happy – what is wrong with that?).

There is Party-Hosting Carrie, who is really just Social ADD, OCD and People Pleasing Carrie combined (she often gives up and just turns into Drunk Carrie).

There is Drunk Carrie, who loves Chorizo Nachos and Cheetos, takes too many Red Stagg and Rumpy shots, falls asleep at the bar and begs for more meatball subs (her eyes apparently roll from time to time).

There is Hungry Carrie, who quite frankly is just a bitch.

There is Lazy Carrie, who hates washing her hair on Sundays, loves napping, and is really good at ordering in food (see her prior nap post).

Which leads us to I am really good at *fill in the blank* Carrie. This has ranged from kickball, interviewing, funneling beer, doing the Cupid Shuffle, and dating.  If you know her, you know she is actually not good at any of these things (Stay tuned for future posts for proof on some of these claims).  

Who is your favorite "Carrie?" Which ones have I missed? 

Wait...obviously I have missed Narcissistic Carrie, who writes an entire blog about herself and asks people to post. But seriously, please post. 

PITA spelled backwards is A TIP

Picture this: A bright-eyed 18 year old girl, sitting in a big auditorium in the middle of campus learning the Greek alphabet. This mid-western girl was wearing her cutest Old Navy shorts and tee and looked into a sea of blonde hair and beach tans wondering what sorority she would join and hoping to make at least one friend in the process. As people grouped with their Bright Future friends to discuss their favorite houses, she looked to her only friends (the Pi Chis) for a sense of direction, leaning on them for survival tips in Gainesville.  

• What to wear – Reefs are appropriate for Round 1, but not Rounds 2, 3 or Prefs. Sidebar: Reefs are not the same as Old Navy flip flops.  
• Things to do – If you love Country music then you have to go dancing at :08.  
• Where to eat – Swamp is a great place to go with your family, but for a great sandwich-type spot try Pita Pit.

Ok – you got me. This mid-western girl with no friends was ME! And I listened to anything the ladies in the orange hats told me to do. So that week, I only wore flip flops to Round 1, I went dancing at :08, and I tried Pita Pit.

I had no idea at the time what a difference the week of rush Recruitment would have on my 4 years at UF. I hurried through orientations and chose Advertising as a major, enthusiastically joined Pi Beta Phi and met some nice girls on the bus to the Pink Palace, and had my very first Pita Pit Experience. Since that week, I have considered myself a bit of a Pita Freak Connoisseur. 

A few Pita Pit facts about me:

See? Healthy!

• My freshman year I tried to get a job at Pita Pit as a cashier and made up that I was my class treasurer in efforts to try and impress the potheads that work there.
• I have been to at least 13 different locations (Rankings available upon request). 
• I once asked a friend’s parent to invest in me opening my own franchise location.
• When I studied in Mexico, Pita Pit honey mustard was on my Top 5 list of things I missed.
• I once drove almost 2 hours while hungover to Athens for a pita, only to find they were closed on Sundays.
• I have written a letter of complaint on the Pita Pit website that the Honey Mustard in Chicago is not the “real Pita Pit honey mustard.”
• Despite my feelings on the PPHM in Chicago, I still have drunkenly ordered 2 pitas by myself in order to meet the minimum price for an “out-of-area delivery.”

Ok, this guy is kinda a Baldwin

I know this sounds really sad….wow, this actually sounds REALLY sad, but I think part of the reason I love this place so much is that it takes me back to college. Back to a time where you couldn't afford the Chicken Caesar pita, so you sneakily ordered a Chicken pita and just added Caesar dressing. A time where I can meet my best friends for lunch between classes, or at 3am in the Pi Phi kitchen. It reminds me of sunny days, sleeping in, advertising campaigns and late nights at Gator City. 

But what really changed my life that week was not trying Pita Pit, but actually joining Pi Phi and studying Advertising…they took me from being the girl with no friends in the auditorium, to having some of the best friends in the world. And that trumps a Pita any day.    

You know what goes great with a Pita? BFFs.

...and Go Gators.

The following things have happened since I was last in Gainesville:

• Pam, Chanteal, Mere, Michelle and Prince William have all gotten married.
• Autumn, Baby Thomas and Baby Blue were born, with 2 more IPPL babies on the way.
• I moved to Chicago.
• Bin Laden was found.
• People everywhere were begging to be taught how to "Douggie.”
• There was a remake of the song "We are the World" and the movie "Footloose."
• There has been both a Winter and Summer Olympics.  
• LMFAO party rocked too hard and broke up.
• Crazy Aunts everywhere started drinking Vodka Sodas with a Splash of Cran.
• Urban Meyer resigned...twice.

As you can see, it is clearly time for K Keller to return to the city that gave her that nickname. The trip will be quick, but I plan on fitting as many of the following into my trip, if possible, in no particular order:

Break into the Pi Phi House, Eat Chicken Nachos from Ale House, Dance in a booze puddle until I have Grog Feet, Experience the real Pita Pit honey mustard, Mourn the loss of Cluck-U, Lose my voice from screaming “Orange/Blue” in the stadium, Make immature "Cock" jokes and laugh hysterically, Have a bucket of beer at The Swamp, Cry tears of joy when I see the Murph/DeFranco Tailgate, Visit a library just to use the bathroom, Take an inappropriate photo with the Tim Tebow statue, Laugh with my friends until my face hurts, Get asked on a Grab-A-Date.      

Get ready Gainesville – Here. I. Come.