FRIENDS: The family you wish you had.

21 years-ago today, the television show Friends aired for the first time. Friends was announce as Hollywood's favorite by the Hollywood Reporter just earlier this month.

I grew up on Friends literally my entire life. I remember watching the show with my parents when the episodes first aired. When I was in high school I would talk on the phone with my friend Ashley and we would watch Friends on Nick at Nite together. I begged my parents to buy the box set of all 10 seasons for Christmas BEFORE I found out they would all be on Netflix soon.

I absolutely, without a doubt, love Friends...

Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey showed us all how we should treat friendship. We've seen so many different stages of each friends' life and how the friendship adapted.

They taught us how to be there for one another. They taught us to be compassionate and how to be true with our friends. They characters were closer to each other than they were their own family.

Family is the group of people that are related, you do not have a choice. Friends are the people that you choose to be around.

Friendship offers mutual respect.
Friendship offers love.
Friendship offers honesty.
Friendship offers defense.
Friendship offers loyalty.
Friendship offers intimacy.
Friendship offers understanding.
Friendship offers a sense of being.
And so much more...

Friendship is the more ideal form of family. That doesn't mean that there isn't family members that you are close to and love dearly; in this case, they can be your friends as well. What it means is that you surround yourself with the people that you care for and you know care for you back.  People you have a mutual understanding and interest with.

My friends are my family. I am happy to have all the Rachels, Monicas, Phoebes, Chandlers, Rosses, and Joeys in my life.

To all my friends please remember... "I'll be there for you!"

From Dog to Cat

Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love animals. I am also picky on the type of animals I adopt. Primarily I am have been a dog lover.

Last year right after Fourth of July, a car hit my 8 year-old Pomeranian. I thought I would have him forever and nothing bad would ever happen to him. He was a present from my parents for my 12th birthday. I named him Maximillion (Max). I loved him very much. 

Max was there during the tough years and all the awful life transitions. From moving around to heartbreaks to going to starting pesky college, he was always by my side. Everyone knew Max and loved him (even when he was a brat).

I got a phone call from my little brother saying Max was hit. It was hard for me to grasp. I probably cried two-weeks straight just thinking about him. I always had him as a companion and suddenly I had no one.

I started thinking about getting another animal. Wasn't wanting another dog because I didn't want to feel as if I was replacing him. So, I decided that I would get a cat.

I've had cats before but was never really into them. When I decided on the perfect cat to get I found out that one of my roommates at the time was allergic. Needless to say the cat became a present for my mom. Months later the cat was pregnant and I was finally able to have a pet again! I wanted a kitten that would love me back as much as I would love it.

Momma Cat had 7 kittens in her litter: 3 black, 1 gray, 2 white, and 1 tan. They were all so cute and precious. When I went to my mom's house to pick out a kitten the little gray one started following me around and Momma Cat would even bring the kitten to me.

It just seemed like a perfect fit. I named her Edie after Edie Sedgwick. As soon as I brought her home with me we connected.

It seems that most people aren't cat people because cats are "mean." If you open your heart and treat them with the same love you would a child you will be surprised on how rewarding it is to have a cat.  I am lucky that Edie chose me to be her family.

Edie Louise is the best cuddlier and the best cat I have ever had. She is classy and full of spunk. Edie does parkour off the walls and helps me with my makeup. She saved me from my long mourning period and she has stolen my heart.