Daddy's Little Girl

Without fail, I always end up crying during father-daughter dances at wedding receptions. As a self-proclaimed Daddy's Girl, I can't help but get a little sentimental. Last night, I attended the wedding of two friends from college and, of course, I was teary-eyed as the bride danced with her father.

Like me, the bride has a great relationship with her father, who is also a big guy, just like my dad. Yes, my dad may look like a grizzly bear, but I swear he's a big teddy bear once you get to know him. Every time I watch a father-daughter dance, I can't help but think of the day when my own father will walk me down the aisle and we get to cut a rug. Chances are, we'll both probably be in tears.

My father has always been my number-one fan–unconditionally supporting me no matter how big my dreams get. He's always been there for me (honors assemblies, graduations, cheerleading competitions, dance recitals, etc.) and I know he will continue to be. My father has a supernatural ability to make my sister and me smile–whether it's a minor injury, bad day or a painful loss.

Growing up, my sister and I watched our father treat the women in his life–our mom, his mom and sisters, etc.–with nothing but the utmost respect and love, which is why we know how a man is supposed to treat a woman and we won't settle for less than the best.

Daddy, even though I may be growing up, I want you to know I will always be your little girl and you will always be my hero. I love you THIS MUCH. Love, Buttercup xox

Up, Up and Away!

Throughout my relatively short career as a journalist, I've had the opportunity to do some amazing things. I've interviewed celebrities (Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion Cheryl Burke and "Ace of Cakes" star Duff Goldman), modeled in a teen magazine and gained access to some pretty cool events, such as the LPGA Tournament.

But last night, I embarked on the journey of a lifetime. I had an assignment to write about a local hot air company and decided to tag along with my friend, Nicole, who is one of the magazine photographers. What we didn't anticipate was the chance to ride in the balloon itself. In a word? Ah-mazing. Absolutely breathtaking.

Soaring 3,000 feet above the air, I did not have a care in the world. Overlooking the treetops and expansive farmland, I felt (as cliche as it sounds) one with nature. The ride was serene. I could've stayed up there forever.

It's always been a goal of mine to ride in a hot air balloon ever since my dad took my sister and me to the Preakness Celebration Balloon Festival when we were little. Now thanks to Light Flight Hot Air Balloons, I am one step closer to completing my Bucket List.

My Mama Told Me...

In honor of Mother's Day, which is this Sunday for all of you last-minute shoppers out there, I've decided to list some of the best lessons I've learned from my mother in no particular order:

1. "I'm your mother, not your friend." My mother made this very clear at an early age and I'm grateful for that. I feel as though that's the problem with some of my peers: their parents try to be their besties and don't do enough, well...parenting. Not my mom.

2. "A sale is not a sale, unless it's a least 50 percent off or more." I distinctly remember being a young girl when my mom taught me this valuable lesson. It may seem superficial to you, but it taught me a great deal about the value of a dollar and how to hunt for bargains.

3. "American Express. Never leave home without it." This lesson came during an impromptu shopping spree. Today the weapon of choice is Visa. But the point is still the same: it's okay to treat yourself to something nice every once in a while.

4. "Always hit the sale rack first. Always." Enough said.

5. "You do not need a man to complete you." My mom raised my sister and me to be smart and confident young ladies. She taught us the importance of making (and saving) our own money so we don't have to be financially dependent on anyone.

6. "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression." I distinctly remember my mom making me dress up for my first interview to get into Loyola's Leaders and Scholars summer camp back in the day. I was in the fifth grade...and I had a resume.

7. "You can never have too many pairs of shoes...or underwear." Again, I think this one is pretty self explanatory.

8. "One day we're going to be gone and all you're going to have is each other." Once my mom shared this harsh truth with my sister and me, we realized we should probably start treating each other a little nicer.

9. "God doesn't give you any more than you can bear." I know my mom didn't come up with this one, but she's been known to tell me this once or twice...usually when I didn't want to hear it. But you know how the saying goes...mama knows best.

10. "I brought you into this world and I can take you out." This one was not about fear, but rather about respect. It's no secret my mom is a little bit crazy (she admits this, so it's okay) and this quote showcases her at her finest.

Perhaps the best lesson my mom has taught me is how to be a successful career woman, loving wife and caring mother. No, she may not be all warm and fuzzy. Yes, she gives it to us straight...especially when we don't want to hear it. But at the end of the day, I know she loves us and I love her more than she'll ever know.

How Do I Love Thee?

With my sister at an O's game.

Let me count the ways. Well, apparently there are only five ways, according to Gary Chapman, author of "The Five Love Languages." The original book was intended for married couples, but given the success, Chapman wrote a version for people like me: "The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition."

At the recommendation of a friend, I decided to check it out and see what all of the hype was about. I'll admit I was a bit skeptical at first. After all, love is such a complex emotion. How could one guy possibly boil it down to five "languages," or methods. But, after reading the book (and taking notes, no less!), I have to say Chapman has some pretty good points.

Basically, Chapman believes there are five languages through which we demonstrate our love for one another and prefer to be loved. Those languages are: 1. Words of Affirmation, 2. Gifts, 3. Acts of Touch, 4. Quality Time and 5. Physical Touch.

About to go snorkeling con mi madre...

Before I began reading the book, I assumed my love language would be receiving gifts. Quite simply, I love gifts. I love to receive them, but even better, I love to give them. There's nothing like high and satisfaction of finding the perfect gift for someone. Now before you think I'm a superficial spoiled brat, please allow me to explain that's not the case.

For me, it's the thought behind the gift that really excites me. A gift is a physical manifestation of someone's love for me. It says, "Hey, I saw this thing and I thought of you. I hope you like it."–that's the real gift.

But, after taking the profile assessment in the back of the book, I discovered my primary love language is quality time, closely followed by receiving gifts. After I read the chapter about quality time, my assessment made perfect sense. By my very nature, I'm a people person. I prefer to be with people than being alone. For example, before my sister was born, I created an imaginary friend named Charlie to keep me company. I sent him away to San Francisco once my sister was born, but I digress.

Chilling with Daddy.

I absolutely love spending quality time with my family and friends. It doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, as long as we're together. Some of my fondest college memories took place in my college dorm with my best friends, affectionately known as The Dream Team. My family and I can manage to have just as much fun in our backyard as we do in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. I enjoy late night Waffle House dates with my sister, biking trips with my dad and shopping adventures with my mom. And when I can't be with someone physically, I love hour-long phone calls, daily texts and iChat/Gchat conversations until the wee hours of the morning.

The Dream Team.

Why? Because quality time is important to me. As Chapman says, you can love somebody all you want, but if you don't learn to speak his or her love language, it's all for naught. Since reading "The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition," I've tried to identify my loved ones' languages in hopes that I can become a better daughter, sister, friend, etc. After all, there's more to love than just the romantic kind.

C is for Cupcakes

Graduation cupcakes, courtesy of my mom and sister.

A dozen of roses? No, thank you. A dozen of cupcakes? Yes, please. It's been said the best way to a guy's heart is through his stomach, but the same theory could be applied to me as well, especially if sweets are involved.

This year, I decided to give up chocolate for Lent, which has proven to be no easy feat. My greatest vice? Hershey Kisses with Almonds. Each kiss is like unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning. Luckily, I was smart enough not to part with desserts (or else I'd be a really unhappy camper right about now).

When it comes to dessert, I'm an EOE (Equal Opportunity Eater). I love pie and ice cream, but my ultimate favorite dessert has to be The Cupcake. I've conducted some research and I've determined it's pretty much physically impossible to be upset while eating a cupcake. Don't believe me? Try it. It's a decadent, palm-sized piece of sugary heaven.

With the advent of cupcakeries in just about every major city, there is no shortage of places to indulge my sweet tooth. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately for my waist size), there's a cupcakery about 15 minutes away from home. Every month, Sweet Devotion Cupcake & Creperie Cafe in Havre de Grace, Maryland has a special "cupcake of the month."

The Carrot Cake Cupcake from Sweet Devotion.

In October, there was the pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese frosting. If autumn had an official cupcake, it would be that one. This month, it's the Hummingbird cupcake–a classic Southern banana, pineapple and pecan cake with cream cheese icing and a dried pineapple flower. I've yet to try it, but I can't wait.

And the icing on the (cup)cake? The cafe also serves crepes, which I first fell in love with during a trip to Paris in 2006. My favorite is the French Toast crepe, which has melted butter, cinnamon and sugar. It's the simple things in life that make me happy, the least of which are cupcakes.

What's your favorite dessert?

A Letter for Pop-Pop

As some of you may know, my grandfather, also known as Pop-Pop, recently passed away. I wrote this letter for him and read it during the funeral...

Dear Pop-Pop,

Thank you for all of the memories, for all of your advice, for your encouragement and for your support throughout the years. Thank you, especially for sharing your stories and wisdom.

Because of you, we know red light cameras aren't for our safety, they're for the money. We know mountain goats eat the paper off the cans, even if we never established where the cans come from in the first place. We know how to dance the Charleston...with a chair. We even know how to flip a fork off a table. And, because of you, we know how to effectively get rid of mice. Correction: April knows how to get rid of mice. I was grossed out and ran back inside the house to watch "The Price is Right" and soap operas with Nanny.

Thank you for getting us out of trouble when we were younger. You were our protector and April's partner in crime. As long as we were with you, nothing could hurt us. Thank you, also, for teaching us the value of a dollar. A buck for helping you back in the day was a big deal.

Thank you for taking us to Whitey's and letting us pick out the ice cream of our choice. Thank you for our summer trips to the zoo, coming with us to the circus and for our lunch dates at Friendly's...even if you "accidentally" ate my sundae on numerous occasions. It's okay, I forgive you.

Thank you for buying our first car: a lime green 2003 New Volkswagen Beetle affectionately known as Lima Bean, or, as you called her, Butter Bean. And thank you for stopping the traffic at Wal-Mart so that I could back out of that parking space.

Thank you for attending every graduation, every birthday party and every other special event in our lives. We will continue to make you and Nanny proud of us. Most importantly, we would like to thank you for always being there for us no matter what. Thank you, simply, for everything.

You are the best grandfather two girls could ever ask for and we will keep you in our hearts forever and always. We love you, Pop-Pop, and we will always be your little girls.

Love,

L'Oreal and April

xoxo

You, Too, Can Make a Difference

"The First Lady of Civil Rights"

On my desk at work is a card with a quote from Rosa Parks: "To this day, I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom."

My family gave me the card as a source of encouragement for my first day on the new job. It worked. Whenever I feel discouraged, I look at her smiling face and she inspires me.

If she could be brave and stand up for her rights (ironically, by sitting down), then surely I can find the courage to overcome my own obstacles. My obsession with Rosa Parks, who would've been 98 on Friday, dates back to elementary school when I heard her story for the first time.

How could this small woman spark such a big movement? By refusing to give up her seat to a White man on December 1, 1955 in the segregated South, Rosa Parks kicked off the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which became an iconic moment in the Civil Rights Movement. It struck a nerve with me and I'll never forget how I felt that day–like I could also make a difference.

From that day on, I wrote about Rosa Parks for every Black History Month project, paper, etc. My mom prompted me to broaden my scope and write about other great Black leaders, but my heart was set on Rosa Parks. I aspired to be like her.

If I'm being totally honest, I can admit I'm not doing all I can to "make this world a better place." That's why, one month into the new year, I'm adding yet another resolution: to volunteer more. I think it's important for our young girls to have positive role models in their lives. This is not to say I'm perfect nor am I the world's greatest role model, but I want young girls, especially Black girls, to know they can do whatever they set their minds to–that there are more options in life than shaking their butts in a rap video.

I don't want them to feel ashamed of the color of their skin, like I once was. I want every girl to know she is smart, beautiful and capable of anything. I want them to be confident and I want to help. This Black History Month, I encourage you to find something you're passionate about and do your part to make this world a better, happier and more beautiful place.