New Name, New Website, A Fresh Start

I'm very thankful to have had the opportunity to host my first blog website here.  In 2016 I started theredfoxstrikesagain and when I had my baby in June of 2017, I stopped posting regularly because, wow having a baby is hard!  Now I've decided to continue writing and start fresh.  My new blog is called RedFoxWrites.  Please follow the link and check it out now!  My goal is to post regularly again so if you've become a fan of my work, please subscribe for my new content.  Thank you to anyone who has read and shared any of my blogs.  It really means a lot!  I hope you'll follow me in this next chapter!

The Red Fox Strikes Again

At some point, all gingers have been called "Red".  Recently, my nickname has become "The Red Fox".  Before any assumptions are made about this, let me explain.  I'm a prankster.  I have been my whole life and it was inevitable for me to turn out this way.  Growing up, I was constantly teased by both sides of my family.  I had to adapt in order to survive.

The first prank I can remember was pretty intense.
At about the age of 3, I was terrified of "the paper-face lady".  She was a mannequin dressed in a bathrobe with a towel on her head and wore a mask decorated with floral magazine clippings.  She stood in the display window of a bath products store and every time I'd go to the mall with my mom, aunt, and cousins, they would tease me because I was so scared of her.   One day, my biggest fear came true when I saw her staring at me through the sliding glass door of my home.  I'll never forget the horror I felt in that moment.  A shiver of fear ran through my tiny body.  I was crying in my mother's arms when she let the paper-face lady inside.  It turns out, it was just my aunt dressed up.  She came in, took off the costume, and let me hold the mask she had made.  Once I calmed down, I felt better and my fear of her was cured.

As I got older, I discovered how much I enjoyed pranking others and actually got pretty good at it.  To some people, this might seem mean spirited, but to me, it was an expression of creativity.  Prank calling became a standard activity for family gatherings.  I used to booby trap my sister's room and couldn't wait for her to come home and be entangled in thread across the doorway as water would dump on her head.  Don't worry, she got me back.

A few years ago, my husband told me our friend was having some issues with his insurance company and encouraged me to send him a prank text.   It said something like "This is "so and so" insurance company.  You have requested too many claims on your policy and you now owe $500.  Please make your payment as soon as possible."  Since he didn't have my number in his phone, he believed it.  He spent a few hours looking over his policy trying to find something to fight the payment.  When his wife came home, she said an insurance company probably wouldn't send a text and they realized something weird was going on.  He texted me back and the prank was revealed.  He was a good sport about it and gave me the nickname "red fox" because of my red hair and ability to be cunning and tricky.  From now on, whenever I get away with pranking someone we always say "The red fox strikes again!".  

This past weekend my husband and I were hanging out with these friends and they asked how to find my blog.  I said it's under my name since I haven't been able to think of anything clever to call it for the time being.  The friend I had pranked suggested I use his nickname and that's why I have changed the name of this blog.  I am The Red Fox.

Introduction

         

       

 My name is Nicki Carnley.  I'm 26 years old and I've finally decided to start my own blog. Since writing is one of the skills I consider myself to enjoy and succeed in, I figured it's about time. 

Recently, someone told me I'm unique.  At first, I didn't think much of it because that word is often overused.  Then I started to really think about the aspects of my life that do make me truly unique.  My personality traits and interests are all over the place.  I've often felt like I don't fit in anywhere in particular.
  

First of all, I'm an introvert.  This is something I've been criticized for my whole life.  Recently, I have decided to embrace this part of myself and I want to help others better understand me and people like me.  

Second, I married my 5th grade crush.  True story. More on that later!  Thirdly, I love music.  I'm a firm believer in promoting what you love instead of bashing what you hate.  I have very strong opinions about the poorly written, repetitive pop songs on the radio, but I'd rather spend my time and energy on high quality music that never gets the recognition it deserves.  I'm specifically into hardcore/post-hardcore/alternative/metal/punk genres.  I'll be writing reviews and personal stories about the bands I love.  

Health is another major part of my life that I'm very passionate about.  When I read The Beauty Detox Solution, by Kimberly Snyder, my diet completely changed for the better.  I've learned what foods to eat and avoid for optimal health, proper food combinations, the best food order, and the scientific evidence that supports the program.  I've been on a two year journey of changing almost every aspect of the way I've eaten my entire life.  My desire is to share what I've gone through and inspire others to reach their health goals.  

My husband and I are Christians (another aspect of my life that is very important, but makes me not fit into any specific category) and in the world of Christianity, things like the vegan diet are not embraced as much as I believe they should be.  I love Jesus.  He is the foundation of my life and I hope to reflect the true Christ who is love.  I don't consider myself religious.  I just cherish the relationship I have with a God who is always providing and loving me.  

On this blog I plan to write about all these things and more.  My goal is to entertain and share what I've learned to spread awareness and hope.  I have an ongoing narrative dying to get out and this is the outlet where I can truly share the thoughts and opinions I usually keep to myself.  So whether you're like me and feel like an outcast who doesn't fit in most of the time, or you just want to learn and be entertained, you are welcome here.