#43: Giving thanks

Here is my list of things I am thankful for this year:
1. My loving family who continue to let me live at home rent free and put up with all of my hobbies. I probably exist in 1/2 of this house while the other 3 of my family members share the other 1/2.
2. Knowing that there are people who understand me and that I can reach out to when I am faced with a moral dilemma.
3. Former professors who still offer guidance and support.
4. People who inspire me to do great things- there is one man at the nursing home where I decorate bulletin boards each month who has inspired me to go skiing and enjoy life while I can I can't wait to honor him this winter.
5. A new friend that I chat with daily.
6. Old friends that I catch up with through the wonders and magic of Facebook.
7. Best friends who will always be there for me.
8. A second job that I love going to because of the fun people who appreciate me and the amazing product that I'm selling and actually love.
9. Being able to spread joy and happiness through things like cupcakes or baby showers or cards in the mail.
10. Knowing that my Poppa is in a safe and loving place now (as opposed to last year at this time when he was so sick) where he is able to watch over us and keep us safe and say good morning with beautiful sunrises.

What are you thankful for this year?

#42: Grad School Day 2

Today is technically my second day of online graduate school through Colorado State Fort Collins.

This is what I've done so far this evening instead of my assigned reading:
* Dyed my hair
* Painted my nails
* Had a snack
* Organized my email
* Pet the dog
* Wrote down all of my future reading assignments so I can be prepared for those
* Watched part of a video about my other online class
* Tweeted
* Explained how to do something on Facebook to my grandma through texts
* Wrote this blog post

Hooray for immediate procrastination!  School is just like riding a bike.

But seriously, I am so happy to be back in classes.  Being annoyed with the fact that I have to do a reading makes me giddy.  I belong in school.

Okay, back to reading.  Happy Tuesday!

#41: Busy busy!

I've been feeling pretty down for the past few months so my list of crafts to do has been piling up- I just haven't felt like doing anything.  Finally I'm feeling back to normal and I got so much done yesterday!

I posted on my Facebook a few days ago that I had 8 tabs open in my browser and I was determined to get some of the recipes/projects completed in the week.  I'm happy to say- mission accomplished.

The screen cap from my browser- 4 recipes and 3 crafty projects.

1. Orange Cornmeal Cake- still on my list of things to bake.  Maybe this week?
2. Hummingbird Cupcakes- made them for my Vera Bradley friends.
3. Chocolate Swirl Biscuits- how delish do those look?  They're next on my list.
4. Baby bibs- done and done!
5. Baby rattle- I changed my mind about this one but I may do something like it.  Instead, I finished a bunch of my VB coffee cozies.
6. Tissue Paper Pom Poms- I'm going to make some for my mom's classroom.  They'll be so cool!
7. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake- In progress right now!
8. There was also an article in my browser that I wanted to read.  Did that too.

I finally feel accomplished and its all thanks to the loves of my life- crafting and baking.

#40: A few of my favorite things

I'm a little behind on posting.  I'm a terrible blogger.

But because I'd love to win this contest, here is a link so you can enter too!  Its for this super cute camera (and we all know how much I love taking pictures).  How cute is this little thing?

The contest is through a website called The Plaid Barn which brings daily craft deals for things like buttons, stickers and washi tape.  I want everything all the time.

Other things that I love right now:

Erin Condren EVERYTHING.  I ordered the "Life Planner".  It just shipped today.  I CANNOT WAIT TO ORGANIZE MY LIFE IN IT.  Look at all the things in this planner:

Check out her website- everything is so colorful, amazing and oh-so-beautiful!  Again, I want to buy everything.

THE OLYMPICS!  I mean, can we talk about how AWESOME Missy Franklin is?  Look at this girl!

You gotta love her for being 17-years-old, living in Colorado and staying there to train to be around her friends because "why fix what isn't broken?"  She blows me away.

The girl I sponsor- her name is Cherry May, she is wonderful and I just got a letter from her.  She likes to play jacks and badminton with her sister and dancing in the school (per her letter).  I have so many things I want to say to her but I don't know where to start!  I got the inspiration to sponsor a child from my favorite blog, Today's Letters.  It is written by a truly inspirational and in-love couple who I aspire to be like someday.

And finally, party themes.  I had a bonfire this weekend and decided at the last minute to make it Olympic themed so I made Olympic ring colored Jell-O shots and around the world appetizers.  It was so much fun and so delicious.

#39: Thoughts

I stepped on the dog's tail as we descended the stairs into my basement room last night.  It was dark and he was hesitating and I felt bad but he was in my way.  There is a tuft of tail hair on the stairs still.  Oops.

Things I love about the Basilica Block Party:
1. Running into friends you haven't seen in a while
2. The opportunity to see 9 bands in one night (if you plan accordingly)
3. Making friends with random strangers named Yuder (whose real name is Ryan) and his buddy who paid JoElla & Kylie $40 to go get 4 beers (that cost $24 total).  They pocketed the rest.
4. Getting up close and personal with the bands.

That's Tyrone Wells.

5. Being able to stand closer to the stage than you could at any regular show because everything is general admission and everyone is so chill.

I saw Moonrise Kingdom last night by myself.  I decided I needed to do something for myself and basically turned off the highway in a spur of the moment decision.  The movie was good- very Wes Anderson- but I think I liked the trailers better. There is a movie coming out soon that Ben Affleck directed and, of course, stars in because when you can't find the right person for a role, you may as well just do it yourself, right Ben?

Jaci, Kasi and I picked out our bridesmaids dresses for Jaci's wedding on May 29.  Trudy was working and Allison was unavailable to attend.  It took us about 25 minutes to find the right dress.  It was a miracle that got better two weeks later when the dress went on sale for like 50% off.  I ordered mine and assumed the girls did too.  I found out two weeks ago that Allison didn't get her dress in time and all of the dresses across the company were sold out except for one.  That one dress (surprisingly waiting for us in Richfield) was too big for her but she went in to see if they could size it down.  I tried so hard to stay out of this since it wasn't my fault or my problem but I ended up going in when the dress didn't fit Allison to see if they could size it down for me.  The good news is that they can.  Problem solved, Mary to the rescue.  These are the kinds of problems I deal with.  Good grief.  Today I'm off to pick up the dress that I ordered in the first place that is now Allison's dress.  I want to bring it over to her house today so I don't have to keep it and so I can see the baby but I don't want to talk about how much it costs and how I'm expecting her to pay for it... Ugh.

#38: Changes

I am in serious need of some changes in my life.

Things I have planned so far:
* Learning a new sport (i.e. golf, inspired by my friend Michelle at work and nudged along by Jon Wing)
* Quitting at Vera.  I haven't decided when exactly but I know it needs to happen.
* Making a budget and sticking to it (on my list of things to do before I turn 25)
* Seeking help.  I'm depressed and I am trying to deal with it.  Hopefully this is the number one thing that turns my life around this summer.
* Changing my eating habits.  I'm intrigued by the Whole 30 which you can read about here at the official website and here at a blog I read and love.  I definitely think I could stick to this diet.
* Running.  I will start this summer.  I'm determined (even though I missed the sign up for the Color Run this summer- I'll just be more prepared for next year).
* Finding something to believe in.  I think my lack of faith is contributing to my depression.  Today I woke up and decided to sponsor a child (after reading my favorite blog the night before).  Her name is Cherry Mae.  I'm sure I'll write about her more as I get to know her and I'll share a picture when I get it in the mail.  I decided that if Cherry Mae has spiritual guidance in the Philippines (I think that's where she is...), I sure can find it here.
* Continuing to clean out my room.  I have so much crap.  I just stuffed two bags full of clothes to donate and my closet is still stuffed to the brim.  I have a shelf of books I will probably never read again.  I have drawers full of junk.  I just need to throw everything out and then stop buying things to replace it all.
* Learning Spanish (for medical professionals) and finding some way to apply it to my life on a regular basis.  We have Spanish-speaking patients come in to the clinic on occasion but I want to immerse myself in a situation regularly where I can use what I learn this summer so I don't immediately forget everything.
* Going on a week long adventure.  I would like to say that the experience will be worth the expense but it is still rather expensive... but totally worth it if you ask me.  Its still a work in progress/surprise.

#37: Decisions, Decisions

It's been a while since I posted about my life.  I've been going through a lot of frustration, waiting and thinking of my future.  Here's what has happened.

Last time I posted, I was in Colorado.  I loved DU but at the time, I really didn't think it was right for me.  I was going through the motions and pretending it was perfect but looking back, it wasn't.  It was not the right fit.  I sent thank you cards to the professors and waited (im)patiently for a decision to be made.  I did get accepted into the program at DU.  I ran a victory lap around my office building.  I jumped up and down.  I posted it to Facebook and got all the validation I needed.  But every time someone asked when I was leaving, I responded "well, I haven't decided if I'm going or not".  At the time, it hinged on whether or not I got the assistantship that would pay my tuition plus give me a place to live.  Every time I worried about the expense, I was told "everyone has student loans".  For a while, I thought to myself- I'll go no matter what.  Then I did not get the assistantship and all of a sudden I was back into the confusing, twisting tornado I was stuck in before.

Finally, I sat down with my parents.  We discussed my inability to budget.  We discussed the total expense of the two year program in Denver where I would have to find a place to live and a job.  We discussed other options.  We decided (after some crying) that it is in my best interest at this point to stay home, start saving money, and possibly get my degree online.  I was not sure what my parents would say- deep down, I knew they'd give me the sensible answer (which is exactly what they did) but I was secretly hoping they'd wish me luck and tell me to go after my dreams, no matter the cost.  This decision is a good one because even though I am excited to get my master's in student affairs and as much as I want to be working in the field, I don't want $80,000+ worth of loans hovering over me for the next 15+ years (since goodness knows people in student affairs don't make a ton of money and those loans will take forever to pay off).  I know it shouldn't come down to the money but in this economy (such a lame excuse), its hard not to consider.

I interviewed for the Colorado State University online master's program yesterday.  I'll know (hopefully) at the end of the month if I'm accepted into the fall cohort.  I hate waiting but at this point, this is all that's left for me.  I've signed on to stay at MPO for at least two more years, if not three.  There is some potential for me to grow and move around in the company eventually so that is something to look forward to.  I love working in Burnsville with the bunch of people that are there so I'm content with this decision.  Some days are frustrating but they really value me as an employee and I appreciate that so I think it'll be a good place for me to stay for a while.

I am looking forward to many things now that I know I'll be home.  Jaci and Ryan's wedding in the fall.  Watching baby Gibson's first year of life.  Continuing to work out with my trainer.  Rearranging some things at home.  Getting into a better routine that will keep me healthy and happy.  I know a lot of good will come of this, I just can't see it all right now.

So there you have it, the decision has been made.  I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me or chastise me for my plans.  This was a decision I had to make on my own and you may not agree with it but that's okay.  Someday my life will go the way I expect it to, I just have to get through a few more hurdles first.