Wednesday

Well, I've survived half the week...so far :) I cannot believe that I forgot to mention the VMA's in my post Monday! It's Britney, bitch! Okay, so my love for Britney Spears is almost inappropriate totally appropriate, right?! I agree! I was so happy to see her get honored because I definitely think she's pretty close to being wonderwoman! Or, maybe it's that she takes me back to my wonderful teenage years. Annnnd, I'm pretty proud that she didn't kiss that Gaga chick. Yup, that's right--I don't like Lady Gaga. At all.

Today, I really started thinking about my future. It sounds so good to say "Oh, I wanna be there after graduation" or "Oh, that sounds like a goood place to live" or "Oh, that seems like a good idea". Because realistically, to move, I need to find school districts, apply, hopefully get an interview, find ways to get to those out-of-state interviews, get the job, find somewhere to live, sell my furniture/pack & pay to move my furniture, and move. Yeah, if that sounds like a lot to you...
Anyways, I'm trying not to feel totally overwhelmed but take it all in stride instead. I'm starting to sort out plan A, B, C, D, and possibly an E :)

I'm in a course called "Integrating Technology Into the Classroom" this semester.  I have to create a "webfolio" or blog in other words as a place to put my assignments/ideas for my future students and classroom. The blog is on Wordpress, which I haven't used before...I'm going to try it out and see how I like it compared to Blogger. I'll be linking that blog to Anything But Average so that my very few readers can check it out.

I'm pretty excited that Labor Day Weekend is a mere 2 days away, well, technically one day for me! I. desperately.need.the.break.

She Gives A Hot Mess A New Meaning

And....it's official. I'm already tired of the semester, because...well, I'm just tired? Okay, I'm not really tired of the semester but I have been really tired. I don't know if it's because I'm in my last semester and am just kinda coasting or if I'm not getting enough sleep, or what! My classes are good though :))

This weekend felt long but when I woke up this morning it felt short!  I feel like I did a little bit of everything. I'm happy that it isn't as hot anymore and for Max that means strutting through the dog park like he owns it. Haha, I guess we all just need to face the fact that the little guy truly believes that it's his way or the highway!

His muscle shirt-because it really was too tight

Apartment decorating has been going good. It's a lot more tough to hang things, etc when you share a living space (in my opinion). I feel like you always have to make sure that it's not tacky, too much of this or too much of that. And I have the dilema of really needing a dresser but not really wanting to buy one because I don't know where I'll be after graduation. I figure if all else fails I can head to Kansas City for a year, but I don't really want to do that. So, I'm pretty hesitant on buying too much BIG stuff in fear of having to sell it or spend lots of money to move it. Oh decisions...decisions.

I'm beginning to learn quite a bit about myself lately. I put things off until the last minute way too much. I don't know if it's because it takes pressure to get me motivated or what, but I know that this is a bad habit that's gonna need to end pretty quickly or else I'm going to make like a little too difficult for me.

Other happenings:
Eric & I finally invested in cable! That's right...no more netflix marathons of old shows and not-so-good flicks and lots of Housewives, Kardashians, HGTV, and, yes, Teen Mom. Wow, that doesn't make me sound near as cool as I like to think I am.

Weekend In Review Part Deux

So, I am exhausted.  Saturday morning I woke up feeling...off. Chalking it up to allergies...it's Tuesday morning and I purposely made the mistake of taking Nyquil. I just feel yucky.

Anyhow, on Saturday, Eric, my mom, and I embarked on a trip to get mani's & pedi's. I was going to go to a place that I had gone when I lived there but decided to try a new place. Big mistake. Not only could I really not understand what the man doing my nails was saying to me, I felt like we were in a freaking cattle herd. Now, as I sat down in the seat I told them what treatments I wanted. They guy said something to me about "gel polish on my nails"...okay I said. Yup, that dumb gel polish made my manicure go from about $14 to $36...annnnnnd, apparently it doesn't even come off with polish remover, etc. I have very healthy nails so there was no real reason for him to put this on...and even though I had told him I do more neutral colors on my fingers and bright colors on my toes (hello Mayor's intern), he put the bright on my fingers as well. I really would have stopped him if I had known that this polish was literally going to last forever. Yep, never going back there again.

Getting our nails done

Saturday night, Eric & I stopped by Johanna's house where we got to entertain Hayden with jokes Hayden got to entertain all of us with jokes! Later, Eric and I went to Bricktown Brewery in Bricktown and watched some tv and had some delicious beverages.

Sunday, Mom and I met up with my brother and ate lunch downtown with some family friends. I'm pretty sure the lunch ended up lasting about 2 hours due to the natural speaking ability of everyone at the table.

Picture time? No.

My boy :)

Mom and Brother walking downtown

Eric and I didn't end up leaving until about 6pm Sunday. But...the drive really didn't feel too long.

Beautiful Oklahoma sky & sunset

That's right, I didn't have to drive the WHOLE time!

Max obviously had to catch up on his zzz's before his long week began ;)

Weekend In Review Part 1

Ohhhh.Emmmm.Geeeee. I am seriously exhausted as I write this, but I'm trying to unwind before I sleep tonight. Friday morning, Eric & I left Kansas for Oklahoma for the weekend. Now, I HATE going to Oklahoma just for the weekend because A)I don't get to spend near enough time with the people I love *cough*cough*--->Jo & Hayden (this weekend); B) I always get really sad everytime I have to leave everyone; C) These weekend trips always happen only during my school year. Yup, you read that right! I start my last official semester of college tomorrow.....eh.

Anyways, Friday we got into MWC around 4pm. Wedding: 7pm. Between 4 & 7 I had to:

• Drop off Max at my mom's house
• Pick up mom
• Find/buy  something wear to the wedding
• Get a wedding gift
• Get a hotel room
• Get gas
• Get dressed

Now, I've lived away from home for 6 years, so in my mind I just didn't imagine how far away the wedding was. We left at 6:30 thinking it would take 30 minutes. Nope, when I typed the address in to my navigation it said 1 hour! Yikes....
We drove, and drove, and drove...even until there wasn't a paved road that we were traveling on. We finally arrived at the vineyard. It was beautiful and so was the bride!

I got to see so many people that I just adore from my past, and introduce Eric to them.

Wednesday

Notice how there are no exclamation points, periods, etc...on my 'Wednesday' posts?!? Well it's because Wednesday is just there.

Nothing really exciting has happened this week. I did get two job offers for the positions that I interviewed for. I'm delighted to say that I am a tutor on campus :) come see me for all of your homework questions!!! I'm really excited for this position because I know it will allow me to build on my teaching skills and learn how to modify lessons for my future students.
This weekend I am going to Oklahoma! HOME! Sometimes I just need a good dose of home. The air, food, sights, and people. This trip home is particularly special because I will be attending a wedding for a high school friend. We use to cheer together and she is just the sweetest girl I've probably ever known. I know she will make a beautiful bride and I'm so excited that I am able to attend.

Today, as I was putting wrapping paper into the "coat closet" I noticed something brown moving really fast. I looked down to see a SPIDER! Now, thankfully I am nowhere near as scared of spiders as I once was. I wondered what in the heck this spider was moving so fast for...because it was staying in one spot. THEN I NOTICED THAT IT HAD APPARENTLY STUNG A FLY AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DEAD BEFORE IT TOOK IT TO THE 'SECOND LOCATION'!!! I seriously felt like I was watching an episode of Natural Geographic that just so happened to be playing out in my closet. I started to feel sorry for the fly, but do to the fly problem we have had I just couldn't stop staring. Then the spider ran off to some dark hole in the closet. Yes, I know I need to kill the spider, I am just really creeped out. YUCK!!!

Max enjoying some sun on the patio :)

Eric & Me eating at Celito Lindo

Here At the 6 Year Mark

So, my previous post was a blog I wrote 4 years ago about my time here in Kansas. Today, I mark the offical 6 years. You know, I'm really glad that I have not once tried to predict my future. Well, other than the occasional "in 5 years I'll be married to Sufjan Stevens/Justin Timberlake" stuff. I feel like I've come full circle since I've lived in Kansas. When I first got here, I felt like I could conquer the world if I worked hard enough. More importantly, I was willing to put in the hard work it would take if I wanted to conquer the world. However, somewhere along the way I lost the naive spark I had about life and decided that the world owed me something. I know now that it never will. I don't know if I'd be willing to re-do the last 6 years...but I'd definitely try it out. When I got to Kansas I had the basics...the most important being my sidekick, and my only friend in Kansas...Max. I had no friends, no where to really go, and nothing to really do. So I just worked (and for the first time in my life I actually stuck to a budget). I was afraid that I would be limited to eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches every day...but I didn't have to.
Then I made friends. I can't really say that every "friend" I made along the way really had my best interests in their hearts, or tried to help me become a better person. All I know is that somewhere along the way I lost track of my goal and who I was. That will probably be one of the biggest regrets of my life. I went carless for a few months and was homeless on a couple of occasions (not really, really homeless, but just homeless-haha). I just wish that I wouldn't have settled for less than what I knew was best for me. Needless to say, er write, there are quite a few things I would do 100% different if given the chance...but I don't want to re-live the past. I believe those were all learning steps for my future.
I am thankful for the paths that I have been allowed to follow. I am thankful that God blessed me with the amazing circle of friends I now have. I am thankful for the opportunities being provided to me each day, and most importantly, I am thankful for all of the support and encouragement that my friends and family have provided me over the past 6 years. Without being encouraged to be independent and grow I never would have lasted here. Never.

I saw this shirt today...it will be worn next May when I walk across the stage...finally :)

Probably My Favorite Blog...Ever!

So, I have lots of stuff going on right now. I'm going into my last week of freedom before my official LAST SEMESTER OF UNDERGRAD...ever! Still surreal, still checking that all of my t's are crossed and i's are dotted! I've also been on the prowl for jobs. Just little jobs to have so that I can put aside enough money to move to my #1 destination choice after I graduate. I had one of the interviews today. Now, thanks to my background in pageants, I interview great. I have a great resume, so I'm not too nervous about finding the perfect job for now. The job I interviewed for today would be a good fit, but...during the interview they had me rate myself from 1-10 in several categories, with 1 being low, 10 being high. Who gives themself a '1'? But who gives themself a '10'. So, I told them when we started that no one is perfect, and chose to rate myself with 9.8's and such. Yeah. I'm cool.

It's been a good week...weather-wise and relaxation-wise.Here is a short video I got of Max today, while he was apparently getting in a gooood nap!

I also got bored  creative and made some interesting cards for Eric and hung them on the wall. The cards outlined fun things from our relationship. I surprised myself with my creativity, but, I have to admit...I'm just not an artist.

There were a couple of other pictures but I don't really feel like posting them all.

One of my best friends little boy, Hayden, started his first day of school yesterday. I guess since it's 'only pre-k' it doesn't even feel real to me yet because our first day of school was kindergarten. But for her, it's very real and she had a pretty hard time with it. Bless her heart, because I have a feeling I will not try to stop the natural  be a helicopter mom to my poor, future children. Hahaha...Knowing me I will probably try to get certified in elementary ed. as well just so I can teach in a room next to theirs each year they're in school. Okay, I'll stop...I sound crazy :) I won't be that bad. 



Putting It Into Words--Words Other Than My Own

Enigma: by Trapt



Do we know how to get the message across?
We turn the lights off to find a way out.
No time to get through to grasp what was lost.
Don't turn the lights off and leave me in the dark.

Hey, I'm pleading, my soul is bleeding.
I don't want to be left alone, not when I'm right next to you/
What are you thinking, it's so misleading.
Is it not for me to know, I think it's just hard for you to show.

We never spoke in the words that we want,
We turn the lights off to find a way out.
We've never chosen to keep what we've got,
Don't turn the lights off and leave me in the dark.

Hey, I'm pleading, my soul is bleeding,
I don't want to be left alone, not when I'm right next to you,
What are you thinking, it's so misleading,
Is it not for me to know, I think it's just hard for you to show.

It's so hard for you to show…
Why is it hard for you to show?

I thought it would be nice to lie down and close my eyes
It never occurred to me that I am already asleep

Don't be the one to let go,
Don't be the one to be alone.

Don't be the one to be let go.
Don't be the one to be alone tonight.

And I don't want to be left alone,
And I don't want to be left alone.

No one wants to be left alone.

Miss Brightside

Yeah, definitely felt that the weekend was a little long. I have one research paper left to organize & write...by next week. And yes, I am unintentionally putting it off until then. Today I went to the gym and got onto the scale thinking "man, if I've gained weight this is going to be a depressing workout." I lost 2 more pounds. So, officially since July I have lost 9, yes 9 pounds! This makes me ecstatic because now I want the last 4 off to move into a different weight category. I'm not really doing anything different, except I have been taking suplements over the last month. I tried doing it naturally for a year and literally got no results from the scale. I may have lost an inch or two and dropped some fat, but I just wasn't seeing any results. I hate taking extras throughout the day because I often forget. Ideally, if I could lose 14 more pounds I would be in Heaven. Not literally. My doctor told me just to lose what is left of the 4 to move me into a different set of numbers, but after having competed in pageants and seeing where my body can go...yeah, I'm not going to listen.
Insomnia has really been getting to me lately...no gusta. I've also become quite fond of Orange Leaf. The first time I went, I had the 'wedding cake' with white chocolate chips. It was alright but not what I was really wanting or expecting. I went over the weekend and had 1/2 cheesecake other 1/2 strawberry with strawberry slices and bluberries...yummmy :) I got Eric 1/2 mango other half strawberry with strawberry slices. mmmm. My mouth is watering now. I'm pretty sure if I would just lay off the sweets these next 4 little pounds would slide right off. If only...*sigh*
I'm getting PRETTY PUMPED to start my last official semester of college. At this point, I feel like I should know everything. I mean, I did graduate high school quite a while ago. However, this is my true 5th year of college so technically I'm right on track. If only my lazy days in Lawrence would have accompanied a graduation plan...oh memories.
I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend!

Taking pics in our new bathroom :))

Thoughts For Thursday (because I missed Wednesday)

Whew--I am finally done with my spanish course :) I took my final this morning, and although I'm not too certain how I did on my final due to my lack of studying, I do know that I passed. I am happy to have my last 2 weeks of summer freedom back. Sleeping in, working out, and finalizing my schedule are on my "to-do" list before the 19th.
Last weekend Eric and I moved from my tiny one-bedroom in a community that I wasn't very fond of and into a much nicer, cleaner, and larger 2 bedroom. My favorite part is the bathtub because it's huge and round. Max also seems to really enjoy the sun shining through the windows because he loves sunbathing, and at the last apartment no sun came in so he never got to lay in the sun.

My sidekick getting a "much needed tan" :)

Yesterday was Zach's birthday...this was his 9th birthday to celebrate in Heaven. I still can't believe how fast those 9 years have passed. He would have turned 28 yesterday. To me, that is astounding when I really think of it...but I try not to dwell on the numbers. I read the book "Heaven is For Real"; told by a little boy's father through his son Colton--who told his parents of his trip to Heaven during an emergency appendectomy when he was 3 years old. The book is amazing. At first, I was very skeptical to read it. I was even more skeptical to continue reading after the intro when his father stated that he is a Preacher. I thought, "well great. This young child has been exposed to Heaven, God, & Jesus because he has probably been in the church since birth." Not that there is anything wrong with that. However, after reading the book some more the little boy, at only 3 years of age, knew very detailed bits of information about Heaven and the Bible. **spoiler** Colton "met" his sister, who was miscarried before he was born, in Heaven...gave descriptions and all. No one had ever told him that his mother had lost a baby. And, his mother lost the baby before she even knew the sex.

That is one of just many things that showed me that this couldn't have been an imagination or a scheme. Something had to have happened. After reading that book, I can truly say that my faith has been taken to a new level of belief. Yesterday, I thought about the CELEBRATION that Zach was having in Heaven. Not since I was 18, on the day of his death, have I truly felt the celebration happening in Heaven. Yesterday, I could feel it. I knew that Zach was safe and happy. I can only pray that I am blessed enough one day to experience that kind of eternal happiness. If you haven't read this book, I stronly suggest you do. It's a quick read--and it's a good one :)



I hope everyone is staying cool and enjoying the winding down of this summer:) Here are some pics of the disaster I've been dealing with from the move. Thankfully, it's almost all done now!

Bedoroom full of stuff :(

And...I get this HUGE walk-in closet!

Spare room--or as Eric calls it, his "mancave"

Living Room