Alright, first off, you should know that I have never before had a New Years resolution, so the fact that I actually took the time to think about it and post it online is a serious thing. I'm going to try VERY hard to not just write this here and then forget about it, I really want it to happen.
1) Eat healthier
2) Start working out on a regular basis
3) Find a job that pays well, so that when I lose the weight, I can afford clothes that fit
4) Keep in better touch with old friends
5) Apply to grad school in Ireland
So there, thats what I'm going to accomplish by this time next year. And I give you all permission to call me out if I start slacking off on any of it!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas is Over
Just a quick update on how my holiday went. Christmas Eve was amazing. We drove up to running springs, to my aunt and uncles house, as per tradition. It was freezing cold and there was so much snow! We were even lucky enough to have it snow while we were there. We had our traditional fare of enchiladas and tamales. And of course, since we're all old enough now, the alcohol was flowing. it was this fact that prompted Sarah (a friend currently living with my family) and I to join in with my younger cousins to sing Karaoke that claimed it was Disney, but songs that we have never heard before. We drove down around midnight and upon arriving home, wrapped a few last minute presents before collapsing into bed.
I always wake up super early on Christmas morning, and this year was no different, but after awakening at 5:30 am, I made myself go back to sleep. I continued to wake up every 30 minutes until about 8 and I made my way downstairs about 9. It was a lot different this year, with me being the only kid at home. Ben didn't arrive until around 10, Steve didn't show up until after noon, and Kelly was too busy in England to stop by, haha. We all opened presents and ate our traditional cinnamon roll breakfast.
For dinner that night we had our usual Italian food, this year going for Ravioli. Steven ended up leaving really early. The cousins didn't stop by until really late, but we did manage to get a round of Trivial Pursuit in, as well as a round of Wii. I ended the night hanging out with Drew and watching the new Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.....ummm, amazing!
It seems so strange to me that 2009 is almost here. I'm not ready for a new year! I don't even know what I'm going to do for New Years Eve!
I always wake up super early on Christmas morning, and this year was no different, but after awakening at 5:30 am, I made myself go back to sleep. I continued to wake up every 30 minutes until about 8 and I made my way downstairs about 9. It was a lot different this year, with me being the only kid at home. Ben didn't arrive until around 10, Steve didn't show up until after noon, and Kelly was too busy in England to stop by, haha. We all opened presents and ate our traditional cinnamon roll breakfast.
For dinner that night we had our usual Italian food, this year going for Ravioli. Steven ended up leaving really early. The cousins didn't stop by until really late, but we did manage to get a round of Trivial Pursuit in, as well as a round of Wii. I ended the night hanging out with Drew and watching the new Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.....ummm, amazing!
It seems so strange to me that 2009 is almost here. I'm not ready for a new year! I don't even know what I'm going to do for New Years Eve!
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Troubador
Last night was so much fun! My cousin Courtney and I went to the Troubador to support our friend Curtis Peoples who was opening for Tyler Hilton. Courtney had offered to work the merch booth for Curtis and I had resigned myself to being all alone out on the floor of the show. Well, Bob Hilton, Tyler's dad and manager, is freaking out because his merch girl never showed...I offered to take over if he needed me to. So there I was, in the lobby of the Troubador sitting at a table selling the merch of an artist I barely know and don't really even like, haha.
Well, as the show's getting started, Sabrina, the president of Curtis's street team tells me and Courtney that if we want to go watch while Curtis is on, she'll man the booths. So we end up out on the floor and this bouncer walks up to us and asks if we want to go up to the VIP balcony.....ummmm, yes yes we do. So he escorted us up there and we were rocking out, taking pics, and laughing because all these girls down on the floor kept staring at us and trying to figure out why we were so special.
We eneded up meeting some guy named Brian who works for Warner in the TV and Film development area, Victor Fuentes from pierce the Veil, and we saw Jane Seymour and Ryan Kwanten (whom we had met at Curtis' first show).
After Curtis' set we went back down to our merch booths and sold t-shirts like crazy women. We were being silly and goofing around to keep ourselves occupied, making new friends everytime we turned around. We had printed some really cool pics from one of Curtis' other shows and he signed them for us and we got our pics taken with him, as always.
We finally got out of there around 2 am. Helping Tyler and Curtis pack all their merch back up, and Courtney ended up getting mad, because Bob Hilton paid me $50 at the end of the night, and she got nothing from Curtis, lol. But man, that was God watching out for me, because now I have half the money I need to pay my bills next month! I am amazed and grateful. :)
Well, as the show's getting started, Sabrina, the president of Curtis's street team tells me and Courtney that if we want to go watch while Curtis is on, she'll man the booths. So we end up out on the floor and this bouncer walks up to us and asks if we want to go up to the VIP balcony.....ummmm, yes yes we do. So he escorted us up there and we were rocking out, taking pics, and laughing because all these girls down on the floor kept staring at us and trying to figure out why we were so special.
We eneded up meeting some guy named Brian who works for Warner in the TV and Film development area, Victor Fuentes from pierce the Veil, and we saw Jane Seymour and Ryan Kwanten (whom we had met at Curtis' first show).
After Curtis' set we went back down to our merch booths and sold t-shirts like crazy women. We were being silly and goofing around to keep ourselves occupied, making new friends everytime we turned around. We had printed some really cool pics from one of Curtis' other shows and he signed them for us and we got our pics taken with him, as always.
We finally got out of there around 2 am. Helping Tyler and Curtis pack all their merch back up, and Courtney ended up getting mad, because Bob Hilton paid me $50 at the end of the night, and she got nothing from Curtis, lol. But man, that was God watching out for me, because now I have half the money I need to pay my bills next month! I am amazed and grateful. :)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Don't be a Fool
Proverbs 18:2 - A fool takes no pleasure in understanding , but only in expressing his opinion.
I would like to think that I walk a balanced line between the two, but I realize that it is far more likely that I am the fool. Those who know me, know just how much I express my opinion. Usually people tell me they enjoy that I speak my mind so freely, that I'm not afraid to throw what I'm thinking out into the arena. I do it so often these days, I don' even think about it anymore, it's second nature. How many times have I opened my mouth to express an opinion that's never been asked for? I don't like that I can't say with all certainty that it has never happened.
What is it in me that feels the need to get out? A craving to be the center of attention? To always be right? Oh, how I wish I could say that the only reason why I open my mouth is out of honest concern for those involved. I blogged before about how I felt the necessity of growing out of childish, selfish ways, is this not counted among that?
I don't even know how to change this about myself. I know that we are all human, and thus subject to human faults and follies. I realize that it is impossible to be 100% unselfish 100% of the time, but I also know that its possible to not be 100% selfish 100% of the time. It's about finding the balance and striving to be a better friend, daughter, sister, etc.
P.S. On a lighter note, I finally got my snow today! It was amazing, and if it hasn't all melted by the time I wake up tonight (rather, later this morning), I will take a picture to share with all of you.....Kelly, don't be jealous! :)
I would like to think that I walk a balanced line between the two, but I realize that it is far more likely that I am the fool. Those who know me, know just how much I express my opinion. Usually people tell me they enjoy that I speak my mind so freely, that I'm not afraid to throw what I'm thinking out into the arena. I do it so often these days, I don' even think about it anymore, it's second nature. How many times have I opened my mouth to express an opinion that's never been asked for? I don't like that I can't say with all certainty that it has never happened.
What is it in me that feels the need to get out? A craving to be the center of attention? To always be right? Oh, how I wish I could say that the only reason why I open my mouth is out of honest concern for those involved. I blogged before about how I felt the necessity of growing out of childish, selfish ways, is this not counted among that?
I don't even know how to change this about myself. I know that we are all human, and thus subject to human faults and follies. I realize that it is impossible to be 100% unselfish 100% of the time, but I also know that its possible to not be 100% selfish 100% of the time. It's about finding the balance and striving to be a better friend, daughter, sister, etc.
P.S. On a lighter note, I finally got my snow today! It was amazing, and if it hasn't all melted by the time I wake up tonight (rather, later this morning), I will take a picture to share with all of you.....Kelly, don't be jealous! :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
Safe....For Now
Well friends, I am happy to report that i will make it through the month of December unscathed. i managed to scrape together enough money to pay off my impeding bills and don't have to worry anymore...until January 1st that is! I have been on the hunt for a job for 7 months now and find myself becoming more and more discouraged, especially since I am now, literally, at the point of no return. I don't want to be defaulting on credit cards, and school loans! It's a scary place to be.
But at the same time, I am trying to remember that I could be so much worse off! I have a roof over my head, and food to eat, a place to sleep. I just need to tough it out and realize that it can't go on forever. Eventually, I'll find a job and be once again a fiscally responsible adult. I just have to wait out the storm, patiently!
Speaking of storms, there is one raging outside my window at the moment, it has been raining pretty much all day. I love the rain, I don't know what it is, but rain makes me content, happy. People think I'm crazy, but I love dancing in the rain (If Gene Kelly could sing in it, I should be allowed to Dance!). But because we're coming up to Christmas, it would be so amazing if it would snow! Well, I've still got 9 more days to hope and pray for a white Christmas!
But at the same time, I am trying to remember that I could be so much worse off! I have a roof over my head, and food to eat, a place to sleep. I just need to tough it out and realize that it can't go on forever. Eventually, I'll find a job and be once again a fiscally responsible adult. I just have to wait out the storm, patiently!
Speaking of storms, there is one raging outside my window at the moment, it has been raining pretty much all day. I love the rain, I don't know what it is, but rain makes me content, happy. People think I'm crazy, but I love dancing in the rain (If Gene Kelly could sing in it, I should be allowed to Dance!). But because we're coming up to Christmas, it would be so amazing if it would snow! Well, I've still got 9 more days to hope and pray for a white Christmas!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Holiday Season
As you can see, I love this time of year! While clowns might scare the bejeezus out of me, strangely men dressed up as Santa and an Elf don't. Although, I think my brother Ben might feel a little differently! Hopefully, he got himself out of that little situation....should I check on him?Anyways, tonight is exactly the kind of holiday-ness that I enjoy. I am sitting at home, with my parents (haha), and watching old Christmas movies and theres a fire blazing in the fireplace. Soon, I'll begin to multi-task and wrap some of the presents that I bought for friends and family. In about an hour or so, I might find my way to drinking some delicious hot cocoa.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas morning. Ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls for breakfast, waking up hours before everyone else and sipping coffee 'til they come down. Opening presents and stockings and all of that, but I truly enjoy the nights leading up to the actual holiday just as much. The only thing that could possibly make it better would be snow.....but I know how to cut my losses. :)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Growing Pains
Once again, I apologize, worst blogger ever. Makes me grateful that my following is so small, I don't have to worry about the masses wondering where my next blog post is.
Anyways, tonight I wanted to post something that I wrote in my personal journal. It's something that was placed on my heart because of recent circumstances that have since been resolved, but I still believe what I wrote in response.
Growing up is hard. I don't know why I didn't consciously realize this before. It's a struggle to let go of habits that you honed and perfected as a child. Children are inherently greedy, selfish, desperate for attention, etc. As adults, however, I feel that it is really important to focus more of our energy on those around us, and less on ourselves. It's so easy to look at ourselves and moan that life is so difficult: this happened, that didn't happen, I wanted this, I got that...whatever the case is. But how many others are worse off than us? This is my challenge to myself (and to you if you choose to accept it) to focus on the needs, and even wants, of others and not focus so much on my life. I fully trust that God is in control and that he has a plan and provision for my life that is far better than anything i could have planned!
Becoming an adult is difficult, different people expect different things of you. We need to stop behaving like children, doing stupid things for attention, causing fights over things that don't matter, putting down others to make ourselves feel better. How much better our time could be spent enriching someone's life than shredding one.
Anyways, tonight I wanted to post something that I wrote in my personal journal. It's something that was placed on my heart because of recent circumstances that have since been resolved, but I still believe what I wrote in response.
Growing up is hard. I don't know why I didn't consciously realize this before. It's a struggle to let go of habits that you honed and perfected as a child. Children are inherently greedy, selfish, desperate for attention, etc. As adults, however, I feel that it is really important to focus more of our energy on those around us, and less on ourselves. It's so easy to look at ourselves and moan that life is so difficult: this happened, that didn't happen, I wanted this, I got that...whatever the case is. But how many others are worse off than us? This is my challenge to myself (and to you if you choose to accept it) to focus on the needs, and even wants, of others and not focus so much on my life. I fully trust that God is in control and that he has a plan and provision for my life that is far better than anything i could have planned!
Becoming an adult is difficult, different people expect different things of you. We need to stop behaving like children, doing stupid things for attention, causing fights over things that don't matter, putting down others to make ourselves feel better. How much better our time could be spent enriching someone's life than shredding one.
