Day 23

:something you crave a lot

FRIES!! I ALWAYS crave fries with ranch!! or just salty foods in general. I actually don't have much of a sweet tooth... but I am always craving salty foods!!

Day 22

:what makes you different from everyone else

hmmm..... ummm.... idk!... I guess one thing that makes me different then lots of people is my sense of humor. My mom and I are SUPER sarcastic! It's a very interesting type of humor that not everyone gets right off the bat... I sometimes have to tell people that I'm not really mean, or serious, but that I'm just super.. SUPER sarcastic... it's much more fun that way.

I guess another thing that makes me different than most people, are my eyes. I have SUPER blue eyes and pretty dark brown hair. I hear about my eyes from strangers almost on a daily basis. I like them.

Day 21

:a picture of something that makes you happy

Coffee (or Starbucks in a RED cup) ALWAYS makes me happy.

"Gilmore Girls"... always.

Delta Zeta. These girls are getting me through college.

my family is amazing. done.

my best friend. she's amazing and brilliant. = ]

Day 20

:write a letter to someone

Dear Journalism/J210,

When I first got to CSUN, I liked you. I thought you were interesting and current. Taking all those classes about "Women and Men in the Media" I really did enjoy. They taught me lots of new things I never realized about the media and I liked that.

Then I got to J210, "writing/reporting for the media 2," and then I began to realize how much I DON'T like newspaper journalism. Or very much about journalism, period. What I like, is writing. What I don't like, is reporting. "Go out and find a story!"... no thanks! "Here's a court case! Go cover it!"... no WAY!

So therefore, I have decided, through taking J210, that I am not a fan of Journalism... and I definitely don't think it should be my major. I don't want to write for a magazine anymore. I want to do something that is going to really contribute more to a person's life than just being some fluff article in some monthly fluff magazine.

I've decided to go back to an original passion of mine. I'm going to be a teacher. I want to teach anywhere from middle school to high school. But what I really want to do is teach English at Salinas High. So, journalism, it's been good fun... but I think, if all goes well, I must abandon you. I apologize, but you and I just don't go well together. Sorry.

Your frustrated Senior,

Corinne.

Day 19

:write about a sweet memory from your past

A sweet memory that I have from my recent past came from this summer...
I had the amazing privilege of being a part of the 17 person cast of "RENT" at my junior college back home.
This was the most amazing production I have ever had the chance to work on.
Being in such a small cast, we were like a family, and this show is one that has been dear to my heart since I first discovered it.
Almost every night on this show I was moved to tears. It is such a moving show.
It was the most meaningful theater experience of my life and I would not change that summer for anything.

"Forget regret, or life is yours to miss."
"La Vie Bohem"
"NO DAY BUT TODAY!"

Day 17 & 18

:someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

Lea Michele or Idina Menzel!

(please click on the link on "Lea Michele" to see an amazing video of her and Idina Menzel, it makes me cry). My biggest dream in life would be to perform on broadway or be in a movie musical and both of these women have done both. I want to do that. Done.

:plans/dreams/goals you have

1. get married.

2. have babies. (be a mommy).

3. be a teacher. (teach at salinas high).

4. be a counselor at camp hammer.

5. perform on broadway/be in a movie musical.

done.

Day 16

:a picture of yourself

This is me. Candance Mann (Amanda Noel's little sister) took this picture of me. Along with several others, but this is one of my favorites by far.

This is a "normal" picture of me with my little Melissa on one of the nights of recruitment.

Day 15

: put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play

1. "One Love" by the cast of Glee

2. "Quiet Houses" by Fleet Foxes

3. "Because" from the "Across the Universe" soundtrack

4. "What You Own" from the "Rent" Original Broadway Cast

5. "Just Want you to Know" by the Backstreet Boys

6. "Dentist" from "Little Shop of Horrors"

7. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" from the "Across the Universe" soundtrack

8. "Breakdown" by Jack Johnson

9. "Big Blonde and Beautiful" from "Hairspray"

10. "Stay Beautiful" by Taylor Swift

such a random bunch of songs!! As you can see, I love show (showtunes), and the Beatles. = ]

Day 14

:a picture of you and your family

(left to right: Cameron, Me, Casey, Sean, Mom and Dad)

Cameron is 12, i'm 21, Casey is 19, Sean, who is my 3rd brother/family friend, is 20.)

my grandparents! (on my dad's side).

my grandparents! (again) (on my mom's side)

my best friend. she's amazing. done.

i'm sick.. i feel awful.. i'm going to bed.

Day 13

:your 5 favorite books and why

So, like I wrote on Day 4, I do not read nearly as much as I wish I did. But I will do my best to write about 5 books.. here goes..

1) "Dear John" by Nicholas Sparks. This was a book that I bought and decided to read a little over a year ago. I had heard that it was going to be coming out as a movie with Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum and knew that I was going to HAVE to see it. So I bought the book and sat down to read it. I loved it! I cried my eyes out, I wished for a love like theirs, and I was pissed at the ending. This was also the first time that I got to experience what avid "Harry Potter" readers experience every time they see one of the movies that come out and say that it was no where near as good as the book. The movie was NO WHERE near as good as the book. They changed lots of things, but it still made me cry my eyes out.

2) "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks. This, much like "Dear John" was a book that I bought and decided to read after finding out that it was going to be turned into a movie with Miley Cyrus. This book was also, very good. It was super sad too. It had a younger feel than "Dear John" and reminded me of my relationship along with others that I saw in high school. This one though, I almost liked the movie better. Granted I can't watch it without becoming hysterical, but I still really like it.

3) "Mommywood" by Tori Spelling. Don't laugh. This is such a cute book! This was my "laying out" book of my first semester here. When I lived in the dorms, Amanda would come over occasionally, and we would lay out, super amazing and relaxing might I add, and she would read whatever book she was working on and I would crack open "Mommywood." From watching Tori on her tv show, I could picture the way that she was talking as I read through her anecdotes of being a mommy. Super cute book, so good that Amanda borrowed it when I was done.

4 and 5) I'm not going to lie, other than the first 3 books I already wrote about, I can't think of a book that I have read in the last few years that I have really loved. I DO NOT read enough, it's embarrassing, really, and it needs to change. I'm pretty positive that my 4 and 5 entry for this blog, if I had already read them, would be "Uncharted TerriTORI" by Tori Spelling and "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks. I own these two books already, and just need to sit my butt down and read them. I'm going to read "The Lucky One" first because, like the other 2 Nicholas Sparks novels I recently read, I have heard that it is being turned into a movie with ZAC EFRON. So I need to get on this asap.

Day 12

:write a poem to someone you love.

(this is a poem written to someone i WILL love)

Will I love you from the moment I know you exist?
I know I will
Will I do everything I can to plan and care for you while you grow?
I know I will
Will I long for the day that I will see you for the first time?
I know I will
Will I cry when you are welcomed into this world?
I know I will
Will I put you before myself to care for your needs?
I know I will
Will I do everything in my power to teach you and protect you?
I know I will
Will I be there for you in whatever you need?
I know I will
Will I keep an open mind when you confide in me?
I know I will
Will I be your best friend til the day I die?
I know I will
One day God will work out his plan for your life
I know He will.

How did I do it?? (not a part of my 30 days posts)

I woke up this morning at 9 am... and was so tempted not to go to my 9:30 class, no excuse, just felt like staying home and laying in bed. When this thought went through my mind, like it often does, another thought ran through my mind soon after.

HOW in the WORLD did we do it in high school??
When I was in high school, I woke up at 6:45am, got ready, "ate breakfast", got a lunch packed up and packed a bag for cheerleading practice and left by around 7:45am EVERYDAY! How did I do this?? Granted, I know I went to bed a lot earlier every night.. but still!

I wish I could still do this now..
I had an 8am class on Friday mornings last semester and let's just say that that didn't go well...

I wish that I could be as disciplined as my Little (Amanda Cox)! She goes to bed pretty early every night.. I just wish that I was able to go to bed by like 10:30 or 11 every night, read for about a half an hour to an hour every night, and be able to wake up at like 7:30, shower and get ready for my day, no problem... but my "college lifestyle" just doesn't allow that..

I'm sure eventually I'll be able to achieve this "leisurely" lifestyle that I long to have again... but until then, I will just have to remember those good 'ol days of high school.

(I will be back later today to post my "Day 11" blog)

Day 11

:write a bucket list of things you want to do before you die

I have an ongoing list that I call my "Buried Life" list on a wipe erase board in my room... so here we go..

1. perform on Broadway.
2. work in an orphanage in Africa.
3. go down to the Titanic.
4. adopt a kid.
5. get married.
6. be a mom.
7. go to Mardi Gras.
8. go to gay pride.
9. go to Stagecouch (i'm working on this one, real quick)
10. teach at Salinas High.

there are soo many things I wanna do with my life... and I'm so excited to make them all happen.

Day 10

:songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

ooooh boy.. this one is going to be difficult.. I have no idea how i will be able to narrow this down at all, but i'll try!

Songs I listen to when I'm happy: "Elephant Gun," or "Postcards from Italy," by Beirut, the "Across the Universe" soundtrack, and "Beatles" songs in general, "Felt Good on my Lips" by Tim McGraw, "Quitter" by Carrie Underwood, "Holy is the Lord" by Chris Tomlin, lots of showtunes, "These are my People" by Rodney Atkins.. I could go on, and on, and on.... =]]

When I'm sad: certain "Elvis" songs (ie: "It Hurts Me"), "A Little bit Stronger" by Sara Evens, "I'm already there" by Lonestar, "Here Comes Goodbye" by Rascal Flatts..

When I'm bored: When I'm bored or want to change things up a bit, I would put my ipod on shuffle just to see what comes up!

Hyped: when I'm hyped I love listening to my upbeat, feel good, country! A little Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood will never do you wrong.

Mad: hmmm.... I think mad often goes along with sad.... but I can't really think of specific songs or artist I am drawn to when i'm mad....

Music is my life. I could never pick just a few songs to represent a mood i'm in... but I also know that music can always change my mood and I know that for me, Country music can always make everything better, and my Beatles and Beirut will never let me down! = ]

Day 9

:something you are proud of in the last few days.

hmmmm..... i guess the first thing that comes to mind is the interview i had on Friday morning. i had an interview at Biola University to be a camp counselor at Camp Hammer this summer. Camp Hammer is the Christian summer camp I went to as a kid growing up. Aside from Disneyland, and Target, its one of my favorite places on the planet. it went so much better than i expected and i will hopefully be hearing back from them in the next few weeks.

this one was short but sweet, but that's that. = ]

Day 8

:short term goals for this month and why

Goals for the month, oh my my my. My goals for the month would include not having a break down, being that this last week is quite possibly the craziest week of the semester. This last week was recruitment for the sorority, Delta Zeta, which is ALWAYS insanity, plus I was on the invitation committee this semester so that added to the craziness.

I am also one of three Pledge Mom Assistants, which means that now that we have our brand new pledge class of Baby Turtles, I am going to be just as busy helping Tyni (the pledge mom) with whatever she needs, along with attending their meetings and such.

Other goals for this month are to work as much as I can, get some things "payed off," and save some money.

I also need to stay caught up on all my homework, I'm doing really well so far... we're still in the first month though, but I am determined to do a million times better in school this semester than last semester.

I also need to start going back to church down here... I can't go tonight because of work and pinning (a sorority thing), but next week you best believe I will be there. In addition to going back to church I want to clean, and retain the cleanliness, of my apartment! Because goodness knows, it's a hot mess right now.

I also want to start reading more, and keep up with my blogging.. i'm doing well with the blogging so far, but I need to work on the reading.

My last goal for this month is to, hopefully (i'm praying and crossing my fingers), to get hired as a camp counselor for Camp Hammer! Friday morning I had an interview down in La Miranda at Biola University with the camp director, Eric (aka Mossy). It went amazingly well, God gave me the exact words that I needed to answer all the questions that I was oh so worried about.

So all in all..... now that I look at it... I have many goals, and many things that I want to accomplish this month, some of them are just general goals that can spill over until March, April and May and some are goals that need to happen sooner than that. But I think I will be ok. = ]

Day 7

: a picture of someone/something that has had the biggest impact on you

My family has had the biggest impact on my life. My parents are so supportive and adorable. They are the best example of what a marriage should be, and they are hilarious. My brothers are two of the coolest kids you will ever meet. I am so incredibly proud of them. Casey is 19 and already has his pilots license! Cameron is 12 and plays football like a crazy man. He is so smart and loves the Beatles as much as I do.. He is also one of the funniest kids around. I love my family so much. They are so great. That is all. = ]]

Day 6

:favorite superhero and why

I just now decided, Harry Potter is a superhero! I mean, how could he not be? He survived Voldemort trying to kill him when he was a baby... granted we find out later its because he is one of Voldemort's Horcrux's, but still! He survived!! and he has been battling the most powerful dark Lord known in the wizarding world every since he entered Hogwarts! this fool has gotten himself out of so many near-death experiences it's not even funny.

I'm slightly obsessed with the Harry Potter movies and can't believe that no one has ever called Harry a superhero before... It might be because anyone with crazy powers that's not one of the "Marvel" superhero's is generally not refered to as one, but I don't care.. Harry Potter is most definitely my favorite superhero. Done.

Day 5

:a picture of somewhere you've been.

I like to say that I haven't been very many places... this is not entirely true. Right when I saw the topic of this blog there was 3 if not 4 places that popped into my head right away. So I think I may just write about all of them.

The first that came to mind was Las Vegas.

For my 21st birthday my mom and dad planned a big trip to Las Vegas for me, them and my best friend Amanda. We flew out of Monterey, stopped at LAX and then made our way there. We stayed at the Venitian where Amanda and I had our own AMAZING suite, and let me tell you, it was really amazing. On the first night, we walked along the strip and went to dinner at the restaurant called "the Top of the World" at the Stratosphere. The restaurant was 1,149 feet in the sky and was entire restaurant rotates!!.. It turns on its axis the entire time you are there. It was insane. On the second day, we did lots of shopping the whole day, where Amanda and I got to experience our first "year" drinks, a favored Vegas past time for many. Then we went back to our hotel where we got all dolled up to go see "Phantom of the Opera!" It was my first professional show i've seen, and I almost cried. It was amazing. After the show we went back to our rooms, changed into something more comfortable then ventured off to find something to eat.... and that's when we stumbled upon GILLY'S!! If you don't know what Gilly's is, it's a honky tonk hick bbq bar. They play country music videos in the dining area and outside the dining area there is a full wood dance floor where there was kareoke and then a dj playing music all night! I will never forget line dancing and taking a tequila shot with my parents, well.. my mom sort of sipped hers, but thats ok. It was an amazing trip and I felt so greatful that I had a dad that would plan a trip like that for me for my birthday.

Another place i've been to too many times to count is Lake Tahoe. Almost every winter for my entire childhood, we went there during the winter. I learned how to ski when I was 5. It is such a beautiful place in the winter and summer and other than Disneyland, its my favorite place to vacation to.

There are so many other places I've been... I can't even begin to write about them without this blog being ridiculously long... so I will pass on that for now.

Day 4

:a habit that you wish you didn’t have.

ok. so. i'm changing this one around a little bit. i'm going to write about a habit that i wish i had.

i'm not a big reader. i love reading books when i give them enough of a chance to suck me in, and when i have the discipline to sit down, not be distracted, and read.

"Dear John" and "the Last Song" are two books that i have recently read that sucked me in and i loved. i really enjoy Nicholas Sparks books. i have "the Lucky One," which is another Sparks books, that i have had for a year, and its killing me that i have yet to sit down and read it.

there is a whole other world in books that i want to experience...

i also tend to like reading books that i can read quickly, that aren't super challenging, but still capture my attention. i read the book "Mommywood" by Tori Spelling, and i'm not going to lie, it was like a guilty pleasure! it was hilarious! and i loved reading about her mommy experience.

so, yes, on occasion, i DO actually read, but i wish that i read as much as Amanda Noel, my best friend. that girl can read like 10 books over the course of a summer vacation and i'm jealous! i wish that i would go to bed every night at around 9:30 or 10 and read for an hour... maybe i'll work on that. you can do anything you put your mind to right? i guess we'll just have to see..

Day 3

(Day 7) OK! So I said I would add a picture later if I found one ...so my mom sent me this!! I think I'm about 6? in this picture.... This was probably one of my favorite ballet costumes I ever wore as a little kid.
:a picture of you as a child


soooooooooo because I don't have many pictures of me as a child here at school... I had to resort to posted a picture of me from when I was much younger. This is a picture of me from when I was a senior in high school (almost 4 years ago). I was only 17, which some people would still consider to be a "child." I was definitely more of a child in terms of my maturity level and where I was as a person. So I would say this photo only half qualifies.
So for now, that is the best I can do with posting a younger picture of myself. Maybe at a later time I will be able to "redue" this post with some more pictures.

Day 2 (a good start so far) = ]

:the meaning behind your blog name.

"My Free Therapy"

I came up with this blog name rather quickly when I decided one night, at Amanda's in Long Beach, to start a blog.

The meaning behind it is pretty simple.

Writing is a way to let out emotions, vent, and express yourself. Along with music and dance, writing is one of my ways to let go when I need to.

So "my free therapy" means that blogging is my way of being able to get things off my chest and keep my sanity.

..and unlike real "therapy," this is free. = ]

and here. we. GO.

Thanks to Amanda Noel I have decided to do the "30 days of blogging." I haven't been too consistant with my blogging as of yet, so we will see how this goes.

Day 1: a recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
<---- this is a picture of me and my littles (Melissa and Amanda) on New Years this year!

1. I have danced ballet for 17+ years.
2. I have been on 3 missions trips down to Mexico.
3. Elvis Presley was and is my first love. (thanks to my dad.)
4. I went to 2 different high schools.
5. I LOVE football.
6. I have watching "Gilmore Girls" almost every single day since Michael (my ex) bought me the box set of the entire series.
7. I rarely read for fun... or ever.
8. I have always wanted to be an elementary school teacher.
9. I LOVE the beatles, i'm a little bit of a flower child re-born.
10. Despite my answer to #9, I also LOVE country music.
11. I am always very hesitant to watch a new movie I've never seen... I would much rather re-watch a movie that I've already seen 20 times.
12. I drink coffee all day, every day.. since I was in high school.
13. Sharks are my #1 fear... I am not even kidding. I will NEVER swim in open water.
14. (Again) Despite my answer to #13, I love water sports. Specifically the ones you would do at the lake!!
15. I am slightly obsessed with the "Harry Potter" movies.

Done. = ]