The Green Dress Challenge (update)

So here's an update on what's going on with my 6-week Paleo diet/Green Dress Challenge..

I am in Northridge for only 6 more days (including today) before I go on Spring Break.
Next Wednesday and Thursday (30-31st) I'm going to San Fransisco for my good friend Camila's 21st birthday, then I will be back in Salinas for Spring Break starting April 1st.

So until April 1st, I am going to be eating much healthier, researching recipes, and preparing myself for the strict and exciting PALEO challenge.

I know this is going to be REALLY hard because this diet is so strict
(no sugar and no grains just to name a few restrictions), but I know it is going to be worth it.
Ever since I moved away to school my diet has severely plummeted, and I am determined to find a better way of eating and feeling about my body.

I'm nervous, but very excited.
(So starting April 1st I will be checking in and blogging EVERYDAY about my experience, my challenges, temptations, and progress).

Wish me LUCK!

the First day of Spring??

The first day of Spring!
(or so i'm told)

Today was insane!! Amanda and I had to drive back to Northridge from Salinas today and I didn't think it would be that bad. We left at like.. 12:40 and needed to be back in Northridge by 5, for a meeting Amanda had to go to.
We gave ourselves plenty of time... if it was a normal day, with normal weather.
But it wasn't... it was POURING down rain, all day.. and HARD!!

The drive wasn't too bad for about the first 2 hours until we go to the 46.
Then it was crazy! It took slightly longer than usual to get over the 46... it was raining pretty hard and the cars were driving slooowww.

Then...
there was the grapevine!

Little did we know...

It took us about 2 hours to get over it... going about 45mph the whole way.
We hydroplaned about 4 or 5 times,
it was terrifying.

Then it got worse. I'm pretty sure I saw the ark float on by.. I was basically driving through a lake and it was TERRIFYING. So.. not exactly knowing what to do or how to handle this... (and being that I was freaking out).. we pulled over to figure it out.

We sat there for a little bit.. thinking that since we were only about 30 miles outside of Northridge, that we needed to just suck it up and go back... so we got back on the road.
About 5 minutes later, I decided that I could NOT do it and that we needed to figure something out. So Amanda called her mom... and here's what her solution was...

So here we are!
We got here around 6ish.. and sat here for a while just kinda hanging out.
We got pizza delivered, and have just been flipping through the few channel options we have trying to stay entertained. No Amanda's been asleep for a while.. and I am TIRED!!
It has been a LONG, exhausting... kinda scary day!

Spring has Sprung!
(kinda)

My new "30 Day" Challenge! The Green Dress Challenge.

OK. Here's the deal.
I have always been a pretty skinny girl... and always very active...
and for the past year or so... this has changed and I am NO LONGER ok with it, AT ALL.
So here's what I'm going to do.

Here's the dress.
I found this dress in my closet this weekend, and I had completely forgotten about it.. and I want to wear it! But here's the thing, it no longer fits.

So I'm going to call this blog/challenge the "Green Dress Challenge" and I am going to tell myself that my goal is going to be able to wear this dress to my cousin Chelsea's graduation in May.


And here's how I plan to make it happen.
After being inspired by my friend Ashleigh Murtha, who lost 20 lbs on the Paleo diet, I have decided that I'm going to go on a "version" of this diet. I am really bad with diets.. and self control with food. So I can't follow the Paleo diet exactly... but I'm going to eat much much better.

I'm cutting out soda and fast food, including Chilis. (as hard as that is to say, I have to.)
and I'm going to start eating much simpler, healthier meals.

Lean meats, veggies, fruits, nuts and minimal carbs.
and LOTS more water.

I am also going to get a membership at LA Fitness for the rest of the semester while I'm in Northridge.



I know this is going to be difficult... but I DO NOT want to look like this anymore,
and for me it's not even about the amount (or #) that I weight.. it's about what I look like, and liking what I see when I look in the mirror.

So I am going to check in with this blog every day, recording what I have been eating, talking about my challenges, temptations and my progress... and I'll post pictures of how I look in the dress... no matter how minimal the change.

This is probably going to be really hard, so i'm going to need support, but I need to do this for myself. To feel healthier and happier in my own skin.

Traditional ALL GREEN St. Patrick's Day dinner!

Today at my Grandparents house in Salinas we had our traditional St. Patrick's dinner.
Everyone wears green, everything is decorated in green and we eat
corn beef, cabbage, red potatoes, salad and a yummy green dessert of some kind.
It's one of the many traditions that I love having with my family!

This is me at Grandma's drinking my Gin Lime Ricky.
(basically a gin and tonic with lime... yumm!)



Here is the adorable table!
A shamrock covered table cloth with matching napkins.

This salas was super yummy but I
LOVED the bowl it was brought in! It's a huge/shallow bowl
and I want one just like it!

The drink station!
Complete with printed recipes of green drinks
(alcoholic or non).

This was our delicious dessert!
A carrot cake with green frosting, and the carrots
came from my grandparents garden!

BROWNIES! made with Creme de Menthe!

Homemade bread! Enough said.

It was an amazing night filled with good conversation, jokes and old stories!
I love being home.


The FREAK moment of the night came when we went to leave and as we were getting into the car the back windshield shattered!!
The weather is horrendous, super windy and rainy, but this was just not explainable!
So Amanda and I decided to pretend we were on some sort of wild goose chase on the way home since we were in the back seat, watching the window continue to crack and while getting hit by the rain! It was so strange!

"Beauty and the Beast.... of Burden"

This is going to be a LONG blog, so be warned.
Yesterday (day) was horrible.
I went over to the DZ house to hang with my little and have our usual Wednesday morning coffee date and left in tears. It's a long story so I'm not going to go into it.
Putting that aside,
I have officially decided that yesterday didn't start until 4 pm.

So on Friday Gail (an amazing, smart and pretty girl)
asked Maegan and I if we wanted to go see "Beauty and the Beast" at the Pantages for the student price ticket of $30, an opportunity that I could NOT refuse.

We got all pretty dresses up and left for our adventure in Hollywood (which I'm usually not to fond of) around 4:30. Gail and Natalie (another very smart and pretty girl)
picked me up, and we were off!

After we got our amazingly discounted student price tickets, we had time to go get dinner before the show started. So we started driving around trying to figure out where we wanted to eat.
We ended up at an amazing little hipster-like cafe called "Urth Caffe," it may be one of my new favorite places. I want to go there with a book and sit there, drink their amazing coffee and read for hours and hours and just enjoy the atmosphere.

I had a brilliant mocha mint drink.
(You'd think they would just call it a mint mocha, but I guess a mocha mint is more unique).
It was delicious!

For dinner I ordered a chicken and cheese quesadilla and it was verrrrry yummy!
It didn't go very well with my coffee, but I figured if I wanted the coffee with my dinner than I was just going to have to deal with the fact that coffee and a quesadilla aren't a normal thing you usually eat together.

Such a YUMMY drink!
I swear it was Christmas in a cup!
It doesn't get much better than that! (March or not).

After our brilliant dinner we went back to the Pantages where we prepared ourselves for the show we were about to enter...
Which, with the show we knew we were seeing, with all of its "Disney Magic" there was no way we could really be prepared for all it had to offer.

The amazing women that occompanied me on this adventure!
(left to right: Maegan, me, Gail and Natalie. Melody was taking the picture)
With everything that's been going on in my life lately I feel like I should write a blog especially for them. These women are always there for me, always so positive and encouraging and they are all my sisters in my sorority (both alumna and active).

I took pictures of EVERYTHING, I was so excited.

The show was amazing. The costumes were PERFECT, the sets were beautiful, the set changes were seamless and the actors were breathtaking. The music and the dancing was brilliant! I loved all of. Watching these shows always makes me want to go audition (or figure out how to) because I KNOW that I could do it.

Now, aside from the fact that this show was amazing, and it was only my second professional show i've seen... the highlight of my night came at intermission.

After running to the bathroom the second the lights came on, I sat back in my seat waiting for the show to start. I saw someone walking down the isle with a girl, back to his seat, that looked really familiar to me. I SWORE that it was Lee Dewyze (the current American Idol winner)...

So I told Gail to walk down to look at the pit with me, so we walked down there. As I got closer, I KNEW that was him.

So I'm standing 2 feet away from him thinking to myself, "I HAVE to talk to him.. I'm going to be so angry if I know that's him and I don't.." (side note: Lee Dewyze is a BIG deal to me! He was my favorite all season and I have been talking about meeting him ever since).

Ok. So I walk up to him and here's how it went from there...

Me: Are you Lee Dewyze?

Lee: Ya I am.

M: Oh my gosh! I'm Corinne, I'm a huge fan.

L: I'm Lee nice to meet you! and this is my girlfriend.

M: I'm a huge fan, I watched you on American Idol

(babble babble babble)

I know i'm not supposed to, but can I take a picture with you?

L: Ya! Totally!

(picture being taken..I was shaking)

L: You don't have to be nervous, its ok!

M: it's coming out really dark cuz I can't use a flash..

L: Well track me down after and we'll take another one. I'm gunna be on American Idol tomorrow you should check it out!

M: Oh ya! I definitely will.

L: Do you want a hug?

M: YES!

(hug)

L: Are you really a fan?

M: I'm a HUGE fan!

L: well here (reaching in pocket) it's the only one I have on me but you can have it!

(handing me a guitar pick)!!!!

M: Oh my gosh! Thank you!

L: ya! it was nice meeting you!!

I went back to my seat and I was FREAKING out!

Now Maegan had seen me talking to someone... so when I got back to my seat she asked me, "Who were you talking to?" and I said, "Hang on! I have to sit down." (I sat down). So then Maegan was like, "Who was that??!!" and I told her, "MAEGAN! THAT WAS LEE DEWYZE!!"

Then we proceeded to have a freak out-star struck-girly moment!

(The pick!!)

After the show ended (I cried), we walked out and waited for Lee to come out. (Maegan's wish during dinner was to meet a famous person in Hollywood). So she told me, "He's right behind you!!" So I walked up to him, tapped him on the shoulder and asked if we could take another picture with him. He agreed. Maegan was freaking out! As we went to leave he looked at me and said, "Corinne, right?" (and I died a little inside), "Yes!" "And Maegan?" "Yeah." As we left he said, "It was really nice to meet you Corinne, have a good night!"

Mission Accomplished.

Best. Night. Ever.

And as we left the parking lot, we listened to "Beast of Burden,"

and all I could think about was how I just met the man behind that AMAZING voice.

= ]]

Across The Universe

"I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place where we just meant she's just the girl for me and I want all the world to see we've met!.."

"All You Need is Love."

"Let it be."

"Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other, something in the way she woo's me, I don't want to leave her now.. You know I believe in how... You're asking me will my love grow, Well I don't know..."

"Across the Universe" is a movie music will Beatles music. I had never seen it until I decided to buy it one day (it was on sale), I watched it.. and I loved it.
Now I watch this movie at least once every other week, it's become part of my life!

I love this music. It brings me back and let's me live in an era I feel as thought I was meant to be a part of. Maegan and Amanda are both convinced that I am a flower child reborn!

(My mother agrees with them.)

This is Jim Sturgess. He is the actor that plays Jude in "Across the Universe." He is beautiful, and has a beautiful voice and a beaufitul accent. = ]

Getting excited for the rest of college... and beyond!!

Today I'm meeting with an adviser again about changing my major and I'm really excited.

I know changing my major from Journalism to English when I'm this late in the game is crazy, but I really want to do it, I really think I can do it, and I'm really looking forward to doing it.

I keep thinking about my future, and my life after college. I know I'm going to move home, and I know I'm going to be working a lot to save money to go back to school and get my teaching credentials. I don't know how all of this is going to work, but I'm excited!

I'm going to be a teacher.
I'm going to be a high school English teacher.
I'm going to be a teacher that teaches more than just my subject.
I'm going to be the teacher that teaches and inspired kids to know they can do anything they want to do. I want kids to love high school, and to love English.
Obviously, I know not everyone will love English... but I at least want them to be interested and inspired, regardless of what they are wanting to choose as a future career.
I want to help them to be as prepared as they can be for college and for their futures.



Thinking about high school English keeps making me feel like I want to read books like "Lord of the Flies," "Hamlet," and "Cannery Row."
I didn't exactly "read" these books in high school, but I studied them,
and I feel like I should really READ them now.

One book that I DID read in high school was call "Kindred." This was a book that we didn't have to read in high school, by California standards, but our teacher wanted us to.
This book is about an African-American women living in California in 1976. She is married to a white man, and through some sort of sci-fi experience, she is taken back in time to a plantation in the south in the 19th century. Time in real life is stopped while she is gone, and she could be on this plantation for 3 years, then go back to current time and have only been gone for 5 minutes. Eventually her and her husband are taken back together and because he is white and she is black, they can't be "married" so he has to pretend like he owns her so that they won't be separated. It's pretty complex, but oh my gosh, it was my favorite book I actually read in high school... I may need to think about reading it again.

My ultimate goal is to be an English teacher at my Alma Mater, Salinas High.
I'm in love with this high school, and this town and would give anything to be able to teach there.
I'm going to do whatever I can to make this happen because when I fantasize about my teaching career, this is where I picture it happening.

Pi Day

Today is Pi Day! 3.14

When I realized it was Pi day, first I was confused (I may or may not for just a second have forgotten what the value of Pi was), then once I remembered what it was, I was excited!

I thought about how in high school, on Pi Day, it was mentioned by your teacher in almost every class that it was Pi Day! Some teachers would try and make some cute little joke about it, and most math teachers would do the same.

There was one math teacher at my high school in particular, Mrs. Scott, I never had her, but she was awesome. Anyway, on Pi Day she would have the students, along with herself, bring a ton of pies to class and they would just eat all kinds of different pies during her class.

Anyway,

HAPPY PI DAY!! = ]]

Old... In Technology Years...

Today has been slightly frustrating... as are most times when I try to use my computer.
I got my computer as a graduation present when I graduated high school in 2007,
so my computer is roughly 4 years-old... which is proving itself to be pretty old...
in technology years. This computer has been amazing and I have loved it, up until this last semester. Recently my computer has been freaking out (for lack of a better term).
It will NOT connect to the internet at my apartment, no matter what I have done or tried to fix it, but it will "connect" most other places. (Except at Starbucks this morning).

When I went home to Salinas last weekend, my mom and I took it over to the Geek Squad at Best Buy and had them check it out. Other than finding a few programs that I needed to delete to make my computer run a little "faster," they could find no reason as to why it wouldn't be able to connect to the internet.

So i've come to the conclusion that
my computer obviously hates me.

It's been really frustrating and has caused it to be pretty difficult when I try to do homework,
send e-mails, blog or anything else I feel like doing on my computer.

This morning my little, Amanda, and I went to Starbucks to read and do some homework.
That didn't exactly happen.
It took my computer about 20 minutes to just turn on and decide to be a computer,
than it took another 15 for it to open an Internet Explorer window and to attempt to connect to Starbucks WiFi.
At that point I gave up and decided to just read and leave my computer stuff for later.

We came back to the DZ house and it has been pretty much working for the time i've been here...
but still... I need a computer that will work EVERYWHERE and WHENEVER I need it to.

So my parents and I may need to look into getting me another computer very soon.
I mean, what kind of English major, or good student for that matter, would I be able to be without a working computer??!! Having a reliable computer is like having a reliable car this day in age! Especially, for a college student.

Long story short, I've been pretty frustrated with my computer...
and with the ridiculous amount of time I, and my mom, have had to put into fixing this thing.

(I just now realized that my last few posts haven't been very positive... and I'm actually in a pretty good place with my life, I promise... more positivity to come soon.)

Stirring the Pot!

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I didn't know how to start this blog...

so above shows an example of the frustration I feel about this topic.

"Stirring the pot" is a phrase that has been used frequently in my life to represent when people encourage drama or make things worse in a situation that either WASN'T drama to begin with... or the situation was fizzling out, and the "pot" of the situation is being "stirred" to make it worse. I'm over it. I really am.

I want to run away to a place where I can be at peace with my life and not be surrounded by all of this unneccessary "pot stirring."

Especially because lately, MY life has been very drama free! But I am still surrounded by everyone elses drama or the "drama" that people create in my life out of nothing!

It's silly, and very immature, and I don't want to put up with it or be around it anymore. Thank goodness I have the apartment and Long Beach to "run" away to.

I don't want you all to read this and think that everyone in my life are "pot stirrers" because that is not the case. There are many anti-pot stirrers that I make it a point to surround myself with. There are just some people that ARE a part of my life that ARE "pot stirrers" that I can't not have around me. (If that makes any sense).

Ok. Rant over.

Elvis!

Today I bought a 4 pack of Elvis movies for $10 at Target.
It has "Live a Little, Love a Little," "Kissin' Cousins," "Tickle Me," and "Girl Happy."

Now "Girl Happy" is one of my FAVORITE Elvis movies.

I used to watch it all the time when I was little.

I'm watching it now and there's a lot of parts of the movie that I don't really remember

but boy do I remember that voice.

Elvis is so stinkin' attractive and his voice just makes me want to melt.

I have always loved Elvis, ever since I was 5 and I found out who he was!

I used to always listen to his music on cassette tapes in my dad's car.

Now I listen to his stuff in MY car on my ipod.

He was my first love. No joke. He's brilliant and beautiful.

a much needed relaxing Tuesday night.

Last night and today have already proven themselves to be the start of a very eventful week.

So Amanda (my little) and I decided that we were having a much needed girls night!

She came over to my apartment after her night class and we made "dinner,"

a skillet dinner that took about 10 minutes to make,

and ate that up. Then we chose what movie(s) we wanted to watch.

We decided that we first wanted to be 5, something that happens more often than not when Amanda and I join forces, so we watched "Swan Princess."*

(Always a classic).

Then we decided to be a few years older, probably about 15 or 16, and watch

"the Wedding Planner."**

(one of my FAVORITE movies through-out my "childhood").

We are just sitting on the couch, talking, giggling, and ordering pizza

for an almost midnight snack.

I love nights like this... they are relaxing... and help me to feel better about being here.

Spending some good quility time with my little isn't so bad either.

*"This isn't my idea of fun!"

**click on the link to see a video and hear a song I really love from the movie. = ]

Figuring stuff out... Frustration and Trying to make things happen..

There is so much going on right now I don't even know where to start!

I guess I'll start with school...
Last semester I took a Communications class (COM360: Communication and the Sexes), I took it as an upper division GE but it made me completely change my mind on what I want to be majoring in, and what I want to do with my life.

Ever since I was in about 3rd grade I wanted to be a teacher. When I would have friends over to my house for a play date and they would all want to play "house".. I wanted to play "school." No lie. I would set up chairs and a white board and I would stand in the "front of the room" and be the teacher. As I got older, and reality started to come into play, I decided that I didn't think being a teacher would be the best idea because of how much they make.. or DON'T make.

Since I threw teaching out the window I have gone through many other career ideas.

Fashion Stylist. Interior Designer (I even had an internship at an architect firm).
and then Journalist. I decided that I wanted to be "Andi Anderson" from "How to lose a guy in 10 days." So when I finished my AA at MPC and was filling out applications for places to apply, I applied with the intended major of Journalism.

Now, back to that COMS class. I sat there learning about how people communicate, and how kids communicate with each other, and I started thinking about how much I LOVE kids, and not just kids, but teenagers too.

So I started remembering how much I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger... and remembered why I "threw out" that idea so many years ago. Then I really started to evaluate..

Did I really want to base my career decision based on how much money I'd be making? Did I want to be unhappy with my career? Do I want to have a career I'm really passionate about? and What kind of impact do I want to be making in people's lives?

and it hit me.

I needed to be a teacher!

I'd always wanted to be a teacher, and I decided that I really wanted to make an impact in peoples (or kids) lives. I decided that I wanted to make a bigger impact on someones life than the little "impact" that an article in a monthly magazine would make on someones life.

So the next thought I had was... there's no point in me being a Journalism major if I'm not happy and if I'm not even going to be a journalist.... so what do I do? I'm a senior!...

So long story short (not really)... I came to the conclusion that I'm going to be a teacher. Specifically, a high school English teacher. So what do I do now? I know that when I'm done with my BA that I will need to go back to school to get my teaching credentials.. but what do I do now?

When I look at the classes that I have left to take in Journalism, it makes me want to cry, and have a panic attack all at once. None of them look like something I'm remotely interested in, or something that I think I could even do well in... and when I look at the classes I would have to take to get my English degree with an emphasis in creative writing, they look interesting and like something I would really do well in and enjoy.

So what I've been doing now, the frustrating/confused senior that I am, is taking the necessary steps to change my major. Being that I have already completed so many units, I had to meet with an adviser, and write a letter of appeal so that I can make this happen.

With the remaining classes/units I have left with Journ. I would be in school for another year... and with the classes I would have to complete for English, I would have another year (if I do Fall/Winter/Spring) or another 3 semesters. But I have decided that it would be well worth the extra time to be able to have a degree in something I want to do... and when looking at the big picture, another year and a half is nothing to be able to have the degree you want for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Now the last frustration in all of this is that because I didn't meet with an adviser soon enough about all of this... I have to stick it out for the rest of the semester in the classes I have (2 Theatre and 3 Journalism). If I would have gone to her before the add/drop period was over, I could have dropped the Journ. classes I'm in this semester and started working on English classes... so that's super frustrating.

So with ALL of that said, I'm frustrated, but excited that I will be getting to do something I really like and want to do with my life... I just have to wait for the Fall for this to happen.

and this only touches the surface of the things that I've been having to think about/figure out.

I need a vacation.

=/

Day 30! I can't believe I did it!!

:movies you can watch again and again.

ok. so since i've having technical difficulties with my (and Rachel's computer)..

I can't include pictures in this one = [

but here goes!

1. Aladdin

2. The Little Mermaid

3. Swan Princess

4. The Little Rascals

5. The Sandlot

6. Dear John

7. The Last Song

8. RENT

(the movie, and my version... i'm a nerd I know)

9. The Wedding Planner

10. Across the Universe

11. ANY of the Harry Potter movies!!!!

and I know there are many more...

but i'm too tired to remember them right now!

let me just say this...

I hardly EVER watch new movies.

like EVER!

they kinda freak me out...

because I don't ever know whats going to happen!

Because of this...

I like to watch the same movies over and over and over again.

30 days of blogging.

done.

= ]]

Day 29

:favorite tv shows and why you like them

My favorite show, by far, is "Gilmore Girls."
I started watching it when I was in 8th or 9th grade..
I must make a confession and say that for some reason, not sure why,
I never actually watched it on it's night that it was aired on tv..
I only ever watched it online, and then on dvd once they were released.

For Christmas two years ago, my ex-boyfriend Michael bought me
the SERIES box set. That means he bought me
season 1-7 on DVD!! Probably one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever
received. No joke. I've watched at least one episode basically
everyday since I got it.

(Lorelai and Rory from Season 1)

(Lorelai and Rory Season 7)

"Gilmore Girls" is my favorite show for many reasons.
The first time I ever watched the show was at my friend Amy Whitacre's house.
I was spending the night and we wanted to watch a movie. I told her I didn't watch "those type of shows," putting "Gilmore Girls" in the same category as a show like "the OC" or "One Tree Hill," but she promised that if I watched at least the pilot episode that I would love it.
So we watched the pilot....... and then the rest of the season in one night!

I was in love. I wanted me and my mom to be just like Lorelai and Rory, granted we are pretty close to that now, we weren't so much then. Not only did I want that, but I wanted to find a town just like Stars Hallow and move there. I also wanted
"Luke's" (the diner in the show) to be real, so that I could go there every day.
I also wanted to be able to talk as fast and with that many pop-culture references in my daily conversation. Those girls are so witty.

By far, my favorite show of all time.
P.S.
Did I mention that I am naming my daughter Lorelai? No questions asked.
It's happening.

= ]]

Day 28

:cruise a thesaurus and pick out 10 words you like the sound of

so because I am super tired... and just got done posting a super long blog about my day.. i'm going to do this one fairly quick. (I'm going to flip through the pages, close my eyes and point to a word and see what happens.. kind of like "shuffle" but through a Thesaurus..)

Here goes..

1. blank: void, absence, inexpressive

2. capital: center, city, funds, means

3. concrete: building material, conglomeration, hardness

4. dancer: entertainer

5. drug: commodity, depressant, medicine

6. glamorous: alluring, bewitching, gorgeous

7. introduction: act, book, bringing in

8. nice: attentive, detailed, discriminating, exact

9. promise: compact, hope, omen

10. spirituality: dematerialize, refine, etherealize


not a big fan of this one. oh well.

Go to Grandma's... Leave with Treasures!

Today was brilliant. I woke up early and got ready for a mother/daughter day! My mom and I went into town around 9:30 and got some yummy Starbucks before we went over to get our traditional mother/daughter pedicures! (Which were MUCH needed). Then we went over to Marina where we took care of some stupid computer nonsense at Best Buy then went to TARGET!!!!! We spent about 2 hours there just running around looking at shoes, clothes and getting some groceries and other essentials.
Soon the time came, and we went home to get ready (from scratch) to get our church directory pictures taken and then go over to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner!


Here's some pictures of our night! = ]
Here's me, my mom and Grandma. Grandma and mom were
really the only ones cooking, but I stood close buy, observing and drinking my wine.

Casey and mom! = ] He's so tall!!

Cam and I. I believe he's comment on this picture was something
to the effect of "man, we look asian!"
What can I say... that little bit of Japanese tends to pop up
every once in a while.

One of the highlights of the evening!
My grandparents are moving about 4 hours north to some retirement property
and are needing to get rid of some stuff that they don't really have
space for. This is an "antique" piece that my grandma bought when my mom was about 10.
I have always thought that this was such a pretty piece. It has 5 mirrors and a bunch of drawers,
and the wood is so beautiful.
Long story short, she asked me if I wanted it!! YES!!
I am so excited to use this piece in my own space! (Once I have my own space that is).

Another really cool part of the night, was that my Grandma was wanting to
give away/get rid of a bunch of blankets that she's made and has had sitting around forever.
So I decided to take these 2! My Grandma made the blue one and my Great-grandma made
the brown and orange(ish) one! They are super soft and cozy.
I also got to take a really cool jewelry box and pretty fabric covered journal
off her hands. = ]]

The last (but not really) really cool thing I got out of the night was
picking up a book called "Victorian San Fransisco" and in it
my Grandma showed me this beautiful mansion.
She then told me that it belonged to my (I think) great-uncle?
Anyway, his name was L.L. Baker, and he is a relative of mine.. I believe
she said he was my great-grandma's brother.
Anyway, I thought it was really cool to see that this beautiful home
(complete with 3 stories, a library, a music room, and doors with stain glass windows)
once was my family members HOME!

I love being home.

Day 27

:my day job verses my passion

My day (and night) job.
I am a hostess at Chili's in Northridge.
It can be CRAZY and at times, quite entertaining.
I actually really like my job. It's a fun place to work.

My passion is to perform here.
Done.

Day 26

:list 10 things that you are thankful for

1. my family!
they are amazing and i know that even if they are hard on me
they are always going to be there for me.
my mom is my best friend. i wouldn't be sane without her.
my dad is the most amazing supporter of our family and he is hilarious.
casey and cameron are the best brothers on the planet! they are too funny
and they provide so much comic relief to my life.

2. Amanda Noel!
this girl IS my sister. she has been through so much with me..
i never have to feel like i'm being judged or that i have to act a certain
way when i'm with her... she knows me so well its ridiculous..
i don't think i would have made it this far in college if it wasn't for her.

3. music.
country. the beatles. elvis. show tunes. josh groban. lenka.
chris tomlin. hillsong. mark schultz.
(i could go on and on)
music is probably the only "thing" that has always been there for me
no matter what my mood is. i LOVE it. and i NEED it.

4. church/my faith/religion/God
this doesn't need too much of an explanation.
my faith and my relationship with God keeps me going.
SVCC (my church from back home) is my sanctuary. literally.

5. movies!
i love movies!! i love having lazy days of doing nothing
but watching movies! i LOVE having "Harry Potter" marathons with Cameron.
i also LOVE watching tv seasons on DVD.. i do it every day with "Gilmor Girls."
no joke.

6. COFFEE!!
it's super yummy. during Christmas time or when it rains i love it even more.
Starbucks in RED cups is Christmas in a cup.
without coffee (or caffeine) i get the WORST headaches.

7. Delta Zeta.
my sorority. i love these girls like sisters. literally.
no matter what i love them all so much, but sometimes i want to strangle them.
it happens.
my Big (Nicole), my Littles (Amanda and Melissa) and my Twin/Roommate (Maegan)
are seriously the only reasons I haven't broken down and moved back home.

8. my phone.
even though sometimes it's a distraction..
and i wish i could go back to the days of simple flip-phones
without it i wouldn't be able to talk to my best friend or my mom
on a daily basis.

9. my job.
it keeps me distracted, its pretty entertaining, and i need
it to help out my family.

10. Holidays.
Thanksgiving. Christmas.
i LOVE these holidays.. i LOVE the traditions (food/movies/decorations)
and the time it gives me to have with my family and friends.

Day 25

:what I would find your bag.

in my purse you will find..

1. my wallet

2. an empty bag of Halls cough drops

3. a pack of Orbit gum

4. my keys

5. a thumb drive

5. Burts Bees chap stick

6. a red marker

7. 4 pens

8. a thing of lip gloss from Victoria's Secret

9. my lavalier (guess i had to take it off for some reason *wink*wink*)

ps. got my purse at Pac Sun for $5 = ]

Day 24

:post your favorite quote or verse of scripture and why

There are so many that I could choose from right now, it's not even funny.... so many positive messages that get me through my day to day life... but for some reason this is the one that sounds good right at this very moment..

Psalms 91
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

This verse reminds me that I am ALWAYS under God's protection, no matter what.. That He can be my hiding place, when I feel like I can't get away.. He is always there.



Today I just want to make a fort like this, and hide under it with a good book, some good music and a good movie.. and Amanda Noel.. and hide there for the rest of the week.