Spaghetti Bread.

Do you like carbs? Then this recipe is for you! Enjoy!

It's bread, stuffed with spaghetti. Nathan and I made this for supper last night. Well, Nathan made it for supper last night. I just kinda helped. We modified the recipe a little by adding ground turkey to ours. It was so delicious! It looked simple enough as well. I could probably have done it on my own. Nathan likes to cook though, and really wanted to try it...so he kinda took over. I guess so there was no chance of us ruining it. Haha. But seriously, you should all try it. Yum Yum!

First World Problem

I like doing laundry. I know, weird right? I like doing laundry for the same reason that I am obsessed with candles,  bath and body works, and perfume. I love the way it smells. So naturally, I have a new obsession when I do my laundry.

I'm sure you know what these are. But if you've been living under a rock, they add a scented boost to your laundry. So it smells better. Really, though? I need to stop getting them. SUCH a waste of money. Yeah, my laundry smells amazing hanging in my closet. But it's not like my clothes smell like them after I wear the clothes for awhile. And good, it shouldn't. That's what I wear perfume for. It's nice on towels, that's for sure. And amazing on bedsheets. Just for that first night after sleeping on them, but then you can't smell it anymore, and that's sad. I want to smell it every night! But I don't want to do my laundry every night! First World Problems. Sure makes folding laundry a lot more enjoyable when your nose is so happy though!

Boys Vs. Girls

My new job is a desk job. A Monday to Friday 6:45 to 2:45 one. I'm pretty pumped because it's completely different from anything I've ever done. Not just because it's not in the human services field. Now I'm that girl at the front desk who you collects your information to get your oil changed. Only it's for semis. But that's not the main difference. The main difference is that I went from working with all girls....to being the only girl. And here's what I've learned...OH.MY.GOSH

Two COMPLETELY different environments, based on that fact alone. I think I'll start a quote book or something while I am there, because the things that come out of their mouths are just...ridiculous. In a good, funny way.  One of the guys has also decided that I need to learn how to drive the semi into the bays and back out when they are done. Ummm, I was excited that I could drive a 16 passenger van. And that was automatic! Good luck with that.

Bracelet Obsession.

Lately I've been obsessed with making bracelets. I'd like to thank my friend Kait for that. Now, I've only made two, but let me tell you what. My "DIY To-Do List" is getting awfully long. I just need to make a quick trip to Michaels to buy the rest of the supplies.

That pearl bracelet is very similar to the two I've made already. It's so simple and totally cute!!

Here are some of what's next.

This bracelet looks so cute! I'd pick a different color scheme, and tweak it a little to make it my own pattern, but the general idea is here

. I bought all the supplies to make these bracelets last weekend. Then I got home and realized, oh hey, I don't have metal clippers or whatever. So I've sent Nathan on a mission to get them for me because I'm the most excited for these! How cute!!

I used to spend hours just sitting in front of the TV and making the simple embroidery thread bracelets. I still have a billion things of string in my craft box. These are such a cute, fashionable, simple, and more modern way to wear them! I can't wait to make these!

Fingers Crossed!

Younkers sells this bedset. The picture doesn't do it justice. I'm in love. That's what I'm thinking for my new bedroom. But dangit the sale on it just ended! Grrr.  The comforter is nice and thick. As comfy as Nathans? I don't know because I've never slept on it. But it feels thick and cozy! So that's a major plus.

Bed Bath and Beyond sells this shower curtain. I love it! This is what I'm thinking for my bathroom. The colors would be so fun to work with! Not to mention it sorta matches the bed set I like. Now if only I had an unlimited budget!

Just Call Me Miss Decorator

 QUICK! 

Y'all just found out I was moving soon, so question is... what was the first thing that came to my mind!  

Ding Ding Ding! 

That's right! How to decorate it!

I don't know what I'd do without pinterest right now! So many good and cheap decorating ideas! I can't wait to get started!! I'm not sure how long this blog post is going to be. So I'm just going to write down and share with you everything I have thought of for decorating my new three spaces: bedroom, walk in closet, and bathroom. Keep in mind, I realize these ideas are not all realistic. Let's just pretend I have an unlimited budget, alright? Hey a girl can dream. If it gets to be too long, I'll have multiple posts for different spaces. Just a fair warning.

BEDROOM

As much as I'd love to steal Nathan's bed, he kinda needs it. But, ohhh man! His bed, ahhh, heaven! The pillows, so thick and soft. His mattress, so comfortable. The perfect combination of soft enough to mold to your body but firm enough that if I'm moving Nathan can't feel it. (Unless he's cuddling me, awww)  His soft, soft sheets. His heavy down comforter which is exactly that, comforting. I told him I'd marry him right now if we could keep his bed forever. I'm in looove. So just because of Nathan add the following to my shopping list:

• A down comforter
• Higher thread count sheets
• Fluffy pillows

 There's so much I love about this bedroom. I'll start with the color palette. I love these muted, inviting colors. They don't match, but they flow so well together. I love the white dresser, and how it has that old-country house feel to it that the colors have. I love how the curtain takes up the whole length of the wall rather than just the length of the window. I love how the curtain is draped over one side. I love the giant "headboard". I love the molding around the window. And the pop of brighter color from the flowers. I love the rug. I want this bedroom. However, this is more of a "house" bedroom, not an "apartment"  bedroom.  Nathan did say that we should work on saving our money and sticking to our budget so that when my lease was up we could buy a starter house! Maybe I could convince him that this needs to be our bedroom?

As much as I love the yellow and grey bedroom I have right now, my bed set feels a little young, and cheap. Probably because it is. I'd looove to invest in one of those down comforters Nate has. (Don't any of you say I'm hard to shop for when Christmas come around this year!) Then when I get urges to redo my room all I have to do is replace the cover. And just wash the cover, because damn are comforters a pain and half to wash! I am absolutely in love with this bed set in this picture. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the off blue color though. I'd probably go with a pale yellow or  even a peachy color.

I want to paint the bed frame that I have white. That's one of Nate and I's weekend projects. To paint my bedroom back to white before I have to move, and to also paint my bedframe white. I have this headboard  with shelves and such on it and I hate it. Hate, hate, hate it. It's ugly. I wish I had a bed frame that was just a frame. Then I'd use bedside tables. It is so much more appealing on the eyes.

Aren't these just gorgeous bedframes? Ahhh. I want them both!

I seriously cannot wait until I have my own place, so I have a real reason to invest in nice stuff.

Ok, new job, let's work on this budget so my dream home is even closer!

PS I like how I started this post with the idea of decorating my new apartment and I ended up talking about my bedroom in my dream house.

Hearts, Stars, Horseshoes, Diamonds, & Blue Moons

I don't know what happened since I wrote that life stressors blog...but my luck sure has turned around.
Such as... I only have 10 more days working that job I hate. And nooo, not because I'm getting fired! Because  I got a new job, folks! A desk one! A 9-5, no weekends one! (And by 9-5 I mean 6:45-2:45). One with better pay! No weekends! No  helping people! I take part of that back, I mean, yeahhh, I'll be helping people but not like helping helping people. Ya follow?  This job is 6 miles away and not a mini journey to the neighboring town 18 miles away. So not only am I getting higher pay but I'll also have to use less gas! Say whaaat! Plus, my new boss specifically told me I'd need to be a "smartass". Direct quote. Yeah, um, hi...that's me.

Or how about this one...I gots myself a new apartment! That's right, I am not homeless. I repeat, I am not homeless. So I guess this city is stuck with me for another year. I'll have my very own master suite! My own huge bedroom. My own huge walk in closet. My own bathroom!

I feel like a gigantic weight has been lifted off of my shoulder! Ahh, I can breathe! I feel like it's almost going to be a brand new life. I owe my grandparents, and my parents, for that. They all lent me money. But hopefully with this new job and new apartment I can get my budget all reworked out. Maybe pick up another part time job? One without weekends, since I finally got a job where I don't have to work them! I don't know what kinda place would let me do that, but I feel like with a much more consistent work schedule, I could handle picking up a few extra hours somewhere. Who knows, let's not get ahead of ourselves quite yet!

Life Stressors/Ranting.

I feel like my life is a complete and total wreck right now!

I'm stuck in a rut. There's not much in my life right now I can say I'm happy with. Or even satisfied with for that matter. Let's see...

• I hate my job. I hate having a degree and not getting paid shit for it. You actually need a psych degree for this job, and yet I still don't get paid nearly enough. Not to mention I feel like the person I work with all day just yells and is unappreciative for what I do. I am done with the mental health and health fields. Done. Remember how I said I wanted a desk job about a year ago? Yep. Still do. I never thought lil-miss-people-person-joella would hate people. But I do. I hate people now.
• So, like I said I'm working a job that requires a psychology degree. Right? Right. Ok, yet with this paycheck I'm getting I still can't pay for my degree. You'd think since you need the degree, they'd pay for the degree. Nope. If I were to pay all my student loan payments, plus my rent, plus my car payment, gas and groceries each month like a normal person does I'd come out in the red. I realized it's called a budget and that practically everyone is on one. But I legitimately cannot pay all my bills. It's not possible, even with a budget. And that's a horrible feeling. And my blood pressure and heart rate are rising right now thinking about it. 
• I'm going to be homeless I'm pretty sure. I have a horrible credit score from not being able to pay my student loans. But my lease is up. So now I have to find a place that is going to run a credit report on me and hope they understand.
• Did I mention I know nobody here whose lease is up for me to live with? Yep. That's fun. Oh, but forget being able to afford a place on my own. I definitely can't! So I'm looking for a roommate on Craigslist. I think I found one. But then again, I have to get approved  with my credit score first.
• Oh yeah, then when I move I'll have no furniture. Which is weird because I remember buying furniture for my apartment in Tampa. Lucky me, I got to leave practically my whole life behind when I ran. I only took my clothes and pictures and school books. So all that furniture I've bought? Lost it. All of those dishes and silverwear my grandmother gave me? Gone. 

I realize I'm ranting and I'm probably being a bit dramatic. But I just feel as if I can't catch a break. For the past two years it's been one thing after another. I was cheated on and beaten on by a boy who I thought loved me, which obviously wasn't the case. Which forced me to run away to a city I never had intentions of moving to. So now I'm struggling to find a place to live in, in a city I never wanted to live in, because of a job that I hate going to, which requires a degree, but doesn't pay enough to help  make student loan payments. I feel like the biggest failure at life right now.

Look At That Smile...Makes Me Melt.

On that note, I have to say that at least there's Nathan. He's amazing. Him and I can seriously be doing nothing and still just be laying on the couch together cracking up. He makes the simple things like even running to the grocery store an adventure in itself. I'm obviously stressed to the max and then he does something  like take his break at 10 (when he gets off at 11) because he knows I'll be driving home from work and need some cheering up. He's helping me look for roommates on Craigslist, and researching what apartments these people are in to help rule some out. He's helping me look for new jobs by teaching me the importance of using my (and his) contacts. I can't give him credit for helping my budget, because, well, he needs help with that too.  I'm pretty sure I'd be lost without him. He's by far the best thing a girl could ask for.

I Think My Mirror Is Broken!

So recently I've been playing with the split ends in my hair a lot. Ladies, you know what that means: it's time for a haircut. Actually, it was time for a haircut before it got to this point. I go in for a trim. And I'm sitting there as she's asking me what I want done to my hair. And the next thing I know, I'm telling her I want five inches cut off. Ugh, what? That's what I've been thinking since I got home. I've been trying to grow out my hair for forever, and I finally get it to about where I want it and I chop it off! Welp, while I'm at it, I might as well ruin the blonde hair I've finally gotten back to blonde after having had it dyed dark brown for god knows how long. So yep, then I dye my hair brown. I miss the old me. See what happens when you are stressed out? You look in the mirror and find a new person!

Oh hey, do I know you? You don't look familiar!

Olly Murs

Is sexy. 

 

I got that picture for you to oogle.

And a catchy song for you to listen to.

You're welcome.

N.

Nathan and I went to a wedding last weekend. Had a nice little roadtrip to get there. Got a hotel room right next to a casino, and had a good time. However, at the wedding we looked like total wedding crashers. To be honest I'm not sure how we got invited. I mean, we were practically the only people there that weren't family members but Nathan and the groom are really good friends, so there we were. (These were his friends that we went and visited down in Texas.)

The invite for the wedding said there would be two shuttles to the wedding from our hotel. So we got picked up by a shuttle bus...and were the only ones on it. So that was were the awkwardness started. Then the driver started following signs on the road for another wedding. Nathan was worried we'd have to call the groom and say "Sorry we didn't make it to your wedding, we got on the wrong shuttle from the hotel". Haha. Luckily, it was the right one.

The ceremony was small and intimate. Only, like I said earlier, family and a few close friends. The bride in her dress looked beautiful. They had their programs printed on fans since it was an outdoor wedding at a beautiful vineyard. T'hen on the flags they had printed a word find with the wedding partys' names.

At the reception we had a whole table to ourselves. Nobody was talking to us, nobody was sitting with us, it was awkward to say the least. Then the drinks started flowing and people started loosening up. That didn't take long, considering it was an open bar. Nate danced, I got dragged onto the dance floor by the groom telling me the bride wanted to see me. They had a photo booth (FUN!). We made some friends, heard some good stories, and it was a good time.

Then since we helped close the reception, along with a few other people, we went to the casino. And by we I mean, me, Nathan, a few other people we met at the reception, and then the bride and groom... in their wedding gear. She's such a fun and sweet girl! Random and full of life and sass. Walking around a casino after midnight in her wedding dress. That's a night I'm sure they'll never forget. I wish those two the best. They are adorable.

ENGAGED!!

Congratulations Julyn and Seth!!

Guess who is getting a new brother in law? That's right! This girl! I'm so excited to be welcoming him into our family! I'm excited to be playing maid of honor and helping my sister plan her big day!

Sunday Sundaes

Sunday is traditionally Nathan and I's date day. We don't see each other much, because I work 1st shift (correction: DID work first shift. I just quit the nursing home to take on my new job full-time) and he works 2nd shift. So when I'm getting off work he's just going in. By the time he comes home from work I'm already asleep. When I leave for work, he's still asleep. And the cycle continues until the weekends. Then I still work every other one and he stays out late, and typically stays at his place those weekends. So we may spend almost every night together, this is true, but as for actually seeing him? Well that happens not very often at all. Our solution? Sunday date days.

This Sunday Nathan paid for me to take a pretty expensive nap. I'd say it was about the price of a movie ticket. If I had to guess, I'd guess it was the same price as a ticket to The Dark Knight Rises. I went because I knew he wanted to go. I personally hate superhero movies. Not to mention I'd never even seen the first two so I knew this movie would mean nothing to me. I tried to stay awake so we could dish about it later, but I couldn't. My eyes. They kept getting heavier and heavier. Next thing I knew he was waking me up. I lasted probably...oh...an hour of the three hour long movie.

Then we went home and cooked supper. Well, HE cooked us supper. Me cook? Ha, good one. Remember me telling you how Nathan was forcing to me not be such a picky eater? Well, he did SO good yesterday! I never would have ate any of this if he didn't force me to. We started with a salad. Spinch salad. With peaches and tomatos, red wine vinaigrette, and finished with black pepper. Sound gross? Well it shouldn't because after eating it last night and now thinking about it again right now my mouth is watering. Mmmm.

Then for our main course he whipped up whole wheat pasta with grilled chicken, seared in lemon juice and olive oil and cooked with green peppers and tomatos.  Yuuuum.

Then for dessert we had vanilla ice cream with  peaches he baked on the stove top and smothered in cinnamon. Actually, I just had plain ol' vanilla. But I tried his and it was delicious. I just really like my plain jane vanilla.

Another reason why I'll never let Nathan go: This man can cook! Hot damn!

Then we ate our three courses sitting in front of the TV watching the Olympics and drinking our beers. Rascal's Wild Red Raspberry flavored beer for me. Something Something IPA. AKA Something a little more manly for him. I thought his was disgusting. He thought mine was too fruity.

I'm going to pull a  "Family Guy" and go off in a completely different tangent for a few minutes. A few weekends ago, Nate and a few of his friends and I went to a beer tasting festival. You pay like 20 bucks, go in, get your own tasting cup, and go around to a bunch of different tables set up by local breweries to get unlimited tastes of their beer. They had over 400 kinds to try. That's where I discovered the beauty of Raspberry and Blueberry flavored beers. That's where I discovered I like blonde ales but hate IPAs. I also learned that the brand "Chick Beer" is aaaamazing. Here's our group, stopping for a few pictures in between tastes.

The Girls

The Guys (Yeah...Long Story About Nate and His Friends' Matching Shirts)

Ok, back to the original story. So, I couldn't stay awake for that damn movie. I really did feel bad! I mean, the man watches "Pretty Little Liars" with me every time we are awake together. He doesn't complain. He doesn't fall asleep. He even says "Hey tootsie, let's cuddle in bed, watch the next episode, then go to sleep." Aw, is he perfect or what? I've already seen every episode of this series, I'm just watching it again because I want to figure it out, dagnabbit!!

So the beginning of last week I put in my two weeks notice at the nursing home so I could go full time to my other job. So what did the Nursing home do? Stopped scheduling me...a week early. Awesome. Because my other job doesn't have full time hours, or any hours for that matter for me for another week. So expect an overload of blogs. Because I'll have a lot of free time. I'm not excited. I'm going to call my new job tomorrow and pretty much beg for hours.

Mastered: Fishtail Braid.

Um, yeah, I know this picture was stolen off my own earlier blog post. I just wanted to point out I mastered the fishtail braid. I told y'all I do it! It's a little messy at this point just because it had been through a whole day of drinking, sleeping on it on a car ride, humidity, rain, etc. It's actually pretty simple. Which easy hairstyle should I try next?!

I Love Eric Church.

Please, tell me you know who this is. If you don't know who this is then you lead a sad, sad life. Please google "Eric Church" right now. Let me tell you what. This man is one Bad Ass Mofo. And super sexy. Annnd puts on an amazing show. I'd know.  I was there.

Ruckus would definitely be the word I'd use for this event, too. I went to the concert with a bunch of my friends, including the two I go to every concert with, Melanie and Danielle. Nathan went of course. So did my "partner in crime" Lisa. And two other of my friends. According to Eric Church during a part of his concert it was the largest crowd he's ever played for. An estimated 30,000. To be honest I'm surprised I came out alive.  Here's a list of things that happened.

• Melanie got a ticket on the way there for not having a license plate. Legitimately, it just fell off when driving one day. She didn't know what to do, so she hasn't done anything...
• Got kicked in the face by some bitch sitting on her man's shoulders
• Had that same girl's ass in my face when she started grinding her man's shoulders and her dress raised up
• Almost witnessed a fight when one of my friends stuck her finger in the girls butt and told her if she didn't want it to happen again, to get the eff down.
• Got beer thrown on me by some chick because, well, I have yet to figure that out.
• Saved time in the Kybo by Nathan using the urinal inside and me using the toilet. (They all clapped when we came out, to which Nathan replied "I wish! Just pissin' people!")
• Danced and sang to Eric Church, A LOT
• Danced in the rain when it started thunderstorming towards the end of the concert.
•  Made new friends
• Helped a friend look for her lost iPhone, did us no good though
• Drank too much
• Was jealous of all the girls in cowgirl boots. (I want a particular pair SO BAD! Been saving for forever...or trying to at least)

 I don't have very many pictures to show you. Mainly because they were all taken on the iPhone. You know, the one I just mentioned that we lost. Sad day.

Michelle!

1,000 words. Gahhh, <3 him!

Nathan Be Big Pimpin' With Danielle and I

Only One of Us Is Sober. Hint: It's Not Nate.

The Guys.

Baby Sister? Not quite...

True or False: Little Sisters Are Always Babies.

If you said "True", I agree.

However, you're still wrong. 

This is a picture of my little sister and her best friend (who may as well also be my younger sister...) as I remember them. Innocent little girls that annoyed me every single day of my summer vacations.

Here they are now. All grown up. Not as annoying. Not so innocent. And I'd actually rather enjoy to spend parts of my summer vacations with them, or even get summer vacations for that matter. 

Know what REALLY hits the ball home that she's no longer my little baby sister? She just, get this, graduated from college. Say what! Yep, now she's in the real world. Being a dental assistant. Living with her boyfriend. Adopted a dog together. Paying bills. Making a budget to buy her first very own car (Nissan Juke if you were wondering). Damn, next thing you know I'll be 50. Ew. 

Us Girls With Dad

Sister Love

Her boyfriend and His Mom

Mom

Us Girls And Our Grandparents.

Dad.

Happy Couple

I'm A "Grandpa's Girl" <3

Fishtail Braids.

How gorgeous is her hair? As you all know, probably from Pinterest, her hair braid is called the fishtail braid. I've been trying SO HARD to learn cute new things to do to my hair. I'm hair stupid though because I can never figure it out. Like cooking. Just not my strong suit. I figured out how to french twist my bangs back. I've gotten a ton of compliments on that. But next I want to master this. I'll let you know how it goes.

Love Was Always A Shade Of Grey.

This weekend I drug Nathan and Corey to the beach! Well, the "beach". I am in a landlocked state you know. So by beach I mean we went swimming in a lake, which had a sand beach next to it. Not a real beach, like on the gulf or the ocean or anything. I made the mistake of saying "gahh, I wish we had waves here like a REAL body of water". Then the boys got devilish looks on their faces and both splashed me. Guess I walked into that one, huh.

So I was standing in line at Target the other day, looking at the gum waiting for the slow poke in front of me to take 100 years to write a check. That's when it caught my eye.  This gum. Rootbeer Float flavored. Really? That sounds disgusting. I mean I love me some Root Beer Floats. But a gum? Now that's just a whole new ball field. Well, ok, you've convinced me, I'll buy it. I take it to work and try to give pieces away. Nobody wants to take the bait. I bring it home. Nate says "no way". I tell him nobody will try it with me and say and it's his job as my boyfriend to make me happy. Haha. He rolls his eyes and tries it. He loves me. Turns out he loves this gum too. Corey comes home, he tries. He loves it. So that's 3/3 people. 100%. Pretty good if I do say so myself. Good job, Extra!

Yesterday I went dress shopping because I needed a dress for the concert this weekend, and another for a wedding Nathan and I are going to next month. I found a super cute backless one for the concert. I'll try to force Nate to take a picture with me in it so y'all can see it. But, Nate and pictures doesn't usually go over too well. Something about "I hate pictures, I look stupid when I smile and look angry when I don't". Personally, I think he's sexy either way, but whatev. Then for the wedding I found a cute grey dress and a cute strapless black and white and grey dress. I couldn't decide between the two. I mean the grey one made my boobs like awesome, and that's the most important thing, right? Then the other one was more cool, temperature-wise, which is important. So I bought them both. Three dresses in one store, and it only cost me $40. I'd call that a steal! I bet y'all can take a wild guess which one Nate put his vote in for. yep. The boob one. Didn't see that one coming.

My other new addictions I'd recommend? Ok. Here it is.

•  TV Show: Jane By Design

• Book: Hunger Game Series (Although Mockingjay isn't too impressive yet. WAY better than 50 Shades of Grey. What's all the fuss about there?)

•  Song: The Moment by Goldhouse

•  Movie I'm Excited To See: Magic Mike and/or Anchorman 2

Baby Just Hold On

Daaaamn, it's been awhile since I've wrote on here! My bad. I've been busy working on those goals! For real. Well, maybe kinda. Ok, a few of them more than the others.

For example, I've gotten myself a new job. One that uses a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Finally! Now that Cornell diploma will have a better use than collecting dust! I just want to give a quick shoutout to the people in my life who made this new job possible: Nathan and Jacque!!  If it wasn't for Nate I'd still be coming home bitchin' every night about how I never use my degree but never actually do anything about it. If it wasn't for Jacque I wouldn't have gotten my foot in the door so fast. She's probably just pulled something for me that I'll never be able to repay her for.

I'm pretty excited to get started on this new job. My goal is to work my butt off. To be the best at every part at this job. I want to start at the near-bottom of the totem pole and work my way up. And I want to do it fast. I want to love my job and build a career at the same place and stop doing all this job jumping. Fingers crossed.

I'll be moving soon. As much as I've loved living here on the ghetto side of town for the past year, I'm excited to be going to the WEST SIIIIDE!! I found these absolutely GORGEOUS apartments that my friends Lisa, Melanie, and I want to move into. Washer and dryer in the unit. Free tanning. A resort styled pool and a sauna. Bathrooms, two of them, that are huge. Each bedroom with big walk in closets. Granite countertops. A kitchen with an island. I mean, these apartments are just...amazing.



The 4th of July happened while I was away from this website. Let's see...what did I do that day? Well, I got off work and Nate and I went downtown to my favorite bar. Then we, along with some of his friends, went out to a baseball game. Afterwards we watched the fireworks they set off. I love fireworks. Then back to the bar. My other favorite downtown bar. The country bar!


Not a very exciting blogpost today is it? Hm, maybe next time.

Changes.

So today I realized it is almost my birthday. I'll be 25. Birthdays aren't even fun anymore. You know why? Because in 4.5 months I will be almost 30. Right now, if you use the principles of rounding I'm 20, but in just a few short months that number shoots up to 30! 3-0! That's old. Next thing you know I'll be finding grey hairs, have wrinkles, and tits down to my knees! I feel like I don't even know enough to be an adult. I always wanted my first child at 25 because that's how old my mom was when she had me. Plus, it's just a nice age to have children. You aren't too old, but you aren't too young. It's a respectable age to become a mother. That means if I were to become pregnant tonight, I would have the child towards the end of March. But there's a lot I want to accomplish before that time. That means that in order to have them accomplished by the time I pop one out (if I keep with my age of 25 to be a first time mother) I have anywhere between 9 and 16 months.

My Goals

1. Become A Health Freak.

I love running. I guess I shouldn't necessarily say "running" as much as I should say "running on the elliptical", it's a lot easier on my poor bad knee (which by the way is back to it's swollen, extremely painful state) I love running so much because it gives me "Me" time, it allows me to think, to destress, gives my knee a chance to get stronger and hence not hurt as much. I love how it makes me feel after a long run then a hot shower, I'm happier on days where I've ran, I sleep better at night, and it gives me something to look forward to when I've had a stressful day at work. And I won't lie I like how it makes me look as well. But I go through stages. Some weeks I'll go run 5-7 miles everyday, and the next week I won't go at all. I need to make it more for a routine thing. Maybe tell myself 3 days a week, and do it. I want to learn how to be more like my friend Jessie from high school. She hated junk food and would reach for an apple before she would anything not nutritional. I've been pretty good at this for awhile now too. I don't allow myself to buy junk food and I hardly eat fast food. I think about what I'm eating and how it makes me feel. I force myself to drink a ton of water as well. And when you actually pay attention to how doing all of these things makes you feel, you wonder why it's so hard for some people to do. But I want to know about different vitamins, what they do, which foods have them. I want to know more about living in a healthy manner in general. I want to eat a balanced diet at each meal. I want to learn correct portion sizes. I want to know it all!

2. Find A Job

Yeah, technically I have two of these right now. Two part time ones. One is a lot more promising than the other, and uses my Psychology degree. However, it's at the bottom of the totem pole. This company is known for promoting within, and advancing their good employees up fast. (I have all intentions of putting my everything into this job and building a career...hopefully). But I'm going to have to agree with Nate on this one. Right now I'm not getting paid nearly as much as I deserve. I have a Bachelors Degree, which I'm required to have for this job, yet they don't want to pay for me having it. So I need to push myself. Keep looking for other jobs. Step out of my comfort zone and apply for higher level jobs. I'll never get anywhere if I don't. I want a job that pays well, has good benefits, a job that I enjoy going to everyday, and has good hours, and hopefully no weekends, or at least not as many as I'm working now. I know, I know, that's what everybody wants. But I need to work harder at finding that for myself. Or at least finding the best match that I can. Like I said, hopefully I found that at my one part time job, but if not, I'm going to need to remove myself from the situation and not stay there forever, like I did with this job I took at the nursing home. 

3. Finances

The word "finances" isn't really a goal. Let me further explain. I want my student loans under control and paid off. I want to do better at keeping a budget, or for that matter, even balancing my checking accounts. I want to build up my savings account. I want to start putting money towards a 401k, and I want to start a college fund for my as-of-now-nonexistant children, because I don't want them to ever have to struggle with paying off their student loans like I am. And if that means that right now, at this point in my life, that I have to live with no cable, slow internet, and not live in a fancy dancy apartment, that's ok with me. However, by working on Goal #2 my finances goal should become a lot easier. 

4. Learn to Cook

I seriously think I was either A. Born in the wrong generation or B. Am secretly an older woman stuck in a younger person's body. Maybe I'm just an old soul. I don't know. But I like keeping a clean house, I like organizing and decorating and wouldn't mind being a stay-at-home mom. But you know what really bothers me? That I can't cook. Yeah, I make fun of myself for it a lot, and yeah, a lot of you do too. But really...I don't like it. I hate it. I want to be that lady who has supper ready for her husband when he comes home from work. Looking like an angel in a cute little dress and 3 well behaved children playing outside with the neighborhood children. So that's why I've decided I'm going to actually attempt to make a bunch of the recipes that I've pinned on pinterest. Of course I'll start easy and get more and more advanced the more comfortable I get in the kitchen. I want to have a signature dish, like my mom has her delicious macaroni and cheese. I want to learn how to grill (I've heard grilled watermelon is delicious!), and I want to learn how to use the broiler. This weekend I'll be at Nates apartment for the whole weekend, and I think I'll tell him I want to cook us supper. And lunch. Not breakfast  because I'm a cereal type of woman, but you catch my drift. 

5. Live Alone

My lease with Lilly and Nick will be up in September. Neither one of them live here anymore, but Nate and I travel between our two apartments and each practically have two of everything, one at each place, so I don't really live alone. I want to become more independent, rely on myself, and have complete decorating, rearranging, bill-paying, cleaning, EVERYTHING responsibility all on my own. Not for very long because I'm afraid it would get a little lonely (Unless I got my chocolate lab!) but maybe sign a 6 month lease, on my own. The problem right now is that I can't afford to live on my own. Going back to goals #2 and #3. Right now I live in these shit-hole apartments and I could probably afford to live here on my own, but there's no way in hell I would. Just last night there was a big fight outside the front door around 3 in the morning. Nate luckily got home from work about 2 minutes before it started. We were watching it from my bedroom window. There were about 12 men and they took this guy and knocked him to the ground and started kicking him. Hard. In the side. In the head. Everywhere. All in a giant circle around him. Then I saw a girl yell at them to stop and tried to break it up...and I'm going to make an assumption that it was a gun, but all I saw was one of the men open up his jacket and the girl threw up her hands and walked back inside without another word. This fight went on for a good 30 minutes. I was so scared I made Nathan hold me all night. Nate says him buying a gun had nothing to do with me living here alone, but I'm pretty sure it is. I don't know why else he would tell me he wants to teach me how to shoot it, makes me keep pepper spray on my headboard, to run the air instead of keeping my sliding door open at night (even if it's cooler outside than inside), and to not take the trash out at night without him. Now these apartments aren't as horrible as I'm making them sound right now, because this fight was obviously a first time occassion. But are they safe? During the day I'd say yes, but there are some pretty sketchy individuals around here the later it gets. Anyway, back to my goal, I'd love to live alone, but I don't want to live alone in the ghetto.

None of these goals are necessarily hard but they do all require discipline. I'll have setbacks, and some days/weeks/months I'll probably completely fail at them. And that's ok. This has been the worst year of my life (or scratch that, that would be my junior year of high school) but I wouldn't trade it for anything. One of my life long goals was always to move and live in Florida. No, I wasn't there very long, but I can say I did it. I accomplished that at the ripe young age of 22. I went from being terrified to drive around in a small hicktown, USA to driving a 16 passenger van on the interstates of Tampa. I've grown so much since this time last year and I love who I've become. Now I just need to add the icing on top of the cake. These few goals. I know I can do them, I'm not even worried about it. I just need to buckle down and actually do them. I'm obviously going to have to start with Goal #2, Finding A New Job, while at the same time, working on Goal #3 Financing. But just today I bookmarked a thousand (exaggerated estimate) jobs for me to sit down and write cover letters for and send my resume in to tomorrow. That's a start. It has to start somewhere! I'm excited for this next chapter.

Lucky Guy.

Even though I worked this weekend, Nathan still found a way to keep it fun filled! Such a keeper.

 On Friday, we actually got to spend the day together because I worked 2nd instead of 1st shift. It was nice to be working the same, instead of opposite, hours as him. Around lunchI told him I was craving Chinese food like none other, so he took us to this little Chinese buffet. That man eats so fast, and gets full because he eats so fast, that once he's done, I'm done too. It's awkward sitting there having him watch me eat all the time! But this was a buffet...and CHINESE! So I made him sit there, neither of us eating, until some room freed up in his stomach so that we could both keep eating. We weren't just sitting there in silence staring at each other though. Oh no. Well, ok, you caught us. That's probably what it looked like to everybody else in the restaurant. But really we may have been listening to the 3 middle aged guys' conversation at the table behind us. May have been. No confession, because that would be rude to do such a thing! But I bet if we accidentally overheard bits and pieces of their conversation we  would hear that one of them was clearly talking about how he was messing around with a senior in high school. Another "bit and piece" of the conversation I heard was as following:

"Yeah, she's easygoing, fun, bubbly, and a 7...unless I've been drinking, then she's an 8"

Wow. I didn't know what was more shocking. The fact that this 40 year old guy was messing with a girl who was probably underage (summers out, so at the beginning of their senior year, most people are 17, so that's how I got that assumption) or the fact that he had two different rankings for her! One while intoxicated and one while sober! Keep it classy, Nashville.

At the end of our meal, when we got our fortune cookies Nathan's package contained 2 cookies in it. Guess he was just double lucky!

After I got off work on Saturday, we went to the horse races with one of his friends. I've never been to horse races, but they were kinda fun. I only say kinda because I didn't understand the stats they were reading to place their bets I'm sure they'll be more fun once I get the hang of the stats and can help Nathan pick a horse based on more than the color of the horse. I was trying to understand the stats and kept asking the two about them.  After awhile I don't know who was more annoyed, me because I didn't get them, or them because I wasn't understanding what they were saying. I tried to make a bet on one race, because well, I guess I didn't really. Nathan made a bet and just had me place the bet. He handed me money and told me what to say when I got to the front of the line. So I go up and I'm very obviously carrying a margarita (MANGO!), and the lady won't sell me the ticket because I didn't have my ID on me. 1. You got ID'ed to get in to the area. 2. I'm carrying a margarita. I didn't have my ID on me because I didn't take my purse in, so I had Nate carry my ID and debit card in his wallet. I didn't know whether to be insulted or complimented! Nate found himself some good luck that night too! He won about $200. I guess we should have known  he was going to be lucky after those two fortune cookies he got the day before.

Sunday I snuck out of work a few hours early. My boss told me not to leave until my replacement got there, but quite honestly I didn't really care. I had picked up 16 hours of overtime last week, and we had been incredibly short staffed the day before (think 4 out of 7 of the day's employees didn't show up...it was a fun day, not) so I thought to myself "well, eff it, I'm leaving anyway" and I strutted out at 1:30 instead of 2:00. Such a rebel, I know. But It wasn't like it was for no-good-reason. It was because Nathan and gotten 3 tickets to a huge outdoor country concert: one for him, one for me, and one for his friend (the same one from the horse races). Did I mention he got these FOR FREE! Yeah. Lucky, much? So that day we went there. This was an all day concert. And by all day I mean all day as in it started at noon and ended around 10. Obviously, we didn't get there when it started because I was busy being a working woman!
We walked to the concert because it was being held only 2 miles from our apartment. Plus we knew we'd probably get a few drinks, we didn't feel like paying for parking, annnd why fight the traffic when it was over? So I got off work, walk in the door, and Nate handed me a mojito and had an outfit all laid out  and ready to go on the bed for me. I threw my scrubs off (in the bedroom...his friend was there afterall!), threw the cute outfit on, and we left. There we met up with my friend Melanie. It was hot out, the sun was beautiful, there were a ton of people, there was good music, good friends, singing, slight dancing, I got me some nice color, it was a wonderful day. The epitome of summer! After the concert we went and got some ice cream to cool ourselves off.

What I learned this weekend though is that I think fate is trying to tell us is that Nate is one Lucky Guy. Well isn't that convenient! I'm currently in the process of talking Nate into going back to Iowas during the state fair time. And you know what? "Lucky Guy" is the name of a song by Mockingbird Sun. It's a song that gets played probably a little too often on my iPod. And guess who will be preforming on the free stage at the Iowa State Fair this year. Mockingbird Sun. Coincidence? I think not.

A Real Kicker.

Need a good laugh? Read my post from exactly a year ago. If I only knew. I do still love swimming, and I am still very upset I am in Iowa. But jeez, times sure have changed in a short 365 days. Makes me wonder where I'll be in the next 365!

Exhausted...Zzzzzz

16 hour shifts. Ugh. Life, why must you be so expensive and force me into this? It's amazing how working that many hours can exhaust you for the next whole day...and it doesn't help when the day following that you do it all over again!

And why does the radio absolutely insist on playing Postcards from Paris 1,000,000,000x in one hour? Seriously? Play some of that Kip Moore. There IS something about a truck! But don't play him that much, I don't want you to ruin him for me!

On the bright side, Nate has a fun filled weekend planned for us! I work all weekend, yes, but afterwards. Saturday and Sunday. What a honey! Then Monday I have plans with Miss Nathalie! a  Sounds like a good couple a days coming up. Plus tomorrow is payday, one of my favorite days of the month!

+1

The family expanded by 1. My momma got a new dog. His name is Seeley. Welcome to the family lil guy! We still miss and love Cholo, and he is no replacement for him, (or Molly, Binga, Bandit, the whole gang) but mom says it's nice to have another chihuahua around again. So, Mr. Seeley, I can't wait to meet you!

Lyn and Seeley

Dad.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I don't think my dad will ever read this. He told me himself just earlier today that he hasn't checked my blog in about...oh, you know, a year. That's a long time. I wonder if he even read last years. Who knows. But, just in case he does read this: Love you Dad! Hope you had a good day and I didn't keep you up from your nap for too long when I called today. I'm sorry I wasn't there to go out to eat with you and Lynnie today for brunch. I wish I could have bought you a dog or something. I've always wanted to do that. Buy you a dog I mean. Bad idea?

TATTOOS on this town.

If I were to ever get a tattoo, it would be one of these three. What do you think?