first day of school

Tomorrow is the first day of the semester. Holy moly. Am I prepared? Uh, not really. Yes, I've printed my schedule and I have an idea of of my outfit and I have a vague idea of what I need to do tomorrow; BUT I am not ready for 7 a.m. or homework or generally anything having to do with Spring 2011 academic semester. My mind is not prepared for tomorrow. It feels tired just thinking about what this semester holds.

As I'm frantically trying to print syllabi and fill out forms and check my email (all at once of course), I look next to me at my calendar. On it is a light green sticky note with Philippians 4:13 printed on it (kind words from a loving sister when I was in need of them last semester). The words calm me as soon as my eyes scan over them: "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

I may not feel prepared for the first day of class but God is. And I have faith that I can do all of it (the stress, the late nights, the never ending reading assignments, the projects worth 50% of my grade) with His help. I don't have to have it all together all the time. It is because He is strong that I can find strength. I know that I cannot make it on my own will power but when I am feeling weak, God gives me the strength I need to keep moving forward. I have a feeling that I am going to need a lot of motivation to get through tomorrow. And I am 150% positive that I will succeed in the end because I have God's almighty power and unconditional love on my side.

Just remember: "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."And you will find what you need to get you through anything.

updated

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! (In reality it's only been 3 days, though my last post seemed like it was written yesterday.) Here is an update on my goals/what has been going on in my life/things I am really excited about:

First of all, I am heading back to school SO soon and I am seriously itching to be back in Blacksburg. I feel refreshed and ready to start this semester. Things I am looking forward to are: hanging out with my roommates and seeing the greatest boyfriend ever, taking my photography class (!!!!), spring in the burg (too soon?), and kicking this semester right in the hind parts!

Second, I have a major craft project going on in my basement. More details to come, but it is absolutely fabulous and I love it. Hint? It's made from an old cabinet door. You'll never guess!

Number three: the much anticipated haircut is tomorrow. And I need one something fierce.

And finally fourth, yoga challenge is...well...in progress (progress as defined very loosely). I have decided to postpone it until I get back to school because then I can make it part of my routine there (which will hopefully stick with me throughout the semester). Don't judge me. I PROMISE I will do this challenge and then blog about how much physical pain I'm in because my body can't bend like that anymore - I'm sure you are overwhelmed with excitement from this! I have been trying really really hard to eat better. Holiday cookies watch out!

Keep checking back for more updates on these exciting adventures!! For now, peace out!

operation get fit

As I lay here in my bed all I can think about is everything I ate today: french toast plus coffee that had way too much creamer in it (...and then another coffee at work), a ridiculous amount of pasta from Vapianos at 4:30 in the afternoon (is that considered lunch or dinner?), a Chinese concoction my sister made at the acceptable dinner time, and, finally, a huge ass cupcake. UGH. I seriously had a food baby all day long.

Despite my boyfriend's very sweet attempts to calm me down from the panic mode I was in all day, I have decided to let my paranoia of gaining 3985 pounds get the best of me and get fit again.

I thought my eating habits were bad at school, but then I come home for the holidays and I'm surrounded by turkey and mashed potatoes...and cookies...and pecan pie....and Christmas candy. Oh. Dear. Gosh. Yummy delicious holiday foods I will not let you get the best of me!

So here are my vows for a healthier, more fit Spring 2011 semester:

1. Eat good foods (and by this I mean healthier foods, not more cupcakes). The less sweets the better (ugh, so tough). Limit my intake of fatty foods. Stop freaking snacking all the time. Drink more water than I ever thought was possible in a day. Make better choices in the dining hall.

2. Do more yoga. I LOVE yoga. I am a serious yogi in the summer when I have time to go to classes and actually work out, but during the school year I slack hard core. I told myself last summer that I was going to get up every morning and do yoga...did that happen? Nope. When I get back to school, I WILL take my yoga mat out of my closet, pop in a yoga DVD, and work out at least three or four times a week (this will most likely be by force). Plus, I just signed myself up for a 21 day yoga challenge with Yoga Journal online. And it begins tomorrow. I am crazy.

That's as far as I got in my plans; it isn't much, but it's a start. And now it's in writing, so I feel a bit more obligated to actually do it. Updates on the yoga challenge to come (if it doesn't kill me first...which it just might).

i love visits

I just spent a wonderful three days with my boyfriend. We went on a date the first night to our favorite restaurant (Big Bowl - literally the best stir fry in the whole world) and then got cupcakes at this cute little bakery in Reston Town Center. I picked out chocolate oreo and he picked out chocolate filled with caramel. We spent the rest of the night cuddling on the couch, too full to eat our cupcakes (don't worry we split them later!).

The next day we got up (this meaning I got up and practically had to drag him out of his bed) and went to DC for the day. We rode the metro in, giving us plenty of time to fantasize about the future of living in a big city with high profile jobs. Then we headed to 9th Street to the Spy Museum. We spent the afternoon reading, learning and goofing off. Matt decided it would be a good idea to top off the adventure with Starbucks - my thoughts exactly.

We spent that night playing board games with my family and one of our best friends. And it was seriously so fun! We played Last Word; it was crazy, loud, and full of laughs...the perfect combination. His last day here we spent relaxing. In honor of the previous night, we played countless rounds of Skip Bo and Yahtzee. (By the way, I am the ultimate winner!) We talked, cuddled, and spent quality time just the two of us (he even watched a chick flick with me). And it was perfect.

Being together after being separated for a long time really makes me realize all the little things I love about dating him:

I love the way he holds me - he is almost a foot taller than me and I fit perfectly wrapped up in his arms.
I love how he knows how I truly feel without having to ask me. And how he knows when I am hiding from it.
I love that he is so patient with me, especially when I wake up him up with my morning person excitement.
I love how I can talk to him about anything and everything. I have no secrets, I promise.
I love how we laugh together.
I love when he kisses me on the cheek or forehead even when I don't ask.
I love that he thinks I am beautiful and how tells me so. It is because he thinks I am beautiful that I begin to believe it myself.

So here it is - true love at its finest:

dayzzz

This is how you know it's going to be a bad day:

1. You wake up with a cat butt in your face.
2. You turn on the shower and realize two minutes later that the shower head was facing out of the shower so now your entire bathroom is soaking wet. And you have to mop it up with the towel you needed to dry off; plus you don't have your contacts in.
3. You have to go to work in three hours.
4. You drop your headphones into your coffee mug. And still drink the rest of the coffee.

This is how you know it's going to be a better day:

1. Your dad tells you people are ass holes and you can't let their actions dictate how you feel. (This is mostly in response to my terrible shopping adventure yesterday but I feel it can roughly fit any situation.)
2. You cry a little bit.
3. You read. Right now its 1984 - living what Orwell writes is way worse than my rough morning.
4. You realize the love of your life is coming to visit tomorrow (giddiness times a thousand here).
5. You go into work and tons of cute little babies come into the store.

So was today a good day? Or a bad day? Either way, it's almost over and tomorrow is a fresh start...and I can't wait for that. (Plus, boyfriend will be here...yay!)

good morning

My favorite time of the day is morning. I love getting up early and having time to enjoy the peace of it. Everything is still and quiet; nothing has been corrupted by the day. I like being able to make a good breakfast and savor my cup of coffee until the very last drop. I love having time to get ready for the day - picking out a cute outfit instead of throwing on a t-shirt, doing my hair and putting on my make up.

Morning is my time. I'm not rushing around to my classes, I'm not worried about deadlines and papers and homework; everything is calm and I am in control. It's the perfect time to re-center myself and prepare for what is in store for me that day.

I think my theory is that if my morning goes perfectly, the rest of my day will too.

Favorite song to listen to in the morning: Rogue Wave's "Eyes" - simple, calm, perfect.

happy new year

It's a new year. Here are my thoughts:

- I rung in the new year on my couch with my mom. I was super sour about this. I mean, I love my mom and I love hanging out with her but I wanted to go out and dress up and drink champagne and kiss my boyfriend at midnight. So I spent most of the night wallowing in my self pity (terrible!). We went to bed literally at 12:10; the ball dropped, we said happy new year and then turned out the lights. Is bringing in the new year in a poor mood a bad omen for the year to come?

- Shopping is my favorite thing ever. What an expensive hobby (this kills me, seriously). I spent new years day in Leesburg with my mom and sister going in cute little boutiques and antique stores. I am obsessed with anything homemade and super crafty/adorable.

- I didn't make a new years resolution. Bad? Good? I am honestly indifferent about the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, I kept trying to think of a really great resolution but everything I came up with seemed...I don't know...old? I thought of past new years' resolutions and I always seem so excited about it but then it wares off. So, what's the point?

- Nail polish. This morning I painted my fingernails the most obnoxious shade of lightish purple...and I absolutely love it. I have a huge jar filled with OPI nail polishes in all sorts of shades and colors, plus the five more I got for Christmas. My nails make a statement - the brighter, the better.

Happy 2011. I hope that God has big plans for me this year; ones that involve love and prosperity and hope. And I hope that I am blessed with the patience and strength to get through the tough ones too.

peace out 2010.