Happy!

This is what's making me happy today...

Picture from...


That's right people! I get to fly home for Thanksgiving instead of driving the 9/10 hr drive home. So within 1 1/2 hours, from start to finish, I'll be back on home turf! I can't explain to you how excited I am. Is it Thanksgiving yet?


What's making you happy today?

Never Grow Up

When I was little, I told my Mama I never wanted to grow up. It was something that I worried about constantly. She told me, that was a horrible thing to worry about because growing up was amazing. She reminded me if she had never grown up, she wouldn't have met my Daddy and that she wouldn't have had me. Mama, then told me that, even though it's hard to grow up, it's something that must be done.

Later on in life, my junior year of high school to be exact, I watched the animated of version of Peter Pan. While watching the boy who never grows up, I realized that I was growing up. This revelation hit me like a ton of bricks and I remember just bawling, not liking this feeling at all. I wanted to stay that little girl, who had no huge responsibilities or cares in the world.

I graduated from high school, then college, saw my friends get married, and some have kids. I still didn't feel grown up, even though I knew in the world's eyes I technically was. It wasn't until this fall, when I moved 9 hours away from my family into my own apartment, that I started to feel grown up. I still feel like that little girl sometimes. I don't go a day with out talking to my Mama and Daddy. But this feeling doesn't last long, when I realize all the stuff that I have to do. I wish I could go back and be little again, but I know growing up is an adventure. I have the best memories of my childhood that I would never change.

Now for your listening pleasure, Taylor Swift's. This song brought tears to my eyes (a hard feat to do, as I'm not a crier)...especially around the 3:13 mark.

I've got a secret...

This post was inspired by Kate's post featuring a Post Secret post. Haha, wow that was a lot of posts.

Anyways, I too love Post Secret and get excited for a new update every Sunday. So, I decided to share a secret with ya'll...I've stole it from someone who is a few steps ahead of me...but it's still my fear just the same.

I'm so afraid of this becoming reality. I graduated with a B.A. Summa Cum Laude, and I'm now in a two year graduate program. Hopefully, one day, after I recover from getting my master's, I will get my Ph.D. But the depressing thought of it all is that I too will be one of those 70 hours a weekers working for $30k if I'm lucky. But you've got to do what you love, right?

So who wants to share a secret?

Just Another Manic Monday...

Picture from sodahead.com

You know how people dread Monday's? Well, I kind of of love them. I mean don't get me wrong, I love to sleep in on the weekends, but Monday's are a fresh start.

All weekend, but really on Sunday, I slave away over homework. It consumes my life. But by Monday, I have it all done and I have a couple of hours to relax before my first class at 4 pm. It's that wonderful feeling of relief and accomplishment. I may be freaking out by the end of day when I realize I have another week of yucky homework to do...but those few hours of doing nothing is total bliss. They help me get through the week.

What's your favorite day of the week?

PS: Sorry for the lack of posts lately...homework has been heavy and my digital camera is currently in route to be repaired...so no fun pictures for a while :(

Focusing on the good stuff...

Lately, I've been down in the dumps. I'm in some sort of rut and I don't know how to get out of it. I haven't really been wanting to talk to anybody, and I know I've probably let some people down. This is totally uncharacteristic of me. I don't know what's up, and I don't know how to fix it, but I'm going to. Anywho, instead of focusing on the bad stuff, I want to focus on the good...

Like my slip cover that Ashley sent me. Thank you so much!

Pretty floaty glass pods at the botanical gardens.

Drawing on the table clothes at random restaurants.

Yummy surprises from people who love me. Thanks Cathy, Colin, and Caitlin!

And this video. I think it is amazing that you can distinctly recognize Smoochie's and my screaming in this...we're officially louder than amplified rock goodness.

Thanks for bearing with me and this funky mood I'm in. <3

Inspiring Women

I was thinking the other day about all the people that have made an impact on my life. These four women are people that I look to for inspiration. Thank you for inspiring me.

Jana

Jana is modest and will never admit any of this, and will probably laugh her head off when she realizes that she's on my blog, but I mean every word of it. Jana is one of the most generous, gracious people I know. She's going to be the best doctor ever one day. Jana drops anything she's doing to help a person in need. After Hurricane Katrina hit, Jana joined the Americorps and helped rebuild the part of Mississippi that was hit the hardest. She has that type of mindset that comes around far too often. She's like a little Jimmy Carter protege (say what you want about President Carter, but you can't deny he's a great humanitarian).

The Busy Bee

I've been a follower of BBL for a while now, and I'm never not amazed by her posts. Her life is so full of love and she's full of such great insights, that you can't help but love her and her blog. She inspires me to be creative and to just be myself.



My Mama

Mama taught me what love is. She taught me what it is to accept someone for who they are. She taught me that life is not always an easy path, but you have to stay strong. She's the strongest person I've ever met. She is a survivor. I thank God everyday for giving me such a wonderful person as a Mama.

My Maw-Maw

The matriarch of my Mama's side of the family. She truly one of the pillars of my family. She gives all of her heart to everything she does. My Maw-Maw puts her family first. She has taught me the importance of family and of love. PS: She loves to dance and was on Atlanta's version of American Bandstand...that's why I thought this picture was appropriate.


Who inspires you?

With a little help from my friends...

Just a shout out to all my lovely friends. I would be nothing without you. Thank you for listening to me whine and complain and making sure that my frown gets turned upside down. Therefore, I dedicate this song to you...

PS: Happy Birthday John Lennon. You blessed the earth with your presence for too short of time, but what little time you had was surely epic.

Happy Friday!

1. The first thing I do in the morning to start my day is turn of the alarm clock then run to my phone to turn off its alarm. I always set two alarms because I'm paranoid like that.

2. Today I wish I was staying home to work on this homework. Seriously, I know I've been complaining a lot lately, but I've got two papers, two presentations and over 500 pages to read for one class.

3. If I had an extra $100 in my bank account I would go to Goodwill and have fun. I'd also go to Vintage Vinyl and get some records I've had my eye on.


4. Tomorrow I will be doing homework. Yuck. But I'm taking an hour out of the day to go to Goodwill. I may not have an extra $100 to spend, but I can make $20 stretch...right?


5. Two things that don't go together is being sleepy and trying to read theory. It equals an instant nap, no matter what.

6. Something I can never pass up at the grocery store is going down the book and magazine aisle. I may not always buy something, but I do spend a good five to ten minutes looking at everything.


7. The last time I tried something new was when I tried Winsor Pilates this week. I think I'm in love.

Make sure you go and link up with Lauren's blog if you play along. I hope ya'll have a Happy Friday!!

It's Been A Hard Day's Night...

And seriously, I have been working like a dog. My life currently consists of nothing but work and homework. I knew I would be getting myself into a heap load of trouble when I decided to go to grad school, but I didn't know I would be signing my life away. I haven't talked to my bestie, Smoochie, in over a week (that's a long time for us), nor have I been able to send her the lovely card I made that's just staring at me waiting to be filled out. I don't think I've had an ounce of time where I'm not going, "I should be doing homework instead."

So what gets me through the depressing fact that I have forfeited my life to higher education?

Mr. Alex Pettyfer. Hello Number Four! Do I really have to wait until February to see this? Sorry for the stinky cellphone quality. But thank you Entertainment Weekly for making my day when I saw this :)

My co-workers at Cahokia. Joe, the grounds keeper, couldn't remember my name, so he's started calling me a different name every day that I'm in. The other day it was Mildred, but currently my name is Bubba.



Also, the fact that I get to work somewhere that is pretty as this. Even if I am stuck inside all day, I at least know it's there.

There's also little surprises to wake up to, like all this fog rolling off of the Mississippi.

So my friends, what gets ya'll through those rough, busy times?