sappy “I miss school” post

   It was impossible to be on social media in December without seeing a Buzzfeed post or college student complaining about finals. While my friends who are still in school were complaining about the lack of sleep, amount of schoolwork and juggling it all it actually made me miss school. I had missed college before of course but I knew that being an adult and working had a lot to offer in different ways. I miss the social life and the friends I had but I also enjoy going to bed at 9pm every night and watching Netflix with my cat on a Saturday night. I have stopped wearing real clothes on the weekend and food shopping at Wegmans on Friday night is the highlight of my week.

But when I saw people in the library studying I really missed school. I will be the first to admit it that I am a very big nerd. I loved reading and writing papers. The library was my favorite spot on campus that gave me so much inner peace. With a cup of coffee from Starbucks in my hand I knew that I could conquer the world… or a fifteen page research paper due the next day. It is not until you have to say goodbye to something do you realize how much you miss it.

I know that I am not done with school forever. I am taking time off to save up some money, gain some independence (financially and residential) and figure out what my zip code will be for the next few years. I know the next step is my masters but I have goals of getting my PhD or going to law school. All of these options require a nice pretty check to pay for them so some time off is necessary for now to save some money.

Finals weeks was always my favorite because it was just an exam a day and I had all day to go at my own pace, goofing off with friends and everyone was delusional together with the lack of sleep.
 For now I sit at my work desk and stare longingly out the window and wish I could walk from Mandeville to Merion or even grab a coffee at Starbucks. I hated the long walks everywhere on campus but now I long to go on a walk and run into friends like I once.  I miss school and cannot wait to go back.

it’s the most wonderful time of the year

Coming back to work after a holiday weekend is typically a slow process but this week has been an exception. On Saturday I got a cold that would just not go away! Monday at work we had to start decorating for Christmas and quickly. If the tree was not up and decorated I knew we would get phone calls asking where the Christmas spirit was in town! I took a half day on Monday and came back to work on Tuesday swamped with work trying to catch up to take a full day off to get better. It is now Friday and as you can tell I never got time to take that day off!

On Tuesday I went to Costco and came back to the office with 24 Christmas wreaths to decorate the town buildings with. You know how everything is bigger at Costco? Well so are their wreaths! When I got my new car and the sales guy was bragging about the large trunk space I should have appreciated it more! It took more than an hour to buy them and lug them to my car in the pouring rain. The rain also did not help the cold I was trying to get over. On Wednesday I wore a nice outfit to work and did not realize I would have to put up the Christmas wreaths that day. At the end of the day my jacket and work pants were covered in pine needles and sap! It’s a good thing I decided to wear flats to the office instead of the cute heels I almost wore!

christmas wreath front door

The day after Thanksgiving is when the Christmas spirit is strong so this week has been a lot of event planning, decorating and social media-ing to get the town ready for Christmas time.

I am ready for a full night of sleep to catch up on sleep, get better and have some much needed fun this weekend.

This is going to be a crazy month working on events and projects. I am looking forward to every minute of it because I love my job and being able to be on social media all day. Have a great weekend everyone!

thanksgathering 

   This year has had its ups and downs. This year we had a relaxing weekend with family as a priority. We spent all day cooking as a family. Each person in charge of making a dish and competing who could make a better one. The kitchen looked more like an episode of Master Chef than a traditional family dinner. It was a great day to have our family together and with the people we care about.

Days like this one make me so thankful for family. Even though dinner took hours to cook I wish every day could be as special and fun as that one.

I wish this holiday was focused more on gathering instead of giving. The family gathered together in the kitchen was a blessing.

thanksgiving eve

The night before Thanksgiving is a night where all the young people go out to bars and hang out with old friends. Some high school friends and decided to go to our usual bars to catch up and have a few drinks.


Getting ready to go out turned out to be a lot more difficult than I thought. Going out to our usual spot was so easy in the summer because of cute tops and dresses could easily be pulled off. But now in the winter with the cold weather all I want to wear is my pajamas and a blanket to the bar. Unfortunately that look is not allowed! I decided to wear a black quarter sleeve peplum top. My friends chose similar outfits as well. However when we got to the bar there were all of these newly 21 year olds wearing tiny crop tops and skirts that made me cold just looking at them! What is the age that we have to retire our “youthful” going out clothes? A part of me is tired of the skin showing clothes and feel more comfortable in a loose fitting shirt with jeans.

I see a shopping spree or a letter to Santa to ask for a few new basics for the closet. I’m looking at Express and H&M for some inexpensive clothes to make my wardrobe more age appropriate! I was able to get my birthday outfit for $2 at H&M with a coupon. (YAY!)

Does anyone else feel like they are old when they go out to a bar now? Anyone else feel old when they are among newly 21 year olds experiencing legal alcohol for the first time?? I work out regularly and have a nice toned stomach but I don’t see myself exposing it anytime soon!

 

it’s beginning to look like winter

Our house always does a complete renovation with each season. It looks gorgeous but it such a pain in the neck to take down decorations and furniture and then put up more decor. The finished result is definitely worth it though in the end!

The summer awnings were finally put away and we have removed all Halloween and fall decorations to make room for our winter decor. This process takes more than a month it is that much work! We have an entire room in our basement dedicated to winter decorations so the house completely transforms. This past weekend we put up the green garland and lights in all of the rooms and got our fireplace mantles decorated. Maybe since Christmas is such a magical time or that it is my birthday but our house looks like Martha Stewart came by to decorate. Everything is perfectly and strategically placed. Just thinking about it is making me stressed because of the work that goes into our house for the winter!

The decorating just began and I cannot wait for the day after Thanksgiving because that is when we are getting
a tree! More pictures and updates will be uploaded soon!

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every accomplishment starts with a decision to try

In one month I turn 23 and there are so many accomplishments and signs of growing up that occurred in my life the last year. My time as a 22 year old had so many rights of passage into becoming an adult looking back I can’t believe I was able to accomplish so much in just one year!

  •  I finished two big senior projects, my senior thesis and management consulting proposal which took years and hours to complete but now I have these awesome projects with my name on them.
  • I did a small accomplishment like graduating from college. NBD. An addict so accomplishment was walking across the stage and not tripping as I accepting my diploma. I feel like a deserve a reward for just that accomplishment!!
  • I got my first adult job right after graduation. I have always worked since the young age of fourteen but now it’s nice to see that big pay check go into my bank account every two weeks. I never thought I would come back to my hometown and especially never say myself working for my town at all but this is a very cool and exciting adventure. I know it’s temporary but I am learning so much here. I get the artistic freedom and my ideas are respected. There are few people who can say they enjoy their first job right out of college.
  • My most recent accomplishment is buying my first car all on my own. The car is signed and purchased in my own name after I did all of the research. Adding another expense for myself was even paying for my own car insurance. But a car was something I have wanted and needed for a long time for splurging for a nice, updated, and tech friendly car was worth it.

I have one more month of being 22 so I can’t wait to see what else is going to happen.