A New Year

I have to say that I really enjoyed 2014.

I got to go on a cruise with my man and had a blast!

I drank a bunch of Iced Mocha's; probably too many.

I celebrated on year with this guy below!

I got to show one of my besties around Seattle.

 And I made a career change!

I cannot even tell you the goals I made for this past year.

I can tell you my goals for this upcoming year.

1.) To walk more. I just need to be active and walking is an easy way. Maybe I'll do something else as well, but I definitely want to commit to walking more.

2.) Drink less iced mocha's or at least stop buying so many from Starbucks. My lovely sister got me an espresso maker for Christmas so I will now be my own Barista and produce my own iced mocha's.

3.) Save more. 2013-2014 was the first time learning how to live on my own and pay for my expenses. Luckily, I tracked my income and expenses for the past year and see where my weak spots are. I've got to cut back on clothes shopping and Starbuck's along with miscellaneous purchases. I would like to start paying for school out of pocket along with investing into my own retirement.

And I am keeping it at those three goals because life is better when you keep it simple.

Happy 2015 to y'all!

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Time to Reflect and be Grateful

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Today was a great time with my family. After flying all day Tuesday, I was so grateful to be home and get to see all the people I love and continually miss. The celebrating and time together is still to continue and I plan to do it.

I went on a walk this afternoon to walk off some of the delicious food I ate and I was reminded of Christmas 2010. I have talked about this event multiple times on here, but I have a different perspective this year on it.

December 26, 2010 brought some horrible news for our family. My dad was told to pack up his stuff and leave the job he loved. He was asked to leave his passion. It was difficult and hard, but we chose to be positive and see the good.

For me that did not last long. I tried reading the bible, I tried praying, and I tried to see the good to come, but it was hard. Instead, I wrapped myself up in all the hurt and anger I felt. And the hurt was too much for me so I found a way to get away from all that reminded me of the hurt and anger I felt.

My getaway was Washington and it was good for me.

Today I still struggle with the hurt and anger. 

I see the people who we used to consider family and I cannot even think good thoughts of them.

I watch my dad pursue his passion and get angry at God for letting another person take some of that joy away.

I'm human and I am allowed to be human and experience these waves of anger and hurt.

But as I walked today I reminded myself that I can forgive and accept, but I do not have to forget. We grow up hearing we should forgive and forget, but I think that does not always work. If you have to try and forget, can you say you really have forgiven?

I am choosing to forgive and accept. I cannot forget what has happened to my family because it has shaped who we are today. But I do accept that it happened and that it is in the past. 

And I have forgiven. Some days I have to forgive again, but forgiveness is not a one and done process; it's an ongoing process. 

As the new year comes, I see all that I am grateful for and see all the blessings that have been put in place since 2010. I found a refuge place that turned into a home. I've been granted multiple opportunity to grow and change. I had the opportunity to understand the importance of having a family that goes through tough times together and does not fall apart from each other.

There is much to be thankful for and to continue to cherish.

So here's to acceptance and to change and to gratefulness for the future and the past. 

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Spectacular Now

The most spectacular thing happened yesterday.

I walked out of this restaurant:

And I did not look back. I marched on, head held high with happiness.

My itch has been relieved. A change has occurred and I am happy. 

I spent this past week receiving a little taste of what 2015 will bring for me.

Being nanny will have difficult moments, but I think it will be filled with more meaningful and beautiful moments than cheesecake.

The restaurant industry has blessed me in many ways.

It began in 2008. I applied for a job at the YMCA and was accepted, but I wanted to be a hostess at a restaurant so bad that I practically begged for a position.

Thanks to a wonderful woman in my life, she called me up and gave me a chance and hired me after my first day. It became my first job and I have spent many hours, days, and years in this industry.

It has provided me with a way to live and get by, with lessons learned, opportunities to grow and become more assertive. It provided me with friends and a second family. It provided me with joy for a long time. 

But as of lately the joy disappeared so I needed to part ways before I became too bitter to ever look back on the goodness. 

Today starts the day of a new journey and I welcome it with open arms!

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Two Days in of Being Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins, how did you do it?

I'm not singing to birds yet.

My bag hasn't magically turned into something that holds everything.

And that hair style, I cannot even attempt to try you.

Okay, it really is not that bad.

I am in day two of my morning nanny gig and the kids are quite lovely.

Today we played balloon volley ball for ten minutes.

I will take balloon volley ball over serving any day.

Yeah, I got paid for playing with a balloon today.

Be jealous!

But that hard part is waking up to the horrendous noise at 5:50 in the morning.

I am sure that's quite a late start to some of you, but for me that's almost like death.

I do not know what it is about being up before 6 a.m. but my body is hating me for waking up before 6 the last two days. I expect to be fully awake around 11 and instead my body says "No, you suck. Get some Starbucks"

And so I get some Starbucks and my body decides to be somewhat nice to me, but it still slightly angry. 

Someone please tell me early mornings get easier the longer you do it.

Despite the morning, it really is quite fun to be able to wear my own clothes (no uniform!) and help little kids get ready for their day.

The little boy loves to count. Today he babbled on about how he has to wait 765 days for Christmas even though it's 9 days away. I have no idea what he meant, but he was set in his ways. And the little girl is so sweet. She loves to help her brother and tried to teach him division today even though he is only learning how to add right now. They're geniuses, I tell ya!

Okay, just thought I should let you into the Mary Poppins world a little bit and show you how happy I am despite the early wake-up call. Having breakfast with my man in the morning makes it pretty perfect too. 

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The Itch

Anybody remember this post from a few weeks ago?

Basically, I talked about how I had an itch for change.

I have been talking about this itch for a while.

As I told a friend at school about my itch, I said "it's either my job or my hair."

And while it is always fun to change your hair, I really need to stop taking out my need for change on my hair. And yes, my hair thanked me for this by deciding to go back to its perfect waves out of the shower air drying ways.

Well, the good news is that the itch has been relieved. 

It has been scratched and soothed and it is happy.

Ready for the news?

Okay, here we go...

My new movement in life is to be Mary Poppins.

Yep, I am going to walk around with the bag that gives everything, sing about spoon full's of sugar, and jump into sidewalk art.

Okay, so maybe I won't be doing all that, but I am going to be a nanny.

After taking my human growth and development class this year, I feel I have a better understanding of the child development process and how important it is build healthy relationships at all points in life. Because of this class it made me realize I could be in a happier place by making my job to pay my bills almost like my future job in a way.

No, I won't be counseling these kids although I am sure it will come out unconsciously or consciously, but I will be practicing the building of relationships with children, teens, and families.

I am very excited for this new opportunity and cannot wait to share the stories and the learning that will come. I appreciate those who have thought of me during this time of need for change and for the ideas given to me. I never thought being a nanny would be something I would put on my resume, but I am excited for the change and the adventure ahead. 

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3 years ago

3 years ago I made a Facebook status that said this:

"I keep dreaming about Washington. I need to be where my heart is!"

I had no idea that my heart was being prepared for man that I met by chance or maybe fate.

3 years ago I was trying to fill my loneliness with guys I was not really interested in. 

I was doing everything to find love, but I had no idea a love was being cultivated in my heart for this guy:

(Yes, he went as my number one fan and fulfilled my dream of being Taylor Swift for Halloween.)

Everyday he makes me smile, pushes me towards a better life, and constantly encourages me.

He won the heart of my family and I am so excited to continue life together.

We may not be on the express train to the alter, but he is the one man I would wait years for to pop that question I have been waiting for forever. 

I know it's cheesy to make so many posts about him, but I cannot help it.

He has been my cheerman through this journey of living in the Pacific North West and I am so blessed to have him in my life.

I love you Bradley!

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Hey Good Lookin', What You Got Cookin'

I was so blessed this past week to have my best friend and her boyfriend come to visit me.

We spent time playing Euchre, sight-seeing around Seattle, and catching up.

We also did a lot of cooking and we cooked some delicious meals that I thought I would shared with you!

My go-to breakfast dish is what I like to call Breakfast Sausage Casserole.

If you search how to make this, you will probably find multiple recipes for it.

But here is my advice: always go for the one that requires bread, sausage, cheese, eggs, and milk of some sort. Almost all of them call for mustard, but who wants mustard with breakfast? I sure don't!

Here's the closest recipe I could find: 

Breakfast Sausage Casserole by Trisha Yearwood

I was a great hostess and gave this to my best friend and her boyfriend for breakfast.

Later on, I took leftover chicken and made chicken salad sandwiches.

This is how she and I literally survived college on a cheap budget.

All you need is chicken which can be canned or oven-roasted, mayo, and grapes.

And if grapes are too fancy you can get rid of that.

Take the chicken mix it with the amount of mayo you find necessary and dice some grapes.

Spread it on some bread and wa-lah!

Delicioso!

For dinner, we got adventurous and tried a new recipe I pinned the other week. 

Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-dried tomatoes

You need to make this right away.

For one you feel like a chef while making it while also having a semi-easy cooking night.

I will make the dish for the rest of my life.

 Smiles on their faces is how you know it was good.

Then we decided to have a friendsgiving where I made candied carrots.

A quick and simple side dish to bring to any party.

We used to have these every night at the restaurant I first worked at and they are delicious.

Candied Carrots

The recipe says it takes 40 minutes, but it really only took me 20.

I guess it truly depends on if you like squishy or crunchy carrots.

My last and final meal was to honor the time spent with my bestie.

In college, I stumbled upon a meal called million dollar spaghetti and it is the best meal in the world. She asks for it every time and I cannot resist saying no because I love it just as much. 

You can find the recipe on pinterest or by going to this blog Made from pinterest

It's kind of like lasagna, but not exactly.

Just make it and decide for yourself.

Basically I was a cook-a-holic this weekend and I loved every second of it.

What should I make next?

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Sometimes...

You just need one song to play on repeat to write the three papers that accumulate to 13 pages that are due next week.

Last week it was this song:

And this week it's this song:

I heard in a store a few weeks ago and forgot all about how I loved it.

Then the Lord came down to tell me loves me and put it on the radio.

Did I write it down like I told myself to do while it was playing?

No because I was lost in Seattle again even though I've lived here for over a year now.

But I am a great detective and found it this morning and have been playing it for the last hour and would you believe it?!

I have one paper/5 pages done. Only 2 papers, and 8 pages to go.

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To the guests of restaurants...

There's just this little thing I need to get off my chest.

Yesterday a family left me a $0.07 tip. 

This happens usually at least once while working one of my shifts.

It sucks every time, but it is out of my control.

I typically throw a little fit for a minute and then move on reminding myself there are other decent people in this world.

Here's the thing with yesterday though.

I watched this family place at least give $100 bills on the table.

So it wasn't the fact they couldn't afford a tip that was the problem.

The problem they had with me was the silverware.

It was dirty and I had not noticed since I didn't set the table and had a full section.

The mother yelled at me for the silverware being dirty and the complained that it was not rolled in napkins.

These problems she had were out of my control.

I did not set the table and I am not in control of deciding how we display silverware on the tables. So her excuse for leaving me $0.07 was because the silverware was dirty.

For some reason her tip will hit me this time.

To me, it seemed as if she told that my service was only worth $0.07.

And I took it as me not being worthy of even a dollar which wouldn't even be close to a 10% tip. While I know I shouldn't have taken it so hard, the point in sharing that with you is because that's how most servers feel when this happens to them.

She didn't have enough respect to even tell me why she thought I was only worth of a $0.07 tip.

Some servers are in the restaurant industry to make the money that can come with the job.

But some servers, like me, are trying to make means meet or work towards a goal.

I didn't join this industry willingly. I joined it because it meets an always changing school schedule and allows me to live in an expensive city and make my ends meet most months.

And I especially did not join this job for you to tell me what I am worth, but that doesn't stop you from telling me. You think you have a right to define what I am worth, what I am qualified at, and what I deserve. Do you realize you hold in your hands the ability for me to pay my rent, to pay for food, and gas to work?

I know we all work with people who make our jobs miserable at times, who make us want to get ugly in their faces and tell them how we truly feel, and who make us feel like screaming at the top of our lungs. I write this only to remind you the holiday's are coming up. This season is the busiest for the restaurant industry. Sometimes it brings in the most joyous and grateful people around and sometimes it brings in the most ungrateful and rude people around.

If you're going out to eat this holiday season, try to keep in mind that the people serving you are human just like you. They make mistakes, they mess up, and they are trying to survive like you. Also keep in mind, most servers want to ensure you have a quality visit. We do not show up to work with plans to ruin your visit and your meal experience with family. If anything, we just want you to be thankful for us. 

So be joyous, be grateful, and be thankful.

If you cannot leave a tip then at least do the above because all people deserve that.

Sincerely,

The girl just wanting to make your holiday as bright and merry as possible

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Avoiding Paper Writing

So I have this 3 page paper I am supposed to be writing right now and I just have no desire to do it. I've got 5 weeks of school left and I have been working hard. There is something about this paper though that I do not even want to do. I do not want to do it so bad that I contemplated not doing it at all and taking a zero. Now, will I do that? No, of course not because I am better than that.

I will tell you what I am excited about at the moment though.

1.) I started Christmas shopping early and I have gotten some great deals. The besties are done, the little brother, the nephew, the niece, the mother-boyfriend-in-law. Pretty much they are the easiest to shop for so I should not be giving myself too much credit. I still have to shop for the hardest people which I am not looking forward to at all.

2.) My bestie from L.A. is coming to visit in two weeks. When you live in Washington, it's ridiculously expensive for people to come see you. I am not sure why, but since living here I have not had many visitors. I am so excited to spend a few days with her since we haven't seen each other since February. And the best part is she is bringing her boy-toy or boyfriend, whichever you prefer to call it.

3.) There are only 5 weeks of the semester left. A break is in the near future and I am still two-weeks ahead of the schedule which hopefully means I'll be done with everything at the beginning of the semester.

4.) The Holiday season is upon us which means my job will pick up again. For the last two months its been ridiculously slow so money has been minimal in my life. I am thankful for the next month and a half to work hard and start to save again.

5.) I started paying off my lowest student loan in January this year. It was around $6,000 and I am just under $2,000. I don't know about you, but that's pretty impressive to me. I'd like to have it all paid off by the end of December. I know that's a pretty steep goal, but I'm hoping with the holiday work hours and Christmas money that I may just be able to do it. I still have a larger loan to pay off, but making it to just one loan is so exciting! Maybe if I win some of these giveaways, I can get there. Fingers crossed!

What are you procrastinating on and looking forward to?

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Burning Fire To the Life that I Know

That itch has come around for change again.

(Play this if you want to know how I'm feeling while you read.)

Last year the itch was to do something other than school.

Instead of giving up on school, the change came in adding another year on to my schedule to free up more time and allow me to really take in what I am learning.

But nonetheless, the itch is back and it's really itchy.

I've been in the restaurant industry since I started working back in 2008. 

Hostess to server and this is where I've been.

In July, I switched to a new cheesecake factory and I think that got rid of the itch for a while, but now its back.

I won't lie: being a server can bring in a lot of money. 

If it's a good week of serving, I can make $500 in tips which does not include my hourly wage and that's typically a 25 hour work week at the most.

I'm fearful of unleashing that information because of the judgement servers receive for their pay by many.

Making that $500 is not easy and it is not guaranteed. 

On average I get stiffed by at least one table and get treated poorly by at least two during a shift.

I get yelled at for food being cooked wrong or because they are simply having a bad day.

Both are out of my control, yet I reap to anger and resentment. 

The job is draining my energy.

I have little desire to work at the moment.

And the itch is back for something new.

But I'm ignoring it because I'm not sure I can get a better job at the moment.

Being in grad school means you need flexibility with a job and cheesecake is so flexible.

They honor my school schedule, I can typically get a shift picked up if school work becomes too heavy, and the pay is just so good.

My plan is to ignore the itch until the end of the holiday season.

1.) Because it feels wrong of me to leave the restaurant during their busiest season. I've made a commitment to them and I will honor that.

2.) I cannot imagine finding a new job in the midst of the hardest part of my semester. 

But come January, I think I need to find a way to relieve my itch. 

I need a new direction or something new.

But I still need flexibility.

Maybe the itch is a different restaurant to serve at or something completely new to me.

Either way I need something new.

What jobs do you suggest for a student?

What part-time jobs were your favorite growing up?

Where do you suggest I go?

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Best Halloween Memory

I just have to say that I love Halloween.

I spend most of the year thinking of different costume ideas and struggle picking one each year.

Last year I wanted to be Katy Perry so bad so I was. 

 I think the blue wig and the tutu is about the only reason I may look like Katy Perry.

For some reason I just really like costumes that require wearing a wig or dying your hair. 

I dyed my hair red so that I could be teenage pebbles and secretly ended up wearing this costume again last year after hating my Katy Perry costume.

But the best Halloween memory has no picture. I'm sure my mom has a picture stashed away somewhere but I do not have access to it. 

I was in 5th or 6th grade and I went as a witch. 

I had to wear an old wig that itched like crazy and I just was not a cute witch.

Halfway through trick-or-treating I decided I did not want to be a witch anymore and decided to be E.T. dressed as a witch. I walked up to every door saying "E.T. phone home."

My dad hated it so much that he begged me to stop doing it, but of course I thought it was hilarious and would not stop.

Going from a witch to E.T. is pretty impressive if I do say so myself. 

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10 Things I Lied to Myself about Blogging

1.) It's easy to get followers.

No it is not. I set a goal last year to get 50 GFC followers and that number did not change all year long.

 

2.) I will write every day. 365 days of the year. Even on Holidays!

Hahahahahahaha! That's all I have to say about that.

 

3.) I will leave comments on every blog post I read.

I apologize, I just don't do that. I know I'm a horrible blogger.

 

4.) I will make lots of money doing this.

Nope. Nada. Zilch.

 

 

5.) I have so much to say I'll never run out of ideas.

Umm, what? Am I crazy?

 

6.) I will not write about the people I am dating.

Another haha to add to this one. Those poor guys.

 

7.) I won't share personal pictures out of privacy for family and friends.

Sorry family and friends, but you're just too cute not to share with the world.

 

8.) I will write only about my passions, my heart, and my life.

And then I should have added that I will write about my pins on pinterest, the music I am listening to, and my opinions.

 

9.) That I could actually come up with ten things.

I'm done. 





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Fall Bucket List

1. Pumpkin Patch and Carving/Glittering

 

2.) Family Time

My grandmother, my boyfriend, and I all fly into Indiana on the same day.

Family reunion/meet the parents will be in full swing. Brad has only met my parents via Skype so this is the first time he will meet my entire family and I am so excited. 2 weeks and counting!

 

3.) New Fall Outfits

I am taking my outfits and fall-i-fying them. No use in buying new clothes even though I want to because my clothes can totally be made into fall outfits.

 

4.) Halloween Costumes.

Let's be real, I've been thinking about costumes since last Halloween.

Which one do you think I'll pick?

 



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One Thing I Cannot Live Without

I seriously have been sitting her for days thinking about this one.

The truth is I can live without a lot. Yes, I like a lot of the stuff I won, but it's not always necessary. So I'm turning to the necessity in my life which is people.

Specifically, my family.

 

This is my immediate family:

I cannot live without any of these beings above, but I also cannot live without the beings below as well. They are my family as well.



 

 



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Dream job in 1994 to now

Oh the mind of a 4 year old when thinking about your future.

I am sure like most kids my dream job changed constantly.

 

My first dream just like any kid was to be a superstar.

I dreamed of singing at the big stage. Sometimes I practiced the littler mermaid songs in a grass skirt to be legit and I'm pretty sure I had multiple boa's. I thought I was born to be a singer.

 

Then I went through this stage of going back and forth between being a firefighter or a news anchor.

I'm not sure why either of these intrigued me because I would be the worst at them

 

 

In high school, I was convinced I should be a matchmaker despite the fact my matches broke up after a few months. Patty was my inspiration. She's feisty and sassy. I am totally that!





 

 

And today I am pursuing my masters in counseling psychology. What exactly will I do when I'm done? No idea! But I know I want a job that involves working with individuals and helping them reach self-actualization.

 

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If I Won the Lottery...

I'm participating in...

 

BLOGTOBER14

 

Winning the lottery has been on my mind lately.

1.) Because the boyfriend buys lottery tickets each week. He usually makes his money back and I usually lose. Lucky me.

2.) I'm tired of being a semi-poor graduate student.

 

If I won the lottery, I would do the following...

1.) Pay off my student debt. This is the number one goal at the moment because that number is not getting smaller.

If you want to make this goal happen now, please vote for me or my brother. We're both competing for the Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway Scholarship. As much I as I could use the money, I truly believe in my brothers dream and know he is going to do great things in music.

To vote for me
To Vote for my brother
 

2.) Invest in my future. I need a retirement fund badly so that I do not have to work all the way into my 80's.
 

3.) Probably do a little shopping because I was all of the following

 

4.) Go on a cruise because I just love those darn things.

 

Those are the top 4 things on my list at the moment. And of course there's always giving some of it away because paying it forward is important always.





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1 Year Together

Yeah so I'm going to be that sappy person and post about my 1 year anniversary with my boyfriend. And you're going to have to deal with it because this is the longest I've ever been with a guy and I'm not stopping anytime soon.

 

 

We spent our day visiting parts of Washington I've never been to before. We went to Fort Cassey and Worden.

(This is Fort Cassey. It was much cooler than Worden)

I went on my first ferry ride which was fun and surprisingly quick.

It's amazing how quick boats can be.

 

We also spent a lot of time singing and being goofballs.

 

But the best part of the whole day was spending the whole day together.

Since starting school again our schedules make it difficult to get some time together.

He's either working or I'm working/studying/surviving.

Quality time is always the best gift.

Speaking of gifts the boy built me a desktop as my gift. He seriously is the sweetest and most thoughtful. It has been so helpful to do my school work on since my laptop can be pretty slow at times.

 

I am so blessed and happy to have Brad in my life. He's become one of my best friends and my home. I cannot wait to see what the next year holds for both us.

I love you Bebe!

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