It's a Mighty New Year!!!

It's a New Year!!! So many amazing things are happening, and I am setting goals like crazy. Let's hope I can keep them all :) And yes, in case you were wondering, this will be a semi-typical "new year" post. Don't hate me too much.

Over Christmas I asked my sister (who is engaged, and about to graduate from grad school) what her New Years Resolutions were and she said "To get married" and "Graduate." BORING!! and also not real resolutions because they are happening anyway.

Last year I made the resolution to read 25 books that I had never read before, and I read 40!!! For a little while in December I thought I could finish off the year with 52 books (one for every week) but I realized that the holidays are not exactly the best time to read 12 more books. Haha. But this year I have decided to read 52 books, and I really really hope I can do it. I have already read one, so go me! Also, this year I decided to let myself read books I've already read. So if I end up reading the Harry Potter series 7 times, so be it, it counts :) But, PLEASE send me your suggestions for books to read, because I am always on the lookout!

One of my bigger resolutions is to return phone calls (more often). (Is adding "more often" a cop-out? Yep.) Last year one of my resolutions was to be better at texting back, and now that I'm semi-decent at that, I decided I should call people back more often. If I haven't returned your phone call from 2011, just call me in 2012 and I will (hopefully) call you back in a semi normal amount of time. (I think my 2013 resolution will be to return emails, haha). ALSO, as my sister graciously reminded me, my answering machine message does say "I might call you back", so no promises!!

How can life be bad when there's this song out there?? (If you have not seen the new Muppets movie, you are SEVERELY missing out on true happiness).

Love!!!

Have I ever told you that I love life?

Well, I do!!

Check out some pics from my latest and greatest vacation: Yellowstone!!!



Yes, our eyes are closed. It was cold, windy and sunny.




That's my girlfriend Jess. Aren't we adorable? This is my second favorite picture ever.




This is my favorite picture ever. I hadn't seen Vanessa in a long time, and boy, did I miss her. I especially miss the part of her that thinks I'm hilarious.

Everyone should go to Wyoming and/or Montana at some point in their lives. I'm not going to lie to you, I fell head over heels in love with it. I've been looking at jobs in Wyoming, although I really would love to become a cowgirl.

PS I'm going to be Lady Gaga for Halloween, and I couldn't be more excited. Halloween pictures will come after Halloween happens, I semi-promise.

Friends!!!!

Friends!!! I have been away far too long!! I guess life just caught up with me and blogging slipped slowly out the back window. 

Can I give you highlights of the life I've been living the past few months? Yes I could, but I won't. The truth is, I've been up to exactly what you have, I've traveled, I've worked, I've lounged in the sun, I've read, I've cried...you know, all the day to day normal things.  

What I really want to post about today is my new years resolution. Yes, I am still pursuing mine!! Way to go me!! It may seem like a silly and easily obtainable goal, and that's probably why I picked it. But I'm so glad I did. My goal was to read 25 new books this year. My good friend Krystal read 100 books last year, but we don't have to talk about that too much. I won't give you a review of the 13 I've read thus far, but I'll tell you my favorites so you too can read and learn. 

"The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis -- this is absolutely incredible. It changed my views on myself, the after life, God and life right here and now. It's a quick and easy read, and so enlightening. 

"The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Wells -- this is a memoir of the author's life, growing up basically homeless with her family. Her dad is a drunken loser, but still ultra loving; he is awesome at times, and abusive at others. Her mom is a depressed idealist, so smart yet so naive at the same time. This book is a must read. There is also a sequel of sorts called "Half Broke Horses" which is about the author's grandmother, which is also a must read. I could not stop talking about these books. They read so quickly becuase they are so riveting.

"The Tao of Pooh" -- yes, the tao like Taoism and pooh like winnie the. This is such a great book. At first it reads a little slow, but I really loved comparing myself to pooh and the other animals in the hundred acre wood. I found the tao way of life to be incredibly Christlike and righteous. Even if you know nothing about taoism or pooh, you will still enjoy this.

"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" -- the best part of this book by far is when they translate trite phrases women say into what they mean. Not only is it incredibly accurate, this book is quite astute and helps both sexes understand the other. Everything I know I learned from this book. Haha.

Well, there you have it dear friends. I hope I still have readers after such a long haitus. I cannot promise to blog again REAL soon, but I hope to get back in the habit. Love you all!!!

Let's Go!

I haven't been very good at posting lately. Come to think of it, I never have been the most reliable blogger. But today I feel the need to blog. I feel the need to be vulnerable to my friends, family and strangers who may randomly find me here, writing. I rarely allow myself to be vulnerable, especially here in front of my unseen audience.

But today I am about to embark on a journey, and I can't help feeling so old. I think I have aged 20 years in a mere matter of weeks. I have been in denial about this trip from the beginning, and now that it is here, I just want to curl up in my bed and stay there forever.

But readers, we must all face the world and I guess I would rather face it with my head held high than to have it find me hiding in my bed, hopelessly in denial about reality.

Unlike that optimistic guy, maybe we all have to climb out of the sand and save ourselves.

Places, Places, Places

Today while watching the latest episode of The Bachelor (yes, I'm addicted and no, I'm not ashamed) I paid extra attention to where all of the girls were from. I started to think about where I am from, and I realized, I'm not really from anywhere. The longest I have lived anywhere collectively is California, if you combine two different groupings of time - and that only amounts to 5 years. 5 years only amounts to about 22.7% of my life. Where have I been the other 78.3%? And why does it matter where I have been?

The places I have lived have not made me who I am, the experiences I have had make me who I am. The only real roots that I can pinpoint are my family roots. My parents, sisters, cousins, grandparents and friends are really where I am from. Not California. People. Lately I have realized how important it is to associate with people that make you feel good about yourself, that make you want to be a better person, with people that love you. Praise the heavens for the great people I know, for they are who I am!

This picture is horrendously old, but I love it nevertheless.

Life!

It's been a while.

Just checking in to say : Life is good, life is grand. Life is crazy.

Some of my new favorite things are:

A beautiful green scarf my sister was going to throw away, which I resurrected. Turns out it is from Lebanon and is completely gorgeous. I wear it way too often, but I don't care, because we are in love.

Ehow. They have everything you could ever want to learn on there, from how to conceive twins, to how to make a video game. It amazes me every time.

This cat video

Chocolate Mint Soy Milk!!! I bought four at the store just because I love it so much.

Anything and everything minty.

Glee Christmas Album-- I know, I know.

Life! Life is good. I've got rhythm, I've got music, who could ask for anything more?

No Way Jose

Fellow friends and readers, I have been severely humbled.

I am a pretty confident girl, and I was feeling pretty good about my intelligence and my ability to get into grad school. And then I was reminded of this little thing that I need to do.

It's called...the GRE. But I feel like its taunting me all of the time, saying "Get Real, Emotional wreck!" I can't do it. I'm not that smart. All I do is make crap up, support it with big words and random sentences, and then act intelligent when I say it.

I was feeling pretty good about myself until the panic ensued. Yes, I know it's not that big of a deal, but it is to me! I want a good score to prove to myself that I can do this!!

I should be studying right now, but I'm not!! Ahhhh!!!

I bought a GRE book and the one reason I chose that book is because the first word in the entire book, in big letters is "Relax"! It was exactly what I needed.



Look at that girl!! Why is she so calm?? That's definitely not fair! Or REALISTIC!!

Ok, freak out over. :)