"It"

One of my classmates was giving a presentation today and he was talking about how he blocks all pictures of mothers with their babies on Facebook because he doesn't want to look at them. Then, right away pointed at me and said, "Sorry, no offense." Of course, the first thing I felt, naturally, was offended. I don't even know this kid, he's not my friend on Facebook. Am I that transparent?

Of course, as all of you know, I am that mom. Loud and proud. A constant stream in your newsfeed of daily toddler outfits, meals and activities. Though, I haven't stooped to bowel movement updates just yet.

This is my biggest struggle with being a 24 year old undergrad. I feel like I am surrounded by lots of kids who just don't get it. When I say "it," I mean what life is all about. I understand. By no means do I think that everyone is meant to have children or be a parent, especially if they're still in college. For me, the moment I got "it" was the moment I found out I was pregnant. It doesn't have to be that for everyone. It's just that moment when you realize life is about more than yourself.

There's this huge movement lately about being "selfish in your 20s" and "put yourself first" and blah blah blah. I am here to tell you that it's a bunch of crap.

Disclaimer: Anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm completely selfish. I know it. I also put my wants and needs first all the time. I fail. Tons.

I am not writing this in order to say that I am the almighty perfection. If you don't like baby pictures, that's okay, you don't have to! I wasn't even much of a kid person before I had one. I just wish that I could relay to everyone (in the universe, ever) before they waste lots of time, that true life fulfillment is in finding that "thing." Finding that thing that goes beyond yourself. Affecting someone else's life. Whether it's being a parent or a doggy trainer (I didn't say it had to be a human life!) or tutoring or saying hi to that kid who doesn't have many friends or making a stranger's day.

Just, please, take it from the queen of selfishness, being selfish is never going to fulfill your life or give you lasting happiness. Life is too short to take too many years to realize this. Kindness and love--they're contagious! Spread it around. Don't belittle people just because they post a million pictures of their kid or cat or niece.

And if you are a parent, I am here to say: YOU GO, GIRL! or YOU GO, MAN! It is the most amazing gift. It has become so belittled. But what parents do, it's truly amazing. Teaching, inspiring, working, making so many sacrifices, molding these purest of little minds to become our future. It is my favorite thing about living and I'm gonna keep on shouting it to the world.

Happy Days

This is how we feel about Wednesdays

For everyone who has been anxiously waiting for an update on my life: today is the day.

Life is fabulous. I feel great and I'm glad that I have an opportunity right now to record my glee. Especially since I normally only write when I'm whining. What can I say, it's a great release.

Things are going really well right now. The semester is flying on by. I'm taking my Senior Capstone class and while I am a tad nervous about it, I'm also really excited to be making a fancy (pink, glitter and all!) website for a hair blow dry bar. Perfect for me, right?!

As part of her homework, Maylene and I made and decorated a princess snowman for her class last night. Making her a princess was May's idea, surprisingly. We had a blast. Also, glitter everywhere. Mama wasn't mad.

I've started going back to the gym. Everyday, that is. Not just whenever the wind blows the right way, which is what I had been doing. My energy has improved. Exponentially. I've been reading The Goldfinch for the last month. Longest book ever. But it's also fantastic. Divergent is next on my list.

I'm so excited because I actually ended up getting (almost) everything on my birthday wishlist! I swear I wasn't actually pleading for people to buy me that stuff. I just really like to write lists. People are too kind. My mom got me new sneakers and a car clean-out for my birthday, Sam and Jordyn got me, not only inDesign, but the entire CS6! I finally got my roots done. All that's left is infinite amounts of gas. I'm waiting. Jason says I should ask for a Lamborghini. I am dying for a macaron order from Dana's Bakery, though, on my Blair Waldorf tip.

I will leave you with this quote, "I 'm going to succeed because I'm crazy enough to think I can."

PMA

It's the second week back to classes and I've decided that my number one goal for this semester is to stay positive. With a rough start back (my car is broken and I'm just getting over an intense stomach flu), that is proving to be a little bit of a challenge, but you can't hold me down!

As dorky as it is, I love this stuff. School, that is. And everything I'm learning right now is so exciting to me. Javascript, jQuery, mobile jQuery, Phonegap, more PHP and more MySQL! It's just a shame that I have spent so much of my school career being grumpy from all of the stress.

I quit Facebook for a few weeks to try to get rid of the excess, unnecessary stuff in my life. And it helped a lot. I've returned now because my birthday's coming up and I wouldn't want anyone to forget it (See birthday wishlist below). Also, I realized that no one would read my blog if I didn't share it on Facebook. So there's that.

But I think it's something that everyone should do. If not indefinitely, then at least for a few days. I just needed that time to straighten out my priorities. And read books. And cook dinner. And build block towers with Maylene. And whatnot.

I have grown up with social media. First it was AIM (sugarNspikes458.. lolz), then it was MySpace and LiveJournal. Now it's Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr and BASICALLY IT NEVER ENDS. I let it consume my life. And define me. If people on Facebook like my pictures, then that means I'm a great person, right? Totally wrong! I wasn't happy with myself.

Anyways, I'm cutting back significantly because my time with my family is precious and they deserve my attention more than an acquaintance of mine liking my status. That doesn't validate who I am.

But! I'm always looking for more friends or for acquaintances to turn into friends, so if anyone would like to call me up or hang out. I'm down! I'm really missing having some friends to talk to in my life. Maylene likes friends, too!

End rant. On to my birthday wishlist (in no particular order):
1. InDesign
2. New sneakers.. mine are worn out and giving me mad blisters :(
3. A hair appointment for my roots to be done. Man, they look awful.
4. An infinite amount of gas for my car
5. My car to be vacuumed and shampooed.

By the way, Jason bought us internet! He's the greatest! It's very surreal.

And I'll leave you with this conversation that I just heard.....
May: "You can have one of my marshmallows!"
Jason: "Thank you for sharing! You have a great heart."
May: "You have a great head!"

Ho, ho, ho!

I can't believe it has been almost 4 months since the last time I blogged. Shame on me. The semester has come and gone and, even though I whined about it a ton during Finals Week, it went super fast.

I'm a senior now. And I can't believe it! Granted, I feel like I have been in school eternally, but ever since May was born, time goes much too fast.

It's my favorite time of the year.. although, I wish Christmas could be in the summer and/or we lived in Florida, because I don't-need-no-snow to be in the holiday spirit. I'm pretty bummed that it came so fast and that I had to waste so much time doing end-of-the-semester projects, however, I am DETERMINED to pack a whole lot of holiday fun into the next 9 days. Just me and May, baby. And, on his days off, Jason too!

It's a bummer that I am the poorest I have ever been in the history of ever. But that's not going to get in my way. We're gonna do cheap, fun holiday things. I'll let you know how it turns out.

My plans:

• Cookies
• Gingerbread houses?
• Be more creative with Noel, our Elf on the Shelf
• Candy Cane Lane drive
• Decorate the tree
• Pinterest crafts
• Wine
• Watch Elf
• Watch Miracle on 34th Street if I can find it at any store, anywhere!!!
• Prepare for Maylene's Monster's University/Inc. themed 3rd birthday party 2 days after Christmas! (She just HAD to be a Christmas baby...)
• This is totally unrelated to anything holiday-ish, but we also really wanna go to that new glow-in-the-dark mini golf place at the mall!!!!?!!!

Just wanna mention that the only things on my Christmas list are 1.) the Frozen soundtrack and 2.) internet at my house. I would like to point out that I have been moderately good this year and that it is kind of a miracle that I, as a web development major, have made it this far without, well, the web. However, it's not really fun or ideal so getting internet would be fabulous.

Back to School

Who knew at 23 I'd still be talking about going back to school. Don't worry, I will be continuing to do so for at least another year and a half. I am, definitely, the eternal student. While I'm dramatically bitter about going back to school and spending MORE money on MORE notebooks and MORE parking passes, I'm just going to let go of that for a few minutes to be thankful and reminiscent of the wonderful summer I had with Maylene and Jason.

We went to Knoebels. I wasn't really surprised at all that May didn't even hesitate to get on some pretty scary (to me) rides. But then again, I'm a wimp. And I used to throw up in the car on the way to amusement parks before we even got there. That really happened.


We went to the beach. Man, I wish we lived by the ocean. I'm thoroughly convinced I'd be a better person if we did. I'd be happier, at least. There's just no way you can't be when there's a constant ocean breeze telling you to chill out and relax, life's not that bad. I have the attention span of a goldfish--I need that constant reminder.

We went on picnics. What's better than eating food with the people that you love? Answer: absolutely nothing at all. Picnics are my favorite. We enjoyed some beautiful days with blue skies above us and green grass beneath our picnic blanket.

We went to the pool and had swimming lessons. Watching May improve at swimming this summer was one of the biggest highlights for me. Especially since she can already swim better than I can. The sad thing is that I'm hardly even exaggerating. I think that swimming is such an important skill to have and I'm so thankful that my mom got lessons for the girls. Being around water with small children can be pretty terrifying and stressful.

May went to the movie theater for her 1st (and 2nd and 3rd) time! Her favorite out of Monsters University, Despicable Me 2 and Planes was Despicable Me 2, quite fitting! And now she's obsessed with minions. We all loved Monsters University, though. Planes.. not so much. It was no Cars.

One of the best things that I did this summer was becoming a Pinterest addict. First of all, it gave me something to sit and stare at/scroll through while I was at work every week. And more importantly, it gave us SO many great recipes and crafts to try. Some failed miserably and some tasted absolutely gross. The Calming Jar worked for two days, by the way. But we also found lots of really tasty and fun things that we'll be making again and again.

Now that I'm getting (even more) depressed about summer being over, I will share what I saved for last. My Grandma Howey always said, "best for last!" But that was more fitting back when I was the youngest child.

Anyway. Our top ten favorite ice cream/froyo joints this summer:
1. Bruster's (Sunset would have been first had it been open, but Bruster's is a very close second)
2. Cups and Cones in OBX
3.Eder's
4.Sweet Frog
5. Ben and Jerry's snuggled up on our couch
6. The Old Mill at Knoebels
7. Sky High
8. Dairy Queen
9. Swirly's
10. Burger King.. they were 50 cents!

My Wishlist:

Today, I feel like crafting a wishlist of all the things I would like if I had an infinite amount of money. Some of which are more in the realm of possibility than others.. but that, of course, is why they call it a wishlist. Just for the record, I am not totally greedy or materialistic, these are just some really neat things!

1. "Do nut worry" mug. I love to collect coffee mugs. This is the cutest. And I need more. 

2. Iced strawberry dream shower gel. C'mon, it sounds heavenly. 

3. Volkswagen iPhone case.

4. A swimming pool.
Few things are more peaceful than sitting poolside.




5. Anything that comes in one of these boxes.
Literally, anything. I'm not picky when it comes to Tiffany's. 

6. A porch. Any porch.
Ocean view would be ideal but not necessary.

7. A kitchen like this. Gorgeous! I just wanna bake, bake, bake in this!

8. Pink Forge women's comfort bicycle.

For Rails to Trails adventures!

9. Anything and everything Hello Kitty. Namely, this microwave.

Tell me popcorn made in this guy wouldn't taste so much better.

 

10. These Vans.

11. And these Vans. 

12. These sheets.

Cute and comfy. And we need new ones.

13. Pink Kitchen Aid. No other brand mixer compares.

And no other color compares to pink, obviously.

I think I have been pretty good (so far) this year.

xoxo,

me

Things I'm Thankful For:

This week has been tough.. it's funny how preparing for relaxation (next week is vacation!) can be so overwhelmingly stressful! I read somewhere that to keep a positive outlook (PMA!), you should write down five things that you are thankful for everyday. Instead of five, I'm just going to make a big ol' list today, because I have tons to be thankful for!

In no particular order:

• This weather! Love the heat, heat, heat! Thank the LAWD for no more cold!
• Caramel vanilla cream k-cups.
• Having Fridays off at work.
• Our special boat trip on the Hiawatha tonight--excited! Hope May loves it! Also hoping that we don't get sea sick.
• The fact that Maylene got ready for school with no problems this morning,
• The fact that Jason did the laundry AND the dishes! And we're almost all caught up!
• My manicure and pedicure appointment for tomorrow. First time ever getting one, thanks to Jason's Mothers' Day gift! I can't wait to see my best friend Bethie! And to get a little pampered.
• Having my own desk at work.
• New tires on my car. It is no longer a death trap.
• Tumblr. It gets me through the slow work hours.
• A Series of Unfortunate Events. They also get me through the slow work hours.
• I lost 12 pounds!
• Coffee.
• Iced coffee.
• Water.
• Boom boom sauce.
• Jason, for being very good at pretending that I am not completely insane.
• Maylene, for literally being the funniest and most sarcastic 2 year old I have ever known.
• Garlic powder.
• My Mom.
• My Dad.
• My family.
• My working car.
• My job.
• The big tub of strawberries in our fridge.
• The Great Gatsby soundtrack.
• The fact that we're leaving for North Carolina in two days.
• My health.
• My family.
• My family.
• My friends who have always been there for me no matter what.
• Books.
• Instagram.
• Inspiration.
• My semi-decent tan. Hoping it will keep me from getting burnt at the beach.
• Our apartment.
• Music.
• Having nice co-workers and bosses.
• Being in love.
• Being a mommy.
• Being alive.

Summertime drivin'

Mommy planks!