One Very Hard Decision

Yesterday I made the conscious decision to leave the Peace Corps.

It was truly one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.

I know what most of you are thinking....but you just started! I know this but I came to the realization rather quickly once I was there. It just wasn't for me. Not at this time in my life.

From the beginning I had not been truly excited about moving to China to teach English to university students. I hoped that once I reached staging and pre-service training that the excitement would kick in. 

It never did. I feel as though I let myself get swept up and never actually sat and thought, "Is this really what I want to do?" My heart just wasn't in it. 

My true passion is teaching elementary school, not university students. The more and more I learned about the job the less excited I was. I knew that this lack of enthusiasm was not fair to my furutre students or community. I've had less than enthusiastic teachers, it was not fun.

I also came to the realization that I would be 25 when I finished and would still have to finish my masters. I don't want to wait that long to start my career. 

What excites me and makes me happy right now is the thought of finishing my degree and either teaching at an elementary school or finding a job with an international aid organization in NYC, DC, or London. So that is exactly what I am going to do!

In the end I had to do what was right for me. I have to do what makes me happy.

Life is too short to just "get through it".

I treasure the short time I had in the Peace Corps. It truly is a great organization.

I also treasure the friends I made during that short time. They supported me through the process of making the decision and continue to support me, despite the fact that they are on the other side of the world. They truly are great people!

I'm Still Alive....I Promise

I know it's been 4 months since I've updated the blog. Let me provide you all with a recap: Work....School....Read for School.....Write Paper for School......Sleep....Rinse and Repeat. You get the idea. Super exciting right? Yeah, that's why I haven't been writing, I didn't want to put anyone into a boredom coma.

But, remember that whole possibly joining the Peace Corps thing? Yeah well it's really happening! Last Friday I officially accepted an invitation to be a Teacher Trainer in The People's Republic of China! 

On June 29th I will be moving to China for two years! Or 27 months! Or 835 days (according to my visa application)! However you want to look at it.

I am super excited and can.not.wait! But, it means I have a lot to do in the next three months. Part of this time will be taken up by a week in Montreal for a school conference and a week vacation with the fam in Ireland. So in the month of June I will finish up my summer class, spend a week in Ireland, move out of my place in Tallahassee and move to China. Crazy! But I love it! 

bad blogger

Again with the month long absence from the blog. Ugh! I have become the worst blogger lately!

But...not to worry...school is over and so I have more time. For a bit. A little under one month to be exact. 

On the school front, I have successfully completed my first semester of graduate school with flying colors! All A's for me! One of my papers even landed on a list of the best in the class in my International Development Education class! If any of you out there want to read a paper about Child Soldier's just let me know. What....no one? Yeah, that's what I thought. 

One positive of an ever changing school schedule is an ever changing work schedule. My new work schedule now includes two days that allow me to sleep in until a whopping 7am! It is so sad that I consider 7am sleeping in these days. Oh how I wish for the days as an undergrad. Sleeping until noon, going to the elementary art methods class (yes, we made paper mache puppets in that class, don't judge me) at 1pm, and then lounging around and doing nothing for the rest of the day. Oh to be young again!

Oh yeah and big news! I was officially nominated for the Peace Corps! All that is in my way is the medical and legal clearances. Woo hoo! I am on my way. My recruiter said that I might not know where I'm going until two months before I leave. Scary but exciting at the same time! 

I'll try to keep it going here on the ol' blog. Remember last month when I promised that same thing. This time will be different. Really. 

missing you...five years later

We miss... 

your smile.

your laugh.

your voice.

your ever changing hair color.

your crazy stories.

your attitude, even when it was bad.

you being able to see your children.

you seeing Tristan's smile.

you seeing Alexa dance.

you at school plays.

you at the family parties.

you at Thanksgiving.

you at Christmas.

you at birthdays.

seeing you these last five years.

We know you can see us from wherever you are. 

We can feel you on special days.

You let us know you are here in your own special way. 

We miss a lot of things about you.

But, put simply, we miss you Kierra.

relaxation

At Florida State we are lucky enough to have a beautiful lakefront park that is free for student use, the FSU Reservation. Or, as the cool kids call it, The Rez.

The park is great and there are so many activities students can do for FREE! 

You know us college kids love the word FREE!

Since starting grad. school, my friends and I have made it a habit to go kayaking as much as possible, usually every weekend. It is the perfect thing for getting some relaxation in. Leisurely paddling through the water and pushing all the work and reading that needs to be done out of your mind is the best!

One part of the lake is full of cypress trees and the water flows through them like a road. 

So beautiful and quiet.

The best part is when you stop paddling and just float, lean back, and enjoy the sun.

If you've never gone kayaking I highly recommend it! So relaxing and a great work out to boot!

plugging along

My life is plugging along. And that is all. Plugging. Work. School. Work. School

There is some sprinkling of fun during the weekend but that is in between writing papers and creating PowerPoint presentations. Exciting and riveting right? Didn't think so.

I have done some fun things lately. And by lately I mean within the last month. 'Cause remember that whole I vow to post more thing.... yeah it's not really happening. 

Help! Grad. school is swallowing my life!

Now...some fun things....

• I saw The Town. Great movie! Boston bank robbers says it all. Ben Affleck stars in it and he wrote and directed it. He did a great job! By the end of the movie you are rooting for the bad guys. Pretty funny too, even if it wasn't meant to be. 

• I also saw The Social Network. Another pretty good one. Although, it does make Mark Zuckerberg (creator of Facebook) look like a completely egotistical jerk. He pretty much abandons his  best friend and business partner and follows the money. Not nice, Mark, not nice at all. 

• Last weekend was the Experience Asia Festival here in Tallahassee. Basically, I go for the food! I hadn't had Indian food in a very, very long time so I was definitely excited to get my hands on some chicken tika masala and naan bread. It was glorious! I could probably eat chicken tika all day everyday and never get tired of it.

•  I registered for spring semester and am excited to only have class one day a week! Woo hoo! I can now (in January) come home from work and not have to rush back out to go to class three days a week. Much less hectic! I like it! And, bonus, I can start going to the gym more. I was going everyday until school took over my life.

• Super exciting is the fact that Florida State is playing some great football this year! And, to top it off, the Gators LOST! TWICE! As you know, a Florida State fan roots for anyone playing the Gators.

Ok, for real this time, I promise to post more. Maybe. We'll see. 

back from the dead

I am back from the dead! 

So we just won't talk about the fact that I took a big 'ol giant break from blogging.

I am back and I missed writing so I am excited to get back at it.

So, since I last graced you with my presence I have of course come back from NYC. 

I so wish I had still been in New York this whole time! 

Sadly I have not. I have started grad. school! 

And I landed a full time job! Hence the world's longest bloggy break. 

Needless to say my life has been a little crazy and busy!

I am really loving grad. school so far. I'm working towards my degree in the international education development field. Basically we are learning to save the world one child at a time. My degree will eventually include a 2-year stint in the Peace Corps. As a matter of fact I turned in my application for the Peace Corps last week! Exciting!

Goodness it feels good to be back!

it's the little things in life

It's been crazy at work lately (we are down a staff member), I'm going to the gym everyday (yay me!), and I'm trying to prepare for grad. school. 

Needless to say, I look forward to any funny or stressless moment I can come across.

There are a few things that have put a smile on my face lately.

1. This new Kia commercial.

Rapping hamsters get me everytime!




2. The new fruit smoothies at McDonald's.

The wild berry flavor is especially good!

3. This webpage: Lady Gaga doing normal things.

Love her. Love this.

Hope ya'll have less going on than me! 

Born on the 4th of july

The 4th of July got rained our here in my little corner of Florida.

It rained for the entire long weekend which put the brakes on a lot of celebrations and some of the fireworks got rained out.

But....the rain did not stop me from seeing REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar in concert!!

I love me some classic rock, being my parent's daughter and all. 

I was raised on the stuff and boy am I thankful for it! 

They both put on a great show!

(I unfortunately had no idea that my camera was dead when I got there. :( Pictures courtesy of jacksonville.com) 

Rockin' with the Wagon!

She's still got it!

words to live by

Can I start this post by saying....OMG I haven't blogged in almost a month! Bad blogger! I would say I have a good reason for this but I don't. I can't even make up a good one.

Lately I have spent an inordinate amount of time in the deep South. Last weekend I spent a great weekend with a bunch of great ladies at our favorite horse ranch in Georgia. And, the weekend before I spent in South Carolina at the NASCAR race in Darlington.

Along the way I saw a billboard after my own heart. This road sign simply stated: "Country Cookin' Makes You Good Lookin'" Amen sister, amen! I have no idea what was being advertised but this slogan shall stay with me forever. It will now be my sole excuse for eating all the Southern food I would like.

That brought up all the other Southern words to live by. For example, "Bless your heart." To the          un-expecting Yankee this seems like a lovely sympathetic term. In reality it is never a good thing. For those not familiar, "Bless your heart" is something you don't want to hear said about you. This phrase is what we polite southern belles say when we really want to say something very un-lady like. A soccer mom steals your parking spot at the mall? You reply, "Bless her heart." Your boyfriend thinks that a vacuum cleaner is a great birthday gift? Your friends respond, "Bless his heart." You see, we actually mean the complete opposite.

And now, courtesy of eHow.com, a tutorial on how to use Southern phrases.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Extra Time

1. 
   
   
   Step1
   SURPRISING CONVERSATIONS...
   
   "Butter my butt, and call me a biscuit!" It's a clear way to say you are knocked out of your britches with a new tidbit of knowledge.
   
   "It made me as ill as a hornet." You were so mad, you just didn't know what to do.
   
   "If that don't put pepper in the gumbo."
   
   "Well, slap my head and call me silly."
   
   "Tie me to an anthill and fill my ears with jam."
2. 
   
   
   Step2
   WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND CAN'T SAY ANYTHING NICE
   
   "Bless her/his heart."
   
   "Do tell."
   
   "My cow died last night, so I don't need your bull."
   
   "I do declare."
   
   "Well, shut my mouth."
3. 
   
   
   Step3
   IN DEATH
   
   "She's resting in peace in the marble orchard." (You can add "Bless her heart.")
   
   "He's fixin' to meet his Maker."
4. 
   
   
   Step4
   STUPID, UGLY AND CLUMSY PEOPLE (there must be a lot around here because there are many ways to imply such things) Since we don't usually call people stupid, ugly and clumsy - follow each of these phrases with, "Bless his/her heart"
   
   "He looks like something the dog's been keeping under the porch."
   
   "She's so ugly, she could haunt a house."
   
   "He's acting crazier than a sprayed roach."
   
   "She's two sandwiches shy of a good picnic."
   
   "If brains were dynamite, he couldn't blow his nose."
   
   "He's as useful as a pogo stick in quicksand."
   
   "She needs some fries to go with that shake."
   
   "Like a bump on the log."
   
   "She's so clumsy, she could trip on a cordless phone."
   
   
   Do you have a favorite phrase/saying/slang?

the south: can't live with it, can't live without it

As much as I loathe the South I also love the South. I've lived in the South my entire life and there are some days when I can't wait to GET OUT!!! Especially, when I'm surrounded by Sarah Palin bumper stickers and gun racks.  But some days, I absolutely love living in the South. I love sunny days, going to eat at the local seafood place down by the river, the fact that we can find any excuse to have a party, and of course, the food (fried pickles are my weakness)!!

This thought process was brought on by the quintessential movie of the South, Steel Magnolias. Could you get any more southern when you have a red velvet groom's cake shaped like an armadillo? I don't think it's possible.

The South has always been my home and I suppose it always will be. But, I do wish that some days it was a little bit more sophisticated. I wish that we weren't a little bit of a laughing stock. Some of the news stories that I see about the South when I'm traveling are just plain embarrassing. No, not all of us drive pick-up trucks, go hunting 24/7, and we don't all know how to line dance.

I do love the laid back way of life we have perfected down here south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Why do what needs to be done now if it can wait until tomorrow is our motto. Wasting time is one of our favorite past times. Heck, it's actually a full fledged sport!. An afternoon with a sweet tea and a front porch swing is all we need.

But, if we believe in something we sure aren't afraid to tell you. (Hence all the bumper stickers previously mentioned.) We did seceded from the Union after all. We stick up for ourselves and are some of the proudest people there are. But, sometimes we're a little too proud and can be a little loud. But, just bare with us and hear us out. Once, our point is out there we'll quiet down.

So, next time you happen to be in our neck of the woods take advantage! Find a front porch, pour yourself some sweet tea and waste away the day. Talk loudly and speak your mind. Remember, your among friends.

It's my birthday and i'll shop if I want to

Wednesday was my birthday. Or, as I like to think of it, the day the Earth was graced with my presence.   What? You've never heard of it?

Anyway, there was a perfect storm of obstacles that kept me from celebrating my birthday on my actual birthday. One, I have a job, and I didn't get off of work until 5pm the entire week. Two, my mom has been sick for a week, as have I. Three, my dog has been really sick all week, he's just starting to get better. And four, my dad worked all night the night before and was therefore falling asleep at 6pm because of it. So, today I celebrated my birthday!

I went shopping. This is my absolute most favorite hobby! I consider it a hobby because that's how much time I spend doing it. And because I'm a deal hunter. It's a game.

My parents were awesome and bought me a new stereo for my car. My poor stereo in my Jetta is kind of falling apart. There is no direct plug-in for my iPod so I use one of those cassette tape player adapter thingys. But, for some reason when I play my iPod through my care stereo it only likes to play out of the left side speakers. So, I have to fix the balance until its just right because I'm OCD like that and it has to be even. Also, the buttons that control the balance, the fade, the base, and other sound do-hickeys all have their knobs falling off. Every time you try to change any of these things the knobs fall off in your hand. One poor little knob got vacuumed up. My radio has served me well but it is time it take an early retirement. It shall be replaced by this beauty.

If you notice it glows purple. That's not the only color it can be either! That's the main reason I ended up choosing this one. And I'm sure the sales person at Best Buy thought that my decision to get this one based on the fact that it had "pretty colors" was a thoughtful one. I think so. But, the best laid plans seldom go as planned. It turns out that they didn't have a part they needed to place my thoughtfully researched choice of radio in my car. So, they had to order it which means I can't get my new radio installed until next weekend. This gives me time to say goodbye to my trusty old radio.

After sharing my amazing electronics knowledge with the people at Best Buy, my mom and I headed to the mall.  My mom got an a.m.a.z.i.n.g deal at New York & Company. Two skirts marked from $24.99 down to $7.99 and a "leather" jacket that was 70% off. 

Yeah. Well. I didn't fair as well. I gave in to my weakness, The Gap. Love it, love it, love it.

First up are these shorts:

I paid way more than anyone should ever pay for denim shorts. 

But look how cute the embroidery is!

I also found these dressy jeans on clearance.

They are perfect for Jean Friday at work.

This cute flower applique t-shirt also came home to live with me.

Hope ya'll had a great Saturday too! 

the rundown

So I've been extremely lazy lately, especially on the blogging front. I will now continue that laziness and share with you a list of what has happened lately.

1. We got a new puppy, Sadie. Her name was originally Patsy, but we are not the most country music inclined family. Then her name was Bodie, short for Bodacious, but we couldn't remember that she was a girl with that name. She is settling in well, only a few accidents while she gets the hang of the doggie doors. But with this face, how can you get mad at her?

2. My other dog, Jake, is sick. He has doggie pneumonia and is coughing like crazy. We took him to the vet yesterday and the poor guy had to have an IV for antibiotics. He has to be confined and kept calm so he now resides in a laundry basket on the couch next to me. But again, how can you resist the face?

3. I did not get the job in London so it looks like it will be grad. school in the Fall for me. Back to Tally I go. Now I just have to find an apartment, my days of living on campus are over!

4. I have become obsessed with researching my family history. No one in my family has every really known much about where we all come from. My inspiration was a new show on NBC Who Do You Think You Are?. The show consists of celebrities researching their family history. Sarah Jessica Parker learned that she had a family member that was in the Salem Witch Trials, Lisa Kudrow found a long lost relative her family believed was dead, and Matthew Broderick found out someone in his family was in the Civil War.  I'm using Ancestry.com and it is super easy. They have a 14-day trial offer going right now. Check it out and see what you can find. I already found the ship manifest that shows my great-great-great grandfather immigrating from France. How cool! I know, I'm a big, family history obsessed, nerd.

5. After my post about my addiction to Coach, I won that second purse and my grandmother sent me a Coach gift card for my birthday. My mom called her an enabler. She may be an enabler, but she's my favorite enabler! 

6. My birthday is next week. I will be 22 and I have yet to decide what I will do to celebrate the occasion. I'm not big on celebrating birthdays, especially since this one falls in the middle of the week. I'm thinking I'm going to spend next weekend shopping and getting pampered: mani-pedi and a haircut. 

I will now continue to sit on the couch in my pj's and watch 90's sitcom re-runs. 

I have an addiction

"Hi. I'm Savannah and I'm addicted to Coach." "Hi Savannah", the group replies.

That is what it would sound like if I joined Coach Buyers Anonymous. Or if there was such an organization for that matter. I am addicted to Coach purses and I'm not ashamed. I absolutely love them and they love me! We have a very good relationship. I bought my first Coach purse in high school. It was my first big purchase. I fell in love that day in the Coach store and I haven't looked back since. I now have 4 bags, 1 wristlet, a pair of sneakers, an iPod case, and a key chain. That's right, I love everything Coach, not just the bags. But, their bags were my first love. You never get over your first love.

Some of you are probably thinking that I must be made of money or that I am a spoiled little rich girl. Well, I am not made of money but I must admit I am a little bit spoiled. My grandmother enjoys buying me presents, including Coach purses.

But, if I buy Coach for myself I never pay full price! That's right, I am a bargain hunter. I love shopping and finding bargains, it's a game to me and I consider it a hobby. If I am going to buy a Coach purse I only go to the outlet store. I am lucky enough to have one about 10 minutes from my house. But, if I see something that I like at the outlet store, I might not even buy it then. Although, I have to muster up all my self-control to walk away. I note what the purse looks like and maybe even get it's name and then I go on eBay, that's when the magic happens! I put in a bid to test the waters and see if any of the other bidders are paying attention to the auction. If someone outbids me then I wait until the last minutes of the auction and I go in for the kill. I told you I was a bargain hunter! I place my bid in time to win the auction but I don't leave enough time for the other bidders to outbid me!

The fruits of war are plentiful and supple. For example, check out this beauty that just arrived in the mail.

And to prove my point even further, this is what I am currently bidding on.

I told you, I have a problem. And this new job and a steady paycheck aren't helping anything. But, isn't the first step admitting you have a problem? There, I admitted it. I'd be happy if recovery went no further. 

Until next time, love, your favorite Coach addicted blogger.

puttin' on the ritz

Last Sunday my dad and I went to a car show. Please stick with me here, I know the words "car show" have already lost some of you.

I am genuinely interested in antique cars, all cars for that matter. My dad of course is into cars as well so it is something fun that we can do together. This car show, though, is the mother of all car shows. It even has an important sounding, snooty name: The Concours d'Elegance. It's held on the golf course of the Ritz-Carlton to boot! Swanky, huh? The cars were beautiful but this show tends to make you feel like you are the hired help out with the family for the day. "Yes master, that is a beautiful automobile."

This show is for the major antique cars. We're talking Model-T's, Model-A's, etc. Fully restored and gorgeous! The majority of the show consists of cars that were built before 1940.

Here are some rides to drool over!

Yes, this car is made of Peruvian maple wood. Thanks for asking.

Classy yellow!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!!!!!

My most favorite part of this particular car show are the hood ornaments. They are absolutely to die for! Masterpieces!

Hope you weren't too bored out there. We now go back to our regularly scheduled programming.

quick review

Here is a quick review of my life lately:

1. The new job is going well. Although, this is the first job I've had in a while, read that as close to my whole life. Therefore, I am always tired, stupid 7:30am wake up :(

2. I did however go to the gym yesterday after work. Savannah - 1    Laziness - 0

3. I was accepted into graduate school at Florida State!! Yeah!!! Socicultural and International Development Education Studies here I come! Super important sounding huh? Not really, it's just an excuse for me to spend two years in the Peace Corps and get credit for it.

4. I have been really getting into couponing lately.  I may have been a soccer mom in a previous life. But, it's like a hunt, just like how shopping is for me! For example, this week at Walgreen's, Purex laundry detergent was BOGO (buy one get one for all those non-shopaholics). And, there was a coupon in the paper for BOGO Purex detergent. Yep, that means I got two bottles of Purex for free!!! Well almost, I did have to pay tax. Guess what, I have another one of those coupons and I plan on taking advantage of the deal tomorrow when I go to my other Walgreen's and score two more free bottles of laundry detergent! In your face corporate america!!!

5. On the couponing front, I started reading a great blog! Totally Target....in a word...amazing! It's all the great Target deals we all love in one convenient place. Clearance, ads with coupon match-ups, price cuts, surprise deals, etc. What more could you ask for?!?! A personal shopper you say, well that would probably negate the money you would be saving. I know, me, always with the details.

saving some mula

I've been hearing about this whole couponing thing for a while now and I decided to try my hand at it. It seemed like a lot of work. To be honest I thought I was going to spend hours hunched over with my fingers stuffed into a pair of scissors cutting out every coupon I could find. The truth is it wasn't like that at all. I decided to take a trial run and it worked out fabulously! I got $70 worth of groceries for $38.70! Nice!

The Loot:

2x NY Texas Toast
2x Ruffles Chips
2x Oral B Toothbrush
2x Dove Deodorant
1 Colgate Toothpaste
1 Publix Whipped Butter
1 Lays Dip
2x Kraft Dressing
2x Orville Popcorn
2x Johnsanville Brats
2x Redbaron Singles Pizza
2x Barilla Pasta

Vendor Coupon Savings: $5.60
Advertised Special Savings: $24.23
Advantage Buy Savings: $1.98

I saved $31.81!!!!!

Total price paid: $38.70 (including tax)

I shop at Publix...I heart Publix! Basically the rule is: take advantage of Buy One Get One and then use two coupons, technically you are buying two. For example, the NY Texas Toast. They were buy one get one (BOGO) plus I had two .50 cents off coupons. So, they started at $3.29 a piece. I got two at buy one get one so two were $3.29. Minus my two coupons ($1.00), that means that two boxes of NY Texas Toast was $2.29!! How exciting!!

I got my training at Frugal Fun and Fortune.

It sounds daunting when you first read her instructions but it's not. The main idea is you take advantage of the sales and stack coupons on top of them. You then stock up your pantry and fridge so you don't have to buy any more for a while. Each week you buy less and less groceries because you stockpiled when things were on sale. The moral of the story is this: buy it now when it's on sale rather than having to buy it later when it's not.

Happy couponing!

Spoke too soon

I heard back from the insurance office assistant job. It's a no go. He hired someone that had more experience in the insurance industry. But, not to worry faithful readers, I have some other plans moving along. Substitute teaching, more office assistant interviews, etc. If all else fails I can always fall back on a life of crime.

Now for something completely different.

The Golden Globes were on last night. Can I just say that Ricky Gervais is my favorite! He is hilarious! But let's talk about what really matters, the fashion! Almost everybody looked great. I didn't see any dress that screamed, "I'm firing my stylist when this is over!".

Here are some of my favorites.

Cameron Diaz, red is definitely her color!

I love Tina Fey. Her style definitely matches her personality. This dress is so fun, especially with the red peeking out from underneath!

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are such a cute couple. I'm loving the pink and blue combo!

Of course, Lauren Graham is one of my favorite actresses and she didn't disappoint!

Did you have a favorite?

Happy Monday!

the hunt

I am on the hunt. A hunt for a job! I graduated almost exactly a month ago and I've sent out over 50 resumes. I'm mostly using Craigslist, hidden gem on the job search front by the way. I think it's finally coming to a close. Hopefully!

I got an interview earlier in the week and today was the day. I think it went pretty well. Me and the owner ended up talking about his industry, insurance, for about 45 minutes. Pretty good I would say. I think he was impressed that I had some sort of idea about the business and business practices in general. [Thanks mom for owning your own business.] I should know something by Monday. Fingers crossed! I know you'll all be waiting with baited breath.

I would have told you all earlier but I was too busy last night to blog. By busy I mean I was too busy flipping back and forth between American Idol and Dirty Jobs. But you're saying to yourself, those shows end at 10p. Yes, but after that was Paranormal State and Celebrity Rehab. I know I know, reality television rules my life. And to prove it I'm blogging right now during American Idol. I just can't look away!

In more fun and amazing news...I might be working in London come August! For those of you who are not my family or Sarah, I studied abroad in the fall of 2007 in London, England through my university. I would say ya'll could all read my blog posts from the amazing 3 months I spent there but I accidentally deleted my blog a while ago. We don't talk about that.

Well....they posted on their website that they are going to have three positions opening up at the study center in London for August. Of course I am applying! I love London and it truly feels like a home away from home. I am super excited and I wish it was closer. So keep some happy thoughts in your head for me. I would appreciate it lovelies!

Happy Thursday!

sticking with it

I am not a big fan of New Year's Resolutions. I don't like giving myself an opportunity to fail. This year I decided to bite the bullet ad come up with a resolution. But, I made it super general so that I had lots of room to succeed.  So, this year's resolution is to simply be healthier.

This could be anything. I plan to eat better, no more McDonald's for me, and workout whenever I get the chance. You'll be happy to know that I am well on my way to accomplishing my goal. The Monday after New Year's I went to the gym and joined! And then the next day I actually went to the gym, and the day after that! Two days in a row is quite a feat for me. Today me and my mom went to Zumba. Has anyone else out there ever tried it? It's almost like a cross between a latin dancing class and aerobics. There is some great music and you really don't feel like you are exercising. Now that doesn't mean you don't sweat up a storm because believe me you do! But, if you just get it in your head that you're just dancing you don't start counting down the minutes until the class is over. We know we've all done it. I'm convinced that the only reason to have a towel at the gym is to cover the timer on the elliptical.

On the eating healthier front I'm doing pretty good. I have an app on my iPod that keeps track of my calories and exercise. You can program it with your weight, height, birthdate, and how many pounds you want to lose a week and it will tell you how many calories you can eat a day. It's super handy. It's also a little scary. I looked at some of the food I usually eat and was appalled. I'm surprised I haven't keeled over yet from a clogged artery. So basically this app scares you into eating better. Nothing like fear as a motivator!

How are ya'll's resolutions going? Everybody still on the wagon?