Back to School- Again! :0

So today I finally finished my grad school application and got it all turned in.  I have had everything completed except for the essay portion for quite a while now.  I obviously was not looking forward to that part of the process.  I thought it might be a bad sign that I was already procrastinating on writing when applying for grad school (where it has been told to me that one does ALOT of writing). Anyways I sat down, got serious, did my research, and wrote.  The process was pretty painless.

 I noticed that I mentioned in my first post that I don't look forward to learning new things.  I think I'm going to have to go back on that statement.  I actually love learning/doing new things. I think it's more so the lack of confidence in myself and my abilities that hold me back.  Over the past three years I have taken on several personal challenges and completed them beyond my own expectations. These challenges at some point always seemed very daunting and impossible to undertake often causing me to procrastinate on getting started, however; the task was always doable once I decided to stop pressuring myself so much and just put one foot in front of another.  Sometimes I forget that it's small steps that get you farther. As long as I am persistent, small steps help me build endurance to reach my end goal. There is nothing more rewarding when I am finished to look back at something that I once thought was going to be next to impossible and see the outcome of my work, give myself a pat on the back, and build up my confidence a little bit at a time.

So I guess this is my first baby step at grad school. It took me SEVEN years to graduate undergrad.  I think I was just scared of the real world, until I had to start paying for it financially and mentally speaking.  Anyways, I'm pretty excited about it now.  Excited to take on a new challenge and to learn new things.  I hopefully will better my education and in turn and most importantly better that of my students.

New Art- And learning to navigate by blog...

Well I think my blog is coming along ok for day one.  For some reason my "awesome" background from Shabby Blogs will not show up even though I have added it as a gadget and pasted it under the design tab.  Although; the shabby blogs label is showing up on my blog... WHO KNOWS!!! So now I'm just playing around with pictures.  This is a picture of some new art that I recently purchased.  Cindy Parker, the art teacher from Pierce Street is the artist.  I used photo booth to take the picture (having technical difficulties with my camera too, I won't go there tonight) so I guess that's why it is a mirror image of itself?? Anyhow... It's an old window pane from a house on Highland Circle. It still has the original handle on it which you can't see in the picture.  She spruced it up with some cute paint and an aluminum flower and added a great bible verse to it.  "For I know the plans I have for you..." This is always a great verse for me to be reminded of.   Alright, while the rest of you are dreaming of whatever it is you dream of, I'm sure I'll still be trying to figure this out.  Ahhh well, I get to sleep in AGAIN tomorrow! :) 

Lazy Summer Days

    So I'm not complaining but I'm into my 3rd or 4th week (lost count) of summer vaca, and I've become a little bored.  It's a grey rainy day (but I am thankful) and I can't think of much to do.  I have plenty of domestic duties that I'm sure I could be taking care of, but I guess I have become a little lazy as well.  While I was laying on the couch, playing on the computer, I just kinda stumbled into a blog site and decided that maybe I could put some time and energy into creating my own blog.  I have thought of blogging before but have wondered with my lack of writing skills, patience with technology, and learning new things if blogging would be successful for me?  Guess we'll find out.  I'm already a little frustrated.  The initial set up was pretty easy.  My frustration came into play when trying to customize my blog. I'm trying to use the Shabby Blogs site (which I have seen on other friends blogs and it is SOOO cute!) to help me do this and I'm sure it's a lot easier then I am making it out to be, but for the moment I have given up and just decided to write my first entry.  Any tips would be greatly appreciated! My goal today would be to have a new cute background.  I particularly like the Anthropology background.  I wonder if this is because I have a huge urge to take a shopping trip!?!?   

Maybe I will take a shopping trip after I hear from a much anticipated phone call and maybe shed a few pounds.  I have continued my daily workouts but I think my daily lazy time has not been as good to my waist line as it has to my mental well being.  This week I have cut out all alcoholic beverages and sodas. I'm on day 5 and have been successful so far.  I'm drinking mostly water and have had a couple of glasses of crystal lite and unsweet tea.  It's helped me in getting rid of about 5 pounds of water weight.  Now I've just gotta make sure I keep my eating habits within correct portions. Yaya's yogurt in this heat has been amazing, but unfortunately we need to see a lot less of each other.  Oxford is full of yummy eats to blow even the most dedicated dieters day! I would have to hole up in the house and never leave if I want to be good to my calorie count! I'm fasting today in preparation for a yummy dinner at Ajax to celebrate Father's day and birthdays with Brandon's family tonight. And yes, I have tried a salad at Ajax, and it's just not for me.  I would much rather starve myself all day, and workout out a little extra for the next two days than miss out on my usual "veggie" plate of hash brown casserole, fried eggplant, and broccoli and rice casserole.  

So with about 6 weeks of summer left, I'm looking forward to many more lazy days and a few exciting things coming up. One of my best friends Lea is moving to Hawaii in about a week and a half.  Her and Andrew are coming to visit this weekend and I am looking very forward to seeing her.  It will be a bitter sweet weekend.  We'll just have to make the sad part happy by planning mine and Brandon's visit to Hawaii! Sounds like a great plan to me! I have two good friends getting married in July.  Congrats to Joe and Patty and Suzy and Marcus! I'll be headed to the beach the first week of July with my mom and lil bro.  It will just be the three of us (Brandon has to work :( ) and that should be fun and good quality family time.  We haven't taken a family vaca since I can remember.  I'm sure there will be some interesting moments as well! ; ) Also my friends Curt and Lindsey are expecting their first baby in August! I can't wait to meet little Curt.  I am so happy to see him happy and being such a great husband and soon to be dad.  It won't be long before little Roper is in the grove with Curt teaching him all the "ropes" of rebel life! :) With all the excitement I wish I could find a way to squeeze in a weekend with all my girls! If only I could some how bring them from all over the country for a fun wild weekend I definitely would.  Casey and I miss you Lauren, Abigail, Molly, and Jenn! We must plan time together soon! Alright, I'm wrapping this entry up and heading to the gym. I'm beginning to mold to the couch. Maybe I'll work on the background some more tonight.