I plan ahead.

I’ve already said I can’t resist a good bargain– a sickness really. However, after helping my mom last night put my dad’s clothes away– and learning that he has 2 closets, a huge dresser and a nightstand of clothes– I’ve realized the sickness is hereditary and I can’t escape it. And he says I’m the one with the shopping problem? Touche.

Well, I decided to buy my mom’s birthday present 3 months in advance last night– because I can’t resist a sale and because pre-valentines day diamonds are always the most inexpensive… (I post this here because she has no idea how to navigate the internet properly, let alone get to my blog)

14 K Gold, diamond hoops– exactly what she wanted, and such a bargain at 60% off of $400!

Okay but really, I need to finish getting ready to go to Grandma’s– Jets v. Pats with the whole fam in an hour!

Merry Christmas!

Life.

Three weeks.

Three short weeks. That is all it took. I asked my dad during my first week of my work at 8am, classes and second job until 6pm, when he thought that schedule would break me down– he joked, ‘you mean it hasn’t already?’

I have impressive time management skills and I set my priorities pretty well; however, I always feel like something else jumps out at me, everyday. Getting accepted into ODK was such an incredible honor and a rush of excitement, but there was that meeting last night at 9:30 PM, you know, the one at 9:30 PM on the day where I get up at 7am and run around between classes and 2 jobs until 6, and oh right, I have 2 exams, in a row, starting today at 11.

So why are you blogging right now Theresa? Because I needed some sort of release. Last night I wrote out too many index cards and racked my brain away– going from Communication Research Methods to Ecology when studying is quite the task. I realized that I learn better when I write, go figure, so even though those notecards seemed redundant and a waste of time, I was definitely learning a lot more than when I was  just reading my notes over and over.

That’s why I compulsively take notes on everything I read for my classes, and take ridiculous notes in class– in hopes that when I do have 2 exams in a row, I won’t be having a nervous breakdown– oh, how I trick myself into thinking that is possible. Ha ha.

The reality of the situation is I have no reason to be freaking out, I’m bright, I understand the material… I just start to doubt myself when I’m stressed. At the advice of one of my close friends, I finally went to bed around 2AM, believing that sleep was what I needed… so, here I am, 9AM, first exam at 11, staring into space at my blue and green note cards… here goes nothin…

I’ll leave you with this, found it this morning and it inspired me..

Does this place exist?

Really. I need to know because I need to go there.

 

Vernazza, Italy (thanks, Carly!)

Good thing I already wanted to go to Italy!

Everything is magic.

I believe in the magic of dreams. I believe in fairy tales and princesses. I think that’s the problem with so many people, they stop believing in the reality of their dreams and force themselves to grow up. I won’t let myself do that. I know I’m a child at heart. I know many people might think it’s foolish for me to believe these things, but I’ll take innocence over cynicism any day.

 

“When exactly did we go from being kids to just being people, I’m not sure. I do know that it’s not about turning a certain age or graduating from school. It happens when you’re not paying attention. We go from playing with our friends to playing with our friend’s feelings. Without our knowledge or consent childhood slips away in the night and our innocence escapes us and we wake up one morning to find we have become who we are.”

I judge you when you use poor grammar.

Just now, at this very moment– 1:07 a.m.– I decided to start something new. After the inspiring quote on my shoe box that I posted a photo of, a friend of mine posted an image on my Facebook that made her think of me. As I scrolled through the site, I found a ton of images that were downright awesome and inspiring.

So, I’ve decided that from time to time, if I come across one or two that particularly inspire me, I’m going to post them here. Don’t you worry, internet, I would never stop writing. This is just a happy addition to my blog.

This is the image that started it all… enjoy! (No, the girl in the picture is not me!)

My shoes spoke to me.

There are days when you need retail-therapy. These are the days where I don’t necessarily need or want anything, but I just know that walking around with my own thoughts in the mall is necessary. I’ve been incredibly stressed lately.

Junior year is rapidly approaching and while I am excited to get back to my home away from home at Bryant, I can already feel the stresses that come with that. My textbooks were posted. I was asked for my potential hours for my new job working in admissions as an Admission Fellow. I received an e-mail congratulating me on my nomination to apply for membership in Omicron Delta Kappa—a national leadership honor society. These are all good stresses (well, minus the textbooks, but you already read that rant) but I’m feeling them none the less.

Excitedly, I went home to tell my parents about ODK. I checked out the website, read about what the society is about, and realized what a big deal, and an honor, just being nominated was.  I am absolutely going to apply for this amazing opportunity! Wish me luck, internet.

That’s when I thought to myself, I wonder if Charlotte Russe has any new shoes. I am a self-proclaimed shoe addict. Now, before you judge, I will tell you that I do not and will not spend over 50 dollars on a pair of shoes, most of the time I rarely spend over 40. I shop for bargains. Charlotte Russe has become both my best friend and my bank account’s worst enemy, because there is always a sale: Buy one pair, get one for 10 dollars.

Obviously, I wound up on the website. I think I started hyperventilating when I realized all their shoes were on sale for 20 dollars. Clearly, I headed to the store for my retail therapy. I told myself I was only allowed one pair.

I tried on about 20. I settled on a pair of black sandal wedges and headed to the register in my bliss. When I got home though, I realized that someone had written a message on the side of the box: Why stop dreaming when you wake up?

Now, we all know I love quotes and words and lyrics so this was obviously a sign. 1) buying shoes was, and is always, a great idea and 2) keep dreaming. I thought this was appropriate based on all that is ahead of me. Needless to say, I cut that side of the box off and stuck it into the memo board above my bed—always there to remind me to never stop dreaming.