Wonderful Weekend...

I had the most amazing weekend... Last week I got a crazy hair and decided to see if I would qualify for a loan... I did and I got approved for a decent amount! I began searching around and doing my homework on which SUV would best suit my needs as well as Cameron's and our little "family". I was torn between the Ford Escape and the Jeep Liberty. In the end Cameron and I decided the Liberty would better meet our need with towing, space, and adventure. Plus, it was aesthetically pleasing to my eye. :)

I found a dealer with a great model, 2008 with only 18k miles and a MOON ROOF...that is where the whole roof opens... not just the front. I fell hard. But, quickly I realized I would have to play hardball and with the encouragement of Cameron I walked away when the dealer refused to come down on the price. Within in 24 hours I had sealed the deal and was driving my NEW JEEP LIBERTY home.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Of course Cameron has detailed it for me. I have almost blown through a tank of gas because I am so excited to drive it. I did shed a tear for my Pontiac as we were driving home... bitter sweet.

"Voom voom voom..... whose got the keys to the Jeep..." 

summer time...where the living's easy.

Where to start...

    Well, first I must apologize to my friends and readers who updated themselves through my blog. Life has been going 100 mph. Over the past year I have dove into college head first. I was president of an honor society, had 15 credit hours plus an internship, I was on the advisory board for the COE as a student representative, and I worked, took care of my pups and my boyfriend. Somehow I managed to travel and enjoy my friends on top of it all.

   As quickly as it all started it will and has finally come to a screeching halt. I am soooo grateful that it is slowing down. I am looking forward to a quiet summer. I plan to get back to the gym (gained the freshman 15 my senior year). I also plan to hone in on my sewing, scrap-booking, and cooking skills. I really enjoy sewing and cooking/baking and would love to become really really good at them both.

   As the summer progresses I plan to update this blog with how I am doing with my goals. I am a strong believer in writing them down and making yourself accountable. So, here they are:

1. Get back to my normal weight of 135 (currently at 148)
2. Start and finish Cameron's scrap-book graduation gift (from December) 
3. Learn to bake and make cakes with fondant and pretty decor
4. Try new recipes outside my comfort zone from my cookbooks
5. Go somewhere I have never been before

   I believe these are attainable goals... and I will have fun completing them. YAY SUMMER... YAY RELAXATION! 

Back from Spam Land

Not quite sure what happened to my blog for a while there. I guess some strange person decided to hack into my blog and redirect the viewers to their site! NOT COOL! Now that I have resolved the issue and changed my password, I thought I should update my little electronic blog!

I have been staying VERY busy with school, work, and my relationships with friends, boyfriend, and family. Since I wrote last I celebrated my 25th birthday! For those that do not know... I am not going to be aging for the next five years. Until my 30th birthday... I have decided to remain 25 years of age. I don't see the big deal of gaining another year of knowledge and another year of wrinkles... too much hassle. I am just going to bypass all the worry and stay 25!

On my birthday I had the opportunity to celebrate a night out with some of my closest friends. I appreciate each one of them. Everyone I associate with helps to make me who I am.. well, for the most part!

It is crazy to think of how much I have accomplished and what I have endured, overcame, and conquered. I cannot imagine what the next 25 years will have for me... it is so exciting and overwhelming! What a great ride it has been and will be!

Just a couple weeks ago I received my Associate of Arts degree! Finding this certificate in the mail, helps to solidify the path I am on. I can see my goals being accomplished and I am very excited. It gives me more strenghth to continue on!

I am so excited to be a in block one of the college of education. I am finally focussing on what I need to do to become the best teacher possible. Some weeks are more overwhelming then others... but I work through them, one day at a time. I was recently accepted into Kappa Delta Pi, National Honor Society for COE. I am very excited for the opprotunity to serve my community and university.

Finally, in my novel update on my life... Cameron and I are doing great!! I can hardly believe we have been seeing each other for 5 months!! The time is flying and I am enjoying every moment. We have the most fun and do so many different things. I truely love him and I am so glad God brought him into my life.

Poem

A new great friend of mine, Kristin, sent me this poem today. I absolutely loved it. It touched her soul at one point of her life and now mine. Enjoy!

After a while you learn
The subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child

And you learn
To build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is
Too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight

After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

And you learn
That you really can endure
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.

Veronica A. Shoffstall

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

I hope your holiday season was spent with...

Your Family

I hope you laughed so hard you cried...

ate one too many sweets and still want more!

I hope you spent time with the people who matter most to you...

And just acted goofy!

I hope 2010 brings everything that you deserve. I am excited to start fresh and embark on an exciting journey that every year brings.

Happy 2010 all!

My Christmas Vacation

To get in the spirit of the holidays, I booked a flight to Lynchburg, Va. Christin, a close friend of mine since we were seven years old, had just moved out on her own and I wanted to check out her new pad! With all the changes occurring in my life, this trip was well needed. Two single ladies tearing up the Bible Belt!

The trip was amazing. I got to see an area where some of our country's richest history occurred. I spent the day with the Brandt family discovering downtown Lynchburg and meeting new friends. All the while Christin was making a Pro/Con list of why I should move up there. Unfortunately, I think the list made me appreciate my little home in the tropical environment. As much as I love the cold weather, my face was dying for moisture! Maybe one day I will have a second home somewhere up north so I am able to go back and forth. But no to living up there full time! (Sorry girl) :)

During all my traveling back and forth from Virginia, I had a lot of time to think about all of the situations occurring in my life. Shortly after moving out and becoming a single lady, I met someone. Honestly, I had known this person for quite a while, but we were just friends. As the weeks have progressed I have been able to discover what an amazing man he is. He is the type of man who opens car doors, who walked me to my front door on our first date without coming in to wish me good night, he always texts, calls, or emails me to let me know he is think of me. He has made a point to let me feel comfortable with the speed of getting to know each other. He has let me carry the reigns through it all. I appreciate him so much. I think I appreciate him more now then I would have ever in the past.

Life takes you different places. Sometimes the places can be fun, sometimes they can be pretty tough. All the while, the journey is preparing you for your future. I believe that life and the decisions I have made, took me to this place. I had the experiences in the past so I would be able to understand the sweetness of the moment I am in now. Going on my trip made me realize that taking things extra slow was not my style. Calculating every step meticulously to make sure I don't get hurt was never me. I jump feet first with everything I believe in. I believe in love and laughter... so I just jumped in... all the way.

I am excited to see what the new year holds for me and my new life. This world is ever changing and I am loving it!

Great Quote by, Eve Ensler

I was recently reading my Glamour Magazine and came across this amazing quote from Eve Ensler. Enjoy!

"Cherish you solitude.

Take trains by yourself to places

you have never been.

Sleep out alone under the stars.

Learn how to drive a stick shift.

Go so far away that you stop

being afraid of not coming back.

Say no when you don't want to

do something.

Say yes if your instincts are strong,

even if everyone around you disagrees.

Decide whether you want to be liked or admired.

Decide if fitting in is more important than finding

out what you're doing here.

Believe in kissing"