Better Late Than Never

I know this is way past due, but I wanted to make sure I did it. Better late than never, right? I just wanted to talk about what I'm truly thankful for.

First I'm thankful that my basic needs in life are met. I have a home where, for the most part I'm safe. I  have food and drink to satisfy my hunger and thirst and, other than my weight, I have my health. I have a bed to sleep in and clothes to wear. I have two parents who take care of my needs while I can't.

I'm also blessed to be done with school (at the moment) and although I really need a job, I'm grateful for the time to relax and do my own thing. As much as I desperately want my own car I realize how blessed I am to have access to a car that I can use when I need to. I'm also extremely appreciative of the things my parents provide for me that I think I need but don't necessarily, like a cell phone, computer, movies, nail polish, etc. :)

Cassi and I in 2005 at Disney World! The first year of our friendship!

I also have wonderful friends who are like family and are always there for me even though most of them are many miles away. I'm grateful for the one really true friend I have here in Cove with me, Cassi. Without her I would spend all of my time in my room alone or driving my parents around. She has become even more important to me since I've moved home which I didn't even think was possible. She gets me through and through and doesn't judge the things I say or do especially when they come out wrong. I can tell her absolutely anything and she gives me an honest opinion whether it hurts or not and I'm grateful for that. She's my sister from a different mister!

Tim and I at Midnight Yell for the last
Texas A&M vs. UT game Thanksgiving 2011!

Tim is also really special to me but he is in College Station at school most of the time so I'm grateful for the time I do get to spend with him or talk to him. He is definitely someone I can be myself around and who respects me and my beliefs. Cassi and Tim have always been dear friends and I'm grateful for their very special friendships with me.

One very special group of friends from my time in college.
Becca, me, Kaitlin, and Rochelle waiting to see Breaking Dawn Part 1
at midnight Nov. 2011!

The majority of my friends are in Huntsville or scattered throughout the states and this is where I become very grateful for social media and phones. No matter the distance I'm grateful for the wonderful friendships I've made over the years and the many different things they have done for me. 

Lastly, but certainly not least, I'm blessed to have a heavenly father who loves me and is constantly watching over me and a Savior who died for my chance to have a relationship with that father. I know even through the hardest of times, there is always a purpose and a plan. I always have faith in him whether or not things are going well.

I could go on and on about all of these things and could list so many more things I'm grateful for but it would take until next Thanksgiving to write and another year to read so I'm going to leave it at these major points.

Closer Than We Think

At this moment I'm sitting here in my little small town of Copperas Cove, Texas watching a live broadcast of Children in Need on the BBC in England on my computer. The main reason I am watching this is because of One Direction performing but I can't help but realize the amazing reaches of technology.

I mean honestly 10 years ago we would never have imagined we could stream live TV from halfway around the world and we would have to settle with hoping that someone would put the clips of our favorite celebs performing overseas on YouTube or something so you could see them. Everyday the world gets a little smaller. We have access to news and media outlets across the globe and we don't have to wait days to find out about events happening in other countries.

Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter increased our access to individual people around the world. Now we can find and talk with people who share our interests without having to be geographically close. I follow people from as far away as Australia on my Twitter and friends who have spent the last year or so living in Greece. It's amazing how we can stay connected when we are so vastly apart.

We don't realize how huge of an accomplishment some of the everyday things in our lives are. This generation is the most widely connected generation in history and I am just amazed at the amount of influence and outreach we are capable of. I think sometimes we don't realized just how influential an individual can be just because of the technology of our world. It's crazy and kind blows my mind that if I so choose I can have a conversation with someone on the other side of the world. The responsibility of our generation is to use the technology at our disposal to make the world a better place and not waste the opportunity to be a positive influence on our world.

Spirit Tutus

Cassi and I at the Sam Houston vs Baylor game.

So it's been awhile since I've been on here. I wanted to share one of my most recent and fun to make craft projects.

In September my alma mater, Sam Houston State University, played my "little brother" Derek's current school, Baylor University, in Waco and we made sure to get tickets so I could cheer on my school and see Derek perform at the game. I was looking for a unique way to show my school spirit but I was also torn between who to cheer for (the school that got all my money or the school I have grown up sort of supporting). It seems like everywhere you look girls are wearing tutus. (I absolutely adore Sophia Grace and Rosie on the Ellen show and they always wear a different tutu each time they are on the show).

I decided I was going to tie-dye green and orange shirts and wear tutus. Originally I was going to sew tulle on the bottom of the shirts in layers of orange and green but that just became too much work (and I've never really sewn before). I found this awesome post on pinterest for no-sew tutus (link is at the bottom). After looking at the details it seemed simple enough. Let me tell you it was much easier than it looks and turned out so much better than my idea would have been. I made myself and my BFF Cassi orange and green tutus so we would represent both teams.

The split decision tutu as I'll call it.

My Copperas Cove themed tutu. I used glittery white tulle as a nice accent and filler. 

Seeing as I waited until the last minute I had to rush to Hobby Lobby for the rolls of tulle used on the blog and was therefore left with a problem when they did not have orange tulle on the roll. I decided to use a wide non-wired mesh ribbon which ended up working great. The only problem in using ribbon is the ends need to be sealed or else the ribbon will fray (as anyone who has ever worked with ribbon will know) especially the mesh ribbon. I sealed mine by burning the edges. I had to run the lighter back and forth a couple times to completely seal it but make sure not to linger too long on one place or it will catch fire and you have the pinch it out quickly. Each tutu only took me about an hour and a half to make. Cassi loved it and I loved it, so much so that I made myself another to wear for my local high school football games (and to band competitions). I call them my spirit tutus.

The first time I wore it was to support the Pride of Cove Band at their first contest.

Treasures for Tots

Movie Stubs Everywhere! a.k.a. I Did A Project Off Pinterest!

I love going to movies! I mean who doesn't? There is nothing like getting a group of people together to go to the theater buy some popcorn and sit in front of a large screen in the dark to see the latest blockbuster. I'm a huge fan of midnight premiers. Being among the first people to see a movie is so fun. I'm one of those people who keeps all the stubs from movies, sports events, concerts, and so on, but this ends up with stubs everywhere. Some on my desk, others in my scrapbook box, and still more on my memo board. I first thought I could put them in my scrapbooks but then I had the issue of which one to put them in. Do I put them all in my general album or split them and put the ones from school in my college album and the rest in the general?

So one day I was perusing Pinterest (if you don't know what this is you should. It's an amazing website where people can share anything basically by pinning it. Many people share craft ideas which I love), and I found the cleverest and neatest idea for saving ticket stubs. Someone had posted an idea using a shadow box as a drop box for tickets. They decorated the background to their liking and somehow had a slit in the top to drop tickets in almost like a piggy bank.

I had no idea how they got a hole in the top and I wanted it to look good but I decided to tackle that when I got there. So one time I went to Hobby Lobby I searched through the shadow boxes and found one that wasn't too big and was only about $20 plus they were on sale. After thinking about it I decided that instead of trying to put a hole in the top I would cut down the back so I could slide stubs in the back. That was another factor in picking a frame. I wanted one that didn't have any vital parts in the top inch and a half of the back (such as the pieces that hold the back on.) The one I picked was perfect.

...and with tickets.

The finished product without tickets...

My box had a burlap covered foam padding in it so I pulled that off since I knew I wouldn't need it. To cut the back down I scored where I wanted to cut and ran a box cutter over it continuously until it came off. It was much simpler than I thought it would be. I decorated the background using black and red scrapbook paper to create a stage setting. I put the black down first and freehand cut the red to look like curtains. I found theater themed scrapbook stickers on sale at Walmart and used those to add details to my shadow box background. I put the back on the shadow box and filled it with my stubs and viola! It now sits on my movie shelf and looks great

Friday (Saturday, and Sunday) Night Lights

Woohoo! Football season is upon us! Well for some it started last weekend but for me it really began this weekend since it was the first time I was really immersed in the football atmosphere.

I have always loved football and just competition in general, but football is my absolute fav. My favorite part of games is halftime. Now before all you die-hard fans start ranting and raving about how thats-not-part-of-the-game and I'm-not-a-real-fan, let me explain. In high school I was in the color guard, which is part of the marching band, which performs at most football games so therefore is "part" of the game, and halftime reminds me of one of my greatest memories from that time of my life and I'm also a sucker for a good marching show. In marching band we went to every game (away, home, and playoffs) which was a dream for me because I was a fan even before high school. You see I grew up and still live in a small town in Texas where high school football is a religion. I remember learning to growl in elementary school and barking in middle school preparing to be a Bulldawg, but I didn't get to go to a game until junior high. My first game was homecoming and I loved every minute of it. That was also the first time I saw a marching band and when I decided I wanted to be a part of that. Now all of that is not to say I don't enjoy a football game without a halftime show, I just enjoy it much more if there is an exciting halftime.

Pre-game with the Pride of Cove Band.

Pride of Cove at Halftime.

So like I said this past weekend was the start of my season. First on Friday night was my high school's first home game. After loosing in the season opener to A&M Consolidated, the Bulldawgs came home and beat Waco High 43-7. The Pride of Cove also put on an amazing performance of the first and second movements of their show this year Les Miserables. I can't wait to see it completed. Saturday we move to college football where Texas A&M and my alma mater Sam Houston State had their first games of the season. A&M unfortunately lost but SHSU pulled out a 54-7 win against Incarnate Word. I'm so proud of my Bearkats after coming off a second place finish nationally last year we are off to a great start this season.

RGIII after his first throw for a touchdown of the game on Sunday.

Finally on Sunday was NFL day. My team is the Packers but before watching them play I was able to watch fellow Cove graduate and Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III (RGIII to the media) play with his new team, the Washington Redskins. He played an amazing game and lead his team to a victory against the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately my Packers lost to the 49ers but thats ok because tonight they beat the Chicago Bears 23-10. Go Pack Go!












Coming up this weekend on Friday is Cove's homecoming against a high school from Mexico and on Saturday we are going to Waco to see Sam Houston play the Baylor Bears. This may be the only game I get to see live this season so I'm really excited. We may have a shot this time since my friend RGIII isn't playing for them this time. I don't keep up with the NFL schedule honestly, but I have an amazing app from ESPN called Score Center that keeps me up to date on games and scores. You just select the teams you want and it gives you push alerts for when they start and score updates throughout the game. It's pretty awesome. Go DAWGS! EAT 'EM UP KATS!

More Glittering Gold

I know I'm extremely late on this but I really haven't felt like writing, lol, so here goes.

While I was out of town for the wedding, I really wasn't able to watch the Olympics as much as I wished I could have, although I did catch as many glimpses as possible. I would like to just talk about a couple events that stood out to me.

One sport I really enjoy watching and playing is volleyball, beach or otherwise. I am no where near as good as any of the players in the Olympics but it is one of the few sports where I really understand the game and can follow mostly without the commentators. Of course I was cheering for the USA but my favorite is Misty May Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings in beach volleyball. I was so surprised when I say Misty was back since she said she was retiring after Bejing but I am so glad she came back. They are so exciting to watch and I love the charisma between them. I was so happy to find out they won gold although I was disappointed I wasn't able to watch the final match. It was a win-win situation for the USA since Misty and Kerri had to play the other USA team to win the gold.

Gabby Douglas winning gold in the Individual All-Around.

In more exciting gymnastics competition, the USA was once again well represented by the members of the Fab Five. First up the Individual All-Around Final. Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman competed hard and Gabby won the gold while Aly tied with Allya Mustafina from Russia for bronze and, for a reason I am still unaware of, the bronze was awarded to the Russians. In the Vault finals, McKayla Maroney won silver for the USA. In the Uneven Bars finals, Gabby Douglas finished 8th while in the Beam finals she placed 7th. Aly Raisman brought home the bronze in the Beam finals and the gold in the Floor finals where Jordyn Wieber placed 7th. Overall I think the ladies did great and represented the USA well.

McKayla Maroney after winning the silver. Her face has spurred a wave of memes with the phrase "McKayla is not impressed." 

Mitchell handing off the baton after finishing his leg of the relay with a broken leg.

One story I really couldn't believe until I looked it up was Manteo Mitchell, the relay sprinter who broke, YES BROKE, his leg halfway through his leg of the race and still finished. Mitchell was on the 400x4 meter relay team for the USA. He got off the block slow and at about 200 meters to go he heard his leg pop. At that point I don't think anyone would have blamed him if he had stopped but did he? NO! He kept running with no visible problems. The USA Team ended up finishing 2nd behind the Bahamas in the qualifier and again in the final, winning the silver.

The closing ceremony was, as everyone said it would be, basically a huge concert of British music. It wasn't as showy for me as the opening ceremony but still very entertaining to watch. I enjoyed seeing One Direction but what I was looking forward to the most was the reunion of the Spice Girls. I enjoyed the peek at Rio 2016 and can't wait for that opening ceremony because I know Rio can throw a party. I'm sad they are over but in 2014 are the winter games and I can't wait to watch Aplolo Ohno, Shaun White, and figure skating. All the athletes fought hard and it was fun to watch. Way to go Team USA!

All That Glitters

Since the London Olympics began Friday, I have completely immersed myself in everything Olympics. I have watched every minute of coverage on NBC I could. starting tomorrow evening I will be limited on the amount I get to watch since I'll be leaving to go to College Station and stay with Lacey and will be staying in Huntsville after that in preparation for Shannon's wedding.

The "Fab Five" with their shiny new gold medals!

The good news is I have pretty much seen everything I wanted to see or was really looking forward to seeing. I always enjoy gymnastics and that is the sport I always want to watch during the Olympics. The only event I may really miss is the individual competition. My heart just broke for Jordyn Wieber when Aly Raisman beat her out for the second spot for the individual finals. That is such an unfair rule that only two gymnasts from each country can go to the individual finals instead of the top 24 overall, but that's not my job. Congrats to Aly and teammate Gabby Douglas for making the individual final! After that heartbreak it was good to see Jordyn smile confidently after finishing her vault at the team finals tonight. They all performed absolutely perfectly. Yes there were a few bobbles here and there but it was beautiful. The excitement when they over took Russia to become Olympic gold medalists was amazing. The whole area was cheering and I started tearing up for them. They represented the USA beautifully. Way to go girls! Jordyn, you got your gold.

Missy Franklin with her well earned gold medal.

I also have really been into swimming this year. First I have to say Missy Franklin did an amazing job and I love that she is dedicating all of her swims to Aurora, Colorado (She goes to school there). She won her first individual gold last night and broke the world record. Her parents reactions were wonderful.

Michael Phelps and his relay teammates who helped him earn that 19th Olympic medal.

Also in swimming I have to say I have been rooting for Michael Phelps and his goal to beat the all-time record for medals. After his disappointing 4th place finish in his first race everyone was doubting him but I had faith that he could pull it back. After getting a silver in both the relay on Saturday night and the 200 butterfly today, his medal count was 18, tying the record. The record was passed with a bang though when Team USA earned gold in the 4x200meter. No one else ever had a chance. The USA took off and never looked back. Truly amazing! What a spectacular accomplishment. I guess coming back one more time was definitely worth it. Way to go Michael!



Team USA earned a lot of new hardware today. Hopefully there are more to come.

Let The Games Begin!!

It's that time again! Last night was the Olympic opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I must say it was spectacular. I always love the opening and closing ceremonies. It's always so spectacular. I'm a huge Olympics fan so every 2 years (Winter Olympics) I get super excited. I am undoubtedly a fan of Great Britain and many of my favorite things come from there. Now several people complained that the ceremony was too centered around Britain but isn't that what it's supposed to be. It is that country's chance to show the world what is important to them about their country. Some people can't just enjoy the show and move on.

J.K. Rowling reading from Peter Pan.

But anyways, one of my absolute favorite parts was the celebration of British literature especially because the author of my absolutely favorite book series, Harry Potter's J.K. Rowling, was a part of it. I also found the 20ft tall inflatable Voldemort both completely terrifying and spectacular. It was great to see two things I enjoy so dearly put together- the Olympics and Harry Potter. I honestly thought Conan was joking when he said last week there was going to be a Voldemort vs. Mary Poppins fight. Lesson learned-trust Conan. I also enjoyed the musical journey through the 60s-current. Some of the music I didn't realize was the product of Great Britain. I must say though, it was great to see her majesty the Queen with James Bond. What a great sport she is.

Voldemort vs. Mary Poppins

Team Netherlands

Team Norway

The Parade of Nations is always enjoyable although with the number of nations it is extremely long. Last night though was one of the quickest I've seen and, as the commentators said, it's probably because they were playing very upbeat music. There are always certain countries I enjoy like Ireland and the Netherlands. Team Netherlands ladies were dressed in blue dresses with a trench coat in their signature orange and I must say they looked awesome. I also like to cheer for Norway since I am Norwegian. Of course though my #1 team is Team USA! It's so exciting to sit and wait for your country to come out then cheer for them when they finally do. I'm hoping they do good. I'm looking forward to Gymnastics and Swimming. I really hope Michael Phelps can pull of 3 more medals to become the most decorated Olympian in history. Bring it home to the good old USA.

Team USA!

And with that I'll say Let The Games Begin!...And may the odds be ever in your favor! :)

A Dark Knight Indeed

The much anticipated The Dark Knight Rises finally came out this weekend and I was one of the many people who couldn't wait to see it. I honestly considered going to the midnight showing if there was one in our town. I ultimately decided not to which is good since my Dad would have surgery that next day and we had to leave our house at 4:30 am!!! He is doing fine and came home the next day as planned.

However thousands went to midnight showings all over the country and sadly one group of those people will remember that night more than anyone. It is truly terrible what happened in Aurora, Colorado. None of us can say exactly why this coward did what he did except himself, but no explanation will be enough because people lost their lives. No matter the reason, those people are gone and the lives of those around them are forever changed. I hear many people speculating about why this happened or what may have pushed him over the edge, but this makes me think of a quote from one of my favorite shows Criminal Minds. The gist of the quote is "You cannot explain an irrational action with rational reasons." What this man did was irrational, and if we try to use rational thinking to understand what he did we will never be satisfied. We all must have faith in our justice system that he will be punished for the crime he committed and ultimately judged by God who will give him the final punishment. We as a people must leave the punishment to the justice system and turn our focus to the victims. By honoring and remembering the victims we take away the power this man has, another tidbit I learned from Criminal Minds. I will follow the example of Jessica Ghawi's brother and refuse to use the shooter's name out of respect for the victims. They should be better known than him.

These are the people who should be remembered. Not the coward who took them away from this world.

With that said, I finally saw The Dark Knight Rises on Saturday evening with Cassi, Rob, Cassi's brother Tony, and their Dad. I was extremely pleased with the movie. It definitely lived up to hype. Anne Hathaway really impressed me as Catwoman. I was a little skeptical when it was announced she would be Catwoman but she did a wonderful job. It really shows her range as an actress and makes me like her even more. I would recommend it to anyone who is debating seeing it. Go! Totally worth it.

Part of Me

This past Thursday was July 5 and Katy Perry's Part of Me came out in theaters. I love Katy's music but I wasn't sure I wanted to see the movie. I'd seen the Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers concert movies and they were alright so I didn't know if I would want to spend the money to see a movie or wait until it came out. As it got closer I decided I really wanted to see it so I asked my other BFF Cassi and went to see it on Friday. 

I must say I loved it! It was fun and made me wanna dance. I love the bright colors and glittery costumes. I would totally wear her outfits if I had somewhere to wear them. I like to say that my celebrity fashion spectrum is Katy Perry to Taylor Swift lol. 

The movie was also moving, especially when it comes to the end of her marriage. My heart broke for Katy, but she is such a professional and loves her fans so much that she wiped the tears and put on a happy face literally seconds before going on stage. She could have said I can't do this but she did it for her fans.

I love the confidence and determination she puts out there. She shows her fans that they are worth something and they shouldn't want to change for anyone but themselves. She worked so hard for where she is now and that just shows you not to give up when someone tells you no. 

I would recommend it to anyone and her grandmother is hilarious!

Let Freedom Ring

So last Wednesday was the Fourth of July. It is significant to me for multiple reasons.

1. It is America's day of independence.

2. It is a purely American holiday.

3. It is full of fireworks, grilling, and hanging outside.

Another reason the Fourth of July is important to me is because it is a day to truly remember the reasons it is great to be an American. Now a days you constantly hear people bad mouthing America and how horrible of a place it is and how much they hate being an American. Well I, my friends, am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! This is my country and will always be. There are so many things I love about being an American. The opportunity to do whatever I want with my life and stand up for what I believe in. Yeah someone might try to tear me down but that is their right to speak their mind too. Yes we are going through some rough times but the rest of the world is too. What truly makes me proud to be an American is when I hear stories of people who help out those less fortunate or going through tough times. It is beautiful to see others helping their brothers through tough times. No man left behind. I know this is more a combat phrase but what if we all treated others this way. I'm not saying every body gets equal but just saying that we should help people get back on their feet until they can walk on their own. I've heard people say when they go to other countries they don't like to say they are from the United States. I think that is ridiculous. That is like saying you are embarrassed by what you are. I will always proudly say I am an American citizen because that is what I am. 

So normally I don't really do anything on the fourth but this year I had a wonderful fourth. Tim came into town with his roommate Lisa and we all went out to Freedom Fest on Fort Hood with his brother Derek, Derek's girlfriend and his friend Ethan and their Mom. In all the years I have lived next to Fort Hood, and that's all 23 years of my life, I have never been to see the fireworks. The main reason Tim wanted to go, and therefore I got to go, was because Kelly Clarkson was performing. I must say that was definitely a good reason to go. We had so much fun even though it was hot. We went on one ride which I laughed the entire time and then went through a fun house. We also waited in line for like an hour to get lemonade. 

Kelly Clarkson was great. She fractured her foot so she couldn't really move around the stage like she normally would but it was still a great performance. She sounds just as great live as she does on her albums. She even brought a soldier up to sing with her. After Kelly performed was the fireworks display. They were really pretty. I love watching fireworks. I don't trust myself to shoot them but I love watching them lol. 

Over all it was a great night and we had a lot of fun hanging out with each other.

I Can Hear the Bells

It has been awhile since I last wrote and it's not because I forgot because I thought about it multiple times it has just been crazy around my house in the past couple weeks. In the past week or so since I wrote my Dad's toes got infected and my Mom was stung by wasps in our backyard while we were doing some work to clean up my Dad's workshop/family storage building and she is apparently allergic to bee stings. So for the third time in the last month we ended up at the emergency room. She is doing much, much better now.
On Sunday was the second bridal shower for my former roommate Shannon (whom's wedding I'm maid of honor, part of me wants to refer to her as my "bride" but now that I think that it just sounds weird lol) with her finance's family in Waco. I didn't have anything to do with the planning of this shower, she just asked me to be there to have a friend and I guess to represent the bridesmaids, so all I had to do was show up with a gift. I live about an hour from Waco so this was a much easier trip and marks the farthest my parents have let me drive alone in their car.
Of course I misspelled the street name so I ended up in a completely different part of town than the shower but with a few simple directions I made it with no other problems. The neighborhood and the house was beautiful and everyone was so nice. It was a very simple shower; the punch and cake were delicious! Shannon recieved some really great and useful gifts: a vacuum, towels, several candles, more kitchen supplies. Her fiancé's grandmother also gave her a gift I thought was a wonderful heirloom type gift. She bought an address book and filled it with all the family addresses. What a useful gift! Instead of having to call around and collect them when Christmas comes around they have already been gathered. She also put all the family birthdays in the back. This wasn't only a practical and considerate gift, it also seems to me like a way of welcoming a new member of the family. It was very sweet and thoughtful.
Instead of buying a gift for Shannon, this time I decided to make her a gift. A few blogs ago I shared Derek's graduation gift. Shannon's was similar to that except I used a board that was longer than it is wide and, using the same style letters, spelled out what will soon be their last name, "Billeaud." I painted it in the colors Shannon told me were their living room. I also put a doggie on it since they have a dog. She really liked it and already sent me a picture of it hung up in their living room.

Shannon's new sign!

Our bridesmaid dresses. Obviously this is not me, it's the picture on the Alfred Angelo website.

Speaking of the wedding, my bridesmaid dress came in! Yay! lol. Now I just have to get it fitted and I'll be all ready for the wedding. (My shoes came in two weeks ago). The dress is really comfortable. I tried it on for Cassi, my other engaged friend whose wedding I am also in, on Monday when we hung out just to make sure I could actually put it on. Good news is it only has to be altered slightly.

Was That Just a Waste

The following post is dedicated to the President of the United States, the hopefuls for the upcoming election and all the other lawmakers on the national and state levels. It also hopefully reflects how some of my fellow recent and soon to be college graduates feel.

As I get ready for bed tonight I can't help but wonder what it is really worth. And by it I mean the 4 1/2 years and $51,000 my parents spent on my college education and the framed degree that now sits on a self in my room. What does that piece of paper and all the time, effort and money spent to get that paper really get me. 

I graduated in December of 2011 with a Bachelor's of Science in both Criminal Justice and Psychology from Sam Houston State, which I must say is not one of the more expensive schools, but still it wasn't cheap. I was so excited I had finally reached that milestone. Ever since I was young I was told that I would go to college and get a degree because it would help me achieve a better future for myself. I never argued with it because I wanted a better future and I understood that a high school diploma would not get me where I wanted to go. Getting into college made me feel so accomplished and like I was really going somewhere and getting to the point of graduating felt like getting to a new level on a video game after you've been stuck on the same level for ages. I was finally done with school. 

I knew that after graduation I would have to begin the search for a job. I couldn't just sit around all day and expect to get everything I wanted. I gave myself the Christmas holidays to relax since I hadn't really been able to do that ever in my life without the next semester of school looming ahead. So in January I began the hunt. A part of me hoped for a job right off the bat but another part of me knew it would take some time. I hunted and hunted through website after website of job listings at hospitals, schools, local governments, and law offices. Some jobs jumped off the page others I wasn't really sure was what I wanted to do but I told myself any job that will get me experience was good. The only limitation I put on myself was I did not want to do jobs in retail or food service because I wanted experience in jobs that required more than just being able to service people. I wanted experience working in places where I would have the opportunity to go somewhere or at least take those skills to a job where I could go somewhere and not just become manager of the local Bath and Body Works. Everyone I talked to said that was good because with my degrees I should be looking for at least $9-10 an hour and these jobs were really below what I should be looking for. I thought great I'm right on track.

I never expected it would be June and I still would be without a job. I have applied my butt off to the point I can't count on my hands and feet combined the number of applications I've filled out and still nothing. There have been a couple I thought might pan out but still nothing. I'm getting to the point where I feel like I might as well apply at McDonald's and be done with it. So now I find myself wondering did I waste my time going to college when my only option left would be working in retail hoping to get enough hours to make decent money to pay for gas in my parents car because I can't even afford one of my own. 

We encourage our kids to go to college and get a degree because it will give them a better chance getting a job. Our lawmakers pass all kinds of mandates like "No Child Left Behind" and encourage better education so that every child can receive a college degree. For What? So they can end up working at a burger joint or clothing store doing a job they could have done without even a high school diploma? I know we are in an economic crisis but there are thousands of college graduates ready to work yet there are no jobs. 

There are so many times I have felt not good enough because I don't even have the opportunity to get experience working in the "real world." My parents allowed me to focus on my education so therefore I didn't work and now I feel like I'm being punished for making sure I focused on my education instead of getting work experience. So someone tell me did I waste my time and effort and my parents money for a piece of paper that isn't doing me any good? I'm sick of feeling like a waste of space. I just want someone to give me a chance to prove myself. I learn quickly.

Btw if any of the candidates want my vote for president I need to see some kind of idea how they plan to work with congress to create jobs for people who are educated and willing to work because if I had the money I would be spending it (of course I would be saving some up for a car and to build my savings account but otherwise I would be buying the things I want). 

Pomp and Circumstance

So I said I would post on Saturday about graduation and Derek's gift but we had another emergency and we ended up having to take my Dad to the hospital early Saturday morning. This time they kept him and he is still there now. Please be praying for him.

Graduation was spectacular! It's such an exciting time and this year's class was one of the largest in school history. It was also exciting because my little brother graduated this year. He is such a smarty; he graduated 7th of 446. We always sit in the same spot right in the front even with the first row of students so we were sitting right where Derek was, since the top 10 and class officers get to walk first. 

Derek walking across stage.

Usually we have to wait for the people we are there for but we didn't this year so we started getting bored and started looking at the girl's shoes. Everyone wants to make a statement so you can bet you will see some eye catching heels. This year it seemed cowboy boots and flats were the choice for most.

Tim and Derek after graduation.

Well afterwards we all meet outside to wait for the graduates. It's kind of a chaotic time but thankfully Tim found Derek and they found me and their parents found us. Derek looked so dignified in his cap and gown and he had two leis. I finally got to give him the gift I've been working on and he really liked it which I was super glad about. Now both of my brothers are graduated. It's gonna be weird when both of them are gone during the fall and spring now. Ironically on Saturday, after getting back from the hospital, I received a letter in the mail from Sam Houston's Alumni Association to help sponsor the tailgating for the Sam Houston vs. Baylor game.

Derek's gift. He's going to Baylor.

Musical Memories

Last night was the annual spring concert at my high school. Since I graduated in 2007, I have been to at least the spring concert every year. I always enjoy getting to hear the bands play and seeing everyone I haven't seen in awhile. It also ends up being a very emotional night because it is the night all the graduating seniors are recognized and the outgoing drum majors hand over their whistles to the new drum majors and conduct the band one last time. My senior year was important because I was graduating and for the three years after that I knew most of the seniors because I was in band with them. In 2009 Tim was graduating so that was an important year also. This year Tim's younger brother Derek is graduating. Their family is pretty much my extended family so of course I could not miss this year.

Copperas Cove High School Wind Ensemble. Derek is directly to the right of the director on clarinet.

I remember last year being so anxious during the whole concert leading up to the announcing of the new drum majors. It was so nerve wrecking. I also remember how excited I was when his name was announced. What a year it has been! I am so proud of my little "brother" and everything he has done. I can't believe he is graduating in two days! Of course I will be there to support him and whether he hears me or not I will be cheering as loud as I can. 

Derek during senior recognition.

Well last night they recognized the seniors and of course we cheered for Derek, then we sang the alma mater like every year. Then it was time to recognize the drum majors and I got just as anxious as I had the year before. They each got a cool little plaque from Mr. Kelley and then conducted the band through "Old Scottish Melody" like they do every year. The new drum majors were announced and the whistles were handed over. I only know one of the drum majors and only because he is friends with Derek, but the reactions are the best part because you really see how much it means to them. 

Passing the whistles.

I'm so proud of Derek and this past year and all the things he has accomplished and I can't wait to see what he does at Baylor! I've been working on his graduation gift and I would put a picture up so far to show how awesome it looks but he might see this so I don't want to give it away (I'll post on Saturday with all the graduation updates!) I wish the new drum majors all the best!

Bathroom Hoarding

Ok so today I started working on assimilating my apartment things and the things already at home in my room. This is a lot of work and I know I have a couple of crazy weeks ahead of me as far as that goes but I'm also taking this opportunity to go through things and really clear out the physical "clutter" in my life. At one point I was working on the top of my dresser where I keep all my beauty products. I must say that I am very pleased with how it turned out; I don't think my dresser has ever looked this organized.
Well I eventually came across some things that went in the bathroom. Let me just say we have a small bathroom with not a lot of storage to begin with. My mom and I have a love of Bath and Body Works which results in a stockpiling of their products. In our bathroom, the cabinets are already filled with stuff. So tonight when I went in there I had had ENOUGH! I ended up finding medicines from the early 2000s, 90s and even a couple from the 80s. I basically overhauled our bathroom cabinets and now all of my Mom's Bath and Body Works fits in the cabinet with a little room left over.
What I've learned tonight is that my parents really do have a problem throwing things away or at least getting rid of them. I hope I can help my parents while I'm living here to clear out the "clutter" in their lives. I also found a huge collection of hotel soaps and other toiletries we will never use so I'm going to donate them to a local shelter.

So tonight I accomplished:
1. Organizing my dresser top.
2. Cleaning out the bathroom cabinet.
3. Finding room for all the left out toiletries.
4. Being able to find room for my towels in the bathroom cabinet and not in my room.
5. Creating a donation bag for those who are less fortunate.

Medical Emergencies

Tuesday seemed like a normal day when I woke up. The only thing different was my appointment with the optometrist (eye doctor). That changed though when I got back from that appointment. I walk in the door to find my Dad holding a bloody handkerchief to his face and his eye all black and blue. Apparently while I was gone he went outside to work in his shop, which is good cause he needs to be outside more, but he tripped over an air compressor hose and fell onto the back driveway face first. His nose was bleeding, his eye looked like he got punched in the face, and his glasses were scratched.
Long story short he ended up going to the hospital because the paramedics wanted to make sure he didn't have a concussion. After spending FOUR HOURS at the emergency room and a CAT scan they determined that it was all just superficial injuries. Nothing was broken and there was nothing serious enough to keep him. It took another day for the nose to stop bleeding completely but his eye is open again and the swelling and bruising appears to be going away.
I have some really great people around me, like my BFF Tim who called the next day to make sure my Dad was ok and his Mom, who is like a mom to me, who texted me the next morning to check on my Dad and prayed for his recovery. I'm really grateful for the people God has placed in my life. It's beautiful.

We just found out yesterday, though, when my Aunt called to check on my Dad, that their half brother had a heart attack on the same day all of this was going on with him. He survived and they had to put a stint in to clear the blockage. He had 90% blockage. It's kinda scary to think about how my Dad's side of the family is so much older and they are having all of these medical issues.

Technical Difficulties

Sooooo this past week my computer started acting weird. The screen kept going black and sometimes it would recover and others I would have to restart it. One day the display crashed at least five times within  two or three hours. I got fed up and started browsing for computers and, although I know computers don't have consciousness, I think my computer got scared because the next time I used it, it worked perfectly fine and actually seemed to be running faster haha. Well the next day I guess it just couldn't keep up the facade and quit turning on completely. After talking to some people it was determined that my computer had bit the dust permanently.
I have to give a moment to my Dell XPS. I got it right before going to college in the summer of 2007 and it was the first computer I could call my own. It got me through college and was a wonderful computer. I've dropped it off of several beds, had a friend spill coffee on it and through all of that it continued to run. After 5 years I think it served well. The most likely cause of death was old age. I almost feel like I should give it a proper burial or something lol.

Well after years of saying I would never own a Mac in my life, I bought one. Well technically my mom did but lets not split hairs. Now I am the proud owner of a 17-in. Macbook Pro. It is so big but much thinner than the Dell. It almost feel like the Mac is reading my thoughts sometimes. It's taking some getting used to since I've used PCs for my whole life but after having three iPods, an iPad, and an iPhone it's not as hard to get used to as I thought it might. I'm really excited that I have an awesome movie maker so I can make my own. Maybe I'll share my first attempt whenever that is.

Now I can continue applying to jobs. I feel like I'm close. I've applied to a job and I would really like to get it since it's at my old elementary school and it's only a few blocks from my house. I could really use the job to help pay for gas and help my mom pay off my computer. Please be praying for favor with the human resources people and interviewers.

Hometown Traditions

The color guard. I really miss getting to march.

So this weekend was Rabbit Fest weekend in my hometown. I've been every year since I've lived here (which is all 23 years of my life lol) and went to the parade every year also. During high school I actually got to be in the parade since I was in the color guard and once in elementary school I was on a float. It's not a big celebration but it is special to me just because it is sort of a tradition for me. This year I went to the parade and cheered on my "little brother" Derek who is drum major and will be graduating in a couple weeks. I'm so proud of him. He's so passionate about band and such a smart cookie. I also enjoy any chance to see the band or guard perform.

Derek (in the middle) with the other two drum majors! Look at that smile! :)

Later on I went to the carnival with my friend Cassi and her fiancé Rob. It was a lot of fun. They went on some of the rides while I held their stuff cause I did not feel like paying $23 for a wristband lol. Cheap I know. We walked through the vendors where people sell homemade stuff or other stuff like Scentsy (which I LOVE! :D) I usually can't hold myself back from buying stuff but there wasn't really anything worth it. I bought two new scent bars; Hendrix which is kind of earthy and spicy and Cucumber Lime which is more clean and citrusy. The best part was the food. I actually didn't eat any food but I got a sweet tea (duh I live in Texas) and a Jumbo Hawaiian flavored snow cone with extra syrup and cream which was only $3.75. So delish!


I have to say the best part was just getting to hang out with Cassi and Rob. Cassi and I recently made a vow to restore our friendship to what it was in high school and our first couple years in college. It's good to know that now that I will be living in Cove I will at least have one person who will want to hang out with me after everyone else leaves. It's only been a week and I'm really excited for the rest of the summer.

Back Home

So it's been about a week since I moved back home and I have to say it has been kinda stressful. Moving everything was stressful because we had to stop at least 3 times to fix the tarp because it decided to rain the whole 3 hours home. Everything made it in perfect condition though so that was good. God was looking out for  us.
Since being home everything was just shoved in a spare room until I can figure out how it will all fit in my room. I did get my TV hooked up the first night and got all of my DVDs/Blu-Rays put away. I honestly did not realize I had such a huge collection. I really am like a movie store lol. I still have lots to do before everything is where it should be but until I get my bed moved it won't be right. I've also taken this as an opportunity to go through all my stuff and really evaluate what I keep and what is it time to get rid of. I can't wait for it all to be done.

Sorting my movies alphabetically

And the finished product, nice and organized!