Party Rock. 2012 Style.

As 2011 is coming to a close, I have a hard time remembering what I was like a year ago.  Let's see... I was about to begin my last semester of undergrad, which was awesome.  I also had my wisdom teeth removed, which was not so awesome.  When it comes down to it, a lot has happened in 2011.  Like everyone else, there was a lot of good with a little bad mixed in.  However, the important thing to remember is that I wasn't homeless, alone, or hungry.

On that note, here is my 2012 list of to-do's!  A Bucket List, if you choose to call it that.

1. Go to the Grand Canyon. (Trip is already being planned)
2. Stand Up Paddle Board.
3. Rock Climb.
4. Float the river (for old times sake)
5. Recycle.
6. Serve a meal at the City Rescue Mission.
7. Work on a house for Habitat for Humanity.
8. NO FAST FOOD (totally doable)
9. Keep my room clean...this is a big one.
10. Use the Dave Ramsey envelope system.


I may or may not complete this list, but at least this time next year I will be able to look back at what my goals were.  Right?

It's Not Easy...

It's been a while since I have written.  I've had PLENTY to write about, just not the words I suppose.  Let's see, the last thing I wrote was about Spring Break... So I'll just start from Graduation.

I graduated from College.
Became the Dreamgirl of the Pikes.
Was accepted into Grad School at OU.
Saw my brother that I hadn't seen in 4 years.
All in 24 hours.
It was a little overwhelming.

Also, I have been at my internship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma.  It's been amazing.  I only have 3 days left and then I start at a law firm.  Curve ball.  Who knew I would ever become a legal assistant?  Definitely not me.  But I start that on August 1.

So here we are.

This last week was Operation Organize my life.  AKA my room.  I learned a valuable lesson: you don't need a sequined yellow-green hat.  Meaning, just because something has sentimental value doesn't mean I have to keep it forever.  I'm trying not to be a hoarder here.  So along with the sequined yellow-green hat I donated a huge box and a paper sack from Crest full of clothes and items that I will never use again.  I'm sure I have more, but I have to go slow you know.  So this begins my quest to live a bit simpler.  Not the get rid of all my electronics and clothing way, but a I have too much stuff and I need to detox way.  I don't need to keep every article of clothing I have ever owned just in case I want/can wear it again someday.

So that's that.  I have a ways to go, but at least i'm trying right?

You Gotta Want It

My last post was basically me rushing before I boarded a plane for Florida.  Also known as Flo RIDAAAAA.  Naturally, I want to talk about what all happened on my trip.  So, I will.

I am THAT girl on every trip I take.  You know, the one who ALWAYS has her camera out.  I even took some pictures of the food I was eating (I will spare you those).  The above was taken at the airport before we left and if you look REALLLY close, you can see the plane behind us.  Like I said, you have to look REALLLLY close. 

Anyway. 

On Monday we went to give some kids the world.  But really.  We went to the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, Florida.  Or, as I like to call it, Kissme Flo Ridaaaa.  We were all a little unsure of what to expect of this place but one thing was certain, it was going to be awesome.  Awesome is pretty much the understatement of the century.

Ice cream is served ALL DAY LONG.

The families stay in castle-like houses, with great scenery and rocking chairs on every patio.

This tree SNORES. 

THERE IS A LIFE-SIZED CANDY LAND GAME!!!!

Can you tell my excitement?  Needless to say, this place was every child's dream come true.

BUT.  Not really.  The reason families are able to come to this place is because their child has a life-threatening illness.  No one would want that for their child.  The one thing that stuck out in my mind throughout the week was that they wished they could close their doors.  They wish that there wasn't a need for a place like this, but there is.  It really made me realize that all of my problems are so insignificant compared to that.  For the last few weeks I was worried about graduating and finding a job while these precious little kids were worried about doctors appointments and being sick.  This was the reality check I definitely needed. 

The next morning (Tuesday) we woke up REALLY early to travel to Cocoa Beach to watch the sunrise.  I don't know what it is, but there is something so relaxing about watching the sunrise over the ocean. 

Magnificent.

That night we went back to GKTW to be a part of their Pool Party and Mardi Gras parade.  I was able to dress up as the Mardi Gras Queen and ride on the back of a golf cart.  Seeing the kids playing and having a great time > The outfit.  While the outfit wasn't flattering at all (long sleeves and Florida don't mix) I still had a great time.  The kids were so playful and happy.  One little girl, tugged on my dress and gave me the beads she had been given.  It was so perfect.  I kept them. 
Every night, the village has a small ceremony in which everyone congregates in the Castle and puts it to sleep.

This is the grandfather clock that awakens briefly, to be put back to sleep.  It was really a great moment.  The part that made it so amazing was seeing the parents crying because their child was getting to act like a kid.  Of course, I cried with them.  It was a heartwarming moment.  Can you blame me?

The rest of the trip was incredible and I came home wanting to get right back on a plane to go back.  This Spring Break even more solidified what it is I want to do when I graduate (work at a nonprofit). 

Exactly 22 Years ago...

Well folks, today is a day full of much excitement! Since I love lists, here is a list of reasons why.

1. I leave for FLORIDA today.
2. It's SPRING BREAK!!!!
3. Daylight Savings time began.
4. I am now 22 years old.

My excitement is mostly for the top two BUT all four are pretty great things.

If you didn't figure out my subtle hints, today is my day of birth.  I wasn't very excited about turning 22.  I couldn't even tell you as to why I wasn't happy about it, it seems like a great age.  The good ol' double deuces.  I think it has something to do with graduating college and the fact that my whole life is about to change, but who knows.

Anyway, something funny about today: Daylight Savings Time.  Why?  We lose an hour.  Meaning, my birthday is only 23 hours long.  AND TO TOP IT OFF I'm going to Florida today so I'm going to lose ANOTHER HOUR.  This means, my birthday is going to be 22 hours long.  TWENTY TWO! Like my age, get it? (I'm full of lame jokes today)

Well, I need to start packing.  Afterall, I have to be at the airport by 2:30.

See ya later!

Happy Everthing!

First off, HAPPY MONDAY! I started my day off right with getting dressed for Chapter meeting and singing and dancing in my bathroom to Florence + the Machine. Oh, and a Vanilla Soy Latte courtesy of the NUC Starbucks.

Second, HAPPY LAST DAY OF JANUARY! My love for Valentine's Day has begun. I have already decorated our apartment with pink and purple things and last night I watched "Letters to Juliet". I now want to go to Verona and write to Juliet and learn to speak Italian. I have always wanted to learn Italian, but now I want to learn it even more. Dove investire il tuo amore è dove si investe la tua vita.

"Dove investire il tuo amore è dove si investe la tua vita" means: Where you invest your love, you invest your life". If you don't already know, those are lyrics to "Awake my Soul" by Mumford and Sons. Which, is my favorite song of the week.

Third- HAPPY 40 DAYS UNTIL SPRING BREAK! At least, for those of us at UCO. For me, Spring break will be what I hope to be the most memorable expriences of college. I will be going to the Give Kids the World Village at Disney World. EEEEEKKKKK I can't wait. I CAN'T WAIT. Also, in 42 days I will be 22 and that much closer to graduation.

Which, leads me to the Fourth- HAPPY 96 DAYS UNTIL GRADUATION! Although we have a countdown going, it won't feel real until I am actually graduating I assume. It doesn't feel possible that I have spent 4 years in College already. Just for the record, when you are a senior in HS you think that when you go to College you will figure out your life purpose or career or something. Not everyone does this. 4 years later, 8 majors later, and 100 life plans later, I still don't know. And I'm not worried about it, if you were wondering. I've learned that no one has it figured out.

So I google imaged "life plan" and the above is what came up. Happy Life Plan to me.

HAPPY SNOWDAY EVE!! So tomorrow in Oklahoma we will supposedly be having a snow storm! I love the snow. Its so pretty, and peaceful. Just to be clear: I love the SNOW not the ICE that generally disguises itself as snow here. When it snows I am always reminded of my family vacation to Breckenridge one Christmas. My mom and I were standing in town by this Gazebo thing when it started snowing. We looked down at our jackets and found what we call "Real Snowflakes", or Snowflakes that are actually in a chrystalline structure. These real snowflakes don't fall here in the metro OKC we have noticed. But you better believe when it snows, I always look.

To end this post I just want to say, FELICE TUTTO!!!

Look it up.

What's with the title?

I am fairly certain that each time I have posted (or attempted at posting) on here I have changed the title of my blog. Each time I was in a different mood so each new title seemed to fit just perfectly. Then, the next time I began to write I would decide to change it again. Well folks, I have FINALLY decided on a name: "Paint my Life with Plaid". For those of you who really know me, you know that Plaid is my favorite color. Hence, the random plaid swatches throughout this post.

I guess I could use the plaid as some kind of description of my personality... or not. I mean, to me, there is no such thing as bad plaid. I kind of view the world that way. Everything has a purpose and a meaning, you just have to find it. There is no bad ending, just bad situations.

Let the Countdown Begin.

Being that this is the 3rd week of the semester, I only have 13 more to go. I have 13 weeks to be accepted or denied grad school admission, to find a job, or to move home with my parents and figure it out later. My hopes are high for the first two but who knows.

My last class that I am taking as an undergrad is "Interior Design for Non-Majors" and of course I am beginning to wish I was an interior design major. I always do that...

I have started this new thing where I am going to decorate for every Holiday. Starting with Valentines Day. I think I am the only single person that loves this holiday. For some reason, I just love all the love in the air during this time.

Anyway, I had lunch at YHS with my mom today and I got there right at the end of one of her classes: the Marriage class. In high school I took this class because I needed an elective and I thought it would be interesting. I only remember one assignment that we did: Planning our own wedding. Being the crafty person that I am, I decorated mine all pretty with Wedding and Love themed stickers. But that is beside the point, I am trying to get at the fact that while I remember hating that assignment, my mom remembered that I hated it too. I set my wedding date as April 12, 2012. That's next year. I guess as a junior in high school I had high hopes for gettin hitched early on. Or maybe as a junior in high school, being 23 was old. I'm not sure what my intentions were but it is definitely funny to think that everything I thought would be happening in my life right now isn't.

Not that I'm unhappy by any means-I love the way I have turned out. But it is weird to compare what I wanted in high scool and what I want now out of life. I used to want to get marriend and have kids and be a teacher. Now, I just want to be content with what I have. I used to long for those things, and to be a "grown up". I'm not saying that I don't want those things ever but at the age that I guess I should be a "grown up" I still don't feel that way. That's fine.

Well boys and girls, what did we learn from today's lesson? (just practicing my almost teacher voice) The answer is simple. We can plan our lives out up until the day we are going to die, but life isn't just about decisions and goals. It's just about living. And that my friends, is what I am happy doing.