Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Why, hello there sunshine...I kinda forgot you existed until today. Seriously, it's been raining for so long, I was shocked when I was woken up this morning by the suns rays peeking through my blinds. Normally, I'd be a grump and curse the sun for waking me from my sweet, sweet slumber. Not today. Today, I was happy, like I'd found a long lost friend. (The sun and I have a love/hate relationship.)

Luckily, my town hasn't flooded or been totally devastated by tornadoes, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we were happy about the lack of rain today. ALSO, speaking of lucky, I finished my finals today, and the summer is mine. I forget how completely crazy finals week is. This morning, I tried to open my MAILBOX with the unlock remote for my CAR. Then, I walked to my car and tried to unlock it with  my iphone. Not even kidding. It's been one of those days.

There she blows!

Surprisingly, but thankfully, I have yet to be blown away by the storms that have been harassing my town this week. I swear, I've heard the tornado sirens go off every night these past few days. UNFORTUNATELY, my window in my car refuses to roll up the rest of the way. The motor broke or something like that. My poor passenger seat has been getting drenched. I know what you're thinking..."Why don't you duct tape it, you dummy?" Well, the window has to be dry for that. I'm waiting for the rain to let up, I swear! -crosses fingers- Hopefully, I'll be driving a new Prius or Jetta by the end of May/early June. :D

Tonight, due to the list of warnings and watches for tornadoes, thunderstorms, powerful winds, and flooding, my friend and I chose to stay home and make petit fours tonight. Totally failed. I didn't dirty ice the tiny cakes and so the pourable fondant was completely absorbed into the cake! They look awful. It was even a pepto bismol pink instead of light, pretty pink. Next time, though, I'll rock them...

I knew this day would come.

The day when I wake up and realize that for the past two weeks I've been in a funk. That funk being that I have become completely unmotivated. Yeah, I know, I'm never motivated to do school or work, but now it's everything. I'm not motivated to go out, or think about what I'm eating. I mean, I've got a break out going on  around my chin area, and I don't even care that much.

I realized I've already classified myself as overweight.  I'm not skinny by any means, but I'm not even overweight, really. I just feel like I am. I feel so unattractive, so I stopped trying so much. At this point I believed I deserved a mental slap. However, I am going to start working out. Seriously working out this time. I'm not satisfied being chunky or curvy or whatever the hell it's called. I let myself go, and by golly I'm getting myself back! I need to find a gym partner. Kei would do it, but she can't work out at the University gym. Sad day. So, the search for a gym buddy is on.

In addition to getting smokin' hot and fit, I need to work on my fashion. I am such a good person to take shopping. Seriously. I can pick out such cute clothes for everyone else, things that are fitting for their body type, things that are fashionable and comfortable. But when I take myself shopping...oh, no. It's a nightmare! I hate trying on clothes. I can't see anything that's in fashion being cute on me. Last time I went shopping, Kei had to force me to try on some clothes. They ended up being cute, but have I worn them out? Not really. I feel...frilly and frufru when I put them on. I know what you're thinking, "Oh, so you look like a girl? Aren't you a girl?" Yes, I know I'm a girl. I'm a very girly girl. I have a huge love affair with shoes, makeup, and purses. I feel like everyone is staring at me when I dress..."cute." That's the point, though, right? Perhaps it's because I was one of the guys for so long. (They like to poke fun at me when I dress cute.) This is a new leaf though! Screw them, I'm gonna start dressing like a girl. :) I'm serious here. When you own nine different V-neck tshirts, something is wrong and new styles need to be added to the closet. 

"Wow, you're getting on up there, aren't you?"

So, I'm in my room Sunday afternoon reading Bonk when my mother comes in and hands me her phone. "Call your grandmother." she says. Don't get me wrong, I love my grandma very much, but I didn't have any idea what we would talk about. Besides, I was still kinda miffed at her for making my mom cry. However, I obliged my mother, and called. The conversation was full of about twenty awkward pauses and these wonderful comments from my grandmother:

Grandma: "So, do you have a boyfriend?"
Me: "No, I don't."
GM: "Why not?"
Me: "I don't really want one, Grandma. I'm focusing on school(which is really a lie, but how do you tell your grandmother you don't want to date anyone because you seem to have misplaced you emotions?)
GM: "Oh...school, huh? (she thinks I'm lying.)
Me: "Yes, if I want to go to grad school, that should be my first priority. (I don't even know if I want to go to grad school.)
GM: "hmm..How old are you, anyway?"
Me: "I'm twenty, Grandma."
GM: "Oh, wow...you're getting on up there, aren't you?"
Me: "-unenthusiastic chuckle- I guess so."

Well, if that doesn't make me feel like I should be married and popping out babies, I don't know what would.

So, then, We're talking about Egypt and the weather, and we come to our fifth or sixth awkward pause when she says:

"Well, I guess we're going to have to get to know each other better, aren't we? We have nothing to talk about."

And the conversation ends with:

"Well, I hope you get to come with your mom and dad to see me, but if not I guess I should tell you that I don't know you very well, but I guess I still love you."
"love you, too, Grandma."

The snow is falling...

First snow of the year! For that matter, the season. Hopefully it won't be the last =) My sister and I asked my darling niece what she wanted us to build out of snow this year and she asked us to build her a princess castle. It was so, so very cold, but I had a lot of fun. After we build the castle, Zoe and I made a cookie pizza. I love spending days with my family. I'm truly blessed with such a wonderful family.

Zoe, Rach, and me with the castle.

Zoe with her princess castle.

Zoe and me being silly.

Baking the cookie pizza!

On a completely different note, today I discovered Ben Rector. He's lovely.

My Girls

I've always been "one of the guys." All my friends were guys except for the select two or three females I would hang with in high school. I had friends that were girls, but I was just part of the group [the group being my guy friends]. After Kasey and I broke up, that's when Kei and I became really, really close. Ashley and I became best friends when we were rooming together my freshman year of college. Now, wonderfully for me, the three of us hang out and have girls nights. For certain reasons, I don't go to game night as much as I used to [ i.e. hanging with the guys]. I was reminded how great girl time is, and how much it can mean to have a person who will stand up for you, even if the way you feel is a little bit over the top. I am lucky enough to have two girls like that.

Now, away from the mushy crap and on to the pictures! We had a "girls night" as I will call it, and then Kei and I cut Ashley's hair. I must say, it turned out really cute considering I helped layer it and gave her bangs...but I had never cut anyone's hair before!

Kei and I...I got distracted and looked away. I think it's cute anyway, though.

Ashley's baby boy and Kei. = )

Kei initially cutting Ash's hair. It was so long!

After Kei and I finished layering!

The girls.

No one was ready for that one.

We are pretty cute.

Well, hello there 2011! Nice to meet you.

New year.

Am I excited? Yes. More than I have ever been before. Normally, I wouldn't think twice about it being a new year. All I would think was, "Great, now I'm going to spend the next three months writing '2010' instead of '2011!'" However, 2010 was not the best year for me, at least that's what I kept thinking. I kept thinking about all the bad things, and well, I was being a Debbie Downer! So, I am going to recap all the wonderful things that have happened to me in 2010. 

2010:

First of all, it took a while, but I finally realized I deserve better than what I was settling for. I mean, I was waiting for a boy who didn't think twice about me. How pathetic, right? Not to mention completely unlike me. Alas, I did finally realize I'm better than that. I shouldn't let any guy string me along, it should be take me or leave me, no in-betweens! 

In February, I gave my first presentation over my research in the lab. I traveled with a friend to the University of Memphis for the undergraduate conference. I was so nervous, but I killed it. I was so proud of myself, I couldn't stop talking about it. It was a truly great experience. 

In the summer, I got to spend time with my sister and her family. This meant a lot to me because my last two years in high school, I lived with her for most of the week. I became very close to my sister, as well as my brother in law and the kids. Since  I started college, I didn't get to see them as much, but they bought a boat this summer. I was lucky enough to get to spend some time with them on the lake. 

One of the most rewarding experiences of 2010 was traveling to New Orleans, La, for the regional ACS meeting. I had a poster to present over my research. It was really my first time traveling far away without my parents. We walked Bourbon street, and all over the French Quarters. It was a wonderful experience. 

At the ripe age of twenty years old, I finally went dancing at my first club. There is a college night where you only have to be eighteen to get in. I now know how lame it is to marked with the dreaded "X." I did, however, enjoy dancing with my girls. Girls nights are wonderful. = )

I FINALLY watched Star Wars, and fell in love. Seriously, I'm now a Star Wars nerd.

I started painting again. I really am an artsy person, regardless of whether I'm good or not, I enjoy it. It's the best outlet for me when I'm overwhelmed.

That's really all I can think of for the moment. I'll be posting a blog of my resolutions to be cliche. Here's to remembering 2010 and looking forward to 2011!