Five For Friday

1 - I’ve been chatting with a few friends about meeting up for a fun blogger getaway weekend. Some people are a bit bummed they won’t be able to make it to Bloggers in Sin City this year (I am not. I will be on a cruise instead. Sorry I’m not sorry.) and I have read way too many recaps of bloggers getting together for fun girls’ weekends that I decided 2012, I am organizing a weekend of my own. Right now, nothing is being done but I want to get some sort of email chain going so we can discuss where to go, what to do, etc. I’m thinking sometime later in the year, since I have to save up my time off at work for my cruise and then build it back up when I come back. I know this is way in advance but if you’re interested in a bloggers’ weekend this fall, let me know in the comments or in a email, or just send me a tweet. I am going to make this happen!

2 - I’m very hesitant to talk about my job on here but I will say that things are going good. Not great. Not excellent. But good. I am eternally grateful for my boss taking a chance on a girl fresh out of college, and I’m learning a lot. Mostly about what I want in life. What my skill sets are and what I want to do with myself. Marketing is an interesting field to work in, but it has me pondering what God’s plan for my life really is.

3 - I joined a women’s Bible study at my church this past week. When I heard they were going to be doing a Beth Moore study, it kicked the urge to go into higher gear because I love Beth Moore. She’s an incredible speaker, writer, and all-around woman. It was a huge group, but divided into about 12-13 smaller groups of about 8-10 women. (Did I mention huge?!) But it was also so good for me to be in that environment, surrounded by so many other Christian women.

4 - I’ve had a great response to my blogging survey. I have my reasons for doing so, mainly to see if there are any posts people love more than others and to get a handle on what people think about me talking more about my faith on this blog (since I’m kind of blunt and in-your-face when I do talk about my faith...). I plan on going over the results on Monday but if you haven’t filled it out yet, here’s the link to get to the survey.

5 - This Sunday is the AFC and NFC Championships for NFL Football. I am incredibly nervous for Sunday since my brother’s favorite team, the San Fransisco 49ers, are in the NFC Championship game. This is their first playoff appearance in 9 years and they’ve lots of terrible years of crappy football behind them. Last week was an incredibly stressful week where I actually got a headache from watching the game with my brother. He’s one of the most passionate guys I’ve ever met when it comes to football, especially as it relates to his Niners. (And as a side note, I am rooting for the Ravens, too! The Patriots have become one of the most boring teams to watch. So passionless. So unemotional.) It should be a fun Sunday of football!

Let me know if you’re interested in a blogger getaway weekend this fall! Who are you rooting for this Sunday?

Five For Friday: Best Search Terms

I love hearing what funny search terms bring readers to my blog. For the most part, they stay on the boring side, usually something having to do with my future husband letters. (Although, the minute I posted about my Life Planner, people searching for coupon codes for this specific designer came in droves.) Here are some of the more interesting search terms I have found:

1 - “i want to have short hair but my hair is waving”

Hair that is waving? I think you have a bigger problem on your hands than too-long hair.

2 - “i m excited too much during sex wht to do?”

You will find no help on this subject on my blog. But, honestly, is this such a bad thing? Hoookay. Moving on.

3 - “are sidebangs annoying with glassses?”

Oh, yes! And yet, I love my side bangs. But glasses tend to get in the way more often than not.

4 - “girl always been single whats wrong”

I want to give this girl a great big hug. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being single and being single for a long time. Society wants to deem it wrong, but there’s a lot to be said about being comfortable enough in yourself to be happy as a single woman. I am perfectly content in my singleness and the fact that I have been single for a long time. I really could go on and on about this subject, but I won’t.

5 - “i miss my dad, hope one day he come back”

Another search term that just made me sad. All I can say is me, too. My heart freshly breaks every day I go without my dad in my life.

What a sad way to end a Friday post! Happy Friday!

Five For Friday

1 - In my area, Big Brother didn’t tape until ONE THIRTY A.M. due to a ridiculous Bucs-Redskins preseason game. Now, look, I am a huge football fan. Honestly, I am. But I’m sorry, a stupid, meaningless preseason football game over the craziest show of the summer? It’s no question. So, today, my mom and I woke up at 5AM so we could watch the show before she went for a run. As for the show, I’m very happy with how everything played out, to say the least. (Also, I guess this is one of those “You know you’re addicted when...)

2 - As most of you noticed already, I have a new blog theme. I like it a lot. Also, I have updated almost all of my pages, including Letters to My Future Husband which was just had placeholder text for the longest time. Now I actually have some information as well as links to all my letters and future husband posts. I also have a new Resolutions page where you can see how I’m doing on the resolutions I made in January.

3 - The advice on my grocery store conundrum was amazing. I will say that it wasn’t anything I didn’t already know, but it drove home the point of meal planning, eating more simply, and saving toiletries visits for Target/Wal-Mart. I know we need to be more smart about what we’re eating and how much of it we’re making. Leftovers are great, but when you make enough leftovers for 3 days four days in a row? Well, then it becomes too much. But the advice was exactly what I needed to get more serious about our grocery budget.

4 - Last night, I was attempting to make breakfast-for-dinner. I was cooking hash browns and forgot to turn the heat down after heating up the oil and managed to make the fire alarm go off three times and our entire place get smoky. The hash browns were ruined and in the process of trying to take care of that problem, I burned the sausage. It still smells like burnt hash browns in our apartment. Blech. I should never be allowed in a kitchen.

5 - I’m excited about this upcoming three-day weekend! Saturday, I’m prepared to tackle a long to-do list which includes a lot of cleaning (I’m so behind!) and seeing my nephew. Sunday, my mom and I are planning to head up to Orlando for the day to hit up one of the water parks that we have a pass for. And Monday involves a boot camp at a community center and trying to relax as much as possible. What are your holiday weekend plans?


Happy Friday, friends!

Five For Friday: Some Tidbits

1 - I have the above photo posted next to my computer at work. I will never be unhappy again.

2 - Last Saturday, I got up early and went to the gym to do a Couch to 5K workout and I just kept thinking to myself, “Why am I doing this? I hate it.” And I realized that I never say that about my spin classes. Yes, they are extremely difficult but I never think to myself, “Why am I doing this?” All I think about how hard it is, to just get through this song, to not let the girl next to me beat me. ;) I just need to stop with this attempt at becoming a runner, because I just don’t think I was made for it.

3 - My Erin Condren Life Planner arrived yesterday and it’s a thing of beauty. I just hope I use it! I’ve been a terrible planner keeper in the past. Also? Erin Condren gives some insane coupon deals when you buy something from her website! I definitely have a few Christmas gifts in mind to buy in the very near future.

4 - I have not watched one preseason NFL football game. I’m a terrible fan but really? Preseason is such a tease! It’s not worth it and the majority of the game is interviews anyway.

5 - I forgot to link it but I had a guest post on Melissa’s blog yesterday, talking about why YOU should go on a cruise. And the best part? My mom and I will be booking a May 2012 cruise this weekend! SQUEE!!! We found an amazing deal on a 6-day cruise that will take us to Key West, Grand Cayman, and JAMAICA (I’ve wanted to visit Jamaica for the longest time!). And this go around, I’m going to be forking over the dough for my part which makes it even more exciting, in my book. No more mooching for Steph!

Happy weekend, friends!

Five For Friday: Things I’ll Miss

Today is my last day at the preschool where I have worked since February 2009. It was a job to have while I was in school and it has been an amazing place for me. My boss has been amazingly flexible with my weird school schedule. I have learned so much and I know today will be a bittersweet day. I am going to miss the kids and the people.

That said, I am so ready for a new challenge and to close this chapter in my life. For today’s Five For Friday, I’m writing about the things I’ll miss from this place. As excited as I am to finally leave my job behind, it’s been a good one for me and it’s not going to be easy leaving it all.

Five Things I’ll Miss

1. The kids. One of the best things about working in daycare is the relationship you build with the kids. I worked with children aged 2 months to 5 years old and saw so many of them go through all the stages. One of my favorite kids, E., I met when he was just 19 months old and now he’s a big, bad 4-year-old with attitude and the most inquisitive mind I’ve ever met. I have seen so many of the kids go through so many changes and they all hold a special place in my heart. In my old preschool, I was stuck in the “baby dungeon” and wasn’t able to meet many of the older kids. Here, all the kids know me by name and like me. And when a kid likes you? You know you’re golden. I am going to miss these little rugrats. I’m going to miss the questions, the hugs, the baby snuggles, the open-mouthed kisses, the teasing, the smiles, the giggles, the “brattitude” as my good friend likes to say, the wide range of personalities. I’m especially going to miss how one can never have a bad day when surrounded by children. They won’t let you.

2. The camaraderie. I have a great group of friends at this place. Some I developed really close friendships with and some I developed great working relationships. For the most part, I get along with everyone at my job. I can work with them all, although there are some I enjoy working with more than others. They have shown me unlimited support with my schooling, graduation, and job search. With each interview, I was wished good luck and asked about it the next day. They have been excited right along with me for my new job. I am hopeful I will find the same type of friendships and camaraderie with my new co-workers but they have set the bar high.

3. Knowing how to do every job. I’ve never been at a place where I feel so comfortable. I can step into any room and know the kids and the schedule. The kitchen is my home where I make breakfast every day for the kids, unload the lunches and breakfast (for the next day) that have been delivered, and even do lunch, if needed. I’ve become highly flexible and it’s a skill I can take into any future career.

4. My work BFF. I don’t even know how to put into words how much my relationship with this girl means to me. We were put in the same classroom, me as her assistant, for over a year and it was the best year I had there. We are so similar and she taught me so much. I firmly believe I would have passed my teaching internships had I learned from her first. Yes, a twenty-something with only her daycare certification taught me more about teaching and handling conflict in the classroom than veteran teachers with their Master’s degrees. She has been my go-to girl for venting about work and life, being my support system when I needed her, and always being someone I can laugh and joke with. I don’t know if I’ll ever have a work relationship like the one I had with her. What I do know is that our friendship will not end when this job does.

5. The easy hours. For the past year, my hours have been very hit and miss. On the one hand, it was great when I was in school and had afternoons free for classes and homework. On the other hand, it makes for super crappy paychecks. I leave before noon most days and it’s been a super easy schedule for me. I’m going to miss those afternoon naps.

Five For Friday: Questions and Answers

I received some really great questions from you guys! I picked the first 5 to answer and will be back with more as the questions keep rolling in. Here we go!

1. What about VEDA are you most scared of? And most excited for?

VEDA stands for Vlog Every Day in August and last year was its “inaugural year”. (At least for our group.) One day, Ashley sent a tweet that she was thinking about vlogging (video blogging) every day in August and soon we all jumped on board. I wasn’t able to vlog every single day, but I did manage to get a vlog up most days and it was just so much fun. It was fun to meet new faces and put some of my fears out there on Youtube. So when another chance to complete VEDA happened? I was all for it.

I don’t think I’m really scared of anything, more nervous of how I’m going to keep up to make my own vlogs and comment on the number of VEDA-ers that have signed up. I think it’s around 50+, which is way more than we had last year. It was hard enough to keep up with those so I’m just worried about how I’ll be able to keep up.

As for excited? I’m just excited to do it all over again and hopefully make all 31 days of vlogging. I start my job 10 days after it starts so that’ll be an adventure to see how I can keep up, but I’ve already committed to it so I’m going to try my best! (Side note: you can’t cheat and make all your vlogs on the weekend or in one day. That’s why it’s called Vlog Every Day in August. Not 31 Days of Vlogs in August. Hehe.) I’m also excited to meet some new faces and reconnect with old ones. I think the most fun part of VEDA was meeting new people and getting to know them better through their vlogs. Vlogging is just totally different than blogging because you get to SEE people - their expressions, their intonations, their thoughts spoken aloud.

I’m just so stinkin’ excited for VEDA! Who else is doing VEDA?

2. Why are your waiting for your wedding day for your first kiss? Sex, I get; living together, I get. But the kiss? And do you think this will make it even more difficult to find someone?

Waiting for my wedding day to have my first kiss is an idea I’ve been toying with for a long while. It’s not a novel idea, but it is definitely different. And it’s not something I’m as tied to as remaining a virgin until my wedding night or waiting to live together until we’re married. I don’t date much, so I don’t know what will happen once I do find someone I want to date seriously and contemplate marriage with. Will I remain true to wanting to wait until my wedding day for my first kiss? Maybe, maybe not. For right now, I’m leaning towards no. But that could always change. It’s just not something I’m as tied to as remaining a virgin or not cohabitating.

3. What are you most excited about with your new job?

I am excited about so much! Making a lot more money than I do now, having health insurance, being able to buy things like a CAR and a new LAPTOP, being able to support myself, learning so much about a job field I badly want to break into, working with a great group of people, NOT WEARING KHAKIS AND POLOS TO WORK EVERY DAY... do I need to go on? Mainly, I’m excited to start my career and leave a job that isn’t challenging me anymore.

4. Will you continue to live with your mother once you begin your job, or will you look for your own place? It seems like the two of you are a good fit!

I am definitely not interested in moving out any time soon. I love living with my mom and living with her will help me out a lot. Florida has a high cost of living so finding an apartment on my own would be very hard. Plus, it’s going to help out my mom a lot so it’s just a win-win situation all around. And I had a terrible roommate experience the first time around so I’m nervous to repeat that process.

5. Where are your glasses from? They’re great!

Ha! This question is funny because I feel like my glasses are too big for my face. I got them for like $100 total at Visionworks from one of their stacks of glasses. They’re not designer or anything. Just a pair of clunky black glasses. I desperately want new ones.

 

Want to ask a question? Go right ahead! (If you’re reading this through Google Reader, click out to see the question box.)

Five For Friday

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1. I had an unexpected day off today, which gives me an unexpected three-day weekend! I’m so excited to spend today being as lazy as possible, while also fitting in two hours at the gym and lots of laundry. Oh, well. You can’t have it all.

2. Fridays had been set aside for the past few weeks for the 30-Day Challenge, which is now officially kaput. I haven’t been feeling it in the past few weeks and wanted to move on. Maybe another time.

3. I’m on Google+ and I must say, I still don’t see what’s so great about it. I mean, I get it. It’s like Facebook for Twitter. You don’t have to have annoying people clogging your feed and filter people out and all that jazz. But it just feels like another time-waster to suck me in. I can barely keep up with e-mails and reading blogs as it is...now you want to add another social media venture in there?

4. About a month ago, the power cord my laptop came with crapped out. This happened with my last Toshiba computer and I had bought another power cord way back when for that. No biggie. I just found the other power cord, plugged it in, and was good to go. But now the power cord is not charging my battery at all when it’s plugged in. If the plug isn’t in, my computer turns off. If it is, my computer is on. I just need a new computer. And a money tree.

5. Last week, after I finished cutting up fruit at work, I was cleaning one of the big knives and accidently sliced my thumb. It was a small, tiny cut and didn’t bleed too badly so I just bandaged it up and moved on. The spot was tender for a day or two but nothing major. Yesterday, I had to cut up fruit again. I told myself to be careful while cleaning the knife. So what happened? You guessed it: I cut myself again. A little to the left of the other cut and a little longer. We can label this under: Things That Only Happen to Me.