Finding Shalom

One of the most consuming aspects of being a twenty-two year old college graduate is the fact that the question  "What am I going to do with my life?", is constantly bombarding my brainwaves, filling me with a sense of urgency and confusion. So, a couple of weeks ago, when I saw a life coach advertising a special deal on "Shalom Sessions", I knew I was just desperate enough to try it out. 

About a week before the scheduled meeting, I found a set of questions sitting in my inbox. These questions were meant to help customize the Shalom Session and, because I'm really good at talking about myself, I had a good time responding. As I clicked send, I thought to myself "These answers will help her decide what I'm going to do with my life."

If only life were that simple. 

Thursday night, I walked into a local coffee shop to find Brandy, a life coach and writer, waiting for me, notebook in hand. 

Going into this, I was sure that I would end the hour long session with a whole lot of answers, that I would just know what I was going to do and who I was going to be. Instead, I came out of the experience with even more questions than I had going in. 

But that is what was amazing about my Shalom Session. 

Brandy started asking questions about my dreams and goals. She asked what kind of message I wanted to send to the world, and what my perfect day would be like. 

Through our conversation, she seemed to know things about me that I had never taken the time to recognize.  

She asked how "gentle" I was with myself, a question that hasn't stopped resonating with me since I walked out of the coffee shop. 

She pointed out that I seem to have high standards for myself, and as I explained to her that there are a lot of people who have high expectations for me, I realized that I can never make important life decisions based on what others expect. I need to make my own dreams come true, not their dreams for me. 

After it was over, I was left with a lot of great ideas and starting points that will help me to figure out what it really is that I want out of life.

One of the biggest things that I took away was the realization that I have a lot of life left. I can do more than one thing. I'm twenty-two not ninety-two, and I have time to make all of my dreams become realities... just as soon as I discover what those dreams are. 

I'm so excited for this journey to begin. 

A wonderful day...

Yesterday was an amazing Thanksgiving day! 

We ended up leaving for Cassie's house at around 9:30 in the morning, stopping for coffee and newspapers on our way. 

When we got there, Cassie already had really yummy pumpkin cookie's ready, and Jessica showed up soon after with two cases of beer for Matt and Dan, and lots and lots of wine for Her, Char, Cassie, and I.

With Macy's Thanksgiving parade in the background, I stuck in the cinnamon rolls that we brought for breakfast, and Cassie started making eggs and hash browns. 

After breakfast, Charlotte and I basted and seasoned the 18 pound turkey. After it went in the oven , around noon, we all went for a walk on trails in the wood behind Cassie and Dan's house. The weather was perfect, and it was an awesome way to burn a little extra calories before dinner!

When we got back, we cracked open the wine and started getting things ready for dinner. 

Matt and Dan kicked back on the couch and watched football, in typical man style. 

Dinner just seemed to come together so easily. And, we had lots of yummy food. The menu included :

* Turkey (Charlotte and I did an AWESOME job!)

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Sweet Potatoes with Pineapple

Cauliflower Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Vegetarian Stuffing

Cresant Rolls

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Cookies

Peppermint Cheesecake balls

Dinner was ready around 5, and it was all so good! 

After dinner, we were all so full, that we flopped on the couches and zoned out in front of the television. l

Jessica left around 9 and we all got into our pajamas and finished the night watching Elf, which is definitely one of my favorite Christmas movies. 

It was such a great night, and an awesome way to kickoff the Holiday season. 

When I moved here, I was so nervous that I would spend the whole time feeling awkward or out of place. Yesterday made me feel so at home. I am so thankful for everyone I know here, and so Thankful for an amazing holiday!

Now it's time to put up the tree!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're getting ready to leave to go Cassie's to spend the day baking and drinking wine, so I thought I would stop by and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 

I've had an awesome year, and I have so much to be thankful for. 

Thanks for those of you who take the time to read this blog! I know I have friends and family (well mostly family), who come here because they genuinely care about the things going on in my life, and I am so lucky to have such a supportive community of people who care!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Law of Attraction

The other night, Charlotte, Jess, and I watched a documentary about the law of attraction, which basically states what what you think and feel determines what will happen in your life. It's kind of similar to the concept of self fulfilling prophecy. 

One example that the film mentioned is that, if you wake up in the morning and stub your toe, and think "Ugh it's going to be a bad day.", then it usually does turn out to be a bad day... and vice versa. 

This is exactly how my day went today. 

We've been planning to have our floors redone for weeks now. Last month, a guy from a contracting company came to measure the house and tell us how much floor we needed and what other materials we had to buy. After weeks of anticipation, today was the big day. The guys were coming to put in our floor, and Colt and I had a big day planned that included some quality time at the mall, lunch at our favorite restaurant, and drinking starbucks while shopping for Thanksgiving supplies. 

But, as I've mentioned before... making plans is pointless... because they always get messed up. 

The floor men were supposed to come at 7:30, so I planned on getting up at 6:30 so that I could get ready for the day while Colt was still asleep. But, he decided that he wanted to get up at 6:30 too. 

Have you every tried putting mascara on while holding a 22 pound baby? 

At 7:50, the people still weren't here, so I laid down with Colty, for his morning nap. As soon as he was sound asleep, the doorbell rang, which didn't make for a happy baby.

At this point, I was still optimistic. 

I went outside to move my car so that the men could back their van up to the house. When I came back in, the head guy (who was about my age, and super attractive), announced that " We have a problem."

A few weeks ago when we ordered the supplies, they had us by nails, when what we actually needed was floor glue.

So, I spent 30 minutes trying to get a hold of my cousin, with three men staring at me and a cranky baby. 

Still positive. 

Then, it was decided that I would meet Charlotte at Lowes, to get the glue. Which is the same point that Colt decided to pee all over himself. 

And THAT is when I decided it was going to be a bad day. According to the law of attraction, this is what set the tone for the whole day. 

I'll spare you all of the pathetic details, but let's just say... I spent an hour and a  half driving back and forth with buckets of glue, I forgot Colt's stroller and had to carry him across the mall, we had to go to Home depot to buy more wood, and I ended the day by accidentally deleting all of the numbers in my phone. 

Bad bad bad. 

I came home feeling defeated. My super fun day with Colt was mediocre at best, and there where still three strange men blasting music throughout the house, even though the baby desperately needed a nap. 

But then, they slowly finished up, and cleaned up the mess. We had dinner as a family and rearranged the furniture. And, as we sat down in our new living room to watch a movie, I realized it was all worth it. 

Screw you Law of Attraction! 

I had a frustrating conversation with my 85 year old grandpa last weekend, that ended with the sentence "You can't just babysit forever."

Ugh. As if I don't feel lame enough that I don't have a "real job", my grandpa, whose approval I want, has to subtly remind me that he isn't impressed with my lifestyle choices. 

I have this tennis match constantly going on in my head. On one side, I am so happy where I am. I love waking up to Colt's smiling face. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. And, I love that I have been able to get away from Ohio, and from everyone else's ideas about what I should be doing with my life. 

But, the other side of the net isn't so pretty. That side is filled with the voices of people who have high expectations for me. People who probably wouldn't like to see that I'm not using my degree to do great things. That side is also filled with all of my own doubts. 

Why am I here?

What am I afraid of?

Does what I'm doing even matter?

These are the thoughts that put me in a crazy funk. That make me question my own worth. Am I making an impact on the world? Or am I just copping out because I'm afraid that I won't be able to make it in the real world. 

But, when I hear Colty laugh, or when he starts to learn new things... I realize that what I'm doing DOES matter. If I weren't here, Colt would be in Day Care. He wouldn't be able to go to the Little Gym every week. His first smiles, rolls, and steps would be shared with strangers, and not with someone who loves him. He wouldn't get fed on demand, and he would have to wear disposable diapers. And he wouldn't be able to play in his own house, and with his own toys, where he doesn't have to worry about catching whooping cough or any of the other diseases his fragile immune system hasn't been vaccinated against. 

You see, I'm so desperate to know that I'm making a difference. I want my thoughts and words to be so important that people listen. I want to change lives. I want to accomplish so much. 

When I think of accomplishments, I think of money. I'm surrounded by people who joined the army, the equivalent of selling your freedoms to the government, just because they want a good paycheck. Is money what matters? If so, I'm nothing. 

When I think of accomplishments, I think of my peers who started graduate school this semester, so sure that they know what they want to do in life. Is that important now? Do I need to be ready for grad school? Do I need to know what I want to spend the next 40 years doing? If so, I guess I'm screwed.  

There is a website, where you can type in your age, and it tells you what others your age have accomplished. 

Don't do it.... it WILL mess with your confidence. 

But, do you know what helps my confidence?

The fact that I know that I'm appreciated.  The fact that I know that the things I'm doing in Colt's life are helping him to be happy and healthy. The fact that I've spent 5 months trying to teach an infant how to sign the words "milk", "more", and "up", and now he is finally trying to sign back.

That is how I'm making a difference. 

That is what I'm doing with my life. 

Call me a "babysitter" all you want. But recognize that I'm working harder than most people my age. I'm working 60 hours a week, doing my very best to make life better for a little boy who I adore. 

So yeah, I could get a "real job", and I will, but why would I rush it? 

I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to be doing. 

Let me Explain...

Okay, I realize I am 9 or 10 days behind on my 30 day Thankfulness Challenge, but I've been incredibly busy!

After my last post, I went to Ohio for four days! It was so  nice to just hang out a home watching movies! I went for a lot of long walks too. Where I live now, there aren't really a lot of places to walk, so it was really great to have sidewalks for a change!

Now, I'm back in North Carolina, preparing for the upcoming holiday season!

Tomorrow Charlotte and I are going shopping for Thanksgiving Dinner. We are going to celebrate at our friend Cassie's house. Wednesday night we are going to have a sleepover, so that we can get up early the next day and start cooking. Our friend Jessica is coming over for dinner too! It should be a lot of fun!

Next Saturday is Jessica's 30th birthday! So, we are celebrating by going out to Buffalo Wild Wings, which has the BEST margaritas! So, I'm super excited for that!

It is really crazy how fast this month has gone so far! Actually, it is crazy how fast this YEAR has gone! I've had such a great year, but I am also excited for all of the things happening in 2013!

Before the New Year, I have a few things that I want to accomplish. First of all, I want to have a relaxing Christmas at home. It will be my last Christmas in the house I grew up in, which is really bitter sweet. Also, I'm planning on going with my best friend to get a tattoo! And, a few of us are planning a super fun night out after Christmas (aka hotel rooms and the Interbelt). I can't think of a better way to end such an amazing year!

So, I guess I'm not going to go crazy updating my Thankful list... but I'm thankful for everything I just mentioned. I'm thankful for an amazing family, awesome friends, and most importantly, that I have everything that I could ever need!

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season so far!!!

Days 6 and 7

This post is going to be short and sweet!

#6. I am thankful for the outcome of last nights election. The moment that Obama won in Ohio, was the proudest that I have ever been to be an American.

#7. I am very thankful that tomorrow I get to go to Ohio for a few days, to be with my family and take a few days to relax and have fun.

Sorry... I know this is a cop out... but I'm tired!

Day 5- Democracy

It's 11:00 the night before election day...and after of hours of passionate conversation via Facebook, I am so fired up that I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight!

It's day 5 of this whole... What I'm Thankful for Challenge, and tonight, more than anything, I am thankful that tomorrow I have the opportunity to participate in what makes America "American", and that is Democracy.

I've made it no secret that I plan to vote for Barack Obama tomorrow.

I'm confident in my candidate, and his vision for America.

Throughout the course of this election, I've been accused of being a Muslim and a terrorist lover. Earlier today, I read a negative comment directed towards me by a member of my family who I really respect.

Although it would be easy to be hurt by those things, or to let the negative attitudes of others to prevent me from using my voice, I have to remember how lucky I am to live in a country where we are able to make this kind of important decision.

Why am I voting for Obama?

Because I believe in helping others.

Because I believe that the separation of church and state is good for democracy as well as for the church.

Because I believe that a woman should have the right to make decisions regarding her own body.

Because I believe in education.

Because I believe that the 47%  is home to people who have worked hard to make this country what it is.

Because I believe that marriage should be between two people who love and respect one another, regardless of gender.

But, most importantly, I an voting for Obama because I believe that America has the potential to be the greatest nation in the world, and we deserve a leader willing to invest in all of our citizens.

See you at the polls!

Day 4- Bananas

#4   I love bananas. I mean, I really really LOVE bananas. Around my house, we go through bananas like a primate exhibit at the local zoo.

Yesterday, I went to the store and got two bunches of bananas. I knew that we would only be home for 5 days before leaving for Ohio, but I figured we could handle it.

As of this afternoon, we only have four bananas left...out of at least 10.

So, what do we do with all of these bananas?

Well, this morning, I had a banana in my oatmeal. Colt had a mashed up banana for a snack. Charlotte and Matt shared a banana- laden protein shake. And... we all had delicious cups of banana ice cream.

Banana ice cream is, by far, my favorite evening treat. It is super yummy, and super easy to make. Besides all of that, it only has about one hundred and eighty calories, and zero sugar.

Banana Ice Cream

1 Bananas

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1 Tablespoons of Cocoa Powder

2 Table Spoons of Organic whipped cream. (Real Whipped Cream is only one ingredient away from being plastic. 

Directions: 5 or six hours beforehand, peel, slice and freeze 3 medium bananas. 

When well frozen, put bananas, almond milk, and cocoa powder into the blender. Blend until smooth. (Think, frosty texture.)

Pour into your favorite mug, and top with organic whipped cream. Seriously, don't eat the real stuff. It's disgusting. 

This recipe makes one serving. 

Besides their obvious deliciousness, bananas have a lot of health benefits. They have tons of potassium, which your body NEEDS to function properly. 

When I was on vacation this year, I went a few days without any bananas. By day three, I was waking up with the worst charlie- horses I'd ever had. I knew it was diet related, so I asked Charlotte for advice...

Her recommendation that I eat a few bananas really did the trick! 

So, eat a banana...fell better...be thankful! 

Day 2- 4 Day Weekends

# 3. There is a great, little know secret about the Army. That is, that they are constantly having four day weekends. And by constantly, I mean I've been here for almost 6 months and there have been about eight of them.

Besides the fact that I don't have to work, a lot of exciting things tend to center around four day weekends, which is why I am extremely thankful for them.

I have to say, that four days just seem to go on forever. I get so well rested. I get to go to the gym when ever I want, and we usually do a lot of shopping.

This upcoming four day is especially exciting, because we are making a trip to Ohio for an early Thanksgiving celebration.

I haven't been home in months (since July), so I am super excited to see my family. Although I wish I had time to visit everyone I care about, I am excited for the chance to hang out with my parents, and experience a few days of the fall in Ohio.

So yes, I'd say that is something to be grateful for!

Even though it's about two hours past my "bedtime", I decided that I need to update this blog. Not because I have anything great to say, but because I just updated my other blog, (You know, the fat one.) and I have this weird OCD like problem, where I can't update one with out the other. So here it goes. 

The past couple of days, I've seen posts about doing 30 Days of Thankfulness. I thought about doing it on facebook, but I figured that someone would get butthurt if I forgot to be thankful for them. So, I thought I would do it here instead. I'm not sure if I will post every night. But, I'm going to try because, ya know, gratitude is cool. 

Since I missed yesterday, this post will be a double dose of grateful! 

1.This, is my best friend Gina. The picture pretty much does justice to our relationship. To be honest, Gina and I have had a rough relationship. There have been plenty of times when I've decided that I didn't want to be her friend anymore. But, I'm glad I never did anything crazy enough to lose her friendship, because I don't know what my life would be like without her.

Gina is a super caring person. She loves people, and really loves animals. Most importantly, though, she is one of the least judgmental people that I know. I am confident that I could tell her anything, and she wouldn't think twice about it.

Gina is the type of person who can make anything fun. Our friendship started over a couple of classes that we had in common, the fact that she lived on my floor, and the fact that she liked going to breakfast as much as I did. Whether we were studying, walking around campus, or hanging out in the game room, there was always a good time to be had. 

Eventually, we bonded over our love of dancing, glitter, long island iced tea, and the movie rent. 

We've been through a lot, but I don't know what I would do without her! 

2. This... is my other best friend, and former room mate, Megan. 

Megan and I have known each other since our freshman year. We ended up sitting next to each other during a psych class, and when we had to find partners to work on a big paper, our lack of social skills led us to working with each other. 

I think I knew that Megan and I would be friends when she came over to my room to work on said paper, and we spent the whole time talking about everything but psychology, and not getting any work done. 

Over the next couple of years, we worked on tons of projects and assignments together, and spent countless hours in the library, drinking mocha chillers, and planning our futures. 

Last year, I had the privilege of being Megan's room mate. We had such a fun year! We did a lot of crazy things, and had a lot of late night conversations. When I had a broken heart, and ate all of the chocolate in our room, she wasn't mad. When I started rolling my hair up in socks, she laughed at me like any good friend would do, and then put socks in her hair too. 

I can safely say that I am a better person for knowing Megan. She just got her first "big girl" job, and I am so excited to see where her life takes her. I know she will be awesome at whatever she decides to do, and I know that we will be friends long enough so that I can see how things turn out for her! 

So, there are days one and two of this thirty day challenge. Don't worry, I won't spend every day bragging about what awesome friends I have ! :-) 

Fall, Friendship, and Pumpkin Spice Lattes

I love this time of year! On top of the awesome sweatshirt weather and everything pumpkin, there is so much excitement about the upcoming holiday season. Starting with Halloween!

This year, we are taking baby Colt Trick-or-Treating, in his little skunk costume. He isn't really old enough to eat candy, so we are just planning on taking him for a walk around the neighborhood, to look at the costumes and decorations.

There is a really cool program around here, where you can take your candy and trade it in for toys and prizes. Then, they send the candy as part of care packages to soldiers who are deployed. So, maybe we will do that...but not after taking out the good candy for ourselves! ...Joking.

A few days ago, Charlotte and I went to a fall health far at one of our favorite health-food stores. A couple of days later, Charlotte got a call saying that she one a door prize. Then, yesterday I got a call saying that I won a door prize too! I got a gift bag with a tin water bottle, all natural hair gel and moisturizer, liquid vitamins, and something called Dr. Willard's healing water, which is supposed to be some kind of miracle detoxifyer. It was pretty exciting.

As the title of this post implies, I've been enjoying a lot of Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I'm excited to live in a town with multiple Starbucks', and to have a car  so that I can go anytime I want. And trust me...I've had my share.

I've also been meeting a lot of great new people! While most of the people I know here are Charlotte's friends, I have to say that she has pretty great taste in friends.

A couple of weeks ago, I wen't with Jessica and Heather (two of Charlotte's co-workers) to this place where you drink wine and get a painting lesson. Afterwards, we went out to eat. It was super fun, and it reminded me of something I would do with my Malone friends. It made me feel more at home.

Last weekend, we went to a party at Charlotte's friend Kristin's house. We had pumpkin spice cupcakes, and drank pumpkin spice coffee, and the kids painted pumpkins. It really put me into the holiday spirit!

Speaking of holidays! I'm so excited to kick off the holiday season! After Halloween, we are making a quick trip to Ohio to celebrate Thanksgiving a little early. I am so excited to see my parents and the rest of my family!

For the real Thanksgiving, we are going to our friend Cassie's house to celebrate. I'm excited to get cooking, and I hear Cassie's Thanksgivings are a lot of fun!

After that, of course, is Christmas! I have a lot of good gift ideas, and I am excited for some more time in Ohio! I'm making the 8 hour drive by myself, which makes me a little nervous, but I think it will be worth the extra time I'll get to spend at home. (Charlotte and Matt only get 4 days off.)

Anyway, that's about all I have to say for tonight!

Happy Fall!!! :-)

Let's talk politics.

If you are blissfully unaware, it is election season. Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney... who will win?

The way I see it... the choice is clear. Do we want a president who is in favor of creating programs to help those in need, giving tax breaks to people who really need them, advancing education, and protecting women's health and civil rights?

Or, do we want a president who is planning on bringing back the George Bush economic plan, which crashed the economy in the first place, end funding for an organization that helps millions of women every year, and get rid of programs designed to help the most vulnerable in our population?

The choice is clear. Barack Obama needs to be reelected.

To be completely honest with you, I've begun to lose respect for those who have proclaimed their support for Mitt Romney. I assume that those people are either so uneducated, that they don't realize what a monster he is, or they truly believe in his policies and beliefs. Either way, I feel disgusted every time I see a friend or family member pledging to vote for this man.

I should probably start by saying, that I really like President Obama. He has made great strides in advancing this country. He stands up for women- which is evidence in his support for Planned Parenthood, Equal Pay (ex. The Lilly Ledbetter Act), Marriage Equality, and education. These are all things that can improve the quality of life for American citizens. And, although a lot of people deny the awesomeness that is the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, I am totally psyched that we are joining the rest of the country and adopting universal healthcare.

...Que dramatic claims about socialism...

That being said, I understand that Obama has made some mistakes. For one, he hasn't completely lived up to the promises that he made four years ago in his election campaign. But, it really seems like he is making progress.  Although slowly, the economy is growing, our job market is expanding, and unemployment is on the downward slope.

I get it. I respect any person who says, "I don't like Obama because.....".
Unless that sentence is completed with "He is a socialist.", "He is a communist." "He is a Muslim." "He wasn't  born in America.", or any racial slur... I completely respect your right to form your own, educated, opinion on dear old POTUS.

The problem comes with the fact that, 99% of the time, when I hear someone saying that they are going to vote for Mr. Romney, there only reasoning is that they don't like Obama. That's kind of like saying "I don't really like Gonorrhea... so I'm going to go ahead and contract H.I.V.

If you don't understand the differences between those two diseases... I suggest you take a refresher course in health... but I digress.

Let's take a closer look at the man behind the fake smile and faker spray tan... Mitt Romney.

I'm not even sure where to begin.

Let's put his policies aside for a moment, and focus on the fact that he has been caught in an outrageous amount of lies over the course of his campaign. The only person who has lied more, is his running mate, Paul Ryan, who oozes sex appeal, but who gives James Frey a run for the title of Liar of the Century.

Mitt has flip flopped on almost every major issue in this election. From his stance on abortion, to his economic policy, Romney has changed his stances, in order to change from a liberal to a conservative to a moderate, to the biggest joke ever to come out of the republican party. (Other than Sarah Palin) If I were a republican (that'll be the day), I would refuse to vote for Romney solely based on the fact that he hasn't given a straightforward, consistent answer, this whole campaign.

Now for those pesky policies.

I have to say that I'm a little biased against basically every one of Mitt's policies because, how do I put it... they are completely against who I am as a person and everything that I believe in.

My first impression of Mitt came from a video clip in which he announced that, if elected president, he would  "get rid of" Planned Parenthood. If your first response to that is anything along the lines of "Good, let's get rid of that abortion mill...blah blah blah... baby killers... blah blahh."... then please stop reading this blog, and go get an education. Read a book. Learn about the world.

Yes, Planned Parenthood is an abortion provider. But guess what, abortion is legal in this country. As long as it is legal, there will be abortion providers. Quite honestly, I think that what a woman does with her body is not a choice that should be made by a bunch of men in Washington, nor is it a choice for religious leaders... it is a personal, complicated, difficult, choice that only she can make.

If you don't believe in abortion, there are a lot of things that you can do. First of all, you can encourage behaviors, and support efforts, that reduce the amount of unwanted pregnancies in the first place (something that Planned Parenthood does a great job at!) Secondly, you can provide women in difficult situations with life promoting alternatives (something only a democrat would do). Finally, if you don't believe in abortion... don't have one. It's as simple as that.

For those of you who don't know... I spent a semester doing an internship at Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio... and I have to say... that for being "baby murderers", I worked with some of the most caring, loving, passionate people that I have ever met. Oh, and I should probably mention that there wasn't even an abortion facility in our health center... so there goes that theory.

But that isn't the issue here. About 3-5% of the services provided at Planned Parenthood deal with abortion. The other 95-97% of services offered are things like well women exams, pap smears, pregnancy testing, contraceptives, STD testing, and my favorite, Education! Planned Parenthood HELPS millions of women take control of their reproductive health, in a way that empowers them.

Oh yes Mitt, lets go ahead and get rid of that.

On the topic of women... did you see the debate the other night? The one where he hinted at the fact that women need jobs that allow them to get home in time to cook dinner, said that he had binders full of women,  and suggested that the reason that there is so much violence, is that there are a lot of single moms in this country. Ummmm... first of Mitt, my place is not in the kitchen, and if I do the same job as a man... I sure as hell better be making the same wages. Also, being a single mom is probably one of the most difficult things that a woman can do, and just because someone grew up in a one parent household doesn't even begin to mean that they will be violent. Heck...look at you Mitt, you had TWO parents... and look how awful you turned out.

Okay, I'm sort of sick of writing... so let me just make a few more statements... even though I could clearly go on and on...

1. Mitt Romeny's economic policies mimic those of George W. Bush's trickle down economics. If you don't know what that means... think of a dog waiting by a table for his owners to drop crumbs. Are you part of the middle class? Yep... then you're that dog. Also, this is the economic policy that crashed the economy in 2008.

2. Romney made some really awful statements about the "47%"...if you don't already know about his now infamous speech, I suggest you look it up. Keep in mind that the "47%" that he is talking about includes those who have retired and are collecting social security, students, veterans, and soliders who are untaxed while deployed.

3. Romney's health care plan? If you don't have insurance, wait until you are really sick... and then call an ambulance. Awesome. Let us not forget that in his own state, Massachusetts, Romney created a healthcare plan  that is almost identical to the Affordable Healthcare Act...and it worked. So why would he repeal Obamacare? To please right wing conservatives... duh.

Like I said, I could go on and on... and I probably will in the next few weeks.

But, if you read this far...congratulations... and thank you.

Growing Up

Over the past few months, it has really started to hit me that I'm turning into a full-fledged adult...whatever that means.

I've always wondered when I would finally start to feel like I was growing up, and I'm sad to say that day has come.

Okay, so I fully recognize that I have a long way to go before I am fully grown up. I have a younger cousin, who is only 18, who is always on Facebook, talking about how grown up she is, and talks about "these kids". When I see that, I just want to hug her and say "Oh, Honey. You have no idea."

I am also aware enough to know that there are a lot of people who would probably react to my proclamation of adulthood in a similar fashion.


So far in life, I've graduated from high school and college, moved almost 500 miles from home, bought my own car, and started paying a whole lot of bills. I've also started making real plans for my life, and making real decisions concerning my future and well being.

Recently, I made the decision to stay in North Carolina. When I moved here, I sort of had a feeling that I wouldn't be leaving anytime soon. But, now I have officially decided that, when I go home for Christmas, I'm coming back. This is probably one of the biggest decisions that I've ever made; and even though it's scary, I think that I've made the best decision for myself and baby Colt.

My life is changing in ways that I wouldn't have anticipated this time last year. But, as I grow into adulthood, I am glad to say that I am so blessed to have such a supportive group of friends and family to lean back on.

A Day In The Life...

Disclaimer: This is another post that I don't actually expect anyone to care about. But, I want to remember this time in my life as much as possible. I've always been the kind of person who loves schedule and routine. That said, here is a look at what a typical day looks like here in nannyland.

4:40 am- Wake up, feed Bella.

4:45- Charlotte brings Colt to me, and we cuddle up on the couch and go back to sleep.

7:30- Charlotte returns from formation and PT, and Colt and I usually wake up when she comes in.

7:30-8:00- I change Colt's diaper and get him dressed for the day, while Charlotte pumps his morning bottle and makes breakfast.

8:00- We all hang out in the living room and eat our Power Oatmeal. Basically, it is a cup of oatmeal filled with super foods like Chia seeds, Flax seeds, coconut oil, almonds, bananas, cocoa powder, almond milk etc.

8:30- Charlotte leaves for work and Colt lays on my bed with his toys while I get ready for the day.

9:00- Colt eats his morning bottle and I rock him to sleep for his morning nap, which usually lasts about an hour.

9:15-10:15- I do the breakfast dishes, wipe off the counters, and start any laundry that needs done. I usually do one or two loads a day, between my clothes, my blankets, Colt's clothes, and Colt's diapers. (Colt is cloth diapered, which is super good for him and super good for the environment!!)

10:30- By now, Colt is almost always awake. So, we usually do a late morning activity. Sometimes we go for a walk, other times we sit outside, or we hang out in his room and work on his motor skills.

11:30- Colt is usually ready for his next bottle. So, we find a good show on Netflix and hang out while he eats.

12:00- Colt plays in his bouncer or on his mat, while I make lunch.

1:00- After lunch, I clean up, which consists of doing lunch dishes, sweeping the kitchen floor, and switching around laundry. Most days, I wear Colt around in his wrap, or carry him, while I do this, but some days he will be content with sitting in his swing and watching.

2:00- Colt takes his afternoon nap, which is typically pretty long. After he falls asleep, I start getting things ready for dinner. My goal is to have everything ready so that, when Charlotte and Matt are on their way home, I can just stick it in the oven.

3:00- Colt is still asleep, so I find a documentary on Netflix and curl up on the couch with him. Usually I stay awake, but some days (like today) I take a little nap with him.

4:00- Colt wakes up around now, and is ready for a bottle. He usually eats about 4 ounces and then is ready to play!

4:30- I finish up laundry, and determine what laundry I need to do the next day.

5:30- I stick dinner in the oven and make sure Colt is well fed and clean for when his Mommy and Daddy get home!

6:00- We all have dinner.

6:30- I get ready to work-out. On M/W/F I go to the gym, and on T/H I go for a walk down our road. I would probably go to the gym every night, but it is about a half an hour away.

7:30- On M/W/F I am still at the gym, but every other night we have our favorite dessert, "banana ice cream." It is actually not ice cream at all and it is amazing. We take frozen bananas and blend them with cocoa powder and almond milk, and top it with whipped cream. The whole thing is around 150 calories, and tastes like a frosty combined with a banana split.

9:00- I take a shower and get ready for bed.

10:00- Bed Time!

I should probably include the fact that weekends here are really awesome! Every other weekend we go to Cary, which is right outside of Raleigh, and we go grocery shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, and then we go out to lunch. Every weekend we get Starbucks at least once. Oh, and I get to sleep in until however late I want, even though I'm usually up by 7:30!

These days are filled with great people, which makes the melancholy that can come with rigid routine basically nonexistent. Colt is learning new things every day, and when he wakes up in the morning and smiles at me, I know that it is going to be a great day!

So much has happened.

Earlier today I was sitting here and it hit me that I haven't updated this blog in months. I moved out of my parents house and into my cousin's house in North Carolina, about two weeks after graduation. Since then, so many things have happened... so I thought I would share. The purpose of the blog is basically to help me remember the things that go on in my life. So, excuse me if this isn't very well written, I just need to get it down so I don't forget everything!

1. I moved to Linden, North Carolina (Right outside of Fayetteville and right next to Ft. Bragg), where I live with my cousin Charlotte, her husband Matt, and their new baby boy Colt James. Oh, and their black lab named Bella!

2. A week later, Charlotte took Colt and I on our very first trip to the ocean. We stayed at Myrtle Beach over Memorial Day weekend. It was kind of rough with a three week old baby, but it was a lot of fun!

3. I took my first trip in an air plane, when I flew back home to Ohio for my yearly family vacation to Geneva-On-The-Lake! It was really great to see my family again, and was made even more fun when my best friends Megan and Gina came for the weekend! After they left, I spent a ton of time with my cousin Michele and her kids, Drake and Darr, and I did my very first bar crawl. It really was a great trip! But, I missed Colt a lot and was happy to come home to him.

4. I joined a gym! It is called For Women Only, and it is a great escape from every day life. It is really the only time I get completely to myself, so I enjoy the time I have to get a good workout!

5. I bought a car! It is a 2005 Chevy Cavalier, and I love it! I haven't been able to get it registered yet, because first I had to get a North Carolina drivers license, which came in the mail yesterday. So, by Monday it should be good to go!

I know there are a lot of other things that have happened, but I cant really think right now! I have met so many great people here and I am really starting to feel at home! I have a lot of plans for my future, and I am excited that this it the place that I am going to make those plans happen!

The ending of one chapter is the beginning of another!

We made it! 

(Megan, Me, Gwen, Christy)

There have been a couple of recent occasions where I sat in front of my computer trying to come up with something to say about the end of my college career, but I've got nothing. I would have to say that the last four years of my life have provided me with more memories than I could ever begin to tell you. I'm proud of my time at Malone, and I am grateful for all of the friends and relationships that I've gained. 

That being said, I am about to embark on a new journey into the land of Nannyhood. Because of that, I want to change the look and feel of this blog, which has served as some sort of journal over the past few years. So, for those that actually take the time to read this... stay tuned for my latest adventures! 

Women are Watching

I love this video!

I know it is month's away, but as the 2012 general election rolls around, remember to vote for those candidates who are dedicated to sticking up for women's rights.

What's New?

First of all, I have to warn you that this just might be the most boring blog I have ever posted.

So... sorry!

But, I know that if I don't update now I never will. Plus, things have been to amazing to forget.

Since the last time I updated, a lot has happened. I pierced my nose, road in a taxi for the first time, and met a really interesting (?) person named "Lucky."

But we won't talk about Lucky.

Today, a woman in one of my classes (who just happens to be the wife of one of my favorite professors) asked me what I was doing this weekend, and said that she noticed that I do something different every weekend. And she is right!

With this weekend being a tame exception, it seems as if by Tuesday of every week, my friends and I are excitedly planning the weekend ahead.

The past few weeks have been filled with geo-cashing, dancing, laughter, and occasionally tears.

We won't talk about the tears.

I tend to be a pretty introverted person. I like my space and I like time to myself, but I genuinely love spending time with my friends and I feel like we have bonded so much over this semester. I love it.

Over the past couple of months I've probably watched the musical Rent about five or six times. As I sit here reflecting on this semester, these lyrics come to mind.

"There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way. No day but today. "

This is so perfect. The chapter of my life titled "College" is coming to an end faster than I even want to think about. My time here has had its ups and downs for sure, but it is going to have a good ending. I'm trying to live in the moment. I can't change things that I've done in the past, nor do I want to.

There really is no day but today.

I can't tell you how many times I've logged on to update this blog over the past couple of months. I keep getting sidetracked, or sitting here without knowing where to start...

But, now that it is the start of another year, it seems as if I have a lot to say.

First of all, I should update you on the past couple of months. I left off at the beginning of the holiday season, around Halloween. Since then, I've celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with my amazing family. I've spent a lot of time at home which, as I grow up, becomes more and more comforting.

I've also had an amazing Fall semester at school! It was stressful at times, and I was forced to overcome a few academic and personal challenges. Through those challenges, though, I've learned just how strong I can be. More importantly, I've learned a lot about what I want in life, and who I want to be a part of it.

I've had great experiences with some really amazing and beautiful people, and I am excited to reunite with them in the Spring!

But enough about the past! I am incredibly excited for 2012! So many exciting things are about to happen!

In May, I will finally graduate from Malone! It is certainly bitter sweet. I have loved Malone and all of the people and experiences that have come with it! But, I am so excited to see what plans God has for me after graduation.

Luckily, I already know what some of those plans are!

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this already, but my cousin Charlotte is having a baby! More specifically, she is having a baby boy and she is due around the same time as graduation! As if this little boy isn't enough of a blessing, Charlotte has asked me to come stay with her and her husband in North Carolina, and be a Nanny for their precious new addition!

I'm not entirely sure how long I will be there but, if things go as planned, I will be there at least until January! There is also a graduate school close by... but I won't get too far ahead of myself.

I feel like things are falling into place, in a way that I never could have planned on my own.

I don't want to ramble, but I do want to say that I feel so incredibly blessed to have such amazing people in my life. I am so excited to see how we all grow and change together over the coming year!

It is going to be amazing!

Happy New Year Everyone!