busy

Full time schedule of graduate classes.

Wellness mentor for 25 students.  

Keeping up with a long distance relationship.

Days starting at 7am and ending at 11pm.

Exercising and eating healthy.

I would not trade this for anything. There's something about being so busy that stresses you out, but gives you an adrenaline rush at the same time. Besides all this I've been playing as much as I can with Sofi. She recently bought a pair of Toms  and I thought it were proper she knew what the philosophy behind the company is. If you're interested, click on the link. 

At work I've been volunteering and making food! We have a program called Tasty Tuesdays where we cook with the students and teach them cooking techniques. 

With class I have not taken any photos related to that but they wouldn't be that fun anyways. I will tell you it was nice taking a super hard finance test and then coming home and making flash cards for Sofi with spelling words. It makes me realize that if she can study and learn how to read at the age of 6, I can definitely take time out of my day as well to study my own things and do great in my classes. It's amazing how they have you studying at that early of an age already. Getting good grades really is just listening and studying. If you do both, you'll do fine. Now, if I could only actually do those things to the best of my ability. 

Oh, and I'm also going to start these back up again. 

Yep, pretty busy. 

but loving it!

things i like

Finding joy out of simple things. 

Training a Seminole

Laughing

Southern style homes

My sisters

Teaching children to bake

Cupcakes

Food that doesn't give me a tummy ache

making my boyfriend try on clothes I choose

Nikon cameras

Signs from Him

on the bookshelf

I have a syndrome most of us have when it comes to reading. I bet you're familiar with it and you've had either a slight case of it or a blown out disease version. I call it the:

Conclusion Avoider

It's basically when you start reading a book, and for some reason or another, you don't finish it. You never reach the conclusion and you could care less what happens at the end. I've always had this on a high level, but recently since I finished a  book all the way to the last page, I've been reading books the whole way through and it feels nice! {I just realized I sound like I'm 7 and just finished my first chapter book}.

So, now that I'm actually fully reading books I decided to show you what I'm reading right now. I tend to read books that help me: call them self-help or whatever you wish. Since I started my MBA, all these books are business themed. Boring? A little. But, I have to catch up on the fact I didn't study the wonderful world of business for my undergrad. 

First, where they are located. I have my top books I'm reading sitting right in front of me as I'm typing. I gave them a special space on my desk as well as printed out this cute art print to always remind me to keep reading. I stare at it every time I'm on my laptop, which I'll admit is a lot. 

{please excuse the quality of these photos.}

"The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl"

"Business Words you Should Know" aka a dictionary with business terms

"Wisdom From the Ancients"

kind of a tough read. sad to admit.

Will I read all of these? Probably not due to the fact one of them is in dictionary form and that would just be boredom waiting to happen. 

 I thought I would let you in to something in my room that helps me stay focused, learn more knowledge, and keeps me calm. I've always recommended reading to everyone. I have my moments when I go months without reading, but I always pick it back up. As my art print says: "We read to know we are not alone."  great quote!

Do you turn to reading as a way to relax and learn? It's a great hobby and a good reason to never say you have nothing to do. There's all types and I know all of you have hobbies so check out or buy a book that deals with your hobby! 

“The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read.”

- Abraham Lincoln

lady in training

I don't consider myself a full on "lady" but I will admit that I am one in training. I have always admired the way a lady carries herself and lives her life. A woman strives to be respected in society and I completely understand where she is coming from.
However, I don't like it when a friend comes up to me to say how disrespectful a boy looked at her and as she is talking to me I notice how short her shorts are, her towering high heels, and the cleavage anyone can spot a mile away.
Let me tell you something: you can't put all the fault on a man. If you want to be treated a certain way, act and present yourself like it. Of course you still might get treatment from a man you would rather not have while dressing and acting like a lady, but I guarantee it happens a lot less.
Throughout the years I've been forming into my ladylike self, I've noticed there are some great tips to follow on your journey of finding the grace, confidence, and appearance a lady carries.

lady in training

1. Don't use the phrase "like" or  "you know."

2. Write to do lists. They will keep all your engagements in order.

3. Dress as if God and your mother were watching you. 

{{one of these two is guaranteed to be watching.}

4. Keep your word for the things you promise and are asked to do. 

5. Volunteer. There are too many people out there who need help.

6. Exercise and eat right. A lady respects others as much as she does her own body.

7.  Speak kindly and gently. Yes ladies, even when you're mad. 

{If you need to walk away for a second to cool off, do so!}

8. Believe the best in others and also yourself. 

9. Educate yourself and become a woman of accomplishment. 

10. No cursing. Zero, zilch, nada. 

Do you think these are hard to do? One isn't born a lady and it is a long process because not only do you need to learn all these rules and suggestions, but you also need to get to know yourself at the same time.  I believe it's a fun process, and definitely one that has great benefits. We need more ladies out there! There's a quote that states: 

I love being a lady. It's a full time job, but someone has to do it.

am i that interesting?

I've been having difficulty thinking of things to write on the blog. I told myself this blog would be mostly giving advice and using a small tid bit of my life to help prove my point. Every time I publish a new post, I check the statistics carefully of who is reading my site {don't worry no names are said just how many people viewed}, and where the people are clicking from. Usually it's a little bit of people, which is fine because this blog is new, and they almost all come from Facebook.

I like to notice trends and am a completely statistical person. I've noticed the more I talk about myself, the more people read. Which makes me wonder:

Am I really that interesting?

I am humble and believe I am not.  There must be something about me listing the details of my life that make me more relatable and since you listen to that, I'll write more of it! It makes me wonder what part about my life are you interested in? The fact I'm in graduate school and working at the same time? My relationship with Tyler? The way I write about the little things in life that you can relate to? 

Who knows! And you know what? I"ll probably never know because I can't go to each one of your houses and figure out what goes on in your head. 

So, in order to introduce you more to myself, yet keep my privacy because this is a public blog and all, here is a list of 10 particular things about myself. I'm a very detailed oriented person and have a lot of quirks to me.

 1. I have to wake up at least 2 hours earlier than any event in the morning I have.

2. I like the adrenaline rush of when I'm really stressed. It worries, yet excites me.

3. I have the same things on my nightstand when I go to bed every night. 

4. Watching Nick-at-Nite helps me go to sleep.

5. I like to wear dresses because I don't like clothes that hug to my body.

6. I find it super hard to eat breakfast because it gives me stomach aches. 

7. I always watch a tv show on my laptop when I straighten my hair. 

8. There are a lot of "older lady" fashion pieces I want, but feel I shouldn't buy yet.

9. I've tried to get used to coffee for months now and still don't like it. 

10. I have two monthly calendars, one weekly calendar, and a post-it I keep up with everyday.

If I were to see a lesson in the post, I would have to talk about the fact that we are all different and all have our quirks. I'm starting to realize that maybe these little details are what people like to read about. Sometimes people tend to hide these facts about themselves for fear of looking different. But just as I tell the students I work with, if we all strived to be the same type of person, then we wouldn't be unique and in turn we would not be that interesting. Can you picture every car on the road being the same make and model? No. that would be boring. It's the same things with people. 

Enjoy what makes you YOU. Don't be afraid to be yourself and don't doubt when you have proof people find what you say interesting. 

Also, I realize that posts with photos are much more interesting to read, so I will try to post more photos. See here, the first step is to find the camera: check! 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

tired

I will admit, I am very tired.

I went to the dentist because my jaw was bothering me and left with a referral to get my wisdom teeth out and no answer really on what was wrong. I went to another dentist the day the pain shot up, and now I'm taking an antibiotic for an infection in my mouth. Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen have filled my stomach for the past week and my stomach isn't really happy. It's amazing how your body just slowly feels more and more tired when you feel sick. On a more positive note, my jaw feels better and I can move it around more.

I'm done with the first week of graduate school and I only have two things that worry me a little. One: the information. I've never studied business before, so to start learning it at a graduate level is proving to be hard. Not only do I need to study more, but I need to keep up with what the corporate and stock world is doing in real life since they are mentioned in class. Two: I'm a baby compared to everyone else. I've asked around and the youngest age I've heard is 27. I say I'm 23, but I'm banking on the fact that I will turn 24 next month. That's a little closer to 27 at least. I've come to terms with the fact I have to try and not let this affect me and focus on the fact that I love the school I'm going to, and even though I feel like I'm in over my head, it's nothing that more studying can't fix. I give myself at least 3 weeks to get fully used to the graduate school setting. It's definitely different!

My sister left for Italy last week as well. For four months. That's all I'll say about that.

Overall, I'm tired. It seems that in my life everything seems to be so calm and then the stressful events have to happen in bundles with 3 or more happening at the same time. After a few tears, some nervous stomach aches, and positive coaching, I feel like I'm at a better place mentally than I was in the middle of last week. It'll take time, but I want you to realize that even through stresses, you have to keep in your mind they will eventually fade. Just knowing that my sister will come back, graduate school will get easier, and my jaw will feel better eases my mind.

In these stressful times, try to do things that relax you! Work on what you can make better and if the stress is there to stay learn to work with it. Write some positive things about your stressful days and realize that God is giving you little happy moments to balance you off.

Choose 3 and write them down.
1. Tyler came to visit me this weekend.
2. I was able to chew food on the painful side of my mouth for the first time in a week yesterday.
3. One of my favorite desserts is in the house and it's a great break in my day to relax.

See! Just get past your bad thoughts and look for the positive ones that seem small. Am I still tired? yes. Am I still a bit stressed? yes. But I know it could be worse if I didn't at least try to change my attitude.

Time

Today for my work orientation our wonderful boss made the new employees take a time management workshop so we are sure we can handle everything that is to come once our job starts. The front of our packet said a little phrase that I thought I would share: 

Time is the coin of your life.

It is the only coin you have

And only you can determine 

How it will be spent.

Be careful lest you let other people

spend it for you.

Do you ever waste a lot of your time or you feel like you don't have enough of it? We all deal with this to a certain extent so today I really looked deeply into how I spend my days and realized that I can make little chances throughout my day to make it feel more fulfilling. In my situation, I have a lot of reading to do, preparing for a new job, and making sure I spend enough time with my family and boyfriend. I don't say this with any air of stress but more of a "wow, there are so many great things in my life and I want to give it my best to all of them."

When it comes to time don't see your problems with it as frustrating. Just learn the little tweaks you need to make to your schedule at least flow a little better.

Get a planner, make "to do lists," tackle hard things first and make your way down. Do whatever works because time is money! It comes and goes no matter how much you want to relive some moments.   

On another note: 

I was just reminiscing doing funny things like making Tyler dress up like a cow with me and my sisters for free chick fil a. 

And thinking about when I see this face because of the things I tell him.  

And me reacting like this. 

Love someone who makes you do this.