What a Year for a New Year

Every year, I consider making a list of resolutions for the new year, but I know they won't last:  start going to bed earlier so I can in turn get up earlier, eat healthier (even at 5'2"-ish and ~100 pounds, junk food and I are good friends), stay organized, save more money, etc.  When it comes down to it, though, I just want to be a better me...

Appreciate the things and people I have in my life.

Support the people I love and care about.

Be the best girlfriend, friend, sister, and daughter I can be.

Write letters or call people on the phone instead of sending text messages and emails.

Send birthday cards to people instead of writing a generic message on their Facebook wall.

Discover who I really am.

Cut the negativity out of my life.

Be a force for change in my own life.

As I read over this list again, one thing hits me:  it's all really simple.  But I think simple is okay.  I don't have any far-reaching goals.  The main things I want out of my life are to be happy, help others find out who they really are, and to marry my best friend.  And in some way, I think that achieving the above will help me do all of those things and more.

Last year at this time, I thought I was moving half-way across the country for grad school (which obviously didn't happen).  I never imagined that I'd be right back where I started for school (but I couldn't be happier).

I never thought that I would be in love with my best friend.  But you know what?  I am.  And I couldn't be happier.  He's what puts the smile on my face, makes me laugh until I cry, and is the best part of my life and I never want that to change.  I love you, boo.  You're the best.  I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

Christmas 2012: One of the best yet

I think I've been enjoying the lack of tests and essays to finish this entry... But then a certain someone asked why I hadn't updated in a while, and I had to oblige.  Normal posting should resume now.

Not surprisingly, I learned two Saturdays ago that when my dad picked me up from school that my family had yet to pick up a Christmas tree.  This is usually how things work around my family.  If it weren't for the last minute, some things would never get done for my family...  But I digress.

Despite some incredibly late gift hunting, wrapping, and name-tagging, this Christmas was definitely one of the best.  I got to spend Christmas Eve with Vic, which was wonderful.  It had been over a week since we'd seen each other, and when you're used to spending nearly every day with your best friend, it felt like forever. I can't wait until he and his parents come over for dinner next week.  It's always wonderful to see everyone.

I can also honestly say that at twenty-two years old, I've met the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.  Knowing that there's someone who cares as much about you as you do about them, who makes you laugh like you didn't know was possible, tear up because of sweet text and Facebook messages, and smile like it's the only thing you know how to do... It makes me the happiest, luckiest girl in the world.

Vic, I love you and can't wait to spend forever with you.  You are my best friend, the love of my life, and my rock.  I would not be the same person I am today if you hadn't come up to talk to me after your night class on a Monday almost a year ago.

My grandparents spent Christmas day with us.  Between my father making some off-color (albeit hilarious) comments, my brother being ridiculous, and my grandmother nearly snorting her can of Coke through her nose, it was pretty hilarious.

It's been a low-key holiday break so far, but honestly, after a busy first semester of graduate school, I'm not about to complain.  (Sure, teaching my mom how to use her new toy [the iPad she claims will be for work only] has been interesting, but she's doing well with it.)

Now to plan menus for next week and try my hand at cooking...

2012: A Year in Review

What a year it's been.

This time last year, if you told me everything that was going to happen from then til now, I would never have believed you.  Having to make grad school decisions, meeting my best friend and love of my life, learning that it's okay to ask for help, graduating from college, surviving another summer of selling over-priced office supplies, and returning to the place I've called home for four (now five) years.

Wow.  What a year.  Facebook conveniently has made an app for the 2012 Year in Review for its users, and because I'm lazy (and possibly forgetting some things), here goes...

- Getting into graduate school.
- Getting a job that pays for my grad school tuition and room on campus.
- Traveling to DC with my best friend and the History Club.
- Graduating from college.
- Winning one of the Distinguished Service Awards at school.
- Being in a relationship with my best friend.

Yeah, I'd say that 2012 has been a pretty amazing year.  Sure, it's had its share of ups and downs, but the good has absolutely outweighed the bad in so many ways.

I have one final left to take.  I have one final grade in so far (an A in Foundations).  Vic and I are both leaving campus early on Saturday morning.  Break will yet again consist of seeing family and working, but of course, the best part is seeing friends and not having to worry about assignments for six weeks.

The end is near...

After my second class lets out tonight, I will have one class left to finish assignments for this semester.  One.  Uno.  Une.  Ains.  (Obviously, I can't wait.)

These past few weeks have been a flurry of tests, papers, assignments, and video taping lessons.  Of staying up way too late to work on assignments.  More coffee than should probably be consumed by a single person.  And, of course, spending time with the person who is both my best friend and boyfriend, which, of course, is the best part of my day.

Tomorrow, I'll finish a paper that's due...well, tomorrow at 11:55 PM.

Finals week is next week, but I only have one final.

My portfolio that I've been working on for my Foundations class is finally done at 131 pages.  (Keep in mind, too, that even though I had 2 group members, our group was smaller than the others in the class and one group member did *maybe* 5 pages of work.  Not that I'm bitter or anything.)

Tomorrow is the department's open house.  Which is actually more of an end of the year get together for students and faculty.  Vic and I will be attending in color-coordinated outfits because we are *that* couple.  Have I mentioned lately how much I adore him?  I'm seriously the luckiest girl in the world.  He's an amazing guy, and he makes me laugh and smile and love life more than I ever thought possible.

But for now, I'm off to my last sessions of my Tuesday classes... And I'm not going to lie, it'll be weird not going to class next Tuesday.  Sort of.