New Years Resolutions for 2015

I'm spending my NYE in New Orleans this year! Excited to be with so many of my Buckeye family (and some blood relation too, I'm there with Molly!). Hoping 2015 starts out on a great note with a Buckeye victory over Alabama!

And now on to my New Years Resolutions! I'm really going to concentrate on improving myself in 2015. I feel like this year was just a year of sustaining or keeping my head above water. 2013 was a big year for me and 2014 just seems kind of blah compared to it. But I'm sure that's what God was telling me that I needed. And now I have the conviction to make changes to a lot of things I'm not happy with.

And I'm going to be all cliche and do it at the beginning of the year.

1. Be at work on time every day. For the past 6 months for me, this has been a struggle. I will snooze through my alarm so many times that I don't get to work until after 9. Sometimes it's 10! Granted I do have a lot of things going on in the evenings, but it's time to be in the office on time!

2. Cut back on 'after school activities'. I advise two student organizations, and kind of a third too. I am going to stop going to so many of their activities because I don't really need to be at all of them. Just the big ones. This will give me more time in the evenings to go to the gym and a social life outside of my job.

3. Sign up for a half-marathon and get to the gym. I slacked the last quarter of 2014 on getting to the gym. It got cold and I ended up at home on the couch under a cozy blanket and that's where I'd stay. Must get back on track!

4. No fast food. I've done this before for Lent, so I can do it again. I have to start cooking more at home and not eating out as much. It's bad for my health. It's bad for my wallet. Even if I do have a McDonald's gift card in the car at all times!

5. No social media. This one I've also done for Lent in the past and it was a blessing. I have been reading a few books all talking about the ways facebook effects people and relationships and I'd already been having these same thoughts, so this just validated what I'd been thinking. So no more snapchat, facebook, instagram, twitter, or any of those games that make me stare at my phone and not have connections with people around me (scramble, trivia crack). I've already changed the passwords to something I don't know and logged out! If you want to talk to me or see how I'm doing, feel free to text or email me, or better yet - call me! I miss having phone conversations!

6. Study my Bible daily. This is something that I need to get better at and I always feel better about myself and life in general when I am in it daily. I have my bible study every Monday that I LOVE LOVE LOVE, but I'm still feeling like I need more! So I've been making an effort over the last few months to attend Sunday services more regularly. I really want to find a church that I like and get involved! Not just be a pew filler on a Sunday.

7. Be a better communicator. I'm not one to ask a lot of questions, therefore I just make up scenarios in my head or don't have the answers that I want. So this is also a big priority for me. Be a better communicator, listener, ask questions, have meaningful conversations with people. Not just be a talker. I think all my relationships could use this - family, friends, potential suitors (my fav term coined by my friend Cara!).

Those are just 7 things, but they're seven big things. All things that I want to see happen and have been unhappy and struggling with, so I'm hoping that with persistence and a lot of prayer, I'll keep them!

Merry Christmas

My cards went out before Christmas this year! Except for the last round that went out on the 23rd probably won't be delivered until after the holiday. But I consider it a win since everything else this season has been less than perfect. I started out all gung-ho in early December for the holidays and just kind of lost steam after that.

But I do pray that everyone is having a wonderful Christmas with their family. And if you're reading this and don't celebrate Christmas (I know not everyone does!), I hope you're having a wonderful holiday with your family too! :)

This and That

Last weekend I spent it in Columbus and had a plathora of Christmas activities planned. I had decided I was going to bake cookies and decorate them like the Doughmestic Housewife does. I had convinced myself this was going to be my new hobby and money maker. 

Well, I cannot back worth a crap. Got bored cutting out the cookies, then frustrated because my icing didn't turn out right and well before I knew it everything was a hot mess and I just quit. My cookies don't look like anything special and they taste equally as horrible too. 

Saturday I finished up my Christmas shopping after having lunch with one of my former students who was passing thru town on her way home for the holidays. Saturday night Molly came over and after I finished with my cookie disaster, we ran some errands, got Starbucks (I'm obsessed with their Peppermint Hot Chocolate, btw!) and drove around looking at lights. :)

Sunday I headed down to Wilmington to Katie's to meet baby Beau for the first time and hang out with some college friends that I don't see often enough. It was a great day and I got lots of baby snuggles.

Reese isn't a baby anymore, but we still snuggled!

Later that evening I went to the Columbus Zoo to see the lights with my godson and his family. The lights were beautiful, we saw a giant bear sleeping and he was fascinated with the fish! I had been wanting to go to the zoo all December, so I'm glad that Erin and Luke invited me along!

He loved the elephant. He screamed every time he did something.

So pretty.

Lights!

Taking selfies in the 670 tunnel.

Only two days of work this week, then I'm headed home for Christmas! I tried to decorate my nails really pretty, but it's an obvious Pinterest fail.

What I wanted, what I bought, what it looked liked after two coats. -_-

December Update

Not a lot going on here. I went thru my phone to see if I even had any good pictures to share, and nada.

The semester is finally over - Praise the Lord!! I am in need of a break like no other.

My apartment has been torn apart for the last week because of kitchen plumbing issues. First I had a hole in my pipe. Then most recently all of the units in my building had trouble draining their kitchen sinks. So guess whose kitchen got torn apart looking for the problem....MINE. So I couldn't use my sink for a week. Last night I finally had time to clean everything in my kitchen with bleach. (They had splattered black gunk all over everything.) So with the exception of mopping, everything is spick and span. :) I also got a ton of laundry done and my dining room cleaned out. Honestly, a lot of the 'stuff' just got taken to the basement.

Out of sight. Out of mind.

Until I go down there to do laundry.

So this spring I am doing a major cleaning out of my basement and having a yard sale. And what doesn't sell, it's going to Goodwill. No sense in hoarding a gift from an ex's mom that I never took out of the box and someone else might actually like.

Speaking of ex's. I dug out some gift cards that what's his name #3 left at my place many, many years ago. I had told him shortly after the break up that he could come pick them up, and he never did (also never returned his key to my place, awkward.) So I treated myself to Starbucks this morning. There is still $11 on the card too! I have at least $150 in gift cards that belonged to him. Anyone want to go to dinner sometime soon? Merry Christmas to me!

Christmas is just one week away. I have ideas of what I'm getting everyone for Christmas, but I just have to pull the trigger this weekend and buy it. Gift baskets for everyone! And I'm not talking fruit or lotions or other little things. Like nice themed baskets. The little ones have been taken care of for some time now. Especially the girls. And Molly. If you are between 3-6 or your "personality is a lot of personalities" (her words, not mine), I have no trouble shopping for you. I over shop for you in fact. I have to force myself to stop buying for you!

After Christmas I'm headed on a little road trip to NOLA for New Years Eve and the Sugar Bowl! Eeek! First time to New Orleans. I'm so excited. Anyone have any recommendations on what to do or see while we're there? Obviously a swamp tour is a must. I have to experience that. And hopefully on the way home we can swing thru Tuscaloosa and get our picture doing "O-H-I-O" in front of their stadium after we win. Fingers crossed. :)

So that's my life right now. I'll have a post soon of my decorations. I did a lot of things differently this year. Like some of it and other parts is just 'ehh.' Of course, 7 days before Christmas and I'm still adding to it. Almost in time for it to be taken down. It's always a work in progress.

And for smiles....here's an outtake of the annual Christmas card photo. Bowie did not enjoy it and every picture features her in action leaping out of my arms. SMH. We got an ok-ish one, which will be featured.

Why can't she just let me hold her?

I did not create this, so it's not just me!!!!

Also, I started a new "101 things to do in 1001 days". You can find the new, currently short, list here. Right now a lot of my things are travel related, which also mean I need money to do. Maybe I should add "get a part time job to fund 101 activities".

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving was pretty uneventful this year. Students got off on Wednesday, in addition to Thursday and Friday, but I still had to work. So it was a mostly casual laid back day and I spent 2 hours of it giving blood. It actually only took me 6 minutes and 45 seconds to give, but there was a line and these people aren't the quickest. Which is fine I suppose.

Pumping out the blood.

This is the 4th time I've donated and I didn't have any problems again this time. (The first time I got a little light headed.) I still can't believe that I can voluntarily give blood. It just baffles me that at one time I was so scared to do this I would have cried. I guess I'm finally growing up and wearing my big girl undies.

Selfie with Adam (co-worker/blood donating partner) lurking in the background of my selfie.

Wednesday night I rode home with Molly and we didn't do much of anything that I can remember. We played some rounds of "Heads Up" with my iPad.

Thursday morning we went to my grandparents and had dinner. John came with Molly and Tyler's lady friend came by after we ate. We played a few rounds of "Heads Up" and then we also were put to work cutting wood. My grandpa had us do it to see how much we could get done. Well, we all took turns using the saw, but it took us FOREVER! And it was cold out. So when it came time for us to split the one piece we'd cut off the log, I was the only grandkid still outside. So I split it with the ax too. I'm pretty sure I won't be the next Paul Bunyan but if I needed to survive I could do it.

Kate and I working away on the wood for the stove.

Thursday evening we invited Payton, Avery and Teresa over to play games. We had a good time and there were lots of laughing as we tried to hum tunes to popular songs, talk with accents and describe celebrities while playing heads up. And then of course Apples to Apples is always a blast.

Friday we did not do any Black Friday shopping. I went once 11 years ago. Never again. Mom, Molly and I went to an antique store in nearby West Union and then after that Molly, Teresa and I went to Payton and Avery's first basketball game of the season. They lost by 2 at the very end. But Avery scored her first points as a high school player and that was very exciting.

We drove back to Columbus Friday night and went to campus bright and early on Saturday for the Ohio State vs. Michigan game. Our tickets were in B Deck which ended up being great for the weather because there was no way we were getting cold, mostly because it was soooo darn crowded. I didn't stand up to cheer for fear of not having somewhere to sit when it was time to sit back down. ha. And we couldn't see the scoreboard. Or any of the stands basically. Luckily Ohio State won and all was well. Kind of.

Our view.

A player was down so we took a selfie. That player was Barrett.

Molly praying during the game for Ohio State to score.

After the game was over and we had sang our school's Alma Matter, we went down to the field. I could say we 'stormed' the field, but it was a casual walk. The players had already gone into the locker room.

No idea who the guy was, I was just taking a selfie.

I'm about over the Jon Waters stuff. Ok. I AM over it. #notgettingyourjobback

After the game, Molly and I did some visiting with friends around campus and then I was home in bed by 9:30. I was tired!

After a lazy Sunday and a busy Monday and Tuesday evening, I decorated my tree last night. Here is a sneak peek. More photos to come when I get more than just the tree done!

Two new ornaments for 2014. Butter from Savannah, GA (Paula Deen's restaurant) and the mascot from the World Cup.

Being Real

I will probably regret posting this in two hours and take it down, but for now I just feel like I need to be real for a while.

I'm in a funk. I'm in a bummed out mood most of the time. I spend my evenings laying on the couch playing candy crush. Which is also where I fall asleep and then move to my bed around 2am. My house is a disaster. I pulled all my Christmas decorations out on Sunday and never touched them after that. They're currently sitting in the middle of my dinning room and I just keep walking around them. And I haven't been to the gym on a regular basis in weeks.

I think it's the end of the semester burn out and I'm not even a student! These last 13ish weeks have been run, run, run for me and I just don't want to do anything. Except sleep.

For the last few years I've just thrown myself into work and student activities here on campus. I have had something different going on every night between a meeting or an event. And while that has been great for me, I think that season of my life is coming to a close. I knew it wouldn't last forever and it has been really fun.

And while I love having plans and doing things with friends, I'm also longing for time at home. But I don't want to be home alone. So many of my friends now have families of their own and I'm over here hanging out with my cat. (She is a good tv watching partner when she is in the mood to snuggle.) I'm ready for a new routine. I don't want my evenings to be so scheduled. I want to know that I can go home and still have something to do. Going on a random walk or bike ride around town without having to plan it would be awesome. Which I do, I just want someone to do it with. Someone I know will always be there.

And this is not to say I have not enjoyed these single years because I have enjoyed them so much! I have learned and grown more than I ever thought possible in the past three years. I am just ready for the next chapter of my life and getting really down about it not being my time yet. And that's dumb of me to do. I know that God will bring me the perfect man in his perfect time. And all this mopping I'm doing right now is just wasting time that I could be doing something really meaningful and awesome. A few weeks ago at bible study a classmate shared something that her pastor told her that being worried about the future is temporary atheism. Which is true. I know it will all work out. I just need to be patient.

But here I am. Sounding whiny and pathetic, which I am not.

And I've already signed up for zumba tonight, so I'll get some good cardio in tonight.



And to further add to why I'm probably single, here is a cute picture of my cat.

Stopping Hunger

Last night I had the opportunity to volunteer to help pack meals with the Stop Hunger Now organization. These meals are then sent around the world to people who don't have regular access to food.

More than 300 students, faculty, and staff from my college volunteered (mostly students) and we packaged 75,000 meals! We averaged about 500 per minute, which is crazy to think about.

The first part of the evening I was packaging meals. I was the bag holder while the other four people at my station poured their ingredient into the funnel. Then the second half of the evening I was loading the packaged meals into the boxes to be shipped out.

Two sealed meals went on each square, then I put them into the box.

Two meals went on each square.

Then I put them in the box.

In what seemed like no time at all, we were done! I thought it was going to take all evening since we were supposed to be there from 4-7pm, but we actually only worked from 5-6:15. 4-5pm was registration and going over how to do everything and 6:15-7pm was doorprizes and pizza!

the sealing station at the end.

I had a great time at this event and I think the majority of our students did too. It was great to see so many people come together and work together for something that is so important. It was timed perfectly too with the holidays coming up and everyone being thankful for everything they have.

October Stuff

October came and went pretty quickly and it looks like November is going to be the same way. Christmas will be here before we know it and I'm pretty darn excited for it! That being said, no Christmas decorations will be going up in my home until after December 1. That's my rule and I'm sticking to it. I may or may not listen to 94.7 while in the car because it makes me happy.

So here are a few pictures from October.

I did a little pumpkin carving right before Thanksgiving. It's probably the first time in years I've carved a pumpkin and I was pretty pleased how it turned out. Yes, it's currently still on my back step, covered in snow, rotten and the "O" is kind of shriveled and laying down.

 

Add caption

 Tyler's soccer team did well in their tournament run this year and I made it to their district semi-final and district championship games. They lost in the final, but we joined them for LaRosa's pizza after the game and with the exception of one girl, they were all in good spirits. They even believed that Molly and I were the two coaches girlfriends. Sorry ladies, just the sisters. But it was really entertaining to watch them giggle and secretly try to take pictures before we spilled the beans. But some of them we really had to convince and Molly pulled out the baby pictures. Classic sister move.

We did a little family girls outing and went to see the  Lion King while it was in Columbus. This was the first broadway production I'd been to since I saw Cinderella in the 10th grade and it was amazing. So crazy how they make people look like giraffes and lions. And Elephants! Molly was not excited about going at all, but after it was over she was considering going again!

I spent the final week of October in Louisville for a work convention. It was fun but very, very exhausting! I think I slept for 12 hours multiple nights in a row after I got back to Columbus.

fraternity selfie

standard Arkansas Razorback photo.

And that completes October!

101 Things to do in 1001 Days - Round 3

Way back in 2008 I started a list of 101 Things to do in 1001 Days and then I did a second round a few years later. Well, it's time for a third! At the bottom of this post you can see my first two attempts.


There are obviously not 101 things on this list. It's definitely a work in progress, so if you think of something I should add, leave a comment.


Start: November 14, 2014
End: August 11, 2017

Travel
Go to California
Go to Texas (June 16-19, 2015)
Go to New Orleans (12/31/14-1/2/15)
Go to Niagara Falls (May 2-3, 2015)
Visit 5 new states (Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas)
Go on another cruise
Travel to another country (Canada, May 2-3, 2015, Honduras, May 2016, October 2016)
Visit Mt Rushmore
Go to Times Square on NYE
Ride an alpine slide
Go to Bora Bora
See the Northern Lights
Visit the Great Wall of China
Swim in the Pacific Ocean (Honduras, May 19, 2016)
Go to Mexico and the Xel-ha water park


Entertainment
Go to Buckeye Superfest Country Concert thing in June (missed it in 2015, 2016 and 2017)
Go ziplining at Hocking Hills
Go hiking
Go to an Ohio State away football game (Sugar Bowl, January 1, 2015)
Go skiing at least once a winter (2015, 2016, 2017)
Read 15 books each year (The One and Only by Emily Giffin, The Lovesick Cure by Pamela Morsi)
Go to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park
Go to a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium
Go to an MLB Opening Day game
Go to a Bengals game
Go to the Kentucky Derby
Go to a UNC game in Chapel Hill
See a Broadway show in NYC
Go scuba diving or snorkeling
Actually learn how to ride a horse and do it often
Do an extreme sport - paragliding or skydiving
Take a hot air balloon ride
Go to an away Ohio State game in each Big Ten Conference stadium
Visit Old Man's Cave
Hike to Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Visit the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patt
Ride on an "old fashion" train
Go boating - like a houseboat trip
Go canoeing

Health & Wellness
Run in five 5K races per year (2015 - 5, 2016 - 1, 2017 1)
Run one half-marathon each year - including the Nike Run DC and Tinkerbell Half (2016 - Cap City)
Run a full marathon once
Actually complete the 90 day Insanity exercise program
Hike some part of a trail - like the Appalachian Trail
Participate in Pelotonia 
Take a physical wellness class each semester (S16 - group fitness)


For others
Volunteer for as many races as I run
Do "25 Days of Giving" in December
Host a surprise party for someone
Pay for the bill behind me at a drive-thru
Go on a mission trip to another country - Not necessarily a "mission trip" but close.


Just Because
Start a business
Adopt a dog
Learn to play the piano
Buy a house



Round 1 Results (2008-2011)
Round 2 Results (2011-2014)

Parade explosion

I already mentioned my attendence to the Ohio State Homecoming Parade, but that was just one of four parades I went to in 4 days back in the middle of October!

My nephew was in the Baby Parade at the Pumpkin Show in Circleville (parade #1), so I went down to watch him and I actually ended up walking in the parade with him and my sister Heather. He was so cute, but unfortunately didn't win the "cutest baby" award. I still think he was cute. :)

He wouldn't look at the camera.

Parade Selfie.

That night I went back to the pumpkin show to watch the Parade of Bands (#2). It's probably my favorite parade because it's nothing but bands - high school bands, community bands, flag girls, etc. This year the Ohio State Marching Band was there. They're always last and they took forever to get thru the route because they stop to play a few songs every now and then. Of course, they stopped a little ways before us, then not again. Next time I got to watch them, I will not stand at the end of the parade route! But it was a fun night at the Circlville Pumpkin Show - minus having to pay $20 to park! That's highway robbery!! (But it was for a good cause I guess!)

OSU Marching Band

Then the next day I went to the OSU Homecoming Parade (#3), then no parade on Saturday, and home for the Fall Festival of the Leaves Parade on Sunday (#4). I didn't take any pictures at that parade, but it was the most eventful parade of the 4. At the end of the parade, right as the horses were walking in front of us, one got spooked, reared up on it's back legs and then fell backwards on top of the rider! I didn't see it all happen because I was busy looking at the lady riding the horse behind it that was carrying a pig in a tutu (yes, she had a piglet in a tutu!!). But the guy couldn't move his legs and I'm 110% sure he had broken his hip. So the EMS came to take him out and the log trucks couldn't come thru. It was crazy!!

So no more parades for a while here. Now that it's cold, I don't know of any going on anyway, except for the Jingle Bell Parade in late November. I never make it home for that anymore because it's always during an Ohio State game. But I do have some great memories of being in it when I was in gymnastics (we tumbled thru the whole thing) or going to watch it with Mam and Papaw. One year it snowed these giant snowflakes and it was so pretty. Another year the Santa float fell right in front of us (and the judges!).

Any parades that you look forward to each year?

OSU Homecoming

Ohio State's homecoming was a few weeks ago, and the fraternity I advise is known for their homecoming floats in the parade. So I spent a few evenings that week helping them out with the pomping, which is taking small sheets of tissue paper and stuffing them in chicken wire. There is a technique to it and I was taught the correct way to do it at my very first float build session last year. I was not doing it correctly prior to this. #mybad

The guys get SO into the float build and I get so giddy to see a group of 35 college age boys so into the largest craft project I've ever seen. There is no detail missed when doing these floats. If it doesn't look right, they'll tear it apart and do it again. This is why they've won this float competition the past four years. I can't take credit for anything because they come up with the idea on their own. They might consult me about certain details, etc. I can take credit for how they decorated the 'championship trophies' on the 2013 float. I did tell them to use clear plastic and put a light inside to make it shine. I like to think that's why they won, but I'm pretty sure it was the 1/16 exact scale of Ohio Stadium and the larger than life Brutus that kissed the national championship trophy. :)

Between all the guys and an entire week, I think they put around 450 man hours into this project. They came in just a tad over budget, but since they won, they actually made money thanks to a nice $1,000 first place prize. And of course, no one slept all week.

No OSHAA rules were violated during this process.

Brutus is going to stomp the Rutgers helmet into the ground.

Sometime around 1am.

Finished product from the front. (The shorty shorts make me uncomfortable.)

In the parade.

I am a proud advisor, but there really wasn't any other floats that compared to this one. Very proud of them and all their hardwork. They represent the fraternity well and most days I'll claim them. :)

Molly and I went to the parade and sat with the guys that were not riding on the float and then watched the pep rally in the Ohio Union. It was hot and sweaty, but there were some really cool balloon artwork pieces around. I especially liked this balloon block o.

{My coat is the 2013 version of this one.}

On Saturday, I actually got to go to the homecoming game with Stacie. Cara was also in town and she and Molly ended up going to the game too, but they were on the opposite side of the stadium as me. But I had a great time and even though it rained, I stayed dry in the suite! :)

Molly, myself and Cara at the O Zone prior to the game.

Stacie and I before the game.

Stacie and I at the game.

They have the BEST cupcakes in the trustees suite! :)

TBDBITL

It was a cold, wet game, so there weren't a lot of people left for Carmen Ohio.

Even though it was cold, we warmed up with hot chocolate and coffee before leaving! :)

It was great to see so many friends - old and new - during homecoming weekend. I love later games too, because then there is more time for socializing with everyone at tailgates. And thank you Stacie for letting me be your date to the game again. :)

Ohio State is so special to me because it is my school. I graduated from OSU. The diploma on my office wall says The Ohio State University. When I sing Carmen Ohio I know every single word because it is my alma matter. I don't just cheer for the football team 14 days out of the year. Sometimes I get so annoyed with people that didn't go to my school, but still claim to be the biggest Buckeye fan or sing Carmen Ohio like it's their own song. Maybe that's wrong of me, but I'm pretty loyal to my school and I am so glad that I chose to be a Buckeye 12 years ago. I can't think of another university I'd want to be a part of for the rest of my life. I'm a proud alum.

Moore Wedding

Last weekend my sister's best friend got married. Molly served as the Maid of Honor.

The wedding was held at Miranda's family farm and the ceremony and reception took place in one of their fields, which is where I know she spent lots of time as a child and young adult working with her livestock projects. I love that they had it somewhere so special.

It ended up being a little chilly on Saturday. I froze. It was 80some degrees earlier in the week and 40 degrees on Saturday. Go figure.

BUT, it was gorgeous!

Molly standing at the alter. Crying.

Miranda and her dad.

Molly and Clay

My adorable sister

With two of my best friends. {Earrings from here.}

Wickham ladies with the bride.

At the reception we did some dancing after dinner and just hung out for a while. The flower girls are adorable and they sang a few kareoke songs, along with the groom and groomsmen. Ha!

After Mom and I left the reception, I ran over to Piketon's homecoming dance to see Payton and Avery all dressed up. It was Avery's first dance, so I didn't want to miss that! I do not like how I look in this photo, but it is what it is. It's my little Avy Becca! Now all grown up and in high school!

Sunday we did some lounging around, then Mom, Molly, John and I went to the Beaver Octoberfest for the parade. Of course, we also had lemon shake-ups and a corndog. And kettle corn! Then when we got home I did a little buckeye 'harvesting' and picked up all the buckeyes that had fallen from our trees. Not too bad this year, but also not great.