In My Wildest Dreams- The Beauty of This Unpredictable Life

Life has been insanely busy and so exciting lately, and I haven't taken a moment to just write about it. 

So, I wanted to just reflect really briefly on just how much of a roller-coaster I've been on lately and why that ride has been the best thing that's happened to me: as in, EVER!

For one thing, I'm getting married. Wait, wait, let me say that again: I'M GETTING MARRIED. Sometimes throughout the day, I'll just think about it and feel for the ring on my left hand, and just say, "Wow. This is really happening!" 

I am at last, after three years of dating, two of which were long-distance, going to be with my handsome ginger. No more saying goodbye at airports, or goodnight over a phone when we're thousands of miles apart. No more wishing I could see his facial expressions, instead of having to picture them in my mind while I tell him something about my day. It may sound dramatic, but for anyone who has been in a long distance relationship for an extended period of time, well, you know what I'm talking about.

Secondly, I recently applied for my dream job: working as a nanny in Rome, with all expenses paid. Going to Europe has been a dream since I was little and I tried several times to get there, without success. Until now... in my senior year of college, when out of the blue, an opportunity presented itself. After multiple interviews, and  much anxious waiting, I was given the job! So, yes, I am going to Rome for six weeks this summer to watch a darling baby, eat gelato, and soak up every moment I can of another country's culture! Amen? Amen!

Finally, after opening an Etsy shop about a year ago, I have decided to try and take it to a whole new level after graduating from college. After all, the experts, whoever "they" are, always say to do what you love and I LOVE finding and selling treasures. It has paid for my coffee, my plane tickets, and my drinks on the occasional time that I get away from my homework for awhile. I can't wait to see where this next step takes me! 

Needless to say, I am feeling so overwhelmed with everything that has happened and so, so incredibly blessed by God. I am amazed at what He has done with my simple, unassuming life. It's funny how we doubt Him, how we think that He'll leave us stranded somewhere and that we'll never find direction, when in fact, He has never left us at all. 

He's been right there the whole time, and was just telling us to be patient, because He has something more incredible in store than we could possibly imagine.

A Few of My Favorite Nerdy Things: 3 Sites for a Rainy Day

Lately, in my interweb wanderings, I've found some pretty fantastic sites that you should definitely know about, especially if you're someone who would identify yourself as "Nerd," and/or "Bibliophile," or just plain "bored."
DRUMROLL......

1. First up, if you're someone who consumes books like chocolate and are in need of a new read, there is a fantastic site called BookMooch.com where you can exchange your already-read, no longer wanted books for new books that you DO want. Basically, BookMooch uses a system in which, after listing ten books to give away, you receive a point. That point can be spent on books you want, which you request from other members. When someone requests one of your listed books, YOU pay the postage and send it to them, but when it's your turn to receive a book, THEY pay for it. The bottom line: this is a fun way to clean out your collection and get some new reads, without much damage being done to your wallet. Remember too, media mail postage is the way to go!

copyright: bookmooch.com

2. Next up, is the lovely website for bored people known as StumbleUpon.com This site is the ultimate cure if you're feeling uninspired, or simply want something other than Pinterest to entertain you. At  www.stumbleupon.com you will need to make an account (don't worry, it's free) and then choose different categories that you're interested in. Some of mine include writing, photography, and coffee. Then, you hit the big red button that says "Stumble" at the top of the page and "Voila!" it brings up other great websites, articles, blogposts, and videos that pertain to your chosen interests. It's just a great way to explore what's out in the world, that five minutes before, you might not have known existed. So cool! Check it out!

copyright:stumbleupon.com

3. And last, but not least, is a site that I recently joined called The International Geek Girl Pen Pals Club their URL is http://geekgirlpenpals.com/ and essentially what this awesome site is all about is connecting geeks from around the world. By geek they mean anyone with a somewhat nerdy interest. . It could be anything from a Dr. Who obsession, to knitting. You can sign up to get a pen pal, which is great if you're like me and still believe that letter writing is the ultimate form of communication. The site also organizes what are deemed "Swaps," in which you register and are paired to receive something in the mail from a fellow geek. Each swap is different and they change each month. Sometimes you swap tea, sometimes geeky cards, or sometimes just surprising random gifts. I did this for the first time recently and was paired with a girl in Canada. It's a lot of fun and you're put into different age categories. They accept people from the age of 14 on up, and you're paired with others in your age group. This site is open to both genders now, too. So the bottom line: it's a really cool site for anyone who loves geeky things and/or snail mail, or just wants to connect with like-minded people.

No Copyright Infringement Intended

So there you have it! Three new amazing sites to check out on your next rainy day! Enjoy!

Chewbacca and Coffee

Me, prior to coffee and multiple applications of Cover Girl foundation

"NOOOO!!! You took the last cup of coffee?!?!?!"

Keeping up on my blog has been pretty difficult lately. Life is just a wee bit crazy now that I'm back out East and trying to crawl out of my creaking bunk bed, which involves gingerly stepping onto the top of a dresser and leaping several feet to the floor, and make it to my 9 a.m. class each day. Usually, the morning begins with my alarm going off an hour before class and me proceeding to hit the glorious "snooze" button approximately 30 times. (God bless whoever invented that, by the way!)  Amazingly, my roommates have not killed me for it yet. I then endeavor to look slightly less like Chewbacca and fail miserably unless class has miraculously been delayed, which is like, never. In a somewhat- quick-but-really-not-at-all walk, I manage to find my way to the campus' multi-purpose building, growling and hissing at anyone who is standing between me and the coffee maker. Some days, I make it in time. And other days... "Woe unto you, oh freshman who stole the last cup!"
Carrying my slightly stained coffee mug in one hand, and an enormous bag of books in the other, I sludge through the snow and slip into class a few minutes late, receiving the dreaded raised eyebrows of my Humanities professor. Once the necessary caffeine dosage is running through my veins, the morning usually improves by about 300% and so does class participation.
 And so, dear readers, I'm sorry I haven't been posting as much. I still love blogging, I just have to summon my inner Chewy strength and get my life together. Until then, I'll be writing papers at 3 a.m. and eating too many chocolate covered espresso beans.

Yoga...so that happened.

Today was one of those ultra-productive days. You know, those mornings that happen about once every eleven years, in which you wake up feeling like you can conquer the world? Yeah, today was one of those. I think it may have had something to do with the fact that I had slept in my own bed the night before, and gotten a good nine hours. (what?!?!?! That happened?) Yep, NINE beautiful hours of sleep. So from there I proceeded to have my much-loved cup of steaming hot coffee, grade my younger sister's homework, start a fire in our woodstove, single-handedly decorate our Christmas tree, and then make stir-fry for dinner. I have to say, it felt pretty great and was one of the first days in a long time where I felt really productive. The Christmas tree, by the way, looks pretty good, if I do say so myself,( other than the star deciding to be stubborn and not straighten out.) Also, my mother happens to be one of the most creative and talented women on this earth and her idea this year was to decorate pine cones with glitter for the ornaments. It looks like this...

So after jamming out to the Elf soundtrack, and successfully making an edible meal, I went and did something entirely new. I attended a Yoga class. My mom and sister both urged me to do it and I warily agreed. It turned out to be a highly, um...educational, experience. For one thing, I learned that my 15 year-old sister is a total yoga pro. While I was wobbling around, trying helplessly to balance on one foot and hold my other ankle in the air, all the while attempting to avoid awkward eye contact with the instructor, my little sis was calmly perched on one foot, like she'd been born doing it. The rest of the session was actually not too bad, although I had to stop myself from bursting into uncontrollable laughter when the teacher told me to lay on the floor, and proceeded to turn out the lights and drum in the darkness, urging everyone to "inhale and remember their gratitudes". Gratitudes? Not sure that's actually a word. Anyway, overall, I have to admit, Yoga felt great, and drumming aside, was pretty effective. I'm looking forward to doing it again. It's time now, however, for Sleepytime Vanilla tea and a meeting with my pillow. So, how do you say it? "Namaste!"