Back to School

I'm going back to school! Finally. I'm very excited about it! I've been wanting to finish my degree for years, but life keeps getting in the way. But starting January 3rd I'll be a student again! I've also decided to change my major from Education to a double major in Hotel & Tourism and Communications. I am extremely excited and nervous and impatient to start! I have so much on my plate right now, but it just feels right to get started on this goal and there's no time like the present! Please wish me luck on starting another new journey in my life:)

Household Hang-Ups

I don't like to clean. Actually that's being too nice about it. I hate to clean. I absolutely despise it. I don't mind putting dishes into the dishwasher (which we don't have), I'm fine with doing laundry, occasionally I like to dust, or even mop the floors with a Swiffer, but I HATE cleaning. I'm great at picking up, organizing (when I feel like it), and straightening. I don't want to sound like I never lift a finger. But I don't like scrubbing anything, dirt grosses me out and I'm just going to be honest: I feel like I have better things to do than clean. Sky doesn't like to clean either. And although he is (self admittedly) a slob, I'm totally okay with the fact that he doesn't like to clean any more than I do! My solution to this problem seems simple enough: I'd like to hire a maid. It's not that expensive here, it helps someone else who needs work (and money!) and both Sky and I are free to spend our time doing whatever we like instead of having to clean! AND it fits easily into our monthly budget. Sounds like a no-brainer right? Well wrong! Sky and I disagree on this subject. I think we should hire a maid, he thinks I should get over my hang-ups and clean. This is not to say that Sky or I won't clean, because we both do. In saying that, I have decided that I am over it. I don't mean to sound bitchy, I'm just done arguing about it and I am done doing something I don't want to do. We have been debating about whether to have a maid for almost two years now. And I think it's ridiculous! I got angry last night and said "When I was single and wanted a maid, all I had to do was call and book a maid! But now I have to argue with someone for two years about having a maid! It's RIDICULOUS!". Then I felt bad about throwing the whole "when I was single" thing in his face. But seriously already!!!! I mean he won't even give me a valid reason as to why he doesn't want one. So we're at a stand-off where the house is concerned. I told him very directly in our most recent conversation that I will work, grocery shop, help with the laundry and take care of the other dozens of things that help run a household, very willingly, happily and with a smile. But I am done cleaning. I am putting my foot down (I can do that, right?). If he wants the house clean, then he can do it, or he can let me hire a maid. It's as simple as that. I figure might as well clear the air and be as honest as possible before we make it official. This is something a lot of couples go through, right?  

Helping Hand

When I lived in Atlanta I did a lot of volunteer work with just about any and every organization I could find that needed help. The work, time, and occasionally money that I put into my volunteering was always well worth it and made me feel connected to the community and to people in general. And to be super honest, it makes me feel good to volunteer! Unfortunately I have fallen out of volunteering and community service since moving to St John. But that's going to change next week! Through my job at St John Catering I have met a very sweet women on island who heads the St John Community Foundation. I have a meeting with her next week to sign up for volunteer opportunities and I'm very excited about it! I'm not sure what I'll wind up doing, but I will blog about it next week and share what's going in my life volunteer-wise. Wish me luck!

Tuesday Mind Dump

* I played hooky yesterday from work and spent the day on the beach! I met up with a friend who I hadn't seen since high school! It was fun to catch up and hang out on the beach with fruity drinks with Desiree and her friend Christina. So random that I would see a familiar face from almost a decade ago here in the islands! Small world:)

* I have hit a wall with the wedding planning! I think I'm just burned out from being excited and trying to plan so much all at once in the beginning. I'm giving myself a two week break, then back to it! This wedding isn't going to plan itself...

* Still on my L word kick. I'm currently on Season 5. I'm obsessed! I've been watching so much of it that they feel like real people in my life. That's sad, huh?

* Part of me wants to upgrade my iPhone to the 4S, but I know by the time I get around to buying it, the iPhone 5 will probably be out, and then I'll be pissed for upgrading only to have to upgrade again. So I should just wait for the iPhone 5, right?...

* HALLOWEEN IS COMING!!!!! I am getting so super excited! Sky and I are going to be troopers this year. And by that I mean we plan to party until we can't see straight. We have plans to dress-up and go out Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights! Halloween is a big deal on St John and I can't wait to experience it this weekend:) So excited!!!!

Have a happy Tuesday all!!!

Airhead Moments

I am an airhead sometimes. We all are at some point, right? Most of the time my airhead moments are embarrassing but harmless, funny and easy to get over. Yesterday's moment was not so harmless. I was doing laundry and had three loads: two darks and one light. I used three machines in a row so it was easy and quick to load them. In go the clothes, turn the water on, add detergent, then add bleach. And here's the airhead part of my story. I threw some bleach in the load of whites then proceeded to throw bleach into the next machine which held my darks. Yes, I bleached an entire load of dark clothes. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I realized my mistake. The result was about half of my wardrobe ruined with very obvious bleach stains. I was so upset when I opened the washer at the end of the cycle, I almost cried right there in the laundromat. Some of my favorite clothes and several beautiful dresses that I absolutely loved are now ruined. I am a sad girl today :(

The only bright side to this is I get to go shopping for a new wardrobe!!!!! Shopping trip, anyone? :)

Halloween

Sky bought our Halloween costumes last week! A sheriff's costume for him and a prisoner costume for me, complete with handcuffs. Two weeks until Halloween and I can hardly stand the wait!

Wednesday Mind Dump

* I found a new therapist/life coach! I was referred to him by a friend of a friend. I met with him recently and I feel very good about working together with him. I have been struggling with finding a therapist that I like and trust, someone I feel understands me and the goals I'm trying to accomplish through therapy. This one session with my new counselor was a very different, but positive, experience than the ones I've had over the past year. I'm very hopeful!

* I know I keep saying this, but I have BRUISES everywhere from surfing. Not usually a big deal to anyone, but I can count on one hand how many bruises I've had in my entire life! So having them all over is sort of fascinating but weird! I keep looking at them and poking them.

* My new favorite series is The L Word. I'm starting it from the beginning, and I love it! Bette and Tina are my favorite couple! I also think Marina is ridiculously beautiful. The soundtrack to the series is pretty awful though. That's the only thing I found that I don't care for. Other than that I'm hooked!

* Sky and I did our engagement photos on Monday! It was so much fun being in front of the camera goofing off and being sweet with Sky. I'm very excited to see the results and be able to share them with everyone!

* I am having the best time ever planning our wedding! Part of me wishes we had more than 11 months to go until the wedding, because it seems like it's flying by! Everyone tells me that it does go by quickly, and I am seeing that now!

* I just walked around the grocery store for 15 minutes trying to figure out what I want to eat. Nothing seems good today. So I'm skipping lunch today.

* I saw the Endless Summer last night for the first time. Very cool!

* I'm feeling under the weather today but listening to my Rent station on Pandora is making work bearable today.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day:)

War Wounds

Surfing kicked my ass yesterday! I wound up having so much FUN, but the first 30 minutes were tough. The water was pretty rough and choppy, and the waves were bigger than I've surfed before. I wiped out several times and I got pounded by wave after wave. Not to mention paddling through those waves were pretty hard! Waking up this morning found me with bruises, a cut on my foot and sore muscles. But... I can't wait to go out there again!!!! After I give myself a day of rest, though. I think surfing is one of my new loves!!!!

Four Agreements

This is a reminder for myself! I've read the book but my copy is in storage in Atlanta, so I Googled it to refresh my memory. I thought I'd share it here!

The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

Halloween Is Coming!

Ahhh!!! How is it October already?! I know I have said that about every single month this year, but I'm still in AWE that this year has flown by as quickly as it has. Before we know it, it'll be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year's, then I'll be TURNING 28!!!!! Oh My God, when did I get so old?! Okay, deep breath, because I don't feel like having a panic attack right now...

So Halloween is coming! I love Halloween, and this will be the first year that Sky and I will be together for it! The first year we were dating at Halloween, but I was still living in Atlanta. Last year I was going through my miscarriage during Halloween so I didn't get to celebrate. This year we are going all out for this holiday! I want to do a couple's costume. Sky wants to be something funny and I want to be something sexy. Not much of a surprise there, huh? A few of my ideas so far:

- Sexy cop and prisoner
- Mermaid and Poseidon
- Wench and pirate
- Wonder Woman and Superman
- Cat Woman and Batman
- Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf

That's all I've come up with so far! Pretty standard (and boring!) ideas. I hope inspiration hits soon! I refuse to wait until the weekend before Halloween to figure out what I'm going to be, like I usually do. What is everyone else dressing up as?

This Is Your Life

I love, love, love this. So true, so simple and beautiful!