The Art of Bustling

This was a good weekend. I didn't have too many items on the "to-do" list, nowhere to be early in the morning- and it was cold outside, which made it perfect weather for doing whatever is was that I wanted to do.

While I would like to be able to say that I spent most of my weekend curled up by a fire with a good book- that would be false. Instead I had other things to accomplish- such as watching the Baylor game, eating some Bush's chicken, and baking some banana bread. Oh yeah- and that other thing- learning how to bustle my old roomie's wedding dress.

Yep. I said it. Jenny- my former roommate and good friend from Baylor- is getting married in December. When did we grow up? When did we get old enough to have weddings- and jobs? I still wonder that. I wonder when the transition happened. In my head, I'm still this little girl- that still needs help with silly things- like remembering when to change my oil, and wondering how many clothes are too many to stuff in the washing machine. Weddings and jobs are for old people- for grownups- not for me.

And while in my head- I might still feel like this little girl- somewhere along the way- I must have grown up. Somehow- sometime. And in that process- I have grownup friends, who are now having very grownup weddings, grownup jobs, and grownup responsibilities. That being said, I found myself in a bridal store on Sunday, learning how to bustle Jenny's wedding dress.

It hit me sometime between the first step of the bustling process (tie the strings marked #1 together) and the third step (tie strings 2-10 together). We have come a long way from arguing about dates for "roomie Christmas"and hanging undergarments around the living room because someone left them in the dryer too long. Instead of wondering who our dates will be for semi-formal or how many people we should invite to "finals fondue", questions now revolve around jobs, brand-new nephews, and fiances. So while I'm just now dabbling in this new grown-up pond. And I'm still testing the waters, and making rookie mistakes- like maybe not knowing what the hell a bustle even is- I think I'm doing alright- and I'm ready to embark on many other new grown-up adventures- rookie mistakes and all.

*I would share the pics of the bustling experience, but I can't have nosey fiances looking for sneak peeks of the dress*

Christening the Kitchen

I can't cook. I'm no domestic goddess- nor do I claim to be. I sometimes wish I inherited the chef genes that run in the fam- but they didn't make it into my set of chromosomes. While I might not ever be able to whip up a five - or even three star dinner- I can bake a pretty mean cupcake.

That being said, after living in my new apartment for two months means that I was way past due to christen the kitchen. I pulled out my dusty trusty cookbooks and went on the hunt for a recipe I hadn't tried in awhile.

After I happened across my Zeta cookbook from several years ago, I settled on oreo balls. For the domestically challenged like myself- it only has three ingredients: oreos, cream cheese, and white chocolate bark. Yes please.

They were super simple to make- and so yummy if I do say so myself. A girl's gotta have her chocolate.

So while I didn't get all fancy and gourmet on you all- they definitely didn't look like this:

Just picture those, and subtract the fancy chocolate drizzle- and the perfectly even white chocolate coating...... and you have something that looks more like this:

But tastes equally as delish. Let's just put it this way- homegirl doesn't need no five star oreo balls to make her happy. An oreo ball- is an oreo ball- fancy chocolate drizzle or not....

I passed the cookbook along to a friend- once I get it back- I'll stick the recipe up here!

The Ebb and the Flow

I've been in a creative rut lately. The bad kind. The kind of rut where you want so badly for something intelligent or witty to flow from your fingertips- but.... I got nothing. I've found myself the past few weeks starting to write a post, but nothing good enough seemed to come to mind. So I would hit the delete button, and end back up at square one. Instead of forcing it, I just decided to give it a rest. And like a really good friend- that sometimes you need a break from- I put my laptop aside- knowing that when I was ready- it would be there.

So here I am- I'm back. I missed writing, but sometimes you need to just give it a rest- and you'll know when you're good and ready to come back. It's the ebb and the flow. Always present- and always faithful. It might ebb for awhile, but it'll be back. And when it does come back- it's better than ever.

That being said- this calm November is a great juxtaposition to my crazy October. The ebb and the flow. It is just what I needed to balance myself out a bit. I'm just now finding the time to finish unpacking those last few stubborn boxes from the move- and the finishing touches are being put on the new apartment. Pics to come once it's all finished. Now that I'm not out of town practically every weekend, I'm finding the time to settle into my new routine. This is a new sense of comfortable to me. And I like it.

Last weekend, a co-worker and I ran Race for the Cure. I'm not going to lie. I wasn't exactly thrilled about getting out of my bed any earlier than I needed to on a Sunday morning- but I'm glad I did. I don't personally know anyone that has been affected by breast cancer, but I sure have interviewed quite a few woman who have survived-or are still battling it. They inspire me.

After that, J-fred and I had a massage scheduled. It. Was. FABulous. And exactly what I had been needing. Work has been stressful lately. Tight deadlines, late nights, and some tough projects have been wearing on me. It would be a lie if I said otherwise. Don't get me wrong. I still love my job- but a girl has got to draw her sanity from somewhere. I found my sanity in a 45 minute massage in a dark room. It worked wonders. After that, a trip to the farmer's market, and a late lunch- made the perfect ending to my Sunday. The ebb and the flow.

Don't you wish you had one of these in your house?

Sorry it's a little blurry- NOT my best photo- but it was the light in the waiting room while we were waiting for our massages. I want one in my house.

And while I wish I had some really eloquent way to end this post- it's just going to have to wait until my creative juices slowly seep back. The oreo balls calling my name on the counter- also aren't helping the situation ;)

Hives and Homecoming

October is one of my favorite months for several reasons:

1. It's finally FALL
2. Baylor homecoming

This month has been crazier than normal- but I guess that is what makes it interesting. Since we have a lot to catch up on, and I finally found my camera cord- I'll share my October so far with some pictures.

The first weekend of October was a benefit concert for my work. It was at the Spider House- good company, good music- and most importantly- for a good cause. The money that was raised- was to provide micro loans for women in third world countries to start their own businesses. Ryan and I had fun, and I was glad that he finally got to meet some of my co-workers. 

The next weekend, Ryan and I went to the Baylor v. Tech game with his fam in Dallas. It was super fun- and I'm sad we lost. The game was at the Cotton Bowl- so we got free passes to the state fair, which was going on. It was SO hot that weekend- definitely wasn't prepared for that- since I wore jeans.... oh well- at least I got to try some fried nutter butters and a corny dog. There was some interesting people watching to be done. Sic 'em!

Last weekend was Jenny's bachelorette party/lingerie shower weekend. I'll have to blog separately about that soon- but it was a fun-filled weekend. It was SO nice to meet the other girls in the wedding party that I hadn't met before, annnd catch up with some good friends!!!!! I'll share a sneak preview:

So- by now you might be wondering about the title of this post... well... let me explain. I am a "like to know-er." I don't like to NOT know something. In fact, I might agonize over something until I find my answer. Which brings me to the hives. The Sunday after Jenny's bachelorette party, I noticed I had three red dots on my thigh. No big- I thought it was just a mosquito bite- after all- it's fall. In Texas. I didn't think twice about it. Until Monday. When I got into work- and little red dots started popping up on my arms. I was slightly freaked out- but what was I supposed to do? Leave work. Nope. Soo... I got home Monday afternoon- and took some Benadryl, because by then, they had started itching. I still only had them on my arms/hands/thighs. I had client meetings Tues-Thursday, so I had to prepare for those- no time to go to the doctor.

So Tuesday, as I'm sitting in the client meetings- I get really itchy- and I just don't feel well. I knew I had to go to the doctor. After work was over- I ran home, and Ryan and I went to Urgent Care... sure enough- I had hives. All over. And. They. Itched. Even worse- no one could tell me how I got them. Was it a reaction with my migraine meds and the Claritin? The unfiltered wine I drank over the weekend? Strange detergent? So, I was put on a strong dose of steroids and Benadryl. It was the worst itch I had ever felt in my life- so I'm glad to put that little incident behind me. But, I'm still pretty freaked out by the fact that I have no idea what caused them. Let's pray it never happens again.

So that brings me to this weekend: Baylor Homecoming 2010. I. Love. Homecoming. It brings back great memories spent at what I claim to be one of the be one of the best places on earth with some of the best people. It's a great weekend to catch up with old friends and make some new memories. It always goes by too fast- and I'm always exhausted at the end of it- but totally worth it. I'll be back year after year. Here are some of my favorite pics from the weekend:

 I found JPax at the bonfire.

 We had a little impromptu photo shoot in the campus visits golf cart...

 Visited my old room in Collins. Collins 235

 Took our annual pic in front of Pat Neff.

 Went to Zeta breakfast and caught up with PC '05. Love you girls!!!

 Made it to the ATO tailgate- where the Ryans found each other.

 Before the rain happened....

Our place of refuge while it poured... 

The best ending to the weekend: Baylor beat Kansas State to become BOWL ELIGIBLE. Sic 'em bears!!!!!!

It's Fall Ya'll

So I know I have taken quite the blogging hiatus over the past month- or maybe even two. But no worries, I'm back- and more ready to blog than ever. So as not to bore you with all the little details- I'll just give you a quick recap. Sorry for the lack of pics (my camera cord seems to have gone missing during the move).

Lately I...

1. Moved to my new "big girl" apartment, which I love, but now a month later- and I'm still trying to unpack. Thank God for boyfriends and drills. Pics to come.

2. Went for a weekend trip in Galveston for my 24th birthday. Pics to come. I'm officially old.

3. Have been freelancing for the magazine. I recently wrote a story on breast cancer survivors.

4. Started another bootcamp- this one is only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A co-worker and I go after work since it's right around the corner.

5. Have been working like crazy, but loving it. In between meetings, deadlines and calls, the past three months have been quite the learning experience. I really enjoy it- and I love our team- I am exactly where I should be right now.

On the "To-Do" List: 

1. Take some time to slow down and just enjoy life a little.

And I say that because I am guilty as charged. Too often we go running through life- always with the "next" thing in mind. We jump out of bed in the mornings, run to the coffee pot, desperately wait until the first sip of caffeine does its job, rush through a shower, frantically pull on a work appropriate outfit, and rush out of the door.

Then, we sit in traffic- checking our watches and anxiously tapping our steering wheel as we edge closer to the person in front of us- as if those few inches will get us there faster. When we finally arrive at work- we rush through the door with a few minutes to spare before the first meeting. Well... you get the picture. There is a whole lot of rushing around- until Sunday afternoon rolls around and you realize your entire weekend was spent checking things off of your social calendar- and that you have literally spent maybe 20 minutes to yourself just to be still.

We (and by "we," I mean "me") totally forget to pay attention and be thankful for the things that matter. We become grumpy and rundown. We forget that life- and the people in our lives- make it beautiful. We forget that the 75 degree weather we have been dreaming of all summer- is finally here- and that we should make it a point to take advantage of it on our new balcony. We forget that fall- our favorite season- has finally arrived- and that it's long past due to break out the fall decor. And most importantly, we forget to be thankful.

So now I'm taking time to remember to be thankful for- that first drop of coffee that I know will wake me up, for the smell of fall when I open my door to leave in the morning, for the briskness in the morning that holds all the promise of a nice 75 degree day, for the weekends that are filled with friends and fun- and surely even a few moments where we can squeeze in some relaxation.

And be thankful for these:

these:

And these:

Happy Fall- I'm glad to be back :)

This weekend...

I've been up to my eyeballs in packing paper, packing boxes and packing tape. Oh the joys of moving. I'm moving twice because my new apartment won't be ready until the end of August, and my lease here ends the 11th. So in the meantime, I'm moving in with the Webers! But that means I have to move twice. Thank God for movers :)

I've sifted my way through the past two years of stuff- and it has now all made its way to boxes. I still have a few more things to add, but tonight- I'm relaxing- and enjoying an episode of Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami and catching up on some blogging.

On another note, last week was my first full week of bootcamp. Elena and I signed up for a 3 week bootcamp, from 6-7 a.m., Monday-Friday for three weeks. I decided a few weeks ago that I needed a new way to refresh my workout routine. I'm not going to lie- I didn't think I'd be able to handle waking up at 5:30 to go workout... but I made it through the first week- and actually really enjoyed it. I don't think I've ever been so sore in my life though...

There was one day last week- where I thought I was going to die. Most of the instructors were pretty nice- but the one on Wednesday was out of control. We got to run hills for an hour- not my idea of fun at 6 a.m. We didn't just run the hill once- oh no- we ran the hill 4 times. I was to the point where I was literally having to lift my legs up the hill- oh man.

I'm looking forward to week two... and looking even MORE forward to a nice massage (already purchased) with J-Fred at the end of the three weeks.

Sorry this was so short- with no pics- a better update to come once this packing craziness ends!!!

The Road Not Taken

Okay- so maybe I stole the title of this post from Robert Frost. But these are words of wisdom, people. I'm not one for poetry- I find it difficult to weed through what the poets of the past are really trying to say. But I will admit- I do like the very last few lines of Mr. Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken."

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

I always marvel about how I ended up to where I am today. Not just location-wise, but my career, my education- and where life has taken me so far. It's funny how life is slowly carved and formed over time by the decisions we make, by the things we do- or maybe don't do, by the people we meet and the relationships we form. 

I think there is a lot to be said for following your heart. It denotes courage, strength and most of the time- a pretty good story. I think it's hilarious how I ended up smack dab in Austin, Texas. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up here. But I love it.

I guess I've been thinking about this a lot lately- because I feel so blessed. And I'm seeing some really cool things happen for the people around me. I haven't always made the most obvious- or even easy- decisions. My decisions are based on a lot of thought and prayer. I didn't want to move to Texas- but I knew it was where I needed to be... and it turned out better than I ever could have expected- because I trusted my heart.

I passed up another chance at Boston University (once for undergrad and once for grad school) for UT- and I couldn't have made a better choice. I could have moved to Boston and lived this fabulous East coast life- but would I have been happy? Would that have been a place that fed my soul? Probably not. It might have been glamorous for about... 4 months- until winter hit. And we all know how much I love the cold. Maybe other people would have snapped up that opportunity in a second- not me- I knew that UT would suit me just fine.

And the job- I prayed and prayed- that I was on the right track during my job search. And it turns out- I was. Funny how things happen. I kind of came to a fork in the road- and I took the way that I knew would feed my soul. And I couldn't be happier.

So there is a lot to say for taking responsibility for your decisions. For thinking them through, for evaluating what will truly make you happy. Oh... and a few prayers don't help either. Everything happens for a reason.

This all being said- I'm going to a "good-bye dinner" for my good friend, Ameera, tonight. She was the first person I met at orientation for grad school and has turned into a wonderful friend. She is about to embark on SUCH a fun journey. She is actually moving to Cali- to pursue a career as a reporter in Merced, CA. We swapped places. And I couldn't be more excited for her. She has carved out her own path over time and she it doing what will really make her happy. She will only be blessed because of it. I can't wait to hear all about your new journey- you deserve it!!!!! And you will be MISSED!!!!

So congrats for not settling! Too many people lack a vision, aren't listening hard enough or simply don't know what will make them happy at the end of the day. I'm proud of you, girl!

Bling Bling, She Got the Ring....

I'll start with Memorial Day Weekend. Jenny and Rusty had been dating for awhile, so Ryan and I met them at a wine bar in Austin. The conversation quickly took a turn to all things wedding. I found out that they wanted to get engaged- and soon.

I'm not quite sure how the whole plan got set in motion, but Rusty and I started contacting each other about how and where he could propose to Jenny. Of course, doing it at Baylor was the obvious choice, but since Rusty is an Aggie- I think I had to sell him on that idea ;) It didn't take much to convince him- and the plan was in action.

So over the next couple of weeks- we tried to nail down a concrete plan. I had to figure out a way to get Jenny from Dallas to Waco-without her suspecting anything. After all- she was in prime "I'm going to get engaged soon" mode. I planted the idea early. I was chatting with her on the phone and casually mentioned that she, Kim, Krob and I should all try to meet up for lunch or dinner in Waco. I convinced her that it would be a good halfway meeting point for all of us since she and Krob were in Dallas, I was in Austin and Kim was in Houston. I hoped at the time- that it wasn't too obvious. She told me to keep her updated- so I took that as a good sign.

Sure enough, about a week later, Rusty gave me the go ahead- and said he was going to propose that weekend. He had the ring and he wanted to propose! I think his exact words were "I just want to see the ring on her finger." Then began the massive text message chain between Kim, me and Krob trying to coordinate schedules. I felt like a little kid with this massive secret hanging over my head!!! We finally decided on a Sunday morning. Krob was going to meet us in Waco. Kim was going to drive to Austin on Saturday and we would ride down to Waco Sunday morning. Jenny had no idea.

I gave Jenny the call- and asked if she could meet us for a "girls' brunch" Sunday morning. Here is where her stubborn genes kicked in. She wanted to go, but she wanted Rusty to accompany her, which kind of threw a wrench in our plans. Rusty wanted to surprise her-by showing up in Waco- if he came to the "girls' brunch" he wouldn't be able to do that. He finally gave in- and decided to ride down with Jenny.

He had to change my name to "Larry" in his phone- so Jenny wouldn't have any idea that we were texting about all of this. I had to lie to Jenny so many times, but it was all worth it.

I told Jenny to meet at Cafe Cappuccino Sunday morning. The plan was for Kim and I to beat Jenny to Waco, and tell her that the restaurant was opening later than expected because they were putting together a special Father's Day Brunch. So I made the call- and told her to meet us on campus instead, so we could meet up and go to a different place. Since Rusty wanted to propose on one of the Baylor swings, Kim and I had to figure out how to get Jenny to the swing in front of Pat Neff.

We parked at the bear pit, ran over to Draper, and literally hid ourselves behind the columns. Jenny calls us wondering where we are. I tell her that Kim and I decided to take pics with Judge- silly us- and to come and meet us. So she and Rusty are walking, Kim and I are hiding and trying to contain ourselves- then they get right by the swing. They sit down, Kim and I are still hiding- still trying to contain ourselves. Then, Rusty gets on his knee and Kim and I start taking pics and video. It was so exciting to be a part of. It was a beautiful day and an even better moment. Glad we could be a part of it and even more excited for an exciting new life for the both of you. Congratulations!

Here are some of my favorite pics from the day:

Life Lately...

Annnnd after a brief blogging hiatus, I'm back! For good- so no worries. July has been kind of a whirlwind month so far, and I'm just now feeling my life begin to take root again. And I'm finally about to blog about the aforementioned "thing I couldn't mention," so get excited.

First, here is a recap of all things summer:

1. Steve-o brought my car on 4th of July weekend. And I absolutely L-O-V-E it!
2. Ryan and Rebecca's birthday weekend just happened to be 4th of July weekend also- so we celebrated- with cookie cake of course- because that is what you do when you turn any age. And being one year older doesn't make anyone less fun- so cheers to being 24!!!
3. I saw fireworks-after all- it's tradition.
4. I have officially been on the job for a little over a month- and I am blessed. I L-O-V-E my job and the people that come with it. I couldn't have asked for a better first "big-girl job."
5. Kelli and Hef came to visit me last weekend- and we laughed a lot, ate too much and hit up my fave wine bar, Uncorked. Come visit me again- my door is always open.
6. I found a GREAT new apartment- Love it- and more about that later.
7. My friend, Eva got married (finally) to her longtime fiance, Mateus. Congrats to you both and I look forward to a great party in BRAZIL next year!!!
8. And today, I completed a sewing project... on a sewing machine. I've clearly made great strides people. Haha. More about this later.

And now I find myself knee deep in moving boxes, packing tape and a 6 a.m. bootcamp (more about this later also)!

Read my latest post to see and hear about Jenny (one of my college roomies for two years) and Rusty's engagement!!!! It deserves it's own post and I'm so excited to share the story with you all!!

I Graduated..... a Month Ago

Okay, so I'm fiiiinallly writing about graduation. I'm slowly getting caught back up on blogging here, and I still have some very exciting things to share. Coming soon I promise.

First things first:

1. I found the cat a home!!!!!!! One of my co-workers is taking him. She is coming to get him sometime this weekend. I'm so glad that he will finally have a home.

2. Ryan is in Europe- he has been since a couple of weeks ago. I'm officially jealous and itching for a vacation. But, I'm so glad I have a job- that I'll just have to wait until next year. For now, a few weekend trips will have to suffice, as will living vicariously through his pics.

3. I'm making my "summer to-do list" and I can't wait to share when it's finished.

As for graduation.... it was one crazy family/fun-filled weekend. It reminded me how lucky I am to have people that surround me who love me and support me. Everyone- and I mean everyone- came in on Friday. My mom and dad flew in Friday. Krob, Kim and Moose all drove in on Friday, along with Moose's puppy, Meeha. Kim's parents came in too. Since JFred lives in Austin- just a few blocks away from me, some people stayed with her. Moose and his dog-child stayed with me. My parents stayed in a hotel, and Ryan's family lives here.

By the time everyone made it to Austin (my parents insisted on getting a rental car and had a small snafu with directions) we were all hungry because it was time for dinner. So we headed to eat, and then it was time for bed.

I had to be on campus to line up at 8, so Ameera and I drove together. When we got there, I ran into Ryan's family. So funny. Now, since the J-school was so small, we all kind of found each other in the College of Communications line. They sat us all down in the auditorium by college, and we listened and watched several demonstrations about how to place our hoods over our arms... funny how we are all grad students- but no one could get the hood placement quite right.

Dean Rodriguez came in to give us a speech before we proceeded into Bass Concert Hall. She talked about how we were all Masters now. I like the sound of that ;) Apparently Ameera, Eva and I are the only fun ones- and the only ones with decorated hats..... so it made it easy for our fam+friends to spot us.

Tracy Dahlby, the director of the J-School, and one of my fave profs- was at the graduation to congratulate us all. It seemed like forever before the finally got to the College of Communications. They literally hooded everyone on stage- and made everyone pose for pics on stage as well. Awk....

When it was finally our turn, we all got hooded on stage, shook Tracy's hand, posed for pics... and then the real fun began :). In case you want to see the hooding, here is a link to a video that Eva's fiance recorded of she and I walking. If you listen closely- you can hear Moose yell "Sic 'em bears" at the end.

Then, it was off to Z-Tejas for a graduation lunch. I begged my mom to beg them for the patio- since it's so pretty, and they set us out there all by ourselves. It was really nice. I was most excited about my cake, which I had made at Polkadots. It's a bakery by my apt.... and their cupcakes are delicious, but their cakes are even better.

 After lunch we all just hung out for awhile. My fam came over to my apt and we all went to Toy Joy- which was fun for Steve-o!!!! Then we headed over to Ryan's parents' house, and they had dinner (a delicious dinner) for us- well mainly for my parents- haha- but the kids were invited too.

All in all- it was such a fun weekend- and I'm so thankful that everyone came to share in the festivities with me. It was a hard, but fun two years, and it was all totally worth it!!!!!! I wouldn't trade it for the world. Enjoy the pics!

Lately....

SO much has happened lately that I literally have not had time to fill you all in. There are so many exciting things that I have wanted to share, but I had to wait... and I'm still not sure if I can share them yet, so I'll save that for a later post.

I'll start with this:

I've been adopted. Yep, you heard me right. There has been a stray cat wandering around my apartment complex for at least the past three weeks, and it has adopted me. Now, if you know me, you know I have a soft spot for animals.... and I'm a sucker. I'm a sucker for cute little faces- especially ones that need me. And this little cat needed me. But it needs a forever home even more. So if you know anyone that would like a cat- or if you want it- please send me an email or leave a comment.

Here's the story. A few weeks ago, I heard meowing outside my door. My neighbors heard it too, because when I peeked my head outside, they were feeding the cat some tuna. I had an internal debate with myself. I wanted to do something, but I can't have a cat. And I knew if I did something- that I would probably get suckered in. So- I gave it a bowl of water. I thought that would be the end of it. Oh no, my friends- just the beginning.

I was at the grocery store the next day, and decided I should probably buy some cat food just in case the cat showed up again. After all, I couldn't let it starve- right? Sure enough, it was waiting for me at my door when I got home- so I gave it the food.

This is a good time to note that this isn't just a stray. He loves on you. He was someone's pet (which is even worse). I think he is either very lost- or his owners (probably a student) left him. Either way- the poor guy tries to sneak inside my apartment every chance he gets.

When it rains- I lay awake feeling sorry for the poor thing. Needless to say, I've been giving him food and water the past three weeks. I've called all of the shelters in town- and they are all "over- capacity." That makes me mad. I understand they can't take in all the strays off the street. This isn't just a stray- he would be the perfect pet for someone that has time for one. So for now, he just sleeps on the third floor of my complex and comes by to say hi and eat every day.

His situation got a little worse this past week- and it's probably my fault. Since I've been feeding him, I've started attracting other (feral) cats. Oh balls- I've turned into the cat lady..... great. And these feral "thug" cats are beating the poor little guy up. I found myself last Friday night at 1 in the morning chasing them off with a broom because they had him cornered under the stairs. Don't judge- I felt bad for him. So for now, I'm feeding him and giving him water, but what he needs is a home and sometime to love him.

Here is his precious little face (he was squinting a little):

He needs a home, will you give him one???

Counting Sheep

The first day of my big girl job has left me tired, yet fulfilled. And tonight- my bed has never looked so good. After an impromptu trip to Temple, a new stray cat friend and early hours- I'm tired. So once I recharge- I'll blog more about my first day on the job.

xoxo and Goodnight!!!

Delicious Way to Start off the Day

Every one of us has that place. That special little diner or coffee shop tucked away in some hidden neighborhood somewhere. It's your go-to place. It always has good food- and in my case, good coffee. It has charm, and part of that charm is that you can only get it in one place because it isn't a chain. You crave several items off of their menu- and tell everyone you know about it.

So, I'll let you in on my secret: Upper Crust Bakery in Austin on the corner of 45th and Burnet. And their cinnamon rolls come HIGHLY recommended (homemade and delicious in every way). So if you live in Austin and have never been there- pay it a visit- you won't regret it.

As for me, I'm about to start off my Sunday in the best way I know possible: with a warm cinnamon roll, a latte and some good conversation!

On the Car...

Sorry for the realllly long previous post. After all, I have been MIA for awhile, so I'm just trying to get everyone caught up.

I did things a little backwards. If you know me at all, you know that once I get an idea in my head- I kind of have to follow through with it. I have actually had this idea in my head awhile now- several months. I decided I needed a new car- and by this time this happened- the wheels were turning full force in my head. I have had my trusty Honda since high school. (really???). So it was DEFINITELY time for a new car.

I started shopping around over Christmas break, and went to go test drive some cars with the fam. I had it narrowed down to a Lexus IS 250 and a Toyota Highlander. Call it lack of experience in the adult world or impulse buying, but in my head, I knew I would get a job, which would translate into me paying the car payments. But when I saw the price of the brand new versions of these cars- I realized it would be better to buy a slightly used model.

The more I thought about it- the more I wanted the Lexus- if I'm paying for it- why not get the one I reaaallllly want? And the price for the Highlander model I wanted- was comparable to the price for the Lexus. So, my dad told me to come up with a set price that I would be willing to pay for the total cost of the car including tax, title and anything else. Once I did that, I started combing through autotrader and carmax.

I'm picky- and I know I wanted red with a tan interior. Ryan said I could probably find a red one, but my dad said I should be more flexible. Decisions decisions. After months of combing through car ads, I found one a red one, with tan interior and LOW miles in California. Outside of my price range, but I showed it to my dad and he thought he could talk the guy down. They went to look at it last weekend, my dad was able to talk him down into the EXACT price I was willing to pay- and it was mine. Thank you, Steve-o the negotiator. I mean- I'm not bragging, but I got a goooood deal. It's a 2008, in the color that I wanted with the interior that I wanted, tinted windows, air conditioned seats and it only has 12,000 miles on it. Barely used. My dad even managed to have the guy do an oil change, new tires and new brakes- all in my price range.

Okay- so maybe it was sort of an impulse buy. I bought the car before I had a job. And let's just say, the check I wrote for the down payment was the biggest check I have ever written in my life. It was painful for my bank account, BUT really rewarding. I have gone to school full time and worked at a paid internship- and lets just say- it finally paid off. I was able to use that money to put a nice sized down payment on my car, which means that my monthly payments will be slightly lower.

When I first bought it, I felt guilty- I'm 23- do I really need a car this fancy? But, to put it lightly, I have worked my ass off over the past two years: going to school full-time and working/saving money. The guilt quickly wore off, and now that I have a job to make the car payments (Steve-o and Joanne were graciously willing to take over car payments until I found a job, but now they won't even have to make one), I can fully enjoy my first big girl purchase. 

Steve-o will be driving it out here soon- and I can't wait!!!!! 

On the Job....

I've been referring to this "in between" period of my life as my "funemployment" stage. An optimist probably 'til the day I die, I was living in lala land and I don't think it hit me that I didn't have my "big girl job"until I walked across the stage at graduation. I mean- let's be honest here- people with master's degrees should be able to find a job- right? The key word here being "should." Maybe when journalism was in its prime and we were all blissfully ignorant about the actual state of our economy, but not now. It's scary and it's sad.

It's sad because there are some very intelligent, college educated people out there who have found themselves unemployed- mere victims of the economy. Then you have your whole new wave of college graduates about to jump into the workforce every May and December. So what you have is a big problem- too many unemployed/college grads and not enough jobs. You have fresh talent competing with seasoned professionals- for the same jobs. Not looking good for the newbies. On the other hand- this could mean tough luck for the seasoned professionals- because they charge too much. Realistically speaking, companies are looking to lower their operating costs, so it might make more sense to hire the recent college grad who will take just about any salary. That being said- people are having to be more innovative and flexible than ever when looking for jobs right now.

I have kind of known all along that I would like to stay in Austin- either that or go back to California. So I did the math in my head. Austin's economy is faring WAY better than Cali's- and I probably couldn't afford to live in California anyways ( I would probably be living with my parents- love ya'll- but I'm sure you wouldn't want me back at home either). That left me with one option: Austin. Lucky for me, Austin is actually riding this economic wave fairly well. We have new businesses still popping up and the older ones haven't been hit as hard. God bless Texas!

So, I met up with my Career Counselor in March. We went over my resume, re-did my resume and then I started networking like crazy. I started reaching out to old bosses from past internships, I started talking to employees from the companies I have interned with here in Austin and I met with another old boss to discuss my options. Come April, I had gone on several job interviews- one with Facebook (because I thought it would be fun) and one with San Antonio magazine (not sure if I would move to SA). I also had the editor of the magazine I am interning at right now- tell me I could freelance for her and that she would send my resume out to all of the companies on my "job wishlist." Okay- so in April I was feeling pretty confident I could secure a job by graduation.

Then school happened, and my master's report was in full swing by this time. So, kiss any free time/job hunting time goodbye. I had to put the job search on hold. Oh well- first things first right? I think it's important to mention that I was not strictly tied down to a journalism job. Yes, my master's degree is in journalism, but we learned a TON of skills that can be translated to many professions. Especially helpful when my background is in PR and I have some marketing internship experience under my belt.

Long story short: Once I graduated, I resumed the job search. I also think it's important to note that I was selective. I wasn't taking anything that jumped out at me. Let's be honest- I want to ENJOY my job. I would read through the descriptions, decide if that particular job would make me happy and either apply or discard. I came across this job, it's a woman-owned Austin start-up and they had a position open for a writer. Not just a writer. Someone that can wear a lot of hats, someone that has a creative side, someone that can use XY and Z programs annnnd someone that can write. Yes please.

So I applied, didn't think I would get it, got called in for an interview, went in for the interview and got good vibes from the woman interviewing me, decided I reallllly wanted the job, hoped, wished and prayed that I would get the call. And Wednesday morning, bright and early, she called me and I got it. I start next week- and am excited for the experience. I think it will be perfect for me. I can use my writing skills- I'll be writing for some of their clients like Adobe and IBM- as well as some of my creative side- in storyboarding and implementing new ideas. Annnd the icing on the cake: they do a TON of work with non-profits. The CEO makes it a point to support some of the local non-profits with both manpower and funding. 

My ultimate goal is to help people, to make a difference, to make someone's life a little easier. And I can still do that. I can do that through my freelancing, I can do that through volunteering and I can even do that through my job. I do have mixed feelings about the end of my funemployment, but I'm excited for the next chapter in my life (which came in it's own time). Thank you Jesus. 

Kira's Bookshelf

The Help

By: Kathryn Stockett

... and I like what I have read so far. Once I finish it, I'll give you a better description. Thanks to Kim for a great graduation gift :) 

Oh Yeah...

One more (BIG) thing I left out:

I GRADUATED!!!!!!!

That being said, there are so many reasons to celebrate- including one life:

My Aunt Claudia passed away on the same day I graduated. And the past two days have been a celebration of the wonderful (yet all too short) life she lived. While our entire family is SO happy she is without any pain and suffering, it is hard to ignore the the inevitable void that will forever be present without her.

So Aunt Claudia aka Moosie, I love ya, I miss ya and thanks for all the laughter, the fun and the memories!!!!

When Did We Grow Up?

I know I know, I've been a neglectful blogger lately. I have some pretty good excuses though, and promise to catch you up on everything I have been holding out on lately. But before I do that, I have some pretty exciting news that I have been dying to share!!!

Over the past week I have:

1. Bought a new car
2. Got my big girl job
3. Have been looking at houses with the potential new roomie

When did we grow up? Seriously.

Two Years Ago...

I haven't had a whole lot of time to reflect on the fact that I'm done. My days have been happily filled with friends, phone time, more friend time and the inevitable fro-yo+cupcake trips. Maybe I'm still slightly avoiding the big girl world that awaits me as soon as I walk across the stage tomorrow. Will I feel different after I walk across the stage? probably not. But I do think it's important to acknowledge how I got here.

So a few years ago, I got it in my head that I wanted to go to grad school- for journalism. If you know anything about me- you know that once I have my mind set- I do it, and it's really hard to deter me (you can thank my stubborn dad for that one). It was one of those things- that if I don't do it- I'll probably always regret it. If I didn't do it- it would have turned into one of those nagging thoughts in my mind that won't ever leave me alone. So I did it. I believe that everyone has their own path- sometimes we don't know why we take the direction that we do- in fact, most of the time, we stumble blindly along- yet fully aware that there is a higher being guiding us along. We trust and we let ourselves be guided.

I am also a big believer in doing things that challenge myself. I knew I had to go to grad school- I wanted to- and I did- and I learned SO much. Yes, there were people I encountered along the way who told me I didn't need to go, that I should have jumped right into the workforce. I wavered on my decision sometimes- I second guessed myself, but ultimately, I knew deep down that this is what I had to do. And I don't regret it, and I know more and am smarter because of it. Yes, it was hard work that didn't come without its fair share of character building along the way. But I did it- I did it for myself-and I am proud of that. So please, ignore the people in your lives who might tell you "can't" or "you shouldn't." No- you SHOULD and you CAN do whatever it is you want and you know deep down you need to do.

When I graduated from Baylor in 2008, one of my favorite Spanish professors, Dr. Larson, wrote a facebook note to all of his students. I saved it- and I reflect on it often. It is a reminder of things I have accomplished and things I have yet to learn. Here it is:

We celebrated graduation at Baylor yesterday. I was doing my usual marshalling, and it was my job to put our Masters students in the right order. They were all angels. This was a tough graduation for me because I really like this bunch of graduates. I have worked with many of them since they were freshman, and it's hard to see them go. It's natural that it is now time to move on, but many of them have become my friends, and now they are gone. This is the normal process of life: the children grow up, mature, and move on. This is the way things have been since the beginning of time, but it doesn't make it any easier. I will still miss them. I wish them all the best. I know I can't protect them from the hurts of the world: the broken hearts, the broken bones, the worries, the disappointments, the broken dreams, fear, envy, shame. My focus has always been, however, to give them art and something they can take with them so that when the bad things happen, they can always look back and have a memory, a poem, a story that might help assuage whatever is troubling them. I taught them Spanish, but I hope I also taught them to think. Maybe life will be a little easier if they can do that. Good bye, so long, and farewell but remember that the door is always open. Here's to seeing you back here again soon sometime...
Salinas says it so much better:

Perdóname por ir así buscándote
tan torpemente, dentro
de ti.
Perdóname el dolor alguna vez.
Es que quiero sacar
de ti tu mejor tú.
Ese que no te viste y que yo veo,
nadador por tu fondo, preciosísimo.
Y cogerlo
y tenerlo yo en lo alto como tiene
el árbol la luz última
que le ha encontrado al sol.
Y entonces tú
en su busca vendrías, a lo alto.
Para llegar a él
subida sobre ti, como te quiero,
tocando ya tan sólo a tu pasado
con las puntas rosadas de tus pies,
en tensión todo el cuerpo, ya ascendiendo
de ti a ti misma.
Y que a mi amor entonces le conteste
la nueva criatura que tú eres.

Pedro Salinas

Every Girl Needs a Gay

and today.... I'm going to get my nails done and go shopping with my gay bestie. Love it. This is my dream come true. Pics to come later!!!!

Hairspray has Multiple Uses

Because this is my blog- it is important to acknowledge everything that happens- even when some of those occurrences make the aforementioned blogger seem less-than glamorous....

That being said- I will tell you about my less-than shining moment that happened to me last weekend.

Ryan called me early- and lured me out of my deep sleep with the promise- that if I got ready and went over to his house, that we could get cinnamon rolls- the good kind. You don't have to ask me twice. I practically jumped out of bed- sadly, the fastest I've probably gotten up in a long time (but that is another issue).

So, I blindly stumbled over to my coffee machine- and then proceed to go back to my room to put my contacts in. Once I finally had my cup of coffee in my hand- and my first couple of sips- I was ready to face the world.... and my new little visitor in my living room.

I went over to open my blinds in my living room- and noticed this "thing" in the corner. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be .... wait for it.... a cockroach... oh balls. Now, before I finish my story- I know what you're thinking. Kira- it's just a little cockroach- no big. NO- it was a BIG mother effer. We are talking about as long as my pinky. Sick.

So... what do I do, what do I do? Well, I had a minor freakout. I stood there- supervising the thing, to make sure it didn't hop up and run somewhere where I couldn't find it. That would be WORST case scenario. I had to think of an action plan- FAST.

So I did what I normally do when I need help with my life- and called boyfriend. The convo went like this:
ME: Boyfriend- I have a cockroach in my living room.
RYAN: So
ME: SO????? (cockroach starts spinning around on its back) *scream*
RYAN: *rolls his eyes*
ME: What do I do????
RYAN: Kill it...

Okay- this is where I have a problem. In his brain.... the quick fix is obviously killing the dumb thing. But: THAT.IS.SICK. It was big. I just couldn't bring myself to step on it and have its guts spew all over my floor. I get the creeps just thinking about it.

So with Ryan's voice streaming over the phone to just "Kill the thing," I grab every girl's secret weapon: Hairspray. Now, I know this might seem strange- oh no... It's been proven. This stuff works for everything- for both beautification- and bug killing.

Armed with my hairspray (I pulled out the big guns and used used my Big Sexy Hair kind) I ran into my closet, put on some tennis shoes, stuck paper towels to the bottom of them- and returned back to my living room to face my arch-nemesis.

I hairsprayed him like a pro. He had no chance-lets be honest. There was a moment when I thought my defense was wavering. I sprayed him and he started spinning around on his back- I thought he was going to attack me. Nope- I wasn't going to let that happen. After I doused him with a good amount of hairspray (he wasn't moving anywhere after that), it was time to step on him. Gross. So, with the paper
towels stuck to the bottom of my shoe- I plugged my ears, closed my eyes- and went for it.

Kira 1, roach 0.

Lately...

I've been neglecting my blog- I know, and I'm sorry. I thought I'd have all of this free time post-finishing classes+master's reports+projects, but my calendar has been full. But this time- it's full of the fun stuff- aka- I've been catching up with friends I have been neglecting because of school. And get this: IT.FEELS.GREAT!!!

There is something so liberating about going to have a drink with some friends and not have a million "to-do's" running through my head. For the first time in a long time- I am free-maybe not for long- but I sure am enjoying it while it lasts.

I am a free woman and it feels fabulous. I even got a little crazy this week- and went to happy hour like every day.... because I could. ;) And it was worth it....

Here are some photos of some of my fun:

Brunch with the girls

Post-brunch self portrait

Me and Reshma at Oasis before everyone else showed up