TGIF!

It's finally Friday, and with Friday comes Sunday, and with Sunday comes my last day of training for training at work! I am so excited to be finished. Don't get me wrong, I am loving this new part of my job, but I miss the salon so much. The first 5 hours of my shift during training are spent working the floor, selling classes, helping people, which I like, but I miss being able to spend my whole day with puppies :) 

Last night (Thursday) my best friend, Lauren, dropped off her puppy, Penny, for the weekend. Yes, we are dogsitting! It's been really fun so far (except the crying during the night ;)) Guillermo has been having a TON of fun. (By the way, did you SEE the new pictures of him? SO cute.) They just tumble around the living room for hours, then get tired and lay down for a few minutes, gulp some water, and start all over. Considering we were getting worried about Guillermo's weight (he's 9.5 lbs and should be 8 lbs, haha!) I'm hoping all of this exercise will do him some good in that department! 

Also! I told you guys how I graduated last week, remember? Well, all of my grades are finally in, and not only did I get an A in the hardest class I had this quarter (with the hardest professor, ever) I also made the Dean's List. (!!!) AAANNNNDDD (drumroll, please!!) after slacking off Freshman and Sophomore years (and I do mean slacking off. I never went to class, and when I did, I either read a book or played on my computer the entire time) and then taking two and a half years to undo that damage, I reached my goal of graduating with a 3.0! (actually a 3.055 for the university and a 3.144 for the college!) I know I could have done MUCH better had I put the work in from the very beginning, but since it took me so long to realize my GPA was actually important to my life, I am really proud of this. I was convinced I wasn't going to make it, and when I saw that I did, I was SO happy. It's one of those achievements that you get super, SUPER excited about, but no one really understands just how proud you are of yourself. I might have to treat myself to something special this weekend :) 

I am so excited to have Saturday completely off tomorrow, and to get to spend the entire day with my boys and Penny. I think we'll go to the park, have lunch, and maybe do a little thrifting. CAN'T WAIT! 

Happy weekend, everyone!

xoxo S

So this is the new year..

Please press play before continuing ;)

You guys probably noticed that I didn't make a New Year resolution post. Well, you probably didn't notice until now, when I pointed it out. I think they are okay. And fun sometimes. But really, I try to work on things all the time, so I am not a huge fan of them. Mostly because I can never think of something I want to do that I am not already attempting...

Anyways, here is my obligatory 2011 post.

Some things I am looking forward to this year....

• Three amazing years with this boy. We say it all the time to each other, but really? It's been 2.5 years (tomorrow, in fact). Where did the time go? I can't wait to spend many more with him, and the fact that the time has gone so quickly means that we are happy, and enjoying ourselves and each other. 

• The anniversary of getting Guillermo. Exactly a year ago tomorrow (not a coincidence that this day matches the above) we brought baby Guillermo home when he was only 6 weeks old. He's been through a lot in his one little year of life, but we love him so, so much! 

• Graduation. After 5 incredibly long years in college, I will finally have something to show for it. Many things, actually. These things include: a diploma, a degree in English Edcuation, and a minor in English, a license to teach, and finally, hopefully a job doing what I love in a place that I love. Here's to crossing my fingers...

• Turning 23. Although I feel much older than my 22 years, I love birthdays. I will forever look forward to them. 

• Blossoming in the blog world and dramatically improving my writing skills. During this last quarter of college, I am actually taking a writing class. I can't wait to see how this impacts my blogging style, because I know it will. 

What are you looking forward to in 2011?

Happy New year! <3

student teaching is over. forever.

**image from weheartit

and part of me is going to miss it! I stayed home from school today for the funeral that I mentioned on Sunday, and it just so happens that it's really icky out. Consequently, Nick is working from home for this reason, and being snowed in with him is positively one of the best parts of winter. <3

Since I stayed home today, this means that Friday is my last day of student teaching. While I am so happy to be finished with it, to have a relief for the long days and tired nights, small paychecks and headaches, I do believe that I will actually miss some of my kids on Monday morning when I don't have to drag myself out of bed at 7 am and get to school. Well. Maybe not Monday, as that is a little soon. Probably more like.... Tuesday or Thursday. We'll see. ;) 

When I was there last, on Wednesday, one of the kids in my 3rd bell (not that I have favorites, but they are my favorite...) let it slip that they are having a surprise party for me during class on Friday. Of course, it's not like I wouldn't have found out because 4th bell, one of our loudest and most obnoxious, couldn't seem to keep their mouths quiet while the sign up sheet was going around. I was bound to find out, but I am really touched that Holly thought of me! I definitely have to get her something for Christmas before I go. Any ideas?

It has been a LONG road, and I am happy to be finished with this part of the journey. I am eager to take classes again and not have practicum or field placements fogging up my studying time. I am taking four classes this quarter, enough to make me full time (to keep my student loan and my parents health insurance). I'll be taking British Lit, News Writing and Reporting, Human Sexuality (a psych course), and Intro to Communication. These are all classes (besides the journalism class) that I slacked on in Freshman or Sophomore year and am now taking the opportunity to repeat in order to get a better grade. 

I am really proud of myself, because after making the deans list and almost straight As for the last year and a half, I have finally gotten my GPA to a 3.0. If there's any advice I can give those just starting college? Don't skip class. If you're tired? Get a red bull. Don't skip class. It really was the worst thing I could have done, a giant waste of money, and I had to work extra hard later in order to get my GPA even close I know it should be. And I still know I could have done much better than a 3.0 if I had put the time and effort in from the very beginning. Either way, I am ready to celebrate when I have that diploma and teaching license in my hot little hand come March 19! 

In other news, my Christmas shopping is completely finished, and I can't wait to divvy them out! Nick and I are exchanging presents on the night before Christmas eve, because I have special plans that I will definitely share when that night comes to pass :) 

What is your favorite thing to do while snowed in?

What are you wishing to be under the Christmas tree?

Happy Thursday, friends! <3

Hello!

Realization: These incredibly cheesy-happy looking, 90s kids could SOON BE ME.

Just thought everyone would like to know that I applied for graduation today. FROM COLLEGE. I never, ever thought this day would get here. Five and a half years after I started this incredibly long journey towards a career, I finally, FINALLY have something to say/show for it. It's so rewarding! Also - since the registrar at my school is so strict about application for graduation deadlines, I can't graduate at the end of this quarter. So, I'm stickin' it out for another 10 week quarter (a winter one, at that!). During this quarter, I'm taking classes that I did not-so-well in back in Freshman and Sophomore years when I didn't realize yet that my actions did actually directly affect me almost all of the time. So. Here's for paying for the same classes twice. *clink*

In other news, we have been making Guillermo exercise his leg quite a big lately. Our theory is that if we work up his atrophied leg muscle as much as we can NOW then he'll have a little better of a time recovering after the surgery in November. Did I just say NOVEMBER?? omg. So, that's our plan for the little guy. We are hoping that everything goes according to plan, and realize that worst case scenario? We have a three legged dog. He's still a dog - an alive dog. I'm okay with that. Not really. Not yet. But I could be if I needed to be.

Anywho - Just wanted to stop in for a little update! Hope you all checked out Wednesday Wonders, too!

Have a great Thursday! xoxo S