Saturday, December 29, 2012

Hi!

Hi! So I've been toying with the idea of starting a "real" blog for awhile now and I have finally caved. I act like I've got so much extra time lying around that needs filling... but oh well. Here I am and here are some background tidbits about my life:

  • 21 years old
  • Appalachian State University in Boone, NC
  • Marketing major
  • Graduating in May 2013
  • Originally from Athens, GA
  • Working retail at Cracker Barrel
  • Dating the most amazing guy in the world
  • Mommy to the best little kitten 
Also, since this is my first post and the end of 2012, I'd like to do a little "get to know you" thing that also acts like review on this past year and looks forward to 2013. 

January 

After living in Boone for a year and a half, I finally let my friends and boyfriend convince me to go skiing. Terrible decision. It will never happen again. I spent most of the time on my butt and yelling at my boyfriend for yelling at me (even though it was just loud and I was being a little dramatic). But, at least we have a fun story and a cute picture. All in all, January was spent spending time bundled up and playing with my friends in the snow. 


February

For such a short month, it was a blast. I did my first photo shoot with my future roommate/aspiring photographer Amy.  



I spent my second Valentine's day with my wonderful boyfriend. Sadly, the actual 14th was spent doing homework but the weekend before we bought each other massages and had steak for dinner! (PSA: steak is my favorite food). I also took him home with me for the first time. In high school, I didn't really date so I was pretty nervous about this whole thing. But, the puppy loves him so everything was fine. And finally, my best friend turned 22 and we had wonderful celebrations! 

Birthday girl!

March

In March, I had the opportunity to be a judge for the NC DECA competition. DECA is An Association of Marketing Students. And in case you were wondering, that's the response we're trained to tell people as a member of the club... Regardless, after competing for two years in high school and making it to Nationals both years, I was ecstatic to be on the other side of the competition. 

I also went on the best Spring Break of my life with my best friends and boyfriend. There are no words to describe the amount of fun we had. Six of us, in a free house, with a ton of food and an empty beach. Heaven


Finally here!!
Headed to eat some delicious seafood


April 

April wasn't too eventful. Mainly fun nights with my friends who were preparing to graduate and leave me all alone. There were bar nights, staying in and vegging out and a very random hike with by boyfriend on the Blue Ridge Parkway to hammock. I also developed an air bubble in my chest cavity which led to a scary trip to the ER on the day I was supposed to start my first day working at the new Cracker Barrel. 

I love where I live

Cute photobomber

May

May was one of the most bittersweet months of my life. On May 4, I turned 21! After having friends 1-2 years older than me, I was extremely excited to "be a grown up" and be able to go out with my best friends. There is a very entertaining assortment of pictures from that night, but I'll post the nicer ones. 
First legal drink at midnight!
My boyfriend despises pictures 

Cinco de Mayo

After the wonderful birthday festivities came finals week. Which led to some of the saddest days: graduation day(s). Kristin graduated first and I was a wreck before she even walked in. We've been friends since my high school and she graduated and left me then too so it was quite sad for me.

The girls!

My other two best friends and boyfriend graduated the next day and I was just ridiculously upset. Although I knew my relationships with all of them would be just fine, knowing I had to spend a year without seeing them on a daily basis was just unfair. 

June & July

I've combined the two because I spent all summer working a ton and hanging out with my boyfriend and Alyssa who both stayed in Boone over the summer working. And my roommate Amy came to visit! 
Nights out in Boonetown
Roomie!

Also, my best friend from high school, freshman year roommate at Young Harris College, and future mother- in-law to my children (okay, I guess I can't really plan this but I can dream) turned 21 and I went home and went downtown Athens with her and it was a BLAST.




August

I adopted a kitten. That is literally the only important thing in my life. His name is Zuko. As in Danny Zuko from Grease. He's a mess and you're welcome to follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram for almost daily update on his cuteness. He's also a huge cat now, not a tiny kitten. Still adorable.

First day at home :) 
He still does this when I annoy him


September

School kicked my butt all semester. I took 18 hours and they were all upper level marketing/supply chain courses that required TONS of work. Plus, I was working about 30 hours a week at the Barrel. Regardless, I had to fit in some App State football and boyfriend visited a lot while he was job hunting. 
Roomie love

My friend Jackson!
My school is beautiful
Weekend visits
October 

October was filled with a lot of library time and work. And of course some football. My best friends all came back to Boone for the weekend and it was an absolute blast! Sadly, there's only one picture that everyone will let me post... 


November 

By the time November got here, I was literally dying from school and work. Anyone in my life will tell you that they were legitimately worried for my health and sanity. I was either in class, in the library, in a group meeting, at work or asleep. The worst part was that I hadn't even been procrastinating all semester. I really did have that much work. My weekly to-do lists were painful to look at. Luckily, I was able to go home for Thanksgiving and spend time with my family. I also realized just how thankful I need to be, even when I'm ridiculously stressed. 
The best parts of my life.
December

December really did kill me. But, when all my grades came in, all the work I put in really paid off. I was so happy and proud of myself that it's helping me stay motivated for the last semester of college. I also went home and spend time with my best friends Katherine and Kristin. Then I spend time with my family for Christmas and my boyfriend came to Christmas Eve dinner for the first time and I spent Christmas Day with his family. He also gave me the most gorgeous pearl and diamond ring for Christmas. 

Now, I'm back in Boone working for a few days before spending Christian's birthday (tomorrow, the 30th) and New Years Eve with him in Charlotte. After being together for 3 of his birthdays/New Years, we are finally getting to spend it together and I am so ecstatic. 


Thank you for sticking with me through that, but it was nice to look back on the positives of this year and to get myself ready for what the next year has in store for me:
  • Taking 21 hours, working and applying/interviewing for real jobs until May
  • Moving to a brand new city: Charlotte
  • Living with my grandparents for a bit until I'm less broke 
  • Finding and moving into a real apartment (not an old college apartment with questionable appliances)
  • And whatever else life throws my way
This blog will be a combination of life updates, probably some cute outfits when I put some effort into my appearance, fun recipes I try out and anything else I find that I think others will enjoy reading :)