10 for '10: Revisited

at the beginning of 2010, i mentioned my difficulty in actually establishing short term goals and then really  following through with them. so, as a goal for the year, I decided to make realistic goals and work on accomplishing them. well, personalities and behaviors are relatively stable, so I haven't exactly kept up with checking in on the goals often; however, i've done a pretty darn good job of keeping up with those goals. here's my half-year check in on the goals as well as current musings. there's still room for improvement, but i think i'm doing pretty darn well!

1. to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends who mean the most to me. 
i don't think this goal will ever be fully accomplished, but i've tried to take lots of great time for family especially before my move. but there's always room for more!

2. to apply to graduate school. at least at colorado state. and hopefully get in.
check, check, check! applied january 15th, accepted february 12th, starting august 23rd!

3. to decide whether or not to be a vegetarian again...and stick with it.
so i quit. but i think that more important than being a vegetarian is eating healthily, and i've tried as best as possible to eat well-rounded meals and to cook for myself as much as possible

4. to continue creating new, delicious dishes. and eating delicious things.
i'm so looking forward to being back in my own kitchen in fort collins so that i can cook for myself a little more again

5. to participate in some sort of physical activity at least twice a week, preferably more.
i need to really keep working on the activity...and making excuses for not exercising.

6. to laugh as much as possible.
especially thanks to the many children in my life, check!

7. to move to colorado (or definitely out of raleigh...but preferably to somewhere in colorado).
july 24th we roll out for FoCo!  

8. to take as many pictures of everything as much as possible.
again...this will never be done; however, i've worked so hard to really learn my camera and do well with it, including doing an online photo workshop with sharon clark of smitten photography. i feel so much more comfortable experimenting with my camera and using it in manual now! nonetheless, learning is a never-ending process, so i'm working on continuing to better understand and perform with my photography. 

9. to continue working on finding a balance between my type A and type B personalities.
balance--yes. thank you summer for providing an excellent opportunity for me to be type B. and i will be very ready for school come august to move me into being type A again. i need my routine and looming due dates!

10. to be as positive and happy as i wish others would be. and to surround myself with the things and people who will help me to be positive and happy.
this goal really goes with everything mentioned above. i am aware that i will never be perfect; however, i'm constantly working to make myself happier and better and i think that this summer has been an excellent opportunity for me to reflect on myself and all my relationships.

the biggest new goal i'm working on, especially as of today, is budgeting my money better. and that will be an interesting transition, mostly because i won't have the income i'm used to having with my masses of babysitting jobs.

happy july! happy half-way-through 2010! and happy resolution following!

april, oh april

it's that time of year where i'm essentially running on caffeine, adrenaline, and the constant reminders of my calendar. however, this year is different in that graduation is SERIOUSLY just around the corner. it's crazy to think that 28 days from today...err yesterday...i'll be walking across the amphitheatre at Meredith to receive my diploma.
in 28 days, i will have sat in the amphitheatre with a crowd twice to celebrate the accomplishments of my fellow students and my class.
in 28 days, i will have completed my thesis and presented it twice--at CPC and at CSA.
in 28 days, i will have wrapped up all my research assignments and lingering bits of work.
in 28 days, i will have shared many, many more laughs and fun times with my friends.
in 28 days, i will have finished my undergraduate career.

i've been thinking that i'm really ready to graduate and move on; however, the closer it gets to that day, the sadder i become to be leaving this place. i know i'm prepared, i know i'll succeed, and i know i'll love colorado. however, nothing will ever replace meredith. nothing will ever bring back all the moments i've had here. nothing in colorado will be quite like the little southern all-women's college i have attended. all i'll have left of meredith is wonderful friends, sweet memories, and everlasting nostalgia.

so for now, the amphitheatre awaits these events and the craziness that is the next 28 days. and i think i'll do the same.

the future is coming!

yesterday was a day for the books. i went to sleep very bummed thursday night because the client i shadow at preschool was sick so he wasn't going to be at preschool for the Valentine's party, meaning my only hope for V-Day fun had been shattered. okay, it wasn't that bad, but i'd been very excited--so excited that i bought a festively cute shirt for the occasion. then, yesterday morning i was awoken by my client's mother calling to say "he has been cured", so i got up and headed into preschool for the morning excited to wear my shirt and observe the 3-year-olds' excitement over celebrating Valentime's.

the day took a drastic turn when I received an email reading, "Congratulations!  We are pleased to inform you that we are recommending to the Graduate School that you be admitted for graduate study in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University." i'll be working on a M.S. in Family & Developmental Studies in Fort Collins, CO beginning in the fall!

as you can probably guess, i've gone through a whole variety of (almost all good) emotions since yesterday. it's been a shock, but i'm so happy and very proud of this accomplishment. i was starting to become worried about next year and was working on establishing consolation prizes for myself with potential plans for after graduation.

so, since receiving that email, i've made many phone calls, booked a flight for the open house at CSU on February 26th, and bought some professional attire since this grad program will not have me rolling around with children the way i'm used to doing. it's funny that yesterday i went to school as an undergrad serving as a shadow in a preschool classroom and ended as a future graduate student who will be moving to CO in less than 6 months. more news is on the horizon, but for now...WOW!

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10 for '10

one thing i've always struggled with is making short-term realistic goals. i've decided that it would be to my advantage to determine 10 things i'd legitimately like to accomplish in 2010 and to really work on accomplishing them (really in no particular order). so, as the door opens to 2010, here are some things i'd like to do in order to help myself be the best possible marie--not just at the start of this year, but at the start of this decade..

1. to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends who mean the most to me.

2. to apply to graduate school. at least at colorado state. and hopefully get in.

3. to decide whether or not to be a vegetarian again...and stick with it.

4. to continue creating new, delicious dishes. and eating delicious things.

5. to participate in some sort of physical activity at least twice a week, preferably more.

6. to laugh as much as possible.

7. to move to colorado (or definitely out of raleigh...but preferably to somewhere in colorado).

8. to take as many pictures of everything as much as possible.

9. to continue working on finding a balance between my type A and type B personalities.

10. to be as positive and happy as i wish others would be. and to surround myself with the things and people who will help me to be positive and happy.

happy 2010!

1.1.10

so...i'm back. welcome to 2010. and welcome back to my blog. ever since i took a black & white photography class last spring i have been absolutely craving a DSLR for my own use, and my wish was finally granted as my christmas and birthday present. this camera couldn’t have possibly come at a better time for me because i know that 2010 has so much in store for me. in this year, i’ll be finishing my last semester of college, graduating, attempting to figure out whether i’m going to grad school in the fall or taking time off, and almost definitely making a huge move to colorado. 2010 will, without a doubt, be a big adventure for me. so, in light of all that i potentially have in store for the next year, i have not made many resolutions, except that i am:

a. going to make the best of it, and

b. going to document it as best possible.

so with that said, 2010 started with the bang that i like to refer to as my birthday. being a new years baby isn’t all it’s cracked up to be because it tends to become very messy; however, my birthday–despite a few bumps–ended up being a great one. i treated myself to a couple of gifts (see gorgeous green handbag below), received some lovely ones from friends, and, after a wonderful dinner with my family, had a great night out with some of my best girls. it was a great start to the year and a top birthday.

this was my to me, from me gift. a beautiful bag by local raleigh designer holly aiken

partying it up at Busy Bee with (most of) my best friends

i think this was the best shot of the night.

happy 2010 :)