It's Been a Very Good Year

It's two days before my birthday.
But, I won't have time to write this tomorrow night, because I'll celebrating with my cousins in Stevenage.

When I turned twenty, which was a difficult mental and emotional process for me, I decided to call this decade me "Roaring Twenties."  I just went back and read the post I wrote on 8 July 2011.  Reading what I wrote before knowing anything the decade would hold is special.  One of my favorite things to do is to look back on specific times in my life six months or so after they've happened.

As I look back two years later, reading that twenty year old me had no idea what my twenties would hold, I smile thinking, "If only you knew."  However, even now the same thing can be said.  I have no idea what the next eight years will hold.

However, when I turned twenty I never could have dreamed up all that has taken place.  Actually, the first year seemed a little dull--you know, school.  But, really, God was already beginning to change things about me that I thought were unchangeable.

I never thought I would want to work with a youth group.  Yet, at age twenty and a half, that's what I started doing.  God created a love within me for high school students.  Then, I found myself wanting to stay in Columbia, SC (shocker!).  An opportunity arose for me to study journalism in NYC.  Finishing the program, I didn't think journalism was for me.  After making every effort to move back to Columbia, I realized I had to stay in Virginia.  I started substitute teaching and enjoyed it.  But, I was in a rut...a post-graduation depression of sorts.  I missed my friends and my church.  J. Crew was hiring for peak season.  I obtained a job, moved to Lynchburg, and started a job that increased my customer service skills, provided me with fabulous clothes, and taught me that I cannot stand a monotonous job.  In December I evaluated my passions and loves and decided I wanted to pursue a career in even planning.  It seemed like a good time to move to England.  Then, I received a job offer as a part-time newspaper reporter.  I interviewed, was offered the job, and after thinking about it, called and said I would like it if they were still offering.  The message I received was not, "Great, glad to have you."  It was, "There is an event Sunday, can you be there?"

Thus began the last almost six months.  I love writing for the newspaper.  As a result, I've met amazing people in a town that is blossoming more than it has since its railroad days.  I began substitute teaching again.  One fateful job pushed me through the door at the high school to really get to know the students.  I am forever thankful for that.  God has given me a high school full of amazing students to get to know.  Spending time with them, laughing with them, teaching them, even when they make me blush, is a highlight in my life.  Because we live in a small community, I love getting to know them out of school, as well.  Like the pageant.

Now that school is finished, I am working as tennis assistant to the tennis pro at our county's resort.  Actually, I worked two days and then left for England.  But, I'll be back next week.

Looking back on the past year, because most of what I've shared happened in that span of time, I am overwhelmed with God's presence in my life.  The year has had its tough times.  Graduation from college brings a lot of emotions that I didn't expect. But, God is patient, "...for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust..."

I am blessed with three jobs that I absolutely love, a community in which I love becoming more involved, and  a patient God who teaches me gradually.  Life is a grand adventure full of joy, happiness, sorrow, pain, and love.

Here is to being 22!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, after getting home, I realized I left my camera at my other home. 
Therefore, I apologize in advance for any poor quality cell-phone pictures I post.

I slept for about 12 hours last night, which was marvelous!

Upon awakening this morning, I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!  Always a favourite.  Of course, after I leave NYC, Broadway shows I want to watch open!  So, now I must find a way to get up there to watch Annie and Cinderella.

Now, Mannheim Steamroller Pandora station is playing.  Mama is cooking.  And, it just feels like the Holiday season is upon us!!!

I hope you enjoy your turkey, gravy, cranberry relish, sweet potatoes, whipped parsnips and carrots, peanut butter pie, and pumpkin pie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

6.5 on the Richter Scale

Do you ever have a dream that seems to last alllll night?
I had one of those.
It was so strange and very intense.

At one point I learned a friend from school was dead.  But, there was something odd about it.  I was very upset (obviously), but come to find out, it was a JOKE!  He had decided to pretend to be dead.  Then, I was in NYC going to school (which is actually true).  But, we lived in a skyscraper on the sixty-something floor.  I had been warned to expect a 6.5 magnitude earthquake the next morning.  I was all prepared to run out, and nothing happened (except I WALKED up sixty some floors of stairs to avoid being stuck in the elevator).  We went to school, did some weird running and ball game on VERY steep hills, and began to pack (I had a lot of little things to pack...very tedious).  But, then I had to expect the earthquake sometime that evening.

Needless to say, I awoke, finally.
The dream was long and very detailed.

Do you remember the dreams you have?  Or at least some of them?
Often, when I remember a dream like this, I will mull over it throughout the day.

I have one dream that I wrote out completely in ninth grade.  I doubt I will EVER forget it.

My Favourite Clothes!

Today's blog challenge is to write about my favourite article of clothing.

This topic has many sub-topics.  My favourite item because of nostalgia, beauty, frequent wearing, currently own, used to own, owned at some point in life?  You can see where I run into a problem.
I am just going to answer in several topics because, as I've said in the past, I don't like choosing!

*Disclaimer: "article of clothing" is being translated into shoes, too*

So, my favourite article of clothing for nostalgia's sake is a pair of black ballet flats I bought in 2007 from Aeropostale.  I finally HAD to throw them away.  They had lost all ability to hold their own shape.  But, I was loathe to toss them as they had traipsed all over Europe with me.  We had memories from the Alps to the streets of Italia.  Every other time I thought about throwing them away, the memories won out.  Last semester I finally put them in the rubbish.

Fall 2010; Photo Credit: Katharine Hormann

My favourite clothing for beauty's sake is my "Charger Dress."  I fell in love with this beautiful, tangerine dress when I was in 7th grade.  At the time it was a bit too large.  But, I was able to wear it for a pageant that year.  Two years later I wore it in another pageant (winning that time).  Then, for my Senior prom, after putting another dress on hold, I decided to wear it a third time.  It is just such a lovely dress.  The reason we called it the "Charger Dress" is because the local school, and where I graduated, had a Charger as their mascot.

Prom 2008 at The Homestead

My favourite item for frequent wearing is a navy skirt with while polka dots I bought from H&M while in NYC in May.  I saw it and loved it.  It reminds me of a navy skirt with white stars my grandma gave me when I was little.

See that cute lady with me?  She has the best boutique ever!  It's where I bought the Charger Dress!

So, there you have it, three of my favourite items to wear!

The Dirndl is from a thrift shop in Regensburg, Germany.

The "Charger Dress" is from Laura's Boutique Ltd. Hot Springs, VA!  Hit it up if you are ever up there!

The skirt, shirt, and belt I am wearing are from Forever 21, and the shoes are from H&M.

Happy 175th Anniversary to Tiffany & Co

Hello Everyone!

Today I am celebrating Tiffany & Co.s  175th anniversary on my blog!

In a perfect world I would have a giveaway for something beautiful.
But, it's not, so I'm not.

Instead of a giveaway, I am going to post a few pictures of my own Tiffany pictures and then a few things I like from the Tiffany & Co website.

I've always (since my teen years) wanted a ring from Tiffany & Co.  People have teased me and told me, "You'd better marry a rich man."

One day I went ring shopping with a friend and decided it didn't have to be from Tiffany.  But, I certainly wouldn't complain if it was.

My dream ring was their six prong Tiffany setting with white gold or platinum.

Image found here

It is still a lovely ring.  But, now I think I may have a new favourite!
The Lucida® with Diamond Band.
Please notice how the wedding band lies flush against the engagement ring.  It bothers me when there is a gap.

Found Image Here

This last ring is listed under their engagement rings (and it would be lovely for someone), however, I think it would be a great right-hand-for-fun-ring.
The Jean Schlumberger Rope Ring, ladies and gents.

Image found here.

That concludes my favourite Tiffany rings.
Next I am going to share a few Tiffany moments of my own.

Taken during my first day in Central London after moving over in Summer 2010

Pretty, isn't it!

So, I was going to post a picture of Tiffany & Co. from while I was in NYC...and I cannot believe it, but I didn't get one.  I am horrified.  And confused.

Anyway, later this evening I am going to celebrate by dressing up, wearing a diamond ring, putting on my tiara, drinking Pink Champagne, eating dark chocolate, and watching Breakfast at Tiffanys!

Happy Celebrating!

ILL and WC: Try to Guess These Acronyms

Blog Challenge Day 4:  Favourite Shows

Probably the first two things that pop into mind:

-I Love Lucy
-White Collar

I Love Lucy is hilarious.

White Collar is witty, intellectual, hilarious, and attention grabbing (there is a word I can't think of).

My favourite I Love Lucy episodes are when they are in California and when they move to the country.  I love the backdrop, the setting, the relaxed mode, and the change of pace from NYC.

One of my favourite episodes is when Talula Bankhead moves into their neighborhood in Connecticut.

You know how some people reference the office for everything?
I reference I Love Lucy.
It goes like this, "Oh, that is like in I Love Lucy when..." <---fill in the dot dot dot with current topic.

My favourite White Collar...I have to think about that.  One of them is from the current season, when Mozzie thinks there is a conspiracy group still around from the 1700's.  Hilarious.  So Mozzie.  And everyone is fooled.

Fedora donning, skinny tie wearing, tailored suit flaunting Neal Caffrey is a huge factor.

Peter and Elle.  I love them.

It is just the most fabulous show (and, I am proud to say, I have hooked many a person...well, at least a few).

P.S. A scene in White Collar was filmed in the foyer of the building where I lived in NYC!
When I saw that, I kind of freaked out, took a screen shot, and put it on FB.

The inside

The outside...