FYI: this is not a professional blog

... in case you haven't noticed, my posts are sporadic at best. Topics, frequency, photos vs no photos...

I'm learning to be okay with that. I mean, I never thought I would be a professional blogger, however I did have hopes I could be consistent in posting. I wanted to use this space to document life, to share some specifics things with readers (ie: Compassion letter tips and craft ideas) and to post photos to help myself become better at sorting, editing the hundreds of photos that I have, as well as become a better photographer in general.

I still want to do these things, however have realized my life, mood, schedule, and priorities are too random for me to stick to anything very scheduled. I do hope to become better, however I have a giant to do list, my house is a disaster (I'm too embarrassed to share photos), and I'm very behind at work (I was out of state for a work thing, and stayed a couple extra days).

I hope to share a few things with you in the coming days, however lets just both agree that likely isn't going to happen ;)

Instead, I present to you a run down of a few of the topics I would love to write about, however in reality will not..

• Crazy work month of May... Students graduated/transferred, and a few are staying. Now have reports to write, and new student applications to read though.
• My battle with laundry.
• My work conference stunk. Yeah. The first day of the workshops (all 10 hours of it), all I remember learning was the other participants names, and the 2nd day the instructor insulted my profession and graduate program, starting his sentence with... "now this is most likely going to offend some of you..." It was a long 3 days
• On the upside, my coworker and I enjoyed going out to eat in the evenings, and staying up late laughing at stupid tv shows
• Alan met me after the conference and we enjoyed a few extra days away to celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary! It was super wonderful 
• I'm still in a different time zone (hence being up after 1 am... not good)
• I started not feeling well the last day of the trip. The flight didn't help. Went to the dr today, who was also little help.
• I'm hoping to plant my garden this weekend.

There it is.  I have many more things I do really hope to share soon. I will be sure to post more frequently, however do not expect any miracles.

a little bit of C.R.A.Z.Y

My mind is all over the place today!

Remember, Remember the Milk? Well, I have a couple hundred items in it to complete. I do not know how I would keep track of everything without it! I even signed up for the RTM pro account! Well worth it!

Here is the summary.

Work = crazy. The bulk of my items are work related. I can't seem to keep up. Students need letter of recommendation, help finding a tutor, someone to read over their paper, or transfer application, a reminder about next weeks group meeting... yeah. Crazy.

I am also working on my posts for next week! Yeah, I know. Nothing like last minute :) If you haven't heard, my creative space was recently remodeled! In celebration, I'm doing a crafty/creative/giveaway week! My blog will be full of fun and creative ideas ANYONE can do! Be sure to stop by and check it out! If you are interested in guest posting, having me link up to your creative post, and/or have an idea for me on what kind of creative things you would like to read about, let me know!

Also in the mix is... family stuff, updating my resume, getting things done for the conference I'm helping with, trying to find a balance with my sugar drinks and water, our garden, finish cleaning the basement after our mini remodel, trying to touch base with my good friend K, who I've been playing phone tag with for SO long, trying to clean off my computer to upload photos, then sort photos and upload to print (at least the next ones to scrapbook and for my 365 project!)...

Anyhow. I hope you are all well! And again, please leave me a message about what creative stuff you want to see next week! yes, even YOU, now is the time to delerk! :-)

Edit: If you are interested, I now have a button for next week's creative celebration!
Feel free to copy and place on your space!
<center><a href="http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Forever Daisies"><img alt="Forever Daisies" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP8wZGuCf73jvJPw8l0RXUUug_c9PWNWyPS3BHQ75Hk6HPdy7N6SUAAfYyzfT9VA8epPNmnFS4r2WGgQD2NcOlwEGYmyZsmXqe5gaRkExZSdwq6XVKn_IoT5taScNz4jazl-URay69Rbi/s400/Dreambutton.jpg" /></a></center>

What is a good goodbye?

Today was the last day of my internship. I said "see you later" to my co-workers, friends, and students. I have been there since August and put in over 600 hours. They tossed me in the first day, bright and early at 7:30 am signing students up for tutoring times and then helping with class schedules. I never looked back. It has been amazing, truly one of the best experiences of my formal education!

The rest of this week will be filled with goodbyes. I'm not ready for them. I want to run the other direction. I have been in school, in some capacity, for such a long time. It is hard to imagine not being a student. Now, I have to say goodbye to so many people that have helped me get to where I am today.


My professors... I had some good, some bad, and a handful of really great ones! In their own way, they all taught me something. Patience, determination, leadership, integrity, to believe in myself, and yes, even conflict resolution. I will miss their guidance, wisdom and friendship.

My friends... In the short 2 years of my graduate program, I have met some phenomenal people that I am honored to call my friend. I hope to keep in touch with many of them, however it is hard to say what life will bring, and the paths we will all take.

My co-workers... I have worked in 2 different offices the last 2 years and have become very attached. Today I said "see you later to my internship", Thursday I will say goodbye to those at my graduate assistantship. These people have truly shaped my professional, and personal self.

My students... I had a great case load of students. I have encouraged them, been there for them and ultimately, watched them growth over the last year. Each of them had their own story, their own unique path. They have taught me so much.


I'm not much of a goodbye person. It seems too permanent, and make me tear up. "See you later" works, but later makes me feel like there was something left unsaid. Right now, I almost feel like I don't have time for emotions, so a quick "see you later" is all I have been able to get out. I'm running from one event, one goodbye to another, and haven't had time to process. I'm feeling overwhelmed.


How do you say goodbye? What does a good goodbye look like for you?

What a day!

It was a crazy day today! I woke up late and rushed around the apartment trying to get ready for work. I hurried to leave only to find a moving semi parked behind my car! I kind of gave the moving people a look, and put my bag in the back seat of my car, opened the front door, and stood there, watching the moving people, thinking they would get the idea. Nope. They looked back and me, and kept on doing their thing. Eventually, I sat in my car, and started it. No response. Eventually, I got out, and hollered over to them, "how long are you going to be parked here, I need to go to work!" They looked at one another, strugged and said " don't you have enough room to back out little lady?"

Excuse me!? "Little Lady" ?

I responded, "not really".

Three of them, taking their time, came over, looked around my car, and decided between themselves I indead did have enough room and they would be kind enough to guide me out of the tiny spot.

So as I went back and forth, and back and forth I went. Now and then one would holler, "ooh, that is about far enough back little lady, pull it forward" So, with two men in my rear view mirror and one in the front of my car, I eventually got out of my tiny spot.

By the time I was off to work, I was not happy. Sure, I don't look 25, however I'm obviously old enough to drive a car and rent an apartment. Additionally, I'm married. I did not appreciate them calling me "little lady" and treating me like I was 12.

So I was late to work. I did A LOT of paper work today at work. I have only one week left and it sure did sneak up on me. This job is an internship position that ends with my graduation. While at work, I received a message from the HR at Dream job!! I was starting to think they just were not going to call! They offered me an interview. I excitedly called back, accepted and scheduled an interview for next Thursday! I am so excited, but very nervous. I get so anxious about new people and being on the spot. It just isn't my thing.

Any interview tips? I'm interviewing to work with college students at a 2 year institution...

After I called HR back, I shut my office door and did a little happy dance! :-) I'm SO excited about this!

After work I met my husband to go out for the 29th and to meet a few of his friends from work. After, we walked around the mall, trying to walk off all the food!

We came home, checked emails, did dishes, laundry, sent a graduation email with directions, times, etc, and I'm working to get together stuff to prep for my interview next week!

Can't think of a catchy title

Take a step back, grab the clorox wipes, wipe down your screen and keyboard! If you have Lysol, maybe spray that around as well! Whatever I have my not be contagious through the computer, but please, take no chances! :-)

Luckily, today was a slow day at work. I had considered calling in sick, but my schedule is filling up quickly, and would have had a difficult time rescheduling my appointments.

This weekend I must:

• finish and send resume packet to my dream job
• finish taking practice exam for comps (only one month to study!)
  
• prep for next Thursday classes
• finish sample scrapbook for mini book workshop at work
• go to bank
• pick up needed items at Costco (use coupons from mailer)
• rest up... I cannot continue into next week with this "crud"
  

Sometimes, I forget where I live

As much as I love my job, I love when there is something going on off campus. I wouldn't want this to happen every day, or even a couple times a week, however now and then is a good thing.

Today I had an off campus (off my campus, but on another campus) workshop. As I was driving downtown to the other campus, I saw the masses of offices, condos, and other blocks of cement. I began thinking, "Huh, I live here?!" I live, go to school and work on the outside edges of the metro area. I never really see the sights of our downtown.

It's kind of sad. By forgetting where I live, I don't take advantage of everything the city has to offer. There are museums, gallaries, shops, trails, parks and theaters I have never seen, let alone stepped inside of.

Don't get me wrong, I have done a bit of exploring around here. Yet there is so much more to see and experience! I didn't grow up here. My family used to come here for VACATION! Now I live here and unfortunately have forgotten all the treasures within this metropolitan pocket.

I grew up in a town of 300 people. Yep. You read that correctly. Three hundred people. My graduating high school class was 16. :) And don't even think, "yeah, she just had to get in the car and drive 30 minutes to pick up the latest something or other". Nope. Not even close. The nearest large retail store was a solid 2 hour drive, and in a town populated by 14,000 folks. If we really needed an adventure, we traveled 4 hours to a city of around 130,000.

Now, surrounded by a couple million people, living about 8 hours from where I grew up, I seem take all of the big city luxuries for granted. We have no immediate plans to move far away. Yet why long for a vacation when I have my entire corner of the world to explore!?

It was a long day. In addition to the regular class and work that loads down my Thursday, I also presented at a leadership conference tonight. Ugh. It was a great experience, and I enjoyed doing it, but I am tired!

This weekend, I look forward to catching up on reading blogs and adding several posts to mine! Have a great Friday!

The Weekly Battle

Ugh... Where did the weekend go? I'm not ready for Monday. Generally, I enjoy Monday's. I don't have any classes, my commute is shorter (much much shorter) and I really enjoy my job. I'm just not ready. I know once Monday comes around, it is a slippery slope for Tuesday.

By Wednesday, I search for extra time, wishing I could squeeze in a couple more moments of energy to finish reading, writing, and preparing for class. Before I know it, Thursday sneaks up on me. It brings not only a full day of work, but 5 hours of classes and the long drive home. By this point, I'm drained. Friday comes and goes all to quickly. Then I'm faced with a dilemma. Do I take the evening to relax and rejuvenate (procrastinate), or do I dive into my homework with every last bit of energy I can find?

Usually, for Friday at least, procrastination wins and Saturday is filled with my alternating between housework and homework. Oh, and one cannot forget Sunday. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. This day is always up for grabs. Procrastination and motivation try to compromise, but in the end, often struggle one another until one is victorious over the other. . .

. . . Today, procrastination won.