Past, Present & Future

Taking two weeks off was sort of needed but also a bad habit so here is a recap from the last two weeks. Bailey died unexpectedly which was so sad. So that was the main reason I took a hiatus. Then I went to Canada with my friends Matt and Chris. That was a much needed vacation since I feel like I haven't really had a summer. And I may or may not have spent $152 at a bookstore :). Canada was a lot of fun and I was so happy to see my college friends.

Now I'm starting to pack up for college (I leave on Tuesday!). I have most of my winter stuff packed up but there is so much more I need to do. My to-do list right now is so long but I'm going to tackle each item before I move. Also, my family just got a new puppy. Literally he is only 8 weeks old! His name is Gus (like Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars). Of course my family gets a puppy a week before I go to college. He is really smart. He sort of understands sit, no and his name. I can't wait to come home in about a month and see how much he grows.

There are some things I'm looking forward to that are coming up pretty quickly, like getting my hair done on Monday. I'm also going to buy an iPad mini. Then I move back to Minot on Tuesday and start RA training on Wednesday. I'm really excited to move in and decorate my room. Some things I'm really looking forward to are turning 20(!), and spending lots of time with my friends.

So much activity is going on right now and lots of change but it's a little exciting. Here's a Polish proverb I found on Pinterest that I think is funny and a good way to end this post.

Workout Inspiration

I started running in the mornings again this week. Note to self: taking two weeks off was a bad idea. I should have been doing something in those two weeks like yoga or riding my bike. But there's no point dwelling on the past. I can definitely tell my body needs to get adjusted to running again but I'm making progress. I also have to watch Bailey more now to make sure she isn't overworking herself due to her bruised heart. We are both taking our morning runs in strides! (Did you get the pun?)

I have to listen to music when I run otherwise I'll just walk the entire time. Music motivates me to run longer or faster depending on the song. I'll tell myself to run until a song ends or to sprint when a certain part comes on. Plus music is a great distraction from the soreness of my body or my lungs when running. My running playlist consists of rap, hip-hop, dub-step and alternative music. Really anything that is fast paced, energetic and that I can listen to loudly. Here's my running playlist that I put on shuffle.

1. Hanging On (I See MONSTAS Remix) by Ellie Goulding
2. Run Boy Run by Woodkid
3. In Distress (feat. Gesaffelstein) by A$AP Rocky
4. Can't Hold Us by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
5. Radioactive (feat. Kendrick Lamar) by Imagine Dragons
6. Pompeii by Bastille
7. White Walls by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
8. Monster by Imagine Dragons
9. Burn by Ellie Goulding
10. Geekin' by Will.I.Am
11. It's Time by Imagine Dragons
12. Killin' It by Krewella
13. Feelin' Myself (feat. Miley Cyrus, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa & DJ Mustard) by Will.I.Am

Another great tool I use for inspiration is workout clothes and shoes. If I think a design is cool or looks cute or comes in some fun colors, I will want to wear it and want to workout. I have a pair of Nike's that are pink and purple for indoor running and a pair that is black and pink for outdoor running. I wore my pink and purple pair basically every day for nine months in college so I think I'm due for a new pair before I go back. Here are a few workout clothes I want to get before going back to school.

I want to get the new Adidas Performer tights in these two colors. The Performer tight is supposed to lift your booty so there's another reason to go out and buy a pair!

 This is the Nike Free 4.0 Flyknit

And this is the Nike Free 4.0

Also on nike.com, you can customize your own shoe. I don't know what shoe or what type I'll get but I know a new pair of shoes and new clothes are always motivation for anything! Plus it makes going back to school a little more bearable. I'm looking forward to getting even more in shape this summer and to have some more fun before Summer ends. I can't believe how fast it's already going. I plan to get a few more things done before I start packing again. Oh, the struggle (it's a good struggle). 

Woman's Best Friend

No, I'm not talking about shoes or designer handbags. I'm talking about dogs.

Here's a little back story; My family and I have had dogs as far back as I can remember. Our first dog was a male labrador named Seamore. I don't know who named him or when we got him but he was ours. We had him until I was about 5 years old and sadly he ran away. But a great family found him and took him in. Then we moved into our current house and we got a new dog. A female German shepherd/husky mix whose fur was a white and cream colored. Her name was Star. We adopted her from an animal shelter in Bismarck. Star was the best dog and the reason all of our dogs after her were so great.

This photo really doesn't do Star's beauty any justice but this is what she looked like. 

About a year or two after we adopted Star, we then adopted Maggie. Maggie was a lab/pit bull mix. I think it's incredibly unfair that pit bulls get a bad reputation for being mean, ruthless dogs. Maggie was nothing like that. She was a sweet dog who's bark was the worst thing she would do.

As Maggie got older, she started to look more and more like a pit bull. But she was still incredibly nice.

Finally, we got Bailey. Bailey is a chocolate lab mixed with something else but we're not quite sure. We got Bailey from my Uncle John and he even told us he didn't know what she was. Bailey is just as sweet as any other dog we've had but she LOVES  attention. She acts as if we don't give her any love at all!

Bailey with one of her favorite treats because tasted like peanut butter.

Well, Star and Maggie have passed on but we still have Bailey. Bailey has proved to be to be just as loyal as she is sweet. When I started going on runs in the morning, I would take Bailey with me. I didn't need to use a leash and she stayed by my side the whole way. I told my mom that if I ever decided to walk across the country, I would take Bailey with me.

 This photo was taken right after we got back from a morning run. And Look how happy Bailey is!

Another thing to know about me is that my family has owned horses since before I was born. We have a horse named Soda Pop (my sister named him after the character in The Outsiders). Soda is not the nicest horse and on Friday, he kicked Bailey in the face and in the chest. Bailey started out with a popped blood vessel in her eye and sore shoulder. That turned into a swollen eye and an even more sore shoulder. We couldn't get her into the vet until Monday so it was a pretty scary weekend for my mom and me. The vet said her eye would be fine but she also had a bruised heart. :(

Now Bailey is home resting and she has to have this ointment put in her eye three times a day.  My family is so grateful to the vet who kept Bailey for a couple of days to monitor her. Hopefully she makes a speedy recovery! I can't wait to go on more walks and runs with Bailey :)

Removing My Wisdom Teeth

Yesterday morning I had my wisdom teeth extracted. The surgery itself was painless, thankfully. But the waiting room and the operation room were so cold. Why do doctor's offices always have to be cold? I'm not really in any pain so I'm thankful for that as well. I don't remember much, everything is kind of a blur. I was really groggy and tired. I slept pretty much all day. And I ate a lot. My surgery was at 8 am so I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight. Not even water. So I was starving after my surgery. But I can only eat soft foods like oatmeal, pudding, jello. It's like a vacation for my teeth. Except it's mandatory considering how sore my jaw is.

I have four days off of work to recover so I plan to get a couple of things off of my list. Like watch the rest of the Pretty Little Liars recordings on my TV. And I want to finish Cloud Atlas, and get started on the rest of my summer reading list. I was at Barnes & Noble last Friday and I bought three more books. I don't think it's possible for me to NOT buy a book when I go to Barnes & Noble. I also want to work on some more of my door decorations for my hall this coming fall. Plus I'm getting my hair trimmed on Monday.

It kind of sucks how sore my jaw is but my friend, Nick dropped off some goodies for me. He dropped off chocolate pudding cake in single cups, chai latte mix, a get well card from our co-workers, and he burned me a copy of his Sam Smith cd. Plus Nick said he would bring me ice cream tonight. Nick is one of the best friends I could ever ask for. This last school year was really difficult because I realized that some of my friendships were fizzling out when I didn't want them to. But Nick and I both agreed that no matter where we are, we will always be friends.

Sorry this post took some twists and turns but it's just some stuff I had to get off of my chest. I'm looking forward to relaxing and taking advantage of these four days off.

Have a good one!

Kate Spade Surprise Sale! (And My First Kate Spade Purchase!)

Kate Spade New York announced a surprise sale this morning so of course I went onto their website, just to look. I've always wanted something Kate Spade but everything has been so expensive. Even when I go to TJ Maxx, the Kate Spade New York stuff is still really expensive.

So as I was browsing through the merchandise, I stumbled on some pieces that were fairly priced and that I would use frequently throughout my life. So, I made my first Kate Spade New York purchase! I'm so happy with the pieces I bought and I can't wait for them to arrive at my house!

I decided at the beginning of June that I was not going to spend any money shopping except for the necessities. Things like food, gas, and things that I needed. I bought my first pair of Jack Rogers right at the end of May, so I decided my bank account (and debit card) needed a hiatus from shopping. I broke my hiatus just this one time because I've always wanted something from Kate Spade. Now I am back on the bandwagon so this will be my only shopping spree.

Here are my purchases!

Moroccan Market Chrissy in Turquoise/Flame

Thermal Mug

A great first purchase! :)

Summer Reading

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. The wifi at my house is the most frustrating thing. You basically have to pray to the wifi gods to make it work.

Anyway, summer has been really relaxing so far. Which I needed after finals and moving out of my room at MSU. But now I'm ready for some fun. Bonfires, camping, going to the lake, and hanging out with friends and family. But one of my absolute favorite things about summer is how much time I have to read! It's my favorite way to relax and take up time. My summer reading list is a mix of beach reads and deep thinkers. I recently just finished Where'd You Go, Bernadette? and I loved it! I blew threw it in about two days.

My summer reading list includes: That Summer, Cloud Atlas, Finding Laura Buggs,  and Joyland.

 That Summer

 Cloud Atlas

 Finding Laura Buggs

Joyland

I'll probably be adding a few more books onto this list throughout the summer since I go through books so quickly. I'm also going to re-read The Fault in Our Stars this week before going to see the movie, which I am so excited for! I'll do a post about my reaction to the movie after I go see it Friday.  

Have a great week!

Lessons Learned Freshmen Year

Wow I can’t believe this is my last weekend of college before finals. Time has gone by so fast! It feels like I just moved into my room and made it my own. I have so many great memories over the past nine months. And I have learned a lot! Here is a list of some of the things I have learned during my freshmen year:

1.    Minot is not as scary as it seems. But still don’t go to Walmart by yourself.

2.    In the fall and spring seasons, always carry an umbrella. You don’t stay in one building anymore.

3.    Plan what outfits you are going to take home over break. You really don’t need to pack as much as you think.

4.    It was a smart idea to invest in a rug.

5.    Invest in a full-length mirror. I seriously don’t know how I’ve gone all year without one!

6.    Yoga is good for your body and your mind. I am going to try to this more throughout the week.

7.    When in doubt in the cafeteria, get a grilled cheese.

8.    Take time to relax every week. Whether that means watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother or painting your nails.

9.    Nothing is as big or as dramatic as you think. Take a step back and breathe.

10.                  It is possible to NOT gain your freshmen 15. It is actually possible to lose weight! I chose this for #10 because I have actually lost 10lbs at college! I am so proud of myself and I know I can reach my goals.

11.                  You will be able to hear everything you’re neighbors say, buy earplugs!

12.                  Try to resist all the sweets. I have the biggest sweet tooth ever and this has been a challenge for me. I need to work on this some more.

13.                  Getting a tattoo doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as you thought it would.

14.                  You don’t have to go out every weekend but do try to do something on the weekends.

15.                  Don’t be afraid to come out of your shell. I have really become less of a wallflower and I am happy to see how far I have come. I’m not so afraid to speak my mind or just be who I am. I have my funny, weird, creative friends to thank for that!

This is a picture of my inspiration board from this past year. It has tokens from some great memories, cards from my bible study group, Resident Life events, and a few inspiring words too. I honestly don’t know how my freshmen year at Minot State University went by so fast! I’m so excited for next year and see how I continue to grow. Before I get too far ahead of myself, I’m going to make the most of this summer. I’ll try to post more and to put more pictures up. Now I have to finish packing up my room. Wish me luck!

P.S. Happy Mother's Day this Sunday. Show your mom how much you love her! 

My First Tattoo!

Yesterday I did something pretty crazy. Well, crazy for me. I finally got my first tattoo! I couldn't be happier with it and more proud of myself. I have always enjoyed looking at tattoos on other people, seeing how creative the design is, finding out the meaning behind the tattoo. I have thought about getting a tattoo before but I was always on the fence about it. But in October, I finally knew what I wanted as my first tattoo. I wanted my dad's handwriting on my side. Nothing long or detailed, but something sweet and simple. Which is exactly what I got. My tattoo says "Love you, your father." 

The reason I wanted to get my dad's handwriting as a tattoo is a pretty emotional story but also a happy one. Two years ago my dad had a stroke. He was rushed to the hospital immediately where he was treated and he had to stay overnight. I wasn't home thankfully but I was at work. When my mom called me to tell me the news, I started bawling instantly in our break room. My boss told me I could go home but I didn't want to go home and I didn't want to go to the hospital. So I stayed at work until we closed at 5 pm. 

From there I went to my friend's house where I continued to bawl my eyes out. I am so thankful and blessed to have a friend as great as mine. I would have suffered a lot worse if she hadn't been there for me. My dad hadn't lost any memories or anything like that, Thank God. He lost his ability to speak for some hours but that came back quickly. That was literally the worst day of my life. 

Since then, my dad has gotten a lot better. He works out every day and we watch his diet much closer now. My dad and I have gotten closer too because of his stroke. Sometimes I get really mad at him when I see him eating something really unhealthy or stuff like that. But I got my tattoo to remind me of that day and how much I love my dad. And now I will have some small part of him with me for the rest of my life which is so comforting. 

I love my dad and I think dedicating my first tattoo to him is a great way to represent that in some small way. 

21 before 21

The past week was so good. I went home for Easter Break so it was like a second Spring Break. I ate way too much candy and food in general. But it was nice to be home and be with family. And my family met my sister’s boyfriend for the first time (we all approve).  Being home also made me start thinking about the future. I mean as close as three weeks and as far away as three years! I’ll be done with my freshmen year(!) in three weeks so I’m starting to pack up my room. As for the three years part, I’m just excited about all of it. So I made a list of 21 things I want to do before my 21^st birthday. It’s the same concept as 101 in 1001, I just don’t think I can think of 101 things or accomplish them in 1001 days. So here’s my 21 before 21 list!

21 Before 21

1.       Go to a Frat party- just to say I’ve been.

2.    Go to a midnight premiere.

3.   Kiss at midnight on New Year’s.

4.   Ride on the Eye of London.

5.    Spend the whole day in a library or bookstore reading.

6.    Make a meal for my friends or family or both.

7.    Treat myself to a date night.

8.    Try a new restaurant every weekend.

9.    Give a 100% tip.

10.  Start a blog.

11.     Run another 5K or a 10K.

12.  Learn how to work Photoshop or Photoshop like product.

13.  Get a tattoo.

14. Learn how to cook at least 5 different meals.

15.  Learn to crochet-to relax.

16.  Finish Cloud Atlas, Anna Karenina and East of Eden. (I like big booksJ)

17.   Learn to surf.

18.  Meet Josh Dumal. (Since I live in Minot and he’s from here…)

19.   Go skinny-dipping.

20.                 Have my makeup professionally done. (Either for a special event or just because.)

21.  Ask a guy to go on a date. (I think this is really empowering!)

As you can see, I've crossed some things off already (like starting this blog!). I'll be crossing off #13 on May 2nd. Wish me luck! Oh, and happy Earth Week!