Oh, hello. Nice to meet you. What's that? We've met before? Uh, my bad...

Ugh. I HATE going this long between posts. BUT! I'd like to point out that it hasn't been quite a month since I posted last....I'm 4 days shy. Whew.

I have to say, when it came to blogging, I kind of lost the air in my sails while I' was trying to stay a float at school. Unfortunately, school takes priority and is my "job." Thus, blogging took the back burner.

I like to think though that I still have some people out there that look at this thing? da Hubs? Auntie Karen? I'm just going to go with, yes :)

That being said, Em over at Today's Letters says that when it comes to blogging/writing, do it because you love it and not because people may/may not read it. This has been my reasoning for not rushing back to the blog the moment school was out. I needed to de-frag. my brain. Heck, I'm still working on that. Ironically, I'm back and the blog and summer school starts in less than a week. Good timing Katie.

So, I'm here, for what it's worth. And, I have to admit, I do shamefully love knowing when people read my blog or comment--that is something I need to work on. So, my goal is to blog b/c I love it and less for the public affairs it may/may not provide.

OH and I miss giving my daily highlights!! Oh man, do I! My highlights really help to keep me on track and have a good perspective.

Since I brought it up...

Today's Highlights:

1) Spending a little time in C-Stat/ being able to see Jason during the day/ having lunch w/ him
2) Pandora. L-o-v-e.
3) Blogging!
4) Remeniscing about last night's Mario Kart battle (to hopefully be repeated) and having spent the last few eveings watching da Hubs play golf on the Wii.
5) This book.
6) Being stitch free/almost being steri-strip free/being this much closer to a healed back.*
7) Having Jason point out all of the animals he sees on a typical drive to work. Baby horses, folks. A border collie, some cats, and cows (of course).
8) Sweet's.

Letters:

Dear Life, I would like to learn a lot from you, stand on my on two feet while I walk through you, be able to handle all that you throw at us w/ a grace that can only come from God, be less stressed/overwhelmed (especially by the 10,000 small things. Seriously, calm down self!), and enjoy you. You are an adventure.

Dear Texas Heat, You're hot and I don't mean that as a pick up line. And also, you're kind of a tease. All that sunshine and prettiness? I can't go out there and enjoy it b/c you and I don't mix. I try and tell my body that you're not so bad and it's worth it to be outside but, alas, my body just won't listen. So, maybe cool it please? Oh and some rain would be nice too...thanks.

Dear Self, You're stronger than you think, and you're not bad at all that stuff that you think are. Quit beating yourself up. Really. Leave the boxing to the professionals. Oh, and try to relax--work on this. How? I don't know. You have been really interested in taking up yoga @ school, definitly worth a try. And stop being such a perfectionist, you're good enough already. You can do it!

Dear Sweet Pea, Please see "Letter to Self" (up yonder ^), and apply it. Well, except for the yoga part...unless you want to? Or in case Hell freezes over? Anyways, you're fantastic, brave, and my hero. You are none of these things b/c of the numbers on your paycheck, car you drive, or place we live. You're these things b/c you're you and you love me tremendously--you're more than enough for me. Don't you forget it. Accept it, it's not going to change. And also, I kind of have a crush on you. Eeep!

As someone wise once said, "HAPPY FREAKIN' WEEKEND HOMIES!!"

*For those concerned (i.e. Auntie Karen), I had some unfriendly looking moles removed on my shoulder/back thus the stitches. Everything is fine though! They checked the moles out and there was nothing really to worry about...the cells had just started to change so it was good that we had them removed but my doc blessed me to go about my moley life!

The end of Project 365, the beginning of 2011...

Welp, the new year has come and gone and the Project made it to day 365. Yep, the blog turned the big ONE! Although I didn't achieve blogging every.single.day for a whole year....I did manage to blog for consecutively from Jan-July. Not too shabby I suppose especially with summer school, a short hospital stay, moving, starting a new school, adjusting to change, trying to grow-up (but not too fast), pursue our marriage, love Jason fully, and live life to the best of my ability (without going pre-maturely bald). Whew! 2010, you've been an interesting one!

You might be wondering what will happen w/ the blog now that the Project is over. Well, I'm glad you asked. The blog is here to stay! I'll still make posts, put too many pictures of the animales up here, have Today's Highlights, write letters, and share the occasional ramble. Basically, the only change occuring is in the title of my posts, I no long have to worry about sticking to the format of my titles (as I did w/ the Project)...now I can just plop something up there! AND, I don't have to count days anymore. Bueno. So, rest assured my fah-rends you can still peer into what life brings us. Oh,and what is one thing I've learned through this project? It's good to have goals but, its easy to get so caught up in achieving the goal that you forget to live life which leaves the goal meaningless. You can take that to the bank! And, while you're at the bank....I'd just like to say...

Project 365. Days Three-Sixteen through Three-Seventeen: Happy Christmas Eve Eve!...

It's practically here. Can you feel it? Slight insanity, crinkled wrapping paper, very full, feasted tummies. Christmas. And, I happen to think that this is going to be "the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Cosby danced with Danny effing Kaye!"
And guess what? I got an early Christmas present....

Tim and Em over at Today's Letters have been competing to become the "Best Blog of 2010". In the latest round of voting, bloggies cast their vote by comment only. Well, Tim and Em have posted some of their favorite comments on their own blog...and...I can say I'm touched that they considered my comment meaningful. Hello, Xmas present numero uno! Nothing quite beats having your appreciation reciprocated right back atcha ("atcha" is a technical word....I know b/c I'm an English major).

You can take a look-see at Tim and Em's post here (but, don't forget to cast your own vote! Today's Letters definitely deserves some winner winner chicken dinner!).

Today's Highlights:

1) Case in point: Xmas present numero uno. Did I mention I threw up a victorious fist pump...alone...parked in a parking lot? Well, I did. Bam!
2) Food Wars w/ da Hubs
3) Having 99% of Christmas shopping done. Huntsville's lack of shopping possibilities + finals + work = me shopping all.day.long. But hey, somebody has to keep Mr. Kringle on his jolly toes.
4) Looking forward to sleeping in w/ da Hub-a-saurus in the morning
5) Annnnnd, cooking with him all day long in preparation for holiday feastivities. Hopefully, I'll have dreams full of Julie Child, June Clever, and Emeril tonight. Ole!
6) A good mornin' cup of rasp. hot choc. @ The Sweets pre-shop-off :)
7) Jason being OFFICIALLY OFF WORK through the New Year!

Don't forget to go vote for Tim and Em!
And to all a good Christmas Eve Eve!!

Project 365. Days Two-Ninety-Four through Two-Ninety-Eight: Still here...

Well, my computer is still down for the count but....here I am on Jason's Ol' Faithful. And, it was just easier to tap into the archives on Jason's computer for a picture than anything else. This, here jewel is from the very,very first snowfall (at Christmas time thank-you very much) that I'd ever seen in College Station. Seems like it was about a million years ago. Ah, Kiltie loves the snow...makes her like a pup again :)

Anyways, I'm still alive. Have a lott-o papers and projects due in the next week and have worked pretty hard on academia this weekend.

How was your Turkey Day?

We had a great one, topped off with a Fightin' Texas Aggie win against TU!

Oh and P.s.....

Go here, please and thank-you.

Here's to being back in the blogging world even if Slick is still sickly! Whoop!

Project 365. Days Two-Eighty-Six through Two-Ninety-Three: A heaping bowl of brain stew...

Ok. Again, I don't have a picture to post and Slick is still under the weather.
I just wanted to take a moment, on Jason's mighty laptop, to say that I'm still alive....barely.

School + my brain = brain stew

I have about 10,000 projects/papers/etc due in the next week and a half ? No really, I counted them.

But, hopefully soon things will be back to normal in this here blogging world.

Miss me ?

This is where you say "yes."

Today's Highlights:

1) Officially being on Turkey Day Break...even if I'm buried under a pile o' work w/ a side of yams.
2) Pumping out papers/annotated bibs like I'm a machine. Who knew this was physically possible ??
3) Having lunch w/ da Hubs !!!! Whooooooooop!
4) You all following this link:

Today's Letters:{A Little Help from Our Homies}

...so much work left to do! Here's to productivity (I hope...assuming I can scrape the can for what's left of my brain power)!

Glad to touch base with you world !

Project 365. Day Two-Eighty-One: Blog-out!...

...And other such things in list format(I do love a good list):

1) I'm famous. If you're anywhere as half as interested as I am about the number of followers I have, then you will have noticed that I have a 7th. That's right, a 7th! And, they aren't even related to me! AND, they maybe, just might be, a certain girl in the red shoes. Girl (Julie) in the red shoes + following my blog = me, famous. I should be a math teacher. Okay, that was a rediculous statement. Anyways, I may have spazzed out to Jason yesterday about said fame. It's the simple things in life, yes?

2) Speaking of Julie, who wears red shoes, her blog was kind enough to tell me about a little somethin' somethin' that Shutterfly is doing. Ahem. Basically, Shutterfly = awesome (more math, sheesh). And, they make personalized, fabulous, kindamakemecovet, holiday greeting cards!! Yes, you may squeel now. ANNND, if you mention this astoundingly terrific greeting card sitch (that's "situation" for those of you who may not understand my banter), they'll give that blogger 50 free cards !! HELLO! Check out Julie's most recent post to see some examples of their Christmas cards. The 2nd one on her post....? Stick a fork in me, I'm done. Holy cute Christmas with a side of sentimental song lyrics, Batman! It used to be so labor intensive to create holiday greeting cards, I love how accessible Shutterfly has made it for bloggers this season. Having 50 free Shutterfly cards would be like an early Christmas :)

3) What was 3 again ?

4) OH! Y'know Emily and Tim over at Today's Letters? If you don't and we're friends then you either a) live under a rock b/c I talk about their blog all the time b) Aren't one of my 7 (7!!) followers b/c ...I talk about their blog all the time c) A and B. Well, they've been entered into a little competition over at Apartment Therapy...which may be one of the coolest things EVER...annnnd they need your votes! So, follow the link and once you've stopped drooling over their style, vote for them by clicking the thumbs up/like button. Thanks and gig'em!

5) Speaking of "Gig 'em," something that makes me happy (besides puppies and kittens which we already have plenty of (or, DO we? ...Just kidding Hubs)) are blogs by Aggies. Can I get a "WHOOP!" ? Let me just introduce you to one: Stephanie over at Life Shiny Side Up will make you smile, laugh, wanttobeanAggie, and bottle up her perspective for a rainy day. It's a goodin' and a regular read for me. For serious, I expect you to go check out her blog and report back to me how you could hardly contain your smiles. Thanks AND Gig 'em :)

6) If you've done your homework and have clicked the 10,000 links in this post, you might have noticed that many of us write letters to our spouses and the random, enjoyable, learned experiences of our days. You can thank Emily for that pearl of wisdom. I'm sure many of us, like myself, were already into the letter writing biz but I think it was Emily's creativity and courage that gave us all the needed nudge. Like I said, I'd done this letter writing thing for a while but, most of it was in my head. Or, written on a crumple of paper in bright marker as a profession of my undying love to Jas. However, one thing I've learned from Emily is that even though it's important to share things privately with the people in your life, it's also important to speak up about the great things in your life. Specifically, I think there is something to be said about expressing what you love/appreciate about your spouse in a public way. Consider this kind of thing to be a "proclaiming from the mountain tops," and Jason definitly gives me plenty of reasons to do this. It gives me joy, in the pit of my stomach, to point out how much I appreciate the fact that he brought me home sour gummy worms last night b/c he knew I'd be worried about registering for classes, or how he willingly commutes an hour both ways just so that I can go to school. So, if you haven't checked out Emily's blog yet....this is your chance to (well, thats a lie b/c you KNOW I'll mention her again). As Emily would say, "There are many things that can change a life, a letter is one of them."

7) Well, this post is about a mile long, I'll stop for now b/c I gotta get to my Colleges Against Cancer and Relay for Life meetings!

Short N' Sweet Highlights:

1) Friday Eve!
2) Wearin' comfy leggings all day long!
3) Getting to watch the afternoon rainstorm outside my classroom window
4) Then, watching the sun come out to enjoy the rain too.
5) Meeting up w/ Jason for some Bearkat Volleyball
6) Getting a free tshirt at the game
7) World's best husband :)

If you made it all the way down here, congrats! I will give you a free hug the next time I see you!

* P.s. According to Tim from Today's Letters, the contest pertaining to their apartment is already over (so if you voted, thank-you!). Your votes took Tim and Emily to the semi-finals! And, if it's any consultation Tim and Emily, you're welcome to bottle up your superb style, slap a stamp on it, and ship it my way...it'll always be appreciated in our house!

Dear Husband, Know that I love you more everyday, and I'm so glad to be your wife. Thanks for being by my side no matter what. Be safe this weekend! Can't wait for Sunday. I.S.D.L.Y.!

Project 365. Day Two-Seventy-Eight: A Cat's Life...

When I was little, I sometimes wished I was a cat. I think this was because cats remained to be my favorite animal for most of my childhood (don't worry, giraffes have always been a favorite too). Cats were what I doodled, what I dressed up as for Halloween (a black one coming out of a pumpkin, for the record), and what my friend Samantha and I always prenteded to be on the playground. I still love cats (shocking, I know) but now, I'd rather be a cat for one reason more than for any other...

Cat naps.



...In a sun beam.



P.s. You should go check out Julie at the girl in the red shoes. She has a super cute blog that I've followed for a while now. She a) has darling style (just check out her posts about her DIY home projects) b) knows how to work a curling iron c) might love her pets as much as I love my own d) all of the above. Speaking of her "darling style," check out this fancy shmancy bracelet she's giving away! I maybe, might have imagined it upon my wrist region today. Maybe. Anywhoot! You should check her blog out!

Project 365 Days Two-Eighty-Seven and Eight: A few things I make use of when in need of a smile...

1) My beloved:



2) This pup, along with the other residents (please see the menu on the right side):



3) Today's Letters

4) Color Me Katie

.... It's a running list, that I'll leave at four for now....

I've actually had a pretty good day...so good that I managed to make this post at 3p.
Buuut, I was just a reflectin' on the importance of knowing what makes you smile so that when faced with opposition, you're much better prepared :)

So,what turns your frown upside down?

Project 365. Days Two-Fourteen>>Two-Twenty-Three: Back from my Blog-cation...

Well, I wasn't really vacationing, I just wasn't blogging on here for good reason...

1) We've been moving, and are officially in our new place
2) We haven't had the internet
3) We've been exhausted

But! We've got internet now!

It's been an insane few weeks but, we're making the bend now, thankfully.

I'm having trouble uploading pictures right now so, you'll have to settle for just this one of a tree in our front yard. He's way up there, that Piney Wood. He was, however, a highlight on that particular day. Get it? HIGH-light ? Bahahaa! Or should I say, he was a high-LIGHT ? Oye, I kill.

Anywhoot, I think it's important for me, in this time of transition and change, to make sure I appreciate my daily highlights that life is so grateful to give me. ...Pretty sure that's how those, "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books got started afterall...atleast, it's a good assumption.

Welp, as a preliminary to the updating to come, here ye be....

Today's Highlights:

1) Yesterday/today being the first time in, what seems like forever, that Jason and I have had a chance to even remotely relax and not be fixed to a hard-knocks sched. T.V., leisurely waking up around 7:30am, b-fast, and unpacking on our watch. Perfecta!
2) Discovering the good eats in town together
3) Going to CS to spend some time with Brian/Kim/Madeline
4) Dinner w/ the fam
5) Back to the blog!
6) Getting to write da Hubs letters on here again :)

Dum,da,da,dahhhh (that's my trumbucket trumbucketing)!

Dear Husband, I think you're a warrior. No, but serious, you've battled this move with skill and grace. I don't believe I could've survived without your strength and determination but, especially not without your faith that everything would work out. You've always been the man I've needed you to be (yourself, you're wonderful) but lately, you've really stepped up to the plate. I admire you so much, and wish I could adequately express that admiration to you. You are this family's backbone. And, even though I'm sick of boxes, I'd live in one as long as I was with you. Or, we can just make a sweet-awesome fort in the middle of our livingroom out of some instead :) I love you endlessly.

Project 365. Day One-Ninety-Nine: Long week and some other things...

Baaaaaaaaah. Long, long week. Thankfully, tomorrow is Friday.

So, my old background has apparently bit the dust so, I was forced to choose a new background (thus, the blog is under a little remodeling right now...). I'm lucky for two reasons: 1) I happened to of been thinking of changing up the blog background anyways 2) I accidently changed it to this background earlier today when I was trying to preview it on the blog and I think I'm going to stick w/ it ...atleast for now.

Now, I have to get in the shower and then do my spanish homework and get to bed...

Today's Highlights:

1) Tomorrow is Friday.
2) Pizza Rolls, mac n' cheese, and sweet potato fries--the dinner of champions. Don't judge me.
3) Did I mention tomorrow is Friday ?
4) An Everybody Loves Raymond nap, two nights in a row.


Dear Husband, I've been a bad wife lately...missing out on writing you letters frequently it seems. I'm really sorry, it seems my head hasn't been screwed on straight lately. Thanks for keeping me in line though and helping me organize all my meds. You're a trooper, and I love you...a lott-o. I hope you have a great Friday and I can't wait to spend the weekend with you, no matter what it may bring (boxes and all). Thanks for being patient w/ me through all my ups and downs. I owe you one (or two, or three, or four...). Extra smooches are comin' your way ! ISDLY!
P.s. I hope you find your missing shirt soon. Sorry that the house ate it :(

Project 365. Day One-Fifty-Four: It's like paper dolls...

Today's Highlights:

1) An accidental 2-hour nap w/ a kitten as a pillow. Very refreshing and cuddly!
2) Finding out that one of my commonly read blogs is home to a couple Aggies, whoop!
3) Hubs thoughtfully printing out not only the floor plan of our new duplex but tiny little cut-outs of all of our furniture so that I can play around with the floor plan, reminds me of playing w/ paper dolls :)
4) 3 days until MN !

Project 365. Day One-Thirty-Five: Refresh...

So, I've been thinking...
This bloggizzle needs a serious tune-up!

The whole point of this blog was to remind me to "take time," rather than worry about my to-do list. But, I must confess, I feel as though this blog has crossed the waters and landed onto that to-do list and it threatens to feel more like a chore than a joy. That. Is. Troublesome!

How am I going to fix this, you ask? Well, for starters, I'm not going to squash myself into the box of 365. Let me explain... I will continue on my quest for 365, however, I may change up the format (I think part of my rut comes from my format woes). Also, I think I'm going to try and list 4 (or more) highlights from my day to help remind me to see all the good stuff around me. And finally, I'm going to (try and) give myself a break. The blog doesn't need to be this way or that, or even follow a certain regimen. After all, this blog is about life and life is certainly unpredictable.

I have a few more changes in mind but those are the main ones, whew!

Three cheers for hitting the refresh button!

Today's Highlights:

1) Jason is coming home for lunch, whoop!
2) The AC is going to get fixed before we all melt (?)
3) Home cooked dinner with da Love
4) Wearin' my comfies all day long

Now, I have a kitten who is trying desperately to carry on a conversation with me and sammich or two that need to be made for da Hubs' lunch-a-roo.