2012 in Review

I know it appears as if my 2012 was full of nothing but good times. But for most of 2012 I felt endless sentiments of frustration. I wanted nothing more than to get a job and be able to support myself. I worked my butt off and applied for multiple jobs every single day. I spent endless time editing and catering my resume to every job I applied to. And even then I only got a handful of interviews. Boy oh boy did I feel frustrated, and angry that my degree didn't feel worth anything. But just a few days ago, I got a job offer for my dream position. And in just a few weeks, I will be packing up my life and moving an hour away to start my new career. Its exciting and I am absolutely blessed for everything that happened to me this year. Even though there were a lot of tough times, this year truly put everything into perspective to me. Mainly that I have some very important people in my life and that they have all been there by my side this year. It also let me know that God is there for me, and is so generous and loving.

In January I rang in the new year with one of my best girlfriends and a few of our guy friends. We totally ditched our plans for a fancy/crazy night downtown and instead went to a beachside bar in our party dresses. It was an amazing night! I began my last semester of college and registered to graduate. I started realizing that I needed to get rid of a toxic guy in my life. I started the process of becoming an REHS, but sending in money and paperwork to the state. I also got in a car accident downtown when a taxi ran a red light.

In February I finally signed up for the gym and started slowing getting back into shape. I started attending some gym classes and loved it. I spent valentines day alone (and studying in the library) and realized, that was the last straw with my ex-boyfriend. I also came to the realization that the "funk" I had been in for the past 9 months was depression. One of my roommates (and long time friends) moved out due to her job offered, but the drama that came with paying for rent and finding another person to move in, ended our friendship. My mother also came to visit for a week at the end of the month. She went with me to Church, which was my first time going in years! I loved it and decided to call The Rock, my church.

In March I started having doubts about relationships and love, since I saw all these perfect and long-time couples break up. I applied for orthoptic programs and started getting invites for interviews.  I went to the Drake concert with some good girlfriends of mine. I also randomly invited J out for dinner, and we started dating. At the end of the month I went up to Anaheim to visit my dear friend Sarah. J also kissed me for the first time, and boy was it awkward haha.

In April, I got accepted into my first orthoptic program, but denied it. I realized I couldn't attend the program due to financial reasons. I still spent every moment outside of work and school with J, and started falling fast for him. We made it official on the 20th, and we celebrated by taking a trip down to Mexico for some wine tasting. It was both my first time physically crossing the border, and my first time doing a wine tasting.

In May I stressed out and worked my butt off like crazy to do well my last few weeks of college. In mid-May I graduated college with my B.S. in Biology after 5 long years. My family from all over the country came to support me and see me walk the stage. I started living life after college and enjoyed all my new found free-time.

In June, I surprised J by taking him up to stone brewery for dinner, a tour, and a tasting. I also started my summer job which meant that between both jobs I work 50+ hour weeks.  I started searching and applying to EHS jobs.

In July, I was extremely tired and stressed out by working so many hours and not having days off. My car started having problems again (water pump) and J helped me take it to his mechanic and paid to get it fixed.

In August I got offered a full-time job, but ending up quitting after two days. We celebrated Js 23rd birthday by going out with friends, going to Cinepolis, and having a family BBQ. I bought him his own home-brewing kit :D.  I found out that one of my good friends was pregnant!

In September I started an internship at a local organization, and quit shortly after when I was not gaining the experience I needed. Instead I started volunteering for the same organization, and absolutely loved it. I had multiple friends come in town and had a few girls night out. I decided to pick up running again and started training for a 5k. I turned 23 and J took me out for dinner and drinks. He also surprised me by taking my kayaking in La Jolla for the first time.

In October I started seeing my progress when running and was able to run a 5k without being winded. I started feeling a little down, because J became extremely busy with school and as a result we didn't see each other very much. I also applied for jobs like mad, but didn't hear anything back. My grandpa started getting sick and had to undergo surgery.

In November I started thinking about going back to school to get my masters degree in the future. J made time for me and made me feel loved, despite being busy with school. We went up to LA to watch a Clippers v. Heat game. I registered for my first 5k in 10 years. I got my first big girl interview with the government. I also went home to visit my family for Thanksgiving, and got some new goodies.

In December I got offered a part-time position working for the state. And a day after I got an interview for my dream position, and a few days later they offered me the position!! J went to Guatemala for two weeks, and I went home for the holidays. I also ran my first 5k race in 10 years.



2013 is going to be exciting and full of some big changes. I couldn't be more ready!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all are having a lovely day. I just woke up, and am taking in all the christmas goodness. I am a sucker for all the christmas specials, including watching the 24 hour marathon of a 'Christmas Story'. We only have "big kids" in my parents house, since me and my sister are now in our 20s. But I am so excited to see my niece and nephews! I haven't seen many of them since my graduation back in May. I am so blessed to have so many cuties (my names for them) in my life, they just bring smiles to my face. But I am also a little bummed that there are two people missing from my christmas. The first being my grandpa, who has been sick since October. My poor grandpa has gone through multiple surgeries since then and recently just had one a week ago. Unfortunately, he is still feeling sick. But I am hoping he really starts to feel better, its been hard for him. But I know he is getting the proper care he needs in the hospital so thats where he must be right now.  The second person being J. He has been in Guatemala for the past week, and he won't be back home until a few days. But he called me yesterday at midnight in Guatemala to wish me a merry christmas which was very special and cute. Overall, I am so excited because I have everything I want for christmas and couldn't be more blessed. Therefore this has already been the best christmas.

But I am even more blessed because of a very special gift this christmas; the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the reason we celebrate Christmas, because of the birth of our savior. This is the biggest gift we could be given. A gift of a hope,  a gift of eternal life, and the gift of forgiving our sins. His birth changed the world forever. This christmas I am trying to focus more on Jesus than I have on the past. I am trying to remember to thank him not just for what I have in my life, but for his love and sacrifice for me. I hope many of you also do the same this christmas.
             

Have a merry christmas everyone!

A Dream Come True

I have some pretty exciting news to share:

I GOT MY DREAM JOB!

I will finally start training to become an environmental health specialist. I am still in shock, but it is such an amazing feeling. I truly feel like all my hard work has paid off. I started applying for this position all over the state right after I graduated back in June. With government positions, its a loonnngg process. You apply, fill out supplemental questions, get approved that you've met the minimum requirements for the position, get scored based on your supplemental questions, get ranked compared to everyone you applied against, and then if your ranking is high enough you get invited to an interview. This process can take up to months! I got offered this position earlier this week even though I applied for it back in September!

The first job I applied for I scored a 70....which is a passing score but of course not very high. After that I realized I had to do more if I wanted to get a high score and get invited to an interview. And man did I do everything I could and not all of it worked out smoothly like I hoped. I started and ended an internship within a week. I reached out to some people in the field asking them for advice. Some of the advice being helpful, but other parts still leaving me confused on what to do. I started volunteering on the weekends doing some environmental field work to build up my resume. And I guess it worked, because it all paid off. This position is not in San Diego.....so YES, I will be moving. Luckily, I will not be that far away. I will be living an hour and a half away and plan on coming back down to San Diego on the weekends to see my boyfriend and friends. 

I truly believe in that the quote "nothing worth having comes easy". Every mistake I made, everything I tried, every hour I've been volunteering has paid off. And it has all been worth it--I've learned something from each and every situation. I also believe in God doing everything in his time. I see why he allowed certain things to happen (or not happen)  these last few months. It has brought me to this moment. I feel so blessed, so happy, and so proud. I can't believe I get to start my career at age 23! I will also finally being able to fully support myself and start paying off my student loans. God has been so good to me.

My lovely little weekend

I had such a great week followed by a great weekend. Things were absolutely perfect, and I had a smile on my face the whole week. .  But I am thanking God for these opportunities, and asking him to continue to open more doors for me.

In terms of this weekend, I ended up working both Friday and Saturday. But Friday evening we ended up heading out to December nights at balboa park. I couldn't believe how crowded it was and it took us a good half an hour to find a parking spot. But once we were inside we got some delicious food, headed to beer garden, and walked around. It was a great double date night! Oh and I forgot to mention they had the best Saturday was a relaxing day where we just stayed in and watched TV.

Sunday morning was a big deal for me, I completed the Retro Run. It was my first 5k in 10 years, and I finished in 28:17. It was a big goal for 2012 and I am glad I finally did it. But now its time to start training for a 10k and 15k. Its been a hard leap, but I know I can do it. I am going to start little by little, so that I can run the hot chocolate run in March. And hopefully I will be completing a few more 5ks and at least a 10k in between that time.  After the race we decided to celebrate with a champagne brunch. I can't even explain how nice it feels to catch up with the girls with a glass of champagne in hand. I'm turning into quite the champagne lover lately (bye bye wine), I've been having it at least 2x a week.  In the evening I headed to church for a great service, and then I came home to J and his friends grilling. We had such a good time eating, drinking, sharing funny stories, and just relaxing on a wonderful Sunday evening. I couldn't have ended the weekend on a better note
1

My hipster glasses + Good News

Happy hump day lovelies! Who ever said hump days had to be horrible? Because mine has been absolutely excellent. I woke up this morning next to my hunny. He never sleeps over during the weekdays, so having him sleep over on a Tuesday night and waking up to him the next morning was beautiful. I spent the first part of my day running errands and got them done so quickly. I was then able to squeeze in a 3.75 mile run. I can't wait to get new running shoes! And I also can't wait for the retro run this Sunday! Time to start stepping my game up for a 10k, 15k, and half-marathon. Yes, there is a lot of training to do.

The second half of my day was spent being pampered, and boy was it so amazing. My mom bought me a living social voucher for a shellac manicure. I've had it since September so it was time to use that baby. I ended up going with a dark dark navy, almost black color for my nails. I'm excited to see how long it lasts, since I've heard nothing but good things about shellac. I also decided to get a pedicure, regardless if its winter...because I live in San Diego. Its still acceptable for me to wear sandals in December due to lovely 75 degree weather. Yes, be jealous. I also got my hair done! I get my hair chemically relaxed every other month, so it was time for me go see my stylist. I decided to chop my hair again, as I am secretly addicted to the a-line. But I think this will be the last time. I think next time (hopefully) I will be going with extensions. Quite extreme huh? I guess I can't be in the middle of anything.

As if my productive and pampered day wasn't enough, things got even better

1. I got a job offer!

2. I got an interview for my dream position!

3. I got an exam date for a similar dream position!

Yes, all three of those things happened today. I just couldn't believe it! I pretty much screamed at all the good news. The Job offer is for a scientific aid and although it is part-time, its definitely a great opportunity and a step in the right direction. And I can't wait to interview for my dream position. It is outside of San Diego so I would have to move. But I wouldn't be that far away and would be able to come back on the weekends. I am so thankful for all of these opportunities, God has been so good to me. 

Winter Red

I've finally jumped on the bandwagon and have started wearing red lipstick. I feel like its been "in" for a while now, and every girl I've seen wear red lipstick looks absolutely fabulous. I don't know why I've waited until now to try it, but I am glad I finally made the leap. After the first five minutes of putting it on I thought I looked weird. But then it started growing on me. I can't wait to wear it more. Its putting me in the mood to get fancy and go out more. I'm usually in a rut of being casual all the time due to my job. Its not that I cannot dress up, its just not practical. My clothes usual get stained, destroyed, and worn by the end of the day. So I make sure I wear clothes that I don't care that much about. But I definitely notice a difference in my confidence when I make an effort to do my make-up and dress up.

Since my red lipstick got me feeling great, I decided to make some other great purchases. I bought a new purse from F21, and I absolutely love it. I've been using an old beat up one from charlotte russe that I've had for two (most likely three) years now. That purse has been through a lot and to be honest it made me feel immature. I feel like I outgrew it and needed something more mature to make me feel more like an adult. The only reason I haven't boughten a new one is because money has been so tight. But I finally caved in and bought a new purse and its crazy how much of an impact it has had on my confidence. I feel grown-up, mature, and like a lady. In addition, I've also added some new leggings, pants, sweaters, and tops to my wardrobe. And I've added some new eyeliner and lashes to my make-up bag. I feel amazing, so much more like a 23 year old and not like the 20 year old college girl that I used to be.

Now I think its time to do a little organizing. I think its time to go through my closet and toss the old and make room for all the new additions.

Be More Awesome!

Lately, I have been trying to do more of what makes me happy awesome. I want to make sure that day by day, I am working to make myself a better person in all ways possible. Whether that be physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Working on all these things has left me feeling pretty awesome. I feel overwhelming positive and confident right now and I absolutely love it.

I have been trying to keep up with running as much as possible, and I can say that I finally feel in shape. I am proud to announce that this morning I ran 5 miles! Yes, five whole miles. I timed my self at 41:51, just for future reference. But I have never ran 5 miles consecutively in my life, so this is a big deal for me. That means that I am more than half way at running my goal of 15k. Even though 5 miles is great, I really need to pick up the slack. I need to keep increasing my mileage week by week. And I need to make sure I am running at least 3x a week. I am hoping to kick that into gear after Christmas. Unfortunately, I am in need of new running shoes. My old ones are making my ankle twist every time I pick up my foot. So its getting pretty painful. Since, I can't afford nice spanking new shoes....I am asking for them for Christmas. I can't wait for those new ones! In the meantime I have signed up for my first 5k in 10 years (yea I ran a few in 7th grade)! I am doing the Retro run on December 9th with a few girlfriends. I will definitely be rocking a cute tutu and some other crazy retro wear. I'm feeling so amazing, and happy that I am reaching new goals!

Thanksgiving: Bay Area Love

I am finally back from an amazing vacation and visit back home. My five day vacation ended up being extended into a seven day trip, thanks to my flight being cancelled. And you know what? I truly enjoyed every second of it. It was seriously much needed. Lately, my head has been clouded with feelings of frustration and failure. This whole lack of a full-time job and money seriously eats away at me day by day. And having gone through depression just not so long ago, I'm scared that those thoughts will push me back to those dark times again. But I keep fighting my way out. This vacation allowed me to relax, clear my mind, become really motivated and most importantly have faith that something good is coming my way.

My first day home me and my sister went on a true bay adventure. It started off with lunch in Jack London in Oakland. My sister took me to a cute little restaurant called chop bar. We wanted to have breakfast originally, but it was too late. So instead I chowed down on some fish tacos instead. Well, whats lunch without a little dessert? So we decided to to feed our sweet tooth. We headed to CREAM in Berkeley, which is an ice-cream sandwich shop. You get build your own ice cream sandwich by picking what type of cookie and ice-cream you want. I wish I would have taken pictures, but we were too busying stuffing our faces. And the last leg of our bay trip was across the bridge to San Francisco. We did a lot of driving around and sighting and stopped to get some macaroons. And of course we made it a must to go down Lombard street and across the Golden Gate Bridge. I haven't been back home to the Bay in almost a year, so it was interesting to see what has changed and what still looks the same.

The rest of my trip was filled with spending time with family, friends, and relaxing. My dearest grandpa is recovering from surgery so he has been in an assisted living home, doing physical therapy and what not. I am happy to see that he is getting better, but he is definitely not the same. Its kind of scary because my grandpa has always been so healthy, and seeing him like that makes me sad. But the good news is he is feeling better and stronger each day, and for that I am thankful.  I cannot wait to head home again for the holidays.

Mimosas + NBA Games

This week was definitely a lot of fun, and unconventional compared to my normal weeks. Monday night, I had a dinner date with J. Like I have mentioned before, we usually do not see each other during the weekdays. But since I got off work early we decided to venture off to hillcrest for dinner. We stopped at a little cafe and ordered wine and mimosas. I had some lobster ravioli which was absolutely delicious! In fact I am kind of craving it right now. Our goal is to venture out to new places, so I am happy that we have been going to all new restaurants lately. Before leaving hillcrest we stopped at a creperie and shared chocolate mousse, and we also looked through a bookstore (but we didn't see any good finds).

Wednesday was a ton of fun! We roadtripped up to LA for the Clippers v. Heat game. I haven't been to a NBA game in about 10 years, so I was crazy excited. We won tickets from out job and were so very thankful for the opportunity. We ended up leaving San Diego at 2:30 to make sure we didn't run into any traffic. We did get to LA early, so we ended up walking around and decided to have dinner at the ESPN zone. By the time we were done, it was time to head into the game. It was fun and the energy was great! I was surprised there were a lot of heat fans, but we were rooting for the clippers. We didn't get back to San Diego until midnight and were dead tired. But our day was so much fun, and we are really hoping to squeeze in an NFL game before the season is over.

All this fun has made my week go by so fast. I am expecting my weekend to be a nice one, since I am not really working that many hours. I might just have a plan to do a little bit of shopping and to get some new books. I am already on vacation mode.

A weekend in love

Happy Monday! Unfortunately, I do not have the day off like usual. But, I do have Wednesday off which is almost just as good. Actually, this week should be pretty slow work wise as I am not working that many hours. So I guess that will leave me plenty of time to run run run!

Anyways, this weekend was perfect is so many ways.  I know I've mentioned it a little, but me and J don't see each other that much since he is so incredibly busy with school. Although, I am completely supportive of him and understand that school is his main priority....I started feeling a bit neglected. With him having two full days off from both school and work, I expected a few hours of his time. But his response would always be "I don't know, I have a paper I need to work on". Yup, I started feeling sad. But this weekend was great, we jam-packed 3 nights together! It was like old-times and made me feel all giddy again. I love him so, he kept a smile on my face all weekend.


+ Friday night we had a double-date with my friend Travis. We ventured out to The Range in Hillcrest and had some yummy food and beer. It was San Diego Beer Week, so of course we had to try some new beer. Overall it was a great night, laughing and spending time with my bestfriend and my boyfriend.

+ Saturday night we stayed in and I made J dinner and we had a bottle of champagne. Of course we were tired and went to bed early. But there is nothing better than staying at home and being in his arms.

+ Sunday I woke up and attended the Vision Walk 2012. I met up with some old friends from college and it was great catching up.  Afterwards we ended up going to Hillcrest again for some much needed brunch (and mimosas!). The rest of the day was spend under the covers, watching tv, and applying for jobs. Nice and relaxing.

Beautiful, simple, and fun weekend. I am so excited to head home in a week to see my family. I can't wait for my little mini-vacation.  I am hoping to go on some great East Bay explorations (Oakland, Berkeley) and also do some much needed SF adventures. Suggestions anyone?

Four More Years

I am so proud to have Obama as our President for another four years. I truly believe he is a President that cares about me and the issues that affect my life. And more so, he is a President who is willing to fight for me. I am so proud of what a great leader he is. He has accomplished so much in four years, despite starting his term with a complete and utter mess. I will continue to support him in these next four years as he continues to work hard to better our country. I just can't explain the emotions that I feel, but they are all good. It feels so good to be an American.

November

{I was a black cat for halloween}

Is it really November? I just cannot believe it. I mean I seriously believe I will close my eyes and then it will be 2013. I am starting to REALLY feel like life is going to start whipping by. I thought college went by fast, but now I feel like life after college goes a lot faster......

Recently, I've just been applying to a series of jobs/internships and talking to random people in various industries. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome and helpful some people have been. I truly appreciate all these kind strangers and all of their help. But on the bright side I believe that I will have a new job by the end of this month. It might not be my dream position, but at least it will be something in which I will be gaining valuable work experience and also getting paid decent money. No more struggling financially. I've actually started making a list of the things I need to buy and have been putting off, and also some things I want to splurge on. I'm kind of thinking about surprising J when he gets back from Guatemala from the holidays.  We will see! But for now, my two main goals for November are to keep up running and to also start a new job!

I've definitely been enjoying spending nights at home instead of going out. Me and J joke around and say that we are old people, because we turned 23 and we don't go out anymore. With him being busy and having to study all the time,  and me being broke and needing to save money, going out just isn't in the books right now. But I can't complain, because staying in and drinking wine is pretty nice also. 

What are your goals for November?

Friday Favorites: Fall & Halloween

Happy Friday! I can't believe this week just flew by. I honestly thought it was going to feel long since I had a full work week (usually I have wednesdays off). But I am happy to say that the weekend is here, and I am actually very excited! First off: I am going to the pumpkin patch today! Its been years since I've last picked out a pumpkin at a legit patch. I'm hoping to walk away with a cute pumpkin, but also do a hayride, and go through a maze. I feel like the little girl inside of me is squirming around with excitement. And tomorrow we have a huge halloween event at work which should be a lot of fun. I love seeing little kids in their precious halloween costumes. I'm in charge of helping with the costume parade...awwww! Although, at work earlier this week a little boy told me he was going to be a "glowing octopus arm". Yea....I'm still not sure what that is. Anyways, In the evening I am planning on heading out with my co-workers for some halloween fun. I'm excited! I'm pretty sure this will be my first time going out since my birthday. And this will also be my first time celebrating halloween in the past two years. In the past I have always been swamped with midterms that always land during halloween. School always impacted my social life.

Here are some lovely Friday Favorites that have made me all excited for fall season and halloween!

(via pinterest)

1. Fall Outfits

This outfit is so cute! Time for me to start putting away the tanks & sandals, and pulling out the sweaters and boots. If I had more money I would totally re-vamp my fall and winter wardrobe. But I am hoping to add a chambray shirt to my closet.

2. Skeleton out of plastic Jugs

Love this idea! Especially since we've been doing this at work for the kids.

3. Painting pumpkins

I've definitely tried this on some baby pumpkins I bought and it turned out so cute.

I'm definitely a fan on painting pumpkins.

Sundays are Perfect

{Thank you random construction company for making my 5k count}

I love Sundays for the fact that they always feel so calm and peaceful. This was the first rainy Sunday I've experienced in about half a year, so I was tempted to stay in my sweatpants all day (okay, I don't own a pair but the boy does) and just cuddle and drink tea. But I already had a list of things I needed to do today, so as soon as my alarm went off at 7:15am I hit the ground running.

I spent the first few hours of my morning volunteering and doing some water quality monitoring. It was just the sweetest thing because J woke up with me and packed me a little breakfast even though I know he wanted to sleep in. He's a keeper! But overall the volunteering went well. We had a larger group than last month so we were able to get things done a lot faster. And it was cool meeting so many young and bright people interested in environmental science, especially women. I was the only last girl last time, so it was nice having other girls present. I also felt kind of cool because I lead the phosphate tests on the samples we collected, so I kind of felt like a veteran.

After volunteering I knew I HAD to run. If I didn't right then, I knew would get too lazy and not run at all today. So off to the lake I went. For some reason, I was really tired. Like seriously, after running a quarter of a mile my body fell into exhaustion. But I kept my mind focused and stuck it out and ran the whole 5k as I had planned. I even ran most of the way back, totaling at least 5 miles today! It feels pretty amazing and I love that I am getting more into shape. I know its been a process and will continue to be, but I am honestly reaching goals and it feels damn good. Yes, I touched the bulls eye up there so my 5k counted!

I was finally able to squeeze in some of that calm and relaxing Sunday after finishing my run. I headed to J's house with some pizza for us. And while he studied (aka really watch football) I laid in bed in his sweats and sipped some yummy tea that he made for the two of us. His mom had also made this delicious chicken soup which was perfect for a rainy/cloudy day like today. Its like it warmed and soothed my soul. I was happy to get the relaxing aspect in, but I knew I had one more thing left to do.

The last part of my Sunday included heading to church. As I mentioned here, going to church every Sunday just gets me so inspired and puts me in a great mood for the rest of the week. It also just helps me put everything into perspective.  Of course I was tired before going to service, but at the end of service I was so happy that I attended.

How was your Sunday?

So honestly, my life hasn't been too exciting and there really isn't anything new happening. But I guess that is a good thing. Its okay to have things nice and peaceful. My biggest adjustment has been just having LOTS of free time to myself. Its nice, because I can come home in the evenings and focus on applying for jobs and then working out. But even after that I find that I still have a lot of free hours in my week. I've been trying to decide if I should find some more volunteering to do a few times a month, finding an internship in an unrelated field, or maybe even just pick up a part-time job (which would be ideal).

The thing is I just don't know what path is right for me at the moment. For once in my life, I don't have a plan. I just know that past plans have not worked out for me, and so I am willing and ready to try and learn new things. I have all this free time so I mine as well take advantage of it. I'm just going to apply for some things and see who I hear back from and try to make a decision. Its going to require some deep thinking though.

I'm going to take this peaceful time as a blessing and take advantage of it. 

Church-Goer

I love going to church. When I walk out of a service, I feel such an overwhelming feeling of positivity. I feel like I want to do good,  make changes, help others,  stay busy, connect with friends, have hope, have faith, and try to be holy in all that I do throughout the week. Its just such a great feeling and it makes me want to focus all my energy into doing great things. Lately, I've been switching things up by attending service early in the morning. And its great to go first thing in the morning to have a clear mind throughout the rest of the day.  I hope to take more time in my life for God.

I know lately my head has been clouded. I have been negative and I have been feeling down. This whole "job search" has been getting the best of me. I thought because I worked hard in college, and got a tough degree (biology) that getting a job would be easy. I felt that I was entitled and that I was deserving of it. I thought because I have struggled my whole life and have been working and have been highly responsible since I was 16, that I should be catching a break at this point of my life. But I know that is not true. I find myself getting jealous over friends who can take nice trips, buy new cars, and own fancy designer things. I know there are so many deserving people out there who have been put in some unfair situations. Thats life. I can only have faith and continue to work hard. I just have to remember this is temporary. And on God's time everything will work out for me. Everything happens for a reason, and this period of my life will make me strong.


Years ago I would have never thought that I would "love" going to church. But I am proud to say that it molds, shapes me, and makes me into a happy girl with a serving and open heart.

Running is Life

Today was my day off so of course I planned to get in a little bit of running. I try to spend my days off doing a longer run and on a trail of some sorts (instead of a treadmill at the gym). I've been working hard this past month on getting back into shape and hitting the gym. And I am proud say I am finally seeing and feeling the difference. Today, I was able to run a 5k at the lake. I used to walk/run the lake randomly throughout college, and I would seriously be so tired. So running the whole way today felt so so amazing! It was a major accomplishment for me. I seriously now feel like I can do anything. I might just have to run a 10k, 15k, and a half-marathon before I reach the age of 24. Overall, my body just feels great. I have so much energy and I feel healthy and strong. I am so happy I have been getting back into running again, I hope to keep it up and accomplish more and more.

Appreciating fall

I am starting to get pretty excited for fall. I know I was just saying that I never wanted summer to end. But fall is really starting to rub off on me. In the past few years I've been spending my fall seasons studying away and being fully involved in my school work. Now, that I am a graduate I want to really appreciate this time of year that I am usually too busy to even notice. I've been looking up little events and things to do such as the Julian apple harvest, Oktoberfest, Halloween festivals, decorating pumpkins, baking fall goodies, etc. Since me and J are spending less time together overall due to him being in school, I want to make the most of us spending time together and enjoying this season.

Recently, I've been working a lot and gaining a little more independence. With J being in school all day, I've been learning how to spend my free time in other ways. This includes spending time and catching up with other friends. I ended up going hiking with my friend Travis (and his dog Ruby) on Wednesday and had such a good time. It was so good catching up and getting a little work-out in. I hadn't been hiking in a while (even though its one of my favorite activities!) so it felt great. I am hoping to get in touch with more friends, of course its hard growing up and everyone having conflicting schedules and their own lives.  But I really want to make a better effort.

Things have been going really well, the perfect balance of everything. Of course I wish I could see J more, but this is something I am just going to have to get used to. He is going to be in school these next two years and I am sure things are going to get harder sometime in between. But it is fine, and I am willing to do this. Especially, since he has been great and has been putting in effort too.  I will get used to seeing him less than usual.

What are your plans for this weekend?

Being Motivated

I have been feeling so incredibly motivated lately and I love it! I think this motivation is stemming from me recently turning 23 and from my boy starting school. There has been lots of inspiration being pushed my way and I love it. I've been making small and subtle changes, and I really hope to keep them up. I just truly feel that 23 is the year to make changes and start living the life I've always wanted. What are some things I have been up to?

1. I'm happy to say I have started attending church again. I went through a period this summer where I've been skipping out on services and have been watching them online.  But I woke up early and attended service and it felt so good to go and be there. So now I am going to make it a habit to wake up early and attend the morning service so I can spend the rest of the day watching football, relaxing, and hanging out with my boy.

2. I've been applying to a series of jobs like crazy. I am hoping that one of them comes through, but I won't be waiting quietly to hear back. I am going to continue to work hard and to keep applying like crazy. I am going to continue volunteering and gaining experience. I am also hoping to get in contact with the environmental health department to see if they have any volunteer opportunities for me to gain experience. I'm ready to take this to the next level and really make myself a strong applicant!

3. I am so happy to say that I finally ran over 30 minutes straight the other day. And what was even better was that I didn't feel like I was going to die. I felt like I could have continued running! I still have not found a 10k race to enter, but I am going to complete a 5k first. I haven't ran a 5k since middle school, so this will be a big deal. But I am excited to complete it and I am excited that J has decided to run with me. I've also been taking vitamins and overall I feel great and healthy!

Life at 23

On Wednesday I turned 23 years old. Another year old, and another year wiser? I surely hope so. I had a lovely little birthday though. I started the morning off by volunteering at SDRPF and getting some experience doing water quality testing. I've been looking for resume builders since I so desperately need it.  My biggest problem in landing a job has been because I lack experience, despite having my degree. I had to quit my internship because I was not getting the experience that I needed, so therefore it was a big waste of my time. From now on I will be volunteering, until I find another internship or job.

After spending four hours of the day volunteering, I came home and took a nice relaxing shower and got dolled up. By this time George had came over and had brought me gifts. He is such a good boyfriend because he did so well. He got me a pair of studded flats, a new moleskine, chocolate covered strawberries, and had made me a beautiful painting for my room. I love having an artist for a boyfriend! Our evening concluded with dinner at indigo grill in little italy and some champagne drinking at vin de syrah. A few good friends joined us later in the evening for drinks! Overall, it was a lovely little birthday.

So I've already broken in my moleskin with a few goals for the age of 23, along with my biggest accomplishments at age 22. Twenty-two was honestly an okay year for me, definitely a roller-coaster of ups and downs. I went from being depressed and hating life to falling in love and trying new things. It was not my best year, even though I cannot complain about all the good things that also happened. I am hoping and praying that 23 is a good year for me. Most of all I hope I start a career and life more of the life I want.

I'll give it my all

+ I've been taking advantage of my free-time on Mondays and Wednesdays by working out and hitting the gym. I thought of the crazy idea of running a half marathon sometime in early 2013, but now I am having second thoughts about that. I am just starting to get back into shape, so my runs are still feeling really rough. Today was the first time running on a trail (as opposed to the treadmill at the gym) and after 2.5 miles I was feeling pretty winded. So maybe I will work towards a 5k and then a 10k. Obviously, I still have a lot morning training to do as I am not even in shape yet.  But maybe after I hit those markers, I can determine if I still want to run a half marathon or not.

+ My internship is so far so good, and I've been putting in a lot of time. But at the same time, my mentor is moving away at the end of the month. I really liked her, her work ethic, and her personality.  So having to adjust to someone new for the next two months is going to be rough.  Other than that, everything is going well.

+ So what do you guys do when your boyfriend is out of town? I'm sure most of you hangout with friends and family. I just clean up my room and take care of things that never get done. My boy is out of the country right now visiting his family in Tijuana, and I haven't had any contact with him (can't get service). It's weird because even though we've been apart from each other a few times before, we still stay connected through calls/texts.  But I've only gotten a facebook wall post from him this morning. I thought he was coming back tonight, but I am unsure (he has the next week and a half off so he can really stay as long as he wants).  I just hope he comes back soon, I just want to squeeze him and never let go.

+ My job search in San Diego is still not going well. And with my dream job starting to open in various counties around California. This means I just might have to move even though I don't want to. With the boy starting school soon, we will be spending a lot less time together anyways. So I'm sure wherever I end up, I can still see him on the weekends. But here goes nothing.....

+ And lastly....I turn 23 in a week from Wednesday. Yes, its scary!

Life as of Lately

Happy Hump Day! I can't believe we are now entering the second half of the work week. Of course my schedule is not a typical 9:00-5:00 so the days of the week are always kind of scattered to me. I thought this week would feel kind of busy and rushed, but its actually been kind of low-key and chill.

On Monday, I started the first day of my internship. I was basically thrown right into field work, which involved hiking off trail through trees, brush, and unstable terrain. I also walked through a bush of bees and damn near had a heart attack. We identified sources of trash and used an GPS device to mark them for our clean-up event on Saturday. Today I had a quick orientation and learned more about the SDRPF and also the history of the San Diego River. Definitely very cool. I'm a little anxious about this event this Saturday and I'm sure next week will be a lot more intense. But I am ready and willing and learn as much as possible!

One thing I've been bouncing around in my head is if I should relax a little or work harder? Lets face it, I am not happy with my current financial situation. I thought that at this point in time I would have a new and exciting full-time job, making decent money, and using my degree. The thing is I have gotten a few opportunities, but not as many as I wish. I am tired of struggling financially, and tired of spending all this extra time looking for jobs--It definitely takes its toll. My mind is running a mile a minute. But now I am left wondering if this new job hasn't come yet due to the fact that I am not trying hard enough, or that I have too much going on right now... Should I step it up, or step down? I mean I just started this internship and yet I am still looking for more work. I think I might just be lacking in the quality, and I should put more effort into perfecting myself when applying for a few jobs instead of rushing and applying to as many jobs as possible. I am blessed to have parents that support and help me out, but I strive for nothing more than to be an independent young lady.

A little love + A little change

So many amazing things have happened this past week, and I am feeling truly happy and blessed.

Accepted a new internship

Spending a day at the beach in a tent

Getting paid to hula-hoop and play with kids on labor day

Finding out I'll be keeping my pay rate for the next month at least

New white nail polish

Spending time with an old high school friend

Endless hugs and kisses from my amazing boy

Having my boy take care of me during an allergic reaction

Watching hunger games while eating the best fudge brownies

Trying Vietnamese sandwiches for the first time

Having a girls night out

Finding out I am going to be an aunt again

I think I may be coming to terms with accepting and truly enjoying the simple things in life. I can't even believe how amazing this past week has been, and its not like anything super crazy or luxurious has happened. I just feel happy and I am going to take on one thing at a time. That might also mean being more strict and budgeting more. It might also mean finding a second job and staying extra busy. A little sacrifice will do me good, and in the meantime I will enjoy all those little things that really make life so great.

LA + Beach time

Can't believe this weekend is already ending, but it was the perfect mixture of business and pleasure. On Friday after work I headed up to LA to take an exam for a laboratory position I applied for. The test was 8:00am Saturday morning, and I arrived about 30 minutes early. When I arrived I saw the parking lot was full and that there were dozens of other people walking to the front of the school (where the test was taking place) also. As I approach the entrance a guy directs me to the correct line, since there were multiple exams going on that day. But oh man there were over 100 people in my line! Talk about nerve-wrecking. And honestly the test was pretty hard. They tested on organic chemistry concepts which I didn't expect, and which was my least favorite class in college. And there were questions about things that I never learned in college. Overall, I don't think I did so hot. I'll get my results in the mail shortly. Again, another learning experience. Next time I will study more! But I really think I'm going to start reviewing old college books and notes every night in order to stay on top of some things.  And now I have a good idea of what type of questions that will ask on these types of exams.

The same day I ended up driving to the Pacific Palisades to meet up with a college friend of mine. We got to catch up over lunch in Santa Monica. And then it was back on the road to San Diego. Unfortunately, I got stuck in horrible LA traffic. I mean ridiculous. It took me an additional hour to get back to San Diego. I guess I was exhausted from the drive because all I did was crash the night I got home.

This morning I woke up next my amazing boyfriend and for once (he loves to cook) we decided to go out for breakfast. So we tried this new restaurant called the mission in the east village area of San Diego. The wait wasn't too bad and the food was seriously amazinggggg! Our portions were huge, and neither of us were able to finish our dishes which is saying a lot. The rest of the day included napping and heading to La Jolla for a beach day with my man. Oh and of course I ended the night with some true blood. What a crazy finale! They always leave me ready for the next season. Summer 2013, why do you have to be so far away?

And tomorrow I am a lucky girl, because I have the day off. I am planning on taking full advantage of it! Hello gym time, errand time, crafting time, laundry time, cleaning time, and job applying time! I have a feeling its going to be a productive but sweet day.

My week off

It was a nice and relaxing week off, and I enjoyed spending all the free time.

Late night swims

Dancing

Road trips to LA

Nights out with the co-workers

Applying to jobs and internships

Lots of kisses from my boy

Walks along the beach

Home cooked meals from scratch

Reading the bible

Now its back to the real world and working. I'm still on the search to find more jobs and internships. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. 

twists & turns

So, after 1.5 days of working at my new job...I quit. Yes, I quit. Unfortunately, the position just isn't what I expected. As an administrative assistant I thought I would be doing a variety of tasks including paperwork, copies, filling, writing emails/letters, and making phone calls. But the past day(s) I've been doing nothing but answering the phone every time it rings, along with every other employee at the company. It was just not what I expected, and I wish I would have asked in more detail what my job responsibilities would have been. I was already miserable and it was my second day, I could see no way that I could continue. So I quit...and therefore I am back on the search.

Fortunately, I was able to contact my old job and will be put back on the schedule for next week. But I still need to be actively looking for another position. And since I have the rest of the week off, I am planning on waking up every morning, heading to starbucks and sitting in the corner with my coffee while I apply for as many jobs as possible.

I guess this was just another learning experience from the beginning of my adult life. I am determined to get this life of mine under control and down by my birthday. No more pushing the deadlines back!

This Weekend

 This weekend I.....

Enjoyed two days off (rare!), prepared for my man's bday, spent time at the beach, walked along the pier, made plans for next summer, pulled off a surprise evening for J's bday, had a night of drinks and dancing with friends, enjoyed a yummy Italian lunch, sweated way too much from the heat wave, ran/caught up on errands, watched the last of olympics games, napped from being tired from the heat.

Tomorrow I wake up early to start my new job! I am experiencing a rush of feelings: excited, nervous, disbelief, etc. This will be my first time in my life working full-time for one job. Of course I've been working 40-55 hours week between 2 jobs this entire summer, but now I get to focus my attention on just one position. I'm ready to give it my all, and make it through this probationary phase so that I can get the raise and hopefully move out of my place and start saving up for a new car. Wish me good luck on this new endeavor.

Living & Learning

(Me hiking Cabrillo Monument in Point Loma)

With so many things changing in my life at this moment...I feel like I am truly growing up. And with that comes making decisions-- important decisions. Decisions that cannot be catergorized as right or wrong, but decisions that can truly change the direction of my life. It's been hard for me to make these decisions, because it all comes with fear of the unknown and fear of not knowing what will happen in the end. Thats life though. Sometimes we know we want, but we don't always get it. Our lives can take completely different directions than what we may have planned for ourselves. 

So I am slowly learning to make those decisions, and learning from both the good and the bad that may result. I am taking everything as a lesson and experience. I have no idea where this life of mine will take me. But I am accepting this unknown journey and I am learning and becoming a better, more intelligent, and more well-rounded woman from it.

words to live by: growing from the past

I can say that this past year (summer 2011-summer 2012) has been an extremely tough year for me. I was at my all time low, and every factor of my life seemed to be hitting me hard. That summer I was optimistic about moving away from campus in a great condo, and having two jobs which would allow me to finally start saving up for a trip abroad. But things did not go that way at all. It all started in June 2011 when within a week I had moved into a new place, started two jobs, and the transmission in my car went out. Needless to say I was extremely stressed and also broke due to just moving. Eventually my car got fixed, but I was still in a financial bind. What made it better was a new guy I was seeing that eventually turned into a relationship. For once my love life was going right.

But within a month things turned sour again. He had broke up with me and didn't explain himself, he just ignored me which is the worst feeling. And even though I spent thousands on getting my transmission replaced, my car still continued to give me problems. And although I was busting my ass at two jobs and not even having a day off, I was still extremely broke.  I was stressed, confused, and hating my life.

By the time summer had ended I was a mess. I was bitter that I would be starting school again because if I was finished, I would be able to work and not be broke. I still worked whatever days I didn't go to school which was nice but meant no real days off. And somehow I got in contact with my ex again and we started talking again. The school year was such a mess for me and my self-confidence. I hated school and it drove me insane. I forced myself to study and hated it, because I felt like I should be working. The majority of my friends had graduated the year before and I saw them go off and get jobs and start the next chapter in their life. My car still gave me multiple problems, costing me more and more money. And still I kept talking to my ex....feeling some sense of importance because someone was interested in me. Even when I had found text messages to other girls, I still stuck around. I was stupid and didn't realize it till later on. What a blow it took to my self-esteem and image. I felt hopeless, unmotivated, and out of control of my life.

Eventually things did end with him. I got tired of making all this effort, when he could just sit back. So when I stopped, everything stopped between us. School still drove me nuts, but I knew I had just a matter of weeks left. So I used all my strength to keep going, even if it drove me insane. And shortly after I started talking to a nice young man that is now my boyfriend. In the end...I made it! I graduated with my bachelors in biology and finally had a healthy and happy love life.

And I was happy for a while afterwards, but I let anxiety and worry get the best of me this summer. I found myself not being happy because I was still broke (again working two jobs, but this time between 40-55 hours a week). I thought it would be somewhat easy to land a decent job outside of graduation considering I live in a large city and because of my major. And even though I was sending out multiple applications a day, days would turn into weeks, and weeks into months and I wouldn't hear anything back. I was extremely jealous and bitter at all the fun activities and vacations my friends got to partake in because they had the money. And even though I was in this great relationship and really happy with my boyfriend, I still would have this fear in the back of my mind that he would leave me for his ex-gf, since they had shared a history being on-off. It took me a while to realize that that fear had stemmed from my past relationship with my ex, and me still talking to him even though he was talking to other girls. It had made me feel not good-enough, not pretty-enough, not funny-enough, etc. Just everything about this past year had left me feeling weak and fragile, both emotionally and mentally.

But I feel like its time to embark on this new chapter of my life. I can't change the past year, I can only learn  from it. And as much as I hate to admit it, it will always have an effect on me and my esteem. But I am working so hard on that. And I know that I will be able to grow from it. I am working on being more positive and giving myself more credit. I am pretty, I am strong, and I can do anything. I need to stop worrying about tomorrow, accept what I have, and be thankful for it. I have a lot to look forward to in this crazy thing called life.

+Positivity

So I have very good news my friends.......

I GOT A FULL-TIME JOB!

Yes it is true! And I am still kind of in shock...but I am now an administrative assistant for a local pest control company.  Its an 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday which means I will get my weekends back! If I pass the probationary phase after 45 days, I will then get a raise and benefits. I am happy that finally someone has seen something in me and has decided to give me the chance. I finally landed a big-kid job after finishing my bachelors and now I can say that it feels like my life is coming together. 

I refuse to sink

(via)

My week of positivity went okay. I started of strong, got a weak in the middle, and then picked it up again.  But life has been pretty much the same, with minor updates. Haven't really heard back about too many jobs, so I am still working 40-50 hours a week between my two jobs. I've still been applying like crazy and I'm hoping to step my game up as we are entering August and will be ending my second job in about three week. My car has been having MORE issues, but the bf and his mom were sweet enough to help me take care of it. But I really need a new car with less problems. 

For August I am hoping for more adventures, friend time, a new job, and saving up for a new car.

words to live by

Its another 50+ hour work week for me, yet I decided to start this week off differently. I feel like my negative thinking is not going to make anything better. I've been bitter, frustrated, angry, and almost depressed at times. I've been complaining out of my ass about anything and everything. I've been using my excuse of working two jobs and over 40 hours a week as a reason to explain excessive tiredness and make excuses all around. I know I don't give myself enough credit a lot of the time, but I also know I can do better. I need to stop feeling bad for myself and just suck it up.

At the same time maybe its time to put in some more effort on my search for a new job. Maybe I need to switch some things up. Obviously, whatever I am doing is not working. But I want to be more proactive, because time is winding down. I know I deserve it and I know I want it so bad. I will continue to be patient, but I will also continue to work hard.

My goal this week: work hard, no complaining, stay humble

Still on a mission

I'm ashamed that I haven't updated in almost a month. That wasn't my intention. But every time I found myself trying to update, I felt myself getting ready to write the same negative post over again. And I didn't want to bore anyone (including myself) with redundancy.

But since I updated things have pretty much been the same. I've been over-worked and still struggling. I still have not heard back from any jobs. I'm just hoping that something comes through soon. I've gotten invited on so many great adventures: roadtrips to LA, hiking in the great redwoods, and vegas. But yet, I can't afford it or even take time off. Its a lame cycle. I keep trying to get myself to think positively.

Finding the perfect balance

I thought that after graduating college I would have my shit together. I would find an awesome job, work full time, have the weekends off, make enough money to buy pretty clothes and take awesome vacations, and have a pretty structured day to day schedule and life. I am sorry to say, that hasn't been the case at all. This is not what I pictured for myself and I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. I thought I would be okay, but waking up at 5:30am is no longer fun to me. Working two jobs is more than a hassle, its madness. And not really having a full day off is definitely taking its toll on me. Summer is turning out to be more stressful than during the school year in some ways. Its funny because its either I have too much free time or not enough free time. And lately its been not enough free time...

But other things have been great such as my amazing amazing boy. I couldn't ask for anything more because he is great. We spend lots of time together, go on adventures, and he cooks for me. I wish we had more free time but lately its been rough because of our work schedules. I'm hoping more time and adventures are on their way soon because I need them and miss them dearly...

And there hasn't been enough free time to see old friends, to read as much as I want, to go to the gym, to read more scripture and pray. I feel like I'm lacking in so many areas and I'm having trouble finding that perfect balance. I'm just convinced that a full time job will solve all my problems at the moment. So dear friends please send me some positive vibes my way.

weekend-up wrap up: exhausted & spoiled

(Me at work celebrating fathers day)

I'm sorry I've only been posting on a weekly basis. I promise I am alive and well. But I am completely and utterly exhausted. This week I started my second summer job. I have to be at work at 6:30am in the morning which means I have to wake-up before 5:30am. It was surprisingly easy waking up the first day, but it got harder each day after that. And then working double shifts (both jobs) made some days incredibly tiring. But I made it out alive! I slept in this morning and I felt so absolutely amazing and well rested. In the past I complained about working and school but I don't know whats harder....I worked and went to school, was well rested but didn't have any free time. But now I am just working, have free time, but I am exhausted all the time. I just can't find a happy balance. Its now mid June and I thought things would be different. But on top of working and being tired, I really just want to spend this week applying to as many jobs as possible. I want to spend my energy on applying and really selling myself. Send me lots of good vibes.

Other than that, this week started off great. I've spent tuesday getting tacos with the boy, wednesday I got pizza and cider with my friend Ashley, and Friday night I spent time dancing away with my co-workers. It was nice getting back into my social life after being sick and dead to the world the past two weeks. I also got spoiled with dinner and lots of kisses and hugs from the boy. He keeps me happy and grounded. I am so blessed to have him.

weekend wrap up: what is essential is invisible

Happy Monday! I really can't believe that I am awake right now...because I shouldn't be. Today I started my second summer job so I had to wake up at 5:30am. It surprisingly wasn't that difficult getting up (pats self on back for being a morning person) but I know I'm going to be tired and thrown off until my body gets used to it. Plus, Sundays are probably my busiest and favorite day of the week. My sundays will now consist of working, then church, and then winding down with some true blood followed by girls. If my sundays don't follow that routine I will be a grouchy girl haha. Overall this weekend went by really fast, and I worked all weekend out in the sun for a kids festival. It was a lot of fun and I had a great time. We had a giant bounce house shaped like a human heart complete with chambers and arteries in the inside for the kids to jump around it. We were definitely the hit of the event and had a line as soon as we opened all the way to until the end of the event. Unfortunately being in the sun left me with some funky tan lines and a little sun burn. But it was worth it!

Today I also had my first interview post-graduation. It went well and it got me really excited about entering the real world. Although the interview went well, it looks like there are many people also applying for the position. I'm hoping they see something in me, but at the same time I know God has a plan on the job/career/position he wants me to pursue.  I should be hearing back next week if I got the job. In the meantime its time to continue applying.

I found out I have an upcoming weekend off which is REALLY REALLY rare and I want to take full advantage of it. I don't have a lot of extra money but I am thinking some type of get away is in store. Maybe head to LA to visit some friends for a few nights or Maybe do a day trip with the boy to do some sight seeing or something. We will see, but I really hope another adventure is in store.

currently: summer love

Being a dork at stone brewery

I know I am a few days behind...but its June!  Right now I am currently sick and taking antibiotics but other than that things have been great. This has been one of the best summers of my life and it's just  getting started. The fact that both the county fair and true blood start this week has me so very excited and also helps get me in the summer mood. Now if only the weather would heat up a bit things would be absolutely perfect.

Last week I surprised the boy and took him to stone brewery. It was his first time there, although I had been before with friend. We went on a tour of the brewery, learned some cool facts, did some beer tasting, ate at the restaurant, and took a tour of the gardens. It was the perfect day and it was nice sitting outside at the restaurant and enjoying both nature and the industrial architecture of the building. During lunch there were butterflies and dragonflies around us which was so peaceful and calming. And boy was our lunch so yummy! We had tikka misala and we both agreed that it had to be the best we ever tasted. The whole tour got the boy all inspired to brew his own beer (he loves beer!) So now home beer brewing will be added onto our bucket list for the summer. I will definitely share the process and how it goes.

Other than these fine adventures...life has been relaxing and great. I've been having a lot of time off and I only work four days a week. But that all changes this Monday when I start my second job and will be waking up at 5:30am Monday through Friday. Its definitely going to be rough the first few weeks! I've been applying to a ton of jobs and I've sent in countless applications and resumes! I've gotten a few supplemental questionaires...and I finally landed my first interview post-graduation. Its for a position in a laboratory and even though it is not full time I think it will be great experience and will help me get my foot in the door at other places. Anyways the search still continues and I will keep applying. I've also been reading and have decided to join a book club, so hopefully I will get through my goal of reading three books this summer. The on thing I do wish to do more this summer is hangout with friends...there are some that I haven't seen in months and I hope to change that. But I have the whole summer right?

This week I want to...

(via weheartit)

Ready to start the week off with some simple but important goals:

+ go to the gym at least 3x

+ not eat out at all

+ love everyone I see and help everyone that asks for help

+ surprise my boy on Friday

+ apply for more than 10 jobs

A month in Review

(Me and my nephew)

I am back!!! I have so much to share, but I don't really know where to begin. I just have to say that life has been great, I have been exploring and spending time with great people. And thanks to upgrading to an iphone 4s I have been documenting my life a lot more. In fact my instagram has been blowing up haha. But all this photo taking means more photos to share on my blog.

(Me and my little sister before my graduation)

So I guess I will start off by saying that I am officially a college graduate. It still hasn't hit me yet, as I feel like I am just on summer break. But my grad weekend was incredibly stressful. My mom tends to stress out which stresses me out. My WHOLE family was able to come down which was great, but it was so hard coordinating so many people. On the other hand my family got to meet the boy and they approved of him which was great. I am so happy that my whole family was together again in one place and I am so grateful to have them in my life. I am forever thankful for their love and support throughout the years. I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. I also had a few friends drive down from LA to celebrate with me and I had a blast. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend with surrounded by the most beautiful family, friends, and boyfriend.

Other than that I have started summer and its been great! I actually have free time now that I don't have school, along with having days off work. And I can say that I officially crossed two things off my summer bucket list. One of them was to hike new trails, in which I hiked mt. woodson with a group of new friends. It was awesome bonding with new people on a 7 mile hike. It was freakin' brutal but I'm happy that I did it. We are actually planning on meeting up once a month now and hiking different trails around the county. The second thing I crossed off was: going to a nude beach! Yes, you heard me right. Well, I more so wanted to do anything nude (skinny dipping), but on a whim the co-workers decided to go. hahaha! An experience I will never forget. It was so funny that the boy enjoyed it and was running all over the beach naked playing soccer. Yay for actually marking things off my bucket list! So far summer has been great, and I am looking forward to more adventures and memories.