Monday, December 29, 2014

Reflecting on 2014.....

Blogging used to be something I really liked to do. Then life got in the way, I became way too busy, and suddenly blogging was no longer a priority.

And I honestly don't miss it as much I thought I would. I'm not planning on picking this up regularly like I used to either. I no longer feel the need to write about what I did last week or what kind of books I'm currently reading. But as 2014 is rapidly coming to a close, I've had too many thoughts that I just needed to write down somewhere.

2014 was an interesting year. I changed this year. Like, a lot. I'm not the same person I was at the beginning of 2014.

Sure, certain aspects of my personality remain the same and my faith/beliefs haven't changed much over the year, but the direction of my life has changed.

I started out this year with a lot of unanswered questions. There were a lot of things that I would "cross that bridge when I got there." In other words, I didn't have a lot of things figured out, but I assumed that I would deal with them later.

And now it's the end of 2014, and I've never been more happy or sure of my life before. I came into this year feeling like I was in the middle of a busy train station with a very vague idea of where I wanted to go but no idea how to get there. And now I feel as though I am on the right train, full speed ahead. The pieces of my life have really started falling into place this year, and that's why this has been such a year of change.

One of the biggest things that has changed for me during 2014 has been my attitude towards change. I used to hate change. I put up a fit when my family decided to go to a difference mass time on Christmas Eve a few years ago ;) I kind of hated graduating high school and having to say goodbye to that period of my life.

And although I still would not say I have totally mastered accepting change, I'm gotten way better at it.

I changed my major this year. I started off in finance, but was never passionate about it. I don't really care about annuities and perpetuities or the stock market. I switched to Operations Management and have found that I actually enjoy it. I took my first OM class this past semester and was so relieved that I found the class extremely interesting and that the material came naturally to me. Do I know exactly what I want to do with OM yet? Nope. But I can feel that I'm in the right major, and that's one of the best feelings ever.

It's also funny how quickly your mind can completely change its outlook on certain things.

When I started college, I wasn't totally set on my major. I didn't know what organizations I wanted to be involved in. I wasn't sure which study abroad options I wanted to do. But the one thing I was sure of? I would be living at home all 4 years of college.

I laughed at the idea of "the college experience". My high school friends would talk about finding roommates and buying things for their room. I would see pictures of them moving into the dorms, and I was never felt even a teeny bit jealous. I never wanted that - any of that. I live close to campus, so why on earth would I need to pay a bunch of money to live on campus or within walking distance?

I joined a sorority with a 1 year live-in requirement. But being the numbers person I am, I knew that there would be more girls in my pledge class alone that spots in the house, so I assumed that there would be a way (if the house filled up on its own) that I would not have to live there. It was one of those things that I figured I would deal with later, but that I might be able to get by without actually living in the house.

And now I'm moving on campus into the Kappa Delta house in less than 2 weeks. As I'm writing this, I am actually laughing at myself and how I've done a complete 180 degree turn.

I can't pinpoint a moment when my mind changed either. I guess it was kind of a gradual thing. It started at the beginning of the semester when we had our Spirit Week, and I had to be up on campus every day preparing for recruitment. Then we actually had recruitment, and I felt like I lived at the house anyway with the amount of time I had to spend there.

I was Assistant VP-Finance and was over at the house helping with things for that. I got a lot closer to girls who lived in the house. I spent time there crafting for my little. And then going home every night became inconvenient. I would be at the KD house until 11 or 12 at night, and I hated the fact that I had to drive home just to go to sleep, wake up, and drive back to campus early the next morning.

Over the course of the semester, I got more and more involved in Kappa Delta, which meant I was spending more and more time there. Fairly early in the semester, I made up my mind that I would be running for VP-Finance. I was already the assistant and felt like this was going to be my way of taking on a large leadership role in chapter. Council members are elected at the end of fall semester for the following calendar year and are required to live in the house for the following school year. However, I decided that if I would be elected as VP-Finance, I would want to live in the house starting in January.

I knew that being on council requires an even greater time commitment to Kappa Delta, and I was already at the point where I was tired of driving home every night just to sleep. So I emailed the woman in charge of housing and was told that I would be on a waiting list if a spot opened up. For weeks, I was nervous that I would end up not getting in.

There was one week where I spent the night at the house 3 nights in a row, and I remember driving home thinking how much I wished I could just live there already. It was so weird because a few months before that, I had never wanted to live anywhere but at my house.

The day I got an email saying that a spot had opened up for me was one of the weirdest days. I was so happy, but it was still strange to me that it was something I wanted so badly.

Now don't get me wrong, living at home and commuting was great.....my freshman year. I do not regret it AT ALL. In fact, if I had to do my freshman year of college all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. But this year has just been different because I was always at school anyway. Fifteen hour school days were not uncommon - they probably happened at least twice a week or more towards the end of the semester. I felt like I never even saw my family anyway because I would often come home after they had gone to bed.

And I did end up becoming VP-Finance. Which even that is something I laugh about because I never used to see myself as a leader, and now I'm in charge of the finances for an organization of 130 women that pay substantial dues every semester ;)

So in 2014 I changed my major, took on a major leadership role in Kappa Delta, and made the decision to move out of my house for the first time.

But it wasn't all just big changes - I also traveled to Charleston, Montreal. Alaska, Georgia, and New York City.

I made a lot of real friends. The type of friends who you always lose track of time when you're together, who you can laugh with over movies, but who will also really listen when you have a problem.

This year was truly great.

But I'm more excited for 2015 than I ever have about any other year. 2015 is going to involve some pretty big changes as well and it will be a very different year, but I am so ready it hurts.

2015.....I can't wait to see what you have in store......

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Project 365: October 2014

Yeah, blogging is still not a priority, but at least I have some time to post my Project 365!

Life is still just as crazy, if not even more crazy, than the last few months. I'm starting a full time co-op job next semester, and I'm currently in the midst of trying to get on my sorority's council. I'm also moving into the sorority house next semester, which is insane. That was not part of my original college plan, but I could not be more excited!

Here's what I was up to during the month of October. I think you'll see that most of October was spent doing Kappa Delta things :)

October 1 - I've still got a month until I start listening to Christmas music full time, but every once in a while you just need a little Christmas music to cheer you up.

October 2 - Crafting for my future little at the KD house with a Starbucks in my hand. Feeling like the stereotypical sorority girl ;)

October 3 - New Member Retreat!

October 4 - Spent all day with KD sisters eating breakfast, shopping, crafting, and going to dinner!

October 5 - KBS brunch, Incline House, and seeing Dirty Dancing make for a pretty great Sunday.

October 6 - Officially accepted a co-op job today for spring semester!

October 7 - Ever since I got my rain boots, I look forward to rainy days now!

October 8 - Class, a finance exam, work, dinner with my pearl, and then some relaxing with Coco!

October 9 - KD family dinner - literally had so much fun tonight!

October 10 - Spent the afternoon/evening at Kenwood just doing some shopping by myself, So happy to see Christmas stuff up in Macy's already!

October 11 - Had a super relaxing day at home, went to dinner at Dewey's, and watched a movie bed!

October 12 - A cookie and some hot chocolate make spending a Sunday afternoon doing homework a little more bearable.

October 13 - It's a good thing this dog is cute because she barked tonight and kept me up....

October 14 - Dug out this awesome peacock necklace today since I decided to go to the $5 prom social later this week!

October 15 - Graeter's makes everything better.

October 16 - Had so much fun tonight at the $5 prom social!

October 17 - KBS Formal tonight!

October 18 - Had such a fun day running errands, going to the Skyzone sisterhood, shopping for littles, crafting, and spending the night at the KD house!

October 19 - Cheered on sisters at the Derby Days 5K and finished all of my little crafts today!

October 20 - Up late yet again today finishing up some things for my little, doing homework, and working on cake pops. Life is so crazy full right now.

October 21 - Last year I sat outside on campus during Big/Little week, and this year during Big/Little week, I sat under the same tree in the same spot but couldn't stop thinking about how much has changed for the better in the past year.

October 22 - Up late tonight finishing up my Kappa Delta cake pops after finding out that I will officially be moving into the house next semester!

October 23 - Celebrating Founders' Day at a pumpkin patch tonight!

October 24 - Spent the afternoon with Mom and Maddie at the zoo and had big/little reveal tonight. Perfect day with family!

October 25 - I got to sleep in today and take my time getting ready before spending the evening with my KD sisters! 

October 26 - Went to the Halloween event at Bayley before doing homework all afternoon/evening....


October 27 - Sometimes it's 10:00 on a Monday night, and you just have to stop on your way home for cookies.


October 28 - Just another day at UC....


October 29 - College just might turn me into a coffee drinking considering I made myself a cup this morning because caffeine was a necessity.


October 30 - Halloween cake pops!


October 31 - "Hi, I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs!"


So yeah, October has been very busy. I just love where I'm at in life right now though that the craziness doesn't seem too bad. A lot of changes are coming up in my life over the next few months and although I'm not normally good with change, I actually couldn't be more excited. I also have a great November planned, so I am thrilled about the way things are working out right now ;)

Friday, October 10, 2014

Project 365: September 2014

Life has been crazy and a lot of things have been changing lately, so I don't really have time to blog anymore. I still like having my Project 365 pictures backed up on the blog, so I may aim just to do those once a month from now on. It's just that I feel like I have been constantly busy, and I honestly haven't missed blogging as much as I thought I would.

Here's what I was up to in September though!

September 1 - My Labor Day consisted of homework, a meeting on campus, and watching a movie in bed!

September 2 - I love seeing my cutie after a long day at school!

September 3 - The first of many late nights preparing for recruitment....

September 4 - Late night at the KD house calls for a McFlurry on the way home!

September 5 - Getting ready for the second day of recruitment!

September 6 - Had such a fun day giving the financial presentation at recruitment today!

September 7 - You know you're doing a lot of baking when you use 18 eggs in just a few hours!

September 8 - Caught her mid-lick ;)

September 9 - Insane day of school, work, cake pops, and Kappa Delta workshop. So sad I only got to see Coco for a little bit!

September 10 - Just another insanely crazy busy day....

September 11 - 536 mini KD cake pops: I'm obsessed.

September 12 - Such a great Philanthropy round of recruitment tonight!

September 13 - Pref night - so thankful for these girls who helped with the 500+ mini cake pops this week!

September 14 - Bid Day 2014!! So exciting to welcome all of our fabulous new members!

September 15 - You know your life is busy when even an hour break for dinner involves homework....

September 16 - Busted from chewing up my socks.

September 17 - I got to come straight home from school today and eat dinner at home for the first time in about 2 weeks! So thankful for some time to catch up on homework and take Coco for a walk!

September 18 - Never thought I'd see the day when I went shopping for 17 boxes of Klondike bars.

September 19 - Such a great day: the weather was perfect, I had an interview that went well, I got a lot of stuff done, I went to Yagoot after class, and I ate dinner at LaRosa's with my family. Perfection!

September 20 - Alumnae Open House this afternoon!

September 21 - Relaxing Sunday of church, Maddie & Sydney's soccer game, visiting Grampsy, getting some homework done, and going out to dinner!

September 22 - I was actually able to come home right after school today!

September 23 - Busken's tea cookies always make the day better.

September 24 - Been thinking a lot about the future and it can be easy to be stressed about the unknown, but then I remind myself of the amazing possibilities that can be found in the unknown and it doesn't seem so scary anymore.

September 25 - Trash Bash cake pops!

September 26 - I never thought I'd turn down a job offer at GE, but sometimes staying close to family and friends and taking a different leap of courage close to home is more important.

September 27 - Crafting for my future little today!

September 28 - SUCH a productive day! I got so much homework done for the week, and I finally got to paint my nails after almost a month of being too busy!

September 29 - Reese's pumpkins make everything better....even a long afternoon and evening of homework.

September 30 - Three job interviews, work, class, KD meeting, and KD finance work mean I went to bed exhausted today.

Like I said, my life has been a whole bunch of craziness lately, but I've been loving it. I've been doing so many things with friends these last few weeks and it's just been so much fun. So even though I don't have much time for blogging or other things like that, I'm so incredibly happy with where I am at this point in my life. :)