seven.

Jac has tagged me with a Kreativ Blogger award and asked that I share seven random facts about myself with all of you.

1 - When I was in Kindergarten, my parents attended a conference with my teacher and found 7 pairs of shoes in my desk. And even some shoes in other kids desks. Apparently, I've had a thing for shoes from a young age.

2 - I'm allergic to quite a lot of things. 98% of what they test for, actually. But I don't know if I'm allergic to bees because I've never been stung. I've never had to use my epi-pen, and it scares me to think that I won't have anyone around to stab me if I ever do need to use it.

3 - I believe in friendships that last a lifetime. I don't talk to these people on the daily, and I don't need to. I know in my heart that certain people will be there at all times, no matter what. They are few and far between, but they are the ones that we call to catch up with and it's like no time has gone by at all. Those are the friendships that I work towards, the ones that work themselves out on their own. They know that I am here, and they are there, and we always meet in the middle.

4 - I hold everything in. I don't share my feelings. I tend to bottle it up and then every few years, I break down all at once. Last year, I shattered. I was beaten and broken down and could not hold it together anymore. It took a few months to pull myself together, and this blog is a product of that breakdown. I'm learning to share as it comes and I have found a renewed sense of faith with the writing of these notes.

5 - I love painting, drawing, coloring, knitting, cross-stitching, sewing, writing and basically anything that involves creating things.

6 - I was not raised on religion, but at 17, chose to learn about & participate in the Catholic Church. I was baptized at 19. I don't attend mass regularly anymore, but I keep the faith on my own.

7 - Most days, I still feel the same as I did when I was twelve. Awkward, giggly and full of hope.


I now ask that these lovely ladies get to work on posting seven random facts about yourselves. I'm super-sonic excited to read your seven!

Amanduh - Nahl - Jenni - Christie - Slowdownapproaching30


Also, I know I've been a bad commenter lately, it's difficult to comment without an actual internet connection and I did see in my GoogleReader that I already have over 100 blog posts to catch up on... I promise that I will! And **hello** to my new followers & readers! You are appreciated and I am so excited that you've found me!


Also, I heard from my friend on the boat. The weather is clear and spectacular and he's just fine.

{poprocks} book swap

Yes, ladies & gentlemen,

it's here.

FINALLY.

{poprocks} book swap ♥

Not only will you be swapping books with some of the sweetest people on the planet...

 for every person that joins the swap

Kateigh - the oh-so sweet lady that she is -

will be donating a book to a local children's shelter.

PS - check her out here and join in on her January fun.

{poprocks} & photographs: book swap

while I breathe, I hope

Okay.. So just an update on my progress for Africa -

I've had a few setbacks, but still breathing (and according to math logic & my favorite mantra, that means I still have hope).

I've had to push out my departure date for Tanzania from February 19th to March 19th.  I wasn't and am not happy about it, but over the holiday (where I had oh-so-much fun with these girls (Jac & Kateigh), I misplaced my wallet.  Oh yes, I did.  And not in a great place apparently.

I misplaced it (my mom always told me that I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached) and now am missing some of my plastic.  Superb, right?  Yeah.  Freakin Great.  Well, I did manage to call and cancel the cards before too much was taken, but the specific card that was taken I was using for my airline ticket... with all of my airline miles.  So now, I must wait.  I must wait for a new account number to be issued, the new card to be sent, and activated and all of my points to be transferred.

All that being said, I contacted my program manager at CCS and we moved the dates - I'm still doing the full 12 weeks so I'll be back in June instead of May.. which doesn't really matter at this point.

I've been really slack on commenting the last couple of weeks with the holidays and this last fiasco, but I'm catching up, I promise!

 

a decade of my life is gone, this is what stands out...

I've been reading in on JenRem's Blog and she's pretty amazing, you should go read up if you don't already...  Thanks to Kateigh for leading me to her!

I sent over my last decade list to her, but also decided to post it on my own little blog for your viewing pleasure.  This is my summation of my last decade in my own little bubble.

♥ fell in love for the first time.

♥ graduated high school & earned my associates degree.

♥ learned to play tennis at tryouts, and went to Nationals with my college team.

♥ beat up a man for picking on my little sister.

♥ had my heart broken for the first time, but not the last.

♥ ran up thousands in credit card debt and then paid it all off.

♥ had a summer romance with a boy I met on a train to NYC.

♥ learned enough about cars to not get ripped off by a mechanic.

♥ gave a second chance, then walked away from a toxic relationship forever.

♥ realized that I have a fear of committment, and I'm okay with it for now.

♥ worked as a babysitter, a tutor, a wench, a pharmacy & photolab technician, a waitress, a fairy (no joke, wings and all), a receptionist, a records specialist at a college , a cashier in a tattoo/piercing parlor, a maid, a mad scientist (I taught rocket science to 5 year olds), a lifeguard (and saved a life) and an insurance broker.

♥ got four tattoos.

♥ became really good friends with my mom.

♥ my hair has been purple, blonde, black, red, permed, straight, short, and back to normal.

♥ let my stubborn self stay out of touch with my sister, my Dad, and two of my best friends.

♥ got over myself, was honest with each of them, and we are stronger for it.

♥ lived in four different abodes, wound up back with my Dad, and I'm okay with it for now.

♥ fell in love... with shoes

♥ made new friends, and kept the old (one is silver and the other is gold)

♥ lost my grandfather, two great uncles, two aunts, a cousin, a grandmother and a godmother.

♥ gained a brother in law, a nephew and a niece.

♥ hit rock bottom, picked myself back up.

♥ left a career after five and a half years.

♥ started a blog.

♥ watched one of my best friends marry her best friend.

♥ signed up to go to Tanzania for 12 weeks to volunteer.

♥ decided to choose faith over fear.

Kreativ Blogger Award!

Alright, so here's me in a few photos.  They are in no particular order...

My favorite corner in my room.. Pictures of my family & friends. Books galore:

Demitasse cups with teeny little shoes & french words on them.

I also have a thing for pretty glass containers.

And a strange love for hatboxes, huge mirrors & tiffany lamps.

Original artwork by Your's Truly...

charcoal sketching

turpentine wash

I love getting post from anyone, but I always keep cards from my besties.  The one on the left is from JacPfef, my lovely little sister and the one on the right is from my bestie, Allisen.

So with those little photos into my own little life, I'm tagging you seven to show us all 7 things in your life/home/space that show who you are or what you are all about:

Jennifer, Christie, Banu, Anna, Jamie, JacPfef, Kate

last night in town {again?}

I've been running around like mad all day trying to finalize some things before going away this week.

Had the second fitting for my bridesmaid dress (eee!); recycled (because I'm doing my part); shopped for stuffs to make chili (a la Michelle - saweeeettt recipe, PS); bought enough stamps for christmas cards (in case I ever get around to sending them out); bought a couple of cards to send out (because mail always brings a smile to their faces); made chili; paid my bills & did laundry.

Yes, I am amazing.

I've been on google reader to catch up on all my blog-lovin and I've been inspired to make some more lists... actually - Kaileen Elise is a blogger that I stumbled across this morning while catching up and I am completely inspired by her "intentions" lists.  Much nicer way of saying 'honey-do' or 'to-do.'  I hope she doesn't mind that I'll be using that word for my upcoming list of intentions for December and then 2010.

Tomorrow, JacPfef & I are going to visit the fam in South Jersey then to Philly.

Meggamack is getting married in eleven days!

It's going to be fab and I'm super-sonic excited.

So in honor of Meg's pending nuptuals, the younger version of our family (read: 21-26 year olds) are heading to Philly for a Tuesday night on the town.  It will be interesting... to say the least.  The group is made up of the following, in age order: Dave, Meg, Joe, Jac, Kyle, myself & Chad... wow.  Meg is the first of us to get married and I'll be sure to post about the festivities, but for now... you'll just be getting the leadings up to the big big day...

enjoy!

PS - Also, JacPfef has tagged me with the Kreativ Blogger Award.  Thanks so much for the honor... I'll post on this soon.