Back to School!

November 4 is the big day! My first day 'of the rest of my life...' you might say. I start classes for the teaching program I am starting and I am so thrilled! I haven't looked forward to something this much in a really, really long time. Although it will be almost another year of the usual rut, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!



I can't help but wonder what sort of life changes this will lead me to. Location. People. Etc... Or it may just be a career change with no personal-life change. Which is fine, too. For now.

And for Our Next Selection...

We've chosen The Last Song for our next book club pick. I've never read anything by Nicholas Sparks so I'm looking forward to it. However, last night I did read the first 3 chapters and felt like it was written by a 15-year-old girl. But maybe it will change.

I like Miley Cyrus (yes she's 8 years younger than me) so I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out and comparing it to the book.

Apparently it is about "the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them," per Amazon.com. Barf.

Breast Cancer Awareness

It's October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Think pink! Check your ta-tas! Save second base!

Breast cancer awareness and research is my sorority's philanthropy and I couldn't be more proud to be a part of something as wonderful as this national cause for women.

Back to School, Back to School. . .

So after 3 and a half years of wondering 'what if' and 'where do I go from here,' I think I've finally figured it all out. The corporate, business-y world is not for me. And I've known that since probably the day I was born. I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I decided to get into my career field. "Event planning and entertaining, oh my!" Yeah, right.

Ever since I can remember I have said I wanted to be a teacher. When I was younger I was playing school with all of my dolls. I'd pretend to grade papers. I'd read to my stuffed toy classroom. I'd make my mom buy me stamps and stickers for the pretend papers I graded. (I probably had the best educated stuffed animals around!)

But when I got to college I was afraid of taking extra science and math classes that I knew I wouldn't be good at. I was afraid to take a few more standardized tests that I was afraid I wouldn't pass. And I dove into something easy, that I never had to study for and was able to just get by with. It wasn't until my last semester of college that I realized how much I absolutely hated my classes and the work I was doing and that was probably a good indication of how my big girl job would go.

I've regretted for years not following my heart in the first place. So, with much soul-searching, conversations with my mom and friends, and background research, I think I'm finally ready to do what's been nagging at me for so long. I'll be going home this weekend to talk to my dad about funding for my big plans (thank goodness for parents) and hopefully going back to school to do a 6-8 month program to become an elementary school teacher! It will be LOTS of hard work to be taking night and weekend classes on top of my regular full-time job, and between 3 weddings, bridal and baby showers, but I know it will be well worth it. I just feel like it's finally time to start doing what I WANT to do, rather than just getting by.

So, keep your fingers crossed for me that Daddy says *yes*...

Book Club

Last month we read The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski. It was a great, mindless book that can definitely lift your spirits. It started out a bit slow, but about Chapter 10 it really picked up and finished very well. I'd recommend it to someone just looking for a quick read.

We had to postpone book club last week since Best Friend was sick, so we couldn't discuss. Tomorrow we'll be discussing and having girl talk, and I can't wait!

Christian Siriano for Payless

Let me state for the record, I am NOT a Payless kind of girl. Not that I don't adore a great bargain - I've just never found anything there worth wearing. It looks like what it's priced at. However, I've just been checking out the new Christian Siriano shoes online at Payless. I should also add that I absolutely adore Christian Siriano.

Now, I can't get too excited about these shoes because things always look better in pictures online before you get the store and actually see them in person. But there is where pair that I'd LOVE to try on! And another really cute pair of flats!

Check them out for yourself: http://www.payless.com/store/catalog/brandlisting.jsp?trail=1014%3A600002&catId=cat10376&brandId=600002

"I love two things- bulldogs and gay men."

This quote basically sums up my Labor Day. Another amazing day by the pool with Best Friend and beer and laughs with our friends. There is the cutest/fattest bulldog at Best Friend's complex and I made friends with the owners so yesterday they brought their little bundle of joy down to the pool so that I could play with her. Little shmookiewookiecutiepie. Unfortch, I'm extremely allergic to bulldogs I've realized. As soon as I let her all up in my face - why wouldn't I - I got all itchy and sniffly. It may be worth it to live like that forever to have a cute little muffin like that around though!

Anyway, so apparently last time when I made friends with the owners (I'd been drinking way too much at the time) I told them that there were two things I loved in the world and it was bulldogs and gay men. And that is the fierce truth!