live and love

new things...

2011-07-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

Well I can say that we are officially moved in! I officially unpacked (or threw in my closet) the last box yesterday. Let me tell you....moving is no joke! It is July 28th and we moved in the 9th? Way to go us...! I do have to say that in those 21 days we spent 5 days in Chicago, 2 days in DC and working every weekday (well almost). We still don't have artwork for every room, so I'm not completely satisfied...but my bank account is quite tired so I guess it will have to do for now. Living with Kyle is different than I thought (in a good way). I'm so happy that I get to come home and see him everyday. And while we were in Chicago his cousin gave us a good piece of advice/ words of wisdom. He said that we will want to entertain each other for a while...or feel that we need to...but really we don't need to. I think Kyle and I have adopted that concept pretty well. Speaking of Chicago...We spent 5 days there the week after we moved in. I think we needed it. My goodness I love that city. I kept saying "If I could get a job here I would move in a second". I guess I should have also been saying if we could afford it! The problem isn't with Kyle finding a job, its with me. Teaching in Illinois is rough right now anyway...and I couldn't picture myself spending the first few years of my career in an inner city school. I commend the people that can do that. Unfortunately with my 5'2'' height I don't think I could intimidate many people.
I always think of what I want to write in these blogs, but I sit down and I lose it. anyway....its 3pm and all I have done is clean the house...and not well. I guess I should go empty the dishwasher and find something to eat. I watched Beastly this morning...maybe I'll watch it again. I'm a sucker for bad romantic comedies....not that it was bad...it wasn't. But it wasn't amazing either. OH well.
HA! If kyle comes home and I'm in my "lazy clothes" he will think I did nothing. I swear I did...and I showered/ got ready. I just got BACK into my PJs...and this is what Ill be wearing until we go to Karaoke tonight. Oh boy.

a few random things

2011-06-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

Sitting here watching TV/ relaxing and I just had the urge to Blog...mainly to update (not that any of this will be SUPER interesting).
The truth is I am about to take a sleeping pill and turn on a movie. I haven't slept well in the past week and it is starting to catch up on me...and that's not good. Ive relied primarily on unhealthy amounts of caffeine to keep me awake while working. The whole "read a book and take a bath" thing backfired on me last night when I looked at the clock, several chapters later, and it was 2am. Awesome.

Random-ness

1. I have been watching the Casey Anthony trial and or the news afterwards on HLN for the past 2 weeks. NERD. I had slightly followed the case over the past 3 years, but finally came across it while in my hotel room 2 weeks ago. And that's where the small obsession began. I don't even think it has to do with the dynamics of the case...which are insane to begin with (no pun intended...) but more to do with the dynamics of the court system. Ive learned all sorts of new info and terms from this case. I have to admit that I have been watching it with a biased opinion...but come-on...you didn't report your daughter missing for 31 days!? And it turns out now that she "drowned" and you covered it up with your "sexually abusive" father...REALLY!? Sorry, mini rant. I digress. I have tried to watch it with a non-bias opinion, and honestly, I couldn't be a juror on this case. If I knew nothing about this case, I wouldnt know what to think. Too much scientific mumbo-jumbo.

I have been watching it with the kids that I watch during the day, and I think it is a great piece of potential history to learn from. However, this is 100% my summer guilty pleasure "show".

2. I would love to start a beauty products blog. I love reading them (another guilty pleasure I have) and then buying/testing the products for myself (an even worse and costly guilty pleasure). When I learned that the makeup you own can be a "collection" that can be "grown"...I went crazy. My desk, which once held books, papers and my computer was turned into my vanity...with all four drawers full and my desktop full. I could stop whenever I want...I swear. BUT...I think it would be so cool to review all the new stuff that I get to try! There is so many of them out there however that this may stay on my "to-do" list for a bit.

3. MOVE IN DAY IS IN 2 WEEKS. Should I even attempt to explain how ~~excited~~ ~~elated~~ ecstatic I am!? It couldnt possibly show through a blog post. I will post pictures once everything is moved it. We will be painting on the 8th and hopefully moving in all our stuff that weekend since we have a few crazy weeks in July coming up.

I know there was more but I cant think of them now. Oh well. Im pretty sure it had to do with my search for a movie I bought. Its no where to be found. Maybe I'll find it when I pack to leave....gag (I HATE PACKING).
Alright...bedtime :)

UPDATE: I remembered. You know? That other "thing".
It was about my recent obsession with frozen grapes. Red to be exact. Seriously, try it sometime. :)

Apartments, Tests and Weddings, Oh My!!

2011-06-07T19:34:00.000-07:00

Well this is the second time Ive tried to write this. My brain isn't functioning. I start things...but then lose interest or get distracted and cant finish. I blame my lack of school. Dont get me wrong, it is GREAT to not have to worry about that right now, but I'm used to having to deal with deadlines, projects and papers. Not having to deal with those things for the first time in six years (yes, I have taken classes EVERY semester since I started college in 2006) has either fried my brain or turned it to mush.

Anyways.

Some catching up is in order. News? Kyle and I have officially signed our first lease for our first apartment together. YAAAAY!! We were going to buy, but neither of us want to stay in NOVA for the next five years, and we didn't think it would be worth it to dig ourselves into a hole that we couldn't get out of quickly.We will be "moving" July 8th. We got a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom with our friend Evan. Can I just say again...YAAAAY!!! Its such a nice place and of course I will post pictures once it is all decorated...whenever that may be. If there is one lesson I have been taught about decorating its to take my time and not to settle for things I don't like because of a rush.

This week is probably one of the more stressful ones that I have had to deal with. I am looking forward to this Saturday and dreading it all at once. I have to take my Praxis 2 exam AGAIN. ugh. I am horrible at taking tests and I am kicking myself for changing so many answers on the last test. So now I am sitting here and taking a break from studying. But my basement looks like it puked History Notes. I am telling myself that I will be okay, third time's a charm, and that I need to not second guess myself again. Friday I will head down the Charlottesville, check into my hotel and go into hiding (study mode). Not that I havent spent the past two days reading and re-reading these study guide books haha. I have to take it down in Charlottesville because Kyle's sister Amie is getting married this weekend. I would not miss that for the world! But I guess the good news is that the day will start out stressful and end wonderfully!

Here is a picture into my night:

The puppy in the background is "Bubbs"...the good luck charm Kyle brought me yesterday :)

Well, back to studying. Here goes nothing!

Lesson Learned

2011-05-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

I started this blog four times. Each time being a different subject. All of them having to do with things that happen or have happened in my life that make me mad or upset. I wanted to vent and write about these using the emotions I have at this very moment. But maybe that's not such a good idea.

I have always said it takes me getting mad to get over something. I usually stay upset/hurt for a while, but after I get mad, I get over it. Its the easiest way to push some bad thing out of my mind. I think I do this because I tend to give people more chances than they should have. I give them benefit of the doubt that they never deserve. So when it all comes crashing down (as I suspected it would) its easier for me to be mad at them than myself. For years I kept journals...writing in them almost everyday. When I went back at the beginning of last summer and read them, I noticed this pattern. Eventually, after being mad, I learned to move on...thinking I was okay. I was stronger. Apparently I am still in this cycle. Its funny how one little piece of information can prove this.

But maybe I actually am okay.

As I said, I wanted nothing more than to vent in this blog. But on my third time re-starting this I thought back on what I was so mad about...what hurt me so much. After about a minute of my heart beating so hard I thought it would come out of my chest...all the good came to me. All of the little things that made me smile. I don't regret. I learned.

Without the experiences from our past we cannot be the people we are today. Today I am happy. And I owe that happiness to all of the things I have experienced....good/bad or both. So I have to say Thank You. Thank You for pushing me back into the right place. Thank You for proving to me that I was on the right path to begin with.

I get that this is totally an ambivalent and ambiguous blog, but where would the fun be in telling you exactly what I am talking about? Besides, while these events may have had an impact on my life, they really aren't worth the time or effort it would take to expand on.

Ill leave you with a quote from the beautiful Marilyn Monroe:

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

Oh, Hello There...

2011-05-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well, as usual, I have been bad about updates. To be honest, between school and work I have had no time to do things like blog. Sad. BUT tomorrow is my last class I have to attend for the semester. Technically I have two online classes next week, but I am turning in the work for those by Sunday (most of which is already finished). Then I have 2 weeks until my summer class starts. Ive realized that in the 5 years I have been out of high school I have attended classes EVERY semester. Gag. I am happy to say that this will be my last summer class and as of December of this year I will have my license. Took long enough!

Ok so mayyybe something other than school. Sunday was Kyle and I's 6 year anniversary!! We had so much fun!! We decided to go to Ballston to get some lunch before heading to China Town for the Caps game. We met up with Mitch and had some really good food and a great time catching up. I cant remember the name of the restaurant...but it was good. Kyle loved it because they sold something like 100+ beers. I tried some hard cider (in true "Becca Townsend" fashion as Kyle would say) which tasted like sparkling cider...so good! After lunch we went to Ben's place for a nap (and as I would say in true "Kyle House" fashion). As we were planning when we would leave for China Town I told Kyle I wanted to leave some time to go to Urban Outfitters since it was right next to the Verizon Center. He agreed and said he would shop as long as it wasnt in a Forever21 (my favorite store). We decided to get off at Metro Center and walk since we didnt want to change lines. Well my friends, guess what was stationed right outside Metro Center....The biggest forever21 I have ever seen! I think my laughter combined with his facial expression was the high light of my night. I spared him the torture of going in (more like he dragged me away)...but I have to say that Chinatown has some GREAT shopping and he promised we would go back. I really think Ill spare him from that and instead take one of the girls who will enjoy it.

We had amazing seats at the Caps game (thank you love).

During Warm Up
(I crossed this off my 2011 list: sporting event. See my Feb 2011 post: The List)

Being my first game, I had no idea what to expect. On TV there are announcers talking and it sounds SUPER loud in the Verizon center. Not so much in real life. We did get pretty fired up in the 3rd period when with around 2 minutes we scored to tie the game. But...apparently it wasnt meant to be. I have never witnessed a more depressing crowd of people than those leaving the game that night.

I wish our phones had been connecting to the internet that night. We really didnt get any service until we got home. And when we got home we learned that Osama Bin Laden had been killed. It would have been great to experience all the white house partying going on...since we were only a few blocks from it at one point. We are guessing that since there were so many people at the Verizon Center, paired with the fact that there were so many people downtown, the network just couldnt keep up (this generally happens on any major holiday anyway). Im not gonna go into my thoughts on the matter...except that I would like to see some troops come home now.

I think thats all for now. Im ready for summer. So many exciting things will be happening in the next few months!

My horrible taste in movies strikes again!

2011-04-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Ok. So for the past two days I have been trying to take it easy. Ive been feeling my yearly dose of strep throat coming on and I have tried to avoid it. In doing so, I stumbled across one of the movies I had bought from Blockbuster when it was going out of business. I have a problem because I went back every week and bought 3-7 dvd's at a time as the price dropped....some of which I had never seen before but I used the "its only 3$" rationale. The movie I want to talk about is just one of those purchases.

The Box

Has anyone else seen this movie and walk away going "what the hell did I just watch"? My Child Psych professor from last semester had talked about this movie in terms of the experiment being conducted. I would add in spoiler alert here...but honestly if you havnt seen the movie...it may not be worth it. I was intrigued by the whole concept of the human race killing each other for money. Weird stuff like that interests me...how could someone do that!? But that wasnt what got me. No. It was the aliens they had to add into the movie (or at least thats what I think they were). As I was explaining it to my mom and aunt last night they looked at me like I was crazy...because it didnt make sense. Thats basically how I watched this movie...waiting for answers. No. It was just a creepy half-faced man, a box, aliens (?), water and some ending that just didnt make sense.

I want to say that maybe I should watch it again...see if it makes more sense. Or if I should ask my film savvy friends (JOEY) to explain this movie to me. Either way...it pretty much confirmed that even when I know very little about a movie...I have the ability to pick some awful ones out.

I also bought the Last Exorcism...we will see how THAT one goes.

Fifteen Facts

2011-04-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
(took this idea from the facebook tag going on...but 30 days on a blog seemed excessive so this will be the only post like this for now)

1. This picture was taken in Chicago on July 3, 2009 and I have some great memories from that day.

2. I have a fear of fish. And death. And generally getting hurt.

3. Currently, I am studying to be a teacher

4. I prefer to be surrounded by people than to be alone

5. I am a redskins fan...always will be

6. I have a cat named Jinx and a dog named Rhett

7. I used to chew ice...a lot.

8. I have a habit of holding on to people who shouldnt be in my life.

9. Ive adopted a new habit of calling things how I see them. Im not going to appease a person and tell them what I think they want to hear. Thats not a true friend.

10. I have bad taste in movies...but thats okay with me.

11. I over-analyze everything.

12. If we are fighting and I say "its whatever" to you...its not a good sign.

13. I dont dislike a lot of foods...but I really HATE papaya. EW.

14. I am right handed

15. I want to say that I have way too many beauty products...but there is no such thing!

yum!

2011-04-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

I know this is random, but my mom and I were talking about cocktails to have at the wedding last night (as much as she doesnt want to admit it...wedding planning will consumer her life just like my dancing and cheerleading did when I was younger). I brought up this non-alcoholic cocktail that I served for Crush party for Gamma Phi over a year ago. It was very good! Now I have a craving for it. So here is my first recipe :)

Sparkling Punch Recipe

2 lemons
3 large oranges
1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 liter club soda
2 (750 milliliter) bottles sparkling apple cider
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 trays ice cubes

Thinly slice the lemons and the oranges and place in a large punch bowl. Pour in the thawed lemonade. Gently stir in the club soda and the sparkling apple cider. Add sugar to taste. Add ice.

Im pretty sure I didnt use the sugar since lemonade concentrate can be pretty sweet. Hopefully I can make some of this (not the whole batch) soon!!

update fail

2011-03-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

Wow...so this makes update number 2? Geez ive been slacking. Im just gonna go ahead and blame it on school and work taking up the majority of my time lately. :)

I guess in this update I should say that I am getting married!! Kyle popped the big question on march 15th. (just a warning...this is gonna get cheesy). I am very very excited to spend the next year planning our wedding! Although, if you would have asked me about it a week ago I probably would have broken down in tears. I never realized how expensive these things are. As we set out on our first venue preview I was all smiles...nothing was gonna stop me from having a perfect wedding for the two of us. All that came crashing down when we got the first price on a place. EEK! So after two long (and might I add emotional on my part) weeks we have booked a venue and have a date. I could not have done it without my mom constantly searching for deals and my future hubby constantly re-assuring me that "everything would work out"...he is pretty great!

So Kyle and I will be married May 19, 2012 at Raspberry Plain in Leesburg, Va.

Picture!!

I think it is the perfect place to have our wedding. :) can you tell im VERY happy (and relieved) to have a venue?! Upon kyle...and evan's request there will be karaoke and playing of the song "shout"...sigh.

For the rest of things...school and work are taking up the majority of my time. I enjoy work...school is another issue. Grad School is just not fun anymore. Last semester I complained...but I had a few great professors and the content was new and interesting. This semester is not the same. We tend to explore the same content over and over and there are certain things I feel aren't necessary to talk about 2,000 times. I feel like my time in classroom observations is way more training than sitting in a classroom for three hours learning about how to write a lesson plan. I have done so many lesson plans now...I want to teach them! Sorry for the rant haha.

While were on complaints...I would like it to actually feel like spring. Not summer...but nice 70 degree weather. Please and thank you!

Guess that's all for now!

I think i'll start posting random stuff I find...like recipes or movies I like in addition to updates!

things come in three's

2011-02-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess this is my first update? I wish it was something bigger and better than bad news. I guess its not bad...it's just not great.
first: I killed my second expensive flat iron. My first I stepped on when I was a senior in high school (not while it was on thank goodness!). But this one died a wet death. The plug, while resting on the back of my toilet, decided to go for a swim while I was blow drying my hair. I immediately grabbed it and dried it off...but the next day when I plugged it in the most god awful sound came from my wall. :( Rest in peace little chi. Ulta is having a sale this week...so I wont have to fork over the full amount for a replacement.
second: someone backed into my parked car. really no HUGE damage, but I really didn't feel like dealing with the insurance companies, auto body shops and bad rental car agencies this week.

However it could be worse.
But my grandma's voice is ringing in my ears...."bad things come in threes". JOY.
2 down 1 to go?

The List

2011-02-03T20:46:00.000-08:00

Items will be crossed off as I complete them:

dance in the rain

leave a note in a random place for a stranger to find

~~touch your toes in the ocean~~

go night sledding

leave flowers on someone’s car

kiss a stranger

hike a trail

cook something new

wax a random body part

decorate your box

collect as much loose change as you can

participate in at least 3 charitable events

~~eat something you thought you wouldn’t like~~

go to a concert

paint/draw a picture then sell on craigslist/ebay

~~ride a roller coaster~~

take the time to look at the sky for 15 minutes…day or night

ask a stranger to give you a dare…then complete it

write a letter

make a piece of jewelry

~~go to a major sporting event~~

travel to a new place

ride a bike

find the most beautiful thing for every season (flower, leaf, icicle) and take a picture

take a week off from swearing

pull an all-nighter (MUST be with friends and non school related)

get a tattoo/create a tattoo…real or temporary

go barefoot for the day

have many girls nights

see a movie at midnight

watch a meteor shower

wish on a star

~~visit a place you used to love going to~~

~~hold the door open for a person~~

read a book

donate to a charity

take a ride on a boat

have a bonfire

make a soundtrack for each season

watch a sunrise

~~catch a snowflake in your mouth~~

The first....

2011-02-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

So, here I am at 11:30 when I have class at 9:30am tomorrow fiddling with a blog website. Well...I have decided to change my new years resolution. A little late (I know) but hear me out. Back in December I put together a list of things I wanted my friends to complete in the year 2011. This list was kinda like a bucket list with a scavenger hunt feel. My inspiration was honestly the list I had made when I was 14 of things I wanted to do before I died (I know very "a walk to remember of me" but come on!!). Among my several moves from home to college to apartment and back I had lost this list. I thought it would be fun for my friends to complete the list this year and then spend a day in December 2011 talking about the experiences we all had. Well, being me I never got around to printing that list...much less passing it out to friends (Merry Christmas?). So I've decided I'm going to post it here and start tomorrow. Whoever wants to join is free to do so! I just want to make 2011 a year to remember the little things in life we often look over. So, here I go.

As a part of my list I want to update this blog as often as I can. I cant commit to everyday...grad school sometimes has a tendency to suck away my soul...but I can try to write/ update as often as possible. I want something to look back on for 2011 and smile.

I will post the list on a separate post so it can be referred back to easily!