Abandoned

Wow it has been a long time since i blogged over here.

I'm sorry to have abandoned you.

In case you were wondering, I had a wonderful summer of travel, but coming back to reality....uh not as fun.

I suppose now that school is back in session i should start this whole thing up again...

...outfit of the day

...daily grind of a college student

...random/boring parts of my day

...workout reports

...eating habits

(possible new subheadings)

In the last few months some changes have occurred:

1. I haven't been sick in months. Apparently it was severe allergies. Not allowing my cat in my room and being on two allergy meds did the trick.

2. I feel like this is going to be an extremely stressful semester

3. I am doing fieldwork at the preschool on campus, which means i hear the funniest things from 3 and 4 year olds.

4. As of now i am not working. Apparently when you don't work for 4 months, HR deletes you from the system. I should be back to work soon, i hope.

5. My year without buying clothes has been completed. Hooray for shopping again.

6. i have lost track of what day i am on, so future posts will not contain (#).

The posts should be back on track in the next few days.

I guess i should find something interesting to do so that you all aren't bored to death reading about my day.

(162-164) I'm Back

I got home on June 29th...so just a couple of days ago.

(162) I spent my first night at home uploading 1500 photos and showing and explaining them to my family.

(163) The next day (yesterday) i slept in til 10 am. I then spent the whole day on my computer uploading photos to photobucket and facebook. I spent hours catching up on three episodes of the bachelorette. My day flew by. And i am not use to it staying light so late. That is surly throwing my time off..not to mention the 19 hour time difference. I didn't fall asleep until 3am.

(164) I woke up at 11am when mom came in my room and left the cat to get me up. I poured a coup of coffee and finished that paper that i planned to write before i left. The benefit of writing it after i got back: i actually enjoyed writing it. I had a better understanding of Maori culture. I ate lunch once the paper was finished. Me and mom went out and i turned in my paper and journal then we got our nails done. I got back home and found out my 3 besties are all going to be home this weekend. So much happiness right around the corner.

***

New Zealand was absolutely wonderful.

My words can't even begin to explain how much fun i had, the awe i was in, or the friendships i made. 

Photos can't capture this country's beauty and vibrant colors.

I wish the trip would have been longer and that all of my friends and family could have been there to experience everything i did.

New Zealand Recap

Over the next few days i will try to give a recap of my 21 days abroad.

(NZ 1)

Flew from LAX (6/7) to Auckland(6/9)...we lost a whole day due to the time difference.

We landed around 5am and had a full day ahead of us.

-orientation 

-lunch at Da Vincis

-sky tower

-dinner at waterfront cafe

(NZ 2)

Got lost on our way to the AUT Marae

-It was pouring

AUT Marae-lesson on maori language and leadership

(lunch included)

dinner on our own

-me and joanna walked to the grocery store

-ate left overs in the hotel room with Anna, Joanna, Cassie, and Nicki

(NZ 3) 

Muriwai Beach

-rained on us

Auckland city tour

free time

-me, joanna, and anna walked through town

dinner at O' Hagans

Foxx's bar to watch rugby

-was very crowded...me, anna, and medora left after 15 minutes and got a taxi home

I'll be back in 3 weeks

I'm in New Zealand 

I'll be back on June 29th

Here are the cities i am going to in case you want to know:

Aukland

Rotorua

Wellington

Te Anua

Queenstown

Activities:

Sky tower

Muriwai Beach

Glow Worm Caves

Black Water Rafting

Kiwi House and Bird Park

Tamaki Maori Village

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Buried Village of the Te Wairoa People

Zorbing

Agrodome

Polynesian Spa

Cruise the Milford Sound

Multiple Guest Speakers

School Visits

See you when i get back to the United States

(139-141) Today is the Day

Once again i have been horrible about daily posts.

The past few days have been filled with packing and trying not to stress out.

All the stress leaves after today. Tonight i fly to New Zealand where i will be for the next 3 weeks.

Here is a mish mash of photos from the last few days to give you a taste of what i've been up to.

Outfit of the day: Monday

 Walked around long beach with Krissi

 Rolled down the hill at the lighthouse:

That's all im going to say about the last few days.

See you guys in 3 weeks.

(138) checking things off my list

There are 4 days until i leave the country and i am so stressed. 

How do i know this...

...my emotions are all out of wack

...i cant think straight

...my words aren't coming out right

...my to do list is growing

Today I attempted to alleviate some stress.

-slept in til 10:45

-spent time with krissi

...lunch at BJ's

...ran errands (tj max and target)

-continued gathering things on my packing list

-made a phone call to my bank letting them know i was leaving the country so they wouldn't put a hold on my account

-bought tickets for American Idol live tour (in nashville july 30th)

-printed out paperwork for the trip

-spent lots of time on my computer

I crossed 3 things off my to-do list and 4 things off my shopping list. Slowly making progress. Taking things one day at a time...unfortunately i am running out of time.

FYI

Last night i ended up watching several movies, decorating my NZ journal, and gathering stuff to pack.

(i went to sleep at 2am)

(135-137)

Its been a few days since i've blogged. I am going to try to remember what i've done.

(135) Tuesday May 31st

New Zealand Class 1-4

-received packing list and luggage tag

One week til i leave

Makeup & Hair: Before and After

Outfit of the day

I don't really remember the rest of the day.

I did study for a quiz that happened on Wednesday.

(136) Wednesday June 1st

Its June!

Last New Zealand Class (12-2:20)

Quiz in class...got a 90%

Dr. Appt. at health services at school

-She said she couldn't give me any antibiotics...which means i spent $15 to be told to use Sudafed, wash my hands constantly, not touch my face, and to disinfect everything i come into contact with. Thanks Dr. so helpful. I was not happy when i left. I was mainly frustrated that i keep getting sick and that the dr.s can't do anything to help me. I am so tired of being sick and not feeling like myself. And i'm worried about my ears and how they are going to do with flying. (they constantly feel plugged)

Came home and watched TV

finished watching the movie That's What I Am

Walked to El Burrito and treated my dad and brother to dinner

watched So You Think You Can Dance

went to bed

Outfit of the day

Hairdo

FYI: dry shampoo is my new favorite product...that stuff is amazing

(137) Thursday June 2nd

(5 days til i leave for NZ)

woke up at 6...couldn't fall back asleep

turned on a movie

fell back asleep 30 min. into the movie

woke up at 11am

showered

listened to music

watched tv

ran errands with mom and susie around 2pm

spent time out back with mom

watched tv
made a categorized packing list
what does the evening hold?
perhaps...
...packing
...watching movies
...who knows

(134) Memorial Day

Everyone was home today. It was so weird but really nice.

I slept in til 9am

had coffee

listened to music

read a magazine (and by read i mean looked at pictures and if it looked interesting, skimmed the article)

did a mini workout

went outside

made lunch...it took quite a while 

ate outside as a family

we had: bratwurst (role+caramelized onion+sauerkraut+ketchup), zucchini, and pasta salad

dessert: dump cake and drumsticks (ice cream)

so much good food

after eating i came inside and turned on a movie and worked on sudoku puzzles

took a long nap from 5:30-7pm

watched tv

at 8 i watched the bachelorette (i also had another bratwurst) and then extreme makeover weight loss edition

other stuff about today:

*throughout the day i was on polyvore and more of my favorite time wasters 

*i had multiple helpings of dump cake 

*got a little sun on my legs...i am way too white

*music that i listened to:

Random

Movies i look forward to seeing...look really good...seem interesting

50/50

A Little Help

Project Nim

The Tree of Life

(133) Kick back

Today was a really relaxing day.

woke up at 9:30

drank coffee

listened to music

unloaded/loaded the dishwasher

mom made breakfast

ate with dad at the kitchen table

spent time outside

went on my computer

spent more time outside with my parents and the animals in our backyard

Velcro on her leash getting ready to roll herself across the deck

Chewy the tortoise 

Monarch caterpillar 

(flowering) Blackberry bush with a bee

Frank

Later dad and i went to ganahl lumber and to my work

(i had to check my schedule. I don't work this next week. This means i don't work again until july...if i even get scheduled during the one week i am back)

While in the backyard, later on, we heard crash, screech, crash, (the sounds, not the words) in the distance. me and dad went for a walk to investigate. It sounded like a really bad accident that involved multiple cars. It turned out that there were only two cars involved. Nobody was injured. One of the cars was up on the sidewalk. They got hit and really skid. I think the second crash was it going up on the curb.

After that adventure I spent time being artsy and listening to music in my room

Makeshift desk in front of the window for a cool breeze

 I started sketching on my linoleum block (carve it and make prints)...it will be a print eventually

Design 1:

 part of design 1:

 Redesigned:

 Close ups:

 I came across this big fellow crawling on my floor.

Unfortunately i had to put an end to it. I felt kind of bad for him/her/it.

After the drawing was done i moved onto collage-ing, or at least cutting out words from magazines.

It is for my New Zealand Journal.

At 6, I turned the tv on for the first time that day.

ate dinner

at 8:40 erin came over and then we went to her house to take the last of her things to the apartment.

we all hung out there for quite awhile and got things set up.

I got home at about 12:30ish give or take some time.

Here is today's outfit:

Hairdo:

(132) A Full Day

Today has been non-stop...But so much has been done.

Around 9:45 Erin and I started moving stuff  into her new apartment.

We made multiple trips to and from her car and to and from her house and apt.

Around 4 we went back to her house to get ready for Glee Live

we headed to LA and got some food before we went to the concert.

We ate at a food network recommended restaurant that happened to be in a sketch area
Nickel Diner

But it was a really neat place

Next we headed for staples center

-chose not to park in the lot and found a cheaper place on the street. (valet parking)

I have so many photos, but i will just share a few (or way more than a few)

Don't stop believin'

Dog days are over

Born this way

Loser like me

(fake ending)

Somebody to love

(real ending)

Here is the list of songs performed (not necessarily in this order)

1. Don't Stop Believin' 2. Sing 3. Slave for you 4. Dog days are over 5. Fat Bottom Girl 6. Hold Your Hand 7. Pretty Young Thing (PTY) 8. Aint no way 9. Born this way 10. Fireworks
The Warblers took center stage
11. Teenage Dream 12. Silly love Songs 13. Raise your glass
14.Happy Days 15. Lucky 16. River Deep, Mountain High 17. Don't Rain on my Parade 18. Jesse's Girl 19. Valerie 20. Loser Like Me
Fake out ending
Came back out with more songs
21. Single Ladies 22. Friday 23. Safety Dance 24. Empire State of Mind
Officially closed it off with none other than...
25. Somebody to Love

It was a fabulous night.
And it was very well documented so i def. won't be forgetting it.

I am a Gleek and i love it.