so much to look forward to!

hey all!

so here is my first blog post post-school.  it feels pretty good.  today was absolutely insane, as all my days are, even though i am done with school.  i anticipate all of my days to be like this, at least until we move to boston - if not until we actually move into an apartment.  school is just one less thing i have to worry about now.

i worked all day yesterday and today is my last day.  i am not going to lie - it is actually really stressing me out that tomorrow is my last day.  i am having a hard time relinquishing control of some things, and i am really worried about what is going to happen after i leave.  but i know most people who leave their jobs feel like this [so says one of my girlfriends, j, who is an hr expert anyway].  so it will be interesting to see how it goes, because right now i just feel kind of anxious.  we had a team outing yesterday afternoon for the holiday and we did a cocktails and canvas event - and i totally loved it!  painting was such a great way to relieve stress... wish i could do it more often (and be good at it). 

my first painting!

after my work outing, i stopped for happy our with j at el camino.  it felt so great to just sit, drink, talk, and not worry that i was blowing off homework or something else super important.  i am really going to miss our random but always much-needed happy hours...


i am starting to get super excited for this weekend.  in less than 12 hours my sis anne will be here - i can't wait for another visit with her!  my brother aj also arrives in just a few hours... before you know it the rest of my family will be in tomorrow and it will be time for graduation on saturday morning.  saturday night is our annual christmas cocktail bash so anne and i have a million things to do to get ready.  but this is the good kind of busy - not writing term papers and reading til 1am kind of busy.  i like this kind of busy :)

i don't know if i'll have time to blog again til after the crazy weekend - but stay tuned!  lots more coming up!

til next time...

DONE.

announcement:

i am done with school. forever.

i turned my paper in today after spending over an hour editing it.  i can hardly believe it - i kind of feel like i am in shock or something.  i was hoping that it would feel like all my stress just melted away... but with the move and the party coming up there is just no chance of that happening.  but i do feel less stressed.  i don't think it's really going to hit me until graduation on saturday, to be totally honest.

i want to say so many things to all the people who helped me.  but right now i am so tired i can hardly type this... so we'll save it for another day :)

finally.  goodnight all!

thanks, robert ingersoll!

i was hard at work on my political philosophy paper last night, and i wanted to share this beautiful quote from robert ingersoll.

while i am opposed to all orthodox creeds, i have a creed myself; and my creed is this.  happiness is the only good.  the time to be happy is now.  the place to be happy is here.  the way to be happy is to make others so.  this creed is somewhat short, but it is long enough for this life, strong enough for this world.  if there is another world, when we get there we can make another creed.  but this creed certainly will do for this life. 

awesome.  i can't believe that i went to school to study stuff like that.

and no, i didn't finish my paper yet.  the writing stage is totally done - but it just has to be edited tomorrow before i turn it in.  then i will truly breathe my huge sigh of relief.

day of firsts and lasts.

 

well, it is finally over.  i finished my LAST CLASS EVER today.  it felt really good, and it was a really great class too actually.  we had a mock-constitutional convention, which i felt was a great way to end my adventure back to school.  it was sort of anti-climactic though, since i still have a term paper to write this week.  and get this:

my term paper is on my own personal political philosophy.  i think that is such a fitting way not only to wrap up the class or the semester, but the perfect way to sum up before graduation on saturday.  it will require me to really reflect on everything i've learned this past year and decide what i really stand for, and hopefully might help me prioritize in searching for jobs out in boston.

it was also a little anti-climactic because i couldn't go celebrate with my favorite carpool/study group buddies, lp + cw, but instead had to rush home to sign the lease for our house!  yup - the isbouts home is now officially going to be occupied by someone else come january 1st.  it's bittersweet, because i really am still super nervous about having someone else live in the house - but this also means it's one less thing that i have to worry about now.

after the lease was taken care of, pi and i rushed out to get him to the airport.  another first today - he left for his first business trip for his new company.  even though he started his job officially on the 26th of november, tomorrow is really his first day.  he hasn't had to go into an office or even really meet anyone from his company yet, so tomorrow is a big day for him!  he's gone all week - won't be back til friday afternoon - but it gives me lots of time to finish up my final paper, pack, and prep for the party this weekend.  i better get used to him being out of town, so i am keeping myself super busy this time around.

i am still kind of in shock about being done with class.  i don't think it will really hit me until i finish my term paper this week - but i am hoping i can actually knock it all out tomorrow evening so i can get on with all the stuff i have to do.

goodnight all!

til next time...

holy panic attack, batman!

happy day - first post of december, the month i have been waiting for all year! holidays, graduation, family gatherings, graduation, new job for PI, leaving my job, packing up the house and moving... oh wait, that's too many things.

but that's right.  those are all of the things happening this month in the next few weeks. 

my school countdown today is down to

 

10 days

 

that's right.  only 10 more days of schoolwork. but what gave me the real panic attack today was that i gave my official last-day-of-work notice to my job!  my last day is now december 13th.  which means that the 13th i will have my last day of work, my annie and my brother get in thursday night, PI comes home from his first business trip, my dad and his wife will arrive.  craziness.

 

it all just is starting to seem so real now that i picked my last day of work.  stupid, i know - we've been talking about this move for over a month.  but it's all really happening now.  we'll have our house rented by the end of the week i hope, and by sunday night all my classes will be over.

 

it's all really starting to happen, and i am really starting to panic.

 

going to go find a glass of wine... til next time! 

high high #26

guys, this was in my email in box this afternoon.



WHAT?!  i am graduating with honors.  i can't even begin to say how actually happy this makes me.  when i think about when i first was going back to school how impossible it all seemed, i never even thought about honors.  i actually said i wouldn't walk in my graduation ceremony because, 'it would be different if i were graduating with honors,' i justified.  and now that i am, i am going to walk in my graduation ceremony.

which means i get to go buy a new dress :)

and, in case you were wondering, graduation is now less than a month away. 

well hello there.

hi there.

yes, i'm still here.  i haven't gone missing, i haven't abandoned my lovely little blog.  the truth is, october has been insane.  before my first weekend class finished, we got the syllabus for our 2nd weekend class of the semester.  and let me tell you folks, it is b-r-u-t-a-l.  it looks like it could be my most demanding class so far, so i'm going out with a bang.  but just as i was stressing over the syllabus, i had a comforting thought:

it was the last syllabus i was going to read.

so it seemed a little bit more manageable after that.  it may be the most difficult class yet - but it is my VERY. LAST. ONE.

but besides school, there have definitely been other things keeping me very busy, and i am very happy to say that soon there will be some big changes to announce, i have a feeling!  one of which is a new blog i will be writing for - can't wait to share the details!  but it isn't time quite yet, so stay tuned.

oh, and just to update the countdown... 

54 more days

until my last assignment for my last class is due.  so it could actually be less than that.    

that, and i will be back to blogging regularly very soon.  

and if not, see you in 54 days. 

kidding :)

high school blanks.

how appropriate - today's blanks are school themed.  probably high school themed for me today, since high school is all i've thought about all week. 

1.  my favorite grade in school was  either my sophomore, junior or senior years of high school.  had some amazing friends, started growing up a little, and just had fun years all around.

2.  my favorite teacher was  probably one of the teachers i have now, tony robinson,  because his energy and enthusiasm is just amazing.  it's contagious, he laughed and did voices and cursed and got super into it.  i loved it. 

3.  the highest level of education i have completed is  allllllmost done with my bachelor's in political science with a concentration in public policy!

4. school lunches for me were usually  fast food with my girlfriends in the back of my jetta.  loved them.

5. the amount of money you'd have to pay me to go back to high school would be ...well, if i could just do it over again with the same outcome, probably around a million dollars.  if i could change things a little, well, then, i'd do it for $500,000.

6. a few things that will always remind me of going back to school are:  new shoes, backpacks, bookstores.

7.  the first day of school was always  something i loved.  it was always so exciting and filled with anticipation.

i guess high school is just the topic of the week.  and it probably will be next week too - funeral on tuesday. :( 

have a good weekend... til next time!

a very good place.

feeling super awesome today.

a few days ago i had an epic breakdown about school. heading into this semester i was very optimistic about not having night classes - that was kind of rough the last two semesters. this semester classes are over my lunch hour at work, which i thought was kind of awesome. turns out its really difficult to switch mind sets back and forth from work to school to work to homework at night.

but i am finally in a good routine i think. weekend classes don't start til after labor day, so i don't know how long this will last, but it's good right now. the end is in sight. my classes are interesting. work is going well. fall is right around the corner. and there are LOTS of fun things coming up to look forward to each month to break down the semester into more manageable chunks:

1. beer tasting party this weekend! we are having a bunch of friends coming over saturday for a gourmet beer sampling, which means i am by this week getting the house ready. finishing up trim painting, pulling weeks, cleaning, putting out some fall decor,
2. my sister-in-law n is coming out in the middle of september! she's never been out before me we have some very fun plans and day trips on the agenda.
3. trip to nyc the weekend after n's visit! a wedding, meeting my little nephew for the first time and seeing all our family and friends. not to mention a welcome 5 days off of school and work.
4. trip for p's birthday in october! this one is a surprise, so i can't say anymore than that. but it's going to rock.
5. thanksgiving in la - and we are road tripping! sure it's a lot of time in the car, but with a stop in the mountains and possibly vegas (not to mention its at least $400 cheaper) its perfect. a week off from school and getting out of town.
6. and by december it's graduation time. done and done.

keeping my head up and my heart strong!

til next time...

my awesome weekend

here were the fun happenings of my weekend in the form of a top 10 list (but not in order):

1. played mario kart with my brother & PI.
2. staropramen and becherovka at sobo 151.
3. moved stuff around in my house just for fun.
4. played taboo with my entire colorado family and my brother's friends.
5. moonrise kingdom.
6. did NO homework.
7. brunch at an awesome new spot!
8. got a little taste of fall.
9. slept in.
10. spent my ENTIRE weekend with family. 

and now it's back to reality. boooo.

i had school today again and afterwards had a quick stop in with my advisor, who did my degree audit.  all good for graduation in december!  now all i have to do is survive this semester with passing grades and i am done.


106 days!

the countdown has begun!

school update: my final semester has begun, and i have already had my last first day of school. which means i can finally start counting down the days, the minutes, the HOURS until i graduate!

111 days til i am done!

it literally can't come son enough.  i have passed my first 'hurdle' in getting approved for graduation - arguing for days with my adviser about having to take three last credits.  after talking to our department chair i think i have it all taken care of, but i don't think i can really breathe easily until i know for certain nothing will stand in my way this december. 

part of me things that this is going to be the longest 4 months of my life, but the other part can't even believe how fast it has al lone.  surely these next few months will be just as fast.  i have been so lucky to have such a supportive family who has helped me during every breakdown... and believe me, there have been a few.  

so the next few months will be busy. there may not be as much blogging, but there's only 4 classes to manage, so who knows.  there will be lots of fun though - all before the end of the year my brother is coming out, my sister in law (who has never visited before!) is coming out, we are headed to new york and LA, and who knows what surprises may come our way.  

trying to stay positive...

xoxo

kind of how i'm feeling.

 

 just thought i'd share this, because this face right there is how i've been feeling the last two weeks.

i obviously haven't been blogging while i finish up school.  last paper of the summer semester is due saturday - just in time for fall semester to start monday.  yeah.  and there's been a hiccup with my fall classes, so i'm tryng to figure all of that out before relaxing to blog.  sooo ready for this all to be over with.

but we did find the time to make a surprise trip to boston last weekend - pics coming soon (maybe even tomorrow!)!  it was an awesome time.

hopefully my smile will be back soon, along with new house projects!  we've started a new one on the front yard - and it looks pretty good so far.




til next time...!  happy tuesday!

xoxo

hello world!

hi friends!  yesterday was a big day... I FINISHED MY SEMESTER!  technically, i still have class this week on wednesday night, but i just have to watch the last few final presentations.  i am DONE.  i finished my last final yesterday afternoon, and as soon as i finished, all i could think about was sleep.  so i laid on the couch and slept for a few calming hours.  it was amazing. 

the most proper way to celebrate i could think of was to take my amazing husband out to dinner wherever he wanted.  i truly believe the only reason i survived 17 credits this semester was because he was there, supporting me, making me dinner and helping me whenever i needed it.  he's amazing.  so we went out for a lovely dinner at bistro vendome, one of our favorite french places.  a few martinis were enjoyed at the bar, then we waited for our table outside.  but just as soon as we were headed outside to be seated, the sky opened up and it started pouring.  the end result?

view of the patio from our table

a table right in front of the wide open back doors to the garden with a front seat to the thunderstorm.  it was lovely, so beautiful and romantic.  after we closed down the restaurant, we headed over to a cote for some french cocktails to wind the night down.  it was the perfect evening and a fantastic way to start my maycation!

today i slept in super late.  i can't even describe how amazing it felt to just sleeeeeep in with no worries or anything to do.  we hopped on our bikes this afternoon for some bike-and-beer fun. 

i can't believe the hardest part is done - and i think this was a perfect start to my maycation :)

how was your weekend? 

xoxo

someday...

today is a beautiful, beautiful day.

and i got up and came to school.  not cool.  on days like today, i just sit and dream about all of the awesome, fun things that i could do if i didn't have to come to school.  so i thought i would make a list of things i would be doing today if i didn't come to school (and yes, i'm in class right now).  i'll do these someday... enjoy.

• gardening
• making photo books of my trips with philip
• getting a new tattoo i've been dreaming about 
• bike pub crawl
• walk around and take pictures of spring
• painting my entryway
• go antiquing down south broadway
• plant herbs in my kitchen
• label my kitchen jars
• have a picnic
• drinking these amazing cocktails
• enjoying a yoga class
• give myself a cute manicure (& pedicure)
• sleeping :) 

so hope you all are enjoying your sunday!  it's my last weekend in school (for the semester, anyway).  i'll be enjoying my weekend soon! 

til next time... 

how do you see the world?

ideology: the ideas and manner of thinking characteristic of a group, social class or individual.

i love this.  learning stuff in school is always fantastic, but feeling those dots connect in your own life is something i really value about school.  in class a few weeks ago we were discussing ideologies and political theory.  as all good classes do, the discussion prompted some deep thought on my part.  

how do i see the world?  what is it that i believe in?

well, for starters, i reflected on an experience i had a few months ago.  it was a conversation i had with an obama supporter back in november, where this man said something simple that struck me as profound.  referring to people who oppose his political views, he said, 'we just don't see the world the same way.'  i loved that.  i had never thought of my own political views that way, but here was a man who saw disagreement as more than just policy issues.  it was a difference in the way the world looked to him.  and not so much at the time, but since then i've been doing a lot of thinking (especially coupled with studying ideologies in class) about how i see the world.  and how i've always seen the world.  i'm just now (i know, i know) putting together the fact that what i'm doing now with my life and why i'm going to school is a direct reflection on how i was raised and my views of the world.  

how do you see the world?  what is important to you?  

just spending a lot of time thinking about this lately and thought i'd share.  plus i've been a bit MIA this week (volunteering four times this week - LOVE IT - plus school tonight, and valentine's day friday night). 

til next time...

busy blanking saturday!

well, hello there.  if you come here often, you won't be surprised that i am just now getting to fill in the blank friday, even though it's, ummm... saturday.  saturday late afternoon to be exact.  but what can i say, i went straight from work to a work function last night and didn't get home til 11.  today was more work, haircut with my fave hair stylist ever, homework and now sigh.  blogging :)  so sorry for the delay, and i hate to say this, but it's going to get worse before it gets better.  my weekend classes start here in two weeks and then i won't come up for air til the first week of may.  so i'll enjoy this now, because who knows when i'll be back... 

1.  the highlight of my week was  my OFA phone bank, getting ready for super tuesday for which i will be a caucus captain, and some other cool stuff that happened.

2.   if i had to classify my interior design aesthetic it would be   eclectic, mismatched and worldly.

3.  my first vehicle was   lousie, my 2001 blue volkswagen jetta. best car EVER.

4. an item i need to have in my day in order to function is  music. wakes me up in the morning, makes my drive to work tolerable, and cheers me up when i need it.

5. my favorite way to waste time is  uh-oh, too many. discovering fun things on pinterest, or reading my version of celebrity gossip.

6. right now i could really go for   a cocktail and some sunshine.

7.  this weekend i will be  doing homework, a lot of homework.

i'll try to be back tomorrow, folks! 

xoxo

always.

i just have to remember... 10 more months of school.  9 more months til the election.  almost there.

can it at least be may yet?

high high #14

it's february.

here is a list of all the super awesome things happening this month:

• my sister anne coming to visit me in just 9 days (i'm going to go bananas!), which will include 
• family brunch
• comedy show
• brewery tour
• major sister time
• 3 day weekend for alaina
• the beginning of restaurant week, possibly the best week ever
• my first midterm of spring semester, meaning i can already see the light at the end of the tunnel that is this hellish semester
• valentine's day! philip & i don't actually celebrate, but we do pick a day in the month, usually well after the real deal, and have a nice dinner - always something to look forward to
• our first ever oscar party, where guests have to come dressed as their favorite oscar-winning character
• and more time for blogging since i'm less busy

oh, and... 

• my 27th birthday. bummer.

that's one hell of a month. can't wait to share it with you all! 

xoxo

first january update!

hi friends. i’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

 

the absolute craziness that was january is now over, and it’s on to february!  i am very excited to announce that the script is finished.  there may be a few corrections or edits, but that should be a breeze (except in the nightmare i had last night where i basically had to rewrite everything.  terrifying!).  so school is underway, and so far so good.  i have a night class this semester, which actually isn’t turning out to be as painful as i thought it would be.  three onlines and a weekend class that starts in march – then the hardest part is done.  after this semester i’m looking at two summer classes and four fall classes, then GRADUATION!  i tell ya that day can not come soon enough.

 

besides my crazy school work, 2012 has been good so far!  i think it will definitely be my busiest year ever, but i’m looking forward to all the challenges and surprises the next 11 months bring. 

 

but busy-ness aside, 2012 has been fantastic! we already accomplished one of our 2012 goals – refinancing!  whoooo!  and the best news of the year… i am going to be an auntie again!  this time on my side of the family, my cousin-like-a-sister is pregnant!  i am sooo beyond stoked and am already planning a million ideas for the baby shower.

 

largely due to our crazy month, i have done next to nothing in the house.  seriously.  i half-heartedly redecorated the guest room, and i did a few little crafts before school started.  kind of sad.  but we are still planning on starting the two major projects for 2012 semi-soon:

 

        downstairs bathroom overhaul

        painting the entryway/staircase/hallway

 

looking ahead to february, the next month has my sister annie coming to visit and my birthday!  it’s going to be grand!  so glad i could finally catch you all up – happy 2012!

 

OH, and i have started wasting what little free time i have on pinterest, so follow me there during my blog absences!

 

xoxo

ps - last night was a wonderful girlfriend-filled night at the 9th door for my girlfriend SB who is moving away.  i just want to say best of luck to CB + CB on their new adventure!  i'll miss you lady! 

my bestest girlfriends!

high high #13

7:20am - arrive at work for 7:30am morning meeting

1:00pm - lunch break

1:30pm - lunch break interrupted, go back to work

4:30pm - leave work to go home, 30 min commute

5:00pm - rush to class that starts at 5pm, show up a few minutes late

7:50pm - get out of class & finally head home to scrounge up dinner and work on the script

8:00pm - come home to candlelit dinner of rice and veggies (delicious!), open bottle of wine, and a pint of my favorite ben & jerry's, all courtesy of my amazing husband philip.  i don't care how bad that ice cream is for me, it's the best.

but really, philip is the best of the best for making everything that is awful wonderful again. 

:) :) :) :) :)