will you be my valentine? =)

valentine's day plans

Even if its still somewhat cold, Valentine's Day brought out the sun in lovely southern california :) We had our date night last night and Bret was an amazing date!! My camera is still at the house but when I get it pictures are on their way! LJ, Hilary, Grant (LJ's bf) and I just got back a little while ago from breakfast at Burgertown. I know, it might sound gross but its the best kept secret of Redlands (with the best breakfast burritos EVER.) Grant is the manager of the men's basketball team and they have an away game tonight so the three of us are going to see Slumdog Millionaire!! I've been waiting so long to see it and with the Oscars right around the corner I want to at least say I've seen a couple of the movie up for Best Picture.
I think were doing sushi before? It all depends on the crowds... and when the majority of the popular restaurants DO NOT take reservations, it causes a headache to say the least.
The fam is up at Crystal as we speak spending the long weekend skiing and having fun at the condo. I'm jealous!! But between the DELICIOUS COOKIES megan baked me, (and my roomies) the yummy body wash, shaving cream, stickers and eye shadow mom sent down and beautiful roses from dad I feel like I kind of am at home. Thank you family :) for making my room smell pretty and indulging me!!
A week from today I'll be picking up mom and dad at LAX!!! I'm so excited for a break from classes, school work in general, and getting off campus. LA seeing Liz and staying in a hotel where I can take a baatthhh... oh I get excited just thinking about it, ha!

On another note I came across this intriguing quote the other day and it has been bouncing around in my head ever since.
"Sometimes losing control is the most beautiful thing in the world."
At first I was turned off by it because I don't think I understood it, but sitting down and thinking about it, it is one of the most logical quotes I have ever tried to pick apart. Losing control; (in other words, giving in) understanding that the world doesn't work in ways that you can always control. What is meant to be will always find its way speaks in a similar way. It challenges you take a step back and enjoy the little things in life, focusing on the moments and living for significance. Because in the end, aren't moments all we have to live for?

a lot to do, little time to do it!

Well, after perusing my planner today in Shakespeare, I found that I have A LOT coming up in life these next few weeks, and its all right around the corner!
Brief overview:
Friday (tomorrow) :
*barnes&noble date with myself (need to get hw done!)
*women's tennis match at 2
*pledge's community service activity from 330-530
*delta v-day date night, taking my guy friend Bret, found a slinky black strapless number in my closet, looking forward to it!
Saturday:
*the dreaded holiday for all who are not involved with anyone special. For me, the night will include a movie date with my friends and a cookie dough binge? we'll see...
Sunday:
*delta meeting 7pm
Tuesday:
*workshop piece due!! handing it out to everyone in class, they take it home and read it, come to next class prepared to criticize the hell out of it
Thursday:
*World politics MID TERM
Friday:
*officially SPRING BREAK!!! ♥ (I'm realizing I'm going to be quite the little traveler...)
*drive to LA in the morning to see Lizzzz!!!!!! stay the night at her apartment
Saturday:
*spend the day with Liz then... MOM AND DAD FLY IN--- pick them up at LAX, the four of us have dinner reservations at the Ivy :) stay with mom and dad until tuesday when they go home :(
Tuesday:
*last day with parents, after airport drop off stay and Liz's one last night!!
Wednesday:
*drive back to redlands... maybe stay with LJ and her family or the Kantor's? in palm springs...

--the last few days of break are somewhat up in the air as of now... the dorms are staying open becuase of the economy and students not being able to easily travel so I am thinking I will be back in the dorms Friday night at the latest and having a peaceful weekend to get things together for next week's classes.

Anyways, lots to look forward to and lots to do before I can even think about relaxing...ahhh so exciting!! :)

long weekend...

Wow. Today is sunday and it feels like it should be a tuesday for how long this weekend felt! Thursday night we had a function with Chi Rho Psi, Friday we had a get together at the delta house, Saturday we went to see He's Just Not That Into You (really funny!) and last night I went to the symphony with LJ in our chapel and stayed in and watched Mean Girls. I'm almost done with my Macbeth essay due tuesday and we have a delta meeting tonight at 7. woo! Lots of things and I am one tired girl! I went to bed around 1230am and woke up around 10am... a good 10 hours that I desperately needed!
Mom and dad come down to visit me in exactly 13 days!!! Were staying in LA (I'm visiting Liz too!!) in the Beverly Hills Four Seasons (thanks dad!!) for three nights!! :) It is also the Oscars weekend so there will be some definite star-searching!! On Saturday night were going to the Ivy for dinner and apparently that's a hot spot for the celebs so I'm keeping my fingers crossed we will see Julia Roberts or Rachael McAdams or Brad Pitt... ahhhh!!!
It is pretty gloomy here and the forecast doesn't look too promising. I guess we're getting pay back from an amazing January, blah!!
special note--you know who you are, i love you and you are in my thoughts!! a big heart is not a flaw, remember that!!

ps: pictures to come, i know its been a while!!

pss: a quote, because I feel inspirational...

"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live." --D. Thompson

first day at the nursery!

Today was my first day of volunteering at the nursery and I really loved it! I worked in the one year old room and it was VERY hectic to say the least. 8 one-year-olds + 3 adults = chaos. Hahaha. BUT it felt so comfortable being surrounded by a thousand rambunctious kids I really was enjoying myself. I worked 4 hours (8am-12pm). At 1130 the tot's go down for their naps so I ventured over to the other side of the room and held Logan, a six-month-old smiling, chubby little one who I held for the last half hour I was there. So darling! I didn't want to put him down (totally helped my desperate baby fix, it was getting really bad!!) One-year-olds are so great because they're not quite at the easily embarrassed stage yet so even if they have never seen you before, after 10 minutes they are crawling on you and pulling your hair. Bradley was this adorable boy who was quite the rebel who sometimes bites the others and tries to eat rocks when we go play outside. Sheleah (pronounced Shy-LEE) was another one of my favorites with pig-tails and the cutest giggle. Oh my goodness. The women who worked there are all really nice, and surprised with how well I interacted with the kids. I guess their used to volunteers who just sit there for community service hours. I know I'll look forward to going there each day and I can't way to get attached to the little munchkins :) :) and hey, its something to put on the resumé, yeah?

ACCEPTANCE TO SALZBURG!!!

Today I checked my mailbox and received my acceptance letter to Salzburg for fall of 2009!!! LJ and I were both accepted and I am so excited to have one of my closest friends with me in europe for my first time!! We are told to be in Salzburg Sept. 3rd and depart back home on Dec. 16th. It's becoming more real now that I will actually be abroad for an entire semester but I am nothing but excited!!
Today it is 80 out and I wore capris and was too hot. My two classes are out of the way for the day, as well as a meeting I scheduled with my poetry professor to go over some of my work. I figured the meeting would last 30 minutes tops, but an hour and twenty minutes later we finished. Good thing I didn't make any afternoon plans!! Geez, it felt like an entire class period, just one on one. LOL
Tomorrow I start my first day of volunteering!! 8am-12pm :) :) I am really looking forward to it! Definitely stay tuned for details :) I am headed to the gym shortly, and then I have my night class at 6pm. Then delta centennial song practice following around 9ish. Tuesday's are so busy!!

volunteer job!!

I went in and filled out the paper work this morning, and I am starting my volunteer job at Redlands Day Nursery on Wednesday!! :) On Friday I had to go and get a TB test done, this morning went back to the health center for them to check it, and all is good. The Nursery is pretty big, and divided into rooms according to age. I'm working in the infant-24 months (I think mainly with 12 month olds) and I am SO excited!!
This weekend was a big weekend for greeks because Saturday was Bid Day!! These were the back of our shirts, "Party like its your Bid Day"

We got 10 new girls (which is amazing) and I'm so excited for them. Things didn't work out for me to take a little this semester, so I am waiting until I get back from abroad to take one. It was upsetting initially but I was reminded that things happen for a reason and I know this just wasn't my time. It's hard because LJ, hil, and Jackie are all taking ones and I was all ready to, making shirts over break and decorating things, BUT it was a sign that my little wasn't out there this semester and I can be extra helpful to the girls who are taking girls. I think this volunteer job came at just the right time because it will (hopefully) fill this extreme baby/little sis/mothering void that I am currently experiencing. Ah!
Plans are also being finalized for Megan, Mom, and Kristy to come down to watch the Pacific Life tournament with me!!! Its going to be such a fun girls weekend, there was worry that my formal might be on that weekend, but its NOT and I'm SO SO EXCITED to watch some amazing tennis with mommy and megs who I miss so much! (Oh and you too Kristy ;) )
I am also getting excited for the whole fam (boys included) to come down here for spring break to San Diego!!! :) :) When mom, dad and I went and stayed for a few nights at the Del over summer we had SO much fun and I'm so so looking forward to it.

our 10 new babies!!!


lauren and i-- she lives on my floor in north, freshman on cheer team, LOVE her!!! (there are now officially SIX Lauren's in delta!!!)