Overwhelming and Amazing

Major events have occurred! 

After 5 years of wanting to volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, I was finally able to do so this past weekend! It was intense.  I'm so glad I finally was able to go but I think, in a way, it was a good thing I hadn't gone right after my mom's death.  Don't get me wrong, I loved being surrounded by cheerful people in remission and those loved ones standing by them.  Sadly though, I couldn't help but see the groups of people walking/running in memory of someone.  

I assisted with the start and finish line. Once people started getting ready and in their designated sections (i.e. 5k/competitive/non-competitive/walkers/etc.) things started getting intense.  It was like people were multiplying by the dozens. It was crazy! 

Once the race started I walked around a bit and unfortunately, my emotions got in the way.  It was difficult coming to the realization that my mom and I would never share in that victory of her overcoming cancer.  My mom and I dreamed of going to the race and everything. It was just sad, but I composed myself kind of quickly and payed a visit to the Tribute Tent. I felt that it was a way to pay respects to those who had also lost their lives/loved ones to this sucky disease. 

In happier, news, sorry for being such a Debby Downer guys, I received a scholarship at my school's Honor's Convocation this past Sunday!  The scholarship is in memory of a fellow student who passed away suddenly after graduation.  His mother and my professor formed a friendship after his death and have a scholarship in his name.  The teacher that nominated me for this scholarship gave such a beautiful speech and ended it by saying "I know your mom would be very proud of you." 

(Or something to that effect). It was just amazing. I teared up. 

Mickey surprised me before the Honors Convocation with red carnations (MY FAVORITE) and this cute flower pot.   He took this candid picture of me. :)

Mrs. Curnutt and Dr. Greenberg. :)

I even got a glass thingy-majig. It was awesome.
I do think my mom would be very proud of me.

And now, I embark on to finish my final spring semester in college.  I'll be applying for graduation shortly and then, before I know it, I'll be attending my final semester of college!! 

Where did the time go?? 

But, one thing at a time, tomorrow I'll be filling in as Entertainment Anchor for my school's television station! It all happened very recently, 

one of the anchors for tomorrow's LIVE broadcast is feeling very under the weather and so, I will step in.  Sometimes, things just work out a different way than you planned them to. 

So, here's hoping our previous anchor feels better and that I do a very good job tomorrow! :)

Play Analysis, TV Practicum & Law and the Media

I'd like to start off by saying that I'm so proud of how I've been managing my time lately. 

Toot Toot! 

{that's me tooting my own horn}

I left the house pretty early on Tuesday because Mickey and I wanted to get breakfast tacos (yum) but it didn't work out exactly as planned because traffic got in the way but don't worry, we did get breakfast tacos after all, even if they were from our school's smoothie place. 

(they were goood)

9am

Play Analysis

Pretty interesting class! 

Mickey and I already started reading the first play together and it was so much fun!! We did it in different voices and everything.  Yes. We're awesome.  ;)

It seems like it's gonna be a fun class!  I'm excited

We had the tacos & other munchies.

(Geez, I love food.)

[sidenote: current weight loss amount is 22lbs! What up! Mickey's is 52 lbs! So proud of us!]

12pm

TV Practicum

OMG. I'm so pumped!

I can't wait to volunteer and learn so much and be infront of the camera 

and behind the camera and running the teleprompter and doing all of that really 

cool stuff again and having so much fun...aaahhhh! I'm so excited!

Oh btw, we got free t-shirts advertising our campus tv station! 

(I was like the second one in line to get free souvenirs. #dork)

:)

Mickey and I are already volunteering for a basketball game! Whooohoo!

Let's just say, having this ginormous break from 1:15-basically 5:45pm is new to me. 

 It was really weird because it felt like a different day but

I think it's just something to get used to. 

 You know?

6pm

Law and the Media (dun dun dun)

Okay, so this is all Comm Arts people's most difficult and dreaded class so I was okay for being a bit nervous about it. 

We chose a different teacher because it fit our schedule better but yikes! 

She is a graduate from our university and was taught by the other Law and the Media teacher. 

 She uses his same handouts and way of teaching but I'm 

hopeful even after the scaring she did to us. 

Heck, I'm my mother's daughter, 

I've got determination and this class ain't kicking my butt. 

2 sidenotes:

[1. Our teacher and her husband met in the Comm Arts department and even took the class together.  She was talking about how they'd compete with each other and stuff and it was SO CUTE. Call me cheesy but this totally reminded me of Mickey and me.  ♥]

[2. Speaking of my momma, my aunt found some Christmas ornaments as she was moving stuff around and they had my mom and my name on each one.  It was almost like a little sweet surprise from my momma.  I know she's really proud and watching over me every day, especially this new week of classes.  I love you sweet, darling momma!]

The night concluded with getting some things done, which included getting Starbucks with this freaking amazing weather and catching up with an old friend and starting a routine for Tuesday nights.  :)

As far as today, well, that's for another time!

Hope y'all are doing well this week!

2012

Well, as with many bloggers out there, I feel it's super important to 

recap the year in a post, so here's my attempt to do so!

{I'll be focusing on happy things}

January: 

-Found the second love of my life...

ZUMBA

-Went to my first nightclub!

-Got dental implant!

-Stopped drinking soda!

-Filmed stuff for Eventually Cool!

Spooky Singles

February:

-Saw Kelly Clarkson in concert for the second time!!!

-Went to G-ton with some friends!

Our first picture together, before we got together.  haha.  

-Got confirmed!

March:

-Went to visit family in the Valley!

-Got together with the love of my life-Mickey!!! {03.18.12}

Our first date.  Downtown. 3.25.12 :)

April:

-Celebrated Easter with Mickey's family!

-Got inducted into Alpha Chi 

(Honor Society for Upperclassmen)

With Deidra!!

-Filed taxes all by myself!

May:

-Sang in the Baccalaureate Mass!

-Discovered my love for raspberries, blueberries & blackberries!

-Turned 20!

-Learned to drive on highways!

June:

-Started working at Cracker Barrel = Good cash flow for the summer. 

-Went to festival with Mickey! 

-Filmed stuff for Eventually Cool!

July:

-Went to Sara's wedding in New Hampshire!

-Saw a quick glimpse of Harvard!

-Flew on my own back home!

-Lost a total of 20 pounds! 

August:

-Went to Sydney's wedding (as a bridesmaid) with Mickey in Tampa! 

Weight loss for both of us!

-Became classified as a college senior!

-Started 5th semester of college!

September:

-Went swing dancing with Mickey!

-Celebrated Mickey's parents' 23rd anniversary!

-Mickey and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary! 

-Tried and enjoyed Creme Brulee!

October:

-Filmed my first PSA!

-Mickey and I volunteered with the Diabetes Walk (JDRF)

-Zombie Walk & our first Halloween together!

November:

-Voted in my first presidential election!

-Dia de los Muertos Festivities!

-Went to Vegan Restaurant!

-Went and filmed/took pictures of a quince as Mickey's assistant!

-Celebrated Mickey's 21st Birthday!

-Celebrated Thanksgiving with Mickey's family (& my aunt and uncle separately)

December:

-Participated in first 48-Hour Film Festival!

-Mickey and I decorated our first Christmas tree together!

-Went to Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA

SAW SNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME!

(& snow tubed, saw Pacific Ocean, went to the Northwest! and faced my fear of heights)

I guess you could say that this year treated me very well.  I know my momma 

would be very proud of how I'm doing.  I still can't believe I lived a whole year without my mom, 2012 was lived without her here.  A part of me is freakishly proud and another part of me is extremely sad.  I had a lot of firsts this year and I wish I could have shared those with her but for now, I'll just know she's watching me from above sharing those moments with me.  

I can't believe I'm 20, or that I found the most amazing guy in the world, or that I saw snow this year, or that I even had two jobs for 5 months while taking on a full course load at school.  I'm just blessed and thankful to God and my sweet momma for all the blessings they've given me and even though we lost some loved ones this year,  I know they're in heaven having a blast.  

So, thank you 2012 for being much better for me than 2011 was. 

Thank you for my loved ones.  Here's to 2013 being even better! 

I can't wait for all that is to come!

I know I'll certainly be ringing it in with some of my favorite people! ;)

Volare. I believe I can fly.

     It is with a heavy heart that I tell y'all these news.  I will not be studying abroad in Rome during Spring 2013.  After much consideration and crying, it is a better option to not go.  As y'all remember from my first post about studying abroad, I was pumped about it.  This was way back in December 2011.  My Italian teacher suggested I go during the spring because the weather is nicer, so I began looking into it after being apprehensive about it.
     I told my friends about it and Mickey became interested in the idea as well.  I took on a second job at Cracker Barrel to save money and to still be able to pay the bills.  At the beginning of this semester, Mickey and I went and visited Alanna and we continued the process of applying to study abroad.  Everything was fine but slowly we started realizing that, financially, this would be something very difficult.  I had money saved up to pay bills while away but my concern was about my return to the U.S. and internships and everything.  Paying for the plane ticket and passports and additional expenses were also of concern.
    After obstacle after obstacle, Mickey and I still kept persevering through and tried to figure out ways to work with them (obstacles) but then the biggest one came.  If we stayed here in the U.S. we could graduate in December 2013.  If we would go, we wouldn't graduate 'til at least Spring 2014, if not later, as some classes aren't offered every semester.  My biggest worry is that I need to graduate and get a job soon so I can start living independently. I'll be turning 21 in 175 days and as I get older I want to make sure I can get in the business and work my way up ASAP.  I will start almost anywhere. I just want to get there and do it.

     I would have loved to study abroad in Rome and learn the Italian language more but I feel that it's not God's plan for us now.  Ironically, today I found out I received the Gilman Scholarship, it's a study abroad scholarship Mickey and I had applied for a while back.  I'm not gonna lie, declining that scholarship was one of the harder things I've had to do in college. We were both extremely sad to not be able to do this but realize that everything happens for a reason, so here are the opportunities available for us here!

1. Mickey is Vice-President of To Write Love on Her Arms at our university! Congrats babe!
2. I can audition for The Memory of Water and even if I don't get in, I'll have added experience.
3. I can cut down on the amount of time I work at Cracker Barrel. (I'll tell y'all more about that another time).
4. I can volunteer here and put in my application for graduation in January.

I must have God's side hurting from all the laughing.  Haha.  

5. We can possibly continue Off Broadway!
6. I can not be as restricted financially!
7. We get amazing classes here!
8. We can graduate in December 2013 (God willing).
9. We won't miss all those spring holidays with loved ones.
10. I can continue participating in events with Catholic Daughters, TWLOHA and maybe if our Associated for Women in Communications organization grows on campus, I can be an officer!

Yes.  I'm very sad that this didn't work out but I know that God and my mom have bigger plans for me.  This just wasn't meant to be, not now.  So, wish us luck as we finish this semester strong!

Raspberries & Avengers & Mass

So, BIG NEWS.  I just found out like three days ago that I absolutely LOVE raspberries! It's crazy because I've always thought raspberries and blueberries tasted weird because I just assumed but I finally had the guts to try them.  My aunt had gotten raspberries and blueberries on her recent trip to the grocery store and so I thought it would be a good idea to try them.  Oh my goodness guys! Raspberries are SO much better than any other fruit.  Blueberries are really good too but they pretty much taste exactly like grapes to me.  Which reminds me, I had like 115 calories left for the day today and I had strawberries, green grapes, blueberries and raspberries.  FRUIT OVERLOAD.  So good though.  I guess it's a sure sign of summer!  Seriously guys though, they are amazing.  Try them if you haven't! Also, blueberries and raspberries have potassium! That's always good. My mom would be so happy I am still trying new things!

-So. AVENGERS. THE AVENGERS.  Seriously amazing guys. I strongly recommend y'all watch it.  I mean, c'mon, it's a Joss Whedon baby.  Need I say more? It's got a mix of action, adventure, comedy and so much more.  I loved it! I loved seeing it with my special someone too! It was his second time. :)

-I sang at the Baccalaureate Mass today and that was really fun.  It was interesting because it took place in the same venue where my high school graduation was.  It's crazy how time flies by, it's been about two years since I graduated from high school! TWO YEARS! And in about a year and a half, I'll be graduating from college.  I'll be the first in my family to attend and graduate from college.  Insane.  It got me thinking about my future and all, even more than I do already. It was nice though.

Hope y'all have a good day! Good luck with finals and such! Thanks for reading.

May the 4th Be With You

So, ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad to be able to say I have finished my fourth semester of college! WHATTT??!! I know, believe me, I feel like I'm still a freshmen sometimes.  Here is a quick updates since I last blogged:

-I'm going to volunteer for this Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund event on June 3rd and I'm totally psyched for it!
-I volunteered to be part of the choir to sing at the Baccalaureate Mass my university will be having this coming Sunday.  I'm so glad to be singing again because just knowing I won't be in chorale next semester is making me sad.  We had two rehearsals for the mass this Sunday and let me tell y'all, I've gotten so much better at sight-reading.  Speaking of which, this girl next to me complimented on my singing and sight-reading skills and even asked me if I was going to audition for the chamber choir but unfortunately I can't because I have a different class at that time.  Either way though, it was nice to get so many compliments.
-I've been having a rough time with a situation that I thought would be resolved by now but it's just tense. Please send good thoughts that this all works out and that I continue to be strong and not let things get to me, however difficult it may be.
-I'm thinking of being part of the church choir at my university!
-Alpha Chi inductions were successful and I didn't have a meltdown on my mom's birthday.  ( I ate shrimp scampi, her favorite)

-I'm thinking of working at this baby theme park for children over the summer.  I actually used to go there as a child so I think it would be nice if I could work there.  Plus, I need the money! Haha.
-I'm still in shock that school's over! Yay! Oh, I got 100 on my upper-level English class final! Crazy, I know!
-I'm excited to do so many things this summer (including spending time with my special someone, wink wink.)
-BIG NEWS: I've lost 14 pounds! I absolutely love this feeling!
-I'm so excited to start my summer classes and fall classes (I will mention those in another post).
-I'm starting to fall asleep so until next time! Thanks for reading!


Oh and May the 4th be with you!

HAPPY 100TH POST! (& VERY IMPORTANT NEWS!!!)

That's right.  This is my 100th post! Can y'all believe it? 99 posts have already been written! Here is the link to the first one in case y'all wanted to see it.  A lot has changed, obviously.   The most important one, I believe is how much I've grown as a person. Seriously, if I knew then what I know now, then I'd be a really smart 18 year-old.  Haha. Seriously, though, it's insane how much you grow in a year, or in this case, in 100 blog posts.

So for the news of this week.  List? Yeah, I think it's my style, it helps me keep organized.


-FINALS are done!!!! I'm done with my third semester of college! I still get this feeling sometimes (since thursday 3:25ish) that I need to study for something. I definitely don't! Woohoo!
-Work was very stressful today.  My boss' mom isn't doing well.  Please pray for them. <3 Thank you.  Pray for her to comforted by God and our love (co-workers, friends, family).
-I'm doing very well in the "trying new things" department.  It's pretty amazing. My momma would be proud.
-I volunteered with Susan G. Komen today at this Breast Cancer Symposium in my city.  It was FANTASTIC! I loved helping out and meeting people from all over the world.  Singapore, United Kingdom, (I heard British accents!!!!) California, Venezuela, NEW YORK!, Italy (I need to tell y'all something later concerning Italy, BIG NEWS!), and many other places.  It was so rewarding and I loved talking with the ladies there, the ones at the booth where I volunteered.  I look forward to volunteering with them in the future!
-Acting final was super fun! Caity and I were nervous right after we performed it because we were the first ones and you know, it was the FINAL but we got amazing feedback!!! I really love theatre.  It makes me happy.  I always feel better leaving that class.  I'm gonna miss it tons.  Next theatre class up: Intro to Technical Production, where unfortunately there is no performing :( Oh well, until Fall 2012 for…INTERMEDIATE ACTING! I'm super excited for that one.
-I will miss Country Western Dance :( It was a very fun class.  I miss dancing.  Boo.  Hopefully, I will get to use my awesome dancing skills soon though.  Haha. But seriously.
-One of the other classes I will miss is Italian, I will be taking Italian next semester, so it will be okay.

✭✮✯So, some of y'all may have forgotten the Italy thing I mentioned above ↑ (way up there) and some of y'all maybe didn't but here it is….WAIT FOR IT…WAIT….so…I'm 83% sure I'm going to study abroad in Italy during the Spring of 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that amazing/wonderful/magnificent or what? It all started when I was talking to my Italian teacher, who was also my Spanish teacher in high school. I don't remember how we got to it but we started talking about studying abroad.  My scene partner and I were the last ones there after everyone (including ourselves) finished finals.  We all started talking about stuff and my teacher started talking about studying abroad in Italy.  I've always been the one to dismiss the idea because I always wanted to be here, different priorities you know? Now, though, everything has changed. It was nice to talk to her about it, she mentioned how learning Italian would be good for me in Italy.  (Rome, exactly).  She gave me a few compliments and made my week, seriously! I love Italian and to hear compliments about it is amazing.  Anyway, I talked with Alanna, study abroad information guru and I got lots of information.  Long story short, the opportunity is incredible.  When talking with Alanna, I still was 50-50 on it but now, I've visited the website like 2039480348 times and keep planning everything.  I am still worried about a few things but, y'all, wouldn't it be amazing? Or wait Amyzing? (My new nickname! Haha, thanks Mickey!) Well, anyway, please cross your fingers for everything to work out (especially financially).
-I feel I've been rambling but this was major news so it needed to be shared.
-I wish y'all good luck on finals! Almost there!
✭✮✯Whoa, before I forget, SIGNS.  The conversation with my Italian/Spanish teacher happened Wednesday and I got so many signs that day and some yesterday and one today.  If you know me, you know how I'm very big on signs.  I've seen two stockings with my mom's name on them in different restaurants, I see them as signs from my mom telling me she's okay.  So on Wednesdays I had two salads.  One, at this Starbucks on campus, weird, yeah, anyway, THE ONLY DRESSING THEY HAD WAS ITALIAN DRESSING.  Hello! Sign! Later that night, Katie and I went to a restaurant and they gave me ITALIAN DRESSING!!!  We saw videos in my Video Production class and they mentioned Italians and the Jersey Shore, but the focus was on the ITALIANS, it was about online dating and the risks or whatever (it was comedic) and one of them was supposed to be Italian!  Yesterday, when I talked to Alanna she gave me names of people that went there or are there right now.  The names ALFONSO and CASEY have meaning because my mom almost married an Alfonso (her true love) and Casey (pronounced like a "k") was my mom's assumed nickname for me, my middle name is Cassandra and she thought people would call me Casey.  So bam! signs!  Last night, I was on Pinterest looking at pictures of Rome when I saw this one right above.  "GO TO ROME"? I mean, come on! It's a sign!  Today, at the Symposium, TWO ITALIAN MEN came to our booth and even spoke a bit of Italian, it was hard to hear because they weren't speaking loudly but it was something about research.
-So, there you have it.  Signs. Pretty important to me.  Haha.   Momma would be proud of me for everything that happened this week.  So much, I can't even write it in here.  I'm loving these signs too!
-IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!!!! ♥

9.

[9 Loves]

1. My mom.  She is my hero and she is the strongest person I know.  She is funny, my friend, yet a parent first.  She knows how to make me feel better when I'm falling apart, she is simply amazing!

2. Babies.  No guys, I don't have baby fever, I've just always loved babies.  Grant it, I'm not a fan of their funny smells and snotty noses, but come on, you gotta admit they're adorable.  With that being said, I'm in NO rush to have them, I want to wait 'till I'm married and able to provide for them.  I love babies though, ugh, I just love 'em.

3. Animals. I love animals, not bugs, animals.  My favorites are cats, pandas, penguins, capuchin monkeys, small dogs, and pretty much any small animal.  There is a Humane Society like 10 minutes away from our new apartment so I'm excited to do help out once we both move in there.  Also, I want to work at a zoo because my mom did the same and I feel it would be a great experience to work at a zoo.  I feel like animals are amazing because they don't judge you or put you down.  I saw this on facebook: animals > people and I completely agree. :)

4.   Television.  I feel like most people watch television, even at a glimpse, every day.  There is so much that television shows us.  There is plenty of negative, unfortunately, but there is plenty of positive as well.  As an aspiring television producer I love watching television and getting ideas.  My favorite television shows are shown at the left under "All Time Favorites".  I'm serious guys, these are amazing! Shonda Rhimes is amazing as well! (Ahem, Grey's Anatomy!)

5.  Movies.  Lately, I haven't been able to watch many new movies seeing as we are living at the skilled nursing facility but we did watch Madea's Family Reunion.  It was pretty good. My favorites though include You've Got Mail, One Fine Day, Harry Potter, While You Were Sleeping, oh dear there are so many others as well.  My favorites are romantic comedies and also movies from the 90s. :)    

6. The smell of fall.  I love it.  It's a reminder that the holidays are near.  My favorite is that first time you smell "fall" in the year.  I love it!

7. Seafood.  I love scallops and tilapia and orange roughy and shrimp and clams and lobster.  Aaah! My favorite restaurant is Red Lobster.  Yum!

8. Volunteering.  I love meeting new people and helping out.  I love helping with little kids especially, they are just so fun, they make me miss my childhood but I get to relive it with them.  They make me happy.  I love volunteering.

9. Performing. I love dancing, singing, acting, or playing the violin in front of people.  That doesn't mean I don't get nervous though, I definitely do but I still love it.  I especially love the feeling right after you're done and people clap and cheer, it gives me goosebumps.  I also love the feeling right as you start and you realize "wow, I love doing this".  I LOVE performing. :)

Please keep praying for my mom. Thank you.