Lightening my load...plus extra random tid bits on my mind

Sometimes I find myself creating a really long, random Facebook status/post about five different things. Sometimes I actually do think before I post and delete, telling myself: A) that was going to be way too long & B) who cares?

Sometimes I want to post like five different things back to back. I guess that's what Twitter is for. But I just cannot manage the 140 or less character limit. Nor can I stand checking Twitter. And I don't know who I actually know that's on Twitter that isn't my Facebook friend. Facebook's way easier. I really don't even know why I have an Instagram. (Oh wait, yes I do) - because everyone I know posts their IG pics on IG & on Facebook. And then there's those 2 friends who are on IG but not on Facebook (hey Ashley & Julie!)

Anyways. I'll resort to vomiting my random thoughts/feelings on HERE instead of on Facebook. That way, only those who stumble upon my blog will read it...and if you're this far into the post & still reading, it's because you want to. I may or may not post a link on my FB wall to check this post out *if you want*.. get it? That way you can only say you know because you went that extra click to see what I had to say. Because you care. Or because you're super nosey, but whatever.

I can really get off topic. What I was GOING to say was... (a few different things I feel like bullet-listing today)...

• I am so thankful for a day off work. I put my notice in a week ago and it felt SO good. Only ONE more day of evals & 4 more workdays! Thanks be to God! I had a nightmare last night about doing evals...and how my 1 eval turned into 1 with their 3 kids (making it 4 evals) and I had an allergic reaction and my mouth and tongue swole up and I could hardly breathe. And I was told to figure out how to get them all done anyways. Even knowing I'm on my way out and I'm still having work-related nightmares. This is not okay. 
• On that note, I am so excited to start something completely new and challenging. A healthy kind of challenging. I am so eager to learn and get my feet wet. I am so excited that I get to begin my school counseling career at a high school. While I would have taken any job and made it work, high schoolers are my thing! Don't get me wrong- I loved doing therapy with my middle schoolers last year, but I kept finding myself thinking, "I'd love to talk to you in three to six years." :) 
• I am off work today (I think I said that already) but I am doing what I can to take some weight off my shoulders....and the rest of my body. I am letting this unhealthy breakfast settle (don't judge) and then I am getting my butt to to gym for workout #1 for the day. Then I plan on coming home, parking myself at the dining room table (where I feel I will be most productive) & getting as much wedding video editing done as possible today. I hope to reveal my 2nd video to you super soon! Here's mine/my first. :) THEN I will be attending my first ever yoga class this evening! More on that later...
• And I have to figure out how to drug myself & with what to get myself asleep at like 9pm tonight so I can get on my new crazy sleep schedule. I'll have to be at work at 7:15. While means I need to leave the house at 6:45. Which means I need to wake up at like...5:15 to be safe. Which means I need to go to bed at 6pm. (just kidding....but seriously, have to figure this thing out or I will die.)

So many thoughts...so little time! I hope you are having a wonderful day, whatever day you read this! Do something today to lighten your load...your physical or your mental load. Either way, weight's hard to carry. 

♥,

Nicole

Sunday night chatter

I have just absolutely, positively tried my hardest NOT to do work over Spring Break. I have enjoyed {almost} every minute of it, and had definitely decreased my need for rest. I have done this by napping {I'm pretty sure} every day while I've been home. It's been so stinkin' nice- napping with the windows open, breeze coming in, birds chirping. Some would say they would have rather been outside, but really- what was I going to do outside that I wanted to do more than nap? I mean, come on....I don't think you know how much my body hated me. But, we've talked and, we're back on speaking terms. ;)

Did you catch Coming Home episode #3 tonight on Lifetime? You know I sure did!! I swear, if you're in the mood to cry happy tears, that show'll do it for ya! {Do you like my Southern accent coming out in my blog....."show'll"} But if you haven't heard of it...come out from under your rock! It's a new show on Lifetime that comes on at 10pm on Sundays. It shows real-life surprise military family reunions and they all touch your heart! I haven't heard of anyone {with a heart} watch it without tearing up at least once! I dare you to try it! No but really, watch it. I want to support the show because I know it provides chances and memories like that that wouldn't otherwise be possible....and because I can't get enough of it and the more viewers then {I'm thinking} the longer it'll be on TV. I'd hate to see such an amazing show go off air. Here's a little clip....


Other than that, just looking forward to getting to Hickory tomorrow and getting all my crap done that I can as fast as I can because I get to come home Tuesday & spend the evening with Alex {& others, I'm sure :)} beginning work on the house! He admits that he has no earthly idea what he's doing when it comes to decorating, etc. so I think I'm going to go look at {some more} paint colors tomorrow while I'm out running some errands! I now have more of an idea of what we're doing & what I we want! ;) It'll be interesting, that's for sure! IS IT MAY YET?!?!

The answer is no, Nicole, it's not May. So, until then, I have work to do! Nothing to wake up early tomorrow for so I'm going to get to work, yes at 11:43PM. That's what I do. I'll never learn.

Friday Randomness

Exciting things are coming! But until they get here, I am going to enjoy the rest of my Spring Break! I ended up traveling to Maiden High for internship hours four days this week. During my Spring Break. Good thing I love Maiden! :) I really do feel blessed that I have such a great internship site & have three wonderful counselors to advise, supervise, and teach me during my time there!

But today....today I got to sleep in. Y'all know how much I love sleeping in! :) But, in actuality, I had a bad dream and woke up at 9:30, wide awake, and ready to start my day! I felt rested! For the first time in a while! Hopefully I will take this rested feeling & run with it.

Speaking of- I want to get back in the HABIT of running! Or, get IN the habit...you know. My schedule's getting a TAD less crazier so, why not fill that little bit of spare time up with running until my legs fall off?? :) Just kidding. Y'all know I won't start that hardcore. ;) But I am going to put my shorts on & go running around Mawmaw and Pawpaw's neighborhood later this afternoon. Looking forward to it too! It's a beautiful 73 degrees outside right now & I'm sitting in the bed getting work done blogging with the window beside me up! I feel the sunshine, hear the birds chirping {and the cars going by}, and just feel so happy inside knowing that winter is {hopefully} over!!

Lots to do before I head back to Hickory on Tuesday. Gonna try to enjoy every minute of it too...and this weather sure is helping!! Happy weekend everyone!!

Monday "Morning" Blogging

The maintenance men are here replacing all the lights in my apartment so, I am trying to pass the time by catching up on some blogging! I really don't want to leave, and I can't shower, and I can't watch TV because they're loud, so.. on with the blogging! :)

So, like I said in my previous blog...last week was a busy one for me! I knew it would be a doozy so I spent as much time as possible at home on Sunday & Monday. There's just something that eases my mind being at home. I say my apartment is my temporary home because it's where my stuff is. But stuff isn't what makes a home...it's the people. Unfortunately, I like for my stuff and my people to be in the same place- and that's not the case right now and it won't be for at least the next 16 weeks...and I'm okay with that {for the next 16 weeks}. But I must say that I can not wait to graduate and move my stuff closer to my people. And I say that not only for the obvious reason(s), but also because any time I go home I seriously over-pack and it is SUCH a hassle to go anywhere overnight.

Now, I started my internship this week! Or, rather, I started my internship hours this week. I mainly spent the week proctoring EOC exams, which is a completely boring but necessary task so, I did it. :) I woke up at 5:30 every day but Monday this week and please let me tell you....it is kicking. my. butt! Y'all know me....I am NOT a morning person and I can't ever manage to get to sleep before midnight {at the least}. So, you can imagine what I've been like this week waking up at 5:30 and working until 11pm one night, class until 9:30 another, and the usual RD nightly shenanigans. I have been starting to take Melatonin to get me sleepy and keep me sleeping throughout the night {or, as I should more correctly say: throughout the 3-5 hours of sleep I've been getting.} But this week the students at Maiden High School will receive a needs assessment asking who wants to start seeing me for individual or group counseling and then the following week I will have to get a serious move on so I can complete my 150 direct hours before April 22nd. Eek! It'll be okay though...I love Maiden & interning there!

This week will be a lot less crazy of a week and I thank God for that. I get to sleep in again!! Monday & Tuesday were originally teacher workdays to prepare for the new semester starting this week so, I will not be interning Monday and Tuesday. I'll have to take this time to finally finish taking my Christmas decorations down, go to the gym, rest up, work on some school work, and hopefully schedule some Mary Kay facials. I am going to try to enjoy every minute of it!!

Oh, just some rambling...

I know every year has it's ups and downs, but this year's definitely been a rough one.
Luckily I have some fun things to look forward to coming up... and I still have 4 months left of this year to keep working on making it the best year ever.
My goal every New Years is to make "this year" the best year ever.

Between Pat's diagnosis, family issues, summer school ruining my summer, and practically having zero break between the three semesters of the year has really just taken a toll on me.
I AM TIRED!
I keep telling everyone that this year I need to be working on getting some sleep.
A bed time would be nice...
and sleeping the whole night through would be even more fabulous!
I don't want to sleep in as late as I do, but if you go to bed as late as I do, it's needed!
I don't ever feel like I waste my days away because I am still probably up and going at everything on my to-do list in the hours that I'm awake just as many hours as a "normal person."
It's just not healthy and I've got to do better.

We are already doing better this year as an Ike unit...
{note that I did not say better than last year. I am not comparing staffs because I can already go ahead & tell you...they both ROCK!}
...the students all survived their first weekend away from Momma and Daddy and there wasn't a flood on any halls!
Move-in went flawless and I have my fabulous staff to thank for that!
I feel like it's going to be a great school year! :)

I started my first class of the semester tonight.
This semester's going to KICK. MY. BUTT.
4 classes, working at the gym, doing the RD thing, and trying to find time to see family, friends, and Alex... man!
This is going to be a doozy!
I feel like it's been forever since I've been home and actually had time to spend there.
Any time I go it's for a reason, I have an agenda, and I'm in and out and back to Hickory before I know it.
Which isn't too too bad because I love living in Hickory!
I just wish that everyone I loved also lived in Hickory.

I do miss going to church.
I need to find a good church in Hickory.
I sure would miss Mike Devine's preaching though!

Anyways, back on the school subject... this is my last full semester of classes!
Ever!
And I mean it this time!
I will not.. I repeat: I will NOT be going to get my PhD so, yes, this is my last full semester of classes.
Next semester I will be doing a school counseling internship at a local high school while I take one class,
then next summer I will be doing an agency counseling internship SOMEwhere
{Lord, find me a place!} while I take my last elective class.

So do you know what that means??

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

{I'll say to August 1st because, well, if I'm not done by then I might cry!}

So, in only 342 days, I will be DONE with graduate school,
either beginning a new job or job searching {Lord, guide me!}
and starting a new life!

I better enjoy my job, all the fabulous people that are in my life, and the flexibility I have in my schedule right now.
Don't get me wrong.... I'M BUSY, but my schedule is pretty flexible.
That I love.
I don't have an 8-5 job and Lord help me if I ever do!

So do you know what that means?

It means I have 342 days to
ENJOY, and EMBRACE.
No time for being down or worrying.
I put my whole life in God's hands and trust Him to work it all out!
I HAVE to... or else I would have gone crazy a looooong time ago! :)

Random update at 5AM

So earlier on Facebook, I posted a status saying something along the lines that I needed to get this paper written because I can't stay up until 4 AM again tonight and that by that time, my body would be on strike. Well, I guess it is- with a surprising twist! I finished ALL MY WORK FOR THE SEMESTER :D around 1:00 tonight, and have not been able to sleep since. It's a quarter til FIVE now. Ugh!

I have GOT to get on a better sleep schedule than this. {I think I've been saying that since the beginning of time.} But now that I'll have a semi-break for a few weeks, I really want to work on that. Also, be prepared to get some Facebook messages in your inbox saying that I have added new devotions to ten minutes to get you through your day. :)

I have written 36 pages of papers this weekendish and my brain is officially o-f-f. I'm awaiting my Statistics grade and, well, I'm afraid I might lose my 4.0 GPA. (Stats sucks and I'm SO glad I'll NEVER have to take a stats class again. {I think I said that before. Uh oh.} We shall see. (UPDATE: I made an A!)

I want to give a lil post-birthday shout to my bestgirlfriend, ALE ARCE. I view days as from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. I haven't gone to sleep yet, so, Ale, guess what! It's still your birthday! :) I hope you had fun out celebrating!

Random thought: I want to adopt a dog at an animal shelter!! I have Baby, which is MY baby. I love her to death. But, that doesn't mean I want her to be an "only child" forever. ONE DAY, when I have a permanent place of my own, and Baby's all settled in, and not going ballistic on my blinds, then I would love love love to go rescue a dog from the pound.

Okay, I think I might sleep now. Blogging is the new counting sheep.

My first challenge of 2010!

So, for reasons I’ll keep to myself, I have ONE month to get into a ROUTINE & to kick some nasty habits of mine! One month isn’t long so…I will have to find a way to stay focused!

I don’t know how much I weigh (yet). I don’t know if I care, or if I want to know… I think a lot of girls/people focus too much on their weight and the actual number. In case you didn’t know, your weight fluctuates throughout the day, so unless you’re going to weight yourself at home every morning the second you wake up, then weighing yourself isn’t the best idea ever. It’s healthy to lose 1-2 pounds a week and if you lose weight at that pace, you’re a lot more likely to keep it off! So, that is my goal! I don’t think I’ll need a scale; I think that I’ll be able to see and feel the results I want with time and that’s all I ask for! The thought of taking a “before” picture crossed my mind too, haha…you know, the unflattering body poses, complete with bad hair and a frown on my face! IF I do, you definitely won’t see it until way, way later when I see the results I want & can take an a decent “after” picture! ;)

I have free access to the gym on campus so, I have no excuse! Other than the fact I would LIKE to go sometime before noon everyday and Lenoir-Rhyne’s gym has some crazy hours (6-8 am & noon-11pm!) I guess I will have to figure something out.

Weight loss is not my objective here…the whole point of the month-long “thing” I have going on here is about habits (particularly my bad ones!) I’ll admit…I have a number of them! I heard it’s best not to try to kick them all at the same time so, I won’t try! ;)

My main goals are:
1. Get on a healthy & (keyword here:) steady sleep schedule
2. Eat 5 small meals a day…3 plus 2 HEALTHY snacks!
3. (Starting small here -->) Only drinking ONE soft drink a day!
4. Hitting up the gym at least 4-5 times a week…for at least one hour!

You gotta start small. :) Now, I’ve already purchased my “healthy snacks” – which will definitely come in handy when I’m stuck in class on Wednesdays for 4-5 hours at a time! And there is currently NO soft drinks in my refrigerator! (Confession: I did purchase two 2 liters of Mtn Dew, you know, just in case… but they are room temperature in my coat closet!)

Now, I’ve been going to bed at decent times (compared to my previous 3ish a.m. bedtime) lately & having to get up to go work at the gym from 6-8 a.m. really does help to get you in the habit! Too bad I could always come back home & sleep til noon (& sometimes do)!

That’s another thing! I can’t be sleeping in like I did. I mean, I usually didn’t sleep past noon, but still…I need to pick a decent time to get up, and GET UP at that time. No more of this snooze for 10 more minutes, then another, then another junk!

Ok…I’ve talked enough. It’s time to walk the walk. It’s 9:45 p.m. & I’ve gotta work at 6 in the morning so, we’ll see how it goes! I’ll keep you posted! ;)

WISH ME LUCK! :-D

Welcome to Hickory, NC!

Ahh! My sleep schedule is SO messed up! I'll probably end up blogging late at night while I have a ton of energy. Living back in the residence halls have really screwed up my already pretty messed up sleep schedule. And I really reallly really wish I'd work on that more- because it really messes up your day!

About that---as most of you know, I've moved to Hickory, NC. I got a great job too! I am now a Resident Director at Lenoir-Rhyne University. I live in an apartment in Isenhour Hall on campus, one of the primarily freshmen "dorms." (Speaking of my apartment, it was a definite fixer-upper and I took before and after pictures! I'll have to share them another day!) Anyways, my job is to primarily oversee the RAs in the building (who, by the way are SUCH an awesome staff!) and the building itself, and handle any mishaps that happen along the way. Let me tell you, I LOVE IT! Isenhour Hall is crazy. My residents are crazy and I'm enjoying getting to know them this year. I hate hate hate the sound of my doorbell but I don't mind it when I hear it at 2 in the morning if someone is having issues.  It's such a great job to have while I work on my Masters. I can use what I learn in classes immediately and directly with students, which is great!

Again, in case you hadn't heard, I'm working here at LR on my Masters in Counseling. I couldn't decide which type of counseling I wanted to do once I had my Masters and I was seriously struggling with that decision. Usually, graduate schools have you decide which type of counseling you want to pursue: agency/community or school. Well, long story short: Lenoir-Rhyne has an awesome program that lets you do both! So, I added 12 hours to my course load and will be able to pursue a counseling career in either some type of community counseling or in a school! With the economy the way it is, the more doors I'll be able to open the better! And then there's the fact that I still have no idea what I actually WANT to do! So, I have about 2 years to figure it out. :)

I think I've figured that I'll graduate in August or December of 2011. I took two classes this summer and plan to take one in December. It's crazy--those 3 classes add up to only a total of 16 days but those 3 classes alone will knock a whole SEMESTER off my graduation date! You know me....trying to get in and out as soon as possible so I can move on to the next stage! :) However, my LR experience is a lot different from my experience in undergrad at Appalachian. I may blog about that later. :) Therefore I wouldn't mind staying longer if I had to/could. Ok, I've lived here like TWO months...I need to stop. I'm hoping things don't change but I need to stop counting my chickens. Hopefully I'll remember to keep blogging and give you an update on it later on, once I've experienced it all a little more.