Things I Will Not Miss Saying....{My Life as an RD}

It's almost been a month since I was a Resident Director at Lenoir-Rhyne. I miss a lot of things about the job, and the school. I loved my staff(s), my co-workers, my boss(es) and I even loved my building {that will luckily be renovated this summer} even though it's an oldie goldie. But nights like tonight, when I can take a shower and lay in bed and read a book in peace and quiet makes me reminisce on some of the funny {and some not-so-funny} things I've had to say over the last two years that I will not miss as much. ;) I've compiled a list {that may or may not be ongoing} for your entertainment.

Things I am NOT going to miss saying now that I'm no longer a Resident Director:

• Tripp, quit blowing that horn! {I don't know why that's the 1st thing that came to my mind.}
• Don't throw trash out of your windows.
• Whoever's tossing water balloons out onto oncoming traffic, stop. 
• Don't be 'that guy.'
• Oh, stuff was stolen out of your room? Well then you probably shouldn't have left your door unlocked.
• Lenoir-Rhyne doesn't make the alcohol drinking age 21, so don't blame Lenoir-Rhyne.
• Just because Lenoir-Rhyne is a private school, doesn't mean it can make its own rules and legalize smoking marijuana.
• Here's some bug spray.
• If I have to come back again tonight, I'm gonna be pissed.
• What are they DOING up there?!
• The faucet drips. It can't be fixed. Consider it a noise to soothe you to sleep.
• I can hear the person above me peeing. 
• Are you kidding me? {In more than one reference}
• Jacob, security does not want a copy of your transcript.
• There's a flood on first upper. {Had to say that one a couple times too.}
• No, I don't want to hang out. It's 3:30 in the morning. I want to sleep! 
• Someone burnt Easy Mac and we had to evacuate the building.
• Do you smell smoke?
• You know I can see you hiding behind that door.
• You know I can see you hiding behind your closet curtain.
• You know you can't have all these animals in here.
• Whose baby do I hear crying?
• I know you wrote it in sidewalk chalk, but that's offensive.
• Yes, I do think you are a chain smoker.
• No, we can't have alcohol at our educational programs. Or our social programs.
• Seriously, that guy gives me the creeps.
• If you could play football for USC, then what are you doing here? Yeah, that's what I thought.
• No, you can't have my number. 
• Yes, my boyfriend is white. Why?
• Seriously, twice in one weekend? 
• I'm sorry the machine took your dollar. Find a partner and I'm turning my head for 5 seconds. If you haven't shaken the chips out of the machine by then, then you're out a dollar. Or you can go to the business office during business hours tomorrow.
• No, you can't take the furniture from the lobby to your room.

I am sure there are more but still....that's a good bit to start the list off!! My residents were entertaining to say the least & definitely kept me on my toes! What an experience it was to be able to be an RD. :) Would recommend the job to everyone but wouldn't recommend the job to just anyone, if you know what I mean! After reading that list, you may be surprised to hear that I really will miss being an RD.

"Graduation!"

I was going to do you a whole life update via bullet points...but this turned into a post-pictures-from-graduation-and-go-to-bed kind of post, so, stay tuned for more info later! ;)

So anyways, I GRADUATED "WALKED" Thursday night! I won't actually get my diploma until August when I finish my internship hours, but, here's a couple pictures from "the hooding ceremony."

Lenoir-Rhyne Counseling Graduates

Leah & Cynthia, two amazing inspirations of classmates!

"Being Hooded"

my love

"The Girl RDs" ~ My friends, Tori & Maria... Love them! 

Brother Bear

Pat & Me with Mom

A Proud Momaw!

Momma ♥

"Love & support brings happiness through all"

I spent the week leading up to "graduation," as I'll call it, packing my life up, taking 50 trips to Lincolnton & back, and trying to organize closing down a building of 150 freshmen as quickly as possible. Luckily, I had 6 great RAs who did a good job at helping me ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible, making my job easier in the end once everyone had went home.

I found out I had to be out of my apartment two weeks earlier than I thought I had to be, two weeks before I had to be out. So, with classes ending, crap due, and all the closing stuff needed to be done, on top of still internship-searching and everything else life brings at the last minute, I had to pack up & move!! I was planning on doing all of that once everything was done & I had a moment to breathe. But looking back, I'm glad it all happened the way it did. {That's a whole other post for a later day.}

But, the night before graduation I just got really SAD. Sad mostly because I wanted a lot of things done that weren't done, and I had taken SO many trips to Lincolnton and back, along with Mom, Momaw, and Alex, and there was still SO much to do. {I seriously had way too much stuff.} My original graduation-day plans were to sleep in {a little}, do a couple things {including get a pedicure}, & then get ready early so I wasn't rushed and got to a graduation banquet we had beforehand ON TIME {for once}.

Oh! Here's some pics from that too :) ::

Me with the cute couple, Jonathan {"the boy RD"} & Melissa

My date to the banquet, my awesome friend Jodi, & her 4 kids!!!!!! Hot Momma Alert!! Haha

I love this girl! My sistah-friend, Jodi! What a blessing she is!

But do you think my graduation day plans were fulfilled? UM, ABSOLUTELY NOT. But it's okay. I was smart & showered early. I have an AMAZING grandmother that came that morning to help me pack & load the car(s) {again}. My necklace waited until the END of the night to break & I even got to take Momaw to lunch & had enough time to run to the nail salon & get my toes & nails painted. {Had to save the pedi for another day!} At the end of the day I felt BLESSED. It was a super long day but it was one I will remember! I am so thankful for the loved ones of mine that were able to come and know that the ones that couldn't make it are proud of me! Yep, that pretty much sums it up....I was thankful & blessed!!

Now, onto securing that internship....

1 down, 1 to go!

I finished my internship last Friday. It was seriously bittersweet for me. I really really really loved the place and everyone who worked there. It was such a fun educational experience for me and I {really} hated to see it end. Thinking of it just makes me hate strongly dislike whatever idiot(s) decided to cut money in the state's school systems. I would have LOVED to have even gotten to apply for a job there! Not everyone has been blessed with such a wonderful internship opportunity.  I really made friends with the ladies over there and they are all so positive and encouraging. They all were eager to teach me and went out of their way to help me when needed. I couldn't have asked for a better internship opportunity. Seriously.

Thursday was the last day that all three of the fabulous counselors {Christel, Sherry, & Kim} were there, as two of them were leaving town the next day {my last day}. They got me a super sweet card and a $30 gift card to Lowe's! They know how many trips I've had to make to Lowe's lately for stuff for the house and they knew there'd be many more to come! :) That was so thoughtful of them. They didn't have to get me anything, and I REALLY thought that was super nice of them! They are all so awesome! 

Christel, my internship supervisor, also got me a little present. :) We had talked about how in public schools you can't really have religious-based decor in your office, so she got me a little somethin' somethin' that flirted the line! ;)

Isn't that so cute?? Again, that was SO thoughtful! I am so blessed to have gotten to work with these great ladies! 

That means I am one internship down, one to go to graduate with my Masters degree! I have YET to find an agency internship for this summer. I have really been praying about it. I am getting pretty desperate but I don't want to take the first offered internship out of desperation if it's not where God wants me to be. So, I'm praying that anywhere {of the million places I've contacted} that isn't supposed to work out, simply doesn't. And I mean that. I want the perfect internship {for me} to cross my path and the stars align for it to be able to happen! 

Is that too much to ask?? :)

I just want everything to work out for the best! :) I got a great lead recently {that has a little something to do with this} & pursued it...hoping to hear back soon!! I will definitely be shouting from the rooftops when I obtain a summer internship! Just you wait.... ;)

One of those weeks....

Ever had one of those weeks?

You know... one of those weeks when...

You can't get anything done.
Everyone needs your help.
You need help.
The people you need help from don't help.
You get behind.
You have ephiphanies.
You get motivated.
Your to-do list grows a mile long.
You want to go a mile a minute...
but you can't.
Because your phone is so. freaking. slow.
And your computer's being stupid.
And you want to bite people's heads off.
And you want to be patient.
But you want to get things done.
But you're torn.
Because you want to help people in need.
But you have to have to have to get stuff done.
And then you either feel bad or you get further behind.
And you get too busy.
And you lose touch with people.
And you lose sleep.
And you lose patience.
And you get frustrated.
And you get discouraged.
And you want to quit.
But you can't.
Because people need help.
And you have stuff to do.
And your job is not done.
But you need a better attitude.
And more sleep.
And more time.
But you can't get more time unless you don't sleep.
And then you are so tired you don't get anything done.
So you sleep. And then you're behind.

Story of my life the past couple weeks or month or possibly even more.
So ready for May...SO ready!
I know you hear this far too often, but it's my blog & I'll say what I feel.
And this is how I feel.

But it's not May yet.
So, until it is...

I have work to do.
People to please.
& Places to be.


*47 more days!*
...& counting. :)

11 more weeks

11 more weeks. That's it. That's all I've got left in me. I knew this semester would be hard but I didn't realize how much my body and my spirits and my apartment would suffer during this time. From last Thursday until today, I hadn't been at my apartment to do anything other than eat or sleep or shower and get ready. Seriously. Not exaggerating. So what does that mean? A hot dog mess is what it means when you are talking about the condition of my apartment! But it means that I counted down the days & hours until I left my internship on Thursday and could come home and tackle my apartment. What did I do instead?

Well, I broke a nail at my internship today so I first took my fake nails{courtesy of my fab boyfriend for part of my Christmas present that I just now took the time to do for myself} off and if you've ever done it yourself before you know it's a process if you want to do it right. I don't find that a waste of time because I was missing a nail and saved money by not going to the nail salon and paying for them to do the same exact thing I did. So, that was done.

On the way home I stopped to tan in the most fabulous tanning bed I have ever used. It's hot as freaking youknowwhere and they have an A/C unit in the room with the bed because it just gets so dang hot in there! It's 100% bronzing bulbs so you will not burn using it, which is great... and it has a MASSAGER on it! Ever heard of that, because I sure never had before?! Dumb thing is though, whatever genius designed it wasn't thinking that the white leather bottom of the bed gets freaking HOT and you need to lay a towel down so you don't get 7th degree burns. {Obviously exaggerating but you get my point.} I froze my account while I was there so my half month of tanning in great beds & trying out Mystic {spray} tanning is almost over. What a deal I got though! $40 for unlimited usage in any bed AND spray tanning! Gonna miss that for sure...

Anyways, so.. tanned on the way home, took my nails off when I got here.. then got in the shower because I smelled fried.. then took a 2 hour nap, WITH my hair still wet. So you know what that means. I was ex-haus-ted!!

Something's. Gotta. Give.

I wanna say "Is it May yet?" but all day yesterday I thought it was Thursday & all day today I thought it was Friday, so, no Nicole, it's not May yet.

happy happy joy joy

There is no simpler way to say it other than I am excited!

I am excited...

• Because I have officially turned in my last piece of work for the Fall semester. Just waiting on grades now...
• Because I am getting an elective course credit (3 actually, if that wasn't assumed) for a week-long class this week. If I can get the work done this week and/or shortly after, then I won't have any work to do over Christmas Break or coming into the Spring semester!
• I got permission to walk in May instead of having to wait until December!
• I joined Mary Kay and within the first week have not one, but two fabulous recruits!! Much love to my awesome girlfriends Becky and Melissa!! 
• I got some free jewelry for having a Premier Design jewelry party...loving all the new shiny jewelry in my collection! 
• Christmas break is just days away...
• I get to see some girl friends this weekend... Carolina, Kelly, & Bethany! We're having a triple date at the Cheesecake Factory....I can taste it now....

Things will always go wrong. I will probably always have some sort of family drama or stress from work or classes... But one thing is for sure... there are reasons to be happy!  I will remember that, thank God, and rejoice in my current happy thoughts! :)

I can't believe it's the last day of November.....

I have been MIA in the blogging world and with good reason. My life has been consumed with this dreaded meta-analysis I have been working my butt off on! I can't explain to you how oh-so-good it feels to have that thing submitted for grading! That was the peak of my semester I believe...and now it's all downhill from here! Yesterday was a 7am-11pm kind of day...today I have much more free time to get some things marked off my to-do list.

I started Couch-to-5k again. I pretty much got super busy after Week 2 last time I started it and it kinda feel to the bottom of my priorities list. After that delicious Thanksgiving meal, it is back on the priority list! I started back on Week 2....I'm 2 out of 3 days down this week so far & might attempt a little "over and beyond." Alex and I made a sweet little deal too... if I complete the 9 weeks of the program, I will get a nice "surprise" :) ... I never said bribery wouldn't motivate me!!

For someone who feels like they have ZERO spare time (and  yesterday was a fabulous example) I sure am adding things to my plate. I am very excited about some things coming up and some things I am starting... as I get started I will update! I am praying I stay motivated and encouraged and everything works out for the best! I am letting God lead the way because I am living on auto-pilot right now.

I've just gotta get these last minute assignments completed so I can just sit back and relax as long as possible in the month of December! Wow....this year has FLOWN by. December already?! That kind of relieves me though, as I am officially counting down until May! :)

Side note: Did anyone catch the Taylor Swift: Speak Now special on NBC Thanksgiving night?? I just had a chance to watch it last night. {Thank you TiVo for saving me again!} This special just made me fall more in love with Taylor Swift. I really think she's my favorite.

Another side note: I thought it was funny that ABC has a Beyonce special on, also on Thanksgiving night. I have heard one too many Taylor vs. Beyonce "arguments" & I just had to chuckle that these were on on the same night. I personally love Taylor way more but I want to try to catch the Beyonce special on ABC.com sometime if I get a chance. They are just too different to compare people, so stop trying! :)

Preparing for the end

So, guess what I am doing.

I'm studying for & taking the CPCE (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination). 

"Comprehensive Exam"...two of my least favorite words!

When am I taking it?

This Tuesday.

When did I figure out I needed to take it this Tuesday instead of in April?

On Wednesday. 

When did I get permission to take it this late in the game?

Thursday.

When did I purchase the review book?

TODAY/Friday.

Holy crap! So what does that mean? I have four "full" days, minus class & work and meetings, to study for this "comprehensive exam." Again, let me reiterate... Holy crap! 

So, that's what I've been doing....all day today.

Ok, well, since about 3:30 today, and not while eating dinner at Chili's. :) 

Some people (almost everyone else taking this CPCE Tuesday) have been studying for this test for weeks/months. The review book is a 1,050-question review book. It's massive! But it's a decent read, thank the LORD! 

Something funny I read tonight in it:

Pica is a condition in which a person wishes to eat items that are not food (i.e., the item has no nutritional value), such as consuming a pencil or perhaps a watch band. Just in case you're wondering, fast-food consumption is not considered a sign of pica in our society--yet!

Haha...good one! :) I appreciate the author's attempt at making this dreadful material interesting. It's info like, "Who is the father of career counseling?" and stuff of the sort. It's not anything I need to know to help a client in need- so don't worry, you future clients of mine, you. :) 

I know people in the past that have studied their butts off, only to go take the exam and not feel prepared whatsoever. So what I'm going to do is just read as much as I can until Tuesday morning, and see what happens. Oh, and ask for your prayers! 

Worse case scenario: I don't pass it and re-take it in April.

Seriously, I'm not that worried about it.

Maybe I should be.

Watch, I'm going to regret being such a horrible student.

While the oven preheats...

It's 8:40pm and it's already been SUCH an eventful day. You all probably know by now that people start needing me about this time of night, but tonight, I just really hope they don't. I love you guys, but I'm not in love with you. I just really want to enjoy the rest of my evening, alone, relaxing, in pajamas, watching TV, and getting in the bed at a decent hour. Is that so much to ask?! :)

Today Jodi and I went to the NC School Counselors Association's conference in Greensboro, NC. We presented a poster on drop out prevention, primarily at the high school level. We had a little sports theme and titled it, "Stay In The Game." Clever, huh? Here's our poster...

I was proud of us, of all of us fabulous LR school counseling students! All of our posters looked awesome!

I honestly had a good time because we got to have girl time on the way there & back but also, while we were there, stood around with Monica {who is amazing and joined us for moral support} and had more girl time! Funny stories were definitely shared! ;)

We had to rush back after the luncheon because I had a dentist appointment in Lincolnton. Ultimately it only lasted a total of five minutes, which was great, because I had to rush back for class...but in the end, I left with an...(dun dun dun) appliance! Yes, for the first time in my life, I have some sort of metal in my mouth. It's ironic because the purpose of it is to reduce headaches caused my mouth clenching and teeth grinding, but for 2 and a 1/2 hours of class tonight, I just played with it in my mouth and tested it's strength (by clenching my mouth, haha) and NOW I have a headache. :/ Go figure. I have got to got to got to get used to it being there and learn to just leave it alone! Not to mention that I sound like a total... (that was going to be offensive). I have to learn to talk with it in my mouth, but until then, try not to make too much fun of me.

I bet my sweet potato fries are totally burnt by now...

20 random facts!

I got this idea from my cute friend Maggie, and I'm bored, afraid to go to sleep because I know SOMEthing crazy will go down tonight in my building when my "crazies" {formerly called freshmen residents} return from their Halloween partying, so... here are 20 RaNdOm facts you probably don't care to know about me, but will learn anyways! :)

1. My Godson was born! Welcome to the world Corbin Blake Jervis! I can not WAIT to meet you!
2. I am absolutely LOVING my practicum at Maiden High School. I would love to work there in the future.
3. I have a fear of being an elementary or middle school counselor. Lord, please provide me a position in a high school!!
4. I have been listening to non-stop Taylor Swift since I bought her new CD Monday
5. Buying that CD was the first CD I have purchased since middle school
6. I don't love love love the songs AS much since reading this article {but that obviously hasn't kept me from listening}. Now some of my favorite songs I believe were written to total toolbags who don't deserve her time of day.  :/
7. My dog, Baby, got a haircut Friday and I swear it made her look like she lost 5 lbs.
8. Baby's also probably going to flunk out of our dog training class at PetSmart
9. I can't paint my own nails to save my life.
10. Alex and I have been going to high school football games on Friday night and I have to admit, I've enjoyed it. :) 
11. I believe November will be way better than October! 
12. I know I'm "young" but I am an old soul :)
13. I don't want Winter to start! But when it does, that'll mean I'm so so close to be done with classes!
14. Next semester might kill me. (I think I say that every semester...but I mean it this time)
15. I wish I had a sister.
16. I want a Dyson Animal Ball vacuum cleaner so so bad. I hate my vacuum cleaner. 
17. I'm going to miss watching Teen Mom and Jersey Shore with Maria. Don't fear though... we will move on to 16 & Pregnant.
18. I really really really really really need to devote an entire day to school work I've been avoiding!
19. I have a 4.0 GPA in graduate school. I'm proud of myself.
20. I wonder every day where I'll be come August 2011. May 2011 really.... Lord, show me!

Happy Halloween!

As you know, I'm not a big Halloween fan. I don't think I'd ever spend personal money on buying Halloween decorations. Now Fall is a completely different story and if you know me or you've seen my apartment, you know money is well spent on Fall decor. ;) But Halloween...nope! Not so much! I can see you decorating the weeks up until Halloween, but that would overshadow my beloved Fall, leaving Fall only to be decorated from Halloween to Thanksgiving- which is just not acceptable. {OMG I'm starting to sound like Sheldon on Big Bang Theory. Side note: Alex and I watched a whole disc of that tonight! I am LOVING that show! Thanks Maria!}

Anyways, this makes year #2 I've been living in the dorms during Halloween, so, celebrate it a little bit I must! This is the 2nd year we have had a Halloween party in the building, so I had to dress up as SOMEthing! I didn't want to spend any money on it, or at least didn't want to spend upwards to $20 on something. Last year I bought a "mummy" t-shirt on clearance at Wal-Mart to wear to the party...

{Miss you Keenan!}

But this year, I wasn't too sure of what to do. I got some great ideas from friends on Facebook- but the best {cheap} idea of all came from an employee at Maiden High School {where I'm doing my school counseling practicum}.

For a total of $4 I bought a black t-shirt on clearance at AC Moore and a scrap of fabric at Wal-Mart and made my Halloween costume.

Add a little black shimmer eyeshadow I had in my collection & voilà! I was a "black eyed pea" this Halloween!!

The Halloween party was a definite success. ... It wasn't all what RAC {who planned the party} had planned but I tried to warn them it wouldn't. We did get smart though & have a $50 raffle at the end to entice residents to stay until the end! We had a good number of residents come in costumes too...so that was awesome! Here's some pics from the night's event.

My fabulous RAs that dressed up!

My OTHER RAs who said their costumes were abstract! LOL

Isenhour Staff :)

Andres the pirate!

Shelby, the cutest little flapper!

Best costume = Ricky Bobby

{Yep, I Picniked a picture on Facebook! Don't know what Picnik is? Definitely search for it on Facebook!} PS- Do you see Baby's jester "outfit"??? That's all she'd allow...so that was good enough for me!

Hickory Girlfriends

Last night I hosted a Mary Kay party for a friend, Dana. She's working towards her pink Cadillac. First let me say that I hate hosting parties. Not parties in general, that I would enjoy, but I dislike making people feel obligated to come and buy something. It's okay that I say this because I made that very clear to Dana multiple times. She's a trooper though and insisted I host a party anyways. Being so determined is how you become successful in the Mary Kay business I'm sure. I only invited about 9 or 10 girls & five showed up! I know the others would have came if they could have and I know everyone's got a million things going on. Which is why I was so thankful to have five girls show up! They didn't have to buy anything, but they did {probably because Mary Kay is so fabulous}. It's the fact that they took time out of their busy lives to join me at my party that made me so grateful for such great friends!

I am extremely grateful for the friends that I have made in Hickory. I love chatting, laughing, venting, MTV nights, walking around campus, & celebrating with them all! I really didn't know anyone when I moved to Hickory and now I feel so thankful that I have made girlfriends.

Girlfriends are vital to a girl's sanity.

I wish I had a pic with you all... We need a photo opp ASAP :) xoxo ♥

Extreme Air

Lenoir-Rhyne often times hosts cool events on campus, and this was one of them! Extreme Air Tour came to campus and I really really wanted to try it! It's actually a wind tunnel that simulates sky diving under winds of about 125 mph! Tori and I made our way to the stadium parking lot, signed our lives away, and tried it out. It was so much fun! So glad I tried it!

I love how they are holding onto me by the side of my outfit. So secure... haha

how awesome!

If you click the pic to zoom in, you can see that my face is about to fly off!

It's Fall Y'all!

If you have been around me long enough lately, you have heard me say that Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year! There's something so peaceful and romantic even about beautiful colorful leaves, cooler air, and cute boots & scarves! Not to mention what mine & Alex's Friday nights have consisted of....high school football! His cousin, Matthew, plays for North Lincoln, and my cousin, Nick, plays for Lincolnton {where Alex & I went to high school}. Poor North Lincoln is having a bad year, but our Lincolnton Wolves are undefeated right now! Hoping to watch Nick and the Wolves go all the way to State! :) My grandmother bought this cute Lincolnton Wolves garden flag from a lady in town...I LOVE it! Makes me feel home sweet home!

There aren't any big Lincolnton Wolves flags, so Mawmaw is taking it upon her self {with the help of the fabulous Hilda} to make her own! She had Pawpaw DRAW the wolf, then bought the fabric, and then Hilda is making the rest happen with her mad sewing skills! I can't wait to see the end result!

Now, I hit Rite-Aid up last year at the end of Autumn for all their SUPER cheap leftover Fall decorations! Seriously like $1 here, 50 cents there! Needless to say, I racked up! And because I did...my apartment looks like this:

That last one really isn't Fall-y, but, I LOVE it. It obviously stays up all year. :)

And just for fun I'll throw in a couple random recent pics since Facebook's being sketchy...

Look who I found at North Lincoln's homecoming game! My newly married bestie, Caroline! :)

And Lenoir-Rhyne's homecoming was the next day & LR does fireworks on Homecoming night, so Alex & I made sure to catch them again this year! {We always fail at taking pics of us in front of the fireworks as they are big & pretty...maybe one day we'll master that trick!}



Can we just do a recap from last year's homecoming fireworks??

Yeah I THOUGHT Alex was wearing the same shirt again. Now this just proves it! ;) Haha!! Look how different my hair looks!! I am forever changing my hair! Speaking of, I have an appointment this Thursday. Can't decide if I wanna keep it blonde or go back dark for the ♥Fall♥...