Changes...

So, once again I have abandoned my blog for way too long...and I've had quite a few major life changes along the way.

First off, an update on this blog. As a journalism major in college, it was highly suggested we start one, for many reasons. So, without any real direction or good ideas, I did. And I still have no idea where this thing is headed. I feel like my life is all over the place right now, and I am sure this blog is going to reflect it for awhile. I hope that through covering lots of subjects, I'll find something that I really feel passionate about and find a focus and direction. So, this should be an interesting journey!

Now, my life! Where to start? I have moved away from Athens..one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am so in love with that place and all the people in my life there. But, school was over, my job hunt was not successful in Athens, and I could no longer really justify living there while working a dead-end job. So here I am, at home again. I never thought I would be back here at almost 25 years old. But I am. And I know that there is a reason for this part of my journey, and that in due time God will show me what it is..I just have to be patient. I'm working at a new restaurant in Atlanta (hoping to make connections!) and still job hunting. I have a 'special someone' in my life, and I couldn't be happier about that! Except that I had to leave him behind in Athens...I've never done this long distance thing before, and so far it's not been terrible. Other than the fact that I miss seeing him every day. But again, I know there is a reason for all of this, and I'm excited to see where my life is heading!

I'll leave you with a few pictures from this summer!

Annie and TJ finally got married!

Kayaking the Broad

Weekend at the beach

PCB with some of my favorites

Beach sunset

Wedding in NJ with my best friend

Can we be like the wolfpack guys?

So I survived Vegas...barely!

The trip was absolutely amazing, and I definitely want to go back! I don't even know where to start to tell you about all the crazy fun we had. There is SO much to do and see, and I feel like we barely scratched the surface. I know my list of 'things to do while in Vegas' got 100xs longer after going!

The hotel we stayed at -- New York New York -- was awesome! No, it's not crazy-famous like Caesars Palace or the Bellagio, but the atmosphere in there was great! There was always something going on, and it wasn't nearly as formal or stuffy as the other hotels. It was like a giant party, all the time. Not to mention it has a rollercoaster on top of it...yes, I said a freakin' rollercoaster! And it was AWESOME!! We rode it twice...once in the daylight, and once right at sunset, when all the neon's up and down the strip had come on, and it was the coolest thing I've ever experienced. You could see all of Vegas! So next time you're there...spend the $14 and DO IT!

This 4-day trip was just the beginning of my week-long birthday celebration!

I'll fill you in on the rest of the festivities soon! :)

And before I go...

GO FALCONS!

The more things change...

Sometimes I forget I have this thing, and then one day something will make me think about it, and I'll realize how much I miss it. And so I come back.

I feel like my life is all over the place right now! Where to start?!

First, let's just get it out of the way -- my Georgia sports teams are breaking my heart. The Braves have lost way too many in a row. My Dawgs are 0-2. Ouch. And the Falcons got trampled in their first game. I hope this week is better!

I've had an internship all summer at the Hart County Chamber of Commerce that has been a great learning experience. I've gotten to experience all sides of the tourism and event-planning aspects of the Chamber, as well as how it works with the local government to make things happen. I've gotten the opportunity to extend my internship, because my boss took a position elsewhere, and I'm so thankful for that!

Hmm, what else to update you on? I feel like there's so much that's happened that I can't possibly fit it all into one blog post [and I know it's not all interesting to anyone other than me, too!] But let's see...one negative thing this summer -- I've sort of ruined a good friendship because we tried to make our relationship more than friends, and it didn't really work out like we expected it to. And now I'm pretty much at a loss for how to repair things. It's just...weird. And I want nothing more than for it to go back to normal. Oh, boys... :/

Anyways, enough of the sad sob stories and on to better things...my birthday is this month!! I'm going to VEGAS in less than two weeks to celebrate with two great friends, and then the weekend after pretty much everyone I know is going to the Luke Bryan Farm Tour concert. I can't wait, to say the least! Have any of you ever been to Vegas?? I've never been and I have no idea what all we should do, but I am SO excited!

And last, I'll leave you with a few pictures from over the summer...I can't believe it's already over!

Me & Beth at Flip Burger in ATL

Me & Britt on Lake Hartwell

Me & Sam

Me & Sam -- UGA vs USC

Emma, Me & Paige

All the girls! -- 4th of July

Beach Trip - Orange Beach

MIA.

I have been MIA for quite some time now...over two weeks! I've missed this little baby of mine!

My last blog post was right before I left for spring break in CANCUN! :) So, let's start there! What a FUN trip!! Cancun was absolutely beautiful...the water was the most amazing blue I've ever seen. Here's a few of the [appropriate] pictures from the week:

The view from my beach chair :)

Most gorgeous water ever!

View from our hotel room.

First night out!

Downtown Cancun.

Evidence of a long week of craziness!

St. Patty's Day.

Sam. :)

Craziness at Senor Frogs!

Room service on the beach...ohhhh yessss.

Hangover style.

Love my girls!

Senor Frogs is AWESOME.

[**Side note: Girls, after this trip, I do not recommend going to Cancun alone with a small group of girls, especially during the spring break season. Yes, it was fun, but also nerve-wracking at times. So go in a big group or with family and be careful!]

While I was gone, I obviously neglected the 30 day challenge...I'm bummed. So, starting ASAP, I'm going to pick up where I left off. And by ASAP, I mean as soon as I have a chance to breathe. With only seven weeks left before graduation, life is crazy. My PR Campaigns class is picking up steam, I have a Spanish test on Thursday that I haven't cracked a book for, and a Comm Law test Friday...which I also haven't started studying for. I got sick the last little bit of spring break, then got back to Georgia where the pollen came out in FULL FORCE the day we got back. Thank goodness for rain these past few days -- even though it's cold and gross out, it's given me time to start feeling better.

Last little thing...my little baby brother [and by baby I mean 6', 16-year-old brother] had surgery at Scottish Rite today that lasted about six long hours. He's doing ok, just sleeping mostly, but he still needs prayers. It's going to be a long 6 month recovery for him!

Treasures.

Today was Day 7 of the blog challenge, and I swear this thing keeps getting harder and harder.

Today's topic: A picture of your most treasured item.

My most treasured item? I have no clue.

It's like that question...'If your house was burning down and you could only grab one thing to save, what would it be?' Well, I honestly don't know.

I really think most of the things that I have I could do without. No, I might not be able to buy my favorite pair of jeans I bought last summer ever again, but I'll live. But most of the things I have are replaceable.

One of the only things I can really think of that I have here with me away at school would be pictures. I have the majority of them saved on a removable hard drive, and the rest on my laptop. So, as of right now I think that would be my most treasured item[s]. I have literally thousands of pictures and memories between the two places, and those would be something I would never be able to replace.

Catch Up.

Today I'm playing catch up...

I missed out on yesterday's post in the 30 day blog challenge, so I'm doing double-duty in this post!

Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.

St. George Island, Fl

My uncle first found this little piece of paradise because he loved to fish and was always in the Apalachicola area. We used to go down there and rent houses every summer and stay for weeks at a time, and usually it consisted of my entire family in attendance at some point. Then, my uncle decided to buy a house down there, which meant even more trips to St. George!

Several of my absolute favorite memories from those summer trips:

• Being scared out of our minds when making the trip at night and going through Tate's Hell State Forest and my uncle telling us stories about the 'Goat Man'
• Being there for 4th of July with literally my entire family
• Listening to Ini Kamoze's 'Hot Stepper' [on a tape!] over and over again, which I now know we didn't really know a single word to
• Catching my first stingray
• Eating at BJ's pizza for dinner and then going to Aunt Ebby's for ice cream after
• Learning every word to 'Drift Away' by the Neville Brothers for karaoke at the Blue Parrot and Harry A's

I really wish I could relive those carefree days playing at the beach all day and having absolutely no worries at all!

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

This one is really hard for me. I don't have any one person I really admire or want to be like so much that I would want their life. But I guess if I think about it, I would like to experience the life of someone who had a pretty good amount of money of course, and who would have opportunities/experiences that I most likely never will. I've been racking my brain to think of someone whose life I would really like to experience and then ... waa-la! It hit me. Erin Andrews, duh. She has my dream job, and I'd love the chance to experience what it would be like to have that job.

Yay for catching up...have a GREAT week! :)

Day 4: My Night

Today is Day 4 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge: A picture of your night. Tonight is Friday and I'm sitting at home doing homework...not much to talk about there! So I'll use last night instead--much more exciting! I went out with a few friends to celebrate the end of Hell Week and the beginning of my roommate's spring break.

Me and Brittany -- one of my newest and best friends -- just being silly.

Love her SO much.

One of my roommates, Paige, and Cassie.

When we got home, we had leftover steak from dinner -- O'Dell was jealous he couldn't have some, too!

Last night was a blast -- I'm going to miss these days when they're over!

Vintage.

Today, I found a neat little treasure in downtown Athens! My Speech Communication class...titled the Communication of Collection, gave us the opportunity to head out around town to various locations that house 'collections.' Some people went to Jittery Joe's to see their collection of coffees, some people went to Wuxtry Records to see the collections of records, and some people went to Trappeze Pub to see their collection of beers.

Our group was lucky enough to get to go to Agora, a neat little antique/vintage shop downtown on Clayton Street that I had never been to before. You can find just about anything in that shop...it's amazing!

I took lots of pictures, but unfortunately the camera on my phone is not that great [I think that's what happens when your phone goes swimming :/] so a lot of them turned out pretty blurry. But I'll share the best ones with you.

When you first walk in the store, you're greeted by TONS of beautiful jewelry!!

Lots of shoes...including these vintage Manolos!!

Designer bags were EVERYWHERE! Some were vintage, some were fairly new and at GREAT prices!

My group and I spent quite some time trying to figure out exactly what this spaceship-like contraption was hanging from the ceiling...we never figured out what it was!

Bicycles hanging from the ceiling, dirt bike helmets, and lamps...you really can find anything and everything here!

This picture doesn't do these amazing necklaces justice!

They had stacks and stacks of records, 8-tracks, cassette tapes and cd's!

Next time you're wandering around downtown Athens, I recommend you stop in and check out this neat little treasure...you never know what you're going to find!