Truthful Tuesday

The TRUTH is...

I am so VERY excited to finally catch up on all of your blogs.

I have missed them!

So sorry to all of you I haven't visited the past week.

I've been oober busy.
Not just rude and ignoring pants.

Don't worry though, without cable in the house...I have a feeling I will catch up pretty quickly.
:)

I am VERY thankful for all the bday wishes yesterday.
You all make me smile.
It was a fabulous day.
My parents and fiance made it absolutely perfect.
Simple and Sweet.
They seriously rock my socks off.

My cute little DQ Ice cream cake. YUMMY

I miss MN weather.

It is so darn hot here.

Humid.

Yucky Ducky.

Gotta get my tan on for the beach in a few weeks though!

I am going to get in a health kick.

After eating like poo for four days straight,

I think it's time I buckle down.

Exercise

Eat right.

I am trying to decide if I want to work it out at the gym,
do the Jillian Michael's DVD's, or P90X.
I think a little gym time and people watching always gets me motivated.
DVD's just make me want to quit because I know my bed is 10 ft. away
and would much rather be in it.
So CHEERS to getting this bod and health back up to par!

I'm going to try to read at least 7-10 books this summer.

Any recommendations?

I'm starting with The Hunger Games (THANK YOU SIERRA).

A few I thought of:

Water for Elephants.

Any Jodi Picoult book.

Something Borrowed.

Something Blue.

Big 2-2

I'll keep this short and sweet because

I'm still enjoying my short vacation in MN.

But.

22 years ago TODAY.

I came into this lovely world.

I am not fond of 22, because it isn't half as cool

or exciting as 21...but I'll take it.

Another year healthy and alive is always a wonderful and blessed one.

Some things that happened in the past year:

Well,

I became LEGAL. 

I finally got to drink at a restaurant like I had always wanted.

It really wasn't as cool and exciting as I thought it would be.

Very convenient though I must say.

I became an AUNT.

To a beautiful and sweet baby girl named Kate.

I love her to pieces.

I got ENGAGED.

Whoa.

I kind of can't believe that was this year.

Time flies.

Way too dang fast.

So blessed to have that boy in my life though.

I GOT A BLOG.

And met you wonderful people.

And finally have a way to keep my thoughts straight.

As well as to hold memories we all know my brain would forget otherwise.

Now I can't even imagine life without this bloggeroo.

I must have been on Facebook.

Way too much.

Thanks for going though the journeys and life experiences with me.

:)

I graduated COLLEGE.

Which you've heard about.

A lot.

So I'll shut up on that one.

And now I'm in Minnesota with the three people I love the very most.

Perfect birthday.

Love this life.

Feeling so stinking blessed.

It's been one hell of a year and I cannot to see what the next one holds.

Welcome 22.

Let's take down another year together.

(And live like we are still 21.)

Vacay Thus Far

Minnesota isn't half bad :)

Muh Birthday TOMORROW.

Oh my, here comes big 2-2.

I no longer can do really dumb things and blame it on being 21.

Sigh.

Happy SUNDAY!

Find Your Happiness Link-Up

Guess I've missed you guys,

I've been posting and viewing blogs like crazy the past couple of days.
Not having class or work for a few days is pretty nice :)

Today is FIND YOUR HAPPINESS FRIDAY!

Thanks for the two link-ups last Friday.

It is so fun to see what makes others happy!

TODAY'S HAPPINESS TOPIC: TRAVELING

Since I in MN for a few days I thought it would be fitting.

I LOVE to travel.  A LOT.

Every since I was a little peanut I've been traveling.

We would always go on family vacations.

I loved/love them.

I love not only going somewhere new,

but also the road trip to where we were going.

So many memories were made on the road between home and our destination.

So many songs created.
Laughs.Arguments.

Drawing in color books.

Playing the "car game" and "abc game".

I love everything about it.
As well, I've flown to many destinations.

Mr. Fiance and I have made it a point to go somewhere together every year since we have been together.

I cannot wait to see all the new and exciting places we will be going in our future!

Traveling just makes me happy, as well as seeing new places, things,
 and traveling to see loved ones that sadly do not live near by.
And thank you AJ for the opportunities you have given me to fly more often.

The states I've been to thus far:

KANSAS (duh)

MISSOURI

ILLINOIS

MASSACHUSETTES

MAINE

RHODE ISLAND

CONNECTICUT

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

TENNESSEE

SOUTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

INDIANA

COLORADO

MINNESOTA

IOWA

NEW YORK

OKLAHOMA

VIRGINA

WYOMING

What makes you happy this week? Or in life general?
Link-Up! :)
Spread the Happiness!



Life after the Diploma

It seems like the chapter between college and "the real world"

isnt exactly subtle.

It is almost like a leap or jump to the next page that begins a whole new life.

Are we ready?

Are we prepared?

What should we expect?

I just graduated this past weekend with a Bachelors of Science in Education.

I walked across the stage.

I walked down the hill.

I celebrated.
Took shots.
Now what?

LIFE.

For me, it's a little different.

My program makes us jump right into our Masters.

So I will be student teaching, taking grad classes, and doing an internship.

The jump for me isn't as drastic.

However, many of my friends are applying for jobs left and right.

Searching every few hours for another job to pop up on their screen.

Calling aquaintances that MIGHT just know something open or know somebody.

Even doing paidless internships to "get a foot in the door".
Many are very unrelated to their degrees.

I think to myself "what did college actually teach me about the next chapter I'm about to go through?"
It taught me what I needed to survive.
Motivation.
Drive.
Hard work.
Social Networking.
What simply matters, and what does not.


We take so many different paths throughout our lives,
that I think it is impossible for college to prepare us for them all.
Did I learn some great things about my major that will help me succeed?
Yes.
Did I learn everything I need to know to teach each and every student with all the different circumstances that will arise in my teaching career?
No.

We are the ones that will live, learn, fail, and succeed through our experiences.
No college can prepare us for that.
However, it does prepare us for this next phase by giving us knowledge, confidence, and many other characteristics that will help us be successful in whatever we chose to do and be.
Without college, there is no way I would be ready for this next step in my life.
No way I would know my potential and capabilities.

I think we are ready for the real world...ready to live and learn.
Ready to conquer the world and make it a much better place than it was when we got here.
So to me, college prepares us for the "real life"in so many more ways than I ever imagined.
It prepared us for the real life.
Through the good times, and the bad.



MINNESOTA here we COME!

The crew is departing!

And heading to MN.

Traveling with three people in a little honda.

Here's how.

PACK LIGHT.

-And consolodate the 15 pairs of shoes into like...3.

-I had a hard time with this one.

-Okay, I consolodated it to like...8.

-Close enough.

BRING A COOLER.

-Pop.Water.Whatev.

-Snacks (Healthy)

-Anything else you might want in a cooler.

-This eliminates the 100 gas station stops.

-Don't bring a potty though, that would be nasty. Stop at the station. For all's sake.

LISTEN TO CD's.

-Jam. out. It makes the trip go much faster.

-Make CD's so if y'all have different tastes you can have a variety on the CD's  so not one gets all angry and upset.
-I would recommend a Book on Tape as well, but only if you are ridin' solo.

BRING A BLANKET.

-If you are me and pass out right when you get into a car, then you'll want a blanket to

get you through the trip without being woken up every .5 seconds from your neck being titled in a very wrong position.
-Okay, maybe this one is just for myself.

MAKE A LIST

-Write down what you need.

-I did say NEED right?

-Only what you need.  Or you will have three bags full of clothes, two full of shoes, and etc.

-You can always buy extra when you get there. Plus, it forces you to buy new things :)

-Mark things off your list as you pack them. One by one.

-Because TRUST ME you will get really angry when you forget your Chi straightener.

-So, make a list. Mark it off. Be happy.

HERE WE GO!!!!

Happy Thursday to YOU!!!!

P.S.

If ANYONE is from, knows people, or lives in the Kansas City/Lawrence/Topeka

area PLEASE contact me.

I am gathering items needed from the devastating tornado

 in Joplin,MO and need your help.

Please Please contact me if you want to help!

I will be delivering them in two weeks.

:)

Wedding Wedneday (Ocho) A Date

Goodness Gracias.

After 5 months of being engaged,

I think we finally nailed a date...ish.

The problem bas been me going to grad school, Mr. Fiance changing jobs, and all the new changes that come with them. As well,  I've (as you know) been finishing up my undergrad and been in stress mode and thinking about anything other school was in the back of my mind. Like, way back there...hiding from my crazy self.  So...we have been changing dates constantly, trying to figure out what would work best.

We didn't want it too hott, too cold, yadda yadda.

We finally figured we couldn't wait on all that.

ESPECIALLY living in Kansas where the weather is bipolar.

So...

We finally decided

on OCTOBER, 2012.

Whew.

 

Sadly it is far away but this is probably a good thing

for my stressed out brain.

I cannot make decisions. Really, just somtimes cannot do it.

I will have a year and about 5 months to plan.

I will  be doing student teaching, grad school, and an internship next year

and knew I would not be able to concentrate enough on the wedding

in order to have it next summer.

Ya...no way on that one.

If I did I may not have a fiance anymore.

haha, just kidding....but really.

As well, I might have grown large "freaking out" bumps on my head.

So, for everyone's sanity we decided Fall would be good.

Mr. Fiance would be finishing his first year at the new job,

I'd be done with all my shiz, and we'd be settled down.

Even though I'll still be in grad school...we can work around that.

Also, October is a perdy month.

Pictures? Yup, to die for.

So there ya have it.

An official-ish date.

You heard it first!

Okay, other than Jeff and my momma.

YAY.

It makes me very excited.

Been a long time comin'.

:)

****Side note: After I wrote this I had a phone call with Mr.Fiance that somehow forgot our entire conversation and started naming off other months...and dates that sounded "cool". Then he tells me he doesn't care. So maybe this post is pointless. Sigh. Cross your fingers for October, because it is one of my favorite months.And yes JS, I'm callin' you out. Love u.

Truthful Tuesday

The Truth is....

I do not know how you guys DO IT.

I do not understand how you can be SO busy,

yet still keep up with your blogs and reply to e-mails, and

on top of it all actually have a decent post pop out.

I have been so busy with all my family in town and getting school finished

I 1.) Didn't want to spend my time posting when I could spend it with them and 2.) Literally

had zero time.

Ya'll are wonder women.

:)

P.S. I've missed you guys!!!

I'm off work for a week.

And get to spend it with my family

traveling to see Mr. Fiance in MN.

I cannot wait!

I have the greatest family and fiance in the world.

They made my graduation weekend perfect.

Simply perfect.

I also have some amazing friends who helped celebrate

and pop champagne bottles.

Seriously, y'all are the best.

EVER.

THANK YOU.

I am on strike against tornados.

Dangerous Plains Tornado Outbreak.

Really?

First you destroy my town in 2001.

Now you think you can destroy a town 60 min away two days ago.

And you think you can come back and do it again tonight?

Get real tornados, you are not wanted here!

Please keep praying for Joplin.

So many lives lost, so many houses gone, and so many people searching.

Heartbreaking.

I DID IT!

This is why I've been MIA.
(Thank you for all the Congrats!)

Regular programming will be back soon.

:)



ROCK CHALK!

Next up: Grad School + Student Teaching + Internship

P to the S
Please pray for Joplin, MO.
They got hit by a devastating tornado and destroyed 75% of the city.
My thoughts and prayers to get out to all of those who lost loved ones, or have been affected by this horrible event.

Letter to my Freshman Year Self

If I could write a letter to myself when I was a freshman in college....this is what I'd say.

Dear Freshman Year of College Molly,

I have a lot to say to you, but because you seem to be hard of hearing...or just don't pay attention I will make it short and to the point. You are going to experience the best year of your life. Well, other than when you were in grade school, but more grown up (drinking) fun. You will grow, so so much my dear. You will learn true love, heart break, what a "real" test looks like, and how to gain brain cells by drinking whiskey. The last one I would never tell you unless I knew it were true.
You are smart. Really bright, but you don't give yourself enough credit. You always think you can do better. But please know that being YOU is enough. And it will make you really really happy to realize that in the next few years.

I want you to know that it will all be worth it. I promise.

Every late night, 10 page paper, lesson plan, and project will be completely worth thit.

Don't worry about the boys that broke your heart, they don't turn out to be that great anyway.
Actually, they turn out really shitty, so just make them buy you free dinners and movies :)

You will be so thankful for those heartbreaks when you meet your fiance at a bar. However, you should probably hold off of the whiskey that night so you can actually remember it.

You keep it classy, obviously.

  I want you to remember not to waste a second of your college life because it will go by so, so fast.
So make your dorm closet doors into beer pong tables, go out on every day that ends with y (mabybe mot that), and eat and cherish every meal someone else makes for you in that place!

Don't forget to take your bed out of the hallway, you will get written up for it.

And will get really, really angry.

All in all,

I wouldn't ask for you to do anything differently.
Do your thang. Do what you think is right. And always be true to yourself.
Because you had the time of your life, lived, and learned a HELL of a lot whether you had to learn the hard way or not.
And despite those days at the beginning of the semester when you and your roommate didnt get along...
you turn out being best of friends.

Never stop dreaming.
Because you dream BIG, and always will.

I miss u.
But I'm graduating and have to move on now.
(Don't think I still can't bong a beer though. WATCH OUT.)

XOXO

Senior (a little more mature) Graduated Molly
Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!
(Cheers to Graduation ceremony #1!)