Miscellaneous Moments of My Day

I woke up at 9:30 this morning. I slept SO well in our COLD campus house. Check out that thermostat- 76 degrees! Oh, yeah!

I ventured over to campus to drop off thank you notes in my favorite professors' mailboxes. It strangely felt like grade school Valentine's Day as I dropped my little notes in their mail slots.

I felt nostalgic being in the English Department hallway. I was secretly hoping that one of my professors would pop out, and I'd get to talk to him or her. Not while I was distributing my thank you notes though. That would be semi-awkward.

I went to Home Goods after lunch where I purchased three champagne glasses. A pink one for my friend/roommate, Rachel, a purple one for myself, and a clear one for Ben (our dear friend and future next-door neighbor!). I cannot wait for us to pop a bottle of celebratory champagne on Friday in our new place.

Chic

I traveled west to my parents' house. Since being here, I've probably consumed 12019231823 calories in chicken salad, potato chips, and Hershey kisses.

I discovered my mom bought Rachel and I all kinds of cleaning supplies and tools (even our very own Swiffer! Woohoo!). She's the best!

I tried getting Ellie to take a photo with me. She chose the "I hate you- would you please get away from me" look. Darling.

Now I am cleaning out my dresser and getting more things prepared for the move! And watching Sex and the City on E! before I go to work this evening.

What a nice Wednesday indeed!

Life Resolutions

This Friday, I will move from my campus house to my first grown up apartment. On Monday, I will begin my nannying job, and next Saturday is my official college graduation.

I am feeling super reflective, which is not the best mood to be in for an already introspective person.

I have been pondering big idea such as...what do I really want to do with my life? What kind of person do I want to be? How do I want to live? What will I do to keep my body and soul (yes- I realize how dramatic that sounds) healthy?

Here are my resolutions for my new life ahead.

1. Drink water. LOTS of it. And hope I fill up on the H2O so that I will consequently avoid grabbing that Pepperidge Farm cookie.

2. Write fiction. Write chick-lit. Write the material that truly makes me happy and can bring me one step closer to accomplishing my dream of publishing a novel.

3. Exercise. Every single day. As much as I hate it, I know it really cuts down on my stress levels and is obviously good for my body.

4. STOP STRESSING OUT! It is not helping anything, and I'm getting some wacky blemishes because of it. MUST STOP STRESSING.

5. Try to blog and read my favorite blogs as much as possible. I have been lazy lately and have really cut down on my blogging as well as reading other blogs, and I think it's affecting my mood.

6. Wake up earlier and enjoy more "me" time before my day begins.

7. Live in the moment and stop worrying over the future.

8. Be happy. There is so much I have to be thankful for.

:)

It's getting hot in here!

Happy Memorial Day! I hope everyone is enjoying their day off from work (even the salon was closed!) and has delicious grilled foods in their near futures.

The temperatures in Cincinnati have been absolutely scorching this past weekend. We're talking the 90s. In MAY.

Let me admit this right now, I hate the warm weather. I could live someplace where it feels like fall and/or winter year-round and be perfectly content.

The heat only burns my fair skin, makes me sweat, and causes my hair to frizz.

I say "no, thank you" to all of the above.

Oh, and the sun gives me a headache.

Yes, I realize what a depressing person I sound like.

What I look like when it's hot.

Anyway, our sinister AC decided to call it quits on us towards the end of last week. Right before the heat wave.

It clearly hates us.

I woke up Saturday morning already sweating and practically had tears in my eyes as I struggled to get ready for work. Blow drying one's hair in a 90 degree house is no fun, let me tell you.

I slept at my parents' house that night but decided to come back to my campus place last night. It couldn't be that bad, right? It had probably cooled down some.

No, it had not.

I only slept from about 4AM-8AM this morning before packing my bags back up and returning to my parents.

They were unsurprised to see me back so soon.

Luckily for me, our AC is supposed to be repaired tomorrow morning.

Let's hope and pray that happens. I'm too emotionally fragile for this heat.

"Hi, I'd like to report a landscape fire?"

On Sunday, my four cousins and I were leaving a bridesmaid dress fitting when my one cousin asked, "Is that a fire over there?"

Immediately, the three of us looked around at all of the surrounding buildings yet saw nothing.

"Over there. In the landscaping!"

Sure enough, there was a small fire starting up in the mulch close to the parking lot. Presumably from a thrown cigarette.

Another reason why smoking is gross and awful.

But anyway.

"Should we call 911?" We all wondered aloud, watching the little fire dance around the mulch in front of us.

We quickly agreed that 911 was a good idea. Sure, the fire was small now, but what if it grew bigger? Lives were at stake!

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"Hi, I'd like to report a landscape fire?" I said to the 911 operator.

"Okay. Where are you at?" he asked, not sounding very concerned.

I gave him the address and frantically added, "A bush is about to be inflamed!!!!"

He told me that the fire department would soon be over, still seemingly apathetic regarding this fire that was eating up Northern Kentucky shrubbery.

For the next 120 seconds, we watched as the fire died down.

"This is going to be SO embarrassing when the fire department gets here!!!! It needs to start back up!!!" We all exclaimed, hoping a gust of wind or some other factor would make the fire at least a little scarier looking.

When a small fire department truck pulled up, we all breathed a sigh of relief. The small truck seemed appropriate for the little landscape fire. We didn't feel so overdramatic, after all!

WOOOOOOOWOOOOOO

Oh, yes. It was the sound of sirens.

And then the huge, blaring fire engine began to rumble down the small street.

The firefighters hopped out and took one look at our "fire" before bursting out laughing.

It was at that time we decided to discretely drive away.

The girl who had a love affair with food (oh la la)

Last night, my friend and I went grocery shopping and shared an enlightening lifechat about food.

We both think about food and eating all of the time.

Lucky for my friend, she also is in love with running so she can afford these constant culinary thoughts.

Since I do not particularly like to run miles and miles each day, I have to get a handle on my obsession with food.

I will literally have just finished my lunch and already be daydreaming about what divine meal I will be enjoying for dinner.

When I was little, I would ask my mom what we would be having for dinner at about 1PM.

"You just ate lunch!" she'd exclaim.

Oh, it just did not matter. I was always thinking of food.

In the third grade, we kept gratitude journals in religion class.

Many entries included heartfelt sentiments such as, "Thank you, God, for having my mom make pot roast and potatoes last night. That is my favorite meal."

Seriously.

I am also one of the NON-pickiest eaters you will ever meet. I'll try just about anything, and the only foods I REALLY cannot stand are yogurt and cottage cheese.

Anything else, I'll eat it. And probably absolutely love it and want some more.

My biggest weakness is sweets.

Mouth is currently watering.

Pretty AND delicious food?

I go weak in the knees.

Does anyone else constantly dream of food? I need to get something else on my mind.

An Ugly Day

This morning, I woke up at 9:30.

9:30 is a nice time to wake up. It's not so early that you feel tired yet it is also not so late as you feel that your day has been partially wasted away.

I made a cup of tea and ate a breakfast bar and then hopped in the shower.

I did my hair and makeup as usual, but the finished product was, well, subpar.

Unsatisfactory, unattractive, ugly.

I braided, unbraided, twisted, and tied my hair in various ways. I literally washed my entire face clean of makeup and reapplied my whole visage.

Nothing would help!

After all of that time and effort, there was no dramatic improvement.

I simply woke up ugly today.

Let's hope I don't run into Prince William or am approached by Oprah while I'm out and about today.

I cannot be seen like this.

Please! No cameras!

A Jack (Jenna?) of All Trades

Firstly, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all of the wonderful moms out there! Especially to my own mom <3 Thank you for always supporting me and encouraging my (often crazy idealistic) dreams. I love you so very much and am very lucky to have you as my mom! Also, thank you for instilling in me a love of home decor and shopping. I would have no taste if not for your guidance. Merci, merci.

Secondly, thank you for all of your sweet, kind, and thoughtful comments and little notes on my last blog post. You all truly brightened my day and cheered me up! 

So.

My life is about to get a bit hectic. And undergo MANY changes.

In two weeks, I begin my full-time nannying position for the summer. I cannot wait to work with this family and am very excited about working normal business hours. 

I will no longer be working my evening shifts at the salon but will instead work Saturdays.

I am very thankful to my boss for allowing me to stay on at the salon for my Saturday shifts. I've been working at the salon for almost three years now, and I cannot imagine my life without my job there! The women I work with have become some of my closest friends, and it's such a fun environment to work.

Besides my nannying and salon jobs, I will be doing technical writing for one of the local hospital's pharmacy departments.

I am very, very excited for this opportunity to use my writing skills for such a worthwhile cause and hope I can become a master of scientific writing! It's going to take a lot of learning and hard work, but I feel confident in my skills!

Oh, and my friend and I move into our new apartment in 19 days. 

So essentially, I will be a nanny, salon receptionist, technical writer, and interior designer (haha) in a little less than three weeks.

A Jenna of all trades, indeed!

The Postgraduate Blues

I am an optimistic person.

I really, truly am.

But life as a postgrad eternally searching for a job is putting that cheerful disposition of mine to the test.

It is exhausting applying to job after job and rarely hearing anything back from the company. It's also discouraging.

Okay so that probably went without saying. I suppose few people are encouraged by rejection.

Some days I feel energized by the variety of jobs out there and incredible amount of possibilities.

But then there are times when I crave the stability of a full-time job and yearn for a known future.

This morning I woke up in the latter mood.

After so many failed job applications, I can't help but feel "I'm just not good enough. For anyone, for anything."

Eeeeek.

This post just ventured from the mildly sad to seriously depressing in a matter of seconds.

I think I need to go watch an episode of SATC and write some chick-lit.

ASAP.

Is it too early for a glass of Pinot Grigio?

Moving on up!

I had such good intentions for my blog this month.

I had vowed to write a post every single day.

I was going to be that blogger.

It's May 8th, and I've clearly already ruined that ambition.

Le sigh.

In exciting Jenna news, my friend and I have found a new apartment!!!!!!!

We move out June 1st, which means we will be paying double rent for two months (bummer), but it was such an incredible place...we just couldn't pass it up!

Our new apartment is on the second floor of a stunning Victorian home. It has exposed brick, original hardwood flooring (from the 1890s!), and the best bathtub in the world.

I WILL FINALLY HAVE A CLAW FOOT BATHTUB.

Oooooh!

The front of our apartment is all glass doors that lead out to a porch and balcony.

It's beautiful. It's charming. WE LOVE IT.

On top of all of those perks, Ben lives two doors down and we're located practically inside one of Cincinnati's most amazing parks.

Cannot wait until we move in, and I can share photos!

Oh, and a very happy birthday to my lovely mother!!!!!

Love you, Mom!!!

The biggest sucker of them all

Yesterday afternoon, I set off for my favorite mall.

I was only planning on popping by Bare Escentuals and purchasing their Blemish Therapy product.

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I had read SO many awesome reviews online and wanted to try it out for myself.

When I arrived at the Bare Escentuals shop, I found the Blemish Therapy right away and headed towards the cash register.

That is until a sassy man whose name shall remain anonymous stopped me.

"What brings you in today?" he asked, and I held up my product and told him how excited I was to try it.

"Oooooh. Yes, that's a great one, but have you ever tried our makeup?"

I pointed to my blemishes and replied, "I just don't think minerals could adequately cover up my breakouts."

Bad thing to say.

Sassy Man then sat me down in a chair and did wonders on my face.

I looked amaaaaaaazing.

So about twenty minutes later, I was exiting the shop with $83.00 worth of Bare Escentuals makeup.

I JUST WENT IN TO BUY AN $18 PRODUCT!!!!!!!!!!!

I got home and looked through my purchases, feeling remorseful and guilty.

I'm bringing my OWN sassy friend with me on Sunday to return the unopened makeup since clearly I'm the biggest pushover in the entire world.

In more uplifting news, my blemishes have SHRUNK OVERNIGHT because of this stuff! It's like the magic remedy I have been wishing for for YEARS now. Will keep you all updated if it continues to work!

On this Tuesday

I am wearing my hair on top of my head. I realize it is a bit odd looking, and my mom has described it as "dramatic," but I'm having fun with it!

Please excuse my bizarre little baby hairs around my hairline...I was born this way.

I got three books in the mail.

Speaking of books, I have read SO many awesome ones lately. I bought both Elna Baker's The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance and Cavanaugh Lee's Save as Draft in the bargain section of Joseph-Beth last week. They were both AMAZING and only cost me $5.00 each!

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I'm enjoying a perfect glass of ice tea.

And Ellie is sleeping at my feet.

Happy Tuesday, bloggers!

To tat it up? Or not?

One of my best friends and I have been wanting tattoos for AGES now.

At least for the duration of this entire academic year. 

We both know exactly what kind of tattoos we'd like and where we'd like them.

I want a small 9 3/4 one in plum ink on the outside of my foot (so it could easily be covered up in professional settings or wherever it wouldn't be so appropriate...oh, and I know...foot tattoo...SO cliché) for my love of Harry Potter.

HP <3

The problem is, we are both super nervous about following through with our tattoo dreams.

I've always thought having a small tattoo that really meant something special to me would be fun. Yet I worry that people will view me a different way or think, "Oh my God. JENNA got a tattoo? She's not edgy enough for that! That's so weird and awkward."

Any advice out there? I'd love to hear it!