Dress shopping, summer loving.

Sweet summertime!  Some days it doesn't feel like summer though... it's hot, but I spend two hours a day in the air-conditioned Rawls Hall trying to listen to the economics lecture.  With Memorial Day yesterday though, I finally got a break.  I was busy Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday marching with the Purdue All-American Marching Band, but yesterday I had FREE.  I spent the lovely day with my aunt and uncle.  We had a late lunch, went shopping at the Tippecanoe Mall, went to the Lafayette Citizens' Band concert, had a snack at Panera, and saw The Avengers at 9:40 p.m.  It was a truly fantastic day!  In addition to having a great time and some good laughs, I got NEW CLOTHES.  Take a look at these gems:

Top for only $10.  I can wear it with jean shorts, black jeggings, or a pencil shirt to work :)

Dress! :)  Love the uneven shirt and the way I could wear it country dancing !

American Eagle halter top dress... so summery!

The print

And news for my dearest sister: guess what store is coming to the Tippecanoe Mall!  If you guessed H&M, you're right!  I can't wait... come visit me and we'll go shopping. 

Drink lots of water, sleep lots, and be happy.

Dressing up :)

I only have one picture to post.  One of my multiple goals for this summer is to dress up more and blog more.  I hope I can actually accomplish that. I feel like any new period in life feels like a start-over, and I always make resolutions to do better.  Often times though, I just fail at those resolutions.  I always find myself wishing I had time to sort out my life... to write down my thoughts, feelings, and goals; to blog more; to keep in touch; to clean out my inbox.  I intend to make time this summer to "find" myself. :)  I'm looking forward to reflecting/journaling on this past semester, staying in touch with my NASA buds, and making new memories at Purdue.  I'm trying to find the beauty in EVERY SITUATION.  Every day really IS a blessing.  So here's to being happy!

This pictures shows an outfit inspired by my dear sister.  Her blog is a million times better than mine.  Anyway, lots of the boys complimented the way I looked.  Put on a skirt with your hair down, and they notice you as more than an brainiac!

Shoe Love is True Love

Truer words were never spoken.  When I texted Sidney a picture of my new running shoes, she asked me if I was happy, because shopping makes her happy.  Haha. Wearing new things and cute things and especially PINK things makes me happy, but spending money does not.  However, with great sales at Kohl's, I could afford a pair besides my new Adidas.  So please meet my new Sperry-look-alikes... that I got for less than $30.  Ka-ching!  I will probably wear these to work at least three times a week... I always get frustrated because I didn't have plain brown (ish) shoes to wear with my brown belt. Ta-da!

My gold Sperry-like boat shoes.  Perfect for work, and they're Old Gold!

I feel like I could run a marathon in these babies, and they're going to look kick-ass at Dance Jam  today.

My parents, aunt, and uncle came down this weekend.  While I've been having a great time in Houston, this has been the best weekend in a long time!  I loved being with my family... simple things like getting Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt and walking around my neighborhood with them made my day.  I am so blessed to have such a great support team.  My family members are truly my best friends.

Happy Dead Week to those of you with finals coming up (I'm looking at you, Lisa).

<3

Making myself happy...

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and a weekend at the beach with 40 other co-ops didn't give me much time to think but gave me lots to think about.  The one thing I really decided I want to do is make myself happy.  I found myself some times this weekend sitting with some people and wondering if what the other people were doing was more fun.  Not that I wasn't having fun, I was just worrying that I was missing out on something more fun.  But then it hit me, I should live in MY moment. I need to stop worrying about what else is going on and focus on giving the people near me my full attention and enthusiasm.  

Living here seemingly by myself has made me realize that I want to be the person who  is happy no matter what and who does what she wants to do when she wants to do it.  No more waiting around for a friend to text me or feeling sorry for myself just sitting at  home.  I can read books, go for runs, scrapbook, call friends not in the great state of Texas.  

So my goal for this week is to make myself pretty darn happy. I'd love to have a contagious kind of joy and make the people around me happy too, but I'm not going to expect others to make me happy.  Here's to controlling my own destiny on a day-by-day basis.  Cheers :)

And because I alluded to the beach, enjoy some photos :)

Me and Matt!  

Might as well jump!

These girls are so fantastic.  There is one other girl not here who sometimes brings me down, but these girls are a blessing in my life :)

Random assortment of clothing

I apologize for the lack of posts... busy busy busy at work and in my 'free' time.  I love the excitement, but it means my pinterest and blog are pretty boring.  I'll try to keep up more, but no promises.

Country dancing! :)  Love my cowboy boots... so much.

Working girl!

My goals for the month:
Blog more, and put more pictures in those blogs. :)
Eat better.  Seriously.  I need to eat dinner.  Then I wouldn't be starving and eat junk during the day.
Put distance between me and those people that bring me down.
Love myself for me and not for what other people think of me.
Read my Bible more.
Practice clarinet.
Journal.
Breathe. :)

Thanks all, folks.  Peace y'all :)

Ranting and Raving

Ah.  What a bipolar day.  Following a week of awesomeness (with my sister, friend from high school, co-op friends), today has seemed slow and lonely.  I feel like this may be a pattern... I only blog when I'm bored.  hahaha.  Or when I'm doing laundry, which I am doing right now.  Wow.  I guess I'm predictable :)

Anyway, today I was getting soooooo frustrated with my friends.  They were just being such know-it-alls.  I feel immature just writing that, as if I just traveled back in time to middle school.  But for reals, I have never been in a car with such expertise...  I ended up trying to just keep my mouth shut to avoid causing more drama.  I felt bad for being irritable, but I think I should have just spent all day by myself and relaxing.   Sometimes I get so caught up in the excitement of being here that I forget I need to take care of myself mentally and physically.

For the rave part: I have made some awesome purchases recently!  For example, check out these two accessories I scored at Forever 21 (for $5 each).  I selected the belt because it will look good over things, but it is also small enough to fit through the belt loops in my jeans.  I'm just a sucker for scarves, especially five dollar ones.  I'll wear it with my black romper and black sandals and paint my nails pink :)

The other day with Lisa and Mel, I bought a denim button-up shirt, pink Fila shorts (for running), and a teal hoodie from Latitude 29 Surf Shop on the Bolivar Peninsula (near Galveston, TX).  With my NASA gear from Lands End, I feel like my wardrobe is expanding.  Now if only I can wear my new stuff.  I tend to want to 'save' them.  For what I don't know.  I'm working on breaking that habit: I wore my new shorts today. :)

Workin' Girl

Wow.  It's been a whirlwind these past couple of months.  We celebrated Leap Day and Texas Independence Day, and now it's March 3rd.  I've been busy at work shadowing people in DI3, which is where I want to work my next tour and start working towards being an Attitude Determination and Control Officer (ADCO).

Life is good... and yet Saturday mornings make me sad.  Maybe it's the lack of purpose.  I'm not meeting friends until 4 to go running, and my landlady is going to tell me when her clothes are out of the washer so I can start my laundry.  So I'm sitting and trying to be semi-productive.  I'll wash my dishes and straighten up my apartment after I finish this post.  Another goal for today is to plan what Lis and Mel are going to do when they come to visit me.  I can't wait to see them, and I want them to have a blast...

While I'm planning and plotting, take a look at two outfits I've worn recently. :)  I love getting to dress up but I also appreciate that I can wear jeans to work.  It's a win-win.  One thing to note: my new Purdue lanyard--it's double-sided!