Jan 27, 2009

My Year fo the Ox Forecast...

My friend Heather posted her horoscope for the year. Now, I don't trust astroology any further than I can throw it (or whatever that phrase is), but it's always interesting to read. I was born in 1986, the yearr of the Tiger. Here is what Yahoo! astrology has for my year:

Tiger Overview
From the outset, 2009 may present some true challenges for the Tiger. The year of the Ox presents an overwhelming influence upon the Tiger to maintain a steady and well disciplined pace. That is not to say that there won't be opportunities for achievement, but it would be more precise to say that this is a year that would benefit the Tiger in the areas of experience and possibly lay a solid foundation for the year to come. You will have to be resourceful and rely on your boldness and quick wit to ascertain anything in the year of the Ox.

Tiger Rating
27% (3 neutral and 9 unfavorable months) (Yikes!!)

Tiger Career
It would be beneficial to be cautious and careful when it comes to career decisions in the year of the Ox. It would be wise to be aware of the views of those around you, as this is not a year to be too independent in your actions or take any unnecessary risks. Be persistent in your responsibilities to impress others, as this will lead to progress towards your future. For the Tiger seeking a career change, tread through the rough spots and your relentless efforts will be rewarded in surprising ways.
Tiger Relationships
The Tiger's relationship may be one of the more favorable areas this year. You can look forward to some happy times with your loved one this year. Though your domestic life may be busy, it can bring you much satisfaction. Be aware of the fact that those around you hold you in high regard and you may not want to jeopardize these relations by your independence or by being too stubborn. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings of others in your life and everything should work out well for you.

Tiger Health
The Tiger will not have any serious health problems this year, but there may some minor issues that you may want to pay attention or they could become much worse than originally anticipated. One area of concern is stress. There may be some situations this year that could escalate your stress levels and you may want to find some ways to alleviate this issue. The Tiger enjoys outdoor activities and this could provide an outlet to relieve your stress. (Too bad I'm not going to camp for the whole summer this year...)
Tiger Wealth
Take caution when it comes to your finances this year, as it is not a time to speculate or take any unnecessary risks. Plan your large purchases carefully and avoid impulse buying. The best advice is to monitor your spending throughout the year and you won't have any problems. This may sound like simple advice, but due to your generous nature, it may not be as simple as it sounds.

I'll post for real soon... I promised some friends I'd put up the recipes from my shower!

Jan 19, 2009

Damn I look good, Part 2

I am not a conceited person. Or, at least I don't think I am... But tonight I put my wedding dress on for the first time in about 4 months and I've lost 2 pants sizes since then so I was worried about how it might fit. We bought it a size smaller and it fit just a tad snug last May. It fit fine when I got home in August and now it fits AMAZINGLY. Like, it highlights the curves that need to be highlighted and I even think we might need to take the bust in just a little -- yes, the BUST!! I'm smokin' in the dress and I cant wait to wear it in 54 days.

I started a new job today. Not a teaching job, but a nanny job that will last me through the summer and pay me really well. The kids are great and the parents are so laid back. I have applications out to several districts; I'm waiting to hear who I'll be meeting with at an upcoming job fair before I schedule interviews (don't want to double up).

My bridal shower is this weekend!! I am so excited to see evryone together for the first (and last, I suppose) official wedding gathering before the actual event.

Jan 13, 2009

Where Have I Been?

I haven't posted in a while 'cause I've been moving in, finalizing wedding stuff (two more months!!!), and...

...Reading this masterpiece by Jen Lancaster:



I picked it up after a mention in Meghan's blog last month and Oh. My. God. It's sooooo funny!! I'm looking forward to reading her other books.






Oh, and did I mention that we're only 8 and a half weeks out from the BIGGEST day of my life? Well, I'm mentioning it now. ;-)

Jan 5, 2009

Damn, I look GOOD!

Or at least that's what people keep saying to me. Just Sunday morning alone, I had 3 people remark about how much weight I've lost. I sing and am in front of people when I lead worship, so it's not like they saw me across a room and got a glimpse but they were able to stare at me for 15 minutes.

Anyway, I'm just saying that I'm glad people are noticing. :-) I haven't lost any weight, technically, but I have dropped 2 pants sizes, which is way exciting. Those of you who know me well know where about 10% of that weight lies and how insecure I am of that. Unfortunately, nothing I do has led to a decrease there. In fact, I feel like that's getting bigger. To which I say, ARGH!!! ha ha.

I'm just glad that the change in my eating habits has really worked, and that event though I haven't been to the gym in 2 months (yikes...), it was working.

We don't live too far from Creve Coeur Lake and I can't wait till the weather is warmer so that I can bike around it.

Jan 3, 2009

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome to 2009, everyone! I trust y'all had a good NYE. I babysat 3 girls in Wright City. Only the oldest made it till midnight, but I did some sparklers with the younger girls before they went to bed. Then the oldest and I drank sparking grape juice to toast the new year. It was good fun (and good money, too).

I didn't do a recap of 2008, so here's a quick one:
*In January, I began my last semester of actual classes and registered to graduate in December. Not an exciting month that I can remember...
*In February, I turned 22. I took another trip to Louisiana to help with Rita clean up.
*March was an eventful month, and not completely in a "this is great!" way. J and I took a trip to Chicago where I auditioned for Gospel Dream, a Christian American idol. We had a great time and the audition process was amazing because we were all in a room worshiping and praising theLord. AMAZING!!! On the fourteenth, I was excited to mark our "-1" anniversary -- only one year until the Big Day. Unfortuantely, three days later, Jerome's cousin and roommate took his life. It was hard on all of us, especially with as much as we didn't see it coming. J moved out of his apartment and into the Lemmons' house, a family we go to church with who was kind enough to offer him their spare room.
*In April, I found out that I had passed my Praxis, a huge test I need to pass to student teach. I was way excited and I bought myself Enchanted on DVD. :-)
*May marked the end of my last semester of classes. Woo hoo! I also found my wedding dress -- by accident, in fact. But I love it and I can't wait to wear it on my wedding day (::cough:: in 69 days ::cough::). I also headed off for my last summer at camp. It was bitterrsweet because camp is always a place I love to go, but I hated that it was my last time.
*June was all camp. I watched my last group of babies graduate from CIT and they gave me ascrapbook which means the world to me. This was also bittersweet because I could only work with 2 of them; not being able to work with any more makes me sad 'cause I know that they will all be amazing counselors.
*July was also a lot more camp. Actually, this was my first 4th that I've been home for in about 7 years because of where the sessions always fell. I also got my student teaching assignment.
*In August, I tooka trip to Chicago with J and some camp friends and had a lot of fun. I wanted to audition for American Idol in KC, but I had to begin student teaching. :-(. I met my cooperrating teacher and immediately took a liking to her. She was crazy and seemed extremely passionate about her job (and over the semester proved me right!). Oh yeah, that was also the month of the amazing men's 4x200 relay in Beijing.
*In September, Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast and sent a lot of rain our way, too. My main way home from school to the gym was flooded out. Yuck. We sent a crew back to Louisiana to help with the newest round of repairs that would need to be done. I found out through an e-mail that one of the places we worked on in February was literally annhilated. All that was left was the frame of the little mobile home. :-(
*October was an exciting wedding-filled month. The bridesmaids and I picked a dress. I ordered them and they came in three (!!!) weeks later. J and I also had our engagement session with our photographer and they turned out amazing!!!
*November was historical. Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the United States (of course, if you didn't know that, you're been living under a rock or something...). I am incredibly honored to have participated in this election. Jerome and I also found a place to live in St. Louis County, which knocked one thing off of our to-do list. I also got pulled into the Twilight obsession. My step brother also made it home from Afghanistan in one piece (thank GOD!!).
*December was a huge month. I finished student teaching, I graduated from college, and I moved in with J. I also started working at the local Christiam bookstore and I LOVE IT. Even though it was during the CHristmas season, I loved it. Everyone who works there is a lot of fun. I received a bass guitar from my uncle for Christmas, which pretty much blew all of my other gifts out of the water, lol.

Now, in 2009 there are a lot of things that are going to happen.

First and foremost, I'm getting married. THIS YEAR. It feels great to be able to say that. I can't wait to begin my life as Jerome's wife. :-) My bridal shower in on the 24th of this month and my bachelorette party is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 28.

Second, my stepbrother will be out of the Marines. Woo hoo!

Third, I will (Hopefully...) begin my REAL, big girl, grown up job. Of course, I have to find one, first. LOL.

Lastly, I will spend my first summer at home in over 10 years. Crazy.

I hope everyone enjoys their 2009 and stays tuned for my adventures this year!!