Is It Starting To Feel Like Christmas Yet?

Hey everyone! So, this Sunday marks two weeks into my Winter Break. So far I have spent a week alone, partly completed some internship work and done a bit of babysitting and a couple of other things I never would have expected.

The first week was very peaceful and relaxing. I am staying with my Uncle in South Carolina. Due to his job, he travels ALOT. Last week was just one of those weeks. At first I LOVED it. I dictated my own schedule, had a low-maintenance companion (Dallas the dog) and really overall felt like I finally had a break from school, from work and from the many individuals who seem to make my life all the more crazier. Speaking of which, I really meant it when I said I'm not putting up with anyone's crap. I very recently cut a few individuals out and I really feel that finally taking the step has benefited me in the long-run. Putting that aside, as the week evolved I ended up having a few unexpected adventures:

I semi-taught a class of fifth graders. my Uncle's girlfriend let me tag along with her for most of the week and Friday including helping out with the class. I was teaching them a math lesson on how to accurately draw a gingerbread house. 

I made some Christmas Crafts at her school. She wanted some help with set-up and execution. When there was more than enough supplies I made a few. 

I finally attended my very first Christmas party! What was funny is before that night I always considered myself a light-weight and that night I had one margarita, a glass of red wine and two cups of adult punch. I was completely normal. That was probably the most I have ever had in one night as well. 

To start off week two, I attended my cousin's birthday party at Gravatopia and dinner.  I played dodge ball for about an hour and tried a few other things. Dinner was overall fun minus the antsy children. That night I babysat my cousins and did the same today. We also did a bit of last minute Christmas shopping and had a good round of hide-n-seek. If you know me well, you know that I am the champion hider. Shall I recall the Myrtle Beach game:

That was underneath the sink. Other famous hiding places include: the dryer, behind a couch, inside a box, against the wall behind some air mastress' and well as for the rest, a good "magician" doesn't give away her secrets ;)

This was at the party just before dinner. 

I found this monkey and I think he might be my Christmas gift to myself. Unless anyone else wants to get it for me ;)

While babysitting today the kiddos and I rode our scooters and bikes around the neighborhood and wrestled on the trampoline. The children were terrified of this "spooky forest" and I thought it was quite charming :)

I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday! 

Finals Week and It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas!

Hey everyone! This is my final week before Christmas Break and my week of finals. What's cool about MBC is I get to choose when to take my finals. AND, I don't have to work at all this week so it will be a very relaxing, non-hectic time to study, ect.

Y'all are probably wondering what my last post was about, if you didn't know. It was mostly about my ex-roommate and my response to the tensions/ points she brought up in our tiny argument. However, it was also about the other events in my week. This past week itself has literally been a testament to the saying, "when it rains, it pours." Anyways, this week is finally over and now I get to look forward too Winter Break!

Here are some of the fun moments from the past few weeks:

1. Happy Thanksgiving!

  I didn't go back to SoCal for Thanksgiving. Instead, I stayed with a few friends and made a few new ones: 

I bought this jacket from Wal-Mart because a. It was raining and I was really cold and b. I thought it was funny that it looked like the Cookie Monster was sacrificed in order to make it. 

These are a few pictures from my Thanksgiving Break. I spent a few days on a farm. Not as odd as I thought it would be. 

Along with the holiday, I found a few memes that made me giggle:

This one is my new lock screen :) 

This one is another personal favorite because those of you who have known me for awhile, like from junior high or high school know that I have always been the individual who has stuck out like a sore thumb. Horror movies, scary stories, researching famous murder cases, ect. has always been my thing. And when I watch the classics (except for Scream. Sorry, Ghost Face. Arguably, there should be a place for Hannibal Lector from The Silence Of The Lambs or Sam from Trick 'r Treat.) I just feel as if I don't have to explain myself or try to fit in. Micheal, Freddie, Jason, Sam, Hannibal, Leather Face, the Mutants in the original The Hills Have Eyes, ect. are all odd, eclectic and like me. Only difference is I don't kill people. 

Weird fan love but still funny nonetheless.

2. Good-bye Sami!

  My friend Sami isn't coming back next semester and thus decided to ditch exams and leave super early. Here are a few pictures from our last Wal-Mart Adventure: 

We were STARVING and thought it would be fun to have a pizza date with some stuffed penguins and snowmen! I think we were also losing our sanity just a tad bit.

My "waterproof" phone decided to quit on me and this was right after I purchased my new one. Still not the same. 

3. Prep for the Holidays:

So on the very last day of November, Christmas had exploded at Mary Baldwin. So have finals. Everyone is posting about how miserable they are feeling about finals. Which is funny because I am not stressing at all. 

In Gypsy Park there are some Christmas lights. I couldn't help but snap a picture with my favorite..The Grinch!

Here's some other proof that Christmas has either vomited or exploded at MBC. There are these creep little Santa Claus' on each floor. Mine was given this one. He has shown up in the elevator twice and in someone's room once. He is currently missing and hopefully gone for good.

                       Along with preparing for Winter Break came the prep for Finals:

This is evidence that I have been practicing my piece for my piano final. Notice the book is turned around in the second picture so I could memorize it. I spent countless hours practicing in the top of the library. Sometimes, it being rather creepy. 

I had my jury piece today! It was VERY fast and I overdressed but now it's over! Only three more days to go! 

Here's a picture from when I dressed up as Laurie Strode and saw Halloween in theaters. This was one of the last pictures I uploaded from my dead phone. 

Hope everyone does well on Finals and has a fun break! 

An Open Letter

Dear person or persons,
       The past few weeks have been strenuous, for multiple parties. I think we both have a few things that we didn't mean to say but I want to make sure I get a few things straight:

I WILL NOT apologize for my life choices. I WILL NOT be made to feel guilty about my life choices, either. I am completely comfortable with my body and who I am as an individual. Sexuality is absolutely not a bad thing along with dating to find out who or what you like. Neither is being monogamous and choosing to be with the one who makes you feel alive. I may also have an unconventional way of doing things but I have had to fight multiple battles to get where I am. Do you understand what it is like to wake up and be on a cot in the "Youth Welcome Center", not knowing if you will be put in foster care or fall back into a pit that is the life of your mother? Do you know what it feels like to see everyone go on break while wondering where you will end up or realizing that you don't have a "home" to go to? What about attending a university full time and working part time because you are independently paying for everything on your own? So, I hope that you can learn to be aware of others and their struggles around you whether they be big or small and that you can learn to be grateful for what you have.

As for the situation that all parties involved are aware of, I WILL NOT be made guilty for what has occurred. I decided to reach out to someone who could relate to me when I had no one. That should not/ is not a crime. I also reveled the truth of the matter after multiple stressful things occurred on both sides. I WILL NEITHER accept the idea that I was entirely in the wrong. You lied. I "betrayed". You hid things from me that we had agreed to "share". I told someone the truth. Regardless of whatever happened, now that we are going separate ways it can all go behind us.

As for everyone else who is probably curious at to what happened, that is not the point. The point simply is: I will no longer take (pardon my French) shit from people. I embrace my life and how to live it separately from you, get over it. And, if you want to at all come into my life and attempt to change the way I feel, how I think and embrace my individuality, you can get up and leave. Now, what I am not saying is that you don't have a right to an opinion and nor is it un-valuable. You opinion is valuable and your opinion is a part of your  individuality. Just don't threaten mine.

Through this experience and the other experiences that the universe has oh so thoughtfully plotted into my life this week, I have learned that I will never cease to stand up for myself whether the individual is big or small, friend or CEO. I WILL NOT be made to feel guilty about that either. As long as I am not nasty (as in calling names and using my version of the French language) or physically harming anyone, I have the right to defend and protect myself. I also have the right to defend and protect my space, something I have been fighting for my entire life.

Here are hopes for a new beginning and that all war cannons, missiles and guns are now at cease fire. I wish you the best, you are a smart cookie. You are beautiful and valuable and I hope you recognize your worth. If you ever need anything, understand that although we have our differences you can always seek my help. Happy Holidays to all!