Mi Bella Vida

 Christmas has come and gone, and I can honestly say that this was the best Christmas since I was a kid! Christmas at my parents’ house was extremely funny, emotional, and deserving. Christmas dinner was HILARIOUS! The conversations that we had were typical of my family but they were never really  that open with Chris. Well, this year they didn’t care and my parents were more like themselves. I cried so much from laughing and I almost peed. Best dinner ever! My sisters and I were able to convince my  dad to let us open gifts early so we had everything opened before 8 on Christmas Eve! LOL. My parents were the ones who got the best gifts of all! Chris was super thoughtful, as always, and he decided that we should give my mother a banner picture of the panorama that Chris took while we were in Mexico. My mother opened her gift and IMMEDIATELY began to cry, she was so happy. Not only did my ma cry but Chely cried too! She never shows emotion so we got a 2 for 1 deal on that gift. My dad got courtside basketball tickets for the Bulls/Hawks game. My dad works hard and he’s always taking care of us so this Christmas it was time to take care of him! He and I went to the game this past Saturday and damn was he happy! Chris and I did a good job with the gifts for my parents. It was a great day

Christmas day we went over to Chris’ mom’s house. Christmas was a little different this year. We usually spend Christmas at his grandparents’ house and lots of people come over but this year Mommom and Poppop were vacationing in Miami, lucky. This was actually the first time I ever did Christmas at his mom’s house. I had a blast here too. Nothing but laughs, AGAIN! His mom does a bunch of goofy stuff with the stockings and its hilarious. We got lots of good stuff here too. We had Christmas dinner here as well. Chris did the cooking and I did the drinking. I got very tipsy off some wine and I dropped a piece of turkey, fail… It was a great dinner and then we sat in the living and watched t.v. Very relaxing Succesful Christmas with both families, I couldn’t be happier

Today has been a very, very, very, busy day. I have been cleaning ALL day, well not ALL day but the majority of the day. I cleaned out the kitchen, reorganized the cabinets, and 409ed every surface. It looks good. Then I did the linen closet in the hallway but its not completely done yet. There is something about it that is bothering me but I can’t put my finger on it. I then started to clean my desk and throw away school stuff that I didn’t need but I quit. I got lazy and decided to do this post instead. Hopefully I get the rest of the apartment done tomorrow. I really want the apartment to be done, organized, and clutter free before the New Year. I want a fresh start into 2009

The year is drawing to an end and this the time when people make New Year Resolutions.  I, like many other people, make resolutions in hopes to really make a change in myself and those around me but always seem to fail before the month of January is over. I have made the decision to be different this year and NOT make a resolution. Sorta…. Instead of calling them resolutions, I’m going to call them the items on my To Do List. I do a much better job with a To Do List. Things ACTUALLY get done and that is the change I want to see this year. I’m going to make this a good list, one that I actually feel like its going to do me some good.

To Do List 2009

1. Be healthier. I am going to get my numbers under control. My blood sugar will be normal again and I will not be sick anymore. This one is going to take a while but its my most important point for this year and the rest of my life. I don’t want to be a statistic so I want to make sure that I keep diabetes at bay.

2.  Be a better person. When I was younger I used to do a lot of volunteer work and I would really love to get into that again. My only problem is that I get attached too quickly and I start to love those that I help and when its time to part I have a really hard time with it. I guess that’s what I get for being a very emotional person. I might find an animal shelter or a cause that I’m passionate about and start helping.

3. Be a better friend. I want to be a better friend to those that are GREAT friends to me.  I have always thought myself to be a great friend. I’m extremely honest, I listen, and I’m there when  you need me. It usually takes a while before I become this great friend to people because I always feel like I get taken advantage of. That is such a crappy feeling and I hate it. It might not be obvious to all but I do wear my heart on my sleeve and people take advantage of that. I guess I just need better friends. Besides my family and Chris there really isn’t even a handful of people that I know I can rely on. I have lots of friends but I don’t have more than a few super close friends. I want to not be so standoffish? I trust too easily but at the same time I have my guard up hardcore. I just need to have a little more faith in everyone and not think they are going to let me down.

4.  Get a bad ass job afer graduation in May. Well, it doesn’t have to be a bad ass job just yet but a job will be wonderful! I’m hoping that the market will pick up by the time I graduate so that I can get hired quickly and with a good place. I’m getting an early start and looking for jobs in Feburary and then applying in March. That way it gives me enough time to look properly and apply, get interviewed and shit like that. I got my fingers crossed.

5. Take the GMAT. I want to get my Masters eventually and I need to get a head start on this test. I want to take it while I’m still in school so all that book learning is still fresh.

6.   Get out of Debt! I need to pay off my credit card and Bad!!! I want to have money to buy a car and pay off my student loans. I’m going to try and cut up my card but if I don’t have the balls to do it then I’m going just stick in the freezer or give it to Chris to hold on to. If I don’t have the money to buy it then I’m not going to. No cash no stuff. Easier said then done but I’m gonna try!

7. Time Management. Right now I have decent time management but I get easily distracted that it is soo easy for me to get off schedule. Not cool. I need to work on it so that I have more time to have fun and not be stressed out.  The only thing that seems to help me keep the little bit of Time Management that I have is my To Do List and my agenda. I just need to stick to those and get some ADD meds and I should be good to go

8. Photography. I have an awesome camera that I don’t get to use often and the Photoshop software that I’m still learning. I need to get better so that I have an advantage over other advertisers. I’m gonna be gangster at it!

9.365 project. I am going to take a picture everyday in 2009! I am not going to fall behind!!!!

10. Be positive. I need to be more positive about all the things that happen in my life. Everything happens for a reason and I need to learn to let go and let things work out for themselves. I’m a planner so that is going to be rough!

That pretty much sums it up for the plans that I have for 2009. Hopefully I can accomplish all those and cross them off my list but if not, there is always next year. Like my friend says “Aim low and achieve high” I’m going to write these down and have them in my agenda at all time to remind me of what my tasks for the year and to ensure that I don’t fall off the wagon. If I think of anything else then I will add it to my list but for now these are definitely some of the things that I want to accomplish.

Wow, so I have not made a post in 3 months but in my defense, it wasn’t my fault! Big bad school kept me from posting but now I am finally done for the semester :) Here is a quick recap of the semester:-I got the mini! It came sooner that what they had said and I am very happy with it.- Surprisingly, Toshi is still alive! He’s barely making it but he’s doing alright :)- I took picutres for my friend’s wedding and that came out well.- I had my first paid job Family portriats and she was soo happy.- Brody turned 1! He is so grown  up now. I took pictures for that.- I finished the semester with a 3.2 and I could not be any happier. I was super stressed out!- Chris and I are looking for a place up in Atlanta and we have to move out by Jan 31st. I cannot wait to be out of Stockbridge.-Chris graduated on Decemeber 11th!!!!!!!!!!! I was so happy and proud of him :)- I’m going to start my final semester after this break is over.- Went on my first cruise ever!  That pretty much sums up what happened these last 3 months and I am going to try and make an attempt to post more often. I only have 3 classes next semester so I should have more time for my 365 project and making more posts :)