End of the year thoughts

So, I had a wonderful. I got lots of great presents (mostly for my kitchen!). I got a gift card from Mom, so I bought some curtains and frames for the 2 posters I wanted to hang in the living room. They all look so good.

Today Mom came over and put up my curtains. I'm so excited. I feel like I've been waiting forever. It gets so hot in my room and when I wake up, the sun is blaring in my eyes. So hopefully these curtains will put an end to that. Then we grabbed a bite to eat at Bueno and headed to Rockwall. We met Aunt Lana and Debbie at the movies to see I Am Legend. It was good. I would call it a combination of 28 Days Later, Land of the Dead, and a drama. After the movie, we went to Old Navy and exchanged some things. I got 2 pairs of jeans (much needed), a shirt, and ornaments (75% off). Then we stopped by Target, and I finally got the purse I had been eyeing for a couple of days now. I called it a night early tonight. I've been tired all day, and I just didn't feel like getting out again. I was going to clean, but I watched a movie instead.

Now a look back on this year...

This year was supposed to be a year of change. I was going to go overseas, graduate college, move out, and get a new job. I just knew I was going to be so happy by the end of the year.

I made the grades I needed in the spring to go to London. I had a graduation/going away party. It was an early graduation party, but I had no doubt that I would graduate.

In June I packed my bags and headed to London. I was so scared and yet so excited. I had never been away from home that long before. Plus, I didn't have anyone to turn to. That experience made me realize that I can do things on my own. I had so much fun and learned so many things. I'd go back in a heart beat if I could.

While I was away, Meme passed away. That was real hard for me since I was far from home and couldn't be with Mom. I got to see her just before I left. She told me that I was such a sweetheart and then she gave me a hug. I still find myself telling myself I need to go see her, but then I quickly remember she's gone.

When I got back home, I started looking at apartments. I just wanted to narrow the search to a few apartments I liked, so I could get an idea of what I wanted. I ended up finding the perfect apartment. I took Kristin to see it the next day. And then a few days later I took Mom. Then I signed the lease for it. It's funny, I had wanted to move out for so long. And then as soon as it was a reality, I was scared. I thought-I can't leave home. I almost backed out, but I knew I had to do it. I needed to be on my own and be my own person. Mom and Aunt Lana helped out so much. (I still haven't taken them out to eat for it. I still owe you!!) I was so happy to be in my new apartment. It was what I had wanted for years.

When I got back from London, business was so slow at Posados. I wasn't making any money, Bill wouldn't put me back in the bar, and my hours were being cut. I made the decision to quit and go to work at The Jalapeno Tree. Les came with me, which made the transition easier. We were working over 50 hours a week, every week. The money was flowing in, but I was so exhausted and had no time to see anybody. I made so much money that first month, but then business slowly dropped off. I began to hate that place more and more everyday. I would constantly complain and cry. I was miserable. Then the unexpected happened. I was let go. Jobless at the end of the year...who would have thought?

I had been looking for a job since August. I expected it would be difficult, but I never imagined it would take this long. I can't help but feel like a loser right now. I have a college education, no job, no money, an apartment I can't afford, and I feel like I have no future. This was supposed to be a happy year. Since there are only 2 more days left in the year, I don't think my goal of finding a job will be achieved. But I have to believe that things happen for a reason. Hopefully I will find a job soon, so I can get back on my feet.

Also this year I got to spend it with Les. He has become my best friend. We have been through a lot this year: job changes, job losses, loss of family, moving, and much more. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary in November. He's been good to me, and I am very thankful for him.

I am also thankful for my Mom. She has helped me out so much this year. At the beginning of the year I was pushing her away because I felt smothered. Moving out has strengthened our relationship. We talk more, and our time spent together is more precious. I know I have been needy this year. I just hope that I can get a good job so she doesn't have to help me out so much. And she can focus more on herself. (And getting out of that house!!)

So I guess it's time to make my New Year's resolutions:
-find a job!!!!!!
-pay of all my credit cards
-stop drinking so much coke
-stop eating fast food (except for in emergencies)
-bake and cook more
-take a small vacation with Les
-start exercising
-go back blonde!!

3 Day Baking Adventure

It's been a long, but fun weekend. I've been covered in flour, powdered sugar, chocolate, dough, icing, and food coloring. But it was worth it. Friday evening I went over to Kristin's to borrow some supplies. (Thank you so much!!) Then I went to Mom's to pick her up. We headed to the store for more supplies and grabbed some Chipotle while we were out. Then we went home and started baking. We bought a tube of sugar cookie mix and made cookies out of that. We rolled the dough out too thin, so they were kinda crunchy. Kristin gave me her leftover cookies. Her cookies were perfect. No matter what we did, we couldn't get our cookies to look like hers. So after the cookies cooled, we made the icing. We just made white icing and iced all of the cookies we had.

The cookie on top is Kristin's and the cookie on bottom is ours. We had obese cookies!


Kristin had put icing on some of the cookies she gave me, so we decorated them also. We used sparkling gel. It looks really good, but you can't stack the cookies because they stick to each other. Around 2 in the morning we decided to go to bed and finish up on Saturday.


Saturday we got a late start. We had Chipotle again, went to Old Navy (where I found the cutest ornaments for half off), and Macys (where Mom bought me and her the mammoth crocs. they have a lining inside, so they are like house shoes). Then we went back to baking. We had made a batch of cookies from scratch earlier in the day, so we rolled it out and cut out the cookies. While those cooked, we made brown, red (more like coral), blue, and green icing. We put icing on all the cookies and let them set overnight. Then I made the cupcakes and chocolate Christmas trees. I just put bakers chocolate in a bag and made the trees on wax paper. I also made some big trees, stars, and letters just to see what they turned out like. After another long day, we called it a night at 3 in the morning.





Sunday morning we made more icing and finished decorating the cookies. I think they turned out really cute. The snowflakes were my favorite. I also put shimmer on some of them. It turned out really pretty on the snowflakes.

Mom did such a cute job on the gingerbread men and snowmen.

Here are the snowflakes!

We had a crap-load of cookies when we were finished. So I packaged them up as gifts. I gave some to Les and his family, Mr. Perkins, and I'm taking some tomorrow when we get together.

The last thing I had to do was making the icing for the cupcakes. I made butter cream icing. It turned out yummy. The actual cupcakes were the only thing we didn't make from scratch.
I got the little Christmas trees out of the fridge and tested them out. Most of them weren't thick enough. The ones that were I put on the cupcakes. After a few minutes they started to break.

The full trees and stars didn't break. And I thought they were just as cute! I decided to eat the broken trees, but I was surprised when they tasted horrible. Mom had accidentally bought unsweet chocolate. Too bad.


I made Les' initials to put on his cupcakes. He really like the cupcakes. I took some over there for him and his family, but he kept them all for himself.

All weekend I got to hang out with my kitty. She slept with me, played with the bows on the presents, and slept.....a lot. But who can resist this face?!

Mom let me open a couple presents early. I got some really cute ornaments for my tree, my crocs, and a cupcake holder. It's so cool. It comes with a pan and a little shelf that hold 24 cupcakes total. And then a plastic cover locks on it, and it has a handle. I can't wait till tomorrow. We are having Christmas at Uncle Larry's, then I'm spending the night at Mom's. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

Yummy

Today on Martha Stewart she made this gingerbread house cake. I want to make one so bad! I think it would also be super cute to make gingerbread stars and put those around the cake. Then put star dust on top of the white icing. Maybe I can talk Mom into having a Mom and Daughter baking session.

Tis the season....to get fired!

Well, in case you haven't heard, I was fired on Saturday. My first table of the day complained on me, so Ryan pulled me into the office. He said that I had been getting bad surveys (which he never showed me) and that multiple tables had been complaining on me (to which I had no knowledge). So after a long talk and lots of crying, he let me go. It all really came out of the blue for me.

At first I was devastated. I couldn't stop crying. Then the next day I became angry and bitter. They fired me a week before Christmas. How crappy is that?! Also, who is going to hire me right before Christmas? So my depression went into over-drive. I slept all day Sunday and Monday. And I cried.....a lot.

And to top things off. While I was driving home Saturday night, my back windshield exploded for no reason. At first I heard the noise and thought that I had ran over something. Then I saw my window shattered to pieces and thought that someone had thrown something at my car. I got out and looked at the window and didn't see any point of impact. I ended up staying at Mom's house until Monday afternoon. It cost almost $200 to replace the window.

Today was a busy day, and also a better day. It included...
-making pancakes
-watching Martha Stewart (one of my new favorite shows)
-picking up my check from the Tree
-chatting with Carl and Chad
-returning some items at Michael's
-going to the bank
-stopping by Casa de Rios and getting a tour
-picking up an application to Casa de Rios
-catching up with old friends at Posados
-going to see Les at work (he bought me dinner :) )
-going over to Mom's
-going with Mom to Casa de Rios for free food and drink
-going with Mom to Outback for a drink
-taking a nap
-watching a movie

So you can see all the stuff I did today. Roger (one of the managers at Casa de Rios) pretty much told me that he would hire me. I just hate having to wait tables. But when me and Mom stopped in, the place was packed. And everything was free. How awesome is that?! I wasn't hungry, but I ate all my food.

I talked to my friend who works at Wells Fargo and she said she could probably get me a job there. I hope that happens. Then I wouldn't have to wait tables. Or at least not full time. Just so you know, job hunting sucks!

Making progress

Well, it's been a while since we have spoken.

Saturday I went to Elora's 3rd birthday party. I was pretty down that day. Everybody kept asking me if I had found a new job yet. When I replied no, they told me how hard it is to get into the media field. I wish people would tell me that constantly because I love to hear it. Then I had to be around everybody who had the day off, while I had to go into work later and try to make money for rent. Also, I was having a fat day. I was so glad that day was over with.

After working all weekend, Monday was a much needed day off. I tried to sleep in, but woke up at 11am. I got up and was being lazy around the house. Then around 1 I got ready and went to run some errands. I went to the post office to get more stamps so I could mail the rest of my Christmas cards. Then I went to pick up my check (which wasn't as big as I had hoped) and went to the bank. I was going to hang out with Amber, but I just didn't have enough time.

Then I went over to Mom's and watched my shows. When she got home we ordered pizza and watched the season finale of Heroes. This season wasn't as awesome as the first, but it was still pretty good.

After leaving there I went over to Les' and hung out with him. He is now obsessed with Guitar Hero. He wants me to play with him, but I'm too embarrassed. I haven't played any video games since I was a kid. And he's pretty good at it. But it looks like so much fun.

Today was a slow day at work, so I didn't feel the need to pick up a shift tonight. Instead I went grocery shopping and cleaned my apartment. My place has been a wreck for over a week now, and I have been so lazy. So I finally sucked it up and cleaned my kitchen, did laundry, and straightened up my room. For dinner, I cooked the pasta that my Mom always makes. It was yummy.

I decided to get off my lazy butt and do something, so I went down to the gym tonight. I went around 11pm since I thought nobody would be down there. I hate when other people are in the room when I'm working out. When I got down there, there were 2 teenagers hanging out in the gym giving each other massages and watching TV. They were in there the entire time. I would have stayed down there longer and worked on more machines, but I didn't want to do it in front of them. I was pretty proud of myself. I walked on the treadmill for 30 min and did the elliptical machine for 10 min. That thing is hard!! I'm going to have to work on staying on it for longer. I'm going to try to work out everyday this week. I really need to loose some weight. So wish me luck!