Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Then and Now...

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

When I was doing some work for an event tomorrow, I stumbled across this on our home computer. It was a survey I filled out back in July of 2005 (5.5 years ago!), and I just had to list 51 random things about myself. I was 17 years old at the time, about to be a senior in high school and no idea what I wanted to do next or where I wanted to go to college. Now, I am 23, a TCU alum, and have my first job in the "real world." I've had some amazing experiences since I've written this, and definitely learned a lot about myself and the world, but as I read through this, I realized that I haven't really changed much at all. Funny how that happens, isn't it?

Read below to see what I said about myself 5.5 years ago, and my comments today in italics. Enjoy : )

1. My middle name is Catherine. (This one is well, duh.)
2. I pretty much love any kind of Mexican or Italian food…and seafood. Yum! (Definitely. I can now add sushi to this list, too!)
3. My favorite color is pink. I also really love any shade of blue…and I really like turquoise! (Still LOVE pink, now add purple as a 2nd favorite color.)
4. I have been in color guard for the past 3 years, winter guard for two. (Did winterguard for 3 years, and color guard for EIGHT including college. Wow.)
5. I took tap dancing lessons for 12 years.(I miss this and would love to take an adult tap class!)
6. I competed in pageants until age 7. (Little known fact..my co-workers just recently found this out. I won some of these pageants, too!)
7. I have been on the newspaper staff for the past two years. (Did it for three years and went on to have a major in the school of journalism at TCU.)
8. Writing is my passion…whether it’s creative writing or journalism, I love it! I usually don’t even mind writing essays. (Still love writing, though I'm a little rusty on the journalism side. My job now definitely involves some writing, and clearly I love having this blog as a writing outlet!)
9. I love reading, even though I don’t do it as much as I would like to anymore. (Sadly, I hardly ever read anymore. When I do completely disconnect from the world, I love getting absorbed in a good book.)
10. I read over 100 books the summer before 7th grade. (How did I do that?! Clearly my social life was limited.)
11. I love little kids….I’ve always liked to baby-sit. (Still LOVE kids and miss working with them. During college I worked at a daycare, pre-school, and church nursery, and baby-sat!)
12. I used to always say I wanted 5 kids someday, and adopt at least one. However, I’ve become more reasonable…3 is a better number. (Still want three, but two might be better financially...and if money allows, I would love to adopt one.)
13. I was in TAFE last year and I taught 4th grade. >(Random story-- this past summer, SIX years after I taught the 4th grade class, a girl that I taught recognized me immediately. I felt really special.)
14. “The Notebook” is my favorite movie. (Still true.)
15. I love romantic comedies, romance novels, real-life romance…basically, I love anything romantic! (Still true. I cna be so sappy.)
16. I will listen to pretty much any kind of music. I don’t necessarily always know what I’m listening to or love it, but I give it a chance. (Love and appreciate any kind of music!)
17. I didn’t listen to country until a year ago. Now, it’s one of my favorite kinds of music. (Still is-- glad I found it!)
18. My favorite country group is Rascal Flatts. (Favorite is now Lady Antebellum. Will always have a special place in my heart for Rascal Flatts, though.)
19. I honestly barely ever watched TV my junior year. (I NEVER watch TV these days.)
20. When I used to watch tv, my favorite shows were American Dreams, ER, CSI, and back in the day….7th Heaven. (When I do tune in now, I like to watch reality things like 19 Kids and Counting.)
21. I really like shopping, especially with my friends. I usually don’t spend money very often, but it’s always fun to look. (Still the same...hard to talk myself into things, but like getting cute work clothes and heels!)
22. I like cute purses and shoes… (Haha, I commented on the one above before I even saw this one!)
23. I love having sleepovers with my chicas. Staying up all night just talking and laughing with them is the best. (Now I can't stay up all night. But I had a sleepover last weekend with my Little and loved talking late.)
24. I love movie nights with my friends. It’s so great to just relax and have fun without a care in the world. (Don't do these much anymore-- but love watching movies and snuggling with Alex.)
25. I love swimming and playing water volleyball. (Still love it-- also love laying in the sun.)
26. My favorite soda is Sunkist. I think I am addicted, I pretty much have one every day. (Now I drink classic Coca-Cola almost every day!)
27. I love lemonade, especially raspberry. (mmm, even though it's January, I want some now...)
28. I love anything chocolate. (Absolutely.)
29. Even though sunshine is nice, I looove storms. I love to read or sleep when it’s raining. (Enjoy storms as long as they don't involve hail or tornadoes.)
30. I was fascinated by tornadoes when I was little. I still kind of am. (Now I have more of a phobia of them...I was really close to one last fall, and it was one of the times I have been most scared in my life.)
31. My favorite kind of vacation would have to be relaxing on a Florida beach…so relaxing. (LOVE beach vacations...but now I have experienced the beautiful Hawaii and definitely want to go back...I'm thinking honeymoon?) : )32. I love to travel. I wish I could do more of it. (Agree.)
33. Going to Ireland was the first time I had been out of the US. (And since then I have gone one more time-- London and Paris March 2008 with Caroline!)
34. Ohio is the farthest North I have been in the US. (FALSE. I have now been to New York to visit Marissa!)
35. I want to travel all around Europe sometime in my life. (Still a nice goal.)
36. I really really really want to go back to Ireland and London. (Already went back to London, and would love to go again. Ireland too.)
37. I actually enjoy packing. (Depends how tired I am!)
38. I love pictures, whether it’s taking them or looking at them. (Duh. Have you seen my Facebook lately??)
39. I am very hard on myself. This makes me turn into a perfectionist at times. (Still true. Good thing I work with other perfectionists!)
40. I worry a lot, even when I definitely shouldn’t. (Definitely.)
41. I get stressed out easily. (Maybe? I'm getting better. Depends on the situation.)
42. I’m a patient person. (Definitely. Almost everyone says this.)
43. I don’t like hypocrites, snobs, or people who aren’t grateful for what they have. (Definitely don't, but I've realized we all are like this at some point.)
44. When I was little, I walked around on my tip-toes most of the time. To this day, it’s still really easy for me to do. (Still can.)
45. The whole left side of my body is stronger than my right. For a while when I was little, my parents weren’t sure if I would be right or left handed since I used both. I turned out to be right handed. (I think the left side is still stronger?)
46. I have a German Shephard that doesn’t really like anyone outside of my family. He’s always been our guard dog. (That was Hans...he actually died a few weeks after I wrote this. Sad. But now we have a loving, huge, playful dog named Jager that I love.)
47. I’ve lived in Coppell since I was 10. (Lived in Coppell and Fort Worth for four years while I was in college..now back in Coppell again.)
48. I went to private school for 4 years. I had to wear a uniform. (Still in contact with some people and teachers from that-- so cool.)
49. Ok… it’s getting harder to think of things. Hmm. I’ve been best friends with Briana since 6th grade. She moved here in the middle of the year and I was nice to her since she was the new girl…and the rest is history. Six years later and we are pretty much inseparateable. (We have now been best friends for 11 years. Crazy.)
50. I have the most amazing friends in the world. I’m so grateful for everyone in my life. (Love the people in my life-- and since I wrote this, I have met more amazing people that I could not imagine my life without. Funny how that works.)51. I’m in love with a wonderful boy. Guess who?? (Alex and I had been together for 11 months when I wrote this. We have now been together for 6.5 years, and I am more in love with him than ever. He is my soulmate and the love of my life.)

2005...


2010...

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Tau Beta Sigma-- On to the Next Generation

"From near or far, who really cares?
This bond of love, we'll always share.
So take my hand, and come with me,
sisters we will always be.
We're all different, yet we're all the same."


On Friday evening I battled over an hour of traffic after work to make it to Fort Worth for Tau Beta Sigma First Degree, the first ritual of the year that represents the journey a pledge class will take. It also serves as a reminder for the active members of what the sorority stands for and how they should live everyday. I missed the actual ritual and the big sister reveal, but arrived in time to see my family line and also the reveal of the big brothers.

The whole drive to Fort Worth, I was thinking about how weird it was that I was no longer a Beta, but instead driving from my grown-up job to visit many sweet girls I have grown so close to over the years, and also meet a group of 18 girls that have no idea who I am. After something is such a major part of your life for four years, it's strange not to be deeply involved in it anymore. This year I've been able to attend a few things and stay in close contact with many of the girls, but I know this will lead to a steady decline as I get older, busier with other things, and possibly even move away from DFW. Soon I will be like many of the Tau Beta Sigma alumni that don't know anyone in the chapter anymore, anything going on with the TCU band, or if their TBS family is still around. It's strange to think about, but I know it's the natural progression. And it still completely blows my mind how quickly four years in college and this sorority went by.

Even when I was an active member, it was always so interesting to me to think about and hear about the experiences of the Betas that came before us. Our chapter, Beta Delta, has been around for 54 years now, and there is so much sisterhood and history involved! It's always so neat to meet alumni and hear about what Tau Beta Sigma was like many years ago. I hope that in 20 years I can come to a meeting or write the chapter a letter and tell them my experiences in this wonderful organization.

I think I told this to the new Tau pledge class every year, and I definitely wrote it in the notes to the new members of my Pink! family line this year, but joining Tau Beta Sigma will be one of the best decisions they make while at TCU. It certainly was for me. Yes, it is a big time committment, and yes, there is drama involved, but I've discovered that there is always drama involved with anything in life...that's just how people are! The truth is, the amount of sisterhood, love, and memories I gained more than cancel out any negaitivty or drama that I experienced. I met my best friends and roommates in that organization, and came to love a group of talented, beautiful, fun girls that I will not soon forget. Not everyone sticks it out, whether they leave by their own choice or circumstances that take them away, but I wouldn't trade my experience for anything.

I love hearing about what Beta Delta has accomplished this year. Such a great group is already striving for new goals and doing more and more, and I know this organization will continue to flourish and promote music and servive. I am excited to hear about what's in store for this next generation of Betas.

I wish the 2011 Lucky Charms class a semester filled with personal discovery, a bond that cannot be broken, and memories they will cherish for years to come.


My Little posted something similar, but here are my own memories of TBS First Degrees for the past few years:

January 2007-- My first First Degree as a freshman at TCU. This is the Pink! family...so weird to think that I was the only person in this group still around during my senior year!

January 2008-- Me waiting to show my Little, Ashley,that I was her big sister! I was so excited and nervous, just praying that i was who she wanted as her big sister.

January 2008-- Giving Ash the biggest hug. I had prayed that I would bond with a girl in colorguard who could become my Little, and she was the perfect answer to my prayers. I love her as a true little sister, and she has become one of my best friends over the years.

January 2009-- Ashley waiting to show Kayla that she was her big sister! My turn to be a grandbig, or "grandma" and "granddaughter" as we soon came to call ourselves...before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. : )

Janury 2009- Me, Ashley, and Kayla

January 2010- Ashley waiting on her 2nd little, Audrey, and Kayla waiting for her own little, Callie

January 2010-- Look how much bigger we are getting! Me, Little, Grandlittle, Granddaughter, and Great-Grandlittle

January 2010- My family with the plates I made them! (The most crafty I've ever been in my life)

January 2011-- Callie and Audrey, waiting to hug their littles Stefanie and Meridith!

January 2011-- My Pink! family line: Me, Ashley, Kayla, Audrey, Callie, Meridith, and Stefanie! I feel so old.

January 2011-- Ashley and I, all grown-up.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

20 Life Tips for A New Year

These are wonderful. I'm thinking about posting them on my mirror where I will see them every morning.


1. Stay positive. You can listen to cynics and negative people or you can have faith and an optimistic attitude and that all things are possible.
2. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement: My purpose today is ____________.
3. Take a morning walk – it will create a mind ready for success.
4. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think optimistically about where you are going.
5. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
6. Remember that adversity is not a dead-end but a detour to a better outcome.
7. Focus on learning, loving, growing and serving.
8. Expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.
9. Don’t waste precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
10. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.
11. Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.
12. Remember there is no substitute for hard work.
13. Focus – each day when you wake up in the morning ask: What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me be successful? Focus on these actions for the day.
14. Implement a no complaining rule. Complaining is like vomiting. Afterwards you feel better but everyone around you feels sick.
15. Read more books than you did in 2010.
16. Get more sleep. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.
17. Focus on “get to” versus “have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift, not an obligation.
18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statement. I am thankful for __________.
19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.
20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

Monday, January 17, 2011

How To Write A Paper In College

A friend posted this, and I decided it was too funny and true! Add in some Red Bull, chips & queso, maybe painting my nails, being ridiculous with the roomies, and this will perfectly describe many late nights in college where papers were due! (or projects, or tests to study for, etc.)


1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well lit place in front of your computer.


2. Log onto MSN and Skype (be sure to go on away!). Check your email.


3. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.


4. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some chocolate to help you concentrate.


5. Check your facebook.


6. Call up a friend and ask if he/she wants to go to grab a coffee. Just to get settled down and ready to work.


7. When you get back to your room, sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a clean, well lit place.


8. Read over the assignment again to make absolutely certain you understand it.


9. Check your facebook.


10. You know, you haven't written to that kid you met at camp since fourth grade. You'd better write that letter now and get it out of the way so you can concentrate.


11. Look at your teeth in the bathroom mirror.


12. Grab some songs off of iTunes.


13. Check your facebook again. ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR YET?!


14. Facebook chat with one of your friends about the future. (ie summer plans).


15. Check your email.


16. Listen to your new songs and download some more.


17. Phone your friend on the other floor and ask if she's started writing yet. Exchange derogatory remarks about your prof, the course, the college, the world at large.


18. Walk to the store and buy a pack of gum. You've probably run out.


19. While you've got the gum you may as well buy a magazine and read it.


20. Check your facebook.


21. Check the newspaper listings to make sure you aren't missing something truly worthwhile on TV.


22. Play some solitare.


23. Check out bored.com.


24. Wash your hands.


25. Call up a friend to see how much they have done, probably haven't started either.


26. Look through your housemate's book of pictures from home. Ask who everyone is.


27. Sit down and do some serious thinking about your plans for the future.


28. Check to see if bored.com has been updated yet.


29. Check your facebook and listen to your new songs.


30. You should be rebooting by now, assuming that windows is crashing on schedule.


31. Read over the assignment one more time, just for heck of it.


32. Scoot your chair across the room to the window and watch the sunrise.


33. Lie face down on the floor and moan.


34. Punch the wall and break something.


35. Check your facebook.


36. Mumble obscenities.


37. 5am - start hacking on the paper without stopping. 6am -paper is finished.


38. Complain to everyone that you didn't get any sleep because you had to write that stupid paper.


39. Go to class, hand in paper, and leave right away so you can take a nap.


Procrastination at its finest.


I miss college.

Friday, January 14, 2011

What Is A Grandparent?

Too cute not to share!

Taken from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds

Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own. They like other people's.

A grandfather is a man, & a grandmother is a lady!

Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.

When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.

They show us and talk to us about the colors of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on 'cracks.'

They don't say, 'Hurry up.'

Usually grandmothers are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.

They wear glasses and funny underwear.

They can take their teeth and gums out.

Grandparents don't have to be smart.

They have to answer questions like 'Why isn't God married?' and 'How come dogs chase cats?'

When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.

Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the only grownups who like to spend time with us...

They know we should have snack time before bed time, and they say prayers with us and kiss us even when we've acted bad.


A 6-YEAR-OLD WAS ASKED WHERE HIS GRANDMA LIVED. ''OH,'' HE SAID, ''SHE LIVES AT THE AIRPORT, AND WHEN WE WANT HER, WE JUST GO GET HER. THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE HAVING HER VISIT, WE TAKE HER BACK TO THE AIRPORT.''

GRANDPA IS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH! HE TEACHES ME GOOD THINGS, BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM ENOUGH TO GET AS SMART AS HIM!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

2011

2011 has already started off nicely. Back to work, spent lots of time with family, a few more days with Alex before he headed back to California yesterday, and time with friends.

The highlight of 2011 so far has definitely been....TCU WINNING THE ROSE BOWL!!!
I sure picked a wonderful time to attend that little private school from Fort Worth. I have loved watching how far our football program has come during my four years as a student there and throughout my first year as an alum! Never been more proud to be a Horned Frog!!

I wasn't sure what to make my resolutions this year. In the past, a lot of them have revolved around school, but I can no longer say "Make straight A's." or "Study every night." etc. etc.

However, here are my resolutions/goals for 2011. Let's hope I can stick to them, but keep in mind that life happens and you always have to adjust for everything that's unexpected!

1. Go to the gym 5 days a week and do at least 30 minutes of exercise. (Ideally, 30 minutes cardio plus some abs.)
2. Get more sleep.
3. Pay off 1/3 of my total college loans (with the goal being to have the majority of them paid off by my 25th birthday.)
4. Open a savings account and put money in it every month, and not touch it.
5. Keep my office and emails organized. Don't let being busy at work make me stressed.
6. Keep my room clean and organized.
7. Make time for friends and go out and have fun. I'm only young once.
8. Continue to grow in my faith, whether this means finding a church I'm happy with or devoting more time to prayer and Bible study.
9. Don't worry so much. God is in charge.
10. Be true to myself and don't be influenced negatively by others. If I listen to my own heart, it will never lead me astray. : )

Wishing you all a 2011 filled with good health, happiness, blessings and love!