I be graduated.

The day and what it means still seems a bit surreal. Today I graduated with my BS from Azusa Pacific University following a 12+ year journey that has included 9 schools and, well, let's just say a good chunk of student loans. But it's done. I did it.

The ceremony was short and sweet.

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And my party--a fabulous soiree hosted by Ginger & Denise--so much fun! I was celebrated well today. Very, very well.

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Thank you to everyone that came and for all of your love and support! (All are not pictured here.)

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And to all of those that wish they'd could have been there, I know you were in spirit.

Happy Graduation to me??

Aren't these just about the most adorable shoes you've ever seen? Or at least in the top-five?
I love the black and the navy.

I. Must. Have. These.
(Providing they fit and won't leave me crippled.)
They would go perfectly with my outfit tomorrow. Too bad they are only available online.

The Red Pen

I just submitted my last 2 grad school applications to Denver & Portland. Woohoo! This is therefore the appropriate time to express my gratitude to my dear friend Denise.

Ode to my Editor

Essays to answer,
No clue what to write.
So crap I threw together,
In the space of one night.

Your kind honesty was tough to hear,
But I needed it so I could write something clear.
The hours you spent, I'll never know,
But your devotion to me, as pure as the snow.

So thanks, my friend, for your honest critique.
Without you, I'd have been up a creek.

Singleness & Savings (Oh, and sleep.)

I came across a blog that regales the reader with tales of two "Single Suzies" in a city that does not look favorably upon the single life. Living in LA I obviously cannot claim the same stigma; after all, LA is the city (topped only by NYC, perhaps) of perpetual singleness and re-singleness. Unless you are part of a spiritual community that encourages marriage over living together, in Los Angeles there are plenty of singletons to keep you company and/or approve of your desire to eschew holy matrimony (not that I am doing the latter, on the contrary).

Anyway, back to the purpose of this post.

Being single has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm sure it has something to do with the holidays. I've always enjoyed having a boyfriend during the holidays--shopping together, spending way too much money on presents for each other, etc. It's fun and cozy.

(Which brings me to a side note: since I moved in with Ging just over a month ago, I've saved $1000! This was helped, I'm sure, by my not having a BF to buy expensive gifts for, as well as the sale of my old laptop and washer/dryer. This was not helped, however, by my holiday job at WS, where I was recently paid a whopping $77 for 2-weeks worth of work. But I digress.)

Singleness. As Abby would attest and Martha would say, "It's a good thing." I get uninterrupted sleep, bedtime when I choose, all the covers to myself, and any side of the bed I want. (Can you tell I enjoy the nighttime ritual of sleeping?) It's not actually marriage I fear will ruin this joy for me as much as the rug rats that can result from the marriage bed. I feel for my mom-friends/sisters when I hear that 4-5 uninterrupted hours is a good thing. (Seriously?! I suppose it's all relative.)

So back to single stuff. Um, I lost my train of thought, so let's recap.

Single Suzies: so funny, so true. Saving money: helped by being single. Sleep: Yeah!

The End.

Yesterday I...

• Found a graduation outfit including shoes, earrings & dress for just $33
• Had 2 sets of visitors at WS-work: Lalen and Denise & Matt
  
• Had a Wetzel Pretzel for dinner (Oh, the joys of working at the mall!)
• Got my second graduation present from my Aunt L (a roundtrip ticket to visit my beloved aunt & family)
  
• Picked up my final "Degree Posted" transcripts from APU stating I graduated Cum Laude
  
• Submitted my first 2 grad school applications (to Chicago & Boston)
• Felt flutters of excitement and anticipation in my stomach
  
• Slept the sleep of babes (with the help of some Nyquil)
  

I HEART Maps

If I move to either Boston or Chicago, someone should buy me the appropriate map as a going away present. That way I can learn my way around.



As seen on Oh Happy Day

Laser Tag

Although presents wrapped in pretty paper are nice, this year I decided to give Molly & Lauren the gift of time together with me playing Laser Tag.

Ok, it wasn't really laser tag but Molly was sure that the surprise activity I had planned was laser tag since my only instructions were to wear semi-comfortable shoes and we'd be indoors for three hours. (Really, M?! Laser Tag? Hahaha! That made me laugh.)

Instead, we headed to a trendy loft in Downtown LA to take a cooking class on desserts through Hip Cooks.

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We learned how to make Apple Tart Tartin and Lemon Tarletts

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And Chocolate Molten Cakes (of which I have no pictures) and Croquembouche (aka. "Italian Wedding Cake").

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A fun time was had by all, despite the incident involving flour, which shall remain untold...With Molly moving in just a couple of weeks (something I'm in denial about), and me headed out next year, it was probably one of the last activities the three of us would have together for quite some time. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

A Christmas (Tree) Story

Once upon a time, on a Thursday a long, long time ago (last week), three determined souls (Kelly, Ginger & Chris) embarked upon an adventure to the land of the Christmas trees (Home Depot).
No ordinary Christmas tree would do for these three, and so they hunted and they hunted, searching for the perfect one.
When they were nearly ready to give in, they found it. It was their destiny.Carrying it gently home in their arms (in the back of Chris's Dodge Ram truck),

they placed it in it's stand of honor and gazed upon its beauty.

And gazed and gazed for days and days (4 days) until they knew it was time to adorn the tree as was its due.

Lovingly they placed each decorative ornament and strand of light,

For a tree as fine as this must be shown to its best advantage (and turned so as to hide the bald and flat spots).

Finally! The tree was ready.

And so they gazed further upon its beauty.

When out on the roof (living room) there arose such a clatter,

Ginger sprang from her bed (hollared from her bed) to see (wondered) what was the matter.

It seemed a tree so fine, so lovingly adorned, could not bear the weight of its beauty.

And so it lay on the ground.

Ginger and Kelly knew not what to do to encourage the tree to properly show itself in all its glory.

And so the tree lay on the ground for another day.

And another...And another.
And then one day, inspired, Ginger spoke the words that coaxed the special tree back to life (figured out how to place it straight (straighter) in its stand).

And so it stands today. Proud. Adorned. Adored by all who gaze upon its beauty (facing the window so it doesn't topple over. Again.).

The End

A game of Christmas Tag

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I love choosing a wrapping theme.
2. Real tree or artificial? Real! I love going to the lot to pick one out.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually within a few days after Thanksgiving. I want the joy to be around all season.
4. When do you take the tree down? The first week of January.
5. Which do you prefer: Hot chocolate or Apple Cider? Hot Chocolate. And Cider. :-)
6. Favorite gift received as a child? EZ-Bake Oven. I was 14 (but had been wishing for it since I was 8 or so).
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but I've been looking for a couple of years for one I love.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad. No wait, my mom.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Molly (she can give you a list)
10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? A hideous black leather jacket from an old boyfriend that looked like this only without the belt and worse. He'd spent several hundred dollars on it so of course I fibbed and said it was great (and then only wore it once or twice, and only around him).
11. Mail or email Christmas card? Mail. I love to receive Christmas cards (especially ones with pictures) so I try to make the same effort.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas or Christmas Vacation
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I am inspired (this year it was Sept/Oct with only a few gifts left for Dec).
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember...
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham & cheesy potatoes together in one bite.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear (though I love the amber colored lights my parents had for a few years)
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I enjoy "traveling" someplace for Christmas; for some reason it makes the holiday seem more festive.
19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Yep, though Dasher is my favorite. I like his speedy-skills.
20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star? A star. I haven't found an angel I like; they are often too frilly for my taste.

Tag, you're it!

The gift that keeps on giving. Truly.

Have you heard of Kiva?

This organization was created to allow socially-minded individuals to contribute directly to the micro-finance process that is revolutionizing the lives of thousands of people across the globe in poor and impoverished countries. By loaning even $25, you can help an entrepreneur in Africa or Thailand start a business, which will support not only him/herself, but their family and community. At the end of the loan period you have the option of taking your money back or reinvesting it in someone else.

This may be something you choose to contribute to personally, or you may "give" on behalf of someone on your Christmas list. Either way, this is something that makes a powerful impact in the lives of so many.