Uh oh...

Exams are finally over and all the stresses of this past semester are behind me! Let's just take a minute to soak that in... 1... 2... 3... and that's about how long it took to get re-stressed.

After finishing my last exam yesterday morning, I packed up and made the long ride home. Titusville looks the same. Shocker.

Anyway, when I finally made it home last night and went to go put on my pajamas, I realized I had a problem on my hands. I searched around through my many bags praying that I was wrong in assuming something horrible, but unfortunately, I was right.

I forgot to bring home underwear.

That's right. Underwear. One article of clothing I just can't do without. So I go through my room hoping I left some at home, only to find one pair. Score.

So today I spent the majority of the day shopping. Darn. ;-) And got tons of underwear. Whew. (Thank goodness VS and AE were having sales... and who doesn't love holiday underoos!?) And a few other things... again, shocker.

Love, hugs, making a list and checking it twice...

From carefree to stressed in zero point 60 seconds...

This past weekend was amazing. I'm usually the locks-herself-in-her-room-and-studies-her-butt-off type, but this time before finals, one of my close friends from home came up to visit. Lauren is thinking about coming to FSU next fall so she wanted to have a look around wonderful Tallasnazzy and campus. Needless to say, she loved it.

We had a fantastic time driving around, shopping, walking around campus, meeting new people, staying up late and waking up way too early, and spending quality time together and with Elizabeth at breakfast and the Winter Festival downtown (which was absolutely beautiful).

But all good things must come to an end, and so Lauren left Sunday around noon. In the 60 seconds it took me to walk from her car where we hugged bye to my building, I was already in stress mode for finals.

So now here I am in front of the computer, sweats on, hair still wet from the shower, with textbooks and notes strewn all around in front of me.

It's going to be a long day. Thank God for coffee.

Love, hugs, and brainpower...

These are a few of my favorite things...

It's been a crazy/fun weekend so far and I'm feeling a little guilty for not posting as often as I should. But with a lack of ideas, unless you want to hear about "Justin" the guy with the dog that Lauren and I had a deep discussion with on Landis Green this morning, I've decided to fill ya'll in on a few of my favorite things.

My wonderful, if not quirky, southern family.
My crazy, supportive, loyal, energetic, loving, precious friends.
Books. Look bookworm up in the dictionary, there's my picture.
Writing. Love it.
Sweet tea. And I mean SWEET.
Coffee. No need to elaborate.
The mountains. Carolina's preferably.
Music. The kind that makes you so happy you can't help dancing.
Dancing around in my underwear. Don't judge.
BBQ. The ultimate comfort food.
Jim & Milt's.
Reading outside.
Cold weather. Hot chocolate, bundling up, snuggling in front of a fire.
Snow.
Sunshine.
Christmas. Favorite holiday.
Homemade presents.
A great pair of jeans.
Shopping. It's an addiction.
Getting dressed up.
Lounging in pajamas.
The smell of apple cinnamon in the winter and suntan lotion in the summer.
My crazy eyes.
Plaid flannel shirts/jackets.
Animals. LOVE them.
Sports. Soccer. Volleyball. Track. Football. Baseball. Waterskiing.
Jewelry. What girl doesn't like shiny stuff?
Broadcasting.
And last but not least...
Love. Unconditional, overwhelming, intoxicating love.

Love, hugs, and the 411...

My name is Ally and I have an addiction...

They say the first step toward recovery is admitting that you have a problem, or addiction.

Well I admit it, ok!?

I've come to the conclusion that I'm prone to addiction. Coffee, good jeans, books, Gilmore Girls, and shopping (the big problem). I went out today to run a couple errands and look for something gold to wear for Seminole Showcase. I didn't find anything gold, but I did end up with a pair of boots, a plaid button down shirt, a navy blue sweater to go over the shirt, a boy's plaid flannel shirt (to wear as a jacket - trust me, it's cute), a white snazzy shirt to wear for S.S., 3 books (2 are presents for friends!), $4 (all I had left) to the hungry guy on the corner, and an assortment of other things that I may or may not have needed.

I actually had to have
Plan Acourtingly come out to the car and help me carry everything into our building!

It's a problem.

Oh well... everyone has their guilty pleasures. ;-)

Love, hugs, and broke...

Head first...

The past few days have been a rollercoaster, to say the least... and I'm really not a fan of rollercoaster rides.

There have been amazing highs (the excitement of watching everything come together for me with broadcasting stuff, school winding down, seeing my family soon, and the holiday season in general), and devastating lows (a phone call from the bestie's boyfriend saying that Penelope had a birth defect and they had to make a heart-breaking decision to keep her from pain, the pain I felt and still feel for them, and then anger at the news I got from her today as she informed me that the breeder is a scam artist and it's not the first time she's hurt someone like this).

So yes, it's been a crazy ride.

But what would life be like if it was all just sunshine and daisies? It would get a little boring don't you think? How would we ever be able to grow, to mature, to learn from things that happen to us, things that are often entirely out of our control?

I think sometimes we just have to have faith. The faith to believe that "this too shall pass" and that this experience will make us that much stronger. And I'm so proud of my amazing best friend to have the strength to do just that. Maybe sometimes we have to just roll with the punches and adjust to what life throws at us. We may as well use the practice, because life won't stop testing us.

I've heard so many times that "life is what you make it" and I absolutely agree. It can be a beautiful thing. So let's choose to walk head first into whatever life has in store for us.

Fearless.

Oh, Edward...

So, like many of you, I'm now in love with a fictional vampire. No big deal. It's no secret that I've had a major love affair with Mr. Darcy from P&P, but I've got to tell ya'll... Edward from the Twilight series has stolen my heart... even if he does want to suck my blood and kill me deep down. He can bite my neck any day.

Well last week I wasn't feeling well and spent 5 straight hours reading Twilight. Nonstop. I went out and bought New Moon right away, but forced myself to not start reading it until I got almost all my school projects done. So yesterday afternoon around 4, I hunkered down and started reading. By 9:45, I was breathless and online looking at Borders.com to see what time they close, contemplating running out to get the third book.

I'm obsessed.

I'm certainly a bookworm. Any of my friends and family will tell you that. I get absorbed in a book and I'm practically immune to anything that's going on around me. These Twilight books are definitely in my top faves and I recommend them to any girl that wants to read a book she won't be able to put down. Literally.

And like the facebook bumper sticker I found says...
My Christmas List:
1. Move to Forks
2. Meet Edward
3. Become a vampire

Haha...

I haven't seen the movie yet because I'm waiting to see it with another Edward-obsessed girlfriend over the Thanksgiving holiday, but I can't wait!

I'm in love. ::sigh::

Happy, happy, happy...

I just found out about an hour ago and I got to my computer as soon as I could to let ya'll know the good news.

I got the anchor position for Seminole Showcase!!!!!!!!

The class was practicing reading some scripts for a filming we're doing later and Triston stood up to announce the main anchors, the entertainment anchor, and the sports anchor. I heard her say Jennifer Milton (another girl in my class that I figured would get it) and people were clapping and next thing I knew Rebecca (my package partner) was turned around smiling at me and clapping.

Huh? I got main anchor?

So it was really exciting. All the hard work, sacrifice, and sleepless nights paid off.

With a little bit of luck, a lot of faith, and overwhelming support from family and friends, anything is possible. Thanks everyone for the well wishes!

love, hugs, and big breaks...