Ay yi yi...

All the optimism from yesterday has gone down the tubes. Everything was fine until about 8:30 last night when I was bombarded with 50 things to do at once, all due very, very soon, and realizing that my classes are screwed up and if I don't take certain ones right now, I won't graduate on time.

AHHHHH!!!!

So after a major meltdown where I bawled on the phone to my mom and made panicked calls to my reporting teacher to no avail, I knew I had to make a decision and I had to make it right then.

I scrambled to find the classes I need and luckily got in. Barely. Then I called my professor one more time and left a very depressed message as well as sent her an equally depressed e-mail.

I had to drop the advanced reporting class. Yeah. The one I was super excited for and would give me all kinds of experience and look great on my resume. Yeah. That one.

The problem is, I can't do it all. And I resolved to make more time for me and stop stressing all the time. I need to take these other classes in order to graduate, whereas I don't need the reporting one. So my choice was made, however heartbreaking it was. The worst part is that I let my teacher (who is also a big role model to me) and the rest of my peers down and I hate to disappoint people.

So I'm trying to cope with all of these changes at once, and most of you know that I don't handle too much change at once very well. Luckily, I have amazing people in my life that are doing everything they can to cheer me up, so thank you.

This too shall pass.

Feeling good about '09

I've never been one to make new year's resolutions, but I'm feeling good about 2009 so I decided to go for it.

I've been praying a lot lately and I think my prayers are finally being answered. So with that in mind, I resolve to live, love, and laugh until I cry.

Live - seize every great opportunity that comes my way and enjoy all the little things that make life so beautiful... and stop worrying about things I can't control.

Love - spend some quality time with the ones I love and be blessed with their love in return. Last semester I spent way too much time and energy on school and I've come to realize that some things are just a lot more important, for what could be more of a blessing than love?

Laugh - take the time to collapse on the kitchen floor with Ky and laugh until tears come streaming down our faces, sit with Elizabeth on the deck at Black Dog or in the cozy comfort of Jim & Milt's laughing about all the crazy things that happen day to day, sharing stories with Courtney and laughing at ridiculous youtube videos until we can't breathe, and laughing in the face of doubt.

This is 2009, baby. Bring it on.

Blessings...

So I know I'm officially the worst blogger ever. I apologize for the lack of posts, but as I'm sure you all know firsthand, it's been a hectic holiday season.

I've gone through a wide range of emotions the past few weeks, with times where I was laughing uncontrollably with friends or times when I would sit in my room and cry for no apparent reason. It was the strangest thing.

I was feeling pretty down the other day when I drove over to Sunrise Bread Co. at 9:30 a.m. to have breakfast with two of my best friends. We got our coffee and pastries and settled in to a table by the window to chat and exchange Christmas presents (on New Years Eve of course :D ).

Kyla and I had already exchanged presents (and let me just say that she is unbelievable in this area. Really.) but we hadn't seen Elizabeth so this was our exchange day.

Now like I said, I was feeling a little low, but it's amazing how much being around wonderful people can bring you up. I was already feeling much better when Elizabeth handed me a little bag with a big smile. I reached in and pulled out a beautiful coffee mug. (How perfect!?) But that's not the best part. The little piece of paper inside was by far the most special.

I won't put it in here word for word, but the words on that small strip of paper made me feel so whole, so loved, that I had to bite my lip to hold back tears. The essence of the gift was that since our friendship (which has grown to something I'm so thankful for) was founded around a good cup of coffee, she wanted me to have a coffee mug to symbolize not only that, but also something else very special. The mug was handmade in downtown Titusville and since I have no idea where life will be taking me in just a little over a year, Elizabeth wanted to me have a piece of home to take with me wherever I go.

Life has a funny way of making you feel small sometimes. Thinking about moving somewhere right out of college at barely 21 years old to a place where I might not know a soul is scary. But when we're feeling scared or alone, God always finds a way to bring us back and show us that we're going to be fine, that great things await us, and beautiful people are here to help us along the way.

"...You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?

The Lord replied, 'The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.' " - Mary Stevenson

So after four hours of wonderful quality time, I left Sunrise feeling much more, sunny. :o)

Love, hugs, and so much more than a coffee mug...

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...