Long Distance Love

By now you are all fully aware that my boyfriend, A, and I are in a long distance relationship. And it is not an easy thing. Now that I am back in Dallas and won't be seeing A until after Christmas... Today I thought I would talk a little bit about a few of the basic things that we do to make it just a little bit easier:

1. FaceTime: Thank goodness for FaceTime y'all! It makes a world of difference to be able to come home from a long day of work and see A's face while I am talking to him. Long distance love relies heavily on our ability to communicate with one another; and talking on the phone is great but when you can see the person's face it is much easier to interpret and understand what they are telling you. Many a miscommunication is avoided with the help of FaceTime.

2. Snapchat: This goes along the same lines of everything said above, but I love to send and receive little snapshots throughout the day.

3. Watching Movies/TV Shows Together: Again- thank you to FaceTime for allowing us to do this but... just because we live 1500 miles apart, doesn't mean we can't have shared experiences. We have a number of TV shows that we both watch and we will often make an effort to watch them together. These mini-date nights allow us a break from normal conversation and let us veg out while watching the same show/movie. Only bummer about this--- cuddling not included =(

4. VISIT: We see each other as much as possible, of course. For us, it has been averaging out to about once a month. We are diligent about spacing out our visits to make the most of both our time and money. But we can talk more about these visits in another post. And best of all, I get to see him for Thanksgiving in just two short days!

Long distance love takes patience (something I do not have much of) and trust. It is a challenge every day, but when you've got the right person on the other end of the phone each day, it is a challenge that is MORE THAN worth it.

Intermediate Gratification

A and I were talking the other day- trying to figure out our visiting-each other-schedule for the next few months... and I said it is depressing to look at a calendar and see how little I am able to see him in a given year. His comment was, "well I am a big fan of delayed gratification." I immediately responded, "I like instant gratification."

His response... "I guess we will just have to find some intermediate gratification."

First of all, that's not a thing. But it definitely made me laugh. So I guess that has now become a thing- at least it will be for our current situation.

We are constantly having to find ways to balance his patience with my impatience, his desire to work with my desire to play. He pulls me back from making impulsive decisions and I push him to go with the flow a bit more.

Rather than creating tension, our differences in opinion allow us to both become more balanced individuals. Of course getting to that balancing point requires listening and respect, the ability to abandon judgement and embrace understanding, and a very healthy dose of open communication- all skills we continue to strengthen daily.

Through all that, somewhere in the middle we find the right decisions for both of us.

The intermediate gratification.

Change Of Plans

Soooo.... remember on Friday when I said that I would be seeing my boyfriend on Wednesday... Welllllllllll I got a little impatient.

After looking at my work calendar and realizing I didn't have a lot going on (because many of my coworkers are out this week) I decided to buy myself a one way ticket to WV.

I also decided to scare some friends and family by telling them only this part of the story. ***cue evil laugh***

No... I haven't up and moved to West Virginia... yet... ;)

The new plan is to work from here (thank you flexible work environment!) until Wednesday when we will head back to Missouri for Thanksgiving with his fam; at that point we will be back on the original plan and I'll fly home to Dallas on Sunday.

Patience is not, and has never been, one of my strengths. I lost the battle this time....

And I couldn't be happier about it =)

May 15th, 1851

Happy Founder's Day, Alpha Delta Pi!

Via

On May 15, 1851 the Alpha Delta Pi sisterhood was founded.

I am so incredibly grateful to those founding women. 

Without them I would never have become the women that I am today.

One of my all time favorite "diamond" pictures (circa spring 2009)

ADPi Seniors c/o 2011

Because of Alpha Delta Pi, I have an amazing group life long friends.

I had the opportunity to meet and connect with women across the country.

I learned what it means to be a sister, a leader, and a difference maker.

My time as president of my chapter at UCLA will forever be one of my most important learning experiences.

Via

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day lovelies!

I apologize for my absence yesterday.

I promise I will be back at it tomorrow with my usual music choice of the week, and afterwards with a recap of my fab weekend in Vegas!

Until then, I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's day. Celebrate all the love in your life, whether that be from your man, your parents, your siblings, or your best friends.

In case you are interested THESE were my thoughts last year on Valentine's day.

Sending you all lots of love today and everyday!

XOXO

I Would Be Lost Without My Friends!

Happy Friday lovelies! 


Before I jump in to things I just want to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop by my blog, and especially to those who comment/follow etc. It means so much to me that anyone takes the time to read my silly little thoughts =)


And to those who wondered- the GRE went sooooo well! I was so pleased with my results. I actually did better than I expected to do! I am now one step closer to getting my grad apps in. This time next month, everything will be out of my hands and in the hands of the admissions folks!

I had so much fun linking up with Neely, Amber, and Casey's Valentine's Day Challenge on Tuesday and today's topic fit in perfectly with my planned post anyway that I decided to do it again! Today's topic is Love My Girlfriends.

Before you read this post put on the Britney, Spice Girls, Katy Perry, Ashlee Simpson... cheesy girly music that you can rock with your girls while acting like total dorks. That should set the tone. Got it? K. Moving forward.

Here is my disclaimer: I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading about wonderful boyfriends, dedicated husbands, and (especially) rambunctious babies and toddlers, however... 

My google reader is bombarded daily with posts from awesome girls out there gushing about the equally awesome men in their lives, and it can get a little depressing for those of us who are unattached.

But when that depression sets in I remember that I have the most AMAZING friends a girl could ask for! My girlfriends are my constant source of support, encouragement, laughter, real-ness, inspiration, CRAZY, and love.

I wanted to show you guys some older pics of us being ridiculous. All of these pics (except the two big ones) are from our freshman year. 

In college I joined a sorority and I found a huge group of sisters who have always got my back. I made some of my best friends, and found girls who I know will be in my wedding one day. My life would not be the same without these girls.

Nor would it be complete without my best friend. I've known this girl since third grade! We have been through so much together, and even though we went to college in different states, we are closer now than we've ever been!

Long story short I am incredibly blessed, and I love my friends more than anything (even though we don't get to see each other as much as we would like to now that most of us have graduated.

I also had WAY too much fun looking through all my old photos to find these gems.

Welp, I am off to LA for the weekend to visit some of these wonderful friends of mine! Happy weekend everyone!

Oh and if you're interested in my friends who also blog...

Bethany

Jo

Katie

My First Blog "Award"!

My friend Alyssa, over at Simply Alyssa (I'm sure you all know her by now, becuase I have linked to her blog on many different occasions) gave me the Liebster Blog Award the other day! I'm so excited! My first blog award! 'I would like to thank...' just kidding

I tried really hard to figure out where this award actually originated, but no such luck. In any case, Liebster in German means dearest, beloved, or favorite, and it is for bloggers with under 200 followers.

Anyway, here is how this award works:

{1} Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them!

{2} Award the award to 5 of your favorite bloggers with less than 200 followers & link them!

{3}Post the award on your blog!

{4}Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet--other bloggers of course!

{5} And best of all--have fun & spread the karma!

I know that I will never blog for money, so I am all about introducing my little group of readers to anyone who's blog I enjoy (no need to save promotion for sponsors only on my blog!). This award is ANOTHER chance for me to do just that; so I will be awarding the Liebster Blog Award too...

Bethany @ Life So Sweet

Jo @ Hodge[s]podges

Ashley @ sunshine.life.love

Ashley @ Sweet Tea In Siciliy

Chelsae @ as chelsea sees it...

Hopefully none of these girls have been given the award already... but if you have, oh well, it's just a little more love, right?!

Happy Friday!

What I'm Loving (This Week)

Lots of people do what I'm loving Wednesday's but I want to do it on Friday as a nice wrap up to the work week! Here are some things I'm loving this week!

1. New blog friends and people to follow! After participating in my first link up on Tuesday I was so pleased with all the people I found, followed, tweeted, and left comments for... I have so much to catch up on (seriously my Google Reader is overwhelmed) but I can't wait to read and discover more.

2. Spinning classes- I recently decided that I need to get my butt back to the gym. For me spinning classes are the best way to get a crazy awesome workout and enjoy myself at the gym. I'm not a runner- wish I was but I just don't have the natural ability or will power to make myself build it- so indoor cycling is a GREAT cardio alternative.

3. Grad School Info Sessions- A few of my friends know of my struggles between grad school and working and my inability to force myself to study for the GRE but this week I attended a webinar for the grad program I am most excited about and it has reinvigorated my desire to apply. This means I will once again be devoting myself to those GRE books in hopes to get my completed apps in by February!

4. Mid week nail polish change! This is Revlon's Copper Penny. Its a great holiday gold/copper and one of my current favorites.

5. Only FOUR more work days until Christmas and A WHOLE WEEK OFF! Which means my countdown to New Year's in San Fran with my favorites will also begin soon =)

These girls

This city

+ 

=

Crazy Fun New Years Eve

6. My new video editing software- Those that know me well know that I wish I were a professional vlogger. Well I recently acquired Sony's Vegas video editing software and I had a great time playing with it and making this little compilation video from the footage my parents filmed at my graduation last fall. The vid is a little long, so check it out if you want to- I'm more putting it up for my fam to see =)

That's all! What are you loving this week?

Dance Til Your Feet Ache and Your Eyes Want To Close

UCLA's Dance Marathon was this weekend. This was my second year participating in this awesome event that raises money and awareness for Pediatric Aids. On Saturday morning I entered Ackerman Grand Ballroom with the intention to dance and stay on my feet for a full 26 hours. 700+ dancers all stood up together at 11am, and we did not sit down again until 1pm on Sunday. The event was even more amazing than the first time I did it. Standing on your feet and staying awake for that long is incredibly difficult, painful, tiring, and INSPIRING. I had a wonderful time with all of my friends. And when I got home I went to sleep for 16 hours =)

As a whole, all those participating in Dance Marathon raised $410,530.68. Team Alpha Delta Pi, with our 50+ registered dancers raised $13,079.21! We were the number two fund raising team of the entire event! We more than doubled what we raised last year as a team, which is absolutely amazing!

Sitting down before dancing for 26 hours

Two of the AMAZING kids who spoke of behalf of one of the organizations DM benefits. Both of the boys have HIV and they spoke so beautifully about their lives and how things like DM make it better. It was fun to see them having such a great time.

The senior dancers and our moralers who came and hung out with us from 12am-3am

The three seniors right before POWER HOUR (the final hour)

$410,530.68. The total amount raised this year by UCLA Dance Marathon-ers. The most in UCLA's 10 years of putting on Dance Marathon!

Valentine's Day in Fourth Grade

Remember when you were in elementary school and everyone had to give valentines to the entire class? I would sit there the night before (I was a procrastinator even in fourth grade) with my little class roster and store-bought pack of-whatever TV show I loved at the time- Valentine's Day cards picking out which were the best-giving those to my friends- and which ones were lame-giving those to the kids I didn't like. I always wondered what all the little boys in my class thought of having to do that... Even for me it felt like a silly task (although I always liked decorating the paper bag that my valentines went in).

Meh... For today I will simply make an effort to celebrate those around me whom I adore and not worry about everything else. Happy Valentine's Day!