Life Update

Sometimes you just have to remind yourself of what you are grateful for. I can think of about a dozen reasons (and counting) and for that I am truly grateful. I know that I am blessed, but it's super easy to forget and start taking things for granted. Lately I have been really unmotivated; to the point of leaving my laundry on the floor for weeks, letting the dishes pile up and not making really important (and quick) phone calls. I don't really know why either, but when I'm at home all I want to do is lounge around with my pups! And as much as I love doing that, I tend to really upset myself when I let it happen because I know how much time I am, for lack of a better word, wasting. This is especially true this term as I only have school on Tuesday and Thursdays and am unemployed. However, the most stressful part is how hard I am on myself. This then throws me into this vicious cycle of guilt whereby I don't want to study or clean even more. It's not good...so sometimes, you just have to remind yourself of what you're grateful for. Check out a my short list below and make your own; it can be super helpful when you find yourself in a funk.

1) SEA Semester
From September 3rd to November 18th I will (hopefully, I'm still applying!) be participating in the SEA Semester program. For the first six weeks of the program I will be 'stationed' in Woods Hole, MA where I will learn how to properly run a boat, study oceanic maps and currents and prepare my research topic to study while at sea. For the second six weeks of the program I will be aboard the boat below, carrying out my research project to completion. By the end of this program I will have gained valuable knowledge and skills which will prepare me for my future career. I will also have gained a thesis topic and either partial or full thesis paper from this program as well as experiential learning which will go towards my major and minor degree requirements. Although I will be gone from my family for three months, this experience could not have come at a better time and it is truly an experience of a lifetime. I will miss Gonzalo and the pups like crazy, but I feel this is something I must do; I just know that if this opportunity passed me by I would regret it for the rest of my life. I am extremely grateful to have this incredible opportunity and I cannot wait.

A look through one of the boats' many portholes.

The ship I will be spending 6 weeks on!

Check out their website!

2) Maybelline 24 Hour Superstay Lipstick
I have never, let's say, endorsed any sort of makeup brand or product; but let me tell you, this stuff is AMAZING!! I picked some up yesterday and tried it on the drive home, just for fun. This lipstick stayed on through eating, drinking, kissing and playing with the dogs, which by playing I mean biting them. At the end of the day I had to wash this stuff off! Sure it could have been reapplied to look more fresh, but I was at home so I didn't really care...All in all if you wear lipstick, you should buy this stuff. No longer am I self conscious about my lipstick being on my teeth, face or rubbing off and just looking weird. Having one less thing to worry about is truly miraculous.

3) Pandora Radio
So many people use Pandora and love it for so many reasons. I love it because it allows me to listen to Christmas music ALL YEAR LONG. I don't know what it is about Christmas music, but it always puts me in a good mood and relaxes me. I listen to 'Christmas Piano Dreams' if you want to check it out; no singing, just classic Christmas songs played on a piano by various artists. Visit Pandora Radio by clicking here.

4) Gonzalo and Pups
It's pretty evident why I'm grateful for my fiance and two dogs; they make me blissfully happy. If you didn't know, I'm getting married in May which is another reason to be grateful all in itself, but I'll lump them together for now. I couldn't ask for a better husband. He's caring, attentive, hilarious and passionate & dedicated about his beliefs. But most of all, he loves me and the pups more than anything and that's all I need to know to marry him.

When choosing these photos I realized I don't have that many of Gonzalo. Looks like I'll be taking some in the future!! He hates having his picture taken....

The take away message from this blog post, if it wasn't already obvious, is to be grateful everyday for the things in life you may normally take for granted. Learn to love life and you end up living.