Planner of the Year

When looking for the best "Planners", I will be the first to say that I am not the first person people think of. I can sometimes start planning when it is something I want to do, but it really takes alot out of me to finish planning. But lately, many good things have been happening that I couldn't have planned. And yes, I realize this blog has become a series of elaborate lists.

GOOD things that you can't plan for:

- A long, deep talk. Just when I thought we couldnt get any closer, my friend and I were up talking, sleepover style. I didn't realize how much I missed her - Caitlin, being your roommate I got to talk to you everyday. It's weird to not anymore, but then we get nights like Wednesday :) and distance doesnt matter. 

- A good day with my mom. Today we ate, we shopped and we drove and all but the latter were tension free! Of course, since I drove there was tons of gasping and "LOOK OUT!"s due to break lights in another lane.... BUT it ended up being a really good day. Dare I say moving back has actually made our relationship better. Plus cheesecake factory is so delish. Mom went all out, appetizer, entree, dessert... 

- plans. You can't plan Gods plan. Funny joke God - sending me to UWM, a school I never thought Id want to go and living at HOME a place I'd never want to live and aiming to be a TEACHER, a job I'd never thought Id do. Funny. Of course, all this is up to Him and Im happier because of it. What a joker.... 

- Kids. Alec and Tyler find the weirdest things to be "awesome." Julia and I made crappy brownies and the only way to save them was to eat them frozen. Tyler has been asking me to make them again hahaha we used to call them "fall on the ground and die" brownies, thats how NOT GOOD they were. 

- Sickness. Serious or not, unplanned all the same. 

- Last but not least, People in general. A nice policeman or a crabby clerk- you just never know. I hope to surprise people- in the good way!

My Secret BFF

Sometimes I wonder why I am still here- as in, living in Wisconsin. And then it snows. And I remember. The snow makes everything prettier this time of year and as much as it's frustrating, I secretly love how it slows everything down. It slowed me down today. Driving on the road today it looks like all the cars were carved from the snow. A funny mental image, right? Tyler, the oldest of the White kids, is sick so they asked me to come early. I picked up Jenna from daycare and got here around 12:30. I tell Jenna pretty much everything. The scary part is, she is starting to understand. I love watching her grow- everyday she knows something new, it's so crazy! Soon she won't be able to be my little secret keeper :) When I picked her up I could tell she was tired. When we got in the car I asked her if she wanted to hear a cool song, but she had already fallen asleep... all bundled up in her pink snowsuit. :) Luckily, she is still sleeping giving me a chance to do homework... obviously. Tyler, the "sick" one is playing on the computer and eating poptarts like he's never had them before. Apparently his throat hurts. mm hhmmm...

I am starting to feel the Christmas Spirit! Are you? What is your favorite thing about Christmas time?

I love Christmas time:

- The collective. Everyone has to drive in the snow. Visiting friends' houses and the family decorations, it's nice.

- Shopping. This year especially I've just enjoyed thinking about and shopping for my friends and family. 

- Christmas music and movies. Little Women, Love Actually, Home Alone, 98 degrees Christmas, Sufjan Christmas albums....

- Food. as always... but common, there is no food, treats, cookies like Christmas ones. I like chocolate mint brownies, pretty much any cheesy finger food.  

- Drinks. Im an eggnog girl. Hot chocolate and good coffee too.

- Peace on Earth. or at least trying. I feel like most people open their eyes to the needs of others more during Christmas time. With projects like Angel Tree it gives a chance to give.

- Advent services are the most peaceful and quiet. It makes me focus on praise instead of the usual busy-ness. 

- No Class. :) down to a matter of days... but for now, Homework calls. 

Something Fun

I would my readers to consider this a closing to my last post rather than a new one. A new one would mean I am posting twice in one day. I am not. 

If you know me well, you know that I love to make playlists. My playlists tie in the my mood, the season, the holiday.... and can give you an idea of what I am feeling/thinking or just music I've been into. There will be more playlist posts. 

The first snow playlist:

- My Stupid Mouth: John Mayer (just reminds me of winter car rides and my portable cd player...) 

- Winter: Joshua Radin (you get it)

- Since You've Been Around: Rosie Thomas (pleasant like the first snow)

- Older Chests: Damien Rice (peaceful like a quiet snow)

- Nobody Knows Me at All: the Weepies (bouncy like big flakes)

- Skinny Love: Bon Iver (a warm gray. if that makes sense)

- Shiver: Coldplay (there always is a coldplay song to fit my playlist or mood) 

- Say yes: Elliot Smith (simple.)

- Heartstopper: Emiliana Torrini 

- Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots pt1: The Flaming Lips (weird name but perfect driving in the snow song. What I listened to when I was stuck in traffic for an hour. See post 2)

- Made for Each Other: Jack's Mannequin (just listen to it)

- American Dream - Jenny & Tyler (just because I've been into them)

- I Don't Know - Lisa Hannigan (Thanks Bethany!... for like half these artists actually...)

- Counting to 100 acoustic: Matt Wertz (acoustic)

- White Daisy Passing - Rocky Votolato (gives me the image of the beach in winter... very "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

as you can see, everything has it's place and reason! :)

To Do:

I hate wishing the days away, but when you are a week and half away from scholarly freedom your life suddenly becomes a giant To Do list. 

To Do:

- First, stop wasting time glued to Gilmore Girls. The fact that I bought season 2 at cd max doesnt help. 

- Stop going to CD max

- Chart out next week, what is due when. 

- Make a list of the people/places I need to go for Christmas. I have decided to make presents for my parents, so I need supplies. I also hope to have specific gift ideas instead of aimlessly strolling the mall. 

     -- sub point: get people gifts they will actually like, not just like in theory. this can be tough.... Working on it. 

- Use time wisely

My goals for this weekend are to get a good chunk of work done (including final Research paper, 3 lessons of my online class and study for Sign Final). And get started on parents presents... and find a way they will not stumble upon them accidentally in the basement...

Personal goals

 - Spend down time more on something like reading, or writing than t.v. or computer.... I cant help but think these are stressing me out more.

- Pray. You and You alone. Make me a servant every day.

My older sister missed the "texting"... lifestyle by a year or two. The amount of texting I really do becomes obvious when she is home. Not just me, but my younger siblings easily out text me. Through her eyes I see the hilarity of it all. It allows (or forces...) the texters mind to be in 2,3,4.... conversations, and places, at once. A double edged sword. You are never 100% in the moment, in conversation 1. Quality conversations over quantity. Why be in one when you can be in 4? Why look at the person you are talking to when you can be looking at a new text? Although I recognize this texting mania is only the "tip of the ice burg" (or an equally lame analogy), I believe it is a good place to start in slowing things down. It is agreed that this time of year is exceptionally busy, but I think we are always busy. Too busy. I like having things to do, but I would like to learn to step back and be still. (Be still and know that I am God). Breathe. 

My apologies for an "all business" post. 

Wisconsin thing of the day (expect I haven't been doing this...): The way Alec says "can we just GO already?" as if it was MY idea to play after school an extra 15 minutes in the 20something degree weather.

Confessions

- I realized today that I get really self conscious about the speed of my windshield wipers and that I look to see the wiper speed of other cars and time my accordingly. I'm thinking this self consciousness comes from my own delight in that one car that has it's windshield wipers flapping feverishly when it is simply unnecessary.  I do not want to be that one car. 

- Sunday I hoped to get a lot of homework done. To end your suspense, I'll let you know that it did not happen. Instead, I watched Gilmore Girls for roughly 6 hours straight. Let me explain, let me explain! I WAS doing homework all the while... at a slow pace for most of it.... AND I did take a break for dinner. But I also watched a few epis last night.... and I am watching it now. Call it what you will but I just call it a way of life. On the bright side, Julia and I have perfected our harmonies to the theme song, as well as the background music ("la la la laaa" for those of you who get what I mean).

- I believe I have found the world's best birth control! (stick with me) Nannying 3 kids is awesome, I love it. It helped me realize that I want to do early childhood education and is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. That being said, I am so thankful that I can say goodnight and goodbye at the end of the day. FREEEEEEEDOM! I'm excited to have kids, but I can wait.

- I am also drinking my third hot chocolate of the day, and the second one with excessive amounts of mix. I guess between admitting this and my Gilmore girl unplanned marathon I realize I am: an over endulger. 

- My abyss of a room is now in order thanks to a late night surge of energy. Not really a confession but worth noting. 

- I secretly get really competitive when playing Pokemon Champion Island with Alec. The thing is that I know nothing about these (new) pokemon (had this been a few years back it would have been a different story! Let me tell you!)  and I always lose. 

- Let the Christmas countdown begin! :) This calls for a Christmas playlist....