Recap; 2011 Style.

I know.. I know... It's been a WHILE... Sorry!!

Here's a recap of the last few months... (: My last post of 2011!!!!

Thanksgiving-

Being back at home was wonderful. It had been a really stressful few weeks and a little escape to Mulvane was needed. Jessica was coming to Lawrence to stay the night and I wasn't allowed to leave since I had a late test, so we got to see each other after a LONG time. (: I really didn't see many friends when I was home since everyone was spread out at families and I was only home for less then five days, but I got to see my entire family and that was great. And of course Thanksgiving food!! (:

Cousins! :)

A little of Mom's Side of the Fam!

Picture Perfect :)

Aunt Lisa...

&& Uncle Corey.. :)

Finals Week-

Oh. My. God... I have never been so tired in my life after finals week. I had three "test" finals and one paper to revise and then I was coming home! They were spread out across an entire week, so it was nice, but it also added to my stress level because I was freaking out for so long. I also was forced to work fifteen hours in three days (which isn't a lot, but I was used to 3 hours every three weeks... culture shock!). So my stress level is through the roof.... and I wasn't sleeping. Out of the entire week, I probably got around 20 hours of sleep total... and thats a high estimate... realllllly high... Thank goodness all-nighters are my specialty... However, it wasn't so fun coming home and being taken to Immediate Care and being diagnosed with Laryngitis!

Last day in Lawrence :( 

Christmas-

Oh Christmas Break.. a whole month at home with no work or school.. and James was coming home! So it was panning out to be a good Christmas. I went shopping no less then FOUR times BEFORE Christmas, and I'm still not done! Lol Jessica picked me up and we went shopping for her mom, Katie and I went to Sherlock Holmes, and Allyson and I went shopping a few days later. My mom and I spent the entire day before Christmas Eve shopping at the mall, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Kohls, Walgreens... It was exhausting. Christmas Eve is always with my dad's side and Christmas Day is always with my mom's  side. Just a lot of relaxing and sleeping (and a LOT of "How I Met Your Mother") during the first half of my break...

Juli!

Christmas Eve!

Grandparents and Mom, Dad and Sister!

Family Pic!

New Year's-

Unfortunately, James had to fly back to California today... His dad and I went with him to the airport and eventually, he'll be on his way to Alaska. I have no idea when I'm going to see him again, but I am grateful for the times I got to see him the last few weeks and the previous seven plus years... those memories aren't going anywhere and he'll always have a special place in my heart.

But it's not all sad... I'm going to Amanda's tonight for a New Year's bash and we have a girls day coming up! Pics soon!

As painful as it is to lose James, I know it's all going to be alright. Life goes on and not at a better moment. It's a new year, lets start over. I feel like every year of my life has a theme...

2009- Patience. I was beginning to discover just how amazing life could be with just a little patience.
2010- Courage. Stepping out of my comfort zone and fighting back is never easy, but I did it in 2010.
2011- Change. So. Much. Change.. From graduation to moving, change is inevitable... but manageable.

2012- Acceptance. I have to learn to accept things that I can't change or shouldn't change.  I can't fight everything and I can't hold on to everything... sometimes, letting go is the best option.

I just have to accept it first...

<3

..i miss you already... i am so proud of you... <3 b="b">

Day 4

Day 04 - A picture of your favorite night.

Homecomings in general are my favorite. The night before was the coolest high school tradition I have been introduced to while MHS. TPing with my girls has always been a blast and all eight sleepovers, parties, and "road trips" are some of the best nights of my life. (:

NOW:


This will be one picture that changes every time I think about this project.  I have wayyyy too many favorite nights. There is no easy answer to this question... so I will just have to say that any night with my freinds or family or doing something I love is my favorite night.


<3

Day 3

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Grey's is just the best show ever. I started watching it the summer between my freshmen and sophomore year on YouTube from 1 to 6 AM in segments of the entire 4th season. Now, I watch it like a normal person every Thursday and own three of the seasons. (:

NOW:

You all know the answer to this...

GLEE! This is by far my favorite show. Yes, I still love Grey's, but this show has just helped me through so much and I am very, very much a hardcore Gleek now!

<3

Day 2

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

James and I have been friends since the sixth grade sitting next to each other in Mrs. Cottrell's class. We played in band together, I cheered for him in football, and I have even dated him a few times lol. He finally took me to the Christmas dance like he promised my freshmen year and now he said he'll take me to prom! (Like he also said he would freshmen year ;) ) Seven years is a long time to know someone and allow them to know you and watch you grow up (which is scary) and allow them to stay that close all these years. I'm gonna miss him so much when we go our separate ways this fall, but he promised to write to me and that we'd always stay close.
I love you, James :)

NOW:

PS. Even though you still drive me up a wall, I miss you like crazy and I'd give anything to be able to go to your house at 12 am to play Sims 3 or make a late night Dillons run. Thank you for writing to me during Basic and calling me once a week. It was quite possibly the closest we've ever been, even though we were the furthest apart. Stay safe, enjoy California, and come visit me. (:

Love, Tay

<3

Day 1

So about a year (or so) ago, I started a "30 Day Picture Challenge" on Facebook. I actually did it in 30 days, believe it or not. I still look over it from time to time to see how accurate it still is. I then decided that they were simple blog posts and I wanted to turn them into 30 blogs for when I didn't have anything else to post. If it's still the same as it was a year ago, then I won't change it. If it has, then I will post both to see how I've changed in a year.

I want to be able to look back someday and remember what I was thinking, what my motivations were, what was going on, etc.. which is why I do so many posts on reflection. I thoroughly enjoy it and it's a break from my head wanting to explode.

DAY 1

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. I am 17 years old
2. I love cheerleading
3. I love pictures. I can load a 32 gig iPod with all of my pictures and run out of room.
4. I miss summer.. its my favorite and happiest time of year.
5. I love to read and I read a book today and it made me happier then anything... I miss my books :)
6. KU is my school. I am so excited for August.
7. Facebook is my second home :) Idk what i'd do without it lol
8. I'm an emotional person.
9. I'm also a humorous person, but you have to know where my line is...
10. I dont know where my line is most of the time so its a tricky task lol... but i'm sure it's entertaining.
11. I am a night owl all the way.. no mornings for me.
12. I love hand written letters... it's so cool getting one in the mail. It's better then a FB message ;)
13. I don't like coffee...
14. but i want to be a doctor someday... we will see how this works.. :)
15... I love my friends and family ♥

NOW:

1. I am 18 years old.
2. I still love Cheerleading; I miss it all the time.
3. I still love to take pics. Always will.
4. I love summer... But this past summer was too stinkin' hot. I am a big fan of Fall now, especially after living in Lawrence.
5. I will always love to read. Nothing will change that. But I do miss reading fun things.
6. KU IS my school. (:
7. Facebook is my second home. Twitter is my third. People.com is my fourth.
8. Still emotional.. always.
9. Still funny.. sometimes :)
10. Still don't know where my line is... ever.
11. Night owl? More like just straight up nocturnal.
12. Yes, to everyone reading. I love handwritten letters.
13. I am proud to say I STILL DON'T LIKE COFFEE! (: (I love Monsters.)
14. Of course I still want to be a doctor!
15. And I will always love my family and friends. Old and New. <3

This is going to be fun. (:

<3

Sleep or No Sleep?

I am still getting the hang of this college thing. I thought I had it.. but I most definitely do not. I am very, very grateful I have wonderful teaching and lab TA's. They are working closely with me to make sure I do as well as I can here at KU and beyond... it's such a blessing. Especially since I keep getting sick! Living with all these people and all these germs is kicking my immune system's behind.

Halloween was a blast here! I didn't go out much, but I still had an amazing time with my friends in my costume. I can't wait for next year!

Big Mac's Hall Gov!!

Best Friends!! (:

Mitchell from Ells!! Love that kid!

Tonight, I talked Jessica into going to Walmart with me to pick up Harry Potter 7 Part 2 at midnight!!! It's the last time I'll ever get to go to Walmart at midnight for a Harry Potter anything... I've been watching it since the moment I got home. I have CHILLS! And TEARS! Its only the second time I've seen it having been shipped to StuCo Workshop the day of the premiere. Usually I see Harry Potter movies in theaters four times.. so I have a lot of catching up to do! (Goodbye July! and Midnight Tickets are my other blogs about HP7P2.)

Mom, Dad, Erynn, and Shae are coming into Lawrence on Saturday to see us play Baylor and hang out with me. Erynn and Shae are even going to stay with Claire and I in our room! Ironically, that morning, I have to go to KC with my Honors class as a community service trip. And that Sunday, I have to work at E's... and do my homework. So it's going to be a fantastically busy weekend. (: But with Thanksgiving and Christmas so close, it's hard not to count down the days and be anxious to go home (35 days, 16 hours... for Christmas). James and Chris are both coming home that day as well, and it will be wonderful to see them again. I even got permission from James to see him at the airport because I will be in KC at a Med Center visit. (: I am wayyy too excited.

Next time this week, I will be at the Breaking Dawn Midnight Premiere! This is honestly what I love most about college; practicing my skills at staying up late and/or all night. I have successfully pulled two all nighters here at KU and many, many late nights (such as tonight). Some are homework related, others are friends keeping my butt up late... Moral of the story, however, is I wouldn't change a thing. (:

Today is 11-11-11.. supposedly a very special day. I intend to see that through. ;) Sleep or no sleep.

<3

♥Thank you to all the Veterns who have served, and are serving. You know how much you mean to me. (:

One Year Later!

Can you believe it?! I have been blogging for ONE YEAR!

It's been a horrible day here in the magical land of Lawrence. Daisy Hill's water line broke this morning and there was no Mrs. E's or showers, and it's bitterly cold, and I am thinking I have the flu... Ugh. So I wanted this blog post to be positive to try and help my day out a little. Plus, we all know how much I enjoy reflecting and reliving my favorite memories.

As I've said many times before, October of 2010 was one of the happiest and most memorable months of my life: everything was going great, I had a fantastic boyfriend, and I was well into my Senior Year. Some of my early blog posts, (Senior Night, KU Bound, and It's Time for a Break) are really good for me to read to remember what was going on in my head a year ago... and to evaluate my life now and figure out what I need to do to return to that happy place.

College is new. Let's be honest. It's an adjustment to me... and I will still be adjusting for a while. I am not as settled as I was a year ago. I am learning way more about myself now, and I am very excited for my future, whatever it may hold... but one year ago was a much simpler time...

*I had a set schedule.
*I had someone to wake me up in the mornings.
*I had someone tell me when to (try and) go to bed.

*I had an easy job.

*I had easy classes (for the most part).
*I had a wonderful boyfriend and second family.
*I had a best friend I could see whenever I wanted.
*I had my family.

There are of course many things college gives me that high school didn't...

*I can go for a food run at 1 am.
*I can take a nap at 1 pm.
*I can run a ELISA Test in a lab.
*I can handle NaOH in a lab.
*I can stay in a library until 2 am.
*I can have a sleepover with my friends whenever I want.
*I can (eventually) travel abroad.
*I can learn to manage my time better.
*I can make (more) lifelong friends from all over the world.
*I can mange my money.

And most importantly...

*I can wake myself up in the mornings.

But this isn't even the whole list! College and I are a perfect match, but with all couples, there has to be rough patches and bumpy spots. If there aren't, this would be a very boring and unsatisfying ride...

Typical day with Ty (:

The Three Musketeers!! (: I miss you both!!

Cheering and being a Senior!! (:

I Miss You So Much... <3

My Mom and Dad (:

My Girls!! (:

Visiting KU almost exactly one year ago (:...

Homecoming Squared. (:

Homecoming. It originally was focused around people going home for a reunion or such... not so much a football game or dance. However, recently, I have re-shaped my definition of homecoming...

A couple weeks ago, I missed Mulvane's Homecoming because it happened to be KU's Homecoming as well. It's mainly for the Greeks here, but it was my first college homecoming and I would be home the following weekend for fall break, I decided to stay here. It was a great day!! Juli, Vicky and I ran to Starbucks for coffee since it was such an early game and met everyone at the stadium. We lost... sadly. But it was still a fun game and Juli and I's picture ended up on the BIG screen twice!! We came back and ate dinner and just chilled the rest of the day... definitely a great homecoming. 

Erynn had her first high school homecoming at the same time! It's so weird to think I was doing the EXACT same thing she was four years ago... scary how time flies.

But we don't talk about the cymbals...

Juli (:

&& Robert (:

Under the flag!

This is the pic that was on the board!!

They gave us free flags! lol and I just love this picture! No editing!

The next week, I traveled back to the Vane for fall break!! It was so good to be home and see everyone... but it felt very out of place. Erynn and I could both feel it. We had just gotten used to my being at school, that being thrown back into Mulvane was weird for both of us. Plus, many of my friends weren't there, James was in California, and my college friends were all over the country! Juli, Jess and I are now not sure how we are going to be apart for a WHOLE MONTH for winter break when four days was difficult. I loooooooved spending time with my family, but with packing and driving and school work, it is just much easier to stay in Lawrence... which is slowly becoming home (even though it ticks everyone else off :P )

Veggin.. just like old times.

Cousins. <3

This week was short, but stressful with a midterm and presentation in English. Juli decided I needed a break and told me I was going to Footloose with her tonight. And I am so glad she did!!! It was amazing, and fun, and we were laughing and dancing in our seats the entire time. No it may not be the original, but trust me, we didn't mind. After I came home (see there I go again), I started cleaning and I popped in the soundtrack and was dancing around my room when Claire came in...

What could have been awkward turned into hilarious when she said, "Turn it up!" and we danced and sang  "Footloose" for the next hour and a half... What a great Friday!

So while I don't know where my "home" is, I do know that I have many different homes as of right now: the home with my family, the home with my friends and the home where I live... while two of those happen to be in the same building, it won't always be that way. Someday, we will all be separate again... but we all have homes with each other and our families. So moral of my story... my home is anywhere and everywhere with people I love and love to be around. Simple as that.

<3

I Can't Get Over It... (:

There are some things about this campus that I simply will never get bored with. Last Friday after my SUA office hours, Juli and I went exploring campus because it's simply soooo big!! We sat down on a foot bridge by Potter Lake and listened to music on my laptop and just de-stressed from the long week. We started talking about how beautiful the campus was and I mentioned how much I want to take pictures of it.... Well Before you know it, we were back down on campus, showered, dressed up, with Jessica in tow and ready to go! Unfortunately, we lost the light super quickly Friday night, but we went back out on Saturday and had Robert with us!! It was a great two days and honestly, a blog about it wouldn't do it justice.

You just have to see the photos for yourself.

(:

I <3 my friends (: