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 (:...

Time Really Doesn't Stop...

It has been a BEAUTIFUL few days in Kansas. Aside from the few torrential thunderstorms and extreme April heat.. It's been amazing. We had class outside a lot on Friday and Jess and I walked around during lunch. Aside from what most native Kansans say, I love it here. I would live here my whole life and LOVE it (yeah, and I say that because its not winter haha). But usually the only people I can find that like it here are people who moved here from somewhere else (Except for Tyler and my mom lol).

I found out we are donating $2000 to the Ronald McDonald from Mr. Wildcat and Crush Bottle proceeds. I was thrillllllled :D Like I've said many times, I love this charity and if anyone ever gets a chance to donate to them or volunteer at a house, DO IT! They are so nice and fun to be around and it's a great place to volunteer. Last night, I baked for them to help get my five college hours. Yes, I love baking, but this was for a good cause. (: I volunteered at the Midtown House this morning for about 3 hours and guess what?! I got to drive up there BY MYSELF!!! It was such a rush. I wasn't nervous at all leaving my house (after I put my contacts in.. Stupid stye..) but when I was on K-15, I started getting nervous because I couldn't for the life of me picture the stinkin' canal route entrance. If I can picture something, I can practice it in my head (cheers and dances come easy to me this way). But I had a mini panic attack because of I couldn't picture it!! Once I saw it, however, I was fine and the whole trip was a breeze. I love the canal route now :) Just like driving on the turnpike, once I do it once, we are best friends forever. (:

Erynn and I baked 4 cakes (White, Strawberry, and two German Chocolate), frosted two of them, and baked 25 cookies (four are still in the oven here) in about 75 min.. go us!

After we baked we went out to eat with my grandparents at Olive Garden. As we are leaving, the sky looks like it's about to throw up on the world, so we stop at Barnes & Noble to wait it out (if you know me, you're going "Oh lord... B&N." You would be correct ;) ) Barnes & Noble is my favorite place on earth.. I could spend days in there. I usually find a book, and sit in the middle of the isle and read it. (: It's pretty humorous. As we are leaving, we run into heavy, heavy rain. Shoulda stayed longer :( Lol Derby didn't really get hit bad, but Mulvane got a nasty hail storm.


Erynn and I at dinner. She was fixing my hair. (:

Hail outside my house.

Today after I volunteered at the RMH, James and I went to Best Buy so he could get a new iPod... I almost cried. I cannot wait to get mine fixed. I have found so much music these past two weeks that it's almost killing me. You know what else is killing me? The fact that I'm supposed to be in Colorado right now. Skiing. I'm still mad.

Moving on, I'd like to thank my Denmark supporters who look at my blog all the time!! I'm grateful certain people in the United States are interested in what I have to say, let alone Denmark! I hope I stay interesting enough for all these people to look at my blog, lol!

At school for the past week, I have been taking my lunch to school. I love it. I don't know why I  have been eating crappy school food my whole life when I could have a PB&J or Pasta or Chicken Alfredo... It's been fabulous. I'll eat healthier my last six weeks of school, then I ever did the other 13 years! Which I cannot believe is ending in 41 days... some days that makes me want to run to the bathroom and throw up, and others it's the greatest thing on earth! It just depends on my mood... I remembered something Ms. Gowdy used to say at track practices in 8th grade the other day..

"You are racing against time. Not the girl who may have gotten an A on a test and is having a great day, or the girl whose boyfriend broke up with her earlier. You are racing against time. Time Won't Change. Time Won't Stop..."

I wish I had realized that she was right 4 years ago. Granted, I've had an amazing time throughout my high school years, I wouldn't change one thing, and I have no regrets... except wishing it would go by faster. Even on the days that couldn't end fast enough... I wish I would have not tried to speed things up too much... Time goes by fast enough on it's own without my hurrying it along.

Prom this weekend! Pics soon! (:

<3

It Does Exist!!

Lol Ty, this one's for you. (:

So, I was commanded to clean my room today. To be honest, I wanted to clean it. It was a disaster! And that is saying a lot coming from me. I do not really care about my room being clean; I am a disorganized, organized person and can still function perfectly... but this had gone too far..

This was my floor... my closet had run out of room and so all clothes (dirty or clean) ended up on the floor... and yes, that is my hamper. 

My desk. It gets cluttered when I have a ton going on. (Yes, that is a feather boa. YESSS those are more clothes.)

My closet and bed... thankfully I didn't sleep here last night.. I might have died.

I honestly do function well when everything is a mess. I am just a messy person. The chaos and clutteredness fit my thought type and brain function. I am always thinking about 400,000,000 things at once and going going going... so that's just how my room ends up. I don't mind.

Mom does.

So I started cleaning at 4:40 pm Central Standard time ;) and after dinner, Skype, and dancing-around-my-room-to-Lady-Gaga breaks, I finally finished at 1 am Central Standard time (however, I wish it had been another time zone :P) .

8 hours!!!! I took around 8 hours to completely clean this place up. I went through my clothes and got rid of a bunch, shoes as well. I went through everything!... and saved myself some time this August :) But, I still have no clue how I'm only supposed to take one eighth, if that, of my stuff with me! What about all my clothes? If they could pay tuition, they'd be my roommate.

As I was cleaning my room and taking pictures, I realized how personalized and fitting my room is to me. Anyone could walk into this room and say "Oh, yeah, that's Taylor's Room." And they could tell you exactly who my friends are, who I'm dating, what my team(s) is/are, what I do at school, where I am going to college (that better be a no-brainer; I have a wall dedicated to it), what my favorite color is (ok maybe not), and when my psych homework is due (I leave myself post-it notes everywhere).

With that being said, here is my CLEAN room.. :)
  

My closet (: (yes, I do have that many pairs of shoes; I'm a chick!)

Does this not just scream "Taylor's Room!!!"? I think it does..

My clean, made bed.. All ready for me to pass out in.

Proof my floor exists :)

I give it four days, max ;)

<3

The World's Gone Crazy...

A fourth snow day. It must be some kind of record. I have never in all my years of living in Mulvane (12 this past month) been given four snow days... I don't think.. ;)

I spent yesterday as I am sure many of my classmates did... Doing nothing. In my defense, I was in the middle of doing my homework when I got the call... I just stopped when I found out I had another day to do it lol. This will give me, basically, a two day week. I was present, but not all there half of Monday, and with these two snow days... I think this is Europe's big snow storm coming around to bite us in the butt. Thanks Dickey Family :P

So last night, I had something I had to tell my BFFs. So in a matter of maybe a little over an hour, I called three people to tell the same story over and over again. But I really found out that I have the best friends ever :) It was a great night to catch up and have them help me with something and remember why we are friends in the first place. (: thanks guys <3 and we were still able to laugh about it in the process. I can see why I was given all of these responsibilities and tasks now... You guys get to help me. <3

Speaking of my buddies, we only have 108 total days until graduation... Again mixed feelings. Jessica will leave for Cowley or Emporia, Nicole to Butler or Cowley, Katie to Pratt or K-State, James to boot camp, and myself to KU...I'm definitely not ready to go our separate ways... but I have been given the skills I need to deal with separation and I love to travel (and Skype!!) so I don't see any major problems with staying close to my friends. :)

Jessica <3

Nicole <3

James <3

Growing Up...

Graduation. Some people can't wait for it to get here. Others, well, let's just say they can wait. Some just want out of "boring" Mulvane. I have highly mixed feelings. Yes, I'm excited to go to KU and be on my own and start traveling and voluteering to help people.. Yeah, Mulvane has its boring days.. but I love it here so much. My life, as Ty puts it, has roots here and I'm not easily up-rooted. I'm scared to walk across the stage and call it good. I'm nervous to mess this up. High school, aside from the emotional and stressful days, was easy. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. I loved 99 percent of every minute. And, yes, I'll love college... but starting over has never been my thing. Change and I are definitly not best buds. I don't like it and I, being super stubborn, don't receive it well. I looooove the fact that some things in life never have to change... and I can spend hours laying in bed with Jessica crying that some things have to. Growing up in this day and age may look fun... but its not.
I went to my very last KAY confrence today. It was a little sad and very quick since everyone thinks Ice will start falling from the sky... I saw my best buddies from Area 6 though and I love getting to see them. They always give me big hugs and swing me around and make me laugh...even though they are from Rose Hill ;) They are Juniors too, so I told Jamison, whose the Rose Hill pres to hit me up next year if he wanted me to speak at the Unit Confrence... I love this club dearly and never want to stop being a part of it.. Next summer I will hopefully be a staff member at camp. I didn't apply this year because I had no idea where on earth I'd be. Oh well. StuCo camp wants me and Cheryl said I was more then welcome to visit (: I still have a few things to look forward to about growing up...
<3

Can't Stay in Paradise Forever...

Homecoming is finally over... :) It's a completely bittersweet feeling. Yes it was my last one.. but I aged about five years doing it too. It was a fun 24 hours that I will never forget and I wouldn't trade for anything... well some of it I would :) lol here's some pics

The Girls :)

My bestest Bud (:

The TP gang (:

We stopped at McDonalds. There was a funny window guy lol

Ran outta room (:

We have too much fun together :)

The best dancing buddies ever who didn't leave me out :)

I have more from the game I'll put up next. (:

So yesterday I started listening and dancing around my room to Kokomo by the Beach Boys because I miss the sun so much and the 80 degree weather. I fell asleep to it and I dreamt I was on a tropical island. I woke up and I was not ready to leave my paradise yet, so I stayed home (: I've had a great couple hours texting Jess, skyping Ty and listening to Kokomo on repeat... We had the day off yesterday but I stressed myself out so much on yearbook and worked for so long on it.. I didn't really get the day off. (As I'm writing this, Gandolf is submitting 32 more pages... STRESSSSSSSSFUL!!! Another reason I stayed home.) So with cheer done, yearbook OK for the time being... this week should be alright. I start college on Monday for Public Speaking and I still have my normal Perkins/Heath/Milledge homework load... but I'm content. And I'll be fully ready to leave my paradise and go back tomorrow. Summer and I can't stay in bed forever... <3

One Very Long Month...!

December came and went. And what a month it was...

Basketball is here! I'm liking cheering for basketball more and more now that games seem to go by faster and there are more people at the games. I fly quite a bit now so I'm enjoy that TONS!

Yearbook is always on my mind now. We sent in our first 32 pages before break and it was horribly stressful. I couldn't even be in the same room with Mrs. Gandolf when we did it; she made me leave and go find someone to help. We have 32 more pages due on FRIDAY!... ugh. Which brings me to my next point... Friday is Homecoming! My very last ever high school homecoming. I'm not a candidate, but I'm honestly alright with that. I get to cheer on my last homecoming and I get to plan and RUN the entire pep assembly because the StuCo president will be gone!! I'm so excited! And my cheerleaders have been working very hard on their routine for the pep assembly. I even have the battle wounds to show our efforts...

4 Hours after dancing and getting the bruises on Wed

24 hours after the first picture. Walking was not easy...

 The winter dance was at the beginning of the month and it was so much fun! I will take any chance I get to hang out with my friends and this was no different. Except I couldn't go with the person I wanted to go with, obviously, and it was hard to go without him, I still had a good time. Ty still told me I looked beautiful when I came home, so it was a wonderful night. I went with my best friend James. Here's some pics (:

It was cold. I made him carry me lol

I loooooooooved my dress and shoes.

Nicole (:

JESSSS! <3

Miss Shy (:

Chris, Jordan, Jess and I. <3

Speaking of good times with the friends, we had a Christmas party the Wednesday before Christmas. It was a blast! We had a white elephant gift exchange and I ended up with Jessica's gift! There were lottery tickets, candy, iTunes cards and other awesome stuff being "stolen" and traded (thank you Brandon for taking the gumball machine off my hands) and food and games and just a really really needed party. Jess even stayed over that night (we did that A LOT over break) and we watched Dawson's Creek for hours. It wasn't the first or last night my bestie stayed here for a night. Jessica came over the night of the eclipse and we stayed outside from 12 to 2:15 in my driveway watching the sky with Nicole. It was COLD! But it was good bonding time and we planned the next eclipse party in 2094..2049? One of the two ;)

But Jess came over a BUNCH during the break to keep me company. I was so sick over Christmas and Christmas Eve that I was threatened with the ER and Intensive care if I didn't get better. But I still had a great Christmas. I got so many KU things, I won't ever have to get anything in the bookstores! lol

Christmas Day. I was rather pale and yucky.

The three cousins (:



Just ONE of my new KU blankets lol

Christmas Party Pics! (:

All of us (:

My best buddies (:

The girls! Katie, Jess, Jordan, Kelsey, Allyson, Nicole <3

To finish off the month, I also finished up my first semester of my senior year. I worked my BUTT off and managed to make the the B I received in English disappear. All As for the 7th semester in a row (:  I am still ranked number 1 in my class which I was terrified i was going to lose last quarter. I am ready to tackle my last semester and speak on May 21st... which is getting here much faster then I am ready for. But Homecoming is next week! So I always have something to look forward to. Thank goodness!

<3

It's Time for a Break...

So with school, cheer, Ty and his family leaving, KAY, StuCo, NHS, and the task of producing an entire yearbook... I'm tired. lol SUPER tired.

I am so ready for Thanksgiving Break, its not even funny. Two more days of school followed by I believe 13 more... and half of my senior year is over. Then Christmas.

Woah.

But I am enjoying it! I got my Christmas Dance dress today, I went to the musical last night with Jessica, girl's night on Tuesday, and I have already seen Harry Potter twice. I am doing alright. :)

Butttt...  I don't think I have ever been so tired. I slept for 13 hours last night and I will probably sleep for a good few tonight.

So with that being said, everybody have a Happy Thanksgiving :)

Football Ending, Basketball Beginning :D

So we lost to Topeka- Hayden last Saturday... but we are still Bi-District Champs!

Which means basketball starts soon!!!

We had competition on Wednesday and took home 6 trophies!! One for Routine Excellence, Cheer Technique, Overall Performence, Stunts, and Spirit and a big one for an Overall 1 Rating!!! We did quite awesome if I do say so myself. :D

Here's some pics!

Two of my favorite people ever :)



Seniooooooors! '11




The Favorite Freshmen!



Miss Brett :)

The remaining favorite Freshmen :)