Back to School...

I definitely got used to this.

Well it's back to my real life after getting used to sunshine and warm weather in the Caribbean. I had such a good time with all of my family... Occasionally there were times when we got annoyed with each other, but overall, I'm sad that it's back to normal. I got pretty used to seeing everyone just about nonstop for an entire week. And I definitely dread being back in Oklahoma with cloudy skies, snow, and below freezing temperatures. I was ready to get back home though--I missed Mexican food, Dr. Pepper, and Chinese food. I've already had all three of those things more than once and it's only been a couple of days. Then it was back to school today... I've been to one class so far, and I'm already overwhelmed. Back to my responsibilities...

So excited that she's going to be my sister-in-law!

Counting Down the Days...

Well, another semester has finally come and gone, and I can now say that I only have THREE more left until I'll be done! {Three more semesters until I'm out in the real world, scared and jobless.} I'm still upset that I should be graduating this May, if not earlier, but whatever... I'll try not to dwell on that too much.

Overall, as far as how most semesters have gone since I've been in design school, this one wasn't too bad. I technically had only one studio class, which really was terrible, but I came out alive and with straight A's! I got to take a couple of pretty enjoyable classes, stepped out of my comfort zone a little bit and got involved as an officer in our ASID chapter (American Society of Interior Designers), and sort of figured out what I would like to do with my life. Not bad as far as being productive...

ASID Trip to Bartlesville - Price Tower

Super fun trip to Bartlesville!

I've finally discovered that the thing I should have studied in the first place is Art History, but I'm lucky enough to be able to squeeze that into my schedule and minor in it. Unfortunately, I had to take Drawing for it, but actually had a pretty good time because unlike in design, your work is allowed to be a little messy. It was sort of liberating to break out of the precision and technicality we're always required to have in interior design. My favorite drawing assignment was choosing a drawing from a master artist and recreating it and enlarging it using a grid. I chose a sketch by Raphael, and I'm pretty proud of how it turned out...

Now it's on to enjoying a much needed, but way too short break, and preparing myself for next semester (16 hours! I'm going to be really upset with myself.)... It's been a busy break so far and it'll go by so fast::: Christmas with my extended family in Tulsa just this last weekend, actual Christmas with my family this weekend, Christmas with all of the Vaughns on the 27th, and somehow plan a get-together with my dad and that side of my immediate family. Then it's on to New Years Day when we'll be getting up bright and early to head out on a family vacation where we'll get to cruise the Caribbean! Can't wait!

Christmas socks are my favorite.

It's That Time of Year!

I just have to say that UCO's campus puts me in the best mood in the winter. Even though I'm usually freezing and carrying a million presentation boards, portfolios, or supplies that are blowing in the blustering wind, my school's Christmas lights on campus make me happy. No matter how stressed out I get about end of semester projects and getting everything done, seeing Old North all lit up makes me "feel it in my fingers" and "feel it in my toes!" Our pretty lights are one of the many things that make me proud to go to Central! I love my school everyday, but I definitely look forward to Christmas on campus all year long!
{Sorry in advance for having to Google some not-so-great images. I don't love my school enough to look dumb taking my own pictures on my own campus.}

Good work, Pitzer Lawn Management?

{Okay} Family

Of course my family isn't really just "Okay," they're awesome! But today for Thanksgiving, we spent the afternoon in Okay, Oklahoma with my mom's family. It's always a gathering of people that I'm related to in a way that I don't know, but nevertheless, it was a good time! My mom's grandparents, Grandma Dorothy and Big Daddy, had four kids: my great-aunts Sheila and Debbie, my great-uncle Donald, and my GranDaddy Ronnie. All of them had kids too of course, so this get-together consists mostly of my mom's cousins and all of their kids, and so on! There were a lot of us!

Baby Meggie and Big Daddy! He was so mischievous.

By far, my favorite part of this year's Thanksgiving was getting to go through old photo albums of my great-grandparents. Both of them have passed away, but I still remember them well, even though I wish that I could have spent more time with them while they were here. Even if I never got the chance to know them when they were young and healthy, looking at photos of their lives made me appreciative of being here today. Without all of the people that came before me, I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be the person that I am today without the wonderful family that I have.

One of my favorite albums that I got to look through was a trip that Big Daddy and Grandma Dorothy took to Hong Kong in the 70s. They took some really cool photos that I brought home with me! I'm not sure what I'll do with them just yet, but I definitely want to show them off in my apartment somehow! Here are a few of my favorites...

There is Always Something is be Thankful For

Despite everyday stresses and getting too caught up in what I wish I had, deep down I am thankful everyday, and not just this time of year, for so many wonderful parts of my life. I'm not the same person that I was at this same time last year. I've gone through a lot of changes and ups and downs, and at this point I can say that I'm grateful for what I've been through and can see the beginnings of happiness coming back into my life.

Most of all, I'm grateful for the people that I have in my life. There are days when I feel like I've missed out on friendships or feel like I don't have enough friends, but in reality, I have so much more than a lot of people and am so lucky to have the support of the people I do have. In my darkest times, even if they don't understand me, I have family that will support me, stand by me no matter what, and actually BE my friends. Some friends come and go, but my family will love me unconditionally and be there for me when I need it the most.

Like I said, sometimes I feel like I could always use more friends (you can never have enough!) but the few friends that I do have are the best. I'm sad that I've lost the best friend I had for 3 and a half years, and he'll always be important to me, but I'm so grateful that I have friends that stuck around, new ones to help me see new opportunities, and old ones that came back when I needed them most.

Old Friends! They'll always be special even if we don't keep in touch as much.

My BFF Lindy!

And of course, I have to dedicate an entire thankful paragraph to my number one blog reader, Lindy Tucker Terburg. My dearest Lindy Loo... I really mean it when I say thank you for being my best friend. It seems like just yesterday that you awkwardly asked me to hang out for the first time, and after our first date, I was so excited that I had a new friend like you, but I don't think I could have ever predicted just how much you would mean to me. I don't care who knows it... I love you! You have been there for me just to sit around and watch TV or movies with, you listen to me better than any friend I've ever had, and you got me through (and continue to get me through!) some of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. I hate that you're not here in Oklahoma anymore, and I hate the thought of possibly never living in the same state again, but that doesn't change anything. You will always be my closest, dearest friend. Because we're much more than best friends, we're bestbians. I miss you buddy!

 

Finally, after the longest first blog post ever, even though I complain about school, I am so thankful for the opportunity to get an education, and I know that I've grown into a stronger person because of it. Change is hard, but I can see past it now and realize that I've already become a more confident and independent person because of it. I'm one lucky lady!