The Alchemist.

I read the book, The Alchemist. I LOVED it. I had not heard about it until my Aunt Cristin left it with me. There were so many quotable quotes throughout the book! I was constantly writing things down- I felt like I was in English class again!

Here were a few of my favorites:

"The secret is here in the present. If you pay attentuoin to the present, you can improve on it and if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God love shis chilidren. Each day, in itself brings with it an eternity."

"We make a lot of detours, but we're always haeading for the same destination."

"People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want."

"One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving."

I loved this book. It is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I think it changed my life.

Tell me what to do. Please.

When I was young(er) (I know, I know I am still young) people never hesitated to give me adivce, or give me direction, or really just flat out tell me what to do. I think I was pretty open minded about what people told me what to do, as I recall I even did what they told me to do (My parents might have other memories)! I thought that I did not need their advice, direction, etc. because I was 18. I was about to graduate from high school- I obviously knew everything there was to know.

Let me be the first to admit. I would love someone to tell me what to do now! Nobody feels the need to give me much direction anymore in regards to my future! I know that I have the tools to make my own decisions and choices but sometimes I wish I were a teenager when adults never hesitated to tell you what to do.

Facebook did not become popular until I started college- so there are no real pictures of me from HS on facebook, or on my computer... but this will do!

My Self Portrait

For my photography class we were given the assignment to take a self-portrait. My teacher asked the class who enjoyed this assignment- only 1 person. I really do not mind taking pictures of myself- apparently this is not the norm. Of course- I am the girl who has been posing for the camera since I was 2. We had to write a paragraph or two explaining the meaning behind our self-portrait.

Here was mine:

I am graduating in exactly 29 days. (Now 10 days) I have been looking forward to this day forever. I am excited to see what the future brings my way. While I am looking forward to graduating and am excited for the future, I am also really scared. I try not to admit to being scared, but it’s hard to always be optimistic and peppy about the future! I have my future mapped out, and on the outside most people think I have my life put together, and for the most part I do, but some days I want to turn back time.

I want to turn back time and sit with my teddy bear and be completely worry free. Since that is impossible, I have to move forward; I will trade in my jeans and hoodies for pencil skirts and high heels. My polka-dotted backpack will be replaced with a briefcase, and I will close the door to my childhood and walk forward down a brand new path.

This self-portrait is representative of me closing the door to the past and walking towards new opportunities. I am still worried about the future, but I am moving forward. The teddy bear represents my past and the brief case represents my growing up.

He's Just Not That Into You

"We are all programmed to believe that if a guy acts like a total jerk that means he likes you."

False. (After 8th grade this rule is not applicable.)

Back in the day- my Freshmen year of college I got dumped. I cried. and cried. and cried some more. My stomach felt as if I was on a roller coaster and about to drop down a big hill but the hill never came, and my stomach stayed like that for awhile. Well right around that time the book He's Just Not That Into You was becoming popular, and I was flipping through a magazine that had an article written by the authors. It was about getting over being dumped and surviving. Well in my head I was going to do those things but in the end I was still going to get him back. (Wrong.) The tips were good- I had to adapt some of them since I was not living with him/sleeping with him/etc. But I have always liked their advice. I also like, "Its Called a Breakup Because It Is Broken".

Anyways... I learned a lot. I have learned a lot since then, and one of the things I have learned is that sometimes guys are just not that into me. When I saw a preview for this movie I knew I had to see it. We were going to see it on Valentines Day but then decided we could not wait- and plus that might have been a little depressing. The book and movie are so true.

STOP making excuses for guys when they are mean, do not make excuses when they do not call or do not ask you out on a second/third/fourth date. He is just not that into you. Its not a bad thing- its life. Of course, nobody likes to admit this. Everyone wants to be liked, nobody enjoys finding out someone does not like them, even someone they do not like. But its a good thing to realize and know. The last guy I really liked, and I really did like him- just didn't like me. I could not figure it out- I made excuses... but really he just didn't like me. Lost his phone? Lost my number? Too busy? Intimidated by me? Nope.

Of course, one of those excuses could be true. But that would make me the exception. Not the rule. And chances are, you are almost always the rule.

See the movie, even if you are married. It will just make you that much happier that you are married and do not have to play this game we call dating.

"Well Gouda's My Favorite"

Can you name that movie?

(She's The Man)

For my Strategic Management class we were supposed to read the book, Who Moved My Cheese. I remember hearing a lot about it a few years ago, but I never read it. Well, I read it this morning online- saving 70 prints and avoiding having to read it in the Business Building Office. It was really funny. I kind of felt like a little child reading a book about mice and little people!

It is all about change and how we deal with it or do not deal with it. Change seems to be the word of the year. I took a few notes on a few of my favorite parts...

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

(Good question to ask yourself)

"Take control rather than simply letting things happen to you."

"When you move beyond your fear, you feel free."

(This is true)

"What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine."

(I have had a bad habit of imagining bad scenarios in my head- I tell myself it helps me prepare for what could happen but in reality its better to imagine the best outcome!)

"Laugh at your own folly- then you can let go and quickly move on."

(One thing I am working on is learning to laugh- I loved Elder Wirthlins talk Come What May, and Love It.)

"Do not over analyze or over complicate things"

(I have been known to do both of these things- but I am getting better!)

AND...

"Envision yourself in realistic detail of finding something BETTER."

Yes. Yes. Yes.

The quotes I chose do not really have a lot to do with change, but I still really like them. I try every day to work on being positive, and I honestly believe that when I do this and really try my day is soo much better.

I will STRETCH to always and try to be positive and when things do change or do not go the way I originally planned, I will not stop & freak out- I will take control and move on.

Where did I go?

I have not fallen off the face of the planet- I just started my senior year of college! I am not sure what my problem has been I have been in this weird funk that was really hard to get out of- but I am out of that funk now and now have to make up for being in that funk!

I have learned a lot since school started

• I HAVE to surround myself with positive people. I know that I have to work at being positive and its easy for me to get caught up in other peoples negative energy and they can easily suck my positive energy out. I am learning to teach myself how to not let that happen! When you are happy and positive life just goes so much better!

• Spray painted golf balls in clear vases make great center pieces for a country club themed party! (post to come)

• Staples will happily copy and cut 200 pieces of paper into quarters for a reasonable deal. If you ask nicely and slightly beg, friends will help you hole punch what feels like a thousand quarter papers and then assemble them into books with you!

• Being the new member educator for my sorority is kind of like becoming a mom of 33 girls! I get text messages asking all sorts of questions that I sometimes do and sometimes do not have the answer to!

I have a lot of posts that I want to publish! So stay tuned!

Since then...

The last time I sat on this bench I was 18 and honestly thought my life was over- I had just had my heart broken, I was more homesick than I could imagine, and there were tears streaming down my face, it was probably quite a site for anyone who saw me! Obviously my life was not over because 2 1/2 years later I was able to come back and sit on the same bench without any tears streaming down my face! Now I look back at that girl and wish she could have more easily seen the bigger picture! I know I have said this before, but it is amazing how things change- I try to be a supporter of change, which is a good thing because nothing ever stays the same!

I have come a long way since I was last sitting here- I think this photo is a good reminder to me to move forward and remember that life will go on!

Wake-up Call

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are irresponsible- especially with not waking up on time. Not that it matters, but I have woken up to an alarm clock since I was in 4th grade- not really so much to be responsible but more that I am really cranky when people wake me up and it is better everyone involved if I can wake up to beeping. Since I have been doing this for so long I do not understand when people tell me they slept through their alarm or just could not wake up. I understand that on occasion this may happen- we get sick, we go to bed a 4AM and need to be up by 6AM but really, an everyday/bi-weekly occurance? This morning my roommates alarm went off a bunch of times but I was already getting ready to go to the gym so I did not try to wake her up- plus is that really my responsibility? I came home from the gym and she was still asleep- so I continued getting ready for my day and made a lot of noise in an attempt to help her wake up and finally she woke up and was not happy that she was running late. Somehow this was partially my fault. Right... because I am your mother and know your exact schedule. My bad.

This is a really similar if not the same as my 1st alarm clock!

Note: She woke up when she was supposed to be at the school- wouldn't you just hurry put on some clothes and a hat and run? Oh no... no you would take your usual 1 1/2 hours to get ready.

If there is one thing I want to teach my sisters/friends/future children it would be responsibility, because really I think everything else follows! This was more of a vent than a post... just needed to share!

Happy Late Valentines Day

I have decided that Valentines Day is one of those holidays that I think you either LOVE or REALLY DISLIKE... I remember when I was in high school I was complaining about Valentines Day and my mom told me that its not just about having a boyfriend or husband to love but its about loving friends, family, etc. I think I probably rolled my eyes and went back to really disliking Valentines Day and wishing I had a boyfriend! I would like to believe that I have matured a lot in since high school, and now I can look back and see that my mom was right (she always is)! Valentines Day is celebrating LOVE of all types! I am happy to say that I LOVE Valentines Day (and I am very very single)! So this year when I heard so many people complaining about Valentines Day I tried to put a positive spin on whatever they said! It was quite the task! I decorated the cutest Valentines Mailboxes for two of my friends- sort of 2nd grade- but they turned out really great and they loved them! We also made sugar cookies and decorated and delivered them in these really cute tins (I love Family Dollar)!

Happy Valentines Day!

Letter to Me

I heard the song "Letter to Me" by Brad Paisley the other day on the radio. It is a cute song and it gave me something to think about while I drove home. Here are the lyrics (listen to the song- someone made a video of the song-ignore their typos)

If I could write a letter to me

And send it back in time to myself at 17

First I'd prove it's me by saying look under your bed

There's a and a no
one else would know you hid

And then I'd say I know it's tough

When you break up after seven months

And yeah I know you really liked her
and it just don't seem fair

All I can say is pain like that is fast and it's rare

And oh you got so much going for you going right

But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night

She wasn't right for you

And still you feel like there's a knife sticking out of your back

And you're wondering if you'll survive

You'll make it through this and you'll see

You're still around to write this letter to me

At the stop sign at Tomlinson and Eighth

Always stop completely don't just tap your breaks

And when you get a date with Bridgett make sure the tank is full

On second thought forget it that one turns out kinda cool

Each and every time you have a fight

Just assume you're wrong and dad is right

And you really should thank Mrs. Brinkman

She spent so much extra time

It's like she sees the diamond underneath

And she's just polishin' you 'til you shine

And oh you got so much going for you going right

But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night

Tonight's the bonfire rally

But you're staying home instead because if you fail Algebra

Mom and dad will kill you dead

Trust me you'll squeak by and get a C

And you're still around to write this letter to me

You've got so much up ahead

You'll make new friends

You should see your kids and wife

And I'd end by saying have no fear

These are nowhere near the best years of your life

I guess I'll see you in the mirrorWhen you're a grown man

P.S. go hug Aunt Rita every chance you can

And oh you got so much going for you going right

But I know at 17 it's hard to see past Friday night

I wish you'd study SpanishI wish you'd take a typing class

I wish you wouldn't worry, let it be

I'd say have a little faith and you'll see

If I could write a letter to me

To me

How great would it be to have a letter from yourself 5, 10, 15 years down the road? I would love to have a letter from myself 5 years down the road!

I wish that this 18 year old Alicia

This picture was taken the night before I left to go to my freshman year of college

knew what this

20 year old Alicia knows now...

I did not realize this picture had such a glare!

I wrote a letter to myself... and here are a few things I wrote

I gave myself some advice: (somethings I did and somethings I wish I had done)

When you heart gets broken do not cry for more than a day about it.

Even though you hate school take advantage of living in NYC. Soak up the culture, and love it.

Swallow your pride, please do not think that you failed or even made a bad decision, because you didn’t.

Do not date anyone you work with, no matter how cute they happen to be and no matter how much they flirt with you.

Take advantage of living at home again, offer to help mom cook and clean, you might just learn something.

Be nice, work on smiling and being friendly.

Value the time you spend with your family.

Give yourself some credit, you are smarter than you think. Have a little faith in yourself.

Everything is going to work out.

I think we all would love to have a letter telling us what or what not to do, or just reminding us to have a little faith and that everything will work out in the end! I wonder what my 27 year old Alicia would tell me...

Some random reflections from my sophomore year!

Spring is FINALLY here!

(For today at least!)

I can't believe that I only have 2 more weeks here- I am excited and a little sad! I have been thinking a lot lately and when I am not thinking about school I have been thinking about the past few years... I have learned soo many things in the past two years (that will have to be future blog). I was looking through some pictures that I took right before I went to school my freshman year of college and I have changed so much. Not just how I look, but my opinions and attitudes towards different things. I think they have been changes for the better! (Don't worry mom I haven't changed everything!) Even though I have learned so much I have a ton of things I still need to learn- I am keeping a list in my notebook and may be calling on a few of you to help me out!