Dear 2009, I admit it, I'm gonna miss you!

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I completed my first semester of university!

I learned how to do laundry.

I fell in love with sushi.

I repelled off the roof of a 50ft building in the middle of the night. I will never forget that night. :)

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I secretly made a resolution to have a super hot body...um yeah...about that...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 
My sister had a baby girl, January 4th! <3

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't know how you define "close", but there were definitely alot of heartbreaking deaths.

5. What countries did you visit? 
USA and Canada. Hmm...I sound boring.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? 
You.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Every single day.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having the courage to move three provinces away.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Having ignored so many red flags, my selfishness, being an extreme pushover, and driving over the extension cord with the lawn mower--twice.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a mere cough.

11. What was the best thing you bought? 
Err...pumpkin spiced latte from Starbucks...

14. Where did most of your money go?
My dear tuition. *tear*

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I thought that 2009 was going to be my year of falling in love, but then I remembered that I'm only 18. Other than that, I got super excited for the Taylor Swift concert, university, and coming home for Christmas.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Any song by Owl City, or Miranda Lambert.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I'm not sad, I'm just...lethargic. New Years Eve is overrated to me.
b) thinner or fatter? I think I have FINALLY grown into my body, so there's no comparison.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, definitely.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I could've laughed at myself more.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? 
Facebook. Holy heck, I do NOT want to know how many hours of my life I have wasted on there.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my family we: opened presents, watched Looney Tunes and ate a huge Christmas dinner. Best Christmas ever. :D

21. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch much tv, but I am in love with Friends and Gilmore Girls.

25. Do you dislike anyone now whom you didn't dislike this time last year?
Haha. Of course.

26. What was the best book you read?
I didn't reach much, unfortunately, but I am working on it!!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? 
Country. In February I fell in love with country, and my life was changed.

28. What did you want and actually got? 
I wanted happiness, and I got it.

29. What did you want and not get? 
Not telling. I'm not THAT vulnerable. :)

30. What was your favorite film of this year? 
I really couldn't tell you, cause there was nothing incredibly epic. I most likely loved some chick flick.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
The ladies took me out to Earls, I had my first alcoholic drink of the 18th year, which was a White Peach Bellini. Then we saw Bride Wars after. :)

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Anything goes with leggings, and cowboy boots.

34. What kept you sane?
Friends, family, and God.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ryan Reynolds. Hands down.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
My roomie. :)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Look before you fall.

40. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
School is my life!

41. Did you encounter the police? 
You would ask that question, wouldn't you?

42. Did you have to go to the hospital?
Not me specifically, but I did take part in a horrible practical joke that was at the hospital. Haha.

I decided to go through my photo albums, and here are some of my most favorite and wonderful memories of 2009! A few moments ago, with my pessimistic attitude, I thought that I could've gone without 2009. But after looking at all of these photos, I now know for sure that 2009 was the best year yet. And 2010 will be even better. :)

New Arrivals, Fears, and Kids.

I decided to go shopping in the city today. I figured, oh what the hey, everything must be on MAJOR sale right now, so I might as well do all of my shopping before the new year comes around...right? 
WRONG. Me being me, of course, mindlessly (yet purposely) inch my way toward the New Arrivals. I mean, you have to agree with me that "New Arrivals" certainly sounds better than "Last Seasons Old Rags". It has a captivating ring to it...sigh. I am ridiculous.
But anyway, with my Christmas money I bought myself a new camera, a white coat, and little brown boots. And other than the fact that I ignored the sale rack completely, I am quite pleased with myself, because I can now stroke a few items off my "Christmas Vacation To-Do List". :)

I just realized something; I love hanging out with kids. And I can't believe that I of all people just typed something like that. A year ago I never would've said it nor thought it. In fact, kids have always scared me for the most foolish and dumbest reasons. Kids are honest. They're not afraid to say what they're thinking or express any/all of their opinions. I am terrified of rejection and get embarrassed easily. Therefore, if a kid doesn't like me and decides to proclaim it to the world, I would be hurt beyond belief and I would never forget the distressing memory. Like honestly, you know you have low self-esteem when you live in fear of a five-year-old's rejection.

But I don't know...there's something about leaving home for a long period of time that changes you. I don't seem to care about this whole "kid-phobia" thing anymore, and after my family gathering I just had tonight, I became conscious of that. When all of my teenage and young adult cousins had left the gathering, then I, refusing to have a binge-fest at the dessert counter, simply walked up to a table that was surrounded by four of my little cousins, and joined them in a game of "Pictureka". You see, a year ago I never would've done that. In fact, I had a habit of sticking around the older adults and just observing their "adult" conversations. But this time around, I just naturally decided to chill with the kids instead, as if it was something I've always done my whole life. I had so much fun with them, and you know why? Because a) kids are so intrigued with every word you say. b) they laugh at ALL your jokes, and pretty much anything you say. c) they actually listen to you. And d) kids are just so darn cute.

My favorite moment was when my little cousin asked me: "Do your cheeks ever get sore?"

"Err...no...why?" I replied.

"Because you smile ALL the time!"

And then I smiled some more. :)

Let's Do This!

Now that all my siblings and their significant others have flown the coop, I am now, one might say, an only child here at home. And apart from my almost-petty social life, I have time. Yes, TIME. Who would've thunk it? I have only less than two weeks to bathe in this tub of glorious bliss and tranquility before I hop onto the plane headed for sophisticated academics. This "time" has therefore resulted in the creation of a "Christmas Vacation To-Do List". And on January 10th I'm going to re-post this list so we can all see how much I am actually capable of accomplishing. (Yikes) ...And here we go:
-Finish reading Twilight.
-Read New Moon.
-Read the Twilight parody book, Nightlight. (hahah, what a great Christmas present)
-Work off that calorie-infested Christmas dinner on the treadmill.
-Buy a new camera with my Christmas money.
-Listen to something other than Owl City. (I will try my best...)
-Dine at Olive Garden at least once.
-Clean my room.
-Finish reading My Sister's Keeper.
-Read Sarah Palins' Going Rogue.
-Create a budget/financial plan. (I am ever-so terrible with money)
-Read The Time Traveler's Wife.
-Re-learn the guitar.
-Look at/research different universities.
-Write a blog entry everyday!
-Buy a coat & boots.
-Read Consider Lily.
-Draw something in my new sketchbook.
-Write a poem...or story...something creative.
-Cook and/or bake a spectacular masterpiece. (a.k.a Mac & Cheese)
-Work on my little scrapbook.
...May God be with us all. ;)

Best Christmas Ever :)

I've been having trouble sleeping lately; you know how it is, crawl into bed, squeeze the eyes shut and try not to think too hard. From an outsiders perspective, you'd only assume that I'm dealing with some kind of insomniac depression. But NO my friend, this is not the summer of 2009. Not even close. In fact, the only reason I've been unable to shut my eyes is because life is just too good to be true. I live each day in disbelief, pinching myself because I'm SO sure that it's all just a really, really great dream. But it's real and the pinches don't wake me up, they just hurt for a little while. ;)

So to be perfectly honest, these past few weeks things have been going good. No, make that great. Last Friday I got to experience my first time ever "I'm home from university for Christmas break" airport escapade! You know, with all the hugging and the tears. (JUST kidding, no tears were involved) But it was amazing to see the little crowd of my closest friends and family waiting at the bottom of the escalator for me.

There's nothing better than coming home to a place that has always made you feel safe. A place with two loving parents, and a place where every sweet memory is pinned and fingerprinted on each of the walls. I came home to a bedroom that looks exactly how I left it. It's good, in a sort of selfish and egotistical way, to find that your room hasn't been replaced with an office or some kind of sewing/craft room. It's nice knowing that you still have a place in your parents home. I came home to a niece who grew up so unbelievably fast in a matter of 4 months. She is sooo beautiful.
This whole week has been crazy busy. It's been SO great seeing all of my old friends again. We have had so much to catch up on. I remember a month ago I'd have these dreams at night where I would return home from university, and everyone would just hate me. I'm glad that not all dreams come true. :) I also checked my unofficial university transcript, and I've managed to score a 3.7 GPA on my very first semester. Wow. I honestly never, ever thought that I was going to do that well. I'm now more confident than ever that I can handle this whole "secondary education" thing.
A few days ago I thought to myself, "self: things have been going so great lately. Everything is perfect. Therefore, something is just BOUND to go wrong...right?" Right! Christmas Eve I was as sick as a dog. It was terrible. I mean, imagine yourself wrapping (or at least attempting to wrap) 50 gifts while your head is pounding like a jackhammer and your throat swelling to unbelievable heights. This sickness lasted only a day, as I turned out to be absolutely fine Christmas morning. Jesus can do amazing things on his birthday.
I have a little over two weeks until I return back to stress, textbooks, and overall: good times. So I'm going to spend this time finding out what my hobbies are (since university makes you forget that hobbies actually exist). I'll read, I'll write, I'll draw, I'll watch movies, and maybe I'll even pick up the guitar again. But most of all, I'm gonna spend my time loving those whom I've been missing so very much.
This has definitely been the best Christmas yet. I got to share it with my whole entire family: Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, and niece. If you ask me what presents and gifts I got for Christmas, well...I'm just gonna have to say: "I got my family for Christmas.", because there's no gift in the whole world that can make me feel so special and loved like the way my family can.
Seriously, what more could a person want?

All the right moves.

I wanna move to a city.

There, I said it.

To New York, San Francisco, Toronto...whatever.

I want some kick-ass schooling that brings me to a my dream career, like I'm living life on a well-defined walkway. A career that I'm good at, one that gets my heartbeat racing, and one that I'm known for.
I'd like to move into a not-so-cheap apartment, complete with my favorite art pieces on the red walls, colossal panes of glass, my own queen-sized bed, jacuzzi bath-tub, and dishwasher.
I want to walk up a fleet of staircases before I reach my door.

I want to see streets beneath my window, and the city skyline blanket the horizon.

I want to take a cab to work, and wear high heels all day.

I'd imagine that on my lunch breaks, I'd go out for sushi with my co-workers,

And after work, I'd go on the occasional date with a well-dressed man.

Call me crazy, but I would love to fall asleep to the yellowy-glow of street-lights streaming through the window.
Where is all this coming from? It's coming form the fact that I live 45 minutes away from a huge and gorgeous city, and I haven't even explored it yet. It's coming from me having no form of transportation at my fingertips. I need to go out.
Christmas break is lookin' good right now. There will be cities, airports, cars, independence, high heels, and fine dining.