2012 A Review

Hey y'all,

I know a lot of people did posts similar to this before the end of the year, but New Year's came up rather quickly for me so here are some of my amazing moments of 2012!

January

January began with some time at home over Christmas break with my baby sister, kDi. 

Celebrating rMc and kHm's 22nd birthdays!

Spring Recruitment (my last recruitment!) went off really well and PBX welcomed amazing new sisters including my glittle kBm!

We even celebrated my 22nd birthday! 

February

I attended the Duke/Carolina game @ the Dean Dome. It was my first Duke/Carolina game and while I was glad I attened with some of my favorite sisters it was a very heartbreaking game with a loss at the end.

Semi-Formal was a MardiGras theme and I loved spending time with my little, mGk and my other sisters. 

Really Bright roomie pic! I loved living with sisters.

March

March included spending time with my family over spring break, my last sisterhood retreat, lots of mid-terms and welcoming my new grandlittle!

April

The craziest month of them all. With the winding down of the semester, the Spring Football Game, finals, graduation things and sorority events I am surprised I made it all in one piece.

I took a day trip to DC one Sunday with my Monuments class.

I went home to celebrate my mother's birthday!

I-week ended with celebrating kBm as an official sister of Phi Beta Chi

Senior Chapter came and I cried as I became an alumnae of PBX and said goodbye to my Fam.

My PBX FAM!

I celebrated my last formal!

Took Senior Photos

Went to A Capella Concerts

May

Started this blog!

Saw Wicked in Durham with jCm

Celebrated graduation at rMc's house party

Had one last Huraah on Franklin Street

GRADUATED! (English Department Graudation)

Some of the PBX Seniors on Graduation Day

Roomies and Sisters graduating together.

June

Worked a lot, applied to lots of jobs, and spent lots of time with my family.

July

Caught up with some friends from HS. Worked. Applied to Jobs.

Visited friends including my glittle, sGc in Wilmington at the end of the month.

August

September

Visited Carolina to celebrate my twins' birthdays as well as my baby sis turning 20!

October

Interviewed for my current job twice. Recieved word. Packed up my life. Looked at Apartments. Signed a Lease. Became and Adult.

Welcomed my gglitte to the family!

November

Started my job. Celebrated Thanksgiving with my Family. 

Celebrated sGc's 21st birthday! My glittle is all grown up!

December

jCm GRADUATED!

I went home for Christmas and met Max!

I wonder what 2013 will bring! What was your favorite thing in 2012?

Peace and Blessings,

jDl

5 Summer Goals.

Hey y'all,

I am an obsessive list maker so I figured why not post my current goals as a reminder/accountability for my summer goals.

1. Read more. Every summer I spend more and more time reading for fun since I am not worried about reading on a deadline like I had to for the past four years as an English major. I went to one of the local libraries yesterday to look for a book my Mom wanted. Well, I didn't find hers but I found eight books for me. YAY for summer reading time. My goal is at least 20 books by the end of August.

Look at my finds. To see what I am reading on GoodReads click here.

2. Save money. This one will be difficult for me since I am a shopaholic but I need to save up for a down payment on a car since the one I currently drive I share with my baby sister and since I have now graduated she needs the car up at NCState in the fall. I am excited to eventually get my very own car, not so much about the monthly payment but it is another step of being a post-grad.

3. Find a Full Time job. I am blessed that my parents allowed me back in their home and I go back to my summer retail job on Sunday but I know that I don't want to stay in my hometown for very long. I have a long list of deadlines for resumes and cover letters to finish up before Sunday. I will of course keep searching so any good thoughts/prayers/karma for the job hunt will be appreciated!

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4. Learn to love running. I hate to run but I know I should add it to my exercise regime since it is a great way to get healthy. Now without any major papers or deadlines I am going to focus on my health and getting fit not only for the summer but for life. The stress of college had a toll on my health but I am committing to add lots of fruits and veggies and cutting out all that food I would eat at night while I was studying.

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5. This is the most important to me but I want to work on my relationship with God. I am a Christian girl and my relationship with God is very important to me and it is something that takes effort and I am focusing on a devotional daily, a journal and some other sources. Pinterest is another great way to remind myself of God's promises in the amount of verses posted. My sorority sisters are also great inspiration with their journeys. If you have any great inspirational book selections post them below!

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Do you have any goals for the summer? What is your ultimate goal for this summer?

Peace and Blessings,
jDl

At a loss for words?

Hey y'all,

Today marks my first day without college classes or exams and while I will be running around volunteering, crafting my graduation cap, having time with my sorority family and a second interview what I would love to be doing would be making a crack at my summer reading list. Even in a post-grad world, I will always associate May-August as the time to run to the library or book store and get lost in a good read.

As for the last few years my reading has been halted by the immense amount of reading as an English major rather than finding completely fun reading time. So this year I am setting a goal to read twenty books between May 1st and September 1st so let the reading begin!

So where does one begin when they are given free reign to begin to pleasure read begin? That is where I need some recommendations. I am currently eyeing the following books.

-Lynsay Sands: Under a Vampire Moon

-Nicholas Sparks: The Best of Me & Safe Haven

-Lauren Willig: The Pink Carnation Series

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

The Masque of the Black Tulip

The Deception of the Emerald Ring

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine

The Betrayal of the Blood Lily

The Orchid Affair

The Garden Intrigue

Sara Gruen: Water for Elephants

Now it is time to explore the bookshelves of the nearest bookstore and find some other additions to this list and who knows what will be this summer's The Help.

Happy Reading,

jDl

"What you read when you don't have to determines what you will be when you can't help it." Oscar Wilde