Valentine's Day

This year was our second Valentine's Day together, but I told him that I didn't want him to spend money on chocolates and flowers because they always jack up the prices of everything and I think Valentine's Day is a big Halmark holiday, so I decided to make him something instead of spending money. Plus I think it shows more thought when you make something instead of spending money.

I made Ben a 52 Reasons Why I Love You "book" with a deck of cards.

First you hole punch all of the cards with two holes. 

I ended up using sand paper on the cards to give them a
weathered look because they looked too new. 

I also used coffee to stain them. 

Cards drying

After they were all dry, I used Elmer's Glue and glued
on each of the reasons to the cards.  

All finished! 

Ben gave me a Marines shirt (super excited!) as well as a box of Godiva chocolate (which was all eaten within like four days haha).

We decided we weren't going to spend a whole lot of money on presents or anything because the weekend after Valentine's Day I went up there for the long weekend over President's Day. The weekend was so much fun! We stayed in this awesome hotel called Aloft. It was a very modern place and I thought it was really cool, Ben thought it was a little "too modern" but it was pretty cool. We went to the aquarium in Baltimore and the sting rays were the COOLEST thing! I could have sat there and watched them all day!

Getting to see him reminded me why, although I hate this whole distance thing, it really makes our relationship that much better then every other kind. We value every minute we get to spend together and getting to be a "normal" couple is something we look forward to.

The G word...

Grotesque? No. Gore? Nope. Gruesome? Maybe. Gangsta? Definitely not. So what "g word" and I talking about exactly?


Graduation...[insert dramatic "dun dun dun" here]

Day by day I feel it creeping up on me quickly. It is already the third week of February and midterms are knocking on the door, so May 6 (or the dreaded g-word) is going to be here before I can even blink. Before this semester started, I was completely ready (or so I thought) with the thought of moving on with my life. And while I still feel that I am completely over college and classes, I don't think I'm ready for my friends to all leave.

Moving home this semester has felt like an early departure from the University of Dayton. Sure, I only live five minutes down the street and I can go any time I want, but I find myself (more often then not) staying at home because "I don't want to waste gas driving back and forth." Now this is a bit of an issue because I STILL don't have a job (I'm so tired of filling out applications), so I have to be careful on how much money I'm spending (especially since I still want to buy a new camera with my money I got back from moving home). This whole no job thing really sucks. You would think a 22-year-old college student (almost college graduate) would be able to find ANY job doing ANYTHING...I guess I should get used to this though since I have wasted my four years getting a degree that is practically pointless. Why didn't anyone tell me what I was doing was stupid? Grrrr.

"What do you plan to do after graduation?" seems to be the question on everybody's mind these days as well...and what's my answer? Try to find a job, just like everyone else. And when asked what kind of job, I answer with any kind. Honestly, I think I went in to college with the mentality that it didn't really matter what I was getting a degree in, as long as I was getting one in something. I am going to be graduating with a major in Communications with a concentration in journalism (mistake number one), and a minor in photography (mistake number two). As far as the journalism thing goes, I should have concentrated more in PR instead of journalism, but that ship sailed a long time ago. And as far as photography, well, I learned more in the last four years getting paid shooting weddings with Nick then I did in any of my classes at UD, which is unfortunate. I've actually been considering going to massage school after graduation just for shits and giggles...we'll see about that though. I've over school and need time off.

As far as Ben and I go, we need to be together. I'm tired of the distance and I know it's hard, if not harder sometimes, for him. So the unofficial plan, at least for now, is to wait until he is done with TBS (The Basic School aka Marine bootcamp which lasts for six months after his graduation (May 29)) and then move with him where ever he gets stationed afterwards.

So before the big day of receiving my diploma, what do I have to do? Well it's going to be a crazy three and a half months. During my midterm break (February 29 - March 4), I will be headed to the Dive Vortex and Morrison Springs in Ponce de Leon, FL to get scuba certified! For the last month and a half, every Monday and every other Wednesday, I have been enrolled in a class to become certified. I'm super excited, but kind of nervous at the same time. I think it'll be really awesome! I just hope my nerves don't get the best of me! As far as March goes, well, there's my senior St. Patrick's Day, which by any guess will be more insane than the past three years combined. And then the UD Club Softball team is headed to the Cavalier Classic at the University of Virginia. April is going to be a complete blur. We have Easter Break from April 4-10 (along with Ben's and my two year anniversary!!), then the second weekend is I-Ball (International Ball) in Annapolis, but I'm not sure if we're going to that or if Ben is coming home that weekend, but the third weekend, the softball team is at it again, only we're headed to Chicago to play Loyola, and the last weekend is Renee's bachelorette party! Then it's a week of finals (May 1-4) and I graduate May 6.

But wait! Just because school is over doesn't mean it gets any less busy. Daytona is May 8-13 and I couldn't be more excited! I'm going with Shannon, Caroline, April and Jenni and we're going to be in Hotel 2, so that will be a blast! Then the following weekend is Danny and Renee's wedding (FINALLY!!!!!!) and then I'm headed to Annapolis with Ben's parents for a week for his commissioning.

Overall, I'm pretty excited for the next few months, but my senior year of college is almost over. I can't believe my college experience is almost over. When they say time flies...they're really NOT kidding. I feel like yesterday I was moving in to Founders (my freshman dorm) and meeting all the amazing people I have encountered since then.

So for now, that's it. Happy Valentine's Day ya'll!

XOXO

"You" by Chris Young

So I recently heard this song and I really liked it. I hope you do too!

Here's where I got the lyrics!

You 

by Chris Young

The bluest skies don't seem so blue

And the stars seem to be a little dimmer too

Now that you're around you put them all to shame

Let me break it down because what I'm trying to say is

No one gets me like you when you kiss me, girl 

You rock me harder than some down town band

I thought I knew what love was but I didn't have a clue

I never found anything that makes me feel like I do about you

Got a whole new direction it seems these days

I used to rush off to work and get home late

But now I show up late and rush back home

My priorities are different I can't leave you alone

No one gets me like you when you kiss me, girl

You rock me harder than some down town band

I thought I knew what love was but I didn't have a clue

I never found anything that makes me feel like I do about you

Girl if you ever get to guessin' if I'm thinking about you,

Just remember

No one gets me like you when you kiss me, girl

You rock me harder than some down town band

I thought I knew what love was but I didn't have a clue

I never found anything that makes me feel like I do about you

Youuuuu, ohhh youuuuu