break a silver lining.

it's been a while! the halloween season has come and gone. I am always sad to see October go because it's such a wonderful month. I don't think I am ever quite excited about November but it's here and that means Thanksgiving and Christmas are nearing! Come to think about it, the semester will also be ending! Scary...
I don't know where I will apply once I graduate but I can't even think about that until I focus more on just getting the work done!! I am very behind in math and sociology unfortunately.
Erik and I went to Bonita Beach, FL to visit mom for 6 days last month. We had a great time...I miss the warm weather & the gorgeous aqua water. Erik and I had fun watching the different sea birds...some were divers, some were floaters and the others were just dang funny with their skinny, long legs.
I have photos, I just have to get around to posting them...
I know that mom also took several so I will have to ask her for them.
Last Thursday I drove up to NP after class to meet Rosco and Erik for our first visit to see Niki. I didn't enjoy the experience, but I didn't expect that I would... I am glad she won't be there long because I know she is miserable.
Friday, I woke up around 11 after sleeping in a bit with Erik. He gets back at 7am now because he is working 3rd shift. I spent time with Jessica C. drinking hot green tea, eating rice cakes with peanut butter and watching the final part of the BBC film version of Pride and Prejudice. It took us 4 hours because we kept pausing to talk and catch up...it had been since early August since I had seen her.
Later in the evening we drove my sister Jillian to Greenfield HS for the game against NP and then drove up to Castleton to Erin's apartment. We drove from Erin's to some great bar in Broadripple. I ordered spinach dip, Erin got fish tacos and Jess got a hot ham and cheese and we all shared her fries. We chatted about Erin's taste in guys and the new Harry Potter movie. haha.
After dinner, we drove over to Kroger for the ingredients to make butterbeer as well as some ice cream. I also grabbed a 4 pack of reese's peanut butter cups =) to mix into mine.
When we got back, we were all three standing in the kitchen waiting on the butterscotch & butter to heat up in the microwave and as I opened the cream soda it sprayed out everywhere...all over us, the floor, the counter, the microwave, the wall...
Hahaha it was a crazily sticky mess. We had a good laugh, took a picture together and loaded up our bowls with ice cream and sat down for the Jersey Shore: Miami Reunion.
Saturday, I slipped out of bed to run some last minute errands for my Halloween costume then went back to Erik's to pick him up. We went to dad's together for some left over pizza but when there was none we hung around anyway. Erik helped dad install the new wooden blinds in the kitchen and I listened to Chelsea's woes over NP losing to Greenfield the night before.
Erik and I went to McDonald's on Washington Street. We went to hang out at his grandparents' house alone for a while. He took a nap and I tried on my Black Swan ballerina costume then we headed over to Uncle Mark's separately. When we arrived we left with my cousin Beth to hunt down the butter beer ingredients. We went to 3 different places before finally just buying some at Wal-Mart lol... We ate ice cream with the crunch coat topping and sprinkles, popcorn and drank our butter beer. We attempted to watch the movie Gingersnaps twice but were interrupted the first time by grandpa, the second time by Nathan and his family visiting but the third time was a go! I had to leave before it was over to meet up with the Erin and Jess at Erin's apartment.
At Erin's I met Elyse, Jessica's friend who went as Lady Gaga for Halloween, Chris, Erin's date for the night who went as a stoner. Jessica went as bar fight Barbie, Erin went as a character from Pulp Fiction. We had a good time...except that Ashley didn't make it out...
Coming up...is nothing exciting as far as I can think
Except that mom will be here this month in time for Thanksgiving =)
I saw on facebook today that James got a new tattoo on his side.
I like it.

Anyway
Later

I never knew...what true love could do

So last time I posted all my outfits! Finally!! I have so many great pieces & was thrilled to pick them all out & put them together.

I went shopping the following day & bought 2 pairs of jeans from h&m (one light, one dark), a striped olive green/ dark brown top with sequin leaf patterns on each shoulder and also a pair of dark jeans from BKE

I love Amanda Seyfried's style:
http://www.denimology.com/2009/10/20541_Amanda_Seyfried_InStyle-UK_Nov2009_4_123_761lo-thumb-440x665-21724.jpg

http://cdn.picapp.com/ftp/Images/e/2/3/0/Actress_Amanda_Seyfried_7345.jpg?adImageId=3451191&imageId=6616778

She definitely inspires me :)

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Location:Boyfriend's

the sweet escape.

Here are some of the shots from the Nikamy Photoshoot, featuring Niki's vintage and handmade jewelry as well as other vintage clothing items and hair accessories. This photoshoot was sooo much fun!

Love the hat and the vintage necklace ;)

Iron & wine

This is not goodbye.

I am home after a great day. This morning I went to the Quest service at my church where my favorite Sunday school teacher, Mr. McCarty spoke about Jesus' Miracles, specifically explaining the bleeding woman's healing and the twelve-year-old girl being brought back from the dead through Jesus. After that, I enjoyed a great lunch with Mr. McCarty and his wonderful wife Mary. I was blessed to open my heart to them and seek their wisdom on a few things going on in my life. What would life be like if we couldn't connect with others? I wouldn't want to walk this Earth alone.

After lunch, I came home and rested for a few hours before heading over to my grandma's house on the South East side. I was able to enjoy the company of both of my grandparents, my uncle and my cousins Beth, Joseph, Josh and Nathan. My mom and two brothers Aaron and James were also there. Nathan brought his wife Nicki and their children Alex, Kale, Bella and 8 week old Evelyn! Evelyn is a doll...I loved holding her and admiring her. Grandpa told me that I looked "natural" holding a baby hahaha. I knew he meant it as a compliment, but my mom and uncle were both saying I could wait a few years! I thought it was a sweet compliment regardless.

Erik is in Bloomington working today so I miss him! He went with me Friday night after work to drive my dad to Jasper. Dad is in Jasper visiting my grandparents for a couple of days. Dad actually called me while I was at grandma McKinney's and told me that grandma and grandpa Brittain are willing to live with them in the Fall semester while I finish my degree down at VU. I got the chance to talk to grandma for a minute and she asked about my new car that dad bought me.

My sisters Chelsea and Jillian are in Orlando, Florida enjoying a vacation with Lori, Dale, Jordan and Jake Edwards. Lucky!!

I am so excited because Friday me, dad and the girls leave by plane for North Carolina to visit my Aunt Brenda and Uncle Terry. We are also planning a trip to Hilton Head. I am in dire need of a vacation so it's coming at a great time.

I can't say that I was ready for mom and James to leave but I believe they are both doing positive things with their lives and what more could we ask for? I know I will be ok and even though I shed some tears, life is about changes and this is just a new chapter that I have to accept.

It was touching to see my older brother hugging our grandparents goodbye, James hopped in the car with me, mom and her cat Mermaid were in her car with Aaron and we parted ways. I took James to Christian's house and then as I pulled up in my driveway, I just cried in my car for a minute but I know that with God I can make it and I just have to remind myself that this is not goodbye!

New start

I am starting fresh! I have confessed my sins, grief and shame to Jesus and I know that through Him I am forgiven :)
I was blessed to be raised in a Christian environment. I have believing parents and grandparents and with their guidance and through my own curiosity & faith, I too became a follower of Jesus. The more mature I become, I am more certain there is nothing else more beautiful I could ever do with my life besides love my creator!

My cousin posted a neat status about faith on Facebook today which I copied as my own status, "Faith makes all things possible...not easy."

My journey of faith has not been a straight path but I am blessed to say I am forgiven anyway. Despite my inconsistencies and my bitterness after my stepmom passed away from cancer in January of this year, I have redirected my life to live and be more like my Savior.

I can't do this alone but I am encouraged knowing that I have a foundation of my church family. I watched a cool podcast of pastor Mark Driscoll discussing the church family and in this video he talks about how we may become annoyed by people in church but he says that is what family is really about! We drive each other nuts but we can learn from each other & teach each other. We all need compassion so knowing that, we should give it!