T-21 Days

     I was able to pick up these on the 22nd:

      And I finally remembered to pick this up on the 24th:

     I feel like the time is going to fly these next couple of weeks. I'm about to put in my two week's notice at work and school is winding down. I have a pile of cardboard boxes in my room that I brought up with me on my last visit home, so I can eventually start packing. Oh, and by the way, interesting fact: This will be my 13th time moving. I'd like to consider myself an expert now in the ways of packing up my life and starting somewhere new.

     Another interesting fact: I hate moving. Or rather, I hate packing and unpacking. The only plus side to it is that I can get reorganized. Which is something I desperately need in my life. Organization.

      Well, I'm off to enjoy the last couple of hours I have of relaxation time before my shift tonight. Until next time :)

Trip to Newport

     I put off making this post, but only because I just didn't feel like sitting down and doing it. I'm finding that to be my mood a lot lately....I definitely would diagnose myself with senior-itis. BIG TIME! Hopefully I'll be able to kick this laziness before grad school starts on June 25th (eek!).
     Anyway, I had the pleasure of taking a trip with Archer and Britt to Newport, OR on the 21st. While the weather wasn't cooperative for going to the beach like we had hoped, we were able to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We also got a special behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium thanks to a good friend of Andrew's, Warren (hopefully I spelled that right). Be prepared for a lot of photos, courtesy of Britt, because my camera is not as amazing as hers. As she constantly kept saying at the aquarium, "I LOVE my camera!".

      The ones below weren't taken at the aquarium, but at a shop that had just about anything you could think of.

      And finally some lovely shots of Newport. Even though it was rainy, windy, and cold, it was still beautiful to look at.

     After the drive back to Corvallis, we stopped at Block 15 to get a very late lunch. We were all starving by the time we got here.

      And the food was delicious! I had a Grilled Turkey and Cheddar Cheese Sandwich with some Garlic Parmesan Fries. I think the fries are the best thing about Block 15, hands down.

     I'm finding that with my time in Corvallis drawing to a close, I've been starting to check stuff off my list that I've always wanted to do since I've been up here: Drive to the coast, check out the Farmer's Market, and in about a week, hang out in Portland. I'm having a blast, and it's an added bonus when I get to spend time with my family.

Good Ol' Family Time

     I'm so lucky to have such an amazing family. On the 20th, I headed over to Jess and Andrew's for a celebratory dinner for graduating from OSU and getting accepted into grad school. Britt and Archer were also up in Albany visiting for the week. Of course, Britt and I had to take some sister pictures. Afterwards, we realized that it was the first one we had of us together with her wearing her uniform.

      Andrew and Archer made a yummy dinner: Pork chops, steamed broccoli, and roasted seasoned potatoes. Andrew also made a lovely drink for me: Cran-Pomegranate juice, splash of lemon juice, splash of Limeade, and whiskey.

      This was the AMAZING dessert that I have been craving for ages: Blueberry Cobbler. I love the warm berries and cobbler mixed with vanilla ice cream. Mmm...mmm...GOOD!

     I wish I had taken a picture of the whole gang, but we were having too much fun talking and playing Yahtzee (which was mine and Britt's first time). I love me some Abblitt family time :) Thanks Andrew and Jess! And Archer, as he shared the chef duties.

A Surprise Trip Back Home

     I managed to make a trip back home to Grants Pass on the 17th. I had been planning the trip for a couple weeks, and Britt was once again my accomplice. I wasn't able to be there for Dad's birthday or for Mother's Day, so I decided to surprise Mom for her birthday. I woke up and took off from Corvallis around 8, managing to get to Grants Pass around 11. Of course the gate was locked, and to keep things a surprise, it had to stay that way...so I just drove around it.

    Britt ran outside to hand me a gold bow that I stuck to the front of my shirt. She then ran back inside to tell Mom that there was something she needed to see outside. Mom stepped out the front door, and saw me sitting on top of the Oldsmobile (Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of this, but Britt did record the whole thing).

     Archer, Britt, and I took off in the afternoon to the 2912 house to pick out paint colors. Let me tell you, that house is a challenge! But we all managed to agree eventually :)
     We came back home and I started cooking the birthday cake, Lemon Cake. We had to do the birthday celebration early because Britt had to take off for drill on Mom's actual birthday, the 18th.

     Britt eventually started cooking dinner, and made a Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta, Steamed Broccoli, French Bread, and Garlic Parmesan Bread. It was delicious!

     Of course during clean up, which Brianna magically managed to skip out on haha, Britt dropped butter onto her new shorts.

     The next morning, Dad took us (Me, Britt, Mom, and Archer) out to Denny's for Mom's Birthday Breakfast.

     And finally, later that night, Brianna had her Cabaret choir concert at GPHS. It was awesome to see her perform. I haven't been able to make it out to one of her performances before. I was definitely the proud older sister. Couldn't stop smiling while she was singing!

     It was so nice to spend time with the family for a couple of days. I'm looking forward to June when I move back down and will be around more for all the family events :)

An Early Surprise

     When I transferred to OSU, I started a new tradition. I wasn't around to celebrate Mother's Day with Momma anymore, but I still wanted her to know I was thinking about her. That's when I started sending her flowers for Mother's Day. And today, Momma got her early surprise :)

     

     I wanted to make sure that she would get them in time for Mother's Day. And I had Dad and Britt help with making sure that the gate was open for delivery. Britt also was awesome enough to take pictures for me.
     My mother is an amazing woman and I'm so lucky that I can call her, "Momma". She has incredible strength and is devoted to her family. She has always been there for me, through the bad and good, and I will never be able to thank her enough. I love you, Momma!

Getting Back to the Old Me

     I was always a little heavier than I should have been in high school. I wasn't very active, besides the dancing that I did for show choir, and I didn't eat well either. I got even less active and started eating worse when we moved to Oregon. Combine that with stress from school and family, and I got even heavier. I'm not saying that I was fat or obese, but I definitely was not happy with how I looked.
     When I transferred to OSU, I was so worried about the "Freshman 15" everyone talks about. Turns out, the opposite was true for me. I was lucky. I was walking everywhere multiple times a day, and sometimes even found the extra time to hit the gym with friends. I didn't particularly like the food that was offered at the dining halls, so I didn't eat as much anymore. I didn't even realize how much I had changed until I would go home for visits and everyone would be making comments about how great I looked and how much weight had I lost. Over the course of about a year, I lost almost 30 lbs. And I was in the best shape of my life! I started running and even got my mile time down to 7:47. Which was huge! I had never been below a 10 minute mile before.
     Now fast forward to today: I've gained back some of that weight that I worked so hard to keep off. I found myself stressed and overwhelmed with work and school, and couldn't make the time to workout. I started eating waaayyy too much fast food, because it was easier and faster than me having to cook for myself. 
     I'm not happy about the weight that I have gained, so I made a decision and it starts today (which is why I'm writing about it- I'm hoping it'll force me to stick with it). No more fast food, no more sweets, and no more chips. And I'm going to find the time to workout every day....whether it be yoga or running. I even started a journal for it. I've found that if I record what activity I did, or what I ate for the day, I'm more likely to make those healthy decisions. It helps keep me on track. I've always had this goal of doing a half-marathon before I turn 25. So the way I see it, that leaves me 2 years to get back in fighting shape and meet my goal. Let's see if I can do it! :)

We Bought A Zoo

     I don't have anything new to post about my life, except that I am burnt out with school. Seriously, my brain is just done. I've been in college for 5 years and I think my mind is telling me it needs a break. Which sadly, it won't be getting. Crazy girl that I am, I decided to start a two year grad program in June. Sigh...but I don't let myself think that far ahead....too stressful and too exhausting!
     Anyway, I was relaxing before I have to go to work tonight (Closing shift, woo woo!-completely sarcastic by the way). The Redbox finally got a movie in yesterday that I have been dying to see: We Bought A Zoo.

     The movie was great! And it was actually based on a real zoo. The man still lives on the zoo with his two kids today. It also gave me the strange urge to: A. Open up my own zoo or B. Go visit a zoo (And this is a little more doable, I think). Plus, I have yet to go to the Portland Zoo. Maybe I'll add that to mine and Britt's list for places we want to see this summer.
     The young girl who plays the daughter in the movie is adorable! Her real name is Maggie Elizabeth Jones. And can I just say, that when I have kids someday, I hope I have one with curly strawberry blonde hair like her (It's possible lol, I had curly strawberry blonde hair at one point).

     See? She's adorable! And she had some great lines. My favorite? "Their happy is too loud." Such a sweet movie.