I think it’s about time I start taking control of my life. Honestly, so far, I’ve let life control me a little. It’s easier that way. Things just fall into place sometimes, and it’s nice not having to make decisions. When I felt myself getting stressed last week over what to make for dinner, though, I knew it was time to reevaluate. Deciding what to make for dinner should not make me want to curl up on my couch eating chocolate ice cream while crying and watching Sex and the City. It shouldn’t upset me that much.

When I was fifteen, I had a “plan” for my life–married by age twenty-one(check), finished with school by age twenty-three (not going to happen), buy a house and have a baby and an awesome career by age twenty-five (yeah, right). As we all know, plans usually don’t work out. Why, though? What happens in between? Life, of course … But when do we stop controlling how our life pans out? When do we lose the grip we have on all of those big plans?

While I’m okay with not receiving my Bachelor’s degree until I’m probably twenty-five, I’m sometimes not okay with the fact that I may be nearly thirty by the time we’re ready to start a family. I told Husband the other day that I’d rather just get my Bachelor’s degree, have a baby, and go back to school for my Master’s when the baby is old enough to start school. (To do what I want to do, I need my Master’s.) Is that realistic, though? Is it idiotic to have a “plan,” even though I know it probably won’t pan out exactly in the way I want it to? There’s a time in everyone’s life in which we must allow life to take control, allowing the chips to fall where they may … But when is the appropriate time to take back the reigns and steer life the way you want it to go?

Ingrid Michaelson – “The Way I Am” – (official Music Video) – The best home videos are here

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Too much cuteness for one day, right? Okay, okay. I’ll stop. You can see the rest on my flickr page. I will leave you with one more photo, though. I made these amazing almod cupcakes last night. I’m calling them the “three-hour cupcakes” for now, though. That’s another story for another day…

If you have any tips for using the D5000, feel free to email me! I’m open to some pointers.

• School, like I said. I had a couple weeks of complete stress, and I almost wrote about it. Instead, I decided to actually do something about it and get things done. It worked because now, I’m feeling less overwhelmed. It’s a nice feeling.
• Booking a hotel in Asheville, North Caroline for June. I know it’s nearly four months away, but it’s something to look forward to. Husband and I will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary, so we want to take a mini-vacation to our honeymoon location. Our hotel looks beautiful from the pictures, and I can’t wait to actually get there and enjoy the time off. More on that at a later date, though.
• Buying a Nikon D5000. I finally did it. I’m completely in love with that camera, and it was well worth the money. I’ve wanted it since I first saw it, but it just wasn’t in my price range. After having a few hundred dollars knocked off, I decided it was time to buy it. Right now, I’m just learning the basics because I’ve never had a DSLR before–I’ve always used film.
• Missing my sister. She decided to go to Florida, and she’s staying with my aunt until summer (or longer). She’s honestly one of my best friends, and I feel sort of lost without her. She’s only been gone a week, and even though I don’t see her often enough when she’s here, I miss her terribly right now. Pretty much all of my family lives in Florida (aside from my parents and siblings), so it’s hard to have her so far away as well. I think she needs this, as a growing phase in her life, but I selfishly want her to come home soon.
• Wanting too much. I want so many things (a degree, a career, a baby …) that will all come in time. (But I want them now.) I’m trying to learn how to live in the moment and be satisfied with what I have right now.

I haven’t been around much when it comes to commenting, and I admit that I am way behind on my blog-reading. So, what have you been up to?

I listen to this twosome constantly. I have all of their albums on my ipod, and their music is soothing.

Azure Ray – November – Click here for the most popular videos

Don’t forget to check out all of the “Music I Like.”

1. I’m pro-choice. I know, I know. Abortion is a TOUCHY subject. I get into debates all the time about this; however, I completely respect the opinions of those without the same views as me. (I was once pro-life, when I was younger, and I try not to attack the person OR their views if they are pro-life.) Though I’m pro-choice, I’m not necessarily pro-abortion. I just believe in a woman’s right to choose (especially if rape/incest is involved).

2. I’m a believer in God. Sort of. I once went to church often, but phased out of going. Now, I go on Sundays (occasionally) to the church I was married in. I only go when I feel it’s right for me to go … And I don’t have all of the same beliefs as Christians do. I was raised as a Baptist, but I went to a Methodist church when I was younger. My parents never made me go; I chose to go. When I was in high school, I went to a non-denominational youth group every Wednesday. It was an amazing experience. Now, I go to a Baptist church.

3. When I was younger, I thought I was fat (even though I was nothing NEAR it). I always tell people I never had issues with my weight, but I did. Not in the extreme, but I would go through phases of not eating right and doing hundreds of crunches in my room every day. The bad part? I was only in the sixth grade.

4. When I was in middle school, I had “boyfriends” that always treated me like crap. One boy called me names; another boy tried to physically hurt me by pinching me until it hurt. I never realized that this was a form of emotional AND physical abuse, until I was older. I eventually wised up in high school and dated a great guy for two years. (We broke up because 1) I was growing in a different direction than he was in my life after my Granny passed away and 2) I met Husband.) Though, in between dating him and officially beginning to date Husband, I mixed myself in with a couple boys who weren’t good for me (one of whom was twenty-one while I was seventeen).

5. This one is completely random, and doesn’t really go along with the previous facts. I once had PERFECT vision, until I started my current job. Now, I work on a computer all day, plus I take online classes. I’ll probably need reading glasses soon.

6. I realized that I blocked out most of my high school years. I think it’s because both my granny and pawpaw died (when I was a sophomore). I was so close to them, and it shook me to the core. I still have trouble some days, though I’m able to think of all of the happy times now, without getting too upset. I don’t remember a lot that went on during high school, though, and they weren’t “the best years of my life.” My sophomore year wasn’t all bad, though; I met Husband that year, and it changed my life.

7. Growing up, I was lactose intolerant. I had to eat sherbet instead of ice cream. I felt special. Now, I can have milk and ice cream in moderation.

8. I almost gave up on Husband. We had a rough beginning. He was afraid of commitment, and I was still in high school. Though we knew we loved each other, I almost gave up, but decided he needed to know I wasn’t going anywhere. He realized this, and asked me to be his girlfriend. A year and a half later, we got married.

9. I was a “cutter” as a teenager. I realize now just how stupid it was. It started in high school, though I’m not sure why. My life was happy at the time. It escalated when Granny was diagnosed with cancer. After she died, I think I did it once … and then I knew it was stupid.

10. I often have no idea where my life is going, and that really scares me. Sometimes, it feels too repetitive for my liking.

Tagged: Ashley, Rachie, Alana, Erin, Steph, Ashley, and Ellie.

Chairlift – Bruises (Official Music Video) – Watch more top selected videos about: Chairlift

Don’t forget to check out all of the “Music I Like.”

Don’t forget to check out all of the “Music I Like.”

As most of you know, I’ve worked a full time job as an administrative assistant to an engineering group, Monday through Friday, for a year (and a day!) now. I wake up at the ungodly hour of 5:00 a.m. (Yes, it’s as bad as it sounds) and I’m usually at work by about 6:15 a.m. At work, I perform the exciting tasks of scheduling meetings, making copies, updating excel documents, etc… (It’s really not that bad, and I like that my job is pretty low-key most of the time.) Being that I get to work a little early, I’m able to leave around 2:30 p.m. (which is always nice). After arriving home at 3:00 p.m., I start on homework. As you know, I’m taking a full load of online classes this semester (Intro to Sociology, Human Growth & Development, Western World Lit., and Intro to Women’s Studies), so there is no time for relaxation. Okay, I lie. On Tuesdays and Fridays, I usually end up going to my brother-in-law’s basketball games, so I relax on the homework. On Mondays and Thursdays, I only do things that are necessary (because those are TV nights—How I Met Your Mother and Grey’s Anatomy). Wednesdays are the days that I really crack down on the reading and assignments. And I may or may not take homework breaks by playing the New Super Mario Bros. for Wii. Usually, during the week, I’m in bed by ten. Because I’m getting old. Or because I wake up seven hours later. Either way.

Ah, the weekends. I look forward to them. On Saturdays, I’m pretty useless. I always sleep in, and I rarely get any homework done. (Unless, of course, I waited until the last minute to write that 5-page paper and it’s due that night.) Usually, I try to talk Husband into going out for dinner and (sometimes) a movie. Or we stay home and watch old seasons of How I Met Your Mother (we’re finally on season five, though). On Sunday, I wake up as late as possible with just enough time to get ready for church (if I decide to go—which I haven’t for the past few Sundays). If I stay home, I just catch up on reading for school. At noon, Husband and I go to his great-grandma’s house for lunch. We do this every Sunday, and it’s always nice. We visit for about three hours, usually, and then we either go home and do nothing (or homework) OR go grocery shopping.

Really, that’s what my life is right now. It’s full of homework, real work, high school basketball games, HIMYM & Grey’s Anatomy, and going to bed early & waking up early.

If I had to live in your life for a week, what would it be like?