Chocolate Pudding Pie and Insane People

Hello Bloggers! You know, some days...ok weeks...ok months, can just be terrible. And there's nothing you can do about it...except eat chocolate pudding pie. I mean, seriously. Nothing can make you feel better than politely eating your one piece whilst in the midst of a group of people (guys included), then going home with the said pie and eating 2 more slices. Seriously. I feel so much better now. A little bloated, but delightfully happy right now. Shout out to Katie K. who made said pie. She is amazingly talented. And she has no idea how much I needed that chocolate fix!

So here is what I think...I think that life is hard sometimes. And though I fully believe in having a positive outlook on life and trying to push through any trial that comes your way, sometimes it's just not as easy. And I am nowhere near perfect. I get annoyed with people. I get down on myself in ways that no one realizes. I don't handle criticism well, especially when I feel like I am doing so well. It is like when you study really hard for that test, and you KNOW you got every single question right. And then you get the test back, and you did horribly. Sometimes that is how I feel with people. I feel as though I put a lot of effort into the relationships around me, and then when I hear that they think less of me, it's hard to handle. And it makes for some very lonely nights. I don't know what it is about weekends, but it's like once Friday hits, it's time for me to cry. I spend many nights in my room, after having perfectly fun and nice days, crying alone. I don't know why. I think the stress just gets to me sometimes. It's hard having to be who people want me to be. And you know what bloggers, I am done! And I am going to be happier for it. I am who I am. And I try to be kind to everyone. I try to be nice. I try to be sweet. I try to help those around me and not burden them with the trials and difficulties of my life. I will talk to people, but I internalize and deal with things on my own. It's easier that way. And I have no solution as to how to fix this dilemma that I find myself in. The only solution I have is to eat more chocolate pudding pie and go to bed. But here are some things that I know:

1. I know that God hears my prayers, and He will always listen to me

2. I know that I do have great friends and family who love me. 

3. My roommates are amazing.

4. My boyfriend loves me and puts up with me, so I don't really care about anyone else.

5. I have those few girls I know I can always call and talk to when things get bad. They are my secret guardian angels, and I know they know who they are. They listen and comfort me when no one else will, even those closest to me. And I thank them for their love and support.

6. I will always remain true to myself. Because that is how you stay happy. Is by being happy with yourself and loving who you are and the decisions you have made in life.

Lesson #6: Always stay true to yourself and know that even when everything around you is falling apart and you feel like you aren't good enough, that you ARE good enough. That doing your best is enough. Accept yourself, and don't worry about anyone else. Just be happy and let others feel your happiness and love.

So always remember...

All good things....come to those with no REGRETS.

I eat for 3 people...

Hello bloggers! When planning a breakfast, you must remember that some roommates can eat for 3 people and therefore will be excused from inviting any other friends. Don't ever underestimate a girl and her bacon. Just saying.

So life is swell. Tonight we watched "Life as We Know It". I love this movie. It was filmed in Georgia, right outside of Atlanta, and not too far from where I live. Boy do I miss my state. The green trees. The humidity. The sweet summer air. The fireflies lighting up the night sky. I love the South. But dating someone from Washington has made me resign myself to the fact that there are beautiful places in other parts of the country. But nothing can beat the South. Hmm. So now I am watching "Sweet Home Alabama", because apparently I am really homesick. I can't wait to go home in April.

Lesson #5: You can make home wherever you are. Home isn't just a place, it is a state of heart. And if you let your heart accept your surrounding and appreciate the blessings around you, then you will become much happier. There is no use fretting about the past, the future, the could've been, or the will be. Instead, you have to focus on the present, and how to survive the very moment that you are in. 

So always remember...

All good things...come to those who appreciate HOME. 

Home Sweet Home

Costco Yogurt and Nordstrom Therapy

Hello bloggers! Ever had those days where you are just cranky? Can't stand people, don't want to deal with school, and just generally cranky? Well I have been cranky. So today, I went to my chiropractor because I can't stand my nightly migraines. So conveniently, right behind my chiropractor's office is Costco. And I conveniently had $5 in cash. So naturally, I went to Costco for the sole purpose of buying a chocolate and vanilla swirl yogurt. With this in hand, I began to feel myself be less cranky. The true cure, however, was in Nordstrom. Which conveniently is right behind Costco. So I went in, and meandered around for a bit before purchasing a pair of leggings to go with the dress my mother sent me for Valentines day (pictures to come soon). With a BP bag in one hand, and my yogurt in the other, I returned home much happier. After a vent to my roommate Sam, some soup, and a piece of homemade bread (thank you Melissa and Chanel), I was feeling much more like myself and much less cranky. To top it off, I took a nap! And then I studied for Anatomy. I have a midterm tomorrow, and I actually think I am prepared. Surprisingly, but apparently my brain has been retaining a lot more information than I thought it would. It also helps when your roommate is a PDBIO major and in grad school so studying became more of a helpful discussion. It is like having a professor in your family room. I love it. So that was my day. Fighting through the typical crankiness. The worst part is that I know the source of my crankiness. I just don't want to deal with it. So here is lesson #5: no matter how annoying it is, you have to confront your problems. If you don't, it's only going to cause more stress (and more yogurt consumption) in your life. 

So always remember....

All good things....come to those who FACE their problems head on.

True Friendship is Texting While Peeing One Room Away

Hello Bloggers. One of the best things that can happen to you in life is sitting in the kitchen, messing around on your computer, when all of a sudden, you get a text from your roommate who just got up to go to the bathroom. And you know she is currently in the loo. And yet, you get a text that says, "Duh duh duh duhhhhh (I'm singing bethoven's 5th in my head)". That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is true friendship. I was very proud of my clever response. I replied, "Very epic music to pee to". Nothing else needed to be said. This was indeed the highlight of my day. Next to the fact that I got my weekly email from Devin. The fact that these two things happened at the same time, was just the icing on the cake. So this let me wonder...what is the definition of friendship? I have friends in many different aspects of my life. And I am not always good at seeing them often, but I think why we are friends is because they are so patient with me. 

For instance, I have Amber, who is one of the sweetest and best people I have ever met. She is also a fantastic running partner and I love our runs, because we have a rule of "what is said on the run, stays on the run", so it's always a good chance to unload. For both of us. 

And then there is Kelli. She is adorable. She is my Disney buddy. We can quote Disney like some people can quote scripture. And mint chocolate chip ice cream is a necessity.

Then there is Krista, who lets me escape to her apartment when I need to unload, and who is always willing to listen. She is such a kind soul, who always has good advice. And she always appreciates my Trader Joe's goodies, which I gladly share. And she lives in Washington! Which is where I could end up, so it'll be good to have her in the same state!

Then of course there is Rachel Price. She is always good for a good laugh, study buddy, or just to sit and watch a movie with. I like her because she doesn't care if I talk or not about what is going on. Which is nice. 

Then there is Rachel Nuffer who helped me out a ton last semester and who is always unfaltering in her kindness.

Then of course there are my Georgia Girls.

Hali Winterton: we have probably been friends for too long, but we always can run to each other for anything. Any boy problem, any friend problem, anything, we can talk to each other. So glad to have had her in my life for so long.

Hannah Banana: Even though she is from South Carolina, she gets counted in this category. My one and only friend from EFY and I am so glad we are still friends. I like it better when we are on the same coast, but I always love when I am with her. 

Katie Fadler, or as I better know her, the "Chosen One". We have been through hell and back over the years, but we are better for it. This girl is amazing. She is seriously probably the kindest most charitable person that I know. Seriously. She is a beast. She can multitask like I have never seen before. I love her.

And then there is Lauren LaChance, my bad ass Marine. I tell people she is "my marine". She has had her own battles to fight, but she always pushes through. I love sitting in my kitchen with her, eating my mom's cookies, sharing insight on life. She is going to survive anything that comes her way, and I pray that she will be safe when she goes overseas.

Malikah Christie gets a shout out as well. She always keeps me on my toes. To this day, before I walk out the door, I try to pick out what Malikah will nit pick at. Her infamous line, "Daniela, your hair looks like sh** today" will always stick with me. Thank you Malikah, from both me and my hair. 

And not to mention...

Dylan, Devin's older brother, is such a godsend. He calms me down when I am stressed or let the fear of 2 years get to me. He is a constant support and I want nothing more than for every possible good thing to happen to him. He deserves it. 

And I suppose I should also mention Devin. He is my best friend. I tell him everything. He pulled me through some of my darkest days. He makes me laugh. Makes me smile. And he is always there for me, to make me better, for a shoulder to cry on, or for an ear to rant to. He puts up with a lot. And I love him for it. 

There are many other people who have touched my life. My new roommates for example. I am just beginning to see the impact that they are and will have on my life. I have friends in many places, and each friendship, each conversation leaves an impact. I don't think friendship means seeing or texting someone every day. I think friendship is defined by time. To see which relationships can survive the tests of time, grief, trials, and life changes. Life is constantly changing. Some people are only supposed to be in your life for a certain amount of time. You learn your lessons from them and move on. Doesn't make it any less sad. I hate when I find myself growing distant from those who used to be my best friend. But life happens. Appreciate the friendships you have, the ones you have had, and the ones that you have had. Always find the good in people and try to pull out the reasons why you are friends with them. Everyone has a purpose in life. And we can find it through the help of those around us.

Happy searching bloggers!

And always remember....

All good things...come to those who SEEK.

The Happiness Experiment

Hello Bloggers! So tonight, my roommate Melissa was telling me about this book called The Happiness Experiment. No, I didn't put down everything to go read this book. But it did get me thinking about the meaning of happiness and made me wonder if I am truly happy. And here is what I have decided: Yes, I am happy. I may not always get the grades I want, or be happy with my friends. I may be miserable and lonely some nights. I may not have run as many miles as I wanted. I may have had an asthma attack. But these things should not determine my happiness. I like to think of happiness as a state of mind. I truly believe that happiness is looking at a situation, no matter how terrible it is, and enduring it. Gritting your teeth and pushing your way through, constantly looking for the happiness on the other side. Now, this doesn't mean that having a good cry once in a while means you are failing at being happy. In fact, I spent quite some time last night crying in my bed. No shame. I miss Devin, school is hard, my asthma made me not feel well, and it gets lonely sometimes. So I cried. Did it do any good? Not really, other than making me feel emotionally better. So yeah, I cry sometimes! And sometimes I get cranky! But when I look at my life, I know I am happy. Here is why:

1. My family is happy. We lost our Nonno, which was sad beyond belief. I miss him every day. But I know he is in a happier place, pain free. And that gives me joy, knowing that he is happy and looking out for me. I am happy because I had him in my life and he was such an example of strength and endurance. I strive to be happy because I know he would want me to be.

2. Things with my friends are better and we are happy again. We all worked our way through our personal demons and have found each other again.

3. My roommates are seriously Godsends. They are supportive, kind, and always make me feel better, even without knowing it. 3 S's and a Special K. We are quite the group of girls.

4. Devin may be gone, but he is doing amazing work. I miss him every day. More than I think most people realize. But even on nights where I am so lonely and miserable, I am happy. As I told him, we may be happier together, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy now. I need to be happy now, in my own life, to know that I can be happy with him in ours. And I am happy, because he is doing God's work.

5. Anatomy may kick me in the shorts, but I will keep trying and studying. I find joy in the small achievements in that class. For instance, I touched a cadaver for the first time. And it didn't make me want to vomit. I take that as something to be happy about!

So here is lesson #4: Be happy. Don't let the world get you down. Smile more. Help a stranger. Go on a run. Enjoy nature. Take a nap. Do whatever makes you happy and enjoy all the small things in life. Soon they will add up to a bigger picture full of happiness.

So always remember...

All good things....come to those who are HAPPY.

90:10

Hello Bloggers! I have one thing to say to ya'll: 90:10. The Hitch theory. Make the guy go 90, and then we come 10. It's pretty flawless. This movie is much funnier than I remember. What a nice way to end the night: cleaning for over 2 hours for cleaning checks and enduring being extremely sore. I ended up running last night. I can't be sure, but I know I ran anywhere between 4-5 miles. And then after class today, I went snowboarding. Yeah. I am feeling the pain. But it was worth it. Running always clears my mind. Makes me feel better. Running is good for the soul. I love it. I guess I had a lot on my mind. I usually only run that many miles when I can't handle my own thoughts. Which would make sense. But anyways. While I was snowboarding, I think I got a little bit sunburned too. Which is highly entertaining. Because it is January. Ideally, I want to go snowboarding tomorrow morning and then I am running with my friend Amber at 1. Hopefully my body can keep up. I promise to rest it on Sunday. But I feel so fit! And I actually had a great snowboarding day! Not bad for going for the first time in a year...and I just learned last year. I didn't biff it today. Which is always an improvement. Always. I did however get hit by a beginner. That wasn't fun. But we are both ok. No harm, no foul! 

Theory #3: When you fall, get back up again. Sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. Either way, always get back up. It's always worth it.

So always remember...

All good things...come to those who keep standing.

Chipotle and Toddler's and Tiaras

Hello bloggers! Do you want to hear a secret? I love Chipotle. Now, it's not that much of a secret since I post on facebook every single time I go. But really. Chipotle can always make me feel better. I love Chipotle. Devin and I have a long standing joke that I love Chipotle burritos more than him. The sweetest thing I can say to him is that I love him more than my burritos. He returns the favor by saying he loves me more than his motorcycle. That's true love right there.

And to top my night off, Toddler's and Tiaras is on TV! I love this show. I know people who have done pageants, and I have nothing against them. But there is something about this show. These moms are INSANE! I will never do this to my children. And these little kids are brats! All they care about it how pretty they look and how much money they can win. It's sick. But gives me tons of entertainment. Honey Boo Boo Child. If you have not seen this clip, you HAVE to go watch it. Right now. Go. And then come back to my blog and we can laugh about it together. Go. You back yet? It's funny though right? I love this show. Tonight has been a good night, what can I say. 

So I might go on a run tonight. The problem is, my knee hurts. It's better today. But why wear it out when I am going snowboarding tomorrow? Haha. Snowboarding is on my agenda for tomorrow. Can't wait. Friday is the best day of the week. Tomorrow, all of the roommates are going to Melissa's brothers house for pizza. It should be fun. I feel like my weekends always get so busy, which is funny because I swear I am not that social. But I think my weekend agendas always give me away. 

Alright bloggers, time to get serious. Lesson #2: strive to be the best you can be. We don't always succeed in life, but if we try our hardest and put our hearts and soul into something, then we are successful. Never be discouraged. Don't let stress, anxiety, or sadness dictate your happiness. See your true worth and see your true potential. You will be much happier if you don't spend your days judging yourself. I promise. 

Till next time.

And remember...

All good things...come to those who TRY.