Friday!!!

High-five to me! 

Today's the first day of my weekend, and I'm DRINKING it in. I'm lunching at the harbor with a bunch of secretaries from work, dropping off what feels like 60% of our combined wardrobe at the thrift store (and maybe popping in to see what fun things I can find...)

OH YEAH AND it's my birthday weekend! I'll be turning 24 tomorrow, officially in the midst of my "mid-twenties". Which is super weird.

I always have loved it when my birthday falls on a Saturday; it just seems a whole lot more spectacular. As soon as husband gets off work today we're hopping in the car and going... somewhere. I've got a couple hints, but am honestly pretty clueless. I've just been told to dress comfortable and to not plan on coming home until Sunday night. Oh the suspense is KILLING me!

I made cupcakes last night in honor of my birthday (well, technically they were for Bible Study, but I counted them as Birthday cupcakes). They started out as rainbow cupcakes, but since I majorly failed on the layering, they became.....

 

Have a fantastic weekend, friends! What are you doing?

Snapshots

My phone has been DUMB for the past couple weeks, crashing right when I'm about to upload a photo (or do anything of importance). GRR. Anyway, here's a long-overdue snapshot post. Lots of fun here the past couple weeks.

I found a hiding place on a hike // It's a wine waterpark!

Yummy breakfast from scratch & wedding gift usage // Carnival accent nails

My new go-to: no-heat curls // Pretty "you can do it!" gift from Husband last week

Margarita Monday // It's crowded on the little BBQ!

Awkward and Awesome Thursdays!

Awkward

Nope. Not gonna do it. I know its been a while since I've talked about the awkwardness in my week, which in and of itself is pretty funny since pretty much 95% of my week is awkward. HOWEVER. This week was 10000% more awesome than last week (which I may have already whined about here and here). No matter what happened to me this week, I kept seeing the good parts. Rose colored glasses, I guess.
Awesome!One: GRADES ARE IN! As of 5pm yesterday, I am released from grading obligations and deadlines. PRAISE THE LORDDDDDDDD. This past semester was tough; I had twice the number of students I'd worked with in the past. Now, work is a lot more manageable--my May and half of June will be dedicated to drafting our department's 6-year reports. Um, interesting that I'm being given this job, as I've been here for just two years, but what do I know?
Two: Because of the impending "Grades due" deadline, I spent 8 hours of my beautiful Sunday grading (Blech). BUT! That means I get to take tomorrow off! I'm so excited to have an impromptu three-day Birthday Weekend (WHOO HOO!)! That's another Awesome thing :)
Three: The little love notes that I received last week from our Graduates at the Senior Tea (we really should call it a "reception", since we don't really serve anything tea-like, but maybe that's because I'm too lazy to do that kind of thing). But anyway, hearing "thank you" and "we love you" from students reminds me of the whole point of what I'm doing: I'm not a grading machine, I'm a teacher. Which is super weird. I don't know about where you are, but it's stinkin' GORGEOUS outside today here. Clear Seventy-five, the birds are singing, and campus is relatively silent (NEVER happens except this time of year). So, if its as nice where you are as it is here, enjoy it!
Happy Thursday!

Little Notes

Dear Husband:
I can't believe how much you are rocking this new job! Already, veterans at the company are asking you questions, because you've mastered your product so fast (it was only a matter of time). My heart bursts with pride :)

Dear most-stressful-week-of-my-life (also known as last week):
I am so glad you only come around once a year. I'd have a serious coronary if I had to deal with you more often. New discovery: I get stress headaches. Who knew? I wrote a post in the midst of it and it was just so depressing I'll spare you.

Dear college students everywhere: 
Give grace to your professors. I promise you we're running on less steam than you are. "Thank yous" and "Good Jobs" are like medicine.

Dear Summer Movies:
Although I'm bitter that you are so expensive in theaters, I really am excited for all the great movies that are coming out (soon and recently). One I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I'm excited about? What to Expect When You're Expecting (PURELY for entertainment reasons, gaaaaash). Love that they're turning more self-help books into movies; they're always so funny.


Dear H&M:
Thank you for making it ever-so-apparent that I haven't gone actual clothes shopping in way too long. Also thanks for the not-so-new store downtown (that's really been there for ages and I just haven't gotten around to purchasing anything. I think I may go and blow the gift card I embarrassingly have been carrying for more than two years (eek).

Dear Emily:
I haven't decided how I feel about you being the next Bachelorette. I think it's a little creepy that you broke it off with Brad because the publicity was too much for you, but now are somehow okay with being in the spotlight now. Not sure how that one works. Looks like I have to watch the show and form an unbiased opinion (Crap, that was their plan all along, wasn't it? ARgh I fall for it again).

Dear Europe:
Take care of my parents!


Dear "Secret" birthday destination:
Yay, vacation! I have no idea what you and my husband are planning, but I'm really excited! Okay, so husband may have let it slip where we were going, but the details are still a surprise. This visit could not have come at a better time. I'm looking forward to relaxing, skyping with my parents, and a three-day-weekend (to make up for last week's one-day-weekend). Yahoo!

Dear Convertible-Weather:
Bliss.

Forgive the dorky glasses. They're all I could find, and I wasn't about to let a lack of shades keep me from dropping top! Best day to ride with the top down? Fridays. It's freeing.

This post is disorganized. Just like me.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel!
This week has been the craziest week EVER. Way worse than when I was a student and had to study for three cumulative finals that were on the same day. I haven't had the sanity/energy to stay up past 8 most nights (although I was so busy I had to), let alone blog. So, sorry about that.
I'll have my head screwed back on my shoulders soon, I hope.
While I'm planning on spending a precious weekend-day grading to make my grading deadline, I still have a lot to be excited about! There's the Senior Tea, where faculty, graduates, and their families get to mingle (I tell you, meeting students' parents explains so much about them!).
Friday (holy cow, that's tomorrow!) marks the end of husband's first week at his new job! He's been rocking that new position like nobody's business--in fact, tomorrow he will do an "audition" sales call to his boss, to see if he's ready to start selling. (Remember, he's been there four days, and this is his first sales job!). And he volunteered for this. The other people doing the fake call been working there for two to three weeks. GO HUBS!

Tomorrow is also a long-overdue girls' night with an out-of-town best friend, and I can't WAIT! Hopefully she'll forgive the state of our home... It's been a rough week.