Whoah Awesome!

Alright, so this is going to be a short, short post, but one PACKED full of excitement!

And apparently excitement=confetti.

Anyway, I am SUPER stoked today, because in a totally awesome twist, just one day after writing my post about wanting my own coffee shop someday but having no idea how to run one, my manager told me I'm going to be sent to manager training! AHHH! MORE CONFETTI!!

I am super pumped, because while I'm not going to be taking my manager's job, and I have no plans to go manage a different store, I know this is going to give me all kinds of great skills and information that will absolutely help me in the future, especially if my goal is to one day have a shop of my own.

So like I said, short post, I just wanted to share my excitement with all of you! And I'll be sure to keep you posted on how my training goes once I've started. It's a three day thing at the end of the month, so stayed tuned!

Coffee Shop Dreams

Friends...I want to have a coffee shop. One of my very own. Where I can make delicious, caffeinated beverages, and sell scrumptious pastries. Like...these!

These are some delicious pastries we ate in "France" at Epcot when we were at Disney World over spring break. And they were the bomb diggity. I want to have a coffee shop that sells pastries like those. Everyone loves pastries, right?

I don't want a real person job. I just want a coffee shop.

The problem with this is...I was a psychology major. And I have no business experience. So...I think I might have to go back to school. I don't really want to go back to school, but I think it might be the smart thing to do. I know the statistic that 97% of all small businesses fail. (Or...some number like that. I totally just made up that 97%.) But I still feel like I want to try it. Maybe I'm crazy, but hey, maybe I'll end up being super successful with it! I guess maybe we'll see. Obviously this will be a slow process. So I'll keep you all posted.

On another note, I've been toying with the idea of vlogging. I think it could be interesting. Maybe? Or maybe I'd get all embarrassed talking to myself on camera. And maybe, like this blog, I won't know what the heck I have to say that's worth talking about. And MAYBE...people will think I'm weird if they actually see my face talking. I don't know. What do you people think about that? Would this weird you out?

Maybe I'll make a goal to try it once a month or something. And if I creep people out, or I'm just really awkward...well...then I guess I'll never do it again. 

Sorry this is a short post, but I'm pretty much really tired. And I have to work in the morning. I'm seriously interested in what any of you think about this whole vlogging idea. So...I'm begging for your thoughts in the comments! 

If Anyone's Wondering...I'm Not Dead.

No...No, I have not died. My life has just gotten unexpectedly busy. I mean, really, sometimes I sit down and I'm like "What the heck? Since when am I the kid who works 6 days a week between two part time jobs?" Yeah. That's me now.

I still have no clue what to do with my life. As in...I still know I need to get a grown-up job. But for now, I'm happy. Even though I am working 6 days a week. Which is a bummer sometimes, because I only have one day that's ALL MINE, but hey, I'm making money. And money is good.

Wow. Drawing that was like getting back on a bike after 5 years. And...sadly, yes, I know how that feels. I rode a bike about a month ago for the first time since I graduated high school. Which was five years ago. I about died. Pathetic, I know. But hey, at least I did it. I should probably do it more often. Seeing as one of my New Year's Resolutions was to work out. And I was doing pretty well with that for a while. But now...not so much. And everyday I'm waking up and thinking, "Dang...I should work out today." And then I don't. People, please scream at me in the comments. If I have a whole lot of shiny comments on my blog, maybe I'll feel more motivated. (To work out AND to blog more! *wink wink*)

Maybe I can motivate myself to work out tonight after I get home from working my second job. Well...after I get home and before I go to bed at probably nine freaking o'clock. I have to open at Biggby tomorrow. Which means I have to be at work at 5:45. Which means I have to leave my house by 5:15. Which means I need to be up and out of bed at 4:45 at the latest. I'm so not a morning person, so I am dreading this terribly. Also, tomorrow is supposed to be an insanely busy morning, so...hurray. I am overflowing with enthusiasm. The good thing is, I work at a coffee shop. So I can have myself some coffee when I get to work! But dang 4:45 is freaking early...I used to STAY UP until 5am just for the heck of it. Now I'm thinking "Wow, I have to wake up early tomorrow. I should be in bed by 9." It makes me feel old.

Oh well. I'll learn to deal with the early mornings I guess. But it makes me really sad when even my dad, who is for sure a morning guy and usually leaves for work around 5:45 every day, says to me "Wow. That's early. Good luck." Ugh. Thanks, dad. The good news is, I don't have to do this on a regular basis. But still...it's early.

In addition to working six days a week and not exercising, I recently helped plan and host a baby shower for my cousin, which turned out far better than I had imagined in my head. I'm not really a hosty person. I'd much rather sit back and attend the shower than be the one standing in front of everyone and explaining how everything's going to go down. But a bunch of people there told me I did a great job, so that was good.

The next big project I'm really excited about is that my mom asked me to redecorate our guest room! So I'll be putting my interior design skills (Ha!) to use in the near future. It's not a huge job, but I will be repainting and getting a new bedspread and such. It needs a refresher, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll remember to take photos of the before, during, and after, and I can share them all with you lovely people.

So, this post is pretty wordy, but I just wanted you all to know I'm still alive. Also sad that I haven't been a better blogger. But hopefully that will change soon.

I Refuse To Be A Muggle.

If you've been following my blog, or probably even if you've only read a post or two, you've realized I'm a nerd. I'm alright with it. I've learned to embrace it. My nerdiness is a part of who I am, and obviously I have no interest in changing that. I rather like myself.

A huge part of my nerd life (and life in general) for the past decade-plus-a-couple-odd-years has been...yes...Harry Potter. And that's what this whole post is going to be about, so if you hate Harry Potter, I suggest you stop reading now. Otherwise you'll get sick of this post REAL fast. Anway, I devoured the books, waited eagerly for each movie, and bawled my eyes out through the last one. When the credits rolled on Deathly Hallows Part 2 it was honestly like I had just said goodbye to some of my dearest childhood friends. I was the same age as Harry, Ron, and Hermione when I started reading the books, so I'd felt like I had grown up with them. All the while feeling seriously embittered that apparently the owl delivering my Hogwarts letter had been struck by lightning or something on its trans-Atlantic flight.

And so, resigned to the fact that my poor post-owl was roosting in the Heavenly Owlrey, I simply began soaking in as much magical knowledge as I could outside the blessed halls of Hogwarts. In other words, I became a huge Harry Potter nerd. But it was alright, because most of my friends and cousins were too. So I wasn't alone. We chatted about the books and movies, and then, one hilarious day, we were enlightened to the greatness that is A Very Potter Musical. If you love Harry Potter and you haven't seen AVPM...DO IT! Seriously. It's on YouTube. Look it up.

Even better than AVPM though was the day I finally got to ACTUALLY go to Hogwarts!

Okay...so we went to Universal Studios. But still...I was pretty jazzed all day. All my childhood Harry Potter dreams came to life. I drank Butterbeer, ate at the Three Broomsticks, and bought candy at Honeydukes. Oh...and I bought a Gryffindor sweater and tie and totally rocked them out for Halloween. Complete with homemade wand, crafted with love by my wonderful Grandpa.

But after we left, I couldn't help but wonder what would be next? What would feed my need for Harry Potter? Well...Pottermore. Ever since I first heard talk of Pottermore, I was super stoked. MORE Harry Potter information?! Bring it on! Then tell me I can be sorted into a house and compete for house points?! My happy little nerd heart might just stop.

Naturally I signed up as soon as I could. (After that whole annoying beta-testing phase that only select people got to be part of...) I wanted to know what house I would be in! Gryffindor was my hope, because who doesn't want to be in the same house as Harry Potter? But really, I just wanted anything but Hufflepuff. Even Slytherin would have been better than Hufflepuff. I mean...come on. Hufflepuff? What do they do? Gryffindors are brave, Slytherins are cunning, Ravenclaws are wise...Hufflepuffs are...nice? They've always just struck me as the leftovers of Hogwarts. If you're not brave, cunning, or wise enough for the other houses, they stick you in Hufflepuff. (No offense to any hard core Hufflepuff fans out there...)

My cousin Kate also signed up, and so one evening, all via text message, we began the journey to Hogwarts. Kate didn't want Hufflepuff either, so when we both reached the sorting, we were super nervous. (Only serious nerds are nervous about something like this, I realize that.) I completed my sorting...and...RAVENCLAW! I was relieved. It wasn't Gryffindor, but at least it wasn't Hufflepuff either. And really, considering how bookish and nerdy I am, Ravenclaw makes the most sense for me.

Then, a few minutes later, I get this gem of a text:

It seriously made my night, and I got to laugh at my darling Hufflepuff cousin for a good hour or so. Fortunately, she also saw the humor in the situation and laughed right along with me. Unfortunately for both of us, we completed all of Sorcerer's Stone WAY fast, and now we have to WAIT for Chamber of Secrets! What nonsense! It could be a blessing in disguise though. As though I need another massive time-suck in my life. Pinterest is bad enough. 

However...if any of you are on Pottermore, you should tell me in the comments. I want friends. I'm BronzeChaser685. :)

I Am Not Dorothy, and This Is Not Oz

So, yet again, I've been MIA for months. And I apologize. But over the past several weeks, I've been struggling with what to do with myself. And it's not an easy thing to figure out.

I majored in psychology in school. I have a shiny Bachelor's Degree in the field of Psychology. Which I love. It fascinates me to no end. People are intriguing. Psychology was absolutely and entirely enjoyable for me to study. However, in retrospect, I'm not sure it's the best field for me to make a career out of.

As you all may or may not know, I am an introvert. Hard core.

I enjoy learning about people and listening to people, but I don't do so well with talking to people. Especially not groups of people, as I discussed in a previous post.

I know being a psychologist doesn't necessarily mean I have to communicate with groups of people, but still, the ability to speak comfortably with strangers is kind of important. And I'm not so good at that. Not verbally anyway. I'm much more comfortable sitting at my computer and typing out words than I am sitting across from someone and chatting over coffee. (Which I actually drink now. On account of being a barista.)

So, after weeks of thinking, "did I waste four years of education on a degree I don't want to use?" I've become a little stressed out. On top of that, I had another birthday on March 31st, so I got to think "Wow...I'm another year older and I still have NO clue what to do with my life!"

Actually, I'm fine with my age. I'm not quite to the point of dreading birthdays. Yet. But what bothers me is how many people I know my age who are either a) in Grad school, b) working full-time, or c) getting married, while I am a) not in school at all, b) working part-time, and c) single and living at home. Which--by the way--is not as awful to me as it is to some people. My family and I get along really well. For the most part. And since they're kind enough to let me live here, "until [I'm] 112 if [I] need to," according to my dad, I am happy to take the offer. Just so you're all aware, I do not plan on living with my parents until I'm 112. 111, maybe, but 112 is just pushing it.

I jest.

I do plan on moving on with my life. I've just been stuck in the swirling chaos of my own mind for a while. I feel like Dorothy after getting sucked up by that tornado.

Unfortunately for me, my brain-tornado has not dropped me from a world of black and white into technicolor Munchkinland, onto a Wicked Witch with ruby slippers, and into the hearts of the Munchkins who had been living under her reign of terror. A kindly Good Witch traveling by bubble has not floated into my life and said "Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Wizard of Oz, and he will solve all your problems." Also, I do not have a talking Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow to be my friends on my epic journey to self-discovery. I do have a dog, but she's kind of lazy and wouldn't enjoy a long trek to an Emerald City all that much. She is good for a snuggle though.

All of this to say...pardon my absence. I'm just trying to find myself a little.