Girls Get-Away!

Last Friday night, Jessica, Audra, Dayna and I headed to Orlando to stay at the Gaylord Palms Resort. Oh my GOSH, was it a beautiful resort and a wonderful experience! Until December, Gaylord Palms is offering a teacher discount rate of $99 a night which is the reason why we were able to indulge in such luxury for a night. :) We even got a room on the 9th floor, the very top! Here is the view of the inside of the resort from our balcony.

We checked into the hotel, admired its class and discussed how this was the nicest hotel any of us had ever stayed at,and got changed for dinner!

Even the chairs are fancy!

Audra and Dayna, ready to go!

Exploring the hotel and it's festive photo opportunities on the way to dinner...




Gaylord Palms has 5 restaurants on property so we, after much debate, decided we wanted to experience a restaurant unique to the resort since we can eat at "chain" restaurants any time. We narrowed our choices down to the Old Hickory Steakhouse (real expensive) and the Villa de Flora (buffet). We decided it was Friday, also payday, and we wanted to be served, not eat from a buffet. We were going to spoil ourselves, or so we thought!

Waiting to be seated...



Seated:

So, we ate at the Old Hickory and spent a lot of money our dinners. Here's what they looked like:

Expensive dinner #1, with the two sides we ordered behind it that were both $9 a piece!

Audra's expensive salmon!

My very expensive, undercooked filet mignon!

An expensive New York Strip!

We definitely needed pictures of these ever-so-expensive dinners, considering we'd already made up our mind at this point that we wouldn't be coming back here. It just was a little too fancy for our liking. I'm all for fancy, classy dinners, but this restaurant was just too expensive with little variety to choose from. 'Nuff said.

After dinner, we went back up to our hotel room and just talked about school, typical. :) Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy having friends who are teachers? It is so easy to relate with them! I just love these girls! Around 10:00, we decided it was time to head to Downtown Disney for some dessert at Ghiradelli! I got to see my friend, Jackie, from Sarasota who I grew up with in church choir. She works in Guest Relations there. Loved seeing her and getting to catch up for a few minutes.

Audra and I sipping our milkshakes!

Jessica is having to plug her nose in this picture due to the cigarette someone so rudely lit right next to us!

By the time we were finished with our ice cream, we were more than ready to go to bed. We'd all been up since before 7 for work and we were wiped out. So it was back to the hotel we went, and ready for bed we were.

The next morning, after having a chance to sleep in, we got ready and checked out so that we could explore more of the resort. We of course took pictures on the balcony before we said goodbye to our room!



We watched the alligators and turtles for a long time!



Alligators are so fascinating to me. I drive past a huge lake every morning on my way to work, and I always look for them and usually I'll see at least one. Something about them is just cool to me! Anyway, so we explored the resort for a little bit, but before long, we were ready for lunch. A decently priced lunch, that is. We were ready for the Cheesecake Factory! Our meals were much more enjoyed, both in taste and price!



The delicious cheesecake we shared!

After eating lunch, we wandered around the Mall of Millenia for a little while but then headed to Old Navy. I bought some fun stuff for all reasonable prices! I'll do a post on that later. :) As we left Old Navy, we were trying to decide if we were ready to head home or not, when all of a sudden, Jessica says, "Is that an IKEA?"


Yes, she was right! Well, our answer to the "do we go home now?" question was quickly answered! "Not yet!"

We probably spent 2 hours in the gigantic store. I got an easel for my classroom for $15! I was super happy about that, because I've been wanting one! Audra, Dayna, nor I had ever been to IKEA so it was fun to experience it together for the first time! It's overwhelming with all the stuff they have in there!

IKEA was fun, but we were ready to head home. We packed up the car with all of our shopping bags and headed for home. I enjoyed such a fun weekend with such great girls!

A Year Older

Last week, I went from 23 to 24, all in a day's time. I don't feel or look any different though, as to be expected! :)

I had a wonderful birthday, surrounded by genuine friends and my good family! The celebrations occurred Thursday on my actual birthday, then again on Saturday evening, and finally yesterday when we got together at my apartment, my family and I. It has been a fun few days!!

Let me start out with the first birthday surprise! It was 7:00 Thursday morning and I'm in my bathroom putting my make-up on. Then I hear a knock at the door. I think to myself, "Who is knocking on our door at 7 a.m.?" So I walk to the door, look through the peephole, and there stands my mom with balloons and flowers! I was so excited that I couldn't even cry! I had no idea she was coming! I said, "Are you coming to work with me?" I was so thrilled and touched that my mom had taken off a day of work to come spend the day with me on my birthday at my work. She was up before 5 a.m. so that she could leave her house by 6 and be here by 7! It truly meant so much to me! I will never forget that surprise as long as I live! (I forgot to take a picture with her, darnet!) That was the beginning of a wonderful birthday!

When I got to work, my friend Jessica had decorated my classroom door! How sweet and thoughtful! Here we are after school in front of my door!

The day went pretty well and my students behaved. (They did not behave most of the week, and it was REALLY stressful.) We celebrated in the afternoon with mini-cupcakes and did our afternoon reading outside. They loved it! Having my mom with me was such a help!!



This is my sign-language interpreter and me. She was so sweet and made me many individual bags of gummy bears (she knows I love them!) with all different teacher quotes. I will put pictures of my gifts on a different post!


The three amigos of "OJP!"


My mom and I!


Right after school, Dayna, Jessica, my mom and I headed to the nail salon to get pedicures. There were 2 twin girls there, the daughters of one of the nail technicians, who were also celebrating their birthday. They turned 6 and were such a source of entertainment throughout our entire pedicures! After pedicures, I said goodbye to my mom (so sad the surprise was over!) and Dayna and I headed to Macaroni Grill to eat dinner with Michelle whose birthday was also the 21st, the other Michelle, Jessica, Audra and Bethany. I love this group of girls! We had so much fun and the dinner tasted SO good!

Birthday Twins! We are both 24 and we figured out via our moms that Michelle is about 2 hours older than me! Ha! (Please excuse my hair in these pictures, it is in desperate need of a trim, I know!)


Such great girls!


The whole group at dinner...


Bethany!


After dinner, our plan was to go to Picasso's Cup which is a place where you can paint pottery pieces. I was so looking forward to it but by the time we got there after dinner, we didn't have enough time to start painting before the place closed. I was disappointed, but I was also really tired so I didn't mind going home to relax. We ended up going back to Picasso's Cup Saturday night and spent several hours there and I'll post that separately soon!

I had such a good, fun birthday! I'm starting to feel old...but I for sure don't look it! The guy at the nail salon, when my mom told him it was my birthday, said in all seriousness, "16? 17?" My mom replied, "She's 24." Ahhh, really?!

I can't forget to mention my gift from Dayna! She got me tickets to see Manheim Steamroller at the Lakeland Center in a few weeks to hear their Christmas music. I CAN'T WAIT! I love their music so I'm really looking forward to seeing them in concert! I will be posting a post with pictures of the other great things I got for my birthday as well as our experience at Picasso's Cup!

Thank you, God, for another year of life! I'm looking forward to what you have in store for me in this coming year!

On My Mind

I've got things on my mind. Don't we all? Writing my feelings out on paper (or typing them on a blog) has always been a good release for me. I'm not worried about "sharing too much" on my blog, as the stuff that has been on my mind really doesn't need to be censored. I've mentioned before that my blog is like a personal scrapbook/journal to me and I want to someday look back on these posts and remember where I once was and to see the way God has worked in my life, as I believe He is the One who holds it.

I turn 24 this week. Seems old to me! I often find myself thinking about how "weird" it is that I have officially lived on my own (out of the dorm and parents' house) for over a year. I pay my own bills-all of them. I wake myself up to go to work everyday. It's still astonishing sometimes to think the future I anticipated (having a career as a teacher, at least) is now here. I'm living it, and I do love it! I still feel really young though, but mature at the same time. Many others my age, and even some younger, are married, engaged, or already have children. None of those things are in store for me in the near future, as far as my eye can see. I claim, however, that God knows every detail.

(Disclaimer: This post is not directed toward any potential relationship I have.)
Recently, someone made a comment that irked me. It irked for a couple of reasons. 1) I'm feisty and I don't like when people insinuate things I don't agree with. 2) I am far more determined to wait for my husband than I am to just settle by going after him myself. The comment made went something a little like this: "You can't wait for a man to pursue you these days. Nowadays, men won't pursue you if you don't pursue them. You have to make yourself available to them." I agree with that....to an extent. I do think that a relationship that works requires two people's efforts. Totally agree with that. It is not solely a man's job to build a relationship, nor is it solely a woman's job. If a guy acts interested in a girl, if she is interested too, she must show him. Again, I agree with that. Completely. It only makes sense. Why wouldn't a woman want to show her mutual interest in a guy who liked her? Duh! What I don't agree with is the part about having to pursue a man in order to find love or find what I want in a husband. I can tell you right now, it's not going to happen that way, or at least for me it won't. I want in a husband someone who seeks me with their whole heart and shows me he's willing to work his hardest for the relationship to even be. I was raised to believe that, and that's a big reason why I think this way, I'm sure. I'm adamant though-I'm NOT going to throw myself all over a guy just so he'll notice me. Or like me. Or whatever. I will always believe it is the man's job to first show interest in a woman and "make the first move" in that area. If a man isn't willing to do that for me, then there are more fish in the sea.

I'm not a "princess" type girl. I never have been into princesses, pink, fairytales, etc. I'm definitely considered a girly-girl, but I'm not "over-the-top." However, I do think highly enough of myself to want a man (who I consider marriage material) who will pursue me in the beginnings of a relationship and treat me with the utmost respect. Chivalry is not dead. I'm not at all expecting him to take me to Disney's Cinderella Castle and send me flowers at work everyday and blah blah blah-I am more simple when it comes to all of that. What will "sweep me off my feet" more than anything else, is a guy who takes a risk in pursuing me.

I say all of this realizing this is not the way every girl thinks. I know that. I know I'm different in certain aspects of things. We all have our own unique expectations, etc. I just know who I am and I'm confident. I know what I want. I've dated before, long-term even. I know what I'm looking for. I know my personality. That personality is not the type to dress all hip-hop, act like a ditz, be fake for attention, throw myself on a guy...just so he'll notice me. I want a guy to notice me for who I am, as I am. No fakeness. No games. That's not real. I'm not sure why any woman would put on such a facade. That's why relationships fade so quickly; they're built on fake stuff that occurred in the beginning stages and it didn't grow on a firm, truthful foundation. At least that's the way I see it.

I'm no relationship expert. Not even close. My past experiences combined with knowing my personality help me arrive at these thoughts. The comment irked me because I felt like Satan was creeping in saying, "Yeah, you might as well give up just waiting. You better run after and throw yourself on guys so that you'll be able to find happiness." I am happy. One day I hope to add to my happiness by finding an amazing man to marry and build a family with. But for now, I'm content. I'm young. I've got time. No need to go around putting on a show to win someone. That's not me. I would rather be single than force someone into liking/loving me. I know God is using this time of singleness to better my future in relationships.

I am determined to wait until God brings someone into my life who was meant just for me. I'm not going to do a crazy stunt show in order to find him. He will come, when God sends him. In the meantime, I will enjoy the life that I have and stay true to myself. The comment that was made will serve as a reminder to do just that.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

New Living Room Look!

Our furniture has finally made its appearance in my living room! Dayna and I got our furniture last Saturday, and the 50" TV that was part of the deal came last night. So now, our living room is complete! We feel that we have worked very hard as teachers so far and this living room set is well earned. Lots of people ask what we're going to do with it when one of us gets married...and all we know at this point is that Dayna really wants the T.V. I honestly could care less about what my TV is, so that's fine with me. :) The rest of the answer to the question is that we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, why worry about such things?!

Anyway...on with the living room tour! Disclaimer: My home is decorated for Fall right now, it's not like this all the time, but you knew that. :)

I love this console! When talking about "who gets what after one of us gets married," I told Dayna that I could easily convert this into a changing table for a baby someday...she laughed. But seriously, she gets the T.V., why can't I be practical and convert its use? :)

Our loveseat sits in the "solarium" a.k.a. den/office. Sometimes, I spread out on it with all my school stuff and work. It has a view of the lake with the ducks and so it's really pretty. I have been looking for a desk to put in there to get it more organized, but haven't found one I like yet that fits within what I'm willing to spend. It's all a work in progress.
Here's an additional view-looking straight from the living room and kitchen. The "solarium" also has sliding pocket doors, so it could be closed off, although I'm not sure why we'd need to do that really.


This accent table sits in the corner to the right in the solarium. I found it at Old Time Pottery in Orlando on clearance for $30. It was perfect for what I was
envisioning in that space.

I also got the lamp that sits on the table from Old Time Pottery for $15. I love its color and detail. And, it matches perfectly!


This is the way the living room is set up for now. We decided that when we get our Christmas tree, we may rearrange. The cream colored chair somewhat blocks the entrance to my bedroom, but it's not like I'm completely blocked. I can also get to my bedroom through the bathroom, so it's not that big of a deal. We may find another way that works/looks better, but for now, this works fine!




This end-table has a magazine rack attached to it on the side. The coffee table perfectly matches with the end-table. The lamp on the end-table was also part of the living room package we got.


I figured since I have a clean apartment and am doing a "tour" on here, I would post pictures of the rest of my apartment that I haven't shown on my blog yet! Here is my dining room:

Here are some shots of the kitchen as best as I could get. It looks cluttered, but I promise it's really not; the camera just doesn't give a distinct view.



Here is a quick picture of my bedroom. This room still needs a lot of organizing and some more stuff hung on the walls. It's just a matter of doing it-I have everything I want for this room already, just have to get it UP!


That wraps up my "home tour, blog-style" for now! I'm so glad it looks like a "real" apartment now!

Fall Weather Is A Welcomed Change!

The weather the past 3 days has been absolutely amazing. It has just been SO perfect! I know I've mentioned it on my blog recently, but I just LOVE fall! I'm an October baby, so maybe that has something to do with it! :)

Sunday after church and lunch, my friend Jessica and I headed over to one of the many lakes in Lakeland to grade papers.

It was soooo beautiful out!

I was actually getting chilly at one point and wished I had a sweater.

A side-note story from the lake; as soon as Jess and I got there, there was a man in his 30s probably, standing over near the sidewalk. We had spread out blankets for us to sit on. I put my purse on one corner of the blanket and I was sitting on the opposite side. Well, he walks over after a few minutes, takes out his earphones, and says, "Hey ladies, I don't mean to bug you...it's a really beautiful day."

Jess and I look at each other with confused/sketched-out looks and then I look back at him and say, "Yeah, it is, we're just out here doing some school-work." All the while I'm thinking to myself, "YOU NEED TO GRAB YOUR PURSE." So, I do, but I play it off as if I'm looking for something and reach for my chapstick. Then he says, "I'm not going for your purse. Trust me. You don't got nuttin' I want in there. I don't want nuttin' you got." Well, sir, then why did you walk over here and start up a random conversation about nothing?

That man has got to be crazy to think I believed him. Once he saw me grab my purse, he knew his chances of bumming money were gone, so he changed his tune. I got really nervous though that he was going to take off with my purse. I'm glad I pulled it over when I did, even though he didn't "want nuttin' I got in there." Sure he didn't.

Anyway...that wasn't the purpose for this post, just an interesting story from our experience of grading papers at the lake! I want to make a habit of that more often (minus the sketchy visitors) to get some school work done, especially now that it's cooled down.

Yesterday and today have just been so beautiful. This morning I walked outside and had to go back in and grab a jacket. It wasn't just cool-it was sweater weather (for Floridians, at least!) Our students wait on the P.E. blacktop in the mornings and we go out and pick them up right before 8:00. They all had sweaters on and they were cold. Well, I hadn't yet turned on the AC in my classroom, so when I brought them back this morning and they came inside, it was a unanimous "ahhh!" as soon as they felt warmth. Floridians are babies when it comes to cold!

Typically, Florida doesn't see Fall weather until late October and then it's here and there. Usually the week of Christmas, you can even be in shorts. I'm hoping this year we'll have real seasonal weather. I know this is Florida, but still! :)

Fall, thanks for visiting, and be sure to stick around until Winter!