BIG NEWS!

I GOT INTO PENN STATE! 

Yes, I did! I started this application process months ago, as some of you may know. As you may or may not also know, it was a somewhat lengthy process for me that threw some hurdles at me at times, but it has officially come to an end with the best results possible. I found out a little less than a week ago and have been anxiously waiting to tell you all (but couldn't because apparently our router was too old to function).

Starting in the Spring of 2014, I will officially start there in the College of Liberal Arts to finish my degree in psychology. It's been a long time coming and it's been a goal of mine for quite a while, but it is finally here and I couldn't be more thrilled. 

And, in addition to this, let this be a lesson to all. I got into a GOOD school despite:

• suffering from mental health issues - I was/am suffering from depression, severe anxiety, and an eating disorder. These ILLNESSES (and yes, illnesses, because that's what it is) turned my typical overachieving, overly motivated self into someone who had no motivation to do well in school or life in general. My grades suffered because of it, something abnormal for someone who got only A's and B's throughout my entire k-12 education. MENTAL ILLNESS DOES NOT, AND NEVER DOES, DEFINE YOU. 
• being a pawn to the military. There is no consistency or any stability with the military. It's prevented me from finishing school for a long time. Moorpark (my community college I was attending) was not distance friendly and had very few online classes that I could take while being across the entire country. But because everything is so expensive, now, I wanted to stay there as long as possible to save money, even though it meant sacrificing getting my degree on the timeline I originally had.
• age. Most of my friends already have their undergraduate degrees and are either in graduate school or have moved on to succeed in some awesome careers. I'm just as old and a few years behind, but who cares? Look where I am now. Let it be known that it is NEVER too late to go back to school and it is NEVER too late for an education. Furthermore, don't ever compare yourself to anyone. Someone else's life, plans, and timeline will never be the same as yours, and that's the way it's meant to be. You're not behind anyone, you're on pace with yourself and doing just fine. 
• being married. I've had many tell me that being married means I can't be selfish and accomplish my own goals. Sure, sometimes I can't be selfish and I can't just do whatever I want. But college has always been a goal of mine, ever since I was 8 years old, and maybe even younger if we're really being honest because I was that weird kid. I am lucky to not only be in a relationship where my husband is supportive of me and my goals, but to be in a relationship where I'm encouraged to accomplish them. Marriage is not a barrier, a wall, or whatever you want to call it. If anything, it's probably pushed me to do this sooner and having a loving, supportive person behind me has only been a benefit. 

As I said before, I am thrilled and so excited to share such big news with everyone! This chapter in my life is one that I've wanted for a long, long time and even though nothing went as I thought it was supposed to, I wouldn't have wanted it to turn out any differently. I can't wait to start once the new year hits!

Morris and the Mattress

Mo has a thing for mattresses. Namely, being the ruler of everything and laying on top of them. So when we moved a while ago, this was obviously an exciting time. Not only did he have a new box home, but the spare room mattress came downstairs and his throne returned. 

We discovered his love for being on top of the bed when we moved out of our first apartment. We put him up there for the fun of it. After that, he didn't want to come down. So much so that when I took him down because I had to leave the house, he hopped back up there after I had left and did what he wanted. 

Same story the second time we moved. Once he went up there, he did not come down for hours. His "King Morris" status had officially returned. 

Morris and His Box

Moving is one of the least fun things to do, unless your name is Morris. Like every other cat, he LOVES boxes. Every time I'd go to tape a box together, he'd run under the flaps and hit at my feet through the openings while I moved around it as I was taping. And then every time I'd put things into a box, he'd jump in with whatever got packed as if he were getting packed up, too.

Like I said, a blast.  

Unlike other cats, though (or maybe very like them and I just don't know), he's very particular with which ones he spends his time in. Hence, this box.

Morris is in love with this box and the love originated several months ago when we had begun packing up our old house to move to our newest place. While we would sit downstairs and watch tv, while we would cook dinner, while we would pack up, he was in this box. And he was in the box for hours upon hours.  Even when we would wake up in the morning and start for the stairs, he would dart ahead and leap into this box before doing anything else.

Because of this obsession, we actually still have this box. And he still spends just as much time in it, only now it's been improved and his favorite plastic bag is inside it. So, instead of just hoping in the box, he hops into the bag that is inside this box. And he licks it because he has an obsession with licking plastic bags for some reason. 

Lens Giveaway from Crave Photography!

Yes, totally unrelated to our lives. Kind of.

Crave Photography is having this AMAZING give away and I am all sorts of giddy about it. Not only is she giving away a free lens, but there's also the prize of winning a FREE mentoring session AND a $300 dollar gift certificate to spend in the shop! Obviously, I've entered (and I'm earning additional entires by blogging about this but shh) and I want to share it all with you! 

Perhaps you want to enter yourself and give me your prize as a Christmas gift? hint hint wink wink.

Below is the link if you're interested!

Clicky Clicky

Armstrong Mini Session

Since we had pictures taken last year, I've really wanted to do annual photos of our family. Even though it's just the two of us right now and we don't plan for children any time too soon, this is still something I hold dearly to my heart. It shows how we've grown together from year to year, how we've aged and matured, and it'll be good to show our future children so many pictures of Mom and Dad. 

Unfortunately, our photographer relocated to Texas (insert many sad faces here!!) and we don't quite have the money to spend on pictures this year. Nothing to worry about, though, because the addition of the camera meant that we could easily do them ourselves. It's not quite as fun and trust me, it's much easier to have someone behind the camera exclusively than having to run back and forth on self timer. DIY family photos suffice, though, and I'm in love with how they came out. Our small mini session was a huge success and now we have photos to cherish AND to put on Christmas cards!

Serious kudos to James, too, for being such a big hearted man and humoring my want to go and take pictures because it just snowed. He was slotted to go down to New Jersey, too, meaning that we fit these in right before he left. So, not only did he venture in frozen vegetation in 20 degree weather, but he did so before even packing and leaving for his appointments that were 6 hours away. I mean, SWOON. Seriously. 

First Snow!

Just recently, we had our first real snow! And, unlike the few years I've been here, it actually stuck!

As of now, I've been in upstate NY for a little over 2 1/2 years and up until now, our first snow has never really stuck like this. The past two winters, it would snow and then it would have melted by late the next day. So, for me, this is new! We had out very first snow of this year, and it is still here the day after it has fallen.

Honestly, I'm really excited about it. As much as I love California, I love really having 4 true seasons. So, as of late, we've experienced spring, summer, and fall. As of yet, though, we haven't experience winter. And for the North Country, we are really into winter. It's only proper that it would've snowed by now. And, from what I've heard from the locals, it is truly typical and normal for it to snow like this around or after Halloween. It would seem that we are truly in for a real winter this year.

Yesterday, it started snowing late in the evening. Normally, people don't expect it to stick or last much longer the next day. However, this "first snow" has lasted all day, and even into the night! This may not be abnormal for the locals, but it is for us. James has frequently been deployed during the early winter and I, myself, have only been up here for two very light winters. For it to stick like this for over 24 hours is unusual, but very exciting (for me, at least). It didn't snow much today, but did did remain cold enough for all the snow that fell last night to last through the day as well as night. For me, the first snow has never lasted overnight. So, naturally, I took pictures of it as I've never been able to until now. 

This is such a special experience, especially since I was able to photograph is AND share it with you all! It is a first for me (perhaps not for James, I'm not entirely sure). I'm glad I was able to document this for the first winter in two years, especially since I may not get the chance after this year. Finally, I have something worth photographing for this occasion! And, it is especially special since we just moved. So, keep your fingers crossed and pray this isn't a particularly bad winter! Though, everyone is expecting it to be, even me. The leaves changed REALLY quickly this year and the temperature dropped quickly, in addition to a severe increase in storms, which makes everyone believe that this winter will be pretty harsh. That's okay, though, because it means James might get extra days off! Again, fingers crossed that the 20th won't drag him in even though the weather sucks.

Regardless, the first snow came faster than usual for us and I thought I would share! I hope everyone enjoys this and gets a taste of a white winter!