Don't You Forget About Me

I have been the worst, I know. I had really intended on writing a lot more, but I guess I didn't really know how much time & energy school would take up. I sincerely apologize!

The past few months, as I said, have been super busy. I cannot believe it's already the first on April! Don't get me wrong, I am super excited about it. Especially since next week, I'll be in VEGAS with David! We both have never been to Vegas before so I am equally excited & nervous. I'll probably be spending a lot of time at the pool and in the hotel room, getting a research paper done. That doesn't sound super exciting, but David will be in a conference all week, so I'll have a lot of alone time.

So, sorry to leave you hanging on the "bad news" from the last post. I have been pretty bummed & I know it's not that bad, but still. I have braces now. Like, on my teeth. So far, they are only on eight teeth, four on each side, but I will get the rest in about four to five months. I have pretty severe TMJ & this was the next step since my splint didn't work for me. Granted, a LOT of adults have braces more than ever, but it has still been sort of humiliating. I feel 12. Don't worry, though. I am getting used to them & I know I'll probably post pictures when I get the full set. For now, just a lot of closed-lipped smiles.

On a weird & hilarious note: A few weeks ago, I had my cat neutered. Totally normal, right? No. Nope. My cat FREAKED OUT from being under anesthesia & legit hallucinated. He was screaming & terrified of everything, attacking me, David, & furniture It was insane! After a really long night of him barrel-rolling in his carrier, we had to but him, in his carrier, in the bathtub, surrounded by cushions to keep him safe. It was a nightmare. My next cat will come fixed already.  

David's birthday was this weekend, and while originally I had a lot planned for the day, he decided he just wanted to chill out at home (except when we went to the movies & saw the new Arnold Schwarzenegger movie "Sabotage". Seriously. Your assumptions were right, it was terrible).

This year has just been really exciting so far & I cannot wait for the rest of the year to unfold. So many great things are already planned & It's going to be pretty awesome.

I PROMISE I'll write about my trip to Vegas once we get back. In the meantime, enjoy some photos of a few fun things that happened in the past few months!

My friend Kara & I made this cake for David for Valentine's Day. It came out so perfect, I cannot even believe it.

Kara got married! She had the cutest little home wedding, ever & she through it all together herself since she has a long distance love with James. It was absolutely incredible & I was honored to be there! I can't wait for the summer - that's when James moves here, from England, for good!

We went to the Columbus Zoo the day we had Gaston neutered. I was a perfect & sunny day with barely anyone there. I am pretty excited to get there several more times this year! They have a new exhibit, Heart of Africa, opening in May!

 

See you guys soon!

xoxo

photos: my own!

I'm An Addict For Dramatics

Winter has always been my greatest enemy. I don't like being cold, I don't like layering my clothes & I don't like boots. I love green trees, flowers, sandals (or bare feet!) & shorts. I am used to the Ohio winters & I am fortunate that Columbus doesn't get it as bad as my hometown. But, this winter has been brutal with snowstorm after snowstorm & temperatures in the negatives. It has really been bringing me down & this weekend it just all boiled over. I had a decent sized meltdown over all the things I hated about winter & how I wanted to leave the house, but leaving the house meant having to bundle up & still be cold. To me, there was no solution. Fortunately, David knows just to let me have my time & still managed to get me out a little bit.

After that mess, I thought about the things that are pretty awesome in my life & so, I compiled a small list of happiness that is making all this grey & cold sort of worth it.

This Friday is Valentine's Day! I've never really celebrated it before! Last year, David & I stayed home because I was ill & before that (with boyfriends past), it never really seemed right to celebrate. This year, though, I am going all out! I have a great navy dress with hearts all over it & red tights to go with it. We have dinner reservations at an awesome restaurant & I have so many surprises in store! 

Cuddling. I am a cuddler. I can be constantly cuddled up to David, my cat, or even my parents still. But, no one really likes to cuddle when it's hot out. The winter has me here. Winter is cuddle weather.

School has been going really good so far. I know I am only a few weeks in, but I am getting the hang of it & I am feeling pretty confident. I even did great on my first exam last week, which I was super nervous about.

Last week, I received some pretty discouraging news, but I am slowly starting to realize that it is going to be the best thing for me. Don't worry, I'll be sharing eventually. I'm sort of in a state of embarrassment & shock over it still.

I have several weddings that I am going to this year & I am actually super excited for them. I am not remotely the biggest fan of going to weddings, seeing as most of them are much the same. These are some of my best friends getting married, though & so that makes them so exciting & special. 

There is 116 days until I'm at the Beach. there is only 56 days until Vegas & there is only 37 days until Spring. But, who's counting?  

I guess, despite all the gloom, everything is going pretty good. I should remind myself of the good that I have going on. 

Do you guys get down in the winter? What are some ways you perk yourself up? I'd love for some ideas! xoxo

pics: here and here!

(Trying to Be) The Favorite Child

I headed home this past weekend, solo. It's been a long time since I went home just by myself. Usually, I have David in tow because we actually have something to do there like a holiday, wedding, etc. Love the man, but it was good to just spend some QT with my parents. He ended up going down to Cincinatti to visit friends & have a man-weekend. Win-win. I pictured my cat having a Home Alone-esque weekend by his lonesome at home.

I went up there because my mom broke her ankle in three places two weeks ago & she had surgery last week. My plan was to do as many chores as possible for her and my dad. I did some things, sure, but if we're being honest, there was a Harry Potter marathon on TV...so...woops. My dad cleaned out my car for me (& chastised me for it's messiness in the process), my mother waddled from room to room with her walker, & there was a blizzard & it was too cold to function (unsurprising for NEOhio in the winter). Sadly, I only got to see one of my friends, but I am going to try to make an effort to go visit more this year, to at least see my friends.

As I am writing this, I realized that I haven't been to downtown-ish Cleveland in over a year and a half. Make your jokes, but Cleveland to me is still just the best. In my opinion the food & restaurant scene there is far better than Columbus & I probably tell people that on a weekly basis.

 

In awesome news, I booked my vacation with David & MY PARENTS this past weekend. We're heading (back) to Tybee Island in the beginning of June. Growing up, we really didn't do many family vacations. My dad wasn't able to get the time off from work & the age gap between my sisters & I was much bigger then. I never minded it, though. I guess it's probably because I didn't know better. But, I decided this year I wanted to take my parents to my very favorite place & to show them everything about Savannah, Georgia that I am crazy about. Plus, my parents need & deserve a vacation. 2013 was one hell of a year for them. It's going to be interesting, to say the least. There is a running joke in my family that my older sister, Crissy (the middle child), is the favorite or the "golden child". If it isn't apparent by this post, I am trying to nudge her out

Did you guys plan any vacations for this year? Georgia isn't the only place I am going. I am heading to Vegas in April & also in planning mode to see Kate this year too! Hooray for 2014! I feel like it's going to be the best.

photos: here & here 

Sammi's Back, Tell Your Friends.

So sorry I have been pretty absent the past month. There was equally a lot & nothing at all going on. I had a whole post about the getaway David & I took up to Frankenmuth, Michigan but decided to scrap it because I couldn't figure out how to put into an adequate amount of words about everything that happened. It was probably 10 paragraphs. Woooof.

I really, really like my cat.

To shorten it, if you have never heard of Frankenmuth, you aren't alone. I hadn't heard about it until David told me that's what he "got" me for my birthday. A getaway. But, you may have heard of Bronner's CHRISTmas (seriously) Wonderland which is the "World's largest Christmas store". I love Christmas time. The lights, the decorations, hiding Jesus from my mom (don't judge), the music, the giving, all of it. It's so magical. Driving into Frankenmuth and ALL the lights brought me to tears. It took us over three hours to go through Bronner's & I cut myself off at about $100 spent. I could have spent thousands. There was so many cute shops in town & the waiters all wore lederhosen at the restaurant we went to. Sure, it was freezing & snowing, but it added to the allure of it all. It was absolutely the best gift I have ever received. It was only a 4ish hour drive for us from Columbus. If you can, go visit. We'll definitely be back.

He seriously posed this way.

Christmas was a little stressful, only due to travel. David & both are from two different parts of Ohio. Him, Athens. Me, Akron. So, we had to get to both families in about 36 hours. Not to mention, it was the first time that I met his extended family & he has a LOT of family. My family is small, we usually just have my parents, my sisters, nephew, & my uncle and aunt over. But, by how loud it gets, you'd think there was 30 some of us. I was able to see one of my best friends, received some school supplies, and ate some good food. Also, I bought Dane green pants. He loves them.

I worked New Years Eve, like always. We're only there until six & I always take the stance that the night has just begun & we can go out. We stayed home. Watched the ball drop (which I realized is INSANELY anti-climatic) & drank mini bottles of champagne. If how you're New Year's is spent is how your year will go, I'll take being comfortable, warm, happy, & slightly buzzed over anything.

Oh hey. Safari Sammi, here.

I start school on Monday. Which, probably isn't that big of a deal except I haven't been in school for a while. It took me a long time to decide what I wanted. I went from journalist to translator to hair dresser (most unlikely) to public relations to pharmacist to nurse to finally, zoologist. How did I land there? Easy. I reminded myself that from age 7 until high school that all I wanted was to work with animals. I was pretty discouraged in high school when people told me all the math I would have to take, so I scrapped it. But, at 26 I realized that this is what I am meant for. I am meant to scoop elephant poo & cuddle with baby tigers. I am meant to spray off penguins and lay down hay for the rhinos. I haven't completely decided if I'll go onto vet school after that (ultimate dream). I figured I'd cross that bridge in a year or two. But, animals. That's it. That's been it forever. 

 I am pretty insanely nervous about going back. The idea of math paralyzes me. The thought of professors calling on me & I don't know the answer makes me want to vom. I have a great support system, though. I have David who is super good at math & my family & friends cheering me on. I know in a few weeks, once I get into the swing of things I'll be okay. But for now, I'm losing sleep, tearing my thumbs apart, & freaking out every second.

I'll try to be better at this, but please be patient! I'm still getting the hang of all this. I'm excited about everything 2014 has is store for me & I am even more excited to share it!

photos: first two my own. last one, here!

Part of My World

My 26th birthday was this weekend & for the most part, I was dreading it. First, I don't really think there is any happy milestones after 25. After 25, it's all "over the hill" and old jokes. I am not thrilled about all that. Also, I have this fear that if I ever have a party, no one will show up & I'll just die from there. However, I made the best of these situations after a lot of anxiety, indecisiveness, & general fear. 

I had the party of a 6 year old girl.

I asked a few friends that if I had some people over to my apartment, if they'd come. For whatever reason, I was thrilled that my friends were actually my friends & thought it was a great idea. I went to the local party store & bought The Little Mermaid** invitations & sent them out. No one (seriously no one) was surprised. Everyone RSVP'd, yes! I was still nervous, but getting excited.

The day before my party, David & I went out & bought The Little Mermaid everything. I wanted this done my way & since my friends responded so well to the invites, I decided they would think this was equally fun. 

Day of Party: Commence Issues.

I met my parents half-way for lunch. Before that, I decided to steam my dress...while it was on my body. I know have a massive, painful, and ugly burn on my stomach. You know how you always hear NOT to do that? Seriously, don't do it. It was EASILY the dumbest thing I have ever done. My mom, love her, embarrassed me (payback from years of my shenanigans) by asking the waitress for burn cream because I was THAT bad off. I wasn't that mad. The burn cream did make me feel better. Plus, my parents bought me this awesome backpack that I had been drooling over.

I went home, took a (way too long nap) and after that, I was scrambling. Scrambing to clean, pick up my cake, get snacks, shower, the works. I win at procrastination.

The party went off without a hitch, though. Everyone had fun & sadly, one of my friends couldn't make it due to car issues, but everyone else was there. Have you guys ever played Cards Against Humanity? If not, you should. It was my first time playing & all of us were laughing hysterically. If you don't easily get offended, play it. Now. I am going to try to take it home for Christmas to get my family to play.

Other things that happened:

David cut my cake with his samurai swords (because, obviously).

We played "give Ariel her sparkly shell" (basically a pin the tail on the donkey game)

I cried while playing "give Ariel her sparkly shell" because I hate being dizzy.

I was gifted with different alcohols & a fantastic cat sweater.

I have good friends. Good friends that I now want to have over at my apartment every day after a long hiatus of never having people over because of anxiety & fear of rejection. This was easily one of the best birthdays (if not THE best) in my 20s. I said this as best I could in 140 characters, but I realize now that birthdays aren't about how many people come out to drink the night away with you at a random bar, but having good friends come over to your small apartment to play games & eat ice cream cake with you.

What do you guys think? Would you have a party like this? What was your favorite birthday you've had? I want to know!!

xoxo

** I love love love Ariel. I'm sure you'll see The Little Mermaid as a trend.

photos: Friend Kara!

Hey, Thanks.

Much like the past two years, I decided to stay put for Thanksgiving. It's not that I don't want to go visit family, but I usually only get the day of off & it's a pain to travel like that. But, I volunteer to work so other people in town can spend time with their families & also to get more time around Christmas off.

This year was supposed to be lazy. Make a pizza & watch movies with my boyfriend, David. But, as I learned some good friends weren't spending the holiday alone? Game on. I'm cooking. Everything turned out pretty dang good for all the rushing I did, so I am super thankful for that.

As for being thankful, here are a few things that I am so grateful for this year:

1. Making new friends (& keeping the old, of course) here & finally feeling like I fit in.

2. My nephew, as always. He turned four this year & I just can't believe how smart, funny, & creative 
he is.

3. Finally getting the strength & having the support to go back to school. It's been a long time coming.

4. Going on a much needed beach vacation with David to my favorite place, Savannah/Tybee Island

5. Crafting. Even though I am not even remotely good at it, I am trying & having fun.

6. Seeing so many good shows (like The Postal Service & Justin Timberlake).

7. My two sisters. Their amazing strength everyday has been so incredibly admiring. I have aspired to be like them since I was a little girl & I still do. I want their courage.

8. My parents. Forever & always supportive & loving without question. Truly the two coolest people I have ever met. I can only hope to be half as awesome as them when I get to their ages.

9. My adorable kitten, Gaston. He is such a pain most the time, getting into the Christmas tree, hiding figurines, and howling for no reason. But, he is perfect for David & I. So cuddly, with the loudest purr ever.

10. For a great love with a lot of adventure, laughter, & happiness. There cannot be a close second.

So, what are you guys thankful for this year? What did you do for Thanksgiving? Go home? Host your own? Veg out with football or good movies? Do tell!!

xoxo

photos: all my own. 

Things Like This Don't Happen To People Like Me.

This weekend I decided I step out of my comfort zone. Typically, on weekends, I am too exhausted from the week & just veg out. I sleep all day, eat pizza, and try my hardest not to have to wear any pants. Nope, not this weekend (granted, I wore dresses and tights so I guess I never did wear pants..). This weekend was the weekend.

On Saturday night, I went out with a few friends for appetizers, drinks, & a show. The appetizer was flatbread pizza. The drinks were beer. Typical & unexciting. The show is what matters. The show was Justin Timberlake. 

Did you read that? I said, Justin Timberlake. His concert. On Saturday night.

Now, before your eyes can't roll back any further, let me give you a brief background. When I was 12, my sister took me to see *Nsync at The Cleveland Brown's Stadium (First Energy Stadium, whatever). During the show, my sister & I managed our way down to the field from the lower bowl right up next to the stage. At this moment, *Nsync was belting out, "I Want You Back" & that's what it happened. It happened to me. Justin Timberlake was maybe 10-15 feet away from me and he pointed at me. This, for the past 14 years has been my crowning glory. 

For 14 years I joked to people that Justin Timberlake KNOWS me. That he obviously would remember me. I am aware that this sounds insane.

So Saturday night, we had pretty good seats at Nationwide Arena. Lower bowl, 6th row, and a few sections back from the main stage. I didn't take any pictures or videos because my friends were & I was too busy being spastic. A few songs after the intermission (yep), the front of the stage LIFTED and then MOVED over the crowd. When the stage got to us, it stopped. At us. He was right over me. 6 feet away. I was losing my mind. I could see the bottom of the beautiful hem of his Tom Ford pants

After a few songs a performing on top of the V.I.P bar in the middle of the crowd, he got back on his floating stage. I swear, in that moment, out of all the people around me, I was the only one freaking out. That's when the impossible transpired. Justin Timberlake, in all his glory, stopped & waved at me.

He clearly remembers me.

photo: here