Vacuum Cleaner Excitement.

"So, when is it, exactly, that I'll feel like an adult?" 

This is a question I have been asking myself for most of the week. Tomorrow will by the one-week anniversary of my graduation and it was still feeling pretty surreal. I say "was" because all that has changed now.

Two days ago my Mama and I went shopping for my new apartment, which was more fun than anything. We roamed the stores looking for the essentials, and then, we turned down the vacuum cleaner isle of Walmart. 

"Does your place have a vacuum?" My mother asked

"No, we were talking about needing to get one."

"Well how about this? It's small and inexpensive and should work just fine for your little place." 

A few texts later and I had the approval of my roommates and the little Bissell in the bag! But, believe it or not that still wasn't the moment that I felt like an adult. No, it was the following morning when I woke up, from dreaming about the apartment, wondering how long it would be before I could test out my new vacuum cleaner. 

Resignedly yours,

Post Graduation Bucket List - Take 2

Well, I've been a college grad for less than 72 hours and its been a interesting few days.  Entering the world of adulthood comes with its ups and downs... it's crazy to think that I'm not going back in the fall, or that my days of sitting in class and eating cafeteria food are over. Now its on to paying rent, cooking meals, and grumbling about the price of gas!

In honor of my graduation, I thought it was fitting to revisit the Post Graduation Bucket List I posted a while ago. Here's a brief update: 

(You should know: Strike - Accomplished   |   Italics - In Progress   |   Bolded - Still on the "To Do" list)

1. Get a job (just starting with the basics here!) 
         Just accepted a position a couple of weeks ago and I start Monday! 
2. Find some means of transporting myself to said job
         Working on this one - with any luck, I'll be the owner of a little VW Cabrio in under two weeks.
3. Develop a budget
         Working on it, but it looks like I'll be set.
4. Become a coupon clipper
         Thanks to my wonderful Mama, I have a little coupon collection already.
5. Get involved in my home church
         A slight change of plans, I won't be going back to my home church regularly, but instead I'll be continuing to attend a wonderful little church close to my apartment. 
6. Find 1 reason to smile each day
7. Seek a community of friends
8. Journal often
         Er... working on this one! 
9. Run a 5K marathon
         I've been waiting for the rain to stop, great excuse huh? 
10. Curb my appetite for new dresses (see #3)
          Well, I needed a new dress for graduation right??
11. Stay in-touch with college friends
12. Visit said college friends
          Less than a month until the Lyon/Wright wedding!
13. Scrapbook my semester in Rome
14. Take up upholstery (Call me crazy, but I want to be able to do this...and this!)
          A summer project perhaps? 
15. Become a "regular" at a tiny, romantic coffee shop
16. Keep fresh flowers in my place of residence
17. Read books for fun
          Thank goodness for Amazon Prime - just a few days to wait :) 
18. Subscribe to 1 or 2 magazines and read them faithfully 
19. Continue my love affair with chalkboards... and maybe even act on my feelings
20. Write notes to those I love
21. Blog faithfully on my boring life as an adult
          Does this post count as a start? 
22. Enjoy every cup of tea I have
23. Master the art of wearing heals
          Well, I didn't trip on the platform at graduation and survived the muddy lawn. Check! 
24. Get a library card and use it often
25. Keep thinking about jobs in Europe...
          I never stop thinking about it. 2012 here I come! 

Here's to adulthood,

Springtime and Zombies and Commencement – Oh My!!

What a crazy semester this has been. It’s the last of my college career, and probably the best so far. It has been a rough ride in places, but I've made the best friends I have ever had and found myself being stretched and growing in so many ways.

Graduation is going to be bitter sweet. In some ways I cannot wait to get off campus and away from school. The distance will be much needed. But, of course there are going to be things I’ll miss. My housemates, classes, theater… I’m going through theater withdraw already actually.

It has been wonderful to get involved in theater again. First with the Cherry Orchard and then the student directed one-acts. Special thanks to Sofia for allowing me to be part of her pantomimes and to Kevin for writing the best Zombie script this side of Greenfield! As a shy freshman I would have never guessed I’d be painting my face like a mime and running through the cafeteria as part of a Zombie flash mob. It’s been fantastic!

And then there are my housemates. Ten wonderful girls that have made this year incredible. How could I have made it without all of you? J

So many great memories, but the future is looking promising too. I have a little apartment with a few pieces of furniture and I’m looking forward to the time when it will feel like home. A job is in the works and pretty soon I’ll be the owner of my very own vehicle.

Bitter-sweet… so many things to be sorry to leave, and so much to be excited about in the future.

So much thinking,

Post-Graduation Bucket List

The future is big and wonderful... but too big and wonderful to leave unfilled with happy plans! So, since I am about to enter into the world of real adulthood, I have decided to create a bucket list for my first year out of college. This is just a start...

1. Get a job (just starting with the basics here!)
2. Find some means of transporting myself to said job
3. Develop a budget
4. Become a coupon clipper
5. Get involved in my home church
6. Find 1 reason to smile each day
7. Seek a community of friends
8. Journal often 
9. Run a 5K marathon
10. Curb my appetite for new dresses (see #3)
11. Stay in-touch with college friends
12. Visit said college friends 
13. Scrapbook my semester in Rome
14. Take up upholstery (Call me crazy, but I want to be able to do this...and this!)
15. Become a "regular" at a tiny, romantic coffee shop
16. Keep fresh flowers in my place of residence
17. Become the proud owner of some colorful Fiestaware
18. Subscribe to 1 or 2 magazines and read them faithfully 
19. Continue my love affair with chalkboards... and maybe even act on my feelings
20. Write notes to those I love
21. Blog faithfully on my boring life as an adult
22. Enjoy every cup of tea I have
23. Master the art of wearing heels
24. Get a library card and use it often
25. Keep thinking about jobs in Europe...

Dreaming about that last one,