Gypped

I need to take a deep breath.

For Christmas, we did Secret Santa for the last two years with my sisters and their significant others. It just started getting too out of control to have to buy for all three of them and all three of their men, so I decided to do Secret Santa between the 8 of us. So on Thanksgiving we all draw names and spend at least $50 on whoever we chose to ensure that no one gets a shitty present, since we're only getting one.

I probably told you this already, but last year Sarah had me and gave me a bunch of shit. I'd be surprised if she spend more than ten dollars. Used books, clothes that used to belong to her, dish soap, and other random, useless shit. This year I was determined for someone good to get me, so I told Lindsey that we should rig it and have Sarah and Marc (Sarah's boyfriend or whateverthefuck he is to her) get each other so no one gets gypped like I did last year. Lindsey said she would handle it. Well apparently Sarah (or Marc, I'm not even sure) put up a stink about them having each other so Lindsey traded with Marc. She had me. Which means, now Marc has me. Great.

I didn't know any of this until Christmas morning when I opened my gift, I was pleasantly surprised to see a $50 gift card and a ring pop. Fair enough. $50 to my choice of 4 different restaurants. Cool.

A couple weekends later, I decided to use the gift card at Macaroni Grill. We never eat there because they're overpriced, but I figured with a $50 gift card, we could spend less than twenty bucks, easy. So we eat and I give them the gift card and they come back to tell me that it isn't working. *insert embarrassment* So now we have to pay for a $60+ dinner that we weren't expecting to pay for. How nice.

On the way home, I call the 1-800 number on the back of the card to find out what the balance is. It says that the card hasn't been activated. Hmm. I text Lindsey and tell her and she's like "well maybe you have to call a number and activate it before you can use it". Thanks for the optimism, Linds. Then I text Sarah and tell her and she's all like "OMG that's weird, I was with Marc when he bought it. I don't see why it isn't working. I'll see if he has the receipt". YEAH RIGHT.

I forgot about it for a while, but I just called customer service and spoke to someone and they told me that the reason I can't obtain the balance is because there was never any money put on the card. How nice.

For the second year in a row I've been gypped from my stupid sister on Christmas. I don't see how a person could gift an empty gift card to someone on Christmas. I would feel like the worst person in the world if I ever did that. Nope, I take that back, I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

I feel like such an idiot for being upset about this, but I can't help it.

I'm so over her. Everything about her. I'm just over it. I don't know how we're even related. 

Chilly Thursday

Yesterday's high was in the mid 80's and today it's in the mid 60's. Oh Florida...how strange you are! Not that I'm complaining, but I'd like it to either stay chilly, or stay warm.

Yesterday's work outfit

Educated

My degree came in the mail today...hooray! I have my AA!

Camping...Round Two!

This weekend we went camping...for the second time this year! It was fantastical. For realz. It couldn't have been more perfect.

For you, a picture timeline -

Packed up & ready to go!

Arrived - tent assembled, bed made.

Our afternoon hike 

After our hike, we picked out a similar spot to where we went the last time we were there...Turkey Town. We posted up there around 4:30 until about 6:15 and got lucky enough to see two deer about 30 yards from us. One of them had a staring contest with yours truly for what seemed like 5 whole minutes, it was intense. Then that one proceeded to do this deer-blowing-sound that deer do, quite a few times (10+), that one and the other one that was with it both jumped up and we saw their whole bodies and their white tails, it was sososososo awesome. After we left our spot, we headed back to the campsite and on the way we came across three more deer crossing the road in front of us and I somehow managed captured it on video:

The setting sun - headed back to camp.

The rising moon, so full of light and wonder <3

Our cozy campfire V kept alive until we went to bed!

The setting moon this morning.

Foggy morning!

We went back to the same spot that we saw the deer close by yesterday evening but weren't nearly as lucky. I think there may have been one on the other side of the palmettos that were in front of us, but it very well could have been a bird fluttering around. The world may never know! On our way back to the truck, V let me shoot his 22 at a tree, up high. It was quite fun!

We rode around for a bit longer before making our last stop before camp...

It was quite disgusting, but I had to see it! I didn't the last time we were there and I was just curious. There were quite a few carcasses, which I got pictures of, but I think they're too gross to share, so I'll keep them to myself!

Once we got got back to camp, we took our time packing up and headed home. We spent the afternoon lounging around (and I took a much-needed and quite wonderful nap). We took the dogs for a walk and went to the driving range so V could practice his swing. On our way home we stopped at his parents house for a bit and that's that! 

A new week begins tomorrow; school, work, yoga x5 before another weekend!

Clean House

Today was a great day. I turned my alarm off when V left for work and decided to sleep until I woke up on my own since I didn't have anywhere to be. I woke up at 9:22 and spend the entire morning, until about 12:15, cleaning the house. Really cleaning the house. Dusting and shit. It was really nice to come home from work to a super duper clean house. I didn't realize how dusty some shit was until now, that there isn't a thin, dingy layer over the bottom of the coffee table and the tv stand.

Ellie is the freaking cutest dog in the world. Somehow she gets cuter and cuter with each day that passes.

Phonology

Today I learned about the phonology of English and Spanish.

It's interesting and a bit confusing. 

Jessicat Helps Her Friends

Today was full of helping, and I totally loved it. This morning I met up with my dear friend Savannah and her cutiepie little brother for breakfast. We ate at a nearby park with the intention of playing on the playground after eating, but it was too cold. (For me and JD at least!) So we headed back to their house. I spent the remainder of the morning talking weddings with Savannah and helping her write an essay. She's getting so much better with her papers, I'm so proud at what she has become...with a little help from the master ;)

I'm convinced this little cuddly boy got us through finishing it!

I headed home early in the afternoon and finished my PowerPoint for my group project in my PE class...which we're presenting tomorrow morning. I'm nervous! I hate talking in front of a group of people! I'm really going to try and control my nerves though. It's imperative to my dignity.

After finishing that up and getting some laundry started, V's little brother came over upon my offer of helping him apply for graduation from Valencia and apply for admittance to UCF! We came across a few speed bumps, but none of them will prevent him from starting at the time we intended! Hooray for school!!

I spent the evening with the love of my life. We went and got JJ's for dinner and then headed to the grocery store for some serious bonding time <3 It was a good way to end a good day! Yay for productive days off!

Onward with the week tomorrow.

2013 = so far, so grood!

Hike

This morning we woke up and went for a hike. We didn't see any animals, but I'm pretty sure we heard a deer nearby. We walked in the woods for about 2 hours and it was really nice. Calm and relaxing. The weather was nice and it wasn't hot at all.

We had lunch and ran an errand after our hike and then came home to spend the rest of the day. We've been chilling out on the couch ever since. Wonderful Sunday if you ask me <3

Watching Finding Bigfoot while V naps.

Homework Killer!

I'm doing really well with staying on top of homework this semester. I'm very proud of myself! Determination has taken over my college career...so far. Lol. I'm sure I'll get a good case of senioritis sometime in 2014, lets get real! But for right now, I'm feeling great about it. Straight A's here I come!

A cold front blew through central Florida today. I think I walked through a tornado on my afternoon break at work. Today I believe it got up to around 80 and tonight it's going down to 40. RIDICULOUS! I'm not complaining because if we end up getting to go camping this weekend it will be absolutely perfect weather! Fingers crossed that V can get MLK day off!

Third Wednesday of 2013

This morning I had class. It's getting a little difficult...well...maybe not necessarily difficult, just very detailed. We have to write explanations about every problem we solve and it has to be really detailed. It's a lot of writing! Today my hand got a cramp.

After work this evening I'm going back to another David's Bridal to try on a dress I found in their catalog. But...when I found it in the catalog, the price said $399 which is perfect. Like PERFECT. I can definitely save $399 very soon which means I'll have enough time to get it altered and what not. However, when I found it on their website the price was like $749 or something like that. I left the catalog at my sister's house so I won't even have it to prove them the price difference. Hopefully they'll have the same catalog there and I can show them. I really hope I like this dress!

Group Projects Are Dumb

Early class this morning. I have a group project due next Tuesday and one of our stupid group members didn't show up for class today. Even though the class only meets a total of 5 times. Really? This is one of the mannnnny reasons why I hate group projects! Whatever. We planned the whole thing without her, so she'll just be SOL if she shows up next week. Bitch.

I also found out that I need to take the GKT like asap...because if I don't, I won't be able to register for certain classes. It costs $130!!!! WTF! I'm going to wait until I get my refund from my financial aid back and use that to pay for it. I just hope it doesn't come too late.

Sunday Breakfast at the Sugar Mill

This morning we met up with our friends for breakfast at the Old Sugar Mill at DeLeon Springs! We made our own pancakes, eggs and the best toast evar!

Dresses: Day 1

Today I tried on wedding dresses. I tried on 4 total, and one of them twice. The one I tried on twice I kind of liked, but definitely didn't love. I think there's something better out there. I found two others in their catalog after getting home, so I might be going back to try them both on.

After the dress trying-on, me, my mom and my sister were headed back to my mom's house to drop her off so me and Lindsey could hang out whist the boys played golf. Once we got to my mom's house, she realized she didn't have her garage opener and apparently doesn't have a house key...which means she couldn't get in their house. Who doesn't have a key to their own house?! So she ended up hanging with us for the afternoon, waiting for my dad to pick her up.

Later in the evening we met back up with my sister and brother-in-law for dinner. All of the wedding dresses must have clouded my brain because I was awfully clumsy. On the way to dinner, I spilled water right.on.my.crotch. After dinner, before we left, I took a trip to the bathroom and stuck my new, shiny, beautiful engagement ring in the very top of my jeans pocket while washing my hands. I forgot about it until I got back to the table. Right before I sat down I went to mess with it and realized it wasn't there. In my pocket? NOPE. How about my jacket pocket? NOPE. Sure it's not on your hand? I'M SURE! I was in like full public panic mode, retracing my steps with my eyes on the ground. To the bathroom, circled bathroom, no sight of it. About half way back to the table, I spot something verrry shiny under a table. MY RING! *phew* DO.NOT.TAKE.RING.OFF.IN.PUBLIC.EVAR. Lesson learned!

Takin' the Stairs

Today at work, I took the stairs up to my floor...twice. From the 2nd floor to the 12th floor. I'm going to try and do it at least once everyday. I discovered after the first trip that I need to take it slow, otherwise I sweat...a lot. Lol.

Sunbathing in January

This morning I woke up and went grocery shopping. When I got home and unloaded the groceries, I put my bathing suit on and spent some time soaking up the sun! The weather was absolutely perfect. Minimal clouds in the sky, like 80 degrees, and breezy. Perfecttttttt

I do hope we get another cold snap though because I really want to go camping!

This weekend I think I'm gonna go try on wedding dresses with my sister and my mom! I found a couple at David's Bridal online that I printed out. I'm hoping they'll have both of them at the store so I can try them on. I really don't have much of a clue what I want! I found another at this other website and printed it out. I'm hoping they'll maybe have something similar that I can try on. They're all a bit similar, but not. I'm interested to see what I like and what I don't like. Exciting!

January Heat

Today the high was a blistering 84 degrees. On the 9th of January. Oh, Florida...how you suck sometimes. So much for winter. I broke out my pj shorts this evening because according to every 5 day forecast I've looked at, it won't be getting cooler anytime soon.

No One Told Me Things Were Going to Get Physical

Bright and early this morning, I drove my sleepy butt up to school for my "Wellness, Children and Schools" class...located inside the gym. I had no idea we were actually going to be doing physical activity until I realized we were in the gym and my professor started pulling out hula hoops and basket balls! Thankfully, the games we played were actually fun, AND we got out 2 hours earlier than scheduled. SCORE! That class is going to be super easy, and over in 1 month!

After that class was over, I walked across the damn state to get my student ID, and then to the bookstore to buy my packet for my math class tomorrow and get myself a UCF t-shirt!

First Day of School

And it was quite successful! I got there waaay earlier than I expected to. I ended up leaving over an hour before class was to begin because I was afraid of what the parking situation would hold, and it wasn't bad at all. I guess even 9am is too early for most college students, so the garage nearest my building wasn't even near full when I arrived. However, when I left there wasn't a spot to be seen! I know I definitely won't have a problem tomorrow considering that class is even earlier than the one today.

To bide my time this morning before class, I decided to make my way to the Student Union to find out where I go to get my student ID. I ended up getting lost on my way to the Student Union, and when I got there, found out that I had to walk even further to get to the ID making-place. I got there upon realizing I didn't put my damn drivers license in my backpack, so I couldn't even get my student ID! Oh well. I'll end up going back some other time.

My professor seems pretty awesome. He's younger, and seems very down to earth. He let us out of class 45 minutes early, which was great. Immediately after beginning class this morning, he asked if anyone minded coming in at 9 instead of 9:30 so we could get out even earlier and if it hadn't been for one girl, we could have done it. Way to ruin it for everyone else!

I had a good amount of time at home between school and work to relax and take a catnap.

After work I met up with V at his work so he could change my oil (which was like over 4,000+ miles overdue). 

Home relaxing now, getting ready to do it all over again tomorrow. Let the Spring 2013 semester begin!

School Starts Tomorrow

AHHH! It's just starting to hit me a little bit...mostly because I don't know what to wear yet, lol.

One of my four professors has emailed me the syllabus and that's it. I replied within 30 minutes of receiving the email to ask if we needed a book because it wasn't listed in the syllabus, and have yet to receive a reply. Awesome!

After my early ass class on Tuesday, I have to go to the bookstore to get whatever books I need. Assuming I will actually know by then. I also need to get a student ID. I probably shouldn't have waited so long, and now that I'm thinking of it, I imagine I'll need it to buy my books with, so I should probably do that first. I'll look into it tomorrow, but I can't spend too much time there after class because I don't want to have to be rushing to get to work, at all.

Excuse my weird hair, I have it braided for the night in hopes of it being wavy for school, lol. We'll see how that goes.

Oh yeah, and you know how we cancelled going camping because it was supposed to rain all weekend? It ended up being beautiful yesterday, clouding up just a little bit towards the evening, clearing out by morning, being beautiful again today (though a bit on the warm side with a high of like 86), and not raining a drop until 6:45 this evening. Psh. 

Hopefully we'll be able to go camping again sometime soon. 

Zoo!

This morning we woke up early, headed out for a ride, and ended up at the zoo just after it opened. It was awesome because there was literally no one there for most of the time we were there. Just as we were walking over to the last area, people started scattering in, and while we were on our way out, there was a line at the admission counter! It was really cool to be the only ones there for a while, very peaceful. Lots of the animals were up and on the move which was cool. I don't think I've ever been to the zoo and seen so many animals moving around.

We got home in the later hours of the morning and spent the entire afternoon, until now, cleaning up in and outside of the house. We got all of our Christmas decor down, gave the dogs a bath, did some laundry, tended to the front yard, and vacuumed the shit out of the house. Hooray!

Hey, Friday!

Have I told you that I'm dying my hair soon, blog? I'm going to get this ombre effect that stays the same color on top, but fades into something pretty light by the ends of my hair. Similar to how it looks in this picture (lots of sunlight and some "boosting" made it quiiite light), but it will be a little more subtle transition...and possibly even a bit lighter at the bottom! We'll see! I believe, if I remember correctly, my appointment is the 26th?

New Year, Day Three

I still can't believe it is actually 2013. Time just seems to be going by faster and faster the older I get. I remember when I was young how an hour seemed like forever, a year? Forget about it! But now, a year doesn't seem that far away. We've been talking a little bit about the wedding and V mentioned maybe having it in October of this year. I like the idea, but I've done a little research whist at work about planning a wedding (I Googled "wedding checklist" and was immediately overwhelmed) and it seems like if we want to have a wedding in 10 months, we've got to start getting shit done like right meow. I'd really like to have it in October because I think we might end up having it up north and the weather up there in October is just amazing. Perfect wedding weather! Wedding. Fiancé. Engaged. I'm still not over it. Today I called V my Fiancé out loud for the first time and it was cray!

I have to have something small. There's no way I would be able to handle having tons of eyes on me. I would fall apart!

I'm sorry if my blog seems to be turning into a wedding-blog, but it's the only thing I've been thinking about since around 6:45 on December 31^st! How am I supposed to think about anything else?!

School starts on Monday and I'm kiiiind of excited. Mostly just because I'm now working towards my Bachelors, and I actually have my AA! I think I officially graduated with it sometime mid-December. I should be receiving it in the mail within the next month-ish, I think? I'll deeeefinitely be buying a nice frame for it and putting it up on the wall in our house.

I've found myself staring at my ring a lot. It shimmers so beautifully on my left hand, it always catches my eye! I'm engaged! To be married! I have to find a wedding dress. I've thought about wearing my sister's, but I don't know if I want to. On one hand I want my own, but on the other I thought it might be cool to wear the same one she wore. Maybe I'll try it on the next time I'm over there!

I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. I'm afraid next week is going to seem ridiculously long considering I haven't worked a full week in like three weeks (maybe four). I have a feeling though that time will really start flying by now that I'll be in school again. For some reason school always seems to make months pass by as if they were days.

We were planning on going camping this weekend, but I've been checking out the forecast for Saturday and Sunday and the weathermen say that it's supposed to rain. I don't really trust the weathermen, but I don’t think I want to take the chance of it raining because it rained last time and it suuuucked. Our tent isn't waterproof so it was dripping in a few places, and I didn’t' really enjoy the fact that everything was wet outside. I was really looking forward to going again but I guess we'll just have to reschedule! I'm sure I'll really appreciate going for a weekend once school is back in session.

New Year, Day Two. Proposal Story!

Okay, so I have to be honest and tell you I just added a post that was from Monday. I wrote it out at work and meant to post it when I got home, but I forgot! I wanted to make sure it was posted because of the list I made. Lol. #1 was to get engaged in 2013! Little did I know, it would be happening later that same night!

I made plans earlier in the day with my sister to bring Ellie and Lacey along with us to their house to celebrate the New Year. So when I got home from work, we had a while to relax, so we both took a nap on the couch and then started getting ready. V almost convinced me not to bring the dogs, but Lacey needed to see Millie (my sister's dog). She needed to play! And I didn't want to leave Ellie home all alone on NYE, so she had to come too! Well, on the way to their house Lacey was acting crazy which is not normal for her in the car. I was a little worried that she like had to poop or something, but I didn't say anything to V because he already didn't want them coming, so I didn't want to make it worse, lol. But then we got to the area he lived in when we first started dating. We used to go for bike rides all the time through the neighborhood and around this pretty lake with a small park that we brought Ellie to a few times. He stopped at the park just as the sun was almost completely set. All I was thinking about was making sure Lacey got to poop/pee/whatever she had to do to stop whining like a crazy lady. V had Lacey's leash and I had Ellie's leash and we walked down towards the lake and V stopped and said "Jessica Greene..." and then did a little speech about how much he loves me and how special NYE is to us (I'm not sure if I've ever shared the story, but in case I haven't, here's a condensed version: NYE 2008...I'm still "dating" my ex, but we're not celebrating New Years together because he wanted to go to some party at his friend's house and I wanted to go to my sister's house, so we went separate ways for the night. Well V was at my sister's house for the night and we were hanging out like normal, but then after we rang in 2009 with fireworks in the driveway, I went inside to get a drink. V came in shortly after and we met in the kitchen. We shared the biggest, most intense and amazing eye-lock I've ever experienced in my life and came this close to kissing, but then our friend walked into the kitchen and ruined it all (which I'm kind of thankful for, just because I was technically still with my ex, so it would have been cheating, and that's not cool). After that night, it was clear to me that we belonged together. After all of the years of being "just friends", something clicked, chemistry was in session, and it couldn't be ignored!) So ever since then, we've always joked about kissing in the kitchen on NYE, lol. Anyways...then he got down on his knee, pulled the ring out of his pocket with shaking hands and asked me to marry him, with a shaky voice. I, of course, said yes!

I honestly could not be happier! 2013 is going to be so amazing! I think the wedding will be happening later this year. Something small...somewhere special.

I'm very excited and honestly I'm kind of still in a haze from the whole thing. NYE seems like a blur. I had so many emotions running through my mind all night long, I don't remember many details of the night after the proposal. Proposal. Engaged. Fiancé. Future husband. Mrs. Turner.

Its all a bit surreal still. This is going to be a big year. I'm starting at UCF, working towards my bachelors degree and could quite possibly have a different last name at this time next year. Holy crappppp! Time goes by so fast. I'm really growing up...it's happening whether I like it or not (but right now, I like it!). I'm engaged! Engaged. I can't get over it! I keep saying it to myself and staring at this beautiful ring on my left hand.

Happy New Year...We're Engaged!!!!