Decorating for Fall

All my life, I have envied those homes I have entered with such magnificent decor.

I have always wanted to have that home.

Well, now that I live somewhere with seasons, I have numerous opportunities to attempt awesomeness in decor.

Right now it's fall. My first fall. It's kind of a big deal.

I am probably the only one in awe of the multicolored trees and incredible weather.
I am totally ok with that.

I decided to go to Joann Fabrics to see what I could come up with.
It turns out that all Fall decor was 50% off. I definitely didn't mind.

So here goes, this is what I've come up with so far:
(don't judge - it's my fist time)











I am open to any and all suggestions.

Have a great Friday!

Coffee

Well, since I got married I have become a coffee addict.

What is the criteria for a coffee addict?
1.I have to have it every day (preferably at the start of each day).
2.If not, I develop the most horrific headaches I have ever felt in my lifetime.
3.Then, once I soothe my pain with a delicious coffee beverage, I am cured.

Is it all the adorable coffee shops on every corner of the Chicagoland area?
Maybe.
Is it the fact that I have coffee every morning with breakfast?
Possibly.
Or could it be that all the friends I have made here are also coffee addicts?
Perhaps.

Recently, we have started to use our coffee press as an alternative to our coffee machine. When using our coffee machine, we tend to make too much of such a good thing and it ends up getting thrown away. In an effort to solve our coffee wasting problem, we decided to start using our little, red coffee press. It it perfect for just the two of us.

After using our little coffee press so often, Ruben and I have discovered the perfect portions of coffee and water to create the most delicious cups of coffee.


Here's to all the coffee addicts out there.

I hope you had your cup today.

Exams

Today I took one of many exams that I have taken in my college life..

Thanks to technology, I have not taken a pencil and paper exam since my early undergraduate years.

No, I am not THAT old.
It's just interesting to see how schooling has changed over not so many years.

Lately I've been feeling pretty discouraged.

Surprisingly, having just moved has nothing to do with my discouragement.

I just found out that to change my license I don't have to parallel park, so that definitely added encouragement to my being discouraged about not understanding the concept of parallel parking.

So, what is it then?

I just moved.
I finally have a home here in Chicago.
We have a garage space.
I never have to think about parallel parking when I get home again.
I have an amazing husband.
He has an amazing family.
I am started to build really great friendships here.
The weather is extremely pleasant.

All great things.

So why on earth would I be discouraged??

School.

That's right. School. College. Graduate School.
The Masters in Mental Health Counseling program that I am currently enrolled in.

There lies the source of my feelings of discouragement.

Simply put, I just don't get it.

I don't understand why I have to be in school for so long to finally do what I think I'll love. I don't understand why other people's masters programs last one year and mine lasts THREE - at LEAST.

I don't understand what the point of this "read - study - take exams - write papers - give presentations - repeat" thing is all about.

I go into small depression modes on days I have to take exams.
Seriously. Ask Ruben. It's bad.

I have never been a good test taker. Not being a good test taker automatically means you never feel like you have done well enough. Papers, on the other hand, I can do.

Unfortunately, tests are part of classes. Always. Lots of them. It's great.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

Tonight I took an exam. Yet again, I felt unbelievably horrible afterwards.

Here's to the hope of one day being different.

Gone

I wonder what people will remember of me when I'm gone..

Everybody Hurts

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone, hold on, hold on
If you feel like letting go, hold on
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on

'Cause everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts. You are not alone


-R.E.M.