Let's continue on this fast track 22-26

Day 22: What's in your purse?

The better question would be - what's not in my purse?

 And yes... I have my waitress apron on me at all times. Or else I will forget to bring it to work.

Day 23: Favorite Movie

Please refer to DAY # 7 and refrain from asking the same questions twice. Thank-you. 

Day 24: Something you've learned

 "Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering"

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

This should be interesting... I pretty much only use my I-Pod for the gym... I also haven't been to the gym in four months, therefore haven't updated my I-Pod in quite some time.

1. Kelly Clarkson - Break Away 
2. Carrie Underwood - Twisted 
3. Life House - Undone 
4. Creed - What If 
5. Carrie Underwood - Change 
6. Carrie Underwood - Flat on the Floor 
7. Gavin DeGraw - We Belong Together 
8. Fergie - Glamorous
9. Daughtry - Over You 
10. Rihanna & Eminem - Love the Way you Lie

Day 26: Your Dream Wedding

I wouldn't really say I have a dream wedding. I just want it to be a wonderful day with the man I love, our families and friends. I want a simple wedding - not extremely traditional. I mainly just want to have a fun day and enjoy every moment of it.

Let's get it done 15-21

Alright... I have come to the conclusion that this 30-day challenge bullshit has gone on long enough and is becoming a nuisance. I contemplated abandoning it mid-way, but decided that I didn't want to be a quitter. I want to get back to writing about real things, about my everyday life - no matter how boring and mundane it can sometimes be.... so to make this move a little quicker. He is a few days on fast foward :) 

Day 15: Bible verse

This one is just silly. I am sooo not a religious person. Therefore... I googled "Bible Quotes". Here is what I came up with: 

• “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Given my whole positive outlook on life. I thought this seemed appropriate!  

Day 16: Dream House 

Honestly - I just want a place to call home. Nothing fancy, nothing pricey, just a place for Jonathan and I to grow old together.... With that said if I could choose anything I want I would love... to live in New England, in the suburbs, on a quiet street, right on the lake, with 5 bedrooms, 3 garages, a big wrap around porch, a huge backyard with a gazebo and a pool. I want lots of land too. Maybe someday when we have kids we could convince them how beneficial the outdoors are. 

Day 17: Something you're looking forward to

The future...  

Just kidding... My future. I look forward to everything that is coming. Career, marriage, house, kids, all of it. I look forward to it (but I'm not in any rush for it either). I'm content with my present :) 

Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat

I like to eat at all the restuarants up in North Woodstock. I always feel most relaxed there. Woodstock Station & Pegs are practically the meaning of vacation and relaxation. 

Day 19: Something you miss

Childhood. The days of simplicity. 

Day 20: Nicknames

Trace and TraceFace 

Day 21: Favorite picture of yourself and why?

okay... it might not be my FAVORITE. But it's me being me. Isn't that enough?

Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

This is actually my blogger profile picture

This photo was taken just about a year ago. I had bought Jonathan a camera for his birthday and we were just messing around with it. I was "modeling". I love this picture though, I feel like it came out fantastic. I especially like it because I look very happy. 

How I've changed:

1. Well physically - I look about the same. I don't have any bangs at all anymore. They completely have grown out. I always contemplating cutting them again, but I'm so indecisive. My hair is still really long, but has some reddish, light brownish streaks in it now. And I think I may have lost like 5 pounds or so since I started working full time. 
2. Emotionally - I'm much more positive. I don't let the small stuff in life spoil a good day. I take life as it comes. I try to laugh more and just have fun. 
3. In my relationship - I think we have grown even more closer this past year. I think taking the time to get over that tough bump in the road really brought us closer together. We truly are just an extremely happy couple. 
4. I have a job that I love... while last year I had a job that I hated. 
5. I've had some friendships grow and some friendships fade.

Overall though ... I'm still me. I think that's just the way it should be. 

Day 13: Goals

I think it has been long enough. Have you missed me? 

DAY 13: Goals

Well this is a fairly easy topic for me. Looking on the positive side of life I am fortunate enough to have goals. I know plenty of people in my life who I believe seem to have no goals in life. I think goals are so important. It is important to strive for something, to want better. Nothing should ever be perfect... it is human nature to want more. However, I believe it is strength to go out there and get it.

1) Full-time permanent teaching job. 

• If you know anything at all about me.. you know that this is my number one goal at the moment. I have a wonderful job right now, unfortunately that is the problem. It is for right now. Come June I'm searching for a permanent position again. That's going on 4 summers of my life searching for my place in a school district. Maybe this is the year... 

2) Buy a house and make it a home with Jonathan. 

• Jonathan and I have been talking about this for a while now. We want to own a home, but first I must complete goal number one. We need more financially stability. We don't want to get ourselves in too deep. 

That's really it right now. I have a billion little goals that I want to achieve, but those are the big ones. Those are the goals I want to build my future around.

Wedding!

Sorry for my long absence. The past few weeks I have gotten so busy with life that blogging about life was kind of put on hold. But alas, I am back. And as promised I will publish my Maid of Honor toast now that the wedding is over. 

  

First I want to thank everyone for being here tonight to celebrate this wonderful occasion. Seeing all of you here tonight is a true testament to the type of people Jeni and Mark are. It’s clear that they have touched so many lives and have so many wonderful people that care about them. For those of you who don’t know me – I am Jenilee’s cousin Tracy. Jeni and I have grown-up together. We have spent many school vacations at our grandparents’ house decorating the driveway with side-walk chalk, rollerskating and playing with our Barbies. Jeni and I have been through a lot of memorable and amazing times in life, but we have also been through some pain and heartache together as well. The bond we have is hard to explain – but I can tell you one thing she is more like my sister than my cousin and she is certainly my best friend. Before Jeni and Mark found each other – she had dated a lot of “stiffs” as she would call them. But when her and Mark got together you could immediately tell that he was a genuine guy. And that he cared about her in a way that no other man ever did or ever will. The way Mark puts up with her craziness and loves her unconditionally is something beautiful to see. The two of them are a team – they have fun together, they laugh together, they work together, and they grow together. The love these two share is something wonderful to witness. I could not ask for a better man in my cousins life and I am so grateful that she has someone to love her, care for her, and protect in the way that Mark will each and every day.  I would like to take a moment to mention and remember a few other amazing men who couldn’t be with us tonight… and I wanted to tell you Jeni that both your dad and Grampy are looking down at  you today with tears glistening in their eyes feeling so proud and so happy for you.  And I can promise you that they are not worried one bit, because they know that you have this amazing, wonderful man in your life to take care you now and forever.  So Mark – welcome to our family cousin-in-law! The two of you are the pure example of the kind of love Jeni and I dreamed about when we were little girls. So I ask now for you to all raise your glasses and toast – to the bride and groom!

By the way... the wedding was awesome. 

New Hair!

I have totally not been in the blogging mood lately. I'm sorry for my absence. Hopefully I will jump back onto my blogging train this week.... but until then. What do you think of my new hair???

Blond and Red Streaks!!!

When you look at it from the top it looks a little drastic.

Speech

So as some of you know from my Being a Maid of Honor  post that I am the Maid of Honor in my cousin Jeni's wedding. Jeni is also the best friend I referred to in a recent post. 

Being a Maid of Honor you have many duties. Planning the bridal shower, the Jack and Jill, the Bachelorette Party, and generally just being there for the bride for anything she could possibly need. (BTW I have loved every second of being my cousin's maid of honor) Among these jobs... I must also include a very important job. The speech.  I am of course expected to say a heartfelt speech at the wedding. Most would think that I spend my entire work day talking in front of people so this should come as a breeze... but I talk in front of 10 year olds... not a room full of 130+ guests at a wedding! It's very different.I also have this chronic condition when I get nervous... my entire chest turns bright red. So the girl in the purple dress who looks like a lobster - that'll be me! 


Anyways... I wrote a rough draft of my speech months ago. I happened to open it up today (since I should probably think about finalizing it since the wedding is like 3 weeks away!). I actually wrote this original speech on December 30th.  I read it over today... and though it AGAIN brought tears to my eyes... I really don't think I'm going to change a thing. I guess it really isn't all that difficult to write wonderful things about two amazing people in your life. 


Now let's just hope I can get through the entire speech at the wedding without crying. I'm doubting that. 


Maybe after the wedding I'll post a copy of the speech on my blog if my readers are interested. What do you think?