2013 summed up

2013, summed up in words, I would say changing, growing. 

If someone would have told me that a year from now you are going to be on the path to finishing a degree that you actually love, that you are going to feel way more confident in who you are and what you want I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

2013 was filled with ups and downs but in the past 4 months through the day to day struggle it’s finally been on an upward swing. Where I’m loving school finally and work and friends are going good as well. I guess you can say that during the summer of 2013 I was a little down and out, felt like I didn’t have anywhere to go, like I was standing still and everyone I knew was moving forward somehow. But that was a rut, a place which I needed to get out of, so I searched within myself and just started trying to answer the simple questions, what do you like? How simple is that question, what do you like? At first I did not know the answers but it started sort of piecing itself together during this year. Ask me now what I like and I just don’t know where to start, which subject area do you mean. I have fallen back in love with fashion, which for the longest amount of time never thought I could because of something holding me back (more in another blog post later when I’m ready to discuss.) I love make up, how girly and simple is that, I really like fashion and make up, you probably think what girl doesn’t, well many don’t but to me it’s not just about a new shirt or anything I spend hours looking at blogs that are purely fashion blogs and then spend hours on beauty blogs to try and find out new tips or even the lastest make up that someone is loving. At the beginning of this year I wore the exact same type of foundation that I had been wearing since I was in high school, I hadn’t changed. Now I’ve been through 3 different types and I’m still searching for the best one, the one I use now doesn’t give me the coverage I want, I digress. Besides just this my music taste has become more vast and more accepting of different types of music. Favorite artist this year would probably be Ellie Goulding, I love her album Halycon Days, absolutely brilliant. 

But for 2014 it will be different again, more in-depth with my schooling, but at the same time I’m still seeking change. I would love to dye my hair, something I’ve always wanted to do and maybe I will this year, maybe, such a commitment (haha). 2014 will be another for the books, since I have a lot planned this year I hope that you would like to follow along, I’m not going to tell you about what’s going to happen to the blog but some things will definitely be changing.

Lots of love

Jennie

Merry Christmas :)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

I hope that everyone is having an amazing time off from school and work! Tis the season right? I hope that you all had a great day with family and friends! 

I am having a good day just hanging out with my family, we just finished Christmas Dinner and it was absolutely delicious! Great, amazing food and even better company!

To me christmas is not about the gifts or presents you receive, it’s about the time you get to spend with the ones that you love. Even if it’s just a dinner with your family, or a little pot luck with some of your best friends, that’s what Christmas means to me.

Mind you I did receive some beautiful gifts from my family and friends, and I am very thankful for what they got me! But I am more thankful for the time I get to spend with them! Even if just a casual movie night with my family.

I actually celebrated Christmas twice this year, the first time when my brother arrived home and I got to open up his amazing gift (he knows what I like.) Then I had another Christmas which was today with just my mom and dad. All in all Christmas feels like about 2 weeks long which I am not complaining about. Lounging in comfy sweaters and slippers is not something I’m going to argue against!

I hope your Christmas is as cozy as mine has been! 

Lots of love

Jennie

Grades have been released...

… and the results are in, and the worry became a little too much for me to handle. Even though I thought I had achieved the grades I wanted this semester, I was still very nervous to even look at them.

Grades from my school are posted at 5 o’clock pm, I was at work till 6, so thinking to myself, I thought, well you can go check them once you are off. 6 comes and goes and I still don’t check my grades, 7 comes and goes just as quickly, then 8, finally at 9, I had to check, my anxiety was so high that I couldn’t even click on the post to check. I logged into the account and knew that they were posted, so what was I to do, I couldn’t stomach doing it myself so I had to call my mom to come do it. 

Let’s just all think about this, I am in my 4th year of university, 21 years old and I was too nervous to check my grades, I. Had. To. Get. My. Mother. To. Check. My. Grades. Think about that for a second, I’d like to think of myself as pretty self sufficient, mind you I am not as much as other people are but I was so stressed out about my grades that I couldn’t look at them myself. 

You probably think why were you so worried about them, well you see there were two reasons. First, I was doing very poorly in school for a long time and if I didn’t receive the grades I needed then I might not have been able to go to school for a while. Second, these grades were the base of what will be my degree, with these grades it meant that an amazing opportunity could open up for me, if I achieved the right grades. So as you can see there was a lot riding on these grades. 

But I am thankful and grateful for being able to say that I have done pretty amazing if I do say so myself with my grades. I have done better then I thought I would have, which makes me feel amazing.

My biggest message from this year and this semester especially is that if you work hard for the things you want then you can achieve them. No, I don’t mean sit on your ass and expect others to do it for you. YOU, yourself have to do it, no one else would. So, work hard and you will see results.

I hope everyone had a great semester and enjoy the break, take this time out to see your family and friends while you can before the next one starts. Happy holidays! xx

Thanks

Jennie

Semester Update: Overdue

Well, the semester has ended, and let me tell you it has been a whirlwind. I honestly don’t think I have stopped being busy and on the go since midterm break (also known as reading week but my school doesn’t do a week, just a tiny break around thanksgiving.) 

Since then if I wasn’t doing school or homework then I would be working. Which is necessary for a couple of reasons, well Christmas is coming upon us, where thankfully I bought  everyone’s gifts already. But another little thing that I am very excited about is that in February I will be visiting my older brother with my mom, we will be gone for about a week. Which obviously I need money for, but I am super excited about it! 

But back to school, I have completed this semester just waiting on the grades to be released, I am quite nervous when it comes to the grades situation but I think I did alright, but we will see how everything goes. The grades will be posted on the 23rd of december which might make christmas a little sad but I will survive. I am hoping for the best. 

This semester has been the best in figuring out the future. When I started this blog I was very undetermined when it came to school, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but for the first time everything I was doing in school became interesting. For the first time I could see the path that I wanted to head down. I know that it  will be very tough to do what I want to do, but for the first time I’m not scared in trying to go on this path. I have a supportive family and friends who will support me till the end of time. I am forever grateful.

I guess this is me saying that this year was a move forward, forward for me making decisions for the future, I guess it was about time since I am 21 this year. But I am happy for the decisions I have made. And next year will be even more hectic but completely worth it! I will have to let you know how the grades situation went when they get posted but as for now I think 2013 was a good year! More to come soon lovelies, my apologizes for being all over the place! 

Thanks 

Jennie 

Time

Time, isn’t it what we all want, is just more time. More time to sleep, more time in the morning, more time to study for the exam that you just wrote. Time. I’ve noticed over the last while that it’s all I think about, from changing my jobs to feeling like I don’t have time to see my friends, I barely have time to just breathe sometimes. If I’m not working or in school or doing school work I’m sleeping. 

My mother informs me that this is what people call growing up, well I don’t know how I feel about this whole growing up thing, I would like to watch tv when I want and hang out with my friends when I want, but life doesn’t work that way now does it. You have obligations and responsibilities to take care of. 

This would me apologizing for my lack of posting, I have been more busy in the past three weeks then I have been in a long time, mind you everything I have been doing is great for me as a person with the change but it’s been very busy. I am happy because it means that I have to make time for everything which seems like a chore but well it makes me feel grown.

Now, besides being very busy I have gotten the opportunity for shopping, I will be definitely making a post of everything that I have loved in October, and I will have to do maybe a little look book for winter and fall. Just because of how much clothes I have bought for winter. Big chunky scarves, great leggings and amazing coat which is perfect for the winter. 

These will be going up as soon as I can, once I make one of my friends help me with this little project. Sorry for being as absent as I have been, I will make an oath to post at least once a week and if I don’t then you can get mad at me, for sure.

Thanks

Jennie

Birthday Update

Birthday Update:

So, my birthday has come and gone now, I am officially able to drink in the US, which is exciting if well you live in the states. But from a Canadian standpoint, I’ve been able to drink where I live for 2 years now. But well let’s talk about my birthday!

I had a really good day. It started out when I woke up and my parents had the house decorated. Yes i realize it’s kinda lame at my age but I loved it. So cute. My parents had my presents laid out for me. All of the gifts they bought were perfect. They bought me a coat that I desperately wanted for winter, a camera, money for make up which is what every girl needs, a frame picture which one of my friends gave me from greece. All around just amazing presents.

Right after the present time with my parents, my family all went out to brunch at this very quaint restaurant downtown called The Bagel Cafe. One of my very favorite places to eat, perfect breakfast food and just all around great decor and atmosphere. We had my extended family with us, so it was a very loud and fun brunch. 

After brunch, me and my mother decided to go for a little shopping session. When I say little I don’t actually mean little. It was a massive shop till you drop sort of session. But it was my birthday and I can do what I want. I bought a lot. I will definitely have to show you everything I bought from this little trip. 

Finished that and then I got a very happy phone call from my older brother, while I was supposed to be getting ready at the time, I knew that but well it’s my brother. I ended up talking to him for like 40 minutes. Oh well, it’s good to hear from him. 

Moving on to the great dinner I had with my friends, I am very thankful that they all took time out to celebrate my birthday. We ate food, laughed and had a great time.

The last portion of my night was spent in a bar, if you live in Newfoundland, we have a street. It’s called George Street, this street has nothing else but bars on it. We went to a bar called Lottie’s. This is my favorite bar, imagine one of the tiniest little hole in the wall sort of places, where they play like millennium gold. Favorites played are Hot in here by Nelly, some amazing beyonce, with a mix of classics like spice girls and S club 7. Amazing. Spent with amazing friends and a lot of dancing. Then we went to McDonald’s, thank god for late night McDonald’s. Nothing better.

This was a great way to turn a year older. Hope you enjoyed learning about my day, I will definitely show what I got for my birthday as soon as my life slows down a little and I have the opportunity too!

Thanks 

Jennie

What should I do?

So I received an exam in the mall today, it was placed on my bed by my mother and I have yet to open it, I just can’t force myself to see what my grade is. I was thinking that maybe I’d wait till after my birthday to see what I got. 

The exam could have gone two ways, either I passed or I failed. So you can imagine why I’m so nervous about it. I just don’t want the grade to bring a bummer down on my birthday weekend. Maybe if I just wait just a little longer and then open it.

What should I do? Wait or open it now. I am quite curious at the same time as nervous. I want to open it but I don’t. I don’t know!

Thanks 

Jennie

Birthday woos

When you hype up an event, don’t you find that it’s sort of a let down in the end? For me that’s always my birthday, I make it out in my mind that it’s going to be this amazing and great jam packed day of just love and celebration when usually it’s just like writing “ Happy Birthday” on your facebook wall.

Not saying that Birthday’s aren’t worth it, you have to face the inevitable. It’s going to happen so you might as well embrace it. I think it’s all about planning and just expecting for the unexpected. Don’t make it out to be this big celebration because you might be truly let down by the results. For me to make it special all I need is just a great supper with my family, who love me dearly. But also I need my celebration with my friends, since the majority of us are all actually the same age we know what’s going on. I am born a little late in the year since I am a fall baby, it means that most of my friends have been a year older for a bit now and well they seem to be doing okay so why can’t I do that!

Best way to not be disappointed:

• Don’t make unrealistic expectations, so plan something simple like a supper with friends and family. If you are the type of person who wants the bigger parties, then go for it but make sure you have your head on straight that things could definitely go wrong.
• Make sure to have a back up plan of what you want to do, couldn’t get a reservation at the restaurant that you want, then think of another cool place you haven’t tried and go there instead.
• Spend time with who you want to on your birthday, it’s your day spend it with who matters most to you
• Remember that not everyone knows that it’s your birthday, so some people aren’t going to be in a happy mood because they don’t know, some stranger might have a bad day and you might be in the way of it
• Last tip is SMILE, it is your birthday, have a good day, think positive of everything, don’t worry about what might happen, just live it moment by moment because you are starting on another year of your life and do you really want it to begin with you upset and worried, NO. So smile, enjoy it and start a good year! 

Thanks

Jennie

ugh... studying again....

Things that I would much rather do then studying:

Watch all of the television shows that I know are coming on tonight, being thursday means Vampire Diaries and I’m all about Ian Somerhalder shirtless most likely and what girl doesn’t love that and also the x factor which I am crazy interested in.

Sit on my laptop and look at random things which are adorable, for instance kittens, I would love to look at some little kittens playing.

I’d like to see all of my friends, who I haven’t seen in a while because each one of us is currently still in school and way to busy to spend time together.

I would rather go shopping, look at expensive beautiful clothes which I can’t have but it would still be better then studying.

I’d like to sit down and watch a billion youtube videos, as many as I could fit in before I have to go to bed

I’d love to bake something super tasty.

I’d love to paint my nails since I feel like I never get the opportunity to do that, ever.

Maybe even try out some new make up which I haven’t gotten to yet.

Spend time with my family and dog.

Literally the list could go on and on about how much I would like to be doing anything else besides studying, like making a list about what I want to do instead of studying but well here I am, studying again. This is the student life for sure. I hope this works out in the end! We will see

Jennie xx

This month I have actually had a few favorite things that I am absolutely loving :)

The first is a beautiful pair of booties from Aldo called Jons in brown, they are so adorable, also very comfortable and a tad masculine but I am absolutely loving them, pair them with some dark skinnies and a nice coat with a scarf and you are ready to head to school. Plus you’ll look put together even if you just rolled out of bed!

Next is my favorite scarf which is also from Aldo, one thing that I can say is I own a million scarves, for a long time I did not like jewelry at all, for some reason I just didn’t think it suited me, so I really liked scarves because they added a little visual interest to any outfit. My favorite this month was a wine colored scarf which is a color I am loving this fall, I also have a wine colored messenger bag. This scarf isquite cosy, even if I am at home and just feeling a little cold I’ll just throw it own. Perfect for fall and winter!

Next is Aveeno’s Skin Brightening Daily Scrub! I love this product just because it’s brilliant for taking off my make up and it just cleanses my skin like no other product has before. I can’t say anything but great things about it! Perfect!

Another is Fit Me! Blush by Maybelline in Brick Rose, this blush gives me an amazing amount of color, as being quite the pale person I do like to have a bit of color on my cheeks to make me look well living and not dead. This blush is perfect, it is a little bit darker then I thought I would like since it’s a little more brown then I’m used to but I love it, I plan on wearing this till I finish it and then buying it again!

As someone who paints there nails religiously almost every week, I wanted to try this color from Essie for a long time and I finally bought it this month, I was very excited to try it out and well I loved it, painted my nails this color twice now. It’s Essie’s Butler Please, an absolutely gorgeous blue/indigo color. Super impressed by the how long it lasted for me. This color is great since it was one of the colors of the season during the summer and now it’s just a great pop to any outfit as a nail polish!

Every month from now on I am going to have an album of the month this month was Ellie Goulding’s Halycon Days. I love this album, there aren’t many that you can just play from start to end and enjoy basically every song but this is one of them. With great songs added on the second disc of this album. The songs that i loved had to be explosions, my blood, hanging on, figure 8, burn and goodness gracious. Basically it’s a must listen, everyone should listen to it, brilliant album. 

Last but not least, and the majority of you will think “really jennie a textbook, nerd” but it is actually my textbook for my communications course, to say that I’ve actually been keeping up with my readings is an understatement. I’ve never been more interested to do my homework in a really long time. So thankful for beginning this, but I’m not going to force myself into anything just yet. We will see!

So all of these lovely items were my favorite this month! More to come from october, which I am really excited about! :):)

Thanks

Jennie xx

Student problems: Money

I think something that every student can relate to is the whole money issue. Yes, we hear it all the time being a student means that you are continuously in debt. Since you are in school, you can’t work 40 hours a week, and even if you do, what, you work a minimum wage job, where you can’t really afford to pay anything except for your essentials. 

Some people have the option of attending school and still living with their parents which is honestly a huge blessing. I could never afford to do anything without my parents. Yes, this does mean that I still live alone with my family and beautiful doggie. But it does come with it faults, obviously living with your parents isn’t always easy especially when you are becoming more grown. But I love it, my mother is my best friend and helps me with every decision I ever make, I don’t know if this is particularly smart but she has more of a level-headed being. There are ups and downs to it all. But the money issue is something all students can relate too, it’s like well I’d really like to buy some new clothes or should I go out with my friends, and then you look at your back balance after you have paid your list of bills and remind yourself that you won’t be able to either. It’s a hard thing to deal with, the student loans, if you own a car, the car payments, the insurance. You get the drift, there are lots to pay for and not so much money to do so. 

The days of being frivolous are over, when once the money could be used for little things, now you have to count every penny just to make sure that you don’t over spend on anything. 

My best advice for any student is too be smart, know your limits and think that after you finish your education, you should be able to pay some of your debts off. But don’t starve yourself of the things you want. Think of it in moderation. If you really want some shoes then put them into your budget and remind yourself that well sometimes you just have to treat yourself for things. Life isn’t meant to be just barely lived, money isn’t everything but it sure can get you a lot of things and more “comfort” in life. 

Trust me when I say that I completely understand where the whole broke student saying came along because I am definitely trying to live through it. Let’s all be broke together and start a lovely little group where we can swap stories and do things that don’t cost money. 

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School History Ramble

To the people who since day 1 have figured out what their life goal is, my hat is off to you. I wish it was that easy for me, to just pick and choose the exact course of action I should go with. But I can’t, to me I want to see everything, explore everything, I love learning as much as I can about subjects that interest me. So, I struggle with choosing just one path on which to travel, if I could, I think I’d like to travel them all.

I can’t think of how many majors or career paths I have chosen that later I changed. It all started out when I began in University, after graduating from high school, where I thought I would study Biochemistry, boy was I completely wrong on that one. In high school, sure I was “smart.” But not like this, my mind was completely blown away with how much actual work University would take. I didn’t study enough at all, I barely wanted to do the school work. Also, combined with the fact that I had never actually studied Biology before. You dissect rats. Need I say more about that one. So as you can tell my first semester of University didn’t go so well. I struggled completely.

My next semester was a little more successful, I started studying towards a Business degree, which wasn’t so horrible, yes I did learn that I need to actually study and spend time at school. So, I studied economics and business, not too shabby. I thought I was on the up at that point, decision made and well that was going to be it. Oh buddy was I wrong.

I started the next semester still on the decision of doing Business, which was full of interesting things to study but I guess I just wasn’t interested. So, I decided to switch it up again, are we up to 3 changes now? I decided to study Political science in the next semester, my thought process was well I enjoy politics but I just didn’t want a degree in it. 

Then the next year was horrible, a complete fail when it came to education and work to be honest. I started again in with Business, not really sure why but I did. It didn’t work out, exactly like the first time. Then I took just a bunch of random courses for the next semester, not sure what to do. Which was horrible. I ended up failing 2 courses that semester. While that whole year I went trying to find some form of work and that didn’t really measure out for me. That year was a complete bust for everything. But we move on and we let it go, not everything is going to work out as magical as we plan for it too. 

So, we start in on our 4th year at University, it’s been three weeks in, I have decided this term that I will only take 3 courses, which is still a full time student where I attend school. I have decided on taking a communications course, which I am completely enjoying so far into this term. But I am not going to completely throw myself into this because I feel like if I do then well I might just quit again. And I’m completely tired of quitting school. I have learned that all I need to do is just study. But you will be glad to know that I actually spent about 6 hours studying and reading today.

I’m hoping for the best with this semester, I’m trying to not put as much pressure on myself to figure out the details. I’m just going to try and go with the flow. Work hard and let the details fall into place.

This post was more about venting and explaining myself, thanks so much for listening, hope you enjoyed my complicated school history. I know all about the ups and downs of education but remember that this is a choice, going to school is your choice, you pay for it, so you might as well try your best. 

Thanks so much xx

Jennie

First Ramble

Let’s be realistic, at 20 years old, the things that you treasure the most, are friends and family. Then experiences, seeing the world, traveling, seeing beauty in the tiny things. At 20 we think that we are supposed to be well figuring things out, to get married and fulfill the expectations of everyone. But no, that’s not how everything always works out. Sometimes, just sometimes you haven’t found your soulmate or the perfect job for you to be in, sometimes you are without a boyfriend and working a part time job, trying to make ends meet. Life isn’t always going to be a straightforward path and well I’d like you to join on my very long journey. So here it is, me typing on a computer about life experience when you have no idea who i am, let’s begin with the simple facts. I am Jennie, 20 years old, living on a little island called Newfoundland, if you don’t know where that is, I suggest looking it up, it’s a beautiful place to live, if not I have some photos for you to enjoy. 

Quidi Vidi ( oh and that's me with sunglasses )

Living on an island is quite limiting to the things you can do or be interested in. Obviously where I live is beautiful, if you can’t tell by the photos.  There are ups and downs to this place, but I’m sure this can be said about any place you live. Anyways that was a little bit of a ramble... More facts about me :) I’m a huge lover of everything, basically anything I can learn about I will try to learn as much as I can, music, art, movies, books and fashion. I will end up sharing my opinion of some things I truly love. I am actually still attending university, here it’s called Memorial University, pretty great school if you know what you are doing, which I completely don’t. Hence why I will be starting this blog, just a little place for the rambles of a very strange and confused 20 year old, trying to figure out what the next move will be. If you are just as confused and worried about the future as I am then you might enjoy this blog. Obviously since this is my first post there will be a lot of changes during this time. I hope to post on this in between working my almost full-time job and school.  I hope you will follow along on this little journey with me and the things I love. 

Signing off

Jennie

xx