February 2012 Update!

So it's been a while since I've done any blogging.  I'm not very good about keeping it up constantly, but I'll keep trying.

I finished my first trimester well with As in both classes!  My goal is to get As in all of my classes, seeing that it's all about getting the work done and understanding the concepts.

I had December off of school, which was nice.  I was able to focus on Christmas budgeting and writing all those Christmas cards.  My parents came down for the Biola Christmas tree lighting the first weekend of December.  It was pretty awesome, coming together as Biola students/alumni to Biola's Christmas program.

I also went to Disneyland a few times to see their Christmas decorations, they were amazing!  I loved the parade and wanted to dance the whole time.  We saw a Christmas program going on just inside the gate to leave the main park.  It was on the birth of Jesus, narrated by Gary Sinise (Mac Taylor from CSI: NY) and sung by a huge choir that filled the inside gates.  There were also trumpeters on top of the gates dressed like those old fashion ones that announce the entrance of Disney kings.

My mom sent down my Christmas decorations, thanks so much!  It was awesome to be able to put up a small tree and manger scene in my room.

My favorite part was flying up to WA to see my whole family: my parents, brother, grandma, sister, and her family.  I don't get to see Jen and her family too often now that I'm down in CA, so it was fun to see her and see how her little girls have grown.  Ady is now talking away and Sierra is just the happiest girl in the world with her big smile.  I look forward to seeing them all again.

I started my second trimester at Biola on January 3rd.  I'm taking Organizational Financial Policy on Monday nights and Advertising & Social Media Strategy on Tuesday nights.  I love having Prof Mobley for my advertising class, she's an awesome prof!  Sometimes we look at different ads and talk about what made it great or awful.  She split our class in two groups of 6 or 7 to make an ad agency.  Ours is called "You Me & That Guy."  You being the client, me being the agency, and that guy being the target audience for the client.  Our motto is "start a conversation, build a brand."  The guys did an awesome job with the logo, I don't have it to show, though.

Work has been going well.  I've learned how to scan the checks after they are processed and ready to go.  I feel like I am actually growing here, whereas before I felt like I learned how to be a teller and that was it.  Everything about this job is better, though I do appreciate the experience that I got from my previous job.

I still love to cook.  It's amazing what moving out will do to you.  Before, I didn't know how someone could cook a good meal after a long day at work, but now I know.  I don't even have to have all these extensive recipes, I have learned enough from my mom to have a good idea of what to make (though cook books do help).  I made an awesome Cajun shrimp dish with a bottle of Cajun sauce I got for Christmas.  It was so good, reminded me of the days when we would put on Mardi Gras parties.

Oh, one big thing I did was dye my hair dark (and I cut it).  I've been wanting to dye it for a while, but just haven't gotten around to it.  It's weird when I brush my hair or wash it because it is 4 inches shorter, wow!  I love it all!  I got it done in Palm Desert with my mom.  She was really shocked, but I think she'll get over it soon :)