What will my family do without me?



Miss Downey & Miss Teen Downey (AKA MY SISTER)

For those that don’t know, I am the oldest daughter in my family.  I have one younger sister who is almost 8 years younger than me.  It is just the two of us so when I leave for graduate school, my sister will be the only one left at home.  We have been joking lately about what my family, especially my mom, will do without me.  Well, my sister (Mckenzie) has officially found something to keep her and our mom VERY busy. 

It was raining cats and dogs but she still looks BEAUTIFUL

Saturday night, Mckenzie competed in her first pageant EVER. Though I wish I could have been out drinking green beer for the holiday I attended the torture, opps I mean pageant  The pageant was sponsored by the Downey Rose Float Competition.  She competed in the Miss Teen Category which consisted of a sportswear category, business wear category, formal attire category, interview process and on stage question.  The interview process was done earlier in the day and the rest was done on stage in front of a live audience and of course the judges.  For her sportswear, Mckenzie was a referee which included the use of flags to call the player offside and she even red carded a player (I guess it would make more sense of it you saw it).  Mckenzie did wonderful in her business wear in a beautiful teal suit and was absolutely stunning on her green Saint Patrick’s Day dress.

 She did an amazing job and when all was said it done she was named MISS TEEN DOWNEY 2012.  I am beyond excited for her!!  Overall, she won the People Choice Award (thank you everyone who I bugged and voted for her), Best Sportswear, and of course Miss Teen Downey.  She now will be a represented of the city of Downey for an entire year and will attend many events.

I ran for Miss Downey when I was a junior in high school in 2006. That was the first and only pageant I ever did.  I did it for the experience and thoroughly enjoyed the process.   In my pageant, I made the Top Ten and Miss Volunteer.  But, this time Mckenzie kicked my butt and I could not be more proud

Her first event is this Saturday for the Downey ARC walk.  The most exciting part of her reign is that she will ride on the Downey Rose Float in the New Year’s Day Rose Float Parade in Pasadena California.  I guess I know where I will be spending my first day of 2013!  I am so excited to follow her during this amazing adventure!! 

Mckenzie with her "dads" Left is her "Soccer Dad" and Right is her REAL Dad

Mckenzie and her "Soccer Moms"

We Are So PROUD!!

As for me, I have exactly 3 shifts left at Lucilles.  My last day is March 27^th.  I am in the process of making doctor appointments and of course shopping for things I need (and want).

I received an e-mail from Ross asking if I would be interested in starting in the May class.  Even though I would LOVE to start this adventure sooner, there is no way to get everything together in time.  So, I am still planning on starting in the Fall 2012 class.

After all the amazing event that have happened in 2012, who knows what is else!

Flight Tickets are Booked!!

Well, no turning back now…I bought my tickets. My butt and all my stuff will be on a plane to Saint Kitts in 162 days.   I will be leaving at 11:30 pm to Miami, Florida where I have a little over a 2 hour layover.  I till then continue onto Saint Kitts and arrive around 2pm the following day.  There is a 3 hour time change as well.  There is a new rule/law that you have to book a return flight for international traveling now so will be coming home the same way on December 15^th.  I wanted to get my tickets booked because the price is only going to go up with time (and of course with the rising gas prices). Thank goodness my mom was smart and thought ahead so I also booked my flight returning to Saint Kitts after the first of the year.  January 2013 seems so far away but I know my butt will be back on a plane to paradise.  All this for a small price tag of a little over $1,700!!  Hello Student Loans!!

I am lucky that my mom and my “second mom/dog show mom” Lynda are coming with me.  I traveled all over the United States with Lynda and her husband Dave all for dog shows for over 6 years.  Dave and Lynda are like my second set of parents and I am so excited Lynda will be joining me for the start of my adventure. 

Right now I am trying to figure out how/when I will buy a car.  To rent a car on the island for the first 10 days it would cost a little over $500.  It is dumb to pay $500 to a rental company and instead just put that money into buying a car instead.  So, do I sell my car here so I have money to buy a car there? Can I survive without a car for a little bit?  A POS car costs about $4,000 and who knows when it will break down and how much it will cost to fix it.  I can pay a little bit more to get a better car that will hopefully be more trustworthy.  I have a lot to budget and think about with this issue.

I guess I should note that on the island Saint Kitts they drive on the WRONG side of the road.  Ok, maybe it is not wrong to them but it is he left side of the road.  This will be an experience.  Also, there are no signal lights on the entire island...wonder if they have heard about the California stop yet?   

I also put my 2 week notice into Lucilles Bar-B-Que.  It is very hard to leave a job I have been at so long.  I have learned so much and made so many memoires.  I officially have 5 more shifts so all my friends better come in soon if they want me to serve them.  My last shift is March 26!!  I will still be working at the vet clinic until the end of July.  It seems so far away but it will sneak up on us.

Right now I am making doctor appointments, dentist appointments, eye appointments, etc.  I have been buying items that I need on the island and some I just want. 

Housing on the Island

I have had a lot of friends ask how housing works on the island so I thought I would explain it a little. 

For the first 15 weeks (or your first semester) you stay in freshman housing on campus.  It is very similar to freshman housing as an undergraduate.  They have three different room options: they have triples and doubles where you have your own bedroom but then share a common living room/kitchen or you can have your own studio apartment.  The single occupancy is about $755 a month, a double is $545 a month while a triple is $488 a month. I am not sure which one I would want.  It would be nice to have my own place so I can be how clean/messy I want at times but I am also a very social person and would like roommates.  I shared a room all 4 years as an undergraduate and I had some AMAZING roommates but of course there were times we all did not see eye to eye.  I really don’t have a preference right now.  The double and triple occupancy is very limited so who knows which one I will get.

The freshman housing is furnished so you don’t need to bring too much.  On the website it states the following items are included: Bed frame, Mattress, Two standard-size pillows, Nightstand, Closet/wardrobe, Hangers (set of 10), Dresser (six drawers), Desk, Two arm chairs, Two small lamps with shades, Stovetop with two burners, Microwave, Toaster oven, Coffee maker, Refrigerator, Window blinds, Shower curtain with hooks, Pots and pans, seven pc (includes three saucepans with lids and stainless fry pan), Corelle Dinnerware, 20 pc (set includes four each of the following: dinner plates, salad/dessert plates, saucers, soup/cereal bowls and cups), Glasses, eight pc (four small, six and a half oz; four tall, 10 and a half oz), Silverware, set of 20 pc (meat fork, salad fork, knife, teaspoon for four persons; serving spoons), Silverware holder, Cooking utensils, 25 pc (stainless steel steak knife, kitchen knife, basting spoon, slotted spoon, ladle, slotted turner, cutting board, etc.), Garbage receptacle, kitchen and Garbage receptacle, bathroom (See picture above of the room).  They tell you to bring bedding, towels, alarm clock, extension cords, Light blanket, Mattress pad, Bath mats, Towels and washcloths, Shower caddy, Flashlight w/ extra batteries, Mini sewing kit and safety pins, and a Computer Ethernet cord.

After your first semester, you move off campus to an apartment.  All apartments are pre-approved by the University and they also assist you in finding an apartment that suits your needs.  The apartments are also fully furnished. 

Well, back to my reason why I am talking about the housing.  Remember Saturday when I spent all day shopping with my mom for items…well a lot of it is going back.  The bedding I bought was expensive because I thought I would be using my bedding all 3 years I am on the island. Well, that is not the case. Most apartments off campus have different size beds and often include bedding.  I don’t see the reason to spend A LOT of money on bedding I could only use for 15 weeks.  If I have an apartment 2^nd semester that is already furnished, I can change the sheets so I feel more comfortable.  So, off to Bed Bath and Beyond to return a few items and then back to shopping for cheaper bedding.  But guess what, I found something I like.  Here is a picture of it! 

Yes I know- it is very girly but that’s me J.  Hope you enjoyed reading!!

"Last" Dog Show-Win Photos

Flurry winning Best Of Breed from the Veteran Class at 9 years young under Breeder Judge Sharon Lyons

Flurry at 9 years young

Flurry winning Best in Sweeps at 9 years old under breeder juge Gary Myer

Information Seminar…Shopping for Ross…AND…More Lasts

Well, my official acceptance letter came in the mail earlier this week.  They send you an e-mailed copy and then the snail mail.  Now, I just have to send them my seat deposit ($500) and I am officially enrolled for the Fall 2012 class. 

I went to a Ross information seminar yesterday (March 3^rd).  They repeated a lot of the information I already knew but also answered a lot of my questions.  They had 2 graduates from the school in attendance, as well, and they were able to give us the “non-college” answer to lots of my questions.  Best advice they gave was, “Just roll with it.” They said, “The changes are going to be huge but just go with it and you will have an amazing time.”  Well, I can’t wait!! 

After the information seminar, my mom and I decided to go “look” for bedroom and bath items that I could need at Ross.  Well, everyone should know you can’t send 2 women looking because we BUY.  So, after who knows how many hours I purchased items I need for my bed and bathroom.  It was quite an adventure but I LOVE my new stuff.  I am sure the airlines are going to look like at me like I am crazy when I try to carry on my comforter and say it is my blanket for the plane ride.  Maybe my mom will carry the mattress pad…we will see!! 

Everyone keeps commenting, can’t you buy that stuff over there? Well, honestly I don’t know.  I figure I will try to pack as much as possible for the first 15 weeks and whatever doesn’t fit I will come home and get over Christmas vacation.  Or, if anyone is looking into going to Saint Kitts for a vacation, let me know I will have a place for you stay in trade for space in your suitcase.  But all in all, yesterday was an amazing day just because I got to spend it with my Mom. (PS mom- I think it will look fine with the blue).

I said I had more lasts this week because I attended one of my last Gamma Tau Gamma meetings for the Alpha Chi Omega Alum group.  Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropy is the fight against domestic violence and locally we support Human Options is which is a battered women’s and children shelter.  For the meeting, the board asked its members to bring in towels and women/children’s underwear (some of the most common items that the shelter needs).  Well, the generosity of so many was outstanding of all the items that were brought in.  I will have to get a picture of ALL the items turned in.  Alpha Chi’s are really amazing women and that night just proved it once again. 

For those that don’t know, my sorority was VERY special to me during my undergraduate life at UCI.  I was very involved in all aspects of the sorority and would not trade my memories or friendships with these sisters for anything.  Many of my sisters are my best friends.  These women will be the ones in my wedding (mine will not be happening anytime soon though) and ones that will be in the delivery room when one has a baby (don’t worry they all know I will NOT be the one having the baby-maybe they will come help me whelp a litter).  I am really hoping there is another AXO on the island but if not I know I have hundreds of sisters waiting at home if I ever need anything.

In addition to the “lasts,” I need to figure out my last day at Lucilles Bar-B-Que.  I have been a waitress there for over 4 years.  I have had my ups and downs with the place but overall it was a great place to work throughout college.  The managers were great and I love some of my co-workers so having to say goodbye is really hard.  But since getting a job in a vet clinic in October, I have been working over 65 hours a week.   65 hours a week is really burning me out and I want to “relax” some before I have to leave for vet school.  But the money I am saving between the 2 jobs IS amazing.  I think I need to set a goal of money to set beside and then I can quit (but it probably won’t be easy…what can I say…I am addicted to working).

I forgot to mention that I bought a soda making machine in my shopping adventure yesterday.  I am really excited to try it out today. 

Well, off to work I go!!  Have a wonderful Sunday everyone…until my next post