The Happiest Place on Earth

Guess where I am going tomorrow?! That's right, I am going to Disneyland!!! I am so excited. The last time I went to Disneyland I was a freshman in high school. It seems like such a long time ago. If you guys have any tips or secrets that we must know about Disneyland let me know! I already downloaded the Disneyland wait times app, which tells you how long you have to wait for the rides which is pretty cool in my opinion. I'll post a whole long update when I get back but for now please enjoy some pictures of me and my last couple trips to Disneyland and Disney World.

Status Report

So I promised I would keep you guys updated with my New Years Resolutions. I have to say I have been very bad at this. I have started eating a little healthier, just adding a lot more fruits and vegetables into my meals. As for the gym I have not joined yet, but I am going to next week. I was waiting till I got back from Disneyland (we are leaving Thursday) and when I start school back up again so I have a set routine. As for accessorizing, I haven't really left the house in a couple of days so we are going to say I have negative progress with that. Again I will start more when school starts again. So that leaves driving stick.

I would say I am getting a lot better. I only kill the engine about once every time I go out. And no one has honked or complained about it yet. So that's good. But tonight, coming home from work was quite the experience. From work to home is only about a 6-7 minute car ride depending on traffic and if you hit all green lights. I pull up to a stoplight and there was a cop across the way. He was in the turn lane but he didn't turn. I was getting anxious, as any new driver would. We sat at that green light for a good three minutes until I realized my lights weren't on! Once I turned my lights on the cop switched the lights and gave us a green. I was so upset/scared at my self that the next light I was sitting in the turn lane I didn't notice the light turned green and when I noticed I was too quick with the clutch and killed the engine (luckily no one was behind me). So lesson learned. Also turn your lights on!

Day of Firsts

I didn't get to write yesterday because I didn't get home until 1:30 am! Why was I out so late? Because I went line dancing for the first time! Lauren and Haley took me out for a night of fun. Lauren was a pro. She said it was about her 10th time going but for me and Haley this was our first! We get to the bar and immediately jump into the lesson. The dance was to "That's my kinda night" by Luke Bryan. I love this song so I enjoyed learning the dance. But man was it complex for a newbie like me! Haley and I kept laughing because we were messing up so much. I felt like I literally had two left feet. But sometimes you just have to fake it till you make it. After we learned the dance they opened the floor up to regular line dancing. Basically we just stood on the side of the dance floor until the song we learned came on because we didn't know any of the other songs! Although Lauren knew a couple of easy songs so she made me and Haley come out and do them with her. Most were pretty easy to catch onto. My favorite was the Wobble! The dance is basically shaking your butt and doing body rolls. Because we sat on the sidelines a lot I got to do a lot of people watching.

This is what I learned about the "line dancing lifestyle":

• Just because you wear a cowboy hat doesn't mean you know how to line dance.
• When in doubt wear a local sports team t-shirt.
• More is more, especially when it comes to the lanyards you put your keys on.
• You should dance with a stank face on.
• Bring your sweatshirt into the bar with you. It was freezing with the doors open!

All in all I had a blast and I can't wait to do it again. I just have to watch a bunch of YouTube videos first to learn all the dances.

Now my post is called "Day of Firsts" so you are probably thinking what else did I do for the first time? I went over to my Auntie Car and Uncle Tony's house for dinner. Here I tried Brussels Sprouts for the first time! Who would have thought that as a 20 year old I would try my first Brussels Sprout? As a kid my dad never cooked them because he had them too many times as a kid and hated them. So what did I think about this exotic food? They weren't bad. Uncle Tony covered them in garlic and Parmesan cheese. And Uncle Tony LOVES garlic. You could smell the garlic from outside the house! I don't see myself going to the grocery store to buy Brussels Sprouts but if I was ever served them I wouldn't turn them down.

Good Luck Daddy

If you know me you know that I am a daddy's girl. My dad has taught me everything from sports to cooking to things like friendship and perseverance. He has been with me through all the ups and downs. He never missed a water polo game (except for one, and it was the most important game of my high school career but that was for a business trip so I'll let it slide) and was always my number one cheerleader in everything that I did. He always believed in me.

 Since June, when I came home from Corvallis, OR, I have been living with him and his sister, my Auntie La. This time together really made us closer and strengthened our bond. But today he left for the opportunity of a lifetime. Today he moved across the country for a job. As far as I know my dad has only ever lived in sunny California. Today he moved to St. Louis, MO. Where is snows...

One would think that I am sad by this but I am actually extremely proud and happy for my dad. Its something new, something not a lot of people get the opportunity to do. The last couple of weeks we have been researching things to do in St. Louis when I visit. There is a restaurant that serves different types of mac'n'cheese! (one of my favorite foods). Although, we were both really upset to find out that the Sharks had already played all their games against the Blues for the season. But hey maybe another playoff round against them...? Maybe not I'm still in pain from that last one with them.

So if anyone has any advice or places he should check out in St.Louis let me know and I will pass the word onto him! Good luck Daddy! St. Louis is going to be amazing.

Another New Years Resolutions Post

Happy 2014!!! You know what that means. Its time to talk New Years Resolutions. I don't normally do resolutions but I have decided to do some this year. And hopefully this blog will help me accomplish them. So here they are:

1. Start a blog. Look I already started this! So should I change this to maintain my blog?

2. Lose weight. I am not putting a number on how much I want to lose, because that can get depressing. I just want to look healthy. I am joining a gym so as long as I go and workout and the pounds come off I will feel ok. 

3. Eat healthier. This goes along with the losing weight. More fruits and vegetables, less carbs. 

4. Master the stick shift. I am getting a car in a couple of days. The one problem is that it is a manual car and I can't drive it! Normally I ride my bike to school and work but it will be nice to have a car when it is raining. I am already doing pretty good at the stick but I want to master it!

5. Learn to accessorize! I don't really do accessories. I frankly think buying accessories is a waste of money. Plus I never wear outfits that require them. I wear jeans and a sweatshirt when its cold and running shorts and a man tank when its hot. But I want to learn to be more fashionable and actually put effort into what I look like when I leave the house. You never know when you are going to meet your future husband!

6. Learn more about beer. Because I am looking to do Public Relations for food, wine, and mostly beer I want to know everything and anything I can about beer. If you have any suggestions about what books or websites I should read let me know in the comments!

I will keep you guys posted on how I am doing with my resolutions.

Welcome!

Hello Everyone!
My name is Elaine and you may be wondering why I have decided to start a blog. Recently I have decided to change my major to communications and focus on Public Relations. While at a winter solstice party earlier this month, I was talking with a woman who gave me advice about the PR world. One word of advice was to start a blog and to get my name out in the blogging industry. So here I am. My name is Elaine and this is my blog. Take it or leave it. Teal with it: Everyone Deserves to Sparkle.