always imagine.

Merry Christmas Isaiah & Demiyah!

Today was a Christmas Cheer type of day.  My Mom and I went Christmas shopping for our two little “Angel Tree” kids, Isaiah (9 yrs old) and Demiyah (5 yrs old).  On their wish list was a football and a doll.  As I stared at this little piece of paper my heart began to melt.  With a budget of only $45 (on each child) I kept saying its okay who would know if we spend above the budget, right?  With that, my mom steers me back in the right direction.  The purpose of the budget is to keep from one family giving a child 25 gifts if the child sitting next to them just receives one.  As my mom and I put some (adorable- if I do say so myself) outfits together as well as purchase them their christmas wishes, it was a wonderful day well spent!

Merry Christmas Isaiah and Demiyah!  

Ciao Italia, Ciao America

In 1 week from today I will be boarding a plane heading back to the States.  Thinking back, we have seen and done so much in a mere 3 months.  I feel like I have seen all of Italy and met a great group of new friends along the way.  I will definitely miss those who I have met abroad.  All our directors and professors…they have all been so great and patient with us. For that, I would like to say thank you.  Although I feel so blessed and loved every minute of being abroad, I will forever treasure having the ability to just pick up my things and go to another country for the weekend… 

While being abroad, I have been to Positano, Cinque Terre, Milan, Florence, Siena, Verona, Barcelona, Prague, and Amsterdam (may be missing a few…) The constant being on the go is something I don’t think I will miss.  However, I have learned how to pack strategically and have avoided overpacking… Dad would be proud.

Well now I must be honest and say while I have loved this experience, I am ready to be home.  I can’t wait to be home and helping with my beautiful sisters wedding planning, I can’t wait to decorate for Christmas, and I can’t wait to just be lazy and hang out with my incredible family.  

1 week left.

I amsterdam.

Amsterdam…could possibly be one of the most beautiful cities.  The architecture and the fact that you could literally walk everywhere was so nice. The thing about these weekend trips is you are paying so much money to be there for basically a day…it sucks.  But, when you are there you completely forget about it and enjoy it, as you should.  

Friday night we got in pretty late, but made the best of it.  Walked around and popped into places as we walked by.  Saturday, we woke up and had the most delicious breakfast…a cheese (Dutch cheese…SO GOOD) omelet…it was to die for.  We followed breakfast with going to the Anne Frank Museum, which was just insane.  You grow up learning about her and the holocaust. I, personally have always been so intrigued learning about that particular subject, so for me it was definitely an experience I will never forget. Followed by the flower market on the water, Heineken Museum, and the I Amsterdam letters…popping into a variety of different shops along the way.

Then as night fell we met some locals at the bar and ventured over to the Red Light District… The red light district is something you can’t explain.  It is another world to put it simply. Girls in a glass door barely clothed trying to get anyone to come into their room to make some money…it was insane.

I can now check Amsterdam off the bucket list.

Monday&Tuesday Accomplishments

In the past two days I have accomplished:

• Grey’s Anatomy 
• Survivor

Thanks to being sick…I am now caught up on the shows I have been missing out on while abroad.  Still isn’t fun being sick in Italy though. Not in the least little bit.