Playing Catch Up (With My Life)

Goodness! It has been a while. Let's recap:

Last time I posted, I had just started ConStruct and announced that I was going to apply to Kingston University.

Well, ConStruct has been moving along quite well. Still trying to get my feet under me but it's happening! There are times when I feel completely unqualified and I don't know how to be qualified but that's all apart of the journey, right? Life wouldn't be life without some challenges, ya know?

As far as university goes, I've already applied! I sent out my application about a week and a half/two weeks ago and it's been crazy! I can't believe this is happening. I got my welcome package from the company that handles the UK university applications and literally had to calm myself down. Not because I was excited but because I was freaking. out. I think it was shock, mostly, but I also think it was because I realized that there's really no turning back. I've set this in motion and I have to see it through. I can't bow out now that I'm soooo close to getting to Europe, my childhood dream.

Things for Europe 2013 are shaping up well! I've booked my stay in London and Paris and paid for all my flights. This is also surreal. I never in a million years thought that I would get to say, "I'm going to Europe in January." It just sounds so cool to say! I'm sure people are completely sick of me talking about it but that's why God created earplugs. I will not be quiet. Just sit there and be jealous.

Everything else has been pretty interesting. My best friend moved to Ireland on Wednesday and I have to say, it was one of the hardest things I've experienced. Even though I know I'll be seeing her in January and we'll be seeing more of each other in Europe, it was hard just to know that she wasn't going to live 20 minutes away anymore. I wouldn't be able to just call her up and schedule a lunch/coffee date. But the fact that she is happy in Ireland is helping a lot. As her friend, I should be supporting her despite my feelings. I will never impose my feelings on her decisions simply because 1. that's manipulation; 2. it's already hard for her to leave, I shouldn't make things harder; and 3. I would be hindering her from her happiness. That's not okay.

Work has been good. I officially finish working at Old Navy this week. It was quite a run but I'm glad it's over. I have a new mistress now and she has twin tails, caffeine, and a voice that draws sailors to their deaths. Starbucks, may we make sweet lattes together.

Oh! And Wake Tech is fin. Since none of my credits will transfer to university, I've decided to hold off with my classes and focus on preparing for England. So there's that.

This is such an odd post! Soon I will have to post something of relevance to society. I need some of those in my life. In the meantime, if you are not following ConStruct or its twitter page, you should be ashamed of yourself! If you love me, you'll do these things ;)

Clearly I'm not above guilt trips...

Anyways,

Till Next Time...

Newest Foray & Exciting News...

It's done, guys!!

So in my last blog, I posted that I was going to start my own fashion blog. Well guys, I did it!

I had been planning out things to do with it and my mission for it and when I figured out a name, I bought the domain name and started gathering content. It's still in the early stages but it's official!

The blog is called "ConStruct" and you can go and follow it at constructstyle.com. It's pretty nerve-wracking to have a passion to do something and then doing it. It's going to be an uphill journey to get my posts out there and make a name for myself but I'm ready to do it. I'm done with waiting on other people to give me a chance. I'm giving myself a chance.

I've wanted to go into the fashion journalism field for a very long time but it took me a bit to even gather enough courage to do it. There's a stigma that guys can't like fashion or that they can't go into the fashion world. I refuse to believe that. I have a heart for the artistry that is fashion and I'm not going to let what anyone says stop me from doing it.

With that being said, I have some exciting news! Very few people already know this but whilst I'm on the subject of passion, I think it's the perfect time to tell you something that I've been trying to keep quiet about for a couple months.

A few months ago, I was sitting with a friend getting coffee and somehow we got to talking about passions and about #YOLO. If you haven't heard, #YOLO is a saying that has been wildly circulated and it means, "you only live once". We were talking about how true it is and how ridiculous our conversation was. Hahaha! But we started getting into what our passions were and what we wanted to do with our lives and of course I talked about Europe. I talked about how badly I want to move there and how crazy it sounds and blah blah blah. Then my friend said to me, "so just do it!" Not in a mean way but in a way that jolted me.

Just do it.

So I am.

In the next couple weeks I will be applying to Kingston University. If you haven't heard, Kingston is about 30 minutes outside of London and Kingston University is widely respected in the journalism community. Additionally, they have a graduate programme that includes fashion journalism which is perfect! My application is already finished, I'm literally just waiting for the application date to arrive. If I'm accepted, I will be preparing everything to move to Kingston in August 2013 for the Fall of 2013. But even if I'm not accepted, I will still be making conscious efforts to move there. Nothing is going to get in my way. I have waited far too long waiting for something to just drop in my lap. God has placed this desire in me and it's not going to be satisfied in this country. My mind is made up, my parents support me and that's all I need.

I understand that a lot of people aren't going to understand why I'm planning to leave but, frankly, I don't care. That's their problem. This is my life and I intend to live it. In Europe. :)

When I go to Dublin in January, I will most likely be visiting the campus, familiarising myself with the lay of the land, etc., etc.

I'm so excited and although I'll be sad to leave my friends and family, I'm thrilled with this new endeavour!

This is going to be a huge adventure and I can't wait to see what's going to happen!

Till Next Time...

Afterthoughts...

I think it's really bizarre that after one day, an entire social world was opened to me.

21 is awesome. 

It's not just drinking though. 

...however I have had my fair share of drinks since the the 15th...

It's more about this feeling of freedom. Like, I can go wherever I like. Even in Raleigh, which I deemed the most boring place in the world, was kind of hopping Saturday night when I went out. I've been having tons of fun and I didn't have to be drunk to do it. 

21 has also given me this new found confidence in myself. I feel like an adult now and people are finally seeing that as well even though my ideas and speech patterns have not changed. It's weird. 

Anyways, I just thought I would write my thoughts on being 21. It's been nearly a week since my birthday and things have been amazing. 

I also wanted to update on the whole Europe trip! I feel like I just kind of was like, "BAM! Europe. January. Get happy." Which is true but I would like to write about it just for a bit. So yeah, January 7th I will be boarding a plane to Dublin, Ireland! I'll be there for 2 weeks and whilst I'm there, I'm planning on taking a train into London and spending a couple days there. Then, if all goes very well with timing, hopefully I can trot my way over to Paris for a day or two. Really, I just want to see the Eiffel Tower; cry; drink coffee & eat a croissant in a French cafe; weep; and take pictures of Paris at night. That's it. Then head back to Dublin and leave the 21st. I know this won't be my last time in Europe so I'm not very concerned with doing a crap-ton of things, ya know?

ALSO! I'm working on starting a fashion blog. I want to go into fashion journalism so what better way to get my name and material out there than start a blog! I already have ideas on content and stuff but I can't seem to figure out a name. I want it to stand out and really signify who I am as a person and how I want to be perceived. If you have any ideas, please send them to me! Even if you think it's silly as all crap, send it anyway. Uniqueness thrives when someone has the guts to say or do something that isn't the norm. So yeah! Any help wil do! I also need to figure out a site design so if you're good with those sorts of things, let me know.

I have to be going now! I'm meeting with some friends for adventure times and I need to figure out something to wear. Hahaha!

Till Next Time... :)

Not Your Typical Pleasure Trip...

I have decided that on this DC trip I will find inspiration.

From a recent conversation with one of my closest friends and my parents, I'm realizing very quickly how much I need some inspiration. There's just something strangling my creativity in North Carolina and I don't know what it is. Solution? Escape NC, find some inspiration and bring it back with me!

Sounds simple enough.

I'll be traversing the art galleries today; taking pictures and simply observing when I can. I'm hoping that the results of other people's inspiration sparks something within me that will encourage me to up my own creativity and start writing again.

It seems to be working already because I'm doing two blog posts back to back! Yay for progress!

I'll also be looking around at places that people don't usually go to for inspiration. I don't know what those places are but I'll wander around until I find it. (Safely of course. No worries, family!) Oh and people! I'm beginning to notice that while people annoy me the majority of the time, at a glance, they can inspire me. Not just talking to them but just watching them (in a non-creepy sort of way). I'm inspired a lot by fashion and the way people dress. My thoughts are, "what was going through their brain when they put that on?" whether good or bad.

I'm super pumped about this and I'm excited that this isn't just a vacation but a chance to continue forward with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of being.

So yeah, I just thought I'd jot down a note whilst I sit in this rather warm Starbucks sipping hot coffee (mistake) and munching on this blueberry muffin.

I'll keep you posted!

Till Next Time...

"Ask, and it will be giving to you: seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7