Being a Big Kid

Hola and long time no see :)

I've missed you all, and a lot has changed in my life over the last few months. I don't plan on babbling on about how wonderful my life is and how much it has changed. The important changes include: my college degree (with honors), my (chef) boyfriend and our lovely apartment in Oakmont, and my first car, a 2011 Honda Civic.

Yes, I rock.

So, you should all be aware of these important changes. And believe me, they are all great things and I am extremely thankful for each and every blessing. However, that is not what this post is all about today.

Nope.

Today, I have a couple of new revelations I would like to explore with you.

Since finishing my degree in December, my days off work are actually days off now. As I write this blog, I am laying on my couch, drinking coffee, and watching TV in my pajamas on a Monday at noon. Aside from snow days in college (yeah, right), or being sick from work, I have not had a day like this in almost four years. Since I finished school, I have been laptop-less due to a horrible virus. And, now that my laptop is back after two months on its death bed, I have a place to place my newfound thoughts.

Before, life was hard because I had no time to do everything I wanted to in a day. I was in class for 13-hour days, followed by four hours of homework at home. I worked five---sometimes six---days a week. I also sang at church on Sunday mornings. On top of all of that, I had to fit my gym time, bills, friends and life into my...life.

Now, I work five days a week. I still sometimes sing at church when I am off work on Sundays. But, other than the daily grind, I have no projects due, research assignments, final exams or midterms to obsess over and plan. This gives me a lot of time---And I do not know what to do! It's almost like learning how to live life again. If my dad came to Pittsburgh with a bike with training wheels to teach me how to ride it with my arms on the pedals rather than my feet, it would be the same feeling. I am learning how to live my life again. I am learning to ride a bike.

So what shall I do with all of this time, do you ask?

Hopefully, something soon!

My mind is scattered with ideas. I have researched everything from taking the GMAT Exam for when I (eventually) get my MBA to antiques to refinish for my apartment. I have nothing to show for either of these thoughts, though.

This is where you come in.

Who has the winning idea? I would like you all to tell me what you think I should do with my time. These can be completely serious, like studying for the GMAT, or completely spontaneous, like raising an ant farm or learning how to knit. Really, guys, I am all for your ideas! Tell me what you think.

Until then, I will continue to update my blog and make sense of my scattered thoughts. I am beginning to wonder if this is when most women either go batty with weird ideas for funky stores in South Side and Bloomfield, or they start to have lots of children, dogs or birds.

Hit the Road, Jack

I would love to just pack up a truck, take a long weekend and drive out into some mountaintops nearby but just far enough away to feel like my own little world. I would make sure to grab plenty to eat, a toothbrush, and my sneakers. Anything more than that would need to be negotiated or put back on the shelf.

I would want to hike up the mountain---Whichever mountain that may be---and come to a spot where you can see the beautiful colors of Fall, how the world can just go on and on and the effortless way we all work together in seamless and never-ending harmony.

Yes, we all have our moments. But the world buzzes with continuity. I've seen it before in a small, everyday kind of scale.

I would hike and go for walks and jogs around some lake on this unknown mountain morning, noon and night. I wouldn't mind fishing, but I would need someone to teach me. Hunting? I don't know if I could get to that point, but I wouldn't mind shooting some guns at a target.

I've actually never fished before, which is hard to believe, considering I am from Central PA. Central PA schools have In-Service Days at the beginning of any hunting/fishing/outdoorsy opening day.

I'd like to figure out how to make coffee without electricity. That would be interesting.

I'd like to make dinner over a fire. Very interesting.

'Smores every night! Heavenly.

How long would I be there? I don't know. Where do I plan to go? I don't know. When am I planning this trip? I don't know.

That is the point.

I am awake at 1am on a Monday night. I have a 14-hour work and school day tomorrow that starts in less than six hours. My mind is racing, and I would love nothing more than to pack up a truck and drive to some mountain, for some amount of time.

Delirious, much? I might need some Benadryl.

Does Your Breakfast Make You Amazing?

I was watching a commercial yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work. I was watching the news and drinking my morning coffee. I also made oatmeal for breakfast, and I always swirl peanut butter in my oatmeal and let it melt. First off, it's delish. I like how it tastes, and I am all for the extra protein and a little healthy fat.

Yes, healthy fat.

The commercial was for Quaker Oatmeal, so I was totally relating to the commercial from the beginning. Talking about making healthy choices in the morning and throughout the day is something of normalcy today for adults. For children, we want their breakfast to fuel them for the tough day at school with bullies and long division. So, naturally, oatmeal that makes you "amazing" and a superhero would appeal to a kid in a different way than sugary cereals with superhero cartoons. This commercial is meant to appeal to children, but it really made me think.

Low-carb. Low-fat. Low-calorie. Low-sodium.

Sugar-free. Fat-free.

Whole wheat. Antioxidants. Organic.

In diet fads-past, diets were all about excluding and banning whole food groups or types of foods or nutrients altogether. Today, it's all about what you're putting in your body. I think a healthy diet should marry the two ideas together.

Let me explain.

So, there is definitely something to be said for eating salmon, soy milk, blueberries and artichokes. There is also definitely something to be said for not eating Ho-Ho's, Haagen-Dazs, Cheetos and Mountain Dew. The evidence is there. If you eat the good things, and don't eat the bad things, your health will be better than if you did the opposite.

Duh.

However, there is definitely something wrong with the mentality of cutting things out and only eating certain foods. That messes with the mind and the diet is difficult to stick to, live with, and continue.

I remember when "Skinny Bitch" came to bookstores. A few of my friends love the book, and still, to this day, live by the book. That's awesome! But, my biggest problem with this book (And, I do have a lot of problems with this book!) is that it discriminates and yells at you in a way that doesn't encourage a lifestyle, although that is the authors' intention. By being edgy and trendy, this book goes about dieting in the wrong way.

Milk is not the enemy.

Meat is not the enemy.

Sugar is not the enemy.

The way we think of these hands-off foods is in jeopardy, and that is the enemy.

Think about it.

If we are drinking a glass of skim milk, we ARE NOT drinking Mountain Dew. If we are eating a grilled chicken breast, we ARE NOT eating Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. If we are treating ourselves to a (serving size-appropriate) cup of ice cream at the end of a long week, we ARE NOT binging on an entire birthday cake after a month of restrictive dieting.

Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, South Beach and other diet programs all serve their purposes. They provide a framework and plan for those who would otherwise not stick to a diet. However, when it comes to a lifestyle of healthy eating, it shouldn't be about what we are eating or what we are not eating. Instead, it should be about the choices we make about the food we eat throughout our day. These choices include what we choose to eat in place of what we would eat otherwise.

OK, I am off of my soap box.

But, next time you think about going on some new diet, hoping that "THIS IS THE ANSWER" to all of your weight issues, I'd like you to ask yourself this question every time you are about to eat:

"Does my breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack make me AMAZING?"

My 4th Year Anniversary

It's true. My current relationship is officially my longest relationship.

As of August 26, 2010, I have had a serious relationship with the city of Pittsburgh. I moved to the 'Burgh on August 26, 2006, as an incoming freshman print journalism student at Point Park University. I had a pixie-style hair cut with black low lights and a new nose ring. A lot has changed, and I have been thinking about these changes more and more over the last month.

Since I moved to Pittsburgh, these things have changed:

- My hair is halfway down my back, curly and back to my natural red color.
- I am graduating from Point Park University with a B.S. in Business Management.
- I have no nose ring, nor a scar from my former piercing.
- I am now a size 0/2, and when I moved here I was a size 12.
- I got a breast reduction, equal to 3-5 pounds removed.
- I am now the EE/In-store Trainer at Sephora Shadyside, and when I moved to Pittsburgh I had never been to or heard of a Sephora.
- I am single, but in a very healthy dating relationship at the moment. 'Just dating' wasn't a concept I understood in 2006.
- I have so many new and unique friends! I can't imagine my life without you guys!
- I have grown very close to my grandparents since moving here, and I am so thankful for every moment I spend with them.

There are many more changes I have made, and this list could go on for hours. If you're really curious, you can ask me in person. But, overall, I have become more aware of myself and my own actions in the world around me. I am more aware of my attitude and my actions, as well as more aware of the impact I can have either positive or negative with the people I encounter. I have overcome a lot of heartbreak and financial hardships, but I have learned so much about myself and how strong I really am. I am a fighter, and I never thought of myself like that with complete certainty. The world can throw its worst at me, and I feel totally prepared to take it down brick-by-brick. I look at my apartment, my education, my career and friends, and I am so proud of everything I have created. I am completely responsible for everything I have done here. And, I am so proud of it all.

These 4 years have been the most important in my life to date. I can't wait to see what the next 4 years and beyond have in store for me. Pittsburgh, you have taught me a lot and will always be in my heart. Thank you for your hospitality.

So, does anyone else have a sappy love for Pittsburgh? Or, maybe you just have something you'd like to share that has changed in your life over the last few years, or even since yesterday? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you.

To celebrate my 4 years in Pittsburgh, upon the visit of my cousins from California, I had my very first Primanti Bros. sandwich. I am officially a Pittsburgher, I think.

It's Been A Long Time Comin'

Hola folks!

I know it's been a long time since we last had a chat. Some of you have pointed this out to me on a few occasions, and I am finally hear to respond to your requests! Yes, I am here to write a blog today.

Get excited!

So, what exactly have I been up to the last month-and-a-half you ask?

Good question. I have a long answer. So hold onto your hats!

OK, so I had an icky breakup right before I wrote my last post. That wasn't too fun, but I'm definitely not dwelling on it. Luckily for me, Sephora sent me to Sephora University and Corporate Headquarters in San Francisco the nine days following the breakup.

And, it was AHH-MAZING!!!

In true Emily-style, I took the shitty cards I was dealt in my life and made them the fuel for my success. Train the Trainer July 2010 in San Francisco was a wonderful, life-changing experience that I am still incredibly grateful for and will always remember. I learned so much, not just about training, coaching and managing staff, but also about myself. I learned that what I do as a 22-year-old almost-college graduate is not what all 22-year-old almost-college graduates do. I do amazing things every single day. Anything I have accomplished in my life is attributed to myself and the people around me. I am truly blessed, and I have many more exciting things to come down the road.

So, in San Francisco, I met great people. I ate the best food of my life to date. I wore some fierce suits and a really slick ponytail. And, I officially became a traveling businesswoman.

Whoo hoo!

When I came home, however, there was little time to be excited. I had to give (yet another) presentation for my macroeconomics class just two days after getting back on the East Coast. I turned in my final paper and took my final exam also.

Done.

When that was done, I realized I was three weeks away from school starting again. I only had to work! I was excited. I was beyond jazzed. I couldn't stand my excitement.

Then I got sick.

The last two-and-a-half weeks have been spent either on the couch, in the doctor's office, or at work in pain. I suffered from a bladder infection that was restricting the blood flow and oxygen to my kidneys. I still have not heard all of the details of my infection, but it was painful and very scary. There were a few nights I wasn't sure if I would be okay. Lots of pressure, nausea, pain, and medication. I was popping pills every four hours and on antibiotics for about two weeks. I feel much better now, but I haven't had this much discomfort in my life, aside from my breast reduction last summer.

Summers seem to be good luck for me.

Anyhow, my doctor saw me for two hours the day we decided this infection was more than what we originally thought. Kidney stones, cystitis of the bladder, infection, anatomically irregular. These are all good terms to throw at an otherwise-healthy 22-year-old woman. Needless to say, I have not been myself and I have not been feeling well at all since I returned from the West Coast. I am feeling much better now. I do not need any painkillers or antibiotics anymore, and I have been eating more every day.

I have my follow-up appointment with my doctor on Friday. I am extremely curious.

This brings us to this week. This week has been terrible and wonderful at the same time and in very different ways. I have had a pool of downright nasty clients this week. Nasty, rude, condescending, ungrateful and mean.

All of the above.

That's enough to dampen any good feelings toward the day. I've also had a few bumps this week in attempts to get ready for school starting this Saturday. My air conditioner has leaked all over my wall and it is starting to mold. HH Properties does not seem too concerned by this fact. I swear I will flip a lid if they try and charge me when I move out in December for the water damage to the wall.

I have called them three times about this situation in the last few months.

But, a few good things have made me stop and smile this week. Bekah is back from Costa Rica, so I get to see her soon and catch up on her travels. My cousins are coming to visit from California tomorrow. Even if it's just for the night, it will be a nice end to an eventful and tough Summer. I have also had a few successes at work recently and in my love life. No further details until otherwise indicated, folks. I have learned my lessons about blogging while dating the hard way!

OK, so school starts on Saturday morning. Yes, Saturday morning. I have four classes this semester, and then I will be a college graduate! I have to be in class four days a week while maintaining a full workload, but I will keep you all informed and up-to-date as best I can during this semester.

I am more than 100% positive that I will have plenty of not-so perfect life experiences in my last semester, so please stay tuned!

Oh, and I can't wait until my first pumpkin spice latte of the new season. Just giddy.

Loud And Clear

I've never had a blog before, so I am still learning the censorship of it all. I'm still learning what I can write and what I can get away with as a blogger. I've already made a huge mistake on here. But, the lesson has been clearly and quickly learned. I apologize for any ill emotions caused by anything I have said on here thus far.

I aim to be a writer in some professional capacity in my career. This was a valuable lesson to learn, and I can only go from here. I just wish it wasn't such a hurtful and frustrating process.

But, then again, when has anything you've wanted badly been easy to get?

I remember when I was seven years old, wanting an American Girl doll so badly. Starting in the summer that year, my mom gave me an empty coffee tin of her International Delights amaretto coffee to save my money in until Christmas. I had the option to save all or part of my allowance each week. I also had the option to do more chores to earn more money.

This was my first checking account, in a sense. Or, maybe it was a savings account. I think that was the intention of my mom, but I did withdraw from the tin every once in a while. You know, if there was a new candy at Gardner's Candies, or a new collection of POGs at Wal-Mart. It depended on my mood each week. Candy and POGs were equally awesome at that point in my life.

Either way, at the end of the year, whether I got my American Girl doll or not was up to me, and only me. I was motivated by this challenge and the sense of responsibility. I loved that coffee tin. I loved pay day. I love seeing money grow and make things happen.

Being a business major, I guess not much has changed.

So, I worked really hard in that five month period. I dusted the house so many times. I cleaned the bathroom. I made my bed every day. I kept the floor in my room pretty clear most days. I set the table for dinner. It was a process, a daily process, but I didn't mind it for the most part.

I liked the challenge.

And, sure enough, Christmas morning came on December 25th, as it does every year. And, although I knew I had given my all, there was still a bit of doubt in the back of my mind, making me think my American Girl doll was not under the Christmas tree that morning.

She was, though, and she was beautiful. I loved to change her clothes and play with her hair every day. I named her Lindsey. She was so cool.

I learned a lot that year. I learned about money and the value of a dollar. I learned about working hard and working toward a goal. I learned that I like a challenge and I handle responsibility very well, even at a young age. And, today, 15 years later, I see that everything requires hard work, responsibility, and the drive to meet the challenge. It doesn't come easy, whatever it is you are aiming to get.

I gave this a strong effort, and I still have questions. I feel a bit cheated and used. But, I'm okay. I've learned a lot here. But, I also am reminded that everything is a process. I need to realize that not everybody realizes this hard, true fact.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have had a fantastic mother, with an International Delights amaretto coffee tin to encourage a work ethic and a self-disciplining conscience.

Nope.

And now, today, I need to learn how to deal with that part of the population that have not learned these valuable lessons yet.

It sucks.

Hiccups Are Embarassing

So, I live in Friendship and work in Shadyside. It would be ridiculous to drive to and from work everyday, especially since parking on Walnut Street is horrendous and impossible. I would probably drive two minutes, park, and walk another half-dozen blocks to work.

Oh, and I don't have a car.

Needless to say, I walk to work everyday. Rain or shine. And it is mostly a good thing. The days that are really hot or really cold, or raining really hard, I really don't enjoy walking to work. But, for the most part, it keeps my legs fit. So I am happy about that.

A few days ago, I was on my way to work for an afternoon shift. I had already gone for a run and then successfully finished 6 cups of coffee, at this point.

Unfortunately for me, and this has haunted me since birth, when my stomach is too full of air, it really can't come out in one, exclamatory burp. For me, even when my mom burped me, I would start to hiccup. These hiccups can last and recur throughout the course of an entire day. I could hiccup initially for about 10 minutes, be fine, and then two hours later start hiccuping again.

How annoying, right?

Well, this day, because of the running and the coffee and the walking rather fast, I had hiccups off and on the entire morning. And my walk to work was no exception. I am so used to this hiccuping disease by now, I can control them and usually stop them fairly easily.

Today, my hiccups were winning.

So, I am walking across the East Busway on South Negley Avenue after six blocks of tiny, manageable hiccups. At the light, I stop and let out this HUGE hiccup.

I think I jumped.

And, luckily, no one heard it---Or, so I thought.

As I begin across the crosswalk, a mid-40's blonde woman with sunglasses, a business skirt suit on, tights, and white Nike sneakers starts coming across the crosswalk from the other side. As we walk by each other and get closer, she just smiles and turns her head downward, tilting slightly to the side.

"Aww, it's okay dear."

She seemed to feel sorry for me.

I was mortified!

It was one of those expressions that makes you want to crawl underneath your bed with a stuffed animal and cry. I reminded me of a thunderstorm with my little sister when we were seven and three.

You would think horrifying me with this expression would scare the hiccups out of my system, or so the old wives' tale would say.

Nope.

I had hiccups the rest of the day.

Just try putting mascara and liquid eyeliner on a woman six inches taller than you, while standing up with chronic hiccups.