Hey...Long time no blog...

As I spend my Friday night insatiably lapping up the last few pages of "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" (homework before real homework...dontcha hate that) inside I am wishing, hoping, praying, not stepping on any cracks, only using odd numbers in my daily doings and continually crossing my fingers that somehow they accept average old me into the masters program I applied for last week. School starts in 10 days and I haven't even had my final interview yet! Procrastination (a familiar and fair-weathered friend) got the best of me again (work too)

The point of this post (other than asking for you to hope, wish, pray, cross fingers etc. on my behalf) is to talk about my theme for the year. I know what you're thinking..."But Ali, it's nearly Sept. It's a little late." Allow me to explain. This fall I will be entering my 18th year of school so for me the calendar starts in Sept. when back to school starts. Growing up it was a bitter sweet time for me because since my birthday is mid-August (two days from today in fact) back to school shopping and birthday presents somtimes melded into one. Its never good when you get an adorable pair of saddle shoes for your birthday and your mom tells you that you can't wear them until school starts...thats true pain to a ten-year-old. Back to the theme...and the theme for my year this year is....drumroll please


My plans so far include a year of homemade gifts (I'm already starting to work on Christmas). Working on practical skills like sewing, painting and budgeting. Yesterday I used a coupon for the first time in my life. I was headed to Fresh and Easy for groceries and on the way to the car I grabbed the mail and there it was staring me right in the face from the top of the pile. $3 off $30 or more. How could I not? Later in the day I was making a copy of my house key and out of the corner of my eye I noticed an adorable Tinkerbell key. Guess how much...$3. I totally got it. Which brings me to the next and most important thing for the year....enjoy the simple things in life...like the neon sign that warms my balcony with pink light each night, and the adorable look on Penelope's face when I wake up every morning and she is staring at me with her tongue sticking out (btw happy six month birthday Miss Penny) and how lucky I am to never worry about going without food or a Tivo (id give up food if I had to choose one...because soda doesn't count as food right?? soda is non-negotiable) and how much I love my absurdly disfunctional yet hilarious family. You don't know whatcha got till its gone...not this year...I'm gonna know what I got. Get it?

Last years theme was Don't Think, Just Leap. I think it was a shining success of a year. I packed everything I owned in a truck and moved 800 miles away from home to the scary town of Hollywoodland (actually a little less scary town called "the valley") I managed to make it a year in the skin-thickening entertainment industry but most importantly met such lovely people along the way (and some really crappy people who yell)

I challenge everyone to enjoy something simple today...

Well better get packing for the big family vacation to Las Vegas...yay!

Happy New Year!!!

-Ali