And so the search begins...

     This past Wednesday, January 26th, was a very special day on many different occasions. First off, it was mine and my fiance's 1 year anniversary. I was so excited because well one, a one year anniversary is a pretty big thing...and second of all, I got a really awesome surprise visit from my wonderful fiance while I was at work. Around 2:40 or so that afternoon, Matthew calls me asking about an email we had received and we're just talking about it and all of a sudden I look up from my desk and there he is on the phone walking towards me, holding a beautiful arrangement of flowers! I had no idea he was coming. I knew that he had to work that night and that I was going to be in class until late because I had an exam. But still, despite our crazy insane schedules, he made time to come and see me at work and bring me these! I'm such a lucky girl! :)

     The second part (well actually it happened first during the day, but I was really excited about the flowers I just had to put that first), was where I got the title for this post. I had my first real "big girl" interview last Wednesday for HealthCare21, they are a health care coalition that provides health insurance information to companies and gets people on board with health insurance, education about insurance and wellness programs for employees. I am really interested in this internship, one because I have a health background already from working at Curves for the past 4 years during college and the last little bit of high school. I felt that interview went really well. I felt very confident and very comfortable talking with the office manager and CEO. We are supposed to find something out on Wednesday as to who got the position. I really hope that I get it. I believe that it will be a great way to learn a little bit more about the HR field and how it applies to health care in general. I feel that I have a great advantage because I am going to be here for a little while, have great flexibility with my schedule and can work the hours they are wanting.

Also, it would be nice to have a third income going straight into savings for Matthew and I for our wedding and for our life. I'm nervous though, because I feel that I am going to be devastated if I don't get it...though I know there are other opportunities out there for me for paid internships and I am going to look for them. 

     That is where the search begins...looking for internships that can give me experience and some pay for sure to help me out. My hope is that these internships can turn into possible job offers so I can have something in the works for when I graduate from UT in 313 days. It's a little more stressful than I imagined it would be. Trying to find something that works with your schedule, that you are interested in and that pays, is TOUGH. But it's worth it to have that experience on my resume to make sure that I can get a job (because I'm going to need one of those, or at least I'm pretty sure my fiance would love for his future wife to have a job for when we get married)

     Newest adventure in my life and in Matthew's as well..we joined THE RUSH! It is something we had been toying with doing for a little bit and decided last Friday that we were going to join after Matthew went and spoke with someone there. So far, we have decided that we are going to go 6 days a week! In all honesty, I'm quite excited about it. At first, I was nervous, because I'm not in that great of shape...matthew is in much better shape when it comes to cardio. Now, I'm starting to really, really like it! It's fun and I feel so much better when I'm done. Yesterday I did something I didn't think I would ever be able to do...I ran 1.5 miles without stopping! Nothing crazy fast, but I did do it and I felt great afterwards! My legs aren't even getting as sore as they used to! If we keep this up, 6 days a week up until we get married...we're going look AMAZING! Or at least thats what I hope. I love having him to do this with. Having each other there to encourage and coach and keep the other one motivated when it comes to working out and eating healthy...it really helps! 

     Now, more than ever, it is important for me to stay on top of my game when it comes to well, EVERYTHING in my life. School, job(s), internships, planning my wedding with Matthew, getting in amazing shape. Got to stay on top of ALL of it! :) Think I'm up for the challenge? I think so! :)

     Well thats all for now, I'm going to get off here and stay on top of it and do some homework! Until next time everyone! ;)

Christmas Break :)

I absolutely could not wait for Christmas break to get here this year. I had a lot to look forward to...no classes, finals being over, going to DC with my fiance, getting to see my fiance every day (since he stayed at my house during break), getting to work a little bit more and making more money, and finally, getting to really focus on planning my wedding. 

Well, the end of the semester was a bit iffy! Finals were a tad harder than I had expected (or maybe I was a little too excited from the recent proposal to focus completely lol). But all in all, I pulled a 3.20 this semester...not the best...my lowest GPA ever. My overall GPA is a 3.55 now. My goal is graduate with at least a 3.5! Looks like I'm gonna have to really concentrate these last two semesters! 

Finally, after all the stress of finals and grades...Christmas Break is finally here! I worked as much as I could for a week and then December 16, Matthew finished up his finals and came to stay with me for the break.

 Walking around in market Square after eating at Soccer Taco!

 Hey..last time we were here...Matthew proposed to me! :) 

 awwww :)

Love :)

 We headed out (after ice from the ridiculous ice storm melted) to DC to spend some time with his Dad's family. Road trips...yeah we like them a lot! We were in DC for about 4 days or so. Got to see some fun things, but mainly just hang out with the family! :)

Future sister-in-law :) Courtney

 hanging out in the condo!

 fun with Photobooth :)

 aww...precious! ;)

 LOVE THIS PICTURE! :)

 The "kids!" at the National Christmas Tree

The whole family :)

 The kids again!

at the Peep Store at the National Harbor 

After we got back from DC, Matthew and I both jumped into working mode (gotta save up money for the wedding ya know). But still, we were together every night! I kept thinking, "man I could really get used to this!" We got a lot of planning done for the wedding...got a place to get married, reception venue, flowers taken care of (thanks to his amazing mom), looking at decoration ideas and cake ideas! It was nice to be able to relax and not have to think about school for a little bit...not to have homework looming in the background, haunting us because we weren't doing it! We got ready for Christmas, wrapped each others gifts, got gifts for the families, decorated everything in the house! :) 

Christmas Eve...Matthew had to work until 6, but he was able to spend Christmas with our family. I really liked having him here with me and my family. He got to see a little bit of the craziness of my family and see how we do things. It was fun! Plus, I was really excited to give him his gift! :) 

Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve! 

The famous shot :)

Now, after a really cool Christmas Eve, complete with games and great food and a really long Christmas Eve service...we finally got home! We snuggled up and got ready for bed to await Christmas Morning! :)

 Matthew's 'Apple T-shirt' blanket that I made for him! :) 

 My amazing present from my fiance! Its a board for our wall that we can communicate on...it even has our wedding countdown on it as well as our 1 year anniversary on the calendar! ;) 

 Christmas Present :)

My mom got Matthew and me this really cool wall hanging with our last name on it :)

or at least his last name, which will be mine in 355 days :)

After Christmas, it was back to work for both of us. We worked a lot, took a couple days off to just spend together! I opened a new checking account for me at Bank of America and decided which account was going to be our wedding account and started looking at budgets, places to live...man we're growing up! Weird! We had a couple friends over for New Year's Eve! Just a simple gathering! 

 awesome game of Scrabble 

 check it out!

 amazing word play by Brianna 

 yeah...we're real mature

 T

 Three blonde friends....

The boy and me! :)

After New Year's Eve, once again...back to work for us! We were working similar hours now...so we would have the nights off to be at home together! He helped me decorate my room, make it look a little better, helped me organize my room and stuff for school, helped me think about budget stuff, also helped me run a mile! Yeah, i actually ran! I wanted to give up so bad! He ran alongside me and helped me finish it by encouraging me! He is amazing! He inspires me to do so much! I can't wait to marry him! :) 

This Christmas Break was absolutely amazing! This morning, after the crazy insane snow, Matthew left to go to work and then go back to JBC. It's going to be so weird him not coming home to me every night again. I've gotten so used to him being here and being with me everyday. I may or may not have shed a couple tears this morning as he left (ok, I lied...i totally did!) Saying goodbye is the hardest part! I can't wait until December 31, 2011 so I don't have to any more! :) 

Just a look into the snow from this "Winter Wonderland" thing we're having here in Knoxville! Starting with the most recent snow fall from today! 

Well, I think that's it for this post about Christmas Break. Be looking for upcoming ones about the beginning of the new semester, planning a wedding, looking for jobs and internships and how all of that is going! Peace and Love everyone!