I think I figured it out... so here Eric and I are at the top of the alps in Switzerland. Love it! We were freezing cold! :o)

So, some time has passed since I last wrote. Things have definitely happened! Where do I start?! I guess I'll take a hop, skip and a jump back to June. In June I got offered a new, full time job in a different district. I accepted and am now teaching 7th grade Language Arts. It's definitely a switch from kindergarten! After the first day of school, I seriously thought that I wanted a career change! No joke! Luckily it's gotten a bit better since then!

So then, July. Eric and I got engaged in July! He took me to dinner at one of our favorite resturants, right on the beach. After dinner we walked along the beach and he proposed. Things that I distinctly remember about the night? I was freezing cold and begging him to stop walking along the beach... we saw dolphins right after he proposed... so neat! All of a sudden, after he proposed, I was no longer cold and wanted to sit and watch for dolphins!! He tried to put the ring on the wrong hand! He's so cute! On the way to dinner that song came on by DramaRama.... "Anything, Anything" I can't remember right now how it goes exactly, but I know that one part of it says something like "If you'd just marry me, marry me, marry me!" ... I was singing that part to him on the way to dinner! ha ha... poor thing, he was probably so nervous... and here I am bugging him about getting married!! He didn't bring a camera. Of course, I wanted a picture!! So I asked some random people to take our picture for us and email it to me... they did! How sweet were they?! I'll never forget them! So then... we were engaged for 3 days and I got to wear my gorgeous ring for 3 whole days... before we left for .....

EUROPE!! I was so sad to take my ring off!! Eric got to hear all about how much I missed my ring for the next 23 days!! We had an amazing time! Spent the night in NYC on the way over... spent time with Eric's brother, Travis... and then we were off to London. Cat and Denz picked us up at the airport. I must say that my little green ipod definitely was put to use on that plane ride... oh wait! and the train rides! We spent the first night with Cat and Denz in their cute little flat on the outskirts of London! It was super fun. The next day was quite the adventure... we had to find our way from Cat and Denz's house to Central London... it took us quite some time... but we found it eventually! We stayed in London for about 4 nights I believe... saw the sights, had a great time! and... spent way too much money! I mean, we're talking a $20 burger!! no joke!! We even rode the tube... living on the edge, especially since the day we left on the chunnel train to Paris, was the same day as the 2nd attemped bombings that failed! CRAZY!!

Paris was amazing! Last time that I went to Paris I wasn't a big fan... I definitely was this time! We had only been planning on spending one night in Paris... but, we loved it so much we stayed for 2!! We stayed in the most amazing little hotel... we had a view of the Eiffel Tower from our bedroom! It seriously couldn't have gotten much better than that!! We also went to Versailles and took some amazing pictures! (which I would love to post on here... but the memory card is being a pain in the patootie!)

From Paris we headed to Gimmelwald, Switzerland... right in the Swiss Alps! Absolutely gorgeous! We took the gondolas up to the very top and had lunch and champagne on top of the world... so fun! We spent an evening walking around Interlocken, which was fun! We had a cheese fondo dinner... yummy!

Then we did the craziest thing a person could do... we decided to hop on a night train to Salsburg, Austria.... it was miserable! I wasn't able to sleep at all... and we were stupid and didn't realize that we had first class rail passes and that we could have gone to a nicer train car!! The train was packed, hot and miserable!! We arrived in Salsburg around 4:30 am, without a place to stay. We took a taxi to a youth hostel, the YOHO to be exact, and they let us in... though they told us they wouldn't know until about 8 am if they had a room for us. So we sat down in the breakfast area and were unable to sleep... it was horrible! Finally the receptionist showed up around 7:30 and she gave us a room... we went and slept the entire day away. We woke up to empty tummies so we decided to venture out from the YOHO for some sights and food... and ... it decided to pour down rain while we were eating at an outdoor cafe... there went our ideas of sight seeing. So we hopped a cab back to the YOHO, where we ended up meeting some great people...we sat around all night at the YOHO's bar and gabbed it up! We had loads of fun! We hung out with this guy, Chris, from Canada... he was great! Also this guy named David, who was from Tennessee. Next 2 days we saw the sights of Salzburg... castles, catacombs, graveyards, cathedrals, mozart's house....

then we were off to Germany. We went to Fussen and stayed there one night... so fun. The next morning we headed over to the Nueswanstein Castle. Now, this is the castle that the Disneyland castle is modeled after... Disney doesn't compare at all to the real thing!! It was incredible! Again, I wish I could post some pictures... Let's just say it was out in the middle of this gorgeous forest and it had amazing, incredible views of 2 different lakes... just indescribeable!! From there we went to Cologne, Germany... we weren't too impressed! Maybe it was the awful hostle that we stayed in... it was the first that we found, and it was dreadful! It was so hot and it was super small, and just gross!! It seriously looked like the room hadn't been thoroughly cleaned EVER!! The next night we treated ourselves to a nice little hotel, after a day trip to St. Goar where we spent time along the Rhine River... so neat. We went to the old ruins of a castle in St. Goar... Eric had a blast roaming around all the nooks and crannies of the ruins... I had fun watching him!!

From Cologne we headed to Amsterdam for one night. We didn't plan things very well... it ended up being a Saturday night. Saturday night in Amsterdam with no reservations, proved to be a challenge!! Let's just say we were walking around with our backpacks looking for a place to stay for well over an hour. Finally we gave in and paid an exorbidant amount to stay in a junk hotel... but at least we were able to dump our stuff and go out on our next adventure. Now, Amsterdam was the only squabble we really got into... and no, it wasn't about anything that one might associate Amsterdam with... it was about salt and pepper shakers!! I saw these adorable blue and white salt and pepper shakers and wanted to get them... they were only 7 bucks!! Eric decided to remind me that I had purchased Picasso salt and pepper shakers in Paris at the Picasso Museum. Poor Eric, just didn't seem to understand that a person could have more than one set of salt and pepper shakers... needless to say I didn't buy them and I sulked about it the rest of the day! Poor Eric! :o) We went to the Anne Frank house, which was very interesting ... though I had been before, I was just as neat to go again. Then, of course, we found our way through the Red Light District... quite the eyefull, to say the least. The next day we had been planning on hopping onto one of the canal boats for a little ride... but we woke up to rain. So, instead, we headed straight to the Van Gogh museum and ended up being the first ones in line by accident! There was this huge line... 3 actually and the museum hadn't openned yet ... so people were standing in line out in the rain... we didn't have an umbrella, so we were getting wet and cold. I told Eric that I didn't care, I was going to stand under the covered area at the enterance... it ended up being another line that no one had realized was a line... so essentially we were the first in line and the first allowed into the museum! So neat! We got to see amazing Van Gogh stuff without crowds of people! We bought a 23 dollar Van Gogh umbrella, that wasn't even a push button umbrella... what a rip off! But... it's so cute!! I love it! From there we headed to the Ricks Mueseum (I know I spelt it wrong)... and were far from impressed!

After Amsterdam we went to Belgium... spent 3 nights in Brussels, really was a relaxing end to our trip. We took a day trip to Bruge and took a ride along the canals in a boat... so fun. It was beautiful. We had a good time in Belgium!! We had some amazing waffles and chocolate! Probably ate way too much!!

Then it was back to London for one more night on our way back to NYC. We did a few more museums on our last night and had a great time just absorbing all there was around us on our last night in Europe!

Spent about 4 nights in NYC with Travis and his gf Mami... had a tremendous time. Stayed at a crappy little hostel on the upper west side, right by the park... actually it was called Jazz on the Park. Went on the row boats in Central Park. Went to Ellis Island to see my grandpa's name on the wall. Saw the statue on our way over to the Island... did some great shopping on the streets, bought some adorable cheap coach bags!! So fun! Had the best steak dinner at a place that we would never have gone to... and probably never will again. sang karaoke all night one night... too funny! tons of memories... so much fun... times that will never be forgotten.

Since then... it's been back to reality (though after Europe I did go w/ my fam to Hawaii)... but now... it's teaching full time.... 7th grade English. I llike it... but it's tons of work. The kids are fun though. .... I must admit at times, I really miss kindergarten! It's a totally different world.

Then... there's wedding planning. Wow... that sure keeps ya busy. We have our place booked... and took our engagement pictures last week, we should get them on Friday, so that will be fun. We still have a ton to do. We're having our engagement party this weekend... that should be fun too! Let's see if I can figure out how to post some pictures.! How's that for an update?! xo.

Dancing with the Stars!!

Okay... so tonight I got hooked. I was watching Wheel of Fortune and after it was over they played the rerun of Dancing with the Stars from last week... my mom and I got hooked! We watched the rerun and then tonights show. It was so fun to watch! I want to dance like that! My vote is for Kelly! I think she's so cute! I hope she beats out that other guy... but I have a feeling he may win.

When Eric and I first started dating he said that he thought it would be fun to take dance lessons together. I totally agreed that it would be a blast. He told me to find out the time and place to take the lessons and that we'd for sure do it. Yup, you guessed it, I never found the time and place... now I'm a little more inspired to research it and go out and dance with Eric! What fun!

Can I see your i.d.?

Wow... so summer is here. The school year, my first year of teaching, went by so fast, but so slow at the same time!! Summer is great. I love the time you get to spend outside. In the sun. The beach. Friends, Family.

Traveling. Eric and I, on a whim, decided to go to Europe this summer. We leave in 18 days! I don't think it's really hit me yet how close we are to leaving. I guess in a way it doesn't seem real yet. Though we have our tickets and I even bought my new 'backpack'. I have the bug. The travel Europe bug. It's in me... I can't wait to go back. I'm ready to embrace the cultures. See amazing sights. Take in the world. I'm ready to sit at an outdoor cafe and take it all in. Watch my surroundings, appreicate the small things. It will be amazing.

Until then, I've found myself the perfect summer job. I'm an offical personal 'super' organizer. I am helping a couple get their lives organized. Sounds hilarious?! It really is a fun job! The ironic and crazy thing is that I am the least organized person I know when it comes to my room and car! ha ha. They don't know that though, and I'm doing my job well. It's easy and fun work and the pay is great, so I'm not complaining! I'm a happy girl. I can definitely use the extra spending money for my trip!

Lately in my head I've been thinking a lot about the different people that constantly come in and out of your life. It's crazy. So many people just come in and out of your life. They may leave an impact, or may not. It may be a positive impact, it may be negative... either way, they touch your life and effect it in some way.

Like this guy, his name was Yo. He was from Japan. I met him at my favorite sushi place, Satsuma Sushi. Until I met Yo, I always needed to ask for children's chopsticks. One night when I was out to dinner with Eric, Eric asked for kiddie chopsticks for me. Yo looked at me and said "Can I see your I.D.?" I started cracking up! Yo taught me how to use real chopsticks. I will never forget him! Ever! Eric and others had tried to teach me so many times and it was impossible! Yo showed me one time and I got it! I saw Yo every time we went in for sushi ... and at that time in our lives it was often that we were able to go out our fav. resturant. Eric lived right by it... now it's about a 30 min. drive away and we don't go out there as often. We went about 2 weeks ago, and I asked our waiter if Yo still worked there... he doesn't. He's gone forever now. I don't even have a picture of him. And see? It was just a small relationship... but I will never forget him.

People really just come in and out of your lives. And I feel like lately it's happening a lot to me. Whether it be by random chance: the story of Yo; moving: my youth pastor from church that I've known since I was little; school year ending: having to say goodbye not only to my class full of kindergarteners that I loved, but also to my fellow teachers, as I will not be teaching there next year; death: one of my mom's very best friends fighting cancer until it took her life, and she still had so much life to live; or just losing touch: with friends because life gets so busy. When I stop and think about it I really start to realize and appreicate the small moments that each day brings. I want to appreciate, well at least try to appreciate, all of the people that come in and out of my life.

go me!!

woo hoo!! i figured it out! we'll see how creative i can get!

experimenting!

wow... you can upload pictures an easy way now! neat-o mosquito! now i just need to figure out how to change my main picture in the upper corner... and still, how to add on my links on the side.

oh no!!

oh geeze! here i was trying to brighten up my blog a bit... and i lost the links to my friends blogs! i have no clue how to get them back either! i don't know how to do all the fancy blogging stuff! i need to learn. do you suppose there's such a thing as 'blogging classes'??? that would be a good thing for me to attend! no joke! well, i guess i'll go back and try to figure out a way to get my links posted again... ha ha, i doubt i'll be able to figure it out though! wish me luck!

don't take it for granted

all i have to say is don't take life for granted. life is so short, it's crazy. things can happen so quickly to change your life, or to take your life, or the life of someone special from you. don't take it for granted that you'll be here to see tomorrow. things have happened, and i've been sad this week. i asked eric tonight why death has to happen. he actually had a good answer. he told me that death makes life that much more precious. he explained that without the knowledge of death as a part of life, we would really take life for granted and the little moments would not mean as much and wouldn't be as precious and special as they are. i mean, think about it. a simple smile, the wink of an eye, a rainbow, the art of conversing with loved ones, laughter, beautiful sunshine and the warmth it brings to you, memories, the smell of rain... i could go on and on... i believe that these moments really wouldn't be nearly as special if we didn't know that life was short and that each small moment matters and means so much. so when i get upset later down the road about how life is not fair and how things are so tough... i want to be able to rememeber how i'm feeling now. i'm feeling sad, but at the same time i'm feeling lucky to be alive and to have the moments that i do have. the moments that God has blessed me with in this crazy world of ours.

an outdoorsie type of woman

okay... so it was a beautiful day out today, right? yes siree! eric and i decided to go on a hike. sounds great, right? so we decided we'd go to chantry flats up in arcadia/sierra madre area. neither of us had ever been on that trail... it was labeled 'easy' and had the perks of waterfalls along the way... we're talking a good 5 hour hike though. surprisingly i wasn't turned off by this! i was excited! we went to the grocery store and bought snacks (eric being a diabetic, we especially needed to have snacks with us)... and water. drove all the way to arcadia/sierra madre... to find that the road to the trail was CLOSED. bum deal. so then we were like, what are we gonna do now? and me? i had the bright idea. "let's go to mt. garcia trail" okay, i've encountered this trail 2 times prior to today. the first was when i was in college... one day we were driving by and just decided "let's try this trail" did we have water? did we have good shoes on? were we an ounce prepared for the trail?! NO! this trail, might i add, is labeled somewhere along the lines of "hard" it's steep and long. needless to say that my first encounter, totally unprepared we only made it maybe 20 minutes into the trail. if that. before we had to turn around. the second time was probably about a year ago now, which is hard to believe. i went with my friend ian. he is an eagle scout. so we were well prepared. i must say that i bitched and complained the entire time. but ian, was kind and encouraging and just laughed at me and we pressed onward until we reached the very top! what an accomplishment! then we had to go down. that was a chore in itself. so that leads us to today. and my bright idea. "let's go to mt. garcia trail" eric had never been on this trail with me. eric had never tried hiking with me. eric, poor eric, who knows me so well. poor eric. he should have known when we reached the beginning of the trail and i said, "i don't know about this eric... i hate this trail! it's steep." he told me "oh, come on honey, you can do it, it'll be fun!" so we started the hike. well prepared. (eric too is an eagle scout) oh my goodness there were bugs. i want to turn around. oh my goodness it was hot. i want to turn around. oh my goodness there were plants. i want to turn around. oh my goodness it was hot! so we make it to this spot in the trail where we aren't even near to being half way up the trail. i'm still asking him if we can please turn around. stating that it's just too hot and that it's just too steep. all of a sudden he turns to me and says "that's it. we're done. we're turning around and going down." he's upset. i can tell he's not happy. i say "no, forget it. you're upset. let's keep going." he says "no, i'm not joking. we're done. i'm done. i'm not having an ounce of fun up here on this trail with you. not one ounce. you're the type of girl that's good in society but that cannot deal when she's out of society. you need an air conditioner" oh my goodness. this comment made me mad! i said "i never said anything about an air conditioner. i just was stating that i was hot. i'm perfectly capable of going to the top of this mt. i've done it before! come on, let's keep going." he says "nope. we're done. like i said, i'm not having an ounce of fun with you." oh i was mad. (but secretly happy to turn around and go down the hill) we walked all the way down the mt. without speaking to one another. we drove all the way back to my house without speaking to one another. when we got to my house he was upset/sad to really come to the realization that i'm just not gung hoe about the outdoors. it took him until now to realize this? i told him. "i like the outdoors eric. i like to be in the outdoors. i just don't like to trudge around in them for hours and get all dirty and HOT and sweaty. i'm sorry that i'm not an amazon woman. no wait. i'm not sorry. i'm glad i'm me." he told me then that he would never go hiking with me ever again. that it wasn't possible. that i wasn't an ounce of fun. that i couldn't handle it. that the only type of hiking i could handle was through a mall. it wasn't pretty. i told him that it could have been fun. that we just needed to go on an easier trail. one that had the excitement of waterfalls especially! it would be more enjoyable. mt. garcia does not have waterfalls. it is steep and it has bugs and it's hot. he just looked at me. and told me that hiking with me was out of the question. somewhere after that the conversation dwindled to an end. from there we went on with the rest of our afternoon. then tonight on the way home, we're driving in silence. he says to me "honey, what are you thinking?" i honestly answer... "i was thinking that i really hope that someday soon we can try hiking together again. i know that it could be fun. we just need to try an easier, less steep trail. i was really excited to go hiking with you today. i'm sad. i hope that i didn't really scare you off from ever wanting to try to go hiking with me again." bless his sweet, little heart. he looks at me and squeezes my hand and says "of course we can try it again honey." i love him.

Happy Louis Girl!

Just a small update for those of you that read and are curious! I decided to purchase my Louis Vuitton purse about 2 weeks ago! I also decided to spoil myself and buy a matching wallet! So fun! I absolutely love them! They are adorable... and so much fun to use! I figure I deserve them! This is my first year teaching... my first real job... and I worked darn hard to get my degrees and to get this job... so why not treat myself to something special, right?! Something that I'll keep for a very long time! I think it's so much better than a Playstation 2 or a Mammoth Season pass... but then again, I'm not Eric, am I?! We all have our own ideas of what is worth spending money on! Treat yourself to something that you deserve! I did... it's so much fun and definitely worth it!