The Farmers Almanac, and dealing with drama.

Check out this Instagram photo that I took today :).

Today was a great day, except for the fact that I woke up extremely freezing cold!  I honestly cannot believe that it has been so chilly lately.  The summer was so hot, so I think the winter is going to be chillingly cold.  I haven't gotten my hands on a farmers almanac recently which is what I normally like to do, but I just have this hunch.  

Being that I live in New Jersey, I can truly say that we have all of the seasons tried and true.  I mean there are some places that just don't get each season in all of its form.  This year so far (which is almost over, OMG!), we have had an extremely mild winter from Jan-March/April.  From May-August, the weather was BEYOND hazy, hot and humid.  Now, as September approaches, the mornings and nights are getting chillier, the days are topping out at a brisk 75 degrees and fall is most definitely in the air.  

Thinking about the winter coming makes me sick though.  I really hate the cold which is kind of ironic because I was born in January.  I don't think the time you were born really has anything to do with that but the stigma always comes up in conversation.  The only thing I like about the cold weather is the fashion that comes with fall and winter, it's my absolute favorite.  NYFW just passed and I was just dying at what was coming out of the runways from almost every single designer for SS 13.  While this is true, I still can't wait to start wearing my riding boots.

I had work, it was my first day back after being on vacation for two weeks.  I cannot say that I was thrilled but people missed me!  I can't believe I walked in there and people were excited to see me, it was a really nice feeling.  I don't really know if I can take these people seriously or not because theres always so much drama at my work place and I really hate it.  It was just nice to see that some people were happy that I was back, take that as you wish.

Dealing with drama in the work place, or anywhere even, can be really hard.  I have a huge trust issue with almost every single person that I know.  There have been so many things going on in my life that I really don't know who to trust.  When it comes to getting older and knowing that you'll have to deal with drama in your life, just be strong and don't let anyone compromise who you are to be someone that you really aren't.  There is even going to be drama when you get older and you grow into your full time career.  Drama never really escapes you, even when you want to take on your own professional persona.

Aside from making sure that you remain true to yourself, there are a couple more things that you should probably do.  Before I started working where I do now, I never was the person who wanted to be involved with people who start drama and act like they know everything and nothing at the same time.  I hated those people, really despised them.  Honestly can you tell me that you act that stupid and pretend to be someone you are not all the time?  It just isnt worth it and its tiring of all things.

When I started working at my current location, I guess you could say I became "popular" because everyone knew who I was, I worked in a central location and a lot of things went through me and the people who I work with.  I still to this date feel forced into a lot of drama even though I am so passive and keep myself out of it at all times.  This is an example of how you get in the middle of it sometimes, but you just have to tell yourself its not worth it.  I am not going to lie, there have even been stupid rumors spread about me, but I know they aren't true, and that's all that matters.  The people that care about you and yourself, are the only ones that matter.  That's what I kept telling myself, and thats why I am so positive.

The day was short, and I came home, went for a run, and here I am watching, yep you guessed it, more 24.  As if I didn't say it enough, please watch the show if you never have.  We just started the third season and it is great.  The writing of the show is phenomenal and I don't want to go into it again, but you get the point!  Haha.  I just posted a facebook status saying, "If watching 24 was a job, I'd be a bajillionaire."

Okay, well this has been quite the lengthy post but I hope you guys were able to take that I had to say and turn it into something that makes sense to you.  Do you guys have problems with drama in the work place?  Anywhere else?  Send me a tweet and let me know, or leave comments below.  You can even do both :).

Candles galore, finally found boots and a stand for my iPad!

So my day was great.  Yesterday I was anticipating an amazing day and I have to say that it was pretty good.  I didn't get a chance to get to the Seafood Festival but thats because I was too busy shopping, so that makes me happy.  I went to the Bath and Body Works thats near my house because I wanted to keep myself away from the mall, but I ended up there anyway.  I did have something that I wanted to return to Forever 21.  Here is a picture of what my hair currently looks like (random, but I look like Alf Alfa, too funny not to share).

I got amazing candles that I was so excited about.  I don't know if I have mentioned them yet but there are only two candles that I really love.  The Eucalyptus Mint scent is my number one, all time favorite.  I don't really know how to describe it but I first purchased it when I was in B&BW picking up soaps one day.  I was looking for something that would alleviate stress and the sticker on the candle of the Eucalyptus Mint said that it would.  I purchased the candle because I liked the way that it smelled and it said that it would help stress and it ended up being absolutely amazing and became my all time favorite.

The other scent that I picked up was Autumn.  This is my favorite one of the moment.  Normally around this time the candles that come out are all the same.  I don't know, they all just smell like cinnamon or pumpkin and I don't love either.  I also don't want my room/house smelling like sweet things or pumpkins.  Am I the only one that feels this way?      I love something that reminds me that its fall, but isn't over powering.  This candle Autumn is great.  According to the Bath and Body Works website the scent is "autumnal scents of dark pomegranate, sweet red apple and woodsy fir balsam."  It may sound so simple, but the candle is something that I have never smelled before.

The best part about buying the candles?  A little surprise was that they were 2/$20!  I know that I mentioned it before, but this is my favorite sale.  I love the candles from B&BW so much so when they're on sale, thats the best part.  I started off with two candles (2/$20), every candle after that is $10 so I got another one which made my total $30.  I had a coupon from last time I was in so I got $10 off my purchase of $30 and only paid $20 all together.  Not only this, but they were running a promotion that said make a home fragrance purchase, and you get a free mini candle (normally $10), so I got another candle!  I ended up getting four candles all for about $22 after tax.

After Bath and Body Works, I headed to Old Navy.  I really didn't have an intention of buying anything in there because lately I haven't found anything like.  It's weird, but I was walking by because I wanted to go into Marshalls so I decided to stop into Old Navy.  I found these adorable boots!  I literally died and went to heaven because I have been looking for boots for the fall time sense the end of August when you're supposed to start seeing them and I haven't been able to find ANY!  The picture explains them in their entirety but they are a light tan that matches with literally everything.  I was going to get the darker brown ones but I figured that If I wanted to wear them with black leggings, this color would look better.  Last year when I was looking for boots, a lot of them in my size wouldn't fit over calves but sense I have lost the weight, they fit much better.  These are adorable and have little buckle detailing on the size and a small zipper on the inside.  The best thing?  They were on sale for $3o, originally $39.94.

The only other thing that I got was a stand for my iPad, it was only $5 that I got from Five Below (couldn't find it online).

Did you guys make any purchases today?  Tweet me a picture or let me know!

Waiting for sources, AP style love, and NJ Festival of the Sea!

Greetings!

I don't know why sources feel like they need to wait until literally the last second to get things back to you.  Maybe it's just their nature but I hate when they have no regard to anyone else.  Granted, I know that everyone is almost always busy, but it just makes things extremely hard.  I should stop complaining, okay I will.

Today was a good day.  For the past two days I have had the worst migraines.  When I get them, I get them good because my dad has had them all of his life.  What a great thing to inherit.  I literally came home from school and went right to bed both nights.  I watched a little bit of television here and there, but I could barely keep my head up.  I hate this feeling.  I often tend to get these headaches and migraines from allergies around this time so I was lucky that it only lasted two days this time.

I wish there were more blogs about print journalism majors.  I want to follow some so if anyone knows of any, please let me know.  I love hearing if other people have the same problems or same triumphs as me while im in school.  Newswriting was great the other night, I love the professor.  I guess its just because I love AP Style an writing/reporting so much that I think she is so interesting but it's just captivating.  I could probably edit things all day long even though I love writing over anything.

My two-week vacation has been phenomenal.  I am so happy that I did not have to go into that place for two weeks, literally amazing.  I even waited two weeks to get my paychecks to avoid going in there.  Does that tell you how much I hate it?  lol!  I cannot wait to get on with my life and leave that place for good.  I have had enough.

Anyway!  Something I wanted to do while I was on vacation was go to the beach for enjoyment.  During the summer, I work at a beach and thats the job that I love doing.  I never get a chance to go for enjoyment and I wanted to while I was on vacation from work but I never did.  Tomorrow is the last day of vacation and there are like three things that I want to do and one thing that I have to do: go to the beach, go to the seafood festival, go to the mall and then I have to food shop.

The seafood festival is amazing, it happens every year.  The event is so great because its like locals summer celebration.  There are some bennies that come down from North Jersey but there aren't like an overwhelming amount of foreign people if you know what im saying.  Although I said its the locals summer, its basically the welcome of fall.  The party takes place on Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant and all vendors come up and set up their booths. Each vendor sells something whether its food, small knick-knacks, holiday themed things.  There is literally everything you can think of:  Halloween decorations, candles, amazing kettle corn (that I will NOT be eating this year due to a diet), and so many more things.  The moral and spirit of the season is just always in the air all day long and the weather is usually beautiful so its just so fun.  The best part?  Its like two seconds from my house so I can ride my bike there.  There are so many events for kids like face painting, sand art, pony rides, an the VFW has a huge food area and theres a wine garden as well.  The celebration is my favorite, so much fun.

Find out more about the festival here.

I'll let you go for now.  What are you doing tomorrow?  I hope I get to the festival and to the mall, I want to take advantage of some sales.  Tweet me your plans for the weekend.

A couple of pictures.

Here are a couple of pictures from my day.  Sent me a tweet and let me know what you think.

Family time is the best time and watching 24.

My dad took his vacation the same week as I did. I don't think we really thought that was going to happen. I knew that we were going to try and go camping on the weekend of the September 15-16, but I don't think that's going to happen anymore. It's okay because we have been spending a lot of time together and that's really all I wanted to do.

My dad and I have actually been calling each other losers because we have been spending whatever free time that we have watching 24 all day long haha. Seriously this is the best television show in the entire world. Anyone who has seen it before can you agree with me? Well of course you can. If you haven't seen it, then go watch it on Netflix ASAP.

The writing is literally brilliant and the production is great. The show is about a branch of government called CTU which stands for Counter Terrorism Unit. Everything that this one special agent does happens in one day, 24 hours. Really you should watch it so you can understand how amazing it is.

School was good today, I only had one class. Check out this photo of my dad and I.

Follow me on twitter and send me a tweet @brittanyirvine.

Beautiful days, waiting forever, and Mango Tea.

It truly feels like its been years or something sense I have been off on a Sunday but its probably been about a year.  Throughout the summer, I work at the beach and the only time I would be off on a Sunday would be if it rains; needless to say, it never rains.  Enough of my sorrow.  I was only saying all of this because I am so happy and lucky to be off on such a beautiful day.  I don’t remember if I mentioned this in another one of my posts previously but I have two weeks of vacation per year and I am taking them back-to-back this year.  That=best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

The weather is phenomenal today, about 77 degrees but it feels colder.  I am the biggest summer girl that you will ever know but this year it’s a little bit different.  For the last half of July and the whole month of August I have been itching for summer to be over. 

Sense this is my last semester of my undergraduate degree, I want nothing more than to graduate and get a job.  I have always known, for my entire life, that I have wanted to be a journalist.  I love writing, reading, and news and always have.  Because of my passion for so long, the fact that I am so incredibly close makes me go absolutely insane that I cant get a job yet.  All I need to do is go to school for three and a half more months and then ill have that job, and I know that, but its just driving me insane.  Have you ever had any feeling like this?  They are honestly the worst in the entire world.

The reason this really is terrible is because these feelings consume my thoughts.  Whenever feelings that you cant do anything about consume your thoughts, its never easy to make them leave.  All you can do in this instance is just hang on.  In my instance especially, I have to tell myself that I only have three and a half months left and I have to be my absolute best during those months.  There is no question that ill be my absolute best because that’s always what I strive for, but reminding myself that I need to stay calm because im only three and a half months away, that’s what’s going to be the problem.

ANYWAY!  I didn’t mean to get so deep on you all there.  While I was on my run today, I smelled so many different things.  Usually when I am running I just smell barebecues because it has been the longest summer of my life.  Now, today while I was running I smelled barbecues (because its “locals summer” which means all the bennies are gone and we can finally enjoy summer), cinnamon and fall like things, cider and a whole bunch of different stuff.  I came home and went food shopping with my dad after my run, and picked up some things including my number, probably, two favorite tea: Mango Green Tea.

I seriously love this tea, its by Turkey Hill.  The best part about it is that its diet and there are no calories so you can drink any amount of it that you want.  Sometimes it can be dangerous but it really doesn’t matter because its delicious and not bad for you.  If I could talk about the tea for days, I really would hahah.

What are your thoughts about having to wait forever for something?  What is your favorite tea?  If you don’t like tea, whats your favorite beverage?  Let  me know the answer to these questions in the comments below or on my Twitter.  You can even do both!  The weekend is over, so bring on another week!  Have a good one everyone J.

Nutella, candles, and saving up.

Nutella.  NUTELLA!  I don’t know how I lasted this long in life without it.  Nutella is a very dangerous thing, but its amazing.  I was shopping about 2-3 weeks ago with my dad in Stop and Shop and saw it on the shelf.  It was so trendy so I never really wanted to try it (how hipstery of me), but boy was I mistaken.  Sense then, I purchase like two more containers of it and I, as well as my family, love it.  Needless to say, as soon as this last one is gone, we will not be buying it again until Thanksgiving or something.

Happy weekend everyone!  I am on vacation from work so I was off this whole day and the whole week.  Another thing I have neglected to say is that I took the two vacations that I get from my job, back to back this year.  I have two weeks in a row!  Seriously, this is the best feeling in the entire world because there is nothing better than two weeks, work free.  All day, my plan was to go shopping and that is what I did.  I heard that Macy’s was having a huge sale but I went and didn’t find anything amazing, only $58 Chanel Foundation that works amazing on my skin and I didn’t purchase it because, well, it was $58. 

After I was done in Macy’s, I went into the rest of the mall and found myself in Bath and Body Works looking at the candles.  This is normally what happens.  I love the candles there and they are on sale almost all the time.  Either the three-wick candles are 2/$20 or the smaller ones with only one wick are 2/$10.  Last week, I picked up three candles actually because I had a coupon for $10 off your purchase of $30 or more.  I got three candles that would have originally been $60, for only $20.  Enough math.

After that, I went to a couple more stores and I didn’t get anything.  I’m actually okay with this because I really should be saving more money than I am spending.  Granted, I do need clothes because of all the weight that I have lost.  I will have to take a break on the spending though because I really want to make a dream come true that I have been dreaming about for a long time.  I want to move to LA.  This dream has become a closer reality when I just recently started talking to an old friend that I have known for a while but moved away some years ago.  She had said that she is moving to California in May when she graduates and I told her that I would come with her.  Needless to say, I cant wait to make this dream more of a reality.

Im watching some 24 right now with my dad so I think im going to let you go.  I love this show, its my all time favorite.  Have you guys ever heard of 24, and do you like Bath and Body Works candles (My favorite of all time is Eucalyptus Mint)?

Follow me on Twitter and let me know, here.

Expression, creating change in your life, and politics.

There’s a lot to be said about expressing feelings.  It is not always easy to express the way you’re feeling, but I learned this morning that it is way more than worth it.  I don’t necessarily want to go into what I have been through in my life in this post, but it has been a lot.  In life, there really is no time to waste when it comes to cherishing people in your life that you know will be there for you at all times.

When something happens with someone close to you, I understand the time needed to cool down and get some space at first, but never let that time be that long.  The reason?  It really is not worth it to risk a relationship with someone so solid in your life over a momentary lapse or argument.

Today was a solid day other than that argument, but I did plea to get away to my friend.  She and I plan to visit LA in May, but I really want to go sooner.

  I changed my room around a little bit.  Its refreshing to have a change once in a while and I enjoy making things a little different every now and then.  My room is fairly small and the upstairs of my house is a cape.  I love this setting because it reminds me of an old house in Ocean Grove or something and it makes me happy sometimes.  The one thing about my room though is that it gets extremely cold during the winter.  Then again, that is what my heated blanket is for. J  Do you guys enjoy change?

Classes were great today, it was a short day.  I really think it was a great thing to take my vacation on the first week of school.  Everything was so hectic between taking a story for the paper (everyone will hate me for the rest of the semester now because I was like basically drilling my sources), and signing papers for my internship and getting in touch with people.  If I had to be at work simultaneously, I think I would go insane. 

I had Presidential Campaigns and Cultures of the World.  Cultures of the World is so annoying, I really cant understand why I must take a GU (Global Understanding) class in my major, which is Journalism.  I can understand why they might want me to take geography, but they don’t.  I don’t really know why.

Presidential Campaigns was great.  I love the class already and this was only the second time that we met.  The teacher is great and literally teaches the class conversation style, which I think identifies with all of the students way better than any other teaching style.  The topics in the classroom are great too because it forces the students to become involved with the presidential election and campaign trails.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I dedicate my life and all my extra time to politics.  Its actually quite sad that I postpone my social life for the Republican National Convention, debates, news reports, and important events of the like.  Do you guys like politics?  I think it is way more than like for me.

If you'd like, tweet me answers to some of my questions and follow me, here.

Sizing up the competition, first impressions of professors, and books for college.

I am such a child.  Why?  Well wonder no more, my breakfast in this picture describes it all.

I LOVE this stuff.  Yes, I know I am 22 years old but these Go Go Squeeze Applesauce pouches they are amazing.  I heard they come in all different flavors but I just purchased these from Costco and you know what happens when you buy things from Costco… Everything is ginormous. 

Here we are again in yet another classroom, different from the previous, waiting for the teacher to show up.  I can’t really understand why on the first day of class meeting, the teachers don’t come early, sometimes they’re even late.  I know that even if I was teaching fifth grade I would probably be there at least a little bit earlier to make sure that all “beginning of the semester affairs” were in order.  Just as I type this, shes walking in the door.  The class is Editorial Writing, the teacher seems very serious.

I am back!  The class was great.  You know, there is something to be said about how a class will be when you see the teacher walk into the room.  I tend to judge the teacher fairly quickly because I get scared and want to kind of size them up.  The first thing I look at of them is what they are wearing.  Let’s be honest here, you can tell what kind of a person they are and how they will be, just by looking at their outfit.  For instance, she came in wearing this business suit that was blue.  This says to me that she is serious, professional.  This is of course great, but very nerve racking.

Next, I tend to look at their hair/whether they have glasses or not.  Does anyone else do this or am I a total whacko?  Well, please don’t answer that.  She had very short hair, almost a crew cut., eeeeeek.  I don’t really know what to say about that but its whatever.  Sometimes if teachers have their hair in something like a French twist or a bun, I get nervous.  The hair this teacher was sporting, I really wasn’t too worried about.  If the teacher has glasses, it sometimes gets me a little bit more worried, this one did.

After she set her things down on the desk, I instantly became less nervous for some reason.  She addressed the class and was very soft spoken.  I was surprised because for some reason, this took me off guard.  Before I came into the classroom I had checked eCampus (an online learning extension from the classroom), to see if she had posted a syllabus, and she did.  From that, I figured her out to be a little bit taller than she was in real life, very bubbly and not so serious.  Boy, I was wrong.

Overall, shes a very nice woman.  Her first name is one that’s in my family for someone whom I adore so much therefore she had a lot to live up to.  She was so short and quiet.  She started the class by asking us what we though Editorial Writing was and how we see it every single day.   Brb, another class.

Conveys message (medium)

Lots of people (mass medium)

The above to lines were things that he told us to write down.  I don’t know why because if you don’t know that a medium conveys a message and a mass medium conveys a message to a lot of people, then you have an issue.  Sorry im not sorry.  The class was great, this guy is an awesome teacher.

I am now sitting here in Barnes and Noble (Starbucks near by, yes!) and writing a little bit.  I do have some homework to do but I haven’t gotten the books yet, they are being ordered and delivered by latest Friday.  How do you guys deal with homework in the first week and not having books yet?  I would love to know.  Honestly, this is the first time that books are mandatory in my first week of school, normally they aren’t.  This is my last semester in college and I have never had that instance come about.  Oh well, you learn something new every single day. 

Ill be sitting here for a while because I don’t have another class until 725.  I'll just eat my nectarine.  This is really annoying because my last class ended at 1245.  Thursdays are going to be rough for the rest of the semester but im graduating when its over and that’s all that matters.  I’m watching some YouTube videos but I wish I could take a nap, that’s not happening.

What are your thoughts about sizing up the competition, first impressions of professors and buying textbooks for college?  Are any of you in your last semester of college like I am?  Send me a tweet, here, and let me know!

First Class Meetings and Doing Things Yourself..

I spend so much of my time waiting for the internet to come to my computer here.  I don’t know why I do, because personally I think that I pay so much to come to this school that I should be able to open my laptop and the internet should be screaming at me in the face.  I mean, I don’t know how aggressive I really want to be with this anger but nonetheless, its still there.

Other than that annoyance, the day is going pretty well I think.  I mean, my day practically just started because I have a class at 10 and I am in the classroom right now at 930.  I like being early for some reason because it gives me that sense of, “Oh, I am doing something right.”  Do you ever feel like you need that validation?

I don’t know, sometimes I do.  Cough, all the time, cough.  You know what the weird thing about it is though, I never ask for validation of any one else, just myself.  I think that’s the cool part of my personality.  I hate when people are constantly asking for validation from every single person they know.  I mean, I know that its some sort of insecurity, but it really can get brutal constantly hearing it. 

Once in a while its okay to question yourself or someone else about the direction that you’re taking or a task that you are trying to accomplish but there is no need to depend on every single person in your life for answers to your quite simple questions.  I don’t know, but if you take a look at the things that are around you and you take a deep breath, you might find your own answers without having people you know, answer them for you.  The best part about doing that?  The feeling.  The feeling that you get from accomplishing something yourself is phenomenal, especially when you do something that you never thought you could; on your own!

Sidebar:  I was starting to get nervous because people weren’t coming into the classroom at its almost 945, but just as I was checking to see if the internet was up yet (-______-), someone walked in.  I have yet to say anything to her.  Why are all first class meetings so awkward?  They really never have to be.

Anyway!  I got a sense of accomplishment when I replaced my own printer ink the other day.  I don’t know, there was just something about it that I was scared of for some reason.  I took it upon myself to just try and do it without asking my father for the assistance that I knew he would provide for me.  I also knew that if I asked him for help with it, he would just do it for me and I would never learn.  This always happens.  This may sound like something so simple (changing printer ink), but its something that I was legitimately scared of doing, and its something that I ended up accomplishing on my own.  The answers to the questions, in this case, were on the instructions manual and also with my dad, but I chose the instructions manual and I accomplished it myself.  You can bet your bottom dollar that I tweeted about it.

I will have you know that the internet still isn’t up. 

Here is your assignment:  try something new.  Try something without the help of someone else.  Maybe have it be something that you are afraid of doing.  When you accomplish them, post them in the comments section!

:)

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