The Crushing feeling of reality

If you are a recent college graduate like me, have you taken a look at your student loans? Or have you pretended to be blissfully unaware of the debt that is now looming over you? I've been somewhat proactive about looking at my future debt, but haven't done much else with it. I regret not paying on the interest when I'd get those tiny $100 bills offering me the option to pay the interest that had accrued during the previous year of school. Now my interest is well over $1,000 and I wondered what it would be like otherwise? My debt is looming over me, guaranteeing to be close to $90,000 after I get my masters, and at this point, what am I supposed to do about it? It's funny because when I was in undergraduate, I paid at least $5,000 out-of-pocket each year for tuition in addition to the stafford loans. This upcoming year, tuition is cheaper than it was at my undergraduate, so loans cover the entire sum of the tuition. That doesn't make me feel much better. I'm sitting here, going to be basically taking a pay cut in half of what I made on my taxes last year, and supposed to get by as an adult, with more expenses than ever before. I have to pay for rent, internet, gas, electricity, and anything extra I might need, like textbooks or groceries. Now I admit, I am very lucky. I don't pay my own phone bill, car insurance, medical insurance, or really any of that stuff, but life is still very tight for me. This semester I am getting a refund from my student loans because I wasn't sure how much tuition was going to be for me due to some very large discrepancies on the school's website. With this refund, I'd love to put a cushion between me and homelessness, but I am plagued with the very real issue of wanting to get a head start on my loans. I'd love to push that debt down $10,000, and start paying on the parent plus loan that has the highest interest,although I think with some changes that were made to the student loan policies, one of the Stafford loans has the highest interest rate. In any case, I'm just conflicted. Use the money to pay off student loans, or use the money to live. I think I'm going to try to be smart and start paying on those loans. I think in the long run it will help me out, and if I'm really lucky, I can get an assistantship in the upcoming semester and I'll have to pay very little for school, and take all the extra loan money that I've already accepted, and just use that to pay off the highest interest loan and make out even better than I would have been before!

Here's to hoping my debt doesn't consume me!!

Tell me about your college debt story? Are you in repayment yet? Has that been difficult to handle? Did you make it out of college without debt? I'd love to hear from you!!!

Thanks for reading.

~Amanda

Changes.

Thinking about this summer has left me wishing that it would never end. I know I have to go back to the real world, but I'm honestly scared shitless. The past three nights I've laid awake, listening to Scott snoring thinking about the next 2 years of my life. Graduate school, something that I can't say I've always wanted, but something I've been wanting ever since I realized what I wanted to do. I'm a little bummed that I'm not venturing into a PhD program, just to stick it out for the next 5-7 years, but I'm also nervous and worried about all the 'what ifs'. I have all these questions about master's theses, being the best student that I can be, teaching next semester, where the parking structure is, what textbooks do I need, do I have a real chance of continuing and going on to the PhD program, can I have a life outside of this program, can I get married during this program, can I start a family in this program, do I have what it takes? I mean I just don't know what I'm getting into, and I hope I have what it takes. All of this has me overwhelmed and thinking about my personal statement, something that I hated because it was so limiting, all of these rules about what you should and shouldn't say, that always had me questioning, "Isn't this about me? Shouldn't this be an honest depiction of what I want and why graduate school is a part of that?" So last night, in my sleep, I wrote a new personal statement, one that I wanted to write here for all to read, to know what's really inside of my heart and head... Here goes nothing...

Thinking about writing a personal statement, I had a list of no-nos inside of my head. Don't say you want to practice, don't say you want to help people, make it interesting, but don't give too much away, this all makes me want to call a big BS on the entire thing. If you, Mr or Mrs. admissions advisor at clinical psychology program, want a script, I could give you that, but I won't. Why? Because I like to think I am an individual, and all these no-nos are exactly what I wish to write about, so maybe I'm a rebel, or I'm just asking to be rejected, but I think that I'm honest. Graduate school is scary, I'm afraid of it and if I could avoid the entire thing, I just might, but I need it for my future. Sure I could work somewhere and have a different life, but I wouldn't be truly happy with it because I have goals and dreams for my future that are in reach, not like those dreams of being a pop star or famous athlete, these ones are really here and I am able to achieve them. My dream is to be a psychologist and not only that, but to eventually have a private practice. You see, when I was in college, I went through some turmoil wondering what I wanted to do with my life. I started college as a musical theater major thinking life would be a ball if I could perform on the stage and be famous and rich, but then the real world set in along with a sense of purpose and I decided to try something else. I was set on being a lawyer and thought that a psychology major would fit that well because I could really get into the head of others, then I realized I wasn't cut out for Torts. Next, I thought, 'Hmmm, well I like psychology, why not psychiatry', with some research, I quickly shut that one down, I have other life goals beside spending the next 12 years in school. Finally, I researched what I could do with a psychology degree, and it turns out, basically all roads lead to more education. I decided to do some extracurriculars, tried working with underprivaledged kids, realized I didn't enjoy it, but I did find my niche in trauma patients in the form of rape victims, and then working on a suicide hotline, I got a taste for the helping people part. The phone is so limiting and I want to be someone to help others help themselves. I want to provide therapy to those people who really need it and to make them realize that they are worth my time. I think my biggest goal, something that won't happen right out of graduate school is to have a thriving private practice. Not only that, but to have a weekly pro-bono day of treatment. This is because I've talked to those people who really need help, and can't get it because they are limited by finances, and they have no where to turn. I want to be that person that helps the single mother of 3, who could never go to therapy because she has chooses feeding her children every day over helping herself, or the man who's been rejected by the VA because they won't recognize his PTSD. I want to help those people.  Sure, I could easily go work for some non-for-profit, but I've seen the jaded therapists there because they've been underappreciated, and I don't want that for me. Now I know, I should have told you about how much I love research and how that is where my future lies, but it isn't, and it wouldn't be true. I do enjoy research, a good data set can make me salivate, and it is a extraordinary feeling to have significant results or to have a horde of people surrounding you presentation at a conference, but it is not my passion. I enjoy it, I'm good at it and I know it will be a part of my graduate experience, but not when I get into the workforce. I'm not going to lie to you, or write about something that isn't true, but if you get to know me, you'll see that passion I have shine through. I like to think and hope that this personal statement goes to the top of the list because its unique, honest, and brave. Maybe it will and maybe it won't, but at the very least, I've told my story. Not the cookie-cutter story I've been told to write. Mine.


There you have it.

Thanks for reading.

~Amanda

I'm back!

Hey Everyone!

So I've been thinking about this blog and what I could possibly write about right now. I'm not really doing anything... short of cooking dinner and watching One Tree Hill on Netflix, so what do I write about? And now, I finally have an idea! 

FASHION!

It may not seem incredibly important to some, but this happens to be a real issue for me, as a twenty-two year old woman in transition. I am going from college to graduate school, where I have a teaching position. In college, I basically lived in yoga and sweatpants, as do most students when passing those exams are more important than waking up early to do your hair. But now, I want things to be different. I want to be taken seriously, especially because I could have students in my class that are the same age or even older than me. I want to command authority and professionalism, and I want to look good doing it. 

Now the business suit is good, and I have 2 of them for job interviews and such, however, they seem a little overly formal to me, and I'd like to find a happy medium.

So I made a list when I went shopping with my mom for my birthday last weekend. And here it is...

1. Dark jeans
2. Navy Blazer
3. Pencil Skirts
4. Nude Pumps
5. Black flat boots
6. Brown Flat boots
7. Flats
8. Cardigans
9. Scarves
10. Nice tops

And then I went shopping. Some of my favorite purchases are ones, I'd love to show all of you! So I'm going to post some photos!

• A Cute top that goes well with jeans or dress pants

http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?expcsl=1098695%7C%7C&productId=20255366

• Sexy, but comfortable, nude pumps

http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?expcsl=1106975%7C%7C&productId=18971716

• A Great flowy skirt, something  different than the typical pencil skirt

http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?expcsl=1082313%7C%7C&productId=11222858

• A Cute Blazer (Not Navy, but slightly patterned, and less structured than a suit jacket)

http://www.lanebryant.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&x=-1132&y=-53&keyword=ponte

• JEANS!!!

http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=1437_8305_939&catId=cat20110

http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=1435_8147_903&catId=cat20112

• Cardigans

http://www.ae.com/web/search/index.jsp?Ntt=1340-6033

It wouldn't let me get a better picture of this!
http://www.hm.com/us/product/08406?article=08406-E

• Cute Flats

http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0419_2933_107

I'm still searching for some boots, and a few extra pieces, however, I have a ton of ideas from another blog that I found through pinterest. I'm giving you a link to the outfits page of my own pinterest!

Happy Pinning!                                 http://pinterest.com/wcsinger13/cute-outfits/

Also, check out the other 2 blogs today because I've got some cool crafts, and some yummy food ideas for you!

~Amanda

It's been an even longer while!

I know it's been some time since I have posted on this blog and that's because I just got back from vacation with my family in Gatlinburg. I had a lot of fun, and I promise I'm going to get back into the swing of blogging. At this time, I'm going to be pretty busy for the next week with some visitors and a birthday! (Mine)

So anyway, I'll get back on next week, maybe with something more interesting!


Any Ideas?!

BTW - Keep a look out on my Craft blog, as August is Craft month! Now I don't have anything yet, but I will starting next week also.

Thanks for reading!

~Amanda

It's been a while!

Hey there! 

I'm back from my internet-less vacation, and I must admit I am slightly, er, highly addicted to technology, specifically internet. It was somewhat torturous once I used all of my data on my cell phone. However, what's past is past and now I have internet again and can once again blog to my hearts content! 

Update: 

We FINALLY got power, and the apartment is a balmy 76 degrees. :)

I'm trying to decide what to write about... This week has been an interesting roller coaster of fun. Learning a new city, and unpack boxes upon boxes to make this new place our home. I say that last part with utter excitement... 'Our Home' couldn't be a more truthful description of this new apartment. Scott and I have been living together for about a year now, but this is the first time it's really felt like our's. We're shopping for furniture together, spending time together before he goes to work and really just making an effort to make this place look and feel nice and homey, and that feeling is amazing. I cannot wait until we finally have a couch, and have all the boxes unpacked!

So I have been taking pictures of all the restaurants we've been eating at, and this post I want to discuss. This is especially great if you are going to be in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area and want some recommendations!

1. Sidetrack Bar and Grill              http://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/

• We went here on our first night out with my parents and some of Scott's family. This place was hopping, literally full of people. They had a number of accolades and a typical burger and fry menu.
• Food took a long time to come out, but that was probably because it was a packed house that night. As a result, the food was slightly cold by the time it got to us, but it was delicious.
• Cool Extra: You can season your french fries special! They were yummy!

2. The Bomber Restaurant                                 http://www.bomberrestaurant.net/

• This little hole in the wall was known for their 'Bomber Breakfast', a whopping meal with 4 eggs, 1 pound of break fast meat and 1 pound of hashbrowns... What do you know, Scott had to take on this challenge. 

• I looooved the hashbrowns! The flavor was amazing, and I cannot wait to come back here! 

3. Aubree's Pizzeria and Grill                 http://www.aubrees.com/

• As you can see we got a deep dish meat lovers pizza and it was amazing. The cheese bread is yummy and our waitress was really nice and accommodating
• Cool Extra: Flavor your pizza crust!! OMG Delicious and awesome. We got ours half and half because it wasn't that busy on a Sunday at 5pm, but sooo good.  

There you have it... Three places to try in Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area. Enjoy!

~Amanda

The Struggles of Moving

You know, as far as moving goes, I'd say we did everything right. We called all of our major utilities, changed our address, and took care of all the major things, and still things have gone wrong.

Now I understand that things go wrong, but it seems a major issue for us as we are now into day 3 of our problems. 

Electricity

Now way back when I was in high school, there was a huge wind storm, which cause most of the city to lose power for 1-3 weeks. This was somewhat miserable, but it was September, and we were able to make it work. This was not the current problem, however, our problem is a singular issue.

The Issue

The issue spawns from the previous tenant, and their irresponsible behavior of not canceling their electric and not continuing to pay the bill. Due to their delinquent account, the power was shut off by the electric company. The apartment complex, did not take the necessary steps to ensure that the power was switched back into their name, since the tenants have been out of the apartment for over 2 months. Finally, when our power was supposed to be on, it wasn't. So here we are, at some McDonald's in Michigan enjoying the internet and air conditioning instead of unpacking. When the issue was brought to our attention, we called the company and have been given the run around and its now Monday and we won't have power until maybe 4:30pm... Hopefully, we don't have to sleep in the heat again tonight.


Frustration and tension is high. Hopefully, this is just a bad start to a wonderful adventure. 

Next Post will be about the wonderful food places we have found as a result of our powerless apartment.

~Amanda

Rainbow Vodka Slush

I was unsure as to whether I should post this in the Weekly Recipe section or not, because it's hardly food, so I decided to post it here. I was wandering through the maze that is Pinterest and I found this pin that took me to the blog of Ramlings from the Sunshine State, which showed me how to make this awesome rainbow slush in a triffle bowl with freeze pops. So I decided to test it out, and post my experience on my blog. Now the original instructions were made for a child's birthday party, however, I decided to add some 'adult' ingredients and I'll be serving this at Scott and I's going away party next week! 

To View the Original instructions, click above, I want to give credit to the master mind in this instance!

So I started with 100 Freeze Pops, and put them into bowls. I had 6 different colors and they were distributed fairly evenly. I originally had frozen them when I bought them, but I realized after the fact, that it may have been easier to leave them unfrozen and pour them in one at a time and freeze each layer, in any case, I had to let them thaw in the first place so I should have just left them liquid. I added one shot of Smirnoff's Melon flavored vodka, its just something I got on sale and I didn't feel like going out to buy rum.

I started off with the grape flavor, and I didn't like how chunky it seemed to be, plus I couldn't use all of it, there was too much. So like any smart mind, I decided to let it melt completely so it wouldn't be so chunky, and then I became impatient and put it in the Magic Bullet, and blended it all into a very soft slushie.

As you can see, I did that for the pink flavor too until Scott said that was a waste of time because I still had to wait for the grape to freeze. So anyway, I proceeded to put the grape liquid into the freezer and let it completely freeze, which takes a while.

In the mean time, my other flavors were sitting out, just melting.

Next, I added the pink and then the green and all was good until I became overly impatient with the orange. I poured the orange on top of the green before the green was completely frozen through and the orange somehow put a hole in the green and it immersed itself into the pink and purple, so I don't think I'll be seeing the orange. I know they say patience is a virtue, but damn I just wanted it to be finished now!

Anywho, I proceeded to add the red because I wanted light and dark colors alternating and orange screwed me over, finally, topping the rainbow with the lovely red. So now it will just sit in my freezer for a couple of days until my party. But it did make me think of how to change this recipe to fit holidays. Think, a red, white and blue one, with Kamakazi shots, I mean seriously?! YUM! Or a green and red one for Christmas, oooh and a orange and black one for Halloween. I think it could be fairly easy to make, even without freeze pops, instead maybe Kool-Aid? In any case, this gives me some ideas!!! And I LOOOVE ideas!

So all in all, the rainbow slush turned out quite nicely, I'm just going to leave it out for about an hour before the party so it can get a nice slush going.

A Few Changes to make from the original blog post.

• The Freeze Pop can be unfrozen, this might save some time.
• Add alcohol, I mean this is obvious.
• I made the freeze pop completely melted instead of chunky, this might change the quality.

Don't forget to be PATIENT!

UPDATE!!!!!

So I made the slush, but unfortunately realized how difficult it was when we finally sat it out to drink. 

1. The slush was too solid to make a slush.
2. We waited for hours for it to even be soft enough to put into a glass.
3. As it melted, it all turned a dark purple.
4. Didn't look as cool as expected.
5. The trifle leaked tons of condensation.

The saddest thing for me was my high expectations, but failed attempt I might try to follow the future directions more closely, but I might also leave this idea at home. 

~Amanda