Passport? CHECK!

It's official.. In ONE WEEK, I'll be relocating to Rotterdam, Holland!! I'm very very excited to leave boring CT and although it'll be bittersweet to leave the people I love, I'm happy to leave the nouns (people, places and things) I no longer care for and have outgrown.. avoiding them will be a lot easier when I'm 3,000 miles away!

So I fly out the 4th of March (next Thursday) and there's such a mix of emotions running through me. The strongest is happiness but I am also a bit nervous, as I don't have things all planned out and I have a feeling things won't be as easy as I'm hoping. Nonetheless, I have no fear about my decision. I'll get to be with the one I love, be around the same amazing people that helped me fall in love with Europe, continue my traveling expeditions (I'll be posting videos on Youtube this time, be on the look out!), being adventurous yet responsible, and doing things that most people only dream of but never do.

I bought a hot pink bag today that goes perfectly with my mood. I also decided to get myself this camera:

What a sexy camera.. just like it's future owner.

Mic and I will also be traveling to Madrid from the 12th-15th of March to get away from Holland (even though I'll have only been there for a week) but I've never been to Madrid so I'm looking forward to it. A good friend of mine, Mayra, is living with her boyfriend near there so we'll meet up and double date.

That's all for now, cheerio!

so put another song on the jukebox baby

Lately I've been in the greatest of moods. Things are going well for me.. I have my family, my health, my love and I got a manicure Monday and LOVE this new color! I went with my mom and my sisters which was fun, and I'm taking my grandmother this weekend for her birthday. I meant to talk about this before, but fortunately for my family and me, none of our immediate family was harmed in the earthquake that ravaged Haiti. I'm very grateful for that because the images that were plastered all over the tv, magazines, newspapers brought tears to my eyes. The thought of all those children being orphaned and having nowhere to go breaks my heart. I'm lucky to have such compassionate parents who despite their heavy workload, are looking in to ways to bring more of my family to the US, via adoption and helping them with legality issues. I support it 120% and will help any way I can.

I've been in a very giving mood these past few weeks. I spent Valentine's day with my brother Matt, doing damage at the Stamford Mall and somehow he managed to convince me to buy some expensive sneakers for him, treat him to lunch and take him to see that Percy Jackson movie- which was actually quite good. I bought my mom a new dress, my dad a few dress shirts and of course, lots of new delightful things for me! Is it sad that my favorite purchases so far involve Dove bodywash and socks?

I've been working a lot, and rather strange, hours which is fantastic. Not only am I making money, but it's helping time to fly by. I'm very excited for the month of March and the direction my life is heading in. As the days go by, I get increasingly happier knowing that soon I'll be reunited with my Mimmo and it doesn't get any better than that <3

Turning 24 was easier than I thought...

Normally I count down the days to my birthday and plan some kind of big get together but this year, I honestly didn't care about it at all. It was great to turn 21 because then I could finally start using my own ID. 22 was great because I'd become a seasoned veteran of legal aged drinking and could act all nonchalant about it. 23 is my favorite number and I brought that year in with a BANG (ask Damaly for the details, she tells the story fantastically!) Next year I'll be a 1/4 of a century old then at 26 I'll have my nervous breakdown on account of being closer to 30. 24 just didn't count.

Perhaps it was also because I got to see my Mimmo this weekend which completely overshadowed the joyous event that is usually my birthday. After writing each other everyday for 75 days and having to settle for seeing each other via Skype, it was great to be able to see him and do all the sappy crap couples do. We made all kinds of future plans including a two week road trip from Denver to California and spent 2 and a 1/2 blissful days together that I hold dear to my heart.

I learned so much about myself this past year and I'm pleased with the person I am. I know the people & things I do and don't want in my life, the things that are most important to me and what I want for myself. Oddly enough, I still don't have a clear cut plan for what I want to do exactly but when I see myself in 5 years, I'm smiling and I'm happy and my bangs have finally grown out. There's money in my bank account, food in the fridge and my favorite buttana in the whole wide world sitting next to me, spoon-feeding me shrimp & mushroom risotto and he's wearing some kind of hat.