Little Somethings of Me: Confession

My "Little Somethings of Me" posts are created to help me communicate with my readers. I often feel like when I reach a blog I either feel as though I know entirely too much about that person or not at all enough. Although I still like a bit of anonymity, as I think all bloggers have their right to. I do like to share with you all what happens in my life and events that have shaped who I am. I know that when I read posts that are honest and when I can see the blogger shine through are the ones I relate most to. 

My confession isn't dark and deep but it is something indeed that I need to get off my chest.

Have you ever felt so nervous about something that you almost avoid it at all costs? Well I've found myself at that exact impasse with my essay application to graduate school. I know that I will eventually get it done but I don't know that it will be excellent or even good. And that is my main fear, because I know so much rests on it. I know my happiness depends on whether or not I receive an acceptance letter. I know this letter could determine what I do for the rest of my life. And I know that a big deal of my fears and anxiety over this have to do with my warped view of success. Sometimes I see small failures as large blows on my overall success. I hope that in confessing this to you all and putting it into writing will help me finally face my fears. 

Have you ever felt this way? Or have you ever examined your views on success and what it means to you?

Thank you for stopping in!

-Lo

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY! Only a couple days left!

And this is to be expected...

I've been living in a town I do not have any claims to for over a year now.

I haven't made any new friends in which I can explain my latest embarrassing moment to over steaming coffee.

And this is to be expected...?

I have settled for a job that is less than what I have expected for myself. 

Feeling as though four years destined for a career that I find I no longer have a serious connection to.

I have worked so hard.

I have placed so much emphasis on success. 

Sometimes I feel like a stranger.

What I thought was welcoming in not knowing a single face has become just the opposite. 

And this is to be expected...?

I toil my time with books that smell of large rooms that house other books that lay on top of one another for too many years. 

I sew and craft and blog. 

And I am signing my name to a school, and asking those that know my academic merit to write me letters of my being of strong intellect and determination. And I am stuck on an essay I have not written yet. But this puts me to some use. This makes me feel of more value. Somehow. 

And this is to be expected...?

And each day I come home from watching wild children run across wood chips to jump and hang from instruments painted in bright colors. Who sharpen sticks. Who play knock out and wall ball. Who laugh at silly jokes. Who sometimes do not get the concept of rounding and who scribble u's that always end up looking like a's. Who run to me and hug me before they leave. Who make me pictures of creatures and familiar TV characters. Who make me smile because they can be very sweet.

And this is to be expected...?

I come home to see a smiling and very handsome face and a welcoming embrace. A "how was your day?" Followed by a tickle fight. A lick from the dog. And a purr from the cat.  

And this the reason I came to a place where faces were unrecognizable. A place to call home because of one other person. And to hope that all things that I value will come to me in due time. Because I have worked hard. And I am a good person. I deserve happiness beyond the happiness of love. 

I tell him my embarrassing moments over a steaming cup of coffee.

And this is to certainly be expected. 

-Lo

A Future

So I am indeed a college graduate, although I may not look it above. I graduated from the University of Vermont with a BA in Secondary Education & English and I minored in Special Education. I'm currently trying to get everything settled for this Spring to attend a year long certificate program at a local community college for Graphic Design as well as a graduate program for Speech Pathology at a local University for fall 2012. I am also studying for an exam in November for teacher certification.

I know that I no longer want to be an English teacher. I mean if a job came up I wouldn't refuse it. But it isn't the ideal job for me anymore. I so badly want to pursue a career as a Speech Pathologist because I've always been drawn to helping the students that need the most help. I couldn't imagine a classroom of 30 in which I wouldn't truly be able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with. I've realized that I would love to work one-on-one or in small groups with students. I also am incredibly fascinated with speech and the science and process behind it. (I've taken some prerequisites, that I've loved). I really wish that I had gone into Speech before but hopefully my background in Education will give me a "leg up" on the rest of my competition. It is a really tough program to get into, only 40 of 200 applicants are accepted. Yikes. So I've been trying to read as much as possible. As well as continue to think about my graduate essay and get everything ready for my application. I'm already nervous and it isn't due until February (I'm actually making sure everything is in by January...what a good nerd I am). 

Anywho does anyone have any words of wisdom? I could sure use some in calming my nerves about this whole business. 

Thanks so much for stopping in and seeing what I've been up to lately!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway too, only a few more days to enter!

-Lo

Little Somethings & Printed Peaks Videos

Litte Somethings By Little Lo Hood from Casey Geraghty on Vimeo.

Printed Peaks Part 1 from Lo Hood on Vimeo.

So yesterday my sweet boy was nice enough to go with me and help me a ton on getting a new banner photo. He made the first video. It came out really great & it was really nice of him to make it. I made the second video, which didn't come out really great but it is more of a thank you to my dad for being so helpful! :)

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! 

-Lo

Little Somethings of Me - A Love Story

Previous Little Somethings of Me..for catching up:

Little Somethings of Me - 10 Things I Miss About Vermont

Little Somethings of Me - Tid Bits

I have moved from my once and always home, Vermont, to be with my true love. I believe that is where I left off. But first lets go back about two years. I first met my sweet boy at a birthday party of a mutual friend. The party was incredibly fun with swimming, laughing, and dancing. It was a barefoot summer and I finally felt like I started hanging out with people who I really enjoyed being around. I remember telling my mom all about the party and how I had met so many new people. I remember describing my now sweet boy as the guy version of me. I was happy to have a new friend.

During this time, I was still in school and he would make visits to Vermont to see his friends (who were also my friends). But soon he no longer made the visits to see his friends but to see me. 

He would come up for weekends but weekends turned into weeks. 

It would take him 4-5 hours to get to me.

I always hated talking on the phone but ended up talking to him one night for five hours. 

Communication was filled with calls, texts, ichat, instant messages, handwritten notes & sticky notes.

He sent me flowers for no reason at all.

I had never realized that boyfriends could be so nice.

We would go out to dinner and just stare at each other. As silly as that may sound, it's true. I crafted things for him constantly and worked hours on little art projects for him. I even once made him a teleporter out of products from a Re-store. We kind of fell in love instantly and I suppose it is true when people tell you that you will "just know" when you meet the right person. So after not even a full year of dating I moved in with the sweet boy after graduating from college. 

We've shared our first Christmas together. 

We've gotten tattoos together. We both have sparrows. 

We've shared lots of laughs together.

And we've been through a lot together and we will continue to support one another. He is the sweetest boy I have ever met. I am the happiest and luckiest girl. 

I hope this post wasn't too terribly sappy for you but it did almost make me tear up. I do hope you've enjoyed getting to know me a little better! 

Thanks for stopping in!

-Lo

Little Somethings of Me - 10 Things I Miss About Vermont

I am a North East gal and have endured 22 Vermont winters and soaked in the serene Vermont sunshine. I grew through trials and tribulations in a very small and quaint town like any other teenager and graduated in a class of 200. And instead of my intent of moving far away when college came around I merely traveled a meager 45 minutes to my beautiful campus - UVM in Burlington Vermont. In the beginning of my senior year I met a sweet boy who really made my heart skip a beat and he like no other before him was very different and seemed to have a heart just as big as mine. After school came to a final and screeching halt, after I submitted my teaching portfolio, after I taught a grueling summer school, and spent a sticky hot month at home I moved over 200 miles to be with that sweet boy. 

I will get to more about my sweet boy in another feature but for now I will focus on what I miss about my very first and always home. 

1.) I miss the smell of fall and the crinkle of rusty leaves under foot.

2.) I miss the fresh breeze flowing in during summer as I sit on the barstool in my mother's kitchen

3.) I miss hiking with friends and truly appreciating the beauty of Vermont at the pinnacle.

4.) I miss laughter shared between a dear friend and I.

5.) I miss the warmth in my heart when my whole family fills a room.

6.) I miss my brother & watching him grow leaps and bounds as high school unfolds for him.

7.) I miss warm embraces and voices of my parents.

8.) I miss the waterfront at Lake Champlain in Burlington, which always had a calming effect on me.

9.) I miss running around barefooted in shallow rivers or my backyard.

10.) I miss the handmade, organic, farmer's market, small town vibe.

Thanks for stopping by and learning a bit more about me! - Lo