Start of something new

So today Matt and I saw our first condo to start the process of finding our own place. It definitely was not the place we are looking for, but for the first time I finally feel hopeful that we will buy our own place and have a happy change in our lives. I feel like in the past week I have found out more about buying a house than I ever knew my entirely life. The good thing is that we have the freedom to take our time, shop around for mortgages, save more money, and find the perfect place to start our lives together.

I also applied for 3 more jobs today and I feel like I just write the same cover letter and email every day! I have not received many responses from applications except for a couple saying I needed more experience. I have been getting depressed lately working the 1:30-10pm shift every night at a store I hate with managers and customers I absolutely can't stand. I just wish my hardest every day that someone will see me for the professional I am and give me a better paying job that I can actually stand! At first, once I graduated, I wasn't in a rush to find a new job because I had one that I could see Matt at, got paid decent, was close by my house, and I could stand who I worked with and what I did for the time being. One day this month, it just clicked that I don't deserve to be working there anymore and since then I have been trying my hardest to find anything better. It's all a lot of work to do, but I think I'm finally getting on the right track to find a better life for myself.

Day 19: Something you miss

I miss my childhood and not having a care in the world! I am sure that is what most people miss too, but I have had a job since I was 14 and ever since then have been so concerned with growing up and moving on. I wish I remembered more things from childhood, but there were so many good times that I remember, most of them being vacations. That's why I hope that in my life and in the future with my family, I make time to take a lot of vacations and show my kids all the fun things I got to enjoy when I was younger.

One thing I am glad I have access to is my family's house in Nh. I can picture taking my kids there for weekends and vacations to experience the same adventures and fun that I once had. I also take time now to make sure I take vacations and use my time off wisely, because sometimes time means more than money. I am so glad Matt and I took our first vacation to Las Vegas this year and we can't wait to take more in the future. I feel these times are priceless and we have to take advantage of every second we get.



My family apple picking way back when



A Day Off

So recently I have started on my search for a new job and looking at condos/apartments so I can finally make some sort of change in my life (and Matt's). I also started working 40+ hours at hannaford to try and save as much money as I can before we officially even find a place to live. I feel like I devote almost all my time to work and research, and frankly, it is exhausting. I have worked 6 days a week every week the past month or so except for my vacation (which I unfortunately did not get paid for due to idiotic mistakes by that awful company)

Looking for jobs and condos is way more difficult than I ever expected it to be, and I have not even got a call back for either, so I know the real work has not even started yet! It is sort of depressing working until 10pm every night and knowing that I have to do the same thing again the next day, with no promise for an end in sight just yet. I have a few people helping me on the condo search which I am so thankful for, because even though my parents said they would let us borrow some money for a down payment, they are not excited about us taking on so many bills with so little money. I honestly feel like I am doing everything I can and more to try and get out of my house, but it seems the more I try, the more exhausted I am with still no money!

I am not giving up hope anyways, I just wish my hardest every day that someday soon we will have more money saved, look at some condos we might be able to afford, and get a call back on a job opportunity. Pray for us! :]

9-11-01 always remember <3

Day 18: Favorite place to eat

Well, I am getting bored of this challenge that is taking me much longer than 30 days, but my favorite place to eat is probably Bertini's in Salem. I also love the Peppermill restaurant in Las Vegas, which I devoted a whole page in my scrapbook to :]  Some other places I go to often are fuji sushi and sylvan st. I am hoping to cut down a lot on the going out thing since it seems harder than I ever expected to save up money and move out!

Day 17: Something you're looking forward to

I am trying to catch up on my blog and finish this challenge! So, if you read this blog, you know that there are so many things in my life I am looking forward to, but really nothing is set in stone just yet.

In the immediate future, I am looking forward to going apple picking with Matt's family and then celebrating Halloween!

Every year we have a costume party at my house and I hope that it will be a great night. I am dressing up as Holly Madison this year. I also won a school girl costume from Bridget's contest, but I don't know if I will be wearing it. I love the fall especially since I don't have to go to school this year! This coming year is going to have many changes and I am actually pretty excited for something different! FINALLY!

Although I hate seeing summer come to a close, I do get excited knowing that this will be the time to spend more time with the families and keep the good times rolling, so I hope that lots of good things go on that I won't have to miss!



Matt and I, Halloween 2010



Day 16: Dream House

My dream house is not so much what it looks like on the outside as much as what I am going to put in it. One very important thing I will look for is a huge yard! You can build and fix up a house all you want, but you can't add a yard, and that is where I want to spend a lot of family summers someday just like I did when I was little. I have seen many houses that I would love to own around here, but have never gotten a picture of one. I know I want to stay around this area though. I decided I would google and find a house that I would picture myself in 10 years or so from now. This house is probably too big as I am used to living in a smaller house, but I do want more room than what my house has right now. I also LOVE the balcony on this one!

Right now, our current dream apartment is most likely in salem, in a two or three family house, that allows a dog and cat, off street parking, at a decent price :]  I took a few pictures of the apartment that a guy from work owns and may rent out to us in December. It is one of the few places I have found that will allow us to get a dog and it is really close to the willows! There is also a pool out back for the neighbors so I would hope to befriend someone and be allowed in it :] Hopefully it is nice inside too!



I took a pic of the apt when we went by it a couple months ago, we would get the bottom floor and there is a family in a townhouse up top.

 

Also took a picture of the driveway that leads to a nice little parking lot out back



Day 15: Bible Verse

I have been ignoring my blog over the past week or so since matt was on vacation, I kind of took one away from the computer and working out :[  gotta get back into the swing of things!

I was not looking forward to this day of the challenge because I am not religious in the slightest. I only received communion and am not confirmed, rarely set foot inside a church, and I do not plan on getting married in a church either. I just find the whole religion thing not suitable for me, but I decided to google a verse that I would like.

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. " 1 Timothy 4:12

Every time I am around people slightly older than me that have moved out on their own, gotten married, etc. I feel somewhat intimidated. I just have to remember that I am doing well for my age and need to remain focused on my goals in order to stay motivated and move on with my life.

Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?

This is one of my favorite pictures of myself that Matt took last year on top of Cathedral Ledge on our trip to North Conway last year.

I don't know if I have changed that much personally since last year. I did work my butt off the past year to graduate from college in 4 years (took 7 classes in one semester and worked full time hours!) I finally took the vacation I definitely earned and met my idol! I also committed this summer to having fun, doing things I missed out on last summer, and finding a new full time job to complete the year.

My body is also looking better than it did most of last year, except for some reason in NH last year where this picture was taken I felt my skinniest. I have a lot more motivation recently to work out every day even for just 20 minutes. I can really tell the different in sleep and endorphins all the time when I do workout. I have also had more time this year to work on my tan finally! I think I look too white in this pic for it being the end of summer.

Other than that I don't think I see much changes, which is good because I am not too ashamed of the way I look. I don't waste my money on getting my hair dyed or getting my nails done, I get the necessary hair cuts for 10 bucks and do my own manicures and pedicures, unless someone treats me to it :]  I'm low maintenance and I like to keep it that way, just minus 10-15 pounds ;]

Day 13: Goals

This is what my whole blog is about because I just graduated college and it is time to mooove on!

My first goal, which is both Matt and mine's new years resolution, is to move out into our own place. We have not even started looking at places and also are not sure whether to rent an apt, condo, or even buy our own place to start.

Along with that goal, I am looking for a full time job in order to save up/pay the bills. I just got my resume reviewed the other day so I need to edit it and post it!

One goal I am currently working on is getting my body back to the way it was when I danced. I have been working out consistently almost every day, which is a lot more than what I was doing just a few weeks ago.

These are all my current goals, and I try not to add too many more until I get one of them accomplished. I hope I can complete them by the end of the year :]



Matt and I on the 4th of July



Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without

I usually forget things when I leave the house, but I always bring my purse, which has my wallet, keys, camera, and hopefully my phone if I don't leave it behind! I also keep things like headphones, tanning goggles, flash drive, tons of pens, and excedrin. I usually keep my sweatshirt with me too, although lately I have not found the need for it at all! Since I have been working out consistently the past couple weeks, I also try to bring a bottle of water with me wherever I go because I find that I used to not keep myself as hydrated as I should. Hoping my workouts stay consistent!

Day 11: Favorite tv shows

I have tons of favorite tv shows! For starters, I have seen every Seinfeld episode and own every season, I love it. Along with that, Curb Your Enthusiasm is a great one similar to seinfeld but dirty. I also love Sex and the City, The Office, That 70's Show, and matt got me into Scrubs, which is probably the best show to ever be on television :]

I also have a guilty pleasure of trashy reality shows such as Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, Bad Girls Club, Girls Next Door (My ultimate favorite!), Holly's World, Kendra, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and other reality shows like 19 Kids and Counting and Sister Wives

HBO also has some good shows that are now off the air like Big Love and Flight of the Conchords

Some dramas I enjoyed were Nip/Tuck and Las Vegas, which I only started watching because I missed Las Vegas so much :]

I am sure the list goes on, but I think this covers it well enough!

Day 10: Something you're afraid of

I'm afraid of heights. Besides that, I am always afraid of my future. I always find myself wondering what job I will get, how we will get by when we finally move out, if I will be able to see Matt as much as I do now with a different job, if he will finda job he loves doing, etc. It is so scary thinking about the future, especially when I have barely put one foot in.

I am also afraid of losing people I love. Just recently 3 people at my work have lost someone close to them, and I always wonder how people ever deal with it. I have not lost a family member since I was 4 years old when both my grandfathers died, so I don't remember ever grieving. It sucks because I know it will happen someday and I know for a fact that I will not do well with it at all. I'm just happy that day has not come yet.



Bizarro - biggest roller coaster that I hate but went on twice for Matt



Batman the Dark Knight - a roller coaster I can stand :]



Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

I have gone through many friends. Some you think will stick around, but most of the time it just doesn't work out and we have all gone our separate ways. My one true best friend that is always there for me and has been since we met in homeroom of 8th grade is Samantha Sousa. We have never had a real fight between us and I have had so many good times with her. Even though we are different in some ways, we are so much alike in many others. I have never met anyone that gets me like she does and I have made it through many hard times with her still by my side. With that said, I have a few favorite pictures with her that I would like to share :]  I love you Samma!

I posted this in my last post, but this is mutually our favorite pic together :]



We always take 4th of July pics, except this year :[  we are so festive



SO excited to go to peppermill where Holly eats! Delicious! Vegas baby!

 

Also extremely excited to see PEEPSHOW!! and our large ass drinks were always glued to hand



Senior Prom pretties :]



Day 8: A place you've traveled to

I have a map of the United States on my wall, and I check off every state I have visited. I plan on visiting every state in my lifetime and have been finding places I need to see in almost every one.

The only states in New England I have not been to (i.e. stay over night or see something of importance) are Rhode Island and Connecticut, but I am not in a hurry to visit either of those. One of my favorite places to go is my family house in North Conway, there are so many fun places to go up there and it is so peaceful. Last time Matt and I went, we saw a family of bears in the backyard, something I have never seen before. I even got a pic of a baby cub :]  I made him go to Storyland the year before and I promised we would never go back until we have kids to bring with us

Going south from there, my 8th grade trip was to Philadelphia, and it was so much fun! Saw historical sites, went on a cruise with all my friends, and stayed in a hotel with my bestest friend. My favorite pic of us is from the bus trip home :]

I visited Virginia with my family in 8th grade as well. We saw historic landmarks like Jamestown and went to Busch Gardens which was amazing, and I went on my first big roller coaster!

Furthest south, I have been to Florida many times. I have been to Disney World 4 times, but like I have said over and over, I dream of the day when Matt and I can finally go together :]  I also visited St.Petersburg beach which is so beautiful as well as going to the other Busch Gardens which is just as fun.

I visited New Orleans after a cruise that sailed out from there and we stayed 2 days extra in this amazing city. I can't wait to go back now that I'm 21. The cruise also brought me out of the country for my first time to a couple places in Mexico which was so beautiful and entertaining.

Next is Texas, which I don't remember much of because we were there visiting family, but I do know that everything seemed much bigger in Texas!

Last, of course, is Nevada and Arizona. My best vacation ever was my first one with Matt to Las Vegas, and I was able to knock another state off the list because we took a day trip to the Grand Canyon, which was so breathtaking! I really can't wait until we visit Las Vegas again, it really just felt like home!

I wanted to book another vacation at the end of this summer, but it looks like we might be waiting on that to save money and hopefully move out. 11 out of 50 states, I have a long way to go!

Day 7 - Favorite movies

I have a lot of favorite movies.

My favorite Disney movie is The Little Mermaid, even though I love most of them.

One of my stupid favorite movies is 10 Things I hate about you, I have seen it a zillion times and know it word for word and it is amazing.

I love both sex and the city movies because they are long and entertaining

I recently got into the harry potter movies and star wars because of matt's geeky-ness. Also a lot of hero movies like Green Lantern and Batman.

Lastly, I think my favorite comedy will always be the Hangover, it is hillarious, I love Zach G., and of course, I love Las Vegas :]

Day 6 - A picture of something that makes you happy

I have been lazy and miss updating my blog! I am still only on day 6 but here are a few pictures of things that make me happy :]

Disney World is the place that makes me the happiest and I cannot wait until I can take Matt for his first time!

This picture makes me happy for two reasons. 1 is that our vacation to Las Vegas was the best vacation I have ever taken! We love Vegas so much and can't wait to return (we even wish we could move there!) The second reason is more obvious, I love Matt more than anything, and he is the best thing to ever happen to me! Our life is going to be bliss :]

Day 5 - A song to match your mood

I was listening to my iPod while perusing the job listings, more for matt than me, and a song played that I love. When Matt and I met, I had to spend some time away from him camping with my parents, so we made eachother CDs to remind us of one another. It is one of the best gifts he has ever given me, and this song was on there. Much like any Say Anything song, it reminds me of him, but the lyrics and guitar in this song send me to another dimension,thinking about what our relationship means and how much better it will get with time. Enjoy :]

Day 4 - Your parents

There's not much to say about my parents, but here goes nothing. They are good to me and always allow me to follow my goals wherever the lead me. Although they rarely spend money on extravegant things or even on working on their own house, they have plenty to allow me to go to school and pay for half for me, as well as anything else I need help with. For some reason, I was never grounded when I was younger, yet I never needed to be and rarely made any bad decisions. My mom only threatened it once when she found me and my friend walking around the neighborhood after midnight.

I love my mom so much, more than words can say. She is always by my side no matter what I go through and trusts me to always make the right decisions, and I always have to make her proud. She had breast cancer when I was about 4 years old, so she has been through some rough times. She is a great survivor and I am so proud of her for pulling through the fight. She is the strongest person I know even though I have seen her go through that as well as losing my grandfather when I was very young. She is the nicest person and all my friends love her which is so great. I think she learned it from my nana, who is an absolute saint :]

I can't say all the same things about my dad, but he clicks with my sister more which is why she also looks more like him than my mom. I am definitely my mothers daughter, and that's okay because it works good for us. Overall I am happy with who my parents are, and I wouldn't be where I am today without their support.

30 day blog challenge - Day 3 First Love

Day 3: Your first love <3

I have said "I love you" many times before. I am one for long relationships, so it is no surprise that every time I met someone new I thought I was even more in love than before. I had a relationship my first year of high school that lasted almost a year, then the rest of high school was a different relationship for 3 years, then another almost a year.

After being with Matt, I can truly say that none of these relationships ever compared. I had never been with someone who I could stand to be around 24-7! There is never a silence or dull moment with Matt, he is really my other half. We rarely ever fight and if we do it is for good reason and always end well. We are always on the same wavelength and thinking the same things

I know many would say that I am bending the truth, but I can honestly say that Matt is my first true love. This is the happiest I have ever been with anyone and I wouldn't have it any other way :]  We both have a great understanding that we are going to be together the rest of our lives, and I can't wait for the rest of our lives to start. I love you Matthew <3

30 day blog challenge - Day 2

Been busy this weekend but finally onto day 2!

Day 2 - Meaning behind your blog name - Sweet Dreams

I had a hard time deciding on a name for this, because I am still not sure what I am going to mainly talk about. Lately, all I think about is my future. Where will I work? When will Matt and I find a place and move out? How can I afford it? It's a troubling feeling not knowing what the future will bring you, but I have big dreams for my future, sweet dreams. I believe that if I reason out and dream enough that my dreams can come true (within reason of course) I can picture Matt and I moving out at the end of this year. I worry constantly, but between seeing people who can't afford it and still move out and others who make it and love it, I think we are responsible enough to make it on our own finally.

Another sweet dream I am currently having is planning a vacation to end the summer right (hopefully Disney World since matt has never been there and it is my favorite place, along with Las Vegas)

If you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true :]

30 day blog challenge - Day 1

I have decided that, since I can't think of anything better to talk about, I will start the 30 day blog challenge today. Don't know how far I'll get but hopefully I will remember to post! After reading all the questions I actually see this is not going to be easy, but here goes nothing.

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3: Your first love
Day 4: Your parents
Day 5: A song to match your mood
Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite movies
Day 8: A place you've traveled to
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend
Day 10: Something you're afraid of
Day 11: Favorite tv shows
Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without
Day 13: Goals
Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?
Day 15: Bible verse
Day 16: Dream house
Day 17: Something you're looking forward to
Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?
Day 22: What's in your purse?
Day 23: Favorite Movie
Day 24: Something you've learned
Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26: Your Dream Wedding
Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in
Day 28: Something that stresses you out
Day 29: 3 Wishes
Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
I'm Jillian!

1. I am in love with anything Disney
2. I would love to move to Las Vegas
3. I will eat pretty much anything
4. I danced for 15 years, tapped for 10, and miss it so much!
5. My idol is Holly Madison
6. My goal this year is to move into my own place (with Matt)
7. My family owns a house in North Conway that I love to visit
8. I recently got my bachelor's degree in marketing but am taking the summer off before finding a real job
9. I love to go camping
10. I have worked in the same place since freshman year of high school
11. My best friend is Sam Sousa and no one could ever replace her <3
12. My kitty Lily is the cutest and I love her
13. My grandmother on my dad's side and my mom both had breast cancer, leaving me at high risk
14. My guilty pleasure is watching bad reality tv like bad girls club and keeping up with the kardashians
15. I am in love with my boyfriend, Matt, and I could not ask for anyone better for me <3

That was difficult but it's only the beginning! TTFN

My first official blog

Hi guys

So Jill Williams influenced me to start a blog finally. I realized while driving home tonight that I have too many thoughts to keep bottled up in my head all the time. Although I realize I don't have many interesting things to post about, I figure I can say what I want, put a few little quirks in here, and open it up for anyone who cares to read. This is just my introductory post and I plan to do the 30 day blog challenge once I get used to this thing. For now I will leave a bit of mystery and leave a few little quips at the end, which I may continue to do with every post. Enjoy :]

Stupid people do stupid things: I have noticed that every single day I see or hear someone do something stupid, and usually it frustrats me to my whits end. Today was a usual, some guy decided to go out the entrance to newbury comics, except he was pulled over to the far left of the entrance so nobody could pull in. While getting through the line of traffic to the mall, matt decided to hold his hand up for the guy to stop trying to cut us off, proceed through on the right of him, and I flipped him off. This is only a mild case of the stupid things people do. Wait until I report on the things that happen at a supermarket, you may be in for a treat.

Photo of the day: I just bid on this cute sailor dress on eBay for the 3rd of July and thought I would share a picture of it.

Bye!