How I've been filling my days since graduation

Since Friday, June 13, 2014...I've been no longer a student and unemployed. However, I recently was hired by the county I live in, in the town that I live in (I am beyond lucky) but cannot start training until September 5th. Having never really had the opportunity to enjoy time off, to myself...I've been trying to keep myself busy. I really love my alone time. Time to finish laundry, do dishes, clean out closets, organize craft supplies, SCRAPBOOK, and spend time with loved ones. Although I'm usually very good at keeping myself busy, I've found it slightly lonely, lol. I CANNOT wait to start work & be around people during the weekdays. Here are a few things I've been up to keep myself busy:

SCRAPBOOKING

 Scrap'in with my good friend and colleague Angela

PAINTING NAILS

The colors I chose for my sister's wedding ceremony

 (her bridesmaids wore blush dresses)

 Just last week I painted my nails blue and top half gray...I call it colorblock:

CRAFTING

SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES

RELAXING

Although I've enjoyed much of my vacation, I am eager to get back into earning a living, doing what I've been educated and trained to do. Plus...I've got bills to pay, lol. 

Geez it's been a long while since I've posted...anything.

Oh my gosh. Hello bloggers!! So, the past three years have been, well...a little nutty, to say the least.

Let me just list a few events that have taken place over the past three years--nothing too deep into detail; just a few key happenings...in bullet fashion to catch y'all up. Here goes:


- Made it through Grad School! Yes, I can now officially introduce myself as Cassandra Nafziger, MSW.

- Marriage to my love is better than ever these days...we have made it through, amazingly, a rough couple of years and are now stronger than ever and the closest we have ever been. We both made some pretty bad choices over the past 2 years and I don't want to go into detail but it's amazing to me how resilient and strong my husband is and I'm very proud of all that he has accomplished. We have wonderful, awesomely supportive family and friends to thank.

 - I have reunited with my best friend and we are closer than we ever were. I'm so excited to announce that she is pregnant with her second child, and is soon to be married to her love & I CANNOT express in words how ridiculously excited I am to be a part of these amazing events in her life.

- My husband & I both landed new jobs...and we will soon be looking into buying our first home. EEK! What's exciting about my job is that it's in town...it's been many years since I've found a job in town. I've commuted for a long time and I'm looking forward to the super short trip to and from work. Not only is the commute awesome, but both of our jobs offer benefits! We have not had medical insurance for years...and now we have secondary insurance!

-My sister & her boyfriend were married my first year in Grad School but didn't have the chance to hold a wedding ceremony until last month. The ceremony was beautiful and sooooo worth the wait!! I was so happy to be able to finally witness my gorgeous sister walk down the isle. I don't know if she realized how important the ceremony and having friends and family witness such a life event was until the big day.

I have to say, things are looking up at an almost overwhelming pace and I am so thankful for everyone I have in my life and for all of the help, guidance, and love I have all around me. I'm so lucky.

Over the Weekend

So...it's Friday and I'm finally getting around to posting about last weekend.

This week has been Cuh-ray-zeee. I work at a community college library...a VERY small library and school started Monday. Let me just say, I'm totally relieved it's Friday and I'm off already. I need to re-coup from all of the running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Not to mention I began a 5 day Hospice training this week and it gets out pretty late at night. Late for me anyway.

Last Sunday, I took my mother and youngest sister to Oceanside, CA to visit my grandparents and my brother who were staying at a condo there for a few days on vacation. We had a BLAST! And that's saying a lot because I'm not a beach person...I hate the humidity in the summer, hate sand sticking to me...EVERYWHERE, and hate salt water. Hate is a strong word. But really, I very much dislike the beach more than any other place. Although, it is a beautiful sight.

Anyway, here are a few pics I was able to take during the day:

So there ya have it...and please poke fun at my ridiculously short bangs...Can't wait until these suckers grow out!

TGIF!

This Past Week...

I cannot believe it is already August...this year is going by so quickly that I can hardly keep up. August is a super busy month for me and my family: we have the hub's bday, my best friend's sister's bday, my sister's bday, and my best friend's bday...all the while getting ready for school by purchasing ridiculously expensive textbooks and school clothes, not to mention I have to pay out of pocket (no medical insurance) for blood tests, vaccines, and drug tests that must be submitted to the hospital in order to clear me for my internship that begins in September. Anyway, here a few things that happened this week (not necessarily in this order):

Made a few cards...

Organized and de-cluttered my scrapbooking/crafting supplies...ignore the carpet that is desperately in need of a vacuuming. 

Got in some much needed scrapbooking and there is only 1 page left to work on in my scrapbook--so this means it's about time to buy a new one! I've worked on this for the past year or 2.

Also worked on a 21st birthday gift for my sister...with my youngest sister, lol. She's going to love it and I can't wait for her to open it in front of everyone at her party! She's going to be excited, embarrassed, and happy all at one time--it's going to be awesome!



I used tape on my big toes to paint stripes in different colors and I love how it turned out! I will definitely use this trick again in the near future.

Birthday pics coming soon!



Weekend Pics

 It's Sunday...and I've been fighting a migraine since I woke up yesterday morning. My stomach doesn't feel as queezy but my head is still pounding. I'm sitting here drinking Gatorade in hopes that I just need to replenish my electrolites...we'll see how that goes.

Lately I've been finding it difficult to sit down and update my blog. I have no idea why. Maybe it has a lot to do with my recent obsession with Swap-Bot? Anyway, it's time I get back into blogging a bit more. I miss it.

Here are a few photos from this weekend:

♥ Decorated Envelope that I just finished today for a "Mail Art" swap on Swap-Bot.

♥ My husband's cousin Angela is getting married next month (EXCITED!) and yesterday her sisters threw her a super nice, fancy Bridal Shower at one of her favorite restaurants in Brea, CA. It was fun! This is a pic of Angie and her mom...and I think it's her soon to be mother in law, Willie, and sister in law. I'm so bad at names. I never forget a face though!

♥ My mother in law, Adele and sister in law, Jenna. Such pretty ladies!

♥ What I wore...minus the belt, I think I swapped it for another leather belt. No pic though :(

♥ The newest addition to my mug collection--A UNICORN! When do you ever see Unicorns on a coffee mug? Almost never, right?! So...I HAD to buy it :)

♥ My mess of a craft space...I think I may rearrange it today to hopefully provide me with more room so that I can get another bookshelf or some kind of cubbie to keep my stuff organized.

♥ The baby Desert Tortoise that my husband found while riding our little 70 around. We NEVER see babies...and hardly ever see adults. We contacted someone who can raise him to be healthy and a bit bigger before he's released back into the desert. His chances of surviving as a bigger tortoise will be much better than releasing him as small as he is. Such a cute face!!

♥ My first ATC's...not sure if I did them right. Ehh.

♥ One of my newest journal entries...I just really like this photo. I think it came out of NYLON.

Hope you guys had a nice weekend! And cheers to a new week!

Tuesday's Adventures

I spent the first half of the day with my sister yesterday. It was super fun. First we went to the Cactus Wren, a used bookstore in town. I wanted to take in a few books that either weren't what I thought they were going to be or I had already read and didn't necessarily feel attached to. If you bring in books they give you a credit toward purchases. Cool! We found some books that we might enjoy and then headed out to lunch at the new Ma Rouge coffee shop/cafe in town. After lunch we headed to out favorite antique store in town, Pioneer Crossings where I found a super awesome beach/picnic bag for this summer.

♥ New Read

♥ Caity enjoying her Raspberry Lemonade 

♥ THE most Delicious salad...Italian...something or other?

♥ Carametto latte--Caramel & Amaretto syrup, extremely sweet & delicious. A treat for me since I drink plain 'ol joe all the time.

♥ Super nifty new beach bag--bring on the beach!

♥ First time in my new funky beaded flip flops. I bought them 2 Saturday's ago and wore them for the first time yesterday...totally kill my heels but they are too adorable. I love beaded things :)

There you have it--since I work  nights now I get to chill out during the day until about 2pm. Then I have to get ready for work. Although I'd rather be working mornings and enjoying the rest of the day when I'm off--nights are kind of a nice break. The only thing that sucks is I'm not a night person. I'm up early and am super tired by about mid-day or 4pm...and that's when I have to be at work. But this will only last another week.

Thank goodness.