IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!

T-minus 75 minutes until.......

.Vanessa.Dan.Serena.Nate.Chuck.Blair.Jenny.

And until then, an update on my surprisingly busy life:

My birthday was fabulous. Steve surprised me with Dunkin Donuts, a super-cute shirt and a clean car! We walked around the mall, then had dinner at Mr. Sushi and ice cream at Cold Stone. It was a great birthday... and surprisingly, 23 didn't hit me as hard as 22 did... remember that? Anyway, 22 turned out to be a pretty awesome year and I'm looking forward to 23 being just as great!

We took a fun trip to find a new place to live because our lease is almost up... and if we don't figure out something, we're going to be homeless. I think the trip was a success. It sure was tiring! I'm pretty excited, though... can we say "cable included"??

Work has been keeping me busy. It's really not so bad for a job. It's good for now, but certainly not forever.

The next few weeks will be busy busy between packing and getting things in order to move. Thank goodness for one thing..... GG starts in 1.25 hours!

Kathleen's Mosaic

I almost never do these, but this is a cool idea. Enjoy!

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. Favorite drink?
5. Dream vacation?
6. Favorite hobby?
7. What you want to be when you grow up?
8. What do you love most in life?
9. One word to describe you?

How It Works:
A. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search: (http://www.flickr.com/).
B. Using ONLY the first page, pick an image.
C. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Mosaic Maker: (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php).
D. Change rows to 3 and columns to 3.

L-O...L-O...L-O... L-O-V-E

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Saturday
"Stumbling Through Life"
to bring you this very important announcement:

Steve & I are engaged!!

I may be breaking my own blog rules right now by posting something personal... but it's just so exciting! Steve is wonderful! My ring is beautiful!

Short & sweet.... I'm not going into mushy detail on my blog!
So I've only half-broken the rules...
XOXO!

(PS- Name the song referenced by the subject of the post!)

Listen Up, Ladies!

I've always been a firm believer in confidence. In high school I went shopping with my friend Abby and I bought a rockin' pair of sunglasses. I got home and showed them to my mom and the first thing she said was, "those are hideous." Thanks, Mom! I refused to believe her. I wore those sunglasses everywhere and received compliments from everyone! You want to know why? Because I wore them like they were the coolest sunglasses in the world... and suddenly... they were cool.

I tried this out with my big move to law school. A new group of people. A new chance to make a first impression. Usually I would just sit there quietly and wait for people to approach me. Not this time. I marched in with a smile on my face and said "hi!" to everyone I saw. I pretended that I was cool (and occasionally told people that I was) and suddenly, they accepted me as "cool."

Amazing how that works, huh? This morning as I was going through the blogs that I read daily, it hit me for the first time that this idea can also work in reverse. Females are all-too-often quick to point out their flaws. I notice myself doing this a lot. If I think I look gross, I'm really quick to tell people so that they know that I know. I'm not fishing for compliments, but rather letting people know that I am well aware of my shortcomings.

Which leads me to this link. Think about it. How many times have you had this conversation:

A: You look nice today!
YOU: Ugh. I feel so fat!

So, ladies... starting today, I'm going to stop announcing the things that I don't like about myself. Who's with me?? It's time to walk into the room like you own it. A wise Anna Stern once said, "Confidence, Cohen... Confidence!" And I think the same applies to you!

Oh, Boy!

Last night I wondered if it was too early to start printing the "It's not my fault; I voted for McCain!" bumper stickers... and then by the time I woke up, I had a few invitations to join that Facebook group in my inbox. So, I guess that answers that question.

This is what I wanted the headlines to read this morning:

Obama Wins!
Romney Organizes Exploratory Committee for 2012

Politically, things just aren't going my way. I firmly believe that someday the Obama supporters will regret their decision in a way that I almost regret my support of David Cook for American Idol '08. They'll look back and realize that McCain was the right choice much like I am thinking I should have voted for Archie. Have you heard David Cook's new song? I put it in my playlist in the bottom right-hand corner. You know what, I'll also put Archie's single over there for those of you who have been living under a rock and haven't heard it yet. If you end up not being able to stomach "Light On," but putting "Crush" on repeat--you are not alone.

Archie- 1, Cook- 0.

I Voted Today.

Another friendly reminder: today is election day!

I know we're all terribly tired of this election season, but please make sure you go out and VOTE!

If for no other reason, do it because you can!

XOXO

So Little Time!

I feel like I have so much to discuss and in so little time! This law school thing is really getting in the way of my life. Too bad I love it, huh?

First--My birthday occurred as scheduled, despite my efforts to cancel it. It really was a great day, though! There is no other way that I would want to celebrate this non-milestone than to get sushi with a few of my besties followed by an after-party of watching the RNC and eating chips and dip. This was one hell of a birthday! Thanks to all involved! XOXO

Second--My Obama post the other day got 30 hits!! 17 of those came from Chris & Val's blog alone! Thanks to everyone who has me linked to their blog. If you have me linked and I have not yet linked you, let me know!!

Third--Gossip Girl. Really, if you saw it, I don't have to say anymore--except that I will say more... and you will like it. I decided that I love little Jenny Humphrey's hair. I tried to find a picture but failed. When my hair grows out from this awful boy cut, I am totally tracking down a picture of her to take in to my next appointment! (Hopefully by Thanksgiving if my vitamins work the way they're supposed to!) Nate is hott, Chuck is fabulously slimy, Serena & Dan aren't going to make it, Blair is gorgeous and I want to be her, and I think Erik should stop being gay and date Jenny. Can't wait for next week! Moving on...

Fourth--The Hills. Lauren-that was the most awkward break-up. Ever. Spencer-I want to make you un-on my TV. Stephanie-there is a huge difference between a hamster and a guinea pig. Like, a species. Something doesn't start out as a hamster and then become a guinea pig. I did laugh for a few minutes, though.

Fifth--(I had to spell check fifth... but I did spell it right on my first try!)--Bones tonight. 2 hour season premiere. I don't know how I'll deal without Zack-a-roni, but I am still pretty pumped!

Have a good night, everybody!! XOXO

Good News/Bad News!

The good: I filled the Yukon yesterday for $66!! That's $3.47 a gallon! Score!

The bad: When you find gas for $3.47 a gallon, you're probably not in the best neighborhood!

The good: My car was not stolen in the process!

The bad: I am still poor and $66 for a tank of gas (that I will use in 4 days) is still more than I want to pay.

The idea of a Prius is sounding better and better everyday. (NOT!)

Word of the Day

Busy [bizz-ee]; adjective; 1. Not at leisure, otherwise engaged; 2. Full of or characterized by activity; 3. Code for "just not that into you."

I am the rule, not the exception.
I am the rule, not the exception.
I am the rule, not the exception.
I am the rule, not the exception.

Summer Goals

Tomorrow is the start of a brand new week... so why not set some brand new summer goals?

1. Get on a regular sleep schedule... preferably one with an early bed time and early morning. I like mornings when I am actually awake to enjoy them. Plus, when I get stuff done earlier I feel so much better about myself!
2. Lose 10lbs. I'm going to only eat out once a week and go to the gym 4 times a week. I'm not going to eat crap. I refuse to feel like Tracy Turnblatt... because in real life, girls that look like that don't get to kiss Zac Efron.
3. Finish my stupid independent study classes. I hate to admit it, but the people who warned me against them are totally right!

Hold me to these, please?

Happily Ever After

This week I have gotten 3... yes... 3 requests for my address via Facebook from friends who are getting married this summer. That doesn't count the friends that have already gotten married this summer or the ones too cheap to send invitations to their friends. Is there something in the water that I'm missing because I only drink bottled?

Saturday Morning

MOM: Kathleen?
KAT: Yes?
MOM: Will you take your little sister to golf lessons at 4?
KAT: Sure.
MOM: I don't have any cash... it's $30. Do you have cash?
KAT: Yes.
MOM: Ok. She knows where to go. Make sure she's not late. And there are usually cute boys down there... so you might want to.... shower?

So....

I'm going to law school! I decided Sunday while in the shower (where I do a lot of my best thinking). I got a little scholarship to a school in a better location than the other. Like a five year old, my mom is going to find me an apartment while she's there this summer and I'm going to move in August. I feel really good about this decision and I'm actually pretty excited!

Now if I could just find a summer job...