keep the hope

today is the day.

surgery day.

when i scheduled the surgery about a month ago, i knew i would be a little nervous on the actual day. can you blame me? two inch incision to remove any other remaining cancer on my shoulder and a biopsy through my armpit to remove a lymph node or two to determine if the cancer went anywhere else. it’s precautionary…i think. and i’ve been told. it’s just hard to grasp, you know?

and while i’m nervous for the surgery…i’m terrified for what comes after it. the results.
in church on sunday we had a priest visiting and give mass. he talked about how Christmas is hope. and how during the holidays, God does some pretty magical things. and i’m not saying i believe he was talking about making cancer results negative. i know he was talking about the meaning of Christmas.
but ironically, he talked about the 21 of this month. the 21 is the expected time when i will receive my results. he talked about how that day, in scriptures, is a magical day. a hopeful day. a day to rejoice.

i believe in god winks. and i am hoping, and praying, that is what that was: that on the 21, i will get a phone call and the word “negative” will be spoken.

don’t worry…i’m staying positive.
and keeping the hope.

p.s. i might be away for a few days. i’ll try to sneak in a few updates on twitter (@_lovealexandria) and i’ll probably be on pinterest (ohjeezlouise) and instagram (lovealexandria__) throughout the week if anything.

words of wisdom

this past thursday, i was visiting with a pretty good friend. we laughed a lot, drank hot chocolate and watched a movie. we were talking about the weather. seriously, it’s what ohioans seem to do in the weather. but we were talking about it being so cold. and i mentioned that while yes, it is cold, why not enjoy it now? in four months it will be gone and the heat will be back in full force.

he looked at me and said, “that’s good. you will always be happy with that attitude.”

and it made me think. if we just all stopped and took a moment to appreciate where are and in the time we are in, we would be so much more happier. instead of complaining that it’s cold or hot or raining or snowing; why not try your best to enjoy it?

so while there are people complaining about the cold (when four months ago they were complaining about the heat) i am going to be thankful that i live in a place where it snows. where it is hot and where the leaves and flowers change twice a year. because why not be happy all the time? all it takes is the right attitude.

{can’t remember where i found the picture}

one year ago…

has it really been one year already since i graduated from Kent State?

cannot believe it.

here is a picture that i will forever cherish from that day.

my grandma and i a few weeks before she went into the hospital. i was so happy and thankful beyond words that she, and my other grandma, made it to my graduation to see me walk and accept my diploma. such a special day for so many reasons.

it still feels weird that i am a college graduate. i feel like i just graduate from high school. seriously, this feels like yesterday.

le weekend

{guess who that little girl just might be…}

i found this little gem tonight and just had to share.

have a wonderful weekend!

xo

that thing called organization…

… i thought i had it down… but i am beginning to think i don’t.

maybe it’s not as bad as i think.
maybe it just looks like a mess whenever i see it.
maybe i am terrified to show you my closet.
because, really, that is a whole different kind of mess.
but it’s on my list of things to do.
you know, i have a list. a long list. but it exists and i do, from time to time, check things off…
just not as often as i wish i could.

but that’s going to change!

stay tuned for pictures.
…but if you don’t hear from me for a few days, it’s probably because i am buried beneath the mess.

xox

twitter

did you know i’m on twitter?

yep, this girl tweets…a lot. and i love it a but too much.

come tweet with me.

pretty please?

@_lovealexandria

things.

1. don’t go grocery shopping when all you want at that moment is a smoothie. mango’s, plums, kiwi, grapefruit, bananas, oranges, strawberries, a bundle of apples… it all sounds amazing.

2. i have a list on my iphone of things that need to be done. i made that list a few days ago and haven’t checked anything off it it….

3. after all of these health scares {which, are still scares} i want to be more healthy. i have a gym pass and i need to use it more.

4. if i could, i would fast forward to next weekend {the one before Christmas}. that way, i would be over this cold, my surgery would be over and i might have results.

5. i want to go outside and play in the snow. anyone want to join me?

devotchka, i love you

lipstick

lately i’ve been getting a lot of emails and messages asking about my lipstick color. {which i LOVE}

i am in no way a pro at deciphering what color to wear for what skin tone or any of that.

but bright colors are so fun to wear and i think anyone can pull them off.

{you, really, you just need to go for it!}

my favorite shades currently happen to all be from NARS Cosmetics

red lizard, heat wave and carthage
if you’re feeling really bold, go with Revlon’s kiss me coral for a pinkish color.

i also love MACs their dangerous or ruby woo shade.

just remember to have fun with lipstick! i always feel like myself with a bright color. what do you like to wear?

Casey O’Connell

i came across these by magic the other day and i was so entranced by her paintings that i had to share with all of you. i am not sure if i love them because they remind me of something/someone or just because Casey O’Connell is purely talented and i swear i could get lost looking at them.

i’m going to go with a mixture of all of the above.

now get lost like i did and enjoy. maybe someday i will be able to afford to own one of these beautiful paintings.