{one down, one to go}

WOOHOOOO!!! One final down, one to go, my friends. I have to say, I'm pretty happy to be at the point where I can celebrate, because immediately after I submitted the exam, I felt more like this:

{you see, she's ripping her hair out, but she's still classy-looking...that's me}

But now that the initial shock has worn off, I feel like this:

So all's well with the world for a little while. I think I'll take a little break and then head to school to study more for securities. Hope everyone's having a happy Tuesday!

{cancer-free's the way to be...and other random stuff}

So, we got dad's diagnostic tests back, and good news dear friends--apparently God said "I don't think so, cancer. Not on my watch." (read: dad's cancer-free!) Woop! Praise God from whom all blessings flow. (amen, sister!) What a nutso journey that's been. I just pray that God continues to watch over his body as he recovers from the surgery. But for now, I just sing praises to my King, who is in control and holds all the world in his hands. (hallelujah!) :) (no, but for real...God is legit. Let's talk about him sometime!)

On to lighter subjects--there are SO MANY BABIES in my near future!!! (okay, not my future in particular...but hello! I'm totally allowed to live vicariously through my good friends since it'll be a while before I have any of my own, right?!) I have so many friends having babies this year and for that matter, I have so many friends getting married this year which means hopefully even more babies in the relatively near future! I am so excited I can barely stand it. I LOVE babies, and the best ones are the ones you can play with and give back! (well, I say that now, but I'm sure that once I have my own I'll feel differently) If you're looking around for me in the next few months and can't find me, feel free to assume that I'm lost in a hairbow-, blanket-, name-sign-making frenzy (frenzy--what we're trying to avoid by imposing gun-jumping rules on issuers, underwriters and other sellers of securities...ACK! sorry...momentary brain fritz attributable to the securities regulation material I'm supposed to be studying right now).

Well, since I can't seem to keep securities regulation off my brain, I suppose I should get back to actually studying rather than just thinking about it. Happy Thursday!

{because sometimes life is just hard}

My friend Maribeth and I are in 2 of the same classes this quarter--Federal Regulation of Securities and Derivatives. We are constantly sharing lamentations about class. So as you know, finals are coming up and today we were chatting about how much we have to learn and about how stressful it is and how we don't even know where to start. And then she sends me this...(saying "I feel like this little girl.")



I haven't laughed so hard...I dunno...maybe ever. So, in case you're wondering what it's like to study Securities Regulation, now you have a little bit of an insight. (but unfortunately, our teachers don't say "It's okay if your shoes aren't doing it.") I'm so glad to have friends who help keep life light.

{finals...again}

ahhhhhhh!!!! like...for real? It's finals time again already? Where does the time go?!

Ah yes, it's that time of year again, my friends. Time to break out the hornbooks (for those of you not in law school, that's the name for our commercial outlines), the class outlines, the notes, the textbooks, and yes, even the statute books. I know, I know. You're super jealous. I would be too, if I weren't in my position. I mean, here I am, sitting in the school library on a Saturday, reviewing my notes on what types of transactions are considered securities, why we should regulate them, and what kinds of things we can do to get around the regulations. And on top of that, I get to read through pages and pages of SEC regulations. I mean, if this isn't pure bliss, I'm really just not sure what is.


....hmm...well, maybe it's not that exciting, but either way, I do love learning and I'm pretty sure that when I graduate, I'll be wishing I were here again--working on my own schedule, taking naps when I want, sitting in class listening to some of the most brilliant minds who have ever walked this earth. It's crazy to me that in a mere 4 months, my academic career will be over. 20 years in school, and *poof* done. I'll be studying for the Bar, preparing to get married, and preparing to move to a new place with my fiance (or hubby...which is what he'll be at that point). It's finally starting to hit me, and recently I've become much more nostalgic. I find myself pausing on my way to school just to take in the scenery, knowing that very soon I'll be leaving all this behind. My, how time flies.

Well, for now I suppose I should get back to loving on my statute book. You'll probably be seeing a lot more blog postings in the next couple of weeks, because for some reason (surely it's not because I like to procrastinate), I tend to blog more during finals time. :) Until next time, my friends!

First Post of 2011...I mean, really...it took this long?

hello friends!

Yes, it's almost the end of January and I am just now writing my first post of the year. Who does that?!

Well, a big "welcome back!" to all 2 of you who read my blog. I am excited to start off 2011 with you, and I look forward to sharing the awesomeness that this year will bring.

2011 is going to be a busy year! And what an exciting year it will be. From graduation to weddings to uprooting my life and moving it to another city, this year is destined to be full of exciting stories. Stay tuned for upcoming posts chronicling my adventures. For a sneak preview, see photos below!

{April: Chicago Handmade Market}

{June: Graduation}
*assuming I pass--let's not get ahead of ourselves*

{August: Gettin' Hitched}


{Later: The Final 2 of the Fab 5 Get Hitched}

{project doing it for the ground, finals, and...ENGAGED! (no, not me again...someone else this time)}

alright, friends, so Project Doing It for the Ground was somewhat of an epic failure once Thanksgiving hit. I'm thinking of going for a Round 2 in February. Who's with me?! (Okay, you have a month and a half to think about it, so get back to me on that one)

In other news, finals are coming up at the end of this week/beginning of next week, and while I should be freaking out considering I've done significantly less studying this quarter than any other quarter, I just seem to have this overwhelming sense of calm. Praise Jesus for that, because it is not my nature to be calm, so I know it's totally coming from Him. Prayers are always welcome, though, so if you find yourself saying "self, who should I pray for today?" please think of me.

In other other news.....MY BEST FRIEND GOT ENGAAAAAAAAAAAGED!!!! :) Oh man, I could explode from excitement right now.


Isn't it absurd how ridiculously cute they are?!?! I just love these two--for their hearts, for their patience, for their love for the Lord. It just makes me want to burst in happiness. Congratulations you two!

Alright, off I go to review a little more Oil & Gas...or perhaps Mergers & Acquisitions....or maybe I should think more about Secured Transactions.....oh dear. Happy Wednesday!

{exercise: day 6} and a glimpse into my world

Day 6: Ana Caban's Beginning Mat Exercise

The MPRE was today! I was so excited to be done that I spent ALL afternoon crafting {new pillows are now added to the etsy shop}. Then, I went to the movies with my girls so when I got home today, much like yesterday, I just wanted to do something relaxing for my exercise. So, back to Ms. Caban I went.

I know it's sounds silly because I've only been exercising for less than a week, but I already feel a lot stronger and more in control of my muscles. I'm really enjoying this challenge, and I look forward to trying out some new exercises next week.

------*------*------*------*------*------

On an unrelated note, this is my last year at the University of Chicago and I am realizing more and more just how much there is to appreciate about the school and the city itself. Occasionally, I'll happen across a photo of something related to my school or walk through campus and have a moment where I am just taken aback by how neat this place is. And sometimes I'll get lost while driving to/from somewhere in town and discover a whole new area that I didn't even know about (which is always fun for me because Chicago is made up of so many cool little neighborhoods--p.s. that happened this evening on my way home from the movies). Anyhoo, a friend of mine recently posted this link to a slideshow of photos that a guy took of our campus. I mean, can we say "whoa!"--this guy is SUPER talented. So I thought it might be neat for you guys to get a little glimpse of the awesome place where I've been privileged to spend the last couple years of my life, where I've received a stellar legal education, and where I've met some of my best friends. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did!

{exercise: day 4}

Day 4: walk around campus (yes, again), lunges

To and from the parking office yet again, my friends. But this time, SUCCESS! I got my parking tag, so it was all worth it. In addition, I did some lunges last night. OUCH!

More exciting workouts to come...once I finish the MPRE. (ahh! it's tomorrow!!!)

On a MUCH more exciting note........

ADRIAN PASSED THE TEXAS BAR!!!!!!!!!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!! I am SO proud of him and I can now officially say that I am engaged to a lawyer. hooray! (feel free to now call him Hunky Handsome Honey, Esquire, if you wish)

Congrats, my sweet! (but to be clear...I never doubted that you'd pass) ;)

{exercise: day 3}

Day 3: A walk around campus, push-ups, lunges, and crunches

Well, the walk around campus was not exactly planned as exercise for today, but I ended up having to walk back and forth from the law school to the university parking office during my lunch period (as far south and north, respectively, as one can get on the U of C campus), so hey, let's go ahead and count that in the exercise regimen.

{my school}

Hopefully my exercises will be a little more exciting next week after the MPRE is over (it's eating up my life right now!!!).

Any awesome exercise stories for me?

For now, back to MPRE studying!

{joy of the Lord}

I love when the joy of the Lord brings me to tears.

Today was a frustrating day. I woke up SUPER late, I feel behind in school work, the parking office keeps sending me back with new requirements to obtain my permit, and to top it off, I got a city parking ticket today for parking in an area that I've parked in many times before and where there is no sign requiring a residential permit. Ugh.

Fortunately, the Lord is bigger than all that. I will admit that I had moments earlier today where I just got upset and frustrated and found myself praying for things that just aren't that important in the big scheme of life. That's not to say that you shouldn't pray for little things, because I wholeheartedly believe God delights in us trusting Him for every aspect of our lives, no matter how small. But these things were only selfish and earthly-focused.

Praise God for his love, redemption, forgiveness, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit which reminded me of God's command to be joyful. As I sit down to my studies tonight, I will praise God for his provision for me--for food to eat, a warm place to live, an education, and most importantly, the blessing of a life knowing Him. The rest...well, that's just icing :)

School Time!

It's that time of year again, friends. Time to stop being a couch potato and start being a student again. And I am a little (okay, a lot) sad to say, this coming Monday will be the very last first day of school I will ever have (as far as I can foresee).

For the last 2 years that I've been in law school, I have had nightmares in the days leading up to the first day of school. Nightmares that I'll miss class, that I'll forget to enroll, that I will simply show up to class unprepared (a big deal in some law school classes). This year is the same. It's 4 days until school starts, but I've already had nightmares. I have to say, this is all pretty weird because I have always loved school. I guess there's just something about law school that stresses me out.

What some of you may also know is that this will be my first school year without my honey being here with me. He graduated in the spring and will begin working in November. There will be lots of differences between this school year and the others, but I am excited for the new challenges that this year will bring. 3L year is supposed to be the easiest year, since most people have already accepted full-time job offers and are less involved in extracurriculars than our 2L counterparts. For me, however, it will definitely be challenging in certain ways.

I have resolved that this year, rather than stressing about all the changes, I am going to be super positive and excited about what God has to teach me about time management, patience, dedication, and reliance on Him.

I found this little picture online and I think it's quite appropriate:


Since I love to bake, whenever I start feeling stress coming on, rather than being stressed, I'll just think of desserts instead. It's all about perspective. You look at it front-wards and it's a yucky word, but just look at it from a different angle and all of a sudden it's a wonderful thing. I feel like most situations have a positive side if you just look at it from the right angle.

My new angle: I may be missing my honey, but I get to spend lots of time with my friends here before we all head our separate ways upon graduation. Classes are still hard, but since I'll have so much time to myself, I'll be able to really focus on doing well in my classes! Also, since I have a more open schedule this year, I am going to be leading a Bible study!

So all in all, I am pretty excited for this next year. :)

new items!

A friend from school recently told me that his sister is graduating from high school this year and he wanted to order some things from me for her graduation gift. I was so excited! She has decided on the University of Miami, and so he wanted everything to be UM-themed. He already knew he wanted personalized tins for storage and headbands for her to wear when she was feeling some school pride. He then asked me what else I would recommend for a freshman college girl, and the first thing I thought of was the lap desk that was given to me my freshman year of college. I absolutely LIVED on that thing in college. When I moved into the Pi Phi house, I shared a desk with my roommate, so I rarely studied on it, and when I moved into my own apartment, I never bought a desk (and now that I think about it, I'm not really sure why...). So I just sat on the floor or the bed and used by lapdesk! This was the first time I've made a lap desk since college and I was a little nervous since it had been so long. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to remember how to do it, but once I got started, it all came back to me. I had such a great time making this gift for him to give to his sister, and I feel very honored to have been asked to create these things for her. Here are some photos!

lies we tell ourselves, volume 1

"Sleep is overrated."

No, it's really not. But what else am I to tell myself when I have back-to-back finals and no reading period?!

Oh, finals. Yes, it's that time again. Cup after cup of coffee, diet coke out the wazoo, junk food, and late nights. First final is on Tuesday, second is on Wednesday. I can last without sleep for 3 more days, right? (Don't worry--I don't actually deprive myself of sleep. Fortunately, I listened when Dean Richardson told us 1L year that sleep was more important than that last hour of studying.)

Mani/Pedi planned for Thursday. Always good to have something to look forward to. Then, off to Houston to start my summer internships. YAYYYYYYYY!!! V&E and Baker Botts, get ready. You've got one very excited and eager summer intern coming your way!!!

Prayers are always welcome :)

It may be finals time, but...

It may be finals period, but if I have to sit in the apartment all day, I might as well make the most of it. Enter, a breakfast that I can actually sit at the table and eat.

Despite the fact that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, I am usually an "oatmeal-in-the-Texadelphia-cup" kinda girl in the morning (that is, make instant oatmeal in a plastic cup from Texadelphia--one of my most favorite restaurants--and carry it with me in the car to school). But since I don't have to go to school right now (it's study period), I thought "well, how about I just get up a bit earlier and make a breakfast I enjoy?" So I have been. I am convinced that it makes my studying more productive (once I wake up from the food-induced nap that follows each meal). There really is nothing like a warm homemade breakfast to get the day started. It requires getting up a tad earlier, but the relaxation and joy that come from sitting still and enjoying life first thing in the morning are worth the sacrifice. Perhaps you should give yourself that treat once in a while, too.

(eggs with spinach, onions, olives, tomatoes, and cheese...yum)

(honey purchased at the KCMO Farmers' Market! yum again)

Intramural Champs

My law school intramural basketball team is legit. And I'm not just saying that because I'm partial (yes, my fiance is on the team). I'm saying that because for the second year in a row, they are the U of C Graduate League CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!! I am so proud of my boys. Last year, I was unable to attend any of the games except for the play-offs, but this year, there were four of us girls who consistently went to cheer our boys on. I am convinced that we helped them reach the victory. :)

Here are some photos from the Championship game.

Beautiful form. Too bad the picture's fuzzy.

Cheer Section

Tied at the end of the game. We went into overtime! My blood pressure was entirely too high.

And we came out victorious! Such a close game.

My intramural-winning fiance and me.

All in all, a great season. Congrats, fellas. 3Ls, you'll certainly be missed next year.

It's Official :)

hello friends! It's my first blog of the new year! It's been a VERY long time since I blogged, and if you ever read my blog, you will know that I tend to write in spurts. I'm starting a new spurt. :)

The impetus for my new spurt: I'M ENGAGED!!!!!!!!

I am sooo blessed to have been provided the man of my dreams, and I am very excited about this new phase of our lives. Planning has begun, though it is progressing very slowly. I started a new quarter of school in January, and my free time quickly diminished. Fortunately, we are having a long engagement so I will have plenty of time to figure things out.



Second piece of exciting news: I am officially halfway through law school! We had our "Midway Dinner" last night at Maggiano's Little Italy here in Chicago. This is an annual celebration honoring the 2L class's midway point through law school. It's somewhat of a play on words, because our school is known for its huge "Midway" running through campus--it was the site of the World's Fair many many years ago and still exists as a garden/skating rink/sports field place for all of us to enjoy. It was really fun catching up with all my classmates and celebrating this accomplishment together.



Third piece of exciting news: I have been really fortunate this year to have a little extra time to do things I really enjoy. This means spending time at my favorite bookstore, reading novels, and crafting! I started a new project, making these cute little boxes for my nieces and nephews for their birthdays. I was even able to donate a couple to my school's auction to benefit my classmates who do public interest work in the summers. What a joy to do be able to do what I love and help people at the same time! I'm praising Jesus both for allowing me to have more free time and for allowing me to benefit people through it.



On my plate this quarter: Bankruptcy, Income Tax, Corporate Finance, and Commercial Leasing. It's going to be a great quarter, and I look forward to updating the blog more often! Have a great week!

New Year, New Outlook, New Food :)

School has started for the year, and I am so excited. I had a great summer in Houston, a super fun road trip with my little sister, and a great month off of school, but the beginning of the school year always brings a fun new treat for me. I moved into a new apartment in downtown Chicago and recently began my second year of law school. There are some definite perks to being a second-year, and I am very much looking forward to taking advantage of them! First, I get to choose all my classes and also be involved in other things the school has to offer that are only available to upper classes. This quarter, the classes I chose are: Trusts & Estates, International Trade Law, Corporations, and Microfinance.

In addition to those classes, I was fortunate enough to get into one of the clinics at school, called the Immigrant Child Advocacy Project. I will get to act as a guardian ad litem for an immigrant child who is detained in the United States without a legal guardian. I am so excited for this special opportunity and I cannot wait to get started. We had training this weekend, and the stories truly touched my heart.

In addition to school, I also plan to take more opportunities to be involved in UNICEF this year. I volunteered last year for an event called the Tap Project, and it was incredibly fulfilling knowing that my small efforts would make such a huge impact on children all over the world. This past week, I volunteered at a UNICEF event called Wine, Women, and Shoes. These events are held all over the country to raise money for non-profits, and this was my first time attending. I am convinced that the lady who started the program is a true genius. It was sooo fun getting dressed up and seeing all the ladies in their cute outfits, tasting wine, browsing the rows of shoes, handbags, and jewelry, and enjoying each other's company--all for such a wonderful cause! I am so thankful to be able to participate in an organization whose efforts save thousands of children's lives each year. In fact, we received a piece of news just a few weeks ago that really inspires me to continue giving as much as I can to this organization: the number of children who die from preventable causes has dropped from 25,000 per day to 24,000 per day, and UNICEF is a huge contributing factor to that drop. Hooray!!! Clearly, there is still a VERY long way to go, but we must rejoice that today, 1,000 more children had the opportunity to wake up and live a healthy life. What an amazing blessing.

Also, to the joy of all of those who enjoy cold weather, fall has hit Chicago with a bang. I should mention that I absolutely LOVE fall. Freshly sharpened pencils, the changing colors, the smell of football, a crispness in the air. There is no other time of year that makes me feel as cozy and happy as fall. And with fall comes lots of yummy treats. Pumpkin spice bread, turkey chili, spiced coffee, homemade hot chocolate with freshly whipped cream on top, mellowcreme pumpkins...the list is endless! And I am finding myself having to force restraint upon myself because so much of me wants to make a new treat every day. OH how I LOVE fall!!!!!!! It is really difficult for me to not "eek!" everytime I think of fall (and in fact, I often do anyway). You really just cannot beat a house filled with the smell of pumpkin spice bread in the oven and a hot pot of coffee. Love it. I have recently created my own hot chocolate recipe and will divulge that in a subsequent post. (be warned: it's very rich, so if you are not into super thick hot chocolate, you may be better off buying the package stuff)

In other news, Adrian is doing well, and we are both very happy to have his decision on a permanent job completed. (He will be going to work for Andrews Kurth in Houston upon graduation) We recently celebrated our 3-year dating anniversary and are very thankful that we have gotten to spend the last year and a half in the same city and school. He is such a wonderful gift, and I thank God for him daily. We have recently become members of a church here in Chicago and are so excited to be continually growing and learning.

I hope everyone is doing well, and I look forward to sharing more about my year! Until next time...

Supreme Court Justice and Shakespeare in the Law

This weekend my school had a Shakespeare and the Law conference, and Justice Breyer (a Justice on the Supreme Court) was here to visit. Although to the rest of the world it's probably not all that exciting, in the legal world it's a really big deal to get to see a Supreme Court Justice. I got to watch him perform one of Shakespeare's plays and also hear him talk on a panel about how Shakespeare's works reflected themes in the law. Supreme Court Justices always seem so unreachable, but it's pretty cool to go to a school where such important people want to visit. It's interesting to read someone's work day in and day out, as we do with the case law opinions written by Supreme Court Justices, and then get to see them in real life. It was also really interesting seeing someone who seems as though he should be really serious taking on a more playful and friendly role.

On a different topic, I only have two and a half more weeks until finals period begins, so prayers for my study time would be greatly appreciated. It's going to be a very busy next 5 weeks or so. I have three finals this quarter, and then I leave right afterwards to go to work in Houston. As soon as I finish my finals, I will begin the writing competition for our school journals. This competition involves a very intensive two weeks of reading, writing and editing, all of which I'll be doing while working a full-time job. I am very excited about this upcoming few weeks, but I know it will be intense.

Adrian has begun studying for finals. His finals begin in about another week. We are trying hard to take care of our health so we can give it our best during this intense period. There's nothing worse than being sick during finals period. Prayers for health would be appreciated too!

Keep checking in for my smart living tips. I'll be adding more soon. Have a fantastic weekend!

PROM!!!

If law school wasn't enough like high school, we had a prom to prove it. It was so much fun to get all dressed up and put on make-up (neither of which happen very much at all any more). The place was gorgeous, the food was delicious, and the dancing was great. For your viewing pleasure, I'm attaching the link to my photos posted on facebook. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2310669&id=9606378&l=1a9c3cd1c3

Only 3 weeks left!

I can't believe it...we only have three weeks of class left. The quarter system is so weird!

So we are definitely over the halfway mark and it has been an eventful last two weeks. As you know, the Presidential election was last week and it was an absolutely crazy week around the law school. In case you didn't know, Obama used to teach at my law school so the professors were pretty excited about the election overall. We had a huge election party at the law school, which was super fun. We had tons of law students stick around the law school all day on Tuesday and had lots of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy. A lot of students spent the day at various polling sites, working for the Obama campaign for the most part (my roommate was one of them). And a lot of our students went down to Grant Park to watch Obama's acceptance speech. I felt so honored to be in the city where Obama is "stationed."

There have been some changes, however, since Obama was elected. I live a few blocks up the street from him, so it has been kind of strange because they blocked off the street even further up, so you are no longer allowed to drive through the street I live on. In addition, since he works out in my building, it's a big ordeal every morning when he comes into the building. During the summer, he would have about two Secret Service guys come with him and they would just hang out in the hallway. Now, he brings an entire motorcade and we have to get waved by the metal detector before we go into the gym if he's there. So many of my classmates had seen him and I was pretty upset because I've lived here twice as long as most of them and still hadn't seen him...until Thursday :)

My roommate and I decided that we were just going to get up early and go down to the gym and hope that he would come at his usual time. We stayed there for an hour before he got there, but we finally got to see him! He smiled at me twice! I was super excited about it.

Also, I got to go to my first NBA game on Thursday (it was a very eventful day). Our school got a group discount on tickets so my friends and I got $20 tickets to see the Bulls. It was so much fun! (picture album link below)

I have had a really great time these last two weeks. School has continued to be challenging, of course, but I am still loving it. I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that we have finals in about a month. I really don't know what to expect, but I will be making out my practice test schedule within the next couple days, so hopefully once I get a chance to look at old exams I will have a better idea of what to expect.

It's starting to get colder here and it gets dark at around 4:30 everyday. That has taken quite a toll on a lot of us. The darkness tends to drain any energy we have left after class (when you feel like it's 8 o'clock at night and then realize it's only 4). It also affects people's moods. The drizzly, cold, dark weather is just a little depressing at times. But we're all doing a pretty good job of keeping each other encouraged and upbeat. I think the fast-paced quarter system helps with that, too, because we're always busy.

So overall, things are still good. We got the first drafts of our memos back, too, so we all have that to work on this weekend. We have to turn in a second draft on the 24th, and everyone has a lot of work to do. We have to keep reminding ourselves that we're just learning to become better at what we're doing and to not be offended by how many comments we got on our work.

I'm still working on trying to prepare for the job search. I revised my resume and cover letter, so all I have to do now is wait until Dec. 1. After having met with my adviser and my Bigelow fellow and other older students, I am thinking more about the options I have for a job for next summer. They keep telling us that we shouldn't work for a firm the summer after our 1L year, that we should try something else because it could be the only time we have a chance to do something random and fun. We'll see. I kind of want the money from a firm, but I also think it would be fun to do something different like work in one of our clinics. If you think about it, I would love prayers of wisdom for that.

Well, I'm off for the night. As always, I would love to hear from everyone. Until next time...


Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2263012&l=9f0e5&id=9606378