National Novel Writing Month

In case you didn't already know, November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). So the goal is to write a novel (goal: 50,000 words) during the 30 days of November. NaNoWriMo is an organization (www.nanowrimo.org)and people all over the country actually attempt to write a novel during this month. There are groups all over the country, and I had my first meeting with the North Alabama group this weekend.

I'm, of course, a little nervous about the concept of writing 50,000 words in 30 days, but after meeting with the other writers... I'm totally pumped!
I felt a little out of the loop because pretty much everyone else is planning to write fantasy, sci-fi, horror or adventure and I plan on writing a Chick Lit novel... but they were encouraging to me even though I was the "odd-ball."

My story will be about one girl's dating adventures/misadventures on her search for Mr. Right. So... I'm a little cliche, but this is my first attempt at really writing a book and this is something that I feel like I can really try to do.

I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. I've been talking about writing forever, so now it's time to stop talking and start writing.
We're going to find out what I'm really made of!
Wish me luck!

Carri's To-Do List

1) Do not lose yourself – new surroundings should be an opportunity to discover more

2) Do not depend on how other people act to decide how you want to act

3) Do not let the worry of judgment suffocate your silliness

4) Write – every day, about everything, just write

5) Be happy – make yourself be happy. Look for the best and make it shine

6) Love him. Remind yourself why you love him. Encourage the things that make you love him

7) Be creative. Collage, draw, embrace the wedding as an outlet (and do others just for fun)

8) Be healthy. Learn to cook new things, learn new exercises, embrace health

9) Don’t stop learning. Sign up for a class, join a new club, don’t hold back

10) Keep the Optimism: Remember to find the silver lining in your thoughts about yourself, about your talents, about your life.

My TV debut

How could I have forgotten to mention that I made my official TV debut on June 1, 2011!!!???
I was representing NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) and talking about some of the top winners in the Parenting Resources competition for 2011.

It was so exciting!!!

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/17751636/best-and-safest-baby-gear?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7038918

Every day is my Saturday

Oh my goodness how things have changed since I last wrote on here! The boyfriend DID become the Fiance. On our 4 year anniversary he popped the question, and I - of course- said Yes. Even though it means that I now live in Alabama... It's officially been 1 week of living in the south. I'm still alive, so that's a good sign.

Now for the serious question: How is Alabama living up to my expectations???

Well, there are things that are exactly as I expected. Such as: most people I've talked to have been very nice. Most parents I've seen at Wal-Mart have been completely awful and unfit to be parents. It is hot... and humid... and there are bugs.

Things I was not expecting: the lack of certain chains that I love, i.e. Jimmy John's and Dunkin' Donuts. (And it's not even that I love donuts, because I actually hate them, but sometimes a girl just gets a craving for a Coffee Coolata.) I was also not expecting my recycling to leave me a little notice letting me know that they do not collect: Glass, pizza boxes, fruit containers, large cardboard, etc... seriously --- what are you good for????

I'm also slightly worried about the job prospects here because I am finding an abundance of Sales jobs, but if I learned anything the last 6 months, it is that I do not want to work in Sales. So keep your fingers crossed for me as I seriously launch my job search. A dream job would be working promotions for a radio station, TV station, or a book publishing company. I'm going to try my best to keep positive thoughts about this. Being "Funemployed" I'm actually finding it a bit hard to keep track of the day. So everyday pretty much feels like Saturday to me - I guess that's not a bad thing :)

I'll let you know how things go!!

From Boston To 'Bama!

Well, isn't life just a big ball of craziness?? Life seems to enjoy keeping me on my toes and totally ignoring any plans I try to make. So in that spirit, I am moving to Alabama!
I'm not moving until the end of June, but that is actually coming up pretty quickly. My boyfriend got a job teaching high school in Huntsville, so we are getting ready to pack up and go on our next adventure.

At first I was totally against the idea of moving to Alabama - I mean, seriously.... Alabama??? But I did go visit for a weekend and I think it will be a very nice place to live. It's still hours away from all of my friends and family, and I don't know anybody there, and I have no idea where I'm going to work, but I'm really trying to tell myself that I will enjoy it once I get there.

Honestly, my feelings about it change throughout the day. I'm excited to move somewhere warmer, with less traffic, and supposedly much nicer people... but I'm nervous to try to start my life all over again. I am bummed that I feel like I worked really hard to create a life here in Boston, and now I'm kind of abandoning it. I guess I've already made my decision, and that is that this boyfriend of mine is important enough to me that I will follow him all over this country if it means we can be together.

But seriously, if this "boyfriend" doesn't become my "fiance" pretty soon... I may just drive back to Chicago and never leave. (Sorry, that's not very optimistic. Haha!)

February gets gypped

Seriously? Why do some months get 31 days, most others get at least 30, and poor February only gets 28. Every 4 years we feel sorry for it and give it another day, but it is still the shortest month of the year. Poor February.

Although I'm not really a fan of winter, so I guess I should look at it as a quick month bringing Spring even sooner - *Optimism*

I wanted to share that thought about February, and I also wanted to announce that after all my whining about creativity and wanting to write blah blah blah... I've finally come up with a concept for a novel!!!! YAY!!

It will be a Young Adult fiction novel, with a female main character. It will be focused on a young girl coming of age and learning to make her own luck and her own adventures. Because, let's be honest, life doesn't not always give us what we want, and sometimes we have to make things happen ourselves.

Ok, now that I wrote it here I have to actually write it! Hold me to it!! I'm sure it'll take a while to fully complete, but at least I have somewhere start now.

I'm soooo excited!

New Year! Big things are coming in 2011!

Oh my goodness! This new year is going to be full of new things. I know that's pretty cliche to say, but it's true!

To begin, I'm starting off this year at my brand new job! I was promoted from my part-time position to a full-time job!!! Yay!! I'm totally excited for a 40-hour work week and health benefits (lol what a nerd!). Maybe now I'll finally be able to save a little bit from my paycheck instead of breaking even each month.

Although, my big plans for my little paycheck extras is a trip to Germany in June! My boyfriend is going with the Harvard choir and I'm definitely taking the opportunity to tag along. I'll be buying my plane ticket soon (Special thanks to everyone in my family who made their Christmas donations to the "Send Carri to Germany Fund")

Also, I have a very exciting wedding to attend in October as one of my bff's got engaged on Christmas morning. She is the first of my besties to get engaged, and I'm soo excited for her (and I'm slightly hoping that this starts a chain reaction. Ha ha!)

See!? Lots of new things in 2011! And it may just be all the cold medicine talking, but I'm feeling pretty optimistic about this year :)