Went to a wedding...

Kody and I went to a wedding of the son of his parents' family friends. It was a beautiful wedding with an ice blue, black, and white. It was so much different than the many weddings I have gone to with Kody, and I have to say I really liked it.

I got some great decorations out of it and I was able to discuss many things about what Kody and I want with his family. We are slowly getting things nailed down. I am really getting into this whole wedding planning.

One thing, however, that bothers me is the intolerance of some people there. I know you will find it anywhere, but this is a wedding (a happy time), yet people seem to be so judgmental. At the traditional Catholic ceremony, there are many Catholic rituals that I don't take part in. One, I am not Catholic. Two, because I am not Catholic, I don't believe in doing them. Some people were looking around judging those who chose not to partake in the rituals, which I didn't think was fair. It was almost as if I was not "Godly" enough because I didn't take communion, or do some of the chants, or that cross motion over my head. I very much am a Christian, but I don't need to partake in those aspects that I do not believe are Biblically sound. It is between God and I. Not those who chose to judge me.

There are just so many things about a wedding I never think of that make my mind boggle. It is SO expensive to get married. I want a nice wedding, but I am fine with the low-end everything. I am a broke college student trying to get by, and paying for a wedding was absolutely not in my college budget. I am doing whatever I can, but as payments begin rolling around, I am going to struggle.

I just have to remember it is the marriage that matters. Not the wedding itself.

Tuition Headaches

Since I am already in the complaining mood from last night and earlier today, I am going to continue it with an email we received from the president of Drake, stating tuition is going up next year. Lovely.

Again? Why didn't I choose a school with tuition lock where every year was the same? My scholarships don't go up, but my tuition does? Not fair. I mean seriously, they should make the scholarships inflate just like the tuition, at the very least.

Actually, why not just not increase tuition? I love how the email said Drake does its best to keep the costs low. Low compared to what? Compared to the 13 other similar Midwest colleges. Wow. What would really make Drake stand out is tuition lock...just sayin'.

I have a feeling most of what is in that letter is BS to keep us quiet. I think there is no need to increase tuition, room, board, activities fees, and the like as much as they will. I didn't see a 3 - 5% inflation anywhere else in my life in the past year (with the exception of my beloved peanut butter, but those circumstances were different). Especially in incomes. I am thinking college is becoming only for the wealthy. This will only make the rich richer and the poor poorer. But you don't need to hear me rant about social classes. Maybe another post.

It isn't too exciting but you can read it here: http://www.drake.edu/students/tuitionletter2012_students.pdf

Interviews...

I just finished an interview for the Principal Financial scholarship and I have to say it went well. I am not a good interviewee and I know that, but the two people I interviewed with were amazing. I couldn't have asked for anything better in an interview process.

Happy Eryn after her interview

I really wish I would have caught each of their names because the definitely deserve a thank you note. I was relaxed, gave great responses, and felt like I had an overall great interview thanks to them. That is what interviews should look like. I need to take notes from this interview.


I am going to be honest and say that I don't think I got the scholarship but the interview provided great experience for me. I would love to say I won't be bummed to not get the scholarship, but I definitely will. I am hoping and praying for the best!

Wrong Image

This is a video from my new favorite site to hate, Atheistconnect.org. This video, called God vs. $20 has this guy attempting to show the ridiculous nature of the Christian faith, but instead proves its wonderful workings more and more. I am not sure anyone on Atheist Connect realizes how silly it makes this guy look, but I appreciate his act of proving how kind God is to us all.

These people are living out of a van but are happy because of the love of God. His Atheistic mind can't wrap around their joy. I love it.

Money, Money, Moneeeey.....Monay!

Kaila and I went shopping today. I know, nothing special. You don't have to tell me twice. We do the same thing just about every week or so. We go to Walmart (and sometimes Hy-Vee, and today Walgreens) to get our groceries for the week.


However, this was the first time since Kaila has been well that we have cared about saving money on our trips.


Here is a breakdown of today's trip:

1. We began at Hy-Vee 
1. Saved $12 in coupons
2. Saved at least $10 more in sales from the store
2. Moved on to Walmart
1. Saved about $10 in coupons
2. A few things were also on sale
3. Walgreens
1. Bought two packages of Nabisco crakers priced at $2.10 each
2. Used a $.99 store coupon
3. Used a $1 off two Nabisco coupon
4. Got $4.20 worth of things for $.98

I know this math and these facts may bore some people to death, but Kaila and I love it. Saving this much money feels great. These are things we will buy anyway, so why not save money in the process?

We plan to become better at this whole couponing thing one day and save loads of money. I shall keep you updated on those adventures.

Taking Things Into My Own Hands

I hate when I am being a Debbie Downer in life. Today has been one of those days.

I had to mail out a new transcript request form to DMACC today because my History credits from this past summer did not transfer correctly. Because of this, I now have to register on a completely different day and I truly hope it does not hinder my ability to get into the classes I want to be in. I have to be positive about this. It is just a schedule. Nothing less. Nothing more.

I have decided that I am going to take 18 credits next semester. This may be a bad idea, but if I do this now, I can take 15 the rest of my semesters, have two majors and a minor, and graduate on time. I think this is the correct thing for me. I may absolutely hate next semester, but that is okay with me for right now.

Talking to my roommates today, I found out that they each get so much more financial help than I do. I know that the FAFSA has significantly helped me out, but otherwise I am in this alone. I am going to have loans out my ears by the time I graduate, and I hate that feeling. I just wish I could have known before I started college just how expensive this would be to me. This may have helped if my parents hadn't lied to me about helping me out in college. Then I wouldn't have gone to such an expensive one.

However, I do not need to be down about this. I should be proud that I am paying my way through college without any help at all. That is a true feat in life. While some people get everything handed to them, I get to learn how to value what I have. While some people sit around and do nothing, I work 3 jobs and take the maximum amount of credits to get the most our of my education. How can I be upset about that? Sure, now it seems that I am stressed, but It will all be worth it in the end. I am sure of it.

Boyfriend Blues

I cannot believe it has been almost a month since my last post. I am slacking. Majorly. So I am a little frustrated right now (when am I not?) and I feel like talking things out will help me vent a little.

I just spent the last 5 days or so with my boyfriend at his sister's house. I had a really good time, and he is so easy to live with. In just those 5 days I know I could live with him for the rest of my life without a problem. However, his lifestyle is different from mine. We are both college students, but he spends money like it is going out of style, while I am struggling to make ends meet sometimes. I am in need of a new car, so I am saving every penny I can, and he is buying new guns, and movies, and useless things. That bothers me.

Call me jealous. Yeah you are right. He has more money than I do. Well his parents have more money than I do and they give him money for....being him....so I guess it is his money. I have had to work for my hard earned money and yet I can't seem to save up enough for a car. To make matters worse, I can't even get a loan. Great. But honestly, he has loans too and things he needs to save up for. However, since it isn't affecting him now, he thinks it never will.

I want to be independent from my parents. I all ready am. His older brother (like 27 or so in age) is still on his parent's car insurance, cell phone bill, and probably still gets money from them for whatever he wants. It disgusts me. My boyfriend is going to be that way one day. I know it. He is never going to learn the value of money. That is one major issue I need to work out with him.

Another issue is purity. He doesn't have to worry about that, but I certainly do. I want to stay pure and I am doing everything I can to make sure that happens. However, he and I have different images of what that really is. It doesn't matter how many times I tell him where my boundaries are, he keeps crossing them. I have no clue why. It drives me insane. It wears me out. I cannot have this kind of pressure in my life constantly, but I don't want to lose him. I know my standards are high, but they are not unreachable. They are obtainable. But for some reason he doesn't seem to get it right.

And yet another issue is how he constantly makes fun of others. That really makes him sound like a cocky jerk. Everyone else has problems that are beyond repair in his eyes, and he lets you know it. He is never wrong, but you always are. He is too prideful. One day I wish he could see how I don't love him for all the great things he can do, or has accomplished, or how many girls stare at him: I love him for what he stands for, and what is in his heart, and how he treats me like I am a princess, and how he would do anything for me, and he lights up when he sees me. He is so much more than he has been acting lately.