I'm back!!! Let 2011 begin!

Hello all!

Finally back in business. Just got my new battery for my laptop. So ready to be blogging again.

I am so ready for this new year. I have so many new plans and dreams. I am really excited about what is to come and can not wait to share with you all.

xoxo,

josslynn nicole

Life!!!!!!

Hello All,
Well quite a bit to tell you, I have turned 21, I have graduated from college, and I am now currently in New York about to celebrate New Years. To state the obvious, I have been busy, and I am without a lap top, so all the picture updates and stories are going tot have to wait, but know I have not forgotten you and I am soo excited aboutbwhat is to come!!!!

Xoxo
Josslynn nicole

too funny not to share

I'm on the phone with my mom, when , mid-sentence she says"OH No"

Of course, I respond with " What happened?"

"Ok, the lady, the British one from Princess Diaries... I think she died!!!!"

"WHAT?!?!"

"oh, oh no wait, she got an award I think."

I almost died from laughter....

xoxo

josslynn nicole

21st Bday/Christmas Wish List update

Well, after this epic Black Friday my wish list needs to be updated just a bit....

Money is always welcome!

- computer battery for HP laptop

-microsoft word for laptop

-TOCCA perfume (florence) from Anthropologie.com

-ankle socks

Gift card wish list

-Vons

-Visa - for gas money/bills (oh being a grown-up)

-Itunes

-Barnes and noble

-anthropologie

-Target

-Starbucks

xoxo,

josslynn nicole

Turkey and shots

This weekend, well Wednesday through Saturday were quite the whirlwind. I guess time at home seems that way a lot lately. The visits are so far and few between. And if they are closer together they are usually even mire rushed. This past holiday was no different. I drove home on wednesday with my bff Alyssa. That was a lot of fun, I haven't seen her since her birthday in October. As we drove home, in between checking texts from our mothers asking us where we were we got to catch up on each others lives and rock out to country music. That night my mom and I went and saw Burlesque, and I was quite impressed. The songs were incredible, and I am one again in love with Cam Gignadet ( the bad vampire from Twilight) Anyways, then Thanksgiving came and we headed over to my grandparents house. It was such a familiar feeling of tradition love and family all wrapped into one. All the uncles were there, which hasn't happened in quite some time, and it was very very nice. And before the feast we all held hands and prayed which was another reason to smile, as my brother talked to God in a familiar way, with wit and thanks for all the hands we were holding. This prayer even with it's element of humor was incredibly powerful, for my family to be praying, for my brother especially to be saying the prayer and for the love I felt surround all of us in that moment, it was just perfect. And then of course after prayer it was back to normal, people rushing to get plates, everyone trying to talk over the other, the dogs running around trying to score left overs and everyone cracking jokes at each others expense, thats my family, my moms side anyways, and it was just perfect! I wouldn't change a second of it.

After dinner it was time for the family picture and then everyone parted for their next destination, but for this couple hours home is what I felt. Then my brother and I in his car headed over to our step brother's house to celebrate with my stepdad's family. My step brother and his wife and my nephew were ther along with our other step brother and his wife. We all sat around the table listening to my nephews story on how he asked his date to homecoming and then spent the rest of the afternoon talking about what would have happened had she said no.

After that it was on to our last stop of the day, it was out to my dad's family. This was a subdued event since that side of the family lives all around the world. It was just my uncle, his very pregnant wife, my dad, my grandma and my brother. We enjoyed appetizers and then dessert and coffee and a little bit of dancing. It was vey relaxed, but not without it's own fill of smart alike comments. Those are the few common threads throughout my family, love and sarcasm. Then it was time to head home, to my moms. And time to prepare for black Friday our family tradition, we had all the ads out and mapped our route. Then the next morning we were out the door by 3am. That was a crazy busy day. Then Saturday came, and it was a day of errands, haircuts, and lunch dates. I went to lunch with my bff and then our friend who we've known since kindergarten, and used to be our bff but this was the first time we've seen her in ages. It was nice to reminisce and talk about our lives now. Then Lyss and I headed back to SB.

After this holiday season, looking back there are quite a few thoughts going through my head:
- I am so thankful to have my brother to go through all the different familly dynamics, I don't know what I would do without him.
- I am one very loved litle girl
- with time doesnt always come change, which is very nice when it comes to old friends
- family is like no other relationship you will ever have

- and I am so happy that Thanksgiving is finally over because that means we are that much closer to my 21st birthday and CHRISTMAS!!!!!

xoxo
josslynn nicole

(ps this was all written on my new iPad!!!)

the outfit i wish i was wearing...

(image via weheartit.com)

SJP... she's awesome!

wish i had her dress for our TOAST store opening!

Friendship....

This link is for Shannon, she is fabulous and she is in spain and I saw this blog post and thought of her. And I got to skype with her today, which pretty much made my week!

xoxo,

josslynn nicole

The Urban Initiative....

So... it crossed my mind tonight, that I haven't informed you of something that is a really big part of my life... its called The Urban Initiative, here is where you can find us. We used to be called Spring Break in the City, we felt like we were being called to make some big changes this year, and the name was just the beginning. We are an organization that goes into urban areas ans we just show God's love and we just go alongside the people there, and just do what we can for them. At the same time, we are exposing students at our college to the inner workings of what urban areas look like. This organization is incredible. I love it, and stand behind it. I just wanted to let you all know, and show you where you can find our organization!!!

xoxo,
josslynn nicole

Human trafficking and the sex trade ---- intense subject matter

(picture from different organization, but same purpose)

Many of you know that I am passionate about the abolishment of the sex trade and human trafficking, that being said, tomorrow kicks off the beginning of what is called "Global focus week" at our college. A group I am involved with, The Urban Initiative, is doing a video showing called Playground. Tonight we had a meeting to go over it and to discuss what we will be doing tomorrow. Once again it was heart wrenching and made me upset/angry/sad/confused/livid... and all kinds of other emotions. And once again the wheels started turning and the fire burned inside of me and all I could think was "how can I help?" What can I do? How can I change this? It was brought to my attention that this is not all on "us," we have a loving God, who is there for us, who loves us and who is still in charge when all these atrocious things are happeing. So, the first thing we are doing is showing the video tomorrow, on campus at 7pm. The next thing I want to start doing is working on ways to change this, even in the smallest way. I want to start something and it seems very overwhelming and daunting, but at the same time, I have so many ideas. I am prayerful that these ideas will become actions, that I won't get distracted by life, school, work, etc.
Here is the wonderful foundation that put this real documentary together. They are known as the Nest Foundation. I would love for all of you to visit their site! And if you can, make it out for their video tomorrow night!
xoxo,
josslynn nicole

in the comfort of your arms

this is the feeling evoked

I'm grown-up... when did that happen??

Ugh... its happening. I'm on my road to becoming a grown-up... eeekk!! I;m not so sure about this at all. I know that is for sure my fatal flaw, change. But I can't seem to get over it, or grow out of it for that matter. We are only in the second day of our senior year and the unavoidable topic is "what are you going ot do when you graduate?" For me, I have it pretty much figured out, unless God decides to throw me a curve ball, but my plan is pretty solid - stay in SB and work at TOAST- nothing extreme. However I feel like we are getting glimpses of life outside of college and not going to lie, its a little frightening. Right now I live in an apartment complex that is right up the street from college owned apartments, I live with three girls that graduated from my college, half of my apartment complex is students from my college, my roommates from freshman year live one block over and my guy friends have a house 5mins away. I dread the day we all move away, and we are not able to just walk over and see each other. And I fear that is coming sooner than I think... and I'm kind of freaking out. It hit me this weekend, as a group of us seniors were talking at the welcome bbq, we were sitting there reminiscing about dorm life, and getting to know each other that first year and then we began talking about the coming year. Several girls are already engaged, and we started discussing their upcoming weddings, other girls are discussing grad school and their boyfriends following them where ever they move. For me I find myself overwhelmed with soooo many thoughts.. first, after this year I will no longer be surrounded by people I've known forever. Well, at least for a long time... Luckily I will have my job, and I've known those girls for a little over a year. but many of my other close friends will be moving away. second, I will no longer identify with LA as my home, SB will become my new home and LA will be a place I visit at holidays. third, not having a boyfriend is not a choice i've made for myself... however I am busy so that makes it a little bit better, but its weird to see how differently the life paths we are taking are..... I mean my girl friends are getting MARRIED. its kind of crazy... next thing you know they are going to have CHILDREN... I guess I just cant believe it because I can't even imagine either scenario right now... but in my head I just think before I marry someone I want to have known them for a while... but of course that isn't up to me... I don't know God's plan. So.. right now I'm slightly freaked out, but I'm gonna be ok, and I may be growing up, but I can still love all things childlike or not.

xoxo,

josslynn nicole