Updates :)

        Holy crap it has been forever since I have blogged.  I have been so busy with last minute trips home, the state fair, getting ready for school, working and a baby shower!  I have finally had a couple of extra minutes to breathe.

I don't have a lot of time tonight since I just finished homework and I still need to eat dinner and clean my apartment.  So I will give y'all a brief overview of whats going on until I can sit down and do a full post.

1.  My aunt Meg had her baby shower this last weekend.  My grandma and I traveled to Chicago to help my aunt and her hubby celebrate their baby boy Henry and to deliver his cradle that my Grandpa hand-made and the bedding my Grandma sewed.  It was a really fun time :)

2.  I started my senior year of college yesterday! (wow...)  and I couldn't be happier with my classes, professors, etc. so far!!  

3.  Tyler and I are doing well.  Finally completely settled into our apartment and working on establishing our school routine.  Overall we are enjoying our little place and each other :)

4.  Ralph is coming to stay with Ty and I in a couple weeks when my mom goes to Mexico with her BFF.  Hopefully him and Lois will get along okay so that Ralph can come live here permanently.  My fingers are crossed!

5.  I have been in my own drawer at Veridian for a week now.  I have balanced my drawer perfectly every day and I really enjoying getting to know my co-workers!  The ladies at my branch are too fun :)

6.  Tyler and I have been thinking about our plans for this coming summer since we will be graduating in the spring.  (still cant believe it).  So far we are thinking that we are going to move to Louisville, Kentucky.  Tyler and I have been doing lots of research and we both really like it.  Hopefully we can save up and take a trip down during spring break in March to check it out.

7.  My papa started his next round of Chemo today.  He is feeling okay but the best.  He is eating alright but has been very tired and has had severe nausea.  Everyone please keep him in your prayers.  We are all fighting for him <3

8.  I love life and I honestly could not be happier right now...  well I take that back I would love a little extra cash but hell I can't complain.  I have thee best boyfriend and mother in the whole world and everything seems to be falling into place.  

Love, Jenna Rose   :)

Veridian :)

So I had my 3rd day of training at Veridian Credit Union today.  I haven't even officially started my actual job yet and I am already in love.  I absolutely love my job.  The people I've met so far are great and I am learning so much and it is such a great organization/company. This is the best training I have ever had.  It is more than just job training.  We talk about leadership and making changes and all kinds of really useful stuff.  What I learn in training will stay with me everywhere I go.  

One thing I really enjoy about it is that they encourage everyone to say everything they need to say about work to one another before they go home.  So when you are at work you focus on work and when you are at home you focus on your family and friends.  I love it!  It is so refreshing to have a job that I actually love and that I am interested in and that is important.  

I am so happy with life :)

What's New :)

So it was a super fun weekend in Chicago.  Tyler, Keith and I helped Ty's mom move some stuff into her new place and we went out to our favorite sushi place before seeing the Dark Knight Rises on Friday night at the coolest movie theater ever (Muvico in Rosemont).  We spent some quality time with Ty's mom Michelle, his future step dad Sal, his brother Alex and his Sister Rachel and her new boyfriend Cody.  We went to Six Flags: Great America on Saturday.




We rode most of our favorite roller coasters besides the awful heat and extremely long lines.  We rode the brand new one called X Flight it was super fun. 








 Saturday night we went out for dinner at Sal's families pizza place.  We had to get up at 4:30 this morning so that we could be downtown by 6:00 for Chicago Rock N' Roll half-marathon that Keith was in.  







We rode the train downtown, saw Keith off and then waited outside Starbucks for 15 minutes until they opened.  We had a cup of coffee and met Keith at his 6th mile. 


 We walked around for a bit and then went to see him cross the finish line.  Tyler and I saw a runner carrying her friend on her back after she hurt her leg.  The medics tried to take her friend off her and pull her aside but her friend wanted to carry her across the finish line.  This was all happening while the chorus of Stronger by Kelly Clarkson was playing.  It was a very movie like moment.  Afterwards we got some breakfast we were going to head over to the after race celebration where Cobra Starship was going to preform but we were all kinda pooped so we headed home for a nap.  We had a family dinner at Chili's before heading out of town.  





We made it back in really good time with no bad weather or any other issues which is always nice.  It certainly feels good to be home and it will feel even better to sleep in my own bed tonight.  I have to work all week 10-5 so that's a bummer but I've got to pay the bills.  Alex decided to come back and stay with us for a week or two so that will be fun as well.  I start my training at Veridian this coming week so I am super pumped for that.  The training is in Cedar Rapids so that's kind of inconvenient  but it will be worth it.   My papa and grandma are coming to visit this weekend before my papa starts another round of chemo.  I hope I am able to spend some time with them.  Not much else is going on.  It has been a busy busy weekend, I am ready to relax and head back to school here in a month!  Time for bed.



JennaBoBenna :)

cool finds.

I don't really have much to say today.  Everything is going okay.  Tyler, our friend Keith and I  will be heading to Chicago this weekend.  Keith is running a half-marathon in the city.  Cobra StarShip is the after run band.  Tyler and I really like them so we are pretty excited about that.

I am going to post a couple of cool things I came across today.  I hope you enjoy :)

I found all of these creations on Pinterest.  I have not made any of them and I do not take credit for them in anyway shape or form.  If you want to see the full recipes look in my likes and pin boards on my Pinterest page.

Cucumber & Cottage Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes

 Turkey Lettuce Cups ^           Avacado & Fried Egg Breakfast Pizza ^  

                     

 Mozzarella, Spinach & Tomato Pastry Bites

 Fruit Sherbet in Lemon Bowls

The YourEcards are hilarious! I just really like the other quote.  

Sorry about the weird formatting.  I am still learning and experimenting and the computer is temperamental.  

JennaBoBenna :)

Life.

You really never know what life is going to throw at you.  Everyone always says when it rains it pours.  What sucks is that I have never heard a positive version of that saying.  You never hear anyone say oh yeah one good thing happened to me then a ton of things did right after.  

I am back home and back to work after my trip to Michigan.  I am still really shaken up and thrown off by the whole thing.  I am so lucky to have the support that I do.  I thank all my friends and family for that everyday.  It was so good to spend time with my grandma and to walk into the hospital Thursday morning and see my papa's bright and shining face drinking his coffee and reading the paper.  He went home today from the hospital and he is starting to feel much better.  His oncologist is still out of town so we won't know the plan until he gets back.  I can sleep a little bit easier tonight knowing that my papa is in his own home and that he is comfortable.  It was really hard to leave him but I know that he is in good hands.  My grandma loves him more than anything and she is so wonderful.  His doctors are amazing as well.  And of course God is with him every second through this storm.

On a lighter note I just got a new job.  I am beginning work at Veridian Credit Union as a teller in Iowa City in a couple of weeks.  I am pretty excited about it too!  It was hard to be excited at first but now that everything is sinking in and getting back to normal I can be happy for myself.  It is going to pay me really well and it is super close to school and my apartment. 

I am really excited for school too.  I met with my academic adviser on Friday and everything is going as planned.  I will be graduating in May.  I seriously cannot believe I am at this stage in my life.  I always wanted to be here when I was younger and now its happening and I don't know what to expect.  There are so many things going on in my head and I have so many options who knows what will happen come June of next year.  All I know is that I will be celebrating my mom's 50th birthday and 21st birthday surrounded by our favorite people somewhere warm and tropical!  We are thinking Turks and Caicos!  Has anyone been there?  I would love to hear about it!

Your continued thoughts and prayers are much appreciated :)

JennaBoBenna :) 

Papa Bear :)

Well today is July 10th.  I haven't posted in awhile for a number of reasons.  I have been sick, working and out of town.  I am writing today from the waiting room at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  My mom, aunt and I made the trip here yesterday.  My papa was supposed to have surgery to remove his esophageal cancer.  We just got called back to chat with the doctor about an hour ago.  The cancer has spread to his colon, pancreas, and liver.  It is a hard day for my family.  My papa is our rock.  He is strong and smart and brave and he is one of the best men I know.  As I look back today at pictures and thinking about different memories; it is hard to fight back the tears.  This outcome was not when any of us had expected.  (He mowed the lawn yesterday!)  We will continue to fight with him and for him and we won't give up.  We know he won't give up either.  He has taught me so many things in my life:  If you want it.. go get it AND if there is a will there is a way :)

Love you Papa <3

I know you will be there for my graduation and my wedding! I am counting on it!

JennaBoBenna :) 

It's Hump Day!

Just a random title.. My post will have nothing to do with humping in any way shape or form. :)

So I am going home on Friday and I cannot wait to see my mom and my puppy and the rest of my family!  It has been way too long.  I also love Urbandale during 4th of July time.  The carnival, and the street dance, and the parade!  I might see a couple of high school friends when I am home too.

I  mentioned in a post earlier this week that my check engine light in my car went off so I got really excited.  Now, my air conditioning is not working and the screeching under my tires is getting worse and worse by the day.  My gas light is about to come on too....thank goodness that is easily fixed, not cheap but easy haha.  I have been driving to houses all over since I have been cleaning for Helping Hands and driving to work at TjMaxx, so 20 bucks didn't last me very long.

I am getting nervous too.  I haven't seen my papa since he was diagnosed with cancer.  I hope nothing has changed about him.  He was there when I was born and he has been such a big part of my life.  He has been there for every major event in my life and I don't want that to stop anytime soon.  He is strong and brave and besides the cancer is really healthy.  I know he can make it through anything because he has taught me that I can.  His surgery to remove his cancer is on the 10th.  My mom and I and my aunt are heading up there to help my grandma take care of him.  He will have to have home health care and a feeding tube for some time. If I had the choice I would stay with him till he was fully recovered but then my rent would go unpaid and I don't think the management company would appreciate that very much.  Please keep my family in your prayers these next couple of weeks.  We certainly need and appreciate them! :)

I have another slightly less important predicament.  I need to change my hair and I am unsure what to do.  Should I keep it long and dye it cool colors or should I cut it off and get low lights?  The last time I had short hair I think I was 14, like a freshman in high school.  I really liked it then so why not now..right?

Here are a couple of pictures I am using for inspiration.  Please let me know what you think!!

       



I really like those yourecards things.  So many of them apply to my life in so many ways haha.  I am going to post a bunch that I really like later tonight or tomorrow morning,.  Look forward to them!




JennaBoBenna :)

Randomness

I feel so silly because I forgot to bring some pretty important things to attention in my introductory blog post.

1.  I currently live with my boyfriend Tyler in Iowa City.  We have been together for 2 years and 3 months.  We love to watch movies, play with Lois and Louie and hang out with friends!  He is one of the most amazing people I know and I would be totally lost without him.

2.  I have thee most amazing mother in the world.  I miss her terribly every single day.  She is hard-working, strong and incredibly brilliant.  She has taught me everything I know and I would not be successful at anything if it wasn't for her support, encouragement, motivation, and guidance.  I cannot wait to see her on Friday.

3.  I totally forgot to mention my favorite show SONS OF ANARCHY! I cannot believe I did that.  haha :) 

The show is awesome and everyone should watch it.  

Also, Tyler and I watched a pilot on HBO tonight, the show was called the Newsroom.  It was really good.  It's basically about a very famous news anchor with a bad attitude and a lot to say.  During one of first scenes he is on a panel at Northwestern and a student asks a very intriguing question:  In one sentence or less...What makes America the best country in the world?   I think his answer is amazing. The link is below.  

The first story they cover in the Newsroom is the Gulf Oil Spill and that is really interesting too.  The show just premiered tonight so I can't post the whole episode but I would definitely recommend watching it.  I am not very political and I don't pay a lot of attention to the news.  I don't know if it is because I don't really understand or I don't care about all of it but there a segment in the show tonight that really spoke to me about news and politics and I think that this show is going to serve a true purpose.  

The Newsroom Trailer

And just for a quick update on my life... :)

I started a new job cleaning houses for a friend of my families and so far it is going really well and I am super excited that I got this opportunity.  I am working at TjMaxx too, so I am working 2 jobs for now.  I am super proud of myself because I don't have to ask my mom for rent money this month!  It sounds like I'm growing up guys!! haha :)  I am going home this weekend to see my mom, grandma and grandpa and my papa and grandma are visiting from Michigan.  I haven't seen my grandma and grandpa in a couple of months and I haven't seen my papa and grandma in over a year!  My papa is undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer so it is really important that I spend some quality time with him.  I am excited to see Ralphie too!  I am going to miss Tyler, Lois and Louie back in Iowa City and I am going to miss out on a trip to Dana's lake house but it will be worth it.  Oh and the check engine light went off in my car so that is always good!!

I plan on posting some cool pictures and recipes tomorrow so get excited! :)

JennaBoBenna :)

First Post EVER!

THIS IS MY FIRST BLOG POST EVER.  I was inspired by my new friend Madie :) I have been writing and rambling my whole life.  I guess its about time I put it up online.  I'm not exactly sure what to say on here and I don't know if anyone will even read this but if you do I hope you enjoy it and if you don't then I guess you won't see this. haha :).  I think I will have a good time writing it and overall this is for me right? RIGHT!

I think I will probably post recipes, jokes/memes, pictures, and other interesting anecdotes.  I will probably ramble about random stuff, ask y'all advice and maybe give some of my own.  I guess we will just have to see where this goes.. who knows?

So I guess I will start with introducing myself.  The obvious..My name is Jenna.  I am from Urbandale, IA.  I currently live in Iowa City, IA.  I am going to be a senior at the University of Iowa in the fall.  I am studying Communication Studies and Recreation and Sports Business. I am hoping to get my Masters of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Roosevelt University after I graduate.  Roosevelt is in Chicago.  I really love Chicago and I can't think of another place I would want to move, well besides...the Caribbean.  I would love to work for the United Center, the Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, etc. 

Things I LOVE:::

-Hawkeye Football

-Purple

-All Chicago Sports (Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks and the Cubs)

-Shopping at Maurices and TJMaxx

-Watching my favorite TV shows = The Walking Dead, Dexter, Game of Thrones, Friends, etc.

-Coca-Cola, spaghetti, potatoes, shrimp, bread sticks, and  all fruits and most veggies.

-Drawing and painting 

-Dancing and singing

-Riding horses and just being around them

-My little apartment in the country with boyfriend Tyler and my best friend Dana.

-My precious moments blanket I've had since I was a baby

-My puppies Ralphie :) and Lois :) and my bunny Louie :)

- My Family and Friends <3

I think this is good for my first posting.. I hope! (I got a little wild with the fonts, colors, sizes, etc.  ;)  I will post a couple of cool things later today! If you have any suggestions let me know!!

JennaBoBenna :)