1

Here it goes, a new blog for a new age. I am 24 years old, and it just doesn't seem real. I feel like I was 18 only a week ago and here I am...this older and supposedly wiser young woman. My mother had her first child before she was 24 years old and was shortly thereafter pregnant with me. I don't know how she did it. When I was younger I always thought 20-25 was SO old...now I take it back. I still feel very young and nervous about life. I am just not ready for grown-up things or marriage/kids. But perhaps I can fill you all in on my life as it happens along the way and somewhere along this path you can be with me as I experience these things...

My name is Amanda Laren and I am 24 years old. I have two brothers (25 and 20), I am a lefty, I love decorating, I especially love travelling to new places, and I read more than the average person watches television. I have the social anxiety disorder, I love beer, I have seven tattoos, and two years ago adopted an old blind/deaf toy-poodle that owns all rights to my heart.

Now that you understand a little bit more about me, I can begin.

I am currently on break at work. I work in Detroit at an oil refinery doing the administrative end for the Safety department. I work around 40+ hours per week and definitely don't ever get enough sleep or food.
It's Monday and though I usually prefer Monday's to Tuesday's, today I am feeling particularly grouchy.
I had one of those nights where you aren't sleepy, so you lie awake for what feels like hours and end up half sleeping and waking up every half hour throughout the night. When it came time to drag myself out of bed, I simply brushed my teeth, threw my hair in a bun, added some cover-up and mascara (to hide my circles), put on my clothes and walked out the door. Typically I don't do much more in the morning because I am a night-owl and mornings are not my thing, but today was just horrible. My body is sore, I have spider bites on my ankles, have a headache, need to hydrate my body, and I am getting congested.

FYI I tend to complain a lot. I definitely use too many I's as well. It bothers the bloody hell out of me. It's a love-hate relationship, but since this is a blog and it's supposed to be about ME, well....there's no getting around it. I apologize in advance.

This past weekend my brothers and I went to get pictures taken at JCPenny in the portrait studio. My mom let the hint drop that she'd like a portrait of us since we haven't had a sibling photograph professionally taken since I was 4...yes 20 years ago. Oy vey, it was right after Todd cut my hair up to my ears...she was very upset about that. All I can say is that these are MUCH past due. Here is a sneak peak. The photographer wasn't great and only took about 12 pictures and had us do two poses...(is this normal?). She didn't seem that knowledgeable with the process. Nevertheless I am very pleased that we have a few good ones (will post later). We ended up ordering one for each parent, one for our grandma and nanie (our other grandma) and two 5x7 (for me). I can order more for 90 days but I also have printscreen at work and can just copy them that way and print elsewhere. Technically you have to pay for the rights of their photographs and can't copy from the website but that tool comes in handy and I'm not paying 25 bucks for 12 pictures on a cd. I plan to go to JoAnn Fabrics and get some nice frames for them. My mom will be SO excited when she sees them.

I only have the pictures with frames left to wrap for Christmas presents and to get something for my step dad and I will be all set for Christmas! I am an obsessive pre-planner and gift-giver. I have around 30+ gifts waiting on my table in my room. We have no tree yet but I hope we get one soon as they are really taking up a lot of my space. I'll have to take some to my mom's some time soon.

After the presents are out I can start organizing my room/move to a new apartment. Depends on my funding situation... I hate being young and without money. It's the worst feeling that you are going nowhere fast. I pray that God gives me strength and my love for him keeps me strong. Which reminds me, I thought up my New Year's Resolution...will share soon.

Pictures will follow.

xo amanda