. time flies .

Time flies when you're having fun! Or when you're busy!!
Tomorrow at 1:30 I am scheduled to take my last final for the semester...say WHAT?? I remember just posting a picture on Instagram (follow me: elisesandrina) of my outfit that I was to wear the first day of class and tomorrow is my last final. Where did the time go?

I have been incredibly busy between work and school. It was exactly what I needed, and only God knew that. I have made some incredible friends this past semester, most of them at work. I wasn't interested in making friends but I've made friends that mean the world to me.

I have done pretty good this semester and my grades are better then expected. It is always hard to keep hanging in there during finals week. I managed to get the flu this past week so I'm recovering from that. I was lucky enough to only have 2 finals, and some papers due. I don't think I could have handled much more.

16 weeks ago was my first day of class. And 5 months from yesterday I will walk across that stage to get my degree! YAY college graduations :)

I am so blessed to have a God who knows what is best for me...what I needed most. Sure it hasn't always been the easiest, but I've made it through. I relocated, reacclimated, mourned friendships that didn't last, and made new friends that are for life. I don't know if I would have done as good this semester if it wasn't for those people!!

My favorite time of year is just around the corner. I will be heading to the Great White (not right now) North to celebrate with my brother in law's family. Can't wait to have a day of complete relaxation!

What do you have planned for the holidays??

xoxo E

ps. my sister has a fashionblog and yours truly made a small little appearence there :) go check it out right here

. favorites .

Hi ya'll!

Ater going through the 500+ pictures on my phone, I found some pictures of really cute outfits I wore this semester. Since this semester is coming to an end, I figured I would give you a selection of my favorite outfits

{ 1st day of classes }

{ work dinner party }

{ new go-to summer outfit }

{ meeting with the president of my school...excuse the flash }

{ debate outfit }

{ favorite winter outfit }

 

Sorry about the quality of my pictures...my phone is pretty good but it could be better. I'm the worst at taking pictures of myself :)

 

Hope ya'll like the outfits. If you like to know where something is from, I'll be glad to tell you where it's from!

 

Hope you had a great Monday!!

 

xoxo E

. Upper Crust Christmas party .

Hi ya'll!

It's almost Christmas!! I'm seriously so excited! Today we had a Christmas party at work, where we did some crafts and had a secret santa gift exchange. It was a blast! We got there and these beauties were waiting for us

How cute is it to wear matching pj's when your in your 20's! :)

We started doing some crafts (making Christmas ornaments) before breakfast was served. My boss came in especially to make each employee their own breakfast. I picked french toast, with home fries and bacon...so darn good! Probably the best breakfast I have ever eaten..thank you Jim!!

I made these lovely crafts by myself..they all match (I've got a serious problem matching things)

{old sheet music modge podge ornament}

After the amazing breakfast, and craft time it was time for presents!!
These are some pics from the girls opening their gift!!

 

 

 

 

Then it was time for me to open my gifts!! I love how everyone knows each other so well...I love all my gifts!!!

{drink thermal cup}

{coffe cup earrings!!!}

{awesome glitter top}

{Kate Spade knockoff earrings!! Love these!!!}

 

 

All in all it was an awesome awesome day. I love all of my coworkers so much, we have all become really good friends. It's weird that all 12 of us get along as much as we do, but there really aren't any issues or any drama going on (Praise the Lord!!)

 

So here is to Allison, Brianna {not pictured}, Brittany, Colleen {my boss, not pictured}, Emily, Haley, Jenn, Jim {my other boss, not pictured}, Lindsey, Marisa, Meghan, Shawna & Tia {not pictured}

 

I love ya'll!

 



{fltr: me, Haley, Meghan, Allison, Shawna, Marisa, Brittany, Emily, Jenn & Lindsey}



 

What a great day, I'm feeling super blessed! God knew I really needed some good girlfriends after I moved back here!

Hope you had a lovely weekend.

xoxo E

. acts of kindness .

 

I found this today when I was roaming the good ol' internet and I thought I would share this with ya'll. It amazes me sometimes how unbelievably nice some people are. We should all act more like these examples to make a world a better place, I know I will be making more of an effort. I had a busy, stressful day at work and this made my day a whole lot better. Hope you enjoy!!

{its a tad small, but if you click on this link you will find a much easier to read version...no squinting}

. keep the change coming .

Yesterday I changed my whole blog layout and even came up with a new name! Today I went a little drastic and did something I've not done before.

I needed something to change in my life. Seen as how my therapist told me I am not allowed to get any more tattoos (for now) that wasn't an option. I recently got this beauty, but it heals so slow, I don't wanna get anything else pierced :)

{its an ugly ring for 8 weeks and then it will be replaced by a little diamond stud}

So to do something different, I told my boss I wanted to dye my hair. She suggested auburn, because of my pale skin and blue eyes and I told her NO!! But then I started looking at some different pictures and it grew on me. My boss is a costmetology student and suggested I go there to get it done...$15 for a full color! Heck to the yea!! So this was me before....very blonde

                      {sorry about the instagram pic...my phone won't let me send picture emails??}

And the after:

 

It is actually a little darker than the picture shows. I LOVE IT!!! I think it looks natural still even though it's a drastic change. Its a good fall/winter color and I think I will stick with it for now. I might get highlights added next week because the girl ran out of time, but I haven't decided yet.

 

 

So..what do ya'll think??

xoxo E

. make - over .

Hey ya'll,

I felt really great after sharing my story and it felt like a new start, I have finally gotten my story out there. I thought this meant it was time for a change, so a new blog name and layout were in the works!

I hope ya'll like the new things around here. I am working on finding someone who will custom design my blog because there are a few things I can't do myself and I'm too anal to leave things off centered and all on here...drives me NUTS! I might just give myself a custom blog design session by a professional for Christmas :)

Tomorrow I'll be posting about this past semester, how time is flying by and my plans for after graduation!!

Have a lovely evening!

xoxo E

. if you really knew me {link up} .

Today I'm linking up with Becky from 'From MRS to MAMA'

I haven't blogged in a long time and I honestly thought about giving it up. But there was something in me that wanted to keep blogging, and maybe make a difference in someone's life and perhaps save someone from going through what I am going through.

(I'm not looking for a pitty party, I am sharing my story to tell others that they are not alone and that they will make it through and let my story serve as a warning that should not be ignored)


My story is not always a pretty one, but its mine and I wouldn't change it. Everything happens for a reason, even the bad things in our lives, and I am a firm believer of that. I'm a Christian and all my faith is in God. He has a plan for my life, and this was part of His master plan. I am just now starting to realize that this is where my passion is, and I want to make a career out of it (Lord willing). This is a pretty long story, just so ya'll know

WARNING: I left out the details, but some people might experience triggers..

When I started college I was 21 and recently moved to the States from The Netherlands. I was really naive and was trying really hard to fit in and not stand out too much from the other freshman who were all 18 and away from their parents for the first time. I hadn't really been a drinker before I came to college (drinking is legal at 16 in the Netherlands) but by trying to fit in and be popular I had my fair share of alcoholic beverages in college :)

After my freshman year, my parents bought a house and I lost a lot of my friends because I was no longer living on campus and part of their lives. I adopted a puppy (yay Izzie) and was pre-occupied with other things besides drinking and going out every night. In an effort to find more friends, I got an invite thru facebook to go to a party. It was November 9th 2008 and it is a day that is etched in my memory.

Shortly after arriving at this house I realized I was the only girl (bad sign #1). I brought my own alcohol, knowing the dangers of drinking someone else's drinks at a house with people you are now familiar with. There was maybe 10-15 guys there and I knew none of them. I had a few drinks and I lost conciousness. To make a long story short, I ended up getting raped by at least 3 of the guys that were there. I was there for over 7 hours and I was in and out of consiousness so its hard to remember (I have a collective memory of that night of maybe 10 minutes). Sometimes I wish I remembered all the details and other times I am glad I don't.

I reported the crime 2 days later and decided not to press charges (I am not really sure why and looking back I wish I would have). I just recently requested a copy of my statememt and it is heartbreaking to read because I can tell that I was really confused about what had happened, and still am. After stuggling to keep my head above water in school I dropped out and moved away. My GPA was so bad I almost got expelled and being on campus gave me too much anxiety so I never attended classes.

Being away for 2 years has really opened my eyes and made me realize that I am a much stronger person than I thought I was, strong was all I had. I felt like I had unfinished business here and after talking to school and realizing I could come back, I decided this was my chance to get my college degree...after 6 years.

I have had to overcome many obstacles coming back here, from driving past the house, to having a mild case of PTSD, and it hasn't been easy. This is something that I deal with almost every day. I try to tell every girl I meet or become friends with my story, and I encourage her to tell her friends so that this can stop.

One in 4 women will become a victim of rape before they graduate from college, that is sickening. I recently spoke in front of 100 people at my school's 'Take Back The Night' event and I was so empowered. I felt like God was finally telling me that I found my calling, this is what I am meant to do!

I am meant to share my story, so that others can learn from my mistakes. So that people, men and women, can become educated about the risks. I feel so inspired to do something really good with something so bad. I have finally found my job, my life, my passion. I am thinking about starting a company that goes around high schools and college so I can share my story and REDUCE the number of victims, or work for a sexual assault prevention and education company. Girls should be careful when in bad situations and alcohol can be a main factor when it comes to making decisions. Guys should be educated on how to speak up when they are a bystander and see things they don't want to see happen. It will take time, but with a lot of people and will power, a change WILL be made!!

I am doing better than ever in school and I am more focused and driven than ever. Once I put my faith in God, He opened my eyes and my heart and showed me the way.

I feels really good/nervewrecking/anxious/excited/scared/bless to be able to put this out there. I would like to add that if you have nothing nice to say, then PLEASE do not say anything at all. Thank your for reading all of my story, I know it's long..so thank you!

Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions, concerns or want to talk

xoxo E