It is the last week of the semester, and I do not have any plans for fun…Wow! Normally around this time I am packing my bags to take a little trip. It is nice to have a two week break every eleven weeks. However this break I am broke and staying home. Being that I live in Florida it makes for an easy little get away area. All the beaches are within driving distance and there are a few hot spots in Miami and the keys. Oh well maybe next break things will look better.

So I ask myself…what I am going to do during my break. I will probably use this time to visit with my friends since I do not see too much of them during school. It really becomes hard to hang with friends because it always seems like they want to hang when I have a big assignment due and don’t have the time. Therefore, I am always putting them off, but they understand. I hope!

I also just moved into my place back in January and I still have a few loose ends to tidy up. You know, you un-pack enough just to make it comfortable for living, but there are still a few boxes tucked away in the corner. Well that is me and I have not had the time to finish. I also still have a few little decorating things I would like to do here and there.

No the less, I am going to sit back and relax. I really value the next two weeks and do not know what I would do with out it. If you think of it like I do most people with working careers barley get a week off a year, so to get one every eleven weeks is like icing on the cake. If you are like me and work full-time it is nice to break things up a bit.  

Back a few posts ago I talked about how I think we should all have a hobby or two. I told you once I figured mine out I would get back with you…so here I go. I feel having an interest in something is good for the body. It stimulates and motivates us to do more than drop dead after working all day and studying for school. I never really had any hobbies so I thought if I could come up with something it would help me along in my journey of school and work.

After taking a little time to think about what I actually like to do and running a few ideas through my head, the only thing I could come up with is cooking. I love to cook and always have. However the last few years I have gotten away from it because I did not have the time to cook. So you ask how I do now. Well instead of making excuses why I should go out to eat, I am going to make myself eat in and eat good meals.

I love the challenge so I am always looking for new recipes to try and friends to feed. Some people are afraid to try new recipes and have guest over to try them out, but not me. It gives me a rush of mastering a recipe and then I get to see the enjoyment on the faces of my friends and family while eating. I love to watch FoodTv! There are some many great cooking shows to watch. I especially like Tyler and Paula’s Down Home Cooking. You can also go to foodtv.com and find all types of great recipes from dinner to deserts. I just recently tried shrimp scampi over linguine and it was a hit. So while I am learning how to cook many different dishes, I am also enjoying every bit of because I have a true passion for great food.  Since the summer is near I am also going to learn some different grill tips and dishes so I can enjoy some outdoor weather too.

It has been rough this semester. I think it is a combination of work, school, work, school and do not let me forget work. Ok I am making jokes, but speaking the truth. It is not easy juggling the two, especially when you have daily stresses of “will I have my job tomorrow”. However I keep telling myself and I truly believe every bit of this is worth it. Do I wish I would have gone after high school, sure? Did I, no?

Some people might be happy if they did not go to college and they landed a decent job here and there, but I want so much more. I have actually been fortunate enough to have good paying jobs, but it is not enough for me. I want more flexibility and want to pick and chose while they are picking and choosing me. While experience is great, the degree takes a step in front of you and this bothers me. So no matter how hard things get and how much I think I can not make it anymore. I am determined to get through this.

I am actually doing well in my finance class, but because of all of my stresses I feel like it is not sticking with me. I am a little scared when final time comes because I am not real confident that I will do well. Maybe I am crazy, but this thought goes through my head everyday and I am not sure how to overcome it. The finance class that I am in has to do with a lot of equations and formulas. I feel once I figure it out to answer the question, poof then it is gone from my brain. Do I have a lot on my mine? Or do others ever experience this problem. I am looking for a little help here so for my fellow readers please drop a line and let me know what you think.

One of my best friends and I were sitting having a cup of tea the other say when we started talking about hobbies. We are both students and fulltime career women. We were talking about how important it is to find a hobby and make it a part of your life. You might ask how you can find the time to work, go to school, and have a social life and a hobby. Well I believe there is time; you just have to find it.

Life is too short to have all work and no play. None the less, the play needs not to just be hanging out with friends and family. I believe it is truly important to do something on your own that you enjoy and love to do.   I do not believe this hobby needs to be anything extravagant because time is short. I do believe that having a hobby can relax you and give you something to do that will take your mind off of the fast pace life we subject ourselves to on a daily basis. Some of you might read this and say “Michele I already have a hobby”. That is great; however I do not and I am sure there are many other who do not as well.  So my mission is to find one.

I found a few cool websites that talk about finding a hobby. You should check them out:

• DIY Network 
• Finding Your Hobby Online 
• CNN Quiz 

They say you need to ask yourself a few questions first. This will help stimulate the brain and kick it into gear. Questions like…

• What are my passions?
• Do I like to work with my hands?
• How much time do I have?
• What am I good at?

I have not figured out my hobby yet, but it is something that I am going to be working on so when I figure it out you will be sure to hear about it. And if you have any tips or interesting ideas please pass them along.