My 1L Fall Schedule for Law School

My information packet for law school arrived! Earlier than I expected, I now have all the course info, my schedule, orientation info, an email address, a student ID and a book list. They sent me this cute little personalized flash drive with everything on it and I can reuse it later! I love freebies! I also love that I can finally start buying books, planning my schedule, emailing my teachers, making my folders, reading ahead.... can you tell my OCD has hit overdrive???

Marriage Countdown

I get married in exactly one month. After 2 years of being engaged, almost 7 years together and just 3 months after graduating college, we will finally be husband and wife!

Our last few weeks have been crazy; we bought a new house, moved, said an unexpected goodbye to our sweet dog, got a new puppy to heal our broken hearts and have spent little to no time together. Anytime we spend together is spent working or sleeping. I am still living at home until the wedding and my hubby to be is an hour away. Never in our whole relationship have we been so separated and it really stinks. I give long distance relationships a lot of credit!

Despite our crazy life and lack of time together, I still can't believe how lucky I am to be marrying the man of my dreams in one short month! I never thought I would be the girl who married her high school sweetheart at age 22 but then this tall red-haired boy walked into my life and changed everything.... I have never been so thankful to have my precious plans upturned because this is definitely for the better.

Soon we will be married, heading to Disney for our honeymoon and then home to settle fully into our new house before I start Law School on August 22nd. This is a crazy summer and I am so ready for a slower pace after this is over.... but crazy as it is, it is such a fun time in our lives and one we will never get again. I am trying to enjoy the moment as much as my stress level allows.... and I am just ready to be married!

Cheers from the future Mrs. Brown,

Why I am Thankful for Finding the Cory to my Topanga

Like most people of my generation, I grew up on a steady diet of "Full House," Disney Channel and of course, "Boy Meets World." It was "Boy Meets World" that has always struck a cord with me; I love the characters, the way you see them grow and change and the wholesome messages coming from the show. I could not have been more excited when they released "Girl Meets World," but that is a story for another time. I always associated with Topanga. We have a lot in common—slightly eccentric, comfortable alone, confident in our own skin, loves education, aspirations to be a lawyer, long hair. For so long, I watched the show and felt that the only thing different between me and Topanga was that I did not have a Cory. I didn't date much growing up; I didn't have time, and I didn't make the time. I was focused on my goals, my education and I wasn't going to let anyone stand in my way. I shot down almost every boy who showed interest and was known for my intense, cold looks and slightly hard exterior. That was until a tall, red-haired boy walked into my life and refused to leave until he broke right into that icy exterior. I started dating this boy my sophomore year of high school. He was a jock who held school records; I was a nerd who carried a book everywhere I went. No one in school could believe we were together. Yet, we worked. He made me laugh and be more social. I helped him write his papers. Almost seven years later, we are engaged, buying a house and stronger than ever. These are the reasons why I am so thankful to finally have the Cory to my Topanga.

Thanks for sticking by me through high school, college, first jobs, first house and everything together. I always had a partner and someone to fall back on through all of these crazy times in our lives.

Thank you for always providing a shoulder to cry on and picking me up when I fall. No matter what happens in our life, I can always go home and have the comfort of my favorite person.

Thanks for being my biggest fan. Thanks for always cheering me on in whatever I chose to do from horse shows to the LSAT and everything in between.

Thanks for keeping me laughing and making everything an adventure, even the grocery store or taking our dogs for a walk. Life with you is never boring, and I would not change it for the world.

Thank you for making sure I never doubt your love and devotion. Finding such a pure and strong love this young is a blessing I am eternally grateful for.

Thanks for keeping it weird and wonderful. Thanks for eating waffles in bed with me at 11 p.m. while watching "The Office" and letting that be our normal.

Thanks for pushing me to always be a better person and challenging me to constantly keep growing. I may not always like your constructive comments, but they come from a good place and help me to be better person.

I never thought I would be that girl who married her high school sweetheart at 22 years old. I never thought my whole life would be changed by one guy. I never thought I would be lucky enough to find the Cory to my Topanga, but I did and I am so thankful. I don't know what I would do without you, and I don't ever want to find out. Maybe someday they will make a TV show about our kids. But even if they don't, I am still happy to have you and a beautiful future ahead. Thanks for being everything I always thought I wanted in a man and everything I did not know I needed.

Sincerely,

The Ice Queen You Melted

My Bucket List for the Summer Before Law School

I start law school August 22nd. After graduating undergrad in May, summer seems to by flying by. There are a lot of things I want to do before law school starts but time is limiting what I can realistically do. Here is my realistic bucket list for before law school starts.

Saying Goodbye to Findlay, OH

I have lived the last 11 years in the same city. Though not the place of my birth, it is the place where I went through the awkward pre-teen days, suffered through high school, attended a local private college, met the love of my life and grew very attached to this sleepy little Ohio town in the process. This week we are moving to a new city... we bought a house and are putting down some new roots. While it is exciting and a whole new adventure, the pang of loss is more than I expected as I say goodbye to my hometown.

At first I hated this place. When I moved here 11 years ago, I was determined that I would never learn to like it and leave as soon as I could. As time wore on, I began to think of it as my true home and understood that even a quiet, flat Ohio town had some hidden gems. I learned that Dietsch Brothers has the best chocolate and ice cream in the world. I found out the best cookies ever hail only from Bread Kneads. Georgehouse truly has the best coffee around and is the best study location for a struggling college student. Main Street Deli has the best sandwiches in town and is the perfect stop for lunch. Logans is my favorite restaurant and it is almost like being in a real Irish pub though I am stuck in the Ohio cornfields. The reservoir has the best views in town. Nino's is basically the only bar you will visit as a college student and it may be a small hole in the wall but it is rather fun.

It was not until I truly was buying a house in another city and packing my things that I realized I was leaving this place that had truly become my home. I did not go away to college so this is the first time I have ever truly "left" since I arrived as an eleven-year-old girl. I was not expecting it to be so hard or so bittersweet... I did not realize how much this town has become a part of me. I have learned to love it's quietness and the overall quality of the people who live here. Even when Black Friday shopping people are nice and thoughtful. It is such a warm and happy place and I know that it is something I took for granted while I lived here and will miss when I am gone.

No matter where I go or where I end up, I am thankful to have grown up in Findlay, OH. This little town I once loathed became the home I hate to leave and I am thankful to have grown up in such a wonderful place. I may be moving away and learning a new zip code but I know that the University of Findlay Alumni sticker will always live on my car, Dietsch chocolate will always be my favorite and Findlay will always be considered home.