April 16th, 2015

Three months and I go back to school. I go to the Island, the religious retreat where every time I walk into the Chapel, I am convinced it will burst into flames. I look at my life and where I went wrong and I feel like I am a GPS that constantly needs re-routing. Calling Siri for some help here. It's frustrating as all hell when I see jobs come up that I could have had if I had just finished whatever the task at hand was. I could have been a paralegal, a real estate agent, a lawyer. I could have made some serious bank if I did not want to try new and different things all of the time.

April 12th, 2015

Because he makes me happy!

Through writing my memoir for school, I have had to face a lot of demons that I thought I had put away in the past. Now, I realize that the will always be open wounds just covered with a liquid bandage. I have so much that haunts me but I do not think that I let myself feel the pain. Instead, I cover it up with a sarcastic, witty attitude; way tougher than I really am. Hell, I cannot even kick a phone book. But today, my faith was somewhat restored when I learned that Hillary Clinton was running for President. I receive a lot of scrutiny for supporting her but I do not care. You have an opinion but I have a BA in Politics so clearly, I am way smarter. That is a joke by the way. I never claim to be any smarter than anyone else who has never studied politics. My biggest question right now is: will Obamacare become Clintoncare? Anyone? 

Much Love,
Mandi

March 25th, 2015

Because I love Adam Levine, that's why!
My energy level is so freaking low and I know that it has to do with the fact that it is still so damn cold outside. Yesterday, I walked to my car in a poofy coat and flip-flops. I am trying to lure spring to me but it is being resistant. The world would be a lot happier if the sun would just shine and give us happy vitamins and I could stop wearing a coat and start using the $20 scooter I bought! I'm cold and I am mentally whining and what is Giuliana Rancic doing to her hair? Like, I am definitely a fan but come on. And now I want a waist trainer so that will be my next investment. I buy pointless crap all the time so why not one more?

Much love,
Mandi

March 23rd, 2015

I was talking to the leasing agent where I live and explaining to him what I can afford when I get my own place next year. I told him that yes, it may look like I make money but I don't see it. I think that is the way with everyone who works. We work, we give our all but in the end, we are broke. Or we are not getting paid what we are worth and that is a travesty. Then I saw my student loan and that depressed me even more because yes, I will have a Master's but what does that really mean in the real world? That I am overqualified to fold shirts at the Gap if minimum wage magically goes up? I'm a dreamer and I am a fighter and I want to make money, not to buy shit but to be comfortable. To pay bills, take vacations, order crap online (okay, I do that already) but just comfort. That's what I am looking for. The California King bed of life!

Much Love, 
Mandi

March 10th, 2015

What the hell am I doing? I have a passion for writing so that is what I do; that is what I am getting my Master's in. But sometimes, I feel like I am being pulled into 100 different directions. I am grateful for the jobs I have and I genuinely love them with all of my heart but my heart is going left and right like I am on a tilt-a-whirl. And no one seems to understand because they think that because I am so independent and quick-witted that I can do everything. But I can't. I'm drained and I am tired and I did three jobs at once tonight. I need a nap. Good night and sweet dreams. 

Much Love, 
Mandi

PS: Happy birthday to my dear friend Andrea. 

March 9th, 2015

*Go to the movies now when your parents will pay for it!*
Rent day. Why don't we get cookies and ice cream for paying our rent in a timely fashion? Kids cannot wait to grow up and then look what happens: bills, loans, credit cards, children, jobs, health care, etc. It is not a fun game. Yeah, the freedom is great like the fact that I can hop in my car at 4 am and head to get coffee then come home and sleep for five hours is amazing. But, I am also driving my financed car that I pay insurance on to get the coffee which is not exactly free. I type on my laptop but that was not free either and every month, I pay a charge to keep mobile data on it and have a wi-fi bill. Let's not forget the phones. Sure, iPhones look awesome and they work like a charm but they cost as much as a fancy charm over at Swarovski. And back to the car situation; you always need gas money so that you don't get stuck which leads to Triple A which is another fee. Oh, and this year I have to pay my car taxes, register my car and renew my license. I work by recapping television shows but my mom has to make sure that the cable is paid so that I can work and get paid just to go and pay something else like health insurance. Or even co-pays at the doctor's office. You might want a snack during the day or a coffee...unless you are growing the beans in your garden or want to use your coffee maker all the time, you'll need money. So here is my advice: as a teenager, baby-sit. Start at thirteen, take a CPR class (you'll make more money) and take the money that you make and go wild. Have fun buying a phone and frapps and go to the movies. Live life. And if you think that you want to go to college, make sure that you keep your grades up so that you can save you and your family money with scholarships. Advice by Mandi...take it!

Much Love, 
Mandi

March 8th, 2015

Life can be fun but it can also have it's challenges. The worst is when you have a family member who competes with you or likes to talk down to you because you are doing better than them. I have one of those and no matter what idea I propose that would probably be really great for me, he thinks it is no good. His education level is high school which I respect for anyone. But he also thinks that he can never do anymore than what he is doing now. No aspirations, always a negative attitude yet arrogance in odd ways. Sometimes I want to know what I would have to do to make him more positive. Then, I realize that I would have to trade lives with him and let him go to grad school and write and make minimum wage because of the passion. If I could infuse one thing in to the world it would be that dreams can come true. Maybe not in the ways that we always believe but it can happen if you want it bad enough. How bad do you want it?

Much Love,
Mandi

PS: Adam Levine is just there because he makes me happy!