Ciao & Howdy!

Hey readers :) How's your week going? I bought jeans yesterday, which is pretty exciting for this girl who mainly sticks to skirts and dresses and the like. (Can I say, I love Plato's Closet prices?!? YEAH! I'm oh so thrifty you see...) and I also attended a movie night with boyfriend and his guys. We had some good laughs, and some good pizza, and I was thoroughly entertained by Captain America and Mystery Science Theater, both of which I had never seen.

Tomorrow I am SUPER excited to meet up with a girly who went to U of Houston as a music major, and we have mutual friends HERE in Alabama! Small world right? We'll be grabbing coffee and such, I can't wait to hear her stories :)

Today I'm linking up with Mrs. Monologues for the monthly blog star link-up! (Where, I have to write about myself....k.........I always feel so vain....)

First off, Hi! I'm Alexandra Anne, but I go by...well, that IS what I go by. I have a plethora of nicknames, you see, and each one has a story and special meaning. You can read about that here.

I'm an 18 (5 weeks shy of 19) year old, about to head off to college full time (I say full time because I HAVE taken college classes, and I HAVE lived on my own, but now I'm doing it all together) in Houston, Texas! I'll be at the University of Houston Moores School of Music as a vocal performance major. This leads me to my next point:

I sing opera. That music where the fat lady sings really really loudly and dresses like a viking? Yeah that stuff. Although in my case it would be more like, that music where the boy is played by a woman, or the woman is a gypsy who dies terribly, or the woman is a sister with very very loose morals, and such. (The joke about my voice type, mezzo-soprano, is our roles are: witches, britches, and ...well there's another word that rhymes but I won't say that on here, for the sake of being polite). 

My Momma blogs too! She also has an Etsy shop (see button on sidebar) and I love to play with her stuff. I mean, I don't periodically stare at her vintage collections...........of course not......... ;) 

I'm dating this guy; I write about him a lot. His name is Michael, but I mainly refer to him as boyfriend. 

I love vintage jewelry, and am obsessed with chandeliers. 

I love to cook for my family.

I love to dance in the kitchen ;) 

I love Jesus, and thank Him for the many many blessings in my life!

I am a nerd. For example, I spend my time as a halfling rogue in D&D, I shoot bad guys with Lara Croft, and I curl up with Neil Gaiman to see what adventures are ahead. I'm a bit of every kind of nerd, really. ;)

I lived in Italy in 2011, for 6 months, and fell in love with the country and with opera. 

My favorite colors are blue, red, and lime green. Aqua blue is my favorite though, if I had to pick one. 

I love to make new friends, and would love it if you would comment/follow, or message me! If you'd like to write for This Journey of Journeys, lemme know; or hey, I love just making new friends and chatting away the day :) 

I blog here (obviously...)

I check email here: chandelier27aaa@gmail.com

I am on twitter here

I wander aimlessly and post here

You can see my pics here

Nice to meet ya! Stick around a while, ok? :) 

Those Moments

I am so blessed by the people in my life; including you wonderful readers! Thank you all for the comments about reaching 10 months :) I spent the day with the boyfriend yesterday, and it was a lovely time. It's so funny to look back to 10 months ago; I said yes to a stalker on facebook (it's not as bad as it sounds hehe). Little did I know I'd be *this* happy. God is good.

The night I met boyfriend- August, 2008

The reason he asked me out ;)

Night he met Mom, Jessika, and Jarrod :)

July 22, 2012 :) Look at us now!

God is also so so good by providing me the friends He needs me to have, and providing me the education I need. A year ago He opened my heart, in a whole new way, to opera. I'm so excited to go to school on a partial music scholarship; I'm getting paid to study music? Thank you, Jesus!

It's not always easy, especially because I am thoroughly attached to my ways and don't like change, but this journey of mine is so neat. Each of us is on a unique journey, and that is wonderful. My journey is filled with opera, rifles, writing, dancing, loving, and lots of hugs ;)

What gets me through this crazy life? Today is filled with music and timeless scripture. <3

"God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." -Hebrews 11:40 


"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11


"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalm 73:26


"If you're goin through hell keep on movin, face that fire; walk right through it. You might get out before the devil even knows you're there."- Rodney Atkins 


New music on my ipod:
Lindsey Stirling- Phantom of the Opera Medley
Two Steps From Hell- Archangel (whole album)
Lindsey Stirling- Shadows
Demi Lovato- Give Your Heart A Break

Have a good weekend ya'll!

xoxo, alexandra anne

Dearest...Monday

Mondays in the summer are strange...actually every day in the summer is strange, because the days seem to all run together and there is not a regular routine to hold me in place. But according to calendars and blog posts, it is Monday. So here are some Dear Monday letters :)

Dear Monday of July 30th, I cannot believe this is the last Monday in July! eek! Where has this year gone? Well, here's hoping I can be productive and fruitful today. Perhaps I'll tackle that math placement test for school? (Yeah, yucko) We shall see.

Dear jaw, please stop being in pain. And please function normally soon. I'd love to eat like a human again, and not like a bird with a really tiny beak (that being said, my family nickname IS Allie Bird....hmm...)

Dear bronchitis, go away. You have overstayed your welcome, and I never really wanted you here in the first place. I am merely putting up with you because I have no choice. Well, shoo!

Dear Houston, I cannot wait to live in you (that sounds odd.........) in just a few weeks! I've been packing already, and am super duper excited :) :) :) I'm like a little kid with a birthday coming up! (Well..actually...September 12th isn't all that far away....... ;) just sayin.....)

Dear Michael, thank you for putting up with another week of emotional Allie. I know I keep going from "I'm having a great day!" to "I'm so sad" and I can hardly keep up with it myself. You must be a patient man, and I love you and appreciate you very very much. I also thank you for sending me sappy emails when I'm truly sad and in pain.

Dear Elise, your recordings make me smile, and your emails make my day :) You're pretty awesome!

Dear Arezzo, Italia....I miss you so so much....I look at my postcard of you every day, the one on my bulletin board. You changed my life, and I promise you, I will be back someday. 

Dear Bryanna, I cannot wait to be your roommate in a few weeks!

Dear Domino's, I thank you in advance for delivering wonderful pizza goodness to my house on Tuesday night. I've missed you so much, sometimes I tear up when I start to get the cravings...I really don't know if I can do long distance...thank goodness you deliver on campus, because I will be needing you every now and then.

Dear body, heal up already!

Dear Jessika, I replied to your email....as per your request ;) but now I miss you loads and really want to come visit you again. Can we make this happen please? I need farm time, karaoke time, puppy time, maybe rifle time, and some good best friend lovin time.

Dear Mom, thank you for not strangling me when I most certainly deserve it. You're a pretty cool mother, in my opinion ;) I can't wait for us to take our trip together. I also look forward to watching Dark Knight with you. You rock my socks, dearest.

Dear readers who have actually read this entire thing......I flippin love you! :) The blogging community has been so lovely and good to me, and I am truly appreciative. Thanks for coping with my ramblings! I love each and every one of you, truly :)


Have a good week!

xoxo, alexandra anne 

Sunday Evening

I think I've been hiding from my blog...could it be Blogger's Block? (Yup, I just made that up). I mean, I've been on my laptop a good bit, and certainly read other blogs a lot! I just haven't been up to writing a post myself.
Well. No more. I have things to share with my lovelies!

First off.....

I am now "strawberry blonde" :) (Formerly...blonde... oh yes, I am oh so daring, aren't I?)

(Here's a pic from my senior recital last Sunday; very blonde there =P)

I'm reading this! :) Super neat for me because it takes place in Naples, Italy, and sometimes the author uses Italian phrases that I can translate. Then I get all giddy inside. 

I'm enjoying my new (used) ipod! I put some old cd's on my iTunes today. Oh, and you can see I what I was listening to during dinner.... Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Mhmmm)

While I am not moving for 3 1/2 more weeks, I AM trying to decide what I need to pack. So, I have begun the packing experiment. I will "live out of my suitcase" for a few weeks, and figure out what I actually will wear, etc. (Plus, I'm just way excited about school! Spent all morning on UH's website, figuring out every little detail I could)

I really really really want this. Erin Condren life planner. This one would match my room ;) Because...I can totally justify spending $50 on a day planner, right? *nod* 

What are you loving this week? 

xoxo, Alexandra Anne 

What's in a name?
Here are some nicknames I've earned over the years (and some funny stories to go with!):

Alex- this is probably the most obvious nickname, and the majority of my family and random people in my life call me this. It's simple, logical, and I respond to it. (I probably respond to "hey you" as well =P). BUT, for years I detested this name because of its androgynous ways; I still remember being a little kid and hearing a kid at the pool tell me that "Alex is a boys name." Well, poo on you, mister. I will respond to this name, as I have no control over what people call me ;)

Allie- originally from the grandparents, who called me, from birth, Allie Bird. No idea why I'm a bird....perhaps they want me to fly? Well, if my family isn't calling me "Alex" they are usually calling me "Allie." Especially my siblings. (little kids can't really say "Alexandra," not to mention "Alexandra Anne;" it's too much for a kiddo!)
Allie Anne- this first came from two of my best friends, and now my boyfriend calls me this as well. I love it because it is special, and those three are the only ones who call me that. Plus I think it sounds cute. :)

Alejandra- from Jarrod, and random individuals across my life. People just like to say my name in funny accents, I suppose.

AAA- This is easy to type, and people DO indeed call me this to my face. "Hey Triple A, how's that coming?" Etc etc. If other people in the room don't know my full name, they look at me reallllly funny. But once I explain my initials, they think it's pretty cool (ok, I'm just assuming they think that ;) I think they are cool initials!)

Alee- From my Brazillian friends whom I met (funnily enough) in Italy of all places.
Alessandra (bionda)- what my Italian friends called me; in my class in Milano, there was another Alexandra (she was from Germany!) so she was Alessandra Marone (brown, because she had brown hair) and I...well. I think you can figure out why I was called Alexandra Blonde ;)

Boo- This is from my Daddy. Ever since I was little, he has called me that. He still does :) He's the best Dad I could ask for. <3

My full name is: Alexandra Anne Austin (please note: alexanDRA, not alexanDRIA; there IS a difference ;) I'm a girl, not a city)

What nicknames do you have?