A tribute left unpaid.

Oh my gosh. A crucial date has come and gone and I didn't even think to acknowledge it!

I have now been keeping this blog for one year, one month, and one week!

Wahoo! How exciting?! It has definitely been a fun ride, and it was certainly a useful and enjoyable way to keep record of my days in Australia. Although that was the original design of this endeavor (look back on those early entries for a good laugh or outrageous story), I'm really glad that I've kept it up since then. I know that I've lost some readership because I'm not some adventurous exotic traveler anymore, but that's okay. My mom still likes reading my material so that's all that truly matters, right? 

I guess that just means that I'll have to start having a more exciting life so that people want to read about again, huh? Well, I'll do what I can on that one. Engagement should be exciting enough to rope people in, I hope! Maybe I'll take another trip when I have the money. Don't tell my future potential employers...

Thanks to those who read and comment, making this whole thing more fun for me. And to the awesome blogs I read that continue to inspire me! Much love blogworld. It's been real. December 23, 2011 will mark two years, so here's to another 326 days!

The search is REALLY over.

Okay, not that I've been searching for quite some time, but I found it ironic due to my last blog title...

Since my last update one month ago (yikes) I've had a TON going on. Despite being finished with school and not quite employed yet, I've actually been remarkably busy. Why you ask?

Well, for starters, I received the best belated Christmas present of all time on New Year's Day - I received the honor of being the future Mrs. William Baldwin!

So ignoring the fact that I have a scary monster hand in the second photo, isn't this absolutely stunning?! He picked it out entirely on his own, asking the jeweler for an old-fashioned, vintage-looking ring with intricate detailing. I'd say they definitely gave him just that. The setting is from when the shop opened around 1915-1920's, and the diamond is from a ring of his grandmother's. With beautiful filigree and pear-shaped rubies on the sides, it's the ring of my dreams that I'd never even dreamt of.

Will surprised me at my apartment (saying he was at home Philadelphia when he was in fact in Boston) on New Year's Eve and we enjoyed a lovely low-key evening with my brother Tony and our friend Chrissy. Then he woke me very early the next day (or that same day... all in how you look at it I suppose) and took me out to our favorite spot.

I awoke to, "Sweetheart, I have an adventure for us. Are you going to cooperate and not ask any questions?" Ha, sure! I'm too exhausted to even function, so no worries on the whole question-asking thing.

Then we hiked down the street, down the beach, through the woods, up the trail, and out to Ocean Lawn, the most beautiful place that we frequent. And as the fluorescent deep pink sun poked up over the rocks, he asked me there to be his wife and lead a simple life with him, the one that we both desire.

Then, elated, we were approached and quickly befriended by a stranger who kindly took some pictures of us! Dale, such a nice Trustees of Reservations employee, despite our breaking and entering :)

Not the best quality coming from Dale's phone, but we were so excited that at least someone was there to help us document the moment.

So since then, I've sent out a bunch of resumes and applications, had two job interviews, Will and I spent two weeks with his family in Philadelphia, and we've begun all of the stressful tasks involved with planning a wedding! At least I'm doing it with Will, because he's so helpful, excited and involved (although it quickly becomes overwhelming for him, like when I want to look at the same magazine multiple times). I'm so blessed to have him, but there are still so many details. Ugh. Can't someone just pay us to do this stuff? I don't have time for a job...

Just kidding. I'm craving that sort of routine in my life again. But until that time, I'll just enjoy job searching, crocheting, and being betrothed. 

Until next time,

Cassandra Marie Papia (almost Baldwin)

The search is over.

I apologize for not sharing music in quite some time, but this will make up for it. I have found the only sound you ever really need to hear for the rest of your life. Truly.

The Civil Wars are the duet of Joy Williams (contemporary Christian artist from about 10 years ago, anyone?) and Alabama native John Paul White. Their first full-length album called "Barton Hollow" is due out in February, but the EP and free Christmas downloads have left my falling off the edge of my seat in anticipation.

Their songs are so raw, with no superfluous instruments used - usually just one piano or one guitar - and the lyrics are quite literally haunting. Their harmonies are stunning only made better by the unique tonality of their voices.

Their biggest song "Poison & Wine" appeared on an episode of Grey's Anatomy and Taylor Swift called them "exquisite." Can't argue with that.

Listen to Poison & Wine and Barton Hollow please, and then explore from there. You absolutely will not regret it.

PS: My awesome bro Tony also got us tickets to see these guys in February for Christmas - on top of the other special and generous gifts he gave me. Whatta guy. He always spoils me so.

PPS: Johnny Depp much?

Nice and squally.

Well, Christmas came and went and nobody in my household shot their eye out. I'd say that's a big victory.

Although there was a close call when one of my brothers got his four-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter each their own set of bow and arrows. Where was the fatherly wisdom in that purchase? Scary... I never thought I'd have to use the sentence, "Don't shoot the arrow in the house!" But when directed at Ty, I shouldn't be too surprised.

Anyway, we started the day with an advent reading about when love came down in the form of an innocent and helpless baby, and then I played the song "Love Came Down at Christmas" by Jars of Clay. I have never been an huge fan of theirs, but the Christmas album is absolutely amazing (thank you William). It was a great way to give our minds the proper focus on the day. And of course, all of this was done with tea and Pillsbury Cinnamon Buns. Every year, without fail.

I had some interesting sentiments throughout the day that I was quite content with - I'm growing up. As you get older, the number of presents gets smaller; it's just inevitable. But what I experienced was that I absolutely loved every gift that I received yesterday. For me, it's not about buying for the sake of buying. That's not my love language anyway (familiar with this concept?). But so much thought, care and personality came through in each gift.

I could fit all of my gifts into one 8x12" gift bag and that's the way I want it these days. I don't want to acquire "stuff," I want practical things that I either need or make perfect sense to give someone like me. Like the bottle of Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio from my brother Tony: Do I need that bottle of wine? Of course not. But it was so thoughtful that he got it for me because he knows I prefer white wine, have been to Australia, and would always choose the kind with an orange and yellow kangaroo on the bottle - obviously. And it went well with the bottle opener/corkscrew and organic vegetarian cookbook he got me. One thing I had specifically asked for, and another that I was so surprised and excited about that I spent the next 2 hours reading it from cover to cover.

Then later when the nieces and nephews joined us, my stomach turned as I watched the piles of useless stuff build on the floor. It was literally stressing me out. I don't want it to be that way with my children. Do kids just inherently expect that, or is there a way to raise them so they don't want that kind of debris? It seemed as though it was never ending! I will accept any advice from parents on how to raise kids in a fashion that is not this way (no offense to my family members).

But besides my miserly thoughts, the day was exceptional. The nieces were especially snuggly and we all enjoyed each other's company in our cozy home.

And with that, the snow came tumbling down. Call me a skeptic, but I always think that the weather folks build up these enormous storms and then I'm disappointed with some meager dusting. Well, I suppose we'll have to wait and see. It finally started up here in Haverhill and the wind is blowing like mad. Good thing I just bought yarn to use with my new crocheting needles. Time to enjoy the lock in and ride it out.

Happy blizzard everyone!

The end of an era.

It's true: my time as a college student is officially over.

But what does that even mean?! Today is the first day that I have been able to wake up and do... nothing. The past two days, I soaked up my last hours as a college student by working at 7:45AM, so sleeping until 10:30 this morning was such a foreign concept.

So then I made tea, read a J Crew catalog, and said bye to one roommate who's heading back to Virginia for Christmas. Where does that leave me? On the couch in my pajamas at noon looking up recipes before I go grocery shopping later. Awesome.

I know that over the next few weeks I'm going to be grappling with some pretty serious, "Who am I without Gordon College?!" questions, but I know that this is an exciting time of transition. I'm still me, but just with more time to actually be me. Any advice on how to handle the transition out of something that defined you for three and a half years?

In other news, tonight we're having a rockin' party to ring in the season in the only way we know how: with a Red Ryder BB Gun and a hearty cup of Ovaltine.

That's right folks, Christine and I have invited seven friends over for snacks, warm beverages and a little of this action...

Be jealous.