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5 Minutes

My soul was unexpectedly revived this morning with a beautiful, inspirational blog post from a beautiful, inspirational friend. She mentions the website Reverb10 as a place to find prompts for introspection from the last year. Yes, I have already done a 2010 reflection post and yes it is nearly a month into 2011, but I want to do anything I can to make sure that years down the road I remember the important steps taken to get me where I am. So, I’ve chosen the prompt:

Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh)

21st birthday: snow, friends, cops, fights, dancing, love. Vegas. Paris Hilton. seeing the reconstruction of old friendships and building new ones. making your own family wherever you are. game nights: wine, catchphrase, laughing, things, telephone pictionary. learning to let go. the importance of phone dates.  learning to re-appreciate my parents. the look in my fiance’s eyes as he proposed. learning to love new people. LA. finding passions: children, human trafficking. weddings. moving and the excitedness that comes with it. the sweetness of doing nothing. the birth of a beautiful child that came to be my godchild.Veronica Mars. community group. the joys of finishing french. having a puppy in the house. realizing who is really important in my life. continually seeing God’s hand in my life.

Confession: I re-set the timer for another 5 minutes after the first one went off.  This is way harder than it looks, and I know I didn’t even come close to everything I would want to remember from 2010.

Posted by  |  January 23, 2011 | Categories: Faith, Family & Friends, Happiness, Inspiration | Leave a comment

Truths for Mature Humans

Note: I did not write these. I came across them on this site and just had to share. They are perfect, and I agree with every single statement. So funny how these statements are universally true.

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5.How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8.Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after BluRay? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.

13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. “Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this- ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring, but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

21. Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 over-loaded plastic bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23.The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

24.I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber and dumber every year?

29. There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate bicyclists.

31. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey- but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!


Posted by  |  January 19, 2011 | Categories: Inspiration | 1 Comment

A Bad Day with Beethoven

Everyone has a “horrible, first day of school” story. Except for me. Until today. My last, first day of school.

Let’s preface the real story with the fact that I practically poured coffee all over myself on my way to school. Thankfully, it wasn’t hot and it was on my coat. However, I should have taken this as a sign.

9:30 a.m. class- Honors Music Colloquium: Beethoven’s Symphonic Theory

I also should have taken it as a sign when everyone in the 10 person class knew each other… because they were all grad students… studying music history, music theory, tuba, piano, etc.

As we went around the classroom saying our name, major and what we enjoyed about Beethoven, I knew I was screwed.

Person A: I’m a graduate student in Music History and have also played the piano my entire life. Thus, I know all about Beethoven’s history as well as the way all of his symphonies are composed and could tell you about each them down to each note. Oh look, I also have all 3 of these books about his symphonies that I just bought for fun and randomly brought to class.

Me: Uh.. I’m an undergraduate Journalism student and I have always been interested in music.

It was a real shining moment for me.

It only went downhill from there as the Austrian professor lectured in a foreign language. Background: I’ve grown up in choir, can/could read music, have played the clarinet, piano and guitar, making me think I was qualified enough. The class was practically in another language. About the only words I recognized were Beethoven, Bach and symphony. But even then, I couldn’t tell you what exactly characterizes a symphony and the origins of it (which he asked.)

As he was writing notes on the board and drawing symbols that were far from anything I’ve ever seen, I was hastily taking down every word. (At this point I was positive I had to drop the class, but would rather be safe than sorry) “Now, this is review for all of you, correct? Because the entire class will be building on these concepts,” he asked in his too cute accent that made me all the more upset. I look around and not a single other person is taking notes.

I.am.dead.

Okay, 5 minutes left in the class. He will surely let us go early, because I don’t know how much more of this I can take. HA what was I thinking?

“For the last few minutes, let’s listen to Sammartini. Follow along with the score I handed you then we will analytically discuss his work- what form it is in (which I had just comprehensively taken notes on, but definitely wouldn’t be able to decipher the score with), how you can tell and what the anomalies with his other works are (who the heck was this guy anyway?!).”

I have never, ever, ever been more excited to leave a class than the moment we were released.

Editor’s note: I have officially switched out of that class into The History of the Book in Early America.

Posted by  |  January 19, 2011 | Categories: College, Music | 3 Comments

Five Things

As I’ve mentioned on here before, cupcakesandcashmere.com is one of my absolute favorite blogs ever. (And if you’ve never looked at it, you better hop on that asap) Every Friday she posts Five Things- pictures of random things throughout the week that make her happy. Well, in accordance with my blog post about making the last week before school count, I’ve decided to do a similar post, noticing all of the little things this week that just gave me a little extra smile. (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right?)

{Cappucino with cinnamon at Common Grounds}

{New Essie nail polish L to R: Decadent Diva, Steel-ing the Scene, We Can Do It Pink!}

{Pho, pronounced Fu, from Silk Road. One of the weirdest and most delicious things I’ve ever eaten, along with one of the best nights in recent memory}

{If you’ve EVER seen the inside of our refrigerator, you’ll understand}

{I spy with my little eye a feather extension…}

Posted by  |  January 14, 2011 | Categories: Recipes | 3 Comments

Love

{Inspired by a childhood favorite movie, Beaches}

You’ve got to give a little, take a little
And let your poor heart break a little
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love
You’ve got to laugh a little, cry a little
Until the clouds roll by a little
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love
As long as there’s the two of us
We’ve got the world and all its charms
And when the world is through with us
We’ve got each other’s arms
You’ve got to win a little, lose a little
Yes, and always have the blues a little
That’s the story of,
That’s the glory of love

Posted by  |  January 12, 2011 | Categories: Movies | 1 Comment

I’m feeling rough, I’m feeling raw, I’m in the prime of my life

As I’ve returned from a wonderful few weeks of vacation, and school is rapidly approaching, I’m feeling blue, da ba dee da ba die. It doesn’t help that it’s freezing outside and snowy. Which when you’re sans school, isn’t nearly as exciting. All I can seem to think about is: waking up early, tests, papers, lack of time to read and watch movies, the impending thesis, plans, moving, job hunting, extreme busyness that I know will happen within a week of school. Though I’ve always been that person that loves being so busy she can’t sit still (pretty sure I know where I got that from..) I’ve surprisingly enjoyed the relaxation this break has brought, and only a tiny part of me is itching to get back into a routine.

However, I’m changing my tune. Why spend the last week of break dreading the inevitable? I’m looking too far into the future and discounting what the next semester, next month, next week or next day could bring.

I’ve been inspired by several things to say goodbye, bad mood and make every second count.

This song just came up on Pandora as I was writing this and it made me happy. Music is so good for the soul.

I see pictures of this beautiful little guy, Jack, that belongs to one of my good friends Lauren and my heart is beyond warmed. Just look at those eyes.

I’ve been happily reading The Imperfectionists, about misfit journalists, and plan to finish it before school starts.

I also plan to finish the final season of Veronica Mars. I had to give her another nod. I’ve been very inspired by her.

Then there’s this blog post from Thought Catalog that makes me laugh and reflect on How to be a 20-Something.

This blog, appropriately titled sunshine on a cloudy day, is one of my new favorites, and where I found this inspiration:

Of course not to mention the wonderful people in my life that make every day count. You are who make me wake up every day with a smile on my face, whether through a text message, a listening ear, a patient heart, an unintended compliment, a gracious laugh or the never-ending love you shower down on me. I’m inspired by all of you to make every second count and love you, and life, with everything I have.

XOXO

Posted by  |  January 10, 2011 | Categories: Family & Friends, Movies, Music | Leave a comment

2010: my year in pictures

What a year 2010 has been. As I grow older (I’m almost 22!) I’m losing my memory rapidly, and I would love to use this blog as a scrapbook of sorts. So, let’s begin the year’s highlights with one of the most memorable moments of my year. My 21st birthday party.

Fake snow, lots of friends, dancing the night away, cops (X 3), and a fight in the middle of the street. Could I have had a more memorable 21st?

And the best birthday present? I got to go see my favorite singer, Taylor Swift, in concert in LA with my mom!

This summer, I was in my first wedding as one of my dearest friends from high school got married in Virginia. It was a beautiful ceremony at her parents’ house, and truly an international wedding as she married a charming man from Belarus. (And this year that same weekend she will be in my very own wedding!)

Which brings me to…. my engagement! By far, the best memory of my 2010 was Sunday, September 26. I am so very thankful for my incredible fiance and can’t wait to finally call him my husband this year! What a very special day this was that he had planned out so perfectly, first spending hours together in the park with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, then with a surprise (and I was VERY surprised) engagement party on the patio of Noodles. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Of course I can’t go without mentioning all of the awesome trips I’ve been on this year. Vegas, for business and pleasure. Minneapolis, for business (and we threw in some pleasure.) North and South Dakota, a unique spring break trip. Harry Potter World, more amazing than I could have even dreamed. And ending the year off right in Florida, a final trip with just my parents.

2011, you’ve already brought me a trip to New Orleans and the promise of a marriage to my best friend. I can’t wait to see what else lies ahead.

Posted by  |  January 8, 2011 | Categories: Glamorous, Happiness | 7 Comments

If you want to be happy, be. ~Leo Tolstoy

Happiness is:

friendship

the greeting of family when you haven’t seen them in a while

waking up to the smell of coffee

gorging on chocolate

laughter, and laughter, and laughter

a fresh, new magazine

clean sheets

a joke that rocks you to the core

spending time with your best friend

sunshine

a genuine hug

finding your passion

a child’s smile

opening a fresh page of a notebook and writing away

an unexpected text message

hearing a meaningful ‘I love you’

finishing a book

connecting with someone

recognizing the beauty of God surrounding you

realizing you still have time to sleep in

freedom

finding a song that connects with your soul

traveling with people you love

not giving a damn what people think

a breath of fresh air

giving

Life.

XOXO

 

 

Posted by  |  December 19, 2010 | Categories: Happiness | Tags: | 1 Comment

Hibernate (v): spend the winter in a dormant state

Ah, Christmas break.

I’ve been done with school for more than a week now and have sufficiently gotten to experience what Christmas break is all about. It’s a time of hibernation, rejuvenation, relaxation. A time to do all those things you wanted to do during the semester, but just didn’t have time to do. And most importantly, a time to do absolutely nothing, and not feel guilty about it.

So how have I spent my first week of Christmas break?

Veronica Mars.

I’m a season and a half in on one of my new favorite shows, and I don’t feel one ounce of guilt about spending so much time in front of the ol’ tele. Why? Because I deserve it.

Yes, I’ve been lazy and worn my sweats and the couch out more than I ought, but I’ve also gotten quite a lot done as well:

Christmas shopping, coffee dates, multiple Christmas parties with different groups of people, baking, a going away party, extreme cleaning of my entire house and my car, babysitting, puppysitting, breakfast dates, reading, job hunting

And who said t.v. was such a waste of time? I’ve learned a lot from my VM marathon, including- how far an accent and a plan can get you, the importance of confidence and getting tough, how to secretly bug anyone, things aren’t always what they seem, the inconsequence of what people say about you behind your back, money doesn’t buy happiness

and finally, my new life goal of becoming a private investigator.

Posted by  |  December 15, 2010 | Categories: Television | Tags: , | 5 Comments

Life of a College Kid

There are a few things I’ve realized that I’ve gotten pretty good at lately that most people characterize college kids by. If you knew me freshman year, almost all of these things were pretty much opposite about me. Oh how college will change you.

The art of writing papers in an hour before class My procrastination skills have finally won out over my annoying perfectionism.

Surviving on little to no food This isn’t even necessarily because I’m a poor college student- just a lazy one.

Being disorganized Typically extremely organized with a color-coded closet and the perfect school notebook, I am now the person rifling through papers for that one you just can’t find and stepping through piles of clothes and boots on the floor just to get to bed.

Getting ready in under 30 minutes Ask my parents or Kyle about this one and they will tell you this definitely wasn’t always so. Most days I can even get ready in 15 because I now know how to throw on clothes that may not match (and not care), wear minimal makeup and make my hair look fine without taking a shower.

Watching any movie, or t.v. show on the Internet without buying it Though I’m not one for illegally downloading things, I have learned all of the sketch websites that will allow you to watch pretty much anything you could want.

Caffeine Enough said.

Getting minimal sleep throughout the week, then sleeping until noon on the weekends College. What more can I say.

Mingling with different types of people Growing up in “Pleasantville” didn’t exactly provide much diversity, but Fayetteville (home to Bikes, Blues and BBQ, legalize marijuana protests and a plethora of international students) is a whole new ball game.

Procrastination I’ve learned so many more ways to procrastinate than I ever though possible. ..blogging, perhaps?

Fake cleaning This definitely isn’t something to be proud of (or maybe it is?), and is something I need to work on since I will be a wife in less than a year, but I could make our apartment look “super clean” in 30 minutes by not really doing any cleaning at all.

 

Posted by  |  December 2, 2010 | Categories: College | 2 Comments