Winter Break So Far

You know how my last post was a wish list? Yeahhhhh, about that.

So far I have only slept until 12 every day.. easy peasy lemon squeezy. And I've made cookies, and sung a lot. I have not made a YouTube video and probably won't. I have avoided the dentist, but not the doctor. Apparently, I did too much heavy lifting when I helped my Papa with some yard work and moving things around and sprained my (enter long muscle name here) in my back and COULD BARELY MOVE FOR TWO DAYS. It's much better now though. I've been taking my anti-inflammatory medicine and muscle relaxers, sweet, sweet, muscle relaxers that are a gift from God. Pahaha, actually, I only had to take them two times. I'm still a little stiff when I've been sitting down for a while, and getting out of bed in the morning is tough... and not just because my bed is so comfortable (although it is a huge contributing factor!)

I had a plan to learn Someone Like You by Adele on the guitar while I was home, but between just the pure craziness of Christmas and my online class (yucky Physics) I haven't had time.

Any freetime that I have though, goes straight to drawing. I haven't been able to stop.

Here's some of the things I've drawn this week. I don't have a working scanner, so don't make fun of my taking a picture of a picture. :P

Yes, I did draw these free-handed... no tracing whatsoever. However, I didn't come up with these on my own. I looked at pictures from Deviantart.com.

I have no idea who I got this idea from. I did alter this one from the original a little bit.

I love mermaids, okay? Sue me. I also don't know who I got this idea from.

This is Virginia. And she is from the mind of Burge-bug from deviantart. I've been following her for a while now and she's a phenomenal artist! I love all of her drawings! She's also the person who got me inspired to read The Hunger Games and now I'm obsessed with it! Go visit her deviantart account or tumblr. She's fantastic!

This is also from the mind of Burdge-bug. This is supposed to be Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy was supposed to be in the picture as well, but I decided not to draw him. One step at a time folks, one step at a time.

And this one, I'm pretty proud of! I have no idea who's original picture this is. I just found it on tumblr and decided to draw it. I'm trying to learn and practice shading techniques and as you can see, this had a lot. I'm pretty okay with how it turned out.

Well, thanks for looking at all of my art! (: Have a wonderful day.

PS. TOMORROW (well today...) IS CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Winter Break Wish-List

Well, friends, the end is drawing near. Tomorrow is my last day of classes as a first semester junior and in the year 2011. (Actually, that's a lie because I will be taking a class over winter intersession.) But the end of 2011 is coming. How weird is that? I distinctly remember freshman move-in day down to what I wore, and what I did. But then again, how could we not forget the horrendous New Lancer Days?

Anyway, I've mentally packed everything that needs to go home with me this weekend, so that next weekend won't be so bad when I have to take my whole life home. (*Mental note to sell back my textbooks next week.) It's the physical packing part that will be rough for me. Looks like I'll need to drive back to the apt. after lunch instead of getting on the road right away. It's okay though. Won't take me long. It's just clothes.... then again, maybe it will.

Over winter break I aspire to do the following things:

*Sleep until 12pm every day.

*Take pictures of anything.

* Thoroughly explore the wonders of Maymont Park (with my camera of course).

*Make Christmas cookies

*MAKE someone a Christmas present instead of buying one (snow globes from pinterest, anyone?)

*Make/eat green bean casserole (I've been craving it ever since Thanksgiving)

*Make a YouTube video (so that Ellen will see me and ask me to come on her show)

*Sing.

*Avoid the dentist like the plague..... but I'm overdue for a visit. :(

Yeah, it's gonna be great.

Karma, it's a female dog.

So let's talk about my Thanksgiving. It's actually quite hilarious at some points.

I woke up this morning to my mother telling me that we weren't all getting together at my aunt's house like we'd originally planned because Papa Rowe was in the hospital and they'd been in the emergency room all night. So that kind of sucked and I don't know how he's doing, but I think someone mentioned he was okay now, so that's good.

SOOOOOOOOOO, instead of going and having a nice family dinner we went to Shoney's by my Nana & Papa's house at 1 for lunch. Well, number one, I hate Shoney's. Number two, this is not how I'd like to spend my Thanksgiving, but there was nothing I could do about it so I didn't protest.

So we're sitting in Shoney's and we've just finished lunch when a police officer comes barreling in the restaurant and he's going around asking for someone. Well, he comes to our side and says something. And I swore I heard him say "Jones" (my grandparents' last name). But he went somewhere else. And we're all in a fuss because no one knows who he's looking for until he comes back and says, "Jones"? And it turns out he was looking for my Papa and he asks him to step outside for a minute.

Well, my mom goes out there with them while Nana, AJ, and I sit at the table metaphorically in the dark about all this. And rumors are flying around by wait staff and customers that someone hit our car.

Then mom comes back and apparently someone swerved into the parking spot next to their car, hit their front driver's side hub cap, took out their whole front bumper (which includes a grill) that was laying on the ground right next to their car. And when the bumper flew off it hit the back of the car parked in front of them.

And of course, the driver drove off and so we talked with the police officer (who coincidentally went to college with my mom) and got everything sorted out we drove home.... Wellllll, on the way out of the parking lot I saw the police officer park at the bank next to Shoney's and then, I saw him drive over to another section of the parking lot and get out, checking a car. And I pointed it out to my mom and thought what if that was the person who hit us?

Sure enough, a half hour later at Nana & Papa's, they get a call from the officer saying he checked out that car, ran a scan, and went back into Shoney's. And do you know where she was sitting? AT THE TABLE NEXT TO US. The woman who hit my Papa's car was SITTING AT THE TABLE RIGHT BESIDE US.... And clearly EVERYONE in that banquet room knew very well what was going on. And then in hindsight, I did see her sneaking glances over at us while we talked about it. And I also may have said some very rude things about the driver and frankly, I'm glad she was there to hear it. I don't take any of it back.

So everything got sorted out, she's going to court and whatnot. And the thing that tickles me most is that she thought she'd gotten away with it. How hilarious.

And then Gabey Baby came over Nana's and I got to see him. And then mom and I came home (AJ went to dad's) and I made oreo truffles and finished Mockingjay, the third book in The Hunger Games series. I bawled like a baby, and now I'm going to enjoy my marathon of The Big Bang Theory. (:

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Thoughts for Thursday: Fly Away Home

I'm almost there!

I just have to get through this math test in an hour and a half and then I'm home free! Of course, I didn't pack last night so I have to go back to my apartment and do that, but then I'm home free! And I'm not coming back to campus until after Thanksgiving. And everyone's like "You're skipping all of your classes?" And I'm like... "Listen..."

I'm only skipping two of them. Sociology on Monday, and then Math on Tuesday. And we don't have a quiz due in Soc and in math we're just correcting our tests... which I'm technically forfeiting.. but I'm not driving back for one class. Ain't. Gonna. Happen.

So today I'm going home, tomorrow we're leaving for the beach. Shhhh, my brother doesn't know. He's going with dad for the weekend. And we're going to have a girls' weekend. Me, my mom, my aunt Stacy, and my nana. We'll go shopping, hang out, take pictures. It'll be fun. (:

And then hopefully I can work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (I have yet to tell my boss) and earn some money.

And I'm gonna see my bestfriend and then go to a bonfire Friday night after Thanksgiving and it'll be fun. It'll be fun! I love going home. I've forgotten just how much.

Tuesday Ten

Tonight, I was thinking about.... something. And I was like wow that would make a great Tuesday Ten. Wait a minute. What day is it? Tuesday! Perfect!

Dear husband,

1. Surprise me a work for no reason other than to eat lunch with me.
2. Just grab me randomly in the kitchen and start dancing with me (with or without music).
3. Be silly with me. Go along with my antics. Be spontaneous with me. I don't like sticks in the mud.
4. Come over just to hang out with my brother. I'll act offended, but I really think it's cool.
5. When I'm upset, don't ask me what's wrong, just hug me and let me talk when I'm ready.
6. Take me to an arcade or amusement park. Movies are okay for rainy days.
7. Never feed me. I'm not a baby. I know how to use a spoon.
8. Go out with your friends. Lord, knows I need time with the girls.
9. I secretly don't mind if you tickle me.
10. I may slip up and make comments about how celebrities are hot and how cute a guy is. But I chose you.

Yeah, you can shoot me later for being all mushy. But I'm in a mood.

Music Monday!

I found a new song that I'm obsessed with now. I've been sitting in the library for the past two hours and it's been on repeat this whole time. (Except for the twenty minutes or so that I used to watch The Hunger Games trailer ten-ish times.)

Anyway, the song is called "It's Always Been You" by Chris August. Please listen to it. Breathe it in. Breathe it out. And love it.

I. AM. OBSESSED.

And since we're here, watch the trailer for The Hunger Games.

My personal devotion today was called "Those Pesky Boys"

These are some things I need to tell myself regularly...

• Philippians 4:7 - And the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your HEARTS and minds in Jesus Christ.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.

"A woman should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her."

"Dance with God, he'll let the perfect man cut in."

Class Fiasco!

Every semester, we college kids have to go through the torturous event of signing up for classes. And the university only makes it worse by having sign ups at 6:00 AM. I can remember one time it was at 5:00AM and another was at 12:00AM (a much better alternative seeing as most of us are awake anyway). But this time it was at 6... for everyone else but me.

You see, my school account has a habit of locking me out, which totally and completely sucks. So instead of registering this morning at 6 with everyone else, I had to register after I called the helpdesk (which didn't open until 7:45) and get them to unlock my account. Of course, me being Lindsey didn't wake up until 8:30, so I called, they unlocked it, and I registered for classes. OF COURSE I didn't get my theatre class. But I got all my other classes. But I'll get it overridden. It'll all be okay.

I need a theatre class. Even if it isn't REAL theatre, just more how to incorperate it into the class, I'm still going to enjoy it.

Maybe we'll even get to use a stage!

Tuesday Ten

As I may have mentioned, my aunt is going to find out what her baby is today. Boy? Girl? We will find out! And even though I will love it no matter what gender it is, here are 5 reasons why it should be a boy and five reasons why it should be a girl.

GIRL:

1. They already have a boy, therefore if they get a girl they (and the family) can have one of each.
2. So Gabe can have a little sister to protect.
3. Because... (and don't judge me) I'm already planning my wedding. And hopefully within the next six or seven years I will be getting married and I can have a ring bearer and flower girl. Ta da! Gabe and little girl.
4. Because Kim & Ray have picked out a name if it's a girl and (this is very selfish) they've picked out a name for a boy... Liam. And that's my favorite name I was going to name my son and if they have a boy I can't name my son that.
5. So I don't have to have the title of "Only granddaughter" anymore. I think I'm willing to give it up.

BOY:

1. So Gabe can have a little brother to teach and play with and be best friends with.
2. So Kim & Ray don't have a "high maintenance" girl on their hands.
3. Because boys are more easily entertained than girls.
4. So they can grow up to be gentlemen and take care of their mommy.
5. Because I secretly still like being the only granddaughter.

EDITED -- EDITED -- EDITED

JUST FOUND OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (:

Refreshing

What a great weekend! I got to see some friends who've graduated because they were in town. I got to take pictures! Went to a cookout for BCM today for lunch that was exquisite. Plus, Anne's homemade mac and cheese was the bomb! And then, SURPRISE! On our way home from Hampden Sydney today I get a call from Stephen who's all "What are you doing for dinner? You're coming over to my apartment and having barbecued ribs and mashed potatoes, that's what!" And I was like "Awesome! We'll bring some homemade mac and cheese!" And that's what we did. It was great.

And then we watched Beauty and the Beast with Stephen... which he already had on when we got there.... interesting. Preparing for an apartment full of girls or secretly loves Disney? The world may never know.

And then when we got home, the roommates and I watched Once Upon a Time, which is one of the best envisions I've ever beheld. And then we watched something about a guy named Tom with his guest stars (and best friends) Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. They went hunting. And then Anne and I talked about how our dads and brothers like to hunt and then I came in here to reflect on my weekend.

It was great. Hoping to have another one similar to this next weekend (:

Productive

I got to do crash a photoshoot today! YAY! Chelsea and Ashley let me come with them around Farmville and we got some good pictures. It was fun fun fun!

Here have a look-sy (:

Fantastic!

Among Tumblr, Facebook, Stumbleupon, and YouTube, I've become quite addicted to the new phenomenon sweeping the world... PINTEREST. Oh my gosh, who was the creator, really? Man's a genius. Fo' real.

For the past couple months, I've been planning my wedding, designing the interior and exterior of my dream home, planning any and all vacations, and pretending to fill my closet with all the cute clothes I've found!

OH MY GOSH. WHAT IS MY LIFE?!?!?!?!

I wish I had money, and this will make me sound so shallow, but I just want to buy clothes.

(I will give money to charity and use my money to help all kinds of people in need... but who says I shouldn't enjoy it also?)

If you'd like to follow me on pinterest, I'd really enjoy that.

The link is on the right menu bar.

Love, Linds

HOORAY HOORAY!

On Tuesday I will be doing a special Tuesday Ten in honor of my aunt finding out what gender her baby is! (:

This will be oodles and oodles of fun (:

Thoughts for Thursday: Wedding Edition

I went to a wedding last weekend and plus all of my friends and people I know are getting engaged. Sue me.

1. My colors are lemon and lavender.
2. I want a homemade photobooth backdrop.
3. It will be outside.
   
4. Since I'll have the wedding and reception outside, in addition to dancing, there will be lawn games for those who don't like to dance. Cornhole, horseshoes, bocci ball, ladders - not to mention a special kids' table with an activity book. (I am such a teacher, oh my gosh.)
5. I love the idea of filling mason jars with bubbles and giving them as favors.
6. Sunglasses for the sunny outside wedding. Coolest idea ever.
7. I'd like to have guests sit wherever they want to sit.
8. I want my bridesmaids to sign the bottom of my shoes in blue sharpie and that will be my something blue.
9. I want the rings tied to a bible instead of a pillow.
10. I want to wear a birdcage instead of a veil.
11. The table numbers are going to be for the guests to write letters for us to open on that anniversary.
12. Next to the guestbook, I want there to be a dictionary where guests can circle words that will remind us of our day.

I have many more ideas but I can't think of them quite yet.

Craving Christmas

I know it's supposed to be Music/Movie Monday, but I'm in the middle of a Christmas episode of Warehouse 13 and I'm desperately craving some Christmas spirit. And it all started with none other than Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" song. It's the song every girl knows and loves and sings at the top of her lungs.

I can't wait until I have a family and I can decorate my house all up and cook a turkey and have guests and family over for a party and celebrate together. There are moments when I don't ever want to get married and have kids and I just want to travel the world and live by the seat of my pants for the rest of my life... and then there are times when I can't wait to get married and settle down and live in the suburbs have a two car garage, three kids, and a dog.

Now is one of those moments. So without further ado, I give you Mariah Carey.

One Day...

I hope that people realize that many writings from famous male authors/publishers/poets/playwrights were actually written by women who had the help of an "identity" from male family members.

Women have always had rights, they've just been very good at disguising them.

Tuesday Ten

It's back! (:

I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's Music/Movie Monday (:

This week's Tuesday Ten is going to be 10 funfacts that you may not have known already... provided by different TV shows and websites. (:

1. Mary, Queen of Scots's, croquet mallet was made of petrified narwhal's horn. She never lost a match.
2. Dentists recommend the toothbrush to be kept at least 6 feet away from the toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from a flush.... bet you'll want to go move that brush now, huh?
3. On March 29th, 1886 Coca Cola was created. Coca Cola was created on my birthday. No wonder I love it so much.
4. Each king in a deck of cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David, clubs - Alexander the Great, hearts - Charlemagne, diamonds - Julius Caesar.
5. Alaska has the highest percentage of people who walk to work.
6. In colonial times, if there was ever a single male visitor to a family with unmarried daughters, the mothers would "sew" the man into his bed so he could not possibly get free in the night and take advantage of a daughter.
7. The custom of shaking hands was originated to show the opposite party you were unarmed.
8. February 1865 was the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
9. Pilgrims at popcorn at the first Thanksgiving dinner. Yep, Charlie Brown was accurate!
10. In Tokyo they sell toupees for dogs... And I thought clothes were ridiculous!

I hope you enjoyed this nonsense! (:

Movie Monday

I'd like to welcome you to the first ever Music/Movie Monday! This is just where I review/recommend movies and music that I've discovered recently (or known for a while).

Last night, my roommates and I have a movie night. So it's only fitting that today I review the movies we watched. I was originally only going to review the one new one I'd seen, but what the hey I will review them all.

We watched a total of 5 movies. I will go in order:

1. Twister - A classic 90's movie about a group of people chasing tornadoes and trying to figure them out. I've loved this movie for as long as I can remember. Every time I watch it I always want to change my career to "storm chaser". It's funny and it's thrilling. It's interesting and can be a little scary, but it's really good.

Watch the trailer here.

2. Two Weeks Notice - Starring Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. It's hilarious. But I'm partial to both of these actors. Sandra Bullock's uptight humor mixed with Hugh Grant's dry wit is hilarious - not to mention his British accent is fun to mimic. Go watch!

Watch the trailer here.

3. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights - Everyone knows the classic Dirty Dancing with Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze was a phenomenon, but does anyone actually watch the second one? This movie has nothing to do with the original and in my opinion it was okay. I'd seen bits and pieces of it from high school (thank you Jessie) and even now it's not my forte. But if you love dancing movies, I think you'll really enjoy it. Do not go into it thinking it will be exactly like Dirty Dancing because other than the dancing aspect, it's nothing like the original. It's set in a different place, has all different actors and rotates around a different aspect. But the dancing stays the same!

Watch the trailer here.

4. A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song - This is yet another spin off of A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. I have to admit though Another Cinderella Story with Selena Gomez was definitely not as good as the first one but I liked it because the plot was very different. And I have to admit even though I love Lucy Hale and all her glory, this movie was still not as good as A Cinderella Story, but I liked it because she has a really good voice and Freddie Stroma also has the voice of a god. Not to mention the whole plot was really good and I think something like that could possibly happen in real life. In fact, I'm pretty positive it does.

Watch the trailer here.

5. Burlesque - I cannot fathom to you how much I love this movie. Yes, it is pretty corny at times and Christina Aguliera probably shouldn't act, but Cam Gigante is hot and Cher blows my socks off. Not to mention I adore Kristen Bell's character - yes she's the diva and everyone hates her but I love those characters because in the end they usually learn their lesson and ask for forgiveness. I have to admit that this scene is my favorite in the entire movie *spoiler alert*. It's not the whole scene just that one line from it. But Kristen Bell's performance is so good in this scene I just love her all the more.

Watch the trailer here.

Happy watching! (:

Thursday Thoughts: College Edition

Jordan recently helped me with ideas for my blog because sometimes I just have nothing to write and nothing to say. Well, that's a lie - I always have something to say. But I don't always remember to write it all down - especially in my blog. So here's some "Thoughts for Thursday".

(:

Also, I will still be continuing Tuesday Ten, but not necessarily every week, because I will be doing "Thursday Thoughts" every week from now on, which is just basically any thoughts I've had throughout the week on different things. And also, brand new on Mondays I will be doing "Movie/Music Mondays"! Which is just a review of a movie or giving out good music to listen to! Won't that be fun?! I think so. (:

So since it is in fact 12:15 AM on Thursday I will be starting my Thursday Thoughts right now;

1. I love that fall is here! I love the cold weather, the apple picking I did on Monday with my roommates, wearing scarves (I wore my favorite scarf today, in fact), drinking coffee (because I only drink it during the cold months), seeing the leaves change color, wearing mis-matched socks, feeling a cool chill in the wind, turning the heat on in my car. It's all so wonderful! Not to mention I just bought a bag of candy corn autumn mix (with the pumpkins!) at the store and I'm psyched to eat them (or I may have nibbled gobbled on some a lot already).
2. I need a job. 'Nuff said. But really, I have to money and I want to go to Axis, and I had to spend the money my papa gave me for cleaning the bathrooms and helping in the garden on gas, so I only have twenty dollars left, and it's definitely not enough to go to Axis, but I have to save the rest of my money for, oh I don't know, more gas, and groceries, and emergencies. Ugh. Living is expensive.
3. Can I just say that I like being at home, but I love coming back to campus. I got back this afternoon and ate lunch, then went to campus to meet with my math group and just walking on campus gave me a good feeling. It really is like my second home (there mom, you happy?) and I cannot imagine what I will do when I graduate. Oh gosh, I don't even want to think about that right now. But sadly, it's junior year and soon I will have to leave.
4. Speaking of, I'm a JUNIOR! HOLY CRAP! Where does the time go? I can distinctly remember my freshman move in day. (I stupidly thought I could climb the stairs all the way to the 7th floor because the elevators were full... yeah bad idea). I remember New Lancer Days (but God, I wish I didn't). I remember my classes from freshman year (not what I learned, but whatevs). I remember so much stuff. And sophomore year flew by too! I remember sneaking out (well, not really because we don't have curfew or anything... it's just fun to say) of my dorm with Mary at 5 o'clock in the morning to look for Chi droppings (no luck). I remember when I stupidly left my dorm window open and it rained.... hard. My bed got soaked. Ahhh good times, good times.

Well, it's late and I have to wake up semi early in the morning, so I'm going to say farewell! Enjoy your weekend, all (:

Forced Entry

Today's blog post goes out to Sarah Sharp (who forced me to write this.) Sarah, I'm sorry I got this out a day late, but I was having a bad day yesterday.

Just a quick update with me...

I have been busy, busy, busy the past couple of weeks. I've been writing, filming, singing, and going. I'm always on the go. Also, Jordan and I re-discovered my Sims on my computer and we've been making a variety of families with weird names and ugly faces.

(Also, i love sarah bach) -- Can you guess who did that?

For BCM, I made (well, kind of ripped off) a video to promote people to go to Axis, which is this awesome retreat at Eagle Eyrie at the end of October. We go and have worship and have fun and sing and have a dance. It's a lot of fun! Anyway, you can watch the video here and mad props to all the people who helped me film and edit it. They were such troopers! (:

Anwyay, today is Friday, and as soon as my chemistry lecture ends at 1:00, it is officially fall break for me! And since my Sociology class is cancelled on Wednesday, I don't have to be back to school until Wednesday afternoon (because I have to meet with my math group).

On Monday, I'm going with Anne Claire and Jordan to Carter Mountain to pick apples! Yes! And then, when I get home, my mother will make apple pies with them. Score!

*Also Anne's letting me take pictures of her while we're in the mountains which means pretty pictures of her and more for my portfolio! It's a win-win!

Have a happy break, ya'll! (:

School in a Nutshell

Hello friends! (:

Since I have been back to school, things have been crazy. I feel like I'm always going. There's always something to do around here and I'm always busy. Schoolwork, BCM, friends in general. Since I've been back I've had about a thousand quizzes, two tests coming up - one this week, one next week - BCM stuff, convocation because I made Jordan's cap (pictured below), church and just hanging out in general. We threw one party (taco night) which was a lot of fun! I've gone home a few times, especially for Gabey Baby's birthday party! (Pictures below) He's one year old! Can you believe it? We waited so long for him to get here and now that he is here time is flying by!

Convocation was fun. We got to stand in the sun for 45 minutes while all the seniors and their cappers lined up to go into the auditorium. I capped Jordan, and Matt capped Mallory so we all sat together.
I went home to be the official photographer for my Gabey Baby's 1st birthday. How sweet (and messy) he is eating his birthday cake. (: I just love him.
I mean look at that face. How precious (:

So this week will consist of me cleaning my room/bathroom, having worship practice (tonight) and then singing at BCM (Thurs), studying for a test in Chemistry (Wed) and then studying for my Sociology test (Mon). I'm helping Chelsea out with a church Spaghetti dinner Wednesday night at Blackstone too. But I'm going home this weekend for my friend Caitlyn's baby shower. I still haven't gotten a gift (I really need to do that). And then Sunday I'm helping with another church Spaghetti dinner. I love doing those. It's friends, food, and fun (:

Well, I need to cross off some of the stuff on my to do list, folks. So wish me luck!

Welcome Back LU & HSC

Being back at school is exhilarating and excruciating all at the same time. There's the friends, and then there's class; there's freedom and independence, and then there's homework and tests. There's BCM and then there's stress. Yes, summer was freeing and relaxing, but also dull and boring for the workaholics like me.

I am settled into my apartment and it is so pretty with three girls living there to spruce up the place. My room is like floating in a sea of green because my curtains (which are lime green) capture the sun and reflect a bright green light onto my walls. I feel like Kermit the Frog, but I like it.

Seeing friends around campus makes my heart soar. And I always end up seeing those friends that I'd forgotten about over the summer. Okay, not really "forgotten" in the sense that I "forgot" them, but the friends that I wasn't close with.. you know what I'm saying right? I see friendly and familiar faces everywhere and it's very calming. Especially, when I'm walking down the sidewalk wondering if I remembered to print of my math homework (today) and I look up and there's someone coming at me with open arms ready for a hug. It's reassuring and comforting to see so many people that I've met just on one (okay, two because of H-SC) campus.

Honestly, I thought I had a lot of friends in high school.... turns out I know more in college. Isn't that crazy?

Summer Days

Summer day's got me feelin' lazy. That kind of sounds like a song lyric. Hmm..

Anyway, I've been worn out between working, having a puppy, working, getting ready for school, working, hanging out with friends, and working I haven't had much time to blog. I feel like I haven't even had much time to sleep. :P

This coming week Monday - Friday is that last day of work! YES! And then it's to the beach (: And then it's back to school. Oh my, how this summer has FLOWN by! I'm looking forward to going back. I love my two roommates - they are my sisters (not like my sisters... they are). I'm looking forward to seeing my wonderful BCM family (even though some of my closest friends are now graduated and moving on in their schooling/careers/lives). I'm looking forward to meeting the incoming freshman and help shape their college careers. I'm not looking forward to classes. I'm really not. And I know it's dangerous to go in already feeling this way, not enthusiastic about it already but I can't help it. I honestly think this is the first year that I haven't been excited about school. I'm such a freak about being excited, and this time I'm just not.

Maybe it's all those years of being excited when I shouldn't be excited for school coming back to bite me in the butt. It's like "Haha! This is the most important schooling of your life and I'm gonna ruin it!" Stupid.

Travel Wish List

I've decided that if I ever win the lottery or find that I had a very wealthy great uncle or something who left me millions of dollars then I would use it to travel. I know a more sensible person would invest it, save it, buy a house, but I'm not sensible. I would travel all over the world. I'd try to save it as much as I could though, so that when I'm done traveling I can go back home and be sensible, but honestly, I'd probably re-visit all the places again. Who knows, maybe I'll find a new place to live.

Here's my small little bungalow in Fiji. (: Wouldn't mind living here for a while.

Perhaps I could visit the Boat Hotel on Cocoa Island?

I must go here. The natural pool in Isalo National Park, Madagascar.

Number one on my list is Santorini, Greece. I had a dream the other night I moved there.

It was a good dream.

Being Crafty

I'm obsessed with crafts and finding ways to spruce up old things the cheap way. I love the idea of buying a $3 dollar vase at Goodwill instead of the $40 one at Pottery barn, slapping on a coat or two of spray paint, adding some $10 fake flowers and placing them delicately in the living room/bedroom/kitchen. I love the idea of making pictures magnets to give away as gifts! I love it all! (:

As some of you know, I'll be living in an apartment with two of my good friends this coming fall and we're always talking about ways we'll decorate the place. I found this great tutorial for making cute coasters here and fell in LOVE with the idea. I will make some for our apartment soon. And the best thing is, it's going to be under $10! (: This makes Lindsey very happy.

And while I was looking at these precious gems, I got to thinking how great they would look on the wall in my bathroom. Once I find a shower curtain I like, I'll match the colors with some scrapbook paper and use that on my coasters/wall hangers. (: Yes!

Monongahela

See that name? Pretty funny, huh? Yep; that's the name of the town we're not staying in. We're in Uniontown, Pennsylvania this week visiting family. We got in last night around 9 and tomorrow we're having a family reunion at my cousin Jimmy's house. Usually, we stay in Belle Vernon, PA closer to my aunt's house, but since the reunion was in Uniontown, we decided to stay here and let me tell you the hotel is awesome. I might upload a picture of the pool later. But there's a big pool, and a game room and a hottub. It's nice. Anyway, wanna hear about my trip? Good, I'll tell you.

We drove in yesterday and the view of the mountains is beautiful! I love the scenery and I was so thankful the sun doesn't go down until like 9:00 because I got to see it all in the light and the beautiful sunset! Of course, there were some idiots on the road but that's inevitable in any state

not just Virginia!Our drive was pretty nice and peaceful, especially since A.J. wasn't in the car. So once we got to P.A. we went to Aunt Carol's to pick him up and then went to Aunt Vi's for the night.

This morning we woke up, got ready, and headed to Eat'n Park - my favorite place to eat breakfast! If you ever go anywhere and see an Eat'n Park then please go. It is the best. They have smiley face cookies that are delicious. Hint- take a

children under 12 with

you and they get one free with their meal... then steal it from them. Ahahaha! Just kidding, A.J. split his with me. Yum! After Eat'n Park, we went to Walmart and I said I wasn't going to spend any money (yeah, that lasted long), but I ended up getting some apartment stuff, a movie, and (get ready) HARRY POTTER SCENE IT! YES! I have been wanting it for a long time and now I finally got it. And it was on clearance. Probably because they're coming out with a new edition soon, but oh well. I'll just have the old one.

Tonight, we went to dinner in Pittsburgh, which is about an hour away from where we visit when we come to P.A. And we went to Bucca Di Beppos, which is the BEST Italian restaurant I've ever been to. They serve their meals family style, so you can either get smalls, larges, or sides. And it's BEAUTIFUL! Eight of us

went and each family got something different and we all shared. I've come to realize that the lasagna is okay, the cheese manicotti is to die for and the fettucini alfredo is the best I've ever tasted! Then, afterwards we went across the street to the shops at the old train station and I came so close to buying a Steeler's hat or a shirt, but I stopped myself. I can always get one later.

Then, after going back to my Aunt's house to watch fireworks we headed back to the hotel and A.J. went to the gameroom and won these stick on mustaches out of the machine. Heck yes.

And now we're watching Titanic and going to bed. Tomorrow we've got a morning of Starbucks and swimming (not at the same time) and then going to the reunion where my cousin's band will play and when they're gone, my crazy family will sing karaoke and drink way too much and be loud. It'll be a July 4th celebration to remember! (:

Do-Over

I've been wanting a room makeover for a while. And after moving into my smaller room it is a must. So, for a while I've been gathering pictures from the internet of bedrooms and artsy rooms. I've been taking note of so many things I think my head might explode.

See the walls in this one? I would LOVE something like that in my room. (:

If only I could fit my desk in my closet. That would be so awesome. Whenever I wasn't using it I could just close it on up. But then there would be the problem of where all my clothes would go. :P

A DIY canopy? No problem! Just a mesh curtain, right?

See how the books are put in color order? I wish I had the patience to do that. But honestly, all my books kind of have the same cover colors. Hmmm, go figure.

The quote hanging on the wall, Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. I will make that and hang it in my room.

*NOTE: I wish I could keep my desk that clean.

Inspired

I've always been inspired by photography, which is probably why I am so in love with taking pictures and such. But I love pictures. Always have, and probably always will. I like pictures of people mostly, which is the exact opposite of my friend Stephen. He hates taking pictures of people because he doesn't know how to pose them. I LOVE taking pictures of people because I can pose them. But of course, I love the candids the most. If I take pictures of couples, I feel the best way to capture the real them is to just let them interact together. When I took pictures of Jeff & Christa yesterday, I was like "Just talk to each other" and they did and they were having fun and that showed in the pictures.

Anyway, I get some of my pose ideas from other photographers, which is okay because sometimes I tweak them or my model tweaks it. It's not copying, it's inspiring. (:

But here are some pictures that I love and one day with to "copy".

And I'm back to it!

Today I took more pictures! I took pictures of my friends Jeff & Christa. Some of them are just of Christa though, because I told her we'd have a photoshoot. I cannot convey to you how stoked I am to be taking pictures again! I love it! (: I love the taking, the posing, the modeling, the barking orders, the way the pictures turn out, the editing, (and the facebook comments). I love having more pictures to add to my portfolio (which will exist as soon as I have the funds to make it happen). And of course what kind of blog entry would this be without some of the pictures taken from today?!

Aren't they cute?! Yes, it was a very hot day, but we made it through. After an hour or so though, Christa was getting hot and we were all hungry/thirsty. So we shuffled through the last pictures and then proceeded to Chick Fil A for some grub. Good day.

Crazy

It's become quite clear to me that this blogging business has fallen by the wayside. I apologize internet family, but life gets in the way -- and so does internet problems. I haven't been able to stay on the internet for more than ten minutes at a time since I've been home because something is wrong with the connection at our house.

Does anyone remember when I had thoughts about going Amish? No? Well, that's because I soon after realized that I had to live without a computer and all thoughts evaporated. I'm a glutton for punishment.

Anyway, I've missed three Tuesday Tens in a row -- bad Lindsey. And I can't honestly say I'll have one tomorrow either. I do not know how good of a mood the internet will be in tomorrow, nor do I know if my mother will actually call Comcast and get them to fix it or not. But since my brother is stick with strep throat, bringing an oblivious stranger into the house does not seem like a very good thing, so odds are, tomorrow it will not be fixed either.

Anyway, just an update on me -- the first week I was home, I did my Practicum I at an elementary school just twenty minutes up the road and LOVED it! I know that being a teacher is definitely what I want to do more than anything in the world now and I owe it all to Mrs. Fletcher's 2nd grade class! They're wonderful kids and she's a phenomenal teacher. I learned so much in her classroom - so many tips and strategies, what works, what doesn't and I felt so comfortable in the classroom. Usually, in other teachers' classrooms I feel uncomfortable, like I'm invading their territory, but not that week. I was completely at ease - a great feeling.

And I'm also slowly coming to the realization that come fall I will be a JUNIOR in college! JUNIOR. IN. COLLEGE. I remember my JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL like it was yesterday! How can I already be a JUNIOR IN COLLEGE? This is all so crazy. I'm TWENTY years old. I still remember my sweet sixteen like it was yesterday. That was a good party. It's so crazy how time flies by.

Successful Days

This past weekend and today I've taken portraits of my friends and LOVED IT! On Saturday, before BCM Ball I took pictures of Matt and Mallory that turned out WONDERFULLY! And today, I took pictures of my beautiful friend Sara! (:

Here's some of my faves!