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! (: