day to myself

I am fast becoming the worst blogger ever. Sorry for my lack of recent postings all, but I won't bore you with excuses.

As of early this afternoon, every single item was out of our old apartment and the whole place had been cleaned from top to bottom. We had accidentally left a few dishes there after our final move and clean-up yesterday, so I stopped by to pick them up after lunch with the Boyfriend. The place looked so tiny without all of our belongings stuffed inside, and I felt a little sad to be leaving for good, since I was partially leaving my independence behind, too. My parent's basement is great, but it's my parents' house and you don't feel nearly as independent hearing the floor speak as they walk overhead every day.

Regardless, I felt very calm and happy, seeing the entire place wiped clean of us ever having been there. It was strange, seeing it look exactly the same as the day we toured it: white, plain, empty, and clean. I felt refreshed in a way as I locked the door behind me for the last time.

I have the day off today, and I turned down a shift because I desperately needed some alone time to just relax and think. The holidays and moving were chaotic, as one would expect, but I now need to take some time to slow down before things get crazy again. On the 4th I started my winter course, and that same week I have two internship interviews to look forward to. Wish me luck!

I should probably be preparing for my busy schedule up ahead, but I need to just relax I think. Take a deep breath and maybe even a nap - clear my head for awhile. Unpacking of boxes, organizing it all, and minimizing my belongings can wait for another day or two.

Hope everyone's holidays were merry and bright. Let's bring on the new year!

well, holly-freakin'-jolly

*Sigh* I am finally done with my enormous stretch of day after day of work. Retail + The Holidays = Chaos and Exhaustion. Tomorrow, I plan to sleep in as long as humanly possible!

But now, time to vent. I found out last night that my little sister's boyfriend will be joining us for Christmas breakfast. At first, I didn't say anything, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. She is 17 years old, a junior in high school, and she's been dating this kid maybe a few months. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with him, but I think it's kind of strange and inappropriate for him to be having Christmas breakfast with us. Christmas is a private family thing, in my opinion, and I think it's weird that she wants her boyfriend there.

Am I totally off my rocker here?

For a moment I think I might be hypocritical because my boyfriend will be joining us for Christmas and did last year, but we've been dating for two and a half years! He IS practically family at this point. I mean, come on, he lives in the basement with me!

So anyway, I tell my mom how I feel, not expecting much of anything. Maybe a hint of agreement, but I didn't expect her to uninvite him or anything. What's done is done. I just wanted to get my point across that I thought it was weird of her to want him there. It's family time.

My mom, in retaliation of my comments, thought this was the perfect time to say that everyone she tells about me and the Boyfriend moving into their basement thinks is super weird and super awkward, especially since we aren't married or anything.

Well holly-freakin'-jolly, Mom. Way to tell me that everyone you know thinks its crazy and inappropriate for me and the Boyfriend to be living in your house together. Gimme a freaking break.

So there's my holiday grumbling. On the flip side, I did make Christmas cookies with the Boyfriend and his sister today, which was a lot of fun. Oh, and we attempted to go snowmobiling tonight, too, but the wind and snow was so intense that we couldn't see much of anything and had to turn back. Oh well, another time!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

tired mess of a woman

Sorry for my lack of posting, and sadly this one will be short...

• The presentations went well, but there was not enough time for networking. Some other time, perhaps?
• Moving took place on Wednesday and was exhausting. Didn't stop until 1am!
• I must, must, must apply for the stack of internships that are in one of these bazillion boxes. Not getting an internship is NOT an option!
• Math exam: B. I'll take it! :)
• Not getting enough sleep is killing me. Go to bed too late, wake up when the Boyfriend comes to bed, wake up when the sun comes out, wake up when the family starts moving upstairs, and wake up again with my alarm. I'm a tired mess.
• Pretty sure the PS3 just died. Goodbye, entertainment.
• Too tired to think of any other updates. BEDTIME!

rashes and BIG presentation

Hey everyone,

Sorry that I've been terribly absent from my blog, but I've been having quite the month! With all of my classes coming to a close, I've had to wrap up assignments and work on lots of projects - I'm a busy bee! Aside from that, the Boyfriend and I are attempting to move, but it's been going quite slowly. Our schedules are hectic at the very least, so we've only had time to do a little here and there. We're attempting to be totally moved by the end of the week, but we'll have to see about that.

In other news, I'm currently FREAKING OUT. Today is a crazy, crazy day for me and I'm already hyped up on coffee. Volunteering, handing in paperwork (last minute, of course), working on another huge project, and the biggest presentation of my college career thus far. No pressure, right? Freaking out. I don't have my part nearly as memorized as I had hoped, but I have a decent amount of practice time today.

Remember that huge campaigns project I've been bitching about? Well, we're presenting it to a whole bunch of advertising/PR professionals today. Super scary! Although, this is going to be an awesome networking opportunity, but I'm so scared that I'm going to screw up and be the laughingstock of the entire Milwaukee Ad community. That would be terrible.

I tried on practically every nice outfit I had last night and had the Boyfriend narrow them down with me. I think I look pretty good. Well, except for the huge rash on my face! Yeah, what a day to wake up with a huge red blotch on the side of your face. Come ON! Anyway, it's off to my volunteer place now. I'll have to catch you all up later on whether I made a fool of myself or not.

Send happy, loving thoughts my way, please!

XOXO,

Olivia

crackberries and stupid sisters

So much to catch up on!

1. I have a Blackberry now! Although I probably should call it my Crackberry. Seriously. After much drama and arguing with my family as to whether we wanted to renew our contract, we did and I ended up with a fancy new phone. I am so addicted. I swear, I'm checking it every five seconds. It's totally my new thing, and I'm very proud to be a part of the Blackberry club.

2. My 17-year-old sister is driving me insane. I remember what it was like to be 17. I wasn't very well behaved. Ask The Boyfriend - he was even worse than I was! But it kills me to hear her tell stories about being drunk or to tell me what she's done with her little boyfriend lately. Seriously, I don't want to know. I don't want to know not only because it bug me, but I also don't want to be responsible when she does something really stupid like drives drunk.

I thought things were finally out of my hands when she came home the other night with beer on her breath. We always have to say goodnight to mom when we come home late for this exact purpose. She tried to cover for herself though, and said it was just the smell of it - she wasn't drinking, it was other people. This didn't fly for long, however, as she got in an argument with my mom about it the very next night. She refused to talk to my mom and demanded to talk with my father.

My father is an understanding man. He doesn't tend to overreact and he remembers what it was like to be young and dumb. However, I don't think he realized that what he told her wasn't interpreted quite the right way. See, he told her he knew there wasn't much he could do to stop her. She should be safe, however, and let him know where she's staying.

That'd be fine if he was telling a 20 year old that. Someone in college, more mature, responsible. But we're talking about my stupid, stuck up, immature 17-year-old sister. She interprets this as, "My dad says I can drink." No good, Dad. Know your audience! I haven't found the right moment to tell him this, but I plan to call him out on it. Sure, he's right to say she shouldn't drink and drive, but this wasn't his best parenting moment in my opinion.

3. Remember that big Campaigns project I was telling you all about? We got the books printed! They look like fancy magazines, filled with work produced with my blood, sweat and tears - and damn, it feels good! We didn't win the competition, but that doesn't really matter to me. I'm happy that now I have something awesome and tangible to show potential employers.

Speaking of potential employers, the internship hunt isn't going so well. Please cross your fingers that I can find something for the spring or I am kinda screwed. So yeah. Cross them fingers, people!

(crackberry found here)

Happy Turkey Day!

Sorry for being so absent! I spent the last weekend in Iowa with my college friends and had a wonderful time. I haven't had much schoolwork to do, but my job this week will keep me busy! Tomorrow, however, I close at work which means Black Friday shopping! Definitely looking forward to that, although the ads this year aren't all that great. I'm thinking about re-doing our bedding with different colors but haven't yet decided.

Today, the Boyfriend and I are off to both our families' Thanksgivings. Lots of driving but lots of food! Oh, and to wrap up my "I'm thankful for..." postings, I've made a list:

I'm thankful for...

1. The Boyfriend, who is always there for me

2. My parents, who only want the best for my future

3. My vibrant sisters, who are passionate little buggers

4. My friends, who don't let time or distance get in the way

5. Good health and well-being

6. My cuddly, spunky kitties

7. My education, which is coming to an end!

8. A reliable vehicle, to get me where I need to go

9. Food in my fridge (and in my tummy, soon!)

10. Overall, I'm thankful for a very nice life and great people I surround myself with!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

(picture from here)

tattoo photo shoot

In just over a week, I will be doing a photo shoot. Nothing too fancy, but the photos will be of my tattoo(s). Meaning I'll probably have my top off, and maybe strip down to just my panties. Holy crap, I'm nervous!

Don't get me wrong, I'm super flattered and excited, but I'm going to be wearing little clothing. And these photos are going to be hanging out in the tattoo shop where I got them done. Scary! I'm definitely feeling a bit self-conscious...

First thought, I'm gonna need a great hair and makeup plan. Oh, and I think this calls for an undies shopping trip. So yeah, I guess I'm totally thrilled. Wish me luck!

Second, tomorrow I am leaving for Iowa to visit my friends! It's been so long, and I can't wait to hang out with them, even if it is just for the weekend. YAY!

(angelina jolie pic here)

Skinny Bitch

So while I've been spending the majority of my time in bed or on the couch the past few days, I've been reading "Skinny Bitch", a book recommended by a friend. I purchased the book just a few days ago. Always having been interested in nutrition, I thought, what the heck, I might as well see what all the fuss is about.

The first few chapters had me giggling about the very straightforward manner that the authors write in. It's no nonsense and hysterical because of that. It's bossy, there's swear words, but it's damn good information. However, having grown up with a nutritionally-conscious mother, I knew most of the information that they presented in the beginning chapters. Fresh facts with a fresh perspective kept me intrigued.

Then we get to the tough stuff: they try to convince you to be vegan. Are these women persuasive? Hell yeah. But I just don't think I have the time, energy, skills, or patience to turn my eating habits around to that extent. Oh, and I really don't think the BF would love his BBQ chicken to be replaced with brussel sprouts.

Am I going to finish the book? Absolutely. Did I learn a lot? Of course. And yes, there are non-vegan topics in this book that I will attempt to adopt into my life. If you're considering reading this book, I would. It's an easy read and an experience, even if you don't agree with everything they are pushing.

Oh, and today I am thankful for the wisdom that comes with age. Looking at my 17 year old sister makes me appreciate how much I've matured in just a few short years.

feeling like death

So I've been sick for the last few days, crossing my fingers that it isn't swine flu. Had to go to work today anyway and worked 7 hours which was a bad idea because now I feel 10 times crappier than before. Anyway, that's my excuse for not blogging much.

Today I am grateful for my cozy comforter and my awesome couch.

More updates soon, I swear.

P.S. I got employee of the month! Yay!

Thankful... #2 and #3

I am thankful for two things today:

I've been realizing lately what a small world it is... I was in a restaurant on campus watching the news and the story of the Random Lake, WI girl who was shot at Fort Hood game across the screen. Her name is Amber Bahr and she was shot in the back but continued to help others before seeking help herself. What a heroine! I couldn't get it out of my head that her name sounded familiar, but I shook it off.

I later realized that while I was a senior in high school, she was a sophomore! She's changed since high school, so I assume that's why I didn't recognize her at first. How crazy is that? It's such a small world... my high school was very small, maybe 250 people total in all four classes. I think it's mind boggling that this modern-day heroine passed me in the halls just a few years ago.

I am thankful for heroes like Amber who put others before themselves.

The basement renovation my parents have been working on for months is finally complete. The bathroom no longer looks like a scene from Saw, and there's carpeting on the floor. Two closets create a bedroom space and a large window brings in beautiful, natural light. In about a month and a half, I will be moving yet again, but this time into my parents' basement with the Boyfriend so that we can kickstart our lives by saving up some money.

I am thankful for my parents who would do just about anything to help me out.

(photo of Amber from here)

I'm thankful for... #1

So another wonderful blogger over at Ramblins... is naming something she's grateful for every day this month. I have decided that it would be in my best interest to copy her and hopefully help myself see the silver lining in things.

Like I've mentioned a lot lately, school is kicking my butt this semester, and I tend to get caught up in my frustrations and end up in really awful moods. So, I am going to do my very best to post something every day til Thanksgiving that I am thankful for.

I am going to start with something blatantly obvious: I am very grateful for my wonderful boyfriend (cue the "aww"s). He has helped me stay sane though various changes in my life, he is a fantastic friend, and he is always there to help me when I need it. Sure, he's not one for cooking dinner, unless you call Hamburger Helper or frozen pizza a real dinner, but its the thought that counts. He keeps me stable and is always looking out for me and helping me see the good things. We love watching movies together and we always fight over who gets the best blanket to cuddle under. He is the very best, and I couldn't ask for anyone better to spend my time with.

(picture from here)

new month resolutions

Sure, it may only be the first of November, but I think it's already resolution time for me. My life has been hectic lately so I think making resolutions will help me remember what's important so I can get back on track. Now, there are plenty of things I'd love to change that I haven't been very good at or have tried to change in the past but failed. But that's the nice thing about resolutions: you're looking ahead to a better you rather than worrying about the past.

So what's on my list?

Be more tidy and clean. The bathroom cleaner and vacuum are my friends, and it only take a few minutes every day to pick up after myself. I was doing really well keeping things neat and tidy, but with school keeping me so busy, I quickly fell out of that habit. I need to stop letting my mess get out of hand. This includes...

Doing the dishes daily. Ugh, how I loathe doing dishes. However, ten minutes of washing each day is better than the nasty pile that consists of a weeks worth of grimy dishes. I hate it, but it needs to be done.

Plan healthy meals. This is going to be a tough one, without a doubt. I want to be healthy, really I do, but the Boyfriend and I continuously find ourselves late in the evening without a plan for dinner. This results in either eating fast food or going to the store for something quick and easy (that's code for hamburger helper, pizza, or chicken and a bag-o-pasta). Planning ahead for healthy meals will also give me a chance to clip coupons to save money.

Exercise. The Boyfriend and I are extremely lucky in the fact that we both have high metabolisms and are both fairly thin. This doesn't give us an excuse to be out of shape, however, which I definitely am. I get winded carrying groceries up one flight of stairs! No good. I need to bust out that yoga video again (which I've only used once) and keep nagging the Boyfriend to buy an exercise bike with me.

Hopefully I try and make these good habits a part of my daily routine. Am I a little doubtful? Maybe, but that doesn't mean I won't try.

What kind of things would be on your resolution list?

(comic from here)

Viral Marketing

So I've been talking a whole lot about this obnoxious campaigns class that has been taking up a ton of my time (not to mention that fact that it's made me ridiculously far behind in my other classes and I've even missed assignments...). Well, here is a little YouTube video that we created for some viral marketing. It's just a teeny-tiny part of the campaign, but I thought it would be fun for you to see what I've been working on lately.

Oh, and for those of you who don't know me in "real life," I'm the moron at the very end. Enjoy!

its about the simple things in life...

I have been one giant ball of stress this past week, and yesterday was exceptionally awful. My Campaigns class is proving to be a ton of work, and I've been doing an average of 10 hours of homework each week lately. I was dreaming about it last night and suddenly woke up at 3:45am freaking out about a little mistake I made. Cue the exhaustion.

Anyway, Joanna over at Smitten (one of my beloved Glamour blogs) wants everyone to stop and think about their 5 Simple Pleasures, and I think that now would be a good time for me take a moment to breathe and think about what makes me calm.

My 5 Simple Pleasures

1. Snuggling on the couch with a big blankie and watching a movie

2. Going for a walk

3. A nice, long, hot shower

4. Spooning!

5. Drinking a yummy chai tea latte

What are some of your simple pleasures?

breaking blogging rules

I know this probably falls under the category of things you aren't supposed to blog about because it can come back to bite you, but I need to get this off my chest.

I have this professor who I absolutely can not stand. We're creating a campaign for a competition that has been organized by a group outside of the school. Sounds like a ton of work but a great learning experience, right? Well, sort of.

A ton of work? Oh, yes. Am I learning anything? No, unless you count learning how to be stressed out and angry all the time. She hasn't lectured us a single time, led us in the completely wrong direction for our project (which meant tons of backtracking and extra work), and misses class more than any of us! She's a hypocrite and never has anything nice to say.

Oh, and her misleading us almost meant a lot of money out of our own pockets. I'm a poor college kid, I need all the money I have. I don't need to be throwing it away for no good reason.

Yesterday's class was no better. I spent hours beforehand working with my classmates on a video. We come to class, and she bitches about everything. If she had come to class on Monday, she would have known all the work we've been doing. Then she starts to nit-pick our work to pieces.

"I'm just your tour guide. I'm not going to spoon-feed you." This is just code for "I will not be responsible for any of the major mistakes I've made. I will not lecture or teach you." How crap is that? What am I paying her to do?

When I get angry, I'm not the very best at hiding it. In class Wednesday, she was talking to another student and I was playing with the detailing on the bottom of my shirt. She instantly freaked out and yelled at me for texting. Quite offended, I said, "No, actually, I'm just playing with my shirt. Don't you think I know better, especially in a class of nine students?" She didn't like that.

Prior to this incident, I had been speaking up about my differing opinion about how we had created some of our ads. She wanted to cut something that I thought was quite important. Eventually, we came to a compromise, but not before she said, "Olivia, you can argue with me all day if you want, but this is how it's going to be!"

I'm paying for this education and dammit, I want it to be a good one.

She sent me a very short email yesterday asking to meet with me, no excuses. I guess this has happened with another student in the class, and he told me that she's going to pull me into her office and one by one, tell me every little thing she thinks I'm doing wrong.

I'm going to have to take some Zanax or something before the meeting because I'm worried that all the stuff I've said now will come out. I know better than to ruin my grade over behaving badly, but I just want to scream in her face and tell her that I think she's an awful professor.

Any tips for how to hold it together in a stressful and angering situation???

Luck is...

That's What Je Said has found her perfect job, but it was quite the journey for her. Along the way, her roomie gave her some advice: "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." What an amazing thing to say. I might have to write this up and hang in on my wall as my own personal mantra. I'm always so busy being scared about what's going to happen once I graduate and whether I have any chance of finding a job, and somehow this little phrase is super comforting.

crafts and photographs

After taking photos of a recent little project, I noticed some nice summer photos that hadn't made their way off of my camera yet! The weather is already starting to get chilly here and I'm about ready to start wearing my mittens. These pics however, were taken back when the sun was warm and I was wearing flip flops!

This is an old, abandoned building near the railroad tracks in my town. I loved the red against the faded yellow. Very pretty!

Ah, the train tracks.

I just love the sound of the train tumbling on by...

My kitty with a very inappropriate plaything - an empty beer can. *sigh*

My project! This very large, very boring white wall has been driving me nutty lately so I needed a quick and cheap fix for it: I hung some string and used wooden clothes pins to attach photos I'd taken and edited to look kinda funky. Hard to see here, but it only cost me $5!

Lastly, a painting I had made months ago but never shared. It was super easy but made me feel like quite the shnazzy artist!

Oh, and want to hear something completely nuts? I just read this article on Digg about a guy who was pre-approved for a credit card... with a 79.9% APR!!! Okay, I think that's crossing the line into screwing people who are desperate. Not cool.

Well, that's all folks. I really should be working on my math homework but blogging and hot cider sounding much more appealing! :)

texting is a no-no

Warning, this video is a little graphic. I swear though, you'll think twice before texting and driving ever again.

This video was made to show to 18 year olds in Britain to shock them into understanding why such behavior is so dangerous.

i HEART lists

Blog Goggles and Glamour are both making lists... and we know how much I love those! So I've decided that I'm going to copycat them both and make two lists of my own!

My Makeover-My-Life List

1. No more unproductive fights. They are a waste of energy and don't solve anything. So I am telling myself not to fight unless I am going to be a big girl and try to solve whatever issue is at hand.

2. Clean. I can't focus on anything (namely homework) if my surroundings are a pit. Now I will do my very best to keep things tidy-ish all the time so that it doesn't look like a bomb exploded in my apartment most of the time. And that means I have to start doing the dishes more frequently.

3. Stop procrastinating. Okay, I will admit that this one is a little bit unrealistic, but I wanted to put it on the list anyway. I will try my best to stop procrastinating. Example: tonight, I had an assignment due at midnight for an online class. I got out of work at 9:30 and still had 2/3 of the chapter to read. Yeah, not my proudest moment. I wrote my response about what I had read. Ugh.

4. Eat better and exercise - for the health benefits. Ignoring the rant I went on a few posts ago, I need to be healthy. Example: for lunch today, I went to Arby's and had not one but two ham melts and an order of curly fries... and I washed it down with a Mountain Dew. Oh my gawd, this is not good. Not good at all. Also, still convincing the BF to go halvesies on an exercise bike.

5. Have a cute winter wardrobe. Winter is blah, and I really don't like bundling up. However, I know that it is possible to still look cute, even with eight layers on. So I am determined to look good and therefore feel good this winter!

My Big Dreams List

1. Travel to interesting places. Top on my list: India, Japan, China, and Italy.

2. Graduate from college! I am almost there and I swear I will finish and hopefully still have my sanity in tact!

3. Be comfortable in my career. I know this isn't something that will happen immediately, and I understand that it may be awhile until I find something that works well for me. I am, however, determined to find something that fits me just right!

4. Buy a house! I am addicted to House Hunters and Hidden Potential, so I daydream about about buying a home all the time. The Boyfriend and I are always talking about our dream home with an awesome master suite and a movie theater room and a hot tub. Someday!

5. Publish a book. I love writing, and it would be an awesome accomplishment if I could work on something long enough to actually create a book that others would enjoy.

stairs are fun!

my distorted image of beauty

(photo from Glamour)

There’s been a lot of talk lately about supermodels not needing to be superthin to be beautiful. Glamour has decided to include all sorts of body types in its pages. Women all over the world are excited about this new phenomena and are recreating what it means to be beautiful.

Okay, I am about to be completely honest in the worst way possible. I swear I am making a point, and it’s not to offend people.

I am not excited about this “big is beautiful” perspective. I saw the picture of Lizzie Miller in the September issue of Glamour, and my first thought was, “Why would she do that? Why would she want everyone to see her roll? That’s gross.” I realize that these thoughts are wrong, wrong, wrong. But I can’t seem to keep myself from thinking them.

Is it true what they say about girls reading too many magazines and creating unrealistic expectations about their body? I’ve read about that and I’ve always blown it off as psychological mumbo-jumbo. The media can’t really affect a person that deeply, can it? I’m starting to realize that I might be exactly that young woman who now thinks that only thin women are beautiful because of the images she’s been exposed to.

Back in middle school and my first year of high school, I made it a secret goal of mine to not weigh over 99 pounds. I wouldn’t eat breakfast by telling my mom I wasn’t hungry in the morning. I’d take my bag lunch to school, maybe eat the piece of fruit or a few pretzels if anything at all, and throw the rest away. Dinner came around, and I’d push things around on my plate to make it look like I ate more than I did.

This routine became exhausting, and I decided that it had to stop. So my sophomore or junior year, I started eating like a normal person and gained quite a bit of weight which I am reminded of by the white and purple stretch marks that cover my inner thighs. However, I was never a big girl. I’ve always been petite and vow to never let that change. Being thin is surprisingly important to me.

I’d like to say that the obsessive thoughts about my appearance have left me as I’ve matured, but that isn’t true. I’m currently begging my boyfriend to split the cost of a new exercise bike so that I can lose the bit of pudge that’s made its way to my tummy. I constantly think to myself, “Should I be eating that? It’s going to go straight to my tummy.” There’s nothing wrong with being healthy or wanting to exercise, I get that, but when my main goal is to lose that bit of pudge, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

My hope is that when these normal size women start entering the pages of magazines or walk the runway, my irrational thinking will start to fade. I know deep down that this thinking of mine is bad, so I am hopeful that being exposed to other types of women will give me a more realistic perspective about women’s bodies – and my own.

Chanel and yumminess

I only have a few minutes to spare since I'm a busy bee these days, but two important little tidbits:

Karl Lagerfeld decided to put a few fake tattoos on the Chanel models in a recent runway show... as a tattoo lover myself and a diehard Chanel fan, I think I might pass out from the awesomeness.

(See all the looks here, at Glamour!)

Next, I have been super busy and kind of cranky these days, so I am vowing to change my eating habits in an effort to boost my mood. When I eat better, I feel better about myself in general, and I usually have more energy. I'll keep you posted about the changes I make in my diet in the coming week. :)

This. Is. Epic.

My sister is a junior this year, and as is tradition at many high schools, Homecoming Week is filled with days of naughtiness and mischievous behavior. This includes toilet papering houses (my parents' house was done FIVE times), hazing the underclassmen, and much more.

A recent tradition has been to toilet paper the house of one of the science teachers. As a creative and mischievous man himself, he plots with another teacher and a handful of friends to get back at the students this year.

SEVENTEEN cars packed full of students park in a lot nearby his house. Dozens of juniors and seniors erupt from the vehicles with more toilet paper than you can imagine. Armed with homemade SYRUP GUNS, the teachers fight back. Oh, and yes the cops were called, and no, they haven't seen anything like this:

Not enough time to watch all 9 minutes? After learning about the handmade weaponry, move ahead to about 3:30 to see them in action!

Mad Men

I just started watching MadMen, so when I saw this Mad Men meets Sesame Street video, I just couldn't help myself!

(video found here)

when did we get this way?

The weather has been getting quite a bit chilly lately! Last night, the Boyfriend and I went to my little sister's Homecoming Powderpuff game and bonfire. Thank goodness for the huge bonfire, because I think I would have froze to death! I'm in denial, however, that its time to bust out the mittens just quite yet (although I do have a love affair with cozy mittens) so when I saw this dress, I knew it was the perfect thing for the summer-to-fall transition: it's edgy but fabulous!

(dress from Glamour.com)

Warning: I am about to vent a whole lot, so brace yourself.

1. Two nights ago, the BF and one of our mutual friends thought it would be a good idea to get me wasted since I don't really drink much these days. A bottle and a half of wine later, we suddenly somehow find ourselves discussing a recent argument between me and the BF. Our friend willingly played the role of the therapist as we re-argued everything. I ended up crying and smoking a cigarette outside with our friend as the BF sat inside and stewed angrily. I finished the second bottle of wine and followed it up with three shots of vodka before tucking myself into bed. We woke up the next morning and pretended like nothing happened.

When the hell did we become so dysfunctional?

2. The BF applied for a promotion at work recently, and we've been crossing our fingers that he'd get it. It'd be great for his career and we could really use the extra money these days. Except for seniority, we really thought he would be perfect for the position. He got a letter of denial today.

3. I have an appointment for a tattoo in a few days. It's with an amazing artist who I worked with before, and therefore I know that he will be very upset if I cancel last minute. The problem is, I don't know what I really want to get, and I really can't afford it either. Now what?

4. School is taking over my life. Well, one class in particular. We're doing that competition for GM and I swear, it's consuming me. Checking my Facebook isn't even fun anymore since my message inbox is filled with messages about this stupid class.

5. I am so irresponsible. I have to do volunteer work for one of my other classes, and I planned to meet with a teacher at an elementary school today to discuss what I'll be working on. Guess who forgot? Yup, me. Way to make a good first impression, right? I suck.

So there you have it. I'm cranky. Someone wanna buy that dress for me to make me feel better? :)

Tweet Me

1. For one of my classes this semester, I am participating in a GM Marketing Competition. As part of the PR team, I am working on some social media stuff to help promote the discount for college students to buy GM vehicles. Students and recent grads can get up to $5,000 off and it can be paired with other incentives. Cool, huh? So here's where you come in: please follow the GM college discount program on twitter @ twitter.com/GMcollege. :)

2. I really wanted to look cute today, but it is seriously cold and windy. And in an effort not to flash the entire campus, I've decided that a cute skirt is not the best option. So instead, I am going for comfy-cute: soft blue jeans, black tennis shoes, black long sleeve, and really soft teal and purple plaid scarf!

Well, gotta run to class now. More later!

crabbiness juxtaposed with bliss

I am exhausted. Tired of waiting, I called the first internship that I applied for and quickly found out that, no, I hadn't gotten that one either. I knew it, but I was still angry, and not just because they were jerks and failed to get back to me. I am angry because I am a smart girl and I am ambitious and dammit, I deserve a good internship. But no, I am too inexperienced for even an internship... how the hell am I going to find a job?

As I'm sure you know from reading my lame and mostly crabby blog, I tend to be in a bad mood. You can thank school and work and lack of funds and lack of time and lack of experience and whatever for my foul mood. I don't know what to do about it. Seriously, I am stressed and I can't help it; it's just the situation I am in. But apparently my bad mood isn't just affecting me, it's affecting the Boyfriend. And he's mad at me for being in a bad mood most of the time. I feel guilty for upsetting him, but at the same time, if I can't talk to him about it, who can I? So now I'm wondering what a normal amount of "bad mood" is and if I need to seek out some happy pills. Oh, brother. On top of all this, I am eating like crap and not working out and generally feeling yucky. Ugh.

So back to the internship crap... if I am too inexperienced for an internship (both of them chose interns with more experience in the field), how am I going to have enough experience for a job. I'm taking this really personally, as you can see, but I am upset. I wanted this so badly. Not only was it going to be a strong step into the right direction as far as my career is concerned, but it was going to help with my money problems. So now I'm thinking of back up plans just in case this strategic communication (a.k.a. advertising/public relations) doesn't work out. But I'm so cranky about everything, that nothing sounds like a better solution. Teaching? Nah, not enough money. Own my own business? Too risky. And it goes on and on like this, just as it always does.

Sorry for being cranky...

***On a brighter note, one of my friends from one of my high school jobs just got engaged! She has pictures of the ring on facebook and wrote all about the proposal:

She was asked by friends at her school to come to a project meeting, and then they kidnapped her and blindfolded her, throwing her into the backseat of a car. Her best friend was waiting in the car and took the 100+ mile drive with her back to her hometown. The ride was accompanied by four little envelopes with romantic notes inside that she could open along the way. When she reached her hometown destination, she opened the last note: "Meet me at our spot" which happened to be a big hill overlooking Lake Michigan, the same place she first told him she loved him. There he was waiting, neatly dressed and ready to give her a romantic speech before he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

Soooo adorable! I am so happy for her. :)

what's done is done

It's raining today, very heavily in fact. And who couldn't find an umbrella before she left? Me. And who didn't think to wear a clothing item with a hood? Me.

I tried to look cute today since I've decided there's a direct correlation between how I look and how I feel. Gladiator sandals, leggings, and a little long-sleeved dress. Not a bad look, really, but the weather is making me sad, cold, and wet. No good, my friends.

I arrived on campus early today after getting lunch with my mom. I headed straight for the library and was grateful that the rain was letting up. I checked me e-mail, and there it was:

An e-letter from one of the internships I applied for. The one I really, really wanted. The one that was going to pay really well and be damn good experience. I opened the file and read through the very short letter.

I didn't get it.

Ugh, I could just curl up in a ball and die. I am very upset that I wasn't chosen, and I'm also a little angry that they didn't have the decency to call me and tell me themselves. Whatever, I guess. What's done is done.

So there you have it:

Crappy weather.

Crappy day.

(photo from here)

anything helps

On my way to school today, I saw three homeless men standing on the side of the street, clutching cardboard signs asking for anything drivers had to offer. At first I only saw one man, scruffy beard and dirty skin, wearing old camouflaged hunting attire and a matching cap. His sign read, "Hungry and needin' soap. Anything helps." When I saw his face and the sad, disheartened expression on it, I had to look away.

The light turned green and I drove around the corner, passing another young man leaning up against the traffic light pole, also holding a cardboard sign out for people to see. Soon I was stopped at another red light, only to see the third young man pacing in the median. In one hand was his sign: "Traveling and hungry, anything helps." In the other hand he held a leash tightly, a scrawny puppy pulling at the other end. He wore a worn-out leather jacket, and I could see two neck tattoos peeking out above his collar. Someone two cars in front of me reached out a hand with some money, and he hurried over to the vehicle to retrieve it, head bowed perhaps in shame or embarrassment. My heart sunk to see the emptiness in his eyes, and again I turned away because it was too hard to watch him stand there and plead for help.

I wanted to do something, really I did. A few dollars were inches away from me in my wallet, but I never reached for them. I was scared and felt ashamed for them. It broke my heart to see them all standing there hoping that someone would reach out their hand to help them, and I am ashamed of myself for not being a more kind and generous person to someone who needed help. If I were to ever find myself in a situation like theirs, I would want someone to help me.

(picture from here)

Other things to mention:

1. The Boyfriend and I have been dating for TWO years today!

2. Yoga is amazing. My body felt so good yesterday after I completed my yoga video.

3. I am seriously craving an iced chai and any excuse not to work on my homework.

planting seeds for my money tree

I woke up this morning already having a case of the "blahs"... and then I check my bank account. FML. Where's my money tree?

Let me explain how I got to this sad, sad point. I've never been much of a saver. I suck at budgeting myself and I "nickel and dime myslef to death", as my mother says. I'm a sucker for a bargain. However, after the credit card bills got bigger, I realized that my poor habits needed to stop. And I got better at managing my money. Well, a bit better.

Do you all remember my food court job at the wholesale store? I quit because I was being completely unappreciated and was diminished to tears by an evil manager. I quit without much in savings and without another job to go to. Not smart, I know that, but it needed to be done. So that's when I started pinching pennies. This happened in the beginning of June.

After a few weeks of searching, I found a job at a boutique and was all excited about finally working in fashion. Less than two weeks later, I got a phone call saying I was fired. I had never been fired before, so I took this pretty hard. My boss was nuts, to say the least, but regardless of her irrational behavior, I was without a job. Again. I started searching for change in the couch cushions.

I was luckily able to pick up a few hours at the salon I had previously worked at, but that wasn't without its own drama. The small checks I got from working a few hours here and there were barely enough to keep me going, and I thank God for my wonderful Boyfriend who has paid for practically everything since this chaos started.

Finally, I have found a job as an employee at an electronics retail store, and it is going well. The first check I got was small, as was to be expected. But I'm hoping my check on Friday blesses me with some dough to get me by. Also, I'm dying to hear back from two paid internships that I applied for. Cross your fingers for me!

Moral of my Story...

1. Have enough in savings to get you by when times get rough.

2. Learn how to budget yourself and kick those bad habits.

I'm definitely working on #2 right now, and I'd love your advice.

What do you do to save money?

(money tree found here)

love is in the air

Oh... Em... Gee!

I am seriously in love with these Christian Louboutin shoes, originally designed for Princess Diana. Vintage beauty at it's best, brought to my attention by the also lovely mondmelodie. Thanks darling! Someday I will own a pair of shoes as stunning as these...

BFFs and movie madness

1. I need advice...

...because I don't want to overstep any boundaries. What is the protocol for having a guy for a close friend? As I'm sure I've said before, I'm lacking in the BFF department these days, and with this new job, I was hoping to find a really awesome friend to hang out with. I did not, however, expect my potential BFF to be a dude.

I've already mentioned him to the Boyfriend, and he seems pretty cool about it, but something makes me think that this friendship could potentially make him uncomfortable. The bond I have with this new male friend is strictly platonic and I have no question that it will stay that way. However, I still feel like this new budding friendship will have to be different than bonds I've shared with past female BFFs.

Are there different rules or guidlines one must follow for having a guy BFF?

2. I plan to live at the movie theatre this fall...

...because of all the sweet flicks that are coming out. Most importantly is Heath Ledger's last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. He died while making this film, so another one of my favorite actors, Johnny Depp, needed to finish it for him. Here's the trailer:

Super excited about that! Then, my other favorite actor, Morgan Freeman, will be in a film about Nelson Mandela, called Invictus. I love everything that Morgan Freedman does, so I doubt this will be any different. Other flicks I want to see:

Sherlock Holmes

Up In The Air

Precious

2012

An Education

Capitalism: A Love Story

Whip It

Lovely Bones

considering the possibility

I don't know what's gotten into me lately, but everywhere I go I see adorable little babies or beautifully plump pregnant women. And it's like they're trying to say to me, "Look at us? Aren't we just the bestest things you've ever seen?"

I've always said that I never want to have kids. If an oopsie baby happens, I'll keep it and love it, but I have never thought I'd ever plan to make a family. I could name a zillion reasons why I've strongly held this opinion: what if the baby wasn't born healthy? kids cost a ton and what if I'm too selfish for that? what if they died before me? kids misbehave a ton and what if I don't have the patience for that? what if they grow up and become terrible rebelious teens and die of a drug overdose? I could go on and on for days.

And maybe I need to be more specific. I've never wanted to raise a child, but I've always been extremely interested in being a surrogate. I think it would be a wonderful experience to be pregnant and then give someone the gift of a child. But it isn't something I've ever wanted for myself.

But something is different now. Maybe it's because I'm getting older and maturing, but I'm starting to wonder, "Would be it so bad to have a family?" Like I said before, I'm noticing adorable little children and their happy parents and glowing pregnant mommies-to-be. What if someday when I've got a house and a stable career and I've had my fun... what if I decide to become a mom?

Thank goodness for me, the Boyfriend could go wither way, although right now I think we're both leaning towards just spending our lives as just the two of us. Anyway, I thought that it was weird how I, someone so insistant that she'd never had kids, is now considering it as a possibility later in life. Hmm.

Have you ever felt this way, either about children or something else?

(picture from here)

L-O-V-E

I read a bunch of blog posts about love today and so I thought I needed to comment on love myself. And, this awesome picture that I borrowed from A Cheery Disposition really makes me want to get another tattoo!

Oh, and if you aren't reading A Cup of Jo, you need to be! She has this delightful thing going on right now where people post their secrets to a happy marriage. It's inspiring!

Anyway, back to my opinions about this thing called LOVE. When I fell in love with the Boyfriend, I knew it. I knew that there were never going to be other men for me. It didn't take us long at all to start wondering what our lives will be like together.

I would be lying if I said things were perfect. We argue about stuff and we we disagree about things, sometimes big things, but we work it out. Why? Because we are the best of friends and only care about the others happiness and well-being.

Do I check out other guys? Sure. But I know that no one else in the world could love me the way that the Boyfriend does. I mean, seriously, who else would be willing to move into my parent's basement with me to save money for a wedding and a house? Exactly. I've hit the jackpot here, and no other guy could be as awesome as he his.

Why is he awesome? We understand each other. We've shared similar life experiences and know what it's like. He keeps me stable and I keep him guessing! I try to convince him to eat more vegetables and he tries to keep me from buying too many shoes. We work together well. We mesh. It's like that adorable sloth Sid says in Ice Age 2 (yes, I love cartoons!): "She's tons of fun and you're no fun at all - She completes you." And that's how I feel about us. We complete each other.

Okay, now someone needs to tie me to a chair so I don't wander down to the tattoo shop. Eh, I think it might be too late for that! :)

drastic changes ahead?

So I'm thinking I need a hot new look to brighten my mood and lift my spirits. I've been thinking about this look for awhile (after seeing something similar on Gossip Girl, of course) and I'm wondering if I should take the dive and just go for it!

I currently hair hair almost that length (I've been growing it our for quite some time... it had been dangerously short!) and I have blunt cut bangs similar to this, although they are much softer looking. The big difference is the color: I currently have dark blonde with lighter highlights. I had been practically black for awhile so this had been a change for the lighter already.

My current look appeals to me for a few reasons: it's natural looking, and my natural hair color is a dark blonde so I can go a very long time between colorings. And when you're poor like me and no longer get the perks of working at a salon, not having to color often is very nice.

However, I feel the need to be inspired and do something drastic. And I always thought I couldn't do bleach blonde because I'm really pale, but this model looks pretty pale but can pull off this punk look. But one question: is this look too "teen" for a 21 year old? I'm looking for internships and I'm afraid that this will make me look immature. On the other hand, will it make me look edgy and ambitious? Hmmm...

I think this decision will have to wait for another day! Your thoughts are definitely welcome. :)

(photo from the Forever 21 website somewhere...)

3 about me

1. I seriously need to start working out. My lazy butt needs to get off of the couch and at least go for a freaking walk once in awhile because this new pudge isn't going to take care of itself. The Boyfriend and I played tennis twice, but our little workout plan has come to quite the halt. We've been talking about going for a walk the past few nights, but the couch and television have won us over every time.

2. The past few days have been a bit rough for me; I've been feeling depressed and tired, but I'm attributing it all to stress. I started classes last week and my workload this semester is going to be unreal. On top of that, I suck at time management and I'm having a tough time getting back into the swing of things. Work is also proving to be stressful because its requiring a lot of learning and it's been more difficult than I anticipated. On top of that, I had an interview for an internship and have another one later in the week. How on earth can I handle this all at once? That's a typical problem for me: taking on more than I can handle and being unable to admit that it's too much.

3. I need to find opportunities to be creative. I need to get out my camera more often, I need to write or read in my free time, and I need to get out my drawing pad for more than just one sketch every few months. My mother wants me to paint a picture for her living room, but I feel so uninspired and unfamiliar to being creative that I'm afraid to do it! With my busy schedule, hopefully I can find time to get a little artsy here and there.

more excitement...

So I love Gossip Girl. I am addicted to the show, after having discovered it with a friend whom I visited in Iowa. We stayed up practically all night watching as many episodes as we could possibly keep our eyes open for and I've been obsessed ever since.

Coming to Target on September 13 is a line of clothing inspired by Gossip Girl. Designed by Anna Sui, the line is filled with amazing items that I'm absolutely dying to have. Here's a sneak peek at what I've found:

Vanessa

Jenny

Serena

Blair

Blair

Again, I am obsessed!

(this and more found here)

Soooo excited!

So I know that if you ask me what my favorite movie is, I will immediately say, "10 Things I Hate About You" because, well, its fabulous. But then I will probably say, "And at a close second is Boondock Saints" because it's a freaking epic movie. Epic. If you haven't seen it, rent it NOW. Put it in your queue. Seriously.

Now, to the point of my post: Boondock Saints 2 is coming out October 30th. Oh em gee. I seriously can not wait! Here's the trailer for those of you who are as pumped about this as I am...

do I really have to go?

Sadly, I have to return to the real world today. Summer fun, goodbye. Books and lectures and homework, hello. On the upside, I only have one class today so I get to ease back into things at least. I'm also considering dropping one class which would probably help. Oh, and all my classes this semester are in buildings I've never been in before, so I'm going to look really awesome today carrying around a map!

The Boyfriend brought me home a nice surpise yesterday: molasses cookies! Seriously though, I used to get molasses cookies all the time from Hy-Vee when I was living in Iowa. When I moved back here, I sadly discovered that none of our grocery stores carry them! So last time I was visiting friends in Iowa, I made sure to stock up. Imagine my surprise when the Boyfriend handed me a huge box of fresh-baked molasses cookies that he brought home from Costco. Yum!!!

Early this morning, I was rudely awoke by the shockingly loud sound of the lawn service right outside my window. At what time, you ask? 6AM. And let me tell you, I am not a morning person. I was thoroughly peeved by this. And to make things better, it scared the hell out of my kitties who dodged into the bedroom, causing the door to swing open and the bright sunlight of early morning to come rushing in. Grr....

Currently Dreading: the commute to campus and having to rush to work afterwards.

Currently Sipping On: a mini Naked juice; I feel so healthy when I drink them, and I'm hoping all the natural fruits and veggies will boost my mood.

Currently Feeling: in denial that the semester really is starting today, whether I want it to or not.

(photo of a 1950's UW-River Falls student found here)

worry myself to death

I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally. The past 48 hours have been some of the most emotionally draining that I've ever experienced.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a worrier. I get stressed about everything and tend to maybe blow things out of proportion. This worry makes sleeping very difficult, and two sleepless nights makes for a very tired me. Yesterday, while I was driving home from work, I blasted the music in my car just to try and drown out my own thoughts. Perhaps I should try meditating...

Other things on my mind:

1) I'm extremely poor. Like, I dunno how I'm going to pay for books next week.

2) It is far too cold today to be August. Bah humbug.

3) The Farmers Market today was delightful! I got some hot peppers for the Boyfriend and some green beans, too.

4) I think I'm going to go see Post Grad with a friend tonight. Looks good! Here's the trailer:

(photo from here)

poptarts are banned from my shopping cart

My new employment requires me to wear tan pants... so today after my shower I dug to the bottom of my drawers to find all the tan pants I used to wear when I worked at Target.

Uh, less than half of them still fit me. Holy crap.

Reality check! My eating habits lately have been poor at best. Fast food, sugary snacks - I eat it all. I'm a skinny girl and always have been, but I feel like I've taken advantage of my remarkably fast metablism and abused my body. And now it's rebelling.

I've always been interested in nutrition. When I go to the store, I read labels and look for food color and high fructose corn syrup and partically hydrogenated oil and sucralose. Not that it really matters for what gets put in the cart though, seeing as I'm currently chowing down on a bowl of Chef Boyardee. Ugh, I'm ashamed of myself.

The Boyfriend is on the same page as me, but I'm sure his beer consumption is also playing a role here. We decided to try MGD 64 since it has less calories, but sadly discovered this meant it also had a lower alcohol content. Hey, you can't say we aren't trying to be proactive.

So starting, uh, tomorrow I'm going to start eating better. It's time to take control of my health and well-being!

Do you have any recipes or healthy snacks you'd like to share with me?

(cartoon by Natalie Dee, of course)

odd one out & awkward sunburn

I returned from my nice little vacation last night and before curling up in bed to watch one more episode of Gossip Girl, I checked my Facebook.

Perhaps you need a bit of back story here: After high school, I went away to a fabulous little school in Iowa and had the time of my life. I attended that school for 3 semesters before transferring for a variety of reasons. While I was there, I made some very good, close friends. Sure, we had our ups and downs, but we were solid friends. My leaving, however, changed that dramatically, and I haven't been having much luck staying in very close contact with them.

Last night, I found my news feed filled with status updates about their new apartments and pictures of how cool everything looked and of their first dinner living there together. This killed me.

We had always talked together about how cool our senior year would be when we finally moved into the campus apartments together. Now they are all there, living that dream together, and I'm here... without them.

This isn't me regretting my decision to transfer out. This isn't me saying I'd rather be there than here. I am saying that I miss them, and I'm sad I'm missing out. I am saying that I'm lonely without my close girl friends.

The Boyfriend stroked my hair as I cried my eyes out about this. I couldn't help but also feel envious of him and his BFF; even though his friend goes to school far away, they stay connected with an online video game that they play together and wear goofy headsets to talk to each other while they do so.

Moving on, my weekend was awesome. I got a ton of fresh air, ate lots of good food, rode the jet ski, and even tried to wakeboard. These water sports required me to wear a heater shirt so that I didn't freeze in the cool water. It covered my upper body and arms, so only the tops of my hands are awkwardly sunburned!

I did, however, realize on the 2 hour drive that my iPod is in serious need of being updated. The majority of the music I own is punk rock or other outdated late 90s crap. My music tastes have grown to like more coffee shop type music, like Meiko and Kate Nash.

Do you have any suggestions of artists I might like?

Plans for the Day: take photos of stuff for my upcoming etsy shop, do laundry, enjoy the beautiful day

Plans for Tomorrow: orientation at my new job

Personal Goal: learn how to make a female friend without feeling like I'm hitting on her

(picture from here)