Ice Cream and TV shows

I had my first flurry of the season from the Dairy Lodge today! Cookie dough yum :)

So I got all caught up on Army Wives and now I can't decide what other show to start catching up with. I'm thinking finishing up Doctor Who so I can start watching the newest episodes for the most recent season that just began. I have fallen behind on so many shows....I can't decide whether that's a good thing or not. For one it makes me realize how many shows I watch, but don't really watch because I'm so behind.

Here's a list of all the series I'm hoping to catch up with this summer.

• Army Wives
• Doctor Who
• Grey's Anatomy
• One Tree Hill
• Gossip Girl
• How I Met Your Mother
• Desperate Housewives
• Brothers and Sisters
• Glee
• Dexter
• Big Bang Theory
• Bones
• Community
• Modern Family
• Nurse Jackie
• Fringe

And I want to start watching 30 Rock.....obviously that list is outrageous. I probably should say that I do hope that I don't actually get through that whole list because I want to spend most of my time out side doing stuff this summer and not hanging out in my room watching season's of tv shows on my computer. I'd like to think my life isn't that lame.

Do you watch any TV shows that you're constantly falling behind on? Is your list as long as mine?

Royal Wedding: Wills and Kate

Congratulations go out to the newly wedded Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!


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I just couldn't resist getting up this morning to watch all the fun...I'm a girl, what can I say. I was drawn in by all the talks of jewels, dresses, hats and attractive royals. The coverage started at 4 am, but looking at the schedule last night I decided to sent my alarm for 5:15. I woke up just in time to see Wills and Harry get out of the car in front of the Westminster Abbey....they were looking quite dapper ;)


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And of course Kate....looking GORGEOUS! That dress was perfect.

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E! had great coverage this morning. It was all quite romantic to watch, and I definitely shed a few tears here and there throughout the whole ceremony.

I think this was my favorite part though.

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AWWWWW...so sweet. I seriously waited to have breakfast because I didn't want to miss anything. I couldn't wait to make myself some eggs and toast after. YUM...being able to cook, another plus to being home. I'm thinking a run outside is in store for later as the sun is shining and beautiful.

Did anyone else wake up early to watch the wedding? What did you think of Kate's dress?

Royal Chaos

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Royal wedding coverage starts at 4am?! That's so early....but I'm semi tempted to get up and watch. I still think people are spending way too much time on all these royal wedding details, but I want to see Kate's dress, and admire some coverage of Harry :) It will be a historical moment I'm sure. Personally I won't want to be a royal, or marry someone from the family. Too much pressure, not enough fun.

This picture cracks me up


I haven't done anything today...I love being home! I slept in till 1:30 and watched more Army Wives. I'm so close to being all caught up. And balled my eyes out the last few episodes. Also, Chase is so hot! I don't know how I forgot Jeremy Davidson was so attractive. Now if it were to just warm up and become more summery. I'm ready for 70 + degree days here mother nature.

Are you gonna watch the royal wedding?

Today:

Information Overload

Today has been a series of procrastination. Because I only have one day left (2 exams) I've officially checked out. It's a little early, I realize this, I realize this is a big problem and that I need to be studying, but my brain (which hurts really bad right now) is not agreeing that I should be staring at more books. It's saying go to sleep! Close your eyes! Information overload! I just can't wait for this all to be over with tomorrow.

I'm hoping that I don't fail tomorrow due to this severe headache and the choices I am making at the moment. I WILL be in bed by 11:30 because I have an exam at 8 and am worried I'll sleep in due to my apparent lack of sleep last night.

On a different note....the weather here doesn't know what it wants to do. One minute I look outside and it's sunny, the next it's sunny with hail and pouring rain, followed by dry skies....all within the last hour. On top of which we had a tornado warning and had to go sit downstairs for a while....fun. NOT.

List of things to do before I leave:

• study, study, study
• wash dishes
• take down posters
• unplug fridge tonight or early tomorrow
• clean my room
• pack everything
• take out trash and recycling

I feel like there's more (there probably is), but I can't think of anything.

The Times They are a Changin

Yes they are.

I swear posts will get more exciting again once this week is over. I can't wait to have more time to spend on writing posts again.
My exams started today at 10:15....of course my teacher showed up right at the start time. They always emphasize the importance of getting to exams early and yet somehow the teacher is the one not listening to his own advice. Oh well I was still able to finish the exam in 30 minutes! Go me for spending all that time studying yesterday for that relatively easy exam. I hope all the rest of them are that easy (they are for sure not going to be, but I can still hope). I also got my online exam over with today....3 and a 1/2 hours spend searching through my book looking up answers. I should know by now that online classes are a failed success for me.

Now it's on to some more studying for my last 3 exams and maybe a little packing....or a trip to the gym. We'll see if I have time for all of that.
Corie, Nicole and I had our last dinner outing together tonight. We went to Panera, the classic. I'm really gonna miss having one of those around and we'll for sure have to make plans next year to all meet up there some time. It's strange thinking about how different things will be next year with all of us separating and I'm SO nervous about my unknown roommates I'll be put with come fall. How things change.... and fast.

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day with their families :) I was able to grab brunch this morning with my Aunt, Arloa and Great Grandma....Cracker Barrel. YUM!


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I didn't even get to dye some eggs this year (honestly I haven't in probably 5 or more years). But if I were going to those are some sweet egg designs.

It's high 50's here today and partly cloudy with the sun shining on occasion. I even got to wear a comfy dress today with a sweater and was perfectly comfortable outside. Very nice Easter weather, that is if I were able to go outside instead of being stuck here studying (3 more days!)

I'm wearing a bandana today to honor my friend Joe, who passed away a year ago today.
Thinking about him and his family today. Miss him and he will never be forgotten.

Lots of love and peace my friend. Studying with some Zeppelin today ;)

Cool Kids

A year goes by so fast. Miss you friend.

Learning Quotes

I'm finally back and settled from my day trip to Ann Arbor and back. I feel like today has taken forever and all I want to do is crawl in my bed and sleep, but first blog. I've made it 22 days without skipping a post for BEDA and I'm not about to miss one now. My parents took a TON of stuff back with them and I can't believe how empty my room is (and how big it looks!) As I mentioned last time, I clearly own way too much stuff.
But today I want to leave you with a few quotes about learning, in light of the ending of the semester. A time when you realize just how much, or how little, you've learned from a class. Also, I wanted to remind myself that just because school is over doesn't mean I stop learning.

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study.  Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.  ~Henry L. Doherty
I'm okay with abandoning study practices.


You learn something every day if you pay attention.  ~Ray LeBlond


Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.  ~Abbé Dimnet, Art of Thinking, 1928


I don't think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.  ~Abraham Lincoln


I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.  ~Winston Churchill
true that Winnie


Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before.  ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
I really like this one


Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem.  That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily.  ~Thomas Szasz
Oh that's why studying and learning is so hard in college?



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Welcome to my weekend. Happy studying for those with upcoming exams!

Almost done, Pinning, and nonstop book reading

I can't believe it's already the 21st of April and I'm days away from finishing up my 3rd year of college/first year at a University! Today was excitingly enough my last day of actual class, now all I have left are my exams to finish :) or if I don't get studying :(

It also means that my parents are coming tomorrow for my doctor's appointment in Ann Arbor and I need to get more of my room packed so they can take stuff back with them. Seriously I want to know...
A) Why I own so much stuff
B) How it all got to be here in my dorm

My life is a bit cluttered. I'm thinking this summer I'm gonna make a big effort to really clean out or downsize my belongings. I know I really take for granted all that I have, and that I don't need half of the things I own. Belongings do not equal happiness....or wealth for that matter.

The other thing I wanted to tell you all about is Pinterest! If you haven't heard of it, check it out, I'm seriously obsessed with this now. I was reading Young House Love the other day when she mentioned it in a post. Soon after I was looking through a bunch of blogs and thought oh I wish I could keep all these recipes and ideas in one place I realized that was the solution I was looking for. Perfection!

here's mine if you want to check it out.

I'm off to spend the rest of the night working out, packing up, and writing an extra credit paper on Dirty Dancing for my Human Sexuality class.... Oh Sylvia? Yes Mickey. How do you call your loverboy?



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Oh and hopefully read more of 13 Little Blue Envelopes! I got it for free from Barnes and Noble with the Nook app for Macs. So far, it's great....it kind of reminds me of P.S. I Love You, but a little different. I hardly want to stop reading (which in my mind equates to the perfect book).

Levi's Commercials

I have an obsession with the amazingness of Levi's Commercials. Over the years Levi's has had the most original, funny, touching and push the buttons commercials. So, I thought I'd take some time to share my favorite ones.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I always do. I still think my all time favorite goes to OPioneers! because I love Walt Whitman and what they did with that poem. Second would probably be Michel Gondry one. All the rest are pretty equal in there sweetness.
Way to go Levi's!

Have You Ever Noticed

Have you ever noticed how many really attractive James there are? I was spending my morning on Pintrest when I started coming across a multitude of pictures of James Franco.





YES YES and more YES! I could keep 'em coming for days

Then I soon realized pictures of James Dean :D


James Marsden....helloooooo


James Mcavoy!


And of course... James Stewart


Apparently you can't get any better than a man with the name James.

My Old Lady Body

Sometimes I feel like I have the body of a 60 year old woman instead of an almost 21 year old one. I seem to be falling apart at the seams here. My one big worry lately is that of the pain in my upper shin, right under my knee. It started as a slight ache which I assumed would go away in due time like most pain, but after a week of difficult walking and trying to lay off the exercise I'm getting concerned. I really can't afford to get seriously injured right now, as it's narrowing down to a month before the big 10K. At this point in time there's no way I'll be able to run 6.2 miles stamina wise, let alone with a bum leg. I need to train, but I also need to rest so whatever it is that is the problem can heal....and fast. I just wish I could avoid walking across campus for the rest of the week, shouldn't they give exceptions to the gimps? Oh well, 9 days till the end of my semester!!! We can forget the fact that I have 10 million things to do before then, but we'll make it through.

Did anyone else watch the William and Kate movie on Lifetime tonight? I'm not really that into all this royal wedding hype, but I wanted to see what this movie was all about. I actually thought it was quite a cute story, although I don't know how much of it is true. The actors seemed to be a good job, now I'm off to bed after this long and exhausting day.

But, I like cookies...

What if we say I'll regret eating a lot of cookies? Unless a cookie tastes weird, I've never regretted just eating one cookie....or even two for that matter.

At Least I'm Not Stuck in the Crowd...

One of these days I'll be able to afford a trip (and find people that will go with me) to a big music festival.
-Bonnaroo
-Coachella
-Lollapalooza
-Sasquatch
Maybe even Glastonbury if I'm lucky.

But for now I'm stuck at home (or in my dorm). The only good thing about not being able to go is still being able to see the live performances via Youtube Live Stream (thank you technology!) Last year I stayed up to the wee hours of the night watching Jay-Z and DMB :) I can say that I still went to bed very happy, just being able to watch it through a screen. I am really really hoping they live stream Bonnaroo again this year, but now I'm chillin' out watching Cage the Elephant live at Coachella.....they're amazing! Last year one of my favorite smaller/day performances to watch was the Avett Brothers and Nora Jones' set. Watching it made my love for music grow even bigger. I'm super jealous of anyone who is able to actually go and experience the magic of these festivals.....although I can honestly say I'm glad I'm not dying in the heat and trapped in the mob of people.

So if you are a lover of music go check out the Coachella live stream on youtube. You can find a link on the Coachella website or there's a banner on the top of Youtube.

I'm off to enjoy the rest of my night dreaming of hot nights, bandannas, sunglasses and guitars.
Enjoy!

Oh...P.S. I watched 127 hours tonight....there was a lot of screaming and me cringing.

P.P.S. Because I dont' want to make a whole extra post about it. Here's my mile breakdown from my run earlier.
Mile 1:

• Laps 1-2 warm up walk
• Laps 3-4 run
• Lap 5 walk
• Laps 6-7 run
• Lap 8 walk
• Lap 9 run

Mile 2:

• Lap 1 walk
• Lap 2 run
• Lap 3-4 walk
• Lap 5 run
• Lap 6 walk
• Lap 7 run
• Lap 8-9 walk

Followed by 20 minutes on the bike at various levels.

Wise Words From Thoreau

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Learning French

Bonjour!

I've always wanted to learn French. Why I didn't choose that instead of Spanish in high school I don't know. Actually it was probably because everyone told me Spanish was 10x easier (and I can be a lazy from time to time). But yeah, back to French, I think my eagerness comes from having much of my life centered around ballet where most of the moves are in French, or Italian (another language I'd love to learn to speak).
Pas de chat, coupè, pirouette, pliè....you get my drift.

I love the way the words just sound graceful, but I never realized how hard it was to read French, let alone pronounce some of the more difficult words. Most of the ballet words I know are pretty self explanatory and easy to say.

Because Rosetta Stone lessons are ridiculously expensive, $180 just for lesson 1 (what!), and I'm a broke college student, I had to pass on that option. That's when I decided to search for a free website online to learn at least some beginning words. Behold Bonjour! The website has different sections such as greetings, questions, alphabet and numbers, transportation, touring, and restaurant words. I love that for each word they have they not only have the translation, but the pronunciation and when you click on the word someone repeats it back to you so you can really hear how it's supposed to sound. What really cracks me up about the site is that they have a whole section dedicated to love and romance. It includes words and saying such as je t'aime (i love you), je veux fonder une famille avec toi (i want to start a family with you), tu es le soleil de ma vie (you are the sunshine of my life), and marrions- nous! (lets get married!)....just to name a few. You know all the really important stuff, so that when I finally get to visit France I'll know what to say to my future husband.

I plan on spending the rest of the day testing out my new skills...this might also be helpful for reading Dèjà Dead (the book I'm currently reading by Kathy Reichs...the one that the TV show Bones is based off of). They are in Canada and there are a lot of random French words and names littered throughout the book that I have no idea what they are/how to say them....I'm sure I'm slaughtering all these names. Good thing no one can read my mind.

Book List

I'm always finding new books that I want to read so I need a place to remember them all. Here's just a starting list.....I probably will add more in time.

1. Animal Farm - George Orwell
2. Atonement - Ian McEwan
3. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
4. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
5. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
6. A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
7. Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison
8. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
9. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
10. Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
11. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
12. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
13. 1984 - George Orwell
14. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
15. Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
16. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
17. Tropic of Cancer -  Henry Miller
18. Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse
19. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
20. Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
21. The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
22. Gone with the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
23. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
24. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
25. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
26. Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoevsky
27. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
28. The Illiad - Homer
29. Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
30. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
31. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
32. Ulysses - James Joyce
33. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
34. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens 
35. Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
36. The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
37. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
38. Dune - Frank Herbert (finish)
39. A Million Little Pieces - James Frey (finish)
40. Memory Keepers Daughter - Kim Edwards (finish)
41. Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
42. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang - Chelsea Handler
43. My Horizontal Life - Chelsea Handler
44. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
45. Jodi Picoult books
46. Hunger Games Series - Suzanne Collins
47. Outlander Series (minus the first book) - Diana Gabaldon
48. Diary of Anne Frank - Anne Frank
49. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
50. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
51. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
52. Looking for Alaska - John Green
53. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
54. Paper Towns - John Green
55. Will Grayson Will Grayson - John Green
56. Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
57. Angels & Demons - Dan Brown
58. Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
59. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
60. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen 
61. Persuasion - Jane Austen
62. Emma - Jane Austen
63. Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
64. Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
65. Kathy Reichs books (Bones books)
66. Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
67. Sherlock Holmes books - Arthur Conan Doyle
68. The Inferno - Dante Alighieri
69. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
70. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs - Chuck Klosterman
71. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach (finish)
72. Sarah's Key - Tatiana de Rosnay
73. Decoded - Jay-Z
74. Bossypants - Tina Fey
75. Spring Awakening - Frank Wedekind
76. The Bride Quartet - Nora Roberts
77. Emily Griffin books

What a strange assortment I have here. Can't wait to find some time to cross these all off. The ones that say finish beside them are books I've already read part of and for whatever reason didn't finish, but want to. 

I'd love suggestions of more books to read. Please share :)

I might not know what I want now but...

You Could Write Me A Song

I have this song stuck in my head. Can someone please write me a song (ahhh dreamland).

I don't know about you but if a guy wrote a song about me, he'd definitely be the top of my list. Musical talent seems to be one of those attributes (kind of like accents) that moves any guy into good standing. I've been listening to ALL CAPS quite a bit lately.... check them out! It's made up of two youtubers that I've been following for a little while now (I'm definitely not claiming to be the biggest fan because I really haven't known about them for that long), but I love watching them both....and their music.

Anywho....if you like the song check out Kristina Horner and Luke Conard's own channels.

More ALL CAP goodness....

Enjoy!

Today's Run

Because I didn't want the last post to be any longer I thought I'd dedicate a separate post to my running efforts of the day. I wouldn't say it was a complete failure..... just wasn't exactly what I set out to accomplish for the night. On my way to the gym I realized I forgot to tape my knee (big mistake!) and inadvertently decided to just go on the elliptical tonight. That is until I got to the gym and realized that none of the machines were open because of the crowd of people there tonight. So oh well, I was stuck running, but I probably should have known at that point my body was already saying no. There was lost of walking tonight, as well as pain.....I now know why people find the alignment of joints so important. It really does make all the difference.

Mile 1:

• Laps 1-2 warm up
• Laps 3-4 run
• Lap 5 walk
• Laps 6-7 run
• Lap 8-9 walk

Mile 2:

• Lap 1 run
• Laps 2-4 walk
• Lap 5 run
• Lap 6 walk
• Lap 7 run
• Lap 8 walk
• Lap 9 run

Mile 3:

• Lap 1 walk
• Lap 2 run
• Laps 3-4 walk
• Laps 5 run
• Lap 6 walk
• Lap 7 run
• Lap 8-9 walk

Done Ahead of Time

As school is close to ending it seems like everything is piling on thick. Teachers are giving more and more assignments, and the projects get bigger and more complex. On top of everything we have the great option of extra credit assignments. Don't get me wrong, I love me some extra points especially when I'm not too happy about my current grades, but the extra work kind of adds to all the stress. As previously noted I tend to have problems with spreading work out evenly, which leaves me with a bunch to do last minute anyway. That's why when I actually sat down and got work done tonight after getting back from the gym instead of putting it off to do before class tomorrow, I was shocked by my scholarly effort. Where did this girl come from and why didn't she join the movement earlier? This I don't know, but I do hope she stays around for the next couple of weeks.

I'm always astonished at how 9 months seems to go by so fast (lets not even talk about how summer seems to be put on double speed). In just about two weeks my semester will be all done and I'll be moving back home... something that excites me, yet worries me all in one sitting. This is the first year that I've had actual freedom, long periods of time on my own and not answering to anyone's higher authority about where I will be every moment of the day. I love my parents, and get along with them on most days, but going back to living with them kind of concerns me. I'm semi dreading all the questions about whether I am getting my homework done, or how late I plan on being out. I know that these are pretty standard parent questions, which are only asked as a concern for my well being, but it has a way of making me feel like I'm being treated as a child. This is something I really need to work on and I know it will take a lot of patience on my part. I plan on practicing a lot of yoga and meditating as much as I can in order to create peace of mind this summer. That way I can really enjoy being with my family like I know I can and should. Honestly right now I can't wait to do fun family things (is that dorky?) and am super excited to see my parents in a week :)

I love this photo of my mom and dad. 

The end of the school year seems to bring much uncertainty into life. It's not just the weather that is changing but a feeling of doors of opportunity opening up. There's so much I want to pack into this summer and yet it's not that long of a time. I always set summer goals, that inevitably are broken, but not this year. This summer WILL be different and I can't wait.

Change always comes bearing gifts.  ~Price Pritchett

Borrowed Photos

All these pictures are borrowed from Photobucket :) ENJOY!

My Day, the Short Way

Tight headbands make me dizzy.

Sunny, 84 degree weather makes me very happy!

The piles of homework I have in the next couple of weeks makes me very stressed.

Biking 10 miles in doors on a day like today makes me a little sad and pretty worn out.

And watching movies while doing homework makes everything better :)

I'm thinking an iced coffee or smoothie is in my near future.

Hope everyone else is enjoying this day.

You Sent Me Smelt?!

My father informed me last weekend that I'd be missing out on the local Smelt Dinner that he and my grandma would be attending this year. I think I've only gone one year in the past and that was before I even learned to appreciate fish. My brother and his best friend Jake dissected their smelt and my mom, who hates fish, was reluctantly dragged along on the family outing.

A few days ago my dad let me know I'd be getting a package in the mail sometime this weekend and to make sure I got it as soon as possible. This made me curious.....very curious. What in the world would he be sending me now? So when I finally found a package slip in my mailbox today after coming back from my 3 mile run (!), I couldn't wait to open it up. I had to cut my way through layers of tape and finally was able to see a letter inside. My dad wrote me a wonderful letter of the coming of spring and some end of the year encouragement, in which he mentioned that he sent me.....smelt?! WTF? That's when I realize there was no way he would actually send me smelt so I began to dig through the box of packing peanuts to find 3 Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs (aka the smelt). YUM!

(Please excuse how crappy I look in this picture seeing as I did just get back from a vigorous exercise) 

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU FOR THE "SMELT" DAD!

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Now onto my run :)

I am a happy, endorphine enhanced person right now because this is (kinda sadly) the longest run I've done in probably a month, or more. I made it with the help of my little friend, athletic tape. I used to tape my left knee all the time after I dislocated it and had some left over that I brought to school with me in case of emergencies. Since my right knee has been bugging me so much I figured I'd test it out for todays run and see if it made a difference....and it totally did. No stopping because me knee was about to give out, no pain shooting down my shin, and no wabbly legs. Everything was aligned and strong, perfect for keeping me going. Although I did get a little light headed today (I keep getting this while I'm running) and can't figure out why. Loss of electrolytes maybe? If anyone has an idea, let me know. 

So here's the mile breakdown:

Mile 1:

• Laps 1-2 warm up walk
• Laps 3-4 run
• Lap 5 walk
• Lap 6-7 run
• Lap 8 walk
• Lap 9 run

Mile 2:

• Lap 1 run
• Lap 2 walk
• Lap 3-4 run
• Lap 5 walk
• Lap 6-7 run
• Lap 8 walk
• Lap 9 run

Mile 3:

• Lap 1 walk
• Lap 2 run
• Lap 3 walk
• Lap 4 run
• Lap 5 walk
• Lap 6 run
• Lap 7 walk
• Lap 8 run
• Lap 9 walk

Total running laps: 15

Total walking laps: 12

Napoleon's Dance Skills

Napoleon Dynamite was just on MTV, good times. And what's better than a little dancin' to end the day?

Skills man, skills.

Shel's Sidewalk

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein


There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.


Do you remember those childhood days filled with Shel Silverstein poems? Such good childhood memories are connected with me sitting in the school library reading poems from Where the Sidewalk Ends. It takes me back to Eastern Elementary school, I haven't been there in almost 10 years and yet I can picture now exactly what the library looked like. A small, elongated room with books lining the walls and stacks in the middle. We used to gather on a mat near the back when our class needed to make a visit there. I remember bending down to find Where the Red Fern Grows, or scouring the shelves for an autobiography that sounded remotely interesting. I even remember doing my one and only theater audition in there during 6th grade (we did a play about letters from Iwo Jima that my principal had written....I read a letter). I also remember squirming around in the back of a group of my seated class mates when we were forced to watch an educational movie about microscopic bugs that are present in everyday life.....clearly it was scaring enough for me to remember. Sometimes I miss the innocent, lazy days of my youth when I didn't have as much to worry about and everyone was friends with everyone else, but then I remember wishing then that I was in high school or college, and laugh because it's true... "the grass is always greener on the other side."


Don't worry, be happy.

Waiting

A little late night music love. I've been listening to some Colin Hay and thought I'd spread the love.

Have a good night :)

Free Shipping?

It's probably a good thing I don't have a source of income at the moment or else I'd be spending all my money on clothes. For as long as I can remember I've dreamt of being a fashionista, telling people what to wear, putting together cute outfits, designing my own clothes, shopping at cute boutiques filled with racks that held a mix between vintage and new designer duds (if only). When I was in elementary school I'd get in trouble for doodling clothing designs for my future personal line I'd be coming out with once I made it into the fashion industry. I had special notebooks that contained pages of designs that I was convinced everyone would be wearing someday. Since then I've slowly given up on that dream and moved on to something a little more practical, but I still dream of being the fashion guru I once was. People who see me on the streets, or in class, may not think I care about fashion because the majority of the time I'm in yoga pants or sweats with my hair up and no make up on, but the truth is I've just gotten lazy. I choose to be comfortable instead of taking the time to dress up, or wearing Uggs with my dress because I don't feel like walking across campus in the heals. Granted the other reason I wear what I do is that half my wardrobe no longer fits me.

So anyway, what this post is really about is my online window shopping problem. Although I'm pretty good at holding back from buying anything and saving my money, it's still really hard for me to stay completely away from my favorite stores and designer brands. I visit the websites of Marc Jacobs, Urban Outfitters, Etsy, Gap, Forever 21, Mod Cloth, Victoria's Secret, Betsey Johnson, and Free People weekly, checking the sites for what item I want to add to my virtual closet next. Fashion inspires me, it's like music, putting together certain outfits or seeing something I absolutely love (even if I can't have it) excites me. One minute I'm really into 50's style clothes and the next I'm in the 70's with hippie chic. Although Marc Jacobs and Betsey Johnson probably tie as my all time favorite designers, my favorite brand that I'm constantly obsessing over and inspired by is Free People. If I could own a whole wardrobe filled with Free People clothing I would in a heartbeat. I was on their website today making a wish list of pieces I loved and I thought I'd take the time to share.

 I don't wear jewelry a whole lot, but I sure do love these earrings.
Kenya Feather Earrings

 I love this outfit and I can only imagine how much fun I'd have in that skirt!
FP-1 Desert Florals Maxi Skirt

 Overalls never looked so stylish.
Kettle Black Overall Short

 Looks like the perfect outfit for a relaxing day outdoors or in.
Tie Dye to the Max Dress


 I can't even express how much I want these wedges (and wish they had them in my sizes).
Kellan Wedge



Ruffle Hem Cami


I love their line because it's the fabrics are always so light and flowy. As a girly girl myself, I greatly appreciate all the ruffles, long skirts, layers of jewelry, and floral prints that characterize the Free People designs. Plus when I started making my wish list and had to make an account on the site, they sent me an email for free shipping on my next purchase.....they're playing with fire here (or maybe I am) because it's so so so hard for me not to buy a simple (less expensive) item to treat myself with.

Do you like to window shop? What are  your favorite stores/brands/designers?

Sometimes I wish....

Sometimes I wish....

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I was a billionaire.
I could surf.
I was musically talented.
I could speed read.
I was focused.
I knew what I wanted.
I could travel the globe.
I could run and never get tired.
I could spend my days dancing.
I lived someplace warm.
I had a full time job that I enjoyed doing.
I could capture all the little happy moments of my life and share them with those who don't feel happy.
I could be more confident.
I could speak in public.
I could paint a huge mural on the side of a building so everyone could see.
I could make a difference.
I could perform difficult yoga moves.
I could travel across the country in an old Volkswagen van with some of my closest friends.
I didn't care what people thought of me.
I could buy any shoe I wanted and it would fit.
I could forget school and join the Peace Corp.
I was 5 foot 8 inches tall.
I followed through with all my plans.
I never again gave up on myself.
I could hold a big bubble in my hands.
I knew what it felt like to be in love.
I could remember all my dreams.
I could breathe under water.
I could see the Earth from Outer Space.
You felt the same way about me as I do you.
I could inspire change.
We lived in a world where everyone was equal.
Someone would buy me flowers.
I was a genius.
I could walk across the slackline.
I just believed.
I could hop a plane at a moments notice.
I could live without waste.
I could easily let things go.
Life were simple.



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One Lap at a Time

I have been building up mileage literally one lap at a time. Lately, I've run when I've wanted to run.....which is like never. So I have only been hitting the track seriously for about 1 to 2 times a week. Other times I go to the gym with the intention of running but only make it about 5 or so laps before calling it quits for the stationary bike or elliptical.

I try to split up my runs into 2 different types.

Type 1: See how many laps I can run in a row before stopping to walk. Once I reach a new number I am not allowed to run anything less than that any time after. These are usually short runs (for now), ending after 1 or 1 and a half miles.
Type 2: Running/ walking where I don't allow myself to run more than 3 laps at a time in order, before stopping and walking, to save endurance and leg strength. Alternating between running at walking at an even pace allows me to build mileage and go for greater lengths of times.

Today I worked on a type 1 run. Last week I was able to reach 5 miles in a row and this week I made it to 6! I can run over half a mile now without stopping :)

The mile breakdown:

Mile 1:

• Laps 1-2 warm up walking
• Laps 3-8 run
• Lap 9 walk

Mile 2:

• Lap 1 walk
• Lap 2 run
• Lap 3 walk
• Lap 4 run
• Laps 5-6 walk
• Lap 7 run
• Lap 8-9 walk

I was afraid to overdo myself when my right shin started to really ache during the second mile. My goal today was to only run a mile so it was a good short run. I'd rather work up slowly than strain my knees and shins risking an injury that might prevent me from running in May all together.

- - -

On another note, I did laundry today for the first time using the laundry room in the dorm. And I realized that I need to try and be more aware and figure things out by myself before calling people. I walked into the laundry room today and put my clothes in the washer, flipped open the black thing on the top and was like" hmmm that looks weird, where do I put the detergent?" Before really taking the time to look closer I called my mom to ask if I just put the detergent in with the clothes (yes, don't make fun of me, I never do my own laundry when I'm home). When she informed me that there should be a slot on top to put the liquid I was like "oh yeah that thing I flipped up, I couldn't figure it out"....this is when I opened it up again to realize clear instructions underneath the lid as to wear to put the different types of liquids (detergent/softener/bleach).....enter feelings of stupidity and shame. I do this a lot, and not with just laundry problems (this is the reason I hate pumping gas).

Do you often overlook obvious instructions? Or do things that are embarrassing to admit to people?

Matchbox Twenty and Earth Day

I put some new songs on my ipod for the walk to class today. I figured I needed something to brighten up this gloomy day, and the best way I know how to do that is by a little music therapy. I transfered a bunch of different random songs from my top rated list and as I walked along I got to listen to some music I haven't heard it quite a while.

Such as this....

or this

and most importantly this

I can't put the actual real world music video on here but if you want to watch it (you should....there's a camel and a young Rob Thomas!) I'll put the link here. I miss the simpler days of my youth jamming out to Matchbox Twenty, they really had a lot of great songs. Rob Thomas is an amazing songwriter and the lyrics can relate to everyone.

Second topic of the day is Earth Day :) which is April 22


I've been working on my last pamphlet for my Modern Social Problems class today and decided to pick Earth Day because it's so universally important (and easy to write about). Did you know that, "more than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world." And the first Earth Day lead to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency and helped pass the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. Pretty cool huh?


For these facts and more, visit the the official Earth Day website. You can check out ways to get involved and make a difference. We only have one Earth to live on and we need to protect it.

Story of my Life

I've been reading textbooks, writing discussion responses, and studying all day long. 

I had to watch Don Juan Demarco (twice) today for one of my assignments. I'm sorry but no amount of Johnny Depp can save how dumb that movie was. He thinks he's Don Juan, a sword fighting sex god from the 1800.....about as crazy and unrealistic as the sword fighting scene itself.

This is partly my own fault for putting Army Wives ahead of my home work all weekend, but the majority of it is due sometime this week, so hopefully I'll still have time :)

Guess I'm digging for change in my purse cause I have about 2 pairs of clean underwear and 1 pair of clean socks left in my drawer. Laundry must be done tomorrow!

Hopefully I don't fall asleep too many times tonight, so I can be well prepared for my exam tomorrow. Wish me luck!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I thought I'd take a little time and let you all in on a few of my favorite things. It's really hard for me to pick favorites so I tried to answer these with the first thing or person that came to mind (usually if I dwell too long on something I pick what I think sounds the best instead of what might actually be my favorite)

Favorite movie: Dirty Dancing.....the list could go on but that is the first one that popped into my head

Favorite actor: Heath Ledger....or Gerard Butler

Favorite actress: Reese Witherspoon/Kate Winslet

Favorite musical group/artist: Joshua Radin... I can always go back to his music and love it even more

Favorite song: Sunday Kind of Love by Etta James

Favorite music genre: does singer/songwriter count?

Favorite book: The Outsiders

Favorite tv show: This one is really hard because it changes so often, this week it's Army Wives, a month ago it was Dr. Who, a year ago it was probably Bones, while 3 years ago it was most likely the OC or Gilmore Girls

Favorite fictional character: Carrie Bradshaw

Favorite person/role model: my mom

Favorite non living person/icon: Audrey Hepburn or Albert Einstein

Favorite quote: "If your spirit dances your body will follow." - Mia Michaels

Favorite poem: I carry your heart with me by ee cummings

Favorite designer/label: Marc Jacobs

Favorite place to shop: Urban Outfitters

Favorite piece of clothing: black Kimchi and Blue sweater

Favorite city: New York City

Favorite color: Purple

Favorite meal of the day: Breakfast

Favorite food: Kraft Mac n Cheese....sad, but true

Favorite drink: water.....or Mt. Dew

Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Favorite restaurant: Cheesecake Factory

Favorite cookie: Chocolate Chip

Favorite dessert: Key Lime Pie Cheesecake....best of both worlds

Favorite sport to watch: football...or basketball

Favorite season: Summer

Favorite summer activity: laying on the beach

Favorite workout activity: Dancing

Favorite thing that you own: my Pandora bracelet

Favorite vacation: either my trip to NYC or to Disney World with my Mom and dance people

Favorite place to hang out when I'm in TC: The open space or Espresso Bay

Favorite childhood memory: playing pickle with all the neighborhood kids

Favorite time of the day: Night

Favorite day of the week: Thursday

Favorite holiday: Christmas

Favorite playground equipment: swings (because they make me feel like I can fly)

Favorite board game: Life

Favorite celebrity: Kourtney Kardashian

Favorite perfume: Sensual Amber from Bath and Body Works

Favorite smell: Sun tan lotion....reminds me of summer and fun vacations

Favorite word: plethora or bufanda (scarf in Spanish)

 Favorite body part: eyes or hands....you can tell a lot from a person from both of these

Support

In light of watching so much Army Wives lately (and the show Coming Home), I went in search the other day of a video I came across via Facebook about a year ago. After a few different searches on Youtube I finally found what I was looking for......

If you haven't seen this video, or have and want to see it again, beware because it WILL make you cry.

People tend to think that being against the war makes you unsupportive of the troops fighting it, which is simply untrue. For me being against war is about wanting to bring the fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, family and friends home quickly and safely. I am so grateful to every person who volunteers their life to fight for this country's safety and our freedom. I also have witnessed the worry that a deployment can put on loved ones, and how hard it is to tell those people everything will be alright.

So I guess I'm just trying to say thank you to all of our troops and all of the people that make sacrifices in their absence.