If there is one thing I crave over anything else it would have to be warm, cheesy, pepperoni pizza.
I am thankful for PIZZA
Yes, I know pizza is such a unconventional thing to be thankful for. But it literally brings me happiness. I don't even need expensive pizza from a restaurant to be happy. I am completely fine with the frozen pizza from Wal-Mart that only cost $1.44 after tax! Pizza is the reason for my freshman 15 but it is also the reason for my happiness. There is no better way to bond with your gal pals than sharing a pizza and some wine and a chick flick. I will say though.. I don't veer of from pepperoni like ever.
What's your favorite pizza?
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Thankful post # 3
As busy as it keeps me, my sorority is my favorite thing about college. It has brought me life long friends a life time of encouragement. So.. with that being said.
I am thankful for ALPHA XI DELTA
I will never forget the day I ran down the steps of the nigh and into the arms of my new forever family. Those women have shaped me into a better person than I ever thought possible and have pushed me to realize my potential in more ways than one. I am now serving in my second executive position with Alpha Xi Delta and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity. This year, I get to conduct our recruitment and at times it can be a little overwhelming, but with my sisters at my side and everyone having one common goal, I know we can achieve anything we set our hearts on. With that being said, I am thankful for those 10 women back in 1893 who had one common dream and the potential to move mountains.
I am thankful for ALPHA XI DELTA
I will never forget the day I ran down the steps of the nigh and into the arms of my new forever family. Those women have shaped me into a better person than I ever thought possible and have pushed me to realize my potential in more ways than one. I am now serving in my second executive position with Alpha Xi Delta and I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity. This year, I get to conduct our recruitment and at times it can be a little overwhelming, but with my sisters at my side and everyone having one common goal, I know we can achieve anything we set our hearts on. With that being said, I am thankful for those 10 women back in 1893 who had one common dream and the potential to move mountains.
Thankful Post # 2
With finals week upon us and all those last minute cramming sessions getting to my head....
I am thankful for UCO
It's True. UCO has gave me something that no one can ever take away from me. Education. I think an education is one of the most important things that we can give to ourselves. It allows us to contribute to the world in a positive way. It also allows us to help educate our future children and their children to come. UCO has given me the opportunity to be involved and to better myself on a daily basis. It has brought me my best friends and future bridesmaids. I will forever be a proud Broncho!
I am thankful for UCO
It's True. UCO has gave me something that no one can ever take away from me. Education. I think an education is one of the most important things that we can give to ourselves. It allows us to contribute to the world in a positive way. It also allows us to help educate our future children and their children to come. UCO has given me the opportunity to be involved and to better myself on a daily basis. It has brought me my best friends and future bridesmaids. I will forever be a proud Broncho!
Mini Series of Thankfulness
With November coming to an end, I like to look back and remember how thankful I was during that month. With that being said.. Why does the thankfulness have to end! We should remember to be thankful every day of the year. So.. here is a mini series of reasons why I am thankful that will be updated every hour. Enjoy!
I am thankful for FAMILY.
I know it sounds so cliché, but I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for my family. Each one of them contributed to the person I am today. All the arguments with my mom taught me to be more humble and have more self-control. All of those last minute trips having to lug my brother and sister around (first one with a drivers license) taught me to be thankful for good company and to be thankful for a working car. My family seriously rocks. Like they really rock. I am forever blessed because of them.
I am thankful for FAMILY.
I know it sounds so cliché, but I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for my family. Each one of them contributed to the person I am today. All the arguments with my mom taught me to be more humble and have more self-control. All of those last minute trips having to lug my brother and sister around (first one with a drivers license) taught me to be thankful for good company and to be thankful for a working car. My family seriously rocks. Like they really rock. I am forever blessed because of them.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Days of December
What comes to your mind when you think of December? Is it the cold weather, snow, or CHRISTMAS? More than likely Christmas is what probably came to your mind. And that's completely okay! Christmas can easily be someones favorite holiday. It's a day of giving filled with family and food. What's not to love about it?
As I was thinking about December and everything I love about it, I decided that I wanted to know if there were any other special days throughout the month and boy was I just surprised. Ready for another list? Well.. ready or not.
Dec 1.
As I was thinking about December and everything I love about it, I decided that I wanted to know if there were any other special days throughout the month and boy was I just surprised. Ready for another list? Well.. ready or not.
Dec 1.
- National Pie Day
- National Eat a Red Apple Day
- Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day
- Day With(out) Art Day
- Rosa Parks Day
- World Aids Day
- National Day of Giving Day #GivingTuesday
Dec 2.
- National Fritters Day
- National Mutt Day
- Special Eduction Day
- Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
Dec 3.
- National Roof Over Your Head Day
- International Day of Persons With Disabilities
Dec 4.
- National Cookie Day
- National Dice Day
- Faux Fur Friday
Dec 5.
- National Sacher Torte Day
- AFL-CIO Day
- Bathtub Party Day
- International Ninja Day
- National Rhubarb Vodka Day
Dec. 6.
- National Pawn Brokers Day
- National Microwave Oven Day
- St. Nicholas Day
- Miner's Day
- Chanukah Begins
Dec 7.
- National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
- National Cotton Candy Day
- International Civil Aviation Day
Dec 8.
- National Brownie Day
- Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day
Dec 9.
- Weary Willie Day
- International Anti-Corruption Day
Dec 10.
- Dewey Decimal System Day
- Human Rights Day
- Nobel Prize Day
Dec 11.
- National Noodle Ring Day
- UNICEF Birthday
- International Mountain Day
Dec 12.
- National Ambrosia Day
- National Ding- A -Ling Day
- Gingerbread House Day
- Poinsettia Day
- National Wreaths Across America Day
Dec 13.
- National Cocoa Day
- National Violin Day
- National Day of The Horse
- Pick a Pathologist Day
- Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
- World Choral Day
Dec 14.
- National Bouillabaisse Day
- Monkey Day
Dec 15.
- National Cupcake/Lemon Cupcake Day
- Bill of Rights Day
- Cat Herders Day
Dec 16.
- National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day
- Barbie and Barney Backlash Day
Dec 17.
- National Maple Syrup Day
- Wright Brothers Day
- National Re-Gifting Day
Dec 18.
- Answer the Telephone like Buddy the Elf Day
- International Migrants Day
- Underdog Day
- National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
- Free Shipping Day
Dec 19.
- National Hard Candy Day
- National Oatmeal Muffin Day
Dec 20.
- National Sangria Day
- International Human Solidarity Day
- Judd Day
Dec 21.
- National French Fried Shrimp Day
- Crossword Puzzle Day
- Humbug Day
- Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day
Dec 22.
- National Date Nut Bread Day
- Anne & Samantha Day
- Forefathers Day
- Winter Solstice
- National Flashlight Day
- National Homeless Persons Remembrance Day
- Yule
Dec 23.
- National Pfefferunesse Day
- National Roots Day
- Festivus
Dec 24.
- National Egg Nog Day
- Christmas Eve
Dec 25.
- National Pumpkin Pie Day
- CHRISMTAS!!!!!!
Dec 26.
- National Candy Cane Day
- National Thank-you Note Day
- National Whiner's Day
Dec 27.
- National Fruitcake Day
Dec 28.
- National Chocolate Candy Day
- National Card Playing Day
- Holy Innocents Day
- Pledge of Allegiance Day
Dec 29.
- National Pepper Pot DAY
- Tie Tock Day
Dec 30.
- National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
- Falling Needles Family Fest Day
- Bacon Day
Dec 31.
- National Champagne Day
- Make up Your Mind Day
- New Years Eve
- No Interruptions Day
- Universal Hour of Peace
Well.. There you have it! There are so many more things to celebrate in December than just Christmas.
Thats all for now folks!
I'd Rather Be Traveling
With all of this icy weather keeping me indoors lately, I have developed a mild case of cabin fever. There are only so many shows on Netflix that I can re-watch and there are only so many sources of social media. So through out the past few days I have compiled a list of places I would like to travel. All 10 places are located inside the United States for more realistic purposes because your girl is living on that college budget. These are in no particular order! Ready for another list? Well.. ready or not..
WARNING: MAY CAUSE SUDDEN URGE TO TRAVEL
1.) Boston, Massachusetts.
2.) New York City, New York
3.) Anchorage, Alaska
4.) Portland, Oregon
5.)Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
6.)Washington D.C, District of Columbia
7.) San Francisco, California
8.) Maui, Hawaii
9.) Sedona, Arizona
10.) Martha's Vineyard Island
That's all of now folks!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Surviving The Holidays
After a long week of Thanksgiving festivities and awkward family encounters I have finally found myself at my favorite place. The couch. Between driving over 300 miles the past few days and answering all of the typical questions you get at any family gathering I am without a doubt ready for some normalcy and a routine. I have learned over the past few years that I am a type A personality when it comes to a day to day routine. I love schedules. Especially when it comes to scheduling naps.
Anyway, lets get to the good stuff.
This year was my third Thanksgiving as a college student and it was also my third year of answering the same questions that all of us college kids have to answer to the best of our abilities. After obtaining all of this so called experience, I have decided to give some advice to my fellow college gang so that we can easily make it through the next Holiday! P.S. Christmas is 25 days away. So hang around and read on!
Through careful consideration I have decided that the following questions are of the upmost importance to know how to answer.
1.) What are you planning on doing after graduation?
Ummmmm... like most of us even know what we are doing right now. This question is the big kahuna of all questions. The honest answer would be to make lots of money and travel. But the realistic answer would be this..
I DON'T KNOW.
Easy right? Even though your relatives will probably think you are a slacker and wasting all of that tuition money that your parents work so hard for, it will stop the conversation right in its tracks. Now, on to the next!
2.) How are your grades?
This is something that my grandpa LOVES to bring up. Particularly at the dinner table in the middle of a game of left right center. Why must grandparents do this to us! One, we are on a break. We do not want to discuss our current grades that we are actually stressing out about while we stress eat our favorite pie (you know you do it). And two, like we are actually going to admit that we have a D in college algebra. So the best answer to this question would be this..
THEY ARE GOOD.
Again this is answer is short and sweet and to the point. No further questions asked and no added on stress eating. So go ahead and skip that third piece of pie.
3.)Why don't you have a boyfriend yet? or Where is your boyfriend?
Ahhh.. this is a personal favorite of mine. Can we be honest with them and tell everyone that we couldn't bare to let our boyfriend suffer through another family gathering just because we have to? Or do we make up some excuse about how he is out volunteering and making the world a better place when he is really playing Xbox until 4 in the morning in his underwear. Decisions Decisions.. The answer to this question is actually quite simple..
HE COULD NOT MAKE IT.
Then.. walk away.. and go grab that third piece of pie.
The lesson for today is as follows. Keep your answers short, simple and partially true. And you will without a doubt survive your next family holiday.
Anyway, lets get to the good stuff.
This year was my third Thanksgiving as a college student and it was also my third year of answering the same questions that all of us college kids have to answer to the best of our abilities. After obtaining all of this so called experience, I have decided to give some advice to my fellow college gang so that we can easily make it through the next Holiday! P.S. Christmas is 25 days away. So hang around and read on!
Through careful consideration I have decided that the following questions are of the upmost importance to know how to answer.
1.) What are you planning on doing after graduation?
Ummmmm... like most of us even know what we are doing right now. This question is the big kahuna of all questions. The honest answer would be to make lots of money and travel. But the realistic answer would be this..
I DON'T KNOW.
Easy right? Even though your relatives will probably think you are a slacker and wasting all of that tuition money that your parents work so hard for, it will stop the conversation right in its tracks. Now, on to the next!
2.) How are your grades?
This is something that my grandpa LOVES to bring up. Particularly at the dinner table in the middle of a game of left right center. Why must grandparents do this to us! One, we are on a break. We do not want to discuss our current grades that we are actually stressing out about while we stress eat our favorite pie (you know you do it). And two, like we are actually going to admit that we have a D in college algebra. So the best answer to this question would be this..
THEY ARE GOOD.
Again this is answer is short and sweet and to the point. No further questions asked and no added on stress eating. So go ahead and skip that third piece of pie.
3.)Why don't you have a boyfriend yet? or Where is your boyfriend?
Ahhh.. this is a personal favorite of mine. Can we be honest with them and tell everyone that we couldn't bare to let our boyfriend suffer through another family gathering just because we have to? Or do we make up some excuse about how he is out volunteering and making the world a better place when he is really playing Xbox until 4 in the morning in his underwear. Decisions Decisions.. The answer to this question is actually quite simple..
HE COULD NOT MAKE IT.
Then.. walk away.. and go grab that third piece of pie.
The lesson for today is as follows. Keep your answers short, simple and partially true. And you will without a doubt survive your next family holiday.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Adopting a blog
Today I gave a presentation for my blogging class. Yes, I am actually taking a class that teaches us to be better bloggers, and yes it's fantastic. Anyway, for the assignment we were asked to "adopt" a blog and ask the owner of the blog some questions regarding their blogging.
I was lucky enough to think of Raina Wansick. Her blog is titled "Real Talk With Raina" and it's absolutely fabulous. Her writing is so attention grabbing and so conversational. She is a strategic communications major and says she owes her success to all of the advertising courses she has taken. Raina has only been blogging since March of 2015 and already has over 2,500 followers. Thats how good her writing is. The list of things Raina is involved in at UCO is endless, and she is someone that I think college women and young adults could easily look up to.
Her writing is geared toward personal experiences that she has gone through and hopes to hopefully inspire her readers to face their own personal experiences. Now, lets get to some real talk...
These are some of my favorite posts on her blog-- go check them out! realtalkwithraina.wordpress
1.) What does no mean?
2.) Who inspires you?
3.) Are you offended?
4.) Oh, you're in a sorority?
Throughout these posts, Raina is so honest with herself and her audience. She is isn't afraid to put everything out there for the whole world to see. I personally think that's what I like most about her blog, and I think others would feel the same way if they read it too.
So go give her blog a read and a follow.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Do they celebrate birthdays in heaven?
Just last week I celebrated my 21st birthday. It was a day filled with family, friends and lots of celebrating. I was overwhelmed with love from my favorite people.
The next day was when the countdown began.
According to all the posts on Facebook, last Tuesday was my little sisters 18th birthday. It has been 8 months since she left and the past week has been a struggle. All of the long posts on her Facebook wall make me want to delete my Facebook forever.
That's not the point of my post today though.
From the moment I woke up on Tuesday morning I have wondered what she did all day. I have wondered if she is here with us and how excited she would have been to finally turned 18. I wonder if she would have been so excited to receive her "birthday flowers" at school. All of these thoughts eventually got me to thinking......
Do they celebrate birthdays in heaven?
With this being Tristen's first birthday in her new home, I wonder does she start over like she's born again, again? Do they bring out the biggest and funniest cake ( she loved funny cakes) possible that would put any cake on earth to shame? Does her cake have 18 candles on it? Or only 1? Maybe they use those trick candles that never blow out no matter how many times she tries. Do they even use candles? Is there any need for them because Jesus is THE LIGHT OF ALL LIGHTS and he brightens up heaven. Does she receive gifts wrapped in the prettiest paper with big glittery bows? Or maybe, Gods presence is the actual gift. And she gets to unwrap him and enjoy him everyday for eternity. I hope there is no end to her fun and she shares her loud obnoxious laugh with everyone up there.
On Tuesday, my family decided to do something special for her birthday. We called our local flower shop and had them blow up 18 purple balloons. Each of us wrote a letter meant just for her and the florist put a letter into each balloon. At exactly 5 p.m. my family and Tristen's closest friends gathered out at the cemetery and released the purple balloons filled with notes from earth.
11-10-1997 to 3-5-2015
11-10-1997 to 3-5-2015
Thursday, November 5, 2015
10 Things I Learned About Turning 21
As recently as yesterday, I turned 21 years old (yay). And as recently as right now, I learned some few things about becoming an adult. Are you ready for ANOTHER list? Well, ready or not....
1.) Staying up late is not as fun as it seems.
Yes, five years ago I would have loved staying up late on a school night and binge watching Netflix. Sometimes I would even watch late night Spanish soap operas.. Yes, that actually happened. But now, if I could even get an extra 30 minutes of sleep that would be perfection.
2.) Friends are cool and all, but family rocks.
Yes, nothing beats going out with all of your favorite gal pals and dancing the night away. Or just going on late night sushi runs. But you know what? Turning into an adult has taught me that my parents are amazing, and any moment spent with them is so important. Even if it means just sitting around and listening to the whole fam bam argue over who's turn it is to choose what we watch on Netflix.
3.) Eating late at night will almost kill you.
Well maybe not literally kill you. But it definitely will keep you up all night and include minor stomach pains in the morning. So, next time you are debating between eating that slice of pizza with extra pepperoni, ask yourself, is this really worth it? My answer would still be yes.
4.) You can't please everyone.
Plain and simple. I wish I had learned this lesson way back. It probably would have saved me a lot of time and headaches. In reality, you just have to do what makes you happy. If by any chance, that also means making someone else happy then that's just icing on the cake.
5.) You can't be too serious.
That's almost as bad as being too sarcastic all the time. It's great to be able to balance it out.
6.) Hangovers are not fun.
Go out they said, take 21 shots they said.. How about no. Hangovers suck. And nothing is worse than waking up with that splitting sound in your head, no matter how funny or fun they are depicted in the movies. And with my age going up, it takes longer and longer to get over hangovers.
7.) Taking pictures is so important.
And by pictures, I do not mean selfies. Ive honestly never been a fan of photography because I'm like totes not photogenic. But, the older you get, the more you will want to hold onto those special memories. My biggest regret in life was not taking more photos with my sister before she passed away. So if you take anything away from this post. Please take more pictures.
8.) Money is important.
It may not buy you happiness. But it sure will buy you dinner when you are living alone in your one bedroom apartment.
9.) "Emotional" drinking is crap.
I think just about everyone will learn this the hard way and I most certainly did. No amount of alcohol is going to fix your "broken heart" or your bad relationship. It just makes you dizzier and feel a whole lot worse when you wake up in the morning.
10.) You will definitely make mistakes.
But the beauty about turning 21 is that, for once, you might actually learn from those mistakes. You might do them again once or twice more, but each time you'll learn something new. Like not to eat pizza late at night. Seriously. I can't stress that enough.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Candy Pumpkins and Costumes... Oh My!
With October in full swing, fall has finally blessed us with it's presence. While the weather isn't cooperating with the season, I still like to pretend we are in full on fall mode. I mean the Pumpkin Spice Latte has arrived so surely fall has too, right? Anyway, with fall comes many wonderful things. Carving pumpkins, sweaters, scarves, football, bonfires and HALLOWEEN.
2.) For my second costume I chose fruit because why not? A pineapple and a strawberry. Healthy and delicious. This costume is perfect for a pair of best friends that are looking to be different. Not to mention it would be so cheap and easy to put together. I call being the strawberry, Kalie!
Halloween is a holiday that everyone from young children to adults can celebrate. It gives the people that are finally too old to go trick or treating the opportunity to still dress up and act like a young child again. People jump at the opportunity to dress up as something or someone else. I was actually standing in line at Starbucks today and heard two grown women behind me discussing what they were going to dress up as. I don't know who gets more excited now days... children or adults.
I will admit that I like to dress up for Halloween as much as the next person, but some people take it to levels that I will never understand. Also, when did it become a thing that girls are suppose to dress provocatively for their costumes? I have literally heard peoples say the more revealing a costume is this better. Why?
You can literally dress up as anything you want these days. So what will you dress up as this year? Will it be someone famous, an animal or even an object of some sort? With so many options to choose from I thought I might give you some of the costumes I have come across.
Enjoy.
1.) For my first costume I chose the famous Hillary and Bill Clinton. This is comical and classic and doesn't show any unnecessary body parts. Prepare for lots of laughs and maybe some political debates.
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3.) You guessed it... Jake from State Farm. I like to think of Jake as Flo's long lost cousin. This is the easiest costume to accomplish by far and will be a hit at your next Halloween party.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Let's Decorate
There is nothing more exciting than starting college. So many "firsts" happen within your college years and moving into your first apartment is one of them. I was lucky enough to find the coolest friends and now roommates. It took us 6 months to find the perfect place for us to live. I honestly didn't realize how difficult it would be for three girls to decide where to live. I obviously didn't take into account that
1.) We are girls
2.) We are broke college students
After multiple apartment tours and hours of budgeting, we finally found the place for us.
We moved into our apartment in June. We were so lucky to get the best neighbors. I think everyone fears getting stuck with creepy or loud neighbors, so that was definitely a relief for us. After getting all moved in we kept telling ourselves we would eventually decorate. Well... it's been four months now and we have officially finished decorating our living room. That just leaves the kitchen, dining room, and eventually our bedrooms. Maybe...
We picked a date we were all three going to go shopping and set out with high hopes and slim wallets. We were in luck when we arrived at Hobby Lobby. Everything we needed was 50% off! Here is what we ended up with.
1.) We are girls
2.) We are broke college students
After multiple apartment tours and hours of budgeting, we finally found the place for us.
We moved into our apartment in June. We were so lucky to get the best neighbors. I think everyone fears getting stuck with creepy or loud neighbors, so that was definitely a relief for us. After getting all moved in we kept telling ourselves we would eventually decorate. Well... it's been four months now and we have officially finished decorating our living room. That just leaves the kitchen, dining room, and eventually our bedrooms. Maybe...
We picked a date we were all three going to go shopping and set out with high hopes and slim wallets. We were in luck when we arrived at Hobby Lobby. Everything we needed was 50% off! Here is what we ended up with.
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| $4.99 |
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| $6.99 |
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| $12.49 |
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| $6.99 |
After spending 2 hours in Hobby Lobby and another hour hanging everything up, we were finally done. Our apartment went from boring and plain to fabulous with just 6 simple pieces. With everything included in the pictures above, the three of us spent around $50 each. In my opinion, the money spent was well worth the outcome. The very next day we hosted a OU/Texas watch party. Although tears were shed at the end of that game, our newly decorated apartment and mimosas were there to lift our spirits.
Whenever you are thinking about decorating your first apartment or even redecorating, go ahead and head to Hobby Lobby. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Dance Your Boots Off
For three years now Alpha Xi Delta at the University of Central Oklahoma has been hosting Dance Your Boots Off. It's a night where we invite the whole campus and surrounding community to come out and support/raise awareness for Autism Speaks while two-stepping in our driveway. This year we invited a DJ, had one of our sisters bring her sno cone stand and provided food and drinks for everyone. We also hosted a two-stepping competition and it was very entertaining. Everyone had a great time and we raised a ton of money for a great cause. We ended up raising $2,500 and I couldn't be more proud. Here is my favorite pic of the night with my exec team:
I am the VP of Programs for my sorority and this event just so happen to fall under my list of duties and I could not be more thankful that it did. My position and my sorority has changed me for the better. I never in a million years would have thought that I was capable of planning such an important event and actually making it work. I had nightmares for a whole month because I was afraid no one was going to show up and it was going to be a total bust. I like to look back on my high school self and think about all the growth I have done after venturing off to UCO and joining Alpha Xi Delta. My sorority sisters lift me up when I am at my lowest and push me to go even further when I am at my highest. It's like they know when I need encouragement without me having to say anything at all. Thats why Monday nights are my favorite. Mondays are when we have our weekly chapter meetings and I get to see every sister in my chapter. There is nothing more encouraging than starting my week off with some of the most inspirational women I know. On Monday, a sister who chooses to remain anonymous left me this...
At the time I didn't think much of it, but today as I was stressing out going through all the important dates in my planner, that note fell out of it and onto my lap. It couldn't have come at a more important time. I realized in that moment that there is no need to stress about everything I have going on because I really am a part of something bigger than myself. Not just with Alpha Xi Delta, but with everything I do in general. Think about it guys... All of the schooling I am going through right now is not only going to benefit me, but my future family, co workers and place of employment(hopefully). How cool is that? That what I am doing right now is going to affect me in future. Thats what I tell myself whenever I want to give up on school and become a stripper.. kidding.
The past few days I have really been thinking about my life and everything in it.
Here are a few things that I have learned:
At the time I didn't think much of it, but today as I was stressing out going through all the important dates in my planner, that note fell out of it and onto my lap. It couldn't have come at a more important time. I realized in that moment that there is no need to stress about everything I have going on because I really am a part of something bigger than myself. Not just with Alpha Xi Delta, but with everything I do in general. Think about it guys... All of the schooling I am going through right now is not only going to benefit me, but my future family, co workers and place of employment(hopefully). How cool is that? That what I am doing right now is going to affect me in future. Thats what I tell myself whenever I want to give up on school and become a stripper.. kidding.
The past few days I have really been thinking about my life and everything in it.
Here are a few things that I have learned:
- My sorority and sisters seriously rock.
- Event coordinating is hard, but so worth it!
- Choose sleep over Netflix (only in a perfect world would this happen).
I think it's important for people to take a step back sometimes, especially when in stressful times, and truly realize everything we have in our lives. It's okay to be stressed out, but sometimes I think we can stress over silly things that really aren't going to matter in the future. God knows I am the worlds worst at this. Whenever I was planning Dance Your Boots Off and was about ready to jump off a cliff, all I needed to do was to take a step back and realize that all of my sisters supported me and would love me no matter the outcome of the event.
So, some advice for whoever is reading this. Stop stressing and take things one day at a time. Also, realize how many great people you have in your life that would support you through thick or thin.. If none of your friends match this criteria.. Well, you need new friends. Finally, put whats important, and I mean ACTUALLY important first. Kinda like homework before Netflix..You will notice a completely different change of pace in your life and it will be for the better.
Everything is going to be okay... I promise.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Slipping from reality
How do you spend your free time?
Do you read a book, take a nap, exercise (as if), or do you hangout with your best gal pals? Well, my answer is probably the same as every other college student, Netflix. There is nothing better than coming home after a long day of school or work, grabbing a coke from the fridge, popping my leftover pizza in the microwave, and planting myself on the couch to binge watch Netflix for the rest of my evening (because homework can wait).
12 years. That's how long One Tree Hill has been around and I just so happen to be re watching it for the second time. I can't imagine my junior high and high school self without OTH. I literally spent the most emotional and crucial years of my life watching that show and it without a doubt helped contribute to my overflowing of emotions (because puberty, right?). You would think that after watching the entire show once, that the second time wouldn't be as heart tugging, but no. I still cry every other episode even though I know what is about to happen, and I still root for the same couples to be together even though they never will. Does that say something about me? That I still hope for different outcomes when I know the ending will never change?
I want you to think about a show that you watched when you were younger and think about how it affected you. Did it inspire your daily behaviors or life choices, or even your wardrobe? It absolutely amazes me how a television show can have such an impact on our lives. And how a group of fictional characters can become so real even though we watch them through a screen. I can remember going to get my hair cut in junior high and taking in a picture of Brook Davis because I wanted my hair to look just like hers, creepy huh? I can also remember feeling like I belonged in the show whenever that boy from high school broke my heart. OTH does an amazing job of connecting with its audiences. The show goes from everyone in high school to everyone growing up and getting married and having children and facing real life challenges. How can you not find someway to connect to that? I feel like the show is so cheesy that it is almost inspiring. At the end of the entire series every character accomplished their goals and dreams in one way or another. As someone who practically grew up with these characters it inspired me in more ways than one to go after my dreams.
I feel like everyone can somehow relate to a television show. I mean, there must be a reason that we were intrigued to watch it in the first place, right? It might start out that vampires just so happen to interest you, so you start watching a series about vampires. But I honestly believe that you have to connect with a character inside the show for it to keep our attention. That's the magic of television. It helps us to place ourselves inside a fantasy world because we are bored of our own. It has the power to completely transport us away from our own problems and let us live inside a false world to help characters face their own. For a brief moment we are able to slip away from our own reality and become a part of something bigger. And that in my opinion is amazing.
I feel like everyone can somehow relate to a television show. I mean, there must be a reason that we were intrigued to watch it in the first place, right? It might start out that vampires just so happen to interest you, so you start watching a series about vampires. But I honestly believe that you have to connect with a character inside the show for it to keep our attention. That's the magic of television. It helps us to place ourselves inside a fantasy world because we are bored of our own. It has the power to completely transport us away from our own problems and let us live inside a false world to help characters face their own. For a brief moment we are able to slip away from our own reality and become a part of something bigger. And that in my opinion is amazing.
Labels:
Brooke Davis,
characters,
netflix,
One Tree Hill,
OTH,
reality,
Television,
time
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
A picture's worth a thousand words... or likes
Why do we take pictures?
Step 1.) Timing is everything.
Believe it or not, it has been proven that there are "peak" times throughout the day that will determine how many "likes" you will receive on a photo. I was mind blown when I discovered that people actually took time out of their day to study Instagram (probably for advertising reasons). Think about it, if you post a photo around 6 p.m. when everyone is having their "me" time and scrolling through their Insta you will most likely receive more likes because they are seeing your picture then and now. No one wants to be a creeper and like a photo 10 hours after it has been posted. Well, except that one creepy guy that we don't know, but always likes our photos. Other good quality times throughout the day include 10a.m. to 1 p.m. (because of lunch breaks) and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. I know it sounds a little bizarre, but these proven times really will help with your Insta likes, according to the Instagram gurus.
There is nothing better than having your go to filter. You can make almost any picture look insta fabulous with the correct filter, and thats what makes Instagram fun right? Instagram currently has 24 filters to choose from and they are all fabulous! My personal favorite is Lo-fi. Some advice I have is to make sure you have your go to filter. I promise it will make Instagraming a lot more simple and easy. Some people are completely against using filters, but they are obviously boring people with no soul. I understand that originality is an important characteristic to have, but come on people, Instagram in itself is no where near original. So that being said, go outside (for lighting purposes), snap a pic, and filter away!
Step 3.) Captions make all the difference.
Do we do it to capture a moment in time? Is it to hold on to memories for years to come? Or did you and your friend just so happen to look really cute that day?
In a world that has been taken over by popularity and social media, I think the answer is simple. We take pictures so we can post them on social media and pray to get a lot of "likes" on our photos. That is the honest answer.
I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to worrying about the number of likes you get on Instagram. We all know how it goes.. especially my lady friends. We spend probably a good 30 minutes picking out our favorite photo out of 20 that we took in a matter of 3 minutes. Then we go back and forth between filters and exposure and cropping only to finally come up with our finished product. What's sad is that what we just did isn't even the hardest part. That's right, next is choosing a caption! So, today my goal is to help guide my fellow Instagram lovers on how to get more likes on your photos in a matter of 3 easy steps. Disclaimer: These steps are for the mediocre Instagramer like myself trying to step up their Insta game, and for the people who refuse to pay for their Insta likes. All others are more than welcome to follow along!
Step 1.) Timing is everything.
Believe it or not, it has been proven that there are "peak" times throughout the day that will determine how many "likes" you will receive on a photo. I was mind blown when I discovered that people actually took time out of their day to study Instagram (probably for advertising reasons). Think about it, if you post a photo around 6 p.m. when everyone is having their "me" time and scrolling through their Insta you will most likely receive more likes because they are seeing your picture then and now. No one wants to be a creeper and like a photo 10 hours after it has been posted. Well, except that one creepy guy that we don't know, but always likes our photos. Other good quality times throughout the day include 10a.m. to 1 p.m. (because of lunch breaks) and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. I know it sounds a little bizarre, but these proven times really will help with your Insta likes, according to the Instagram gurus.
Step 2.) Filter me this.
There is nothing better than having your go to filter. You can make almost any picture look insta fabulous with the correct filter, and thats what makes Instagram fun right? Instagram currently has 24 filters to choose from and they are all fabulous! My personal favorite is Lo-fi. Some advice I have is to make sure you have your go to filter. I promise it will make Instagraming a lot more simple and easy. Some people are completely against using filters, but they are obviously boring people with no soul. I understand that originality is an important characteristic to have, but come on people, Instagram in itself is no where near original. So that being said, go outside (for lighting purposes), snap a pic, and filter away!
Step 3.) Captions make all the difference.
The hardest part of posting a photo is also what mostly determines how many likes you will receive. Life would be so simple if our captions could literally say what we were doing at that moment in time. For example, "Hey, I'm walking my dog". But unfortunately, it doesn't work that way anymore. Instead, we have to say something like this, "Snoop Dog got nothing on my pooch" (creative right). There is so much pressure that comes along with creating the perfect clever and witty caption, and it is very important that we follow societies idea of what these captions should be in order to gain those likes. I have literally not posted a photo before because I couldn't think of a clever enough caption to go along with it, how sad is that? A couple of tips I would like to give you are as follows; keep it short, keep it cute and keep it clever. If you follow these three tips the chances of your Insta likes going up will increase greatly. It completely baffles me how creative people can get with their captions. And I am guilty of borrowing (stealing) captions. I guess I wasn't blessed with the creative gene that runs in my family. Thanks mom.
Hopefully these tips will inspire you to step up your Insta game and go after those likes. I mean, that's what all the cool kids are doing, right?
Xo- Mel
Hopefully these tips will inspire you to step up your Insta game and go after those likes. I mean, that's what all the cool kids are doing, right?
Xo- Mel
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
A Love Letter To Iced Coffee
Dear Iced Coffee,
You brighten my world. Vanilla, Caramel, non-fat milk, soy, macchiato, mocha... You are seriously life changing, and I promise I don't discriminate. You help me conquer my longest days and hardest mornings. All of the late night studying wouldn't have happened without you. You might possibly be my better half. I am not me when I'm not sipping on you. My love for you started as a young freshmen girl in college just trying to find her way in this coffee infested world. I walked up to the Starbucks counter in my schools Nigh University Center and the rest is history. The day we met forever changed me. Whether I order you from a coffee shop, or brew you up at home, you never fail me. You are there for my mental breakdowns, or when I just need a pick me up. You are worth every penny that comes from my bank account. The limit of how much I drink of you does not exist. This is why you are also responsible for my sleepless nights, but it's okay, I forgive you. I promise to never sway away from you when I order.. no matter how tempting the other items on the menu might sound. I look forward to going to bed at night because I know I get to start my next day with you. You say a lot about me iced coffee, you say that I am assertive, outspoken, and I obviously don't let seasons dictate how I live my life. You are my one and my only.
Forever yours,
XO-Mel
You brighten my world. Vanilla, Caramel, non-fat milk, soy, macchiato, mocha... You are seriously life changing, and I promise I don't discriminate. You help me conquer my longest days and hardest mornings. All of the late night studying wouldn't have happened without you. You might possibly be my better half. I am not me when I'm not sipping on you. My love for you started as a young freshmen girl in college just trying to find her way in this coffee infested world. I walked up to the Starbucks counter in my schools Nigh University Center and the rest is history. The day we met forever changed me. Whether I order you from a coffee shop, or brew you up at home, you never fail me. You are there for my mental breakdowns, or when I just need a pick me up. You are worth every penny that comes from my bank account. The limit of how much I drink of you does not exist. This is why you are also responsible for my sleepless nights, but it's okay, I forgive you. I promise to never sway away from you when I order.. no matter how tempting the other items on the menu might sound. I look forward to going to bed at night because I know I get to start my next day with you. You say a lot about me iced coffee, you say that I am assertive, outspoken, and I obviously don't let seasons dictate how I live my life. You are my one and my only. Forever yours,
XO-Mel
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Falling Into Fall..
1 word. 4 letters. Say it and I'm yours. FALL. Just the sound of the word makes me want to run(walk briskly) to Starbucks and pick up a PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte). How can Fall not be your favorite season? I literally think this every time I look in my closet and see my favorite sweaters and fall boots. I find myself daydreaming of fallen leaves and cooler weather on my long hot walks to class, but then I snap back into reality and realize it's probably all the sweat that's causing me to hallucinate. Dreaming never hurt anyone though! There are so many great things that come along with Fall that I thought I should share with all of you something to look forward to! P.S. we are only 12 days away.
Enjoy!
1. College Football
2. Leggings
Leggings make life better. They are a must have for every college girls closet. They are comfortable and cheap, so what's not to love about them? I love that in the fall I can throw on a pair of leggings, a long shirt, my favorite cardigan and riding boots and be ready to head out the door. Fall weather makes it so easy for us girls to look cute AND stay comfortable. Here are some of my favorite brands of leggings:
These are great because they come in multiple colors, are machine washable and are fleeced lined to help you stay warm during cooler weather! And they are only $12. Get them while they last.
Here is another brand I enjoy. These can be found online or in store at Old Navy. Hurry and snatch your pair because they are on sale for $10!!
3.) Thanksgiving
We all know how it goes. Eat until you can't eat no more. Then have a slice.. or two.. of Pumpkin pie. Then everyone claims "their" spot in the living room for nap time. Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday right behind The Fourth of July (because America). I love spending quality time with my family and helping my mom and grandma prepare everything. Plus, taking home all the leftovers literally gets me through the rest of the month and halfway through December. And before I know it it's December and there are more leftovers coming my way from Christmas dinner.
XO-Mel
Enjoy!
1. College Football
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| Kyle and I's first date |
Ahhh.. There is nothing better than sitting in the stands with thousands of other fans, screaming at the top of your lungs for your favorite team. If going to actual games isn't your thing, that's okay! It's even more fun to get a watch party together and binge eat your favorite game food. My personal favorite is Rotel Queso with sausage in it. It has actually became a staple in my game day routine.
2. Leggings
Leggings make life better. They are a must have for every college girls closet. They are comfortable and cheap, so what's not to love about them? I love that in the fall I can throw on a pair of leggings, a long shirt, my favorite cardigan and riding boots and be ready to head out the door. Fall weather makes it so easy for us girls to look cute AND stay comfortable. Here are some of my favorite brands of leggings:
![]() |
| These can be found at Runway Seven in Edmond |
These are great because they come in multiple colors, are machine washable and are fleeced lined to help you stay warm during cooler weather! And they are only $12. Get them while they last.
![]() |
| Old Navy in store or online |
Here is another brand I enjoy. These can be found online or in store at Old Navy. Hurry and snatch your pair because they are on sale for $10!!
3.) Thanksgiving
We all know how it goes. Eat until you can't eat no more. Then have a slice.. or two.. of Pumpkin pie. Then everyone claims "their" spot in the living room for nap time. Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday right behind The Fourth of July (because America). I love spending quality time with my family and helping my mom and grandma prepare everything. Plus, taking home all the leftovers literally gets me through the rest of the month and halfway through December. And before I know it it's December and there are more leftovers coming my way from Christmas dinner.
XO-Mel
Friday, September 4, 2015
Dear Past, thank you for all the lessons...
Dear Future, I am ready.
Two more years. That's all I have left of my undergraduate career, and I couldn't be more excited to move forward. The idea of starting a career and becoming an "adult" is pleasing and frightening all at the same time.
The way I think and feel about things has changed dramatically over the past few years, and I have grown so much and have taken on so many more responsibilities than I ever thought possible. I have let go of bad habits, and probably started more (thanks Netflix), and have pushed myself to new limits. I use to fear the idea of growing up and trying new things, now I welcome it with open arms. Well.. Maybe not the getting old and wrinkly part..
It is crazy how moving away from home and chasing new dreams will change a person. Here are a few things I have realized:
It's okay not to be okay. Cliché right? I can remember my first day at UCO and how all of the older students seemed to have their lives together. IT'S NOT TRUE, I promise. We all walk around like we know what we are doing, but it's really just a comedy show. I Currently live off of frozen pizza, Taco Bell and Coca-Cola (because Diet Coke is for quitters ), Nutritious right?
On top of being broke, handling school is a completely different story in itself. Now that I am finally into all of my major courses, I can easily say I have never been more stressed out in my entire life. Working 25 hours a week, taking 16 hours this semesters and holding multiple exec positions can do a lot to a person. But in all honesty, I enjoy the chaos. So... a little advice to future college students, GET A PLANNER. You'll thank me later.
I need sleep. It use to be fun staying up all night binge watching Netflix or going out with all of my girlfriends. I use to be able to run on 2-3 hours of sleep and make it through the day with a smile on my face. Now, I need a minimum of 7 hours and a iced coffee in my hand to get me out the door. I wouldn't have drank coffee my freshmen year if you had paid me to. But a late night study sesh and a early morning will turn anyone into a coffee drinker. I can thank Starbucks for my empty bank account.
College brought me my soul mates. Seriously though. College just so happened to bring me my best gal pals. From shoulders to cry on, people to laugh with (or at), to my future bridesmaids, my girlfriends are literally the best. It's crazy to think that all of our paths were meant to cross at some point in our lifetime and I am so thankful that they did. In high school, everyone is kind of forced together and you don't have very many options of who you can spend your time with. This is especially true at my high school with a graduating class of 39. GO COMETS! So to the high school students who are ready to expand their friendships, hang in there! Because there are WAY better days ahead. And to the college students, cherish every moment spent with your friends. They might end up becoming your soul mates.
College brought me my soul mates. Seriously though. College just so happened to bring me my best gal pals. From shoulders to cry on, people to laugh with (or at), to my future bridesmaids, my girlfriends are literally the best. It's crazy to think that all of our paths were meant to cross at some point in our lifetime and I am so thankful that they did. In high school, everyone is kind of forced together and you don't have very many options of who you can spend your time with. This is especially true at my high school with a graduating class of 39. GO COMETS! So to the high school students who are ready to expand their friendships, hang in there! Because there are WAY better days ahead. And to the college students, cherish every moment spent with your friends. They might end up becoming your soul mates.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Blogging with Mel
"You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating." -Barbara Sher
This is how I want to live my life. I want a life full of laughter, happiness and adventure. My name is Melissa Wylie and I want to bring you these things through my blog. I am so excited to have finally started blogging and I hope you enjoy it too. My blog will include the things I do in my day to day life, my favorite places to go, my favorite products I use and so much more. I don't want to limit my blog to one specific topic because as a college student, my life is constantly changing and I am faced with new challenges everyday. But with new challenges comes new adventures. Hopefully my challenges and adventures will inspire others to start facing theirs and living their life to the fullest.
XO- Mel
This is how I want to live my life. I want a life full of laughter, happiness and adventure. My name is Melissa Wylie and I want to bring you these things through my blog. I am so excited to have finally started blogging and I hope you enjoy it too. My blog will include the things I do in my day to day life, my favorite places to go, my favorite products I use and so much more. I don't want to limit my blog to one specific topic because as a college student, my life is constantly changing and I am faced with new challenges everyday. But with new challenges comes new adventures. Hopefully my challenges and adventures will inspire others to start facing theirs and living their life to the fullest.
XO- Mel
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