Friendsgiving Fun

Hey guys!

Okay, okay so I haven't posted in a week, and I think that's okay. Everyone needs a break, and I needed one while I had 3 papers to write. I felt like I had to do a lot of writing and the blog was just going to push me over my writing limit. Anyway, I'm back and as I look at all of the posts I have written since August I feel so proud and accomplished. This little corner of the internet is mine and has been an amazing place to just be me. I hope you have enjoyed what I have written and any support though sharing it with friends or commenting would be great!

Today is Thanksgiving and I am spending it home with my fam! It has been wonderful being home this past week and getting to see high school friends, but it makes me miss Athens and my new friends. My high school friends all have other friends, new inside jokes, and new funny memories...it's all just so different. It makes me realize that I really am in a new stage of my life. I loved my high school times, but I am in a new place with different people. I love it, but it feels weird.

In honor of this time with old friends and new friends I hosted a FRIENDSGIVING! Yay! It is one of my 101 in 1001 days that I will be able to cross off! I decided to do a brunch because I don't think my body could hold 2 full turkey meals in 48 hours. Everyone brought an item, and it worked out so well. We all got to chat and just spend some quality time together. There were 11 of us at 10 different schools so getting everyone in one place was wonderful and rare.

I would really recommend hosting a get together with old friends or new friends or any friends. Being with people you love reminds you just how important they are over materials and surface life. We can get too caught up in a routine and forget the real reason we keep going (love of our friends and family)! I love you guys! Thanks for always being there!


  What is your favorite thing to do with your friends? Do you keep in touch with you high school friends?

Don't Hate, Appreciate

Hey guys! So I'm definitely getting into the holiday spirit, but I do like to take my holidays one at a time. There's just something about Christmas songs and decorations before Thanksgiving that really gets on my nerves, but I am so excited for the season. In honor of Thanksgiving and rekindling love with the fam, pumpkin pie, and large amounts of stuffing here's a post about what I have come to appreciate more now since I've been in college.

TOP 10 THINGS I HAVE COME TO APPRECIATE EVEN MORE

1. My Parents Alone
     I am one of 3 girls in the family, and it is so rare to have my parents all to myself especially now that we live and hour apart. Those moments where I just get to chat with them about life are so precious. I love calling them while walking to class because it gives me something to do, and it keeps them in the know (as much as I want them to know). Parents weekend for the ADPi was amazing, and I can see our relationships getting closer and closer.

2. My sister's hugs
      Lele, My twin, gives the best hugs. They are so genuine and pure and hold her whole heart in them. Every time I come home she runs and hugs me like she hasn't seen me in years and it brightens my day instantly. I miss her so much and those hugs help me to realize that life will go on and that there are way more important things in life than what I am stressed about.

3. Getting away
    I love Anna so much, but sometimes I need quiet time to myself. There is so much going on at UGA all the time. You really can't escape it even if you think you can. The dorm is great because it is like your own little space, but it is not the same as a quiet room in your house with a shut door and no screaming neighbors. I miss this.

4. Seeing my friends everyday
    High school wasn't the best all the time. I mean there were mean girls, 7 classes a day, harsh teachers, but it was all made easier because you had your pals. I have met so many amazing people in college, but I don't see them everyday. In high school we were forced together. We had to go to school and see each other, but in college you really have to put in the effort and time. I love sorority meetings and socials because I get to see all of my friends.

5. Atlanta
   Oh man I loved Atlanta, but I have a much greater appreciation for it now. Don't get me wrong Athens is amazing. I have just realized how much is in Atlanta and how important it is to people who live in other parts of Georgia. I miss the malls. I miss the concerts. I miss the endless opportunities of things to do. I'm glad I live in Atlanta and get to come home to it on breaks!

6. WiFi
   Brumby WiFi isn't good. At all.

7. Home cooked meals
     The dinning hall gets old. Just remember that high school seniors who are waiting for endless food options. I get so tired of the food and long for roommate dates where Anna and I go out. I made a list of meals I want to make with my mom over Thanksgiving which include Quinoa with chicken and veggies, squash casserole, and chili lots of chili! I'm excited to start writing down the recipes for the cookbook on my 101 in 1001. 


8. Schedule
    I appreciate the college schedule I have. I love having two classes a day and having so much free time to nap, workout, study, nap (again), eat, and really whatever I want. Don't let me fool you though. I don't workout that much, but I do love my kickboxing on Thursdays. I think it would be hard to go back to a 8-3 school schedule. I'm just loving the freedom.

9. My own room with my large bed
    Again, I love Anna and living with her makes life so much more interesting, but I miss my queen size bed and my own room. Even though Anna is so chill and cool with about anything, I still have to think twice about when I go to bed or watch tv. I have to be careful about where I put my stuff and being loud when I wake up.

10. Showering without shower shoes
      This is a big one!!! Folks be thankful you don't have to wear 2 dollar shoes in the shower to keep your feet from touching moldy stained floors that have probably been there since before I was born. I take considerably longer showers at home just taking in every moment of bare feet I can.

Fall In Love With Color

Hey guys! Hope your week has started out great! The forecast says sunshine for tomorrow so I'm keeping my hopes up for an amazing day! Also in my church service today we talked about choosing joy. I challenge everyone to choose joy over sorrow and comparison (read my post "Let's Get Real" here)!

I don't know about you, but I love my neutrals. Black. White. Grey. Tan. And all that jazz. They are great because they can go with anything, but right now I'm loving this magenta color for fall. It is so pretty and a different fall color than the usual oranges and reds. I have rain boots similar to this color, and you know I've been wearing those a lot recently.

Another thing that really makes this outfit is the jewelry you see me wearing. It was handmade by my very own sister, Lucy! She has been making such beautiful and trendy items inciting huge statement pieces like this. Check her out on Esty at Lucy Stone Designs!

Well thats all I have for today! I hope you're loving this color as much as I am. I can't wait to pair this with black jeans and maybe a skirt!!! Oh and it's from my favorite resale shop in Atlanta, so you won't be able to find the exact shirt, but keep your eyes out for this amazing color. See ya thursday! Remember to CHOOSE JOY!!!

 

What's you favorite pop of color for fall?

Let's Be Real

Hey guys! I always feel like I'm talking about gross weather, but that's what Athens has turned into. On the bright side I finished my test for the week and get some time to relax. I hope your week has been great and that you are making the most of every minute.

Now it's time to get down to business. Let's get real. I really have a love-hate relationship with social media. I've grown up in the texting, snap chatting, Instagram, Facebook world and being able to stay connected, but I also find these things having negative impacts on my life. I start to compare myself to others "perfect lives" and my worth and self esteem decreases. Snapchat is a big one for me. I see other people's stories and see how much fun they are having and negativity sets in. Truthfully I've stopped looking at snapchat, and feel more relieved. I don't need to see what others are doing, I need to be living in the present with the people I am around.

Being a blogger can make social media seem so necessary. I found all of my favorite bloggers through the media and have loved following them, but trying to keep up the perfect image of being a perfect blogger is tiring and a little fake. I find myself getting upset that I don't have the perfect picture or the time to find the best clothes, but really I made this blog to be me. I and a lot of people fall under the trap of trying to put on an image that their lives are perfect when truthfully life is perfectly imperfect.

Recently a story of a girl who turned away from social media has been buzzing on the internet. Essena O'Neill, a teenager form Australia, was a social media sensation and like many others (me included) feel into the trap of displaying the "perfect life". She has such confidence and radiates joy. Watch her video! It is so inspiring!!!

Like Essena says in the video she has created a new website called Lets Be Game Changers! It is a place for inspiration and community. Check it out and let me know what you think. Social media is so prevalent in our society, but sometimes it can take over. It's so hard to remember that not everything is true in the media and it distorts real lives, but realizing that is key to your happiness.

Time

Hey guys! Oh my has it been a crazy couple of days. St. Simons was a blast…the game was a lot less of a blast. I loved seeing my friends and tailgating, but being the only UGA fan in a section of Gators along with watching the football team make a total fool of themselves wasn't really a highlight. Being back in Athens is a little bitter sweet. I love the Classic City, but the theres nothing like a sunny day at the beach. Oh and it's raining in Athens and is projected to be raining all week. Woot Woot!

Today I want to talk about time for a quick second. I feel like I'm so busy all the time juggling school work, my social life, this blog, keeping up with friends, volunteering, and trying to stay sane. I feel like I have no time in the world, but I don't know what else I would be doing with my time. I love everything that I am doing, but sometimes I don't get to spend as much time on things that really matter to me.

The blog. I've been loving posting here and sharing parts of my life, but I feel like I am not putting enough time that is needed into it. Here I am trying to write a blog post in the wee hours of the night after finishing my homework and not finishing studying for my test. I think my posts have so much potential and I lose some of that when I can't spend the time I really want to writing them. Sorry guys.

Time is precious. I also find myself running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. There are so many things that I have to get done that I never feel like I have time for myself or for the others around me that deserve it. Yes, I get to see my friends and hang out, but sometimes
I feel like I am unable to invest the amount of time I would love to in them. This includes my friends from back home. I love them to death, but trying to juggle new and old isn't always the easiest thing.

It has already been 11 weeks of school (I think, I'm being lazy and not fact checking myself, oops) and I feel like I have done so much, but I find myself feeling sad that my first semester of college is almost over. I ask myself so many questions like: Have I done all that I have wanted to? Have I gotten involved enough? Have I put myself out there? Have I made quality friends who I love? Have I had the freshman experience? Time seems to be flying by and I don't want to be stuck missing it. I don't want to look back and regret the time I didn't spend to it's fullest.

I finish this post at 1:47am wishing I had spent my time more wisely in studying for my test and writing this post. I know that my sleep has suffered and tomorrow may be a bit more of a struggle. I sit here thinking about the time I want to spend doing things I love with the people I love. My questions for you is: What do you do with you time? Do you spend it how you want to?

Thanks for reading! I have some amazing ideas for posts coming up, but I need to find the time to make them exactly what I have pictured in my mind. Bare with me and my college student lifestyle. I'm doing my best (I promise). See ya Thursday!