Today

Some days you should just wake up happy that you get to do the things you love.

A Week of Highs and One Really Low Low

This was my first week of grad school and I'm already kind of in love with it. I'm a little bit stressed out, a little bit frazzled and tired, but I'm surrounded by so many great people at the writing center that I have no doubt in my mind that I'll make it through somehow relatively unscathed. The above pictures are of my own personal shelf and mailbox. I feel so official!

These pictures are of the consultant's office in the back of the writing center. I spend the majority of my time in this room with about ten other people. Somehow we all seem to fit comfortably. We work, we eat, we talk, we laugh, drink coffee, and walk to class in general swarms since we all take the same or very similar schedule of classes. We've even established weekly Thursday dinners since we all have a couple hours free before our night class.

I wore this ensemble on Tuesday. I ordered the skirt online from a little shop called "Style by Marina." She sells multiple colors and the tulle/silkiness of it all makes me feel like a bohemian ballerina. Plus, I'm rocking my Fool's Gold necklace from Target and a basic white tank from Old Navy. 

Wednesday night I was reading for my writing center class and I kept thinking, Man I could really use some ice cream right now. Well, my dad comes home later that evening (while I'm still reading) and throws me a pint of cotton candy Graeter's ice cream. Cotton candy wouldn't have been a choice I would've made but it tasted like Lucky Charms and had these little crunchy, sugary bits within so it hit the spot.

Also, I ordered this poster and frame separately for about $14. I love butterfly specimens (like, pictures of them, not actual dead butterflies). I love it now and I feel like it will fit in with the aesthetic of any place I move in the future. Woot!

On a sad note, a friend of a friend passed away on Wednesday, named Rachel. She's the sweet girl in the green sweater. Julie had always spoken so fondly of Rachel and never had a negative thing to say about her. Rachel was just the kind of person who could light up your life in the moments you spent with her, even if you didn't know her that well. Not even a couple of weeks ago, five of us girls went out for Shiraz and Comfy Cow ice cream. I remember Rachel ordered lamb at Shiraz and cookies 'n cream ice cream at Comfy Cow. We had each other laughing and found ourselves in our own personal conversations throughout the night. I honestly felt like it was the beginning of a really great friendship. How could you not fall in love with a spirit like hers?

When I found out about her sudden passing, I felt so shocked and confused. I could only imagine what Julie was going through, her having been very close with Rachel. It's been a difficult couple of days and every time I see someone post a new photo of her on Facebook, it's really hard for me to believe she's gone. 

A mutual friend of Rachel ran into Julie in the library on Thursday when we were on our way to lunch. Rachel had had such a tough time growing up that the girl asked, "God obviously kept her around for a reason... but why?" And thinking more on that, I realize that maybe people aren't supposed to be in our lives forever, but when they are for a little while, and when they are people like Rachel, they make you want to be a better person. Rachel's purpose was to prove to anyone who met her that pure kindness exists in the world and opening your heart is a good thing. I didn't have the chance to become as much of a friend as I wished I could have been, but she left a big footprint on my heart nevertheless. 

Life really is short. And sometimes we feel like we're invincible and we take people in our lives for granted. To anyone out there who reads this thing, I love you and hope that you are blessed with a long life and that you open yourself to the kindness that Rachel shared with the world for a short time.

Halfway Through the First Week

Yesterday was the first day of my Master's program. It was a pretty hectic day--a lot of running around but it was exciting to be back in the action.

I packed my lunch in my owl lunchbox.

I had an almond butter and grape jelly sandwich, fruit leather, string cheese, Goldfish, and Milano cookies because they're basically my weakness.

After running around from 2:30 to almost 6, I was finally able to take a breather and enjoy the outdoors. It was such a lovely day--highs in the upper 70's/lower 80's. Most first days of school are so hot you feel like you stuffed yourself in an oven over and over again. But yesterday? Just nice.

After seeing the signs outside the garage that read "LOT FULL" I was all but ready to throw in the towel. I circled back and saw a couple of cars leaving so I took my chance and got the world's most perfect parking space. It's on the third level and a stone's throw away from the tunnel (on the left) that leads to campus. I don't even know why this happened. I'm usually not this lucky. (I certainly wasn't today).

The Saturday before school started, I helped my dad pick out some clothes because he started training this past Sunday. We're both 'back in school' at the same time. Of course, it's not a proper shopping excursion until Starbucks is involved. And that furry thing is my dog.

Image above via Pinterest

I'm still really nervous about all of the things I'm required to do but I feel extremely blessed that so many intelligent people believe me to be fully capable of handling such tasks! It's been tiring, but I realize I'm not only going to school full time, I'm working too. But instead of having to commute two places, my school and work are in the same place! Another perk! By the way, this outfit was inspired by a Pinterest look. So therefore, I really am still pinning and doing. Woot!

Stay True

Today was my writing center orientation, my final orientation before the semester starts. I met so many great people and I'm excited to be working with them this year! Everyone is so friendly and we are all passionate about writing so it's kind of like getting a bunch of nerds together for a super-helpful convention. I have my own shelf and mailbox in the tutors' office... and that feels really cool. 

Oh, the iPhone mirror picture. Why do I keep taking these?

I'm super excited to start consulting in a few weeks and updating the Writing Center Facebook page and blog. The blog can be found here and the Facebook page is here. Like if you go to UofL, have gone to UofL, or just really like writing centers. There are always posts about tips for writers!

I was really excited about my bow clip today. Because I'm overly girly.

I have a couple more episodes of Breaking Bad to catch up on before Sunday, I finally got the rest of the yarn I ordered in the mail today (so I can finish my mustard scarf), went grocery shopping so I can pack my lunch for school, so all I really have left to do is wash my sheets. Julie and I are going to hang on Sunday because we've hung out the day before school starts every August since we met. It's just tradition and totally allows us to unwind and let out that big breath before the big semester starts. 

Also! A shout-out to Siobhan of Hello Flower for sending me an amazing list of albums to check out since August is one of my favorite times to start hoarding music. So far, I've really been digging James Yorkston, Fiona Apple's newest album (oh how I love Fiona!), Admiral Fallow and Beth Orton. I can't wait to see what else lies ahead! Thanks girl!

Stay true to yourselves.

Summer Playlist

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Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is just a breakup album. Fleetwood Mac and its various members have all dated, married, and divorced at some point and this album was made while they were in the passionate thrall of these disintegrating relationships and the pain they cause to let go. It's one of my favorite albums of all-time and my favorite from Fleetwood Mac (and I like Fleetwood Mac A LOT). This was on repeat all summer long.

I listened to My Morning Jacket's Circuital in preparation for the Forecastle Festival this year. In addition to this album, their newest, I listened to Evil Urges and my favorite from them, Z. I have a Forecastle playlist on Spotify that I would like to revisit sometime again soon because there were a lot of great artists there this year (and some I never knew about!).

I have an unashamed love for Jack White and his new solo album Blunderbuss. I first heard "Sixteen Saltines" and was totally unsure of how I felt. Upon hearing "Love Interruption," "Hypocritical Kiss," and "Missing Pieces" to name a few, I was pretty much like, okay, now I know why I will always love Jack White.

I'd listened to Neutral Milk Hotel before but not as intently as I have this summer with In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. It has become one of my favorite albums and I'm pretty much always in the mood to listen to it no matter what I'm doing. 

After seeing Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, I realized I needed to check out the soundtrack because I really enjoyed the music in it. Anyone who has seen the movie probably has an addiction or disdain for Metric's "Black Sheep." I'm addicted. The in-movie band wasn't so bad either and I appreciate a soundtrack with a heavy-Beck influence. 

I've also been listening to tons of Beck and Cake.

Summer Reading List

For those of you who are interested, last year I made a summer reading list to keep track of what I've read for leisure. The link for last year's post is right here. This summer was sort of slow on the reading front but I'm sure I'll more than make up for it this semester...

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I'd been wanting to read The Help ever since I saw (and loved) the film. I typically read books before I see movie adaptations but this was an exception. I didn't mind! It was nice to see the book go further than what the movie covered and I felt like I was left with a greater sense of confliction when I was finished reading--and I think great books do that. They make you feel something. Sometimes that leaves you unsettled and unresolved but then again, that's life.

Drop Dead Healthy was an interesting read. I like Jacobs' witty style and no-hold's-barred attempt to become the most fit in every aspect of his life, body, and mind. It read to me a bit more like a memoir rather than a how-to, which I was sort of expecting, but nonetheless it was an entertaining read.

Mailed to me from Oregon from my favorite professor, The London Scene was an unexpected delight. London and Virginia Woolf are like my two favorite things in the world. Combine them and you have a book that I will read in one sitting. The six essays in this collection are from magazine articles detailing London life by Woolf. It's a wonderful book for anyone who would love to compare early nineteenth century London to today (and just how much hasn't changed) or anyone who just loves the lyrical prose of Woolf.

I finally made it through the fourth Harry Potter book! I'm halfway done with the series! (And sort of embarrassed I couldn't commit to finishing the series this summer but alas...) So far, this is my favorite of the series because of the dark twists and turns. In the first three books, something big happened, but it all got resolved in the end. The Goblet of Fire leaves things wide open and I like knowing that things are never going to be quite safe (at least at Hogwarts).

I'd read The Perks of Being a Wallflower in high school but really just didn't take to it. I thought Charlie cried too much and that bothered me. I revisited it however since the trailer for the movie with Emma Watson came out. It was better the second time around, but still really cryptic, and Charlie really does just cry way more than any menstruating female watching The Notebook. But anyway, there are little gems of phrases here and there which make it worthwhile. 

The Minimalist Woman's Guide to Having it All was an e-book I purchased for $0.99! I gravitate towards a simple lifestyle in which you are only surrounded by things you find beautiful, things you love, or things you actually need and use. My style follows these principles quite a bit as I've realized I follow a simple/classic wardrobe built around neutrals. I just love wearing all beige. I don't know why. I'm weird. Anyway, Meg Woolfe is wonderful and has a really great Minimalist lifestyle blog here. There are a lot of helpful tips that can help you get rid of clutter that you've been holding on to out of guilt or "that one day."

I've also read bits and pieces of other things here and there... (I promise, I do read quite a bit more than it seems!)

Head & Heart

 Life has been really strange lately. I couldn't have ever imagined that this was how my summer would turn out but sometimes life surprises you and you have to roll with the punches. My boyfriend of a year and a half and I broke up a few weeks ago. We'd gone through a break, gotten back together, and struggled to make things work like they had in the past. I don't blame him for anything. He was a good boyfriend and a great person but sometimes people just aren't meant to be together forever. And it's not because of someone's need to feel miserable and wander the earth forever, taking on, like, a zillion sexual partners like the Bloomsbury Group, but rather something in their head and their heart. So from one blogger (or reader) to another, I am here to say I'm sorry for the hurt I've caused; the confusion; and to those of you who may still think of me as the bad guy, all I can say is that grudges really take a toll on your soul and it's better to just forgive and forget. I hold no grudges.

Beyond all of that, I've been knitting up a storm, hanging out with my friends, preparing for school, going to orientations, and I just finished season 4 of Breaking Bad on Netflix and it was a pretty explosive ending!

I have another grad school orientation to go to today and I'm excited to go because it puts me one day closer to actually immersing myself in academia. I feel like this feeling has been a part of my life for so long and it's something I trust. And if there's anything I've learned this year, it's to trust your heart. Even if that means letting go of things you care about.

Good luck and best wishes.

1+1=?

Today my mother told me that a telly program said that if you end a relationship out of boredom, you're really just bored with yourself. And yes, I just said telly because I wish I were British.

But seriously. I thought about it for awhile and I couldn't wrap my head around it. Who could've said such a quandary of a phrase? A relationship is sort of like 1 + 1 = 2. So obviously if you're bored with 2, then part of that must stem from one of the 1's. But if you were being adequately challenged by a significant other, wouldn't that excite you? Wouldn't it make it all worth staying? Or is it really just that you're so tired of yourself that you can't stand the thought of being around another person. Is that out of fear that your boring-ness will rub off on others? Is it just too embarrassing to face?

And what's not to say that your boredom will ever disappear? Are you doomed to an eternity of solitude because of it? Or is the theory in question, really just a bunch of bullshit, said by some person who hoped it would make them sound pensive and worldly?

My money's on the latter.