SNAPSHOT SUNDAY: THE END OF SUMMER

This time of year is always bittersweet. I will admit it is nice to get back into some sort of routine after a long summer. But summer. It's no secret I am in love with summer. It has come to a close, and it is time to accept all that comes along with the beginning of a new semester. We still many adventures. So before we really begin focusing on school, let me tell you about the memories I made at the end of summer.        

Girls Night // The girls are back, and life is good. It felt so good to have a girls night and catch up. Plus, catching up in a rooftop hot tub with a view of the Capitol in the background wasn't all that bad.

Chicago // I have only been twice (both times for the day), but I love it already. Hopefully one day I will get to spend some more time there. But I had a wonderful day with some of the girls exploring the city. From our cliche Bean pictures to walking around Navy Pier it was a day to remember.

Breakfast food // I love breakfast. I am convinced I could eat breakfast food for every meal and be content. If it weren't for pizza, I might try. The avocado toast is something I love making myself. The breakfast sandwich and potatoes are from a place called, Mickie's Dairy Bar. People have been talking about this place since I got on campus, and it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I finally went. I didn't even want to try something new the second time I went, because I liked this so much the first time. Then, in Minneapolis we went to a place called Black Coffee and Waffle Bar. My waffle had cream cheese frosting, strawberries, and whipped cream. Needless to say it was the best waffle I have ever had. 

Surprise Concert // When one of my roommates asked who Phillip Phillips was, I never imagined the conversation would end with, if you want to see him tonight go get free wristbands at the Union today.

The Great Minnesota Get Together // The 5 of us girls piled into my car and made the drive back to Minnesota for the State Fair and more fun. Three of us are from Minnesota, one is from around Chicago and the other is from Wisconsin. So we took turns showing our friends from out-of-town around the cities. We stuffed ourselves with Sweet Martha's cookies and other fun food on a stick at the State Fair. We snapped some pictures and walked around the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. And we shopped 'til dropped at the Mall of America. It was a weekend for the books. 

Kitten // His name is Tux. And I am in love. Apparently my brother just brought home a kitten a few weeks ago that he got from a friend, and now my family loves him. Only, no one told me about him. But if there is any surprise to come home to a tiny new furry friend is certainly a good one. They named him Tux, because he's black with white fur on his front side. But my little sister keeps calling him Sylvester. Whatever they want to call him,  I wish I could take him back to school with me. 

It's hard to believe that classes have started, and summer is over. Where did the time go? Now it's time to remember all the reasons to be excited to be on campus. I guess part of the reason I don't want the summer to end is, because the start of the semester marks the beginning of junior year. It's scary! Every year is that much closer to the "real world", and I have no idea what life right after college will look like for me. Hopefully the future includes copious amounts of breakfast food and a decent salary to pay for all of it. 

PLUGGED IN, TUNED OUT

As a college student, I frequently notice people walking around with their earphones around campus. Listening to music makes the everyday walk to class a little less banal. In fact, depending on the day's playlist it can be an entirely new experience. A few weeks ago, one of my favorite former professors guest lectured about music in my Survey of Contemporary Media class. At one point, he pulled up a video from the point-of-view of someone walking somewhere with earphones in. He rhythmically spoke about what the journey was like listening to music, even including a new song with the new day. The new song had a completely different tone and rhythm than the first one, showing how much music can affect our perception what we are viewing.

I would say many people choose to listen to music on their way to class for the same reasons you would listen to it in the car or at the gym. Listening to music is enjoyable, it makes things a little less boring, and it can change your mood. The trouble is the minute we plug in, we tune out the world around us. 

 The other day I was talking about it with one of my roommates and she noticed that when she was running without earphones she was able to take in the beauty of the scenery and appreciate it much more than when she was listening to music. She had little interactions with other people walking around in the same area. When she saw people with earphones in they were much more likely to be focused on one point, and it seemed like they were "in their own world" so to speak. 

Walking around campus, I see the same thing. Even sitting in a lecture hall before class I see a few people talking to those around them. Others are scrolling through one social media app or another on their smart phones. And still others are plugged in, sometimes tapping a foot or nodding their head along to the beat. 

Don't get me wrong, I am not against technology. And I am certainly not anti-music. I love listening to music, and I think it is really a neat concept that we can bring it essentially anywhere we go. However, I cannot help but think about what we might be missing by being so plugged in, and tuned out to the world around us. I think there is a time and a place for being plugged in. For some people listening to music can help them concentrate on certain tasks, or it can help pass the time doing something boring. But the more we are engrossed in technology, the more we eliminate the chance for serendipitous moments. 

If you were to dig in to the archive of this blog, you might find that I am a huge proponent of serendipity. In fact, at one point I called this blog "A Series of Fortunate Accidents." When we are more interested in what is going on in the "twittersphere" than the real-world we miss out. One of my favorite quotes is "Enjoy the little things, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things."The seemingly small moments can make a big difference. What if the person you were sitting next to in lecture could have been a future relationship if you had to make awkward small talk that one day before class? Or what if you were supposed to meet your future best friend because you guys took the same route every day? And if you're thinking those moments wouldn't happen anyway, because you don't randomly talk to strangers, I challenge you to change that. 

Recently, I read an article called "Why You Should Always Talk to People in Elevators". The name intrigued me, because it seems like such a strange concept. Why would I talk to someone that I don't know and will only be in the same space as for such a short amount of time? By the end I was convinced, and I am determined to strike up a random conversation in an elevator, no matter how awkward it might be. My favorite part was, "I think we have to create situations that allow those unexpected opportunities to find us."

My challenge for you is to spend at least one week unplugged. By that I mean whenever you are out in public make a conscious effort to not have earphones in, try to avoid using your phone when you don't need to, and make an effort to have spontaneous conversations with people around you. Whether you are a college student, a business person, or a momma blogger I challenge you to make meaningful connections with the people around you. Let your battery recharge, while you spend a little extra time with the special ones in your life. Resist the temptation to see if anyone commented or "liked" your photo yet. Listen to the sounds of the buzzing city or the natural life around you. Serendipity might have a wonderful surprise for you if you give it a chance.

Life is beautiful. Enjoy it through your senses, not just through the filters you can select on your smartphone.

How's your week going so far?

How to Make the Most Out of the End Of Summer

Summer's End...Already?

For students August usually signifies the end of a much-needed break. It's usually not over right away, but you are already on the downward slope, and there is no slowing down from here. All of the things you want to do have to get done in August. Forgot you wanted to stay up all night having a Harry Potter marathon with friends? Now's the time to do it. Forgot you wanted to take a spontaneous road trip? Now's the time to do it. Forgot you weren't ready for summer to end? Now's the time to accept it. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but summer doesn't last for ever. However, it is not over yet (for most of us--sorry if it is for you). So take this time to really make the most of what is left.

We are close to halfway through August. I already move into my first apartment a week from this Saturday. Last year it seemed like something we only talked about, an imaginary future that would never truly arrive on our doorstep. But this is for real now. My roommates and I spent 2 hours delegating who would bring what last weekend over video chat, and I still can't believe we are actually moving in this soon. 

1. Summer Bucket list: It's never too late to make a tangible representation of what you want to do before summer's end. Maybe if you have it written out, it will make it feel more official, and you can hold yourself accountable for what you want to do. It might be easier to make plans at the last minute or overdose on Netflix, but if you have bigger plans for this summer, make them happen. 
2. Make Concrete Plans: Early June is the time to say "I am free whenever." Mid August is the time to say "I am available at 6:30 on Thursday. Make time for me." You don't want to miss out on your final days with friends you won't see for a long time because you couldn't coordinate schedules. So make the time, and make sure you don't miss out. 
3. Live in the moment: Yes, summer is almost over. But it is not over, so don't count it done and spend every second obsessing about what Fall will hold. Of course Autumn is filled with wonderful things, too--for many it's big sweaters, Pumpkin spiced anything, or football season. These are all things to look forward to, but it is not time for that yet. Appreciate the sunshine and warm weather while we have it. 
4. Take Advantage of End of Season Sales: But don't go crazy. What you like now might not be the same by the beginning of next summer. So be cautious, but there are plenty of end-of-summer sales that are filled with wonderful items at a great price. I know I said "live in the moment", but in terms of shopping, that's usually not a good idea. After all, if I purchased everything my heart desired at that moment, I would be as much debt as my credit card limit allowed. 
5. Have a lazy day: Forget everything I just said for a moment, and take a day off. Save all of the stuff I just mentioned for all of the other days of summer, and take one day to do absolutely nothing. You deserve some time to yourself to be a beach bum or even lounge around the house. For those over-productive types this can be the hardest one on the list. If you feel like you always have to be doing something, relaxing can be incredibly challenging. You're thinking, The lazy bird didn't catch the worm--or something like that. But sometimes your body just needs to be at rest. A day off will leave you feel refreshed and give you the energy to conquer anything you want to get done when you get back to work. 

She’s More than a BFF; She’s the BPIEM

Full disclosure: there are multiple people I could call best friends. But there is only person that I can say is the Best Person I’ll Ever Meet.

She’s the first friend I made when I came to Pilgrim Lane Elementary in April of first grade. She’s the one that knows all of my secrets and aspirations. She’s the one that I can always count on.

I don’t know if we would become friends if we met today. Part of me says that of course we would become friends because we are best friends. But we are also such different people that we probably wouldn’t be as close as we are now if we hadn’t known each other for nearly ten years.

Meet Grace:

Favorite Color: Purple (Like JB)

Favorite Guy: JB (And Zac Efron. And that guy Liam from One Direction. The List could go on)

Animal: Kangaroo (She still has one that I drew her on her wall in her room from 8^th grade)

Talent: Fashion—She is the best dressed girl at her high school. Without a doubt.

Sport: Cheerleading

Miscellaneous: She is the best friend anyone could ask for.

Despite our differences, being best friends has made us more like each other. Being friends with her has made me more girly. And she told me that being friends with me has made her a better person. She said, “I think I would have been a trouble maker, but you are such a goody-goody.” It was the first time I was ok with being called a goody-goody. She’s also the only person over 5-years-old (that isn’t a member of my family) allowed to call me Tay-Tay. You make exceptions for the people you care the most about.

For the past ten years we have been able to tell each other anything and everything. It’s almost like we’re married. Through sickness and health (and many stupid boys) we have always been there for each other. We really do have a best friend kind of marriage. We’ve already planned our lives together.

We will live in Medina but have large boats on Lake Minnetonka. We’ll have a boat for the day time and a boat to have parties on in the night time. We will live next to each other and at least one of us has to have a porch. In our twenties, we will both have great careers. Then will settle down and have kids. And they will be best friends too. When we are in our eighties, our husbands will be inside yelling at the TV, and we will be on the porch.

We have the future all planned out, but our past is just as much a part of our story as will be our future.

Our Playlist:

• “Count On Me” Bruno Mars
• “Down” Jay Sean (One night in the beginning of 9^th, we couldn’t stop playing it)
• “2012” Jay Sean
• “Moves Like Jagger”(That time the guy in the next car started laughing at her dancing)
• “One Time” Justin Bieber (How she discovered him before he was popular and we watched this video over and over and over again.)

Meeting Grace was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. As she likes to remind me, I think everything happens for a reason (Don’t take that too literally). What I mean is that I believe in serendipity. And meeting her was the greatest serendipitous moment of my life.

     I hope you know you can always Count On Me. 

"Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along."

(A quote from Bride Wars that describes our friendship)