NO ONE KNOWS WHAT CHEESE CURDS ARE HERE

There's a lot I didn't know before moving to Florida. For instance, did you know that despite being called the Sunshine State, it rains pretty much every day for about half the year? Didn't know that? Funny, neither did I before moving down here. And we're not talking about a little sprinkle in the afternoon. We're talking about trees down, aggressive lightning, and flooding on the roads so bad sometimes that you might as well just commit to life as a hermit because you don't want to be caught in the massive puddles.

Okay, so that last part was a little melodramatic. But in all seriousness, I thought I moved to Florida, not Seattle.

Moving to a new place both excited and scared me. It was something that I had wanted to do a for a long time, but I knew that it would make the transition into adulthood even more challenging. The move meant a new start--a fresh start--but it also meant starting from the beginning.

It meant making new friends, learning how to navigate a new city, and figuring out who I was when I was completely alone. With no one to fall back on, I was forced to start learning how to live on my own. That part was a little scary.

But what I never expected was how much I would miss home.

Now, over the last four years, I've had two homes: Minneapolis and Madison. It only took being away from both to realize how much love I have for them.

No one knows what cheese curds are here. I didn't even eat cheese curds that often in Wisconsin, but I never realized that they were a concept people in other parts of the country didn't understand. The other night I found myself struggling to explain a concept that I've understood since I was a little kid. It's just a curd of cheese??

The Humidity is killer. Honestly, if you've never been to Florida in August, you don't even really know what humidity is. Imagine walking into a sauna every time you set foot outside. There's no relief. Your only choice is to stay inside in the A/C. Even the ocean and pools usually don't cool you down that much because they get so hot. At least up north, even on a hot day, when the sun goes down, so does the temperature. Here, you can walk outside at 2 AM and it's almost as humid and sticky feeling as it was at 2 PM.

People drive like maniacs here. Slow down there, Vin Diesel. We're just trying to get to work, not film Fast and Furious 9.  And don't even get me started on how the older people drive here. I cannot even imagine what it is going to be like "in season" (when all the "snowbirds" come down).

I've become 77% sand. It's everywhere. My car is covered. My flip-flops have to stay outside. You can't escape it.

There's no Caribou here. And it's a serious problem -- not for my bank account. But sometimes a girl just wants a good cup of joe.

My 7-year-old sister keeps asking why I can't come home, and it's breaking my heart. When my little sister first asked why I moved to Florida, I told her it was because I got a job here. Her response? "There are jobs in Minnesota too. You could work at Target, Dairy Queen...." If only she understood why her big sister couldn't be satisfied serving Blizzards and Dilly Bars. The other day she said, "Don't you want to be with me?" That girl really knows how to tug on the heart strings.

I'm going to miss the Minnesota State Fair. And that means I can't eat my weight in Sweet Martha's cookies and Fresh French Fries, and that's a huge problem. The Great Minnesota Get Together is one of my favorite times of the year.

I miss the city. I really took for granted how much there was to do in Madison and Minneapolis. Bored in Fort Myers? Well, I guess I'll go to the beach again? Not that I'm complaining about going to the beach. I will gladly soak up some sun while everyone up North is huddle around the fire in their parkas.

 Lauren, Becky, Taylor, and Shelby ( at 17) in line for the concert of our lives outside Fine Line Cafe

But more than anything, I miss my friends and family. Yes, I have made friends here, and I'm so lucky to have them. But sometimes you just want to sing Anna Sun in your car and know that your friends are there to harmonize and reminisce about that time that you discovered one of your favorite bands. I miss watching movies with my parents, and freaking out over Big Brother with my little brother. And my mom's cooking. Boy, do I miss my mom's cooking. And Grandma's baking.

All right, before I get too sentimental, I better remind everyone why I'm here. As much as I miss Minnesota (and Wisconsin), I know that I'm where I'm supposed to be. After all, this blog was founded with the goal of inspiring other people to pursue their passions. So, here I am showing you that it's possible.

Four years ago, I wrote a post right before college wondering if I could really make it happen. Could I actually make a career out of writing?

This is for 18-year-old Taylor.

WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A BIG AGE GAP BETWEEN SIBLINGS

Anyone who knows me knows that I adore my little sister. Of course I love my other siblings and the rest of my family. But not much compares to the special bond that I have formed with this sweet little girl, and I think our 15-year age difference has made us even closer. 

We are less likely to fight. 

First of all there are a lot of things that we don't have to worry about fighting over. We can't steal each other's clothes, friends, or boyfriends. She has pretended to steal one of my shirts before, though. I almost let her keep it, because it was so adorable for her to even try to pull that. Every once in a while she will try to pick a fight, but it usually just consists of her telling Mom that I am a "meanie" because I would do something like get her ice cream at that very second. 

I get a mini-me. 

Today I pulled out my computer to work on blog stuff while we were watching TV. Before I knew it, she was plopped down next to me with her toy computer. She put her tiny hand on my knee, and even said, "I'm copying you." They say mimicry is the highest form of flattery, don't they? She kept stealing glances at me to see how I had changed my posture, and she would laugh every time I did--even if what I was laughing about when right over her head. It's a pretty incredible thing influencing a kid this way. It makes you feel pretty special. 

Childhood basically never ends.

So maybe playing toys isn't exactly my idea of a good time. But seeing the light in her eyes when we do play is definitely worth it. My favorite is when she starts to imitate things that she has obviously heard an adult say before. Even when she was two-years-old she would say things playing with dolls that I had heard my mom say to her before. It's so cute to see what really sticks with them and how they re-use it in their own way. Plus, having a little sister means I have an excuse to watch the movies and TV shows that I grew up on again. Someone at work once pointed out that every time we were talking about Spongebob I would always say, "I was watching this one with my little sister, and ..." So what if that little yellow sponge still cracks me up? It's great bonding time with sister. 

It makes me realize I don't want my own children for a very long time. 

I don't understand how people my age have babies--I mean I get how it happens. Obviously the stork got lost on his way to a nice older married couples house. But really, I am so far from being ready to take care of a baby, and having a little sister at this age has been so eye-opening to really how much of a responsibility a child is. As much fun as my little sister is, she whines, cries, and pleads for constant attention--and toys! I could not handle a child right now. I have a hard enough time stressing over things like study abroad and what color I should paint my nails next. Thank God for my little sister. 

She made my dreams come true. 

B.S. (Before Sydney), I prayed for a little sister for years. I cried both times my parents told me that I was going to have a brother. I spent countless hours trying to persuade them to try again or adopt me a sister. Once I even asked my mom if she was lying to me all these years, hoping that I had a twin that they had to give away for mysterious reasons. I would dream about what my little sister would be like, resenting my brothers for their gender, because I so hopelessly wanted a little sister.  I even tried to dress them up as a girls a few times. When my mom first found out she was having another baby, I was furious. I was fourteen, and I knew our lives would change forever. I told her that if it was another boy, I was moving out*. But finding out she was a girl was one of the best days of my life. Since then, some of my best memories of her include the first time she told me that she loved me, and the time she told me that I was her best friend. 

1 year ago!

I love this little girl more than words can express. It has been such a privilege to watch her grow up, and change so much. I can't believe she is already 5-years-old--or that I have a sister that is 5-years-old. Happy birthday, little sis! (Even though she won't be able to read this for a few more years...) 

*Admittedly, that was a bit melodramatic. 

**The two in the picture above are not my only siblings! But that was one of the best recent pictures I could find demonstrating the age gaps. 

What kind of relationship do you have with your siblings? 

13 THINGS I LEARNED HALFWAY THROUGH COLLEGE

After my first semester of college I wrote a post called, "10 Things You Learn At College." It was the first time that I saw a post really take off. To this date it is still one of my top-viewed blog posts. Looking back on it makes me laugh a little bit. I still believe in everything that I said, but in a short time my life is completely different than it was then. So since I am about halfway through college now (I still don't fully believe this), I decided to check in and share what else I have learned.

1. What you learn outside of the lecture hall can be just as important. Not to sound too cliché, but you learn a lot about yourself in college. You learn from the people that you surround yourself with and the experiences you have with them, and these lessons help you grow as a person.

2. Living in an apartment is very different than living in dorms. Yes, you had your freedom in the dorms--away from your parents that is. But life after the dorms is a whole other game. Welcome to land of cooking and buying your own toilet paper.

3. It's not always about the grade. It can be difficult to accept a lower grade if you are someone who is used to getting straight A's. Sometimes the most valuable lesson is learning to not overwork yourself just to get the A.

4. Sometimes you need to dance in the rain. A while ago at work, someone said they needed to pull me out of my shell more. It's something that I have been trying to work on. In general, I would say that I am a pretty outgoing person, so I have been trying to be more social--accepting invitations to grab a meal with coworkers on break or joining the conversation when we have downtime. But I have a tendency to hold back a little. As I was walking back from the gym earlier, I realized that sometimes you just have to let go. You have to stop thinking about what other people are thinking or what they could think. This is definitely easier said than done, but you can bet that I will continue to break out of my shell and that I totally danced in the rain all by myself just because I could.

5. The calendar doesn't expand just because your schedule does. I always say I wish there was more time in the day. But I know I would only fill it with more activities. Be careful not to overload your schedule, you will soon regret it if you do.

6. Eat the ice cream. I love ice cream, and I am not ashamed of that. Sometimes I think society makes us feel like we need to be embarrassed about eating things that are bad for us or that we need to have excuses about why we didn't get to the gym that day. I work hard to be healthy--both mentally and physically. And I won't let one get in the way of the other.

7. Coffee habits are really easy to form. At the end of the school year I felt like I wouldn't survive if I didn't get my daily dose of caffeine. Good sleep is so important! I know it isn't always possible to get that ideal 8 hours, but beware that you can quickly become dependent on that cup of Joe.

8. FOMO* is so real. The first thing that comes to mind is the title of Mindy Kaling's book, Why is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Maybe that has to do with the fact that I am obsessed with The Mindy Project right now, but is also super relatable. Sometimes your friends are going to be doing something fun, and you won't be able to join them--but you will be tempted to.

9. If a guy/girl is not putting in any effort, he/she is not worth it. Your time is valuable. And if someone likes you, they should respect that. If they want to see you, they will make the time and they will put in effort to make real plans with you. I've liked plenty of guys. In fact, sometimes I think I fall in love every other day.** But that doesn't mean that I am going to settle for uncertain plans or hoping that a guy will want to "hang out" because going on a date is too much of a "commitment".

10. Your parents did a lot more than you ever noticed. After living in my own place for almost a year now, I have become so much more appreciative of everything that my parents did. They always made sure I was fed, and that I had clean clothes. But they also washed the kitchen floors and cleaned the showers. When someone isn't around to do these things for you, you quickly notice.

11. Acting your age is overrated. So you are legally an adult now, that doesn't mean you always have to act like it. There is a time and place to act grown up. But sometimes it's okay to act silly and have a little fun.

12. Forget about the little things. Don't get bogged down in the details. Being annoyed and bitter is really easy, but being happy is way more satisfying.

13. People will come and go. It has always been hard for me to grasp that some people are only meant to be in your life for a certain amount of time. There have been people that I considered really close friends that I don't even talk to anymore. It's a shame, and sometimes I miss having those friends. I think of those people as long-term guest appearances. And the people that stick around are the regular cast members. Watch out for those people: chances are they are pretty special.

What have you learned so far outside of the classroom?

Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll do another version of this post when I graduate.

*Fear of Missing Out
**This isn't real love. The only guy I have ever really loved is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. But since he's off the market now, I am trying to keep an open mind--or rather, an open heart.

LESSONS FROM DAD

Some of my best memories with my dad involve late-night food runs, just the two of us. Having that one-on-one time with him, even if it was just over a little meal, was special. Sometimes it was just because he saw a taco bell commercial, and other times it was a chance for spontaneous father-daughter time.

Once in high school he brought me to Perkins at midnight, because he knew I was upset over a boy. And he gave me the best advice, reminding me that it was better to have a bunch of guy friends instead, because there's no one to be jealous if you have other guy friends. Of course that advice simultaneously accomplished his fatherly duty of encouraging me not to date until I was at least 25 (sometimes it was 40). But through these late night talks and 18 years under his roof, I have learned so much from my dad.

Here are just a few of the many lessons I have learned from him:

1. Have confidence. 

Growing up I always envied my dad's confidence. When he walked into a room, he walked in like he owned the place--and not in an arrogant overly-self assured way. He is the kind of person that can talk to anyone, no matter the situation, and 99% of the time he is making them laugh. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be like that, and I continually aspire to be as charismatic as he is.

2. Be outgoing. 

My dad taught me to have a firm handshake. He said first impressions mean a lot, and a handshake can say a lot about a person. This one goes hand-in-hand with having confidence, because if you think about it being outgoing is really showing others that you have the confidence to engage with them and really communicate. He also taught me leadership through this, which has taken me a long way already.

3. It's okay to be silly.

As a kid I always thought it was embarrassing that my dad was so silly around my friends and when we were in public. But he always managed to make people laugh, and even friends that only met my dad one time would tell me how funny he was.

4. Do not care about what other people think.

Caring about other people think limits you. If you are constantly worried about what other people think, you aren't being yourself. So if my dad wants to act like he's five or talk in an accent that doesn't actually exist for a while, I'm going to support him. What's that one quote, the people that matter won't mind, and the people that mind don't matter? It's true.

5. Find humor in every situation.

Sometimes it frustrates me when I feel like he isn't taking something seriously or tries to make a joke out of everything. But one of my goals for this year has been to stop taking life so seriously. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and being able to find humor in any situation makes the hard times a little easier.

6. Hard work produces results. 

My dad has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen. He is one of the best in his field, and I can see why. Very few people have the dedication and commitment to work as hard as my dad does. It is part of what makes him the best. He knows what it takes to be a successful businessman, and he has the personality to make things happen. Every once in a while, I hope he remembers that it is okay to take a break, and not stress so much about how business is going.

7. Sometimes you have to do things you don't like so that you can do things you do like.

Whenever I am frustrated with a job or school, he reminds me that I am doing this now so that I don't have to do it later. He taught me to be ambitious and have big dreams. But even at your dream job, you are not going to like every second of what you are doing. So he showed me how special the times you are doing what you enjoy can be when you put in the work to make those times possible.


Well, here I am a little teary eyed in a Starbucks by one of the most beautiful places in Madison, because I miss my dad. I needed to go away for college--it has been good for me. But sometimes I can't help but stop and think about how much I miss our talks or when we watch movies together.

And Dad, I know you urged me to pursue a career in science, but don't forget you sparked my love for movies and television. Maybe one day one of the many shows you DVR will be something I worked on. I promise to take everything you have taught me with me wherever I end up and in whatever I end up doing with my life. More than anything, I want you to know how grateful I am for everything you do, and how lucky I am to be your daughter. I love you, Padre.

Happy Father's Day!
Daughtré

10 THINGS TO THANK MY MOM FOR ON MOTHER'S DAY

When I was little, my mom told me that one day I would want to leave and go live somewhere else on my own. I told her that I was certain that day would never come, because I loved my mommy and daddy so much. Sure enough, she was right--as always. The day came, and they dropped me off at college. Unfortunately, this will have to be my second Mother's Day apart from you, because of school.

I wish more than anything that I could be there with you today, but since I cannot, here are a few things I want you to thank you for:

1. For always believing in me.

I have had big dreams from a young age. I bounced around from saying I wanted to be everything from an actress to a doctor, and you always made me feel like I could do whatever I wanted.

2. For never holding it against me when I was wrong.

I will be the first to admit that I was wrong plenty of times. But you taught me to take responsibility for when I was wrong, and we could never be mad at each other for long.

3. For wanting to fight my battles for me.

Thanks for always listening to me rant, and helping me learn how to deal with frustrating people.

4. For teaching me manners.

All of my friends parents used to comment on my manners when I was little. Even at work the other day I was complimented for having such good manners.

5. For showing me what it means to be a good person.

You taught me what it meant to have a big heart, and you continually teach me how to deal with people that try my patience.

6. For supporting me all the way.

You supported me when I was in 4th grade and wanted a guitar, keyboard and drum set, because I was convinced my friends and I were going to start a band. You supported me when I decided I wanted to play basketball and quit dance, even though you wanted me to be a dancer. And you supported me coming to my dream school, instead of staying near home. You have no idea how much that means to me.

7. For sacrificing for me.

I know how much you have sacrificed for me and for my siblings, and I am forever grateful to have a mom that gave up so much to be with us and raise us.

8. For always being there.

Whenever I need you day or night, you are always there. Through finals freak outs and tears shed over boys, you always know how to make me feel better. Even after you had gone to bed the other night, you called me back, because you were worried. And being able to talk things through with you made all the difference.

9. For giving me confidence.

I always think it is funny when you say that you were shy when you were younger, because you and Dad have given me so much confidence. You have built me up and taught me to believe in myself. You have given me the courage to go after what I want, and to have confidence in my actions and decisions.

10. For loving me unconditionally.

Our thing has always been "I love you to the moon and back", "I love you more." I love you to the moon and back, Mom.