Packing for School

I don't know about anyone else but I love the idea of packing. Packing itself, not so much. I go back to State College in 12 days. Yes there is a GIANT countdown and I do not want to be at home anymore. That being said I decided to start packing today and realized...no I'd be ok leaving all my stuff at home.

I mean, I have all my arts and crafts to pack, do not make fun of the friendship bracelets, crayolas, or bedazzling supplies, cords and chargers for every last electronic, and clothes.

So far I've tackled my dvds.

That's not exactly saying a lot...I never unpacked them from last semester.

So between deciding on how many pairs of black flats to bring and printing out all my favorite pictures from freshman year for my collage I'm a little stressed out by packing. Not to mention that my car goes from clean (or cleanish) to overflowing in about two seconds.

Three Must Haves for Theme Parties

What's awesome about college is those theme parties (like westerns, princess, and pirate) which may have seemed childish in the past are now AWESOME. I even had a friend go to a lumberjack party. You try and find something that's slutty and flannel...yea, pretty rough. But, when it comes to dressing like people from a mental institution, us college kids win.

Every weekend it is inevitable, one of my friends will be looking for something for a theme party and all of us scramble to look for things that will make the perfect outfit and week after week these three things will come in handy.

1. The Black Leggings

An opaque pair of black leggings will become your new best friend. Anything from an 80s party a graffiti could use these, they are ideal for warmth in the winter and making sure all your bits are covered.

2. Scissors

Scissors are always helpful, they can turn something from masculine to feminine, just by a neckline drop and are always useful for toga adjustments.

3. The Guy Friend With An Open Closet

Oh yea, he's the most important. If it's super bowl weekend, he's lending you a jersey, going to a risky business party? Hello button down! And that highlighter party you need a giant white shirt for? He's got it! Never underestimate his closet when shopping for a theme party. And don't forget, boys tend to have random trash for ABC parties!

So what are your favorite theme parties? I have a love for all things messy so I enjoy highlighter parties and graffiti parties the most!

The College Hookup

The college hookup is now so common, we're starting to be a part of what's called the hookup culture! I am definitely a bit of a drunk kisser. Some people dance, some people sing, well, I kiss people I think are cute. Or sometimes...I'm so drunk I would think a door knob is sexy, but I'm a big bad sophomore now, things are changing and I'm growing up. But honestly, is this acceptable? I know you all have done it, don't lie, because in television and movies, even those songs we're all bumping and grinding to, advertise this action and have made it seem acceptable. One night stands and walks of shame (or strides of pride, pick your poison!) are regularly observed on any given weekend at universities across the country.

When I first started school, we all went to frat parties. None of my friend group knew any cool, older kids with apartments that were having way cool and more mature parties so we trekked up Shortlidge, across Beaver Ave, and made it frat row in tiny dresses and big heels. Here, there were dark, sweaty, smelly dance floors and lots of people having that well known dance floor make out. I have indulged in my fair share of these but when this happens, I usually end up regretting it and feeling like a mega-whore. Not so awesome sauce.

I've never actually done more then make out with these random strangers but it doesn't matter, it still makes me feel a little dirty, which is why I now try to avoid it. Although, occasionally, tequila leads me down a deep dark path, but what can I say, Jose and I are grand amigos.

So, starting in October of my freshman year, I began knowing people having those elusive apartment and house parties. To me and many of my friends it seems wrong to be hooking up in another person's house, especially when most of the people in attendance will somehow be in your circle of friends and can make future parties extra awkward.

Starting my sophomore year, I'm banning the list my friend and I made soap opera star famous, tallying our hookups, trying to make it more fun, and I'm banning the random hookup, unless of course, Jose tells me its ok!

Coloring Day: Aladdin and Jasmine take on Avatar

Sunday is coloring day. I tend to need a creative release and usually there's nothing going on so I watch really crappy television, today it was America's Next Top Model on Oxygen, to bide my time until True Blood is on.





Yea, I've got mad skills with those crayolas.
Have a happy Monday y'all!

College Addictions

No, I don't mean the drug kind. I'm talking about things that outside of the Penn State community, or even just your friend group, would seem ridiculous. Honestly, we're all arranging our schedules around something but for me and my friends, wow there are a lot.

Football: My friends and I camp out before games just to get the best seats in Joe's house. To my parents and high school friends this seems crazy, especially that game when they shut it down due to snow...but to me, this is life, I'm close to action, and that tricky ESPN camera. I know almost every player, not just by number, but by face, game stats, personal lives, and I heavily follow recruiting. But if you didn't like this, you wouldn't go to Penn State.

Blue Guy: Just something my friend Kirsten learned about in high school as the manager of her wrestling team. It's a Kool Aid mix in that comes in a tub in the Blue Raspberry Lemonade variety, and it is a college kid's savior. This thing gets me through hangovers, late nights, and big exams.

The Price is Right: My roommate and I used to run back to room after our classes ended to catch The Price is Right (I know, not as good with Drew Carey) but this show is the shizzle.

Checking Dining Commons Menus: It's almost a game to find the Dining Hall with the best food for the night, or at least the most appetizing.

Glee: Theater kids unite, awesome songs, hot boys,'nough said.

Fratmusic.com It's guaranteed to be playing in my room before I go out at night and always has the newest and best music along with ones you forgot about but love to dance to. I am actually banned from this website from Monday through Thursday afternoon as I will try to start partying too early with this music!

Coloring: Do you have writers block on that 10 page paper? I'm sure you do, but all you need is a Disney Princess coloring book and a box of 120 crayons from Crayola, all your worries will melt away.

Seriously, try explaining these to Mom and Dad on that call you give them once a month. Or don't. They might cut you off!

Sugarland vs B.o.B. and Travie McCoy

Anyone who knows me knows about my extreme differences in my taste in music. I love Broadway musicals, pop, rock, rap, and country. Luckily the Bryce Jordan Center gets a pretty good mix of artists, and of course, Penn State gets to see some pretty awesome acts every year. August 31, B.o.B of Airplanes fame and Travie McCoy, former Gym Class Hero, will grace the stage and then three days later, Sugarland will be in town and I luckily have tickets to both.

I know when I go to a concert my anxiety is usually on what I will wear. I'm a baby fashionista, without the funds to pay for a designer wardrobe and the energy to be constantly in style, when in the sight of celebs, I want to look my best.

But how the heck can I go from hip hop princess to country girl in three days? Simple! I'm just going to be myself!


top by Wilster: You can buy it on ebay!, jeggings by Gap, shoes by Steve Madden

For me, I want to look cute, this music is all about parties and driving with the top down, so why not flaunt the end of summer with an off the should top, jeggings, and wedges? Because as Travie McCoy says, "We are young, we are free, stay up late, we don't sleep, got our friends, got the night. We'll be alright."

Then, on Friday night, it'll be time to get down country style and show that, I may be from the boonies, but I still have style!

Sugarland has always been my heart sick music, when I feel in love, or feel like I've been hurt, the lead singers voice can soothe me, no matter what my mood might be.

September 3, All I Want To Do (oo oo oo oo) is Jam to you Sugarland!


Tops by Abercrombie and Fitch, Jean shorts by Hollister, Boots by Tony Lama

I'll be rolling full on country style for these musicians, and you can never go down with a button down and classic cowboy boots!

I hope some of you guys scored tickets to these concerts, if so what are you wearing?

To My High School Self

I came to college as an only child thrown into a pool of people I didn't know. Not one person from my high school had decided to go to my college. Sure there were two other people at Penn State who had graduated ahead of me, but I had never talked to them, and the one other person I knew was a senior, and she would only be there for first semester. I don't have any siblings or older friends who really explained college and the collegiate lifestyle to me, I went in blind. But, because of this, I have truly evolved into a new person and have realized that I now know thins I wish I had known in high school.

To my high school self:

Be Yourself! I know you grew up with the people you graduated with, and allowing yourself to be who you really are would rock the boat and that may be uncomfortable for a bit, just trust me, you will be so much happier.

Girl, you have to study! I know facebook is calling, trust me, do I ever, and so are those free on demand movies we get from the cable but seriously, school comes first. You don't know how much these study skills will come into play further down the road, and college midterms and finals are so much easier if you already are in the groove. And those classes will probably be easier because you may know the information from high school!

Do your best! You may not be the most athletic, the best artist, or an award winning singer, but honey that does not mean you don't have to try. Enjoy participating in these opportunities now, it's a whole lot harder to fit everything in in college. Sure, you can join an IM team or audition for a play, but the time commitments are a lot more but you might have to be an art major to take that photography class and a club team travels, all over the place, like you have time for that, the horse and an 18 credit course load.

Appreciate your parents. Yes, I know, they get horribly annoying but you won't get to see them much in the next four years, let alone the rest of your life. In college and in life, they can be both a blessing and a curse. In college, there's no one to cook your dinner for you, ask you what you could desire, or do that never ending mountain of laundry. You can have the most awesome friends in the world but no one will ever love you as unconditionally and without pause as your parents. And just so you know, sometimes that phone call to mom is going to be the only thing to push you through a 10 page paper, a naked roommate, or your freshman 15, plus she might even wire you some money just for making contact!

Take every opportunity possible. Remember that awesome trip to Mexico your high school ran junior year? And they needed one more person? What was two weeks? In college, it's a little hard to jaunt off to Mexico for two weeks, you have to apply for a program and take classes, not to mention all the tests, papers, football, and friends waiting for you when you get back on campus.

Have fun now. This is your life! Live it!

Spring Break At Home

Spring Break, you called to me in the midst of my midterms. Night after night spent studying, writing papers, preparing presentations, you reminded me there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Friday was spent in anticipation of the relaxing week spent lying about, catching up on TV shows missed, home cooked meals, a comfortable bed, and showers with water pressure. Instead, I was immediately reminded as to why I went to college in the first place.

At my house, a free week with nothing to do means free slave labor. Whether it’s grocery shopping, cleaning, letting workmen into the house, doing laundry, or running errands, I am up at seven am required to be helping my mother, because I obviously have nothing else to do and don’t do anything at school.

As an only child, I am kept on a short leash. I have a curfew, a curfew that definitely leaves no time for real fun. I also live in Nowheresville, USA. This means there is absolutely nothing to do. I may not live too far from another college, but my friends who attend that university, do not really have time to cater to my week of nothing. Which is probably a good thing, because convincing my attention starved mother that I should socialize with people my own age is like pulling teeth. Penn State schedules their spring break so helpfully, only one of my friends is not in school. And, like myself, her parents are of the opinion that a week at home means a week of just parental/child attention and bonding time.

I do love my parents. I do! But if I have to play one more round of scrabble, I might have to drive back to Happy Valley and book myself a hotel room.

Movies and MTV tell us that spring break will be one of the most wild and crazy weeks of your life. Honestly, attending Penn State, I can’t really see that, but, as someone who went home, instead of heading off to a country with a lower legal drinking age, I am bored to tears.

Spring Break was made, maybe to give us a week free of responsibility, but it’s more of a hassle then a treat. I had to bring home books to study; I have midterms starting right up again next week. I had to figure out how to get home, when to get home, and pack a bunch of stuff to get home. I feel worthless, like I have no social life here, where as at school, it’s like I am trying to balance the multitude of things I have to do on the weekend. Also, I feel like my friends from high school don’t really understand anymore. They all went to schools that seem so different from Penn State, I feel bad for them, like they are missing out. Ultimately, I can already tell this week will be a letdown, other than the beautiful showers, well rested sleeps, unlimited laundry, home meals, and shopping trips with Mom. Ok so maybe it isn’t so bad.