Words of Wisdom

The wise words of Tom Petty. I feel like this relates to everyone on a different level because freedom means different things to different people. To me, feeling free is feeling like I can openly express myself without fear of judgement. It's being able to pursue what makes me happy. To have every chance to be successful. I want to be in love with my life, free of fear. 

Where do I feel free? There are several places. Camp, at home with my parents, and in my warm bed are a few, but I want to work towards a state where that "somewhere" is everywhere. Freedom is a state of mind. My freedom can only be determined by myself and God.

Where do you feel free?

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

My Opinion on the "End It" Movement

Yay for controversy.

As many of you know, today many people who believe in the movement to end modern day slavery, specifically the End It Movement, are removing themselves from social media to honor those that have disappeared from slavery. I don't know much about this movement, so if you want information, Google is always at your service.

I've seen several criticisms of this as well as justifications. Most of the criticisms are founded in the fact that it's a movement started by Christians and was unknown before the Passion conference and that making a statement isn't actually "doing anything." Personally, I think that it is a cause worthy of attention, regardless of how the issue was brought to light. Yes, modern slavery existed before Passion, but it's still something that deserves to be brought into the forefront by any means that could make a change. It's not hypocritical to become passionate about a cause that was preexisting only after learning about its importance.

Those justifying this demonstration state that people will notice their absence from social media and will think about the implications of all the people that have disappeared due to slavery. They claim that this will help raise awareness. This has sparked criticism that the day is only so that people can feel like they're helping without actually doing anything. I feel this is justified to an extent, but the whole Kony deal made a lot of people jaded towards social justice movements on the internet. Educating people about a problem is a very important step in bringing about any sort of justice. If people don't care, then you can't do anything to bring progress. I also think that most of the people participating in this movement realize that not tweeting or updating Facebook for a day will not directly impact those affected by slavery. They generally do care about this cause and want to educate people about it.

In my opinion, however, silencing yourself to honor those affected might not be the best way to bring attention to your cause. Case in point, I have yet to look up a single thing about End It. Perhaps if my news feed was flooded with information and how I could help I might feel more inclined to get involved. I think that that's the important piece missing from this movement. Education is incredibly important, but at the end of the day it needs to lead a direct impact. In summary, I think that modern day slavery is an important cause and so is education about it, but this specific demonstration might not be the most effective.

So, if you're one of those that believes passionately in this, please tell me and everyone else what we can do to help!

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." -Julia Child

On Valentine's Day

I hate it.

I don't hate it because I've always been single on Valentine's Day and jealous of people that have significant others to share it with (though true story- I have never had a Valentine). I hate people's attitudes towards single folks like me on the rather pointless holiday. It's either a pitying attitude because we're "lonely" or an assumption that single on Valentine's automatically means bitter. I'm actually totally fine with the fact that I don't have a boyfriend this time of year. There's no pressure, and, let's be real here, I absolutely do not need a man to be complete in any way. I get it, love is important and special and it's nice to have a day celebrating it. At the moment, however, the love of my life is my Kindle.

What happened to elementary school when we made cute little mailboxes and passed out treats to the whole class? Let's go back to that. My box was always awesome and covered in stickers. And we got to eat about a thousand conversation hearts. That was the best. You gave one of those big cards that came in the box of Disney Princess valentines to your best friend and your teacher if you liked them. Boys were still icky. Though, I tried to tell my five-year-old cousin that boys were gross and she just shook her head "no."

So how am I spending my Valentine's Day? No, not burning Hallmark cards or posting a Facebook status condemning the holiday. It will be spent like any other day in college. I have a Biology test at five and a Women's Studies test Friday morning, so I get to study! Maybe I'll even pick up some discount conversation hearts on the fifteenth.

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Do small things with great love." -Mother Theresa 

Joy

It's so easy to get bogged down by things in life, especially in college. Tests, feelings of loneliness, the perception that everyone else has their life together, homework, trying to find a job, homesickness, and thousands of other worries can weigh us down to the point where we might be walking around with our own personal rain cloud over our heads.

But then there are moments that make everything seem clear. The birds begin to chirp as we stop raining on our own parade. We start thinking there are so many great things in life that we're not seeing.  We start considering how blessed we truly are.

Today I had one of those moments. My Political Sociology class let out twenty minutes early, and I had even more time to myself before my statistics test. I took this as a sign to slow down for a moment and enjoy the beautiful weather. I headed up through UGA's beautiful North Campus that I don't get to see much of, towards Starbucks downtown. As I walked I looked around at the gorgeous old architecture, the blue sky, people bustling past. I realized how fast I was walking and made an effort to slow down. Why was I in such a hurry? I listened to the fountain splashing and the serene silence as I passed the Law Library.

When I arrived at Starbucks, I treated myself to a vanilla latte and headed back to a grassy area on campus. I had intended to use this time to review my statistics notes, but I decided I was prepared enough and took out the book I've been reading. I read all the way through it's happy ending and I realized: this is the happiest I've felt in a while. I'm sitting in the sun, wearing shorts in February, with a coffee in hand reading a good book. I cannot imagine anything better at this moment.

There is such great joy in the little things in life, and I'm ashamed at how often I forget that.

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Today, I choose joy."

An Apology and Friday Five!

I'm sorry my blogging habits have been awful lately. To tell you the truth, I'm rather lacking in inspiration. I guess you would call this a "lifestyle" blog, and my "lifestyle" has been been rather boring lately. All I do is study and prep for camp (I know it seems early, but there's a lot to be done before our training weekends). So I need your help! What do you, my lovely followers, want to see more of?

Because I'm lacking in inspiration, this post is the same as most you see on Fridays: Friday Five!

1. I find out who the counselors in my camp coordinator group are soon! I'm so excited to get to know who I will be working with and leading this summer. We already know who is going to be counselors, but not their jobs and I'm just as anxious to find out as they are!

2. (Goes along with #1) I've been working on their "glitter," which is a pretty, cute letter leadership sends to their counselors to get them excited for summer, filled with glitter! I've been covered in green and silver glitter for about a week and probably won't get rid of it anytime soon. The other day I accidentally Mod Podged some glitter to my fingers.

3. It. is. cold. This southern girl cannot handle below freezing temps and freezing rain. There were about fifteen people in my first class that usually has forty. I'm already looking forward to curling up in my bed with my fleece blanket, hot tea, and Netflix. This has also made me determine that I cannot live anywhere up north. How are y'all dealing with sub-zero weather? I would refuse to leave my bed.

4. Speaking of Netflix, I've been making my way through Doctor Who lately and I am in love. I'm almost done with series four and it's so hard not to keep watching episodes when I should be studying! I definitely recommend it, even if you don't usually like sci-fi.

5. My new favorite study Pandora station is Ray Lamontagne. It is a beautiful, calm station that has played Dave Matthews Band, Mumford and Sons, Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, Tracy Chapman, and even more wonderful artists.

Happy weekend! Stay warm!

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Every person's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers." -Hans Christian Anderson

Emerald Inspiration

I know I'm a little late to the party, but I'm so excited that emerald is Pantone's color of the year! I have always loved green, and I think the darker shade of emerald is so classic and sophisticated. It's beautiful on everyone, especially pale Irish girls like me. I've put together a few of my favorite emerald finds.

Reiss boat neck dress, $180 / Seychelles slip on shoes / Michael Kors envelope clutch /Swell Caroline Beach jewelry / Essie $16  / Pantone

I need that dress and somewhere to wear it. ASAP. Someone take me to a fancy party?

Love and hugs, 

Blake

"Everyone deserves a chance to fly!" -Defying Gravity, Wicked

I Can See Clearly Now...

...but the rain is NOT gone! On this dreary day though, I got my first pair of glasses. I always thought you got glasses in second grade and wore them for life or had to get them at about forty, but sometimes in the middle of college you discovery you need them. I started noticing that if I read or looked at the board in class for a while, I had a harder time focusing my eyes and I would get headaches, so I made an appointment with an eye doctor. I only need them for reading and in class, but I'm about to wear them to trivia night at a pizza place because I feel smarter in them...shhh!

I think they look kind of cute! This was also earlier in the day before my hair poofed up from the rain.

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too." 

Pinsanity!

As those of you that follow me on Pinterest know, I'm a little addicted to pinning. It seems to be a common trait among the bloggers I follow! It's probably a good think that I'm only allowed to use my laptop in one class this semester, because I have such a bad habit of pinning in class. I use Pinterest to organize ideas for camp, blog ideas, school tips, fashion pieces I'd love to have, quotes (lots of quotes!), future dreams, and just other things I like. I pin almost everything!

Here are some of my favorite things I've pinned lately!

Huge list of career ideas for every major!  So great for someone like me that really has no idea what I want to do in life.

Cute throw pillows from Very Jane that are only $10 each!

Oia in Santori, Greece It's so beautiful!

I adore this Lilly Mug! I'm a little obsessed with flamingoes.

Perfect wake-up call for a Les Mis geek :)

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Find a beautiful place and get lost"

Hey Now, Hey Now...

If you just started singing, "This is what dreams are made of," we will get along.

I recently let y'all know that a dream of mine came true. I was asked to be a leadership counselor at the camp I work at. I had a wonderful weekend with the rest of our camping system's leadership team at our "counselor selection" that we helped facilitate. There are so many wonderful applicants and I can't wait to see who is offered a job! At the end of the weekend, we found out what exactly our jobs were, and I was over-joyed to find out that I will be the crafts and "special interest program" coordinator this summer!

Me and the rest of the coordinators!

I'm so beyond excited to start preparing for camp! But this has also made me think of some of my other dreams I'd like to accomplish.

1. Write a book | This has been a dream of mine since I was a small child. Blogging has caused me to rekindle my love for writing, so maybe it isn't such a stretch after all!

2. Travel the world | I have never been out of the country, but I love to experience new things. Experiencing new cultures is definitely on the top of my list.

3. Be a mother | This is a dream I hope to obtain very far in the future. I know without a doubt that I want children of my own and I hope to be at least a fraction of what a wonderful mother my mom has been.

4. Meet my idol, Tina Fey | I've always loved Tina Fey, but after I read her autobiography, Bossypants, she became such an inspiration to me. She is so smart, talented, successful, and still grounded. If you ask me what my wildest dreams are, my answer is to be Tina Fey.

5. Perform on Broadway | This is the most far-fetched of my dreams, but it is something I've wanted to do since I discovered my love for musical theater. For now I'll have to settle with singing karaoke and pretending :)

What are your dreams?

Love and hugs,
Blake

"The future belongs to those that believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt

My 2013 Goals

I have never made a real New Year's Resolution. I've always known myself well enough to know that I probably wouldn't follow through with them. I entered the year with a vague idea of how I wanted to progress, but rarely with any real direction. This year I realized that there are some areas in my life I want to change for my own sake, so I've compiled a list of goals for this year. Most of these goals involve making a better schedule for myself so I get in the habit of being productive instead of aimlessly browsing the internet of watching too much Netflix!

1. Exercise | Currently my only physical activity involves walking to class. For my own health, I really need to start actually working out. I don't have class until 2:00 on Tuesday and Thursday and my apartment complex has a gym, so there's really no reason why I can't work out at least two days a week before class.

2. Read my Bible every morning | This is something I've seriously slacked on. I really value my faith, but I need to put more effort into furthering my relationship with God. I plan to wake up fifteen minutes earlier every morning to dive into the Word and get my day started right.

3. Get organized | Really this goal is more, "Get my room organized." Has anyone ever seen the Friends episode where super-organized Monica has her messy closet and that's the one area of her life that's unorganized? That's me with my room. It's awful. My first task is to tackle my desk so I can stop studying at the kitchen table.

4. Join a club | In high school, I was an insane overachiever and I overcommitted myself. Hence, I kind of burned myself out. I'm only a member of one club currently and all I really do it go to meetings. My goal is to find one organization that interests me and that I can get really involved in. This goal is partially a response to missing a busy schedule and partially to realizing how empty my resume is.

5. Read for pleasure a little every night | I used to be such an avid reader, but when I went to college I stopped making time to read. Now I've decided that every night I'm going to set aside a little bit of time to read for pleasure. Having a Kindle that I got for Christmas makes this a little easier. All my books are at my fingertips!

6. Go to bed before midnight | I am the worst about sitting on my laptop in bed and saying, "One more blog post/TV show/Facebook stalking, and then I'll go to bed." Before I know it, it's two in the morning. This year I plan to unplug by 11:30 and settle down with a book before I go to sleep!

What are your goals for this new year?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Rise up and attack the day with enthusiasm."

What I've Learned this Year

2012 has been a phenomenal, life-changing year. I started off the year determined to make my last semester at a school I intended to transfer from a positive experience. I was ready to get out of there, but I left with a few new friends and a couple of good times. I spent the summer doing my dream job- teaching sailing at camp and wouldn't have spent it any other way. I survived my first semester at UGA with a not-too-shabby GPA. But the absolute highlight of my 2012 occurred just a few days ago when I found out the best news...

I will be returning to my camp this summer in a new role as a leadership counselor! This has been my dream since the first time I went to camp in the fifth grade. I'm excited to impact the campers in a new way and help my counselors through the summer. Also, there are a lot of traditions reserved for leadership that I'm really excited to do!

I've learned a lot this year, and some of it I learned the hard way. But I wouldn't change a moment for anything.

I've learned...

• I've definitely grown up a considerable amount in the past year, but I have A LOT left to do. I'm not nearly ready to be a real, live "adult" yet.
• I don't know how everything is going to turn out. I can't know that, but it's ok.
• Maybe my childhood dream of becoming a writer isn't so silly after all.
• The cost of eating out really does add up.
• Sometimes you make a bad decision. Do what you can to recover from it, and move on. Try again if you can.
• There's no point of making a to-do list if you're not going to follow through with it.
• I'm still not sure how one handles being sick as an "adult." I still text my mom with in-depth descriptions of my symptoms and ask what to do. 
• How to study. Seriously. I was NOT academically challenged in high school and my first year of college. This year has been the first time that I've ever had to seriously hit the books.
• Trust God. He has a plan, and sometimes that plan involves your dreams coming true. No matter what, it is what's best.

What have you learned this year?

Love and hugs, and Happy New Year!

Blake

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be." -Douglas Adams

Finals Survival Guide: My Study Tips

My last day of classes is today. Where did the time go? Unfortunately though, that means finals are in full swing. I stayed in the student center studying until 2:30 last night (well, this morning). It's open all night during finals, which I am so thankful for because I am so much more productive outside my apartment. I'm going to live there for the next week because all four of my finals at least have a cumulative portion. All. Four. So naturally, I'm not being productive; I'm writing this blog post to help y'all out since I'm such a nice person! Edit: At the time I finally returned to this post, I'm done with finals and somehow survived them. I managed to survive by neglecting my blog though :)

FIRST, preparing to study.

To-do lists are your friend. A week or two before your finals start, begin making a list of everything you need to do to prepare. Making flashcards, reviewing notes, doing problems, what ever you think you'll need to do, put it on there! I have my list organized by class and date of the final to help me prioritize. Also, sticky notes are your friend here too! Use them to mark places in your book or notes that you know you need to review, such as summary pages or important charts.

Then, figure out what to study.
This might be the hardest part. If provided a study guide, fill it out! Writing down the information will help to cement it in your brain. If not, create one! What has your teacher emphasized on previous tests? Have they mentioned anything in class that might help? What are the main ideas? Put it all on your study guide.

Actually study.
Find yourself a nice, quiet place free of distraction. I prefer to get a table outside Starbucks downtown during the day and a study room in the student center at night. If I absolutely have to study at home, I work at my kitchen table with little distractions. I also always have some study snacks and plenty of water and Diet Coke on hand!
How do you learn best? Do you review your notes by talking them out with someone? Reviewing flashcards? Rewriting and reorganizing the information? You know what's best for you and how you will best retain the information. Exhaust all your resources. Do review questions in the book from required readings. Go over anything your professor has handed out in class. Go over old tests if you have them and your final is cumulative.
Focus! That's probably the hardest part. Download the Self Control app and block any distracting websites for a set amount of time. If you don't absolutely need your computer, then don't use it. If you know that you won't get anything done studying with certain friends (you know who they are), study alone or with other people. They'll understand; you can see them when you're done!

Rock your exam!
Wake up on the morning of your test with a good breakfast. Dress for success- whether you prefer yoga pants or a cute outfit. Breathe. You're prepared. Don't psych yourself out.

Celebrate!
When finals are over, reward your hard work with a night out with friends, a big meal with too many calories, or just relaxing and watching too much Netflix. I might be guilty of doing all three of those when I finished my exams. Oops.

How do you study best?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"She turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans"

Finals Survival Guide: Essentials

This semester has flown by. I'm currently in my last week of classes and gearing up for finals- eek! I know most of you in college are too, so I'm going to be starting a series called my "Finals Survival Guide." First off- the essentials!

NIKE hoodie / Vera Bradley Forget-Me-Nots / Home Elemental Poppy Mug

1. Comfortable clothes | I could care less about looking fashionable during finals. It's all about the comfort when you're spending long hours in the library or at your kitchen table like me! Hoodies are perfect for this.

2. Coffee (or tea) | I'm absolutely guilty of overdoing it on the caffeine when I'm studying. At least I hate cute mugs! Lately, I've been making my own vanilla chai- it's super easy and tastes just like Starbucks!

3. Your favorite pens | If I don't have my favorite pen, it's really easy to make more excuses to not start making notes, so I always have several on hand.

4. Study Blue | Y'all know how much I love Study Blue. I'm going to be glued to it for my Anthropology and Weather and Climate flashcards.

5. Sticky Notes | Perfect for marking readings that you need to review!

6. Pandora | I love music, and Pandora provides good background study music. I love studying to either my Alabama Shakes or Avett Brothers station. Or you could check out my playlists for suggestions!

7. Snacks | I'm an awful snacker when I'm studying. I concentrate better when I'm crunching on something like Chex Mix.

What are your finals essentials?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." -Vincent Van Gogh

Movie Season

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! I know mine was spectacular. I ate way too much, but that's what you're supposed to do! I must confess though, I never participate in Black Friday. Crowds are certainly not my thing. Also, my sinuses have been very mean to me lately and I was not feeling leaving my bed! I did look for some deals on Amazon and a few online boutiques, but then realized how soon rent is due...

I also saw Lincoln with my family yesterday! I love seeing movies. My roommate works at a movie theater, so she can get in free and get in another person, so we see a lot of movies together. Another reason I love Thanksgiving because it marks the beginning of prime movie season.

I thought Lincoln was amazing. For a history nerd like me it was so fascinating to see this point in history come alive. Daniel Day Lewis was an amazing Lincoln. He captured everything I imagined him to be: witty and kind but fierce and determined. I also loved how the plot kept you on the edge of your seat even though you knew what was going to happen.

I want to see this movie so badly it's not even funny. It looks ridiculously good, plus I just love Jennifer Lawrence. Look up the trailer if you haven't seen it already and try to tell me you don't want to see it. The bad part? It's a limited release and the closest theater to me playing it is almost an hour away. 

My inner musical nerd is about too pee her pants waiting on this movie to come out. I'm so excited. The trailer I saw in theaters really gives me hope that this will be an excellent adaption. I also really appreciate the choice to have all of the actors sing on set instead of dubbing over like most musical movies. Only 32 more days...

I also still haven't gotten to see Argo or Wreck-It Ralph which I have been wanted to see. There are just so many movies and such little time!

What movies are you looking forward to?

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln

Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve y'all! Though I know we all love stuffing our faces with mom's cooking (I know, my mom is a GREAT cook), I really think it is important to remember what it stands for. Everyone has something to be thankful for, and I feel like I am abundantly blessed. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the little things going wrong in our lives that we miss the good.

The Big Stuff:
I am thankful for my faith. God is the one that has blessed me beyond belief. None of my accomplishments would have been possible without Him. My faith is incredibly important to me and I would be lost without God.

I am thankful for my family. My parents and brother are seriously the most supportive, wonderful people in my life. I'm also thankful that I only live fifteen minutes away from where I grew up and can go home anytime I want!

I am thankful for my wonderful friends. I have the best friends anyone could ask for. They are so much fun and always have my back.

I am thankful for my job. I absolutely love my job at the barbecue place, mostly because of my wonderful coworkers. I'm also thankful that I have a way to pay rent!

I am thankful for my health. I feel as though this is something we all take for granted a lot of the time. I'm thankful that I wake up everyday happy and healthy.

I am thankful for my education at the amazing University of Georgia. I'm so lucky to have this opportunity and to not have to pay any money out of pocket (thanks, scholarships).

The Small Stuff:
I am thankful I spent today painting, watching Sherlock, and spending time with my family.

I am thankful that my mom picked up a pecan pie from work and I get to eat it tomorrow!

I am thankful that I came home to my roommate making cookies tonight.

I am thankful that everyone is gone this week so I can always park right next to my building.

I am thankful for my Dawgs being number three in the nation and SEC East Champions!

What are you thankful for?

Love and hugs, 

Blake

"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." Elise de Wolfe

You're making me blush!

Oh my gosh! Thanks so much to SHF over at The S Chronicles and Belle at The Life and Times of Belle for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award! It really means a lot to know that people are reading my blog and at least kind of appreciate what I'm doing. Having two people nominate me? Well I'm just terribly flattered. 

Rules

If you are nominated, you've been awarded the Versatile Blogger award.

Thank the person who gave you this award and include a link to their blog.

Answer the 15 questions the nominator left for you.

Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly.

Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award with a link to their blog.

Ask those bloggers 15 questions.

SHF's questions:
1. What are your beauty must-haves?
Moroccan Oil for my hair. Seriously this stuff works miracles. It smooths out hair so well and you only need a little to make dry hair look healthy!

2. If you could go anywhere  for a holiday, where would you go?
I can't pick just one country, so how about a continent?  I would tour around Europe! There are so many historical sites that I want to visit and I want to experience the different cultures! 

3. What's on the top of your Christmas wish list?
This Fossil Watch!

4. Why did you choose to start your blog?
I had been reading blogs for about six months and pseudo-blogging on tumblr for years, but I wanted to start something where I could actually write to share my thoughts and ideas.

5. Name one class you wish you would have had taken or want to take in college/university.
Call me a nerd, but I'm super excited for my multicultural women's studies class next semester! :)

6. What's your favourite way to relax after a busy day?
Catching up on my TV shows while drinking a cold Diet Coke. 

7. Which part of the holiday season are you most looking forward to?
Getting to spend Christmas with my family! Granted, I see them all the time (the perks of living fifteen minutes from my parents) but I'm still excited! 

8. If you could go to any game, which sports team would you see & who would they be playing against?
If we're talking a completely hypothetical situation here, I would love to see my Dawgs in the BCS National Championship :) Start your prayers now folks, it's possible this year but we've got a while to go!

9. What is your favourite quote?
I have so many (obviously) but my absolute favorite is probably this one-

10. Which blog(s) do you make a point of reading every day?
College Prep! It's the first blog I started reading and my favorite.

11. Who would you have lunch with if you could choose absolutely anyone?
If we're going dead or alive, I would choose Oscar Wilde. I think we would be best friends.

12. What's your usual order at Starbucks?
Skinny Vanille Latte with a pump of caramel

13. If you've volunteered before, what was your favourite volunteer experience?
I lead a bunch of high school 4-Hers around UGA for Georgia 4-H's annual Weekend in the Classic City, and that was too much fun! That's probably tied with being a teen leader at Rock Eagle 4-H Camp for two years before I worked there as a counselor. I've actually really enjoyed any volunteering I've done with 4-H!

14. Where do you order stationery from? 
I don't actually own any currently...when I've had to write Thank You notes and such in the past I just got plain cards from Target...

15. iPhone, Android, or Blackberry?
LOVE my iPhone!

Belle's Questions

1. What's your favourite perfume/scent?
Right now I wear Gorgeous by Victoria's Secret. 

2. Christmas or birthdays?
Christmas!

3. What's your favourite fast food/take out to have?
Zaxby's. I could eat it every. single. day.

4. Do you want a tattoo? If so what would you have?
I don't really want one; the thought of something that permanent scares me!

5. What is your favourite band?
Such a hard choice, but I guess I would have to go with The Avett Brothers!

6. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?
See above :)

7. What's your fave Disney movie?
Hercules. Best movie, best soundtrack, best "princess."

8. If you were granted three wishes - what would you wish for?
For enough money to pay my bills every month, to have the ability to Pin something and it shows up in my life, and a way to travel the world!

9. What is the radio station you automatically switch on when you get in the car? 
It's usually a country one!

10. If you could only wear one nail varnish for an entire year what would it be?
Probably a nice nude color like "A Crewed Interest" from Essie!

11. What is your all time favourite book?
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, hands down.

12. What is your mantra or a quote you try to live by?

13. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A Night Owl! Any time before 10 am is too early.

14. If you could live in any era what would it be? (I'd go back to the 80s :P)
I would love to be in college in the 80's or early 90's!

15. Do you re-read books or just read them once?
I love re-reading books!

Now, for the lovely blogs that I nominate-

Rachel at A Preppy State of Mind

Christine at A Midwest Collegiate

Dayna Leigh at Pearls, Curls, and All Things Southern

Kelsey at The Capital Barbie

My questions for these ladies-

1. Who is your biggest inspiration?

2. What is your favorite season and why?

3. How do you eat an oreo?

4. Do you have a Twitter? If so, what is your most recent favorited tweet?

5. If they were to make a movie of your life, who would you like to play yourself?

6. What is your most visited website?

7. What's your favorite class you've ever taken?

8. What is your favorite Lilly Pulitzer print?

9. How do you plan to spend Thanksgiving?

10. What is your can't-miss TV show?

11. What state would you live in if you had to move?

12. What is your most-played song on iTunes?

13. Is your room usually messy or clean?

14. What is your favorite meal?

15. What is the best concert you've ever been to?

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Happiness is only real, when shared." -Into the Wild

Quick Complaint

Here's a little update just to tell y'all that I'm going to be up pretty late writing this paper and I'd just like to ask one question.

Why can I write blog posts quickly all the time and love it but it takes me so long to write for school?

...now back to work.

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

My Thanksgiving To-Do List

Notice some changes? How do you like the new blog design? As I expressed in my last post, I'm anxiously looking forward to Thanksgiving break. My assignment list has now dwindled down to two essays and a quiz, and it's hard not to imagine all the wonderful things I plan to do over my week-long break, so I'm taking a quick break to give you this post.

Sleep | I cannot express how excited I am to sleep when I please for a whole week. Lately I've been going to bed before twelve and waking up before ten on my own (which is a MAJOR change for your girl that used to sleep until one or two with no problem), but it will be nice to have the option to just lie in bed.

Read The Casual Vacancy | I've had this book since it came out and I am dying to read it, but I haven't had a large chunk of time to devote to getting invested in it. I'm such a big Harry Potter fan and I'm really excited to see how J.K. Rowling writes a different story. She's so immensely talented.


Make Cornbread | Lately this has become my Thanksgiving meal responsibility and let me tell you, I can make some deliciously moist cornbread. I can't remember the last time I had any and this Southern girl is craving it! That also means I get to spend time with my wonderful family!

Clean my Room | Right now the only words to describe my room are "hot mess." It is ROUGH.

Think (a little) About Finals | I know this is a break, but I need to get my ducks in a row if I'm going to not kill myself during finals. After all, after break that's all I have to worry about this semester! Maybe I'll make a few flashcards and go over a couple readings, just to get a jump start.

Do a Craft Project | I have a Pinterest board full of great ideas and it's been a while since I've had a nice crafternoon. I absolutely love to craft but haven't had time to lately! Any ideas about what I should do?

And here's a short list of things on my TO DON'T list:
Lie in bed eating and aimlessly browsing the internet for hours | Enough said.

Though one thing I have found while aimlessly browsing the internet recently that really cracks me up. It's even funnier than Rebecca Black's "Friday." I present... "It's Thanksgiving."

What are looking forward to for your time off?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Where you invest your love, you invest your life." -Mumford and Sons

She Works Hard for the Money

Hey y'all! I realized today that we have less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, which means just one more week of class until Thanksgiving break! Unfortunately, that means this week I have two (and a half) papers, a project, and a lab due, plus a math quiz. BUT I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The only thing I have to worry about after Thanksgiving is finals, then my first semester at UGA is over. It FLEW by.

I have had a pretty awesome weekend, and what made it so great is that, after months of searching, I finally found a job! I'm going to be working at a local BBQ place two days a week. I started Friday and, to my surprise, I love it. It's a small, family-owned place that serves great food. Seriously, I'm getting hungry right now just thinking about it. My co-workers are great, my bosses are great, and it's a great first "real" job.

Before this, I had only ever worked as a camp counselor the past two summers. While I loved that more than anything and hope to do it again, I basically got payed to act like a loon and play with kids. It had it's challenges and rough days, but it was way more play than work. Everyday this past summer, I got to teach kids how to sail and watch a few nervous faces turn into big smiles as they set out. I spent my days chilling in the lake listening to campers truly say the funniest things. "Are there sharks in the lake? What about alligators?" "Are you sure I can't take my shoes off? These are Nikes!" And my favorite, "Can I just stay here all day?" I loved spending time with the kids in my cabin too. Every night I would read them a quote as a devotion to hopefully give them a little inspiration. Some of the responses to these have honestly changed my outlook on life and I think instilled my love of quotes! (One that I used a lot and is one of my favorites is at the end of this post!) I also got to work with some of my best friends everyday. Nothing makes sure a friendship will last a lifetime like working long hours and living in close quarters together! There's no way any of us could get through the summer without leaning on each other. I love my camp friends with all my heart.

Words can't even describe how lucky I am to have had this job. The past two summers have held great memories and taught me so many valuable lessons. I would have never knew how much I was capable of without my camp counselor job. I'm sure I will have days when I'm up to my eyeballs in Brunswick stew where I wish I was swimming out to the island in the middle of the lake to rescue a rogue sailboat. But really, I am lucky to have my first jobs be so awesome.

What was your first job? How about your favorite?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."-Roald Dahl

What I'm Listening To

I feel like I always define time periods in my life by the music I listen to during them. For example, early high school sounds like Boys Like Girls and other rather crappy "alternative" bands. I know, I'm shuddering too. Lil Wayne's Tha Carter 1V always makes me think of my first semester of college. Right now, my fall is sounding like a nice mix of country, old rock, and a little indie. I've put together this playlist to give you a sample of what I'm listening to!

What are you listening to? Is there any particular music that makes you think of a specific time?

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Funny how a melody sounds like a memory." -Eric Church, Springsteen