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

Things I Honestly Suck At

I feel like the blogging world is so often a platform for people to brag about how good at everything they are at how together they have everything. "Look at my perfect crafts, wardrobe, organization skills, recipes, blah, blah, blah. Here's how you can be as put together as me!" As you probably all know, (to put it quite bluntly), I don't BS around, and neither do those running my favorite blogs. You guys keep doing you; I appreciate it. So to combat this stereotype of bloggers only ever putting their best, perfectly natural-looking make-up face forward, I've compiled a real list of real things that I honestly suck at. Don't get me wrong, I'm also pretty good at a lot of things, but who wants to read about that?

1. Paying attention in class when I have my laptop out
...I was in class when I first started this post, y'all. I just like blogging and reading other blogs so much more than Weather and Climate!

2. Replying to texts/e-mails
I'm awful about reading a text message or email, deciding I need to think about what to say back, and forgetting to ever reply.

3. Being flirty and outgoing
I assume that, naturally, everyone hates me and doesn't want to talk to me. I recognize that this is completely stupid, but I do!

4. Eating vegetables
I've bought so few since I started buying my own groceries that it's embarrassing.

5. Procrastinating
As I've said before, I am a horrible procrastinator. I put off EVERYTHING until the last minute. I'm a lot better about it than I used to be, but I'm still struggling.

There you are. Five things I honestly suck at. I feel like writing that out was almost therapeutic. If you can't pinpoint your weaknesses, how will you overcome them?

So let's have a nice, quick honesty hour. What's something you're bad at?

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Find joy in your frustrations."

Sweater Weather

Now that it's finally feeling like fall, it's time to curl up in some cozy sweaters! Here are some of my favorites- I love a good big and obnoxious sweater!

J.Crew fair isle sweater / H&M jumper sweater, $32 / Quiksilver top /  Diamond Printed shirt / Embroidered sweater

Love and hugs,

Blake

"Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too"