{Sort of like a “Friday Five” or a “Life Lately” except it’s probably not Friday, and I gave up on the idea of a catchy alliteration. These are some bits and pieces of my glam #postgradlife. See past posts HERE}
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I still haven’t been really motivated to blog lately, but I realized yesterday that I have not done a So There’s That post since LAST SEPTEMBER. That’s pretty bad considering they are the easiest type of post that I do, AND my random word document that I keep a running list of things I see and might want to share later was four pages long.
“This quote really resonates with me lately. I think recognizing fear is important because it reminds us we are human. But I also think fear helps shine a light on the things we are passionate about — the things that move us enough that find a way to be fearless in our pursuit.”
2. Happy Anniversary
Earlier this week on Feb. 22, my Grammy and Grampy celebrated 48 years together! My sister shared this cute picture that made me laugh and my caption on social media was, “The question is, are these look of love, or are they in the middle of a sassy conversation?”
These were the comments… (Gloria – Grammy; David – Grampy; Lisa – Cousin; Susan – Great Aunt)
3. Happy FFA Week
At my senior FFA banquet 2009
This is Fred, one of my high school best friends and probably the best person I ever met through FFA.
With my coach.
Every year, this week makes me a bit nostalgic. That blue jacket and my experiences in it account for so much of who I am today. A few years ago I wrote about “After Unzipping the Blue Jacket” and this year my friend Nicole wrote a great blog post on “If My FFA Jacket Could Talk…” She makes a reference to rat stomping…don’t worry, its just this weird thing that apparently only kids in Hermiston, OR do.
4. Bill Gates’ Book Reviews
I am always interested in what different leaders are reading, and thought this blog of book lists and reviews was really interesting.
This is hysterical, and now I want to be friends with this ladies.
6. Kacey Musgraves Covers Yellow
I am usually really skeptical when people cover one of my all-time favorite songs. But not this time. Kacey Musgraves cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow” was beautiful.
7. Gems Found on The Timehop App
I think this in response to however I wished my uncle a Happy Birthday while he was studying abroad in Spain. Who knows, I’m weird because he is really weird.
But his advice for broccoli is still pretty spot on.
8. Because I Just Can’t Let ‘The Hunger Games’ Go Yet
This Huffington Post article is being passed around this week on Facebook, and to be honest, I actually teared up a little bit (and that doesn’t happen often.) Having lived in three different time zones now, I realize more and more how important my close girlfriends are to me.
14. According to Leo
I recently sent this to my little sister who is a senior in her last semester of college.
She wasn’t very amused.
15. And Then I’ll Leave You With This
This was a Snapchat picture from the passenger seat of a moving car, so you can imagine how pretty it was in person.
Oh hey, what’s up? I’m excited to finally jump in on this fun link up! It happens the last Wednesday of every month with the same list of questions and is hosted by The Larson Lingo, Mix & Match Family and Pinterest Told Me To.
What I’m Eating This Week… Normally I would not really have anything interesting to share here. I don’t really enjoy cooking, so I usually keep it pretty basic. But I know that I eat better when I plan a little ahead of time and with a busy week ahead I knew that I was not going to want to come home after work each night and put any thought into it. So aside from a few of my easy go-to staples, that I bought or prepared ahead of time I also made these two recipes: Parmesan and Spinach Orzo (I substituted bleu cheese crumbles) and Baked Chicken. I have some pork and other chicken that I am trading off mixing into the orzo (although it would be good by itself,) and the baked chicken I will pair with some steamed veggies and maybe a sweet potato! I have enough for about 6 meals this week, and I am actually pretty proud of myself for how well they turned out!
What I’m Reminiscing About… Back-to-school memories at K-State. I always LOVED the week before classes started back up. Lot of traditions, moving in to new places, buying new supplies and getting organized, and catching up with friends you haven’t seen all summer before the busy semester starts. Yepp, I officially “Miss Manhattan.” Here are a few of my favorite back-to-school college photos.
What I’m Dreading… Flying on my upcoming trip (see below)? I don’t know, life is pretty good right now, so that would have to be it. I don’t get sick when I fly, but I never feel all that great. And honestly airports and the whole process of flying just pushes all of my buttons. I get it, you just have to practice a bit more patience then a normal day, but people who are rude or have no common sense, nope, the struggle for me is very real. Although packing is right up there with flying…
I promise, I really do love traveling.
What I’m Working On… That’s a good question. During the day I am a communications specialist for the U.S. Wheat Associates. It’s a busy job, but I love it. I always have multiple projects going on at once, but something that is a bit different than the norm is a set of writing and editing courses that I am taking online through Poytner’s News University. Continuing education is an important part of just about any career!
What I’m Excited About… Aside from my answers to some of the questions below? (!!!) Considering almost every blogger I follow also has a deep love for fall, I feel a bit cliché saying it, but seriously though, I’m SO EXCITED FOR FALL.
What I’m Watching… My list of shows to eventually binge watch on Netflix is never-ending, but for some reason I kept putting off Friends. I had seen enough random episodes over the years to know some of the references and storylines, and know that I would like it. I finally gave in and now I am wondering why the friends have not been a part of my life sooner than now, other than I might appreciate it the most right now, also being in mid-20s. I just started season 6, so I am on the downhill and I just know that I am never going to want it to end.
I remember back in 2013, when the original promos for Graceland came out and wanting to pick up, and for whatever reason, didn’t. My sister brought it back to my attention this summer, and I am definitely hooked. I love Aaron Tveit from Les Miserables and his guest spots on Gossip Girl (no shame), but I honestly expected him to be awkward in this somewhat gritty show. And he is at times…but it surprising fits into the story pretty well. Crime/cop shows are my favorite genre, and this one separates itself with an unique angle and has characters that are really easy to become invested in. I definitely recommend it!
I have no shame. I Facetime with my friend Brandi back in Kansas and it’s the best entertainment.
What I’m Reading… My reading list is significantly longer than my Netflix list. Throughout college I would buy cheap books here and there for my library, but didn’t get to read very many of them, because, college, duh. #herestoneverhavingtoreadatextbookagain. So essentially I have a ton of unread books on my shelf, yet I have no willpower from buying books that are popular right now and reading them right away. This month I only read one book…
I read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, the same author who brought us Gone Girl. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Like Gone Girl it was twisted, with well-crafted scenes and characters, and also very hard to review without giving too much away. I will say that this one was just a tad bit predictable before I would have liked (still a good shock though) and I felt like after so much detail, the ending was kind of misplaced and hasty. On the other hand, this book makes you think A LOT, which I particularly like. Definitely recommend it!
What I’m Listening To… I recently started up a new version of my Friday Jam Sessions, sharing each Friday what I have been listening to throughout the week. Check it out HERE.
What I’m Wearing… I don’t really consider myself that fashionable, but I like to look nice. I also don’t usually take mirror pictures… so maybe next time, maybe. But I am looking forward to a change in wardrobe with the upcoming change of season, especially so I can wear my new scarf! All of fall and winter, I really wanted a blanket scarf but couldn’t make up my mind on wanted. This year I told myself that I was going to make a decision and stick to it. This is what is on its way in the mail right now…
What I’m Doing This Weekend…
I’m going to Guatemala!!
I will be spending six day in Antigua, Guatemala at a World Staff Conference for my job. In addition to our East and West Coast U.S. offices, we also have 15 Foreign Offices around the world, so every other year this conference happens. Yes, a lot of my time will be spent in meetings at the resort, but I will still get to enjoy quite a few things. We have a day-long hike up the Pacaya volcano and weather permitting, I am going to be going zip lining! This is my first big international trip aside from a vacation in Mexico so I am extremely excited! I will be taking my camera, so be prepared for lots of pictures!
What I’m Looking Forward to Next Month… K-STATE FOOTBALL!!!!!
I’ve said many times that my perfect last day on earth includes a K-State Gameday and I know that I am going to be incredibly homesick for Kansas this fall. But I am very excited to join some of the watch parties here in D.C. and meet some new friends here that also bleed purple.
This Month’s Bonus Question: What’s Your Favorite Back to School Tradition…
So I definitely wrote the above answers before I read what the bonus question was. Oh well. We didn’t really have an consistent traditions growing up and I already mentioned that the week before school started at K-State was always my favorite. I will say my favorite thing at the end of the first week of school was sitting down with all of my syllabi and extra curricular schedules and organizing it all in my planner. I even had erasable colored pencils… #nerdalert
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Well, that’s what’s up this Wednesday!
Cheers!
{Sort of like a “Friday Five” except it’s probably not Friday, and I gave up on the idea of a catchy alliteration. These are some bits and pieces of my glam #postgradlife.}
1. This has been on my mind a lot lately.
I stole this from a friend’s Instagram. I revisited it about 5 times before I finally took a screen shot. This is my life right now. Stay tuned…
2. The coolest coffee mug ever.
My bestie Megan gave me this for Christmas, and of course ordered one for herself.
We jumped into the Doctor Who fandom our last semester of college.
Please be easy on us newbies, we’re STILL reeling from the loss of Rose.
But PEOPLE this mug! When it warms up the Tardis disappears and reappears on the other side.
#MINDBLOWN
3. “5 Things Successful People Do to End Their Days Right”
A few months ago at a conference, this conversation came up multiple times in the workshops and again among friends. I think in particular, post grads struggle with the “after work till bed time” hours. Many of us go from very little structure, and always-changing routines in college, to 8-5 cookie cutter weekdays. We each swapped a few tips that we had incorporated into our routine in order to get a good night’s rest and finish day feeling positive and settled.
My reading list is lonnnnnnggggg and pretty diverse.
But I’ll admit, if there is a movie adaptation coming out that I think I’m going to want to see relatively quickly, I will move that book up to the front of the list. Here’s what I’ve read lately.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: I love history, and the WWII era has always been one of the most interesting to me. I was already vaguely familiar with who Louie Zamperini was as an athlete, but his whole story is so much MORE. It’s hard to grasp how people have survived such things. The book was very detailed, but easy to follow. If you skipped the book and just watched the movie, I highly recommend going back and reading it.
Paper Towns by John Green: If you have read/watched Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars,” and wasn’t a fan, don’t give up on the author completely (personally I loved it.) His stories might involve teenagers, but to be honest I don’t know if I would have fully understood or appreciated this book, when I was a teen. It’s a hard one to summarize without spoilers, but personally it’s reminds me why I love words and reading so much.
The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks: I’m a sucker for enjoying Mr. Sparks’ stories every nowand then, and this one is my new favorite from him. It’s poetic and has a bit different pace than some of his other stories. There’s letter writing and art, and there’s a cowboy. Sounds just about right to me.
6. Girl’s Weekend
MIke’s Wine Dive
Spice Merchant (photo by Leah)
This is how wine should be done.
We did a pretty great job at wearing Luna out.
My favorites 🙂
Leah’s work had her in Wichita for the week, so I joined her and Megan for an impromptu girl’s weekend.
Those are my favorite kind.
The Good Stuff 