Radiate.

From a Student

2012-01-24T17:55:00.001-08:00

At the end of the day, I noticed this little message on my board. Is it a compliment? The funniest part is that I don't even have a student named Ja'nae.

What I do know is I'll be emphasizing grammar this week!

At this rate.

2012-01-12T13:28:00.000-08:00

{found here}

Precisely what it feels like sometimes, especially when having almond M&Ms for breakfast.

A note from a sub

2012-01-10T16:08:00.000-08:00

"Dear Ms. Hayes,

They don't pay you enough to do this job! :) Wow....I'll pray for you. You definitely need mental health days."

- A funny little note left by the substitute teacher yesterday

Back to Work

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Despite starting work on Tuesday, it has been a long week. Thank goodness it's Friday and that there are no full work weeks for the entire month of January for the public school system! Yeah!

Home for the Holidays

2012-01-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve: Fancy Gap, VA

2012-01-02T10:27:00.002-08:00

Such a fun New Year's Eve, maybe even the best one yet! And here's one of the reasons why:

A Week's Worth of Friends

2012-01-02T10:11:00.001-08:00

These are just a few of the friendly faces I was able to see over the past two weeks at home and on a few adventures! These are some of the funniest, coolest people I know.

P.S. Amy, Allison and Kate- One of these pictures is just for you. :)

Favorites

2011-12-15T13:59:00.001-08:00

To get out if a clothing rut, I decided to wear all of my favorite things this week. It ended up being the perfect thing to do to survive the week of school before Christmas and not stress over what to wear. So here are my favorite things (sorry for the poor quality pics- my phone is still figuring out how to be a photographer):

The best Monday

2011-12-15T13:49:00.001-08:00

This past Monday knocked all others out of the park, not that there was much competition. Meller, Danielle, and I met up that evening for dinner at Pop's and to see some crazy Christmas lights that were in sync with a radio station! Ridiculous. And Danielle gave me a hilarious Christmas gift-a Marcel the Shell book!

6 Party Tips for the Antisocial

2011-12-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

Print, found via A Cup of Jo

1. Befriend any pets of the host, excluding rodents and snakes. (Or, even better, just don't hang out with people who keep rodents or snakes as pets.)

2. Pick a default and cling to him/her.

3. Ladies: Wear impressive heels and then stand/sit still at the party. Heels aren't cute if you can't walk in them.

4. Let people come to you- don't be that weirdo who lingers.

5. Watch people without them noticing. That way you can talk about the party on Monday and make it sound like you were actually involved in conversation.

6. Leave on a high note. Did you just tell a hilarious joke? Then get the hell out while you're on top!

BlogLovin

2011-12-09T20:09:00.001-08:00

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It's Friday!

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

{ Photo}

It's Friday! High fives for everyone!

P.S. Phillipe Halsman has an entire photo collection of jumping celebrities.

Movies & Moms

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past week, I've had way too much time to think. I had minor surgery and stayed at my parents house to recuperate for a few days. The things a mind wanders to when stuck without internet, tv, or a phone...

As an avid list-maker, I spent most of the days making hypothetical lists in my head (after reading Harry Potter for approximately 5 hours). One list completely stumped me: What do I know about? Sure, I know a little about a lot of subjects but what do I actually know to the core?

After spending a few days with that lingering question, I was able to get Klout's take on my knowledge. According to the site, here's what I'm most knowledgeable and influential about in the cyber world:

World- 1, Courtney- O.

Off Task

2011-12-07T14:35:00.001-08:00

Want to know the easiest way to win over 7th graders AND ensure that they don't pay attention to anything you need to tell them?

It's easy, just wear red pants to school.

Five Things I Wish Existed.

2011-11-20T18:18:00.001-08:00

Homemade treats given to me earlier this fall!

Howlers, the screaming cards that parents send to their children at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series.
Legal pills that provide warmth during the winter months.
Money trees where money, you know, could grow from branches.
A reliable weather system that takes requests because some days, I just want it to rain.
The ability to wake up the first time my alarm goes off each morning.

Tomorrow is a metaphorical Thursday! I'm going wild and staying up 30 minutes past my bedtime to celebrate the beauty of short workweeks.

Over the weekend

2011-11-15T16:38:00.001-08:00

The view from my room

Paige, clad in a lumberjack uniform, drinking hot tea on the balcony

A dream came true this weekend: I finally got to go to the mountains! Most of it was spent inside with a cup of hot tea grading essays written by seventh graders about the Titanic (or Titianik, as many of them chose to spell it) and reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

It also involved a game of Scrabble out on the balcony where I ended up with sunburn. It wouldn't be a vacation without one, right?

What Saturdays Look Like When You're Single

2011-11-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

Check out my latest post over on The Date Report, the blog companion of HowAboutWe.com! I'm talking about singles and Saturdays this week.

Read it here!

Wishful Thinking.

2011-11-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

{Photo}

Currently wishing for:

+ The arrival of my Harry Potter books

+ Eloquent writing skills (Ahem, Abby)

+ Energy after 6 pm

+ A boyfriend who can discuss both politics and sitcoms

+ An organized desk

Decisive Wednesday

2011-11-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

Photo

Today's Decisions:

- I will begin measuring major life goals in terms of the Olympics ("Oh, that's at least two winter Olympics away before I have to start worrying about buying a house," etc.)
- The early bird does get the metaphorical worm.
- Survivors of the Titanic would not find this shirt comical.
- I must have this coat.
- Zooey Deschanel's divorce is much more unfortunate than Kim Kardashian's.

First Five Days

2011-10-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

For the first week of teaching, I didn't have an official name tag and was stuck getting visitor passes each morning(...at 6:15 am). These are the pictures from my first five days. Can you see the exhaustion setting in as the week progressed?

Today marked the start of my third week and I can't even imagine how weatherbeaten I'd look in pictures if they were still being taken each morning.

TGIF & HBH (Happy Birthday, Hannah!)

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Photo: National Geographic

Have a lovely weekend! I'll be back next week with more energy and posts.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Hannah! You're the coolest, most well-informed, boy band-loving person I know.

Check out my post at The Date Report

2011-10-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

Hey! Be sure to check out my first of (hopefully) many posts at The Date Report, the blog companion of HowAboutWe.com. I'll be writing about what it's like to be single in the south, among other things.

Read my first post HERE!

First Day

2011-10-13T18:58:00.000-07:00

You guys, I did it! I survived my first day of teaching. Whew! Now I'm off to bed...5 am will be here way too soon.

Awkward.

2011-10-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

{Image}

Awkward, in short:

- Going to a new job orientation today, only to watch 3 and a half hours of online videos and be dismissed

-Waving at a guy at Cup A Joe before realizing I didn't know him...and having to deal with his confused stare

- Crying (loudly) at the doctor's office

- Mishearing someone's question and pointing them to the bathroom instead of the vending machines

- Apologizing to my door after running into it

- Brushing my hair and finding multiple bobby pins

- My mom not answering my phone calls until her "show" (AKA "The Young and the Restless") has gone off

- A high school boy casually mentioning how ugly my shoes are

- Forgetting the way home and ending up in downtown Raleigh

Over the weekend...

2011-10-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend was bursting at the seams with commitment:

Danielle and Logan tied the knot!

And Kelly and Ryan got engaged!

Congratulations to all of you guys!

Tomorrow...

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Danielle is getting married! She's a hottie and her craft skills give me something to aspire to, so I'm especially excited to see how "fab" (such a Danielle word) her wedding will be.

Congrats, Danielle and Logan!

Ohio & Chipotle

2011-09-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Tara and her coveted burrito

Have you ever met somebody from Ohio who didn't love Chipotle?

I haven't.

10 Things I Wish I Didn't Like

2011-09-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

{Photo}

Earlier last month, I made a vow to stop feeling guilty for the things I enjoy. But there are some things that make me happy against my will. Here's 10 things I Wish I Didn't Like. Or rather, 10 Things I Wish I Could Have Self-control Concerning. Either way, here are 10 things:

+New clothes
+Sitcoms
+Talking about myself
+Excessively bright colors
+Tattoos*
+Caffeine
+Having secrets
+Going to the movies
+Bargains
+Correcting people

* I don't currently have a tattoo but love them on other people.

5 Things Fall Brings

2011-09-23T09:34:00.000-07:00

{Photo}

+ The need for boots, scarves, and corduroy pants

+ Fresh recipes involving apples and pumpkins

+ Pure joy

+The NC State Fair

+ Weekend trips to the mountains (hopefully)

Happy First Day of Fall! Enjoy the rain and humidity.

Semiannual Haircut

2011-09-21T20:56:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Badass haircut compliments of Karen at Moshi Moshi. And if you don't want a haircut, then you can settle for listening to her band.

When your bff gets a boyfriend.

2011-09-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hannah sent this to me several days ago and it's come up in conversation multiple times this week. Not that we're bitter or anything...

Regular Status

2011-09-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

One of the things on my growing bucket list is to become a regular at a coffee shop or restaurant and in all my unemployment glory, I did it! I go to Cup A Joe in Raleigh at least four times each week and get the same thing every time. A few days ago, the barista shouted "iced grande coffee for here" as soon as I walked in. Success.

Weekend Highlights

2011-09-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

In a nutshell, I had an excellent weekend and saw a ton of friends, even a few that I haven't laid eyes on since last fall! Kristin celebrated her 21st birthday with a grown-up pizza party on Friday and then several of us spent Saturday at SparkCon (where local restaurants were giving out free meals of bugs; look closely at the last picture above) before heading to the NCSU game that night. Another weekend highlight included getting the first salted caramel hot chocolate of the year with Mary Hil because it was below 60 degrees pretty much all weekend! Thank goodness.

Farm Life

2011-09-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I go to my parents' house, I cringe at the unpaved roads, dial-up internet, and hearing roosters crow at dawn. But then I wake up in the morning and see this: our alpaca creeping up on the geese during their daily meeting.

Bachelorettes, Memorials, and Miniature Tigers

2011-09-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

It's Monday again! I spent the weekend hosting a bachelorette party for this sassy lady, reading lots of different things about 9/11 and how the US has changed since then, and listening to the Miniature Tigers!

The bachelorette and her party treats

With 3/4 of the Miniature Tigers! They came to Local506 on Sunday night and jammed out. There were so many dancing bodies in that bar. They, of course, asked me to go on tour with them but I had to say no due to my busy schedule of being unemployed and online shopping. Next time, guys.

Feliz Mondaying!

On Eating Animals

2011-09-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

I read this book a couple of weeks ago and it made quite the impression, almost to the point that I wish I hadn't read it. I've always been weary of meat, specifically red, which will forever annoy my parents since I grew up on a cattle farm. Poultry and seafood have always been delicious, though. Most days I had a turkey sandwich for lunch and never tired of it.

After reading this book, I haven't been able to eat any meat. I was knocked off my high horse when I read how terrible the poultry market of production is, specifically for chickens and turkeys. It's unbelievable what the animals and farmers go through to get food on the table.

Earlier in the summer, I bought a "The Joy of Cooking" book from the 1950s and noticed in many of the recipes how long was necessary back then to cook a chicken. It bordered on two hours for some recipes and I couldn't figure out why it now takes us less than 30 minutes to prepare chicken. One reason Eating Animals honed in on was the growing presence of antibiotics in the food we eat and how it's slowly eroding our immune systems, but we view it as convenience to make a quick meal.

I know this book is extreme but Foer makes a lot of jaw dropping points that have very little to do with his opinion (he became a vegetarian while writing the book) on eating meat and everything to do with what the current production system is doing to our bodies and the environment.

Regardless of your stance on the food industry, it's a book that will certainly surprise you.

Roller Derby

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Emma, Kara, and I saw a flyer for a roller derby game nearby in Raleigh and decided to go on a whim. Other than UNC basketball, this is probably the only other sport I've ever genuinely enjoyed watching.

I have to admit the only thing I knew about it before going to the actual game was what I gathered from Whip It but it's way more exciting than that! Luckily the programs they handed us as we walked in the door listed all the rules and pictures of what different referee calls looked like so we could follow along. The first game we watched was close, so it kept our attention. The second game was a little less exciting because the Carolina girls ended up winning by more than 170 points.

My favorite parts of it all were the ridiculous and witty names of all the players and the mascots and announcers. Above on the left was the announcer for the games. He was wearing a sarong, a captain's sailor hat, and a t-shirt that read "919 y'all" (919 is Raleigh's area code). He was not wearing shoes. Then the guy on the right was the mascot for the Tai-Chi-Tahs. He could literally run faster than people could skate and his silk pajamas were drenched in sweat by the time the game was over.

Emma and I made up names for ourselves should we find ourselves as derby girls. She went with "DilEmma" and I chose "Purple Haze." We also came up with a few Harry Potter-themed names, Harry Slaughter being the best.

What would your derby name be?

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lateness of this post, seeing as how the weekend's practically already here again. Anyway, the weekend was fun and filled with lots of random little treats. I went to a housewarming party, watched a roller derby, saw Our Idiot Brother, and celebrated my niece's 12th birthday! It's crazy that she's already 12. And if you can believe it, she actually enjoys middle school...blows your mind, doesn't it?

Roommates.

2011-08-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

I began college in August of 2006 and since then had 23 roommates (that's one for every year I've been alive), four of whom I shared a room with, in six different places.

Pic

Freshman year: Ehringhaus dorm in Chapel Hill with Jolene. Apparently, we took absolutely no pictures together, though we enjoyed each other's company. This might be because I relied on disposable cameras for most of freshman year. Jolene was one of those quiet but funny people who had me laughing all the time. She also LOVED the color pink and would buy anything, regardless of its purpose, in that color. We lived in a totally crazy suite of girls and I never would have made it through that year without her.

Sophomore year: Morrison dorm with Sarah. Sarah was one of those girls who had it all- she was beautiful, smart, and outgoing. On top of all that, she was incredibly athletic and could master any sport within minutes of practicing.

Junior year: North Street with (L-R) 1st row: Lander, Kara, me; 2nd row: Jill, Emma, Meller, Syd, standing: Mackenzie, Julia . I can't even explain how much fun it was to live with eight other girls, even though we all had our days where we just wanted a little more space than our house could provide. Meller and I shared the best room. It was yellow and its bright glow could be seen from the street on sunny days. This picture was taken shortly after rushing Franklin Street after UNC won the National Championship in 2009.

Senior year: McCauley Street with (L-R) me, Amy, Caroline, Abby, Meller, Danielle, and Sarah. I have to admit, I was a little worried about this living situation when the school year began but I ended up loving it. Meller and I shared a room again. She was the best roommate I could ever hope for and I'm glad we lived together for two whole years. 208 was the perfect college house-near campus and plenty of room for mismatched couches that we piled onto to watch Gossip Girl or the Olympics (when we could get our tv to turn 0n).

Grad School: Greenville with Meredith and Sandy. We lived in an awesome condo a few miles from ECU's campus next door to an older couple named Bob and Sue who brought us over a watermelon on one of our first days after moving in.

Unemployment: Clark Ave. in Raleigh. Currently I live with six other girls (Blair, Kristin, Rita, Jill, Shelby, and Amber) and even though I've only been here a month, it's been a lot of fun. Everyone is quirky and energetic, and always seem to have some funny story to tell.

Living with large numbers of people has taught me how to mellow out, to accept that things (the bathroom, kitchen, etc.) will NEVER be as clean, and that in the event I ever live alone, I want a matching set of glasses.

So long, Beriyo.

2011-08-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, one of my very favorite places closed. Beriyo was the hangout spot for most of my friends during high school and became the meet-up place when we were home for breaks during college.

Then: 2006

Kelly, Moriah, and I at Beriyo together on one of our last days, if not THE last day, before beginning college.

Now: 2011

Kelly, Kristin (a stand-in for Moriah/my roommate/her mom owned this joint), and I on Beriyo's closing day last Sunday. We ate lots of yogurt.

So sad to see it go!

Summer Movies.

2011-08-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

I've seen Bridesmaids FOUR times this summer and it gets me every time. I'm lucky there's a $1.50 theater nearby or else I'd be broke. And bored.

P.S. Another good movie I would love to see again is Midnight in Paris. It made a Woody Allen fan out of me!

Melissa & McKenzie

2011-08-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my friends Melissa and McKenzie got married in Chapel Hill! Melissa and McKenzie both love games and since there were a couple of hours in between the wedding and reception, they made up a scavenger hunt for all the wedding guests to do on UNC's campus. It was one of those weddings where you could tell how much thought went into every detail.

P.S. I stole a couple of these pictures off Facebook...but don't Melissa and McKenzie look perfect together?

Books You Shouldn't Read in Public.

2011-08-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of coffee shop reading. It's noisy enough in there to create a dull roar and when my eyes need a break, I can do some prime people watching. Sometimes when I read a really funny book, I have to stay at home to avoid those wondering stares from fellow coffee shoppers who wonder what sort of drug was placed in my iced coffee to make me smirk and laugh when I'm reading. Here's a rundown of the books that are better read at home:

1. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicholson, by Louise Rennison

This book is the diary of a 14-year-old girl who has a cat named Angus and is more or less obsessed with snogging. I'm fairly sure guys wouldn't understand a bit of this one but ladies, this was us in middle and early high school. Apparently British girls are no more mature than we were and it's a universal fact that we often wished our parents were invisible during this stage of life.

2. Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding

Good golly. I'm a decade late on reading this but it was worth the wait. If you've ever suffered through unrequited love, done something embarrassing, worn the wrong thing, or made New Year's resolutions that were impossible to keep, then this book was made for you. Again, British humor at its finest.

3. About A Boy, by Nick Hornby

If this book had been written by an American author, I doubt it I would have put it on the list. But if you haven't figured it out yet, I REALLY like the way British authors write and the way British people speak. It's a great plot, very entertaining, but what really pulled me in was the dialogue between characters. You can feel uncomfortableness oozing out anytime a conversation is happening...or when a conversation should be happening.

4. My Booky Wook, by Russell Brand

Okay, so here's the deal with this one: I like Russell Brand. I think he's attractive and his British accent only reinforces that. A lot of people don't like him and that's okay...but they probably shouldn't read this book. It's almost written in a different language- one that was coined by a British comedian who finds his past of drug and sex addiction hysterically funny. Disclaimer: This book will make you blush just as much as it makes you chuckle.

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

I know this book is offensive with its language but it's also incredibly funny. The part where Huck dresses up as a girl to get food will make you gasp for air. No, really, it will.

6. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, by A.J. Jacobs

In the introduction to the book, Jacobs describes himself like this-

"I’m officially Jewish but I’m Jewish in the same way the Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant."

In case the title didn't give it away, this book is about one guy who decides to live by all the Bible's rules for a year. He makes a master list only to discover there are more than 600 rules he has to live by. Some make sense (the Ten Commandments) and others seem downright bizarre (not wearing clothes of mixed fibers). I would venture to say this is the funniest piece of nonfiction ever written. So basically you will look like a fool laughing by yourself while reading and then when people see the title of the book, they will think one of two things: 1- that you think the Bible is funny, which is dangerous here in the Bible belt, or 2- that you are some sort of Jesus freak.

That's all I've got for now! I make no promises that you will feel smarter after reading these books.

Who I Am.

2011-08-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Apparently Facebook thinks I'm a single mom who hates on single dads and wears bedazzled stilettos in honor of Kim Kardashian.

P.S. Notice that the first ad says "non-moms" can join the site as well...kinda defeats the purpose of singleparentsmeet.com but it's sweet of them to consider others.

Augustutions.

2011-08-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

(Photo)

It's August and you know what that means...AUGUSTUTIONS! I was just looking over the ones I made last year and noticed that there were several I totally forgot about somewhere along the way. I hate when that happens but maybe I should add a resolution to memorize my resolutions?

Several of the ones I've decided on this year seem a little more like goals than resolutions but need to be done anyway. Call me Alanis Morissette because here comes another list:

Find a job.
Read no less than two books every month. I'm not even going to say these have to be pieces of classic literature. They just have to be above an eighth grade reading level. One day I hope to read as many as Abby.
Feel less guilty about my "guilty" pleasures. My name is Courtney and I enjoy romantic comedies, contemporary novels, iced coffee, and online shopping.
Spend more time listening than talking.
Shop more in my closet than in stores. The process of moving brings it to my attention how many clothes I own and how few of them I actually wear. The only things I'm really lacking are dress clothes, which will hopefully come after finding a job.
Read the entire Bible. Once in college, my New Testament professor asked our class who had read the entire Harry Potter series and nearly everybody raised his or her hand. Next he asked who had read the entire Bible. Out of 300 people, less than 10 raised their hands. His last question was if we were Christians. A majority of the room raised their hands and Ehrman quite simply said,"So you think the Bible is the inspired word of God and you chose to read Harry Potter instead?" Boom. Roasted.
Stop feeling entitled to things because I have a Masters degree. And stop working it into casual conversations that I have one. To date, the only people impressed this second degree are my parents and even they're losing interest.
Wear heels at least once a week. My friend Hannah is a huge advocate of wearing heels and since I trust her opinion on just about everything, I'm going to take her advice.
Wear lipstick on a regular basis. Recently I've noticed how incredible lipstick looks on women. It's the easiest way to spruce up your face in less than 60 seconds.
Memorize a map of the world. You know how you just nod along sometimes in conversations when you're unsure of what's being talked about? That's the way I feel pretty much every time geography is brought up.

I'm heading to Chapel Hill this weekend to see some college friends get married! Hope you have an excellent weekend.

Fashion Blogger Gripes.

2011-07-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Last night, Emma and I were talking about the funny things style bloggers do that tend to baffle or annoy us. I guess I'm a lot more opinionated on the issue because I came up with this list:

1. Just because you're not looking at the camera doesn't make it a candid photo.

2. Sometimes your clothes don't even go together.

3. Is it necessary to say something is "vintage" and "thrifted"? And since we're on the topic, Old Navy items won't be "vintage" for at least another 20 years.

4. For those fashion bloggers in warmer places, how can you possibly wear blazers year-round? (Or with cut-off shorts and a bathing suit?)

5. And like Abby has talked about, there is no way you can dress THAT well and be that happy every. single. day. So 'fess up and tell me about how you wear gym shorts and a t-shirt with your unwashed hair every now and then.

That being said, I also love that style bloggers mix things in unexpected ways to make good outfits, suggest books to read, give me something to look at when I'm bored, serve as a reference point when I'm blindly staring at my closet, offer DIY ideas, and even teach me about architecture.

Here's a few of my favorites (some are more lifestyle than fashion), even though you've probably heard them:
The Other Emily
Kendi Everyday
Jen Loves Kev
What Would a Nerd Wear
Une Vie Geniale
Bleubird Vintage
and for the fellas, The Midwestyle

Beach Bros & Yacht Clubs.

2011-07-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

Last week when Lauren, Kelly, and I went to the beach for a couple of days, we found something unbelievable...

Yep, we found the most cliche beach bro the world's ever seen! And we saw him two days in a row, carrying his surfboard around as if it was the only thing that mattered in the world.

We also got verbally assaulted by some teenage boys and ate pizza at a yacht club with some 60-year-olds. That trip was full of surprises.

Just Kids

2011-07-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

So I just finished reading Just Kids by Patti Smith and I have to suggest that you read it too. I didn't know anything about Patti Smith except that she was a rockstar and picked the book up on a whim. Her writing is incredible and drops names like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin so humbly that you'd think she was talking about a passerby on the street. Her memoir is more about the grit of gaining status than about the glamour, so does that make her more of a rockstar?

The Fourth

2011-07-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

The rain on July 4th only made the party that much more interesting. I was thankful to have a clear dome umbrella to watch the fireworks- it was perfect.

My favorite part was watching adults try to control the the gangs of kids under the age of six who had all had at least one dessert and were running rampant through the house.

Go Ahmurica!

What We Did.

2011-07-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

In 4 short days, Elizabeth and I managed to do all this:

Visited the Met

Stared at the Statue of Liberty

Took a tour of Brooklyn Brewery

Watched a couple get married at Grand Central

Scored some handmade jewelry at Artists & Fleas

Mistook this guy for the real Naked Cowboy

Hung out with Jerry and his friends at Tom's Restaurant

....and a whole lot more that I didn't take pictures of! Elizabeth and I pounded the pavement for about 12 hours everyday shopping and doing all kinds of good stuff, including a tour of NBC Studios and visiting the Strand Books, which boasts 18 miles of books. Such a perfect weekend!

City Food

2011-07-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

While I was in NYC, Elizabeth and I ate some awesome food at some cool restaurants. It wasn't the healthiest weekend but it sure was delicious and my first time trying most of these things. Here's a taste:

Empanadas at Empanada Mama

'Shroom burger and carmel milkshake at Shake Shack

Watermelon wheat beer at Frying Pan (a docked boat that was the most hipster place I've ever been)

Red Velvet cupcake at Crumbs

Salted carmel frozen yogurt at Pinkberry

YUM YUM YUM

Concrete Jungle

2011-06-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

The view from the plane...looked more like cloudlets than clouds.

A friendly greeting from LGA

I hopped on a plane to NYC today to visit my friend Elizabeth and explore the city. Even though it's just getting started, I can tell it's going to be an awesome weekend. While I was waiting for a bus from the airport, I noticed Mary Steenburgen standing beside me. I legitimately saw Buddy the Elf's mom within the first 15 minutes! Coincidence?

Sarah Anne & Bailey

2011-06-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Sarah Anne and Bailey's wedding yesterday was incredible! They got married in her grandmother's backyard on the water in Bath, NC. They had a ton of great little surprises, like these glasses (designed by our friend Emily) and a boat that served as a cooler for some of the drinks.

Even though it was sweltering outside, people still got out on the dance floor. And when Taylor Swift's "Love Story" came on, things got crazy. I've never seen guys evacuate a dance floor quite so fast.

Currently Reading.

2011-06-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Last week, I tested out the limit on books one can check out at the library. I came out with these, several were suggested by Abby. My Goodreads account is a lifesaver in a library pinch, too.

Before And After.

2011-06-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

For the past year, my daily to do lists have generally looked like this:

Today, this is what my list looked like. I almost felt silly writing it:

Three cheers for unemployment and to do lists that are more than easy to handle!

Online Education.

2011-06-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, one of my professors was talking about the future of higher education and how he believes it will be almost, if not entirely, virtual. At first, I thought he was being dramatic but he justified himself well.

In college, I took a few online courses. Since beginning graduate school, I've taken three courses that were exclusively offered online but were required for my degree. One, ironically, was a course on how to use a computer. Even in the classes that met face-to-face, we relied more on computers than each other. On more than one occasion, a classmate had to "skype in" to avoid getting an absence that would penalize her grade.

On Wednesday, I have two online exams due and they mark the end of my program. I won't necessarily have to see my classmates or professors again. While I thought my professor was odd, it seems that an increasing amount of coursework is done online. I was constantly required to use Twitter, Engrade, Blackboard, Google Docs, Ge.TT, and other various sources to complete and submit assignments.

I've read a few articles on the issue and it seems very likely, especially considering the upkeep costs of running a university, that the future of higher education will be online. Here are some of the things I've read on the issue:

"The Future of College: How Online Education Is Changing Everything" (Distance Education)

"Colleges Should Stop Imitating Harvard" (CNN)

"Crossing state lines gets tougher for colleges, universities" (Independent Mail)

"The Future of Colleges: 9 Inevitable Changes" (The Chronicle of Higher Education at Georgia Southern University)

Those are just a few articles I found on the issue but what are your thoughts? Have you heard this before?

P.S. The "kissers" responded to the photo that made them famous.

Cap'n Chicken

2011-06-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

I've been on a cooking kick lately and it's never been so obvious how much of a novice I am in the kitchen.

Back in middle school, I wanted to go to Planet Hollywood every time I was in the vicinity of one. It wasn't for their delicious delicatessen, it was because I thought I could meet Bruce Willis. Once when we were there, I noticed Cap'n Crunch Chicken on the menu. It was one of the strangest things I've ever tasted.

And tonight I recreated it using this recipe. I took the baking route, the splatter-safe option. It was ridiculously simple to make and tasted much better than many of my other specialties that include Instant oatmeal and frozen pizzas.

P.S. This is great to make if you're feeling a little bit aggressive! It takes some anger to get the cereal crushed up.

Sondre Lerche

2011-06-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, some friends and I went to see Sondre Lerche at Cat's Cradle. I hadn't planned on going but my professor let us out an hour early, which I took as a sign that I should buy a ticket and drive the couple of hours to see him. Also, how often does the only Norwegian singer you like come to North Carolina? (Every 7 years, according to him.)

Before the concert, a couple of us went to Weaver Street Market where we ran into none other than Sondre himself, loading up on a bag of groceries. We took creepy pictures of him eating and walked by his table about eight times.

The concert was awesome! The openers, Kishi Bashi and Nightlands, were impressive. I was somewhat taken aback by how good Kishi Bashi was. People who can play multiple instruments have that effect on me.

Is this the way people smile in Norway?

After the show, I got Kishi Bashi and Sondre Lerche's signatures. Kishi Bashi asked for my name and then subsequently wrote a scribbly version that looks more like "Camille" than "Courtney." My friend Erika asked Sondre to sign a plastic dinosaur she had in her car, which was probably the funniest part of the whole night.

P.S. His name is pronounced Sondre Lair-kay, not Sondre Lerchay. I've been getting that wrong for about 3 years now.

Whatif...

2011-06-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

"Whatif"

Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow taller?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Honesty.

2011-04-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Abby took this picture last year shortly before our English department graduation began. I laughed the first time I saw it because of the honesty in my face. It was one of the more frightening days of my life and a camera captured it. I was riddled with angst and nausea for much of the morning and afternoon.

Even though it's been a year, I'm in the same place I was when the photo was taken. I'm close to graduating again and am uncertain of what comes next. It hit me today when I turned in my final portfolio how close the end really is. The hardest part is trusting that something will work out because something always does.

Dreaming.

2011-04-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a dream that culminated every fear I've ever had about first dates:

First, the guy showed up in a camouflage hoodie to pick me up. I wasn't happy his wardrobe choice but got over it. Then we went to a restaurant and shortly after ordering, my entire extended family from my dad's side showed up to the same restaurant. As my dad walked over, this guy tried to kiss me.

We finished dinner and when the check came, my date asked my mom to pay for it, which she did. My mom's that nice even in the dream world. After the check was taken care of, we planned on going to see a movie. While I was putting my jacket on, the guy looked at me with a pained expression and dumped me because my grandparents owned a beach house, making me too high maintenance for him.

Dumped by a guy in a camouflage jacket who tried to kiss me in front of my whole family and made my mom pay for dinner because I have access to a beach house.

It was the worst date I've never been on.

The cold & I go to D.C.

2011-03-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hannah enjoying a Dangerously Delicious lunch.

Paul & I really know how to cut loose.

Sydney & I at the Capitol

This weekend I took a train up to D.C. to visit Sydney and Hannah. We had a lot of fun in spite of the cold weather. I could have stayed there for another week but alas, all good things must come to an end.

On Friday, they had to work so I spent the day figuring out the metro system, shopping, and visiting the National Portrait Museum where several of Alexis Rockman's portraits are on exhibit. I've never really appreciated museums until the past couple of years. I always got frustrated and felt that I was missing something when I looked at a painting, picture, or sculpture. Once I gave up trying to "figure it out," museums became way more enjoyable. Another major bonus of this day was getting lunch with Hannah from Dangerously Delicious' food truck. We both got BBQ pie, which is exactly what it sounds like- BBQ in a pie crust. Yum!

Saturday was another major museum day. Sydney introduced my friend Paul and I to Eastern Market where we got breakfast and perused the different vendors' booths before heading over the Mall. We managed to see quite a bit but still didn't make it past the Washington Memorial. We took a tour of the National Space and Air Museum where I learned more about the history of flight than school ever taught me. We also battled the crowds through the Natural History Museum to see the Hope diamond and the Museum of National History before declaring we were museumed out.

That night we went to Georgetown, which is by far the spiffiest college town I've ever seen, for dinner and a little bit of shopping. We drove by Georgetown Cupcake, where D.C. Cupcakes is filmed, and there were people lined up for more than a block just to get a cupcake. I'd have to be offered a cupcake made of diamonds and hugs to wait in a line that long in freezing weather.

This morning when we woke up, there was snow on the ground! I imagine it really put a damper on the Cherry Blossom festivities that began on Saturday in D.C.Global warming-1, Springtime-0.

Other than the Heels losing tonight, it was an absolutely perfect weekend.

Andrew Jenks at ECU.

2011-03-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went to see Andrew Jenks speak at ECU. To avoid looking too interested, I played it cool and chose a second row seat when there were several open up front. He had no idea.

Jenks didn't begin making documentaries until he was 19, which seems late considering where he is now at 25. At one point he even said, "I wanna be a filmmaker when I grow up." Funny thing to say considering he seems well-established in that area.

Great guy, great night.

Feeling good.

2011-03-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Want to feel really good about yourself?

Go to a hip hop class at the gym and dance with older adults who know fewer rap songs than you.

Bad news.

2011-03-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

I really thought next week was going to be MY week but now I'm not so sure. Next Tuesday, I'm having my final observation from my university supervisor signaling the very near end of student teaching and that night, Andrew Jenks is coming to speak at ECU.

Not unlike most people, I've developed a few "theories" on things. One of my theories is that fame and talent are contagious. And believing such things led me to believe that next Tuesday was the perfect day for me to catch both those bugs. Think about it. Andrew Jenks isn't too famous and seems nice enough, so he'd be the perfect candidate to be my boyfriend and usher me into fame.

Then I found out that there are over 450 confirmed guests for this little event and they're all girls. How's he supposed to fall in love with me if there are 449 other people there to ruin the moment? Help me, people. Seriously, what should I do?

In reference to what I wrote yesterday, another one of my biggest fears is not finding my husby as attractive as I find famous, indie men wearing plaid shirts and glasses. This fear leads me to fear that I'm a gold-digger. There you have it, I'm a scaredy cat.

10 Irrational and Practical Fears

2011-03-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

These are some of my fears, in no particular order:

1. Mice and sharks (Can you imagine the terror if these two joined forces?)
2. Talking to men
3. Being boring
4. Never being successful
5. Never living outside of NC for any amount of time
6. Falling down stairs
7. Getting hit in the eye with scissors
8. Teaching Shakespeare to high school students
9. The dark
10. Large bodies of water

Fear number eight has become my life from 8:25 am until 10 am everyday for the next couple of weeks. Not only is Shakespeare difficult to read, he also wrote (or plagiarized, who knows) some intricate plots. Despite studying him in high school, again in college, and even going to the Globe Theater to see King Lear when I studied abroad, I will never feel comfortable with teaching his works to a group of sleepy teenagers who would rather be reading Twilight.

Rooney & Scratch

2011-02-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

Robert Scwartzman, dream hunk.

A friend recently told me that previous generations lived to work and that ours is doing it the other way around. I believe it.

This weekend was great! While I'm getting acclimated to the daily routine of teaching, the weekends have become too far and few.

On Saturday, Emma, her sisters and I went to see Rooney at Cat's Cradle. They're a fun bunch of guys with hair that could be in an Herbal Essences ad. I'm not sure if it was the mixture of having coffee in the afternoon and the sheer adrenaline of being at a concert but I was wired until after 1 am. Worth it.

This morning before church, Emma and I tried out Scratch, a new bakery in downtown Durham. We both enjoyed sugar coated muffins and eating outside! This weather is a winter miracle.

Bieber Fever.

2011-02-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

I caught it.

Last week the Greenville mall held a Justin Bieber look-a-like contest. The younger bracket had several baby Biebers wearing skinny jeans and rocking that perfect side swept hair do. The older age bracket had only three contestants and one was a clear winner, looking exactly like Usher's prodigy. Shocker of the century was that he didn't win.

Then I went to see the movie and felt ridiculous for a couple of reasons. The first being that at the young age of sixteen, he is a movie star and author. I'm nearly 23 and can barely figure out how to use a can opener. The second reason stemmed from the fact that I went to see a movie about a teenage boy and sang along throughout the whole thing.

This guy didn't win!

The kid on the far left won.

Meet Atlas.

2011-02-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

Introducing my Valentine: Atlas Amethyst Hayes I

I adopted him from PetSmart on Sunday under the impression he was a male betta fish. He acts like a female middle schooler, sulking around in his new home.

After his rebellious emo stage is over, I think we'll get along quite well.

Two weeks.

2011-02-09T19:29:00.000-08:00

Hello! Sorry it's been awhile. I have a lot to tell you guys about the past two weeks. Nothing is too spectacular...in fact some of it is downright boring but you don't mind, do you?

Here goes the list:

*Gap here in Greenville closed, leaving my jobless.

* Before it closed I had to ride in a U-Haul with 2 other people and deliver furniture to 5 stores across NC. It took 14 hours and forever scarred me from entering a career in delivery and/or truck driving.

* On January 31st, I began teaching a senior English class. Our first order of business was epics, beginning with Beowulf. It was a rough first day and I spent most of the afternoon on the verge of tears.

*Later that night, there was a question on Jeopardy about epics! I rejoiced.

*On February 1st, I told students about said Jeopardy question but apparently they have no interest in trivia game shows. By the end of the period, two of them called me the b-word....you know which one I'm talking about. Awesome.

*Last Friday, I got a paper cut in between my pointer and middle finger on my left hand. It made me think of all "would you rather" questions that involve having paper cuts in between all your fingers.

* This past Sunday my throat began burning unlike anything I'd ever felt before. I also woke up at 3 am because I thought I heard seagulls bickering outside my window. I deemed it a late night thought that was most likely a misconception and went about my sleeping.

*On Monday I went to school as usual but my throat became worse as the day progressed. I ended up waiting three hours at Urgent Care to find out that I had pharyngitis and a sinus infection.

*While driving to the doctor, I passed a man feeding seagulls about a block from my apartment and realized my late night misconception may not have been a misconception at all.

*For the past two days, there has been a very mysterious alarm-type sound coming out of my desk but I have yet to figure out what it is or why it is making noise.

* I have decided I want to open up a cupcakes & beer bakery/brewery.

*And tonight I watched the UNC vs. Duke basketball game, the one sports event I can't miss. Too bad it had a terrible ending.

There you have it, the past two weeks in a nutshell. Any questions?

January Music: The Decemberists

2011-01-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

The Decemberists The King Is Dead

I was a tad more daring with my music choice for the month. I tend to stick to safety music and listen to the same styles instead of branching out. However, I hadn't heard any of the songs The Decemberists new album The King Is Dead until I bought it.

Knowing nothing about the album other than it's title and having heard only one song from this band a few years back, I had no idea how country infused it would be. Generally, country music makes me cringe in a way no other genre can. I'm fairly sure this stems from going to Dollywood twice a year from age five to 18. But when done well, country music can be enjoyable.

Ironically the song that has become a favorite, "All Arise!," was one that I wanted to skip the first time I heard it because of the strong country-esque sound. That being said, this album reminds me of the Gin Blossoms. Has anyone else noticed how similar they sound? Or maybe it's just me.

Best songs: "Don't Carry It All," "January Hymn,"* " All Arise!"

*- Thanks to this song and The Avett Brothers' "January Wedding," I now have a sense of urgency to find a boyfriend who wants to marry me in January. Yikes.

This weekend.

2011-01-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I went home for my grandpa's 86th birthday! He's the coolest person I've ever met and has the best sense of humor. He also wears a flannel shirt and suspenders better than any hipster ever will. He also loves playing with my little niece. Gah, she's the cutest!

What did you guys do? Meet any celebs?

P.S. Look at me being famous on Blue Collar Catwalk!

Accidental Artist.

2011-01-18T18:42:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, a friend and I went to a paint-your-own pottery place here in Greenville called The Accidental Artist. Despite being paranoid that I was going to drop whatever I was painting, it was a lot of fun!

I painted a travel mug in my school's colors (blue and gold) in the hopes it would inspire me to wake up early enough to have some caffeine and get to school on time. I really like the way it turned out and already used it to drink my own version of a salted caramel hot chocolate.

Other than that, nothing too interesting has happened in the past week. The past four weekdays have been spent at school getting prepared for the new semester that starts on Thursday. Eeek, I'm getting nervous about teaching!

HATe is a strong word.

2011-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

(Image)

I don't use the word "hate" too often but there's no dancing around the fact that I hate these hats. I work across the hall from a store that sells them and it's painful to watch teenagers spend their parent's money on future fashion regrets. But now celebrities are doing it too!

If I was a panda, I'd be offended that humans were stealing my style.

Crafternight.

2011-01-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

The other night, I put on a movie and went to town writing letters and doing some crafty-type projects. It was all in procrastination of folding the laundry I did before Christmas. Look how productive procrastination can be!

To Sum It All Up.

2011-01-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

I meant to do this last week but dropped the ball. It's funny to look back and see everything I did in 2010. So here it goes- the highlights of 2010:

In January, we got snowed in at Chapel Hill!

February was a big month...I was in the NY Times, turned 22, enjoyed the Olympics and went to a UNC vs. Duke basketball game.

March was less eventful. I celebrated St. Patrick's day in Winston-Salem with my roommates.

In April, I bid adieu to pants and decided to move to Greenville.

In May, I graduated from UNC!

June was the month I moved to Greenville and began classes.

In July, I went to a local farmers market in Greenville.

I made some Augustutions in August.

In September, I was in my friend Anna's beautiful wedding.

I met Matt & Kim in October.

In November, I ventured to NYC.

December was jam-packed. I went to Georgia for another beautiful wedding and then got snowed in the day after Christmas.

Hope you had a great New Year's Eve!

Almost White Christmas.

2010-12-28T21:20:00.000-08:00

Getting snowed in at home is always bittersweet. The farm is beautiful when it snows and everything is covered for literally as far as we can see. The bitter part is knowing that our roads won't be cleared until at least a day after everyone else, leaving us stranded at our own house.

My grandma (who got Uggs for Chrismas) and I made lots of snow cream and watched my niece and nephew get involved in a snowball fight while my mom was trying to get a coat on our dog who bit her and then played dead until it was removed.

Glad the snow came but I'm also glad it's melting.

P.S. I'm running very behind on my December music selection- do you have any suggestions??

Winter Wedding

2010-12-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Julia & Meller

Me & Jilly Goat

5/9 of 121. Thanks for the pic, Meller!

Whoa, I didn't realize how long ago I'd abandoned the blog until I saw the date of the last post. A mixture of things contributed to the absence- namely end of semester portfolios, work, Christmas and the dial-up internet at my parent's house.

The weekend before Christmas, I ventured down to Georgia with Meller and Julia to see our other roommate Kara marry one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Bonus points for him because he looks like Minkus from Boy Meets World, even if he hates to admit it.

Kara is one of the most loving people I've ever known and her wedding was perfect. The reception was in the sweetest building in the historic district of Roswell, GA and the jazz band that played there kept everyone dancing!

Christmas cards.

2010-12-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

I got my first Christmas card in the mail today from Elizabeth. Look at what she wrote inside. So simple. So thoughtful. So funny.

My friend Jasmine and I are trying out the library on campus tonight to get ourselves prepped for the massive amounts of work due in the next two weeks. Jasmine stopped by the coffee place in the library to get a drink and they were out of all things caffeinated and/or chocolate. She was disappointed, as you can imagine.

I only have two more classes left in the semester! How exciting is that?!

November Music: Matt and Kim

2010-11-29T20:24:00.000-08:00

Matt and Kim Sidewalks

I haven't got one bad thing to say about this album. After hearing bits of it last month at their concert before its release, I was almost certain it would be better than the first. And it absolutely is.

These two play with sound so well together that it's unbelievable. Every song is upbeat and danceable. It's like somebody finally got the memo to make EVERY song on their album good, not just the singles.

Best songs: "Cameras," "Good for Great"

An Ode to Harry.

2010-11-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

I found this picture taken at King's Cross in London earlier on my old computer. When it was taken, my friends told me to look scared. I think I look scary. Big difference.

How perfect to stumble across it on the night of the premiere for the latest movie? It starts in an hour and I'm working on figuring out how to stay awake that late! I read recaps of the other six but am fully prepared to spend three hours in confusion.

About 30 seconds after this picture was taken, a pigeon grazed the top of my head. Prime example of how animals and babies are attracted to me.

Cambridge Nostalgia

2010-11-18T19:54:00.000-08:00

A daily busker who played in litter bins because he like the acoustics.

Guards at Buckingham Palace

King Lear at the Globe in London

Even the front of the Tate Modern is bursting with creativity.

Tonight I found an article about how to spend 36 hours in Cambridge, England. I'd only done two of the items on the list, punting and visiting the Fitzwilliam Museum, but it seems like the rest of the attractions/restaurants came about after my trip.

Some of the pictures are from London and Brighton, as well as Cambridge too. I would love to go back but part of me wants to see some place new. The other part loved England enough to move there.

(Not) Pajama Thursday

2010-11-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Spontaneous yellow in Connecticut.

Today I hit the free time jackpot! My only class was cancelled and I have the day off from work. Earlier in the week, I was set on having Pajama Thursday which would involve wearing pajamas all day and doing lots of work in prep for the end of the semester.

Then I realized pajamas don't make people productive. Coffee makes people productive. Too bad it's not cold enough for warm beverages. At 65 degrees, it's not even cool.

So today I have an ambitious plan to pump out as much writing as my fingers can handle. And tonight, I'm going to see the new Harry Potter movie at 12:16 am. I haven't actually read beyond the third book or seen any of the movies since the first one. I just really love going to the movies and seeing previews. And I love people watching.

Happy Thursday! The weekend's almost here.

For Meller.

2010-11-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

Spotted: Me getting on the train going out of town at Grand Central Station...

A day in NYC.

2010-11-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

Allison enjoying her Ray's pizza

The original Ray's at 6th and 11th.

My first Broadway show!

Such a tourist shot.

These are the only pics I took from our long day in the city yesterday! I guess I got swept up in people-watching and forgot to pull out the camera.

We got lunch at the original Ray's pizza, saw "Elf" on Broadway, watched part of the UNC game at Brother Jimmy's and then went shopping on 5th Avenue. (Not the expensive stores, mind you) The only thing I bought was a $10 silk glasses case from Anthropologie which I plan to use as a wallet.

Also, I had a jaw-dropping experience. At the beginning of "Elf," Santa mentioned something about the East Carolina vs. Boise game. I couldn't believe it. I mean, honestly, what are the chances Santa would mention my school?

Evolution of cars.

2010-11-09T21:17:00.000-08:00

Elementary school: I wanted a purple Mustang with flames down the side. My sister's boyfriend had a 'stang and I loved it. Thank goodness I grew out of wanting flames on a car.

Middle school: I yearned for a royal blue Ford Taurus. No reason for this one other than the color is awesome and shined in sunlight!

Early high school: My friend's parents had an Escalade and it was the comfiest car I'd ever been in.

Late high school/College: When I got my license, I just knew my parents would buy me one of these. They didn't. Instead they bought Libby the GrandAm.

Grad school: There was a lady who shopped at the mall where I used to work who drove one of these and I always thought it was adorable. Whenever I see them around Greenville now, I just want to ask if they'll take me on a joy ride in this bad boy.

ALL THE TIME: This car would be the ultimate indie-mobile, don't you think? Sure it's a gas guzzler but it'd sure show up those girls who think vintage dresses make them hipsters.

This is the evolution of cars I have wanted throughout my lifetime. I know nothing about their engines, their makes, models, etc but I do know that I'm glad my parents never bought me a car with flames down the side...even if it did cause quite a few arguments circa fifth grade.

To do in NYC.

2010-11-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

I've started making a list of things Allison and I are going to do next weekend in NYC:

1. Eat at Ray's Pizza on 11th.

2. Find a cast member of Gossip Girl...I'm hoping for Ed Westwick.*

3. Find Andrew Jenks.*

4. Shop for menswear. (a fedora for me, some oxfords for you)

5. Stroll through Central Park.

* If anyone has any idea of how to do this, please fill me in.

So it's not a great list but I'm still excited about heading up north. I haven't been on a plane in two years and that's too long.

This past weekend was crammed with working at my job and doing work for school. There are only four weeks left in the semester, meaning four weeks until I'm halfway done with grad school!

Have you ever read The House on Mango Street? If not, you should. It's an easy, but not meaningless, read.

Chapel Hill Homecoming.

2010-11-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

Tarheels in their Carolina blue.

A 2nd half team, no doubt.

Lovely ladies having lunch at Neal's Deli.

208 mini-reunion.

Chapel Hill was perfect this weekend!

I enjoyed a football game for the first time in my life. I got to see all these ladies plus a few more. And I ate two meals with a group that consisted of at least six girls but only one guy. Chapel Hill always lives up to its expectations.

Foolish.

2010-10-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

A few of my required readings for the week

It was foolish of me to believe I could be a successful full time grad student, work 30+ hours a week and have an internship.

It was foolish of me to think that I could read a book a day this week even though one lady did it.

Some of my books were lost in the mail, making them even more impossible to read.

The highlight of my day was finding out that a paper I thought was supposed to be 2-3 pages long is really only supposed to be 2/3 of a page in length. If only all my assignments were this easy and short.

I'm teaching my first lesson next week to some 11th graders about the Roaring 20s in prep for The Great Gatsby. I hope they enjoy the book as much as I do.

What I wouldn't give for it to be Friday when I'm heading to Chapel Hill for homecoming.

October Music #2: Florence and the Machine

2010-10-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

Album Cover

Ahhh, this album.

I've been obsessed with "Dog Days Are Over" ever since "Eat, Pray, Love" commercials started this summer. (I hated that movie, btw) Then I saw Florence and her machine performing on a few talk shows and was blown away by her voice. And then I remembered how bored I was with Mumford & Sons. And then I saw that Lungs was on mega-sale at Best Buy, the only place to buy music in Greenville besides Target.

Long story longer, I bought it and ripped the wrapper off as I walked out the automatic doors. It hasn't left my 6 disc changer since. One day soon, I may be joining in with the rest of society and using my iPod when I drive but that's not the point.

The point is that this album is funky, refreshing, serious and playful.

Best songs: "Dog Days Are Over," "I'm Not Calling You a Liar," "Kiss with a Fist," "Cosmic Love," "You've Got the Love"

I realize that's a lot of best songs but I couldn't choose. They're all great!

Does anyone have suggestions for next month?

October Music: Mumford & Sons

2010-10-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

Album cover

My first choice for October music was Mumford & Sons. I heard bits and pieces of them this summer but what really sealed the deal was a music video on MTV. Sure it's shallow but I'm glad something finally pushed me over the edge to buy the album.

The first eight or nine times I listened to it, I was a little bored because some of the songs are slow at the start but picked up later on. I kept dragging my feet about making a judgment and I'm glad I did because now I love it. While driving back from Raleigh the other day, it hit me how good it was!

If I had to describe their sound to someone, it'd be a mix of the Avett Brothers and Kings of Leon...not a bad combination in my opinion- which is precisely what all of this is.

Best songs: "The Cave," "Little Lion Man," "White Blank Page"

NC State Fair 2010.

2010-10-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

My nephew was all about the slide.

A new ride at the fair called "Hamster Dance." It includes putting kids in these bubbles and letting them act like hamsters. Not a pretty pic but too interesting to leave out!

Apples on my life: Pirate purple and Carolina blue. I like the purple ones more but my niece digs the blue.

So many options for candy apples: Stimulus package green, Carolina blue, Pirate purple or Wolfpack red.

I went to the fair today with my mom, niece and nephew. It's an annual tradition and every year I see something new. Just when I thought fried Oreos were crazy, they unveil the Krispy Kreme burger.

Matt & Kim concert.

2010-10-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Donnis, the opener

The king and queen, as Donnis called them.

Me, Kim and Vanessa

Me, Matt and Vanessa

25 thoughts about seeing Matt & Kim in concert at Cat's Cradle:

1. Matt and Kim's new album sounds awesome!

2. Teenagers sure have gotten tall these days.

3. A rapper (Donnis) opening for an indie band? Weirdsies.

4. I like this rapper friend's cardigan.

5. Kim can dance!

6. Teenagers have perfected the fist pump...though I'm not sure it's appropriate here.

7. Kim has the biggest smile I've ever seen.

8. Matt is a jokester.

9. Matt just said "Bieber bangs."

10. Matt watches Gossip Girl!

11. Matt did not like getting naked in NYC in February for this video.

12. That girl's mother would never have let her come to this concert if she'd known she was going to dance like that.

13. Matt is very bendy.

13. Playing the drums must give you killer arms because Kim has a gun show going on.

14. Matt and Kim like to give each other high-fives.

15. Matt thinks Kim has a "fine-ass ass."

16. Matt and Kim have balloons with their faces on them!

17. Matt must do yoga because he keeps playing his piano in a headstand sort of position.

18. Bangover= headache from head banging

19. If they keep playing all their songs this fast, this concert's only going to last about 40 minutes.

20. "Daylight" is even catchier live.

21. Oh no, I have a crush on a married man.

22. And an even bigger crush on his wife.

23. Somehow, magically, Kim is not sweaty after banging on the drums for 2 hours.

24. Matt gives exceptionally good hugs.

25. (after looking at the above pictures) Why didn't I squint so as not to look like a crazed stalker in these pictures with Matt & Kim?

Video didn't kill anyone.

2010-10-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Twosday videos-

You've probably already seen "Marcel the Shell" but it reminds me of a children's version of 30 rock, specifically of Tracy Jordan. :

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Little kids covering one of my favorite songs and doing a spot-on intro. :

It's almost Wednesday! And therefore almost Matt and Kim day!

NYC baby.

2010-10-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

I just booked a flight to NYC next month to visit Allison! And we're (hopefully) getting tickets to see Elf on Broadway!

I'm excited, I'm excited and I don't care who knows it!

I haven't had any more shopping slip-ups and I'm feeling good about going strong the rest of the month. I'm sure we'll get to do some shopping in the Big Apple, which will be well worth the wait.

I sure hope I run into some of the cast members of Gossip Girl while I'm in the Upper East Side. Ideally, I'd run into them filming and they would be so taken with my grace and style that I would land a role on the show.

Not that I've thought about it at all.

EEK! NYC!

XOXO,

Beach decor.

2010-10-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

The decor at my grandparent's beach house is both classic and eccentric.

Ahh, it was so nice to vacation in a room with a starfish, a boat in a bottle and a "No Smoking" sign that I can only assume was taken from a restaurant.

These are my confessions.

2010-10-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

I have a little confession to make. This past weekend, I bought 5 things! 4 shirts and a dress. Altogether, it was less than $50 and everything was more than 70% off. And all are teacher appropriate. With so many excuses, how can you blame me?

But I understand it’s the principle of the matter and I shopped when I said I wouldn’t. Shame on me.

What about the rest of you? Are you still going strong?

P.S. Here’s something unrelated to make you squirm. And check out these postcards.

Fall break.

2010-10-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hope you have a good weekend!

I'm on fall break until Tuesday but have no plans other than the typical ones to clean, read, write and sleep. I'm most excited about the sleep. Yesterday in a stupor, I wore my shoes on the wrong feet for 3 hours before I noticed anything different.

Chapel Hill has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm excited to go in a couple of weeks to see Matt & Kim and then again for homecoming at the end of the month.

Also, I am thisclose to buying stuff at work tomorrow. ACLB is getting harder everyday and sometimes you just need a new shirt to make up for a bad week- am I right?

The best book.

2010-10-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

Over the next couple of weeks, I have to write an essay defining my personal criteria for a good novel and then choose one novel that I think is the best. With such a broad topic, I'm at a loss for what novel to write about. How is it possible to pick one? That's like asking what kind of bear is best- there's no right answer!

Right now my top contenders are:

The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

They all have something unique about them and makes it hard to select one as the champion. Salinger's humor over Morrison's symbolism? Martel's plot over Twain's puns?

HELP ME DECIDE. (Especially you, Abby Pratt.)

Red pants.

2010-10-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

I knew it was going to be a spicy day when I threw on some red corduroy pants, exactly like the ones Kendi is wearing in the pic above.

First I spilled coffee on them and then I continued my slew of injuries by slamming my finger in the drop-safe at work. Last week I busted a toe open when I dropped my face wash. LIfe is dangerous, folks.

Even my 8 year old cousin thinks so. He recently had a fish that drowned. Kids actually do say the darndest things.

In regards to the shopping diet, I'm thinking of calling it All Clothes Left Behind. And is it cheating if I buy a new umbrella? Mine's not doing so well these days and there's a forecast for rain all week long.