But the Greatest Gift of All Was Him

It's been a crazy few days (so much for posting every day...not that I had anything to say anyway), but it's finally a relaxing day here in the house with everyone around and no extras. It's been really great having my grandparents here but it's nice to have the dog not jumping all over them begging for attention only to be ignored. We'll see them again tomorrow though, so it's all gravy from my standpoint.

But today is Christmas day, so I'll keep my promise to tell you what I received this morning from my family. And since it seems to be popular, I'll depict it with visual aids.

In increasing order of importance:

Cash: Lots of it. Which is really a great thing for a broke college kid.

iTunes Gift Card: This is fantastic because I wear songs out really fast once they're downloaded.

Sequin Fedora:   Now I can quit stealing from the boys during rehearsal (which kinda takes the fun out of it...but I still look stylish).

Facing the Giants:  This movie is fantastic. You'll laugh; you'll cry. I'm excited to finally have a new movie, although I've been craving a Moulin Rouge viewing if anyone cares to join in.

Portable Bottle of Burberry Brit: My favorite brand; my favorite scent. It's all wrapped into a tiny little bottle that can be stored in my purse (of the same brand) and used when I forget to spray before I leave home, or if I'm out and about and get really smelly and need to freshen up. Mom's been talking about getting a little bottle for years (I've gone through several full size bottles of this particular scent over the years as well).

Disney Sing It Family Hits: The game we didn't know existed that we spoke into existence, apparently. Now when we get back to school we're totally having a karaoke party!

Padfolio: This isn't the exact one, but you get the general idea. Now once I get a business suit that I'll be shopping for next week and a pair of black pumps that are appropriate for the job hunt, I'll look incredibly professional when I wander around.

Food Chopper: This is incredibly exciting because I can now chop onions in approximately half a minute instead of chopping for half an hour by hand. I can't wait to try this thing out.

Foot Massager: I'm for real about to try this thing out in a while. Now after a long performance that I've stood through in heels I can go home, fill this thing up, and relax. Now if C would get my foot cream back, I'd be in good shape.

Lastly, and most excitingly
BILLY ELLIOT TICKETS:    I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. FOR. THIS. SHOW. I watched the trailer earlier when I was making sure this was a Broadway Across America show and figuring out where the seats were in the auditorium, and I was tearing up and getting chills. I just hope S doesn't freak out if I start bawling during Angry Dance and Electricity during the show (similar to my reactions during Defying Gravity at Wicked this past summer).

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well, and that you never forget that the reason we even give gifts for this holiday is because we were given the ultimate gift when Christ was born.

Witticism of the Day: Just in case no one informed you at that candlelight service you were at last night, the candles represent the light of Christ that should be shared with the world and not hidden and kept to yourself.

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things

As we approach Christmas, we also approach the end of the year. I thought I would begin my reflections of the year early in order to make sure I get everything in. There were so many exciting things that happened this year, but I only have space for a few. Here we go.

Favorite Location of 2010:



Highlight of 2010:



Favorite New Addition of 2010:



Favorite Pair of Shoes of 2010:

To be continued.

Witticism of the Day: The holidays are for catching up with the people who move away from you.

And the Award Goes To...

Tonight L and I drove around for our annual Christmas light viewing party. We saw a few things we liked, but mostly we just saw atrocity. Here's how you can avoid being criticized by people like us.

1. NEVER mix LED light strands into your decor with regular lights. It ruins the entire yard. That being said, if you live in one of those neighborhoods where they require you to put out lights lining your driveway and the sidewalk and the rest of the neighborhood used regular lights, don't be the one to put out LED strands instead. It ruins the entire neighborhood which is completely uncool.
2. If you live in a neighborhood that puts out arches, be a team player and put your arches up. It brings unity to the neighborhood and brings cheer to all who pass through. Also, don't try to be different with your arch (i.e., if the rest of the neighborhood has an alternating red/white pattern with their arches, don't put up LED or multicolor arches).
3. Make sure the lights you put up are proportional to the size of your home and yard. If you have a massive home and put out one little decoration, it really makes you look lazy. If you can't afford to do this, don't put up decorations at all.
4. NEVER put up more than one theme for your yard. If you want to be commercial and put Santa out, then leave it with a Santa/reindeer/elf theme (except for those cute cutouts of Santa kneeling at the manger because those are incredible to see); if you want a Peanuts theme, don't mix it in with Disney characters. Having seventeen Santas, snowmen, Disney characters, and nativity scenes in your yard all at once is trashy.
5. Above all, keep in mind that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas, so keep the decorations tasteful.

Keep in mind, sometimes the most beautiful homes are the ones decorated all in white lights. Sometimes, they're more beautiful with multicolor lights.

Favorite Decoration of the Year: This year's choice is the same as last year's - the strands of lights that hang down in one straight line from the tallest branch of a tree. I have no idea how people get them up there (or more importantly down), but it looks really cool if done properly.

Witticism of the Day: Never send your junior high school child out into the freezing night air to play Christmas tunes on their trumpet. It's festive, indeed, but it makes passerby want to call Child Protective Services on you.

Vacation

I'm finally done, and now it's time to relax (but hopefully I get to work tomorrow at least some so I can have some money). In honor of this occasion, I'll be describing my plans for the break in this post. My goal is to post every day if possible just to see if it's possible that I have anything interesting to say.

• Post Daily
• Drive around town and look at Christmas lights. By this, I mean L and I will drive around town and act as though we're judging the lights displayed, discussing the best new addition to the scene this year, the worst new addition to the scene this year, the best display we pass, and the busiest display we pass (although it's usually the same house ever year...I mean, do you really need seven nativity scenes, fourteen santas, Winnie the Pooh characters, the Peanuts characters, angels, and lights around every tree in your yard?)
• Search for a job! Priority #1, btw.
• Strive to reach my goal of wearing an old dress to what I'm referring to as "college prom" in the spring by visiting the friendly neighborhood YMCA daily and attempting to not eat too much.
• Hold potluck dinners: We learned last Christmas that this is a fantastic way to hang out with friends without spending all our money (like when we visit our friendly neighborhood sbux daily just to have something to do).
• Go to the park with my bestie like we used to back in the day (awww)
• Work out a song to sing before everyone scatters again
• Visit the new outlets (and not purchase anything...as if it's possible)
• Force E to go dance with me at a monthly dance party somewhere
• Force A to hang out with me (it's been a year bubba)
• Learn SAS!! Priority #2
• Visit the zoo a few times: Mom announced this evening that we have an annual membership to the zoo!
• See a movie on Christmas day that doesn't make me bawl (thank you Marley and Me for ruining last year)

We'll see how successful I am at these things. I'll keep you posted.

Witticism of the Day: Blinkers are our friends; use them. Seatbelts are our friends as well; most definitely use them.

Let's Do This

Tonight's post is short on account of finals.


Today was splendid, despite having to study through most of it. It really is the little moments that count. I spent a lot of today around a wonderful group of people who I very rarely get to hang out with, so it was quite a treat. It just goes to show that not only do our voices blend well together, but our personalities do as well. Despite the many moments of the day that made me smile, including lunch with my family, I have to say tonight took the cake.


It wasn't just the pancakes in the middle of the night, or even coming home smelling of bacon and maple syrup. The highlight of my day, and likely my week, was walking into the house just in time to bless the food by singing Doxology together. It gave me supreme chills.

I hope you find a moment this week to make you feel the same. There's really nothing like praising the Lord in any way He has blessed you to do so.


Witticism of the Day: It's a stressful time for all of us no matter what our circumstances. Make sure to take a few minutes of your day to devote to taking a breath and reflecting on all the blessings in your life, however small they may seem.

Later...

It's that time again, boys and girls. We're all going crazy studying for our finals/taking our finals. This also brings on that which goes hand-in-hand with studying, procrastination. I will now investigate the forms of procrastination.

Anti-productive Forms:

• Facebook: We all know it's inevitable and all too simple to check obsessively.
• Likealittle: This handy tool came just in time for finals procrastination.
• Blogging: Oops.
• Watching television: While excellent for taking a break once in a while, watching all day causes supreme lack of productivity.
• Shopping: You can claim it's for supplies, but we all know that the survival kits and goody bags provided through various outlets supply this for us and that if you go shopping it's just to waste time. If it's Christmas shopping, you should do this once you finish all your finals or go to ONE store and take care of what you can there intermittently.
• Parties and other assorted gatherings: These are acceptable as long as you do not attend for an extended length of time, but it's much too tempting to remain where the fun is, so I recommend not attending at all. You can get all your socializing in at the beginning of next semester.
• Intramurals: Sorry boys.

Productive Forms:

• Quick Errands: This includes grocery shopping, haircuts, doctor check-ups (waiting rooms allow for some studying to be done), truly shopping for supplies (assuming the goody bags failed to include necessities), etc.
• Cleaning: If you're like me, your room must be completely in order before you can begin to be productive. Make sure you don't turn this into scrubbing down every surface just to waste time.
• Exercising: This will wake you up, get your blood flowing, and fully prepare you to get down to business. Plus, it helps you work off that food you ate when you went to lunch so you could see that friend just one more time before the break.
• Meetings: As long as these don't turn into social hours, you're all good.

Remember, if you're in doubt, it's probably not productive. Also, make sure your study groups don't turn into social hour as well. Productive studies everyone!

Witticism of the Day: Dressing WAY up and staying in is much more fun than getting super dressy and going in public.

Did You Know?

This time every year I start listening to way too much Christmas music (although, can we really listen to too much considering it's worship?) which always gets my gears in motion. This morning began my annual thought cycle on Mary (you know...she gave birth to Jesus). I thought I'd share these thoughts will all of you lovely people.

It's so hard for me to wrap my brain around what it must have been like for her. I try to put myself in her shoes: I'm a sixteen year old girl and an angel appears to meand tells me I'm having a baby and I'm like, "...but I'm a virgin?" and then the angel tells me it's GOD's son?! I'm thinking I'm going to wake up in a hot sweat and pace around the room for several hours. Then I'm going to go back to sleep for a short time and then wake up and think it was just a dream. That is, until my betrothed comes over and tells me he had a similar dream. Then I think it's just a weird coincidence. Then I get morning sickness...that's when I really freak out.

Then all my friends start disowning me because I'm an unwed woman having a baby (I do not condone this behavior in this day and age anyway) and no one but my betrothed, who is fantastic and weds me to save me from as much judgement, believes what's really happening. I feel like at this point I would start having some shaky faith in what the Lord is trying to do through me which is why I'm always in complete awe of Mary.

I always wonder though, did she ever doubt? Did she ever just crawl in a corner alone and bawl her eyes out? Or was she really the woman of faith we know her as? I like to think she had a handle on the situation and rode into Bethlehem with her head held high and her heart bursting at the seams at the joy that was to come. At the same time, I still don't think she knew the extent of what was to come. This is why all the Christmas songs about Mary are my favorite.

I hope this has provoked your thought process. I'll probably continue to have Christmas themed blogs for a while, so get used to it : )

Witticism of the Day: Getting fancy for no reason is one of the greatest joys in life.

Classtastic

This post is dual-faceted. I had a topic in mind and was completely rearing to type it up and then before I could make it home to dump here I came up with something else. Fortunately for you (or unfortunately, depending if you came to this site of your own free will or if someone forced you to in which case I sympathize with you, deeply) I'm going to spill both my magic lists of the day.

List 1

Reasons I belong in high society:

1. Ballroom dance is my favorite hobby.
2. I must attend live theater on a regular basis.
3. I'd rather have wine than unclassy beverages.
4. I loooooove organizing events.
5. I'm more comfortable in a formal gown than jeans.
6. I have charishma (...I think).
7. Being classy is my real favorite hobby.
8. I prefer my men in tuxedos.
9. I belong on the Upper East Side.
10. We all know high society could use a little dose of my charm.

You know it's true.

List 2

Current Goals for the Future:

• Be in Paris for every French holiday once I can afford the incredible expense travelling to a country using the Euro can be and once this whole body scanner drama dies down.

Yeah...that's pretty much it. I just thought it would be more exciting in list format. Doesn't the bullet just accent how important it is? Don't answer that; of course it does.

Witticism of the Day: Coping mechanisms should be as diverse as the situations in which they must be deployed. Ultimately, however, you have to come to terms with whatever it is you're coping with.

GG-esque Gifts

As I begin tonight, I'd like to state that I know for a fact that the greatest gift of all was the gift God gave the world at Christmas.

That being said, I'd now like to share a new list with you all. I already gave my realistic-ish Christmas list, and now I'd like to give my Upper East Side/Limitless Budget wish list (with visual aides....ooooh...aaaaaah).

Number 1: Cook for the Cure Edition Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer Flour Power Rating 9 Cup (KitchenAid)

 You know it's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen.

Number 2: Christian Louboutin Studio 120 pumps in Ivory

You know they're the most beautiful things you've ever seen. Beauty over functionality.

Number 3: Valentino Ruffle-Front Silk Gown in Fraise



You know it's gorgeous.

Number 4: De Beers Wildflowers Multi-Row Necklace

You KNOW it's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen.

I'll stop here or things could get really out of hand.

Witticism of the Day: This time every year people get crazy trying to come up with gifts to give to all of their friends. My advice? Skip the insanity, forget originality, and give your friends the gift they really want: togetherness. We learned years ago that when you all start buying each other Starbucks gift cards for Christmas that it's in everyone's best interest to just go hang out at s-bux for a few hours exchanging stories and reminiscing.

Stuck

It's been a while, boys and girls. I had an entire post up about the do's and don't's of PDA, but then I found it could be entirely too critical and offensive to my regulars (assuming I have any regulars). So I've erased it and will now discuss something else.

WARNING TO ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS: It's almost Thanksgiving which means the rest of the free world gets an entire week of vacation and you get two days. Since it's application/decision time for all the high school seniors, they'll begin invading the campus while you're attending class.

Here are some things to do to survive the impending penetration.

• Stare the potentials down. They're staring at you, so why not return the favor.
• Be polite to them at the same time. We have traditions here at my school that specify we must greet those we pass with a terrifying battle cry...or something. It comes in handy when surrounded by visitors. However, it quite often backfires when there's a large crowd of visitors together...so beware the repercussions.
• Assert your senority when passing by.
• Walk past in a hurry as if you're the most important person on the campus.
• When passing in a group, make sure to be loud and obnoxious to prove that you fit in on campus. I'm not really sure why, but it's showing off, which I approve of.

Just kidding. Point them in the right direction, be of assistance to them in any way possible, and overall, be nice to these people; they're the ones who will sustain the organizations we've worked so hard in our time here to ensure the future of. Also, you never know which member of your school's ROTC program's sibling/family member/significant other you're terrifying.

Plus, it's rude to be mean.

Witticism of the Day: I feel it's my place to pass along some wisdom to this coming generation of new students. Make sure you get to know the other people in your major from day one. You never know what kind of crazy things they'll pull along the way to make you feel like you never left high school! Don't be like me and not get to know anyone until we're all about to graduate and go off in separate directions.

Ode to Chuck Bass

We all know by now that I'm a giant Gossip Girl fanatic. So it should come as no surprise to you that this is what I've decided to base tonight's blog off of. It should, however, come as a surprise to you that I have FINALLY decided on my favorite character after reading all 17 novels and watching the majority of the episodes of the television version. Although the two are VASTLY different, I decided that the most dynamic both in the novels and on the show is Chuck. And that's why he's my favorite.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about this decision (because it's really that important) and I finally realized another reason why I came to choose the villian as my favorite. It's not due to the fact that I always chose the bad guy as my favorite in any Disney movie growing up (although that probably has something to do with is). It's because of the real, live Chuck Bass. And the thing is, I keep rooting for the Chuck/Blair relationship to work out in the end even though it's impractical. She's wise to push him away, but we all know it won't last.

So if you see this Chuck, you should know that you're on Blair's mind despite her better judgement.

Witticism of the Day: Studying techniques are very effective, especially if the technique is to recall the material you were reviewing when someone said that hilarious thing. Just remember the hilarious thing during the exam and the important stuff should follow.

Back Into Halloweentown...

The title really has no relation to the topic of this particular blog post, but I just finished watching the original Halloweentown (which was completely the best), and it is almost Halloween. Therefore, you have no place to complain that the title and topic aren't equal.


So much is going on this week (most of it good), and I just wanted to share the excitement with all of you.
The thing I'm most excited about is that I get to devote three nights of my life this week to the combination of two of my favorite things ever: BALLROOM AND BROADWAY! The genius behind this marriage of the greatest hobbies ever is Harley Medcalf. I'm so incredibly pleased to say that I get to meet this man this week and get to pick his brain a little bit. The best part is that I'm writing a paper for a class about family-friendly Broadway shows and then an actual Broadway producer is handed to me on a silver platter.

Which leads me to the real topic of the day: God provides. I'll admit that I've been feeling really sorry for myself a lot recently. This is ridiculous of me, and I know it. Even when I can't see God jumping through hoops to please my every whim (as if He wanted to do that anyway...we all know that my ways are far inferior to His) I should still be praising Him for everything He's blessed me with and looking for the lesson in the situation instead of complaining incessantly. Today I've been listening to a ton of songs about surrendering your burdens, and I think since I haven't been listening lately God decided to just drill it into my head. So I've decided to listen and do as I'm obviously being commanded to do.

Rhetorical Questions: Is it incredibly lame that the preview for the one hour Hannah Montana special made me almost cry? Is it sad that I find Sonny With a Chance's commedy skits to be occasionally more entertaining than Saturday Night Live skits? Am I referencing the Disney Channel entirely too much tonight?

Currently Anticipating (Impatiently): http://www.burnthefloor.com/

Witticism of the Day:  When we're learning to draw, we make what we think is a circle on a piece of paper. Later in life we look back at that drawing and realize what we thought was a circle is really just some semblance of one and more scribble than actual shape, but we know how to form a circle now. It is in the same way that we learn from our situations what God planned for us. (I can't take credit for this because I heard this at Sunday School today, but I felt it should be passed on because I really enjoyed the analogy. It's still witty.)

Here's a list of reasons why I don't write a gossip blog:

• Speading gossip is a sin.
• I don't know enough people to keep it interesting enough for very long.
• I'd basically be mirroring Gossip Girl, and I'd hate to be sued by Cecily von Ziegesar.
• Word travels too fast around here for me to get it out and be relevant.
• I don't blog enough for it to stay interesting.
• It would be immediately traced back to me.

I hope these reasons keep you from writing one as well. Just watch GG and you'll have your fix. XOXO (just kidding.)

Witticism of the Day: When given a task for a leadership position, take care of it in a timely fashion or at least make an effort to. People are much more willing to help you out if they can tell that you're completely overwhelmed as opposed to just claiming to be too busy to take care of things.

He Never Failed Me Yet

There's never a moment in my life when I'm not thankful for God's presence in it. I may not always take the time to stop and thank Him for everything He's blessed me with, but I definitely did today.

Today wasn't exceptionally good or bad; it was an average day in the life of a college student. Waking up early after staying up late for homework purposes, staying on campus to help promote both organizations I hold dear, and rushing around to finish the homework before the deadline. However, I got an email while I was doing my homework in the lab that reminded me of where my priorities should lie.

Every week I get an email from my discussion group leader from my Sunday School class. It never ceases to make me smile. Today she included something about being stressed and the business in our lives and never forgetting to take time to be still and know that He is Lord. Even in the midst of the insanity He's there, watching over me. Now, I don't know about you, but this is really reassuring and although I still have a million and one things to do, I have a peace within my soul that I cannot express to you here.

So I sat down and read from Deut. 1. One of the things I've been struggling with lately is trying to control the outcomes of my future. I know it's not in my hands, but it never stops me from trying. But tonight I was reassured in my quiet time that God has a place for me after graduation and as long as I do my best, He'll take care of the rest.

I hope this gives you peace if you're as stressed and busy as I've been lately!

Current Hope for Hollywood: Selena Gomez! Stay pure, sweetheart. S and I are pulling for you and quite regularly rock out to your catchy pop as we cook dinner or get ready for a dance.

Witticism of the Day: Keeping a book of quotes is an excellent way to remember that really witty thing you read in a book or heard on a sitcom or that your prof says at random. Try to fill it up as you proceed in life.

The High C's

Today we're going to discuss the five C's. I know you've heard of the four C's, but there's an extra C you should be aware of. I'll also include a discussion of the other elements that complete my ideal band, just in case you were wondering.

For those of you who are lost right now, these C's relate to purchasing a diamond. I should put the disclaimer on here that I am not obssessed with diamonds (although they are a girl's best friend), but that I've recently spent a lot of time glancing at one and I felt I should share my wisdom on the subject with the world.

The typical four C's (in order of importance) are Clarity, Cut, Color, and Carat. The fifth C that I abide by is Cost (which is really number one but is not conventionally included in the C's). I'm sure many of you are surprised that Carat isn't first on this list, but my in depth explanation will shed some light on why this is a false assumption.

I am HIGHLY distracted by things that sparkle. This is why clarity takes the cake every time. For those of you who are unclear on what this means (punny!), clarity relates to the muddiness of the diamond's appearance. A cloudy diamond will not deflect light in all directions and will appear dull which will restrict the sparkle of the diamond, which is the unacceptable^infinity. Diamonds with imperfections will have brown spots when viewed under a microscope. This is also unacceptable. (P.S. A flawless rating is the only way to go in my opinion.)

Cut comes second on account of the way it looks on my finger. This is typically a personal preference, and mine rests on round cuts. (Cut relates to the shape of the diamond as it sits in the setting in case you didn't know.) If you know me then I'm sure your assumption was that I would prefer a princess cut, but you would be wrong. Princess cuts are too pointy for my preference, but I do enjoy the name. The round cut wins my vote on account of its ability to reflect light with ease even if it fails to pass my clarity and color test. I've included a diagram of cuts above to ease your personal decision.

Under the category of color I choose to include two topics. There's the conventional color which relates to the color of the diamond. I also include the color of the band and setting which case the diamond (I'm sure you already caught on that we're discussing engagement bands and not just diamonds in general. If not, SURPRISE! Now you know.). For the diamond color, less is more. The more colorful a diamond is, the more yellow it appears. The more yellow it appears, the less it sparkles. The less it sparkles, the less I smile. Thus a colorless diamond is the only way to go. As for the band, I have a personal preference. My father keeps telling me that yellow gold is about to come back into style. However, I have never been one to keep up with trends, especially not in jewelry. I am not a fan of yellow gold, and I will be wearing some on my right hand for the rest of my life due to my dedication to the traditions associated with my school, but my left hand is completely my choice. White gold/Platinum is my personal preference. Yes, it's more expensive, but only slightly, and isn't it worth it to put a smile on my face?! (If your answer was no, see me after class.)

Then there's the C that most women place high priority on, and I claim to place high priority on in casual conversation. However, if a diamond is chosen properly, this should be the least of the purchaser's concerns. A high carat, cloudy, yellow diamond may look impressive from quite the distance, but if you're easily distracted then you'll be quite disappointed with its lackluster appearance. It's better to have to have a modest-sized, flawless, colorless diamond than a large lackluster one. Keep this in mind.

Finally, there's the cost. The fifth C that everyone worries about but few include in the C's listing. It's true that designer diamonds are all the rage these days, and I'll admit that I have a Tiffany's catalogue page on the fridge beside my bed. However, I do not want a diamond that costs more than my car, and I do not want to be in debt because of the ring when I get married. Also, beware that not all designer diamonds are created equal. The prestige that follows the jeweler is grand without doubt, but there are other jewelers that will supply a much more spectacular diamond in a similar setting for approximately one-third of the price. I'm not saying by any means that I boycott designer diamonds; I encourage these if you have the funds to ensure the properly perfect diamond. For those of you who can't afford this, however, I must recommend the lesser-known jewelers who supply magnificient stones. Take for example my comparison of solitares from three different jewelers: 

• Tiffany 1C Solitare Starting at $9200 http://www.tiffany.com/Engagement/item.aspx?GroupSku=GRP10001&selectedSku=23281732#f+0/0/0/0/0/0 vs. A 14K White Gold 1C Solitare at Jared at $2899.99 http://www.jared.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryProductsView?No=12&Ne=1&Ntt=20806&Ntk=Category&langId=-1&topCatId=19061&bcCatIds=19061&storeId=10451&N=+0&catalogId=10001&categoryId=19061&viewTaskName=CategoryProductsView
• De Beers .3C Solitare Starting at $1800 http://www.debeers.com/Engagement-Rings/Forever-Engagement-Ring/invt/j1eu01b10p&bklist=icat,6,shop,toprings,ncrings,ringsengagement,j1eu01b10p vs. A 14K White Gold 1/3C Solitare at Jared at $499.99

So while we all sit at home and mock the "He went to Jared!" commercials, I fully endorse the Galleria of Jewelry's diamond quality, having witnessed them firsthand. However, a girl should never have to utter the phrase "He went to Wal-Mart!" If Cost is the first C on your list, look into jewelry stores at your local mall. They have plenty of reasonably priced, moderately magnificient to fully magnificient diamonds. Just because your local one-stop shop has a jewelry department does NOT mean you should frequent it for fine jewelry.

Just in case you missed the last important element of the perfect ring, it's setting. I prefer a solitare because of its simplicity. However, this is again a personal preference, and you are by no means obligated to share this view. Not only will a solitare be a nice transition from my True Love Waits ring (which I wear around my heart as well as my finger and the physical ring is simplistic and dainty), but there is more room to focus the fifth C on the fourth C without compromising the other three C's in the process. Something similar to the Tiffany setting is my ideal, although I recognize that the actual ring will likely not come from Tiffany's. This is perfectly acceptable to me.

I hope this overview has helped you in focusing on your ideal ring, and I hope that all the gentlemen who have read this far know what it is their future wives hope to obtain on their left finger at the time of proposal (and keep in mind that just because she knows what she wants her ring to look like does NOT mean she's ready for you to purchase it and pop the question, but it doesn't mean she's not).


Witticism of the Day: All girls over the age of 18 fantasize about their wedding day, and many already have most of the details hashed out in their minds. Don't freak out if you (as a gentleman) overhear a conversation about such things when your lady is among other women her age. This is perfectly natural and in no way means that she's waiting for you to pop the question. A lady always waits until the time is right.

I Will Life My Eyes

Some weeks are just awful. This has been one of those weeks for several people I know, myself included. You have back to back meetings and then the people at the pharmacy complicate things. Here are a few things I know can make me smile on weeks like this.

• Jesus
• Chocolate
• S's cooking
• Solving long-standing issues
• Blogging!
• Chocoalte

Next time you're having one of those weeks, try some of these things and see how much better you feel.

Witticism of the Day: If you're one of those environmentalists, don't start a major in mathematics or statistics or related fields. There's a lot of wasted paper associated with these courses.

How To Woo a Lisa

I'm sure you're all wondering by now what it takes to win the heart of a Lisa, so I've compiled a list for you.

Things TO Do:

• Be as nerdy as possible without really trying. Lisas love nerds!
• Call your Lisa a princess because she is.
• Take your Lisa to a show of the Broadway variety. She'll never leave your side after this.
• Wear a purity ring. Don't just wear it around your finger, though, wear it around your heart as well.
• Make random gestures of affection to your Lisa. The small things really make Lisas smile.
• Serenade your Lisa with a song.
• Go to church with your Lisa.

Things NOT To Do:

• Don't make promises you have no intention of keeping.
• Don't cease making conversation. Lisas love to hear about you, therefore, you can never talk too much.
• Don't ever breathe the following phrase: "It's a full half-carat pear cut cubic zirconia!" (Courtesy of our friends that write Chuck at NBC)
• Don't put up a wall to keep your Lisa out of your life. Lisas love knowing what's going on in your life and are ready and willing to help with whatever it is you need assistance with.

Keep these things in mind when pursuing a Lisa. This will guarantee your acceptance into her life.

Witticism of the Day: Baking is the best stress reliever. You get to pound your ingredients which can help you refrain from pounding other people.

The Month of Fear

If the weather's getting cooler and your schedule is filling up so that you have no time to yourself then you know it's October. I know it's not just me who feels this way. High school students are busy with football season or their respective activities (but we all know they revolve around the football season anyway), parents of students are busy driving them around everywhere they need to be and supporting their children in any way they can, college kids are revolving their schedules around football.

The thing is, it's not the football that fills up the month. It's the activites. There's something important every weekend and you have to pick and choose or you get to be the social butterfly of the season trying to get around to everything. I'm the type that likes to make an appearance at everything I can, but I don't like to miss out so I stay as long as I can. My advice is to pick your activities and be sure to schedule some time to yourself so that you don't lose your mind completely. November's just around the corner, so take heart.

Witticism of the Day: Naps are not just for children. They're fantastic, and you should have one tomorrow. You'll love it; I promise.

The (Near) Death of Chivalry

If you know me well then you know it is not uncommon for me to use the commonly heard phrase "Chivalry is dead." However, this is not entirely true. You may not see it in industrial America, but out here in the woods, it's easy to see. I admit to sometimes using this phrase in reference to my frustration with members of the opposite sex. This is wrong of me, and I'll explain why.

It's the small things, really. Just the other day I boarded the crowded bus and was prepared to stand the entire drive home when a man offered up his seat to me so that I could sit. Every day I see boys holding the doors for girls when they enter or exit a building. There are entire organizations devoted to random acts of kindness. I recommend dropping the mindset that there are zero human beings left who have a single kind bone in their body. I know I'll do my best to try : )

Things I'm looking forward to this weekend:

• Having the bird delivered for lunch tomorrow afternoon with J!! They can't stop that service without us using it first.
• Spending sixteen hours of my life around a crazy bunch of performing artsy people (who are super incredible!)
• Sleeping all day Saturday
• Gene Kelly movie marathon with a completely different set of incredible people including but not limited to B and H
• Sunday School!! / Choir!! / Service!!
• Ensemble rehearsal with an even more awesome set of people!
• K COMING TO VISIT!!!!!!!!!

Witticism of the Day: Living alone sounds like fun (singing at the top of your lungs with no one around to hear, dancing like a moron with no one around to judge you, sitting around dressed in the bare minimum), but if you're skirmish, keep in mind that the tigers come at night. Live with a close personal friend that will dance like a crazy person with you, sing at the top of their lungs along with you, and won't mind your weird dressing habits.

Tuesday

Here's a list of things that made me smile today:

• Two boys walking out of a test were discussing their apprehension that there was a long string of A's on the scantron. Boy A asks Boy B if he had the same strain and when the answer was yes both boys felt much better. This made me smile because I know everyone does the exact same thing after this happens to them. Thank you S.A.T. prep teaching you that you'll never have a string of more than three of the same letter.
• DANCE ON BROADWAY! There are several reasons why this game is the greatest ever: choreographed routines that mimic the actual dances you would see on stage or in film adaptations, avatars dressed in costumes resembling that which you would find on stage or in the film adaptations, lyrics so you can sing while you dance, and the fact that there's a game for the wii related to Broadway musicals. This is an excellent workout, although it will be an even better workout when the outside world can no longer see directly in and watch me make a fool of myself.
• The weather here in the woods was absolutely perfect today. The sun was shining, the temperature was mild, and there was a slight breeze to top it all off. If I hadn't had class then I would have gone to a park somewhere and laid down for a while.
• It was Tuesday which means dance to all the cool kids I know. We had a great lesson; our beginners are looking great, and we took care of a lot of business. I can't wait for our Halloween lesson so I can see everyone's costumes!
• There was a social dinner. It's always great to get out in public with some of your favorite people and stuff your face while simultaneously making the rest of the individuals at your chosen food establishment wish they had chosen a different place to dine because your conversations carry across the entire building. This also means there was lots of picking on others and being picked on in return. Don't worry, though, because it's all playful and out of love for each other. What will I do when I can't see these people on a regular basis?!

And there you have it. Tomorrow I'll upload a picture of the completed microphone along with my how-to guide so you can make your own (or run away screaming).

Witticism of the Day: There's nothing more sublime than playing in the rain when it's light and there's no thunder involved. Beware of the following, however: Make sure you're not wearing white on top, and be prepared for the impending cold that will plague you after.

Christmas in October

Since I have nothing relevant to say tonight, I thought I'd share my Christmas list thus far with you. Feel free to buy everything on the list and then some. I also accept cash and euros...and plane tickets to Paris.

At the top of the list this year is BILLY ELLIOT!! No, not the child, not the movie (although it does have the greatest line ever...) the MUSICAL! My family has expressed their desire to not see this particular show, but it won't stop me from asking for tickets because I know plenty of people who have expressed desire to go with me. Top two reasons to see this show: BRITISH CHILDREN and the most fantastic score everrrr (well, not really, but it's super good).

Below this on the list is Disney Sing It Family Hits! We've been saying for two years that we would totally rock a game like this if it ever came out and then somehow it slipped under the radar (SIDENOTE: I CAN HEAR OUT OF MY LEFT EAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DAYS...thank you acute bronchitis or something).

Then there's the unrealistic desire to own the most beautiful mixer on the planet; you know the one. Your mom has it, your grandmother has it, your best friend's mom has it, your next door neighbor has it. I want it. Too bad it costs half as much as my purse.

Lastly, in honor of Billy Elliot, I'd like to request the coolest running shorts on the planet. I'll pick up a pair at the show (I mean performance).

Witticism of the Day: If you're seeing someone who makes you feel like anything less than a princess then you should move on with your life and wait for the one who'll make you feel better than anyone else ever has before.

The How-To's of Public Transportation

Many of you, like me, use a form of public transportation on a daily basis. Recently, I've been noticing some trends on the bus and decided to share my thoughts here.

To drivers: You are greatly appreciated, so please do not take any offense at these tidbits. However, I have a few things to discuss with you.

1. Older gentlemen, I know you've been driving that bus for (x^4) years and know this route like the back of your hand, but please keep in mind that you are strapped in while the rest of us are not. Take those turns gently, and don't slam into the back of that UPS truck or we WILL find out what Brown can do for us...and we won't like it.
2. Cowfolk, I understand we're out in the woods here and you need some music on to stay entertained, but please turn your Country down to a respectible decible that won't deafen and simultaneously teach the riders how to leave your wife.
3. Young ladies at the scheduled stop waiting for time to continue on with the route, I know this counts as your break, but please text inconspicuously. When you text noticeably, it makes me feel like you'll be doing the same as you drive, jeopardizing my well-being.

To other riders: We could have been friends, but all of you that I don't know that climb aboard and choose to stand rather than sit by me hurt my feelings, so now I'm going to tell you why else we can't be friends.

1. It's still summer here in the woods, so please make friends with the following two things: BATHS AND DEODORANT. We're not in Italia; going without either and/or both does NOT fly.
2. To the person on the phone, just because the person on the other end isn't right next to you, this doesn't mean you need to talk loud enough for them to hear you without the phone. If you need to speak this loudly, please tell the person you'll call them back or wait for the next bus to come around after you get off the phone.
3. And lastly, my favorites, the groups of people who ride together and have conversations above the rest of the typical bus noise. I understand it's easy to get animated when conversing about something you feel strongly about, but the majority of you just gossip. Loudly. I feel dirty after hearing about all the things your friend did when she had a few too many last weekend. Please keep other people's business to a minimum decible.

P.S. I got my supplies for the bedazzled microphone (yet another reason why I need a Bedazzler...add that to the Bedazzler tally we have running). Construction of said microphone will begin this evening as Sambagirl and I watch Vampire Diaries. I'll keep you posted as we go.

Witticism of the Day: No matter how hard you try, you WILL end up spending more than you budgeted in your local craft store. Aim low to avoid gasping when the cashier announces to the store how much you spent.

My Crafty Side

When I finally got to lay down last night, my gears were turning like crazy. This led me to land on a not-so-random-yet-seemingly-random thought about what to wear for the costume contest at the retreat I'll be attending next weekend. Being a cheap, almost-broke college student, I mentally scanned my closet to figue out what I had to work with. Then it hit me.

Hannah Montana. (Another juvenille thought, yes, but I'm not quite ready to give up my love of Disney.) I've got a great outfit, so all I need are accessories. But what's Hannah without that fabulous blinged-out microphone from the end of the feature-length film?! Going back to the statement about my cheap ways, I began to ponder how I could form this microphone for the least amount of money possible. Sure, I could purchase a cheap karaoke microphone and glue things to it, but where's the creativity there?

So here's my recipe for a bedazzled accessory every girl at the retreat will be jealous of (and probably five year olds everywhere as well):

1. Glue (We don't have any here, sadly.)
2. One medium sized styrofoam ball
3. Silver glitter
4. One black tube/rod of sorts (I'm hoping when I stumble on this ingredient in the store it will jump out at me as the obvious choice. I only hope this isn't a literal attack, as I would likely be scarred for life.)
5. Last, but so far from least, one to two packages (depending on said tube/rod side) of multicolored beads/jewels

We can only hope this doesn't end in tears. I'll keep you posted. I'm hoping no one at the retreat discovers my true identity behind the wig, but we all know I'll end up ripping it off before the end of the night until a creepy little girl tells me to go on being Hannah.

Witticism of the day: I know walking the Ancient Roman roads in sandals like Paul did all those thousands of years ago sounds like the most sublime thing ever, but heed my warning. Those $7.50 Charlotte Russe flip flops you searched high and low for tear up a lot faster when you wear them out in Italy.

Shall We Dance?

Most people get excited when Tuesday comes because it marks an end to their Monday blues. I, however, get excited for Tuesdays for a completely different reason.

First off, it's noon and I'm still trying to decide what to wear to class. This does pose a problem, though, because I always dress up on Tuesdays. Which brings us to point two of why Tuesdays are fantastic.

Dance. It's essential to being happy and healthy in my opinion. I've been dancing since I was six years old, but I discovered the joys of ballroom when I began my college career. Here are my top reasons why everyone should at the very least dabble in ballroom:

1. The BEST way to socialize with your friends is by conversing while twirling around the floor.
2. Exercise (if you're doing it right...and even if you're just doing it for fun, at least you're up and moving around)
3. Learning to do new moves teaches you to think critically.
4. You become more graceful and poised. While this sounds awful to most men, you should know that ladies like their men to be slightly less clumsy than they start off.
5. Attending monthly dances in your community gives you an opportunity to dress up. This gives ladies an excuse to buy that new dress you thought you'd never wear anywhere.
6. Knowing some moves that look really awesome to everyone watching you at your prom or high school reunion or any other formal event.
7. Being around a ballroom crowd introduces you to new people who are perhaps more classy than your usual crowd. (I'm by no means saying that people who don't dance aren't classy or that all people who dance are classy. All I mean is that you can make a new group of friends to spend the evening with a classy air about you.)
8. For Ladies: You get to twirl around and feel really flirty (and this presents the opportunity to buy that circle skirt you really want...just remember your bloomers)!
9. For Gentlemen: You get to hold your special lady close, or you get to meet new ladies and hold them close, depending on your current state of relationship status.
10. Lastly, it's the most fun you will EVER have. I guarantee it.

Now I must go learn about Econometrics. It sounds terrifying, but so far it's a really interesting subject.

Witticism of the Day: Productivity is great, but sometimes you need to just sleep in, wake up slowly, eat lunch before noon, listen to your music really loud, dance around while applying your makeup, get dressed up really cute, and then go to Walmart for no apparent reason. Beware, though, you'll find that DVD you've been wanting in the $5 bin and end up spending the rest of your day at home after you put in all that effort to get ready.

Fancy Meeting You Here

Welcome to my first attempt at blogging! I hope you'll stick with me, at least for a while. For this introductory post, I'd like to describe what I'll be using this outlet for.

First and foremost, I'll be posting my thoughts, random though they may be, in hopes that you share my outlook on life. I'm currently in my senior year of college, so I'm also hoping that you'll all be with me, watching me transform completely from a young woman to a fully prepared woman of the real world.

I anticipate many references sneaking their way into the posts, including but not limited to, Broadway references, television references, ballroom references, math references, family and friend references, etc. To be safe, however, all names and places of real people will be edited (and in saying this you should recognize a Gossip Girl reference...yes, I do hope to outgrow my juvenille taste in literary fiction, and yes, I did devote my summer to reading the entire 17 novel series).

I hope to post as often as possible, although my schedule is quite demanding currently. It's not always easy to be a princess (another juvenille reference, although I do hope I never outgrow this one...and to be frank, I am a princess of the King of Kings).

Witticism of the day: Every girl in her middle school years should own a copy of Superchic[k]'s Regeneration. Yes, it may be a little heavy for girls who are used to the poppy sounds of the secular radio, however, the messages of these songs are essential for girls in this age group to learn during their most impressionable years. I guarantee that these songs aided in my development into the young lady I am today.

Current apple of my eye: