Thankful

28 fun things to be thankful for this November 28

1. 5% cash back on all my online shopping with my credit card
2. No-bake cookies
3. Inside jokes
4. Only having classes on Monday and Wednesday
5. That the TV cameras love me
6. Insomnia Cookies after a bad test
7. The Rec Center and all the fun exercise equipment
8. Perfect hair
9. Kate Spade surprise sales
10. Mangok Mathiang
11. TJ Max Home Goods
12. Cheering on the Cards at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium
13. An awesome internship in the Office of Admissions
14. Chocolate fountains
15. Diet Coke that gives me life
16. Studying abroad
17. National Championship gear that says University of Louisville
18. Tom + Chee grilled cheese donuts
19. Seeing Luke Bryan in concert
20. Kroger points for gas
21. Craft time
22. Nap time
23. Snack time
24. That Laura Prepon will be back for a few more episodes in Orange is the New Black
25. A house close to campus
26. Supportive friends to help fuel my Taco Bell addiction
27. My sisters who lend a hand, a shoulder to cry on, and the possibilities for an endless wardrobe
28. Apple Maps. I would be so lost without you.

On my Radar

Tonight is my sorority's date party! It's our big themed social event of the semester where everyone just cuts loose and has a good time. This semester, the theme is The Great Gatsby so naturally I have been prowling the internet all week looking at Gatsby related everything.  Here is what's been on my radar this week:

ONE | "A Little Date Party Never Killed Nobody" is the theme we have going on and is the phrase going on the back of our shirts. I absolutely love this iconic image of Leo holding up his toasting glass.  #classy

TWO | Not Your Typical Flapper Dress: I think people forget that flappers weren't the high society folks who would be at a 1920s Gatsby party.  This dress has that romantic and vintage detail that I think would be at a 20s party. 

THREE | PARKS AND RECREATION REDDIT: I'm not your biggest Reddit fan but I am all over this Reddit subthread. Check it out.

FOUR | SPERRY DUCK BOOTS: Oh if I did not just buy a pair of LL Bean Boots, I would be all over these! They look so warm and I love the different color options they have! Find them here.

FIVE | GRADUATION: 

!!!!!!!!

A Day in the Life

I always love reading posts like these by other bloggers and I realized that my life is decently interesting enough to be able to do this post.  The great thing about being senior is that I have a golden schedule: 12 hours and classes only on Monday and Wednesday. I learned pretty late in the game that people actually schedule like this on purpose to make it easier to work or do internships (or waste time/sleep).  Unfortunately the Monday/Wednesday blocks make your day really scheduled but I was fortunate today to get out of one class early and have one class canceled. (One awesome part about college: when the teacher’s are sick, there is not a substitute teacher!) Variety is the spice of life, right?!

Here is my (not so typical) Wednesday:

9 AM | Champion are Readers program at the Early Learning Campus: My sorority’s philanthropy is literacy and we have developed a reading enrichment program that can be implemented at any elementary school.  It makes me wake up a few hours earlier than normal, but it is so worth it to see these kids faces light up when we have a new book to read every week.

10 AM | Coffee Coffee Coffee: One day I will be able to function without coffee every morning.  Today is not that day.  I love stopping by Quill’s Coffee Shop in Cardinal Towne for my caffeine fix.  Plus – check out that fun coffee art!

11 AM – 3:15 PM | Class. Lunch. Class. Class:  I have a really good mix of lecture and discussion based classes this semester.   It can be difficult to distinguish how the professor will teach the class so I recommend asking around before you sign up for a class.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever just blindly signed up for class without asking friends and looking them up on Rate My Professor.

4 PM | Panhellenic: I take minutes every week at Panhellenic (the umbrella organization for all Panhellenic sororities).  This week we had elections so I am officially the outgoing Secretary.  Greek Life not your cup of tea? UofL’s student body is so diverse and there are a variety of student run clubs and organizations that cater to different interests.

5:30 PM | Night class: My sociology class was cancelled this week but it is my favorite class this semester.  This class is loosely structured but we mainly just discuss hot topics and relate it to the chapter we’re focusing on in class.  Night classes can be good and bad – it’s always a bonus only having class once a week, but that class also lasts 3 hours.. so choose them wisely… and take them with a friend.

J. Crew Factory Sale

30% off everything, free shipping until November 15!

Some of what I'm obsessing over:

Color block, navy, elbow pads, shoulder buttons? Check, check, check, check! Literally every single obsession I have is in one sweater. 

Who says your can't combine stripes and polka dots?  This sweater does the pattern matching for you! Pair it with a bright button up underneath.

I love these mustard cords! A must have for the fall and winter for sure.  

On my Radar

Has anyone else been just plain exhausted this week? I must have gone a little too hard Halloweekend. ;)

ONE | THE VOICE

I've always loved The Voice, but I've never had the patience to stick through an entire season and watch the entire season. Usually, I watch every single blind audition episode, and then taper off during the knockout rounds. But this season, whew, I am hooked.  Maybe it's because Louisville's own Olivia Henken is on the show, or maybe it's because I'm just obsessed with the rich and diverse vocals from all the singers.  I binge watch the episodes. It's bad.  

TWO | DEM_WHITE_BOYZ

I followed DEM_WHITE_BOYZ on Vine when they first became Vine along with just about every other famous Vine dance group.  It got a little overwhelming so I unfollowed every single one.  Well, I guess I just can't stay away because I spent my Wednesday night watching/rewatching every single Vine they posted.  This video in particular just made me LOL. 

THREE | Kate Spade Lucy Dress

Oh man, am I lusting over this dress. I'm a huge sucker for shift dresses. (Honestly though, way too tall for them. I am not allowed to have my arm go above a 90 degree angle.) It's subtle but still super fancy and I just love the beading and decoration around the collar.

FOUR | Kevin Ware

He's back! 222 days after the horrific Elite Eight injury, Kevin Ware made his 2013-2014 season debut against Louisville's exhibition game against Pikeville.  I just cannot get over his bravery, courage, and drive to get back out on the very court that could have ended his career.  So excited to see more of Kevin on the court this year! 

FIVE | V FOR VENDETTA

I watched this movie for the first time this past Tuesday (cliche, I know, since it was November 5), and holy smokes I can't believe I hadn't seen it before.  I'm a really bad movie watcher. I usually only like movies where I can tell what the movie is about, so obviously I never had any interest in V for Vendetta because, like, what the heck is that movie title?! I still don't totally understand the movie so I'm going to have to watch it a few more times but I was just completely blown away by the story line. I definitely recommend watching this!

#FridayFive

Is procrastination supposed to help you?

This weekend, I was working on a project for my strategic communication writing class.  This is an online class, so I never complete the assignments and quizzes until the weekend they are due. This I chalk up to lack of motivation. #senioritis Granted, I always start mapping out the assignment the Wednesday before so by the time I am ready to buckle down, I've already done the hard part.  But this weekend, even after mapping out my assignment, completing these assignments were torture.  I had a hard time coming up with good writing material, and I basically threw away my entire Saturday because I just wasn't feeling it.  It was an unusual feeling because this is one of my favorite classes I've taken.

Sunday, I bit the bullet and completely revamped my assignment, changing the client and product.  And you know what? I don't think I had ever written faster or had that many thoughts come to my mind at once.

I wasn't aware of it yesterday, but after reading this article on Levo League this morning, and evaluating my past few years in college, I've realized that at its essence, procrastination is really just your gut feeling.  I didn't want to write Saturday, not because I was lazy, but because all the ideas I had totally sucked and I didn't even want to put those thoughts on paper and face reality: that I needed to pick a better topic.  I needed to start clean.  It can be hard to admit that, especially when you have finished one part of the assignment.  Is it worth it to give up and start clean with a blank slate?

So how does this relate to my past three years of college?  Between going into college not following my heart, and refusing to listen to my gut for two years, procrastination was really my saving grace.  Interesting concept right?  Procrastination gave me a second chance, a chance to start over with something I was passionate about.  The Levo League article gives the most important question to ask yourself: How would I feel if I completely removed this from my to-do list? Relief?  Then let it go. You're not giving it the 100% it deserves.  Discomfort?  Be truthful with your inner fears.  Discover the risk you can afford to take and still sleep at night.

And did you know, at its core, procrastination really means, belonging to tomorrow.