Long Time No See.

Hey everyone! I have had one crazy semester, but it has been awesome! Just to fill you in on what has been going on with me, here is a little taste:
-I was in my first play! The play was "Leading Ladies," written by Ken Ludwig; I played the role of Audrey. Audrey's character is similar to that of Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot."
-Our recycling program at school is well underway, it has been a rather bumpy road, but better to have a bumpy road than no road at all!
-I ended up with a 3.76 GPA for the semester, only one "B" which was Chemistry.
-I leave for Russia in approximately one week! I could not be more ecstatic.
-My sister, Erinn, is the cutest pregnant lady ever (in my opinion)! I thought I might re-blog a post she wrote that I thought was hysterical: http://erinelizabethking.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-holiday.html.
-I cut my hair off (talk about nerve wracking!).



Now that I have a bit more time to write I will be sure to make this a more frequent happening.

He Will Wipe Every Tear From Their Eyes.

The past two days have been tough. About two weeks ago my friends and I found two lab/retriever mix puppies on the side of the road, one male and one female. We named them Molly and Aldous. Immediately we began looking for home for the two pups since as college students we could not keep them in our dorm. We found a home for the female fairly quickly, and as far as we knew she was doing well. But we were not as successful in finding the male a home, although he didn’t mind be spoiled by several girls. He rode with us to the rodeos and helped us feed the horses every morning and night. I would say very obedient for a three-month-old puppy. About a week ago, Aldous started acting funny. He wasn’t the same crazy, wiry little puppy we had all grown to love. Several days later he stopped eating and drinking and became depressed. Last night we received some devastating news, his sister, Molly, had died of parvo earlier that morning. When Aldous began acting funny, the thought that he might have parvo was in the back of my mind, but I didn’t want to think like that. The three of us girls, being college students, do not have the finances to pay for the pricy treatment that it takes to cure parvo. So we were left with a very difficult decision. There was no denying that he had parvo, it is very contagious and him being around his sister as long as he did, we were sure he had the virus. This morning we took him to the animal shelter where they confirmed that he had the virus. I could not stand to see him in pain any longer, we ran out of options. I had to make an incredibly hard decision; I signed Aldous over to the animal shelter. The woman at the shelter was comforting and personable. Although it was a tough thing to do, I believe it was the right thing for the sake of Aldous. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about, but I know he will be much happier when the pain is gone.

I apologize for the sad content of this post, but it was something I wanted to share.



Revelation 21:4
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Ranting.

As I was studying for my World Literature test, I came across a brief break in my notes where I had written a few of my thoughts. My teacher posed the question “how do you express how wars feel?” We had just finished discussing the Iliad by Homer. I wish I could have video taped the way my professor portrayed her fascination with World War II. It gave me much to ponder, and it sparked something within me. I felt drawn to know more. I was reminded of why I am here. I am here to learn and soak up all that I can. I am not here to be distracted by the things of the world. People die everyday and some of them much too young. Embrace what each day brings. I have been living for the future instead of focusing on the tasks which I partake in daily. Each day is a privilege, not something to be taken for granted. I am no better than another; therefore I should not act like it. Do not settle, and be strong. Do not be afraid of persecution; view it as incentive to be successful. Learn from anyone and everyone you can.

Tell Me, Where Have You Been?

What do you say when there is nothing to say?
I am tired of writing about myself, there are so many great things in this world to write about.
But for the sake of the people who like to stay informed, I will briefly enlighten those on the happenings in my life.

At the beginning of the school year I told myself that I would try new things and be open minded. So I auditioned and got the part of Audrey in the Howard College production of Leading Ladies. Leading Ladies is a comedy written by Ken Ludwig based on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." My character is comparable to Elle Woods from "Legally Blonde." I am pretty stoked.

The recycling program is underway, we are raising awareness while we wait for our bins to arrive. I look forward to seeing a "greener" campus.

My classes are splendid. I absolutely love my literature classes. Chemistry is pretty much kicking my butt, but I will get an A! Last week I signed up for some tutoring in that area to help my cause.

For now, that is all.

And We're Back!

It has been far too long since I last updated. School is back in session and I am busy as ever. So here is a quick update:

-The recycling program is well underway(yay)!
-Our first rodeo of the season is next weekend in Portales, NM.
-I was in the improv show the theatre department put on this past weekend, we had a full house(It was a blast)!
-Classes are great, and so are my grades!

Hopefully this weekend I will have some time to sit down and write my thoughts in a more organized pattern. Thanks for tuning in!

Bullseye.

At the conclusion of the summer, I made a goal list for myself. It consists of many things that I should already be doing on a daily basis.
-Focus on the task at hand.
-Stay ahead.
-Make every action count.
-Stay fit.
-Eat healthy.
-Stay true to myself.
-Go to bed at a decent hour.

But I also made a few more specific goals:
-Achieve a 4.0!
-Get accepted into NYU.
-Balance school, rodeo, and social life. But be sure that school is number one.
-Do what it takes to make the recycling program a success.

Thus far in the semester, I have made my time count. The true test will be when rodeos begin, and then I will be really crunched for time. I know what is important, so staying focused should not be an issue.

Fueling the Fire.

Tomorrow is the first day of my sophomore year as a college student. Where does the time go? Anyway, I am so thrilled for this year. So many big things are happening! Today was our first meeting to kick off the recycling program at school. I would call the meeting a success; everyone came with so many great ideas. We have a meeting with the dean of student activities very soon, and that is just the first step of making this program a success.

I was talking with another student the other day about the recycling program, and she told me that recycling in West Texas was a contradictory statement. To me, that was like a slap in the face. Recycling should not be hard to come by; it should be something that everyone does. People take their trash out, so it should be just as easy to do the same thing with recyclables. But I would like to thank the girl for making such a statement; it motivates me even more to make a difference. Raising awareness and educating the people on campus is going to be quite a task, but I hope they see that what we are trying to accomplish is for the greater good.

It looks like I am going to have a busy, but meaningful semester. I’m taking seventeen hours that consist of World Literature, British Literature, Chemistry, United States History 2, and Theatre. I will definitely make use of the time I have left here at Howard College. Until next time, do your part to save our planet and recycle! ☺

Oh Billy Boy.

I met Frank Francesco Sunday August 15, 2010. He was giving carriage rides to people in Times Square. Of course I had to go talk to him because he had a horse. Billy was the equine’s name. Just like any other horse, Billy loved carrots; and three carrots later we were instant friends.

I probably put Frank into question overload with my curiosity. But I learned quite a bit from him:
-It costs $2,000 a month to keep a horse in New York City. $2,000!!!!! That doesn’t even cover feed or hay, just the board.
-Billy came from an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania. So basically he was pretty much a carriage-ride-giving-pro.
-Also, Billy was a carrot fiend, and often mistook my fingers for those delicious orange things.
-Frank had only been in the horse business for about two years; but he definitely knew how to feed a horse because Billy had obviously not missed any meals.

Something that is always reassuring to me is a horses’ trusting nature. Billy was so quick to trust me (he would do anything for a little rub and a carrot). I know it sounds silly to talk about horses in such a manner, but they have second to none personalities. To understand a horse, you have to let them understand you. What a nice “treat” it was to get to converse with Frank, and learn a little bit about what he does, and his origin with Billy.

I came back to Texas with much more knowledge than I had before, and for that I am grateful.

Where They Drink Champagne And It Tastes Just Like Cherry Cola.

I guess I cannot say that words can’t describe the way I feel, because they can. This place feels like home. Today, you could have found Leah and I at Café Reggio enjoying cappuccinos in beautiful Greenwich Village. The cappuccino wasn’t even the best part either; it was a combination of things. As I sat there reading, listening to the delightful selection of classical music, and sipping on my soy cappuccino, I was in euphoria. There was nowhere else I would have rather been. The feeling was so simplistic, yet very fulfilling all at once.

Finding the beauty in New York City was not a hard task to handle. I felt so giddy walking down the streets thinking that I could potentially be living in this awe-inspiring city in just one year’s time. Literally, I could go on for hours, but for the sake of keeping this post at a reasonable length, I am going to stop there. The week is far from over, and only the Lord knows what else can happen. Peace out ya’ll.

Summer In The City.

On Thursday, my dear friend Leah and I, depart for New York City. I have been so blessed this summer with how much I have been able to travel. I’ve been to Colorado, California, and now New York. My excitement level on a scale of one to ten is about a twelve. This is going to be an awesome trip full of enticing new experiences. That is all for now, but I hope that everyone has had an awesome summer. Enjoy the remainder of it, and try to stay cool!

p.s. I hope this makes you happy Linda ;)

Californication.

I departed my house in Keller at approximately two in the morning to head to Austin. Once in Austin I caught a flight at eight am in route to San Francisco. I have to say, if you get a chance, fly jetBlue. All the staff members are so friendly and personable. The fun really begun once I met up with my Dad at the San Francisco airport; He had just finished a flight coming from NYC. My dad had known about his trips for sometime now, but neither of us realized that he was going to be the pilot of the flight I would be on from San Francisco to Long Beach. I’ve always thought it would be a neat experience to be on a flight where my Dad was part of the crew. Being a pilot’s daughter has some seriously sweet perks. For example: I was able to board the plane with my dad, once on the plane I got to sit in the cockpit, and the crew treated me like I was a long lost friend. Awesome does not even begin to describe my trip so far. Aside from functioning on a few hours of sleep, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I am absolutely looking forward to the rest of the weekend. I will update frequently.

Fun, Fun, Fun.

I was tagged in a note on Facebook where you were supposed to post 25 random facts about you, so here mine are.

1. If I could meet anyone it would be Kristen Wiig, she is one of the funniest people I’ve ever heard.
2. Africa is on the top of my list of places to visit.
3. In the near future, I would like to backpack across Europe.
4. If my horse Crawford were human, I picture him to be an Englishman who smells like mint and likes to smoke cigars.
5. Even if it’s 101 degrees outside, I will drive with my windows down. Something about the window being rolled up makes me feel really disconnected from the world.
6. I pull my horse and trailer with a Toyota Tundra, not your typical Dodge dually and huge living quarters trailer. I like to spend my money on things other than fuel and truck repairs.
7. Cycling is my new hobby.
8. If establishments still had hitching posts, I would ride my horse more than I drive. Nothing wrong with going green and fertilizing on the way.
9. I have a water bottle with me almost everywhere I go.
10. I want to be a journalist and travel the world writing about controversial issues all along the way.
11. I like to go through the drive-thru at Starbucks and place my order in a random accent.
12. Iced coffee is my addiction. I always have instant iced coffee in my purse; you never know when you’re going to need a pick me up.
13. It drives me nuts when people use there, their, or they’re wrong.
14. Oddly enough, I’m relatively quiet when in the classroom setting.
15. I’m determined that one day I will be able to play the guitar solo in “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
16. Taking baths kind of freaks me out, it’s like soaking in your own broth. I always have to shower after I take a bath.
17. If someone tries to wake me up, they can literally have a whole conversation with me while I am still dead asleep. Ask me about it sometime.
18. I’ve been to Russia four times, and it will always have a place in my heart.
19. My ultimate goal in life is to be on the cast of Saturday Night Live.
20. I like to attempt to play my mandolin, and I get really frustrated when my genius brother-in-law can pick it up and play it like a pro with no previous mandolin experience.
21. I WILL get accepted into NYU for the fall of 2011, and I plan on finishing my degree there.
22. My mom likes to ground me from my library card; last time I checked, reading a book cover to cover in one sitting is NOT a crime.
23. I think the cost of textbooks are outrageous, prices like that should be illegal.
24. I’m a shoe fanatic; I have a really hard time not spending all my money on shoes.
25. Random thrift store t-shirts are my favorite.

This past month has been busy, busy, busy.

-Vacation to Colorado and Nebraska.
-Finishing up Summer 1 classes, and beginning Summer 2 classes.
-Found out my sister is preggy! (yay!)
-Working off that freshman fifteen!



Anyway, I will post more details about my vacation and what not! Sorry for my briefness.

Peace and Love.

Sisterly Love.

My sister, Erin, was in town this weekend! I always look forward to seeing her any chance I get. When I was younger, we rarely spent time together; that was probably a result of sharing a room for a majority of our lives under the same roof. But now, I try to savor any time spent together.

Yesterday, my Mother, Erin, and I relished our afternoon full of manicures and pedicures. On our way to the grocery store, my sister being the crazy person she is flagged a guy down driving down the road because she liked the chair that was in the back of his truck and wanted to buy it. So the man pulled over and sold my sister the Danish-modern rocking chair for twenty dollars. I’m not going to lie; it is a pretty rad chair.

Erin and Michael brought their chocolate lab puppy Samson this weekend as well. While the cute married couple was out hanging with some friends, I decided I would teach Samson some new tricks (more like manners). By the end of the weekend, Samson learned how to lie down, shake, stay, and walk on his leash without chewing it the whole time. It is amazing the power that a few slices of turkey lunchmeat encompasses!

On Thursday, Momma Shaw and I are going to be Colorado bound! We’ll be paying some family a visit, a way overdue visit at that. I am totally stoked! Once again, thanks for tuning in ☺

Random Enlightenments.

I apologize for my lack of posting lately. Last Monday I started two online classes, History and Government. Between my duties as a nanny, instructing riding lessons, and these two classes, I have been slacking on my writing.

Recently, I have come to the realization that blogging leads to happiness for me. When I started to think about it, I feel like I let my readers down by not posting frequently. I love to write, and I love for people to read my writings. So a huge thanks to everyone who reads this!

Just the other day, my brother challenged me to take “going green” to the next level. So I accepted, I am starting to ride my bike around town rather than driving my full size truck. As a matter of fact, I just rode my bike to Starbucks to write this post as well as get some work done in my online classes. I am taking it one step at a time, baby steps that will soon lead to giant leaps.

Time for me to get back to work, thanks for tuning in!

I Have Pennies, Your Two Cents Is Not Needed.

This evening, I was doing some research on homemade hoof moisturizer for my horse. With all the hot weather we’ve had, my horse Crawford’s hooves have become rather dry. I did not want to just go buy some hoof dressing at the local feed store, 1. Because they often do not work, and 2. They are normally way overpriced. So I thought I would try a home remedy. While searching through some forums, I came across several things; a lady looking for homemade hoof moisturizer much like myself, and people giving their opinions when not asked. The woman simply asked if anyone had used or heard of any good homemade recipes and that was all. In response to her inquiry, many gave their opinions on hoof moisturizer/oils/dressings. Many of the responses she got were rather rude, and definitely not what she requested. The thing I found most interesting about this forum was that a woman had asked a simple question, and still did not receive the answer she sought. If the woman had wanted someone’s opinion on hoof moisturizers, she would have stated that in her question, but she did not desire the counsel of others on this matter. After reading post after post, I was beginning to feel enraged for the woman seeking answers. Why can’t people learn to keep their two cents to themselves? People who didn’t even know the woman were accusing her of malnutrition and poor hoof maintenance of her horses. How can one make such judgments on another’s ability to care for her animals? Telling someone that hoof moisturizers are from the devil and should never be used on a horse is like telling someone that they should not use lotion on their own dry, cracked skin. Conventionally, the hoof is supposed to create and maintain its own moisture; but that does not mean that it won’t need help from time to time. Instead of trying to filter my way through forums of unnecessary conjectures, I am going to concoct my own remedy for my poor horse’s dry, cracked feet. On a brighter note, I found what sounds like an awesome recipe for homemade fly spray for horses! With fly season being in full bloom, and me always looking for ways to cut costs, I believe I’ll try it!

Here is the recipe for the homemade fly spray:
-2 tbsp dish soap
-2 cups water
-1/2 cup white vinegar

Cleaning In a Different Hue.

Earlier today, my mom sent me an e-mail with a link from our local newspaper. The article was about “green” cleaning products. It told a story about a woman who had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which consists of joint tenderness and long lasting pain all over the body. In efforts to reduce pain, it was suggested to her that eliminating harsh chemicals from her household would be beneficial to her health. So she began using nontoxic, Eco-friendly cleaners in her home. Not only did her health improve, but also her friends saw what she was doing, and it quickly became a trend.

My goal for this upcoming school year is to transform my dorm room and many other dorm rooms, to “green clean” living spaces. Many people learn by example, so if I can be a capital influence to my dormitory comrades, then that is what I am going to do. If you can make a cleaning supply that does not include harsh chemicals, can get the job done just as well, and be a fraction of the cost, then why the heck not? Yes, it does take a little more work then just grabbing a bottle of scrubbing bubbles off the shelf at Wal-Mart, but it the end your wallet it going to thank you. For a college student such as myself, cheaper is ALWAYS better.

Here are some wonderful recipes for Eco-friendly household cleaners:

Glass Cleaner:
-2 tbsp. white vinegar
-Fill rest of 20-ounce bottle with water.

Multi-purpose surface cleaner:
-1/4 cup lemon juice
-Fill rest of 20-ounce bottle with water

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
-Baking Soda
-Then proceed to scrubbing.
(But don’t let the baking soda sit too long or else it will get as hard as a rock!)

Mop Water:
-1/2 cup vinegar
-1 gallon water
-Essential oil of choice (Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon, etc.)
The essential oils, which can be found at your local health food store, mask the smell of the vinegar.

Laundry Detergent:
-1 bar grated fels naptha, or other laundry bar soap.
-Two cups borax
-Two cups washing soda
Use two tablespoons for each load of laundry.


Air Freshener:
-Few drops of essential oil
-Then rest of 20-ounce bottle with water.

Furniture Polish:
-1/4 cup olive oil
-1/4 cup white vinegar
-20-30 drops lemon essential oil.
Shake. Dip a dry, clean cloth into polish and rub in the direction of the grain.

Also, if you’re looking for a great bleach alternative for your laundry:
-Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing.
This can be found at Wal-Mart.

A special thanks to my sister for these wonderful recipes ;)

K Squared and Company.

This is a story about a friendship that became to be.

I met Kady Knox the first semester of my freshman year in college. We were both members of the rodeo team. Throughout the whole first semester, we rarely spoke, not even a “hey, how are ya?” Being the person I am, I like to be likable person. I know that not every single person on the face of the planet is going to like me, but by golly I am going to try. So my goal for the rest of the semester was to get Kady to laugh. Everyone would be sitting at the lunch table and I would crack a joke, many of my close friends would laugh, and from Kady I would get one of those “you’re an idiot, looks.” I was not about to give up! Close to the end of the semester, Kady and her gang decided it would be funny to play a joke on the girls who lived next door, and me. I was up in the wee hours of the morning finishing up a paper, and jumped about ten feet out of my chair when I heard banging on the window of my second story dorm room. Yes, indeed I said second story. Then my “fight or flight” instinct kicked in, and for some reason my body chose “fight.” I opened my window and jumped out onto the four-foot wide ledge just below, walked to the end of the “balcony” to find none other than Kady and her gang. I was angry and tickled all at the same time. Tickled because I think I scared them more by catching them in the act, than they scared me by banging on my window. Of course being girls, this turned into lots of drama, followed by us making a treaty and promising to work on our friendships from then on out.

When everyone returned from Christmas break, things started to change. We were all able to converse like civilized people, and I didn’t receive anymore of those, “you’re an idiot, looks.” Things were starting to look up. As Kady, Nikki (Kady’s partner in crime), and I started hanging out more often, we realized we had more in common than we thought. The best part: goal accomplished, I was able to make Kady laugh. As the semester progressed, we became pretty close, and would engage in batty shenanigans together. By the end of the semester we were pretty much inseparable. Feeding ducks, making best friends with elephants, joining the circus, owning our own rodeo announcing business (K Squared and Company), leaving each other on the side of the road due to an accidental broken CD, were only a few of the adventures we embarked on.

This summer, Kady will be working in an area close to where I reside, so I am more than positive our list of contingencies will be added to. Well until next time, give everyone a chance, and never underestimate the opponent.

Anyone In There?

Today has been one of the most frustrating days I have had in quite some time. Ever since I left Big Spring for the summer, I have been trying to get together all the paperwork, loan applications, etc., to be totally set for summer classes. It seemed like every time I would call the school to get information about what they needed from me, I could not get a straight answer. Every person I talked to gave me a different story, so that threw me into a whole new state of confusion. About two weeks ago I received a letter in the mail from the school telling me they needed some tax information from both my mother and I. Nowhere in the letter did it state when the tax information would be applied, so my guess was for the summer. After returning all that information to the school in a hurry, I found out the things they requested were for next year; looks like it was back to square one for me. After being on the phone with a worker in the financial aid office for about fifteen minutes, I was finally able to get the answers I needed, just in the knick of time. I had to explain to her my frustrations, and how no one could provide me the basic necessities so that my classes would not be dropped. Today was the last day to turn in any paperwork before they dropped my classes. Turns out I only needed to fill out two documents and send/fax them back in, now why couldn’t they have told me this three weeks ago the first time I called? Total, it took me about two minutes to fill out both papers. Furthermore, I faxed the necessary documents, and now my information is being processed; thank goodness.

What amazes me the most about all of this is the lack of teamwork displayed. Not only was it on one instance, but almost every time I have dealt with this department. I know that everything in life isn’t always going to run according to plan, but you would think after being in business since about 1967, they would update the way they do things instead of relying on techniques practiced in the stone age.

All in all, one very dedicated and knowledgeable employee was able to comprehend what I was asking and succeeded in getting everything straightened out. A huge thanks to this specific woman who actually did her job, she should get a promotion or something. Now I am ready to dive in, and quench my thirst for knowledge about American History and our nation’s government.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, whatever tasks you perform in life, take pride in them, be knowledgeable, and do them whole-heartedly.

Fork in the Road.

For some time now, I have felt like I have come to a crossroads in my life. Over the years, horses and rodeo have been a sizeable part of my life; but now it seems that those facets may be a stepping-stone to something greater. Through tough times, my horse was my getaway, my chance to escape reality and engage in a more peaceful state of mind. Without rodeo, I would not have so many of the wonderful friends and people in my life. Because of rodeo, my first two years of college, are close to paid for. So many memories have originated from these elements, and not to mention instilled character, hard work, and determination. As of lately, I feel as if my life is ready for transition, and I feel that it is going to be big. I want to do things I have never even dreamed of. I want to step out of my comfort zone. I want to be challenged. I want to learn new things. Most of all, I am ready to make a difference.

My goal for the next year is to accumulate enough scholarship money to attend New York University in the fall of 2011. A year ago, NYU would not have even been on my radar, now that is all that my sights are set on. I cannot think of another place I would rather study. New York City is full of opportunities, fresh, new people, as well as an enormous part of our nation’s history. Another perk, Saturday Night Live is filmed in NYC, one of my very favorite shows, what could be better?

After my sophomore year at Howard College, my rodeo career is going to be put on hold temporarily, possibly forever. This is going to be a bittersweet decision for me, giving up my horse is going to be one of the hardest things for me to do, on the other hand I look forward to the new experiences life has for me. So until next time, live each day as it comes, and feast your eyes on the future.

Folks, We Have a Winner.

Today hit the top of the charts for my favorite day of summer so far. It has been way too long since my sister and I have really been able to spend some quality time together. We started the day with a trip to the farmer's market to pick up some locally raised eggs; then proceeded to hit up the thrift stores. Three and a half hours later, we made it back to Erin's house with thrift store treasures galore. Erin was able to curb her need for everything in the store better than I was; she came home with about seven items, me on the other hand with thirty-five. Sounds like a bit much, right? For the record, I only spent twenty-five dollars, and now have a whole new wardrobe.

Just when I thought the day could not bring me any more happiness and joy than already experienced, I was proven wrong. Wanda Jackson was having a FREE concert in Bricktown at 7pm. So Michael, Erin, and I loaded up and made our way to OKC. For those of you who do not know, I am a huge WJ fan, and probably her youngest at that. She is the Queen of Rockabilly, and was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame last year. Let me tell you, at 72, she can still put on a freaking rockin' concert. We all had a blast! Oh, and did I mention that I got to meet Wanda? One of Erin and Michael's close co-workers happens to be Wanda's granddaughter, so after the show we were able to go meet with Wanda for some photos and autographs. She also showed us pictures, and talked with us about her new album that she recorded with Jack White of The White Stripes. Wanda Jackson is a very neat woman, and was very sweet to chat with us after the show.

Following the concert, we went to grab a bite to eat, then set our sights on Cuppies and Joe for nothing else than cupcakes and coffee. I indulged myself with a vanilla bean cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting, along with caramel sauce in the middle, topped with sea salt. To say the least it was heaven in my mouth. Accordingly, I washed it down with one of the most ambrosial iced mochas I had ever had. Today has been more than splendid, it has been supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Green Means Go.

After finishing up my first year at Howard College, located in "beautiful" Big Spring, TX, I realized that I needed to do something about the recycling situation at school; or lack thereof. So I've devised a plan to make HC more Eco-friendly, one aluminum can at a time.

To start my plan off, I want to set up recycling bins in each hall of the girls dorms, and hopefully be able to provide each room with their own bin or box. Then once a week drop by and pick up all the well disposed of recyclables. From what I have experienced of West Texas, not much is being done to conserve the environment. So from here on out, I am committing myself to advocating that cause.

This weekend, I am going to visit my sister Erin in Oklahoma. She is totally rad, and loves serving her community as well as our environment. I have much to learn from her. We have plans to make our own Eco-friendly laundry detergent, as well as glass cleaner. I cannot wait. What a wonderful alternative to harsh chemicals!

So here is a toast to saving the planet we all love.. And live on!

Time to Roll Out the Red Carpet.

Welcome to the summer of my adolescent adulthood. For me, this past year has been full of mesmerizing life experiences. I have come to realize that many of my previous priorities, have become afterthoughts. Things that I thought I would never be interested in, have become a huge part of me. So here is to broadening horizons, and not looking back.

In high school, I used to tell my mother that I was intelligent, I just didn't apply myself in class because I was saving my brain cells for college. Turns out all those accumulated brain cells over the years really came in handy my first two semesters of college. Thanks mom for always being so understanding of my shenanigans. I have a new love for life, not that I didn't already love it, but now I really cherish it. Opening my mind to offbeat things has really let me see life in a different hue.