Snow Day?

All day, there has been talk of a potential snow day because of this winter storm. IUPUI has cancelled classes, my brother's high school in Champaign is closed... but of course nothing for Bloomington. Then again, there is only freezing rain right now, no snow. While I would love for class to be cancelled, I can't really see this one happening. If it did, however, I would be sure to take full advantage and make the day as memorable as our snow day sophomore year. Here's to hoping! Fingers crossed.

Hoo, Hoo, HOOSIERS.

I can't deny that I'm an Illinois girl at heart. Growing up 10 minutes away from campus and going to basketball and football games since 4 months old will do that. However, I wouldn't say my friends at Indiana quite understand why I love Illinois. Why I would go to Indiana if I'm always cheering for a rival team?
On Thursday, Illinois played IU in Bloomington. My parents came for the game, decked in orange and blue. I was loyal to my school and wore cream and crimson. I cheered for both teams, maybe even pulling more for Illinois. Illinois was favored to win, and should have won by at least 15 points since IU was missing two starters, Maurice Creek and Verdell Jones. But Assembly Hall was rocking, the students were cheering, and Indiana was playing. And in the end, I couldn't lie and say I wasn't happy for IU beating their first ranked opponent in the Tom Crean era. Tom Crean is a fantastic coach with so much energy and excitement, and I actually am excited to see what he and the Hoosiers do in the next few years with top recruits like Cody Zeller. After all, this is Indiana... a basketball school, a national championship school. And how can you not love Indiana and get excited for Hoosier basketball when you have videos like Brice Fox and Daniel Weber's "This is IU"?

                

        

Spring, the J.Crew Way

When my friends comment on something I'm wearing and ask where I got it, my response usually is "J.Crew." It's true. A large portion of my closet comes from J.Crew, and I think that this spring, that will not be any different. After looking through the new spring arrivals and the spring lookbook, I have to say I like what J.Crew is doing. Neutrals are contrasted with vibrant blues, aquas, pinks, oranges, and greens. There is that perfect pop of color that everyone is looking for after a cold, dull winter. I better stop spending so much time (aka money) at Kilroys so I can get some of my favorite looks, like the Natalie studded sweater below. $395? No big deal.

        

Say What You Need to Say

My friend Whitney, whose blog I happen to love - check it out! - recently posted the video below. While it seems a little over the top, the truth is, the way we communicate with one another has completely changed. I can't count the number of times I have edited a text because one word made it seem too "forward." Or how many times I've switched "!" to "..." because I didn't want my excitement to seem too apparent. The truth is, how is anyone supposed to know how we feel if we always edit what we want to say? Sometimes, it's better to just put it out there. In one of my favorite movies, My Best Friend's Wedding, Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney are on a boat ride on the river that runs through Chicago. Mulroney couldn't put it more perfect when he says to Roberts, "Kimmy says if you love someone you say it, you say it right then, out loud. Otherwise the moment just... passes you by." While we might not be expressing our love for someone, the point is that we need to say what we mean, or the chance slips by.

"Sometimes the best way to find out who you are, is to get to that place where you don't have to be anything else."

-Dave Matthews Band

Sweet Treat

I have a little bit of a sweet tooth. After every lunchand dinner, I am usually craving a little somethingsweet - a cookie, piece of chocolate, cake..... Living out this year, I have taken full advantage of fulfilling my sweet tooth, whether it needs it or not. One Sunday, I made 6 dozen sugar Christmas cookies, frosted and everything, because I didn't feel like writing my paper. Tonight, I decided to make chocolate chip cookies just because I wanted to bake. It was nice; just me and Van Morrison Pandora baking away. I have to say, they turned out pretty delicious. And even though my roommates are convinced I'm slowly turning them fat (oops!), I think they enjoyed them too! Recipe below!

Kelley Jefferson's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. crisco

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla -cream these until fluffy

fold in 2 well beaten eggs and beat well

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt -mix and add to other

add chocolate chips

bake about 7-8 minutes @ 375.

ENJOY!

the uncertainty of it all

I recently had a phone conversation with my mom. It was going great and I was enjoying catching up until my summer plans and post graduation plans came up.

For most college seniors, questions about life after college are not enjoyable ones. "What are you doing next year?" is the new "Where are you applying for schools?" question we got as seniors in high school. Except the problem is this: As high school seniors, there wasn't a doubt what the next step was. We all had a plan to go to college, study, have fun, make new friends, enjoy new experiences, and eventually graduate and get a job.

Well, now that time has come, and the future isn't quite so clear as it was 4 years ago. I can't apply to jobs like I applied to colleges, knowing that someone somewhere will have to accept me. And the truth is, I am not opposed to growing up, as much as I may act like it. I think I will actually really enjoy the "real world". However, I have always known exactly what was next for me, and knowing that I have absolutely no clue where I'll be or what I'll be doing in a year - or even 6 months - is a little stressful and frightening.

I'd like to think that I have some sort of plan... Mom, are you reading this? I'll lifeguard in Hilton Head one last time so that I can make enough money to purchase a car and even support myself for awhile. While in Hilton Head, I'll look for jobs in the city I want to be - Atlanta, and hopefully (fingers crossed) something will come up. The question is, where do I even start?

This afternoon I'm meeting with one of my advertising professors in hopes of receiving some guidance, and hopefully after meeting with him, some of my fears of leaving IU will be eased. We're all going to do great things and live great lives after graduating, but it's the getting there that makes us never want to grow up and leave.

and the winner is....

It's the 2011 Golden Globes!

I love awards shows, particularly to see who is the best and worst dressed. Anne Hathaway will look stunning, as always, as will Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, and young Hollywood like Lea Michele and Carrie Mulligan.

It's almost 7:00, which means the red carpet pre-show is on! Can't wait to see what stars are wearing.

antsy for spring

It's no secret that summer is one of my favorite seasons. I love fall and spring, and have mixed feelings about winter, but there is really nothing better than summer. Maybe its the colorful sundresses and white jeans I constantly wear, a good tan, and summer cooking that does it for me. Even though its months until we reach those warm days and nights, I can't help but daydream about summery dresses, the beach, fun cocktails, and barbecuing with friends and family. I would wear this dress from Tibi, and drink these drinks.