Best weekend ever round 2

I fooled everyone into thinking I was gonna blog pronto after finals were over and then waited FOUR days. But, I am back! And goodness I have a lot to catch up on.

Okay, the best weekend ever. Here it is.

My roommate for life

1. Christmas leadership: good food, good people, good speaker, good music (at least it made me and Jenn giggle), good times.

Knoxville YoungLife is such a blessing.

I honestly don't remember the speaker last year, but this year was so great. He was a YoungLife leader's dad, and gave us such an encouraging message. My favorite part was... a lot of it. I kinda wish it was on podcast. Weird? Probably. But I did love that he talked about the passage out of Luke 1 about Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Specifically, I loved the part where he told us about Zechariah getting drawn from a lot to get to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. He was randomly chosen out of thousands of men.

Claire. Love her. So much.

The chances of him actually getting selected were so so slim... but he was. The speaker of Friday night reminded us not to think that this Christmas season can hold significant life change and new realizations for everyone... but us. Even me, my own life, can be drawn out of the sea of others and be radically transformed during this Christmas season. What a great reminder not to doubt God moving in my own life. So, friends, being encouraged. God is big enough to radically change your life this Christmas season. Watch and wait.

There were so many thing I loved that he said. I really wish I could remember them all. If I do later I'll add 'em in.

#2 super significant highlight of the past weekend was the formal at the 1505. Goodness what an great time it was! Best Christmas formal I've been to. Ever.

They say a picture's worth a thousand words, right? 

Forget the words, here's the pics.

The dress. Has pockets. Love.

Because who DOESN'T go to Gatti's before a formal?!

And here we are, folks. Lookin' good.

The dress. The pockets. Okay, I'm done now. Maybe.

I'm still working on my serious face. Maybe I'll nail it next year...

Helloooo dancing. And snow. Jamie and I like to open our mouths really wide when we see packing peanuts falling from the ceiling

The best date at the formal. Seriously.

These pictures really don't do it justice, but maybe you can get a tiny glimpse of how much fun we all had. Formal at the 1505? Big, wonderful, laughing, dancing, mistletoe kissing (kidding- kinda), so-much-fun-all-night-long check off the list.

I was just thinking, these are the days I'll remember. Live it.

Side note: As I was typing this I originally meant to type "love" it instead "live" it, but live seems to fit pretty well, so it stayed.

So close...

One more final and then I'm allllllll done. 4:45 (just found out the final is at 12:30-oops) cannot come soon enough.

And then I'm off to here:

I'm going to a TITANS GAME! Titans vs. Colts. I can't decided who to cheer for. State loyalty or Peyton Manning, the love of Knoxville?! Good gosh I am so excited, I don't even think I care who wins. Watch for me on TV. I'm gonna be famous I'm pretty sure. 

Side note: Who knew that the stadius was outside?! Not me. So glad I asked a friend what to wear and he said bundle up! And I asked why and he looked at me like I was crazy. Mmm... Blonde again? Yes.

This is for you Morgan. Thanks for study breaks and doughnuts! Like you bunches.

(Don't you dare read this outloud, Stridde.)

Today is: A sick day

Bleh. That's how I've felt alllllll day long.

4:28a.m.: It was a delight seeing you (and all the minutes between you and 5:15) this morning, but I'd rather not have a repeat of that again. So stay away tonight, okay?
4:30a.m. news people: I admire you. How in the world do you get up so early, form sentences that actually make sense, tell us sleepless people about the day ahead, and look so good while doing it?!
Diet Coke: Thank you for getting me through... everything.
Pysch 480: I hate you. I literally hate you. But I'm gonna dominate your final tomorrow.
DayQuil: Thank you too. You made me feel so so much better. And gave me energy to get ready to rock it on my final tomorrow. You are my new fav.
Vegetable Soup: You are the best thing I had today. I'm glad you don't taste like you only have 50 calories. That sounds gross.
Halls cough drops: I thought I only like you red ones. Turns out you yellows aren't so bad either. I couldn't have made it through the day without you either.
Provider of all these things that made me feel better: Thank you. You know who you are. (You'll probably never read this, but I owe you big time- or was this payback for the bagel? or was that payback driving me to my final? hmm... guess I do still owe ya) Thanks times a million.
25 degrees temperature: Thanks for giving me an good enough reason to defend staying in the house. All. Day. Long.
Blog: Thanks for giving me a study break.
Favorite study buddies: Sorry I couldn't make myself leave the house to meet with you.
9:45p.m.: I love that you're my bedtime today.
Pajamas: Glad I've worn you all day. Saves me one more step at bedtime.
American Idol: You start again in January. Holla!
Roommates: Thanks for making me laugh. More thankful for y'all than all the cough drops in the world.
Tylenol P.M.: You're about to prevent another night like last night. I thank you and so does my 480 grade.
God: Thank you for letting me be part of Your good and perfect plan.

Blonde moment of the day: I was leaning against the sink in the bathroom brushing my teeth when the counter started moving. As I was thinking to myself, "How in the world is this counter moving?!" I realized just a second to late that it wasn't the counter moving (duh), but the rug. Well like I said, I realized this a second to late, much to the disappointment of both my elbows and my hip as they smashed into the porcelain. Ouch. Hopefully bruises will appear and this pain isn't for nothing. Stupid bath mat.   

Sometimes Jamie gets a little camera happy and takes 2475897324 pictures of me ignoring her, but she captured my feelings of finals so well.

Stuck in my head

Still studying. Still no camera. Still freeeeeezing outside. Still snowing (don't know if I've said this or not, but it's been flurrying the past few days- we are sitll in Tennessee, right??). Still laughing. Still procrastination. And still really no time to blog. But I promise I really will soon. 

This song is what's kept me going. 

I've listened to it on repeat non-stop while I study. Absolutely LOVE it.  Literally. Repeat. Non-stop.

The band is called Melodime and one of my friends Karli Mansfield sings with them on this one. We got an super cool opportunity to see Melodime here for a house show. And they are seriously awesome. Karli is a great singer and just all around fantastic. So thankful Taylor introduced us. The song is on Itunes already. It's called "December." Buy it. Or wait a little bit and buy it as part of the album my friend Kent together. It's "Ultimate Duo Presents: A K-Town Christmas" with lots of really great local artists. Even better, 100% of the proceeds go to Feeding God's Children. It'll help families out here in Appalichia and in Guatemala. What a great opportunity to get some fantastic music, get in the Christmas spirit, and support those in need. 

My favorite line: "I'll be home soon to misletoe kiss youuuuu."  

Yes you can marry me now.

Somethings to look forward to tomorrow: 1. A day off from finals. 2. CHIPTOLE OPENS ON THE STRIP!

 

Preview for formal again...

 

Super duper weekend

This was the best weekend ever! What made it so great? Let me give you a little preview since I can't actually blog about it right now (thanks for nothin' finals and procrastination).

My favorite things of the weekend: fancy shmacy Christmas leadership, hearing about Christmas and the wonderful season in a new way, 21st birthday party, babysitting precious children on a rainy day, new jeans as a babysitting bonus,  Auburn as SEC champs, watching football the rest of the rainy day, getting ready for formal with wonderfully loving roomies, playing dress up for a night, hanging out with super great guys, pizza shortage at Gatti's, dancing ALL NIGHT LONG at formal, tipping the scales, procastinating all day with long conversations with friends, and laughing uncontrolably to cover up awkward moments.

See? Best weekend ever in a nutshell :)

Me and my favorite guy from last semesters formal.

Whenever I get my camera back from my awesome date, and do some more studying, I'll blog about it for real.

Fact: I'm losing my mind

Happy 4 month birthday little bloggy! I am eating sour gummy worms in honor of your birthcreationday.(??)

No joke, I am losing brain cells. All day they've been slipping away. And this is a problem 'cause I haven't even taken one final yet. And good gracious, I'm talking to the blog. So, anyway, I'm apologizing for the extra errors in the post today.
My first moment of my brain being g-o-n-e occurred last night when we took a study break to eat food. We hopped in the car and went to Lenny's. Maybe it's the air in the library, or the noses in the books, but whatever it is disappears whenever we leave good ole John C. and venture out into the real world, and everyone just gets a little bit loopy. We were playing smoosh face (see image- not me, but close enough). Morgan loves cleaning face prints off her windows. So I have my face pressed against the window at a red light when I open my eyes and see a much-cooler-than-me-freshmen girl I've met a couple of time. Of course I had to roll down the window and of course I had to talk to her and of course what followed was an incredible awkward conversation, including her asking what we were up to and me tell her we were just smashing our faces against the windows to which she said, "I can see that." Oh, why do I do these things??

Dumb moment of today: I ran out of gas... AGAIN! What is happening to me?! In my defense, it is a new car. And my dad told me I had "no more than 40 miles" once the gas light came on. Well, let me tell you. 24 miles. That's how many any of you Jetta drivers have left, should you be wondering. Also, to satisfy your curiousity, Jetta's don't jerk a lot before they die, they just quickly slow down from 60 to 0 and just quit right there. So I was stranded in the middle of an off ramp on the interstate. This time I was not laughing. Only crying. I paniced when Jamie and my dad didn't answer but my friend Delaney came to the rescue. While she was on her way, a so so so sweet old man stopped and pushed my car to the side of the road for me. Then he jumped it. Then diagnosed the problem as something else. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it was more than likely the gas. I am so blonde. He said he would wait with me for my friend but I promised him I was okay. So he left. He was the only one that stopped. And he said, "I'd want someone to stop and help my wife, so of course I helped you." Did I mention I was CRYING?! He thought I was ridiculous I'm sure. But he was so nice. And he said, "Somedays, darlin', something bad happens and you think it's the end of the world, but then you go to to bed and get up again and realize that life goes on and it's still good." Such a good reminder. It was a simple gesture, him stopping, but at the same time, so many people didn't. I hope I'm like him. In whatever situation I'm in. Delaney made it, BIG shout out of BIG thanks to her too. We went and bought a gas tank, filled it up, filled it over the top, spilled gas everywhere, and breathed in the fumes the longest way ever back to my car (hence, the brain cells being all gone). We got back and dumped gas all over the side of the car, the side of the interstate, and our hands (more hence the brain cells being gone). But apparently enough got in the car to make it go and help me get to a gas station.

Now I know, gas light means GET GAS NOW! 

Today's a Panera study day. (Since my chances of me going back to bed after taking doughnuts to the school went down to zero after the little incident- I even left my bed unmade!) Panera is so much yummier and warmer and calmer and free-er than Hodges.

Good quote for today (and everyday):

"Make it your habit not to be critical about small things."

-Edward Everett

Hi from Sam. Goodness. Think he can teach me how to be so cute?!

So I will laugh it off (as I have been), be thankful for good friends and adorable brothers, and get ready for Christmas Club tonight! I hear Santa's gonna be there :) I'm sure it'll be blog worthy as well.

What I'm (and everyone else apparently) loving these days:

Loveeee that piano.

Oh, and I noticed my blog hack didn't get removed. Y'all can all appreciate my feelings for Matt Rob. Mmmhmmmm...

Dead day numero uno

Today I had a review for a final too early in the morning. As partly-conscious me was being its typical self and refusing to get out of bed, real-life me managed to gain a little ground on this daily battle and roll over and look out the window. Good gravy guess what I saw... SNOW! Little white Dip 'n Dots (thanks Mo Stridde) ALL over the ground. ...Really more like just on our cars and porch. But that little bit of snow just made me oh so happy! Yippee December! Until I actually had to walk in it that is. Stinkin' freezing.
The rest of the day has been full of food and friends and studying. The first two are fantastic, the last? Yuck.
Now I'm gonna hit the books again with this awesome group:

Sorry to anyone who didn't make it in time. We still love you.

Clearly a lot of work is getting done.

This is study week!

Happy December 1st!



i love matthew ryan robinson oh so much.