I’m Back…For Good?

Guess who’s back, back again? Emily’s back, tell a friend! Speaking of the one and only Slim Shady:

Umm…yes, I feel ancient and I thank  blame you, Mr. Mysterious Meme Generator.

Anyway, I miss blogging/bitching/discussing all of the very interesting  details about my life, so I’ve decided that I must get back in the game.

A lot has happened since my last post. In true Emily/Type A fashion, I will list them:

• The love of my life decided the whole 2,000 mile distance thing wasn’t going to work. Well, you win some and you lose some, right? Meh. If only it was that easy.
• I finished this semester with a 4.0 GPA and I could not be more proud. All of my grueling study sessions actually paid off!
• I’ve moved back into my parents’ home for the summer. I’ll let you know how that one works out…
• I have an internship at a Day Center for adults with disabilities. I also will be working two part-time jobs trying to make some BANK!
• With the breakup came an intense longing to study or work abroad France. I will be applying for a Fulbright Grant to teach English in France next year, but my chances of obtaining said grant are slim to none. Until then I will seek out every opportunity possibly to get my rear to a Parisan Cafe!

This could be me!

• I plan to use this summer to do some deep soul-searching and reevaluate where I am currently in my life and where I want to be in the future.
• My whole 21 before 21 list is seriously lacking in check marks. Better get on that!
• I’m already worrying about what I want to do after graduation in December. The Real World? Hermit in my childhood bedroom? Grad School? MPH? MSW? Back to Nursing School?
• I’ve finally joined the 21st century and bought myself an iPhone! I’m late to the party, but Instagram is so cool. Follow me @emily__lynn (yes, that’s two _s).

That’s all for now folks!

What’s new in your neck of the woods?

I wondered…

I wondered how long it would take me to become a lazy blogger…roughly one month. I suppose I should be proud of myself for posting almost daily for 31 days, but that’s not good enough for me!

This past week has been quite hectic. Thanksgiving was a fun/family-filled, busy holiday. Now the semester is officially coming to a close and final projects, exams, and papers are consuming my life. College graduates: any tips on how to get through finals season? My ears are open.

I’m beginning to think 24 hours is not long enough to accomplish everything I would like, let alone finish my required tasks and find time to maintain my sanity. I’ve passed on blogging in order to set aside a few “me-time” minutes daily. although my blog has been failing, at least my head is remaining semi-clear…and I think that’s a little more important.

Here’s to another fresh blogging start! And some Sunday Funnies:

What are your time management tips?

How do you find time to blog when the goin’ gets rough?

Happy Thanksgiving

“IF THE ONLY PRAYER YOU EVER SAY IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS “THANK YOU” THAT WOULD SUFFICE.”-Meister Eckhart

No list could ever do all of my thanks justice. Have a wonderful holiday. I hope you are able to share it with all you love.

Thanksgiving is coming! Thanksgiving is coming!

I hope you read that to the tune of “Santa is coming! Santa is coming!” by Will Ferrell. Here I go again–always reading in tune.

In case you’re coming out of your pre-winter hibernation and are unaware, Thanksgiving is in less than 3 days. And that means Black Friday Shopping in less than 4!

I’ve been going Black Friday Shopping with my mom every Friday after Thanksgiving for the last 10 years. It’s tradition and we make a great team!

This year is different, for once our list of people to buy for isn’t 200 miles long and we aren’t in need of any big ticket items (last year was a TV and the year before an iPod touch). We’re planning on busting through the doors at Kohl’s around 3 am and heading to the insanity that is Target next. I can’t wait.

I hope you aren’t sick of Rebecca Black yet.

I’ve been stalking out Black Friday ads since August–it’s kind of a big deal. I mean, I’ve gotta find someway to burn off copious amounts of mashed potatoes and my momma’s stuffing!  Check out these websites, I love ‘em: http://www.theblackfriday.com/ and http://www.blackfriday2011.com/subscribe/b1?tid=1111&s=gs|home-gen|bf2011-kwbftxt-b1&gclid=CMuWhKe3yKwCFcLAKgod-TAgqw

I’d like to consider myself a Black Friday enthusiast, but trust me…I’m not going to knock any one out over a digital camera or smush any employees as I bust through the door. Morals first;)

Black Friday? Yay or Nay?

What’s on your list?

Time Monster

Where did the weekend go? No way is it Sunday morning already.

Geesh. You know the “sock monster” that steals all of your socks from your dryer and leaves you with one of every sock you own? I think the same monster sucks my time. There’s no possible way time moves this quickly without an explanation, in my opinion.

This weekend was spent studying for my two upcoming exams (French and Social Psychology) and writing a paper on media advertisements and gender during WWII. Let me tell you, it was a blast!

Not. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have such high standards so I could actually study and have fun, right now those two things are mutually exclusive. I keep telling myself it will all be worth it in the end.

I’m going to keep this short and sweet. I will leave you with these Sunday Funnies.

Homework is my biggest time suck, what’s yours?

How was your weekend?

Happy 4 Days until Thanksgiving!!!

 

The Yesteryears

I always get all nostalgic around the holiday season. I begin thinking about celebrations from years past and really start to miss my childhood. Although I could not be more happy with where I am today, sometimes I’d like to relive the “easy days.”

You know, the days where nap time was a time-allotted subject in school, Christmas carol sing-a-longs were an everyday occurrence, all you worried about was getting off the bus in time to watch your favorite cartoon, and you shoveled snow for fun.

These are some things I miss most from my childhood, more particularly the Holiday season:

• Decorating our Christmas Tree. My mother is incredibly creative and always decorates our tree, but I was always able to help. Since moving off to college I’m never home until right before the holiday, so she has to do it without me:(
• Watching holiday movies in class. Frosty the Snowman was my favorite:
• My grandma’s candied pecans. My grandma passed away four years ago and I miss her dearly. Every Christmas she would make pounds of candied pecans and my Christmas was not complete without eating at least a cookie sheet full.
• Snow days! Nobody told me Universities do not give snow days! In 1984 the University of Michigan was sued for cancelling class due to inclement weather–we haven’t had a snow day since! One bad apple ruins the bunch…
• Sledding! I haven’t went sledding in way too long. We have a big hill in my back yard…I think I might just have to do that this break.

• Waking my parents every hour on the hour from 4 am on Christmas morning to see if Santa came yet. Don’t tell me you didn’t do the same thing.
• Showing off my new toys to my cousins at our family Christmas parties. Now we’re showing off engagement rings and new technology.
• Stuffing my face full of sugar cookies and other goodies without having a care in the world.
• Leaving cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve. I was always sure to put some carrots on the plate–every body knows reindeer love carrots! I always wonder–did my parents have themselves a midnight snack? or did they put the cookies back on our goody platters?
• Making homemade ornaments at school to give to my parents. We still hang them:)
  

What do you miss about celebrating the holiday season when you were young?

What are your family holiday traditions?

I’ve Got Beef

Does anyone have an idea how “having beef” with someone surfaced in common language? I surely don’t. Makes no sense, but I’ll use it anyway.

It is no secret that I love Pinterest. I’ve planned my future wedding along with all of my friend’s future weddings. I’ve already dressed my future children in the most adorable clothes and accessories. I’ve finished planning their nurseries. I get great DIY craft ideas that I will probably never complete because I lack any crafty bone in my body. I find incredibly delicious recipes. I discover awesome new work out ideas.

Unfortunately, I’ve also seen rather disturbing images that can be triggering to anyone with a disordered history. Or anyone that is sensitive to media pressure (personally, I feel this includes most women). Take a look at these “quotes”:

What do you think?

I’m frustrated–it seems like nothing can be done about images like this. It seems like a battle that cannot be won to try and take on all media to promote a healthy body image. However, I feel SOMETHING must be done–now! These images can foster deadly body images, shouldn’t it be the medias obligation to protect us? I would much rather see positive messages like the following:

Thoughts, comments, concerns?

Should media sources like Pinterest, television, and magazines be obligated to censor their material to protect us? Or are they protected under the first amendment right of free speech?

I feel they should be obligated to censor their material and put out only body-positive material.

Wanderlust

• 

Whenever the weather gets colder I get the travel bug–big time. I can’t help it, I’m just not made for cold weather! I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to South Carolina, California, Tennessee, Florida, and Cancun in my young age, but I’m dying to travel the entire world someday. My “to go” list is quite lengthy, these are the places that top my list:

• Disneyland or Disneyworld! People always look at me like I’m un-American when I say I’ve never been to the wonderful world of Disney! I’m not a deprived child–I’ve just never had the opportunity to go!
• Greece! Who doesn’t love tzatziki and gyros and this blue water:

• Germany and Poland! I’m German and would love to see my “home country.” I’ve also been incredibly interested in the Holocaust ever since I read Number the Stars in 5th grade–I would love to go see the historical sites.
• Ireland! Green is my favorite color and I love Irish accents and potatoes!
• France! Might as well put my college language credits to use!

• Australia! I would love to visit the outback and Sydney! It’d be awesome to go snorkeling off the coast with all of the coral.
• Puerto Vallarta! My grandmother always dreamed of going there and I’d like to take a trip to honor her.
• Italy! Wine, pasta, gorgeous architecture! What’s not to love?
  

If you could just pick up and go any where (no exclusions) where would you go?

Make This (for Me) Monday

I’m a college student. A poor college student living in a dorm at that.

My “kitchen” consists of a mini fridge (and freezer! oh yeah, living big), a microwave, and a mini George Forman grill. A far cry from my dream kitchen:That said, I’m unable to make extravagant dishes or bake anything delicious. Most of my meals consist of oatmeal, beans, sweet potatoes, gluten-free Trader Joe’s frozen meals and gluten free sandwiches. Although, recently I’ve got creative grilling up some tofu on my mini-George!

These are some things I would make if I had access to a kitchen. I’m planning a baking extravaganza for the next time I return home! I suggest you make these dishes and mail me your leftovers:D

Mama Pea’s Spicy African Peanut Stew

Cinnamon Girl’s Creamy Gnocchi, Butternut Squash, and Spinach

Emily’s Rosemary & Sage Mashed Red Potatoes with Vegan Gravy Sidenote: I LOVE GRAVY

Lauren’s Pumpkin Pull-Apart Monkey Bread with Maple Glaze

Jess’ Grown Up Hot Chocolate with Homemade Bailey’s Marshmallows Sidenote: I don’t even like marshmallows

Now tell me this doesn't look divine

What’s on your “to cook” list?

Make it a great Monday!

Sunday Confessional

I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend! I know I am!

It’s Sunday and I’ve got lots to say, what a better way than a little Confession Session (HAH! RHYME!):

• I have a love hate relationship with Jillian Michaels. I tried her Yoga Meltdown DVD for the first time this week and I’m still having difficulty sitting down to pee.
• I can’t wait for Christmas. I know, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but in my family we all are able to be together around Christmastime and my wonderful manfriend will be visiting!

• Michigan has been unseasonably warm (hitting 60* today!) and I have no complaints. I swear I will live someplace warm when I “grow up.” Someplace warm and with seasons (I can’t sacrifice Fall colors for warmth) any suggestions?
• I don’t drink alcohol, but I have no problem with those who do. Case in point: scenes from Friday night with the besties:

Before...(I'm in the white/black)

After!

• Each and every day I’m finding more truth to the following:

• I think I have an addiction to beta-carotene. In the 2 weeks I’ve consumed a 3lb bag of baby carrots, 2 32oz cans of pumpkin, and half a dozen sweet potatoes. At least I glow…orange!
• I do not like ripe bananas. The greener the better. Any brown spot and I immediately put it in the freezer for use in a smoothie or “soft serve.”
• I’m already dreading the week before Thanksgiving. All of my teachers were “kind” enough to make everything due before the holiday so we would not have to worry about it while we’re with our families. Unfortunately, that means I have 2 exams and 2 papers due that week.

Do you have anything to confess?

Any plans to cap off the weekend?