TOP TWO TUESDAY -> Random Facts

TOP 2 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

1. As outgoing as I may be, I am also extremely reserved. Unless you are one of my really close friends, I just always seem like I am having the greatest day. I suppress whatever is bringing me down because I don't want to upset the day for other people. It may not be the best thing to do, but I'm just really good at hiding those negative vibes and replacing them with a smile.

2. I enjoy driving around without destination or agenda. The best time is in the spring when the breeze is nice and the sun bright. I'll have the windows down and the music up. It's just an amazing escape. If only gas prices were not a factor...

Happy Humpday

So I realize that I've really picky about which "Top Two Tuesday" and "Wishful Wednesday" posts I participate in. Oh well. Variety can be nice.

I also realize that my "More Than Corn" challenge is going to be difficult during the school year because my schedule does not fit in with the weather's schedule. However, I originally intended for it to be a summer challenge anyways.

However, I will still be sure to post anything awesome I happen upon around here and tag it. :)

Also, I'm starting to get depressed when I come on here and see my dark background. I love my design, but I think it needs a spring-y update. So look for that soon.

In the mean time, I am being more productive than ever, and am quite proud of myself for it. I'm working on homework BEFORE the night before it is due, and I'm getting a head start on later papers and projects. Wow. Who'd have thought I was capable of non-procrastination?

I think I should reward myself with a passion fruit tea shaken lemonade from Starbucks... :)

Let the clouds roll in...

I hear this beautiful is going to be interrupted. Well I say, bring on the rain.

I'm just glad the sunshine has lasted this long. Besides, rain is nice every now and then. (Yeah, I can't believe I just said that either.)

I've had plenty of good times to last me a couple of cloudy days, though. Yesterday, for example...

Kristin and I's little trip that was just going to be some shopping, turned into a 4 hour adventure around central north eastern Indiana. Needless to say, we have found future adventure spots as well.

For now, I'm just looking forward to a good week, with 3 classes ending, making my life so much easier here on out. This way I'll be able to buckle down these next couple days and work ahead of schedule. Then I'll be able to enjoy the beautiful weather when it returns.

For now, I'm going to let the rain wash the stress away.

"Tomorrow's another day, and I'm thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain."

-Jo Dee Messina

5 for Fridays: Guilty Pleasures

Guilty pleasures. We all have them. Some may be embarrassing, but hey, their called "guilty pleasures" for a reason.

1. Venti Passion Fruit Tea Lemonade. This is my newest guilty pleasure. My friend had it earlier this week and had me try it...I've had at least 4 or 5 since, and plan on getting another one later today! (Good thing I've got a Starbucks gift card!) They are delicious, and only cost $3.10. (At least, that's what they cost on campus.)

2. Spending money. I'm awful about it. I love shopping, but I am an impulse buyer. I will go to the store with a short list of necessities, and when I leave I'll have spent about $50 unnecessary dollars. I'm in trouble today, because I just got paid, and I heard that the Muncie Old Navy is closing and has a bunch of awesome sales. AND I have a 30% discount card from a friend. Hopefully I can find some self control...

3. Driving without purpose. I "waste" so much gas. I love just driving around by myself. I love it even more if it is warm and sunny; you'll find me driving around with the windows down and the music up. It's my me-time. I can just think about anything and everything, or sing at the top of my lungs. This is why I always take the long way home when I'm alone!

4. ABC Television. I am mainly referring to LOST and DWTS, but wanted to keep this to one category. With LOST, so many people think the show is awful and purposeless, but I am in love with it. It's so quirky and keeps you guessing. I can't wait to find out how it ends! As for DWTS, I want to become famous for the sole reason of maybe being on DWTS. I'm serious. It just looks like so much fun and I love watching dancing. I want to learn ballroom someday. (And I wouldn't complain if I had Derek, Mark, or Maks to teach me!)

5. Bejeweled Blitz. I don't think I've used any Facebook application as much as I do this one. It's just a game, but it is so addicting. And the games are only a minute long, so I'll just say "oh, I'll just play one more." An hour later I wonder where the time went, and why my homework isn't started!

Want to be in the 5 for Friday action? Visit my sister's blog at jaggedlittlelife.blogspot.com.

More Than Corn: Preview

I was in my interviewing class today, and we watched an interview with visitindy.com's Under 30 blogger, Breena Fain. She revealed that for the longest time she had imagined beginning her career anywhere but Indiana; she wanted to get out of here. You all know that I can relate in the same way. However, she tells that she CHOSE to remain in Indy, and for a very good reason. She realized that it really was a great city, and growing all the time. She wanted to be a part of it.

I found it inspiring.

Now don't worry. My dreams of life in another city are not erased or altered in any way. Breena did get me thinking though, and here is my epiphany of the day:

Dreaming is good, but how can you live life to the fullest if you don't always appreciate what is in front of you?

Indiana is in front of me for the next few years, at least, and its time I start looking past the corn to find the unique and interesting pieces of this state.

This is my new challenge. At a minimum of once a week, I will dedicate a post to the greater side of Indiana. I have Avon, Muncie, and Indianapolis within my finger tips, and the rest within a summer day's drive. Each post will sport the "More Than Corn" tag.

With my big city dreams on the coast still close at hand and big in my heart, I am going to embark on a journey, stripping down the stereotype of my current home and revealing the fun and unique essence that lies beneath.

5 for Fridays: By Summer...

So, it's technically Saturday, but since I have yet to go to bed (despite the fact I have to get up for work in the morning), it is still Friday night to me.

Here's my top five things to accomplish before the summer daze arrives...

1. Spring cleaning. Let's face it, I am no where near being a neat freak. I only live at home 10% of the time during the school year, and I still manage to have a room that looks like a tornado whipped through it...twice. I need to clean it up and make room for my stuff that has to come home from school. Plus, I need to clear out all of the junk that I obviously don't use now.

This goes for my car, too. Inside and out. It's awful.

2. Make working out a habit. They say that it only takes 2 weeks to form a habit, but what do you do when you can't last 2 weeks in the first place? I need more discipline when it comes to working out. If I get in the habit, it'll just keep getting easier. The weather's getting nicer, so here's my chance...

3. Cure my procrastination. Hah. That'll be the day. I just need to get it under control. Putting everything off nearly killed me these weeks before spring break, and I want the build up to summer break to be easier and happier. And I'm taking some online summer courses, and I'll have to keep up with those while working and having an amazing summer!

4. Learn to save money. Just a couple summers ago, I had 2 amazing jobs, and I was making up to $400 dollars a week. Where did all of that money go?! I am awful at saving, and it doesn't help that I am an impulse spender. I need better self-control in both areas.

5. Happiness. I need to start summer off with a calm, happy attitude, or else it just isn't going to be good. It's all about mindset. I'll really have to work hard to be sure I will be able to relax and really make this summer count.

Want to be in the 5 for Friday action? Visit my sister's blog at jaggedlittlelife.blogspot.com.

I'm still here!

I have been a very undisciplined blogger, I know. The freedom of spring break was just so nice!

That said, here is how I have spent the best days of break.

I took an amazing day trip to Chicago with a couple friends from BSU. (I had forgotten how much I loved going into the city on the train every summer with my Grandma and sister.)

We walked around the city a bit and went to Millennium Park. I had a bad bout of vertigo near the end, but I'm okay and the trip was still awesome.

Today, I went to lunch with another friend from school. We always find the most interesting people when we are out. (There was a Sarah Palin look-a-like sitting near us at Chili's.)

I also had some productive moments today, though. I filled out my FAFSA and filed half of my taxes!

That's really all there is for now. Hopefully my life will become more exciting and give me something to put up here :)

Things are looking up

Hello beautiful weather! Thank you for gracing me with your presence today. The temperature was just a few degrees shy of my ideal world, but it was close enough to make my day enjoyable.

One more day and its time to head home for SPRING BREAK! While I unfortunately have quite a bit of homework to get done, and a couple days scheduled to work at ONB, I will also have my share of fun.

I'm heading up to northern Indiana to stay with some friends from school for a couple nights, and we're going to take a day trip to lovely Chicago. Then they're going to come down later in the week to spend a night in Indy and go downtown. It should be a good time, and hopefully good weather.

Weary Wednesday

Last week I adopted the Wishful Wednesday topic, but I really wasn't up to formulating an interesting response for this week.

So let's make this short and sweet.

I have a paper due tomorrow. I am starting now. And I'm exhausted.

Yay, college.

Until next time...

Top TWO TUESDAY -> Stores

STORES

I'm not going to lie, I love shopping. To make things worse I'm an impulse buyer, and my low bank account certainly shows it. Here's where I blow most of my pennies...

1. DEB. I love jeans. My most comfortable outfit is jeans, a hoodie, and flip-flops. DEB is my number one source for jeans. I love some of their other stuff too, but the only time I ever make a special trip there is when my jean collection needs an update. In fact, I have some DEB gift cards waiting to be spent soon...

2. TARGET. I'm not going to lie; when I need something fast, I usually go to Walmart because of its convenient location. BUT, I definitely love Target more. It has all the same items as Walmart, but 1,000 times cuter. And their dollar spot blows any dollar store out of the water. My number one Target weakness: purses. I'm sure I have spent more money on bags at Target than anywhere else. Don't judge me. :)

iFail

One little day forgotten, and my 365 day challenge is ruined within the first week. [[sigh]]

Well, sometimes life just gets in the way.

However, my Sunday was not uneventful. I'm sure the highlight was most definitely making spiced yams. Yes, that's right: spiced yams. I was working on a group project about Nigeria, and we were required to make a native dish. Yams are a dominant part of the Nigerian culture, so we decided it was suiting to the cause. After being unsuccessful at finding yams at Walmart, we found them at Marsh. When it came to preparing the yams however, that was an adventure. They are extremely difficult to peel and cut. But, they softened rather quickly while boiling. The mixture of spices we cooked the yams in those was quite interesting: garlic, salt, and cinnamon. To top it all off, we poured melted butter over the finished product and added a couple dashes of cayenne pepper.

As bizarre as this all sounds together, we all decided that it actually tasted good.

Now it is another Monday, and I'm looking at a full week. Friday (spring break!) can't come soon enough.