Mixed Tape Tuesday

Bringing back this weekly feature. Here's some of the FM radio tunes that I'm a little obsessed with right now.

1. Acapella - Karmin

2. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke

3. The Way - Ariana Grande

4. Love Somebody - Maroon 5

5. Next To Me - Emeli Sandé

Post-grad Adventures, Part 2 // London

After we had squeezed as much Beatles history as possible out of Liverpool, our group hopped a train to London. Well, most of us made the train. A couple that ventured off to get snacks caught up with us in Birmingham. Shame, too. We met some interesting people on that leg. (Let's just say fencing in the aisle was involved.)

Going back to London felt a little bit like visiting an old home. It's a great feeling to be some place so far away but have it seem comfortable and familiar. Although, my adventures this time around were much different than last summer when I was there for the Olympics. More touristy, if you will. But it was awesome.

We stayed in the same place as last summer on good ol' Farringdon Road, right up the street from our trusty Tesco, the Farringdon tube stop, and just a couple blocks from the Rosebery Avenue bus stop. (We became big fans of the buses this time around.)

To actually make our time in London tie in with the class, we did a rock 'n' roll tour. Homes of Elton John and Amy Winehouse, Paul's company near Soho, and — of course — Abbey Road. Which, if I say so myself, we crossed like pros. Ryan even stood in the middle of the busy street to snap the shot of us.

(Pretty sure this photo made my dad extremely proud. And still a little jealous.) This image also accompanied Lily's Beatles quiz on the Indianapolis Monthly website.

The rest of our week was pretty much up to our own desires. So, we took a ride on The Eye.

Watched the changing of the guard and OH YEAH, THAT'S THE QUEEN just casually driving through the gates at Buckingham.

Visited Kensington Palace, and the beautiful gardens. (Though, on a very rainy English afternoon.)

Toured Westminster Abbey (which, of course, did not allow photography inside).

Went on a Jack The Ripper walking tour in Whitechapel. (Those alleys do look pretty sketch at night.)

Then ended the week with a bike ride in Hyde Park, and seeing "Wicked" in the West End. 

 

I've got to say, for just 10 days abroad, it was a highly successful trip. But at the end, you're always happy to return home. Especially if you're the professor:

(For the full photo album, go to Facebook.)

Post-grad Adventures, Part 1 // Liverpool

This post is long overdue, I am well aware of that fact.

But, in a way, it feels like the perfect time.

At 9:56 p.m. Monday, I attached my final college paper ever to an email and sent it off. It didn't matter that I had already walked, received my diploma and moved across the country. It wasn't over until the to-do list for college was officially empty. (And man what a feeling that is!)

Life has kind of just been a whirlwind. Three days after graduation, I was on a plane to England for my Beatles at 50 class trip. It was basically incredible. 

Liverpool was such a great little city. Our first day there, though we were extremely jet-lagged, we headed down to the Liverpool Museum to see none other than Yoko Ono.

And later that evening, we hopped a train to New Brighton (AKA THE CUTEST LITTLE SEASIDE TOWN ON THE IRISH SEA) to see Mike McCartney at a book signing. Oh, and then proceeding down the street to have dinner with him. A true story, which ended with us sprinting for the last train to Liverpool.

We had a private, full-day Beatles tour. We saw the four members' childhood homes (and even toured Lennon's and McCartney's!), their schools, the church grounds where they first played as The Quarrymen, and got a tour of the Casbah Club by Pete Best's brother, Rory. Oh, and of course the classic sites: Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane.

We also spent our fair share of time on Mathew Street, hitting up The Grapes and The Cavern Club.

(photo borrowed from Sally Jo George)

Another main event in Liverpool was going to The Beatles Story museum. (Which is way cool, by the way.) But we also got to have some free time in the city. And when the wind and rain would give us a break, Liverpool was quite beautiful, "beneath the blue suburban skies."

Someday, I shall return.

After a few amazing days in Liverpool, we headed to London. But more on that later.

(SPOILER ALERT: There is a Queen sighting and the most perfect Abbey Road crossing photo. So basically you won't want to miss it.) 

Signs that "adulthood" is near

Let's be real: I will never retire Disney from my movie collection or iTunes library. I still think that blue box of mac 'n' cheese is acceptable for every meal, and I will keep on reading young adult fiction like it's my job.

Timeless tendencies aside, it is hard to deny that in just a few short weeks, I have to grow up just a little bit more. How do I know?

1. I've had my last "official" spring break. And it wasn't with a group of friends at Panama City Beach, which I'm fairly certain is where the rest of campus was. I chose to go to Alabama and visit family. And it was great. It was nice to catch up with everyone after so long, especially when I'm about to move to the opposite side of the country.

2. I bought my cap and gown. $45 dollars down the drain for something I will only wear once. Oh well, commencement just isn't the same without the uniform. Now that it is in my possession, though, everything just seems too real and happening too fast. Before I know it, I'll be putting it on and taking my last steps on Ball State's campus.

3. I can no longer pull all-nighters. At least not like I used to. I could pull them off every few nights without a sweat a couple years ago. It's not that easy anymore. I guess I'll just have to settle for a nightly average of four hours of sleep to get me through each day.

4. I've admitted that I don't know how to be an adult. I also feel that nobody every really knows how to pull it off. We are destined to just stumble along for years, making our way as we go and hope everything turns out OK. I hope I'm a little more prepared than that, but right now, I'm not even close. It's time to start gaining more self discipline and making more budgets and lists and...yeah, important stuff like that.

5. I've become a homebody. Not the crazy, never-leave-the-house-EVER type of homebody. It's more that I'd rather stay in with a couple of people, or even by myself if I need a break from the world. I could be perfectly happy just a movie or book. No drunken crowds necessary.

Weekly project

I think I'm going to make this a weekly project. Just finding a quote that resonates with me at the time, then design it. 

It's nice to have a project that's just for you, and not for a work or school deadline. Something that comes with no stress or constraints. 

Still working on a snazzy title for this series, but it'll come in time.

Enjoy :)

22.

You could say it hasn't been the best week. Two parking tickets, a trip to the health center, stressful work nights, little sleep. And that's just a part of it.

Sitting here writing this, my birthday has already squeaked by, ending just minutes ago. And I won't lie, part of me feels a little down. But the other part of me is counting my blessings, and making me realize that even though things may be in a slight, slump at the moment, it is nothing to stress over.

I think back on last year, and I remember just how good 21 was to me. And then I look ahead, to a trip visiting family in Alabama, returning to England for another field study, and then moving my life to California for at least a year. My life has definitely not been lacking in adventure. And I know that so many great things are left to come.

And that's when I remember that those small road bumps ultimately mean nothing. Bad days happen. Bad weeks, even. But it's just a piece. The big picture is what matters. And that's what I'm going to try to remember as I embark on 22.