October Memories

October has always been my favorite month.

This year it has been extra special. I have made some amazing memories.

A few weeks ago the girls and I went to a pumpkin patch and corn maze. It was my first experience with a corn maze and it will not be my last!

The night was kind of magical. Crisp air and warm apple cider.

Another fun part of October?

Rush (dubbed 'pledge week' at HU).

It was so much fun to be on the other side of things this year. I grew so much closer to my Iota Chi sisters and made a lot of new ones!

The girls in pink are my 'little sisters'. They were precious.

And then of course, my birthday celebration which always starts days before Halloween!

Last night some friends and I ate at ZaZa, smoked some mango hookah and went to see Saw 3D.

My 20th birthday is tomorrow!

My mask on rough night. I scared some Iota Chi pledges!

Happy Halloween!

Monday Misc. on Wednesday

I. It's pledge week (induction, rush) here at HU. I love being on the other side of it this year. And I won't lie, I love the power too. That's Miss Autumn to you. (Sorry, pledges, that we made you slip-and-slide in sardines, ketchup and mustard.)

II. I skipped chapel Monday so I could guy buy the new Taylor Swift CD. Terrible? Yes. Dedicated fan? Yes.

III. I'm having to Google the roman numerals for these numbers because I never learned them in my elementary days.

IV. Sorry this blog has been quiet this week. Pledge week is sucking all of my time and energy! I promise to share funny stories (and pictures) when I have extra time!

Corndog Pizza?

This is why you're fat

Best.website.ever.

p.s. Wouldn't it have been easier to take the sticks out?

When I Look Out My Window

I have a really good view from my dorm room window.
It's a high traffic area and for a people-watching person such as myself, it provides interesting things daily. Before you go thinking I'm a weird creeper girl, let me defend myself: these people were in public. I'm allowed to witness it.

My three October favorites:

{a} Squirrel Girl

I came in my room after classes for the day. I had a Caf to-go box in one hand and my backpack hanging off the other. I threw my backpack down and settled into my desk chair (conveniently by the window) with my lunch. I glanced out the window.

A girl was standing on the sidewalk staring at a squirrel on the grass. My interest was captured and I turned my full attention to the window. She stood there staring, perhaps talking? People were walking around her, occasionally giving her awkward looks.

Then a random girl came and stood beside her. And they both stared at the squirrel. Perhaps talking to it?

The squirrel eventually lost interest with the nut he was fondling and ran away. Those girls would have stood there all day.

{b} Kissy Couple

It was mid-afternoon. My Chem lab was starting in 10 minutes so I grumbled as I started loading my backpack with a scientific calculator and goggles.

As I was turning to leave, I saw a couple standing behind a tree. Really, I see couples everywhere all the time because Harding is a marriage factory.

This couple was disgustingly cute. She was leaning against the tree and they were having a full-fledged make out session. Every once in awhile he would pull away and look around to see if anyone was watching.

Guess I showed him?

{c} DTR

My roommate and I were getting ready for bed Wednesday night when I spotted this awkward duo.

"DTR alert," I said to Ali, who quickly climbed out of bed and joined me at the window.

We watched them for a few minutes, making up possible situations the couple were in.

Like, "I bet they started dating at Summer Experience and now she's pledging and doesn't have time for a boyfriend,"

or

"Maybe one of them is dying."

"Do you think they can see us?" Ali asked.

"Turn the lights off!"

She did. We dropped to our knees, chins resting on the windowsill and watched this couple. They were totally defining their relationship (DTR) and it was really awkward.

Really awkward.

Really awkward.

They were standing a weird distance apart, arms crossed, not moving. Occasionally one of them would shift their body weight.

20 minutes into watching them, we began to lose interest. I turned to check my phone when Ali gasped.

"What?!"

My eyes snapped back to the window.

The guy had turned and walked away. And girl stood there staring at where he once stood.

"Oh snap, that was intense," I thought out loud.

Ali agreed.

"We have the best view."

Pumpkins are a girls best friend

Nothing ushers fall in more for me than pumpkins.

Pumpkin smells, pumpkin foods, and

pumpkins.

On Saturday night the girls and I loaded up in the car and made the 30-minute drive to a corn maze and pumpkin patch. My roommate and I picked out this bad boy...girl:

On the back we painted 'IX' which stands for Iota Chi, the sorority/social club we are in. Iota Chi translates to Jesus Christ in Greek.

Isn't she the cutest spiritual pumpkin you have ever seen?

I wish we could have carved her but that smells, especially when it's confined to a dorm room.

Painting was fun though and it seems like a lot of people are painting pumpkins instead of carving them these days!

Do you paint or carve?

4 years ago today...

Today is my little brother's birthday.

Noah Benjamin,

born October 17th 2006.

When mom asked him about his birthday cake, he wanted "America" and "super heroes!"

I think his wish was fulfilled, don't you?

We had his party at a park in town. It was a perfect fall day with lots of family, cake and ice cream.

Presents included a kitten and a Spider Man bicycle, among other things.

He was so excited!

Isn't my little niece so precious when she picks her nose?

Yeah, pretty sure she ate that booger after.

You gotta love kids.

Happy Birthday Noah!

I am Thankful

I am always amazed at how quickly a week can change my whole perspective. It only takes seven days to drag my spirit down to a dark, stressed place.

That's why I like to focus on the blessings in life.

I love reminding myself of the little things in life to be thankful for.

Lunch with one of my best friends who drove up for a quick visit

The opporunity to serve on a

spring break mission trip. (I put a down-payment on Vancouver today!)

Mindy Gledhill's 'Hourglass'

A postcard from my parents in San Diego

Cranberry muffins for breakfast

Homemade vegetable soup
Iota Chi (my social club/sorority) won our football game!

Catching up with an old friend who was passing through town

The weekend starts tomorrow

Chowing on mexican food with my best friend

I only had three midterms out of six classes
Theological discussions with Kaylee

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." -James 1:17

Life's an hourglass

My favorite feeling isn't sheets fresh from the dryer. It isn't waking up and realizing I get to sleep for another hour. It's not even silk on freshly shaved legs.

(Although all of those are hard to beat.)

My favorite feeling- the one I look forward to -is finding a new song. Not just any song. Not one from the top-40 countdown. One of those songs that really moves in you.

Today when I began my daily blog reading list, I clicked over to Nienie first (like always).

She posted this video:

The song is 'Hourglass' by Mindy Gledhill.

I fell hard for this song.

Mindy is a "Indie singer songwriter that will leave you floating like a scoop of vanilla cream in a strawberry soda."

Or so her blog says.

I'm floating.

Misc. Monday

1. Mark 16:15

Every year during spring break, Harding gives students the opportunity to serve Jesus by planning week-long mission trips. The locations range from Alaska to Nicaragua and activities include working in homeless shelters, starting food banks, and going door-to-door to tell people about Jesus. It's not a question of if I should go- Jesus calls us to serve in Mark 16:15 when "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." It's a question and prayer of where I should go. I am leaning towards Vancouver, Canada where we would be volunteering at a homeless shelter/food drive and door-to-door evangelizing.

Plus, isn't it gorgeous?

2. Productivity

My day goes so much better when I have been productive. Today I have done laundry, washed dishes, completed homework and of course, went to class. I feel accomplised.

3. Football

I signed up to play flag football with my social club/sorority, Iota Chi. We have our first practice tonight and our first game tomorrow. I am a little nervous- some super competitive girls are probably going to get mad at me when I duck from the ball. I'm just trying to be a good club member by playing! Maybe no one will notice I'm terrible at football if I just run around. Right?

4. Addict

I don't need to get addicted to any more television shows. I feel like I already have so many that I love to watch. Alas, I added Pretty Little Liars to the list. Do you watch it?

Happy Monday folks!

I'll Risk Everything To Save My Shoes

There are many perks to being born the day after Halloween.

Other than the obvious reasons of candy and caramel apples, I mean.

For one, it's All Hallows Day, or All Saints' Day.

How appropriate.

The day has also never left me high and dry when it comes to birthday party planning. When all else fails, a Halloween party will suffice.

Which brings me to All Hallows Eve, October 31 2009.

My friends and I got gussied up in sweater dresses and tights and dined at Chili's to celebrate 19 years of my precious existence.

We then decided to visit Little Rock's most notorious haunted house.

The location: an old, abandoned hospital for the mentally insane.

It was a dark chilly night. It was Halloween. It was a mental hospital. The setting was just right.

Chills chased their way up my skin as we walked up the sidewalk towards the entrance. The man at the door taking money was dressed in old patient garb.

Awesome.

We entered into a small room. There were people grouped up in anticipation. I stood behind my friend and fisted the back of her shirt.

"I'm standing behind you the whole time," I informed her.

Then the "tour of the hospital" began.

It was completely dark and I blindly followed my friend.

Half-way into the tour I decided it wasn't that bad. If I kept reminding myself that it "wasn't real," I would be fine.

People would grab my feet.

It's not real.

Objects would fly out.

It's not real.

We finally got to the end of the tour and I relaxed, releasing my friends shirt.

We were laughing at how scared we were when we heard a loud noise.

RRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!

I glanced behind me to see a man running towards us with a chainsaw. Terror I had never known filled my body and my feet started moving faster than they ever had.

Everything was whizzing by me.

I was aware of things jumping out to scare me.

Oh no, nothing was stopping me.

I was getting out of there.

My feet continued to propel me forward when,

WHAM!

I ran right into a glass door.

My body flew backwards from the force, knocking my shoes off and ripping my tights in the process.

In a flash, a friend picked me up and drug me as she ran.

"My shoes!" I screamed and ripped away from her.

As I ran towards the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I realized that I am the dumb blond bimbo in horror movies that people throw popcorn at.

That's me.

I was risking my life (ha-ha) to save my pink flats.

My personal revelation didn't slow me down any. I had my flats scooped up and was back to my friend before the man hacked me to pieces.

We reached the car and looked at each other as the moment came rushing back.

We were breathing heavy and the October air was coming out in wafts of steam.

Then, we burst into hysterical laughter.

I never saw that door coming.

Thank You, God.

Once again I'm joining in with Jarah's Cultivate Thankfulness project!

"Were there no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts and no one to thank."
-Christina Rossetti

Caramel Apple javalanche's
My new orange sweater
These suckers
The compatibility horoscope that told me that my roommate and I
should "practice horticulture."
The caramel chocolate cake in the caf
Psalm 77
The new running shoes my parents bought for me
I only had 1 test this week
Meeting our lovely pledges at the Iota Chi 'Pink Tie' mixer
My new Old Navy trench coat that I have in red

What are you thankful for?

Boo! (hoo hoo)

I know you came to my corner of the blogosphere to hear me complain, so why deny you the experience you were expecting?

I am so busy.

Actually, I have been so busy which has made busy become the norm.

SO busy that I haven't had the chance to decorate my room for my favorite season yet. I have no spider webs hanging, no pumpkins sitting around, no ghosts made out of Kleenex's and tootsie-roll pops.

I have managed to get a Creamy Pumpkin wallflower from Bath & Body Works.

Score.

SO busy that I do not have time to be writing this post. I just didn't want you to think I died. And I wanted to make sure you got to hear me complain about my oh so busy college life.

I'm off to study Quantum Reality & Perennial Philosophy.

Don't go wishing you were me or anything.

The Best Day

Reasons This Has Been The Best Day of My Life

1,
Happy October!

In excitement to make everything in my life Halloween-ish for my favorite holiday (and month), I have started changing everything, including my desktop background, courtesty of kate.net

It's precious, I know.

2,
Chemistry

I think I have mentioned my hatred for Chemistry. But today we got to blow things up which was slighty terrifying and yet still entertaining. It definitely started my day off with a bang. Pun intended.

3,
Chapel & Tots

Bison Daze is this weekend which means there are high school seniors and their overbearing parents on campus. That's okay, though, because one of those awkward seniors sat in my chapel seat! I went to the caf and they had tator-tots. Score! Free chapel skip + Tator Tots = Amazing morning!

4,
Lunch & Cable

My dad sent me a text and asked if I wanted to have lunch together. Of course I said yes- I'm a poor college student living off of cafeteria food! I met him for some delicious mexican food and he brought me a cable cord for my TV. I can finally watch Ellen again.

5,
Stastics

My statistics class was canceled today so after Chemistry and my Western Civ test, I was d-o-n-e for the day. It was 11. I was ecstatic.

6,
Front Lawning

It is such a beautiful day. 75 degrees, sunny and breezy- it's blissful. After class, Ali and I grabbed a blanket and headed to the front lawn to relax.

I hope you are all having a fabulous Friday!