Q&A Session

Hello my dear 82 Followers and countless lurkers. (Hey Mrs. Patty!)

I have had a few questions lately that I thought I would answer.

1. Do you prefer Al or Autumn?

I don’t care either way. When I started this blog I thought it would be neat to have a penname and so I chose Al because my name is Autumn Lindsay. Al, Autumn, Autumn-Bottom, Hazel (my mom calls me), Ugly (my roommate calls me) (Hey Porky!). You can call me any of those and I’ll respond.

2. How did you lose 30 pounds?

Don’t get mad at me, okay? For awhile I was only eating around 800 calories/day and running between 4-5 miles at least three times a week. And taking Hydroxycut. Eventually this unhealthy cycle caught up to me (at around –20 pounds) and I nixed the pills and started eating at least 1,200 calories a day. It’s been an interesting process and transformation.

3. What exactly is a Child Life Specialist?

For those of you who don’t know, my major is Child Life Specialist. For whoever asked me, here is your answer: “Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with patients, their family and others involved in the child’s care in order to help them manage stress and understand medical and various procedures.”

I will help children facing chronic illnesses and long-term hospitalization to better understand and cope with their illness. It’s a fascinating field that I’m thrilled to be a part of! Read more here.

4. What photo editing program do you use?

I get this one a lot, which is cool because you like how I edit my pictures. It’s nothing fancy, though. I just use Picnik. My favorite effect is Cross Process, and I usually up the Temperature and sometimes add a few other things. The fun part is experimenting and making each picture unique.

 

If you have more questions, ask away and I will add my response in this post. If not, well, I’ll try to not feel super lame.

Sponsor Lovin’

I am taking sponsors for the month of Mane.

May + June.

And the best news?

It’s free!

You sponsor me, I sponsor you, and we both win.

You can check out the details here.

That page pretty much says what this post says, but it also has a picture of a zonkey and some buttons, which this post does not.

I am Al and I thought Mane was clever.

Tritastic Randoms on Thursday Night

1. “Yucky pizza, yucky pizza! Yummy yummy cucumber sandwich!”

‘Sup. I made a food diary blog that can be found here:

You should come encourage me because I’m going to need it!

2. Holy Guacamole

How did I just discover Passion Pit?

I died a small but pleasurable death when I heard Moth’s Wings.

Then I lost a small fortune to iTunes.

They are seriously that good. Take a listen and report back to me.

3. Vintage Beauty

I am in love with these vintage style bathing suits from Modcloth.

What do you think of them?

Bliggity Blog

I’m so happy because this little blog got a make-over and now my picture is all over it! Do you like it?

Just kidding. I mean my picture is all over it, but that’s not why I’m happy.

I’m happy because:

it’s 70 degrees and sunny!
(even though I am wearing a sweater in those pictures)

I’m eating at Tropical Smoothie tonight.

tomorrow is my last day of class.

Shazam.

I hope your day is swell too!

A Post About Posts

Man, I am feeling uninspired.

My best writing comes from times of sheer embarrassment and well, I have been fairly normal lately.

Lame, I know. What in the world am I supposed to write about?

I can’t write a post about being uninspired. That would just be lame.

Can I use the word ‘lame’ more than once in a post?

If your answer is yes, here, have a cookie.

If your answer is no, you’re lame.

See what I did there?

I could keep writing about Canada because there are two days I haven’t documented, but I was getting bored with it. How many different ways can you say “it was cold” and “I worked at a homeless shelter” without things getting redundant?

And sure, I could write about how I changed my major to Child Life but then you would probably comment and say, “how many times are you going to change your major?!”

To which I would reply “probably five” because Child Life is the fifth and (hopefully) last.

You can’t expect any less from this ENFP.

I wanted to write about Crazy Love- how it was a spiritual workout for me and something I needed, something that was life-changing.

The words weren’t coming, though. Thoughts and ideas were stewing in my mind but they will remain in my Unpublished Posts folder with several other unfinished works of art.

Hmm, let me think. What else could I write about?

The bag of trail mix my roommate and I downed in two days; how I take prenatal vitamins; an awesome purple pen I found in the hall on second floor; how I’m going to Florida in 66 days; how much I love smoothies; Mormons.

The angelic music of Coldplay?

How I’ve lost 20 pounds?

Do you want me to write about the Taylor Swift concert tickets I bought Thursday?

Wow this is getting wordy.

I better wrap this up.

I still don’t know what to write about.

Lame.

See Autumn.

 

See Autumn pose.

 See Autumn write.

See Autumn stop.

(The posing and the writing.)

(No, not forever. Just for tonight. You think I would quit gracing you readers with my wonderful face and witty words?)

(Especially my reader from Spain (Hola!))

(You think I’m kidding. I’m not. I have a reader in Spain.)

(Next stop: Iceland.)

(Do they have computers there?)

Happy Blogiversary!

 

My official 1 Year Blogiversary is today and there are cupcakes for your virtual enjoyment.

Because I know the only reason you read my blog is for the cupcakes.

Anyway, here are the top 2 posts of the year! Think of these joyous reads as sprinkles on top of that cupcake of yours.

They are that good. (Did I mention a New Year’s Resolution of mine is modesty? I seem to be tapped out.)

Ok, I’m getting carried away.

Most Viewed Post of 2010:

Steel Magnolias
(This seems like a random most viewed post, no?)

Personal Favorite Post of 2010:

Hiking, and a Personal Revelation
(Because I’m all about the revelations)

 

That’s all, kids.

Wait! Here’s your cupcake.

Enjoy.

You Know What They Say About Fine Lines.

This picture has nothing to do with this post. Actually, I take that back. This picture is reminiscent of happier days. Days without chemistry. Too dramatic?

I know you log on to this site to read my complaints.

I find you endearing because you do such a thing. My thanks? Here, have a mug of creamy hot chocolate with gingerbread marshmallow's (Limited Edition!) and kick back.

Because I have a lot to complain about. But I can't tell if I have a lot to complain about because I'm blessed or whiny.

You know what they say about fine lines. Don't you?

Ahem. Allow me to begin.

Back in the brisk autumn days of this year my chemistry professor was fired. A sure blessing and answered prayer. My class was failing and he was to blame. Some people shouldn't teach, you know?

A replacement was made in the form of a 30 something old woman who can teach. A sure blessing and answered prayer.

Except there was backtracking to do because as you know, chemistry is a building block. We started over, cramming months of unlearned kinetic theories into our minds.

Which is why I have been studying days for a very lengthy 3 chapter chemistry exam. And a final next week.

Am I complaining because I am blessed? I did pray for understanding in chemistry. New professor. On larger scale, I do get an education.

Am I complaining because I am whiny? My brain can't possibly hold anymore information about equilibrium. And I would like some decent sleep. Too much to ask? Too whiny?

Anyway, like I said.

Fine line.

(Don't burn your tongue on the hot chocolate.)

Obsessed Fan

I’m incapable of simply liking something.

I tend to get obsessed. And when I say obsessed, I mean obsessed. In 7th grade when every American girl went through their Hilary Duff phase, I made a website dedicated to her. And a scrapbook of all magazine clippings she was in.

I told you, obsessed.

Lately I have been very into the TV show Pretty Little Liars along with my roommate. If you have never watched the show or read the books, it’s about a group of girls whose best friend went missing and was murdered and now the girls are getting anonymous texts from a person who identifies their self as ‘A’. ‘A’ seems to know what happened to their murdered best friend.

It’s a captivating mystery, that is for sure!

Today as Ali and I freaked out over the finale, we decided to make a chart breaking down all of the characters. Could this person be ‘A’? What would their motive be?

As the show progresses, we will add things to our chart!

Are you a Liars fan? If so, who do YOU think ‘A’ is?

It's Great To Be Home

Alas, I am home from school for a much needed break.

The break started off wonderfully with some quality girls time with my best friend.

We went to a Miche purse party and then hit up the bowling alley for 'All You Can Bowl' night. I never go to the bowling alley because I am terrible at the 'sport' but it was very refreshing to do something I never do.

And it's always fun to make a fool of yourself, right?

This week I am going to think about school as little as possible and think about something infinitely better: Black Friday and pumpkin pie.

The holiday season is here, friends!

A Taste of Life (twice)

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection”.

-Anais Nin

I feel like having this corner of the internet has enriched my life.

Enriched my soul, even.

When I decided to get a blog, I had no idea what I was going to write about. I knew I loved to write but I didn't know how often I would actually push the 'Publish Post' button.

224 posts later, I can honestly say that my life has changed because of it.

Before, I had zero hobbies.

Then I created this scrapbook of my life and what's a scrapbook without pictures? So I took up photography and fell in love with the art. Time passed, I read other blogs, and I started having more goals.

Run a half-marathon, bake more, find the joy in the small things in life.

It started happening. I was living my life so joyously, twice. Once in the moment and in retrospection.

Can I also say that my love for sharing our Savior has tripled? Most days I find myself typing a list of complaints that turns to guilt (because I am more blessed than I know how to articulate) that turns to thanking God for his incredible blessings.

And it seems we have come full circle because I am so thankful to God for the incredible blessing this blog and my precious followers have been in my life.

To all of us who write, who truly taste life twice, isn't life in retrospection sweet?

A Damper on Things

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain pitter pattering against my third floor window.

Then I realized it was Tuesday.

And that's as far as I got.

Come back tomorrow?

21 Before 21.

I love making lists.

And goals.

And cupcakes.
(More on those later.)

Today while watching TV I had a revelation. I am not living my life to the fullest. Let's be honest, I don't set a lot of hard goals. I set easy ones that I know I can quickly cross off my list. (Told you I like lists.)

There is a whole slew of things I would love to accomplish in the (almost) near future. But without a list, this girl won't get anything done! On that note, I made a list of 21 things I will do before I turn 21.

You should make one too.

In other news, I have not started the unpacking process.

Perhaps a list would help.

See what I mean?

If you make a 21 before 21 list,
comment and let me know!
I would love to see your aspirations!

Dreams & Reality

I want to live here.
A beach house overlooking the Atlantic ocean. South Carolina will do, please. My brood of children can build sandcastles during the day and the hubster and I can sip hot tea and watch the sun rise before he endures his 9-5. I can open all of the windows during the day and let the house breathe in salty, fresh air. Can you smell it? Yes, that life will do just fine.

Of course, I would also choose mountains. Colorado, Utah, Montana. I could totally be a ranch wife. I could have breakfast cooked up by 6 a.m. and then saddle up those horses for a ride. Horses scare me but I could suck it up because get a load of those mountains. Can you imagine them in your backyard? Take a moment...

Moments over. Now imagine that it is raining. Loud thunder is echoing through the valleys. The light breeze carries the smell of pine. Oh yes, I will take those mountains. Pretty, pretty please.

I would gather the children and snap on their rain coats. Rain boots would come out from the back of the closet and we would splash in puddles. Can you hear their tiny shrieks and giggles? Then we would go inside, towel off, and make cookies. Naps would follow and I would sit on the back porch and stare at those mountain while the rain poured and the clouds thundered.

Anyways, I haven't given much thought to those dreams.

The reality? It's my 100th post! Hold the phone--100?

Yes, 100. Happy 100th post and thank you for reading!

Where do you dream of living?

Hat Head.

It's come to my attention that I do not look good in hats.
That's a lie, actually. I've always known I don't look good in hats.

I just don't have the right head.

I blame my mother.

My favorite hats to drool over are the Kentucky Derby hats the women wear.

They are all so cute- not something I could ever pull off!
Check em' out.

My favorite!

I won't be donning any of those hats anytime soon. Or ever.
And even though hats don't compliment my head,
I am still going to wear this hat on the beach:

Which one is your fave?

p.s. I'll let you know how that
beach hat looks come July.

Unresponsive.

grace - noun, verb, graced, grac·ing.
–noun
1. elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
2. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of god.

A big question struggle of mine lately is how to show Gods love and grace to others. I think this has been on my mind for one reason- my suitemate. It really is no lie that we don't get along. I was reading her latest blog entry last night and (I could be wrong) it seemed like she was talking about me. How she views me, anyways. Not how I see myself to be.
This is an exert:

"I know that God sees my good, and God sees when bad happens. To those who believe they do good, but clearly do bad... all that I really have to say, is that I may not see it at times, others may not see it at times, but there is always one who sees it no matter what."

She said various other things that all pointed to how I know she sees me.
It hurts me- to the point of tears. I don't know what to do. I passed her in the hallway a few days ago and said "Hey!" and she just looked at the floor and mumbled something. "Hi," maybe.

I tried to make conversation with her in the bathroom about her favorite song, told her "happy birthday" and several other things. I am trying to show love towards her, but it's so hard when you get no response. Is she not looking past the trivial drama (SpaghettiO's) like I am? I am able to laugh about it- hence the 'I Steal SpaghettiO's' blog post.

That's when this all came to me. As soon as I thought, "It's so hard when I get no response," I thought of God and his wonderful grace.
The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

She (suitemate) may be unresponsive, she may always think I'm fake, she may always have a hatred towards me, but I will love her anyways, because God loves me, even on days when I am
unresponsive.

Under The Knife

My hair went under the knife today.

I was going to let it grow out, I really was.

I kept imagining myself on the beach this summer, my hair wavy and long. I could see it blowing in the wind, I could see it in a cute bun, I could see...endless scenarious, really.

However, the myths are true.

Once you go short, you don't go back!

At first the feat of growing it out doesn't seem too bad.

Then it gets to the awkward stage--weird grown out layers and a completely ridiculous cowlick in the back.

That's when you have to decide if you're in it for the long haul.

I was not. At all. It had to go.

Pronto.

I wanted my cute angled bob back, stat!

So off I went today, picture and description in hand of what I was looking/hoping/dreaming to have.

And usually, my stylist gets it just right. Better than my hopes, even.

Oh...not today.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't look bad. It's cute.

What I was looking/hoping/dreaming to have?

Not so much.

It's not my cute bouncy angled bob.

It's more like chin length all the way around my round head.

On the brighter side of things, no more cowlick or grown out layers!

Musings from a wanna-be housewife

I often find myself feeling like this picture. A dainty 50's housewife who always has a delicious dinner planned, precious children--and check out that stud husband--and handles all of it with grace. Okay, maybe not feeling like the picture. But I have this naive vision that this image is how my life will be 10 years down the imaginary road. And I mean, I have given this much thought. Down to the kids' names. Harper, Betsy, Carryington Jenna (Cara J), Liam & Shaeffer. But who is asking?

I even, embarrassingly, have an album on my computer entitled "Future Home," where you will find pictures of how I plan to decorate said "Future Home." Is that weird? I think it is. I mean, I'm a freshman in college. I'm a dreamer?

I'm insanely envious of bloggers I follow that have homes and children. I can't help it--I've always wanted to have a big family and keep a house. That so-called motherly "gene" was passed down to me, that much I know!

My dear suitemate calls me her "mom away from home." Probably because I bake, clean, and hand out advice wrapped in sarcastic comments & witty remarks.

You're a saint if your still reading this mumble-jumble, so I will get to the point for your sanity. I refuse to think about this stuff in my free time. I'm in college & I LOVE it. I'm having the time of my life, meeting wonderful people and growing in my faith. Cliche, but I have learned a lot about myself. So please don't read this and think I am depressed and waiting to get married so my "real life" can start. Not at all.

I just want to live in the "now," and when "that part" of my life happens, you will know. Believe you me.

Anyways, just random musings from my mind today.

Stupendous Sunday

Today has just been one of those amazing days! It's making up for my lousy Friday & Saturday!
I woke up to beautiful, sunny 70 degree weather.
The air smells fresh & good, birds are chirping, and everything is
so vibrantly green.

Beth, Shelby & I started our day with a picnic on the front lawn. I took this picture of pretty Shelby because she's the only girl I know that paints her nails on the front lawn! It's pretty comical.

Me and her are both trying to shed a little weight for the summer. We are really good at keeping each other in check. Our healthy lunch consisted of whole-wheat PB&J's, salad, yogurt mixed with fruit, & baked chips on my part. I have to have something crunchy with a sandwich.

We were both feeling guilty after last nights dinner at TGI Friday's. After finishing up some school work last night, we headed to Little Rock to get Shelby's IX formal dress. We had a late dinner (1o p.m.!) at TGI. Parmesan crusted chicken & peanut butter pie. Oh boy, it was good! But it's going to make my workout rough today, plus I found 2 pounds I had lost. Bleh, too many "free days" this weekend!

I tried this dress on and wanted it SO bad!! It was just so ME! I will always want that dress. Maybe I will buy it when it goes on sale, just to stare at it...(do I look skinnier? Please say YES! haha, this diet is hard work!)

The small town of Searcy has gotten a FroYo Factory!
It's SO good! After our picnic, Beth and I went to Walmart to get some cleaning supplies.

The warm weather left us with a craving for some FroYo, so we went & loaded up on strawberry fat-free froyo with added fresh fruit (strawberries, kiwi, raspberries) & granola!

Yum, it was so good. FroYo Factory is a big hit among HU students for sure!

****

Now I'm off to clean and then do some studying. I may not be a big blogger this week. 3 tests (our last tests until finals!) and a research paper due that is 35% of my Comp. 2 grade.

Oh who am I kidding? I always find time to blog!

College Life Update

Let's just say that I definitely made use of my quesadilla maker yesterday.

And can I also say that I am now a huge fan of guacamole?

I used to hate it.

Then this past weekend at Casa Brava I chowed down on it.

It's only 40 calories for 2 tablespoons...score!

This semester is really picking up.

I can't believe I only have 2 1/2 weeks until dead week.

I have two research papers due in the next two weeks.

Ugh, why did I take two English classes in one semester?

I have a meeting with my advisor this afternoon to discuss my fall 2010 semester.

She better help me because I'm having issues!

Like, do I take Life of Christ or Romans?

Can I take Health Assessment & Nutrition concurrently?

I tell ya, us Nursing majors have it tough.

And we schedule classes soon/get chapel seats/get meal plans/ and next week Ali & I have an appointment with Housing. PRAY we get into Pattie Cobb!

(I'm just kidding-don't pray about that! Pray about world hunger or something less selfish!)

So yeah, that's whats going in my life.

How about yours?