Top 5 Things I get Excited For (in the mail)

When I was in college, I got a lot of care packages from my family with goofy toys, candy, and craft kits. I loved it. Now that I'm an "adult" I still get care packages and fun things in the mail, but instead of mac and cheese or peanut MnMs, my day is made by:

1) Candles - Tea lights, $5 from Kmart or $20 from Bath and Body Works, I love candles. There are probably only 5 or 10 minutes a day that I don't have a candle lit in my apartment (while I'm there and awake). I have candles specifically for the morning, I have candles for at night, I even have candles designated to different rooms. There must always be candles burning.

2) Loofahs - Did you know you're supposed to throw those suckers out every 4 weeks? They're nice for care packages because they aren't heavy and they double as a huge packing peanut.

3) Quarters - These are awful to send in the mail! It probably makes more sense to just send money in a card, but I can't do laundry with anything but quarters. And by the time I get home from work, the bank is already closed and I don't have a chance to exchange. But my coin jar is dangerously low for a person that likes to wear clean clothes.

4) Heartfelt Recipes - As a picky eater, I love getting recipes with notes like "I know you like eggs and have been trying to eat low carb, so try this!" As a picky eater, mostly it's just nice (but totally unexpected) when people remember what you do and don't like and have fun ideas for you to try.

5) Bubble Gum - Some things never change.

So thank you to all my family that continues to send me mail so I have something to look forward to when I get home!

Next Semester- Senior Year??

Originally, I had promised myself I wasn't going to be that senior that posts a status about it being their last first day of school, or weep at every big event, etc etc. But I've spent my whole college career trying not to make big deals about things, and not getting overly emotional. I haven't fully participated. I was a wall flower. So this year, I'm just going to embrace all those stupid lasts, and let myself enjoy it.

I never knew my great-grandbig, so we don't have any real traditions for that. But this year, I'm going to wear the "senior" crown on bid day. I'm going to be the old one. I realized, the new members I mentored last year- they're going to grow up and mentor these next women, and I'm mostly going to be on the sidelines watching. And that's pretty awesome. It's one circumstance where you can be nothing but proud to be a wallflower. 

A few goals, for the Fall:

1. I would really, really like to get a 4.0. I've never gotten one before, and I'm running out of time. I'm prepared to have a semester full of no social life, and full scholastic and leadership engagement. 

2. This is going to seem contradictory, but-- I want to say yes to more things. I want to DO more. I don't mean going out- I've played that scene, and it doesn't make me happy. I mean going to shows in Cleveland, and exploring downtown, and meeting new people. Last year, when I was a rho gamma, I went to a few club meetings just because I didn't have anything else to do, and that was pretty cool. I need to see more than greek life and yearbook.

3. Find my faith. It's somewhere, I'm pretty sure. I don't know if it's in the Episcopal church, or at our Thursday services, or the Methodist church, but I plan on finding out.

4. Learn to use the weight room. I'm so comfortable at the gym, but I've never crossed over to do the weights, and I need to just do that. Along with this goal, I want to run a 5k. I want to be a runner. 

5. Find a healthy routine! I'm going to get up early and have my orange juice while I read the news. I'm going to eat three meals, where I sit down and actually absorb nutrients. Less multitasking, more focus on what I'm doing. When I have a meeting, I'll be in that meeting. When I have class, I'll be in that class. I can juggle all the things I'm involved in, I'm positive. But it will all come down to focus!

Fall Semester, 2013. The beginning of the end.