These boots are made for walkin

I'm super obsessed with boots.

I could spent hours looking for new ones to buy,
and put them with anything and call it a day!

I mean, I'm currently wearing them.

All of these outfits are completed because of the boots:

AND I just bought these beauts today! [from payless and on sale - score!]

So if you don't have any amazing boots - 

go out and get some in every color because they are in style friends.

And they're warm and cozy and cute!

College Student

I'm a college student.

Somewhere between a junior and senior.

I wanna teach, love, mold, and help little kids.

But there is a lot to do before I student teach.

Stress as become the norm for me.

Currently, I have:

a full class load of 18 credits;

homework for all those credits;

2 jobs: 15-20 hrs a week;

half marathon training;

social life; family time;

eating; sleeping;

stressing.

I'm at my maximum capacity for what I can handle.

I love everything I do though - seriously I do!

Therefore, next semester - the work load stays the same.

I love my classes and enjoy growing and learning.

I love my jobs [supervisor in Admissions and babysitting].

I love the things I do in my down time.

I love that I'm doing this half marathon because

running is my stress reliever, and I need lots of that!

I love my nights of just enough sleep.

I love the time with friends and family.

But it can be a little bit much and overwhelming.

I have to do a lot for my major outside of the classroom.

Reading to children, tutor, teach, practice lessons,

make a lot of contacts with teachers, observe a million hours in schools,

take lots of tests for the state, figure out my classes,

and determine where in the world I want to do my student teaching.

[Literally: because I'm student teaching overseas for 6 weeks in 1 year.]

However, I had very different worries my freshman year.

Who I would be friends with, when I'd see my boyfriend,

when I'd see my family, how I'd get around with no car,

how to get out of a horrible rooming situation [no luck but now I get it],

how to adjust to life away from home and my life I grew up,

what church to go to, how to write papers,

how to get all my reading done...blah blah blah.

I thought I was weird and strange for feeling depressed and alone.

However, that is quite normal for college students [especially freshies]

Here are some facts I found here:

-85% of students reported feeling stressed daily

-52% of college females reported feeling overwhelming anxiety

[17% higher than college men]

-84% of college females reported feeling exhausted

[not from physical activity and again 17% higher than men]

-Prescriptions for sleeping meds tripled among college age user from 98-06

-Academic work and grades are the top stresses for students

And over here I found this little bit of information:

"Researchers say severe mental illness is more common

among college students than a decade ago, with most young

people seeking treatment for depression and anxiety."

This website and this one are wonderful as well.

You're probably saying... "So what?!"

Well for some of you - that might explain your stress.

For me - I've learned what I can handle and how to release stress.

I can handle what I currently have - no more.

I have to run regularly or I'm a basket-case and stressed monster.

Dealing with stress is part of life.

There is always gonna be something that stresses you out.

So learn while you can how to handle it.

Seek out help and don'e be afraid of the help.

I'm not sure where this post came from to be honest.

But I know a lot of freshies dealing with this,

and I wanted to show you that it is normal.

But don't let that stop you from seeking out help.

Even going to someone to talk to might help.

Okay enough of that.

Clothes tomorrow :) or something like that!

PS. This is what I did with another pumpkin!
A girl can never have enough glitter in her life :)

AND

Today is my brother's birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Jared :)

can't wait to celebrate together!

miss you and love you!

Enjoy some pictures of the cutest siblings ever!

 Christmas 1993

 Chilling with Dad 1993

Family Picture 1994 or 1995

Homecoming 2008

 Cross Country 2008

 My Graduation 2009

 Fall 2008

 Winter Ball 2008

 St. John 2010

 St. Thomas 2010

 Jared's Grad Party 2011

 Jared's Graduation 2011

 Moving me into college 2009

 Junior Prom 2010

Senior Prom 2010

You the best little bro! Happy Birthday - live it up!

Pumpkin Weekend

This weekend was full of pumpkins.

Carving and baking.

And lots of fun!

Nick and I kept up with tradition this weekend.

We went to the pumpkin patch and did the walk around,

and we got ourselves some real winners to carve :)

He managed to do his start to finish in 15 minutes.

Mine took me the better part of 45 minutes.

But mine was way cleaner and planned out!

A face with fangs by Nick and LOVE park sign by me :)

Today I made the perfect Sunday Fall Snack.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins.

What you need:

2 boxes of choc cake mix

2 cans of pumpkin (15 oz)

1 bag of choc chips

[Fill the tins most of the way

because they don't rise that much]

Bake at 350 for 20ish minutes

Test to see if done.

Let cool for a few minutes.

Eat and enjoy :)

They are deadly though - so good!

I'll be munching on some of these this afternoon

and drinking some hot french vanilla tea :)

Oh and my Mama made some butternut squash soup - yessss!

It's a great day here for food!

Made in America

Hit play then read. Do it.

Toby Keith released this song in early summer '11.

My boyfriend and I jammed out to it all summer long.

And then Nick saw a special by Diane Sawyer.

Her focus was "Made in America."

Read this excerpt from her show and website:

"The facts show that our nation is addicted to imports. In 1960, foreign goods made up just 8 percent of Americans' purchases. Today, nearly 60 percent of everything we buy is made overseas.

On air and online, we'll tackle the key questions: Is buying American-made more expensive? What staples are no longer manufactured in the U.S. at all? And what difference would it make if everyone promised to buy more American-made products?

There's no question that manufacturing still has a major impact on our economy and on the nation's workforce. The United States has fewer manufacturing jobs now than we did in 1941, the same year as the attack on Pearl Harbor, but if every American spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods, it would create almost 10,000 new jobs in this country."

Okay so needless to say - I'm working on buying American these days.

I mean we all want to get out of this economic crisis,

and if we can create more jobs, I'm all for it!

So Nick is kinda the stickler with this challenge.

He always checks my tags on things,

picks American brands over foreign brands, and will pay more for it.

And I'm actually catching myself doing it more and more.

I haven't done too much research on this,

but I'm game from what I've heard and feel as an American.

We need more American pride these days.

So say the pledge of allegiance a little more,

hang the flag outside your house,

and buy American!!!

It does cost more sometimes to buy American.

However, I think it is totally worth it to do it now and then
[if you don't/can't do it all the time].

Go [here] to sign up for Diane Sawyer's challenge.

Hey, it can't hurt right!

Show some American pride friends :)

look beyond

The first thing you do in a thrift store - 

look beyond what you see!

Think out side of the box my friends.

 It can be very easy to get caught up in the...

smells, appearances, and large amount of clothes.

But don't be fooled! There are treasures everywhere :)

Here are some great things to look for the next time you're thrifting:
Sweater to leg warmers:

Sweater to pillow covers:

Men's large button up shirt to lady's skirt:

Pleated ankle length skirt to dress:

2 plain t-shirts to one different scarf:

T-shirt and lace to scarf:

Men's large sweatshirt to cardigan:

Jeans to shoes:

Polo to boat neck shirt:

For links to all these DIY (do it yourself) projects,

go [here] to my pinterest board and click on the photo.

Then click on it again once it takes you to the separate page,

and it will take you to the website!

Those are just some ideas but there are more.

If you find any awesome ones let me know :)

The weekend is almost here - keep going friends!

Color Blocking

New. Trend.

COLOR BLOCKING.

Embrace it.

Be daring.

Try new things.

This might help you find complimenting colors.

[The colors directly opposite of each other are winners!]

Here are some ideas for color pairs as well:

1. Cobalt blue, yellow and orange

2. Brown, pink and peach

3. Purple, bright blue, and teal

4. Navy blue, bright pink, and white

5. Coral, gray, and ivory

Personal favorite: CORAL and TEAL.

You seriously cannot go wrong.

Especially with my fair skin tone!

I first discovered coral and teal 2 years ago,

and I haven't been able to let go since.

Both colors compliment my fair skin and each other!

Winner all around :) go me! 

Tips:

1. Coloring blocking can make you lose 10 lbs instantly

2. Use separates to create the color blocking look

3. Layer. layer. layer.

4. Experiment and break out of your shell

5. Neutral shoes help bring it all together

All pictures are from pinterest of course!