My Week in Review: May 27 – June 2

Monday: Over the weekend I went with Alex to his parents’ house about two hours away from where we live. His parents were sweet enough to get me this 21 charm for my Pandora bracelet in honor of my impending birthday. They’ve given me all my charms so far and I’m really looking forward to them slowly filling up my bracelet over the years.

Tuesday: I had gone back home from Alex’s parents’ house on Monday night just to drive back the next day. Alex gave a speech at his old high school and he completely forgot about it until the day of. I decided to drive back to see him speak as well as to hang out with Natalie their foreign exchange student from the Ukraine. She went home this past Wednesday and I’m definitely going to miss her. To watch a video from today click here.

Wednesday: I’ve really been having a fantastic time creating new outfits and exploring my own closet. It’s easy for things to get lost or swept to the side, so it’s fun to go on an adventure and see what kind of out fit I can put together.

Thursday: Alex and I with two other friends entered a case study competition a few months ago. After a lot of work on Alex and my part to get the projects done and to make the videos, we ended up winning! Each one of us got our own iPad and they FINALLY came today!

Thursday: Needless to say I went right out and bought myself a wonderful iPad case that I completely love. Alex and I spent the evening playing with our iPads and making them perfect.

Friday: I usually don’t work on Fridays, but this week I had to make up for not working Memorial Day. Silly me forgot that Friday is casual dress day. Oh well! I really enjoyed this outfit!

Sunday: Today I hosted my first ever Mary Kay party and had a complete blast. I purchased a few items that I’m incredibly excited to have arrive! To watch a video of today click here.

365 Days of Photos: Day 110 (April 20, 2013)

Alex and I drove to his parent’s house to celebrate their Ukraine foreign exchange student’s 17th birthday. It was great to be able to see her have so much fun and enjoy a very American birthday party at a local bowling alley. I vlogged during the day which you can watch here.

 

Thirty-One (And a Haul Video!)

I recently hosted a Thirty-One party at my apartment and now I’m definitely hooked on the company. Thirty-One is the pure romance party of handbags and organizational totes, so needless to say someone like me can get lost in a Thirty-One catalog.

Via

I had heard about the company when I was working as a teller at Citizen’s Bank last summer, but was hesitant to book a party. It wasn’t until I went with my sister to a party being hosted by one of her friends that I decided to commit to a date. Plus I really liked the consultant.

Via

If you’re interested in watching a video talking all about the products I got, click on the image below!

365 Days of Photos: Day 12 (January 12, 2013)

I hosted a Thirty-One party today. I’ve never hosted a party like this before and was incredibly happy with how it turned out.

 

Adventure: Christmas 2012

The past few days have been a crazy, amazing blur filled with amazing memories with people I love. From Christmas with my family with intense games of Clue (I finally won!) to a mind-blowingly large Christmas with Alex’s family, I have been showered in love and gifts this year. I feel so blessed to have such caring people in my life. Here are some photos from the past few days as well as a video showing everything I got this year. Make sure you click the YouTube video photo to jump to the video!

The delicious homemade noodles at my family’s Christmas dinner (I’m eating leftovers right now!)

The pastry from Alex’s family’s Christmas breakfast. It tasted like a mix between a donut and apple pie.

The living room at Alex’s family’s house after Santa came to visit. The most presents I have ever seen!

The very beautiful Pandora bracelet from Alex’s unbelievably generous parents. The Christmas tree charm symbolizes my first Christmas with their family.

Some of the wonderful gifts I received this year. To see everything I got, be sure to click on the photo below to watch the video!

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas!! I would love to hear what gifts you all received!

In Turn: My Experiences as an Advertising Intern #3

It’s been a busy couple of weeks at the agency!! Like most jobs (hell, life in general) there are good days and bad days. In general though, I’ve been enjoying my time and learning quite a lot about a variety of aspects of the business.

Since about a month ago I’ve been working on decorations for an Alice in Wonderland themed event. I’ve really enjoyed having creative freedom on a number of different aspects of the event. I made sure to take photos for my portfolio:

The event turned out amazing and I heard later (I couldn’t afford the very expensive price per plate) everyone loved the decorations!

I’ve written a few press releases for actual events (unlike all my past press releases that were completely made up) that I’ll be able to use in the future as well.

However today was one of the most frustrating days of this whole experience. As soon as I walked into the agency I was rushed back out again on a pretty silly errand. I was asked to run to an Office Max to find avery specific folder that I knew before I made it back to my car there was no way I was going to find this thing. So off I went, finding nothing after two stores, and was told to find a “unique” folder or just get black ones. It’s the off season for school supplies so there wasn’t anything “unique” and I ended up grabbing average black folders.

Once back in the office I was faced with the task of trying to get reimbursed for everything. I left for the day still needing to be repaid $5. I had returned to working on something else when I overheard the Big Boss talking to the Sales Lady about the folders. He literally called them “crap” and “something a high schooler would use”. Although he didn’t say it to my face, it still hurt. What was I supposed to do with the directions I was given? What other result did the Big Boss expect?

I was in quite the sour mood after that, feeling as if I wasn’t making a good impression on anyone in the office. I felt better when the Boss gave me a media planning/buying task I had been wanting to try my hand in for a while, but I still was taking the whole situation too personally.

Good days or bad, I’m lucky to have this internship and get hands on experience in the field. These crappy days are going to happen, and people are going to be unnecessarily rude. I’ll grow tough skin, and ultimately dominate this business. Or at least get very close.

A Year of Greek Life: A Reflection

With the new pledge class just a few short weeks away from being initiated, I can’t help but to think back on my last year in the sorority and everything that’s happened.

1. I’ve made some amazing new friends.

If I hadn’t decided to go Greek, I highly doubt I would have ever met any of the people that are now incredibly important in my life. I’m not just talking about within my own organization, but within other Greek orgs on my campus and the one close by.

2. I’ve learned a lot about myself.

Being in an organization full of different personalities hasn’t been easy. Honestly, more times than not it’s more work than enjoyable. But through it all I’ve learned a lot about who I am as a person, who I want to be, and who I NEVER want to become. I’m determining what I believe in and what’s worth fighting for with every passing day.

3. I’m more outgoing.

I feel like the majority of bloggers tend to be quiet, reserved people. Greek Life hasn’t completely killed the recluse within me, but I’ve gotten much more comfortable in group situations and with meeting new people. I go to parties and events I would have never considered going to a year ago.

4. I’ve stopped taking shit from people.

Before Greek Life I was kind of a pushover. I figured why bother fighting when I could just accept things as they were. With recent events it’s become apparent that the pushover version of myself is long gone. If I think something’s unjust or not right, I’ll no longer sit quietly by, but will do something about it.

5. I’ve found my place.

I don’t want to kid anyone and say that my sorority is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. It could very well be for someone else, but for me it’s just a part of my life, not the whole thing. However I have to give Greek Life credit for giving me a place to belong. I know where I stand in the campus food chain. I’m not another face in the crowd, but a Greek.

 

My Birthday!

 

A Paczki-less Mardi Gras

To tell you the honest truth, I’ve only had a paczki once on Mardi Gras, and it was quite possibly the greatest food experience of my life. But alas, just like every other year besides The Glorious Paczki of 2010, this Mardi Gras is lacking the high calorie treat.

For one, I don’t have the slightest clue where to get one. I’m sure most bakeries make them specifically for Mardi Gras, but being carless in a city where there are few stores/shops in general, let alone bakeries producing delicious heart-attack inducing wonders, I’m paczki-less. For two, I think it’ll just be sad if I gorge myself on this glorious creation all by my lonesome.

I’m trying very hard to stop my mouth from watering thinking about one.

How do you celebrate Mardi Gras? Are you currently gobbling down a wondrous paczki as you chuckle to yourself about my lack of one? Do you dress up in greens, purples, and golds and go out to parties? I’m curious, so let me know.

 

Adventure: Box Dinner

Creating only food from boxes, I made dinner for my friends tonight. I’ve never been a really good cook, but I’ve always been good at following directions!