Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a little bit of Lilly

It seems like everyone is making a to-do list for the summer, and so since Elderberry's in Blacksburg unexpectedly closed and left me scrambling for a new summer job, I figured with the free time I do have, I might as well be productive with it to take my mind of now newly joining the ranks of the unemployed masses. But I remain hopeful! I had an interview and I put in a few applications at some of my favorite places around town, so lets just hope for the best!

But now, onto The List:

-running at least twice a day- morning and night! There's something to be said about waking up on a summer morning around 6:30 when the mist is still hanging in the air and feeling your feet pound on the pavement and jamming to some good old country music. It's a great way to start the day! This one will prove to be my hardest item to adhere to on the list.
-FIND A NEW JOB- self explanatory. It's summertime, and I need some monies.
-Start planning Kappa Delta's 2012 Recruitment. Last year we won Best Recruitment at Greek Awards, which is an amazing accomplishment so I want to get a head start on the planning process and make sure we keep up the sterling reputation.
-Hiking & Homeplace day trip. My dream day basically.
-Find a running watch and some flashy new running shorts- I keep seeing girls wearing these brightly colored pairs and I have to say- I wanna get me some of dem!
-Start collecting things for my room in the KD house next year! I can't believe I move into the house in August- with my bestest friend Kate Gillies and all my amazing sisters! I'm thinking a color scheme of pink and green which are both of our favorite colors.
Here's the bedding I want:

It's Lilly Pulitzer, my all time favorite designer and my favorite girl's name to boot! If I could decorate my entire house ceiling to floor in Lilly, those who know me best know I would do it in a heartbeat. 

-make a summer reading list... include lots of books. Summer is the only time I really get to read for pleasure- one of my favorite and slightly nerdy past times I'll admit, but there's nothing better than getting lost in a good story. Last week I spent three hours wandering around the bookstore trying to decide on some new summer reading- and here's what I ended up with: Dan Brown's Deception Point and Something Borrowed and Something Blue

I'm not one for cheesy romance novels, but this plot is a real life (and pretty messed up) situation and even though parts of it sure are awkward and make me cringe and squirm thinking about being in these girls' shoes, I'm happy to report it all works out in the end (for the most part). Now after I finish Deception Point I'm onto Something Blue ...we'll see how it turns out!

Well I figure I'll start out small with this list and I'm sure more items will get added as summer goes on- look out for another post very soon about my past weekend- my family came to visit, my baby sister got Confirmed and had her district track meet and we all ate at a cute little ice cream/deli in Salem, VA. Gotta Love summer!

Something to think about as we start our week:


"Dreams are the touchstones of our character" -Henry David Thoreau 


side note: these are the best days of our lives!

Congrats Class of 2011!

This post is long overdue, but Congrats to all the VT Graduates that graduated last weekend- although the big Commencement ceremony in Lane Stadium on Friday was rained out just as the poor Commencement speaker began to give his speech, the weekend's festivities were still lots of fun! The celebrations began (typically) at the GC manor to celebrate all the GERMAN Club seniors graduating with their families and friends! I can't believe these boys are leaving- I feel happy for them and sad all at the same time, I'm losing some of my best guys and big brothers, but I know they will go on to do amazing things! I sure will miss you boys- come back and visit us often at VT!

Some of the 901 dudeskis, so proud of ya'll!

Luke's family posed for a million pictures with us (before cap and gown shots)

His siblings, Abi, Carlee, Kelsey, JED! and me and Luke :) They all were just as proud of their brother as I was! Especially Jed. He's such an amaaaaazing lil bro and we just love him so much!

Luke and his proud mommy and daddy! He really is blessed with an amazing and loving family, they are always so fun to be around. 

rocking those grad glasses and those GC stoles and bow ties. straight reppin' boys, and I couldn't be more proud! 

On saturday was the Pamplin Business School's commencement ceremony in Cassell. When we were all  getting settled into our seats waiting for the graduates to take their seats on the floor, a raging lighting storm outside caused the power in the stadium to go out! First a rained out Commencement the night before, and now- lights out in Cassell?? We joked that someone really didn't want this class to leave VT, mother nature kept getting in the way of all the ceremonies! But fortunately they got the lights back on and the rest of the ceremony went off without a hitch. We even got to hear Nathan's speech he was supposed to give on Friday, which was great as usual. I wouldn't have expected anything less from the Class of 2011 Class President. Love you Nathan! 

At the end of the weekend, I asked Luke if he felt any different as a new member of Virginia Tech Alumni. He looked at me thoughtfully and said he didn't feel much different, but he was sure he would when fall rolled around and he wasn't coming back to Blacksburg to start classes. He will be moving on to bigger, and better things- out in the real world. I'm so proud of him!

Cheers to all the Graduates of the Class of 2011! Hats off to ya'll!

Your True Colors

One of the many wonderful things about Taylor Swift is the way her songs always seem to relate to each and every one of us. Take, for example, her song "Mean". I'm sure each of us has at least one person in mind (sometimes even more than one) when we hear this song playing, whether it's an old high school boyfriend who cheated on you and broke your heart, that little boy on the playground who pushed you off the swing set or a roommate turned sour who has their mom fight their battles for them...either way, we all have had someone be mean to us in our lives, and yes we know- it sure does stink. Sometimes, we forget to remember to:

So what do we do, when people are mean to us? How do we make ourselves feel better when we have those certain inescapable people in our lives that insist on bringing us down? The best way to remedy a mean person, I've found, is to surround yourself with people who love and appreciate you- your friends and family. And these are the people in my life whose true colors are beautiful....like a rainbow: 

Buddy Dryman- my big brother and true family and the one who helped me through some of my toughest days. I love you!

and of course my Amy- the one who I could always count on to talk me out of bad choices I really wanted to make but would ultimately hurt me in the end, and who would come over in the middle of the night if I needed her. You're the best Ams! 

Sarah Louise- my inspiration to blog, my first friend when I moved to Blacksburg, my best friend, my roommate...all I can say is "GET DOWN AND COVER THE BISCUITS!" 

BRITT- the best friend a girl could ever ask for, loyal and hilarious and always gives me the honest answer and tells me like it is- she knows me better than anyone else and I would be truly lost without her. I'm so blessed to have this crazy girl in my life. Thanks for everything you do for me, momz!

my little peanut Kate Gillies- I could literally write a blog post listing all the things this little nugget has done for me, I've never had a more devoted friend in my life and I am so grateful for her every day. She's baked me cookies when I was sad, given me cards that reminded me I really was beautiful when I didn't believe it and always inspires me to be a better person. She brings out the best in me- or tries to, even in my stubborn moments. My future roommate, my Kappa Delta sister, one of the best friends I have ever had in whole wide world- her friendship is unfailing through all the ups and downs and I owe everything I have to you, kate! I love you so much. 

David Bales and Trey Gresh- (and chase of course) The greatest, funniest most wonderful guy friends I have! David is like a big brother to me, he picks me back up when I fall down (off a bike, or when I'm skiing), makes fun of me constantly but I know it's out of love and I know he will always be here for me when I need him. Even when I'm not around all the time, he knows I love him :) And the same goes for you, Trey! You know I'll always love you big brothers and I appreciate all the times you have been there to take care of me. 

We all have these people in our lives, the ones we know we can count on to drop everything and come find us when we need them- and I think sometimes we forget in the rush of our day to day lives, to really thank them for every little thing they do for us. And for their true colors- how they show at the times when those that are mean really bring us down. Where would we be without these loved ones? Probably in a world full of meanies. 

peace out, girl scouts. 

Beachy Keen

For Easter weekend I went with my very sweet and loving boyfriend and his amazing cousin and little sister to their family's beach house in Kure Beach, NC to meet the WHOLE family- cousins, aunts, uncles and all! Needless to say, I was completely and totally nervous about meeting everyone all at once, but it turned out to be one of the best weekends I've had in a while! I wish I could go back, I miss it already!

Me and the lovely Blanchat/Wieser/Rollins girls on the beach. The water was pretty cold but we jumped in anyway, like champs!

This took a couple of takes...shout out to Luke's little bro for being such a patient photographer!

The girls and I even found a secret hideout, it was like a little fantasy world and all I could think about was if I had discovered this as a small child, it would be the coolest playhouse in the world!

Abi, Carlee and I just hangin' in our little hideout. (Until the boys came! Jeeez)

All in all, it was a great Easter weekend complete with a sunrise service on the beach and a trip to Flaming Amy's in Wilmington- the best burrito I've ever had! Yummy!

The Very First One

After having my lovely and very persuasive roomie, Sarah Ryan suggest I start a blog, I took her up on it and now here I sit- typing my very first blog post! I have to say, setting it all up was rather complicated (for me at least) it took me thirty minutes alone to pick out a background design... But hopefully I can fill this blog with funny pictures and exciting adventures and memories of summer 2011!

Today was Mommy's Day (Love ya Mom!) And I got to spend it out at my River House, on the New River. My mom and dad bought two ducks and two chickens for my little brother's birthday and I can't believe how big they have gotten! We took the ducks down to the river for the very first time and let them swim in the water. I was afraid they would just swim away as soon as we let them go, but when my dad and brother got out of the water they followed them right up the bank! It was the cutest thing- to see our little ducks following us wherever we went. My mom named them Lilly and Fern, and I'm looking forward to playing with them lots this summer!

This past week we finished up classes- I can't believe I'm a junior in college- the time flies when you're having fun I guess! My roommates and I celebrated the last day of classes by going to the Zac Brown Band Concert in Salem- it was so fun, a little chilly, but we kept warm by dancing along to all his GREAT songs! They sure are amazing live!

Throwing a little tswifty for the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. Luhhh dat!

Well that's all for now! Until next time-