Wouldn't It Be Nice

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older
Then we wouldn't have to wait so long
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong

You know its gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together 

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

The happy times together we've been spending
I wish that every kiss was never ending
Oh Wouldn't it be nice

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true

Baby then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do

We could be married

And then we'd be happy

Wouldn't it be nice

You know it seems the more we talk about it

It only makes it worse to live without it

But lets talk about it

Oh, wouldn't it be nice

--The Beach Boys

A Windy Day in Chicago

Today, a large group of us communication scholars spent the day touring Chicago and the artwork that our beloved city has become iconic for. We looked at the rhetoric and essence of things such as Picasso's baboon looking sculpture or the famous Bean. I was mainly focused on the advertisements we are bombarded with daily and all the beautiful photogenic people around me. Here are some of my favorite snapshots from the day, enjoy!

Nora's First Official Photoshoot

The little darling Nora Elizabeth who made me an auntie

Published in The Courier (Trinity's School Paper)

According to DonMilleris.com, age 20 is the new junior high. Not everyone is in their 20’s yet on campus, but you are all close enough to it that this pertains to you. College is an easy time to slip into a habit of laziness and carelessness. In the midst of trying to create new habits and friends, naps, computer time and insecurities tend to take over. Sounds like junior high all over again.

DonMilleris.com gives some ideas to keep us out of this junior high frenzy and I happen to think that if you take heed to these things you will be on your way to a “successful” or at least promising future.

Lose your friends: I know you just made new ones, but seriously take a look at who you are hanging with. Is that what you want to be identified with? Are your friends lazy? Are your friends what you came to Trinity not to be? Are your friends’ gossips? It is okay to be picky with friends; after all, they are a big influence.

Read Books: Start with actually reading your text books; after all you did pay a lot for them. And if you want to be extra ambitious pick one book and make it your goal to finish it within the semester. Books make you smarter and wiser.

Write down your goals for the next 5 years, 1 year, 1 month, and 1 week: If you don’t have anything to reach for you probably won’t go very far. Just keep in mind that all of these things may not come true, but if you fail to plan you plan to fail. Plus, there is something wonderful about physically checking off something you have accomplished.

Ask your parents/mentors for criticism: We need to be a people who are willing to take instruction. Although we may be offended with their response, it is a great way to find out what others really think about you and where you can improve.

Accept Hardship: I will just take the words from Don, “Hardship is part of every life, and God intends it to purify you and prepare you. If you reject hardship, you reject life.”

Accomplish Something: Take a look at your major or your passions in life. Make time to do a mini project of this passion. Don gives the example,”if you want to make films, then make a short film and enter it into a contest.” If you want to be a writer, write for the courier. If you want to be a teacher, volunteer to teach Sunday school every once in a while; the regulars would appreciate the break. Just accomplish something that you are passionate about, you will feel more like an adult.

West Hall Res Life

This is my staff for the year. I did a photo shoot so that we could have a pretty bulletin board, instead of the usual mug shot like pictures that are used for our school IDs. We had a lot of fun, to say the least. The freshman move in today(Friday). It is about to get crazy, but I can't wait to get to know my girls and to see how God moves in this place and how he uses us, the Res Life staff.

(Double Click Photos to Enlarge)

Metaphoric

A dorm room is a small confined space, in this specific case it has off-white cinder block walls, is stocked with light wooded furniture and has a large florescent light. There are hundreds of rooms just like this. It was designed to be a blank canvas and easily changed stylistically year after year.

Freshman year no one has a clue exactly what to bring, except for what Target advertises, so with much confidence in this store, people buy everything in the color or pattern that speaks their name. Sophomore and junior year the packing gets more efficient, you know what to expect and know better what you like and dislike.

Then, senior year comes.The once new dishes are stained with a yellow rim from all the Mac and Cheese and Ramen noodles. The sheets and pillowcases have lost heir new and fresh look. But, look at my dorm, it is tailor made for me. The things that are displayed have a meaning and a history or intended future.

Today I decorated my dorm for the last time. But, I realized this is the first time I feel like my dorm is just how I want it: not a lot of clutter, soft lighting, and nothing is going to fall of the walls if touched. It is crazy how metaphoric dorm rooms can be of life; I am still the same girl I was freshman year, but like my dorm, some things are just new and improved and the old things that are still around have a purpose.

Mementos For My Sister

At Michelle's Baby Shower I asked our guests: What is something that your mother always did that you loved?

• My mom always made me and my sister a new flannel night gown every Christmas
• My mom used to wake me and my twin brother up every Saturday to Queen playing or some other awesome band and then she would make us heart shaped pancakes with tang.
• My mom always danced with me in the kitchen and every day she told me I was beautiful.
• My mom wrote encouraging/embarrassing love notes in my school lunch.
• My mom would read me stories in funny character voices.
• My mom would sing "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain every morning to wake me up for school.
• My mom always made homemade chocolate chip cookies.
• My mom would take all us kids to the park on the river let us play all day, she would take a picnic basket and make it a party.

Mozzarella Salad

Next time you have people over or are asked to bring a dish I would highly recommend this!

This Mozzarella Salad is not only a healthy alternative to a pasta salad, it is deliciously different than most people would make.

The recipe calls for fresh mozzarella balls. Not every grocery store carries it, I had to make a couple stops to find it. I ended up at Ultra. In addition to that, I added some fresh Romain lettuce and broccoli to bulk it up. Putting lettuce with it also makes it less frightening to those steer away from trying newer things.

It turned out great and I am definitely going to make it again cause there was not a leaf left in the bowl!

Here is the recipe link:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/mozzarella-salad-recipe/index.html