Hey that's my best friend

A few years ago, I was proudly able to stand in student section at football games and point to the sidelines at one the dance team members and say "hey that's my best friend". I've had many opportunities to do this with two of my very best friends, whether it was while one was featured in a Irish magazine or the other was graduating summa cumlaude from Duke. I am one happy best friend and love to celebrate all of their achievements with them. I am so ecstatic to be able to say that this fall I can point at the sidelines of the Carolina Panthers field and say "hey that's my best friend." My best friend Macey decided that her dancing career wasn't over and tried out for the top cats. I got the call yesterday and I feel as thought the news was just exciting for me! I'm so excited for her as she begins this new journey. I can't begin to describe how excited I am for her. I can't wait for football season so I can cheer on my best friend as she cheers on the panthers. 

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I just bought my cap and gown. Insert shocked emoji. I can't believe that my time as an undergraduate has come to an end. I can't believe that in two short months I will be on a plane heading to Spain! It truly is a bittersweet time! College has really shaped who I am as a person and who I will be for the rest of my life. I have created so many memories and forged so many friendships that will last me a lifetime. It's hard to even fathom that I almost chose not to come here to App State. I had a full ride to Elon University and I turned it down. In the beginning my parents couldn't fathom my thinking behind that decision but in the end they saw that I definitely made the right one. And now, in two short weeks, I will proudly walk across that stage for the last time as an undergraduate. So thankful to have been a part of the Appalachian Family. Really and truly that's what this experience has been. 

Real Life Twister

We had an absolute blast in Savannah and were so not ready to leave. About twenty minutes out the radio began beeping and the rain started falling. We were in a tornado warning for about two hours. My roommate is already anxious and was freaking out the whole time. She was practically in tears thinking a tornado was going to wipe out my car. I however found it a little thrilling at the thought that we may actually get to see a tornado. I already had a plan figured out if such a thing were to happen. Grab one of the 40 blankets from the backseat and run to the closest ditch. Thankfully none of this happened and we made it through the warning. Unfortunately the rain followed us all the way back to Boone. Traffic and weather delayed us so much that a 5 1/2 hour trip soon turned to 7 hours. It was probably one of the toughest drives I'd ever done. We believed that it was fate telling us we should have stayed in Savannah. 

Fabulous and Fit

It's bachelorette weekend number 1 in Savannah. Of course we're going all out and wearing our best wedges. Not such a fabulous idea when the streets of Savannah are cobblestone and uneven as heck. Of course there's hours of sipping on vodka cranberries and dancing in the rooftop bar where there is absolutley no air circulation. Most of my friends are 6 feet minimum with heels on and then there's me, way down there stuck at 5'2" in my highest heels breathing all their leftover hot air. I had a blast no doubt, but I woke up the morning and my feet were burning. On fire. I felt like I was walking on fire. Still do. Then as everyone is gathered around reliving the night through snapchat, you find that you actually ran the .75 mile back to the house about 15 blocks away. In your wedges. I enjoy running and I enjoy wearing heels and going out. However, under no circumstances should the two be paired together. None. Nada. Zip. On the plus side, maybe it'll help me on my quest for those killer calves I've been dying for. 

Rain Rain Go Away

Hey Boone,  how about we go back to the days of sunshine and warmth? If there was ever a bipolar city, it would be Boone. Seriously one day I'm hiking up grandfather mountain in shorts and chacos and the next I'm climbing up the stairs to the attic to get my north face and bean boots. I have less than a month remaining here in Boone and I want every single day to be sunny and 75. Is that too much to ask?? Apparently so. So until Mother Nature decides to give me what I want, I suppose I'll keep my winter clothes boxes in the hallway for the time being.

Back At It

I grew up in a very health conscience family. My mom is a nurse practitioner and also has a masters in nutrition. She is very into fitness and got us engaged in it at a very young age. (As punishment we had to do push-ups, no joke). I am very grateful for it too and have carried my habits that I learned long ago with me throughout my college years. However, I was recently injured or rather told that I had a condition that would prevent me from heavy lifting (or lifting anything over five pounds). Let me tell you people, costochondritis is no joke. I felt like I was dying if I breathed too hard or even turned my steering wheel. I don't recommend. However I was cleared to be back on the floor today and couldn't have been more excited! I was only out for two weeks but I felt so tense and stressed without my workout. It's like my own personal high with all the endorphins that I release. It's such a routine that my life feels incomplete without it and I'm thankful my injury wasn't more serious. 

Whoa, life is actually happening

I suppose that I have locked myself into a college bubble acting like I'm so young and that life isn't really happening. Marriage, kids, big kid jobs are still far away. Except they're not. This week I've received 4 save the dates, 2 bridal shower invites, a bachelorette weekend what-to-bring list and a baby shower invite...all from people who are my age. And then I hear about my friends who are moving to Sacramento, Cinncinnati, and Baltimore for their new job. I guess it's all taking me by surprise but it's kinda exciting. I still have a little gap before it all hits me since I'm taking a year off before grad school and then at least two more years of school before my big kid job begins but I'm excited to see where life takes all my friends and celebrate these milestones with them.