Pinterest Mania

I found the mother of all social outlets available on the web. Pinterest. I have always loved to peruse the internet for good ideas on decorating, entertaining, fashion, etc. Now I love it even more! Essentially you create virtual bulletin boards. Gone are the days when you have to send your email address hundreds of links for recipes, gift ideas, and the like. Gone are the days when you have to mark something as a "favorite."

All you do is click "pin" on any photo on the internet, and it is immediately captured under the board you select. This means in ten years if I want to make the Nutella Crack Cake under the board titled "Sweet Tooth," I only have to click the picture and it takes me directly back to the original page that has the recipe.

Not to mention you can follow other Pinterest users or friends, comment on and "like" others' pins, and even repin others' pins as your own! It's amazing. Beware though, it's completely addictive.

Modern-Day Walden Pond

I have always loved having my own space to think, dream, read, etc. As a child, my dad would often scold me for "isolating" myself. I suppose he didn't want me to become some weird, anti-social outcast. As I have grown up, I have managed to hide or dismiss most of my anti-social tendencies.

Now I simply have an outlet. Once I moved into my new apartment, I decided I did not want cable or internet. I also have "technology-free" weekends where I even turn my phone off. I do always make time to call my parents though, as they tend to worry. I like to think of this year as my modern-day Walden Pond. Each day after work, I come home to either music, reading, running, journaling, or a combination of them all.

After almost two months of this, I would like to say I have found some profound knowledge or discovery, similar to Thoreau. I can't say that I have. The only thing I've discovered is that after experiencing solitude, you realize more than ever who you want to be there when you don't want to be alone.

Here's to a year of solitude, retrospect, and growing up with complete independence and the ability to do whatever it is I may want to do in my little third-floor apartment--other than watch tv or surf the internet. We'll see how I handle this come basketball season when I cannot watch my beloved blue devils play.

People Haven't Always Been There For Me but Music Always Has

I love this quote ^ from Taylor Swift. It's so true. Despite how many times people let me down, these songs never do:

1. Up on the Roof-The Drifters. Despite never having access to a roof, I feel I could have written this.
2. Can't Hurry Love- The Supremes. Such a shower singin' song.
3. The House that Built Me- Miranda Lambert. This will be the first song I learn to play on the guitar.
4. Sweet Baby James- James Taylor. James Taylor never lets me down, but I especially love this one because he wrote it for his nephew. Boy, do I understand that.
5. Don't Think Twice-Bob Dylan. He's always good. This one, though, has a special place in my heart and is absolutely never skipped on my iPod.
6. Home- Michael Bublé. I am so thankful I live close enough that home is never too far away for a visit.
7. One Fine Day- The Chiffons. Never fails to get me moving and bring back memories of lip-sync performances and riding to school with my dad.
8.Secret Garden- Bruce Springsteen. I especially love this with clips from Jerry Maguire.
9. Catch My Disease- Ben Lee. Best loud with the windows down.
10. Living for the Night- George Strait. King George should have a spot on every list.

I hope when you're disappointed by people, work, etc., you also have good music to get you through.

Minus the Costumes, This is My Life

Before moving into my new place, I told myself I would try to meet as many people as possible and wouldn't refuse any invitations because, I have learned, networking really does make all the difference.

Since I moved in, I have only seen one girl outside for long enough to strike up a conversation. I complimented her purse (it was this awesome Dooney & Bourke) because who doesn't like a compliment? As it turns out, this girl either didn't care for them, or for me one. She scoffed at me, tucked the purse tighter under her arm, and walked away. Strike one.

Since then, I have made six new friends. All under the age of 9. I met two siblings, Naila and Cole, because Naila stomped up to fuss at me for parking at the opening of the stairs. It's where she and Cole ride their skooters. As soon as I told her that wasn't my car, we became fast friends. For the next couple of days, they would wait on me when I got home from work and occasionally come up to my apartment.

At the beginning of the following week, I got a knock on my door just as I sat down for dinner. I peeped through, and seeing six kids, thought they must be selling something. Cole then popped his head up and said, "Miss Keely, I told them you were really cool and would let us come in your apartment!" Before I could even respond, they all charged into my living room. After watching A Cinderella Story (because they deemed that something we would all enjoy. Evidently my Friend's episode was not.), drinking all of the Yoo-Hoo's my mom bought for moving day, and telling me all about their favorite subjects, friends, and sports, they finally went home.

I'm still working on meeting people my own age, but as long as I keep Yoo-Hoo's in the fridge, at least I'll keep my adolescent friends. Here's to growing up.

Things Do Not Change, We Change

I used to love Forever 21. Now I rarely go into the store. I used to hate my hair. Now I embrace it. I guess Thoreau was right. We change, not things.

In middle school I thought high school kids were the epitome of smart, cool and mature, and I was extremely intimidated . Once I was in high school, I thought the same about college students. Maybe I developed into the stereotypical college student that thinks she knows everything but really has no idea, but I truly did not feel intimidated of really anyone upon graduation. I have already met numerous executives and influential people that are considerably older and wiser than I am, and I comfortable with who I am and my KSA's (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. My teacher would be so proud that I remembered that). With those two things combined, I thought I was set to interact with anyone I might encounter.

This all changed when I walked into the luncheon for the United Way Loaned Executives program, wearing a suit I might add, with one simple question, "Are you in the right place?" All that confidence and comfortability I just mentioned? Out the window. I suddenly felt like the little girl in her mom's suit playing dress-up, but somehow I just giggled, nodded, and then proceeded to ramble at a high-pitch. Maybe I haven't changed as much as I thought.

Someone Give Me a Happy Meal!

Since I graduated, I have been looking for a gym to join because I no longer have the luxury of using the T-Rec whenever I want. Everywhere either has a contract that is 2 years or greater, or they charge monthly fees of $60 or more. For one person!

Furthermore, of course fruits, vegetables, and organic food are the most expensive items in the grocery store. I'll never forget when I was picking up a carton of eggs a year or so ago and this woman took my hand and said I should really buy the cage-free, organic eggs. She then proceeded to ask me if I knew how the chickens that created non-organic eggs were treated. Yes, woman, I do. The thing is, at this point in my life, I can either eat non-organic eggs or no eggs at all.

My last rant is about the restaurant industry. Why can I not order off the kids menu as an adult? And if I can, why do you charge me two dollars extra? Why can I not order a lunch portion for dinner? You're selling food either way.

All I want is to stay fit and active without breaking the bank. This adult wants a Happy Meal, too!

End of an Era: Moving Day

I left my apartment at the Woodland's for the last time this morning. Just saying that doesn't seem real. I have moved more than a few times in my life, so the fact that I have lived in the same apartment since the end of my senior year of high school is a big deal. Over the years, this apartment has become much more than a temporary college residence. I painted and put pictures on the walls; I grew herbs (well, one herb) in the kitchen. I made it a home.

Through the past four and a half years, 202 has seen its share of laughter, tears, friends, family, startling and unwanted occupants, and everything else in between. It has absorbed the spewed milk from fits of laughter while enjoying cookies and girl talk, the tears in the kitchen when life gets a little too hard to handle, the rain we tracked in every single time we went grocery shopping because we have stellar luck, and the love that was shared between two best friends, their friends, family, and occasional flings.

I can't help but think of the Friend's episode where they finally all move out and on with their lives. I bawled during the episode and have a feeling I will just as much in real life. It's the end of an era. 202, it's been the time of my life. I hope the new tenants love you just as much as I did.