just a small town girl

Believe it or not, this blog post is coming to you from my Birmingham apartment! I am finally here in the city to stay. I loaded up the last of my belongings for the final haul from Auburn yesterday and spent my first official night here last night. I have pretty much been back and forth from Auburn to Birmingham the past few days. My boyfriend, Mac, took off from work to meet me up here on Tuesday and help me out with some of the tasks on my to-do list. It’s so nice to have a handy man around! He put up blinds for me, hauled boxes and furniture and even took me to a nice dinner at P.F. Chang’s. Can you say boyfriend of the year? I love that guy. :) Today I have been busy rearranging furniture and making a list of things I need. So far, that list is pretty long! Including a microwave! My parents brought me a dorm leftover one from home but once it arrived it wouldn’t work. So I have been using my one pot and skillet and getting very creative with cooking until I can go get one somewhere! I haven’t ventured very far from my place yet but today’s schedule has a nice little trip to Home Depot planned and maybe a trip to SuperTarget if there’s time. Caro and I did go for a walk around her church in Homewood yesterday. The houses there are so cute! I also caught the “After the Final Rose” episode of The Bachelorette thanks to the Peek house Tivo. Jillian seems incredibly happy with her choice, Ed. I personally think he would have been my last pick but to each his own. Just one of the reasons why I could never be on a reality TV show like that one! I can’t wait to have more to blog about in the coming days. I am dying to check out my friend Lauren’s new store, Lulie’s on Cahaba in Mountain Brook Village. I am also going to help my cooperating teacher in her classroom soon! Hopefully, lots more to tell later!

friends let friends do "the worm"

Today I wanted to blog about what it means to be a friend. I had this grand idea that I would start with a meaningful quote, write a heart felt post, add a picture or two and end with a sweet shout out to my BFFs. That was until I starting finding humorous quotes that seemed to fit my style a little bit better. So here are some funny quotes and some of my favorite pictures from throughout my college years.

Spring Break Cruise 2009

"A true friend is one who thinks your a good egg even if you are half-cracked."

Summer 2007, CWE Break at the Lake

"Love is blind. Friendship tries not to notice."

AU Baseball Game

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one." C.S. Lewis

WorkPlay in Birmingham

"Friends: people who borrow my books and set wet glasses on them."

Wing Jam (a.k.a. wear your denim jacket night)

"You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job."

Fall Formal 2008

midnight madness

Last night I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with two of my dear friends Megan and Jessica. Although I have attempted to read J.K. Rowling's series a time or two, I have never read all of her books. The movies, I love. It may seem strange but I have decided that I love doing these types of things. This was my third time seeing a majorly hyped movie the night of its premiere. The other two being Twilight and the fifth HP movie. It is hilarious! Last night we saw Hogwarts robes, catch phrase t-shirts, pointy hats, beards and various color combinations of the Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff houses. All in all we had a good time and the movie wasn’t too bad either.

Besides behaving like a crazed adolescent, I have been doing a few other things since my last blog post. My little brother came to visit me in Auburn while attending fraternity rush parties. He decided to accept a Sigma Nu bid and I am really happy for him. I also went apartment hunting in Birmingham and found the cutest little place! They are older apartments circa 1930s with a lot of character. I’ll be living down the road from my friend Martha and hope to post pictures after I get settled in.

As my time in Auburn is coming to an end, I am getting so nostalgic! I know this will always be a place I come back to visit but it feels so bittersweet leaving. I am excited about the next phase of my life and am anxious to get back to teaching. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me in Birmingham!

retail therapy

So, I was feeling a little blue today. My plans for living in Birmingham are not going in the direction I had hoped. I'm the kind of girl who likes to have a plan and I am currently in living limbo. My super-awesome future roommate got offered her dream job in Auburn. I could not be happier for her and know that she is going exactly where she is supposed to be. With this news in mind, I decided to go with my back up plan. My aunt and uncle are moving from Augusta, Ga to the Birmingham area and offered to let me live in their basement. Today I got a call from my mom saying they no longer want to purchase the house they had planned on and are looking at other options (aka no free basement to dwell in). Thus, a wave of anxiety and panic ensued.

I went for a jog after work hoping that this would clear my mind and help me refocus. While I tend to run better stressed out, nothing happened! I decided to do the next best thing that ALWAYS makes me feel better. I went shopping. I love perusing the aisles of Target random days of the week. I found the cutest dress for teaching and a book I am really excited about reading. The book is called Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin. This is the same author of Something Borrowed and Something Blue both of which I have not yet read.

Here is the synopsis:

"This is a story for everyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with, when I can't forget the one who got away?"

"Ellen and Andy's marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she’s living is the one she's meant to live. LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH is a powerful story about one woman at the crossroads of true love and real life."

Sounds juicy, doesn't it? I'll have to let y'all know how it is! If I'm not careful, this blog may turn into "Book Reviews with MLC" instead of "Random Funtivities"!

Thank You Jen Lancaster!

I have been inspired. This healthy dose of motivation comes via "beach read" by the witty Jen Lancaster. While vacationing in Fripp Island, South Carolina, I decided to give her Bitter Is the New Black a try. I loved it! Her true story of a sorority girl turned unemployed blogger turned successful author made an impression. I'm sure my little blog will pale in comparison to jennsylvania.com but a girl can dream. So, here we go!

My plan is to blog about the daily funtivities in my life. This will include working in Auburn, vacationing, beginning an internship in Birmingham and everything else in between. I will also make you all aware when I embark on my über successful teaching career, go to grad school, marry the man of my dreams, have ten kids and still manage to live a fabulous life. Until then, my tales of life in transition will have to suffice.

Hope you enjoy!