Shiny Rings and Music Things

Right now I'm writing with my newest little friend just relaxing next to me. 

On my retainer case. 

My newest little friend is this beauty right here.

"Ahhh!" Can't you just hear the angelic chorus singing? Because I totally can. 

That little friend is my Meredith Onyx. The class ring that every Meredith girl gets when she is a junior. We all get the same one (with a few differences in color, karat, inscriptions, etc.) and we all love hard on our onyxes. 

I picked mine up this morning and haven't been able to stop looking at it. We're not supposed to wear them until Ring Dinner- which is Friday night. So I could try it on to make sure it fits (it does!), but I wasn't allowed to look at it on my finger. Skye had to put it on for me. 

It's a big deal. 

 

But yes, it is out of the box (ha) and on my desk. Friday can't come soon enough!

GET ON MY FINGER! 

 

All that excitement had to be blogged about. As well as the excitement from last weekend. 

Guess where this gal spent her time- in Charleston, South Carolina, that's where!

 

Went with friends for the weekend to the Southern Ground Music and Food Festival- aka Zac Brown Band and all of their friends came and sang for 2 days and we sat and listened and ate disgustingly delicious food. 

We had a blast. 

Our weekend started out with a lovely beach trip. 

On the way and crazy excited to see the sand.

It was beautiful!

 

I had to get some pictures of the flowers for Mother. 

She knows what they're called- don't you mom?

 

I decided that one day I will live at the beach. And I will love it. 

 

How cute is she? 

 

The music festival was Saturday and Sunday and we got to see lots of good stuff! 

Zac Brown Band (obviously) performed both nights and we (naturally) LOVED them.

Other favorites included the Avett Brothers, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and then there was John Mayer who rocked out with ZBB both nights and a surprise visit by Darius Rucker. 

Overall- A BLAST. 

Zac and John played this game called, "Who can play their guitar the longest and the loudest?" 

In my opinion, they both lost. 

But it was still fun to sit and laugh at how bored I got when their jam sessions lasted over 15 minutes. 

 

So the festival was great fun and so necessary- a great way to de-stress after midterms and the crazies of college life. 

I also got to see loads of downtown Charleston thanks to a pretty great hostess and friends.

We went to the Battery and posed for pictures because... well duh. 

Lynda and I were picking out houses across the street when someone said they'd take our picture. So we stopped house hunting and struck a pretty cute pose. 

 

Look at this dog... living my life in the cutest pink house. 

Stupid dog. 

 

She was stealing all the window boxes that would fit in her car. 

So that means she didn't steal any window boxes. 

 

Then we got sad because we actually had thought of parking there but we weren't allowed to. I hate it when I break the rules before I even know the rules! 

 

Then we went to the Farmers' Market and noticed all these hipsters just relaxing in the grass. We didn't want to stand out as being tourists and all that, so we decided to join in. 

We found ourselves some grass (dirt) and we made ourselves at home. 

 

Lynda wanted to pose by the fountain. I promise I wanted to as well... I think maybe someone said something that I was responding to? Or I was just being dramatic. Either scenario is completely possible. 

 

Of course there was a lot of statue imitation going on too. This little lady was some kind of ballerina/ice-skater/interpretive dancer. I really do not know, yet I'd say I nailed her pose. 

 

We had fun. 

 

Miss Carrie had a giant screened-in deck with a hammock. Lynda clearly enjoyed her time spent on said hammock. 

 

Carter, Lynda, our hostess Miss Carrie and I... 

Miss Carrie graduated from Meredith in 1969. We had a great time comparing our Meredith stories- Was Cornhuskin'  a big deal? Yes. Do girls still look like they just rolled out of bed when they go to class? Definitely. Did you get your onyx? OF COURSE. 

The sweetest lady. 

If you haven't realized it yet, this whole weekend trip was filled with drama. 

I mean, we were all kind of expecting it, weren't we? 

 

These were our, "We're excited to eat this cucumber-bacon pizza that we just ordered!" faces.

It was surprisingly delicious. 

If you're brave you will try it. 

If not- enjoy pepperoni for the 1,000th time. 

 

The second best way to start your day. 

Pumpkin waffle.

(The best way being with an Amish Lady Donut.)

 

And naturally I had a pumpkin spice latte to drive me back home. 

 

So now I'm back to the real world, after much kicking and screaming I must admit. This week is crazy again and I'm not sure I want to do it, but they tell me that I don't have a choice. 

It will all be worth it when I put this shiny ring on my finger Friday night.

I can do this. 

I think I can I think I can I think I can... 

Happy Tuesday night to you all!

What the Rainy Day?

Maybe I need to explain to you why today is such a good day. 

Sure, it's raining. 

I know, it's really hot.

Yes, I did struggle to eat my lunch and made myself look ridiculous to all of the girls watching me in the Beehive. 

But friends... 

Earth Science lab was cancelled because of the rain, today was my last day of tennis, and I get to drive on home to PA tomorrow. 

Good stuff in spite of all the not so good stuff. 

Let's start with my lunch- shall we? 

Confession:

I am 20, and I enjoy a pizza lunchable at least 2 times a week.

I also struggle to prepare and consume said lunchable.

Today I basically threw a pepperoni on the floor- don't ask me how- but it literally jumped off of my 3-bite/mini pizza and landed a good distance away from my seat. 

I picked it up and moved on.

Then I dropped my knife. 

It slipped out of my fingers, I trapped it between my hand and the table but that didn't work, and then it somehow landed on my rainboot, and was then shuttled across the floor. 

I lost track of it after it made contact with my boot.

I'm thinking the reason I struggle so much with eating lunchables like a normal person is because I never had them as a child. 

I never learned how to properly construct a 3-bite/mini pizza. 

You'd think it would be easy, but I can tell you from personal experience that it is anything but. 

If you put the pepperoni on first, then the cheese won't stick. 

If you put the cheese on first, then the pepperoni will plan a suicide mission. 

It's a code that I have yet to crack. 

Hopefully by next year I will have mastered this art. 

I don't know if you caught this, but I get to go home tomorrow. I've been leaving what I believe to be subtle hints about how I actually am excited, but I'm thinking I might have to be a little more obvious for people to actually understand my level of enthusiasm.

Fall break is going to be so good to me. 

I'm looking forward to the people I will encounter, the food I will consume, the weather I will enjoy, and the work I will not do. 

I also get to see this bundle of sunshine. I like to think she's pretty pumped to snuggle up with me too. 

Speaking of Earth Science (lol... too bad I wasn't)... We were supposed to go on a field trip today during our lab. It's a 2 hour lab. We were going to go play in a river. 

-_-

I wasn't so into it. So now it's raining and it's cancelled. Hallelujah, saved by the rain! 

I may or may not have done a rain dance last night and this morning. It was a good time. Maybe. 

Last week we went to some prairie thing in Raleigh. I didn't really understand what was happening, but I knew it was pretty. 

We rode the short bus. I was excited for that too. 

The random wildflowers 

 

How cute, right? It was the perfect day too. 

Apparently we learned about plate tectonics and erosion of a creek bed. 

I just remember the pretty blue skies and all of the photo opps. 

 

I also went on a walk last week and took some "I can't believe Fall is here/I am so happy that Fall is here" photos. 

Gloriana has a song called "Sunset lovin' in a parking lot"- I know, not the greatest message but MC and I like to sing it real loud to each other and get our dance on. 

Then I saw a sunset in the parking lot. 

No worries- there was no lovin' going on. 

The leaves were falling and I was happy. Except they're all brown and dead- gotta work on that Meredith. 

 

And then it really got dark so I went back to my room. 

But I got the sun again. Good stuff. 

 

And last but not least, I finally got a picture of myself thoroughly enjoying one of the best Pumpkin Spice lattes I've ever had. It was seriously true love.

This is making me crave a PSL. Shoot... why do I do this to myself? 

I'm off to work now. Clomping across campus in my rainboots and a smile. I can't wait until this weekend and all the fun stuff that's going to happen. 

Because let's be real- fun stuff is going to happen. 

You ready Lancaster? YOU READY? 

Maybe it's Time to Take a Break

Hi.

I don't care what anyone says- I think it's weird when men sit on the roof of my dorm building with a boom-box blaring some form of Hispanic music that I don't understand. That's especially weird because this is an all women's school- so we hardly ever see men. 

Oh but when we do see them... they're on the roof with a boom-box and singing in Spanish.

Awesome.

I'm happy to announce that Raleigh is finally getting the "Fall/Autumn" memo and temperatures have been rapidly dropping! And by rapidly I mean slowly (but surely!), and by dropping I mean it's no longer 100 degrees all the time. 

We're talking low 70's to low 80's for the past week. 

Ah... Fall. Makes me want to light a candle or snuggle up in a fuzzy blanket with fuzzy socks while drinking a pumpkin beverage. 

To be fair though, the mornings here have been quite brisk. Having tennis at 9:30 in the morning is definitely making me question the whole sweatshirt thing. But I refuse to give in until at least October!

Stay strong Caitlyn... stay strong.

This was our tennis morning. I will never get over the skies of Carolina. 

I can't wait until the leaves are finally changing colors- then it'll be all golds and reds against that bright blue. 

My toes are curling I'm SO EXCITED for Fall.

Just a side note- I'm listening to Frank Sinatra's Christmas album as I'm typing. 

Noel, noel. 

I also got my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. 

Notice how I capitalized the name because in my mind, PSL is a proper noun. 

It was just as delicious as I remembered! I can't believe they make this a seasonal drink. 

Give me Pumpkin Spice or give me death! 

Drama. 

But isn't it just so pretty in that little cup? Such beauty. 

Mom also randomly texted me this picture yesterday. She obviously took it while she was driving- I'm assuming she was driving herself since she no longer has a chauffeur and Daddy would have been at work... 

So mom risked her life to text me a picture of a buggy in Lancaster. 

Thank you mother, for risking your life while you were driving 10 mph on this road that you drive every day to give me the gift of Lancaster. 

Thank you. 

 

Pretty blue-skied in Lancaster that day too. I'm impressed. 

And the corn is all gone. It was getting pretty stressful to pull out at some places because the corn was so high and I couldn't see around it. Good to see that they've fixed that and the next time I'm home I won't have to wreck my neck trying to be safe. 

Rhyming. 

Lynda and Carter also hosted Skye and I for our usual spaghetti night last week. We had fun- eating spaghetti and doing nothing else. 

Just kidding we did lots else. 

We went to a little coffee shop where I got yet another PSL and was in love all over again. 

Everybody got in on the picture taking at Sola. 

Then I volunteered with Lynda and Carter at the Food Bank's 24 hour telethon. 

We stayed all 24 hours. 

That's a complete lie. We didn't do that at all. 

We volunteered Friday night for their "Social Media Mixer"!

Lynda and I worked the Plinko board and let me just say, we were rock stars. 

We came up with numerous slogans to represent and market our product. 

My favorite was, "There's no losers- only winners in Plinko!" 

We would also shout, "Pa-linko!" 

We were the loudest ones in the warehouse and we raised a bunch of money. 

That's just how we do things. 

The Durham Bulls mascot, Wool E. Bull was also there for a few hours, and he liked Plinko. 

We're practically BFF's now. 

Between Plinko players and cheese-squares Lynda and I both found time to get our faces painted. The woman was INCREDIBLE. 

"So how long have you been a professional artist?"-me

"Oh I never had any professional training, I just like painting."-Mrs. Incredible (with a paintbrush)

She blew me away. 

I didn't know what I wanted, so I told her to let her creative freedom run wild on my face. 

A scary thought, but she did so well. 

Pumpkins??  

LIKE OH MY WORD WOMAN, COULD YOU KNOW ME ANY BETTER?

So this is our semi-awkward "let's show the world our face-paint" photo. 

Pumpkins and a butterfly. What do you think?

Then after our job was done with the Plinko board, we started to get really creative. There were these cans just sitting around, you see. So what else would we do but put them on and prance around the warehouse pausing and posing for the occasional photo. 

We learned later that we were actually being filmed most of the time we were in the cans. There was a live webcast going on and we definitely watched ourselves later that night. We had no idea. 

Yeah well- who else can say that there is a video of them on the internet where they are walking around in a soup can? 

That's right. 

I'm owning that one! 

The cans were pretty awesome though. Lots of kids were really into them (ha- literally in them as well as liked them) and of course Lynda and I thought they were a blast and a half. 

Last weekend was fun- lots of random events that kind of flew by. Then this week- um... hello Thursday? What are you doing here so soon? 

Not that I'm complaining... but Thursday are we serious? 

I've officially listened to the entire Frank Sinatra Christmas album. 

Word.

Next thing we know it'll be Christmas and the malls will be decorated and then it'll be spring and I'll be finished with another year of school and then I'll graduate and then I'll get a job and then I'll be married and then I'll be a grandma. 

Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed? 

I wore a scarf for the first time yesterday. It was finally "cold enough". Maybe I should say it was finally not hot. 

Either way, I wore a scarf.

s

That's me in my scarf. I cut off my head- oops. 

Tonight I have a date with some pretty cool girls to watch Sweet Home Alabama. It will be a fun time, I'm sure of it. 

Also, I just went and got myself a Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

I should've made it decaf, but hey- yolo. 

I might regret that decision later, but I'm definitely enjoying it right now.

What is life if we don't live in the moment? 

Also, I realize that my music is no longer playing on the page. That is super weird and I apologize. If I had a single tech-savvy bone in my body I would fix that ASAP. But I don't, so I won't. 

It makes me crazy sad that it won't play.

Now I'm listening to Zac Brown because I have to memorize all of their music before October 19th. 

They have lots of songs. 

Southern Ground Music and Food Festival- look it up. I'm going to be there =D 

"Life is like a ride on a party bus- turn the radio up and sing along with it."

Enjoy your dayyyyyy. 

Let's Be Honest...

I'll sacrifice my otherwise labor-free labor day to update again. 

Look at me, just giving and giving! I'm totally kidding because I'm actually really interested in doing anything other than reading for my classes and writing a report on the US Open. 

I have to actually watch a tennis match- can you believe the things they are making me do? Here's to hoping I can follow along while watching- enough that I can write up a paragraph or two about what I "learned".

Any-old-who, I have made it through my first 3 weeks of junior year. That deserves a reward, right?

That's what I thought. So I'll probably buy some new shoes. 

And some rainboots.

But come on- if this was your forecast for the upcoming week, you'd buy some rainboots too. 

Let's be honest. (ha.)

Not only will it be raining all week long, it will also be way too hot for September. 

I'm just sayin'- this is how I justify my otherwise unnecessary purchases. A new pair of rainboots will brighten my week because according to that forecast the sun won't be doing any brightening. 

I am keeping busy guys. That's a good thing, right? It still feels like I should be finished with the semester but whatevs. The days go so slow and the weekends are usually like on energy drinks. So that kinda stinks.

The first weekend I was in town I spent some quality time with the C-rains. You should say it like that because it makes them sound more ghetto. 

 

We went to our fav coffee shop in Raleigh and spent a little too much time drinking caffeine, eating homemade biscuits and taking pictures of ourselves. 

We're too fun to not take pictures though. 

Does that sound conceited? (crap.)

We're just having the time of our lives and love letting others laugh along with us. 

Or at us. We don't even care. 

And yes, that's Carter and I being divas as we tried to find a hat for Lynda's infamous "lake week". 

Those were both busts- but she did find one with just as much character. 

 

And yes, there is Carter debating those fab leopard pumps. Notice the target employee over his left shoulder- she was not impressed with our behavior. I'm convinced he would have tried them on and pranced around the shoe isle had she not been so obviously displeased.

Needless to say, she didn't laugh along and we were actually a little bit offended. 

Laugh along everyone- you wouldn't want to offend us. 

That weekend we also went to see the new Bourne Legacy movie. 

Let me just say that movie was AH- MAH- ZING. 

However, if you're like my mother and are only interested in happy-go-lucky, sappy love stories or something, this movie is not for you. 

Maybe just tell your kids to go see it?

Sorry mom. 

But I officially have a massive crush on Jeremy Renner (the "better than Jason Bourne" lead actor).

See the movie and you'll understand why.

Except you, mom. Don't even waste your time. 

Last weekend was also a fun time. I went with Ali and Camille to Winston-Salem, NC. 

We did a lot of random homework, watched countless episodes of Law and Order SVU, went to a baseball game and harassed Mark, crashed another University's move-in day, and had a blast!

Ali and I survived a whole semester of geography together last year (with the help of our beloved Skye). We spent way too much time talking during the class, but we both passed with A's and we're such good friends now- so I'd say it was worth it.  

We tried to take a picture of all 3 of us on my phone- but that didn't go so well.

 So Camille thought she'd set up Ali's camera on a tree limb so we could use the self timer. 

As inventive as her idea was, that didn't work either. 

Camille is Ali's "lil sis" who is super fun and one of the most entertaining people I've ever met. She can also eat herself into a food coma. I've seen her do it.

We did eventually capture a picture of the 3 of us. We debated asking the random Frisbee players to pause for a moment and help us out, but then we figured out how to set up the camera on some random metal structure in the middle of the open field. 

It worked like a charm.

 Oh and all of these field pictures were at Wake Forest University.
We almost got caught up in move-in traffic, but Ali pulled an excellent U-turn in the parking lot and we got the heck out of there.
Still was a blast. The campus was beautiful and there were boys.
I didn't just type that, by the way.

We also were kept in check by this ferocious guard dog at the neighbor's house.
Honestly I would NOT want to mess with this guy.
He did make us laugh like crazy though.
Poor thing...

The baseball game?
IT WAS SO FUN.
We sat in the outfield, first row.
And yes, this was a minor league game. But we didn't care- and neither did the drunk lady we sat next to. She was way too funny to ignore.

 

Being so close to the outfielders, we decided we wanted to get a few waves from the players right in front of us. However, the one guy (his name was Mark) was absolutely against being friendly in any way. We called his name, we jumped, we shouted- we got most of our section chanting his name. 

Nothing. 

Then the drunk lady started getting creative. This Mark kid was from California (she looked him up in the program). 

So this woman started yelling things like, "We're California dreamin' up here Mark!" 

 Every time this woman opened her mouth, we were in stitches. 

Between that line and, "I see you Mark!" we were pretty much full-on harassing the poor guy. 

Still- nothing... until we decided to give the opposing team a chance.

We waved at the other guy- his name was Gomez. 

After the first attempt we were rewarded with an over-the-top smile from Johnny Gomez. 

Well you can imagine our delight! 

And the drunk lady's delight. 

So after that she was team Gomez all the way. She started looking up facts about him and calling him by his first name. But she decided that the J in his name was probably silent. So she called him "ohnny Gomez". 

I'm not kidding. 

Then things got unfriendly with Mark. We started "ignoring" him by telling him that we were over him. We also mentioned Gomez's cooperation and how we were very impressed.

I think we really got to him. 

That's the last time he refuses to acknowledge his fans! 

So that weekend was a big success!

 

Skye and I also decided that since we never take pictures together (weird, I know) that we should start...

During our communication research methods class. 

 I think this was our "we don't like research methods" faces. 

You wouldn't either- trust me. Way too much library stuff for this girl. 

We had to take a lot. Just because. 

We also were probably in the class like 15 minutes before it started. We do that.

Early bird gets the worm. 

Or... early bird gets to take pictures before class starts?

You're right- that's not really exciting. We're just always early. 

Then MC sent me this picture of her and Shasty smiling. I couldn't help myself. I miss them both and I want them both to be here. 

Plus, look how cute Shasta looks when she's smiling. 

I just want my face to be in the bottom left corner of this photo. That would mean I am with them. 

Sighs.

Did you know there are only like 33 days until Fall break? Well there are. 

Hurry up September! I want October because it means:

1. Fall break

2. ONYX

3. Cold weather

4. Some music festival with the C-rains

What a great month October will be! 

Here we go, October!

 

Meanwhile, back in Raleigh...

Hello from forever away!

It's basically like I'm 80 years old. I haven't updated in so long that I wouldn't be surprised if people actually thought that. But it's not true... I'm not 80. It only feels that way sometimes. 

SO--> 
How I spent the remainder of my summer vacation guys:

I went to NC for a weekend with mom and MC. Mary Cat and Carter ate candy at the mall. 

 

So much candy that her tongue turned blue.

I played diva with the engagement ring board. 

 

Daddy went crazy at the Luau (aka-mom's work picnic).

 

Then I found some super trendy and practical (sun)glasses at the mall. 

 

We also did corn and were amazed at the work of the infamous "Silking Machine". 

Daddy was pretty proud. 

 

I (tried) to go to Pittsburgh with Kyle and cousin Maria.

Our car ride. 

Did you know it's a $20 toll from Denver to Pittsburgh? 

I won't let that go. 

(Dear Pennsylvania, you're ridiculous.)

 

The city was impossible by day but gorgeous by night.

 

I also went Tea-Partying with mom and MC. 

It got pretty fancy.

 

Then MC and I made the last trip down south together until next Fall. Unless she comes with me during the year or something. Which she could. And should. 

We'll work on it. 

 

I snapped this while she was napping in the hotel. 

How cute is she? 

Too cute to stay awake and WAY too cute to be mad at me for keeping this. 

 

Oh... and back in Pittsburgh...

Maria and I found a really out of place cabin. 

So we sat on the front porch and waved as strangers rushed by. 

 

Kyle and Maria broke it down to the silent tune of that statue man and his little banjo. 

Folky dancing guys... good stuff. 

 

We also stopped by the Primanti Brothers Restaurant and ate a mammoth sandwich. 

Apparently Philly cheese-steaks are really one of a kind...

this "cheese-steak" was literally a slab of steak with cheese on it. 

Nonetheless... YUM. 

 

Mary Catherine and Danny spent a lot of time being weird. 

Sibling love y'all. 

 

And after packing the day before leaving, I'm proud to announce that I made it safe and sound to Raleigh with all of my gear. 

Except my vacuum. I lost my vacuum. 

I'll figure that out later. 

When my floors get dirty 

=D 

My days are filled and running over with all sorts of stuff to do. 

Fun stuff? Sometimes. 

Necessary stuff? Is it ever? 

School stuff? Probably not. 

I think I'm still trying to deny the fact that school is actually started and that my third week is beginning tomorrow. It seems like a long time but trust me when I say it is taking forever for these weeks to end. 

I'm just anxious to get my onyx in October. I have to wait until October!

The onyx is a Meredith tradition- our class ring that everyone gets as Juniors. They're pretty and they're classy and they're not going to be here until October 26th! 

I might not make it. 

 (Shasta- take care of MC for me.)

I don't know if this semester will go as fast as previous semesters have gone. I assume it will, but so far... no luck. 

Man, you'd think I'm excited to graduate or something. I'm not- don't worry. 

My butt is so numb from sitting on my bed for the past three hours. 

Brilliant me decided to trash my resume from last year. 

Know how many times I wrote my resume now that I've been in college?

At least seven different times. 

You'd think I'd learn... maybe this time I finally will. 

Saving that sucker ASAP. 

(It's been saved)

Movie time? I think so!