Souvenirs from the Weekend

My parents came to visit me yesterday for Dean's Family Day, and they brought so many goodies with them! I mean, they usually do (because they're awesome like that), but I felt like a few of these items would make for some good back story from my life, so why not put it in a blog post? Kcoolherewego.

Friday Night Lights

Last night Brett took me to his hometown high school to watch his old team, the Millis Mohawks, take on Ashland High. Going to a high school football game brought back so many memories of my own high school days. I'm pretty sure I went to every single home football game my freshman and sophomore year just to hang out with friends. It was always such a blast, and last night was, too!

Stress Head

One of my supervisors posted this link on her Facebook that brings you to a page with all of these "Stress Heads" that basically describe things that typically stress you out based on your MBTI personality type. I'm an INFP (Introverted, Intuition, Feeling, Perceiving) and this was my Stress Head:

These are pretty dead-on, and it's funny that this popped up on my news feed this morning because I've been feeling pretty stressed and overwhelmed this week. Working at two college campuses all week long, I experience a lot of these stressors (either directly or indirectly) on a pretty regular basis (besides routine - there's no such thing as routine when you're working with college students!). 

I have a lot of responsibilities on my plate and it's really important for me that I don't let anyone down. I just want to give 100% to everything I'm committed to in order to make everything run at 100%. Exhausting myself by doing this makes all of these other stressors almost unbearable, but I'm trying my best to work through it. It's all part of the role of graduate student - half-full-time student, half-professional - to be overworked and stressed all the time. It's tough, but it's part of the road to success!

This website also has a list of MBTI personality type word clouds that described the strengths of each type. So to end on a more positive note, I thought I'd share my strengths along with my stressors!

Don't these heads remind you of Figure it Out? Or am I making myself sound old...

Do you know your MBTI type? What is it?
What are your MBTI strengths and stressors?

Favorite Fall Things

Happy fall, everyone! It's getting chilly here in the northeast, and though I'll miss lazy days of lying in the sunshine and staying outside until the sun sets at 10pm (I'll always be a summer girl at heart), this time of year is always super exciting in college land. First year students figuring things out and finding their independence, students joining new organizations and taking chances, and the whole community coming together with pride for the school. Love it!

Fall also brings my favorite holiday evereverever - Halloween! :D I got so excited this morning when I realized that it's almost the end of September and soon it will be acceptable to start hanging up Halloween decorations around my apartment! Halloween's just one of those holidays that's pure fun, like New Year's or the 4th of July. There isn't an obligation to celebrate, participate, or buy anything. It's completely stress free, and that's what makes it so great! This year I'll be away at a conference on the 31st, so we'll be celebrating the weekend before with a combination Halloween/Brett's birthday party with all sorts of friends. Can't wait!

Though I hate the cold weather, I'm happy it's finally acceptable to wear comfy sweaters, cute tights, high boots, and cozy scarves (even though I wear them no matter the temperature :P), drink hot coffee, chocolate, and apple cider, and watch the Patriots and throw a tailgate party every weekend. Not to mention How I Met Your Mother is back, and the Bruins will be opening their season next week! I'll always pick summer as my favorite season, but I guess fall has grown on me in the past few years. I can't wait to share with you all this fall has in store for me!

What are your favorite things about fall?

I'm lucky because...

I have a roof over my head. When the weather starts to get colder, I'm always much more appreciative of having a place to come home to, a couch to lounge on, and a bed to sleep in. It's so easy to forget to appreciate something as basic as your home!

All of my body parts are fully functional. Some people don't have the ability to move freely own their own, and I'm so thankful that I can run and jump and walk around at a moment's notice!

I have a wonderful, loving, and supportive family. They've supported me in every decision I've made throughout my life (even when I wanted to dye my hair pink in 7th grade!) and I've been able to accomplish things beyond my wildest dreams because of it.

Family whale watch adventure circa 2000/2001

I've had the wonderful opportunity to continue my education not once but twice now. I've been able to earn my Bachelor's degree (thanks to the help of my parents and loans) and have been given the opportunity to pursue my Master's for the low, low, price of free - not something a lot of people can say, and I'm very thankful for it.

I've been privileged enough to travel. Even at the young age of 23, I've been able to travel not only to many places throughout the country, but also to the Carribean, Canada, and even across the pond to Europe! There's still so much more I want to see, but even if I never travel again, I know I've been very fortunate to take the trips that I have!

I have people in my life who care. My family. My wonderful boyfriend. A few very good friends. My students and co-workers. I know that I can turn to them as a source of happiness in a time of need and for that I am truly grateful!

*This post was in no way meant to sound braggy, but it may have come off that way.
I'm just really happy and appreciative for all I have in my life! :)

Weekend Update

I can't just name my post "Weekend Update" and not include an SNL GIF.

This past weekend was action-packed! I was slightly losing my mind with all of the reading and I desperately needed some fresh air and human interaction. Needless to say, it was definitely nice to take some time away from the books and do some new things!

A Few of My Favorite Links {#1}

If you're wondering what I've been doing since classes have begun, just look at this GIF:

I thought I'd stop by and let y'all know I'm still alive - just busy! It's only been a week, but all of my free time has been spent studying in order to stay on top of everything. I feel like if I miss a day of reading I'll fall behind and never be able to catch up! I'm sure as the semester goes on I'll find a rhythm, but for now I'm just submerged in student affairs and counseling theories. Yikes!

In my few minutes off a day, I like to unwind by perusing the internet. I've found some gems this week that I'd love to share with you all!

This video of the Ohio State marching band 2012 video game themed half time show - here's a little preview:

This article on conversations you should have with your son. I hope my generation will talk to their children like this.

This video of a dog who can't figure out how to catch a treat in her mouth.

This article about a new long distance run approach when trianing for marathons. Now that's more like it!

Aaaand this article, updating the world on the last 12 living 9/11 search dogs - in their golden years.

I hope you enjoy the links, and have a great rest of your week!

*burries face in a text book*

Friday Five {#6}

1. Balanced App





I'm the kind of person who has to-do lists for just about everything in my life - and long ones too! However, all of these lists are things that I have to do, not things that I want to do. Enter Balanced, the app that reminds you to do things that make you happy. Everyone has busy schedules, and it's easy to get sucked into the internet and TV during our down time and forget to do things that you actually enjoy doing. This app gives you daily/weekly/monthly/yearly reminders to unplug and do something that you love to do, but don't necesarily make the time for. If you're a busy body like me, I definitely recommend trying this app!

2. Justin Timberlake VMA Performance (and N*SYNC reunion HELLO!)


 

I was a TOTAL N*SYNC girl back in my middle school days, so obviously the 90 seconds that N*SYNC was on the stage was my favorite moment out of the entire VMAs. I was a bit worried that the rumors weren't true, but as soon as those 3 dancers went into puppet mode and the music to "Gone" started, I just started...

...doing this. #notashamed

And I'm pretty sure about 3/4s of America was doing the exact same thing. Not to mention how amazing JT's entire performance was! President of Pop, indeed.

3. Fall Totes

Next week my life is going to explode with busy-ness, so I've been drooling over big, pocketed totes that I can carry my entire life in. I usually rock a backpack, but I look young enough as it is so I'd like to get something a bit more grown up for grad school.

I especially love these Dagne Dover T.I totes (I mean look at all of those pockets!), but it's waaaay out of my price range, so I'm hunting for a cheaper alternative. If you know of any, please let me know!

4. Minus the Bear Radio

This has been the go-to Pandora station for me this week. Minus the Bear, Phoenix, Explosions in the Sky, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, and Passion Pit have all been my soundtrack while I work and I'm falling in love with each of them all over again!

5. Best Vines


  How I've been feeling the past few weeks preparing for the semester >_>
I'm obsessed with the Best Vines Facebook page. Brett and I can spend hours scrolling through and watching each one! Hit the jump for some of my faves!

September Goals

The semester has officially started, so my life right now is crazy! For this month, I decided not to give myself any tangible goals. I already have so much on my plate, so I'm more focused on not completely losing my mind for the first few weeks of school. That way I can find a routine and go from there!

P.S. It's my first day of grad school today! (How excited do I look?)

I've started a Tumblr as a portfolio of sorts for my time in grad school.

If you're interested in reading more specifically about my jobs and grad program, head over to HESA Life!