winter | Equal Parts of a Whole

Yikes, I have been crazy busy! As you can imagine, ever since getting back from Thanksgiving Break, school is in full-on crazy mode with papers, presentations, tests, and final exams looming ahead. I’ve made countless lists of tasks I need to complete by the end of the semester, but it is so hard to keep everything straight. Especially with organizing courses for next semester, lining up an internship, coordinating with family, blah blah blah. Life is hard.

(Photo credit: snorlax’s cafe)

This Friday, in order to keep myself moving forward, I’m going to list my five favorite things about the end of the semester.

By far, my favorite thing about the end of the semester is that everyone goes a little crazy. Sure, everyone shows it a little differently. Some people wear their pajamas to class, others can be seen bleary-eyed and typing furiously in the student lounge. Some send around ridiculous memes of cats in costumes while others still maintain a steady diet of coffee, granola bars, and fruit snacks. While none of this is necessarily healthy, it is all very common. I love walking around campus and seeing other people stressed out about finals, because it reminds me that we are all a little crazy.
If there is one thing that kills my productivity at the end of the Fall semester, it is ABC Family‘s 25 Days of Christmas. Every single day there are at least five Christmas/Holiday movies that remind me of my childhood. While I would love to sit in front of the TV wrapped up in a blanket, dipping my piece of bread into my Christmas mug of hot chocolate and watch Home Alone, followed by The Nightmare Before Christmas, followed by Elf, a small part of me knows that it just isn’t possible anymore. So I resign myself to turning the TV on mute, huddling at my desk with my cup of tea, and finishing my work as quickly as possible so I can catch the end of The Polar Express. Curse you, ABC Family.
One thing that gets me through the end of the semester is the promise of at least three weeks where there is nothing on my calendar. I’m very lucky to still be in school and to still have a Winter Break, and I plan to take full advantage of it. Maybe I’ll get some work done, but right now the only thing I’m planning to do is a ton of reading. The promise of that glorious and unscheduled time is pushing me through these last two weeks.
Winter is coming. Game of Thrones reference fully intended here, people. If you know me, you know I love winter. I am seriously disappointed any day that I wake up in December and don’t see snow on the ground. Just wait for the first big snow to hit the Ann Arbor area. You’ll probably be able to hear my squeals of joy from wherever you are right now.
And finally, I truly enjoy reflecting and taking stock of how far I’ve come this semester. I think I’ve accomplished a lot in the few short months since I moved up to attend the University of Michigan. I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons, made some foolish mistakes, but come out wiser (and possibly more stylish) than when I arrived. I can only hope for three more semesters that are just as exciting and jam-packed with knowledge.

What are your favorite parts about the end of the semester/school year? Do you go a little crazy during the holiday season too?

XOXO

September is here. The weather here in Michigan hasn’t quite realized that it is no longer summer, but fall is definitely on its way.

People base the changing seasons on lots of different things: weather, the calendar, or even the arrival of Starbucks’ seasonal treats. Fall is probably my favorite season, followed closely by winter, and so I thought I’d share with you some of my fall favorites!

Colors! Sure, one day you’re crossing the quad and wondering when the seasons are going to change, then BAM! All the leaves are bursting into thousands of different hues – orange, gold, purple, yellow, and tons of others gorgeous colors. Be sure to take time and notice the leaves changing this year. Instead of staring down at your phone during your walk to work/school, put that phone away and take in this beautiful time of year. Take a walk in the evening, sit down and read outside, or go for a run and enjoy the beautiful autumnal palette.
Apple picking and pumpkin carving! Alright, so I haven’t picked a pumpkin since I was in high school, but it’s a tradition that I am determined to bring back. Before moving north for school, C and I lived in a tiny studio apartment that only had two small windows and had very little space for seasonal items (i.e. pumpkins, Christmas tree). That being said, I have told C that this fall will be quite different. I’m going to insist that we do those cheesy fall activities like pumpkin carving, apple picking, and even a corn maze or two! Traditions are good, whether they’re cheesy or not. And opportunities for cheesy traditions abound in autumn.
Plain and simple – FOOTBALL. I am a crazy person when it comes to football. Football has always been an indicator of the changing season to me. Whether it meant I was gearing up for marching band practices in high school or settling in to finish homework in my dorm room on Sunday afternoons, football has always been in my life. I am currently running two Fantasy Football teams (Delta Tau Chi Pledges and the Chupacabras) and have already been to two NCAAF games this season. I am a huge Indianapolis Colts fan and am violently supportive of the Michigan State Spartans. If anybody ever wants to talk football, count me in.
Back to school. Yes, I have always been a nerd. And I’ve come to realize that I will always be a nerd. That being said, I love school. After a year of working in the real world following my graduation from DePauw University, I decided that I definitely needed to get back to school in order to pursue the kind of career that I wanted. As an Art History major focusing on medieval art, I didn’t have a lot of practical options when it came to career choices. So I’ve chosen to attend the School of Information at the University of Michigan to pursue my Master of Science in Information while specializing in Archives and Records Management and possibly Library and Information Science. It’s a mouthful of a title, I know, but I can already tell after one week that it is going to be an incredible experience. Difficult, but rewarding.
Winter is coming. Being from Michigan, I am used to a lot of snow action in the winter. And while most people despise the snow and the cold weather…I love it. I can’t get enough of it. I love the entire season. I love preparing for Christmas, the feeling of goodness in the air, the warm treats and delicious drinks, and who can say no to a nice viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol?! Call me crazy but this is, by far, my favorite thing about fall – winter is only one season away!

These are a few of my favorite things about fall! What are yours? Do you live for Pumpkin Spice Lattes or do you long for scarf season? Is football your favorite?

XOXO