You can get with this, or you can get with that

 I'm crawling out from under the dark cloud that has consumed me (aka: end of semester and FINALS) to let y'all know I'm still alive -- but barely.

As much as I'm dying to study ancient, old, rotted pieces of artwork for my art history exam tomorrow, I decided to make that wait because you fine people might like a little update on muh life. No? 

Too bad, you're getting one anyway.

The lovely Jena and Katie are hosting a new link-up today called...

I'm all for anything that allows me to be random!

This: As mentioned above....it's finals week here in college-land. DUN, DUN, DUN. Hear that? That was the sound of my life ending. Ok, that was a little dramatic but really -- I don't think anything compares to the stress you feel from the impending doom that is finals week.  I have one on Friday, two next Tuesday, and one next Thursday. Blech. At least they're semi spaced out, though right?! 

Nahhhhhhh, it still sucks majorly. 

Good thing I've got my boyfriend here to support me....

Ryan says hi, guys!

That: So it's no secret that I love a good, steamy, romantic, action drama. My newest addiction?

This beautiful hunk of man meat. Or, my other boyfriend. Whichever you prefer. 

Paul Wesley and The Vampire Diaries.

Seriously cannot get enough of this show. I just started watching it online last THURSDAY -- one week ago, exactly -- and I'm already through with the first season and am 3/4 done with the second. It's obvious where my priorities have been....here's a hint: NOT with studying..

This: My sweet girl. Oh I miss her so much! :( I haven't been back home since Thanksgiving and I know she's probably thinking I've abandoned her. Sure, Daddy is there and she loves him to death but I need my snuggle bug! She makes everything better.

See how depressed she is without me? Be home soon, baby!

That: Music. All things music. Necessary for getting me through finals with a {semi} full head of hair, still. 

Especially when it's throwback music from the '90s.

Playas, they gonna play. Haters, they gonna hate. Ballas, they gonna ball..

BOOM.

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Andddd that's all I got. 

See you sweet people when I get my life back in 7 days....

Have a great rest of the week/weekend! 

xo

My very first VLOG -- and a few of my favorite things

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Y'ALL!

 Or as I like to think of it..."Happy excuse to eat all the candy and frosted sugar cookies from Harris Teeter that your little heart so desires". 

But, whatever. 

;) 

Today I'm doing a double link-up cause y'all are just fabulous and have all these great link-ups on the same day. 

Yep.

First, I'm linking up with the amazing and super sweet Ashley over at Dancing With Ashley for October's...

Considering that October itself is one of my favorite things (seriously, it's my favorite month), this should be pretty easy.

1. Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice

While most people out there are drooling over Pumpkin Spice Lattes, this coffee-hating chick  goes for that amazing cup of amazing-ness up there. I tried this for the first time earlier this month when I was in freezing NYC. Love at first sip, if I say so myself. I usually drink the Vanilla Bean Frappucinos, but those aren't so great when it's 30 degrees outside...

2. Naturale Beauty Mineral Makeup

I snatched all these babies up on HauteLook a few weeks ago for a total of $20. Score.
Foundation, booster, blush, and FIVE eyeshadows. Yeah baby.

It was my first go-round with mineral makeup and I must say...I'm a fan. I've looked for makeup to give me that super natural look and nothing has done it quite like this. Love it. 

3. The return of great TV

   Television and I have a special bond. Very special. With all the stress of school and other things, television takes me away from it all. That may sound stupid, but it really does. So imagine my excitement when good television finally returned. A few of my favorites returned in September (i.e. Grey's Anatomy, Revenge, Criminal Minds), but October hit the jackpot. I highly recommend each of these shows...they are THE BEST. But I don't recommend The Walking Dead and American Horror Story if you have a weak stomach or are prone to nightmares. I'm not kidding. 

And FYI-- don't ever try to eat while watching The Walking Dead. I don't consider myself to have a weak stomach and even I had trouble stomaching dinner while watching it Sunday night...

4. Cooler weather

 Beautiful. Just beautiful. 

(Minus the rain and 48 degrees yesterday, of course)

The scarves and boots are finally here to stay, peeps.

Finally.

5.  Halloween. 
Duh. 

Did you really think I was gonna write a post about my favorite October things and NOT mention Halloween?

Crazy folks.

I'll have more on this after tonight, though. Look for a recap Friday! ;) 

Halloween 2010 w/ suitemate Sara as Daphne.
Everyone is entitled to one super skanky costume in their lifetime, right?
 "Ladies and gentlemen please return to your seats -- the Captain has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign" ;)

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Now, time to link up with the lovely Erin over at Living in Yellow and Ashley at 5ohWifey for..

The Girl Behind the Blog - Show and Tell

Basically, introduce yourself and list 3 things that you can't get through the day without.

I was super excited when I saw Erin post about this last week because I've never done a vlog before and I'm not the type to just sit in front of the computer and make my own without someone giving me something to talk about. If I did, I would probably end up talking about the time my brother convinced me to run away from home with him and all we took were Oreos..
Priorities, right?
Don't worry -- we only made it to the treehouse at the edge of the woods in the backyard. And then I peed on myself cause Hunter wouldn't let me go back to the house.
TMI? 
Probably.

Anyway, here it is.
Enjoy!

 

P.S. Please pardon the messy hair, pajamas, pale & swollen face, and weird voice. The pre-winter sicklies have found me :(

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Have a great rest of your day, ya'll -- and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Have fun & be safe!
xo

I'm still alive, I promise!

 Hey y'all, remember me?!

I know you guys must have just been dying the past 2 weeks without me. 

TOTALLY KIDDING.

Kinda.

;)

Well, I found myself with a little free time today so I thought I would spend it playing catch up with y'all! I've missed blogging so much, so hopefully things will settle down a little more in the coming weeks and I can get back to blogging at least 2 or 3 times a week :)

I've got a jam-packed schedule until November -- wow, did I really just say that?

NOVEMBER?! Holy cow, where is time going...I just started classes like, a few days ago. (Or was it a few weeks? Whoops...)

Anyway, here's a little peek at what the next month and a half holds for me:

This weekend (Sept. 22nd) - UNC vs ECU football game

Now I've gotta be really honest with y'all here -- I was raised to cheer for ECU football and UNC basketball. But now that I actually attend UNC, it's only fair that I cheer for them, right? Right. However, I personally will be content with whoever wins because I love both teams. I cheer just as hard for ECU as I do for UNC. 

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 The next weekend I actually DO have free, but that will be spent doing some hardcore schoolwork. BLEH.

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 Moving on (Oct. 5-7th) - NC Seafood Festival  

Now y'all....being that I only live 2 hours from the coast, I LOVE me some seafood. And nothing makes me happier than a festival. And the beach. So...combine those two and I am in Heaven for a whole weekend. My family has been going to the NC Seafood Festival for several years and it gets better and better every. single. time. The food is absolutely ah-mazing, and don't even get me started on all the vendors selling homemade jewelry and crafts. Whew...my wallet always takes a beating that weekend. Can't wait to do it again this year!! 

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Next up...my personal favorite (Oct 12-14th) - NEW YORK CITY

  Ahhhhh! Excited doesn't even begin to describe the way I feel, y'all. I've been to NYC a couple times before (once with family friends, once with family), but I've never been with Jordan and that is exactly who I'm going with this time (plus her bf's mom, Susan, and another one of our great friends, Danielle)! We're actually taking a day trip. Yes, you read that right. We will leave home via charter bus around 11:00pm Friday night, arrive in NYC around 10:00am Saturday morning, leave NYC around 11:00pm Saturday night, and arrive back home around 10:00am Sunday morning. WHEW! These day trips are very common around home, but neither of us have ever done one before so we're both a little antsy about it, but we know that we'll have a blast no matter what! Oh, and this is strictly a shopping trip for us. We've both been to NYC twice so we've seen all the sights -- we just want to get the goods this time. Mhmm..you know what I'm talking about. Chinatown, baby. Pashmina scarves and knockoff handbags and sunglasses galore. That's my kinda "town". 

However, we do plan on making it by Ground Zero because the new memorial and Freedom Tower weren't there the last times we went. As I said before, excited doesn't even begin to describe it and I'm so, so glad that Jordan and I get to go together! Be expecting a full recap when the time comes! ;) 

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Finally, (Oct. 18-21st) - FALL BREAK/NC STATE FAIR

 Like I just told y'all earlier, there aren't many things that this girl loves more than a fair/festival. There's just something about them that I can't get enough of. Maybe it's the sense of community in all of the people, the atmosphere, or maybe it's just all the fried food.

Yeah. It's definitely the fried food. ;)

Anyway, our state fair always falls right in the same week as UNC's fall break, which is perfect for me since I only like to go with my Dad. It's just something that we've always done and since I'm free from class for a couple days, it's the perfect time for us to go. And as I mentioned before, the food is definitely my main reason for going. 

Here are my favorites:

-apple cider (cold during the day, hot at night)

-chocolate covered frozen bananas 

-homemade peach ice cream

-the BEST ham biscuits known to man

-ribbon fries (nom nom nom)

-fried shrimp sandwich (I'm already drooling..)

and of course...

FUNNEL CAKE!

Can't forget the funnel cake. That would be a sin.

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Well, guys...that's what I've got planned to kick off the fall season with! 

It's finally starting to get a little cooler here in NC (the high today is only 72 degrees!!!) and this chick could not be any happier. I'm ready to break out the boots and scarves, y'all!! 

Hope y'all have a fab Wednesday and hopefully it won't be so long before I make it back to blogland! 

xoxo