New York State of Mind

I finally finished decorating my room this weekend so Mom, Dad and Erynn could see it when they came up to visit! It's beautiful (I think) and I love that it's so easy to keep clean! Well, at least for now...

My favorite design in my whole room! My fav TV shows that take place in NYC!

The puzzle!

My $20 futon and color-coordinated accessories!

And my matching curtains!

and more pictures :)

Desk.. and even more pictures!

Hadley wrote on my mirror!

Billy Joel just speaks to me :)

and my beautiful door :)

football game!

two of my favorite girls ♥

Homecoming Squared. (:

Homecoming. It originally was focused around people going home for a reunion or such... not so much a football game or dance. However, recently, I have re-shaped my definition of homecoming...

A couple weeks ago, I missed Mulvane's Homecoming because it happened to be KU's Homecoming as well. It's mainly for the Greeks here, but it was my first college homecoming and I would be home the following weekend for fall break, I decided to stay here. It was a great day!! Juli, Vicky and I ran to Starbucks for coffee since it was such an early game and met everyone at the stadium. We lost... sadly. But it was still a fun game and Juli and I's picture ended up on the BIG screen twice!! We came back and ate dinner and just chilled the rest of the day... definitely a great homecoming. 

Erynn had her first high school homecoming at the same time! It's so weird to think I was doing the EXACT same thing she was four years ago... scary how time flies.

But we don't talk about the cymbals...

Juli (:

&& Robert (:

Under the flag!

This is the pic that was on the board!!

They gave us free flags! lol and I just love this picture! No editing!

The next week, I traveled back to the Vane for fall break!! It was so good to be home and see everyone... but it felt very out of place. Erynn and I could both feel it. We had just gotten used to my being at school, that being thrown back into Mulvane was weird for both of us. Plus, many of my friends weren't there, James was in California, and my college friends were all over the country! Juli, Jess and I are now not sure how we are going to be apart for a WHOLE MONTH for winter break when four days was difficult. I loooooooved spending time with my family, but with packing and driving and school work, it is just much easier to stay in Lawrence... which is slowly becoming home (even though it ticks everyone else off :P )

Veggin.. just like old times.

Cousins. <3

This week was short, but stressful with a midterm and presentation in English. Juli decided I needed a break and told me I was going to Footloose with her tonight. And I am so glad she did!!! It was amazing, and fun, and we were laughing and dancing in our seats the entire time. No it may not be the original, but trust me, we didn't mind. After I came home (see there I go again), I started cleaning and I popped in the soundtrack and was dancing around my room when Claire came in...

What could have been awkward turned into hilarious when she said, "Turn it up!" and we danced and sang  "Footloose" for the next hour and a half... What a great Friday!

So while I don't know where my "home" is, I do know that I have many different homes as of right now: the home with my family, the home with my friends and the home where I live... while two of those happen to be in the same building, it won't always be that way. Someday, we will all be separate again... but we all have homes with each other and our families. So moral of my story... my home is anywhere and everywhere with people I love and love to be around. Simple as that.

<3

Memories in the Making...

I've always known that some of my favorite moments in life are the little ones: the ones that are seemingly useless or forgetful to others. That moment when I finally understand my Chemistry problem and I feel the lightbulb come on; that moment when I see a familiar face in a football stadium; and that moment when I realized just how amazing my college years are going to be.

This past week has been super stressful because I had my first college test on Thurs.. and of course it was for Chem 184! Two-thirds of the information I was very comfortable with, however, its always that one chapter that I don't understand that causes me to lose sleep at night. Literally. I was holed up in a library for several hours a day, then I would come back and ask Robert (he's a chemical engineering major) questions on the ones I didn't understand. This process lasted several hours after my suggested bed time. But.. It all paid off.. mostly. Out of 25 questions, I only missed three. For those of you who know me, you know I am not thrilled with that.. but everyone else says that I did extremely well... so I am trying to be proud of myself. (: I will definitely take that for my first college test! (hey, it could have been worse.)

Once the test was behind me, I realized just how stressed I had been. So we all went to eat at the Studio and catch up since I had been absent a lot that week studying. That was my moment. Sitting in a booth with some of my best friends laughing and talking.... that is what I want to walk away from this amazing place with. Not just my degree... but those memories that someday I can still recall easily and laugh about as if it happened an hour ago... (:

Friday was great because since we had our test the night before at 8, class was cancelled! I didn't have to wake up until ten to go to my 11:00 class. Then I was done for the day! I came home, showered, and got ready and went out to dinner with Juli, her parents, and Robert. After that, we watched a movie in Robert's room... and I'll be honest, I haven't felt well in a few days, but that night was awful. I curled up in a ball with a blanket in Robert's chair and went through a half a box of tissues. At one point, he walked by me, looked at me, and said, "You look awful." Gee thanks, bud. But seriously, I felt awful. But me and my desire for memories stayed up and watched everybody play ping-pong and we chilled in Juli's room, where I eventually fell asleep. It was a great end to a great day... yes, even being super sick!

GAME DAY!! I love those two little words!! It was family day (and band day) here in Lawrence and the campus was suddenly filled with parents, siblings, cousins, uniforms, trombones, etc. Andrèa and Juli's parents flew in the night before, but mine arrived a little before noon and it was great to see them! I wanted to try and show them everything about this place that I loved! Claire had to go home for the weekend, unfortunately, but she'll get to meet my parents soon! (Sidenote: I will not be coming home for Mulvane's Homecoming because it's the same weekend as KU's. We'll work it out!) They met Robert, checked out my room, and then we went out to lunch and to Target. We came back to McCollum to set up my TV and get ready for the game. We then began the rather long trek to the stadium and I tried to show them some of my favorite buildings, however, mother nature had other plans. As usual. Rain, AGAIN, seems to always find the game days here in Lawrence. But oh well! We made it to the game and had a blast watching my boys win (In a NAIL BITTER!!) and the bands from the state play at half time!

Again, it's all about the memories I make here. I am so fortunate to go to the college of my dreams and achieve all the goals I have for myself here. <3 Thank you to everyone who is helping me along the way.. and making memories with me.

Mom and Dad <3

Shae!! (:

Jayhawk Parents!

Two of my favorite girls!! (:

The Marching Jayhawks rushing the field!

KU!

Pre-game Sunflower! 

♥ 9.11.01- remember and never forget

It's Always Sunny in Lawrence!

This Labor Day weekend has been a blast! Exhausting... but a blast!

Friday: The weekend always begins for me at noon on Friday's because that's when my last class gets out. It's great! I picked up my football tickets, went to the doctors, and interviewed for SUA. I came back to my room and we all went to dinner, then a KU volleyball game! It was fantastic; there is so much school spirit here! We beat Appalachian State (really badly too!) and decided to go see a late movie. The Debt is what we decided on and I must say.. It was Amazing! It was one of those movies you would never expect to love (or even see in the first place, unless it's the only one playing at 9:40), but it was one of the most intellectually stimulating movies I've seen in a long time. After the movie, we came home to play Uno in the lobby for like four hours! It was epic... we had like eight people playing and there were alliances and cheaters and cuss words and many, many middle fingers. All in all, a great Friday night. (:

Saturday: GAME DAY!!!! My first Jayhawk football game!!! I can't even explain how excited I was! (: We left for Mass St. to go shopping for game day apparel, but ended up just coming back to the Union since Juli and I have discount cards. We got ready and immediately left to go get great seats! (Mishap: I brought the WRONG ticket and didn't want to run all the way back home... so I bought another one! lol That's why they gave me a diploma :P ) We were third row back and right behind the other team (easier to harass, of course ;) ) I took a gazillion pictures since it was my first football game ever that I wasn't cheering and/or playing the drums. Although, that also made it kinda sad: I'd watch the cheerleaders and wish I was down there, and the the band played three of my FAVORITE songs at half time... yes, I miss it. We won 42-24 and it was a great game to watch! I can't wait for next week's game with my parents!

Sunday: Aka: shopping day. We went to Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond for supplies and such. We came back and it took three college freshmen girls (and two unhelpful "coaches") to put up Claire and I's closet curtains... it was hilarious. With innuendoes flying left and right and bars falling on people and Andréa and Robert sitting on my bed yelling "Left hand higher! Right, no YOUR right!"... This place is full of laughs, all the time. (: That night, I had my second shift of work at Mrs. E's. Let me tell you, I am not cut out to work in food.. BUT I am keeping this job for the food discount and free meal I get on the days I work. At least for now. Last night I was in the dishes room and I enjoyed that WAY more then I did behind the grill. They crank up the stereo and go to town. Plus... No one sees you. Excellent set up if you ask me...

The gang (:

Roommates...or Twins?! ;) Yes, we planned this lol

Our boys ready to go!

Us.. and some weird guy... lol

They tried to get us to evacuate.. and the entire student section was chanting "Hell no, we won't go!"

Big Jay Planking! Our mascots are Hilarious!

Final score and the crowd waving the wheat!

(See the college memories panel for more pics!)

I came home and went on a walk with Robert to talk and to enjoy the WONDERFUL 70 degree weather. (I have missed fall weather horribly and I relished it yesterday. I think the summer heat just took all the fun of warmth out of me... I'm ready for breezy sweatshirt weather!) We came back and the whole gang (minus Juli, she was on a date) chilled out there. By the time I left to go down the hall to sleep... I found out something I never wanted to experience...

MY DOOR WAS LOCKED!

And no, I didn't have my keys.

Of course not.

So, I went back to Robert's room and slept in a chair for a few hours. But McCollum is freakin' out and going Arctic on everyone, so I woke up FREEZING. I was so afraid of losing fingers, that I got up (it's now 4 am) and bothered Claire until she woke up and let me in. She was still apologizing earlier.. lol I told her I was never going to let it go. ;)

It's funny now, so no harm done! Plus, how can I get mad at my favorite roommate when it's so beautiful out!? Fall is on it's way!! And so begins the Real freshmen year...

<3

Football Ending, Basketball Beginning :D

So we lost to Topeka- Hayden last Saturday... but we are still Bi-District Champs!

Which means basketball starts soon!!!

We had competition on Wednesday and took home 6 trophies!! One for Routine Excellence, Cheer Technique, Overall Performence, Stunts, and Spirit and a big one for an Overall 1 Rating!!! We did quite awesome if I do say so myself. :D

Here's some pics!

Two of my favorite people ever :)



Seniooooooors! '11




The Favorite Freshmen!



Miss Brett :)

The remaining favorite Freshmen :)

Senior Night!

Hey Everyone! So I stole the idea to start a blog from Ty's Mom and I want to use it to keep in touch with everyone when I leave for college. And i love it! It's like Facebook only I get to tell stories!


So Friday night was Senior Night at the football game! They recognized all of the fall senior athletes and band members before the game and the cheerleaders wore their senior jerseys on the track. It still hasn't sunk in yet. "Senior" still doesn't feel like my adjective yet. Part of the reason Senior night still hasn't hit me, and really didn't hit me that night either, is because we could probably have another home game. We won against Wellington! And we're "supposed" to have two piece-of-cake games in the next two weeks...so it looks like a play-off game or two for Mulvane! :)


So, hopefully, I receive my honors acceptance letter from KU soon! Even after applying, getting accepted, visiting, and signing my housing contract...I still can't believe I am going to attend KU next fall... and possibly be an honors student! I cannnnnnnooooooooot wait!


So my MOVIE RECOMMENDATION for the week is: The Back-Up Plan, starring Jennifer Lopez. It's very funny and my mom and I got a kick out of it. It's a cute romantic comedy with the funny blonde from Fired Up making awesome one-liners.


Here are some pics from Senior Night! More to come soon :)


<3 Taylor

Don't we look spiffy :D

These are stills I took from a video from my Grandparents :)