Summer of Firsts

School is finally here! But that also means I have been neglecting my blog all summer... my bad! I'll slowly catch up over the coming weeks with updates about my newsletter, past events, and future ones!

I'll start with all the cool stuff I did in Lawrence this summer!

I was offered my job from last summer again, and I took it instantly! All the interns lived in GSP Hall and had a great time getting to know each other. We made sure to have a lot of fun while we worked though...

Concerts

I got to see two amazing concerts this summer! The first one was The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20 in Kansas City with Hadley. I had gotten us tickets for her birthday and it was finally time to use them!! What was really amazing was that a few days later, free Michael Franti and Spearhead and Train tickets were given to me free by a friend... what amazing luck! Both concerts were incredible and easily tie for first in my book.

Hadley!

Goo Goo Dolls!

Matchbox 20!

Drew!

Michael Franti!

Train!

Broadway Shows

My first Broadway show was, of course, The Little Mermaid! I went with my co-workers and it was the coolest experience ever! I was singing "Part of Your World" for days.

Old Settler's Days

I have't had the chance to return to Mulvane during Old Settler's since before I moved to KU. It was a wonderful treat that I got to visit them this time! I didn't get to see everyone I wanted, but it was a great few days home!

My Neverland

We all know the story of Peter Pan... Boy doesn't want to grow up, Boy Meets Girl, Boy tries to get Girl to replace his mother, Girl leaves and they remain friends. Now doesn't that sound familiar?

The story of the boy who never wanted to grow up is a common one among my peers. We are able to relate to it in a way that children and full-blown adults cannot, because we are still in that limbo that allows us to see what we have just left behind, and yet see the green grass on the side of adult hood. Most of the time, students will say they would rather be a kid forever to get out of difficult school work or paying bills, the usual. However, as children, all we wanted to do was to grow up. It couldn't happen fast enough. The adults tell us that we should enjoy being kids, it all disappears soon, and, unfortunately, we can't get it back.

We didn't listen.

Now, as my second year of college is coming to a close, I look back at my last two years with a mixture of pride and curiosity...and yes, a little bit of longing to do it all over again.  I am so proud of my accomplishments in my short time here in Lawrence. I know I do my best work and I hope I inspire others to do their best work. However, I look back and wonder if I had figured out what I wanted sooner, would I have been just as successful? What would my world look like today? Did I do everything I could, and I will I have time to complete the rest?

These kinds of questions just make me want to stop time so that I could have more time to figure out how to answer them. And my favorite fictional place where time stands still? Neverland.

These past few weeks have been rough on me. It's just that time of year where the demand is high and the motivation is low. At times like this, I have found it's best to just get away for a bit and clear my ever-spinning head. So, to kill two birds with one stone, I decided to take a walk Saturday night. I got to spend some personal time with my favorite campus, and I got to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather!

I walked to Potter Lake to lay out a blanket and soak up the sun and catch up on a new show: Neverland from Sy-Fy (It's on Netflix). After a while, I decided to check out a book from my library and read that in my own personal Neverland on campus. It's this beautiful courtyard in one of the buildings that is practically hidden from the outside world. I could be there for hours reading and I wouldn't see a soul... and I did just that. I curled up and read my newly checked-out library book and was happier than I had been all week. I honestly felt more in touch with my stresses and how to combat them. And I got a beautiful book out of the situation, so I really think this could become a weekend tradition.

I found this while sitting at Potter Lake.. I hope to have one just like it ♥

My Neverland, complete with fountain and flowers. (:

The most beautiful book I have read to date.. have tissues ready..

So the concept of my own personal Neverland is a fun one, because for me, that courtyard, and Potter Lake, and a few of my other hiding spots are places where I can go to suspend my problems and my stresses for a few hours and try to relax and think them through. Time will really stand still for me. And I know I won't be on KU's campus forever, and while the thought distresses me, it also forces me to get my ass in gear and spend as much time with this beauiful place as I can. And understand that I have another Neverland waiting for me out there...Because, no, most days I do not want to grow up. However...
 
"To live would be an awfully big adventure." from Peter Pan

And I am not missing out on finding my Neverland. (:

Spring Breakers 2013

I have some of the best friends in the world. Hands down; no contest.

Becca, Laura, Hadley, Katie, Claire and I

These beautiful women and I just had a fantastic week in Branson getting some R, R &R (rest, relaxation, and recreation). Shopping, Silver Dollar City, and Snow (yes, SNOW!) were the main ideas for this trip, sprinkled with KU Basketball and movie days/nights. I believe we ended up watching no less than 18 movies throughout the week, and I won't lie, that is what I consider to be a good time.

Beautiful deck view  (:

Shopping at the Branson Landing

Just after riding the brand-new ride at SDC!

After doing damage at the Landing... #thinkpink!

#lovelyladies

Last day.. after the snow!

What makes these women so wonderful is the fact that some of them had never met each other or barely knew each other, but were willing to come hang out in Branson with me for part of break and that means the world to me.

Just call me Carrie who is surrounded by a Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. Although, we are still trying to figure out who the Samantha is...

;)

En Español

I just had to write this blog for Spanish class.. So I figured I would just post it here! Don't laugh... complex thoughts give me a lot of trouble!

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¡Me encanta viajar¡

Me gusta esta fotografía porque fue en Metropolis, Illinois enfrenta de estatua de Superman. Me encanta viajar y ver lugares diversos. Mi amiga, Taylor Mercier, sacó esta fotografía durante vacaciones de invierno en mi primero viaje por carretera. Superman es mi favorito Superhéroe de cómics de DC. Esta fotografía es cómica porque soy llevando calcetines y no llevando zapatos. Algunos lugares visité durante vacaciones de invierno son Tennessee, North Carolina, Illinois y Kentucky. Mi amigos mejor Laura y RJ viajaron conmigo en esta viaje por carretera. Somos todos estudiantes de el Universidad de Kansas. Esta fue el primero viaje de más. Quiero viajar todo sobre el mundo. Tengo nunca salió los estados unidos y quiero ver otro lugares que son más interesante. Me gusta aprender Español porque quiero viajar a Barcelona algún día.  España mira hermosa y la cultura es muy me interesante. Cada nuevo lugar viajo a es importante para mí, pero mi favorito siempre será mi casa en Mulvane, Kansas.

The Time Traveler

I love to talk about myself... If you are reading this blog, then you know that. I also love to write and send letters. So, I decided to combine the two and create a newsletter. Earlier this week, I sent out a hard copy with a message to my family and friends.. Now I am posting it on my blog so that anyone can see it, and it's far more environmentally friendly. I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

The Time Traveler

<3>

Road Trip!

Two weeks ago, I returned home from a week long, cross country road trip! While I could write about a blog post about it, I think this video tells a much better story. (:

Kansas City Christmas

I love Kansas City. I don't believe I have ever hated leaving a city this much, and I have made no secret of my desire to settle there eventually. Because I will be frank, it's a deal-breaker between me and a potential husband if he is not willing to settle in the KC area.

Tonight, I got to go with three of my best friends to see the lights, get a picture with Santa, and create some beautiful memories along the way.

I have had an interesting semester here: a career change, living without my friends, new job and new AURH officer role is a lot to deal with when I feel like most days I can't even break even, let alone get ahead. So these three have become my rocks when it gets really hard to contain. We all went and got to know each other at MACURH, and even though Brian and I had been friends since May, Brian and RJ had known each other for years, and Laura and I had gotten pretty close leading up to MACURH, the four of us have grown together as a group and been fairly inseparable ever since returning from Kearney. I honestly do not know how I would have survived without them.


On the way home from KC this evening, I was turned around watching the city sink away, and I felt horribly sad that I was leaving (in my humble opinion) the best city on Earth. I also realized that with Brian graduating in the spring, and the three of our busy schedules coming up, we may not have many more times like this... Brian even said I was getting emotional, which aside from being embarrassing, is just a small sign that I truly love my friends and I hope to never take for granted the time I do get with them.


I also asked Brian, a native Kansas City-er, if this city ever got old. Would I still be turned around in my seat, watching in amazement, in five to ten years? Would I still get super excited every time someone bribes me with a trip to the city? He told me that he still felt a lot of the same amazement and wonder as I did, most likely because he didn't grow up inside the city...  His trips to the Plaza or Crown Center are special too. So that gave me a great sense of excitement for the city: that I would never tire of it and I would miss it when I was away from it.  Becasue, let's be honest, to miss the city, I would have to leave for a bit... and I think that time is sooner than I would like to admit.


(:

Brian Hillix!! (Or.. Enrique.)

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RJ! (Or.. Gustav..)

Kansas City <3 br="br">

Laura! (Or..Winne ;) )