Mums the Word.

I like to describe my moods in terms of music; Genres, Artists, Decades... and yesterday was a Mumford & Sons kind of day. 

It was rainy and breezy and the nighttime was so foggy I felt I was intruding on the Twilight set. 

If you're ever caught in weather like this and you're feeling a mixture of sleep deprivation, nostalgia (an emotional combo if you aren't careful), a hint of trendiness that is flirting with the hipster side of you and a strange longing to be in a European country... dust off this album in your iPod and give it a listen... it suits your mood like a Chanel jacket suits Jackie O. 

As I listened to the genius-ness that is Mumford I couldn't help but wonder to myself who the hell this girl was they were so passionately singing about. My curiosity led to texting my friend Erin who then encouraged me to tweet this ponder. 

And here I am, days later still wondering. 

I guess I am so curious because rarely do I find such beauty in such frustrated and furious passion. 

As I stated in my tweet...whoever she is, she must have been a real trip because she sure seemed to do a number on these gentlemen. 

My thoughts then led me to this: if you were that girl, would you ever admit it? I mean think about it... the songs are phenomenal but not in the least bit flattering. 

So the question of the hour: Do you take credit for the inspiration behind this work of art? 

Or is mum the word? 

Pun intended. 

Xx,

-Lo. 

School Unrelated.

Things I've learned these past couple of weeks...

1. People aren't born with thick skin. Thick skin is earned through trials experienced in life.
2. Sometimes things don't always happen to us for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others.

If you can't figure out why something is happening to you, maybe it's happening so that you can eventually help someone else who will go through the same thing or something similar.

Someone has to be the guinea pig, and I honestly believe it means that God thinks you are stronger than the rest, and can get through whatever it is without the advice and guidance of others.

I've been the guinea pig recently which brings me to my third point that I've always known but have been refreshed on...

3. Family and friends are amazing. Even if they are over 700 miles away...

-Lo.

First Day Jitters

Ah the first day of school. I can already smell the sweet? scent of notebooks and used textbooks and hear the disgruntled student's complaints about the price of books this year...

Why is it that the first day of school is such a big deal? 

Is it really a big deal? Or did our parents just make it out to be a big deal because they could finally get some peace and quiet? 

Think about it... The ordeal of the backpack and the school supplies and the awkward yet somehow still adorable pictures of you holding up the number of fingers synonymous to your grade...(they were somehow slightly less adorable during upper middle school days)

To this day, a second semester junior in college, I get pre-first day jitters. I find myself asking the same questions I asked way back when...

"What should I wear?" "What time do I have to get up?" "I wonder who is going to be in my classes." "Where are my classes?" 

I could never sleep the night before the first day of school. 

No matter how hard I tried or how sleepy I thought I was, in the amount of time it took to turn out the lights and rest my head on my pillow, my eyes woke up, I swallowed 14 butterflies and (according to my heart rate) I ran a half marathon. 

And I know, even though I'm 21, tonight will be no exception. 

The only thing that's changed is that mom isn't here to gently wake me up, fix a hearty breakfast and tell me to have a good day. 

Instead I will receive an overly upbeat, but appreciated text message from both my parents and perhaps my sister...which in turn will only make me miss them more. 

Oh the things we learn to miss...

My dad always told us every morning before every day of school: 

"Do good. Do your best." 

And that's precisely what I plan to do. 

-Lo. 

Ashley.

I rarely dedicate posts to people. Why? Because I have so many wonderful friends that deserve their own posts that it would be impossible to do them all justice. That statement almost sounds snobby...but I'm keeping it.

Readers, meet Ashley:

Please note: Same pose, same part in our hair, same boots, I own the jeans
she's wearing and honestly...
we are probably wearing the same bra and underwear.

Ashley is truly one of a kind and quite frankly reminds me of a puppy. I mean that in the most lovable and endearing way possible. Yes I just compared one of my best friends to a dog, but I know she's sitting at her computer laughing because she knows it's true.

She has a spirit about her that you just can't kill. Trust me...you can't. She's happy and bouncy and if Barbie is ever made into a movie or musical (or movie-musical) she would be so major it's almost frightening...
Ashley loves to love. She is one of the most caring individuals I know and though masked by her bubbly persona, she is a wise and sensitive being.

Ashley is a self proclaimed serial monogamist (cue her love of love). She always has a love interest (or two) and usually winds up in some sort of pickle, a word Ashley actually refuses to say (fun fact). 

This detail (her busy love life, not the fact about pickles) is what prompted this post. Recently in my life I've come across issues in my "love" life. Issues I've never dealt with or experienced in any sort of way.

You see, one thing I can always count on from Ashley is that she tells me exactly what I need to hear. (Notice I said "need" not "want").

Most of the time her advice is short, and to the point. She doesn't sugar-coat anything. The two of us have an unspoken "no bullshit" policy with each other, so if my man-of-the-moment is being a true pill and needs the boot, she'll be the first to tell me and the first one there with ice cream and cookies for when it's over.

 It's 1 a.m. and as I sat in bed, checking my twitter feed, I see that Ashley is still awake and stressed as well...

(Another quality I love....she is somehow never asleep when I need her. It's great.)

Our conversation reads as follows: 

"Hi"

"Hi...I need you and *Erin"

"What's wrong? Me too."

"Well [insert crisis]!Why do you?"

"Well...." 

Despite our seemingly minimalist texting conversation (as if we have time or need the in-between chit chat) she gives great advice. I'm convinced that because of Ashley's love of love (and her love of psychology), she remains positive yet not falsely positive.

She seems to have the right answer for most of my concerns and she has a way of going about things that assures you that everything is going to be all right...

She always roots for love. Always. And she always follows her heart. And she does so with (what appears to be) great confidence.

Very inspiring. In fact, she has inspired me to highlight all of my friends in their own posts...

I admire this little beauty and am continuously thankful to have had such a great friend all these years... I wish all of you were lucky enough to know her; but I'm sure you have Ashley's of your own :)

Jan. 1, 2011

Still so much love a year later! 

Xx,
-Lo.

*Erin is the 3rd sasspot in our trio. We've all been best friends since high school and group message each other constantly. She'll get her own post here pretty soon...