So long, farewell!

HELLO EVERYBODY!!

So Carissa and I are leaving campus tomorrow and thus ending our first year at college. Sorry this semester has been rather slow on the updates on here (it’s been a bit busy). But have no fear, we will be back next academic year! We may or may not update over the summer, depending on if anything super interesting happens with us.

We did actually survive finals week (it was touch and go there for awhile), although we are now nocturnal and Carissa now wishes to be referred to as a potato.

We hope that everyone has had a great year (whether it be in college, high school, or n/a) and thank you for following us on our journey through freshmen year. If anyone is an incoming freshmen and needs any advice, has questions, or just wants to talk feel free to email Carissa or me (our emails should be in our ‘about’ pages).

Again, thanks for sticking with us!!!

xox,

M

You can’t make baby Maria jokes anymore!

Hi friends!!! Sorry that it has been over a month, but we are just now settling into this new semester at college and both Carissa and I have been super busy. Today is/was my birthday!! I’m officially an adult so no more jokes about how I should still be in pre-school. Ha. Quick update: I have pink hair, I chopped 11.5 inches of hair off Carissa, we went to the ER (again), Chelsea and Carissa are coming to TN with me over spring break, Carissa got this huge internship with this cool website called Wattpad, and Chelsea has me addicted to Game of Thrones.

~This post is going to be two-fold, with the first part about dealing with getting older and the second part about being the better person~

So, it’s a well known fact that when we are young all we want to do is grow up. Everyone tries to warn you, telling you to enjoy your childhood while you still have it, but why should we listen to reasonable adults who have already gone through this exact thing? Honestly, I think it stems from children doubting adults once being young. I’ll be honest, it’s hard for me to imagine my dad as a kid. Okay, now i’m giggling while thinking about baby Martin- teehee. ANYWAY!! As you grow older, you start to wish you had heeded that advice. It’s hard to grapple with the fact that you can’t go back, there is no rewind, no re-do, nothing. Depending on your religious beliefs, maybe you are okay with that. And good for you. I’m also aware that even if you don’t fear death or aging, it’s hard to get older.

I am now a legal adult. I’m not under the protection of my parents. I have taxes to do, and bills to pay, and consequences to keep in mind, and new freedoms to handle. It kinda sticks a lot. Here’s the thing though- everyone is going through the exact same thing. Whether that comforts you or not, it’s the truth. So you’re roommate who is a year and a half older than you understands what you’re dealing with. So does your almost 30 year-old sister. The song “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift describes my feelings on the subject. Stop groaning, it’s actually scary accurate and brings me to tears every time.

Your little hand’s wrapped around my finger
And it’s so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you’re dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything’s funny, you got nothing to regret
I’d give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won’t let nobody hurt you, won’t let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You’re in the car on the way to the movies
And you’re mortified your mom’s dropping you off
At 14 there’s just so much you can’t do
And you can’t wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don’t make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she’s getting older too
And don’t lose the way that you dance around in your pj’s getting ready for school

Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one’s ever burned you, nothing’s ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother’s favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It’s so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I’d never grown up
I wish I’d never grown up

Oh I don’t wanna grow up, wish I’d never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don’t wanna grow up, wish I’d never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don’t you ever grow up
Don’t you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won’t let nobody hurt you
Won’t let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, please try to never grow up
Oh, don’t you ever grow up
Oh, never grow up, just never grow up

---

Okay, enough with the sap and what not, i’m moving on to the “being the better person” topic because Carissa’s little (17) sister has been going through situations that warrant addressing. We’ve all had the experience of someone being rude to us or disrespecting us in a major way and all you really want to do is yell at them and belittle them. DO NOT, WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT DO THIS. It’s taken me a heck of a long time to understand this, but it’s an extremely important life lesson. Be the bigger person. That is so cliche and overused but really, be the bigger person. They aren’t worth your time, and honestly if you stoop to their level how does that make you any different from them? Aren’t you becoming the person you’re against? It’s very easy to make a comment on social media or even to classmates about this person, DON’T DO IT. Take the high road. The probability of this person taking their insecurities out on you is high, and that’s no fault of your. I’m not saying I am great at this- trust me. There have been many times I have wanted to lash out at people for things (ask Carissa lol).

In seventh grade I read this book about the Little Rock Nine. One part of the book that really sticks with me (the whole book has, really) is when the narrator’s body guard gives advice about dealing with bullies. He says something to the effect of “Don’t react. That’s what they are expecting, and it gives them a justification for what they’re doing. Don’t let them have a justification. Make them look unreasonable and horrible. Say things in response they won’t expect.” So basically these people are throwing racial slurs at this poor girl and her response is “thank you.” That is so big to me. People are attacking her. Violating her basic human rights, and her response is thank you??? Bow down. That’s what made MLK Jr. and Gandhi’s movements so big. Nonviolent action. Civil disobedience.

It’s getting a little preachy and I apologize, so i’ll tone it down. As my mama says (the great Queen Elizabeth), there will always be people you don’t like. Even if you’re in the great place ever, there will be at least one person who rubs you the wrong way. You can either dwell on it or realize you’re better than that and move forward.

Much love for everybody! Comment, ask questions, like, etc.

xox,

M

The 2nd time Maria went to Wisconsin

Hello everybody! Hope y’all are enjoying your break / hope you enjoyed your breaks (if you got one). Last time you heard from us, we were preparing for exam week *cue dramatic fake death*. Carissa and I survived exams (kind of), and she left earlier than I did to go back to Wisconsin (in a semi-truck, lol) which left me all alone in a dark (I forgot lights existed), cold room. I eventually got released from school and was able to come home – wooo!

On New Year’s Day I flew up to Wisconsin to visit Carissa and her family (also learned Carissa can’t count nor can she read things very well and didn’t know what day I was flying up)! Wisconsin is still weird, in case you were wondering. Got to finally meet Grandma June (the one who wanted to talk to me and not Carissa on move-in day), saw Aunt Brenda and Aunt Robin again, and I found out Carissa calls Shirley Temples “kitty cocktails” (she had no idea they were the same thing). The cats were still adorable even though Runty is still M.I.A.

Carissa and I went grocery shopping together at the Dollar General (everything is so cheap and I love it?!). I didn’t get to go ice fishing since there was supposed to be a big ice storm headed to Coleman so my parents got me home early. Which turned out to be the right thing considering I now have the flu (yuck). ON A MORE IMPORTANT NOTE I DISCOVERED CHEESE CURDS!! They are so amazing and I love them warmed up. Wow. Yum.

Anyway, this wasn’t supposed to be very riveting, but just figured an update would be appreciated. I’m headed up to Indiana tomorrow with my mum but won’t be back in the dorm until Sunday. I’m very ready to be back to college (pretty sure Carissa is too).

Much love and a happy HanuKwanzaMasNewYear!!

xox,

M

EXAM PREP: That time Carissa learned Maria could write…

Hey guys:) It’s Maria! I know Carissa gave you all an update not too long ago but I figured I should give you guys some tips since our exam week starts on Monday *cue sobs*. I have always had testing anxiety so this time of year is one of my least favorites (the other one is final exams in the spring).

So the first thing I always have to do is attempt calmness; yes, it does sound difficult but you just have to go to your happy place. My happy place is imagining myself with my pup curled up next to me with her head in my lap. I know for Carissa it would probably be eating deer jerky at deer camp listening to her One Direction/Taylor Swift playlist (it’s called TayTayOne SwiftDirection). It could be descriptive or simple, all depends on what you want to imagine.

Here are the tips i’ve put together for you guys:)

1. Exam Information– know where it will be held, at what time, who will be your proctor, and most importantly what time your exam is over. Do not be afraid to talk to your professors; most of them really don’t want you to fail (I said most).

2. Plan It Out– most professors give study guides or review sheets. LOOK AT THEM. If you need to write down what you should study, then do it.

3. Schedule– schedule out your time to study. Don’t just start studying the day of the exam. It’s scientifically proven that cramming before an exam does not help you on said exam. Taking a half hour out of your day to just review things can help you (even if it’s two weeks before your exam).

4. Follow Through– follow through with your plans. Making a list and schedule is all well and good, but you need to make sure you actually complete the goals you have set for yourself.

5. Study Correctly– don’t just skim the book, take the time to read it and repeat it. Flash cards are a favorite of mine as is teaching the material to a willing friend or relative (aka don’t use Carissa as your student). It’s proven that the best thing to listen to while studying is instrumental music, it can be pop, rock, jazz, classical, hip-hop, R&B, etc etc. My personal favorite is a compilation of Beethoven (love me some Fur Elise) and/or the Nutcracker.

6. Study Breaks– give yourself permission to take study breaks — actually make sure you take study breaks. Study breaks allow for maximum concentration while also rewarding you for your hard work. Most colleges have “Stress Less” activities to do like making gingerbread houses, snowflake making, doodling, movie night, secret santa, puppy breaks, etc. Do not skip out on these no matter how overwhelmed you are. It is extremely important that you give yourself a break.

7. Take Care of Yourself– yes, studying and completing assignments are very important, but don’t forget that you still need to sleep (most people who sleep between 6-8 hours a day live longer than people that sleep longer or shorter amounts of times) and to eat healthy food (not just burgers and fries, Carissa).

8. Exams DO NOT Define You– remember that exams are very important, but they do not define you nor do they necessarily reflect your learning ability.

Okay those are my study/exam tips! If you have any questions or comments feel free to email us:) Both Carissa and I are wishing you all the best of luck on exams, final projects, research papers, and anything else that could be stressing you out. You aren’t alone, and friends, family, professors, and more are great to rant to. Much love :*

xox,

M

p.s- I made Carissa read my research paper for International Studies and she learned that I am capable of writing essays and sounding intelligent (apparently I sound immature on here :p)

Mass Update

What’s up guys, how are you doing?

If anyone was wondering, Maria did not end up dying from Ebola (because she didn’t have Ebola), and I am still procrastinating.  Considering that’s the last you heard of either of us, I figured I’d clear that up.

And because it’s been centuries since our last post, we’re going to let you know what we’ve been up to since the end of October.  A nice bullet-point list seems like an effective way to get you all back up to speed.  Here we go.

Since you heard of us last:

• We didn’t really do anything for Halloween outside of dressing up like Pink Ladies for a few classes.
• That was also family weekend here, and because my family was unable to make it, I became an unofficial sixth member of Maria’s family.  We all ate a lot of food and had a lot of fun.
• November brought with it colder weather, and my parents were kind enough to ship me my Castle jacket (for those of you who don’t know what that is, please Google it; they are not a type of wasp) and some more sweatshirts.  Also, my grandma sent Halloween candy for both Maria and I (the Grandma who wanted to speak to Maria on the phone when I first got to Butler and not me).
• We took a trip to the ER at 11pm on a Monday night with our lovely RA because I had an infection where I was previously operated on a few years back.  Strictly precaution.  All is swell.
• Taylor Swift released her new album 1989, and because I am an avid T-Swizzle fan, I refused to listen to anything else in our dorm room, and by the end of the first week Maria was undoubtedly hooked.
• To add to that, on November 17th One Direction also released an album (FOUR), and guess what that meant for poor Maria?  The only thing we were allowed to listen to from that point on was a playlist made up of 1989 and FOUR, and if you were wondering, it is now December 8th and that’s still all we’re listening to.
• Basically Maria has gone full-on Directioner, because she also willingly — WILLINGLY — watched the One Direction movie, This Is Us, and is now very much in love with them.  We’ve even planned our double wedding — she will become Mrs. Liam Payne and I will become Mrs. Harry Styles.  It’s inevitable.
• November 17th was also our friend Chelsea’s birthday.
• We registered for our classes for next semester, as well.  As freshmen, we were last to able to do that, and that meant we basically got leftovers.  It was a little difficult to get every class we wanted at all the right times, but in the end I think we both came out with a schedule we’re excited about.
• We had a bit of a dispute, as well.  And by dispute I mean an argument that nearly drove Maria to spend the night in a different room (woah, right?).  It ended up being a large misunderstanding, and despite two days spent ignoring/avoiding each other, we ended up fine.
• Thanksgiving break finally arrived, and I found that we’re lucky to have the entire week off while other colleges had classes on Monday and Tuesday (sometimes even Wednesday).  I went back to Wisconsin for the week with my cousin and her boyfriend who were driving home from North Carolina and swung by to pick me up at 3am, and Maria’s parents picked her up and brought her back to Tennessee.  I think it was a much needed break for both of us, not from each other but from college in general.  We’ll probably make a post going into detail about each of our breaks.
• When we got back to campus, I brought Christmas decorations with me.  We spent that night hanging garland on our walls and snowflakes from our curtain rod, and we attempted to personalize our own stockings but glitter glue was brought into the world by Satan I swear and that didn’t work out very well.  Our wall clings didn’t cling, and our window clings didn’t work out because we forgot that we had screens, but we made what we had work.  The window clings went on our body-length mirror, and where the wall clings were, we created a Christmas tree of sorts with green twine and used our Taylor Swift 1989 polaroids as the “ornaments.”  Easily the coolest thing we did with our room.
• Maria’s mother sent her back with Death by Chocolate, and I can’t properly explain what exactly they are, but basically they are delicious and will probably end up killing me, so thanks a lot Queen Elizabeth.
• Maria isn’t one for Christmas festivities usually, so it sort of surprised me that we got to decorate the room.  However, that’s about where she draws the line.  While I love Tay Tay and 1D, I have to admit that now that it’s December I am craving my Christmas music.  I’ve got a nice long playlist on iTunes that she refuses to let me listen to, but I do fully intend to have her just as hooked on that as she is on Taylor Swift and One Direction (she doesn’t think it’ll happen) (she’s so wrong).
• This past weekend Maria went to her sister’s house for a couple nights, and I didn’t exactly leave my room because I needed to catch up on Supernatural.  I did, though, accompany Chelsea yesterday to her old high school’s Holiday Spectacular, and it was absolutely fabulous.  I had the best time.  Chelsea and her parents were a little dismayed that it wasn’t up to par with previous years, but I was fascinated by the entire thing and can’t wait to go next year.  My current Christmas jam, “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson, was even performed.

And now that you’re all caught up, we’d like to apologize.  Things got a little hectic for a while, but hopefully we’ll be keeping you updated on our journey more frequently again.  Finals are quickly approaching, and we’ll be letting you know how that works.  I hear that there are going to puppies on campus as a de-stress mechanism, and I know Maria is really looking forward to that.

Until then, take care.

Carissa (and Maria, who has been watching me type this entire post)

20 Steps To Procrastinate Successfully

What’s up guys, how are you doing?

So I might as well make you all aware that this is going to purely be a Carissa post because, if this isn’t something you’ve gathered yet by reading these posts, Maria does not procrastinate.  Ever.

…Ever.

When we first began living together, I found this very unnerving and super strange.  No one I knew in high school did their homework as dutifully, thoroughly, and quickly as Maria does, and I’m practically the poster child for procrastination.  So honestly, when professors really began throwing essays upon reading assignments upon research projects at us, I expected the majority of students here to go about doing all that work the way I do, the way that is normal to me: binge work.  Or in other words, wait as long as possible and then crack down on it as hard as possible.

College is a whole new ball game, people.  The majority of the students — not all, but most — have studying habits similar to Maria’s.  And this completely blew my mind.

So because I know I’m not the only one in the world who procrastinates more often than they don’t, I want you to know that even if you feel like you’re alone in college, the only one still awake at 3AM writing an essay on the campiness of Grease 2 and why you love it anyway, I’m here for you.  Hypothetically.  All you have to do is come find this blog post, because I get you.  You get me.  And we can procrastinate together.

Here’s how I do it most successfully:

1. Sit down and get everything ready.  Make a list of all the homework you need to have done by the next morning, rewrite it so it’s ingrained in your mind in case you forget to look at the physical copy often enough, and set it right next to your laptop so that you don’t forget to look at it.
2. Put your phone on silent and go plug it in somewhere out of sight.  You don’t need that distraction right now.
3. Go to the bathroom before you actually get started.  Again — don’t need that distraction.
4. Turn on your laptop and open every social media/entertainment website you’re on regularly (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Wattpad, Ask.fm, etc.).  Check every notification you have so that you get this done and over with because we both know you’ll end up doing it later otherwise.
5. Lie to your roommate when she asks if you’re doing your homework.  What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her (she actually knows you’re lying, though…just so you know).
6. Put your headphones in and turn on Taylor Swift’s new album on shuffle because your life will be a disappointment if you don’t know all the words to all of the songs by the end of the week.
7. Look up the lyrics to Blank Space to see if she actually says “Starbucks lovers” in the chorus because you saw it on Tumblr.
8. Go back on Wattpad to see if anyone else is talking about 1989 and see that your favorite story was updated.  Read the update.  Read more updates.  Stalk an author or two.  Then exit out of that tab because it’s becoming too much of a distraction.
9. Go back on Wattpad because you forgot to post a message to your followers about 1989.
10. Get annoyed by Instagram online because it’s nothing like the app and grab your phone.  See that you have 382794 snapchats and 27464 text messages and proceed to respond to them all.  This will take a few hours, especially once you get on Instagram.
11. Once everyone who decided you were important while you’re supposed to be doing your homework falls asleep, mentally reprimand yourself for getting distracted so easily.  Return to your laptop with the intentions of exiting out of every tab you still have open.
12. Become interested by an argument breaking out on Twitter and investigate.
13. Become interested by something a celebrity posted on Twitter and investigate.
14. Realize you’re distracted again and exit out of Twitter.
15. Stop what you’re doing because Shake It Off just came on and you need to dance to it and lip-sync it (your roommate is sleeping at this point) and everyone knows that if you don’t drop what you’re doing upon hearing the first beats of the song, you’re living your life wrong.
16. Decide you’ve been working too hard for too long and take a refreshment break.  Realize your fridge is out of beverages because this is a routine process and stand in the middle of the room sulking for anywhere between 5 and 25 minutes.  Any longer than that and you’ve got a problem, friend.
17. Give up on the beverages and return to your laptop, exiting out of every tab this time without even hesitating (because you know if you take one peek at your Tumblr dashboard, you’re a goner).
18. Check the time, realize you’ve been at this for four hours, realize that you haven’t checked anything off of your list yet, and realize that you have to be awake for class in three hours.  Die a little inside.
19. With every atom of strength you possess, pick up that book, read what was assigned to you, write the essay for it, and cross it off your list.  Do the same thing with everything else until you’re finished.
20. Crawl into bed for a quick power nap and wake up in the morning with the intentions of looking like Beyonce even if you feel like One Direction fans when Haylor was a thing.

And that’s how it’s done.  If you follow this guide, you will surely accomplish everything you need to in less time than it takes Colin Mochrie to brush his hair.

(If you didn’t get that reference please go watch Whose Line Is It Anyway, preferably the old version with Drew Carey as host.  You’re welcome.)

Since it is currently 3AM and Maria is asleep and is therefore unable to contribute to this post, I’ll throw in a little something for her benefit so she doesn’t wake up and have an aneurysm after seeing that I condoned such study habits: DON’T LISTEN TO CARISSA SHE’S GOING TO FAIL AT LIFE DO YOUR HOMEWORK AS SOON AS IT’S ASSIGNED, EARLIER IF POSSIBLE, AND MAKE SURE YOU PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO IT THAT YOUR PROFESSORS START DOWNGRADING YOU FOR DOING TOO MUCH RESEARCH OKAY THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SUCCEED.

With that, I shall leave you to ponder.

Let us know what you thought of this post — if you liked it, I might do more.  Sarcasm and dry humor is fun.

Take care,

Carissa

Maria has Ebola

Okay so I don’t have Ebola, but my symptoms are scary similar to that of Ebola! Except for the unexplained hemorrhaging and I haven’t been in contact with anyone’s bodily fluids let along the bodily fluid’s of an Ebola patient. And I have a nasty cough which is not consistent with Ebola. So again, I do not have Ebola. I do, however, have something. And it stinks. A ton.

This is more of a post to just let you know that when you are sick and away from your parental units, you still need to take care of yourself. Most of the time, colleges will offer students a free flu shot- TAKE IT. At Butler, we also have doctors and nurses that will check your symptoms and diagnose the problem for as long as you have insurance. It’s important to know these types of things about your college so you don’t let your symptoms go as far as hacking up a lung while simultaneously looking like death (we can’t all be Heidi Klum, Chelsea). My apologies for the mental image.

On another note, we are registering for classes for Spring of 2015 soon and have advising appointments. Here are some quick tips to think about as you may be preparing for registration as well:

What to Expect from Academic Advisor-

• they should know curriculum, graduation requirements, school policies and procedures
• they should help you clarify your academic interests and values
• help with goals
• help with planning
• help with decision making
• they monitor your academic progress
• offer guidance
• help connect you to other resources

What your Academic Advisor Expects from you–

• be organized (make an advising folder)
• take responsibility of your academic career
• you need a basic understanding of the core curriculum at your school
• you need a basic knowledge of your major requirements and how to access this information
• you need a basic understanding of registration process
• bring a list of courses to discuss and a list of questions you have
• be flexible in case something doesn’t go your way

Advising appointment–

• be on time
• be prepared
• have a mix of classes (major, minor, core, explore, etc)
• have backup options
• draft your ideal schedule
• discuss permission numbers you may need for higher level classes

If you have a year long course that is not satisfying your academic needs or you and your professor don’t vibe well- don’t hesitate to look into alternative courses that can replace or substitute the problem class. And above all, invest in the process, talk to your professors, have a folder ready with information, enroll asap, and don’t be afraid to ask questions (hello, this is your future we are talking about)!!!

Anyway, Carissa and I cannot wait for this week to be over!!! Sorry for the short post. Any suggestions? Questions? Concerns? Feel free to comment!

xox,

M

(I totally have Ebola)

Camo, four wheelers, and dead things – oh my!

Hey everybody! So sorry that it has been a century since our last post, but college has gotten time consuming (surprise!) This post will be an update as well as a lesson to be learned for all those who struggle with second guessing.

So last Sunday (the 5th of October) Carissa and I decided we would make a trip to her homeland – Wisconsin. That Friday was her school’s homecoming game and her freshman brother was going to suit up with the varsity players (he’s just that good), and also her cat just had kittens (floofies)! The only question was how we were going to get there. Plane tickets were extremely expensive, AmTrak’s website wasn’t working, and my mum already banned the bus. We managed to persuade Carissa’s friend Nathan to drive down to Indiana on Thursday, pick us up, drive us back to Wisconsin on Friday, and then on Sunday he drives us back to Indiana and turns around and drives back to Wisconsin. Well the first problem was that Nathan couldn’t get off work on Thursday, so he would be driving for over 15 hours on Friday nonstop. While we were figuring out how he would drive for that long without a break, I was flipping between wanting to go and not wanting to go. No, it had nothing to do with Wisconsin or Carissa’s family, I had mid-term exams coming up on Monday and Tuesday which I wanted to study for (nerd, I know).

While I had come to the decision that I would not be going with Carissa on her voyage home that Friday mid-morning, Thursday afternoon had arrived. Carissa and I were sitting doing our own separate work, when suddenly, she just pops out of her seat, flings open the door, and vanishes. I didn’t think too much of it, considering we don’t need to tell each other where we are going constantly and she only brought her phone and keys. About five minutes later she comes into the room and trailing behind her is her friend Nathan with a grin mirroring the one on Carissa’s face. I was suddenly unsure of my decision – go or stay? I called my mum and she told me to do whatever, it was my choice, but to always live in the moment. Here is where the “point” of this post comes in; this flip-flopping between options was eerily similar to what happens when my anxiety cripples my test-taking ability. I took a few deep breaths and went with my original answer considering the second guessing is what usually causes me problems on tests.

Wisconsin was amazing. There was so much camo and dead animals everywhere. It was weird, oh so weird, but really fantastic too. Carissa’s high school won their homecoming game against their rivals, I got to meet all her friends (the slut of the county loves me? no one can figure out why), spent time with her family (her aunt touched my butt), went TP-ing for the first time (rebel), got to see the bar/gas station Carissa worked at, rode a four wheeler for the first time (I also drove it), saw her “deer camp,” her little brothers whipped me with kitchen towels (I have bruises as proof), hung out with kittens, made friends with the runt of the litter (he would sleep in the crook of my neck, and I would wake up in the morning to him licking my cheek), and most importantly, I didn’t regret my decision one bit.

This weekend I get to go home to Tennessee and spend time with my family and pup, so Carissa will be all alone except for Chelsea (can you say trouble?)

Any requests for a post? Comment!

xox,

M

✌

*Currently laughing because Maria typed “cameo” every time she meant “camo”*

*Also because she called my bar/gas station a “diner” lolololol we don’t even serve food there*

What’s up guys, how are you doing?

So you’ve just experienced my hometown and family through Maria’s eyes, but here’s my version of the series of events that occurred this past weekend.

That whole bit with Nathan just showing up out of the blue, Maria nailed pretty much right on the head.  And then the entire ride back to Wisconsin Friday morning was spent singing all of our favorite songs (Love Is An Open Door) (Maria hated it), listening to Maria and Nathan freak out over cool cars that they happened to spot, and watching Nathan down way too many Mountain Dews than could possibly be healthy for him (but he does that all the time).  The forty-five minute stretch from Green Bay to my hometown was almost more than I could bare, which leads me to this: despite not exactly feeling homesick here at Butler, you can bet I was crazy excited to be home.  I nearly cried.

We spent a couple hours at home with my family (minus my freshman brother) after having surprised them, and I caught up with my dog and met the kittens.  But we only had a couple hours to kill before the football game started, and we had to be there early in order to see the homecoming court announcements and band performances beforehand.  My sister played in the band and my brother was being announced as freshman representative, so basically we all agreed that this would be the perfect time to surprise my brother, who was still unaware that I was back in Wisconsin.

I think that this moment was my favorite part of the weekend, to be honest.  If you knew my family, you’d know that the six of us are pretty much split right down the middle in terms of our personalities.  My brother and I are like our dad, who doesn’t necessarily feel the need to express mushy, lovey notions…ever.  My sister and other brother (he’s in the sixth grade) are much more like our mom.  They seek all that stuff from us, and you know, normally they’re not going to get it.  It just makes us uncomfortable.  The odd part about this dynamic is that with other family members, hugs are a given.  Saying “I love you” is a given.  You do not leave a full family gathering here without hugging every single person there.  And yet, with just our immediate family, that isn’t really the case.

It’s weird, I know.

So anyway, my point for telling you all that will become clear in a second.  We’re at the football game, the band has just performed their first song, they form an aisle down the middle and the freshmen representatives get announced.  My brother is all decked out in his football uniform, holding his helmet in one arm and leading the girl representative with his other arm, and he looked so grown up and he wasn’t smiling because he was a football player so he felt the need to look tough, you know, as one does.  And my mom was trying to take pictures and complaining that her camera wasn’t working, and we were literally directly in front of him behind the fence, in front of all of the bleachers even, and he couldn’t see us waving because he was purposely not trying to see anyone he knew.  So Maria starts yelling his name.  Naturally, I’m trying to get her to shut up because this isn’t a time you’re supposed to be loud (because now they’re announcing the sophomore representatives), but then it didn’t matter because he looked our way.

First he saw her, and he looked a little confused.  My sister and mom were the only ones who had met Maria before that weekend, but my brother recognized her from my Snapchat stories and Instagram posts.  So when he saw her, he was basically like what?  And then he saw me, looked away quickly like he was seeing things, and then looked again.  This was when he just like broke out into this huge smile and of course had to stay standing there while all the other representatives and the homecoming king and queen lined up beside him.  The band played another full song before they were finally able to disperse, and although he was supposed to return to the field to finish warming up for the game, he ran over to the fence and gave me literally the biggest hug I’ve ever received from anyone in our family, let alone him.  His shoulder pads were absolutely crushing me, but I didn’t care, which was almost weirder than the hug itself.  And then he hugged Maria, which was awesome (it was the beginning of an awkward-to-me friendship, really).

Immediately following that, a few of my guy friends from high school appeared behind us and tapped on my shoulder (these were actually people that I legitimately liked and was happy to see), including my best friend who has been unable to come visit me on campus, and it was so nice to see him again.  I also ended up bumping into my cousin who is my “superhero” (I’m her sidekick), and she had no idea I was coming so she almost cried, and yeah.  It was actually wonderful.

Maria basically covered everything else that happened that weekend apart from the time I went to take pictures of my brother’s homecoming group while she stayed at home and napped/hung out with her people (i.e. the kittens).  Oh, and also that on Saturday night we took her dinner at The Barn, which is literally a little supper club inside of a barn that used to house cows and be a milking parlor and all that.  The sign out front says, “Come sit and relax and drink where the cows used to stink!”  Fun fact: they only have two menus.  Other fun fact: apparently they had three on Wednesday.

So while Maria had some trouble with second-guessing herself, I knew that as soon as the opportunity was actually presenting itself, there was no way I’d miss this chance to go home.  However, I probably should have been in the same boat she was in, because I am now neck deep in papers and presentations and meditations and reading assignments and so many other things that I’m so behind on, things that I should have and could have done all of that weekend.  But I wouldn’t take back my choice.  I haven’t missed a homecoming football game since before middle school, and I didn’t intend to start now.

I don’t exactly have a lesson like Maria did, so…sorry.  You read my entire half of this post and gained nothing from it.

Have a great week.

Carissa

Homecoming, Halloween, and Baby Pumpkins

Hello, hello, hello!! So yesterday was super long and tiring, hence the late-ish update.

Saturday was homecoming at Butler!! We had been doing homecoming activities all week, and this was the big hurray for it all. Carissa and I had to go to marching band practice at 7:40am, meaning Carissa woke up at 5:45 and Maria woke up at 7:20. After practicing with Muck (the outrageously inappropriate marching band director, “If you don’t know how to dance, ask the black kids!” no Muck, no.) for hours, Carissa went and lined up for the homecoming parade while I went ahead to the press box to do sound checks. We lost the game horribly, but Carissa and the rest of the band did an amazing halftime show.  If you want to see it I am sure it’s on youtube somewhere under Butler Marching Band 2014. I did manage to get a tan that eluded me all summer (yes it was a billion degrees out with direct sunlight) because of the school work I had to finish to officially complete high school.

My sister picked us up and we went HALLOWEEN COSTUME SHOPPING!!! Carissa found “Pink Lady” outfits (Grease 1 and 2) for us, so she’s Stephanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) Zinone from Grease 2 and I am Frenchy (Didi Conn) with the pink wig and everything. Next stop was the grocery store because my sister was making Alfredo for us *yumm* and garlic bread. I picked out a cute baby pumpkin for our dorm room that we named Jo Ann after Carissa’s older sister, but I kept calling her Joanna and my sister kept calling her Janice (gosh darn it Janice- Chelsea that’s for you) so she’s kind of Jo Ann Janice Joanna now? We then ate dinner with my sis and her boyfriend of forever and watched Anastasia! Then Pitch Perfect, then the first twenty minutes of Les Mis, but by this point Carissa and I were about ready to pass out (long day) so we went to bed earlier than we usually do. I was awake by 7 and managed to get some more homework done, while Carissa slept until 12:00 (biotch) and we watched ten more minutes of Les Mis and then they overruled me and put on Divergent, which we didn’t actually finish. Quick stop at Target for birthday cards, ice cream, and then back to the dorm we went! Both Carissa and I were surprised at how much we missed our dorm.

Don’t really know what the lesson to be had here is, but make sure you enjoy your school’s activities. We didn’t really go to many events and I wish we had, but we still had fun! Always do your laundry, make good choices, hugs not drugs, remember who you are, where you come from, and what you represent. Much love.

xox,

M

What’s up guys, how are you doing?

All right, so Maria basically covered it all, but she’s forcing me to add my own comments in here so here I am.  I would just like to shed some light on the torture that was Homecoming morning for me, because that is something Maria could not have known.

Yes, I had to wake up at 5:45 to be on the field by the same time Maria had to be.  Yes, it takes me over an hour and a half to get ready.  And after about the same amount of time spent rehearsing for the game’s performances under 55 degree weather (which disabled my clarinet from even playing and essentially numbed my fingers), we were only given a little over an hour to eat and change before lining up for the parade.  Keep in mind that it’s no longer 55 degrees — more like 80 — or cloudy, and the sun is beating on our backs and all of us poor band students are cloaked in thick band uniforms and giant ugly hats with plumes and believe me, I was dying by the time we finished marching around campus.  Then we got to sit and wait outside of the fieldhouse, in the sun, for about twenty minutes before we were to line up for the pregame show.  AND THEN WE DID THE PREGAME SHOW IN THE HEAT AND I WAS SWEATING SO BAD AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THROWN UP BUT YOU KNOW THANKFULLY I DIDN’T.

After the pregame show, the horror didn’t end.  We got to sit in the stands and continue to play (but at least we could strip the top part of our uniform off), and then we got to die during the halfgame show again, and even though we got the third quarter of the game off, we had to be back to play for the fourth quarter aND IT WAS POINTLESS BECAUSE WE LOST THE GAME SO BADLY ANYWAY.  Like, I can’t even explain my frustration.  There are no words.  By the time we were finally able to leave that bloody arena, I could smell myself every time I so much as turned my head.  It was awful.

The rest of my Saturday: fabulous.  I adore Anastasia, so it literally made my entire week to be able to watch it again, and the Pink Ladies costumes are fantastic, and Coldstone was fantastic, and Maria’s sister’s cooking was fantastic, and yeah, everything was fantastic.  Now we’re watching Bones, and it’s also fantastic.

So the lesson to be had here is obviously this: Indiana weather sucks.

Have a great day.

Carissa

~Update~

Hello, hello!! Carissa is doing homework right now (I finished 80% of my homework that is due on Monday lol), but I figured I should give you guys an update since it has been a while:

• So I am now the announcer for the Butler University Marching Band!! Which means bonding time for Carissa and Maria (as if we need any more time together).
• Carissa hates doing homework (what’s new)
• I’ve gained weight because everyone keeps sending us candy haha
• We are hanging out with my sister this weekend (going halloween shopping and then watching Anastasia– yaasss)
• I still want an animal of some kind to live with us (I even tried befriending a couple of squirrels, turns out they don’t really like me…)
• Carissa got herself a cute hat that she has been pining after for the past few weeks
• We still haven’t gone to a party (we were going to go to this paint party that my insanely attractive SOG invited us to, but I chose to do homework instead, yes homework on a Saturday night, stop judging)
• I bought my parents two shirts each, the most perfect little baby sweater for my favorite baby, and I got myself a hat!! I still have more presents to buy so stop grumbling (you know who)
• The weather can’t make up it’s mind
• I don’t think I have any more updates…

Hope all is well with everyone, comment if you want a post on something specific, we will try to update Saturday- fingers crossed!!

xox,

M