Costumes Galore!

With Halloween coming up the costume ideas are brewing. Unfortunately, I gave away ALL of my awesome sorority costumes/outfits which isn't so convenient in times like these. Here's a trip down costume memory lane in pretty random order. (This work computer is not my friend) Socials and playing dress up at way too old of an age was clearly the main reason I joined a sorority....

This was the first outing with the DC roomies at the Legwarmers concert. It was short-lived for me thanks to the purple panty dropper cocktails.. Amanda and Lindsay cough cough...

Hippies and Hunters Social. This also happened to be my last Phi Mu social...tear.

Ah Halloween 2011 at Bullwinkles. This is one of my favorite pictures with my 2 of my favorite people.

Dressing like an absolute nut for a week was one of the many amazing parts about being a Rho Gamma (Recruitment Counselor)

My "Ice Cream Paint Job" 21st birthday. AKA best night of my life to date.

Caroline's "Miss America" 21st

Phi Mutany 2011...I should have burned this costume after that night.

Jackie's Woodstock 21st!

"Lets Get Weird" for Katherine's 21st Birthday...self explanatory for her... I'm creeping in on the left next to Reynolds

Halloween during the infamous Sophomore year. I think this was one of 7 costumes considering we went out that entire week.

I'm pretty sure this was another Halloween night either Freshmen or Sophomore year. Oh Megan how classy we were. Not to mention I lost that gun before we even got to the bar. 

Oh this might be the most special. Not only was this freshmen year, but it was Siedah's first Halloween celebration EVER! (She was deprived as a child) We're not going to awknowledge the fact that our roommate to the right may or may not have been the one who slapped me across the face in the Spring.

I miss you Sarah!!! This was her 19th or 20th birthday luau I believe. We were TGI Friday's bffs for my first year in college before she and Kels moved back home. :(

Having a photoshoot during the muster drill on the cruise was definitely necessary...such a great vacation!

Chy Town and I before the Discovery Channel social I believe.

TIA AND TAMERA! Our New Orlean's alter egos were back in action on Jess' pub crawl.

Let me just clarify that this was for a "WHITE TRASH BASH." UF = vomit. My shirt says "I LUV THE GAYTORS" if ya can't telllllll. ;)

Eric I couldn't resist...the night he and Ryan tried to crash our "When I Grow Up" social bahahah

Some social..I think I was a cop? Who knows lol

It's forecasted to snow this Halloween. Oh Washington D.C. what you do to me. I miss Florida!!!! I guess I'll be looking a little more pale and a little less naked this Halloween which probably isn't such a bad thing. Hope everyone has a safe and spooky weekend!!

Nature is NOT my friend

To continue on with my exercise escapades...I had another lovely incident on Tuesday. This time no bikers or actual human beings were involved, it was something much greater... freaking mother nature. 

I have a fabulous sense of direction, let's just put that out there. I noticed this awesome park on my drive back from the airport the other day filled with happy runners right along the GW Parkway. The leaves are turning and I thought it would be the perfect place for a beautiful, scenic run! I assumed after seeing the park so many times I'd know how to find it again...but of course I was wrong. DC IS A MAZE!

To get to the park (which is in the direction of DC) I needed to go South NOT North from Virginia...because that makes sense. Anywho, my dumb self went Northbound and ended up going deeper into Virginia somehow and stumbled upon a completely different park called "Turkey Run". At this point I was flustered and frustrated so I figured I'd give it a shot. 

Like... where the heck was I...?

I took the exit and drove up this windy empty road following the signs for the park to a deserted parking lot and trail entrance. It was about 5PM but still sunny and therefore I determined that my strong will to exercise should outweigh the empty sketchiness of the mountain land before me.

At this point I was ready for this long-anticipated run. I parked, put on my headphones, and headed down the trail towards the water. In all fairness it was really pretty, and I was definitely the only person there. (Lets just disregard the fact that I was alone, in the middle of nowhere where no one knew I was, with headphones in, clearly oblivious to my surroundings...SAFE...) Whatever! At this point I was going to run and it was going to be GREAT...and it started out just that way. 

About a half-mile through I realized why it was labeled as a hiking trail opposed to a walk/running trail. Apparently, the word "hike" was not to be taken loosely. On top of looking over my shoulder for an attacking Yetti every 10 seconds I had to dodge, leap, and climb over all sorts of branches and wildlife. Not to mention the spider webs and bugs flying in my face. Not.a.fan!!!!

Then about 2 miles in I reached my breaking point. After about 15 near ankle-rolls I approached the second area where you literally had to HOP ACROSS ROCKS/BOULDERS to cross the stream in order reach the other side of the trail. 

Woops...I left my walking stick and safari hat at home...

I felt like freaking Sassy the cat in the movie Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Don't act like that wasn't one of your favorite childhood movies. We all remember what happened to poor Sassy when she was trying to cross on the rocks, down the river she went. I was NOT ready for a swim so I finally surrendered and declared yet another fitness failure. 

The fact that this picture exists on google is priceless

My big sister in my sorority Anna would tell me this is what I get for trying to exercise. I guess you're right (for once). Sitting on my couch eating a pint of ice cream probably would have been about equally as productive and much more safe and satisfying.

A co-worker told me another fun place to run so I'm sure I'll be blogging next week about how I somehow messed that up too. TRY TO CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT. 

ANDDD just to add...I had my first lost child call in at work in the middle of writing this post. He got separated from his group at the Lincoln Memorial...AHHH. Reason #230823 why I WILL have leashes for my kids. 

Enjoy the rest of your week/weekend everyone! I have to work all through it, :( but I have Halloween weekend off so I guess that's nothing to complain about. Safe and happy exercising! 

Why Arlington is the best place EVER

I have come to decide that the lovely DC suburb of Arlington is seriously the most ideal place in the world to live if you are a twenty-something recent college grad. My roommates and I joke that we are never leaving and raising our purely hypothetical children in our townhome ten years from now. (Hypothetical because the three of us are NOT in favor of sacrificing our figures in the name of reproduction. Priorities.)

 Even Newsweek agrees, placing Arlington at the #2 spot of America's 50 best cities. :)

Here is why I love it:

1. Housing options

Unlike most cities, there is the option to live in any type of home you please! We live in a townhouse which is so ideal. There is no one stomping above you or below you like in a high rise, but there isn't the full maintenance factor of a house.

 

so many cute houses!

And if high rise city living is your thing, we've got those too! I can't imagine the moving process in one of these buildings. No thanks.

Like I said, personally I think townhouses are the way to go. We've got a nice deck, hardwood floors, a garage, all 2 blocks from the metro! Talk about best of both worlds! (No this isn't our place, but near our neighborhood. Gotta protect ourselves from the creepers out there)

2. Everyone's young and there's a real neighborhood

I'd say if you hit the Arlington bars everyone is between the age of 23 and 30. That's another thing...the bars of course. If you don't feel like riding the 4 stops on the metro or paying around $5 each for cab fare into DC, the Arlington bars are always an easy alternative. Honestly we're lazy and the nights that we actually make the 5 mile journey into DC are way too far and few between. When the Clarendon neighborhood is bustling every night of the week it is hard to find motivation to leave. 

 

$5 big beers from 11AM-9PM at Hunan and $4 sushi rolls...what a happy hour

Gotta love the rooftop bars in the summertime :)

 ...and so many live bands!!!

3. Location, location, location

While it's not cheap living on the same street as the metro, it's super convenient, and we're just a hop, skip, and a jump away from DC! Yes, I just used that phrase. 

When I worked in Georgetown I would actually run home because it was THAT close (and to avoid the crazies on the bus)

Horse country where my mom lives is only 20 minutes away as well...even though she's moving away from me now that I've moved back. :( Wine Country is also only about 30 minutes in the other direction... ;)

Finally, my biggest selling point when I was looking at moving to Arlington...one thing I missed the most during my 4 years in Tallahassee....

No caption necessary.

Basically, I'm loving life. Hope all of you are too where ever you are! Have a great weekend, scalp 'em seminoles! We need a win!!!!!

DIY: Scrapbook Paper Photo Frames

As many of you know, the room decorating process is an ongoing part of my life. I am trying to avoid the decoration overload to the point where it's obnoxious. I'm definitely straddling the line. There are just so many great things and so little wall space!!!!


I've seen this idea a couple times, and once Lauren Conrad put it in her blog clearly I was sold. This is the perfect alternative to framing photos if you've already gone picture-crazy in your room like I have! Plus, it's super cheap and simple if you get your frames somewhere like Home Goods. 


1. Purchase scrapbook paper and frames from your local craft store 

2. Put the paper in the frames...shocking, I know

3. I decided to add my first name initial to the center frame because I'm really vain like that

4. Finally, (about 20 holes in my wall later) it is complete! As you can see the Friday Night Lights Marathon is still going. Oh Tim Riggins <3. Don't judge me. 

Happy decorating! Can't wait until the holiday season!!!!! :)

Running > Rolling

Now that this arctic cold front has broken and the beautiful fall weather is here I have been trying to keep up a better running routine. I like to run on this bike path that parallels I-66 near my place. Let me emphasize that it is in fact a bike path. I am the last person to hate on the cycling community. However, some of you people are freaking NUTS. I have created categories for each and every one of you special bikers. Read on my friends and tell me you don't agree....

1. The speed racer

Chill out Lance Armstrong. Seriously...I wonder if a pedestrian has ever been killed by a cyclist. These are the die hard riders whipping around the turn almost knocking you off the sidewalk. You're ripped and like to ride super-fast we get it. One thought: over-compensating.

2. On the pedals of death

These are the people trudging up the hill, face bright red and looking like they are about to breathe their last breath. If you are out of shape perhaps biking up this steep freaking hill was a bad choice. No amount of burned calories is worth that very obvious amount of pain.


3. Judgmental Judy

Those people who stare you down for running on the bike path. I'm pretty sure that this is an equal opportunity cement walkway you jerks. I don't need to be grilled because I'm not decked out in race day gear complete with blinking reflective light. Is that thing really necessary?! IT'S BROAD DAYLIGHT. That thing is going to trigger a seizure on an innocent epileptic child or something. 

4. Tipsy turvy get-out-of-my-lane 

These are definitely the most distinct of the biking family. You know, the people swerving dangerously in your direction like a five year old without training wheels. If you cannot maintain a center of gravity and point the bike in a straight direction, perhaps this isn't the hobby for you. I shouldn't have to bolt out of the way of your reckless path you armature.


Moral of the story:

If I have made the magnificent effort to get out and exercise, I would like to do so in peace! I don't care if it's a "bike path," CLEAR THE AREA DURING MY RUN. I would love for it to just be me, my pandora, the fall leaves, oh and the scenic view of the bumper to bumper rush hour traffic on I-66. 


And that's all I have to say about that.


Until next time my lovely followers. 


XO,
T