21 Before 22

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Alleyyyy, happy birthday to me! If you haven't guessed today is my birthday, my 21st birthday to be precise. ;) This year I've decided to pick 21 things I want to accomplish before I turn 22.

1. Learn to crochet

2. Journal daily

3. KARAOKE

4. Give 10%

5. Read 12 leisure books

6. Go to a drive-in movie

7. Save 20%

8. Study Scripture daily 

9. Make plans to take the GMAT

10. Learn to {properly} fold fitted sheets

11. Take a solo trip

12. Have a special day with each of my family members

13. Learn to cook chicken on the stovetop

14. Run a 5k

15. Get a {small, conspicuous; i.e. don't freak Mom and Dad} tattoo

16. Go hiking

17. Have a no spend week 

18. Do the splits

19. Pray daily

20. Take a wine tasting class

21. Inspire someone to make their own list :)

Well I've got 365 day to cross everything off! 

Freedom: Reflection on GΓΣΣK Retreat

This weekend was one of the most fun weekends I have ever had in my life. To be with roughly 150 members of UL's Greek community as well as fifteenish students from UT, University of Florida, and Tulane. I learned a lot and bonded a lot with my sisters. Here's a run of how the weekend went. 

Friday

Well after working and a quick visit to the clinic to get my eyes checked out, I went over to Our Lady of Wisdom and the Catholic Student Center to help out with a few administration-y set up things and prayer for the retreat. Then after check-in was complete we got together with our family groups and ate dinner. Sadly, it was chik-fil-a sandwiches which while delicious do not make the cut for my New Year's Resolution. Then it was time for the bus ride up to Tall Timbers retreat center. One we got there we found our cabins and then went to the opening session. We watched this video which led to our discussion on the retreat's theme: Freedom. We then had time with our chapters to talk about whatever we wanted. This led to some really engaging discussion and questions. After a joke about getting Father Sibley to answer some questions we went out to find him and ask. He and Father McIntyre stayed to answer our questions for almost an hour.

Saturday

Our cabin was one of the few that didn't have hot water this weekend, not only that but the water pressure was horrible. This led to a very quick shower with most of the shampoo still left in my hair. We then had a catechetical mass, which is essentially a teaching mass and Father explains what's going on and WHY. It was really cool because he related it all back to Greek life and Rituals. We then had lab sessions about different topics I went to one about why Catholic do what we do, basically pick a Priest's brain round two. ;) We had free time for games like bazooka ball, volleyball, air hockey, hikes, studying, napping, etc. After this time we went to separate men's and women's labs. We had one about Finding the One (#plottwist it's Jesus) and I went to one about regret. We got then got back with our chapters and later family groups for more hanging out and discussion. Then maybe my second favorite part Adoration. I love being in the physical presence of Jesus and having that time to spend with Him. I also went to confession for the first time in almost 12 years. Finally my night wound down at the bonfire and a hike through the middle of the woods at night. I was pretty waiting for Jason to come get us the entire time. How I even fell asleep that night is a miracle. 

Sunday

We met with our family groups to discuss our experiences and how we can bring what we've learned to schools and chapters. We had mass, then chapter time (which double-dutied for packing time) and it was back to UL.

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit to the yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1. 

Sorry this post was such an info dump but I had to write it all down! 

What are some of your retreat experiences? 

My Plan

So now that the semester has started and craziness is setting in, I'm making a plan to keep me on schedule on with where I want this blog to go. Here it is.

Weekly:

Each week I'll be having the following posts

- songs I've become obsessed with

- how I organize different aspects of my life

- funny things I've discovered over the week

Monthly:

- favorites of the month

- goals I have for the month

- 2014 Resolution progress

I can see this already helping me create a better blog with more reasonable goals. :)

What posts would you like to see?

My Favorite Moments of 2013

This post is pretty late coming but I don't really care. #sorrynotsorry We're not even a week into 2014, a little reminiscing now won't hurt anyone. There was a lot that happened last year so let's look back.

One of the greatest things this year was joining my amazing sorority Alpha Omicron Pi! I've made many wonderful memories with my sisters but here's a few that will be hard to top!

My Bid Day

Getting my Big

Initiation

Experiencing Formal Recruitment

Getting my Little

I also experience my first official Louisiana MARDI GRAS... on a mini mission trip to Taylor, Arkansas and Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas. It was for Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship's Mardi Gras Outreach and it was a blast!

-our team with Pastor Jimmy-

My first crawfish boil! Very delicious and I can't wait for Lagniappe Week 2014!

Seeing Sir Paul McCartney at Miller Park this summer with one of my best friends!

He's really excited for his concert ;)

I don't having any pictures of it but camping with my best friends in June.

My cousin Chad and his wife Kendra's wedding in August.

What were your favorite moments of 2013? What are you looking forward to in 2014?

New Year's Resolutions, SMART Goals, and More Tips

Just a few short days until 2014 is upon us and I'm super excited and unabashedly love the cliché, "New Year, New Me." The New Year is all a fresh start and having a clean slate ahead, why not take advantage of the opportunity to be a better you? Maybe "New Year, Better Me" or "New Year, Best Me...yet" is more appropriate then. ;) 

My experience with New Year's Resolutions is pretty similar to a lot of people I know. The first two weeks of January start off great! You're motivated and on top of your game when suddenly, or not so suddenly, the honeymoon phase ends. It's too much, it's boring, it wasn't a very well thought out plan in the first place. (I'm pretty guilty of that one.)

One of the best ways to plan resolutions to use the SMART goals method. SMART standing for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, target date. In short, do you have a resolution that isn't vague, something you can see if you're accomplishing, realistic, something to bother doing in the first place, and sometime you'd like it to be done by. 

Some of my 2014 New Year's Resolutions are...

- make my bed everyday

- no poultry, beef, or other land critters
(which means I'll still be enjoying fish, shellfish, eggs, and milk products)

- activity everyday for an hour

Other tips include having an accountability partner, this helps keep you on track by having another party check in with how you're doing. Reward yourself appropriately, get new smaller clothes, a mani/pedi, or jewelry. Lastly, don't beat yourself up if you do slip up. January 1st is a new beginning but so is every day, brush yourself off, and start again tomorrow.

What are your New Year's Resolutions?