S, Day 8.

Yay for not sugarcoating our ridiculous behavior on a blog that's supposed to be about the true college life!

No but I'll agree with Katie. Sugarcoating is dunzo.

From my perspective, that party was amazing in all the ways stereotypical college parties should be. From our toast ("To Thursdays!") to waking up surrounded by Katie's friends at their dorm and reliving the night before. I love college and those girls so much.

Anyway, day 8!
I exercise at the gym 3-4 times a week. I'd love to go more, but I just got back at school and am trying to get back into my diet and exercise routine. I usually do the elliptical for a half hour, then resistance for another half hour. I JUST started doing resistance, and it's killer. In an excellent sort of way.

I do try to diet by eating ~healthy options as much as I can. Though I hate it, I see results a lot faster than with my ordinary diet habits. Salads are just so boring though. :(

K, Day 8!

Okay, so I'm a slacker.

Being back at school has been such a whirlwind. I've had one of the strangest nights of my life a few days ago, at a party with some of Katie Mead's friends from Europe. They were all very nice, but got us very drunk. Vodka, Jack Daniel's and Tequila should not be mixed and/or consumed in just a few hours. I never thought I'd be like this, going to some party and getting a bloody lip and throwing up at a T station and not remembering how I managed to get home and take my contacts and earrings out. I'm just not like that. But I'm also in college. Not that that's an excuse, I guess, but considering I never did anything like this in high school, I'm not ashamed. That's a new realization I've come to lately, considering some drama that has been going on: I'm not going to apologize for who I am. If you don't like my decisions or what I'm doing then I'm sorry. But I can't care all the time because pleasing everyone and censoring myself in front of some people and not others is finally catching up with me. It can't be done. And I don't say this in a sassy, snap-your-fingers-in-a-Z-formation kind of way, but just in an honest one. I'm not the same person I was a few years ago and I'm okay with that. I like it.

I also realized that I'm halfway done with my nursing training tonight. Crazy! This time in three years or so, I will be on my own. Working at a hospital. Having my own apartment. Maybe living with friends or just me and my cat Sawyer. Sawyer and the City. Who knows. But that scares me. I have my first clinical on Monday, 7-3. I'm excited but so, so nervous. I just feel like I'm going to forget everything. I'm going to be on a general surgery/bariatrics unit. Which essentially means obese patients coming in for stomach stapling and other various surgeries. Not as exciting as what some other people have, but maybe that's a good place to start. My instructor seems really nice. Plus her name is Katie, so I figured maybe she'll give me a break.

And I suck at this 30 day challenge. It's going to probably turn into a 365 day challenge. But anyway, the 8th day is talk about your exercise habits.

I, unfortunately, will be the first to admit I don't go to the gym. Or do any sort of formal exercise. My compensation, in my mind, is the fact that I walk everywhere. It's a half mile walking to my academic campus and back, and I usually do that multiple times per day. I complain about walking everywhere on a superficial level, but I do enjoy it. I'm trying to get myself to do more though, and even bought myself a pretty sports bra. So far, I admire it when I open my drawer but have yet to put it on. Maybe, though! You never know.

Wah.

I'm officially back at school. I'm having a bit of an off day, but I keep trying to remember what a friend said to me yesterday to try and cheer me up after some bad news. "Tomorrow, I'll raise a glass to mend the heart of my wrecked up friend."

Thank GOD for good friends and Lady Gaga.

So psyched!

I just am having a moment of gratitude for my life and how fortunate I am and I want everyone to know so I'm writing it down right here.

Last night I hung out with Mark, watching the Jersey Shore and the West Wing (two completely different shows) and talking on the phone with Katie, today I got lunch with Ben, hung out at the Boarding House with James and Tim, went to Dolci and they all fawned over me like I was a lost child coming home, came home to my mom and my mom's friend (hopefully will be boyfriend, he's awesome... I probably think that because he brought me baklava once, and anyone who brings me sweets is high on my list) cooking lobster dinner, I'm packing and I have so many clothes and shoes I'm overwhelmed but so thankful I went from nothing to all this and I bought most of them on my own, and now I'm trying to finish packing but I'm about to cry over how thankful I am for my life right now. Also, I got a very nice text from KWay! :D And so many good songs are coming up on my iPod on shuffle right now. And tonight I'm going to visit poor Sam who just had her wisdom teeth out, I think I'm hanging out with Ben again and possibly seeing Vinny, Dylan and James. :) Yayayayay!

Yay I love life. <3

S, Day 7.

How you came across tumblr and how your life has changed since joining.

I came across Tumblr because a girl I had met through Emmanuel kept cross posting her Tumblr posts to the Facebook newsfeed. I liked that idea, so I signed up, even though I only use it now as a blog to record the funny things my friends and I say.
Shit My Friends Say. <-- there.

Other than now having our ridiculous conversations immortalized for all the world to see, my life really hasn't changed since joining any blogging site. I prefer Facebook to blogs, honestly, and my Twitter is a much better record keeper of my daily life. I like to write, though, so blogging gives me an easy outlet for that, and I like getting feedback via comments.

Stephanie 30DC, Days 5 and 6.

Tell us about your three favorite colors (I don't think Katie and I could be more different).



Pink: I'm not sure why I love this so much, since it's so different than what I used to be into (read: dark, melodramatic colors). But no, anything pink I'm all over. And if it has sparkles... oh goodness. Don't even get me started. My dream is to drive a Barbie pink car before I get too old and it's gross.
Blue: I feel most alive when I'm swimming, especially in the ocean. The color of the ocean (at least of the North Atlantic), makes me really happy, and I have a mostly navy blue wardrobe.
It's really difficult for me to decide on another color, so I'm just going to go with bright colors. Again, this is difficult for me to explain, but I can't tell you how many times I've gone to the store and bought something because it's bright. I can't count how many times I've heard one of my friends say "You would" at the checkout line, due to the color of whatever it is I was buying.

Tell us about your favorite season, and why.

No competition. Summer is my favorite season.

I love everything about it, from lazy afternoons spent at the beach to late nights spent at work serving snobby tourists their overpriced Italian food. I love bonfires at Sandy Neck spent doing cartwheels down the beach and playing charades. I love all the bonfires we have in my backyard, and I'm excited to see how this summer is going to top the one we had over Thanksgiving break. I love wearing dresses without feeling like an idiot. I like the way my hair gets light and my skin gets dark. I like rolling down the windows of the Mustang and blasting obnoxious music on North Street.

I love summer, but I can't write about it anymore. It's making me depressed it's still four months away (though, only four months!).

K, Day 7!

How you came across tumblr and how your life has changed since joining.

Well, I came across it because a friend on facebook had one, I believe. So I decided that since I didn't update my livejournal often, I could do it in quotes and pictures. (This 30 day challenge was clearly meant for tumblr, but we have one anyway. I'll post it!) But I can't say I'm so invested in these online blogs that my life has changed. I still prefer my own diary to write in.

http://meraviglio.tumblr.com is my personal one.

http://we-r-ridic.tumblr.com is the one that is updated with stupid things Stephanie & my friends say. It's pretty hilarious to me, anyway.

On a side note, classes started today. I had a class called Health Assessment where we learn to basically just assess people. Take health histories, learn breath sounds, stuff like that. Class was 8 am- 10 am (too early!) and then lab from 12-2. It wasn't bad at all, and then Sarah, Vanessa, Katie & I went to the MFA because it's an atrocity that we live in Boston and don't go. We saw the new American wing and got hot chocolate in the cafe. My new favorite artist is John Singer Sargent, and his painting Rosina- Capri.

S, Day 4.

Like Katie, my friend situation is complicated at best. But I truly wouldn't change any of them for anything.

First of all, we have Katie, James and Dylan. Katie already explained our relationship. But with the three of them, there's always something going on, and we always have something to talk about. We've been friends for a million years. James, Dylan and I have been friends since elementary school, and Katie joined our group when she began dating James years ago.

Then there's Samantha, who I love to death. She is always there to listen to me vent. I love dancing with her to Lady Gaga and screaming out old school My Chemical Romance lyrics on our random shopping adventures off Cape. I miss her so much when I'm at school. :(

Then there's Mark. He and I have a funny relationship. I messaged him earlier in the year asking for help on a law assignment, and from there we became fast friends (and I got an A on the assignment, too). I call what he and I have a non-relationship relationship, because I can't think of a better phrase for it. We're not "just friends" but we aren't officially dating, either. I just don't have time, you know? He goes to Brown and we see each other when we're on break or otherwise visiting each other's cities. Also, he helps me on my law homework.

I have so many other friends who deserve a shout out, but I'm getting tired and I have to get up for class in the morning.. and I'm still waiting to hear from Dylan to see if I'm going out tonight. I'm commuting for the day tomorrow since no one can help me move in until this weekend. THANK GOD I only have class tomorrow, and that's it for the week.

K Day 6!

Tell us about your favorite season, and why.

I'd like to give some cool reason for liking winter or autumn or spring, but the only thing I like most about those are my birthday/Christmas, changing leaves, and the start of warm weather, respectively. But those area all pretty generic. And at the risk of sounding cliche, summer on Cape Cod just can't be matched anywhere else.

Sure it's crowded and we all complain endlessly about the tourists, but we know on some secret level we love it. Like yes, I am a local! So for one moment you feel superior to the family of five from New Jersey. I work at a major tourist attraction and I love the moments when people are incredulous at how long it takes to get from Falmouth to Hyannis and the fact that there's nowhere to park (that they know of). I love having bonfires on Sandy Neck of course, and walking down Main Street and going to Craigville. One reason I'm holding off getting an apartment in Boston is the fact that I'd probably have to stay here for the summer, and I'm not ready to give up my Cape summers just yet.

K Day 5!

Tell us about your three favorite colors.

I really like specific colors, which makes this difficult sometimes. But my favorite is peachy-pink. I've wanted that as my wedding color for a long time, I can just imagine how pretty it would be.

I also like gray/grey (I still never know which to write!) but everyone tells me that's boring and who would have gray/grey be a favorite color? I think it's so classy and subdued. I own a primarily gray/grey wardrobe, to be honest.

And finally, I also really like lilac. It's more blue than lavender, although I like that too. I imagine my future Cape house being all white with lilac hydrangeas in the front and little cut bunches of them on my dining room table.

It will be perfect, I tell you.

But I currently have hair dye in my hair so I have to go wash it out before I become a permanent redhead.

S30DC. Day 3.

You know, I considered skipping day 3, because I don't have a favorite TV show. I do have a favorite TYPE of TV show, however.

Yes. Trashy reality TV.

Katie, I got this off Perez. No complaining.

The Jeresy Shore, obviously, is the prime example of trashy reality TV. These people are hired to act like idiots for my enjoyment, and oh boy, do I enjoy it. I get so invested in the dramas of the shore life. Will Sammi and Ronnie break up? (Probably) Will The Situation ever stop being a jerk? (No) Does Snooki get arrested? (YES, SHE DOES, IN TONIGHT'S EPISODE!)

I have spent plenty of nights this break in Mark's basement watching the Jersey Shore with my friends... and then have gone back the next night without my friends because they were too busy having fun or trashing my trashy TV that I couldn't focus.

But it isn't just Jersey Shore. It's You're Cut Off, Bridezillas, 16 and Pregnant, My Big Friggin Wedding, and Sarah Palin's Alaska. Anything where I can watch people mess up their lives (or political careers), I'm all over it.

In other news, Skins premiers on MTV tonight! I've watched the British version with Katie and Mark, and I love the scripted drama too. Yes, so excited to have one last party in Mark's basement with my closest friends before we all head back to school. Wah, school, how upsetting.

K, Day 4.

Write about your closest friend(s).

Well, my friend web is quite complicated. But let's start with the co-author here, Stephanie.

She and I have an interesting story- we became best friends in middle school, and were so alike. We were awkward and shy with our braces, glasses, and frizzy hair (sorry Steph, we know it's true). We remained close in high school until junior year, where all hell broke loose and we had a falling out. Fast forward two years later. I'm done with my freshman year of college and I get a message on facebook from her, saying she's going to the college literally across the street from me. From my window, I can see her entire campus. Could we meet up so we could maybe put all of this behind us so it wouldn't be awkward if we accidentally ran into each other? Okay, fine, if I have to. Best decision of my life. We picked up right where we left off, and it's been smooth sailing since. We pAArty together, gossip together, and are brutally honest with each other. Nbd.

Sara is my oldest friend. We met in second grade and were best friends right away. She moved away right before high school began, and that was tough. We've remained in contact and it's always been nice to have an objective, outside view on some of my ~problems throughout the years since she's not directly involved. She got engaged this past Christmas, and it is incredibly weird to think she'll be married in a year in a half. She won't be the same little girl playing Restaurant in my basement with plastic food and make believe customers. All the same, I try my best to support her and am a bridesmaid!

Then there is James, and our relationship is always complicated. We dated for about three and a half years in high school and college, and only separated this past summer. We've remained close though, and hang out whenever I'm home. He's the funniest person you will ever meet, I promise.

And finally, I have a great group of friends at school. I never thought I'd be as lucky as I am to have met such wonderful people. We are so alike and so different- something fun is always going on and there's always excitement. There is Sarah, Isabel, Carla, Vanessa, Kristen, Katie, and Natalie. Together the 8 of us (all paired up as roommates in the same hallway at Simmons) always have the best time together.

I love them all! I'm in a sappy mood now.

S30DC. Day 2.

To me, it's still day one because I haven't gone to sleep yet (ignore the fact that it's 4:30 AM, please).

Piercings and tattoos.
I have no tattoos, and I'm still unsure if I want one. Probably not. My tastes change on almost a weekly basis, and I can barely commit to plans for tomorrow night, never mind something that will be on my body forever. If I were to get one, it would be tiny, no bigger than the mole on my back (about dime size, probably smaller).

I do have my ears pierced each once and then my belly button is pierced. I did that one to hold up my end of a deal; I had told Sam she should get her cartilage done, and she said if she did then I would have to pierce something, too. Not expecting her to do it, and especially not expecting her to surprise me one day with "Hey I got my cartilage done, let's go to Pincushion for you", I agreed. And I basically just told you the rest of the story.

On a side note, if you had told me three years ago THIS is where I would have ended up with the people I consider close to me now, I would never, ever, in a million years, have believed you. I love it.

S is jumping on the bandwagon.

I guess I'll do the 30 day challenge, too, but I rarely finish them, so let's get this started.

Day one: Your middle name and how you feel about it.
My middle name is Jean, the same as my mother's. She's Stacey Jean and I'm Stephanie Jean. I don't like it much at all, actually. Neither does my mom, which makes me wonder why she saddled me with it if she hates it so much.

Yesterday Katie asked me if I were going to stick with the SJ thing we have going on, and I answered with an honest no. Two generations of people who hate their middle name is enough for me. Sydney Jean, Sarah Jean, Samantha Jean, Savannah Jean... no. Just no.

K's 30DC, D3.

Your favorite television program.

By a long shot, it would be Lost. I remember I was so not into it in the beginning, but I love the fact that the longer you watched and the story developed, you could totally tell that they were making every crazy thing up along the way. Can you imagine their board room meetings?

"Okay, we have polar bears, a smoke monster, and a hidden temple. What can we do now?"

"Time travel?"

"PERFECT. You're getting a bonus."

But besides the fact I was in middle school when it started and I ~grew with it, I have so many memories. When I was going to do the school play freshman year and I had to stay at the school until (gasp!) 8:00, I remember coming home as fast as I could, complaining all the way in order to make it in time. And when I turned 14, I felt official since the age rating was TV14. My mom and I saw every episode together until I left for college. And that was heartbreaking in of itself. But thankfully we did see the finale together!

And despite what everyone else says about the ending, I loved it. There was absolutely no other way to do it. It was perfect. So maybe they did have a small idea of what they were doing after all.

Katie's Challenge, Day 2.

Talk about your piercings or tattoos.

No tattoos yet, I'm having a little bit of commitment issues in that area. Someday, though. Sooner rather than later.

But piercings! I have my earlobes twice, and then the upper cartilage on the right side. My two favorites would be my navel and my inner helix on my ear. That one is definitely unique- as far as I know, I've never seen it on anyone else. I love it!

(This one is a random google one that was just done- I swear mine doesn't look as bad or red!)

I prefer piercings over tattoos just because they aren't so permanent. When I'm working in hospitals I know I can take them out if I need to. If I got another one it would be my nose, I think. Although I don't think I could just because I'll be in a hospital (Brigham & Womens in Boston!) this semester, and I'd have to take it out. Otherwise I'd be all over that.

Katie's 30 Day Challenge.

So I think this was meant for Tumblr, but really, who cares? I'm going to try my best to do it. God knows I have enough time to do it on account of I had my wisdom teeth out last week and I'm still recovering. (I made my way through a bottle of percocet and now am working on vicodin. If doctors have to prescribe that much pain medication, why won't they make this procedure more humane? I mean I have four gaping holes in my mouth. Not okay.)

Okay. So Day One: Your middle name and how you feel about it.

Mine is Elizabeth. I guess I don't really mind it, but I find if someone's middle name isn't Marie, it's probably Elizabeth. I wish my parents had exercised a little bit of imagination while naming me, but I guess I shouldn't complain. Kaitlyn Elizabeth. I guess it has a ring to it that they liked. It could be a lot worse.

I swore to myself I'd tell it like it is.

I decided, at the beginning of this blog, that I wasn't going to sugarcoat anything for my readers. Even though the only two people I know for sure read our blog are of the parent variety.

So after a series of failed birthday parties, involving my best friends getting overemotional, another friend getting out of control and shoved, and another friend having to be taken away by ambulance, I have decided I am cursed.

No more birthday parties for me anytime soon. Time to focus on the Jersey Shore Season 3 Premier party tonight!