Daybook- May 3/4

I have seen this idea on a number of blogs that I have read and decided to try it out myself. The original idea comes from Peggy Hostetler at the Simple Woman's Daybook.http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window- it's dark outside

I am thinking- 2 papers and 2 exams until summer vacation!

I am thankful for- turning in 2 papers and completing 2 exams already and the amazing fun that was the Hereford Carnival, Tuesday Supper barbecue, 1st and 2nd Year Lawn party, and cookie making at the Wash House (all in one night, with a refreshing shower in between the barbecue and party)!

I am wearing- my purple puddle-jumping sandals, green shorts, blue ASB tshirt

I am creating- not much at the moment, especially since I have to get ready to pack up my dorm room soon

I am going- to bed ASAP

I am reading- Stars Collide

I am hoping- that my semester finishes off well

I am hearing- the bathroom door open and close

A few plans for the rest of the week (in no particular order)- getting my cookies from the Wash House tomorrow, Astronomy quizzes and CDs to prepare for exam, Astronomy exam on Friday, hopefully Fridays after Five with my St. Thomas family, packing up my dorm room, writing my Japanese history paper

Picture- Still working on figuring out how to upload pictures. My iPhoto is currently being annoying and won't let me publish to Facebook, nor can I figure out how to find the file for photos on my Mac without dragging the picture to the desktop, which functions but I'd like to figure out how it's supposed to work. This week's picture is supposed to be of the Hereford Carnival, but the upload feature is not working tonight (this morning... it's 1:11am).

Daybook- March 22

I have seen this idea on a number of blogs that I have read and decided to try it out myself. The original idea comes from Peggy Hostetler at the Simple Woman's Daybook.http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window- it's dark outside, but in the daylight there is a beautiful tree that is blossoming with white flowers (from my perspective as soon as I stand up out of bed, it looks like the tree is covered in snow- that fact gets me every single day)

I am thinking- of how much I have to do for my Semester at Sea application

I am thankful for- the fact that I officially have Permission to Enroll in the Curry School of Education!!!!!!

I am wearing- tan capris, yellow tank top, orange shirt, blue sweater (earlier today I had my red Toms on)

I am creating- not much at the moment, hoping to keep up with my knitting

I am going- to shower and then bed

I am reading- a ton of stuff for class

I am hoping- that I officially get into Semester at Sea!!! :)

I am hearing- my "Saving Sarah Cain" soundtrack- a week later, I am listening to this soundtrack again while writing this post

A few plans for the rest of the week- my last blood test for the school year on Friday (hopefully!), lunch with my Big sister Jess!, volunteering at the Mulch Sale on Friday, Croquet for Haiti administration Saturday morning and Bloomfield Cup (Hereford's Flag Football tournament) and Croquet for Haiti on Saturday afternoon (still don't know how that will work), last EDGE small group class of the school year on Sunday :(, CPE and SAS applications!

Picture- Still working on figuring out how to upload pictures. My iPhoto is currently being annoying and won't let me publish to Facebook, nor can I figure out how to find the file for photos on my Mac without dragging the picture to the desktop, which functions but I'd like to figure out how it's supposed to work. This week's picture is of Pancake Tuesday from a few weeks ago- I'm too tired to upload my pictures at the moment because it takes awhile (but the picture was taken in the St. Thomas kitchen, where I spent a lot of today because of prepping for Tuesday Supper).

Daybook- February 24

For the second week in a row, I'm late :(
I have seen this idea on a number of blogs that I have read and decided to try it out myself. The original idea comes from Peggy Hostetler at the Simple Woman's Daybook.http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window- it's dark outside, the ground is wet

I am thinking- I am sleepy

I am thankful for- the rain today (even though I didn't listen to the weatherman and wore canvas shoes [see the above picture- they're still soaking wet 10 hours later!] and jeans- that made for an not-so-desired dash back to the dorm to change clothes in the afternoon)

I am wearing- my new Alternative Spring Break sweatshirt (which is slightly too big- if only Dad was here to do the laundry, then it could definitely get down to the right size :) )

I am creating- not much at the moment, hoping to do a kaleidocycle soon and keep up with my knitting

I am going- to bed ASAP

I am reading- a ton of stuff for class

I am hoping- that I officially get into Curry!! :)

I am hearing- the random assortment of noises that come with living in a hall with 28 other girls

A few plans for the rest of the week- reading for class, lunch with my Big sister Jess tomorrow, Women's Leadership Development Program informal meeting tomorrow at 3 and on Saturday from 9am-12pm, Hereford's Habitat for Humanity volunteer thing from 1-5 on Saturday (I'm driving a ZipCar and Hereford is going to have reimburse me $49.50- that's a lot of money for having a car out for five and a half hours!), UVA Drama's Beaux Stratagem performance with the awesome Sara D :), possibly the CSM 1st and 2nd Year Lawn Party Saturday night (but probably not), EDGE on Sunday, homework whenever possible (I have a ton of reading for Tuesday, a paper due Monday, a take home exam due Monday, a big midterm on Tuesday and I have wasted today- shoot!)

Picture- Still working on figuring out how to upload pictures. My iPhoto is currently being annoying and won't let me publish to Facebook, nor can I figure out how to find the file for photos on my Mac without dragging the picture to the desktop, which functions but I'd like to figure out how it's supposed to work.

Hello :)

Hi :)

I'm Lauren. I like to smile :) I'm 20 years old and a 2nd year at UVA. I am applying for the Curry School of Education for the 5-year Master's in Teaching program this February. I'm a cradle Catholic and proud of it. I love nothing more than my faith, my family and my friends. I have a Mom, a Dad and a younger brother Paul. My Mom has 2 sisters and my Dad has 4. I have 2 cousins on my Mom's side and 13 on my Dad's side. Hanging out with my Dad's side of the family is among my top 5 things to do, even though we only do it about once a year (getting to Chicago from Virginia is expensive). 25 loud, crazy, loving, Catholic Irish-Americans gathered together make for an interesting experience (I'm the oldest of the younger cousins- my 5 older cousins and all of my aunts and uncles are over 21 and spend their time drinking- I get to spend my time running around yelling for joy and playing tag and house with the littler ones [which I fully plan on doing even after my 21st birthday in June]). I also love to hang out with my CSM (Catholic Student Ministry at UVA) friends. While I probably spend too much time with them, I have some amazing memories with them, although one of my craziest college memories comes from being with my hallmates from last year when we jay-sprinted across Route 29 twice in the dark. I love my new dorm as well (Hereford) because it is a focused community dedicated to sustainability, multiculturalism and community outreach.

I started this blog really as an attempt to be an online journal for myself. I had possibly the worst year of my life in 2010 and am determined to start completely fresh in 2011. I am currently taking a January-Term class that is setting me on a much better path, a path for me to escape the bad memories of 2010 and move on to the bright future that I know God has planned for me. I want to document 2011 in all of its ups and downs. I want a record to remind myself of the good times when I have bad times. I want to hold myself accountable to goals I set and write down. I want to get an experience keeping a journal/writing about my life regularly, something I have done in periodic spurts in the past decade but nothing regularly (which I now regret). I basically follow several blogs already, so now I want to get the experience of writing one.