High Five For: Surviving Spring 2011

Let's give a High Five For: Another 4.0.

I know this may sound slightly odd, very odd if you will, but I always get kind of sad when I end up throwing away my semester's worth of notecards...{like here} {or here}.

But why would I keep them?

But I did it.

I DID IT!!!! I am alive from a semester that I didn't know how I was going to get everything done. 

It's funny really - the whole drive home after my last final I found myself laughing to myself because I got all of my 

{discussion boards done, 9 papers done, 3 quizzes done, 2 finals done, and my internship (blah, blah, blah) done-zo}

and on my drive home I just kept saying to myself:

It ALWAYS seems impossible until everything is done. 

But you know what, it wasn't impossible. And hard work, once again, allowed me to achieve my goal. 

But guess what...summer school starts MONDAY...TOMORROW! 

High Five For: Hard Work Paying Off!

Let's give a High Five For: Another 4.0.

I did it. I am done. I am on break. I am relaxing. I am so happy.

Another semester is over, but this semester was one of the ones I worked the hardest at.

This semester, I overloaded with 19 credit hours but came through with my goal GPA. 

I'd like to be able to always have this lingering reminder in the back of my mind that hard work will pay off,

but I sometimes forget a fall back to stress. 

But when all is said and done, it's times like this that remind me that hard work never fails to produce amazing results. 

Earlier today I was organizing my papers and book and notecards of what to sell, trash and keep. 

My collection of notecards this year was pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. 

This is half of my semester.

And this is my semester life in notecards:

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: Soaring Above the Clouds

Let's give a High Five For: Soaring Above the Clouds!
My flight out to see Cory had a little treat in store for me:

This is why my camera is a second appendage to my hand at all times.

Nothing short of breathtaking. 

Nothing.

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: My Rockin' Summer Travels!

Let's give a High Five For: 

My 

Rockin' Summer Travels!

Maryland to Ohio to Iowa. 

Ohio to Michigan to Ohio to Kentucky to Ohio to Maryland. 

This summer is seriously rocking my socks! :)

Here in Salisbury.

Cory's US National Track Meet.

Home Sweet Home.

July 4th in Michigan with the Beebe's.

Home Sweet Home.

Lake Cumerland, KY with my family.

Home Sweet Home.

Put in Bay.

Finishing out the summer back in Salisbury, Maryland, and Ocean City - of course.

(Hopefully there will be additions to this list.)

Now, if only I actually had a vehicle like this:

to wheel my little tushy around in.

 Then this summer could be labeled: Too Good Too Be True.

Oh wait, it already is.

Hm, would ya look at that.

My life is blessed, and so awesome.

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: NYC Cupcakes

Let's give a High Five For: NYC Cupcakes!

This last weekend I spent in NYC with my Mom, Sis, Aunt and Cousin for a FABULOUS birthday/girls' weekend! If I lived there, my cupcake addiction may be out of control. 

They were amazing...to good to be true.

Yummy!

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: Rockin' out the Semester

Let's give a High Five For: 4.0's, notecards and awesome professors!

I've learned a lot of things this semester, it really was a good one. But, above all, what I learned the most is that my hardcore procrastination that took place can still get me my 4.0. I'll roll with that...

Procrastination? ME? 

Yeah...at times it was bad. 

At one point in time I was up until 4:00 in the morning writing a 12 page paper that was due the same day. I got a 100% on it.

Then there was a numerous times when I started to write my Women's Studies papers a day before they were due.

And my tests, I started to study for most of those a day before hand as well. 

But, listen, I do have a method to my madness - and it's called notecards. 

Here is all the notecards I used to get me through the semester! These little guys are lifesavors, and without them, this past semester's GPA wouldn't have been possible. 

Oh, and I had the most awesome professors this semester. They were awesome, and I learned a ton! 

And yeah, I have to give credit to myself as well - I'm a complete nut about my grades...so there.

That's my congradulation's speech. 

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: 'Real' Women

Let's give a High Five For: 'Real' Women!

Nike's campaign for 'real women' happened a few years ago. I remember seeing them in a magazine back then. But, until I recently stumbled upon them again, I didn't realize how much I love them. I find myself reading them, smiling and just saying to myself, "Hell yeah!" 

It’s no secret that hardly any woman is ‘model skinny', but yet that is what shows up time after time in advertisements and weaved in all over the media. It would be silly for me to wish that kind of image upon myself as well. It’s simply unrealistic and thankfully I’m perfectly fine with that. 

Nike had jumped into a campaign featuring close-ups of big butts, muscular thighs, skinned knees and not so dainty and slim and slender shoulders and hips. The average woman is somebody who has curves to her and is active. This is amazing for the support for women with these bodies and lifestyles as opposed to what’s been deemed as ideal.

I'm not saying that if you're skinny already, naturally skinny, or are always striving to be skinny - you're not a 'real woman'. No, no, no. I'm not saying that AT ALL. I think the term 'real women' problematic itself. Of course we're all real women and we're all beautiful and wonderful in our own ways. But, obviously, I'm speaking from my point of view and since I've always been an athlete and have built these thunder thighs, arms and hips of my own - I'm just speaking my mind and saying thank you to Nike because their ads speak to me.

I have found these ads to be a breath of fresh air. This subject matter is real, and we are living it everyday. For that reason alone, it makes sense for Nike to pitch products to women who hope to improve their looks in a realistic manner, rather than those indulging in a faraway fantasy. Nike’s ad campaign focusing on ‘real women’ and celebrating big butts, thunder thighs and shoulders that aren't dainty worked, and it will continue to work because it in itself is real.

Not to mention, I don't know about you - but these sayings and images really motivate me! Just Do It!

Rock on girlfriend.

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: Dancing!

Let's give a High Five For: Dancing!

Whenever I feel really happy, hyper, anxious, jittery, and I can't seem to sit still - or on the flip side when I feel down and out, grumpy, sad - or when I am procrastinating a lot -  I love to turn up the music and just dance! Going out dancing is one of my favorite things to do as well. Dancing is so fun, free, creative, expressive, BEAUTIFUL and inviting! 

Whatever your reason, whatever the mood, wherever you are - Just dance!

Flash Dance is my FAVORITE!!!! 

Dance!

Love always, 

Mo

XOXO

High Five For: Books!

Let's give a High Five For: Books!

Maybe you know, maybe you don't. I don't know if it's obvious or not either. To be completely honest - I don't even realize it about myself half the time. But, I love books. I love romance novels, easy reads, memoirs, educational books (except those annoying text books. Boo. I don't really like being told to read however. Kind of takes the beauty and comfort out of it when you know you're going to be tested on the matter that half the time you could care less about.) 

I love all kinds of books. Travel, photography, food, design - you name it! I like to learn about things that really interest me in books. My Amazon wish list is overflowing with books that need to be purchased! Not to mention, Barnes and Noble is one of my favorite stores.

I love the smell of books, the feel of them. I like the feeling of accomplishment after you have just finished reading a book. Oh, and the feeling after you just read a really, RIDICULOUSLY good book. Ah, so good. I love having books and getting things out of them. I love reading them outside in the sun, mostly. Nothing beats the beach! And nothing beats a cozy, rainy day read either. BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS! 

So here is to them!

"You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." Paul Sweeney

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

Photos: Ink on my Fingers, Oh Hello Friend, Kelly McCaleb, PaperTissue, Art Pixie

High Five For: Raw Beauty!

Let's give a High Five For: Raw Beauty!

My favorite kind of outer beauty is the simplest kind. Very little to no make-up, just you and your bare necessities. So simple and pure. Classic beauty.

Love always,

Mo

XOXO

Pictures: Kelly McCaleb, Art Pixie, Anna Aden