oh, my gosh

I'm an avid reader. I read on vacation, when I should be studying, when I should be sleeping, working, shopping, anything. I just love to do it.

So, when I found out I was going to Europe for a month and a half, I was experiencing a connundrum in the form of trying to figure out where, in that duffel bag and backpack that I have limited myself to, would I put all of my books?

Almost like a beacon of light, the Amazon Kindle found its way into the front of my mind. But, at $359 retail, I just could not justify the purchase, even though I want one more than I have ever wanted any technology, ipod included! (Because, as previously stated, I am a huge nerd and read all, all, ALL the time!)

So, I had reduced my aspirations to taking a few books and just getting over it, but I decided that when I got back from Europe I would work extra hard at the dining hall the rest of the summer to buy one, then use it for all subsequent trips.

Little did I know that my sisters had another plan for me! I was awoken by my sisters this morning at 7:45 to incessant text messages and calls imploring me to check my mail, and check I did and THERE WAS A KINDLE IN THERE!!!!

I was shaking so much I couldn't open the package. My sisters reminded me to take a deep breath and calm down, and to also remember that this is my graduation present, just...early. I am so thankful and grateful to have sisters, and this was so unexpected that I don't even know what to say. One thing I know is this: they may have upped the ante for their birthday presents! I was so surprised and shocked.

My friends, I will be posting later about all of the spiffiness of this incredible gift!

Whitney Caroline Designs Giveaway!

Hey everyone,





If you go over to Whitey Caroline Designs, you can sign up until the end of today to win one of these absolutley adorable message boards! I love the ribbon in the corner, don't you? I would love to have one of these hanging on my door at school!

Be sure to head on over there and check out the other things she has available, too!! (you won't regret it!)

It's time to spruce things up a bit!

So, I have been blogging (poorly) for a few months now, and I want to re-vamp the whole thing.

First, does anyone know of a good blog designer? I want something preppy (duh) and perhaps Lilly-inspired, definitely something springy/summery. Maybe something that combines two of my favorites: Jackie O and Lilly? I think that that would be one heck of a combination, yes? Let me know if you know of anyone who can do that sort of thing.

Second, I realized while perusing other blogs like Lilly P. Wannabe, Preppy Pink Crocodile, and Nautical By Nature (to name a few!) that the blogging community is constantly helping other bloggers find items (clothes, gifts, swap items, etc. etc.) for important events, and I want to be in on that! I have a knack for picking out the perfect thing. Unfortunately, only for other people. I don't like to shop for myself because I am constantly questioning how good this, that, and the other look on me, so I can use some help myself! And who else to take inspiration from than my blogger friends, who seem to have infinite wisdom concerning these things!

My sister and I have started a small stationary design company, too, and I would LOVE to get some of that on here for swaps and give-aways! Everything is Made to order, and your vision for a design is always our priority! Yes, you can have personalized stationary, but where else can you get your very own design, one-of-a-kind, for the lowest fees you will find anywhere?

We're still working on a name. We're not sure, but we like cCk, which stands for C (my sister) K (me) and Custom in the middle, like a monogram, get it?

Anyway, be on the look-out for pictures and a date for the give-away!

And let me know about that blog designer, yes? (c:

And we're back!

Well Hey!

I'm back in Black(sburg) and it's been an incredibly relaxing break. I went to Miami, New York, and Baltimore, and had just a really great break in general. I spent the majority of my break, as you may know, working for my dad and earning money for my summer study abroad. It was worth it, and I learned a bunch from the Hardware Man himself (politics not included).

Tomorrow, it's back to the grind, and I start work again at the best dining hall ever. Don't hate: working in on-campus dining has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my working life. It's rough, and long, but it pays well, my bosses are incredible, I've made solid friends, and I've financed all of the above trips. Not to mention I've got managerial experience under my belt now.

But before I get into that, can I just mention how incredible the Orange Bowl, and the trip in general, was? I know I promised pictures if the weather was good...but I will have to steal those from Twin in order to do that because I failed at taking pictures a-tall. So more on that later. But man oh man, our seats were incredible (right next to the band on the lower section in the 15th row!)

Classes start on Tuesday (inauguration day!!), and despite the fact that my course load has FINALLY fallen from 18 hours a semester to 12 (phew!), it is proving already to be an intense semester. Should be fun.

Re: inauguration. Does anyone know what the Television coverage is going to be for the event? I'm going to be in class/work all day and night but hope to catch the "highlight reel" when I get home...and perhaps some of the inaugural ball (where Beyonce is singing...what?).

At the end of it all, I'm quite glad to be back in Blacksburg. Teeny Town, where my parents transplated me after I graduated high school, just doesn't cut it for me. I can't wait for all of my friends to get back into town and revel this semester, seeing as it is most everyone's last (not me! I've got one more left!).

GO HOKIES!

-K

at home with dad....

I work at my dad's hardware store in the smallest town in Virginia while I'm home. My dad is a republican in that way that I'm-a-republican-and-everyone-else-is-a-lesser-citizen way, and despite the fact that I have a strict no-talking policy when it comes to politics with my dad, he seems to know that I voted for Barack...which he likes to mention whenever a member of his particular brand of republican-ism comes in.

It's really great that I'm not allowed to have my own opinions without getting ridiculed in public by my father.

yay political bigotry!

If it weren't for the fact that my dad is a really great guy, other than the fact that he thinks he's always right, and the fact that I love him more than anything in the world, I would run away.

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

Groceries and Aaron Karo

Ok, so I'm in the middle of finals. I'm leaving for Manhattan in a week, and I'm thinking, I'm out of food but I'm leaving in a week, so why would I buy more? It's like, just buy a half-gallon of milk you fool! Now I have to drive 10 minutes to get a sub instead of 2 minutes to the grocery store because I'm too lazy to buy my own bread and turkey.

Also, have you ever had a conversation where someone is talking about a blog you read? Here is an example:

E: So, the guy whose blog I read went to Penn, and it's so funny how he talks about how crazy it is up there because it's an ivy league school and you don't expect that kind of thing from an ivy league school.

Me: Why are they all from Penn? The guy whose blog I read is from Penn, too. What are they doing, creating a new species of funny blog authors? Have you ever heard of Ruminations by Aaron Karo?

E: Are you effing kidding me

Really? In this era of billions of blogs, how is it that E and I, two completely opposite personalities, ended up reading and loving the same blog by some guy who lives in LA? Of course, there are other blogs that aren't read by anyone but the author. Oh, oops. Did I just call myself out?

by the way, check out ruminations.com. Read from the beginning. This guy was funnier than me, and more intelligent than I ever hope to be, when he was a freshman in college. This guy figured out things it took me 3 years of college to figure out in his first month. Makes me question the validity of my GPA.

woohoo football!!!

So! It's time you know where I go to school because have I got some news! After an embarassing start to the season, the Virginia Tech Hokies are going to the Orange Bowl in (what we hope to be) sunny Miami Florida!

I say I hope because last year we went and it was cold and miserable the entire time. Not exactly the kind of weather you would expect: when you look outside your window and see the palm trees swaying in the wind and being pounded by the rain, it's straight-up depressing.

E and Twin are coming with! And we are (yes, we are, and no, I am not kidding) DRIVING 17 hours to go to this game. It's over new years, so all of E's roommates/our friends who are in the band are going to party like it's the year we graduate in Miami! How cool will that be?

Word to the wise: If you want to drink in Florida, it's strictly BYO unless you want to pay 30 bucks for a 350 of aristocrat. We're bringing champagne, too!! yummy! Yes, I am of age.

If the weather is beautiful, get prepared for pictures and be prepared to be jealous because it's FLORIDA instead of blacksburg Virginia (where it is colder than the average tundra)