Just MACin It

Finalllyyy my Mac is herreee!! Happy early graduation to me!


She is quite the beaut, and will be making blogging MUCH easier, so I should be around more :).


She arrived Friday afternoon in time for me to admire her before hanging out with my fam a bit and waiting for Stuart to get here. We had a delicious dinner at my FAVORITE Mexican restaurant and then headed downtown to meet some friends :). Goodness I am going to miss this so much soon.

 Rooms and I

 Stuart and I

 Drinking a beer in honor of the Kane fam!

 The self photo option on my iPhone is not so good.

Linds and I :)

Saturday we headed out to tailgate for the spring game, made it through some crazy rain, hot sunshine and back to crazy rain before tailing it to a local bar so my roommates fiance could watch the Caps game. We grabbed dinner and headed home for the night and spent time just the four of us. 

We ventured out late night to grab Benny's pizza and I got pulled over on the way home! I had a headlight out, but Josh thinks the cop was trying to grab me for a DUI since he said he saw me crossing the double yellow line, which I know I didn't! This was at 11 pm and I had stopped drinking before 3pm so I was absolutely sober. He did let me off with a warning since I was almost to my apartment and wasn't going to drive anymore with my headlight out!

Sunday we had Chipotle with Jim and then snuggled on the couch until S had to leave to head back to Cville. Goodness, I am ready for that to end! Hopefully only a few more months left to do this long distance thing!

I spent the rest of the afternoon/evening on my computer transferring music and pictures. Like 3000 of my pictures came in doubled so I had to delete all the duplicates. Now everything is all organized and perfect :).

Happy Monday!!

Friday Letters

I have always loved this idea and I am so glad Ashley does a weekly linkup! Y'all head over and join the fun :)

Dear Besties, Lets never leave each other and stay right here in Blacksburg on my couch drinking wine and watching movies forever. Especially if Food Lion keeps putting delicious wine on sale for $3.24 a bottle. Love, someone who is really sad to grow up.

Dear Hokie Bird, You are a clever little fellow to figure out this way to cool off after a hot day of serving the Hokie nation. I always knew you were the smartest mascot out there. Love, Hokie Hokie Hokie Hi.

Dear little and littlest bit, It makes me so proud to see you serving our wonderful school and looking adorable while you do it. I am so lucky to be your big/grandbig. Seriously, best fam ever. Thank you for repping norts as any good srat biddy would. Love, Granny cupcake.

Dear Virginia Tech, Thank you for being the most wonderful place a girl could spend four years of her life. You are certainly the most beautiful college campus ever. You will always be home and I will always be proud to have TWO degrees from here. Love, The Almost Alum.

Dear Boots, Get here quick. Two weeks is far too long to be away from each other and I miss you. See you tonight! P.S. You always look the cutest in orange and maroon ;). Love, Me.

Dear beautiful blog readers, Sorry I have been a terrible blogger lately. I promise to get better... a few posts this week is an improvement I think! Happy Friday! Love, the terrible blogger.

April 16, 2007- Five Years Later

I cannot believe it has been five years. 


Five years ago today I was sitting in my high school senior government class, anxiously anticipating college. The next four years of my life. The biggest change I could have faced thus far in my life. And 300 miles away, someone was changing my college forever.


You all know the details, some more than others of that awful day. I cannot imagine having been there. Waking up to snow flurries and going back to sleep or getting up and making it to class made all the difference that day. I can't imagine waking up to a text message telling me to turn on the tv or hearing whispers in class and hiding under a desk in Torg, watching the Swat team swarm campus. I can't imagine being in Norris Hall that day, or in A-J or a parent of a student or a student or anyone other than who I was. Simply a girl whose entire childhood revolved around that school in the mountain. That girl whose family vacation money was spent in the walls of a football stadium and around the Duckpond and in the Litton-Reeves parking lot. A girl who knew the magic of the orange and maroon color combination and who felt the heartbeat of the Hokie Nation. Who was proud to wear the iconic VT on a t-shirt or a sweatshirt and knew what a Hokie is, or was. I can't place myself there and I never,ever want to take away from anyone who was. 

32 white balloons in honor of those fallen.

I have never known a college experience without a memorial, or a candlelight vigil, or a 3.2 mile run in honor of the 32 on April 16th. I have never attended a class on April 16th. I have never been able to tell someone where I attend school that hasn't asked me if I was there, as if that would make their approach to me different in someway. Maybe they'd be more reserved, talk quieter, avoid asking more questions, I honestly have no idea. I usually answer a quick no, and we move on with our conversation. 

Orange and maroon balloons for the Hokie nation.

I know my Virginia Tech. The place where we have had two smaller-scale tragedies since that day. Two tragedies in combination with that day that have caused my beloved school to be called "cursed" by a local newspaper reporter without a sense of tact or a knowledge of how strong our community can be when it is attacked. 

Before the 3.2 run.

I know my Virginia Tech, post April 16th Virginia Tech. The resilient community that cleaned up the aftermath of this awful, tragic, horrible day with nothing but grace, respect and the drive to better ourselves in honor of our Hokies. I can think of no one else I'd rather be and no other community I would rather be a part of. 

Crossing the finish line.

I ran on Saturday, I will stop for the moment of silence tomorrow and attend the vigil tomorrow night. I will neVer forgeT. I will watch Nikki GioVanni read the poem and I will cry with chills every time I hear "Lets Go Hokies" chanted in Cassell afterwards. I will stop and pray and remember those students, who were younger than I am now, who lost their lives that day. I won't ever pretend like I was there and lived through that experience in Blacksburg that day, but I won't ever forget this day in my own life. I am a part of a community that was incredibly resilient. I am a part of a community that stood together and stands together and will continue to after I leave this place in four short weeks. I am a Hokie.

Oh Hey

Oh hey there long lost blog!

It feels like it's been forever and honestly I have no good reason as to why I disappeared. Honestly, I've just been enjoying life and spending time with my friends and family. We had a great Easter weekend and I actually spent more than 24 hours at home... crazy, right!?! I hadn't been home for more than a hot minute and I loved getting to spend time with my Momma and Daddy. Plussss my bff Heidi was home and my little was there visiting her boyfriend so I got some girl time in too. And that smelly ole boy I like was around as well ;). 

I got to spend some quality time with people I love and considering there are some big changes happening soon, I am enjoying this time. I am going to try and be around more, I have lots of things to say but I can never remember when I have the time to sit down and blog!

Happy Wednesday!

Monogrammed iPhone Case, Myyyy Way!

I'm gonna be honest with y'all... I'm cheap and a college student. Which basically means I have little to zero money most of the time for fun things (momma and daddy pay for all of my school needs). Buuuutttt, I like nice things. So, when it comes to clothing, I'm a clearance rack kinda girl. You can find me in the back at the clearance rack at Target, Loft, Banana, Gap and various others. I love me a good sale.


I also love to find ways to get what I want for cheaper than the norm! I had a monogrammed iPhone case, but sadly it was not protective enough and I cracked my first phone. No bueno. I knew an Otterbox case would be super protective and exactly what I needed, but unfortunately there are few companies that make them, and those that do are too much for this college girl's budget. Here comes Amazon and Etsy!


I ordered a plain Otterbox from Amazon (so much cheaper and I got free shipping!) and then scoured Etsy looking for a monogram sticker small enough to fit my phone. In comes Happy Thoughts Gifts. I got an adorable monogram sticker for 7 dollars to go along with my around 20 dollar PROTECTIVE iPhone case! I couldn't be happier... see :) My case is blue and the sticker is cream, and I love the combo! I didn't want super bright yellow, and I didn't want white for fear it would get dirty. Plus I get to rep Tridelta! (PS excuse the look, I had been in the car and then in a group meeting for hours on Sunday night)

Even though it took a little longer for it all to come together, I am so pleased with the result. I die for anything monogrammed.


Happy Tuesday!


(I was not compensated for any of the products or companies mentioned. I just love all of them!)

Another Sunday

Happy Sunday y'all!

I don't know about you but this warm weather has made me more active, thus making the weekends flyyyyyy by even faster!

I headed to Charlottesville Thursday afternoon because one of my classes was cancelled and it ended up being the best afternoon. The weather was beautiful and we started with lunch at Take It Away, the most delicious sandwich shop that side of the Blue Ridge. Seriously, the best. And they sell their bread ends to dip with their AMAZING house dressing... perfection. I did end up getting a real meal though, haha.

After that, we wondered around a used book store and then walked down to the Downtown Mall to grab some froyo and enjoy the weather. We ended up spending about five hours just walking around and talking - absolute perfection! Seriously, one of the best afternoons Stuart and I have spent together in a long time. We talked about anything and everything and even googled apartments around the area and looked at them for him. I could definitely seeing him (and both of us) happy there. :) We spent the rest of the night hanging out with his roommates and cooking dinner together.

Friday he had to work, so I went for a run and then met him for lunch and some record browsing. We both absolutely love vinyl so we spend lots of time parusing around record stores! I may have spent the rest of the afternoon watching Once Upon a Time. Or I may have been doing something more productive. Your guess as to which it actually was ;). Friday night was low key, we grabbed dinner on campus and went to Targ and Saturday was low key again. Stuart had a group meeting in the middle of the day so we just kinda lounged around and then grabbed Chipotle with his roommate mid afternoon. That night we decided to go on a date and ended up at a Mexican place because the Italian place we wanted to try was closed for a party. We then got some Starbucks and walked around grounds and spent some more time talking (theme for the weekend and one of  my favorite activities EVER!)

Not the best photo ever, but a sweet memory in and of itself. Stuart got me to watch Airplane! for the first time and by the end all of his roommates tuned in with us. It was so stupid, but funny at the same time. Today we got some lunch and hung around the mall until I had to leave. Such a simple weekend, but I really didn't want to leave. It was perfect. Hopefully in a few weeks I won't have to leave anymore!!

Currently watching the ACM's and waiting for my dinner to arrive. Thus is the life of a single college girl, a life I won't be living much longer so I gotta live it up! Anyone else notice that the beat and the singers are off? So distracting.

Hope y'all had a great weekend!

Whinesday

But not really. I just wanted a word that played off of Wednesday. Or maybe I do have a little whining to do.

I'd like to whine about this 8am exam I have tomorrow that I have barely started studying for... senioritis at it's best perhaps? Buuuttt, I am lucky to be graduating and that this class is not that difficult. I know I can do decently in it regardless, and that is reassuring.


I'd also like to whine that our internet was out all day. Buuuuttt, we did get it back and I submitted an application I needed to using the internet at work :)


I could whine about how sore my body is after trying my first group workout in years (body pump!). Buuuttt, I got to support my friend Lindsey who taught her first class today and I got a workout in. And I didn't hate it. So maybe not ;).


I could whine about the 2 1/2 hour drive tomorrow to Cville. Buuuttt, I get to see Stuart and that is worth the crazy gas prices and tedious drive on the most obnoxious interstate in Virginia (well after 95, that is).


I could while about a lot of things. But I am blessed and I need to remember that when I go to whine. Anyone else got some whines they can find the blessings in?


Happy Wednes(almost Thurs)day beauties!

"We Go Together Like Peas and Carrots"

Quote from Forrest Gump (1994)

Happy Tuesday y'all! I'm at work avoiding working on a paper about Forrest Gump (yes, he was classified as at-risk, in case you were wondering) so of course, blogging was the next step to my procrastination after checking my email!

Our weekend was pretty low key, Stuart got into town around 7:30 on Friday night and I had skinny Fettuccine Alfredo waiting for him! Seriously, I am no cook but this was delicious and about as healthy as Fettuccine Alfredo can get. This girl has amazing recipes and I grabbed the recipe from here! She even calculates the point values for Weight Watchers along with all of the other nutrition information :)

I even got to cross a part of one of the goals off of my 24 before 24 list, found here. This is my first new recipe I tried out! I paired it with a light Caesar salad kit and a glass of Moscato for a delicious meal! Even S liked it, and he gets a little nervous when I cook. Thank goodness he wasn't there when I burnt the garlic. Whoops! (Don't y'all love the Lilly wine glasses I gifted my roomie last summer? I adore that they are plastic and won't break with a drop!) I pared the sauce with some Smart Taste penne I had instead of going out and buying different noodles. It made no difference!

We hung out being bums for a while on Saturday since it was so rainy and then finally decided to head out to see 21 Jumpstreet with Nicole and Josh. So funny! It was a little nuts since all of the Hunger Games fans had a line out the door, but still a good time. We then went to the River Company for a nice date night and it was delicious! As per the usual, I ordered the $10 dollar hamburger and Stuart ordered the $28 crabcakes. The man can complain about my shopping all he wants, but I am a cheap date!

We ended up meeting some friends downtown after happy hour and had a great night. Ring Premiere and Dance were Saturday night so we even got a fireworks show for the walk home! (Excuse the scene in the picture, I picked the absolute worst place in Blacksburg to take the photo!)

Sunday was spent lounging until S had to go back to Cville for a group meeting. We intended on heading to church but I woke up with a nasty cough that I didn't want to share with anyone else, so we did our devotional talks and prayed. Seriously my favorite part of the whole weekend!

Finally back into the school grind, although this cough is giving me the perfect excuse to be lazy - but I can't let it! I spent much of yesterday catching up on Once Upon a Time... so good! Today I'm back in class and at work and preparing for some homework, this paper and a test Thursday. Trying to enjoy my last month as a college student, but anxious to start something new! I have an opportunity for a neat summer if things will all pan out (I will share when I hear back) so some prayers would be awesome!

Happy Tuesday Beauts!

I'll Be, Okay.

Anyone else love that song? It is from one of my FAVORITEEEE movies in the world, My Best Friend's Wedding. It's by Amanda Marshall if anyone is wondering!


Anyyyyywaaayyys beauts, it is time for another It's Okay Thursday with Neely and Amber! 

It's Okay...

• That I have decided to run a marathon. There is a reason I've given myself over eight months to train ;).
• That I am scared poo-less to do this, so I have to blog/talk about it so I actually go through with it.
• To think that Norts (Nike running shorts) are the greatest invention ever. Am I allowed to wear these as daily wear after I leave college?
• That I spent over an hour last night on Pinterest. I am dying for cute "House Divided" stuff. They have lots of baby clothes, but I found a garter too! Not that I need any of that stuff anytime soon... whoooops.
• That this Facebook fast has made me fall in love with Twitter. It is seriously, so much better. Follow me if you want to, @meganeliz2. Not that I'm promising entertaining tweets, but I'm not promising you aren't missing out either ;).
• That I love my roommate dearly, but I wish she would go home this weekend to her fiance instead of him coming here so I can have some real alone time with S. I want to be able to cook dinner and watch a movie without having to worry about other people. Plus I always shove us in my room if they are there because I don't want to be rude, which is rude to Stuart and kinda dumb.
• That I don't have a home church yet... I don't really have a permanent "home." S and I are going to Blacksburg Baptist this weekend because they have a "mixed" service, between traditional (more me) and contemporary (more him). I'm excited!
• That I wrote this post during my Research Methods class. It is boring and senioritis is reaaaalll bad. Whoops.
• That my plan for the day includes a run, dying my hair, painting my nails, going to class, a bottle of wine and some Redbox with my girls. Mmmmhmmm, perfect Thursday (other than class!)

Happy Thursday Beauts!

24 in 24

Update as of 6/15/12:

I thought I'd go ahead and do a little update since it's been about 3 months since the original post :) I've made some headway, but I am nowhere near done!!

Original Post:

So I know I'm a little late to the game, being that my birthday was almost 4 months ago; but, I decided there are some things I want to accomplish by the time I turn 24 and posting them here would give me some accountability! (Side note: 24?!? How did I end up here? I feel like I should maybe be turning 22 soon, but not 24!)


Here is my list of 24 in 24:

1. Run my first FULL marathon for St. Jude on December 1st, 2012 (the day before I turn 24!). Just signed up as of 6/15, ahhh!!
2. Run the 3.2 for the 32 in honor of April 16, 2007. Completed 4/16. Duhhhh!
3. Run another 1/2 marathon, but this time with S. And beat him! Convincing him that running the Cville 1/2 is a great pregame to a UVA tailgate ;)
4. Find and stay at my happy weight.
5. Read the whole bible.
6. Start Jesus Calling.
7. Graduate for the 2nd time! Walked across the stage 5/12, will be complete in August!
8. Watch Stuart graduate. Completed 5/20
9. Help Stuart move and decorate his new place! Moved in 6/3, and I helped 6/8-10
10. Raise $2,000 for St. Jude.
11. Help Nicole find her dream wedding dress.
12. Stop biting my fingernails.
13. Grow my hair out.
14. Move out of my parent's house.
15. Find a job! In the process, I apply constantly!
16. Go to at least 1 summer concert at the beach.
17. Complete my field study having learned lots of new skills. In progress and loving it!
18. Come back to at least 3 Tech home games in the fall. Seats picked out, just waiting for Fall!
19. Go to Stuart with some UVA games. Bought our tickets, just waiting for Fall!
20. Go beer tasting at Starr Hill.
21. Read 10 new books.3/10 (50 Shades Trilogy)
22. Learn to cook 10 new recipes.
23. Celebrate my 3rd anniversary with Stuart.
24. Take a spontaneous road trip.

I hope to post an update on this every month. Some things are time sensitive, and running the full is going to be a HUGE undertaking, but I am already anticipating crossing that off on the night before my birthday. I loved being a part of the St. Jude Marathon weekend last year and I can't picture a better way to spend my birthday than raising money for the kids of St. Jude.


Happy Wednesday!