No Salt, Just Sand

Even though we're having an extremely mild winter, I'm dying for summer, so today I'm wearing a shirt that says, "Lake Michigan: No Salt...Just Sand" and taking a mental vacation. Try it, it does the mind some good.

Fishing at sunrise.
My dad has been taking me since I was 10.

                                               

                                                                     Hour 5 on the beach
                                                                  (that's my brother kayaking) 

Sunset around 9.
 We like to eat pizza on
the beach and watch it. 

Also, read the article I wrote for HerCampus Mizzou! We're trying to get 1 million hits this month!

Some thoughts on Valentine's Day

This post is coming a day late. I chose to go to bed instead of blogging last night. (Side note- I got eight hours of sleep and I'm still ty ty. I hate my bed.) Anyway Happy Late Valentine's Day friends! I know a lot of people hate Valentine's Day, but I love Valentine's Day. I always have, even before I had a boyfriend. I was single for 18 Valentine's Days, but I still felt the love. My parents always got us cards and left us a little treats at breakfast. It's also an excuse to wear pink and I'm all about that! I don't think it should be a day to focus on what you don't have, but instead what you do have, like your friends and family.

Funny story about Valentine's Day for your entertainment. It was 2007, and I was eagerly awaiting a note during homeroom that morning that would determine the rest of my life. Or just my acceptance into Honors English III. I fumbled with the folded piece of tiny paper to find a rejection note in impeccable handwriting. Yes, that was my name on the front. I'll spare you the details about my crying (one of my friends threw up. It was pretty rough) but I will say I was not a Valentine's Day vision. Luckily, I went to school with all girls, so it did not matter.

Anyway, that night at dinner I picking at my food muttering things like "My life is over" and "I'm sooo transferring," and my brother said something really profound. He asked why it was such a big deal. I've always liked my brother, I really have, but at that moment I wanted to strangle him. "Because! I can't be a journalist now! I can't even get into Honors English III." He said, "So? Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team and look at him now." Huh. Smart kid.

 I thought my whole future depended on that acceptance. Wrong! I still got to be Editor-in-Chief of the paper, still got into Mizzou and I'm staying afloat in the world's best J school. Oh and did I mention I'm a double major now? Yep, Journalism and English. Anyway, my brother gave me some really important perspective. (He's single, ladies. He looks like me and may be a little smarter. Hit him up!)

Love what you do and do what you love, otherwise, what's the point? Love is important. Love yourself, love others, love life. Or as my good friend Mike likes to say "ELE" or "Everybody love everybody." Alliteration, yay!

Aaaand, let me dedicate one minute to my Valentine. I'm sorry that I "blew you off" in eighth grade, but it was probably just because I had a mad crush on you even then and I was playing hard to get. I love you.

I'll leave you with my feelings about Valentine's Day and my advice if you hate it.

Much love!
Caroline

Happy

Every day. In every way.
via: where else? pinterest

France Nostalgia

You know where I'd rather be right now? France. I decided to share some of my France pictures. These are from Summer 2009. I had braces and was really cute. 

Totally framing this for my wall next year.

At Giverny, home of Claude Monet

Nice is nice. 

   

View from the top of the hill. 

Worth the climb for the view of the city

This is real. 

At a Chateaux 

We explored this cave. I didn't love it. 

Palace at Versailles 

Flower in Giverny

Giverny 

 Montmatre. That's the view of Paris from the top of the city. 

Outside the Louvre 

Nutella Day

It's National Nutella day for 35 more minutes! Nutella is a staple of my diet. I was first introduced to it in my French class and loved it. Then I went to France and tasted a Nutella Banana crepe. It was definitely worth the eight dollars ya'll. I actually attempt to recreate it most mornings by slicing a banana and spreading some Nutella on a mini bagel. I prefer strawberries, but they are expensive and harder for me to get while at school. It's high in protein too, which is extremely important to me, especially as a breakfast food.

This picture was taken in my room last year. I posted this picture to my cousin's wall with the caption, "My food for the rest of the semester." True dat.

I've seen a gazillion recipes on Pinterest for Nutella cupcakes, brownies, ho cho (hot chocolate) and hundreds of other mouth water desserts. I definitely want to try some of these recipes someday, but I have to say, nothing beats the original. Actually looking forward to tomorrow morning (even thought it's monday!) because I have a great breakfast waiting!

Mmmm crepes. Definitely going to make these all the time next year.
via pinterest

Math

Haven't figured it out in the last 20 years and doubt I will in the next 20 years. 

via daisy on pinterest 

Ryno

Currently reading The Canterbury Tales in two of my classes, hence the weird assignments.