{Curious}...Food for Thought

Question: Would you go to dinner with a professor? If it was paid for by an outside third party? 

My college sponsors an event every semester called Food for Thought which invites students to take a professor to dinner. It allows the faculty and students to get to know each other outside the classroom, or just as an individual, which can be tricky at a Big Ten University sometimes. Last year I went and it was awkward, so this year I was super hesitant . . . after all, you know how office hours can go. 

But it was great! I went with my English professor, and although I had tons of back up questions to ask in case dinner did get weird, I never used them! We chatted about books, movies, films, different cities around the states. Initially I thought that taking my professor would make class with him perpetually strange and tense, but I think not now. 

So, would you do it? 

Photo via old Instagram

{Curious}...Roommate Duties

One of my roommates had a concert last night. Her parents even drove here to see her! How sweet? I didn't have a lot of work to do and I had been looking forward to a relaxing evening with no pressing chores all day. As McKenna was leaving, bassoon strapped to her back, Abby and I cheerfully waved her off, telling her how gorgeous she looked in her band dress and wool coat.

But once the door closed and the lock was turned, Abby and I glanced at each other asking, "Are we supposed to go to her concert?". Were we expected as roommates, as friends, to attend her concert?

When your roommate has a big test, do you act as their study moderator quizzing them?
If she has a game, do you go to cheer her on?
You're doing laundry while on a cleaning frenzy, do you throw in some of her things as well?

What do you think? What are some of your basic roomie guidelines? Do you have any suggestions for me? I'd love your feedback and thoughts on roommate duties! 

Photograph by Joe Scherschel via art.com

{Curious}...Interview Prep

Today I have my very first legit interview. Sure, I applied and interviewed for my part time sales associate job at a retail store, but I've never interviewed for a serious job that was really important to me. In case you're curious, it's a real writing job. Really! Although a part time job on campus, I would still be getting paid to write and edit. How thrilling is that? 

So I'm curious...do you have any tips? How do you psych yourself up? Do you wear your lucky undies? Do you have a ritual the morning of? How do you get yourself feeling superb and qualified? I'm wearing this blazer in purple to look professional while allowing my personality to shine through. I'd love some tips before I go in! Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed!

Photo via

{Weekend Update}...Homegrown Talent

My hometown is Eau Claire, WI and we are now known for the indie band Bon Iver. I like to mention I went to the same high school as Justin Vernon. Yeah, that's how I impress... But have you heard of Jeremy Messersmith? He is a Minneapolis, MN native and is fantastic. His Midwestern tour starts today, so on Saturday he came to the U of M campus for a pre-tour concert. It was an intimate outdoor concert. With the crisp evening breeze and his adorable bow tie, sweater, guitar combination, Fall seems to have officially begun. 

How was your weekend? Is it fall yet? Was this past week the first week of school for you? Or were you simply busy?

Photo via Instagram

{Weekend Update}...Goodbyes

The in between.

This was my last weekend in Eau Claire for a while. All moved in to my new digs for the new school year, I can't believe how much I did in the weekend! Although I will most definitely be in my hometown a lot visiting, I still have a hard time saying goodbyes. It's difficult always coming and going, leaving friends behind in both places. I made sure to have some quality lunch dates with my parents, breakfasts with friends, creative time with Abby, and family dinners as a send off! Home is great, new places are exciting and family is the constant.

The Godbrother.

Concrete leaves! Best handmade gift for fall!

Ahh...my bed, my home. 

{Curious}...Flight of Fancy

As you know, I have a desire to travel. In high school I went on a tour of Central Europe with my classmates. It was amazing, and I wanted to go back the minute I came home. Even though it was just for twelve days, I was ready, even itching at points to return to the States. 

Now that I'm in college, I'm strongly encouraged to study abroad. Immediately I think it sounds fantastic. Is there anything more romantic, exciting, and even dreamy about living and learning in a different country? But. It's expensive. I mean, really expensive! Is it truly worth all the money to learn the same material in a different location?

And...it seems like such a long time! Last time I traveled abroad, I was gone for less than two weeks and I was with my sister and classmates. Now I would be gone for at least a month, possibly a semester, even a year. Furthermore, I probably wouldn't be with people I know. I might be totally alone. That's scary, I think.

So I'm wondering what your opinion is. Is study abroad truly worth the sacrifices? The money, loneliness, etc? Did you study abroad, and if so to where did you go? I'd like to try Central Europe, Greece, or the UK. Anyway, let me know what you think! I'd love some sage advice on this one. :)

Photo by Steven P. Wilhite via

{Weekend Update}...Movers and Shakers

Real life Tetris.

After many boxes, suitcases and totes, most (okay-half) of my belongings have been moved to my new apartment! Before the first move in trip yesterday, we did some end of summer cleaning. Refreshing! The weather was gorgeous and cool, so welcome, Fall! Oh, I can't forget...girls' night! In my book, there's no better way to inaugurate the weekend than a good old fashioned sleep over with your best gal pals. The end of summer has been a whirlwind of emotions, to do lists, obligations and more. When things get pretty crazy in life, my best remedy is friendship.

Looking a lil' bare. But not too shabby.

Fantastic friends. 

Photos via Instagram // Abby Carlson - @classickitsch Instagram

Dorm Life

Remember the dorms in college? 

The summer leading up to your Freshman year is crazy. You're checking your inbox everyday anxiously awaiting your roommate match. (I was lucky a roomed with my twin sister, Abby.) You gush to everyone which dormitory you're assigned and you're (secretly) thrilled that you're in the coed building! Extra long twin sheets, matching towels, a coordinating shower caddy, and several air fresheners later, you're more than ready for the ultimate collegiate experience.

And then you move in.

There it is in all it's tragic mess. After dreaming of a room like Rory's from Gilmore Girls, you're horrified by the pee yellow walls and dusty carpeting. Even though you've opted for lofted beds, you have just enough room for one of the two of you to pace in a narrow line the night before a term paper. Gross!

I'll admit it. I wanted to barf, cry, furiously clean, unpack, but also leave all at once. It was the strangest tumult of emotions. Thrilled, and yet terrified to be there, I was moving in no matter what.

And guess what. I survived. A whole year! I helped that I roomed with Abby, because if I was feeling miserable, at least we could miserable together. Despite what you might think, dorm life was not a great catalyst in the friends department.

I was expecting to become best friends with everyone on my floor. The highly romanticized theory that you are thrown together and suddenly mesh is just that. It's just a theory. I was one a cliquy floor inhabited by people that were extremely different from me.

So in all honesty, dorm life was awful. At least for me. Instead of feeling surrounded by good friends and good times, I felt completely isolated. If it weren't for Abby, I would have been desperately sad and home sick.

I hate to make it sound so terrible, but my experience was eye opening. I am grateful for the friends I did make. It forced me to actually leave such a cloistered setting and branch out.

Don't forget, living in the dorms made me truly appreciate little things like baking and cooking, cleaning my own bathroom, doing my laundry without taking eleven flights of stairs. I never thought I would be thrilled about such simple things!

I'd love to know how you felt about the dorms! Did you love it or hate it? Did you make some of your best friends there? Did you ever feel isolated or completely claustrophobic? Or was it exhilarating to be surrounded my so many different people you didn't really know? Let me know about your experience!

Office Hours

My first semester of college I went to my professors' office hours constantly. Professors from giant lecture halls knew me by name, knew my intended major (which changed frequently), answered any and all questions I had, and offered advice for my post-college queries. 

Then second semester came. Never did I meet with any of my professors. I had one meeting with a TA for a course-mandated conference about revising papers. The previous semester I was determined and excited to meet my professors and suddenly I had absolutely no desire to know my professors nor for them to know me. What inspired my drastic change in behavior? I honestly have no idea. 

Logically, I would have expected wanting to meet with professors as I became more comfortable and confident at a big, big place like college. The opposite happened. I was less intimidated by faculty first semester, than the second. 

Going to office hours actually helped me in school. Surprise! I know they always say, "My office hours are in place to help you and they are highly under unitized." Now that I think back on it, they were right. Interestingly, we didn't have to talk specifically about problems I was having in class, questions about the readings, or complaining about grades; simply discussing interesting topics that were relevant to their field was what helped. I found that by engaging in the course beyond the lecture hall, grades improved. Making the academic experience personal encouraged me to work harder. I loved the classes more. 

So obviously they're right! Grades and enjoyment of the class is definitely correlated to office hours. 

Not to mention, you'll stand out to your professors as dedicated. They'll see you have a personality. Bonus? Someday when you need a great letter of recommendation, those professors will remember you as the exceptionally bright and personable student. 

Did you go to office hours in college? Did they help you? I'd love your thoughts!

Photo via

Giving In...

So I finally caved...I ate Ramen Noodles last night! I got done with a choir rehearsal, and it was much too late to get a "real" dinner. I also had a mountain of reading to do, so I grabbed my first packet of Ramen & took the plunge. Heating up the water in my rickety microwave while my fan cooled my eleventh floor room, oscillating back and fourth, I suddenly felt like the stereotypical college student. I had my glasses on, threw on yoga pants and was buckled down to tackled this heap of homework. The timer beeped. The orange package crinkled as I peeled it open. And there. One huge block of noodles. They looked like worms. Delicious worms. The "chicken flavoring" was super salty! Remind me to use half that or none next time! Anyway, officially eating Ramen. Makes me feel a little meh to be honest. Will I really live off of this? I should get this recipe book. 

Do you eat ramen? When you were in college, is this how you paid rent & still nourished yourself? What's your favorite flavor or recipe?