5 Reasons why winter makes you age

Is it bad I’m legitimately excited for Thursday?

1. Staying in is suddenly so much more appealing than going out to the bar. I feel like a bit of a curmudgeon about it, but then again, I don’t really care. Guys, I think the last time I went out to the bar it was 50 degrees out. And even then, I’m pretty sure I was complaining about how chilly I was. But I mean, seriously. LOOK AT THIS FORECAST.

2. Napping. I just had one of those, “Oops I just fell asleep for two hours!” moments. Because, oops! I just fell asleep for two hours.

I bet you want a roommate that matches your decor now, huh?

3. Soup consumption. Eating nothing but soup for three months straight doesn’t sound gross or disgusting at all. It sounds good, appealing, fantastic even. Bring on the veggies! The potatoes! The cheese!

4. You’ll spend so much time inside your house or apartment, you will begin to get excited about the most menial things. Like vacuuming your rug, finishing a new crossword puzzle, mopping the salt out of your entryway, getting a letter in the mail, finding out your roommate matches your apartment decor, discovering that your streets have been plowed, and realizing your love for NPR. Wow. I just, I need to get out more.

5. Knitting. Today I knit two hats. Sorry, I am not sorry.

A note to all 20-somethings: Whatever you’re doing, it’s okay.

Every time I get on Facebook, it seems that another one of my Facebook friends is getting engaged, posting wedding photos, or announcing that they’re pregnant. I see friends writing statuses about their new lives in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. I see friends making huge strides in their life. And that’s great! I mean, really. 

However, I see all of this stuff, and I automatically begin to size myself up against everything else that I see. Why am I not anywhere close to getting engaged? To moving away to New York or LA? Where’s my happily ever after? Is there something wrong with me? Why am I sitting here on a Saturday night re-watching the Miley Cyrus episode of Saturday Night Live with my cat? And, more importantly, why am I enjoying it?

I graduated from MSU, I landed an awesome job in my field of study, and I moved into an apartment in a cute town in the metro-Detroit area. On paper, everything looks great. On paper, you’d probably want to slap me in the face for being anything short of content with my current life situation. Trust me, I even want to slap me for how whiny I seem. 

I’m smart enough to know that you can’t get anywhere by comparing yourself to others. My dad tells me it’s because you haven’t read every page in their book–how can you even know? And I definitely agree. But it’s so much easier said than done. You take a look at what seems like everyone in the world around you getting on the right track, and you feel forced to look inward and question your own decisions, your current standing in life, and how you stack up. 

But you know, you just can’t do that. You just can’t, because you’re going to drag yourself down, and you’ll take everyone around you with you. 

I just want to send a message out there to everyone who is currently wading through this bog called “post-graduate life.”

I just want to say that it’s okay to be unsure of what you’re doing, to not know what you want. It’s okay to have a less-than-desirable job. It’s okay to still be living at home with your parents, or even mere miles away from where you grew up. It’s okay to be single, or to be in a relationship, to be engaged, or to be married. It’s okay to be pregnant, or celibate, or anything in between. It’s okay to think that you know what you want, or to completely change your mind. It’s okay to get unnaturally excited about buying a new bed for your cat, getting home and cracking open a new bottle of wine, and watching old episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch with your roommate. 

All of that stuff is okay, as long as you are okay with it. Guys, there is no pre-determined mold that we have to fit into. There is no pre-determined time table for significant events to occur in our lifetimes. We’re post-graduate 20-somethings, and most of us have no idea what we’re doing. And you know what? That’s fricken okay! 

Last week, I don’t think I could have written this blog. I don’t think I could have told you that I’m scared. And worried. And that I’ve been stress-baking to distract myself from the monotony of not knowing what my endgame is. 

But this week I decided that all of that, is okay. 

 

Spartans Will

I was on A­­dams Field on Saturday morning when I looked up and saw the giant “G-O” being written in the sky above East Lansing.

My first thought was excitement.  Oh cool! Someone’s writing Go Green in the sky on game day! I took my phone out to take a picture.

Then, as the “B” began to form after the  “G-O,” my heart quickly sunk to my toes, and feelings of disbelief and embarrassment began to flood my cheeks.

Seriously, someone really paid THAT MUCH money, just to make a childish point?  In a matter of minutes, “GOBLUE” was etched into the sky like a brand on the side of a steer. It made my heart hurt.

Of course, everyone around me was taking out their smartphones and cameras, snapping away at the message in the sky. And even though I’m a huge proponent of the power of sharing and social media, the “always-slighted 10-year-old Spartan fan” in me wanted to run up to every single one of them and swat their cameras away.

No one should see this! I thought. Us sharing it is just going to fuel U of M’s fire! But it happened, it was there, and people all around me were gawking and pointing.

That may have been in the only moment in my life where I wished that Facebook had never been invented…Shocking, I know.

However, in light of recent events, I’ve become incredibly thankful that Facebook DOES exist, and for the power of social media, and what a difference a little sharing can do.

If you haven’t heard about the incredible response to the “GOBLUE” skywriting, it’s about time that you did. Scott Westerman, a friend and a mentor of mine, posted this on Saturday, following the skywriting. “I saw the picture on my FB feed and tried to think of how to turn it into a positive for both UofM and for us,” Scott told me this morning.  “Since this is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and since the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance is headquartered in Ann Arbor, it felt like this could be a huge win-win.”

 And so far, it has been. Spartans (and even some Wolverines too!) have been donating to the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance, even causing their Paypal account to crash.  Over $4,100 had been raised by Tuesday afternoon, according to recent MLIVE story. UPDATE: Scott has informed us all that donations have passed the $20k mark. WOW.

The story has exploded across social media, and it’s continuing to grow. Check out Scott’s side of the story on his website here.

Especially with rivalries, it’s so easy to get sucked into petty insults, dumb retaliations, and silly fights.  I’ve done it, you’ve done it, face it; we’ve ALL done it.  I distinctly remember a Valentines Day in elementary school where I made everyone MSU valentines, and didn’t give any to the U of M fans in the class. It happens!

I mean, there’s so much emotion involved–especially with the MSU/UM rivalry.  But Scott did as my dad has always told me to do; he “killed ‘em with kindness.”

“When we focus only on one dimension of a university, like a football team, it’s easy to lose sight of what both UofM and MSU are all about. “ Said Scott, “We exist to enrich young minds, inspire our alumni and tackle the biggest problems. The positive response I’ve seen confirms that authentic Spartans take these ethics to heart.” Scott, I couldn’t agree more.

It’s things like this that make me beam with pride every time I tell someone that I went to Michigan State, that I’m a Spartan. It’s things like this that make me truly believe that, in the face of anything—hardship, sickness, or even smoke in the sky to fuel a rivalry…Spartans Will.

What do you think of this? Leave a comment below. Wondering who is responsible for the “GOBLUE” over MSU? Click here.

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Ukulele Cover of the Week: “Stay Stay Stay” by Taylor Swift

I honestly think that this is the first song I’ve played on my ukulele that sounds like it actually should be played on a ukulele. “Stay Stay Stay” by Taylor Swift. Enjoy!

And if you have any suggestions for what I should learn, let me know!

10 things you will most definitely feel after graduating from MSU and moving into your own place.

Let’s be blunt about it, shall we? Life after college is just plain weird. I mean, I’ve only been out of Michigan State for about 4 months, so of course it’s going to be a transition and a change. I knew that. I expected that. I thought I prepared for that. However, adulthood has a way of slappin’ ya in the face. So here are 10 things that I have found that I have most definitely felt after graduating college and moving into my own place. And I have a feeling you’ll be able to relate.

ALL THE THINGS.

1. Excitement about something new. This one’s is what hit me first, after graduation.You walk out of the Breslin Center in that cap and gown, feeling like a million bucks. Your whole life is ahead of you! You can do anything–be a movie star! An airplane pilot! A superhero! The world is your oyster! You graduated from an incredible university with a great degree! It’s time to show the world what you can do!
2. A serious homesickness, for your college years. The sounds, the smells, the sights, the people. I have been  back to East Lansing a handful of times since graduating from MSU. And every time, it brings me such joy and excitement and, inevitably, tears–however, I’m the queen of the crybabies, so that shouldn’t be surprising to any of you. The sight of Beaumont Tower will make your heartache, the roar of Spartan Stadium will make you feel like a little kid on Christmas, and you’ll find yourself constantly craving a night of Crunchy’s karaoke and a bucket of beer. Oh and, by the way, singing MSU’s Shadows is probably going to make you sob uncontrollably.
3. A want to try new (and often strange) hobbies. Last night, I stayed up until 3am painting the panels of my old wardrobe with chalkboard paint, while watching a marathon of Orange is the New Black on Netflix. Today, I felt a strange joy from shaking all of my cat’s hair out of our rugs. WHO AM I.
4. Excitement about grocery shopping. I am learning to accept that it’s okay to look forward to going grocery shopping. It’s okay to get irrationally excited when you see the amount of money you’re saving by using your Kroger Plus card. It’s not weird at all to let out a little squeal of joy when you find your favorite brand of pickles. I am completely normal.
5. An acceptance that you are, indeed, an incredibly lame human being. Guys, I think my cat is my boyfriend.
6. The unparalleled fear of throwing your clean clothes into a laundry bag and running upstairs before the monsters in your apartment’s basement laundry room capture you and eat you. Okay. This could totally be just me. But, come on! Look at this place–wouldn’t you feel that way too?! IT LOOKS LIKE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GET MURDERED. AND OFTEN.
7. Serious uncertainty regarding your life and your career choices. I’m sure these thoughts are running through your head: Did I move to the right place? Did I look for the right job? Did I aim too high? Did I settle for something? Or am I right where I’m supposed to be? Am I ever going to be able to achieve my life long dream of becoming a famous tap-dancing, singing videographer that travels the globe and inspires the world with her talents? Take a deep breath. The answer to all of these questions is yes. And I’m okay with the fact that that doesn’t make any sense.
8. Random spurts of wanting to listen to Taylor Swift. Is it just me, (I mean, it probably is) or did her songs just get way catchier? Way more relatable? Sigh. I think TSwift just became my spirit animal. Sorry, I’m not sorry.
9. Terror in those last days before payday. That paycheck sure did look a lot bigger before you started paying all those bills, now didn’t it?
10. Being okay. There will be ups, and there will be downs. You’re going to try new things, you’re going to cherish old things, and you’re going to make all sorts of new memories. Dude, you’re going to be okay. Even if you do end up becoming a hermit and marrying your cat.

Wait, what?

My Six Months as a Girl Scout

Ya know, I believe that everything in life happens for some sort of reason—and nine times out of ten, that reason has to do with learning, and growing, and inevitably becoming a better version of yourself. Well, I believe that my time working for Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan has taught me a ton, and I’d like to share six things I’ve learned with all you beautiful people.

1. It’s important to do what you love and love what you do. I was so incredibly lucky to find this opportunity when I did. It’s more than the money, it’s the cause.  Even on my bad days, I was so floored by the fact that every video I made, every status I posted, and every photo I took was somehow helping a local girl reach a goal, achieve a dream, or make a difference.
2. It’s important to laugh your butt off. No but seriously. You will end up wanting to support every adorable, incredible, determined Girl Scout that comes through the doors of your office that you will find yourself eating so many deliciously delectable Girl Scout cookies that you will literally need to laugh so hard you burn those cookie calories right off of your tush.
3. It’s important to make friends. Ever since I was in kindergarten, I’ve realized the importance of having a core group of friends to have snack time with. In the Girl Scout office, it’s really no different.  We work really hard, but we make sure to have moments where we all come together for snack time. We eat cake, some pb & j, crackers, whatever. But it’s those moments that matter
4. It’s important to speak up. As a young professional working for an organization that’s been around for 101 years, it’s seems like it’s a little intimidating to speak your mind and bring new ideas to the table. But it’s not like that here. Not at all. The more you speak up and share, the more encouragement you get, and the more you learn. The openness in this office yanked me out of my shell and showed me that my ideas ARE important. That I’m important.
5. It’s important to hug people. Now, I don’t mean you should go out and hug every random person that you discover on the street—that’s potentially dangerous and how some communicable diseases get spread! No, I mean that you should hug the people who surround you. The people that care about you, the people who you care about. Hug them and tell them that they’re great—because you never know how long you’re going to get to spend together.
6. It’s important to be yourself. If I could ONLY pick one thing that GSHOM has taught me in these six+ months and keep it in my back pocket for the rest of eternity, it would be this. These individuals that work for the Girl Scouts are going to love you for who you are no matter what, so you better love yourself too. These ladies are going to care for you and put little notes on your desk when you’re feeling blue, call you Taylor Swift so much that you can’t help but smile every time you hear her music, and they’re going to really, truly, wish the best for you. And that’s more than any job has ever given me. Heck, that’s more than a lot of friendships have given me.

So thank you, GSHOM. Thank you for the most important, life-changing, wonderful, eye-opening six months of my life. I am a better me because of you, and I really hope this isn’t the last time I see you all.

Now!  Onto the next step–Let’s see what the world has in store for me.

I’m Pretty Ugly

I’d like to thank Beyonce for my first online popular blog mention. Or rather, the photographer who captured the beautiful Beyonce making incredibly atrocious faces while dancing during her superbowl performance. Now, pretty girls taking pictures of themselves taking disgustingly ugly faces is an online phenomenon. 

Personally, I think the meme is a great way for girls to have fun, be goofy, and let their inner-ugly out! I mean, we don’t have to be pretty all the time, right?

Earlier this week I posted on the subreddit linked above, as a joke, to have some fun and mostly to see how gross of a face I could make. Well, today I got a tweet here where I was told that my face may be posted on Heavy.com’s blog about the new internet phenom.

WELL LO AND BEHOLD, THERE WAS MY PRETTY UGLY MUG RIGHT ON THE SITE. It figures. Of all the things to get noticed for, it’s for one of my ridiculous faces. However, I totally can’t complain. I am incredibly flattered they chose to feature my face! They like me, they really like me!

GUYS, DOES THIS MEAN I’M FAMOUS?!

Why I Fail at Mondays

It’s about 9:40am, I have a class in 40 minutes across campus in the Auditorium (1. Why I even decided that taking a class that was a half-hour walk away from my home was a good idea, I will never know) and it’s incredibly icy outside. So I, being myself, decide that it would be a stellar idea to drive my car to the end of my street, park it, and then walk from there–cutting at least 8 minutes off of my walking time. (2. That’s actually not such a bad idea.) However, I go to unlock my car, and the locking mechanism makes some gut-wrenching whirring noises, and grinds to a halt. I fiddle with the key-fob and put the actual car key into the lock. (3. How primitive, right?) However, the handle lies limp, and I’m locked out of my vehicle. (4. By this time, it’s about 10:00am, and I’m frustrated.)

So I do what I always do when I don’t know what to do–I call my mom. I’m frantically telling her that I broke my car, and I either have to go get it fixed or just buy a new one all together. (5. By this time in my life, my poor 12-year-old Honda had run into some major trouble more than a few times.) She tells me to go inside and boil some water to pour over the handle.

(6. Duh.)

In my frantic morning state, I completely disregarded that fact that, huh, MAYBE, just MAYBE the locks on my car had frozen overnight, and they were struggling to work through all the ice and the cold from last nights leftover precipitation. (7. Sometimes, I can be really thick.)

Well by this time, I’m beyond late for class, and I feel downright poopy. But I decide to spend my new-found free time wisely, by writing this blog. 

Happy Monday errybody! Have you ever had a sucky Monday? Please share–because misery loves company! 

Spartan Marching Band: Day in the Life

I’m so proud to have called myself a member of the Spartan Marching Band. This last game was an emotional one, and these memories will stick with me forever. Seniors–I’ve got plenty more video from this day if you’re interested, just let me know!

And a special note to high school students thinking of joining the SMB: YES DO IT.

Comment with your thoughts below, and for more, go to everydaybytay.com

My Search for a Sticker

I voted today in the first presidential election of my life, and you know what? I feel pretty good about it. I drove all the way home to Clarkston, Mi to vote this afternoon with my parents, and I was really excited to cast my vote and exercise my right as a US citizen.

So, most of you know that when you cast a vote on election day, you get an “I voted” sticker. These stickers have been quite the conversation piece today on Facebook and Twitter, because a lot of students here at MSU had to vote absentee– and a sticker isn’t included with their ballot. (I know, right? Let’s make that change for the next election!) Well, because I traveled home to go to the polls with my parents, I was really excited for my sticker–only to discover after I cast my vote that my polling station was fresh out of them.

Now maybe I got a little sad and a little whiny, and maybe a girl who was 11 or so standing at the door of the church gave me her “I voted” sticker because she felt bad for me. Regardless if that happened or not (it did, it totally did) I am not ashamed! Because to me, that sticker isn’t just a small adhesive piece of paper, it’s a way to personally broadcast that I voted today, and that I made a difference!

I missed being eligible to vote the last presidential election in 2008 by about 8 months (bummer, right?) so being able to showcase that I voted was really really important me, as I know it was to a lot of others as well.

So what if I bummed the sticker off of the child….