Top 10 of 2009!

It may be a little early for this post, but I don't know how much time I'll have within the next few days since I'm working a bunch! Here mine go:

Katie's Top 10 of 2009

In no particular order:

1.         Biggest Overall Moment of 2009: Going to college: In this year, I’ve managed to graduate high school, apply and choose a college, attend said college, and go through the up’s and down’s always associated with first semester. Plus, I can sit here and say that although the beginning may have been rough, I’m sticking around to be a proud Carolina Gamecock!

           Internet Moment of 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0. On many blog lists of the “Top ___ of 2009” people seem to always include a youtube video. This one takes the cake in my opinion. You know you’re doing something right when The Office copies your wedding.

3.          TV Moment of 2009: Debut of Glee: This show crushes my TV quota for the year. I don’t download TV shoes from iTunes ever, and yet, I found myself downloading “Sectionals” (the episode) in order that it might hold me over until next season. Sorry Degrassi, Glee is just too good—I’m sure my dad would never think I’d like a show more than Degrassi since it’s on literally 24/7 in my house if I’m home!

4.          School Moment of 2009: Becoming an Ambassador: At school I’m now one of the tour guides who work at the Visitor Center. It is a pretty big deal at USC and so I’m super proud. This organization has played a major role in my decision to stay at school.

5.          Most Type-A Moment of 2009: H4H trip: I singlehandedly organized and carried out a Habitat for Humanity trip to Cary, NC. I was so proud of the 20 other classmates that joined me on the trip. It has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done, and I would love to do one again. I can say on behalf of every member of the group that we had a great time and would go back in a heartbeat!

6.          Sports Moment of 2009: USC over Ole’ Miss: What a game it was! Ole’ Miss was ranked 4^th when USC played and beat them. It was the highest ranked team that USC ever beat. (Meeting Eric Norwood in person takes a close second place as far as best sports moments go in 2009)

7.          Personal Moment of 2009: Au Natural: I’ve taken my hair from bleach blonde “highlighted” to basically my natural color. And as my aunt Jeanne said, “Welcome back to the club”. It feels good, I must say!

8.          Occupational Moment of 2009: Working at the Naval Academy: This summer I worked at the Naval Academy during the first few days of Plebe Summer and I couldn’t be more thankful. Aside from working for Lilly, this has been the best job I ever had. Those new plebes were some of the most anxious, nervous, apprehensive, excited people I’ve ever met, and I cannot wait to go back next summer to be a friendly, smiling face to try to make them a little happier and their day a little brighter!

9.           Family Moment of 2009: Getting to know my sister: During the two years my sister and I overlapped in high school, we really got to know one another. I am so thankful that we did because I realize that it’s getting tougher and tougher now that I’m in college. The first night that I came home for Thanksgiving break she sat in my room for 2 hours and we talked about everything. I’m so proud of her and I’m so happy that she’s my sister. (My mom’s probably awww-ing right now, but I needed a family moment of 2009!)

10      Funniest Moment of 2009: The infamous Skype video: My roommate Kathleen was skypeing with a mutual friend of ours silently while I just happened to be dancing—just like nobody’s watching—to “Sexy B---h” thinking she would expect it. Well the joke was on me when I turned around to see the friend and his roommate watching. And laughing. A lot. Needless to say I turned PURPLE, and the friend and I never addressed it. (Kathleen, I hope you enjoy being included in this.)

         What were your top 2009 moments?! My 2009 was great, and I can't wait to see what the new year has to bring along with its arrival!

          xxKatie

Alumni Dinner Success!

So last night was the dinner that I've been planning for about a month and a half. About 25 people showed up, so it was slightly less than I anticipated, but I was super excited that these 25 people were just as pumped to go as I was!
Fuddrucker's was so nice to all of us and I think they appreciated the business! Here are a few photos:

The Boys!

Some of the early arriving girls!

                                       

I loved all these cute reuniting moments!! Everyone caught up on schools and stories and fab things like that!!

More attendees!

All the tall girls from my graduating class--we're all 6'0'' or above! This was the best skirt photo too! I got so many compliments on it! Go forever21!

A few girls around the AWESOME cake my mom designed, check it out:

A bunch of schools that my classmates are attending!! Everyone loved this! Maroon was one of my high school's colors so we used it as the base. One local grocery store specializes in cakes and they are awesome!

Can you believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve Eve? I always feel like Eloise from Eloise and Christmastime when I say that. I love that book and the movie in New York. What a great Christmas spirit movie! I hope you all are enjoying the pre-Christmas days, and I hope you're all staying safe if you've got as much snow as I do. Avoid the roads and the malls if AT ALL possible!

xxKatie

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Today I've been super duper productive! The farther I get into college, the more I realize how much I like to plan things. Today alone, I've worked on planning two huge events! I'm organizing a big dinner for the class of 2009 since we're high school alumni! I'm trying to figure out a venue that will support a large group but no catering or things like that. Ideally, I'd like a restaurant that is semi-suffering from the economy so that they'll be happy to take a group of college kids between 30-50 in number. I have 3 spots in mind secretly. Facebook has been extremely useful since everyone checks it and it makes RSVP-ing super easy! I've also made my Facebook group for my Lilly collegiate representing and in 5 hours my membership is steadily increasing so I'm very proud! I got my official advertising package with order forms, personalizing forms, samples, etc, etc, etc. I couldn't be more excited to throw a Lemonade party next semester! I emailed the sorority presidents today hoping that they'd pass on my email to the sisters! YAY! I can't wait to see what happens with that! Not to mention, Emma came today and we had such a good visit! Her grandparents came too and made the day very interesting. She was surprised at how much she liked the University, so I was excited. From her high school and my high school, she knew of so many people who had applied to USC which is awesome! Its really becoming popular in MD! Here we are back in the summer:

Tomorrow I have a busy day studying for a test that I have on Monday as well as a party tomorrow night and an important meeting that will take most of Sunday I believe! Then, next thing I know, I'm flying home on Tuesday! I'm so excited!

The more busy I become, the less I think about being home which is definitely good because I am certainly ready for a break. I can't believe that I will be back home in 4 days!!! My closest girlfriends are meeting at a friend's house on Wednesday night to have a HUGE catch-up sesh since it will be the first time we've seen each other since we said our weepy goodbyes! I have so much to look forward to in the next few days that I know I can make it through to Tuesday and then to Thanksgiving and then to the CLEMSON game!!

xxKatie

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has sprung AND it just so happens that today is the last day of winter!! Goodbye to the icy cold winds of Decemeber and say hello to the warm breezes and fresh smell of spring!!

Everyone here keeps talking about the famed "tulip trees" and I had no idea what they were until about last week! They are in full bloom here and really are the first shot of color that my campus is getting. A friend of mine, Chelsea, was giving a campus tour to a large group of students and in the beginning she asked the group, "What are you interested in?" Generally that question garners the response of "Biomedical Engineering" or "Pre-Law" or "International Business", and she got many of those answers, but one student answered with "YOU!" to which everyone broke out into violent laughter that we could hear inside the building! Later during the tour, that same student offered Chelsea one of the tulip tree flowers along the tour, so they have been a very popular flower recently. These trees are all over school! They can be grown in multiple climates and I really think that they are very pretty!  

Also, I have a few friends getting ready to go to the Carolina Cup! As most of you know, it is a big horse race that is extremely popular with the college set. Many of them are in sororities that have sort of paired up with fraternities and are taking big busses together. I can't wait to see all the photos and outfits that they all wore! There are a few other horse races going on tomorrow throughout SC as well as Cup, I know my roommates for next year have both been to Steeplechase in Aiken.

I can't believe that spring is here!! I am so happy that it is finally getting warm and we won't be in pants and jeans 24/7!

xxKatie