Well hello there. It has clearly been a minute (or a few months) since we have had a little chat. And holy heck, there have been a lot of changes in my life since our last little sit down. Two of the biggest ones being: I got a new job and I went blonde. Now I know what you are probably thinking, "Suze, you went blonde?" Yes, my friends, I did. And while I am very much in love with it, I do often scare myself when I see my reflection because I don't feel as though it looks like me, but I digress.
So you're probably like "okay now get on with it, why am I here?" And to that I say, calm down, I'm getting there. For those of you that don't know, I love to shop. Honestly, I like shopping anywhere. Forever21? Sure. Target? Uhhhhh, yes please. Online? Absolutely. So I figured, why not show you some of the outfits that I absolutely adore but with a twist? One of my favorite things to purchase since I was younger was definitely sunglasses. I'm not really sure where my obsession started, but somehow I am at the point where I have about 6 pairs in my car, 2 in my purse and many, many more all over my room and house. I just love them. So when I heard that Warby Parker was coming out with some new Summer 2017 Collections I was like YES PLEASE. So, instead of keeping you guys too long, keep reading down below for some of my favorite clothing pieces for this spring and summer, along with some of my favorite pieces from the Warby Parker Summer 2017 Sunglasses and Eyeglasses collection!
ONE// Comfy Casual
Let me just start off by saying that this is one of my go-to outfits. I am obsessed with t-shirt dresses. I love the way that you can dress them up or down. Clearly for this look, I have chosen to dress it down, but with a simple switch of the shoes, jewelry and bag, you can easily go from day to night.
I think if I were to wear this outfit (which I totally would and probably have) I would pair it with a really smart looking pair of eyeglasses. I honestly have to wear glasses (and probably should more than I do). I think my favorite pair from the collection are the Percey glasses and I love them in the Chestnut Crystal color (but honestly all the colors are fantastic!)
One of my favorite things about the spring/summer time is when it is a little chilly at night but not too cold where you feel like you need tons of layers. I don't think there is anything better than putting on a semi-fancy shirt, a nice pair of jeans, a good necklace and some killer shoes and sunglasses and heading to an outside patio to have some much needed time with friends. For this spring and summer, this is going to be my go-to look for sure!
Top: JC Penny (similar at SheIn)/ Jeans: Nordstrom/ Shoes: Kohl's/ Necklace: Kendra Scott (I'm obsessed with Kendra Scott, I love basically everything!)
Now, I think for this look you definitely need a funky pair of sunglasses. One of my favorites has to be the Haskell glasses for sure. I love them because they literally come in some of the coolest colors, so you can really get a pair to match almost any outfit!
I guess I'm at that age where all my friends are getting married. Let me tell you, within the next year I have so many weddings to go to it is insane! But I will admit, I love a good wedding. I think they are always so much fun and I really like getting dressed up! Here is one of my favorite outfits to possibly wear to a wedding this spring or summer!
Now, I'm just going to go ahead and assume that for a summer wedding you are going to need a good pair of sunglasses. For this look, I would probably go back to the Haskell glasses yet again. When I tell you I love them, I really mean it! And remember when I said that they come in so many different colors? Well I wasn't kidding! I think the Haskell Sunglasses in Burnt Lemon Tortoise with Green-Grey Lenses would be the perfect pair to complete this look!
So there you have it. 3 different looks for 3 different occasions. If you couldn't tell already, I am in love with the new Warby Parker Collection for Summer 2017. I love the 1960's inspired shapes and bright colors in the collection. Check them out for sure, there is definitely a pair for every occasion! What ones will you pick?
Ahhhhh social media, one of my favorite things in the entire world. I can honestly remember the days that I created my first Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, among many other platforms. I don't know what it is about social media, I just absolutely love it. So, without babbling on too much, here are some of my do's and dont's of social media.
ONE// A picture is worth a thousand words. Literally. It is no secret that visuals on any social media platform get more engagement. Honestly, I am the person that if something doesn't have pictures, you better be a dang good convincing writer to keep me for more than a few paragraphs. Use pictures, videos and GIFs for further your content, especially if you are using the platform of your choice to promote something, I promise, you won't be sorry!
TWO// Timing is everything. Back when I was in school, blogging was one of my jobs. Now it wasn't based on views or likes, it was purely a matter of me writing, posting and then getting a paycheck. But I think the thing that I liked about blogging was the almost inner challenge that it presented. I liked looking at numbers and thinking "this one get 100 views, how can I make it so my next one gets 150?" Well, here is one of my secrets. Timing is everything. Back when I was in school I realized that the prime time to post a blog to get the most views would be at 7:15pm on a Sunday night. Why? Because that is when us college kids were finally doing homework that we have had all weekend to complete but didn't do so now we are trying to get it done. Unfortunately we all continued to procrastinate and look at things like Facebook and Instagram. Therefore, reading some one's blog post would definitely be a way to procrastinate further, hence an upswing in readers. So moral of the story, pay attention to when you post, it can make a huge difference!
THREE// Negativity isn't a bad thing. I am a person that likes constructive criticism. I like when the comments that people have make me want to be or do something better. That being said, not all comments are good comments, there are definitely things that have been said about me or what I have posted that I haven't totally appreciated, but I think with social media comes not taking things personally. There will always be people out there that disagree with you or that aren't satisfied with what you post, and that's ok, because at the end of the day, it's your post and not theirs. If they had something different to say, then they should say it on their own terms. When it comes to companies social media, I always say that one of 2 things has to happen for someone to write a review. They are either exceptionally happy or exceptionally mad. A happy person will write a nice comment while a person with a not so positive experience will write something negative. That's why it is important to understand comments and the reason behind by they were posted in the first place. Also I think that companies should have practises in place for when things don't go as planned. Having a crisis management plan is an important part of any business strategies now, especially with the rise of social media.
FOUR// Be yourself. I often find that the people that I am most drawn to over social media are the people that are just being themselves. Whether that means not wearing makeup or not pretending you like something you hate, I feel as though readers, watchers and subscribers know when someone isn't being real. Social media is fantastic because it allows people to grow and make a living out of being themselves. So don't become something you are not just because you feel you have to be different. You don't. Just be yourself and then your social media platform is perfect.
Hope these few quick tips help with becoming more social media savvy! Want to know more? Check out the amazing services that Reputation Management offers! Having a management plan is really important now, especially with the rise of social media. Consulting firms such as Reputation Management have many departments that suit your specific needs, such as crisis management. They have some great info on social media whether you are an individual ready to up your Instagram game or a company looking for a complete social media overhaul!
Love,
Susanna
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I would be totally lying to you if I said that 2016 was easy. I think the majority of people on this planet would agree that 2016 has been a rough year. I would say that a year ago today I didn't really start off on the right foot (literally, I was on crutches). From there the year had its pits and peaks, twists and turns and everything in between. The first third of the year was stress overload. I was finishing up my last semester in college, writing a book, nursing a knee injury all while trying to find balance. The middle months gave me stability, comfort and excitement. Towards the end of the year the stress picked back up while "me time" and mindfulness went down. It is honestly hard to focus on the positives when there are negatives but that being said I want to focus on positive things in 2017. So, to start this year off right, here are some things I loved in 2016.
ONE// Camp
If this one surprises you then seriously, where have you been for the past 4 years? For the past 4 summers working at summer camp has easily been one of the biggest highlights of my year. It was something I looked forward. I counted down the days eagerly awaiting the time that I could go back to my home away from home. This year before camp I had a lot of decisions to make. I was on the fence for a while as to whether or not I would actually go back to camp (hard to believe, I know). The reason being was because I was told that it was not an adult thing to do. I was supposed to have a great job lined up, move out of the house, make money and well, be an adult. Hearing it so often made me think that going to camp was bad, or something that I shouldn't be doing no matter how much it really meant to me. The thing that prompted me to go back was something someone said to me. She said, "would you regret it if you looked back 5 years from now and didn't do it?" And I said yes, I would. I think I really needed that last year, a definitive last year, one where I could tie up loose ends and be at peace with the fact that that part of my life was tied up neatly. Now by no means is that the end of camp for me. Camp is still a huge part of my life and always will be. My camp friends will still be some of my best friends and the memories will always last. But this year camp was special to me and it was something I felt as though I really needed.
TWO// Writing
I did a ton of writing this year. Not just on my blog but the last semester of school for me was very writing dense. I mean, I wrote a book for goodness sake! I have always enjoyed writing. I loved putting my words onto a page and seeing them come to life. I like going back and editing and changing things to make sure that it is exactly the way I envisioned it. Writing my book in the beginning of this year was one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced in my entire life. It was something that I really had to be conscious about. Writing for my blog is more carefree and sometimes my words and sentences don't always make the most sense but somehow they seem to all work out eventually. With the book, I had to make every effort to just be aware. I had to be aware of works and punctuation. There were just so many little intricacies that I really had to pay attention too that I never really did before. While writing that book was hard, it is amazing the impact it had on me and the impact it had on my writing here on my blog. In a way it made me want to be completely different from what I had just done. It made me really want to put my voice into something and I am thankful that I had an outlet like my blog to do that. I felt as though I pushed my own personal boundaries this year on my blog. I wrote about things I liked and I felt comfortable to open up enough about the things I didn't like or things that had some type of negative impact on me. My blog now offers me a space to be creative, something I miss terribly after leaving school. I miss getting the opportunity to design things and think of something then be able to see it right in front of me. My hope for 2017 is that I use this platform more as a way to let my creative side come out more. Recently I have felt as though I have needed it more. It offers me an escape from my routine and allows me to reflect on things that mean something to me.
THREE// Health
I think this is something that we so often forget, something we take for granted. As I have mentioned, I didn't really start off 2016 on the best foot. I had knee surgery on the 29th of December 2015, so I spent the majority of January in terrible pain. It had its ups and downs and unfortunately another surgery was scheduled for April of 2016. It was not the best news that a competitive person wanted to hear. It was a set back, a major one, one that I unfortunately have not fully bounced back from. But in the grand scheme of things, its not anywhere as terrible as it possibly could be. So for that, health is one of my favorite things this year because it has been a healthy year. Sure, there were times when my health and health of loved ones was not the best, but I believe that we are ending 2016 on a good foot and I hope that 2017 is even better.
FOUR// YouTube
This is no secret, but I have been hooked on watching YouTube videos for quite sometime now. I love it. I honestly don't think I go a day without watching at least one video on YouTube. I think one of the main reasons why it is my favorite this year is because I have been able to find channels that I connect with and channels that positively impact my mood and overall happiness. Watching them gives me a sense of calm, something that I often miss in my day to day life. It gives me a chance to sit and unwind from the day and it is something that I truly enjoy and look forward to at the end of the day.
FIVE// Tea
I have always loved coffee. I had my first taste of coffee when I was really young, probably way too young honestly. My mom's favorite ice cream is Vienna Mocha Chunk, so naturally I thought that actual coffee tasted like that. Clearly I was wrong, but it was something that I lived off of during my first few years of college. That being said, I have also always liked tea. I liked having something warm without the major caffeine kick that coffee gave me. It wasn't really until this past year that I started to actually choose tea over coffee. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my medium iced coffee with caramel swirl and cream from Dunks just as much as the next person, but lately tea has been my go to. I love trying new types and seeing which one works best for whatever mood I am in. I even have little jars on my desk at work with all types of tea in them, so aesthetically pleasing and so practical!
SIX// Makeup
I feel as though there will always be people in your life that say you don't need makeup, which is partly true. I don't need makeup. But I do enjoy it. I think this year, or at least towards the end of the year I have started to experiment more with my makeup. I have tried new products and stepped out of my comfort zone a bit when it comes to the beauty department. I have learned that I adore lipstick and that winged eyeliner isn't just for a fancy occasion. I think wearing makeup has allowed me to enjoy getting ready in the morning. It is something that I actually look forward to doing because it genuinely makes me happy.
SEVEN// Friends
This is something that should literally be on everyone's favorites lists. I can honestly say that I am so incredibly luck for the people that surround me. Whether it be old friends, friends from school or friends from camp, I literally have the best friends in the entire world. This was a difficult year for me at times and I really needed people in my life to lean on for support and I am so blessed that I had people to help me out. I am so grateful for the people that I choose to surround myself with.
I guess that is it for now folks. As I said, one of my New Year's resolutions is to blog more, so trust me, there is a new post in the works for you! Keep an eye out for it!
Best,
Susanna
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So I am a total sucker for the fall time. I love the changing leaves, the crisp air and of course, sweater weather. I guess you would say that the thing that I hate about fall is that it means that winter is approaching, and quickly. I mean, it is barely Christmas and there as already been snow and I have already broken out my parka....excuse me Mother Nature, this is not cool. To be completely honest with you all, I don't entirely hate winter. I really enjoy the snow, but I enjoy it from the comfort of my living room. That being said, I am always down for a snow day. There are a couple things that take a snow day from good to amazing. Here are some of my snow day favorites!
ONE// Well, I think this would come as a no brainer. You can't have a snow day with out snow! As I said, I love snow, I really do. I think it is so beautiful. But I do like to enjoy it from the comfort of my couch! Going to school up in Vermont has taught me a thing or two about snowy weather. I think I am learning to love it, but I'm not entirely in the "love" stage yet!
TWO// Fire in the fireplace. We have had a wood burning stove in our fire place since as long as I can remember. To be honest, it is like my dad's 3rd child. He spends all year collecting wood, splitting it and stacking it to make sure that we are fully stocked for the winter time. There are some days that I love the wood stove and some days that I hate it. Let me tell you, when it gets warm, it is really warm. Some days it can be a little much, but when it is a blizzard outside is is absolutely perfect! Plus my dog loves to sit by the fire so it is an excuse for me to cuddle her!
THREE// Cozy clothes. I will be the first to admit that I believe leggings are pants. I love to be comfortable no matter what. Comfort is definitely my first priority in anything that I do. Therefore, on a snow day, all I want is to be comfy! Here are some of my top pics for things I like to wear when I'm trying to be cozy! (Oh, and the best part about this whole outfit is that you can get everything off of AdoreMe.com. It is absolutely amazing and they have the cutest things from underwear to pj's to athletic wear!) Undergarments: I think growing up playing sports taught me to love sports bras. Honestly, I try to wear a sports bra as often as possible, probably TMI, but it is the truth! So obviously, my pick for some snow day support is definitely a sports bra! Adoreme.com has some amazing sports bras and honestly, and honestly, I think some of them are just as cute as your typical bra! So gone are the days of the dingy, boring sports bra. You don't have to sacrifice cuteness for comfort!
This sports bra is one of my favorites. I think the main reason why I love it is because maroon is my absolute favorite color to wear during the fall/winter! (via)
If you are a die-hard traditional bra lover, don't worry, there are so many options for you too! I love AdoreMe bras because they come in a variety of sizes and they are all really well made! One of my favorites is the (............). Another really cool thing about AdoreMe is that with every bra purchase you get a free pair of underwear, so I mean, you can't go wrong! Clothing: AdoreMe also has super cozy and cute lounge ware. Honestly, I believe that sometimes you can wear lounge tops and wear them with jeans or leggings. Their shirts are super comfy and soft and honestly you can't beat the price! My absolute favorite top is this one down below in pale pink. I am honestly not one that goes towards pink but I absolutely love this top! Plus I think the back detail is really cute as well!
PJ's: Well, let's admit it. I basically live in pajamas. When I am home you can almost bet that I will be in my pajamas. I just think you can't go wrong with a cozy pair of PJ's! Personally, most of my PJ's are just sweatpants and random t-shirts, but sometimes it just makes me feel special to wear matching pj sets. I am absolutely obsessed with the Matilda PJ set from AdoreMe. It is so classic and so soft that it is honestly the perfect thing to lounge around in during a snow day! Adore Me offers a wide selection of pajamas, so there is definitely something for everyone!
The black and white combination is so classic and the fabric is so comfortable! (via)
Also, as an extra comfy touch, one of my favorite things to do is throw on a cozy robe. Although I normally opt for a major sweatshirt, I love wearing robes when I go in our hot tub. They are super simple to just throw on over a bathing suit to keep me warm during the short walk from our back door to the hot tub. I love this one from AdoreMe! First of all, lately I have been obsessed with the color grey. Second, I love that it has a hood!!
Basically, in short, the perfect snow day can be summed up in a few words: snow and AdoreMe. While snow may not be everyone's favorite, adding in cute clothes from AdoreMe makes everything better. Wanna know something even better? AdoreMe is online, meaning when you have a foot of snow outside, you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own house! Everything gets shipped right to you! If that isn't perfect then I'm not really sure what else is! Also be sure to check out their social media as well, their Instagram is so cute and their Twitter and Pinterest are totally addicting to scroll through!
Best,
Susanna
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When I was 13 years old, I thought that by the time I graduated college I would have everything figured out. I thought I would have the dream job I have always wanted, the love of my life standing next to me and a house to call home. I thought that I would bask in the freedom that my choices in life offered me and that I would get to make my own decisions and just live the life that I always envisioned for myself. Heck, I would probably say that my 13 year old self would have been psyched at the idea of adulthood.
But the older that I have gotten, the more I have realized that it is not the case. It is not really what I expected it to be. Who would have ever been able to tell me that adulthood would be this stressful and at times, depressing?
I go about every day seeing my friends that are in a career that they love, doing something that makes them happy. They are traveling, starting families and just all around being happy. At times it makes me want to detach. To step away from all of it because it makes me realize how small I am and how unsatisfied I am with the life that I am living. Sure, I have had job offers and countless interviews. I also think its hard to find your "forever career" or passion this early in the game. But with all that, it still makes it difficult.
I have developed anxieties about life that I don't think I have ever had before. I more often doubt my capabilities because of not being able to check boxes on job applications. At times I wish job applications would have less boxes for tangible skills and more for "nice person", "outgoing" and "creative" because at the end of the day, those are things that I value in myself.
But I guess adulthood is about welcoming these challenges and embracing them. I often say that my mistakes are my mentors. I learn from them and they always teach me something. I guess being an adult is just having a lot of mentors. So with all that, I welcome challenges. As soon as everything starts to click, things will start running smoothly like my 13 year old self thought.
Spring is here, well, I mean, it will be gone shortly (helloooo June!) I think spring is one of my favorite seasons. I love the birds, the flowers and more importantly, spring shopping! I love dresses, sandals, sunglasses and everything else that spring has to offer in the fashion department. Being a recent college grad, the funds are pretty low, but I think that every once in a while it is totally ok to treat yo self. One of my favorite places to do so is ShopSpring.com. Spring is a single shopping destination where people can shop brands directly. They currently work with over 900 brands, so you can always find something that you may like! Here are some of my favorite things that are definitely on my must-have list this spring!
Spring and summer means dresses to me. Normally, I live in leggings. But when the weather gets warm, dresses are my go to! This is the Ecote Guinevere Open- Back dress. Let me tell you, I'm in love. And the best part, it comes in 2 colors!
If I shop for jewelry, I will most often than not walk out of a store with earrings. If I don't put earrings on in the morning I normally feel completely underdressed (even at summer camp). My go-to earrings are just pearl studs, but normally if I want to switch it up, I look for other types of studs. I am totally not the type of person for dangling earrings, for some reason I just really dislike them. I absolutely love these studs. They are the Modern Pearlized Cabochon Stud Earrings. I think I like them because of my slight obsession with pearls, but I also like the gold as it is not something I typically go for.
My go-to spring outfit is normally as comfortable as I can make it. Last summer I went shopping with my mom for new shoes. I found a pair of light blue Vans and let me tell you, I have worn the crap outta them. I honestly wear them everywhere and I am totally contemplating buying them in more colors. I think these Army Issue Sneakers by SeaVees are the perfect "grown up" Vans. They have an awesome nude material with a black leather detail on the top, perfect for mixing and matching with any outfit!
Summer is coming, which means it is time to ditch my massive structured black tote and replace it for a light and airy cross-body. To say that I have had my eye on this bag for a while would be an understatement. This mini Crosby Crossbody in nude by Rebecca Minkoff is literally my goals in life. I love the structured look of it while still small enough so I don't have all the room in the world for all the crap that finds a home at the bottom of my purse. It is the perfect summery color, but if this isn't your style, I totally recommend checking out her other bags, I honestly love all of them!
So those are just a few of the many items that are on my wish list from ShopSpring.com. I highly suggest checking out the accessory store, as it is definitely amazing! What are you going to treat yo self with this spring?!
I never thought I would write this post to be completely honest with you. For some reason I had this grand idea in my head that college would last forever. It was something that never ended or only ended when you wanted it to. Trust me, I never wanted it to end.
I guess it still hasn't hit me yet. Between the "congrats" and the "goodbyes" I am left confused and unsure of what comes next. It just feels like the typical summer vacation, one that I have gotten used to over the 16 years of my education. I think it will hit me once August rolls around and I find myself not making the trek back up to Vermont.
I was never supposed to go to Vermont. I was never supposed to go to school at SMC. I thought that New York City was where I would spend the golden years. Boy, was I wrong. That rainy day in the summer 2011, the khaki shorts and blue rain jacket. The humid heat. The smell of freshly cut grass. The calm of an empty campus. For some reason, everything fit perfectly, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
"You get a weird feeling when you're about to leave a place, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person that you are now at this time and place because you'll never be this way ever again."
This quote is one of my favorites and one that I feels applies to my time at SMC. Missing the ones that I have grown to adore is an understatement. To the faculty and staff, the St. Mike's community continues to astonish me with their love and compassion each and every day. They are the type of people that make you want to become a better person, and I think everyone should surround themselves with people like that. They believe in you and encourage you. They tell you that you are wrong and help you learn from your mistakes. They listen and think before they speak. They love unconditionally. They put a smile on your face even in the gloomiest of days. It has been a pleasure every day to be able to see your faces around campus and speak with you.
Thanks to everyone who believed in me. To my parents, for not only paying for this education but encouraging me to follow my dreams. Thanks for pushing me to fall in love with school. That love of learning has made leaving SMC so incredibly difficult. Thanks to my other family members, especially my SMC Alumni family members. Thanks for convincing me to look at SMC, you always knew deep down inside that I would love it. Thanks for sharing your stories of living in the 300's or celebrating P-Day. Thanks for making your mark on a place that I love. I can only hope to have made as much of a lasting impression as you have on SMC.
Finally to my friends and fellow graduates of the class of 2016, wow guys, we did it. Seriously though, who would have thought that we, yes, I'm talking about us, would graduate? I know I had my doubts. Heck, I assumed we would all just stay there forever. I guess the saying "all good things must come to an end" is real. Our 4 years were better than good, they were great. They were filled with warm sunny days, construction waking us up at 7am and countless laughs and good times. We had a good run guys. Be proud of all that we have accomplished. 4 years may seem like a long time, but clearly it goes by faster than anyone could imagine. Congrats friends, I'll miss ya.
Love,
Susanna
P.S.- as for where this blog is going, I'm not entirely sure. I'll probably revamp it, but I guess we will just have to wait and see. So, stay tuned.
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The May 1st deadline is quickly approaching. Open houses are every weekend. I know, you're probably just as panicked as I am about getting a real adult job. But it is ok. Just sit, calm down, it will all be fine. As you may (or may not know) I am a tour guide here at SMC. I think in my time here, I probably have given well over 200 tours in my four years. Giving tours is something I absolutely love doing, especially if students (and parents) come armed with questions. But as a tour guide, we tend to get the same question over and over again, but are those really the questions that you should be asking or are there better ones out there that will help you more in your college search? Well, I'm here to tell you that while your questions are always appreciated, there are definitely ones that are better than the ones that you are asking. Here are a few!
Instead of "Why did you choose (insert college name here)?" you should ask, "Why did you choose to stay?"
This is honestly a question that I have never been asked on a tour, but one that I think speaks a lot more to the college in question. Sure, I can tell you my story of how I picked SMC out of the 12 other schools that I applied for, but more important than my original choice of Saint Mike's is the choice that I make every year to stay. Sure, people pick the wrong college all the time and transferring is really easy now, but for me to stay at one institution for all four years and be incredibly happy should tell you something about the school. It is a hard decision to pick a school, and often times it is really hard for a tour guide to explain why they chose the school they did. We all tend to say "we just knew" and we did, but that probably isn't the answer that you are looking for. So instead, I suggest that you ask why your tour guide decided to come back year after year.
Instead of "What is your favorite thing about (insert college here)?" you should ask, "What is your least favorite thing?"
This question is a little more common, as I have gotten asked it numerous times, but I think that it is important. Just like the first one, it tells you what I like and don't like about the school. It is really hard for me to answer "what is your favorite thing" because chances are, if I have been here for four years, I enjoy a lot. It is really hard to narrow down on just one item. While the second question seems a little bit of a downer, it really helps perspective students get a sense of what to actually expect on campus. I can't list all my favorite things on my fingers and toes, I would need more appendages, but I can list all of my negatives on maybe 2 fingers. I think it gives your tour guide more of a focus. Also, everyone has different negatives, but chances are, tour guides all have the same positives.
To be 100% honest, my least favorite thing about SMC are the puddles. The 300's field (AKA my front yard) in mud season is actually the worst. Often times the puddles feel like this^^
Instead of "How much homework will I get?" you should ask "what was your favorite class, can you explain it?"
Honestly, it is basically the same question, but the way that you are asking it is a lot different. Normally when people ask me about homework, I get a little frustrated. It is college after all, no one said it was going to be easy, so when someone asks me just about homework, it normally tells me two things:
1. you don't have a plan of approach for schoolwork, AKA, you need to figure out your study habits ASAP.
2. you are worried that you won't do well in college.
Not saying that either of these are bad, I certainly fell into both of these categories. But I did ok. All I have to say is that when you ask me about my favorite class, I am able to give you details and it makes me excited to talk about it. Personally, my favorite class that I have had was Race and Ethnic Relations with Maya Bhave. The class was challenging, with three 20 page papers plus exams and reading. While it was one of my hardest classes, I love talking about it. I think that asking this question allows you not only to get a sense of homework, but also how classes typically work.
Finally, this one may seem pretty open, but one of my biggest pet peeves is when people ask me very broad questions. We are all guilty of it, I know that I definitely did it when I was touring colleges. It really helps to narrow down your questions that you plan on asking. This not only helps the tour guide figure out what to say in the time allotted while also catering the tour to your likes, but it also helps you get the information that you want to hear. So instead of asking a question like "what is there to do on the weekends?" you should really narrow in. Are you particularly interested in the sporting events on campus? Or about the wilderness program? Maybe you do want to ask the infamous question about the party scene. Whatever it is, ask it point blank. I promise that you will get an answer and it will answer the question, instead of answering all parts of the question except the one that you really wanted to hear about.
This is normally my face when someone asks me a question that could literally go in one million directions. Find a focus, it will not only help us to answer your question, but it will give you an answer to something that you really want to know about!
And that is all! I hope this helps when you are looking at colleges as that May 1st deadline approaches! Take advantage of all tour opportunities and Open Houses that you can! Ask all the questions that you really want to know! You can do this, I have faith in you!
I never thought I would willingly go back onto crutches, but I did, I have. Let me tell you, this knee surgery sucks so much more than the first one. It is honestly so painful that I will opt back onto crutches, the pure demon sticks that they are, just to get rid of some of the pain that I have been feeling. To say it hurts doesn't even cut it. My knee is the size of a cantaloupe, it has massive incisions all down the sides and it is so discolored that if I were to draw myself with crayon I would most likely have to use bright shades of green, yellow and purple on my knee, as normal "skin tones" just wouldn't cut it. Granted, this was a much longer surgery and I opted to do it without strong medication but let me tell you, right now I wish I was back home in the comfort of my living room. Just walking to the computer lab and back today was painful. I told myself, I can do it, it is not too bad. Wrong. One awkward step and I got from feeling great to miserable. Nothing is wrong, I haven't injured anything else, it's just that there is so much swelling that it is nearly impossible to move my leg normally, putting more strain on places that have to work to keep me moving. Essentially, my knee freaking hates me right now, and I don't blame it.
To be honest, I didn't think it was real for the longest time. After my second surgery on Friday I actually felt great. I was up and moving around my house with very little pain and no crutches. I thought this recovery would be a breeze. I mean, I think (thought?) I heal pretty quickly but today it hit me, and it hit me hard. I hope that this won't be a set back. They say that the biggest part of recovery is your mental state, and let me tell you, right now my mental state is basically non-existent. I'm just drained. Between school and this surgery, I hurt, in more ways than one. Sure, I'm done with my senior seminar and I am beyond pleased with that, but I would have liked to enjoy it minus knee brace and crutches.
I don't get homesick, heck I call Saint Mike's home. But right now I want nothing more than to be home. You don't really realize how much you miss home until you are in a situation like this. Sure, I'll stick it out and put on a happy face, but guys, it hurts. I sit in bed for hours with my knee up and with ice on it, hoping just for a little bit of relief and normalcy. It normally lasts for about 10 minutes and then goes back to pain. Even the simplest of tasks like walking to the door of my bedroom are hard because I can't move my leg correctly without pain. It drains you. It is so discouraging to live in fear of movement because you don't want the pain associated with it.
Through it all, I keep thinking "why me" as many people have probably thought the same before. I think what did I do wrong? I replay the exact moment when I screwed up my knee for life over and over in my head just to see if there is something that I could have done differently to avoid the fate that I would succumb to. I think of what it was like to be "normal", one where walking into your kitchen to get a bite of food wasn't an internal struggle of convincing myself that yes, I am actually hungry and that yes, my hunger burns deeper than the pain I might feel in my leg. For a while I hated everything, especially rugby as it is what caused me this pain in the first place. I hated that after almost four years of playing uninjured I ended up with the kiss of death by athletes standards. I hated that I missed my shot at All-Conference, I hated that I wasn't able to play with my teammates one last time and I envied the people that made playing the game look so effortless while I struggled to even bend my knee. For a while I just wanted to shut off from it all. No more rugby for me, that was it. But in times of feeling like pure crap, I appreciated so many more parts of the game. I was able to put on a different hat and look at the game through a different angle. I now have the ability to be called a "coach", something that I didn't know was possible and probably wouldn't have known without this injury. It's an appreciation for all the crap that I put my body through for years. At times I thought my body literally hated me for making it play just one more minute in a game instead of staying down after a tackle, but for some reason I always got up from the ground, no matter how bad it hurt. I think rugby is a game of resilience, and for me to call myself a rugby player, I have to be resilient. Sure, I miss it every single day and I cannot wait for the day that I can get back out there and play, but that won't be for a while. I think it is one of those things where I just have to roll with the punches and hand what life gives me. If life gives you multiple surgeries in a matter of months, you just have to take the scars, screws, crutches and random pieces of metal and roll with the punches.
It hurts. It really does. And is this a long-winded rant while I am in a very emotional state? Yes of course. As for where I'm going with this, I'm not entirely sure. I thought about connecting it to SMC and how even though I'm far from home this place is still home, and it is, and I'm happy to have two places that I call home. I thought about really connecting this to rugby and how it has made me strong and tough and able to overcome everything, but then I didn't fully think it out and wasn't sure what I was using as a metaphor to compare things to. I thought about talking about my new appreciation for things no matter how small. I thought about talking about the injury in general and telling you all the nasty details, but then I didn't want to scar you for life. As you can tell, I really have no idea where this is going. It's late. I'm tired. My leg hurts. As for what else to say, I guess that just know that when you ask if I'm ok I will say yes, but deep down, it hurts like no other and just moving is a calculated process that I go through multiple times in my head before I even move an inch. It wasn't supposed to be this bad, but it is. But I'll be ok, because my drive to succeed is far more powerful than the pain that I feel in my leg. I'll get through it and I will do it with a smile on my face.
For those of you that don't know, I had my ACL repaired about 3 months ago. During my three month checkup, the doctor noticed a three inch long metal wire that was suspended in my knee. Unfortunately, it needed to come out before any more damage could be done. So, on Thursday I drove the 5 hours home from school in order to get surgery on Friday.
My surgery was scheduled for 7:30am on Friday morning, meaning I had to be at the surgery center at 6:30am. I was told that it would be a quick surgery, only lasting about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, the piece of metal wire had broken in half within my knee. One piece of stuck in bone and the other was lodged in the back of my knee turning a quick surgery into a 6 hour long marathon to extract the wire. I honestly don't remember anything about yesterday as I was really drowsy from medications that I was given.
Th pain is manageable. I am walking around without crutches (thank goodness, I hate crutches). My knee is extremely swollen and the bruising is starting to come in. I have 4 incisions, 2 small ones and two large ones on either side with a total of close to 20 stitches. Right now, I'm trying to take it easy. The stitches come out in 2 weeks and I should be right back to where I was in my recovery.
While getting all these surgeries stinks, it has taught me to be strong and if I push through, I can accomplish anything. Right now I'm just focusing on getting better than I was before my first surgery to hopefully get back out on that rugby pitch one day. I wouldn't consider this a bad thing, I just see it was a learning experience. If I can get through this, I'm sure I can get through anything. (Plus, I kind of like the scars, it makes me look a lot tougher than i actually am haha).
Sad title, I know, but I was unsure of how to phrase exactly what I am currently feeling. Needless to say, I have been in a little bit of a rut lately. It is the beginning of second semester and things are rapidly starting to pick up, mainly in the category of senior seminar. It is no secret on campus that MJD majors have a close to impossible, time suck of a senior seminar. As you may or may not know, I am currently in the process of writing, designing and self publishing a book about the ins and outs of summer camps in the United States. Sounds cool, right? Well it is, except when you noticed that you have just under a month to create the entire thing (procrastination and senioritis is real people).
So basically, I have been a little stressed. I think that in the last few days I have spent about 12 hours in a computer lab along with countless hours in my bed doing research and writing. Trust me people, this is not as easy as it sounds. (J.K Rowling, I give you so much credit.) Unfortunately, this stress has had a negative effect on my mood. I am often pretty cranky, tired and pretty withdrawn from other things. Normally in my free time I would watch some TV, search the web or nap. Recently, free time is filled with eating, showering and more writing.
On April 6th, I will have the opportunity to have a breather. I will be able to sort of sit back and relax (I say sort of because I am still taking global comm and that is one of the hardest classes in the MJD major). As of now, I am not happy in the progress that I have made. It seems that for every page I complete, I find something that I need to fix or change. It changes what was once an hour of editing into 3 hours of extra work on my layout or the actual writing of my chapters. It is difficult in that situation to not get mad or sad. I have found myself far too many times sitting in bed at night and just crying after trying to spend time writing and failing miserably.
One thing that I will say about this book is that it has really helped me to find myself. It has helped me be more independent and goal orientated. I have to be organized enough to force myself to spend time writing or sitting in front of a computer screen working in Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign. I have to set priorities and sometimes, they definitely aren't the right ones, but then it teaches me how to recover. It has helped my mildly introverted self to be more extroverted in the sense that I have to reach out to people that I may have never had the opportunity to interact with. It has helped me to discover more about a topic that I already feel passionate about.
From now until April 6th will be a difficult time for me, I'm not going to lie. There is a lot of stuff to do and little time. Right now, I have a game plan. I know what I need to do and I plan on accomplishing it because I have become so emotionally invested in this project that I think it would pain me more than anything to not follow through with it.
So, I apologize for the lack of posts recently. There has been a lot going on. I think that taking "me time" and blogging might be a good place to put my energy. I will give it a go and let you know what happens!
It is no secret that college is expensive. It is also no secret that my summer job as a camp counselor does not pay me a fortune (but I would not change that for the world). So often times during the semester, I have to sit myself down and look at my spending. As a senior, I live in a house with my own kitchen, meaning that I have to buy groceries and cook my own food. I also have a car, so that is another added expense. While I do work when I am on campus, I often find myself really having to look at the money that I am earning and what I am spending on. So, here are some tips to manage your money while in college!
ONE// Save on textbooks. Seriously. There is almost no need to spend $200 on a textbook that you will probably only open once. I get the majority of my textbooks used on Amazon. They are so much cheaper and in the end, I am totally ok if it has a few highlights or notes written in. Often times, I would prefer that to a brand new book!
If you cannot find it cheaper on Amazon, the library would be your second best bet. My roommate Candice and I are in a class together and she took out both books that we need from the library. We have been sharing them all semester and it has cost us nothing!
be like Matilda and get your books from the library!
TWO// Pay attention to events on campus. This past weekend we had the Winter Carnival on campus. Along with it being a ton of fun, there was free food! Free food means not having to spend money on something to eat or use groceries for a meal that I could have saved for a different time. These events are not only good for food, but also other things as well! On campus in the next few weeks we are having a used book sale and a clothing sale. These events are great places to go not only if you are looking for something to do, but also if you need a few things!
THREE// Check out some on-campus jobs. On campus we have both work study and non-work study jobs. I personally do not have a work study, but I do have two on campus jobs that are not work study. For me, those jobs are a tour guide and social ambassador. These jobs are super fun and it gives me a little bit of extra cash in my pocket every two weeks! There are also a lot of other jobs on campus that are not work study, such as working in the dining hall. Also, our job link is a great way to find jobs on campus and off!
FOUR// Find forms of payment that work for you. I am a firm believer in using cash whenever possible. That way, I always know just how much I am spending. At this time is not my plan to apply for a credit card, but for those fellows that are interested in this opportunity Credit Card Insider has a Student Credit Card section that could be a good point to start. They lay out the pros and cons of all possible credit cards so that you can see what would work best for you. Eventually a credit card will be in my wallet, but for now I will just stick with cash!
Like Beyonce, I'll stick with cash.
(i also wish i was beyonce)
FIVE// Your I.D. card is everything. Not only is it an important resource while you are on campus (as it controls your meal plan, printing, entry to buildings and laundry) but it is also a great resource off campus. A lot of stores offer discounts to students and they can be anywhere from 10% to 30% off your purchase. There are tons of websites that tell you all the discounts or you can just ask before you check out!
I hope these tips will help you save a little bit of money this semester!
Love,
Susanna
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I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am pretty good when it comes to cooking. I really enjoy it. Some people are intimidated by the kitchen, but personally, it the place that I feel most at home. Sometimes cooking to me means popping a piece of bread in the toaster and then putting peanut butter on it. Other times it means following a recipe or just whipping together a few things that I have in my fridge. Whatever it may be, its something that doesn't seem daunting to me. It is enjoyable.
I will admit, being in college sometimes makes it difficult to cook. I mean, just think about it. We have a tiny kitchen in our house that 4 people (including me) share. There really isn't all that much space, especially because, for some reason, all of us like to congregate in the kitchen on most occasions. Before moving in, we started thinking up what we could possibly need kitchen utensil wise. Growing up and having a kitchen filled with every gadget you could possibly dream of, I never really thought of the exact tools that I would need to make three square meals a day. So, here is my list for all of you chefs, toast burners and wine pourers.
PREPARE:
Measuring Cups// Kind of goes without saying. These are important, especially if you love to bake as much as I do. When following a recipe, especially if you are making a baked good, it is important to get the measurements just right. I personally just have some plastic ones that were fairly cheap and they do the job just right!
Cutting Boards// We just have a bunch of plastic cutting boards in a drawer in our kitchen. Most people opt for wood boards, but I personally love the plastic ones. They are easy to store and a lot easier to clean. We use them for everything from veggies, fruits and meats.
UTENSILS:
Knives and Knife Sharpener// Again, important. Even more important- make sure they are sharp. I promise you it will make your life so much easier. The sharper the knife, the easier it is to cut things and it also makes it a lot less painful if you do happen to cut yourself in the process. Also, look up a few techniques on basic knife skills and how to cut certain items. It makes prep work a lot easier and safer for those that don't feel as comfortable in the kitchen.
Tongs// For me, I probably wouldn't have thought to bring them. For me, I only think of using tongs when grilling, which I do not do while I'm at school. But honestly, I find myself reaching for these more often than I thought. I use them mainly for cooking meats and roasting different vegetables. They are also useful when plating different meals.
Wooden Spoon// I use a wooden spoon for everything. I think I mainly gravitate towards it because I am forever scared that when I am cooking and using a plastic spoon, it will melt into my food. Unrealistic fear? Probably, but it still worries me! I use a wooden spoon for all of my mixing needs.
BIGGER ITEMS:
Cookie sheets// I use these all the time from actually making cookies, scones, pork chops, chicken and roasting vegetables. I easily use a cookie sheet twice a week if not more!
Saucepan and Frying Pan// Everyone in our house uses these multiple times a day. We use them to make eggs, any kind of meet and vegetables. They really come in handy all the time!
Glass Baking Dish// I love the one that we have here. I use it to make pasta bakes or my homemade mac and cheese! It is the perfect size and it everything cooks evenly!
As for cooking, I hope to do a little bit more of it this semester. I have a little more free time than I usually do, so I am really looking forward to testing out new things in the kitchen. I think Friday will be my day for trying something new, seeing as I do not have classes on Friday. For today, I currently have beets, butternut squash and broccoli in the oven roasting. On them I made a quick sauce of olive oil, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Once they come out of the oven I plan to put a little goat cheese on top and enjoy. The whole house currently smells heavenly!
the final product!
Love,
Susanna
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As the title says, yes, I am on crutches. You're probably thinking, how did that possibly happen? Well, if you have been up to date with the posts, in early October I tore my ACL playing rugby. I knew that if I ever wanted to play sport again or do anything remotely active, I would need to get it fixed. So on Tuesday, Santa, I mean, the doctor, gave me the great present of a new ACL. Now let me tell ya, I seem happy and cheery now, but if you saw me yesterday, you probably thought I was going to die. Well, it sure felt like it. Essentially, in the type of ACL reconstruction that I had, they took out a piece of my patella and tibia with a piece of tendon attached. They drilled holes in both my femur and tibia and then threaded the piece they had taken out to reconstruct my ACL. Thankfully, everything else looked good so all they had to do was give me a new ACL.
But, it isn't just a quick surgery. The full recovery for this surgery is 9-12 months and even then, it may take longer for my knee to actually feel like my knee. It will take a lot of time to rehab it and get it back to working condition. Right now, I have started to put weight on it, but I am not allowed to bend my knee yet. The past few days have consisted of a lot of sleeping and watching TV. The medicine that I was on made me really sick, so today is the first day that I have actually been able to eat something and keep it down. I start PT on Monday, so hopefully it won't be too bad. I plan on updating you all about how this is going, just because when I was planning the surgery, I wanted to know more about what to expect.
As for the rest of my winter break, I plan on resting a lot and getting my knee in good condition. My hope for when it comes times to go back to school is that I can walk with crutches comfortably and that I can make it up stairs! I think its a pretty achievable goal!
Wish me luck!
Love,
Susanna
Questions? Comments? Just wanna say hey?
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What am I listening to?
(I know, its weird that I am not posting a what I am listening to, mainly because I have not been listening to much music. Instead, I leave you with a what I have been watching. I highly suggest you watch the show Limitless. I have watched the whole season already!)
Although I have only lived in close proximity to Burlington for the past 4 years, it has really become home to me. I have probably said it before, but my mom hates it when I refer to college as home. But its the truth, both Saint Michael's and the surrounding area really do feel like home to me. It is no secret that Burlington is a great place. It has been voted one of the best college towns in the country and its food has been gaining great reviews over the past couple of years. Unlike its counterparts of Los Angeles, Manhattan and Boston, Burlington is a place to live and explore without breaking the bank. Trust me, I know. I'm a college kid after all. So, if you are a college kid living here or are just looking for some great places to explore, here are my top choices for things to eat and places to see in Burlington on a budget.
Let's start the morning right. Everyone knows that the best way to start the day is with a great breakfast. What's better than some good food? Good food that won't break the bank. Assuming that you were a little slow moving in the morning, I would suggestHandy's Lunch. Handy's is a super old school place with only counter seating, so it approximately only seats 25-30 people. This often means that there can be a wait, but I mean, the longer the line the better the food, right? The people that work there are great. Earl, one of the owners, is really friendly and will do everything he can to make you feel nice and welcome. The food is great and it is really inexpensive considering how full you feel after. It is definitely one of my go to spots for breakfast!
After breakfast you are probably going to have to walk off all of the calories that you just consumed. One of my favorite places to do that is at Lake Champlain Waterfront. Perks of this? It's absolutely free to walk around and the view is fabulous. You can always see people riding bikes, cute dogs and who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of our lake monster, Champ. One of the cool places to visit at the waterfront is the ECHO Center. The ECHO Center is a non-profit organization that hopes to educate people about the ecology and history of Lake Champlain. It is an awesome place to visit for people of all ages. Tickets are fairly inexpensive as far as museums and aquariums go, and they often have ticket deals. Here you have the opportunity to watch them feed animals, meet some baby animals and learn about all of the things that go into making Lake Champlain great!
Wow, all that walking must have started to make you a little hungry. Just a short walk away from the Echo Center is Church Street Marketplace. It is arguably one of my favorite spots in all of Burlington. Here, you have the choice of dozens of restaurants, shops and bars to choose from. For lunch, my favorite place would have to be the Red Onion. If you want to enjoy the best sandwich of your life, then look no further. My favorite sandwich to get is the Red Onion. I mean, if they name their restaurant after it, it has to be good. This sandwich has turkey, bacon, red onion (duh) and garlic mayo on your choice of fresh made bread. Delicious, right? A typically sandwich will cost you about $10 here, but it is more than enough for 2 people to split. Also, try one of their cookies. They are one of my favorites and I really don't like cookies that much.
After lunch, I would say that it would be in your best interest to just take the time to walk around Church Street Marketplace. As I said earlier, it is a long pedestrian street where there are tons of shops, restaurants and bars to visit. In my opinion it is honestly one of the best places to window shop. It's a great place on a budget because you don't actually have to buy anything. But, if you were so inclined to spend a little money, you could to to places like Tradewinds, Earth Bound and Homeport, which are some of my favorites.
After all that (window) shopping you are probably hungry again, right? I thought so. One of my favorite places is American Flatbread. I promise you will love this place the minute you walk in the door. Only a quick walk from Church Street, the rustic inside and the no cell phone sign really makes you feel at ease. On busy nights, like Friday's an Saturday's, there will normally be a wait. My suggestion is during the wait you should step up to the bar and try one of the local brews that they have on tap. Almost all of the ingredients used are local, free-range and organic, which makes eating pizza healthy, right? Any pizza you get here is good, but my personal favorite would be the buffalo chicken with blue cheese pizza. I like it because it has super thin crust and the sauce is super flavorful.
Finally, its time for dessert. Take your full belly and walk back up to Church Street and then one block past it to My Little Cupcake. This place is hands down my favorite place for something edible near Church Street. I cannot remember how my friends and I stumbled upon it but I am really happy we did. We make it our tradition now. Every time we go to Church Street we have to stop at My Little Cupcake to get a quick snack. They have both mini and regular sized cupcakes, along with cake pops, gluten free and vegan cupcakes. There is something for everyone! My personal favorites are the salted caramel and the red velvet. One of the cool things that they do for the 21+ crowd is every Friday night they have a pairing night, where you get 3 types of alcoholic beverages and 3 desserts for a flat price. They also have one of my favorite drool worthy accounts on Instagram!
After all that I'm assuming that you are totally stuffed and exhausted. It must be time to head home to get some sleep! See, doing things during the day can be really fun and inexpensive.
Winter months, especially January, is a time when many people start thinking about budgeting money. One of the places that I have recently discovered to help me do this is Personal Capital. They have awesome free financial tools that people what don't really know where to start can check out.
Love,
Susanna
Questions? Comments? Just wanna say hey?
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