On a Whim

Our Butler Bulldawgs are going to be making an appearance at Loyola in Chicago this weekend!

Ashley & I are nothing less than dedicated fans but we didn't know until like, uh, now, that the boys would be in Chicago this weekend.

Well, there's no time like the present, baby.

Ash & I booked our hotel room for Friday night last night & will be spending Friday evening & Saturday in Chi-Town.

Obviously, we know we're going to be at the game Saturday afternoon but we're not sure what we're going to do Friday afternoon/night and Saturday before the game.

So I'm looking for suggestions.

I really want to go to the Shedd Aquarium if Ashley can get a sub for her job Friday afternoon but either way, we still need suggestions for the rest of the time.

We're up for anything fun!

Ps. We kind of have a reason to go. If you hadn't picked up on it, Ashley's boyfriend, Erik, is #4 on the team.

... and the police were called ....

I think since Halloween just happened, it's the perfect time for this scary little story.

So, you know how I said I was good friends with the guys in high school? Well, I had gone to school with a lot of them since kindergarten so most of them knew every little thing about me. They knew where I lived like the back of their hands.

One night, I was having a little sleepover with my friend Steph. We never did anything big, we just liked to hang out & watch movies and eat apples & peanut butter. That was our thing. We also liked going to bed early so we were usually passed out by 11 or so.

We must have put on a movie or something because we were sleeping in my living room which has a huge 3 pane sliding glass door in it. The couch sits right in front of it. It's a sectional, so she was sleeping on one side & I was the other. 

I think it was about 2:30 a.m. when she said in a scared little voice, "aaaallliiiii I think someone is outside." I looked at the window and sure enough, there were 4 big guys standing in front of it. 

Needless to say, I was scared as hell.

I don't know how I was so calm but I got up and went back to my mom's room and told her there were guys standing outside the door and she came into the living room and picked up the phone to call the police. 

All of the sudden, steph said, "Ali, that really looks like B & P". I took a closer look and sure enough, it was 4 of our guy friends. They knew she was sleeping over & they knew the layout of my house & that we would be on the couch. 

By then, my mom was already on the phone with the police. 

I opened the door & said, "uhhh ... you guys better get out of here, my mom just called the police & she's not very happy." To which she yelled out, "MOM'S PISSED!" 

They took my advice and quickly took off, the police came & saw that was everything was okay & we still laugh about it today.

But dang that night was scary.

2 girls & a ghostie.

I've thought our dorm was haunted since the very beginning when I moved in a week before my roommate, Ashley. I would often hear the shower come on when no one was in the bathroom & hear the toilet flush too. It happens all of the time, actually. Lately, even more things have been happening.

Ashley & I watch Chelsea Lately every single night before bed & sometimes we'll be laying there, and the T.V. will go fuzzy or change channels or even turn completely off. 

Usually I remain calm while Ashley's like, "ummmmm Ali .... what the heck?? I'm scarrrreeeeddddd!" and creeps over slowly to turn the T.V. off & back on. She always has to do it since I'm on the top bunk & it's easier for her to get up. Most of the time when we turn it off & back on, it's fine. 

The other day, I don't remember what happened, but we decided to name our "ghost". Ashley wanted to name her Bernice and I wanted to name her Bethany. So naturally, we did what any other good roommates would do and we compromised. 

I introduce to you .... Bernethany.

Today when Ashley & I were walking to class, the door just opened for us. We know it was Bern just doin what a good ghosty friend would do & opening the door for us. 

This might be a two person dorm, but Bernethany isn't a person, she's a ghost. & she lives here too. 

Sad Day

My 2 bestest friends from Butler came to visit me last night! We went to a little hole-in-the-wall mexican restaurant that everyone in town loves & which people wait outside for until it opens since it doesn't open until 5. I took them to Zaharako's, an ice cream parlor downtown that was opened for the first time in late 1800 or early 1900 but was just refurbished & then we went to the outlets. It was the perfect evening that begged for today when we would go to the lake & jet ski & boat.

Except, while we were shopping, I got that feeling. You know, that feeling that's a sore throat and achy bones, a miserable feeling. I tried to brush it off. I faked like I was okay even though I couldn't stop saying that my throat hurt. But then when we got home, I started to feel worse. I didn't even want to sit up to watch while we Hulu'd The Bachelorette. Around 11 o' clock, I bought a movie for them from On Demand & apologized; there was no way I could stay awake anymore.

I slept on the floor while they slept on the couches & I woke up at 3 am writhing in misery. I do that when I'm sick or in pain without even knowing it - I make a figure 8 with my hips - I guess to get my mind off of it subconsciously.

I was cold & uncomfortable so I went & got in bed with my mom. Yeah, I'll admit it, I'm not too old.

At 5:30, her alarm went off & I've been awake ever since. She brought me some tylenol so right now I feel ok, except I really don't want to talk because my throat hurts but I think the lake & jet skiing is out.

I feel so bad because J & E drove a few hours to come see me & now I'm sick. They're still asleep & I'm just trying to decide what I'm going to do when they wake up. UGH. So disappointing.

I can only imagine all of this sickness is from my first week of working at the daycare.

Kids are seriously so gross. Poop, spit up, snot, oh my!

I promise to start taking a multivitamin & eating more fruits & veggies to assure my body is getting the nutrients it needs. It appears my immune system is going to need all the help it can get.

Until then, I'll just be laying in bed.

Tweet me! 

Wordless Wednesday

Meet my future roommate: Ashley! 

ELITE 8

I don't know if you guys have heard but uh ...

BUTLER IS IN THE ELITE 8!!!!

Our PR group at Butler has been doing work for Buffalo Wild Wings & it's our job to get people to go there during the games. I made a Facebook event Tuesday night for the B-dubs viewing and at last count, over 100 people had RSVP'd and said yes. So even though I invited everyone, it was too packed to go tonight. I guess I did my job, but it was kind of a bummer at first.

But where there's a will there's a way! We called ahead to Champs downtown and got great seats in the not so crowded restaurant. Me, Jessie, Emily, Drew & 2 of his friends had a blast hanging out & watching the game. It's 2 a.m. & I have a class at 8 & a full day tomorrow but I don't care cuz this was a super fun night & our guys are movin on!! 

BU-TLE-R-U-A-BULLDOG?

HELL YEAH!

Room 302

I'm so excited to share my first ever guest-blogger with you, one of my best friends, Jessie from Lovers Lane! She has only recently started blogging because it was a class assignment, but I think she's a natural! I love the way she writes & I think you will too!

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When I made the choice to go to Butler University, I was taking a huge risk.  Only one fellow classmate from my high school was going to Butler, and we weren’t very close friends.  This meant I would be shoved into a whole new world filled with thousands of people I had never met.  Oh, and try to become friends with them.

Did I mention I also didn’t know my roommate?  

Long story short, my roommate and I quickly became besties.  I also hit it off with the girl next door, Ali, who is the inspiration for this post.

Upon meeting Ali, I quickly discovered that her mom’s maiden name is mine, Munn.  How ironic?  I had literally never met (let alone heard of) ANYONE with my same last name.   Small world eh?

Ali and I began to realize we had a multitude of commonalities between ourselves.   

We both had long-term relationships.  

We both had lived with single moms.  

We both like power walking.  

We both like crafting.  

We both are worrywarts.  

We both laugh at ourselves when no one else will.

Who would have thought I would have found such a great friend in Room 302?  & honestly it was exactly what I needed.  I wasn’t exactly popular in high school, & have always had a way of losing good friends.  So, coming to college and instantly making lifelong friends was a blessing.  God knew exactly what I was worried about, & he answered my prayers.

& did I mention Ali and I are "cousins"?  Can’t you see the resemblance?

My Net

One of my all time favorite bloggers, Kelle Hampton, did a post yeserday about her "net", the girls that she knows that she can call on when she's strugglin' & even better, when she wants to celebrate something great.

I think it's important to remember that "net".

One of the things I did at the beginning of the summer last year, was make a long list of girls I could hang out with if I got bored. Anxiety for me, means that sometimes I think I have no friends even though, obviously, I do.

That list?

It helped tremendously.

& every single girl on the list, in the "net", deserves to be there & deserves to be recognized here

.Ali. Morgan.

.Rachel. Erica.

.Korie. Ellen.

.Cinthia. Emily.

 .Toogie. Jessie.

.Chrissy. Courtney.

.Nikki. Morgan.

.Devin. Katie.

Wow. Do I have a beautiful group of friends or what??

The best part is, they're all just as beautiful inside as they are out.

All different, but special in their own ways & all a huge part of my life.

Thanks for being in my net girls. 

You're loved.

Who's in your net & how do you celebrate them?

Happy Monday!

Good Morning Bloggers! 

Mondays were so much easier when class didn't start until 10. This 8 a.m. stuff is for the birds man. 

Regardless, I had a really, really awesome weekend & I wanna share it with you! 

Friday

Drew & I had a date night. We hung out with our friend Logan who goes here also & then we went to the Butler vs. Green bay game, which Butler won!! It was a super fun game.

Also, somewhere in the midst of this basketball season, my dad decided that texting me

"DEE DAWGS" 

meant that he had great school spirit & is really supportive.
I also think that he thinks "Dee Dawgs" is like a chant we say here at BU.

I'm never gonna tell him that um hello, never in the history of my Butler career have I said "Dee Dawgs" because it's just too darn funny when I get those texts on basketball game nights.

After the game, we came back to the dorm & fell asleep. 

Pretty lame actually, but we were both so tired - he had 6 a.m. workouts that morning & I'd had a really long week.

Saturday

Saturday morning, I got up & went to a 90 minute spin class that was UH-MAZING.

 Then, I drove for like 30 minutes trying to find Taco Bell (I know totally defeats the workout) and then did laundry at Marian, Drew's college.

 Laundry here is $3 a load. 

Robbery! 

But it's free at Marian. 

After the laundry, I came back here & Jessie & I got ready to go out. While we were getting ready, Emily came in and asked if she could go out with us too. So, off we all went! 

 Emily. Jessie. Me.

We met up with our friends Ashley and Kelsea & went to the Football House first. 

Ashley & I

The funniest story of the night was this: 

My friend Logan said that if I went up to the guy at the bar & flirted with him, he would give me a drink. So, off I went. 

I walked up to this guy who was not attractive and said Hi, What's your name?

He looked at me, unamused, and in all seriousness said,

"Just cut to the chase, I know you just want a drink." 

True story dude.

Not interested in the least.

After the Football House, we made our way to the Baseball House which was way more fun. 

I saw a bunch of friends there and we all danced, sang along with the songs and left happy. 

I lost my student I.D. which was $20 to replace, but it was all in good fun.

LOVE my girls!!

Me. Jessie. Emily. Ashley. Kelsea

Sunday

The morning came way too quickly today!!

I had to meet my mom halfway between here & home to get money because, while I lost my ID, I also lost my Debit Card a couple of days ago. Therefore, I only had about $35 to my name today & I had gas to get & an ID to buy. Even though it was early, it was nice to see my momma at the end of a long week.

THEN, I met 3 super awesome, Indianapolis-based, bloggers for lunch!!! Aly planned the little luncheon at the Cheesecake factory with Becky, the smallest Stoneking, Elli, and Sarah.  We talked so much that the waitress came a few times before we were even ready to order. It was really awesome to be able to meet 3 really great women. 

The blog world rocks.

After lunch, I went to the campus police dept. to get a new I.D. and then napped and did the normal Sunday night stuff, homework & cleaning. 

Hope you all had just as much fun as I did this weekend and are pumped for a fabulous week!

So What!

Ok you guys, before we get started, can we please all take a look at this?

I'm not sure this picture really does the color of these "bananas" justice. So here we go ... 

These are what Toogie (my roommate) came back from the store with when I asked her for some bananas. 

I would normally never do this but when she showed them to me, I laughed and asked if she was joking?   No. She was not. She thought if they were a little greener, they would last longer. 

God love her. 

Moving on  .....

.... to SO WHAT Wednesdays!

-

- So what if I ate a grilled chicken sandwich the size of my head last night, it was soooo yummy!

- So what if I bought a bag of Dove chocolate last night, also yummy. Are we realizing a trend? Whoops.

- So what if I was so tired tonight, I could only think of 2 things to say So What to, and they're both about food ... yesterday was the first day of classes!!

What are you saying so what to? 

Do it! 

It makes Wednesdays MUCH more enjoyable!

Christmas At Last!

Christmas was lovely.

We worked really hard to make it that way.

Divorce & death have changed our holidays and in a very bad way. I was determined that the two ugly D's wouldn't run our Christmas anymore - and they didn't. Our Christmas rocked!

Christmas Eve started at 10 a.m. when my best friend, Nikki & her mom came over for french toast & gift exchange. Nikki's dad died last year and our families are miraculously alike (and our moms are both super awesome) so not only has our bond strengthened, but our moms hang out now too. Nikki & Judy are our best friends and it was so lovely to start the holiday out with a nice breakfast and our really great friends! 

After breakfast, we hurried up and got ready to go to our cousin's house because that's what we do every year. We only see these people once a year on Christmas Eve and even though my brother always thinks it's really awkward, I love it. More good food, more good family. What more could we ask for?

By the time we left our cousins house, we were super tired so we took a fast nap before church. 

Our church is really big, so we had 4 Christmas Eve services this year. We went to the first one, the kid's service. Holy Moly! It was hilariously adorable. It was a skit about throwing a birthday party for Jesus put on by K-4th graders. At one point, I was in tears laughing at an adorable little boy singing up front. It was so sweet to see the little kids all pumped about Christmas.

Drew's grandma has everyone over on Christmas Eve every year, and it's something I look forward to. The food is delicious and the people are fun and it almost always includes at least one game of Friends Scene it. Drew got me a really cute bracelet, some awesome workout pants and a sports bra that I really wanted. I loved it all! We decided that it would be a small christmas since we don't have much money and we're not technically together anyway. 

We matched!

His dad got a colts hat, obviously.

Since my family had already gone to church, I didn't join Drew's family at the midnight church service. Instead, I went home to wrap more presents and stuff stockings. By the time I crawled into bed, I was more than ready!

My brother got a really big gift (a MacBook Pro) from both of my parents for Christmas. Since the gift was from both of my parents, we invited my dad over to open presents Christmas morning too. It was so nice to have him there and for an hour or so, feel like our family was back together. 

I woke up to him making biscuits and gravy (probably why I'm not trying really hard to lose 5 pounds)

My brother, Kyle, never wakes up early on Christmas Day. For the last 2 years I've gone to other people's houses and come back before he's even been awake. Not this year! He was up really early & so of course, I had to document it.

 

Mornin Sunshine!

Santa had filled the stockings. And the opening began.

After opening presents & receiving way more than I should have, I got my clothes on & went over to Drew's to check out his presents. Together, we came back over to my house for my family dinner - homemade lasagna!

The night ended quietly with a fire rolling and Christmas lights gleaming. Our house was cozy and my heart was filled with love and gratefulness for the awesome family & friends we have and the first holiday that really felt great in a long time.

Girls of 3NW

Our unit at Butler has the sweetest, cutest RA of all & that's a fact.

She works her booty off sometimes taking 18 hours, plus being in theatre, plus teaching dance classes, plus dabbling in photography & taking head shots for her friends in the theatre department amongst other small projects. & She's always coming up with fun things for our unit to do. 

Basically, she rocks.

Before finals week, she emailed us all asking if we'd be interested in doing a 3NW Christmas photo shoot on the Sunday before finals week. A bunch of us signed up to do it, but it snowed a ton that day & it was so quiet so Jessie, Emily, Toogie & I planned on ditching. We all planned on ditching until like 15 minutes before when we realized that everyone had the same idea and we didn't wanna leave Stephanny totally ditched.

So we put on our outfits (I curled my hair and put on makeup, of course) and we went and took pictures. Steph was right, it was a good break from studying and so much fun! 

These are what came out of the session:

... Jessie, Emily and Sarah patiently waiting for me to arrive ...

 I made it!

 I'm thinkin no one would want to kiss me if I made this face, whatcha' think? 

We had so much fun & now we have great photos from first semester, freshman year!

Thanks Steph!