Hi Nga.  Love you :)

the art of being too lazy to use full sentences

Life on Earth is beautiful. And short. Too beautiful to be so short, but it was never my call. Try to be the best you. Hold onto the acknowledgement that perfection = the journey, not the end result. It's never too late, and it's never too early.





I want a sandwich.

the art of Draw Something

This. is. SERIOUS. It's final's week (good luck to all of you!), so naturally I've been losing sleep over the etiquette of the latest trendy game: Draw Something.

I want to be both cool and good at this game so, like, I have a few questions:

1. Quality of drawing. I feel this is a double edged sword. Do you spend little time on it to make it seem as if you have a life? Or do you spend a lot of time on an impressive drawing?

2. Words. Can you use them or not? Am I automatically thrown into the 2nd class category for labeling those squiggles as "toilet" or, worse, am I deemed a straight up cheater?

3. Quantity of games. What if you wake up realizing you have way too many games going. Is it offensive to end one?? Or do you just let them go to the wayside?

4. Offensiveness. Is it okay if I want to draw something that isn't PC? Or should I strive to create a welcoming platform in the Draw Something world?

I'm just really stressed out about this all.

Play me.

the art of running a 10k!

I ran my first real 10k on Saturday. In fact, I ran my first race PERIOD on Saturday. Let me tell you, with the adrenaline rush and the universal excitement of every participant- these things are FUN!

I spent a good three minutes trying to decide how to humbly brag about my time, but I ultimately decided there's no way to do it: I ran 6.2 miles in under 50 minutes (my goal was an hour), and I somehow got second place in my age group (I mean..there were only 7 of us). My roommate, Kate, got first! In fact, everyone in my running group placed for their age group. So proud of them. :)

Now that I'm a running extraordinaire, here's what I learned:

1. Ride the adrenaline. Even if you don't feel like you can run that distance or run at that speed, trust that the adrenaline will take you the rest of the way because it will! But all the same..

2. A 15:00 mile or a 5:00 mile, it's still a mile! Pace yourself. I ran the first two miles at a 7:40-50 pace in an attempt to keep up with the males in my group. If I had let my pride get the best of me, I would have been crawling across the finish line, if I ever made it. I still ran faster than my training speed, a la #1.

3. Pants. Not going to plug a brand here, but...running tights are amazing. Specifically running tights from a very large local company...

Nike. I couldn't help it. But any running tights/leggings will do. :)

4. Shuffle mode on playlists. My iPod was tucked into a tiny pocket in the back of my pants. I forgot to turn my iPod to shuffle. In my refusal to stop and lose time changing it, I had the pleasure of listening to the ENTIRE. JUSTIN. BIEBER. ALBUM. for the entire run.

I love JB as much as the next 13 year old (this is no joke), but I think he may have just helped me finish the race a little faster.

5. Sprint the final stretch to the finish line. My awesome marathon-runner roommate sprinted the final stretch while I slowed DOWN and almost vomited on the congratulatory people. They were cheering me on, and I seriously think I looked at them and gagged as I crossed the finish line.

Suffice it to say, Kate looked cooler.

Ultimately, I learned that it's more fun to just have fun! In the very small light of competition, just make it a personal competition. I obviously couldn't run at the speed of the males in my group, and I was 100% okay with that, but I could run against myself.

I can't wait to run my first real 5k with my girlfriends next weekend.

The Art Of Updating Y'all!

I'll be honest, I'm only updating because I have a midterm tomorrow that I desperately need to study for. Counterintuitive, right? I feel like the only people who check this out also happen to be the people I don't get to talk with often, AKA Sweet, my beautiful cousin EMILY!!!, and any of you subtle creepers I don't know about ;) (it's okay, I'm in the same boat).

I'm going to go ahead and numerically list out 10 random and current "going-on's" in the hopes that it'll trick you into believing that there's any sort of rhyme or reason

to my life (in no particular order):

1. I'm running my first half marathon on April 15th! No, I'm not up to 13 miles yet...but at least I have cute running tights.

(As legally close as you'll ever be to going out in public without pants, but you sure do FLY).

2. Because of this marathon, I've adopted a mega-healthy, kind of over-the-top diet. This means very little gluten, no milk, a lot of veggies, no steak, no salt, less sugar, no alcohol, and...no coffee. Do I still sound like a fun person?

4. I get to be a bridesmaid for the first time for my wonderful friends, Melissa and Michael.

Perfection. I hope I don't trip.

5. I'm a little happy. It may or may not be because of a certain member of the XY Chromosome Club.

Okay, it totally is. And he's a total QT, no?

6. I turned 23 last week.I suffer from Chronic Babyface Syndrome and should get carded without fail. I didn't get carded on my birthday night. Is it too young to start lying about my age?

7. Despite being the Type B of Type B's, I'm learning how to value organization. Sometimes it makes sense to have your life in order, I guess..maybe. Less laziness, more OCD-ness? I still lose my cell phone 3x a day (thank you: www.wheresmycellphone.com!) but I'm all about baby steps.

This is a huge step. Huge. Life changing. The best.

8. I'm graduating this Spring!!! You're all invited. In fact, I expect to see you there.

9. After venturing off on a 5 year adventure of self-discovery and growing up, I'm moving back in with my parents while I work. Home sweet home. I have a job so this is okay, right? I would like to consider it... "economical."

10. I would like to take a wood shop class.

Me + Saw = A Beautiful Disaster.

11. There was no # 3. 

"And I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep. And I'll feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe. And I keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are."

...OKAY, TAYLOR SWIFT. You're setting a bad example for all of the Stage 5's of the world. Is nobody else concerned by this enabling behavior?

the art of missing your brother

1. Talk to him as much as possible.

2. Keep missing him. But don't tell him this. Keep it cool; you're the big sister.

Funny how the little brother that you bullied your whole life ends up being braver and stronger than you in the end. :)