Nicole in Chicago

Must Reads!

2012-02-10T20:11:00.001-06:00

My last article for the paper is a list of books that I am suggesting for all to read, from YA books to non fiction. Here it is:

1. The HungerGames Series by Suzanne Collins

This series isgreat and is one that can be read over and over again. Though it is a youngadult series, many adults have enjoyed the story line and classic lovetriangle. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie adaption preview, it isall about life after the USA with new states, called districts, and each onehas to send two tributes to the “hunger games” . The games are basically afight to the death between 24 young adults. The story is shown through the eyesof Katniss, the heroine.

2. TheHeretic Queen by Michelle Moran

Moran’s followup novel to Nefertiti, focuses on thelife of Nefertari, the niece of Nefertiti, who lost her family in a fire is on journeyof restoring her family’s reputation that had been tainted by her aunt. Onceshe moves into the royal palace to be tutored by the Pharaoh’s aunt, shequickly finds herself falling in love with the crown prince, Ramesses II. Soonshe finds herself fighting against society to become his wife. Their love isstuff of legend and can be seen all across Egypt to this very day. This is onebook I can’t wait to have time to read and enjoy the world that continues fromher debut, Nefertiti.

3. TheNerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life) by Chris Hardwick

This book helpsthe nerd inside everyone explore the world outside of the Xbox games and roleplaying games. Chris Hardwick has revolutionized the nerd world with hiscreation of The Nerdist, a weeklypodcast that explores all the nerdy things that people enjoy, like Doctor Who, and current nerdy trendsthat are showing up. I love the podcast, but have yet to read this.

4. The Bestof Me by Nicholas Sparks

The author of The Notebook and A Walk to Remember is back with another love story to make you wishyour love was as tragic and exciting as the ones in his stories. This is astory of high school sweethearts that are brought back together after manyyears and kindle their romance.

5. Game OfThrones by George R.R. Martin

This is an epicstory of a fantastic new world that is a mix of medieval times and magic. Thisstory is an intense one that is worth the long read, because of the detailsthat bring the story to life. The series on HBO follows the series very closelyand helps explore the story in a new medium.

6. MissPeregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

This novel mixesfiction and old pictures to tell a story of children that are a little more “special”than others that were basically stranded in a house on an island. The story ofthe children is told through the eyes of a sixteen year old boy exploring anabandoned house on an island. This book has been on my list of must reads for along time and looks so unique that I can never stop thinking about it.

7. Th1rteenR3asons Why by Jay Asher

A very touchingstory, but a tad depressing due to the fact that it follows the story of a boy whoreceives tapes from a crush that had killed herself. The tapes are her suicidenote to those who are the reason she took her life and each person must listento them and pass them to the next person on the list.

8. Quiet: ThePower of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I am an introvertand am very proud of it, but sometimes it takes a toll on person’s social life.This book explores that many successful people in history and in the modernworld have been introverts.

9. A WalkAcross the Sun by Corban Addison

This is a fictional look into the world ofsex trafficking. It tells the story of two girls that are sold into the sextrade after losing both parents. Their story begins in India and continuesacross the globe.

10. Onwardby Howard Schultz

If you ever wantto work in the corporate world, this is the best book to read. This book is an inspirationand should be read multiple times!

Happy Reading!

Starting to Wonder...

2012-01-22T15:05:00.001-06:00

With only a few weeks left in Chicago, I am starting to wonder what life will be like in five years for myself. Will I be traveling around or will I be settled somewhere? Will I still be writing or will that be a distant past that I don't think of anymore? Will I have a somewhat handle on life or will I still be trying to figure that out? I know I shouldn't be thinking or worrying about this at 20, but these are some of the thoughts that cross my mind everyday.

One of the biggest questions on my mind is will I be happy? Happiness has so many variables that it pretty much encompasses all my fears and worries into one big question. This has always been the question that pretty much guides me in all big life decisions. I guess one reason I'm thinking about this is because the next few months really decide what I'll be doing for the rest of my life and where I'm most likely be living for at least a year. I say a year, because of something my sister, Erin, told me when I first moved up here back in 2009. She told me that if I wanted to move back right away, to think about it for a year before I move decide to move. This way the jitters of first being away settle and a rash decision doesn't ruin your life plans.

Well, another thing I am thinking about is do I continue on this blog or do I start a new one? This is another, less important I feel like, question that I think about from time to time. Let me know what you think.

Toddles!

Nicole

Six More Weeks!

2012-01-02T18:24:00.001-06:00

It is so surreal to think that in SIX weeks I will be graduated from college, granted I pass all my classes this quarter. This quarter is really testing my work ethic and how I study due to my capstone class. This class is vital to my graduating status. It combines all my hard work from the past two and a half years and puts it into ONE ten week course, a final research paper (roughly 80 pages), weekly exams over the material covered in class, a twenty minute presentation, and ONE five part final over all the classes I have ever taken. It is not pleasant, but I hear that I lucked out and got a great teacher.

My newspaper life has been very stressful, but has been going good! I love all the new writers that are sticking around for more than a paycheck. They are very energetic and encouraging, especially since I am new to being in charge they are making it easy. The paper is posted on line and looks great! Take a look!

I am organizing a fundraiser for the American Heart Association for a Valentine's message board in the paper. I can't wait for it to be over with and be able to raise money for a good cause, while encouraging people to share the love on Valentines day. So if you go to Robert Morris University stop by the booth in the Student Center in Chicago to send a message for 50 cents and make someone's day!

See you all next week!

Toodles,
Nicole

2011-12-12T17:28:00.002-06:00

I know... I haven't been posting lately due to an increase of school obligations and zoning out when I don't have those. I have really been left brian lately and haven't wanted to think when I don't have to. Hence the re-watching of Doctor Who and White Collar. Well, I'm going to bullets to update you all on what I have been doing.

I planned and successfully pulled off a holiday party for my internship for the Career Services office at the school. At the party I made a floating Christmas tree for decoration. I decided that if I was going to throw the party I wanted to become a legend. Which the tree did for me! I also made an assortment of decorations for the party.
I was promoted at the paper last week to Editor-In-Chief of my school newspaper. This means more responsibility, more editing, and more stress. I'm excited to help out, but am sad that my time as Editor-In-Chief won't last that long, only 10 weeks. Still as everyone keeps telling me, this will boost my resume. Which I will be busting out to get a job after this quarter is over.
I pulled out all A's last quarter! This I am very proud of!
Since Monday, December 5th I have been soda free and drinking lots of water! I am having withdrawal, but reducing caffeine will help me in the future with not relying on it to keep me going all day.
I'm taking my first art class since high school and a yoga class. (More Right brian centered!)
Still single.
I started reading The Game of Thrones on my last trip home before Thanksgiving. I spent Thanksgiving in Peoria with Katie Rose and her family. Which was great and hopefully one of the last times I spend that holiday away from my own family.

Well that is about all the new thing that have happened to me. Nothing exciting has happened. My goal for while will be to update this blog at least once every two weeks and my book blog whenever I finish a good recreational book I'll write a post. I'm starting small so that it will be achieved sooner and make my goal to get it down to once a week by March of next year.

If you want to read more of what I have been writing, aka the school paper, check out this link: the Eagle Online Editions

Till next time!

Toodles!

Finals are OVER!

2011-09-20T13:23:00.001-05:00

I just finished my last final and have a few sentences left in my final paper for my online class. I am so happy to be done with these classes. These classes have been working on my last nerve, but the information that I learned is useful and will probably be worked into my career one day. I think of stats as help for menu design and CIS as help for understanding how my computer and it's network function. I knew the basics before and now I fully understand it, besides the anagrams. Those always trip me up. Right now my grades are in the in between stages, like could be an A or B all depending on how well my finals go.

My mother is a saint! I thought I could wait till November to get the next to Potter's. She has sent them to me and I should be getting them tomorrow! I'll have nothing to do with the lack of homework and I'll be reading and finishing up Kingdom Hearts II possibly tonight or tomorrow.

I am going to see The Lion King in 3D today! I can't wait to see it. I remember going to see it in theaters when it first came out with my mom, sister, and someone else I can't really remember. I loved it and now I get to re-experience it.

Have a wonderful day!
Toddles!

Two Weeks Left In My Last Summer Quarter

2011-09-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

My summer classes are coming to close, so my life is boring. I have finished all my projects for two of my classes and I'm not stressing over the finals for them. I just have presentations in all my classes and one paper for Shakespeare and its all over! I picked up some books from the library today to pass the time in the coming two weeks. I also think I'll be writing reviews on them and posting them, when I finish. I'll also be spending some quality time on my books in the coming weeks. Time to sit and focus.

I think next week I will go see The Lion King in 3D! I can still remember the first time seeing it in theatres. The theatre right off the highway and when I go home I see it and think of the movie that my mother took me and my sister to go see. That was a rarity for us as a family, but it was great.

I just got some new music, which I am loving! I got the White Tie Affair, new JoJo single, Disaster, and Kelly Clarkson's Mr. Know It All. Plus a lot more. Ever since I had to transfer everything off my internal hard drive to my external I have been lost in my iTunes without playlists or the number of times played. That's how I could tell I like certain songs, because I can't remember names of the good songs!

Have a good day!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

2011-09-06T17:04:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I was able to go back to Blue Springs and see my parents. It was pretty nice to have a weekend away from my computer and busy life in the city. I enjoyed the peace and quite of the small town, and have made a plan to bring it back to Chicago with me. I feel like a few nights in, with some good movies or tv shows.

Today is the start of my last few weeks in this quarter and it is now crunch time. I have put together a list of objectives I want done in the next week and one of those includes looking up job opens for when I graduate. I have thought about doing the Disney internship if I don't find a real job before I graduate. I think it would give me experience I need and also great for my resume. Plus, I would really like to go to Disney World or Disney Land and enjoy without kids of my own.

I also was able to get my review book review site on blogger started. I will put a link on the side bar for those of you who read this. I just finished Bitter is the New Black, which I have to say was pretty good. I hope to get that review posted in the next few days, along with my review of Nefertiti.

Have a great week!

Starting to Write Again

2011-08-22T14:42:00.000-05:00

I figured it is time to start writing for fun again. I hope that one day someone will pick up something that I wrote and find a little piece of happiness in the book. That is if I ever finish anything I start. I have put writing time into my google calendar, now lets hope this helps me finish this sooner rather than later. I can't really say want I'm writing about but I promise it's something you don't want to miss out on, if and when it gets published, even if I need to come up with a pen name. I should start thinking of a cool one. If you have any suggestions, please put them in the comment box. I would love to see what you all come up with. Now off to writing!

Crazy Life

2011-08-20T16:02:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've written, but my life has picked up right where they left off after I was sick for about two weeks after coming home from Paris and then dealing with a dysfunctional computer. School and newspaper is my life right now, especially the weekend after mid terms. I rocked them out this go round. I was very excited when I found out that I got an A on the hardest one. My reward is roasting a chicken tonight while I write a paper, my life isn't that exciting. I have been reading more, which is amazing. I just finished Nefertiti by Michelle Moran, there will be a review posted soon. I just posted my review of The Boleyn Inheritance, which was an exciting historical fiction. I loved it, a personal perspective of one of the most notorious womanizer in history. Check them out here.

I get to go home for labor day, so I'm making plans to see everyone that I have missed the past few months. My main goal for that weekend is to enjoy wonderful company and tell fun stories of Paris the entire time!

A Week Back

2011-07-24T11:31:00.000-05:00

I have been back in Chicago for a week now and really miss my home in Paris. I have so many good memories from the trip that I could fill a book! Now is the time that I start to filter through them and start the process of saving what I want to keep in physical forms. I went to TJ Maxx and found the most adorable boxes that say Paris all over it to keep all of my little trinkets from there. I now get to print out pictures and all my blog posts to keep in the box for my children to go through when I get older.

Being back has it's advantages though. I have missed my lovely friends and now get to talk to them whenever I want to and get a response in minutes! Yesterday I was able to recreate the yummy tzatziki sauce that I was able to get in Paris. I made so much and it was so easy! Once I get the recipe written I'll think about posting it on here, only if I get a comment saying that you want it.

What Happened to Goodbye

2011-07-05T10:09:00.000-05:00

Hello all, I'll be posting on this more after I get back from Paris. I just want to inform you about my new book review on My Crazy Bookself. Check it out! Also check out my Paris blog. Nicole In Paris.

Getting Prepped for Paris

2011-05-24T20:26:00.000-05:00

Alright, so I'm not going to be posting on here for a little while because I have a blog for while I am in Paris. I wanted to give you all a heads up to where you should be looking for new posts. I have already a few posts over there so I encourage you to read them for now.

My Blog for Paris:
Nicole In Paris

Now when you get bored over there check out my book reviews over on Tumblr!

My Book Reviews:
My Crazy Bookself

Non-Smoking by 2020

2011-04-25T20:18:00.000-05:00

Remember the days when at a restaurant you were asked smoking or non smoking? I do a little, but it is a fuzzy memory that the next generation will not have. When I worked at Golden Corral people asked to be placed in non-smoking, even though there wasn't any smoking on premise. When the bans started I was happy, because I didn't like the amount of smoke that filled the entire restaurant ruining the experience for the non smokers. I believe smoking should be left to the out doors and personal houses and homes.

I just read an article that says that the CDC, Centers of Disease Control, is predicting by 2020 every state will have a smoking ban. The pressures from the public officials is the main driving force behind the bans. Studies have been done since the beginning of the bans that have shown a decline in childhood asthma and adult heart attacks. This is has only been in the last ten years. It is astonishing that in such a short time there is a significant change. What will happen when everywhere has the ban? Maybe a huge reduction in lung cancer cases because people aren't smoking the same amount or even being exposed to the second hand smoke.

Click Here for the Original Article

Cleopatra and Vegetarianism

2011-04-22T21:08:00.000-05:00

Today I'm watching Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor for the first time. I'm about an hour into the movie and am enjoying it. This is a great way to end this week with. Cleopatra was such an impressive Queen of Egypt, she did whatever she had to do for the throne she desired, even killing her brothers and sister. Being the last great ruler of Egypt, she did her best to keep the Romans at bay by creating relationships with Caesar and Mark Antony. Making sure that her country remained what she loved and cherished. The costumes for the movie are amazing, the colors and fluidity are beautiful.

Enough about Cleopatra, now on to my possibility of becoming a vegetarian or more specify a Ovo-lacto vegetarian. This is where I am able to eat eggs and dairy products. I figure that I am basically a vegetarian because of being a college student. I love meat don't get me wrong, but I love vegetables too! I want to be able to have more good vegetables than have a little bit of meat. Poultry might be in my diet sometimes, but not as prominent like before. Today I went without meat without intention, so going without might not be that hard. I will not eat tofu though.

If more people started doing this, the problem of bad animal care might be more manageable. The less animals we eat, the less animals being treated badly and easier it would be to stop the bad companies and encourage the proper healthy ones. I'm not going to preach about how everyone needs to eat in this manner, but that everyone should look at what kinds of meat are entering their bodies. Most of the meat is raised in unhealthy situations, shown in movies like Food Inc. and King Korn, which is why meat is cheap. The better meat is usually more expensive, but the taste and impact to the world are better.

VIA Brownies

2011-04-15T20:25:00.000-05:00

Today I finished Onward by Howard Schultz, and I loved it! I now want to work for the wonderful company of Starbucks! In spirit of finishing the book I decided to make brownies with VIA, instant coffee from Starbucks. The story behind VIA was so touching. The driving force of VIA, aka JAWS to him, was a man named Don Valenia. He worked on JAWS (Just Add Water and Stir) for 20 years, his team helped create the bottle Frappacino and Coffee Ice cream. He died right before the product officially was announced and released to the public. I added my review of the book to my tumblr for reviews. There is a link on to it on the side bar of this blog, and I hope you like My Crazy Bookself. I know that the name is cheesy but I love it.

This week has been crazy, but yet what week hasn't. I didn't receive a title which stung a little, but I'll survive. The paper had yet to be printed. We just started rowing all eight, but we didn't go out on Monday because our cox slept in. That's just a start of it.

Enjoy the pictures of my brownie making!

Toodles!

Two Weeks Left

2011-04-10T18:03:00.000-05:00

Today I counted and I only have two weeks left of rowing, then finals and my trip home. Time is going by so fast. Then after I get back there is about three weeks of nothing and then PARIS. Thinking about it still freaks me out a bit but I get a little more excited. This week the new paper comes out and I have, I think, FIVE articles in it. One is front page and one is on the back! I have taken over the paper it seems. I keep wondering if I'll be gaining a title this week or not. I hope I am, but only the Editor In Chief and our Faculty advisor know at this point. I'll keep everyone posted!

In the news today I read that even ancient Egyptians had clogged arteries, even though they thought it was a recent disease. Now the researchers are on a mission to figure out the other cause of heart disease, because the ancient Egyptians didn't have a fatty diet like we have today. Part of me just wants to say that it's apart of how we age as humans, because if they found it in the ancient Egyptians who knows who else had this problem. Maybe in the future they can find a cure to heart disease, but right now people just need to eat the proper foods to keep nature in it's place. I'll be trying to eat better, but as everyone knows its easier to say it than to actually do it. Wish me luck!

Toodles!

Missing Flight

2011-04-06T09:27:00.000-05:00

The Spring Quarter is almost done...Less than three weeks till the end! Then I leave for Paris at the beginning of June! I am getting more excited everyday but I'm going to miss all my wonderful friends here in Chicago. I'll be missing Panera Wednesdays with Katie. The weather here is crazy! Everyone keeps saying that it's supposed to rain, but I haven't seen a drop. I just want it to rain and get it over with so that the summer will be here!

So yesterday, April 5th, it was announced that they found the missing plane from June 2009 on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It still amazes me that it was just lost with no idea what happened. Hopefully they can get the black boxes to tell us what the last moments were like. I hope that they leave the remains of the passengers where they are, they are in their resting place for two years and shouldn't be disturbed. It reminds me of what happened with Titanic. We left those remains where they were, so why not with the flight. Only time will tell us what will happen with the remains.

This happening worries me about my flight over to France, but then it gives me more confidence on how they are conducting flights. Mistakes are how we learn and how we adjust. Without them life wouldn't be exciting, even though this flight was tragic we hung on to every word when it was announced.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat!

2011-03-31T12:37:00.000-05:00

Rowing is one of the best things that happened to me, even though we are going on the ergs more than what we should be due to the lack of a cox. A cox is the in boat coach and steers the boat. We have had a cox, but she isn't working out every well. The last time we got out on the water we learned how to feather, which is when the oar is out of the water and parallel to it. I'll be looking forward to the fall because we recruited a cox, that knows what is going on, that will be LOVELY! I'm not liking how this one keeps running us into trees and walls. She is getting better day by day but the learning process is slow, if she would show up on time then there wouldn't be such a problem and I really wouldn't be upset and I would understand.

Being on a team is hard, but no matter what I'll always be on a team, either working, rowing, or just being in a group of friends. Friendship is a team of people getting together to accomplish a goal, like going out to dinner or a vacation to Miami. People can't live without friends, even Sheldon has friends. Being part of a team is inviable but you can make it bearable by surrounding yourself with the right people in all scenarios. I am glad I've surrounded myself with incredible people that keep me motivated.

Starting to Update More

2011-03-30T08:43:00.000-05:00

Since I am going to Paris in about 8 weeks, I decided to get back to my blogging so that everyone that reads this can see what is going on!

Here's a quick recap of what is going on in my life so far:

I am now on the advertising team for my school newspaper.
I wrote my first front page article for the April Issue.
I have a tumblr for my book reviews, but I will also post them here.
I have an awesome new camera that takes great pictures.
Rowing has started back up and there is a possible race this spring,

Sorry my life isn't exciting, but this is my life and I am enjoying the crazy.

Its been a while....Sorry

2011-01-08T17:26:00.000-06:00

2010-02-09T21:46:00.001-06:00

What I've Been Doing

Life in Chicago has been a blast in the last couple of weeks. I've been to Open Mic's, learned new card games, and started doing yoga. I've decided that I want to go for a quarter abroad in London next summer with my culinary partner,Aubrie,but am going to have to raise a lot of money.

I've made a lot of cool food this quarter and more good food on Thursday. We made lamb last week...so yummy. I've been taking more liberty on how things are made and devating from the recipe, which is going well. Next week I get to pick a menu out of a hat and make it from memory, but atleast I'm going to get an ingredient list from my teacher. Next quarter's class is going to be all about chicken and fish...yum!

My English class has been awesome and I feel like I've learned so much in a little amount of time from Coach. She's great and hopefully I get her next quarter. We had a Vietnam Vet come in and speak to the class about his experience in the war on graves duty. He looked like a little mouse, he was tiny and highpitched.

My management class has been great. Mr. D is such a great teacher. He makes people pay attention in class unlike my College as Career teacher, which by the way I don't know her name. He told us that one day he will eat for free where ever we are all working because he's going to be keeping track of the culinary students and what we are all up to.

What I'm Reading

Just finished Suite Scarlett and Giving Up the V, I'm in the middle of Jamie's Food Revolution. Also ON COOKING...my culinary book for class.

Whats in the Kitchen

Back to School Again...

2010-01-10T20:53:00.000-06:00

Well my first week back was interesting. We learned about and cooked baby cow...aka veal. I feel for the poor baby but hey its already on that path so why not make it taste good if its already dead. I tried sweetbreads for the first time and lets say it like Racheal Ray...yumm-o! It was so yummy. English is going ok, got a 98 on my first paper for her class. I was happy when I saw that. This week we have to choose a song that is our motto on how to live life, min is The River By Garth Brooks. My country roots are showing now. College As Career is still a pain in my bottom...making another resume...so much fun, not! My management class is going well, nothing new to report there. He's still crazy and now I know what slot machines I should use when I decide to go to the boats. There has been a lot of snow up here almost didn't have class one day because of it, but she made it in so we could cook that veal.

Well Bye!

2010...its been a decade...

2010-01-01T18:40:00.000-06:00

I can't believe its been a decade already....10 years ago everyone was relieved that Y2K didn't kill all of us...1 year ago I was in California on the Queen Mary after the Rose Bowl Parade...crazy to think it was a year ago. Well I'm on the dean's list for my first quarter of college. I'm taking a meats class this quarter, a restuarant managment class, English 131, and College As Career (the worst of the bunch!). English isn't to bad just some of the people in the class need to learn not to interupt others while they are speaking... Meats is cool, learning how to fabricate meat is something I've been looking forward to doing. My teacher for restaurant managment was in the the Vietnam war, so he isn't afraid to offend people at all. He's amusing as a teacher and makes class worth showing up.

Haven't been able to sit down and read a good book...tear...but I have been reading a lot out of my On Cooking Book...aka the Bible for Culinary Students, with some pretty highlighters so I don't get distracted while I'm reading it. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person with homework because everyone else doesn't do it or they wait till like one a.m. to do it.

Being home is amazing, don't want to leave but I have to get back to reality...no bueno...but I have to deal with it sometime. The shortness of the break isn't bad because if I went back on the 18th like everyone that was let out on Dec. 18 I would be bored and resent Blue Springs and not appreciate being home and the city. I would just want to go back as soon as possible, but with my break I get to enjoy and love it to the fullest while I'm able to be home.

Well it's dinner time at the Koskovich Ranch...

P.S. Any ideas for my New Year's Resolution?

Finals Week

2009-11-29T20:06:00.000-06:00

This coming week is finals so its going to be stress for me in chicago. Thanksgiving was fun at Caryn's house. When I got back yesterday I got to hang out with my friends, John and KJ, we watched Friday the 13th, The Neogatior, and The Inside Man. I fell asleep during the last movie. Tonight I made pork chops, biscuts, and greenbeans, yummy stuff. A couple of weeks ago I made some rice pilaf and steak for dinner which was so good. I love what I'm making in class and what I'm now able to make in the dorms. Well I'm only able to do this short of an update because I need to study for my finals this week.

Home...

2009-11-21T15:34:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't updated lately. My life is pretty business with homework and friends time has just flown by. My labs are getting a little harder but they are more fun when I do things. I'm always one of the first people done because when given a challenge I get it done no questions asked and do it right as quick as possible, which is good for me I think when I get into a real kitchen in the future.

I'm loving Chicago and all the people I've met and made friends with. I love my friends up in Chicago, they make it easier for me to surive in the city without freaking out or getting hurt. We all hang with each other almost all the time. They make sure that I'm doing ok emotionally if I'm missing home or something. I don't know what I would do without them. Thank you guys so much.

I'm home for the first time after moving up to Chicago. It feels like that I've never felt but its weird because I know I'm going back tomorrow and won't be back till Christmas but I think that I won't miss it as much knowing it doesn't take that much to come home. I love being home.

Toddles for now...

Missing Home

2009-10-27T18:30:00.000-05:00

So in my last post I said something about not living in a place like Blue Springs, but that doesn't mean I don't miss it and don't want to visit. I can't wait to go home for a weekend and see my hometown. Blue Springs will always be home to me. I'm missing home more now than I have been lately. I know that I'll be home soon enough and not want to come back to Chicago, but I know that this is where I'm ment to be and where I'll learn major life lessons. I can't wait to see my family and friends when I go home. I want to see Roscoe and baby Zoey.

School has been alright. Mid-terms this week, I think its crazy I've been here for over a month, it feels like not that long ago school started up. I've made some good friends up here that help me get through my boring nights and weekends. Right at this moment I'm trying to decide whats for dinner its taking forever to decide what we want. Hard choices at college right here. I think I'm going to study until I make up my mind.

WOW! Its been a month

2009-10-18T22:07:00.000-05:00

I can't believe thats its been a month since I moved here. This weekend was a blast, Ryan got his blue pass for this weekend so he got to spend the night. On Friday we went to go see ZombieLand, which is amazing by the way, and then just talked for a bit before we went to the movie. Yesterday we walked around the city a little bit and got lost last night. We went to Reckless Records, which is like a Half Price books without the books, and found Willow and almost bought it but instead I got Blood and Chocolate because Ryan wanted to see it. Then we had an early night because I'm missing out on a lot of sleep. This morning I made buscuits and gravy, which wasn't the best but was good enough to remember home, and then he left and I worked on homework and one of my papers thats due in a couple weeks, its about Tarragon, oh so exciting. All in all this wasn't an exciting weekend, but I did put up some more pictures in my room to make it more homey. Thats about it. No pictures this week sorry.

Peace and Love

Week Two

2009-10-09T12:41:00.000-05:00

So week two was so much easier than week one. Last night was an adventure. We tried to go to Buffalo Wild Wings and guess what? A pipe burst yesterday afternoon and so it was shut down. We walked aroung the north side for 30 minutes at 10 pm to find a place that was serving food and would let people under 21 in because it was all sports bars. It was crazy but is a crazy story to tell. I also got the package from my mom yesterday so I can finally use my camera. So I'll be putting more pictures up from last night and the building project that we took on a while ago. It feels like I've been here forever but I love it here. I don't think that I would be able to live in a place like Blue Springs ever again. I've already lost some weight because my pants all fit differently. I've made a bunch of food here. I made cakes with my cousin, Ryan, last saturday. They were so good. I used the red cups that my sister bought me. I loved how cute they were. I think I just found a trade mark! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been busy. I've made a ton of new friends and our apartment is the hang out place for a bunch of people. Its so weird, but cool at the same time. I've been every friendly to a bunch of people, my friend, Tim, told me he was going to make a list of everyone I say Hi to in the halls. Its a lot of people but I know it makes people happy when someone says Hi to them when they are having a rough day. Caryn and I are now rooming together. She and I get along really well so it was a good change. Well now I have to leave to go get my darn phone fixed because I'm having issues. So I'll leave you with some pictures.

Last Night

Making Shelves

Books

First Day

2009-09-28T15:53:00.000-05:00

Today was my first day of college. My first class was Microbes at 8 am and then I had a two hour break and got my locker and an CTA Multi Pass. Then my next class was an Excel class. My Excel teacher rocks, she is so funny to listen to during lectures. I got some homework but not huge amounts.

Last night I went to Chilis with one of my RA's, John, Caryn, and my friend Hassani. It was so much fun. Its sad that John is going to be leaving in ten weeks. He is so much fun. He's obessed with Farmville on Facebook, when he came over after dinner he brought his Mac Air to plant new feilds. So funny.

Well time to get to the books!

Gino's

2009-09-26T09:56:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a blast. First I went to the school for orentation and meet a couple new friends, Aarron and Murphy. Then I came back to the dorms to put together some storage shelves for the pantry, aka the coat closet, and did the dishes. I went back to the school later to pick up my uniforms, books, and knife kit. After I got back Caryn and I finished the shelves because at first we didn't have the proper tools for building them so Caryn's mom brought some with her when she came up to buy Caryn's books. Then the RA's planned a dinner at Gino's East. That was so much fun. I meet some people from the dorms. After that a bunch of us ended up in Aaron and Nate's dorm playing spades, Madden, and Rock Band till midnight. I'm Sorry I don't have pics, I can't find the batteries I packed for my camera so you won't see them for a while.

Peace,
Nicole

My Dorm

2009-09-23T14:50:00.000-05:00

My Room

So this is the first look into what my room looks like for the next 3 years.

Three of us moved in today and we are trying to figure out how to store the food because the kitchen has no storage at all!

This is the tiny "kitchen" that we are going to be sharing. Not enough room for anything but we have Caryn's mom who is going to be setting up some storage for us.

This is one of my roomies, Caryn. Her mom is going to help us out with organizing things in the kitchen

This is the living room we are all going to be sharing. That is my other roommate, Calla. She brought us a ton of food, thank you Calla's mommy. She is the only one of us that isn't in Culinary. She will help us all get in shape. She wants to be a cop in the future.

Now here is the view from my room.

Well thats all for now. Promise to blog later.

About to leave

2009-09-21T18:03:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the last night that I live in Blue Springs, MO. I'm going to be packing up everything in a van and driving up tomorrow. I know this isn't the last time I'll ever be sleeping in my own bed, but I know its the last time for a while. Its a bittersweet goodbye to Blue Springs, I never thought this day would come but it has. I know I'll be crying alot when my parents leave me in Chicago but my roomies already told me that they would be a mess as well so we will have our own pity party on wednesday night. People are telling me that I will be to busy to miss my hometown, but I know I will always think of Blue Springs and what I learned from all the wonderful people in this town.

Sorry I'm not the best blogger but I hope I will get better. Ironicly I wanted to be writer at one time in my life...but then I realized that I can't write as well as I speak.