Sorry y'all! I was too busy Mardi Gras Mambo-ing to blog!!

I am so sorry that it's taken me this long to blog... especially since there has been so much worth blogging about!! To go in chronological order...

The first weekend back at school marked the kick-off of Spring Sorority Recruitment. It was so intense!! Since our class is so large (approximately 1,400 students), we also had an incredibly large amount of girls rushing sororities (almost 450). Overtime some girls drop out, though, so there weren't THAT many girls joining our six sororities on campus at the end of the whole process. The entire Recruitment Schedule panned out over two weekends... and, just my luck, I caught the flu and was in bed the week between Rush weekends. It was awful to be that sick! Luckily, though, my friends helped out and took such good care of me! Some of them shared class notes, some brought me food/drove me to get food and medicine, and some just kept me company. It was really nice. The final weekend of Rush I still had a very, very unattractive cough, but was otherwise feeling okay. And thank goodness I was feeling better because I would have been so sad had I missed that weekend. It was a blast. On sunday we piled into McAlister Auditorium and got our bids from houses... and I became a Pi Beta Phi!!!! I was so excited. I knew a lot of girls in my pledge class, but there were also a lot of girls that I didn't know. The Pi Phi girls took us out to lunch to celebrate, though, and I quickly learned who my new sisters were. It was so exciting!!! I love my Pi Phi sisters so much.

Then, without even a little break, Mardi Gras rolled around. As the biggest celebration of the year, and in the heart of New Orleans, Mardi Gras became every student's priority. And I can now, after experiencing it all, see why. The tradition and culture is totally unparalleled, the sense of community and togetherness unreal! 24 hours a day there was something going on, whether it be concerts with groups like the Soul Rebels and Galactic, or parades like Muses and Orpheus, some kind of event continued to attract Tulanians, New Orleanians, and tourists alike. I loved the parades because I got so much free stuff... beads, cups, bags, cup holders, stuffed animals (I lost my teddy bear, bob. It was sooooooo sad), crowns, even coconuts. It was amazing.

All the parades that I went to ran right down St. Charles and into the French Quarter. A lot of the fraternities had tents or trucks (with couches set up!) all along the street. So I became a nomad and trekked up and down St. Charles visiting my guys friends who have become newly dubbed "frat boys." My friends and I had a blast. I got to hang out with a lot of my new sorority sisters too. Pi Phi even organized two mixer-type events with two different fraternities... such great times! Mardi Gras was without a doubt the time of my life. I enjoyed it so much that I actually stayed up for the Lundi Gras night/Mardi Gras morning. Basically since Tulane students get "Carnival Break" I was able to go out on a Monday night and stay awake until the parades the next morning on Mardi Gras (THE Fat Tuesday). I'm already ready for next year to come around for my second Mardi Gras!

And just when you think Tulane couldn't get any better after Mardi Gras, it does!! Barack Obama came to visit right here on campus!!! He spoke in Fogleman Arena on Thursday. It was incredible!!! I cannot believe that I was in the presence of the potential next President. How thrilling? His speech was wonderful and very motivating for Tulane students and New Orleanians (a lot of people even came from outside New Orleans to hear him speak). The line was sooooo long to get in. People that arrived over an hour early didn't even make it into the arena because it was so packed. Some of my friends woke up at SIX AM to get in line. It was truly an experience... and definitely another indication of how much Tulane students want to involve themselves in politics and the world. I was so impressed. This was a lot more fun than when Ann Coulter came to visit.

And the very next day, my dad came to visit!! It was so much fun I took him to the Boot and then we went to K-Pauls Louisiana Kitchen (DELICIOUS food). That brings me to today. My dad and I just got back from the Tulane Men's Basketball game. We played Houston. It was such a good game and we were even winning for a long while! We ended up losing in the end, but not by much!! After all, no matter what... the Green Wave rolls on!!

Home sweet home!

It feels so great to be back at school!! Everything pretty much picked up from right where it left off. Except instead of everyone looking tired and run-down from finals, everyone is refreshed and totally full of life again. I think that our break gave everyone the down time they needed to get back to the swing of things again. I, for one, dove right back in. I even gave a tour to transfer students on first day dorms were open. It was really fun and a great oppertunity to get to know some new faces. And the weather was perfect. low 70's and sunny! I'm sure the transfer students must have been thinking, "Phew... I made the right choice. My tourguide is able to wear a skirt and t-shirt in january!" I know that's what I was thinking.

So I was able to unpack before my tour and really get organized. I even went to the bookstore and got my books/school supplies for the semester. It was such a productive morning. After my tour I laid in my bed, trying to take a nap, but really just basking in the fact that I was back in my room. My roommate and I had a good bonding sesh too! Meanwhile everyone on my floor was coming back... very exciting to reunite Mo8! Later on I went to Bruff. I actually missed it while I was gone so my early bird special/very late lunch was very delicious! Bruff was repainted and everything. It looks so revamped. AND, among other things, there is a new pannini maker (adds a little something special to your average turkey sandwich!).

After lounging around some more, my friends and I got together for our very postponed secret santa. It was very fun... and for the most part we were all very secretive and sneaky about our gifts. I loved my gift!! I got a gorgeous silk top from J. Crew (very stylish) and the cutest black headband with a bow on it. My secret santa nailed it! It was the perfect gift. Afterward all of us secret santas went out to the Boot to see everyone else who had just arrived back in the NO (New Orleans). It was so fun to catch up with everyone and hear how their breaks had gone. It was a very relaxing night.

The next day I had class. And I have to tell y'all... I LOVE all of my classes. I got so lucky with my teachers. But I picked up an extra class (International Relations... so interesting) and dropped British Literature II (I'm sad, but no one signed up for it this semester so I'm going to take it next semester) which means I have one class on friday. Still, not too shabby of a schedule if I do say so myself. And my professors are awesome. All full of energy, all passionate about their subject matters. My political science professors are awesome because they are also very much involved in the field (outside of teaching). My American Government professor actually works for NOPD. It's really interesting.

So that is how my first week is going. Tomorrow is the Spring Activities Expo. I'm really psyched for that as well.

Some other things to look forward to: Mardi Gras lacrosse tournament, Sorority Rush, and, last but most definitely not least, MARDI GRAS!

Stay tuned!

Break Flew By...

I feel like it was just yesterday that I took my last final (Religion and Politics) and hailed a cab to take me to the airport. And now I have less than a week left until classes begin! And as sad as I am to leave my friends and family, I could not be more excited to get back to Tulane. I miss everything about school and I miss everything about New Orleans! Basically, the break was timed perfectly... I enjoyed every minute of it... and I'm ready from break to end. I actually even miss studying and doing school work. TRUST ME when I say that I loathed having work on my vacations on through high shcool, but not having any kind of academic worry or care in the world for a whole month is too much to handle. I'm going crazy!

Anyway... a quick update on the events of my life. Mountain Lakes has been pretty low key... lots of sleeping, watching movies, shopping, and working out. VERY EXCITING. I went to Cincinnati for Christmas to visit my grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousin... a very tradition... always fun. I came back a few days before New Years and I got to see Stacey from Tulane... she lives about 30 minutes away. It was so fun to see her. We had a slumber party. We're such party animals.

On New Years I went to see my friend Jackie.. who I have known since the summer we met in 6th grade at Camp Birch Hill. She also lives really, really close to Mountain Lakes. It was so refreshing to see her. We don't get to talk as much as I would like, but it's nice to know that we can always pick back up right where we left off when we get together.



A few days later I went to Florida for my sister's basketball tournament (Mere that goes to Colby. She plays basketball there and is, if I do say so myself, AMAZING!). Florida was so much fun! We had such a large family clan down there. We represented quite well. To the right is a picture of some of my family and some of Meredith's team out to dinner on the first night. Notice... I am not tan because the weather was so crumby! Of course on the day that we leave, it's 80 and sunny. Just my luck! Nonetheless it was so wonderful to see my sister play basketball. I haven't seen her play since last season!! I miss her so much because she's back at school and I'm here in Jersey (boring!).

This is Meredith (Blue). She is going to hate me for putting this picture up... but I had to. I'm her biggest fan. And I just learned how to put pictures on my blog... so I'm going a little picture crazy. Mere made that shot, by the way. No big deal.

In other news, my roommate, Katherine, came over to my house last night after a long afternoon of shopping at The Mall at Short Hills, or what I like to call, the mecca of all shopping places. It was so good to see her and she got me so excited for this coming weekend... when we reunite at Tulane!!!!

I'll let you guys how my first week is back at school. I'm anticipating a very, very busy return. Still, I'm so psyched for my classes. I'm taking American Government, Brit Lit II, E. Bio (not too happy about that.. but at least I'm getting my lab science requirement out of the way), and Spanish. And I love my schedule too. I don't have class on fridays... which means a relaxing 3 day weekend. Am I lucky or what?

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Happy 2008.

So far, so good!

I'm sitting here in my bed, taking some time off from studying and watching Office Space on TV. I couldn't be happier. I've been studying so incredibly hard for finals all week, so it's nice to take some time to relax. My first finals week went pretty well. I started studying for my Calculus I exam on saturday, but ended up sleeping for most of the day. Sunday I really buckled down and studied the entire day. I also had my tutor... for two hours! I was so proud of myself. I was proud of everyone! The whole campus seemed as if it had been turned off, for everyone was quietly studying in his or her own little abode. The LBC (Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, aka the UC), the quad, the Business School, the library, the common rooms in the residence halls, they were all taken over by studious Tulanians. I was so impressed! It made me realize how serious finals are in college. Some of my finals counted for 50% of my final grade!!

So far, so good, though. I found out my final grades for three of my classes!! Two A's and a B!! I'm waiting to find out what I got in Religion and Politics... my final is on Tuesday... so we will soon see. I'm just excited to be finished with school work for a whole month! I'm excited to get home and see my family and friends, as Thanksgiving Break was way too short. I'm even going to meet up with some Tulanians from the Tri-state area. It's so funny how I traveled all the way down to NOLA just to meet people that live 15 minutes away from me in NJ. That's what I love about Tulane! And as thrilled as I am to be going home, I'm totally going to miss Tulane. It's my home away from home! It's still so warm here. And I'm going to miss my room/roommate. And my friends!! I'm going to miss the great restaurants and The Boot. I might even miss Bruff.

To say the least I'll be ready to return home, I mean ready to return to Tulane, after Winter Break. I'll report back to y'all when I'm in New Jersey!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Weather update!

I forgot to report on the weather!

Despite today (which was mildly brisk... sweatershirt and jeans weather), it has been so warm here. I wore shorts yesterday... in Decemeber. How can you compete with that?! And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather channel is accurate, because it said that Sunday is supposed to be almost 80 degrees!!! I love it.

One Eighth of the Way Done with Collge?!? OH DEAR!

Why hello readers!! As I began to edit my final paper for Writing, it hit me! This semester is almost over. My last day of classes is tomorrow. I cannot believe it. Some of my friends have even started taking their finals! My first semester flew by with a blink of the eye, and now I only have 7 semesters left. I have to tell you, I don't think that's enough time here! Anyway, things have finally died down since my return from Thanksgiving Break. I don't have any more lacrosse paractices or USG meetings until next semester, so I've luckily had a lot of time to focus on my studies and get those last assignments in before finals. It was a little stressful, but I breathing a little more easily now, as I just pressed print on my final paper... phew. I only have three finals: Calculus, Spanish, and Religion and Politics. I'm not too worried, because I have plenty of time to prepare. My finals are spread out, which is really nice.

In other news, this past weekend was really fun.. one of the best. On friday, I had some serious bonding sesh's with people on my floor... it was good to catch up. Then I went to take pictures of my friends before they went to their respective semi-formals. A couple of my friends were going to the Business Fraternity semi (shout out to my friends who just became brothers), and some of my friends were going to a fraternity semi. They all looked so glamorous. I put on my "mommiest" outfit and took lots of pictures like a crazed, yet proud, mom. Afterall, somebody needed to document my friends' hotness. Haha.

Then I went out to dinner with my friend Tyler and our Writing professor and her husband. We went to Fresco's, a place a couple blocks away from campus. They have pizzas, salads, sandwhiches... all delicious. We ended up talking for over two hours and, even though Tyler and I had a party to go to, we could have easily continued talking even longer. It was such a refreshing dinner. And my professor is so much fun. Afterward, I went to a sin city fraternity party. It was such a cool set-up! Right up there with Saturate as one of the coolest parties I have ever been to. They had a huge Vegas sign outside with those big spotlights. And the inside was decorated so well. All the fraternity guys were decked out in costumes. And some of the girls that were there to help out were wearing playboy bunny costumes. It was a riot. I loved it!

Then we went to another party at The Boot: Cowboy Christmas. EVERYBODY was either wearing cowboy/girl apparel, or ugly christmas sweaters and accessories. I felt totally unworthy of being there because I definitely wasn't hardcore enough. Luckily my girlfriends were in the same clueless boat as I, so it was ok! But that was soooo fun too! There was a live band and everything. They played Holiday songs and 80's/90's music.. basically all of my jams! To say the least I rocked the night away.

Saturday was glorious! I slept in until 11... I guess I really needed sleep. Then I watched Blue Crush and Notting Hill on TV. What classics?! Then I just hung out with my friends until an early bird special Bruff dinner around 4:30. Then I went back to my room, napped, and woke up in time to watch Sex and the City with the girls and order Dough Bowl Pizza. I was way too tired to go out by this point, so I ended up going to bed a little after 12. It was the most relaxing, non-stressful day I have had in weeks. It was incredibly needed. Unfortunately it left me with oodles of work on Sunday, but it was worth it.

I'll keep y'all posted about finals!

Happy Holidays.

And thanks, Mom, for all of the awesome decorations for the room... Katherine and I are looking festive as well!

Reporting to you live from the Jerz

Thanksgivnig break has finally arrived... and after 3 months of being away from home, and about 4 days of being away from school, I'm already missing Tulane!! Especially the warmer weather... IT'S SO COLD HERE!! Still, it's really nice to be with family and old friends. It's been soooo hectic since I returned from NOLA. I landed around 12:30 Monday night. My mom and I had one of those cliche movie embraces at baggage claim (very emotional for about 5 seconds) and then we came home and stayed up talking in my kitchen until 3 a.m. I guess you could say it was nice to reunite!! It didn't feel weird coming home at all. I thought I was going to feel so foreign in my own home, but it was just like coming back from vacation. I took my suitcase upstairs and crawled into my cozy bed! The next day my twin came home. Now THAT was emotional. I have not seen my twin since I left for NOLA, so seeing her was quite a treat. On Wednesday I got to see all of my friends from highschool at the 2nd Annual Mountain Lakes High School Graduate and Senior Luncheon. It was so fun to see everyone back in the cafeteria where we had spent so much time as seniors. There was a lot of delicious food, and I got to rep Tulane and recruit a bunch of fellow Lakers. I also got to see a bunch of my teachers, many of whom I wanted to thank for preparing me so well for Tulane.


And then yesterday was Thanksgiving. I always spend it with my family (Mere, my mom, and me in the photo on the left), and our family friends (shout out to the Kennedy's for always hosting the craziest, most delicious Thanksgiving ever!). Otherwise... there's not much else to report. I am, however, looking forward to the Kennedy's daughter's wedding on Saturday! It's gonna be a party.

In other news:

The Tulane woman's Club Lacrosse team did very well this past weekend at Emory's Play Day Tournament. I believe we only lost one or two games out of five. Our team is so much fun!! We had to drive to Emory, which is about 7 hours, but the girls made the ride go by so quickly. And we met some pretty cool teams once we got to Emory as well. We set up a lot of games for next semester, as well as recruited some more teams to come to the New Orleans Mardi Gras tournament. I'm really psyched for that. But for any of you guys interested in lacrosse, Tulane has an awesome club program. Our mens and womens teams practice and travel year round. The good news, though, is that the commitment is what you make of it. We just want as many people to come out and play as possible.

That's it for now! But I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!