Hitting the Slopes -- Then and Now

Last year my close group of friends and I have went to Aspen, Colorado to go skiing over spring break.  One of my best friends, Sam, has a family home on Snowmass mountain and its an absolutely beautiful home with a spectacular view of the mountains.  Now, keep in mind that I am not the best skier in the world and I still get made fun of for strapping on a helmet and looking like the "special friend" while everyone else is gliding gracefully down the slopes.  The skiing part is fun, but the time spent with good friends and tasty drinks/food was my favorite part of the entire trip.  Last year, we had a group of 10 girls and it was a blast just lounging around our Aspen cottage and relaxing.

This year, we went to Aspen again for our spring break.  This time we took a completely different group of people.  Last year was all girls... This year was four girls (me, Sam, Katie and Lex) and eight boys.  It was a very different dynamic but we all had so much fun.  Instead of sitting around sipping wine, talking about fashion and music and going to bed early to be rested for skiing.... this year consisted of shooting tequila at dinnertime, jumping in the snow making snow angles in our swim suits, telling very inappropriate stories (thanks to Mr. Storytime), staying up til 5am everynight, and waking up to Mr. Vacation making pancakes and listening to Jack Johnson.  We were already a group of very close group of friends, but after this trip I think it is safe to say that we have all become much closer.  Skiing was amazing this year, and I even conquered my first black diamond!!!  Such a great experience and a wonderful trip with a good group of friends... couldn't ask for a better spring break.

Sweet Surprise Homecoming

My brother, Lucas, enlisted in the United States Air Force right out of high school.  It was so weird having my baby brother away from home but yet I was so proud he was getting out and spreading his wings a little.  His first deployment involved a 6 month tour to UAE (United Arab Emerance).  He survived the 130 degree heat and sand storms, and after his 6 months was up he was more than ready to head home just in time for the holidays!  While he was deployed, Lucas and I talked via skype and facebook fairly often and he had one request that I was responsible for while he was gone.... when he returned back to the states he wanted to surprise our mom and dad.  Sooooo... considering my mom is slightly psychotic/bankstatement stalked/facebook stalker... I knew this was going to be quite a feat.  With only a few weeks left til his return, I had to lie to my mom and make up stories as to where Lucas was and when he would be coming home.  Then, on November 11th, Lucas flew to Milwaukee and we made the 6 hour drive to St. Louis... we stayed the night with my girlfriend and then drove home that Saturday morning for the big surprise... Here is the video... I cry everytime I watch it... Enjoy.

My life so far....

To start this off... its only appropriate to give a history on my life thus far.  I am originally from a small town in southern Illinois, traveled to Oxford, Mississippi for undergrad at Ole Miss, and now I am currently in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for dental school at Marquette University. 

Its been quite a journey and I have loved every minute of it. 

The south was an amazing experience... I attended Debutants, added "y'all" to my vocabulary, joined a sorority, dressed up for tailgating and football games, and finally became somewhat attractive to the southern frat star "swoop".  I learned manners, fashion, and how to walk in heels (kind of).  I met the best friends I could have ever asked for and it's pretty depressing that now after graduation we only get to see each other on random holidays and weddings. 
Quinn Eggesiecker is the weirdest/funniest/most amazing person I have ever met.  She kept me sane all throughout undergrad and I couldnt have asked for a better friend.  Roomies for three consequtive years, we learned everything there was to know about each other.  We have been through great times as well as very hard times, and our friendship has done nothing but grow stronger.  Lindsay Migely is the cutest little nugget I have ever seen.  She was always there stressing out about school with me, cuddling with me on Sunday mornings when we were both hungover as could be, sharing coffee's together at the library and raging on the weekends (remember your black eye, Migs? haha).  She is fortunately currently located in Chicago, so we are close enough to see each other a little more frequently.  Thennnn theres Catherine (Berkeley) Dorroh.  The most southern person I have ever met... seriously.  Her twang is so thick you can barely understand her, she knows more details about the SEC than you would ever want to know, she is a southern lady and a shit show on the weekends.  She was my first friend at Ole Miss and possibly one of the best friends I could have ever asked for. 

Now that I am at Marquette, I have loved getting used to living in a city!!  There is so much to see and do and there is never a dull moment.  Dental school has been quite the experience and I have learned so much in a very short amount of time.  Its one of those things where I am in lab for hours on end and absolutely exhausted and I will have one experience where I just get the feeling that "I am exactly where I am supposed to be".  Can't ask for much more than that... well maybe less tests and more sleep but whatever.  Dental school and Milwaukee has also allowed me to meet some amazing people.  I have met the three best friends a girl could ask for (S-L-K) and its a great feeling knowing I have a family so far away from home. 

Well, thats a little recap of my life and that's all for my first blog post!!  Hope y'all enjoy!