Senior Year: First Semester Highlights

I can't believe that the first semester of my senior year in college is already over! These last couple months brought a lot of fun into the lives of the 24/7 residents (nicknamed because of our address, 247 13th Street): off-campus parties, dressing up in costumes (our favorite pastime), and spending lots of quality time doing crazy things together. 

On the other hand, it was also a very challenging and time consuming semester in regards to schoolwork. All of the roommates seemed to be overwhelmed around Thanksgiving break, especially since we all sat around during the Norovirus epidemic. Whoops. Nevertheless, we all finished the semester with heads held high and with senioritis in our hearts.

Here are just a couple pictures (ok, maybe 8) of my favorite moments from this semester:

The first week of school: classic picture of the roommates in action.

Out at the Curragh with the music kids!

Our first Toga party.

Our first rager (just kidding, only a small *cough* house party).

Homecoming with the couples!

Mmm...coffee at the Intelligentsia roasting tour.

Mom and Dad at Cosley Animal Farm.

Michael, Hank, Brent, Lama and I at Fall Crawl!

24/7 as "Japanimazing"!

This is our great attempt at dressing like Japanese anime characters. Costumes courtesy of the Hope College costume sale.

Michael and I enjoying breakfast and a morning stroll through Saugatuck.

Conducting the Hope College Collegium Musicum at our fall concert.

Woohoo! Gotta love those robes.

Singing with the choir at Vespers (note my solo stance, front left).

Everyone up front.

The music education majors at our professor's house (also notice the tshirt I'm wearing, designed by myself and Mari Jo...we're pretty proud).

More music students at Professor Randel's.

Set up in the music library. Did you laugh? I bet you didn't. It's ok, I only laughed because I'm a music dork and we love that kind of crap.

Hoping that next semester brings just as much fun as this semester did! 

DIY Blogs: My New Hobby

Thanks to Mrs. Leman, I am now obsessed with DIY blogs. Seriously, check some of them out (links on the right). I have found myself dreaming of color schemes, wall-paper and resale treasures in the last few days, and my creative side is bursting to try something neat.

Take "make something", for example (the first picture). I recently came across  Nicole Hill's blog and fell in love with her photography. Cool, right? I'd love to try something like this, though I'm sure it's more complicated than it looks.

Thanks to Black*Eiffel, I've also fell in love with some amazing clothes. Not to mention this beautiful table and chairs. 

How much do you adore the different chair styles all around one table? Gah. I'm drooling.

Crush

Is it a problem that I have a crush on a seventeen-year-old? 

Check it out! Love it.

While you're at it, you should probably check out this and this. Both hilarious and ridiculously entertaining. 

The season begins...

ESPN's GREATEST COLLEGE RIVALRIES:
#1 - Duke vs. North Carolina
#2 - Connecticut vs. Tennessee (women)
#3 - Louisville vs. Kentucky
#4 - HOPE vs. CALVIN
#5 - Xavier vs. Cincinnati
#6 - Indiana vs. Purdue
#7 - Philadelphia's "Big 5"
#8 - Illinois vs. Missouri
#9 - Penn vs. Princeton
#10 - Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State

NORO

ATTENTION TO ALL:

Hope College has been infected with the norovirus! Sadly (...), all classes and events are cancelled through Tuesday morning. According to the email we received from Hope, "The Holland Police Department or campus safety will immediately disperse any large gatherings of students."

Therefore, 24/7 will be holding a norovirus theme party! Please come dressed as your favorite biohazard material.

Norovirus: 1, Hope College: 0. 

Wisdom Teeth

This summer, the time finally came for me to get my wisdom teeth out. I had been putting it off for far too long, and unfortunately I realized that this summer might be the only logical time for me to get it done. Thankfully I was able to twist my friend Megan's arm into doing it with me!

The procedure went very well, thanks to my beautiful new best friend Valium. I took two pills a few hours before the surgery for my nerves and was happy as ever when they stuck the IV in my arm. Megan and I decided to wear matching tshirts to the doctor's office too, just to give the Doc a laugh (it worked). Sadly I was not very funny when I woke up, but Megan definitely made up for it. Here is a video she made documenting our morning at the dentist:

Wisdom Teeth

Ahh, good times.

Right after the surgery

Megan with the doc.

p.s. The shirts are our sisters', we promise (long story....ask them).  :)

I guess I should probably finish up my Eurotrip blogging so that I can get onto other things...

I know it's been awhile, but here are some pictures from my after-travel to Italy!

Famous bridge in Florence

Standing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Eating gelato :)

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre 

The four friends eating an amazing Italian meal!

We love Rome.

Three suggestions for travel in Italy:

1. Go to Cinque Terre,

2. Eat lots and lots of gelato,

3. Never, ever, ever go to Rome in July. 

Ciao!

:)