It's Midterm Time in Tennessee!

I finished reading The Host, and while I hate to see a good book end, it's really time for me to quit reading and start studying. Because. . . it's MIDTERM time in Tennessee!

I already had my bio midterm and it was killer. :/ My professor, Dr. Reichert is an absolute genius. . . but she doesn't really explain things well to those of us who aren't. Her exam had 25 conceptual based questions, no facts just abstract application. Anyways, I made an 84, but there is suppose to be a big curve according to her previous students.

Other than that I am trying to study for my chemistry, french, and sociology midterms. I have chemistry and french covered, but sociology is worrying me. It, the final, and one other exam are the only grades in the course, and it doesn't look promising. My professor said he took the exam himself yesterday and got a 50%. Yeah, I'm terrified!

Once this week is over, however, I can relax and enjoy Tennessee beat Auburn silly! Mah-ha-ha. Let the evil laugh begin. : )

I'm Hooked

With midterms coming up, I really should be studying, however, to distract myself from this stressful event, I've come up with an alternative: READING. Since our library's leisure reading collection is fairly limited, I only had a few choices, one of which was Stephanie Meyer's The Host. Though it didn't seem to be my type of book, my love for Twilight eventually won out and I chose The Host as my latest distraction. Well, I'm hooked. Not to be blasphemous, but I think it may be better than Twilight. It's packed full of suspense and you honestly get inside of the character's head. . . I honestly can't wait to find out what happens next. Plus, it too will soon be on the silver screen. Producers Nick Wechsler, Steve and Paula Schawrtz have acquired the screen rights to the novel, and Andrew Niccol will write the script and direct.

Evolution of Beauty

So, I saw this video on Sweet, Sassy, Southern, and Classy's blog and I was shocked at how clearly it displays the distortion of "beauty". I am proudly joining Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty, because I think it is about time we all celebrated our individuality and stopped attempting to conform to this media monster.

11 Signs You are in Love

I got this in an email forward, but I thought it was really cute. : )

ELEVEN You walk really slow when you're with them.

TEN: You feel shy whenever they're around.

NINE: You smile when you hear their voice.

EIGHT: When you look at them, you can't see the other people around you, you just see them.

SIX: They're all you think about.

FIVE: You realize you're always smiling when you're looking at them.

FOUR:You would do anything for them, just to see them.

THREE: While reading this, there was one person on your mind this whole time.

TWO: You were so busy thinking about that person, you didn't notice number seven was missing

ONE: You just scrolled up to check & are now silently laughing at yourself.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid. . .

It has been raining here in Knoxville for about two weeks and according to my small-talk source in the elevator it is predicted to continue raining for the next 11 days. It seems to me that this is the perfect weather for vampires, which in itself is very scary, but even more frightening yet, it is the perfect weather for horrible hair days. I personally have taken to wearing a hat like the one in my profile photo, but other than that my hair has become untamable. The last day it looked good was September 13th as demonstrated in the pictures to my trip to the library above. Try to ignore the bad angle on the second photo. . . or is that the freshmen 15? Either way try to focus on my hair and not my chipmunk cheeks. : )

This Week at UT. . .

MONDAY:

Sept. 14th. (tonight) Spike Lee will be coming to the BCC to speak as a "Living Ledgend" at 7 p.m.

TUESDAY:

2. Today and Tomorrow, Disney will be interviewing for paid interns this summer at the UC.

WEDNESDAY:

3. There is a blood drive going on around campus as a competition against Florida State. Be sure and drop by the UC or the various Bloodmobiles around campus to donate.

THURSDAY:

4. Volunteer Fair in the UC Ballroom on Thursday from 11-2. Many organizations will be on hand to discuss volunteer activities, including the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, Teach for America, the Peace Corps, and Team VOLS.

FRIDAY:

Give SGA your input on bands for this year's Volapalooza, by voting online at http://sudentvoice.com/tenn/volapalooza.

SATURDAY:

6. Restoring the Streets will be working with "Keep Knoxville Beautiful" this Saturday, Sept. 19, cleaning the streets of Knoxville. If you would like to participate, please meet in front of the Black Cultural Center at 8:15 a.m. on the 19th. The group will work from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please wear tennis shoes and jeans that you do not mind getting dirty. Documentation for your service hours can be given. Questions? E-mail elipsey@utk.edu.

Cutest Pink Dorm Room known to Man!

So, I want to brag on my awesome dorm room, but picture's are worth a thousand worth a thousand words so I'm posting them instead. : )

My awesome vanity! Isn't Massey the cutest!?

The wall art I made myself. ModPodge is my hero. : )

Full length view.

This one is my favorite.

The top shelf is holding $750 worth of texbooks! Pretty skimpy, huh?

New New Moon Trailer!!!

So, I am super excited about the New Moon movie, especially since it is premiering here in Knoxville! Just wanted to share the newest trailer. : )

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Campus Fashion

As seen on campus:

Nike Shorts in various colors. . .

MUST be paired with Rainbow flip-flops for maximum appeal.

Here's the down low on campus fashion: Most students wear Nike shorts and various university affiliated t-shirts to class, paired with rainbow flip-flops of course. I'll admit it. I gave in on the flip-flops. At first I was let-down, because I just paid $50 for these "fantastic" flip flops and low and behold they gave me horrible blisters. I then further complicated the situation by listening to the advice of a certain cute boy I know and covering the blisters with super glue. Well, that backfired and ripped off all the blisters and the accompanying skin. Ouch!

And though my feet are a little scarred now, it all worked out in the end. My Rainbows are completely broken in, and they are the most comfortable item in my wardrobe. They have plenty of arch support and the wide strap keeps them securely on my feet even as I trek up and down hills all over campus. Honestly, I get enough use out of them to cover the cost and then some. My advice: invest in a pair, but give yourself a good two weeks to break them in before you go trekking all over campus.

I have yet to give in on the shorts, however, because I see that as the ultimate sign of defeat. I prefer to look less like "I just walked out of the gym" and more like "I just walked off of the runway." I wish that campus was a little less casual and a little more like the show Gossip Girl. As you know, that show is my all time favorite fashion inspiration. In a previous post I blogged about how Instyle.com catalogs all of their outfits by season so you can purchase the same pieces online. You can't do that on a college kid's budget, though. . . Well, at least not mine. haha. Anyway, that is why I am super excited about the new Gossip Girl fashion line coming out at Target.

The collection, designed by Anna Sui, contains signature items representing each of the 4 main female characters: Blair, Serena, Jenny, and Vanessa. The line will be sold at Targets nation wide from September 13th to October 17th. Lucky for us, the pictures have leaked online, so to view them click here. Enjoy and if you see me at Target on September 13th, you'll have to forgive me for trampling you. ; )

Boomsday!!

So, I had a great long weekend. Hope all of you did as well. : ) We had our first game against Western Kentucky and we owned them 63-7. Unfortunately, I didn't get a ticket, because I didn't really understand the new claim system. I have figured it out for this weeks game, though, and already printed my ticket for the UCLA game! If you missed last weeks game, too, or you didn't get a ticket to this weeks game, you can follow TN football online at the UT Sports Site.

In addition to the game, I went to Boomsday. . . or I guess I watched Boomsday from campus. We sat in the HSS plaza and saw the fireworks over the stadium. They were spectacular, but toward the end the smoke was so thick that they were almost hidden. Haha.

Other than that, I spent the weekend catching up on homework and reading my textbooks. Biology 130 is kicking my butt. And it's not I don't know the material or do my work, it's just that I haven't figured out how our assignments are graded. It seems totally arbitrary. It's like a completion grade, but based on effort. I'm meeting with my lecture assistant tomorrow night to discuss my grades. . . We'll just have to see how it goes from their.

Did I mention that I love Thursdays?

Well, I thought I was done bragging about how awesome my Thursdays are, but I'm not. I just had to share one more fun fact! Thursday's are free bowling shoe rental night at the Down Under, so my free bowling shoes were the perfect end to my perfect day. : )

While we're on the subject of shoes. . . I need to mention my new obsession: TOMS. I've seen them before in Whole Body (a division of Whole Foods), but I was never really interested until I saw them all over campus. So, I asked a friend from across the hall about them and she gavee me the scoop. Now I have decided: They are the cutest shoes ever and for every pair sold, they give a pair to a child in need. Isn't that amazing? My shoe fetish can final benefit someone else! My favorite design is the large polka dots. I really want a pink pair and a blue pair, but with my college student budget. . . I may have to settle for only one. Since I already own approximately one million pairs of pink shoes, I am seriously leaning toward the blue and green (pictured above). If you're interested in joining me in helping a child in need and getting a pair of fashionable, comfortable shoes, visit the official TOMS website.

Thursdays Are My Favorite Days!

Today was basically the perfect day. Then again, Thursdays are my favorite days. Mainly because my classes end at 12: 25, which is really, really amazing. It almost makes 8 am classes worth it when I have the entire afternoon to chill out. Plus, Sophie's (my favorite cafeteria) has a potato bar on Thursday's. Last week, I got this amazing sweet potato with brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. This week, I opted for a regular potato. I just decked it out with butter, cheese, ham, and bacon. It was basically the best thing I've ever tasted in my life. : ) Which is a pretty amazing complement considering they also had a customize your own cobbler line today with ice cream and everything.

Happy Biking!!

Today is Bike Day at UT, so I just wanted to post a picture of my dream bike and share 10 funny reasons why we should all bike. : ) Enjoy!

10: You get ultra-cool tan lines!
We'll start with a fun one, and you can laugh if you want. We wear our cycling tans like a badge of honor, a sign of our healthy lifestyle choices, a tangible token of membership to an exclusive group. It says, "hey, I ride a bike," or "I grow turnips." Either way, or both, people are bound to be impressed at the beach. Just be sure to use sunblock so you don't overdo it!

9. You see your city like drivers can't!
On two wheels and moving at a comfortable pace you can enjoy your environment and see, smell and hear things you never notice in a car. Which of your neighbors has the best-landscaped yard? What bakeries smell so good you just have to stop? How many different architectural styles can you spot? On a bicycle you can take the scenic route and explore and become a tourist in your own city. Every ride is an adventure.

8. All those we-miss-you cards from your doctor!
Pedaling only 10mph, a 140-pound cyclist burns about 400 calories an hour. And studies prove that biking a few times a week reduces blood pressure and stress while increasing your energy and elevating your overall mood. Your doctor may have to wait a little longer to buy that yacht!

7. You never get stuck in traffic and always have a great parking spot!
If you ride in a city and bike during commuting hours you'll love being able to cruise past long lines of vehicles held up at red lights (be sure to watch carefully for right-turning traffic who might not see you). While drivers breathe exhaust (studies have shown that cyclists breathe less exhaust), and honk at each other, you feel the breeze and enjoy the sights off the roadside. Not to mention that you always get a great parking spot and often even beat your coworkers who drive to work.

6. You have one less car payment and don't pay registration or insurance fees, either!
According to our very unscientific study (read: quick Google search), the average car payment is $500 a month. On top of that, add the cost of insurance, registration, gas, maintenance, etc. By eliminating that vehicle and using your bicycle instead, just think of all the bike gear you can buy!

5. You find cool free stuff on the side of the road!
By observing the flotsam and jetsam along America's streets and highways, you never know what you may find. Loose change, designer sunglasses, cool tools, $20 bills — heck, maybe an entire bag of money? Of course, you'll have to come back to grab that awesome Naugahyde sofa with the "free" sign you spotted on someone's lawn.

4. You can cancel your gym membership!
Riding outside sure beats the treadmill, elliptical machines and the three pieces of cardio equipment you still haven't figured out. No waiting in line for those machines, either. Best, you'll no longer have to spot for Rocko while he's bench-pressing weights equivalent to a small car.

3. You'll never be late for work again!
Because you can avoid traffic and cruise faster than jammed vehicles, it's likely you'll commute faster on 2 wheels and never be late again. Plus, if you are late sometime, it'll probably be because you decided to take the scenic route in. We've done it, too. But tell your boss instead that you got a flat tire. We know you can fix a flat tire in a matter of minutes, but he doesn't. And, he should be impressed that you're making the effort to bike in, keeping yourself healthy in the process and saving a parking space for someone else.

2. Cyclists make better lovers!
According to a study led by Dr. Romualdo Belardinelli, director of the Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, Italy, the results of aerobic exercise are comparable to those of Viagra, because both widen blood vessels. Hmmm... that's a little scary. Our point is that regular exercise like cycling, will make you feel better, increase your energy and even help you look better, too. All of which make you more interesting to and interested in the opposite sex.

1. Bicycling is a Fountain of Youth!
It's an amazing thing. You feel younger and actually get more years out of your muscles, joints and organs simply by using your highly capable self to pedal around instead of sitting statue-like behind that steering wheel. In fact, cycling might just be the closest thing you can find to a genuine Fountain of Youth. Like few other sports it keeps you fit and young with very little risk of injury. For example, we know plenty of 55-year-old regular riders who look and move like they’re closer to age 35, and also 80-year olds who still love to ride — and can because they're been riding for years.

If you're interested in more tips for bicycle commuting visit the League of American Bicyclists.