I'm officially "so college"!!!!!!

It's finally happened!

I've moved in to DePaul yesterday afternoon, and today I started my immersion week experience! I've been having a really fantastic time so far, and I've made some new friends. I am starting to feel a little bit sick, though. Like I feel like I have a sinus infection right now, and I sort of feel a little bit queasy. The other day I threw up, and that wasn't fun at all.

I'm really happy so far! This has been a positive experience, and I've met some enjoyable people. Like last night I played bingo with friends at a Welcome Week event, I went to the beach today with my immersion week class, I really like my roommate and my suitemates, and overall, I've been having a blast! I'm excited for tomorrow and the rest of the week as well.

I'm glad that I'm not starting things off on the wrong foot, too. I was worried that I'd be miserable or that I'd shut myself out to people, but it's been really wonderful so far!

Amazon Student DEAL

I just saved a boatload of money by renting my textbook from Amazon! If you're a college student like me, be sure to sign up for Amazon Student! You get a free trial of Amazon Prime, AND free 2-day shipping for 6 months! I know it'll be pretty helpful down the line.

SOS I'M BORED

EVEN THOUGH I LEAVE IN A WEEK I CAN'T STOP PACKING!!!!!

That should serve as an excellent indicator of how bored I am. Like I am actually happy to have a solid chore list every day because without one, I'd be screwed!

Yesterday I was on a roll with packing up all my clothes and shoes, and maybe today I'm going to pack up my jewelry and hair accessories. There's SO MUCH STUFF I honestly don't know how we're going to get it all in one trip. On the bright side, I don't have to worry about packing a microwave and mini fridge since my roommate is bringing that. Nonetheless, I have a giant list of things that I need to bring and things that I need to buy when I arrive. 

I could be using my time to do other productive things like work out and paint and stuff, but so far I've really been lacking the motivation to do those things.

Goodbyes suck and so do I

This has been such a depressing past couple of days. All of my friends (and I do mean all of my friends) have moved away for college. I suck at saying goodbye in general, it's something I tend to avoid, but GOD it has been so hard to sit by and watch while everything that I know is being turned upside down. But for crying out loud, that's all I've been doing.

The last time I saw my best friend Dylan, the week before he moved to Texas for school, we were planning to go to a graduation party the next day. I opted not to go to it, and even though I had a FULL WEEK to text him and be like "sorry about my being a lazy, somewhat antisocial asshole" and/or make some final plans to get dinner or hang out or something, I haven't done jack shit and I feel like the worst friend in the world. I haven't even checked in with him yet to see how he's doing! He's been at school for a week, so tomorrow I'm going to make a very conscientious effort to make up for my shittiness. 

Last night was my final date with Andy as he's moving in to Cleveland State tomorrow and needed to spend today packing. Last year before he moved out, I was such a wreck. For the last hour of our evening together, I just curled up in a ball and cried in his arms. When I had to drive myself home, I had to pull myself over because I was getting into hysterics, screaming and crying and hyperventilating like I'd just been brutally stabbed or had seen all of the people close to me murdered. It was terrible. I told myself that this year, I was going to do better and be stronger because I know that it really pains Andy to see me in such a state and causes him to worry about my safety. In a way, I succeeded. I started crying only thirty minutes to the end of our date, and didn't completely launch into hysterics until he had driven me halfway home.

I felt really bad that he had to see me like that; it's so terrifying. I lose all sense of self and can't control anything. I hyperventilate, whimper, wail, sob, and my whole body shakes violently when I get hysterical. Eventually, my Id comes out and I start screaming words and sentences. He told me after the fact that I kept saying "NO" and "I DON'T WANNA GO" and "I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO" and "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME". He deserves a prize for keeping on a brave face all through that. The entire time, he never let go of my hand. Even when I had turned away and curled into a ball in the passenger seat because I didn't want him to see my face, he still caressed my back and shoulders, and when we reached my house he gave me the biggest hug in the world. He should get like a medal of honor for not losing it himself, honestly.

I wanted to die. God, even thinking about it is making me lose control again! I cried all night long last night, and didn't fall asleep until after 4AM, when I made the decision to listen to Beck's Sea Change album (the most melancholy one/Andy's favorite Beck album) and it lulled me to sleep. When I woke up, I was still extremely sad and cried a little more. But then, with support and encouragement from Andy via text and from distracting myself, I had started to feel a bit less awful and a tad more normal. 

.....But now I've gone and fucked that all up by rehashing my feelings yet again. Ugggggggghhhhhhhhh Thanksgiving can't come soon enough!!!!! 

Honestly the whole "going away"/getting left behind thing has really sapped me of my motivation. I haven't done any surveys on any of my sites or made any efforts to make money, and I haven't even had the energy to write posts here! I know I made a lot of "expect (insert thingy here)" posts or statements and now I just don't know if I have it in me to follow up on those things. I just haven't had any will to do anything, and it's awful. 

The worst thing is, is that I know things will look up... I'm just not ready to move on yet and to lose everybody and oh my goodness there's nothing in the world I'd love more than to not have to say goodbye to Andy or Dylan or Abby or Tony or MY OWN SISTER GOD SHE GOES TO SCHOOL BEFORE I DO AND CAN'T COME TO HELP MOVE ME IN OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO MISS HER SO FREAKING MUCH ever again. I almost don't want to go to college- like I want to skip ahead and fast forward to the part in my life where things don't have to suck. Is that too much to ask?

Yep.

NEW POST FROM MY NEW MACBOOK!

Guess who officially has her very own computer now and doesn't have to go for several weeks without one because her sister needs to work on her common app for college?! THIS GIRL!

Today, my mom and I went to Best Buy to pick up a MacBook Pro. We were planning to get the older model with the disk drive and no retina display, but the salesguys talked us into getting the new model! It was really easy to set up, and so far I'm very pleased with its use. I mean it hasn't even been 15 minutes yet since I turned this bad boy on, but whatever! I'm going to take extremely good care of this computer, I don't want anything bad to happen to it!

Since I last posted, not much has happened with me save for dog sitting and buying things for school. All of my friends are moving within the next week or have moved already, so I'm pretty bored/sad because I miss everybody. It's about to be super weird for me, I can guarantee that!

Busy Week and BIG NEWS

Sorry for my long absence! I haven't had access to a computer as I've been dog-sitting constantly, so this is the first time I've blogged in ages. I've been pretty busy since I last posted- My friends had a final get-together before we head off to college last week, I've been crazy busy watching this sweet little dog named Oscar, I had a couple of dates with Andy (we saw The Stanford Prison Experiment and it was fantastic!!!! We also went to the 10th Annual Hamburger Festival which was a bit overrated), and I've been doing chores in all of my spare time.

Now, here's my big news- I'm going to be an extra in a movie! 

I know being an extra isn't really a big deal, but it'll be great to get some on-set experience and to see how movie-making works firsthand before heading off to film school. My first session is tonight at a rollerskating rink, and then on Thursday night I'm going to be in a "house party" scene and I'm soooo excited! Wish me luck!

I'M GOING GREEN(er)

Last night, I watched the documentaries Surviving Progress and The Human Experiment and I've determined that I need to do more to make sure that I'm protecting myself and the planet. There are so many harmful, wasteful things that I do (and many other people do) every single day that I can change for the better!

To start, I'm going to be more conscious about my use of electricity and the lengths of my showers. I already waste a TON of electricity by running my fan when I'm not in my room and keeping charger plugs plugged in when I'm not using them. And my showers are really ridiculously long! I get in trouble from time to time for them, and since I'll be sharing a bathroom with several other people for the next several years, I need to learn how to cut down my time anyways! It'll be good to get in that habit before I start paying my own water bills, too.

Next, I'll be limiting my use of bottled water. We recently got a Brita pitcher, and the water from it is quite good! I have one ready for my dorm, as well. California is in an extreme drought, and the bottled water industry is really taking a toll on the state. Even though I'm just one person, every little bit helps! I know it'll be difficult to COMPLETELY eliminate bottled water from my life, but even just choosing not to drink it at home and bringing around my own bottles is a pretty good start.

I'm not too sure what I want to do yet with household chemicals, since I don't have any purchasing power over them in my own home. I can, however, use other means of cleaning things like using vinegar and warm water when cleaning things! I also have control of my makeup, perfumes, and hygiene products and can take a closer look into what I should eliminate or substitute in my beauty and hygiene routines.

I'm really excited about this; I want to reduce my own personal waste and create a better environment for myself and for others.

If you haven't seen the either of the documentaries yet, check them out! They're both very interesting, and you can find them on Netflix. Who knows, maybe they'll inspire you to go a little greener too!

Garage Sale from HELL: Day 3

It is finished. 

And instead of going out with a bang as we hoped (even a snap, crackle, pop, or POW would've been greatly appreciated), it went out with a slow, whiny fizzle.

We did not sell a single thing.

That's right! After all the work we put into setting up, advertising, and running the weak sale, we hardly made off with anything. I didn't even hit $100, but even then I was luckier than some of my other relatives. My Grandma didn't even make it to $20!

Needless to say, it was a very flawed, rough attempt at a garage sale, and you can expect a post to tell you all the things NOT to do to make sure you have a successful (or at least decent) garage sale in the near future.

The Garage Sale from HELL: Day 2

If I thought yesterday was slow, today was INFINITELY worse!

We've made maybe $40 this entire day, and have only had about ten customers! It's also ridiculously hot outside, and you already know that my mom gave me a chore list! I temporarily lost hearing in my left ear as a result of one chore.

On the bright side, I'll be house sitting for my neighbor and get to hang out with their dog tonight, so yay for cute puppies and not having to deal with my mother tonight!

The straights were so dire, my family opted to extend the sale into tomorrow afternoon as a last-ditch effort to sell some of our stuff. On the bright side, it'll be a bit cooler out tomorrow so I can count on that.

Tomorrow, I'm also going to meet with a lady who offered me a job watching her shih tzu for about a week and I'm excited about that! It'll be nice to finally get some semblance of work in my life.

Garage Sale of HELL: Day 1

Today I worked nonstop and have basically wanted to hurl myself from a cliff multiple times! On the bright side, I've made $67.

I started the day off by being screamed at to wake up and get ready by my mother and having her bark at me periodically to move faster so I could continue to be a garage sale slave. People WHO ARE CLEARLY ILLITERATE SINCE THEY CAN'T SEEM TO READ THE FREAKING TIME MENTIONED ON THE SIGNS AND IN THE AD WE PLACED started showing up at 8:15. We planned to open up at 9! Needless to say, I was furious. I was angered even more by said illiterate asshats who had parked in our driveway and blocked me in when I needed to drive out and place signs all around my neighborhood. I still hadn't had breakfast, so I was in no mood to be trifled with. Nonetheless, people kept trifling and trifling with me!

I had to work the sale alone while my mom worked and my sister was out golfing. My grandma, aunt, and great aunt (who all were selling things in our sale and taking up all of our space with their useless junk like glass bottles and Ball jars) came throughout the day and helped me out some. 

On top of singlehandedly running this sale for my mother, she had the nerve to give me a freaking CHORE LIST. Because no matter how much I'm doing, it's never enough!

We only had a handful of customers all day, aside from the asshats who came before we were even ready, and still have an ungodly amount of junk to get rid of tomorrow. It was ungodly hot outside, and I'm incredibly hungry and dehydrated. Hopefully, more people will buy things tomorrow and make the whole ordeal worth it. Ideally, I'd like to make $100, but I'm pretty doubtful we'll get there. 

Garage Sales are HELL

All day today, I've been setting up for our garage sale tomorrow and Friday. I'm going absolutely insane!!!!! My entire family has had to work today, so I've basically been setting this whole thing up by myself. It's torturous! 10/10 Emily's would not recommend! I'll be sure to update on the progress and what I make from the sale, but PLEASE send me some positive thoughts, and if you're thinking about having a garage sale, for the sake of all that is good in the world, DON'T SET IT UP ALONE!!!!!!!

My Cedar Point Adventure

Yesterday was an absolutely fantastic day! I started the day off early, Andy picked me up at 8:00. We went out for breakfast, then drove up to his grandparents' condo. They live only 10 minutes away from the park, which is pretty nice! We chatted with them for a while before making our way to Sandusky.

We got to the park at 11:00, and already the place was pretty busy. Cedar Point, especially in the summer, hardly ever has a slow day! We started our time at the park by riding the Blue Streak, Cedar Point's oldest ride, and hardly had to wait in line at all. It was already miserably hot, though. By the end of the ride, we were already covered in sweat. After the Blue Streak, we waited in line for the Raptor, one of the more popular coasters. We had waited for about 45 minutes and still had a very long way to go, so we downloaded an app that updates the wait times for all the rides and perused our options. When we first got to the park, their second-newest coaster, the Gatekeeper, was stopped and people were being taken off. It was down for about an hour, but while we were in line for the Raptor, it opened back up and had only a half-hour wait time! With the big coasters, this is super rare, so we jumped on the opportunity and got out of line. On the way, I had an Oreo Churro, which was A-MAAAAA-ZING! I kinda threw my diet to the wind, but with all the walking and standing and moving I did, I think I turned out okay. 

The Gatekeeper wait was extremely short, and the ride was very smooth and pleasant! After the gatekeeper, we got a snack, and then rented a locker before getting in line for the newest coaster (The Rougarou) and the ever-popular Millennium Force. While we were making it to the Rougarou line, one of the boys I trained from lacrosse saw me and said hello! It was great to see him, and I saw him again later in the day. The line for Rougarou was incredibly hot, sweaty, and ill-shaded so despite my religious applying of sunscreen, I was getting a little bit pink. The ride itself was a bit unpleasant. The Rougarou is on the exact same track as another ride that was formerly The Mantis. The Mantis had you harnessed in and standing up on a platform of sorts, and it was painfully uncomfortable, especially for guys, in the crotch. Because of that, The Mantis was pretty unpopular. Now, The Rougarou is essentially a more comfortable Mantis. It's very jerky and uncomfortable, so I don't think I'll ride it again. 

We waited for about two hours for Millennium Force, but boy was it worth it! Millennium Force is hands-down my favorite roller coasters EVER, and it's been consistently voted as the best coaster in the world. It's incredibly fast, but a very smooth and thrilling ride. If the line wasn't so painfully long, I'd have rode it again and again!

Having stood in the sun and waited in the heat for so long, I was incredibly dehydrated and feeling terrible. So, Andy and I did some more low-key things after relaxing on a bench and getting some water. We drove some antique cars on a track, rode a quiet train ride, then got some dinner at the Chik-Fil-A in the park. After eating, we rode an older, wooden coaster, The Gemini, multiple times. It had absolutely no wait time, which was fantastic, and it's a pretty fun coaster! After that, we worked our way back towards the front of the park and rode the Windseeker (301 foot tall swing ride) which was super peaceful, and then took a walk on the beach while watching the sun set over Lake Erie. It was very pleasant and romantic. After that, we got shared some ice cream, rode two little tame rides, then made our way home.

It was a great day, and it's days like that that I never want to forget

Restarting my diet for the fiftieth time...

Today, I once again restarted dieting and exercising. It's really hard for me to keep up with a healthy lifestyle with my busy schedule, and once I get off track, I really lack the motivation to get back on. So, I'm trying to do things a bit differently than I normally do so I can gradually work back up to being active and eating better. 

Instead of going completely insane trying to set up a regimen, I'm going in with a relaxed approach! I'll exercise as I'm doing other things/do more exercise for "fun" so working out isn't a chore anymore, I'm working on incorporating more fruits and vegetables into my diet, making sure I drink water more regularly, and so on until I'm more comfortable with getting into a real regimen.

Today so far, I've done some small exercises while doing laundry and dishes, I played with my dog, and I did some cardio by boxing in my garage (I haven't done this in about a year!) and jumping rope. I've eaten more fruit and nuts today than I have in the past week, and I've been slightly more watchful about my carb and fat intake! Tonight, I plan on walking my dog and perhaps doing some Pilates/Wii Fit to really start things off right.

Tomorrow, I'm going to Cedar Point with my boyfriend, Andy, so at least I'll be walking and standing a lot! I just have to make sure I don't make too terrible of choices with my food- amusement park food isn't really famous for its nutritional value... 

Wish me luck, because I'll need all the support I can get in order to focus so I can finally start creating healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

If you liked this post or know somebody going through the same struggles as I am, please feel free to share it!

Review of Oscar & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" National Tour

On Saturday, my sister and I went up to Cleveland's Playhouse Square to see the revival of Oscar & Hammerstein's Cinderella. I got the tickets as a Christmas present, and I was looking forward to seeing the show. Admittedly, Cinderella is far from my favorite musical- it's predictable, the songs are somewhat forgettable and "meh," and I personally have never found there to be much substance in the character of Cinderella in the first place. 

So, while I heard excellent things about the costumes and the like about the revival, my expectations were still fairly low.

I was pleasantly surprised by the show! Along with updating the costumes/special effects of the show, the story was told in a new way that allowed for significant character development for even the smallest role, the script was clever and full of hilarious one-liners, and for the first time, there was actual substance to all the characters as opposed to the flat, static roles they've had in literally every adaptation of Cinderella ever. Whereas in the Disney version, the original Oscar & Hammerstein version, and many modern adaptions the characters lack a great deal of personality other than traits that make them "good" or "evil." It was a really refreshing update which made the story less predictable!

The songs also seemed to have an update. While there were the classics from the original musical, some new bits were added in that positively affected the pacing of the show.

And the costumes... oh my GOD the costumes!!! From the get-go, they were all gorgeous, intricately designed pieces, but once the onstage transformations happened, it was absolutely spectacular! The costume designer for the show was clearly a genius! There were also some fantastic special effects on the stage like puppets, pyrotechnics, and more! After watching every bit of "magic", people couldn't help but loudly applaud.

Overall, Cinderella far exceeded my expectations. It was some perfectly executed theater, and was something I could have watched over and over even if only for the onstage "magic!"

Adventures of Emily Anniversary Survey

As I mentioned in the post "Big News," changes are coming to Adventures of Emily! I want to put a lot of work and thought into what happens on this blog in the future, and to start, I want to get in touch with my audience better! So, I created this survey on Wufoo for you guys to take! There are some small demographic questions, and questions about what you're looking for in this blog and what would make it more enjoyable. I appreciate your time and thoughts a lot! 

Here's the link to the online form! Have fun, I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

How To: Write the PERFECT Thank You Note

Thank You Notes are often one's first foray into learning manners. Frankly, they're a pain in the ass. Writing a "heartfelt" letter of appreciation is hard enough as is, but after big events, the massive list of notes to write turns the polite gesture into drudgery. After surviving my graduation party, I have a MOUNTAIN of Thank You Notes to write! I'm a bit of an expert on them, so I am imparting my knowledge to you, dear readers. Now, when you next get married/have a large birthday celebration/celebrate an anniversary/get a promotion/whatever big thing happens that requires thanksgiving, you are so ready!

Step 1- Stationary:
 When writing your note, it is important to select the right stationary. It has to:

1. Be appropriate for the occasion
2. Suit your handwriting
3. Have the amount of space you wish to commit

With #1, you wouldn't want a whimsical print card to thank wedding guests or a formal, elegant note to thank somebody for bringing a hostess gift to your informal brunch. Choose your card for the occasion! In regards to #2, you want to find a card that will give you the proper amount of space to suit your penmanship style. I personally, have large handwriting, so I enjoy using smaller cards so that it looks like I am writing more than I actually am since I use all the space. For #3, this is more about saving yourself effort and coincides well with #2. If you have a smaller card, you fill it up more quickly so it does not take as much time to plow through the list of recipients.

Step 2- Introduction:
Start off with something like "Thank you very much for the gift!" I prefer to say gift unless given a specific item. This keeps it simple, yet does not draw too much attention to the specific amount they gave. Nobody really wants to hear you say "Thanks for the cash!" in a card that is supposed to be thoughtful.
Step 3- Make it Relevant:
Every gift is given with a purpose, so make a comment about how useful it will be to you! For example, with the money I've gotten for graduation, I make a remark about how helpful it will be when I am in Chicago and crack a joke about how expensive it is to live there. Or if you get, say, a collection of whisks from your wedding, you can comment on how useful they'll be in the kitchen and thank the giver for their thoughtful present yet again! People love knowing that they made a difference for you, even if it was small!
Step 4- Make it Personal:
This is the most crucial step with the note. Here, you mention some sort of favorite memory (or any memory at all, if you don't know the person too well), which is what makes the recipient of the note feel all warm and fuzzy inside and say to themselves, "Wow, who knew (insert your name here) was such a sweetheart!" If you reeeeally know nothing about the person you are writing to, comment on how kind it was for them to be there for you at a very special time in your life. Those little touches create great depth in notes for any occasion!
Step 5- Close:
Thank them again, and then BAM you are done with your perfect thank you note!

Unpopular Opinion: I think the "Bad Blood" Music Video is Extremely Overrated

I'm sure many of you have seen the video for Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" and remember all the hype that went into it before its release. Every day, a new poster with a character was released, there was behind the scenes footage, and so on. Even though I'm neither here-nor-there on Taylor Swift, I was really fascinated by the video's concept and wanted to see it pretty badly.

I had expected something similar to Kanye West's short film Runaway which showcased many of his songs from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, told a creative and compelling story, and featured some scenes in addition to showcasing the music. With the variety of interesting characters, I expected a really interesting experience! What I got was hugely disappointing.

Essentially, the video consisted of posing with weapons, some fighting, grrrrrl power faces, and not much else. There was literally NO STORY OR PLOT OR POINT TO THE WHOLE THING! After ALL THAT FREAKING HYPE it was a major disappointment!

While the special effects were well done and the fights had great choreography, I don't think that it deserved all the VMA nominations it received. 

Also, I know that this unwarranted opinion is super late since the video has been out for like, a month, but in the wake of the Nicki Minaj/Taylor Swift "twitter feud" I couldn't help but think of that.

I survived Orientation!

Hello again everybody! I returned from my orientation late last night, and overall, it was a positive (albeit extremely tiring) experience!

On Sunday, my mom, sister, and I drove out to Chicago. We stopped at the Chicory Cafe in South Bend, Indiana for lunch. It was pretty solid food, but I don't think I'd need to make a tradition out of going there on the way to and from school. I had no idea South Bend was so urban, also! Seeing it from the highway, I always figured it was just the gaggle of Holy Cross colleges surrounded by cornfields, so I was pleasantly surprised. It was a pretty town. We arrived at our hotel around 5:00, so after checking in our first priority was getting dinner. The last time I was in Chicago with my mom, I really wanted to go to Shake Shack. When I did my National Youth Leadership Foundation program at Fordham University last summer, I went to the one in Times Square and fell in love with it! So, we went to Shake Shack and it was everything I'd dreamed it would be, and then some! When I've moved in, I'll have to make the trek there from time to time! After eating, we went to a Neiman Marcus Last Call store, and I got a great handbag for an incredible price! My sister got hereself a Michael Kors bag and some Versace sunglasses. She loves shopping brands, so she was ecstatic to find them all at fairly reasonable prices. After that, we went back to our hotel and tucked in early.

The next morning, we went to Wildberry for breakfast. I had cinnamon roll pancakes, and they were INCREDIBLE! Wildberry specializes in pancakes, although the rest of their menu is pretty fantastic. After that, I was sent on the L towards DePaul! I was over an hour early for check in, so I tried to take care of some business beforehand. I didn't get everything off my list, but I'd managed to get my ID photo taken! After a while, I went to the check in point and got in line to get my room. I met some fun people in line, and they were quite nice! Everybody was pretty nervous about the whole thing and the process of meeting new people and the like, but excited as well. I checked in, put my stuff in my temporary dorm, met my roommate, then went to the Student Union to start off the day.

On the first day, the first thing I went to was a free-stuff fair sponsored by the various services DePaul has to offer like their Career Center, Housing Services, Rec Center, and Athletics Department. I picked up a ridiculous amount of free stuff! I got two water bottles, a tee shirt, tons of candy, two bags, a collapsible hamper, soooo many pens, rubber bracelets galore, and more! After the fair, all the students and parents went into this large conference room where there was an introductory speech from the dean of students and were then assigned into groups. The groups were divided by major, so all but 5 people from my 28-person group were going into Digital Cinema. We did some icebreaker activities in our groups, then went on a tour of the Lincoln Park campus. After the tour, we had a talk from the Campus Safety department, then had dinner. The dinner was an awful imitation of Chinese food, worse than airplane food! So, I didn't eat too much. After that, we went to the Theater School and watched a performance about different issues like diversity, drinking, sexual/relationship violence, etc. It was pretty funny, and handled the issues well. Afterwards there was a talkback session with our groups about the issues from the show. After that, we went to the rec center. First, we had an hour-long "competition" between all of the groups, and mine won which was pretty great! I got another free tee shirt from that! Then, we were let loose in the rec for an hour. Finally, we went back to the dorms and they had some activities lined up on all the floors. I played cards for awhile with a group of people from my floor who were pretty nice and welcomed me over, to play with them. Our group later went to a different floor where some of the orientation leaders were doing "spirit animal readings" which was something that couldn't be described, but had to be experienced! All through the building, you could hear the singing (well, screaming) of the people on the Karaoke floor. At midnight, we all had to head back to dorm rooms, although it didn't matter if it was our own. So, my group went back ton one person's dorm and played Apples to Apples until about 2:30 in the morning! 

The next morning, I had a protein bar in my room while I got ready because I 1.) wanted to sleep in and 2.) remembered the quality of the previous night's dinner and wasn't about to try their breakfast. We went back to the Student Union, got into our groups again, and did some more fun games. My group started off by playing some rock, paper, scissors based games, but then we decided to do trivia. That's when I pulled out the big guns... Not many people who didn't go to grade school with me know it, but I'm a BEAST at trivia. I was on a junior Academic Challenge team in 5th and 6th grade where I carried the team, I consistently kick ass on trivia games, and for a long time, I held the record in the European History category on the app QuizUp. So, people were incredibly surprised when I, the unassuming girl that people assumed had about average, maybe above-average intelligence knew the answer to all these obscure questions without hesitation! I got a round of applause, and if that's the most impressive thing I do in college I'm okay with that!  After playing games, we all got L tickets and took the L down to DePaul's Loop campus.

At the Loop, we went to a brief talk from the Career Center at DePaul, then we went to register for our classes. I'm really excited for my schedule! Three of my four classes are related to my degree! I am taking a class called "The Foundations of Production," a screenwriting class, a class about ethics in computer games and cinema (it counts as a gen ed course!!!!), and then my "immersion week" course that continues for 7 of the 10 weeks in the quarter. My classes are from Monday to Thursday, and all go from 11:00-4:30, so I'm super excited! I'm also really happy about my AP credits- I don't have to take a single science class or history class again! After scheduling everything, we had some boxed lunches (which was the only half-decent meal they provided) then went on a brief tour of the Loop campus. We then went to Millennium Park and took some group photos by The Bean, then had a brief Q&A session with our Orientation Leaders before heading back on the L to Lincoln Park to head home.

Overall, I had an amazing time at Orientation and I'm glad it was so fun! I'm really optimistic about my first quarter at DePaul, and yay for having about 5 weeks until I move in! 

Orientation!!!!

Tomorrow morning I head into Chicago with my mother and sister, and on Monday I'm heading to DePaul for my orientation session! I'm super excited, but a little bit nervous that I won't like any of the people there. I'll be sure to write a post about it and take pictures of it (and Chicago, of course) for you to enjoy when I get back!

My check from InboxDollars came in today!!!! I'm super excited. I've earned $15 since I cashed in my first check ($50), and I'm still earning every day. It's incredibly easy to earn on InboxDollars, and I'm glad I stumbled upon it while looking for scholarships last winter!

A-Z of Self-Improvement

I have been on a journey of self-improvement over the past few years, and frankly, it's really freaking hard. So, I'm making this list in an effort to motivate myself, and hopefully motivate some of you, to improve in the ways you want to improve, whether it involves health, weight, career, personal relationships, and so on.

Always think through your actions. There's a reason behind every positive change you make.

Be true to your values. Don't lose your integrity and the things that make you you in an attempt to change. Improvement isn't about swapping, but upgrading.

Care about what goes into your body. I personally struggle a lot with this, but even the smallest efforts can do a great deal.

Do everything in your power to maintain a positive outlook.

Eat healthier options of things you love, that way you never feel like you're missing out.

Forget about people who make you feel like less than you are. They aren't your real friends.

Go. Nothing happens until you start trying.

Help somebody who needs it. Make that a habit.

Integrate more physical activity into your day. You don't necessarily need to train like a Navy SEAL 24/7, but every little bit helps!

Judge situations with a discerning eye. You don't want to make decisions you regret.

Kill your doubts. Sometimes, you are your biggest critic. I am always the first one to call myself weak when I buckle under stress, I am the one who underestimates and trivializes my own abilities, and I am the one who says "you could never do that." I need to stop, and if you put yourself through that kind of pain, you need to do that for yourself too.

Love something. Anything, it doesn't matter! Caring about and being passionate about something gives zest to life and infinite reasons to live.

Make your own happiness. Don't rely on other people to be your sole source of joy. They should add to it, not create it.

Never sell yourself short. You can do anything you put your mind to.

Open up to yourself. Be able to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.

Pamper yourself. You freaking deserve it!

Quit a bad habit. Whether it's smoking or nail biting or anything in between, you can get out of it.

Read- it's a great way to stay informed, improve your cognitive thinking skills, and you can find even more things that inspire you that way.

Sit next to somebody you don't know. Engage with them, you could make a new friend, a business connection, or simply brighten their day!

Take time out to contemplate your day. Think over each moment before you go to bed, and try to focus on the positives. Tell yourself that tomorrow is a new day.

Wear what makes you happy. Trust me on this one, it's an instant confidence booster!

X out negativity in any scenario. Whether it's a poisonous person creating drama in your life, food that's terrible for you, a vice that negatively affects your relationships, or just a bad attitude, cut it out of your life.

Yoga it up! It's fun, relaxing, and helps get you into shape while relieving stress and tension.

Zone in- focus on what you are doing and live in that moment. Whether it's a surge of energy during a workout or a moment of inspiration at work, don't lose your focus.

Every step taken, no matter how small, will get you where you want to be.

I hope that this post can be of use to you and I in our journeys, and if you enjoyed it, please share it! 

BIG NEWS

Lately, I've noticed that my blog has been suffering. My most recent posts haven't been doing so well, not too many people are viewing my blog and enjoying the content, and overall I personally feel like blogging has become a chore. I'm not going to stop, don't worry! But I've decided to make changes to this blog to shake things up a bit, and to reinvent it in a positive way.

The first of these changes- a NEW NAME! I've been thinking about that for a while now, and I've decided on the perfect one. I'll be changing the domain as well, so be ready for that. I will post the domain link before I change the name, that way you can find my blog again. 

Secondly, I'll be reinventing my content. Most of my content on this blog is personal, and while there's nothing wrong with that, it's not as interesting to many readers. I will not be eliminating personal content, but I will be incorporating other forms of content such as tutorials, current events, opinion pieces, entertainment news, lists, reviews of products, shows, and movies,  and I'm bringing back recipes! I will also be using more photographs to keep things interesting, and I'm learning how to create pin-able images so readers can share posts more easily on Pinterest. 

I do not plan on changing the appearance of my blog, but if I decide to change the layout or something, you will all be duly informed. 

Now, it's impossible for me to do all of these things simultaneously, so it'll be a slow and steady process of figuring out what works for the blog and what doesn't. I'm really excited for this, and I'm hoping that the new and improved Adventures of Emily will be more accessible and interesting to readers, and better reflect the new things coming in my life.

Ouch...

Last night, I returned from my improv hiatus and went to my first rehearsal since March! It was very different from our usual rehearsals- it was incredibly physical. Basically, it was two hours of nonstop cardio and energy and holy crap it was intense! It was a ton of fun, nonetheless. There's a show this Saturday, and I'll be going with some of our neighbors. Anywho, after getting more cardio done in that rehearsal than I have in the  entire summer and moving my body in ways I normally don't/can't my whole body is sooooo sore! Like my neck feels broken, and it's super painful to stand up straight. 

Today, I've been doing several chores, but I still have many more to do! I've also been online shopping for dorm things. I've found a lot of stuff I like, so hopefully I can seal in those deals and order them today!

Jurassic World and Inside Out

Last night, my sister and I took advantage of our local theater's half-off ticket day to make a double feature of Jurassic World and Inside Out. I enjoyed both movies very much, but here were my overall thoughts!

Jurassic World was very entertaining, even if there were some far-fetched things. For example, the desire to militarize velociraptors, the improbable intelligence, malice, etc. of the Indominus Rex, the fact that the two kids just so happened to have experience fixing up a car and managing to restore a 23-year-old car in about 25 minutes, BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD'S CHARACTER BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WHOLE ORDEAL IN HEELS AND EVEN OUTRUNNING A FREAKING T-REX PERIOD, etc. Also, Chris Pratt's character was a bit of a jerk about women, which is eh. He was still fantastic in his performance, though. I don't think this movie will be bringing home Best Picture at the Oscars, but I'm sure it'll at least get some nominations in the tech categories like visual effects or sound mixing.

Inside Out was a masterpiece in so many ways! The story was perfectly executed, and oh my goodness the animation in this move was SPECTACULAR! The amount of detail in every single frame was extraordinary- it was like every little piece of the picture had its own unique texture. The short before the film, Lava, was also adorable in every way and gave me "all the feels!" My prediction is that this movie takes home Best Animated Feature, and perhaps receives a nomination for Best Picture like Up did when it came out. I would say that this is the best Pixar movie since Up, hands down. Also, I think that Lava could get a nomination in the animated short category. 

Overall, it was a pretty fantastic movie night, and hopefully something I can do again soon!

I SURVIVED GRADPARTYPOCOLYPSE!

After days of endless stress, chores, and preparations, the grad party of doom came, was a success, and went! Things are slowly starting to return to normal in my house (thank goodness) and while I still have to tackle a chore mountain every day, it's a big relief that the whole thing is over. 

Thanks to the party though, I'm finally in a place of financial stability! From that party alone, I earned DOUBLE what I made last year working at Famous Footwear. I'm still trying my hardest to find employment, however. I haven't found any success in that region! While I had my interview with Kohl's and felt it went well, my suspicions were correct, and I received a letter in the mail thanking me for my consideration, but they would not be hiring me. 

I still haven't gotten anywhere with Care.com jobs, which is also frustrating, but I did get my pay for turtlesitting, and I do have a job lined up for the end of the month. 

On the bright side, in less than one week I'll be heading to my orientation at DePaul! I'm really excited, and I can't wait to meet some new people, experience the dorms, and schedule my classes (and get my ID!). It's really starting to hit me that I am going to college! 

Also, my apologies for the recent infrequent posting. My sister has been using the laptop to watch The Goldbergs (great show, by the way! I highly recommend it) so I've been left without a computer. On the bright side, once I'm back from orientation my parents and I are going to get me a new laptop, and I can start blogging even more consistently from that instead!