My Day with Maxi

This past Christmas, two of my nieces, Noe and Maxi, each asked for a day out as one of their gifts. So, Brandon and I gave them each a coupon for a day with BrandAnna!

For my 12-year-old niece, Noe, we promised a dinner and movie date. Maxi, who is 11, asked for lunch and a feather in her hair (how cute, right?). Maxi ended up being the first one to redeem her Christmas coupon. I had my hairdresser pick up some feathers and made an appointment for Maxi to have it put in.

I started off the day watching Noe and Maxi’s soccer game, which they won! It’s hard to believe this sporty little girl would be sporting a new do just a couple of hours later.

We went up to Maitland to see my hairdresser, Sarah, after grabbing a bite to eat at a nearby First Watch. Maxi decided to do some poses while waiting for her feather.

This was Sarah’s first feather application as well, but it didn’t take long at all to get it in place. Maxi went with a teal tone that perfectly matched her braces!

After we got home from the salon, I put my flat iron to work and straightened her hair out. Scroll back up to that soccer player … can you believe it’s the same girl??

It turned out to be a “Maxi & Me” afternoon and we both had a great time. When we left the salon, Maxi gave me a big hug and thanked me for her feather-y present. She even blushed a little when the valet attendant complimented her new hair accessory. Too cute.

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Blog Report: The Beauty Department (TheBeautyDepartment.com)

Speaking of fabulous hair (and more) … I am obsessed with The Beauty Department. This blog has been my go-to for everything hair, nails, fashion and makeup. They always post fun and interesting tutorials with easy-to-follow photos and videos.

I have already tried a number of their tips and ideas like painting candy corns on my nails, applying the perfect shade of eye shadow and rocking the French braid ballerina bun – which was a big hit!

I seriously have never spent more time trying a new hairdo or painting my nails. This blog has actually encouraged me to experiment with tons of different beauty trends. I’ve even mastered fishtail and French braids! If I can do it, anyone can. 🙂

Attack of the Mini-Posts

Brandon has informed me that I have been seriously slacking in the blogging department. It’s not for lack of blog topics because we have had tons of stuff going on – it’s more about finding the time to sit down and type it all out!

Since I have lots to share and I don’t want to overload everyone with multiple “new post” notifications, I am putting together a few of the posts I’ve been meaning to write … all in one, super fun summary. Enjoy!

Love to Love Valentine’s Day

Unlike my oh-so-romantic husband who thinks Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday, I love celebrating the ones I love with fun crafts and candy!

This year I continued my owl-themed holidays with my favorite wide-eyed birds on some seriously sweet cards and bags. I started by clearing out the Valentine’s Day aisle at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

I situated myself on the couch with a craft assembly line in front of me and some of my favorite shows on the TV and set to making multiple pink, red and white owl Valentines.

These cute owls bags (from my sister) made for the perfect package for my Valentine’s Day goodies. I put a special V-Day mini Fruit by the Foot in each of the bags as well for a sweet little treat.

Brandon and I kept it simple with a bottle of wine and some quality couch time catching up on our latest TV obsession: “Smallville.” I hope you and yours had a great Valentine’s Day, too!

Race, Love, Wish 2012

Every year, Chi Omega at UCF holds a 5K (Race, Love, Wish) to benefit the sorority’s national philanthropy, Make-A-Wish. Last year a very little Millie had to stay on the sidelines with some sorority girls (who didn’t seem to mind) while Lina and I made our way through the race.

This year, Lina and I are both advisors at UCF, so we were more than happy to support our girls, our sorority and of course, the fabulous Make-A-Wish foundation.

Lina and I kept up a steady walk this year while Millie and Brandon on the other hand ran the entire race! Here they are crossing the finish line.

Out of more than 500 participants, Lina and I took our time and crossed the finish line at 399 and 400. Brandon jogged his way to 219 and we like to say that Millie came in at 218 1/2!

We had a great day and I was so proud of Millie (and Brandon for that matter!) for running the whole thing. I wish I had that kind of endurance!

No. 1 Fan of the No. 1 Fan

We’ve been lucky in that we’ve had a number of Orlando Magic hookups over the past few years and have got to go to a ton of games both in the old Amway Arena and the new, amazing Amway Center.

This past weekend my mom took me to a game courtesy of her work. The day of the game, we found out we had been upgraded to even better seats and dinner in the Mercedes Benz Lounge.

After enjoying our free dinner and drinks, we headed to our seats – fifth row behind the visitor’s bench. It was definitely the closest I’ve ever been to the court during one of the games!

Of course, I wore my Stuff hat and my new “I ♥ Stuff” shirt because I am Stuff’s No. 1 fan (I even dressed up as Stuff for Halloween this year!) and I got some love from the man (err, sort of) himself!

We had so much fun at the game – especially since the Magic pulled out a win at the end – and because I know she reads my blog, I have to give a shout out and THANK YOU to my mom! ♥ you!

Movin’ On Up

We’ve had so much going on the past few weeks, but probably the most exciting thing (for us anyway) is that we put an offer on a house! Yep, BrandAnna has taken the plunge. Like I said in my House Hunting post, I’ve been looking for a while to get the feel of our neighborhood so when something that fit our criteria popped up, we didn’t waste any time before we jumped on it.

It’s a short sale, so unfortunately it could take several months before we’re in our new home and there is always the chance that it could fall through later on, which would be super sad since we really love it. I’ll be posting more updates as the process progresses but here is a look at the front of the house in the mean time.

We’re very excited and I hope to share more news on the house sooner rather than later. For now, we are waiting – and saving – until we hear back from the bank. And although I can’t wait to move … I am dreading packing up all the junk we’ve collected throughout our current house over the past three years. It’ll all be worth it though!

Songs to Inspire

Sometimes you need a little bit of mood music to get you going on a particularly tough day or to bring you down from a stressful situation. I definitely have my own list of go-to tunes to get me in the mood – whether I need a little bit of cheering up or to let it all out.

When I need a little motivation:

1. “Feels Like Today” by Rascal Flatts – When I was looking for my first job I pretty much listened to this song every day. It kept me motivated and hopeful that something great was coming!
   
2. “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack – In high school my friends and I used to sing this song all the time! And even now, every time I hear it I can’t help but belt along and feel inspired.
3. “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood – I had a really bad week during my last summer in college: I didn’t have a place to live, I crashed my car and I listened to this song EVERY day.
4. “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts – This song came out when I graduated college. My favorite line: “I hope you never look back, but you never forget all the ones who love you in the place you left.”

When I’ve had a bad day:

1. “Keep Your Head Up” by Andy Grammer – It’s hard not to believe the words of someone who speaks from experience. This guy was literally living on the street when he wrote this song.
2. “Bad Day” by Daniel Powder – This one seems obvious, right? Somehow, it always seems to put me in a better mood when my day – or month – has been less than pleasant.
3. “Look After You” by The Fray –  I had a major Fray obsession in college and still love listening to their “How to Save a Life” album. It has since died down, but this song still gets to me.
4. “Oxford Comma” by Vampire Weekend – Anything by Vampire Weekend can calm me down. They are really chill and have a whole slew of songs perfect for all kinds of moodiness.

When I’m getting ready to go out:

1. “Let’s Get It Started” by The Black Eyed Peas – The entire “Elephunk” album would be blasting when I was getting ready for or on my way to a party, bar, social … you name it. I still love it!
2. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper – In my sorority house we would play music in the upstairs bathroom as we got ready for events and it doesn’t get better than this girly anthem.
3. “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield – Nothing makes me feel like dancing and having a good time like “Jessie’s Girl”! It makes me miss my girls and my good ol’ college days.
4. “Only Girl in the World” by Rihanna – I can’t get enough of belting out Rihanna songs and this is one that I literally scream rather than sing, whether I’m at a bar or in the car.

When I feel like screaming:

1. “Shame for You” by Lily Allen –  I love Lily because she’s bitter, raunchy and bold – she says all the things I feel like saying when I’m really mad, but would never dare utter out loud.
   
2. “Addicted” by Kelly Clarkson – No one does angry ex-girlfriend better than Kelly! And while I don’t have the crazy boy drama (thank goodness) that she usually sings about, it feels good to sing loudly along.
3. “Walk Away” by Christina Aguilera – Here’s another one who’s good at telling off both guys and girls – whoever deserves it. When I wish I could yell at someone, I sing some Xtina songs instead.
4. “Rumour Has It” by Adele – I seriously hope they don’t start playing this song on the radio because I’d be bummed if it got played out and I got tired of singing it on my way home from a bad day.

So, now it’s your turn! What are the songs that inspire you?

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Book Report: “Kitchen Chinese” by Ann Mah

Another Book Club read, this novel was chosen because it was written by a Chi Omega. It was also a welcome departure from the more serious and scientific books that the group had read in the months prior.

It’s about a Chinese-American woman who works as a magazine fact-checker (I can relate to that) who loses her job in New York (thankfully I can’t relate to that) and decides to move to China to live with her sister – who she never really got close to when they were growing up.

Along the way she makes new friends, meets some interesting and very high-profile guys (by Chinese standards at least) and gets a job writing about food.

The book is really light and fun, and while I didn’t relate to the Chinese parts of the book so much, I could relate to some of the interactions with her sister. Overall it was a good read, but maybe one that you borrow from the library rather than pay for at the book store.

Looking Back at 2011

I was inspired by one of my fabulous sorority sisters, Erin Davenport, and her recent blog post about her year in review for 2011. So I decided to come up with my own version of the idea and pick one defining event from each month of last year – it’s a great way to remember, record and reflect upon everything that has happened since this time last year.

January – A Family of Three

We started off 2011 with a new addition to our family: Millie Noel Reinert. If you’ve read my past posts, it’s easy to see that I am head-over-heels in love with my little, long-haired dachshund. Millie was a Christmas present from my husband, Brandon, and from the moment she came into our lives, we have become healthier, happier and wealthier (at least in quality of life) than ever before.

February – Meeting Finley Marie

In December we welcomed a niece, Finley Marie Reinert, to Brandon’s brother and sister-in-law. Due to the busy holiday (and beer) season as well as the fact that they lived in West Palm Beach, it wasn’t until February that we got to meet her for the first time. Seeing her in person was nothing compared to Skype and photos, she is one of the sweetest and happiest babies I’ve ever met.

March – Two Years & Counting

In March, Brandon and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary – it seems like just yesterday when we said “I do.” On our first anniversary we stayed at the Grand Bohemian (where we had our reception). Last year we didn’t plan anything big but we did have dinner at a fondue restaurant, Brandon had never been to one before. Each year keeps getting better, I can’t wait to celebrate three years!

April – Welcome to Wyndham

April brought a big change for me. I left my job of almost four years at a small, local publishing company to go to work for Wyndham – a large, nationwide organization with a more corporate setting. I still work in publishing and continue to do a lot of writing and editing, but I am constantly being challenged in new ways (which is a good thing) and getting tons of social media experience.

May – Phirst Time to Philly

There were a lot of May events that I could have picked to highlight: Brandon and I both turned 27, I started a blog and two of our best friends got married. But our trip to New Jersey/Philadelphia was too good not to mention! On a whim I suggested to Brandon that we visit his hometown and of course he was more than willing … as long as we made it out to a Philadelphia Phillies game.

June – I Added an @ to My Name

Yeah, that’s right, just like I said I’d never join Facebook when I was in college, I had no plans whatsoever of tweeting. That is until social media became a bigger part of my job and I was looking for more ways to spread news about my portfolio and blog. 🙂 So in June I finally bit the bullet and signed up, and I’ll admit I like tweeting and find a lot of great stuff for work (and for fun) through my account.

July – Carpooling to Coral Springs

The summer months were hot as usual so we decided to cool off with some of our buddies in Coral Springs in July. Our friends Ben and Alli invited us on a little road trip to Alli’s sister’s house and of course we were up for the adventure. We brought Millie along but she wasn’t alone – she had Ben and Alli’s dog Bella as well as two other dachshunds in Coral Springs to play with!

August – Revisiting My Alma Mater

After celebrating Bid Day with Chi Omega at UCF, I really started missing my own chapter at USF. So I planned a weekend where I could go visit the Chi Omega house and campus at USF (they have done a lot of renovations around campus since I left) as well as see my good friend Jamie. Being back in Tampa brought back a lot of memories, I hope to get over there more often this year.

September – Weekend in Death Valley

September brought a trip that we had been looking forward to for a while – returning to Clemson for a football game. Along with our friends Ben, Alli and Curtis as well as my sister Lina, Lina’s friend Emily, Brandon’s cousin Troy and Troy’s fiance Sarah we headed to South Carolina for an incredibly fun weekend and a great game against Florida State. (Clemson won, of course!)

October – Traveling Coast to Coast

In October I scratched the first item off of my 30 before 30 list by taking a trip across the country. I had never been to the Pacific Northwest before (or really the West in general) so I was very excited when my work sent me to Seattle for a meeting. I only spent a couple of days in Washington but luckily I was able to see most of the main sights including Pike Place Market and the Space Needle.

November – My Little Millie Turns 1

November brought the beginning of the holiday season but for the Reinerts it also brought Millie’s first birthday! Millie was born on 11/12/10 (although we didn’t bring her home until Jan. 1). We’ve loved every second we spent with Millie so far and look forward to many more years of love and licks from our little girl. She had a great birthday filled with treats and a couple new “big girl” toys.

December – From Beer to Wine

Brandon also had quite a few changes in his career last year. In the spring his company (he worked for a beer distributor) was bought out. As a result, his territory and hours were greatly affected and right before the holidays he was offered a job with a wine distributor basically doing the same thing. He is now off weekends and we are on similar schedules throughout the week. 🙂

2011 was a really great year all around … but we are hoping for an even better 2012! I’ll keep you posted!

It’s That Time of Year

The busy fray of the Christmas season is definitely here! I have been overloaded and overwhelmed with everything from work, wrapping presents and attending holiday get-togethers, leaving me little time to post new content on my poor lonely blog.

No worries though, I have some free time coming up and plenty of ideas to keep you busy through the New Year. Let’s start with getting in the spirit of the season – one of my favorite things about the holidays is going to all the events and parties. Here’s a few of the ways I got into the Christmas spirit this year …

Lina and I started off the Christmas season by taking Rory and Millie to Pet-a-palooza in early December. The two doggies were very excited to get out of the house and spend some time together!

Pet-a-palooza was great. There were tons of dogs, free treats and even pictures with Santa! After walking around for a while we found a spot on the lawn and settled in for a live performance by Hanson!

A couple weeks ago I had a jam-packed week with three different holiday parties back to back! It all started with my Chi Omega advisor gift exchange which was held at a fellow advisor’s, Suzanne’s, house.

My “Secret Santa” was Monica – the same girl who got me last year, go figure – and she did a great job! I got lotion in my favorite scent and dark chocolate covered strawberries! The super cuter owl purse was from Shanna.

The next day I had a holiday get-together at a small bar in the Dr. Phillips area. This one was for RCI, a company we work closely with at Wyndham. A few of the other Corporate Communications girls were there, too!

I was invited to the RCI party by the same people that took us out to dinner at the Space Needle in Seattle. But, the best part of this party was seeing my good friend, Teresa, who used to work with me at my last job!

The culmination of my holiday festivities week was the Wyndham Vacation Ownership holiday party which was held at the Amway Center. And guess who was there to greet us during cocktail hour … my favorite mascot, Stuff!

The majority of the Communications team made it out to the party and a good time was had by all! The food was great, we all hit the dance floor and I won a $50 American Express card … which has already been used up.

We really enjoyed the Christmas festivities that we’ve participated in so far! We got a late start on decorating at home as well as finishing up our Christmas shopping (I still have  one or two more things I need to run out and get) but it was well worth it. I hope all of you have a fabulous holiday season, too!

Not So Sleepless in Seattle

I was super excited when I heard I would be attending the WorldMark by Wyndham Annual Owners Meeting in Bellevue, Wash. It’s a trade show and business meeting for WorldMark (one of the Wyndham Vacation Ownership clubs) that features representatives from all over the company – including the Destinations magazine team, a.k.a. me!

As I’ve never been to the West Coast (I’ve never made it past the Mississippi River before) I was pumped for the trip to Bellevue, which is just outside of Seattle. And I also crossed the first item off my 30 Before 30 list!

We arrived in Washington on Wednesday afternoon after changing planes in Phoenix and leaving Orlando at 7:30 a.m. After setting up for our Thursday meeting we headed to the city, and I was kind of surprised at how hilly it was!

My boss Merav and I found a parking spot downtown and headed out to explore Seattle. It’s a great walking city and we got really lucky with the weather – it wasn’t the rainy, dreary place I thought it would be, at least not while we were there!

You can’t go to Seattle without stopping by the fish market! We went to Pike Place Market and although we didn’t buy any fish – or see them throw any either – it was still an experience. All of the seafood in the city was awesome, I wish I could have brought some home!

We walked through the main market, although most of the stores were closing up when we got there around 5 p.m. on a Wednesday. The three-hour time change was definitely noticeable, making me sleepy pretty much the entire trip.

I was so excited to see the Space Needle – I felt just like I was in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy! I am not a fan of heights, but I braved 520 feet up to the observation deck in a see through elevator (I just didn’t look down).

We had dinner reservations at the Sky City restaurant at the top of the Space Needle, but we stopped off at the observation deck beforehand. My legs were a little shaky, both from the height and from the chilly weather, but the view was worth it!

The restaurant was fabulous! All of the tables are right along the windows, so every seat has a great view. The restaurant spins, making a full rotation every 47 minutes, so you are always seeing something different. And the food wasn’t bad either!

The reason I was in Washington – the Annual Owners Meeting – took up the day on Thursday. Merav and I had a booth where we asked owners to vote in our annual photo contest and shot some short videos about why owners love their timeshare so much!

It was a very short trip, but it doesn’t take much to fall in love with the Emerald City. Seattle is a big craft beer center, so of course Brandon had me keep track of all the local brews I tried. Hopefully we will be able to make it out there together sometime soon for the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival.

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Book Report: “Don’t Breathe a Word” by Jennifer McMahon

When my friend Jamie first told me about “Twilight,” I was a little skeptical. A vampire love story? I didn’t think I could get into that. Well, I felt the same way when a member of my book club offered up this novel as the next read for the group.

She said it was a story about fairies. And while it is about fairies, it is so much more. I gave it  a try and was pleasantly surprised. It’s not the fantasy fiction book that you’d expect – it is complex, suspenseful and even a little bit spooky.

It’s more about the idea of fairies than an actual fairy tale and it is a bit scary. I actually had to be sure to read it with the lights on and watch a little TV before I went to bed so as not to keep myself up all night worrying over it!

I definitely recommend this book – it’s the perfect read leading up to the spooky Halloween season!

Adult Alphabet

This week I have something a little fun – an adult alphabet to help you get to know me … and if you play along, something to help me get to know you, too!

We all know our ABCs but this little survey is a way to really get you thinking about some of your favorite things and quirky characteristics. Some of the letters took me longer than others, but in the end I’m happy with my answers!

I encourage you all to give it a try and fill it out, even if you don’t feel like sharing. I promise, it’s fun!

Ambition: To leave a legacy

Bad Habit: Procrastination

City: Orlando

Drink: Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager

Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism

Food: Bread

Guilty Pleasure: A good book

Hometown: Mount Prospect, Ill. (and Orlando, I guess)

Ice Cream: Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food

Jonesing for: Chocolate (dark, yum!)

Kryptonite: Puppies! Especially MY puppy

Look-a-like: Vanessa Lengies from “American Dreams” and “Waiting”

Movie: “Pretty in Pink”

Nickname: Anna Banana

Obsession: Owls

Perfume: Can’t go wrong with a classic like Chanel No. 5

Quirk: When I eat M&Ms I like to line them up by color and eat them in order

Regret: Not trying to get more scholarships so I wasn’t paying off student loans until 2030

Starbucks: When I was in school they had a bananas and crème Frappuccino, I got one every single day!

Thrift Find of the Year: Dress pants from Sears

University: University of South Florida (but of course, I also root for Clemson)

Vacation: Anywhere Wyndham has a timeshare resort 😉

Wine: White Zinfandel

X: XL 106.7, I’ve been listening to it for years!

Years: 27 and change

Zen: Being on the beach

Now it’s your turn. I want to know what your adult alphabet looks like!

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Blog Report: A Toast (WhitTheHeck.blogspot.com)

I first found this alphabet activity on the blog A Toast. I am absolutely in love with the concept of this blog, it’s basically a toast to whatever the blogger, Whitney Heckathorne, wants to talk about.

She covers everything from “The Bachelor” recaps to travel tips and of course all things owls – did I mention Whitney is the national director of communications for Chi Omega? 😉 I love checking back in to see what Whit is up to.

She is also a great resource for finding new, interesting blogs that cover several feel-good, girly topics. If you’re into blogging or simply reading blogs this one is not to be missed!

The Millie Diaries

I wanted to send a quick mid-week post (in an effort to make up for missing a few postings here and there the past couple of months) and hopefully it will help get you through the rest of your week!

I went searching on Brandon’s phone for a picture he took a while ago and I found a couple of super cute Millie videos that I just had to share!

This first one warms my heart … Brandon took it when we brought Millie home.

I didn’t even know about this video, apparently Brandon used to slide Millie across our wood floors!

After she tore apart her soft, squeaky toys we bought Millie her first bone – which confused her.

It’s the funniest thing when Millie hears a new sound and turns her head trying to figure out what it is.

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2011 Wiggle Waggle Walk

Speaking of Millie … she will be participating in this year’s Wiggle Waggle Walk, a fabulous fundraiser benefiting the SPCA of Central Florida. She has set a fundraising goal of $100 to help support, and eventually, find permanent homes for the homeless animals.

The walk takes place on Oct. 22 at Crane’s Roost Park in Uptown Altamonte – come out and support Millie (she will be wearing a Halloween costume!) and help make a difference in the lives of animals right here in Central Florida.

Visit Millie’s fundraising page today to make a pledge (and be sure to read her special message). Everyone who donates at least $5 will get a 2012 poster calendar featuring Millie herself! And the best thing about this event is that due to all of the generous sponsors, ALL pledges will directly benefit the animals in our community.

We hope to see you in Uptown Altamonte later this month!

Where Were You?

I was a senior in high school in my second-period forensics class. The principal made an announcement over the intercom that a plane was flown into the World Trade Center in New York. I had never even heard of the World Trade Center before that day.

Then, like clockwork, a bomb threat was phoned into the school. (Unfortunately, this happened a lot at my high school.) So the rest of the day consisted of filing in and out of the building and waiting around in the hot sun looking for familiar faces so you could talk about what was going on in NYC.

The mom of one of my buddies was able to successfully sneak out a group of us some time around fourth period and I went to my friend Megan’s house to watch the news unfold. We cried as we watched people jumping from high-up floors and listened to stories about workers in wheelchairs left behind when stairs were the only option.

Six months later my journalism teacher asked me if I wanted to write one side of the debate column covering the increased patriotism that Sept. 11 brought. I agreed and I’m so glad I did. Now when I read back over the article it reminds me of the way I felt back then.

Here is my column from March 2002:

It’s been more than six months since the fall of two New York City buildings changed the lives of millions. To some the catastrophe is still eerie and surprising. To say that Americans must move on and simply get over the fact that less than a year ago more than 2,800 people died isn’t just a bit self-centered, it is impossible as well.

It doesn’t matter that my family’s income wasn’t directly affected by Sept. 11, and it doesn’t matter that I still have a job. I’m able to pay for my car and have the luxury of kissing my parents good night. The fact remains that there are thousands who aren’t in the same situation.

Those in the media are only trying to show Americans the true story behind the historic day. The videos, pictures and stories are informative. There is so much more going on in our government and so much more that happened that day — I am surprised to be seeing and hearing what we are. By focusing on the lives of specific victims, one of the most powerful and important tools of journalism is being utilized. As a three-year journalism student, I’ve always been taught that if you are going to show war, show one man’s war.

We all know that two planes hit the World Trade Center and that a lot of people died. But it’s the story about the father who called his family from a hijacked plane just to tell his wife and kids that he loved them or of the woman who was running late to work and saw the planes hit before she could get to her 90th floor office to show the real story and real events that happened that day.

Personally, I don’t mind having to show up to the airport an hour early if it means that I am going to have a safe flight. I understand that people get restless and begin to think that there is no point in safety checks. After all, nothing catastrophic will ever happen to me. We don’t know that it’s over. Just as we had no idea that Thursday Sept. 11 we would be attacked, we don’t know that there aren’t more terrorists still residing in the country, waiting until we let our guard down so they can strike again. Isn’t it worth it to take all precautions, whether it’s having your bags checked before going into Universal Studios or having your luggage poked through before traveling to Europe by plane?

People also disagree with the sudden wave of American pride that has swept over the nation. I don’t. While others argue that it takes a huge disaster like this one to bring people to love their country, I think it’s perfectly normal. It’s true that during first period Friday Sept. 12, there was not a single person in my VCC Spanish class who didn’t put their hand on their heart and recite our Pledge of Allegiance.

A great analogy is being a sports fan. I love the Chicago Bulls. But I don’t wear my Michael Jordan jersey to school every day. I don’t even wear it every time they play, but you better believe that on the day after they win a championship game I’ll be sporting a Bulls T-shirt or cap. Just because Americans aren’t actively involved in showing their patriotism doesn’t mean that they don’t have any.

The fact of the matter is that Sept. 11 is a day that will not go away. And I know that when I have kids, they’ll ask about that day and what I was doing the moment I first found out. That’s why it’s so hard to move on from this. It was and still remains a life-changing event, one that will affect the lives of each and every one of us, whether it be in a a direct or indirect way. When you think about time in general, it’s only been six months. That’s not such a long time. We will move on and life will go on as normal, but it’s not going to be overnight. It can’t be overnight.

For those who feel the time to move on is now, sit back and think about everything that has happened to our country within the last year. If you still get annoyed with the news broadcasts and documentaries, simply change the channel and don’t give those who still care a hard time. Times are hard enough as it is.

I still get a little chill every year when Sept. 11 rolls around.

I was a senior in high school in my second-period forensics class. Where were you?

I Ain’t As Good As I Once Was

First off, I have to apologize for the past few blog-less weeks. I’m bouncing back from a killer cold and a couple of jam-packed weekends (filled with late nights and loads of people – which probably contributed to the cold).

One of the big cold contributors was sorority recruitment at UCF. I don’t know how I used to stay up so late and then get up bright and early only to spend the entire day singing, cheering, being friendly and repeating the whole process all over again the next day. (Although, when I was still in college I used to buy a 12-pack of Red Bull to last me through recruitment week.)

Now as an advisor, I still have to stay late after the preference round and show up bright and early for bid day, but at least I don’t have to do it all week long … I don’t think I have it in me anymore! This year, the Chi Omega chapter at UCF had a “Travel First Class with Chi O” theme.

Lina is a new advisor this year, so of course I recruited her along to keep me company on bid day. After mingling and finger foods at the house, we headed out to Buca di Beppo for a yummy Italian, family-style dinner with the chapter and new members.

The girls did a really great job with the theme. Everything was about passports, traveling, different countries, etc. Each new girl got a travel bag with an itinerary for the day, luggage tags and of course a disposable camera to capture all the fun events.

Spending the day with Chi Omegas at UCF made me miss my own chapter in Tampa. So, I set up a trip to visit Jamie and stopped by the sorority house. Sandra’s younger sister Michelle, a new Chi O sister at USF, was nice enough to show me around the house.

I was extremely happy to see that my composite was up! The last time I was at the sorority house my beautiful composite from the year I was president was nowhere to be found.

Overall the house looked great, the girls were gearing up for their own formal recruitment (which was held this past week – they welcomed 40 new girls to the chapter) so there was plenty of crafting and preparing going on.

I can’t wait to go back a few more years down the road to see how the chapter has changed. For now, I’ll be actively watching and assisting the UCF chapter “flourish” but my heart will always belong to Theta Theta.

LICO,

Anna #840

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Book Report: “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett

I feel like all the books I’m loving right now have been made into movies. Some are great on the silver screen, others not so much. This one falls into the first category.

I went to see the movie this past weekend and loved it! I felt it was pretty true to the book and captured the overall tone and feel of the entire thing. Some of the scenes looked exactly on screen as I had pictured them in my head.

I’m pretty sure I cried while reading the book, and I definitely did when watching the movie! It’s a very moving story that tugs at the heart strings and features some very strong, inspiring female characters.

And of course it doesn’t hurt that the main character, Skeeter, is a Chi Omega! Even though the author is a Phi Mu, she chose the nation’s largest (and arguably the South’s strongest) sorority for her heroine – not a bad choice if you ask me!