Winter Activities

Rather than bumming and binge-watching Netflix all of break, I decided to get outside with a friend and get some exercise! We used snowshoes to climb up a mountain and see the very beautiful, very covered in powder, Mud Lake. Fortunately, we found some friendly hikers to take a picture of us! The hike was beautiful due to the surrounding mountains, unfortunately the only animal we saw belonged to the pair of hikers. It was a puppy! :)

First Semester of College!

I have finally finished my first semester of college! I would have to say the experiences that I have been faced with over the past fifteen weeks have truly made me grow as a person. First off, experiencing homesickness was something I had never truly had to cope with. I'd been away from my family for a long time before, but I had never had to do it alone. This was definitely one of the worst parts of coming to a new school. With the help Skype and Facetime, it was manageable.

Not only has homesickness been a new thing to cope with, but learning to live with roommates was a big challenge. Roommates are awesome, if you're lucky, you end up with super friendly roommates who will hang out with you and be an amazing friend. However, friendships aside it is still hard to learn to work around a complete stranger's schedule. Showering, cooking, and cleaning can become a huge pain if you don't learn to divide your time, space, and work load.

One last thing that was a bit of a struggle last semester was coming out of my comfort zone. Usually I tend to hang out with just one or two friends. I don't like much of a crowd. After joining a sorority. that tendency quickly had to change. I've learned to be much more open and silly with people rather than closed-off and shy. Additionally, I've really learned to take advantage of all the free activities the campus have to offer. Here at ISU, the school offers many free movie nights, sports events, concerts, and other fun activities.

That being said, here are some of the top memories from my first semester of college! 

Big/ Little Retreat Pledge Class Picture

Pledge Class Fall 2014 Initiation

Roommate Christmas Decorating

ISU Football Game! GO BENGALS!

Starbucks!

This afternoon, I needed a pick-me-up. My friend Brooke and I stopped by Starbucks and got frappuccinos. We spent the rest of our afternoon sucking them down while studying!

What do you do for your afternoon pick-me-up?

I'm back!

My sorority just finished our big/little week and I found out who my amazing big is! She has truly spoiled me rotten this week!

She made all of the canvases for me and has given me tons of other presents. These are just some of the highlights. The last picture is from reveal day. It's true what they say- the only thing better than getting a bid, is getting a big! 👭☔️

Weekend Trip!

This weekend, my classmates and I went on a biology trip to none other than the Grand Tetons! Even though I visited them last weekend, it was still fun to see the Grand Tetons again this weekend. They are so beautiful and I really can't get enough of those mountains! 

On our way to the tetons we stopped at gas station for some snacks and it had a huge coffee station. 

I have never seen so many coffee pots in one spot! 

Brooke and I took a picture at the site where our project was. You can see the mountains in the background! It was such a beautiful day, but it was definitely cold! 

Late Night Walks!

Tonight, Brooke and I decided to go on a walk after dinner at Einstein Bagels. We hiked alongside the Red Hill and walked through Mountain View cemetery. It's a quick walk, but a nice way to spend the evening after dinner.

On our walk we saw a bunny! 

 How do you like to spend your evenings? I think walking is a nice way to relax and let the day loose. Back at home, I used to go on two or three miles every night after dinner with my mom. I definitely miss those walks now that I am away at school!

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal

Now that the days are getting cooler, I prefer something warm to eat in the morning. I have returned to my old favorite breakfast food: oatmeal! Even though I have traded in my cold yogurt for some warm oatmeal, I still haven't gotten rid of my other breakfast staple: bananas!

For this recipe you will need:

• a banana
• 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter
• 1/3 cup of oats
• 1 teaspoon of chia seeds
• 1 cup of water or milk

Instructions-

Mash half of the banana with a fork, then add oats, water, and chia seeds to a microwavable bowl. Mix together and microwave for 3-4 minutes. Mix in peanut butter and top oatmeal with slices from the other half of the banana. I added some mini chocolate chips to my oatmeal, but this step is optional. Personally, I believe anything tastes better with chocolate! :)

Enjoy!