I wish I could make everyone in the world happy

An interesting notion, I know, however in talking to a friend this week we both realized that if we could just make everyone in the world happy life would be good. Now, I am realistic enough to know this is not possible but we should try, right? It's the difficult things that life throws us that we can not control that I think is the most challenging. At least that seems to be the case in my life currently. Sometimes life is challenging, it doesn't make sense. All we can do is go to bed and know tomorrow is a new day, and take that as a new opportunity. Perhaps I will just start out with making one or two people's day would at least be progress? I don't want to get all pay it forward here but realistically, could it work? Maybe. I'll just aim to make one or two people happy each day. Will you try to do the same?

Tonight ACE had an awesome comedian, Glozell. For those of you who have not seen her youtube videos definitely check out her videos. She was very funny and the audience seemed to really enjoy it. Watching her made me realize how simple comedy can be. It is pointing out the things that are obvious and a good delivery. Glozell does this very well and I believe she will be quite successful.

I got to spend a sweet long weekend with my dear best friend Lauren Kennedy. We celebrated Katie K's birthday in Wilmington on Thursday and then trecked to VB on Friday for our pledge sister Angela's wedding. Friday night was spent at YNOT for a traditional Shan-man dinner. LK is no stranger to these dinners and it was good to spend time with my (other) family as well as JoJo and Matty B! There is NOTHING like YNot garlic knots and pizza. Mmmmm... Laura Hunsberger joined us that evening and it was a night of reminiscing.  Saturday we headed to Herford, NC for Angela's wedding. Between the three of us we couldn't get the time for the wedding right and arrived an hour early to the beautiful wedding site. We had a great time at the beautiful wedding and I am so happy for Mr. & Mrs. Carly :)

Saturday night was a slight glimpse back at freshman year mixed together with a mini ADPi/my vb friends reunion. I can always appreciate a night where you think it will be nothing special but get surprised by how fun it turns out to be. That sums up Saturday in an appropriate blog way. It was wonderful to spend time with so many people I love and finish up the weekend with a great dinner w/ Adrienne, Katie and LK.

So life is good. UNCW has fall break Monday and Tuesday which I know is coming at a perfect time for my students so I am excited for them to enjoy the break and for all of us who work at the University to catch our breaths. So yes, that is all for now...

Shoutouts (clearly):

- So very proud of little bro Petey for a successful philanthropy week :)
-My love to my bff Katie ... make the most of your time at home. I know you will <3
-So proud of my ACErs for rocking the first half of the first semester. Great job :)
-Congrats to my sister Kirby for accepting a job!
-Love to the JMU Panhellenic for a successful recruitment. Miss you girls xoxo
-Wanna give some love to JoJo for being a great mom!
-Congrats again to my pledge sister Angela Hendricks Carly :)

Hello wonderful blog readers,

Whew...are we really more than half way through September? How did that happen! I suppose its a result of a pretty crazy start to the school year. Life in Wilmington is still wonderful. ACE has been rockin' it so far this semester with some amazing programs and had 113 students apply for the first PIT Crew (Programmers In Training) which started this week. We selected 60 students to go through a 5 week new member program for ACE to prepare members to be contributing and active members of ACE. We are excited to begin preparing and planning for the annual spring show (which may also double as my 25th birthday party this year based on date availability... who doesn't want 2500 people at their birthday party?). Overall, work is great. I am continually thankful to those at JMU who helped me through my graduate program to prepare me as best they could for this job. Hopefully, I'm making it happen. I survived my 90 day evaluation and still have a job so obviously something is going right :)

I have been able to do more than just work though. Last weekend I visited my best friend/soulmate Lauren Kennedy in Clemson, SC. As many of your know LK and I hadn't seen each other since April which is was crazy considering I'm not sure we've ever gone more than a month apart since we met. Needless to say it was great to spend time together. We got to see Clemson crush Presbyterian in football which was great. For those of you know don't know 1.) The beginning of Clemson football is the most exciting 25 seconds in college football 2.) they lasso in the middle of the clemson cheer EVERYTIME THEY SCORE.  I loved it..and seeing LK :) Luckily she'll be here Thursday and we get another fun weekend together in VB for Angela Hendrick's wedding.

Sorority bid day was this past Monday. Helping with sorority pref night confirmed that its the same conversation every where you go. The same tears, same drama, same T-shirts, same bid day cheers. However there is something equally comforting about that. It was also wonderful to hear "Deep in my heart I love my ADPis" being chanted. I was excited to see ADPi do well in recruitment and pick up some all-star upperclassman I've had to opportunity to get to know since I've been here.

TV starts again this week! I act excited like I'm that big of a TV watcher, but I'm hoping to become one. After watching the Emmy's I realized I am missing out. So far I have set the DVR up for: Greys, Glee, Private Practice, Modern Family & My Generation. Am I missing something I should add?

Also, for those who didn't get to see, the communion picture made an appearance this week, a favorite of many of my friends:

Well I think thats it... time for shout outs?

 - Love to Lindsey McDaniel who coordinated  a wonderful Yom Kippur dinner...so wonderful I'm not sure many of us could move afterward.
-Happy late birthday to my cousin Jackie!
-Good luck to my little bro who has worked hard to plan an awesome philanthropy week "Quest for the Kids" that starts this week at LU
-Happy early birthday to Katherine Ann Kolkmeier
-Happy 50th birthday to my Uncle Paul
-A late congrats to my JMU Dukes for an amazing victory over Virginia Tech last week!
-As always lots of love to my ACErs for rocking it week after week :)
-Love to Todd Shanley coming home before moving to Italy... excited to see you boo <3

Why don't men shop at Target?

Happy Labor Day All!

I hope everyone was able to enjoy a great three day weekend (except for you Dukes, sorry bout it :( ). Life in Wilmington was good to me this weekend. I spent time at the beach, celebrating birthdays and housewarmings and of course some great time with my amazing friends. Whether it was getting pedis, shopping, enjoying some Fuzzy Peach relaxing at the beach/pool or enjoying a good McCalisters lunch on the couch I would say this Labor day weekend was just what the doctor ordered. It all comes back to how lucky I am to live in such a great place with wonderful people. So shout out to all of you who make my life in Wilmington a great one :) Nothing to complain about besides the blank wall over my couch ;)

So my blog post title ties into a conversation Adrienne and I had the other day while enjoying our Pretzel combos at Target: Men do not shop at Target unless the are accompanied by someone. Think about it, how often do you see a man by himself shopping at Target. NEVER. Men go to Walmart. Why? I'm not sure but when discussing my observation yesterday with some friends it was pointed out to me that just the lay out of the store.is geared toward women When you walk in, the first thing you arrive to (besides the food court aka home of the pretzel combo) is purses and womens clothing. He had a point. However, I'd argue that the reason a women chooses target is the little things that can not be found at the local walmart, many of which are gender specific. For example: who doesn't love a good $19.99 dress? I DO! Or, a cute pair of earrings? A wonderful card for a friend? A good pair of shoes? You can get all of these while picking up a 36 pack of TP, toothpaste. cereal, a birthday gift for grandma and inevitably something for your home. Now, don't get my wrong I am WAY more likely to leave walmart spending less money than Target. I'm not sure anyone has ever spent less that $50 at Target, which is why it is dangerous but ask most women and Target is a store you can't live without. Anyway, I know there are some men who appreciate Target, and I appreciate you :) Just an observation I made. Thoughts? Leave me a comment!

I want to give a shout out to my friends, the educators starting school tomorrow, especially Ashley Carlton, Rachel Myers & Leslie Lehner starting for the first time. I am so proud of ALL my teacher friends...I have faith in the future of my job because you will do an amazing job educating the youth of America (or just Virginia, Massachusetts and Florida...haha)

I participated in my first Fantasy Football draft today. My cousin Anthony said I did well and I think he is smart so I think it was a success. I guess we'll see how it goes. We are playing for nail polish so really I'm not stressed out. I'm in it for the fun.

And no, we didn't have a Hurricane here :)

Shout outs? I think so!

- Alyssa Garnich starting her new job this week! Good Luck :)
-Fellow CSPAer Dana got a job this week! That makes all 11 of us employed, I like it :)
-My friend and Duke/SeaHawk Bradley Davis turned 25 this weekend! Happy Birthday :)
-The one boy who truly has my heart, my little cousin Torin starts Kindergarten tomorrow! I got to buy him his first day of school outfit: Tallwood Timberwolf colors :)
-My dear friend Annie Blewett moved to Spain yesterday!
-Lots of love to my sisters at LU who completed an amazing recruitment <> first finest forever
-JMU Dukes won this week again Morehead
-Good luck to UNCW greek women this week as you start recruitment
-Good luck to LU boys as you start recruitment (especially those PKT guys, I hear they are the gentleman's fraternity with a great VP)

Coming up next: A visit to see my soulmate/best friend Miss Lauren E. Kennedy at Clemson next weekend :)