Day 134: Lauren’s Birthday Week Starts at the Farm!

One birthday week down and now on to the next! Today is my suitemate Lauren’s 21st birthday (she is over a whole year younger than me) and we started the celebration by waking up VERY early and going on the Yale Farm tour!

Lauren’s boyfriend Jon walked us to the bus…so cute

The Yale Farm gets in the fall spirit!

Brunch is why everyone loves the Farm tour–everything is picked on site and are delicious (particularly the apples)

Pear orchard!

Literally had a Children of the Corn moment… Outlander, we have your woman!

My roomie loves me

We also visited a local tobacco farm, which provides high-quality tobacco to Cuban cigar makers (seriously)

The tobacco has to dry fully in the barn before it can be wrapped in the barrels and shipped out

Suities take the Yale Farm

Pauline loves produce

SO picturesque New England

Car selfie!

Accidentally took the ferry route home…

Fresh pulled pork tacos to end the day at the Farm!

And then a quick Facetime session with my ADORABLE nephew

I think Mom and I have a lot in common…

“Aubrey, smile!”
“No, Auntie Staci.” The sass…

September 28, 2014: 231 days to explore the farms of the Northeast

Day 117: Artsy

Tonight for society, the girls and I went to a BYOB (Bring Your Own Booze) painting studio! Our wonderful host (see below), coached us through the recreation of these lovely water lily paintings. There was a lot of mentioning of “blobs” during the process…

#selfies

Hey Juliet

Starting fresh

I would also like to say a quick word about the date today. I cannot hear or see the words “September 11th” without experiencing very strong emotions and associations.  Just as my generation looks at the consequences of the Vietnam War, as a part of history, so will my children look at 9/11.  The most startling part of this is that 9/11 is not history to me or to my generation. It is a defining moment of our childhood and of the adult world we are now entering.  The world we inhabit is significantly different than that of our parents–just like their parents called them lazy and unpatriotic, so ours call us flighty and self-centered. The world cannot understand millenials, because we live in a different universe, one characterized by changing ideas of “privilege,” “success,” and “global citizenship.”   People say “Never Forget,” but I’m not sure we could if we tried.

September 11, 2014: 248 days to decide if I want to be an artist (not likely)

Day 109: Introduction to the World of A Cappella

Per the request of some of our friends, a group of us “ushered” the Duke’s Men singing dessert.  A singing dessert is the last event hosted by an a cappella group during rush season, where they sing all their best songs in an attempt to entice rushees, while also offering–you guessed it–desserts.  As an usher, we basically stood around looking pretty (think black dresses and heels) and told the new freshman rushees where to go. 

DM=Duke’s Men of Yale
This was also the last concert for many of our senior friends, which was a little bittersweet

And naturally we followup a night of a cappella with the musical entertainments of Wednesday night Toads (aka Woads)

My night ended on the roof of a friend’s apartment. The view overlooks the entirety of the Yale campus and the surrounding area

Bingham Hall–where I lived freshman year!

September 3, 2014: 256 days left for it to be ok to enjoy a cappella (it’s a Yale thing)

Day 85: Chasing the Sunset

I spent the day saying goodbye to my favorite munchkins.  Going to miss these kids like crazy. Especially all their adorable selfies…

Models

Zac was upset because I painted the girls’ nails but wouldn’t do his. His dad made me promise that he would not be subjected to any sparkly nail polish of any color.

The sunset on my way across town. I decided (or so suggested the closed exit ramp) that I skip by my house and chase the clouds into St. Paul.

St. Paul in the setting sun

The Cathedral during sunset. One of my favorite buildings in St. Paul, the Cathedral is now a Catholic pilgrimage site and the site of all confirmations in the city.

Something else I will miss desperately… Not looking forward to going back to the world of Starbucks.

August 11, 2014: 281 cups of coffee to be consumed (and then some)

Day 27: Dancing Queen 💃

My gorgeous little goddaughter McKenzie had her dance recital! Afterwards we all went out to dinner and McKenzie started learning the delicate art of the #selfie (this is a theme with the little people in my life).

If three adult women (my mom, Aunt Di, and myself) go see How to Train Your Dragon 2 on a Saturday night with a little boy with Down Syndrome (Charlie), does it look like we’re using him…?
Seriously though, luxury reclining seats, a full cafe, and ice cream make for a pretty comfortable viewing experience. The movie itself was also pretty incredible–I highly recommend it!

June 14, 2014: 338 days to go

Day 24: “my 5 year old took a selfie before I did”

So said my sister-in-law after my niece Aubrey showed her the selfies she took on my phone. Then Britt proceeded to take her first #selfie.

Hanging out with these kids gets more and more interesting…

Day 12: Meet Stephanie

When I arrived at college to find my new, randomly assigned roommate quietly arguing with her parents in Chinese, I was a little concerned. I didn’t have a lot of faith that I would have anything in common with the studious girl from SoCal who slept in the bunk above me. Nor was it love at first sight for her–apparently my crocs were off-putting, unclear why… While it is unclear which of the traumatizing freshman experience brought us together, here we are, almost three full years later, still roommates and now best friends. All those things that made us too different as freshman are now what bring us together, helping us learn from each other and our varying experiences. Now there is nothing we can’t talk about, nothing we don’t share. All sentimentality aside, one of Yale’s greatest gifts to me has been the exposure to new people, new places, new cultures, and new experiences. For instance, my knowledge of Chinese culture has been greatly enhanced because of living with Stephanie. I’ve also learned an excessive amount about cold brew coffee and all things foodie. The list of things I’ve learned from Steph goes on and on: how to wear neutral nail polish, who Sam Smith is, what exhibits are in the Yale University Art Gallery, how to dress myself (literally every morning, thanks for that, Steph), and so on.
So, in honor of my incredible roommate and one of my best friends making her way back to New Haven after 3 long weeks of separation, let us take a selfie.

May 29, 2014: 354 days left with the best roomie in the world