Things I Love Thursday

You thought I'd forgotten. Well I didn't. Yes, it is 11:38 pm on Thursday and I am just starting a TILT post but that's how it usually goes.

Since it's been awhile, there are many things I love today so I'll try to keep this to a bullet point fashion. But I'm not making any promises.

(1) ICED TEA. No, not that swill that comes powdered in a can, although that can be quite thirst-quenching. I mean, boiling 2 quarts of water, steeping 4-6 tea bags and then serving chilled, the whole nine yards. My brilliant friend Jillian came up with the following delicious concoction: 2 sachets Tazo Passion Fruit and 2 sachets Earl Grey in the same pitcher, with a little less than 1/3 cup of sugar.  You can change the proportion of tea bags to your liking but it is like a English garden party in your mouth. Delicate fruit and a pop of lavender.  Jilly darling, I bow before your greatness.

Clearly, I'm not cut out for this bullet point stuff...

(2) Mug cake. Just type those words into Google and BAM, you're five minutes away from chocolatey bliss. Yet another Jillian find. Perhaps I should just devote this post to her culinary talents...

(3) Stevie Wonder's cover of "We Can Work It Out". You can give it a listen here. I am a Beatles purist. I don't like covers of their songs. Call me a snob but no one seems to do them justice. Until now.  Then again, I adore Stevie Wonder. He could probably cover Lady Gaga and I'd like it. Ok, let's not get out of hand.


(4) Being home - Clearly I loved college and all the freedom and empowerment that entailed. But let's be real. I love nothing better than a fully-stocked fridge, doing my laundry for free, not wearing flip flops in the shower, and sitting on the deck in shorts drinking iced tea and silently judging the golfers that drive by.*

(5) The library - During the school year, between studying and research, it was my second home.  But that's not why I love it.  For the last nine months,  I can count on one finger the number of books I got to read for pleasure.  But it's summer now and I can dive headfirst into a stack of literature piled waist-deep. If there are two things I love in life, they are books and things that are free. The library is a beautiful marriage of these two. Books recently in my library stack:

• Stealing Lincoln's Body by Thomas J. Craughwell
• The Elements of Cooking by Michael Ruhlman
• K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain by Ed Viesturs
• Tom Bedlam by George Hagen
• Frommer's Switzerland

(6) Bath and Body Works sales - When these cats have a sale, they REALLY  have a sale.  None of this "Spend $100, get $10 off!" business. We're talking 50% off, buy 2 get 1 free, $4 hand lotions. I spent a shocking amount of money in their store recently but I made out like a bandit. I have enough creams, candles, and soaps to keep me and the 50-ft area around me smelling delightful for a good long while.** Current favorite scents:

• Dancing Waters
• Black Raspberry Vanilla 
• Eucalyptus Spearmint
• Irresistible Apple

(7) New Hope, PA - A really adorable burg on the border of NJ and PA. Cute shops filled with useless things and delicious smelling restaurants nestled on the Delaware River, all wrapped up in the charm of an East Coast small town. Also the perfect spot for the European bookstore/bakery/cafe/papery I will open someday.  In that alternate version of reality where I am a self-starter with gobs of money, have a head for business, and there's an economy where dreams don't go to die.

There is so much more, but for the sake of you kids and your short attention spans, I'm going to tie it off here. Still much to tell you.

Hope you had a lovely Thursday. It is still totally Thursday in California so this counts.



*My parents live on a golf course. Our back yard is directly in view of one of the holes. Yes sometimes golf balls hit the deck. I can't decide if it's more fun to throw them back or to hide them and then yell at the golfers for walking on our lawn when they come looking.  In case you can't tell, golfers will not make it on any TILT posts.
**To any B&BW reps, I am open to sponsorship.  I will continue to shamelessly plug your products, should you choose to shower me with money. Or more hand cream.

I'm Back!

 It's been a ridiculously long time since I've updated. I have so many things to tell you.
And I promise I will get to these things! 

For now, here is a video of an extraordinary dance number to one of my all time favorite songs.  I harbor a secret passion for modern dance.  I'm not talking about the garbage you see in today's music videos, I'm talking about the well-dressed, well-executed numbers that tell a story and express emotion.  Done in this manner, it can be a very beautiful display of the human form. 

That said, if you don't like modern dance, this post is a waste of your time.  But I'd advise you to check it out all the same. You just might like it.



The fact that they do this to an orchestral version of "Yellow" is just astounding.

I'll write again soon.

Beautiful People

In a special three-part series on my time here at Purdue, here is part two, a post devoted to all the wonderful people I've come to love these past four years.

It's goodbye time here in the 765. This makes me 8 kinds of sad because I may never see some of these amazing people again. So here in a public fashion, I'm posting all the things I want to say to all the people I love in case I forget to tell you in person!

Hatley Nell - I don't even know where to begin. Perhaps, BGR? When we bonded over H&M, driving Volvos, and being really homesick? And then that one time we went shopping in Indy and ran into Andy Roddick? I'm glad our friendship lasted long after you moved out of Windsor. I will miss our absurdly long lunches, stories about Fatta & Gus Gus, and your amazingly delicious baked goods.  You are one of my very best friends.  You and Ramsey and your animal farm will have an amazing time in Texas. I can't wait to visit some day.

The Braund family - You are home to me. You have been my pillars for the last four years. Your love and support means more than you will ever know. As I write this, I am swimming in memories of all the laughter and fellowship. You are odd, hilarious, compassionate, loud, and spectacular. I am forever your Eli, who thinks everything tastes like pumpkin and will never set foot in Don Pablos again.

The Hoversland family - Ditto. It has been a blessing getting to know you. Your kids are bright, vibrant, adorable creatures and I love them like they were my own siblings. Thanks for allowing me to shamelessly use you for your laundry room on occasion. 

Elizabeth - JGG. Dinner dates, movie nights, doing rounds. We have an amazing friendship, even if we never made it out of Windsor. You are the only one allowed to call me Legally Short. I will miss you incredibly.

Kristin - Shoot, girl. So many good times. Thanks for the advice on plants, taking me to Owl City, and alllll the talking. I'm going to miss you while you're catching butterflies in Oregon. I know it's not the end for us because we still have plans (aka rock climbing, roadtrip to Florida, watch Lord of the Rings all the way through, etc.)

Julie, Michelle, Cassandra, and all the rest of my Windsor ladies - I've known some of you since BGR, and some of you since last August but you're all right up there in my book. So many good times. Thanks for making the last four years (and especially Senior Week) so amazing. You are pure gold. Riiiiiiiight?

My spectacular office staff - You made my job as supervisor the easiest in the world. You showed up on time (always in the proper clothes - a plus!), had excellent customer service, and always laughed at my jokes in clerical meetings.  You are 11 amazing women.  It has truly been a pleasure to work with each and every one of you.

WRH Club - Governess was a cakewalk. You are some of the funniest, most interesting cats out there. We did Windsor proud this year. Thanks for keeping my legacy intact.

And now I'm crying. But I love you all.

The Purdue Bucket List

In less than 24 hours, I will officially be a college graduate. As much as that excites/freaks me out, it is high time I devote a blog post to the things I love about the best academic institution in the world.

Oh Purdue....the years, days, hours, dollars, tears, smiles, laughs I have devoted to you...it's enough to make me wax poetic. But I won't. you're welcome.

The Graduation Bucket List.  There's a few versions of a list of 25 things you're supposed to do before you graduate that have been circulating around.  Since most of them revolve around alcohol and sporting events, I decided to make my own list. Except I cheated and made it right now. After everything is checked off.

Ellie's Purdue Bucket List

(1) Attend Boiler Gold Rush - aka BGR aka Freshman Orientation. It actually wasn't all that fun. But I can say that some of the people in my group became my best friends.

(2) Attend a basketball game - YES!!

(3) Attend the callout for a club I have no intention of joining - yes, Junior year. Ballroom dancing. hahahahaha.

(4) Drink an entire Den Pop - check. 32 oz. of soda: only did it once, felt pretty sick after.

(5) Eat at Triple X - yep. fried eggs and toast. no way was I going to try the peanut butter burger.

(6) Get a milkshake at Pappy's - DELICIOUS.

(7) Pull an all-nighter - many, many times.

(8) Run through one of the fountains fully clothed - aka a Fountain Run, got that out of the way freshman yr. it was COLD.

(9) Attend a concert in Elliot/on Slayter Hill - yesss. Ben Folds, Jason Mraz, Switchfoot, B.B. King.

(10) Take a completely random class - see, Intro to Theater, aka Acting Class, Junior Year

(11) See the inside of Harry's Chocolate Shop - check. ate a chicken sandwhich and left. Never would have done this without Catherine.

(12) Achieve a 4.0 for one semester - did this one TWICE. since I'm a genius.

(13) Ride the Citibus - ugh. worst experience ever.

(14) Get a part time job - haha 2 and a half years later, it's kind of my full time job.

(15) Get a drink from the Lion Fountain - more dangerous than you would think. may or may not have contracted lead poisoning because of this one.

(16) Live with a random roommate - check. best experience! never would have met Charisse otherwise.

(17) Skip a class on purpose and for no reason at all - check, check, check, check, checkkkk.

(18) Get to know a professor outside of class - YES.

(19) Become the president of something - you're looking at the Governess of Windsor Residence Hall, '09-'10. Bow before me.

(20) Shake hands with the university president - yep, met Dr. Jischke and Dr. Cordova.

(21) Stay friends with someone from high school - not only was she my roommate for a year and a half, we took classes together, and bonded over our mutual love for politics, the Daily Show, Guitar Hero, flags, and being awesome. Catherine, you are the greatest.

(22) Attend a football game - Finally did it senior year. not a huge fan...

(23) Join a random club - Lasted about one semester in Purdue's Camera Club. Came for the free food, stayed for the free Photoshop tutorials, left because it was dominated by hipsters.

(24) Study abroad - ok this one never happened, and it is my single regret about my time at Purdue. It was certainly not for lack of trying! If only Greece hadn't dissolved into political and financial ruin....

(25) GRADUATE. If you're in Elliot Hall at 9:30 am on Sunday, you'll see me there. I'll be the one in the cap and gown.

Things I Love Thursday

This Thursday finds me exceptionally cranky because I am dividing my time between studying for my two hardest and most boring finals and working in the office. Clearly, the two are not meant to mix because as soon as I open my notebook, the phone rings or someone walks up to the desk.
Case in point:
As I was finishing that sentence, someone approached and asked me if they could "buy some quarters".
...Insert incredulous stare.

Well. Hopefully the end of the list will find me more cheerful than the beginning.

What I Love Today:

(1) Roman Holiday

Nothing quite tugs at my heartstrings like Audrey Hepburn sleepily informing the dashing Gregory Peck,

"What the world needs is a return to sweetness and decency in the souls of its young men."

Or the look that passes between them at the very end when they are standing right in front of each other for the very last time. Swoon.

(2) Turning in the last ever paper of my undergraduate education.
biiiiiig sigh of relief.

(3) Unexpected motivation
Yesterday at the gym, I used a particular elliptical machine that I had never used before and midway through my workout, I paused to take a drink of water.  I hadn't been stopped for long when I looked down and the digital readout was flashing the following message: "PEDAL FASTER".   It was so unexpected, I laughed for a really long time.  The audacity! Since when is exercise equipment allowed to be Judge-y McJudgerson?  But it worked; I pedaled faster.  I can't imagine what the girl next to me was thinking however, with me laughing and pointing at my machine for no apparent reason...

(4)  Chema Madoz Photography
I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

(5) Amy Atlas Events
 If I were wealthy, lived in New York, and had an event that needed planning, I would call up this lady. Stop what you're doing and click on the link. These are the prettiest, most creative dessert tables you will ever see.  It is a feast for the eyes.

(6) Conference calls with the family
Five people, five phone lines. What is this, a business meeting? You laugh, but getting to talk to all of my family at the same time is not something I have been able to do for a long time.  I miss talking around the dinner table every night.  I'm excited to move home for the summer.  That said....This is Carolus Unit 3 signing out.