37. Sunscreen

Merry Christmas, all! And I hope the Jews had a good day too!




Photo Credit: school.discoveryeducation.com

So a funny thing to be blogging about in the dead of winter, I know. Sunscreen. But, I am that crazy that wears it everyday. Yes. Everyday. Except when there is literally rain falling from the sky.

You see, sunscreen is something you should wear not just when it's really sunny outside/the summer. At least that's what all the health and beauty magazines would have you believe. Is it all just a conspiracy to make the sunscreen companies rich? Maybe. But I feel a bit better about myself smearing the white goo all over my face.

(I like Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer, Untinted SPF 30, in case you're ever looking for an easy birthday gift or something.)

I have this theory that if I wear some form of sunscreen on my face everyday I can maybe ward off major wrinkles. If I am still writing in this blog by the age of 60 I will let you know if my face remains smooth and young.

Oh, and you should see me at the beach. Thick, thick sunscreen in very high SPFs. Yet somehow my back still has a stripe on it from Sunburn: Beach Week '09. Oh well, I try.

36. Country Western Music

Wow, it seems so long since I wrote my last post about Beyonce and Jay-Z. Well, I'm now going to write about a different favorite genre of music: country western.

(Haters, please be quiet. Just give it a chance!)

With the exception of my obsession with the Dixie Chicks that began when I was probably about 11 years old, I was never big into this type of music. When this precisely changed, I can't be sure, but I do remember thinking that Carrie Underwood's 'Before He Cheats' was pretty awesome when it first came out. Who knew that there was a whole world of country music waiting for me to listen to it??

And I also have to thank my friends Lauren and Molly, for making me listen to country music on the ride up to Gulf Shores later that summer. Seriously, if you want to become acclimated to it, try being stuck in a car and listening to 'Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On'. You'll come around, all right.

Soon WNOE became a preset in my car. I was watching CMT as much as possible and loving it.* I was hooked.

Why do I love country? Good question!

- It sounds good. Duh.

- It's somewhat wholesome! (I find). Not that I'm super into wholesome stuff or anything, but it's nice to know I'm listening to music about the little things in life and just having a good time. (Although when I mention this somewhat always brings up Carrie Underwood and I'm like yeah yeah but it's one song!)

- Ok, so maybe not so much anymore what with the mainstream of Taylor Swift and all that (not that I mind in the least!), but I feel like country used to be somewhat of an underground thing. Or just a southern thing I'm not really sure. But basically, yes, Britney Spears' and Mariah Carey's antics were all over the place but I feel like not everyone knew what Keith Urban was up to (OK maybe that's not a good example since he's married to Nicole Kidman and all, but you know what I mean). It was kind of cool liking a type of music where the music came first before the celebrity. **

Anyway, whenever anyone asks me who my favorite country artists are, I'm always kind of stumped though. Besides Sugarland (ahhh best ever) and Taylor Swift (who I'm not sure really counts since who doesn't love her??) I can't really think of who I love. I guess because I only know two or three songs by each one. I do rather like what I've heard from Dierks Bentley, and I'm kind of obsessed with Justin Moore's 'Small Town USA', despite the fact that I think I would hate living in a small town. But I digress.

And it's so true: Ladies love country boys.


*Can we please discuss how I return home from London (like the antithesis of country music) and the local cable provider got rid of CMT?? FML.
**I know this paragraph makes little to no sense. Stream of conciousness? Yes!

35. Beyonce and Jay-Z

I feel very strongly about these two music artists. Strongly as in, I think they're a-freakin-mazing. The day they got married the world just turned a lot cooler, with these wed in holy matrimony.

Photo Credit: realrapnews.files.wordpress.com

(As I write this I'm listening to their song "Bonnie and Clyde". Music gold I'm telling you. "Ya ready, B?" Hells yes I am.)

Anyway, let's start with Beyonce.

The woman can do no wrong. (I always try to forget about "Diva". Ladies, a diva is not a female version of a hustla.) But she has hit, after hit, after hit. Right now, I'm obssessed with "Get Me Bodied." Dear lord I wish I could wind it back like her. She is gifted, lemme tell ya.

Photo Credit: dailymail.co.uk

Hello, and she is one of the original members of Destiny's Child, which in itself could do no wrong either. Love me some old school Destiny's Child - when they perform "No No No part 2" on Smart Guy, my 8th grade* world was blown. And to think I saw them open for Christina Aguilera way back when. I was livin' it!

But Beyonce rose high above them, rightfully so I think, and her solo music = life. Basically. Way to go, my favorite spastic sister!

Ok, Jay-Z.

Photo Credit: media.canada.com

He's not a businessman, he's a business ... man.

Very rags to riches. I think. I actually don't know all his history, but given that he's now CEO of Def Jam Records, I would say that is riches, yes. Also he's married to Beyonce, holla!

He's pretty much dominated the music I've listened to for the past three months, since beginning at the end of summer I listened very heavily to "Run This Town", which features Kanye West and Rihanna (so of course I loved it). And then "Empire State of Mind" with Alicia Keys - so good, I have to listen right now!

Reason # 83 Jay-Z is awesome: He does the opening rap for Rihanna's "Umbrella" and uses the term 'hydroplane'. C'mon, the last time anyone said that was in driver's ed! Jay-Z is some sort of god methinks.

Here's to hip-hop royalty!

Photo Credit: eastofla.com

*I think it was the 8th grade, can't remember exactly when I was obsessed with various syndicated shows Disney played. All I know is Ben resembled TJ to a tee with his facial expressions. Anyway.

34. Malcolm Kearns

Malcolm - the light of my life, the apple of my eye.


Photo Credit: Alyce Currier

What would my life be without your (Facebook) presence in it?

Who else can supply me with thought-provoking either/or questions?

Or allow me the joys of checking my email only to find 30 Facebook notifications for comments on a single photo?

Only you can say something as wise and witty as "dunzo? i thought you said ... I guess I should return all these garbanzo beans"?

And you showed us (me) the beauty of TuftsFML.

Thank you, Malcolm.

Someday, we shall meet in person.

33. Friends

Photo Credit: api.ning.com

No, not those friends. Although, that show is a favorite of mine.

My friends!

I don't wanna get too gushy on here or anything, but the ones I've got are pretty awesome. Yay for friendship!

To my NOLA friends: you have known me a long time, and kudos to sticking around because I know that I am a nutso. I have SO many memories from so many fun times it is absolutely ridiculous. I hope I continue to be friends with each and every one of you for a loooong time. So I hope you do not get sick of me heehee.

To my Richmond gals: Let's face it, studying sucks so college would be pretty boring without you all! This semester has been so weird without hanging out with you guys doing DHall brunch/lodges/watching movies etc etc. And so Spring '10 is gonna be awesome! And yes I'm sure you're all beginning to see my nutso ways they're slowly appearing...

And to everyone in London: New friends, yes, but no less special to me! This semester would have been so difficult without meeting such awesome people and I'll miss you when we all return stateside.

Ok, cheesiness aside, whenever I'm having a bad day (which seems like a lot sometimes) I know I have a bunch of people to just hear me out and make me feel better! On the positive side, I also have a lot of people to act goofy with and gossip and eat ice cream and stuff.

32. Text Messaging

So among other things that I miss while being abroad, text messaging is one of them. A necessity? Hardly. But I do love them so.





A. Nothing brightens up a glum day than a funny text from a friend. Also, if something funny from like two years ago pops into my head it is so easy to share with someone!





B. Organizing large group gatherings = easy. Hello, mass text! Although then expect your phone to be buzzing like none other, but that's OK.





C. My mommy and I text all the time. And I miss it! And she is getting better at non-caveman communication. Go Mom!





Seriously, I text all the time. When I'm bored, when I'm busy, if I don't answer right away it's because I'm in class or driving ... it's kind of ridiculous. In fact, at one time during the summer my wrist hurt so badly I was convinced I had given myself carpal tunnel from excessive textical massages. Luckily, I had not, but you get the idea. I am a Speed Texter!





And no, I don't do T9. How the hell do I train it?? Seriously, everytime I want to say "hi" it says "hey" and I want to throw my phone on the ground. Stupid T9 I refuse to use you.





Anyway, when I reach Hotlanta next weekend, you bet I'm going text-crazy. Woo, unlimited!

31. Alpha Chi Omega

I don't know how many (if any of you girls) read this, but Alpha Chi Omega means a lot more to me than I could put in this blog entry. Definitely a 100 Favorite Thing.

Photo Credit: smu.edu