Photo 365.

iPhone users. Your attention please. The majority of you may not find this application nearly as exciting as I do, but lend me a few moments to share the little bit of joy that it brings me.

Many of you may have heard of the Photo 365 project, which has been inspiring everyone from professional photographers to amateur "mobile upload" picture snappers to take one photo each day. The picture can be of anything-- something they did that day, something that made them smile, a memorable sunset, or a picture of a delicious meal. After 365 days, there will be an entire year's worth of photos to reflect on: an entire year captured in photos! Just the idea of this project makes me smile. I recently downloaded the iPhone app "Photo 365" that makes the entire project simple and fun. The app reminds you to take a photo each day (you can turn the reminder off or never even set it if you find it annoying) and then organizes your photos into a calendar, until you complete your entire year! It also allows for you to write a caption/reflection on where you were/what was going on in each picture. SO simple, yet SO brilliant!

I only have 3 photos so far, but after I get an entire month done, I'll upload a screenshot of my progress. Have a fabulous week!

To see more info/download the app, go to the app store on your phone or visit:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo-365-remember-your-year/id454629399?mt=8

Dear Freshman Me,

It's hard to believe that my little brother will be joining me in my college town in less than a week! The past two years have absolutely flown by & as I start to realize that I'm halfway through with my undergrad, I also find myself caught in restrospect of the past two incredible years. I have grown so much in all aspects of my life & I have gone through more than I ever would have imagined. Thinking back to my freshman self, I wonder how I might have reacted if someone older than me had given the thought to share their realizations with me... If I were speaking to my former self.. what would I say?

Dear Freshman Me,
It's likely impossible to imagine that this cold, tiny room will ever feel like "home," but give it a couple of days. You're already confident, but just rest assured that you are more than prepared for this huge step. Two years from now, you'll laugh at yourself for being so nervous. It's okay. Everyone is. The things that you're the most worried about-- whether you'll still want to transfer to Chapel Hill in a year, whether you'll get into a good sorority, whether you'll be able to keep your grades high, whether you'll make friends: these things will all take care of themselves. You already know how strong of a person you are. Have faith.
This doesn't go to say that you won't make plenty of mistakes, though. Dear God. You will make some mistakes. Some words of wisdom:

1. Throw yourself fully into everything that you do. If you're going to halfway do something, you might as well find something you're more passionate about.
2. You're going to get your heartbroken. It's going to hurt. Terribly. You still won't learn from your mistakes though, and you'll go on to put yourself in even more situations that will lead to all sorts of pain. Just keep your head up. There's nothing you can do. Time heals all wounds.
3. Set high standards for yourself and for all men you even consider trusting. You won't understand this one for a while... but I promise you will.
4. Cherish the friendships that are two-way streets. Forget about the ones that don't put in the effort or that only exist when times are good. This too, will be painful. Just love the one's who love you back.
5. Keep in touch with the friends who have always been there. You may be in different towns now, but they have cared through thick and thin.
6. Become as involved as possible. You won't look back at college and wish you'd slept more.
7. Remember that the company you keep speaks volumes about how much you respect yourself.
8. Learn to forgive. And equally as important: learn to forgive yourself.
9. Remember that you're never too old to call your mom & dad for advice.
10. Take care of yourself. Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. This one's the kicker.

Lilly Lovin'

Yesterday, sorority girls and alum all over the country waited for the announcement from Lilly Pulitzer to hear if their sorority had been selected by the company to recieve their own custom Lilly print! You can imagine the excitement of my chapter and our sisters nationwide when the following tweet arrived:

The company has also already created prints for Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Zeta, Kappa Delta and Delta Delta Delta... Alpha Delta Pi is SO EXCITED to join this great group!
One of the best things about the prints are their creativity.... here's a close up of Delta Zeta's print, including their letters and their flower (the rose) featured on my FAVORITE accessory, the Murfee scarf. (I don't think it needs to be said that I fully intend on buying one for ADPi the very second it's released..)

 & here is a close up of a pencil case with Kappa Delta's print.. Lilly also makes make up bags, totes, and duffels.. they'll make the perfect gifts for my grand-little this fall!

I also have to give a shout out to Lilly for outfitting my pretty iPhone 4, and some of my favorite events of the Spring...Carolina Cup, Formal, Easter, and.....oh wait, almost every day :) 

The new iPhone 4 Cases!

Formal

Carolina Cup!

We LOVE you, Lilly!

Spring in España.

I found this quote written on the wall at a hostel in Granada, Spain. As an English major, I am used to the feeling of "falling" into quotes- that is, I am used to being stopped dead in my tracks by particular pieces of language that for one reason or another draw me into them. I can't exactly put into words the reason that these word struck so close to home for me, but I'll try to explain...

 I've always told anyone that would listen that regardless of all of the material gifts that my parents have ever given me, (I have the most amazing parents in the world & I'll be the first to admit that my Daddy loves to spoil me & my Mommy loves to shop...) the greatest things that they've ever given me have been all of the trips that we've taken abroad from the time that I was old enough to walk. Unlike most of my friends, I've had a passport since I was in elementary school, and my parents have always believed that being cultured is one of the most important traits that a person can possess. Most of our trips growing up were to Belize, Central America, which has become my home away from home. Others have included countries in Europe, and countries all over Central America and the Caribbean.

This Spring Break my parents proved again to me just how lucky I am, when they agreed to let me go on a trip with three of my best friends to the cities of Madrid, Sevilla and Granada, Spain. We were also able to meet up with another of our friends that was living in Spain for several months through a work away program. While I could write for years about all of the adventures we found ourselves on, I think I'll just share some of my favorite pictures from the trip instead.... most of them seem to speak for themselves :)