Make Yourself.

Tell Me Who Your Friends Are and I'll Tell You Who You Are

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:42:08 -0700

It kinda just hit me how important friendships are when determining your college experience. I have a couple close friends with whom I’ve already made plans lasting well into junior year. Whether it’s an IASA dance or rooming together, we have enough confidence in the strength of our friendship to make plans that far ahead into the future. And without these plans with them, what would I have to look forward to? Classes? More homework? Trying to repeat the process of meeting new people?

They are the reason I am ecstatic about spending another 3 years at Michigan. It scares me to think about returning to campus and not having someone to be there for you. Everyone has acquaintances, but these friends are those that have seen me at my best, worst, and weirdest and love it all. And it goes the other way too, I wouldn’t change a thing about them.

I have a friend who, although he loves Michigan, had a horrible roommate experience and couldn’t wait to go home for the summer. He made friends, but other than me and one other person, he didn’t have too many close ones. I don’t spend as much time with him and I feel bad. I have other friends I’m really close with, but the rest of his are mostly acquaintances. I know he didn’t have as great of a Freshman experience for this very reason. I feel bad that circumstantial events kept him from having a great year.

I guess I become more and more thankful every day, not just for the fact that I have such great friends, but found people who align so well with my beliefs and yet manage to challenge me to be a better person every day. Luck and fortune don’t come close to describing why I met these amazing people, there has to be something bigger out there that is rooting for me.

On a side note, this isn’t to say we’re all just chock full of positive feelings and nice words. The best part about them is that they know when to be harsh with me, but it’s always for my own good. I seriously love them.

futuremissamerica: flamiekitten: tentacruels: olgie13: “This...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:12:52 -0700

futuremissamerica:

flamiekitten:

tentacruels:

olgie13:

“This gorgeous Hälssen & Lyon calendar is made of brewable tea. Each day is made of fine pressed wafer thin tea leaves.”

#I think I have a tea boner

I’m going to cry

zodiacchic: Got questions about the future? Here’s a...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:49:24 -0700

zodiacchic:

Got questions about the future? Here’s a 4000 year old oracle with some answers! Click here!

sheliveswithoutdoubt: WOAH

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:08:56 -0700

sheliveswithoutdoubt:

WOAH

aseaofquotes: Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 16:46:52 -0700

aseaofquotes:

Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections

Photo

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:11:36 -0700

For my Own Records

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:38:18 -0700

Since I suck at keeping a diary, I thought making a Tumblr would make it a bit easier to write down my thoughts every now and then…but I got lazy haha. Anyways, finally got the motivation to write some stuff out.

I guess we can start with this past weekend. I went to visit Blair at UCSB, and let’s just say while the experience was unforgettable - there’s one thing I never want to do again. I’m the sort of person who can handle letting loose, but having my senses that seriously impaired was neither ok nor comfortable. I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared - well maybe one other time. Suffice it to say SB is way too crazy for me to handle. Thank God I go to Michigan.

Secondly, I don’t know why I’ve had such a hard time getting over one person. I don’t even see the qualities I used to think were there anymore, but call it denial or some weird emotion I’m having trouble extinguishing, I just can’t seem to get him out of my thoughts. I’m practical enough to expect nothing in the future between us and love my sanity enough not to let our past repeat itself. Still, there’s something there - what is it that’s keeping me from letting go?

Even with all of that perceived angst, though, I’m happy. Coming home was the best thing that could have happened. While putting much needed space between him and I, I’ve also realized who the important people are in my life. And the fact that they’re not going anywhere (knock-on-wood) is the source of my happiness.
First and foremost my family: I mean this goes without saying. I may be annoyed by so many things they do, but home is wherever they are.
Friends: Now this part, while seeming obvious, is something that’s changed a lot for me over the past year. Going to college helped me ascertain who those friends are that are truly near and dear to my heart. These are the people I call daily, text the most random things to, and act completely myself around because I know how solid our relationships are.
And I’m lucky to have found a few of those kinds of friends in college too. While I’m “friends” with a lot of people, there are about 10 people with whom I have the same close relationship. They have been my rock even before we were as close as we are. Without them, I would anticipate the next three years at Michigan with fear and dread. They are my second family, as all close friends should be.

I’m happy because I know how much love surrounds me - both the love I have for the people in my life and their love for me. When you find those people who make you this happy, hold on as tight as you can. It doesn’t matter what your relationship is with them, having someone like that in your life takes away one of the things humans (or at least I) fear most - loneliness.

Ok I don’t even know where this entry is headed, but there’s one more thing I had to write down: It’s crazy how much the people around you can influence you. Now for most of my life, this hasn’t been a bad thing because I’ve been surrounded by really good influences. This past weekend though, I was thrown in with a group of people who have a much more laissez-faire attitude when it comes to sex and drugs. Now while we all are loyal to our values, I can’t help but wonder had I lived with those people for a year - would their influences have rubbed off enough on me to change me into something I know I don’t want to be? Would I have even minded had that situation been true because it was the norm in the environment I was surrounded in?

Whenever anyone has asked me about Michigan, I always mention how great of an influence it’s been. I’m more open minded, aware of my abilities, and reassured of qualities I’m proud of. But what if I’d gone to SB and been surrounded by people who do cocaine off iPads? Would I have turned out like them? Sitting here, not being in that situation, I can say absolutely not! I’m way too smart to do stupid things like that.(I mean let’s be honest I’ve seen way too many horror stories to do hard drugs) But if Michigan has influenced me so much in a good way, if the influence was bad would I still be as changed a person? Just in the opposite direction?

That thought scares me, but I can rest assured in the fact that I’m not surrounded by those influences. My friends, while capable of a good time, have boundaries similar to mine. And when I go back to Michigan in the Fall, I know that I’ll be in a safe environment there as well.

I had a not-quite-nightmare but scary dream nonetheless and part of what made it scary was that the houses in it looked like the ones at UCSB. Subconscious telling me something?

Anyways, self-reflection is an interesting thing. I just have to learn to be happy with what I have and stop comparing it to everyone else’s lives. That is my goal for myself: To reach complete comfortability and confidence in myself. Only then can I begin to live my life in a way that makes me truly happy.

Side Note: I think this was all a bit dramatic, but oh well. It’ll be fun to read back through in a couple years.

Photo

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 01:16:25 -0700

Photo

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:26:40 -0700

awkward-mindless-life: jaiwrestledabearonce: THE FUTURE IS...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:26:25 -0700

awkward-mindless-life:

jaiwrestledabearonce:

THE FUTURE IS NOW

OMGGGG

thecakebar: Making Mickey Mouse Beignets!...

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:41:03 -0700

thecakebar:

Making Mickey Mouse Beignets! (recipe)

Ingredients

1/2 tsp dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp vegetable shortening

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 egg

4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup boiling water

vegetable oil (for frying)

powdered sugar

Mickey Mouse cookie cutter

Directions

Sprinkle yeast over warm water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes.

Combine sugar, shortening, salt, cream, egg, flour, and boiling water in a large bowl. Stir in yeast mixture. With dough hook attachment on your electric mixer, mix on medium speed until combined and smooth. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

Roll in 1/4-inch thickness and cut individual beignets using the cookie cutter (or into 2.5- to 3-inch squares). Cover with a towel and let dough rise to double its size in a warm area - about 1.5 hours.

Heat 3-inches of oil in a deep, heavy pot over med-high heat. Fry beignets until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes, turning as soon as one side has colored. Remove and drain on paper towels. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.

Photo courtesy of Disneyland Parks

Pictures credit

Photo

Wed, 29 May 2013 12:31:14 -0700

artandsciencejournal: Rain Room Rain Room, part of MoMA PS1’s...

Tue, 28 May 2013 21:13:39 -0700

artandsciencejournal:

Rain Room

Rain Room, part of MoMA PS1’s exhibition, EXPO 1: New York, gives visitors the opportunity to experience the incredible:the power to control the rain.

3-D depth cameras, fixed on the sides of Rain Room, allow visitors to walk under the piece’s constant downpour without actually getting wet. When a person enters the 100 square metre room, the cameras detect the shape of the body and turn certain valves in the ceiling on and off. The result is a rain-free space that moves with the person, giving visitors a sense of control over the shower.

Following EXPO 1: New York’s environmental theme, Rain Room looks into how science and innovation can help maintain the environment. It is also the latest and largest addition to a series of works by rAndom International, the studio which created the room. The series examines how viewers behave and interact with the works, a motive synonymous with Rain Room’s interactivity.

Rain Room first debuted last year in London and is currently on display at The Museum of Modern Art until July 28.

To view more photos of Rain Room, click here.

-Janine Truong

(Source: rAndom International / The Guardian / MoMA / The Barbican)

theneverendingdrums: fejes: peaceloveandbrittana: this wins...

Mon, 27 May 2013 14:28:43 -0700

theneverendingdrums:

fejes:

peaceloveandbrittana:

this wins over other pro-gay commercials because you had no idea he was gay and then you can’t tell which one is his husband

they are showing them as people

not as gays and straights

fuckin love this commercial

can we just talk abotu the fact that the husbands arent even bringing the drinks over theyre just standing there next to the drinks and chatting

fuckin useless husbands

HAHAHA so good

Mon, 27 May 2013 02:04:50 -0700

HAHAHA so good

AN INSANE, 24-year-old FANGIRL: Fast 6 Review/Reactions (SPOILERS)

Mon, 27 May 2013 02:03:55 -0700

AN INSANE, 24-year-old FANGIRL: Fast 6 Review/Reactions (SPOILERS):

hakuna-frittata:

Movie Begins, I’m excited as fuck

Baby Jack is born!!!

The team gets called back together

Roman and his shenanigans

Samoan Thor and Parker schooling that racist ass british guy

Han and Gisele being cute, Letty and Dom being Letty and Dom

That one bitch betraying…

lolzpicx: Who needs a school bus. The dog OMG

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:54:33 -0700

lolzpicx:

Who needs a school bus.

The dog OMG

Photo

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:11:07 -0700

zodiacchic: ZodiacChic Post:Aries

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:45:38 -0700

zodiacchic:

ZodiacChic Post:Aries

Photo

Mon, 13 May 2013 01:11:20 -0700