List of 99

As I said before, I've been having some trouble thinking of things to blog lately. However, when I found this list on Risley's blog, I thought it would be a great opportunity to take a little walk down memory lane. A trip which you all know I always up for!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
oh college and 24 hour teeter totter a thon nights!
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World 8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
yes, I was a choir nerd in high school...
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visit Europe
I'm going to say this counts since I will be leaving for Paris tomorrow!
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
mmmm tomatoes and squash in the summertime!
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
This will also count in less than a week!
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
Just a couple of the most beautiful ones I've ever seen in my life! From Acapulco Mexico and Siesta Key, Florida
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
We used to go when I was little... those people sure know how to cook!
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
ALMOST!!!!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Well, sort of. Antonio & I tried to snorkel in FL but it was really dark and scary
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
Does hair wrapping in my neighborhood when I was 11 count? 58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
When Antonio & I first started dating, he brought me flowers to the restaurant I worked at on Thanksgiving because he knew I was stressed and angry to be at work. Knew he was a keeper right then...
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
Visiting NYC to see Wicked this past summer!
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Well, I guess I still have a lot to get done in this life! Time to get started... on the agenda today: running last minute Europe prep errands, hanging out with my work ladies one last time before leaving the country, and avoiding packing a long as possible.

It's That Time Again

Yep, it's time for a good 'ol stroll down Phi Mu memory lane again! Earlier today, my college chapter gave officially welcomed our six new Phis with shiny, gold Phi pins! The pinning ceremony is one that is held every semester, about a week after Bid Day. This is when the new members recieve their pledge pin. Pinning is what we call an "Open Ritual", so parents, friends, families or significant others are welcome to come. Fraternity boys even come to welcome the new girls into the Greek community, and usually bring flowers or a song! Of course Antonio came to show his love for Phi Mu (and maybe just his girlfriend too...)
There were a number of other alumni there and it was great to catch up with all of them! I also really enjoyed getting to know the new members a little better. I've been to so many between now and then, that I felt like I could have recited the ritual along with our chapter President! Of course, it brought back lots of memories of my own pinning, 5 years ago...
I was honestly pretty terrified for my own pinning. The whole chapter, along with alumni and families were present and it was quite overwhelming. I also had to recite a pretty long paragraph in front of everyone, which I'm pretty sure I recall fumbling a little bit. It was really nice to be able to share the moment with my parents. The pinning ceremony is an opportunity for families to see a more serious, devoted side of Phi Mu, that is much different from the stereotypical partying Greek Life scene. It was also really nice that I got to share the day with one of my soon-to-be-favorite-people Lauren. It felt amazing to begin the process of becoming a part of something so special. Though the day of my Pinning ceremony was definitely a special one, I had no idea it would be only the beginning of one of the best decisions of my life!

A Little Sentimental

*Warning: mushy sorority-related post to follow*

As I've said before, there are times when I desperately miss the good old college days. Hanging out in the middle of the night and laughing with friends, cooking with your roomies, having little to no responsibilities, a shoulder to cry on or laugh with always being a short walk (literally, down the hall) away. As I've also said, almost all of my great memories from college involve Phi Mu in some way. And, as my old chapter welcomed six new members, or Phis, last night, I started to get a little sentimental to my own Bid Day...

I rushed during my Freshman year in Spring 2005. Even though I know that really wasn't all that long ago, seeing the "Spring 2010" Bid Day t-shirts last night made me feel pretty darn old anyway. It's a long complicated story, but I unfortunately didn't originally match in the Top Eight new members that Phi Mu was able to welcome at the formal Bid Day ceremony. I was honestly pretty bummed, but went to work that night and tried to get over it. When I got off, I had a message from Phi Mu asking me to come to one of the sisters' apartments and talk or sign papers to keep rushing or something.

Honestly, I was sort of still bitter and almost didn't go, but I am so glad I did! When I opened the door to the apartment, I was greeted by noise makers, confetti poppers and giggling girls - I GOT A SURPRISE BID! It turned out that Phi Mu actually had 13 spots to fill and I was lucky enough to earn one of them! I had a great time that night meeting a bunch of active sisters and even some fraternity boys (ironically, from Antonio's future frat!) That night was the beginning of a lifetime of memories and great times. I got so close to my 12 pledge sisters, as well as the many, many lovely ladies who came after me.

When I became an alumni in 2008, it was a bittersweet celebration. On the one hand, I was graduating and moving on the bigger and better things. I was also carrying along with me such a meaningful and special experience. On the other hand, I was saying good bye to so many beautiful women, who I had gotten so exceptionally close to over the years. I was lucky enough to go through the ceremony to become an alumni with a lot of the girls I pledged with. I was also closing a very important chapter of my life. In the five years since that surprising night, I have seen over 70 amazing girls become sisters and I couldn't be more proud to call myself a Phi Mu! I leave you with a quote that I think sums up greek life, for all of those skeptics out there...

"From the outside looking in, you can never understand it. From the inside looking out, you can never explain it."