Get those birds Gus! Why is this dog so photogenic!

Okay, I know that I'm a week late, but I've been CRAZY busy lately. Like, so busy, that I've hardly had time to even just be anywhere, without going a mile a minute. So Thanksgiving was last week, but i still want to make a list of things that I am grateful for, because I love lists, and I am so grateful for so many things. This list can't even begin to cover it.
 On another note, over thanksgiving break my brother, and his girlfriend's dog stayed over. Gus. I've posted pictures of him before, but I'm basically in love with him haha. He was a fantastic cuddler, and he took me for walks, and we went running together. I might steal him. Regardless, Gus has made me realize what kind of pet owner I'm going to be some day, and in the FAR future, what kind of mom. 'Oh hey, look at my dog/kid, aren't they so adorable, aren't they awesome, don't you love them?' Please, oh please stop me before this happens. <3
Anyway! The awaited list. Things I'm grateful for this thanksgiving:
1. A family that Loves and Supports me.
2. Good Friends that are always there for me.
3. That I have gotten a college education.
4. That I have a roof over my head, and things that are mine inside of it.
5. Music, Books and Photography
6. Emotions, although they can be a pain in the but sometimes, they make memories so much greater.
7. Weather. I dislike snow, but it makes me appreciate the warmth so much more.
8. Animals, I don't know how this wasn't earlier, especially with my rant about how awesome Gus is earlier. But really, animals are awesome. Hang out with one, you'll know.
9. Nature. There is something to be said about living in a city, but I will always prefer nature, wilderness to the city.
10. Food, imagine not being able to taste anything! now think of all the amazing flavors out there! Yum...

Okay there are many more things i'm thankful for, and I honestly kept that list pretty light, but if you are reading this, then chances are, I am thankful for you. =)

Happy Late Thanksgiving, I hope it was amazing!

Happy thanksgiving!

Looking back, literally, to some of the things that I am thankful for. <3

Just wanted to take a minute away from family, to say happy thanksgiving to everyone! There are so many things that I am thankful for, and I am so happy to be able to celebrate them!

I hope that your turkey day is amazing!

<3 Sarah

1. when pandora and common ground are playing favorite songs at the same time.
2. The following quotes.
    a. Me: You don't have to pay me, just buy me a drink.
        Response: Bitch, i'll buy you a bottle
    b. mom: Okay first, bring a pot of salted water to a pot.
    c. Me: Hey! Now, what did your fortune cookie say last night.
        Mom: Don't do today what you can put off tomorrow. Before you die!
   d. What is this communist bull?
 response: no not communist bull, communist cow, she gives milk to everyone.
3. Conversations with strangers at coffee houses.
4. Reaching 50,000 words in my Novel. Word. (This means I won that competition thing I was doing guys)
5. Overhearing a limerick at the coffee shop. It had Nicholas and ridiculous. It was super funny. I wish i remembered it all.
6. How Lindsay and I have 'a place' haha. We are regulars and get the same food there.
7. Texting people that I havn't seen in a long time, and telling them that we NEED to hang out. Like...pronto. (Seriously, if you are one of these people reading this, lets hang out.)
8. Having head phones in your ears, and not realizing that your music ended probably around a half hour ago.
9. 22 Days until Graduation. I CAN DO THIS
10. Making your bed with new sheets. I can't wait to go to sleep tonight.

I do homework? You get a video

I'm writing a paper on deceit in nonverbal communication. I found this video really interesting. Maybe you will too.




http://www.ted.com/talks/pamela_meyer_how_to_spot_a_liar.html

The most spectacular thing I've seen all day.

Animal has an awesome vocabulary!
<3

Break from the norm

So I guess lately I've been kinda bad at updating the goings on of my life, And I would like to explain why. I don't know how many of my friends really know, that I kinda have always been an avid writer, and not just papers and journaling. I mean, that it has been a dream of mine since I think around middle school to write a book. A year or two ago, I found out a website called NaNoWriMo, and I immediately fell in love with it.
   The basic concept behind it is to write a 50,000 word book in the month of November. That's right, in about 30 days, you will start a novel from scratch... and then finish it in the same month. Now I'm sure all my friends are thinking that I'm completely crazy right now. Who in their right mind would decide to start a 50,000 word novel the month that they are writing their senior thesis, have major photography stuff to turn in and about 400 papers to write. Well, I guess I'm not quite in my right mind. But I decided that I didn't want to do the logical thing and wait an entire year to start.
    NaNo is fantastic because it forces you to not be concerned with quality. One of the biggest problems that a writer has is losing patience for the story, or going back and editing before they are even close to finishing. The premise of NaNo, is that you aren't allowed to edit. The concern is not about quality, for once in your whole writing career. It is about quantity. It is about giving yourself a deadline and accomplishing it.
     You can write about anything, everything, NaNo's website states that "If you think you are writing a novel, we do too." There aren't any specifications on what you write about, as long as you are writing, as long as you start from scratch and as long as you don't go back and edit. But they can't really regulate that. Especially since you can write on anything. Type writer, laptop, pen and paper...stone tablets? Whatever media floats your boat, or if you get enough stone tablets I suppose, sinks it.
     And so I'm writing a novel. And.... I have to brag for a minute and say that I am 25k words in. Yes, I just tonight reached the half-way mark and it feels amazing. It explains why I've kinda been a shut in lately, but it also is such a rewarding experience.
     There are events in the area for writers that are participating , there are forums and chat rooms for people that are struggling. There are weekly pep talks, sent to your inbox, there are comics and ridiculous statements, and in this event, community really is a big deal. Because honestly, if you decide to be crazy and write a book in a month, who else would better understand then someone in the same boat. Who else recognizes that you are struggling to meet a certain amount of words a day, that your novel is constantly on your mind in the shower, in the car, in class....
    My brain will essentially be fried come December. But I wholly feel, now, if I don't then, that this experience was very much worth it.
<3 Sarah

P.S. If you are curious about my progress, I've added a little status bar to the right side of my page, come see how i'm doing!

Ten typical tuesday Triumphs

Ten aweome things that have inspired me this weekend/ Monday

1. The beautiful weather in november. Seriously, 60s? How awesome! I wish it was spring already.
2. The amount of time that i've spent with one of my fantastic roommates, I love it. Really. Lets do this more often Linds.
4. How insanely productive i've been lately. Thesis writing? No problem.
5. That Common ground plays such awesome music, and has awesome productivity environments.
6. Planting tulips. I can't wait to see them in the spring.
7. Community. I've been feeling a lot of it around lately. I will explain more on this point later.
8. FINISHING draft one of thesis! YESSSS
9. This joke from Friends.
10. 16,360! Hehe <3

Awesome things that make differences!

Sometimes driving to school early is worth the sunrise.

I've been pretty busy lately, so sorry about the lack of updates, but here's a list of things that have been good about the last few days!

1. Spending time productively, I've gotten so much done lately!
2. Dinner and Coffee shop time with Lindsay. I swear its some thing that we will remember in the future.
3. Funny texts and messages. In case you didn't know, I know some pretty awesome people.
4. Getting a great start on my thesis. I feel like the whole thing is kind of a rant on technology.
5. Heating Pads. So legit.
6. Fredrick Meijer Gardens, Dinner and Shopping with my mom. Great way to spend a Wednesday.
7. Taking Mom shopping at Forever 21 and having her buy more then me. You are trendy mom.
8. Writing for fun. I've forgot how much I enjoy that.
9. Striving (and moderately succeeding) about trying to map out my time, and spend it productively. Even procrastinating from homework was cleaning my room and showering.
10. Water. I'm kinda a big fan of the stuff.
11. The weather so far in November! Sunny days, I'll take you over the looming snow any day.
12. Daylight savings weekend, Extra HOUR of sleep.

10 Tuesday Things

Photo Project!

1. Finishing my first ever knitted scarf!
2. Having my photos which I thought weren't the greatest, critiqued as being good!
3. Having a really productive day yesterday, which already caused me to relax more today
4. Texting conversations, with certain people especially.
5. Using usually busy lights as four way stops. It's amazing how suddenly everyone pays attention and we all problem solve. But really, poor Mr. Squirrel
6. Hanging out with the roomies and Halloween snacks courtesy of Hollie (again!)
7. Being inspired to eat healthily and work out more! (I'm already feeling those ab and thigh works outs) Not for the sake of any one person, by myself!
8. Coffee and Cooking in Clean Kitchens
9. Phone conversations with my dad. He's the cutest.
10. The pack of 6 new glue sticks I got on monday! (Aren't school supplies the greatest!)
<3