"When I set my mind to it, I'm doing it!" - Yolanda van Ingen

Granted, my mother said that in a fit of passion while I was fighting her on something, but the point stands to be true.
Case in point my friends? She was the winner of the mail contest, and got a piece of mail to me first. But don't let that deter you from sending me mail all the same!
And for your viewing pleasure, here are some excerpts:

"Just wanted to be the first person to send you mail. I read your blog and said to myself, I should try and win this contest because I have yet to write you even though you never answer my email or phone messages. Maybe this will get you to respond!!!"

"Cleaning the house is the first thing to do on my list of priorities... I have tons of shredding to do as well. Every time I shred in the school office at my job I think of all the shredding I have to do at home."

"I know this letter is probably boring you, but I need something to write to you, in order to win this contest."

"I also need to catch up on my shows at night, like Housewives, and my morning shows like Regis and Kelly and The View. I also miss the news in the morning."

"Well that is all for now. I hope to hear back from you, unlike my ignored messages and emails."

Ohhhhhh, gotta love my mama =)

Be the first! You know you want to!

OK ya'll. I was nice about it. I said send me some mail because I would be super appreciative. Ask and you shall receive and all that jazz.

I've been at school for four weeks now and no mail. And you never realize how much you miss mail until you're putting it into everyone's mailbox but yours.

But you know what? I know people are busy. As I told my dad two nights ago , "people have lives and jobs to attend to". I for one have such a complicated schedule that is composed into a color coded spreadsheet that my friend Courtney said it hurt her head to look at. And my dad conceded that it was organized. I get that.

So I decided to up the stakes. While I was at Fred Meyer this past Monday, I bought a mailer, a card, a reading light, and obtained a laptop mouse. And I have stamps from last year.

So here's the deal: The first person to get a written piece of mail to me at school gets this prize mailed back to them. Magazines or junk mail don't count, it has to be a letter or package or something.

And just in case those clever people who read this blog happen to live on campus and think they can just send me some inter-campus mail, I am too smart for you! Because inter-campus mail does not count. It has to have actual postage on it!

The race is on!

Team Taylor

Howyadoinwhereyafromwhatsyamajor?! Part Deux

OK breathe. Let's see if I can resurrect my blog post as well as I wrote it the first time (see below post), and not throw my computer out the window in the process. It's times like this I wish I had a macbook despite the fact that the previous snafu probably had nothing to do with my computer being a toshiba. Except sometimes it behaves like a naughty bratty child.

Annndddd I'm back.

Do over!

If there were any indication that school is ramping up again, if it hasn't already, then it would probably be the fact that I spent all day in training hearing about the process for the BIG DAY, that would be move in day, this Saturday for the freshman (Sunday for the sophomores). As they told us in one of many power points, it's game time. And we have to get our game faces on. Watch the people, especially the RAs, line up behind me for war paint.

Besides the whole thing where I work at the front desk of my dorms, my mother has informed me there is a new THE FRESHMAN, an online blog about a first year college student on the The Daily Breeze's website (my hometown's paper for those of you not in the know). This year's kid is not so interesting. He goes to Berkeley. Not that I'm saying this makes for automatically boring fodder, but his first entry was about not making any new friends. And I'm also biased because last year's THE FRESHMAN was super funny and sarcastic and he went to my parent's alma matter (and the same high school that I went to for Freshman year) and then went on to LMU, where I was thisclose to going before attending SU's open house.

I think back on my first day almost a year ago, and I'm sort of glad I didn 't have to go through what the poor freshies are going through. I am part of Matteo Ricci College (two full degrees in 4 years, not just a double major, there is a difference, I will literally walk the stage twice). Thus I moved in two days before other non-MRC freshman, and there was no rush and hubbub. Granted, the Orientation people didn't carry my stuff up to my room, but I did get to set up shop without a lot of harassment.

That title up there? That is the nervous stream of babble that every freshman manages to blurt out when ever they come upon another fellow freshman. This is also what every person of higher importance asks you. But for the first month or so, this is a safe opener and eases the tension of an already awkward conversation.

But that's what is nice about being new. You're ALL new and you're all nervous.

This year I don't have the added stress of being new. And I am already fantasizing that this will be a new and improved year with a new and improved me.

I was going to end this with some things to look forward to, but they told us in training not to promise anything you can't keep your word to.

So I guess you'll just have to wait and see!!!

Howyadoinwhereyafromwhatsyamajor?!?!

AHHHH I HAD WRITTEN THREE PARAGRAPHS OF WELL THOUGHT OUT PROSE WHEN MY PIECE OF POOP COMPUTER NAVIGATED ITSELF AWAY FROM THE PAGE AND ERASED EVERY SINGLE PRECIOUS WORD AND I HAVE A MEETING IN 45 MINUTES.

(512): did you know they have Ed Hardy school supplies at Target? it's like folders and notebooks for little Jon Gosselins* in training**

Cotton Bird Tee Shirt with Lace, Anna Sui for Target, $24.99

So if you ever shop at Target, and let's face it who doesn't, then you'll notice that every so often there are different "famous designers" that do collections for the store. And every time I am like, really Target?, I have never heard of this person. I would name some past featured designers, but once again I cannot think of any of them because I have never heard of them.

The featured designer right now is Anna Sui, who I have actually heard of for once. But I am still left thinking really?! for two reasons: 1) I have definitely heard of Anna Sui, but whenever I try to think of her I can only picture Betsey Johnson. Don't ask me why I can picture BJ but not AS. (What unfortunate initials for both). 2) Not a single piece in Anna's collection appeals to me 100%. The above shirt is the closest it came for me, and it still falls into the category of kinda pretty but kinda ugly. And whenever anything falls into this category (and you'd be surprised how much DOES fall into this category, almost any purse by Betsey Johnson for instance), I vow that I cannot buy it. I mean I rather like the bird decal/print and sleeves, but cannot get past the neckline. Too much Freddy-from-Scooby-Doo's-ascot if you ask me.

*Changed to Jon Gosselins from a word that starts with a d and ends in ouchebags. Because I felt that word was a little too striking to have in one of my blog titles.
**The title is gleaned from a website called Texts From Last Night. It is now one of my absolute favorites and I obsessively check it like 5 times a day. It is a website where people send in texts that they found funny. If you can get past the fact that they are all pretty much about sex, drugs, or alcohol, then you may find it a hilarious website as well. Especially if you are in my age group. And if you do go and do not find it funny, then do not judge me based on what I find funny. Because we all know you will be going back to it as your secret guilty pleasure =)

A dress makes no sense unless it inspires men to take it off of you - F. Sagan

Signature Jersey Wrap Dress, Butter by Nadia, $246

You know how they (never mind who they are) are always telling you to buy a little black dress?Well I may have found the solution. This marvelous creation is a one size (2-16) fits most dress in the very breathable fabric known as jersey that comes in no less than 16 colors that can be wrapped any numerous ways. I didn't really want to copy over the multitude of ways this dress can be wrapped, but if you can think it you can wear it that way. I encourage you to check out the website (click on the price above) and you will see all the ways to wear it (sleeveless, sleeves, halter, short, long, one shouldered, backless, etc.). The way it is above is my favorite. Speaking of the price, it is steeper. BUT! If you think of all the ways you can or want to wear it, then it's a steal. There are 26 ways to wear it on the website, so that's like 26 new dresses for $9 EACH! Now tell me that isn't a good deal =)

First appearance deceives many - Ovid

Hairspray Pen, $5

It looks like a pen, but it's really hairspray! How useful, especially when airlines are cracking down on that whole you can't take liquids with you more than 3 oz. and no aerosol. In all honesty, it's probably some conspiracy to make us all look as icky as possible on vacation, or at least that's what I feel like every time I'm forced to leave my hairspray and mousse behind and then you land and your family doesn't feel that getting those items are a priority so you are forced to walk around looking like shiz on a shingle for half a day. Not that I know from personal experience.

Limited Edition Hollywood Signature Pen, Michael Kors, $25

Speaking of unique pens, this one looks like an ordinary one, no? But the magical part is that when you write, the ink is laced with the scent of Michael Kor's newest fragrance, Very Hollywood. Novel idea really.

A woman who doesn't wear fragrance has no future - Coco Chanel

Juicy Couture Perfume, Juicy Couture, $85, $45.99

So many of you know that I worked at Costco over the past summer, but this post is in no way sponsored by them nor are they paying me to write this. Mostly I just have a peculiar but strange allegiance to them, so I often scour the warehouse for deals and sometimes end up walking out with things I don't need. Like the time I almost walked out with a white board bigger than me that was more meant for corporations than a dorm room, until Daddy stopped me. This is why I should never go shopping by myself, or my mom if we're being honest =)

Daisy Perfume, Marc Jacobs, normally $72, $45.99

I have been wanting to invest in a fragrance for a long time. I'm obviously not a diehard like Ms. Coco Chanel, rest her soul, but I think they're nice and scrumptious and smelling nice is good. You know when smelling nice is great? When designer fragrances are sold for $39.01 and $26.01 less, respectively! Honestly ladies (and men looking for fab gifts), if you were thinking of getting a new scent or running out of your fave, run on down to Costco before they sell out (yes, they really do sell out and chances are it's never coming back) of your favorite perfume and get it for a fraction of the cost.

My two picks are Juicy Couture and Daisy. I may have bought them both (once again I cannot help myself). And I may have sprayed the latter on myself a bit too much and given myself a headache, so remember with these less is often more.

They have other options as well, like M by Mariah Carey, Viva La Juicy, Angel (the one in the blue bottle by the french guy whose name I can't pronounce? Last year one of my neighbors had that), Dolce and Gabana, Midnight Fantasy by Britney Spears, Deseo by Jennifer Lopez, Princess by Vera Wang, Delicious (that apple looking one), and a lot of other better and famous ones. Honestly, I just encourage you to check out their selection.

And I'm also curious to kno, what is your scent of choice?

There are no song lyrics or quotes that have to do with bacon...

And that is the sad sad truth. However, this is a necklace I can get behind. Slash I am so glad someone has a profound affection for bacon like me. Slash it comes with a tube of bacon flavored lip gloss (ok, maybe a bit overdoing it, even for me). Slash, I didn't know what else to blog about. But I am now taking suggestions...

Where's Romeo, I heart bacon necklace, $86