Tuesday, November 30, 2010

ABC's of Thanksgiving

I just got back to my apartment from Thanksgiving break, and the extended time with my boyfriend and family has me thankful for all the things I have been blessed with. As Americans, we have SO MUCH to be thankful for that sometimes its hard to pick just a few things, but I have decided to be un-original and follow an “ABC” format to list just a few of the things that I am thankful for this holiday season.


A: Auburn/Archery
• If you know me at all, you know that Auburn University is my world. I love the school, I love the football, I love the traditions, and I love the family. There is absolutely something magical about watching my Tigers run out on that field before the game, and I gotta tell you, getting to roll Toomer’s Corner every week this season has been SO amazing. I am also thankful that my family has been in the position to send me to such an amazing school that values honor, integrity, academic excellence, and family.
• I’m also very thankful for my introduction to the sport of archery. This is such an interesting sport that has brought my boyfriend and I closer and provided many experiences that have been so much fun!

B: Benjamin/Boo/Boyfriend
• Again, if you know me, you know that I have never been a dater. However, a special man has come into my life this year, and I couldn’t be more thankful for his affect on my life. I am so thankful that I finally found a man who treats me with respect and love and the way that every little girl dreams of being treated. I am so blessed to have him pushing me to be a better person, and I’m so excited for whatever happens in the future.

C: Christmas Music
• I LOVE Christmas, and the music is AWESOME. I am so thankful that I have this awesome music to make me super happy when I am upset!

D: Dresses
• I REALLY like dresses. I prefer them to pants. Just saying.

E: Education
• I am so thankful to have received a great education throughout my school career!

F: Family
• My family is pretty ballin’. I have to say that I have been pretty blessed as far as families go- and yes, mine is better than yours! My family is super supportive of whatever adventure I decide to go on, and trust me, there have been a lot!!

G: GiGi’s Cupcakes
• Those of you in Auburn know what I’m talking about. For those of you who don’t, drive to Auburn, get a Gigi’s cupcake, and learn!!

H: Home/Hot tea
• I am so thankful to have a roof over my head in Auburn, and a great place to call home in Montgomery as well!
• I LOVE hot tea. It makes me happy, and makes me feel good when I’m sick!

I: Ice Cream (and Frozen Yogurt!!)/Imagination
• Its so awesome. I don’t think I really need to explain why I am thankful for it!
• I’m so thankful for my vivid imagination and for parents who never tried to stifle it!

J: Jesus
• I am so thankful to have been saved by Jesus Christ!

K: Kind people
• I am thankful for all of the kindness I have been shown in my life! (And I hope everyone remembers to be kind today!)

L: Leigh Arkle/Laughter
• This girl is my rock and I’m so happy to have her as my best friend!
• I am so thankful to have so many people who make me laugh on a daily basis!

M: the McCray family
• I love this family almost as much as my own! They have provided so much support for me and love me as family! I am so thankful for their positive influence on my life! (And I cant wait for the wedding of the year when the oldest McCray daughter gets married this month!)

N: Newton. Cam Newton.
• Yep. I’m thankful for him for sure! So thankful that he has become the leader that Auburn’s football team has needed and led our team to its undefeated season!

O: Oceans
• I am thankful I get to visit them, play in them, and have a boyfriend who lives at one!

P: Payday
• Need I say more??

Q: Quarters
• Silly? Maybe. But I’m thankful for the quarters that allow me to do my laundry!

R: Rest
• I love free time and the opportunity to rest!

S: SEC Championship/Sheldon
• I am so thankful that Auburn’s football team has made it this far, and I finally get the chance to watch Auburn in the game of the year!
• I love my brother! Even though he drives me crazy, I’m so blessed to have him in my life!

T: Trinity Presbyterian School/Theatre
• I am so blessed to have attended school at one of the best schools I could ever imagine attending. This school has provided me with so many opportunities, and I couldn’t be more thankful!
• I am so thankful to have something that I am passionate about AND that I am able to pursue it as a career!

U: Undefeated
• Yes, yet another post about our awesome season. I cant help it…I love that we have won every game in our regular season and could possibly play for a National title!

V: Vegetables
• I love veggies!!!! They are awesome and taste good!

W: Winter
• I LOVE winter! It is definitely my favorite season! I love blankets and coats and scarves and sweaters…it doesn’t get any better than that!
X: XM Radio
• I may not have it, but it sure makes car trips with my Dad more fun, and Chad’s is pretty cool too!!

Y: You
• I’m thankful to anyone reading this. Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings!

Z: Zebra print
• Can you be thankful for a print? Well, I am. I’m thankful that I have such a fun and exciting print to decorate my apartment with! I’m also thankful that I have my Zebra piggy bank to hold my quarters!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

I'm starting to get the hang of this...

Today Lindsay and I went out to Keisel again and did the 2 1/4 mile trail. I actually was able to run 3/4 of a mile without my ankle giving out, so that was an improvement over my last 2 tries!
Because I ran so much at the beginning, I wasnt able to do as much of the trail as I would have wanted, but I still did about 1 3/4 mile in about 30 min. This is definitely an improvement for me. I already feel stronger and leaner and lighter. Im excited about this new direction in my life-stay tuned for tonight's dinner review-garlic thyme burgers with beefsteak tomatoes! Im also going to apply for a job at Provinos where my friend Lindsay works...so wish me luck!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Publix Date with Lindsay

Today the Publix in Auburn opened, and my friend Lindsay and I had a grocery date to shop for some new ingredients.
It was PACKED. We ended up parking in East BFE, but hey, we got some exercise in, right?
I picked up ingredients for a few recipes I found, and came home and picked which one I wanted to make for the night.
I settled on Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breast, and it was SO GOOD I had to write a post about it.

It was a simple 5 ingredient recipe- it called for chicken breast, kalimata olives, feta cheese, fresh basil, and oven-roasted red bell peppers.

I'm amazing myself now at the things I can do when I set my mind to it. The food was so good, and I'm sticking to this whole running thing, so now I just have to transfer this motivation to the rest of my life!

My day off...

Today is an off day in the training schedule, so I thought that I would finish a blog that I started last summer: The Top 6 Reasons Why I Hate Auburn Summer.
I'm going to repost the 1st blog in case anyone missed it, and add to it on my off days.
Seeing as how Camp War Eagle just started, I also thought it was appropriate to repost that particular blog as a reminder to Auburn's incoming Freshman class.

The Top Six Reasons Why I Hate Auburn Summers

1. Camp War Eagle
2. Cheer Camps
3. TV
4. No Football
5. Heat
6. Class

Reason 1: Camp War Eagle

Dear Freshmen,
Here is a list for you!

Five Surefire Ways to Make Upperclassmen Hate You

1. Dress up for class everyday.
Sure, a cute outfit every once in a while is appreciated. But no one wants to see you with pounds of makeup on your face, your hair curled, and perfectly coordinated outfits topped off with four inch heels everyday. Don't be surprised if you ever hear the following question: "Are you a model? Then why are you dressed up for class?" So go stock up on soffee or nike shorts and tee-shirts now-you're going to need them.

2. Never move out of the way when someone is moving in your direction.
If you continue to stand there like a deer in headlights, you WILL be run over. I know this not only because I was run over a few times as a freshman, but also because I have knocked a few out of my way on the way to class. Auburn is kind of like New York in that way-you just learn to move out of the way or you WILL get hit. So the moral of this story is: MOVE. Not only will you keep yourself and belongings intact, but you will also learn your way around campus faster.

3. Talk loudly on your cell-phone loudly on the 4th floor of the library.
Did you not learn how to read in high school? There are signs all over the 4th floor that say "Quiet Study." This in no way translates to "Loud, raucous, screaming at your boyfriend on your phone study." It means what it says. So shut up!

4.Talk loudly with your friends about how fat you are while nibbling on your salad or working out.
Yes, we all know you are thin. We also know we are not. But no worries. We will be the first to make fun of you when you blow up like a blimp by sophomore year.

5. Go to skybar underage and be the super annoying drunk girls who fall over on EVERYONE because you are too drunk to stand up in your four inch heels.
I PROMISE you do not look cool. So either dont drink underage (that would be my pick) or learn how to handle your liquor. Because no one WANTS to beat up the drunk chick who tries to fight YOU after SHE stepped on YOUR feet with her stupid super skinny heels, but somehow, it always happens.

So Freshmen, take this advice and you will be well on your way to being the most annoying freshman in Auburn!


Reason 2: Cheer Camps

Much in the same grain as the freshman, cheerleaders seem to make it their life's work to annoy those around them. I say this with love since I too once attended dance camp here at Auburn. But I have to think...we weren't this annoying, were we?
So here are the reasons why the uber peppy make my summers worse.

1. They are loud. ALL THE TIME.
Nothing makes 8am classes worse than walking to them with a herd of overly energetic cheerleaders. Not only am I still asleep, but I probably have a headache from being woken up so early. I try to put up with it by turning on my iPod, but if I can hear you over the music, you are TOO LOUD. I don't care if you are vying for the world's greatest cheerleading squad or the spirit stick or baton or whatever. I dont want to hear you over my music so early in the morning. So please be quiet!

2. Much like the Freshman, cheerleaders seem to find themselves incapable of moving out of the way, especially while on crosswalks. My friends and I (many of them theatre majors, as the cheerleaders camp out in the dorms by our second home) like to make up a game about who can hit the most. Ok not really, but I'm sure we've all thought about it. I have, however, "accidentally" knocked a few out of my way a time or two. When they protest I keep on walking...maybe that'll teach them to move out of the way. Or not. But hey, a girl can dream!

3. I don't really have a number three but I felt I needed one. They aren't all bad. Sure they're loud and annoying first thing in the morning, but I still get a little thrill out of watching their (sometimes) amazing gymnastic abilities!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Day 2...SORE

Today I went to Keisel park to do the 2 1/4 mile trail. I didnt think it would be that bad since I did 3 ish miles with Courtney yesterday, but I guess since I was doing it alone, it felt like it took longer.
I was really sore this morning when I woke up, which I half expected, but I didnt expect to be sore in all the places that I was, like my back and core. But I got up and went to run because I knew if I didnt go, Id never finish this.
I got to the trail and couldnt figure out where to go at first, but I saw some runner types coming out from this area to the right, so I went that way.
The trail was more beautiful than I expected. There were tons of trees and little bird houses along the way, and little markers to tell how much of the trail you'd done. Along the trail I saw 3 cardinals and a blue jay. Its the little things, I tell you, that make the morning runs enjoyable. Whether its doing it with a friend, or accompanied by great tunes (today it was my favorite, Sister Hazel), Im finding that if I can find something fun to do while running (or really walking in my case...haha), it makes the time that much more enjoyable.
Lindsay and I decided today that we are going to do this half-marathon relay in Disney in October. Its a night run, so that should be much better for me, since I hate the heat, and the at the end you are rewarded with a night of wine and dining...basically, you run and are rewarded with a big party! We are working on getting another team to go along with us, so if you want to go, let me know!
Today I did 2 1/4 miles in 40 minutes. It almost feels like a step back from yesterday, but I guess I didnt run as much.
Im trying to come up with a reward for myself if I stick to my plan and dont break it. At this point, Im thinking its going to be new running shoes, as mine are old and not holding up very well at the moment!
Wish me luck as I take on this endeavor...Im going to need it!

Monday, May 31, 2010

Day One of a 5k Train...wow. I'm out of shape.

Today I started Day One of the training process for a 5K I'm training for with my friend Lindsay (and my friend Courtney is helping me along too!). Day One showed that I am wayyyy out of shape. It hurt to run, yet I feel so much better! Funny how that happens. I dont know how exactly my ankle will hold up during all this, but I figure I cant get better if I dont push myself!

Today started with the attempt to do a 4 mile circuit. It did NOT happen. I think I ran about half a mile before my ankle decided that it did not want to participate in this training session anymore, so we walked the rest of the way. By the time the second circuit came around, we decided to shorten it to 3 miles instead of 4, and let me tell you, I've never been more excited to sit on a floor in my life. It's going to be tough, but I feel like what will come of it will all be worth it!

More updates to come...now it's time to reward myself with a Memorial Day cookout with friends and an ice cold Corona with lime!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Thoughts?

Well I clearly didnt live up to what I wanted to do with this blog. Maybe one day, but not right now. I do plan to read at least one of those books a month, but unfortunately I dont have the time to read as much as I like.

Now I'm sort of at a loss as to what to do. I really would like to document the decorating progress of my new apartment with my friend Lindsay (shout out to you since I know you actually read this!), so look forward to that.

But now I need ideas. Im not so sure that my life is so interesting that anyone would want to read about it, but I really love to write, so any ideas would be great!

My new goal is to save up to go to San Diego next spring break...I want to go see my brother in his habitat so badly! I'm excited to have made this goal so early and actually have the chance fulfill it. So Bubba, get ready to see your little sister!

That's all for now. New blog design to come!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

New Direction? I think so!

I've always struggled with a direction for this thing. People I know blog about decorating, their daily lives (which always seem to be infinitely more interesting than mine), or just raqndom stuff, but that always seems to lead to ADHD on my part. However, I think I may have just found a direction.
On a whim, I rented the movie Julie/Julia from one of those nifty little Redbox things, mostly because I was in need of a good movie (and the combination of my absolute favorite Meryl Streep and a rising favorite Amy Adams)and this one won out.
I started watching it, and in addition to thinking how amazing and diverse Meryl Streep really is, I realized that was something I could do. Not write a blog about cooking (although I would love to-I just don't have the funds to cook all these expensive dishes), but maybe write a topic specific blog about something I am really passionate about but don't always make time for.
I got to thinking, and something that Jason (my college minister) said came back to me-If I want to be a wise person, I need to think about what I am reading (or something like that). So, I decided that I could write a blog that-reading. But that seemed pretty broad to me, so I decided to narrow it down to the 100 books to read before you die. But to be honest, that list included books that I knew I would never be able to get through (like Ulysses, which I have tried several times to no avail to read-not gonna happen!), so I searched around and finally found a list that I liked. This list contains classics and new favorites, and I added a few from other lists that I thought sounded interesting. So here it is: the list that I am commited to read this year. Yes, I will read all 104 of these books this year and write about them on this blog. While I may not write regularly, I promise to write honestly about what I have read (to those of you who know me, how could I write any other way?!). I'm actually pretty excited about this. So, again, the list. I'm going to start with Atonement, because it is a book that I just checked out from the library. Any suggestions as to where to go next? (And to those of you reading on facebook, check out my blog at courtneylabosky.blogspot.com
The list:
1.1984 by George Orwell
2.To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3.The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
4.The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
6.The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
7.Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8.Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
9.Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
10.The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
11.Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
12.Animal Farm by George Orwell
13.Lord of the Flies by William Golding
14.The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
15.Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
16.Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
17.Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
18.Fever Pitch by Nick Hornsby
19.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
20.The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
21.East of Eden by John Steinbeck
22.Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
23.A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
24.One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
25.The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
26.War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
27.Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
28.Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
29.Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
30.Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
31.The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
32.The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
33.The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
34.Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
35.A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
36.Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
37.The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
38.The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
39.The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
40.Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
41.Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
42.One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
43.The Stranger by Albert Camus
44.The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
45.Moby Dick by Herman Melville
46.The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
47.A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
48.The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
49.Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
50.Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust
51.Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
52.Watership Down by Richard Adams
53.Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
54.The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
55.Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
56.His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
57.A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
58.Life of Pi by Yann Martel
59.Middlemarch by George Eliot
60.A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
61.On the Road by Jack Kerouac
62.Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
63.Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
64.The Stand by Stephen King
65.Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
66.David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
67.Dracula by Bram Stoker
68.The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky
69.Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
70.Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
71.The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
72.A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
73.The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
74.The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
75.Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
76.To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
77.The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
78.For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
79.Dune by Frank Herbert
80.The Trial by Franz Kafka
81.Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
82.Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
83.Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
84.The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
85.The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
86.As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
87.The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
88.Persuasion by Jane Austen
89.The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
90.Atonement by Ian McEwan
91.Emma by Jane Austen
92.Beloved by Toni Morrison
93.Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
94.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
95.Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
96.I, Claudius by Robert Graves
97.Light in August by William Faulkner
98.Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
99.All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
100.The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
101.Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs : A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman
102.High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
103.Breakfast of Champions or Goodbye Blue Monday!: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut
104.Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich