So, I know my last entry was me whining a little bit about last night, but I forgot to tell y'all that I did have a pretty good time (for a break) at this year's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony!

This year's ceremony had the iconic speech of our dear president, Dr. Sorensen, along with a message from our student body president, Nick Payne.  One of the school's hit chorus groups--Cocktails--was also there to perform, and man were they good!  It was the first time I had ever heard the ladies sing, and I was just amazed.  They're supposed to have a concert next week, and I might just go and watch them as my break from studying for finals!!!  The Logan Leopard Singers from a local elementary school also came, and they were just so cute and adorable.  Made me remember my good ol' days back in chorus!  And well, of course, a party would not be a Carolina party if my favorite buddy of all time weren't there....COCKY!!!  As always, our friendly furry mascot was there to bring in the holiday spirit on campus!

I got to enjoy the evening of carols with my friends from FASA, and it was such a nice break from my mad cramming.  As I showed y'all pictures some entries ago, we had decorated some ornaments for the tree, and we all searched the towering tree for them.  (They're all there...guess we really are creative! Hehe!)

Well, I thought I'd post some pictures from the night's events.  I took pictures of some other ornaments that I decorated at the Carolina Service Council Holiday Party.  All the ornaments you'll see below are decorated by moi except for the Carolina one, which was decorated by my boyfriend, Shawn!

Dr. McNulty shows his school spirit with Cocky.  Dr. McNulty is FASA's faculty advisor! 

Well, catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

P.S.  Here is my early holiday greeting card for y'all!

Posted by Kriska at 03:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The home stretch is really kicking my booty right now.  The impending Anatomy quiz and Orgo exam is brooding over me, and I'm about to lose my mind!

Okay, a little dramatic, I know.  I'm just having one of those freak-out moments. Not to sound so discouraging or anything, it's just when the exam/quiz times roll along, they just happen to roll all at the same time.  As y'all saw on my schedule the other day, things are pretty hectic this week.  Actually, from the way my agenda looked like from Monday to what it looks like now, y'all just wouldn't believe it!  Pretty much, just imagine all the blank, empty spaces I had two days ago now being filled with "To-Do-Lists-For-the-Days."  There have been additional papers and the like to take care of, and it seems that I've been putting off my studying time for my two sciences.  So now I'm pretty much in cramming mode.

But not to fear, with my notecards and gazillions of notes in tow, I will face these two obstacles like Mr. Prince Charming with his sword and shield.  :-D  Well, I should leave y'all now and bid y'all adieu if I want to really make a killing!

Time to burrow in my desk and get my studying groove on.

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now that I've probably packed on about an extra 10 more pounds from the turkey, ham, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and all the other goodies of Thanksgiving, you would think that I would be very well-equipped for the last three weeks of school.  Some last minute papers and reports, a few more quizzes for additional grades, and those squeezed-in exams before the last two weeks of finals are blinking bright blue lights like a cop chasing me, and man is that whole "objects in mirror are closer than they appear" is really applying to the dates on my agenda book.

It's that home stretch up ahead and boy am I really trying to get myself steering in the right course.  This week is going to be some week to get through as I've got an Anatomy quiz, an Organic Chemistry Exam, several movie review papers to write, and a research paper doubled with a group presentation to get cracking on!  Now, now, don't get too freaked out.  I perhaps should as the list of things to do may seem so daunting, but all will not be in complete disorder.  My handy-dandy agenda book may seem full and just plain hectic, but it's keeping me very organized and ready to go!

Tip #561 (Okay, I'm not really sure what tip number this is, but just go with me here.):

Get an agenda book! 

I pretty much survived all of my high school years without having to use one, and y'all may be doing just as well without it.  I know back in high school that at the beginning of each year, when my homeroom teacher would hand out that crip, new school handbook I would always resolve to use it so that all of my homework, extracurricular meetings, and other school events and such can be all written down.  I would always start off the year being very earnest in keeping tabs of things, but soon thereafter, I would forget to use the handbook and the only purpose it would serve was that it was my hall pass.  But trust me that it will really help you out in the long run if you get used to using an organizer. 

While  your high school teachers may constantly give y'all reminders of scheduled quizzes and exams and due dates for works, some college professors may find themselves in too busy of a schedule to remind y'all.  It's not that professors are just being mean and that they want to trip you up.  It's just that, as a college student, it will be your own responsibility to get things done and more importantly that they are done on time.  Granted that some professors may be willing to work some things out for some personal reasons, you shouldn't take the chance on just their good graces.

Anyways...the entire point is that when you start getting hectic weeks like this one that I'm having to go through right now, it helps to have everything mapped out so you know what needs to get done, especially what needs to be prioritized first.  Procrastination is my worst enemy.  Actually, my favorite quote from Ellen DeGeneres from one of her stand-up shows is that "Procrastination isn't the problem; it's the solution.  So procrastinate now, don't put it off!"  However much I like to procrastinate, however, I am trying to break these habits and keeping a list of things to do in my agenda book has been really helping me out in this endeavor!

Here's a little preview of the first half of this week:.

The feeling of checking off things as you get them done is also just another added bonus to making lists.  I feel that the day goes on more being productive when I can make that little check right next to a task.  As y'all can see, however, there are still some things left for today that have not been checked off.  I'm getting there.

So, bouncing out...catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 09:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, I've pretty much spent my entire afternoon packing four loads of dirty laundry, books and notebooks that I probably won't even really open, and just the regular necessities.  It's time to go back home and spend some great quality time with the family. 

IT'S THANKSGIVING BREAK!

With my sister and her husband having moved down permanently to live closer to home, we're really going all out for Thanksgiving this year.  My sister has got it all planned out and the dishes have been dished out and I've got good ol' mac-and-cheese as my designated dish to make for the big dinner on Thursday!  Fortunately, my boyfriend's mom has an awesome mac-and-cheese under her belt from her mother-in-law, and well, she was very nice about sharing it down to me.  I just got to hope that I can get as close to the way she makes it because there's really no recipe.  It's more like a hand-me-down-watch-me-do-it type of recipe, but it's a little too late to go to the beach now and watch her make one.  Fingers crossed that my entire family will be impressed!  Hehe!  I don't want to have to resort to Easy Mac!

Well, anyways, I just really mainly wanted to say hello to everyone and just make sure I get my "Happy Thanksgiving" greeting in just in case I don't get a chance to get to a computer once I get home.  I'll most likely be spending good quality time with my grandma tomorrow since everyone else will still be at work or at school.  I think my brother doesn't have school on Wednesday though, so I can hang out with him then.  And well we all know what happens on Thursday (FOOD, FOOD, and MORE FOOD!)  As also we know what goes down on Friday (SHOP, SHOP, and MORE SHOP!)

I should be back in town by Friday night, however, so I can be well prepared to go cheer on the Gamecocks against our rivals...I dare not even say their name on this blog!  Hehe!

Well, like I said...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!  Eat as much turkey as y'alls tummies can handle and catch y'all later on the flipside, GAMECOCKS!

Posted by Kriska at 07:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

52 nails hammered in the planks.  Numerous trips of lugging lumber of all sizes.  Odds and ends of pieces of cropped and chopped wood in the dumpster.  Oh, what a glorious day spent at another Service Saturday.

This past week was National Homelessness Week, and I found no better way to end it than by serving at this month's Service Saturday, which was so rightly themed "Impacting Hunger and Homelessness."

Hundreds of volunteers had signed up for the event more than a month ago, and the turn out was quite impressive as usual.  Groups were divided mostly by the organizations with which they had registered to volunteer, and the Community Service Programs found four non-profit organizations that provided us all with sites to work in.  The four organizations that CSP partnered up with are Harvest Hope Food Bank, Salvation Army, St. Lawrence Place, and Habitat for Humanity.  Everyone who showed up were very much eager to volunteer, of course, and most everyone showed up as early as 10:15 am on a Saturday morning.  Most people would probably find this to be out of character for college students, but of course, Carolina students are no ordinary kids but extraordinary ones with much eagerness to serve their community! :-D

As part of the CSC Exec board, I got to help out in leading one of the sites.  I worked with about 50 other students at the Habitat for Humanity, and we mainly did final touches on the inside of the homes and preliminary work on the outside yards.  Some did the last touches on the paint jobs of the walls.  Others cleared the storage pods and helped the Habitat crew get organized.  Some were laying out the first stages of the driveways of several homes.  But the crew I was specifically on was making the final touches on the handicap ramp on one of the homes.  That's were the 52 hammered nails came in.  I pretty much counted every one of those suckers, and when one wouldn't go in, those around me could here me mutter, "Number 42, please freaking go in!"  Hahaha!  I wasn't trying to be psycho or anything.  I just found it a little bit more motivational! 

Once all six of us ladies in my group got the planks secured on the ramp to the side entrance of one of the homes, we had to clean up around the place and pick up all the scraps and extra pieces of lumber.  Clean-up of the entire neighborhood that we were working on took up most of the time, as soon as every group got done with their assigned tasks.  Clean-up was probably the most exhausting part of the entire day.  There was so much stuff everywhere--stacks of 2x12's, 2x6's, 2x4's and so much more.  There was so much to do, and at the end of the day, there was so much that the group really accomplished!  (Plus a blister each below both of my pinky fingers.  BATTLE SCARS!!!)

Well, I hope y'all had as productive a Saturday as I did (or at least a most relaxing one!)  At the end of the day, I did get to enjoy myself apart of course from the great inner satisfaction of serving others!  I watched the very close game of BC at Clemson, and boy, must I say I'm glad that our rival lost.  (Is that wrong that I just wrote that?!?  Hehehe!)

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So, have y'all heard about the rotating restaurant at the top of the Capstone Hall Residence?!?  Yes, you read it right.  At the highest floor of one of the residence halls here at USC, there is a restaurant called the "Top of Carolina" that gives a dining experience a truly new "full-circle" meaning.

Last night was the second time I've had the experience to eat at the restaurant.  The first was during a Carolina Scholar event where we met with our Scholar mentors.  That was quite the experience, and it took me quite some time to get used to the fact that the room was indeed ROTATING!  The Venetian Carnival was quite the dining experience though because it just fit the theme so nicely.  The city lights of the night looked amazing!

To let  y'all in more about last night... Preston, as I've described before, is not only an academic-learning residential college.  Preston is also a very social circle.  We have lots of themed dinners at the Preston Dining Hall, themed "tea parties" at the Principal's Lodge, and many other events.  The Venetian Carnival was this fall semester's big banquet.  The ladies wore prom-worthy dresses.  The men put on their best suits--some with even ties and bows!  Masks donned the faces of everyone, and truly it was quite the event of the semester!

Here are some pictures of the night...

It's hilarious because Megan and I realized after looking at each other in our dresses that these were the ones we wore to our senior prom in high school.  We decided that although we still looked pretty decent that the dresses fit much better a year and a half ago! Oh, that college weight!!!

These were our homemade Venetian Masks!

Megan taking a quick pose right before digging into the awesome dinner!

The sweets were the treat of the night for Megan and I.  T'was both our favorite Italian desserts.  Megan loves cannolis, and I love tiramisu!  For an added bonus, SPARKLING WHITE GRAPE JUICE!  Man, we were rolling in it last night!  Hehe!

Megan had to keep me in check...JUST KIDDING.  Like I said, it was just Welch's sparkling grape juice!

AND OF COURSE!  How can I not have a picture of the grand view of the Top of Carolina!  The picture does it no justice, but the city lights just looked amazing.  It was also quite the experience to be inside that restaurant and being able to see the city in full circle!

Hope y'all get to have the experience of dining at the Top of the Carolina!  It'll surely be something!  Have a great weekend y'all...Thanksgiving is sooooo close!!!

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh, yes, the leaves have turned crisp red and have fallen.  And, yes, the grocery stores are running out of turkeys and "tofurkeys."  Thanksgiving is just right around the corner, but the season of Pilgrims and Native Indians aren't the only thing out in the air these days...the holiday season of snowflakes, pine trees, stockings, and Santa hats are in full swing! 

Bring on the diamond jewelers' commercials on TV, as well as all the electronic gadgets of the season.  Bring on the men in Santa suits at the malls.  Bring on the red bucket and the ringing bells of the Salvation Army.  Bring it all on because it's time to welcome the Christmakkuh season!

I just love the holidays, and it's perhaps my most favorite time of the year.  There's something about the cold, crisp air and the smell of that fresh-cut pine tree that just seem to bring everyone together.  It's like that fuzzy and warm feeling you just get inside of you!!!

And well, speaking of the warm fuzzies...Carolina Cares (one of the many programs of CSC) is one of many organizations here at Carolina that's making sure all of the students get to continue experiencing the Holiday spirit even if they are far from their homes.  I am so excited because Carolina Cares put together so many holiday activities, and I was so glad to be able to put two of my most favorite organizations together with my most favorite time of the year.  Basically, FASA decided that we would participate in the service events that CC is putting together for the holiday season.  So, during the last FASA social, all of the members brought toys, bubbles, books, coloring materials, and all sorts of other things to participate in the stocking stuffers.  CC is working with Salvation Army and have taken on the duty of promoting the Stocking Stuffer program here at Carolina.  FASA has "adopted" three stockings--a girl, a boy, and a unisex stocking!  FASA also decided to partake in the preparation for the big Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony held on the Horseshoe.  As an organization, we signed up to decorate four ornaments that will be hung on the tree.  I'm so excited, and I can't wait to look for our ornaments up on the tree once they put it all up.

Here are some pictures of the things we put together:

I hope the little girl enjoy her Barbie!!! 

Aren't these "hand-decorated" ornaments AWESOME?!? 

It just feels fabulous to be celebrating the good ol' holidays!  I just can't believe it is already here though.  Next thing you know, we'll be having to adjust to putting "2008" on everything.  My, how truly time flies by so fast!!!

Well, catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

P.S.  Let me know what y'all are doing for Thanksgiving!

Posted by Kriska at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With several late nights and waking up to only 15 minutes in the morning to get ready and to get to class during these past few days, I've had to scrounge around quick for a scarf, for some socks, for some comfy long pants, for a coat...for anything!  The temperatures have been dropping here in Columbia, and it seems like I have used up all of my jeans and even my warm "bummy" pants because I've had to wear them all these past few days.  Also, as y'all probably saw in the pictures from the football game over the weekend, Megan and I hovered over a portable heater due to the dropping temperatures once the sun hit it low over the Fair Grounds.  Yep, y'all, it does get cold here down south in mighty Carolina.  Summer heats may be sweltering in Columbia, but the chill of the cold can get to the bones as well!  The fall season is indeed in the air, but today for a change...the sun came back! 

I was getting worried about not having anymore long pants to wear, but good ol' Mother Nature gave me a break today, and the sun shined all day long.  I think the reported high for the temperature was in the high 70s, getting close to 80 actually.  It was quite nice to be able to put the flipflops back on again!  As I was starting to get used to those furry, big, brown boots and big old coats all over campus, the skirts and the dresses made one more peek before the season of the summer clothing can be put to rest.

But then again, Mother Nature must be going through her time of the month or something, because I just checked Weather.com and it seems like tomorrow is going to be a morning filled with showers and temperatures ranging all over the 60s!  Then, Friday is supposed to be quite sunny, but the temperatures will be quite low--anywhere between 35-52 degrees.  Oh, what fun!

Well, just wanted to drop by and say hello.  I hope all y'all who were planning to apply for the Honors College, especially the top honors scholarship, have turned in your forms.  Tomorrow (November 15th) is the deadline!

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Only ten seconds into the game and the Gamecocks fumble the ball to a recover by the Gators.

Succop punts the ball, only to be blocked by one of the Gators for an awesome possession for them on our turf.

Tebow breaks records like there's no tomorrow.

My friend gives me a call with 10 minutes left on the clock: De-nun-de-nun-de-nun! GATORBAIT!

*SIGH*  It really was quite another game we had this past weekend, and boy, how much I wish that it had turned out a different way.  A win would definitely have been better than a loss, but all was not lost, well everything except my voice that is.  I get so excited and into the games that I forget that I might actually need my voice come Monday!  I guess I must suffer through this sore throat, but it was all worth it.  The weekend was fun, and as predicted, was definitely a great 10-some odd hours away from the "loftacave"

Here's the Saturday in pictures...enjoy!

Tailgating Pictures:

Top: (Left) Megan and I at the game...ready to cheer the Gamecocks on! (Right) That's me!

Bottom: (Left) The ladies with Aaron!  (Right)  As if y'all haven't had enough...Megan and I again!!!

Last but not least...COCKY!!!  He had fun himself.  It's kind of blurry because I had to zoom in real far, but that picture on the left is of Cocky with this little boy who must have been only like 3.  He was so adorable dressed up as Cocky!  Big Cocky took him out to the endzone during the chanting of the "GAME" - "COCK".  Then Cocky also took him on the side stage to dance, and he was just so cute!!!

Well, guys...hope y'all had a fun time over the weekend.  Let's hope that this week off for the Gamecocks will help them get focused for the big game of the year against our rivals.  We'll have to show them Tigers!

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So, after being on the road for two weeks, the Gamecocks are back at home to play in yet another big game.  Spurrier will have to face his old Alma Mater and show his old team what his new team can now do...of course, this is fingers-crossed that our dear Gamecocks will have their game together tonight!

My boyfriend's parents are coming up for the game, and they have invited my roommate and I to join them at their tailgate.  I think that gates open up by 2:45 this afternoon for the 7:45PM game here at Williams-Brice.  I am so definitely looking forward to a good afternoon away from my lil cave of the loft and just be far, far away from my desk even if it's just for today.  I always love tailgating with his parents, and well, the game should be quite something tonight.  (Let's really hope that the Gamecocks can pull out a win tonight!)

Well, I just wanted to greet y'all good morning on this fine Saturday.  Well, I guess there's only about 50 more minutes of this morning!  Hehe!  I hope y'all have a great day--grab that bowl of chips and dip, have at it on the wings, and watch and scream at your TV screens for some good ol' time football!

Catch y'all later on the flipside, and GOOOOOOOOOO GAMECOCKS!

Posted by Kriska at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1 Crunch...2 Crunch...3 Crunch........4.

5 Crunch...6 Crunch..............

In an effort to gain those high school bods we used to have (as inspired by a T.V. informercial), Shawn, Megan, and I have embarked on a group effort to do ab workouts every night.  Well, every night is the plan for now.

Since we only started last night, we set 100 crunches as our goal.  "Baby steps" is what we're calling it--4 sets of 25 crunches.  The first two sets were no biggies, but as soon as we got to the third set...it seemed like we were dropping like flies.  I won't mention which of the three of us but one could barely pull themselves up past 60, while another could barely make the 75 mark...and well one made it victoriously to 100!  We decided to try some classic push-ups, too.  But that was a benchmark that might take some time.  I think I did about 14 total.  It's crazy because I used to top physical training in high school and beat out all the guys in our 2-minute heats of push-ups. My best all-time record was 75 push-ups in 2 minutes, and they weren't "girl push-ups" either!  I also used to do kickboxing back then and could pull off a good set of one-handed push-ups!  I was beastly back then...hehe! 

As I've already blogged about months ago, during freshman year, I managed to pack on an extra, unnecessary and most definitely unneeded and unwanted 12 pounds!!!  The first half of the summer was spent trying to lose the weight, as I knew I had a beach trip planned for the July 4th weekend.  May I say, I was actually quite successful in that endeavor.  But it seems that that college-weight-curse has struck again.  I don't even step on the scale anymore when I go home!

But don't fret!  Here are USC as long as you have the initiative and the motivation (which unfortunately I currently lack), there are two very fine health and fitness facilities on campus.

The Blatt P.E. Center is the older of the two but still very much accomodating to the needs of every college student seeking to lose weight, keep fit, and get them muscles!  With several work-out machines, different rooms for sports facilities, and even some studios for those dance lovers, there is plenty to do at the Blatt.  It is also fairly convenient in location.  It is about 5-6 minutes away from the Russell House.

The Strom is the state-of-the-art fitness facility we have here at Carolina.  Y'all know that picture of that big outdoor pool that always happen to make its way into the brochures y'all always see from USC???  That's Strom right there!  It is one of the campus's pride and joy!  I've spent some nights on the treadmill there or goofing around with my friends in the raquetball court.  But those nights were so long ago and far away!

To read more about these two facilities, y'all can visit the site of the Campus Rec.  Here's the link: http://campusrec.sc.edu/default.html  You can just work your way around the site and read more about what each facility has to offer!

Well, wish the three of us luck that we don't end up quitting on each other!  Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sonic Man:  Welcome to Sonic!  What can I get for you tonight?

Me:  Can I get a SuperSonic Cheeseburger with everything but the cheese?

SM:  So you want a SuperSonic Cheeseburger but without the cheese?

Me:  Yes, sir.  A SuperSonic Cheeseburger without the cheese.

Okay, so that didn’t really happen, but on a late night mini-drive with Shawn and Megan to Assembly Street tonight to good ol’ Sonic (Your Ultimate Drink Stop!), we pondered on this scenario.  I mean, of course, I guess, Sonic would have to make the burger as you liked it, but it just sounded funny.  Oh, and I bring this up because on the menu of Sonic there is a Sonic Burger and a Sonic Cheeseburger, as well as a  SuperSonic Cheeseburger but no SuperSonic Burger.  Ridiculous, I know!

But really the point of my entry is not whether you can get a cheeseburger without the cheese.  It’s cheesier than that!  Today’s Kriska’s tidbit about college life is about sharing those moments with those you’ve come to know as all-time, great buds!   (I told you it was cheesy!)

A lot of people say you should make as many friends as you can make.  They say you should make as many acquaintances as possible and network!  But greater than those two advices, it’s very important to make those core friendships!  Once you get past high school and you grow out of that “high school scene” of cliques and dramas and stereotype-fulfilling scenarios, college becomes a great time to find those lifelong friends with whom you’ll end up wanting to send your kids to daycare together.  

I’m proud to say that I’ve made such friends.  From Preston Dining dinners to random walks to CVS for a late night snack, from SSBM GameCube championships to scary movie marathons, from drives into Columbia rush-hour traffic on Fridays to get to Harbison Boulevard to long walks along the railroad tracks to Williams-Brice Stadium…and so much more…my friends and I have so much fun here in Columbia.  We totally make the most out of what we’ve got here on campus.  No matter how simple or ridiculous they may be, we enjoy doing the kookie things we do as well as just the down time we spend in the room just watching TV.  Roadtrips are currently being planned, however, to add to the excitement (now that we’re getting even more grown up and our parents—well more like the parents of the girls of the group in this case—might just be letting our hands go so that we can really enjoy the college life!)

Really, it seems cheesy, and y’all may find it pretty girly and sentimental, but it’s true.  I know for all of you seniors, y’all just can’t wait to get out high school but at the same time y’all keep playing that song by Eve6 titled “Here’s to the Night.”  Well, make sure when y’all get to college that y’all keep living for those nights.  College is the time for academia, but it’s also the time to build yourself and with that comes finding those goobers for whom you’d stay up till the wee-hours of the night.

Catch y’all on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 11:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes, you read it right.  Some good ol' lovin'!  This weekend was yet another blast.  My sister had decided that she would throw a fall party for family and friends, and so, Shawn and I packed our weekend bags for the second week in a row for another trip.  This time we headed up to the Upstate.  (Last weekend was down to the coast for his mom's 50th birthday!)

My sister had gone all out, and with Shawn, my younger brother, and myself as her helpers, we turned her house into a fall festival early Saturday morning.  Like the pilgrims back in the day, the boys worked outside in the yard, while my sister and I toiled over the hot kitchen stove.  Okay, okay...so not really that extreme.  Hehe!  But the boys did work out in the backyard and put together a 5-hole putt-putt course.  They put together a bowling lane using some pumpkins and gourds for bowling balls and pins.  We also had a checkerboard table set up in the back--and yes, with pumpkin and gourd pieces! Then, inside the house, my sister and I were baking away some sweet fall treats--cookies, cakes, and pies. 

My sister is just like me (or I guess I should say I am just like her as she is older.)  She had everything down to a T for this party.  Like I said, pumpkins and gourds for game pieces and even some scoring sheets for the putt-putt and bowling.  She had me cutting out pilgrim hats for a "Put-The-Hat-On-The-Turkey" game.  She had a jar of candy corn and a jar of indian corn for a "Guess-How-Many-in-the-Jar" game.  She also had several of us peeling a huge bag of candy caramel for melting for a caramel apple buffet--completed with sprinkles of all fall colors and M&Ms.  I mean, she really just WENT ALL OUT!

But the good ol' lovin' didn't stop there.  Really that was just the beginning.  Going home for me this weekend was re-living my childhood through the games and through spending time with my grandma!  Some good ol' lovin' and quality time with my "Nanay!"  I joked around with her and traded stories--I would tell her of my life here in Carolina as she would tell me of her life these past couple of years in the Philippines.  She also told me lots of my childhood stories, which was something I just really enjoyed.  All of my 14 cousins and I on my mother's side were taken care of by Nanay.  She was telling me how all 15 of us spent our first 2-3 years in her hands, and how of all of us, I was perhaps the loudest.  But adoringly she kissed me saying that in spite of my loud mouth as a child (which my parents vouched for is still existent at the moment), I have made up for it all with my accomplishments in school.  I always made sure to send her copies of my certificates and newspaper clippings as I received them ever since I moved here to America.

Perhaps my favorite moment of the weekend, however, would have to be as she watched the Carolina game Saturday night with the group.  Plopped down on the middle of the couch, Nanay had a pizza in one hand (the other was holding a blanket around her as she gets so cold so easily and is not so used to the cold weather).  She looked like she was intently watching the game.  I had explained to her that the guys with the "CAROLINA" on their shirts go to my school and that the game on TV was what we had been waiting for all day long.  She just sat there eating her pizza away and even tried a hot wing, which she quickly disposed off to me citing it was too hot.  How adorable that my very itty-bitty ol' Nanay was "getting Americanized."  Hehe!

I wish that the weekend could have gone on longer, but of course...Monday will always come!  I hope that y'all had a great weekend (even if the Gamecocks lost!)  We'll hopefully get it all together for our last two games.  I have lots of friends who go to both Florida and Clemson.  I'll never hear the end of it, if we don't pull it through!

Catch y'all on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 02:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As the clock ticked Halloween away...November came down on its own way! 

Yes, November is here, and how crazy is just that!  A couple of weeks will be Thanksgiving Break, and then, pretty soon it will be the end of this semester.  I just can't believe how time is simply flying.  This week was actually quite fast.  It seems like it was only Monday yesterday when I was trying to get back into the groove of studying after a weekend at the beach.  *Sigh!*

I just wanted to make a quick post today to remind y'all about the upcoming deadline for the South Carolina Honors College/Top Scholarship Application.  Starting today, y'all will have about two weeks to really get those things cranking, finished, and turned in.  The exact due date for the applications is November 15, 2007.

As I recall filling out this application during my senior year, I have to say that I was actually not aware that I was filling out an application for the Top Scholarships.  (Man, it was a good thing I got mine in on time!  Being a Carolina Scholar rocks!)  If y'all have not taken a look at the application and were not made aware of this separate process for applying to USC, click this link.  The link will bring you directly to the page about applying as a senior for the coming fall semester as a freshman.  I know that the application can be filled out on-line, but a paper copy can be requested by going to this page: click here!

So, like I said, I wasn't really quite aware of the fact that the application I was filling out for the SC Honors College was the same application that Admissions used to give out Top Scholarships.  Imagine my surprise when a letter came to say that I have been invited for an interview for one of the spots to be a Carolina Scholar.  Admissions,  however, have been doing a better job at advertising and explaining the process to prospective students now though, ever since the interest for the scholarships have just grown tremendously over the years.  The application really wasn't all too terrible as I recall it though.  Taking the time to answer all of those questions and really revealing the type of student and person that you are by answering the short and essay questions aren't really all that bad considering that an impressive application may yield several thousand-dollars worth of scholarship!  It really is worth taking the time!

Anyways, I hope that y'all are doing great.  I hope y'alls Halloween was a ton of fun.  Some friends stayed late into the night here at my place with my roommate and I as we watched Dawn of the Dead and surfed the T.V. for some good Halloween specials.

Catch y'all later on the flipside, Gamecocks!

Posted by Kriska at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)