Photo A Day: February!

Today I wanted to share with you my pictures for the February Photo A Day Challenge! I started taking one picture each day on January first, but finding a random, interesting-looking picture to take each day was more difficult than you'd think! Sometimes I would do fun things, but I'd completely forget to snap a picture. A lot of it consisted of things I ate, my family members, and animals.

I was so happy when Emily posted the February Photo a Day Challenge guide from Fat Mum Slim! It is so helpful and gives you a topic for every day of the month.

Here's the guide for February:

Soon you'll be able to view my entire project on the Project 365 tab on my blog, but until then, here are my pictures for February!

1. "Your view today"

2. "Words"

3. "Hands"

4. "A Stranger"

5. "10 AM"

6. "Dinner"

7. "Button"

8. "Sun"

9. "Front Door"

 10. "Self Portrait"

11. "Makes You Happy"

12. "Inside Your Closet"

13. "Blue"

14. "Heart"

15. "Phone"

16. "Something new" 

17. "Time" 

 18. "Drink"

  19. "Something you hate to do"

 20. "Handwriting"

21. "A favorite photo of you"

22. "Where you work"

 

23. "Your shoes"

24. "Inside your bathroom cabinet"

25. "Green"

26. "Night"

27. "Something you ate"

28. "Money"

 

29. "Something you're listening to"

 

The great thing about the Photo A Day Challenge...you can do it as often or as seldom as you like! There are no rules! If you want to follow the guide exactly or take a break, do it! Just link-up with Fat Mum Slim!

Here's a peak at the guide for March!

What I'm Leaving Behind

It is still unfathomable to me that I graduate in 75 days. How I wish I could go back to those nights when I lived in the dorm freshman year, with no worry of getting a job or moving somewhere new, to the days of going through recruitment and meeting some of the best friends I've ever had. 

Heading to class in one of my first Boone snows

The day I got in Alpha Phi

I have been so lucky to have the most wonderful college experience. This may come as a surprise from a girl who dreamed her whole life of going to UNC Chapel Hill. Those dreams were cut short when I didn't get into my dream school, but soon realized that my home was at Appalachian. Believe me, I've had bad times as well, it was also in college that I experienced one of the most difficult times of my life, and I am so thankful that I had my roommate, Jade and my family by my side. Without them, I don't know where I would be today.

My first Appalachian football game!

Last night at my sorority's chapter, the seniors got together and decided that we want to speak to everyone about how we feel as we leave the collegiate level of Alpha Phi. We will each write a letter and every week a few of us will share our experience. It doesn't have to be a speech, or a list of the best and worst memories we've had, just a sincere commemoration of the legacy we are leaving behind. 

I can only say that I hope I've made an impact on all the women of Alpha Phi. The girls that are now littles, g-littles, and my friends, just as the girls before me did. I hope they see me as a strong woman, that would not only be there for them, but will always be their biggest fan. 

What I'm leaving behind is a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm leaving my undergrad career, the college that I have come to know and love,  and friends that I have spent so many nights with, laughing, crying and doing everything in between.

To be completely honest, I'm scared, more scared than I've ever been. Making the transition from college undergrad to the professional world has been the hardest one to understand, but I'm also so excited to see what's to come in my future. I've just got to remember to take it one step at a time.

If you're still reading, thanks for sticking around. It's nice to have someone to listen. 

On a lighter note, I hope yall like my new signature:)

Getting Fit in 40 Days!

Melody is exercising!

Yes, you read that right. 

Those of you that know me personally, know that I hate exercising! Things like weights, the elliptical, and the treadmill just don't appeal to me as "fun!"

But....in the spirit of Lent, I'm trying to change all that. If you read my post on Wednesday, you know that I was brainstorming things that I could possibly give up for 40+ days during Lent. I went back and forth, but after reading Molly's post about her plan to do something new for Lent, I knew I had to join in! 

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My friend Katy & I have decided to complete 40 days of healthy living! That means eating, exercising, getting out and doing something every day! Let me stress that I am not 100% giving up fast food, cheesecake or Coke, but I will be trying my best to participate in some type of physical activity/healthy lifestyle for the next 40 days. I've also decided to give up taking the elevator at school. This is a small change that's something I should be doing anyway!

Katy & Me

It's only day 3, so I can't report back on too much yet. I will say that Katy, who wants to be a registered dietitian, is an excellent role model and partner! If only I had that girl's self-control!

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Here's my exercise schedule for the past couple days!

Wednesday: 3 miles on elliptical, Katy's ab workout

Thursday: 4 miles on elliptical, Katy's ab workout

Today: I treated myself to Our Daily Bread for lunch and it was well worth it! I'll be headed to the gym at my apartment shortly!

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Once I get used to the exercising grind, I'd like to start running on the actual track or treadmill! I guess we'll see:) If you're interested in getting in on the fun, feel free to participate! Hop on over to Molly's Blog to see how she's eating healthy!

Crazy Over Kate!

I was searching for a magazine to read at the gym yesterday, when I came across a US Weekly or something of the sort, that looked to be months old. Since the only other choices were parenting or technology magazines, the tattered tabloid quickly became my best option.

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I've never been a girl to follow celebrities. It's not that I mind hearing about them, I  just don't care to know what they looked like at the grocery store or where they buy their child's clothes. While running on the elliptical, I flipped through pages upon pages of Rihanna's wardrobe malfunctions and Jessica Biel being seen without wedding ring...tragic! I finally stumbled across an article about Kate Middleton.

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 Kate is someone that I see as a role model, someone I don't mind reading an article about. 

I swear, this girl can do no wrong!

Does anyone else feel like Kate always has the perfect outfit for any occasion? What I would do to borrow her wardrobe!

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 In another part of the article, they showed a few different pieces that Kate had been spotted purchasing. I was amazed that almost all of them were under $175! They said on more than one occasion, when Kate was seen in a store buying something, it would sell out in minutes!

Beautiful, poised & classic. I think she's got it all!

Is anyone else crazy over Kate Middleton?

Lent & A Blogger Meet-Up

Let me begin this post by saying, I am by no means a religious expert of any kind. I just think the topic of Lent is very interesting and I like learning about it. In my church, First Christian Church in the town that I'm from, we learn about lent, but it's not a strict thing. We never gave up anything for lent while I was growing up or anything like that. Since coming to college, I have been exposed to many different religions and for some, the time of Lent is a very serious topic.

Here's what I learned about it just by googling the term:
"Lent"
1. The period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and so includes forty weekdays.
2. During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence.
3. Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.
I was talking to a couple friends about it yesterday and I asked them what types of things are you supposed to give up? Is it something that normally you couldn't live without ? Like dresses or blogging for me...Or should you pick something not as serious? Like french fries or Reese's Cups.


They said that it should be something that means something to you, or has some importance in your life.
Here are some things that I've been thinking about giving up:
-Elevators
(I should be taking the stairs more often!)
-Chocolate
-Fast food
-Soft drinks
-Spending money on random things
-Being lazy
I want it to be something realistic, that's why I'm taking some time to think about my choice. I don't feel like there's any point in picking something that I know I'll cheat on.


Are you all planning on giving something up for Lent?
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On another note, last night I had the pleasure of meeting two blogger friends! This is the first time I'd ever met someone from a blog, so I was a little nervous, but it was such a great time!


I had dinner with Emily from Life with Emily and Jordan from Style, Grace & Charm...The Southern Way. What's funny about this story is that the three of us have been going to the same school for four years and we had never met! We had a nice dinner, at a bar/restaurant in town and had fun talking about school, our families, and everything in between!

Have a happy Wednesday!