awkward like whoa! lol

Raise a happy family
i feel it's my womanly duty to procreate with a husband and keep my offspring and husband happy. plain and simple. i have been extremely blessed to have been raised in a fairly consistently happy family. i want to provide the same for someone else and make my own parents proud- show them they've done their job :)

Indulge!!
everyone should buy that 1 thing in his/her life that he/she never thought they'd be able to. i plan on buying an extremely expensive diamond & pearl necklance and making it an heirloom/passing it on to my children. something like that...

Climb a mountain with my dad
he's been asking for a while now if i'd like to go...i'm going to do it before he gets too old.

hah i always write lyrics but i'm not in the mood now that you're putting me under pressure, plinky!!

it would be about the creek in the backyard i grew up in. yea, i literally grew up IN the backyard...spent more time there than in the house :)

Ok, so a part of me feels like a huge dork for putting "Wii Fit" as my preferred form of excercise, but don't knock it til you've tried it.(Though, I wouldn't reccommend it to everyone- more on that later). I really got into it over Christmas break (when my family got a Wii Fit). I feel like I have a personal trainer in my own home!! The best part about it is that it incorporates Strength excercises, yoga, balance games, and aerobics (all of which can be done in a singular area!) After 1.5-2hrs, I found myself working up QUITE the sweat each and every day!

The program begins with a body-test. You tell the program your age & height, then it weighs you, and even measures your BMI!! The fun/not so fun part: it tells you your ACTUAL age based on a few quick tests, and from that, and your weight, you set a goal for weightloss/gain. **THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST PART ABOUT THE PROGRAM- IT TRACKS YOUR PROGRESS FROM THAT POINT AND TELLS YOU AT THE END OF EVERY SESSION HOW WELL YOU'RE DOING!!** I feel like working toward a realistic goal is crucial for excercise efficiency. The extra tips the program gives related to sleep and eating are pretty useful, too!

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, here's the catch. When I go to the gym , I am extremely self-motivated. If you are not, I would not reccommend this program as a way to get in shape. If you are honest with yourself, and know you won't actually put the Wii Fit board down every morning/night, this program will do nothing for you. A lot of excercise is this way, but when you don't even have to leave the house, it can sometimes be even harder to get motivated to do it. If you DO maintain a steady/consistent routine, it becomes easier and easier to remember the excercises, thus allowing the exerciser to take the yoga positions, the strength training excercises, and a realistic time/calorie burning goal to another environment, like the local gym. I have actually done this since coming back to Madison (my Wii Fit is in Milwaukee). It's awesome!

Basically, I love the fact that the excercises are set up to be extremely motion sensitive, ensuring total focus and accuracy during the routines. There is a good amount of variation and progression in all the workout areas. The "instructor" delivers hauntingly spot-on praise and criticism at appropriate times. I love it!! :) A GREAT program to use if you're looking to create your own routine for home, OR to take to a gym!

"There will be people in this world that will lift you up. Seek those people out."
- Mom

So, it may seem cliche to cite "mother knows best" kind of advice, but this is probably one of the best pieces of advice anyone has ever given me. It is common at my house to engage in deep conversation with my mother, especially over a glass or two (or 3) of red wine, So, one night, not too unlike the other nights I stay up late with my mom, we were getting jovially tipsy, this time divulging our juciest secrets concerning the hows and whys of former boyfriends. Things got pretty heavy, and as per usual, we both got emotional. My mom took down her final sip in her final glass of wine for the evening, let a single tear roll down her cheek, and very slowly let these words trickle out: "Alli, there will be people in this world that will lift you up. Seek those people out." It should be known that I take this advice to heart for three reasons, applicable to anyone and everyone. Following this advice...

1) applies to ANY kind of relationship developed between 2 or more people
2) ensures positive self growth through praise and constructive criticism
3) is also selfless, promotes positive treatment of others.

...I will explain.

1) As I processed what was being said, a lightbulb went off in my head: THIS ARE WISE WORDS. Not only was this a brilliant way to go about setting a solid foundation for a romantic relationship, but as I began to conciously follow this advice over the next couple of weeks, I found it was a wonderful way to seek out better platonic friendships, bosses, and teachers. Of course, we can not always choose our bosses and teachers, but as I have found out, it is very possible to choose who we put extra effort into knowing more about, even in a "master, learner" relationship. Seeking people out who show promise to lift you up really know what YOU can do to earn an A+, help you get a promotion/increase sales, or can make you feel happy/balanced in a romantic relationship. This is more positive than may be recognizable on the surface. The other side to this, is that it is important to realize when someone is NOT lifting you up. You can similarly choose to reject special partnerships with those people, putting in only what is essential for a civil relationship (in a classroom, or office, per say) which would just lead to a plateau in personal/relational development. BUT, one MUST be careful in doing this, because...

2) The people that lift you up do not just shower you with praise. In fact, a better sign of someone actually lifting you up, is someone who is not afraid to offer that all important "constructive criticism" when you need it most. Otherwise, how would we learn from our mistakes (in our personal life, in an academic arena, or in the workplace). However, in the end, this timely, balanced combination of praise and constructive criticism will lead to some level of postive growth within the receiver. Also, it is likely that people who are giving constructive criticism have taken the time to get to know you well enough to recognize when it's appropriate to offer praise, and when it's better to offer other advice- this is an invaluable measure of someone seeking to lift you up. In this way, it's necessary to seek people out who have time and energy to get to know you on that level...

3)...AND who you will have time and energy to get to know on that level as well. While this advice seems to be a little bit "me, me, me!", those who TRULY follow it will quickly recognize the positive influence they can have on others. By conciously being someone OTHERS want to actively seek out, you are creating an opportunity to give back and lift them up, making a positive impact in someone else's life :) People helping people!!

Try it out, next time you meet someone, or even next time you're with your current "friends", "coworkers", "boss" or "boyfriend", ask yourself..."Is this person lifting me up in any way or am I just sitting on a plateau with them?" (Certainly if they are constantly dragging you down, you are seeking a way OUT of the relationship...)

Also, be sure to ask yourself every once in a while, "Why should other people seek me out? Do I conciously lift up those around me?" It may just make you re-evaluate the way you are treating others...

I enjoy forging and maintaining relationships in this way...so far, so good :)

Well, duh, think of all the things you could be doing if you WEREN'T home sick...

It's cooler. Is the AC on orchid it be Fall?

My favorite room is most definitely the kitchen, but not really for the architecture of the space. I appreciate the kitchen more for what's produced there :) The best smells in life come from the kitchen...at least in my house! Nothing smells better than my mom's own chili recipe simmering in the big pot for hours, or her homemade ground veal meatballs in fresh, made from scratch tomato sauce, or the smell of her pork loin, dripping with orange marmalade and cloves. And then there's the smell of her signature homemade apple pie baking in a brown paperbag. I love that something is always going on in the kitchen, too. Being that someone is either cooking a three course meal, grabbing a drink, doing dishes, or some combination of the three, it's an excellent room to spend time with family members, lend a helping hand at the sink, or try to investigate the super secret ingredients that complete all my mom's best dishes. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that anytime after 5pm, you can bet someone's in the kitchen concocting a thirst-quenching cocktail, pouring a good ol' brewski, or sipping on a glass of Syrah... what's not to love in the kitchen!?

And, I can't really describe my favorite room without mentioning what WOULD be my favorite room(if it existed//I actually designed it)...

I have long wanted a totally white bedroom (the idea being that white is associated with peace, tranquility, and comfort) with mirrored accent pieces, and abstract grayscale photogrophy throughout. A sleek white dresser will shelve the only source of color in the room, which would be a single stem orchid (preferably a peachy orange one: connotes warmth, said to stimulate good health due to its associations with Vitamin C). When I walk in the room, I want to see a wall of "broken mirrors" beind the bed, like a headboard, flanked by mirrored sconces (candles, not lamps) The bed should be the dominant feature in the room: all white pillows with subtle white on white patterns, in various textures, shapes, and sizes. The comforter should be down (feathers) and mega fluffy (helloooo comfort!). Light, flowy, white sheer linen curtains will allow lots of natural light to flow into the room, (sun during the day, moon during the wee hours) The floor will be a light, honey colored wood, but a thick, white shag rug will take up a fairly good portion of the floorspace. White french doors will open up onto a porch containing an outdoor firepit and infinity pool, backed by the breathtaking landscape of Italy's mountai- Whoa...got a little carried away there, but hey, a girl's allowed to dream, right?! Obviously, this color scheme is not so practical for a bedroom, but if I someday find myself in this setting, I will rest assured (haha pun intended!) that something in my life must be going right ;)

Meridith Ludwig
Vice Prez: Well, we agree on like everything...she's my #1.

Gorgias
Speaker of the House: being a Sophist, Gorgias is a master of facilitating and participating in rhetorical and political debate.

Jillian Ludwig
President Pro Tempore: If I'm not there some day, and Meridith's not there, it only makes sense that Jillian will be next in line :)

Arthur Frommer
Secretary of State: Considering how many places this man has been, and lived to write a book or two about (anyone who travels has heard of Frommer's Travel Guides), I'm sure he knows a thing or two about foreign policy...

Michael Aplington
Secretary of Treasury: I guess you can play with the money?

Mr. T
Secretary of Defense: yea, I wouldn't want to mess with this guy. "I pity the fool..."

My Mom
Attorney General: superb sense of justice (i.e. "i'm always right" ), knows how to lay down the law!

Smokey the Bear
Secretary of the Interior: Who better to advocate protection of our National Parks and great American landscapes?!

My Dad
Secretary of Health & Human Services: self-explainatory

Rich Uncle Pennybags (aka Mr. Monopoly)
Secretary of Housing & Urban Development: Mr. Monopoly knows about all kinds of properties

Neil Armstrong
Secretary of Transportation: If he can walk on the moon, I'm sure he's got some pretty cool ideas for getting around down here on Earth...

Albert Einstein
Secretary of Energy: E=mc2...enough said.

Ms. Frizzle
Secretary of Education: I STILL remember that Magic Schoolbus book where she takes the kids through Arnold's digestive tract...sweeeet!

Cujo (x100)
Secretary of Homeland Security: Let's tie a few of those puppies on our borders and see who wants in!! (...Stephen King novel, anyone??)

Moulin Rouge by Christina Aguilera

this is one of those songs best sung in the shower (when home alone)//in my car (aka by myself). i confidently pretend i can hit all the notes...it's pretty atrocious, i have a feeling.

and you better believe i'd sing ALL the verses. watch out for the Lil Kim verse...i'm a pretty sick rapper....

Ok, first of all, the book cover is NOT the book cover mine has and I'm glad mine doesn't have that one.

I was 75 pages away from the end of the book as I was leaving the house to study in London, England. Unfortunately, the book is HUGE, and for practicality/weight/luggage space issues, I didn't bring it along. For me to finish it, I would need about 3 hours of free time, a warm blanket, and a cup of hot tea. In other words, talking about the book has made me want to go finish it right now :)

Take Me Home Tonight by Eddie Money

i love songs where i pretty much only know 1 line

I have long had serious aspirations to step foot on all seven continents before my eventual death, but, I can honestly say I never imagined I would be sitting on top of a Corinthian column nearly 2000 years old, writing in my little red journal at age 20. What was once an experience confined soley to the realm of my daydreams, is now a reality putting me one step (and one continent) closer to my goal. Speaking of steps, imagining all the people that have walked those grounds since it's inauguration in 80AD was strangely humbling. While I immediately recognized the significance of the experience in my life, it, I'm sure, has been and will continue to be, significant for millions more.