An article by Regina Brett

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone and everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

a Lilly summer giveaway

Check out Pink Preppy Lilly Lover's giveaway this week: a Lilly Murfee scarf! I love the tassles.

 

:)

graduation favorites!

I could not have asked for a more pleasant graduation today. While it got a little toasty under our black robes, the breeze kept everyone sane as the sun shined high in the sky. I'm excited for the uncertainty this ceremony represents even while my official status as an HC Alum is slightly surreal feeling. Here are some of the highlights!

The night before graduation, after the Baccalaureate Ball: CMG, SJT and I changed out of our dresses and realized all of our clothes were packed. This is probably the only time the boys will be better dressed than the girls.

Just like a wavin' flag

A balloon for each of the graduates!

DAD

Family picture, most likely Christmas Card 2010 lets be honest

two loves of my life

HC Ski, represent.

My little brothers: lax bro and colorado boy

I couldn't be more proud of all of these people.

I hope everyone had great weather today, summer is definitely on its way!

tweet tweet

http://twitter.com/mpfish

Yesterday marked a new beginning in my life: I finally hopped on the bandwagon with the rest of the online social media world and made a twitter account. I think I've been avoiding doing so because I didn't really understand what Twitter actually does--however after exploring what it has to offer, it's actually pretty cool! So far NPR News, Time Magazine, the NY Times and NY Times Arts are my favorite. Follow me and I will follow you!

daily cravings.

Coffee Heath Bar Crunch is my favorite ice cream of all time.

A picnic on the beach would be WONDERFUL. Turkey, brie and tomato on a baguette, with a green salad and strawberries. Perfect.

A pedicure. Bright pink please.

Vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Betty Crocker is delicious.

YUM

Apartment Accessories 101: The Kitchen

I cannot WAIT until the day I get to pick out kitchenware, bedroom furniture, and other household accessories for my first apartment. While the plan is tentative due to my current state of unemployment, hopefully by October 1st I will get the chance to begin my new life in the city. Target has the most adorable, price-conscious choices for virtually all aspects of apartment accessories, and my friends and I have a blast looking through the collection on our frequent trips.

I have the most fun picking out kitchen accessories:

     

     

     

All of these options are to die for, why wouldn't you shop at Target? I'm sold. 

Happy Sunday!

a drama-free lifestyle

I am convinced that drama follows people who secretly enjoy creating it. I'm not talking about one story in particular but this is a common trend that I observe all too often. Is it insecurity that leads people to create unfavorable situations? Or do they just enjoy being the center of attention? I'll stay out of that spotlight, thank you. Most of the drama in college involves the opposite sex--and this is what I don't understand: why would you do something that you KNOW is going to cause your friend to hate you? I consider myself to be a relatively easy-going person, and I think this is why I am graduating pretty much un-scathed from drama. I trust my friends and they trust me. Obviously there are times when these situations are unavoidable, and I definitely don't deny that I have said things I shouldn't have. But it is important to look back on the comments you made and learn from them. Everyone has a breaking point, so working to make yours more tolerant than the other guy is the way you're going to stay OUT of drama and in the clear. 

Five easy ways to lead a drama-free lifestyle (well, most of the time):

1.) Sometimes it's better to swallow your words and walk away. The bigger person always wins.

2.) Stay out of questionable situations that have nothing to do with you.

3.) Everyone you know is fighting their own battle. The 'you have no idea what I'm going through' excuse is stupid and will only lead to an escalation of unnecessary comments. 

4.) Avoid airing your dirty laundry. It isn't classy.

5.) Karma exists. Remember this, and more importantly, TRUST it. 

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

I can't wait for

via weheartit

via weheartit

"Live life fully while you’re here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You’re going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don’t try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human." -Anthony Robbins

wonderfully random knowledge.

Every year approximately 2,500 left-handed people are killed by using object or machinery designed for right-handed people.

• A bee can smell with its knees.
• Charlie Chaplin once won third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest.
• The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
• Ants do not sleep.
• Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.
• The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
• It’s estimated that at any one time around 0.7% of the world’s population is drunk.
• Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades = David ; Clubs = Alexander the Great ; Hearts = Charlemagne ; Diamonds = Caesar.
• If a statue of a person in the park on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
• Polar bears are left-handed.
• The brain continues sending electrical wave signals for 37 hours after death.
• The human heart produces enough pressure to squirt blood 30 feet.
• Between 1902 and 1907, the same tiger killed 434 people in India.
• Human hair is almost indestructible, only fire can destroy it.
• via yerawizardharry.

I love sparklez.

via colorfieldsandwagonwheels

the first day of the rest of my life

No, I didn't graduate yet. However this morning at 10:30am I walked out of my last exam and the end is officially, entirely in sight. It's real... there are fewer and fewer boundaries between me and complete alumni status. My cap, gown and tassels may still be in their packaging but come two weeks from now and they will be crossing the stage. My task now I suppose is to take full advantage of the friends that surround me. That won't be very hard. As a class all of the seniors are going to Cape Cod this weekend to spend the week relaxing with no obligation other than to have FUN. My house decided that we're going to make pinnies that say 'Cape Week 2010' on the front, with our names on the back. So lax bro, and yet so necessary.

One of the most exciting things about graduating is seeing what ambitions are about to be lived out by my friends. Just yesterday I found out one of my oldest friends in college is beginning the first stage of many required to become a fighter pilot in the Air Force. Another is moving to Juneau, Alaska to work with special needs children and adults, while one is working for Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong. Yet another is attending Georgetown Law in the fall. I could not be more proud of everyone who is doing something they are truly passionate about. That being said, the outcome doesn't have to involve a degree or national recognition. I'm not even working for pay this summer, and while this may be detrimental for my already hurting bank account, the experience is very worth it.

I'm trying to stay positive about this whole 'going out into the world' thing. Even while I'm praying I get to start my life in New York City soon, I'm terrified I will get swallowed up. How do you avoid that? I guess I will have to experience it for myself. I wouldn't say I'm from a small town per say, but I'm definitely not inherently a 'city girl.' My guess is that you have to hit the ground running or you'll never survive. Good thing I'm a fast runner.

What to do now? I'll start by eating lunch.

Thoughts

Smells I have enjoyed most lately: lilacs and rain.

I really hope it's sunny for Mother's Day.

My youngest brother broke his thumb a few weeks ago playing lacrosse and the surgery left the three pins poking out of his skin. I can't get over how gross that is.

I'm thankful for my lack of stress about the future.

I love my friends on the Hill.

I discovered another alum's blog today.

Driving by myself with the music turned up to an unnecessarily high level is one of my favorite things to do. 

My middle brother told my parents he wants to drive around a hot dog truck this summer (as opposed to an ice cream truck?). They didn't know what to say to that...to each his own?

My whole family is under one roof at this very moment--this doesn't happen often. 

Everything works out in the end.

oh yeah, I have a blog

This past week was one for the books...literally. I don't think I have ever spent that much time consecutively in the library, but now that my four term papers are in, I only have one more exam before duh duh duhhhh: I graduate. There are so many wonderful things that will happen before May 28th however, events I will be sure to share details about later. Cape Week and Senior Week promise to provide some moments that I will never forget, not to mention excellent excuses for everyone to dress up. And lets be honest, that always gets me going. Clothing choices will range from J. Crew casual (probably my favorite) to Lilly Pulitzer dressy. Bring it on.

Sidenote. Five exciting things I'm looking forward to after graduation:
1.) Officially mastering the layout of New York City.
2.) Visiting SJP on the Vineyard with CMG.
3.) Acting like a grown-up, sort of.
4.) Happy hour in the city.
5.) Sailing.

One more thing-- I re-discovered the song 'Human' by the Killers on my way home today to surprise my mom for Mother's Day. I love when that happens. Now I can't stop listening to it.

For those of you in study period or just finishing up classes, good luck! xo