Splish Splash

Growing up in Wisconsin, I wear my cheese head with pride. As a student at the University of Arizona, I wear an extra 5-inches with a sour face.  Bandage skirt, blouse or this shirt as a dress? I am allowed to poke fun at the wardrobe of nearly one hundred percent of the female Greek life population on a typical Fraterday. I am a reluctant contributor. I go to school here. It is comical and fun to wear minimal clothing and blend in with every other girl; no one will know if it was you or her who fell down that flight of stairs  in those 5-inch pumps or if if was your or her stiletto stuck in the drywall. College: it's all fun in games...until someone gets thrown in the pool.

I know you want to hear every, single drooling detail...

4 p.m I am eating more than enough cookies 'n cream ice cream for dinner

4:30 p.m "All I want to do is read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo outside"

4:33 p.m I pass out on the lounge chairs outside

6:00 p.m I wake up

6:07 p.m I am straightening my hair with enthusiasm

7:00 p.m I have a lot of hair

7:14 p.m I don't remember, probably on Facebook

7:30 p.m I am getting dressed

7:32 p.m Toothpaste is all over my dress

7:35 p.m I am shaking my head and rinsing my dress under hot water

8:00 p.m I am awkwardly waiting for a ride to the party

8:23 p.m I am mad

9:00 p.m I strap on my heels and don't look back

1:16 a.m My girlfriends and I are soaking wet with our clothing sudsy from Garnier Fructis

So we went for a little swim, fully clothed? We've all done it and if you haven't, you should.

Never underestimate a good time

Smash Mouth

It is still October and I am still drinking my coffee black with a dash of cinnamon. I spent the weekend childishly with a cold front and a bulky crayola red sweater. Even better: Pumpkins for .99 at Safeway.

I'm not sure who carving pumpkins is meant for or what category the act of carving pumpkins falls into but it doesn't start with me. I've had a somersaulting outlook on October from day one until I faced the ill-balanced plumpkin and the not far from plastic "knife" in the everything you will ever need to make your pumpkin look nothing like anything while nearly cutting the tip of your finger off carving kit. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my Saturday afternoon watching my friends carve the other two pumpkins after I broke the only carving knife. Saturday night was fun too when my pumpkin was used as a doorstop. Happy Halloween!

#fullsarcasm

Ms. Keogh

In dedication to a best friend:

I came to school not knowing many. As I endured in small talk with him and her I met plenty. I truly knew only a few, one of which ended being special, a best friend if I only knew. She is beautiful, smart, elegant and bold with a wise smile and a soul glistening with gold.

Laugh all you want, keogh but it's true and the poem took me 30 sec; it came from the heart and I'm running late to Spanish class

Cheers to October and Happy Birthday, Hannah!!

xoxo

October

Three days in and I just realized where I was: October fest. October is the epitome of Fall, a 31 day fest with a burning heritage pumpkin soy scented candle as a reminder (due to the lack of everything Fall here in Tucson). Nothing is set in stone but October may be my favorite month so I've decided to wear it, eat it, do it, see it, be it and say it like I mean it.

October is Honky Tonk. Find me on a callous wood floor, Frye boots on and the band singing "blue eyed girl" to the young ladies in front.

October is grateful. Dinner parties, dance parties, rowdy nights and laughing out loud; I love my friends and I love you dad (Happy Birthday!)

October is bold. I will continue to wear my Birkenstocks to class, they are comfortable and make up for 5-inch patent leather on the weekends. Stare all you want.

October is no trick just treat: Wine and dine with my ultimate, favorite, best, to.die.for cookie...the molasses cookie. Pinot?

October is: Happy Hour

Happy Days

Your seven day forecast for Tucson, Arizona:

Monday: 92
Tuesday: 93
Wednesday: 94
Thursday: 96
Friday: 98
Saturday: 98
Sunday: 95

May I remind you October is right around the corner. Where I grew up, my fall wardrobe would have me leaving the house in jeans and a light sweater. Until say November, I will be comfortable walking to class in shorts and a tank top. Don't take this as a vent or a whine. Fall has always and will remain to be my favorite season for plaid, cinnamon, and Diana Krall. Although I do miss sugar maples, their leaves beneath my feet, a crisp morning smuggling my Dirty Chai for warmth, I do love writing poolside with an Arnold Palmer in my hand; deed I do!

Maybe lighting a candle with a paperback on my couch will fool me into smelling a bonfire down the street. Happy Fall xoxo

Bon Appétit

Stuffed tomatoes with grilled corn, pumpkin seeds & cous cous:

Cook the cous cous. In a food processor, combine toasted cumin seeds, grilled corn, cilantro, the paprika and cayenne, lemon and olive oil to create a paste. Once the cous cous is cooked and cool, mix in the paste. Set aside. Carve out x amount of tomatoes and place the cous cous inside each one. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top and roast in the oven at 450F until cous cous and seeds turns golden brown on top.

Hosting dinner parties is something I will always enjoy. Photography, presentation, cooking, ambiance and good company.

I don't want to leave you with a sweet tooth...

Court and Spark

Image, texture, style, hue, home. My roommates and I spent all summer and all of 3 days purchasing, scavenging, crafting room 15 in the Pi Beta Phi sorority house. The house itself is the oldest on campus and maintains a vintage shabby-chic aura. Initial vision for our room rooted from the design, furnishings in the house in combination with a crystal cove cottage theme.

A favorite piece:

It's an original and it's priceless. We gave this traffic cone a home after finding it stranded on the street, in the rain. Anyone who says anything different is lying.

We've created a home away from home in room 15, an interior design in harmony with the sounds of Joni Mitchell.