And then the beat comes, and then she's movin' on the dance floor.

Photo courtesy of Pinterest. The most addictive site on the internet.

What: 5.2011 Playlist
Used: When I was baking cookies the other day in a sports bra and tennis skirt with a glass of wine. Don't you wish you were unemployed? Kiddin'. That was a low-blow even to myself. :(

1. White Dress :: Ben Rector {Chyupp. Still numero uno on my playlist. Fave part? The build-up to "she's comin' on Frriiiiidayyyyy."}
2. The Beat :: Ben Rector {To continue telling you my fave lines, "her heart is broken but she won't say that..."}
3. She Is :: Ben Rector {Aaand: "She wrote the book on hard-to-get."}
4. Loving You :: Ben Rector

--Aight. Leh's be real: Just go 'head and add "Anything by Ben Rector." If a man can do this below, he is a permanent winner on my musicians list. Meg, Emi, and I saw him in Atlanta the other weekend. Boy sounds just as legit in person as he does on Grooveshark. In my well-educated, total-Samford-girl opinion*, he outshone Matt Wertz, who went on after him.

*You should know that every Samford University girl goes through the following initiation: Fall in love freshman year with Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes, and smile with them after the show for a pic as they visit Samford Country Club annually. If you don't do that, your diploma is lying. Lo siento. You didn't really graduate from Samford.
5. Crazy Girl :: Eli Young Band
6. Honey Bee :: Blake Shelton
7. For the First Time :: The Script {That is a dang-lotta emotion for one song.}
8. Barefoot Blue Jean Night :: Josh Owen
9. Dirt Road Anthem :: Jason Aldean
10. You've Had What You Need :: The Classic City Collection {THIS IS A JESUS SONG. Next fun fact: So. I have this girl crush on this precious Georgia girl. She posted about her Athens, Ga. church band and their latest album. This is them. Get. It. Now.}

'Til I cross Montgomery and I lose my sense of time.

Photo courtesy of Bippity Boppity Boo.

"In the South, we have a tendency to be possessive of our hometowns. A Memphis girl can marry a Birmingham boy, raise her family there, and live out the rest of her days in Alabama. But when her obituary runs in the Birmingham Post-Herald, it will still claim Memphis as her home."

- Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton

So true.

I'm home and get to jam 48 hours with fam and friends and Samford Step Sing until the road beckons again.

Have I ever mentioned that I love my hometown?

I so do.

I guess I'm always gonna be a Montgomery girl, huh...

Blog Post Title: "Southern State of Mind" by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers.

I Think I Just Graduated...

Proud parents. I'm pretty blessed.

"All children, except one, grow up." Or so declares paragraph one, page one of my Favorite Story Ever. 

I loved every moment of my college graduation yesterday. From the impromptu photoshoot my goofy family decided to have on the Quad to the walk across the stage (in Jack Rogers, to my mother's dismay. My nude heels broke. Uh, whoops).

  

Daddy thought it'd be hysterical to replay 4 years of giving money to Mr. Samford Benefactor himself, Dwight Beeson. Well, it was funny...

But back in sweet Montgomery today, my fingers lilted across book titles until they landed on my go-to: Peter Pan by James Barrie. Yes. I just finished studying CIA investigation of Abu Ghraib and Gothic architecture in Europe. And yes, 24 hours later, I have reverted to age 10.

Can't help it. He was my first crush, followed by Aladdin. My babysitter lovingly allowed us to kill the Mary Martin version VHS. Then, in high school I danced Wendy in Alabama Dance Theatre's Peter Pan, resulting in months of character study. First time I set foot in London, I'm running to the Kensington Gardens Peter Pan statue. Shoot. Do you know what? I realize I am still attracted to confident, stubborn boys today. Okay, now I'm psycho-analyzing myself like my pyschology-major roommate... Miss you, Rach :)

See why they call it Samford Country Club?

Regardless, I'm taking a page from the tale. Yes, I'll accept responsibility. Yes, I'll work to grow and learn. 


But I pledge to be forever young. 'Cause I kinda adore what Kid Cudi says, that people will always say what they will. You've gotta see where God's brought you, the blessings you have, and then--high on dreams--keep soaring upwards.


"I'm feeling like I'm Peter Pan, minus the tights and the fairies /
Happy to see how far I've come /
To the same place it began my dreams and imagination perfectly at peace /
So I move along a bit higher... /
I'll be up, up, and away / up, up, and away / 'cause they 'gon judge me anyway / so whatever."

- Kid Cudi, "Up, Up, and Away"

Swear on my honor this is staged. They made me. Kristen demanded I "go frolic." I'll also jump off a bridge if you tell me, apparently.

So happy graduation to me! 

Now? Second star to the right, straight on 'til morning.

And everything is going to the beat.

Photo courtesy of Taylor Gunter

Finals. brb. Promise.

Blog title song: "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit. It sounds like fairies dying and being born at the same time. Or like Red Bull bottled in musical form. Download it.

Hot like Mexico.

As the last political science paper of my collegiate career is due tomorrow (The Media's Effect on Foreign Policy in the Persian Gulf War--riveting, I know.), it's looking like Cinco de Mayo festivities shall be celebrated on the Seis. Tequila and Microsoft Word probably don't mix.

Puebla dresses available at La Mariposa, $44

Ahh, Cinco de Mayo! Here you are again. 

Let us trace my history of loving Mexico:

Forget princesses. For my 6-year-old birthday party, I went with a lovely Mexican fiesta theme. We wore sombreros and dined on mini tacos. Mother claims I bossed every one around.

For my 2nd grade state report, I chose New Mexico for its OBVIOUS connection to its southern neighbor. I spelled Albuquerque wrong on every page, meriting my first "F." Mrs. Furlow lovingly dried my tears and allowed me to rewrite my report and I got the nerdy 100 I was accustomed to. F --> 100? Only in grade 2.

In 6th grade, our class hosted Latin America day for the entire elementary. Mrs. Baker asked me, the resident ballerina, to choreograph a dance for 10 girls, so duh--I went with J Lo's "Let's Get Loud." What a jam.

In high school, I got bit by the French bug and remained a francophile til, well, now. But when my fashionable Texan sorority sister first wore a traditional Puebla dress with cowgirl boots, my former love came soaring back.

I want one soooooo badly.

That's what you're supposed to drink a 'rita in.

Prep school.

Photo courtesy of Take Ivy

Yesterday, Huffington Post came out with it's list of Preppiest Colleges in America, which is a pretty interesting read if you're the type to mix pearls with your madras. (Or if your mother gave you her original worn copy of The Official Preppy Handbook in 9th grade in your Christmas stocking. I mean, like, IF that's you or whatever...)

An ammendent to the list recognizes good 'ole Birmingham-Southern down the road, but I'm sure some think Samford could throw in her golf visor in the ring.

Oh, Alpha Delt.

And they were yummy. Photo courtesy of Emily Hart.

Baha. So who knew: I'm actually getting nostalgic about leaving Samford. And maybe my chapter of ADPi too. Yeah, whatever--I'm that sorority girl, I know I know...

But uh, at least for 10 months, I figured out how to get paid to be that sorority girl!?

Am I right, or am I right?

Anway, when my friend in Samford Hall hollered that my interview about our sorority's centennial was in the latest edition of The Samford Chronicle, I got kinda pumped. Hi, Mom and Dad!

Mad World: Step Sing 2010

ADPi family: Emily, Lindsay, and me. Photo courtesy of Em.

I'm back. I'm back. I'm back!

My face is wiped clean of the black bandit mask that's been keeping my perifial vision on it's toes (WHAT'S THAT!? Relax. Just some black paint that smudged, not a bug). Schoolwork shall no longer suffer as I'm donezo sneaking art history notes on Egyptian New Kingdom limestone reliefs into in Samford University's Wright Center. I can kiss free daily sugar hand-outs of Krispy Kreme, Air Heads, and Fruity Snacks adios. And I can strain my little vocal chords all I want for Lindsay Vonn. If I'm back, that means one thing: Samford Step Sing's 2010 season has taken its final bow.

You may have your SEC football. 

At Samford, we have Step Sing. 

Don't be j.

Not to be compared to your local neighborhood Greek Sing, this is how we do it behind the pearly gates of Samford. We all have signature moves, a raked stage with a painter's tape grid, and 40 hours of practice under our sequined belts. This is the stuff of champions:

Pi Kappa Phi, Sweepstakes Winner 2009

Yeah. Now you see why it kept me running back and forth (soccer team) for a month. 

This year the victory rests with Dudes-a-Plenty, but ehhh... I'll keep my lips buttoned about my opinion on that one. But I've gotta let you in on this post from my Alpha Delt sistah/fellow journalism major Brittany over at "Insert Witty Title." Hysterical, BT...

"I want to tell you a story. It's about 70-ish girls who get together for three hours a night during the month of February to sing and move around on a grid made of painter's tape. We'll call this story, "Step Sing." There are five types of girls in this tale:

1) The girls that like to correct others, especially the directors. "Uhhhhh.... WAIT! Yesterday you told us to have our right arm at a 45 degree angle. You clearly just had your hand at a 47 degree angle. I meeeean.... like.... which one do you want us to do?!"

2) The shushers. You can't miss these women. Their attempt to make everyone be quiet is usually pretty useless, because their "SHHHHHHHH"-ing is far louder--and more annoying-- than any amount of chatter.

3) The touchy-feelies. Watch out for these girls. They're sneaky. One minute you'll be having a conversation about The Bachelor, and the next minute you'll be sucked into scratching their back or braiding their hair. Not sure how, but it always happens. Best way to avoid being conned? Three words: "I have leprosy." Works every time.

4) The enthusiastic girls. These girls are the ones who actually dress up for "spirit days," whether it be hoodlum attire, their high school cheerleading uniform, or straight-up goth wear. While it may sometimes be distracting to have your neighbor's long gangster chain hit you in the face during dance moves, these girls make practices a lot more entertaining.

5) The girls who really don't know what they're doing, and usually have to be told by the younger girls where to go and what to do. These girls look forward to practices because they're interested in what snacks will be offered, and also how many times they can make inappropriate references. They usually go by the nickname of "Brittany."

Yup, I'm a #3 with Ellen, no doubt. And though the practices were loo-o-o-ng, I'm already nostalgic that I'm graduating and four years of SS flew by... Did Peter Pan figure out that "Young Forever" thing?

And you know my ever-loyal Auburn besties wouldn't miss a Step Sing show.

P.S. Yeah buddy, Chi O. This post title is ripped from your show. Can't get that song outta my head...

P.P.S. To all those concerned, ADPi brought it and we won a lotta hearts. Girls never win Step Sing though :(

Take the stress away, Johnny boy.

✓ Senior thesis submission and presentation

✓ History of Art, Architecture & Design III exam

__ Mass Media Law exam

__ American Politics exam

After today, my eyes are a little more squinty, thoughts a little fuzzier, and brain a smidge more exhausted. But with my new found study buddy, Lala.com, I'm hanging in there. It's like Pandora except get this--you PICK what song comes next. Genius, eh?

Current playlist:

*DISCLAIMER: I have a huge thing for covers.

Assassin - John Mayer

Half of My Heart - John Mayer

Forever and Always (Piano version) - Taylor Swift

Whatever You Like - Anya Marina

Such Great Heights - Act of Congress

She Knows Her Way Around - Act of Congress

Breakeven - The Script

Man that Can't Be Moved - The Script

Before the Worst - The Script

Hey Soul Sister - Train

Cousins - Vampire Weekend

Gather the Horses - Charlie Mars

Happier - A Fine Frenzy

One Day - Matisyahu

You & Me - Dave Matthews Band

Don't worry Pandora, I'm not cheating on you. I just can't help that I'm controlling and that may not work in our relationship some days.