write small

Teacher: "You can have one page of notes for the exam on Tuesday if you so choose."

Challenge accepted

Four chapters on one piece of paper.
Excuse me, my hand now has carpal tunnel.

poor kids sell plasma

As a typical college student, I try to spend the least amount of money possible and bring in as much as I can. Enter, plasma donation. While some people may consider selling plasma as being less than favorable because of the circumstances of selling something from one's body, I am willing. I would probably sell a kidney if it wasn't illegal... yeah anyways, I went and donated plasma on Tuesday and there was a whole round of tests and questions that I had to answer and complete before I could even start pumping the plasma.
Here are my thoughts from my donation:
-the finger prick hurts almost worse than the donation itself
-one gets asked the same questions over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over.
-the whole questionnaire part probably would have gone faster if I could have just said, "No, I've never done drugs, I've never had sex, and I've never been to Africa or exposed to AIDS/HIV." All the while, I was wearing my Institute tee-shirt.
-my two favorite questions were probably 1) "Are you ears pierced and currently open?" I was wearing earrings that day. Muahaha. 2) "Have you ever been pregnant or are currently so?" No sir. 3) "Are you breastfeeding?" Again, negatory.
-I was at the plasma center from 3:30pm-6:50pm.
-the needle that the physicians use is FREAKING HUGE.
-it's probably not a good thing when you're donating plasma and then guy sticking you with a needle says, "Oh, that's not supposed to be happening..." and then you look and see that your vein is turning into a lump the size of a quarter. Just saying.
-getting a giant ice pack taped to said arm from above and then having two immobilized arms.
-seeing an old boyfriend from high school whom you haven't seen for about five years. That's all I'm saying about that.
-THE CROWNING AWKWARD MOMENT OF THE ENTIRE VISIT: getting a male physician for the physical. Who happens to be cute and around the same age as you. And then that whole awkward moment when he has to listen to your breathing and heartbeat under your shirt. With his cold hands. No worries, there was a female physician in there at the same time. Oh and then when they're pumping blood out of you and BOTH your arms hurt and you're breathing in and out of your mouth so you don't cry/throw up, he happens to come from the front room and check on you. Awwwwwkward.

Also, gnaaarly bruise my friends.


Oh, and I'm going again today.
All for the money, my friends.

New Semester

Today is the start of my fourth semester at USU.
I have absolutely no motivation after coming back from break. I rolled over this morning and was like "Meh." That's it, just 'meh'.
Oh did I also mention that most my classes are only ten minutes apart? It's totally fine when the buildings are right next to each other but when they're further apart?
Pray for me. I'll be runnin'.

Favorite Things Friday: Randi

It's Friiiiiday! AND, two days till Christmas! I love Christmas a whole lot, the tree, the treats, the parties, but I definitely love the music. So this Friday, I'll share some of my favorite Christmas songs! It was hard, but I think I got most of them...

#1: O Come All Ye Faithful

This is my all time favorite Christmas carol. I think I love pretty much every version of it.

#2: A Baby Changes Everything
I know this isn't a traditional Christmas carol, but PLEASE LISTEN TO IT. It's amazing and gives me chills everytime.

#3: I'll Be Home For Christmas
This song is pretty classic, especially with Bing. This is my mom's favorite Christmas song, and after moving away from home, it became one of my favorites too.

#4: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Joooooooy.

#5: O Holy Night
We like David at my apartment. A whole lot.

What are your favorites? Link them to me at the bottom so we can all share in the last days of this Christmas goodness. Two days!

O Holy Night?

Can you believe Christmas is on Sunday?! I feel like I had all this Christmas spirit after Thanksgiving and then it all died when I got to finals week. No worries, I survived and am now home for the holidays! But here's a nice little awkward video that gets me and my dad and younger brother laughing like nobody's business...

Favorite Things Friday: Randi

'Ello readers. It's 16 days till Christmas! Christmas time is a special time for me, and even more so now that I'm away from home for the first few weeks of December. Strangely, it makes me even more excited for Christmas knowing that I get to travel home after the hustle and bustle of finals and the end of the semester. So here's some of my favorite things during the holiday season...

#1: The Forgotten Carols

{via}
I love this production to eternity and beyond. It's the perfect way to start off the Christmas season, and this year I nabbed my roommates and we went to the performance here in Logan. It's amazing. The music brings me to tears every time and I get the chills. This is one of my favorite songs from the production.

#2: Josh Groban's Noel CD{via}
Oh, this man's voice. We've had this playing on and off in my apartment over the past week and it's been just like I'm at home. The Grob has a voice like no other.

#3: Christmas Decorations
My apartment is homey and wonderful and lovely and Christmas-y and I'm in love. I sorta hate that we only have a few weeks to enjoy our Christmas decorations...but that just means that I get to go home to this...

#4: Land O' Lakes Hot Chocolate{via}
Last year, my grandma gave me a 42 pack thing of Land O' Lakes Hot Chocolate Assorted Flavors. Best pre-Christmas gift I've ever been given. This stuff is amaaaaazing, especially if you're a hot chocolate lover like myself. The Raspberry and White Chocolate are my favorites.

#5: Christmas Check Lists
The roommates and I have made a check list of everything we want to get done before Christmas Break. It's kinda my favorite. We're coming along pretty good!
[X] See The Forgotten Carols
[ ] Temple Square
[X] Walk Downtown Logan
[X] Roommate Dinner
[X] Decorate
[ ] Get Steamed Milk
[X] Roommate Pictures
[X] Roommate Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning Sleepover

Here's to having another wonderful holiday seasoned weekend and here's to me and my finals next week! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

DEAD WEEK

Here at USU, the week before finals is affectionately known as "Dead Week".
I am in the midst of studying for finals, finishing my homework, and feeling like crying/watching my roommate pack up her things since she's getting married in 19 days. Also, don't you wish you could be in more than one place at once? I sure do.
In other words, here's a funny video some students from USU made and it's gone viral on Facebook for me this week. Yep, that's my library that they're doing all the interviews at...p.s. the guy with the sandwich is so funny to me, I don't know why.
Let's all pray for my sanity this week and that I don't have too many more break downs, alright?

Do's and Don'ts for Cold Weather

I have a love-hate relationship with winter. Wonderful things come along with winter, like snowmen, hot chocolate, CHRISTMAS, lights, delicious goodies, CHRISTMAS, warm scarves and gloves, time off from school, and CHRISTMAS. But there is a dark side to winter..... cold and ice. Ice and cold can be the best nemesis for a college student who gets up before the sun rises and walks around campus all day. Basically, this morning I thought I was going to lose my ears, nose, and chin. Here's a few do's and don'ts to survive cold in college or just cold, period.

Do invest in good snow boots. Yes, boots with the fur are cute and all, but unless they have good tread, they will let you down. Literally.
Do have no less than a billion pairs of gloves and stash them in your pockets, your backpack, your purse, your car, and anywhere else you can think of. Your fingers will thank me.
Do buy those hand and foot warmers that you can get anywhere. Also stash these in multiple places for those cold mornings walking to campus.
Do stock up on hot chocolate. Lots and lots of hot chocolate.

Don't go up to class in the mornings without a hat. We should all be thankful I still have my ears after this morning. I was a fool and thought I'd be fine....I wasn't.
Don't be embarrassed of your big puffy coat. Because those girls with the thin, stylish coats that are looking at you? They're probably in sheer envy of your marshmallowy, warm, down coat goodness.
Don't misjudge an ice patch. Because they will teach you a lesson. Also, don't think that the packed down shiny snow is safe. It will also teach you a lesson. These lessons usually come around when one is running to the shuttle because one is late. Not only will you hurt your behind, you will also hurt your pride.
Don't get embarrassed too easily. Now is the season for flailing around like a helpless ninja when you hit a patch of ice or slick snow. It happens to the best of us....

Favorite Things Friday: Randi

Hello, lovelies! How has your week been? Mine has been craaaazaaay. I registered for next semester and let me tell you what an adventure that was! Next week I'll catch you up on all the goodies of my life for the past two weeks from a blind date to registering madness to my roommates all traveling home with me this weekend. Anyways, let's cut to the chase for Favorite Things Friday!

#1: Free Country Fleece Soft Shell

{via}
I'd be lyin' if I said that I didn't love this jacket. Because I do so very much. I wear it pretty much all the time. It's perfect for the weird in between fall and winter weather. And it's pink. And bright. And I can't wait to take it camping next summer.

#2: Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash

Do you have sensitive skin? Because I sure do. This face wash is hands down the best kind that I have ever used. It doesn't dry me out but gives me a nice clean face. And come one, who doesn't like that?

#3: Knit Gloves
Honestly, I have at least ten different pairs of these gloves which is great because in the winter, they're a staple. I prefer for my fingers not to fall off in the cold when I'm walking to class. Plus they're cheap!

#4: OneRepublic CD Waking Up
I loooove OneRepublic. A whole lot. I also love this CD. A whole lot. They're probably in my top five favorite bands. Just sayin'.

#5: The Hunger Games Official Trailer
Let me get all fan-girl on you for a second. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh.
I. Cannot. Wait. For. This. Movie. I think my roommates and I have watched this at least once daily since this preview came out. I love the books. I'm hoping to love this movie. I'll be straight with you, at first when I saw who they'd picked to play Katniss and Peeta, I was like "Whhhaaaaaaa?" Not really a happy camper. But now that I've adjusted my ways, I daresay that this movie might become movie legend. Hopefully almost Harry Potter legend-esque. Have you read these books?! Please say you have and then we can all fan-girl about the wonderful Peeta! If you haven't read these books? Repent of your ways immediately, high tail it to your nearest book distributor and prepare to have your mind blown!

Here's to all of you having a lovely weekend! Thanksgiving is almost upon us!

I've Been Sleeping Outside...

Basically, this is where I've rested my head for the past two nights. Let's back up a little, shall we?
Today, 11/11/11, Utah State University's basketball team will be playing Brigham Young University's basketball team here at the Spectrum at Utah State University. This game is huge. This game is incredibly fun. And I have a guaranteed seat. Basketball is big at USU...
So, my roommates and I have been part of a nice little movement called Occupy The Spectrum. We waited in line, got our wristbands and our number in line (we're group 46...out of hundreds of other groups...muahah) and we've been sleeping in a tent in freezing temperatures. Let me just say, there's nothing warm or happy about getting up in at tent at 5:30am so you can walk home, shower, and go to your 7:30am class.
BUT I HAVE A GUARANTEED SEAT.
Also, someday I want to be as granola as these men... Sleeping in a tent hasn't been too bad. Thanks to wearing four layers, hot rice bags, and twenty something blankets, we didn't do too shabby. I slept dang good last night (I love sleeping in sleeping bags) even though people were crazy outside till the wee hours of the morning.
But, this morning we had to figure out a way to get all our stuff home before the campsite check out time and do it between everyone's classes. One of my roommates Alisha, took down the tent with me and then I ran down the hill and got my car. Erika and I stuffed the sucker full. Like stuffed so full that it probably wasn't safe for me to be driving... This is me in the driver's seat...let's just say Erika had to instruct me on when I could pull out into the road and whilst driving down the hill, I definitely could tell a difference of weight in my car.
So that's my life for the past two days. Sleeping in tents. Getting free food (both from the free sponsors that feed those of us with fancy wristbands and also, Alisha and I joined a club last night because we heard they were catering Indian food...Indian food is my weakness). Stuffing cars full. And we're arriving at the Spectrum tonight about four hours before the game even starts. But you can be sure that I'll be doing plenty of this tonight...
Cross your fingers for my Aggies and have a Happy Veteran's Day. Go out and thank one. Right now.

p.s. Reading through this made me realize that this post jumps around from thing to thing...hope it's not too confusing or random...cause I'm too tired to fix it.

Favorite Things Friday: Randi

Sorry for the lack of Favorite Things last week my friends! Sometimes our lives get a little too crazy, and I'm sure plenty of you know how that goes! So here's some things that have made my insane-o week a little better...

#1: Katie Herzig - Lost and Found

Basically, I've been listening to this song every day this week. It makes me quite happy.

#2: Wal-Mart Honey Wheat Braided Pretzel Twists
They're cheap and delicious. I kinda eat them with uh..everything. Even salsa. And string cheese. Doubt my combo? Try it and your life will be changed.

#3: Bare Minerals Foundation
My life has been insane the past couple weeks. And when my life gets insane, it's like my face freaks out along with my nerves. Cue, the breaking out. This stuff is miracles I tell you! Works perfect with my skin type without making me feel like a cake face. What's a cake face? Er...well...I'll let you figure that one out.

#4: Shout Color Catchers
My mother is the miracle worker of laundry. Sadly, I did not inherit that gene. But these are little squares of miracles. They catch...well, color (good one Randi). So it insures that when I'm washing three different colors together (I have to pay a dollar per load at my apartment complex's laundry room and I'm cheap) my clothes still look normal.

#5: Modern Medicine
My dad got knee surgery yesterday. He tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus a few weeks ago and let me just say, I'm so thankful for modern medicine. A hundred years ago he would have just had to live with a limp for the rest of his life and yesterday they were able to take a scope into his knee and fix it all that way! Amazing stuff!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

We're Going To India!

Well, at least a picture of us is...
Tonight I helped put together humanitarian kits for an organization called Rising Stars that helps leprosy colonies in India. We were asked to put a picture of ourselves in with our kits and the only extra picture I had around my apartment was of me and Chels.
So there we are, heading to India along with medical gauze, antibiotic ointment, and pedicure sets.

An Awkward Story then Just a Regular One...

Duuuuuuuudes (lately I say this all the time, it's like I turned into a 13 year old boy). I just finished a beast of a paper. My brain feels like its going to die. So here's an awkward story for you:
I got a wasp stuck in my hair yesterday.
Except I didn't really know that I did. Until I sat down in class and this girl, got out of her seat, came over to me and was all, "Um, you have a wasp in your hair. Do you want me to flick it out?" And inside I'm like, "Oh yeah, just leave it in there, NO OF COURSE I WANT YOU TO FLICK IT OUT!!!!!!!" But on the outside I managed a "Oh, that would be great, please."
So she did. Then she went and stepped on it. And I was eternally grateful. But the rest of class I felt all itchy and then I looked up towards my bangs and there was a tiny spider on my bangs. So I flicked him out and squashed him. So apparently I was the bug lady yesterday. I swear, I washed my hair, promise.
But that kinda leads me to today. I've been working on this paper since I got back from class at 9:00am. I didn't go to ZUMBA. I didn't go to Institute. Guys, I haven't even showered. Just worked on this paper all day long. And it's not even the longest paper I've ever written, just the most boring. So from 9:00am to 5:00pm, I researched and worked on a paper. Blah.

Here's some of my tips to get you through a writing a paper:-Get a bunch of highlighters out and color code your note cards. You'll feel smarter.
-Put in your headphones so you don't get distracted by outside noises.
-Take breaks to talk to your best friend. Then she can give you advice like this, "Go write my friend, write like the wind and my advice is that if you smoke a doob right before you'll pass for sure." Then you can make it your Facebook status. Thanks Chels.
-Don't talk to your best friend for too long...cause she can be distracting to your academic attention span and then you can't stop laughing.
-Take a break and play your guitar (or instrument of choice) really really really loud.
-Have a good pep talk with yourself. Jump around. Put your hair in a big, floppy bun on your head.
-Upon immediate completion of said paper, have a dance party in your kitchen. I recommend this tune. I danced like I was a cool kid.


P.S. I Skyped with Chels last night. It was a whole lotta fun. I felt like I was back at home with her.
P.S.S. I'M GOING HOME TOMORROW. I don't have school Friday. Holla!
That means I still need to pack, and go get gas, and do my math homework.
Then I can do all sorts of fun stuff. Like hang out with Chels for real!

Halloween Week: Fall Food

If there's one thing that's great about fall in general: the food.
These are some of my favorite things to make when the leaves start dropping!
Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 TB brown sugar
3 cups of old fashioned oats
2 TB brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 TB baking powder
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Beat together oil, white sugar, and 2 TB brown sugar. Mix in eggs, milk, salt, baking powder, and oats. Beat well then stir in raisins (optional). Pour in lightly greased baking dish (I used a (9x13 when I double the recipe). Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 35 minutes or until firm.
Ah, I crave! I like to put mine in a bowl with milk, soy milk, or almond milk. My roommate from last year gave me this recipe and they would put creamer in it which sounds delish! I love that I can double the batch, make it the night before, and then I have leftovers for breakfast for days. Seriously, so good.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 box of spice cake mix
1 can of pumpkin (like Libby's)
1 bag or 1/2 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Mix cake mix, pumpkin, and chocolate chips (sometimes I used half a bag if I want more pumpkin flavor, sometimes more chocolate chips if I want more chocolate) into a large mixing bowl. Spoon onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until finished.
Yield: 24-36 cookies
For reals, this is a staple recipe in my apartment. Last year, I can't count how many times we made these cookies. They're just so good and (lowfat)! The best thing is that you can make cookies or spoon them into muffin cups in a muffin tin and make muffins. Now I really want these.

Now for some of my favorite must-make recipes around the web. For serious, Pinterest is killing me with all these delicious ideas:
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Pumpkin Scones
Crockpot Apple Butter
Candy Corn Whoopie Pies
Halloween Candy Bark
Candy Corn Pudding

Veeeesty...

Know what's the pits?
When it's freakin cold outside and most of your warm clothing is two hours away!
Yeah, the pits. Because man, it's gotten cold the past couple days. Thankfully unlike Idaho, the snow has stayed up on the mountains for the past few days but I fear that the last beautiful days of fall are fading away!
So...Randi is wearing lots of layers. Lots and lots (FYI, Sanuks do not hold up very well in pouring rain. Not well at all).
Want to know what's a little awkward though? I texted this picture to my parents today with a note (backstory: my parents have been telling me to go buy warm stuff if I'm freezing. I'm cheap and I'd rather wait till I got home in two weeks). My dad answered saying I looked like I was having fun and did I buy that vest?
Dudes, I've had this vest since middle school.
So that's like from 6th grade and now I'm a sophomore in college.
Is it awkward that I've kept it for so long or that it even still fits?

Beam Some Good Thoughts

Hello, blaggy friends.
Just dropping in for a quick moment here. Let's think some good thoughts to Chels today. She's applying for her professional program of Sugical technology today.
Dudes, if you're some of my followers and you don't know Chels, then you don't even know how killer she would be at this. So beam some good thoughts up above that she gets in.
Applying for college programs and declaring majors is a funny thing. It's a little scary to sign your life away to a major and make the final decision that you want to do that for the rest of your days. I changed my program at the beginning of the semester and my friends, I had a mini panic attack afterwards.
So this is just us growing up!

Randi Dropped the Ball: Late Edition of Favorite Things Friday

Yeah...walk of shame for Randi...I dropped the ball on posting yesterday.
So here's an edition of Favorite Things Friday...just not on Friday.

#1: Pinterest

My friends, this is one of the most addictive sites out on the web. For serious. I can't take my laptop to class with me because I know that I would spend all my time on this during class. I HAVE AN ADDICTION TO PINNING.

#2: Best Buy's Opening Time
I love that Best Buy opens at 10:00am. Especially the mornings when I'm printing off a big fat paper for class and then my printer ink cartridge decides to die off on me. Then I can run to Best Buy as soon as it opens and buy a spankin' new ink cartridge. Crisis averted.

#3: Luna Bars

Hands down, the best nutrition bar eveeeeeeer. Especially this new flavor, Chocolate Raspberry. Sooooo good. I'm hoping they start selling this kind in boxes soon because I can't get enough of buying the single bar.

#4: Sam's Club
Sam's Club is super cool. I like having a membership so I can buy in bulk. Bulk is cool! Bulk is big! I can buy a gallon of milk there for a $1.60! Randi likes bulk. And the free sample days.

#5: General Conference Weekend
Friends, oh friends. I'm listening to this right now. It makes me crazy happy. If there is one thing you HAVE to do this weekend, listen to this. I can guarantee you leave feeling uplifted and loved, with much to think about.

In other words...
Awkward: It seems like this is the week of boys from Randi's past. Because they're all contacting me. It's weird. And strange. And disconcerting. And awkward.

Allergies are Awkward

Allergies are awkward.
Especially when they make your eyes feel like they're on fire. So they water profusely. And you have the sniffles.
And all of this coincides when you're taking a math test. So consequently, I'm pretty sure all my classmates this morning thought I was having a breakdown during my test due to the tears rolling down my face and the sniffles.


Oh, and remember this post? Yeah well, I used the same bathroom today and I definitely avoided the dangerous stall...only to find that the stall I was in didn't have a door that STAYED CLOSED. Of course, I found this out at an inopportune moment. This bathroom has some bad ju-ju. Good thing that this bathroom is always empty....

Awkward.

Awkward Photos

My friends, this was too good to miss taking a picture...THE MAN MULLET.

What is awkward about this you say? The fact that I was walking to class and basically speed walked my little backpack carrying tush behind him so I could take a picture. Discreetly, naturally. p.s. He even has a man purse.

Oh, and then there's this beauty...
Sick. Nasty. Hairball.
I forgot how much hair accumulates on the carpet in my apartment.
Awkward why? Because I just posted about it.

Bam. Awkward.

Favorite Things Friday: Randi

Do you ever have those things or products that just make your life easier?
This is where we'll bring you Favorite Things Friday, our version of things that make our lives easier and happier on a daily basis. Here are just five of my favorite things of the week!

#1: Nalgene Water Bottle {via} Seriously, this is my favorite brand of water bottles known to man. It's huge, made of strong plastic, and they never get that weird water bottle smell that sometimes happens. I use mine when I'm camping, hiking, working out, and spending my days on campus.

#2: Sanuks
{via} If there were ever shoes that I loved more than my Chacos, these would be it.
I have three pairs of them and I love them all! Cute and comfortable, they're perfect for summer and that in between summer and fall weather.

#3: Bigelow Chapstick{via} I never leave the house without this chapstick. It's honestly my favorite kind ever made. I picked mine up during the summer at Bath and Body works and then went back and got another one. Both are Raspberry Lemon and Black Cherry Lemon. AMAZING.

#4: Kindle{via}
Now, I love real books. I really do. There's nothing quite like buying a brand new book from the bookstore and opening the cover the first time. But I still love my Kindle. I read a lot and having this at school makes it easier for me to keep reading without packing all my books around plus, it's great for those long breaks on campus.

#5: The O.G. Sunglasses by The Cassette Company{via}
I really really want these sunglasses. This site has some super cool shades and I'm trying to come up with reasons why I don't need another pair...but I still really really really want a few pairs from this site! We shall see...

Thanks for taking a look at some of my favorite things this week!