Camp Life

Hello readers! I have been at camp so far for a little over a week…but it feels like I’ve already been here a month! The days have gone by so slow, especially since the campers aren’t here yet. I’ve talked to a few girls who have been here for multiple summers and they all have said that the days go by faster when the campers are here!  Getting to know the ropes course staff has been really fun and it is definitely reassuring to know that most of them are super nice too! There’s a couple from the same school working with me in the ropes area, so it’s been great getting to know them! I wish they would stop being so darn cute sometimes…it makes me miss Tim a lot! So far, my days have been filled with learning everything to do with ropes…rock wall climbing, belaying (the person holding your rope at the bottom of the rock wall), high ropes course, static course, and the low ropes course. There’s a bunch of new terminology that I’m getting used to still…and of course there’s lots of new techniques to learn as well! 

It has not all been easy by any means though! Our ropes director can be kind of a witch sometimes. She is rude and bossy often and I am not used to being around people treating me and/or others like that…it stinks! However, the other ropes staff and I are sticking through it! Today I found out what age group will be in my bunk! I got 13 year olds…pray for me please! I am beyond nervous, but my co-counselor is super nice and will be very helpful because she has been going to the camp for many years.

Tomorrow, the campers arrive so we all have the day off today! Some girls and I are going to Portland to explore the city and go to the beach! Here’s a little of what I’ve been up to since I arrived…

 I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Summer Plans & 50 facts!

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to the airport to catch a flight to the East Coast because (drum roll)...I am going to be a camp counselor for an all girls camp for the summer! I am not only going to be a counselor, but each counselor has to teach a specific class and I am excited (and quite nervous) to say that I will be an instructor on the ropes course! All of the ropes instructors have to get to camp a week earlier than all the other counselors and two weeks before the campers get there.  There are also going to be a decent number of counselors from my college so I am looking forward to meeting them and getting to hang out with them as well!

Even though it will be a busy summer, I will sure miss Tim...a LOT. I will be able to text/call/skype him, but only during certain times (which is a bummer because I love randomly texting each other!). However, I have every other night off which is a huge plus for communicating! I also have four full days off and I am planning on flying back to see him for a long weekend about halfway through!! And hopefully this will give me a nice break from the camp schedule and a second wind to end my camp counselor duties well!

Aside from all of the packing I still have to do (it's going to be an all-nighter...prayers please), I decided to do a post on 50 random facts about me as a way to let you guys learn a little more about me! This should be fun!

1)  I am biologically my parents' only child
2)  That being said, my little sister is adopted! We adopted her from China when I was 5 yrs old and she was only a few months old.
3)  I've only broken one bone: my collarbone. Funny story: I broke it by rolling out of bed when I was 6 and landing on my hardwood floor (apparently this is the most common way to break your collarbone haha)
4)  I have never colored or highlighted my hair. I am happy with my natural hair color and people often think I have highlights because my hair has all different colors in it...I swear!
5)  I hate wearing tennis shoes...except for when I'm running/working out. It feels like my feet can't breathe!
6)  I only worked at my first job (sales associate for Delia's) for a month and a half. And no, I did not get fired...the store closed because its small size could not hold all of the inventory the company wanted it to. (P.S. Delia's has excellent employee discounts...40% off for full price & sale items!)
7)  Apparently when I was a toddler all I would eat is hot dogs or macaroni and cheese. I swear it's a miracle I'm not bigger than I am!
8)  I was born in West Virginia, but have lived in Indiana since I was 7 so I consider Indiana my home!
9)  I love love love to read. I am "that" girl who thinks reading is fun! I love how you can really learn a lot from all the nonfiction books out there, or just simply enjoy reading a fun, quick read. Books were my friend in middle school...go ahead make fun of me. There were often weekends where my eyes were glued to one book after another.
10)  I am severely allergic to peanuts! Most people say, "how do you live like that?" when they first meet me, but for never trying peanut butter, Reese's, or PB&Js I really don't know what I'm missing. I have tried soybutter (made with soybeans) and it has the same texture as peanut butter! It's super yummy, but the texture definitely freaked me out at first!
11)  I have been naturally thin my entire life. In junior high and high school, I was so lanky, people that didn't know me would question if I were anorexic...and let me tell you, it hurt to hear that! People assume that just because you are skinny means you are happy with your body image and I can say firsthand that is not true at all! In high school, I felt awkward about the way I looked and I just wanted to look like everyone else...not a 12 year old. Now I am happy, hold my high, and most importantly I am comfortable with the way I look. I've learned that a beautiful inside will shine on the outside :)
12)  I LOVE to eat...I am not too picky of an eater (I have to be careful when it comes to the nuts)! I love eating at my favorite restaurants and often get the same thing at each specific restaurant, but hey, I want to get my favorite meal when I go out to eat! I have WAY too many favorite foods: healthy and unhealthy.
13)  If I could go on any type of vacation I would always pick going to the beach. I love the relaxing aspect of a beach trip! To me a vacation should be an even balance between relaxing and sightseeing - and I think the beach allows this!
14)  I used to be somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to school...I'm glad those days are (somewhat) over! Yet, I am sometimes jealous of the people that can sleep through class all the time...how do they do that?!?
15)  I still haven't finished the 7th Harry Potter book :(
16)  I haven't seen the last Harry Potter movie either! I'm waiting until I finish that half of the book!
17)  I have to keep my nails short...otherwise they feel dirty and I hate getting dirt under my nails.
18)  This is one of my favorite numbers.
19)  Sometimes I wish I could trade lives with a movie star just for one day to see what their life is really like
20)  I did not have a good time at prom...let's just say my date made ME pay for his ticket and our meal (not cool).
21) I worked at Hollister for 3 years...yes I don't know how I survived either. I started working there my senior year of high school and I learned a lot of inside info on the company.  For example, managers pick 5 girls and 5 guys who are cute to be that store's promotion models where they send your pictures to headquarters where headquarters "approves" your look or not. Those who are approved get to be in group pictures sent to headquarters and sometimes got better/more discounts. Seems like something out of a sci fi movie to me... I happened to be one of those 5 girls and while I was flattered, I felt like we were treated better than the other employees and I did not like seeing that happen to my work friends. While the company values natural beauty, they do so in a way that is selective and they seem to only see it in certain people. (Sorry for the semi serious post here...I think it is an interesting topic and it's hard for me to believe a company can "approve" people's looks!)
22)  This is the age I am...scary! Sometimes I feel young, and sometimes I feel old. It's definitely an in between age in my eyes.
23)  I like to think of myself as a bargain shopper. I always look at the sales first and go from there! One of my craziest finds was this adorable knee-length black puffy coat for winter...for only $10!!! My school has this clothing outlet sale every year in the union and I was able to go during the first hour it opened. I was still shocked because even $10 is cheap for a top let alone a coat at this sale!
24)  I brought my lunch to school when I was younger...I never ate cafeteria food.
25)  I love ice cream every once in a while! I am for sure a salty foods kind of girl, but every so often I love some mint chocolate chip or cookies 'n cream ice cream!
26)  I have two tiny scars on both of my forearms...in the same spot! When I put my arms together, it's like putting a mirror up to my arm! Both scars occurred from separate occasions, but both were from a curling iron...oops.
27)  I really want more jewelry to add to my small collection! I went into Charming Charlie recently and was overwhelmed by the selection...so much!
28) My fingers are skinny and my sister says my fingers look like a baby's! Rings from Forever 21 or boutiques are almost always too big for any of my fingers (thumb included). It's kind of weird, but my mom always used to wrap surgical tape around the hidden side so they would fit her, and I plan on doing the same when I buy some cheap and cute rings!
29)  I love having candles in my room! I wasn't supposed to have them in my last apartment (shh, don't tell) but my roomate and I loved having candles in our rooms in the basement of our townhouse. The smells are to die for and I love finding new scents! Suggestions are welcome :)
30)  My feet are always cold. I always wear socks to bed unless it's summer.
31)  I can't wait to get the new iPhone! I'm hoping it comes out this fall (crossing my fingers)!!!!!
32)  I have never been to an NFL game and I'm fine with that because I don't get football.
33)  I love watching basketball or going to a basketball game! I had season tickets for IU last year and we made a huge comeback from the year before...we made it to the sweet sixteen!
34)  I think I tweet too much sometimes haha!
35)  I don't like facebook that much anymore. I think it's strange when people post paragraph long statuses about who knows what...too dramatic! I do love to look at pictures though!
36)  I am quickly becoming obsessed with Instagram! Follow me at kmalone105 :)
37)  I could eat pasta everyday and it wouldn't bother me one bit.
38)  I still like chicken nuggets (yes, that includes McDonald's and dino nuggets).
39)  I usually have no problem trusting people. I am a trustworthy person and expect the same out of people.
40)  I have a very good memory. For some reason I am able to remember things from a long time ago, what I was wearing that day, etc. Tim's mom told me this when I remembered The Voice contestants' names, haha!
41)  I am excited, yet scared for the future. I think about it a lot. Sometimes I want my new family, future kids to arrive already, but I realize I am not a time traveler and should enjoy my youth while I can!
42)  Even though I am one of two kids, I want three or four kids of my own! I think it's important for siblings to not only get along with each other, but to also be each others' best friends. When I see that now...that's what I want for my future kids.
43)  That being said I wish I had an older brother! Sometimes I like being the oldest, but other times I do not. It would be nice if I had an older sibling to go to for advice instead of just my parents.
44)  I have never put on liquid foundation/liquid makeup other than concealer. For some reason, liquid foundation just freaks me out and I know it would make me break out! I love my mineral powders and the natural look!
45)  I love making to do lists! I have an entire moleskin notebook dedicated to random lists that I carry in my school bag or on trips with me!
46)  When I sleep, I sleep on my side and curl up in a ball or bring one leg closer to me and leave the other leg straight...weird, I know. Tim is always joking around saying I am a tiny person, but take up most of the bed haha!
47)  I have not seen many movies...you name one, it's about a 40% chance I've seen it. I need to watch more movies!
48)  I am currently obsessed with La Croix sparkling water! It feels like soda because it is carbonated, but is only flavored water! No calories, no sugar, and no sodium! Even diet or zero sodas cannot guarantee all of those! The taste is a little weird at first, but once you get used to it, they are so good! I like the berry and lemon flavors.
49)  I love mascara! I have long eyelashes and I always feel put together if I have it on! Currently I am using CoverGirl's Lashblast Fusion mascara, but am wanting to give others a try!
50) I still don't need to wear contacts or glasses! Maybe in a couple of years my prescription will change...I have always wanted to have a pair of glasses! I think they can be a cute accessory

Whew, I made it to 50, and this was fun to write too! Wish me luck packing for camp!

Europe Trip Recap: Part Two (I'm a Jetsetter)!

Hello Readers! Since I finally figured out my Blogger difficulties, I am jumping right into part two!

 From Barcelona, it was time to go to Rome to meet Tim's siblings! On the day we left for Rome, I ended up catching a cold...I was upset I was sick, but I know my colds only last about 24 hours and since most of that day was spent traveling it was not too bad! After Tim's brother and sister flew in, we booked our next hotel...Village Camping Roma! The "campground" was really neat because not only did we have our own chalet (aka small house) complete with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, but the campground had their own grocery store, restaurant, two pools, two hot tubs, and a pub! We went to the grocery store a lot because we had our own kitchen in the chalet! We bought wine and pasta a lot as a treat when we stayed in!

The first night in Rome, we went to the Colosseum. The Colosseum was not as big as I had thought, but it was still worth our time to see! We ended up meeting some other Americans around our age and went to dinner with them at this little pizzeria. The pizza in Italy (and all of Europe) is soo good! The crust is really thin, so I was able to eat three times the amount of pizza I would normally eat! Some local men asked the boys to buy roses they were selling for Tim's sister and I...how sweet!

This little girl was petting a stray cat!

 

 The next morning we took a day trip to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius! The trip was from 7 am to 8:30 pm so our day was packed! The trip was about $160 per person but it was worth it since lunch, travel fees, and the tour fees were included! We met up at Piazza de Popolo, which is a famous plaza that is beautiful! From there we had a three hour drive south to Pompeii! Our tour guide at the Pompeii ruins was not only a seasoned tour guide, but he was an archaeologist working on uncovered areas of Pompeii as well! A little history behind Pompeii: Mt. Vesuvius only erupted ash (not lava) so Pompeii was able to be preserved. 

Piazza de Popolo

You can see the chariot tire imprints on this road!

Our tour guide said this was the "McDonald's" of Pompeii

A body preserved with liquid plaster

 Before our climb on Mt. Vesuvius, we got a lunch break at this pizzeria. Again, the pizza there is to die for...I am craving it as we speak! We drove about 45 minutes to (and up) Mt. Vesuvius and once we got to the ticket office we were given our vouchers for the 25 minute climb up to the top! Thank goodness we were given walking sticks - it was steep! Tim's sister and I decided to wear sundresses and sandals, and although we looked cute it was no easy tasking climbing up and down that mountain! We had some great views of Naples, the Bay of Naples, and other mountains in the area. Fun fact I learned: during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius about half of the mountain was blown off so they refer to it as "Baby Vesuvius" now. I could not imagine that climb!

Such a pretty view, but SO foggy since we were nearly a mile in the sky!

Don't mind our green stickers...that's how our tour guide wanted to keep track of the group!

 

Sadly, the next day, I had to go to Dublin early for my flight back to the states...so sad! I was so sad to leave Italy and I REALLY hope I am able to go back some day! 

It's hard to imagine I wrote this post and the last one nearly a week ago...I could just not figure out some quirks about Blogger! (And don't get me wrong, I still have a lot to learn!) 

Where else do you all recommend visiting in Europe and/or other parts of the world?

Europe Trip Recap: Part One!

So in my last post, I mentioned that I would do a recap on my European Adventures...here it is! Let me just start off by saying I am not in any way bragging about this trip. This trip was the only graduation gift I received and I am VERY grateful to my parents who allowed me to go and explore the world!

Tim was in London finishing up his internship so London was my first stop! We stayed in a hotel within a five minute walk from King's Cross station (which is the one in the Harry Potter movies, ahh).

 

The first fun place we went to was Icebar London. It is a bar completely made out of ice (glasses included) and it was -5 degrees in there...sooo freezing! They gave us these coats/ponchos attached with gloves so that kept us warm for the 30 minutes we were allowed in there! We even got a complimentary drink :)

 

The next day we went to the Tower of London. Although it is a touristy place, I really enjoyed it! There is a lot of history there and the government of London keeps the Crown Jewels here! Sadly, no photography was allowed in that exhibit.

Real life "castle" iron gate!

 

Next we went to an art museum called the Tate Modern. They had some very interesting art pieces there and it was something fun (and free!) to do before our long bike tour! 

We also got to see St. Paul's Cathedral!

A piece of paper and a pen count as art?!

I found my name on this artist timeline! (I was excited because I never see my name anywhere)

 

Next, was our Fat Tire Bike Tour! Although it was cold and windy, I had a lot of fun! Since it was four hours, we were able to see a lot of London's famous landmarks. Every bike had a name of someone famous from London, and Tim and I picked the only two bikes with funny horns hah! We first rode to Hyde Park and got to see Kensingston Palace. A little bit later, we were able to see Buckingham Palace. However, we were not able to get that close and the city was preparing for the Queen's Jubilee (in celebration of her 60 years on the throne!). Because of the Jubilee, there were traffic cones and bleachers everywhere, and these do not equal great pictures. We were also able to see the Windsor Palaces, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Big Ben!

 

The London Eye was really cool! Sadly, my camera was taking blurry pictures at night, so Tim was able to get the good pictures from that. One of the oddest things I learned about London was that their Pizza Huts are so nice...they had wines and beers on their menu and their pizza was better than it is in the states because it wasn't as greasy! I also, LOVED, the underground system there. It was beyond easy to get around. I wish I had gotten a tube map shot glass I saw in a souvenir shop, hah!

Tim and I had a few days to do something before two of his siblings came to meet us in Rome, so we decided to go to Barcelona! I had no idea Barcelona was on the coast of Spain, until after we bought our flight tickets, so of course I was excited because that meant...beach time! The beach was beautiful and we were a 10 minute walk from our hotel. Our hotel room was nearly the size of a small dorm room...so tiny! Each floor in the hotel had a kitchen, so one night we stayed in and made pasta and drank lemon beers! Also, each building of the hotel has their own rooftop pool so we made sure to check that out one evening! We tried to go to a Fat Tire bike tour there just as we had done in London, but we could not find the meeting spot for the life of us! We were bummed out, but we decided to stay in that part of town and look around at all the cool shops. And I'm glad we did - it was so so fun! There was this little store a short walk away from our hotel and there I got a used Longchamp bag for only 8 Euros, which is the equivalent to about $11! I could not believe it and will definitely be putting it to use! I also got an adorable brown leather crossbody purse - it's one I can use everyday! The beach was really pretty in the evening and it reminded me a little bit of Navy Pier with all the shops and restaurants close to the water. 

We asked for ketchup here, and we were given curry sauce instead!

 Part 2 coming soon!

Europe Trip in Photos

Because I used orbitz.com for most of my flight tickets and hotel reservations during my trip to Europe, I received a free 8"x 8" Shutterfly photo book! I was so surprised about this offer, that I made my book right away...and now it is 1:30 in the morning! I used the custom design and I was a little nervous to use it at first, but I am happy with the way it turned out!

 Click here to view this photo book larger

Visit Shutterfly.com to create your own personalized photobook.

Back in the USA!

    I'm finally back in the States from my Europe trip with Tim and some of his siblings! I had SO SO much fun and I wish I got to see more (maybe I'll go back one day...wishful thinking)! I am still getting over the jet lag and need to do laundry/unpack, but I will put up an entire post dedicated to the trip!

    Back in April, Vera Bradley had their annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale and this was the first year I went! They usually have items anywhere from 40 - 70% off in their most successful prints! I took my mom and one of my friends from school. There were dedicated (or maybe somewhat crazy) ladies there who go every year and buy huge bags full of everything Vera Bradley. Even though I only got four things, I feel like they were items I really needed and I feel like I am stocked up on Vera Bradley for another 3 or 4 years!

1) One of the Vera Bradley items I had been wanting most was a messenger/computer bag I could take to school with me or on short trips. The print shown is not the print I bought; it's here and it's called Sittin' in a Tree. They only had a few select prints and if I could pick any print this is not the one I would want, but I promise it looks better in person...not so brown. This bag is called the Metropolitan and has a laptop sleeve and plenty of room for other books or random items. It will definitely come in handy!

2) The second item I got is their small duffel bag. The duffel bags are what people go crazy for at this sale, so I headed for this first thing! I feel that the small duffel is the perfect size for me for weekend trips! I actually brought it to Europe as my carry on and it worked out so well!

3) Since high school, I had kept my makeup in a Vera Bradley medium cosmetic bag. It has a liner to protect the fabric and I just think it's the perfect size to take your makeup on trips, keep in your dorm room, etc. I hadn't replaced mine in nearly 4 years, so I was excited to get a brand new one!

4) I decided that a bathroom hanging organizer was something I needed not only for my Europe trip, but for other trips as well (including my summer job as a camp counselor this summer in Maine)! I was excited about this print, which surprised me because I am normally not a pink girl! It's perfect for holding full sized shampoos, conditioners, shaving cream, and much more! In fact you could probably fit your makeup in the bottom pouch as well! The metal hanger is very sturdy and I can tell this item will last me a long time!

I know some people feel that Vera Bradley products are "grandma-like", but I really think they have upped their game with VERY cute prints this spring! Their products are no longer for just grandmas anymore!

Have any of you purchased Vera Bradley items? What do you think of them?