Stuff White People Like

I came across a website called stuffwhitepeoplelike.com and I'm not sure whether I should be offended or whether I should laugh. I think I am going to laugh Apparently there is a book too.

* #130 Ray-Ban Wayfarers
* #129 Banksy
* #128 Camping
* #127 Where the Wild Things Are
* #126 Vespa Scooters
* #125 Bob Marley
* #124 Hating People Who Wear Ed Hardy
* #123 Mad Men
* #122 Moleskine Notebooks
* #121 Funny or Ironic Tattoos
* #120 Taking a Year Off
* #119 Sea Salt
* #118 Ugly Sweater Parties
* #117 Political Prisoners
* #116 Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen to Anymore
* #115 Promising to Learn a New Language
* #114 America
* #113 Halloween
* #112 Hummus
* #111 Pea Coats
* #110 Frisbee Sports
* #109 The Onion
* #108 Appearing to Enjoy Classical Music
* #107 Self Aware Hip Hop References
* #106 Facebook
* #105 Unpaid Internships
* #104 Girls with Bangs
* #103 Sweaters
* #102 Children’s Games as Adults
* #101 Being Offended
* #100 Bumper Stickers
* #99 Grammar
* #98 The Ivy League
* #97 Scarves
* #96 New Balance Shoes
* #95 Rugby
* #94 Free Healthcare
* #93 Music Piracy
* #92 Book Deals
* #91 San Francisco
* #90 Dinner Parties
* #89 St. Patrick’s Day
* #88 Having Gay Friends
* #87 Outdoor Performance Clothes
* #86 Shorts
* #85 The Wire
* #84 T-Shirts
* #83 Bad Memories of High School
* #82 Hating Corporations
* #81 Graduate School
* #80 The Idea of Soccer
* #79 Modern Furniture
* #78 Multilingual Children
* #77 Musical Comedy
* #76 Bottles of Water
* #75 Threatening to Move to Canada
* #74 Oscar Parties
* #73 Gentrification
* #72 Study Abroad
* #71 Being the only white person around
* #70 Difficult Breakups
* #69 Mos Def
* #68 Michel Gondry
* #67 Standing Still at Concerts
* #66 Divorce
* #65 Co-Ed Sports
* #64 Recycling
* #63 Expensive Sandwiches
* #62 Knowing What’s Best for Poor People
* #61 Bicycles
* #60 Toyota Prius
* #59 Natural Medicine
* #58 Japan
* #57 Juno
* #56 Lawyers
* #55 Apologies
* #54 Kitchen Gadgets
* #53 Dogs
* #52 Sarah Silverman
* #51 Living by the Water
* #50 Irony
* #49 Vintage
* #48 Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops
* #47 Arts Degrees
* #46 The Sunday New York Times
* #45 Asian Fusion Food
* #44 Public Radio
* #43 Plays
* #42 Sushi
* #41 Indie Music
* #40 Apple Products
* #39 Netflix
* #38 Arrested Development
* #37 Renovations
* #36 Breakfast Places
* #35 The Daily Show/Colbert Report
* #34 Architecture
* #33 Marijuana
* #32 Vegan/Vegetarianism
* #31 Snowboarding
* #30 Wrigley Field
* #29 80s Night
* #28 Not having a TV
* #27 Marathons
* #26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)
* #25 David Sedaris
* #24 Wine
* #23 Microbreweries
* #22 Having Two Last Names
* #21 Writers Workshops
* #20 Being an expert on YOUR culture
* #19 Traveling
* #18 Awareness
* #17 Hating their Parents
* #16 Gifted Children
* #15 Yoga
* #14 Having Black Friends
* #13 Tea
* #12 Non-Profit Organizations
* #11 Asian Girls
* #10 Wes Anderson Movies
* #9 Making you feel bad about not going outside
* #8 Barack Obama
* #7 Diversity
* #6 Organic Food
* #5 Farmer’s Markets
* #4 Assists
* #3 Film Festivals
* #2 Religions their parents don’t belong to
* #1 Coffee

Best of the Decade

Today is the first day of a new decade, and just like last decade I have no clue what the it has in store for me. I started the 2000's as a 12 year old seventh grader with a somewhat sheltered view on life, bangs, and braces. Now I am a 22 year old college graduate that still has bangs (they're cuter now..I hope!), but I would like to think that I am no longer so sheltered to the realities of life. And thanks goodness I still do not have braces! Although I, (along with every person I know) had some difficult times last decade, I also had some wonderful times that I would not trade for the world. So I picked my favorite memory from each year to share. (I may have cheated on a few and shared more than one, but it is my blog so you can deal with it ;) )



2000- I have forgotten a lot of things that happened in 2000, but one of my favorite memories was playing Alice from Alice in Wonderland in our Fall 8th grade drama production. Everything from the pre-practice Subway trips with Ashley to the curtain closing on closing night were just a blast!

2001- There are many favorite memories from 2001, but my absolute favorite memory was in November when my family had just picked up my mom and Kyndal from the airport. We were at home, and Kyndal had just been laid down for a nap. When I heard her crying from my room next door I could not help but sneak in and see if I could comfort her. I took her in my arms and rocked her. She fell asleep holding my finger. It was at that moment that I thought to myself "Wow! This is my new little sister. Like for real!"

2002- By far my favorite memory of 2002 was in late May when I made it into the all women’s show choir, Tiger Ladies! It was at the end of freshmen year and I was SO nervous the day the list was going up. It was all I could think about. I walked to the choir room door and anxiously looked at the list. When I saw my name I squealed. Amanda Kettle, who was completing her sophomore and had been in Tiger Ladies, asked me if I made it, and when I nodded exclaimed to me that she had made Encore!, the higher lever co-ed choir. Even though we hardly knew each other we hugged in our excitement. It was a great moment.

2003- My favorite memory happened at the end of the year when my mother and I went to go see The Nutcracker. It was a complete surprise! My mom told me that she had a work Christmas party in Denver and that I had to go with her since my dad was busy. She said that I needed to dress up for it, so she bought me a really fancy dress. Instead we went to the Denver Performing Arts complex. The Nutcracker was incredible and it enchanted me from the very beginning.

2004- Ok. I have two favorite memories for this year. The first was when I got to go spend time in Michigan with my Aunt Ronda and Uncle Curt. They spoiled me so much, and made my summer great! My other favorite memory from 2004 was when Lauren came to visit. She was my best friend that moved away in the most inopportune time in the middle of my sophomore year of high school. We had kept in contact, but it just wasn’t the same. I can remember driving to the airport to pick her up, and I was literally bouncing in my seat. I knew things were going to be back to our normal humor when she started talking about the guy in the sky with the sty in his eye.

2005- Oh goodness. This year is filled with so many great memories- surprise birthday party, Peer Counselor Elidge Gardens trip, graduating, meeting so many wonderful people all at once at SNU- it is so hard to decide a favorite! I guess I am going to have to go with my Fall Break trip to Killeen with Jessica and Robin. It was during this trip that I knew I was going to make lifelong friends while at SNU, and this proved to be true!

2006- Once again, there are so many great memories to choose from. I am going to choose two again. The first one was when I went to Dallas with Clayton, Danielle, and Marcus! It was my birthday weekend and I had a lot of fun. It may sound silly, but I remember feeling so grown up because I took a weekend out of town trip with just friends and no “adult” supervision. My second favorite memory was getting back to OK after having been gone all summer. I had missed my friends so much, and it was great to be finally reunited! I felt like I was home.

2007- This year gets two too! For the first memory- two words. Veronica Mars. I am pretty sure that Niki, Jessica, and I watched two seasons in about a week and a half. It was kind of ridiculous really, but so much fun! We’d race back to the dorms from our classes, and would dance when the theme song came on. It was simple entertainment, but it was a blast! The second was the summer I spent at Covenant Heights! There I had the time of my life and met my kindred spirit- all while getting paid to do it! It was by far the best summer of my life!

2008- Once again I have two favorites. Scratch that. I have three. My first was Clessica's Wedding! I got to hang out with old and dear friends, meet new friends, and witness the union of two of my greatest friends. Plus I got to go to Schlitterbahn with some more friends the day after. It was a very friendly time. My second favorite memory was when I went to China with my mom to pick up my new little sister- Madilynn! I feel so blessed to have been able to be apart of that life changing trip. MJ was a joy from the start. And finally my other favorite memory from 2008 was RA training week. That is when I got really close to the ladies I was going to be working with for a whole school year. That week was filled with so much laughter and sharing. I still laugh to myself when I remember Kendra and I trying to paint a straight black line (never happened), and when the paper that Devon and Blaire were painting blew in the wind and splattered Devon. We were so much more than a staff that year- we were great friends and it was that week that started it all!

2009- My favorite memory from 2009 was a few weeks into my student teaching. I do not remember the exact day, but I remember there being a day when I realized that I can teach. Before student teaching I had been so nervous that I would just be a completely incompetent teacher. When I realized that I can teach, and that I have fun while doing it, a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. After all- it is want I want to do with the rest of my life.

I am sure this list would be different tomorrow if I had posted it then- I have a lot of great memories from the 2000 decade. So here is to 2010 - 2019! Let it be filled with great memories for all of you!

Graduation

My former roommate and I made an impromptu video the night after we graduated. Perfect way to end our life as roommates! And a special thanks to Chris for helping too!

State Mottos

These are funny. And true- whether you admit it or not.

• Alabama: At Least We're not Mississippi
• Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can't be Wrong!
• Arizona: Dehyd-rific!
• Arkansas: Litterasy Ain't Everthang
• California: As Seen on TV
• Colorado: If You Don't Ski, Don't Bother
• Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only Dirtier and With Less Character
• Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids
• Georgia: We Put the "Fun" in Fundamentalist Extremism
• Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha'ami Leeki Toru
  (Death to Mainland Scum, But Leave Your Money)
• Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes... Well Okay, We're Not,
• But The Potatoes Sure Are Real Good
• Illinois: Gateway to Iow
• Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free
• Iowa: Land of James T. Kirk
• Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States
• Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names
• Louisiana: We're Not All Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That's Our Tourism Campaign
• Maine: Cheap Lobster
• Maryland: A Thinking Man's Delaware
• Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden's (For Most Tax Brackets)
• Michigan: First Line of Defense From the Canadians
• Minnesota: For Sale
• Mississippi: Come Feel Better About Your Own State
• Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars at Work
• Montana: Land of the Big Sky, the Unabomber, and Very Little Else
• Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest
• Nevada: Whores and Poker!
• New Hampshire: Go Away and Leave Us Alone
• New Jersey: You Want a ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!
• New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent Pets
• New York: You Have the Right to Remain Silent, You Have the Right to an Attorney
• North Carolina: Tobacco is a Vegetable
• North Dakota: Um... We've got... Um... Dinosaur Bones? Yeah, Dinosaur Bones!
• Ohio: Don't Judge Us by Cleveland
• Oklahoma: Like the Play, Only No Singing
• Oregon: Spotted Owl, It's What's For Dinner
• Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal
• Rhode Island: We're Not REALLY An Island
• South Carolina: Remember the Civil War? We Didn't Actually Surrender
• South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota
• Tennessee: The Educashun State
• Texas: Se Hablo Ingles
• Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus
• Vermont: Yep
• Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs and Slackjaw Yokels Don't Mix?
• Washington: Help! We're Overrun By Nerds and Slackers!
• Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?
• West Virginia: One Big Happy Family -- Really!
• Wisconsin: Come Cut Our Cheese
• Wyoming: Wynot?

Thank-you Oklahoma

While at SNU I may have mentioned a few times that Oklahoma and its flatness did not hold a candle to Colorado and its mountains. I may have mentioned a few times that I did not particularly care for the state all that much. But truth be told, Oklahoma has given me more than I ever thought it could. I have so many memories from my four and a half years at SNU- everything from the legendary honk on the way home from Target to the jumping pictures at RA sleepovers. From Secret Santa parties to Veronica Marsathons. Most importantly Oklahoma has given me some amazing friendships. Yes, we are all going our separate directions in life, but I know our friendships will last a lifetime. So thank-you Oklahoma- it's been grand!

From Student toTeacher

Considering that Student Teaching was a huge part of my life this past semester, I really did not mention it very often, but now that I have time to breathe a little I do have a few things to say about what I've learned.

~ As hard as your try, it will be impossible for you to genuinely like every student in your classroom, but it is your job to make each student think that you love them and that secretly they are your favorite student.

~ Teaching is most definitely not a 9-5 job. I am going to have "homework" almost every weeknight, and on some weekends too. That is just the way it is, and there is no use complaining about it. But as long as I stay on top of things I will not be overwhelmed with it.

~ It is a good idea to have comradery with the other employees at your school- everyone from the principal to the sweet lunch ladies. To quote a favorite song "We're All in this Together!"

~ There will be days when the class just seems crazy and you want to smother myself with a pillow. I just need to come back the next day ready with a bright smile and a positive attitude.

~Sometimes I will feel underappreciated as a teacher, and it will be easy to get defensive. I just need to smile to myself and think that some of those people who are saying how "easy teaching elementary schoolers must be" could not survive an hour let alone a day in a classroom.

~Despite everything, it is so worth it!

Remember

So some of my sweet 5th graders wrote me some notes about things they think I should know about them and what they want me to remember them by. A lot of them made me laugh, but this one took the cake as far as being the funniest one. I am spelling everything exactly the way she did. Enjoy!

Dear Mrs. Smith,

Your the best student teacher ever! You are so pretty! Your face is like statchu from italy! I think your the prettiest teacher in Oklahoma. (Though I am not in love with you like Anius is in love with you. Did you know he loves you? He says he wants you to merry him, beucase your the prettiest person hes ever met. Did you know that Mrs. Smith?) I hope you had a fun time teaching. 5th grade! I want you to rember me by this story of me when I was little. I almost got ratarted. My mom rammed my head into the door frame dropped me on my head, pushed me over backwards, for got at day care. She did this all by accident. She trips a lot still. Like you. Hehe! My dad forgot me in the car and lost me in the House where I hid under my crib and fell asleep there. And my dad almost got killed by my mom for that one. He put my clothes on backwards, stick my hair back with water and combed it til I looked like a biker baby and I was almsot bald. They had to glue bows to my head. It was horible. A lot of funny stuff happened when I was little. Rember that about me! I hope you enjoyed your time in Mrs. Hills class be sure to vist. I will always rember that time you preteneded like you were on a bike. Your funny.
By! Vist us!

Your friend, Gabie



I lieterally could not contain my laughter as I was reading it duirng my planning period. A lot of the other letters were hilarious too. I love my 5th graders!