friend detour

I am very excited for today!  My good friend Nick who now lives in Charlotte and works for Push America, is on his way to NOLA and gets to stop in Hattiesburg!  After living in the library for the last week, it will nice to get to hang out for a bit.  While in Charlotte working camps this summer I had the opportunity to visit Nick's office aka the Headquarters for Pi Kappa Phi.  Other than the Phi Mu Headquarters I have never visited another national organization.  I love the history that each "museum" has to offer and also all of the stories that could be told.  My favorite part of the tour was the mug wall.  Almost every chapter in the nation has their own mug to represent their school...pretty cool.  I hope all of you are having a great week...the weekend is almost here and that means USM's first home football game!  To The Top!

MUG WALL

southern miss vs nebraska

It's GAME DAY! 

 I know everyone is pumped about college football being back in full swing. Oddly enough the first game for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles is on the road in Lincoln, Nebraska.  I had the opportunity to visit that campus and the Memorial stadium when I was traveling for Phi Mu. First of all let me say that in all of these pictures it looks like I am a Huskers fan...but that is NOT the case today.

Go Golden Eagles!  Southern Miss To The Top!

winner winner chicken dinner

Guess what everyone!? I won a giveaway on one of the blogs I read!  Pink Lemonade Design.  I am beyond excited.  It's a gift card to Shopbop!  After the crazy week of Hurricane  Tropical Storm Isaac I think a little online shopping will do the trick! Don't you think?  What are your plans for Labor Day? I think some graduate schools friends and I might go to the Hattiesburg Zoo!  Have a great weekend!

this was posted on her blog today...love it!

Check out Isabelle's blog here...

duck fest 2012

Friday morning I woke up to a ton of facebook notifications!  Most of them were junk, but a few special people wanted me to change my profile picture to a picture of when I was the Duck Festival Queen.  I represented the city of Gueydan in 2007! 5 years ago...I have yet to visit the festival since I gave up my title.  After a little peer pressure I decided to go!

Finally after a four hour drive back to Gueydan I was ready to hit the festival.  There was a bit of a hiccup because it was pouring down raining!  I mean raining cats and dogs!  If you could have seen me driving once I got there it was pretty hilarious.  Picture me scrunched over and eyes squinting....okay so maybe it is not that funny and more dangerous.  ANYWAY, the rain finally let up and I was able to get to the festival ground.

Let me just say that it is not the Duck Festival if it is not pouring down raining one day and then boiling hot the next!  I jumped in my car with my umbrella and raincoat, but not my rain boots or tennis shoes.  So the solution was to visit the local Dollar General and find shoes.  I assumed they would have boots or tennis shoes.  No!  They have nothing in my size except a pair of black $1 flip flops.  Good thing no one really cares what is on your feet at the festival.  I did not even bring them back to Hattiesburg.  Those disgusting flip flops are probably still on Mrs. Judy's steps.

Friday night we danced the night away at the Festival.  The Chee Weez played.  They are a cover band who played lots of 80s music, pop, and even a little country!  They dressed up and had costumes. Their set was pretty legit.  The keyboard was on a spinning platform and they had a huge screen with live video feed and other videos they played during the set.  All in all Friday night was a blast!

Saturday was the BIG day!  We had interviews, the actual pageant, and the parade.  It had certainly been a while since I had even attended a pageant.  It was great to see old friends and be a part of a wonderful tradition that is the Duck Festival.

Enjoy the pictures!

2012 Duck Festival T-shirt
they had so many colors of shirts to choose from

Picture of the crowd from the hospitality booth

koozie love

love me some Mischa!
2005 Duck Queen duo
She was the miss queen and I was teen

Madison the outgoing Queen
the last time I saw her she wasn't even in high school!

past queen Angelle wearing the mallard duck as a hat
She thinks she could wear it to a Royal wedding in London

past queen Angelle

past queen Hannah

past queen Jessie

We love our Director Mrs. Judy!

All the past queens that were at the pageant

I just had to put on the crown!
ouch...I feel the dent coming back already

Duck float...loved riding in this thing.
People would take pictures as were were driving down the highway with it
so hilarious!

Just a little side note...my suv is called the Duckmobile and it is all from my crazy year as the Duck Queen!  AHHHH one of the BEST years of my life!

first day of school

It's my first day of school!

Grad school starts tonight at 6:30, definitely going to be an adjustment since all of my classes are night classes.  I am so ready for this new chapter in life I really feel like Nemo does...watch the clip. It is precious.  Thank you to everyone who has been supportive, caring, loving, and challenging along this journey!  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

turtle on a fencepost

I am not normally one to express my heart felt feelings through facebook, but there is a life lesson that I want to share with whoever reads this.  First and foremost let me say that I have been truly blessed by my parents.  They have instilled in me morals, values, and faith.  They have taught me how to be kind and generous to people and more importantly to be loyal.  My dad has always told me the story of "the turtle on a fence post"...I tried to google it and found out that there is an actual book titled this, but haven't read it.

The story goes as remembered:
The physical make up of the turtle does not allow itself to get up on the fence post.  So how does he get there? Well he has help from someone else.  Someone has to pick the turtle up and place him on the fence post.

My moral to this story is that in life we have many times where we need help, but because as humans we are too prideful we want to accomplish things on our own.

Well let me tell you something... YOU. CANNOT. DO. IT. ALONE.
No way possible.

Think about all of the successful people that you admire.  They did not achieve their success by themselves.  It takes a small army to reach your goals and that is completely okay.

I challenge you the fearless ones who are reading to ask for help.  Don't be afraid to get advice from others no matter how honest it might be.  With the help of other people you will achieve so much more.

Pretend you are the turtle...now that you had help and are on top of the fencepost, the sky is the limit!

one slimy obstacle

I just have to share a story about Hattiesburg.  So last night I get back to my apartment from the Phi Mu house, the chapter had a mock rush for alumna which was extremely successful.  I arrive at the door and what is waiting for me? A HUGE FROG! This was not the prince charming kind of frog, but a  big ugly frog staring at me and keeping me from going in the apartment.  So I think to myself what do I do? Call mom....she answers and I tell her the story about this huge frog that is just going to jump on me if I get any closer.  She suggests shoving it with my foot...uh no! I decide to throw a stick at it, it didn't work! The frog is still there.  I am freaking out! Mom finally talks enough courage in me to get the keys in the door and unlock it.  I take a deep breath and jump through the tiny opening of the door, but leave the keys in the dead bolt.  :( While all of this is happening my mother is dying laughing on the phone at me!  I know I know, it was just a frog. Although it was a big frog and I really don't think this one would have turned into a prince by one kiss.  One could only dream. ha!  I get the keys out of the dead bolt, slam the door, and breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Later that night my phone rings and it's Dad.  I answer quickly and what happens on the other end? Laughter!  I can hardly hear him say "You gotta kiss a few frogs to find a prince" because he is hysterically laughing at me! I know I acted like a big ole sissy, but it did make for one great story :)

Hmm I haven't left the apartment today, hopefully the frog has moved on.  Cross your fingers!

One of my closest friends and omega sisters is coming to Hattiesburg to visit me!  My first visitor!  Can't wait to spend the weekend with Jessi!  Look out Hattiesburg two Omegas are in town!