The Freshman Firsts...

Since I just finished my freshman year of college, I wanted to write about all of my experiences and memories.  However, if I were to put all of that into writing, it might equal the size of a book...so instead I decided to put together my freshman year in a series of pictures.

I present: The Freshman Firsts!

1. A funny one to start us off...my first time holding a frog in Texas

2.  My first Texas sunset

3.  My first sport's plaque 

4.  My first concert that was only a 5 minute walk away

5.  My first collegiate volleyball game

6.  My first Panda Express fortune in college (a pretty good one at that)

7.  My first Texas fall

8.  My first 12 and a half hour bus ride

9.  My first date (hehehe)

10.  My first game of Monopoly in class (this did make Accounting easier to understand)  

11.  My first time watching a rugby game  

12.  My first talent show  

13.  My first Texas spring  

I hope you enjoyed this very brief, yet quite colorful version of my freshman year!

Until next time,

Kayla

The Art of Juggling

Today was a beautiful day here in East Texas.  Sunny skies and in the 70s, clearly the best pastime for such a day as this would be to learn how to juggle.  I've seen many people juggle and I thought it would be fun to try it considering you can use it in every workplace -- and by "use", I mean you can use anything to practice juggling.  The classic juggling balls (boring), foam balls (if you want a little more excitement), apples (which I wouldn't recommend because I found out they bruise easily), or anything else that you can get your hands on.  I wouldn't suggest anything sharp or pointed until you have it completely mastered... In today's case, tennis balls were the best choice.  Here is a quick and easy step-by-step guide on how to find success in the art of juggling in under 15 minutes:

1.  Make sure you are in a fabulous mood, and won't get easily frustrated at the small annoyances in life.
2.  Remember that when it comes to juggling, practice makes (almost) perfect and the less you think about technique, the better off you'll be.
3.  Begin with 1 tennis ball in right hand.  Toss high into air and catch with left hand.
4.  Add second ball and start with one in each hand.  Toss right hand ball high into air, and immediately toss left hand ball.  Catch both balls in opposite hand they were tossed from.
5.  Practice this at least 20 times...and try not to get too frustrated.
6.  After mastering step 5, it is time to add third ball.  Hold two balls in right hand and one in the left.  Toss first ball from right hand into air, and immediately toss left hand ball.  As you are catching first ball in left hand, toss second right hand ball into air.  As you are catching second ball in right hand, toss first ball into air.  As catching third ball in left hand, toss second ball into air.  Confused yet?
7.  If step 6 is too confusing, just start tossing balls into air and catching them with different hands -- this is what I did, and for some reason I got the same result as if I had followed step 6...
8.  Hope that step 6 is unnecessary and step 7 will work as well for you as it happened to work for me.

Now that you know the basic steps of juggling, you are ready to put on a show!  So go and enjoy your newly learned skill and impress everyone you know with your amazing coordination.

-Kayla

A New Kind of Tie-Dye

I originally saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I would give it a try!  I was going to the midnight showing of the Hunger Games, and making t-shirts seemed to be a fun option to show my fan spirit ;)

Materials:

Rit Tie Die Kits

Elmer's Blue Gel Glue

Cotton Tees

Plastic Tops

Plastic Buckets

Plastic Table Cloth

Gloves

1. Pick out some fun colors.

 2. Rinse tee under cold water and then wring out until damp.  Put plastic tops inside damp shirts and use Elmer's Gel Glue glue to write/draw on tees.  The tops will keep the glue from seeping through the shirt.  Let dry completely (may take up to 48 hours depending on thickness of design).

 3. Mix dye in plastic buckets according to box instructions.  Wear gloves and dip t-shirt into dye until soaked completely through.  The more you dip the shirt, the darker the color will turn out.  I dipped each shirt at least 3 times.

 4. Squeeze shirt until it's no longer dripping, and lay flat on the plastic table cloth.

 5. Let dry completely (I let mine sit for about 4 days).

 6. Thoroughly rinse shirts in running water until water running off shirts is almost clear.  Machine wash shirts individually on Cold and machine dry on Low.  Admire your work!

 - Kayla

Life as a College Student

My friend and I made this video for an assignment for one of our freshman classes.  It encompasses all there is to know about succeeding in college, a few tricks to help pass exams and maintain control of your personal hygiene, and a few other important factors.  Warning: don't laugh too much.

 -Kayla

The Beginning

I've always wanted to start a blog ever since my older sister began her own masterpiece of writings a few years ago.  To me, blogs are more than just posting about daily life -- they are about sharing ideas, thoughts, hobbies, and experiences to whoever is ready and willing to read about them.  So, I'm ready to start my blogging adventure...join me on my ever-changing, constantly interesting, and fantastically fun-filled roller coaster ride through life as a middle child.

Enjoy!

-Kayla