Nose Crinkle

Despite the constant reading assignments, current event quizzes and chapter meetings, this semester has been one for the books.  And as stressed out and overworked as I make myself, I've noticed how much happier I am.  

I'm working hard for things I want.  I'm interviewing for positions I'd never considered before.  I'm getting to know my sisters and making a commitment to be a better friend.  

It's a lot of work and a lot of stress, but I smile so much more.  I'm passionate about so much more.  

My nose crinkles so much more. 

Find what makes your nose crinkle and hold on loveys.  Hold on tight. 

Good moments with good people

xox

Char

Life Update

Well it's been a while.  My last post represents the last time I had a free moment to write and to think and to breath.  That's how busy and overwhelmed I feel.

Luckily, I finally found a free weekend to head home.  Between catching up with family, seeing close friends, and eating incredible food, I feel ten times less stressed out and I've only been home for eight hours!

On to my life update...

Since my last post:

I started my second semester at the University of South Carolina.

My best friends and I hit Athens (and Athens hit back).

I was chosen as the content creator for Delta Zeta's Public Relations Committee. 

Check us out ;)

USC DZ Tumblr

USC DZ Twitter

USC DZ Instagram

USC DZ Blog (under construction)

Y@ came to Cola.

Five days of school have been canceled for snow.

If you're from the North, I don't want to hear your thoughts on 

what the South thinks is snow. If it cancels school, it counts as snow!

Hopefully I'll be back soon!

xox

Char

P.S.  Happy Valentine's day!

Last Year

We've all heard them, the horrible, never ending "last year" jokes.  It's already January fourth and twitter is still buzzing with "I haven't talked to you since last year!" or "I haven't been to school in a year." Like come on, how much longer must this go on? (Although, I found Wyatt's tweet quite amusing)

2013 was a great year and it's impossible to choose 12 moments from the year, but here goes nothing...

 January: The senior cheerleaders surprised the student body at a pep rally.

February: I was serenaded four classes in a row by the mens chorus (thanks Josh)

 March: I toured my future University!

April: Kelcey came to visit for a weekend!

May: I had the flu at prom but my date was perfect.

June: Martha and I wondered around San Francisco for a week! 

July: Shoulder surgery on a torn labrum from October 2012. 

August: Rush week with Jenny, future DZs.

September: Went out for the first time with my twinny.

October: Parent's weekend was quite a hit. Caroline's dad loved it the most. 

November: I joined this wonderful Alpha Fam! 

December: I bar tended for the first time ever!

All in all, I'd say it was a good year.

xox

Char

Christmas in the dorms

As my friends slowly pack their bags and take their finals, I've started to notice how the dorms are emptying! It's weird to think that these people that I have spent every single moment of the past five months with won't be anywhere near me for the next month!

Obviously, with my anxiety, I had to get my christmas shopping done. As soon as possible.  I started with Caroline, Erin, and Kaela, then on to Caroline and Julia, then Jenny, then the family. And for those of you reading this in one of those groups, don't think I'll be giving anything away. (sorry bout it) 

The minute Jenny and I got our emails from the student packaging center, we rushed over to Russell.  After walking home in the cold, we went to my dorm room and immediately swapped gifts.

This is where it gets weird. We both got each other bracelets. Mine from C.Wonder and hers from Kate Spade.

The results couldn't be anything but beautiful.

From Char to Jenny

 Equestrian Stirrup Link Bracelet || C.Wonder

Horse Head Bangle || C.Wonder

From Jenny to Char

 Partners in Crime idiom bangle || Kate Spade

Partners in Crime idiom bangle || Kate Spade

The best part of my christmas present is that Jenny got the matching one in gold for herself and Taylor! It's true, we are partners in crime.  

What are you getting for your friends and family?

xox

Char

First Semester Recap

I can't believe I'm about to finish my first semester of college.  I feel so old! (but not as old as my brother who is graduating!) As I finish my last graphic design project, study for my one final, and prepare to say goodbye to my friends for a month (can't and won't), I'm thinking about all of the things I did in the past four months.  Here are my top five moments of my first semester of freshmen year.

1. Skydiving!
    Never in a million years did I think I would be the one convincing my friends to go skydiving! Heck, after falling off a roof (a story for another time), I never really intended to jump/fall off of or out of anything ever.  I'm so glad I did though because now I can say I did! Now don't get me wrong, I'll never do it ever, ever again, but maybe I'll consider bungee jumping now.

|| 14,000 feet in the air ||

2. Ryan's visit

    I really didn't think Ryan and I would have much of a relationship after he left for college when I was a senior, but he surprised me and now we are as close as we were.  I love that boy so much.  I still can't believe he drove to South Carolina to be my semi date.  All of my new friends loved him! I mean, come on, he had us dancing on tables! So much fun!

|| Shameless snapchat ||

3. Parents weekend
    As much as I miss and love my parents, I didn't really know how to plan for parents weekend.  How do you adjust your schedule to fit in parents, especially after so much freedom? Luckily, Caroline, Erin and Kaela's parents came as well.  All of our parents got along so well! We brunched and tailgated, we ate and drank (parents love giving you wine once you're in college), we just had the best time! It really solidified all of my friends and I living together next year.

|| Caroline's dad parties more than we do ||

4. Fall break
    I don't think I've ever been so excited to get in my bed.  For fall break, Jenny came home with me to Atlanta and we just lazed around all weekend.  A lot of my friends were home, as well as my brother and his friends, so it all just worked out! The distance really increased my appreciation for my high school friends and the friends I've made here at school.

|| insta ||

5. Clemson game
    I've already posted about the Clemson game and how you get sucked in, but it honestly was the most fun tailgate I've been to in a while.  Sometimes the fraternity lots can get a tad trashy (this week was no exception), but all the important people were in one place and we had a blast!

|| All the blondes ||

So that's it.  My top five moments of my first semester! Can't believe it's already over!

xox
Char

Sucked In

I didn't really get into football until my varsity cheerleading days.  I talk about the good ole days like they were so long ago, but it's barely been a year since our boys lost in the second round of state playoffs.  We weren't supposed to be good, so getting that far was a miracle that we all still celebrate.

Our only rivals were in different divisions than us. So our rivalry was pretty much no good considering we never played each other.  (great rivalry, I know) On that note, I never really cared about college football or state rivalries or any of that nonsense.  I knew I wanted to go to a big state school with a football team that wasn't the University of Georgia.  Don't get me wrong, UGA is a fantastic institution, but with 75 of the 400 in my graduating class attending, I just couldn't bring myself to join them. 

That's how I ended up at the University of South Carolina.  Oh boy, I had no idea what kind of football scene I was getting myself into or what kind of rivalries I had to start caring about (or face shunning). 

Little did I know, I would become absolutely enthralled by college football, gameday, and the SEC.  I started keeping up with weekly rankings (often retweeted on my twitter), checking score center while tailgating, and talking so much smack with my friends at other SEC schools.  I can't even pin point a place in time when this all started, but, at this point, I'm done for. 

Who even am I?

Back to rivalries, we all know about Auburn & Alabama, Georgia & Georgia Tech, Florida State & University of Florida, but the Palmetto Cup is underwhelmingly not well known.  Heck, I didn't even know about it until football season started.  At first, I thought the hatred for the tigers to be a little ridiculous. Like to wear orange? Clemsux. Purple Scarf? Clemsux.  Tiger at the Zoo? Clemsux.  Like I said, ridiculous. 

My view on this silly rivalry changed this past saturday.  I now understand how everyone gets so sucked in.  The atmosphere is, well, honestly... unexplainable.  Everyone is so into it! I was yelling "Clemsux" around every corner, dancing to every tailgates music, and just getting really pumped! I loved it! It was a great gameday!

All in all, get yourself to a rivalry game. You won't regret it.

xox

Char

A good friend never forgets the ice cream

Despite my lactose intolerance, I have a mega weakness for ice cream.  Actually, that weakness is probably a direct result of being told not to eat ice cream as an eight year old. Anyways, somewhere between the end of senior year and the beginning of college, Julia and I became suckers for anything made by our favorite men, Ben and Jerry.  Whether it was a break up or a bad day or a celebration or just life, we had two spoons and a pint between us most nights.

So here is to J.Schamay and our talks. I hope some things never change.

xox

Char

P.S. I suggest the chocolate fudge brownie.  Just saying.

TGIF

Wow. This week has been a long one.  Between two tests, multiple graphic design projects and bad news around every turn, I am amazed I lived to friday.

I just finished my final test of the week that I studied hours and hours for (and only took 15 minutes to finish) and intend to just sit and enjoy my starbucks until I have to go to my next class.

Luckily, I found the silver lining in this week.  I'll just be frank about it.  I have the most incredible people in my life.  I'm so mad it took me so long to realize, but I'm truly blessed.

Let's start with my best friend and how he drove three hours to be my semi-formal date. Like what? It's so funny how I never thought we would be friends or even get along.  Thanks Kbo! Even though I had just received bad news, Ryan wouldn't allow me to stop and think for even a second. From semi-formal, to downtown, to frat lot tailgating, to watching batman, he never let me stop laughing and dancing and being happy.

Then came Monday, and if you didn't already know, I'm very very accident prone.  Can't trip over enough bricks on the horseshoe or fall out of my bed in the mornings.  It's pretty ridiculous.  

At the University of South Carolina, there is a major rivalry with Clemson and every year, the two schools put that rivalry to good use.  There is a friendly competition to see which school can donate the most blood to the American Red Cross.  Naturally, I wanted to give blood (despite my fear of needles) and did just that. The line was a bit longer than I expected and right after the nurse took the needle out of my arm, I had to run off to french class.  Big mistake.  As I walked down the hall towards 213, I realized I couldn't hear anyone in the hall... even though there was at least 40 people in the hall.  Then my eyes started to blur and I felt hot.  Now, every girl dreams of fainting and being caught by a cute boy, but this was so not the case.  I dropped my bags next to my desk and laid on the ground.  The poor girls in my class were so worried. Yet another example of the amazing people in my life, eight girls that I've known for four months were so worried that they were considering calling an ambulance. 

Okay, I'll wrap it up.  But first I have to talk about the most important people, my best friends, new and old, who never fail to amaze me.

Tuesday morning, I got the call that I knew in my heart would not be a happy one.  My mother had been forced to put our beloved Cleo down.  November 2012, we were given one week with our puppy.  I cried every day at school and Caroline and Julia never let me forget that they were there for me.  And then a year later, even though the two are at UGA and I'm at USC, the minute they knew Cleo was gone, I was getting endless phone calls and texts from the two.  Between that and the best-friend-turned-ex-turned-best-friend-again dropping his plans to make sure I wasn't curled up in a ball on my floor all day, I realized I hit the jackpot.  Caroline and Erin brought me cookies (not stolen this time) and hugs, Kaela distracted me, Y@ checked in with me, Jenny and Taylor made it their job to hug me every time they saw me, heck, even my roommates friends were checking on me.  Martha even offered to drive home and check on my mom for me.  

|| RIP Cleo 11.19.13 ||

Although having to say goodbye to Cleo when I'm no where near home sucks, I'm so grateful that I was with people who cared as much as my friends did.  Going home tonight will be hard without sweet Cleo greeting me at the door, but I know she is still with me everywhere I go.

So hell week is over. I am going home for a week to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I get to see my best friends for the first time in a month.  Everything is going to turn around. 

xox

Char

Working hard or hardly working?

      I've learned a lot in college, but I feel like the best lesson I've learned in my four months of college is how to procrastinate effectively.  I've figured out how little time I have to spend on my french homework, what time I need to leave for my 8:30 if I want to stop for Starbucks (thank god it's part of my meal plan..), and how long I need to sit in the Public Health Research Center until the next bus comes (yes, I am indeed that lazy).  I mean look at me, I should be writing a service learning paper, and instead I'm procrastinating by writing about procrastination.
     College is funny in the sense that you have all the time in the world, but you feel like you never have time for anything.  I never really have all that much homework, but I know I should be studying for some big test somewhere in the near future.  Yet I still find myself catching up on ten different prime time shows, as well as re-watching all eight seasons of desperate housewives on Netflix. Like, why Charlotte, why? I feel guilty just writing this post as Caroline slaves away at her biology and chemistry homework (biomedical engineering say what?).

*I later discovered she was actually online shopping...* 

     Only one good thing has come from my increased procrastination.  When I've watched about four or five episodes of Desperate Housewives, I feel like I should be active.  That's right. I, Charlotte Lindsay Price, have started running to fill my time... and justify my excessive internet television habits. Don't worry, I don't expect the motivation to last very long.

xox

Char

Let Freedom Ring

It's been a while. I know, I know, I really should update more often.  But I'm still getting the handle on this whole college thing. 

College is a blast.  

Everyone always says how fun it is but you can't even begin to understand it until you're actually in college.  The parties, the friends, the spontaneity.  All combined, who needs sleep anymore? (me actually) But there is also a lot that you have to keep track of, especially without your mom to tell you to do your homework.  You have to watch what you're eating, stay on track of school work, figure out a balance between missing home and loving your new home.  It can be a lot.  I only just recently went home and realized how much I missed my family and friends.  

Also, boys. 

Unfortunately, my ex and I go to the same university (Let's be clear... I committed first). And naturally we thought it would be good to try again (never a good idea). If you are in the same situation ever, just don't do it. For your own mental health.  But I've finally sorted it out, and all I can say is I'm so thankful for my friends, new and old, who supported me throughout that hot mess.  It ended amicably and I'm happy it happened, but I'm slightly relieved to be done.  I've grown a lot in college and I like where I am now on my own.  

Oscar Wilde always says it best

What's on your mind today?

xox

Char

Just Say Yes

my current motto, because what's better than being able to say yes?

I'm quite the OCD control freak, so saying yes and just going with the flow is a very difficult task for me.  But I'm working on it, step by step, and I'm so happy I'm allowing the college experience to take me for ride!

Things that worked out because I said yes:

Roommate invited me to dinner? met a group of people I love

Professor wouldn't let me drop a class? learned I actually can speak french if I try

Said yes to try being friends with my ex?  realized I can take care of myself (I don't need no man)

Accepted a bid to a sorority? found a group of women that aren't petty, mean girls

Applied for freshmen council? asked back for the second round interview (fingers crossed!)

Invited on a spontaneous beach trip? spent the day with a siberian husky puppy

Everything is working out in its own way, even if it's not how I planned it.  I've honestly been so blessed with new people and new experiences in the past two weeks, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has planned for me.

SO, all in all, just say yes. Try new things. Be spontaneous.
Put the OCD control freak away.

 || Brianne and I at a soccer game ||

 || Amazing new sisters on Bid day ||

  || Fellow new members, baby turtles ||

 || First frat party with my girls ||

 || Athena, aka the cutest husky puppy I've ever seen ||

What have you said yes to lately?

xox
Char

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Three Choices, Pick two

At some point in time, we have all come across this image.  Whether it was posted to pinterest or tweeted on twitter, I always figured I could do it all.

Obviously, as an overzealous freshman, I want to have it all.  I want to meet everyone, go out all the time, study hard, and nap all day.  

Ha. Okay Charlotte.

Half way into my first true week of classes, I'm realizing that that is not actually possible.  My sleep is definitely suffering, but I'm enjoying my new friends and classes too much to give them up!  I'm starting to get strep throat, in which case I'll be forced to actually sleep so it's a blessing in disguise.

Hopefully, I'll get more time soon!

Which two would you choose?

xox

Char

Embrace your downfalls

So today was my first day of college classes! (ahhhhhhh) It's still so unreal to me, I feel like I'm at summer camp.  I barely have time to think, much less miss home at this rate. 

Anyways...

College is all about finding yourself and all that stuff they tell you but it's also about opening yourself up to new things.  There are so many people from all over the country, the world here at USC and I'm loving meeting all of them! I was so excited to get out of the bubble I lived in back home, so I say hi to every person I see.  I tend to be kind of talkative and very eager when it comes to school.  Today I met the first person I was not a fan of here at University.  Playing the name game comes with every first day of school, from kindergarden to grad school, but no matter how many times I'm told someone's name, I'll probably ask ten more times.  I thought I'd write down names today to try to commit them to memory in my visual arts computing class, and the girl next to me just looked at me and told me I looked like a freshmen.  Well, guess what, I AM A FRESHMEN.  

and I'm a-okay with being a freshmen. 

I may be eager and over talkative, but I'm embracing it. 

No upperclassmen can get me down. 

Okay, my rant is over.

Courtney and I embracing our 8:30 class

Just remember to be yourself, and love who you are, because there is no one else out there that can be a better you.

xox

Char

What one day of rush has taught me

1. Wear comfortable shoes.  

Yes, those new Tory Burchs are adorable, but breaking them in the first day of rush is not the best idea.  Take it from the idiot who tried.  Also, everyone will be wearing some form of Jack Rogers or Lilly Pulitzer sandals or Tory Burch or any major designer.  That's what the sorority girls are expecting! You aren't special in that sense so just go with the most comfortable pair.  

2. No short-shorts.

You are trying to represent in the best way possible in a short 20 minutes.  If you wouldn't get away with them in high school, don't try to get away with them now.  Try sticking with fingertip length or brands that run longer such as J. Crew or Lilly Pulitzer.  I would avoid denim at all costs, it just looks cheap.  

3. Bring a rain jacket.

Here, in Columbia, it rains at least once a day.  Just go with the safe bet and bring a rain jacket or umbrella.  Don't mess up your hair just because you hoped it wouldn't rain!

4. Water, water, water.

Don't be that girl who passes out from dehydration.  Just don't.

5. Don't be nervous.

That first house will be the worst.  The butterflies and nausea will kick in right as your Pi Chis or Gamma Chis yell "one minute"! Ask the girls around you to check your makeup, straighten your name tag, and rock it.  The girls inside are just as nervous as you because you could be their future little! Be yourself and you'll end up in the right place.

All of a Sudden

This quote is all to real to me this past week.  Saying goodbye to my friends who left in early August seemed like no big deal, then it came my turn to leave home. Be a big girl, I told myself.  All of a sudden, I was saying goodbye to the most important people in my life and road tripping to South Carolina.  How is this even real?! Now I'm getting emails from professors, rushing in Greek Village, and walking everywhere, and I mean e v e r y w h e r e.  My feet are not happy with me after only one day of rush!

I can't believe I'm in college! This is just too weird. 

Any freshmen advice?!

xox

Char