Life in Denim and Flip Flops

Wow! Where did the month go? I honestly can't believe it's over. I survived the BEDA challenge with 2 blogs. (The second is a collaborative blog I do with my friends called In Your Pants .) I'm not usually very good about finishing things I start. Take New Year's Resolutions. I've usually broken those by February. I'm going to follow my BEDA buddies lead and end with a recap/what I've learned blog. Maureen did an eerily good job matching up our group of BEDA buddies. I understand that we were bound to have things in common, but I honestly didn't think she'd do this well. I've really loved getting to know Nicola , Autumn , and Christina . I never really had solely online friends before, but this has gone so well so far! I'm really looking forward to our epic facebook conversation and continuing to read their blogs and keep in touch on twitter. Also, I loved getting to know Andrea, my unofficial BEDA buddy who found me from the official blogro...

Yay! Finally got this video edited. It's a 10-min video of a 2-hour process. I'm the slowest card maker ever. This card is for a library donor. I've made a few cards for my director in the past, and she asked if I could make one for this particular person. The woman was an elementary school teacher so I figured cute and kid-like would work. Hope you enjoy this video. I have no idea what I'm doing for tomorrow's last installment. Any ideas?? BEDA buddies, I need some help!! -B

...from Johnny's blog This one sounded fun and right up my alley for this blog. I love finding ways to visually represent myself. DIRECTIONS: - Go to Google image search. - Type in your answer to each question. - Choose a picture from the first page. - Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage. QUESTIONS: 1. What is your name? 2. What is your favorite food? 3. What is your hometown? 4. What is your favorite color? 5. What is your favorite movie? 6. What is your favorite drink? 7. What is your dream vacation? 8. What is your favorite dessert? 9. What is one word to describe yourself? 10. How are you feeling right now? 11. What do you love most in the world? 12. What do you want to be when you grow up? So this is your extra post for the day. The card-making video will be up momentarily. -B

More original poetry. Some of this poetry I haven't really shared with other people before. The two non-personal ones I've shared in portfolios before, but the second two I've really only shared with 2 or 3 other people. I apologize for the poor lighting. As I'm filming more, I realize that my apartment is not the best lit place at night :) Sorry! Also, this one's a bit choppy, I cut out some rambling and mumbles. I think it mostly makes sense. Card video tomorrow. I'll edit it over lunch tomorrow :) -B

In a class I've been working with for the last 2 weeks, we've been talking about factors of college student success. One of the articles we read talked about faculty/peer relationships, and the other talked about self-efficacy and metacognition.I didn't think too much about it originally, but today as I was helping the students work together to write a thesis, I got thinking about my college career. Going to a school with a weird block schedule and not having too many friends in my major meant I didn't have too many study buddies. I'm a really social person normally, so this was odd for me. Lots of my friends were in the same boat. We ended up doing study parties at the library. We'd all bring whatever homework we had and sit at the same table and do it. This was especially true when we were writing papers. We'd all turn off the wireless on our computers to keep down the distractions. This parallel play worked well for us. We'd bounce ideas off each othe...

This one was only take two :) Also, it didn't really lend itself to titles or subtitles today, so it's pretty basic. Hope you enjoy the poem. It's still one of my favorites almost 6 years later. Maybe that short story (or the other longer remnant of a story from high school should be my project for May/June. What do you think? -B

Ok, so I've uploaded a video to YouTube. I thought it was about time I turned on my keyboard again. :) (P.S. This is my first attempt at a video. I think it went pretty well.) I'm thinking that iMovie is going to be my new obsession! -B

I grew up in a household that celebrates holidays. We definitely celebrate smaller ones like St. Patrick's Day with green food, clothing, and gifts, Valentine's Day we always do gifts too. One of my favorite holidays was May Day. As I grew up, I learned this is not a holiday most people celebrate. My sister and I loved May Baskets. We would get up really early on May 1, and run across the street to deliver a basket for our friends. The deal (at least for us) was you had to be the first one to deliver a basket, ring the doorbell, and then escape back to your house without them catching you. I realize now, that the holiday tradition usually includes the idea that if they catch you, they earn a kiss. But to us, it was a competition. And yes, that explains a lot about why I love it. I've decided to continue my tradition at work. I want to do a little card instead of baskets (because I'm cheap, and if I spend money I might get in trouble). I've taken a bunch of photos of...

I stole this from Nicola who stole it from Book Travellers Inc. . Bookmark or bent page ? In textbook, bent page. In my own books, bookmark all the way. I used to collect bookmarks as a kid, and to this day I have a hard time not buying them. But I never seem to have them around when I need them, so I tend to use whatever is handy. Receipts, movie tickets, cards, cds, whatever. Have you ever been offered a book ? Um. Yes. I'm a librarian, and lived with another library student for 2 years. It's how we roll. Although I guess that's more suggestions than actually giving me the book. That's mostly my parents. I have "temporarily owned" a lot of their books. Do you read in your bath ? I agree with Nicola who I will now quote verbatim "I take a bath maybe once a year, and also no." Have you already thought about writing a book ? For fiction, I did at one point. The greater desire has always been to edit fiction. My friend wrote a novel-length story in hi...

starting slowly, it begins to build soon, i can't go back; it has me. i don't want to, but i must consume it. i want to cherish it, but i am impatient. i begin to lose reason. reality fades away, and i've lost hours. so close, i can see the end. i push through. i am exhausted, but i can't bring myself to stop. soon it is done. i sigh, content. the book is complete. *Just a little poem about reading a good book and the all encompassing experience it is for me.

Thanks to Amy and John for being brave and posting their answers. For them, and all of you playing at home, here are the answers! Answers: * 1. has received Advanced Reader Copies of books (Amy, Emily) * 2. despite not having cable growing up, they quickly became obsessed with reality shows on TLC (Amy, Gretchen, and John-this I didn't know!) * 3. planned a diversity program that is now a standard part of 1st year orientation (Manda) * 4. was president of their college dorm (Gretchen, John) * 5. bonded over our mutual love of pop culture books and mutual hatred of an acquaintance (Emily) * 6. wouldn't buy me High School Musical because it was too embarrassing (Manda, although probably others, except Amy who actually did!) * 7. got their only speeding ticket in Dubuque (my mom) * 8. got out of a speeding ticket in Dubuque (Gretchen) * 9. received their bachelor's degree from UW (Emily, my dad) * 10. was the manager of the high school wrestling team (Amy) ...

Hi again. This time it's Becky in reverse. A chance to see who I am through my friends. Amy has requested I play the 2 facts game for them. I'm taking the challenge and adding a twist. Amy: is caring and thoughtful person. She would randomly leave notes or send cards for no reason other than to make me smile :) Gretchen: is one of the bravest people I know. She moved to Barcelona for a year without knowing a soul (brave) and then moved back to the States to a city of 8,000 where she didn't know a soul (braver). Emily: is passionate and energetic about her interests. She's the only girl I know who can match my enthusiasm for men's basketball. Overtime games were always a treat with us. John: is fiercely loyal. He will argue on your behalf until he's blue in the face. Manda: is the most creative and imaginative person I know. She plans to write a kids' book some day, and I know that she will! My parents: are absolutely adorably in love and have shown me what l...

I can do serene cards. In fact I've gotten pretty good at wedding cards. (Don't get any ideas...no more weddings for a while!) However, the funky colors and designs are my favorite. There's another fact about me: I love the color combination of bright pink and lime green. It's been my official color scheme for the last 5 years or so :) This card is for Administrative Professional's Day. I'm pretty sure Diana doesn't read this blog. (If you do, you'd better act surprised or MA will kill me!) Amy has requested I do 2 facts about each of my friends now. I think it sounds like fun. I think that (or a similar version of that) will be Monday's edition! :)

I feel like it's only fair I do a little bit of an intro for my new BEDA buddies: Christina , Autumn , and Nicola . For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a bunch (read over 200) of us participating in Blog Every Day in April signed up to have Maureen Johnson (the Churchill of BEDA as Alex Day called her) to match us up with BEDA buddies for moral support for the rest of the month. What we do with these buddies is up to us. I'm not quite sure yet what we'll do, if anything other than comment on each other's blogs. But I feel like I do the least on my blog to give an idea of who I am. So this post is hoping to rectify that. So here goes! I'm a midwestern born and bred. At 24, I've never lived more than 200 miles (a 3 hour drive) from the city I was born in. However, my parents threw us in the van and took us on driving vacations all over the country, where I fell in love with history and roadtrips. These two loves served me well in colleg...

I've been here for 10 months now. I've said repeatedly that I'm not entirely in love with the city yet. But the more time I spend exploring it, the more I really enjoy it. I took some time tonight to visit the riverfront and downtown, here's what I found:

Day one, you’ve caught me with your smile. I’m gone. You’re it, my new found friend. I’ll love thee but a little while, For soon I’ll tire of thee dear one. One month at most will be thy time, For in that time one block is done. One month is all we have my sweet. A pair, one week is all we’ve been, Which in itself is quite a feat. On the block plan, love lasts not long. The end is near and we both know, But two weeks in and going strong. Three weeks with you and survey two, Four hours each day are much too much. My focus wanes on class and you, I’m counting days til class is done. Block plan dating just won’t work. Too much, too quick, I’m sorry hun. *I wrote this in college about block-long relationships. (I went to a college that did one course at a time for a month) I was really proud of this. I couldn't write another tonight because I was stuck at work until 9pm. Hope you like it. :)

The world equates wealth with worth and measures it in numbers: possessions, points, and dollars. We do the same with people. No longer our friends, they become connections, followers, or subscribers. But that's where our wealth really lies. It rests with friends we have; not in how many, but what kind. But how do we measure them? The ones that comfort you, when it's their birthday you've ruined. Or the ones your parents invite over for extended family holidays, and even when you're not there. The ones who roadtrip across Iowa, for six hours one way, just to see you for eighteen. This wealth goes beyond counting. Past numbers and money, and resides in our hearts. **I'm sure this isn't the final version of this piece, but this is the draft I've got so far. What do you think? I need some help and input! Thanks!!

Hi! Time for another random, non-creative blog. Well sort of creative. So I've got some ideas for future pieces. The University I'm working at has a poetry contest. This year the theme is wealth. I'm working on something. I don't know if I'll submit it yet or not. Ironically, it's sort of intimidating to submit it. I don't really have an issue posting stuff here for anyone to see, but the idea that someone I know, who teaches the subject would be judging it, freaks me out. It's totally a perception and image issue. I know no matter what I put out here on this blog I'm ok. Those people who know me IRL will still love me tomorrow, and I like the input from those I don't. The people at work, I see on a regular basis and have to work closely with. Letting them in to see a different side of me and inviting them to judge me feels awkward. We'll see. Maybe I'll post it here first and see what you guys think. The second project is for the USATod...

Tonight I made a thank you card for Amy's friends who took us out to a wonderful Thai restaurant and then invited us to their church service on Saturday night. It was a really great evening. So I thought I'd post the pictures here. It's not quite like seeing the real thing, but it's as close as you're going to get on the blog ;) It's all cardstock and simple stamping and embossing, but I think the effect is nice. It's simple. The last one I made was much more complex, but it also almost didn't fit into the envelope. Oops. :) Hope you enjoy.

The music helped. The girls fell into a rhythm of eating and singing, but you can only blast College Kid and Mood Rings so many times before it gets old. "Kay. New cd? Or are we done with the music for a while? I'm good either way." "How about we just chill on the loud guitar riffs for a while? I'm starting to get a bit of headache. Can you snag me another pop from the cooler?" "Promise me you won't go driving crazy while I unbuckle to grab it and I will." Erin chuckled as she climbed into the back seat and dug a Diet Coke with Lime out for Kasey and a regular Mountain Dew for herself. Just one of the many things they disagreed on. But it was really only the little things that they didn't agree on. Like Diet or Regular Coke, or Brad Pitt or Matt Damon. They'd come across that little issue when they went out to the movies the first time. Thankfully Ocean's Eleven was around to solve that problem. "Hey, I think it's time for ...

Kasey and Erin had been in the car for 2 days already. The driving schedule and spatial issues had been ironed out in the first few hours. Kasey was the driver and Erin the navigator. A moment of overnighter induced sleepiness had made that apparent. Kasey put her foot down after that episode. "You know I could drive, if you want me to." "You're not too sleepy?" "Oh my God, you're never going to let me live that down, are you? It was once. I pulled an all-nighter. I've slept since then." "I know. I was just kidding." Kasey was only sort of kidding. She still remembered being jerked awake as the car swerved back into the right lane. She knew she shouldn't keep pushing her friend like that. This was exactly why they had never roadtripped in the past. They were great friends, but in a small enclosed space like this, they got a little claustrophobic. "Okay, truce? How about we grab some food? I'm starving. And we cannot live ...

I love that the roundabout sign needed a label. As if the sign wasn't warning enough! Also, you apparently have to look out for people walking in the roundabout?? Also, you must veer right, but don't turn right! Another I-35 fixture the wind farms. These pics don't do it justice, but they're beautiful.

Another random Becky talking at you blog. So excited for this weekend. I'm hanging out with the roommmates. You may not know this about me, but at the ripe old age of almost 25 (little over a month til I hit 25), I've only had 2 roommates. And both have turned out to be two of my bestest friends. I'm really lucky too. Both managed to get jobs in Iowa about an hour-ish from each other, so visiting them is rather convenient. Seeing them on average every 3-4 months does not cut it after spending every day with them for 4 and 2 years respectively! Which is why this is going to be short. $2 margaritas are calling! I'll be back tomorrow with something exciting. Or so I hope. So long for now from Margaritaville (or the roomie's apt)! Gretchie and I on our way out for the night

One skill I have always wished I had was the ability to draw. Yeah, I know, it's a skill I could learn with practice. If you said that, you clearly don't know me well in real life ;) I have toyed with drawing classes. Maybe someday soon I will. When I was little I really wanted to be a fashion designer or an architect. When I realized I needed drawing skills for both of those, I was a little heart-broken. The reason I bring this up is I ran into this desire again when I was in the UK, Northern Ireland specifically. We visited Inch Abbey and the Giant's Causeway. While I was at Giant's Causeway, I was so struck with the beauty I really wished I had a pad and pencils, or charcoals. I also bought some there. And there was this gorgeous watercolor I almost purchased, but I would have had to ship it back here. I didn't sadly. But tonight I decided to try and draw it. So without further adieu, the original photo, the pencil drawing, and the crayoned version *If you want a...

"I'm James. Yeah, I'm here a lot. My roomie is a bit..um..crazy. He's not my biggest fan, and it's just easier to avoid than to deal with it, you know? I come hang out here and do homework or just chill. I really love coming here after hours. It's quiet. Sometimes I bring a book up here to read. And I've totally always dreamed of doing a dance party up here. The acoustics would be amazing. And...now I'm rambling. Sorry. That was a simple yes or no, wasn't it?" "Ha. You're fine. It's good to know I've got some company in my love for this place." Hannah wasn't sure what was different, but talking with James was easy. She's forgotten what real conversations were like. "I've always spent a lot of time here. I was in a triple my freshman year, I totally understand the need to escape." "I guess it is an escape. So what are you escaping from now?" "Myself." "Oh. I'm sorry. I real...

After she ate sufficiently and stayed at the lunch table for a socially-acceptable amount of time, Hannah retreated to her favorite hiding place. Anytime she wasn't in class or 'eating' she hid away in the studio. She'd gotten really good at looking busy. No one noticed that she hadn't produced a new piece since just before Michelle's death. She just rotated the pieces on her work table and told people she was working on the arrangement for the show. Everyone was all too willing to believe her. It was easier than dealing with the real issue. Hannah threw in her headphones and zoned out to Dave Barnes. Next thing she knew a blond tow-haired boy was standing in front of her. "Um?" "Hi. Can you help me?" "Uh. Help you?" "Yeah. I'm moving one of my mirrors and need an extra set of hands. Sorry to interrupt, but you're the only one here." "Oh, uh sure." Hannah followed the boy to the freshman area of the studi...

She couldn't help but withdraw into herself. She was having a hard time connecting with the real world. Her girlfriends chatted away about the campus heartthrob and his latest conquest, placing bets on when she'd be kicked to the curb, as Hannah stared out the window. The sun streamed through the trees leaving vibrant patterns of light and shadows dancing in the puddles on the pavement below. Normally Hannah would have been outside with her camera trying to capture that beauty for her senior showcase. Now it just mocked her. She could still see it, but the desire was gone. What was the point? A pretty picture couldn't cure cancer. It couldn't fill the hole in her heart. And it certainly couldn't bring her back. Michelle had died 3 months ago of leukemia. Hannah and her cousin were close when they were younger, but as the grew up an went to college, the girls naturally drifted apart. Hannah had gone numb when Michelle died. The first few days following the news were ...

fast asleep, i awake suddenly cool air on my upturned face i quickly burrow back to the warm indent of my pillow my mind grasping hopelessly trying to gain on the fleeting dream what was once vivid is now fading fast i hear birds outside, traffic whizzing past the house every sound dragging me further from my respite try as it may, my mind cannot conquer reality it puts up a valiant effort, but fails i concede on the last front and open my eyes morning has arrived.

hi! i'm going to take one day a week to just talk to you. i feel like it might be nice if there are some of you out there that don't know me IRL. this week has been particularly crazy. i've spent a vast majority of most of my days at work in the pursuit of being a real life published author. now, not in anything particularly exciting to the masses. i'm co-writing a book chapter about the collaborative assessment model of information literacy skills at my university. to be honest, i'm really excited about the prospect of seeing my name in print. it's been a dream of mine for a while now. speaking of dreams, i recently fulfilled another of my life goals. since i was about 16, i've really wanted to see london. i made a pact with 3 friends in high school that we'd all get there some day. i'm sure none of them remember that pact now, as they all traveled there within 2 years of the agreement. 8 years later, i finally made it to london, and it was all i im...

bulleted lists take up lots of room eliminateextraspaces use short precise terms delete  all superfluous  adjectives ARGH(Acronyms aRe Great Help) cut phrases / with extra words / of the prepositional variety / on the end / of sentences the article before a noun is not an ideal structure although they make fun sentence constructions, introductory clauses are wordy I've been spending a lot of my time editing a book chapter with some colleagues recently. We're a few pages over length and have been working to cut it down. That was my inspiration tonight. Sorry for the lateness of these blogs. Hopefully I'll get them up before 9pm CST in the future :)

Don't Forget To Blog (in) April! My great aunt got me started on this letter project last summer. Now everywhere I look I see letters. I'm hoping to have a complete set at some point. I realized as I was putting this together, that my lack of sophisticated HTML skills might get me in some trouble here. We'll see how creative I can get in some of this posting. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment... P.S. What do you think of one day a week doing a regular blog post? Not so creative, but just me talking?? Looking for input, so let's hear it.