Wednesday Morning Ritual

"Life is a beach, and I'm just playing in the sand"

Every Wednesday morning, my roommate, Maddie, and I have a tradition of waking up at 7, getting ready, and taking our morning cups of coffee to the beach for a little relaxation, playtime, and meditation before our classes.

I cannot even begin to describe how much pleasure we get out of this; the wind blowing wisps of hair around our face and neck, the taste of that perfectly dark and bold coffee, the feel of cold sand and water brushing up against your feet and ankles...

We journal sometimes, or take a walk along the shore and talk about anything--from lighthearted joking to the deep stuff we only let out when we need to.

We (mostly I) chase the birds.

We take (a lot--as usual) of pictures.

We instagram.

We vine.

We (mostly Maddie on my behalf) do our hair.

We drink our wonderful coffee.

We laugh.

Then 9:00/9:15 rolls around, ending the free parking (during specific seasons), and beckoning me back to campus for my first class.

It's so therapeutic, it hurts.

Maddie's photography, my editing.

And again

And again

and again

and again

... and finally again.

Our attempt at being witty.

Okay, so this one was a weekend trip... so sue me!

"A friend can make you smile when no one else can; a good friend can make you laugh when you're about to cry; but a best friend, yes she can teach you to laugh at yourself."

I honestly don't think there is anything better for me in the world. I'm making my own little life in this beautiful town, and I couldn't be more pleased that I'm even attempting this.
Where will it take me?!


xxox,
lizzie

Summer 2013

Woah!

This summer went by SO. FAST.
As some of you know, I just had to get back to Wisconsin to see my "people" aka fellow Cheeseheads (and partly because I had a job selling tickets for the Wisconsin Dells Boats and Ducks!).
Work occupied most of my time, and the rest was spent boating with my grandparents and mom.

Here are some things I learned this summer:

1) How to count change back to customers. I know this sounds stupid, but not a lot of people can do this anymore!

2) How not to die when your car stops working (twice) while you're driving it on a busy road. I'll post pictures of my beauty--I named her Daisy--near the end of this post.

3) How to change a dog's diaper. Oh, Gus.

4) That all it takes to move my things from one apartment to another is four women and 3 or 4 car loads back and forth.

5) I have an affinity for making popcorn. I think I've had some everyday since about June. And I'm also a self-proclaimed "adventurous" pinterest chef.

6) I really, really, really, really abhor the drive back and forth from Wisconsin to North Carolina.

7) How to make a TON of bracelets to pass the slow time at work.

8) How to drive a truck in the longest continuous parade in America.

Now, for the things that I learned so far this fall:

1) I love Bollywood film. It's incredibly enchanting and mesmerizing.

2) It's funny how a good roommate can make all the difference in your life.

3) Patience is a virtue

4) How to order a salted-caramel mocha COFFEE (not latte) when the barista is a beginner
[your coffee roast + toffee nut syrup + mocha syrup + salt sprinkles]

or

That everyone needs to try a pumpkin spice coffee
[your coffee roast + pumpkin spice syrup] (p.s.. these are fantastic iced too!!)

5) Cleaning once a week and making your bed every morning is a great way to stay involved in the nesting of your college apartment.

6) There should always be one day a week when you treat yourself to a little spa time. Mine involves a bath with salts, hair mask, nail painting, and facial.


Now for the pictures!

"Daisy" my car for Summer 2013

Gus the Yorkie! (My grandparent's dog)

With my sister and cousin at a family wedding.

Last night out in the Dells with my good friend/coworker, Amanda.

One of the first nights of fun with Amanda.

Driving the truck in the parade!

I probably made about 40 of these in two weeks.

"Rosie the Riveter ---> Lizzie the Mover"
Moving my things into my new apartment!

Boating with my sister and my grandparent's neighbors.

My Dad is so funny.

Now for this fall!

Downtown Wilmington with Maddie

With Olivia and Maddie

With my wonderful roommate, Maddie, again.

Point proven that we're girls: mirror picture.

Is she sniffing me? Do I stink?!

A birthday present from my mom in my new apartment. Can anyone name what this quote is from?!

Point proven again that we're girls... Starbucks Selfies... Trying out the pumpkin spice coffee!

More to come tomorrow!

I have TWO midterms tomorrow... MIDTERMS ALREADY?!

xxox,

lizzie

Internet Technology

Good morning again! :)

I have another question based blog today...

When was the last time Internet technology played a crucial role in a lesson learned? Tell us about it, and explain why it was an important and memorable moment for you.

The last time that Internet technology played a crucial role in a lesson I learned was probably this weekend. I learned how to use Final Cut Pro! I know that it isn't exactly internet based, but I will soon be (hopefully) publishing the final outcome of the lesson to my youtube page (as long as I don't get in any trouble with my production class).

I came to the editing lab totally unaware of how to use/do ANYTHING in Final Cut Pro. The only help I had was the cheat sheet given to everyone in my class about how to transcode raw footage, how to properly name your project, and how to export your project.
Transcoding raw footage just means making footage that you've filmed readable by Final Cut Pro, so that it can playback the film you have.
To name the project, we had to have our class and last name, along with what type of project the film was.
Exporting it was long and boring and I don't even remember it, so I won't try to explain it. :)

I had some help from the people in my group, but I was basically on my own to figure out how Final Cut Pro works. When I had trouble with the sound, my group partner, Justin, helped me figure out what to do. I watched over his shoulder as he googled how to convert a certain file. It was actually really very easy--you just had to rename the file to a WAV file! That's all!

I figured out how to add text/subtitles/templates, cut, add music, fix volumes, etc. I also learned how to do things like speed up the film (although I didn't use it--ha! Just imagine...).

After many long, grueling hours in the editing lab, I am happy to say that I made it out alive! I showed my project in class, and it appears that my hard work of learning how Final Cut Pro works paid off; they liked it! Even more, they said that I really knew my audience well. That is a true complement to me! Maybe they were just being nice... ;)

Now is the time that I share it with everyone. It is a documentary on the Catholic Newman Center on campus called "CCM" (Catholic Campus Ministry). I sat down with the woman in charge, Sister Rose, and we discussed CCM's history since she's been there, what CCM offers, and theology and science. It all relates back to what a college kid thinks/questions and ponders over.
I had a 3 minute limit, though, so it's very short. Buuuuut, I think CCM could potentially be proud of it; I believe it gives great insight to who we are as a community at CCM, and what we are about/do.

Another internet technology that is helping me learn something is the app called "Candy Crush". Although it is typically used as a form of entertainment, I feel as though I am learning strategy and problem-solving skills as well.
The point is to connect any three, four, or (if you're lucky) five matching pieces of candy. Connect three and they just disappear; connect four and they create one charged candy piece, that explodes a row the next time it matches with at least two other pieces of it's original nature; connect five and you get a donut, which you connect to another surrounding piece, and all of the pieces like that explode and disappear. You try to earn points, or get little fruit pieces to the bottom of the screen, or break through barriers, or a combination of any/all of these "missions". You can help your friends through Facebook by giving them lives (you accumulate a life every 20ish minutes until you have five lives...they disappear one with every failed attempt of a level), or helping them unlock the next episode. Shout out to my regular helpers, consisting of my mom, my brother, my cousin, and my ex-co-worker! :)
It's so addicting. I've only been playing for about two weeks now, and I'm already on level 50-something. Oops. No regrets.
But can you see how it is a huge brain exercise? It's almost like tetris (but way better).
It's gotten to the point where I see little pieces of candy lighting up behind closed eyelids before I drift off to sleep.... :)

The point of both of these stories is that the Internet can teach you a variety of new things! Either something specific that you need for your future job (Final Cut Pro), or something a little more lax that you could still use in every day life (Candy Crush). I know I've said it before in my life--and probably my blog--but I will say it again! I don't know what I'd do without the internet! I'm so excited to see how my future children and grandchildren learn--will they use the internet too? Without a doubt!

Until later,

xx
lizzie

What Do You Plan to do After College?

Good Morning!

This blog post will be dedicated to answering these specific questions for a potential scholarship:

What do you plan to do after college? How would you use the internet to help you excel in your occupation?

As many of you know, I have a travel list that I'd like to complete before I die. If you don't know, here is the link: 
My Not-So-Short List of Travel Destinations

But, after college I plan on working in the Film Industry. So, my dream job would be one where I'd need to travel to different locations of the world to film, and then come back to the U.S. for a few months until I finish editing that project and can begin my next. Or, I would also like to be hired by an international company, and create videos for their website(s) or youtube. 

A company I am specifically interested in working with is EF Tours--I've had a few experiences with them, and they appear to have a safe, fun, and diverse work atmosphere. EF stands for "Education First" and they are a touring company for high schoolers or college level kids, but both times that I have traveled with them there have been kids of all ages, and many adults along to "chaperone". I also have a friend, Maddie, who went on these trips when she was younger with her family, even though they were not affiliated with the school they traveled with. Typically on their trips, the group tours something historically significant in  the morning, and then break for lunch. While on lunch, you can go anywhere you'd like (they just ask that you stick with a buddy or two), and then explore the city you happen to be in all afternoon until the meeting time--usually around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. They travel all over to many different countries in Asia, Europe, South America, North America, Africa, and the South Pacific. The group leaders I had were both very fun and knowledgeable people, and they kept us safe and informed as we traveled. They will even relax with you when the day is done, or at meals, and talk about anything and everything--and both of my leaders loved to take pictures with all of us! Hmm. Maybe they need a multimedia filmmaker to accompany several groups per year on their trips... :).

The internet would help me excel in my occupation because I am very interested in multimedia on the web. I would love to be the multimedia manager for a company someday as well; maybe to ease my way into the world of filmmaking, and to use my Film Studies and cultural reference knowledge there.
The internet would also help me as I search for a job, or if I were to do research for a company on recent news happenings. The internet would also help me in my job field if I were to travel somewhere, and I needed to find out things about the culture, weather, language, modes of transportation, etc. of that country.
The internet is such a powerful tool for research and communication that I don't know what I'd do without it. I am constantly on my computer, or phone, throughout the day. Trying to find out a certain piece of information, or talking to a family member or friend from back home. I can't even imagine how other people lived from day to day without it (that would be an interesting experimental documentary...?)!

Anyways, I'm off to finish a project for my Intro to Film Production class. Final countdown begins. Only three weeks left (WISH ME LUCK! AHH FREAKING OUT).


I'll write soon... I promise this time! ;)
xx, 
lizzie

Long Time Gone

Hello!

It is spring break for UNCW, so I figured I'd blog because this morning I had a revelation.

My ideal day--like, ever--would be:

1) Waking up in a european city (specifically Rome or Paris) and getting a small breakfast/coffee beverage at a bar

2) Shopping in said city in all of the market places, squares, small shops, etc. in the morning and early afternoon

3) Going to a cafe and splurging on outdoor seating to people watch for the rest of the afternoon (specifically calling out to gorgeous men), while drinking wine and talking/laughing.

4) Walk around a little more

5) Go on a small boat/vespa ride or do some type of activity relevant to the surroundings (hiking, biking, painting, cooking class, perhaps?) around 2:30/3:00 until about 4:30/5:00

6) Go back to place of stay and get ready for dinner

7) Go to a fun restaurant and drink more wine

8) Go dancing

All of this would be with my mom and sister and our family friends. I think the key ingredient to any good day is wine.

What would your ideal day be?

Until Later,
xx