the new apartment

it was a long day, but the smoothest of all my move-ins! without the help of my daddy, brother and mom, it would just be me and a coffee maker up here in my new apartment! with them, we got everything unloaded and unpacked... which was quite a job (i'm not the best at deciding what i do and don't need when it comes to packing). we made the annual target trip, with phillip along as our comic relief. the finishing touches are still being put on, to the complex and to my apartment, but i am in love with my new place to live. it is going to be just perfect for me my senior year. there are still a few pictures to be hung and pieces of furniture to be added, but here is a peek into my new apartment!

it was also the least emotional of my move-ins. freshman year was a waterfall of tears that turned into a steady stream for months afterwards. sophomore year was similar and junior year was a little better. this year though, i teared up, but just because i am really going to miss my parents and brother (even if he does drive me crazy sometimes). i will always miss my home and my family, but know that this is where i need to be right now.

today though, i am missing something at home i love the most. it is my mom's birthday and i hate that i can't be home to make her day absolutely perfect! i am sending lots of love and birthday wishes from knoxville to her and hope she has a fabulous birthday! recruitment is winding down here at UT with bid night approaching tomorrow and school is gearing up as classes start tomorrow. i think life is about to get very busy!

xoxo,
clp

its only tuesday?

what a whirlwind of a past two days i have had. now back in knoxville for the semester, i feel like i haven't had a moment to sit down...

yesterday, the plan was for my mom and i to move in everything (with the exception of things that required manly-men) into the apartment that i would be living in this year. however, upon arrival we were informed that the unit was still under construction and that i was supposed to move into a temporary apartment until it was ready (which was a 3 bedroom - there are 4 of us). the funny thing was that we had called over two weeks ago and were told that the unit would be ready for me to move in. also, my uncle, who owned the unit, had given me the key to my room that very morning. obviously there was some miscommunication. you can imagine our frustration when we learned that we would be having to move my things not once but twice and also that we couldn't unpack everything and get settled. and then to top off this saga, i discovered that diet coke leaked onto my clothes on the drive here. the cards were just not in our favor. nonetheless, after a few tears and a breakdown or two, my mom and i got everything moved in the best we could (neatly stacked in piles) and my cousin was kind enough to let me sleep on her mattress. fingers are crossed that the apartment is ready by saturday so i can officially move into my first apartment!

my little bedroom for the week! 

after our horrible day, mom and i went to Sunspot for my first dinner back in knoxville. it is one of my favorites and mom had never been there. i love the sweet potato tamale (i need to branch out and try other things) and mom loved her fried green tomato BLT sandwich. i must say hers looked as good as mine! they also bring you yummy salsa and fresh chips to accompany your meal. 

it is officially recruitment time in tennessee! retreat began today and as a chapter we are working on getting the best possible pledge class. i have no doubt that we will do so with all the improvements that our recruitment team is making. 

since i will be spending the majority of the day at the alpha chi house and the TRECS is closed, my workouts will not be as intense this week. i think it will be good for my body to treat this week as sort of a "recovery week" and give my body a break for once. i will still be doing some cardio, but it will mostly just be walking at a fast pace on an incline and then some light weights and ab work. everyone needs to lighten the load sometimes. 

being the homebody that i am, i am already missing my mom and dad (and i guess my brother too). it will take some adjusting for me to get back in the swing of things here in knoxville, especially with the craziness and stress that comes with recruitment. add in the apartment saga and i am about at my stress limit but i will just have to keep on keepin' on. there may not be many recipes or OOTDs this week but i will be trying to blog as often as i can. fingers crossed that the rest of the week goes smoothly and that the unit is ready for move in saturday! 

xoxo,

clp