Friday, March 8, 2013

If My Life Had A Soundtrack

Hello all!

This week I thought I would start off by writing about an assignment I had in nursing school that I thought was really cool. Have you ever thought about what your life would be like if it had a soundtrack to go along with it? I was assigned to make a life soundtrack of ten songs that describes each time period in my life which is something I actually think of a lot. I actually already had a playlist on my iPhone full of songs that I thought described my life but never really broke it down into time periods, especially any times before high school. I decided to share what songs I picked for the assignment and I am curious to see if anyone else has ever thought about this.

The first song I picked was Belle from Beauty and the beast. This song totally describes my adolesence because number one Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie and number two I was always an avid reader growing up.




The next song I chose was Swim by Jack's Mannequin. Once I really listened to the words it reminds me a lot about my life but especially middle school. A lot was happening with my life in the time period from divorce to friendships being broken as I'm sure everyone experience in middle school. The chorus "I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun" really made me think of my time back then and really my time at some points still today. 




The third song that I chose was Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years". This song definitely made me think of the relationship I have with Madison and how much we have grown together over the past five years. Madi was my first real love and was the first person who I really opened up to about everything in my life with my family and things that had happened with friends in the past. I love the whole mood of the song and how relaxed it is as well as the message it sends.



The fourth song that I chose would be 3oh!3's Starstrukk Remix featuring Katy Perry. This song is such a fun song to just let loose to and the words are hilarious. The beat is great and it's just a really fun song. I first started listening to 3oh!3 in high school because one of my guy best friends had been really into the music and I heard it a lot when I was with him so I started looking up all of their music and fell in love with it! It reminds me so much of the end of my junior year and beginning of my senior year of high school and brings back the great memories I had then. 



Another song that I think applies to anyone who has ever been in a relationship's life would be Mayday Parade's Miserable at Best. This song has so much meaning and literally gives me chills just about every time that I listen to it. The words are so powerful and you can just hear the emotion in Derek Sanders' voice. It is a piano song which makes it even more touching in my opinion. 



The sixth song that I thought fit my sound track well would be Fix You by Coldplay. I think everyone has had one of those moments where you feel like you "lose something you can't replace" and it is such a humbling moment. It makes you come to a point of realization and Coldplay's song describes that in such an amazing way.


The next song on my list is Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne. This song has so much meaning in so many ways and for my life it hit home when my mom got diagnosed with cancer. The summer before her diagnosis we got really into the show The Glee Project and after a person gets voted off they have to sing this song so we already loved the song. It wasn't until after her diagnosis that I really listened to the words of the song and it is very powerful to me. Boyce Avenue does a great acoustic version of the song as well but for me the original version is the best.


Another song that has to do with my mom's cancer diagnosis that hits home for me is Kelly Clarkson's Stronger. This song is amazing and not only for relationships but for life! It is so true what doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. It is an amazing concept and helped me get through my mom's sickness. 


My ninth song that I listed was Phillip Phillips' song Home. This song has a great melody and is really catchy. Whenever I hear the song “Home” by Phillip Phillips it reminds me of the atmosphere where I’m from. “The trouble it might drag you down, you get lost you can always be found, just know you’re not alone, cause I’m gonna make this place your home” is how the whole town makes you feel.


The last song on my list is one that I think just applies to life overall. Of course its Justin Bieber guys! Justin Bieber's Be Alright is such a great song with a great meaning. Yet another acoustic song that is a just a great reflection of how "through the sorrow and the fight" everything will be alright :)



That completes my list as of now! There are so many songs that I think apply to me but I had to narrow it down for sure. So I'd love to hear yours! Comment below or send me a message with some of the songs you have hear that make you say "wow this relates to me". Maybe I'm the only one who has really put some thought into this but I think it is an interesting topic. Let me know what you come up with!

<3,

Olivia :)


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Chattanooga, TN & First Weeks of School

Hello all,

I know it has been foreverrrr, right? I was laying in bed last night just thinking I hadn't posted in a while so I figured I would give everyone a bit of an update. First I wanted to talk about my mini- vacation that I took with Madi and his family to Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was awesome! Chattanooga is definitely one of my favorite places in the world and I have so many good memories there with the Franek family as well as my own family! We were only there for three days and we drove up as we usually do. The first night we went to McKays bookstore, which if you haven't been there you are totally missing out! It is literally a huge old warehouse full of used books, movies, CDs, video games, and old records. It is so legit. They have a bunch of books that aren't even made anymore like The Boxcar Children series and The Babysitters Club to name a few of my personal favorites. We also ate at Lupi's Pizza Pies another place that we always go to. I swear it is the best pizza you will ever eat. Their crust is perfect and the sauce is just right! One of Madi's best friends Michael and his girlfriend Lauren came over that night and joined us for the LONGEST game of UNO ever! We didn't even end up finishing it but it lasted over an hour and a half hah!

The next morning Madi and I got up and Michael showed us around the campus of University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. We got to sit down with admissions and talk about their physical therapy program for Madi which gave us a better insight into the cost and what the program plan was really like. Later that day we headed over to the Tennessee Aquarium which has both a saltwater journey and a freshwater journey. Of course we did both! They had the cutest animals and a butterfly garden which reminded me of the butterfly garden that is on Mackinaw Island in Michigan (another great spot ;) ). Lauren and I took our cameras with us and got some great pictures with the butterflies. Definitely my favorite spot in the museum. Unfortunately the next day we had to leave but it was such a great vacation and so much fun. Lately all I've really been doing is going to school and work! In school we have been learning to give insulin shots and how to give certain medicine doses. I know scary right? I'm not afraid of needles or blood but I am afraid of hurting some one. Ouch. Other than that nothing too exciting to post about as of now but I'm sure I will be posting again soon.

Thanks for keeping up with me!
-Olivia







Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year: 2013

Hello all,

I hope you all had a safe, fun, and happy new year last night! I spent my evening at two of my friends' gorgeous wedding before curling up on the couch with my man to watch the ball drop (and J. Biebs performance of course ;) ). As many people do I thought about what the new year may bring and what I've accomplished this past year; so I decided to share my thoughts with all of you!

2012:

1. I got my first book published!
As many of my friends and family know this is something I have wanted to do for such a long time, and it was something I had on my bucket list. I had such a blast working with the publisher and design team and having a signing was really icing on the cake for me. Such a great time.


2. I got to travel to  Las Vegas, NV and see the Grand Canyon
This was also something that was on my bucket list and was such a fun time. I loved spending the weekend with my cousin and my mom exploring the strip and traveling in the helicopter not only above but through the Grand Canyon. 




3. I completed the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk
60 days of walking with my best friend/ boyfriend in the hot sun and staying the night in tents definitely taught us patience with each other. Together we raised about $5000 for breast cancer. This was added to my bucket list recently about a year and a half ago when my mom got sick. Such an amazing learning experience. Nothing feels as good as crossing that finish line!




4. Getting into USF's College of Nursing
Talk about a relief when I opened that email and it said I was accepted! There have been laughter and tears but what an amazing experience it has been. I 'm so blessed. I also got a $1000 scholarship from the nursing program which was such a financial relief as many of you know I work my butt off to keep myself in school since I pay for everything on my own. 



5. I celebrated my 4 and 4 1/2 year anniversaries with my boyfriend
We've had quite the ride together but that boy has always been here for me and surprises me everyday in the ways that he has been maturing. He's such a blessing and I thank God every night for putting and keeping him in my life.



Those were really the main points of 2012 and here are my goals for 2013:

1. Go to the gym once a week
I would like this goal to be more like go to the gym two or three times a week, or lose X amount of pounds in X amount of time but being a nursing major I need to be realistic and set a goal for once a week. I did start it off well today by doing a 5 mile run so that is good ;)

2. Get a 4.0
I mean this is always my goal for the school year so I want to achieve it this semester!

3. Take a trip to NC with Madi
This is something we've wanted to do for a long time so I am hoping that we will be able to as long as finances are there!

4. Finish and publish book #2
I really want book two to come out this summer so I am hoping that I will be able to make that happen between now and then!

5. Do more volunteer activities with nursing or USF in general
I want to be super involved before I start my last year and things get super crazy! It also will look great on my resume once I graduate and so I need to go through with everything. 

So that's it! Let the year commence! Share your resolutions or goals with me I can't wait to hear :)!

<3 Olivia