Cheers to the Freakin' Weekend!

For most of you, it's still just Thursday but I don't have Friday classes so, for me, it's the freakin' weekend, baby! I started out the week (and most of last weekend) sick as a dog and then I had an especially heinous week with school and homework. As a result, I am particularly excited for the weekend. This weekend, I have a birthday party for my little brother (who is now 4 years old.) And another one for my step-dad. Hopefully, I will get to see the Lion King 3D before it leaves theaters and maybe do a little shopping. No matter what, I will enjoy at least a few hours of doing absolutely nothing.

What else would be more fitting than Rihanna's new song: Cheers!

My favorite lyrics:

Life's too short,

To be sitting 'round miserable,

People gonna talk,

Whether you're doin' bad or good,

I've got a drink on my mind,

And my mind on my money, yeah,

Lookin' so bomb,

Gonna find me a honey, yeah

I've got my Ray-Bans on,

And I'm feelin' hella cool tonight,

Everybody's vibin',

So nobody start a fight, yeah.

It's not the most lady-like song, but sometimes that's all the really works to get you through to the weekend. Cheers, ya'll!

Kim Delaney

Did you see what Kim Delaney did last week at Robert Gates' award ceremony?

She gave an incoherent speech in a drunken stupor and in addition to looking like a total train-wreck, wasn't even able to finish before she was kindly escorted off stage.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/09/kim-delaney-booted-off-stage-at-military-ceremony/

My first reaction was that she made an absolute fool out of herself. I know she has struggled with alcoholism and been in and out of rehab, but if you know you're speaking at such an engagement, maybe you could sober up for just one night.

Many people are in a tizzy about the fact that she "claimed" she was a military wife; that she talked about her character on Army Wives as though it was real. If you watch through the video, however, I think you will recognize that is not the case. She did not claim that she had that life. Instead, it was meant for dramatic effect that she experienced all these things on a television show and that her heart went out to the families that live it for real.

Of course, her piss-poor delivery did not help convey that message.

http://www.cinemablend.com/pop/Army-Wife-Kim-Delaney-Gives-Incoherent-Speech-Robert-Gates-35371.html

Then, after really chewing on the whole story, I realized that my anger frustration concern was misplaced. Really, whoever decided that she was the right person to give that speech in the first place is to blame. They should have recognized that she would not be able to deliver. She is a second-tier actress who has battled with addiction for years and other then playing a mil-spouse on TV, has little tie to the military community.

What was she doing there in the first place?

So, I open it up to all of you, my beloved readers - what do you think?

Wordless Wednesday: Means to an End

Sunday Funday?

Not for me. I'm in bed with clogged sinuses and the sniffles. Oh, and about 7 hours of homework. While I moping around that I can't go watch football with my family, I will be sucking down tea in hopes this sickness doesn't last. If only my Twinings selections were here - alas, I'll have to settle on my Trader Joes tea instead.

A quick bloggy-world note: I got an award!

It's been awhile - a long while - since I've received any blog awards, so I was pleasantly surprised to receive The Versatile Blogger Award from Taylor at Our Military Home.

The rules are:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Taylor for brightening my day. Through my sinus-med haze, I am smiling a big toothy-grin and feeling extra-special today!

2. Share 7 things about yourself

-I seriously consider eating ice cream for dinner at least once per week

-I am up by 6:30 most mornings because I need an hour to read blogs and e-mail before I even get out of bed

-If I don't get to enjoy my morning routine, I am inevitably cranky and "off" for the rest of the day

-I am obsessed with watching home decorating TV and can not wait to get a house so I can start implementing all my good ideas

-I always try to match my underwear to my outfits even though I know no-one else will ever know

-I always wanted to be a dancer, singer or athlete instead of an academic

-I have officially wasted enough time blogging and need to move on to homework

3. Pass the award along

*I'm supposed to give it to 15 newly-discovered blogs, I found 9

Modded Mommy

A Wife, Her Soldier & Their Puppy

Adventures in the Air Force

Happiness is a Mood, Not a Destination

Our Beautiful Little Journey

Our Little Fam

My Life's Adventures

Learning the Army Wife Life

Oh, How Delightful

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-in

I slept in on this fall morning, letting the cool breeze in through the open window and wrapping up tight in my fleece blanket. I didn't even have to move to get my coffee (because my mother really, really likes me - Thanks, mom.) Seriously. This morning = bliss.

So, I am lazily getting ready to start the day and thought I would answer the MFF from Wife of a Sailor. I hope you're enjoying your Friday morning as much as I am.

1. My favorite thing that happened this week was this morning. 'Nuff said.
2. Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll be a penny richer.
3. Autumn is officially here and my favorite part of the season is every wonderful second of it!
4. One of the things I’d like to do before winter arrives is make a leaf pile, like I did when I was a kid and dive in!.
5. I –ABSOLUTELY WOULD – be willing to participate in MilSpouse Secret Santa.

I'm Seeing Stars

The weekly song meme has turned into my little slice of heaven throughout the week.

Sometimes, I scour YouTube and the web for the perfect song to share, other times I let myself be inspired by a song that comes up on my iPod during a workout or on the TV when I'm getting ready in the morning.

Today, was a little of both.

This song was part of the Army Wives soundtrack a few seasons back. I found it online, downloaded it and listened to it - and instantly fell in love. It has such a great message and talented voices singing it. I included the original, by Jack Ingram and the live video, which is a duet with Patty Griffin. LOVE.

Seeing Stars (Rhapsody Original) - Jack Ingram - Jack Ingram Videos

Lyrics:

Stars on the river, stars in the sky

Stars that are fallen, stars burnin' bright

Stars disappear, stars come to life, out of the dark

I see stars in every headlight, and I wonder where they go,

I see stars that are stranded, by the side of the road,

I see stars that look like raindrops, stickin' to the hood of my car,

I'm seein' stars

(Chorus)

Wishin' on stars, only when you see 'em,

Is like askin' God for help, only when you need it,

But I'm wishin' anyway, I'm wishin' anyway

Tonight there's stars on the river, stars in the sky

Stars that are faded, like the stars in our eyes,

One lonely teardrop, one long good-bye

Hit me hard, I'm seein' stars

(Chorus)

Stars on the river, stars in the sky

(I'm seein' stars)

Stars that are faded, stars in our eyes

I'm seein' stars

Law School Unplugged

{This post is inspired by the darling Megan. It is long. Very long. Hope the information helps!}

Here it is: the skinny on law school. Raw and unplugged. No holds barred.

Law school is three years. The saying goes that "the first year they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death." So far, I've found that to be 100% true. Granted, my 1L year wasn't "scary" per se, but it was a whole new world and definitely jilted my reality for 9 months. Last year, as 2L, I worked harder then I've ever worked in any job, class or program I've ever been a part of. As I enter my 3L year, I can only expect to be bored silly. (And you wonder why I'm not tickled pink to be back this semester...)

Let's start at the beginning...

Most people chose to go to law school at some point during their undergraduate studies. A smaller percentage do so during a masters or other education program. An even smaller percentage decide to go to law school after having a long-term career or having a family. All of these groups offer so much to the law school experience. I go to a law school that is very "alternative-learner" friendly, meaning our program is created so that the people in those latter categories will get the full learning experience. This means we offer a lot of evening classes, part-time programs and even some weekend courses. Not all law schools will offer this flexibility.

No matter what your life is like when you decide to go to law school, you will be required to take the dreaded LSAT exam. It is the bain of all aspiring law-students existence and the cause of a much stress for a handful of months. However, it is completely do-able if you plan accordingly. Many people take LSAT courses, either provided by their college or through a private company. I did neither and definitely wish I had. Others choose just to study on their own or with friends to prepare for the exam. No matter what you choose to do the best prep advice is to take as many practice tests as possible. That said, you will likely have some days where your practice score is high and some where it's low - don't be discouraged. Instead, pay more attention to the specific areas or topics that you seem to consistently struggle with and focus on improving those areas.

As for test specifics, there is nothing I can tell you that you can't get from a book or your pre-law advisor at school. It changes every year and only you will really know the best way to study for it. What I can tell you is the following:

• Give yourself plenty of time to study
• Make sure sleep, healthy eating and quality life-balance are all part of the study process
• Always remember that there are many other factors they consider for law school admission

Which brings me to my next point. Obviously a high GPA and high LSAT score are extremely helpful for ensuring a spot in a law school class, however law schools are focusing more and more on many other qualities as well.

For example, candidates with different experiences, extra-curriculars, and community endeavors are greatly valued. Law schools want to provide thorough and well-rounded education, so having a wide variety of students adds to that goal. So, while you are taking all the right classes and studying your butt off for the LSAT, be sure to expand your resume and involve yourself in other ways too.

Once you've taken care of all the details you need to get in to law school, you'll have to send out applications. A typical law school application includes:

1. The application itself
2. Your LSAT score
3. Your resume
4. Letters of Recommendation
5. A personal statement
6. Application Fee

**Some schools will require more L.o.R.'s or a multiple question personal statement, but all schools require some combination of the above components. Visit the LSAC website for a list of all law schools and their admission requirements. Then, visit each school for their individualized requirements.

If you would like more information on some of these specific components, like writing a good resume and composing a personal statement, please let me know. I have participated in many workshops on both and have many friends and resources that can also help.

As for the application process, I do recommend narrowing down your list of schools and applying to less than 10. This is primarily because it can get expensive to apply to schools and you don't get the application fees back if you are not accepted. In order to narrow down the list of schools that interest you, I take the following approach:

• Apply to two "dream" schools, like Columbia or Northwestern. These are the hard-to-get-into schools, but are worth the long-shot if you'd like to give it a try.
• Apply to two "shoe-in" schools. These are schools that you can expect to get into based on your LSAT score, GPA and its location.
• The rest of the schools you apply to should be somewhere in between these categories.

The idea is that you will have at least one acceptance letter, which will take some of the stress off the rest of the process. You will most likely have to put a deposit on your slot, but you have some time to think it over. If you are accepted to more then one school, you might find yourself putting a deposit down for multiple. Some schools will refund the deposit, some will not. It also corresponds with a timeline to put down the deposit and to revoke it.

As for selecting which school to attend once you've been accepted, consider the four L's:

• Location: You will need a support system while you go through law school. Being close to family and friends is very important.
• Learning environment: You want to make sure the school you choose aligns with how you learn the best. If you like a collaborative environment, look for a school with that focus; if you'd like to attend a law school that emphasizes a specific field of law, do it. you have to "live" there for 3 years, so make it count for you!
• Legal Community: You want to attend school in an area where the legal community is accepting and provides a support system for incoming attorneys. You also want to make sure you have plenty of opportunity to network in your community and open doors for employment during and after law school.
• Lifestyle: Consider the other things the community has available - sports, entertainment, food, etc...Maintaining a healthy life balance while you're in law school is so important and making sure there are plenty of things you love to do are available where your law school is located.

You are now ready for law school! It is thrilling, scary and a lot of work, but it is so very worth it. As for what to expect the first year of law school, look into:

One L by Scott Turow

1L of a Ride by Professor Andrew J. McClurg

Law School Confidential by Robert H. Miller (actually written by students)

And watch...The Paper Chase

**All of these sources will provide some insight that is helpful and some that is irrelevant. You should be able to sift through what applies to you and gain some valuable insight.

I can't emphasize enough how important it is that you figure out what works for you. There will 1000 people in line to give you tips on what works best for them. I could write another 30 blog posts on my various tips alone - but they won't necessarily be right for you. Check in with yourself constantly and remember that your happiness and success depend entirely on you!

{Finally, I would like to encourage my law school friends who read this blog (some of their blogs are listed on the right) to add anything or give their input. While we're in the trenches together every day, we all have varying experiences. I think most of us will agree, however, that we'll be happy when it's over and we can join the real-world!}

Falling For You

As the temps sank below freezing over night, the daytime has settled into a beautiful fall day. The air is crisp, the sun is shining, and I get to pull out my sweaters and tights when I'm getting dressed in the morning.

So, it would be fitting that I would choose a video that is shot on a beach...oh, wait. I actually chose it because I like Colbi Caillat and because it has "fall" in the title. Either way, it's a good song so I hope you enjoy!

In other music-related news, I heard an announcement on the radio this morning that Mark Wahlberg is reuniting his band from the 90's: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and going on one last tour. (And am I the only one who never made the connection that he was Donnie Wahlberg - of New Kids on the Block's brother!?) Seriously! Even if it was just Marky Mark and Hector the Booty Inspector, I would go see them. Purely for the hilarity that would ensue! Of course, I can't find anything to confirm it's actually happening, but a girl can dream? Now if only they'd bring back the Spice Girls...

When you're done here, head over to Goodnight Moon and listen to some other great jams!

Wordless Wednesday: Freeze Warning

Tea Time

I am taking a very short break from studying to mention a deal I came across online.

Twinings USA is giving away 3 free samples of their tea, just in time for fall to arrive. Just head on over to the website, select the 3 flavors you'd like to sample, provide your address and BOOM - you'll be sipping tea by your fireplace (or your cozy-blanket-sock-combo equivalent) in no time! I am tea-lover and was thrilled to try out some new flavors.

One was an apple-citrus herbal tea which is so fall I can't even stand it!

Enjoy!

Haven't Met You Yet

This week, for the song link-up I wanted to feature two of my favorite artists, singing the same song. The first is the wonderful Michael Buble (who seems to be a trend on the link up this week.)

His blues-y rat-pack style singing is so delightful, it's hard not to smile when he opens his mouth. Plus, he's sexy. Like, really sexy.

And then you have a group of some of my favorite guys. I went to college with them and they are a talented bunch of acapella singers. This is their remix of this song and I happen to think they did a darn good job of honoring Mr. Buble's talent with some talent of their own.

I'm going to see them sing in a showcase tonight here in downtown Minneapolis and I could not be more excited. Please, check out their YouTube page and their website and give them some love. Tell them Mel sent ya!

My Fall Goals

Since school is already in full swing and I am struggling to stay organized and focused, I unveiled my blogging plan over the holiday weekend. One aspect of this is staying on top of my fall goals. Most of these goals will be non-school goals, because things like homework and meetings have to get done. The things on the below list are, instead, other to-do's that are intended to keep me focused, balanced, happy and productive in the other aspects of my life. They all part of my personal promise to live purposefully and increase my daily contribution.

1. Spend Wisely & Maintain Budget

Al and I have a monthly and long-term budget, including a savings plan. Beyond that, our individual spending is up to us to use how we wish. In addition to maintaining our budget goals as a couple, I want to spend more wisely on my own. I have put myself on a clothes/accessories spending budget, which I track here.

2. Complete my long-paper

I will be tracking the progress of my long-paper requirement. Sure, this is school related, but since I am required to monitor my own practice and it is the only non-class requirement I have left for graduation, I want to insure I am on top of it. I hear so many horror stories from graduating students who struggled to push out their paper in the last couple months and I refuse to do that. Final draft = Due December.

3. Visit Al at least once before Christmas

I am sort of "cheating" on this since I have already booked a ticket to visit over my fall break in October. I created this goal list, however, before I did so and I still think it counts. Plus, don't all the experts say that the best way to be motivated to complete a to-do list is include something you can check off right away?!?

4. Complete at least 3 sewing projects

I really, really want to get better at sewing, and this means forcing myself to sit down and do it. I want to complete at least 3 sewing projects, but they can consist of mending or altering something I already own or making something from scratch. More likely the former, but I've got to start somewhere.

5. Blog less, but with more purpose

I hope I've already started myself on the path to accomplish this. I want the days that I take time to write something outside of the scheduled memes to be purposeful and worth-wile. Less negative attitude and more fulfilling writing so I can keep a positive and productive outlook.

6. Lose 15 lbs.

It's crazy to me that I spent the entire summer in Texas sitting on my butt and did not work out at all! Sure, I was regularly active as far as being outside and walking and such, but nothing that produces weight loss, muscle gain, or over all health increase. This is simply not acceptable for me. Here it is, in black and white - I will lose 15 lbs. by Christmas.

7. Join a fitness class

To tie in to the above goal, I want to join a fitness class. It is unlikely that I will pay to join a gym while I'm staying at my parents (we have a home-gym) but I do want to do a yoga or spin class and finally a boxing class. Any combination of the above would be great, but actively going to a class once-per-week is my realistic goal.

8. Maintain a healthy life

Again, this is related to the above two goals, but also to our timeline for baby-making. I want to be eating healthy, getting enough sleep and taking my vitamins. I know these things sound so simple, but it is really easy to neglect some of the basic life necessities when you're as busy as I am. This includes no smoking (4 weeks smoke free!) and staying away from pop (which I've also all-but given up.) Coffee will remain a significant part of my diet, but if that's my worst habit, I can accept that!

9. Attend church once per month

I am a little embarrassed to even put this on here, because it's something I should do without "scheduling" it, but it's so easy to brush aside when I'd rather sleep in on Sunday morning. Along with taking care of my mind and body, I have to take care of my soul too!

10. Be active in my relationships

This means making the people I love a priority. Specifically, checking my bad days at the door when I am talking to Al or my mom. I also want to have monthly friend-dates with my faves and a monthly date with my momma. I want to make sure I stay active in my sisters' lives also.

Each Monday, I will check in on my goals and let ya'll know how I'm doing.

**All end-dates are December, at which time I will create a new goals sheet for the new year.

Unveiling "The Plan"

I mentioned on my Facebook page that I was creating a "blogging plan" to go along with my overall plan to be more purposeful and productive. This was actually really hard for me because blogging has been such a significant part of my daily life - emotionally and actually. On the other hand, I am 9 months away from my law degree and really need to focus on school, my family and staying happy and healthy.

This means that I needed to re-evaluate my blogging priorities. This includes my new fashion blog too, and incorporating both into my daily schedule, without overwhelming myself. As it is, I am spending 6-7 hours per week between the two blogs. That doesn't include reading all the blogs I follow and commenting. When I break it down like that, I just can not justify the time it's taking away from the other things in my life.

Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, I am just going to be relying more on weekly memes and scheduled posts and less on the day-to-day posting. Here is my plan:

Monday: Fall Goals {Premiering tomorrow}

Wednesday: Wordless Wednesday

Thursday: Song Link-up with Goodnight Moon

Saturday: Open

There will, of course, be times I have something to say, or news to share, but I will try to stick to the above plan as much as possible. This way, I spend an hour or two on Saturday prepping for the week and can cut-down on my blogging time.

If you are following my fashion blog, and wish to continue doing so, you should know that I will still be posting (almost) daily outfits. I also don't plan on disappearing from reading or commenting too much, but don't be surprised if you don't hear from me quite as regularly as you do now.

Finally, thank you from the bottom of my heart. My readers are so important to me and I appreciate your friendship and your continued support. If you can bear with me through this time, I promise to make it worth your time on the other side.

Much Love, Mel

Music Feature: Gary Allan

Anyone who loves country music, knows Gary Allan. Many of his songs are melancholy and even sad, but most people don't know the story behind them. In 2004, his wife Angela committed suicide after struggling with depression for many years. His album, "Tough All Over" is almost entirely dedicated to that experience and how he healed from the loss. Six years later, he is still using music to heal his pain and produces some of the most honest, raw and beautiful songs I have ever heard.

I sometimes wish I could be this honest about my feelings, especially my pain and heartache.

So, today, I am sharing my favorite songs from Gary Allan. You've probably heard many of them, but hopefully this new perspective helps you hear an even bigger message behind these songs.

Best I Ever Had

Life Ain't Always Beautiful

No Regrets

Hug your loved ones tonight. Hard.