Giving back {Hosea Feed the Hungry}

November-January is my favorite season because of all of the holidays, family time, social events and of course (the food). But it's important to remember that not everyone has the same opportunities to celebrate these great holidays. One of my favorite organizations and initiatives here in Atlanta is Hosea Feed the Hungry. All year, they work to raise money for families in need to provide them with life's necessities. It's a great movement in our very own city! See how you can help this holiday season! 

Hosea Feed the Hungry's Mission:

"To examine and then raise public awareness about the many problems facing families and individuals that are living in poverty or are at-risk of slipping into poverty, and then to mobilize products, volunteers and financial resources to solve those problems, or to ease the burden that those problems cause."

Hosea Feed the Hungry accepts volunteers year round, but especially around the holidays when they serve food to those who cannot provide food for themselves. Sign up to be a volunteer here!

If you can't volunteer this season, you can also donate to give back to those in need!

Congrats, Georgia Tech football!

Sorry for back-to-back football/Georgia Tech themed posts, but I'm so excited for my school! 

At yesterday's game vs. Duke

At yesterday's game vs. Duke

After winning the game on Saturday, and since the Miami Hurricanes self-imposed a post season ban, Georgia Tech is headed to Charlotte to play in the ACC Championship and we are the Coastal Division Champions! It was very unexpected and therefore very exciting - congrats and hoping we win in Athens next week and in Charlotte in two weeks.

Gooooooo Jackets! <3

Last game day as a student, go Jackets!

I can't believe it, but today is Georgia Tech's last home football game of the season. And, it's my last home game as an undergraduate student. Bittersweet...mainly sad. I'm happy to say that I went to every home game over the past 4 years and have a collection of memories from all of those game days. So excited for one last game at Bobby Dodd as a student, go Jackets!

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Sophomore Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Senior Year

Senior Year

Senior Year 

Senior Year

Music in ATL {regina spektor & only son}

Last Saturday night, I got to go to the Regina Spektor concert (at Tabernacle in ATL) and Jack Dishel of Only Son opened up for her - both were fantastic! I had never heard Only Son before, but his music was so calming and beautiful.

Regina's voice is one that everyone should hear live, it gave me chill bumps. It was super impressive how much she sounded like the audio tracks I've listened to over and over again (but better). I'd love to see them both again :)

Regina Spektor and Jack Dishel of Only Son singing together!

Regina Spektor performing

<3

IKEA {soft toys for education}

Are you searching for a more meaningful gift this holiday season? 

Why not choose a present that not only the children will love, but also helps those children around the world in need of a quality education. This holiday season, the IKEA Soft Toys For Education Campaign is back in full swing! Running from November 4 - December 29, this annual event continues to raise money to educate children around the world. Since 2003, the IKEA Soft Toys For Education campaign has donated $61.75 million in donations to UNICEF (their global children’ charity partner) and Save the Children (their national children’s charity partner), helping 8 million children through over 70 programs. 

IKEA Atlanta has contributed more $175 thousand to this total since 2005 including donations of soft toys to local charities (Toys For Tots, For The Children Inc, For The Kid In All Of Us, Atlanta Children’s Shelter and more) to ensure this effort impacts children in our own back yard.

To kick off the annual campaign, they would like Atlantans to help to raise awareness for IKEA Soft Toys For Education. Do one of the following on the IKEA USA Facebook event titled: Atlanta - The ATL Believes in Educating Children Around The World

1.   Upload a 5 second video with you holding a soft toy and speaking about the campaign for YouTube and social media, script examples:

1.   IKEA Atlanta soft toys help educate children around the world.

2.   Kids books from IKEA Atlanta help educate children around the world.

2.   Upload a Digital Photo of you holding soft toy with a comment on the facebook wall for the event and/or twitter, examples:

1.   @IKEA_Atlanta soft toys help educate children around the world #IKEAsofttoys

2.   Kids books from @IKEA_Atlanta help educate children around the world #IKEAsofttoys

How the campaign works:

IKEA Soft Toys – which include stuffed animals, finger puppets and books – range in price from $.49 - $19.99 and are available in all IKEA stores and online during the holiday season. For every IKEA Soft Toy that a customer purchases, IKEA Foundation donates one euro (approximately $1.29 US) to the Soft Toys For Education Campaign.

These incredibly affordable and cuddly animals will certainly put a smile in the hearts of children, while supporting millions of others in need of a quality education! Such a great cause that I'm happy to support! <3

For more information about the campaign or The Life Improvement Project, contact Deidra.Cunningham@IKEA.com. 404-249-6257 x1336. 

I am now {LinkedIn}

I'm superrrrrr late, but I've finally given in and created a LinkedIn profile!

It only took about 10-15 minutes for me to create a profile and it seems like it will be a useful tool for the future...more professional version of Facebook.

I may be the last senior to have created one, but I'm about to start seriously searching for jobs so I thought it was time. Has LinkedIn been beneficial for you?

<3

Fall in ATL {animal print gloves}

I can't get enough of animal print (when done properly)! It's so much fun and my favorite type of pattern. So when I saw these cheetah/leopard print gloves in H&M last month for such a great price, I had to get them. And, it's finally gotten cold enough in Atlanta to wear them!

Bring on the cold temperatures - my hands are warm and fierceee! :) 

Music in ATL {Lauryn Hill & Nas concert}

Last Friday, Lauryn Hill and Nas performed in Atlanta and it was a GREAT show! Nas performed first and got the crowd excited. Then, Lauryn Hill performed...incredible. I loved her outfit too! Listening to her music on a track is already fantastic so just imagine hearing her live, I had chill bumps the entire time. I went with my best friend and we were both blown away by her voice and the creative ways that she remixed her music during the concert. It was well worth the ticket price! <3

Happy Election Day, ATL

Happy Election Day! This is the first Presidential Election that I can vote in, so exciting! I actually voted early, last Monday, with my mom! It took us about 2 hours but we had so much fun chatting with other people in line. Good luck to everyone voting today, congrats on exercising your right!  <3

Contributing blogger {Brian Turner)

Home Renovations and Hazardous Chemicals
An increasing number of homeowners opt for cutting renovation costs by taking on the task of destruction and reconstruction projects. Houses built before 1970 may harbor a number of hazardous materials that include asbestos, lead and radon. Releasing these substances into the air poses a health risk to household members. Consulting with a professional contractor or home inspector eliminates any surprises and provides homeowners with necessary information concerning possible hazards requiring expert attention.

Asbestos
Contractors commonly used asbestos containing materials when building homes until the later part of the 1970s. Insulation around furnace ducts, roofs and walls along with deck under sheeting commonly contained asbestos. Attempting renovations in homes built during this era often releases microscopic fibers into the air, which individuals ingest or inhale if not properly protected.

These fibers embed in lung and organ tissue, causing a variety of illnesses that include mesothelioma cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends against disturbing these areas unnecessarily. If insisting on renovating home areas that may contain asbestos, hire professionals qualified in asbestos removal.

Lead
Government regulations stipulated that paint could not contain lead after 1978. Before that year, lead was an ingredient in paint used for exterior and interior surfaces. Stripping these areas improperly, releases minute particles into the air, which poses a potential hazard. Hiring a professional who is trained specifically in dealing with lead paint remains the general recommendation.

The Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development formulated a Lead Paint Safety Guide for homeowners and professional contractors. Some of the steps required for safely eradicating lead paint include isolating the room using heavy plastic on doorways, floors, windows and furniture remaining during the process. Turn off air conditioning and heating systems prior to starting removal, which decreases the likelihood of circulating particles. Dampen or mist the surface containing lead paint before attempting removal.    

Radon
Soil commonly contains small quantities of uranium, which produces radon gas with deterioration. The gas seeps into homes through cracks or crevices around the foundation of homes. Structures containing crawl spaces also commonly emit radon gas. With exposure occurring over extended periods, radon has the potential for causing cancer. The Surgeon General states that radon emissions ranks second as a leading cause of lung cancer.

Homeowners should purchase an inexpensive short-term radon test kit for determining radon levels before renovating areas along the foundation. If test kits reveal radon levels of 4 picocuries per liter or higher, the home requires reduction methods that minimize the levels of gas emission. The Environmental Protection Agency provides extensive information concerning the effects of radon along with methods of emission eradication.  

by Brian Turner

Sweet Southern Spud {bows}

I ran into Melinda Jean tabling for her fabulous company, Sweet Southern Spud, the other week and just had to take a picture for my blog! How great are these?!

I can't really put a label on my style, but I like a little bit of everything, including preppy items and bows! Melinda Jean hand-makes all of these and they are too fabulous. Read below for more information on Southern Spud. You can order items directly from their website!

 "Custom made and hand crafted from start to finish, Melinda Jean’s bow ties are tailored to fit each of her customer’s desires. She personally works with each client to ensure that every experience is not only a practice in personalized fashion, but also a lesson in Southern hospitality. 

Sweet Southern Spud’s ties are cut from 100% cotton and other cotton-based fabrics and based on designs which match each customer’s unique taste. Perfect for weddings, gamedays, or any other event from casual to semi-formal, these ties are guaranteed to please!"

With the holidays coming up, these are perfect gifts for anyone on your list :)

Here's my favorite:

<3

Hopeful for a change in GT Athletics culture

Goodbye D-Rad, Hello More GT Fans (I hope)

In response to Georgia Tech’s Athletic Director’s recent resignation…

Photo by AP

Out with the old and (hopefully) in with a new athletic culture for Georgia Tech.

Students surely expected some changes in the football department after a rocky season (understatement). But what we didn’t expect was for the AD (who has a salary of over $900k) over all sports to up and leave for a rival ACC school (Clemson) mid-year. We still have football games…basketball season hasn’t even started yet…

Regardless, he’s left and I hope that the Athletic Association uses this situation as an opportunity to shift the culture and attitude of Georgia Tech athletics for current students and alum. The feeling toward GT sports is currently…apathetic, really.

I’m not just a student complaining. I’m a senior and I’ve been the Sports Editor for Tech’s yearbook since my freshman year. Honestly, the majority of students do not (have time to) care about the sports here. It was such a shock for me, coming from a high school in Gwinnett County with overcrowded football games and a State Championship title – I was raised to love and attend athletic events, which is mainly why I still do at Tech.

But the average student doesn’t have much desire to attend games. For one, the ticketing process is a hassle. Sure, they’re “free” on a first come, first served basis, if you reserve them through the system in the days approaching the game. But Tech students, we don’t have time for all of that. With overwhelming classes, meetings, job applications, personal lives and more, remembering to reserve tickets to avoid paying the ever-increasing season ticket price (which is what I have), is just not worth it.

I wouldn’t suggest this at most schools, but students should receive season tickets (electronically, to save paper) for all sports, and notified that they have these tickets. This way, more students, including our large International Student population, would be more aware of the sports taking place and be more excited to attend those sports.

I fear that with this difficult season and major staff changes throughout the season, the number of game attendees will decrease even more next season.  I urge whoever is responsible to make changes as soon as possible.

After attending games at The University of Alabama and LSU, I yearn for that football game day experience (or at least something similar). I know that when I chose to attend Tech, I chose to attend a school where academics are most important and the work ethic of students is held to the highest standard. And as I go through the job application process, that is something I am very grateful for. But when I graduate in May, what will I come back to Tech for?...not to take classes!

I want to want to come back for events, including athletic events, and I want my school to be known in the Atlanta community as a place where families and fans can come for a great time. Georgia Tech is a phenomenal place with spectacular athletes who deserve the marketing and promotion techniques that some of the top football programs in the nation receive.

Can the new AD handle that? I surely hope so.