Events in ATL {orchid daze}

Spring is slowly, but surely making its way to Atlanta! 

I'm a little over the cold weather/bi-polar weather. Atlanta Botanical Gardens is celebrating the upcoming season change with their new event series "Orchid Daze," following their phenomenal Winter series event "Garden Lights Holiday Nights."

I'll include ABG's description of the event below, but you basically have the opportunity to walk around their gardens while they're covered with beautiful orchids. They're promising a beautiful and unique set up full of colorful and jubilant flower arrangements.

If you love flowers, things that smell good, or any type of nature; you will love this!

Orchid Daze starts February 9 (TODAY) and runs through April 14

More details:

The Fuqua Conservatory lobby transforms into a conflagration of colors set ablaze with flaming reds, oranges, and yellows. Mirrored walls unexpectedly distort both orchids and viewers, visually melting the two into bizarre hybrid forms. Reflections magnify, stretch, fragment, and ripple space as visitors literally become part of the artistic composition. “Orchids are such intriguingly odd flowers we want to celebrate their whimsical and playful personalities,” said Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s executive director. An orchid “rain” in pink and white descends from the atrium ceiling, filling the air with the topsy-turvy blossoms of Dendrobium and pastel Cymbidium reaching skyward.

Giveaway {firmoo glasses}

Who doesn't love free stuff? Better question, who doesn't love free glasses?? Eek! Happy Friday, ATL! I'm working with Firmoo Eyewear, to giveaway some glasses and glasses vouchers! 

 I blogged about my new Firmoo glasses around Thanksgiving, and I'm still so in love with them! I've actually been wearing them all week (too tired for contacts). The customer service and product quality are both incredible and I've been suggesting them to friends and family since I first received my pair. Firmoo also makes really nice non-perscription glasses and sunglasses. 

Wearing my Firmoo glasses in NYC

I wanted to share this opportunity with my readers and give you a chance to win some free goodies! 

Here are some of my favorite products:

Black full frame

Unisex Full Frame

Here's how to earn entry points, the first one is mandatory (one point each):

In your comment, let me know which of the following you did, I will verify it, then reply back if you win!

1. Leave a comment saying which glasses you'd love to have on Firmoo site
2. "Like" Firmoo Eyewear on Facebook (you'll also find other giveaways on there)
3. "Like" Real College Student of Atlanta on Facebook
4. Follow via GFC
5. Tweet the link to this post to share with others!

The top 6 entries will be selected via a digital randomizer.

The giveaway ends February 18th -- I'll contact the winners on February 19th -- GOOD LUCK!! :)

Discovering your passion{s}

I'm excited about the feedback I've gotten so far on my new book and even more excited that I've had some students email me asking questions. One question I've gotten from several readers is how to decide on a passion or passions. It's tough and there's no right answer, but I created a visual to help you brainstorm (which will lead to discovering what you're passionate about). Enjoy! <3

Some of my passions: communication (writing, reading, all things media), education (learning, teaching, promoting education), eating (cooking, eating out, trying new foods)

1. What subject matters make you emotional when you think about them, talk about them, or hear about them? These can be happy or sad emotions, but your passion should be something you connect to emotionally and are emotionally invested in.

2. There are some things and people that we can't go a day without thinking about. Your passion is probably one of these things. I love blogging because it gives me an opportunity to write on a regular basis. I have to write. It feels natural, but not boring or routine.

3. Are there activities that you'd do for free? I would absolutely try different foods for free! I've also written articles and edited papers for free - I enjoy it so much that I don't need any sort of compensation.

4. Everyone is good at something! I'm not great at math, but I can be really creative when it comes to events or gifts for my loved ones. Figure out what you're good at (or ask friends what they think), then figure out a way to incorporate your talents into your passion.

Good luck, and remember, "We must act out passion before we can feel it." - Jean Paul Sartre

Weekend trip {NYC}

It's super exciting writing this post about my weekend in NYC because it was so much fun! I went to visit my best friend, Nick, who moved to New York at the start of the year for his new job. The quality time was priceless, and we were in a super fun city. Although it was a short trip (and I'm missing it already), we did so much!

I'm always fascinated by big cities because I just wonder how they came about...all of the buildings, the lights, the underground transportation systems...it's cool to think about. NYC is a super melting pot and reminded me a lot of Madrid, Spain. It's crazy and exciting to see all that the world has to offer in a tiny space!

Nearby Nick's apartment - so neat!

Anyway, here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend! 

Enjoy & I hope you've been to this fun city!!

Nick with both editions of my new book!
I signed them both for him :)

In Nick's kitchen

Dinner Friday night, yummy Italian food!

My Italian meal, so classic!

Breakfast foods hehe

Nick eating breakfast on the subway

Waiting on the subway so we could head to Times Square!

Being silly trying on fun glasses

Shopping/browsing/playing in Times Square

M&M Store! Happier than a kid in a candy store :)

Quick break to refuel (coffee & a cookie dough cupcake)

M&M Personality test - we both took it and got Dark Green.
Magic or we're actually best friends :)

Posing in Times Square - tourist pics are a MUST

Sign in the Disney store, we loved this!

Eating dinner in the middle of Times Square with a prime view!

My dinner in Times Square - chicken, mushrooms,
truffle mac & cheese

Nick got us tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway
 for my birthday -- it was beautiful & such a great performance!

When we walked out of the show, it was snowing! Fun surprise :)
But glad it stopped before my flight!

My favorite pic that I took of the city

Our last meal of the trip - a combination of French & Italian

My best weekend trip ever & one trip off of my list for 2013!

I'm excited to go back soon! In the meantime, I'll be thinking of the big city every time I look at my iPhone! 

<3

  

Happy FebNEWruary

I'm home from NYC and it was an A M A Z I N G trip! More details to come. It's now February (this year is flying by!) and I've renamed this month FebNEWruary, emphasis on the new! 

Throughout this entire month, I'll be reminding myself to try new things. I'm super guilty of going with the predictable/safe/familiar option. But this month, I'll be trying new things! 

This applies to ordering new foods, trying new workouts, taking new routes to places, eating at new places, attending new events, and more!

Join the FebNEWruary challenge and try something new and different! <3

I'm in NYC! {weekend trip}

Hi everyone! Happy February! I hope you're having a fantastic weekend. I'm in NYC this weekend visiting my best friend, so exciting!! And another item off my "Must-do & Goals" list!!

I am super obsessed with big cities and skylines so NYC is one of my favorite places to visit :)

Check my twitter throughout the week for fun photos about the trip - I'll be back Monday with an update! <3

Thank you notes

I can't believe my birthday month is over -- it's been fantastic!! And, I got lots of awesome gifts. Also, I got a car :) another item complete from my 2013 "Must-do's & Goals"

Throughout the month I received some really thoughtful gifts from friends, coworkers and family members. I'm kind of old-fashioned so I still like to write people thank you notes. 

I also like to write my own personal messages for those thank you notes. This year I used blank cards with a black & white paisley design, metallic silver sharpies and a black ink pen. 

How do you say thank you?

PS, I'm flying out to NYC today -- eek!!

Visiting the Capitol {Atlanta}

Group photo by GT Institute Communications

My college's student government (which I'm involved with) hosted an event called "GT Day at the Capitol" and we got to visit the state capitol and see the legislative process in action! I attended the same event last year, but learned even more this time and had a fun time with other GT students and GT alum.

With our school's mascot, Buzz!

Student government members :)

If you haven't been to the capitol, I highly suggest it! It's a beautiful and historic building full of amazing artifacts and our state's representatives! Another great day in Atlanta. 

I took a few pics inside the capitol too!

Time to pack for NYC!

Apartment decor {part 2}

I hope your week is off to a great start! Mine is super busy with tests, papers, meetings, etc. but it's good! And I'm going out of town at the end of the week - can't wait! :)

Here's another post sharing another section of my apartment. The first post was created because of a few people emailing me about decorating advice. Enjoy and more to come!! :)

My room's colors are black & white with a royal blue accent

I bought that painting from an artist in Spain!

Hand painted this desk

I love live plants and fake ones too :)

Eating in ATL {Fellini's Pizza}

I've already eaten at this place three times in 2013. Fellini's Pizza is that good. And that clutch. 

When I say clutch, I mean it's the perfect meal at the most imperfect times. When it's late and I'm hungry...Fellini's. When I want to grab food with a friend and don't have much time...Fellini's. When I want real pizza with fresh toppings...Fellini's!

There are multiple locations in Atlanta (open to either midnight or 2am), so I think people sometimes underrate this amazing food! It deserves to be located all over Atlanta because it's delicious!!

My pizza from the other night - always
with a side of ranch dressing!

I love their white pizza and topping it with pineapples, spinach, banana peppers, pepperoni or meatballs - yum.