College-ified Birthdays!

This is me (center) with nearly all of my college girl friends. 

When one of us has a birthday, we go all out. Here are a couple snapshots from last year:

Surprise glow-in-the-dark celestial e. coli

Surprise hall party with fancy custom cake!

Early this September, our friend Steph celebrated her birthday.

At midnight on her actual birth date, we sang her happy birthday and ate cupcakes.

A few days later, we went out to dinner at the Watch City Brewery in Waltham.

Waiting for the bus, birthday girl to the right

Of course, the boys sat next to each other (bad though entertaining idea) and made fools of themselves, while us ladies were at the height of our etiquette careers.

Apparently my presecription glasses are really strong!

We ordered a brownie and ice cream for Steph, though the restaurant accidentally made an two, so we got an extra for free!

Can you see her gift from all of us? (It's the silver heart locket.)

Later that evening Becca and I hung up the pinata on a tree.

We had a princess theme goin on.

Leading blind-folded Steph to the pinata!

Squished snickers

Happy Birthday Steph!! Have a great year!!

xxolivexx

Brandeis Glow Party!

Sooo, about this!

My friend Kait and I went a paint party on campus before school started. It was awesome!

 It was held in a fenced-in area on the great lawn. At each of the four corners, there were platforms where orientation leaders stood with bottles of paint. The music was blasting and we danced for a while. Then when the paint started, we ran like madwomen to be drenched by various colors.

At one point, determined to be thoroughly soaked, we wormed our way into the crowd. It was packed - everyone was jumping up and down and as soon as the paint started they pressed in. It was worth it, though. As you can the splattering was awesome. It was everywhere. In our mouths, eyes, nose... I still have paint in my glasses.

What a great way to start the school year!

xxolivexx

Back in Boston! + Freshman Flashback: Move In Day

Sleepy Olive and snoozy Shmoo 

Hi! Yesterday I arrived back in Boston after a trip home. I woke up at 5 AM to catch a 7:20 AM flight. The airplane ride was pretty smooth and we actually landed earlier. I read in Wired magazine that there are over 20 phases of dihydrogen monoxide (water/ice/gas/etc)! This was confirmed by my chemistry friends - at first I didn't believe there were that many and thought it was bad journalism. (Sorry, Wired - you were right all along!)

A good friend let me stay in her room in the apartment we shared together over the summer because the school year renter already moved into my room. 

Another friend and I crashed a freshman orientation "slumber party" (really just a dance party on the great lawn). We had an amazing time completely not caring what people thought of us. Orientation is way more fun the second time around! We ran around and danced to the music, tried to get people to dance, and chatted with them, pretending we were also freshmen. 

Last night's party brought me back to my days as a freshman. It really is no wonder no one wants to dance. There is so much pressure to meet people, make conversation, and appear cool that completely takes away any inhibition required to go crazy on the dance floor. Honestly, orientations would benefit from bar/bat mitzvah DJs who know how to make even the shyest of 13 year olds dance like madmen. (Prizes for jumping to the music, anyone?) Well, it worked for me...

Anyway, here are some photos from the very beginning of freshman year.

Me and Mom at the Mall of America right before we left for Boston

Me and Dad at Mall of America - note the nifty lego artwork. 

On the balcony of the science building. I was paranoid about arriving late to class and getting lost, so we walked to all my classrooms before move-in day.

Move-in day: Me at my desk!

In front of my bed on move-in day. It was so hot and humid!

xxolivexx