friday Archives | A Thought and a Half | Southern Food & Lifestyle Blog

Friday Favorites!

August 28, 2015 By Kate 2 Comments

I used to do these curated Friday posts pretty often, but I phased them out. I think it’s time to throw one in the mix again, just because I can. And it’s Friday – why the heck not?

So, Happy Friday, y’all! I’ll treat this post as a celebration of Friday and the weekend, fused with some “life lately” updates and happenings. Life always has something worth sharing, and I’ve been up to some fun adventures in the last few weeks.

5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Blogging

November 21, 2014 By Kate Leave a Comment

Before I get started: my blog is on Facebook! Give my page a like and spread the word, please and thank you! 🙂
Today I’m offering up my thoughts on what I wish I knew when I started blogging over three years ago. When I started, I didn’t know a thing about the world of blogging. I learned along the way and figured it all out myself, while taking a few nods here and there from some of my favorite bloggers. While my advice isn’t exactly top-notch, it can’t hurt to share it anyway.

5 Ways I Relax After a Long Week {Oh Hey, Friday}

October 10, 2014 By Kate 5 Comments

Happy Friday, y’all! I am so so glad it’s Friday and the week is over. This was “hell week” at school, and I swear it felt like I was never going to finish anything. Six projects and assignments later… it’s done! And even better, my hardest class (theory) is done forever, so one class already down for the semester. How crazy awesome is that? And to make it all better, my “fall break” starts now and I have Monday and Tuesday off to relax. I seriously need it.
So with that in mind, here are my 5 favorite ways to relax after a long week (or three weeks)!

1. Reading for fun – I haven’t read anything of my own choosing since the summer when I read Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project (which I absolutely loved, by the way). Since theory class is done, and that required the most reading, I now feel like I have time to read for myself. I just started The One and Only by Emily Giffin, and y’all, it is awesome.

2. Yoga – Or at least long, guided stretching. I must admit that I’m not the hugest fan of yoga, but I know it’s good for me, and everyone needs a good, long stretching session every now and then.

3. Painting – I was really into artsy stuff in my younger days, and got back into it this past summer when I painted Kevin’s cooler. I painted some smaller pieces to get myself reacquainted, and I’ve since painted a some wall art for my apartment.

4. Baking – Seriously, I will look for any reason to bake something. Kevin’s coming for the weekend? Have leftover pumpkin puree in the fridge? Pumpkin cookies it is. Baking has always been calming for me. I also love the creativity and freedom I have to explore and create new flavors of cookies, breads, cupcakes, etc.

5. Netflix – For some reason, I’m not capable of binge-watching a show for hours on end, but I do like to sit down and watch a few episodes or a movie at a time. I’ve got a ton of shows and films on my list right now, so many, in fact, that I don’t know what to go to next! What’s on your Netflix list? How do you relax after a long week?

Football Friday – What It’s Like Not Being at VT for Football Season

August 22, 2014 By Kate 8 Comments

Happy Friday, y’all! I’m doing a new link-up today: Football Friday hosted by Erin over at Love, Fun & Football. This is exciting.

As many of y’all know (and if you don’t, then you’ll find out now), I am a Hokie. I went to almost every home game during my four years at VT (except for three my freshman year, curse the student ticket lottery) and really developed a passion for Hokie football. It’s kind of hard not to love football at a place like VT.

Now I’m not at VT anymore, so I’m not immersed in Blacksburg’s football culture every weekend. It already feels different, and kickoff isn’t for another eight days. I visited Blacksburg last weekend, and naturally I drove through campus before I went to Kevin’s apartment. When I turned onto Spring Road to drive by Lane, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day started playing on my radio.

I cried. No biggie.

Many of my friends moved back to Blacksburg this weekend and have been posting about how excited they are for a new year, and how pumped they are to be back in Lane Stadium for football. And it feels very different to not be there, too. It’s like something is missing.

To my friends who will be there, especially my senior friends:

Tailgate every weekend. If you don’t host one, join up with your friends. It’s fantastic.

Jump to “Enter, Sandman” like your life depends on it. Make Blacksburg register on the Richter scale again.

Bring a rain jacket or something water-resistant for the White-Out game. It rained every single White-Out game in my four years. It just happens.

Scream and yell so loud that you lose your voice at least once during the season. Lane is prided as being one of the loudest college football venues, and as having one of the best home-field advantages in the country. Make sure it keeps that reputation. Your voice will come back a couple days later with cough drops and tea (trust me, I’ve done this one before).

And please, for the love of the Hokie Bird, please stay for the entire game. The team needs you there to cheer and jump around and shake your keys. It keeps them going.

I’m aiming to make it to at least one game this season. It might not be until late in the season, but I swear on Frank that I’ll be there for at least one. I can’t go an entire season without the Lane experience.

Eight days. Go Hokies.

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