31 Days of SCG: Day 7 - USC vs. UGA

Apologies for the short post but I wanted to get up something this weekend to encapsulate how great this weekend was! 

Source: scores.espn.go.com via Natalie on Pinterest

My now #3 Gamecocks DOMINATED the Georgia Bulldogs in what was the most attended and loudest game at Williams-Brice!!

As much as I loved the entire game, the most special moment of the night happened before kickoff. I dare you to watch this video and not cry. 

Saturday Night Thoughts

There is no rhyme or reason to this post tonight. Just some random thoughts and happenings going on I wanted to jot down. Sometimes these are my favorite posts to read so I hope you enjoy! 

• This is the first Gamecock football season in 5 years where I'm not going to every home game. Not only am I not going I've actually been at work when the games have been going on. So needless to say the fact that I'll actually get to watch the Kentucky game next week AND I'm going to the Georgia game the week after makes me a happy fan!

• Today was an overwhelming day at my new job. We offer what are called 'express services' which can be anything from a foundation match to an eyeshadow look. I was only zoned in 'color' for an hour but during that hour I had 3 people ask for a concealer match and another wanted basically an eyeshadow 101 lesson. So I have to tell the customers that I will be more than happy to find someone to help them out, but I hate not being able to help them myself! My managers (who I love and are very supportive) and I discussed this and they wholeheartedly agreed that next time I work I'm gonna be paired up with a buddy to watch some services so I can get more comfortable. My main manager also told me tonight that she was proud of how I was coming along, which is SUCH a huge thing to hear when you only had a so-so day!

• I have the day off tomorrow and I am SO. EXCITED. Since starting my second job I've told them everyday I had off from CVS I would work. So naturally that equals no days off for this girl! AND I have Wednesday off too! I'm not gonna know what to do with myself! 

look at all that space!! 

• Fall TV comes back this week!!! As busy as I am I have no idea how I'm going to keep up with my shows, but two of my all time faves are coming back, Castle and SVU!! If I only watch 2 shows this fall these will be it. I may be a tad obsessed.

Happy Saturday everyone!! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!! 

Hey I Just Met You...

Happy Wednesday! Becky at From Mrs. to Momma had a link-up last week with a series of questions all designed to get to know some bloggers better. While I missed the opportunity to link up, I thought the idea was such a great one I just had to borrow it! I think the last '411' type post I did was when I first started my blog so things certainly have changed! Let me know if you decide to answer the questions as well...I would love to get to know some of my readers better!


1. How long have you been blogging
I started this blog (originally named Carolina Prep) in April of 2007 right before I graduated high school. Posting has been sporadic throughout the years but I am glad I did stop by every now and then to document my college years!


2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. DEFINITELY not the degree I thought I was going to end up with, but I survived and made it out into the "real world" (which is overrated btw)

3. Where have you traveled?
The only place I've traveled internationally has been London (recap posts coming soon!). In the US, I've been to North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New York (specifically NYC...favorite vacation!), Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada (Las Vegas), and California. 


4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
As much as I love my car and have NO reason to purchase a new one (I haven't even hit 60,000 miles yet), I would love to buy a Land Rover of some sort. 

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

• Poor customer service
• Bad drivers
• Flakey people

6. What is your favorite movie?
Week 2 of Sunday Social talked all about movies so I'll put a link to that here, so to keep it short and sweet here one of my favorite movies is The Wedding Date. 

7. What is your drink of choice: wine, beer, or liquor? Or water, soda, or tea?
Between the alcoholic beverages, I usually order a beer (Michelob Ultra). Non-alcoholic as of right now is Diet Coke, which I rediscovered while we were in London. I'm trying to get back into drink water (with Crystal Lite added of course).


8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
SLEEP! When I actually wake up, I've been enjoying going to Target by myself and just wandering around. This usually wastes about 1-2 hours and anywhere from $20-100, but I find it very relaxing! 


9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Nordstrom. They have both affordable and more high end items as well as workout wear (norts!) and cosmetics! 


10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
Not going into details, but there were some moments during my friend's bachelorette party last month that I would like to take back. Unlimited drinks are NOT your friends girls!! 


11. What day would you love to relive again?
I haven't had any true 'milestone' days in my life that I would go back and relive, so I'm going to have to say October 9, 2010. It was two days before my 21st birthday. Why that day? 

October 9, 2010 was the day that the Gamecocks beat the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide at Williams Brice. The day started VERY early on the Horseshoe on USC's campus for ESPN's College Gameday, then we were bused over to the stadium where we ran inside to get the best seats possible to see if we could beat the 'unbeatable' team. AND WE DID! I've been to some pretty insane football games over my college career, but I think this one is the top. As a fan you want to win every game, but I think this was one we were all surprised and ecstatic to win! It snapped Alabama's 20+ game winning streak and gave their quarterback his first loss since high school. GREAT early birthday present! 


12. If your life was turned into a movie, what actor would play you?
Hmm...I guess I would say Nina Dobrev. 

I'm going to be honest, I wasn't too familiar with her until people starting talking about her in regards to playing Anastasia in Fifty Shades of Grey (which I support!). We're around the same age and I think she is just a natural beauty. And I would die for her hair! 


13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
My senior year of high school I got a job with my best friend at Build a Bear. It was a great first job and retail experience, but would I work there now? NO! After that I got a job at CVS as a pharmacy technician since I thought I wanted to go to pharmacy school, but as you read above that obviously didn't work out. I'm still working there but I am trying to switch gears and get a job in the cosmetic industry since I've decided to get my Masters in Cosmetic Science. 

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

This is the group of us that went down to watch the Gamecocks go down to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship for the first time EVER!! While the game didn't have the outcome we had hoped (damn you Auburn!), it was still an electrifying atmosphere and an experience I wont forget. Hopefully we will be making a return trip to Atlanta this season!


15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
Australia! HOWEVER, since this is all expenses paid I will be traveling via a lush private jet. I learned from my flights to and from London that I can NOT sleep on planes! Since the flight to Australia takes a full day, I'm going to need my space and some luxurious sleeping arrangements if I'm going to make it down under in one piece! 


16. Show us the most current picture of you, your family, or anything of meaning to you.

The parentals and I at Wimbledon tennis championships in London.

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
I got asked this question in a job interview recently and had to pause and think! I definitely hope to be either working at my dream job or at least have figured out what it is and going after it. I would like to be in the process of settling down and thinking about having kids, although I have the feeling I'm going to be someone who does her settling down closer to 30 than 25, which I'm ok with! 5 years ago I was getting ready to start college and had my next couple years somewhat mapped out. I honestly have NO CLUE what the next 5 years hold, which is both a thrilling and scary feeling!!


Hope you guys enjoyed this little Q&A session and learned something new whether you're a long-time reader or a new follower! If there's something else you would like to know, feel free to comment or email me. 

Top 5 Tuesday: Finals Distractions

Once again I am linking up with Rachel from Just Peachy for Top 5 Tuesday! Of course this week's topic is something that is lingering on the minds of college student everywhere...finals! I am in the middle of what is hopefully my last week of *undergrad* finals EVER! My first true final is Thursday evening and then the one that I am most worried about is Friday at 2pm.

Since I have had 4+ years of finals experience, I am an EXPERT at procrastination and finding things to distract me from studying! Here are what I have as my Top 5 distractions this exam season (in no particular order)...

1. College Football

Even though the regular season of college football is over, this post-season is giving us TONS to talk about (I'm currently watching the Experts on ESPNU)! I spent all day this past Saturday watching the SEC and ACC Championship games and now there's tons of talk about the BSC National Championship game and the Heisman. I've always been a big college football fan but for some reason this year I am OBSESSED! I love hearing all the differing opinions and we all love a good rivalry or two! ;)

2. Youtube

O my goodness Youtube is a HUGE distraction!! Yall know I am a beauty junkie and Youtube does nothing but contribute to this obsession! I subscribe to 40+ "beauty gurus", meaning I have about 60 videos sitting in my subscription box ready to watch. This also does nothing for my spending problem...so many items get added to my beauty shopping list from these videos!

**Side note: I've been thinking about doing a post highlighting my favorite Youtube "gurus". Would yall be interested in that?**

3. Law and Order SVU

Yall know this had to make the list! It's not only the show itself that causes a distraction (hello Tuesday marathons!) but its going online to watch sneak preview clips and get updated on the latest news. And it doesn't help that Mariska Hargitay has been out and about all over NYC, meaning there's tons of photos to ohh and ahh over!

Sephora Wants by swtcarolinagrl on polyvore.com

4. Sephora

A beauty junkie's dream! As a VIB Sephora sent me a $20 gift card to use but you have to spend a minimum of $50. So of course I've spend hours trying to decide what I wanted to purchase and making sure that no new items have been posted that I just have to have!!

5. Pinterest

I think Pinterest would show up on any college girl's procrastination list! At first you don't really get it, but then you start filling up your boards and it becomes an obsession! Pretty soon you have 20+ boards with hundreds of pins and you can't stop! Here are a few things I have pinned over the last couple days (click here to follow my boards!)

Source: theamericanlegacy.tumblr.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: media.photobucket.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: collegefootballstore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Some honorable mentions: Facebook, Twitter (I sorta don't count this cuz I have TweetDeck so all my tweets are directly on my desktop), Tumblr, Target

What are you Top 5 distractions? How did you get yourself to focus and actually get stuff done?!?

xoxo

Natalie

Top 5 Tuesday: October Favorites

I'm linking up with Rachel @ Just Peachy again for Top 5 Tuesday, and this week's theme is Top 5 October favorites. Let me know if you link up because I would LOVE to read!

1. Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Triple Moisture Body Cream

I started using this before October, but I used up this last little bit of it this month and have had to resist buying more! I'm only resisting because I have SO many different body lotions and creams that I need to use up others, but I swear none of them moisturize like this body cream, even B&BW's lotion isn't as good. And  if I can remember correctly, this is the first Bath and Body Works product I have finished COMPLETELY!!

2. Davines Love Lovely Curl Enhancing Shampoo & Conditioner

I will admit that I was having a total fan-girl moment when I purchased these 2 products. The guy who does Mariska Harigtay's hair on SVU is on twitter and was getting so many questions about what they were doing to her hair this season and what products they were using, and he mentioned that this was the shampoo/conditioner pair they were using. I had never heard of Davines before, and it's a little more pricey than what I usually pay, but thanks to eBay I got the 2 for a decent price. 

I've only been able to use these a couple times since I got them in mid-October, but each time I've used them I have LOVED the results! I can't tell you how many products I have (shampoos, conditioners, styling products etc) that I used to attempt the "tousled, effortless" waves/curls with no luck. I use these at night and stick my wet hair up in a bun while I sleep and when I wake up, I have the tousled look!! 

3. Dr. Pepper 10

I may have found a new soft drink fave! I had a coupon for a free 2-liter of the new Dr. Pepper 10 and when I got it home I almost drank the whole thing in one night! It's much sweeter than Diet Dr. Pepper without all the calories of regular Dr. Pepper. Don't listen to the advertising campaign ladies, this drink is NOT just for men!

4. Gamecock Football

College football is one of my favorite things about fall in general, but October is when things really start to get interesting. At this point all the games are important, tough games that have the "we have to win" mentality. And for the most part the Gamecocks have done their job! It hasn't been pretty, and we've definitely had our struggles (our QB suddenly being dismissed, star RB getting injured and being out for the season, etc) but the important this is that we're 7-1!! Here's hoping the month of November is kind to the Gamecocks as well!

5. Fall TV

Just like football, fall television gets into full swing during the month of October. It's when you can see what new shows are actually going to make it and you need to keep in your schedule and which ones you need toss aside (and you hope the network feels the same)! I'm hoping to have a post up soon about my new fall TV faves and my tv 'schedule', but until then...

Fave returning show: Law and Order SVU (duh!)

Fave new show: Revenge (SOO good!)

BONUS: Birthday month

October will always and forever be my favorite month since it is my birthday month!! I just couldn't write a post about October without mentioning it haha. I had a fabulous birthday and can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

xoxo

Natalie

Day in Athens

This past Saturday Dad and I made the trip down to Athens to see the Gamecocks take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Dad got his undergraduate degree at UGA and his masters at USC so I've always harped him about going down to Athens and "reliving his college days." Needless to say the whole time we were down there all he could say was that it looked almost NOTHING like he remembered and the trees were much bigger than he remembered (to which I promptly told him that the trees had 30 years to grow! They don't stay the same size!)

Lemme just say though...Athens is NOT an easy town to get around!! If you've every been to Williams-Brice stadium, you know it's not on USC's campus, but about a mile down the road by our fairgrounds. Therefore, there is PLENTY of parking and you don't have to be afraid if you car is gonna get towed or not. So needless to say, after the parking/traffic situation, we were MORE than ready to get into the stadium and mix ourselves a little cocktail (hey Dad wanted to relive the good ole days, I was only happy to oblige!)

Our first view of Sanford Stadium and the back of the scoreboard

Full view of the stadium our way up the stairs

First time back at his Alma Mater in 30 years!!

My first visit to another SEC stadium!

As you can see our seats were pretty awesome! Yea we were in the 600-section, BUT we were on the 50 yard line and surrounded by fellow Gamecock fans!

View of the campus

Halfta say Sanford's scoreboard is really nice! 

Hopefully when ours is updated it'll be similar to this

(Notice the final score!)

All the Georgia fans leaving early when they thought it was over.

It was easily the CRAZIEST game, let alone 4th quarter I have EVER seen!

Field after we WON!

Carolina flag waving in all its glory!!

Sea of people going across the bridge after the game

Sea of people to the left. 20 minutes after the game is over.

So the game ended at 8:15. We hung out in the stadium till around 8:30 then began making our way down and out towards our car. Since the parking was SO atrocious, we FINALLY got to our car around 9:15. THEN we sat in MORE traffic with the non-working traffic lights. Fortunately, the route we chose took us through sorority row so we at least had some nice scenery. 

Sorry for the major blurriness but this was the Kappa Kappa Gamma house! 

So glad I got to see it. 

Gamma Phi Beta 

Apologies for another bad pic but this is the Chi Omega house.

My dad got super excited when he saw this because all throughout college he was the Chi O house boy!! He said the house looks exactly the same as he remembered and was just stunned it was still the same house!

Another pic of Chi O. 

Once we turned off sorority row we thought we were home free, but O NOOO!!! There was even MORE traffic! We FINALLY made it out of athens around 10:30pm...TWO HOURS after the game ended!! 

Overall it was an AWESOME weekend!! I got to spend an entire day with my dad watching the Gamecock on a beautiful Saturday. What more could a girl ask for???