Bandwagon Weekend Recap #392843

"On Mondays we talk about our weekends" whisper all the bloggers over their keyboards this morning. So lets get to it!

WHAT I ATE 

Fish sticks and mac and cheese. Literally. All weekend. Went through a whole box of fish sticks. I just couldn't stop. It was like greasy bar food...in the comfort of my own home. 

WHAT I DID 

Absolutely nothing. It was so good. After these busy past three weekends (getting stuck in airports, catching taxis and trains and my weekend-long booze fest at the gay bar), I needed some down time. I turned off my phone. I put it in a place I couldn't see it. And then I just had me time (read: consumed fish sticks by the dozens). 

I had a Netflix binge on a new show that did not disappoint:

Anyone else watch it? Anyone else find the president like a creepy version of Christian Grey? So many one-word orders. Also, I don't like the pathetic doe eyes Olivia gets every time he talks to her. She's a powerhouse...until a married man talks to her and then she's like "womp womp can't breathe can't talk must do what you say." I'm not sure that there relationship was ever shown enough for me to buy into the way she just completely lays down for him whenever he comes around buuuuuuuut...I'm still going to finish it =)

I celebrated my sorority's Founders' Day with brunch at a club that "does not permit the use of name tags." Okaaaaay. Ohhhh St. Louis. You constantly surprise me with your hidden love of pompous richness, and this club showed that to a tee. Besides the chandeliers and antler-decor, I loved all the old women. It's so inspiring and encouraging to see these women who show up event after event, and have truly found comfort and friendship in this alumnae club. We had a panel of women, one woman for each decade going all the way back to the 40s, talk about what Pi Phi was like in their day. It was beautiful. 

I went to the gym TWICE. Hollaaaaah. Nothing like a good Sunday afternoon when NO ONE is there to test out all the weight machines and look like a fool pump iron.

WHAT I READ

The main part of "me time"? Reading. I forget how much I love to read until I get into a book and the familiar feeling of not wanting to take over until you finish takes over. I finished two books this weekend:

Absolutely perfect beach/summer read.  

The book I am literally texting all of my friends and family about. If you follow me on Twitter, sorry I'm not sorry for the excessive shout outs about this book. I want everyone to at least have the option to know it's name and read it. 

Before foster homes, before child services, there were orphan trains. From 1850-1929, over 200,000 American orphans were put on orphan trains and paraded through the Midwest. They would make stops at stations along the way, giving the children away to whatever family showed up. Sometimes it ended well, sometimes it ended horribly. Often, it was less of 'we want a child' and more of 'we want an indentured servant.' I had never heard of this part of American history before, and now I'm hooked. I want to read more memoirs and accounts from people who were on these trains. Did you know there are whole reunions and support groups for these people?!?! There are about 100 original "riders" still living today.

This novel has two plot lines that intersect: the story of a girl on the orphan train, and the modern day story of a girl in the foster system. While telling their individual stories, it also brings the two women together so they can learn from each other. 

Phew, longest recap. Off I go! Must make it through the work day so I can get to my HOT DOGS later =)

Friday Letters

Dear Snapchat:

I have no idea what you are, or what you're used for. You're on my phone, and so far all I've managed to do is embarrass myself by drunk-snapchatting (god, so many new ways to embarrass yourself these days) a boy (yeah, boy from the creepy nurse-stabbing-me-with-a-needle dream) a picture of a moving car on a highway (no, I wasn't driving, obvi). 

Dear Lauren:
Thanks for trying to educate me on what snapchat is for. Even though I know better now, I will still assume it's to send you pictures of my socks, keyboard, and dirty hair.

Dear Ellen:
Thanks for backing me up that I'm not the only one who doesn't understand snapchat.

Dear people who told me working out in the morning would give me energy:

Dear readers:

I'm confused. Are we supposed to get healthy for ourselves, or for our ex-boyfriend so he'll notice and feel immense guilt? Pinterest is really throwing me off on this. 

Dear HR: 

Sorry I'm not sorry. This is my quiet rebellion against the quadricube.

 Dear people waiting for an update on the quadricube:
Today we played pattycake.

Aaaaaand I'm off to dream of cheese-covered bacon. Happy Friday!

                   

Friday Fun Hikes

Today I'm linking up with Helene for Travel Tuesdays! I have been so blessed to be able to do a little traveling so far in my life, and a lot of days when I get stressed and think I'm too far behind in life, I think over some of my adventures and realize 'Hey, I'm not doing too shabby.' But don't worry...they're all in fitting with the spastic, awkward-adorableness that you've gotten used to in The Unreal Life ;)

A few summers ago, I had the good fortune of living and working in Seattle, Washington for philanthropy-guru World Vision. We had to work a minimum of 25 hours a week to get paid, but we didn't get paid any extra for working any more. So, of course, some of the interns and I decided to take every single Friday off and explore a new spot of Washington.  Best. Decision. Ever. We called them "Friday Fun Hikes."There were four of us 'regulars': Me, Mathias, Kelsey and Stephen. New people would come in and out every week, but the four of us were troopers all summer long.

Funny story about Mathias:

He would ask the same three questions to every single person, every single hike. 

-What was your favorite day in high school?

-Tell me about your "community"--by which he meant friends, family, etc

-What is your favorite movie?

While these questions annoyed me to no end, Mathias also knew that if he brought exceptional snacks for the hike, I would still come. (I'm talking like...Farmer's Market plums, goat cheese, sausage and once he even bought like a Bunsen burner type thing so he could grill for us. On a rock. In a stream. By a waterfall.)

Funny story about Kelsey:

Kelsey and I were both from the Midwest, and began calling all other women on the trail "Northwest Women." They were intense. They would run up these mountains, while Kelsey and I were huffing and puffing and breathing up a storm. Sometimes they even ran with babies on their back. We were convinced they were an entirely different breed.

But now the real excuse for this post: I just want to show off some pictures!!! =)

(Video of the view from the top. Please excuse the moment where I'm a 

total dufus and decide to start taping sideways.)

Mt. Rainier
This one is deserving of a post in itself. We showed up completed unprepared. Read: leggings, tennis shoes and shorts. The ranger thought we were crazy, but we decided that we had driven for too long to not play around on America's tallest mountain. We slipped and fell and ran around the snow like small children, had a group of 'serious' mountain hikers ask us if we were lost and OK, until eventually we were so exhausted that we spread out a tarp and took a nap. On Mt. Rainier. It was the only time I got tan all summer (go figure) and I have to admit that it continues to be one of the best days of my life, ever. Until Mathias told us we needed to leave him in the forest so he could 'be with God' (AKA get over a girl) and that he had a tarp, can of tuna, and a knife. We did. He survived.

Midwest kids finally feeling at home--SNOW!

Lost, again. In shorts and tennis shoes on America's tallest mountain. We are by no means the smartest cookies.

The view from our nap spot.

The best nap I've ever taken.
(And I've taken quite a few)

People who actually knew what they were doing.

If you want to read more about my time in Seattle, check out 'Sentimental Seattle.' And for stories of the adventures that got me there, check out this post about my road trip =) 

That Time I Joined a Sorority

Since it closes today, I should probably participate in my own link-up. Shwoopsies. What can I say, it hasn't been my week. It's hard to believe that just at the beginning of this week was International Badge Day. Thank you to everyone who has linked up. It has truly been a joy reading your posts and being reminded of what a wonderful sisterhood we all share as sorority women.

A lot of people have gone really deep in their posts--talking about some really, really great things they learned. And while it's true that I learned servant leadership, time management and communication skills from my sorority...I think that today I just want to talk about the little things I learned. Things that don't go in a brochure or speech or bulletin. Things that go in the heart, written for keepsies.

I learned...

...that sometimes you don't know what you're getting yourself into, but you have to trust the process, trust the people who went before you and trust that it's going to give you something you need. 

...that sometimes a best friend is one who realizes that after a long night at the library, you need a Paris Hilton's BFF marathon.

...that nachos are the answer to everything.

...that nothing is better than a sunny day and a BBQ at the fraternity house. Unless the BBQ happens on the roof so you can lay in the sun and watch the people below you. 

...that sometimes a sign of a best-friendship is when they trust you to make their snack pack for night class. Or when you think you just need a 'night in,' but they know that what you really need is for them to jump on you in bed, wake you up and force you out for a night of air hockey, drinking games and frozen pizza.

...that there is something to be learned from everyone. 

...that you can't force a relationship. 

...that sometimes caring isn't being there the most, or the best...but just consistently and honestly (Thanks, Big). 

...to give what you have, when you can, where you are.

...that being a hot mess is completely okay. One of my favorite quotes that my grand little ever said to me was this: "I remember when I met you, and I thought that you were this big, classy senior who had her shit together. Then I got to know you, and what a hot mess you are. And now I like you even better."

...that just when you feel like giving up, you should keep going.

One, Two, Three words, love them until I die.
One, Two, Three words, Pi Beta Phi.

Saturday Takeover w/ The Daily Tay!

What What I'm on The Daily Tay! If you haven't seen my "Saturday Takeover" on The Daily Tay, check it out! I'm thrilled to get to introduce my blog to a whole new group of readers =)

Here's an embarrassing photo of the face I make when I get really overly excited/love someone a whole lot. If you're a new follower/reader, just imagine this is the face I'm making when I hear you're enjoying The Unreal Life!

She looks scared, but don't worry--she loves it.

Oh, and here's a picture of Henrik because he's cute and will make your Saturday happy:

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out my post on The Saturday Takeover so you can learn a little more about me, my unreal life, and where I got this awesome blog title ;) Also, International Badge Day link up is still live through Sunday, so join the party and share your sorority story! 

International Badge Day Link Up Now Live!

Hello lovely readers!

My first-ever link up starts TODAY! Join Whitney of The Observant Turtle and I in celebrating International Badge Day, blogger style! First created by the National Panhellenic Organization in 1997, IBD is a day for sorority members (both collegiate and alumnae) to wear their badges with pride, celebrate sisterhood and remember everything what they learned from sorority life.

We want to share this spirit of sisterhood and celebration across the blogosphere, and we hope you'll join! I encourage you to link up and write a post about:

• What does being Greek mean to you?
• What did you learn from your sorority?
• What's your favorite memory about being in a sorority?
• How has your sorority continued to impact you after graduation?
• Or any other sorority-related topic!

International Badge Day is the kick-off to National Ritual Celebration Week. To encourage participation throughout this awareness week, the link up will be open Sunday, March 3--Sunday, March 10. No one is left untouched by their time in their Greek organization--what's your story?

Grab the button below, link it back to one of us, and most importantly: enjoy this chance to meet other Greek bloggers and share stories about something near and dear to all of our hearts. 

Confession: Shmexy Singles

Confession: I want to date single dads. 

Have you ever sat on the beach or in the mall with a friend, and you can't help but mention to each other all the attractive people that walk by (hey, I admire God's creations!)? Every time that happens, the people I point out are always single dads. Always.

Is there anything sexier than a single dad double-hipping two kids? Or his big, strong, comforting dad-hands picking his tiny little daughter up and tying her shoe? No.

There are several reasons why single dads would be great to date (or at least I think so):

1. They're more emotionally mature than other men their age. They can handle crying and sickness and silliness because they're around it everyday.
2. They're grounded and realistic.
3. They come pre-packaged with a kid. Confession: I don't want to have my own babies. I would like someone else to do that for me. Single dads--PERFECT. 
4. They're EXCELLENT DRIVERS (which is an absolute MUST in my dating list) because they have to protect their precious little babies!
5. They wouldn't be clingy and annoying because they don't have TIME for that. They got a kid to take care of! Relationship Claustrophobia--not a problem! 

This morning, a few of my coworkers and I were volunteering at Read Across America at the mall. Single dads abound. In response to some one's question about how the even was going, my friend responded with, "Well, I'm sitting here staring at all the cute children I want to take home and Autumn is scoping for single dads. So, pretty well!"

Truth. Confession: I creep on single dads. 

What's your Friday Confession? Link up with Blonde Ambition and share!

SURPRISE REVEALED: My First Ever LINK UP

Hello lovely readers!

Today I am THRILLED to announce my first ever link-up, which I am co-hosting with Whitney of The Observant Turtle. With International Badge Day approaching on Monday, March 4th, we wanted to create a link-up that would help sorority women connect and share our sorority stories. International Badge Day was first created by the National Panhellenic Organization in 1997, as a day for sorority members (both collegiate and alumnae) to wear their badges with pride, celebrate sisterhood and remember everything what they learned from sorority life.

I know I'll be wearing my badge with pride to work, but I also want to help spread this movement across the blogging community. I encourage you to link up and write a post about:

• What does being Greek mean to you?
• What did you learn from your sorority?
• What's your favorite memory about being in a sorority?
• How has your sorority continued to impact you after graduation?
• Or any other sorority-related topic!

International Badge Day is the kick-off to National Ritual Celebration Week. To encourage participation throughout this awareness week, the link up will be open Sunday, March 3--Sunday, March 10. No one is left untouched by their time in their Greek organization--what's your story?

My Oscar Lover

It's the Monday after the Oscars, so like every other blogger I'll be talking about....THE OSCARS. Couple points:

1. Overall--I thought this Oscars was beautiful! The stage setup was gorgeous with all those lights, and everyone was dressed so classy! I thought Seth did a great job of making it entertaining, keeping it from being too hoighty-toighty and serious. 
2. Seth--I know a lot of people are calling him out for bringing up Rhianna and Chris Brown but I've always been on the side of Jenny Johnson in continuing to call this man out. Domestic abuse is a serious issue, and if it takes continuing to call this man out awkwardly at public award shows until people realize that no, we shouldn't just leave them on their merry way and let him continue being a psycho who isn't held accountable (except with "community service." Are you kidding me? You beat the shit out of your girlfriend and all you have to do is community service?), then I'm for it. America always downplays domestic abuse and doesn't like talking about it (understandable, it's a rough subject--no pun intended).Bring it up, and continue to bring it up, until it gets addressed. 
3. JLaw--way to trip up the stairs. You proved that 20somethings everywhere are a force to be reckoned with, and that we will add to the world in amazing ways...but also very clumsy, awkward ways. 

3. Hugh and Brad--Every woman's pants heart in America dropped when you leapt to help her. 

4. Michelle Obama--really? Really? My main complaint: it's not an American awards show. So don't get on a soap box about your new initiative to keep arts in the schools in America. I'm all for the message, I just think the presenter was completely unnecessary and did not help facilitate the message. 

5. Christoph Waltz--I'VE DATED YOU. No, seriously, guys, every time I look at him...deja vu all over the place. 

Anyone? Anyone see the resemblance? Here are a few more for good measure:

Anyone? Anyone? Oh sweet Mary, mother of Abraham Lincoln, the memories are just rolling in now...he is gonna go Chris Brown if he ever finds this blog. Anyways, I dated Christoph Waltz. And that is your Monday Morning Gossip.


(ALSO...other BIG GOSSIP...stop by later this week as I reveal my FIRST EVER LINK UP with Whitney at The Observant Turtle.)

Christoph is intrigued and wants to know 

more about my link up...do you? Check back soon =)

Friday Letters

Dear Missouri children: You appear to have super warfare germs. I believe that if a nuclear bomb hit America, you would still survive because you are terrifying and indestructible. This would also be good because you're very stocky and pure-American and would repopulate America quickly. However, I'm still scared of you.

Dear Lena Dunham: Why did you write a show about 20somethings to celebrate being a 20something and encourage 20somethings to embrace it and enjoy it, but put it on a channel most 20somethings can't afford? Thanks for educating the 40somethings who can afford it about what it's like to be 20something.

Dear Missouri Governor: This was my face when you declared a "state of emergency" when I could still see the grass (wooooaaaaah crazy snow storm!),

but regardless--thanks for the snow day.

Dear horror movie previews: stop popping your way uninvited and unexpectedly into my living room while I'm innocently watching the Kardashians. 

Dear Target: You win again. Resistance is futile.

Dear Hair: Thanks for the reminder this week that you do not like any hair products whatsoever. In line with this, thanks for being so agreeable and just laying flat and pretty most of the time.


Linking up with The Sweet Season for Friday Letters!

Hot Mess: The Ombre Life

Well kids, it's that time again. Time for another rousing edition of Autumn's Unreal Life where you both laugh and cringe because you're not quite sure whether to be best friends with her or pity her. It's also that time where I stop referring to myself in the third person.

So for about a week now, I've been seeing those ads for ombre hair dye. I always wanted ombre hair, but was too broke chicken to go get it done at an actual salon. Plus, why pay $80 for something you can pay $8 for (don't answer that--there are many, many reasons)?! All day at work, I was looking forward to my after-work Target shopping spree. I had been saving my Christmas gift cards for a worthy occasion, and the occasion had come. Finally, went my cart was overflowing and I found myself questioning if it would be possible for me to push TWO carts at once, I decided it was time to go. But not without the final purchase: ombre hair dye. Dun dun dun!

Here I am in step one, remaining skeptical but hopeful that this will not make my hair turn hideous and result in having to chop inches and inches off:

Here I am in step two, beginning to seriously doubt that this dye is doing anything rather than releasing toxic fumes:

So, after leaving it on for the maximum amount of time (45 minutes), I took it out, washed it with the enclosed "special" conditioner (which smelled disgusting), wrapped it soaking wet in a bun and went to bed. In the morning, I woke up and it still smelled DISGUSTING so of course I showered, wrapped it soaking wet in a bun and made a bee-line for my car lest it freeze into icicles and break off (has anyone ever actually had that happen?).

I get to work and start telling people how much it did not work, until one very wise coworker goes "But Autumn, have you even seen it dry yet?" Uhhhhhh...cue awkwardness.

Who sits at their cubicle waiting for their hair to dye so they can see how it actually turned out? This girl. Sad to report, it doesn't look different at all. Maybe one shade lighter, tops. Apparently I can put straight up bleach on my hair for 45 minutes and only go down one shade...leading me to believe that I have SUPER NINJA HAIR.

Alright, I'm off to enjoy my ADULT SNOW DAY!!! YAY!!! Gonna cook me some spaghetti, grab a good book and relax! Hope you're all having a wonderful day!

Only the second documented snow in Missourah this winter!

Sentimental Seattle

It's true, the Bachelor made me sentimental this week. I could barely focus on Sean catching the fish because I was too busy jumping up and down on the couch screaming "I've done that! I've done that!" And, since Wednesdays are allowed to be completely random, I've decided to reminisce about my time in Seattle. Sometimes I forget how lucky I've been in life and how many cool things I've actually gotten to experience so far. I get so busy harping on myself for the future, I forget to congratulate myself for the past.

 




So, without further ado: Seattle Favorites. 

Favorite people in Seattle: The housemates I found on Craig's List two days before driving across America by myself.

Instant kindred spirits who supported my constant desire to see how long I could go without grocery shopping by always making heaping pots of food, showering me with love and pissing me off by playing fooseball 24/7.

Elliott - who never thought it was weird that I wanted to climb into hobo tents we found on the beach, and made sure I never sat in my room alone in a strange city for one day. Though he promised he'd show me seals...and he still hasn't.

Favorite weekend trip: traveling up the coast to Ruby Beach

Camping at Ruby Beach. I saw a small child climbing the rock in the right and kept demanding "Where is your mother?!?!"

 Favorite view: From the top of Rattlesnake Ridge

 Favorite spot downtown: Pike's Place Market (but then again, who doesn't love this spot??)
I can still smell the gyros, pastries and flowers now. I love the crowds, the happiness of everyone and the mad chaos.

Favorite street performer: this guy. At one point he balanced the guitar on his chin while playing AND hula hooping!

Favorite place to tan: Mt. Rainier
First of all, I didn't see Mt. Rainier on the horizon for nearly a month. And then out of nowhere I saw it. I went into work and was like "guys, what is that huge white thing?!?" Either way, a few of my fellow interns and I decided to go on a day hike there (a blog post in itself). We were completely unprepared (read: I was in leggings and tennis shoes and the boys were in shorts), but we were determined to play around on a mountain we could only see once. We were Midwest kids finally in our comfort zone: snow. We spread out a tarp, took a nap, and for the first time all summer...woke up tan.

 Favorite fireworks: over Puget Sound.

 Favorite random friends: my coworkers. My friends tell me I have a knack for meeting the oddest people, and suddenly forming friendships. These women, immigrants from Columbia, were no different. We quickly became friends and they taught me all about boudoir photos, hula-ing, immigration problems and Colombian pregnancy myths. I was there when the one in the middle renewed her vows (she had originally threatened her boyfriend that if he didn't propose she would get deported, and always felt guilty for not having a big celebration), dancing the night away on a harbor with a pink sky and mountains in the background. Oh and I won $8 from the lottery ticket she put at all the center pieces because they were "lucky in love." First time I've ever won money from the lotto!

Of course, I could go on and on about my favorite places: parks, restaurants  coffee shops, dive bars, grocery stores where creepy 40 years old men hit on you, and restaurants specializing only in buffalo but...gotta save something for a rainy day ;) Thanks for reading! Where are some of your favorite places?

Random Wednesdays--what's your random?