my trip to Philly.

Philadelphia is such a historical city. My boyfriend would have had a field day if he were visiting with me. I took a day trip to Philadelphia with a few fellow camp counselors during one of our days off. I wish we could have spent more than a few hours there, but we still had a lot of fun and got to see a lot of the city. Enjoy the photo tour! I'm such a tourist.

Liberty Bell!

Independence Hall

Fellow camp counselors, Laura and Kelsey

Benjamin Franklin's grave

Independence Hall tour

Our new BFF, Barry

Giant Monopoly iron

Love Park

At Love Park with Brooke, Laura, & Kelsey

Just got my palm read. Lots of good stuff happening, y'all!

A photo posted by Tiffany Khyla White (@tiffanykhyla) on Aug 1, 2012 at 10:06am PDT

I also got my palm read because it was on my bucket list. She said...

I am loved by my friends and family.

I will travel a lot. 

I will be successful at my job.

She said that i would end up in the medical field, but I don't think that's true.

I am a pushover and will do anything for anyone.

I will live for a long time.

I am in love and with my soul mate.

So apparently I have a lot of good stuff coming my way. I also ate a Philly cheese steak. 

It was pretty delicious. 

-- tiffanykhyla.

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weekend shanani's.

I think the hardest part of being in a long distance relationship is not knowing when you're going to see the other person again. Even though my boyfriend only lives an hour away from me, we're still only able to see each other about once a month. It sucks.

Jon came and visited me this weekend, and it was amazing. I think the thing I love most about our relationship is that we can have fun doing anything. Some days, we're up for whatever and other days, we just like to be lazy. This weekend, we did a little of both.

1. Jon needed to get some new boots (his current ones had some wear and tear), so we went to Cavender's to find him a pair. I made him take a selfie with me while we were waiting for the saleslady to find the shoes he liked in his size.
2. We took a trip to the Wal-Mart to get a few things. I'm a collector of movies, so I always raid the $5 bin shamelessly. I bought 8 (technically 9 movies). I'm wreckless.
3. Jon used to work at a greenhouse and he got me this plant (I forget the name) ages ago. I had it inside for the longest time, and I decided to move it outside because no flowers were blooming. This was the first flower that bloomed, and it fell off. Jon helped me move the plant to a different pot.
4. We had to go pick my step-dad up for the airport. He travels a lot for work. His flight was a few minutes delayed. This was Jon's reaction to me wanting to take pictures while we wait.
5. Glow bowling. This is always fun. We played three games, and I won all three (I was shocked, really). I scored over 90 each time, but never broke 100. Shame. In Jon's defense, we also played air hockey and pool, and he won both. 
6. Jon and I have been dying to see this movie. We're children. Epic definitely lived up to its name. It was freaking awesome. Not gonna lie. In our defense, we went to an exhibit about a month ago that was all about the movie. They even made a real-life replica of the dad's office. It was pretty neat. 

We also ate lunch at this Vietnamese Asian fusion restaurant called Lemongrass (absolutely delicious), went to the Gallery Fine Arts Center (we love galleries and museums), and went to Books-A-Million (we're both bookworms, and we're suckers for sales. They were having a buy 2 get 3rd free thing, and he bought 2 and let me pick one out for free. Isn't he the sweetest?). That was just Saturday. 

Sunday was full of laziness. We watched two movies, Oz the Great and Powerful (he had seen it, but I hadn't. He hated it. I loved it. Typical.) and Change-Up (one of my new purchases. I had seen it before, but he hadn't. Hilarious). We only left the house to eat lunch at Pie Works off of Pierremont. They have the best breadsticks. Tasty. The pizza is pretty good, depending on what you get, but it's not my favorite pizza in the area. They also don't have very good service there, and for me, horrible service can ruin a meal.

I'd say the weekend was a success. How was yours?

-- tiffanykhyla

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how to be the best hotel guest ever.

Since I posted about my promotion yesterday, I thought I would do a little reminiscing about my days at the front desk. I feel like the hotel business is one of those fields where the length of time you've been there doesn't really matter. You could work there for a week and feel like you've been working there for forever. I've learned so much about working in hospitality in just a few short months, and all of the good stories come from working at the front desk.

I don't know how many frequent travelers I have on here, but I've compiled a list (y'all know how I love lists) on how to be the best hotel guest ever.

Don't hit on the front desk clerks...
unless they're picking up what you're putting down. I never was. I've been in a happy relationship for the past 2 1/2 years, and I was never interested in any of the people who came and checked in at the front desk. I don't think I've ever felt more attractive in my life than I did when I was at work. Men just constantly give you compliments. I don't know about y'all, but I get really uncomfortable when I get hit on. I'd rather just remain anonymous. When men hit on me at the front desk, I just smiled and checked them in faster.

Don't ask for a certain floor or room number at check-in.
If you have any special requests, that's fine, just let the clerks know ahead of time. The front desk usually pre-makes key packets, so if you come to check-in and the room isn't the one you wanted, then we have to go through the process of printing out another form for you to sign and remaking keys and all that stuff. It's just easier if you tell them ahead of time, even if it's when you're on the road. You can call the front desk and say "Hey, can I have a room on the ground floor?" If it's available, they'll be happy to do it. Of course, if you do it at check-in, they'll be happy to do it then too, but it's just easier if its beforehand, ya know?

Say exactly what you need. 
I can think of two specific instances where the communication was just off. One time, this guy came to the front and asked for a toothbrush. When I handed it to him, he said he needed two, so I handed him another one. He looked at the toothbrushes then at me and said "No toothpaste?" You didn't ask for toothpaste though. The second instance happened when someone called the front desk and asked if I could bring them a set of towels. It was early in the morning and no one was there to bring them, so I literally ran up to the third floor (I don't wait for elevators. They take too long) and gave them their towels. They said "Only one? We needed six." Not okay.

Don't walk in and ask if there are any specials or deals.
Especially not at an upscale brand, like a Hilton or Marriott. This ain't the Motel 6. Most specials are posted online and have to be booked ahead of time. They're also usually reserved for people who are rewards members.

So next time you're on vaca and staying at your fancy hotel, be sure to keep these things in mind and the front desk workers will adore you.

-- tiffanykhyla.

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promotion.

So I've mentioned in a few posts that I got a promotion at work, so I figured I should dedicate a whole post to the amazing occasion. I've spent the last 7 months working the front desk at a hotel. I feel like I learned a lot about myself and what I'm capable of. I've seen the good and the bad in a lot of people, and I have some wonderful front desk stories that still make me say "Did that just happen?"

After putting in several months of hurt knees, laughter, tears, and smiles, I got recognized for my hard work and was promoted to sales coordinator. It was one of those aha moments that made me look at my life and smile, because after putting in four years at university, I'm finally doing a job that I'm proud to tell people about. How I know I've arrived:

• I have my own email address.
• I have business cards.
• I have an office (and an amazing office mate).
• I get to wear my own clothes.
• I work regular hours.
• I don't work on holidays or weekends.
• I have my own desk.

Let me give you a tour. {Sorry the pictures are so horrible. I only had my iPhone handy.}

I'm so happy to shed this blazer..

and wear whatever I want! Here's the outfit I wore on my first day. I went to my school after work to watch Presents and meet up with my orientation buddies. Tech's colors are blue and red, so I look extra patriotic.

Just throwing this out there - my shoes are Gianni Binis, and I got them on sale for $30, originally $100. I was pretty excited about them. They make me 5'4".

 -- tiffanykhyla.

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celeb couple splits that broke my heart.

I try to stay out of the tabloids and not pay too much attention to celebrities' personal lives, but Wal-Mart and Target make it so easy for me to stay up-to-date. There are just some celebrity couples who are so perfect together, that you know they're just going to last forever. Then when it doesn't work out, it's like your world crashes with theirs. Dramatic.

Even though my heart didn't really break when these celebrity couples broke up, I was devastated for a little while, and part of me lost all hope for love, but then I found Jon, so it's all good.

Nick and Jessica.

By Craig Sjodin (Marines.mil) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Come on, they had their own television series for crying out loud! We witnessed the cuteness of their relationship weekly. They had been together for so long, and she was in one of 98 degrees's music videos. They were the perfect couple. When I found out they broke up, I'm pretty sure I said the words "If Nick and Jessica can't work out, then love just isn't real." I wasn't dramatic in middle school at all. Then Nick sand that heart-breaking song, "What's Left Of Me." My heart broke all over again. I was definitely team Nick on this one.

Justin and Britney.

rocor | Peter Dutton

I think the heartbreak went international on this one. I mean, they had known each other since Mickey Mouse Club, practically grew up together. They were both so cute, him with his curly blonde hair and her with her baby face. Then she had to go cheat on him and break his heart. My heart hurt for him, and I was willing to sacrifice myself for a rebound girlfriend, but it never came through. Can't imagine why. Team JT all the way. He's only gotten more attractive with age.

Reese and Ryan.

Eva Rinaldi | David Shankbone

This one was a devastating blow. With seven years of marriage and two kids under their belt, I don't think anyone ever saw this coming. Ryan's an attractive guy so I can see why that little young Australian wanted to get some, but I would never want to be the one that helped break up a marriage like that. Yikes! Team Reese on this one. I'm so happy that she's working on her second marriage now. I hope this one sticks.

Katy and Russell.

Eva Rinaldi | Eva Rinaldi

I'm still getting over this one (mostly because I just watched the Katy Perry movie last week). They were both so weird separately, so their weirdness was just a perfect match. I was never a Russell Brand fan. His crazy has always been a little too crazy for me. Team Katy!

-- tiffanykhyla.

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traffic laws that everyone ignores.

I'm a terrible driver. I know that, and I'm not ashamed to say it. I've been in two car accidents in my life, both resulting in totaled cars. The first one was completely my fault. I was in high school, and I was turning left without the arrow. I didn't see the car coming. The second one wasn't my fault. I literally drove 5 seconds from my off-campus apartment to drop something off. On my way back, this girl ran a red light and T-boned me with her Denali. I was without a car for over a year (my senior of college. Awesome).

The point is, I'm not a great driver. Most people aren't willing to admit this, but I'm an honest gal. Maybe it's because I'm always distracted by my thoughts.

That being said, if I'm a bad driver, and you're worse than me, then you just need to stay off the road. People in Louisiana for real don't know how to drive. They spend all their time putting huge wheels on their pick-ups or making their trucks low-riders (what's the point?!) or buying these tacky rims that no one cares about anyway instead of learning how to drive properly. Here are some traffic laws that are frequently ignored in my part of the woods.

At a four-way stop, the person who gets there first gets to go first.
How come nobody knows this rule? Particularly in parking lots. I understand that we all have some place to be, but we could all get there faster if you just follow the rule and let the person who got there first go first. Kapeesh?

The left lane is the fast lane.
I know this may seem like one that everyone knows, but I've caught myself a time or two (try every day) having to pass someone in the right lane because they're all up in the fast lane going slow. I particularly hate this while driving on the interstate. There are back roads and such for me to take to get to where I want to go, but when I take the interstate, it means I'm not playin'. I'm trying to get somewhere fast, so get out of my way.

Pedestrians have the right-of-way.
When I go out somewhere, I don't go there thinking "I want to die. Hope someone runs me over," but apparently all the drivers out there don't believe me. Nothing irks me more than when I'm leaving a grocery store with my cart full of groceries and this maniac comes out of nowhere to cut me off when I'm on my way to the car. Hello! I'm in a crosswalk. Parking lot speed limits are like 5 mph anyway. Slow down.

Turn signal usage.
If you're planning on turning right, and I'm trying to do the same thing from in front of you, just use your turn signal so we can turn simultaneously. Is that too much to ask?

Wave at me, biotch!
The number one thing that makes me mad while I'm driving is if I let someone in in front of me, and they don't wave at me. I mean, really?! I just stopped all of the traffic behind me so that I can let you squeeze in in front of me, and you're just going to leave me hanging?! Not okay, buster. Not okay. And yeah, I know this technically isn't a traffic law, but it's called common courtesy, people!

Apparently I have road rage. I got a little heated just typing this up.

-- tiffanykhyla.

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if i stay.

I'm a fan of reading books before they become a movie. I know it makes more sense to see the movie then read the book so that you'll like both, but that just doesn't work for me. With Harry Potter, I read the books first and the movies were amazing. If a movie based on a novel just doesn't measure up to the amazingness of the novel, then that's not my fault. I like to know what's going to happen in the movie. That's just the kind of gal I am.

Anyway, I recently stumbled upon this list on Pinterest (even though I've pinned about 3 or 4 now) of books to read before they become movies. I wrote down a bunch of the ones that I thought looked good and went to the library. I could only find one, and it was a young adult book. I also got the second one in the series. I figured if there was a second one, then I would be frustrated with the ending of the first one, and I would want to keep reading. I proved myself right.

I think the reason I kept reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman is that I wanted to know what decision she makes. I actually got really frustrated with the telling of the story because it's told in flashbacks in a way. You have this main event happening in the present, and then you're introduced to and get to know other characters better through flashbacks. Almost the entire book is flashbacks. I got a little frustrated at some parts because I just wanted to know about what was happening in the present, not the past.

Without giving too much away, the book is about a girl named Mia who gets into a car accident with her family. She has this sort of out of body experience, and she has to decide whether or not she wants to live or die.

I give this book a 3 out of 5. I thought it was good, not amazing. I am excited for the movie though. It's going to star Chloe Moretz, and I just think she's absolutely adorable. I think she'll do the role justice. I'm starting the second one this week, so hopefully I'll like it a bit better.

-- tiffanykhyla.

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embarrassing things that i do regularly.

I live an embarrassing lifestyle. I try to keep the embarrassment on the down low, but sometimes it escapes, and I just can't help it. I figure if I share a few of my embarrassing quips, maybe I'll find fellow bloggers who do the same things, and I won't feel so bad. Yeah?

I call work just to hear my voicemail.
In my defense, I just got a promotion. I recorded my voicemail, and I just think it's awesome how I have an official title. Plus, I sound super professional. So professional, in fact, that I just want to hear my voicemail. There has been a total of one other person in the world (two if you count my boyfriend) who have heard my voicemail. I just feel like it needs some recognition, ya know?

I think something in my head then respond to myself out loud.
I can't be the only person in the world who does this. Sometimes, I mean to just argue with myself in my head, and then words come spewing out of my mouth unintentionally. I can't help it. Word vomit, people. Word vomit. Cady Heron knows.

I do jazz squares in full-length mirrors.
It started out as simple dance moves, but now it's elevated itself to a constant jazz square. I do the hands and everything. I don't know where this habit developed from, but if I'm by myself and there's a full-length mirror in my vicinity, you best believe I'll be doing some jazz squares. In the famous words of Ryan Evans, "everybody loves a good jazz square."

I jam to "Nothing in This World" by Paris Hilton.
Say what you want about the girl, but that's a good song. At least I think so. When that song comes on in the car, I turn up the volume, and sing, no belt, the lyrics. I love this song. I don't know why. I can't help it. I just do.

I give performances in the car.
As mentioned above, I love to jam to Paris Hilton in the car. Unfortunately, this also extends to several other songs as well. You know those people that you see while you're driving that are just jamming out to whatever they're listening to? I'm that person times ten. My arms, hands, shoulders, hips, etc. get involved when "my song" (which is all songs) comes on. It gets worse when the song is playing from my phone or my ancient iPod since I most likely know all the words and can jam a little harder. I was hardcore singing and dancing to this earlier. Then I got depressed because I can't sing; therefore, I will never be able to join an a capella group. Sad.

-- tiffanykhyla.

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OSL.

In 2009, I became part of the 2010 Orientation staff at my school. I was so awkward my sophomore year in college. I really have no idea how I made the staff.

Long story short, it was one of my most memorable college experiences. I met fifteen people that I became unbelievably close to in a short period of time, and I got do Evolution of Dance and make a music video for the "I'm on a Boat" parody that I wrote called "I Go To Tech." There are just way too many memories to list, but here are some pictures to make up for the lack of words.

Teaching the incoming freshman some bulldawg cheers!

Evolution of dance!

Soulja Boy in Evolution of Dance

Ready for "If I Weren't a Tech Student..."

If I weren't a Tech student, a sumo wrestler is what I'd be!

That's me with my cart, dressed like a hobo.

My beautiful OSL partner, Darien.  Photo by Donnie Crowe.

Our official OSL picture taken by Donnie Crowe.

My OSL bestie, Clint. We were always doing random things.

Here's the music video for "I Go To Tech." This was my little project on staff. I watch it from time to time for a laugh. And yes, that's our university president with his arms crossed. He's a hoot.

One of my favorite parts about orientation is Presents, which is pretty much a variety show with skits and videos. On Thursday, a few of us reunited to watch the 2013 staff's Presents. It's always fun reuniting with them. This is the second time that I've gone back to see the show since I was on staff.

-- tiffanykhyla.

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birthday suite.

It was a weekend for the books, y'all. I had so much fun that I had to rejuvenate by sleeping for 13 1/2 hours last night. It was unintentional, but I decided to take a nap at 5 pm yesterday, and I woke up when my alarm went off for work at 6:30 this morning. Yup.

Anyway, it was my friend, Sarah's, birthday, and her mom got us a 2-bedroom suite at a Homewood Suites. Heck yes. It was just a little stay-cation of sorts. She made us a bunch of snacks and filled the fridge with water, straw-ber-itas, and Cupcake moscato. She also made us a little set-up for photobooth-like pics.

Sarah is the one in coral dress. Her actual birthday is Thursday. She'll be turning 22 (cue Taylor Swift). We had a fun night dancing at this place called Celebrity. We also hit up the Sand Bar then ate some tacos from the taco stand at Nicky's. My head hit the pillow at 3 am, and I passed out. My feet were dying from those 5" Steve Madden wedges (that I bought for $12, by the way. Bargain!). I had a blast though. And that was probably the best taco I've ever eaten (or at least top 5).

Did y'all have a good weekend?

-- tiffanykhyla.

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