The Truth About Being an Intern in Los Angeles (Guest Post).

hello endless bliss readers!! i am so grateful that tiffany let me take over the blog for the day!! i'm lauren and i blog over at lot 48!!  what you will find on my blog is lots of stories about life, entertainemnt, and everything in between.  you will rarely find recipes posts, fashion posts or beauty posts.  that is just not my thing!! 

i love to write.  and i love television.  so naturally, i moved to los angeles my senior year of college for a semester to do an internship at two production agencies.  i wanted (and honestly, still do) want(ed) to be a sitcom writer.   i wanted to be tina fey, mindy kaling, a strong female sitcom writer.  that is what i wanted to be, and still do.

i spent 4 months working in the trenches of hollywood, and boy do i have some stories to share with you!! so let's begin!! 

i love bringing up the devil wear's prada while talking about my internship in LA is very accurate.  the thing is, andy would not have done anything that she did in the movie.  an intern does those things.  it would have bee an intern who drove the car, picked up the dog, got the coffee, etc.  an assistant does not have time for that.  they pass off allllll those tasks to an intern.   i can't even tell you how many times i went to whole foods, trader joes, ralphs, etc.  

in fact, every single monday at one production company, all us interns would take turns going to the grocery store.  and we would go to ralph's and trader joe's because there were very specific things we had to get.  we would spend usually about $600 and then have to load all the food from the parking garage into the small, small, tiny tiny kitchen in the office.  doesn't that sound like something andy would do?? NO!!! the interns do it!! 

there was a cafe downstairs from that company, so i can't even tell you how many times i was sent down there to get coffee.  also, if a producer wanted lunch from somewhere, anywhere, i was sent to go get it.  it didn't matter if it was down the street or 30 miles away, i was sent to get it.  thank goodness that we got reimbursed for gas, but as it turned out, when i was finished with my internship, i was never sent a check as i guess i filled out the sheet wrong?????? 

one of the biggest parts of being an intern, besides running errands was being a "reader."  you might have heard this term before.  what that means is an intern is the very first person to read a script when it comes through the door.  isn't that interesting?? you would think that the producer's would be the first to read it, but they don't have time to read hundreds of really crappy scripts, so the first person to read is an intern.  if we think it is any good, then we pass it along to the producer's assistant.  then if they think it is any good, then it goes to the producer.  then maybe maybe maybe if you are suuuper lucky, the produdcer likes it.  then it goes to the head of  the company.  then maybe a studio buys it.  then it sits on a shelf for 10 years and nothing every happens. 99% of the time.

it is a fun and cool responsibility, to get to read the scripts first.  it's cool!! don't let the power go to your head. because it really is a lot of responsibility.  when reading a script and deciding whether or not to pass it on, us interns came up with a rule: if you wouldn't put your own blood, sweat and tears  and your own money into making the movie, then don't pass it along.  only pass it along if you are that passionate about it.  i didn't pass along many scripts.  a lot were books as well.  books that they wanted to know if they should turn into a movie.  i read so much bad crap. HORRIBLE scripts, HORRIBLE books, horrible writing.  

in order to be qualified to do such important things, you had to do a test where you "covered" (technically, the act of reading a script and writing a report on it with your feedback is called "script coverage" or "coverage") a dummy script and then gave your feedback before they hired you.  if they liked your taste, if you could show that you knew what made a good movie/show, you got in with the company. 

when an assistant was sick, you had to take over their desk for the day.  this was the most terrifying and most terrifying thing of my life.  literally, i have never been more scared than when i had to do that. it is called "covering a desk."  the first thing that makes it so terrifying was that the phones were so complicated.   i dropped calls more than i would like to admit.  it was also very scary and intimating work because you would answer the phone and you hear “martin scorsese calling for ------“and you’re thinking holy s**** but you try to keep your cool anyway.  then you pray to the heavens that you don’t drop the call again and that you don’t mess up.  then the producer says “get me ------!!” and then you have to go through the very complicated program to find the number for said person.  and the person who answers when you call for ----- is the agent.  so you say “i have --- for -----“ and then the other assistant says “one minute” and then you wait and wait hoping the producer doesn’t yell “what’s taking so long!!” TERRIFYING!!

most of the producers were nice, but there was one guy who was the devil.  he was absolutely the meanest, scariest man i have ever met.  i had to cover his desk one day and i left in tears.  when i started working for the company, everyone said “stay away from ----- he is so mean pray you never have to cover his desk.”  this is so not helpful!! why would you tell me that??!?! that just makes me more terrified!! then when the assistant was walking me through how to do her job before she left for the day because she had a fever she kept saying “i am so scared for you, oh boy, oh boy” and i’m like why are you people saying these things!! this is the opposite of what you should be saying!!! i felt like i was set up to fail.  i did an absolutely horrible job.  it was one of the most horrible days of my life.   i was so scared all day, i did a horrible job.  i  did a much better job for the producers who were nice.  in fact, i rocked it for those who were nice.  being nice goes such a long way!! i was angry at all the people who said “stay away from ----“ because they set me up to fail!! it was so not helpful!!

there are a million more LA stories i could tell, but i think that is all for the day!! be sure to stop by my blog to visit and say hi!! 

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I Learned the Hard Way That Money Doesn't Buy Happiness.

I think we've all been told that we should do what makes us happy and not what brings us more money. Like an idiot, I didn't follow this advice after college. My senior year at Louisiana Tech, I was lost. While all of my friends already had jobs lined up or were re-enrolling into different schools, I was sifting through my pathetic list of options:
1) Move back in with my parents and find a job close to home. 2) Find a summer internship and cross my fingers it turns into a job. If not, I'll find something else. 3) Go the career fair, apply for jobs, and hope I get one.
I went with option three. I had plans to go to the career fair anyway, regardless of the fact that most of the companies attending were geared more toward engineering students, and the companies that were there for business students weren't ones I was particularly interested in. 
I ended up setting up two interviews with two companies that I won't name here. They both  actually went really well. With one company, I got offered to do a second interview. I blew the second interview though. It was a pretty tough one, and I didn't have an answer to one of the questions. I walked out feeling confident that I didn't get it, and I was proven right. With the second company, I was hired on the spot. I was excited to have a back-up plan in case something better didn't come along. The pay was very decent. I would be paid salary for the first time in my life. Benefits were awesome. Plus, I would still get to work in my college town, so I was pretty excited about that.
Totally unrelated: That same day, I was offered a job to work as a camp counselor in Pennsylvania, and I hesitantly asked the person who hired me at the aforementioned unnamed company above if I would be able to start in August rather than June, and they allowed me to. I figured any company with that amount of leniency had to be worth working for because it just made them seem understanding. 

Irrelevant camp picture to go with that irrelevant tidbit.

Anyway, fast forward to August. I had my first day. It was just me and two other people working - the boss and the cashier. I had no idea that the staff was going to be so small. Just the three of us. After my first day of work, I went home crying and had Jon come over to comfort me. Little did I know I would be crying every day after work for the next three months. Yes, I was making lots of money, but I realized that my happiness was much more precious to me than the amount of money in my bank account. 
You're probably wondering why I didn't just quit. Well, I had no other options, so I had to just stick it out until I had one. 
In November, I was texting one of my friends from Tech, and I was telling her about how much I disliked my job. She told me that they were hiring at the hotel she was working at back in my hometown. Even though it meant that I would have to move back in with my parents and be paid hourly at a job that I didn't even need a degree for, I still jumped at the opportunity. The prospect of working in hospitality just tugged at my heart, and I knew that I was making the right decision. By mid-month, I was all moved back in with my parents in my high school room training to be a front desk agent at a hotel. And you know what? I was the happiest I had been since I left summer camp. I felt like I was finally doing something that would actually lead to greater things for me, and I was so right. I was the first promotion at the hotel, and now I have an office, my own desk, an official email and even a business card all because I chose happiness over money. 
While I'm still making less than what I was at that awful job I worked at for three months, I still make enough to live comfortably, obviously because I'm going to Europe, and I paid for that all on my own. 
So while you may think it's best to chase the money, I assure you that money doesn't buy happiness. Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way. 
***************************************************************************** Meet my sweet friend, Mary!

I'm Mary, the girl behind, Eat Drink & Be Mary.  I'm a girl in her twenties who recently graduated college, and am now learning to love long distance.  A coffee loving, DIY crafting, recipe trying, legging wearing, Instagram obsessed, aspiring teacher and Christian.  Just trying to find my place in this "big girl" world, one blog post at a time.  You can often find me raving about a recipe I recently tried, an outfit I got a great deal on, or just a hodge podge of what's on my mind lately.  Pour a cup of coffee, pull up a chair & stick around for what I'm super excited to share with you today...

What are you looking forward to this summer?

This summer I'm looking forward to beach trips (even though I've already taken several) and my family is road tripping to Colorado & Wyoming.  Basically relaxation & a good dose of Vitamin D.

What is your favorite place that you've visited? 

My favorite place I've ever visited is England, my clogging team went the past summer and it was a blast!

Where would you go on your dream vacation?

My dream vacation would be Spain or somewhere tropical.

For more from Mary, click the links below!

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin

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Tips For Landing Your First Job.

When you're straight out of college, it can be frightening to search for your first "real" job. It's not like interviewing for a server position at a local restaurant or a cashier position at a retail store, though those interviews and jobs can be equally as nerve wrecking. When you step into the so-called "real world" with your portfolio, it's easy to get discouraged, especially if you know you're going up against a number of other candidates.
So what's the secret to beating out everyone else and making them pick you for the job? Preparation. It's rare that someone can just walk into an interview with little to no preparation and land it. I know I've never done it, and for those of you who have, I'm freaking jealous.
Here are few tips that can help you when you're looking to start your career.

HAVE A KICK-BUTT RESUME (and cover letter if you need it) Your resume is the first impression a company has of you. It should reflect who you are. Your personality. Your strengths. Your skills that are relevant to the job. It's important that each of your resumes are personalized for each position that you're applying for. If you're applying for two jobs that require different skills, you should have two resumes that highlight the experience you have that's relevant for each position. Don't just hand out a generic resume to each company. 
If you don't know where to get started with your resume, Google templates or ask a friend. If you're still in school, utilize your career center! They are there to help you. Also, ask for advice from your parents or your parents' friends or other adults you may know. Look online for tips on how to word your job descriptions. Resources are everywhere. Use them to make your resume stand out against the crowd. 
Do:  -- Print your resume on resume paper. It really does make a huge difference. -- Add some color to your resume. It will make it pop! -- Get a professional portfolio for your resume and other documents you may need for your interview.  -- Save a copy of your resume as a PDF. If you have to send your resume electronically, it may not look how you want it to on a different computer. If you save and send your resume as a PDF, it will look the same no matter where they open up the document.
Don't: -- Put a picture of yourself on your resume unless you're applying for some sort of modeling or acting job. -- Include anything about job references. If they need them, they'll ask for them. You should have this information ready on a separate sheet of paper if they need it. It may also already be part of the job application if you have to fill one out.
RESEARCH THE COMPANY A lot of recent college grads tend to apply for a lot of jobs at once. That's wonderful, but make sure you keep up with where you've sent your resume. If you get called for an interview for a company, don't go in blindsided. Learn a little bit about the company. Most interviewers will ask what you know about the company, and if you say you don't know anything, it will look like you aren't really interested in working there. You don't have learn everything about the business, but know enough to show that you actually care about getting the job. If the interviewer asks what you know, tell them an abbreviated version of it. They'll most likely go into a short spiel that gives you further details. 
Knowing what the company does will also help with both your resume and your interview. It will enable you to highlight your strengths and the qualities you'll be able to bring to the company.
PRACTICE The key to a great interview is practice, practice, practice. What can you do to prepare? -- Google top interview questions and write down your answers to them -- Research interview questions and tips about the specific company. If it's a larger corporation, there may be some people who have interviewed with them before that have some tips and some may even provide you with questions that they were asked. -- YouTube tips for a good interview -- Practice giving your answers in front of a mirror -- Have a mock interview with a friend or family member
DRESS THE PART One tip I heard that I've always followed is to dress a little nicer than the people who work there. No one is going to take you seriously if you show up to an interview dressed down. Keep it business-y. If you don't have any ideas, use Google to search for tips. Pinterest is also full of ideas for business looks. Remember: It's better to be overdressed than underdressed. 
Do: -- Wear panty hose if you wear a skirt.  -- Do your nails. We don't want them chipped at your interview. Not a good first impression. -- Take out any visible piercings, other than your ears. Unless you're interviewing for a part in a TV or at a tattoo parlor, it may be best to lose the piercings. Just temporarily.  Don't: -- Show any cleavage. It's unprofessional. -- Wear open-toe shoes. Also unprofessional. You should also keep your heel under 5 inches. -- Wear too much jewelry. If it makes noise, it might be best to take it off. -- Put on an excessive amount of perfume or body spray. It would be horrible luck if the smell irritated your interviewer. 
HAVE A FIRM HANDSHAKE As a person with small hands, it's easy for me to have a weak handshake. A firm handshake is a sign of confidence, so practice your handshake. It sounds silly, but you really should.
MAKE EYE CONTACT I have trouble with this one. I can look at someone for awhile, but then I get nervous and turn away. Don't be like me. Make eye contact. Maintaining eye contact lets the interviewer know that you are confident and interested in the position and the company. 
BE HONEST The person interviewing you is not expecting you to be perfect. There are loads of people who are less qualified for jobs but get hired because they would get along better with the team. You don't have to know everything about the job you're applying for, but you do have to have some knowledge and possibly a little experience. What you don't know, they'll take the time to teach you, so don't go in trying to be perfect. None of us are flawless, and you're interviewer knows that, so just be honest with them.
One question that always trips people up is "What's your biggest weakness?" Some people say that you should take a negative thing and turn it into a positive, like "I'm a busybody, and I tend to do too much." I've never been a big believer in that. My advice is to be honest to a point. You don't want to say that you're always late or that you're a big procrastinator, because those are two qualities that your potential employer is definitely not looking for, but you also don't want to lie. 
MAKE THE INTERVIEW A CONVERSATION Interviewers aren't trying to torture you by throwing a million questions at you; they're simply just trying to get to know you, so be yourself. Don't make the interview a Q&A session. Personalize it. Make the interviewer laugh. Try to relate to them. Allow them to get to know you. 
When you're working in a business, a big part of being considered for a position is the ability to get along with everyone else. They aren't going to pick someone to join the staff that they don't think will get along with the team. I know it can be difficult, but loosen up and just be yourself. Just have a conversation.
FOLLOW UP After you shut the door behind you after your interview is through, it doesn't actually mean that you're done. It's crucial that you follow up your interview with a thank you card or email. Some people don't take the time to do that, and in some cases, it can make all the difference. If a company is interviewing dozens of potential candidates, how will they keep all of them straight? Sometimes a follow up thank you card or email is the perfect thing to make you stand out in their minds and remind them why you are deserving of the position.
Keep in mind that it is possible for you to do everything 100% right and still not get hired for a position. It's a dog-eat-dog world when it comes to the work force, and you aren't going to get every job you apply for. I applied for countless positions after college before I got to where I am, and I still have a lot more dreams I would like to fulfill. Try not to get discouraged if things don't work out the way that you want them to. As the old adage says, "When one door closes, another door opens."
****************************************************************************** Meet my wonderful friend, Mo!

I'm Mo and I'm multipassionate creative! I serve as a digital media designer and producer for others and blog over at OllivanderMo.com. I love cooking, dancing, and all kinds of art. On my free time, I also put out vlogs and produce beauty videos on YouTube. I love making friends online, so come over and say "Hi!"
What are you looking forward to this summer? I'm looking forward to moving into a new apartment and getting the next chapter of my life started! 
Where is your favorite place that you've visited? Generally, I take trips based on events (aka conventions) so, I would have to say either Orlando, FL for Infinitus 2010 at Orlando Studios or Anaheim, CA for VidCon 2012! 
Where would you go on your dream vacation? My dream vacation would be a trip to Thailand with Jon and some other friends. 
For more from Mo, follow her via the links below: Blog | Twitter | Vlogs | Beauty Channel

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Sharing My Blog with People in Real Life.

Completely irrelevant picture, but isn't Molly adorable?

Lately I've found myself sharing my blog with more people in my life. It all started when an important visitor came to the hotel, and he went around the table asking people what they liked to do. Like I mentioned in my Motivated Monday post, I said that I have a blog. Since then, I've been sharing it randomly with people. In the morning at work, we have these things called "Huddles" where people from different departments share things about the hotel. Last week, we did a little get-to-know-you exercise, and we had to name some facts about ourselves. Again, I mentioned my blog. 
It's not like I was ever embarrassed that I blog. I actually love my blog, and as it continues to grow, I become more and more proud of it. I've created relationships with people that I wouldn't have known otherwise, and I've connected with people that understand things I've gone or am going through. I've also been presented with a lot of opportunities that I couldn't have gotten otherwise. I feel like my blog is helping me grow in ways that I could have only imagined prior.
So why was I so hesitant to share my blog with people in my "real" life? 
Blogs tend to have a lot of negative connotation attached to them. People who don't blog think that bloggers are people who just sit at home in front of their computers all day and write posts to get free stuff or ramble about things that no one cares to read. Yes, I do spend a lot of time in front of a computer, and yes, I know that not all of my posts will appeal to everyone, but I do have a life outside of my blog. I work full-time, I see my family frequently, I have a boyfriend and a social life. There's an actual person behind all of the words that are written on here. My entire life isn't centered around my blog (though certain parts of my life have changed thanks to blogging - in the best way).
A lot of people are obsessed with Pinterest, but what most people don't know is that about 90% of the pins on Pinterest are pulled from blogs all over the internet. Also, Buzzfeed, Thought Catalog and other articles from popular websites that have been circulating the internet and Facebook as of late are written by bloggers. 
Now that I'm starting to become more confident about my blog and the words that I put out there, I'm starting to get excited about telling people about my blog and why I love it so much. It makes me so happy when someone I see in real life says that they read my blog and that they enjoyed reading my posts. I'm excited for the opportunities that I foresee this blog bringing, and I can't wait to bring all of you on the journey with me. Thanks so much for keeping up with and reading my blog. Every view, every comment, every share. It all means so much to me.
**************************************************************** Meet one of my April sponsors, Kylea!
I am so excited to have Kylea sponsoring me this month, because soon we will be rooming together for Blogcation! And by soon, I really mean in forever, because it's not until January. I wish it was now!

My name is Kylea (pronounced Ky-Lee). If you guessed it wrong the first time, no worries; like the Gecko being confused for Geico, it happens all the time. I am an Arizona native who loves heat and my fur monster Ghillie. On my blog you will find: sarcasm, my love for all things Despicable Me, the amazing fur creatures that sometimes take over my life, and just about anything topic you can think of. I also enjoy long walks on the beach, pina coladas, and Netflix binges. 

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging, is the acceptance and support that you get from people that you've never met! It is strange to meet (virtually or in person) new people from across the country or world, and know that you have something in common with them. And when someone is having an off time or really bad day, I have never seen more support and kind words in my life than in a comment stream.  Plus I can jut write my heart out and there is always someone who can relate in one form or another. 

What motivates you?
I will be honest my motivation can be hard to muster up. But it’s the simple things like seeing a picture, or reading a comment that inspire me to come up with new ideas. Once I get an idea stuck, that’s when I am motivated to write about it. 

If you could live a day in the life of anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?

My first choice is my dog. I mean that boy lives the life of luxury, and just once I would love to live like him. Have people serve me food, take naps all day, and have a tolerable singing voice, it is such a rough life. But I think I would only want that for a day or two. A week tops! 

What song are you currently obsessed with?

One thing everyone should know, is that I am MIXED with my genre’s. But my one true love is country, and right now I am obsessed with Hunter Hayes Storyline. It is pop country, but it is so catchy! And fantastic to dance to in your car, with the windows down. 

What makes you awesome?

Does everything count as an answer? Haha! I think what makes me awesome, is that I love a little bit of everything. I love to see outside the box, and what is possible, rather than what I may already know. I am accepting of what I don’t know, and am always looking for new things to learn about.  
For more from Kylea, check out her social media links below: Blog | Bloglovin | Facebook | Twitter

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Motivated Mondays: Keep Calm and (Job) Search On {Guest Post}

Happy Monday! I'm so excited to share a post written by one of my sweet blog friends that I met through the Her Campus Blogger Network! Her name is Katrina, and she blogs at The Making Of: Katrina Owens PR, and she's chock-full of awesome advice for job searchers!

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We’ve all been there – searching for a job is stressful, a true test of patience, nerve wracking, and quite honestly, can bring out the worst in all of us.

“I don’t have enough experience”

“They’re going to hire someone internally”

“I accidentally spit on my interviewer”

Aside from the last one (I hope), I’m sure these are all thoughts that have crossed your mind at some point during the job search process. And although it can be difficult to stay positive when your bank account is dwindling and you’ve almost watched every movie on Netflix due to an overwhelming amount of free time, there are ways to stay optimistic during this trying time. And trust me, it’ll make the process a whole lot easier too.

{via}

1. Remember your Star Stories: Star stories are the small stories you’ll tell during an interview that really make your skills stand out. However, making a mental collection of these tidbits before you even land an interview can definitely help you maintain a positive outlook, since they’ll force you to think about all of the times you succeeded. But here’s the best part: when you finally get that interview, you’ll already have your star stories memorized and ready to go!
2. Keep on Smiling: It’s a natural known fact that people are more attracted to visibly happy people. So although you may be feeling extremely stressed out during your search, keep a smile on your face, and more importantly – stay social. Though you may want to stay cooped up in your room, applying to as many jobs as possible, don’t! Put yourself out there, attend networking events, show off your personality and…who knows, you might just meet a potential employer that can make all of your unemployment woes disappear.
   
3. Don’t Take it Personally: We all work extremely hard to pump up our portfolios and write the best cover letters, but sometimes our application can still get lost among the hundreds of others the company receives. If you don’t land an interview, or sometimes even more disappointing, if you don’t land the job after having an interview, it’s human nature to think critically about what we could have done better. But sometimes there’s nothing you could have done – you can’t control your competition after all. So chalk it up to a learning experience and keep your eyes peeled for the next opportunity.
   
4. Find a New Hobby: Instead of drowning your sorrows in the latest season of House of Cards, use your free time to try something new and make a hobby out of it! The people you meet, the skills you develop, as well as this new interest, will keep your mind occupied while at the same time, giving you new resume material! And remember: you never know who you’ll meet.
   
5. Treat Yourself: A new haircut, a fresh manicure, a slick new outfit – all of these things can give you a confidence boost when you’re feeling like the cards are stacked against you. Remember to keep your budget in mind when springing for these little luxuries, but a new blazer or killer blowout will give you the push you need to be confident enough to deliver an application in person, or ask that CEO for an informational interview at Starbucks.

Katrina Owens is a 3rd year Communications student at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. She’s passionate about all things PR, and takes pride in being a young and fashionable professional who can’t live without a good yoga sesh. For more of Katrina, check out her blog trineowens.wordpress.com, and follow her on twitter at @KatrinaOwensPR.

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being a camp counselor was the best job ever.

Disclosure: Sorry that I'm cute in exactly 0 of these pictures.

When I decided to start applying for camp counselor jobs, I did it for all of the practical reasons. This was back in 2012 when I was in my last quarter of college. I was freaking out about not finding a "real" job, so I decided, why not find a summer job and then I can worry about all that grown up stuff later. When I got the idea to start applying for a camp counselor position, it was like a lightbulb went off.

1) I would get free room and board. I wouldn't have to pay rent for the entire summer.
2) Free food. All of my meals are paid for.
3) Traveling. All of the camp jobs I looked at weren't in Louisiana; they were in the northeast.
4) I would only spend money on bills. I would be at work the whole time and would have no time for spending money.
These are the things I thought of when I was applying to be a camp counselor. Little did I know, these would not only be the least of my worries, but some wouldn't even apply.
I never went to camp. It makes me sad saying that because I feel like it would have been awesome to spend my summers at a sleep-away camp. I plan on letting my kids go to camp, because really it's just overall awesomeness. Being a camp counselor was the perfect way to experience camp life for the first time. Yes, I was responsible for my campers, but I still got to have a lot of fun.
I got to become a role model. Okay, I don't know if any of my campers would actually consider me a role model, but I like to think that some of them would. Being a camp counselor was like becoming the big sister of 30-ish girls. I was responsible for these girls, I lived with them, and even gave them some advice. Some came to me when they needed someone to talk to, and leaned on me when they needed a shoulder to cry on. Some I still talk to today. I didn't think I would form this big of an attachment to these girls, but I did. I'm like that with anyone who comes into my life that I deem important. Even though I didn't get to go back for their last summer, I still watched the talent show videos on the camp's website. I was proud of them from several miles away, and sometimes when I think about them, I just get sad that I'll probably never see any of them again.

I got to do camp-y things. Like I said, I had never gone to camp before, so I feel like a big portion of my life was deprived of a lot of experiences. I experienced a lot of things at camp that I don't think I would have done otherwise. I zip-lined (okay, that really shouldn't count because I had zip-lined before, but it was still awesome), I did a lot of crafty things that I normally wouldn't do, I went tubing (again, I've gone tubing before, but it was awesome to do it at camp), and lots of other things. Camp is like it's own little world and time passes differently there.

I unplugged. There's something about not having phone service that just makes you enjoy life more. I cried when I figured out that I wouldn't be able to call or text anyone while I was at camp. Plus there were only three computers for the staff to use on off days and nights. At first, I cried about it (don't judge me), but then I just started enjoying life without the technology.
I didn't worry about what I looked like. The camp I worked at was an all girls camp, so no one worried about make-up or spending an hour on their hair. I didn't worry about what I looked like, and there's just something wonderful and beautiful about that. I miss those days of laziness.

I made the best friends. It's hard not to become friends with someone that you spend time with every day. Not only did I love my co-counselors, I also loved the people that I met on Facebook before I went to camp, the people that I met at the hotel before camp started, the people I met at the airport when we were waiting on the bus to pick us up, the people that I roomed with during counselor orientation week, the people that I spent my off days and nights with, and the people that I spent time with every day. Duh I was closer to some counselors more than others, but just knowing that there are so many people to lean on when you're having a rough day is just such an amazing feeling. It's inevitable that you're going to cry when you're at camp. It's just something that happens. What's comforting is that there are tons of people who are willing to lend you their shoulder.

I had a lot of new experiences. The camp I counseled at was in Pennsylvania, a very long way away from north Louisiana, so it was a completely different culture. Everything was different. The weather. The food. The sky. It was just two months of living life differently. The Pennsylvania sky was absolutely breathtaking. We were up in the mountains, and everything just seemed closer and prettier. I hadn't ever eaten a lot of the food that was there like heroes and hoagies and lox and cannolis. I rode a train for the first time and took the subway. I saw fireflies for the first time. I made a list of all of my new experiences, and it was pretty extensive.

I got to travel. When I was at camp, not only did I get to experience life in little old Honesdale (fun fact: Blue Valentine with Ryan Gosling was filmed there. I didn't like the movie much, but it was cool to recognize some of the stuff in it), I also got to do some traveling on my off days. I went to Philadelphia and ate a Philly cheese steak. I went to NYC and lived life Gossip Girl style on the upper-east side. I went to New Jersey and visited Carlo's Bakery. I went to Lake Placid and toured the Olympic Training Center. I did a lot of traveling in those two months, and I had a blast.

I wish that I didn't wait until after college graduation to be a camp counselor. It's something I want to encourage my kids to do when they are in high school and college. Yeah, internships are great, but you learn a lot about yourself being a camp counselor, and you're taught a lot of skills that you don't expect to be taught, like patience and empathy. It's amazing how much you can learn about yourself in two months, and yes, I did cry on my bus ride home.
For your viewing pleasure...I accidentally left the huddle too early. Awk.

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24.

So I know that a lot of bloggers like to get philosophical and deep on their birthdays and make a list of things that they learned in however many years they've been living and whatnot. Instead of doing that, I'm just going to tell you about all of the awesome gifts that I got for my birthday. That's philosophical too, right? No? Oh well. Here's me drinking a strawberry margarita. And yes, I did get carded.

Yesterday, I turned 24. I guess I really am turning into an adult because I didn't make plans for my birthday. This year, I went out to dinner with my family, and Jon came into town for the weekend. I had a lot of fun, but I didn't celebrate my birthday like I have in years past with nights on the town and vodka. Instead, I ate sushi and watched The Conjuring, which I did not find very scary by the way, on the night before my birthday.

On the day of my actual birthday, I went to see my friend graduate and spent a few hours with her family, which was lovely, and then after Jon left, I went to spend a few hours with mine (and I watched Once Upon a Time and Revenge, and both of those shows are just making me so mad and stressed. Grr).

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I got to have a mini reunion with some of my college friends, and my friend, Anamaria, gave me my birthday present early, and man, what an awesome gift!

She got me Cassadee Pope's new album, signed by Cassadee Pope herself. And let me just clarify something here, I've loved Cassadee Pope since her Hey Monday days. I turned a few of my friends onto Hey Monday, and when I made videos and such, I would put Hey Monday songs in the background and force people to listen to them. My love for her grew after watching her on The Voice, and of course I rooted for her the whole way through. I'm so so soooo jealous that Anamaria got to meet her!

Anyway, she also got Jenae Cherry to send me a signed copy of her new album as well, and Jenae sent a sweet sweet birthday card too! It was such a surprise, and it was so amazing! Anamaria and I met Jenae Cherry (now Brach, newly married and such. Awww) when we went to see The JaneDear Girls in concert. Jenae opened for them. We met her and she was super sweet, and I bought her album and she signed it and took pics with us. And then a few months later, she came back and opened for Gloriana, and we were so excited to see her again! You must must must go listen to her and buy her new album. My favorites are "Around" and "We Just Do." So awesome.

First meeting after the JaneDear Girls concert.

Second meeting after opening for Gloriana

She wrote me a really sweet note in the card.

My sister got me Influence by Mary-Kate and Ashley, which you may have noticed was on my wish list! When she ordered it, they didn't give you a choice as to who was on the front, so she just crossed her fingers. As luck would have it, she got Mary-Kate, and Mary-Kate is my fave, so I was super excited!

Jon shopped from my Amazon wishlist. So smart. Chamber of Secrets is the only Harry Potter book that I don't have (or didn't have), and so I was so happy to finally complete my collection! Twenty years later (or so it seems). And Dollhouse is one of my favorite shows (so under-appreciated!), and I already had the first season, so he got me the second (and last, unfortunately) season. Yay yay yay!

I also got some lovely cards from Jon's family and some Europe money! Eternally grateful.

*****

I wrote this entry last night, but I wanted to add this little bit today because it's so awesome. When I walked into my office this morning, it was all decorated with balloons and such thanks to my lovely co-workers. They all pitched in and bought me an APPLE TV!!! I'm freaking excited about it, and I can't wait to go home and play with it.

*****

I love when my birthday rolls around because I just feel such an outpouring of love. I got phone calls from my dad, my grandma (who I haven't talked to since I was last in South Carolina. Too long!), and my best friend in California. And of course so much social media love. I know people think it's cheesy to comment on someone's Facebook on their birthday, but I think everyone smiles when they read all of the birthday comments. I mean, really.

I had such a lovely 24th birthday, and I loved celebrating with a few of my favorite people. I'm excited to see what this next year has in store for me!

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jobs i could be good at.

I don't have many talents. I'm not really good at anything, but I'm kind of good at some things. I'm a fast learner, but then I get bored. I like to dip my feet into as much as I can.

I love my new job, and I know that will lead to a lot of awesome things in the future, but if I didn't have my job, here are a few back-up plans:

Making jingles
I'm constantly singing. Just ask my office mate or my sister or my friends or Jon! I sing when...there's a song stuck in my head, if someone asks me to do something (I'll just sing the task), if I'm excited, if I'm nervous. There's always an occasion for singing. I like to make up my own mini songs. It's gotten to the point where I just do it randomly. Life is a song; I'm just singin' it.

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Actress
Not Emma Stone or Rachel McAdams status. I'm talking low-budget Netflix and made-for-TV movies. Most of the people in those movies are terrible actors, so if they could do it, I'm sure I could too. How fun would that be? I could travel to random places and meet awesome people. Every once in awhile, I could be in a movie with someone famous (or famous-ish) person. I can dig it.

Taste tester

I think I would actually be pretty terrible at this because I hate vegetables. I just want to eat free food and try new things. I have an open mind, but like I said, I don't like vegetables. And if something smells bad, it ain't goin in my mouth. So maybe I should scratch this from the list, but what an awesome idea, right?

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Disney princess
People are always telling me that I look like Pocahontas and Princess Jasmine, so why not channel that into being one of them at Disney? I could even be Tiana. She is from Louisiana after all. Plus all of the Disney princesses are about 16, and I look that age anyway. I would be so good at it. Posing for pictures in strangers' cameras. Signing autographs. Smiling all the time. The only thing I would have a problem with is holding my bladder. I hear they can only leave their post after a certain amount of hours.

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Are there any odd jobs that you think you could be good at?

-- tiffanykhyla.

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