Favorite Things Friday: The Best of Thanksgiving Break

I feel a typical list of favorite Thanksgiving things would include photos of extravagant dinner tables, relatives snoozing in front of the football game, and smiling yet freezing friends standing in line at the mall at 3 am.

But not this list! This "Favorite Things Friday" is dedicated to some of the best and most random moments that occurred on my Thanksgiving Break back in Ohio.

1. SANTAAAA! I know him! Just kidding, that's my sister. I have always told her to quit using my phone to take beauty shots of herself that I up deleting later anyway, so I'm finally getting a little payback. However, Marissa and I had a blast the night before Thanksgiving watching funny YouTube videos of Glozell and Bad Lip Reading for 2 hours straight.

2. Bethany. My favorite evening I spent with this little buddy consisted of playing One Direction trivia before baking cookies and ballroom dancing to Christmas music in the kitchen. The kid is talented in all three areas.

3. Dewey's Pizza. It is tradition in the Burkhardt household to dine at Dewey's in Dayton on the night of my homecoming. "Going hard" is an understatement when it comes to us five consuming Dewey's, as we (nearly) devoured 1 large cheese pizza, 1 small buffalo chicken pizza, and 1 small veggie pizza. We had to practice for Thanksgiving dinner somehow!

4. Tree Decorating Boot Camp. On the day after Thanksgiving every year, the Christmas tree rises from the depths of the basement, and every year we smile and reminisce as we pull out ornaments from years past. THIS year, however, my sisters needed a little help in proper ornament hanging technique. I will not disclose the number of ornaments hung backwards, or ugly ornaments placed front and center, or fights over whose "special ornaments" would be placed where. It was hilarious.

5. Target shopping. And Justin Bieber of course. I visited Target three times over break; once actually on Black Friday.....at noon. :)

6. Post-Turkey Just Dance. Forget the food coma following copious amounts of stuffing and pie, the Burkhardt Babes got down playing our favorite Wii game of all time, under the usernames of Moonhead, Coconut Man, and Pea. Just Dance is something all three of us agree on despite our age differences, and I always look forward to laughing and dancing with the two of them to our favorite songs.

Happy Friday!

Hidden Gems: Marion Walkway of Lights

Christmas time is here once again! And, amazingly, Marion, Indiana is also known as Christmas City, USA! Don't believe me? Check out the Marion Walkway of Lights for proof!

Stretching over three miles beginning (or ending) at Matter Park, the Walkway of Lights will transport you to a wintery wonderland of professional light displays! Walk the trails with a cup of hot cocoa in hand or observe from the comfort of your vehicle for an evening of Christmas cheer with good friends. The walkway is open every night from 6 to 10 until New Years Eve.

Have fun!

Thanksgiving Break...

...starts tomorrow!

Obviously I need it. 

Here are some tips to make this Thanksgiving Break the best yet!

1. Be thankful! Seems cliche, but God deserves our praise and thanksgiving. Not just because Thanksgiving is approaching, but because He is so good. Use this time to get into the habit of cultivating a thankful spirit all year round.

2. Pay special attention to tradition. Every Thanksgiving night I sit around with my family and watch a movie while scanning newspaper ads and eating popcorn. Being at college makes me appreciate tradition more than ever before, and I savor each moment.

3. Try something new on the table. I hated sweet potatoes at one time. Then, one fateful Thanksgiving, my life changed forever.

4. Don't be guilt-tripped into participating in Black Friday. Wake up at 3 a.m. to breathe the same air as thousands of crazed, turkey filled individuals in Wal-Mart when I'm too broke to buy anything anyway? No thanks. I think I'll sleep in and then bake cookies.

5. Rest! Wednesday through Sunday is yours to spend relaxing with people you love. Enjoy it!

Favorite Things Friday

1. Super Nintendo. Mario, Donkey Kong, Frogger, oh my! I'm obsessed with the video game system living in our room that is even older than I am. Last weekend I spent a good amount of time on the couch with controller in hand trying my best to dodge bad guys and snag 1-up mushrooms.

2. Gingerbread Lattes. I didn't even know I liked gingerbread until last week! A perfect blend of spice and sweet, Starbuck's has created the creme de la creme of Christmas coffee perfection.

3. Bre. I had the opportunity to spend three days with this girl while the other six roommates were out of town last weekend. We had a blast watching movies, eating Ivanhoe's, and, of course playing Nintendo. Bre is a fun-loving, dependable friend and I super enjoy sharing living space with her!

4. Jesus. Recently He has been showing up in amazing ways. God has been teaching me what it means to be in a friendship with Him, as opposed to a boss-employee frame of mind I'm guilty of falling into. The invitation to be friends with the King of the Universe is what separates Christ-followers from those involved in any other faith. Other religions are just that: religion. But Christianity is a life-changing relationship. Pretty amazing if you ask me.

5. Jump5. My favorite group at age 11 had a major comeback last night. Joelle and I had an impromptu early-2000's-Christian-teen-group jam session while all the other roommates were out. And I'm not sure if I should be embarrassed or totally jazzed that I still know the words to every song.

Happy Friday!

Getting Cafeteria Creative

College food is something we all love to hate. After surviving crazed lunch ladies, unidentifiable mashes, and "mystery meat" in elementary school, cafeteria calamities are back with a vengeance. Recycled main dishes, limp salad bar lettuce, and slimy lunch meat leave our taste buds distressed and unsatisfied.

Sick of the same old same old? Thankfully, in a college cafeteria, a little creativity goes a long way. 

1. Slice up some apples and arrange on a plate. Pour caramel ice-cream topping over the apple slices, and top off with crushed peanuts!

2. Vanilla ice-cream + Rootbeer  = easy rootbeer float! Also works with Orange Crush and Mountain Dew!

 3. Fill a mug half-way with waffle batter, and add desired mix-ins (chocolate sprinkles shown above, found by the ice-cream). Microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds and grab a fork for a muffin in a mug!

Cest La Vie

And now for a slice of real life...

Behold! The face of the Prisoner of Jackson Library. 

I'm a slave to Marketing Principles tonight. 

Oh well. Such is life.

A fabulous post filled with useful info to come Wednesday!

Favorite Things Friday

Today's edition of Favorite Things Friday is brought to you by....

ALL THE ASIAN BABIES!

Try to NOT smile while looking at the adorable faces pictured above, I dare you.

Welcome to a glimpse into my future family. 

(And my current one. The bottom left picture is of my dad and my little sister, 13 years ago!)

快樂星期五！

Curiophany

I felt it for the very first time strolling down a swarming sidewalk. The chilly air nipped at my cheeks; a reminder that this was real. Taxi tail lights danced down the streets like guests at a ball. Echoing car horns and the click-clacking of millions of feet created a symphony of city sound. The smell of winter and fresh soft pretzels collided as bundled street vendors called out to the crowds. Items in store windows smiled and winked from inside their glass cages. My eyes desperately tried to savor every color and shred of light offered by massive billboards, like a frantic child during an Easter egg hunt. Gaze shifting upward, thousands of glistening windows decorating mile high buildings framed the velvety night sky.

I was sixteen when New York City swept me off my feet. 

The feelings I had towards Manhattan I couldn't describe. The mixture of wonder, excitement, curiosity and longing was left unnamed, because it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. And I never experienced this kind of affinity for a city again.

Until I visited Chicago.

During a weekend in the Windy City with my family, the strange concoction of feelings returned. The culmination of emotions left me planning my future in Chicago; picking out an apartment, nailing down the closest Starbucks, and watching my 25-year-old self walking to work in heels and a classy peacoat. 

And then I found myself in Los Angeles...

Shortly before I wound up in San Francisco. 

Each time I visit a new city, the pull returns. I picture myself doing life there, jogging through Central Park, shopping on Michigan Avenue, or grabbing lunch at Pier 39. I construct a future against the backdrop of the skyline while wondering about adventures to be had. 

This phenomenon, I decided, is known as curiophany. 

Maybe the only person on earth to have experienced curiophany. Or maybe there are others who find time spent in new cities more inspiring than any tangible item. One thing I'm sure of, however, is that I plan to let curiophany fuel the pursuit of my dreams. I will live somewhere incredible someday, and wake up every morning falling more in love with a beautiful city. 

Hidden Gems: Potters House and Tree of Life

In the Indiana town of Marion,
Although very small,
A magical land exists,
To be visited in the fall.

A land of gourmet chocolates,
Ice-cream, books, and coffee.
Colorful handmade treasures,
beg you to come shopping!

This wonderful world exists
Just behind a common door,
Hidden in plain sight,
Under the guise of a store.

Just a stones throw from campus,
If you hit Walmart you've gone too far,
The Potter's House/Tree of Life awaits,
So what are you waiting for?!

Each time I set foot inside the Potters House before meandering next door to Tree of Life, I'm reminded of the shop's magical qualities. The store sells a variety of trinkets and gifts, most of which are Fair Trade items crafted and sold by people in Third World countries to earn a living. Therefore with each purchase, you are helping someone in need! The Potter's House also donates 10% of all profits from Fair Trade purchases to St. Martin's Center, which provides food for the hungry in Marion!

Along with Fair Trade treasures, The Potter's House also sells two of my favorite things: gourmet chocolate and ice-cream!

A wonderland indeed!

After buying a brand new scarf and a pumpkin turtle to munch on (see above. Looks delicious.), head next door to the Tree of Life Bookstore to find a good read and a cup of coffee. Selling a huge variety of Christian books, bibles, music, and gift items, Tree of Life boasts of a chill atmosphere to browse or study. 

While McConn and even Starbucks are usually crowded and can be expensive if you're craving something fancy, Tree of Life has plenty of space to hit the books and good prices on drinks. 

Music to my eyeballs and taste buds! 

Address: 3700 S. Western Ave.

Have fun!

Favorite Things Friday Special Edition

Well, now that Halloween is over....

Welcome to Kate's Christmas List!

Christmas should be named the fifth and best season of the year. Therefore, why not start celebrating early to stretch it out as long as possible?! 

1. Mugs. As a crucial part of the coffee drinking experience, the value of a cute mug is way underrated. It is my goal to accumulate as many different kinds of coffee mugs in my lifetime as possible!

2. My own personal Starbucks. So I can get lattes all day every day. Just kidding. But a Starbucks gift card in a stocking would put a jolly smile on my face.

3. K-Cups. Previously featured in this post, K-Cups are quite magical in my sight. By now, my coffee addiction should be several shades of obvious. I love K-Cups in any and every flavor!

4. A filing cabinet. Call me crazy, but my tendency to collect things finds filing cabinets appealing. Such a gift would allow me to categorize and store the things that I have accumulated over my life that I can't bear to throw out (old notebooks, cards from friends, pictures, etc).

5. Anything from Target. 

6. All the cute cold weather gear. Knit hats, scarves, and mittens/gloves have been dancing in my head thinking of walking to class in the cold next semester. Aside from keeping me warm, I love the stylish aspect of fun outerwear! 

Happy Friday! 

Favorite Things...

Has moved to Fridays!

Check back tomorrow for a brand new special edition post of Favorite Things FRIDAY.

Prioritizing

For the past few weeks, I feel like I've been living to-do list to to-do list. I jump from one item to the next like stepping stones, rejecting any activity that unexpectedly arises in between.

However, I'm learning that planning is futile, because I am not in control. I'm learning to rely on my Father to lead me through the day, putting Him first and others second before myself. This can be tough, especially in the busyness of life, but I'm growing to understand what it means to live a life fully surrendered to God. As important as college may seem, it is not NEARLY as important as my relationship with God or the people I love. School can easily become an idol, and I know I have to be on guard against that happening.

I'm so thankful He is here to help me, because I am just a weak little human. Good thing I've got the King of the Universe on my side!

Keeping Track of Memories

Most people, whether still in college or many years graduated, would agree that college is the prime of life. Because this era and will pass quickly before your eyes if you let it, it’s important to preserve the moments that meant the most to you. I believe memories to be the greatest treasure man can have. However, just like material treasure can be lost, stolen or tarnished, memories can fade, be twisted, or forgotten altogether.

I have found in my own experiences five methods for memory preservation that act as high security safes for your most treasured college memories. I encourage you to pick one (or several) and stick to it! I can guarantee you will not regret it.

1. Journaling. I began regularly keeping a journal since my senior year in high school Journaling is a beautiful stress reliever, and I have loved the opportunity to look back through my entries to see myself mature and grow in my friendship with the King. I also love reading about the details of life at different points in my existence and letting my mind wander backwards.

2. Bulletin board make-ing. I made a bulletin board over the summer to commemorate my trip to California. Complete with pictures, mementos, and some cute-ness here and there, my bulletin board is overflowing with things that trigger fun memories of the trip. Keep a collection of artifacts to post on a bulletin board of your own such as photos, take out menus, stuff received in the mail, anything that will bring memories of your own adventures to mind.

3. Chronicling. Basically journaling on a much larger scale. At the close of each school year, I always open a Word document and write about all the important events that occurred that year in story form. Chronicling can be tedious and a bit overwhelming, but I find once I start, I’m easily lost in my own recollection of days gone by. I hope to have my own children read my stories someday.

4. Smashbooking. A little like scrapbooking, but way more random. Instead of meticulously planned pages like you would find in a scrapbook, my smashbook is full of odds and ends relevant to my life all in one place. This includes concert wristbands, old pictures, magazine clippings, notes from friends and much more. Smashbooking lets you smash tangible tidbits of life into a book while having a heck of a lot of fun doing it.

5. Picture taking. My photography teacher in high school defined a photo as “a slice of life.” Perfect definition. Take that camera of yours everywhere and capture the people, places and events that you want to remember. 

Favorite Things Thursday

1. K-Cups. These little plastic compartments are the stuff of fairytales. Pop one into a Keurig coffee maker, press the button, and POOF! Coffee appears! Searching for new flavors is a hobby of mine, and I now have quite the collection. 

2. My favorite meal. Bacon, scrambled eggs, and pancakes from The Original Pancake house is the best breakfast. I whole heartedly believe breakfast is the most delicious meal of the day.

3. Pretty Little Liars. More like an obsession than merely a "favorite thing," PLL is the only TV show that I have started that continues to hold my attention. Watching the intricate and suspenseful events unfold with the lights off keeps my heart pounding through every episode. The saga continues January 8, 2013, and I may or may not be counting down.

4. Capitola Beach, CA. The tiny beach bum town captured my heart this summer. The deep blue Pacific dotted with surfers contrasted with a clear California sky is an image forever burned into my memory.

5. Starbucks + Target. I'm all about discovering perfect combos, and I think I may have found the ultimate. Sipping my favorite drink shopping in my favorite store made my coffee loving, retail craving heart so happy last weekend. 

Happy Thursday!

Life Lately

As my to-do lists grow longer by the day and my feet are in a constant cartoonish blur as I move from task to task, my determination to conquer the semester grows stronger. Just like the infamous Wile E. Coyote never catches up to the elusive Road Runner, I refuse to let stress get the best of me!

Some Thoughts on Life 

1. I'm currently praying that God "syncs" my desires for life with His. Some dreams that I once had are shifting, and it is my hope that I am open to whatever God has for me as I continue into the uncertainties of the future.

2. I love the fact that I have two younger sisters. Our age differences (7 and 10 years between me and each of them) I used to hate, wishing that I had a sibling closer to my age. Now, however, I am so thankful for the spunky innocence of those two. They keep me young.

3. Speaking of being young, some days I wish Neverland was a real place. Staying a kid forever sounds prime.

4. Dante's  Inferno should not be read before bed under any circumstances. 

5. Over Fall Break, I had a pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin butter, and purchased pumpkin pancake mix. Hashtag obsessed.

6. I'm super determined not to get sick this fall/winter. I simply don't have time for it, and love my gummy vitamins way too much to not take them regularly.

7. Not a day goes by where I don't miss California. 

8. I'm taking Philosophy and Theology in Film as an elective next semester. This was an exciting decision. Does that make me a nerd?

9. Would popcorn flavored ice-cream be good? A little hint of saltiness with a buttery base and real pieces of popcorn mixed in...sounds like a winner to me.

10. Often when I walk to class I'm tempted to stop and pick up extra colorful leaves. They won't be around for much longer!

Wildcat Madness and FNL De-Coded

So the rapid coming and going of Fall Break has left the IWU community drying their tears with the leaves covering every inch of campus, THINKING that the fall fun is now over. However, I am pleased to be the autumnal bearer of good news to bring great joy...

Wildcat Madness and FNL are happening this week!

So toss that tear-stained leaf in the air and turn that frown up-side down.

Wildcat Madness - (WAHYLD-kat MAD-nis) noun

1. An IWU spin on "Midnight Madness" events held at NCAA colleges

2. A celebration of the start of basketball season!

3. An introduction of the men's and women's teams to the students

4. Two words: Contests and prizes.

5. An opportunity to be somebody else for an evening (come in costume)!

6. Fun, fun, FUN!

Basketball season is upon us, and Wildcat Madness is THE event to tip it off! The giant costume party will feature a performance from the nationally ranked IWU cheerleading squad, basketball team introductions, loud music, Wildcat men's dunk contest, and crowd contests for best costume and others, with tickets to the IWU vs. IU face-off as prizes! Wildcat Madness will be held in Luckey Arena Wednesday, October 24th at 8 pm. And it's free!

FNL - (eff-enn-ELL) noun

1. Short for "Friday Night Live."

2. A bi-annual comedy show put on by IWU students closely resembling the famed "Saturday Night Live."

3. A much anticipated IWU tradition

4. An opportunity to expose your doubled-over-abs-hurting-can't-breathe-crying-oh-my-gosh-can't-stop laugh.

5. Fun, fun, FUN!

Like the definition states, FNL has become an IWU tradition that only occurs once a semester. Just like NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "Friday Night Live" is a two hourish show composed of short comedy skits, videos, and live music. Skit topics range from current events to IWU lingo and "inside jokes," to complete randomness, all unique in side-splitting hilarity. My favorite skits of FNL's past have included a spoof on a typical "unit dinner" in a freshman dorm and an inside look at the life of Ken and Barbie (unmovable joints and all). However, the ULTIMATE student favorite of FNL is "Facebook Poetry" in which a cast member reads aloud several conversations (of the ridiculous nature) found on different students' profiles. Prepare to fall out of your chair.

Despite the name, FNL will have shows both Friday and Saturday night at 8:45 in the PPAC. BUT! If you desire a good seat, plan to arrive at least an hour prior to the official start time. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased in the box office in the PPAC or the FNL table in the Mallway.

Effectively Using your Chapel Skips

Chapel can be an awesome time of spiritual renewal. However, six opportunities use spend this hour elsewhere have been allotted to you, therefore you best use them wisely! Here are some ideas to make the most of those six extra hours spent wherever your heart desires.

1.  Sleep. Up late studying for that big exam? Sometimes an hour power nap makes all the difference.

2. Studying. Up late studying for that big exam and STILL don’t feel prepared? Get super focused for a bit and solidfy those terms and definitions.

3. McConn. Sometimes nothing can be more rewarding than sipping on something delicious and feeling rebellious for not being at chapel.

4. Breakfast with a friend. Eat a stack of pancakes and have fellowship with one another!

5. Shower. In the event that you smell.

6. Talk to your Father. Sometimes you just need some Creator/creation alone time.

7. Work out. The rec is a ghost town during the day.

8. Catch up on your favorite TV show. A fan’s gotta do what a fan’s gotta do.

9. Write someone a letter. I don’t know one person who doesn’t love getting mail.

10. Call your mom. She misses you!

Choose wisely! 

Favorite Things Thursday

1. Mugs. Because I love coffee, obviously I love coffee mugs. For my birthday, I would love to be given several. My birthday is a mere 67 days away.

2. Sweet Potato Fries. Now at Culver's for a limited time! I could live on these crispy sticks of deliciousness. I wonder if my backyard would support a sweet potato crop...

3. Jon McLaughlin's green tea. The man himself was sipping on that very cup during his concert last Saturday night, and of course I had to retrieve it for him after the show! Meeting him with his half full cup of green tea in my hand did make for sufficient awkwardness, but hey, at least I offered to give it back before he signed it!

4.Yankee Candle's Pumpkin Buttercream. If I could wear the scent of those candles as a perfume, I would. Every day. All year.

5. 101's new stress reliever. And not a moment too soon. It's THAT point in the semester, ladies and gentlemen. Holding fast to my favorite verse in Philippians this week.

Happy Thursday! 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-6

The Skinny on Campus Study Spots

Okay it’s time to get real for 2.5 seconds. While college is a great experience that will leave us with amazing memories and friends we will have for the rest of our lives, the main reason we are here is to get an education. And getting an education involves one activity most college students love to hate: studying.

Studying for that dreaded Old Testament Kings test freshman year. Oh joy. 

However, to get the most out of your study time and fulfill the purpose of going to school, an adequate location must be chosen to fit one’s exact studying needs. Therefore, I have created a guide to IWU’s best places to get your study on! No applause necessary :)

Top 5 Study Locations at Indiana Wesleyan University

1. Your room. If you are looking for somewhere convenient to hit the books, this may be the location for you.

Pros: 

-Ultimate comfort. You can study on your bed, at your desk, on the floor, or standing on your head.     Whatever feels most comfortable to you.

- No worries about bothering people around you. Besides your roommate, you can play music as loud as you’d like, jump around, or sing a song while you study without getting condescending stares.

-Resources are at your fingertips. Highlighter run out of juice? No problem! Reach in your desk and get a new one.

Cons:

-Very easy to waste time. Falling asleep or abandoning your work for Facebook occur often if you allow yourself to get too comfortable. 

-Desk chairs. Lean back too far and get ready for the scare of your life. This instant terror elevates your heart rate and respiration, making you anxious and unable to focus after the fact.

2. McConn. Coffee and a great atmosphere. What’s not to love?

Pros:

-Coffee right at your fingertips. Knock out drowsiness fast with a $1.25 freshbrew.

-Good motivation to stay on task. I always feel like people are judging me when I’m wasting a precious McConn table to update my Facebook status.

-Lighting and atmosphere. The ambiance has a calming effect that sometimes helps people focus.

Cons:

-Getting a table. Is often impossible.

-  Music. Prefer to study in silence? Too bad. McConn always has the music up.

-Distractibility. Scenario: you’re super concentrated studying for a huge exam. Your friends walk by. Game over.

3. The Commons. McConn's wannabe younger sibling. 

Pros: 

-Close to the coffee. Not as close as McConn of course, but still decent location.

-Tables are not in high demand. Most days you should have no trouble finding one.  

-Quiet. Unless someone sits down at the piano. In this event, run.

Cons:

-Terrible atmosphere. The walls are gray. The floor is gray. The tables are gray. The ceiling is gray. How very boring.

-Distractibility. The Commons is a very high traffic area in the Student Center, so prepare to see people you know.

4. The Jackson Library. Land of the focused, home of the nursing major.

Pros:

-EXTREMELY quiet. Almost eerily so.

-Atmosphere. Makes you WANT to be productive. I don’t know how, but it does.

- Endless places to park your bookbag. Study rooms, tables, and chairs everywhere. 

Cons:

-No cell phone service in the basement.

-Study rooms can only be reserved by groups. No solo studiers allowed.

-Unspoken no talking rule. Secretly WANT to be distracted by friends passing by? Not gonna happen. 

5.  Shattuck. (Room attached, but not part of, the library). Where the seriously studious roam.

Pros:

-Possesses same quietness and insta-concentration atmosphere as the library.

-Open 24 hours a day.

Cons:

-Only one room, therefore space is limited.

-Illegal to make sounds of any kind. 

There you have it! Choose your study spot wisely, and don’t forget to celebrate after pulling off that A on an exam! 

Favorite Things Thursday

1. ...and that's when I discovered the Loch Ness Monster. She was hiding at the Newport Aquarium (one of my favorite places) all along! I had the privilege of spending my exit from teenagerdom there amongst the fishes last December 17th.                                  

2.  The Baby Burks. Bethany and Marissa (Fidge and Mars for short) are my best girls. They'll be standing next to me when I marry...

3. My husband. Tim Tebow.

4. Chicken Curry and Sag-Paneer. This delicious Indian meal tastes much better than it looks, promise. My dad and I always get lunch at the coolest Indian restaurant when I'm home from school. No one else in my family is a fan. Imagine that.

5. Kate Spade. Thankfully, my hometown has a Kate Spade outlet store, which used to feature the mural pictured above. I love browsing their website, pretending I can afford the adorable products. I also plan to be their top PR girl someday.

Happy Thursday!

Autumn Weekend Adventures

Hometowns intrigue me. Like Mary Poppins' magic suitcase, a hometown is a bottomless dot on the map from which hundreds of memories and meaningfulness can be pulled. I love the opportunity to jump into someone else's "dot" and explore, experiencing for the first time the articles of their life that can only be found there.

I spent this past weekend in the overflowing dot of Westfield, Indiana, hometown of one of my roommates, Joelle. The entire week leading up to our departure, we schemed and planned about the places we would go and the things we would do. An autumnal adventure was in the making!

Friday afternoon we hit the road with windows down and Starbucks in hand. The hour drive felt like five minutes as I sipped the first Java Chip frappuccino I'd had since high school and sang along to mix CDs.

The first adventure awaiting us was unexpected, but exciting nonetheless. We paid a visit to Westfield's main rice and fortune cookie supplier for take-out before driving down a hilly country road. Our destination was a beautiful grey house with an orange door, matching the leaves on the tree out front. The house belonged to a couple whose adorable blonde toddlers needed to be sat for a couple hours. We popped in Toy Story 3 for the kiddos before burning our mouths on hot Chinese food, too delicious to let cool completely. The dusky glow of the descending sun kissing the hardwood floors gave the old house comforting feeling, like it was wrapping you up in a blanket that smelled of fallen leaves and bonfire, welcoming you home.

After falling asleep Friday night watching "What Not to Expect When You're Expecting," Jo and I leapt from our slumber Saturday morning to get our day started off right.

The grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with two pumps of caramel I ordered on Starbucks run #2 of the weekend was perfection in liquid form. Coffee in hand, we took off for the Barn Sale, an event being thrown the mom of the kids we watched the night before. Watching the clear blue sky and red and orange leaves waving like streamers weaved through the treetops created a kaleidoscope of light and color as the car bobbed up and down the the hilly road. The day was perfect. Fall had officially made it's grand entrance in Westfield.

I could have left my heart at the Barn Sale. Table after table of shabby chic antiques and crafts lined the walls of the huge barn, spilling onto the lawn outside as well. Beautiful and unique collections of objects were proudly displayed, tempting me to pick up and admire everything I saw. I ended up leaving with a necklace, but only because I knew we were destined for each other the second I laid eyes on it.

Isn't it cute?

Lunch came from Big Hoffa's Barbeque, arguably some of the best BBQ I've ever had (and I've had some GOOD barbeque in my day). I knew I had to try a house specialty, so Jo and I each ordered the "Hoffinator." Can you guess what ingredients are included in this masterpiece and epic portion?

Give up? The Hoffinator is ranch and barbeque sauce on pulled pork on mac and cheese on baked beans on fries: six layers of comfort food heaven.

After lunch, Jo and I picked up our date for the afternoon, her next door neighbor/pastor's two year old son Titus and headed for the the pumpkin patch! 

We got to ride in some hay before engaging in the difficult pumpkin selection process. 

Once we had found three perfect pumpkins, it was time to butcher them! 

Jo and I gutted our pumpkins for the seeds, which we toasted later. So worth getting pumpkin guts under our nails and on our clothes. After the pumpkin execution, we whipped up a batch of pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese icing from scratch. Feel free to let your mouth water. 

Once the cupcakes had cooled and the icing set, I had the privilege of sampling Jo's dad's famous chili for dinner with her family. Every college student knows a homecooked meal eaten in an actual home (even if it's not your own) is something to be savored. After scarfing down two bowls, we took the second trip to Starbucks of the day and tossed back undertows (espresso on milk on vanilla flavoring) before I bleached Jo's hair and her dog and finished off the day with the "Bridesmaids."

Church on Sunday morning was refreshing. Jo's next door neighbor/pastor delivered an awesome sermon, and I saw many people I had met the over the weekend one last time. I was amazed at the community within the little church family. The love and willingness to serve each other was so obvious, and I decided I want this kind of selfless love to flow from my heart into my family in Christ as well. 

After exchanging our Sunday best for Sunday sweats, the remaining hours of the weekend were spent shopping, drinking Starbucks, and baking batch number two of pumpkin cupcakes. 

My two and a half days in Westfield were packed with excitement and newness. I absorbed the smells, the sights, and the tastes bursting from the bottomless map dot like a sponge, my senses scrambling to contain every experience. Though it wasn't my own hometown, the welcoming comfort offered by the perfect blend of country and suburb was a prime place to spend a few fall days. 

Total Starbucks trips: 4.