Thursday, February 14, 2013

Love of Purple...

K-State 150 Anniversary logo
K-state celebrates 150 years of higher education.
Photo courtesy of Kansas State University.





Today is Valentine's Day in case you forgot! Hee...but it also happens to be the first kick-off day for Kansas State University's 150th birthday celebration.

There are few things in life that bring me much more joy and pride than my alma mater! I BLEED purple. Now, I may not be the biggest sports fan of our teams. I mean I fly my K-State flag more than anyone in the state of Missouri or wear my K-State apparel on game day, but I don't go to games anymore. I just don't have the time, nor make the time.

The thing that makes me much more proud than our sports team is the idea that K-State truly was the first "people's" college. You see, K-State was the first land-grant university in the country. The Morrill Act of 1862 set aside federal dollars for universities to purchase ground to build institutions of higher learning in agriculture and sciences. K-State was formed on February 16, 1863, as Kansas State Agricultural College. Not just that we started the first school for common people to receive an education, we also were the second school to admit men and women equally.


Fast forward a few years, and K-State is well-known nationally and internationally for multiple reasons. We are the top-ranking public university with Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholarships. We also have the Biosecurity Research Institute, which houses infectious disease research found no where else in the country. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility will also find its home at K-State. Not only is research done from university professors, but the highest ranking officials in our country ensuring a safe food supply against bioterrorism. We also have some pretty awesome competitive teams like the debate, livestock, crops, and other judging teams. BIG STUFF, YA'LL!

I am so proud to be an alumna of this university. In my opinion, there is not a more well-respected, research and teaching university than that of K-State. Not only is the College of Agriculture one of those, but so many other colleges like architecture, hotel/restaurant management, and others. When I tell people I went to K-State, they almost instantly talk about how I received a top-notch education.

I am so thankful I stuck with it, did all that I could do to be involved, and made the most of experiences, friendships and classroom/internship opportunities.

I try to support my alma mater as much as possible, from wearing purple on the most special occasions (like my wedding!) to financially supporting the university. When that phone call for Telefund comes in about another week, you bet I'll be sending my money to K-State! Go State!


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

February New Find...

Do you have to-do lists you can't keep track of because you have a few circulating around? Do you like to plan a few months in advance for things? Do you misplace important, small pieces of paper because you have multiple notebooks, planners, etc. in your purse?

You do? Well, you're like me, then! Even if you are not that bad but you still like to be organized take a look at this new find.
Be still my heart for a better organized life!
A sister Mary Kay consultant recommended I check out Erin Condren after I mentioned having to keep track of a work list, home list, Mary Kay list, a planner, goals/accomplishments for the month in Mary Kay, and a mound of post-it notes/notebook paper I seemed to never remember where I placed.

The one I ordered features pictures and sayings that put my goals right in front of me at all times. It is a constant reminder of planning my work. There are a bunch of other designs you can pick from too.

It came beautifully packaged with lots of freebie extras (BONUS!). Once I opened it I was amazed at the quality, too. The tabs are laminated to keep them nice. There is a month-at-a-glance and a weekly/daily to-do list. Lots of extra notebook pages in the back, a pocket to keep important things, section for important numbers, and lots of extra little things. I splurged on this, no doubt, but I feel it is well worth the money to consolidate and not carry a bunch of useless notebooks.

Check it out, and let me know what you think! If you don't need that much organization, even check out her other items. There is even a bonus this month of $20 off any product!

Erin Condren
**I was not paid by Erin Condren to endorse any product. This is simply a post on some of my favorite products. **

Monday, February 4, 2013

Did you see it?...

Well if you're one of my more than 1,500 friends on Facebook or one of the millions of people who watch the Super Bowl, you saw it last night. Did it silence the room at your party like it did ours?

My newsfeed on Facebook blew up the second after the commercial played. By far the best Super Bowl commercial in a long time in my opinion. It was impeccable timing during the game and what a better audience than those who don't really "get" farming. I know several of my non-ag friends even commented that it was their favorite commercial! The Budweiser one was super, too!



I hope you saw it during the game, but in case you didn't, here is a clip of the Dodge Ram/Paul Harvey, "And God made a Farmer," commercial. Click on it and Dodge will donate up to $1 million dollars to the National FFA Organization! Holla!! What better organization to support than one who supports developing the potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success?! I sure would not be the person I am today if it were not for the skills, confidence and connections I made from being in FFA.

Shout out to the farmers, today, ya'll!

In other Sunday news, the Super Bowl was a fun party at our friends', Ryan and Lauren's, home. They are farmers as were most of the audience that were with us that night. Each one of us out of the 15 or so people has some tie to agriculture. We also love to eat, so there was no shortage of good food to go around. I did my best to keep the bad snacking to a minimum, but oh boy, that was hard, so I did sample everything. I got a 7-mile run in that morning to burn off a few extra calories. I don't usually account for the calories burned in my allotted calories for the day, but I did yesterday! Shame, but you gotta live a few times by splurging. I made a yummy chicken enchilada dip and funeral sandwiches I'll share the recipes for later this week.

*~*What was your favorite commercial? What was your favorite Super Bowl snack?*~*