Vintage

This photo of Kristen and me was taken back in the 1930's. True story.

♥, TiffanyAnne

Christabel and the Jons

Christabel and the Jons at a local concert speakeasy party.

www.christabelmusic.com

♥, TiffanyAnne

What is this "real-world" you speak of, anyway?

I love being a student. I love it even more now that I'm not at the local two-year/tech college. Yes, it's a good school, but it's a temporary place. It's a half-way point for many students and in most cases, people don't bother to get to know one another. I enjoyed my classes and my teacher and the education I was getting. My last semester there, I even made friends with a few classmates. But mostly it was a come-and-go place. Nobody really hung around for long.

Now that I am at what I like to call a "real" college, I really love being a student! It helps that I'm in my major classes. I have something in common with the people in my class. We have several classes together. I have the same teachers that I had last semester. It's nice. I also really enjoy the limbo of being a college student. For the past three years, I have been a part-time nanny and a full-time college student. It's a very comfortable place for me. While I'm eager to move on to the next chapter of my life (buy a bungalow, buy a retro moped, and adopt a greyhound), this all comes with a great change in my lifestyle.

I used to scoff at the idea of a daunting "real-world" transition. I moved out of my parent's house and into an apartment when I was twenty. I work and pay my bills. Now, however, I'm starting to realize that there will be a daunting real-world transition. What comes after I graudate? No more school? A job? A job that doesn't involve changing diapers, wiping noses, and making sure you don't get mud all over your nice school shoes? I have no idea what that even looks like!

I don't stress about it, though. It's a decent ways away. I focus on what I need to do today because, really, isn't that enough? It's exciting though, knowing that something big is right around the corner. It could be bad-big or it could be good-big. But whatever happens, it sure will be an adventure.

♥, TiffanyAnne

Partial feed

For those of you who subscribe to In Pursuit via RSS feed, you should know that I've changed to a partial feed. This means that only the first paragraph (or so) will be shown when you see the posts on your reader.

Just thought you might want to know before you start wondering why all my posts are suddenly ridiculously short. Or, of course, you might be (rightfully) wondering why I'm not posting at all. That's because I'm a journalism major and I've got scene descriptions (film class), package scripts (broadcast news class), and other things to write.

♥, TiffanyAnne

I used to be an indie rock kid...

I did a guest post over at MaryCommentary for Free For All Friday. If you want to get in on the action, let her know. Check it out if you want: Bands you've probably never heard of...

♥, TiffanyAnne

Conan/Colbert dance off

♥, TiffanyAnne

Swing & Shag

I haven't really been too excited about going swing dancing lately. It's just been blah, blah, I might as well go. Last night, I was tryting to decide what to do. Study? Work on my scene analysis? Read one of the cute chick-lit books I just checked out of the library? Veg on the internet all night?

Nah. I decided head to a college for their Monday night dance. I tossed around the idea for a few minutes...did I really want to drive fourty-five mintues to the dance? Did I even really want to go dancing? Blah.

So, I changed into my swishy pants (a must!) and headed out. I'm so super glad I went. The dance was attended by a lot of beginner's from the college's swing classes, but the energy in that venue was fantastic! Also, there were a few fantastic leads* there that I haven't danced with in ages.

See this photo? (That's me and friend/swing instructor at an event at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.) See how I'm in the middle of a huge laugh? That's how I felt all night. ^_^

♥, TiffanyAnne

*Lead: a male swing dancer. Sometimes females lead too, though.

Award winning fishie!

Anderson University's library blog hosts a weekly photo contest. It's not for just AU students--it's open to the public. Check out this week's winning photo. ;)



♥, TiffanyAnne

Summer songs

♥, TiffanyAnne

Refrigerator magnets

♥, TiffanyAnne

How to be positive when you're positively bummed.

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
Johnny Mercer ::: AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE

When things get rough, it can be hard to not "latch onto the negative." If I find myself in a funk and I don't take action, I could be in a crazy mess rough place real soon. The recession, the cold weather, and goodness-knows-what in your personal life can get you bummed. These little ideas I'm about to list are assuming that you're bummed and not genuinely in need of serious mourning. Sometimes, we need to be sad. But if you are in a little funk and want some tips out, here are some things that I use when I'm feeling down:

• Have a happy song. Okay, this is really cheesey. But I like cheesy. :D Certain songs just make me happy! Find the right song to counter your mood. Sometimes I'll need a female-empowerment song (hello, Beyonce!) or a God is almighty song or a fun swing dancing song. After some asking around, I've found that other people also use songs to counter their bad moods.

• Write it down. I have a red book that I keep beside my bed that I call my "Thankful Book" or my "Happy Book." It's like a diary, but I'm only allowed to write nice things. Even the smallest and most simple of nice things: "I had a fun time doing absolutely nothing all day with Mike," or "Thank you God for a presentation not screwed up!" or "I was really able to serve my friend today." This premptive strike on dumpy feelings totally workes for me.

• Technology pick-me-ups. If you're anything like me, you save nice emails and text messages. I love to get sweet text-messages from Mike because they really make my day. I save them and sometimes, if I'm bummed, I look back over them. Like this one that he sent me last August: "Just wanted to make you smile ;)" Hmm...still works five months later.

• Wisely choose who you hang around with. If that friend your hanging around is the one who always makes you feel bad--maybe you should second guess who you're hanging around with. If you're in a funk, surround yourself with those girlfriends who you know are going to help you have a good time. The ones who will distract you with Briget Jones's Diary, chocolate ice cream, and nail polish. Umm...except for the guys who are reading this. That would be weird.

• Do something nice for someone else. Let's move out of you-ville for a minute and realize that your problems are not the end of the world. Put the focus on someone else. Listen to a friend, volunteer at a soup kitchen or nursing home, call or visit your mother--you know she misses you. Doing something nice for someone else will not only temporarly distract you from yourself, but it's also like therapy and you'll probably feel better.

• Remember that God is in control! Sometimes, when I am in seriously bummed, I have to remember that God is in control. He may not take away my pain, but He will see me through to the other side. These two verses really help me. The first one is written on the front page of my "happy book" and the latter is a verse I learned in high school. I've posted it once or twice and I use it to remember that, yes, God really does have a plan for my life.
• Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
• For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

How about you? What do you do when you're bummed?

♥, TiffanyAnne

Heat

Like that print? Wanna win it? My friend Marco Suarez is an artist and is giving away a copy of his print, Heat, at the end of the month. Check out his blog to see some cool art and to register to win!

♥, TiffanyAnne

Not one iota

Ever heard that phrase "not one iota..." followed by various things...happiness, difference, etcettera. I Googled "not one iota of" and saw that people ended this phrase with thanks, land, taint, connection, change...pretty much anything, right?


"Iota" (Ι, ι) to us pretty much means "one tiny bit." But where did it come from? How about a history lesson!


I was in my Birth of Europe history class and we were discussing Contantine and Christianity. On the subject of the Trinity, there was a quite the "homoousios" versus "homoiousios" debate.


"Homoousios" pretty much means that the Father and the Son are of the same substance while "homoiousios" means that the Father and the Son are of similar substances. My teacher pointed out that the words are almost exactly the same. The only difference is that one little iota in between the two o's in the latter word.


My professor didn't say anything about the common phrase, but I wondered the two words had anything to do with it. I looked it up on wikipedia (the source of all knowledge) and my hunch was confirmed.


From those two very words and that very debate comes the common phrase "not one iota of difference."


♥, TiffanyAnne

Downtown winter wonderland

While going through some photos, I found these from last January. Living in the south means you don't get snow a lot, so on this day, I walked around downtown to capture everything.

♥, Tiffany

the 25 things meme

1. I used to wish that I was Caucasian. Sometimes, I still do. I like the porcelain and creaminess of white skin.



2. When I was younger I got forgotten and left behind several times. I have distinct memories of each one. My brother & sister were never forgotten. It took me several years to get over this. I don't have anything against my family anymore, but I have a residual fear of being forgotten.
   



3. I eat like a pig a lot of the time. One time, Mike and I made a pizza and split it. After I wolfed down my half, I was still hungry. I asked if there was any more. "More?? You just ate half a pizza!"



4. I used to swing dance in highschool. But I was more showy than good. About a year ago, I started swing dancing again. People tell me I'm good but mostly, I'm just obsessed.



5. I majored in journalism because it was a degree that I could get without leaving where I live. I looked at the options at the local universities and came across journalism. I chose it because I like to write and I need a college degree. I want to be in print, I don't ever want to be on television.



6. I like to get free things. I scour the internet for freebies. But only the legit free stuff. I hate the freebies that make you sign up for three gold offers and two silver offers before they give you a lipgloss sample. That's lame.



7. I have a ton of foundation. I'm always on the search for my HG (holy grail) foundation. I'll think I have found it in the latest purchase, but something always goes wrong and I need something else.



8. I have been Indian dancing since the summer of 2005. I started out as a traditional dancer. I danced with my shawl over my shoulders instead of carrying it over my arm. I am now a fancy shawl dancer and love to go crazy out in the ring. I've decided to buckle down and get some real beaded regalia.
   
   
   
9. I long for super awesome (legal a.k.a. fake) eagle plumes like these to wear in my hair.



10. I used to be an indie-rock kid. I wore jeans and tiny tank-tops to dance concerts in dive bars. I used to write for an indie-rock magazine (where I was by far the least hip). I loved the music of local rock bands. I still do. I love having CDs of bands that no one has ever heard of and may never hear of again. I still have the thick black rimmed glasses.



11. I've only ever been in once car wreck and boy was that one a doozy. I totaled my car because I was texting while driving. NEVER TEXT WHILE YOU DRIVE. No one was hurt but I was pretty dang ticked at myself.



12. About a month or so after I got my new car, I ruined it. I was backing up the drive way and ran into my house. Okay, so I actually skimmed it, but you can skim a car against brick in any nice way. I just got it back today, actually, and it's beautiful and as good as new. :)



13. I LOVE pearls. I think they are the classiest. I like pearls so much that my car is pearl-colored. I make my own fresh-water pearl jewelry.



14. I bought a pair of slouchy black wide-leg pants from Target a few months ago. I have lived in them every since. I lounge in them, I wear them to bed, I dance in them, I love these pants. I am wearing them right now. I want some more.



15. I like to wear black dresses because black matches my hair. Seriously.



16. I take the shampoos from hotels. I have a basket full of them and I use them when I travel. Anyway, I went to one hotel that had stuff from Bath & Body works! Mmmmm....



17. I seriously enjoy cooking. While I'm not the best cook ever, my friends tell me I'm good. I don't cook up something ambitious (by ambitious I mean something other than pasta) too often but when I do I feel a nice sense of accomplishment.



18. I like to host parties but haven't really done it in a while. It's fun to have a bunch a gals together for a good time.
    



19. I enjoy correspondence. I wish I had a pen pal. I like to write cards and get them back. Oooh, any takers?



20. My favorite color is pink. But not just any pink. I like FF0066.



21. I want to go somewhere. I am feeling like I'd love some kind of adventure these days. I haven't traveled since I moved to where I live now. But before I moved here, I lived in Iceland and I visited England, I went on a retreat in Germany and rock climbing in Austria, I went to Italy for a week. And when I was almost too young to remember, I visited my family in the Phillipines. I'd love to go back there.



22. I'm cheap. Like, really cheap. I don't see how some people pay so much money for clothes. Maybe it's my survival mode because where I am right now, but I keep my clothes until they fall apart. I shop at Goodwill and Miracle Mart and the clearance rack almost always. My splurge is underthings. It's important to have nice underthings.



23. My twin sister means the whole world to me. Sometimes, I can't stand her (and she, equally, can't stand me). But she's my twin sister and without her, I do not know how I would be able to breathe.



24. I love my friends. I have a few friends that mean the world to me and would be with me no matter what I wore or who I dated. We just click. I think everyone needs that.



25. One of my best friends is Mike. Not only does he have the patience of a saint, he makes me feel like a gorgeous amazing woman.
    

♥, Tiffany

How to be a better stalker

Have you heard of Pipl? It's a people-search engine that goes down into the "deep web" to help you find who your looking for. This is rather helpful if you are looking for a long lost friend or loved one. Pipl is also rather helpful if you are trying to be a creepy stalker. Pipl is, to quote Worthington Wire, a "people search engine so good, it will scare your pants off."

I searched my family members to see what would come up. My father has a pretty common name, so that turned up lots of people who weren't actually him. My brother's search turned up some public records and his Flick photos. My sister has two names that she goes by; The first one turned up her old myspace profile and basic things like that. Her second one turned up every makeup blog under the sun. My mother has about zero online presence; Her search took so long that, after waiting ten minutes, I left the computer and waited for the search to finish and got just about nothing.

Searching my name turned up photos that a friend posted from when we had worked at a camp together. Kind of neat. Lucky for me, not only are there plenty of people who share my name, but Pipl also has my address wrong. Ha!

♥, TiffanyAnne

Share with me!

I was sitting around the table with Anne Marie, Caleb, and Lauren having a little bit of a laptop party and Anne Marie and I were fussing around trying to figure out how on earth you share things on google reader. Well, we figured it out and now I want to know if anyone of you want to share with me!

You can see my shared items here just so you know what you're getting into. I've only shared a few things from today...mostly dumb things...but I promise they'll get better than LOLcats. I mean, if things can get better than LOLcats.

♥, TiffanyAnne

Go west, young man

Mike went out west with some friends in search of some bigger hills upon which to snowboard. Which means I'm having lots of girl time this weekend! :) I remembered this video he made from the 2006 snowboarding trip and I thought I'd share. I like the 2nd half...with all the wipouts. LOL ;)



♥, TiffanyAnne

Nothing says "I Love You" like a cell phone

Several cell phone companies are offering Valentine's Day sales--because nothing says "I Love You" like a cell phone.

Who gets cellphones as gifts anyway? And who gives them?

I just find it rather odd. A cell phone comes with a contract (and if it doesn't then it is usually ridiculously expensive!) and it's not like you can just sign someone up for a two-year contract that they didn't even ask for.

There are, of course, exceptions. Maybe your boyfriend was just salivating over those iPhones. Maybe you surprised your best friend by telling her that you were getting her a new phone and you went to pick it out together.

In the commercials--which clearly are mirrors of true and actual events--the people get phones as a surprise. Did the gifter sign them up for the two-year contract? Or did the gifter pay the ridiculous sum to buy the phone without any signing bonuses.

Have you ever given/received a cell phone as a gift? Let me know, because I don't think I know anyone that has.

Maybe, I'm thinking too much. I do know that I'm tired and not thinking clearly. I don't want Valentine's day to turn into a huge gift-giving holiday. Maybe it is already and I just don't know about it. I like the cheesiness of chocolates and flowers on Valentine's day. I don't care what color you make a Blackberry, it's just not romantic.

♥, TiffanyAnne

U Comment, I Follow

I've officially joined the U Comment, I Follow movement and have removed the "nofollow" code from my blog. Because I love your Page ranks enough to do that for you.

Read about I Follow and get the badge from Randa Clay Design.
Learn how to make link love happen by getting rid of NOFOLLOW from bloggerplugins.org.

♥, TiffanyAnne

In pursuit of...a niche

I get asked a lot about what I want to do once I graduate. What am I going to do with this journalism degree and these super-fab writing skills? I say that I want to write for a newspaper or for a magazine. How broad is that? Sheesh. Well, right now, I'm looking for my niche.

I may be taking an investigative journalism class, but I don't think I ever want to be an investigative journalist. I'm taking writing for television news, but I don't think I ever want to be on TV. Then again, what do I want?

I don't have something that I'm passionate about obsessed with enough to fill pages. "Well, you write your blog," Mike pointed out. True. But anything of any substance? No, not generally. Here are some pretty pictures and this is what I had for lunch yesterday--oh! and the kiddos said something really funny this afternoon! I'm going dancing this weekend and I'm trying to figure out my life. I would say that is my blog in a nutshell. I guess that's why I titled this blog "In Pursuit" in the first place--because I'm still looking.

♥, TiffanyAnne