Flight #2 MSP to SEA

All I have to say is Starbucks makes the world go round.

Made it safely to Minneapolis/St. Paul and am remembering how much I love this airport. Lot's of gray and nasty outside today, reminding me of why I love flying. Because no matter how crappy it is outside I get on an airplane and I can go above the clouds and still the sun shining and there's at least the slightest tint of blue to the sky. Definitely the silver lining to today.

Anyways back to MSP, I LOVE this airport. There's so much stuff here so it's nice to have some time to breathe before I catch my next flight at 9:30am CST. I hopped on the tram (because this place is so dang huge) to get from terminal A to F. First stop I spotted it, like an oasis in the middle of a dry, hot desert. Yes, Starbucks. Thank God that tram has huge windows that let me see inside to the airport.

So I hopped off and made a detour in terminal C to grab a soy chai latte and a blueberry scone and my day is already better. I don't know what it is, there's just something about being at a Starbucks that calms me down. At airports it's simply the drink, the look, being so familiar with something in an unfamiliar place. Although I really love the real stores where I can sit and lounge around and order breakfast sandwiches off the full menu, which by the way are amazing if you haven't tried them yet. The newest drink is a dark cherry mocha offered hot, iced and frapped. I was almost tempted to get it, but on a day like today I'm not taking risks I need something comfortable. However, thanks to the social media outlets of the world two minutes after departing from Starbucks one of my sorority sisters posted a tweet that it's good to go so I'll be trying it next time.

I've decided I want to try and grab a post card or something from each airport to document the day. I usually grab a post card of sorts from each school I visit so figured it would be the same. I've really saved anything & everything I can this year with the goal of making a kick-butt scrap book this summer. I just wish I could go back now and take some more pictures.

I'm also realizing I probably also always look ridiculous in airports. First off my tote bag and duffle are a beautiful, but bright shade of yellow (Vera, Bali Gold--duh) and I probably look like I'm struggling as I drag them through the airport. I always travel in my Tri Sigma badge which I always get odd stares at. Yes, please keep staring because I can't see you. I'm always juggling two phones, which happen to both be pink Blackberries. Yikes, I'm that girl aren't I?

What I've also found is that I really enjoy people watching. I love this at airports, everyone is much more interesting. I wonder where they're going, where they're coming from, where they might actually be from. Traveling for pleasure or business? Usually you can tell but hey I travel for business but I'm not decked out in a suit with boring black luggage.

Now I think it's time for a bit of playing around on Facebook and what not. It's so exciting to go view my own page as I just joined the South Carolina network last night after I figured out how to open my SC email account. Too legit to quit!

Ok so leaving MSP at 9:30am CST arriving in Seattle at 11:22am PST. So that would be 1:22pm CST, meaning this next flight is long to say the least. Thankfully I grabbed a new book this morning.

Until Seattle...

xoxo Anna

Flight #1 FNT to MSP

Again, 5am came way too early.

Just under 5 hours of sleep and a 14 hour day of traveling...this should be interesting.

First off I have no clue how I still have so much crap after taking a ton of it home and leaving it there over break. I aljmost splurged and checked my "carry on" aka huge Vera duffle that is packed to the brim. It would have been a nice treat to myself to not have to lug it around all day.Lesson learned: stop buying so much stuff so you can pack lighter and actually have the money to conveniently check a 2nd bag on days like today.

My flights today will be (drumroll please)...
7am EST Flint, MI to Minneapolis/St.paul
9:30am CST MSP to Seattle
1:10pm PST Seattle to Salt Lake City
5:00pm MST SLC to Pocatello, I'd

I have an entire booklet of boarding passes stapled together this is out of control.

Also--if any more airport employees try and tell me that my duffle will fit in the over head bin of teeny tiny planes I may lose it. Yes it is a ba that looks like it could be squished--do you not see though how it completely packed to the brim?

No interesting stories or people that I've met yet. Hold tight there for another 13 hours, it's bound to happen.

Until Minneapolis,
xoxo Anna

Gamecock Country

So for those who haven't yet received the good news I have been accepted in to the Higher Education & Student Affairs Master's program at the University of South Carolina for this Fall!! And to think that I almost put off applying for year...I guess my test scores weren't that terribly dreadful after all.

Then rather for a real Spring Break I spent a good part of it down in Columbia interviewing for Graduate Assistantships and getting acquainted with the town and campus. If you ever need to recruit for a grad program, please study USC's HESA department. It was absolutely amazing and I'm not sure how you could choose to go elsewhere after attending their Graduate Assistant Recruitment Program, more fondly known as GARP.

During our campus tour of course we got a great look at Williams-Bryce Stadium where the Gamecocks play against the other great teams in the SEC along with special others on occasion.

I'm already building my wardrobe of garnet and black for football games for the next few years. If you spot good garnet accessories, mainly scarves, jewelry or belts, please purchase and I will reimburse you :)

I will spend the next two years in the lovely Wardlaw School of Education building with some amazing professors who I was able to meet during my time in Columbia.

I'm already so excited and after hearing their panel I really just wanted to jump into the classroom...and it's so cool to know that for the first time I'm going to take classes that appeal to exactly what I want to do with my life. Shhh...don't tell my parents that, I mean I did love my four years at UNCW though!

One of their traditions is with the famous "Torchbearer" statue out front of Wardlaw.

To complete the program, all second year HESA students either complete a thesis or take a comprehensive exam aka COMPS. I clearly will be choosing the latter. Now it's tradition that as a HESA student you do not not touch the Torchbearer during your two years or it will be bad luck and you will fail COMPS, however if taking the thesis route you touch it early for good luck with your writing. The day the 2nd years take COMPS is a big celebration and many of the first year students gather outside with posters, silly string and other fun stuff to cheer as the 2nd years run out of Wardlaw after the exam and charge the Torchbearer finally being able to touch the statue!

So much history, tradition and spirit at USC and I think it's exactly the experience that I'm looking for. Loves you UNCW...but the football, really? Time for a second chance with more sports! I had a really great time getting to know the other GARPees (others accepted for next Fall) and the current students in the program. Unfortunately I haven't yet received an offer for a GA position for next year, though I'm staying hopeful as I know there is still time to hear about more offers. Each year there are a handful of students that attend in the Fall without a GA position and with the help of the fabulous program director and faculty these students are placed early in their first semester.

Now onto the hunt for roommates and a place to live for next year! I guess now actually though it's time to go start my day as my inbox is already busting full with unread messages. Hopefully to bed early tonight as I depart tomorrow at 7am for a 14 hour travel day to final destination: Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID. Let's see if I can make it through five airports, five states, and three layovers...

Until next time...

xoxo Anna

Yes I'm going to blugeon you with my tennis shoe

So I've been up for an hour and a half and am starting the first of many journey's for my Spring Break! Funny how I'm going to be traveling and busy almost every second of my time off, as is life!

I'm currently waiting at the Flint/Bishop airport to leave through one of the sketchiest gates I've seen yet. Some of the gates here are legit--but not Continental, we just have a shady little podium in the back corner. It was snowing quite hard when we drove here but thankfully it has subsided for the most part now and so far (knock on wood, crossing my fingers & toes) everything is on time to arrive in Baltimore at 9:47am (precisely 47 after!)

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Now this is where I stopped. Why you ask? Because I had to get on the plane early so it could be "de-iced" and covered in orange goo for approximately 15 minutes before takeoff. Talking with my new friend about Blogs I had an "ah-ha" moment that I left this poor post saved as a draft.

So now shall we pick up where I left off?

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For some reason security at the Flint/Bishop airport was one of the most annoying ones I've gone through yet. Everything, yes, everything had to be in it's own plastic container to go through the x-ray. No, my shoes could not sit on top of my laptop while going through the x-ray. Yes, I had to take off my headband. Is this a joke? I mean yea yea I'm glad you're careful so there aren't any crazies getting on my plane but for reals? In the city with the third highest crime rates per capita the little quiet sorority girl in her pink & orange Nike's is not going to cause you any problems.

Of course we were the first flight of the day on this plane and it was approximately 5* while we waited on the runway. Luckily there was some body heat...

I'm walking on the plane my ticket says seat 9C.

I look to the right side, the row has A & B seats.

I look to the left side, the row has D & E seats.

I think to myself hmm, I better have a seat on this flight.

That's when I spotted it. The back row. Like the back row of a city bus there were five seats's across the back of the plane. And the middle one, seat C, was empty just for me.

Sat on a tiny little plane (the worst) next to an obnoxious woman who wouldn't stop talking to me and didn't pick up on the clues when I started listening to my iPod and reading my book, and had to endure some fun turbulence through the snow storm. Luckily though, safely landed in Cleveland and only had a few minutes there before boarding to Baltimore.

Now I always have the luck of flying on small planes. On small planes the only thing that can fit in the overhead bin is a lunch box. However the flight attendants tried to pressure me into attempting to shove my large Vera Bradley duffle in there. After 5 failed attempts I gave her an "I told you so," look at gave it to her to be checked plane side. Word of the wise, when it's snowing in the winter don't carry Vera that might have to be thrown on the ground. Airport luggage loaders do NOT appreciate the Vera...I know it comes as a shock to many of us.

One soggy Vera duffle and a few hours later I made it to Baltimore where my BFF was waiting to wisk me away back home. For not having to travel much this semester I sure do get some of the most interesting travels.

Until next time,

xoxo Anna

Long time no post

So although one of my New Year's resolutions was to blog more I see I am very much failing at that. It gets difficult to actually want to get onto the computer and type away after spending 8 hours starting at your Gmail account and responding to and drafting a gazillion emails. Let's see where we left off!

I had an absolutely fabulous time at High Point University in North Carolina. It was absolutely hands down the most gorgeous school I've had the opportunity to visit thus far, and with stellar customer service. There was a Starbucks on campus and the women we recruited to start the colony were simply amazing. My time there working along with my partner in crime Morgan went way to fast and I'll admit that I legitimately shed a few tears having to take a plane from North Carolina back to the Midwest...

After departure from HPU I flew to St. Louis and stayed with another woman who works for Tri Sigma who was actually a consultant a while ago. It was wonderful to have someone that understands your lifestyle to chat with and we had a great evening and road trip up to Western Illinois University the next day! Tri Sigma's Officer Academy was such a great experience and I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to be a small group facilitator for such an event. I worked with a group of 12 officers all weekend and had a blast getting to know all of them as well as meeting some of my other chapters that I unfortunately do not get to visit this year.

We stayed on campus at WIU and in some interesting accommodations. Of course as Tiffany (the other consultant I was staying with) and I didn't think about drying our hair at the same time in a room that was probably last updated in 1973, then we blew the fuse. We spent the remainder of the weekend doing our hair in the laundry room as the bathroom had no outlets, and using our cell phones to illuminate the room at night. Although being consultants you can make any situation work and so we treated ourself to coffee in town and driving about in the rented Charger blaring 90's rap music on Sirius radio...all done at approximately 7:30am while everyone was still half asleep!

After the academy I stayed at Western Ill. U for several more days to visit with our Beta Epsilon chapter. They had an incredible house, the biggest one I've seen yet and it was great to get to hang out there during the day and eat lunch and dinner with the ladies. It was the first house I've been to with catered meals, and I definitely could have gotten used to it! I was privileged enough to stay at a hotel that was just a block away from the house and it was great to have some of my own room, oh the little things!

I've now spent the last month in Flint, MI helping to establish Tri Sigma's newest colony at the University of Michigan Flint. There was a local sorority interest group here so it's been a really cool experience working with this kind of colony. The women are awesome and I've really enjoyed getting to know them all! I've stayed with the President and have my very own room which has been surreal--I hang all of my clothes in a closet and keep my toiletries in the shower!!

It snowed like everyday for a week and a half...that was pretty exciting, but now the bitter weather is just downright depressing. I definitely have some advance Spring fever and am itchin' to get on my flight home to Baltimore next week!

Until next time,

xoxo Anna

Another semester begins

Well after some more time spent at National Headquarters this week I'm back on the road for another semester. Arrived in Woodstock last Sunday and was excited to be back with the rest of the consultants for a week after not seeing them since October. It sucks to become such good friends and talk all the time and then see each other maybe once a semester, so we spent the week doing much catching up!

We took some time out of our schedule on Wednesday to go to NYC, and what an adventure it was! After circling Union Station for about 15 minutes we finally found the parking deck. We missed our train departure but fortunately there was another train to NY that we were able to catch. Once we got to the city we grabbed some quick lunch (aka a $12 burrito from Chipotle--so overpriced!) and then made our way to broadway to see Jersey Boys. The show will change your life, I'm now obsessed.

Afterwards we had some time to walk around Times Square, take pictures and be touristy then went to dinner at the Stardust Diner. This place was so great all of the wait staff sings the whole time and most of them go on to be in broadway shows. It was highly entertaining and we were also able to get the "Everything but the kitchen sink" ice cream Sunday....so huge! Four of us ha it and still barely finished. We traveled back to DC and then Woodstock that night so it was quite the excursion.

The rest of the week was spent in many meetings and some downtime relaxing in our new lounge at the Walton House that came together so nicely! We spent last night chatting in our bunk beds on the third floor and I can't believe that the next time we'll all be together will be our last week in the job. Time has flown and I am so lucky to have met such an amazing group of co-workers, sisters and most importantly friends. I always knew I really wanted to reach out and get to know Sigma's from other chapters across the country, never would I have imagined I would have made best friends in these women.

Today Morgan and I made the journey down to High Point University in NC. It was interesting as it started with Michele taking us both to the Shenandoah Regional Airport to retrieve our rental car. Upon calling the Budget office to get exact directions we find that the office closes at 2pm. This is at approximately 1:45pm when we have an ETA of 2:30pm. After much crisis management planning and and quick thinking we call back the guy and bribe him with $20 and beg him to stay just another half hour. With my charms & wit, of course he agreed. Upon arriving at the "airport" we find the guy at the Budget counter to actually be a Candice with a really deep voice...awkward. Thankfully we handled the situation gracefully knowing we would never have to see this person again. She didn't take our $20 bribe and yet again I was able to sweet talk my way into exactly what I needed.

After checking into the hotel in High Point we went to campus to go in and see some of the other chapters in their formal recruitment process. Kappa Delta graciously allowed us to come and view their preference party to get a sneak peek into sorority life here at High Point. Their ceremony was absolutely beautiful, and we were also able to meet the Greek Advisor. We did a driving tour of the campus afterwards, and it is absolutely breathtaking!! I thought UNCW was gorgeous, this is like our campus on steroids. I can't wait to take pictures and explore some more.

I introduced Morgan (from Illinois) to Cookout tonight and am excited to also have her venture around to Bojangles & Biscuitville! It's so nice to be back in North Carolina and it feels a little bit like being back home. While I've never even been here the places we're around are familiar and I'm very excited to see some alumnae from my chapter to help with interviews here next week. We've spent tonight vegging out in front of Jersey Shore before a crazy week ahead. The sororities here have Bid Day tomorrow and we start our PR for our recruitment at the end of the week.

I'll be here until January 28, if you'd like send me something nice at:

Anna Todaro

2860 N. Main Street

High Point, NC 27365

Until next time,

xoxo Anna

2009 has been one for the books

As this year comes to a close I look back and....wait a second, it's been a whole year already? I swear this must have been the fastest whirlwind of my life. My last semester of undergrad, Spring Break in the Keys, graduation, moving to a new city for a while, and then my endless consultant journeys of the past five months. Some people who left my life, many more who I have been lucky to add, a plethora of family medical problems, the discovery of Blackberry, countless amounts of retail therapy, fourteen states and a new found sense of independence later and here I am, December 2009.

Sitting at the edge of a new decade I can't help but feel odd that I can remember the entire last ten years. For a while I sat in the "2000" mindset, thinking that if someone said '95, no matter what the year was I thought "Oh that's only five years ago." But now, ten years later from the eve of the Y2K scare I realize that I am indeed getting old. I celebrated my first birthday that I wasn't particularly excited about. I didn't count down the days, I didn't get anxious, instead I was able to spend my favorite day of the year watching the first of my friends be married and begin their life together among the other people I hold close to my heart.

You know you are really leaving childhood when... This is a list I have started building this year and for me it includes paying your own health insurance, your friends are getting married, you send donations to your alma mater and most sickening, you start to pay back your student loans. Despite this list though I still found myself standing in a Walgreens in Defiance, OH on a chapter visit calling my mommy to ask her what medicine was best for congested sinuses, sore throats and a stuffy nose.

So now I start to think of what I want out of 2010. The past year took me surprise and every time I turned around something came out of the blue and startled me. Many things I thought were never possible happened. It's been ironic, parts were wonderful, other parts were extremely difficult, and I would go back and do it all over in a heart beat...but maybe slightly different!

Looking into 2010, I want to take my new found feeling of being a "grown up," and actually be a grown up. As much as it pains me to say it, I'd like to start paying for more things by myself and become as financially independent as possible. Hopefully this will be possible, I may have to learn some self-restraint when it comes to shopping as I single-handedly attempted to stimulate the economy during 2009. But at least I have an amazing wardrobe...not a total waste!

It's always hard to come with a list of resolutions and even harder to keep them. I think the only New Years resolution I ever kept was flossing, and it only lasted a few months. Going to the dentist this December (with no insurance mind you) and being alerted of two more cavities, along with being scolded again for eating insane amounts of hard candy that are ripping through my tooth enamel, I feel like that would be good to add back onto my list.

So what's in store for Anna in 2010...

1. Floss at least once a day (as promised to Dr. Fraser)

2. Take more pictures during my chapter visits, and make a scrapbook of my year on the road

3. Fit into my favorite high school jeans by this time next year (for real this time)

4. Get into a graduate program for Higher Education (*crosses fingers*)

5. Build my savings account to a personal goal amount

6. Eat less hard candy, lollipops, mints, etc.

7. Blog more to keep track of the next year

8. Think of some long term career goals

9. Run a 5K

I have great faith in myself for these goals and I'll start working on them...Friday! Looks like I'll spend this next week doing as much shopping, candy eating, and forgetting to floss as possible.

I will be spending New Years Eve in Baltimore going out to my new favorite establishments in Federal Hill. Luckily I'll be spending the evening with my three favorite people in the world and I'm sure the adventures will be nothing less than epic! Have a safe and wonderful NYE wherever you may be, peace out 2009!

Until next time,

xoxo Anna

Home for the Holidays!

I kinda slacked on my last few visits, things were just whizzing by and after being on the computer all day the last thing I wanted to do was get back on keep on typing.

My Wisconsin visits to Oshkosh, Whitewater and then Stout wrapped up nicely. All of the chapters had houses which was so much fun, and I was able to be at our Whitewater chapter for their initiation and their philanthropy Danceathon event. Saw more beautiful sites, ate more fried cheese curds (sooo good for your tummy, soooo bad for you!) and met many amazing Tri Sigmas!

I went home the weekend of Nov. 13-15 two see two good friends, Steph & Jeff, from high school get married...and of course, for my birthday! I was very unhappy to get to the Milwaukee airport on Friday to find out I had booked my Milwaukee-->Baltimore flight for Sunday 11/15. I was even more unhappy when the stupid lady behind the counter laughed at me once we figured out my mistake. Oh well: $75, one huge margarita and chips & salsa from Chili's later and I was back in my happy place going home for a weekend break.

The wedding was absolutely gorgeous, although it was so weird to see two of my friends getting married. I really hope that's not me for quite a while longer! I caught the bouquet and my friend Jay caught the garter...and it may have been one of the funniest things in my life. You can find the videos on both Facebook & Youtube. There was a choreographed dance to "Faith" by George Michael...and I'll leave it at that. We carried on the celebration to The Green Turtle for some highlighting of my birthday and it was a lovely evening!

I spent one more week back in Wisconsin and then came home this past Friday. Went down to Wilmington from Saturday until yesterday and it was exactly what I needed! Got to see so many people I've missed and some cool new renovations to UNCW's campus that I am extremely jealous of. It was great to finally be with my own chapter sisters and luckily they had a sisterhood event while I was there that I was able to crash and see so many of my amazing sisters!

We are having a house of 25 for Thanksgiving tomorrow and so have been cleaning, moving furniture and doing cooking preparations for tomorrow. Thanksgiving is my favorite and I am so excited to see lots of family I haven't seen in quite a while. I am home now until Jan. 10 and this is weird already. Clothes have exploded all over my room (and I went shopping like 4 times in the past week, yikes!). First thing on my list is to clean while also studying for the MAT's so I have a good score to go with my South Carolina application I'll kiss good luck before mailing off on Friday.

I'm looking forward to a long period of working from home and just relaxing. I've luckily also found a babysitting job to make a little more $$ and am looking into hopefully buying a new (well not brand new!) car sometime this summer...that is if I can stop shopping. I really am Becky Bloomwood from Shopaholic in disguise, it's sickening.

I hope that everyone enjoys the holidays with their family & friends wherever you may be! I am so thankful for all of the support and love you all have shown me this past semester while I have been traveling the country and working through some difficult times, I couldn't have made it without all of the encouragement!

So eat lots of turkey, stuffing & my fave...canned cranberry sauce :)

Until next time,

xoxo Anna