Latest Happenings

Over the past week, London has had a wave of spring weather. 

50 degrees, sunny with a few rain clouds, flats, spring jackets...as you can see, you won't find me complaining. London avoided a hard winter, but I'm nevertheless still excited to push the pea coats aside.  

The above photo was taken of my backyard last week on a nice day. And yes, I live along a canal! 

This post isn't going to focus on schoolwork as well...that deserves another post once again. Let's talk about fun activities! 

Last Thursday night, Susannah, Alyssa, and Crystal and I got dinner at the Real Greek in Shepard's Bush before we went and saw Gavin DeGraw. We had standing room only tickets, but we managed to make our way to the front of the crowd. 

Post the concert- which was fabulous and a ton of fun- we met Gavin DeGraw in the pub next door to the theater! Talk about a fun night! And, yes that was the second celebrity encounter in two weeks...

On Friday, I met up with my friend Eleanor who I met via the Smart Girls Group and social media! She's studying abroad this semester,  and she was in London for the weekend! We went to a BRGR.co in Soho to check out their version of "afternoon tea." It was sliders, milkshakes, brownies, and iced tea!

Mini Milkshakes!

Twist on Afternoon Tea 

Friday evening, LSE hosted a "trial" on the baby boomers! I served as one of the members of Generation Y on the jury. The event took place over the course of two hours with evidence from witnesses, opening and closing statements, academics playing the judge/clerk, and the jury actually deliberating. Without going into the whole case, we the jury did find the baby boomers non-guilty on all the various charges! 

Finally, this past weekend, I really explored more of my neighborhood- something that I often don't get to do! On Saturday, my friend, Chelsea, and I took a graffiti class at a gallery on Portobello. While I am no Banksy, I did make this lovely creation: 

Graffiti Class Accomplishment  

 The real Banksy? 

On Sunday, I met up with a few friends to check out the Rum Kitchen! I've been wanting to try it for sometime...and before a capstone meeting, a drink was a must! After all, it is my birthday month!

How was your weekend? Did you try anything new in your neighborhood? 

Guest Blogging!

Greetings from America!

While I plan on blogging on my trip including the reading weekend at Princeton, I wanted to share a post I did over on my friend, Tola's blog! I'm guest blogging about a trip to Seneca Falls, NY! 

Enjoy!

Weekend Recap

Hello lovelies! 

This past weekend, one of my best friends and sorority sisters from Syracuse came to visit! We haven't seen each other in person since last summer in August. 

Let's just say that What's App and iMessage just aren't the same as laughing in person. 

Katie (yes, we are both named the same name!) arrived Friday afternoon. We spent Friday evening catching up, showing her around my small town, some drinks, and watching enough wedding shows to last for several weeks! 

Maude & Mabel

Saturday, we took off towards our alma mater to visit. We grabbed lunch at Destiny USA at Toby Keith's restaurant. I just have to rant that I am sad that there are so many more restaurant options now instead of during my four years. That rant aside, we strolled around the mall window-shopping and drinking Starbucks.

Hall of Languages

From there, we headed off to campus.  It was sentimental as I hadn't been back on campus since Labor Day last year. We strolled around from building to building on main campus, saw the reconstructed Remembrance Wall, and headed down to Marshall Street. 

Student Entrance for the Dome 

Reconstructed Remembrance Wall 

One of my favorite places on the SU campus 

Unfortunately, Chucks was closed, so we were unable to pop in to see our names on the walls. 

On Sunday, it was down-pouring, so our plans to go to the Jets camp and kayak at the lake were canceled. Instead, we went to Seneca Falls to see the Women's Right Museum and Memorial. 

The weekend was full of laughs, drinks, and plenty of new memories.

How was your weekend? 

The Sound of Change: Live!

Yesterday, I went to the Sound of Change Live concert sponsored by the Chime for Change organization. Nicole and I bought tickets when we first saw the concert advertised, and we are so happy we got to be there to experience the amazing concert that is designed to help every girl, every woman, everywhere.  

The concert took place at Twickenham Stadium- normally a rugby stadium. But, it was perfect to have 50,000 people present for the movement.  The concert started at 6pm and was/is being broadcasted to 155 countries. The US is getting encore performances on channels today. 

The concert started with a zumba performance and a surprise appearance by Jessie J! From there, the concert never stopped. Numerous guest appearances by actors and actresses, activists, videos highlighting projects, and performances happened in addition to the ones that had been announced for weeks!  Take a look at the photos below! 

Nicole and me!

Mr. James Franco and Jessica Chastain

Madonna honoring women making a difference in Pakistan 

Ryan Reynolds and Zoe Saldana 

The one and only...Gloria Steinem 

JLO on stage!

Mary J. Blidge and JLO performing Come Together by the Beatles

Timbaland 

Queen Beyonce performing WHO RUNS THE WORLD? GIRLS. 

Jay Z and Beyonce

Beyonce

Week Recap

Since my last post where I fully admitted to academic purgatory, I tried to add more fun activities back into my life. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy my coursework as I have mentioned numerous time. And, I love learning. It's just that cramming 20 weeks into my brain is not something I enjoy. 

On Tuesday, I attended a Local Levo League event. It was held in one of the buildings that was used in Skyfall. And, the view from the office spaces that we were in...was truly amazing! The evening was spent around asking for more. Specifically, we focused in how to approach situations of seeking more responsibility in the workplace as well as approaching the task of asking for a salary raise.  It was truly a great evening, and  I know the knowledge will be helpful in the coming years. Plus, I was able to catch up with so many amazing women that I know call my friends.

Building used in Skyfall

View from the Levo League Event

Wednesday evening, we had a sorority alumnae club event. I cannot recall if I mentioned, but I am now the Vice President of Event Planning for the Pi Beta Phi UK Alumane Club. I had organized the Founder's Day event in April, but I was in Scotland, so I didn't attend. The event this week was a Wine & Silver Spoons Potluck complete with a Cookie Shine. For my Pi Phi readers, I had been in desperate need of a cookie shine! 

Cookie Shine

Members of the Exec Board

And, on Thursday, I got to attend the public event at LSE with Jared Cohen and Eric Schmidt. It has to be the best public event that I have been to at LSE so far! I got there early and wound up in the front row. Despite having a ticket, LSE events fill up quickly. I had to get there an hour early! But, it was worth the wait! Truly inspiring talk about digital media, the Internet, the future capabilities, and the ideas of the changing world landscape. 

Jared Cohen and Eric Schmidt!

I'm off to go do some economics revision and laundry before a night out with a friend leaving for the summer! Stay tuned!

Monster Mash!

Everyone has his or her favorite holidays...and his or her least favorite holidays as well. My favorite? St. Patrick's Day (yay birthday!), Christmas, and Mayfest (Syracuse "holiday"). Least favorite? Halloween.

Most are surprised when they hear that I don't like Halloween. To be honest, I just don't like dressing up. Decorating, yes. Baking, yes....Martha Stewart aspects of the holiday, I'm fine with. Come to think of it now, maybe I should have dressed as a Pinterest board...hmm? When I was little, I had awesome costumes, though. That horse/princess combo outfit...still my favorite Mom. And, that year I dressed as a nun and led prayer sessions for chemistry in high school...

But, despite my opinion towards the holiday, there was a MPA Halloween Party this past week. Naturally, I did need to come with a costume.

But, before we get there, we need a story.  A story that precedes this  past week...even precedes college.

When I was 10 years old, I dressed up as Susan B. Anthony. Yes, I wore period clothes, hair back, glasses on, with a sign. Sister Suffragettes! Clearly, my aspiration to make a difference, emulate powerful women, and be opinionated came from a young age. Thanks, Mom and Dad. Anyways, that Halloween, I went trick-or-treating, and a man did answer the door, refused to give me candy, and shut the door because I dressed up as Susan B. Anthony. Humorous story, to this day.


Yes, I know this song by heart....

Thus, this year, when it came time to decide what to dress up, there was really only thing to dress up...

#bindersfullofwomen

Political, check. Funny, yes. Not an extreme costume, check!

#OBAMA2012

With the election coming up in two days, it was fun.  Party was a lot of fun, but I did cut out early as I did have class early the next Morning. Oh, and with the election coming up, don't forget to vote!