Someday, we'll live like we're dying.

For Zach Sobiech, it was cancer. But for us, it can be Zach Sobiech. I think we all owe it to this young man to live like we're dying.

Thanks for some perspective, Zach. Rest in peace.

(Grab your Kleenex)

Someday, we'll see our crystal dreams...

My favorite musician supporting my favorite team.

What's not to love?

"Chip, don't go."

Someday, we'll look back & smile.

The Thursday Thirteen:
Memorable moments of 2012

{1}

Life-changing Mat Kearney concert.

"young, dumb, & in love."

{2}

Memorial day weekend at the beach. 

we still laugh about this trip...and probably always will

& never mind the fact that I'm totally fifth wheeling

{3}

The Collier-crew gathered for a goodbye photo.

{4}

Moving out of the dorm...such a bitter-sweet day.

{5}

Re-uniting with the "Six Pack" for summer break.

& yes, this photo was captured as I was falling into the fountain

{6}

Turning nineteen. Last of the teen years.

{7}

Visiting friends in their own college settings.

& enjoying the occasional (free) Tyrone Wells concert that comes along with doing so

{8}

Moving into my first apartment.

{9}

Enjoying some Duck victories with good buddies.

{10}

Voting in my first election.

'merica.

{11}

Living with some of the best roomies I could ever ask for.

some of the hardest laughs & most epic dance parties

{12}

Bringing home Charlie.

truly never thought this day would come

{13}

Ringing in the new year. Hello, 2013.

looking forward to more memories

Someday, I'll remember to pack my toothbrush.

It's the one thing I ALWAYS forget to pack. Just ask Natalie...in grade school, I just kept an extra at her house for sleepover purposes. Well a weekend trip to Sunriver, OR proved nothing had changed as I neglected to pack any agent of oral hygiene. It's okay. One gas station was fully stocked.

The trip was nothing short of entertaining. Between learning and rapping {almost} all the words to Hoodie Allen's "No Interruption," taking an accidental 13-mile hike {in full-on Bear Grylls mode}, getting eaten alive by bloodthirsty mosquitos, associating with tipsy Bend Brewfest goers, attending an  {to avoid the risk of sounding insulting} "alternative" music performance--we were only interested in the opening act--and many other accounts that delivered gut-busting laughter...I'd say it was a successful  trip.

So glad I could spend the weekend feasting my eyes on beautiful central Oregon.

*Oh and one final note: to the guys floating the river, awkwardly paddling over and asking if our inter tube device is actually a kiddy pool will not prove as a successful method of flirtation, nor will gushing about the flip flop you lost yesterday.
~That is all.~

"I be working like I'm Anders Holmvik."

Someday, they'll actually travel.

Sisterhood of the traveling pants overalls.

Yes, that's two girls.
In one pair of
overalls.

Summer 2011: A spontaneous trip to the Wilsonville Goodwill with some friends, along with some good old fashioned fate, led to the discovery of these beauties. Inspired by the film & book Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants {see below trailer if unfamiliar with the concept}, we decided this denim creation would keep us united as well all departed in the fall for our freshman years of college. 

A set of rules {I cannot share because of the sworn secrecy of the sisterhood} were set forth, a journal to log our college experiences and share amongst one another was composed, and the sisterhood was born.

These classy, {Whinny the Pooh} embroidered trousers ended up only making a total of ONE round trip--but hey, that's six sisters & five schools across three states! 

So maybe the overalls didn't fit us all...but they did fit all of us inside of them at once.

Gret, Cat, Bo, Jess, & Nat {however, I do see you everyday}, I'll see ya'll in less than a week!

Someday, I'll reside seaside.

Something about the ocean is so alluring. Anyone who's every been to any coastal town {notice usage of word "coastal" not "beach"--we live in Oregon...not Cali} can identify that calm aura that seems to settle in along with the sea's mist. Hustling and bustling fail to disturb this signature tranquility of the Oregon coast. I've always thought that at some point in my life, it'd be nice to call a beach or coast home--even if it's not until retirement {yes, I'm thinking that far ahead}.

 Memorial day weekend getaway to Newport with some good ol' friends.

I'd say we came home with some priceless memories.

jetty~rooftops~clamming~taffy~cranky neighbors~spaghetti~"yolo"

Someday, they'll call me Aaron Lee Ralston.

But probably not.

I did get rock wall certified though - it was on the U of O "Duck-it List." 

Rock on! {I crack myself up.}

Just some highly extensive notes I took on standard
rock climbing procedures. So studious, I know.

That's right, I am now deemed sufficiently knowledgeable in the art of climbing to use the University of Oregon recreational center rock wall. And I make a pretty mean figure-eight knot. Just saying.

So you just wait. In a few weeks, this will be me...minus the falling bit.

P.S. - See this movie! {127 Hours} Pretty epic. AND it stars James Franco. What's not to like ;)...

Someday, I'll be a narwhal.

Narwhals. Unicorns of the sea. 

~

I don't know if it was the famous line from Elf, a marine bio project from high school, or simply their truly majestic nature that did me in.

But I do know this: 

Narwhals are cool. I want one.
{Pillow Pet form acceptable.}

LOOK WHAT I FOUND TODAY!

"Bye, Buddy. Hope you find your dad."

Someday, I'll find my Jack Dawson...

...but he won't end up at the bottom of the Atlantic. I'll make sure I share the floating door. {Why so selfish, Kate Winselt? Like, really?!}

Anyway...
I know I already posted on the return of Titanic to the big screen but that was BEFORE I actually experienced it. The event of going to see the film in theaters deserved its very own, exclusive post. So here it goes...

Saturday. A beautiful, Spring Saturday. The anticipation that flooded my very veins was unspeakably overwhelming...{and yes, Bonich & Jess, of course I'm referring to how excited I was to reunite with your two lovely faces!} Okay, so of course some of my excitement was rooted in the fact that I would soon be immersed in the classic yet tragic love story of Jack and Rose. But first, some much needed catch up time with some ol' friends over a traditional Macaroni Grill create-your-own-pasta dish. {Yum.} The lovely Bonich Meister accompanied me after dinner to experience the resurrection of James Cameron's masterpiece. The experience was no less than epic. The old lady next to us {who was probably dehydrated by the end of the movie because she was balling her eyes out the whole time}, looking around seeing those ugly, boxy glasses on every viewer {seriously, who freaking designed these atrocities?!}, and of course the epic film itself all made for a nothing-less-than-perfect cinematic experience.

Favorite part of the movie? Well, the "I'm flying, Jack!"scene never fails to deliver goosebumps. However, the part that really gets me is when Rose is sitting in the descending lifeboat, staring longingly into Jack's eyes  while he is restrained on the {SPOILER ALERT} sinking ship. After some dramatic music and some drawn-out exchange of hopeless expressions, Rose's combination of love and grief overwhelms her causing her to leap back onto the doomed Titanic into Jack's embrace. True love at its finest? Yep. Too bad it's short lived. Which brings us back to my biggest issue with the film: why couldn't she share the flipping door?

Would I go again? Pssshhhh...please. Need you ask?
Any takers?

Oh, & be sure to check out this Ellen spoof. That woman is hilarious. 

Courtesy of Bonich Meister

"Are you doing yours in 3D?"

Someday, my life will be a country music song.

Aaaaah country music. What is it about this enchanting genre that makes me think of summertime, young love, & livin free...

~

We "owned the night" at the Lady A concert last Wednesday. With seats up in the boonies that landed us between some true rednecks & four soccer moms {who clearly hadn't had a night out in a looooooong time} and a trek through the snow in heeled cowboygirl boots {see this post} it was nevertheless a memorable affair that I'm glad I got to share with my bestie. I'd trek through just about anything to attend an event that Darius Rucker, Thompson Square, & Lady Antebellum would make an appearance to.

About to brace the mid-March arctic blast!

 {Up in the boonies...but loved every second!}

Someday, Jack Dawson will be on the big screen!

I remember that epic day in December of 1997...

No, are you kidding? My parents didn't let me see Titanic when I was five! I remember patiently waiting for my parents to return from seeing this epic film while I sat at my grandparents' house with my two older cousins. Yes, I was deprived of this monumental cinematic experience on the big screen the first time around, so you can bet your bottom dollar I'm not going to miss it this April when it returns to the big screen in....{wait for it}.....3D!! Ask anyone--I'm quite the Titanic fanatic. I may have let out a modest scream when its return to theaters was first announced.  

Jack Dawson, for you, my heart will ALWAYS go on!  {Take it away, Celine!} I'll never let go...

Oh, and P.S.

Major props to James Cameron. 15 years later and his movie still neglects to appear as "dated" as most 90s films would...or at least in my eyes anyway. 

Someday, I'll dress sensibly.

Normally, Natalie has at least a good 4 inches on me.

My friends {future apartment roomies!} and I were blessed enough to attend the Mat Kearney concert here in Eugene! Wow. What talent. He is a brilliant performer and with Eugene being his hometown he delivered such a passionate and genuine performance.



Ouch. The sacrifices I make to have a better view of this talented man {okay, and maybe because I like dressing up}... but my feet are THROBBING. Wearing platform stiletto heals may be why I want to amputate my own two feet right now, however they made me TOWER over the audience giving me quite an unobscured view. I'd say overall, it was a good choice.

Some lovely pictures Natalie captured. Sadly, I neglected to bring my camera...

A man of many talents.

 I think I almost died when he came down into the crowd and serenaded individuals in the audience. I was  an arm's-lenghth away at one point and was so overwhelmed that if it weren't for the solid, compact mass of people in the audience holding me up, my legs would have given out. Okay, so that's a bit dramatic, but it would be an understatement to simply say I was star-struck.

Jus some of my favorite Mat Kearney songs:
Ships in the Night
She Got The Honey
Fire and Rain
Young Dumb and In Love


an oh so many more....

{I want to go back!}

Someday, I won't be such a freeloader.

When you're on a college budget, you begin to find that anything proceeding the word "free" seems quite appealing. Not only that, but getting the coveted "you've got a package!" email from the dorm front desk is something I basically live for. Soooo... some girls on my floor and I spent quite a few hours one evening perusing the web applying for ANYTHING & EVERYTHING we could snag a free sample of. Hey, when you know you're going to have a certain address for only one year, you'd be surprised how non-hesitant you are to give out your mailing information. 

These are just a few of the free goodies I've acquired. :) And more to come...

PLUS a coupon book!!!! Score! 

Yep, all of these beauties FOR FREE. {& so much more to come!}

Other things that I am expecting/have gotten...

-(more) Perfume samples

-Dryer sheets

-Shout color catcher

-Emergen-C drink mix

-Crystal Light drink mix

-Deodorant

-Dove hair product

Someday, I'll read the book before I see the movie.

AND THAT DAY IS TODAY!

Couldn't put it down.

This is a RARE occurrence...I like to read and all but I'm not exactly a bookworm. {I call myself a Harry Potter fan however I feel like a poser considering my fan-ship is entirely a result of seeing the movies. Yeah...embarrassing.} Well not this time! I jumped on the bandwagon and read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. In THREE days. I'm not a fast reader so naturally, I feel accomplished. However the props go to Collins for composing such a dynamic story that fuses action, romance, sic-fi, and adventure in a manner so dynamic I was consumed with the book for hours at a time. And for once, I will have read the book BEFORE seeing the movie...

Can't wait to see the film!  

March 23, 2012

Someday, boys will pull up them trousers!

"Crack of dawn" took on a whole new meaning this morning. Natalie and I were greeted with quite a sight as we braced the early morning for our 8AM math class. I've seen the whole low-ridin jeans with boxers and what not ....but this guy...THIS guy skipped a step - and a very important one at that.

Don't mind the extraordinary quality - had to be sly while capturing this beauty.

Now, I don't know where this trend originated, but I do have some idea of who to point fingers at in terms of keeping the trend alive...

Someday, I'll be as regal as Rooney Mara.

Rooney Mara graces {or perhaps storms} the screen as Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo based on one of the three books in Stieg Larsson's trilogy. One can only root for her character's rebellious yet justice-seeking nature. This film weaved its way into my list of favorite cinematic experiences of 2011. I'd highly recommend catching this one on the big screen.

Just watching the trailer gives me goosebumps!

Although many parts of the movie were at times hard to stomach, they were executed in such a powerful manner. I got so enveloped in the story and applaud the talent of all the actors as well as those who contributed to the production.

Epic.

Someday, we'll be a normal family...on second thought...

The Hallin Christmas card. Let's just start by saying last year we didn't even send one. No one can ever agree on a picture and we never seem to get around to taking a family one around Christmas time - none of us ever seem to be primped enough at the same time to take a quick snapshot. This year we came to the conclusion to just compile a few photos of each of us from the past year - I guess you could call it a success. Us Hallins, we like to look our best on that glossy picture that gets sent out to everyone we know...I'd say that's valid, right? I'm glad to say this picture made the cut...

{I guess we had 4 tries to get it right!}