Finals, of course

There is but one thing on the minds of all the students on campus: finals week! Quiet hours are well underway, and I think I'm safe in saying that the entire campus has had its nose stuck in books since 6pm on Friday. Except for my roommates and I, of course...we spent all day at the Mall of America!

We decided that our brains would need a break from the constant pressure of studying, so last week we said Saturday would be our mental health day/Christmas shopping day/roomie road trip day. We rolled off campus at 8am, and ended up at IKEA by 10:30! We ate lunch at Famous Daves, and shopped till we dropped! I don't think I've had this much fun shopping in a long time...we made lots of fun memories while the rest of school was cramming their brains full of knowledge. After a quick stop in Rochester for a Chipotle dinner (num, my favorite!) we arrived back at campus around 8:30. We were pooped, but of course, we really wanted to wrap presents! So we spent another hour doing that before crashing. And now here it is, Sunday before my first college finals week, and my books are staring me in the face. So in light of the difficulty level of my finals, I feel it is in my best interest to oblige my books and begin some mad studying!

Always,
Allison

Emma, Abby and I on our shopping day

My theme song

Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call their favorite time of the year. Yes, it is that time of year when everything reminds you of Christmas, and it's absolutely 100 per cent GLORIOUS!!!! Everyone around campus is cheerful, minus the fact that finals are right around the corner. But finals are overshadowed by the wondrous feeling of Christmas. It is very clear why this is many people's favorite time of year.

Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere. Olden times and ancient rhymes of love and dreams to share. Snow is on the ground. It is white and it is fluffy and it is here to stay! Christmas songs are now my number one play list on my computer. Everyone is walking around in a dream-like trance. For me, these dreams include Christmas stocking hung by the fire, snowflakes drifting lazily from the sky, new books and old friends.

Sleigh bells in the air. Beauty everywhere. Yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there. One of my favorite parts of winter sitting by the fire with a warm cup of hot chocolate, or more recently, chai tea or mocha. So I cannot wait to go home, sit by the fire with good friends, and reminisce while looking out the window at the snow covered landscape.

Christmas time is here, we'll be drawing near. Oh, that we could always see such spirit through the year. Christmas is by far my favorite season, simply because everyone I meet is always cheerful. I absolutely adore the joy this scintillating season brings throughout the entire winter.

Always,
Allison