Rachel Vernon

Welcome to my CMAT 340 blog

[littlemoonflowerr]

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Oh how I would love to be in a luxurious bath tub right now! There are so many bath bombs and products out today that soothe your skin, smell amazing, and enhance the experience. I would recommend a good bubble bath to anyone, even the guys! 

Unfortunately at my house here in Salisbury, I just have a shower and not a bathtub...I know, what a tragedy. A lot of people use baths as a way of relaxation and stress relief. It’s a great place to read a book, listen to music, eat your favorite meal, or just get some quiet time. The perfect thing about it is that no one will come in to bother you.So relax, unwind, and enjoy the simple pleasures of taking a bath. 

[sanlorenzobikinis]

Lost in a bohemian dream today up in the mountains on Maui 🔮🌿 #sanlorenzobikinis

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Do you ever think about the future and where you’ll end up living? Well I imagine a place like this. Somewhere out in nature. I love this outdoor den. It has a bohemian feel to it with several different fabrics and designs. I like that its open to the outdoors and you can really soak up the scenery.

I think it would be amazing to one day be able to build my own house. To be able to pick every room and all of the details would be so much fun. Varying colors, textures, and plants. I dream of settling somewhere in the mountains of Colorado. Where I could just walk out of my front door and just go on a hike!

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Favorite TV Commercial

I'm sure a lot of people are going to say this, but my favorite commercials are the Budweiser commercials with the horses and the puppies. It's kind of cliché, but I think that the cuteness factor is great for advertising and marketing. Hitting people right in the feels is the best way to get them to remember the commercial, and potentially buy your product.

In one of the Budweiser commercials, the puppy accidentally gets lost, but finds his way back to the farm where his owner is. However, when he is at the top of the hill, a coyote comes close to harming the puppy. That's when all of the horses break out of the barn to save them. Using the phrase "Best Buds" to describe the commercial and the product. Genius.  

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Graduation

I am a senior this year and I will be graduating in May. I know that this is what we have all been working toward, but now that it is fast approaching I can’t help but feel uneasy. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to be done with school and tests and homework and papers. It is the whole “being a real adult” part that freaks me out.

After graduation is uncertainty. We hope and we pray and we try so hard to find a job after college, but let’s be honest it’s kind of scary. There is no guarantee. I feel like a baby bird and I am being pushed off a cliff and being told to fly when I have never flown before. The metaphor is a bit corny but I’m sure my fellow seniors can relate. There are definitely mixed feelings as I’m approaching the end of my education.  

[gabriellatancona1-blog]

Hello.

I think that the most incredible phenomenon is how much music can affect a person and bring back so many feelings and memories with a simple melody or lyric. This thought came to me after hearing Adele’s new song Hello. Now all of her music is amazing and her voice is like nothing I have ever listened to before. But this song hits you in a place in your heart that you forgot about a long time ago.

Now, I have a very serious boyfriend (it will be 2 years in November) but this song made me look back at those in my past, including people I have not thought about since I could not tell you when. It isn’t that I miss them or long for them, but this single song stirred up so many mixed emotions, and for anyone who has ever been through a terrible break up you know just how horrible those feelings were that you managed to finally put away in a place you never want to revisit. It makes me sad, but at the same time a little scared, because it reminded me how easy it is to be vulnerable and broken. All that from one song, isn’t that incredible.

[rachelvernon-su-blog]

Music is very powerful. I know for me, Adele’s new song had me missing people that i didn’t even know. It’s funny how hearing a song can bring back a memory to a time that you have listened to that song. So crazy!

[meghanwalling-blog]

DCP follow up

Last weeks blog I talked about my chances of getting into the Disney College Program, and I am excited to say that I received the email last Thursday that I got accepted into the program!

After reading and going through the necessary steps to complete my acceptance I thought it would be wise to talk to my advisor about possibly taking classes while I’m down there. Unfortunately my advisor is out of the country and has no time to meet and discuss my concerns.

He did however give me information on who to contact and after much deliberation I found it in my best interest to decline the offer and stay here at Salisbury and finish my classes this spring along with my CMAT practicum I got into. 

I will most definitely be applying again next semester and the semester after that until I get in again! This was just bad timing and all I can say from this experience is that at least I got accepted! Not everyone who applies can say that!

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That is so awesome!! A girl I went to high school with got accepted into the Disney college program and she loved it. She met so many people and she participated in so many of the park activities. It definitely seems like a cool experience.

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Cooking for Yourself

One of my passions is cooking. I love to try new recipes that I come across on Facebook or Pinterest. Even though some of the recipes end up being not-so-delicious, I still have fun during the process.

I think that everyone should learn how to cook. If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for life. I know it’s a cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason! Being able to cook for yourself is probably one of the best kills that you can acquire. You will be able to provide for yourself and you won’t have to depend on others to take care of you. It’ fun and awesome and I highly recommend it to those who have never cooked anything besides macaroni and cheese before! You may realize it’s a new passion of yours.

[emilyclagett]

My Favorite TV Shows

I watch so many different types of shows that it’s hard to pick a favorite. If I had to choose one though, I’d say Scandal. In addition to having one of the most intriguing story lines I’ve ever watched, Scandal is set in Washington D.C. which I really like. Things that are set close to where I live somehow seem more realistic to me, including shows like NCIS, House of Cards, or certain episodes of Criminal Minds. I also love to watch game shows. Family Feud is one of my favorites and I could (and have) watch it all day long. In addition to that, I like to watch competitions like Chopped or Project Runway because the contestants can do things that I can only dream of, and I am always impressed by the things they can do. 

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I love that you enjoy a variety of different shows, I’m the same way! I think by watching different genres it keeps us interested and we don’t get bored as easily.

[gabriellenieves-blog]

Halloween

Halloween weekend… Everyone’s favorite weekend of college right? Everyone but me. Of course it’s fun in the moment but the money spent and the stress that goes with finding an outfit is always a hassle. I never know what I’m being until the night before and by then I’m too lazy to go out and buy the stuff needed for the outfit, so it ends up looking crappy. I love fall though, It’s by far my favorite season. I love the changing of the leaves, the colder weather, the hot drinks and my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving!

I love the scary movies that play on TV in October leading up to Halloween. AMC, Disney Channel, FX and ABC Family always play the best classics. I love being scared, whether it’s from a movie or someone scaring me. This past weekend me and my 3 friends drove to Delaware to a haunted trail. It was called Slaughter House Farms and it was probably the most fun I’ve had in a while. The trail was about 30 minutes long and I lost my voice from screaming so much probably after the first 10 minutes. The characters in the trail had creepy costumes, masks, makeup and chainsaws (without the chain). They were so creepy and some of them actually looked dead. I had such a fun time I definitely want to go to another one soon.

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I am the same way. Halloween is probably one of my least favorite holidays. The Fall is great because of Thanksgiving. Now a holiday all about food I am definitely excited for lol.

[gabriellatancona1-blog]

Travel.

So far in my life, I have made it from the North East Coast to Florida for Spring Break on a road trip, Nebraska to see family, Arizona for a trip with my roommates where we road tripped to California, the Bahamas for a wedding, and all the way over to New Zealand for a month to visit with my boyfriend’s family. This upcoming December I am going to Jamaica, and this March I am heading down to Myrtle Beach. As you can tell, I love love love to travel, but I haven’t been able to do much out of the country.

In my life I want to spend as much time as possibly can, exploring every part of the world that I can get on a plane and go to. So often I hear people saying that the one thing they wish they did was travel and that their biggest regret was not booking the flight to whatever country. There is so much culture, food, fashion and lifestyles that we have not been exposed too, and I want nothing more to just explore. I am a believer in using your money to do what makes you happy, because you never know when you won’t be around anymore.

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This is amazing and I have these thoughts every single day of my life! Traveling is a must and I hope we all get the chance to experience that.

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My use of social media

I definitely use social media more than I would like to admit. Social media to me acts as a source to fill time, meaning when I'm bored or not doing anything then I will check social media.

I use Facebook occasionally because I enjoy the news articles, and it is also a way that I can stay connected with my family. No one of my own age avidly uses Facebook anymore. I also find myself using Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat most of the time. It is a way to stay in touch with friends as well as a way to express oneself. I believe that you can tell a lot from a person by glancing over their social media. That is why I also believe it is important to be cautious about what you post. You never know who is looking.  

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Favorite TV Show

When it comes to TV shows, it is very hard for me to pick a favorite. There are so many different genres that I enjoy that the possibilities are endless. With the Netflix on-demand feature it is easy for me to start a new show and watch the entire series on my own time and without commercials. A genius invention!

However there is one show that I have watched at least 37 times (not an exact number) that I never get tired of watching and that show is Gilmore Girls. I have the entire series on DVD, but I am currently re-watching the series (yet again) on Netflix. It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, it’s relateable, and part of me wishes I could be on that show. The small town life seems very charming and quirky. You get attached to the relationships on the show and feel like you’re involved. I don’t see any guys sitting down and watching the show because it is geared more toward the female audience. Any ladies who are reading this and haven’t seen Gilmore Girls I strongly encourage you to start watching it! The entire series is on Netflix and trust me, you’ll get addicted.

[rachelvernon-su-blog]

Current Opinion Piece

I decided to comment on an article in the New York Times written by the editorial board called Congress Should Give the Government More Money for Wildfires. 

Like in my previous posts, I am a big advocate for nature. The fact that the wildfires out West are not being taken care of is astounding to me. Although wildfires are not categorized as natural disasters, they need to be. This is a crisis that needs government attention, as well as time and money.  “The Forest Service, a division of the Agriculture Department, says that 52 percent of its budget this year is dedicated to suppressing and managing fires, a whopping increase from 16 percent only 10 year ago.” This quote that was pulled directly from the article demonstrates that minimal effort has been put in to increase the budget for these fires. At this rate, the government will have done more harm than good when it comes to controlling these fires.

[cabartlett93]

My Favorite Oc Weekend

So this past week down in Ocean City was Bike Week. Let me first begin by saying I love bike week. There is just something that I love about waiting on the bikers. The majority of them are doctors, lawyers, own businesses, or just love bikes in general. They also are great tippers which is an added bonus. Besides taking their money, I just enjoy the type of free spirited people that they seem to be. I guess in a way I live vicariously through them while they are in town. They just seem like an awesome group of people who are just so care free, and look bad-ass doing it.

I can’t lie, the one thing I enjoy more than taking their money is just people watching. Ive decided that there are three different types of bikers. The first is what I call the fair weather riders. You know those bikers that have tennis shoes, jeans, and a t-shirt on. They only really go out on their Harleys if it is a gorgeous day. The second type of biker is the fake bikers. The ones who deck themselves out in the most ridiculous outfits I have ever seen. The men in their bandanas, chaps, biker boots, chains, and tattoos that have no real theme. And the women. High heels, fake hair, fake boobs, crop tops, and way to much make up on to even be considered attractive. These are my favorite kind of bikers because you know they wait all year to do this, and they love how they look and don’t even care how ridiculous they look. The third and final biker is the hogs. Men can be hogs, but I am referring to the obese women who look like men. They scare me. They aren’t nice either.

Overall, I think I like Bike Week so much because I secretly want to be in Sons of Anarchy. I’m obsessed, maybe I’ll get my motorcycle license so I can be a fair weather rider, and go for rides whenever I want to feel cool.

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I think bike week is such a cool concept and I’m bummed that I missed it this year! The people are great and free spirited and definitely a lot of fun. My neighbor is a bartender in OC and she loves what she does! She gets to meet a lot of cool people.

[meghanwalling-blog]

Being a Twin

While I’ve stated earlier in my first blog, I have an identical twin! Her name is Rachel, and honestly I miss her so much this semester because this is the longest time we’ve ever been apart since she no longer goes to school here. 

Everyone always asks, “What’s it like having a twin?! Can you guys like read each others minds and stuff?” And the answer is, no. We can not read each others mind, but that would be really cool! However, I think Rachel and I have such a close bond that we can read each others emotions, and I swear to you, feel each others pain sometimes. 

I only know how it is to be a twin. I was born with my best friend into this world. Even though we fight everyday I wouldn’t change her for anything.

[rachelvernon-su-blog]

The relationship you have with your sister sounds awesome! I don’t know what it’s like to be a twin, but I do have 2 siblings. I miss them so much since I’m away at school and they’re back home. I think having a close relationship with your siblings is such a great joy in life. 

[gabriellenieves-blog]

Long Distance Relationship

Touching on a topic I think I know all too well… I’ll give my story on how I handle my long distance relationship. I’ve been dating my boyfriend for almost 3 years, where the entire time we’ve been apart - aside from winter breaks and summer vacations. He goes to a military college, and I play a college sport, so seeing each other every weekend was never an option. We’re lucky if we get to see each other once a month.

Making it work at first was so hard. He’s a year older than me and during my freshman year of college he was a sophomore at a prep school in Alabama. I didn’t have a car my freshman year and of course he needed a plane to get home, so that was the hardest year. It got easier when he transferred to VMI last year, making our distance from each other 5 hours, not 13. This year he has more privileges as an upperclassman, so we get to see each other a little more than usual. Yay!

Honestly… Having a smartphone and computer with Skype and FaceTime made it work for us. It sucks more than anything being away from someone you love, but if you both put in the effort to make it work… It will work! 

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Both of my roommates are in long distance relationships so I know of all the hardships that comes with it. I am always there for them when they need to talk which I’m sure your friends are there for you as well. A long distance relationship is definitely hard work but it makes you stronger as a couple!

[rachelvernon-su-blog]

This past weekend I made my way back to my hometown in Westminster, MD. On Saturday my dad, mom, sister and I made our way to Frederick where we had dinner at Bryan Voltaggio's restaurant called Family Meal. For those of you who haven't heard of Bryan, he is a local Baltimore chef and restaurant owner who also appeared as a contestant on the popular cooking show, Top Chef. The food, venue, and service was absolutely incredible. My meal started off with the bacon and chive deviled eggs and finished with Bryan's burger served with home fries. I encourage all of you to make your way to one of these amazing restaurants.

After our meal, we decided to walk off our extra calories and head to downtown Frederick. It is a place filled with boutiques, record stores, local restaurants, and much more. The streets were full of eager shoppers, as well as locals who were just enjoying the beautiful night in their quaint town. It is definitely one of my favorite places to be. The positive and enlightening atmosphere was the cherry on top of a great day with the family!