Showing posts with label maroon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maroon. Show all posts

April 16, 2013

Remember the 32 Hokies

This is not my first time blogging about a tragedy. It is happening very often these days. However, one was a little too close to home: the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16th. I want to share some quotes/speeches that are always on my heart this time of year instead of explaining this grief myself.  I hope that you will be a Hokie today and wear your maroon and orange to support our community! 

My thoughts and prayers are with Boston as well~



"When you all are out there in the world and you meet someone and you tell them that you’re from Virginia Tech, and they say, “Huh, isn’t that the school where” -- I want you to interrupt them right there and say, “Yes, it is the school where we have some of the best academic programs and professors in the country." That’s what you tell them. You tell them, "Yes, it is the school where students are passionate about serving their country and supporting each other. And by the way, which also has the best campus food you’ll ever eat." Who can say that?

You tell them, “Yes, it’s the school where we produce graduates who are leaders in their industries, and pillars of their communities, and who carry their Hokie pride with them every day for the rest of their lives." You say, “Yes, that is the school I attend. That is Virginia Tech.”

- Michelle Obama, 2012 Commencement Speaker 

"While 32 of our friends and classmates are in Heaven trying to explain what a Hokie is, I stand here sure in the fact that I wouldn't want to be anything else."

neVer forgeT ♥

"We are Virginia Tech.

We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning.

We are Virginia Tech.

We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.

We are Virginia Tech.

We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by the rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory, neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water, neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy.

We are Virginia Tech.

The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness.

We are the Hokies.

We will prevail.

We will prevail.

We will prevail.

We are Virginia Tech."

-Nikki Giovanni





After the shooting, some of my family and friends asked me if I still wanted to go to Virginia Tech? I said there is no place I would rather be. I always felt safe there in spite of everything that has happened and that will never change. I am a Hokie for life!

Linking up @ Northern Belle Diaries
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October 13, 2012

Lets Go....HOKIES

It's Gameday in Blacksburg!! It is also homecoming but we can't be there :( We will be cheering on the Hokies via television :) Then this evening, the hubby and I will begin our Christmas shopping! We are trying to break it up some and not spend so much all in a few weeks. Tomorrow, we are going to get us some pumpkins! Seem a little backwards? Oh well...

Wishing I could get to see all of my friends that are traveling to be there for homecoming! Here are some of my favorite memories on Gameday :)














GET PUMPED: WATCH THIS!



Start Jumping

XO Samantha


September 17, 2012

Mood Board: Autumn

I love mood boards/collages/inspiration boards/whatever you want to call them! I know my blog has been full of all things fall and I promise I will post design things once I get out of this phase. However, today was such a nice "fall" day even though it hasn't officially started yet.
I have been trying to keep up with my goals. If you refer back to that post here you can see what those goals were if you missed it. So, September is flying by too and I have yet to 100% finish any of these goals yet :0

  • I am almost halfway through The Help and I am loving it. 
  • I have not been exercising anymore than just walking :( 
  • I am still forgetting to take my camera everywhere with me. 
  • I have to print pictures for scrapbooking and hanging in the apartment. 
  • Still haven't finished the last of the name change. 
  • Curtains are all taped and ready to paint so that is ALMOST done and will follow up with a post!! 
  • I did skype with Sammi :) YAY but I still want to catch up with a few more friends before I mark that as complete.
To make myself feel a little bit better about this I have been making small to do lists and completing those. I did get my fall decor put up this weekend so I WILL take pictures at some point and post those!! Anyways hope y'all had a great weekend and Monday and I hope this mood board brightens your "fall" day.

1. Fall Tablescapes-Pinterest 2. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte 3. Apples- Pinterest 
4. Fall Engagement Sessions- Photography by Lani Patrick 
5. Boots, Coats, Scarves, Leather-Pinterest 6. Inspiration Photo-Pinterest
7. Pumpkin Pancakes 8. Fall Scented Candles-Pinterest 9. J.Crew Cashmere Sweaters 
10. Pumpkins- Pinterest 11. Leaves changing color and falling-Pinterest

Is this how you envision fall? Would you add anything? What other mood boards would you like to see me create?
Fall Favorites Link Up



XO Samantha

August 30, 2012

Football Food

Since today kicks off the start of college football, I thought I would post some awesome tailgating/ football party ideas. And maybe also because my friend Erin requested that I do a post on this. I love game day food. To me, it basically consists of appetizers, snack type foods and desserts :) Are you hosting a football party this weekend? What tailgating foods are your favorite? Have you made any of these? If so I would love for you to share. If you don't want to comment publicly, you can always send me an email at samantha.n.shipley@gmail.com! Enjoy~

 Football Pepperoni Pizza- I love this idea. I make homemade pizza a lot and it wouldn't take much to make it look like this! You can find the original post here
 Individual 7 Layer Dip- Yay for portable nachos! You could always have extra chips out on a table or put each person some chips in a ziploc bag. If you use these little disposable cups then you have a really easy clean up too. And you could make most of this ahead of time and just add your cheese and toppings last minute. You can find the original post for these here.
 Football Cake Pops- These are so fun and also great for on the go. I've never made cake pops, but I've heard they take a lot of time and effort. Nobody wants to be slaving away in the kitchen when its game time. So if these are too advanced, another great option would be cupcakes!! You can find the original post here.
 Fruit Kebabs- If you are thinking so far that you are going to gain 10 pounds for eating all of this stuff, then here you go. Anything "on a stick" is appropriate for game day and tailgating. These will add lots of color to your table as well. Found on Pinterest!
 Mini Corndog Muffins- I really want to make these soon! I love corndogs and these are just too cute. They may not be appropriate for tailgating since they probably wouldn't be so good reheated, but I sure would love those for a football party/gathering. You can find the original post here.
 Super Quick Chili- Who doesn't love something warm and comforting for those REALLY COLD games? Bread bowls are awesome too because the only thing you need for this is a spoon! Don't have to worry about lots of dirty dishes. You can find the original post here.

And here's a few more...just for fun!! :)
You have to let me know if you try THIS ONE!!!


Tailgating Essentials for Hokies:


I hope that whatever games you are watching this weekend or Monday, you will consider these recipes and ideas to make your experience a better one. 

P.S. I will let you know if I actually make any of these :) I'm sure my husband would appreciate it if I do!

Happy Tailgating!
XO Samantha

August 28, 2012

Back to school...or not

This is kind of a bittersweet post for me. It is very hard to see all of my friends on facebook talking about being in Blacksburg and first day of classes. I already somewhat mentioned how I miss Blacksburg in another post (http://designerinteal.blogspot.com/2012/08/fallwhen-leaves-turn-maroon-and-orange.html), but does anyone really miss school?? Well, I think the idea is that we miss everything that goes along with that. I miss:

  • seeing my friends whenever I want
  • running to our yummy dining halls to grab food
  • getting to sleep in and stay up late
  • being around fellow Hokies
  • wearing maroon and orange ALL of the time
  • getting to go to all of the football games and tailgating
  • and so much more...
Do you still miss these things if you are a graduate? 
My advice to all of you current students: Don't take these things for granted! Live your college life to the fullest. Always make time to hang out with your friends. If you don't, you will regret it later.

A few random notes:
  1. Remember that jewelry organizer that I really wanted from my organization post? Well my friend Erin gave me hers. It was actually really odd. I mentioned it to her that I was going to ask for one for Christmas and she said she had her in her car and she was going to take it to the goodwill. :) Lucky me!
  2. I got to have Starbucks with a new friend of mine Annamarie. I tried a new frappucino called Mocha Cookie Crumble. It was awesome and it had chocolate whipped cream! (Annamarie is so sweet and I'm so glad I get to hang out with her and get to know her.)
  3. My husband and I went for a jog yesterday evening. This doesn't sound very exciting, but it was for me. I don't really want to admit this but it was the first real exercise I've gotten since before the wedding!! :/
  4. My friend Gabby and I made homemade caramel pecan ice cream this weekend. It was SOOO good Y'all! (words of Paula Deen)

And now....some Maroon and Orange LOVE! Enjoy! Which of these are your favs?


Pinterest-source not available
Pinterest 

And if you don't know what a Hokie is here is the answer:
Pinterest

Hokie love,
XO Samantha