The End of the 100 Day Challenge

Day 100: May 9

Improvement: I am improved! I did it. I have completed 100 days of improvements. Do I feel improved? Well, yes and no. I am proud of myself for finishing something that I set out to do, but I do believe I could have done a better job of challenging myself. Some days were true challenges and those are the days that stick out.

Day 99: May 8

Improvement: Celebrating Happiness. I am happy. I'm happy to announce that I'm happy, too. I have done a great job of treating myself well and celebrating my little accomplishments this semester. I'm happy that I came back to KU this semester.

It's nearly the end, but improvements are as good as ever.

Day 98: Friday, May 7

Improvement: Give Thanks. I mailed out some thank you letters today. If you don't already own stationary, go out and buy the cheapest cards you can find. I prefer blank cards because then they are completely personal. I'm able to be creative, but you can buy regular thank you cards, too. Send someone a thank you once a month. I have so many people to thank in my life; I try to write one once a week. They are thoughtful and sincere–like me. I'm kidding, but seriously, it's a nice gesture that I try to do often.

Day 97: Thurs. May 6

Improvement: Laugh at myself. I did something dumb today that could have really upset me–this happens often. Instead of getting frustrated, I laughed. I laughed hard. It's a skill to be able to laugh at yourself and mean it. Laugh often.

Day 96: Cinco di Mayo

Improvement: Be Daring. I did something out of the ordinary today. I called 411 to get an interview with a famous former football head coach. The phone call was incredible. It was an excellent phone interview that would have never happened had I not thought, "Oh, what the heck. Maybe his number is listed?" Be daring today.

The Little Engine that Could "I think I can. I think I can"

Day 95: Tuesday May 4

Improvement: Be positive. I have a great pandora station and a great spot in the Kansas Union basement where I find myself working diligently on my many to do's and papers. This week can go one of two ways. I can cry and complain about my mile long to do list OR I can hold my head high, keep chugging espresso and smile because the end is near.

Day 94: Monday May 3

Improvement: Remembering Why. Its easy to forget why we are here, what the point of homework is (that's still up for debate), and why things seem so hard sometimes. Today I remembered why I made one of the hardest decision I have ever made: to come back to school. It has taken nearly all semester for me to feel this way, but I can now say that I happy I am came back to school. It has been hard; full of tears and doubt. Now I smile realizing that one year ago I embarked on the biggest adventure of my life. I'm thankful everyday for the opportunities I have had to explore. Today I remembered why I am here.

The end in near

Day 93: Sunday May 2

Improvement: Theta Love. My sororities annual May Day Sundae philanthropy was today. It was for the kids. Theta Love.

Day 92: Sat. May 1

Improvement: Family Fun. My cousin's bachelorette party was a blast. I had so much fun. Thankfully, my Mom loves hanging out with me.

Day 91: Fri April 30

Improvement: KU collection. It may seem silly to have this as an improvement. However, as a college student, I should own tons of KU memorabilia, but surprisingly, I dont. So today I bought myself a nice KU Rock Chalk hoodie because... I love KU.

Day 90: Thurs. April 29

Improvement: Involvement. I am back at KU and getting involved. Now, I'm a Student Senator at KU as well as a Student Senator in University Senate. I'm now in the Global Awareness Program as a Student Ambassador. I am also in the Journalism Student Ambassador Society as a Student Ambassador and on the communications committee for Student Union Act ivies group. When I do something, I do it big. Wish me luck.

Day 89: Wed. April 28

Improvement: Warm Welcome. My dear friend Susheel Kumar came in town around 11pm. He has been on a cross country road trip and Lawrence, Kansas was his final stop before returning home to Chicago. I can't believe that nearly three years have passed since we first meet at Castaway summer camp in Detroit Lakes, Michigan.

Day 88: Tuesday April 27

Improvement: Spotlight. I did my first voice over package for Jayhawk Sports Talk. I honestly didn't think I knew how to do it, but I challenged myself and now have a package on the Tuesday night show. Hopefully, I get a chance to do many packages before graduation.

New Discoveries

Day 87: Monday April 26

Improvement: Discovering New Music. I'm youtubing (yes this is a verb, its 2010) new artists and loving every minute of it. Check out Pete Murray. He is great. I first found the song "Opportunity" from Pandora. This song great. The video is incredible and inspirational. Check him out. He's form Australia. Who doesn't love an Aussie man?? This song is about "your exit" and with finals 13 days away, the exit is near! I see hope. I see 'Opportunity.'

Also, thanks to Brad Rector, I am looking to another foreigner for some good tunage. You must listen to Coeur de Pirate, yes she is French. Meaning her website is in french. She has some amazing songs. This song, Ouvre du bonheur, has some English in it, for those of you easing yourself to the french music scene. Check out Brad's favorite, Comme Des Enfants (I think it's mine, too). Please do NOT stop at these songs. She has some amazing work! Happy listening (especially you Sam Spurlock).

Less Than Twenty Days Left

Day 86: Sunday April 25

Improvement: Theta Love. It's 11am, I'm laying in bed telling myself to get up for the day because we have Theta Business all day and Greek Awards tonight. Well, as they always say... "If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, be a little girl that flies a kite." Very true. Theta Love.

Day 85: Sat April 24

Improvement: Bowling skills. This is a lie. I'm a horrible bowler, but I did get a strike! I'm so thankful to a have a fun group of friends who randomly go bowling at 11pm and play Pictionary on table clothes and dance around the alley with me.

Day 84: Friday April 23

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Improvement: Dress Up. With so many fun places to shop in Lawrence, it was awesome looking for outfits for my Viva Las Vegas party (which, yes was later that evening). Alex was a true sport and let me pick whatever I wanted for him to try on at Wild Man, a vintage store on Mass.

Alex ended up with a cut-off t-shirt with Dolphins on it, short shorts, a denim fanny-pack, mullet wig with a red, white and blue sweatband- making him the not only the best boyfriend ever and the best date ever, but the best looking guy at Viva (my opinion being biased, of course, but most likely the best opinion).

I went to Viva dressed as Kesha, while Alex was the guy from one of Kesha's music videos. (Watch this and check out the guy in the car - yup, that's my boyfriend). Not only did we look good, but we had a good time. I am so glad we went all out with our costumes. I couldn't have asked for a party date party.

Day 83: Thurs April 22

Improvement: My Love for Lawrence. Tonight I went on one of the best dates. We ate at the delectable Paisanos and then Alex surprised me with an adventure out to Wells Lookout. I didn't know this even existed. You could see all of Lawrence from this 20-something feet tall tower. It was wonderful. Although I often wish my life would have taken me to some exotic destination for university, tonight I was thankful to be right where I am right now.

Day 82: Wed April 21

Improvement: My art gallery. Tonight I printed off one my favorite New Zealand photos, a view of Lake Wanaka that makes me wish I could dive into the photo Mary Poppins- style and be right back to where I once was. In my photoshop class, I printed off a 17-by-13-inch print of it. I can't wait to get it framed.

Day 81: Tuesday April 20

Improvement: Final Cut skills. Thanks to Mike Lavieri, I learned something new about the wonderful world of Final Cut.

Day 80: Monday April 19

Improvement: Enjoy the Outdoors. Spring time is here and I love it. Today I sat outside and did homework.

Day 79: Sunday April 18

Improvement: My wardrobe. Materialism is something that has come and gone in my life. After backpacking Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, I found myself with little to no clothes (Europe will do that to ya). Instead of rushing to the Gap and J.Crew when I returned home, I felt as though I didn't need "things" as much anymore. This is true. However, in the world we live in today and the fact that I'm not only a college girl but yes a sorority girl, I was in major need of some clothes. Thankfully, my mother loves me and took me shopping. We did a great job. I now have clothes and can attempt to look like I care again.

Day 78: Saturday April 17

Improvement: Relationship with my Mom. Every year Mid-April the shops of Lawrence are filled with beautiful young people accompanied by their lovely mothers. Later in the day, the bars are then filled with these same beautiful young people and what some may call "cougars" but what whom we call "Mom." It's that time of year again, MOM'S DAY!!! This year was especially great. My Mom has always been a big part of my life, but lately she has become something more than a mother, a dear friend. I am thankful to have her around, especially so close. Yes, I like that I go to college less than an hour away from my Mom. Love you, Mom.

Day 77: Friday April 16

Improvement: Hosting a friend. The lovely Madeline Rivard flew in from Milwaukee. Her visit was incredible. It proved that friendship can stand the test of time and fly thousands of miles to prove it. Maddie and I met nearly three years ago in Summer of 2007 at Castaway Young Life Camp in Minnesota. I showed her around KU and as I did I remembered why I love it here so much. Thank you Maddie, I hope you loved it as much as I do.

Day 76: Thursday April 15

Improvement: Accomplishing Something. Success. I won my Senate Seat today after an all-nighter, a sun burn and a serious case of dehydration. It was worth every ounce of sleep deprivation and minor break down. I realize I haven't ever really ran for anything this out of my control. Usually if I compete for something it is up to my ability, not depending on others to vote for me. This was a hard week and such a rewarding end to it. Plus, the best part of the end of the evening... Maddie Rivard arrived!!!

Day 75: Wednesday April 14

Improvement: My Tan. I was on campus from 7am to at least 7pm. I got a killer tan and locked in a good number of votes for myself and KUnited. From this one day, I have a dramatic Rainbow tan (a flip flop tan on my feet) - my first of the semester. Hello Summer... Only 25 days.

Day 74: Tuesday April 13

Improvement: Fullest Day Ever. I can't believe I survived. Tuesdays always have five classes but today I had class, homework assignments and elections starting tomorrow. I spent my evening at Phi Psi for our KUnited Work Night preparing for campaigning the next two days. I pulled an all-nighter - my first of the semester.

Taking a Step Back on Day 73

Day 73: Mon. March 12

Improvement: Put Things Into Perspective. When living life, it is easy to forget what it important( and what is not). Lately, I have been so caught up with how I look that I have forgotten that loving how I look is more important. My looks, amongst other things 20-year-old girls worry about, have sometimes seemed like a bigger issue (no pun intended) than they really are. Today I remembered to take a step back and remember the important things in life - true happiness, family and friends.