My Life In A Not-So-Nutshell

My sisters and my mother are three of the most important people in my life. My brothers and father, too. But that is a different blog post for a different day (it'll be soon, guys!) I probably call or talk to my sisters, on average, 4-5 times a week, and I talk to my mother everyday. And that's the way it's been the last four years I've been away. That's the way it's been for, well... ever. With graduation quickly approaching, I'm feeling sentimental, reminiscent, sad, excited, and everything in between. My emotions each day I wake up in these last two weeks left in Tuscaloosa are basically a big fat "TBD, Mags!" But that's okay, because feeling all of these things means this place means something to me. And it means that Tuscaloosa, that UA, will be a part of my life and who I am forever. I've had some really awful things happen to me in college. I've almost failed a semester of school from having my heart broken, I've been v...

I have eleven drafts waiting in my blog. Eleven. I guess I just assumed none of them were worthwhile, or perhaps I was too caught up in the opinions of others around me and what they would think of what I had to say. Well, today, I finally found something to write about that I know  is worthwhile. It's April, which means Sexual Assault Awareness Month is upon us. While this is a great opportunity to educate those around us about the growing epidemic of sexual assault on campuses across the country, it also can be emotionally and physically draining -- especially for survivors. Self-care is not only crucial during this time when we are heavily discussing and hearing about the issue of sexual assault (thus likely reminding ourselves of our own experiences), it is absolutely necessary. So, let's talk about self-care. Easier than it sounds, right? Wrong. For sexual assault survivors, self-care can be confusing and well, downright hard. I struggle myself sometimes; it's hard...

I have ten drafts of blog posts waiting to be published. Ten. They range from posts about happiness, to immeasurable sadness, and essentially everywhere in between. I never published any of them (at least not yet), because I didn't feel they served a purpose. I'm not proud of a lot of them, some were a desperate attempt to get over an insane bout of writer's block, and to be perfectly honest, six months ago (heck, even sometimes still), I don't always feel like my writing is "worthy" of being posted -- as if there's some imaginary scale in which we gauge our writing abilities. (I've grown up a lot in six months, believe it or not... that's the topic of one of the posts very patiently waiting to be published)... ...Carrying on... There's a lot of terrifying things that have recently happened in our world, in our country for that matter. It scares me. I'm terrified a lot. I'm heartbroken for those who have lost loved ones -- their par...

The following is an article I wrote for a online-based Greek publication, The Odyssey. Enjoy! New Years Anti-Resolutions  Along with a new year comes a flood of possible resolutions – perhaps to lose a few pounds, further your career, get better grades, whatever it may be. However, instead of the constant pressure we put on ourselves to look better, perform better,  BE  better, here is my list of resolutions with a little twist. Basically: Things to stop doing in the new year.  Stop caring so much about what others think. Chances are, other people aren’t paying attention to you as much as you would like to think. Exciting news: Other peoples’ opinions will not make or break you. Be you, love that person and stop wasting energy on people who simply  don’t matter. Stop saving your fitness goals for the new year. While the new year is a great time to make a positive change in your life, why save any and all resolutions for a new year? Each day ...

I get that it confuses people... we parade around in bikinis and six inch heels and people often wonder if that is actually  the best way to judge our lifestyles. If you don't do or watch pageants regularly, I can see how that would be confusing or even troubling. In June, I had the pleasure of spending six days with 15 other beautiful contestants as we all continued our journey to Miss Iowa 2015. I've said it before and I'll say it again: these women are the most intelligent, selfless, hilarious, kind women I have ever known, and just being associated with them is an honor. For those not familiar with the Miss America Organization, we participate in five areas of competition. Talent, evening gown, onstage question, a ten minute private interview with the judging panel, and lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit. Most people think this last phase of competition is irrelevant or even "old-fashioned." (Disclaimer: the Miss America Organization began as a swimsuit co...

I think we all get those thoughts. You know the ones I'm talking about. The doubts, the fears, the "holycrapI'mreallypyschingmyselfoutandIknowitbutcan'treallystopit" thoughts. I like to believe they happen to the best of us. I figure, a little self-doubt every once in a while never killed anyone. Hell, it probably made people a little bit smarter, more self-aware, all that good stuff. There comes a limit, though. I do know this. I know this because I am a *professional* in the area of self-doubt. I know this because *AT LEAST* twice a day I find myself questioning a thought, an action, something throughout the course of those 17 hours I'm awake. I'm sorry to inform you if you came here to learn anything spectacular from this post, you probably won't. This is merely my take on self-doubt, self-conflict, and hopefully, one day, complete  self-acceptance. I just read a really awesome graduation speech the other day. Matthew McConaughey spoke at The Un...

My sophomore year began like any ol' college semester. It was normal. I really was having a bit of an identity crisis throughout the course of first semester... You're laughing, I know. I wasn't entirely sure where I was going with my major, my relationship, myself. I really wasn't sure of much of anything, actually. So I tried a disgusting amount to make sure I never felt like that again... To make sure I never felt unsure, unaware, or insecure. I changed my major, I worked hard at my relationship, I worked hard to make myself happy. And I did. But in true natural fashion, things in life happen. Second semester of sophomore year began on kind of a rocky surface anyway. If you've kept up with my writing, you'll know this entire blog began because of a few really unfortunate experiences I had. They were painful, they sat in my brain and consumed my thoughts, they made me into a different person. One of them was my story to tell, so I did. The other is not my ...