The Siberian American: August 2014

Friday, August 29, 2014

Five Reasons College Football Season Is My Favorite Time of the Year



It’s no secret—I love sports.  College football is my favorite, and I have been counting down the days till Saturday since January. I can’t wait to spend my Saturdays at the stadium or screaming at the TV with family and friends. Here’s why football season is my favorite time of the year:

Team spirit: 
There’s nothing better than cheering for my team. It is also quality family time—I have taken my dad and brother to games, and Chris and I love going to games together. If I can’t make it to a game, it is also fun to go to alumni watch parties. It’s a great way to make friends because we enjoy cheering for the same team.

The food: 
Whether it’s tailgating barbecue or pizza in front of a TV, food just tastes better when watching college football.

The atmosphere is amazing: 
College football is exciting. I’m a huge fan of explosive offenses and big plays. Though I also watch the NFL, I prefer college football because I feel like the players have something to prove to make it to the NFL. Plus, there’s nothing better than being part of a crowd, screaming and cheering with 60,000 other fans.

    I have an excuse to spend my Saturday in front of the TV: 
    I love going out and spending time with friends, but sometimes I just want to relax and spend my day in front of the TV. College football is the perfect excuse. If we can’t make it to the stadium, I also love to invite friends and family to watch the game with me.

    This stadium:
Photo by Sean Doerre
I am not exaggerating when I say that Baylor has built one of the most beautiful stadiums in the country, and it opens on Sunday. I am absolutely giddy just thinking about it. I am still trying to figure out how I can make my way over there, which will be tough with my husband’s schedule. If I make to McLane Stadium this year, it will definitely be one of the best college football seasons ever.
I leave you with one last thing: Sic 'Em Bears!

Linking up with Lauren, Amanda, Karli, and Amy.

Venus Trapped in Mars

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Cold Benches & Positive Perspectives


I had a fun travel post ready for today, but I couldn’t bring myself to post it. Yesterday was a hard day. A rip-my-hair-out type of day. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything huge or major.  It’s just that all of these crazy situations popped up this week that made me feel like I’m about to lose it.  A few minutes before I left work, a fly flew into my ear, and I burst out laughing because it was such a great indication of how my day went.

Here’s the thing: I am good at making multiple small problems ruin something really great. Recently, a friend told me that she had asked someone who had just returned from St. Petersburg, Russia how she enjoyed her trip. This person replied that she hated it because she had to sit on a cold bench one time. She let that one tiny moment ruin her entire experience.

I had a cold bench moment today: my JetBlue flight to Boston was cancelled, along with four other flights that day. There was only one option left. Instead of getting there at 11 a.m., the new flight would get us there at 11 p.m. It was going to be our only day in Boston, I was meeting a friend there, and to top it all off, I had to pay even more than usual for a hotel that day because there is a 10,000 person convention in Boston that weekend, and I wouldn’t get to enjoy the city.

When I heard this, I was ready to throw in the towel.  I started looking into how much of the trip we could refund. We had already had to pay a change fee to get the flight we wanted in the first place, and then they completely changed it for us. I thought that with this cold bench, I couldn’t enjoy my trip.

Long story short is that we were able to change airlines, but we had to pay even more money to do it. It wasn’t close to an ideal outcome, but it was the only option we had. Our trip is special for so many reasons: we are celebrating our fifth anniversary (way late) and want to enjoy a week together before Chris flies all over the country for interviews. I could let this cold bench ruin our entire time together right now…or I could just find a warmer bench to sit on and enjoy our vacation. 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Ready, Set, Blog: Welcome to the Siberian American


I have wanted to blog as long as I can remember. I read many blogs and love the idea of being part of the community. To be honest, I have been worried about getting on this blogging train because I’m a pretty private person. It is scary to put myself out there, but I’ve decided to give it a shot.

My husband Chris is in his fourth year of medical school. Pretty soon, he’ll be applying to residencies all over the country. I’ve decided to finally start a blog because I want to remember this crazy transition period in our lives and document our next chapter.

Here’s what you might find on my blog:

*Travel recaps and tips—I absolutely love to travel and enjoy sharing my travels with others. If you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail me!
*Frugal living tips—While my husband is in medical school, I have had to learn ways to save (and earn!) money. I can’t wait to share some of my discoveries.
*Dresses (and other clothes)—I own more dresses than some women will in their lifetimes. I love dressing up for both work and going out and am eager to share some favorite outfits.
*Books—I am one of those people who stay up way too late at night while reading a good book. Every month, I will post the books I have read with a short review of each book.
*Subscription boxes—Subscription boxes are my weakness. I love beauty products and will likely post reviews of some of my boxes.
*My dog Skyler—She’s half corgi, half fox, but completely adorable.

I told you she was cute. :)
*Life and love— Though I have mentioned that this is scary for me, I am also excited about stepping out of my comfort zone.
 *Randomness—Random makes me happy, and I hope it makes you happy too. ☺

For more about me, click here. I’m so glad you’re here!