Mind Over Matter

Somehow, my last summer is upon me. This time of year moves me to reflect on the last year while looking forward to the next. Last summer, Merl and I reported to rush duties in Austin and discussed more than a few times how convinced we were that good things were in store for junior year.


{basketball game tailgate}
This mindset made for just what we had hoped for and anticipated--the best year of all-time.


I've recently embraced the idea that mind is what matters most: it's what got me up on a wakeboard; it's what allows me to confidently fill a blank Word Processing page with 1200 words in one sitting; it's what makes getting up every morning thrilling; and, it has everything to do with making this year the best.


Cultivating this mindset along with a combination of the people, the places, the adventures, the surroundings, the accomplishments, the challenges overcome, the rainy days that made sunny ones spectacular, the big events and the small all made junior year stand out.


{Flume concert at Emo's with my little sis slash daughter, Michelle}
I could probably use one hand to count how many bad days I had, but here are just a few memories that stick out (and just so happen to be photographed) to take advantage of this short window of time to reflect before I embark on my big adventure across the pond.


crossing off the classic spring break destination...


Cabo


{me with my closest girlfriends at Parkside blowing out the candles on my I heart NYC Cade's Cake}
ringing in one of my last milestone birthdays


{cathy and i enjoying a belated happy hour at Josephine House}
the big 2-1


{william and i on my birthday eve with bubbles and créme brulée at Justine's Brasserie}
on more occasions that just one!


& joining in other's celebrations, too.




the best weekend of the year --


when Andy and Kirby became Mr. & Mrs. McConn


finally,


a Red River rivalry victory,


which was celebrated the only way it should be.


sharing a roof with 60 girls


{Nicole + Olivia}
and now looking forward to downsizing in my first house with the perfect housemates.


growing to love my new Houston home,


and never, ever


saying no to a boozy brunch.


having the success of rush under my belt and watching the freshmen discover the amazing lifestyle that comes with college, Kappa, UT and Austin


and passing down the torch to my very first rush crush and fellow 'MB', Madalyn



a festive holiday and deb season,


the weekly bestie breakfast + bible study in the fall,


crowning new Cowboys Sweethearts,


lots of occasions to get all dolled up



for formal affairs,



several "firsts"--sitting in a blind, oyster eating, seeing Wicked, joining the Homeland bandwagon, ice days for the treacherous "polar vortexes"

and going to upperclassmen only territory Abel's on the land.

food and drink fit for a king and queen,


{G'Raj Mahal--former Indian food truck on Rainey Street recently turned brick & mortar restaurant}
which helped make the most of the city Los Angelites and New Yorkers are flocking to -- from the East Side to Rainey Street to West Campus gems


to the very vibrant coffee shop culture.


It was some of the best days




with some of the best company. I took this mindset home with me and plan on packing it up with all my other necessities for Europe, as I have every intention of maintaining this positive practice from here on out. 'Cause it's mind that matters most, so live every day to the fullest.