ole ole!

Last week was my sorority, Alpha Phi's spring philanthropy event, Phiesta. As in PHI-esta.

We volunteer all week to try to get 500 hours of service. We do projects all around the city every day.
We kept track throughout the week by putting #10 signs in the yard to document each 10 hours we complete.

Our big one this year was a Zumba night. We invited the Girl Scouts and our alumni to participate in an hour long Zumba session taught by one of the girls in Alpha Phi. Except, Mother Nature had different plans. It rained all day before hand, so instead, we did Plan B and had a movie night while coloring pictures. I loved it because I got to see three of the girls who are in the 2nd grade class that I work in: Mayan, Grace, & Maggie. They are the cutest things ever!

My other volunteer project of the week was going to Thrifty Threads, which is kind of like Goodwill. Our group sorted through clothes and hung them up in preparation for them to go on the floor to be sold. We had fun singing, asking each other random questions, and laughing at the totally random things that were in the bins.

The finale of the week was an all-campus soccer tournament followed by a taco bar dinner. It was fun to hang out with everyone and eat. Duh.

It was a fun week. I'm proud of what my sorority does. I enjoy getting a new cute shirt.

But, dang, I'm so glad that I can focus on studying for finals now.

indy food tour 2012, part one

"Hi, our names are Avery Volz and Abby Miller and we are addicted to food."

The first step is admitting, right? The second step is....continuing the addiction. Like when I was obsessed with food trucks. It's one and the same.

Here's some news: Indianapolis, Indiana is a hotbed of really, really great food. Who knew? 

But, because of this....I'm pleased to announce....

Avery & Abby's Indy Food Tour 2012!!!!

We made a list of all of the really great places that we want to eat. And we are going to try to eat at everyone in the year 2012. We have already made a pretty big dent in the list (because we like to eat so much) and we will continue in the fall. It makes it fun because every time we go out to eat, we try something new! We are just SO adventurous.

The first few great eats...


ROOM FOUR.

This restaurant is a secret room attached to a really fancy restaurant in Indy called Recess. Room Four is the cheaper version, but from the same chef. Who is a rockstar. It's the kind of place where there are only five options on the menu and it changes every day. SO FUN!

Avery and I loved the cool lights and wall decorations. And that we felt so hip ordering off such a short menu. Avery ordered fried fish tacos and I got a meatloaf sandwich. Yum.

FIRE BY THE MONON. 

This is in Broad Ripple, where the majority of our "to be eaten" restaurants are located. Fire By The Monon was rustic and artsy and really unique. We had been hearing great things about it for awhile.

Avery got a burger and I got a roasted veggie pizza with goat cheese. Mainly because I could eat goat cheese by the spoonful. Seriously.

RENE'S BAKERY.

This cute bakery is in an even cuter blue building. They have everything you would ever want in there: croissants, cakes, cookies, bread, pie, other sweet things that I don't know about. This is somewhere I could totally see myself wanting to go all the time and buy delicious things.

Avery got a piece of cake and I got some sweet French madeleines. So worth the extra calories.

My mouth is already drooling for the next restaurant on the list. 

sorority life

After a year and a half of being a part of Greek life at Butler, I sometimes forget that some of the things we do are totally foreign and weird to the outside community.

candlelight ceremony.   When two people are dating for a really long time, they can choose to "lavaliere" each other. Pretty much means that the girl is now allowed to wear the boys' letters officially and is kind of considered a member of the fraternity. As weird as it sounds, it's actually just so great. It's like the college version of a wedding or engagement, which college girls are obsessed with...(check out our Pinterest pages).

We all stand in a circle, pass around a candle, and sing a really pretty song about sisterhood.

Then, the best friends of the girl being "lavaliered" slowly step out of the circle and led up to the girl. It's supposed to be a surprise, so when the candle finally stops in front of her, it's such a great emotional reaction. All of the sorority may or may not end up screaming and cheering. Then, the boyfriend and his fraternity brothers come walk over and usually sing a song, tell their love story, and kiss.

It is just too precious. Young love.


serenades.   Another Greek life tradition at Butler. Every time an organization has some sort of event to promote, they go around to all of the houses and sing songs, usually popular ones that they've changed the words to.

Last week was the Number One Serenade Of Them All. Our men's acappela group called Out Of The Dawg House...(get it? we're the Butler Bulldogs!) They are all beautiful people and we love to watch them and have them sing to us.

So, we all sit around the foyer in every available space. I'm pretty sure that every single girl in that room was googly-eyed and drooling a little bit.  

And then they sing. And we listen. And it's a wonderful way to end our Wednesday night. Their concert is on Saturday and you can bet that I'll be in the front row doing the same thing.

relay for life

Relay for Life was a beautiful experience on Friday night. The dad of one of my good friends has been battling cancer, especially these last few months. He was there to talk at the event, along with the rest of her family. It was so beautiful to watch how well they have supported each other and loved each other through this battle. 

I walked in honor of my grandma who passed away from cancer when I was ten. Although she wasn't a part of my life for very long, she still made an impact. I will never give away my Beanie Babies that she gave to me. I'm a big list maker, just like her. And I always try to remember to encourage and acknowledge the people I love by sending them cards.

The best part of the night was the Memory Laps. We all walked in silence and in darkness for thirty minutes to honor and remember those people who have fought cancer. It was an emotional few laps around the track; lots of tears, hugs, and lines of people holding hands. But, what followed was better. A sense of hope. That we are all in this together. No one can go through cancer alone.

First Relay experience was such a success. Can't wait for next year.

cling

This semester, I've had an awesome opportunity to be a part of a group of four or five girls who meet on Sunday afternoons and talk about life and God and struggles and celebrations. We come from all different backgrounds and follow different paths during the week.

But, on Sunday, that time is sacred. We sit on the front porch of the Nikcevichs, taking a breath from the busyness of the world. We've been reading Psalms the last month or so, and just loving the true emotions that David shows.

This week, we read Psalm 63. We talked about how it is such a great reminder of how God does everything for us. He is at the center of it all. That we need to be EARNEST in our pursuit of God.

"Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!"

We made a list of all of the verbs that God calls us to do, or does for us...

seek, thirst, see, behold, trust, praise, satisfy, sing, cling, meditate, rejoice

We talked about what each of us were doing in our own life. Right now, I'm just clinging, trying to make it through the next two weeks, realizing that God is the only thing that is holding me together through it all.

And, we talked about how there will be a time for other actions and other verbs. There will be a time for praise and for seeking. But, sometimes all we can do is cling.

remember

Earlier this week was the one year anniversary of the death of one of my sorority sister's stepmom. In honor of her, some of us gathered to for a little ceremony.

We wrote prayers on balloons and remembered the loved ones we miss so much.

One of those has your name on it, Grandma Carol. You are remembered for the impact you had on me and how well you cared for your family. Lots of love to you up in heaven!

planning

I will only get to participate in this week eight times in my life. It's sad to think that I'm already done with half...four down, four to go. The last time will probably be bittersweet. It has meant so much to me over the past two years already and I know that my love of this week will only get stronger over the next two years. 

It's scheduling week. 

Nerdy I know. But, really, scheduling is one of my favorite parts of college. I love that we get to reinvent our lives every six months. We get to plan our lives and try to think about what we want. Waking up early for your classes wasn't your thing...well, don't do that next semester. You hate your professor...well, at least you only have to deal with him for four months. 

It's really freeing to be able to make these changes and explore all of these options right now. And, I'm a planner. So I just love being able to look at all of the potential classes, what professors I might be taking, or when I will be able to have a break during the day. It's just so great! Especially when everything works out exactly the way I want it to, like this semester. 

A few things I'm already excited about for next semester: 

1. Both of my psych classes will be taught by the same professor...could be a little bit of overload, but I really like him!

2. I'm taking Drawing for my art class! I get to spend 6 hours every week learning and practicing something that I really want to be good at. Perfect. 

3. I'm going to take my first social work class. This is something I'm really interested in and can't wait to see what I get to learn about and experience. It's also my first night class...kind of excited to see how it will affect me.

4. I'm taking my P.E credit next semester and chose Buda Khi. A bunch of my friends have already taken it and say it's the best thing ever. I get to schedule my work out in, will be so fit that I will be able to do 100 pushups, and will be able to break a board at the end of the semester if I can! Woo! 

It's nice to be able to have a little bit of hope amidst the stress of the final few weeks of the semester. 

college should always be this fun...

One of my favorite parts of being involved in Greek life at Butler is all of the philanthropy events that we get to participate in. Last week was a packed schedule...three different fraternities had their philanthropy week, meaning there was at least an event a night to try to make it an appearance at. It was SO hard to fit it in when I needed to be studying and reading for my classes.

Not like that's hard. The countdown is at 20 days. Which some would say is 20 days until summer. But I say is 20 more days for me to procrastinate and do fun things in Indianapolis.

Each of the three events was so unique, but so great. Why would I not want to participate?

Event number one, hosted by the men of Lambda Chi Alpha.

Riding a giant teetet totter all week. Seriously giant...at least 15 feet off the ground.

Event number two was Tau Kappa Epsilon's Jumpathon. With trampolines. No pictures. Because I didn't go. But, whenever this fraternity comes up, we all yell, "TKE TKE TKE TKE TKE!" They're funny people.

And event numero tres was put on by my friends over at the Delta Tau Delta. The biggest part was on Friday night...an event called lipsyncs. All of sororities form a dance team, choreograph a dance, and perform on a stage. The girls from my sorority were practicing in January for this. Super competitive, not for people like me who only dance in my car and to make fun of myself. This event was called Trike. Why? Oh, because we ride around on tricycles.

My bff Emily tried to win one of the races.

Pretty much, it's a little weird that we're in college and I get to do this kind of stuff. But, I wouldn't want my college experience to happen any other way.

Trikes, tramps, teeters, oh my.

come together

Cheers to sitting down at a table for a meal with YL friends that I like for a chance to talk about our lives and listen and laugh and eat lots and lots of chips and salsa.

the best $25 i've ever spent

A few weeks ago, I overheard some of my YL girls talking about this place where you can get a $25 massage. It literally stopped me in my tracks. What...massage!? What....$25!? What!? I didn't think places like that exist in the world.

But, this place just kept coming up in casual conversation. I would see people and they would tell me that they had just come from their massage. Or they got a gift certificate there for their birthday. Or I would drive by and look at it longingly; wishing, hoping, waiting.

Well, last Friday, I was sitting at North Central just casually watching some high school girls' tennis matches. (How do they score that sport....I still don't know). Avery calls me up and no questions asked, tells me that we are going to get massages in an hour. No excuses, she already made the appointment. Like I would say no to that.

So, we stroll on up to this sort-of sketchy strip mall area headed for the massage place...which is called Foot Finesse, by the way. Normal name for a massage place. I think it sounds more like a place where you get a pedicure or a place where you learn quick stepping foot skills...whatever that means.

Inside this place was a front desk. Obviously. With an Asian woman. Also, not a surprise. They proceeded to lead Avery and I back to the massaging area. There were rows on rows of these massage bed/recliner/chair things where everyone was getting massaged. Weird.

Oh, I forgot....we all wore our clothes. It was a full body massage with clothes. We were still wearing all of our clothes in this large massage room. DON'T WORRY.

But, it's fine. It just got better from there. My thought process during the massage went a little something like this...

"This is weird...why did this man just show me where I was going to be and then leave???? Am I supposed to lay down...what do I do with my stuff...."


"I'm supposed to put my feet in this wicker basket lined with a plastic trash bag filled with hot water...why....."


"This is nice...I like massages...."


"Wait...why is there a man now massaging me.....did they just sub out...did the other person get bored..."


"WHY is he hitting me!!! I don't know if that feels very good...."


"WHY is this man standing on top of me pressing down on my groin....this would be SOOOOO violating if I wasn't wearing all of my clothes and covered in a blanket..."

Okay, but really. Sounds kind of creepy. But, I paid that $25 and it was so worth it. Avery and I agreed: those Asian people have the market covered on cheap, kind of sketchy massages. People love that stuff.

new adventures

I love trying new things! It makes life interesting & fun.

Last weekend was Mother-Daugther weekend. So fun. Loved having my mom here for Easter and driving around town on adventures. We tried two new restaurants, went to a new park, walked around the art museum, and went to a cool farmer's market. 

This weekend, Avery and I tried a new restaurant too. One where the menu changes everyday. It makes it easy to chose what to eat for dinner when there are only four options. 

Not going to lie, the most exciting thing that happened to me this week was that there is now an Instagram app for Android phones. I'm obsessed. I lie in bed at night instagramming pictures, just because I can.

twentysomething

In four years, I will be 24 years old. And I will be able to sing this song.

My new partner in crime showed me this tonight. I laughed hysterically. Therefore I showed it to everyone else I know...watched it five times in twenty minutes.

hunger craze

It has taken over our lives. It has consumed everyone's thoughts and time and all of our conversations.

Everyone in my life is obsessed with The Hunger Games. Like, can't-finish-our-homework, argue-about-it-at-lunch, seen-the-movie-three-times-in-a-week OBSESSED.

After going to see the midnight premiere a week ago, Hunger mania exploded.

My roommates are both reading the first book. I like to make fun of them for jumping on the bandwagon late.

But, can I just tell you how much I love the Hunger Games. Everything about them. Both Peeta and Gale. And Prim. And Katniss.

Too bad that the next movie doesn't come out until 2013. In the fall. When I'm a senior. Not okay.

call me maybe?

Free time is a beautiful thing. Seriously so wonderful. And sometimes I feel like I shouldn't waste it. Like I should be reading for my classes or doing my laundry. But...ew. Gross. I'm allergic to things like that.

I'd much rather spend time shredding a hundred sheets of paper (for an art project, don't worry).

Or skyping for three hours with fun people like Ellen McDermott, one of my best friends in the whole world.

Can't you tell we're best friends....we make the same faces. Weird.

And messing with the photo effects on our computers never gets old. Neither does the wonders of screen sharing or file transferring. Amazing, Apple, simply amazing.

And as promised, this post is dedicated to the Big Mac D herself.

The Seven Things I Like About Ellen...     (sung to the Miley Cyrus song, except I like her, not hate her)

1. she won't say no to a random dance party
2. she can rock the short hair look
3. she likes good music
4. she loves to eat
5. she knows when to lead and when to follow...aka she knows when to let me make her do something stupid and when to tell me i'm being ridiculous
6. she loves her family so well
7. she is great at listening

And, another really great song right now....that won't get out of my head....maybe because I listened to it approximately 14.7 times at work today....

It's just J-Biebs and Selena and all their closet friends making a music video. They're normal people too, okay? And because they do it, it makes it okay for me to do it.

What a much better use of my free time.