Project 365: 117/365

Last month, Amy hosted a bunch of us at her house for a girl's night, where we sampled "Fox-a-ritas" and gorged on guac and salsa. I offered to host a holiday-themed girl's night, complete with spiced cider and a Christmas Cookie decorating contest.

Our reluctant judge, Jamie, with the three finalists.

Caitlin, the big winner with her prize - "A Christmas Story" mug!

Project 365: 116/365

Mom's been wanting me to get a picture of myself in front of the "BU Sign" for her Christmas card. Problem is, BU has such an urban campus, there isn't really a sign per se. There's a big granite monstrosity in the center of Commonwealth Ave., however, so that had to do.

I sprinted across 4 lanes to get to this location, and then Jackie (who was wedged between two parked cars) would snap 3-4 pictures every time there was a break in traffic. At a few points (when I was sitting on top of the sign, mostly) I got some honks as well. What's more, it was about 30 degrees outside - and that granite was cold!

Project 365: 119/365

Frequently we see really ridiculously expensive cars parked outside of SMG - the kind you'd see on Top Gear.

However, for the last two days, we've seen this parked outside:

Meg & Fillbelly's

I can't decide if I want it to actually be a chicken and waffles truck, or if I'd feel better if it was some sort of FBI/CIA surveillance van. Wow, I watch too much TV!

Project 365: 114/365

Today I thought I'd share with you something I see every day.

This is the globe-like statue inside SMG. Not my best effort today, I know, but it's finals after all!

Project 365: 113/365

I have to say that, by far, one of my favorite things right now is the fact that I can stream Netflix though my Wii onto the TV! Especially since it is too cold to walk to the Redbox!

Project 365: 112/365

It was only a matter of time...

...before the coloring book from Mom...

...and the crayons from Karla...

...converged into an awesome procrastination technique.

I wonder if I turn it in with my QM paper... will I get extra points for staying in the lines?

Project 365: 111/365

I'm taking advantage of the fact that Diana and I seem to be the only people in the building this holiday weekend and I'm catching up on my laundry.

Laundry is an extreme sport here on Littell Road. Take one step too far backwards, and you'll fall down the scary stairs.

I don't think this picture conveys just how frightening they are. My foot slipped onto the top step the other day, and I swear I had my first heart attack. I had to sit down and wait for my heart rate to come back down.

If anyone hasn't seen me for a few days, look at the bottom of these stairs. You'll probably find my dead, broken body there, under a pile of socks.

Project 365: 110/365

Dear Orchid -

Is it something that I said? Something I did? I watered you and kept you out of direct sunlight like the directions told me to.

Please let me know if there is anything we can do to salvage this relationship.

xoxo,
Bron

Project 365: 109/365

Can't bring myself to take down the Thanksgiving decorations yet... even though we're currently playing Christmas tunes...

Project 365: 108/365

It's beginning to smell a lot like Thanksgiving here... I got really ambitious this year and decided to make a Pumpkin Cheesecake. Let's hope it tastes as good as it smells!

Project 365: 107/365

Perfect pre-Thanksgiving meal... $1.86 thanks to Groupon!

Project 365: 106/365

The one upside to all this cold weather? Finally getting to wear all of the boots and tights I've accumulated over the years!

Project 365: 105/365

PharmaSim's over! Let's just say that "comfortable" position quickly went awry today... we won't know our final results until tomorrow... but the last ranking my team got was 10/13.

Celebrating in true MBA fashion...

Project 365: 104/365

For anyone who has tried to contact me in the last few days, I thought I'd show you why I haven't been very responsive...

PharmaSim is an intense marketing simulation that a lot of business schools subject their MBA students to. In a nutshell, you are the brand manager for a cold medicine for 9 "periods" that happen over the course of 2-3 days. You're responsible for everything - sales force, marketing, promotion - for that brand and whatever other products you launch during the simulation. After you submit each decision, you get back instant feedback on how you did - in the form of an income statement, stock price, etc. And then you have 90 mins to make the decision for the next period. For this next one, we have the whole weekend.

We ended day #1 in a pretty good position... so here's hoping we finish strong! Our class ranking figures into our grade after all...

Project 365: 103/365

With all of the leaves dying and falling off of the trees, we actually have a few city views from our apartment.

Trying to enjoy the last of these blue skies... before they give way to snow! Apparently it is "unseasonably warm" this year -- about 50 degrees F. Heh.

Project 365: 102/365

Happy Harry Potter Day!

I'm not going to lie... I cried a little bit. JK Rowling wasn't afraid to kill people off in the last book, and one of the saddest deaths happened towards the end of this movie. I'd forgotten that that particular character died until right before it happened... so sad!

But in all, a great HP movie! If you haven't read the books... you might be a little lost. Do yourself a favor at at least read the Wikipedia synopsis before you go.

Project 365: 101/365

Good Morning, America - how are ya?

Just thought I'd run you all through my typical morning as of late. Just to set the scene - I go to bed anywhere between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. in a freezing cold room, wrapped up in my blankets and duvet.

4:45 a.m. - Heat goes on
5:00 a.m. - Wake up in cold sweat, throw duvet off
6:15 a.m. - Heat goes off
6:45 a.m. - First alarm goes off. Throw duvet back on because it's freezing. Hit snooze.
6:49 a.m. - Hit snooze.
6:53 a.m. - Check body temperature. If warm, get up and locate slippers. Make bed. If cold, hit snooze.

At that point, I generally shuffle down to the kitchen and make coffee (it's half caff, I'm not completely off the wagon), whereupon I return to my room and start checking e-mail and the various online tools that my MBA program uses to get information to the students. I'm also trying to blog at this point as well. At some point, I also eat, shower, do my hair, get dressed, pack my lunch and get out the door by 9 a.m. to be at school by about 9:30 a.m.

And then the fun REALLY begins!

Project 365: 100/365

Ok, maybe I wasn't entirely truthful yesterday.

Not ALL of the leaves are brown.

Sky's still gray though.

Project 365: 99/365

It's really hard to love Boston when it's so icky out...

Those of you who are my friends on Facebook saw my post the other day... and it's true. All the leaves ARE brown, and the sky IS gray. The stress of this semester and the gloomy weather have me doing some SERIOUS California dreaming... only a month and a day till I fly back for break!

Project 365: 98/365

It's the most wonderful time of the yearrr.... Starbucks' holiday cups are here!

They make me feel so cozy and festive! Especially when they're filled with a Peppermint Mocha. 'Tis also the season for Peppermint Mocha Coffeemate, which is equally as exciting, if not more.

By the way, Bronwen's Foundation for Exhausted Graduate Students is now accepting donations in the form of Starbucks Gift Cards... email me for more details! :)