Month: December 2011

No Explanation Needed

No Explanation Needed

Okay, I guess A LITTLE explanation might be needed to accompany these delicious pictures. Along with the rest of Loyola’s student population, I decided to take a quick break last night before the IC, review sessions, studying and, ultimately, finals take over my life for the next week.

That’s why, when my friend, Emily, invited me to her aunt’s annual Christmas Dessert Party (yes, you read that correctly – a party dedicated entirely to desserts), I had no problem saying yes.

I won’t taunt you with details of the marshmallows, carmel corn, yule log, berry cake, brownies with whipped cream or cheesecake on a stick – all homemade – but I will tell you that it was just as delicious as it sounds.

And now I leave you with these pictures from last night, which make me smile and provide me with a great reminder of my supportive community of friends as finals week, and the end of any hope of sleep, fast approaches!

Future roommates!

All Pictures – Attributed to Emma Cook

The Field

The Field

So this wasn’t necessarily a break from studying, because I haven’t officially started, but this morning was well spent at the Field Museum.  My friend, who has a membership, can bring along a free guest and we got to check out the newest exhibit: Chocolate Around the World.  We even got a delicious sample to enjoy while wandering about.

You don’t have to know a member to score a free trip.  The museums around Chicago offer several free or discount days, which you can easily find here!

Here are some pics from today’s visit. It was even decked out for the holidays!

Giant box of chocolates!

Dinner and Movie Night Out

Dinner and Movie Night Out

Friday night, I decided to take a much needed break from studying to relax and enjoy a good dinner and movie.  One of my good friends here at Loyola is transferring next semester, so we decided to plan this night for her.  She picked the restaurant and movie and invited all of her good friends.

For dinner, we went to The Cheesecake Factory, right near the downtown campus, underneath the Hancock building.  It’s probably up there in my top five favorite restaurants. So so good! I was unadventurous and ordered a cheeseburger and fries, and was so full afterwards that I decided to be even more unadventurous and not order cheesecake.  As I type this, starving, I’m a little upset with myself that I don’t have some leftover cheesecake in my fridge. But, if you were to go there and order cheesecake I highly suggest the Godiva chocolate cheesecake.  It will be the best thing you have ever tasted, mark my words.

After dinner, we went to the AMC theater on Michigan Avenue and saw “New Years Eve.” The film had an all star cast of probably around twenty A-List actors.  The cast included Halle Berry, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ashton Kutcher, Jon Bon Jovi, Zac Efron… to name a few.  It was a great movie and I highly suggest seeing it!

One of the main reasons I love going to school here is because you can easily hop on the bus or ‘L’ to head downtown and have a nice dinner, see a movie all within walking distance of each other.  I had a great time hanging with my friends and it was definitely a much needed study break for this hectic finals week that is approaching!

Chirstmas Around Loyola

Chirstmas Around Loyola

As the Christmas Season takes hold of Loyola, it is important to keep straight the various Christmas-themed programs Loyola puts on for the students and staff.  Here is a run down of some of the more popular events around this time of year hear at Loyola:

December 3rd: Christmas on Campus and the St. Xavier canned food drive

Christmas on Campus, in its first year, brought together the Loyola Community as well as the neighbors of Roger’s Park.  Christmas on Campus is a Christmas-themed party here at Loyola  for children 5-12 that may not have the means of having a Christams.  Brought here by two St. Louis sophomores, Christmas on Campus promotes generosity and the holiday spirit by pairing Ramblers of with children and let them explore the Winter Wonderland created inside of Gentile.  This year, over 400 Ramblers took part in the event.

St. Xavier canned food drive is in its eigth year of operation.  For the eight years, Loyola’s CLC (Christian Life Communities) scower the surrounding neighborhood in search of kind-hearted neighbors to donate canned food.  These cans are then taken to Kentucky where the food is stored in a pantry that feeds the surrounding area for half a year.  All in the name of giving.

December 5: Schola Concert

In the stunning Madonna Della Strada Chapel, the Loyola fine arts annex puts on a yearly concert showcasing their many talented musicians.  Featuring woodwinds, bass drums, handbells and many other symphony instruments, this is Loyola musical production at its finest.

December 8: Joyola

Loyola’s Joyola is a long-standing tradition that gives a chance for the Loyola accapella groups show off their glorious voices in front of the student body.  The AcafellasSilhouettes and Loyolacappela all come together to put on a ear-pleasing harmony of music.  This all takes place in Mundeline Auditorium.

December 21: Annual Christmas Luncheon

Four days before Christmas, the staff, faculty and retirees will be treated to a Christmas meal.  Hosted by school president, Fr. Michael Garanzini SJ, the luncheon will feature games, prizes and great food.

Basketball!

Basketball!

Loyola Rambler’s vs. Depaul Blue Devils last night was awesome! Our men’s basketball team looked better than ever in the brand new Gentile Arena.

I must say, I have been to a handful of Loyola sporting events in the past: soccer, basketball and volleyball, but none of them compared to the basketball game last night. The arena was full of fans cheering on the Ramblers!

It was an awesome experience and I will definitely be going to more basketball games this season. Check out this picture from the student section!

Loyola vs Depaul basketball game
Studying in the City

Studying in the City

With finals approaching, everyone’s super stressed out.  The IC (the library on Lake Shore Campus) is always packed these last two weeks of school.  One time last semester, I saw a few kids in sleeping bags! I’m guessing they were planning to sleep at the IC in order to save their spot for the next day.

I try to avoid stressful, crowded places during finals week, so I decided to try the downtown campus library. It’s floors 6-9 in the Corboy Law Center. I went to the 8th floor, and luckily, it wasn’t crowded at all.  I definitely think the downtown campus library is a hidden treasure, as a lot of people stay at the Lake Shore Campus to study.  The shuttle makes it easy to get downtown (it take 15 minutes) and it drops you off right at Corboy!

Most importantly, you get to study with this view right out your window!

Volunteering Pays Off In The End

Volunteering Pays Off In The End

While in high school I volunteered randomly in my community because it looked good on college applications or because people always would say, “it’s a good thing to do.”

Ever since coming to Loyola though I have found myself volunteering much more for no reason other than I just want to. Why the sudden change you ask? Well I attribute most of it to the amazing friends I have made in college. My friends are constantly brainstorming new ideas for service work such as  mission trips, fundraisers, and how to recruit people to help out at the soup kitchens.

Christmas On Campus was one of these events that my friends founded and somehow convinced me to help out with. It was this past Saturday and it was such a success! This was the first annual Christmas On Campus so no one knew exactly what to expect.

How many kids will show up? How often should we have a group perform on stage? Will the Loyola student volunteers ditch? How are we going to deal with upset children?

These, along with countless others, were all questions we were asking ourselves up until about 11:00 a.m. Saturday when the volunteers started arriving. To my surprise everything went very smoothly and we had tons of people come out for the event! The gym was full of awesome Christmas decorations (which we had stayed up till 3 the night before putting up) and the children looked so happy.

I will admit, Friday night at about 2:00 a.m. after about 4 hours of decorating and setting up I was questioning my decision to join my friends in administrating this project. It was taking a lot of time and effort that I easily could have put into school work or other leisure activities.

Once Saturday morning came around though, I knew I was grateful for the opportunity to help with the event. The Christmas cheer that I saw in these children’s faces and the enjoyment of everyone in the gym was amazing. It was the coolest feeling to know that I helped make it possible.

I am already looking forward to Christmas On Campus next year and have some ideas on how to improve it!

Alex Bosech and Nic Herman on stage at Christmas On Campus
Horizon League…LOYOLA BASKETBALL

Horizon League…LOYOLA BASKETBALL

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Loyola men’s basketball team opened its home season in the new Gentile Arena against Fordham. Loyola won.

Tonight, Loyola faces off against DePaul. In fact, it will be the 55th time these two Chicago teams have met.

The Rowdies are ready. Alumni have their tickets. The players are glad to be back on their home court. Coach Moser will be hard at work on the sidelines. A number of faculty, staff, and administrators are excited to attend.

I’ll be there too. And I’ll attempt to coach from my seat as I always do because I love basketball.

So…take a break and catch some hoops. Here are the details about the match up.

Don’t miss this! Check out the new team, new coach, new arena, and Loyola basketball.

7 Disney Songs that Explain my Process of Procrastination

7 Disney Songs that Explain my Process of Procrastination

I’ve had my fair share of papers to write this semester, and I have procrastinated on every single one of them. Since procrastination is clearly a big part of my life, I wanted to try and explain the stages I go through as I experience it. However, instead of just making a boring list, I thought I’d do something a little more interesting. That’s right. Here’s the seven Disney songs that explain my process of procrastination:

1. Starting the Paper

Song: “I’ll Make a Man Out of You”– Mulan (1998)

Important Lyrics: Let’s get down to business/To defeat the Huns…(Be a Man) We must be swift as the coursing river/(Be a Man) With all the force of a great typhoon/(Be a Man) With all the strength of a raging fire/Mysterious as the dark side of the moon

Reason: I’m always enthusiastic when I first start working on a paper. I sometimes even like to imagine that finishing an essay is just as important to my class and grades as climbing a wooden pole with weights attached to your arms is to defeating some Huns.

Mushu, Mulan's trusty companion

2. The Inevitable Distraction

Song: “Hakuna Matata” – Lion King (1994)

Important Lyrics: Hakuna Matata/What a wonderful phrase/Hakuna Matata/Ain’t no passing craze/It means no worries/For the rest of your days/It’s our problem free philosophy/Hakuna Matata

Reason: Once I’ve made a little progress on my paper, I start to feel overly confident that I can finish it in no time. Since I’m sure of my self, I’m feeling worry free and usually take a quick Facebook, Tumblr or StumbleUpon break.

"What do you want me to do, dress in drag and do the hula?" - Timon

3. Procrastination

Song: “Married Life” – Up (2009)

Important Lyrics: There are actually no lyrics in “Married Life”; this is the instrumental piece that accompanies the montage of Carl and Ellie’s love.

Reason: This, especially when listened to while viewing the infamous montage, is one of the pieces of music that causes me to cry every time I listen to it. Another thing that makes me want to cry every time – realizing that I’ve accidentally taken a 3 hour break instead of a 30 minute one.

I dare you to get through Carl and Ellie's montage without crying

4. Getting Back on Track

Song: “Go the Distance” – Hercules (1997)

Important Lyrics: I will find my way/I can go the distance/I’ll be there someday/If I can be strong/I know every mile/Will be worth my while/I will go most anywhere

Reason: After I’m done wallowing in self pity, I get focused and figure out how I can get my paper done with the highest grade possible in the least amount of time and with the most amount of sleep. Sure, it’s not exactly the same as going on a quest to become a true hero and put on 50 pounds of muscle mass, but I think it’s close enough.

Hercules, with his Disney girlfriend, Meg

5. The Sugar High

Song: “I’ve Got no Strings” – Pinocchio (1940)

Important Lyrics: I’ve got no strings/To Hold me down/To make me fret, or make me frown/I had strings/But now I’m free/There are no strings on me

Reason: It doesn’t matter if it is 5-Hour Energy, Monster or Skittles, this is the point in the night where I’m crashing fast and need a quick pick up. Of course, once the sugar or caffeine has actually kicked in, I feel like I can finish anything, whether it be my paper or the three bags of chips I bought from Rambler Room earlier in the night.

Pinocchio has got no strings to hold him down - and neither do I, once I've have caffeine

6. The Finishing Touches

Song: “You Can Fly!” – Peter Pan (1953)

Lyrics to Focus on: It’s a very simple place/You can do what the birdies can/At least it’s worth a try/You can fly! You can fly!/You can fly! You can fly!

Reason: Perhaps it’s because I can see the sunrise. Or maybe it’s just because I’m delirious from lack of sleep; either way, I fly through the rest of my paper, usually finishing it within an hour of my caffeine and junk food binge.

Peter and the Darling children

7. Turning in the Paper

Song: “Circle of Life” – Lion King (1994)

Important Lyrics: It’s the Circle of Life/And it moves us all/Through despair and hope/Through faith and love/Til we find out place/On the path unwinding/In the Circle/The Circle of Life

Reason: This song finishes the list of seven Disney songs that explain my process of procrastination. That is because, even if it’s only from getting an hour and a half of sleep, as soon as I turn in that paper, I start to feel connected to everything in the university and in the universe. This includes my bed, which I usually find myself climbing into for a nice nap after class.

Rafiki, skillfully holding Simba aloft

Picture of Mushu & Carl and Ellie’s Mailbox – Attributed to Loren Javier, Picture of Timon – Attributed to Sam Lavi, Picture of Hercules and Meg – Attributed to Robert Simmons, Picture of Pinocchio – Attributed to Judy Malley, Picture of Peter Pan and the Darling Children – Attributed to Missy Martinez, Picture of Simba and Rafiki – Attributed to Jeff Krause

My Merry Weekend

My Merry Weekend

With finals week quickly approaching, my friends and I knew this was the last weekend of the fall semester we would be able to let loose in the city. We had high hopes for a fun-filled, holiday-themed weekend and boy did the Windy City deliver! With plans for an ugly Christmas sweater party on Saturday, a few girls and I set out after classes on Friday in search of ugly sweaters at Ragstock on West Belmont Ave, a quirky, fun resale-type shop in the Boystown neighborhood of the city. I was looking for something sparkly and unnecessarily festive– I found a kooky, comfy, white pullover sweatshirt with Christmas teddy bears on the front. It was very ’90s and perfect for the party, and only $10!

Later Friday evening, like my fellow blogger Raven, my friends and I headed to the Lincoln Park Zoo for the opening of the ZooLights event. The zoo puts on all kinds of events all year round– one of the greatest things about this is that admission is always free. During the month of December, ZooLights is open in the evenings from 5:00-9:00 p.m. with all of its colorful lights on display.We watched a man carve an ice sculpture right in front of us, got some popcorn, and ran into Santa in the Kovler Lion House next to the king of the jungle himself! If you want to check it out, head over this coming weekend (December 9th-11th), or any night between December 16th and January 1st (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).

On Saturday, the following day, we rolled out of bed and took the Red Line to Millennium Park to ice skate at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. A few friends rented skates from the park for $10, but I brought some old skates from home so I got to skate for free. It rained a little on us, but it was still a blast. The rink wasn’t too busy because of the questionable weather, so we had lots of room to ourselves!

Every year, the CTA runs a Holiday Train that travels across the whole city. After leaving Millennium Park and grabbing hot chocolate from Starbucks, we headed over to the L stop at Madison and Wabash to catch the Holiday Train on the Brown Line. It was magical– it was like we were riding the real life Polar Express. It smelled like cinnamon and was decorated with all kinds of lights and ornaments inside and out. You can find detailed schedules of where the train will be at what times on the CTA’s website— I recommended tracking it down before it’s gone for another year!

I finished my Saturday with friends at our ugly sweater party. It was put on by Cru, a Christian student organization I’m involved in on campus. A bunch of us dressed up in overly festive garb and hung out and listened to Christmas music. In my opinion, it was a pretty great way to spend our chilly Saturday night.

There are so many fun and festive things to do in the city this time of year, and the best part is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a great weekend with friends. I am looking forward to heading home at the end of next week for the holiday break, but definitely not looking forward to leaving behind the beautiful lights and sparkle of the city during the holiday season!

All photos were taken by me!