Dear Stressed High School Seniors,

There is a song called “sitting here in limbo” that goes, “sitting here in limbo, but I know it won’t be long… Sitting here in limbo, waiting for the dice to roll…”

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? You feel as if that letter, that magical acceptance letter, will end your misery. Yet, I’m here to remind you that you are within the eye of a storm and as soon as that letter comes, your life will change (don’t panic, it’s not an immediate change).

Take this waiting time as a time to relax, bum around the house, and enjoy that last year of high school and that last year of your childhood. While I am of the opinion that high school is to be endured, not enjoyed, remember a lot of things are going to be different, so try your hardest to live in the moment.

I was once exactly where you are now. I remember how you feel.

You  spent hours upon hours completing forms, taking tours, and getting eye-strain from applying online. You’re stressed, your parents are stressed, and you’re pretty sure even your dog is stressed. You’re told that your college decision is the biggest decision you’ll ever make…and yet you’re not really in control of the situation. However, there is nothing to do but wait. Your application has been submitted and the jury is out.

For this reason, I say relish in the suspense of not knowing where you are going to be in a year. It is kind of exciting knowing that you may be in Maine or you may be in Hawaii. You may be dating a music student or you may be assisting a professor in the lab. You may be trying new things for the very first time or discovering that your old interests are shared by many. You may finally find someone to watch classic Degrassi episodes with you or you may find someone who hates Miley Cyrus just as much as you.

The only thing that you can really predict about next year is that you’ll be moving on from high school…even if you’re not moving out of your house. College is an amazing experience and we promise that you’ll be there soon enough.

So remember that it doesn’t matter if you get into your first choice or you last choice. You’re going to get in somewhere. You’re going to go to college. You’re going to learn a lot and live a lot and realize a lot.

In the meantime, I won’t judge you for running down to the mailbox every day as you wait for your letter. Or, like me, chasing the mailman around the neighborhood the day you know those letters went out.

Best wishes,
Christie

First, there was the great dorm room move-out adventure. After four years, I certainly compiled quite a handful of college collectibles such as princess tiaras, hot pink feather boas, and an unlimited number of Post-its in all shapes, sizes, and colors. This move-out consisted of me scrutinizing every little thing: “Am I really going to crack open this Literature Criticism and Theory book again?” and “Will this orange American Apparel dress look good outside of a strobe lighted dance floor?” Even though it was incredibly annoying and time-consuming to go through everything, I managed to clean up my entourage of trinkets and memorabilia (and I even managed to donate a lot to Goodwill!).

You know what happens after moving out though…You have to move in somewhere. So, I made the seven hour drive from Virginia to Georgia and moved into my mother’s new house. Did I mention she moved to a mountain in the middle of nowhere and lives off a dirt road now, instead of living just a short car ride away from metropolitan Atlanta? Oh yeah, but that’s a story for another day. Since my arrival, I have done nothing more than move my stuff in and, well, unpack those boxes I just spent hours taping up and carrying out.

This is all temporary though. The move-in here is just for one week before the grand adventure of driving across the United States commences (Google Trip Calculator is estimating 50 hours of driving time … OMG help?). Since I’m home, I have even more boxes of memories and junk from storage to go through. This packing-go-round is all about what to bring with me – at least for the next year – to California (or as I like to call it, Post-Grad Land). Turns out, I won’t be needing as much as I thought. Luckily, peacoats aren’t a main staple in the Southern California wardrobe, and I’m not going to be cracking open that literature criticism anthology after all.

And to think – I get to load up my car, move in, and then unpack again in the next few weeks! In all honesty, when I saw myself graduating, the scent of cardboard boxes and packaging tape did not come to mind, but I’m starting to feel like a professional at all this moving business. If all else fails, I can always start a moving business, right?

Although I am excited to have a more permanent existence in my life outside of college, all this ‘life in limbo’ is making me anxious, a little bit nervous, and well – tired. I’m ready to begin on my new adventure, and even though these boxes are going to be a part of the future, I still feel like the beginning of the journey has yet to truly start. But that’s going to change this weekend, when I actually get in the car and head out West.

Traveling around the country for over a week and a half, Havaianas Color War is a two day event with free make-your-own flip-flop booths and a fierce, four-part challenge. Students in teams of six compete against other teams in games of Twister, Sliders, Limbo and Balloon Darts. Each challenge features a special Havaianas twist. The team with the highest score at each school will win the title of Ultimate Havaianas Color War Champion and win a free four day vacation to Havaianas’ headquarters – beautiful, gloriously sunny Brazil!

Students can sign up their team of 6 players online at Havaianasus.com or through a Havaianas Brand Ambassador on their campus. Teams can pick one of the 60 Havaianas colors that they will wear with pride come game day along with their school colored Havaianas. Check out photos and videos from events, plus exclusive challenge tips on the Color War Facebook page.

If you missed your chance to compete, don’t despair! Response has been so strong Havaianas is planning to add more schools to their tour next fall.  Stay tuned!

You just broke up a few weeks ago!

Your friends are saying you broke up for a reason, right?

It’s better left this way.

Right.

Yea, sometimes you do break up for a reason. And sometimes, your gut tells you that you are better off without him, as scary as it may be to force yourself to move on in the scary world of single people.

But sometimes, it doesn’t feel right after a break up. Or you didn’t get that closure you needed to move on. Or, you just want him back, plain and simple, can’t live without him and don’t want to.

But in order to get him back, you gotta reach out.

That’s where the Post Break-up Phone Call comes in. Get ready for some uneasy awkwardness, stuttering and lots and lots of underarm sweating!

And that’s before you even pick up the phone.

I don’t know if it’s the website for desperate people everywhere, or a website for the ultimate romantics, but GetMyExBack.com has some tips and advice for people who are in post break-up limbo. Regarding the phone call, here are the highlights, which I’ll create my own takes on:

“Let the Dust Settle.” DO NOT attempt to win him back, like, seven minutes after you break up. Emotions are still flying. You need to give it time, because you never know – after a week or so, you may not even want him back at all! Maybe you finally talked to that hot guy in your class who always looked over at you and maybe that was enough to help you realize there are more guys out there. Who knows? But calling him too quickly could be baaaad, so don’t risk it.

“Create a Plan of Action.” To me, this means sitting down and literally writing up rough drafts of what I’m going to say, reading it fifty times, proofreading it, editing it with a red pen, reading it out loud and practicing the tones in my voice to really get that impact. Yea, I’m crazy, but it’s certainly a plan of action. If you wing it, you could end up sounding like a moron and he won’t buy it.

“Be Positive.” Basically, DON’T CRY. He needs to hear that you are being a strong woman who is simply trying to get back what she rightfully deserves. You could be balling inside, but don’t show it. Be firm. Be rational. Be calm. Be positive! Yippy!

“Give It Time.” You should be able to feel out his reaction within this initial phone call, and you’ll know whether or not you’ll be able to eventually weasel yourself back into his life afterwards. It may not be right away, but you know him well enough to tell if he’s about to bend. If he calls you any of these names, and/or laughs into the receiver and hangs up, it’s better to leave things broken. For now. Maybe he’ll bend later.

Whatever the case, don’t make the Post Break-Up Phone Call unless you’re ready to accept the outcome, good or bad.

After going through a break up of my own with my longterm, long distance relationship ex, I myself picked up the phone after letting the dust between us settle and called him. And even though my intention wasn’t really to “win him back,” it feels good to be talking again and seeing where things end up.

Follow your gut. Be strong. Or find this girl. She seems like she can really help.