Welcome to Finals Week

It's finals week across the country and this is the time when most students, especially those in their first year of college, begin to stress. Students experience high levels of stress during this time because teachers and professors focus on how doing well on your finals is so important. And trust me I'm not saying it isn't but if you prepare the right way you won't feel as overwhelmed when the week nears. What students need to know is that this time doesn't have to be so stressful. Anxiety doesn't have to become overwhelming and there are some tips I've found out there that have helped me! My first and most important tip is to plan ahead! Don't start studying the night before the big exam....if you do a little studying over the entire semester I promise it will make your life that much easier! There are plenty more tips and the list goes on but check out the links I've added for more information.

T-minus 3 months

The word around school within the past two months has been all about spring break. Especially being a senior, figuring out where to go for spring break of our senior year was not easy. However, our decision was made when we were told that Cancun, Mexico was the place to be this year. StudentCity, a company that promotes and handles student spring break trip's, tried promoting Cancun to us seniors and well it worked! Amongst my friends, I know at least 50 people (my peers and friends) going to Cancun. I must say I was hesitant at first because of all the news regarding Mexico and the problems they are facing but the  mission of StudentCity is to provide college students with a fun and safe spring break trip. I am confident that they will do that and from people I know who have used StudentCity in the past, they sound very credible. I specifically choose to blog about this because there are some things to keep in mind when going on spring break and I'd like to offer a few tips that I have researched over the past couple weeks...I can't say it was ALL my research as my parents constantly send me link's and articles about spring break chaos and safety but here is what I have to offer....

TIPS for all you Spring Breakers

• Make sure your family knows where you are going and where you will be staying!
• Have phone numbers of the hotel and your spring break companies in case of an emergency
• Have copies of your passport and all documentation you may need (license etc.)
• Have a map of the local area surrounding your hotel etc. in case of emergency
• Don't bring large bills of money to carry around. Small bills!
• Know the legal drinking age!
• Party with a buddy! AT ALL TIMES
• Eat before and while your drinking! .....Trust me you'll thank me later
• Space and Pace people!! Pace yourselves and space out the drinks...if you drink all day your not making it out that night...party pooper
• Beer before liquor, never been sicker....need I say more
• Watch your drinks!
• Limit the drinking games...you always lose more than you win! 
• Bring your sunscreen...especially the ladies...I'll admit I love being tan but your not going to love sun poisoning while everyone else is party at the pool

Winter Fashion

Winter is in full effect although it is still quite warm out. I expect the snow will be coming any day now as the weather is quite erratic. With winter on the horizon I want to offer a few winter fashions that I have noticed being on campus and in the big cities such as New York and Boston. Of course the popular leather jackets and boots are a must. What's interesting is the current trend of 70's fashion that is still very in. The biker and punk look that's been noticed from the past fall and winter season will most likely continue as well as it has been all the rage. It's interesting how fashions change and how things drop out of style so quickly and easily. This is what makes the fashion world so predictable yet unpredictable at the same time. Designers create their lines in order to what they believe will be the style and looks for the season and they hope that these styles will catch the eye of the public but yet they never really know. Many magazines also provide their suggestions to the public in their "style preview" sections or "style tips" as many of you may see in Cosmopolitan or Lucky.  My recommendation: go out and see what the new looks are! Try them on if they're something you like buy them, if not create your own style. Style yourself and wear what you find most comfortable, it's not always about being a follower. Be a leader!

Blonde Bombshell

This will definitely be one of my favorite blog posts. One of my favorite people of all time, Marilyn Monroe, now has a movie that depicts her life, struggles and relationships titled My Week With Marilyn. IMDB gave it a 7.4 out of 10 which is pretty high in terms of ratings for IMDB but the movie itself has gotten rave reviews. Michelle Williams plays Marilyn Monroe and apparently did a fabulous job. I have yet to see the movie but plan to see it within the next few days. From trailers and ads, Michelle Williams looks just like Marilyn Monroe and from what I've heard played the part perfectly.I look forward to seeing the movie as I admire Marilyn Monroe and have seen many of her films and musical performances...not in person of course, but in film. She is a beautiful woman with such poise and grace and I believe she had a strong influence during her time.

Movie trailer for My Week With Marilyn

...Simply a Gift...

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for"

Gia is now almost 3 months old and it has been a blessing to watch her grow. I try my best to see Gia every week and every time I see her there is something different about her. Her character and being has changed so much from when she was first born. She is already making all kinds of noises, almost trying to talk I would say! Her demeanor has changed too. She is a happy baby and always seems content. She rarely cries, although she has her moments, she is well behaved and always smiling. I truly love Gia and I make it priority to spend as much time with her as I can because I feel it's important that she knows who I am . I also feel that I'm a good role model and although many kids look up to their parents, as I'm sure Gia will do, it is always beneficial to have a role model. In my most recent experiences with Gia I've captured pictures of her smiling (like the one above), yawning, sleeping and eating. I have to admit for a 2 month old baby, Gia eats and sleeps a majority of the time. Boy I wish I could have her life! Gia is also very lucky because her parent's take amazing care of her and attend to all her needs. She is always being held, which the family has already discussed may be a little problem ha, but we just can't let go of her! There's something about Gia that brings so much happiness to those around her. I could be in the worst mood, crying my eyes out and if I go see Gia I'm happy and forget about all my worries. It may just be something that babies give to people but to me it's something specifically about Gia that brings joy to my heart. I don't blog about Gia to brag or sound selfish but rather to teach people a lesson. What Gia has taught me is to be appreciative of what you have. I am lucky to have such a beautiful, healthy baby cousin and I appreciate her more than I appreciate other things that are important. So in my case Gia doesn't just make me happy but has taught me to cherish what I have in my own life, including having her. When I come home after spending the day with Gia I think about how much I miss her but more importantly, think about how she truly is a miracle. 

"Unguarded"...Changing Lives

After viewing an ESPN special on basketball star, Chris Herren, it became apparent how great this documentary would be for a blog post. This story was not only eye-opening but it was a great lesson for young adults struggling with addiction This heroic story of Chris Herren was extremely interesting and enthralling about what it's like to live with a serious addiction problem and how it can affect your life dramatically. Chris Herren was a basketball player from Fall River, Massachusetts who was one of a kind. He played his high school career at Durfee High School in Fall River and continued to attend college at both Boston College and California State University. Unfortunately during his time in college he developed an addiction problem, starting with alcohol, then cocaine and finally heroin. His unsteady lifestyle and habits somehow led him to the NBA and he was drafted in 1999 by the Denver Nuggets. After being with the Nuggets for a year, he was traded to the Boston Celtics which was not only rewarding but exciting as Massachusetts was his home. His year with the Celtics ended abruptly after enduring a serious injury which kept him out of the game for quite some time. Due to his injury, his NBA career ended but Herren didn't give up. He continued to play basketball overseas in hopes that he would be able to return to the NBA after building up his endurance and regaining strength. Unfortunately his addiction to alcohol and cocaine escalated into something bigger than he could ever imagine. His addiction took over his life, his body and his mind and ruined all the opportunity and chances he had at making a name for himself. Being overseas only allowed him to continue with drugs and alcohol but when he returned to the States in 2003 he hit his bottom. It was the day that he was found unconscious in his car with a needle of heroin in his arm that forced him to change his habits and his life. Herren went to rehab and has been drug and alcohol free since 2008. In trying to promote his story and struggle he developed his own basketball development company where he teaches kids how to play and become better basketball players. Off the court he travels and tells young adults about his story and hopes that he will be able to reach those who are struggling with addiction. 

While hearing his story I was amazed at what he went through and how he let himself get to such a dark place. I think that his effort to tell young adults his story is not only incredible but it gives these adults someone they can relate to. There is always someone out there going through something similar if not the same thing that you are and by Chris telling his story he is able to connect with those struggling with addiction as well. I advise everyone to watch this documentary not because it focuses on addiction but teaches some amazing life lessons. It was truly inspiring to me and I'm glad I took the time to watch. 

And 72 Days Later...

If anybody knows me than they would of saw this post coming from miles away. Kim Kardashian did announce her divorce from husband, Kris Humphries on October 31, 2011. It was a bit of a shock to the media obsessed nation but for many of us who are extreme fans we knew this day would come. Many are angry and said it would only be a matter of time but what upsets me is when you really look at it, she's just a human being who is getting a divorce like many other people in this world. Because Kim is always in the public eye it is much bigger deal than other divorce's that occur daily. E! News also made this an extravagant media scheme by creating a two day special of Kim's lavish and ornate "fairytale" wedding. When Kim announced her engagement to Kris Humphries, the world was in awe. They had no idea that the engagement would come so soon but watching Kim on reality television surely gave us the impression that she was in a rush to get married. Kim has wanted to get married for years. Her dream to start her life and be the first of the three sisters to be engaged has been a dream of hers' forever. Unfortunately she wasn't the first to be married but the first to be divorced. As she has entered the spotlight, once again, it makes me feel for such a person like her. Although I know the defense is that she has put herself in this position and has allowed the media to know her every move, I still feel for a woman like her. The reason for such mayhem and chaos is because she is Kim Kardashian, a woman who has created her own empire and branded her name into one of the most popular and largest grossing companies today. Kim Kardashian is the face of Kardashian, even though the family consists of 4 children, she is the one has taken the brand to the next level. Many make the argument that this is due to her extreme beauty and elegance but I don't believe that. I give credit where credit is due and although I believe she is a very beautiful woman I think she has built her own empire from a sense of intelligence and business savvy that has put her in front of the many that are trying to "make a name for themselves." This divorce does set her back a bit because of all the negative publicity she is receiving from it but she is a successful woman who will come out on top once all of this blows over. It will only be a matter of time before everyone is done talking about her divorce and onto something or someone else...it's just media, entertainment and gossip these days. Pick up the latest US Weekly magazine and you'll find something else to talk about for the next few days.

Dream Team...Not So Sure

As an avid sports fan, specifically football, it's been painful watching my Philadelphia Eagles take a hit this season. Prior to the start of the season they were the talk of the town and had everyone believing that they would be the team to beat this year. Unfortunately they've been proven wrong by some teams that nobody would have expected. I became an eagles fan seven years ago when I discovered that Donovan McNabb went to Syracuse University. A majority of my father's side of the family attended Syracuse and it was my dream to go to there until I ventured to the University of Rhode Island and found my "home away from home." I was never a giants or jets fan (naturally I would be coming from Connecticut) but instead instilled my hope in the Philadelphia Eagles. I has a strong belief that Donovan McNabb was a great quarterback with a lot of heart and determination and I saw him lead his team which proved him as impressive role model. I followed the Eagles for seven years, discovering their players and which I liked and the reasoning behind those choices. Even when Donovan left to go to the Minnesota Vikings, I stuck with the Eagles because I had stayed with them thus far and didn't want to give up. Plus prior to the start of the NFL season the Eagles looked like they had a promising future, gaining great players and staff. It's been a rough start for Michael Vick and the Eagles but I have faith that they will come back and prove themselves as one of the best. Vick, the new leader of this team, learned closely from Donovan McNabb and although many don't believe he's changed, I certainly do. Vick leads his team with great pride and shows enormous amounts of effort and heart, similar to that of McNabb. I will forever stand by my team, win or lose because after a certain amount of time passes you begin to identify yourself with the team you're a fan of. You wait for the season to start just so you can dedicate every Sunday to sitting on your couch and watching them play. It's something for you to believe in and have hope for and for me this is the Philadelphia Eagles.

Teach me how to RHODY

So far this blog has documented my personal life...and I plan to keep it that way. My boyfriend Raymond Coia and his best friend, Adrian Savino have created a masterpiece. As I sat at my kitchen table two weeks ago looking at his design I could't help but think of how it would spark for student's at URI. Thinking about it after he left I began to realize how his idea would not only attract student's but parents, alumni and faculty. His idea is ideal and is a great  way to bring student's and the community of URI together. He has created and designed shirts that have the logo of the University of Rhode Island on the front and the slogan "teach me how to rhody" on the back accompanying the rhody ram. Everyone he's approached and told about the idea thinks it's genius. Student's, faculty, athletes and alumni don't go around saying "think big we do" although it is the slogan we attach to the University. "Teach me how to rhody" gives us student's a branding that attaches us to our university. For many of us this University has given us four and in some cases five or six of the best years of our life. We've formed friendships, received a great education and celebrated school spirit. This idea will continue this legacy for future student's and will give student's a chance to teach other's how to rhody. 

The secret behind reality tv

The show has become a hit reality series the minute it started. I know in my house of five girls, four out of five watch one of the real housewives. Whether it be the real housewives of new york or the real housewives of Beverly hills, the show has become a complete hit. I too enjoy watching the show, seeing the gossip and all the crazy cat fights between the women. Do we women like these shows because it makes us feel that our lives are more normal? Or do we watch the show just to thrive off of other's drama and gossip? My mom always asks me "Ashley why do you like watching this show" and my only response can be "because it's funny and entertaining." Isn't that the point of reality TV? To show the lives of "real" people in "real" situations but much of what we think is real actually isn't. A lot of times the drama we see and the gossip they talk about is all made up. The directors will often times give them a script or tell them to start some gossip or rumors so that there's drama. I find it interesting that so many people enjoy watching shows like these. The real housewives is not the only reality series that has sparked an interest, others on MTV and E! have caught the attention of the public. Keeping up with the Kardashians has become a hit over the past three years because we (the public) enjoy watching the lives of the rich and famous. It's entertaining, it's funny and it keeps us wanting more. Reality TV will always be apart of our media culture and will always be something people will enjoy watching. What do you think?

The Month of Homecoming!

October is the month for homecoming! Homecoming is a time for all student's to come together and celebrate their school spirit. At the University of Rhode Island, homecoming has slowly lost some of it's student's and hype but this is a new year. Homecoming weekend has endless amounts of activities and fun and is a time for everyone to celebrate the University that we all believe in. One of the best activities of homecoming weekend is the football game. URI will be playing October 22, 2011 at Meade Stadium vs. Delaware at 12:30 p.m. Football games are a great way to show your school spirit during homecoming weekend and for all of you that are 21 years old you can tailgate and spend time with friends and alumni prior to the start of the game. Speaking of alumni, homecoming weekend is a great way to connect and meet other's who attended URI "back in the day." A great deal of alumni come back to URI to celebrate homecoming and it's a time for them to meet up with old friends and connect with current students attending the University. Saturday is the busiest day of activities for homecoming with the football game, student organizations surrounding the union and sororities and fraternities offering refreshments to alumni and members. I encourage everyone to get involved and spread school spirit for homecoming weekend! RHODY RHODY RHODY!  

Need money...Take a test!

If you're slightly behind on the news this will fill you in rather quickly. As I sat amongst my family during hurricane Irene, a very important topic came up. I hadn't heard of the law or issue surrounding this topic until my uncle asked me about it. As a previous lawyer this law was something he was quite interested in. He sat there and asked me what I thought about the money that is taken from taxes that goes towards welfare and unemployment. I became quite furious as my paycheck's week to week are at the bare minimum due to all of the federal and local tax that is taken by Rhode Island. I roared in outrage at him explaining that I barely make any money because of all the taxes that are taken which leaves me with a maximum of $10 a week. He too expressed his anger and frustration in losing almost $2,000 from his paycheck every month due to taxes. He then explained the new law that has recently been passed in Arizona, Indiana and Missouri. This law is that drug tests will be taken on those who are receiving or need to receive welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing. The reasoning behind it is that many of those who are receiving these benefits and/or money are using the money they receive to buy drugs and alcohol. Although there are major misconceptions about the poor this does prove to be one of them and with this new law, lawmakers hope that it will fight the stereotypes about the poor proving that not all are involved with drugs and alcohol. It is a major controversy as some truly need the money and are finding "other ways" to spend it. 

      "This year, 36 states considered drug testing for recipients of cash assistance from the major welfare program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures; 12 states proposed it for unemployment insurance; and some also considered making it a requirement for food stamps, home heating assistance and other programs" (New York Times).

So my question to all of you is how do you feel about this issue? What are you're thoughts on whether or not people should be drug tested if they need welfare or some type of assistance? Think about yourself in 10-15 years from now. If you needed welfare how would you feel about taking a drug test? Would you be offended? It's hard to sit here and debate about why it is right and why it is wrong but in my opinion I agree with it. It bothers me that my money is being used to support those who need welfare and are using it for drugs and/or alcohol. It bothers me that so much is taken from my paychecks from the government just to know that it may be buying someone out there a bag of cocaine or a bottle of alcohol. Yes, some people actually use their welfare or assistance money and put it to good use for their families or themselves but many do not. It's something to definitely think about and possibly something you may want to get involved in. Check your paychecks everyone, see how much they are taking and ask yourself why so much and who's using my money....!!!

EXTRA EXTRA...READ ALL ABOUT IT

Is it really october??

The weather this weekend surely didn't seem like October kind of weather. Sunday and Monday proved to be two of the most gorgeous days of the season. Reaching temperatures into the upper 80's, Sunday was a perfect day to flock to any of the local beaches in the state. I walked to Scarborough State beach with a few friends Sunday and it's safe to say we weren't the only ones who thought the beach was a perfect escape. Summer or fall the beach is a perfect way to get away from the heat! The ocean was actually quite cold which is only natural for this time of the year but we were able to go for a quick swim to relieve some of the heat. With such high temperatures this early in october we all had a discussion about why it is that this is happening. The first point that was brought up was evidently global warming. One can only use this as an excuse but in actuality much of it may be true. Could it be that our world is slowly warming and therefore temperatures are rising? Is it possible that one day we may have no seasons such as fall and winter rather only summer? I previously created a blog about the effects and potential of global warming and learned quite a bit about how it has already affected our environment. My hope is that the people in our world will start caring more about global warming and want to do more about it. It scares me and makes me worry about my future and the future of my children. This should be a concern for my generation and those who have yet to come. It's a serious issue in our world today and every time we have these crazy hot days that set records or have never been seen before it really makes me think. It's something we all need to care and think more about.

Black Carbon...YIKES!!!!

"We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle"

"...and sometimes good things fall apart so better            things can fall together.” 
                                                     - Marilyn Monroe


Onto a more personal topic, today I am blogging about my new baby cousin Gia Cicilline Monroe. A total diva, Gia has proven already that she has an enormous amount of energy and the most beautiful eyes. Today I went to visit her and it brought me a great deal of joy. There's something about babies that brings happiness into people's lives. You could be unhappy one minute and the minute you see or touch a baby they just bring warmth to your heart. This is exactly what Gia does to me and all of her family. Undoubtedly she has the best mother and father and was brought into our family with open arms. She touches the soul of others and knowing that I have her as my baby cousin makes me that much happier. Gia follows in the steps of her mother, crying when she wants it her way yet staring at you with puckered lips and tiny little hands that reach out for strength. She sleeps when she wants, eats when she wants and is fussed over day after day. Gia is content wherever you put her. She's patient and kind and is a baby that loves company. She IS the most adorable baby around, but then again I have to say that. Gia already has a way of touching people's hearts in a way that many people can't which proves that she has something about her that will be with her forever. She's truly a bundle of joy and a new part of my heart. God brought us Gia and Gia brought our family that much closer.

To "lie down on a grass field"

In what may be one of the most controversial international cases to date, Amanda Knox was cleared of murder today, October 3, 2011, nearly four years after being accused of killing her roommate, Meredith Krecher. Amanda and her boyfriend, Raffael Sollecito, were let out of italian prison after being tortured, abused and taken advantage of for four years. On November 2, 2007, Meredith Krecher was found brutally murdered covered with a duvet soaked in blood. Controversy began immediately following the site of Meredith's body. There was much question and confusion about where Meredith's roommates had been and why it was that Meredith was alone. Italian police abused and interrogated Amanda Knox, one of Meredith's roommate about what happened that night and where Amanda and her boyfriend, Raffael, had been at the time of the murder. Knox later said that the reasoning behind her confessions was due to "stress, shock, exhaustion and the fact that she was repeatedly beaten on the head when she had trouble remembering specific facts." After being questioned for "14 hours" primarily in italian, Knox was arrested by italian officers and taken to prison. It was reported that two weeks after the murder, Rudy Guede, became a suspect due to fingerprints found at the crime scene and on Meredith's body. Guede was arrested in suspect that he could have taken part in the murder of Krecher. As Guede sat in jail amongst Knox and Sollecito, questions outside the jail focused around the role of Amanda and her boyfriends presence that night. Knox was left in jail until February 2008 when she stood in front of a jury of six pleading that she was "never read her rights, never appointed a lawyer and that there was never an interpreter present." In 2008 Knox and Sollecito were indicted for the murder of Meredith Krecher and in 2009 convicted to 25 and 26 years in prison. It was for this reason that this case became so highly publicized and sought after by the American people and most importantly overseas students. There were numerous prosecution arguments to why Knox and Sollecito were allegedly guilty.
The actual trial began in January 2009 and towards the end of November the prosecution defense began to end their cases. After 13 hours of deliberation, Amanda Knox was convicted to 26 years and Sollecito to 25. In April 2010, Knox filed for appeal but the process didn't start until December 11, 2010. The court ordered a re-examination of the evidence used to convict Knox which postponed the appeal until June 2011. On this date it was reported that DNA of the knife found in Krecher's room was not "supported by scientifically analytical procedures." Multiple witnesses testified in June 2011 that Knox was innocent along with boyfriend, Sollecito. The main witness, Rudy Guede's former cellmate testified the pair never had anything to do with the murder and that Guede told him that him and a friend had gone to the house with the intentions of having three-way sex. In refusing to do so, Krecher was then killed. Today on October 3, 2011, Amanda Knox and Rafaell Sollecito's convictions were overturned and dropped after much controversy and confessions. It's an unbelievable story that this young girl, my age, was placed in prison for such a prolonged amount of time for something she never did. This story catches my attention in such a stark light because I too studied abroad in Italy, where this murder took place, and believe that this could have happened to me. An innocent young woman was charged for the murder or her roommate because of unfair and unjust practices of the italian police and court system. Amanda Knox has been waiting for the day that the world would know that Meredith Krecher was just her friend and that something this bizarre and crazy could happen to anyone. Knox will never truly know what happened that night in that apartment in the little city of Perugia, Italy but what she does know is that she is free and can live her life as she pleases with the memory of her roommate Meredith Krecher who will always be with her.

The Greatest Franchise of Them All

This is my blog so I don't feel bad about all my fellow classmates who may be Boston fans but it was announced today that the New York Yankees won "most valuable franchise in the world." For the first time on the Forbes Fab 40 list of "dominant sports brands," the New York Yankees surpassed the world renown soccer team, Manchester United. Forbes estimates that the Yankees are now worth $340 million in comparison to the $269 million that Manchester United is worth. The New York Yankees are known to be the the sports team of New York. They are the heart and soul of New Yorkers and over the past four years they have managed to retain their fan base by paying their players enormous amounts of money and upgrading their facilities to be the best around. It's controversial to many that they offer to pay their players more money than anyone can imagine but in doing so they have proved that this is something they can do. The New York Yankees will always have a name for themselves and in building their brand they make every aspect of their franchise better than the rest. On the Forbes list or not the New York Yankees will always be "world renown." This team is part of American history and is a team that has made such strides in the history of baseball that they just don't compare. They've been the best for years and nothing is holding them back from keeping it that way.

The End of an Era

In 9 seasons entourage has managed to teach its' viewers in a very timid yet wild way about love, brotherhood and friendship. I think that anyone who watched entourage can say they were sad to see it go but the last 9 seasons were surely an epic journey. What entourage offered was a show that depicted the day to day life of a man, Vincent Chase, who started his career in hollywood with his own entourage. The reason for its' success lies within the characters of the show and how viewers were able to laugh and relate with them as every season passed. Of course were not all living a hollywood lifestyle but Vincent and his "brothers"showed audiences the life of the rich and famous while being just as normal as the everyday person. When the series started there was uncertainty about whether the show could be a hit or not but as time passed the amount of viewers grew and it became the "sunday night special" that everyone would wait for. Every week presented new challenges and conflicts that Vince and the boys would face. Season 9 ended by tying up lose ends to many of the conflicts that presented themselves when season 8 ended. As for the future, these men have left entourage the show to create entourage the movie. The movie will be the last hurrah but for now the show has proved itself to be one of the best that HBO has ever had. For those who don't know entourage's creator and director Doug Ellin worked hand in hand with Mark Wahlberg to develop this series and actually based the characters of Vince and the rest of the boys off of their own childhood friendships. I can say for myself that I have loved this show since season 1 and my sunday night's will never be the same.

This is a farewell video that HBO created for entourage