Klout is this really great social media site in which it gives you a score ranging from 1-100 on your social media effectiveness and influences. Mines a 36. Not bad? Especially for someone who studied the effects of Social Media and its influences in college?

Well I just have to take a moment and laugh at my top three “influence topics.”

1. IHOP (most likely from my obsessive PR and tweets about National Pancake day at IHOP, benefiting CMN.) I was so excited that day I must have tweeted from the time I entered IHOP to the time I left 12 times. And c’mon, you can’t get mad at me for getting excited for a stack of free pancakes.

2. Wal-Mart. This is once again a national CMN sponsor. So unless someone else hacks my account and just retweets @PeopleofWalMart a ton, it must be my excessive Children’s Miracle Network tweeting once again. Guilty as charged.

3. Marathons. And this just makes me laugh, because I am totally talking about “Dance Marathon” rather than running 26.2 miles consecutively. Although maybe I will hope to run that, I’ll think I’ll just stick to training for my half in October.

Check out your influence. Its pretty neat to see who you influence and who influences you. And it also can provide some laughs when it tells you what your followers tweet the most about. Didn’t think I followed that many people who tweet about mustaches. That’s all I’m saying.

So I’m sitting here in Red Eye (you know, the office that hipsters use), applying for jobs and looking up potential grad programs to attend. (Of course, all while tweeting, browsing blogs and making to-do lists via pinterest and other distractions). I have been a Florida State graduate for about 3 weeks now and its been great. Though I have an underlying stress because of the constant job search and cover-letter re-vamping, its been so relaxing to have this time off. Now before you go thinking I am the ultimate lazy-person by just sitting on my butt, I have had my share of responsibility. Babysitting so much I feel like I am a full time mother of 6 kids, running my butt off in hopes to prepare for an upcoming half in October, and my calendar being stacked with doctors appointments I have neglected over the past few years. (And also the necessary lunch/breakfast/coffee dates with old friends and others in order to keep me sane). I’m not completely devoid of any activity and wake up at 3 pm every day like my 19 year old brother. Oh and sidenote: I even started volunteering in City Church Kids on Sundays- been “stuck” with the 2-3 year old toddlers and I am already hooked. It is such a blast.

Its difficult thinking about jobs/my future and everything that will come when I am (hopefully) soon employed. There isn’t really a general “type” of job I am applying for, becasue like I said before, I am content with doing a number of things. I am not really sure what I want to do/where I want to go, but I do know the woman I want to become.

I have been thankful to have the time now to concentrate on my future, to be able to run weekly with my mom, take the time to enjoy a yoga class, meet mid-morning for breakfast with my pastor, and even enjoy an afternoon by the pool with one of the many books I have devoured this summer. Cause who really has time for that normally? I know that this won’t last forever, but I am thankful for being able to take the time now to do those things because I know that will soon change.

“There are far, far greater things ahead than any we leave behind.” -CS Lewis

But right now unemployment isn’t too bad. Free beer after a pub-run last night? Trip to Destin with my favorite kids, Ava and Leo? Paddleboarding and Geocaching with my brother? Not complaining for now. Now if you excuse my, I have to get back to the hipster scene at RedEye right now. Maybe one day I’ll declare I’m a hipster and stop admiring them from afar. I need more practice now.

whew. so a lot has happened since I have last posted. a lot. If you know me, and know that I’m a huge sports fanatic (one of my degrees I graduated with was Sport Management), this will seem incredibly appropriate for me. So I’m going to go all ESPN on you and share with you the “top ten plays” since we last met.

Read More

Awesome Easter weekend. I was so fortunate to be able to serve amongst others for City Church’s first Easter service at the Leon County Civic Center. It was a huge turnout, and a personal triumph for me to see friends whom I had been inviting to church for years come to Easter service. I think that is one of the coolest feelings in the world. It was a blast.

The fam and I Sunday.

“I dare you to launch the adventure of this week from the truth of knowing your successes and failures will not determine how much God loves you.” -from one of my favorite Pastors, Jon Acuff. Find his stuff here.

Until next time,

K

Last six weeks of senior year. Whoa. I seriously hate the term “YOLO,” that excuse can be used for every during a dumb decision you make. You only have one life so dont screw it up with silly decisions. What other lessons about life did you learn from Drake? But I can only help but say it all the time now with such short time remaining. YOLO

But looking back on this blog, I seem to blog about something monumental that I have experienced in my life. And I dont think that the hugeness that was Dance Marathon a few weeks ago can be passed over. We raised 597,000 all FOR THE KIDS. I cannot say how freaking proud I am of not only myself, but my Overall Committee and all those involved that make this happen. To the families: it was so wonderful working with you this last year, and I cannot be more thankful you sharing your bravery to touch the lives of so many. I can only hope to have half of the strength that you do when I have children of my own. What an amazing and unique organization, and an unforgettable experience. To have one of the kids I babysat for as a teen be diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, beat cancer and join us for their FIRST dance marathon in my position as Family Relations Chair. Holy hugeness.

for. the. kids

I apologize for being SUCH a bad blogger. I know that many have been on the edge of their seats waiting for my next move….joking. But on a completely serious note, my computer crashed TWICE this last month, so I have been computer-less for most of 2012. So incredibly convenient for Dance Marathon coming up so soon!

Anywhozles, this semester has been crazy. I wont go into depth but there have definitely been some unexpected things that have been game-changers for me. One of the most exciting parts of the semester has definitely been the Emerging Leaders course. Two other seniors and myself, along with Robyn and Susannah from Greek Life lead the course of 24 new members, and it has rocked. Today, we participated in the “Great Debate,” which essentially two sides argue and debate whether Greek Life should be kept on Florida State’s campus or not. A really tough thing to argue either way, because all those participating are members or Greek organizations, but the statistics and facts do not lie in ties to hazing, lower scholarship standards, deaths and date-rape. It was an awesome and deep conversation today. Some of my highlights and take aways….

”..we all want to better ourselves, whehter we are members of organizations or not. So do we really need our organizations to do that for us?”

“How many hazing related incidents and deaths have to occur in which this mentality and actions will cease to exist?”

“Our Greek community at Florida State collective dues reach upwards of $3 million dollars per semester. But with service and philanthropy as two of our top values we often “preach” and hold ourselves to, we dare contribute only $30,000 giving back to our respective philanthropies.”

and from Robyn herself…
“One of our weaknesses is value-congruence, are we the same person during recruitment that we are at 12 am on a Thursday night? Or do we even say we are a values based organization, because values imply perfection and we are by no means perfect people.”

Some good thoughts. Heres a sweet video for you to cherish, since Dance Marathon is next weekend and all I can think about is this.

http://youtu.be/z68dxGCP7S8

As I sit here, in my last hour of work. it dawned on me to blog this. I’m not as good as I thought I would be at blogging, but I’m glad I remembered to do this today.

But today is my last day of working for Governor Rick Scott. Sad day. I just couldn’t make it happen with my class schedule next semester for my last few credits I have to take before I graduate in May. Its been fun, I love my office, love the people, and do really love working for the Scott administration. Of course, I like lists, so here are a few from my time here….

Things I’ll miss.

1. Playing pranks on each other. From turning Trent’s entire office around, to “phone blasting” each other’s intercoms, our office is nothing short of boring.
2. Honestly, the crazy constituent calls. Yes, I hate it when people yell at me that they “have” to meet with the governor because they cant find work and they have no toes, but the stories are pretty crazy and keep us entertained. I have gotten pretty good at handling these crazies.
3. Random jam sessions to “We Built this City” by the Stargazers, or something, whatever that one-hit-wonder is.
4. Calls from former Governor Claude Kirk. May he resit in peace.
5. Random sneak attacks by the Governor down to my office. Quick, turn down Pandora and minimize Pinterest, Kirsten.
6. Getting to work events for the Governor and the Mansion.
7. a paycheck.
8. getting to meet awesome politicians and movers and shakers who have been on some cool campaigns and administrations.
9. The fast paced work environment in our office.

Things I’ve learned working in state government..

1. EVERYTHING is public record.
2. everything is public record.
3. Make connections. Be nice to everyone. They know more than you, have been there longer, and can get you a job later.

So, I’ll miss you guys. Maybe come May I’ll need a job before grad school in a year or so. It was a fun run. thanks for teaching me so much.

My last event at the mansion, last night. Hanukkah reception. Thank goodness that is over. L’haichm.

I’m 22 now! Weird… Remember when you were younger and your older cousins who you thought were “so grown up” were like turning 18 and graduating high school? I am way past what I thought constituted a grown up (Or at least by a 6 year old’s standards). I felt weird celebrating it, sometimes I think that the only birthdays that should be celebrated are 1-11, 16, 18, and 21..right? Either way, thanks to my friends and family it was wonderful, even with the FSU loss, I still had a blast.

Being the last home football game, homecoming, and my brithday, Reuben so generously offered to take me up to the President’s box for the game. It was a cool experience. Here are a few highlights from the weekend…

Homecoming parade! We had a brunch for our miracle families as well as the homecoming parade which DM participated in, so much fun. Some of our miracle families came, which I am always so excited and thankful for.

Sylvia and I with one of our new families, the Crumpackers. Jake (with the hat on) gets his port out on Wednesday!

Tullo and I, and our view of the game

The beautiful HOMECOMING PRINCESS and I, Megan Thompson. You are so deserving of this, congratulations! So privileged to work with you and call you one of my closest friends.

Needless to day, I’m old now. This is the year I’m gonna graduate, hopefully figure out my life, etc, etc. More to come…