My parents are pastors. So even while still in my mommy’s belly, I was making tamales. Every year the church would make tamales to help raise funds and I would always help. As a small child I learned how to use a spoon to spread masa on dozens of tamales. We would make up to 250 tamales every time. Over the years my tamale skills improved and I was spouting up to three tma (tamales a minute)! I learned how to fill tamales with the meat and how to cook them. Recently before coming to the College of Idaho I learned how to make the masa.

My third winter at The College of Idaho. I’ve returned with the rest of my classmates to our academic home. I’ve been fortunate in my life to have many uneventful Christmases and this year was one of them. I spent the majority of the break recuperating and cooking leisurely meals with friends at the Haus before returning home, and then after a short road-trip to Washington, I returned on New Years Eve.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the desserts in the Caf or the working heater in my dorm room, but I am stoked to be back at school for Winter Term.  I feel like I’m not the only one – the mood around campus seems cheerful and optimistic as students walk to class with new school supplies in tow and hug it out after being away from each other for three weeks. The holiday season was just what we needed to feel rejuvenated after a long fall term.

As the days get shorter, and the air grows colder, school can get rather taxing. Getting out of bed in time for an 8 a.m. chemistry lab three days a week, I can tell you, is almost equivalent to death. I have compiled a list of a few ways to keep warm this winter. They are tips I seem to live by, and would encourage others to do the same:

Whew! I'm glad that’s over. You know what I’m talking about: Midterm week. That was intense! Yes, I am sure many of my fellow bloggers have stated otherwise (no offense to them; I love them dearly), but I am a dramatic freshman; and for me it was a very intense, stressful, midterm week.

I’m in college. A conversation with two or more people can’t last too long without it eventually turning towards Jimmy Stewart or Harry Potter.

I read the series. I’m familiar with all the Potter lore. I hated the movies. People (girls) rag on me all the time about this. I hate them. But the great thing about talking about these teenage wizards is that it’s easy to draw a lot of lines between the fantasy of Hogwarts and our campus.

You should already know your RAs by now… but do you know about everything that you can borrow from the RA office!?!?  We have some super sweet stuff that you will definitely want to check out.

To the freshmen:

Hayman is the ultimate stomping ground, and all of us here at the C of I are willing to admit it.  We all had “the best floor,” “the best class,” “the best fishbowl” … yes, yes it’s true.  However, there is something I must bring to your attention, and the sooner, the better.

Feeling down about your homework load?  In need of a pick-me-up?  Well before you head to McCain for a Redbull…plant something green in your room!  There are plenty of benefits to adding a house plant in your living space.  Here are the top five reasons to bring a plant into your room…

So it’s the second week of classes, and much like the rest of my fellow Yotes, I’m super busy with all of my classes. However, in a study of irony and spontaneity, I just got back from a game of Frisbee Golf around the campus, and now I’m settling into an evening of reading on the porch.

In my next post, I’ll talk a little bit about my classes, but today I’m going to take you inside the Delt Haus.

Today marks my first post with videos! My boss is cheering somewhere.