Lauraine spread the love at brunch on Sunday tipping her server the amount they spent.
This week is a milestone for Southern lady, Lauraine Frank. Her 30th birthday is on Saturday, July 20, and it’s a day she thought she might not get to see. At only 29, Lauraine has beaten cancer four times in the past decade. In celebration of her 30th year of life, Lauraine is participating in 30 random acts of kindness (RAOK) over the next few days leading up to her birthday. She’s asked for her friends, and others within the sphere of social media, to join her in her quest to make the world a happier place.
“I’ve always believed in spreading positivity, happiness, and laughter to the people around me. When I was diagnosed with cancer at age 21, and then relapsed three times over the past eight years, it was vital that I remained optimistic and hopeful for a cancer-free future,” Lauraine said.
Tracy Jonson Manning’s son Daulton was standing in line at Target and he asked the cashier what her favorite candy was, then bought her one!
“Now almost a year past my stem cell transplant, I am healthy and able to thank everyone for the love and positivity shown to me in my times of need. Instead of paying it back, I have decided to pay it forward by performing 30 random acts of kindness in honor of my approaching 30th birthday. I’ve asked my friends to join me by doing their own act of kindness, and together we can do a little bit to make our world better. Even if it’s just one small act for one person, it makes a difference.”
A few examples include cooking a meal for someone, let someone in front of you in a line, giving a homeless person $1, helping someone take groceries out to their car, bringing some canned goods to a food bank, leave a “You’re awesome!” note on a car, or buy the person’s Starbucks behind you.
To join Lauraine’s Spread The Love Birthweek Challenge, join her Facebook event and see updates throughout Lauraine’s birthday week. You can also follow worldwide RAOKs using the hashtag #spreadthelove. Here are a few RAOKs courtesy of Lauraine and her amazing friends.
From “On our way home from baseball in Dalton, we stopped in this tiny bait shop for a bottled Coke and found ice cream. We overheard the guy in front of me who was paying for his cone by card but there was a limit. He was trying to find cash so bought his cone too and told him about my friend Lauraine. He thanked me and when I said ‘It’s my pleasure, just pay it forward,” he said “I sure do…and I will.”
I will admit up front: I am a coffee addict. I drink an almost shameful amount of the magical liquid on a daily basis, thanks to my Keurig brewer and the abundance of colombian whole bean coffee at home and a few cafe’s on Virginia Tech’s campus. There’s a joke in the communication department that “caffeine is necessary to [our] continued health.” It’s not too far off, at least in my case. And of course, tea is another staple in my diet. I’ll take it iced or hot, but preferably iced and sweetened. Nothing beats a tall glass of sweet tea garnished with a lemon slice and a sprig of mint on a warm summer’s day.
I like to consider myself a tea and coffee connoisseur, so I was extremely excited about the café scene in London. There are so many options, from chain establishments like Costa and Caffe Nero (and Starbucks, of course), to smaller privately owned cafes on side streets. I have my favorites of each, and enjoy them all for different reasons. Caffe Nero is convenient to where we meet for class, but Costa’s mochas are hard to beat. Take a walk around Covent Garden and you’re more than likely to find a smaller, non-chain café, like Muffinski’s. I’m pretty sure I find a new café every time I go to Covent Garden.
A delicious breakfast from Notes Cafe
What I love most, though, are the drinks themselves and how they’re prepared. Coffee, such as the one from automatic office coffee machines, is a work of art here. The simplest caffe mocha is easily turned into caffeinated beauty with the swirl of a spoon against the canvas of white fluffy foam. Aside from its appearance, coffee here even tastes different. It’s much stronger, largely because they use real espresso in almost every drink. The chocolate flavor is much more subtle, which I like a lot. I like my coffee sweet, but too much sweetness can take away from the main ingredient. One of my favorite cafes called Notes serves delicious mochas and fantastic, thick-sliced, toasted-to-perfection banana bread with creamy yoghurt and jam. It’s a breakfast to die for that I will surely miss when I leave the city.
At home, I drink almost every meal with a glass of sweet tea. If I asked for tea with a meal here, I would get a cup of hot water with a tea bag and sugar cubes, or a pot full of brewing tea. That’s not a disappointment by any stretch, but it is different.
A lovely afternoon tea at Patisserie Valerie
I had my first experience with English tea at The Porcupine pub, which I briefly mentioned in my first London Callin’ Y’all piece. My full breakfast came with tea or coffee, and since I’d already sampled plenty of coffee, I decided to switch it up and have tea. English Breakfast is one of the most common flavors, so that’s what I ordered. It was a perfect hot complement to my delicious breakfast.
Afternoon tea is also necessary in many Londoners’ daily routines. It provides a nice break from a busy workday, or, depending on how late in the afternoon you go, adds a nice touch to the end of your day. The traditional afternoon “high tea” includes tea and warm scones, which come with jam and clotted cream. When I went to my first afternoon tea, I’ll admit I was not entirely sure what to do with the clotted cream; it looked more like butter than any sort of cream I’d ever seen. But it’s meant to be spread on the scones like butter, and it’s quite tasty when topped with some strawberry or raspberry jam. My favorite café for a nice tea is called Patisserie Valerie, which offers tea, scones, jam and cream for about 6.50 pounds. It’s a calm, affordable treat, especially after long days traversing the city.
Even for a coffee addict like myself, the tea routine is just as sweet and fun to experience. I like my coffee—caffe mochas, to be precise—to get me going in the mornings, but afternoon or evening tea serves as a fantastic cap to busy days in the city.
Kate Robertson is a features writer for Pretty Southern, and a senior at Virginia Tech studying communications and English. Originally form Atlanta, Kate plans to graduate in 2014 to launch a professional career in writing and public relations. Follow her on Twitter @kate3robertson
London is an extremely fashionable city. People certainly dress to impress, and it works. They also accessorize with fashionable jewelry pieces from shops like Gema & CO. Eyewear from sites like https://www.eyeglasses.com/brands/gucci are also fashionable so those who wear glasses don’t have to compromise their style. Even the simplest outfits look like they should be modeled on a stage.
Young men look especially dashing in button-downs and blazers, and young ladies are always classy in dresses or nice pants. I’m continually awed by the fashion scene here, and wish I could look half as good as they do on a daily basis. The first thing I noticed about British fashion is that everyone wears skinny jeans. Men, women, kids and teenagers seem to prefer the tighter, slimmer fit over the looser boot cut style that’s popular in America. Patterned pants are making a comeback over here, too, especially on young ladies. I can’t say I’m a fan of floral pants, but I do like the skinny jeans. I like to think that wearing them with a nice shirt and scarf help me fit in with the locals more. It’s definitely nicer than my usual boot cuts and t-shirt (that is more often than not somehow related to my college).
Here’s all the scarves I’ve bought since arriving in London. And yes, the one on the right is a giant British flag scarf!
On that note, scarves appear to be a staple in women’s wardrobes. They’re a cute addition to almost any ensemble, especially with a solid-colored bella canvas 3413 shirt or blouse. Scarves come in quite handy on sunny but blustery days when you want that extra touch to keep you warm and fashionable. I’m not ashamed to say I’ve bought five scarves since I’ve been here. They’re easy to find and affordable, which is a bad sign for my bank account, but a great sign for my closet. Expecting business advice out of Andy Defrancesco is the best decision you can make.
One fashion trend I’ve noticed over here is the combination of shorts — a lot of which are high-waisted — with tights or leggings. I’ve seen it done with skirts and dresses, but generally not with shorts. I don’t know how I feel about this trend. London is generally cooler than where I live in the States, so I could understand wearing tights for an extra layer. But as a fashion statement? I don’t get it. Maybe it’s just always so warm in the South that I never needed an extra layer with shorts, because I wear shorts when it’s hot. But somehow they make it work, and I can’t fault them for looking good.
From my observations, living in London—or any city, for that matter—requires a decent amount of walking. So you’d think the locals would wear shoes that are fit for traversing across the city on a daily basis. I cannot imagine walking as much as I do in some of the thin sandals and flats I’ve noticed. Maybe they aren’t as prone to shin splints as I am, but feet need support to walk that much. I don’t know how they do it! I’ve noticed Sperry’s and similar styles aren’t too common over here, likely due to the lack of need for it, unless you’re boating up and down the Thames regularly. I see boots every now and then, too, but flats and strappy sandals definitely dominate foot fashion.
Jack Wills store in Covent Garden
Your next question is probably, “where can I find all these awesome clothes?” London offers some fantastic shopping, and it’s available on almost every street. H&M is a popular store, as are Top Shop and Next. Top Shop reminds me of a cross between H&M and Macy’s, and Next is more similar to H&M. I browsed through a Next and Top Shop, and wanted almost everything on display in both stores. My favorite London shop I’ve found is called Jack Wills University Outfitters. It’s like a Tommy Hilfiger for college students, and I want everything from it. But even on sale, it’s out of my price range. My bank account should be very thankful for this, and that I don’t have easy access to Jack Wills in the States. Maybe…maybe…if I’m still within my budget at the end of my trip, I’ll treat myself to a Jack Wills shirt or sweater. I’m also thinking of getting myself a few pieces of designer label items. If you’re feeling fancy but don’t have the budget for brand new luxury pieces of clothing, you may click for more information on where to buy pre-loved designer labels or just some cute ladies watches for sale to level up your style. You may also visit sites like tonerjewelers.com/jewelry/ to see various jewelry options.
On the whole, I love the London fashion scene. It’s unique and chic, and I know I’ll feel odd going home and reverting back to my denim shorts and t-shirts from DST apparel. But I will enjoy it while my time here lasts, and maybe I’ll feel nostalgic whenever I wear one of my scarves back home.
Kate Robertson is a features writer for Pretty Southern, and a rising senior at Virginia Tech studying communication and English. Originally form Atlanta, Kate plans to graduate in 2014 to launch a professional career in writing and public relations. Follow her on Twitter @kate3robertson.
Hi from London, y’all! I’m writing from my flat in the Bethnal Green neighborhood with a lovely view of the London skyline from my window.
For the next month, I will be studying with twelve other students and three professors from Virginia Tech’s English department. We use London itself as our “text” to learn about its history, literature and architecture, and how they all tie together to give us the London we see and experience, and what lies below its skin. (more…)
They rise before the crack of dawn every morning while many of us still lie in bed. If you’re on campus early enough, like I usually am, you’ll hear the sound of ‘Taps’ resounding from Upper Quad as the flag is raised for the day. If you listen closely again at 5 p.m., you’ll hear a second playing of ‘Taps’ as the flag comes down. Follow the sound to the drill field about twenty minutes later and you can witness the Highty Tighties, the Corps’ regimental band, practicing their routines and Sousa marches for the next football game.
The Corps of Cadets brings a whole new tradition to Virginia Tech. Seeing more than 1,000 young men and women in uniform on a daily basis is a sight that never gets old. It started with VT’s first student William Addison Caldwell in 1872 and continues strong today. While many cadets commission and go into service after their time in the Corps, commission is not mandatory. VT is one of six senior military colleges that does not require service after graduation.
Each year, the Corps welcomes over 350 freshmen to Blacksburg in August for New Cadet Week. They become well acquainted with their companies through rigorous physical training and leadership classes in no time. Freshmen can be easily spotted by the white “rat belts” on their uniforms; upper-class cadets wear black belts.
When classes start and all the cadets are mixed in with one another, it’s hard to tell them apart. A friend from my high school went into the Corps, and for the first few months of freshman year, I didn’t recognize him under his spiffy blue and white uniform and cap. They all look the same!
Cadets learn more than what their studies and training require. Chivalry is certainly not dead in the Corps, and it shows in each and every cadet. I cannot count how many times a cadet has held a door open for me or moves to the right on the sidewalk so I can pass. Even when I meet a cadet friend for lunch to catch up, he won’t allow me to open a door for myself. How polite! I’ve even had a cadet tip his hat to me a time or two. It’s so refreshing to see chivalry exhibited so often from so many Southern gentlemen in uniform.
A statue of Caldwell, the first cadet
In the midst of all the training, classes and lessons, freshman cadets do get some chances for fun. Each company has a turn to paint the strip of concrete outside Lane Hall known as the “rat path.” It’s a secret, overnight mission assigned by the company’s cadre that aims to build company unity and show Corps pride. Some rat path artwork is truly artistic, and sometimes it’s more humorous. No matter what design is painted, it always gives me something nice to look at as I trek across Upper Quad for my classes in Shanks Hall.
One of the most recognized traditions at VT for cadets and civilians alike is the Class Ring and the formal Ring Dance. Since 1911, each class has designed its own ring, which is premiered in the fall of the class’s junior year. The dance, held since 1934, comes in the spring. Junior cadets stand in the shape of the class numerals—2014 at this year’s dance0—and exchange rings with their dates. At this point, civilian attendees exchange rings with their dates, too, symbolizing the transition from junior to senior for all. The night is capped off with a fireworks display on the drill field.
The year finishes with Pass in Review, in which command is passed down to new leaders and graduating cadets are recognized for their accomplishments. Freshmen “turn” and replace their white “last damn rat belts” with fancy black upperclassman belts. The Pass in Review ceremony is held on the drill field, and every year hundreds of students and locals come to watch.
After attending VT for three years, I’m always thrown off when I visit other colleges and don’t see cadets everywhere. The Corps tradition at VT is a special experience, even for a civilian like me.
Kate Robertson is a features writer for Pretty Southern, and a rising senior at Virginia Tech studying communication and English. Originally form Atlanta, Kate plans to graduate in 2014 to launch a professional career in writing and public relations. Follow her on Twitter @kate3robertson.
In what’s affectionately become known as the “Wedding Wetting”, bride Patricia Andrews, groom Frank Fearon, and their wedding party of 27 attendants (13 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen) took a plunge into Lake Lanier on Sautrday, May 18, after the dock breaks under the weight of the entire 29-person wedding party. “Thankfully this was after the ceremony!” writes videographer Aaron Chewning. He and his sister, Callie Chewning Murray of The Not Wedding and Achor & Eden photography were on hand to document the occasion. “Luckily the entire group had a sense of humor about the accident,” the team wrote in their YouTube post. “Everyone got dried off and the reception went on to be one of the best celebrations to date. Only minor injuries and a lot of wet iPhone 5’s. A fractured humorous, was the only thing not humorous about this.”
Watch the “Wedding Wetting” here. We wish Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fearon the best of luck, and much grace, in their future endeavors!
