This summer, my mom, sister and I went on a weekend trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (to hopefully kickoff an annual summer girls trip). After a "short" drive and a hop into Canada over the peace bridge, we started our weekend of fun. This video showcases the memories we have made and will remember for years to come.

My freshman year of college at Ohio University, I lived in Washington Hall. As summer begins, the hall will be closed for renovations and is set to re-open fall semester 2019. The hall was opened in the fall of 1955 and named in honor of the United States of America's first president, George Washington.

I wanted to be able to take pictures and post them to preserve the pre-renovated dorm since it will never look the same. These photos are from my corner room, 224.

These are from the building itself. Halls, lobby and bathroom. While not the best, this is where memories with new friends were made. Playing games in the lobby late at night, conversations in passing in the halls and the dreaded community showers.

Lastly, these are the writings from the inside of the closets and drawers. While these closets will be removed and thrown away, my roommate and I added our names to the growing list. I hope that future students start a list of names in their closets too.

It was important to me to post these pictures because it shows the history and changes in the building. The names in our closet show when the room was a boys vs. girls room or when it was a double vs. triple sized room. While the future students living in Washington Hall will have new things and new memories in the building, I would not change any of my memories, new friends or ghost experiences. Now if only these walls could talk.

(All photos are mine)

Had an absolutely crazy first year of college at Ohio University, but I am so happy for the experiences, friends and memories I have made. Until fall 💚

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(Inspired by the children's book "Goodnight Moon")
(All photos original unless stated)

While eating dinner on a casual Friday night, I received a text message from Ohio University notifying students that classes for Monday were cancelled, "in anticipation of severe weather and potential flooding." Emails from housing soon came in telling students to expect power and water outages and to try and go home if possible. Within moments, in classic Ohio University fashion, Flood Fest was created. 

While the weather was poor for most of the weekend, Sunday and Monday turned out to be beautiful, sunny days that were perfect to spend time outside working on homework, hangout with friends and the option to go to a "fest" party was available. 

After getting food Sunday afternoon, my friends and I decided to take a walk to see the Hocking River. This was the supposed culprit of potential flooding. The river runs along a bike path (Hockhocking Adena Bikeway) that follows the outer edge of campus. After seeing the height and speed of the river, we started walking on the path. Before we knew it, we were practically on the other side of campus where you are able to see the Ridges (former Athens Lunatic Asylum) in the distance and I noted how I had never been there. My one friend said how cool it was and that she would take me so we decided to make an impromptu climb up and explore the property.

The Ridges is currently owned and used by Ohio University for some classes, offices and storage. The main building is currently the home to the Kennedy Museum of Art. But most importantly, the Ridges is known for the hauntings that happen to go on due to its history as a lunatic asylum (stories can be found with an easy Google search).

I am not going to lie when I say the Ridges are spooky. The black crows, often a symbol of bad luck and death, circling above along with vultures sitting atop buildings gave a very unsettling vibe. The architecture of the buildings gave a "horror movie opening scene" image in my head, and the open windows that should not be open in buildings that are closed off to the public just did not feel right. 

We further investigated the property, finding one of the multiple cemeteries with most graves just marked with a patient's number. It was heartbreaking knowing the mistreatment that went on within the walls of the asylum, and the lost souls of those who did not belong in a place like that at all such as veterans suffering PTSD, teens who were considered rebellious and the elderly when family could no longer take care of them. It was an important lesson in how far as a society we have come with mental illness, but is a reminder that there is still plenty of work to be done to improve mental health treatment.

*Disclaimer* We were not trespassing, the Ridges and the surrounding land are open to the public

Police Magnum OC-17 Pepper Spray in a pink carrying case with a matching pink cat self defense keychain were gifted to me in my Easter basket the spring before my first fall semester at Ohio University. When arriving at school, I had both keychains attached to my lanyard.
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Everyone has that one thing that they are obsessed with whether it is sock monkeys, pandas or cats. To me, my one thing is a cactus. 

For anyone who knows me or has stepped foot into my dorm room knows that I like cacti and succulents ... a lot. Everyone reading this (as of January 2018) sees that my website even has a "cactus" theme.
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It all started small with buying a cactus and throughout the year I have acquired 3 more succulents and a larger cactus. Along with plants, if there is a cactus version, I buy it or receive it as a gift AKA bags, ornaments, stained glass, laptop cases, note books, note pads, sticky notes, pens, mugs, stickers, pins, pillows, lights, wall art, etc
You name it, and I have it.

You might be thinking, "This girl is crazy," and yeah you would be right,
​because I just got a cactus tattoo.​

Now before everyone freaks out, let me explain. To me, a cactus is strong, independent, resilient and frankly they don't give a f**k. My first semester of college had some highs, but also definitely had some lows. I had to be what a cactus is in order to complete my first semester successfully with grades that allowed me to be on the Dean's List. By having a cactus on my body, it is a constant reminder to continue to have these qualities day to day. While tattoos may not be for everyone, I love the decision that I made.

After my first semester at Ohio University, I am able to look back to see the memories and success that came with it. Going to college is not only an important time of education and a road to a career, but it is a time to learn about yourself and who you really are as a person. 

Making the transition from high school to college was hard but ultimately beneficial. I know things now that I would have never learned without furthering my education at OU. Here are 6 things that I discovered about myself:

After a week of classes, my roommate decided to move out due to differing viewpoints that had been assumed to be different before picking each other to room. While I have a new, awesome roommate who moved in the weekend before Thanksgiving, this left me living alone in a double sized dorm for multiple weeks. I learned that I can live completely alone. Yes, everyone is technically living alone and away from their parents when they go to school, but it is different being alone in a room when you had imagined to be living with someone for almost 6 months prior. I didn't have a roommate to depend on if I was locked out or for cleaning the room. 

The first time doing laundry completely alone was at OU. While I survived, I try to avoid the situation as much as possible. I went almost all semester without ruining clothes until finals week hit. The university gave everyone 4 free loads of laundry for the week so I decided to do my laundry before coming home for break and wash my blankets. While in the dryer a blanket melted leaving a purple plastic material and many of my clothes.

I am on a meal plan that gives 14 meals a week (2 meals a day). I originally thought that this would be just enough when in reality there has been weeks where I have 5-8 meals left over to use in the market because I didn't get a meal in the dining hall.

While I brought multiple cute outfit options to school, I find myself gravitating towards the same couple shirts and sweatshirts (a lot of OU apparel). I realized that I live in a clothing cycle and will rotate my clothes and where a lot of the same stuff. Let's be honest, why would I ever think I would wear a sundress running to class? Wearing comfortable clothes is much more manageable and can often double as pajamas if it is a late night.

I not only sleep in my bed, I eat, study, watch Netflix, talk to friends, talk on the phone, etc. I personally do not like to study or do homework at a desk. I do my best work while sitting in my bed. I even have a comfy butterfly chair that I rarely sit in. Mostly my friends sit in it while I sit in bed. I just love being in my bed no matter the occasion.

While living at home, I showered early so that laundry could be done, and so that I could go to bed early or that's what my mom thinks (sorry mom). This first semester, I learned that I love taking a shower late at night. The fact that nobody else rarely showered at that time was also a bonus. Showering marked the end to my evening. I had finished homework and studying for the evening and it was time to get ready for bed.

I hope that everyone has a successful second semester and that even more things are discovered about our own selves.

Check out my 2017 slideshow where my first semester is showcased!

As the ball began to drop representing the start of 2018, I sat with my New Year's crown on my head and champagne in my glass ready to cheers my friends and family as the countdown reached zero. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Fireworks could be heard... or was that the sound of resolutions already being broken?

Looking back on 2017, I had an amazing year of change and celebration, but I cannot even recall if I made any resolutions (and if I did, I clearly did not follow through). This made me think, "why make a resolution for 2018?" 

Long story short, I didn't make a resolution this year for many reasons. I just do not understand the point and frankly never have.

I personally know that I won't keep a resolution if it is just a goal I am telling myself I want to complete. After a week, I would have already forgotten what I "wanted" and if I am honest I am terrible at commitment when it comes to anything outside of my main focuses (school, career, wellbeing). If I want something bad enough, I will work to make it happen.

To start a goal just because it is the start of a new year is ridiculous. A goal can be made and kept at any point of the year. You can become organized, work out more and eat differently in any of the twelve months.

There has been a lot of personal success without making a resolution these past couple of years. I have graduated high school, received scholarships, enrolled in my dream school and had a successful first semester even getting on the Dean's list. I did all of this without a resolution. Setting a goal and being focused is all it took. I know what I want and I don't need a resolution starting the first day of the year to keep it. 

While you can say this is a classic "Hannah Rant" against another social construct (which it 100% is), I honestly do not see the point in making a resolution that won't be kept or is a goal that can be started at any point of the year. Why push off a goal until the new year when it could have started earlier?

Hit the gym, eat healthy, study hard and let 2018 be a great year. Don't let a resolution define what the year can and can't hold. If you didn't start on January 1, 2018 that does not mean it can't start on January 2, 2018 or any day of the year. 

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Happy New Year!
Check out my slideshow from 2017!
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2017 was personally a year of many endings with even better beginnings. With constant change, I experienced my last first *insert any high school experience* leading to graduation. It never dawned on me how quickly I would soon be moving to college and finishing my first semester (on the Dean's List!). 

I want to thank everyone, old and new, who helped make my 2017 amazing. Thank you for the support, friendship and love needed to have an amazing end of my high school career and an even better start to my college career. 

2018 holds even more success and change that I cannot wait to experience. While it might be a new year, I am going to continue being my same, awesome self.

Happy New Year​
Hugs and Kisses,
Hannah

This is a collection of photos and videos that represent the amazing times and people that were with me throughout the very start to the last minutes of 2017:

My sister, Amy, recently decided to get her kindergarten-2nd grade class a pet. They picked out a hamster, and voted on the name Henry John Cena. Ever since then, we have always joked about making a video with the John Cena theme song. During our winter breaks, we finally made our idea a reality: