University of New England: Emma Bouthillette

Thank you very much Tammy for your comment.

Just in case it doesn't get "clicked on" and read...
It was about the Union House Coffee, once housed on Pearl St in an old mill building soon to open right off of Main St in the Riverdamn Mill complex. I can't wait until it opens in March to check it out. I never got a chance to go when it was on Pearl St, but heard it was great.

I'll try and visit as soon as it opens and give you all a review!!!

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 6:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The University of New England is definately reknowned for their science based curriculum, but there is an art requirement for ALL undergrads!!!

I personally love art...well that is why I am minoring in it, but some people just don't dig it. Unfortunately for those people, you still have to take an art course worth 3 credits to get your degree here at UNE.

My minor in art requires that I take 18 credits (6 courses), so I have seen a lot of non-artsy folk struggle through courses in drawing, sculpture and painting. Despite their moans, groans and belly-aching about having to take an art class, these same people always seem to be able to allow themselves to work through their difficulties and create some great art.

I think the key to selecting an art class is to find something you like. A friend of mine took African Drumming because she knew that she would just get frustrated with having to create something out of nothing, where as she was confident that banging on a drum would be easy for her. She was right. I have advised a second friend to try photography because of his interest in chemistry. While taking an image artfully may not come easily to him, the mixing of the chemicals to develop it will be fasinating. Art is very flexible and can even be incorporated into your own background. One classmate last semester had a real affinity for the brain, so she drew a lot of brains and medical tools. Her artwork was great!

The key that I believe people need to realize is that art may take you out of your comfort zone, but let art become something that is a release, not something to stress about. If you are so concerned that the pepper doesn't look like a pepper when you draw it, you are always going to be hung up on the little things. However, if you take that odd looking drawing of a pepper and add some green paint, a little blue and leave some spots of white for the light reflection it becomes more life like. Sure it may not be perfect, there may be no absolute way to render a pepper through painting or drawing, but what in life is perfect? Nothing really. And no one asked you to be the next Da Vinci, Donetello, Georgia O'Keefe or Salvador Dali. Just enjoy the process and embrace the outcome.

That's all in part to a liberal arts education!

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hey everyone!

I have been SOO busy this past week it is crazy...
You think with the snow day it wouldn't have been that bad, but I didn't let myself lounge around.

Monday I had classes from 9-2 and then a study date with Camille at Panera around 6. We had an Am Lit test on Tuesday morning...and then I went to lunch/shopping with my grandmother.

I digress for a moment...at Target I found these AMAZING little Troll Valentines. Not cards, but mini Troll Dolls with a little heart around their neck!!! Such a flashback to my childhood I couldn't help but buy them. The best part was when I gave them to Teila, Amanda, Camille and Lynn, they all had their own childhood flashback. It is great to act like a kid still!!!

Back to the week...After I got home Tuesday, I made cookies to go with the Trolls, then headed to the gym (yeah kinda ironic I know). Wednesday was the "snowstorm of the year" and I did a ton of work so I wouldn't have to do anything this weekend. Thursday, I went to Am Lit and then headed to pick up my cousing from Manchester, NH Airport for the long weekend. By the time I got back I just made it to Kickboxing and after that, a long awaited George's Italian (a Biddeford staple...comment if you want to know more). Friday, I did a 3 mile walk/jog as part of my running training and then went to the ceramics studio to work on my projects for the semester. For dinner, I joined my family at Mulligans, a local pub and restaurant. Saturday was a pampering day at Clippers in Kennebunkport. My mother and cousin got facials from another cousin of mine and I got my hair highlighted and trimmed...followed by lunch at Fed's. Dinner was LOBSTAH and mussels (SO good), with Cam and Amanda and the fam...it was a great dinner and an old school girls night sleep over. Today was a chill day with a fam dinner this evening and tomorrow it is back to the grind. (Not that I'm really in the mood to go to classes when all of my friends have tomorrow off for Presidents Day)

Anyway, good news is the days are getting longer, the sun is getting warmer and there are only 3 weeks left until SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Junior year in college presents a really cool phenomenon. Nearly everyone turns that magical age 21! (Well magical for America I guess) Since you only turn 21 once...you've got to do it up in whatever style suits you best.

For me it was Sugarloaf...
For my High School friend Amanda...

It was renting a Hummer Limo, going to Federal Jack's for dinner and heading to the Old Port to party it up, followed by crashing at the Hilton on Commercial Street so no one had to be DD.

While it ended up being an expensive night...it was well worth it!!!

They sat us smack in the middle of the restaurant. We were definately the center of attention...especially when our waitress got a good portion of the restaurant to sing "Happy Birthday" to her!!!

Our cruising continued on and we swung by my house to pick up champange. I was just going to run in and grab it, but everyone else had another idea. Before I knew it we were all inside rousing up my parents...and making use of our shot glass collection (need I say more).

After that it was some bubbly in the limo and off to Portland. Our hotel was a brief stop before the limo dropped us off on Fore Street in style.

We made the rounds between a couple bars, nearly killed ourselves on the cobblestone and slushy mix (that's what you get here in Maine), but ended up spending most of the night at Old Port Tavern (OPT). Our experienced 21+ friends said it was usually busier, but by 11 the place was packed with people and we were crammed on the dance floor. When they stopped the music at 1AM I was good and ready to get off my feet...but I was super hungry. So were my 3 other girls that I was sharing a room with. Since room service was closed, Teila, Steph, Kim and I decided that pizza sounded good...I was the drunk kid calling for Domino's at 1:30AM (That is about the only place left open in Maine at that hour). It was rather fun to chat about the night and fill our bellies with some pizza and brownie bites.

While this night was an extravagent version of a night out in the Old Port...it was a great taste of all the fun times we'll get to have together and all the new options we have in "going out" now that we have reached "of age."

A few reminders...
1) Don't forget your ID cause you won't get anywhere without it.
2) Once you give your ID at the door...you don't have to show it to the bartender ;)
3) Girls...heels are cute but they will kill your soul by 1AM
4) Stick with your friends and your drink.
5) Don't drink and drive...its SO not worth it.
6) Remember to hydrate after you dehydrate.
7) Have fun...make memories...be responsible.

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 9:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hey all!
So it is day three of my four day weekend. Yep, four day. This is due to my incredible scheduling abilities and cancellation of my one and only Thursday class. I think being able to pick the days and times of your classes is probably the greatest part of being a college student! Sure, my Wednesday is really long because I have classes from 9am-8:30pm, but having a weekend starting at 11am on Thursday pays off.

Anyway, now that you are all jealous, I'm gonna give you a run down of this AMAZING and RELAXING weekend I've got going on!

Wednesday (night)
I was asked to be next year's editor of the Zephyr!!! SO exciting!!!

Thursday
I went to breakfast in Saco with Ashley for her 20th birthday! We ate at Lily Moon. It is a super-cute-little-family-owned restaurant which I highly recommend. I had an omlete with a home-made muffin and Ashley got eggs benedict. Both great choices, but I also enjoy their stuffed french toast or if you've never tried crepes...those too. What is the best about Lily Moon is that their food is amazing, the prices are reasonable and the portions are definately generous.
Ashley had plenty to do on her birthday, so I dropped her off back home (she is also a live-at-home commuter student like myself) and I went about my day working on my watercolor assignment and watching some day time television.
That evening my friend Teila and I met up for kickboxing and dinner at Bufflehead's Restaurant. It is just down the street for campus and is a must stop place! They have gourmet meals and decadent deserts. I beg of you at least try and stop there for desert.
...This is kind of sounding like a food review huh? What can I say, I like to eat!
Finished my day with the ABC line-up. Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and Men in Trees.

Friday
Slept in...yay!
Did some reading for classes.
Went to the OMM offices in Alfond on campus to get my back worked on. The perks of going to a "learning-hands-on" university is that the fellows need someone to practice their healing skills on!
Then it was out with Amanda and Camille!!!
First line of business...I wanted to get my nose pierced! As luck would have it there is Millenium Tattoo and Piercing on Main Street! They couldn't take pictures of the process...but here is the final product...

Then we headed to Panera (in Biddeford) for dinner and some kind diners took our picture for us!

The whole little complex where Panera is on Route 111 is SO cool to have...take this from a Biddefordian who dreaded having to drive to Portland (at least 30 minutes) just to go to Target or do any other shopping. Now there is an Old Navy, Famous Footwear, TJ Maxx, Best Buy, Pet Smart, Fashion Bug, Pay Less, Linens and Things, Olympia Sports...probably a few more that I am missing.

New restaurants too! Chilli's, Olive Garden, TGIF, and Longhorn Steakhouse. The girls and I perfer Panera simply because it is quick and cheap.

Then Camille and I went to see The Queen at Smitty's Cinema...also right in Biddeford. It was a great movie...I can see why it has been nominated/received so many awards. Driving home was a bit dicey though because it was snowing. Luckily I got my little VW Bug behind a snow plow and we were good to go!

Saturday
Shared my notes with a classmate at Starbucks.
Worked on my fitness at the gym.
Did some studying for my France class...and now I'm writing this!
Plans for tonight include babysitting a neighbor's daughter and then maybe going out.

Sunday
Going to the ceramics studio to work on some pottery.
Swimming in the beautiful UNE lap pool.
And then Super Bowl Sunday ...what else did you think I'd do tomorrow night!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)