Sunday, February 26, 2017

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #6

Hello all! It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's. As of this past Wednesday, I officially have six weeks until my finished book is due, and things are kicking into high gear!

However, as usual, I still find time for myself to make sure I'm still enjoying my last semester at St. Mike's!

Dinner at Al's Friday night! Nothing better. 
It was another day of spring skiing at Smugg's this Saturday! While we were working with less snow than last week, we still made the best of it. 
Valentine's flowers still going strong! 

I hope you all had a great week! Enjoy this sunny Sunday and the rest of this spring weather while it's here, and be sure to stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 1st (yes, that's March! Yikes!!)!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

What-to-Know Wednesday : Mid-Semester Inspiration From Your Favorite TV Characters

If you've been reading along, you probably know I'm in the throes of second semester senior year- an equally thrilling, busy and stressful time! As senior seminar, other classes, and my job as a Founders Society coordinator progress, I've learned that you can only work hard and stay motivated with a healthy dose of positivity. Now is not the time to get yourself down worrying and complaining- as hard as that may be to avoid (trust me, I speak from experience on the worrying bit!)!

So, what better way to enforce positive thoughts than to bring you all some mid-semester (almost mid-semester?) motivation from some beloved, Netflix binge-worthy TV characters!

Michael Scott is always relatable, and if anything, is a good reminder that we could be doing way worse...


Leslie Knope is here to remind us all that hard work sometimes means sacrifice...


Jessica Day never fails to remind us of some great coping mechanisms and ways to stay positive...


Lorelei Gilmore is the perfect role model for anyone who can't get by without their daily dose of caffeine...


Tina Belcher doesn't let us forget to be ourselves in everything we do...


And Rachel Green reminds us we're not alone...



Feeling motivated? Me too! Embrace the positivity, and rock the rest of your week and semester! You can do it!

Be sure to stay tuned for the next Sum-It-Up Sunday on the 26th!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #5

Hello all! It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's.

Monday morning, apres storm!! We had a very snowy week here at SMC and all over New England!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day on Tuesday! Here's a snapshot of my Valentine's dinner...(shrimp scampi, because it's the best, and definitely V-Day worthy!)

Valentine's flowers: lilies and purple roses!

It was an incredible day at Smuggler's Notch this Saturday, with temperatures climbing into the high 40s, blue skies and plenty of sun! If only every day on the slopes could feel like spring! 

On our way out, we met a prospective student visiting for the weekend and checking out Smugg's! After being identified as students by Jared's St. Mike's hat, we chatted in the lodge and talked everything SMC. As a soon-to-be graduate, it's such an amazing feeling to meet someone who is just as excited about St. Mike's as I was four years ago!  


I hope you all had a great week! Stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 22nd!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

What-to-Know Wednesday : Everything You Need to Know About Snow Days in VT



Anyone in New England from Sunday through Monday knows what I'm talking about when I say we just got a lot...and I mean a lot of snow! The storm started early Sunday afternoon, and by Monday morning, at least a foot of powder had accumulated here in VT.

Though we already had a pre-scheduled day off here at St. Mike's on Monday, it still felt like a snow day- I think this is the most snow I can remember seeing on campus in my time at SMC! And as I sit here writing this post, another supposed-day-long snowfall has begun. (Excitement!!)

So by now, I'm sure you're wondering what exactly you need to know about snow days in Vermont, so here goes!

1.) Be prepared to have class.

Since we're a 100% residential campus (with only a few exceptions) and students can walk to class, SMC leaves it up to the individual professors whether or not to cancel their class depending on if they  can get to campus. So unfortunately, gone are the days of getting that early morning phone call with that glorious recorded message of total cancellation from your high school! But at the same time, don't forget to check your e-mail- your professor still might cancel their class!

2.) Take advantage when you can!

With New England weather being the fickle being that she is, you never know when a storm like this could be the only one of its kind in the season- so take advantage of these times when you can! Go sledding, hit the slopes, make a snowman, shovel out your car...all that fun stuff!

3.) Be prepared and be careful...

Of course, it goes without saying that you should always be prepared in Vermont! Keep a small shovel in your car, keep an eye on the forecast, and put safety first! This past Sunday, we found ourselves stuck in the Smuggler's Notch parking lot for about fifteen minutes of pitiful car-pushing. Lesson learned!

4.) Enjoy it and have fun!

Most importantly- enjoy this wonderful Vermont weather as much as possible!


Be sure to stay tuned for the next Sum-It-Up Sunday on the 19th, and don't forget to have some fun in the snow!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #4

Hello all! It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's.

I'm writing to you from a long weekend here on campus. We have no classes tomorrow, so we're free to hunker down (now that The Walking Dead is back tonight), safe from the massive snowstorm hitting us as we speak! To everyone here on campus, I hope you all enjoy and stay safe!

A delicious early Valentine's dinner at Our House Bistro, which as any regular reader of this blog would know, is one of my favorite spots!! Pictured here is the Caprese Mac and the Poutine Mac. I hope you all enjoy a great Valentine's Day this year, however you're spending it and whomever you're spending it with!
A chocolate-dipped strawberry from Lake Champlain Chocolates on a snowy morning in Burlington!

To any on campus readers, I hope you all enjoy an extra day off, and I wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day this coming Tuesday!

Stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 15th!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

What-to-Know Wednesday : 14 Things to Love About Vermont

[Pinterest]

Hello all! In honor of Valentine's Day coming up, I can't think of a better time to bring you an all-encompassing list of everything I've come to love about Vermont over the past three-and-a-half years, which as I'm sure you all know if you've been reading along, is so so much!

I hope this will get you excited for your own Vermont experience, as well as for the big day on Tuesday the 14th (yes, that's why I decided on fourteen things in case you were wondering)!

1.) The Nature

You won't experience a prettier foliage season or a more magical winter anywhere else!

2.) The Fun Spots

Whether you're up for apple picking, window shopping on Church Street or touring a local factory (Cabot cheese, Champlain Chocolates, you name it), there's always something fun to do whatever the season!

3.) The Food

You can't beat downtown classics like Ri Ra's, Sweetwaters and American Flatbread, but the smaller, cozier Winooski spots like Our House, Tiny Thai and Papa Frank's simply cannot be overlooked!

4.) The People

It's truly a different mentality here! Last week, my dad let me know I'd received mail from Vermont at home in Massachusetts. After I asked him to open it, I quickly discovered I'd dropped three gift cards at a rest stop in Vermont on my way back to school after Christmas break. One of the cards was from Stowe, and the wonderful people at the rest stop not only called Stowe to verify the owner of the card, but also used that information to mail all three gift cards to me at my home address with a letter to explain. Immediately, my first thought was that this wouldn't have happened anywhere else! It's a story I'll always remember when I look back fondly on my time in Vermont.

5.) The Schools

Of course SMC is a no brainer love of mine here in VT. However, it's also important to remember all the other schools in the area, combining to make Burlington and nearby towns the perfect college atmosphere.

6.) The Culture

Whether you're seeing a show at the Flynn theater downtown or visiting UVM for a screening from a touring outdoor film festival, there's no shortage of cultural happenings here!

7.) The Philosophy

Vermont is undoubtedly a special place, and there seems to be a set of unspoken Vermont-isms that define just how special it is.

8.) The Passion

There's a pride that comes with being here, and I've never met a person who isn't proud and thankful to be in a place like Vermont.

9.) The Variety

With the bustling Burlington a mere ten minutes from campus, the beautiful Vermont wilderness isn't much farther. You truly get the best of both worlds here.

10.) The Opportunity

Being so close to Burlington, the opportunity for internships and jobs is in your immediate access!

11.) The Community

Everyone here shares the same love for everything Vermont has to offer. Becoming a part of things and giving back is easier than ever here!

12.) The Adventure

Whether you're hiking Camel's Hump or skiing at Smuggler's Notch, adventure is in abundance here!

13.) The Icons

Do Ben & Jerry's, Cabot cheese, Heady Topper or Bernie Sanders ring a bell??

14.) St. Mike's!

Because, obviously.


Enjoy Vermont and be sure to share everything it offers with your loved ones! Happy Valentine's Day!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Sum-It-Up Sunday : Week #3

Hello all, and greetings from Super Bowl Sunday!

It's been another wonderful week here at St. Mike's. Classes are in full swing, along with the winter season!

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day yesterday at Smuggler's Notch! 



Taking a break in the glades.

An après ski treat! 

Well friends, the chili's in the crockpot and we've got a day of work ahead of us before the game! I hope you all have a fun and safe evening!

Stay tuned for the next What-to-Know Wednesday on the 8th!




Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

What-to-Know Wednesday : The Importance of Getting Off-Campus



As many of you probably already know, whether you're a current student or a prospective one, St. Michael's College is big on community. We are a smaller school, residential all four years, with a campus removed and independent from the bustle of Burlington, unlike UVM and Champlain. Everything we need is in our immediate reach- from the library, to the academic buildings, to the dining hall, to the campus store. Physical setup of the school aside, the people here carry that sense of community into both the social and academic experience of St. Mike's. Everyone here works hard to maintain that community, ensuring that each student has an equal chance to thrive on its opportunity.

That said, I cannot stress the importance of making the most of your on-campus St. Mike's experience. Go see the speakers, attend the events and shows, utilize the many resources made available to you, and involve yourself to the best of your ability. These will be the experiences you remember when you look back on going to college.

However, just as important as being part of the on campus community is developing and furthering your own independent St. Michael's experience off campus.

As a senior Media Studies, Journalism & Digital Arts major, I'm no stranger to professors urging and often requiring us to get off campus- whether to explore favorite Vermont spots in Adventure and Environmental Film, to obtain interviews for our Senior Seminar projects, or even to engage with people from a country across the world for Global Communications and Culture. While the St. Mike's community is one that has welcomed us and provided us with limitless opportunity, it is also one that has prepared us not only to get out into the world around us, but also to look at it with new eyes.

Whether you're pursuing an off-campus internship or making a post-hike visit to a roadside pie shack, partaking in local events or strolling through the Burlington Farmer's Market, you will make memories not just of St. Mike's, but also of the way St. Mike's provided you the opportunity to make memories of Vermont.

So get out there, and make your St. Mike's experience the fullest one you can!

Stay tuned for the next Sum-It-Up Sunday on the 5th!



Let's Connect!
Instagram: @claire_cavanaugh
Twitter: @CavanaughClaire
E-mail: ccavanaugh2@mail.smcvt.edu