Joe Fresh for JC Penney

I discovered Joe Fresh last fall with my mom, actually.  They have adorable, expensive looking office-appropriate clothes for really moderate prices. I have also recently fallen for JC Penney.  I am almost certain they have undergone a rebranding of sorts, and are no longer the mom-jeans selling, out-dated, old lady department store they once were.  They actually have things I would buy.  And now, they are selling Joe Fresh.

As soon as I saw the "Coming Soon" sign in the store, I freaked out and texted my mom a picture.  One of Joe Fresh's major faults is that you can't order online, and since we live in Rochester, it is rare that we can shop there. But now. We can shop at our own JC Penney.

And you know we will be there multiple times over Spring Break.

1. Pants || 2. Skirt || 3. Dress

4. Dress || 5. Shirt || 6. Cardigan

I guess I have a thing for blue this season...

A Place of Our Own

After a lot of ups and downs between friends, switching roommates and some uncertainty--make that a lot of uncertainty--my good friend Kaitie and I are signing a lease on our own apartment today!

While my parents were on board right away, Kaitie's parents needed a little convincing.  But once they saw the place they were sold.  And we are so excited to be graduating from dorms finally!

Kaitie was originally planning on staying with her current roommates, but when I suggested an apartment of our own she instantly jumped on board with me.  Kaitie is a relatively new friend, but she has been one of my most genuine and understanding friends at Fordham, and I can't wait for us to share an apartment.

I think we are really good for each other and we will be able to remain close friends without getting sick of each other.

I can't believe I just signed up for my housing for my last year in school. Life is going too fast.

Hey Check Out My Buttons

I have been trying to figure out forever how to get these sweet buttons on the side of my blog.  And today I stumbled upon this post on Pinterest which gave me step by step instructions for how to do it!

 

So now, if anyone is so inclined, I am totally reachable via email, facebook, twitter, instagram, tumblr and/or pinterest. :)

On My Own

It used to horrify me to consider doing things alone. What would people think, seeing me eating or shopping by myself? Who would I talk to?

But now, taking time to do things and go by myself is one of my favorite indulgences. Today, I had to run to the Mac lab at Lincoln center to work on a graphic design project. Afterward, I rewarded myself for going out of my way to be a good student by taking a whole afternoon to explore the city on my own. I wandered into C. Wonder, J. Crew, H&M then across the street to T.J. Max, and suddenly I was walking across Central Park south to the upper east side and Bloomingdales. I found myself enjoying a cappuccino in a coffee shop and then some fruit and cheese at Whole Foods. I even sat and read a little on my Kindle. It was such a good day.

Instead of worrying about what people would think, I enjoyed the quiet and my own independence. Walking all over the city gave me time to think and relax. I could poke around Bloomingdales for as long as I wanted without worrying about holding up my companions. It was liberating.

How fortunate I am, to be able to take a day and wander around Manhattan, just because I wanted to.

I also might have treated myself to some new accessories and a scalloped tank ;)

Obsession: Cap Toes

I don't know what it is about a cute cap-toe ballet flat but I am disgustingly obsessed.

I think it started a few seasons ago when I set my sights (unrealistically) on the cutest pair of Kate Spade flats with a hot pink cap toe. They were beautiful. I am dying for her to bring them back (preferably after I get my own job so I can afford them) because I can't pass them up again.

There is something about the playfulness of a pop of color that makes it seem like you're trying to be cute and fun, without wearing a bright color shoe that practically screams "I'M TRYING TO BE FUN."

I love them. And they pop up everywhere, making it more and more difficult for me to resist. Even Andrew can tell I love this trend--for Christmas he got me a pair of Toms that just happen to have a maroon cap on each toe.

And now, J. Crew factory has the most beautiful pair of pink flats with a pink toe that I can't stop thinking about. I'm not ready to splurge yet, but as soon as they're on sale I'm making moves.

Or at least, begging my mom to.

1 || 2 || 3 || 4

5 || 6 || 7

8 || 9 || 10

Obviously, there's a fixation theme here. The pink.  I'm clearly over winter and I'm ready to start wearing Springtime brights.

On a side note, how perfect are those Kate Spade for Keds? If I were more of a sneaker wearer (and had $80 to blow) I'd be all about those.

For now, I'm going to keep looking at these J. Crew Factory flats, placed safely in my shopping cart, until I go home to the outlets and kill myself (and my bank account) buying them.

Healthy Eating

I posted last week about how Hungry for Change changed how I thought about healthy eating.  And I like to believe I have.  I've started to consciously check for preservatives and the like when I buy groceries, and I try my hardest to eat fruits and vegetables as much as possible.

On my original post, it was drawn to my attention that it might be difficult to eat this way in college/on a budget/in the Bronx.  However, I am not finding it especially difficult.

I have a new love for Trader Joe's.  We just got one in Rochester, and even though I am a diehard Wegmans shopper there, Trader Joe's is my go-to in the city.  They have a lot of organic and health-conscious foods that I really like.  Plus, I really do think it is less expensive than Modern in the Bronx, where I typically shop.  In the Bronx, my groceries for a week are usually around $40-$50, depending on what I buy.  At TJ's, I spend only around $30 to feed myself for the week.

My clean eating grocery staples (usually) include:

I don't eat a ton everyday--I'm only 4 feet 11 inches tall, I don't need that much to fuel me. But this is more than enough to last me.

For breakfast: I usually have coffee and 2 eggs scrambled, and a banana. This is enough to keep me nice and full until lunch.

For lunch: I'll either have greek yogurt with chia seeds and multigrain toast with brie and an apple, or a salad with the pre-packed chicken, chia seeds, cucumber, and anything else I feel like throwing in. I like a big lunch because it keeps me full until dinner, which I usually don't eat until late at night.

Afternoon snack: Sometimes, especially when I have night class, I'll have a snack (or two) so I'm not starving to death in class.  I'll usually have a Luna Bar. Which I am addicted to. Or some fruit.

 For dinner: I'm lazy about dinner.  I either make some kind of stir fry with frozen vegetables and the pre-packed chicken.  However, because my mother is a saint, she sent me back with enough Chicken French and Chicken Parm to freeze and eat for weeks.  Another thing I recently found that I love is spaghetti squash.  Its easy to steam and shred and its a healthy sub for pasta.

Ultimately, though eating healthy may take a little more effort, and might seems a little daunting, I think its totally doable.  You just need to have the patience to get started.  But once you do, your body continually asks for more real food.

Happy eating!

New Roommate!

My 6-person Walsh apartment has undergone almost too many roommate changes since we picked it in the lottery last spring.  All of which have occurred in the corner room, or, the Black Hole, as we like to call it.

First, our friend D transferred from Fordham, and we were randomly given G before school started.  Then, D's roommate, M, moved out before I even moved in!  Then, a few weeks into first semester, we were given a different M to fill the old one's place. And then, second semester, G moved off campus, taking her Keurig and TV with her.  Whatever.

Its funny because all of these people were supposed to live in/did live in the corner room. What's up with that?

And now, halfway through second semester we're getting a new roommate! In an interesting turn of events, we actually already know her.  J has been a commuter since freshman year and has been trying to live on campus all year.  However, she cheers here, so I know her from when I used to cheer, and she's good friends with a few of my other friends/roommates.

[caption id="attachment_262" align="aligncenter" width="392"] Spreekend last spring. K, J, B and myself[/caption]

I'm excited to have a full apartment again, even if it means fridge and cupboard space will be  a minimum once more. I think it will be nice to have another friend to hang out with all the time.  It will also be interesting to see how the dynamic adjusts, since J has a strong and outgoing personality.

We did already agree to have wine, though. So. Thats a plus.

Throwback Playlist

As a visual arts minor, I am forced to endure Visual Thinking, otherwise known as a once a week 2 hour and 45 minute class, where somehow, the projects are complicated and there is no class time to work on them. As a result, my roommate and I find ourselves consistently sitting at home on Saturday nights, working diligently on these ridiculous projects, which are intended to simply teach us the basics in design. Whatever.

To get myself through these marathon art sessions, I've become accustomed to listening to one Pandora station and one station only: Beyonce.

I swear to god, its the best station you'll ever listen to. First of all, Beyonce is the Queen. Second of all, it consistently kicks out the best throwbacks circa 2004-2009.

I put together one playlist, but there are sure to be many more, of my favorite throwbacks, brought to me via Beyonce Pandora.

I hope you find these songs as nostalgic of Jr. High and High School as I do.

PS I tried really really hard to figure out how to embed a playlist in this so that you can play my songs right here. Unfortunately, that is way beyond my technical capacity at this point. Maybe in the future. Instead, I made a cool graphic.

Public Library Card!

After many trials and tribulations, I finally got my New York Public Library card.

After about a week of having my iPad after Christmas and buying a few books, reading them and moving on, I knew I would have to find a more cost-effective way to feed my reading habit. So, I tried to log onto the Rochester Public Library website with my old card from kindergarten, only to find out it had expired! (And that I had $8 in fines on it too, but whatever).

So, I applied for my card from the NYPL. TWO MONTHS LATER it finally arrived. I was so excited! Free books! Not the case.

Though there are many digital copies of popular books throughout the various branches, the most popular books are all out already, with long lists of people waiting to read them. Nevertheless, I put holds on as many on my wish list as possible, and downloaded a lesser-known book to read in the meantime.

After reading, and re-reading a thousand articles online on how to get the books from the library to my Kindle app, realizing that for some books its just not possible, and then finding another book and downloading it, I finally got one on my iPad. And, its the first in a series!

I can't wait to embark on many more nerdy endeavors with my official library card. :)

[caption id="attachment_251" align="aligncenter" width="424"] Couldn't have said it better myself[/caption]

Handouts

I'm going to write for a minute about something that bothers me a lot. Maybe it should or shouldn't, but I can't stand to watch people be coddled by their parents and have everything handed to them.

More so at Fordham than at my high school, I have come across a surprising amount of people who can't function on their own, because they're never had to. People's parents give them cash every week, review and edit their papers, I've even heard of one girls' mom completing her applications for her. This isn't to say that my parents don't give me treats every now and then, but it just blows my mind that some people's parents are so involved in their lives.

My parents taught me very young that I am to work hard and earn everything I get. I earned an allowance and had chores for a long time, and I was not spoiled with new toys all the time. I knew I was expected to not only do my school work myself, but to do it to the best of my ability. They always expected me to give everything my all and achieve as high as I could. As soon as I was old enough, I got a summer job and earned my own spending money.

When I got to school and met people who had never done laundry or had a job, it blew my mind. How can someone not know how to edit their own papers or budget their own money? How can parents expect their child to go off into the real world without teaching them a little independence first?

I have a very close relationship with both of my parents and talk to them regularly, so there is no absence of love in our family, despite their high expectations. I am actually grateful my parents raised me to be as independent and hard working as they did. Because of them, I am learning to be a grown up. Though its not without constant struggles, I'm at least learning. If they had spoiled me senseless, when could I cut the cord? Would I expect my mom to send out my résumé and write my cover letters? Would my dad go to interviews?

I'm proud of myself and I thank my parents for raising me this way. Maturing hasn't been easy, but it's been worth the journey to see myself accomplishing all the goals I set out to when I was little.

Hungry for Change

As you are probably well aware at this point, I have developed an unhealthy obsession with documentaries. I have at least ten queued up, just waiting for me to watch. However, my most recent screening was of Hungry For Change
and it might have changed my life completely.

Basically, the film is comprised of a number of experts-in health, dieting, nutrition, whatever- discussing the state of nutrition. Then, they basically say the best way to a healthy body is feeding it full, whole unprocessed foods. Their recap of the chemicals and processing of so many common and popular foods was horrifying. Food today is actually manufactured to make up want more and nothing less. Foods that are manufactured have little to no nutrition and that really struck me.

After these experts horrified me with the state of the food industry they offered their solution: real food. Our body is programmed to know what to do with whole vegetables and real fats. Of we eat that our bodies will shine from the inside out.

Finally, these experts emphasized the value in loving ourselves. If we do not love and accept who we are right now we will never change. If we don't deal with what's eating us from the inside out, we will never gain control of our health.

The whole concept of the film really changed how I think. I've always been pretty health conscious, but it showed me I've been going about it all wrong. There is so need to be restrictive. Just eating the foods my body is built to digest and loving myself will help me be healthier and happier, and my body will continue asking for more good food.

I really enjoyed this film and I learned so much. I actually want to watch it a few more times, just to fully understand the methods and practices they advocate.

This film changed me. Now I too am hungry for change.

Obsession: Chambray

Happy obsession Monday!

If there is one outfit I could wear every single day, it would be a chambray shirt, leggings and riding boots.  There is just something about it that is just so perfect.  I like how I can wear the chambray with any colors or jewelry I want. I like how its so casual, but I can wear it so dressy.  Plus, its also super comfy.

I once told my mom that if my closet were filled with chambray shirts and leggings, I would be perfectly happy.

Dress || J. Crew || J. Crew || Madewell

Madewell || Old Navy || Old Navy || Old Navy

Pizza from the Pie Hole

For his birthday, we got my dad an attachment for his grill which, essentially, creates a pizza oven. The gift that keeps on giving, right?  My dad quickly named our new "pizza kitchen" The Pie Hole. Seriously.

Regardless, whenever I come home, my dad makes an effort to give us a feast of different wood fired pizzas.  It is absolutely divine.

He is really big on research and getting his technique just right, as well as finding unique recipes.  And I am going to enlighten you all with some of the best ones.



Goat Cheese and Chorizo

Honestly, my favorite.  I would eat my own arm if it was covered in goat cheese and chorizo. Seriously. Maybe.

Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta

I never really got Brussels sprouts until last fall when my dad took my mom and I to Babbo downtown, where we had Brussels Sprouts and pancetta. Honestly, pancetta is just thick bacon, and you can't go wrong with that.  And the Brussels sprouts are just sweet enough to go perfectly.  And on a pizza? I couldn't as for something tastier.

Apple and Brie

We ordered this type of pie once at a restaurant near us as an appetizer, and I was hooked.  Even now, I eat apples and brie cheese as a casual snack, or on a panini regularly.  But all melty and gooey on a pizza? Its just sweet enough to be a treat, but tart and savory enough that you still feel like you're eating a pizza. Even Andrew, the pickiest eater in the world, likes it!

Lemon and Mozzarella

Its a dessert pizza. I was scared, at first, to try it but it was so good. With powdered sugar on top, its the perfect way to end a pizza feast.

Cinnamon Brown Sugar

The first time my dad opened up the Pie Hole for a pizza-making extravaganza, I demanded a dessert pizza at the end.  Without even a recipe, he topped some dough with cinnamon and brown sugar, then cooked it and topped it with fresh vanilla ice cream. (Did I mention last year's birthday gift was an ice cream maker?) It was literally one of the best things I have ever tasted.

And after eating all of these, I never wanted to move or eat again.

I'm at Home!

Contrary to what my mom told me less than 20 minutes after I stepped off the plane for Christmas Break, I'm home for the long weekend! I may or may not have guilt tripped her into letting me come, but seriously, I've been at school working diligently for five weeks, its time for a break before midterms.

I will be spending the next 72 hours on my couch by the fireplace with my dogs, letting my mom and dad spoil me into oblivion ;)

College might be fun, but coming home every once in a while is equally as rewarding.

[caption id="attachment_211" align="aligncenter" width="224"] I will not be moving[/caption]

Looking Back

Although I do enjoy many aspects of my life, and a lot of things are falling into place for me, one of my fatal flaws is that I'm always looking back on things that didn't work out, wondering why they fell apart, and what I could have done differently.

Situations play back in my head, where each time I alter my responses and reactions slightly, analyzing and overanalyzing what I did wrong, why things didn't work.  It's sickening, because no matter how much I change the memory or manipulate what already happened, nothing changes.  Looking back into the past only detaches me from the present.

One major goal I have is to just keep moving forward. Dwelling on things I have no control over won't help, so why bother? Maybe it wasn't even my fault things didn't work out.  Perhaps nothing I did could have changed what happened.

Letting go of the feeling of responsibility is liberating.  Of course, it is important to take some responsibility for my actions, but when I do everything I can and something goes wrong, letting go of it is a major weight off my shoulders.

And it turns out, when I stop thinking about the past and start doing everything I can in the present, I end up so much happier.

Valentines Treat

Here's an ecard to share with those you love:




I found this on Tumblr a few days ago and I haven't been able to stop laughing at it since. It might be borderline inappropriate but it's so clever. And I always read it in Cory Matthews' crazy voice and it makes it even funnier.

Seriously. I can't stop laughing.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Unfortunately, since Andrew is roughly 350 miles away right now, we won't be doing anything today, besides talking on the phone, which we do almost every day.

But that's okay. Valentine's Day bothers me a little. It's just a holiday where everyone celebrates, but it doesn't mean anything special for the two of us. I'll see Andrew this weekend when we go home, and we'll have a nice dinner and that's more than enough. It's nice to have a day to appreciate each other, but I think we should do that every day.

I put off writing this post as long as possible, because I didn't know what to say. Valentine's Day isn't about gifts or doing something fancy, it should just be about appreciating everything and everyone in your life. So today, instead of stressing about what to do to make the day special for your significant other, or how to have fun with your girlfriends, don't stress, enjoy the company of those around you and appreciate all the love you have :)

That's much better than chocolate and flowers anyway, at least in my opinion.

I few people I love:


[caption id="attachment_199" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Andrew :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_198" align="aligncenter" width="226"] My roommates[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_200" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My girlfriends[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_201" align="aligncenter" width="300"] My Rochester friends[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_202" align="aligncenter" width="224"] My future roomie[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_203" align="aligncenter" width="225"] My pups[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_204" align="aligncenter" width="224"] And of course, my family[/caption]

#NYFW

I'm not that huge on fashion, but I also don't live under a rock.  I know its Fall Fashion Week.  Although I'm not that interested in attending any shows, I wouldn't say no if say, J. Crew or Kate Spade invited me to come along to one of their presentations.

However, in honor of my complete love for documentaries and for Fashion Week, I watched The Tents on Netflix.  Essentially, this film documents the last season of fashion shows in the tents at Bryant Park, before they made the move to Lincoln Center.

I really liked this film.  It was interesting to hear the individuals who had been involved with fashion for so long discussing the way Fashion Week had revolutionized fashion in America.  I never really thought about it, but I never realized that there was a time before Fashion Week really existed, and a time before people took NYC and America in general seriously in regards to their fashion.

Now, these things are so well known and such big deals that it feels like its something that always happened.  It was intriguing to see how it all started and to see how it all came together.

While I may not necessarily agree with the fashion industry and the importance they put on clothing and fashion, I understand their world, even more so after watching this film.  I love the way they explain high fashion and how it precipitates down to commercial fashion, and the way designers really put a lot of thought and consideration into not only their collections, but into their presentations of these collections as well.

"New York is a fluid city," the film said.  And its completely true.  In only twenty years, it has changed from, essentially, a joke in terms of fashion, into a powerhouse and an authority around the world.

It's About That Time of Year

I figured I was done with proms and balls when I graduated high school.  I knew I would have a Senior Ball when I graduated Fordham, but I figured it wouldn't be as big of a deal to me anymore.

FALSE.

Andrew (not surprisingly) asked me to come to his, since he's graduating in May. YIKES.  Almost instantly, my dress search began.  I totally forgot how fun it is to shop for something special and formal and get dressed up.  I told myself it wouldn't be a big deal if my finals ran longer than Andrew's and I wouldn't be able to make it. But as soon as I found out I could go, I was so excited. I already have a few dresses bookmarked that I want to try on. Its never too early to start shopping :)

Lonnie || Posey || Joslin || Kelley

Arie || Emiley || Tinley || Maggie

Eight Sixty || Nantucket

The Navy Nantucket one is my favorite :)

Obsession: Jewelry

Obsession Monday!

I was never a huge jewelry wearer until this year. Bangles always weirded me out and I wasn't adventurous enough to wear cool necklaces. But then I started buying a few things here and there and working them into my outfits once and a while and then over Christmas break the obsession exploded.

I guess my mom took note of my interest in accessories and just went bananas in the jewelry department of every department store she shopped in. I seriously got so many bracelets they wouldn't fit in my jewelry box and we had to search for something else that would accommodate my collection.

Now I have so much I can find something to accompany almost all outfits. And I get a huge pleasure out of deciding what would go best with what and I feel so much more put together with a little bit of jewelry on.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Etsy || 2. Kate Spade || 3. Etsy

4. Design Darling || 5. Target

6. Bauble Bar || 7. Esty || 8. Design Darling

9. Bauble Bar

Embracing the Unexpected

While on the phone with my mom the other day, she mentioned in passing for me to "embrace Plan B." I laughed, and said "thats the story of my life."  But after the laughing, I realized, it really is.

Something I do often is plan things out.  I look at menus before I go to restaurants, I calculate how much things will cost before I shop, I like knowing my weekend plans by Wednesday at the latest.  I've been obsessive like this as long as I can remember, and it's usually pretty helpful.

Until something doesn't go according to plan.

For whatever reason, this is becoming the norm.  Nothing goes according to my plans anymore.  No matter how hard I try to schedule and arrange and research, the Universe has its own ideas, and they rarely match up with mine.  So, slowly but surely, I've been learning to embrace these unexpected changes in plan.

It's very easy for one thing to go wrong and for the rest of my day to very quickly spiral out of my control.  However, the faster I can leet go of my own plans and ideas, the easier things get for me.  At this point, when something falls through for me, its almost second nature for me to recover quickly, and relatively unscathed.

Its like when you're walking down the street and you stumble: you can either freak out more and end up flat on your face, or you can recover gracefully and keep on walking like nothing even happened.

Just a Good Day

Recently I have had the worst luck. Between bad days at work, rough days in class and tough friend situations things were a little crazy for a while. But today I took the day to treat myself and relax and it was just what I needed.

My friend from home was in town doing work for a job he had over the summer, and his employer happened to pay for him to stay at a really nice hotel. So when I came down to visit we got to enjoy the luxuries as well as catch up on one another's lives.

After we splurged for lunch, I headed uptown to Sephora, where I sat in the makeup chair for over a half hour while the woman fussed over me and my makeup colors. It was perfect, having someone else be so willing to run around for me, not to mention it was extra luxurious to have her using the most fabulous products on my skin.

I think if anyone is ever having a bad day, the solution is to just go somewhere where people will make a big deal out of you and fuss over you. Sephora or any other makeup counter is great because they'll put an expensive product on you, decide its not right, then let you take it off and they'll start over. Not to mention, when you leave, you have all the makeup on, so you look great, regardless of whether or not you bought anything.

Even a high end boutique would help. You wouldn't leave looking especially fabulous, but having someone at your beck and call while you try on expensive clothes should at least boost your mood a little. There's nothing a little customer service and retail therapy can't fix.

I may or may not have treated myself to a few things.

Top to bottom:

Eyeshadow

Brushes

Eye Gel
Concealer
By the time I finally made it back to school, I felt better about myself. Sure, I had just dropped an obscene amount of money on makeup products at Sephora, but sometimes I think the most worthwhile investments are the ones I make in myself.

Simple Pleasures

I'm all for favorite things and obsessions and what not, but there are so many little parts of my life that make me happy, too.

[caption id="attachment_163" align="aligncenter" width="294"] How could this not make you happy?[/caption]

Dogs: Most notably, my dogs. When my mom or dad sends me pictures of them it honestly makes my day. There's something about their little faces that just puts me in a good mood.

Honey Wheat Pretzel Twists: I'm not even joking when I say that this was my treat whenever I had a bad day at my internship last semester. They're just so....good. It could be funny, or it could be sad.

New Socks: I'm sorry, but if you don't love putting on a new pair of fluffy, clean socks, there's something wrong with you. They make my feet just so...happy. Bonus points for really cute patterned new socks.

Clean Sheets and Pillowcases: My favorite day is laundry day, not because I love doing laundry because I hate it but because I think I sleep a million times better when my sheets and pillowcases are fresh and clean.

Freshly Made Bed: I try to avoid my bed during the day, especially after making this resolution for myself, but, if there's one thing I do love it's making my bed perfectly and refluffing my pillows and curling up with my iPad under my napping blanket. And yes, I have a napping blanket.

Green Tea Lemonade: I used to be strongly opposed to Starbucks after a near allergic reaction over 7 years ago. However, necessity and convenience forced me to conquer this aversion and I haven't looked back. My favorite drink on rough mornings (even in the cold) is a nice green tea lemonade. It's so good and gives me the perfect pick me up. I always order a grande and I always wish I had a venti. It's that good.

Thoughtful Texts: Whether they're from Andrew or my mom or a close friend, a sweet or funny little message when I'm having a rough day will always boost my mood, at least a little. It's always just nice to know someone's thinking about you, especially on the days when I hate the world it feels like everyone hates me.

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

I literally just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I wanted to write this review as soon as possible so I didn't lose any of the feelings this book gave me.

I loved it. I want to sit and just think about this book and the characters and their ways of thinking for days. The most important thing about this novel is that it made me feel. It made me think. I'm inclined to say it changed my life.

Something about two teens who are terminally ill still finding the ability to fall in love and mean so much to each other while still knowing that they are going to die very soon really struck me. At sixteen and seventeen the were both so wise. And I suppose maybe cancer does give you a little perspective and a little knowledge. I'll hopefully never know.

But the way these two approached life stuck with me. They didn't do the typical and cliche "live every day like its your last"--although it very well might have been. Instead, they focused on enjoying the present. Everyone is always so concerned with "living life to the fullest" because these are the years we'll look back on fondly, the years we'll never get back.  But we take for granted the privilege of living long enough to be able to look back. These two were so strongly devoted to the present and to just noticing the things around them. They did not avoid the fact that they would soon die. They accepted it and for the most part, welcomed it.

I think the thing about a good book is that it makes you feel and it makes you think. I can't describe how this book made me feel, but I'm glad to have read it, I'm glad to have been forced to think. It's weird saying I love a book that is so sad. But I did. I loved reading it.

It's difficult for me to describe how it affected me but it did. "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."

It was something so beautiful and I feel like it changed my life. I want to read it again.

Just for Laughs: Suri's Burn Book

I'm not really big on reading text posts on Tumblr, I really don't see the purpose.  I also am not really interested in parody accounts because I think a lot of them try too hard and are pretty dumb. However, the one account that consistently gets it right is Suri's Burn Book.  I don't know who is responsible for this, but I'd love to meet her.

I don't know why this makes me laugh so hard but it's honestly the funniest thing on Tumblr.  Maybe because its just so absurd that someone is pretending to be a 6 year old Suri Cruise, or maybe because it is exactly how I imagine Suri would be in real life.

She is so sassy and so opinionated it kills me.  And, she has a book.  Whoever dreamt up this ridiculous concept is a genius.

Doing Away With Naps

Here's something that's no secret to anyone who knows me: I love sleeping. I love having a good night's sleep, I love sleeping soundly and well, I love refreshing naps. I wasn't a big napper until freshman year of college. But very quickly I succumbed to the stress and anxiety and pressure and all of the new and different and took to napping as much as I could fit in my schedule.

And as a sophomore, I napped all the time. But now I'm trying something brave and something new. I'm doing away with naps. While they were some of my most relaxing and recharging endeavors, I'm finding the more irregular my sleep patterns, the more tired I am.

I've also realized that napping was my way of dealing with pressure and stress. Instead of dealing with it head on, I ignored it and avoided it, allowing it to accumulate and overpower me. It was a vicious cycle.

So I'm attempting to do without naps. For one, napping during the day just makes it hard for me to sleep at night, since I spent a good 1-2 hours of my day already asleep. Plus, being awake during the day and pushing through a little fatigue here and there makes me a lot more productive. And feeling productive and busy is something I value even more than sleep.

This isn't to say that when I'm up until 3 am doing god knows what homework I won't allow myself to crash the next day in my free time, because I'm all for that. I'm just trying to make myself a better and less lazy person...for the time being.

Obsession: Quotes

 

I've mentioned before I'm really big on reading blogs.  And I really love writing this one.  I've grown to love coming up with ideas and writing my posts and making my graphics.  I hope to continue this blog long after this class ends.  Which brings me to some articles I was reading on a really helpful website for bloggers: Altitude Summit. My ideal situation would involve this blog growing to be so large I can start making money off of it or start gaining freelance opportunities or even a real job from it.  In doing research on how to grow my blog, one of the most important things mentioned was the importance of utilizing an editorial calendar.  Long story short, they suggested doing some things on a regular basis.  I noticed I have a lot of "obsessions," and therefore, my Obsession Mondays were born.

If there's one odd thing I find myself looking up for hours on end, it's quotes. Most specifically, those of the inspirational variety. I don't even know how it started or why. All I know is that I can spend forever on the "Quotes" board of Pinterest, pinning to my own personal board of quotes.

I think what I've come to like most about them is how something another person said can speak to me so personally. Some quotes make me realize that I'm not the only person in the world who's encountered a difficult situation. I'm not the only one who has been sad or frustrated or confused.

Knowing that other people can say something that speaks so well to me and that seems so wise encourages me. I like knowing other people had a rough time and made it out alive, even succeeded.

So, in keeping with this theme of quotes, here are a few of my favorites:

"Worrying will not change the outcome"

"The best way out is always through"- Robert Frost

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple"- Dr. Seuss

"No great thing is suddenly created"

"Not everything will be okay but some things will"

"Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still"

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses"- Abraham Lincoln

I have a million more and you can see them (if you'd like) on my Pinterest board. :)

Wanderlust

The first few months of the year are the most miserable. Between the cold weather and the slush and the post-holiday depression it's a real drag. And it's dragging on has led me to daydream of warmer places and funner times. I'm itching for a vacation.

Unfortunately, the only vacation I know I'll be taking is in July, only 170 days away. (But who's counting?) so I have to resolve to opening a million different tabs on my computer and online window shopping for cute swimsuits and summer clothes that have nowhere to wear, and that I probably can't afford anyway.

It also doesn't help that designers are all releasing their spring and resort lines, as if they're trying to rub it in my face that I'm stuck in freezing and busy New York and not in any situation where buying resort clothes would be considered practical or appropriate.

Nevertheless, here are my picks :)

 



 

Scalloped || Coral and Mint

Pink || Polka Dot

Documentaries

My mom finally gave into my sister and I's begging and subscribed to Netflix. And yes, there are lots of shows I'm dying to watch, but what I was most excited for we're the documentaries. I had read a lot of great things about a lot of them and I had been dying to finally have the means and the time to do so.

The first day with the subscription, I watched 2 films. The September Issue about Vogue and Anna Wintour. I had literally wanted to see this since it was made in 2007. It was such an interesting and beautiful movie. I loved seeing the passion all of these people working at the magazine have for fashion and their publication. It was amazing to see their dedication. And it was also interesting to see Anna's own daughter saying how foolish and pointless she thought fashion was. While the entire film was intended to shed light on the inner workings of the most influential magazine, probably ever, they allowed the little snippet to slip in and just suggest that maybe this thing everyone is dedicating their life to is actually very trivial.
Nevertheless it was an amazing film and I loved every single second of it.



The second film I watched was called Life in a Day. The concept of the film was that people all over the world took videos of their daily lives on the same day--July 24th, 2010-- and sent it in to nat geo where they created a film. It was absolutely beautiful. While it did depict how different people all over the world are, what I noticed more was how similar they are. It was stunning and there were so many amazing moments linked with run of the mill ones. It made life seem like such a beautiful thing. A kind of stark contrast to The September Issue, but amazing.

Though its very time consuming, watching documentaries is preferable to fiction films sometimes because its amazing to see things as they really are, before the scripting and the editing and staging, there is something about a documentary that is so raw and compelling. They almost always open your eyes, and make you consider life in a different way.

The Great Mind Boggler

Last week in my internship seminar class our professor introduced the group to, what he considered to be, the three major professional goals. First was money, the second was power and the third was fame. At first my answer appeared to be obvious to me. But the more we discussed it as a group, the more confused I became.

Immediately I ranked power first, followed by money then fame. When I said this out loud I even made the comment that I could do without fame entirely. And although I don't think I would necessarily change my rankings, all three of these goals struck me as much more than I first thought.

For example, power isn't just bossing people around. Although this is part of it, power also includes being able to decide for yourself what you want to do. It also includes not having to do the menial tasks that comes with a lower position. And this is most important to me. I don't much care for bossing people around, but I am very focused on being able to do what I love. The power to do so is of most importance to me.

When talking about money, we don't mean excessive amounts. As much as a person can deny its importance, some amount of money is necessary for survival. You're not materialistic if making money is important to you when looking for a job. I'm not selfish about it, but I do want to make a certain amount of money when I get a job, so that I can live comfortably, and I don't think there's anything materialistic about that.

Lastly, although I initially wrote off fame as something I would pursue, it's creeping up on me as something I wouldn't hate having. I'm not looking for celebrity. I honestly don't even want my personal self to be famous. However, I would love for my work to be well known, as well as respected. The fact that some bloggers grow their readership so large that they can make a substantial amount off of advertising blows my mind, I'd love to be able to grow this someday, to something that people all over the world read.

Ultimately, if I could make enough money to live comfortably by doing what I love, I would be a happy and accomplished woman. And who knows, maybe my blog will take off someday.