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Thursday, January 29, 2015

My Dream Desk.


I've always been a fan of desks. Ever since elementary school, every single bedroom that's been my own has had a desk. Even now, post-college, I have a small desk from IKEA in front of my bedroom window. How often do I actually sit down at said desk? If I'm being honest, not as often as I would like. Whether I'm blogging, writing in my journal, or planning out my weeks in my Simplified Planner, there's something about sitting down at a desk that makes me feel productive, organized, and creative. 

While my little dark brown desk works for me right now, if I ever decide to go back to school, or if blogging were ever my full time job (LOL in my dreams), I would love to totally revamp my space. I love the clean, crisp look of white or washed out wood and gold, airy details. Throw on a DIY mason jar pen holder and some brightly colored tulips and I'd be happy as a clam.

Knowing me, I wouldn't be able to keep my desk clutter clean or in this case "Pinterest Perfect" for more than three days. Is that even possible? Is that a thing? Are there really people out there that bring their office spaces "back to ready" after every use? If so, are you a martian? Just asking for a friend.













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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

3 Shows to Start Watching on a Snow Day:


How's the weather for ya up there, northerners? It's a whopping 65 degrees here in Florida. Add howling wind, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little cold. Sorry, don't hate me! 

While I'm not too familiar with the snow days some of you up north may be enduring today, I'm all about hurricane days, or even a plain ol' storm day. On days like those, there's nothing I love more than snuggling up with a fuzzy blanket, fuzzy pup, and fuzzy boyfriend and getting lost in a book...or more recently, my Apple TV. Whoops.

As of late, I've started a couple of new shows on HBO, Showtime, and even MTV that I can't peel my eyes away from. So if you've got the day off, or you're simply looking for a new TV addiction, here's what I can't stop watching these days:



GIRLS - HBO

If you haven't heard of this show, or at the very least Lena Dunham, you've probably been living under a rock. The show follows four best friends' very different journeys in none other than New York City. From break ups to failed book deals to being thrown out on your ass to sex, sex, and more sex (in true HBO fashion), Girls shares the struggle of 20-something women trying to make it in the Big Apple. In a way, it reminds me of a version of Sex and the City, but with a little more edge, and a little more real


HOMELAND - SHOWTIME

I'll be honest - I wasn't 100% sure I'd be into this show. While nearing the age of 24, I'm still greatly into "guilty pleasure" shows with not a single ounce of intelligence. Anyway, this show begins with the return of Marine Nicholas Brody, who was held captive in Iraq for eight years. CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes...LOVE!) suspects that during his time in captivity, he may have "turned," a.k.a. may have returned to the U.S. with ulterior motives. I'll tell you what: you definitely can't multitask while watching this show, at least not if you want to keep up...but let's get real, you probably won't want tear your eyes away.


REAL WORLD: SKELETONS - MTV

Errrm, remember those guilty pleasure shows I was talking about? Ding ding ding, we have a winner. My boyfriend got me hooked on this sad excuse for a television show, and despite the excessive drinking, blow out fights, and general stupidity, I can't look away. Maybe it's because my own life is nothing short of drama free, but I can't help but get wrapped up in the failed relationships and crazy antics of people I don't know. Seriously, if you're looking for a mindless show to just laugh at, this is it. It's unbearably addicting.

Shows I'm kind of over...
  1. Pretty Little Liars - I still watch it, but come on, are we EVER going to find out who A is? I'm totally lost in a sea of random characters and twists and turns, I don't even know which way is up anymore.
  2. Keeping Up with the Kardashians - I don't even watch this show. And I wish America didn't either. WHY, PEOPLE, JUST WHY?! 
Enjoy your snow day in, guys! XO







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Friday, January 23, 2015

Friday ramblings.

Well, I had a whole post planned out in my head for this lovely Friday morning. But I was distracted by an unexpected visitor (see rambling #1 below), so I'll leave you with a few ramblings to start off the weekend instead:

Rambling #1: So last night, I came home later than usual from a work event, ready to hop into my PJ's and get to typing, only to find the apartment complex's (very domesticated) stray cat milling about on the second floor. I scratched its head a few times and cursed my downstairs neighbors for leaving the poor thing outside. Granted, I'm not 100% sure it's their cat. She lingers around their door, and I don't recall seeing her before they moved in, but I can't be entirely certain. Needless to say, it was hard for me to turn her away. I fed her a few kibbles and gave her a few snuggles, wishing I had time to check her microchip or take her to a rescue. I was thiiiissss close to running to Walgreen's and picking up kitty litter and cat food for the night, but a) I didn't want to give her a false sense of hope, and b) unfortunately, I don't know if she's infected with anything, has fleas, etc. and I couldn't risk it with Einstein, so her visit was short lived. I truly hate people and their ability to "throw away" their beautiful pets. I'm keeping an eye out for her again, and I may just take her to a rescue group.

Rambling #2: I've been really good about cutting back on frivolous spending. Err, better than usual, anyway. I've been thinking "future house, future adventures, save, woman, save!" But then I started scanning through my Destinations and Travel Pinterest board and got a little side tract. What's the point of saving all this money when I'm so young if I can't live a little here and there? I want to travel as much as I can. I'm lucky enough that my sister lives in eastern Europe, so I have the opportunity to go and country hop if I want to. But it's never that easy, is it? It's time off work, and money, and you know, responsibility. Being a grown up is just plain ol' hard work. Stay in college, kids.

Rambling #3: I really need to jump back on the reading train. I finally finished Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)...you know, three months after I bought it. It was definitely a fun, light read, but I never get "hooked" on autobiographical books. Overall, while I love Mindy Kaling and thought bits and pieces of the book were quite funny, I wouldn't classify it as a "must read." But that's just my opinion! On to the next: I read the first two (!) pages of Wild in the bathtub last night before realizing that I just could not get comfortable enough to give the book my undivided attention, thus saving it for another day. I've heard mixed reviews about the book, but I'm hoping it'll be a good read.

Rambling #4: I am in desperate need of this phone case, these shoes (or something similar...I love that cut! What the hell do you even call that?), and this swim suit. One splurge at a time, Sam. ONE SPLURGE AT A TIME.

Rambling #5: This is a relatively pointless post, and if you've made it to this point, I applaud you.



Have an extraordinary weekend! XO





















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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

To Chop or Not to Chop?


Around this time of year, every year, I think about chopping all my hair off. I don't know if it's the remnants of "New Year, New Me!!!" or my split ends, but I almost always schedule a February hair appointment to take off 3 to 4 inches. Well, whaddya know: it's that time of year again, and I'm feelin' the itch. I'm sure I'll find some excuse to hold on to my long locks a little longer. 

For one, I'll be a bridesmaid in my roommate's wedding in October. Yes, I realize that may appear to be far away. But if you really think about it, October is already less than 10 months away. It's practically Christmas. So there's that. In addition, I may decide that I want to try and nail the Elsa braid. I can't predict what I want for lunch tomorrow, let alone which trendy braids I'll want to experiment with a couple of months down the line. 

Needless to say, it's hard for me to make any type of decision. About anything. Ever. Especially my hair. Despite the fact that my hair grows like a weed, I treat cutting my hair off like it'll never grow back. My hair dresser hates me for it. In fact, I desperately hope she never sees this post, as she'll get so twitterpated about it that she'll pressure me into taking the plunge (oh, hi, Marissa). Welp.

But seriously, how cute are all the chopped photos with ultra blonde tips? Should I just do it? SHOULD I? I need someone to make a decision for me, because I'm clearly incapable of thinking for myself. Insert some sort of pink shirt brunette girl emoji here.




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Monday, January 19, 2015

5 Reasons You Shouldn't Get a Dog.

Let's get real: I could list 5,000 reasons why you should 100%, absolutely, hands down get a dog. Access to endless puppy snuggles is reason enough for me, if we're being honest. Adopting Einstein was the absolute best decision I've ever made. In fact, if it were up to me, everyone would have a dog, and everyone would take appropriate care of their dog. But that's not always the case, is it? 

I've mentioned before that I've had dogs my entire life. Einstein is the first dog I've ever had all on my own, and if we're being honest, I had to adjust my lifestyle a bit. It was difficult for first couple of weeks, but now we've both adjusted to a routine, and I couldn't imagine my life without that little guy. For some, however, the adjustment might not be so easy. If you're debating on getting a dog of your own, keep the following in the front of your mind before committing to a new family member:



1) You're broke. Seriously, getting a dog will do nothing but make this situation even worse. It was $300 for me just to adopt Einstein, not to mention the pet deposit at my apartment complex. On top of that, vet fees (or an emergency vet...youch) will really put a dent in your wallet. A couple of weeks ago, I walked out of a vet appointment with a $40 ear cleaner I didn't even know he needed. But you can't very well say "no, I don't need that." It's like telling your child's doctor to forget the medicine - we'll take our chances on the flu. Nerrrrp. 

2) You can't be bothered to inconvenience yourself. When I'm out and about, whether at work for hours on end, or out drinking for a friend's birthday on a Saturday night, Einstein is (most of the time) home alone. Some days, I want to go to the gym after work, or run errands, or get my nails done. Sometimes I want to stay out all night with my friends (LOL jk I can't stay up past 1 a.m.). With a dog, you can kiss that freedom goodbye. Can you hold your bladder comfortably for 10 hours? No? Well, neither can your pup. 

3) You're never home. Similar to the above. I saw a quote on Pinterest recently; it was read from a dog's perspective, and it said, "You have your work, your friends, your entertainment...I only have you." I don't know why, but it makes me tear up even thinking about the validity this holds. I have my friends, I have my boyfriend, I have things to do that don't include my dog. But what else does he have besides me? Not a whole lot. It's so important to make time for your dog, because you're truly all they have. I try to incorporate Einstein into my every day plans. He's not a house pet; he's a part of my family.

4) You hold grudges. I have a habit of throwing my clothes all over the place - my bed, the couch, the floor. I also have a tendency to leave forgotten dog treats in the pockets. You know who doesn't forget about the dog treats in my pockets? Right. You see where this is going. In the last two and a half months, Einstein has chewed through not one, but two of my favorite sweaters. Like, legitimately tried to suck the treats out of my pockets, thus chewing holes. The first time, I acted like a little kid about it. I ignored him for a good 20 minutes, cold body language, the works. And they know when you're mad. They don't understand why, but they know. And to be honest, it broke my little heart to see him so confused and bummed out. By the second sweater, I decided to stop being a slob and just pick up my clothes. Problem solved. At the end of the day, they're just material things, and he's just a pup who doesn't know any better.

5) You're afraid of commitment. That sweet, cuddly puppy will one day become an actual dog, and that actual dog will more than likely be around for the next 10 to 15 years of your life. That's 10 to 15 years of dog food, vet appointments, hair cuts, boarding, toys, training, emergency vet appointments. It's 10 to 15 years of putting someone else before yourself. And just so we're clear, moving doesn't count as a valid or justified reason to give up your dog. My sister moved from Florida to Eastern freaking Europe and brought not one, not two, but three dogs with her. You made a commitment to your family member. It's your responsibility to keep it.

Reasons you should get a dog:
  1. You'll lose weight because all of your food becomes their food. Your dinner is their dinner, your cheese stick is their cheese stick. Calories are cut in half, every time.
  2. They'll never judge you for watching Netflix all day with no pants on, and they'll never try to steal the remote.
  3. No one will ever love you as much as your dog loves you. Ever.
  4. TOO MANY REASONS TO LIST. 



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Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Am I supposed to have my shit together?



I'm addicted to Pinterest. Not always, but sometimes. Does that make sense? Some days, I scroll through Pinterest on my iPad (my absolute favorite way to Pin), and I think to myself "what the hell is the point of this?" I'm pinning outfits I'll never own, recipes I'll most likely never make (I do make some, but I'm pretty sure 2,000 of my 6.8k Pins are food related), and home decor I'll likely never be able to duplicate. Then, there's days when I'm like "LET'S PIN ALL THE THINGS AND ORGANIZE ALL THE BOARDS AND ALL WILL BE RIGHT WITH THE WORLD."

But that's not really true, is it?

My biggest irk about Pinterest...and Instagram, and Facebook, and every other kind of social media...is that sometimes it leaves me feeling like I'm doing something wrong. And by something, I mean my life. I should be eating this, not drinking that, DIY-ing every piece of furniture in my living room, organizing my breaths by patterned file folders. It's borderline exhausting. If I do all these things, am I going to have my life together? AM I?

No. No I will not, and neither will you. 

If you're anything like me, you're a social media addict. It's bad, but it comes with being a millennial living and breathing in 2015. The trouble is, we all compare ourselves to what we see snapshots of on the Internet. Whether it's a panoramic shot of your college friend's seemingly endless vacation in Santorini, an immaculately organized work desk, or a perfect "thrown together" outfit - it's easy to look at a picture on Pinterest or Instagram and thing, "wow, Sally really has her shit together. Should I have my shit together? How am I 23 years old and still flailing about like a seagull in a feeding frenzy?" 

Truth: do not let these things fool you. At 23, I'm not supposed to be living in a six bedroom manicured mansion. I'm not supposed to have my ultimate dream job. I'm not supposed to be able to afford an entire bedroom set from Crate & Barrel. Reality? I'm living in an apartment, with a really hard job, and almost every piece of furniture I own is from IKEA. 

Am I rambling at this point? Most likely. But I'm just so sick of comparing my journey to someone else's. I'm sick of feeling like everything in my life has to go a certain way, like I have to stick to some routine to get to where I "need" to be. Don't get me wrong, I love a good routine - I love organization - but I also like a mess. It's okay to be a mess at 23. It really, really is. 




At 24 though....that's when I'll have my life together. Insert hair flip emoji here. 






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Monday, January 12, 2015

A List of Happy, Pt. 8

Sunday night sleepovers with Ryan, complete with Einstein snuggles and binge watching Homeland.
Getting hooked on new television series. As I said above, Ryan and I are newly addicted to Homeland. I just started watching Girls & I'm already almost finished with season two. 
Finally getting to use my 2015 Simplified Daily Planner. I never knew my life (and my week night dinners!) could be so organized. I'm practically a Type A at this point.
Drinking a well crafted chai tea latte out of a ceramic mug in a cute coffee shop on a rainy day. 
Reconnecting with old friends. 
Realizing that girlfriends are so, so important. Whether it's a margarita night out or a pizza night in, there's just something about talking all night to your best friend about stuff your boyfriend just doesn't care about (like purple shampoo and Naked palette tutorials...duh.)
Realizing that it's okay not to have my life together at 23, even if it feels like I should. 
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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Currently, Pt. 2.

Remember this post? Well yeah, it's been a minute, so on to part dos!

Currently

Listening to: Rediscovering my 'Chill' (actually, it's 'chillllll') playlist on my old iTunes account. Drowning in a few old favorites, like Someday by Bryan Greenberg,  Ryan Adams' cover of Wonderwall, and Honey and the Moon by Joseph Arthur. Combine this playlist with a hot bath and you have yourself quite the little night.

Loving: Girls. I watched the first episode and a half last week, and to be honest, I wasn't quite sure how I initially felt about Lena Dunham. I don't know if I just didn't connect to her character, or the way she played her character. The first episode, I just felt like she was annoying and whiny and weird. I'm only three episodes deep, but I can tell you that my opinion has [mostly] changed. I think I just might be addicted.

Doing: Filling out my 2015 Simplified Planner. I got this bad boy back in September when they were released, and it took everything in me to wait until January to break it out. I was a little nervous that the novelty had worn off after having it for a few months already, but I'm obsessed. I got the daily edition which has an hour by hour schedule, and while I'm not one to time block every little thing I need to do, it feels good to have all my to-do lists in one place. Here's to an organized(ish) year!

Watching: Einstein trying to eat my popsicle. He's so spoiled, that little nugget. He'll get the last bite, though. He always does.

Buying: This sweater that was on sale at LOFT. I've been searching for a good oversize sweater for a hot minute, and fell in love with the neckline. I know I promised I'd go one month without buying clothing but...but...I didn't specify which month. And it was only $25. And I have no self control. I bought it in Antique Heather Grey, which is really more of a taupe color, but knowing myself, I'm probably going to need it in charcoal. No surprise there.

Enjoying: A night to myself. Seriously, tonight (well, last night, at this point) I peeled and cooked shrimp while watching Girls on my laptop, read my book while taking a candle lit bath, and snuggled with my dog. I caught up on blogs, researched some thangs, and stalked my social media feeds. And now, I'm sitting my happy ass on the chaise of my couch, pup by my feet, most of the lights in the apartment off, and it feels so good. I adore being surrounded by the people I love - my boyfriend, my friends, my family - but there's something to be said about having "me" time.

XO









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Monday, January 5, 2015

My Trip to Europe, Part 1: Durdle Door, Dorset, England.

In July 2013, two months after walking for my college graduation and one month prior to officially having my degree, I was given a three week trip to Europe has my graduation gift from my entire family. No, I didn't backpack or anything absurd (Sorry - nothing about backpacking through foreign countries sounds appealing to me. Give me a hotel. Or a hostel. Or something. Good god). My sister, Rose, and her husband, Kalin, currently reside in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. I'll go ahead and point out the obvious for those of you who snoozed through middle school geography: Bulgaria is in eastern Europe. Just above Greece,  right below Romania, neighboring Turkey. You're welcome. Moving on.

Anyway, my grandparents footed the entire flight, and because Rose & Kalin live in Bulgaria, it made a week and a half of my trip extremely cheap, as ya know, I didn't have to pay to sleep somewhere. During those 24 days, I hopped about Bulgaria, Rome, and England. To say it was the trip of a lifetime would be an understatement, and I recently realized that I never really documented my travels. So I figured why not give it a whirl, eh? (My dad's a full blooded Canadian. I can say things like that).



Like any good Pinterest account holder, I have a travel board. This worked to my advantage when my sister asked if there was anything I was dying to see in England. Obviously I wanted to see everything, but it helped when instead of spewing out the usual "I don't know, I'm game for anything, I have no opinion on how I spend my time in Europe," I said Durdle Door, which is located in Dorset. 

I was in luck, because that particular night, we were staying with my sister's good friend, Lizzie, who lived just outside of Dorset. Rose had never been either, so Lizzie was thrilled to take us. 


As soon as I arrived, I told my sister "this place kind of reminds me of Jurassic Park." Only to find that we were on the Jurassic Coast. Derp. 




JUST LOOK AT IT. Is it not one of the most majestic places you've ever laid your eyes on? Unfortunately, I didn't even think to bring my swim suit, so dipping my feet into the water was as far out as I could go. It was actually a prime place for a picnic, as there's no sand on the beach. Zero. Zip. Not a grain. It was all soft rocks. And by soft I mean only the texture - walking on them? Not so soft. I may or may not have taken a few. And by that, I mean I did.




 There were two absolutely breathtaking sides to this part of the coast. For one, there was obviously "Durdle Door." It blows my mind that not one bit of this place was man-made. That rock was straight up Mother Nature. She's awesome, that woman. 





The left of Durdle Door looked a little more tropical. I've never been the Bahamas, but I kept comparing it to the Bahamas. To be honest, I kind of forgot I was in England. Okay, not really. But when you think England, do you think blue and turquoise coastlines? Let's get real.  







Hands down, this was one of my favorite parts of my trip. I can't even describe the sense of tranquility I felt walking around. I live in Florida, so I've been a beach goer my entire life, but this was a completely different level. Here, I had a fleeting thought of, "holy shit, what they say is true: I really am just a microscopic dog flea compared to this giant, beautiful, magnificent Earth." I think everyone needs one of those moments. Specifically, the Kardashians.

Until next time! Happy Monday XO
















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Friday, January 2, 2015

2015 Goals.



Welcome, 2015!

My New Years Eve consisted of good friends, overpriced dinner, and popping champagne bottles in the comfort of my apartment with Ryan and Einstein. I love a night out, but for me, it wasn't worth manning the swarms of people. Having a night in with the person I care the most about was the perfect start to my year.

With a new year comes new resolutions. Maybe it's because I feel like resolutions are associated with eventual failure, but when it comes to a new year, I prefer to describe my intentions as goals. I just think goals feel more attainable. Is that just me? Anyway, here's what I've drafted up so far:
  1. Read one book per month. Okay, I'm really serious about this one this time around! I'm just about done with Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling, and then Ryan's mom gave me Wild for Christmas. Can't wait to start!
  2. Take the GRE. I'm not sure when I'll need it, or if I'll ever need it, but the scores are good for five years. I want to take it just to be prepared for the future.
  3. Give up shopping for clothes for one month. I'm an impulsive cardigan buyer, I just can't help it.
  4. Put away $200 per month. Ideally, I'd like to put away more, but I want to start small.
  5. Work out for one hour, four days per week, for one full month. Take progress pictures, and see what kind of difference one month of effort actually makes. 
  6. Travel to three places I've never been before. As of now, I'm thinking Key West, New Orleans, and Canada. Crossing my fingers!
I know it's only the second day in January, but I can already tell you that 2015 is jam packed with exciting things! I'm already scheduled to go to five weddings, one of which is tomorrow, and one of which I'm a bridesmaid...first timer over here! I have a lot planned for this year, some of which I don't want to discuss in the blogosphere just yet. Mostly because I don't have it all figured out yet. What a surprise!

I hope everyone had a safe, happy, and healthy beginning to 2015! Happy weekend. XO









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