Last Month Today | May 2017.

On the last day of every month, I’ll be posting a new series, Last Month Today (you can check out April, aka the first installment, here!) where I talk about the books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched, restaurants I’ve tried, what I’ve worn, etc. over the past month. May was a busy month for school, hence the lack of posts, but I managed to round up a few things...hard to believe tomorrow marks halfway through 2017, am I right?! 

What I Watched:
 Lion (2016) - Starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman, and Rooney Mara
Watch the trailer
"Five year old Saroo gets lost on a train which takes him thousands of miles across India, away from home and family. Saroo must learn to survive alone in Kolkata, before ultimately being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with only a handful of memories, his unwavering determination, and a revolutionary technology known as Google Earth, he sets out to find his lost family and finally return to his first home" (Google).
My thoughts: Absolutely adored this movie. It's based on a true (unbelievable) story. I laughed a bit, but I cried a little bit more. Hint: stay tuned after the movie. You'll see why (all the happy sobbing occurred!). 

Cake (2014) - Starring Jennifer Aniston, Sam Worthington, Anna Kendrick
Watch the trailer
"After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide" (Google).My thoughts: Not my favorite, but still a decent movie. I was intrigued by the trailer, but the unfolding of the story fell a bit short of my expectations. Having said that, I've never seen Jennifer Aniston in this kind of role, and she was phenomenal. If you're a big Jennifer Aniston fan, I'd recommend watching solely to see her completely out of her element (and still rocking it).

The Shallows (2016) - Starring Blake Lively
Watch the trailer
"Still reeling from the loss of her mother, medical student Nancy Adams (Blake Lively) travels to a secluded beach for some much-needed solace. Despite the danger of surfing alone, Nancy decides to soak up the sun and hit the waves. Suddenly, a great white shark attacks, forcing her to swim to a giant rock for safety. Left injured and stranded 200 yards from shore, the frightened young woman must fight for her life as the deadly predator circles her in its feeding ground" (Google).
My thoughts: Immediately upon finishing this movie, I Googled "do sharks seek revenge?" Turns out, I'm not the only one. This movie is decent for what it is - a fight for survival flick. While I was on the edge of my seat during some parts, I probably could have turned it off and not cared how it turned out. But I love Blake Lively, so I kept watching. If you aren't a fan, you can probably skip out and be just fine. 

What I Read: After finishing the Woman in Cabin 10 last month, I immediately launched into What She Knew. Truthfully...I'm still in the midst of reading it. About 100 pages in, I picked up a book from Target on a Cartwheel sale and just dove into that instead. The book: The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman. I absolutely devoured this book. It's a lighter read, which is exactly what I needed after all the murder mysteries I've been reading as of late. It isn't winning a Nobel Prize any time soon, but it's uplifting, the perfect amount of sad, and super witty. Plus the cover is so cute. Highly recommend!

What I Worked Out: I’ve been rocking the cycling bikes at my apartment complex for the last couple of months and I’ve definitely been seeing results! If I could afford it, I would start looking into taking a class somewhere. In the meantime, I've been grabbing two 5-pound dumbbells and doing small arm exercises (safely!) while cycling on the bike. It's a full body workout, and my heart rate gets to be around 150-175, which is just as high as when I go for a jog...except I find it to be way more enjoyable. If you have the means, give it a shot!


What I Did:
-Saw Julianne and Derek Hough dance live on their Move Beyond Tour…six rows back from the stage, for free!
-Finished out my second semester of grad school, and then started my third semester 11 days later. But hey, only 8 weeks left already – no complaints here! (ok, maybe a few complaints).
-Celebrated Memorial Day Weekend and the homecoming of a friend from a year long deployment at the beach on Treasure Island.
-Spent a day paddle boarding at Weeki Wachee Springs with a good friend...and then had 15 bug bites the next day.

What did you do in May?

On Accepting Change.

Have you ever had something happen and you think to yourself, “my entire life is about to change?”
 If we’re lucky (or, in some cases, unlucky), we have a lot of those moments – big moments that don’t feel all that monumental at the time, but looking back, they changed the course of our own little worlds.

For me, it was three weeks after I quit my job in sales and started serving again. On my first day of training, the head server brought me back to the “dish pit” and started explaining to me where the dirty silverware, plates, and cups go. The restaurant world was a place I was so sure I would never revisit. As I stepped into the stuffy, humid dish pit, I took in the stacks of messy appetizer plates and soaking forks, the seemingly endless rows of glass racks and garbage can full of uneaten leftovers. Even though I was making a big life change (and serving tables as a profession is nothing to be ashamed of whatsoever), I felt a bit deflated. But I thought to myself, “well, this is a change, but this is my life now.”
 I walked into my first post-bacc class about five months after quitting my job. It was 90+ degrees outside, I was rocking a 101 degree fever, and the air conditioning in my lecture hall was shot. I was wearing a backpack for the first time in years, and felt more like Franklin the Turtle than a returning student. I started learning about the International Phonetic Alphabet and the human ear. When my first exam rolled around, I turned down fun social plans to study. More than two years after taking my last exam, it’s safe to say the adjustment was a real struggle. But I thought to myself, “well, this is a change, but this is my life now.”
 Starting graduate school last fall, I had no idea what I was getting into. Short of my observation hours at a local elementary school and volunteering at the general hospital, I didn’t know the first thing about becoming an SLP. For the first time in my life, I was scared to make new friends. I’d found my clique of girls during my post-bacc, girls that were just starting their senior year of undergrad while I moved on to grad school a year ahead. For some reason, I didn't think I was going to fit in with my cohort. But I thought to myself, "well, this is a change, but this is my life now, and we're all in this together."

Yesterday, I submitted my applications for externships. In the coming weeks, I'll be contacted for interviews. In just a few months, I'll be removed from the comfort of my school's clinic, my core group of girlfriends, my routine of class-then-clinic-then-class-then-clinic. I'll be on my way to practicing on my own, and that is a scary thought...scary enough to get me worked up about the future, where I'm headed, and where I'll end up. It's easy for me to get caught up in worrying about the next move; sometimes, fear of the unknown is borderline paralyzing. But it's just a change, and I'll adjust, just like I always do.

3 Outfit Staples for Every College Grad | Graduating with JORD.

May is the official month of all things graduation, and somehow we're flying right past it! For those of you about to dip your toes into the professional working world, chances are you're trying to figure out your next step. For a lot of you, that probably means hopping on the job hunt and going out on interviews...talk about a daunting process!

In undergrad, I never really dressed up for classes. Denim shorts, a v-neck, and sandals was my go-to uniform. So when I landed my first professional job interview, it's safe to say that I didn't have a clue what to wear...and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to find it in my closet.

Think you might be in the same position? Read on for three must-have wardrobe staples for every college grad:

A professional suit. 

When I was scheduled for my first “big girl” job interview with the company’s president, my mom rushed me to Express to try on suits. Man or woman, every working professional should have at least one matching business suit for job interviews, big conferences, and any time you need to look sharp as a tack. And for my ladies out there – your suit doesn’t have to be boring! When my mom first told me I needed a suit, I immediately envisioned pinstripes and stuffiness…no thanks! Explore what’s out there, and experiment with different colors, textures, and cuts. You can stick with a typical pantsuit, or find one with a matching pencil skirt (my personal favorite!).

A solid pair of shoes (or three!). 

Whether you’re in the business of sales and networking or spending most of your work day in a cubicle, a pair of comfortable yet fashionable work shoes is an absolute must. When I worked in sales, I attended multiple networking events in a day, and needed to look put together even when I felt like a hot mess. The solution? A go-to pair of classic nude heels to get me from Point A to Point B (while still looking fab!) and a trustworthy pair of fun flats to dress up an outfit on the days where I wasn’t feeling a heel, but still wanted to pull off a trendy look.

A classic time piece. 

(Isn't it such a cool watch?!)

Imagine your new job's president asks you the time. A simple question, yes? You want to look on top of your game, so which option do you choose?

A) Fumbling through your tote bag in search for your iPhone
B) Taking a two-second glance at your left wrist.

Easy enough, but it's safe to say that a classic watch will never go out of style. So when JORDWood Watches asked if I’d like to collaborate, I knew that I absolutely had to share these unique watches with all of my soon-to-be college graduate readers!

This neutral zebra-wood champagne piece is sure to add the perfect touch of personality to any work outfit, with enough versatility to transition into weekend wear! I'm absolutely in love with the champagne colored face, because it goes with everything I own. Plus, unlike metal watches, it feels light and airy on my wrist. In fact, I sized up on my links just a tad so I can wear mine a bit more like a bracelet.

Whether you're searching for the perfect gift for a recent graduate, or simply shopping for a cool watch for yourself, a one-of-a-kind JORD watch is sure to turn heads.

Need one for yourself? I have you covered, friend. I’ve teamed up with JORD to give away $100 toward your own unique watch! Even better? Every person who enters will receive a gift code worth $25 after the contest ends…it’s a win/win situation!  

Head on over here and enter to win!

Love my watch? Check its details here!

For all my gentlemen readers (or if you're getting a jump start on Father's Day gifting!), be sure to check out JORD's selection of men's watches.
For more watches like mine (it comes in navy, too!), take a look at JORD's selection of women's watches.

If you win the contest, which watch would you choose? I love the versatility of the champagne face, but I'm going crazy for this Purpleheart & Plum FRANKIE series!

*This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches, but all opinions are (as always) my own.