Carrots and Chocolate

Calm before the Crazy

2010-08-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

A little calm for the packing frenzy/insanity.

Procrastination

2010-07-23T23:52:00.009-05:00

My room is in complete disarray right now. It's past embarrassing. It's not dirty, just a jumble of stuff, like clothes to donate, books and notebooks from college (and high school... and grade school, oops!), and random housewares from my apartment. I'm trying to transition from college to real life and it's hard. I have no idea what I need to take, what to wear for javascript:void(0)work, and what I should just toss. Only 15 days too. I better get a move on it, but right now, I'm procrastinating, finding hilarious and adorable youtube videos, looking through etsy sites, and listening to new music. I'll get everything else done eventually, don't worry mom! But in the meantime, keeping with the theme of making lists of everything else in my life (Thank you notes, packing lists, emails to send, etc), I've made a list of my current favorite things:

1. Babelgum, Kids Reenacting Jersey Shore. (also watch the Hills and the Real Housewives of New Jersey)

2. Eminem ft. Rihanna - "Love the Way You Lie"

3. Flo Rida ft. David Guetta - "Club Can't Handle Me"

5. Lo Bosworth, from "omg, guys, this is like our last prom ever" to almost engaged, she's one of the best (and seemingly most normal) Laguna Beach/LA girls. and she's gorgeous.

4. Iker Casillas' interview by girlfriend Sara Carbonero after his World Cup Victory

5. 43 Things. The creators decided that people need obtainable goals and that 43 was the maximum you should be thinking about at once. You can create your list and see how many other people have the same goals. You can also see their tips on achieving similar goals, root for others (and they can root for you!), and be inspired by others hopes and dreams.

6. Anchor Charm Necklace, $16, urban outfitters. Nope, I'm not over the anchors yet (delta gamma is for life, so it's ok : ) And the envelope says, "only you can hold me down". So cute.

7. Dear Girls Above Me, Hilarious thoughts of a guy living below some 20-something girls. He makes me worried about some of the stupid stuff I might have once said.

8. I'm maybe falling in love with tumblr. It's a perfect way to waste an afternoon scrolling through page after page of pictures. Not that I ever waste time looking through blogs.... Anyway, two of my recent faves: twentythree: and Just be spLendid

9. Forget Me Knot ring, MoMA, $65.

10.Quotable Cards I think I could read these cards all day everyday and never get bored. Only very very inspired.

11. Nicholas Sparks' Dear John. He's fantastic at capturing the emotions of a LDR.

12. Personalized Silver Ring, $32, tinahdee on etsy.

13. My Growing Heart necklace, $25, onelifejewelry on etsy.

14.Dear Blank, Please Blank.Short little letters you want to send so badly, but could never really send or say. Examples:
"Dear energy saving co-worker who religiously turns off the lights after leaving the restroom,
You might be overdoing it.
Sincerely, I'm still in here."
"Dear film industry,
Please stop with the 3D craze. The movies aren't better, I get headaches, and no one will look good in those on dates.
Sincerely, Step Up 3D? Really?"

15. Lovely Engagement Photographs. I'm addicted to looking through blogs of engagement pictures. I think it's amazing how much love and personality can be captured in photographs. Like these taken by Shannen Norman:

But I can't help but think about the statistic from senior year religion class that fifty percent of engagements don't actually end in marriage. That's a lot of money to spend on pictures that you aren't going to want to keep. Hopefully that rate has decreased since then? It seems so high!

Yay! Now that I've posted some of these things, I can close the tabs on my firefox windows. I had about 30 tabs open at the start of this post and it was getting a bit too overwhelming. like my messy room that I'm still staring at...

Happy Friday!

2010-07-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

Spread some love this weekend!

Listening to: The Script, "Man Who Can't Be Moved"

Thought of the Day: "Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good." -Minor Myers, Jr.

{Image via: Just be spLendid}

Words of Wisdom

2010-07-09T00:56:00.001-05:00

from the streets of San Francisco

Architecture Love

2010-07-09T00:45:00.001-05:00

I think one of the best things about going to be a big city is seeing the architecture. I love how it changes from region to region, depending on things like the cultural influences and the resources available. In San Francisco, buildings obviously have to cope with the scarcity of land and the plethora of hills.

{I would hate to drive these streets in my manual car}

{those corner offices must be gorgeous}

{I want to curl up in those window seats with a book}

{compact!}

{these owners must have a very sunny outlook on life}

{Tiffany's-esque?}

{blue doors and window boxes}

Thought of the Day: "To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did."

Listening to: "Magic" B.o.B.

California Here We Come

2010-07-08T16:01:00.004-05:00

I don't know where this summer is going. All I know is it's going super fast. I was going to be so much better about blogging regularly, but that obviously didn't happen. But hey, according to Wikipedia, only 12% of people achieve their New Year's Resolution goals, so at least I'm in the majority for not sticking to it, right?
I'm going to be taking a more official break with Carrots and Chocolate though because in 31 days, I will be on a plane to San Jose, CA for JVC training, after which I'll be moving for a year to Los Angeles! I just received my Casa assignment today and the names of my community members. I'll be living in East Los Angeles with 4 others all volunteering a year to serving those in the Latino community there. I'm so excited!!
Before this though, I'll be taking a trip to Kansas to see my grandparents, having a family reunion, figuring out what I need to take to LA, working in as many trips to St. Louis as possible, and trying to see everyone before I go!
Before I leave though, I thought I should end with some amazing pictures of the trip my sister and I took to the Bay Area to visit our brother this past week as well as some helpful things we learned along the way :)

Tip #1: the SF Pride Parade is not very exciting. Even the Backstreet Boys only played for 25 minutes. lame. For the real fun go to the party/celebration the night before.

Tip #2: Watch out for sketchy guys at the parade selling brownies that guarentee to make you happy. If you wouldn't normally eat something in a zip-lock baggie out of a random guy's backpack, don't start now. (I don't have personal experience with this, but as a sane person who watched it happen, it doesn't look too legit.)

{one of the more exciting floats}

Tip #3: Be selective about touristy places in San Francisco. For example, Chinatown was cool to look at for half an hour max. Ghirardelli Square was a complete waste of time and the one measly sample of chocolate did not live up to expectations.

Tip #4: If you decide to go to touristy places in the Bay Area, you might think about learning some other languages, such as French, Spanish, or Chinese. You will probably be the only American-born tourist there.

Tip #5: When in Chinatown, follow the locals; they might lead you to a Dr. Pepper truck off of which you can get free Diet Dr. Pepper. yum!

{Chinatown}

Tip# 6: If you go to Yosemite National Park, be sure to look for trails outside the Valley unless you want paved trails with hundreds of foreign tourists. We backpacked around the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

{lovely Reservoir}

{Annie under a pretty rainbow from the waterfalls}

{we didn't have a pack animal... we had Joe}

Tip# 7: If you go to Sequoia National Park, don't listen to your older brother on any trail-related information. If he says it's only .2 miles more, assume it is 5 more miles. If he says California doesn't have mosquitoes, bring tons of DEET 40 repellent. And if he says it is a flat trail, expect to hike straight uphill for a few miles.

{halfway there!}

{we climbed over 4,000 feet and went through snow for these views and...}

{...to sign this book at the top of Alta Peak!}

Tip # 8: Pack warm clothes.

Tip # 9: Enjoy diverse foods. Some of my favorites: Taste of the Himalayas, Fentons Creamery (when you want a lot of deliciousness), Tara's Organic Ice Cream (when you only want a little, but want some crazy flavors), Cafe Gratitude (go for the experience), and Tropisueno.

Tip #10: Drive on Highway 1, but avoid being behind a semi-truck.

Tip #11: Despite locals sunning themselves in parks and on beaches in bikinis and speedos, do not get the idea that it is warm enough to pack a swimming suit. It is not, nor will it probably ever be.

Tips #12: Take a drive up into the mountains and stop on some of the pull-off areas around dusk. They're worth it and you might pick up some good date ideas, like setting up a little table and having a candle-lit dinner with your lover. Adorable.

{view of the Bay Area from the Berkeley side}

Listening to: "Honey and the Moon" - Joseph Arthur

Thought of the Day: "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." - Emerson

Pull On and Go

2010-06-09T02:43:00.000-05:00

Constantly on the hunt for "easy, breezy, beautiful" summer dresses, I've been hitting up T.J. Maxx quite frequently because they're cheap and usually have a lot more character. But then I found this store online and I am so super bummed that it is online only. I am so fickle when it comes to dresses and usually end up buying every 10th one I try on, so I don't really want to order any and end up having to constantly return. But the prices, styles, and varieties offered on Asos makes it very tempting.

{nautical: Vero Moda Samba Stripe Vest Tulip Dress, 30.44}

{Westernish: Vero Moda Belted Cotton Dress, 57.49}

{girly: ASOS Frill Front Strappy Sundress, 30.44}

{soo comfy: ASOS Contrast Cord Hoodie Lounge Dress, 33.82}

Listening to: "Wonderwall" Oasis
Thought of the Day: "Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have." -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Breakfast in Bed

2010-06-07T02:21:00.000-05:00

What I want for breakfast right now:

{Wouldn't this best the best Monday morning?}

Listening to: "Maybe I'm Amazed" Jem
Thought of the Day: "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." -Herm Albright

{Image via I heart stolen images}

Happy Friday!

2010-06-04T02:12:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday! I'm going to be volunteering all next week at a camp so I won't be around, but I have some scheduled posts for you to enjoy! I've never been to this camp before, so wish me luck! The tree houses in the picture above is from the camp that I absolutely loved in junior high. Camp Ondessonk was the best ever and I am so excited because Pete will be going there for the first time this summer too!
I hope you have some lovely weekend plans and have some time to be outdoorsy :)

Listening to: "If You Leave" -Nadasurf
Thought of the Day: "One can acquire everything in solitude - except character." -Marie Henri Beyle

{Image via: Camp Ondessonk}

Defining Pretty

2010-06-03T01:45:00.003-05:00

So, I'm sorry for all the videos lately... I don't know what's up with this new addiction, but here's one more.

A couple of days ago, I was watching While You Were Sleeping on Oxygen, trying to keep my mind off my sore throat. Usually, I just mute the commercials and they don't phase me at all, but since my 10 year old brother Pete was in the room too, I started to notice more of what was being advertised. I know Oxygen is a "women's channel" but still, their commercials were crazy - almost every single one was for a diet plan, exercise machine, or some other product geared toward making women thinner, tanner, and more "beautiful". I'm all for being healthy, but do we really need this overload of the extremes? And then I saw this Dove commercial. It's scary to think of what little kids who watch this TV are thinking.

Listening to: "Wedding Dress" Taeyang
Thought of the Day: "What you do, the way you think makes you beautiful." - Scott Westerfeld

Making Four-Eyes Cool

2010-06-02T00:17:00.000-05:00

I'm getting over strep throat right now and since I've just been laying low, I've been wearing my glasses a lot. And while they aren't ugly glasses that cover your cheeks like those ones I wore in grade school, I still feel weird wearing glasses all day. Maybe I should blame it on that Arthur book where Francine called him "four-eyes" or the fact that I have the worst eye-sight in the world without actually being blind. But then I saw this adorable video over on Kaylen's awesome blog, Happy Notions, and I love it and it made me feel so much cooler wearing my glasses.

I can't wait to see The Girls with Glasses' future shows which you can check out here on their website, their blog, and their vimeo site. Enjoy!

Listening to: "California Song" Brooke White
Thought of the Day: "Now I know why someone from our past has to come back... to remind us how much we've grown." -Paano Na Kaya

p.s.! - want to see the coolest glasses ever? Check out Warby Parker. Not only do they donate a pair for everyone you buy to someone in need, but also you can "try on" every pair online! So much fun! Read their story too - they're trying to keep the price low (only $95!) to work against artificially high prices. Oh, annnddd they sell monocles (which are "the perfect accessory for budding robber barons, post-colonial tyrants and super villains")! They're pretty cool in my book.

World Cup 2010

2010-06-01T16:00:00.000-05:00

I don't understand how people can watch most sports on TV. While I like watching in person, the idea of watching 2+ hours of basketball, football, golf, etc. on TV sounds like death to me. But I make a major exception for soccer. I used to be super obsessed in junior high and high school, but since we didn't have cable, it was really hard to watch any games other than the major ones. I have to admit though, I haven't watched much soccer since then, but I'm getting pretty pumped for the World Cup this summer, especially after I saw this awesome Nike ad, "Write the Future". Check it out:

Listening to: Katy Perry "California Gurls"
Thought of the Day: "We need men who can dream of things that never were." - John F. Kennedy

Please Mr. Postman

2010-05-31T17:36:00.006-05:00

I've been home for a little over 2 weeks and I really really miss my friends. It's weird to think that I will never be able to have almost all of my best friends within a 2 block radius, but yet, it's also strange to think that a thing like college exists where we can have such an amazing time surrounded by so many friends. Anyway, one of my worst faults is my inability to keep in touch with people. I'm going to be trying my best to turn this around, especially in August when I leave for a year as a Jesuit Volunteer in Los Angeles. I hoping to have a blog chronicling all of my thoughts and experiences, but I also want to get much better at letter writing to keep in touch with friends and family.
Maybe something like these adorable envelopes will help me out. On this website, you enter your location, either a specific address or a landmark, and they create a printable envelope with a Google Earth picture of where you are (like Hawaii... I wish!) and a little message like "Wishing you were here with me :("

I found this idea on Black*Eiffel along with some other cool options of map envelopes.

Listening to: "Polaroid" Shwayze
Thought of the Day: “When you're young, your whole life is about the pursuit of fun. Then, you grow up and learn to be cautious. You could break a bone or a heart. You look before you leap and sometimes you don't leap at all because there's not always someone there to catch you. And in life, there's no safety net. When did it stop being fun and start being scary?” -Sex and the City

Finally Summer

2010-05-25T16:17:00.005-05:00

Some things are just meant for summer. Just like that rule about white and Labor Day, it seems wrong to enjoy snow cones anytime other than summer. This past weekend, packed with baseball, snow cones and friends was the perfect way to usher in the season.

{St. Louis Cardinals game}

{Tropical Moose snow cones - mine was pink champagne fizz with nerds!}

{swinging in the park - not just for little kids}

Listening to: Robin Thicke "Sex Therapy"
Thought of the Day: "To those we love the best, we say the least." -John Ray

{Images via: Cards, snow cones, swings}

Graduation!

2010-05-14T09:44:00.003-05:00

This morning I went to the baccalaureate mass for SLU and I sat down in a pew and realized that the family sitting next to me was that of a girl who lived on my floor freshman year. Four years ago, she and I took a walk to Forest Park together and walked for hours, talking about our dreams and hopes and where/who we wanted to be when we grew up. Both of our visions included SUVs, perfect families in suburbia and white picket fences. I don't know if she remembers this conversation, but I have thought about it frequently as I reflect on college, beucase I think it really demonstrates how much SLU and the people who make up SLU have changed my life. No longer do I dream of being a housewife (not that there is anything wrong with that!); instead I'm not really sure what I want. I just know I want to make a difference, experience life, and keep growing and learning. Not to much to ask right?

p.s.: hopefully I'll hear some amazing news today so that I don't have to wear this shirt!

Thought of the Day: "It costs a little to light the world." -Fr. Valentine Peter
Listening to: "Graduation (Friends Forever)" Vitamin C

{Image via: SLU}

Domination Dreams

2010-05-14T01:18:00.005-05:00

With graduation right around the corner, plans and dreams for the future are constantly on my mind. I don't know where I am going to end up or where my friends are going to be. Regardless of our locations, I know that we will keep in touch and will be scheduling regular visits. What better way to chart my travels than with a Places on Earth map? I especially like the subtitle of "A Self-Congratulatory Guide to Personal Global Domination". So maybe I don't actually want to dominate the world, but fill the poster with pushpins makes an awesome goal. Some locations I'll hopefully be checking off this summer: Iowa, Kansas, California, Mississippi, and Michigan. Yay for fun visits and memories!

Listening to: "Baby" Justin Bieber
Thought of the Day: "All things work together in the tapestry of life." - Dove wrapper

Spring Frocks

2010-04-26T16:55:00.003-05:00

Tonight was my last sorority chapter ever and my roommate reminded me this weekend just how close graduation really is. I will be a college grad in just 18 days. Meaning 18 days until I'm officially done with this amazing place I have been lucky enough to call home for the last 4 years and only 17 days until I need two dresses for the actual SLU-wide graduation and my college's pre-commencement ceremony. Yikes! Back in high school, I remember being so freaked out about finding the perfect graduation dress, which I never did and consequently ended up buying one the night before the ceremony. It's a really awesome feeling though this time around that I am not so concerned about it. First because this means that I realized that I'll be wearing a gown for the majority of it and secondly, because I am not focusing nearly as much on the image/materialistic things in life, but instead on the people around me - friends, family, people I have never met, but are sharing in this special day of a loved one.

However, this didn't stop me from eyeing some lovely spring dresses like these which are each adorable in their own unique way:

{AE's Fireworks Ruffle dress, $44.50}

{J.Crew's Ginny dress, $148}

{Anthro's Silken Pathways dress, $168}

{Mod Cloth's Cute as a Clover dress, $49.99}

Listening to: "Graduation" Kanye West
Thought of the day: "This is your world. Shape it or someone else will." -Gary Lew

Weekend Snapshots

2010-04-18T22:33:00.004-05:00

This weekend's springtime adventures in St. Louis...

{trip to the MO Botanical Garden with my family}

{When we were little, we always took daffodils and tulips to our teachers}

{Trivia Night}

{2! Cards Games - I'm so ready for summer}

Thought of the Day: "If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits." -Don Ward
Listening to: "Break Your Heart" Taio Cruz

{Busch Stadium image via: alz.org}

Happy Friday!

2010-04-16T00:05:00.001-05:00

This sounds like the perfect day right now... as long as there is sunshine streaming in my window and a tall glass of iced tea next to me.
This kind of day won't be coming for a bit though. I have 2 big finals due on Monday and my final student teaching observation as well. Two more weeks of student teaching and then I'm done! I am so excited!
Have a wonderful and relaxing Friday.

Listening to: "Today Was a Fairytale" Taylor Swift
Thought of the Day: "Slow down, calm down, don't worry, don't hurry, trust the process." -Alexandra Stoddard

{Image via LeLove}

Checklist

2010-04-14T00:15:00.004-05:00

Do you ever feel like you made an ass out of yourself and want to tell the other person how you feel, but can't because you can find the words or don't have time? I wish I had one of these slips on me every time so I could quickly check the boxes and apologize right then and there.

{Images via: Images I <3> }

Thought of the Day: "Our true identity is to love without fear and insecurity. Our highest potential finds us when we set our course in that direction. The power of love and compassion transforms insecurity." - Doc Childre
Listening to: "Solo" Iyaz

April Adventures

2010-04-06T00:05:00.001-05:00

{being a dork enjoying the weather in Forest Park - I don't act my age}

I cannot believe it is April already. This means that I graduate from college in a little over a month. Holy cow. I seriously don't feel old enough to be done with college or to be in the real world or to have that many responsibilities. Good thing I'm not quite there yet and because I'm going to be doing a volunteer program next year (almost 100% sure of this) I will sort of delay reality for a bit longer. But in the mean time, here's what April means for me:

- my last sorority events as a collegiate (including formal!)
- turning in all of my final class work (like my Professional Portfolio)
- finishing up student teaching (only 24 days left!... not that I'm counting... and only 14 more days of actual teaching of all the classes)
- Praxis teaching certification test
- "Senior Experience" events through SLU
- applying for summer positions (possibly at summer camps!)

Some other things I want to add in there include: some Cards games, nights out with my friends, frolicking in Forest Park and bbq-ing, try a soul food restaurant in St. Louis, stressing less, living every moment to its fullest and without regrets...

Reality still hasn't hit that May 3rd is my last day of school ever as an undergrad. Wow. Time flies when you're having fun!

{Bid Day 2006 - little did I know these girls would become my some of my best friends}

{Senior Pub Crawl 2010 with my sisters - 4 years later}

Listening to: "Champion" Kanye West
Thought of the Day: "Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Little Paper Hearts

2010-04-05T01:00:00.003-05:00

I love looking through Esty at the variety of smile-inducing pieces of creativity to hang on your wall. My latest finds are these beautiful and delicate heart collages. Sad thing is though that they're all sold out. Major bummer... but hopefully Sarah and Bendrix come back soon!

Listening to: "When I Look to the Sky" Train
Thought of the Day: "The pursuit of happiness is a ridiculous phrase. If you pursue happiness, you'll never find it." -C.P. Snow

{Images via Sarah and Bendrix}

Escape

2010-03-14T22:52:00.004-05:00

I want to escape to a place this serene.

Today in the lunchroom, one of the science teachers said there's some new research out that found that people who are frequently stressed are actually doing permanent damage to the frontal cortex (I think?). If this is true, I think this part of my brain will be kaput in the next few years. I'm usually a patient and practical person, but right now I'm neither.

As a way of calming down and taking a step back, I've been trying to use this meditation that one of my professors at SLU introduced me to a while back:

"Following the Breath"
-Thich Nhat Hahn

Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment!
Breathing in I know I'm breathing in.
Breathing out, I know
as the in-breath grows deep,
the out-breath grows slow.
Breathing in makes me calm.
Breathing out brings me ease.
With the in-breath, I smile.
With the out breath, I release.
Breathing in, there is only the present moment.
Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

Listening to: The Script "Breakeven"
Thought of the Day: "Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart." -Anonymous

{Image via Mandr}

Standards

2010-03-14T13:17:00.004-05:00

Ok, so I usually don't like comedy that makes fun of other people, but for some reason, I really like these. I ran across DEALBREAKER the other day and its compilation of turn-offs continues to crack me up. Two of my faves: "You haven't read a book since high school" and "You steal books from the Public Library." The blog authors are coming out with a book next year, but until then, I might have to check out Undateable which comes out in 2 days.
Here's a couple of their promo e-cards.

Thought of the Day: "This is your world. Shape it or someone else will." -Gary Lew
Listening to: "Ridin' Solo" -Jason Derulo

Gettin' Some Culture

2010-03-10T16:02:00.006-06:00

When I decided to go to SLU during my senior year of high school, my favorite history teacher teased me that I would return from St. Louis wearing Baby Phat clothes and high top Nikes. I laughed it off obviously, thinking that my conservative self would never give into the urban culture. And now as I student teach in an inner city high school, I can see how far I’ve come from the uber conservative self I was, but at the same time, I’m still in a total culture shock.

Yesterday, my cooperating teacher and others in the department were told that they need to create a new SMART goal for the month and they’ve decided the new goal would be to increase my “hoodness” by 5%. To start with, they decided to write up a list of movies I need to watch, songs and artists I need to listen to (I got over a gigabyte of new music today from them!), and TV shows I need to watch. This is the important stuff they forget to teach you in college. Professors always say you need to connect with your students, but they never give you insight on how. Hopefully this education helps because I definitely need to improve my understanding of my kids. I wonder what my high school teacher would say now.

[Proven example: last night I watched “The Bad Girls Club” on Oxygen and while it was painful to watch some of the stuff they do and say, I came to a better understanding of why the girls at my school get into cat fights over boys and hair that end up getting them suspended for 10 days. I can’t believe that people act like that on TV and are ok with portraying themselves in that manner, but it explained why girls behave in the ways they do.]

Movie list so far:

-Get on the Bus (or anything Spike Lee)

-Rize

-Kings of Comedy

-Soul Plane

-CB4

-The Wash

-Rosewood

-Krush Groove

Music includes:

-Gucci Mane

-Public Enemy

-Beastie Boys

-Dr. Dre

… and if I’m really good and show my 5% improvement, I might even get a nickname!

Listening to: "Gangsta's Paradise" Coolio

Thought of the Day: "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same." -Anne Frank

Summer Jammin'

2010-03-07T15:10:00.003-06:00

Nothing says summer to me like sun and Shwayze. He's a little crude, a bit stoner, and a lot of jammin'. I love "Corona and Lime" and with the weather hitting temperatures in the 60s (which feels like tropical weather after months of snow), Shwayze was busted out this weekend. I'm so ready for summer!

ps - Sorry for the long absence - student teaching and life are kicking my butt right now. I'm going to try to be much better about posting regularly though!

Raindrops on Roses

2010-02-20T11:28:00.005-06:00

Some days just start better with a little list, and these are a few of my favorite things:
1. fabulous plans for the night - senior bar crawl with my sorority!
2. fat crisp carrots (the kind that you can separate the middle from the outside and eat separately).
3. writing/receiving letters.
4. songs like "You and Me" by DMB that instantly calm me down.
5. new magazines.
6. summer smelling candles when there's still snow on the ground (these are my two favs right now).
7. warm weather (it's been cold too long when I call 47 warm).
8. 90's rap music.

Listening to: "My Favorite Things" (obviously)
Thought of the Day: "Always make new mistakes." -Ethser Dyson

{Image via: Maholo Answers}

Pink Glitter

2010-02-16T21:01:00.003-06:00

So tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and that means I am going to be trying out a new lifestyle, trying to live more simply and more similarly to the lifestyle I would be assuming if I am selected to be a Jesuit Volunteer next year. More on this later, but for now, for my last consumeristic post for a while... lust worthy shoes. I know, I know, I really shouldn't be posting about these since they cost approximately the same as 200 days of food for a volunteer in Belize, but they're gorgeous and I would never actually think of buying them.

Mr. Louboutin knows how to design seriously glamorous heels. How cute would they be with a one sleeved black mini dress?

{Christian Louboutin Declic Glitter Pumps, $675}

Listening to: "1901" Phoenix
Thought of the Day: "One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." -Jack Penn

Atonement

2010-02-14T22:00:00.003-06:00

I just watched Atonement for the first time last night and I was quite impressed Despite being a historic love story, it didn't come off the same way as others such as Titanic and Pearl Harbor, which are great movies but a bit too much on the romantic side. It conveyed the passion, but their love was more playful and not the sole focus of the movie. I was also captivated by Keira Knightley and her gorgeous green dress. It flowed amazingly and fit get perfectly. But then again, what doesn't?

{lovely and elegant}

Listening to: "Sweet Dreams" Beyonce
Thought of the Day: "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." -unknown

{Images via Craftimes}

Love You!

2010-02-14T01:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

{Image via weheartit}

Happy Friday!

2010-02-12T20:45:00.003-06:00

You know what's amazing?
When you can talk on the phone to someone and he know just what to say and it feels like this hug. For some reason, today and yesterday have been downers and I just wish I could get this hug. My 2 hour phone call came pretty close, but I still can't wait for it in person.

On a more upbeat note, I was selected to move onto the next round of interviews for the Jesuit Volunteer International program, which is freaking awesome. I go to Chicago on Feb. 26th for it and I'm a bit nervous! When I heard the voicemail on my phone this afternoon after school, I was so excited that I screamed. Such a relief, but this final round will narrow the applicants from 90 to only 30ish. Scary odds. Say a prayer for me please!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a lovely Valentine's Day.

Listening to: Sara Evans "I Could Not Ask For More"
Thought of the Day: "LOVE is not a thing. You contemplate in you mind, store in your heart and keep to yourself. For LOVE to be you must give it away. For LOVE is an action. Do LOVE every chance you get."

{Image via: fyeahlove}

Lovely Cake

2010-02-10T22:57:00.003-06:00

How amazing is this cake?! I want to make it right now, just to see if I could. I am Baker has a very detailed photo tutorial of how to make this heart cake and it doesn't sound too terribly difficult. Don't you wish you could be this creative?

Listening to: "Let Me Love You" Mario
Thought of the Day: "They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carl W. Buechner

{Image via I am Baker}

Snow Day!

2010-02-09T09:42:00.004-06:00

{view out my window}

One great thing about student teaching? My school district canceled school today because of snow! As crazy as this sounds I am so excited to be able to catch up on grading, get my lecture ready for tomorrow and hopefully start planning for next week so this weekend will be less busy. And I'll hopefully get to bed at a decent time - sleeping 5 hours or less every night is rough!

Listening to: "Poison" Beyonce
Thought of the Day: "Don't be afraid to see what you see." - Ronald Reagan

Pink Sugar

2010-02-08T19:05:00.004-06:00

My friend Vance hosted a Superbowl party yesterday. My contribution? Heart sugar cookies with pink sprinkles. Am I getting too predictable? It works great considering I spent most of the game playing cards. Who cares about football anyway?

...oh wait... probably the majority of America.

{Yum.}

Don't worry, I made homemade soft pretzels too from a delicious recipe by Alton Brown.

Listening to: "Friends, Lovers, or Nothing" John Mayer
Thought of the Day:"All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed." - Sean O'Casey

Perfect Pink

2010-02-05T20:34:00.004-06:00

I love Valentine's Day. Well, maybe not the day itself, but the pinks and reds, the dresses, the hearts, seeing the word "LOVE" everywhere... it just makes me feel like there is love in the air. And what better way to kick off the season of love than with a gorgeous bridesmaid dress? J.Crew has sold this dress for the past couple seasons and I have been infatuated since the first time I saw it. It looks figure flattering and seems like one that you would actually wear again after the wedding. It's usually shown with a gold skinny belt which makes it even better. But I don't think I could ever ask my bridesmaids to buy a $225 dress...

{J.Crew cotton cady Erica dress, $225}

Listening to: "Brick by Brick" Katy Perry
Thought of the Day: "What you are in love with seizes the imagination, will affect your everything. It will decide what gets you out of bed in the mornings, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, what you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." - Pedro Arrupe

Sexy History

2010-01-28T18:47:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow marks the end of my first week of complete teaching - lectures, activities, grading, everything! I'm not going to lie, I'm very happy that tomorrow's Friday. It's been a long, yet super fast week. But I am extremely blessed to have an amazing cooperating teacher. He's been very friendly, supportive, and encouraging, always knowing the right questions to ask and advice to give. Yesterday I was discouraged about my ability to lecture (I stink at public speaking!) and not being able to be engaging and culturally relevant to the students. This morning when I got to school, my teacher handed my a Borders bag and in it there were two books. In order to start my collection of stories and references that will help me to, as my teacher says, "make history sexy", Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live and Uncle John's Bathroom Reader: Plunges into History. They sound extremely weird, but so far I have learned so many random facts! I would highly recommend these for anyone who doesn't like history - but watch out; if you didn't guess it from the title, Badass is a bit crude, but amazing. Yay for new books and amazing mentors!

{Ben Thompson's Badass}

{Uncle John's Bathroom Reader}

Listening to: "How Do I Breathe" Mario

Thought of the Day: "Fall seven times, stand up eight." - Japanese proverb

Foodie Valentines

2010-01-25T23:59:00.003-06:00

More adorable Valentines...

{All $4 from persimmonsgal's Etsy shop.}

Listening to: "Favorite Girl" Justin Bieber

Thought of the Day: "In your hands you hold the seeds of fialure or the potential for greatness. Your hands are capable, but they must be used for the right things to reap the rewards you are capable of attaining. The choice is yours." - Zig Ziglar

Happy Friday!

2010-01-22T01:00:00.002-06:00

An escape to a Californian beach sounds fabulous right now. After an amazing retreat from reality last weekend, this week was rough. Too little sleep due to new responsibilities with student teaching, gloomy weather everyday, early mornings (waking up at 5:30 is rough!), and getting back into the routine of meetings, working out and school, has left me exhausted and burnt out... and it's only week 2!
This afternoon, I have a phone interview for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps - wish me luck! I hope this weekend I am able to catch up on sleep, lesson plans, and friends. Have a wonderful Friday!

Elegance

2010-01-21T19:43:00.009-06:00

I'm not usually a fan of Jessica Stam, but isn't she lovely in this Feb. 2010 Elle China photograph?

I'm smitten with the combination of pearls and black lace.

Listening to: "Shed a Little Light" James Taylor
Thought of the Day: "This is my wish for you: comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, hugs when spirits sag, sunsets to warm your heart, friendships to brighten your being, beauty for your eyes to see, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, patience to accept the truth, courage to know yourself, love to complete your life." - Anonymous

{via A Glamorous Little Side Project via Elle China}

BOYBC

2010-01-19T17:44:00.003-06:00

Bring your own beer coaster. So cool.

{4 for $6.50}

{75 personalized for $95}

Wouldn't these coasters made by Red Bird Ink be the perfect gift for the guys in your life?
Search etsy for letterpressed coasters and more designs are available, but I love the simplicity of these.

Listening to: "I Run to You" Lady Antebellum
Thought of the Day: "Search for inspiration." -Wilferd Peterson

Happy Friday!

2010-01-15T01:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! I apologize for being so inconsistent with posting. With the start of student teaching this week, finishing my application for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (due today!), and getting back into the school mode, my life has been a little crazy. To conclude this whirlwind week, tonight I'll be flying south to visit my boyfriend for the long weekend. I hope the time on the plane will allow my head to stop spinning a bit!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of family and friends, laughter and love.

{Image via: youwillneverwastemytime}

Love Love Love

2010-01-12T18:24:00.004-06:00

I can't wait until Valentine's Day...

After my first day of student teaching, I'm in the teacher mode and these are the cutest Valentines for students :)

Listening to: "Hungover" Kesha
Thought of the Day:"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." -Mother Teresa

{Image via inchmark}

Graduation Gift

2010-01-11T10:23:00.006-06:00

{tote, monogrammed reversible cozy, shoe clips}

My friend Katie who I've been friends with since 1st grade, just graduated from college this past semester. This made me realize that I am not looking forward to my own graduation and figuring out gifts for all my SLU friends because it is impossible to find/make something that is worthy of such a momentous occasion, especially considering college graduation means that we will all be going different places and directions.
Because I believe no one can have too many totes, especially ones that can double a reusable grocery bags, I made Katie a monogrammed tote, a coffee cozy (staying with the green theme!), and shoe clips. I discovered the idea of shoe clips while I was looking around Etsy one day, and I am rather obsessed now. Instead of buying multiple shoes like these and these, shoe clips let you switch the bloom or gems on the top of your flats or heels. Ingenious, right? I just made a couple fabric flowers and attached craft section hair pins to the back with some glue and stitches.

{doily tote - simple instructions by Ashley Ann}

{6 cream silk circles cinched with stitches in the middle, pearls added}

{2 sets, creamy and navy (modeled after Heart of Light's lovely headbands)}

Listening to: "Your Love is My Drug" Kesha
Thought of the Day: "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and let it come in." Morrie Schwartz

Winter Blossoms

2010-01-08T19:00:00.003-06:00

{Teacher Clothes Part 2: EmersonMade Blooms}

{I want this dress}

{simple and chic, love her heels}

Easy Embellishments

2010-01-08T15:58:00.003-06:00

{Teacher Clothes Part 1: J. Crew}

{love the ruffles and layered necklaces}

{for an important day}

{add a grey blazer}

{I can't wait to try out my two new blazers!}

Coming Up Fast

2010-01-08T15:38:00.000-06:00

I can't believe this is my last weekend of Christmas break. It feels like it has been ages since I was at school and I can't wait to be back but then again, this semester is going to be filled with so many firsts and lasts. Some examples:
Firsts:
- teaching full time (student teaching, but still, I just received an e-mail from my cooperating teacher telling me that I will be taking over the class after MLK day... aka,
- going to Mississippi
- applying to post college stuff (ex: Jesuit Volunteer Corps, grad school(s), jobs (?)...)
- dressing professional on a daily basis
- receiving a degree (!!!!)
Lasts:
- sorority events
- getting graded (maybe)
- living within 2 blocks of my friends
- perhaps the last time I'll live in St. Louis (emphasis on the perhaps)

I am so excited to start this year, but it's still very odd. As I was thinking about my goals for the year, I realized that as I make this list next New Year, I will be in a completely different part of my life. All these things that are stressors right now, such as applications and the FUTURE, will be forgotten. That is such a weird thought.

I digress. My point was that I get to (everything is better with a positive spin!) dress professionally this semester for student teaching and I am really excited. I'm going to be in a St. Louis City public school which is a much different environment than my years of Catholic schooling. I think behavior management is going to be my biggest challenge, especially because I'm a college kid still. In the books I have been reading to prep myself, there is a lot of talk about looking the part or "fake it 'til you make it" attitude. I also read that kids like you more if you have variety in your wardrobe because it gives them something more interesting that khakis and a polo to look at everyday. And because I am a planner, I've been collecting some outfit ideas that would allow for mixing and matching (I'm still on a student's budget!) and in my next couple posts, I'm going to highlight some faves. Sadly I don't think the chunky, holiday "teacher" sweaters (you know, the ones with the pompoms and bells) made the cut. I'm heartbroken about this, if you couldn't tell.

Listening to: Switchfoot "This is Your Life"
Thought of the day: "Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways." -Stephen Vincent Benét

{Images via I heart Stolen Images, ImageKind}

Winter Salad

2010-01-05T22:21:00.002-06:00

After seeing this delicious looking salad over on Cupcakes and Cashmere this morning, I decided to try my hand at a fennel winter salad for dinner. I didn't find any arugula at the grocery store, so I tried this recipe from Cooking Light instead. Despite having to make some alterations (spring greens for watercress, clementines for blood oranges), the combination of sweet pomegranate seeds, tart lemon juice, and spicy greens was perfect.

Fennel, Clementine, and Mixed Greens Salad
adapted from Cooking Light
serves 2

1 thinly sliced fennel bulb
2 cups mixed spring greens
1 clementine, sectioned
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds (here's great instructions for prepping a pomegranate)
juice of 1/2 lemon
pinch of salt
1/4 garlic clove
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine first four ingredients in bowls. Combine next 3 in a small bowl and drizzle mixture over salads. Season with pepper.

{sounds funny, but this smelled great on my drive home from the store!}

{refreshingly colorful during the bleakness of winter}

Listening to: Maxwell "Pretty Wings"
Thought of the Day: "All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." -Winston Churchill

Meow.

2010-01-04T00:01:00.001-06:00

Being home has made me miss Lucy so much more than usual. It was nice to be distracted by these adorable cats on my grandparents' farm during our visit. If only I could have taken one home!

Listening to: "God Love Her" Toby Keith
Thought of the Day: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." -Neale Donald Walsch

Thoughts for 2010

2010-01-01T00:39:00.003-06:00

Words to Live 2010 by:

{image via quotable cards}

{image via etsy}

Listening to: "Dream Big" Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband

My 2009 in Pictures

2009-12-31T23:51:00.005-06:00

2009 was filled with so many wonderful memories that were only possible because of the amazing family and friends I have in my life. It was a challenging year, but I am very grateful for the experiences and lessons learned. Thank you for everything! I can't wait to see what 2010 holds for us. Happy New Year!

{finding friendships and callings in Belize}

{teaching kids, or more accurately, learning from kids}

{our family in Belize and their new home}

{the house, relationships, and lives built in Belize}

{Delta Gamma formal at Busch Stadium - with my lovely roommates and best friends!}

{"Salad Dressing" Sorority Date Dash}

{sibling bonding in Hawaii}

{backpacking with my brother and sister in Hawaii}

{Lucy}

{last Bid Day!}

{camping adventures}

{getting ready to become teachers!}

{dominoes for Halloween}

Cozying up for Christmas

2009-12-30T22:23:00.010-06:00

Isn't this disgusting? When they all get thrown into garbage cans, it's easy to forget how much we consume. According to Cup Kozy, a company that sells a plethora of cozies, 14 billion cups of coffee are wrapped in sleeves every year, generating 2.8 billion pounds of trash! Yikes!

{Image via daily dose of imagery}

Back here, I talked about an easy way to be a little bit greener by using a reusable coffee cozy. So, staying with the homemade Christmas gift theme, I made my mom and dad (who go to Panera every Sunday morning after mass), cozies for their cups. The project was relatively simple, requiring only basic sewing abilities. There are a lot of patterns and tutorials online, but I just dove in and made it up as I went along, using a cardboard Panera sleeve as a size guide.

For my dad's, I cut felt for the inner insulation layer to the exact size of the sleeve and then cut the burlap piece about 1/2 inch wider on all sides. The edges were sewn quickly with a sewing machine (a little crooked because I was going fast, but it works with the rougher feel of the burlap) and then I hand-stitched the edges together.

For my mom, I made a reversible sleeve, one side with cut-out felt hearts and the other with printed pink polka dot felt. I cut both pieces (the grey and the polka dot) to the exact size of the sleeve and then used a blanket stitch to bind them together.

Listening to: "Wait Your Turn" Rihanna
Thought of the Day: "Too much of a good thing can be wonderful." -Mae West

Counting Down the Days

2009-12-27T23:32:00.007-06:00

I know it isn't even January 1st yet, but I'm already sick of the cold weather. Don't get me wrong, I like snow, but only when it is falling and I am sitting inside watching it. And I don't mind sledding, snow ball fights, and making snow men (I made one this past week with my little cousin!), but after the first day of snow on the ground, I'm ready for it to melt away and for the sun to bring back some warmth. So while I wait for the next couple dreary months to pass, I'm going to dream of being in warmer places with cheery, girly dresses like these by Thread Social.

Listening to: "Woke up in a Car" Something Corporate
Thought of the Day: "The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Basic Blazer

2009-12-22T01:00:00.000-06:00

I went shopping for some pieces I can wear for student teaching next semester and I kept having the problem that everything was too stiff and not very versatile. Everything made me feel like a little kid playing dress up in my businesswoman mom's closet.... not that my mom's a business woman, but if she were a workaholic executive, these were the pieces she would wear. So rather than sticking with my basic cardigans everyday, maybe a black blazer like this one would provide a bit more style in the outfit rotation.

{Forever 21, $28.80}

{Gap, $88}

Not only would it look great during the work day,
but I also love this look of a clean blazer over a flirty party dress.

{Dresses: Camilla and Marc, Preen, Herve Leger}

Listening to: "Winter Paradise" -Destiny's Child
Thought of the Day: Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do. Because then they will act." -Jack Welch

Magical Lights

2009-12-21T01:00:00.001-06:00

Christmas lights are so magical.
I love driving around town looking at the colorful, twinkling glow, soaking up the Christmas spirit.

Listening to: "Joy to the World" Mariah Carey

Thought of the Day: "Give what you have to somebody; it may be better than you think." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

{Images via weheartit, flickr}

Happy Friday!

2009-12-18T01:11:00.003-06:00

Isn't this tree gorgeous?

I hope you have a great weekend! I'll be traveling with my family to Kansas to spend the week of Christmas with my grandparents. Oddly enough, I am actually looking forward to the 11 hour drive. While we do get a little sick of each other, it's always fun to talk with my sister and play the license plate game and name games with my little brother.

Listening to: "Already Gone" Sugarland
Thought of the Day: "If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another." -Tenzin Gyatso

{Image via This is Glamourous}

Christmas Memories

2009-12-17T21:25:00.003-06:00

Today I helped out in the lunchroom of my little brother's grade school (also my former school). It was weird to be back and seeing old teachers and classrooms brought back some memories. Tomorrow his 4th grade is having their Christmas party and at lunch some of the kids were telling me about the plans. It was so cute hearing them get so excited about their secret Santas, homemade snow globes, and Christmas treats. Some favorite Christmas childhood memories of mine include:

{sledding on my grandparents' farm in Kansas}

{the smell of hot spicy apple cider throughout my grandma's house}

{lying under our tree looking up at the twinkling lights}

{candy cane reindeer}

Listening to: "Crash into Me" - Dave Matthews Band
Thought of the Day: "Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more." Anthony Robbins

{images via: Martha Stewart, flickr, CBYSparkle}

Cookies and Cocoa

2009-12-15T01:44:00.007-06:00

Over the weekend as I checking out at Walmart, the cashier and I were discussing the hairiness of the holidays. One of her statements made an impact on me, as she said that while she likes the holidays, she is ready for Christmas to just be over with already. With this in mind, I crafted some homemade gifts for my friends who I am saying goodbye to for Christmas break as finals wind to an end. Perfect for chilly nights, I made hot chocolate mixes and festive cookies.

Peppermint Stick Cocoa Mix
via Sunset Magazine, Dec. 2004
Ingredients:
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy (preferably from candy canes so there are more red stripes!)
1/2 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Layer ingredients in a 1 quart jar.
Close and add tag that says:
1. Combine ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add 1/3 cup mix to 1 cup hot water.
3. Stir and enjoy!
4. Store remaining mix in an air-tight container.

{Peanut Butter Kiss cookies via Betty Crocker - with the addition of a kiss!}

{Christmas M&M cookies via Smitten Kitchen}

Listening to: "Satellites" Beyonce
Thought of the Day: "Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action." - James Levin

Christmas Wish List

2009-12-14T01:00:00.000-06:00

Dream Christmas Wish List:

{Kate Spade Guilia heels, $325}

{Essie Mint Candy Apple, $8}

{J.Crew Crystal-and-pearl libretto necklace, $118}

{Coach Tribeca Metallic Patent Tote, $298}

Listening to: "Christmas Is All Around" Billy Mack
Thought of the Day: "Children have neither past nor future; they enjoy the present, which very few of us do." -Jean de la Bruyere

Happy Friday!

2009-12-11T03:40:00.005-06:00

Happy Friday! I hope it doesn't look like this where you are. It feels like it here. But, I'm celebrating because only 2 finals and 1 paper stand between me and freedom (well, until January)! Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!

Listening to: "Drive to You" Jewel
Thought of the Day: "It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." - Albert Einstein

{Image via weheartit}

When did I grow up?

2009-12-10T03:24:00.001-06:00

22 used to seem so old...

but not anymore!

I can't believe how fast time flies and how soon the future becomes the present. Yesterday, I observed in the classroom I will be student teaching in this spring and it still seems so unreal that I am old enough to have a job and be responsible for teaching 16 year olds about the history of the world. I can't wait to share some experiences soon though!

ps - if you're in the St. Louis area, check out Fritanga for some amazing and authentic Nicaraguan food!

Listening to: "One of These Days" Michelle Branch
Thought of the Day: "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forewards." -Soren Kierkegaard

{Image via weheartit}

I'll be back!

2009-12-07T16:57:00.000-06:00

Finals... yuck. I don't know who ever came up with this great idea of only having 3 grades per class (midterm, final, research paper), but personally I think this is the worst way to evaluate a student's growth, learning and actual understanding of a subject area. Anyway, my point is that in order to study, I am going to be taking a bit of a break until after finals. I can't wait for Christmas break when I can put more time into this! Thanks for understanding!

{Image via weheartit}

Listening to: Matt Nathanson
Thought of the Week: "The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." -Arthur C. Clarke

Happy Friday!

2009-12-04T08:56:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

{Image via weheartit via Le Love}

Sweet Simplicity

2009-12-03T01:57:00.003-06:00

After seeing this crafty Christmas tree (perfect for a small apartment!) on you are my fave, I had to check out Sweet Paul, a blog with beautiful photographs, delicious recipes and creativity galore! I love the crisp whites, cool blues and touches of green he uses for the holidays. It's such a refleshing departure from the traditional red and green.

{they're cupcake liners!}

{ingenious wreath - a never ending circle of love}

{Advent wreath reinvented}

Listening to: "I'm Alive" Kenny Chesney
Thought of the day: "Love cures people - both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it." -Dr. Karl Menninger

{all images via Sweet Paul}

Stylish Pair

2009-12-02T16:35:00.000-06:00

Yesterday in one of my classes, we were comparing the portrayal of families in the media and one of the shows we discussed was Full House. A girl in my class commented that the Michelle was such as cute baby and it was a shame that the Olsen twins are so dysfunctional now. Everyone but me agreed with her. I didn't voice this then, but am I really the only one who likes these two? They just exude such a carefree, glamorous, and chic image. What do you think? I am crazy in this opinion?

Listening to: "Stay or Leave" Dave Matthews Band
Thought of the Day: "Without friends, no one would choose to live" -Aristotle

{Image via Saints and Liars}

Frost Yourself

2009-11-29T23:35:00.003-06:00

I am loving Heidi Klum's ads for Ann Taylor. It seems so funny that a brand I considered "old" and "mom-ish" about 3 years ago is now being represented by Heidi and I actually would love to wear their clothing. Isn't the pearl and diamond combination lovely? Some of my faves...

Inspiration for some Christmas break DIYs? hmm....

Listening to: "Never Knew I Needed" Ne-Yo
Thought of the Day: "Don't pray for an easier life; but instead pray to be a stronger person." - Bishop Lafino

{Images via Instyle and Ann Taylor}

Happy Friday!

2009-11-27T01:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! I hope you have a fabulous looong weekend and soak up the family/friends time!

Listening to: "Take a Bow" Rihanna
Thought of the Day: The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

{Image via weheartit}

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T22:28:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it is full of friends, family, laughter, and love.

{Image via weheartit}

Taking a Break

2009-11-25T12:11:00.006-06:00

{Image via Frangipane}

I drove home yesterday to begin my Thanksgiving break and I think I brought a new meaning to the idea of a relaxing break. Before dinner, I went downstairs to watch a little TV (it's been a while since I watched any mindless reality TV) and I immediately fell asleep (at 5pm!) and didn't wake up until 9am this morning! I guess that is what I get for pulling my first - and hopefully last! - all-nighter ever. This semester has not been my friend and I can't wait to start next semester, even though I probably should be terrified since I will be student teaching. I guess I will just cross that bridge when I come to it?
I realized this week that I have problems with living in the moment, cherishing what is actually happening instead of worrying about what is in the future. I keep finding myself stressing way too much about school work, applications for future endeavors, and whether or not I will be able to compete with other applicants while I am hanging out with friends, at the gym, or even reading the newspaper. So I have decided that I need to make a conscious effort to think about what is happening right now and savor the moments as I live them. I want to live more meaningfully. Any suggestions on doing this would be greatly appreciated! And what better time to start with the Thanksgiving season!

Recipe: Little Balsamic-Glazed Onions via Sunset Magazine

{sounds delish, but holy cow, 2 hours of prep!?}

Thankful Thoughts:
1. People like Jim Keady who really believe that one person can change the world - please watch his video, Behind the Swoosh!
2. Diet Pepsi
3. finished with one major paper!
4. invigorating conversations about social justice
5. warm sweaters and Target moccasins

Random Tidbit:
Appropriate since I am writing a lesson plan right now about the natives' perspective of Central American colonization... How teachers should really teach the real story of Thanksgiving. I learned it from a completely Euro-centric viewpoint, did you?

Listening to: "Doesn't Mean Anything" Alicia Keys
Thought of the Day: "If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven't done much today." - Anonymous

3 Days!

2009-11-23T03:28:00.003-06:00

{Image via Martha Stewart}

Recipe: Cranberry, Apple and Walnut Conserve via Gourmet, Nov. 2006

Thankful Thoughts:
1. Friendsgiving! - our amazing potluck this past weekend
2. Beautiful weather (I'm still wearing shorts!)
3. My little brother said that he was really excited for me to come home on Tuesday (it's always nice to hear)
4. I am almost done with one of my research papers!
5. Bittersweet endings and the promise of new beginnings

Random Tidbit: President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 that Thanksgiving should be celebrated in the U.S. He stated, “The year that is drawing to its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come… I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those…who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and praise our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens…I do recommend…they do also…implore the interposition of the Almighty hand…to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it…to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”

Listening to: "Baby by Me" 50 Cent ft. Ne-Yo
Thought of the Day: "I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail." -Woodrow Wilson

Happy Friday!

2009-11-20T02:06:00.004-06:00

{Image via ffffound!}

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Thankful Thoughts:
1. Sunny fall afternoons
2. Talking to my mom on the phone (in person is so much better though)
3. Having family close enough to be able to see them on a semi-regular basis (one of the kids I talked with today was so excited because he gets to see his grandparents over Thanksgiving break - this means a flight to Vietnam.)
4. Only 3 more days of class until break!
5. I go to a school I love and am happy with my major.

Random Tidbit: Since Columbus though the Americas were part of India, he believed that the wild turkeys were a specises of peacock, which are native to India. Therefore, he named them "tuka" which is "peacock" in Tamil (an Indian language).

Recipe: Golden-Crusted Brussels Sprouts via 101 cookbooks
(I had never had a Brussels sprout before about a month ago because of their negative image, but now I can't wait to make them for Thanksgiving.)

Listening to: "Hide and Seek" Imogen Heap
Thought of the Day: "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." -Thornton Wilder

Thinking about Thanks

2009-11-19T01:03:00.004-06:00

What I am excited about today? Well... first, I have begun to love Thursdays, more specifically Thursdays from 3:30 -7:30, because I volunteer at an amazing after school program for students from immigrant and refugee families and it has become one of the main highlights of my week. Second, I get to go emergency dress shopping with my friend, Bridget tonight to try to find something to wear to our semi-formal on Friday night. And finally [drum roll please!] ...
Thanksgiving is exactly ONE WEEK from today! I am so excited! I can't believe that it is already Thanksgiving time. I have been trying to get into the spirit by thinking about more than the food and days off school. I am currently taking a Modern Latin America history course which has provided some interesting insights into the colonization of the Americas. We so often take our success as a nation for granted, but putting our history into a global context through this class has helped me to think more about the countless blessings that I have been given. Similarly, through my interactions with the children I tutor I am constantly reminded of how grateful I am/should be for what I have that I usually take for granted.
The last time I was home, my little brother Pete and I made a fall colored paper chain to decorate for Thanksgiving. On each loop, we wrote something for which we are thankful, ranging from chocolate chip cookies to grandparents to Lord of the Rings (Pete's). So to get in the Thanksgiving spirit and inspire you to also think about all the blessings you've been given, I have decided to use these days leading up to Thanksgiving to document some of my reasons to be thankful, check out some delicious recipes and (since I am a dorky history major) explore some interesting facts about the first Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy!

Recipe: Autumn Farmer's Market Salad (arugula tossed with butternut squash, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and a light dressing combining orange juice, nut oil, lemon juice and pomegranate syrup)from Bon Appetit, Oct. 2008

Thankful Thoughts:
1. Unexpected hugs from friends
2. The "I love myself!" feeling I get after I work out
3.The smell of hazelnut flavored coffee
4. The O.C. Chrismukkah cd (listen here)
5. New possibilities for the future (ideas for things to do post-grad)

Random Tidbit: The foods on the pilgrims' and Native Americans' menu probably included cod, eel, clams, lobster, corn, swan, turkey, acorns, plums, and pumpkins. It relied heavily on meats and didn't included many vegetables or anything sweet due to a lack of sugar sources.

Listening to: "Maybe This Christmas" Ron Sexsmith
Thought of the Day: "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice." - Meister Eckhart

for hope. for strength. for life

2009-11-18T01:00:00.001-06:00

So I swore I wasn't going to be one of those girls. I wasn't going to going to broadcast to the blog world that I'm a "sorority girl!". And I am not a stereotypical sorority girl (from my experience that is just what people want to think sorority girls are so that they can write them off). My sorority is such a huge part of who I am and I am so proud to be able to say I am a Delta Gamma. It is so easy to think these women (and guys in frats) are just ditzy, party girls or whatever you want, but being in a sorority is so much more than that. It is lifelong bonds of friendship. It, like biological sisterhood, has ups and downs. I don't always get along with my sisters and frankly, I can't stand them some days. But because we are connected by something so much deeper than just friendship, we can come back to this safe place that we call "home".

We had elections in my chapter tonight and one of the member's speeches really made an impact on me and then I started procrastinating and found these quotes:

"delta gamma is my life. it is what i wake up to and fall asleep to. it inspires me to excel to my fullest potential."

"twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things you didn't do than the things you did do... so cast off your bowlines, catch trade winds as you sail, sail away from your safe harbor, and get ANCHORED in something new. explore. dream. discover. delta gamma"

This is what it means to me to be a Delta Gamma.

Thanks for listening; I'll get off my soap box now.

Dreaming of Summer Nights

2009-11-17T01:00:00.001-06:00

Doesn't this dress just beg to be worn for first date cocktails followed by a stroll along a riverwalk?

{Queen Street Draped Jersey Dress, $190}

It is so effortless looking yet glam at the same time. Made by Carol Hannah of Project Runway fame, it, along with the rest of her fall collection, can be found on her Etsy shop here.

Listening to: "Wedding Dress" -Matt Nathanson
Thought of the Day: "Never lie, steal, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love. If you must steal, steal away from bad company. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away." -Hitch

Cake Balls

2009-11-16T00:01:00.003-06:00

When my friend Amy told me about cake balls, I thought she was crazy and just talking about another quirky St. Louis creation (toasted rav? gooey butter cake?). What would you think if someone told you about baking a cake, crumbling it, adding frosting, and rolling it into balls to then dip in chocolate? I hope I am not alone in thinking this sounds weird. But then after seeing so many of Bakerella's amazing treats around the blog world, I finally checked out her site and discovered that Amy idea wasn't so kooky after all (sorry for the skepticism, Amy!).

Sadly, I'm too late to make these werewolves...

...but these would be so much fun to make with my little brother to take to my grandparents' house for Thanksgiving!

Listening to: "The Luckiest" Ben Folds Five
Thought of the Day: "A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on." -John F. Kennedy

ps- check out this Dallas bakery's website. They make delicious flavors like cinnamon roll and chocolate toffee. Plus... if you are stumped about what kind of cake to have at your wedding, never fear, they do weddings too! so funny...

{Images via Bakerella}

Happy Friday!

2009-11-13T12:22:00.005-06:00

I apologize if I seem to have fallen off the edge of the earth this week; life and school are catching up with me and time seems to be slipping through my fingers. I'm so happy it's finally Friday. Is it weird that I look forward to weekends because I know that I will be able to have large chunks of time to do homework and papers? Probably, but I'm oddly ok with this.

I hope you have a great weekend doing whatever makes you the happiest!

Listening to: "It's Going to Be Alright" Sarah Groves
Thought of the day: "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil." Matthew 6:34

{Image via frangipane}

Cowboy Dreams

2009-11-11T00:47:00.002-06:00

So I have this weird desire to live on a ranch in Texas. You know, find a cowboy (boots included, of course), ride horses into the sunset, have longhorns, go to rodeos, the whole shebang. And here is what my kids will look like:

{Who knew chaps were made this small?}

{I hope I can look half as cool as this boy in a cowboy hat}

Listening to: "I'm Alive" Dave Matthews and Kenny Chesney
Thought of the Day: "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." -Hans Hoffman

{Images via Garance Doré}

Reading Wall

2009-11-09T01:00:00.001-06:00

Despite my crafty decorations (here and here) in my bedroom, I still think the walls are too blank. With the white walls, blonde wood furniture (not my choice), and my lovely white comforter, there is a lot of light in the room. After discovering these awesome shelves, I think I have found an answer. Considering they are from Europe and that I don't buy things I have the slightest inkling that I could make myself, I think this will be a Christmas break project. Plus, it will be the perfect time to scour some thrift shops for cheap books with fun covers to fill my shelves. (That makes it sound like I don't read, but I do, I just don't buy books. I grew up in a family that went - and still does go! - to the library every Saturday.)

{I love how these shelves look like they are built into the wall,

but they actually are cubes with a frame mounted on the wall!}

Listening to: "Replay" - Sean Kingston

Thought of the Day: "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean

ps - I went to Target today and got really excited about Christmas. They have 40 glass ball ornaments for $15. I think I might be buying some silver and blue ones to hang with some silky ribbon. I can't wait :)

Happy Friday!

2009-11-06T10:12:00.004-06:00

Any fabulous weekend plans? I wish I had some. I'm hoping to make some big strides on one of my research papers and take in a little bit more of this beautiful weather before fall-winter really kicks in. Have a lovely Friday!

Listening to: "Russian Roulette" Rihanna
Thought of the Day: "Do something that nobody else has done, something that will dazzle the world!" -Paramahansa Yogananda

{Image via Satellite True}

Leave it to Llamas

2009-11-04T19:29:00.003-06:00

Ever have days when you just need a giggle? Leave it to llamas to never fail to fulfill this need.

Listening to: "Beautiful Day" Edwin McCain
Thought of the Day: "You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." - Ayn Rand

{Image via flickr}

Journey to Awareness

2009-11-03T00:13:00.003-06:00

This semester, I am taking a course titled "History of African Americans in the Mass Media". It has proven to be one of the most interesting and enlightening classes that I have taken so far. While it is an insane amount of work, I have learned so much from becoming more aware of the black media and the history of racism and empowerment in America. Last night I watched the movie Boyz in the Hood a movie from 1991 which follows the lives of boys growing up in South Central L.A. It highlights a multitude of issues such as gangs, drugs, love, AIDs, and divorce in order to paint the realities of life in inner cities.

It has been inducted into the National Film Registry and was named as a "culturally significant" movie by the U.S. Library of Congress for its portrayal of life. While it was full of profanity and violence, I think it is a must-see. The emotions evoked - laughter, fear, and tears - are a testament to the relevance and importance it holds to everyone. At the very least, it is an effective reminder to be conscious of other's backgrounds since we can never know what it is like to have lived their life.

Listening to: "Ooh Child" The Stairsteps

Thought of the Day: "The is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know." - Harry Truman

Pumpkin Muffins

2009-11-02T00:55:00.000-06:00

Just one more pumpkin recipe, I promise. Well, maybe...

It's been so rainy lately that all I want to do is curl up with my fleece blanket with a cup of coffee and do some baking. Especially baking that involves cinnamon, pumpkin, and nutmeg so our apartment smells deliciously sweet and warm. A bake sale last week gave me the perfect excuse to try out a new recipe and buy a mini muffin tin.

There is definitely a reason that this recipe would constitute over half of the most popular search results for pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkin Muffins
Adapted from the American Club, in Kohler, Wisconsin via Gourmet, November 2006

1½ cups all-purpose flour (white whole wheat!)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 15 oz can solid-pack pumpkin (it actually calls for only 1 cup, but this worked great)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used apple sauce)
2 large eggs (I used one whole egg and one egg white)
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1¼ cups (plus 1 tablespoon) sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional, I made half w/ and half w/out)

Preheat oven to 350° Put liners in muffin cups.

Whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin-pie spice, 1¼ cups sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flour and baking powder until just combined. Add choc. chips if using.

Stir together cinnamon and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in another bowl.

Divide batter among muffin cups (each should be about three-fourths full), then sprinkle tops with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake until puffed and golden brown and wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes (minis take a lot less time). Be sure to enjoy the smell!

Cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes, then transfer muffins from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature.

Yum!

Listening to: "Next to You" Jordin Sparks

Thought of the Day: "Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude." - William James

Happy Friday!

2009-10-30T01:33:00.002-05:00

Happy (almost) Halloween! Being in college means that the whole weekend is basically Halloween, so I'm already in the spirit. I just need to get through one test and finish some research for a paper, and then I will be able to have some fun! Hopefully the rain lets up some though - it has rained the last 4 weekends and the forecast says that this will be the 5th. Major bummer. Rain or no rain though, I hope you have a fun and wild weekend!

Listening to: "Young Forever" Jay Z
Thought of the Day: "Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so." - David Grayson

{image via weheartit}

ps- "Isn't my mom amazing?": Part II
Martha Stewart-worthy brownie cupcakes for my little brother's school Halloween party.

Loving the Little Things

2009-10-28T00:30:00.003-05:00

Every month on Smitten, readers are asked what their "Five Simple Pleasures" are this month. Reading the multitude of comments is a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the small things in life that can so easily be taken for granted. Here's my list for October:

1. Cozy scarves.
2. Running outside and catching a whiff of fall that takes me right back to high school cross country.
3. The sun peeking out through all the rain clouds.
4. The satisfying crunch of a perfect carrot.
5. Cute couples.

What's making you smile right now?

Listening to: "Say" John Mayer
Thought of the Day: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

{Image via weheartit}

Caramelized Onions

2009-10-26T01:03:00.004-05:00

Until a few years ago I detested onions. The texture, the taste, all of it, but now, thank goodness, I can't get enough of them. Which is why I would have the strange craving for caramelized onions at 11pm a few nights ago. Or maybe it was my procrastination kicking in. Either way, the onions were delicious.
I couldn't remember which recipe I usually used, but I figured I couldn't go wrong by combining recipes from Heart of Light and Smitten Kitchen.

{finely slice your onion(s)}

{put in a pot (no oil or butter yet!) and let cook over medium, covered for 20ish minutes;
uncover and add a pinch of sugar, a pinch of salt and a bit of olive oil and a bit of butter}

{cook over low heat until golden, stirring occasionally; savor and repeat often}

Is it weird that I ate these plain? Probably, but the flavor is so amazing - sweet and savory - that they perfect by themselves.

Listening to: "Wedding Dress" Matt Nathanson
Thought of the Day: "Loved people are loving people." -Katherine Hepburn

A Case of the Mondays...

2009-10-26T01:00:00.002-05:00

I want to...

read a good book in a hammock at the beach...
climb a mountain for a breathtaking view...

bake something delicious...

sit outside and smell the crisp fall air...

.... be anywhere but here with my laptop and homework.

Listening to: "I'm Alive" Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews
Thought of the Day: "If you just be safe about the choices you make, you don't grow." -Heath Ledger

Happy Friday!

2009-10-23T09:07:00.003-05:00

Doesn't this tree look like something out of the scene in Disney's Robin Hood where they are celebrating by the waterfall? It was made by tying hundreds of electric tea lights to a string and hanging them on the tree! I just read the whole story (it was for a proposal!) on the Smitten blog and am just that - smitten with the idea. I love reading about all the crazy and romantic ways that guys propose. It's amazing to me the amount of thought that goes into planning that one little question, especially when it is a guy who doesn't seem like he would be so creative!

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Listening to: "Jamming" - Bob Marley

Thought of the Day: "People love others not for who they are but for how they make them feel." -Irwin Federman

{Image via HearBlack}

Hanging on to Summer

2009-10-22T01:30:00.000-05:00

Last fall I tried the shorts-over-tights idea a couple times but to be honest, I felt a little silly even though I really liked the concept. I love fall, but I would much rather wear shorts any day (I'm wearing them right now and it's in the 40s!). I was re-inspired after seeing this Winter Shorts post on Cup of Jo and promptly found a few coveted pairs.

{J. Crew, $98}

{Forever 21, $19.80}

{Shopbop, $370}

Still not feeling it? Check out these outfits for some shorts-over-tights inspiration: Anthropologie, J.Crew's LookBook, and Couture Carrie

Listening to: "Do You Remember" Jay Sean
Thought of the Day: ""Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary." -Uta Hagen

Cozy Coffee

2009-10-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm a coffee addict. And regrettably I am a Starbucks addict as well. I'm getting a little annoyed with them though. Ever since they started their new campaign to reduce waste by placing the cup sleeves in a basket, making you choose to use one, I've noticed that many baristas are choosing to double cup instead and many are double cupping and sleeving. Really Starbucks? Is this necessary? I don't know much about this, but last time I checked, their cups didn't leak and, while the coffee is hot, it isn't hotter than any other single-cupping coffee shops' coffee. Arg.

But then I ran across these sleeves on Etsy and I think I will soon have ended my need for two cups or sleeves. There are so many cute ones, but I might just have to make my own.

{Monsterlicious}

{Fill 'er Up}

{Starbucks Burlap Look-a-Like}

Wouldn't these be a great Christmas present too? My mom implemented this rule last year that presents should be predominantly homemade so that we focus less on the materialist aspect of Christmas and more on being with family and celebrating our gifts and talents. Then, I saw this post on Heart of Light and it reminded me to be on the lookout for ideas!

ps - here is the first Starbucks ever! We saw it on a family trip to Seattle two summers ago :)

Listening to: "With Arms Wide Open" Creed

Thought of the Day: "In some families, please is described as the magic word. In our house, however, it was sorry." -Margaret Laurence

Birthday Pumpkin Cupcakes

2009-10-20T01:00:00.001-05:00

What better excuse to continue my pumpkin theme than my mom's birthday? To celebrate on Saturday, I made her pumpkin cupcakes with maple-cream cheese frosting, recipe via Smitten Kitchen (p.s.- I made SK's winter panzanella as well and it was delicious - first time ever having brussel sprouts!). I added more cinnamon and more pumpkin puree than was called for and they were deliciously perfect.

{batter, pre, during, and post pumpkin addition}

{the frosting tasted good, but if you want it to look more like the gorgeous
pictures on SK, don't use margarine and fat free cream cheese -oops!}

Listening to: "Sunshine" by Ne-Yo
Thought of the Day: "No matter how discouraged we get, God has not asked us to do the impossible." -George Grace

Weekend Snapshots

2009-10-19T01:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend began as I drove home Friday for fall break and was able to take in all the changing leaves and corn fields. It might sound weird, but one of the things I always miss when I go on vacation is being able to drive through the country and see all the corn and soybean fields changing with seasons from barren to lush green to harvest-ready golden. The consistency is somewhat comforting and a good reminder of a slower paced, simpler life and it was a great way to start a relaxing weekend with family and friends.

{corn fields and pretty sky}

{birthday baking for my mom - cupcakes to follow!}

{my little brother Pete's soccer game}

{driving through fall trees}

Listening to: "Beautiful" by Akon
Thought of the Day: "Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think." - Dale Carnegie

Happy Friday!

2009-10-16T00:40:00.009-05:00

It's rather funny that I have never been to New York City, but when I think of fall and brisk days, I think of Central Park because of my infatuation with You've Got Mail. There is just something so perfect about that movie, like the way Meg Ryan smells the bouquet of pencils or the way that she can make you want to wear librarian-esque clothing because it looks so effortlessly sexy. Anyway, I love the scenes from the beginning of the movie with the ushering in of fall as the shop keepers open their stores and the leaves are changing colors. You can practically smell the leaves through the TV. And rewatching the movie is one of the things on my to-do list for fall break this weekend, along with eating a Del's caramel apple (Decatur, IL specialty!), getting a hair cut, and making this winter panzanella.

Have a lovely weekend!

Listening to: "Begin Again" by Colbie Caillat

Thought of the Day: "be with someone who knows what they have when they have you."

{Image via JaimeRose Blog}

If Karl Lagerfeld Gets to do it...

2009-10-15T00:23:00.004-05:00

I want to have a barn party too.

Listening to: Dido "Here With You"

Thought of the Day: (pardon the French, but it's a good one!) "I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. "-Maya Angelou

{Image via Garance Dore}

Dreaming about You

2009-10-13T01:00:00.003-05:00

I just saw this on Smitten, the lovely blog on Glamour by Joanna of A Cup of Jo. The title of the post? "Every Boyfriend Should Have This Mug..." I completely agree.

Listening to: "Tuesday Morning" Michelle Branch
Thought of the Day: "We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves." -Eric Hoffer

I like lists.

2009-10-12T11:34:00.013-05:00

I woke up this morning to a lovely 16 e-mails. I last checked it at 1:30am. Ahhh... Monday mornings.

{Essentials for the week: laptop (please note the plethora of sticky notes), coffee, stack of books, and Leaves candle}

It's midterms week too and it's looking very hairy. I have two tests on Wednesday and two tests and two papers on Thursday, but I just keep telling myself that it will go well because I have a plan in place. No matter what, I am going to go to the gym everyday, sleep at least 6 hours, and study constantly. I'm addicted to post-it notes and lists so I have it all mapped out and I just keep telling myself these could be my last midterms... ever. Scary thought, but with graduation in May and student teaching all spring, I may never have to take them again. Even scarier than graduation though is that this means this semester is the last one I have to make a great impression on my future employers and on my GPA. What could be better motivation? Yikes!

{running shoes, ready for stress relief}

Therefore, in order to, not just survive, but thrive this week, I will never be without my laptop, coffee (thanks to the pumpkin spice lattes, I now take my coffee with almond milk, pumpkin pies spice, and a spoonful of pumpkin puree - yum!), fall candles, planner, and post-its. Sounds like a plan to me!

{Breakfast of Champs: steel-cut oats + pumpkin + tons of cinnamon}

Listening to: "Heavy" Holly Brook

Thought of the Day: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." -Winston Churchill

Happy Friday!

2009-10-09T12:35:00.004-05:00

It's another rainy day here, but the dreariness is such a gorgoeous contrast against the leaves that are turning vivid reds, oranges, and yellows. This weekend I'll be busy studying for midterms surrounded by candles (I'm a bit obsessed, if you couldn't tell), cups of coffee and stacks of history books. Have a lovely weekend! Try to stay dry!

{Image via flickr}

It's a Rainy Day...

2009-10-09T00:49:00.003-05:00

"...It's a rainy day. It's raining outside and I can't go out and play. Don't you know I love the rain anyway?" (I miss Sesame Street!)

This morning I awoke to grey skies and rain which seemed perfect for today. Walking to class in the rain was so peaceful (except for the minor burst of torrential downpour) and was perfected when I was finally able to sit inside with a pumpkin spice candle lit and some reading. While I love being able to sit inside, preferably next to a fire, on days like these, I also like to people watch and check out fun umbrellas and rainboots. These boots from Hunter are my fave, but not for $115 (yikes!). I don't own a pair of boots because I have this weird love hate relationship with them. I can't figure out if I like the whimsical colorful boots (I don't think I do) that so many people wear. I think for now I will just keep craving these and consequently wait out the rain.

Listening to: "Breathe" Michelle Branch
Thought of the Day: "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you've got to put up with the rain." - Dolly Parton

hmm...

2009-10-08T00:39:00.002-05:00

{Image via ...etc}

Crisp Leaves

2009-10-07T01:17:00.006-05:00

As I get older, I have begun to appreciate autumn more and more, with its crisp, colorful leaves, new school supplies, warm days and cool nights, and the thought of apples, squash, and pumpkins. Recently, I visited a friend's apartment and the first thing that hit me was the glorious aroma that somehow perfectly captured these elements. She happily informed me that Bath and Body Works (her current employer) has introduced a new candle line and her's was the "Leaves" scent. Love this. Forewarning though: they are selling out fast - I had to go to two different B&B Works to find them!

Listening to: "Mad" Ne-Yo

Thought of the Day: "It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust." -Samuel Johnson

Goodbye Good Reads

2009-10-06T00:45:00.002-05:00

Termed the "Great Magazine Die-Off" by Gawker, this recession has not been kind to journalists. After the fall of Domino Magazine earlier this year, I didn't think it could get much worse, but yesterday, Conde Nast announced the folding of Gourmet, Cookie, Modern Bride, and Elegant Bride.

{a perfect fall meal: Gourmet's Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage and Shaved Chestnuts}

{even though this is for a 1 year old's birthday, I would love it too: Cookie's Pink Birthday Party}

I'm going to miss the creativity and inspiration from these two magazines. (Thank goodness I am not getting married anytime soon or else I would be even more upset!)

Listening to: "Come Away with Me" Norah Jones

Thought of the Day: "Every day, the happy person does at least one difficult thing." -Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Weekend Snapshots

2009-10-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

Recap of the weekend (I accomplished all of Friday's goals!):

Friday night - baked zucchini bread. I made three muffins (turned out delicious) and 2 loaves,(refused to rise no matter how long they remained in the oven, resulting in a dark crust and an overly moist inside. ick.) so I am not sure what is up with the recipe.

*If you are looking for an amazing autumn recipe though, try this pumpkin bread my friend Tom made (sans chocolate chips). Yum.*

Saturday morning - geared up for camping with homemade pumpkin spice lattes. Better (and much more economical) than Starbucks.

{I made a stencil with cardstock and sprinkled cinnamon

over the foam to make hearts for my roomies}

Saturday and Sunday - enjoyed the outdoors and laughed often at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.

{View of midwestern-style mountains - you could see 12 miles away!}

{gorgeous glow}

Listening to: "Open Your Eyes" Snow Patrol

Thought of the Day: "Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you." -Elbert Hubard