Pearls and Lemonade

Cupcakes and Pop Culture

2012-02-01T08:59:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday and I've decided to participate in this blog's weekly link-up. Here are some things I'm loving today:

1. It's a new month! I love any excuse to start fresh.

2. Is anyone else excited about The Fray's third release? They're one of my favorite bands and while their new album doesn't drop until next Wednesday, I'm loving that it's available for free streaming right now on iTunes. My favorite songs so far are The Fighter, Heartbeat, and Run For Your Life.

3. I'm loving these earrings from Anthro:

These are so feminine and delicate. I wouldn't ever pay $200 for them, but they are nice to admire.

I wouldn't normally go for hoops, but the purple at the bottom makes them prettier to me. And they're way more affordable than the above option.

4. I'm loving Red Velvet cupcakes.

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My mom has made them for me for my birthday for the past two years and last year we had some for Valentine's Day:

Over the weekend, I went to a cupcake place downtown to get my red velvet fix and it reminded me of how delicious they are. Yum.

5. I'm loving that I start my new volunteer placement today at a middle school. I think it will be so interesting to see how this age group compares to the 4th grade classroom I was at last semester.

What are you loving today?

My Problem With Olive Garden

2012-01-30T13:10:00.003-05:00

Has anyone seen the article on Yahoo about how Olive Garden plans on giving their restaurants an overhaul due to bad sales? I read through it and I couldn't agree with the criticism more.

I went to Olive Garden for the first time over winter break because my mom wanted to use a gift card she received. I was really unimpressed and don't plan on going back anytime soon. Here are some reasons why I think Olive Garden is lagging behind other chain italian restaurants and below are some things I think they can do to fix their issues:

Problem: The lighting inside is too bright. It feels very sterile.

Solution: Dim the lights to make the atmosphere cozier and more comfortable.

Problem: I usually don't even notice the chairs at restaurants but the ones at OG stuck out to me because they have wheels on them. Tacky! Are we too lazy to push ourselves in/out from the table?

Yuck.

Solution: Chairs that do not roll.

A plain, simple wooden chair would look so much better!

Problem: The food tastes bland.

Solution: Add more flavor and fresher ingredients (basil, parsley, etc) to the menu items. People are willing to pay more for high-quality food.

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Problem: Not a lot of healthy options

Solution: Add in some more menu items without the heavy cream sauce.

What does everyone else think about Olive Garden? Love it? Hate it? Agree/disagree with any of my opinions?

Hawthorne

2012-01-29T18:29:00.000-05:00

I've written before about my love of biking, and on Saturday my brother and I went on our second annual bike trip to Hawthorne. The bike ride is about 40 miles round trip and it's a lot of fun.

map via

The official trail starts on the dotted line at Boulware Springs Park in Gville and ends at the Hawthorne Trailhead on the right side of the picture. There's a couple of hills where I feel like I'm peddling for my life, but the majority of it is smooth and flat.

Last year when we went for the first time, it was a chilly 65F and I wore a jacket, gloves, and sweatpants.

This time around it was a warm 75F and I wore shorts! Love it!

On the way back towards Gainesville, we saw a huge fire burning off of 441 south of campus. Little did we know that by the next morning, over 60 acres would be burned and the smoke from the fire would cause multiple fatal accidents early Sunday morning.

Steven looking out at the Prairie.

Biking this trail took us about 4.5 hours round trip. I would want bring my iPod next time to keep me motivated during those last couple of torturous miles, but this was definitely the highlight of my Saturday.

Anybody else do something fun outside this weekend?

Braids

2012-01-26T09:18:00.004-05:00

Lately, I've been trying to grow out my hair. The only problem is that my hair is so thick that it's unbearable if I wear it down all day! I've always been a ponytail girl because it's so low maintenance, but I wanted to experiment and find an alternative that was more stylish yet still kept hair up and out of my face. Braids have become my solution. They're easy to do and they can last all day.

After looking around online at different pictures for inspiration, I thought it would be fun to teach myself a braiding style different from the traditional one just to mix things up. The fishtail braid looked really cool so I immediately wanted to try that one.

via

Ooh la la. It looked like it would be really hard to do, but Lauren Conrad (from Laguna Beach, The Hills, etc) recently co-created a beauty site last year and she made a great fishtail braid tutorial. I decided to try it out.

Now for the results. Here is what it looks like after I did the braid, but before I took the top elastic out:

After I took the top elastic out...

The finished product!

Overall, it was a lot easier than I thought it would be and it only took about five minutes to complete. With more practice, I think I will be able to do it faster and make it look neater at the top! I'm so excited I have a new way to style my hair.

Some Things I Would Tell My 16 Year Old Self

2012-01-24T21:36:00.000-05:00

Let's pretend I can magically transport myself in a time machine back to 2005, the year I turned sixteen. I'm in my sophomore year of high school:

There's so much I want to tell my younger self! Here are some of the things I would say:

That VW Passat you want so badly? Congrats on your persuasion skills, because next summer, you're going to get it.

See?

Not so fast though. It's going to have soooo many mechanical issues, you're going to wish you'd picked out a more basic car instead. I know, cringe.

Don't limit yourself to one avenue or goal. There's so much more you're capable of than what you think.

Next year your classes are going to be really hard, but it's going to be your favorite year of high school. You start to get closer to a couple of different people and everything slowly starts to come together. At least for a while.

Just a little head's up: you're not going to Prom. I know this seems tragic now, but when you're 22 it won't matter much :)

But! It wouldn't hurt to put on a little powder and blush every once and while. It looks nice.

You get to meet your favorite author, Sarah Dessen, and it's awesome:

It's not worth it to spend so much time sifting through the pages of college info books. Go outside. Go hang out with friends and stop stressing over it. Everything works out.

Cherish those Saturdays going on shopping errands with Mom. You may be bored now, but one day you'll live five hours away and you won't get to see her everyday.

There's this singer named Taylor Swift. She's not really famous yet, but you should go to Nashville and try to see one of her shows. You'll thank me later.

Never let someone else define your worth. Always wear a bike helmet. And don't live in Sledd your sophomore year of college.
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What would you say to your younger self? I'd love to know.

Top Ten Favorite Biographies/Memoirs

2012-01-24T00:00:00.002-05:00

By now you should know that I'm a huge fan of books. Today I'm linking up here and since it's a freebie day, I want to share my top 10 favorite biographies/memoirs. I love nonfiction, because it's usually very straightforward. Not to say that it can't be as gripping as fantasy, but I like to know what I'm getting myself into because when I start a book, I have a very short attention span. If the book doesn't grab me within the first twenty pages, I'm probably never going to finish it! As a result of its relative predictability, nonfiction has become one of my favorite genres.

On with the list...these are in no particular order.

1) The Last Lecture
This book is about a man who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and since he only has a few months left to live, he writes a book to compile meaningful stories about his life so that when his children are older, they have a sense of their father's personality and character. This book has so many great lessons about perseverance, hard work, and living life to the fullest. I recommend it to everyone. And if you've never seen his famous lecture which inspired the book, you can watch it here. It's awesome.

2) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
At first, I really ignored this book despite all the accolades it received because it dealt with...gulp...science. Not my favorite subject. Cells? Cancer? Yuck. However, this book was really much more than a science story. It has history, suspense, and humor. Above all, it tells the story of a family who has gone through so many challenges and yet survives. I stayed up late one night to finish it and my tiredness the next day was totally worth it.

3) The Glass Castle.
I feel like I've talked about my love for this book too many times so I will spare you. Just go read it.

4) Tuesdays With Morrie
Mitch Albom has written a lot of great stories over the years, but this one was the first of his that I devoured and it has so much wisdom in it.

5) A Stolen Life
If you want to see why I included this book, you can read my recap post here.

6) Infidel
This is the story of a Somalian woman who somehow survives a horrible childhood and emerges as a powerful and wise woman. I read this back in my freshman year of college and I probably wouldn't have picked it up for fun. However, I'm really glad I read it because it taught me a lot about the power of the human spirit.

7) The Year of Magical Thinking
A book by Joan Didion about love and loss. It really made me look and life and death in a new way.

8) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Mindy is hilarious. See my recap post here at the bottom of the entry if you haven't already.

9) America's Queen
I used to be obsessed with Jackie Kennedy and this biography has a lot of great information about her wealthy upbringing, marriage, and her life before and after JFK.

10) The Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson
I really couldn't think of another book to put on this list, so instead I'm going to mention a book I am looking forward to reading.

Have a good day!

A Story & A Rainy Day Playlist

2012-01-19T14:48:00.002-05:00

Back in high school, I was super protective of my music. To take us back for a second, this was the iPod I had at the time, which looks very old school now:

My sophomore year, I took a ceramics class. One day, this guy who sat next to me saw that I had my iPod out and was going through songs. "What kind of music do you have on there?" He asked. The question was innocent enough, but he was a junior and I felt intimidated. "I don't know..." I lied, avoiding the question. I was too embarrassed to admit anything. I was afraid of what my musical choices would reveal about me, and what he would think.

If I didn't let him see anything, then in his eyes, I was still boring, but there was still a slight possibility that I at least had a cool, edgy taste in music. "Come on," he begged. "Let me look."

After a few more minutes of this, I eventually gave into him. Part of me did want to let him look at it, just to see if we had anything in common. So I gave my iPod over and sat in my seat nervously as he used the click wheel to scroll through my playlists. Looking back, I don't really remember what he said about my music (if anything), but I do remember being relieved when he handed my iPod back to me.

Nearly seven years later, I don't know what happened to the guy, or where he is in life, but I do know that I'm not as insecure about my music. I think my tastes have definitely evolved a little bit (I never would have listened to folk or country in high school), but I still listen to some of the same music, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Since yesterday was a rainy day and today is the complete opposite, I wanted to make two playlists and share them. The weather definitely influences my mood and the kind of music I want to hear.

On rainy days, I like slower music. I like music that puts me in a more reflective mood. Here is a list of 10 songs I would put on my "rainy day" playlist:

1) Naked As We Came-The instrumentals at the beginning of this song are very relaxing. It immediately puts me in a calm mood.

2) You and I Both-Jason Mraz is awesome. The End.

3) 20 Years- Joy has such a beautiful voice and that combined with John's instruments is perfection.

4) Politics, Music, and Drugs-I think I found this song on Pandora a couple of years ago. If I'm being honest, it's a really weird song but I think it works on this playlist. I couldn't find the original on Youtube, so check iTunes if you're curious.

5) Not Myself-It was really hard picking just one John Mayer song.

6) Whisper in Your Ear- I love GRO. This is a really sweet love song.

7) Head or Your Heart-Again, anyone that knows Mat Kearney might not pick this song to highlight, but it's been on repeat since I downloaded it a few weeks ago.

8) UFO-This song is very visual for me.

9) Golden Age-This is my sleepy song. I used to play it to fall asleep to during college freshman year when I lived in the dorms. It's perfect for a rainy day because it's so mellow.

10) Last Kiss-This is currently my favorite Taylor song. It's just so heartbreaking and real. And she sings about rain, so it fits with the playlist.

I wanted to include my sunny day playlist as well, but this post is getting too long so I think I will save it for another time. If you have any suggestions for more songs I should add to my rainy day playlist, please let me know. I'm always looking for new music. Have a great day.

PS- If you want to see another post I've done on music, you can check out this post.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2012-01-18T09:00:00.005-05:00

Today I'm linking up with another blogger here to show you what I'm loving on this rainy Wednesday morning.

1. Have you guys seen Taylor Swift's Vogue magazine cover yet? Loving it.

I found the article already and I really enjoyed reading it. My favorite part was when the interviewer asked Taylor about her break-up with Jake Gyllenhaal (which he apparently initiated) and she said something like, "You don't wanna hear, it's a sad story!" I knew she wasn't going to go into details, but that makes me even more excited for her new album where I'm sure she'll have a song about him. She said her next album is going to be about heartbreak, which I think will be an interesting turn from all the happy love songs she is known for. If anyone out there is a huge Taylor fan, then I also recommend reading the article about her in one of the October issues of The New Yorker. I read that one on my iPad and it was the best in-depth article that's been done on her, in my opinion. Very insightful.

2. I'm loving the Nutrasonic cleansing brush I got for Christmas.

I had been curious about the Clarisonic brush for the past couple of months, but I just didn't want to bite the bullet on it because of the price. So instead, I found a brush for half the price and it has been doing a pretty good job on my skin. It oscillates just like the Clarisonic brush, but it's smaller and doesn't have to be charged as frequently as its competitor. So far, I'm happy with it.

3. I'm loving that my mom and sister are coming up to visit this weekend.

I didn't expect them to be coming up so soon after winter break, but I'm not complaining! Last year they came up in February, so I had to wait a little longer:

4. I'm loving Mindy Kaling's book. I know I'm late to the party, but I just borrowed it from a friend of mine and it was awesome. I really enjoyed reading all the parts about her post-college stint in Brooklyn and how she was able to transition from babysitter to production assistant on a show about a psychic to full-time writer on The Office.

5. I'm loving this 4 day school week that we're having. Only two more days until the weekend!

6. I'm loving that I went and actually worked out yesterday. Even though I exercise regularly, I haven't been to the gym in over a year because usually I just go biking with my brother. The gym is one of those things where I really dread going, but once I'm there it's so worth it. Apparently New Year's resolutions haven't worn off yet for everyone, because even when I go in the middle of the day to avoid crowds, it's still packed!

So glad the on-campus gym is included in my tuition.

What are you loving today?

Golden Globe Awards Fashion Post

2012-01-15T21:42:00.001-05:00

It's officially awards season! I'm sitting here in my living room watching the Golden Globes, something that I've done since I was probably like 10 years old, and thinking how awesome it would be to get all dressed up and go to the Beverly Hilton to party with these people. Maybe pretend to bump into Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ashton Kutcher?

Mostly though, I think I would enjoy gawking at all my favorite celebrities and their beautiful dresses. There were so many great looks from tonight that I wanted to review some of the ones I thought were really memorable. Here are four of my favorites:

Reese Witherspoon. She always rocks it at awards shows and tonight was no exception. Does anyone remember the 2007 Golden Globes, when she was just getting over her divorce from Ryan and she stepped out in that amazing yellow Nina Ricci dress? She never disappoints. Love her style.

Charlize Theron. Her dress looks off-white here but on television it has more of a pink tone to it which I think looks a lot better and more feminine. Even though I'm not a huge fan of the slit in this dress, from the hip up it's perfect and her headband is great.

Shailene Woodley. I hate her television show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager (even though she was nominated for The Descendants, I think most people still associate her with ABC family), but strictly considering fashion here, I think she looks really pretty and age-appropriate as well. Her updo is simple and her dress is understated yet still glamorous.

Sarah Hyland from Modern Family. She's another young star that I think pulled it off. I think the dress silhouette works really well for her body type and I love how the black sash gives the gown an old-word feel.

Now here are four dresses that made me do a double take (for the wrong reasons):

Lea Michelle. The material on the top of her gown really cheapens everything because it looks like plastic. The color doesn't really do anything for me, either. No, no, no.

The youngest daughter from Modern Family...not feelin' the huge skirt. So unflattering.

Sarah Michelle Gellar. Girl, what were you thinking? I saw the pre-show interview she did with Giuliana Rancic on E! and Sarah said her daughter saw it among a group of dresses and wanted her to wear it. Bad idea. It looks like her daughter took a white dress and splattered paint on it! Yikes.

Dianna Agron. I love her hair and makeup, but this dress just has too much going on in my opinion. The top part is too busy and the bottom has an excessive amount of tiers. I think some subtle tweaks could have made this dress better. It still beats Sarah's dress though.

Anyone else watching the Globes with me tonight? Favorite dresses? Least favorite?

Is it Time to Graduate Yet?

2012-01-11T10:10:00.000-05:00

It's only the third day of classes but I wish it was the last day! I am so ready to graduate. Can we fast forward to this...

Actually, let me rephrase that. I want to be done with classes but I don't feel like I'm quite ready to leave behind some parts of college life. I'm really going to miss sleeping in until 9:30 on most weekdays, having my afternoons to myself, not paying adult-size bills, and being constantly surrounded by people my age.

I know there's a lot of other things I will probably miss, but I don't think I will fully grasp everything until much later on. It might come a week, a month, or even a year after graduation.

There was a brief conversation that I had with a girl from one of my English classes sophomore year. She was a senior and she was about to enroll in law school. We were eating lunch at Subway and she couldn't stop talking about how excited she was to be moving on with her life. I sat there looking at her beaming face, but I just couldn't relate. I couldn't imagine wanting to leave college. She told me that when I was a senior, I would understand.

At the time, graduation seemed like an eternity away and I was so grateful. I felt like I had so much time to make decisions, dream about my future, and just live in the moment.

But now that I'm it's the last semester of senior year and I'm in that place, I know exactly what she means. I get it.

2012 is here!

2012-01-02T09:22:00.001-05:00

When I started college in the fall of 2008, the year 2012 seemed so far away! But now that 2012 has arrived, I am ready and excited to see what this year holds for me.

Here are some things I'm looking forward to this year:

-Graduating from college with my bachelor's degree in May

-Getting my own car so I no longer have to drive my brother's car. Me+Gville hills+stick shift = I've had enough

-Traveling to new places!

-Listening to all of the amazing new music that is supposedly coming out in 2012. John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Matchbox 20, Green River Ordinance, and The Fray are some of my faves that will be dropping new albums and I can't wait to hear them.

-New music means touring and I would love to go to more concerts this year!

-Moving into a different place and starting a new chapter

-Enjoying time with friends and family

What are you excited about this year?

Photo credits: 1

Recent Reads!

2011-12-23T10:00:00.001-05:00

During school, I read a lot for classes but sometimes they aren't books that I would choose on my own. Since I've been home on break, I've had time to read three books so far:

1) A Stolen Life

I've been wanting to read this book since it came out over the summer. I was so intrigued by Jaycee's story when she surfaced in 2009 and wanted to know how she managed to survive for so many years without her family. It's a riveting read...I picked it up this afternoon and finished it ten minutes ago. For those of you who haven't heard of this book, it details the kidnapping and recovery of a California woman named Jaycee Lee Dugard who was abducted when she was 11. Jaycee spent 19 years in captivity before breaking free. A lot of the book was very difficult to read, but the way she described the reunion with her mom at the end of the book was so touching and uplifting that it made the troubling parts easier to bear. I cried at the end because I was so happy that she got out of that hell hole and can now live a 'normal' life with her two daughters. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It was a powerful read.

2) License to Pawn

If you've ever seen the tv show Pawn Stars on the History channel and liked it, then you would probably enjoy this book. It talks about Rick Harrison, the star of the show. He's pretty outspoken on the show and his voice jumps off the pages in the book as well. The book goes into his rough childhood, how his father first started a pawn shop, and how they eventually got their own show years later. It's a light, fun read and there was a lot of new information in it that I enjoyed such as the fact that they don't even work behind the counter of their store anymore because they're too famous. I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

3) Seriously...I'm Kidding

I was disappointed with this light-hearted book by Ellen Degeneres. I was expecting it to be funnier and just more interesting in general. The topics she discusses were boring and I didn't really like her delivery either. I know it was a comedy book, and therefore fluffy, but I wanted her to talk more about her wife, American Idol, and other interesting topics. Instead she just kind of glossed over those things. 2.5 stars.

I'm looking forward to getting Mindy Kaling's book off the wait list at the library and I have a couple of others on my nightstand that I'm excited to start! What books have you read lately?

Mish Mash

2011-12-21T19:22:00.000-05:00

It's been over a week since I've blogged, so I wanted to share a few things...

First of all, I came home and our Christmas tree was up! Back at school, I only had twinkle lights in my room and a small sign in the living room, which wasn't cutting it. Now it feels like the holiday season is officially here.

On Sunday, my mom had the idea to take the boat out and go on a ride on the intercoastal at night and look at holiday lights. When we got out there, my dad realized that the light that goes on the back of the boat didn't work. We almost thought we couldn't go, but somehow my dad cut the wires of a light that was in his car (I know, what?) and wired the light to the boat pole. Ta-da! A makeshift light:

It really was a Christmas miracle because we got to go see pretty lights after all:

Condo owners wanted to get in on the festivities

This one house had their whole backyard filled with holiday props and decor.

In other news, I've been reading a lot over break (review post to come) and today I decided it would be nice to read outside in our backyard. This is what it usually looks like:

It was a little bit windy, but I didn't think anything of it. About five minutes after I got settled into my book, the umbrella hanging over my chair toppled over on me!

My sister ran out with the camera and snapped a picture because I was laughing. Winston had been sitting near me, and no one was hurt but I think he got a little spooked.

These were just a few things that I wanted to share. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season.

Semester Reflection

2011-12-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

I submitted my last final paper yesterday which means this semester is officially over (I definitely didn't use a typewriter for my assignments, but I think I would have had a lot more fun writing if I had). August feels like a really long time ago and my state of mind has definitely changed a lot in the past couple of months. I have to fight the urge to want to speed up time because I know that college is such a tiny part of my life and someday I might wish I had savored it more.

During the first week of fall classes I felt completely overwhelmed and so stressed out. I wondered how I was going to make so many decisions about life after undergrad when I was so unsure of what I even wanted to do. Thankfully, I avoided a meltdown and throughout the past couple of months things have slowly started coming together. I wouldn't say I've reached clarity, but I feel like I'm moving towards it.

In between juggling classes and managing post grad decisions, I was able to have a really fulfilling volunteer job, take numerous bike rides, attend several football games, visit Orlando to celebrate my birthday, and have many other awesome experiences that I'm really grateful for.

I feel like it's taken me four years to settle into this rhythm and become familiar with living here. In one more semester, I'll be on the verge of ending one part of my life and starting another. It's extremely exciting and also terrifying. The important part isn't that I'm ready for these changes, but that I'm willing to try something new. And I think I am.

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Style Envy: Pippa Middleton

2011-12-08T12:30:00.001-05:00

With temperatures dipping into the 40s recently, now seems like the perfect time to get another coat to add to my wardrobe, and I've been looking at celebrity pictures for inspiration so I can go out and find a more affordable but equally stylish option. I have been loving Pippa Middleton's style choices lately! She may not be married to royalty like her sister, but she still has a lot going for her. Her style seems so chic and effortless, but approachable and comfortable at the same time. She has been wearing a lot of really awesome jackets lately:

This jacket seems like a great alternative to a black peacoat. Want.

I usually wouldn't gravitate towards a green jacket, but I'm really feeling the style, color, and buttons of this one.

This jacket just screams winter to me. The cream color is gorgeous and the buttons are quirky and fun. The only thing stopping me from buying a jacket in this color is that I would be worried to wear it and get it dirty because every speck of dirt would show on such a light color.

This is a shorter, more professional looking jacket that I would have no practical use for. But it is so pretty that I had to include it.

This jacket seems perfectly suited for a Florida girl like me. It's light, it's long enough to cover my hips and it can easily be taken from day to night. Love.

Yesterday was my last day of classes for the semester, so expect a recap post in the next couple of days.

In the meantime, which jacket of Pippa's is your favorite?

All photo credits: People.com

My Top 10 Favorite Books From Childhood

2011-12-06T11:58:00.002-05:00

Today, I'm linking up with this cool book blog to show you my Top 10 Favorite Books from Childhood. I love reading and I'm very nostalgic, so this will be fun. I'm categorizing 'child' as any book I read before 8th grade, because after that is when I started reading young adult books. Ok, here we go.

1. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
This book is probably the best book I read as a child. I read it in fifth grade and it's the first book that really made me feel connected to a character in a way I had never experienced before. It's about a girl who goes on a journey to find out about her mom. The ending really shocked me and stuck with me for days after. It had a lot of really great themes about friendship and family. I loved it so much I even got my mom to read it and she always references this one quote from it about not letting the birds of sorrow nest in your head. Powerful for a children's book. After reading this book, I really started to become a more active and engaged reader.

2. Emily by Michael Bedard
This is a picture book about the poet Emily Dickinson and I think my uncle got it for me for Christmas one year. I loved the imagery and the way Bedard described Emily. He talked about her in an adult tone that was still easy for children to understand. He made Emily's isolation strange yet intriguing. I kept this book for many years.

3. Lives of the Presidents
This book had such a fun cover. Hot air balloons! Conga lines! The biographies of the Presidents were quirky and fun. I was obsessed with learning about the Presidents in elementary school and this book was probably the catalyst for that.

4. Kate on the Coast by Pat Brisson
This was a book I found at library and it was awesome because the girl wrote letters and postcards to her friend as she traveled around the country with her parents. I remember thinking she had such a cool life.

5. Holes by Louis Sachar
If you didn't read this book as a child, then I feel bad for you. It was so good! What I loved about it was how complex it was. There were so many multi-layered stories within the book and it was suspenseful up until the end.

6. Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
I randomly picked this book off the shelf at my middle school library in either sixth or seventh grade and it really hit me hard because I remember crying at the end. I'm surprised it's not more well-known because I remember thinking it was amazing after I finished it. It was such a sad story but it was written so well. I even looked up the author's e-mail online and e-mailed her to tell her how much I loved the book. I need to re-read this sometime and see if it still holds up.

7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
This is so obvious so I'm going to keep it short. An awesome beginning to a fantastic series.

8. The Anastasia Series by Lois Lowry
I loved this series because I thought Anastasia was like me, only sassier and more bold. She was always getting into some kind of trouble but she always pulled herself out of it in a charming way and I really admired that.

9. The School Story by Andrew Clements
Okay, Andrew Clements had a lot of success with Frindle, but this book was way better in my opinion. It's about a 12 year old girl who fools a literary agent into publishing her book without letting on that she is only just a kid. It was so entertaining to read.

10. The Giver by Lois Lowry
This book was a game changer for me. Dystopian children's literature at its finest. I always thought the man on the cover was creepy, but the story inside was so unique that it inspired me to read other dystopian books when I entered middle and high school.

That wraps up my list! Are any of your favorite childhood books on here? I'd love to know.

What's Been Keeping Me Sane This Week

2011-12-02T15:38:00.001-05:00

It's December! I'm so relieved that it's Friday because this week has been very stressful. It's the end of the semester and I'm going crazy trying to research, write, and revise final papers for my classes. Usually, I carve out anywhere from a half-hour to an hour everyday to Skype with my mom, but this week I didn't have any time for Skype, which was a bummer. Now that it's the weekend, I can take a brief break before I dive into more papers and studying. Today, I want to talk about the things that have been keeping me sane this past week.

Christmas Lights

I mentioned in this post how I bought Christmas lights at Walmart a few weeks ago and on Sunday night I finally put them up in my bedroom! They added some much needed sparkle and holiday cheer to my room and made working on my paper every night this week more enjoyable because every once in a while I would look up from my computer and admire how pretty they looked.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

RHOA is probably one of my top five favorite shows on television right now. The franchise has always been entertaining, but these ladies bring a whole new level of intrigue to it because they are so outlandish and dramatic. I was too busy to watch it Sunday night, but I was able to catch it during lunch one day later in the week and it didn't disappoint. Did any of you watch? Kandi's birthday party was...ridiculous. I hope none of my friends would invite a stripper to perform at my party if they knew my mom was going to be there. Not that I would ever want a stripper at my party (gross), but it was just disrespectful and tacky of Phaedra to bring him there knowing that it was supposed to be a wholesome event with family/ friends.

Classical Music

Okay, this one is really random but on Wednesday, I was at a building on campus and I saw that they had a bunch of cds on a rack that they were giving away for free! Because I love free stuff, I jumped at the chance to see what was available. All the artists were super obscure and most of the albums seemed to be classical. I'm not really a huge classical fan, but I took two cds anyway because why not? The first one I put in was called "BBC Music: Schubert Piano Music" and it has actually been really good. Listening to it is so calming and it's a great way to de-stress during a study break. The other one, whose title I can't recall, was a woman singing over classical music. It sounded like opera and it was a huge turn-off! I'm not a fan but at least I got one good cd out of the experience.

Mochi Frozen Yogurt

I had it on Thursday and it was awesome. Enough said.

By this time next week I'll be only one more paper away from Winter Break. If only I had a time machine...ha! Have a good weekend, readers!

Brrr...

2011-11-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

This Wednesday, I'm loving...

1. This cold front in Northern Florida is awesome! Time to break out the turtlenecks, boots, and sweaters. I would also love to curl up with a book by the fireplace, but since I don't have a fireplace to keep me warm, hot chocolate will have to suffice.

2. I only have one more week of classes until Winter Break (let's just pretend finals week doesn't exist). I can't wait to be done with this semester and finally relax for a few weeks. I'm looking forward to baking holiday cookies and sleeping in.

Note: If my cookies turned out this good, I probably would never want to eat them.

3. I'm loving these gorgeous holiday dresses. Someone needs to throw a party.

4. I'm loving the sweet fourth graders at the elementary school where I volunteer. If they can get up early and have so much energy, why can't I!?

Stay warm, everyone!

Some of My Pet Peeves

2011-11-29T22:08:00.000-05:00

Do you ever see things that just rub you the wrong way and you want to tell other people about them? This post is a compilation of little things that I see or experience on a regular basis that I think are either annoying, weird, or just odd. Here we go:

Source: Getty Images

1. Visible Bra Straps

Am I the only person that thinks this looks tacky? Because I see girls on campus wearing tank tops with their bra straps showing all the time and I just don't get it. Strapless bras were created to solve the tank top problem but it seems like a lot of people just don't care about how messy it looks.

2. Tall Guys Dating Short Girls

I jokingly complain about this all the time because I'm 5'10" and not only is there a scarcity of normal, tall, single guys out there but everywhere I look on this campus and spot a tall guy holding hands with a girl, that girl is more often than not way shorter than him. Who's to blame? Do short girls prefer taller guys because they want to increase the likelihood that their offspring will be average height? Do tall guys really like bending down every time they go to kiss their (much) shorter significant other? I know that some of my friends and family members fall into this category and I'm not trying to call you out or attack you, I'm just trying to understand you! One thing I do know is that tall guys' preferences need to change, stat, because I like wearing heels and I don't want to tower over my future boyfriend. Ps: Look at the crazy height difference in the picture above. Ashley Tisdale is like three heads shorter than her boyfriend.

Source: 123rf.com

3. Pedestrians Who Purposely Cross the Street Slowly

Have you ever been driving a car and are just about to turn when you notice someone trying to cross the street? Living so close to campus, this happens pretty frequently for me because people are walking to a from class. I don't mind letting pedestrians cross the street before I continue on my way, but I find it super annoying when people see me waiting yet don't even try to pick up the pace.

{Source}

4. Obnoxious Texting

Normally, I think multitasking is awesome. However, when I'm trying to ride my bike through campus during class changes, it really bugs me when I see people mindlessly walking and texting at the same time when the sidewalk they're on is so congested with people. There's no way you can pay attention to everything and everyone around you when you're staring at an electronic screen. Is your text really that important that you can't wait until you get to where you're going? Can you at least step off to the side of the sidewalk to finish your message? This pet peeve applies to people who text and drive as well. Totally unnecessary and really dangerous.

{Source}

5. People Who Don't Hold the Door Open for the Next Person

Holding the door open for the person behind you is supposed to a given. After all, who likes getting a door slammed in their face? No one! While most people here are pretty polite, there is always the occasional person who is in too much of a rush to take three seconds out of their day to hold the door open for the person behind them. This can be especially annoying when you're literally right behind someone and they still let the door close in on you. So rude!

Now that I've described some little things in life that I find annoying, I'm curious to know: what are some your pet peeves?

Thanksgiving Break

2011-11-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

It's Sunday and time to head back up to school. Excluding the fact that I have way too much work to do before finals, I am content to be going back, but it wasn't always that way.

I used to dread going back to school, because I craved the comfort and familiarity of home. Now though, after three years of living away at school, being at home isn't exactly what it used to be. My bed is still here, but all of my clothes, pictures, and most of my important things are in Gainesville, not to mention a newer, bigger, and prettier bed.

I love seeing my family, but the dynamics have certainly changed since I've been at school, and it's always a challenge to get back into the swing of things. By the time we find our rhythm, it's time for me to leave again. I guess it's all part of growing up, but it's definitely a weird feeling, and one I wonder if a lot of other people in college experience.

Break was really enjoyable, mostly because I ignored everything I have to do for school (the next two days are going to be torture as I try to fit a week's work into two days!) and just relaxed. There was a lot of bonding with Winston:

On Thanksgiving Day, my mom woke us up and 6:30 and drove the family to Everglades National Park in Miami. C-r-a-z-y. There were a lot of alligators, walking trails, and mosquitos. Did I mention there were tons of mosquitos? You would never know by these pictures...

After driving us there and back, my mom still had enough energy to cook us all a delicious thanksgiving meal. It reminded me of how thankful I am to have a mom that cares so much about me, and a place where I can feel so welcomed and loved during the holidays.

And the pie she made? So yummy.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-11-23T09:02:00.002-05:00

I'm home! All the siblings have been reunited and it feels so good.

Being back in South Florida for the first time since August is a really great feeling. It's so comforting to be in a place that is so familiar to me. While I'm here, I have a couple of things that I am looking forward to trying to fit in during my visit. I'm linking up with Jamie to show you what I'm loving about today (and about being home).

1. The Beach

When I used to live at home full-time, I rarely ever went to the beach. Life usually just got in the way and there was always something else to do closer to home. But when I do visit, having the beach nearby feels like a luxury. This is Dania Beach, where we usually go. Ahh, doesn't it look relaxing? Unlike Fort Lauderdale beach, it has ample parking and doesn't get as crowded.

{Picture via here}

2. I'm loving that the mall is so close. I barely ever go shopping in Gainesville because the mall we have here is nothing in comparison to the shopping options at home, which include a huge outlet mall five minutes from my house and a really nice upscale mall about 20 minutes away. I know a lot of people wouldn't think of going out on Black Friday because of how chaotic it is, but I can't wait to go browse the shops and people watch. Plus, I'm sure all the holiday decorations will be up which is even better. Seeing the trees and decor just instantly puts me in a good mood.

3. I'm loving that Thanksgiving is only a day away. I am so thankful to be able to spend the holiday with my family while others are in a different country fighting in the war. Because I've spent the majority of the last three and a half years living five hours away from my family, I really try to savor every moment with them when I am home.

What are you loving today?

(Not) Following Through

2011-11-21T20:49:00.001-05:00

My mind wanders a lot at night. Often times, when I don't meet my goals for the day, whether they be completing a school assignment, working out, eating healthy, or a wide variety of other tasks, I end up picturing the next day in my head and imagining how everything is going to play out better than it did the previous day. I think to myself, "Tomorrow I'm going to be so much more productive!" This often leads to me making all these elaborate plans for the next day that I know are unrealistic.

Yet I'll continue to make them anyway. I'll picture myself running along the sidewalk next to Lake Alice as the sun is rising, even though I know I can't run long distances. I'll be in the shower and think about how I am going to set my alarm an hour earlier for the next morning so that I can have more time to write a paper or finish a book for class. I follow through with setting the alarm, and even waking up early, but once I am up and dressed I lose the motivation and drive I had the night before and end up sitting in my bed, with my computer in my lap, eating a waffle and watching a Real Housewives episode from the night before, happy and content but also disappointed that I didn't follow through. Where did my motivation from the previous night go?

I think the key to me making sure I finish what I need to do is to set more realistic goals for myself and make sure I give myself enough time to complete tasks. That way, I can accomplish more and not feel guilty later on when I want to indulge in things that take away from my productivity, like sleeping in or reading my favorite magazines.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated? Do you ever get bursts of energy only to have it disappear later on? How do you avoid that?

House Envy: What does your dream house look like?

2011-11-17T12:09:00.002-05:00

When I was in elementary school, my parents thought I wanted to become an architect because I was obsessed with drawing house floor plans. I had graphing paper pads and they would all be filled up with different designs. I phased out of drawing them when I was in middle school, but to this day I still love looking at houses. There are so many different styles out there--everything from Victorian to modern contemporary to colonial. I think it's fun to imagine what my "dream house" would look like and I would probably describe my ideal house as traditional because that style looks the most cozy and inviting to me.

I love the red door, the window shutters, and the trees in the front.

Probably a little too big inside but I like the wrap-around porch.

This brick house just looks so stately. Love the ivy growing on the walls.

I like older houses like this one that look like they've been around for a while, and if it has a big tree in the front, that's even better. Of course, who knows where or what I'll be living in once I get out of college and enter the real world, but it's always fun to look at different things. What does your dream house look like?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-11-16T09:55:00.000-05:00

Today I'm linking up with Jamie to show you all what I'm loving today.

1. I'm loving Breaking Bad! I just finished Breaking Bad Season 2 and while I wasn't hooked yet after season 1 because I thought the show was still moving at a snail's pace, I'm definitely "all-in" now! I don't think any show can ever fill my Lost obsession, but this show has interesting characters and some crazy drama that keeps me at the edge of my seat.

2. I'm loving that there's only 5 days until I go home for Thanksgiving break. I haven't been home since August, so I'm excited to head south. I can't wait until I reunite with Winston, our soft-coated wheaten terrier. I can see him on Skype, but we all know it's just not. the. same.

3. I'm loving that it's almost time to break out the Christmas decorations! When I was at Walmart on Saturday, I caved and bought multi-colored twinkle lights to hang in my room. I already have regular white lights that are up year-round, but I couldn't resist these.

What is everyone loving today?

St. Augustine

2011-11-15T08:00:00.005-05:00

Last Saturday I wanted to get out of Gainesville for the day and go exploring. I had seen on this website that there was free admission to the national parks for the three-day Veteran's Day holiday, so I started brainstorming about where I wanted to go. I decided I wanted to go to St. Augustine because it's a good distance away (about 1.5 hours one way) and it had a national park that was nearby. I asked my brother Steven what he thought of the idea, and since he's usually down for anything, off we went!

The day trip was fun because the last time I had been to St. Augustine, I was in fourth grade. I went on a class field trip and all I remember was that it was rainy a lot of the time, and we all had to wear these huge ponchos. I also thought it was so cool that our teachers and parents trusted us to be in our own hotel rooms with no adults.

We really enjoyed the trip, but to keep it real here, it wasn't all butterflies and daisies. We had major parking issues that ended with us getting a spot but some guy yelling and calling Steven names because we followed a couple to their spot and this other guy had been idling way off to the side, not actively looking but expecting to just magically get a spot. He accused us of cutting him in the "line," which he wasn't even in. Even though I knew we rightfully got the spot, I was shook up the rest of the day wondering whether we would run into him again. Luckily, we didn't and the rest of our day was great.

First, we went to St. George Street, which is known for its shops and restaurants. It was quaint, but definitely still touristy.

Here I am in front of the oldest schoolhouse in the U.S.

I don't know if this wheel was ever functioning, but it's pretty nonetheless.

Then we made our way to the fort, which is called the Castillo de San Marcos. They actually shot off a cannon (not the one in my picture) while we were there which was awesome and I could tell a lot of the little kids that were visiting got a kick out of the loud "boom" sound it made.

Steven and I kept talking about how the fort we visited looked so much smaller than when we went as kids. It's interesting to go back to places that you haven't visited since childhood and compare the differences between things. There was a lot that I didn't remember, so I'm glad we went back.

Satchel's

2011-11-11T14:19:00.000-05:00

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Today my friend Julie and I went to Satchel's for lunch. Satchel's is a pretty famous pizza place here in Gainesville and is known for its quirky atmosphere, funky fresh salads, and of course its pizza. I had been there a few times before, but it was Julie's first time going. We decided to go for lunch because we figured it would be less crowded and we were right. Unlike at dinner time, where the wait can be over an hour just to get a table and then another hour wait for the food, we sat, ordered and got our food within about a half an hour. We both got salad and pizza, and I thought everything was delicious!

Me with my pepperoni pizza. I insisted on the lamp being in the picture, because it's so darn cute.

Julie with her salad, which was filled with lettuce, carrots, apples, almonds, and walnuts. Yummy combo.

Everything there is so colorful and unexpected. Outside, there is an old VW bus that has been emptied out and replaced with tables so that people can eat inside of it!

Overall, it was a nice break from the normal places I usually frequent and a great start to my three-day weekend.

Scarves

2011-11-09T00:00:00.007-05:00

It doesn't get cold for very long in North Florida, but when it does I love wearing a scarf to keep my neck nice and warm (and I'd be lying if I wasn't wearing it for the fashion statement as well). I tend to go for patterned scarves because they're more fun. There are so many scarf options this season. Here are some of my favorites from around the web...

This animal print scarf from J.Crew is not something I would usually go for, but it would definitely add interest to a basic outfit.

I love the colors and multiple patterns in these Anthro scarves (and we know how much I love Anthro)

This plaid scarf from here would go great with all the purple I already have in my wardrobe.

This circle scarf from Madewell looks so warm and cozy. It makes me want to curl up by a fireplace somewhere up north.

With temperatures getting down into the mid-40s at night, I will definitely think about buying some new winter accessories this month.

My Five Favorite Albums from the 90s

2011-11-08T08:29:00.014-05:00

Since I just saw the Goo Goo Dolls perform at Gator Growl over the weekend, it got me thinking about my favorite albums from the 1990s. I still regularly play a lot of music from that decade on my iPod. Maybe it's because I'm just a really nostalgic person and I think 90s music brings back really good memories from my childhood, but I also think a lot of good quality music came out back then, which is so unlike the over-produced, auto-tuned songs that are popular now. I don't think I can make a top 5, so I'm just going to list my five favorite in no particular order.

1. Counting Crows-August and Everything After (1994)

"Mr. Jones"

In my opinion, this album is still just as good today as it was back then. I think you have to be in the right mood to listen to some of the songs, because "Perfect Blue Buildings" and "Ghost Train" aren't exactly upbeat, but they are sung with such emotion that it makes a big impact. I think it's cloudy day type of music, when you just want to reminisce. "Mr. Jones" was one of the biggest songs of the decade, and it's just really fun to sing along to.

2. Hootie and the Blowfish- Cracked Rear View (1994)

"Hold My Hand"

I love this album because Darius Rucker's voice is so unique and the songs are so loud and catchy. In comparison to the Counting Crows album, this cd has more of a sunny day mood. According to iTunes, my most-played Hootie song is "Hold My Hand," but "Running From An Angel" is a close second. According to Wikipedia, the album was the highest-selling of 1995, which shows how big they used to be back then. I think they're on hiatus now, because Darius Rucker has taken up country music !

3. Matchbox Twenty-Yourself or Someone Like You (1996)

"Long Day"

Okay unlike the other albums, where I have general memories of hearing their music, this album has particular significance because my dad was...obsessed with it. When it first came out, he would play it on the way to dropping me off at my bus stop, and he practically made me memorize the words to every song. My favorite one is "Long Day," but I also like "3 a.m." and "If You're Gone." So good.

4. Third Eye Blind-Third Eye Blind (1997)

"Motorcycle Drive-By"

Although this album sparked the hit "Semi-Charmed Life," my favorite track off their eponymous album is "Motorcycle Drive-By," because I love the guitar sound in it and the lyrics tell a really interesting story about the main singer's break-up with a girl and his effort to get over her. Other standouts are "How It Going to Be" and "Jumper". I've never seen them in concert, but I would like to one day.

5. *NSYNC-*NSYNC (1997)

"Tearin' Up My Heart"

The Backstreet Boys/*NSYNC war wages on to this day but I still prefer *NSYNC because, well, I went to one of their concerts when I was probably like 11 and it was the greatest thing ever to happen to me at that age. I remember my mom and I were up in the nosebleed seats, like 400 section status, but I still had the best time. This album isn't as great to me as the other ones I've listed, but I'm putting it on this list purely because my 90s fan girl self thought they were rock stars. "Tearin' Up My Heart" is so cheesy, but if loving them is wrong, then I don't want to be right.

Well that wraps up my list! What were your favorite albums and songs from the 90s?

An Orange and Blue Weekend

2011-11-07T09:20:00.001-05:00

It was really fun having my sister visit this weekend and we were able to fit a lot into the three days she was here. Friday night we went to Gator Growl, where comedian Joel Mchale did stand-up for around twenty minutes and the Goo Goo Dolls performed to close out the night. I wasn't a huge fan of Joel's stand-up, but Goo Goo Dolls were great because the majority of the songs they played I was familiar with like Slide, Iris, Black Balloon, etc. Oh and Sister Hazel hosted! They're a band from Gainesville and they had some fame back in the 90s with their hit, "All For You," which they played. It was awesome. Since it is my last year here as an undergrad, I don't know when I will get to go to Gator Growl again so I really tried to enjoy everything. Here is me and Karen at Gator Growl. It. Was. Freezing.

Saturday was the football game and we had really good seats in the lower level of the North Endzone. We left around the start of the fourth quarter because it was 3pm by that point and we were craving lunch. The weather during the game was odd because it was overcast and cold for the first quarter, and then the sun opened up through the clouds and it got really hot!

Sunday we went on a bike ride and to Mochi, my favorite frozen yogurt place in town. Before I knew it, it was time to put my sister back on a bus to South Florida and the weekend was over.

Things You Might Want To Know...

2011-11-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

Based on my previous post about international visitors, I thought it would be a good idea to share some things about me so that random people who stumble onto my little blog aren't totally in the dark. This blog is only a glimpse into my life, but here are some basic facts.

-I'm a senior in college and my major is English. This means I can analyze really minute details in books and love to write, but somehow never have time to read what I actually want to read.

-I've lived in Florida my entire life. I have a love/hate relationship with this state because when it's 80 degrees and sunny with no humidity, I couldn't ask for anything better. But more than likely it's either very hot and humid or raining. I think it would be awesome to live in another state that has actual seasons and snow, but I appreciate wearing flip flops to class in December.

-I'm the eldest child in my family and have two younger siblings. I have a lot of the typical traits of the oldest child, like bossiness, cautiousness, and the tendency to over-analyze and overcomplicate situations that would otherwise be simple!

-I'm super nostalgic.

-I have an unhealthy fascination with reality television and celebrity gossip and I don't feel guilty about it.

It's A Small World

2011-11-05T17:26:00.000-04:00

Today I was randomly checking my blog statistics and I was perplexed when I saw that one of the places that referred people to my blog was a site that I had never heard of before called "Yandex". I did some investigating (on Wikipedia, of course) and discovered that Yandex is the most popular website in...wait for it...Russia! Apparently, it's a search engine just like Google and people found my blog by searching for "things that inspire me," which is a phrase I have in my 'about me' section. It is so cool to me that people all the way across the world have seen my blog, and even that people I know are reading.

No matter how you got here, thanks for stopping by and I hope you stay a while!

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The Weekend is Here

2011-11-04T08:00:00.002-04:00

It's the first weekend of November and it's also homecoming weekend in Gainesville! My sister is coming up to visit and my brother is having a bunch of friends stay at our place as well so it should be a packed house. She has never been to Gator Growl, our school's pep rally, or a homecoming football game here, so I am excited for her to experience it.

Here's to soaking up a three day weekend!

Picture One Source
Picture Two Source

Bike Rides

2011-11-03T20:14:00.002-04:00

I've loved bike riding ever since I was kid. My mom and I used to go bike riding around our block after dinner pretty often when I was little and it was our time to catch up and see what our neighbors were up to. During Thanksgivings, I would go down to Miami with my family to stay at my grandma's house and one of my favorite things to do there was bike from her house to the ocean with my cousins. We always went through this housing development on the way there that was gated and had the prettiest houses. I just have always associated bike riding with carefree fun and good memories.

One of the best things about where I live now is the close proximity to so many awesome bike trails (and I say this even though I've been in two bike accidents so far as an undergrad!). Unlike South Florida, where I'm from, my college town has numerous cycling trails and paths that are really close to campus and yet make you feel like you're worlds away. My favorite trail is the Gainesville-Hawthorne Rail Trail, which used to be a railroad path but is now the perfect place to burn calories and de-stress after a long day. I didn't find out about this trail until I was a junior, but it was well worth the wait. I've only taken the trail all the way from Gainesville to the tiny town of Hawthorne once, which is forty miles round-trip (and an awesome way to spend the day if the weather is great), but it's a fun trail even for daily rides. The landscape is so varied, going from flat and surrounded by meadows to hilly and forested, that it never gets boring or repetitive. If you ride the trail when it's close to sunset, you can usually spot a lot of cool wildlife like armadillos as well as the occasional deer and even bison in certain areas.

The gyms here at school have a lot of cool equipment, but I'd rather be outside biking than indoors in the A/C on a stationary bike any day. The trail is one of Gainesville's hidden gems and has made living here a lot more fun.

Currently Loving: Bows

2011-10-27T15:25:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite stores is Anthropologie. Even though I’m a college girl on a budget, I can’t help but be drawn to their classic, feminine (and yes, often expensive) pieces. Usually I hit the sale racks first, but sometimes I will splurge if I see a dress or earrings that I know will last me a long time. I’m not a big fan of online shopping, but I love to browse. Here are some current Anthro finds I’m loving, all of which happen to have bows on them.

Tomorrow I’m headed to Orlando to celebrate my birthday with my family. Should be a fun weekend and I’m looking forward to leaving the G-ville bubble for a while!

The Beginning

2011-10-27T15:21:00.001-04:00

I’m starting this blog because I want my own little place where I can post about whatever is on my mind. Whether it be things that inspire me, tv I watch, clothes I’m coveting, or what I’ve been up to, I want to keep track of my thoughts here so I can look back later and remember the little things.