Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Another Year Has Come And Gone

Happy (early) New Year!
and to anyone who is already in 2015, hope you had a spectacular celebration! :)

Who else is excited to begin a brand new year?!

2015!
I'm excited to see what this year has in store!
I'm also ready to let go of 2014..
Some things that happened this year are not allowed to move forward with me into the next part of my life.
I am ready to start a new chapter and I hope that I am prepared for it as best as I can.

I'm starting my 2015 Memories Jar tonight, and I can't wait to read what it will hold this time next year.

I'm watching New Year's Eve (2011) while I write this, and I'll probably end up viewing the clip from High School Musical where Troy and Gabriella sing at the ski lodge as well. Is anyone else freaked out that it's been eight years since that movie came out?!

New Year's Eve is a time where you can think of what has happened during the year, be thankful for the good, acknowledge the bad and learn from it, and prepare for the year ahead.

I can't even believe all that happened this year. Some things feel like they happened forever ago, but in reality, it was only a few months ago. I mean, the Olympics (!!!!), took place in February of this year!

What a year it's been!

This year, I graduated high school, started college and completed my first semester, stepped out of my comfort zone, started a blog, and learned much more about who I am in the process.

I am ready for 2015, and I hope that this year is ready for me.

Best of luck to all starting a brand new chapter in their book of life.
Let's make this one of the best.
365 days = 365 opportunities and chances to make 2015 a wonderful one.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Friday Favorites

The last Friday Favorites of the year!
Whoa!
(Sorry this post is short! I didn't write it in advance; I'll probably do a follow up post for 2014 later on, which means in 2015! :)

2014 movies: here

Let It Go flashmob: here

Netflix tricks: here

How to improve your New Year's resolutions: here

I'm off to watch the S5 Downton Abbey Christmas special! :)

Somehow, someway, Tumblr will always come through for you..SO many people sent me Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas messages this year and I just want to thank you! Those have been very inspiring and helpful for me during this Christmas season after the year I've had! One of the sweetest things you guys have ever done for me! I am so thankful for an amazing community full of loving people! Thank you <3

Hope you all have had the most wonderful Christmas holiday and are enjoying the last few days of 2014! I hope next year is one of the best ones! :)

Friday, December 19, 2014

Friday Favorites

Less than a week till Christmas! OHMYGOSH
Anyone else freaking out?!

If you put the holidays and pranks together, you get John Krasinski and Jimmy Kimmel's ultimate prank battle..watch the video here. It's hilarious!

Whoa! J.K.Rowling blew us away again. Her response to a Twitter question is clever yet perfectly states her opinion on the issue. Crazy brilliant. Read about it here.

There's nothing quite like a proposal..I especially love this one because I'm a big fan of photobooths! Watch the video here.

Puppies + presents (here)

This is just sad. Why can't I be this well dressed? Read more about the kids who made new style rules and look out for them on IG here.

THIS is so important! Here's to YA female leads in books and the generation that they have inspired so far..read here.

This pug and I have so much common..basically, #weheartfood
Watch the entertaining video here.

Bucket list: receive or give a puppy for Christmas!
(Just look at these people's reactions in this video!)

Sorry not sorry. I'm actually a fan of this remix! Listen here.

Goals. "Maybe this room and this building is trying to reflect society and reflect America."
I think it would be so cool to be a woman at the White House who was chosen to ask the President a question!

I wish I could draw (anything) from memory! This guy is talented! Photos and article here.

Both of these links include tips that are useful when you're money-conscious and/or looking for
alternatives to the clothes you would normally buy!
For petite women: 5'4" and under..here
Buying clothes in the men's dept. is way cheaper!..here

Have a great (last) weekend before Christmas! :)


Credit: here

P.S. I have a holiday themed post I've been working on for awhile, and I can't wait to share it! :)

Friday, December 12, 2014

Friday Favorites

It's Friday. I survived exams..barely. I'm at home and I can't wait to bake and read and paint and shop for Christmas presents and blog and so much more!
Two weeks from yesterday will be Christmas! Can you believe it?!

I will never be NOT obsessed with Taylor Swift and her songs..here's an acoustic (!!!!!) mash-up of her 1989 album. Also, her inspiration is another reason why I love her..read some of her thought-provoking words here!

YES! French Toast Crunch was so good aaaaaaaand it's (coming) back! Read more about the cereal's return here.

Think you know everything about your favorite Disney princess? Read here to find out more.

A breakfast cereal cafe? Count. Me. In! This is awesome. Check it out here.

Take this quiz  to find out how obsessed with pizza you are..obviously, it should be like 110%!

Natural Disaster just became my favorite song, even though it's an old one by Pentatonix..listen here.

OHMYGOSH
how precious is this little boy?!
watch this video RIGHT NOW! you won't regret it!
either you'll be crying, smiling, or both at the end of the video!

If you couldn't tell (based on the number of links I've included about them before on this blog..), pandas are my favorite animal! This video is so precious!

This is insane, and actually kinda funny..read about the crazy waitlist for duck boots from L.L.Bean here.

What we've all been waiting for! Watch the Insurgent trailer here!
This is a short glimpse into the amazing movie that we all know it will be! :)

I've been marathon-ing the Harry Potter movies with my sister, and I just want to say how much I love this series! Maybe I'll also have time to read the books over the holidays as well :)

Don't forget to check out the stories that J.K.Rowling will be posting on Pottermore for the next 12 days as an early Christmas present to her fans! Read about it here (the link I included is going to update each day with the story that was revealed!).

Enjoy another wonderful holiday weekend! I hope it's magical for you! :)

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

1/8 DONE

I'm done with my first semester of college! What?!
Finals wrapped today, and my brain is so tired!
I don't feel like writing or thinking for at least a few days..all my energy is completely drained!
I think I did okay with my exams and I should end the semester with at least reasonable grades :)
It seems so crazy that I am able to enjoy almost a whole month at home with no classes, tests, or projects to worry about! I'm very excited to celebrate my favorite holiday with my family!
I cannot wait to cook and decorate and play holiday music and wrap presents and shop, and so much else that accompanies the Christmas season! :)
Baking, reading, catching up on tv shows..all the many wonderful things I haven't been able to do while away at college!
I've been sleeping in my Christmas PJs since the start of December, and it just makes me happy to go to sleep..also, there's Christmas cookies on them..


My attempt at taking an artsy holiday picture ft. my pajamas and a candy cane :)

I cannot wait to blog more over the holiday season!

I'm off to SLEEP in my own queen-sized bed (this is probably one of the best reasons for coming home!) and watch MasterChef Jr., because yes, I am that girl! :)

Sleep well!

I cannot wait to share this week's Friday Favorites!
To everyone in the Divergent fandom, be on the look out for an extra special link this week!
:)

Have a great day/night!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Friday Favorites

Exam week is in full swing..I finished one yesterday and I have the rest next week, so this weekend I'll be studying alot! History, math, so much information to go over before my exams! I can't believe that my first semester of college is almost over! It's crazy how fast a few months can pass by! At least I'll take a (small) study break and take some time out to enjoy a Christmas party I'm attending tomorrow night! :)

This cover is simply beautiful. Watch and listen here.

Emma Watson is wonderfully herself, and she never tries to be anything she's not. Read 25 reasons why here.

This boy can dance! Watch here.

This video of two children arguing will "poke your heart!" :) Click here to see the video.

Little kid love is the kind we should all have. Click here to see the touching letter a little boy wrote to a girl he liked.

Dreams DO come true! You can now buy Girl Scout cookies online and have them shipped to your door! BUY ME A MILLION BOXES OF LEMONADES AND I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER
Here's the article.

Can't wait to book a flight to London one day to meet my British best friend..link here.
I could also use these travel links as well.

The holiday season has begun, and with it Advent! I love Advent calendars and became really excited when BuzzFeed posted this article with 25 different ones for all types of people relating to their various interests and likes.

Google Translate some popular songs into other languages and then back into English..the results are hilarious! Watch here.

Start a (dance) party..no matter what age you are! If you do, the results will probably end up looking something like this..

Harry Potter fans..early Christmas present(s) to you from J.K.Rowling..read more about it here!

(Below are links I forgot to put in past #FridayFavorites! Sorry when you see the date..they're kinda old!)

I'M SO EXCITED! A sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding is in the works..read here.

This is crazy..what a task! Twitter..I admire you! Read about it here.

Insurgent finally came out with a teaser trailer..and well, it was intense..but it doesn't really relate to what happened in the book..I don't know what to think about this..and when I saw Mockingjay, I was hoping for a new, REAL trailer..but that didn't happen :'( see what you think here!

WHY WAS I NOT AT UNIVERSAL WHEN 1D CAME TO HARRY POTTER WORLD?!
click for the article and pictures here!

This is my favorite cooking show! So adorable! Read here.

I love these posts about what to gift the traveler in your life: herehere, and here.

Hope you have an amazing weekend!
I'm off to study some, which will probably result in turning on Christmas music and working math problems! Or watching more Parks & Rec episodes..if I'm being honest.
Enjoy the first Saturday and Sunday in this beautiful holiday month! :)
Stay safe, eat some Christmas cookies, and if you're studying for finals, good luck and do your best! Remember your worth is not a letter grade!
Have a great rest of today! :)

Friday, November 28, 2014

Friday Favorites

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving!
I certainly did, with food in my stomach, Black Friday ads scattered on the floor and family around, this year was certainly a different kind of holiday but a good one! :)
This is adorable! I should have added this video to yesterday's post, but forgot, so you can watch it here now :)

Movies/TV Shows:
Paddington--check out this adorable clip (here!)
The Imitation Game--watch the trailer here
The Theory Of Everything--watch the trailer here
MasterChef Jr.--READ THIS ARTICLE!

Books:
Girl Online--buy it here!

Style:
Who wouldn't want a cape dress? (A few to choose from here!)

Social Media:
This is crazy! But yay! Tumblr > Instagram (read here!)
A precious Christmas ad ft. Romeo Beckham--watch here
A Facebook article that is particularly interesting--read here

Random:
Harry Potter works its magic in this new study. Read here.
I'm such a multitasker..I would use multiple items on this list AT THE SAME TIME (check them out here).
I love this article. Taking the quiz in 3, 2, 1..check it out here
Can I have one, please?! All I want for Christmas is a..raccoon! (pictures here!)
I want a husband/father to act like this to our future child..how sweet! watch here :)
5 reasons music is good for you! Read here.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
Stay safe and have fun!
So much love :)

Thursday, November 27, 2014

#ImThankfulFor

Yes, the title of this blog post is a hashtag..21st century probs? Maybe..
I love this time of year, with all the festivities and holiday cheer. 
I love spending time with the people I love most, and being able to take a break from the stress of school and enjoy good food.
I love my family and friends and I'm so very thankful for them and the impact they've had on my life.
I love the way the sun sets and how the beauty all around us is evidence of God and His love for us.
I love that it's cold enough to layer and the chance that snow could possibly be right around the corner.
I love the fact that I can post on here and say that I'm thankful for YOU.
No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, I am so glad that you stumbled across my blog in the middle of cyberspace and chose to read this..
I want to let you know that I'm thankful for you.
Even if I never meet you in person, the chance that I might be able to connect with you via the Internet makes me excited because each and every one of you is an individual on this Earth that is special and important and loved and you deserve to know that.
I love you.
#ImThankfulFor you!


hot cocoa with marshmallows


holiday dorm decorations


pumpkin pie making

Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade--it's a tradition to watch it every year!


McDonald's is ready for Christmas!




If you can't already tell from my IG/blog/Tumblr, I heart sunsets SO MUCH

Happy Thanksgiving!
Hoping you guys (specifically people in the USA) had a wonderful meal with turkey and/or ham + all the trimmings, and a great day in general spent with those you love!
To everyone: have the best rest of your day/night! :)
Friday Favorites--tomorrow!
Also, if you go Black Friday shopping, stay safe and good luck snagging some great deals!

Friday, November 21, 2014

Friday Favorites

Hi!
I'm still alive, but I'm barely breathing (aka stressing 'cause exams are just a couple of weeks away!) BUT..the holidays are right around the corner which I am SO EXCITED about! AHHHHHH
I have so much to do! For both school and holiday planning :)
So much shopping, decorating, baking, studying, and social activities going on..my brain's going about a million miles an hour..

As the semester draws to a close, it makes me think of how it is both scary and exciting to begin a new part of life..as the holidays are approaching, it makes me think back on this year and all it entailed..but I'm looking forward and not back. I'm ready for a new year..

I saw Mockingjay last night! It was amazing!
Definitely my favorite so far out of the 3 movies that have been released so far!






I can't believe Black Friday's ONLY ONE WEEK AWAY!
I really like the purple Beats and the Nikon camera (here).
And..I'm still trying to find a really good deal on a KitchenAid mixer..

This week..

Less than 6 days to Thanksgiving!
Every day, I am given so much and am not always thankful.
I know I should be, and I hope I can be more grateful from now on!

I hope this weekend will be one of the best!

Sorry, this post isn't the best :/

Today..I've watched 3 movies so far and about 6 tv episodes..oops #collegelife?!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Friday Favorites

This week was so busy!
With the semester drawing to a close, finals and studying are #1 on my mind right now..
But, hopefully, I won't be too busy to post a few #ootds soon! :)

Sorry for not as many links this week! :(

I love these two violinists' cover of Shake It Off! Listen here.

A Christmas advertisement that will break your heart! Watch here.

Love this lip-sync of Taylor Swift, singing her new single! Click here.
Plus, watch her new music video that was released on Monday (here).

The Royal Family's coming to the USA!
I cannot wait to see pictures of what Kate's going to wear and I hope Prince George comes!
Read here.

Al Roker set a new world record! Look here.

This week:
I watched..Parks & Recreation (finished the first season in a day--don't worry, it only has 6 episodes!) AND caught up on season 2 of MasterChef Jr. (the most adorable competition show on tv! :)
I listened to..1989 (of course!)
I ate..the best rice (cause i'm home for the weekend! yay :) and I'm able to enjoy home-cooked meals once again!)
I drank..my first hot chocolate of the season!

I hope your weekend is just as wonderful as you are!
I cannot wait to spend this time with my favorite people! I love being home with my family!
Even though the temperature seems to be dropping a few degrees more each day, at least it's an excuse to wear cute fall/winter outfits, right? :)
In the next few days, make sure to stay warm and start decorating for the holiday season! :)
I'm going to go preheat my oven to bake some of those holiday-themed sugar cookies Pillsbury always comes out with this time of year..
:)

Friday, November 7, 2014

Friday Favorites

Another week has come and gone..and the holidays are just a little bit closer! I'm so excited!
I even bought Christmas-themed dorm decorations today!
(Don't worry--I'll wait a few days to actually start taping snowflakes to my door :)

#alexfromtarget
Whether it was a company's marketing strategy or something else, it shows just how crazy our world is. From having 140+ followers to less than a week later, having half a million followers, it's amazing how a person can gain popularity in such a short time frame! Can this happen to me?! I want to talk to Ellen!
Watch here. Even he doesn't believe that he's an overnight sensation!

In other Target news, the store is offering free shipping for anything and everything that is available in their stores! Perfect for the holiday season!

Microsoft Office is FREE and now available to users of Apple iPhones, iPads, and Androids!
Read all about it here.


OHMYGOSH and we thought the story of the toys was over..nope! It's back!

Autumn is probably the prettiest season ever..just take a look at these pictures!

One of my best friends recently sent me links to past John Lewis' Christmas advertisements, and they are precious! Here is this year's ad, ft. Monty the Penguin!

BuzzFeed has the most random articles, but I always 100% agree with the food ones! :)
I loaf bread so much..read the rest here ;D

Example of how much I love food would be..this. I would definitely try to get the most out of this Pasta Pass from Olive Garden!

Found this out yesterday afternoon--Season Six of Downton Abbey was greenlit!
Season Five is not over yet because their season finale (the Christmas special) hasn't aired, but I am already looking forward to this new season full of unexpected twists and turns!

Insurgent posters are out and better than any that have ever come out before!
They're interactive and 3-D! Check them out here! There's 8 total!

I'm a happy fangirl..because so many of my fandoms have had exciting news this week! :)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend that's filled with happy times spent with those you love!
Go make some memories! :)
Enjoy your Friday night!

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Just A Girl Trying To Find A Place In This World

All my life growing up people told me I was smart, and nice, and pretty. And maybe that was partially true, but that's not what life is all about. It is so much more than that. I want to do something with my life, but I have absolutely no idea. I feel like each day is one step closer to figuring it out, but it's hard to be patient. I know that. I've always had a hard time with that particular characteristic of my personality. I hate waiting around when I feel like I could be the one doing something to make it happen faster..

I feel like since school started in August, it's been one crazy roller coaster ride. I have learned so much in the short time I've been here, but I'm thankful for the lessons. If I hadn't gone through certain situations, I wouldn't be where I am today. I've learned that I won't always be the smartest person in a class, or the nicest, or the prettiest. There will always be other people who are better than me, but I'm slowly learning to accept that. College has already helped me out a lot already..it reminded me that I do not have to be the best, but taught me that I should always be the best version of me.
That's probably the most important thing I've learned since I moved here..a lesson I didn't learn in a classroom. Along the way, it will become easier to accept this, but as Dolly Parton said once, "If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

This semester has been a rough one for me. It was easy at first..I didn't mind moving to a dorm room (and actually I like not having so many material things, because 1. There's no room even if I wanted to have more and 2. I feel lighter), adjusting to college in general, and making new friends. But the last couple of days, I have become really tired. I want change, but I'm not sure how I'm going to make that happen. Sure, I like a routine, but what I really crave is adventure. I want to travel, and seeing as how I've just begun college, I feel like that is far away in the future..I have a terrible case of wanderlust and I'm trying really hard to convince my mom to take our family to London next summer..we'll see what happens..

I'm also in the process of trying to make a schedule for next semester, because yes! We are at that point in the school year where we're already thinking about next year! I cannot believe how fast my first semester of college passed by. People who told me that these next four years fly by were not kidding! I am actually really excited to begin another semester..a new year full of new classes with new people..with new opportunities. I'm always ready for a fresh start.

So, I don't really know what the point of this blog post was supposed to be about..I just wanted to tell you (if anyone is even reading this) that I'm doing life same as you, and even though I cannot wait for next year, I'm also scared to death. That means I have to make new friends, adjust to a new schedule, and try to figure out how to have a social life with my schoolwork and (hopefully!) a job I'm applying for. If you ever wanna talk, I have links on my blog where you can find out how to contact me if you want. I'd love to chat!
I'm on a journey, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't appreciate company along the way :)
"I'm just a girl trying to find a place in this world.."
(P.S. Yes, I just quoted old Taylor Swift lyrics, but that doesn't mean I love 1989 any less! I'm listening to her newest album constantly..it's probably driving my roommates insane..)


I love Polaroids


rainboots + flowers


i'm just gonna bake, bake, bake, bake, bake..BAKE IT OFF!


I'm off to study, like I should have been doing the entire time this blog post was being written, but oh well, YOLO! Is that still acceptable?
Have a wonderful night!

Friday, October 31, 2014

Friday Favorites

Happy Halloween!
Sending bootiful thoughts your way :)
So thankful for this much needed weekend!
My plans for tonight include pumpkin carving (hopefully!), baking bread, and hanging out with my family :) I'm so excited!

DIY: Candy Corn (Perfect for today's holiday and a healthy alternative to the real sugar-y thing!)

Well, this week was un-productive, seeing that Taylor Swift's 5th album was released Monday, and it's been on repeat since then :)
My favorite tracks are Wildest Dreams, Wonderland, and All You Had To Do Was Stay.
So obsessed with this cd though..I've unashamedly listened to it about a million times..

This video is most definitely an example of a swoon-worthy duet.
I mean, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran singing together?! OHMYGOSH
Watch here!

Just a few days ago, I watched The Little Mermaid. I mean, what would college be if you didn't watch random Disney movies with your best friends? Even though technically you do not have to have a reason to watch a princess movie, this Buzzfeed article inspired me to watch that one in particular. I love this photo shoot so much.

Daniel Radcliffe, you've grown up so much since we knew you as the boy wizard Harry Potter. But you're still amazing, cause you rap lyrics to an alphabet song. This will be the best thing you will watch all day.

And more HP news..you can now stay in a Harry Potter themed hotel room! Room for 1, please :) Check it out here!

I love that these three support feminism.

46 reasons to drop everything and travel the world--I agree with so many of these!

Sending you off into the weekend with precious puppy pictures!

Use these next few days to recover from the week and relax!

Stay safe this Halloween and don't forget to go to the store tomorrow to buy half-off candy :)

Thursday, October 30, 2014

October 30 // College Recap

An account of how today went:
I woke up early even after going to bed at 2 because I was finishing a paper for a class I had later that morning..
No breakfast, two back to back classes..
A fire alarm went off about an hour ago..
Listened to my favorites off Taylor Swift's new cd about a dozen more times while I was cleaning my dorm room..
And ate some of the best dairy free chocolate chip and fudge brownie cookies today!
All in all, just another typical day in the life of this college student ;)

The beginning of this week was all kinds of crazy..I was stressing about school, my schedule for next semester, friendships and overreacting about 90% of it because of sleep deprivation..

Well, this is supposed to be kind of a college update post..anyway, I'm hoping to post some #ootds soon! The cold(er) part of the year is rapidly approaching..expect flannels, scarves, boots, and who knows what else! :) Can you believe that today is October 30?!
So here's to layers, fresh baked goods, and after-Halloween candy sales (just two more days!)

I dressed up as a flapper this year..I've already had several occasions where I was able to wear my costume and I've loved showing off the outfit I finally put together (I mean, I found my dress Monday and I had to wear it to an event Tuesday..that tells you what kind of procrastinator I am..)

Anyway, Halloween is an awesome holiday & college makes you want to go back to trick or treating at age 5, but dressing up with your friends is almost as great! :) The only down side is buying your own candy..I never knew it was so expensive!

So..that kinda sums up this week..oh goodness. How am I ever going to be prepared for finals in a couple weeks? Hopefully a ton of care packages :D

College is crazy, kids. Prepare yourselves. You've been warned.

(Maybe I'll write a blog post about college tips and such..)

Have an amazing rest of your Thursday & hoping that you have a fantastic Friday!

Check back tomorrow for Friday Favorites! :)

Sorry my blog posts are so random!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Friday Favorites

It's the weekend! I have time to rest & hang out with my family now :)

Yes, I know I'm in college and still watch Disney Channel..
Girl Meets World is an adorable show! It amazes me how this network can come up with such great story-lines that fit into only half an hour long episodes. I believe that what you watch greatly influences how you grow up.
I watched this episode at the beginning of the week, and had to share! :)
One scene in particular, starting at 16:45, is really powerful. Watch here.

I have found the best fall mix (and yes, I made it up)! If you combine birthday cake oreos, kettle corn, and candy corn, you will end up with the most delicious combo ever. Guaranteed.

Monday morning, bright and early, an amazing guest post by Maxie McCoy appeared on The College Prepster which I read faithfully. Read what Maxie had to say here; so inspiring!

London is the place to live! Click here to see a few of the many beautiful places you can travel to for a short day trip! Can I please move to the UK now?

And if I really wanted to go out of my comfort zone, I would go on wonderful adventures that can be found on this list..

One of my future house goals is to have a spiral staircase. I love these so much. They're beautiful. Check them out here.

So..my birthday falls during the month of April..and William & Kate are expecting their second child then! What if their new son/daughter just happened to be born on my birthday? How awesome! Read here.

In other royalty news, the Queen sent her first tweet this morning. Even she's up to date with the times. She really is the coolest.

I'm such a nerd. I became really excited when I saw these!
On my wishlist: Infinite USB, virtual keyboard (who wouldn't?), window phone charger, and a Polaroid camera (!!!!).

COLLEGE UPDATE!
These past few weeks have been challenging. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, because there are various issues to take into account, but so far, I know that college has been a very interesting experience so far for me. All I know is that I'm growing. I'm finding out who I am, and who I could be. It's interesting discovering and developing things about yourself that you never knew before. College is just the part of life's journey I'm traveling at the moment, and it's been really cool. This is definitely a huge part of my life, which overall I am so happy about. But there are also moments when at times I'm wrestling with myself, and trying not to over-analyze multiple situations. Anyway, maybe I'll write another post about that at a later time..

Moving on to other topics..I cannot believe that this is the last weekend in October!
WHAT?! Also, Halloween is next week, which I am so excited about!

May your weekend be full of sweater weather, apple cider, and riding boots!
Enjoy fall these next two days..go visit a pumpkin patch or jump in a pile of leaves.
Love on your family and friends; wishing you the best weekend! :)

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

I Know This Is Corny But..

So..this is sort of a weekend recap!
Fall is officially one of my favorite seasons.
There are so many activities and do not even get more started on the style element of fall!
I went to a corn maze and I have to say they are so fun & will definitely become a new tradition for me! :) I had such a great time! I "got lost" four different times, ate half a huge bag of kettle corn, watched couples waltz (!!!), and walked on hay bales. Whoever invented the idea of a corn maze rocks, because it is possibly one of the coolest things ever. My favorite time to visit a corn maze is at night. I love how peaceful it is and how the sunset looks behind the corn stalks.



this picture does not do justice to how magnificent and gorgeous and beautiful the sky was


i want these lights; love!








blurry yet beautiful


kettle corn + bonfire


become one with nature (aka the corn maze)


loving the decorations of fall


walked across these hay bales


#ootn
Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Jeans: Old Navy (similar)
Boots: Kohl's (similar)

To you, my beautiful readers:
I hope this inspires you to go and experience a corn maze for yourself!
Have a wonderful rest of today!
You made it halfway through the week--I'm so proud of you!
Keep it up :)

Friday, October 17, 2014

Friday Favorites

Thank goodness it's Friday!
This week was a tiring one, but it was great and very productive!
I wish it was a long weekend, and even though it will just be the normal two days, I'm going to make the best of it! This weekend is going to be one of the best! Celebrating fall with some friends in the form of a corn maze and maybe visiting a pumpkin patch (?!) will be so fun!
College life rocks, I'm telling you :) I promise I'll update on my college life soon!
That will be a post hopefully next week! :)

If you haven't already heard (and really, how could you miss it?!), at the beginning of this week, Taylor Swift released a brand new song from her album '1989' due out in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!
No article could describe the new track more perfectly than this one here.
Plus, she's released a few photos that showcase lyrics from various songs off her new album and will continue to do so leading up to her album release & I love it! Her use of social media to draw in her fans into the experience is awesome!

Skip to 2:50 of this video. She is adorable!

I love what TS has to say. She is so mature for her age and girls like myself look to her for inspiration.
One of my favorite quotes from this article is: "There's always a bit of your self-perception that's frozen in junior high, when you trained yourself to not feel cool. You'll never really feel like you're part of the ‘in' crowd, but growing up means that matters to you less and less every day." With Taylor promoting her new album, she is gracing the cover of many magazines this fall so that means many new articles with more words of wisdom.

(Sorry for so many Taylor Swift items on this list! Love her and what she brings to this world!)

I think I found someone who is more excited about this season than me. This dog loves fall.

What?! Wish I lived here, if only for THIS DAY! I heart pizza!

My blogger friend sent me this video & it is too good not to post! I love London and cannot wait to travel on the tube! This is a crazy challenge: watch it here!

I know this is really old (aka 2 weeks old--which basically is old news in this day and age, but I never have time to read all the news stories/blog posts I want [I'm a nerd] but I love ) so tonight, I finally read this article and had to share! I love baking and loved reading how making pies helped this woman learn to overcome the struggles of her everyday life and to find something that makes her want to wake up in the morning. Now I'm craving apple pie..

I need to budget my money, but right now I'm online window shopping..can we make that an actual thing? :)
Anthropologie, Kate Spade, and J. Crew all have AMAZING sales going on right now!
I really want this t-shirt (it's unique!), these pencils (I'm on the lookout for some!), and this skirt (my favorite!).

This week, my friend agreed to take pictures for this blog which I am so excited about!
Now I can post more #ootds, and I can't wait! Many of the bloggers I follow have a very expensive wardrobe that I am a huge fan of but sadly cannot afford. Because of that, I try to find cheaper alternatives to the clothes they wear. Note: cheap as in money wise and not quality wise.
Hopefully, I'm not alone and others can relate to my college budget! :)

Off to enjoy fall-related activities + schoolwork, because that's what college is.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Road Trippin' & Apple Picking


The colors of fall


Pretty pumpkins


Lovely little bridge


Attempt at an artsy photo


The most beautiful view


Leaves changing color


Fall in a picture


Take the (apple orchard) path less traveled by


Panorama pictures are my favorite


Wagon to carry all the apples we picked


Cool contrast, thanks iPhone


At least my sister thought this picture was cool..


Hidden treasure aka more apples


Perfect combination


Apple to apples

Through these photos, you can experience what I was able to witness in person. This orchard and its beauty never becomes old to me. I look forward to coming here every year because I love the scenic landscapes & everything that accompanies apple picking. The time spent walking in-between apple trees with friends and family this weekend are memories that I will treasure forever. Who knew there were so many varieties of apples to choose from?! Feeling carefree and full of energy, I enjoyed spending my morning with a few of the people I love. Apple orchards are very muddy, and deciding to wear my Hunters was one of the best life decisions I've ever made at 7 a.m. With my rain boots, I was able to add a special touch to my outfit without forsaking style!
That's a wrap on this weekend recap! :)

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

I'll Be Over Here..Alone With My Headphones On

I have so much work I need to complete..
BUT...Taylor Swift's new song 'Out Of The Woods' just came out! I've had it on replay since finding out it was released early, and NOT at midnight like she said!
I AM SO HAPPY AND EXCITED AND LOVING THIS SONG CAUSE AS I TYPE THIS BLOG POST IT'S STILL PLAYING :)
Listen to the full version here (instead of replaying the iTunes preview like me).
ENJOY AND WITH THE REST OF THE TAYLOR SWIFT FANDOM CRY TEARS OF JOY AND NOW WE ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO HEARING HER NEW BEAUTIFUL ALBUM
And later today, when I have quizzes or tests, I'll just remember that I was listening to this awesome song and not studying and hope for the best! :)

Friday, October 10, 2014

Friday Favorites

I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to post a Friday Favorites last week! I had a busy schedule and I didn't leave time (which is sad, because I love my blog!) to make one. Again, I apologize, I didn't have a post prepared and also, because writing FF is one of the highlights of my week :)

Recently I've been almost overwhelmed by such wonderful music everywhere I turn and I just had to share a few of my favorites!

First, Ed Sheeran's new music video for his latest single is just about the best thing ever.
I mean, his gorgeous voice paired with an incredible choreographed dance for the entire length of the song!
And did I mention the spotlight heart? Precious! Watch here.

A few weeks ago, Demi was performing a few throwback songs at her one of her concerts and one of them included a reunion with Joe Jonas! Everyone was surprised but LOVED IT! They sang their Camp Rock duet (here)!

Taylor Swift--flawless as always.
Check out her cover of Vance Joy's 'Riptide' here.

I know this is a little old, but for some reason it kept popping up on Facebook this week. If you've never had a chance to watch, check it out here. This kid makes me laugh every single time!

Nothing makes this girl happier than food. When I saw that Dominique Ansel released his official at-home recipe on how to make cronuts, I was SO EXCITED! I became aware of this baker and his legendary confections via The College Prepster and I'm hoping to one day visit NYC and taste one of the treats from his store firsthand!
Until then, I'll (attempt to) whip up some of my own in my kitchen at home. Recipe here.

Apparently this chipmunk enjoys pizza just as much as I do. Watch the video here..

Man's best friend--watch here.

I actually would prefer it to rain on my wedding day!
One of my favorite pairs of shoes is my Hunter rain boots. Love at first sight (both the footwear & my dream guy). Wedding pictures like these would be gorgeous!

Last, but definitely not least: using surfboarding to raise awareness of mental health! It's basically the most interesting, awesome and fun support group ever! Hang ten!

P.S. Remember that day trip I was planning on taking a few weeks ago?
Well, it never happened..but it's okay!
Because I'm taking it tomorrow! I can't wait! Pictures + recap soon! :)

Have THE best weekend ever!
Stay safe, enjoy a break from the rushing around of the week, and be appreciative of every single moment that comes your way! :)