7/8 + 2017

To be honest, I don't think I can adequately describe this year or semester. 

Both have been..well, a lot. 

At times, it felt like the news had nothing else to report besides another shooting, natural disaster or even more death

I wanted to ask why there was so much evil in this world and why can't we do anything to stop it 

But then I remembered there is light, pushing its way out of the darkness..

And there have been good moments, even if it felt like I had to fight for them sometimes.

This year, I:

finished my junior year of college

landed a summer internship

fell (even more) in love with Broadway

gained confidence in myself

started my senior year of college

read more books than I could count 

became more intentional about living away from screens 

traveled to places I'd never been before

and fell in love with the city that never sleeps. 

It's been 3 years since I wrote this post about finishing my first semester of college and now I'm about to start my last. WOW. This year's been very different with highs and lows, but that's life, I guess. I am very excited to welcome 2018 with open arms and enjoy each day. 

Graduation will be here before I know it, so I'm going to try and enjoy every single moment over the next 4 months. I want to be present for this last semester of my college career. I can't wait to see what the future holds, even though there is so much uncertainty. Before I know it, I'll be living a totally different life, and it's scary. I have no idea where I'll be or what I'll be doing, but I know it's going to be okay.

To end this year, I'll leave you with a quote from my favorite musical, Dear Evan Hansen. 

Because today at least you're you, and that's enough.

2016

Yay! New year - new list(s).
I can't wait to start using this book/journal!

Like the quote from A Tale Of Two Cities says, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."

2016 - what a year.

Thankfully, the good has (almost) always outweighed the bad.

I spent more time offline - and more time IRL with those whom I have meaningful relationships.
I fell in love with musicals (specifically, Hamilton).
I finished my sophomore year of college.
I was captivated by the Summer Olympics held in Rio this year.
I started volunteering at a local non-profit, which opened my eyes in a whole new way.
I cheered on my favorite football team(s), the presidential candidate I hoped to win, and those on my college journey.
I realized how much I truly love to travel. Wanderlust is real!
I finished my favorite semester of college (this past fall).
I traveled to new + old places with friends and family alike.
I learned how to maintain balance with my schoolwork and social life.
I learned to appreciate and understand the food I eat, and why an exercise routine is important.
I started cooking/baking again, and made time for things that make me happy, like reading books.

The bonds with my family and friends have been strengthened more than I ever thought possible.
I learned how to appreciate every single moment and take each day as it comes. 

I am thankful for all I've learned, and even more grateful for realizing that the best things aren't things - they're people, places, and memories.

I've loved and cried and laughed and had my heart broken more times than I can count.

From spending time with those less fortunate for weeks on end to filling my brain with new and exciting information in my classes, this year has been one for the books.

My hands have been covered in flour.
I've filled my phone with photos.
And my heart has never been so full.
I lived this year. Really, truly lived.

It's amazing to see what all one can accomplish if he/she steps away from the screens that seem to captivate our every waking moment.
I stopped wishing, and started doing.

There are so many other wonderful things that happened this year with a few not so great mixed in, but all in all, this year has been amazing.

Thank you 2016.
I'm ready to welcome 2017 with open arms.
Here's to the new year!

P.S. Also, check out this list and another here. I think they're pretty awesome!

Milking It For All It's Worth

From last week's post on my love for food here

Besides the fact that this post started off with a pun, I'm gonna get real with you guys today. I've needed to type this out for quite some time, but I never felt like it was the right time, you know? With all the cooking/baking I've been doing of late as well as the recipes I've been sharing on the blog, I've never come right out and said what I consider to be a big part of my life. I'm lactose intolerant, which means I can't eat food items with dairy in them. This means no cheese, ice cream, milk..you get the idea. Every now and then, I complain to my mom and/or sister about this or that when we go out to eat because they're able to find an endless number of options, and I'm stuck with like 3 dishes to choose from. To be honest though, I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't have to worry about consuming a food product with the chance that it could be life threatening or having to be rushed to the doctor. The only items I can't eat are ones that include dairy. Thank goodness Birthday Cake Oreos don't! I've certainly had to adapt over the past five years, but I think finding out I was lactose intolerant was actually a blessing in disguise. After I came to accept the fact that I had to "give up" my favorite food in the world, pizza, I actually learned so much about food and my body in general. My mom helped me so much when I was in the process of transitioning my current diet to foods I could eat without getting sick. She looked on the Internet for alternative recipes, and allowed me to buy whatever I needed at the grocery store so I could still maintain somewhat of the same diet. However, it's taken me almost five years to understand that what my body wants and what it needs in terms of food are two completely different things! I've realized that I eat when I'm emotional or bored, and I have a major sweet tooth! I can buy many alternative versions of the 'real' item, with the only downside being that they're usually more expensive. Thank goodness for places like Trader Joe's :) I can always find good deals there! Whole Foods is awesome too, but expensive for this college girl's budget!

Here's what I use in lieu of 'regular' ingredients.

I use dairy-free butter and/or vegan butter. I'm partial to Earth Balance and/or Smart Balance.  

I buy dairy-free chocolate chips at Trader Joe's. I mean, $1.99 for 12oz. dairy-free chocolate?! You can't beat that price! :)

I buy Blue Diamond Almond Breeze almond milk (vanilla and chocolate flavors) at my local grocery store, and drink a few glasses a day. It's around the same number of calories as regular milk, but has twice the calcium! Note: Almond milk has somewhat of a nutty taste, but I've gotten used to it. The vanilla flavor makes it taste better, and I often add it to my recipes which gives them added flavor. But, ohmygosh! The chocolate milk is seriously so good. My family's had to cut back on drinking it for every meal, because we could go through at least 3 cartons a week.

Another benefit to this whole lactose intolerance thing is that I buy way more fruits and vegetables than I used to, and I love it :)
I sometimes buy them at Farmer's Markets, and when I'm unable to go, I purchase them at a store that sells local produce. If I could, I would definitely spend every single Saturday at a Farmer's Market..

One of my favorite things I've done this summer is try new recipes. I always get so excited making food for my family, and yes, that even includes grocery shopping! I think what I love the most about cooking/baking is the fact that I'm creating something tangible for my family and friends to enjoy. I love seeing the happiness it brings them even if it's only fleeting. There's nothing more wonderful than a meal baked with love. Okay, that sounds super cheesy, but whatever :)

Oh, and speaking of cheese, I definitely did not give up pizza! Just to clarify, I still eat pizza as often as I can. My roommate totally gets me. She understands my love for pizza, and even encourages it which is one of the reasons I love her. When we're at school, and don't like what the caf has served that night (which is rare, because to be honest, we love our school's food), we order pizza. Domino's is the closest to our campus, and probably the best fast food pizza option. We're able to split a pizza and customize it to our individual preferences (with an awesome option for 'no cheese' on one side!). Some people may think it's weird to eat pizza with just sauce, toppings, and crust, but what I say is it's less calories, which means I can eat more pizza, so win-win, right? :) For my birthday this year, my friends and I went to eat at Mellow Mushroom. It's a really cool pizza place and they offer customers the option of selecting vegan cheese for their pizza! Vegan cheese is one of the best things ever. Definitely try it if you're able to :) It's funny when the waiter/waitress asks me my order, because I get the same thing every time: Mighty Meaty with vegan cheese, because "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." :)

So excuse the punny title, but I'm making the most of what I have with my lactose intolerance.
See, I'm "milking it for all it's worth" ;) Insert laughing emoji here.

Have a great Tuesday!

#goals

I can't believe that I'm just a few days short of a month until I move back into a dorm! What?! I can't believe I'm about to start my junior (!!!) year of college! Now that I'm officially an "upperclassman", I feel like I have so much more responsibility to myself and my fellow students. I'm so excited to begin this year, and start making some awesome memories.
I've learned so much in the past two years, and yet I still have so much to learn :)

A few of my goals for this year include:

+Maintaining my current GPA
I know I keep saying this, but I'm in a major I love and enjoy learning more about, and my grades have definitely reflected that. Even though my classes are becoming increasingly more difficult, I hope I can keep my current GPA and maybe even boost it :)

+Study material more thoroughly
Here's an area where I definitely have room to improve. I hate reading the required text, but it's definitely necessary in order to understand the material covered in my classes. I hope to set aside more time to study.

+Spend more time IRL than online
I blogged 3x a week during the first semester of my sophomore year, but it took a lot of time and energy that I could have devoted to something else. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't something I was extremely passionate about. I would like to become even more involved on campus, so I'm going to try and spend more time offline this year. I became even more aware of the fact that I spend way too much time online this summer, so I'm hoping to cut back on that amount. 

+Be kinder than necessary
School's tough, and in general the world is, so with that in mind, it's nice to see a smiling face or talk to a friendly person. I hope I can be that someone to others :)

+Eat healthier + exercise more
I've been on somewhat of a healthy kick (more than usual), so I hope I can keep it up when I go back to school. Also, I hope I can make and keep an exercise routine as soon as school begins!

P.S. The above photo isn't the school I go to. It's Texas A&M (my cousin's school)!

Have a great Tuesday :)

#TBT: Wonderballs

OHMYGOSH. This is a true legit Throwback Thursday + a PSA to all. I'm completely serious. Wonderballs are back!!! Do you remember the hollow balls of chocolate that when broken open contained hard candy?! Because if you don't, you can now experience the wonder of the Wonderball! Or in my case, relive childhood! This candy is probably my favorite candy. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw one at the register in Walmart last night. I picked it up and bought it without even thinking! I honestly cannot contain my excitement. I've been wondering if they'd ever bring back Wonderballs, and with all the nostalgia/reboots/90s vibes that people have been loving, why would they not?! I'm thrilled that these awesome candies are available again, and hope they expand to include other characters :) 

I remember the Disney ones so well - they were the best!

Go out and buy yourself one of these!

*This post is in no way sponsored. I just really love Wonderballs!

I will update this post with photos once I've opened it :)

Update: See? Two awesome candies in one! :)

Texas Recap

I recently took a trip to Texas to visit my family whom we haven't seen since Christmas. It was so good to see and spend time with them!
On this trip, I discovered a love for flying that I didn't even know existed. Every time we took off, I loved the feeling of adrenaline in my veins and every time we landed, I couldn't wait to go back up in the sky. If tickets didn't cost so much, I would use it as my main mode of transportation ;) It's incredible to see Earth from 30,000 feet (cue this song) and really cool to think how small you are compared to the rest of the world. It really makes you appreciate all that this world has to offer.
I wasn't technically "on vacation" until the next to last day we were in Texas, because I was still finishing up my two summer school classes. Even so, it was nice to have a different place to study and be able to take a break and hang out with my family. We didn't do too many 'tourist' activities, seeing that we did most of them the trip before, but we did make sure to include a stop at the Galleria. That mall is huge and offers so many of my favorite stores!
My cousin, who attends Texas A&M, offered to give us a tour of his campus one of the last days we were there. It's the fourth biggest university in the United States, so I was a little overwhelmed when I first stepped on the campus, but I ended up loving it. The university stretches for miles, but the difference between this and other universities is that you can practically feel the community and hospitality found in this place. We ate lunch at Layne's, which I highly recommend. It's a favorite among the students, which I found funny because there's only two items on the menu! As we were walking around, my cousin shared stories and traditions about the university. The one that intrigued me the most was about Pixar. Some people claim that a few of the campus buildings were used as inspiration for the architecture in Monsters University, and Sully from Monsters Inc. was named after one of the college's past presidents! Cool, huh? :) We also visited the Bonfire Memorial. This structure was as beautiful as it was sad. I think it really honored the victims of this horrible tragedy.
The night before we left, my cousin told us about this awesome shaved ice place, Bahama Bucks, and took us there at 10PM. The shop was so cute! I ordered Birthday Cake (my go-to flavor)! It was too cold to sit inside, so we took our orders home with us, and sat on the driveway to eat them. It was so beautiful to sit in silence and look at the stars.
I'm so glad we got to go to Texas this summer. I really enjoyed spending time with my family, and making new memories.

I'm leaving on a jet plane..

I'll never apologize for being that person who takes a bajillion photos out the plane window :)

Head in the clouds..

I forgot to take a picture inside the restaurant, but I did take this outside the Mexican place we ate at for lunch one day.

Fried Oreos + icecream

The Galleria

Madewell

Free People

Houston at night

Bonfire Memorial

Monsters Inc. + Monsters University inspiration

Imagine walking to class + seeing this!

Bahama Bucks

Favorite flavor: Birthday Cake (lower right)

views for days

I would stay up here all day if I could.

Texas forever.

What Time Is It?

If this post followed the actual lyrics of the song, it'd be summertime! But no, second semester of my sophomore year just started..but it's okay! I'm actually really excited for all that's in store this semester! :)
Why, you ask, am I writing this post? Because I just found out that Disney is doing a special telecast to celebrate High School Musical and its 10th anniversary! YAY!

 I can hardly believe that it's been TEN years since the first movie premiered! WHAT
This movie trilogy was a huge part of my childhood, and I can't wait to relive it tomorrow. I invited a few of my friends over to watch it too, so that will be fun :)

More info. on the special here.

And yes, all three of the movies' soundtracks have been on repeat lately. Thank goodness for a roommate who loves HSM as much, if not more, than I do :)

Hope this news brightens up your Tuesday!

Don't forget to watch!
Wednesday, 1/19 8PM

Time To Say Goodbye (Not Really)

Hi, everyone!

This post is bittersweet.

As the title indicates, it's the end of something, although not forever..

The time has come for me to say goodbye to blogging (regularly).

Though I may not want to, it's something I realize I need to do.

This little corner of the Internet has been mine for almost a year and a half, and through everything, it's been the place I've turned to to type out my feelings and/or write whatever I wanted.

I hope I've been able to relate to you in one way or another, and if anything, I hope at least one of the links in the weekly posts, Friday Favorites, has been able to bring a smile to your face :)

I've loved writing and sharing with you all (aka pouring out my heart sometimes..), and I've absolutely loved being able to connect with you. But, as the months pass, I realize that I've almost become too involved with my blog and the Internet, and though I love it as much as the next person, I need to take some time away from it.
I will continue to post every now and then, if a post magically appears in my mind, and I'll try to keep you updated with what I'm up to :) Maybe I'll even keep Friday Favorites going, but I also want you to know that I want to share quality material with you, and not just something I threw together last minute in order to have a post up.
I will write a post if I feel like it and share it with you guys, but at least I won't be obligated to if I have a busy week.
The past few days made me realize how unprepared I am (for everything), and that life's going to hit me in the face sooner or later, and I better be ready for it. This blog has helped prepare me in many ways, and for others, I need to learn them myself. I want to thank you for every sweet comment that's been left, emails that have been sent, and social media platforms that have been stalked.
This blog helped me deal with the first year of college, and made me document things that would have been forgotten had I not had this blog. I'm so grateful for that, and every single one of you who has read my blog.
I love you.
This isn't goodbye; it's a (talk to)/see you later.
<3

What's In My Netflix Queue + Recommendations

I love reading 'What's In My Bag/Purse' posts, but I've never seen one about a Netflix queue. I think that would tell a lot more about a person than their favorite flavor of Chapstick (although that might..). I'm a big fan of Netflix, if you couldn't tell from previous posts, so I thought I'd share what I love watching and if you want, you can leave recommendations on your favorites :)

MOVIES

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Pretty sure this is the only 80's movie I actually like..I know, I'm weird.)

High School Musical 1 + 2 (#childhood)

Legally Blonde (So motivational.)

Mulan (My favorite Disney princess!)

The Emperor's New Groove ("Pull the lever, Kronk!")

The Fox And The Hound (Always sobbing by the end of this one..)

Whenever I have a bad day, I can always watch one of these, and I'll feel 100x better :)

TV SHOWS

Continuum (I actually discovered this show on Netflix! Still trying to decide how I feel about the ending of the show..)

Friends (Rebecca actually recommended this show to me!)

Gilmore Girls (Classic.)

Grey's Anatomy (I'm in a love-hate relationship with this show.)

Parks and Recreation (Leslie Knope and I would totally be best friends..)

The Office (Jim's my dream guy..)

I've watched these already, but I have no problem re-watching an episode or two from any of these shows :)

What are your favorite movies/tv shows to watch/re-watch? Any recommendations? :)

Downton Abbey

There are many reasons why Downton Abbey is one of my favorite TV shows.

I have many favorites, but whenever someone asks me what my all-time favorite is, I always answer with Downton Abbey. Yes, a lot of it has to do with the characters -- people we can laugh with, cry over and relate to. People from all around the world have come to know and love this show, and there are plenty of reasons why. The number one reason I love this show is because I love the people I share it with and the memories I've made because of it. I bond with people over it, quote it (way too) often, and have had more than one tea party on account of the television show being centered around the English characters and their way of life. I've watched this show with people who mean so much to me -- my grandma, mom, sister, roommate, close friends. Taking time out of a busy schedule to sit down and enjoy a television show is so rare nowadays, and I'm been so lucky and fortunate to have had quite a few of those moments. I also reminisce when I watch an episode..it can take me back to the times when I watched Downton Abbey at my grandma's house, or last year when my roommate and I decided to take food back to our dorm so we could continue binge-watching DA. And, this year, the final season, we're able to watch the last season of Downton Abbey together.

I am so thankful for this TV show and how much of an impact it's made on my life.

A subtle nod to my Downton Abbey obsession in my dorm room..

Have an awesome Tuesday!

Exciting Stuff, You Guys!

OHMYGOSH

I cannot wait to share more, but right now, I'm still trying to completely wrap my head around it all :)

I'm a SWL Campus Rep, and I couldn't be more excited! I was eating dinner and studying last night, when I decided to check my e-mail, because I'm one of those weird people who has to check their email every 5 minutes (and I hadn't looked at my email in an hour or so which was suprising!), when I saw the So Worth Loving email (!!!) SO. WORTH. LOVING. My favorite company had emailed me to say that they had accepted me to their Campus Representatives program!

After I read the first few lines of the email, I completely freaked out. This is a dream come true.

I cannot wait to start planning events and get to know more of the student body at my school :) After a tough week at school, this e-mail lifted my spirits! I'll keep you guys updated. Until then, thank you so much for your love and support :)

Live Colorfully

(source)

This year, more than ever, I've been drawn to items of color.

I feel like no matter what it is, if it adds a pop of color, I want to buy it.

Thanks Kate Spade for the awesome inspiration you provide with your wonderful brand :)

Anyway, that's not what this post is about..I wrote another post about college -- one of my favorite things, the dorms! I'm really lucky my family's been able to pay for me to stay in the dorms. It's been so rewarding and I've had the best time. I bought (and received) a few things for the new school year, and I thought I'd share them with you! 

I love these items because of how fun, bright and colorful they are :)

There are many different patterns in this picture, but they somehow work.

Agenda: Wal-Mart

Binder: Wal-Mart

Fruit snacks: Welch's

iPad cover: Wal-Mart

Laptop: Dell

Pillowcases: Sears

Sheets: Target

Storage bin: K-Mart

Towels: JCP

Tumbler: Kate Spade

Yoga mat: TJMaxx (similar)

Have an awesome Tuesday!

Lessons Learned Freshman Year

I've been thinking about writing this post for quite some time. I want to make sure that what I say here accurately reflects my freshman year experience. I am still in shock that my first year of college is over and that in just a little less than two weeks, I move back in! Freshman year was full of so many lessons, both in and out of the classroom. I learned so much about myself and the world around me. Thinking back over freshman year inspired me to write a few things I learned from my time at college (so far).

1. Healthy Relationships

Aside from what they majored in, the majority of people would say that this is the most important aspect of college. Whether it comes to friendships or dating, maintaining healthy relationships is key to enjoying your time at college. I'm thankful for the friends I made freshman year, whether it was in my "intro. group" or in the various clubs I joined.

Make sure that the people you spend time with lift you up, not drag you down. The people you "do life" with are supposed to encourage and nourish your soul.

If you have a relationship that you feel is toxic to your life, it doesn't mean you have to endure it. Take action for yourself and decide what is best for you. Surround yourself with people who embody the same values as you. You only want people who will love and support you!

2. "Freshman 15"

This does not define you! But, it's also never too early to start implementing healthy habits. I think unless you're a collegiate athlete or already have a regular routine of diet/exercise, it's hard not to gain a few pounds in your first few months at college. I gained a little bit of weight my freshman year. While it wasn't too noticeable, I realized that I needed to change my lifestyle if I wanted to look and feel my best. I started choosing healthier options in the cafeteria, made time for exercise in my schedule, and drank a lot of water! (A whole post about this topic later!)

3. Budget!

I love shopping as much as the next person, but this year, I realized just how much I actually spend!

I started keeping track of my receipts and totaling how much money I was spending on various items and found out that I spend way too much money on food and trivial items. Speaking as a college kid, you don't have a lot of money in the first place, so you definitely don't want to waste what little money you do have on things that aren't very important. Know when to spend and when to save.

4. Classes aren't just for classroom learning; it's learning about yourself.

One of the hardest lessons, but so needed.

I didn't do so great on a test for my major. I'd never made a grade like that in my life before that one. That day, I didn't know whether to be in shock or denial or what. I thought I knew the material. I thought I understood exactly what I was supposed to study, so how could I have made such a terrible grade on that test? Well, what I learned from that class (that I didn't even need once I switched majors) is that that major wasn't the right one for me. I learned I'm not perfect; I'm human and I make mistakes. I have no idea what I'm going to do for a job, and I have no idea if the major that I'm now in will ultimately decide my career later on in life. All I know is that the best will come out of a bad situation, even though I don't know what the best for me is right now.

5. It's okay to step outside of your comfort zone.

This is one of my favorite things I learned freshman year.

Last fall, on a whim, I decided to run to be part of my university's Student Government Association or SGA. I had never gotten too involved in high school, but I decided that college was going to be different. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my college career.

I made so many new friends and didn't realize until then that I enjoyed the decision making process, budgeting, and learning and growing from the relationships that were formed in SGA.

I joined a few other clubs freshman year, but none that influenced me as much as SGA did.

6. Social Media

Don't let others intimidate you or get distracted by what others post on social media.

Let them live their lives and you live yours :)

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook are all great to interact with others, but don't use them as a comparison tool to see who is having more fun at college. Everyone's college experience is different.

Remember: social media is everyone's highlight reel. Don't compare that to your behind the scenes.

I have a few more college posts in the works -- stay tuned!

Have a great Tuesday! :)

Yay For Yoga

I started yoga a week ago today, and I absolutely love it!

I use this mat (pictured below) and I bought it at a TJMaxx for about $10!

I've been wanting to try yoga for a long time, but I never set aside the time until this summer. I'm so glad I did! Also, as embarrassing as it sounds, I just found out what the word 'namaste' means. The meaning of this word is beautiful (see here and here). I knew nothing about yoga when I started, so finding Adriene's channel on YouTube was awesome! I began the 30 Days Of Yoga Challenge last Tuesday and found that it's a great way to jump right in and get in a habit of practicing yoga daily!

I hate exercising, but I love yoga. I look forward to waking up each morning knowing I have about 30 minutes to practice yoga. I make sure to set aside that amount of time each day so I can relax, connect to what's important, and think about what's happening later on in the day. It really does make a difference in my mornings. I am not a morning person, but yoga is definitely turning me into one :)

Practicing yoga makes me feel much happier and enables me to de-stress before the craziness of the day starts.

This article is a great read and includes many of the reasons why I chose to start practicing yoga.

I love how refreshed I feel after each session.

I would definitely recommend yoga to anyone who wants an alternative to 'regular' types of exercise :)

Have a great rest of today!

To Blog Or Not To Blog

Lately, while perusing the Internet, I've had thoughts similar to "Oh! I wish I could have that lifestyle.." or "That dress is awesome! I wish I had money to buy it." One thing I've never realized until recently is that I keep wishing for a blog (and/or life) like that one or this person's instead of doing something about mine to make it into the one I want. I've built up this image in my mind that my blog will have cool artsy photos like the ones found on Tumblr or I'm going to be the next big blogger or something. I have so many ideas for this blog, but fear of failure ruins any chances I might have. Like J.K. Rowling said, "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." I've come to the realization that I won't ever have a picture perfect life, and that's okay, because no one does. It's all about how we want to be viewed by the world. I have to remind myself that a person's blog is only their highlight reel (most of it anyways) and whether I get this many likes on a photo or a certain number of notes on a post is trivial and won't matter 5 years from now. What does matter is the way I feel and when I look back I want to be happy with what I've written and shared with the world. I'll live the best life I can and other people will live theirs and we will both have wonderful stories to tell. I don't need to constantly compare myself to others, because I can never be them and they can never be me. I never started blogging for money or gifts or to become famous. I wanted to give my own unique perspective and insight to what was going on around me, but I got too caught up in other people's lives that I wasn't really living my own. I became intimidated by people who have been blogging for years when really what I should have been doing was living life and making memories of my own. The reason I started blogging in the first place was to share my story with the world and from now on, I will remind myself of this daily. I blog, because I enjoy it. No longer will I choose to be a person behind a screen wondering what life has to offer me. Instead, I'll be out there, taking life one day at a time, enjoying every opportunity and truly living.

I'm perfectly happy sharing my thoughts on a blog that only about 5 people read and I'll continue blogging in my free time. But I'll be doing it because it's what I want to do.

To blog or not to blog. That is the question.

And I've decided that my answer is yes..to blogging, and yes to me.

TUESDAY JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT BETTER

Taylor Swift's 1989 tour started today, and I'm not sure the world was ready..

I, being a fan of the singer, went cyber-stalking other TSwift fans, because so many of them were also waiting to see what the first show on her tour would hold. Tumblr's my favorite platform, and you wouldn't believe what my heart went through when I found people's videos and tweets of themselves at her Tokyo show. I had anxiously been awaiting clips of the songs Taylor performed all day and I just couldn't believe it.

My heart is feeling so much right now. I love her songs. I wish I could go to one of her shows. I bet this tour will be so amazing. One website gathered a bunch of fan-recorded videos and let you listen to a couple of the songs she sang today. They're amazing! Check them out here.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Also, it gave the set list for the 1989 tour and OHMYGOSH she performs two of my favorite songs together--and it's pretty much the best ever. Listen here to Enchanted/Wildest Dreams (!!!). Plus, this text post just summed up my life.

I think Taylor would make so much money off her mash-up of Enchanted/Wildest Dreams and the rock version of WANEGBT. Let's please make this a thing.

Thank you Taylor Swift for making (another one of) my day(s)! Your music has helped me through so much. You'll probably never see this, but thank you! :)

1/4! + Friday Favorites

And just like that..freshman year is over!

I moved out of my dorm Wednesday, and now I'm in the process of moving back into my room at home (I say process because it takes a couple of days to have the motivation to unpack your bags..).

It still feels surreal that I'm 1/4 done with my time at college.

Looking back on this year, I've been thinking to myself, did I do everything I wanted to do? Did I make the most of the time I spent on campus? And also, what can I change next year so that next summer I'll feel differently when I reminisce..

Freshman year was a crazy one, for sure. I mean, there were ups and downs, but honestly, that's life.

College is harder than I thought it was going to be. It's definitely not how Instagram and the movies portray it..juggling academics as extracurriculars and a social life was almost like a full time job. Huge shoutout to all the people who go to school and have a job. Wow. I'm super proud of you :)

Hopefully, I'll write many blog posts about my freshman year. I love being home. I have so much free time I don't even know what to do. I'm so excited to devote more time to my blog! More interesting posts coming your way!

If you're taking a study break to read this blog post, here's some links so you can waste a few more minutes..

A love letter to college students everywhere, from your friends at More Love Letters. Read here.

Blake Lively talking about women in the business world..interview here

This guy calls his mom to tell her he booked a tour with Taylor Swift and it's precious. Watch here.

35 Lambs To Celebrate Spring

19 Puppies -- Encouragement For Finals

I hope this Friday turns into a Fri-yay for you and that you have the best weekend ever! :)

19

What a sweet birthday! :)

Turning a year older feels different with each passing year..but this has definitely been one of the best!

I loved being able to celebrate with some of my favorite people!

Pizza I could eat and birthday cake Oreos (of course!) and Lifesavers and cookie cake also helped ;)

I was so excited when I found out the book, The Longest Ride, was turning into a movie and even more thrilled when I learned it would be released on my birthday! 

I. LOVED. IT. The movie was great and lived up to my expectations!

I am so thankful for another year.

I hope this year I will grow more and learn more and become more.

I wore my So Worth Loving shirt today, because I thought it only fitting that I celebrate myself today as well as every other day and urge others to do the same. On birthdays, you feel special, but we should remind each other that we are So Worth Loving every single day of the year! 

To whomever is reading this, I love you and I hope that from this day on, you know you are loved and will be reminded to inspire others of this same message :)

Go spread the love.

Happy birthday to any other people who have an April 10th birthday! :)

Monday Makeover

Just because it happens to be a Monday does not mean it has to be a bad day.

You choose to make it whatever kind of day you want it to be. You are in charge.

Whether the events of the day are good or bad, your attitude is what is most important.

Two of my favorite quotes:

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."

Roald Dahl

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."

Charlotte Whitton

Today, I had no class, picked out my courses for next semester, rearranged my dorm room, ate gummy worms, procrastinated a lot, but then ended up actually doing a little work to get ready for this week..and now watching ABC Family movies :) what a great day!

Recently, I've felt that I needed a change somehow..and maybe doing what I did today is just what I needed.

Make sure you take time for yourself every now and then; let not only your body rest but your mind as well.

pink + blue

Love this color combo!

Wearing bright colors for the rest of this week to make up for the gloomy days!

Freshman Dorm (Do's & Don'ts)

FINALLY! I apologize in advance that this might not be the dorm room post some were expecting, but I promise I'll try to do better sophomore aka this (!!!!!) year :)

I took a few photos of my freshman dorm right after Christmas break, but because my roommate and I are indecisive, we changed the setup quite a few times after that. The photos included in this post show two of the only things that actually remained the same throughout the various moving and rearranging of our furniture. Most of the photos I took are more representative of college, but aren't really "blog-worthy". I didn't have time to set up my room and make it look more presentable or worthy of a photo shoot, so I didn't include those. 

I'm really sorry that this post is so late. I promise I'll have better pictures this year :) 

I'm living in a "suite-style" this year, so my roommate and I will be sharing a bathroom with two other girls. There's 4 more girls living in our "suite" and they will be sharing another bathroom. We'll also share a kitchenette and a "living room". Right now, I can only guess what it'll look like because I've never even seen the place. I've only seen pictures online!

Bedding: Sears

Sheet set: Target (not pictured)

Prints: Heart&Arrow (far left and far right), So Worth Loving (middle)

My favorite color's purple, so obviously that influenced my decision for dorm bedding. My roommate and I love a good opportunity to dorm shop. Last summer, we found matching comforter sets at Sears in our favorite colors :) They are super soft, warm, and reversible! We found them on sale for about $35 each with matching shams. The only thing we needed to buy for our beds were sheet sets! I bought polka dotted ones from the kids' section at Target :) #judgeme & my roommate bought the super soft tshirt (jersey) ones that are available every year (in different colors) also at Target in their dorm section! :)

DO: Buy inexpensive, yet quality, sheet sets! I cannot count the number of times I've spilled food and/or drinks on my bed. Not having to worry about how much I paid for them was nice. The ones I bough are awesome, because they're both cheap and great quality!

DON'T: Buy expensive bedding, unless you plan on using it multiple years. Even though my bedding was on sale, I'm still reusing it, because I don't plan on finding one I like better than the one I already have, plus it saves me money!

I ordered prints off Etsy (Heart&Arrow) and found another one on sale from one of my favorite brands (SWL). I used command strips (because they're the only things we're allowed to use in the dorms!) and hung them above my bed :) This was an easy way to decorate, and it didn't cost too much money!

Also, I love how it looks :)

DO: Use command strips.

DON'T: Use things not approved by your university or college. Nobody wants to pay a fine!

Shower curtain: Wal-Mart (also comes with rings to hang it on the shower and a bath mat -- all for only $20!)

Towels: JCPenney's (left), not sure where my roommate got her towel (right)

DO: Buy at least two sets of towels/washcloths. It's easier than having to wash them constantly and it's always nice to have extra.

DON'T: Buy more things for your bathroom and/or room than you need.

The money you save instead of spend will make you happier in the long run :)

DO: Make sure you do your share of the work. If you attend a university/college that requires you to have room checks every 2 weeks or so, it's nice to only have to do a quick clean up instead of having to stress about what you need to do the day of the inspection.

DON'T: Wait around for someone to tell you to clean up. When you see that you left your dishes in the sink or your bed unmade, take action and do what needs to be done. Don't be that person who doesn't do their fair share of the chores.

Extras:

Make sure you talk to your roommate(s)/suitemates before you go shopping for dorm supplies :)

It's nice to split the cost of essentials and make sure everyone is sharing the responsibility of buying what's needed for the bathroom and/or dorm room.

Paper towels, Clorox wipes, dish soap, laundry detergent, and toilet paper are also a few things you might want to consider either bringing to college or including on the list you share with your roommate/suitemates.

These items cost more than you think! 

Don't forget your quarters to use for laundry! Thankfully, my dorm allowed us to use our debit/credit cards for a wash/dry cycle!

I hope you found a couple of these tips helpful :)

Good luck!

If you are heading off to college soon (for your first time or if you're returning), I want to hear about it!

Leave a comment or contact me through any social media (icons on the right side of my blog). I can't wait to talk :)

Have a great Thursday! Friday Favorites are tomorrow, which means the weekend's only 1 day away! :)

P.S. This post was late today, because I was busy working on the blog this morning! :) Hope you like the new changes!