What Should We Do?

Chris and I keep asking each other that. It's difficult when we're unfamiliar with the city and not exactly sure what would suit our liking. We've been taking morning walks which has been really nice and helping us become familiar with the neighborhood his parents live in.

Yesterday we went to the absolute coolest market. I wish they had some in California, or at least in California close to home. The market was like a Whole Foods but so much better! I think we spent at least 3 hours in there...it's like an Ikea but for food!

After we came across a Sprinkles cupcakery and since his sister is a huge fan we had to buy a few. They were anticipated for awhile and gone in a second, delicious!

Today has been a lazy, relaxing day. Chris is working on some photos for his friends and I am blogging, reading blogs, magazines and drinking coffee and fit in a nap. It's been pleasant.

Tomorrow's a new day for us and still not sure what we're going to do. All I know for sure is that I am really enjoying being here with Chris. It's nice to experience his roots with him, but mostly just spending a whole, long week without any interruptions and a lot of time. It's hard getting that luxury at home.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays in Texas

I am in Texas spending the holidays with Chris and his family. It's fun. It's different. But overall it is really enjoyable. Currently I am blogging via iPad so I won't be able to share pictures until I am home.

Until next time....

Pink!

So my lovely, awesome handsome boyfriend surprised me with those Free People cords. So excited! 

The funny thing is they are a lot longer than I thought they would be, but I am also short! Love them, thanks babe!

I figured I'll be one of those swanky bloggers that blog their outfits and explain my pieces...
Pants: Free People, Sweater: J.Crew, Boots: Report, Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I'm excited, my first outfit post!

24 Things

In honor of being 24 today (24?!?!?!?!?!? I remember itching to be 21!!!! Holy shit! That was three years ago!!!!!!!) I figured it'd be nice to share 24 things I have learned, acknowledged or gained some experience from...

1. As long as I enjoy it, and they like my company, there is nothing wrong with still living with my parents

2. Sibling relationships get much stronger. No more "I hate you" and much more "I love you"!

3. Staying active and eating right has not only gotten me thinner, but also so much healthier, energized and an overall enlightened person.

4. If you find people you enjoy hanging out with, stick with them, you never know, they can turn into your best friends.

5. There is nothing wrong with taking an extended 2+ years in college to 'figure out what you really want to do'....and I'm still trying.

6. To not judge, but be curious.

7. Have fun. A lot of fun. As long as I possibly can.

8. Alcohol is not just for getting drunk anymore, it's actually meant to enjoy!

9. Taking the stairs.

10. I always mentally assess what I will do in crowded situations if there is an earthquake. Weird? Maybe. Smart? I think so.

11. Time goes by. so. fast.

12. Working hard is the only option to get what you want.

13. Feeling like I should have accomplished much more by 24, but also realizing I'm taking things at my own pace.

14. Being nice to people, if they don't like it, I don't need their time.

15. Driving is no longer as fun as it was at 16.

16. Working out can actually be a lot of fun (I know, right?)

17. Falling in love has been one of the coolest, greatest, most fun experiences I have been able to share with a person.

18. To take notes and be organized, because mentally it can't always happen.

19. Appreciate the days. Even if they're shitty days.

20. To dress for my figure and wear a lot of heels!

21. Keep things clean. I always feel so much better.

22. Understanding all the things my parents went through for us, realizing there is absolutely no rush to get married or have kids just yet.

23. To keep a memory box, journal, etc. to look back on all the things that have helped make me the person I am today.

24. Realizing I am as old and as young as I'll ever be. Today.

and a P.S., to invest in some good sunglasses.

An Annual (Personal) Tradition

My birthday is in a few days and I decided to carry on the tradition of purse buying.

Last year I wanted to buy myself something nice, a little splurge, just because I was a year older and thought it'd be fun to treat myself. I purchased this

and this year (I went a little early) decided to splurge on two

It's a fun thing to do for myself. I love purses and there is no better excuse than buying one (or two) on your birthday and then continuing the tradition every year!

The Bun

I've been trying to figure out how to do the ballerina bun/the subdued beehive....like this

and I did it and it turned out like this....

it's a little messy, but easy to do!

Overwhelmingly Calm

I feel like I should be more stressed that finals are here. Tomorrow. Wednesday. Thursday. Thursday's final...dance, not too bad just have fun.

Tomorrow's final I've reviewed. A bit. But haven't really gone into much detail. Maybe I'm feeling confident. Maybe I'm lazy. I can't figure it out, but I can't imagine failing. The stuff seems easy because honestly it feels like a review of all the past lectures.

Wednesday's final is opinion based yet you need to hit the right points. I guess I just need to understand the philosophers point of view and if I can go against it.

I feel pretty calm. I look back to a year ago and remember feeling extremely overwhelmed, nervous and scared. This year is different. Probably because I just. want. to. be. done. But maybe because I'm developing a better understanding of the subject I've been studying for the past 4 years. Whatever the reason, when the week is over, a huge smile will spread across my face.

Crunch Time Has Begun

One more week and this semester is officially over.

Things to do:

Write a ten page paper

Study for Psychological Testing, projective tests, personality tests, psycho metrics, is it even ethical? and etc. etc. etc.

Study for Philosophy of Sex and Love....this class is not nearly as awesome as I thought it would be. But why? But why? BUT WHY!? This is what he ALWAYS asks and there is never an answer!

Dance! Sounds fun, except I have to go to school on a SATURDAY to practice, and one girl in the group is just too blunt for me, "Oh, you look so tired today", "Uhm, thank you?"

One more week.......and then.......I get two weeks off (sorry to brag) get to celebrate another year being around and enjoy distant family in Texas!

And again, I hope lots of champagne!

All I Want For Christmas...

Haven't thought much about what I would like for Christmas. In all honestly I feel a little old to ask, but I found something I wouldn't mind getting. Got the new Free People catalog in the mail today, and oh. my. god....these are to die for!!!

I like the pink. I like that they're cords (have been wanting some for awhile), but my favorite detail is the lace up closure instead of a conventional zipper. Love it!

Words to live by

For whatever reason, time to time, I get in these moods. I self-loath which is extremely unhealthy. I came across this quote and figured it'd be a good motto to live by.

 

Shop Till I Drop

That's all I want to do...at one store...J.Crew.

I love their catalogs, but also their website. Perfection. Here are looks I love...

 

Holiday Spirit

I usually love the holidays. LOVE! I'm the one who gets excited when Starbucks use their red cups instead of regular cups and produce the fancy warm drinks like the peppermint mocha or gingerbread latte....well for whatever reason it's just not getting me all hyped up like usual.

I can't figure out why.

It probably has to do with the lack of money I have, also I've been so busy with school the holidays approached without warning, just "READY OR NOT HERE I AM!"

Maybe, too it's because I'm getting older. I mean HOLY SHIT I'm almost 24!!! (Yes, poor me, I realize 24 is hardly old, but damn it's the oldest I will have been!)

I think it really has a lot to do with my dad being there and us being here, but I can't let that bring me down. After finals, I pledge to get into the holiday spirit. Drink hot coco, or gingerbread lattes and listen to Justin Bieber's "Under the Mistletoe" because hey, it's a new kind of Christmas carol! Also go look at lights, put up a tree (hopefully), possibly go gift shopping (because remember, I have a credit card!) and enjoy every moment I have with people I love. And also, I pledge to drink a lot of champagne...aka champleasure, because it's bubbly and delicious!!!!

I'm almost there! Almost.

Desserts Part II (And a Feast, too!)

I did it! Made dessert. Ok, except I could have cooked both a little less but otherwise they went smoothly. Also made a really big Thanksgiving feast with the help of Chris, Roberto and a little help from Brad (he took most of the photos). Chris fried turkey. I was a bit skeptical at first because I'm not a big fan of fried anything, but it wasn't greasy at all! It was delicious, juicy and took a quarter of the time a roasted turkey would take! I made my dads famed mashed potatoes and they turned out really delicious. I'm proud I can make those now! Chris made his famous, delicious mac n cheese with extremely fancy cheese (smoked gouda and Alfredo sauce, there was not an ounce of cheddar cheese in the mix) and Brad absoultely LOVED it (he's quite the picky eater and even if there is something foreign in the ingredients to him, he will not try it so it's a good thing we did not tell him what it was). Roberto put together dough for homemade biscuits and cooked maple glazed sweet potatoes on the BBQ. I made green bean casserole for Chris (comfort food for him, all new for the rest of us!) It was a lot of fun. Even though I still missed my parents it was really nice to create a little family of our own, and I am so thankful for that!

Pouring the creme brulee mixture into ramekins, posing with my only a little bit burnt pie crust, the ginger snap cookie and raisin pie crust, pumpkin mixture for the pie, pumpkin mixture with vanilla ice cream for the pie, pouring it in (yum, yum!), my mashed potatoes!, a sea of bacon for the stuffing, the turkey fryer!, Chris dropping in the turkey, after the turkey was dropped in, still frying the turkey, a little blurry..but high fiving each other because we did not burn the house down!, success!, our feast!, and me with the final desserts

Desserts Part I

I am going to make dessert for Thanksgiving.

I am not a baker, I do not cook. I just don't like it. But I decided since I have to step up to the plate to create a really neat dinner (Chris and I actually) then the one thing I can try to be proud about are the desserts (and dad's mashed potato recipe, hopefully they turn out delicious!).

Creme Brulee and a Pumpkin Mousse Pie.

Pictures and the ratings from the critique-rs (Chris, Roberto and Brad) will be sure to follow...

A Weird Habit

It's one of the oddest things, but when I was younger and went out I never left the vicinity without looking at the restroom.

I can't figure out why. Maybe because the actual place of wherever I was always had the prettiest restrooms. The cleanliness, sometimes a couch...nice smelling soap.

It's really offbeat and a little bit weird and kind of gross but it really had much more to do with the designs of the bathroom than the actual activity that goes on in one.

Case in point

Today I met Chris for lunch at this really cool cafe that used to be a museum that showcased marble. I needed to check out the restroom, because obviously it'd be different and pretty considering the place was full of marble.

The restroom was.  





(I mean how cool! A bathtub!)

Bye, Mom

Mom's going to Arkansas for Thanksgiving week. My dad is there for work. We all haven't seen him since summertime so it's nice she's going out there. 

It's a little weird though because this is the very first Thanksgiving without my parents. Brad and Roberto are here and we're planning to have our own dinner together. It's a bit stressful because I've never had to plan such a big meal. I think we'll enjoy each other's company regardless. It's a new challenge for me. I'm excited and scared at the same time. Fortunately Chris is right there by my side to help me out.

Let this be an unconventional, always remembered Thanksgiving!

Bye, Mom! Have fun. The crazy kids will miss you and dad, very much!

I love you! I hate you!

Honestly, I applied because I needed a new computer.

I didn't have the money upfront, so I was going to see if I could take out a loan, strictly for the computer.

(The only thing I REALLY needed the credit card for)

I went to the bank, explained my situation, gave them some info. and TA DA, how exciting, I was approved for a credit card.

I had always thought about obtaining a credit card but thought, no no, because I didn't want to get out of control. But the thing about this time was I needed a computer, bad, and the credit limit was the exact amount I needed for it, so I signed my money away.

I got my shiny, plastic new best friend in the mail a few days later and headed out to the Apple store to put myself $1500 in debt. It's okay though, because like I said I needed this computer, and it truly was a good investment, and still is. I paid the computer off and within a few months and had a high limit again. I know you have to use the credit to build the credit so it was convenient that I needed a maintenance check on my car. Perfect. This is the only way I'll use my credit card, for things I absolutely need. 

Well, I wanted tinted windows, didn't need them but justified it by  telling myself I just didn't like people seeing into my car. So I charged it.
I wasn't regretful because they were helping me build my credit and also those purchases wouldn't go out of style.

Again, I paid my card off.

Okay, so I had zero balance due and was going to Vegas in a few weeks. 
I needed a dress, obviously, and new heels, Duh! Oh, I'll put it on my credit card. And just like that, I owed my best friend some money.

Oh, I also really needed those Jeffrey Campbell wedges, and jacket, and watch because I've been wanting a watch! And those jeans, oh hell that whole outfit and another pair of heels because I'm going to a wedding, and another pair of 'fall' boots so my feet don't get cold and oh another pair of closed toed heels for the cold weather because it's just what I need!

(A 'few' items CC has purchased)

Need!

Yeah, right. I don't need any of that shit, but the thing about my bff and enemy is it provides me with instant gratification with money I don't have at the time and I have to pay back later....which is the least fun part. So I love you, when you buy me beautiful things right then and there. I hate you when you make me pay...later!

Fortunately I'm not crazy, and I'm not in crazy debt, but I now realize why people say credit cards are dangerous. BUT OH MY GOD being dangerous is SO MUCH FUN!

Monday, Monday

A good Monday night, to say the least.

Chris surprised me with dinner, a typical "Monday night dinner".  Oh, you know, just filet Mignon, prosciutto wrapped asparagus and a glass of red wine, whiskey from the Rogue Brewery for him. Was yum! Now we're in our own separate worlds, me: writing a paper to interpret my IQ (I can't believe I'm a little above average?!) and him: editing, editing, editing photos, videos and excitement from his 'business' ( I quote business because even though it really was for that, he had a bit of fun because 1. he was in Portland and 2. he was doing really cool shit for his friends) trip in Portland, Oregon for his really good friends' band.















 Chris working.





Being lazy, but I can't complain too much. It's a content Monday, and I can't say all Mondays are like this. 

"I would totally wear that!"

If you have not noticed from a few of my posts I absolutely love clothes, so much that I think after I get my psychology degree I am going to change directions and try to find something in styling. Anyway, this blog for me was about everything. I had thought about narrowing it down to a fashion blog but thought it'd be more fun if I posted clothes here and there (eventually I'll have to start posting outfits like all the other fashion bloggers). I am on this website called Pinterest. The website is neat because you look at colorful pictures and essentially 'pin' the things you find interesting. Well, I always look at the clothes. Reason why is because 1. they are so colorful and 2. always look so good. So this blog is to show a few outfits and everything in between I really enjoy and find a lot of inspiration in.