Out and About

Hey Everyone!

So this is round #2 because apparently my computer hates me and loves to delete really long and thought out posts even thought they were supposedly saved. Man oh Man…the world of technology. Anyway I'll try to make this post as good as the last one, but knowing me it will be even better (hopefully). If you haven't read the post from Tuesday you definitely need to check it out HERE. I swear I've worn my coat for two days straight except when sleeping of course. It's been very very chilly here in Atlanta and part of me wishes for heat, but I'm excited for the bundled days ahead.

I wanted to talk about travel today because I am a travel junkie. I love new people, places, and experiences. There's something about it that is so magical and inspiring. Unlike other bloggers I follow, I have to go to school and can't travel to my hearts content whenever I want, but I breaks do help a lot. The type of travel I want to write about is the travel that doesn't take hundreds of dollars or miles to get there. It's a little like backyard travel, but more like using the resources you have to create your own adventures. I will one day travel to far away lands and have amazing experiences, but for now I'll do a different (but just as rewarding) type of travel.

Over the break I was able to visit my grandma in Atlantic Beach. It's a quite little town outside of Jacksonville with a lot of locals and big character. I've been coming here ever since I was a child, but I wanted to take advantage of the two days I was there to enjoy the beach (lucky me it was 80 degrees on christmas) and the little town. I walked on the beach with my parents in shorts, ate Hawaiian Ice  at our favorite little shop, and explored a record store to find oldies for my new player. It wasn't a new place, but I still was able to "travel" and experience.

My next stop was the mountains of North Carolina with my 3 best friends in the whole world. It was amazing getting away to such a beautiful place and having a couple of days with the friends I barely see. We were able to explore Asheville and hike in Brevard (there will be more on those later). We stayed with Anne Arden's grandma and paid next to nothing. It was so nice to breathe in the fresh mountain air and be surround with beautiful views.

After that I spent some time in my own city. Yes, travel can be just around the corner. Exploring your own city can be so fun because you can see it in a different light and discover new things that wouldn't normally catch your eye on a regular day. I walked on the Beltline along with exploring Ponce City Market and skating through Piedmont Park. No this isn't traveling across the world, but it is making do with what you have. Do you like this picture of me trying to be cute and then failing while trying not to fall? Cute right?

Travel doesn't have to crazy wild adventures hundreds of miles away. Part of it is exploring and experiences now places and things. You can travel to visit a friend or take a day trip to a new city. You can find new things to do right where you are. Travel is almost like a state of mind and change of attitude. Sometime you just have to make the most out of what you have around you in order to get your travel fix.

I hope the rest of your week is amazing and that you keep smiling into the weekend. There are tons of new posts scheduled to be flooding in here, and my new photoshop will help a lot. There may also be another post day in the making (but that is all hush hush)! Stay tuned.


Where did you adventure to over the holidays?

Barbour Love

Hi everyone!

So I usually start off talking about the weather, and I'm not sure exactly why I do this. Maybe it's because everyone experiences weather so it is a way to connect, or maybe it is to remind you that I am still a human being and the weather affects my life too. Whatever it is, I don't want to mess with the flow now so I'll tell y'all that is it definitely starting to feel like winter. Those December days at 70 degrees are a thing of the past and winter is getting ready for battle. I am excited about this because it means no longer having to decide between shorts or pants in the morning before class. The answer will always be pants and a coat and boots for sure. I also get to finally start wearing my winter clothes that I love so much. Sweaters. Jeans. Scarves. Socks. Everything.

2016 has started a little slow but definitely with a couple of well needed relaxing days. A day in bed is not wasted, but sometimes I remember all that I really have to do and feel a little bad. This week is my get-stuff-done week that includes getting my phone screen fixed (so necessary), getting my haircut, fixing up the blog, installing photoshop, printing pictures, and most importantly spending as much time with my friends and family as possible. I am truly lucky that I have an extra week of break and am able to have so many days off to spend with people I love and not worrying about anything. That being said dreading the start new classes and actually working is on the list of things to do this week too unfortunately.

Today I wanted to share my favorite and I'm anticipating my most used item of the winter: My Barbour coat. It was definitely time for me to invest in a coat (and by invest I mean ask my parents to get it as a birthday gift). I have already worn it more than I can count on my fingers, and I think it will be the icing on the cake for most of my outfits in the future.

I recommend getting a size or two larger than normal so that when you wear it in extremely cold climates you layer and layer and layer. I have a light down jacket that fits perfectly underneath, but they also have a zip in vest that I hear keeps you nice and toasty. I would definitely get this coat if you are in the market for something to last you for a looooonngggg time. It's a little pricy but let me just tell you I think it's worth it. I'm also the person who 1) buys discount or resale OR 2) buys high quality to last forever. This coat will last for many years to come, and my dad is living proof. He's had his jacket for over 20 years (there is a slight tear in the elbow to give it character and show that he really does get his wear out of it). His is a navy color which also goes great with really anything.


You can find the coat at Nordstrom, Orvis, & Onward Reserve. The coat I am wearing is the Beadnell Jacket, but there are other styles that are more fitted or have more pockets and such. My sister also has one of their quilted coats and loves it. You just cannot go wrong with Barbour. I hope your holidays were great, and I hope you are ready to start off a great year!

This is me and my pals in Asheville shopping. I'm wearing my beloved coat as you can see!!! What is your favorite item for the winter?

NYE 2016

Today is the 31th if you haven't looked at your calendar yet. This means that you only have today appreciate 2015. Wow a year come and gone. In a way it's sad because so many things have happened and there are so many good memories. BUT there is another way to look at it. It is a chance to start new and improve yourself. It is a time that is inspiring and shouts "I'm going to be better than what I have been." That part is amazing.

I love New Years because I love to celebrate and accept what has happened. When graduating from high school I chose to appreciate that period in my life along with the people who impacted me and the experiences I had instead of wallowing in the sadness of it being over. For New Years I like to accept the ending of the year and hope for an even better one.

On another note, New Years resolutions are tricky. There is the type of person who makes a ton of resolutions to only break/ give up on them within a few days. AND there is the type of person who surprises everyone for 2 or 3 months, but then fades into the background and ends up breaking it. I've never really heard of many people who keep their resolutions even when there is good intention. Last year my family wrote lists of things we wanted to accomplish in 2015. When we read them again, only 2 or 3 things were completed. Yikes.  How can we do better at sticking to what we say we will accomplish? Good question.

Here are my resolutions for the year. I took a different approach this time around. I decided to pick parts of my life that needed more mental work than physical.

1. Increase my confidence and self-worth
2. Be more content with my life and my friends and the things I am blessed with
3. Concentrate on creating relationships and making better ones with friends and family
4. Go on more adventures (down the road or in another country)

These things will be everyday struggles, but will pay off so much more in the long run. The only downside is that there is no tangible indicator that I have reached my goal, so it will be up to me to decide this. I only hope that there will be moments when I can realize how far I've come or when I realize just how far I have to go.

I hope you take time to really think about your resolutions. Make them really mean something to you, and then truly fight to get to where you want to go. You are beautiful and amazing and worth every struggle. Keep your head up and never stop dreaming and working to be a better you.

Enjoy and make the most of this last day before you get a chance to change the way you live for the next 365 (not that any day isn't a great day to change)! Happy New Years! Take time to appreciate and know just how blessed you are to be alive.


What do your resolutions look like? Are you excited to get started?

It's Just Cake

I'm a weirdo if you haven't realized it yet, and I can just see Anna looking at her computer screen thinking "ya and I have to live with her." Well anyway, I was just about to doze off into a deep sleep when my crazy brain decided to come up with a blog post idea. SO here I am at 1:30 in the morning thinking about cake. Not because I'm a fattie and eat cake all the time (although I do love cake) but because over the holidays I worked at Piece of Cake. It's the best cake company ever, and the cakes are literally to die for.

I walked into my first day of work very nervous. I didn't want to be late, and I wanted to make a good first impression to hopefully secure a holiday job for Christmas breaks to come. Ann one of the workers there showed me around, handed me a red t-shirt, and made me feel right at home. Then she explained that especially around the holidays things can get kind of crazy and people can be very rude, but the thing she said next stuck with me enough lie awake thinking about cake. She said "There's one thing you have to remember about it all, is that it's just cake."

Wow, I realized what she meant after a couple of rude and cranky costomers came in complaining about cakes and blaming it on the workers (when clearly it wasn't us). People get really heated about cake. Like really upset. It got me thinking about what the cake was in my life…or the things that I get worked up over and the little things I make into huge deals.  My cake is definitely what others think of me. My cake is the things I cannot control like others people actions. My cake is trying to make everything perfect when that is clearly impossible. These things matter, but aren't the end of the world by any means. They are parts of my life that I should be making joy and love and happiness, but instead creating problems.

It's just cake... So I should take a deep breath, remember the things I'm thankful for and the amazing things that I have in my life, and realize that cake isn't the end of the world. Take a second to think about your "cake" and all of the little things that mean so little in the long run. Enjoy the rest of the break or enjoy this holiday season because it's not over yet!

I'm so excited for New Years and starting new. Thanks for reading! Have an amazing day. Plus there will be new posts about my break travels!!! Keep checking!

 What was your favorite part of Christmas?

10 Things to do on Christmas

It's official…I'm the worst. I haven't blogged in 2 weeks. Wow how can I call yourself a blogger if I don't blog. Yikes. Well I apologize, but if you just bare with me, I promise it is coming. I'm planning some new and exciting things that will put me more in tune with the blogging world. I want to change the look a little and start connecting more with others.

Essentially, the past couple of months have been a test run. To 1) see if I could do it…which has turned out good, but has allowed me to realize that I MUST keep on top of posts AND 2) to see if blogging was worth my time and energy. I love it. I really do, but I know it will take a lot of time and I know I'm spreading myself thin next semester. I'll have to plan ahead (something I'm not good at) and really just keep trusting myself and my content.

So I was making a gift guide, but after a couple days without finishing it I stopped because christmas is a 2 days away. At this point if you don't have a gift…you most likely are exactly like me and will homemake something OR add your name to someone else's gift. Then you will probably swear to yourself that next year you are getting a head start on your shopping only for it to happen again. Someday I'll be ready for Christmas. This is one of character flaws for sure. I have some amazing ideas and I love being creative, but the execution is really tough for me.

To finish off this post here are the TOP 10 THINGS YOU MUST DO ON CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS EVE:

1. Wear Christmas PJs preferably matching with the fam
2. Leave Milk an Cookies for Santa (I don't care how old you are!)
3. Read the Christmas Story…you must remember the REAL reason for the season
4. Get in bed early…only to lay awake anticipating the next day's fun
5. Build a Fire (i'll in Florida so this probably won't happen)
6. Family card game
7. Be the one that hands out all of the gifts in the morning
8. Dress up in a Christmas outfit for a special lunch or dinner
9. Text or call friends wishing them a Merry Christmas
10. Watch It's A Wonderful Life and hug your mother when she cry (shoutout to my mom)

I love Christmas and it's ability to bring people together. My family is crazy, but I love them and the time I get to spend with them especially now that I'm away at college. I also have seen a lo of my high school friends which is amazing. I love catching up and realizing that it doesn't even seem like we've been apart. I'm headed down to the beach where I will most likely be wearing shorts and walking on the beach due to the extremely hot weather…then I'm headed to the mountains with my camp friends. I'm pumped to be in colder weather and brush up on my skiing skills. Stay tuned. I promise I'm still blogging.

Have a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy every moment!


 What are your favorite Christmas traditions? One of my friends always sleeps in the same room as her siblings on Christmas Eve…How fun!

Finals...Gross

Hey Friends,

If you are in school, finals are probably killing you. I know I'm either stressed out because of all the work and studying I have, or procrastinating which stresses me out even more. Well there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if your grades don't turn out the way you want them too, Christmas break is so close you can feel it and your cozy bed at home is in reach.

I'm taking a study break right now, in between studying for Psych and finishing my English portfolio. Man oh man, I hate studying, and I think the holiday season is kinda bummed down because everyone is too busy trying to save their grades to celebrate. I thought I'd make a list of study break ideas that could help you from burning out and letting finals get the best of you.

1. Exercise or take a walk
         I spent 5 hours studying in the student center today, and after that I definitely needed a break to clear my mind. I went to the gym and worked out which made me feel so much better, and gave my brain a little rest. Plus today was beautiful in Athens and perfect for a stroll.

2. Catch up with a friend
       Yes everyone is in the same place as you, and they also need a break. Text a friend that you haven't seen in a while and have lunch at a dinning hall or coffee at Starbucks. It will take your mind off of your tests, and it will be nice company.

3. Send encouraging texts and letters to your friends.
       Again everyone is in the same boat as you, and saying some nice words to a friend not only makes them feel special and loved in a tough time but it also make you feel good. Take the time to encourage those in your classes and on your hall.

4. Blog...or Journal
     In my case, blogging is my study break, but you can still write even if you don't have a wildly successful blog like mine (ha. ha.). Take out that journal sitting in your drawer, and write about you whats going on in your head and your heart. Getting things on paper can help you fee relieved and ready to take on new challenges.

5. Think about what makes studying worth it/ your goals for the future.
     Right now it can seem that your (well my) Human Geography or History class have no significance what-so-ever in your life. It is so hard to relate the minimal things in your life to the dreams and aspirations you want so dearly. Take time to really think about what you want in the future and realize that achieving that goal starts now with the classes you are taking. Everything is leading towards your future so make it count.

On this same subject about future, my small group leader showed me this video today. It is bouncing around Facebook too, so you may have already seen it. It is Stefan Vandenkooy (cool name) reading spoken word. He mentions that although we are taking finals now, later we will be faced with other finals, and God is there to help us. It is really powerful and convicting. Check it out. It is totally worth it.

VIDEO HERE

I hope your week is going great, and I'm putting together some gift guides on a budget because I definitely do not have the money to spend on expensive gifts for the fam. They will have to just do with my love and my awesome taste. Thanks for stopping by as usual.

How do you take a study break?

Style Crushes

Hey friends! So I hope your week has been good so far. I hope it is full of christmas carols and cheery decorations. I love christmas music so much (especially Michael Buble)  but it isn't cold yet here in Athens so it is throwing me off just a little bit.

I was talking to my mom today, and she seemed a little concerned about me after my last post. Well let me explain. First of all, I'm totally fine. I had just been thinking about that topic for awhile and how true a statement "Life is Hard" really is. I'm not just talking the big deep emotional stuff...but i'm talking about the day to day things. It's just not always easy, but it's always worth it. If you missed the post you can find it here. 

So to change the subject and talk a little more light heartedly, I wanted to share the clothing items I am crushing on for this winter. I hope you enjoy!

                                                 

                                        Red  Bow Dress //  Funky Crop Top // Black Skirt 

Red Dress- Well isn't this just the best dress you've ever seen? It's so simple yet so pretty. The bow sold me.. and it was love at first sight. Perfect for a holiday party where you want to stand out! The shoes on the model are so cute as well!!!

The Crop Top and The Set- Okay so this is the major style right now: Having an outfit set usually a involving a crop top. This one was found on the Nordstrom website and is just so cool. The pattern stands out and the best thing about it is that it can go with so many bottoms like jeans, high waisted shorts, or a...

Black Skirt - Yes, the crop top will go great with this skirt, and there are so many skater skirts out there that are shorter than this one. I live and breath my black skirt (which you will definitely be seeing in outfit posts soon)! It is just so simple to throw on for any occasion. I also have the ability to create any outfit possible with such a plain but stylish skirt!

I hope you liked my holiday crushes. I definitely have my eye on a lot of things this season, but these are some main pieces I look for when I shop. Hope the rest of your week goes great! Keep on keeping on and Happy Holidays! Stay tuned for more!


 What is your favorite part about the Holidays? Do you have any style crushes of you own?