Life Updates

HAPPY MARCH, EVERYONE!

Currently I'm sitting in bed, not working out at the gym like I told myself this morning I would, and instead typing up this blog post.  Sorry, chicken wings, it'll be arm day tomorrow, I promise.

While I was on one of my typical Target runs after work today, I saw so many cute home goods I wanted to get, and that lead me to thinking about typing up a little wishlist post.  But then I thought I should just give a short and sweet life update instead because I've been a little neglectful of this lately.  It's okay, you can admit it.

So here's what's been occupying my time and attention as of late.  V ~adult~ things, might I add.

LUSH Products Gift Guide for Him

Who's to say guys can't treat themselves to some great LUSH products?  As of right now, Brian is loving LUSH, frequently scrolling through their website to check out new products and planning what he's going to get himself next.  I'm pretty sure he has more LUSH products than me.  Actually, he does.

But it's cool.  Because I can manage to steal a bit of 'em and use them for myself.

With his small ever-growing collection, I've come up with a list of what you can get your husband/boyfriend/dad/best friend/love interest/neighbor for any occasion.  Because who doesn't deserve a good face scrub or shower gel?

January Birchbox Review

Aaaaaaand we're slowly getting back to our regularly scheduled blog posts!  So sorry that's it's been a long time since I've actually made a post or two on here.  This past month, I've been exhausted after work and on the weekends that I've never felt like doing anything (I'm blaming S.A.D. for this).  But hopefully this recent burst of omg-I-have-so-many-blogging-ideas will jump start my actual motivation to write and I can get back to regularly posting again!

So now that my little blogging absence is over, I'm going to play catch-up and try to blog about things I haven't gotten around to talking about this past month, and first up on my list is my January Birchbox.  Not gonna lie, I'm pretty excited over these products.  Leave it to Birchbox to show me products I never knew I needed.

A Letter To The Second Semester Senior

photo cred: Taylor Wolfe Photography

Dear Senior,

Right now, you're most likely in the double digits until graduation.  You're well into your last semester of college and you're probably filled with a lot of different emotions.  Or just coffee and Jimmy John's subs.  At least that's what it was for me. 

I'm here as fairly recent graduate to give you a few tips on how to spend your last semester.  Some of these tips I've done, and some of them I haven't, which is making me think about going back for a Masters just so I can do the things I didn't get (or forgot) to do.  Listen to these tips or pass them along to another in-denial senior.  I just hope that you'll get something out of this and make the most of your last semester.

Goals for the New Year

Eight days into the new year, and things are already looking pretty great.  I've spent time with friends new and old, made plans for the upcoming months, and my alma mater's football team won the FSC Championships yesterday (the first time in 13 years), so hello, 2017!  It's nice to see ya!

Ten New Year's Resolutions We Can All Agree On

Guess who climbed her way out of her busy, anxiety-riddled, and most recently sick hole?  This girl!  I figured since I haven't posted in about a week that I should muster up some creativity and post one more blog before the end of 2016.

With 2017 around the corner, everyone's getting together their lists of resolutions (if you're into that kind of stuff).  I've never been one to be dedicated to making resolutions because I'm honest with myself and I know I'll just forget about them come February.  BUT! I have compiled a list of New Year's resolutions that you just have to admit are very true. Number 4, though....

Seven Lessons You Learn From Your Dad

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Today is my dad's birthday, and just like how I made a post about the things you learn from your mom, here's a list of what you learn from your dad.  I've been lucky enough to inherit my wit, my stellar taste in music, and love for social events from my dad, but during my 22 years, he's given me more than that! Here are seven things that you learn from your good ol' Pops!

Stocking Stuffers Under $10

Some people are so sure of what to get someone for Christmas, but get stuck when it comes to stuffing their stocking with gifts.  To me, it's the other way around.  I have great ideas for what to put in stockings, but draw a blank when it comes to buying presents for family and friends for Christmas.  No one wants a sad, empty stocking, so I've found loads of things you can put in anyone's stocking this Christmas!

Friday Faves

So Christmas is a little over a week away? And I haven't bought my Christmas gifts yet? Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend! Everyone and everything is in full on Christmas mode (we'd even gotten snow in Portland!) and I love it.  Everyone is spreading that good ol' Christmas cheer and I can't help but feel all warm and bubbly and happy inside.  I've been enjoying reading all these great holiday posts this week, so I had to share my favorites with you!

Seven Things You Know Are True If You Look Younger Than You Are

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I've been #blessed with the fact that I look way young for my age.  It's more of a curse right now than it is a blessing, but I'll be grateful for it later... or so I've been told.  And if you're short AND look young, well then, I am sorry for you.  I'm in the same boat, and we'll just have to struggle with our plights together.  I have a feeling that I'll be well into my thirties and people will mistake me for a friend's younger sister who begged and whined enough to get invited out for a girls' night.  If you do look young for your age, you know that the following things are so true for all of us.

My Portland Bucketlist

photo cred: Brian (Thanks for letting me use your pic, bae!)

Having lived in Portland for five months already, I realized there is still a lot of this city to explore.  It's not the biggest city in the country, but it's the biggest one I've ever lived in!  I thought that once I moved here, I would explore as much as I could as soon as I could, but time gets away from you and then you're sitting there thinking, "Oh, wow, I still haven't checked this place out or tried this one restaurant, and when am I going to have the time to do all this now?!"  Even if you've lived somewhere all your life, it's nice to take some time to be a tourist in your own town, and now it's my turn to see what the City of Roses has to offer.

Routines, Routines, Routines

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The lovely Kimberley did an AM/PM tag a couple weeks ago, and I thought it was such a cute idea that I wanted to do it for myself! These kinds of posts are super simple if you're in a bind to write another blog post, and they're just a fun type of post to do overall. If you end up filling this one out for yourself, let me know so I can read your results!

My December Wishlist

Now that the holidays are coming up, I've been thinking of what I'm really wanting or needing lately.  At first I thought my Christmas wishlist would be short, but the more I thought about it, I was like, "Nope! This is definitely more than a 'few things'!" So as of right now, here is what's currently at the top of my wishlist.

November Monthly Crushes

I know, I know, I'm late to post this. But if you read my post yesterday, you'll know that I've been busy this past month and feeling pretty lazy.  Whoops, sorry.  Just because I've been feeling tired and worn down does not mean that I've forgotten about my crushes for the month of November! It's quite a mix of stuff, so I would check it out.

The Wine Chronicles - Sunday Recap

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Hello lovely people, it has been too long! November has flown by so quickly and I’ve had so much on my plate that it’s been hard to keep up with this blog! Working, wanting to being lazy, never ending to-do lists, and ignoring things on said to-do list… it all really tires you out. I feel like I have a lot to talk about so I’ll give you guys a quick recap of my week.

Where I Get Inspiration

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Every blogger, writer, artist gets writer’s block sometimes, and I am no stranger to that! I absolutely hate it, and I can be stuck for days trying to think of something to blog about.  Sometimes you just have to take a break from thinking to observe more of what’s around you to gather inspiration, or even re-read some of your favorite pieces to realize why they inspired you in the first place.  Here is a list of the top five things that I look to to find inspiration.

November Birchbox Review

I've been so busy these past few weeks that I completely forgot that my Birchbox shipped until I got an email that it was delivered to my apartment! That came as a nice surprise and I was very eager to open the box to see what goodies came this month!

And can we talk about this box?! I didn't notice that it had an eyeliner pen, mascara wand, lipstick and lips, and a brow pencil on it until I read that note that came inside the box. How cute and creative is that?  Birchbox never fails to come up with really cute designs for their monthly boxes.

Upping My Eyelashes Game With This One Step

 So I actually thought of doing this blog post a long long long time ago, but I could never get around to actually trying the hack, finishing the post, and uploading the pictures, and yeah. But here I am! Finally coming to you with this weird, but pretty useful hack.

Therapy From Hair Cuts

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So last Saturday I got my hair cut and it was honestly what I needed.  I had so much hair that was past the point of no return that I had to let it go.  It's always nerve wracking whenever you go get a hair cut, especially if you have longer hair and love it because your hair is your security blanket.  It's what makes you you. It gives you confidence, it gives you reassurance. Okay, I'm getting too far.  But hair is important to a lot of us! I had been letting my hair grow out for years now that I honestly forget when the last time I got a haircut was, let alone a trim.  So this appointment was a long time coming.

Tips for Saving Money in College

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College is the time where most of us start to learn how to really manage our finances.  We still have that support from our parents, but for the most part, we're on our own.  It's scary, but also freeing because we're really starting to get that taste of independence.  With independence comes responsibility, though, especially with money.  Everyone is that #BrokeCollegeStudent at some point (more often than you think), so here's five tips to help save money during your college years!