the swing of things

Jan 30, 2014

I haven't yet gotten back into the swing of being back in classes so my blog has been neglected.

The other reason?
Well, it has been so cold so it is difficult to get things done.


Sheer laziness is what it is.
So for the next week or two I will be on hiatus!

friday faves | 02

Jan 24, 2014


My top blogs that I check almost religiously.

    01 // Elise Blaha is my absolute favorite.  It is the first blog on my "favorites" list and the first one I check in the morning.  She is such an inspiration with crafts, DIY, and just about life in general.  She's basically the reason I want to start having more plants in my house. 
    02 // Ann-Marie is pretty amazing.  I love love love her thifting, crafts, photography, and so much more.  She is one of my blog idols. 
    03 // A Beautiful Mess is just full of awesomeness.  There are so many blog writers on there it is hard to keep up with the posts if I miss a few days.  Anything from house tours, DIY crafts, recipes, and more than I can even think.  The original writers are so fun to follow on Instagram, too.  I don't read every post because sometimes it doesn't always pertain to what I like but I can spend hours searching through the archives. 
    04 // Jay Adores blog I found through Ann-Marie's.  They are real life and blog friends, but following her wedding creation and now her new business is so fun.  I always get excited to read something new on her blog and the photographs are always beautiful.  Her wedding posts are by far my favorite - such an inspiration.  She does amazing work. 
    05 // Oh, Ladycakes is a vegan blog, which I adore.  She makes such amazing foods and they're usually very easy to make.  Not everyone can relate to this one but my at-home vegan lifestyle fits perfectly with it.  She is a genius in the kitchen.

What are some of your favorite bloggers? I always love finding new ones to read!

currently: january edition

Jan 21, 2014



wondering if the snow stopped falling because I don't want to look out the window

catching up on episodes of Parenthood and crying as usual

snuggling with Fifa

drinking sleepytime pomegranate green tea

eating a Gala apple with Trader Joe's Crunchy Cookie butter (it's heavenly)

hoping the roads are better tomorrow when I go to work

trying to become more of a 'plant' person - air purifiers!

working on completing Project Life 2013, so close

looking forward to scrapbooking 2014

missing my boyfriend, a lot

wearing my new Gap flannel pajamas (yay sales rack)

wanting the new MacBook Pro Retina display, totally not happening though

nervous about classes beginning

laughing because the first day of classes were canceled today

feeling blah - this weather!


selfie sunday

Jan 19, 2014


"Did you find anything sexy at IKEA?"
"How does this spoon look?"

This is how this picture came about, venturing through IKEA while my other friend waited for us to grab dinner on Thursday.  I was amused at how it came out.


I decided to make my own little 'weekly' post (we'll see how I keep up) with random facts or questions about myself or others, you can play along too.  And with the beginning of my 'Selfie Sunday Series' I will state three random facts..

1.  I have a strange anxiety with driving through a drive-thru.
2.  My favorite number is 11.  Oddly enough I really don't like odd numbers, especially prime ones.
3.  I drive a manual car and will probably never go back to an automatic.


Enjoy the last playoff game today!  And if you get off for MLK, yay for not really being a Sunday ;)

long distance

Jan 18, 2014


The other night was our first Skype date.
And he made it very memorable with puppeting this crocheted mouse I had sent him for Christmas. One of the reasons I was so attracted to him.. his ability to make me laugh.  Honestly, I laugh at almost everything, but he had a way about him that made me giggle hysterically.  This is one of those moments..




I realized last night how difficult it is to really be in a long distance relationship.  It isn't easy, I can tell you that right now.  I have a few friends who have/are in the same boat as I am.  As you get older, I think the idea of long distance is much more obtainable than when you're young - that could just be my own thought.  Skype dates help.  I am learning a few things with this relationship, some of which I already know and some I want to be better.


COMMUNICATION is key in any relationship, near or far, but the distance helps you become better at it.  It is the only thing you have because you're not physically able to see one another every day or every week.  Sometimes all you have is the phone calls, text messages, emails, or letters.  As time passes, I realize how much better I am with talking about any issues.  It is so much better to talk than to let it build up until you do see one another - that time is cherished, not wasted.

TRUST. Trust the other person with what they are doing while you are not near and trust that your relationship can withhold whatever and for however long you allow.  People are always skeptical about the distance in my relationship because it is so new, but no one knows how we feel about one another.  We trust each other to be honest and trust each other that we will communicate any issues.  It is so great to have 100% trust in one another, when I was dating someone in college, it was our downfall.  And it is a weight lifted off your shoulders because you do not constantly wonder.

PATIENCE is a virtue right?  I am such an impatient person and this is helping me so much.  It is more patience in myself to be okay until the next time we see each other.  Sometimes the next time we talk because our schedules are so opposite.  We never know when we really will be able to see one another until we book the flight and the countdown begins; it's like Christmas every time.  Now, I need the patience to wait until May when he takes me to Disney for my birthday (it's not easy).  But also, patience with one another because we are still learning and getting to know each other.  It's the fun part though.


We're learning.
A year later and it's something new.  Something new to learn about myself when it involves another person. 

friday faves | 01

Jan 17, 2014


    01 // Kal Barteski is popping up all over the place with Studio Calico and now Amy Tan's new collection. I loved this print so much that I had purchased it for my eventual gallery wall.  For now, it sits atop my storage in a frame as I walk out the door.  It is pretty awesome. 
    02 // Ellay Films was just launched by a blogger I follow and I think it is pretty freakin' rad.  I watched all six videos and loved their work.  It makes me want to live on the West Coast when I get married so I can have them be the filmographers. I also adored Jaymee's personal wedding video so much - it was adorable.
    03 // I love a good weekender bag and this fits it. Simple, my fave. 
    04 // A few weeks ago I caught myself watching Twilight Breaking Dawn Part I (please don't judge me) and I can't stop listening to this song.  The instrumentals are amazing and so is his voice. 
    05 // I wish I had half the creative inspiration as Elsie from ABM does because I want her kitchen design so badly.  Especially that fridge, *drool*

Time to get back to work..

vegan minestrone

Jan 9, 2014


Since the weather has been so cold I decided to make soup!  This is the first time I have ever made soup and was inspired by my brothers girlfriend, A.  She made soup and I was amazed at how easy it was to just throw things in a pot, boil it, then eat it!  So my first attempt at minestrone soup, a few errors were made.  Note to self: add less pasta.


Ingredients
4 cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil
chopped onion
1 can 28-oz diced tomato
3 stalks celery
1/3 cup frozen peas
2 chopped carrots
1 can white bean, rinsed
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup elbow pasta

Everything for me is an approximation.  I like to just throw things in a pot and see how it goes, sometimes it works out, other times it does not.  Boil water and add olive oil.  Add all ingredients except pasta.  Boil on medium for 5 minutes then add pasta and boil according to the package (usually 7-8 minutes).  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Mine wasn't full of flavors because I didn't add tons of spices and salt.  I wanted it to be simple and healthier.


I added wayyyyyyy too much pasta and in return, the pasta soaked up most of the broth.  Big mistake.  So next time, I am aware of this and will actually only put 1 cup of pasta and not pour a bunch in and pretend to know what I am doing.

With the cold weather, this has helped keep me a little warmer.

baby it's cold outside

Jan 8, 2014


It took everything I had to go outside with my camera and take pictures of these.  The idea that the twigs iced over is always such a nifty idea to me so I wanted to be able to capture it too.  Plus, I need an excuse, any excuse to use my camera again.

Lately, the weather has been kicking my butt.  I am used to the cold winters of New Jersey, I have been doing it for years, but recently?  Oh no, I can not handle 0 degree weather with a wind chill of -5.  It's just not for me.  Also, I have been sick with a head cold since I left Seattle and this weather is not helping me to get any better!


Please weather fairies... make it a little warmer!

vacation part two

Jan 5, 2014

After a lot of flying and getting sick, I finally ended up in Florida to spend New Years Eve with B.  When I say I was happy to see him, it is basically an understatement, because I was beyond ecstatic.  The 40 minute delay I had to wait for him was not too pleasing but it was totally worth it.  Holding his hand on the hour drive back to his place was enough to make the whole trip worth it.

We spent the next day just laying there talking and enjoying each others company.  His roommate took us out to lunch at a Thai restaurant, he wanted my opinion if the food would be 'authentic.'  If you were wondering, no it was not haha.


this is why we are so great together, funny faces from the both of us

When the evening arrived, we headed to our mutual friends to go out to dinner.  Now, the worst place to take a vegetarian to dinner is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steak house!  And that is where we went!  There was about 10 of us, neither of the people I knew picked this place so I can not blame them.  It was a lot of fun going out to eat and hanging out with everyone, I just did not feel well so it was hard to even visit the salad bar and get enough to eat.  Then we ventured to the bar for a few drinks and back to Chel's house for celebrations, food, and drinks.  Watched the ball drop, and counted down to the new year...


***
People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

I had the pleasure of bringing in the new year with old/new friends and a new boyfriend.  I may keep repeating myself when I say this, but only because it is true.  This year has taught me so much and I would not have changed a thing about it.  I begin my year with a smile and a happy heart

vacation part one

Jan 4, 2014


Christmas in Seattle is much warmer than Christmas in New Jersey.
Much prettier too.
I love this city, so much.  Almost as much as I love California and if you know me well enough, I love California.  Seattle, you are filling big shoes.

I spent the holiday's with my brother and his girlfriend A.  It was an exciting and exhausting week.  We actually spent Christmas dinner with his friends from Boston, who also relocated to the West.  There was about 10 of us; eating dinner, playing video games, chatting about random nonsense that is life.



We did a lot of touristy things, just like we did last time I went to visit.  I wanted to visit Pike's Place again, hoped I would get to visit the first Starbucks but since it was the holiday week, it was still pretty busy.  Oh well. I did enjoy some cupcakes and a small letterpress shop!  I love letterpress, so much!


Seriously, I could see the Space Needle 100 times and still be amazed by it.  Going anywhere in the city we could see it.  Nuts!  I could totally see myself moving to Seattle, it's so me.  I really think I just adore the West Coast because the people are so different; they're nicer!  Also, the fact that it is so full of vegetarian/vegan foods is a HUGE plus for someone like me... a vegetarian!


Great suggestions for any vegetarian/vegan visiting Seattle:

+  Mighty O's Donut
+  Any Caffe Vita coffee place
+  Wedgwood II Vegetarian Thai
+  Molly Moon's Ice Cream (Stumptown Coffee flavor, yum)
+  Plum Vegan Bistro
+  Red Papaya Ale & Spirits
+  Rocco's
+  Mecca Cafe
+  Oddfellows Cafe
+  Umi Sake House


Holiday vacation part two to come tomorrow!

twenty-fourteen

Jan 3, 2014


As we start the new year, three days in, we reflect on events of the past year. I did that in this post. I recapped the years events, good and bad because who are we without remembering the terrible moments in our lives?

I have had this blog for two years on the 12th, I can not believe time has flown by so quickly. When I first began this blog, it was meant for my Project Life posts (which slowly dwindled) and to keep anyone (who cared) updated on my life. It gets hard to keep up with the blog because my life is not always that interesting, but I would like to begin blogging more. More for myself than anyone else because I started this for me. Everything else will fall into place on what I write and who reads it. I really hope to get a better grasp on keeping up with my blogging. I will continue to do Project Life, I just need to play catch up... a lot.


2014.
You will be great.


What do I have to look forward to?
     +  Graduate school (again)
     +  Turning 27
     +  Many trips to Florida
     +  Various road trips I will take to visit friends
     +  Family returning
     +  A new job? Let's hope


And I leave you with this..


Thank you 2013, you were a huge growing experience for me. I appreciate every single thing.

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