cheers to 2017

Figuring out what to do for New Years Eve is always a struggle, it is always supposed to feel like some BIG extravagant party where you dress up, wear party hats, and toast champagne at midnight.

We did wear party tiaras and we sort of toasted at midnight with red solo cups. I think it was one of my favorite NYE memories to date. It amazes me how much can change in only one year. It was a low key night with some really great friends and lots of cheese, I mean lots of cheese and don't ask us why. The boys built a fire, we vegged out, and spent time together. When we started this year, none of us were really that close and over the months we became the girls.

The girls minus one. She decided to stay in Canada, but she was there in spirit and SnapChat.


We cheers to a new year!
What type of goals are we planning for 2017?

• Getting back to the gym, not like those people who go to the gym for the first few months and stop. We only stopped because we moved and started rebuilding an entire bathroom and kitchen.
• Travel. Travel far or travel not so far, just travel.
• Begin scrapbooking again, I loved Project Life and stopped a few years ago. I want to start on a minimalist version.
• Save money. Future house or new car next year.
• Spend more time together. Yes, we live together but we like Candy Crush a little too much and may need to put down our phones once in a while.
• Learn how to sew.
• Make our house a home.
• Finish renovation projects: stairwell, stairs, third floor living area.
• Help more with the DIY projects we make and make at least 5 of the projects I pin.
• Volunteer our time somewhere.
• Enjoy the moments more.

My new planner can help with some of this stuff! By the way, I love my new planner. We have so many adventures to plan and memories to make this year. I can not wait to see what it will bring.

getting out

Lately, I have been stuck in a rut.
Stuck in life, trying to figure out what I really want to do with my life and all things in the future..


As I get older, because I'm creeping up on 27 in a few months, I feel like a part of me needs to really focus on what I want. What do I want to do? What is going to make me happy? What am I trying to achieve? All questions I have no answers to. I am in school for my second Masters and I still can not truly pin point what to do afterwards. Finding a job is not as easy as I had hoped and it blows.

Getting comfortable at my current job is just not an option anymore, especially considering I don't want to be in this field anymore. Science is not for me. I need to find something different and not in the northeast. I am so sick of the snow and the cold.. so sick of it. I want to live in the warmth and by the beach; I know that for sure.

Am I supposed to know what I want to do now?
By 27, you're supposed to know right? I need to focus on my future and I need to focus on getting out of my creative rut. My energy levels have decreased dramatically, I still continue to blame the frigid cold weather. I also think I need a place to do my creative endeavors and my apartment hasn't accommodated for that, not yet anyways.

March is my month to turn things around. Search for jobs, work on my creative outlet, get more things in order. This year has been a struggle, I need to get up and get on it. Let's go March, I'm ready for you.

hello october.

It only feels like October in the morning hours, as the day goes on it feels like summer again. I don't know how I feel about that; I kind of want the Fall season. I went apple picking last week and that was when it truly felt like Fall. When I order a pumpkin spiced latte from Starbucks, that's when I know it's true.

This month is going to be fantastic.
My best friend is coming to visit, homecoming, Lake Placid, my parents are back, and so much more. Today is the first day of a new project I would like to start. I can't decide if I want to begin with my real camera or my iPhone; either way I will be taking a photo everyday. Of what you ask? Well, I'm not sure yet. As long as it helps me document. I may not be able to post it everyday because I will be on vacation but I will take one.

So here we go October, let's make it count..
    + take one picture everyday, something that tells a story
    + bring Fifa to the dog park at least twice a week
    + inquire about the MBA program
    + decorate for Fall
    + catch up on Project Life
    + DIY a Halloween costume
    + breathe and let go


I hope you all enjoy the beginning of a new month as much as I do; it's like a fresh new start every 4 weeks.

"to do" list

After reading this post, this post, and completing my summer class, I realized how much I need to slow down and enjoy my surroundings.

My professor gave a lecture on how she moved from Michigan to New Jersey and could not believe the difference. She realized how fast paced we were, we talked all the time, and interrupted conversation when there was the slightest pause in speech. We, or maybe just me, do not know how to slow down when we talk and really listen to one another.

I am guilty.
Guilty of thinking about what I want to say next.
And not focusing on what the person is really saying.

 I need to pause.





Take a mental break.
And listen. Really listen to others.

I loved This American Girl's idea of the "to do" list.
I love lists. Love them.
I love to check things off, it makes me feel accomplished in my day. I am also guilty of writing things down in my planner that I've already done, so that I can check it off. Crazy right?

Well, my to do list today consists of my intentions on fulfilling things in my life that I truly enjoy.

+ I want to bake something new and share it friends, because I love baking and having people enjoy it.
+ Go out to dinner and laugh until my stomach hurts.
+ Exercise because it makes me feel good.
+ Listen to music that touches my soul.
+ Connect with myself and how truly happy I have been alone.
+ Take a moment and just live.


It has been a blessing in disguise to be alone.
It never occurred to me that I would take that moment to find out what I want in life and in a partner.


So breathe.
Walk slowly.
Smile at strangers.
Hold the door open for the next person.
Give your seat up to the elderly.
Reach out to someone.
Go outside.
Laugh.
And just genuinely enjoy life.
Because this is all we have.

june goals

Summer is my favorite.
It means nice weather, flip flops, great movies, and so so so much more.

I plan on enjoying every minute of this summer.
It has been the first summer in a very long time where my mission is the beach. Every. Chance. I. Get.
This is precisely the reason why I need to move to California. My need for the beach and sun is almost unbearable. Okay, so maybe it's not unbearable, but it is pretty bad. Friday was my first time at the beach this summer and the best part of it? I got to go again on Saturday. I spent time with some friends I haven't seen in a while and it was wonderful.

I already know this summer is going to be amazing.


Now some goals...

+ learn & practice calligraphy
+ spend time at the beach at least once every weekend (weather permitting)
+ tone up and continue to workout
+ apply to a minimum of five jobs a week
+ find comfort with who I am and what I want

The first and last are two important ones. Calligraphy sounds so strange but after perusing Instagram I want to learn. I ordered this kit from Etsy and I think I am going to look for this book tomorrow. I am excited to try it out. The last goal is important because I am still so confused about what to do with my life and what I want. I find myself lost in thought over nonsense and it is time for me to focus on me. No one else.

may goals

Graduate. Graduate. Graduate.
Apply. Apply. Apply.
Continue to work out - lower abs please show up.
Catch up on Project Life. I am so behind!
Enjoy spending crazy nights with good friends.

Really, these goals are not that hard, but I am keeping it simple.

My head has been clouded these past few weeks with finishing school, work, and playing games with someone I don't want to play games with. I am getting my head straight and forgetting the pettiness. I don't need it. I am too old and too busy to deal with boys. Over it. As one of my friends put it: only put energy into people who put the same out.

Graduation is 17 days away.
I start applying to jobs today. I told myself May 1st I would begin. So here I go.
I am only 25 for one more week. I will never be 25 again. I will be starting 26 and loving every minute of it. I am going to be twenty-six! And I look about 17. Oh well.

I bought my graduation dress. I love it.
I bought a dress for Atlantic City graduation celebration/birthday celebrations. If I do say so myself, I clean up nicely ;)

May is going to be a fantastic month.