Back to the Grind

My life in a nutshell right now... WHY IS IT SO COLD WHERE I LIVE D: *cries in a corner*

Hey everyone! After many a school and work cancellation, I've finally fallen into a routine in my schedule... almost. This week we've had our first Monday in a month and it's definitely thrown me off a bit! Today I showed up to a meeting that I usually have on a Wednesday thinking it was totally normal, only to find out hours later that I definitely was not supposed to show up there. Woops!

Aside from that, the last few weeks have been a bit of a grind. Wake up, go to designated work location, come home, eat, yoga, sleep. It's been really easy to lose myself in my work lately and the spring semester is already FLYING. I've still been able to manage to take some time to visit loved ones regularly, though, which is definitely a blessing.

I spent Valentine's weekend with Brett before he jetted off to warm and sunny Florida. We celebrated with a trip to on of our favorite breakfast restaurants that we hadn't been to in FOREVER (Bill's Bread & Breakfast in Putnam, CT... check them out!), and for dinner we had our traditional Brett & Riley special, some steak tips, and watched the movie Chef, which I thought was a really cute, heartwarming movie! It was a wonderfully low-key holiday and a perfect way to hide from the blizzard outside. (HUGE SURPRISE. IT WAS SNOWING.)

(Did you guys notice how hilarious Timehop was on Valentine's Day? 

I thought this was so cute I had to take a screenshot.)

Work has been a lot of fun lately and it's making me dread the end of the semester so much. Every day that goes by I feel like I'm becoming more and more connected to my students and knowing that I won't be at BSU next year is really bumming me out. These students crack me up so much and make it feel like my work isn't work... that's the dream! I can only hope that the students that I work with next are just as awesome as these bears. (I'm sure they will be, but I'm still going to miss BSU!) I should stop typing this before I start tearing up and just share this awesome item that was on the PC agenda last week...

I was dying laughing when I read this event title.... XD

This past weekend I went to visit my parents and pups in NH. It was a really relaxing weekend which is always nice and it's so fun to bond with Mom & Dad! Mom and I went to get pedicures (which is usually not the most pleasant experience for me because my feet are SO ticklish, but at least my toes look pretty for our vacation!) and the three of us went shopping. My parents were very nice to me and bought me some interview clothes for my #SAsearch (which is a bit slow at the moment but is officially underway!) as well as some vacation outfits!

Truck selfies with Kiwi!

#BusinessRiley in full effect

Since Brett has been away I've really been trying to get ahead in my school work. It's been challenging because I'm really putting way more on my plate than I actually need to and I still am working the same amount at all of my positions, but I keep reminding myself that it will all be worth it when I don't have to worry about assignments when I'm lounging in the sunshine on vacation (11 MORE DAYS). So excited! 

My favorite study buddies. :)

The next week and a half is going to be hectic what with getting homework done, scheduling blog posts, pretending to know what I'm doing when it comes to looking for a job, and still packing for our trip and attempting to have some resemblance a social life (insert Liz Lemon moment here). Not to mention I'm headed off to a professional conference this weekend which is always a whirlwind! As stressful as it is, I'm sure I'll accomplish everything I need to before jetting off to the warmth. And hey, it's nothing a coffee and a brownie batter donut can't solve, right?

*heart eyes emoji*

Valentine's Day on a Budget

Brett and I are both in graduate school right now and are both living exclusively off a graduate assistant's salary*. Needless to say, big date nights are few and far between as we are typically spending our money on bills, food, and gas. Special occasions like Valentine's day are unfortunately not an exception to the rule at this point in our lives, but luckily we don't mind all that much! We are just happy to be making time in our crazy schedules to be spending time together, and have actually made it a tradition to order our Brett & Riley Special** every Valentine's Day.

Just because you're rocking a tight budget like Brett and I, doesn't mean you have to forego this fun holiday as a couple all together! In the spirit of the holiday, I thought I would share a post with some ideas on how to have a special February 14th with your sweetheart without emptying your wallet!

1. Handmade Valentines

{Source}

Throw it back to elementary school and make each other Valentine's Day cards! I like to do this because I love to draw and be creative, but I realize that's not everyone's cup of tea. Try writing a letter to your loved one or even just coming up with a list of things you like about them in your head and telling them that list, item by item, periodically throughout the day. It's sweet and thoughtful and something that will be one of a kind from you to them. PLUS, it's usually free! :)

2. Take Out & a DVD

{Source}

This is usually Brett & I's go to Valentine's plan - getting our traditional pizza order to-go and watching a DVD of some sort. Our first year together, Brett was just introducing me to Game of Thrones and we spent the evening watching the first season on DVD, and then last year I believe we had Wreck-It Ralph from Netflix. It's always nice to get out of your own little world and watch the same thing together while enjoying something delicious!

3. Get Outside

{Source}

Fun fact: most outdoor activities are free! We New Englanders are currently under several feet of snow*** so Brett and I will likely be remaining indoors this weekend, but it doesn't mean you have to! Take a walk, build a snowman, or visit a park and challenge yourself to not use any electronic devices. Make it a moment for just you and your Valentine to share!

4. Start Something Fun Together and Make it "Just Yours"

{Source}

Whether it's a new show that neither of you have seen before, a 1,000 piece puzzle you've been meaning to conquer, or a book you're both interested in reading, start something for just you and your Valentine to share! One of my favorite things Brett and I have done recently is listen to the Serial podcast together. I had heard about it from my supervisor and thought we could give it a go on a recent road trip. We fell in love with it because a. it was awesome and b. it was something that we were doing together. Anything you and your Valentine do this February 14th will be special as long as you're doing it together!

I hope this post was helpful in finding the perfect
Valentine's plan without breaking the bank!

Have a lovely Valentine's Day, everyone!

*For those of you who may be unfamiliar with a GA's salary, it varies between institutions and positions, but it is usually not a whole lot higher than the minimum wage ($9/hour where we live) and assistantships usually have hourly restrictions in place of about 20-30 hours a week, though we often work much more than that (especially him!).

**Half cheese, half bacon pizza!

***Not an exaggeration.

Boyfriend/Girlfriend Tag!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Brett and I are lucky enough to find the time in our hectic schedules to see each other today. (I'm currently doing work at his place waiting for him to return from work in a few hours! #makingitwork) We actually weren't anticipating being able to see each other today, so we decided to make a little Valentine's Day video for my YouTube channel, which we shot a few weeks ago. If you'd like to know a little bit more about us/our relationship, click play!

(Sorry about the bad audio. I'm still learning best practices for filming!)
When I arrived today I got to see Brett for about 5 minutes before he had to run back to work. Before he did, though, he surprised me with a slew of sweet gifts for Valentine's Day! I definitely wasn't expecting that - that was very sweet of him! :) I'm so lucky to have someone that loves to make me smile! 

A cute stuffed monkey, a chocolate rose, and CADBURY EGGS! Thank you, Brett! You're the sweetest! :)

I'm not sure what we're going to get up to once Brett gets out of work, but I'm sure it will be fun (and I'm sure pizza will be involved... #yum)! I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!