Blog Ahead #28 Originally written on October 29, 2018
I feel like the holiday season is such a whirlwind and before we know it we're setting our goals for the new year and settling in for a long, cold winter. One of the things that has been getting me through the last couple of winters is a Danish concept that is known as hygge.
"Hygge (/ˈhjuːɡə/HEW-gə or /ˈhuːɡə/HOO-gə) is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment."
While there isn't a direct translation into English, hygge is the idea and feeling of being cozy and comfortable. I don't think anyone can say they dislike being cozy (if you dislike being cozy, I'd love to pick your brain :P), so I thought it would be fun to collect some of my favorite hygge things on today's Blog Ahead post to remind myself the the cold months don't have to be *all* bad. ;)
Blog Ahead #27 Originally written on October 29, 2018
Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! I hope that the folks that celebrate are enjoying their holiday and for those who don't that you're enjoying your Monday. :) As it's the day before Christmas, I wanted to share a list of some Christmas memories I have from my childhood with you all. It's always fun to reminisce on old times around this time of year and remember the moments and the people that make this holiday so special.
~When I was a kid, we would always bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. We would usually do gingerbread cookies and we had these cookie cutters we would always use - a gingerbread man, a gingerbread woman, a bell, and a boot! The best part was when we'd get to decorate the cookies using frosting bags. It was so fun to be creative that way!
~Speaking of things we would leave out, we would also leave out carrots and celery for the reindeer, as well as notes for Santa! When we woke up in the morning, it was so magical to see the cookies and veggies eaten, and a reply from Santa himself! Sometimes he would even get one of the reindeer to leave a hoof print at the bottom of our note! I so wish I had an example to show you all because it really was so amazing to experience that as a kid!
~When the internet became a bigger part of our life, my dad found us the NORAD Santa Tracker which was just about the coolest thing ever to look at as a kid. It would track Santa's Christmas Eve flight so you could see when he was in different parts of the world and even how many gifts he had distributed thus far. This is such a fond memory of mine that I often still do this from year to year, just to check in. ;)
~The Nightmare Before Christmas was my sister and I's go-to Christmas movie each year. I will argue to the death that this is much more a Christmas movie than a Halloween movie, mainly because that's the memories I have attached to it. I will always have a soft spot for Jack Skellington and his crew! Other favorite childhood Christmas movies include Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (both the animated and Jim Carrey versions.
~One of the most memorable Christmas gifts I ever received were these purple sleds that were given to both me and my sister. I don't know why those always stand out the most to me for Christmas gifts. I want to say it snowed the Christmas and we were able to go sledding on the hill behind our house that same day. Whatever it was that has stuck those sleds in my memory, I don't think I'll ever forget them!
~There's a funny Christmas tradition that we've developed over the years, but I'm fairly certain it started when I was a kid. We've always had a dog in our family, and on Christmas morning while we open gifts we would usually take the adhesive bows on the gifts and stick them on whichever dog is closest, to various degrees of success. Mostly they ignore them and sometimes they're shaken off, but it's always so cute and quite entertaining.
There are so many other memories I can think of, but I think I'll save those for future years. :)
I hope you all enjoy your Christmas and make lots of new memories this holiday!
Blog Ahead #26 Originally written on October 26, 2018
I really like to learn about unique Christmas traditions, whether those are traditions that happen in different households or from around the world! The US is unique in a way that there's many different holiday traditions based on different family heritage. Most of the people who live in this country have family members in the ancestry that were immigrants from different countries, so that definitely has had some influence in the way we celebrate here. For today's post, I wanted to do some research on some traditions that I would love to see come to the States, and maybe adopt into my own practice! ;)
This is so much fun! In many parts of Venezuela, folks roller blade to Christmas mass. It's so popular in some communities that roads get closed down to make it easier and safer for roller bladers. What a fun and unique activity for folks to take part in on a special day of the year!
This, for obvious reasons, is my favorite of Christmas traditions around the world. In Iceland, folks will gift each other a book on Christmas Eve and the idea is that you will read the book all night until Christmas morning, getting cozy, reading, and eating chocolate!
I've always been so intrigued by the idea of Christmas crackers - a little Christmas treat at your holiday dinner! I don't know why that isn't something that Americans have adopted from our UK pals, but I'm totally on board for stealing this idea from them! ;)
I love the idea of advent calendars! These aren't the most popular things in the US (some folks do calendars with really bad chocolate in them that you can buy at the grocery store), but in Switzerland and other parts of Europe, folks will buy or make advent calendars to be opened each day leading up to Christmas day. Brett and I got into this tradition last year and I absolutely love it. It's so fun to have a little festive activity to do each day leading up to Christmas!
Coconut burfi - an Indian sweet that is traditionally made for Diwali & Christmas. {source}
In India, folks will give each other treats and candy in lieu of gifts. As I've gotten older I've realized that the pressure of gift giving an receiving is more stressful than fun, so something like this I can totally get behind!
I also love the idea that in Japan, Christmas is more of a celebration to spread happiness and love than a religious holiday. Christmas Eve is even considered to be Japan's biggest date night, surpassing Valentine's Day! I am not particularly religious myself and celebrate Christmas more for the tradition than anything else, so incorporating the idea of spreading love and happiness is something I would love to be more of a focus here in the States.
What Christmas traditions do you wish you had in your part of the world?
Blog Ahead #24 Originally written on October 26, 2018
It's no secret - I am not a fan of winter. I hate the cold. I hate the dark. I'm not the biggest fan of the holidays or the snow. There's just not a lot of appeal to winter for me, so I dread it each and every year. The day this post goes live is the first official day of winter, and lucky for me, I'll be on a plane headed south to Florida for the Holidays. Thanks, Mom & Dad! ;) But, because I spend so much time complaining about the winter, I thought I'd kick off this terrible season on a more positive note. I thought it'd be great to share the things that I actually like about the winter time, as few and far between as they may be. :P
I love me a good hot beverage. Even though I'm a New Englander and will willingly drink an iced coffee when it's -12°, I love a toasty warm hot coffee in the morning. Hot vanilla lattes are probably my favorite coffee beverage, with hot apple cider being my favorite cold weather drink. I also can't say no to a good hot chocolate or hot toddy if I'm looking for an adult beverage! There's something so comforting about drinking something warm and feeling the warmth spread through your whole body.
As much as I'm not a fan of dealing with the snow (shoveling, wiping off my car, getting stuck in my own driveway, etc.) there's something that's pretty magical about having a day stuck at home while you're getting snowed in. I work in the education field, meaning I still get snow days if the college I work at gets closed... pretty awesome! I love having an excuse to stay in jammies all day, make pancakes, and watch movies! Snow days are the best and even I can't argue that!
Winter is the season that both of my favorite sports to watch are on all. the. time. I find football Sundays so cozy and watching hockey games so exciting that I definitely look forward to their seasons coming around each year. At least that's something that distracts from the face that it's winter time!
Not gonna lie, my winter uniform basically consists of sweater + scarf + black pants. Every damn day in the office. It makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier and so much cozier. You really can't resist a good cozy sweater + scarf combo!
I feel like winter is the time of year where I'm the most adventurous when it comes to cooking. I'm always on the hunt for new recipes for warm comfort foods to eat on cold, snowy afternoons. My slow cooker and I become best friends in the colder months, and I'm baking different things what seems like every weekend. It's actually so much fun, and so tasty!
Blog Ahead #18 Originally written on October 26, 2018
I'm not usually ~up on the times~ when it comes to TV and Movies. I'm not entirely sure what is out or what is coming out. But I do have a list of books that I would love to see come to life on the screen. I know that there has been rumors and rumblings of a couple of these getting adapted, and I'm not sure what has or hasn't been confirmed, but either way I would be so excited to see these on the screen!
1. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
2. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
3. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
4. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
5. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
6. The Wolf by Wolf Duology by Ryan Graudin
7. The Humans by Matt Haig
8. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
9. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
10. The Lumberjanes Series by Noelle Stevenson
What books would you like to see adapted in to TV or Movies?
Blog Ahead #16 Originally written on October 25, 2018
Now that it's December, it's time to get Christmassy! I do impose a Christmas embargo until December finally rolls around, so now that it's finally here I'm excited to get festive! I thought I'd kick off my holiday posts with the list of things that I make an effort to do each and every year - my Annual Holiday To-Do List, if you will. It's always fun to try and squeeze all of my favorite holiday things into just 25 days before we pack them all away again for the next year! So, without further adieu, here's what I'm trying to pack in this season:
This almost goes without saying, but there's something so fun and festive about the ritual of decorating your space for Christmas! We have a tiny little apartment, but we love dressing it up with tinsel and ornaments, so of course that will be one of the very first things that gets done this season, as it is every year! 2. Watch my favorite Christmas movies
We all have a list of our faves! I try to fit in one a week if I can so I can hit a good portion of them. Here's what I'll be watching this season:
-Elf (duh)
-Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
(Have always loved this sequel way more than the original!)
There's a lot of egg nog haters out there, but I honestly can't think of a better holiday beverage! I put egg nog in my coffee, I drink it plain, I drink it spiked, and I love me a good egg nog latte. McDonald's used to do an egg nog shake which I was also ALL ABOUT, but last year they didn't do them which I was v. heartbroken about. Either way, I'm pumped for egg nog season to be back and I DON'T CARE WHAT THE HATERS SAY! :P 4. Wear ugly Christmas sweaters & socks
For some reason every year I get a slew of Christmas-themed socks as Christmas gifts, so when December rolls around I make an effort to wear ALL OF THEM! I also have a couple of ugly sweaters I enjoy wearing around to holiday functions and I'm always looking to add to the collection. Any excuse to be really tacky, I'm all about it. :P 5. Take the annual awkward Christmas card photo with Brett
Brett and I have somehow made this tradition of taking an awkward Christmas Card photo together every year and it's become one of my favorite traditions of ours. It makes me giggle every year! Here's our annual photo from 2015. XD 6. Drive around/walk around to look at Christmas lights
I can't resist a good Christmas light display. I'm a sucker for beautiful, twinkly lights, and if you can make me stop and linger to admire your display, I'm EXTRA giddy. It's one of those things that will put me in a festive mood without fail, so I love making sure I get to see lights of a neighborhood or two each year. 7. Read a Christmassy book
This is another tradition that I've developed for myself every year. I love picking up a cozy read that is explicitly set during the Christmas holidays. There's something just so cozy about reading a story about Christmas and the different things characters will get up to throughout the holiday season. I will be sharing which book I will be reading this year in a later #BlogAhead post! 8. Bake something
For me, Christmas and baking tend to go hand in hand. I don't know if it's the memories I have attached to baking Christmas cookies for Santa every year while I was growing up, but Christmas doesn't quite seem 100% complete until I make some sort of baked good. I really like to take time to really flex my Pinterest muscles as well during this time of the year and try out new recipes! If you have any favorites, leave suggestions in the comments! 9. Jam out to the best holiday playlist ever
A few years ago, Brett and I discovered this AMAZING playlist on Spotify called Hip Hop Christmas. Not gonna lie, it's my absolute favorite Christmas playlist because it is just so ridiculous. Check it out below!
I did not manage to fit one into my schedule last year, but for a few years before that I made an effort to run a holiday themed race because there is A BUNCH out there! This year I'm signed up for the Happy Holidays Half Merrython, which I did a few years ago and really enjoyed. I'm planning to be decked out in holiday gear as I tackle 13.1!
When seeking inspiration for blog posts for #BlogAhead, I saw a lot of suggestions on doing an A-Z list! I thought this was a great idea, and I thought I'd try my hand at it with a list of random favorite things of mine. These might be things you know about me, or they might be totally new to you, but either way I hope you enjoy reading through my faves! Let me know if we have any favorite things in common. ;)
A is for ALASKA ROLLS
Literally my favorite sushi roll to order - salmon, avocado, and cucumber. Delicious!
B is for BAGELS
If I could have one for breakfast every day, I would (and often do)!
C is for CHALLENGE
This has been one of my favorite TV shows for years, and it's a show that Brett and I share together which makes it even more of a favorite!
D is for DUNKIN' DONUTS (a.k.a. Dunks)
It's rare to find me in the morning without a coffee from Dunks in hand!
E is for ENERGY DRINKS
I know they're bad for you, but every now and then I love to indulge in a Monster Energy Drink, expecially the Juice flavors!
F is for FAIRS
It's been a while since I've been at a fair, but I won't lie - I get really excited when I see a sign for one! All of the delicious food, fun lights, rides and games... what's not to love?
G is for GOAT CHEESE
Omg... I don't know what it is about goat cheese, but I could eat it with any meal. There's this blueberry vanilla goat cheese I get sometimes at the store that is TO DIE FOR.
H is for HOT APPLE CIDER
My absolute favorite fall beverage. Move over, PSLs!
I is for IPAs
I'm not super picky when it comes to beers, but IPAs are hands own my favorite. The hoppier the better! Wormtown Be Hoppy is my favorite, for those wondering. :)
J is for JUGGLING
This is a ~hidden talent~ that I have - I learned to juggle when I was a kid a sleep away camp! I can only to the basic stuff, but it's still a fun party trick to bust out every now and again.
K is for KETTLE CORN
Salty + sweet popcorn... one of my fave post-work snacks!
L is for LA FESTA
Still hands down my absolute favorite pizza joint. If you're ever in Dover, NH, highly recommend making this a spot you visit!
M is for MARY LOUS
Another local favorite - this is a South Shore MA/Rhode Island coffee spot that makes AWESOME coffee treats. Favorite flavor is definitely the Twix coffee, but they have so many awesome flavors and drink!
N is for NEWFOUNDLANDS
I'm a big dog kind of gal and Newfoundlands are some of my faves! They also happen to be my patronus, so I'm an extra big fan of these balls of floof.
O is for OTTERS
Who doesn't absolutely LOVE otters? They are probably the most adorable aquatic creature!
P is for POKEMON
This has been an absolute staple favorite in my life and I still love all things Pokemon! Favorite Pokemon has always been and probably always be Squirtle! #squirtlesquad
Q is for QUEER EYE
Literally the best thing that Netflix has released to date, IMO! The rebooted Fab Five is so perfect. <3
R is for RUM & COKE
I know this is super basic, but I can't resist a good Rum & Coke. Besides Mai Tais, these are typically my go-to cocktail!
S is for SANDALS
I'm the kind of gal that if I don't have to wear anything on my feet, I'm not wearing anything on my feet. Sandals are just the next best thing if I MUST wear shoes, and I can/will wear them with every outfit if it is not below freezing outside. :P
T is for TUMBLERS
I've developed an obsession over the last few years for tumblers! I love drinking my water out of them and bringing them everywhere with me, PLUS it's a lot easier to remember to hydrate when I have a water tumbler on the go!
U is for UNDER ARMOUR
High quality stretchy athletic wear? Yes and yes. 10/10 will wear UA leggings everywhere.
V is for VANILLA LATTES
Gahhh I love me a good vanilla latte as an afternoon pick me up! Pair that with a cookie or pastry and I am in absolute heaven.
W is for WWE
Something that I've gotten more into over the years, thanks to one of my favorite reality shows, Total Divas! Brett and I are hoping to attend Smackdown at the end of December and it's going to be SO FUN AND RIDICULOUS!
X is for XL SWEATPANTS
I often purposely buy sweatpants an extra size or two bigger than my actual size because they're so much more comfy when they're loose on your body!
Y is for YANKEE CANDLE
...or really any brand scented candles, for that matter! I love to burn candles year round, and Yankee Candle, while v. expensive, has such a great collection of scents!
Z is for ZODIAC
I know a lot of people think it's silly, but I love talking about the zodiac and about the different star signs! (For those that might be wondering, I'm a Taurus!)
Two weeks ago I celebrated my 26th birthday! I always really enjoy my birthday and this year was no different. I started out the day with a birthday run in the crisp morning air while listening to my favorite tunes from Hamilton. Once I got back I had the pleasure of opening up gifts that my parents had sent to me and they totally nailed it! Exhibit A:
I spent the day at work which I didn't mind at all because my staff is awesome. They greeted me when I walked into the office wearing party hats and with a coffee and a breakfast sandwich with a candle in it! They also gave me other fun treats like a card, some flowers, and a tiara to wear. It was all super adorable! We ended the work day with a trip to our favorite local ice cream joint - Cindy's - YUM.
I also got to spend some time with Brett in the evening. We got Chinese food, Mai Tais, and Brett gave me an amazing birthday gift - a Garmin Forerunner 230! I love it and have been wearing it along side the Fitbit my parents got me ever since. Now I'm forced to be the most in shape person in the world - I have no excuse!
25 was a really great year for me. A lot of big things in my life happened and I thought with a great start to 26, it's a wonderful time for me to reflect. So, without further adieu, here are 25 memories from being 25!
1. Graduated with my Master's Degree! This is something that had never really been in my life plan, but is something I am extremely proud of.
2. I was offered and accepted my first full-time job at Mount Holyoke!
3. I ran and completed my third marathon, and even better - PRed!
4. Road tripped to Canada with my two awesome friends Erin & Cullen!
5. Paddleboarded for the first time!
6. Went to my first Patriot's game and had a blast (even though they lost)!
7. Taught Paint n' Sip classes for the first time, and loved it!
8. Cheered on my mom as she completed her first triathlon!
9. Completed my 2nd Orientation at Bridgewater and made a great new friend, Kacie!
10. Moved into my first honest-to-God-rent-paying apartment as a real life adult.
11. Tried bubble tea for the first time.... I'm not a fan, haha. It tastes like flowery perfume for some reason.
12. Saw New Found Glory live with YellowCard!
13. Celebrated 3 years with Brett!
14. Flew to sunny Florida with Rob for a mid-winter getaway!
15. Saw Brett walk at his Graduate Commencement! We both have Master's degrees! Woop woop!
16. Went to see Star WarsEpisode VII: The Force Awakens on the premier night with Cullen, Erin, and Brett!
17. Started to be a lot more conscious about what I eat and very recently made the decision to stop eating pig meat. This diet change is a bit of a journey for me and I'm curious to see where it goes.
18. Got to see Brett's Aunt and Uncle get married literally in Lake Ossipee - one of the coolest weddings I've seen!
19. Road tripped with Brett to New Jersey for New Year's!
20. Had Christmas on Thanksgiving with my family!
21. Had dinner with both Brett and my side of the family at Patriot's Place - the first time all of us getting together!
22. Discovered and fell in love with Hamilton. Seriously. Can't. Stop. Listening.
23. Went on our annual trip to Cape Cod!
24. *Officially* changed my residency to Massachusetts... my Granite State Heart died a little inside...
25. Started to think more creatively and seriously about my YouTube channel and set goals to grow my viewership and subscribers. I have a lot of fun with my YouTube channel and I would love to continue to see it grow overtime! (I have a goal of reaching 500 subscribers this year - fingers crossed that I can make it!)
Though I don't have a ton of disposable income (insert obligatory complaint about student loans here), I have developed quite the addiction to perusing Etsy over the past few months and obsessing over all of the cuteness that is that website. If you start going through the site and favoriting items and shops, the site draws you in by recommending similar items and shops, which you then in turn favorite more items and shops, then it recommends EVEN MORE items and shops... it's just a vicious circle. An adorable, handmade, vicious circle. Ooof. Here are the items that I'm eyeing lately (and if I'm honest with myself will likely be purchasing in the near future #noselfcontrol #whatretirementfund).
I've fallen back into a bit of a FauxDori/traveller's notebook obsession and I blame all the fabric FauxDori creators on Etsy. I'm particularly fond of the shop MelonJournal - they have so many designs for covers, and they will customize the hell out of your notebook! You can add pockets, pen loops, charms, etc. I'm really tempted to buy one for the traveling I'll be doing in the coming weeks! (As if I need MORE journals and notebooks....)
I first saw these on FiloAlly's Instagram and instantly fell in love! Shopsomebunnyy makes these hilariously awesome cutouts of characters from The Office as well as a few of my other favorite shows like Parks & Recreation and New Girl (which unfortunately are all sold out at the moment... D:). I love that every single one has a bow on it to make it "kawaii" - a little playful poke at the kawaii stationary trend! These are so silly and awesome and I want them all.
Speaking of FauxDoris, LyraandCo makes the CUTEST inserts! A step away from the plain-Jane covers, this shop offers inserts with all sorts of cute patterns on them. I'm particularly fond of the fox insert (shown above) and the citrus fruit inserts that are in the shop, but there are just so many to choose from. I have a feeling that I will be spending lots of my play money on this shop. So, so cute!
When I put in a sticker order from LemonPaperCo. on Black Friday, a sample pack of these adorable planner stickers was thrown in with my order and I LOVE THEM! I totally need to purchase more as the sheet is almost gone, but they are so adorable and the perfect way for me to note when it's time to sit down with my planner and plan out the week. These also come in a daisy design which I am, of course, in love with as well.
Kind of straying away from the stationary theme... How cute is this little plush?! This came across as a recommended item for me and Etsy was *dead on* - I love this little guy! He's so cute and would make a great addition to my desk at work or my bookshelf at home. I'm always looking for cute and interesting new items to spruce up my environment and this is something that I feel would always make me smile. :) Those gap teeth and the ice cream? Come on. Way too adorable.
Do you use Etsy? What's your favorite online shop?
Last year I posted a blog called "Dear Santa..." that included the top 5 things I was hoping to receive on Christmas. I had so much fun with this blogpost that I decided I wanted to do it again this year! Maybe I'm greedier this year or something (:P), but for 2015 I have a top 6 list of items that I'm hoping to find under the tree on Christmas morning.
I've been eyeing one of these for a while now. I had a Polaroid in high school that I loved, but over time the instant film became harder and harder to find and I eventually stopped using it. These instant cameras are now trendy again making them more accessible! Having a camera like this is perfect for journaling and crafting which you know I loved, and are just so much fun in general! I love the yellow color of this camera, but I'm also a big fan of the raspberry! 2. Planner
I mean... are you even surprised? As you all know I am hoping to build up my planner collection over time, and these are the three that I'm lusting over the most lately - the Filofax A5 Original in Flouro Pink, the Filofax Personal Malden in Ochre, and the Filofax Pocket Patent in Lemon! All different sizes, but all planners that I hope to one day own. Check out my Planner Unicorn post to see my thoughts on each of them! 3. FitBit Flex
Earlier this month I won a FitBit Zip through my work's HR department, but it's so small that it wound up falling off my running pants and disappearing forever. So sad! Now that I'm officially on the FitBit wagon, I would really love to replace my Zip with a Flex (one that will be harder to lose!). #basic
4. Books
Books are always, always, always a great gift in my eyes! This year the titles that I would love to see under the tree are Go Set a Watchmanby Harper Lee, The Cuckoo's Callingby Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling), and Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. I have so many others that are on my wishlist, but these three are the ones that I'm definitely itching to get my hands on the most! 5. Funko Pop Figures
These are so adorable and such cute little gifts! I was given a Dory Funko Pop figure from my parents for Christmas last year (my car's name is Dory so I get a lot of Dory-themed things) and I love it! This year I saw Big Hero 6 for the first time so I would love a Baymax figure, and they just released a line of Bob's Burgers figures which I am all about! I obviously want every single figure, but if I were to choose I would totally want Linda because she's my fave! 6. Canon Powershot G7 X
This is the most expensive gift on my wishlist this year and I don't expect to get it as a gift (this is definitely a save-up-my-own-money-and-buy-it-myself-for-Christmas item) but this is what I'm hoping to upgrade my camera to. I've seen so many photos and videos shot with this camera and the images are so high-quality and beautiful! It would be so great to upgrade to a newer camera (I've had my ELPH 300 HS since 2011) and would make for much better videos and blog posts!
Sadly, summer has come to a close. There's a distinct chill in the air when the sun goes down and I find myself spending more time in long-sleeves than I find ideal. On the upside, our Sunday ritual of NFL RedZone and lazing around has officially commenced, fall race season is just around the corner (fall is my favorite time of year to run!), and my calendar for get-togethers is slowly filling up each week. There's something about being colder that makes people want to get together, and I love it! Anywho, with the close of another season comes a new batch of favorites! I switched up the categories a bit this time around, too. Check out some of my favorite things from the summer below, and make sure to watch the coinciding video at the end of this post! :)
Activity | Journaling
I spent a lot of time this summer after work writing out my thoughts in a journal. It was a huge summer of transition for me and adjusting to so many new things at once can make your head spin. It was nice to make some time at the end of each day to get everything in my brain out onto paper! Even if it was just a stream-of-consciousness or a doodle here and there, it was extremely therapeutic to get outside with a pen and paper. Apparel | Maxi Dresses/Skirts & Crocs Kadee Flats
Before this summer I was never a huge fan of maxi dresses/skirts. I never thought they looked all that great on me and so I never leaned toward them whenever I went shopping. This summer, though, I had a couple of maxi dresses in my closet and I realized just how freaking comfy they are. It's essentially like you're wrapped up in a giant blanket the whole time! I think feeling more comfortable in wearing them also made me think I looked better in them than I had originally thought. I've since bought a maxi skirt which I want to wear every day, and I'm definitely predicting more maxi dress/skirt purchases in the near future!
This summer I also bought two pairs of the Kadee flats from Crocs. These are so unbelieveably comfortable. I totally understand why people wear Crocs clogs now. They form right to your feet and are super light weight - I've basically lived in these at work since I bought them. I totally recommend that you at least try these out before writing them completely off!
Book | We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist
I downloaded this memoir originally to read it on our family cruise in March, but I never got around to it. I picked it up and starting reading in late June, and this book was so funny and adorable that I couldn't put it down. This is the story of Josh Sundquist's romantic misadventures through is adolescent years, and as a unique twist, for this book, he reached out to all the girls who were his almost-girlfriends years later to find out what might have gone run. This is a fun, light read that will be sure to boost your spirits every time you sit down with it. (Found here for $13.23)
Blog | Zukowski Blogs
As a blogger, I love reading blogs, but as someone who is one of a handful of people I know personally who have blogs, I love when my friends take up blogging! My friend Kacie has just launched her blogging/vlogging career over at Zukowski Blogs and I think you should all go check it out and give her some love & encouragement! She's just getting started and I can't wait to see where she goes with it! Fitness | Homemade Smoothies
Exercising was hard for me this summer. I don't know if it was the heat, the stress of all the changes in my life, or something else, but I was just so unmotivated all summer long. One thing that I did do relatively okay on, though, was my diet, and especially so when I started drinking homemade smoothies! I have a blender attachment on my Magic Bullet and I started making frozen fruit and yogurt regular items on my grocery list just for this new found love. I always feel nice and full after a smoothie and it's an awesome way to pack a burst of energy into my morning! If you're a smoothie person and you know of some good smoothie recipes, please let me know in the comments - I really want to explore new blends! Food & Drink | Alcoholic Milkshakes from The Fix (Worcester, MA)
This is the second favorites post in a row that I've posted about The Fix! My friend Brittany and I met up for a bite to eat and to catch up (since we hadn't really seen each other since graduation!) and I knew we had to go back to Worcester (a city we both called home during our Grad Internships - I was at Clark while she was at WPI) and try the alcoholic milkshakes at The Fix.
Oh. My. God.
These things are incredible. It could be because they're just made awesome or it could just be because I already have a deep love for milkshakes and all things ice cream, but either way, I'm 100% on board the alcoholic milkshake train. If you're a fan of milkshakes and enjoy a cocktail from time to time, I highly recommend finding a place that serves these (or finding a recipe to blend one up yourself)!
Home & Office | Q&A a Day Five Year Journal & Adult Status Achieved Note Pad
I found out about this journal through another YouTuber's favorites video and was instatntly intrigued. It's a five-year, line-a-day journal, but instead of it just being blank, each day prompts you with a new question so that you can be a little bit more inspired to write each day. I'm interested to see how much I change year to year, as I usually think of myself as someone who knows what I like and I tend to stick to it, but who knows? (Found here for $9.60)
My mom found this for me while she and my dad were out in Portsmouth for their anniversary (how sweet for them to be buying me gifts on their anniversary, right?!) and I LOVE it. It's from Sea & Lake Paper Co. on Etsy and it's the perfect list-making note pad. I've been keeping a few sheets in my planner for grocery lists and the like. (Found here for $8.00) Movie | Big Hero 6
I know this movie isn't a new release (it came out last fall) but I never had the opportunity to see it before this summer. One lazy afternoon while eating Chinese food, Brett and I popped this movie on and we both loved it! A very sweet story line and entertaining as all get out. If you haven't had the chance to see with movie yet, I highly recommend that you give it a try!
Purchase | ChromeCast
I've been wanting to get some sort of streaming device for my TV for a long while now (my HDMI cord hooked up to my old laptop set up was getting frustrating) and while I was shopping at Target one day I found ChromeCast on clearance! I snatched it right up and I have been SO HAPPY with it. It works fantastically. It does exactly what I need it to do and I no longer have to watch Netflix on just my iPad. I am so pumped about this purchase! Non-smart-TV owners, rejoice!
Song | 678 by Fetty Wap ft. Remy Boyz
This song is so. damn. catchy. I found it as I was scanning the radio stations in my new town one day, and this song just happened to be playing on one of the stations. A quick Shazam lead me to the name of the song and I have been obsessed with it since. I don't know what it is about Fetty Wap, but he sure knows how to churn out the hits. I don't hate it.
TV Show | Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp SO FREAKING FUNNY. If you're a fan of the film, you will love this series. Ridiculous comedy, star-studded cast, and all around entertaining. Brett and I blew right through the series and we thoroughly entertained the whole time. It's so funny to think that Wet Hot American Summer was the first feature film for many of the actors on the cast, and to see how far they've come in their careers between the film in this series is so funny. The fact that they all came back for this project makes me so happy! (I also highly recommend watching Hurricane of Fun on Netflix, which is the behind-the-scenes of the making of the film in 2000!)
Memory | Cape Cod Trip
This year's Cape trip was awesome. Beautiful weather, wonderful people, and just an overall awesome time. We spent so much time at the beach because it was just so perfect out. If I could transport back to any day during the summer, it would definitely be one of those beach days because they were just what I needed to break up the stress of this summer. Check out my post about it for more photos and a fun GoPro video!
And there you have it - my favorites for the super fast and super wonderful season that was Summer 2015. Now time to hibernate for the next six months as the weather drop down to ungodly cold temperatures and mother nature buries us in 80 feet of snow again. Why do I live in the north east again?
Make sure you check out the coinciding video for this post below,
and link me to your summer favorites in the comments!
