Dear Santa... | Blog Ahead #20

Blog Ahead #20

Originally written on October 26, 2018

It's finally time for my favorite post of the year - my Dear Santa post! For those that may not be familiar, every year for the past few years I've taken a moment to think about the things that I would like to receive as Christmas gifts this year. Over the years this has changed a bit for me as I'm in a position where I can buy most things that I want for myself and it's getting harder for me to think of things that I'd like to receive as gifts - things that I wouldn't normally buy myself. I really do have most things I could ever possibly want/need! I still managed to think of a few items that I would love to see under my Christmas tree this year, and I thought I'd share them with you all today! :D

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1. To Kill a Mockingbird, the Graphic Novel! | I saw this advertised to me on GoodReads and I immediately had to drop everything I was doing to add this to my Amazon wish list. To Kill a Mockingbird has always been a favorite book of mine, and seeing it adapted into a graphic novel is something I never knew I needed until I heard it existed.

2. Black Hobonichi Cover with "Hide and Seek in the Forest" Cover-on-Cover | I'm getting back into the #plannergirl game recently and I've always wanted to have an official Hobonichi cover. I do have some knockoff planner covers that I use periodically (I have an ice blue one on my bujo at the moment), but I'm very interested to use a genuine Hobonichi product to see if it compares! I like a lot of their designs, but for some reason I would really love to have a black cover with this adorable "Hide and Seek in the Forest" cover-on-cover!

3. Tickets to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter | I've been DYING to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (or, Harry Potter World for those like me who are too lazy to say the entire name) since it opened years ago in Orlando. Now my parents live SO CLOSE which makes it so much easier to go. I'm hoping someday soon I can svae up enough money to take a little bit of a touristy vacation to check out the HP parks!

4. DJI OSMO | This is something that I've had my eye on this year as I've been wanting to vlog more of my running adventures. Vlogging while running is inherently difficult because you're moving and shaking, making it nearly impossible to get a steady shot of anything. This handheld tripod keeps your camera steady and makes vlogging while running so much easier! I would be so excited to receive one of these as a gift.

5. A nice cozy electric blanket | I freaking hate being cold, and unfortunately that's difficult to avoid when you live in New England during the winter. I had an electric blanket as a kid and have no idea what happened to it, but I do remember absolutely loving it. I would be so thrilled to have one in my life again. They just make winter so much more bearable!

6. Nintendo Switch | I've always been a Nintendo fan. I just find Nintendo games the most fun out of all of the other video games out there! I've tried a few of the games on the Switch and have had so much fun playing them. I know Brett really wants a Switch as well and I think it would be so much fun to have a console that we could play on together.

7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, illustrated edition | This was actually on my Dear Santa list from last year, but I actually haven't gotten around to picking this book up for myself yet! It's hovered right at $35 dollars on Amazon for the longest time and for whatever reason, I never prioritize buying it. If this so happened to make it's way under the tree with my name on it, I wouldn't be mad. ;)

8. Money toward flights and race registrations for my 50 Marathons in 50 States challenge! | I don't know what it is, but whenever I think of what I would want for a gift I usually think of *items*. But when I was thinking about it this year, I had an epiphany. I'm trying to be a little more aggressive in my 50 Marathons in 50 States challenge in this upcoming year, so what I would *really* love to get as a gift above anything else would be help with flights and registration for these races I'm attempting to run. Marathons and traveling are both expensive, so any financial help I could get to work toward this goal would honestly be the best thing ever.

What are you asking Santa for this year?

Dear Santa...

I say it every year, but I absolutely love to do these blog posts, especially since I've gotten older. I've found it more difficult in recent years to answer the question "What do you want for (insert gift-giving holiday here)?" I find that being on the spot with that question, I can never actually remember things I'm actually interested in owning that I wouldn't typically go out and purchase for myself. This blog post every year kind of forced me to really think about the items I'm interested in receiving, and I think they're so much fun to pull together AND to read from other folks' blogs! Here's what I have on my radar for this year's holiday season:

1. Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

I've been eyeing this book for a couple months now. It's an adult horror novel that has some themes that are very reminiscent of Scooby Doo and I am SO INTRIGUED. The only thing that has been holding me back from purchasing this book myself is the price. I haven't seen this book go under $19 since it released, even on Amazon, so I continue to wait to read this beauty until it falls under a price that I can justify. I would LOVE to find this under the tree Christmas morning, though!

2. Luna Lovegood with Lion Head Funko Pop

This has got to be hands-down the cutest Harry Potter Funko Pop I've seen to date! Luna is, of course, a fan favorite and I feel like her Lion Head scene is iconic. I would love to add Lion Head Luna to my Funko Pop collection, especially to put near all of my editions of Harry Potter! <3

3. Scrubs the Complete Collection

For some reason, NETFLIX KEEPS REMOVING ALL OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS THIS YEAR. As someone who prefers to watch the same 5 shows on repeat, this is heartbreaking for me. Scrubs was one of the casualties this year, and I would absolutely love to own the series so I can watch it anytime I'd like. (I also wouldn't mind 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother, two more of my favorites that got the ax from Netflix in 2017!)

4. Dobble

I don't remember who I saw this from, but I was watching through Instagram stories one day and someone I follow was playing this game and it looks SO FUN! I don't want to spend the time explaining how to play it, so here's a quick handy video if you're interested in how it works:

5. Ever Oasis

Another game that I'm super interested in owning. I stumbled across it when Brett and I were in GameStop one day and it looks so cute and fun! I would love to own this for my 3DS and maybe it can rekindle my love of video games. It's been a long time since I've played and I want to get back into it!

6. Planet Purse

Amazon keeps suggesting such fun statement purses and I gotta tell ya - I LOVE IT! I found this one as I was perusing through the site and absolutely fell in love. I tend to wear solids and neutrals, so I would love to have something bold and fun that I can add to a plainer outfit. I think something like this would be perfect for a night out!

7. Pikachu Nintendo DS Pouch

I saw this in GameStop a few weeks ago and was immediately like, "NEED". Like I mentioned above, I haven't been playing my 3DS as much as I'd like to. I still love my 3DS and love playing it, but it often get put on the back burner when I have free time because I'm usually reading! However, I'd still like to get games and accessories for my 3DS because they're just so freaking fun and adorable! <3

8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling and Illustrated by Jim Kay

And you can't go a Christmas as a Harry Potter fan anymore without wanting to get one of these amazing illustrated editions from Santa. I absolutely love the fact that these are being produced and 100% want/NEED the Prisoner of Azkaban to keep my collection up to date! :D

What do you want for the holidays this year?
Let me know in the comments!

Check out my Dear Santa posts from previous years!

2016

2015

2014

Dear Santa...

It's that time of year again! Today I am sharing the items that I'm eyeing for Christmas this year. I've been writing these posts since December 2014 and they are probably my favorite posts to pull together each year. It's just so fun to pull a wish list together, especially when most of the list contains silly, Harry Potter-related items! :P I'm also a huge fan of seeing everyone else's wish lists every year, so if you've posted something similar to this on your blog or another social media platform, please share it with me in the comments! I would love to see what you're hoping to receive this year.

1. The Harry Potter Remote Control Wand

This is honestly the coolest thing ever. We've been without remotes for our TVs for a solid two years now, mainly because we're too lazy to actually go out on a shopping trip specifically for a new remote. THIS would be awesome and will make me feel less muggle-like every time I watched TV. I would love to find one under my tree on Christmas morning!

2. Rubeus Hagrid Funko Pop

Brett and I are beginning to accumulate quite the Funko Pop collection in our little apartment. I think these little figures are just so fun and I would love to collect more! This one is particularly awesome because it's bigger that your typical Funko Pop which makes perfect sense because Hagrid is a half-giant. AND extra bonus points because Hagrid is 100,000% my favorite Harry Potter character ever. I would love to have him in my collection!

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, Illustrated by Jim Kay

I am in love with these editions of the Harry Potter series. Just take a look at how beautiful some of the images are! I have The Sorcerer's Stone right now and fully intend on collecting all seven of these beauties as they release. This is the absolute perfect gift for any HP lover in your life, myself included! :)

4. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling

I have yet to see this film (Brett and I are hoping to go see it for our anniversary next week) but I have a feeling that because it's in the HP universe, I am definitely going to love it and I'm definitely going to want to own the screenplay that has recently been released! Not to mention how beautiful the cover is. Can't beat that gold foiling!

5. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

Of course, it is no secret that I'm obsessed AF with Hamilton and I've been eyeing this book since it was released. It's a book comprised of every word of the production as well as photos of the original broadway cast that are absolutely gorgeous. I would be PUMPED to receive it as a gift this holiday!

6. Instax Mini 8 in Raspberry, Grape, or Yellow

This was actually on my Dear Santa post from last year! I never got around to treating my self to one of these over the last twelve months but I would still LOVE to have one and would likely use it all the time. These actually went down in price recently which is awesome and makes capturing memories in this fun way more accessible for everyone! I may or may not have dropped a big hint to my parents when they asked what I wanted for Christmas this year so fingers crossed Santa will put this on his list.... :)

7. Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

These are so cool! I'm the kind of person that will take a really long time to drink their coffee or tea and if it's a hot coffee or tea it tends to go cold by the time I'm halfway finished. These keep your mug nice and warm when you set it on top and will keep your hot beverage warmer for longer. Wins all around! I would love to pick up a couple of these (one for home, one for work) for myself so my drinks stay nice and warm all winter!

What are you hoping to find under your tree this holiday season?

Etsy Wishlist {April 2016}

Earlier this year I came up with an Etsy Wishlist and I had so much fun that I thought I'd do it again! Perusing the suggested items list on Etsy can be so much fun and I'm CONSTANTLY adding new items to my favorite items list and the recommended items that show up on my account always seem to be exactly something that I would want to buy. (Etsy's algorithms are apparently doing a great job. :P) Anyway, without further adieu, here are the items I'm eyeing on Etsy lately!

A5 Planner Notepaper from Yellow Paper House

It's one of those unspoken things in the planner community - Yellow Paper House sort of rules the planner paper supply game. They have literally any color, size, and design you want no matter what style of planner you want! I recently shifted over to a hand-drawn system in my planner instead of relying on a pre-printed system, so that means I'm going to be needing some extra paper! I'm happy a shop like Yellow Paper House exists for the #plannergirls like me.

Decoden iPhone 5C Phone Case from Genre

Though I know that this style is definitely not new, I've been seeing these phone cases pop up more and more and I LOVE THEM. They are so adorable and unique and there are so many different designs you can find! I would love to get my hands on one of these (and then cross my fingers I don't drop my phone) to add a bit of kawaii into my life! :) 

The North Remembers - Game of Thrones Inspired Soy Candle from The Leaky Candle

I believe this was recommended to me when I favorited a Game of Thrones mug, but how fun is it to have a scented candle that is inspired by one of your favorite things? There are actually quite a few shops that have Game of Thrones inspired candles with scents from the different cities of Westeros, but I really liked the idea of The North relating to a scent of pine and winter mint - totally makes sense in my mind - and the packaging is wonderful. I would love to have a few of these making my apartment smell like Winterfell!

Circles and Flowers Color Me Sticker Boxes from Crafted by Corley

As I was skimming Etsy for some new planner stickers, I came across these which I think are genius. They're little boxes that you can stick into your planner and color throughout the day while your in meetings, need a break from your computer screen, etc. and I'm totally on board! It's always good to have some sort of distracted when you need a quick break during the day and these are such a wodnerful idea. Kudos to Crafted by Corley for coming up with this!

What have you found on Etsy lately?

Etsy Wishlist {January 2016}

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).

Fabric FauxDori from MelonJournal

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....)

Kawaii Jim Halpert Paperclip from Shopsomebunnyy

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.

FauxDori Inserts from LyraandCo

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!

Pastel Kawaii Notebook/Planner Stickers from LemonPaperCo.

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.

Stuffed Plush Monster from CreepyandCute

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?

Let me know in the comments!

Dear Santa...

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.

1. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 in Yellow

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 Watchman by Harper Lee, The Cuckoo's Calling by 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!

What are you asking Santa for this year?

Organize My Life | Planner Unicorns

Hello planner and non-planner people alike! In today's edition of Organize My Life, I'm going to talk all about the planners that I am currently chasing after to add to my collection. Some people may think that having more than one planner at a time is a little out of control, but as I transitioned into becoming more of a ring-bound planner girl, my eyes were opened up to the hobby of not only planning itself, but actually collecting planners and changing them out throughout the year. I was also quickly introduced to the concept of "unicorns" or planners that are either discontinued or extremely hard to find through any kind of typical shop and usually are purchased from other planner collectors.

I never really felt that I wanted to add multiple planners to my collection until very recently and I have found that I'm lusting after quite a few different models and even have a few unicorns of my own that have sadly been discontinued from their carriers. *le sigh* I decided to throw them into a list to share with you all... and to possibly drop some holiday gift hints to any Santas that might be out there... ;) Hope you enjoy the list (and if you have any idea where I can find my unicorns that would be super awesome!).

Discontinued Planners - My Unicorns

A5 Domino Ultra Violet - Filofax

(Image and full review found on Philofaxy)

I really love the original Domino from Filofax and I've seen it in several different colors in the past, but once I discovered there was once a violet version of this model, it shot to the very top for my ISO (in search of) list! The image above is from a review on the blog Philophaxy that was published in 2011, so I'm sure it's been out of circulation for a while which is sad. I don't know if this color will ever make its comeback (the original domino is still available on the US Filofax store but only in black and red) but if it does I know that I'll be snatching one up immediately!

Large Time Planner in Mint & Gold - Kikki.K

(Source)

This Kikki.K planner was extremely popular when I was first getting into the planning world and had my focus turned onto Erin Condren planners, but now that I've fallen in love with ring-bound systems I'm kicking myself for not taking advantage of the opportunity to have this beauty in my possession! I know that Dokibook has an imitation version of this model, but of course it's not nearly as well-made as a Kikki.K and I usually have a real problem with companies that totally rip off others (they even currently stock an imitation of my current planner, the Filofax Pear Saffiano! :| ). I not only love this planner because of how gorgeous it is, but I've always been a fan of the inside-flap storage of Kikki.K planners - especially this one!

Currently Out of Stock

A5 Original in Flouro Pink - Filofax ($111.00)

(Source)

The color of the Flouro Pink Filofax Original is absolutely stunning. I don't really spring for pink too often, but when it's this gorgeous bubblegum neon pink I'm all about it. I first saw this planner in the personal size on a Miss Trenchcoat video when I was first getting into binder systems and immediately fell in love with the color. The Filofax Originals are so well made and this colors so beautiful that I would LOVE to add it to my planner collection.

A5 Color Crush in Teal Stripe - Websters Pages ($54.99)

(Source)

When these planners first released I was SO EXCITED, but they only released in the personal size at first. I really wanted the teal and white striped planner, but at that point I had already realized that the personal size is too small for me. A few months later they released a limited A5 line and, much to my happiness, included the teal and white striped design! From what I've read and what I've seen in YouTube videos, these planners aren't as great of quality that you'd get in a Filofax or a Kikki.K, and are a bit thinner and taller than the typical A5 planner, but I would still love to give this brand a try (and get my hands on these beautiful nautical stripes!).

Currently in Stock - Planner Wishlist

Pocket Patent in Lemon - Filofax ($43.00)

(Source)

I would normally never ever ever go for a pocket size planner, but I've been toying with the idea of using one as a wallet/on-the-go calendar. Though I love my A5, it does take up quite a bit of room in my purse, which I'm fine with for daily work life, but not so much for running errands and the like. When perusing the pocket sizes on the Filofax website, I came across the Patent pockets and they are so adorable - especially this color! I would love this addition to my collection.

Personal Malden in Ochre - Filofax ($110.00) 

(Source)

Maldens are so beautiful and I'm especially a fan of the Ochre color. However, I think that the A5 Malden doesn't look as great as the personal size, so if I were to take the plunge and pay for this beautiful leather planner, I think I'd stick with the personal. I think the interior of this planner is perfect (Zip pouch? Yes please!) and the brown leather is such a classic look that you could use it for years and years without it ever going out of style. It has such a collegiate look to it, which is perfect since I'll be spending most of my time on a college campus for the rest of my life! #HESAlife

A5 Original in Dark Aqua - Filofax ($111.00)

(Source)

A5 Original Patent in Purple - Filofax ($111.00) 

(Source)

I'm going to echo a lot of what I said about the Filofax Originals that was mentioned in the Flouro Pink description toward the beginning of this post. These have such a classic look to them and I would love to build up a collection of these in tons of beautiful colors, including the above Dark Aqua and Patent Purple!

Large Time Planner in Ice Blue - Kikki.K ($79.95)

(Source)

I've always loved how Kikki.Ks have been made but I've never fallen in love with any one planner (aside from the mint & gold above!) until they released this beautiful ice blue number! I think this color is perfect for winter/spring and the interior (as it always is with Kikki.K) is incredible (pockets, pockets, pockets!). Kikki.Ks are always so well-made and I think that this would be a beautiful addition to my collection!

What are your unicorns?

What's on your planner wishlist?

Summer 2015 Wishlist

I feel like I've mentioned it several times on this blog, but I LOVE SUMMER. I love the hot weather, the sun staying out 'til 9PM, and so many fun activities! With grad school in the rearview, I've had so much more time this year to just relax and make so many awesome plans with the people I love and it has been wonderful. I've also seen so many fun summer products out there this year that I've been dying to get my hands on! I thought it would be fun to compile a list and share with you some of the items that I'm drooling over this season.

Food-shaped Floaties

Pizza - $55 at Urban Outfitters

Pretzel - $29 at Urban Outfitters

I keep seeing fun food-shape floaties circling Instagram and they are so adorable! How cool would it be to just float around on a donut or a pretzel in the sunshine? The designs above are a little bit more expensive than I would pay for an inflatable I'd probably only use a handful of times a year, but they are so adorable that I would probably have a hard time walking away from one that might be a little bit cheaper!

I Love Running/I Hate Running Tank

$22 (Originally $27) at ActiveApparel

It's pretty much impossible to run in the hot summer sun unless you're rocking a tank top, and when this design popped up my Facebook timeline I fell in love! The graphic is a perfect representation of my feelings toward long-distance running, and I think it'd be so funny to wear this while marathon training!

Strut Your Stuff Elephant Cross-Body

$298 at Kate Spade

While I could nevereverevereverever justify blowing nearly $300 on a small cross-body bag, this one is amazing. I love the origami elephant design (obviously) and the bag features 14k gold hardware. You know what's the kicker - THE EARS DOUBLE AS EXTERIOR POCKETS. WHAT. *heart eye emoji* If only I made enough money to make this dream a reality... At least it's fun to look at, though!

Kadee Island Flat

$31.99 at Crocs

I am normally not a fan of Crocs at all, but I've always said that they make really adorable flats! There was an ACUHO-I intern at BSU this summer who had a really adorable pair of nude Crocs flats that prompted me to peruse their website to see what kind of designs they had available. I fell in love with these guys and just might buy a pair the next time I have a spare $32. I mean, I can't say I would hate having an insanely lightweight and comfortable pair of shoes I can wear to work!

SNL & Judd Apatow Memoirs

Memoirs and biographies are by far my favorite genre of books, and this past year some really cool titles have been released. I recently purchased Modern Love by one of my favorite comedians, Aziz Ansari and will be diving into it soon, but I really want to get my hands on the newest edition of Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by its Stars, Writers and Guests by Tom Shales & James Andrew Miller that was released in September, and Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow. (But first I should probably get through a book or two that I already own...)

Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

From 21st Amendment Brewery

This beer was first released in 2002, but for whatever reason I keep hearing people talk about it and keep seeing it all over ever store I go to this summer. I'm a big fan of lighter wheat beers and pale ales, and I'm not opposed to having those beers have a little kick of fruit flavor in them during the summer months, so I'd really like to give this a shot at some point this summer!

What are some products you'd really like to try out this summer?

Dear Santa...

I always think that "Dear Santa" posts are the most adorable things. It's really cool to take a peak into what is on someone's wish lists because it can really say a lot of what type of person they are and where their priorities lie at the time. I thought I'd jump aboard the bandwagon and share what's on my wish list this year!

1. Books

Reading for pleasure is a bit of a rarity in grad school, and when I have free time my brain is usually so fried that opening a book for fun just sounds like work. I love reading, so this is a huge bummer! This winter break, though, I won't have any reading obligations (unlike last year), and would love to stock up on some of the books I've been missing out on! The top three I have on my to-read list are all autobiographies by some of my favorite entertainers: Yes Please by Amy Poehler, Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris, and Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grown Up by Grace Helbig!

2. Boat Shoes

I've had my same pair of boat shoes since about February of 2009. That's coming up on a solid 6 years of the same pair, and I still wear them on the regular. That's pretty solid in my opinion, but they are starting to be in pretty rough shape. I would love to have a new pair of boat shoes to enjoy for the next 6 years! (Shown above: Sperry Authentic Original in Sahara Leather)

3. Happie Scrappie Subscription

I stepped up my planner game for 2015 and invested in my first Filofax. The pages of the Filofax can be pretty plain, so there is a large community out there on Facebook and Instagram revolving around decorating and personalizing your daily planning system, which I tend to drool over. I want to try my hand at making my planner more of my own, and while I use my planner more for function than style, would love to start decorating my pages as well. Happie Scrappie is a company run by a woman from Malaysia/Singapore that puts together monthly planner kits just for this reason, and the things that go in these kits make my face turn into the heart-eyes Emoji. They're so freaking cute! I would love to get a subscription to her personal size planner kit for 2015, priced at about $20 a month, including shipping (which is much less than if I were to go and buy all of the things that she includes on my own)! I'M IN LOVE!

4. GoPro Hero

Getting myself a GoPro is on my 25 Before 25 list, and having one of these in my possession before heading down to the Western Caribbean with my family would be so clutch! We're planning a lot of fun excursions while we are on our cruise, and getting to record them without worrying my camera will be totally demolish would be so awesome! Though there are much fancier GoPros on the market, I think the Hero would work perfectly for what I would need it for.

5. Gift Cards

I don't usually ask for gift cards, but because job searching and interviewing is looking at me in the face at this point, my wardrobe is in dire need of a update! Getting gift cards to some of  the essential shops I visit would be perfect in looking and feeling put together during this nerve wracking time. I definitely need something beyond a basic tee and colored khakis to wear to work everyday! (Shown above: Macy's, Gap, Victoria's Secret, Sephora)

What are you asking Santa for this year?

A Few of My Favorite Links {#6}

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic week and enjoying your August. Can you believe how fast it's flying by? It's already half way done! It's been a big couple weeks for internet finds - some happy and some sad - but a lot of interesting things to scroll through. Here are some of my favorite links as of late!

Robin Williams Quotes That Will Stay With Us


The passing of Robin Williams came as a total punch to the gut for me, like many others. I remember loving every movie he was in while I was growing up (Mrs. Doubtfire being a staple in the childhood of my sister and I) and I could probably say he was my first favorite actor. Though this is a very sad situation, a lot of important and necessary dialogue surrounding suicide and mental illness is coming to the forefront which is a positive thing. This blog post, in many ways, put the thoughts I have on the subject into words (see the entire section of how we, as humans, try so hard to make things nice & positive, saying things like "You're free now", when in doing so we can actually wind up causing even more harm), however I know it's much more complex than this. It's just sad that a tragedy such as this one, and the suicides of millions of others, is what it takes to prompt such conversation. For now, I've just been reflecting on the happiness he brought me and the rest of the world with lists like the one above. Remember to love each other, be kind, and lend a helping hand to someone in need.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Ian Maclaren

Every #StrikeOutALS Ice Bucket Challenge Video

A still from my own video!

I know there's been a few negative Nancies hating on this trend, but I think it's great! I laugh every. single. time. I watch someone's video and it just warms my heart that it's also being done for a great reason. I know that there are some people who are missing the point of this challenge (that you're supposed to be raising awareness AND donating to an ALS charity) and some people don't even realize that it's for a cause, but those individuals who are doing it right have all the respect in the world from me. I was honored that I was tagged to do the challenge and be a part of it this wonderful movement to raise awareness for a disease that doesn't get all that much attention.

And to make it even better, here's our wonderful New England Patriots (including head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft) participating as well!

Finnish Bluegrass AC/DC (Thunderstruck - Steve'n'Seagulls)


My dad and I heard this on the radio on our way up to Maine (of course) this past weekend. It's a Finnish Bluegrass band called Steve'n'Seagulls doing a cover of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and it's as awesome as it sounds! I mean, just look at how that guy rips it on the banjo! If you can appreciate sheer musical talent, this is definitely worth 4 minutes of your time.

26 Foods You Should Learn to Cook in Your Twenties



I find myself learning new things in the kitchen almost every time I cook. Of course, this has happened much more frequently since I've been living on my own and haven't been able to use my work compensated meal plan, but each time I cook it's more and more fascinating and my kitchen confidence is continues to grow. I've mastered a good chunk of the items on this list, but would love to say I could easily make all 26 by the time I enter my next decade. (Luckily, I've got some time!)
Succulent Monster (v2)

I totally came across these by accident. If you're a Tumblr user, you'll know that when you're at the log in page, a random post will generate as the background. This photo generated as I was logging in yesterday and they IMMEDIATELY shot to the top of my wishlist as soon as I saw them! I mean... Bulbasaur succulent pots? Get. Real. I don't want these, I NEED THESE. The only drawback to these is that they're about $50, and I can't justify spending that much on a planter right now. Guess it'll just have to go on my Christmas list! (by ShamefulSquid on ShapeWays - rumor has it that they also have a Charmander oil lamp in the works!)

Disclosure - Latch (Dueling Violins Cover)


You know from my Summer Favorites post on Tuesday that "Latch" was my summer JAM. I really enjoy this rendition by YouTuber ThatViolinGuy, especially the first minute - I can't get it out of my head! Definitely check out his channel, he has tons of great covers, especially this Drake cover and this Ellie Goulding one!
What are your favorite links of the moment?

Style Dreaming: Simple Summer

Roxy Dream of You Tote Bag - PacSun

Antiqued Eagle Earrings - Forever21

Volcom Sweetish Fish Cami - PacSun

La Mer Bali - Urban Outfitters

Black Poppy Update Work Bootie - PacSun

Bullhead Jaquard Shorts - PacSun

Friday Five {#2}

Friday Five

Five things that mattered to me this week!

1. Last night I organized a movie night social for the ResLife department complete with snacks, a big screen, and stadium seating. We watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower and (as it always goes) the book was much better. Not to say that it was a bad movie, it was actually pretty decent. But they left out some huge plot points that were pretty important to the story. And seeing Emma Watson attempt an American accent was pretty painful. I'd say stick with the book if you want to really enjoy the story!

2. Being the organization freak that I am, I've been drooling over the Erin Condren Life Planners! My friend Joanne has one and I fell in love with it when she showed it to me a few months ago, and after totally forgetting the name of the company, I finally tracked them down. I already have a 2013 planner, but come the new year, I'm totally investing in one of these beauties. Fellow organization freaks, watch this video and drool with me:

3. It's Boston Marathon weekend! If you live in Massachusetts or went to a Boston-area college, you know that this is always an exciting weekend. Lasell was right on the heart of the marathon route, so every Marathon Monday the whole campus would head down to the race and cheer on the runners all day long. It was one of those days where the student body was all together and happy, which really made it the best day of the whole year. I'm planning on going to Lasell on Monday to celebrate with my friends!
4. Speaking of being an organization freak, I've caught the spring cleaning bug. Last night I spent two hours cleaning out junk drawers and organizing the apartment a little bit better. It feels so good to go through everything and throw a bunch of stuff away! It definitely energizes me and inspires me to be more creative, now that I have more space to do so.
5. Rob showed me an awesome Game of Thrones Facebook game called Game of Thrones: Ascent and I'm officially addicted. It's a choose-your-own-adventure-style game that lets you create your own house, align with one of the great houses, go on quests, and lots of other cool things that fans of the show would really enjoy. If you're a Game of Thrones fan or if you're looking for a new game to play online, I highly suggest you try this game out!
Have a great weekend, everyone!