Spring 2016 Favorites!

Another spring has flown right by which means it's time for me to share with you all what my favorite items of the season were! I had quite an extensive list when preparing for this video but pared it way, way down to the things that stuck with me through the whole season. I really love all of these items that I talk about in this video and hope that you find something to enjoy among these items as well! Enjoy!

Items discussed in the video:
BLOGGER/YOUTUBER: FRANNERD
MUSIC: "Hamilton: An American Musical" Original Broadway Cast Recording 
FILM: "The Barkley Marathons"
FITNESS: Fitbit Flex & Garmin Forerunner 230
CLOTHING: Birkenstock Madrids
BOOK: "Greyhound" by Steffan Piper

Spring Style Dreams

Spring is finally here everyone! (Even though we just got a snowstorm yesterday.... #NewEngland) I'm excited to finally wear springy clothes, shed a few layers of coats, and finally not have to wear heavy socks and clunky boots everywhere (anyone who knows me at all knows that I prefer to be barefoot, but if I have to wear shoes I'm a sockless-with-slip-ons kinda gal). Something that I believe I've only done once before on this blog, I thought I'd put together a style dream board for spring. Because, why not? Enjoy!

Maxi Dresses - I've only just recently (i.e. last spring/summer) gotten on board the maxi dress train and I honestly don't understand why i didn't hop on sooner. Maxi dresses are comfortable AF - it's basically like you're wearing a form-fitting blanket around under the disguise of it being formal or dressy. Now that the ground is drying up, it's officially safe to start wearing maxis around once again and I am super pumped! I'm hoping to grow my collection a bit over the warmer months this year.

Slouchy Cardigans - Although it may be warming up in New England, we're still at a time of the year where the temperature is doing whatever it wants and is basically confusing everyone at all times. Is it hot? Is it cold? WHO KNOWS. All I know is having a solid collection of slouchy comfy cardigans is always a good idea and, in my opinion, are still a perfect wardrobe accessory in the springtime.

Boyfriend Jeans - If you can't tell, the over all theme to this post/my life is comfort. Jeans are no exception to this rule, and the fashion industry caters to people like me with the boyfriend style of jeans. Loose and comfy yet still feminine - I'm a big fan. Pair these with cute sneakers and a fun tee, it's the perfect combo for a spring day out and about town, or for lounging around the house.

Round, Horn-Rimmed Sunglasses - This style of sunglasses is my new favorite. I just picked up a similar pair while I was in Florida and while I'm usually pretty picky about the sunglasses I wear, I really like the way this style looks on me! I'll probably be rocking my pair all spring and summer long.

Bright Yellow Handbag - With the reemergence of the sun comes the reemergence of my love for NEON. I recently moved into my Flouro Pink Filofax Original in celebration and I now have my sights set on a bright yellow handbag to take on the go. I particularly like the one pictured above, the Merona Mini Satchel Handbag in Peace Green (though we all know this is neon yellow) from Target. I have a feeling that I'll be popping into my local Target sometime in the near future to make this gem mine!

Sperry Original Boat Shoes - As I said in my intro, I'm really a no-socks-slip-ons kind of gal when it comes to footwear. The easier the better, and nothing is easier than a comfy pair of boat shoes. Sadly, one of the Sperry Originals that my mom so kindly bought for me last year went M.I.A. toward the end of last summer and I have zero idea where it went (I think it fell out of my trunk when I was moving laundry in and out and it was never found again). So sad! I loved these shoes to death so I need to invest in a new pair. They're seriously the perfect pairing to almost any outfit and absolutely fantastic for spring.

Woven Flats - This style of shoe is making a serious comeback and the cross between sandal and ballet flat makes it a great pick for spring. I can totally see myself living in a pair of these throughout the entire spring and summer months, and even stretching it into fall! Though I have a feeling a pair of shoes like this is going to give me a seriously funky tan line on my feet!

What styles are you eyeing for spring?

Black Friday 2015 Haul!

I went a little crazy on Black Friday this year... ^_^'' 

I definitely came away with quite a haul and I thought I would share it with you all! Most of what I bought was online and won't be in my possession for a few weeks as I bought a lot from smaller planner shops and one large item from an Australian-based company (can you guess which?), so a video wasn't super realistic for a haul as I wouldn't have a ton to show off. Hopefully you can get an idea of what I got through the links and photos I provided below!

Clothes & Accessories

This category definitely wasn't one that I was focused on for myself, but the majority of these items (everything from L.L. Bean!) were gifts from my parents for Christmas (we did an early Christmas this year when my sister was in town for Thanksgiving), all of which I'm very excited about! I'm feeling prepared for the winter with my cozy flannels and fuzzy slippers! :)

Hobbs Creek Flannel in Mallard (I couldn't find a photo online of the correct color, so it is shown above!)
$10.00 from Bass Pro Shops

Scotch Plaid Flannel in Gray Douglas
$44.95 from L.L. Bean

Wicked Good Camp Moccasins in Charcoal
$69.00 from L.L. Bean

Camelbak Mini M.U.L.E. Hydration Pack in Lilac/Purple Cactus Flower (needed a new one for marathon training!)
$50.00 from L.L. Bean

As well as several more items from Bass Pro Shops that I will be giving as gifts so I cannot show them here, but found some really great deals on!

Planner Goodies

Now this is where I went a little nuts. I've definitely been building up my planner goody supply over the last few months and it feels like I've grown is by a very significant percentage with these purchases! It's pretty hard not to go crazy when things that are usually $2-$3 are on sale by nearly half off! ^_^'' The photos shown below are all from the shops themselves (aside from my quick snap of my Hobby Lobby purchases!) so make sure you click on the links provided to get a better look of each item!

Hello Papercat

Hello Papercat is one of my favorite planner goody shops online, so when her Black Friday Sale was announced I went a little crazy. Her sale started at 6PM PST on Wednesday, so needless to say I was anxiously waiting its start at 9PM EST in my childhood room in New Hampshire the night before Thanksgiving!

Hello Papercat's Black Friday Sale: 50% off orders $50 or higher OR 20% off with no minimum spending. (Of course I went with the 50% off option!)

Cats in Christmas Clothes A5 Dashboard - $3.00 (originally $6.00)

Christmas Sweater A5 Dashboard - $3.00 (originally $6.00)

Fairy Tale A5 Dashboard - $3.00 (originally $6.00)

Fawn Pattern A5 Dashboard - $3.00 (originally $6.00)

"This is Me Now" A5 Dashboard - $3.00 (originally $6.00) - I already had the Tina and Louise dashboards from this shop, so of course I had to complete the set with Gene!

"Ugh... As If!" Personal Dashboard -$1.50 (originally $2.00)

Donut Stop Get It Get It Personal Dashboard - $1.50 (originally $2.00)

Zombie Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Pink Sprinkles Donut Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Santa Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Banananana Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Pink Bow Kawaii Mug Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Frapuccino Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Credit Card Magnetic Bookmark - $1.00 (originally $2.00)

Bonus Gift Items with Purchase: Bambi & Aristocat Magnetic Bookmarks

Karolina's Krafts

Karolina's Krafts is a pretty well-known shop in the planner community and rightfully so - her products are stunning and there is a relatively big selection! Unfortunately her products are also on the more expensive end of planner goodies so ordering from her isn't something I can do regularly. However, with her Black Friday sale, I saw it as a perfect opportunity to purchase some planner stickers from her! If you order from here, make sure you are super patient - with the high influx of orders she receives, it can take 3-6 weeks for you to receive your order!

Karolina's Krafts Black Friday Sale: 40% Off Entire Shop!

Glasses Stickers - $2.40 (originally $4.00)

Roadtrip Car Stickers - $3.00 (originally $5.00)

Brunette Yoga Girl Stickers - $3.00 (originally $5.00)

Lemon Paper Co.

I found this shop when the owner followed me on Instagram earlier last week and her stickers are so cute! Her selection isn't too large but she had a few sticker designs that I've been meaning to purchase for use in my planner. She ships from Singapore so it does take a bit of time for it to get to you, but I think the adorableness is worth it!

Lemon Paper Co's Black Friday Sale: 30% Off Entire Shop!

Dumbbell Stickers x2 - $1.50 each (originally $2.15 each)

Pastel Coffee Cup Stickers x2 - $1.50 each (originally $2.15 each)

Hello Cupcake Plans

I also found this shop through Instagram (I believe they liked a photo of mine) and I absolutely fell in love with it when I clicked onto Etsy to check them out! The stickers on this site are bright and vibrant and so, so cute. I went a bit crazy in this shop as well, but some of these sticker sets I know I'll use frequently so I bought multiple sheets. I totally recommend checking out this shop if you're into bright colors and kawaii desings! (And I mean, who isn't in this community?!)

Hello Cupcake Plans Black Friday Sale: 40% Off Entire Shop!

Laptop Stickers x2 - $1.20 each (originally $3.00 each)
Cupcake Stickers x2 - $1.20 each (originally $3.00 each)
Crockpot Stickers - $1.20 (originally $3.00)

Coffee Cup Stickers x2 - $1.20 each (originally $3.00 each)

Money Stickers - $1.20 (originally $3.00)

Lisa Lorene Plans

Another shop found via Instagram! She doesn't have the biggest selection if you're not an Erin Condren user (and I found through my shopping that most of the shops on Etsy focus on ECLP which can be a bit frustrating if you do not use the LP), but I managed to find a few sets that I love!

Lisa Lorene Plans Black Friday Sale: 40% Off Entire Shop!

Running Shoe Stickers x2 - $0.90 each (originally $1.50 each)

Zero Fox Given Stickers  x3 -$0.60 each (originally $1.00 each)
Plus one sheet that I will be using in a holiday planner swap for the New England Planner Girls Facebook group! :)

Hobby Lobby

Being a planner girl, it's pretty surprising that I had never been to a Hobby Lobby, and so when my mom offered to bring me to the Hobby Lobby by her on Black Friday, I jumped at the opportunity! There was a huge sale on all things from The Paper Studio, so I went a little crazy with the Washi. I also threw in a couple of glue runners for dashboard making and a whole slew of things for the holiday planner swap the New England Planner Girls Facebook group is doing!

Hobby Lobby's Black Friday Sale: 50% Off The Paper Studio items (and many other items, but The Paper Studio is what I was focused on!)

-5 pack of functional skinny Washi (Pink "important", black & white chevron, pink and white stripes, gold "noted", white and blue "to-do")

-5 pack of solid color skinny Washi (blue, lime green, yellow, orange, red)

-2-pack of Washi (triangles & arrows)

-2-pack of Washi (gold foil pineapples & polka dots)

-Deer Washi

-2 glue-dot runners - needed these to make more dashboards!

Kikki-K

Last but certainly not least is my purchase from Kikki-K! I've been eyeing this planner since it released a few weeks ago, and I've always been in love with Kikki-K's mint-and-gold color scheme planners, so when I clicked on to the website Wednesday night and saw their Black Friday sale, I knew it was time to finally pull the trigger and buy by 2016 planner! Shipping is a bit expensive as these products ship from Australia (roughly $10 to ship to the US) but with the sale, I still paid less for the product and for shipping than I would have paid for the product at full price - SCORE. I am so, so excited for this planner to arrive and to move in! (Of course, I'll be showing this off in a video as soon as it arrives!)

Kikk-K's Black Friday Sale: 20% Off entire online store!

Large Perforated Leather Personal Planner in Mint - $67.96 (originally $84.95)

I'm pretty close to being done with my holiday shopping after this little haul (I picked up several things for Brett and for friends through my shopping as well - it wasn't purely selfish! :P) but I do have a few more things I'm eyeing for Cyber Monday tomorrow (mostly a laminator and printer ink to make more planner dashboards!). I don't know what it is this year - the deal bug has bitten me hard!

Did you buy anything this Black Friday?

A Few of my Favorite Links {#15}

Happie Scrappie

The theme of my first kit - fruit! :)

I've written about this company before in my "Dear Santa" post last December, but they've made their way into my favorite links today because I finally signed up for a Happie Scrappie subscription of my very own! Happie Scrappie is a company that sells ADORABLE stationary and planner goodies, all handmade by a lovely woman by the name of Sam. She puts together subscription boxes (called Happie Planner Kits) each month and sends them out all around the world and I have always been super impressed with the things she creates. My first Happie Planner Kit is currently en route to my mailbox and I am BEYOND excited to finally receive it! I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of goodies will arrive in my mailbox each month! If you're a planner or a  lover of stationary goodies of any kind, I highly recommend checking out her shop, her blog, and her Instagram!

Better Life Bags


I came across this company when I was browsing through Instagram one lazy afternoon and was so blown away by this woman's story. Rebecca Smith built this company with the idea to contribute a portion of each sale to someone in a third world country that were attempting to have business of their own. Eventually, the company became so successful that she was able to hire a woman in her own community that was struggling to make ends meet to help her with the sewing of the bags, and watched her financial situation turn around. Now, Smith only employs women in her community that are struggling financially and has been able to create dozens of jobs with her company. How cool is that? Not to mention the bags themselves are SO adorable and unique! I totally want one, and I totally want to buy one for all of my friends and family.

Jim Kay: 'I worried I'd ruin the most popular children’s book in history'

Last week I finally received the first installment of the illustrated versions of Harry Potter and I am over the moon in love with it! I'm pretty sure I freaked out when I first learned about this series being released back in the winter, and now I finally have it in my hands! Every page is breathtaking and well worth the wait. I'm not sure how long it will be until the next installment comes out, but I fully plan on collecting them all. I thought I'd share with you all this excellent article from the Telegraph about Kay and his thoughts on the opportunity and experience in illustrating one of the most famous children's series of all time.

We Found Lisa Frank!

This video popped up on  my Facebook feed and it was the biggest dose of nostalgia I could have possibly ever gotten. I LOVED Lisa Frank as a kid (my sister and I both did!). The animals and the colors were things I were always drawn to for all of my school supplies and stationary. I'm sure this company is the reason why I love stationary so much today! I actually had no idea that Lisa Frank herself liked to remain anonymous to the public, so seeing this behind-the-scenes of this company is kind of an exclusive and is really cool! You can see so many of the designs that made the company famous and some of the designs you might of had as a kid (for me, it was the seal and the ballerina bunnies!). Check it out below!

Remember those Lisa Frank folders and stickers you had as a kid? Well, we found the woman behind the rainbows and kittens of your childhood. Go inside the weird, day-glo world of the rainbow queen.
Posted by Great Big Story on Monday, October 19, 2015

Adventures In Cardboard: A Summer Camp For Kids To Build Armor, Weapons And Castles Out Of Cardboard

Uhm, WHY WASN'T THIS AROUND WHEN I WAS A KID?! This is a camp for kids to make awesome of creations out of cardboard, aka every child's dream come true. HOW FUN were boxes as a kid? HOW INCREDIBLE would it have been to have adults encouraging the creation of awesome things like epic swords, armor, and castles out of those boxes? The right answers to those questions are THE FUNNEST THINGS EVER and SO INCREDIBLE I'M EXPLODING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT, respectively. Sorry for so many caps in this sections but it's A FREAKING CAMP FOR CARDBOARD BOX ADVENTURES. Can 25 year olds sign up? Please?

80 Seconds of Ridiculous Rottweiler Puppies

Of course, what's a favorite links post without at least ONE video of an adorable animal? I came across this video on my Facebook feed when I was having a not so good day and it immediately cheered me up, so I knew I needed to share. I hope that if you're having a not so good day (or even if you're having a great day!) that you watch this and it makes you happy. :)

These Rottweiler puppies are the best way to start your weekend
Posted by The Pet Collective on Friday, January 16, 2015

Self-Lacing Nikes Exist, Michael J. Fox Just Got First Pair

And of course, I had to include this. In honor of the *official* Back to the Future Day yesterday, 10/21/2015, Nike finally released the Self-Lacing Nikes inspired by the film and gave the first pair to Marty McFly himself. In 2016, Nike will be releasing more pairs for sale, all of which will go to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation - how awesome is that? The above link has a video to MJF trying them out!

What are your favorite links of the moment?

Elephant Awareness Month | The Elephant Pants Unboxing & Review

Two weeks ago I mentioned The Elephant Pants in my Favorite Elephant Saving Organizations post, and shortly after I made my very first purchase! As I mentioned, this company gives a portion of the profits from your order to various wildlife conservation organizations, mostly to those that focus on the conservation of elephants. Basically, they're awesome. I thought that I'd do a little unboxing and review for you all to show you what I bought!

Classic Prints 

I ordered 3 items outright - two pairs of pants ($18 each) and a pair of shorts ($16 each), all in classic prints (TEP donates $1 per item for classic prints). The cool thing about each design is that each is named after a famous elephant in history. When I first discovered this website I spent a solid half hour just clicking onto each design and reading the story of so many elephants. Not every story is easy to read, but it does help you remember why it's important to make an effort - no matter how small - to save these animals from harm. I wanted to share with you the stories of the elephants behind the prints that I bought.

Left to Right: Tyke pants, Billie shorts, and Black Diamond pants

"Tyke was a circus elephant who on August 20, 1994 in Honolulu, Hawaii, killed her trainerAllen Campbell and gored her groom Dallas Beckwith, causing severe injuries during a Circus International performance before hundreds of horrified spectators. Tyke then bolted from the arena and ran through downtown streets of Kakaako for more than 30 minutes. Police fired 86 shots at Tyke, who eventually collapsed from the wounds and died." 

"Billie was a circus elephant who was known for rebelling against trainers and their abuse. She was rescued along with fifteen other elephants by the USDA from a barn where she had been retired to after attacking a trainer. Her life is documented in the book 'Last Chain On Billie'." 

"Black Diamond was an Indian elephant with Al G. Barnes Circus."

Mystery Box 

As I was shopping around the site, I noticed that they had Mystery Boxes available. These tend to sell out quickly, so I knew I had to scoop one up. For $25 (promting a $1 donation), you receive a pair of classic pants as well as two mystery gifts (one that usually is in the $10/$15 range and one that is a bit smaller) - not too shabby! I was very eager to receive this mystery box to see what kind of items were coming my way, and I definitely wasn't disappointed.

I received a beautiful pink and maroon pair of pants (which I later found out were the Ruby pants), a canvas tote, and a TEP Sharpie! (I can only assume that the Sharpie is intended to fill in the blank on the tote design!) I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved the design of the pants I received. I don't think I would have ever picked out the Ruby design for myself (for whatever reason I tend to go for cooler colors when I shop for clothes) and I'm so happy that these were the ones I received. I was also PUMPED about the canvas tote! I was really considering buying the "This Bag Helped Save and Elephant" canvas tote and ultimately decided to wait 'til next time, so when I saw the tote in my Mystery Box I was VERY excited! (Oh, and who doesn't love a good Sharpie?!)

"Ruby was an elephant artist, resided at the Phoenix Zoo; at least one painting was sold for $100,000."

And since this is a haul post of sorts, I figured I'd also try on the items I bought for you, to show you how they look. (Please forget the lighting and the down angles that are inevitable when taking a mirror selfie of your legs!) For reference, my pant size can range between 7-10 depending on the pair of pants (amirite ladies?), and the elastic waist accommodates shapes between 0 and 12! My runner butt and thighs fit super comfortably in each pair of bottoms, and each item is super light, airy, and COMFY AF. I'm SUPER excited to start creating some outfits with these beauties!

Clockwise from top left: Billie shorts, Ruby pants, Tyke pants, Black Diamond Pants

I spent a total of $77 dollars and got a decent amount of gear that I know I'll be wearing regularly. The shipping is free after $75 and my order got to me relatively fast (I ordered late on a Tuesday Night and I received my package on Monday). The pants themselves are made in Thailand (information on how the pants are made and how the employees that make these pants are treated is available on their website, if that is an area of concern of yours) but they ship from NYC, so if you're in the US I'm assuming you'd have a similar shipping timeline (though I live in MA - not far from NY - so maybe it will take longer). 

I am thrilled with this company and the products I bought and I'm so excited to be sharing this awesome company with you all. I would strongly encourage you to consider making a purchase at The Elephant Pants, and if the pants aren't your style, consider donating to one of the organizations that this company supports!

If you would like to see my unboxing & review video, check it out below!

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?

Spring Favorites 2015!

This weekend marks the first day of summer! HOORAYYY! Summer is my favorite season - sunshine, ice cream stands, fireworks, flip flops, and all the BBQ food you could ever dream of. Love. It. Brett and I have a lot of fun things planned for this summer, including moving into my new apartment, taking a trip down the Cape with some friends, and spending as much time together before football takes over his life once again in August. I'm SO EXCITED!

I 100% skipped out on doing my favorites for the winter, but I really wanted to get back on the favorites ~trend~ for the spring! Let's hop right into it.

Activity | Playing Pokémon Alpha Saphire

Brett bought me Alpha Sapphire as a graduation gift and of course the day after I graduated I needed to hop right into it! I was super duper into the game for a long while but sessions with Orientation has since interrupted my streak of playing for hours upon hours. I'm 6 badges in right now (All you PokéFans will know what that means) and I can't wait to have a bit more time to finally beat the game. It's so much fun (as Pokémon always is) and I love that I have a reason to spend some time on my 3DS again! :)

App | Dreamdays 365

This app is one of the millions of countdown apps out there, but I love the way this one looks and operates. There is a very minimalist feel to this app, which I love, and I looked at it almost every day as graduation drew nearer and nearer. If you're counting down to something exciting and are looking for a nice looking and functional countdown app, I would recommend this one!

Apparel | Bridgewater State University Alumni Tee

I mean, of course! Not only do I love this shirt because I get to brag about the fact that I actually graduated from grad school, but my organization, PC, gave it to me as a parting gift. I'll always think of them whenever I wear this shirt. Double special! :)

Book | Wild by Cheryl Strayed

This was the only book I read in the spring, but this book was great. Memoirs are my favorite genre of literature, especially if it involves travel and adventure! This book made me want to go hiking so badly every time I picked it up to continue reading. I have always thought long-distance hiking would be such a cool adventure, and this book made me fall even more in love with the idea. This book would be perfect for anyone who feels like they are in a bit of a crossroads in their life, or anyone who is craving a bit of adventure.

Food & Drink | Espresso Bacon @ The Fix in Worcester, MA

Tim and Joanne took me out to this restaurant on my last day of my internship at Clark, and as soon as I saw "Espresso Bacon" on the menu I KNEW I had to order it. Oh my goodness. So delicious. I'm pretty sure I blogged about this in one of my life updates in May. But still. Oh my goodness. *drool* I can't wait to go back there to get some more (with an ADULT milkshake, because they have those there #heaven)!

Home & Office | Filofax A5 Saffiano in Pear

Obviously. I love this thing. I knew I would love the A5 size! I felt so cramped in the Personal size, but now I feel like I can really plan comfortably and utilize my Filofax to its full capability. Right now my schedule has been extremely repetitive (Orientation is basically 3 weeks of déjà vu), but once I move and start my new job I'll be relying on it a bit more. I can't wait to show you all the inside soon! :)

Movie | Pitch Perfect 2

I was a bit nervous about how good this would actually be (I'm not typically a fan of sequels) but I was laughing so hard throughout this whole movie. It's a lot of the same thing as the first movie, and it's a very "cutesy" story line like the first movie, but it is entertaining as hell. (One recommendation: leave your politically correct hat at the door if you really want to enjoy this movie, because most of the jokes are SUPER inappropriate. They really do attack every identity in this film!)

Song | "Lean On" by Major Lazer & DJ Snake


When I first heard this song, I'm pretty sure I plaid it on repeat for 48 straight hours. The beat is so catchy and cool, I absolutely love it. GREAT jam to fall in love with right before summer kicks off!
TV Show | Game of Thrones Season 5

DUH. Holy crap. This season was INSANE. Game of Thrones never fails to impress me. The story line is incredible, the actors are amazing, the cinematography is stunning, and the plot twists KILL YOU ON THE INSIDE. I'm not going to put any spoilers in here, but THAT SEASON FINALE. JEEEEEEEEEEEEZ. The best part about this season is that it ends at the same place the latest book ends, so now NO ONE really knows what's going to happen next except for the creators. Brett and I are really considering starting to read the books together to tide us over until the next season releases, because who knows when that will be? If you haven't started watching this show, YOU NEED TO START WATCHING THIS SHOW. /endtiradeaboutGoT

Memory | Birthday/End of Classes/New Job/Graduation Week

Also another obvious one. This was one of the greatest weeks of my life and I feel so lucky to be fortunate enough to experience it. I turned 25 and ended my grad school classes on the same day, the next day I accepted my position with Mount Holyoke, and the day after that I graduated and spent the entire rest of the week celebrating with the people I love the most. What more can you really ask for as a twenty-something? Who knows if I'll be lucky enough to have a week like that again, but I will always look back on that week of one of the best of my life! :)

What were some of your favorite things this spring?

Packing for a Multi-Climate Trip

I've mentioned it in passing a few times here, but this weekend my family and I are going on a trip! I'm very excited for this adventure with my parents and sister. We get to explore a new part of the world together, get to try new things together, and most of all just relax together as a family, something we don't get to do very often.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to share with you all what I'm bringing along with me. We will be on our trip for 8 days and will be travelling through several different climates (from snowy New England, to mild New Orleans, to the warm and sunny Western Caribbean), so knowing what to bring without over packing can be a little tricky. Hopefully you will find this plan helpful if you take a multi-climate trip in the future!

Shoes

Running shoes: For exercising as well as a few excursions we have planned on the trip.

Wedges: For evenings when the dress code will be a little ~fancier~.

Boat shoes: Boat shoes are so versatile and can really be acceptable to wear in any climate.

Sandals & flip flops: These will likely be my go-to footwear for the majority of the trip.

Bags

L.L. Bean tote: This will be my carry-on for our flights and probably the main bag I'll take with me to lounge by the pool, depending on how much I want to take along with me. All of the other bags will stay in my suitcase until they're needed.

Backpack: Need something a little more durable to take out on our excursions. This will be great to carry my GoPro and its attachments out with me!

Mint satchel: Something small to take with when we go out at night. Good to throw my camera and wallet in!

Cosmetic bag: Pretty self explanatory. This is a fold-out cosmetic bag I found at Target on sale for about $5. Not too bad!

Climate One: Snowy New England 

(Average Temp: 20-40° F)

Fortunately, we won't be spending too much time in this climate. Outside of walking from the house to the car and from the car to the terminal, we won't be spending much time outside in the cold, so I can get away without bringing my bulky coat and chunky boots with me. I'll be layering a hoodie under a heavier windbreaker for a coat, a scarf and a hat for some extra warmth, and wearing a comfy tee and jeans for the plane ride. I'll also be wearing my boat shoes for easy slip on and off when going through security!

Climate Two: Mild New Orleans

(Average Temp: 50-70° F)

The way our trip worked out gave us the opportunity to spend a night in the French Quarter of NOLA! Even though it's further south and anything above 20° feels like heaven to me at the moment, temperatures won't be warm enough to run around in a tank top quite yet. I'll likely be wearing a long sleeve, some denim shorts and comfy boat shoes to explore the city! If the temperature is on the low end, I'll trade shorts for jeans and bring the lighter coat that I wore on the plane with me.

Climate Three: Warm, Sunny Western Caribbean

(Average Temp: 70-85° F)

This is the climate that I've been longing for! We'll be in the Western Caribbean for the longest amount of time (6 days) but we'll be doing something different each day so I need to pack accordingly! I broke up my choices based on what we will be doing.

Day Wear

We will be doing lots and lots of swimming, snorkeling, and water-based activities, so I'll basically be living in a bathing suit. My day wear will likely consist of a bikini, a cover-up of some kind, and flip flops. If I'm not swimming, a tank top and shorts will be the alternative.

Excursions & Exercise

We do have an adventure-based excursion planned and I do plan on working out while on the trip, so comfortable exercise attire is a must! I'll be packing lacrosse pinnies and other active wear tank tops, athletic shorts, headbands, a hat, and my running shoes.

Night Out

We also have a couple of family dinners planned! My dad and sister will both have birthdays while we're at sea and we are definitely planning on celebrating, so I'll be packing a few dresses, a few nicer tops and denim shorts for more casual nights, and my nicer sandals and wedges to go along with each outfit!

And there you have it! I hope this comes in handy in the future if you're planning to travel across multiple climates in the future. It definitely takes a lot of consideration and planning to make sure you're prepared wardrobe-wise, but as long as you're taking the time to plan a few outfits out and consider every environment you'll be in, you'll be in good shape! Now the real question is if my bag will be under the weight limit...

Birthday Money Shopping Haul! (Marshall's, Payless, GameStop)

My birthday was a few weeks ago and this year I received a few gift cards and birthday checks as gifts. When I was home in (tax free!) NH over Memorial Day Weekend, I decided to splurge a bit and *cough*spendallofitatonce*coughcough*. #lessonsyoushouldntlearnfromRiley It had been a while since I had gone shopping for myself (Spoiler alert, grad students do not have a lot of money) so having money that you're forced to spend (gift cards) for a change was pretty exciting! I got a few different things, so I thought I'd show you all what I got!