Summer Bucket List

Go hiking & visit a waterfall. - When Shawn and I first moved out here (8 years ago...) we were so excited to visit nearby parks and go hiking. And yet, here we are, years later, and we haven't gone on a single hike (out here anyway - we were more proactive that year we lived in NJ...) I keep coming across a post about all the waterfalls in Pennsylvania, and I've been meaning to get to one. So that's a goal - by the end of this summer we will have gone on (at least) one hike and seen a waterfall!

Visit Centralia, PA. - Speaking of visiting things, we've been talking about checking out this old mining town for a few years now as well. It's now a ghost town, after an underground fire forced most of the population out of town. It's one of those off-the-beaten-track tourist attractions, and I'm determined to make it there this summer!

Bike 25 miles. There's a trail that runs through the suburbs and into center city Philly, and a friend and I have been biking parts of it. I'm determined to make it all the way downtown by the end of the summer... from where we start on the trail, it's about a 25 mile roundtrip. So far we're doing about half of that! I think we can do it.

Buy a disposable camera, take photos. I read this post when I was initially coming up with this list, and felt inspired to buy a disposable camera and use it up. There's just something about the moments you capture with film that is so much more memorable than pulling out your phone and snapping a photo. Just sitting here right now, I'm visually recalling a catalog of photos from summer camp, school trips, good times with friends... I don't have that same memory/connection to photos I've taken with my phone. So, more physical photos, please.

Watch more TED Talks. There are so many fucking TED Talks out there, are you aware of that??? I feel like I've only skimmed the surface... and I'm determined to watch more. I mean, every TED Talk leads to another similar TED Talk, and then that one leads to more... and next thing you know, two hours have gone by and your eyes are strained and your brain feels fuzzy with energy. I've been trying to start the habit of taking notes when I watch, since I tend to be a pretty passive audience. It seems to help me absorb the Talk better, so let's keep that up!

Stop for ice cream. I'm determined to get some really freakin' good ice cream this summer. There's Franklin Fountain downtown, which I've only been to on one other occasion. And there's a creamery I remember going to after picking pumpkins three years ago; they had an abundance of amazing options. Anyways, I see plenty of good ice cream in my future.

Get more plants for the apartment. I know it's getting a little late in the season to be buying plants, but our apartment really needs some love. We moved all the indoor plants outside for the summer and now the apartment feels so empty! I enjoy picturing the balcony surrounded by plants on all sides, but we're not there yet. And Sylvester is a plant fiend... so that makes it difficult for us to have plants near floor-level.

Send more snail mail. I am the worst pen pal. I mean, really... I buy all the cute stationary and think about what to say, but then never actually write the letters. But I love getting letters in the mail, and I really enjoy putting together little packages for people! Just have to work on the actual writing part. And I need more pen pals!

Get my yoga website up and running. Doing this by the end of summer is a pipe dream. Realistically, I'll probably need until late fall... but a girl can dream! Hm... or maybe a girl can do yoga and design a website.


What's on your bucket list this summer?

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Pin Round-Up

It's finally autumn - my favorite season! That time of year when you can wear sweaters, scarves, boots, and jackets! (Well, if you live in the northeast...) Speaking of jackets, I bought myself a denim one months ago, back when the weather was waaaaay too warm to wear it. I never thought I'd be a denim jacket wearer, but it got sent to me in one of my trunks, and I fell in love. Shawn thinks it's super ridiculous 90's. I love that it instantly makes anything you wear with it casual, so I fully intend to wear it over all my dresses! I've also been looking at pins and patches like crazy since I got it. I haven't bought any yet, but I thought it would be fun to do a little round-up of my favorites. So, here ya go!

the future is naps | ugh | check out my whiskers | don't be a prick | green dinosaur | pizza cat | t-rex | mystical cat | yoga bunny | chicago dog | pastel planet | fox | squirrel | cat lady | moon phase | IPA

Are you currently re-living the 90's with a denim jacket of your own? What pins are you diggin' these days?

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Netflix: What We're Watching

Shawn and I don't have the attention span for movies, so we watch a lot of tv shows instead. That's not to say we don't binge-watch shows... (we watched all of Stranger Things in one afternoon!!) but it's easier to pause between episodes and do something else than it is to commit to a nearly 2-hour chunk of watching time. Here are a few of the things we've been watching lately!

Star Trek: The Next Generation- I never watched Star Trek growing up, but Shawn has been putting this on a lot lately; we're halfway through season 3 and I'm diggin' it. I love that some of the episodes have a Twilight Zone feel to them. I also like all the cameos from popular 90's actors!

The Great British Baking Show- If you like British accents and baking shows, then you need to watch this. It's a baking competition, but the contestants are so nice to each other compared to American competition shows! It's also fun to learn about different British baked goods.

Stranger Things- It seems like everyone and their mother is talking about this show. And with good reason! Like I mentioned earlier, we flew through all eight episodes in one afternoon. It has a very Twin Peaks feel to it. I really hope they make a second season!

La Promesa- My mom told me about this show almost a year ago, it just took me a while to start watching it. It's in Spanish, and it's about sex trafficking. Definitely not one of those shows you can just put on as background noise; you have to invest some time to watch a few episodes, and the subtitles are subpar, but it's entertaining and has really good cliffhangers.

Hell on Wheels- Shawn started watching this without me, but I got really into it after catching a few episodes. I'm not usually into historical stuff, but this is an interesting look at the building of America's railroad system. Plus, Anson Mount with that beard is pretty dreamy...

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt- My friend Amy told me to start watching this; it's about a girl who was held underground for fifteen years and then gets freedom and moves to NYC with the mind of a fifteen year old. I wasn't super into at first because it's so ridiculous, but I couldn't pull myself away from it. I'm glad I stuck with it though because each episode is better than the last. So many cameos in this too!

Good Eats- What do I need to say about this other than Alton Brown is amazing? I was so happy when Netflix acquired Good Eats!

Law and Order: SVU- I always told myself I would never be one of those people that watches SVU at will... "Oh, there's nothing else on tv right now so I guess I'll watch SVU"; then Shawn started playing it on Netflix and, well, it's a time-sucker. That drama pulls you right on in.

Chopped- Another Food Network classic. We put this on whenever we don't know what else to put on. It's my favorite of the Food Network competition shows. If you have Food Network, try to watch for Chopped: After Hours - those are the best!


It's funny, when I'm home by myself, I rarely turn on the tv. I prefer to spend my time in front of the computer. Shawn is the opposite - he pretty much has the tv on all the time when he's home... whether he's watching sports, Netflix, or playing video games, the tv screen rarely gets a rest unless we're out and about. When I do sit down to watch something though, I binge-watch. With tv, it's all or nothing if I'm involved! Have you been watching anything good lately?

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New Apartment Essentials

So... I should be working on my homework for yoga teacher training right now... but since we get the keys to our new apartment tomorrow(!!!!!), pretty much all I have on the brain is IKEA. My enthusiasm for that store may be a tad overwhelming sometimes, and I realize that not everyone is lucky enough to have one nearby, but IKEA is part of my abode-history. Half of the stuff in my parents' house growing up was from IKEA, in fact, we took frequent trips there as a family. It's also where I went when I moved into my first apartment, and each and every single one after that one... so my love for IKEA goes way back.

Needless to say, whenever Shawn and I are looking for anything house-related, 99% of the time IKEA is the first place we look. We've been daydreaming about the new apartment, and now that move-in day is within fingertips reach, we can finally make our daydreams reality. Since we're pretty good on furniture and don't currently intend to buy any more (minus some for the balcony, and possibly a new bed/mattress...) I thought it'd be nice to focus on the little things that help freshen up a new spot.

Here's a list of (what I believe to be) essentials for a new apartment. Essentials being, pretty much anything that isn't furniture. Or, more specifically, anything that gets a lot of use and could probably stand to be replaced every year or so.

Potholders: You know, those grimy squares you use to pull roasted vegetables out of the oven, or to keep your lap from getting hot when you're too lazy to eat at the dinner table? Yeah, those somehow manage to get close to all of the most epic kitchen messes, and yet they never get washed. I think it's time to buy some new ones.
Dishtowels: Yeah, those get pretty messy too. And even though you remember to wash them will all your other linens, somehow they still start to fray after 6 months and then you find a random hole in one.... hm, I think replacing these every year isn't too much to ask. And you can use the beat up old ones as cleaning rags!
Cutting boards: Sure, the wooden ones are prettier and they last longer, but they're porous and that leads to all sorts of potential issues that I don't trust my particular roommate to be aware of (ahem... raw meat), so we stick with plastic and just replace them once they're well worn - usually every year... we do a lot of chopping.
Towels: Our bath towels and hand towels get a lot of use because we purposefully only have one set. Mostly because we haven't had room to store any extra towels. Plus, having only one set forces me to stay on top of laundering the linens, because let's be honest, I don't do that nearly as often as I should. So new towels every year or two? Sure!
Sheets & duvet covers: Unless you shower every night before bed, sheets get gross fast. These are another thing we only have one set of, also for lack of space, so they get a lot of use. Duvet covers probably don't need to be changed as often, but they're still fun to get. They'll make you excited to hop into bed!

Not yearly essentials, but we also need:
Pots & pans: We aren't at a point in our lives where we can spend a lot of money and get some super-quality cookware yet, so we've been buying mid-range cookware that, with heavy usage, generally lasts us about three years. We are due for some new pots and pans... especially a big pot! Our biggest pot right now only holds 3 1/2 quarts!
Silverware: Certainly not something you need to get every year, but every few years it's nice to switch it up. We're still using the same wooden-handled set we bought back in 2010, and they're looking a little worse for the wear. Plus, we seem to have lost two forks over the years, so it's time for a change.

Is there anything you would add to the list?

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Things to Remember

I was going to post a recipe today, but then I started going through my drafts and found this list.
Today seemed like as good a day as any to post it.


A list of things to remember as an adult....

• Eat what you want, in moderation.
• Exercise when you can.
• Don't make excuses.
• Remember, quality over quantity.
• Appreciate the little things.
• Appreciate the big things.
• Say please and thank you, often.
• Don't sweat the small stuff.
• Ok, you're an adult... Sweat the small stuff, but not too much.
• Breathe.

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Packing for 10 Days in Spain

I have been mentally packing for Spain for weeks, and I've had a few items of clothing hanging at the end of my closet in preparation. Packing is always quite the task - first you have to consider where you're going and what you'll be doing, then you have to anticipate what the weather will be like... and if you think you'll be doing any shopping, you have to plan to leave some extra space in your bag for the trip back. There are a lot of factors! I always make a list so that I don't forget the little things, like extra contact lenses and all the cords I'll need to charge my various devices. Thankfully, I don't have to fret too much this trip because I'll be staying with my parents and they have all the little things I may inevitably forget or just not think of to begin with.

My mom sent me a link to the predicted weather for the next two weeks.... rain, rain, rain! That's not what I had initially planned for, but it's easy to toss a raincoat and some water-safe shoes into the mix. Depending on how much it actually rains, I may end up having to buy some rain boots while I'm there. Fingers crossed that it doesn't actually rain as much is predicted!

Here's a list of what I plan on tossing into my carry-on bag:
(I may be slightly over-packing, but I have a tendency to do that...)

+ a short-sleeved white button-up which can be tucked in, tied up, or left loose!
+ a striped tank top, striped t-shirt, black t-shirt, and maroon t-shirt... too many t-shirts? Options!
+ a black dolman-sleeved top which will be perfect for the plane
+ high-rise skinny jeans, chinos, and printed joggers (which are also perfect for the plane!)
+ black shorts, a striped skirt, and a printed dress
+ a drapey cardigan, an anorak, rain jacket, and a black knit jacket
+ leather sandals, huaraches, and funky sneakers
+ a bathing suit, a scarf, a peshtemal, and a small purse
+ various toiletries, my passport, and some books

What do you think, am I overpacking? How do you pack for week-long trips?
(On a somewhat related note... whew! These collages are time-consuming to make! Even with the help of Polyvore. I only had to photograph a few of my actual pieces, thankfully.)

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Books on Vacation

For me, one of the perks of being on an airplane (aside from the fact that it's taking me somewhere awesome) is that I have extra time to read. Especially on international flights. In the past I've breezed through two or three books on 6+ hour long flights. Honestly, what else are you supposed to do with all that time? I have trouble sleeping more than thirty minutes at a time on a plane, and the in-flight entertainment isn't always all that entertaining, so I always make sure to bring a few books with me. Not that I need an excuse to read, but when I'm entirely disconnected from the internet, social media, and everything else going on in the world, books seem like the obvious choice.

The flight to Madrid is 7.5 hours long, and the flight back is just over 8 hours, so I'll have plenty of time to read. Add to that any down time I'll have while I'm there, and five books doesn't sound too difficult to get through... I'm going to download the kindle edition of most of these, just to ease down on the bulk of what I'll be traveling with.

#1 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
#2 The Quantum Universe by Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw
#3 The New Ghost by Robert Hunter
#4 The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain
#5 The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Have you read any of these? What's your favorite thing to do long flights?

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Birthday Wish List

My birthday is coming up in about a month.... the past few years I've treated myself to one special gift from a list of things I've had my eye on all year. (It's the sweet part of being a self-proclaimed adult who can afford these kinds of things every once in a while.) Every year, my wish list seems to get smaller... or perhaps refined is the word I'm looking for. This year, I've had my eye on these three things:

glasses | purse | shoes
I shared the glasses in a Fun Finds Friday post a few months ago, after trying them on at a pop-up shop near me. I still love them. I always go back and forth about wearing glasses... I love the way they look on my face, but they're simply not practical for me to wear to work. Which leaves me wondering whether or not it's worth it to get a second pair....

That bag has been on my wish list for over a year, and although it's still more money than I would normally spend on a bag, it's a hefty discount from the original price. And it's the mother of all bags, so basically, I wouldn't need another bag for a long time. I'm not a purse girl; it's just not my accessory of choice. I currently have two bags that I cycle between depending on what I need them for - one big, one small. So when I buy a bag, I'm looking for one that can do a little bit of everything.

The shoes are the reason I'm posting this so early. The woman who makes them is in Barcelona, so if I get them I can have them shipped to my parents' house and then they'll arrive while I'm visiting them! They're super simple shoes, but they're exactly what I've been looking for in a black flat. I would pretty much have to pay the same amount for any of the ones I've seen in stores, but who knows where that money is really going? Supporting small businesses is where it's at, yo.

I want them all! But I can't decide. (#libraproblems) They're all in the same price range.... eep! What should I do? I'm already getting the best birthday gift ever by getting to visit Madrid and Barcelona! Everything else is just materialistic splurging. But that's good on occasion too.

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My Makeup Routine

I hesitate to call it a routine, because the days when I put on makeup are few and far between. But lately, those days have been more frequent than usual, so stick with me for the sake of the title. There was a day, not too long ago, when I had no idea how to apply mascara. (Or anything else, for that matter!) I've come a long way since then, even if some of you may laugh at what I consider to be a lot of makeup. With the exception of chapstick and an eyeliner pencil that I very rarely use, everything I own is pictured above.

Because I work in a semi-hot kitchen, I don't wear any makeup on the days when I work. This is both a blessing and a curse; a blessing because I don't have to worry about spending time in front of the mirror before work, but a curse because I'm never going to get this makeup thing down if I only get to practice once or twice a week! So on my days off I usually wear something, even if it's just BB cream and mascara (which it usually is), just to get some practice.


Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel: This product is amazing. I picked it up over a year ago after one of the girls at Sephora recommended it to me - if you have combination skin and notice a lot of flakiness around your nose and mouth when you apply your makeup, this is a game-changer.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer: Also recommended to me at Sephora. I'm not really sure what primer does, but I use it when I remember to.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream: I was looking for a new BB cream when my old one ran out and a friend recommended this one. I'm still not totally satisfied with it, but I'm also not sure if BB cream is what I want after all. This will do though!

Makeup Forever HD Foundation: To be honest, I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to foundation.... I bought this before a wedding last year to get more coverage than BB cream. It works, but I definitely don't use it regularly.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: My face gets really shiny and oily around my T-zone. This helps. I totally dropped mine the first day I went to use it and I'm just too lazy to fix it.


Loreal Volume Millions de Cils Mascara: You can't find this stuff in the US, which is a real shame because it is the best. My mom brought it over for me and I'm in love. Just the right amount of length and volume - I'll have to remember to pick another one up next month!

Anastasia Brow Wiz: My eyebrows have been my latest foray into the world of makeup and a friend recommended this brow pencil to me. It is awesome, and I think I've finally got the technique down. My brows are on point lately!

e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator: Because my lips are constantly chapped and peeling. This helps. I also dropped this the first day I got it and the stick fell out. I am clumsy as all hell.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey: I am super hesitant when it comes to lipsticks or anything on my lips in general, but this almost lipstick definitely changed my mind. Don't let the dark color fool you - it blends with your natural lip color to give you a shade that is all your own! I wear this more for special occasions than on the regular.

Make Up Forever Sens'eyes Cleanser: The best eye makeup remover I have ever used. It gets the job done.


What's your #1 recommended makeup product or brand? I'm still very new at this!

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Flats, Belts, & Bracelets, Oh My!

I had so much fun making that Modcloth wishlist last week, so I made another one! Featuring Anthropologie this time, of course. Their latest catalog showed up in my mailbox over the weekend and a few things caught my eye, so obviously I had to check out all the new things available online! Surprisingly, what caught my eye wasn't the clothing this time around, but the accessories. In my quest to minmaximize my wardrobe, one of the things I'm looking for is a lovely pair of neutral flats. My current favorite ones are on their last leg, and the other two pairs I own just don't suit my style anymore. Two pairs caught my eye, along with with some other accessories.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
One quick look at this list tells you I'm really into the wrap-style that has been coming back around lately. Shoes, belts, bracelets... it's all fair game. I love watches, but I'm just not a watch wearer. I can't get into it. Then I saw the wrap style watch and an alarm went off in my head... DING DING DING! It's the best of both worlds! I'm incredibly simplistic when it comes to jewelry. I'm a one, maybe two-piece wearer; usually a long necklace, or a leather wrap bracelet and that's it. I've been trying to throw more belts into my outfits too. If there's one thing that reading fashion blogs has taught me, it's that if you're wearing a dress, it never hurts to belt it! I still don't feel completely comfortable rocking the waist belts, but there's definitely something to be said for that hourglass figure they create.

But back to shoes.... can I ask you all a question? (FASHION TALK!) Is it okay to wear brown shoes with an all/mostly black outfit? Does that work? I'm always hesitant to because I feel as though the colors don't "go" together. Neutral colored shoes are my biggest struggle because I've always been all about wacky, patterned, or brightly colored shoes. (Hence the snakeskin pair...) But when it comes to neutrals, I just can't seem to figure out the right color to get. The Trask flats are actually available in grey too. Maybe that's the way to go? Come on! Let's talk neutrals!

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Closet Evolution

One of the best things about working in a kitchen is not having to think about what to wear every day - my uniform consists of black pants, a solid colored t-shirt, and non-slip shoes. I throw my hair up into a bun, and getting dressed for work takes me less than five minutes. But this also means that I have a closet full of clothes at home that are just sitting there, rarely being worn. When I worked at Anthropologie, I spent so much time thinking about what to wear; and between the outfit, the hair, and makeup, I would spend over an hour getting ready for work every day! Inevitably, I also bought a lot of clothing on a whim, just because I could and because I was around it all the time. I've since muddled down my closet and have been working towards building my staple wardrobe. I've been:

- Gradually downsizing my closet. When you rarely get to wear things, you realize which pieces you tend to gravitate towards. So I've been removing all the excess pieces that don't get worn, and taking stock of what kinds of pieces I do wear. I'm trying to keep only things that bring me joy, but I'm also trying to be realistic about each piece's role in my closet.

- Realizing that my perfect closet is forever evolving. Just because a piece was right for me two years ago, doesn't mean it's still right for me this year. As I evolve as a person, my style evolves along with me. Trying to hold onto pieces just because I loved them once-upon-a-time serves no purpose, to me, or my closet. And I can't dwell on the pieces I get rid of.

- Filling in the gaps. Now that I've gotten rid of unnecessary items, I'm noticing holes in my wardrobe; basic pieces that were missing the entire time but I didn't realize it because my closet had so many other things in it. Now I have a mental list of what pieces I need and when I shop, I only look for those things specifically.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
All of this to say, the closet gap I've been trying to fill lately is blouses. I have a lot of casual tops but I don't have any summer blouses. Thus, I end up not wearing any of my skirts because I want to wear them with something a little nicer than a t-shirt. I was browsing online the other day and stumbled upon Modcloth's Wear to Work collection. I love the vintage feel of a lot of the pieces, and it made me long for a job where I get to dress up again. Don't worry - I'm not quitting my kitchen job! (I love it far too much!) But I am considering adding one or two of those blouses to my closet, to fill that blouse gap. I'm also eyeing up that dress and those shoes, but those aren't on my mental list of pieces I need, so for now, they'll just live on in this wish list.

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Lately....

So.... things have been quiet on the blog this week because I can't seem to upload my photos onto my computer! We switched the location of our wireless router and now my phone won't sync up with my computer anymore. And my computer doesn't recognize it when it's plugged in, so.... yeah. I'll figure something out. In the mean time, here's what I've been up to lately.

Watching:
Sightseers - I had come across the trailer for this some time last year, and then it was brought to my attention more recently when I saw it mentioned by another blogger... then I found out it was on Netflix so Shawn and I settled in to watch it on our last day off together. It had a slow start and the story was quite awkward, but that seems to be the case with most independent films. I would say it's worth a watch though!
The One That I Love - After the aforementioned movie, I told Shawn about this one, which I had watched by myself months ago. Netflix has it listed as a comedy, but it's more of a romantic sci-fi thriller. I enjoyed it just as much the second time around, and Shawn did too, as I suspected.
Love, Lust, or Run - Makeover shows are my guilty pleasure (whether they come in the form of mis-dressed people or renovated houses), and What Not to Wear was my absolute favorite back in the day. Imagine my delight when I heard that Stacy London is now hosting a new show, similar to WNtW but also a spin off of the BBC's Snog, Marry, Avoid. I've caught every episode on YouTube, since we don't have cable. I love and hate that the episodes are only 20 minutes long.

Reading:
I'm still working my way through my bookcase. About a month or so ago I started reading The Master and Margherita, but I just could not get into it. I read about 35 pages and then decided that was enough. I don't usually do that with books, but I really didn't feel like wasting my time with this one. I'm actually a little offended because it was given to me in high school by a friend under the pretense that I "would really love it". Hm, maybe that friend didn't know me very well after all. So I picked up The Perks of Being a Wallflower instead and have been breezing through that. It's fun to re-read books I read as a teenager- they're easy to get through, and I don't feel bad donating them afterwards. If something has been sitting on my bookshelf for that long, I might as well re-read it before giving it away!

Offline:
The most exciting thing in my life right now is that my dad bought me plane tickets to visit them in Madrid in October! We'll also be spending a weekend in Barcelona (I booked accomodations on airbnb; we'll be staying here!) - I can't wait! I've never been to Spain before, so getting to see two major cities in one trip is a big deal. The only downside is that my passport expires at the end of the year and I need to renew it before my trip. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but since I'm a French citizen, I have to go to either the French Consulate in DC or in New York to do this, since the Philadelphia location doesn't deal with passports. So now I'm looking at a day trip (or two) just to do that. But, it's totally worth the hassle! At least, I'll be thinking that in October once my feet are on Spanish soil....

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I've Got 40 Trivial Problems

A while ago, I stole this idea for a post from Diana at Unusually Lovely, who stole it from this guy. The idea of turning it into a writing exercise was just lovely, so I figured I would make it my own too. Sometimes it's nice to read something written by/about someone else that makes you think, "Yes! I'm not the only one!"... plus, what else is there to think about other than our own trivial problems that take up space in our heads? So, without further ado, here are fifty forty trivial things about me...

1. My nearing-empty-gas-tank-light always turns on when I'm just a few minutes away from home. I always think to myself "Oh, I'll leave earlier tomorrow and get gas on my way to work", but then I always forget and have to scramble to not be late for work.

2. When I do the laundry, I'm one of those people that folds everything immediately so clothes don't have time to wrinkle. But ever since we moved, it has been more convenient for Shawn to do the laundry on his day off, and he just leaves the clothes in a pile in the bedroom. By the time I get home the last thing I want to do is fold clothes, so they end up sitting around for days until I finally decide to go through them, and by that point, they're all wrinkled.

3. I pee a lot. I always make sure to pee before I go to bed, then I read for a bit, and then I always feel like I need to pee again, even though I know I just went. The same thing happens when I have to drive anywhere - I pee before I leave, and then inevitably have to pee again once I get to where I'm going.

4. Apparently I say the word fuck way too often in conversation. Hm, it's kitchen speak getting the best of me and I really need to watch myself in public.

5. Ever since I was young, everything I own has always had it's own place in my space. I would, and still do, get very annoyed whenever someone else would touch things and not put them back in their place. My family used to mess with me and move things around because they knew it annoyed me.

6. I really really dislike talking on the phone. I don't express myself well when I'm limited to just speech - I'm definitely a hand and body talker.

7. Thus, I also have a really hard time calling people back when they leave me voicemails. I always feel bad because when I eventually get back to people, at least a week or two have passed since they called.

8. I absolutely love baking, and feel incredibly grateful that I get paid to do it... but I don't know if that's what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. I don't think my body can handle it for another ten years.

9. When people ask me what my favorite thing to bake is, I feel as though I should have a 'better' answer than chocolate chip cookies. But they're my favorite thing to eat, so they're my favorite thing to bake.

10. I'm actually not much of a sweets-person... I wouldn't eat most of the things that I make at work because they simply do not appeal to me. So when people rave about something I've made, I'm usually not very excited about it. However, give me a bar of chocolate after dinner and I'm all smiles.

11. Most weekdays I end up falling asleep on the couch sometime between 8:30pm and 9pm... I'll sleep for an hour and a half, wake up for half an hour, and then go to bed. I'm pretty sure that's not how naps are supposed to work.

12. I often wake up with my right arm completely numb. I think it's a combination of overusing it at work and then falling asleep on top of it. It can take up to ten minutes to get the feeling back in it.

13. Sometimes I forget to turn the oven off at home after I'm done baking things....

14. Remembering things is not my forte. Some days I'll be in the hallway outside the apartment and I'll remember something I forgot inside. So I'll go inside and grab it, lock the door behind me, and then remember something else inside. By that point I usually just say, "screw it", and walk downstairs.

15. I really hate waiting for things. It feels like such a waste of time, even though I know I most likely wouldn't be doing anything any more productive if I weren't waiting.

16. I always have grand ideas for DIY projects; I'll go out and buy the supplies I need... and then never do anything with them. I have drawers full of fabric, paper, and other assorted things that just sit there. Waiting.

17. My head gets really itchy when I release my hair after it has been tied back all day for work.

18. Being super sarcastic all the time means that whenever I meet new people I worry that they won't pick up on my sarcasm and they'll just think I'm being really mean.

19. I'm hungry all the time.

20. I make it a point to eat breakfast every single morning, but it never satisfies. Unless I eat a full diner breakfast (eggs, potatoes, sausage, and pancakes) my stomach wants more food within the hour.

21. Reading is something I do before falling asleep at night. This means I typically get two pages in and wake up ten minutes later with an open book in my lap.

22. I bit my nails until I was about 22 years old. Now that I no longer bite them, the process of keeping up with them completely eludes me and I end up with these super long nails that usually break before I realize I should trim them.

23. I'm not good at ending conversations. I just start walking away, slowly, and muttering things like "So, ummm, yeahhhh, well..." in hopes that the other person will get the point and end it themselves.

24. My feet are two different sizes. One fits 8 1/2 size shoes but the other one needs size 9.

25. When I'm out in public, I'm like a child. I touch everything and pick things up off the ground. Shawn has to keep track of me otherwise I'll get lost looking at something pretty or soft.

26. I often imagine the worst possible thing that could happen in any situation. I get lost in my head making up different scenarios that (thankfully) never end up happening.

27. I'm a sweaty mess when I sleep, regardless of what I'm wearing or how thick/thin a blanket I use.

28. Centipedes really creep me out. They have way too many legs!

29. I'll take the stairs over an escalator every time. I'm always afraid I'll trip and smash my face on the escalator.

30. My fingers are fat! They're really long, so you can't tell from looking at them, but I have the hardest time finding rings that fit, even midi rings, unless I order a size or two larger than "average". That's why I stick to necklaces and bracelets when it comes to jewelry...

31. My face turns bright red at the slightest hint of embarrassment.

32. Hi, I'm a girl and I fart. A lot. Shawn often asks himself why he married me.

33. I love both of my (cat) boys, but I think I'm slightly allergic to them and Sylvester doesn't help by sleeping right next to my face every single night.

34. I'm a storyteller. Unfortunately, I have not mastered the art of storytelling and often spend fifteen minutes telling a story that could be told in five.

35. I am a blogger who is still afraid to take photos out in public.

36. Just like my DIY projects, there are a bunch of half written posts that have been sitting in my drafts for months, some for years, even!

37. I may have a shopping problem. But it's ok, as long as I follow the one in, one out rule, right?

38. I want to travel! All the time! But traveling costs money, and to make money I need to work, and I can't travel all the time if I'm working.

39. People are supposed to brush their teeth twice a day, right? Yeah.... I usually forget to do that in the morning. I forget to put on deodorant more times than I'd like to admit too.

40. This post was started months ago, so I cut the list off at forty instead of fifty to avoid this being pushed back three more months...

Hey! You made it all the way through! You are awesome.

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B.Read List: January - April 2015

Well, as it's looking so far, I'm not on top of my one book per month goal... but that's okay! I usually make up for it later in the year by reading some extra books. At least I'm succeeding in staying within the confines of my own bookcase. Shawn and I have been working on paring down our belongings and it actually feels great to read a book and then let it go. Most of them have been sitting on my shelves for years, untouched. And yes, there are other books out there that I've heard about recently but don't own and would like to read, but they're not going anywhere, so they can wait.

Let's start with Jose Saramago's Blindness; it was given to me by a friend years ago, under the pretense that I would enjoy it. Perhaps a few years ago, I would have! The premise sounds interesting enough - a whole city falls into white blindness and chaos ensues... it's supposed to be a commentary on humanity and how we treat each other in times of desperate measure. But I can't say that I enjoyed reading it. I actually found it very difficult to get through, not because of the story line (although there were some plot holes that I won't get into here), but because of the way it is written. There are no quotations! So whenever there is dialogue occurring, it's difficult to make out who is saying what, since it reads like a straight paragraph. Perhaps this is an issue of it being translated, or perhaps that is exactly as it was intended; either way, I had a tough time getting through the book and needed something more light-hearted to follow it up with.

Enter, Adrian Tomine's 32 Stories. So, it's not a book so much as a graphic novel... but sometimes after a big novel you need something easy to cleanse your palate, if you know what I mean. I picked this up years ago, after falling in love with Tomine's longer graphic novels. 32 Stories is a compilation of his earlier works, when he was still trying to get his style down. It's a fun, quick read if you're a Tomine fan, but if you've never read anything of his I would recommend starting with Summer Blonde or Shortcomings.

And lastly, Arthur Nersesian's The Fuck-Up; the story of a slacker just trying to get by in New York City. I remember really enjoying this when I first read it, back in college. Probably because I was in more of a place to relate to it then... sadly, it just didn't strike me as much the second time around. It was a good story (if you're into gritty New York City stories), but I just didn't connect to it in any way and I don't mind putting it in my pile of books to donate.

All of these are now sitting in my To Donate pile. So I shifted gears for my next book and picked something off of my Favorites shelf to re-read. So far so good! I'll give you an update in another three months or so...

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Goals for 2015

I'm not usually one to set goals or make resolutions because I believe in the practice of just doing things. (Totally stole that one from Nike...) Sometimes it's nice to have things written down in list form though. So here's a list of things I'd like to achieve this year; call them goals, resolutions, or whatever you want. They are what they are!

(Image from Death to the Stock Photo)
+ Stay positive
This has been an active ongoing goal for the past three years. Though my default disposition is not particularly negative, I still need the occasional reminder to stay on the more positive end of the spectrum. I'm a bit of a realist, so I tend to look at things in a very matter-of-fact way, and the reality is that we live in a world filled with overtly negative energy. I've been doing my best to put more positive energy out there, and I'm going to continue to do so.

+ Be more present, more aware
I spend a lot of time in my head. (It's part of being an INTP personality...) Some would say I'm absent-minded, or forgetful, but really I'm just thinking about something completely unrelated to what's going on around me most of the time. (If you're a fan of Scrubs, think of the classic JD daydream scenes...) I'm trying to make an effort to be more present in social situations and more aware of my surroundings when I'm on my own, and less lost in my thoughts. Like meditation in the real world! Except I'm awful at meditating.

+ Shop local
For the past two years I've been pretty diligent about buying our produce from local farmers. I love supporting our local farmers markets, and everything just tastes better when it doesn't have to travel more than 100 miles to your kitchen! This year I'd like to take it one step further and apply that same philosophy to other aspects of my life. I'd love to get to the point where I'm buying only clothing and other goods made in the USA. I recognize that this is not an easy feat, but just recognizing and being conscious of where things are coming from to begin with is a big step. And of course, this excludes artisanal goods one might find on Etsy or Novica and the like because those are still supporting local artists, even if they're not local in the traditional sense.

+ Keep up a regular yoga practice
Now that I'm working at a yoga studio on Sundays in exchange for unlimited free classes, I really have no excuse not to practice! I'd love to change this goal to "cultivate a home yoga practice", but I recognize that just making it to at least 3 classes per week is a decent goal as it is, and I can work towards a home practice once I'm regularly practicing outside of the house. I'm going to my first workshop (arm balances) on Saturday, and I hope to go to more of those as the year progresses! And since I like having a few concrete goals, I'd like to eventually be able to hold crow pose for 30+ seconds and to do a handstand away from the wall.

+ Participate in an Instagram yoga challenge
In keeping with the previous goal, I started following a few yogis on Instagram for daily inspiration. I've seen a few yoga challenges already but I'm not ready to commit to one yet. Hopefully by the end of the year I'll have one, (or more!) under my belt.

+ Run another 5K
I ran my first ever 5K last year, with some motivation from my siblings. After that I bought some new sneakers and made it a goal to keep running, but then daylight savings happened and now it's dark before and after work, and I really don't want to run around our neighborhood in the dark. Once the sun shows its face again though, I want to start running again and check another 5K off my list! I'd love to do a 10K eventually too, but that may be a goal for next year.

+ Post more recipes on the blog
I don't think I've posted a recipe on here in... probably about a year. Let's change that! I'm sure a lot of you would love to see more recipes on here, and I'm going to make an effort to deliver. I mean, I'm in the kitchen baking for 8 hours a day so.... I really have no excuse. It's the prep that gets me! Taking photos and typing everything up... no more excuses!

+ Keep reading
Last year's goal was to read one book per month, and even if I didn't necessarily read one per month, I ended up reading 14 books total! I'm going to set the same goal for this year. I'm also going to try to read only books from my bookcase - I have way more than 14 books on my to-read/re-read shelf - plenty of reading material to get me through the year.

What are some things you'd like to achieve this year?

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B.Read List 2014

Favorites: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly; Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami; Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides; Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Least Favorites: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt; A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers; Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
Re-reads: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly; Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli; I Am Not Myself These Days by Josh Kilmer-Purcell; Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans
Nonfiction: Choosing Civility by P.M. Forni; Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer; Thrive by Arianna Huffington
Notable Mentions: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris; Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer; Thrive by Arianna Huffington

To summarize: I was definitely surprised to read books by two of my favorite authors (Chuck Palahniuk and Dave Eggers) that I felt just "Eh" about. On the upside though, I discovered a new-to-me author that I fell in love with: Haruki Murakami. Though I wasn't as smitten with After Dark as I was with Kafka on the Shore, they were both interesting reads. I look forward to reading more by him and by Jeffrey Eugenides. Shawn handed me Into Thin Air when I was between books; I wouldn't have picked it out on my own based on the premise, but what an enthralling read! It was also fun to re-read books from my bookshelf, Stargirl in particular because I originally read it as a teenager and I had a different understanding of it this time around. And of course, The Book of Lost Things is my absolute favorite and I loved reading it another time through. I want to read more by John Connolly but it's my understanding that the majority of his other books are a very different genre, unfortunately.

What did you read last year? Anything you'd recommend?

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2014 in review

+ We adopted Sylvester!

+ In March, after a 7+ month break, I started working as a baker again.

+ I kept up with my week in photos posts all year long! I'm going to take a different route with them this year though.

+ My friend Sam and I took a weekend roadtrip down to Miami, with a stop in Savannah on the way down.

+ I ran my first 5k!

+ I explored a lot of places in and around Philadelphia, including:

Chanticleer Garden


The Renaissance Faire


Spruce Street Harbor


Milky Way Farm


La Colombe


Linvilla Orchards
Here are some of my other favorites from the past year:





















Bring on 2015!

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A Gift Guide for Fanatics

Shawn is a big fan of football. I have never really been into it, but over the last six years I've watched so many games and heard so many player's names mentioned that I can somewhat carry a conversation about the sport. This was the first year I played on a fantasy football league too; Shawn was one player short and he had been asking me to join for years, so I finally agreed. I ended up in 8th place out of 10 - not too bad! I still don't really understand the game though!

I know that the audience on this blog probably isn't much into football, but since Shawn is, I can only imagine some of you also have football fans in your life and I decided to go ahead and make up a gift guide! I know it's a little late for Christmas at this point... but playoffs are coming up! I picked a few things from Fanatics.com centered around their Odell Beckham Jr jersey, because Shawn roots for the Giants and he has been a big fan of Odell this year.

Ugly sweaters are all the rage right now (did I seriously just use that phrase? I did.) That one in particular is for youths, but I'd buy it in a heartbeat if they made it in adult sizes!
Shawn is rarely without a beanie, and he's a big fan of the Giant's Throwback gear, so this beanie was an obvious choice.
Of course he'll need a vintage scarf to go with the hat...
My favorite on this whole list is the belt because it's the most subtle and practical way to show you're a fan!
Whiskey is Shawn's spirit of choice, and I can't believe he doesn't have steel cubes yet!
We collect garden gnomes, and how perfect is it that they make NFL garden gnomes?!

Go check out the NFL jerseys and team gear Fanatics has to offer for the football fan in your life!
(They carry things for every team - not just the Giants!)

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Cold Weather Covets

The weather has gotten colder and I find myself reaching for my warmer sweaters and coats. I've also realized that most of my winter coats and fleeces are pretty old now and could use a replacement. My dilemma has been whether to go for practical or stylish. I'm in love with the wool coat from Modcloth, but I also know I could definitely use a 3-in-1 jacket, or at least a water-proof weather-resistant outer layer. Or do I just keep my current water-proof jacket and just buy a new warm fleece to wear with it? Decisions! (First-world problems!) But my heart still wants that Modcloth coat. I've also been on the fence about buying rain boots because I hadn't found a pair I liked enough to splurge on... until now. Here are some of the things I've been coveting.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

What cold weather clothing have you been coveting lately?

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Birthday Wish List

My birthday is in two and a half weeks! I'll be turning 27. Seven is a good number in my book, so hopefully that means it'll be a spectacular year! I'm trying to get it off to a good start by making the most of the month of October. I have something fun planned for every weekend of the month, soooooo, so far so good! In the meantime, here's a little collage of things I wouldn't mind getting from any potential gift-givers this year...

Omerica Organic makes the prettiest plugs, and I'm definitely due for some new ones. Shawn got me two new pairs for my birthday two years ago (or was it last year? I can't remember...), but one of the plugs fell down the drain in the bathroom :'( and the other pair I've been wearing to death. So, time for some new ones. I've really been diggin' on those three designs up there.

The Catalina Bag from Lo & Sons looks like the perfect short-trip travel bag. I have one large travel bag that is great for longer trips (like when I go visit my parents and I have to bring a million winter coats with me), but when I took my weekend road trip to Miami, I had to borrow a bag from my sister. I've been looking for one to call my own ever since!

Birkenstocks are my jam. I've had my current pair for about three or five years now (man, I really suck at this time-memory thing...) and I wear them literally every day during the warmer months. I love them to death, but it may be time for a new pair. Those cheetah print ones speak to me in sweet sultry voices.

MyYogaPro is a brand new website devoted to online yoga lessons and videos. I've been gradually getting back into a regular practice recently with Erin Motz's 30 Day Yoga Challenge, and I love her teaching style. She helped create My Yoga Pro and I'd really love to get a subscription so that I can access more of her awesome classes, and in turn, practice yoga on the regular again, but from home! Also, it feels good to put a non-materialistic gift idea on this list.

Etsy is an amazing place, as I'm sure everyone already knows. My wish list on Etsy is dozens of pages long, but I just can't ever seem to pull the trigger on any particular purchase. (The poster, shirt, and necklace above are all Etsy finds.) I'm not usually a fan of gift cards, mainly because they're rarely for places that I want to shop at, but I would really appreciate a gift card to Etsy! It's like having a gift card to the entire mall, except it's an online mall, and the stores are awesome.

Trask's Keira Sandals are sooooo beautiful. I couldn't decide between them and the Birkenstocks, so they're both on this list. If we're being totally honest here, I can afford to buy the Birks myself, but I can't really afford the Keira sandals... so yeah, those would make a beautiful gift :) Just sayin'....


Jeez... when did I become such an adult? I mean, high quality shoes and travel bags? Helloooo practical. I guess your wants and needs change as you get older. I would have put underwear and socks on this list too, but I don't think you all need to know what kind of underwear I buy. Ok fine... if you must know, my favorites are the boybriefs from Aerie. Especially the ones with lace accents. Now you know. Go forth and shop! If not for me, then at least for yourself.

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