Guys. School starts tomorrow. AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have class bright and early at 8:00am. So delicious, am I right? ;) Seriously, though, I don't actually mind, haha. I'm a morning person ALL the way so morning classes are actually really good for me. That's when my mind is the most awake. I know, I'm not a normal human. What else is new? ;) As far as classes go, though, since I registered so late in the game I didn't exactly get the cream of the crop when it came to classes and many of the classes I need to take just straight up weren't available. Sucks to suck. Which, apparently in this instance, I sucked at registering. I seriously can't wait to get started, though! I know this is going to sound super freaky, but I flippin' LOVE homework. I know, I know, I'm certifiable. The doctors may cart me away now. I'm whacky. ;) Some people are street smart and others are book smart and I guess I'm just one of those book smart peeps. All the way. As far as I'm concerned, real life can suck it. I'd rather spend the rest of my life endlessly learning, studying for exams, reading textbooks, and writing essays. Ask me to book a flight? Not a clue. Ask me to write a 30 page paper analyzing the channels of communication within a business organization, how they work, and theorize a new mode of functional communication within said organization and be the only student to get an A? Boom. Cake. Anyway, I don't know where I'm going with this anymore...maybe that I'm excited for school? Yeah, we'll go with that. Oh, oh, in other unrelated news, though! I'm back on the Maroon 5 bandwagon! I had LOVED "Songs About Jane", their first album, but after that I just wasn't a huge fan anymore. All the stuff of theirs that I heard on the radio, was just "meh". Oh, and then when that "Pay Phone" song came out? I was like, "mmmm, definitely hate them now." Anyway, a cute human of the male persuasion (That sounds so weird. Why I didn't just say "boy" is beyond me. Again I say, I am whacky;) told me to put on a Maroon 5 song from their new album and I sort of fell in love with them again. Seriously, I've been listening to the new album NON stop! A few favorites, "Coming Back For You", "Unkiss Me", and "Sugar". Also, there's this lyric from one of the other songs on the album that says, "Woke up sweaty from a dream" but for a few days there I was singing, "Woke up sweaty from a tree". Haha, I didn't realize I had misheard it till I stopped to think about it and realized that "woke up sweaty from a tree" makes absolutely no sense. I'm hard of hearing apparently haha. :)
So winter is pretty much fading fast here in Utah (knock on wood) and I'm pretty excited about it! Some days are still fairly chilly, though, so this chunky turtle neck sweater is PERFECT! It's so toasty and cozy! Also, layering chunky sweaters on top of skirts is a great alternative to the typical sweater+leggings winter uniform. Also, the trick to wearing skirts in the winter is boots, boots, boots! Seriously, get yerselves a pair of over the knee boots and you're pretty much set! Also, once again, Shailynn is DA best. Girl makes me crack up alls the times and she is insanely good at what she does so once again I say, BOOK HER.
You guys ever have that thing happen to you where your eye liner smears onto your eyelid for some freak reason? Yeah, well, this has been happening to me like EVERYDAY for the last couple of weeks and I can't figure it out. At first I thought it was just the type of pencil liner I was using, so I switched over to my cream eyeliner but it still kept happening so I switched over to my liquid liner thinking THAT would do the trick but NOPE, the smearing persists. I'm at my wits end and I'm about to just throw in the towel and quit on eyeliner again!! Unless, any of you have suggestions for me, eh? Eh? Anyway, now that that riveting discussion on liner has ended lets talk weekends. How were all of yours? Mine was pretty fantabulous! I binge watched Gilmore Girls so long Netflix felt the need to ask me if I was still there. Not even kidding. That is an actual thing. Netflix paused my episode and full on asked me, "are you still there?" Thank you for your concern Netflix, but yes I am very much still here watching Gilmore Girls. ;) Also, HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING!! I got the chance to celebrate the event with Lauren and a small group of other fun peeps. All in all, I think Canadian Thanksgiving is a fun old holiday! Also, in other news apparently "bollocks" is a bad word. Like, what the what? How can "bollocks" be a bad word? That doesn't even sound remotely bad! That's like making "puppies" or "fishies" bad words. It's completely nonsensical. You can't make something that sounds inherently cute a cuss word. It's just ridiculous. I normally love the Brits but boy, did they drop the ball on that one. ;)
coat: c/o SheInside
dress: ASOS
boots: F21 (sold out)
sunnies: Aldo
photos: Roxana B
I have been DYING to share this coat with you guys ever since it arrived in the mail! I thought it's color was PERFECT for the Fall season not to mention it's cute little bow on the side! Plus it's like as soft as a babies bottom! It's also warm without being too stuffy, know what I mean? Pretty much, it' perfect. Also, I bought these over the knee boots at Forever21 about a thousand years ago and they're still one of my favorite purchases ever. Although, I'm thinking I'm going to be needing new ones before long because of how much I've worn them. In other news, I did a guest post on Gentri's blog yesterday so you should all go check it out. Ya know, since you all love me so much. ;) Anyway, yeah...
Sometimes all a girl really needs is to spend a day snuggling with her sibs, laughing, tearing up, pigging WAY out, and just vegging out in general. That was my day yesterday and it was sheer heavenly bliss. The day started out by going to see Frozen with my sisters. We loved it so much. We went into the theater not knowing a whole lot about what the movie would be about, and were pleasantly surprised to learn that the movie was all about sisterhood and love. We laughed, we cried (not even kidding), we munched on popcorn, and we came to the conclusion that I am totally Anna, the red headed little sister. It was the perfect movie for the three of us to go out and see, especially since my baby sister will be leaving for Canada in a few weeks! We're drinking up every moment we have to spend with her until she leaves. Another reason we went is because, honestly, we just never really outgrew Disney movies. I mean, we can argue their racist sexist undertones till the cows come home (and I'm actually pretty well versed when it comes to arguing this point) but at the end of the day they're still dang good enjoyable movies. :) No matter how cheesy the little songs are. "Am I excited, or is it just gas? Maybe it's a combination of both?" That was a gem from one of the songs on Frozen, and yes, it was a girl who sang it. I almost cried of laughter.
Anyway, afterwards we all took a quick break to do some other activities separately. Ok, ok, my sister's went out to run an errand for our mum and I...went to the gym. Anyway, though, when we all reconvened we decided to turn our kitchen into one of our favorite restaurants, Bruges Waffles & Frites. We cooked ourselves up some ginormous waffles and homemade garlic/cilantro fries. May I say, I make some mean garlic/cilantro fries. Nothing beats a salty and sweet dinner shared over laughter with three of my favorite people. Oh, and to wrap up the evening we all gathered round and watched Parenthood together. Heart. Wrenching. Episode. Sorry about all the mushy cheesiness but really, there's nothing like the love between sisters, and sometimes all a girl needs is a good ol' snuggle sesh with her sissies to get her spirits up. I'm so grateful for my sisters. I love them more than cookies, ice cream, running, s'mores, pie, cake, bread, avocados, beans, and daydreaming. So, essentially I love them more than all the things that make life worth living.
Mornin' dudes. I hope you're all well! I must confess, the view from where I sit is rather boring. Nothing to entertain the mind as of late. Well, I guess there's always daydreaming, but as you all know I'm trying not to do that as much anymore. It's actually more challenging than I thought. Who knew I daydreamed so much? Everyone, actually. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm Space Cadet Supreme. Also, this whole no shopping thing is getting harder day by day. It feels good to know that I'm not spending my money needlessly anymore, its a HUGE weight off my shoulders actually, but I'm seeing all the new Spring Collections for my favorite stores all over the place and now I'm getting that itch to go out and spend a fortune! All I can say is, my birthday wishlist is definitely getting longer and longer. I'm doing my best to stay strong, though!
The good thing about this shopping challenge of mine, though, is that it's forcing me to actually wear the things in my closet. This dress for instance. I think, before today, I had only worn it once! I'm actually really digging it now, though, and I can't believe I'd only worn it once in the entire year that I've owned it. See? Maybe this shopping challenge will be completely amazing after all! "It's for my own good, it's for my own good, it's for my own good" that will be my mantra for the year! ;) In other news, my dear old mum helped me get my gym membership at my favorite Cross Fit gym again! She's just the best! Monday was my first day back and holy caaaaraaaap! My muscles could definitely tell that I'd gone for about two months without cross training! I mean, I still kept up my usual running regimen but it really is astounding how big a difference cross training can make for overall strength and endurance! I've missed feeling like I can barely get down the stairs from soreness! Also, I know tooting my own horn is super annoying, but I'm just so insanely proud of this, even though it was my first day back I still got the best time for the workout in the entire gym! I even beat out all the fellas! Holla! Now, forgive me for bragging, I'm done now. ;)
{Target: shift dress similar; F21: cardigan similar, over the knee boots similar; h&m: wide brimmed fedora; AmericanEagle: turquoise necklace similar; Turquoise Earrings: gift from my aunt in Guatemala}
Also, in this day of complete boredom, my little sister and I decided to watch "Clueless" for about the thousandth time this month! We freakin' love that movie. So hilarious and so adorable. Of course, watching "Clueless' must immediately be followed up by a watching of "Emma". Two of my favorite movies! And one of my favorite books too for that matter!
It is officially 2014. I don't know what it is exactly about the passing of 365 days that is so mind blowing, but it is. It's so thought provoking, and all at once incredibly refreshing to know that we have another 365 days to do so many things and make so many things happen with our lives. It is truly astounding to know that our life is just ultimately the complete summation of what we choose to make it. I've never been one to make New Year Resolutions, I've just always felt that they usually tend to be ill thought out and improperly planned goals. However, I do always like to think up a frame of mind that I want to go into the New Year with. An attitude toward life that I want to keep in my mind throughout the year. In the past some of the attitudes or frames of mind that I've chosen have been, "gratitude", "deeper appreciation for my surroundings" or "greater love for my fellow men". Things like that. This year the attitude I chose for 2014 is, "live and enjoy each moment for the moment that it is." I feel like a lot of times, I'll find myself caught up in daydreaming about some point not far in the future where I envision everything just being as peachy as cobbler and sweet as ice cream, or reflecting with too much longing on my past, even almost wishing that I could return to it and relive it all over again. I feel like I do this so often that I find myself forgetting to enjoy the moment I'm even living in. Therefore, I want to just pause and learn to be more present and really enjoy every single breath that I'm blessed to have so that I can truly appreciate and enjoy every moment that 2014 will offer me. After all, "life is meant for the living."
My mom's birthday is today (happy 47th birthday mom!) and as celebration we went out to the movies as a family yesterday. We saw, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. This movie was so incredible, you guys. SO incredible. It was humorous, tender, thought provoking and all around just so incredibly enjoyable to watch. The cinematography was absolutely stunning. I mean, the images were just clear as day and so refreshingly vibrant. It was almost as if you could taste the colors. They were that crisp and bold. I don't want to ruin the story line for you guys but it was just such a tender tale of a guy stuck in his daydreams who finally decides to just splash into life and really LIVE. It was also just so perfectly fitting to my attitude for 2014. It was perfection. There were even a couple of moments in the movie were I felt myself tearing up. It is truly a must see. I left that dark theater even more excited to just get out and enjoy life than I was already feeling.
{American Eagle: over sized shrug, beanie; Ross: pencil skirt similar; Gap: slouchy oversized tee; F21: over the knee boots similar}
Another thing that watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty reminded me that I've always wanted todo is see the world. I mean, this planet we've been blessed with is just overflowing with breath taking beauty! I want to see more of it. I've been lucky enough to see bits and pieces of three different countries but I want to be able to see more. I want to see all the different mini universes that humans around the world occupy, to get to know a little bit more about the different cultures around the world, and to have a greater appreciation for life. At the same time, though, I also want to be able to recognize that sometimes the greatest beauty can be found in our own backyards, within the faces of our loved ones, and within our own simple lives. After all, if we just take a moment to really see it, we can see that simplicity IS extraordinary. Cheers to the next 364 days and hopes that they will be beautifully iridescent!
"Beautiful things don't ask for attention." -The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
