BLOGTOBER DAY 17 // HALLOWEEN PARTY + PARTYING AS AN ADULT

adulthood
So how about we start with the adorable decor of the party BEFORE we dive into the heavy stuff? I honestly believe that the reason Halloween and Christmas are so popular is strictly due to the special decorations that come with them. Would Christmas be nearly as magical without a beautiful tree, strewn with bobbles and ornaments that glisten in the fairy lights? Nope. It wouldn't. 
The same can be said for Halloween! The pumpkin orange, black, and purple are like a sensory pleaser. They actually make you feel different than you do at other times of the year. How incredible is that?
I'm going to attach some pictures of the party decorations below! I hope you find some inspiration in them as well...

HALLOWEEN PARTY DECORATIONS


BLOGTOBER DAY 5 // FALL DECORATIONS

Autumn

I swear there is nothing better than a house chockablock with decorations. At every corner a festive celebration of the season. Don't let me fool you, Christmas decorations are definitely where I get the most intense. But fall decorations, with the golds and burgundy colors everywhere, give me that same warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Pumpkins, leaves, and don't even get me started on halloween decorations! My family does a special "Halloween" tree covered in skeleton baubles, cobwebs, and purple tinsel galore. But those decorations have yet to make their appearance. So for todays Blogtober I figured I had to do a little house tour of Autumnal Decorations. One day I hope to literally make my house like the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland for Halloween... A girl can only dream!

Winter Break Roundup!

bblog
Officially back in my apartment in New York after an absolutely lovely and refreshing winter break at home with my family. It's never easy for me leaving California but I can proudly say I did not cry once the day I left. I made it a point to stay strong as I know that after a quick few months I will be returning to my hometown to figure out the next stage of my life (more on how I feel about this in another post). It seems like the break was really split into two parts which made it feel even longer - the holidays and January. Christmas was so much fun but was so exhausting as we really had two long long days of family reunions (so much food I still can't think about it).

New Years went how New Years usually goes for me... not my favorite. It was actually New Years day that I found I had way more fun than the night before. Maybe I should remember that for next year...
January mostly consisted of spending time with close friends, relaxing, reading, catching up on movies/tv shows, and of course spending time with my sister. The last week of my trip was the most action packed of any of them. First, my mom, stepdad, sister, her boyfriend, and I all went for a ski trip to Snow Summit in Big Bear. It was so much fun I forgot how much I truly loved skiing and it renewed my eagerness to get back out there and keep practicing (I was so nervous before my first run I could barely pull myself off the ski lift!). 
Finally for the last day of my trip I went for a day to Disneyland with my best friend and sister. I feel like I really spent a good part of my teen years at Disneyland and it always feels like I'm visiting a good friend. The lines were super short because, first of all, it was a random Tuesday and, secondly, the weather was especially depressing for a California day. But that meant we had a chance to ride almost every single ride!
It's hard to see another break go, especially considering that would officially be the last break of my college experience. But I am back now and really want to make the most of my time here in New York before I move on to start the next chapter of my life. I hope everyone stays warm this weekend as I hear we are getting a huge storm (the weather must've known I would be returning...yipee...) Let me know in the comments down below some of the fun trips you have been taking this winter! xoxo Sam


The Senior Summer

adulthood
I swear I blink and summer is already over. It is really just insanity in my mind. But I am feeling really ready for this final year. As absolutely terrifying the whole idea of ending college feels like, I am so so SO so ready to be out. Being home obviously gives me a glimpse at the life I lived prior to college. As I have probably said before, being home I always revert back to that person I was. Someone whose insecurities always got the better of them. It is honestly the worst feeling in the world to know that you have left and accomplished so much in the world but come home and immediately feel like a teenager again.
It has taken a few fights and tears for me to realize that I am NOT the same person that I was. I have experienced so much outside of home that I can't even begin to comprehend it all. 
That awkwardly tall girl in high school has walked in New York Fashion Week, studied and traveled in Europe for 5 months, and (of course) moved to New York City not knowing a single person. 
There were a ton of people who thought I wouldn't be able to do it. My mom got countless calls from friends parents warning her that this decision would not be good for me. Perhaps it fueled my fire but there were moments where I doubted myself. I think it's normal to question your strength and even healthy. But never in my life did I think it would all go so fast. 
Just like the clichéd post-grad movies have told you, everyone is asking what my plans are after school. Staying in New York? Who knows! Moving home? Who knows! But I can tell you all I'm not nervous. 
If leaving has taught me anything it's that things have a magical way of working themselves out. It takes effort and sacrifices but it always works itself out whether its for better or worse. 
I am sad to be leaving my family and close friends who provide a level of support that I always crave when I'm away. But I know that this is the final year before life really starts. I am mentally preparing myself for all the possibilities that await me when I get that piece of paper. 
I am not naive to the world we are living in now. Whether I get a salary paying dream job straight out of college isn't even a thought in my mind. I am just going to do the only thing I can do, give my 100%. 

I Love Paris in the Springtime, I Love Paris in the Fall...

adulthood
I can actually not believe it's already November. Can it really be that I only have about a month and a half left in Europe?!?! Unreal.
Life has been pretty fantastic these past few weeks. Mostly because of my trip to Paris last weekend. Let's just say it was exactly what I needed to refresh my love of travel. Living in Madrid is amazing but, just like home, living somewhere is different than visiting. The everyday needs can get tiresome and boring (like the hour subway ride to school everyday). I found myself really not enjoying Madrid because I felt like I was living endlessly as a tourist in a place that I should've been making a temporary home. As soon as I realized this I took everyday a step at a time. 
I always thought moving to New York would be the hardest thing I've ever done and that after that change every thing else would be a breeze. Boy was I wrong. Not only have I really reflected on myself but I am seeing the changes I can make in my life back in the states in order to be happier!
Paris is truly the most magical place ever created.  We all joked that instead of posting all the pictures for our families we would just post one and say sorry but you have to go yourself. 
Seeing my friend and former roommate Coline went better than I ever could've imagined. It was as if it was still Freshman year and we were still doing everything together. Our jokes and singing took me back to such a happy place that I think the world could have been hit by an asteroid and I still would've been smiling from ear to ear. 
I left and knew that one day I would be back. 
This weekend we decided to take it easy since next weekend my program is taking us to Granada for three days and then I go to Munich, Germany with Kim for thanksgiving weekend. Can I just say life is beautiful. 
Sending love from this corner of the world :)

February Update

college
I feel absolutely terrible about the lack of blog posts I have made in the past few months. I come on blogger everyday and yet I always find an excuse not to write anything. I think it is because of the pressure to catch everyone up on what has been happening because there is just SO MUCH!

Well back in November (way back in November) I signed on to be a model with MSA in Manhattan!
To say I was excited was an understatement. However with finals and winter break I kind of lost that excitement and went into full blown panic mode. Me a model? not possible. However after recovering at home for 6 weeks I was beyond ready to come back to New York and start my new semester!

Also on the agenda for this year… studying abroad!!! For the fall semester of my junior year I am going to be studying abroad in España with my sister and best friend! I can hardly contain my excitement and I have literally been counting down the days to fall semester since we decided we are going. 

An update is school I guess is necessary as well! However, with all the snow storms we have been having… I feel like I am still trying to get back into a routine. It is BEYOND frustrating and now they are in talks of adding another week to the semester which in all honesty doesn't sound too bad! I want to get my moneys worth right? 

I think that is it for catching up! Now for the day to day updates. Next tuesday I have my first test shoot with Maria Postigo. It is still really crazy and surreal that I am even thinking about pursuing modeling  but I figure I should never limit myself because of fear. Here are two of the items I will be wearing to the shoot:

gap.com has some really great deals right now. To say I am obsessed with the dress is an huge understatement. After binge watching House of Cards I was looking for anything that had a neutral pallet and was a classic cut! 

Until next time (which is hopefully sooner rather than later)

POPULAR POSTS

INSTAGRAM