GIFT BASKET // PRESENT IDEAS

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It feels so good to be writing a post! In case you don't follow me on social I have finally, after months of searching, found an incredible job in the exact city I've always wanted to live in!

Finding my Normal // A Month without Blogging

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Okay. How many posts have you read about people leaving and then coming back to blogging? How many "I did a digital detox" posts have you seen on your timelines? How many "why I lost my inspiration" can there possibly be out there on the internet?

GOAL CHECK IN & UPDATES // 1ST QUARTER 2017

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It's officially April and that mean's we are a quarter of the way done with 2017. How this happened, I just don't know.


March was a super...interesting month for me. I quit my job mid-February and have been in the throws of job applications, interviews, and lack-of-income stress all month long. In some ways it's been really good for me. Here's why:

MY FIRST VLOG //

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I know everybody was just in ruins that I didn't post last Saturday so I am sooooo sorry for that *lol*.


I actually had a post ready to go but for one reason or another the day came and I just didn't feel like posting it, promoting it, etc. I will definitely publish it eventually but there was something about this past weekend that stopped me.


Speaking of this past weekend (and what this whole post is about) I Vlogged! For the first time! 

BLOGGING TIPS // 200TH POST LOOK BACK

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So the other day after posting my last blog post I noticed that it was, in fact, my 200th post. Which I think is a pretty great accomplishment and made me reflect on everything that's happened since my first post.


Going all the way back to 2012, my actual first post was a 25 before 25 checklist - which you can read here if you would like. At the time I was 18 and a very different person than I am now and I only have 12 of the items left on my list to check off.

CINEMA TIME // MOVIE REVIEWS 2

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I think I could literally talk about movies all day long and never run out of things to say.


Actors & actresses, cinematography, hidden meanings; all of the interesting components that make up a film. Throw in an incredible director and a killer script and that's how you make the perfect Oscar-worthy film sandwich.


However, I can't say I always agree with the choices that are put in the best film category. As much as I try to give each one a chance, often times they just aren't my cup of tea. But to each their own!

PERSONAL POST // CHANGE

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I often write these posts and never publish them but I have a lot to say about what's been going on in life lately. Whether you've followed along with my blog or are a new reader, maybe you can find some similarities in this post as well. 

I graduated from university last May and have gone through huge transitions in life. I moved from New York to California, transitioned to a different store for my job, & adjusted to life post-schooling. It's been really, really difficult to adjust to, I can't lie. And I never could have expected life after school to be this way. 

BATH & BODYWORKS // SPRING SCENTS

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I, like many others, am eagerly awaiting the arrival of springtime. I live in Southern California where the sun shines bright most days *cue Another Day of Sun from La La Land* and I still wait for the changing seasons.

All the pastel colours and bright new flowers popping up hits a part of you that creates instant happiness. I always yearned for Spring in New York & February was always the gloomiest, yuckiest, most blegh month that seemed to go on forever. There were times I would try to trick myself into thinking it was actually not as freezing cold out but that clearly never worked.

Flash-forward to now and even with the beautiful days of sunshine I'm still thinking of those new Spring days. Which is probably what got me to walk in to Bath & Bodyworks to look at all their new candles!

JANUARY FAVORITES //

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I'm in an utter state of shock that the first month of the year is already over. I mean it's honestly blowing my mind how quickly this month went. Just thinking back to the beginning of the month when I was in Canada to now is unbelievable. 

I'm not sure that I accomplished everything I wanted to for the start of the year; but I am definitely making progress with some of my goals. There's going to need to be more effort on my end to make them all work out so that's going to be my main focus in February. Just zoning in and doing the work. 

I am also really liking the blog scheduling that I planned out where I post every Tuesday and Saturday. It gives me enough time to think out thoughtful posts and not just rush them out. I think I resented how difficult December blogging was but I was working so many hours at work, planning for holiday fun, & being just genuinely extremely busy. It wasn't a good combination AT ALL.

Now that I've settled back into a routine I can talk about all the things I was loving in January. For some odd reason I stopped doing these posts even though they are some of my favorites to look back on!

CINEMA TIME // MOVIE REVIEWS

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Oh awards season, blessed are you. I live for award ceremonies. Mostly because I want to one day work in the film industry and hope to bump elbows with Hollywood royalty. But, for now, I'll settle with sitting at home in my jam's and daydreaming that I'm actually there.

There is always this mad dash for me to go see the films that are nominated in the best picture category. Unfortunately this year I have severely slacked on my film-watching abilities. I don't know how it all got behind me but I'm bummed. 

I have, however, seen a few films this past month and this month as well that I would love to review for you! So grab some popcorn, check your local theatre's showtimes, and get ready for some seriously amazing cinema.

GOODBYE 2016 // 2017 GOALS

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I was putting milk into my coffee this past Tuesday morning and I looked down at the expiration date on the carton... January 3rd 2017. It's here my friends, it is really here. 2016 is soon to be a long and forgotten memory. Like the years past, just another insane grouping of days that will be marked only by big life events. All of those random days will probably be lost in the sea of other not so significant days. Feels mighty nice, if I do say so myself.

2016 was difficult. I've said it multiple times the past few months but, my word. The obstacles of this past year were very draining. On Christmas morning, as my family was sat around the table eating our traditional Christmas day breakfast, we reflected on the events of this year. And we all agreed even if you were happy personal there were so many upsetting or tragic public events you can't help but feel effected by it. 

The lives of so many incredible artists were lost suddenly. The political atmosphere in many different countries was dispiriting. I mean we collectively felt a loss of stability and hope in many ways. So I think that is what we are all yearning to leave behind in the new year. 

It has only been six months since I graduated from University and I feel very changed in a lot of ways. I've been hit with a lot of the cruel realities of the current job market. I've watched as other people my age have either found success or have accomplished nothing. I've dealt with my own insecurities that come with living home again full time. It was a lot of a lot. 

When I looked back at my 2016 Goals my word was discovery. Maybe that's where I made my mistake. Maybe discovery wasn't a good word because I sure discovered a lot of unhappiness in so many different areas of life. So I think my choice of my next word really needs to be something that is more personal to me. Even self discovery would be more focused on my personal needs, ideas, and values. 

I didn't want this post to be depressing but... it seems to be heading down that road rather swiftly. And if that's how my feelings are about this past year then hopefully by the time I'm reading it next year I think "wow, I'm so happy things are so much better in my life now." 

I have a lot of hope for 2017. There are so many days for me to begin again. So I'm going to begin January off with a quote from a very well known man. "We Keep Moving Forward, Opening New Doors and Doing New Things, Because we are Curious... and Curiosity Keeps Leading us Down New Paths." - Walt Disney. 

Some other smaller resolutions will be to keep learning even though I'm out of school. Whether this is taking classes in cooking or calligraphy or coding, I want to continue to learn. I also want to eat less sugar and make healthier choices for my diet and exercise (something I always tell myself). To do more creative writing. And to keep my blog going as much as I can. 

Happy 2017 you lovely people. I hope you are ringing in the new year with all the happiness and determination you can muster. For every one that has stopped by here in the past few months, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. 

XOXO Sam

BLOGMAS DAY 24 // BLOGMAS REFLECTION

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BLOGMAS REFLECTION


Is it really true? Is Blogmas 2016 already over? So many mixed emotions about this I can't even describe it. This month was INCREDIBLY difficult. My personal life was basically having a major freak out and there were so many days that I just wanted to call it quits. Not just my blog but also my job, friends, family, everything.

I can't pretend that my personal goal of completing a full blogmas didn't add to the stress. I wanted to make quality content but felt emotionally, mentally, and physically drained. There were posts I questioned or even downright didn't want to publish. They weren't perfect and they felt half-finished which I can't stand. But I worked with the time and energy I had and in the end didn't miss a day of posting.

Tired of me complaining? Honestly, me too. So how about I turn this around and talk about the good moments of December. There were a lot of them but, naturally, the negative events can overwhelm even the happiest memories. 

BLOGMAS DAY 23 // WEEKLY ROUNDUP

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP


 The last week before Christmas has come and gone. AND GOOD RIDDANCE. Let me just share a moment of my week with you: a mannequin caught on fire at the store because customers keep trying to take clothes off of them to get the size and it rested on a hot light... I mean give it a rest!
I also had a great Wednesday night when I watched Rogue One with the boyo and my mates! The film was incredible and such a great addition to the franchise. I really don't want to wait a whole year for the next movie but they do such a brilliant job it is definitely worth the wait.
Here's my weekly roundup too!

BLOGMAS DAY 19 // A LOOK BACK AT 2015 BLOGMAS

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A LOOK BACK AT 2015 BLOGMAS


I'm a nostalgic person and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I love talking about the past with friends and family. Laughing about old stories or cringing at the most embarrassing moments. Another nostalgic thing for me to do is look back at old blog posts. 
In my previous post I talked about how I felt last year at this time. Which, in turn, persuaded me to revisit my blog posts from last year. And honestly there isn't much there. But I laughed at the things I wrote and thought of myself writing them. 
Trying to squeeze in posts between finals and my internship. Making sure no one saw me writing my blog posts for fear that they would think I'm basic (or worse, actually reading my blog!). 

BLOGMAS DAY 16 // WEEKLY ROUNDUP

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP


I need to take minute to decompress after this week. Like it may actually take me the entirety of 2017 to recover from this stressful & anxiety ridden week of doom. But hey! It's Friday! Sadly I had to cancel my Christmas party but I'm still having a few friends over for some drinks and a smaller (and more casual) Christmas kickback.
Also, due to the said craziness of this past week, I have been unable to Christmas shop for anyone! Which sets me back quite a bit if I'm going to be prepared for next week. Why do I do this to myself? Is it because I secretly love the drama of having to make a mad dash for the mall? Someone answer these questions for me while you also check out the articles I came across over the last week! 

BLOGMAS DAY 15 // 15 HOLIDAY DATE IDEAS

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15 HOLIDAY DATE IDEAS


Disclaimer: I am usually the mayor of Singletown, so this one's a new one for me. But, as fate has intervened, I am currently dating and thus, have decided to make an idea list. There are so many fun activities to do this time of year. I mean like... so many. Just take a look at my Christmas Bucketlist (here) for examples. 
These don't even have to be couple activities either, my friends. You can go with your best friend, sibling, parents, grandparents, dog, what have you. So grab your buddy and get out into the wonderful winter wonderland that is Christmas time!

BLOGMAS DAY 9 // WEEKLY ROUNDUP

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP


 I can't lie to you... I am kind of happy this week is almost over. My work schedule was so overloaded I feel like all I did was wake up, blog, work, blog, sleep, repeat. But it's Friday and also day 9 of blogmas! Can that really be? Must it go so fast? (I realize this sounds crazy as I just said I was happy the week was over) I think I'm going to make more of an effort to go out and do Christmas-like things next week. But anywho...here's a weekly roundup to stop me from yammering on!

BLOGMAS DAY 2 // WEEKLY ROUNDUP

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WEEKLY ROUNDUP


Let's just sit here and really appreciate for a moment that December is the last month of 2016. You may be thinking well... duh. What I mean is that this horrible second half of 2016 is almost over! And I really, really, realllly want to make this last month good. Because come 2017 I am hoping things start to turn up. 
But beyond that it's also the month of Christmas so good or bad at least I can hold on to that! Now let's move on to this weeks weekly roundup, shall we?

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