3 DAYS IN VANCOUVER // A GUIDE

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Back at it with another travel guide today! I figured I should definitely just splurge all the information out before I forget everything. Truth be told I really like writing travel blogs because it makes me feel good about spending so much money traveling (lol). But, in all honesty, it also makes me nostalgic to return to those places. 
I really loved everything about our holiday to Vancouver, B.C. The people, the sights, and the atmosphere were all absolutely incredible. Although it was freezing - which sometimes trapped us indoors - I wouldn't trade a single second of this trip. So here is my Vancouver Travel Guide for you!


24 HOURS IN SEATTLE // A GUIDE

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So happy to be writing my first post of 2017 and I am so glad that it is a travel post! I've been back from my holiday for about three days but, of course, there were 3 million tasks I needed to accomplish when I returned. Not to mention that little thing called work.
But my god, I feel so much better. I feel fan-frickin-tastic! This holiday was EXACTLY what I needed. As the plane took off this past Thursday I could feel the pressure lifting off of me. All the negative energy of my routine had been weighing on me so hard for the past three months. I had honestly felt like I lost myself in all of it. 
But driving into Seattle I felt a type of elation that I hadn't felt in a long time. A giddy sort of joy that I was desperately needing. I have wanted to visit Seattle for years and knowing that I was finally there, checking off my bucket list, was so satisfying. We only had a short (too short) 24 hours before we had to pack up and head to Vancouver but we fit in as much as we could in that short amount of time. So here is my guide for you!

BLOGTOBER DAY 24 // VISIT TO A PUMPKIN FARM

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Okay... Fall goal realized. Remember all the way back to my 3rd blogtober post when I made my fall bucket list? Well, I have to say I'm pretty proud of all the things I've accomplished on it. I always make these lists and sadly, never get to realize them. But that is just not the case!
This past Saturday I went to Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch with my sister and her roommate. It was so. freakin. hot. Like almost passing out in the corn maze hot. But we were persistent and in the end (and after a large strawberry lemonade) had a blast.

PUMPKIN PATCH //



BLOGTOBER DAY 22 // HARRY POTTER WORLD

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I think my body is finally functioning normally again after Thursday. There are honestly hardly any words I could say that can describe how I felt when I first saw a glimpse of this incredible attraction. I may joke with friends about being a "nerd" but at that moment I didn't care if anyone saw how ecstatic I was. Todays Blogtober post will be all about the incredible Harry Potter World experience at Universal Studios Hollywood. 
Are you ready?


HARRY POTTER WORLD //

Just a prewarning, I'm going to try to limit myself on photos but... no promises. They are all just so great! 

BLOGTOBER DAY 10 // BALBOA PARK

balboa park
I think there is one dream I have in life that I am pretty positive will never come true. What wish could that be? To find a time machine that would take me back in history. Literally nothing could make me happier than walking around Versailles at the time of Marie Antoinette or walking along the banks in Paris in the 1920's. But alas, that is just not really an actual possibility (still doesn't make me want it any less either).
Why do I bring this up? Well, on Friday I drove down to San Diego to celebrate my step-dads 60th birthday. My mom decided to visit Balboa Park for the day since no one had been for quite a long time and I myself had never been. And lordy lord... IT WAS AMAZING. 
Just some back ground on Balboa Park, it was the site of the World's Fair in 1915. The best part? Nothing has been changed since then and it is incredible. If I ever want to pretend my dream of time traveling was a reality, this is a perfect place to start. Here are some photos I took of this unreal place and I hope you enjoy!


Balboa Park


BLOGTOBER DAY 8 // FALL NATURE WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS

Autumn
Switching the format up here just a tad bit! So the first weekend of October I escaped to the mountains for some tranquility and it was pure bliss. There was always something suffocating about living in New York. While the city was incredible in it's own magical way, the need to escape was always on my radar. 
That is what the mountains in California (yes, there are many mountain ranges in California) allow me to do. Los Angeles is incredible, inspirational, and radiant but there is nothing quite like that first deep breath of crisp air. And, like a high percentage of bloggers out there, when you add a taste of Autumn in the mix it's the closest thing to paradise I have ever seen.


LOS ANGELES TOURIST DAY //

amoeba

Honestly, what could be more fun than being a tourist in your own city? One of the exciting bits of living in a place like Los Angeles is that you are sitting on top of a gold mine in terms of history and entertainment. For the most part I work all throughout the weekends so getting a chance to go out and explore is seriously rejuvenating... even if you come home at the end of the day too tired to walk to bed. So yesterday, two of my closest friends joined me for a great day in Los Angeles!
Here was our little itinerary for they day:

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MISSION DISTRICT

beauty blog




I wanted to share this cheeky little photoshoot my sister and our friend Alex did this past weekend. I love the mission district so much, especially this area. We went to the Hummingbird Cafe for brunch and then Hidden House for an Iced Chai! 
I got my skirt a year or so ago from Nordstrom's but it is my absolute favorite and I have to say it went well with the Train's color scheme! I am also loving straw hats this summer, it adds a special little something I think.
If you are ever down in the Southern California Area I highly suggest taking a day trip here :) xoxo Sam 

Spring Break Week in Review - The Hamptons!

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hello hello! back at it again a few weeks later... things have been so unbelievably hectic lately I really haven't had a moment *where I'm not sleeping* to myself. But starting last Thursday I was officially on my first day of my last spring break! And seeing as today is the first day of spring I thought I would share with you all my holiday week :)
the first five days are very easy to sum up: workworkworkworkworkworkwork. I literally worked 9 hour days at Gap starting Friday all the way to Tuesday. Between the travel, the crazy sale the store was having, and the time change (literally death itself) I would come home at the days end and collapse on the couch a comatose state until the next morning where I would get up and do it all over again. 
It felt kind of like the Kink's song "A Well Respected Man": Cause he gets up in the morning and he goes to work at nine
And he comes back home at five-thirty, gets the same train every time
I wouldn't even say I was disappointed with working that much as everyone had gone home for the week or on some spring break vacay and I know if I wouldn't have had anything to do for five days I would have been in a very sour mood about it all.
However, Wednesday finally arrived and I was up early to meet friends at Penn Station to go to the Hamptons!
Our friend has a cousin who is ridiculously wealthy (he's called the points guy? lol) and he has a mansion in the Hampton's that he opened up to her and her friends to stay at. I really didn't know what to expect going there but OMG. My heart started fluttering the minute we pulled up to the gate. This house was like something out of the Great Gatsby. I actually started screaming when I saw the all-white marble kitchen (to say this house is "goals" is putting it mildly).
A shot taken from the backyard
Day one we got in around 2 (I didn't realize just how far the Hampton's is from NYC) and we went and explored the house. First we all put on robes and danced on the back porch before going out and buying three huge pizzas. After this we all went in the indoor sauna and laughed as the temperature got higher and higher to the point of being too hot to breath. Once we were all showered and cozy we went downstairs to the movie room and watched Jurassic World (which I hadn't seen before and loved!) Everyone was exhausted after the movie and we crashed pretty hard that night.



Day two I was up early (surprise surprise) and once everyone was up we made breakfast and then headed to the beach. It was actually super cold but two of our friends wanted to do a "polar plunge" and ran into the water. I loved looking at the all the homes on the beach. It was exactly what I pictured Hampton's beaches to look like from movies and pictures I'd seen. Once we were all thoroughly frozen we headed back to the house. We went outside to play ping pong and volleyball for basically four hours and then came inside to cook. There was an appetizer theme of the night (we are college kids after all there had to be bagel bites somewhere) and ate way way way too much food. We played a card game after dinner and then went to the movie room and watched The Lego Movie - I made it about 15 minutes until I passed out. 


 
Day Three I actually slept in later than usual and we all went to brunch. After playing more volleyball, we came inside and just sort of hung out and talked. Being that we are all film fanatics we decided this house would be the perfect location to film a spy themed movie. It was hilarious! It took about four hours to film all the way through because we couldn't get through a take without bursting into laughter. I can't wait to share it with you all, especially since I got to play the villain which never happens! We were so wiped after filming we played a card game and headed to bed.


Day Four we were all up super early as I had to be at work that afternoon and others had family/friend things to attend. We were all so depressed to have to leave this amazing place. We created so many memories that I will always look back on with the warmest thoughts. I am not putting it lightly when I say this was the best holiday I have ever had with some of the most genuine people I know. And being that it is my last spring break as a college student I am so happy to have these memories to hold on to forever.

until next time! xoxo Sam

Day Trip to San Diego + What I Wore

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Yesterday my sister and I decided to go and visit my older sister in pacific beach San Diego. It was a semi-chilly day and oddly enough many things were shut down for the winter months...like this is California...come on people it's not THAT cold. (Disclaimer: El Niño has everyone in California absolutely in a frenzy of excitement/confusion apparently).

For my outfit choice I opted for green Springfield jeans that are so comfortable that my sister actually gave me. They were bought in Spain as Springfield doesn't exist in the states! (cries forever) The jean jacket is one of my moms old one's from like the 80's that I steal every time I'm home and the shirt is from Zara. The booties of course were bought from Nordstrom Rack but are actually Lucky Brand!

My sister had been raving about this new coffee shoppe called Better Buzz. They have a drink literally called "the best drink ever" and holy moly... IT IS AMAZING. Not only does it taste like heaven but daaaaang was that puppy strong! If you are ever down in that area I highly recommend it!
Here is my drinking said drink... also yes I know one nail is painted on but it ripped off the other morning and I didn't have time to go and get them removed (lol what a mess)

Hope you enjoyed the post! I may try to do more ootd so let me know how you like them! xoxo Sam


Brand New

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Can't believe I am actually writing this post from my room in New York! It has been nine long long LONG months away from this beautiful place and I am so full of happiness to be back. A little update on winter break: great. wonderful. full of adventure. WAY too short.
Leaving California on Sunday I felt very nervous. Almost as if I was moving to New York for the first time again. Of course that is a crazy feeling especially after coming back and surprise surprise nothing has changed! All my friends are still amazing. The school is still beautiful. And, although I feel I have changed, things are starting to feel normal again. Some people thing normal is boring but for me normal is calming. It was hard to feel balanced when I was constantly thinking okay just four months just four months just four months. Now I am cool and calm and completely collected. 
Seeing all my friends yesterday was such a whirlwind of emotion. Maybe it was the jet lag but by the end of the day I literally could not hold my head up for two seconds longer. 
Of course I already miss my mom and my home and my dog but just like New York, it will be there when it is my time to go back. 
I just have to remember to be fully where I am... 

Going, going, gone!

adulthood
Aaahhh can there really only be two days of school left here in Spain?!?! I can not actually believe that as of tuesday my semester here will be over and every amazing person that I have met will leave. How crazy is it that you can look at someone that you have shared all these amazing and life changing moments with and think well I may never see you again... like ever.
On another note I am totally ready for the school part to be over with. As thankful as I am that the workload wasn't too demanding, I don't know how much more I could have handled. The organization and well english level of some of my teachers was severely lacking. *Note to self: Research school before studying abroad*
Also I am crazy excited for my family to get here! As much as I wish I could be home for christmas, I can't wait to share this country with them and show them a little bit of the culture that I have been living in for the past 3 months.
Yesterday a bunch of us took a cooking class in a 15th century cave and it made me super nostalgic and sad that it will all be over so so soon!
I know that everyone else if feeling the same way that I am. Which is torn about leaving because on the one hand you feel homesick for the US but on the other hand this experience is over. We will probably never be able to do this kind of thing again ever in our lives. I know, at least for me, that I have waited years and years for this and now that I only have a few weeks left... I would do anything to have just a little bit longer.
Well I should get back to studying since I have really been lacking in making any headway in that department.

Alone but not Lonely

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So this post is being inspired by the fact that literally EVERYONE I know left Madrid this weekend and I (tear tear tear) couldn't produce the funds to support another excursion... if you catch my drift. However, it is what it is and as this weekend approached I found myself thinking of all the possible things I could do alone. And actually... I found myself being really excited.
Now I am a bonafide introvert and I really don't have a problem with it. Of course I go out to parties, I am able to talk to large groups of people, and I can socialize rather well. I feel like introverts often get a bad rep because people just imagine a curled up girl alone in her house reading a book next to the fire. Which, as magical as it sounds, isn't the only thing introverts do. I read something recently (probably on tumblr) that talked about the difference between extroverts and introverts. To summarize it basically stated that the main difference is only that extroverts replenish their energy from socializing where as introverts, who are completely capable of being social, expend their energy from socializing. I would have to say that pretty much hits it right on the nose!
Anyways back to this weekend. Well I knew I had a mondo project that I should have been working on all semester -teehee- but I figured what better time than now to really zone in on all my final to-do lists. There seemed to be so much I could do that I actually worried there wouldn't be enough time to do anything else! So friday I woke up, finished a powerpoint, made three study guides, and then decided to call it a day. But I told myself that I was not going to just sit inside and watch gilmore girls until kingdom come. So I put on my coat and walked to the Prado so I could see Goya paintings which we had just finished covering in my art class.
I absolutely adore the Prado. As... interesting as modern art is, it just doesn't really inspire me much. I loathe looking at a painting and being like THIS LITERALLY HAS NO MEANING I COULD'VE DONE THIS which happens a lot when I go to museums like the MOMA in New York or the Tate Modern in London.
After this I walked back home and finished off my night with Gilmore Girls. Saturday I woke up, made a study guide for my architecture class, practiced my presentation, made a to-do list for studying this week, and fin. Then I put on my coat and went to Gran Via to buy a sweater I had seen thursday from Pull and Bear. After I walked home from Sol which takes about 40 minutes, but I just really cleared my head. No cell phone, no english... anywhere. I came back completely frozen and completely happy. Then I finished the night with some more Gilmore Girls.
I hate having to justify to people that I really am okay with being alone. Of course I don't want to be alone all the time and when I do get social interaction I gladly welcome it but I am very independent in that I will make a schedule for myself and just do what I feel. Today actually I'm torn between going to the Reina Sofia or just walking in Parque Retiro. Either way it is going to be what I want to do!

Visado de España

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IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE! IT'S FINALLY HERE! When people talk about how annoying the visa process is... it is no joke. Admittedly I am an anxious person when it comes to just about anything but the weeks leading up to getting the visa were some of the most stressful days of my life! Not only was it extremely expensive but I knew there could be zero room for mistake because of how limited on time I was. However last night after coming home from a two day vacation in the mountains with my sister and cousin my mom says "Your visa came." No joke at that moment I flew up the stairs with more speed than I even knew possible. And yes, there it was, lying on my bed like a shining beacon of success. Immediately I felt the wave of fulfillment rain over me. Although my sister hasn't received hers yet (only because she is applying for a resident visa not a student visa) I am confident that everything will work out perfectly.
Then that got me thinking. Sure maybe I overreacted and checked all my papers 2894823 times before the appointment and emailed my program about 9859028 times to make sure everything was correct but... this happiness that I feel at having done it all by myself is so rewarding. Everyone says there will be these big life moments and, although it isn't life changing, just seeing the "Hasta Seis Meses" writing is exhilarating.
Now, however, my priorities have shifted to studying as much as I possibly can in Spanish. Lord knows it is going to give me another ulcer but after riding on such a high like last night... nothing can stop me!

10 minutes to boarding

college
As I'm in sitting in the JFK terminal the reality is sinking in. 9 months away from the city and the people that I love so much. Sure it's not always pretty and it's definitely not always fun but there are moments ( like sitting on a huge rock in van cordtlant park at midnight) that breath life back into your lungs. I remember a few months back I hated the city. I hated the people. And I hated school. After realizing that it wasn't the city or the people or the school I really tried to remember my 17 year old self that cried and pleaded with her mother to let her move across the country to a city that held all the possibilities to a perfect life. Obviously... It wasn't perfect. But as I was walking block after block last night saying goodbye to the buildings and the streets that have shaped who I am I felt it again.
HOWEVER I love change and new experiences and it's not goodbye forever it's I'll see you soon! Next stop España

Spring break

adulthood
We made it guys. Spring break is back and I could NOT be more ready. After a spontaneous (read:meltdown) decision to book a flight back home for this week it seemed that every day was the longest day of my life. And it was so jam packed with activities-mainly studying-that it really should have gone a lot faster than it did!
Tuesday was the absolute most amazing day because I WENT TO THE LORDE CONCERT! She is such an inspiration and such an AMAZING performer that I was basically in tears the entire time. Here are some pictures from that night.
Aaron is the selfie queen so we snapchatted the night away




Other than that everything else really consisted of studying, studying, and more studying! But now its time to be with my loved ones in California for a week <3
Until next time xoxo

It's Official!

college
Finally after years and years of waiting I am going to be studying abroad in Madrid for Fall semester! And a bonus...My sister will be teaching in Madrid so we will finally be able to live together again:) 
Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and caught up in these little day-to-day problems, that I end up losing sight of my dreams. Letting all these little things bother me has really begun to take its toll and I find myself getting hurt or angry at the smallest problems. 
Getting the acceptance letter yesterday really helped me rise above my own problems and see that all my determination really can amount to great things. 
I just have to keep my head up and follow the course. 


Watch out Spain I'm coming for ya xoxo

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)

OCTOBER MADNESS

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Well everybody october is finally here! To say I am excited for this month is understatement. Last year October ended up being the toughest month in terms of homesickness. Why this happened? I have no clue! 
But this year is definitely going to be different. I have so many things planned for this month I don't know if there will ever be a minute to stop and catch my breath! Could this be a downside? Possibly. But I am so ready to take it on and come into November ready to rumble. 
The two major things that will be happening are 1. We are going to my roommates home in Easton, Maryland for Columbus day weekend. 2. MY BEST FRIEND IS COMING TO NEW YORK FOR THREE DAYS! 
I know that having these things lurking around the corner is going to be a big distraction. And with midterms coming up there really is no room to mess around. 
I guess I will just take each day as it comes because there really is no reason to freak out or stress out when we have sooo many things to look forward to. 

P.S. totally playing down my stress level really helps me cope with the fact that... I am totally freaking out about the amount of work I have for school. Hopefully with all this fun will come a bit of inspiration to get my work done ahead of time
 Dinner at Smiths with Christine's amazing family
 Pictures at the Palace hotel because... Gossip Girl

Friday Night Fun

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It has become a ritual to go to the city every friday no matter how drained we are from the week. Whether it is a shopping trip or to see a movie, we always end up having the most fantastic time!





Here are some pictures from our trip yesterday



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