Spring Break Week in Review - The Hamptons!

beach
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

Catching Up + 2016 Goals

adulthood
hey hey hey! Wow, I truly hate to see how long ago the last post was written. This blog may not be super popular but I was excited to see the number of page views growing over the past few months as I put more energy into writing better and more interesting content. It really was more of an experiment, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed!!! When I got home from school I went on a mental and physical reset. You never know how much you have over done it until you come home and just go into total detox mode. Catching up with friends and family, preparing for Christmas, reading books I actually wanted to read, binge watching TV shows... the list went on and it was all lovely.
I was also feeling very unlike myself. It is not uncommon for me to get inside my head too much when I'm away from my family for a long time. The Thanksgiving trip was such a whirlwind I don't think I sat down for more than 5 minutes trying to see everyone and do all the things that I wanted to do while home. I always start to feel like myself again here... which can be both a good thing and well a really bad thing.
I am someone who always battles with self doubt. Sometimes it is the easiest thing to just be like no that'll never work out. Last year I really tried to be outside my comfort zone as much as possible. And I think I am still setting the foundation in my mind for being able to reach my own success. Call it life therapy because I know I came home at a time when I needed an intervention.
And that is what I am going to be talking about at least once a week on this blog. Discovery. That is my word for 2016. Every single time I am going to be in a new situation I am going to think about this word. As I am graduating from Uni this semester and entering into the job world... there are so so SO many unknowns. As a Taurus it is in my nature to have a hard time adjusting to big life changes. That is why I am going to create all the ground work and preparation to make sure that this giant change is nothing more than a smooth flow of gradual adjustments.
I ask that if anyone else is feeling the same that you come along with me on this journey this year. Having a community that is understanding and empathetic can make big life changes so much more possible to conquer. Sure your family is great but 9 times out of 10 they aren't in the same position you are. And although they may think they can relate they still see you and your situation from an outside perspective. But that is why the internet is so much fun! There are people like you, facing similar (if not exact) experiences as you are. I mean how rad is that. So come and discover with me my friends! Let's see how we can make 2016 such a beautiful year full of happiness and balance.
Be back soon 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%. 

Brand New

adulthood
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... 

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 :)

The End of the "Teens"

adulthood
I am going to start off by saying I HATE birthdays. The drama and the anxiety that surround this day has always been something that irritates me to no end. However, seeing as this is my official last week as a teenager, I am starting to get that unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. Can it really be that after next friday I am officially in my 20's?!?! 
I already hate getting older and I haven't even reached my 30's yet... something must be wrong with me right???
What I am looking forward to is a nice getaway to D.C. for my birthday weekend with my side-kick (fulfilling our House of Cards dreams) ;)
Happy Hump Day! 

Mad About Mad Men

current
It's almost here ladies and gentlemen, the final season of Mad Men starts this Sunday!!!!!
This show is everything. The time period, the drama, the style... and Jon Hamm... What more could you ask for!
Being an advertising major and living in New York City, watching this show is basically a requirement. But if the advertising world is anything like Mad Men, which I'm sure it isn't, then sign me up!
Also wearing my Mad Men-esque H&M slim fit pants for inspiration ;)







Welcome to the 70's 

The Happiness Project

adulthood
With midterms swiftly approaching I am writing this in the ten minute break of my oceanography class. However... I wanted to share something new with you all! It is called the Happiness Project and here are some details about it :)

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project.
In this lively and compelling account, Rubin chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Among other things, she found that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that money can help buy happiness, when spent wisely; that outer order contributes to inner calm; and that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference.

Although my time is heavily scheduled, finding time to be happy is the most important thing you can do. Staying sane is becoming an increasing problem when the only time I have to myself everyday is in the shower. I am planning a complete life renovation but it is going to take a lot of time and work, but having guidelines (like those proposed on http://gretchenrubin.com) can really help set you on the right path. 

Happy Friday

Knowing Yourself

adulthood
I may not be the most experienced person to talk about this but I think it is extremely important nonetheless. Knowing yourself and reading the signs that your body gives you is one of the greatest tools you can develop. Having the ability to say "can I do this" or "should I do this" is extremely hard to perfect because there is always multiple voices, whether inside your head or from other people, that tell you to do the opposite.
Friday night I went out and had a blast with all my friends. Dancing, having deep conversations, laughing my ass off…it was all there and it was fantastic. After a long long LONG week I was ready to let loose and party. This also means going to sleep around 3 o'clock.
Saturday morning my roommates wake me up at 8 o'clock because they are leaving for a retreat. While usually I don't mind being woken up (light sleeper problems) today I really couldn't believe that I was unable to fall back asleep because I could tell I was still exhausted. Around noon my friend and I went to the met and walked around and laughed and mimicked the paintings and statues. After we went down to east village and went thrifting and then ate at Artichoke pizza (my absolute favorite). Well the entire day I could feel my body slowly crumbling in. My feet ached, my eyes pounded, and the thought of have to lift my arms was just too much to handle.
We got back around 6 and I went to my room… and basically died until my soul was resurrected at 9 o'clock this morning. I had been invited to a few parties/bars but I knew that what I needed was sleep. Pure, raw, uninterrupted sleep. And I did but it made me realize I need to know when to draw the line more. Sleeping early on week days, leaving the party earlier on the weekends… anything helps. But all in all I am rested and rejuvenated for the homework day ahead!
Happy Sunday!

Fighting Change

adulthood
It's inevitable right? There is no way to stop it and yet we all try... every single day of our lives we try to stop change from happening. I love the beginning of semesters because its like a breath of fresh air. But then the reality hits in when I think I am one semester closer to being finished with college and preparing for the world ahead. It's a scary thought, but one that comes with much preparation and excitement. Seeing my sister finish school was thrilling for me just as much as it was for her. Finally I was seeing firsthand what life after school could be like and... well... not so good. She was (and still is) absolutely terrified of the road ahead. Graduating a semester early she didn't have a set plan. Although she has had mountains and mountains of support from her friends and family to do whatever she wants to do she is still hesitant. School loans and low job opportunities are staring her straight in the face and, like many other recent grads, it all looks so bleak. I am not necessarily the most optimistic person but I do try to make sure that everyone around me stays positive. Trying to convince my sister that everything will be okay and that not having it figured out at 21 is perfectly normal, but the truth is that I don't really know how she feels. For at least another 2 years I am bound to my school work and, other than looking for part time work, I do not have to join the real world.
Like I said earlier change is going to happen whether we are prepared or not. You can face it with trepidation and dread or you can grab change and make it whatever you want to be! Change up your morning routine, your workout routine, your social life. All of these things CAN be in your control as long as you have the desire to do it.
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Andre Gide - 

Finding the Balance

adulthood
Maybe it's the idea of a new year that creates the endless opportunity of a fresh start. Shedding your skin and reaching towards those goals that at one time seemed completely unattainable. I like to choose a word every year that I will try to live my life by. Last years word was Learn, whether it was about myself, in school, or taking the time to learn more about the world around me. This years word is balance. A problem I have suffered from is losing total balance when things in my life go in a different direction than I thought. Finding that balance will hopefully help me keep my feet firmly on the ground and my head out of the sky. The reality of growing older each year is coming to terms with the fact that all things are in your control. People will only hurt you if you let them. People will only love you if you let them. Recently I saw a gif set on tumblr that really grabbed my attention. It was a scene from the lion king when Rafiki hits Simba on the head and Simba asks what that was for. Rafiki responds "it doesn't matter. It's in the past." to which Simba says "yeah, but it still hurts.", and here is where the real wisdom comes in, Rafiki's response is "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or... learn from it." Probably one of the greatest things I have ever heard and it comes from a cartoon. I have seen firsthand how detrimental holding onto the past can be to a person. Of course your past is important because you are who you are today because of your experiences. But guess what... EVERY NEW DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE YOURSELF. Every new sunrise is a clean slate. If that doesn't fill your heart with hope and happiness then I don't know what can. Love harder than you've ever loved. Cry when you're sad. Laugh until your cheeks hurt. Try new things. Meet new people. Live by your heart and not by your head. Balance is key. "Balance, my darling, is never letting anyone love you less than you love yourself."

A Tip for the Future

city
My plan for this blog was originally intended as a sort of chronicle of my daily life here in New York City so that my family would be able to keep up with what was going on. But now I have found that, although I have a journal, there is something therapeutic about putting your ideas online and watching as people either read, or don't read, what you have to say. 
I am not a competitive person but sometimes I look at blogs and see how many followers a person has and I just do not understand how it's possible. With all the millions of people that have access to the internet, there are some blogs that are completely identical to another. What makes one good and one bad? I guess I will never really know the difference.
Perhaps I am writing this post because nothing significant happened in my day and while I stayed busy, it just was uneventful. 
Today on Tumblr I saw something that was extremely interesting to me though and now I am going to share it with you here. 

“Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ‘97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen
would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been
proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no
basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will
dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind.
You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth
until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look
back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp
now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you
really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying
is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things
that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you
at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead,
sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end,
it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with
your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at
22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most
interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them
when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children,
maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance
the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you
do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself
either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of
it or of what other people think of it. It’s the greatest
instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone
for good. Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to
your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the
future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few
you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography
and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need
the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you
soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians
will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll
fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable,
politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust
fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when
either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it
will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way
of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting
over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.”
— Kurt Vonnegut
I highly recommend reading it if you have the time!

Procrastination Station

adulthood
Isn't funny how our lives are a constant battle between trying to be ahead and procrastination? No it isn't? Ya I didn't think so either. 
This is one of my greatest problems because I do have that internal mechanism that tells me what I need to be doing but I also have an equally loud voice telling me it is okay to put it off for awhile. And it isn't! Never is it okay to let yourself get behind because in the end you are going to be so much more flustered and angry than if you had done it when you knew you were supposed to. (yay run-on sentences) 
But why do we let ourselves get behind? Is it the fear of the amount of work we have? Does it have some psychological undertones to it? For these questions I have no straight answer. And I am only writing this post because it is a good way to procrastinate on the things that I need to do today. So without further ado here are my steps to stop procrastinating: 
1. Go Someplace Quiet: This to me is the most important step because my brain can not pay full attention when there isn't complete silence. Even the slightest bit of outside interference really messes with my ability to focus. 
2. Don't think you can lie on your bed and do work: First of all a bed is for sleep and sleep is all you will be able to think about when you're laying on it. Don't worry your comfy pillows will be waiting for you when you finish the assignment.
3. If you have an essay assigned write a first draft in the first three days: obviously if the assignment is due in less than three days then your teacher is the devil and you should drop the class. But if you have a term paper due and you know that it is going to be worth a bigger part of you final grade then you absolutely have to get it out of the way. Even when I know I have a shit ton of other homework to do I can always feel better knowing that at least I have begun the creative process.
4. Keep your phone at least three feet away and on silent: If you really can't be away from your phone for more than an hour or two while you are trying to finish homework then maybe the problem is you and not your workload. Seriously the world will not stop moving if you don't check your snapchats 3 seconds after someone sends it to you (and this is coming from a snapchat fanatic). The more effort it takes to get up and check your phone, the less prone you will be to want to check it. 
5. Make a schedule of the amount of free time you have: A lot of people at my school have their class schedules written on the wall but for me I think it is better to know the times you don't have class. This way you can plan out when you want to get things done. Personally I am not a night person or a morning person. So I know that I need to get my work done during the day or it will never get done. The last thing I want to do is get out of the shower and read 3 Acts of Othello. No I want to sit and catch up on Breaking Bad so I read the three acts at 1:00 when I have no class. Time management is manageable I promise.

Well this concludes my procrastination blogging for the day. And remember to make time for yourself too, that is something you should never feel guilty about. 

How To Write a Blog Post That Has No Train Of Thought

adulthood
To begin I want to start off by saying that one of my classes this year is english literature. Now for anyone that knows me English is probably one of my favorite subjects. Of course this also begins the questioning of why aren't you an english major? Well I have always had a realistic sense of the difference between doing what you love and loving what you do. I love love love to read. I also love love love to watch movies. However, when it comes down to the future I know that what I need to do in order to be successful is understand that I can still love to read and love to watch movies while working as oh I don't know... an advertiser?
Now for those of you who are doing exactly what you love (whether something with music, art, etc.) I commend you for being so strong. But often in life we have to do what we know in our hearts is right. 
I also love to learn. However I do not (and I repeat do not) love to study. Learning to me is the most amazing opportunity given to us. To be able to read a book or listen to a lecture and come out with a new or better understanding of the world is invaluable. 
To come to the point of this post (if there even is one) I have, I feel, a great understanding of who I am and what I like. I know my limits and I know what I excel in. Am I lazy sometimes? Of course. Am I right all the time? Absolutely not. But I know what I want in life and it has taken a long time for me to understand what exactly my reasoning behind coming to New York and changing my degree to advertising was. I think many teenagers nowadays feel like they are being rushed into choosing a major. But I have yet to meet a person here who has decided on a major say they aren't optimistic about the future. And perhaps we are too optimistic. But I would rather be naive than be jaded about the world at 19 years old. 

If you can, take the time today to think about what you love to do. And then think about what you are doing out of love (whether for yourself or someone else). 

OCTOBER MADNESS

city
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

adulthood
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



Back to the Old Grind

adulthood
Well everybody it is officially the end of my first week of sophomore year! I don't even know where to begin. I guess I can start with having to say goodbye to my AMAZING california friends last friday at a little bonfire on the beach (minus the bonfire). I always pray that saying goodbye will get easier and easier each time I leave but I am now finding out that the opposite is happening. I can't help to feel that as I am going on a different path with my life, so are all my friends. To think that one day I will return home and they will all have either moved away or just moved on is terrifying. Of course I know that most of my friends will be life long. Being that I am 3000 miles away from them, maintaing constant interaction proves to be extremely difficult. None the less knowing that I have such an amazing support system back home is always empowering as I venture into the unknown.
Now to talk about saying goodbye to my beautiful mother. To say we went through a lot this summer is putting it mildly. The loss of our dog and 1 year anniversary of my grandfathers death, all within the same week might I add, really through us for a loop. As the days of my departure grew fewer and fewer I found myself digging my feet into the ground, completely powerless to stop it. How could I leave her at a time like this? My grandmother moving out the same weekend creating a almost completely empty 5 bedroom house! But I know I couldn't have done any of this without my mothers undying support. 
Finally to the actually journey back to New York. To start off I probably should NOT have taken a red eye the day before school started. Not only did I not sleep for a single second on the plane, I also had absolutely no time to even sit and think for the rest of the day. After getting ripped off by the taxi driver to school my mind was swimming with all the errands I had to accomplish in one day. Unpacking, checking in, buying a comforter, organizing, school books and supplies... the list went on. Luckily my amazing suite mate Christine was able to drive her car to all the places we needed to go! I am surprised that I was able to survive that day and also wake up for 8 o'clock class the next morning but of course it all worked out!
I am hopeful that this year is going to be fantastic but I can't shake the nervous feeling that each semester is passing by faster and faster until one day I will be off on my own! 


summer update

family
I am literally sitting hear in awe of the fact that tomorrow is July 1st. Has it really been a month and a half that I have been out of school?!?! Anywhooo this summer has been fantastico! Apart from the fact that it took my work a month to finally hire me back I consider it a blessing in disguise. Sure it would have been nice to make more money this summer but the time that I got to spend not only with friends and family but also alone was precious. I have done more this summer in this short time than I did in a year when I lived here full time. Do I miss New York? Absolutely. Do I miss my college friends? More than words. But I thank God everyday that I grew up in such an amazing place with such amazing people.




The train ride from New York to San Francisco




Buggos 95th Birthday

A day in Venice

Girls weekend in Arrowhead


Beach daysss

Laguna Sunsets

Work... Glorious Work.



old friends



Freshman 50

adulthood
I figure that this long bus ride will give me all the time I need to think of the 50 most important things I have learned my freshman year. (in no particular order)
1. Getting lost is not always a bad thing, you could end up meeting your best friend (talking about you Cassandre)
2. Do not lower your standards for friends just because you are afraid of being a loner.
3. Don't make snap judgments on people because most of the time you are very, VERY wrong.
4. You will stay in touch with people you never thought you would.
5. You will lose touch with people you never thought you would.
6. Skype is one of the greatest inventions yet (even if your mom doesn't like it).
7. The more time you spend alone, the more homesick you are going to feel.
8. Coline is the Netflix champion because she can watch an entire season of Desperate Housewives in a day.
9. Not having a TV makes for a more productive life.
10. Netflix will cancel out all that productivity.
11. Sometimes the greatest nights are spent watching a movie with close friends.
12. Making forts is still so much fun but sleeping in them is not.
13. When the news names something "Frankenstorm", prepare accordingly.
14. Target was designed to hypnotize its customers into buying 100's of dollars of worthless shit every time you walk through the doors.
15. Don't go to target more than once a month.
16. Every time, EVERY TIME, you have to use the bathroom, one of your suite mates will be taking a shower
17. Don't lose a friendship because you feel torn between having to pick sides.
18. Do not walk up a muddy hill after it snows (christine this one is for you)
19. Boys like to play music loud enough that they have the experience of being in an actual club (whether this is true or not is unknown, but if not I do not understand the purpose of blasting loud dub step music...)
20. Its okay to go to bed at 11 at night in college (the stereotype that college kids don't get sleep is mainly for those with bad time management)
21. It is possible to go to bed at 3 every night and still function properly the next day
22. Do not take more than 3 naps a day or your brain will stop working
23. Don't take naps after 6 p.m.
24. If you are going to watch a movie that your friend loves, make sure you pay attention so you don't hurt their feelings.
25. Don't drink chocolate milk before a speech or you will choke half way through
26. You don't always have to go to museum sight visits because most of the time they have every artifact or design on the internet.
27. Museums are fun and a great way to waste time.
28. Always, ALWAYS bring a book with you on the subway.
29. Take advantage of everything the college has to offer.
30. Don't be afraid to audition for something (lets just say rocky horror) and make a complete fool out of yourself because it makes for a hilarious story
31. Don't quit something because of one bad experience
32. There is a club out there for everyone.
33. Do the readings even if you have to keep your eyes open with tape.
34. If you think the teacher may give a pop quiz, always be prepared.
35. If you think the teacher is not going to give a pop quiz, just know that they are.
36. Philosophy is NOT for everyone.
37. Be ready to listen to people's opinions that are completely different from your own and accept them for what they are. (i'm talking about you annoying kid in my philosophy class)
38. Just because you were bad at a subject in high school doesn't mean you will be horrible at it in college.
39. Don't choose a major going in to school unless you are absolutely certain that that is the path you want to go down.
40. Changing majors is frustrating and time consuming.
41. Do not get stuck in the no-workout rut.
42. If you do get stuck in the no-workout rut, make sure you plan your meals accordingly.
43. Yoga is the greatest invention ever.
44. Just because you can't (and probably never will) touch your toes, doesn't mean you can't enjoy yoga.
45. Don't laugh when you're in candlestick pose.
46. Don't get behind on laundry.
47. The laundry machines will never be empty on the weekends and don't talk yourself into thinking that they will be.
48. Spend as much time with friends as you possibly can because summer comes faster than you think
49. Remember it is not goodbye, it's "I'll see you later"
50. Never regret how you spent your time, but cherish how that time was spent.

Not dead... yet.

family
Sorry for the lack of blog posts lately! So much has happened and I just can't find the time in the day to sit down and put it all together. Finals are really testing my limits right now. That and the fact that I have to travel across the country in just a matter of DAYS is not lessening the stress. But in the end it will all be worth it... I hope ;)

Also here is my current song obsession and study song. I have listened to it more times than I care to admit, but I hope you enjoy it!

INSTAGRAM