20 Thoughts in 20 Years

Happy 20th to me! I'm keeping celebrating my birthday really simple this year (like most years, actually). No party, no huge dinner. Just lots of laughs, loved ones, and positivity. To celebrate via Prep Northwest, I decided to make a list of 20 thoughts I've gathered in 20 years (okay, not all are from when I was 10) and share them. Enjoy!

1. Surround yourself with people who have your best interest in mind and bring out of the best in you. Don't waste time with people who bring you down, who intentionally (or often unintentionally) make you feel bad. You deserve better.
2. Splurge on yourself every once in awhile. It's okay to buy those Steve Madden sandals (guilty), just don't make it a habit to spend so much so often.
3. Find a hobby that you really love and put your energy into that. I love crafting and painting! I'm also really interested in gardening and plants. If you're starting to feel stressed out, it's okay to take a break. You owe it to yourself to do what makes you feel good, not anxious.
4. Do all the fun stuff that you can while you're young. Get that prom party bus, go to school out of state, learn to sail, backpack through foreign countries. There will come a day where time is a luxury and you won't get to do whatever you want whenever you want.
5. Live in a dorm. They sound gross and small, but my best college memories revolve around living in a dorm and the people I met living there. You learn a lot about yourself when you're forced into a small space with another person. You'll survive, I promise.
6. Mental health days are valid. Put you and your health first, and do what you can to be the healthy and vibrant person you are.
7. Take lots and lots of naps. 
8. Don't worry too much about boys, dating, and some friendships right now. You're what, not even 25? We have so much ahead of us and we'll find the people we're supposed to be with. Don't stress so much - this time in your life is not a depiction of your entire future.
9. Eat breakfast (especially brunch on the weekends). Nothing else will start your day off better.
10. Take that selfie. Heck, take those 20 selfies. Don't let people make you feel bad for taking photos of your beautiful face and feeling confident. You do you.
11. Buy yourself flowers once a month (or twice, or every week). It's amazing what a difference a beautiful bouquet does.
12. Spend your time and energy creating great memories! Clothes and knick knacks are fun, but going out to eat with your loved ones, seeing your favorite band live, and going on a mini getaway are far more important.
13. Getting intimate with someone does not make you (or anyone) a bad person. Don't slut shame, don't harass, and don't worry about someone else and their sex lives. It doesn't concern you.
14. Navy is always first choice.
15. Learn how to cook three of your favorite meals. You'll free great about yourself and feel great about eating something other thank boxed mac and cheese.
16. Plant flowers. Recycle. Walk where you can. Compost. Take shorter showers. Do what you can to preserve the earth and take care of it. It's doing everything it can for you.
17. Don't underestimate the power of winged liner and a high pony (my favorite).
18. Take baths. Read, watch Netflix, or chat on the phone, but take baths. Use that time to treat yourself to a body scrub and relax. You deserve it.
19. Stop putting people into boxes. Try to break away from gender roles, stereotypes, and judging others based on their race/sexual orientation/religious views/gender/ability. Be kind to everyone.
20. Break out of your comfort zone into your growth zone. Take small steps and do something new every week. Go to an exhibit, take a walk in a new (and safe) area, take a class (cooking, painting, ceramics, pole dancing), visit a gym, go to the farmer's market. It will feel great.

Thank you so much everyone for reading this! These are thoughts that I experience daily and use as comfort when I'm feeling especially lost, stressed, or confused. Share with me what you remind yourself - maybe we're thinking that same thing.

Cheers!

Instagram Lately

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I've been gone for awhile now. I've been dealing with a lot of personal issues lately and knew that, in order for me to work towards a healthier life, I needed to step away from blogging for awhile, guilt free. Blogging is not a full time job for me, but a fun hobby and a creative outlet. I've met some really great people via blogging, and I'm very lucky to have them as friends and supporters while I've been away.

As we're close to the end of March and spring is creeping up, my goal is to prioritize blogging again. My intense work schedule makes it hard to blog (I worked 26 days in a row!), but now that the days are longer, I'll have more time. 

In the mean time, here's my recent Instagram feed. If you're not following me, please feel free! I try to be pretty active on social media (well, Instagram. I'm still not very good at up keeping my Twitter!). Seattle has had some really special weather lately. I'm talking upper 60s, sunshine, shorts, and sunglasses. Fingers crossed we get a lot more of this!

Thanks for sticking with me, even when I'm not the most consistent. I really appreciate it.

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What's your Instagram link? Any favorite Instagrammers out there?

Cheers!

Super Snacks: Rich Nature

This is not a sponsored post.

I'm a snacker. I love sitting down and having a nice meal, but I also love to lounge around and snack. Over the weekend, my mom, aunt, cousin and I went to the Northwest Women's Show, an exhibit geared towards women. I haven't been in years but had so much fun! There are 500 vendors selling fun items, giving out delicious food samples, and three stages with exciting shows! If you have something similar in your area, I highly recommend going. Aside from all the free samples (besides food) you'll get, it's a fun way to spend the day with the great women in your life.

One booth we passed was Rich Nature, a local Washington company that focuses on providing super fruits for everyone! They were giving out free samples (which, to be honest, is what lured us in!) and I fell in love with these dried white mulberries. They're pretty mild, but are the perfect snack when you're looking for something that's not too sweet. It was hard for me not to eat the entire bag in one sitting! 

The dark chocolate covered golden berries are also quite addicting. As someone who isn't as big of a dark chocolate fan, I find these to be really delicious. The dried golden berries on the inside are really tart, but balance well with the dark chocolate. 

What snacks are you loving right now? Anything sweet?

Cheers!

2015: The Year of Self Celebration

{View this outfit here}

Let's start this bluntly: 2014 was not my year. There were a lot of amazing experiences, like visiting my aunt on the east coast, working full time, helping Chris move into a house, finishing my first year of college, and celebrating many birthdays, special occasions, and holidays, but I don't think this is going to be a year I look back on and admire. Even though it's just a different year and nothing is actually changing, I have hopes for 2015. I have attainable goals, plans, and many wants that I hope to accomplish and attain this year. My first goal: learn to be more loving of myself, understanding of my accomplishments, and feeling secure on my pride.

"Pride" is a strange word. I believe in humility and learning not to brag, but I also believe we should be proud of ourselves and give ourselves the recognition we deserve. Too often we are told not to "so full of yourself", hide our successes, and dismiss compliments, especially as young women. Pride is often associated with a negative connotation, often with being stubborn and full of oneself. Why? Why are we shamed for being proud of ourselves?

This year is about celebrating myself (remember, this blog is about celebrating everything). I think it's time I no longer dismiss compliments with phrases like "oh no way!" or by redirecting the conversation elsewhere. It's important for all of us to understand that accepting a compliment is both good and healthy. It's not saying "I think highly of myself" (which is okay, too) or "Yeah, I know." It's understanding that loving yourself and feeling good about yourself should be an everyday occurrence, not an occasional one. It's okay (and quite awesome!) to feel beautiful or hot and to acknowledge that. Take selfies (one of my 2015 goals: take more selfies), look at yourself in the mirror as much as you want, and smile! As silly as it sounds, taking selfies is not a bad thing - it's fun and makes you feel like an A+!

I'm also working on acknowledging my successes, skills, and personality traits. It's too easy to avoid acknowledging that yes, you are good at something. I'm good at my job - I have a lot of experience in retail, but I also really enjoy talking with customers and I have really great customer service skills. It took me a long time to realize and acknowledge that yeah, I am good at my job! I should feel good about that. Sharing how you are a great writer, are good at making small talk, can run a 6 minute mile, or have aced a really tough exam doesn't make you bossy, controlling, or conceited, words that are often used to describe women who understand their strengths. Its' time we destroy that idea and we become proud of who we are. 

Self love and becoming comfortable with yourself is an ongoing project. There will be days that we wake up feeling crummy, insecure, and need time to stay in bed with ourselves and Netflix, and that's understandable. There isn't anyone who wakes up every morning feeling 100% amazing about themselves. It's a battle that will never have one peak. But that's what this year is about: celebrating myself and knowing that working on my self love.

Cheers!

Recipe: Super Simple Fudge

What would the holiday season be without baking? Christmas is the perfect excuse to go on a baking spree and bake every delicious Pinterest recipe there is (trust me, there are plenty to last you the season). I love baking, but because I work, I don't have a lot of spare time to spend in the kitchen. I recently remembered a super easy fudge recipe that I used to make with my dad when I was younger and decided it was time to start making some again! I made a batch for my best friend's birthday and a couple of batches for Chris' parents. It's super easy, super delicious, and makes a great gift.

Needs

3 cups chocolate chips (I prefer milk)

14 oz sweetened condensed milk (about 1 can)

a splash of vanilla

a pinch of salt

a handful of nuts (optional, I used walnuts)

a foil-lined pan (I used a bread pan)

a spatula

a stovetop pot

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Pour your chocolate chips in a pot on the stove, melting them. Make sure to keep the temperature between medium and medium low - burnt chocolate isn't very good.

Add the sweetened condensed milk, splash of vanilla, and pinch of salt.

Use your spatula to mix all the ingredients together, being consistent to avoid burning.

After all the chocolate is melted into the condensed milk, pour into a foil-lined pan.

Let sit for a couple of hours - I cool mine in the fridge overnight!

Remove from foil and use a sharp knife to cut.

Enjoy!

See? It's really the simplest recipe ever, is absolutely delicious, and makes a great gift. Make sure to tweet at me or mention me in your Instagram pictures if you make this recipe - I'd love to see your adaptations!

Happy holidays!

Cheers!

Living Space Inspiration with Modani

couch  ||  pink pillow  ||  coffee table  ||  pouf  ||  chair (similar)  ||  mirror  ||  bookshelf  ||  pillow  ||  vase

(similar)  ||  ottoman  ||  neon pillow

Isn't it exciting to picture yourself in your future home, decorating it however you'd like, and creating a really beautiful space? I know I'm excited. Lately I've been on the search for a house or apartment in north Seattle to rent (eek!) next fall. I really love Seattle, especially U District (where the University of Washington is), and want to find my own place in the city. That being said, I've really been in a decorating craze. I haven't even moved out yet, but I still find myself shopping for home goods... I blame Pinterest for all the home inspiration.

As a 19 going on 20 year old, I really can't be picky about big ticket items, like furniture. It's definitely possible to create a beautiful and trendy space on a budget, but that's not what this post is about. I'm sharing today my picks from Modani, an online furniture store! They offer a wide range of items, from lighting, to bed frames, to outdoor canopies (swoon). When I spotted this couch, I fell in love. I love the idea of having a chic, minimalistic living space with bright pops of color (like these pillows). Plus, a huge bookshelf is the perfect way to functionally display your fun decorations!

Are you as into home decorating as I am?

Cheers!

Absence + Links

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It feels like it's been a long time since I've been able to really sit down and blog. Don't get me wrong - I love my blog and being a part of the blogging community - but I haven't been able to prioritize writing and reading posts the way I'd like. Working full time has it's perks: I'm making myself money, it's great experience, and my coworkers are awesome. The downside? Not feeling like I have all the time I need to do what I'd like (like blogging). It's crazy - I'm 19 and feel like I don't have enough time to be me. 

With the holiday season coming up, I only see myself having less time to "be me." Working retail in a popular mall in December is a crazy time (it's December already?!). There are constantly people who have questions, clothes to fold, and lines to stand in. Don't even mention mall parking... I'm hoping I'll have more time to shoot outfits, create recipe posts, and simply write more as my store gets more associates. 

Anyways, I'm here today to share some fun links I've found. A lot of bloggers do these on a weekly basis (I tried, couldn't do it - I don't really like having a blogging schedule) so I thought I would share one this week!

This Instagram is run by a woman living in Seattle - it's all about cute coffee shops, cafes, and shops that she likes! Her feed is too perfect. 

Okay, how cute is this sleeping mask? I can't stand wearing them but I might need this anyways... 

I'm dying to try this Pumpkin Soup recipe (featured on The Undeniable Report!). It sounds like the perfect way to warm up from all this cold winter weather.

Um, #brosbeingbasic - might be the funniest thing you see this week.

The best food bank donation list I've seen - especially with the holiday season in full swing, donating is so important. Spread that holiday cheer by helping your community (I know I will be!).

Forget Pinterest (just kidding, I love Pinterest). DwellingGawker is the way to go (but seriously, I love both). 

Two things I need in my closet right now: this fur snood and this fluffy scarf.

For the other public health lovers out there, a studded pill as a needle alternative. Crazy, or?

Have a great week, everyone! Happy Monday!

The Affordable Gift Guide: BFFs + Sisters

The holiday season is officially upon us. Working at the mall has reminded me that people don't wait a day after Halloween to start Christmas shopping, putting up decorations, and creating wish lists. I'm a sucker for putting together gifts for my loved ones and decorating their presents (I absolutely love wrapping gifts!), but it can be both frustrating and discouraging when your budget is far lower than you'd like. As a 19 year old, I don't have a lot of extra money to spend on presents (though I wish!). I've been seeing a lot of gift guides that are "under $300" and such, but truthfully, that's still way out of my budget. Spending $300 on one gift for one person is impossible for me, so I've assembled an affordable gift guide - the bff + sisters edition. 

Everything is crazy affordable, yet still so cute and fun! My best friend and I love giving each other tea and a mug (I have so many from her!), which is an easy gift for any tea-loving girl. Add a cute hand written note, and your gift will be full of love.

sunnies  ||  mug  ||  nail polish  ||  notebook  ||  fur snood  ||  socks  ||  head bands  ||  coin bank  ||  lotion

Let me know - what's on your gift guide?

Cheers!

The Best Hot Drinks for the Non-Coffee Drinkers

It's true. I don't drink coffee. I'm not a big fan of the taste (that aftertaste.... yuck) and it always seems to upset my stomach, so I stay away. I may spend most of my time in Seattle, the coffee capital, but I can't bring myself to like coffee. But that's okay! By not drinking coffee, I've found other really delicious alternatives that I'm more than happy drinking! There's nothing like a chai tea latte on a cold fall day! Below are my favorite non-coffee drinks - go ahead, order one next time!

Chai tea lattes  ||  Chai tea lattes are my go-to. If I'm not really sure what I want or what a particular coffee shop or stand has to offer, I know I'll be happy with a chai tea latte. Though delicious on their own, I always add a flavor, to sweeten it up and change it up! Adding the full flavor can be a little overwhelming and overly-sweet, so I normally ask for 3ish pumps, versus 5 or 6.

Best Chai Tea Latte additions

- Hazelnut chai tea latte

- Vanilla chai tea latte

- Vanilla chai tea latte + soymilk

- Pumpkin chai tea latte

- Almond chai tea latte

- Chocolate chai tea latte

- Peppermint chai tea latte

- Chai tea latte + almond milk

Hot chocolate  ||  Hot chocolate will always be a favorite drink of mine. Though it can easily be made at home (my favorite non-instant mix recipe coming soon!), many shops and stands have more options than typically found at home. A white hot chocolate (white chocolate) is what I've been getting a lot recently. It's a nice change from the typical hot chocolate, but just as delicious. When I was in Scotland, I discovered adding honey to my hot chocolate and it might have been the greatest discovery I've ever made. Adding raspberry or blueberry in is nice, too!

Hot apple cider  ||  Ok, really. Who doesn't love hot cider? Especially with a little bit of caramel, hot cider is one of the best fall and winter drinks around. It's perfect when I'm feeling something sweeter, without spending $6 on one drink. A classic choice.

Hot tea  ||  My family is a tea drinking family. We always have hot water on the stove ready because someone is always drinking some! Tea is a great drink, hot or iced, because it's so easy to fit your needs. Adding or avoiding sugar, using cream, blending teas together. It all works (as long as your know your teas). These are my favorite teas:

Hot Tea

- Green tea + honey

- Lemongrass tea + honey (if you're ever in the UK, pick up some lemongrass tea from TeaPigs - best lemongrass tea I've ever had!)

- Orange spice black tea + half and half + sugar or honey

- Chai spice black tea + half and half + sugar or honey

- Lemon ginger tea + honey (perfect for a sore throat or sick days!)

- Peppermint tea + sugar (Trader Joe's has a great peppermint green tea during the holidays!)

Steamed milk  ||  Before I got into chai tea lattes, I drank a lot of steamed milk. It was sometimes embarrassing to order, but I realized that it was too delicious to even care! It's literally a cup full of hot milk with other flavors added. I have a few favorite combos:

Steamed Milk

- Steamed milk + hazelnut

- Steamed milk + almond (the best)

- Steamed milk + cinnamon + vanilla extract + pinch of sugar (best for sick days or when you can't fall asleep!)

Those are my favorite hot drinks! 

Are you a big coffee drinker? What's your go-to hot drink?

Cheers!

Warby Parker Winter Collection

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Images c/o Warby Parker.

Many people don't know about my need for glasses. I have a little freckle in my right eye (known as Choroidal Nevus, but nothing serious) that makes it difficult for me to see objects in the distance. When I'm in class, at the movies, watching a football game, or something similar, I wear glasses so I don't get a headache from straining my eyes! When Warby Parker asked me to write a post about their Winter Collection, I was too excited to check out new frames they had to offer. I'm in need of a new pair (I broke mine, oops) and found this to be the perfect opportunity to explore new frames!

While going through the new collection, I picked out a few of my favorites, including some sunglasses! Even during the winter, I find myself needing sunglasses on those especially cold and sunny days.

Laurel

Holcomb

Laurel

Ripley

If you couldn't tell, I'm a little into tortoiseshell.... But can you blame me? All of these frames are so flattering and tortoiseshell is the perfect neutral. Plus, purchasing prescription frames from Warby Parker doesn't just make you look good, you'll feel good, too! For every pair of optical frames that are purchased, another is donated to someone in need. How amazing is that? Warby Parker also offers a home try on program, which makes finding the best frame for your face easy! You select five frames online that you'd like to try on at home - after five days of trying each pair, you order the ones you love the most and send the try-ons back! Who knew ordering stunning glasses could be so easy?

Needless to say, I know where my next set of frames are being bought from. Who says four eyes can't look good? ;)

Do you wear glasses? What do you think about the new collection?

Cheers!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fall is famous for one thing everywhere: pumpkin. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, there will be pumpkin spice lattes (#basic), pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin milkshakes, and pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I came across this recipe for pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies a bit ago and had to make them! They're soft, gooey, rich, and delicious, perfect for a household full of family, a gift for friends, or to make all for yourself ;) 

Baking these cookies was unbelievably simple. Adding in nuts or taking out the chocolate chips would make them just as delicious. The best part about easy recipes is being able to adapt it to your own desires or needs! Try out the recipe, snap a pic, and send it to me! I love seeing what others are baking - I think I'm going to make a point to start baking more often!

What's your favorite fall treat?

Cheers!