Do people still make bucket lists?

Do people still make bucket lists?  Like, is that a thing?  Or do people going through midlife crises only do it…

Whatever, I want to make one.  Not because I want to go do crazy things my senior year but basically just to go to different things!  I’m all about leaving my comfort zone these days so bring it on bucket list*

Fall 2013 Goals/BUCKET LIST!!!**

Goals:

•  Workout at least 5x a week
•  Go out/be with friends 1-2 times a weekend
•  Attend at least one event with my internship
•  Secure internship for Spring
• Brush teeth 2x a day – do not judge me for this…I only brush once right now but I feel like I should be more attentive to them…they deserve it.
•  Blog at least 3x a week
•  4.0 GPA – I’ve always had a lame 3.9 or 3.8
•   Read at least one book that I actually want to read.  Sorry professors.
• Go to church every Sunday
•  Do something out of my comfort zone at least once of month (See below).

Bucket List:***

•  Run a 5k in November
• Take a road trip/day trip/regular trip to Boston/Philly/or DC
• Go to a winery
• Go on a service trip
• Go to the San Gennaro festival in NYC
•  Plan a vacation with my girlfriends
• Go to at least one concert
• Go zip lining

*This is actually such a lame bucket list, sorry guys.

**I can’t help but think of the song Blurred Lines as I write this because really, where is the line drawn between goals and a bucket list? 

***This is just going to keep getting longer and longer.

A Beautiful Mess, the photo editor app

I know I'm pretty behind on this adorable little app, but I downloaded it when it first came out and honestly, wasn't terribly impressed.  Last night I sat down to play with it a bit more since it had a recent update and I came to the conclusion that I was wrong about this app all along.  I think where I went wrong the first time around was that I didn't give it enough attention.  I didn't take the time to play around and combine different things to make a cute picture.  I'm a huuuggge fan of their recent update and had a good time last night playing around on the app.  Here's what I came up with:

Go to the app store to download the app "A Beautiful Mess" or keep up with the creators on their blog, A Beautiful Mess.

Happy weekend everyone!

Some fun DIY projects for any space

A dear friend of mine's boyfriend just got an amazing new apartment and so she asked that I write a post related to home decor and DIY.  While I don't have my own place just yet, I think if I close my eyes tight enough I can really dream up a perfect room.  I think for me, a space needs to feel like a home even if it's just a tiny bedroom or perhaps your dorm room.  If you can bring life and love into a space, that space will bring you happiness.  So, I sat down this morning and began reading some of my favorite design blogs as well as went through my Pinterest to see what I could find for them and I picked out some of my favorite's that I think they will love!

This cutie comes from The Painted Hive.  It's such an adorable blog and oh my goodness do I just love the idea of printing your own decals for a kitchen or even the bathroom!  Check it out!

 I loooovvveee this idea.  It's such a clean way to showcase books and for my friends, this is perfect for their future space!  Check out diycollegeideas.blogspot.com for ideas like this one!

 Ignore the lounging model because these letter print outs are to die for.  I am obbssssesssseddd with these guys.  What a perfect way to add personal art to a space and these really can go in any room!  These originally came from Black List Studio Prints, but are super simple to do yourself.

 These decals are great.  I just love them.  I think this would cater more towards my girlfriend...but I think her boyfriend could live with this :)  You can Google things like this to find a ton of different options!

 On the subject of decals....check this baby out!  I really enjoy the idea of having a grown up decal.  I feel like I see them a lot in college dorm rooms and hate them.  They are lame quotes and I just can't stand them.  This however...is perfect.  From simpleluxuriouslife.tumblr.com

This is a perfect find for my friends!  They love to hang on to their ticket stubs and this could be a great way to showcase them!  Just take a ticket stub or whatever and have it blow up.  After that, print it on fabric transfer material and turn it into a pillow!

Two of my favorite blogs that feature DIY home design are 6th Street Design School and Creature Comforts.  I often reference their blogs for DIY ideas and if you are looking for something fun to do around your own space, I suggest you check them out!

Also, Ikea anyone?  Such a great place for fun, cheap, items for any space in your home!

No part of this post was a sponsorship, just a favor to a friend and personal opinion!

So I think I'll cut my hair...

I get bored really easily with my hair.  Sometimes I wake up and love it and other days I stare at my thick, long, brown, boring hair in the mirror and think "yuck!"  I've never feared cutting my hair like I think some women do.  I've always been aware that it grows back and even if my haircut totally sucks, I try to make the best of it.  (I was not always like this...one time, when I was 12, I cried for like...a week straight over a botched haircut.  I've come a long way!)  Anyway, I'm getting very bored of my hair again and have been perusing Pinterest for things to do to my hair that are a little different sans getting it cut.  It's help me hold off on wanting to get a haircut for a bit, but alas here we are and I have an appointment next Wednesday.  So it's crunch time...time to find a style that suits me and wont drive me nuts.

Here are some pictures I am thinking of referencing!  What do you all think? I'm also totally considering dying my ends a bit...sorta the whole ombre vibe but not quite as noticeable.

Wedding wear

I love love love, LOVE weddings.  Watching two people so in love make that commitment to each other just gets me every time.  This summer Tim's sister is getting married and then roughly three weeks later, my uncle is getting married as well!  So, while my mind is of course is on the lovely couples and their impending nuptials, I can't help but obsess over what to wear!

I'm that type of girl that dresses for comfort.  If I don't feel comfortable in it, it will show.  I will tug and pull and grab at the dress the entire night and I'll be asking Tim a million times, "are you sure I look good in this?!" Even though I think I dress for comfort, realistically I typically don't.  So, this time around, the goal is to find something that I feel comfortable in.  Something I can eat in and dance in and overall, just enjoy the love in.

When shopping for weddings, what do you all typically buy?  Help a girl out!!

Here are some options I am thinking of!

Click on image for bigger view!!!

Our trip to Buffalo

I have been going to Buffalo, NY since I was a little girl.  My grandparents, aunts and cousins have lived there my whole life and each trip meant time to spend with my family.  I've always appreciated my grandparents home because of the chaos.  I love the idea of a big family with a house that's always open for people to come and go...and that's their house in a nutshell.  Last summer I was excited to bring Tim so that he could meet my family, it was important to me...and a little nerve wracking ;)  It could not have gone any better, they loved him.  By the end of the trip...I was chop liver to all the little cousins in the family.

This summer we were so excited to see everyone again and were super eager to jump in the car and make that 6 hour drive.  Five days later, it's time to reflect on what was a perfect trip.

There was an outstanding circumstance that seemed to change the trip for us a little bit while we were there but my family really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time.  I really enjoy Buffalo because it gives me a chance to spend time with my family, but I really loved this trip because of the time it gave me with Tim.  We had such a phenomenal time together guys...I can't even begin to tell you.  We really like to dote on each other and this vacation gave us the opportunity to really do so.  Were that couple that just enjoys doing things for each other, you know like making the other a cup of coffee and making sure they have everything they need just to relax.  I don't mean to brag, but Tim is so phenomenal and I for sure already knew that but this vacation was just the cherry on top.  He really made sure I was perfect at all moments of the day, he was just great guys...so great that I really can't find the words.

Just enjoy the pictures...I'm all sorts of jumbled with my words right now ;)

 First off...Tim is so great with all my baby cousins.  I don't have pictures of even half of them considering there are like 1,000.  This little girl right here...looooovvvves him and watching them together just, ugh, I can't.  It perfect.

 "Look guys I made batman!'

 I have no idea how this little picture thing happened...but it showed up on my phone...so cool?

 On Saturday we got out of the house a bit and went to Elmwood Village for some breakfast and a farmer's market!  Food was great :)

I didn't take nearly enough photos this time and I'm totally kicking myself in the butt for it, but it is what it is!

This was a seriously perfect vacation <3

It's almost my birthday month!

July marks my birthday month and although I have to wait pretty much the entire month for my birthday to actually roll around, I love July for more than just my birthday.  July, in my eyes is the best month of summer.  It's beautiful weather, barbecues, the 4th of July, pools, the beach, and my boyfriend.  It's amaaazing.  Next week Tim and I are kicking off the first week of July with my family in Buffalo.  We'll be attending a bridal shower for my Uncle's fiance as well as a rodeo...random, I know.  I'm just so excited to kick off my favorite month with the people I love most.

How are you guys planning to spend the month of July?  I'm looking for some birthday ideas as well as great day trips for Tim and I!  Comment, comment, comment....or email :)

In honor of my favorite month and of course, my birthday I created a July wishlist!

1.  A Pandora charm bracelet
2.  Erin Condren Life Planner
3.  J.Crew necklace
4.  New cookbook
5.  New bag

What are you wishing for?

My life lately

Well I'm home and it feels bittersweet.  I am a mix of emotions with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Work this past two and a half weeks has been phenomenal and while I really miss my friends, It's nice to have a home cooked meal ;)

This year I moved back to school for work incredibly nervous.  My friends had graduated and aside from Tim and a select few others, I felt like I had no one.  Gosh, I was wrong.  In general, it helped me open up and foster new relationships, all the while learning so much about myself.  It was my favorite year doing this job by far.

The job itself is a weird environment, almost like camp.  We all move in to a dorm and spend 24/7 together and for a relationship that can be tough.  Not because spending 24/7 together is hard, it is because we can't. In front of our bosses we keep it professional and outside of the job we pay careful attention to creating new friendships.  Despite, what can be a difficult environment, Tim and I had a great time and I think the highlight of my time with him this past two and half weeks was this past Sunday.  We went to church in the morning and then went out for brunch.  There's nothing I love more than going to church with Tim and a close second would be just sitting and talking to him.  I got a two in one deal that day and I couldn't help but feel on top of the world.  Having him in my life is the most phenomenal thing and watching him work and interact with others make me so proud of him.  I love him more than life itself.

Overall, work this year taught me to expect change, to open my heart, and above all else to love myself.  A couple of weeks ago I talked about some things I wanted to accomplish this summer and making myself a better person was one of them.  I think these past few days I have really started to hit the nail on the head...although I would really still love to work on my anxiety but that will be an ongoing project.

Here are a few pictures!

Some of the PA's at beach day!

Ronnie and I!  I'm wearing a name tag here that took me 4 days to realize it was spelled wrong...

The only beautiful night we got when we went to camp...it poured the next two...

Just the greatest roommate :)

Date night with these three boys!  Clearly I am the fourth wheel...

Two of the girls at work surprised me and bought my Saint's medal...so overwhelmed and blessed to have them.

I just can't handle this photo....

 Seniors <3