Confessions of a college student

Quite frankly, I am freaking tired.  I'm a junior now, which means I have been working my butt off for the last three years patiently (okay impatiently) waiting for graduation.  As I approach my senior year I am growing wearier of what is to come.  I'm actually scared to death.

Given some time, college wears you thin.  There are too many expectations from too many people and I am seriously at my wits end.  Why are we never allowed to decided what we want for ourselves at this age?  Instead, we let a million other people tell us what we should be doing and criticize us for what we aren't doing and then we obsess over it a million times!  It's not fair and to be frank, it's a vicious cycle.  I sat down tonight with Tim's sister and brother-in-law (who should honestly travel the world as motivational speakers for weary college kids) and they talked some sense into me.

"You'll be fine," they told me. 

If you had asked me if I would be fine this morning when I rolled out of bed for church, I would have laughed till I was blue in the face.  Lately I have been feeling a lot of pressure from those in my field of work including students, professors, advisors and my internship.  I feel like I haven't sat down to really think about what I want from my life and my career, instead, I hyper-focus on what others tell me I need to do.  That concept is ridiculous and I'm not afraid to feel that way anymore.  Especially not after today's pep-talk.  No way, right now I feel empowered.

I feel empowered to do what I want with my career.  I feel empowered to be my own person and to listen to my intuitions not those around me clouding my judgment.  I once had a professor tell me that If I wanted to be successful as a woman in my field of work, I should plan to never marry and never have children.  I left class upset that night (who am I kidding, I called Tim crying).  The point is, that's not true and I wont let that affect me anymore.

I guess what I want to stress to everyone is that you need to do what makes you happy and to do it on your own accord otherwise you wont be happy.  The truth is, I don't want to do what those people tell me I should do.  I just want to be happy.  I'm glad his sister and brother-in-law provided some clarity because I needed it.  Sometimes things just wear you thin and if all else fails just trust the person that tells you that you'll be fine.  They are probably right.

Reading, Living and Loving Relish

I'm pretty certain after reading Daphne Oz's new book, Relish, that her and I should be best friends.  I bought the book simply because I love Daphne Oz and anticipated it to be just a cookbook but friends, it's so much more.

Relish is a book to live by.

From cover to cover, Relish contains practical tips to eating well, loving well, and living well.  From healthy recipes for all three meals to beautiful cocktails and deserts, Daphne Oz gives you a taste of her world.  You can tell how much love when into writing this book and boy do I love it back.

As women, I feel like we often need a few good words to live by and now it seems we have a book.  Every woman should own Relish and not just because it's filled with phenomenal recipe's that are also good for you but because it's filled with advice from hosting a dinner party to navigating a food store.  There's no shortage of incredible, wholesome advice in Relish and as a girl in her young twenties, I needed that!  It's not often you pick up a book and think, "Gee!  This woman read my mind!"  I like to think that in the near future I will need to crack this book open to recall what Daphne said about applying bronzer or when I need to host a dinner party.  Guys, I'm glad I own this book and if you don't already have it, go get it...

To be it simply, Relish is beautifully written.  There's nothing complex about her writing, which, I think is the best part.  To open Relish is to read a conversation with an old friend, it's that good. 


*This is not a sponsored post, I just needed to share this all with you!

A beautiful day!

Took this photo yesterday on my way to the Post Office, so beautiful!!!

They end of the semester is always so frustrating.  It of course has a lot to do with all the work that needs to get done in a short time but for me, I just want to be outside!  It feels like lately, Monday through Friday have brought some of the most gorgeous days this spring thus far.  Then the weekend hits and spring decides it wants to hide again until Monday!  It's unfair, really it is!  I am at work today, feeling a little bit like I'm in jail because I'd much rather be sitting in Central Park with a picnic basket and my boyfriend.  I can't tell you how eager I am for the semester to be done so I can spend more time outside.  Not to mention, I have two really fun dates planned for Tim that need to involve beautiful weather...so please spring, stick around!

What I'm reading

Or rather, what I read...

As you all know, Hair Bows and Smiles is brand new to the blog scene.  After avidly reading sites like Love Taza and Tulips and Flight suits I felt inspired to create my own.  The idea was simple, I wanted to write about life and all things Ashley.  So far the experience has been great but I don't want the growth of the blog to simply plateau.  I want to continue to strengthen what I am writing and doing on this blog so that you, my readers, will keep coming back and continuing to tell your friends about the site!

So that brings me to the book I just finished, Blog, Inc.  Perhaps some of you know the author, Joy Cho, who is over at Oh, Joy!.  Regardless if you do or don't, the book was phenomenal!

I was nervous that the book would only discuss ways to start a blog and thus not include all the important information about the aftermath of creating a blog, but I was wrong!  Joy chronicles every aspect of blogging, from gaining followers to adding advertisements.  I am so glad I picked this book up because I already know it will serve as my little encyclopedia for the rest of my blogging career.

If any of you visiting are bloggers yourself, I seriously suggest getting this book as fast as you can.  It was excellent.

The night diner food changed my life

Diner food is just different than food at another restaurant.  When you go to a diner it is because you expect and want diner food.  This is exactly what I was thinking when my girlfriends claimed they were taking me to the best diner in the entire state of New Jersey last night.

Although it wasn't in the best of areas, Tops Diner in Newark N.J. was immediately a friendly and fun environment.  I couldn't get over how cute of a place it was and how huge it was inside!  Anyway, I was totally not expecting anything more than the typical, greasy, delicious diner food that I get at my usual place in Somerville.  Boy was I wrong!

When the waitress sat us and put the menus down I was blown away!  So many options, so much more than you would generally get and they were all creative and fantastic sounding. I had no idea what to get and eventually settled on a chocolate milkshake (my friends all raved about them) and red velvet pancakes.  Yes I ate like crap last night, sorry diet.  

First of all, the milkshake was delicious and the red velvet pancakes were sinful.  The food was nothing like typical diner food and I think my mind was blown.  Seriously, Tops Diner will forever set the bar way too high for any other diners I eat at...sorry in advance.  

The true test will be to take Tim and see if he loves it.  

In other news, I am now a yogurt snob?!  I bought yogurt that was on super sale over the weekend and it isn't as expensive as the yogurt I usually buy, but hey I wanted a good deal.  Well....I totally hate it.  Which is stupid, but I do. 

A little break

If feels like I haven't blogged in a while even though it's only been a couple of days.  If you all have checked in and were disappointed to not see something new, I am so sorry!  I've been taking a couple of days to read a new book called Blog, Inc. that I am hoping will help strengthen this blog and make it a whole hell of a lot more interesting for all of you!   Other than that, the semester is winding down so it's gotten far more busy that I had imagined.  Between homework, papers and events, there is hardly time for Tim and I to spend together on the weekends which sucks a lot.  I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the summer.

Because I love pictures, here's a few from this weekend!

Charlotte and I had a huge presentation on Friday...so this is us very nervous

On Saturday night, Tim and I went to a barbecue for our friend who just beat cancer! It was a great night with friends!

Fresh strawberries in my favorite Crate&Barrel fruit crate!

Panera with Charlotte to finish off our Sunday food shopping spree! Um, their green tea is AMAZING. Go.Buy.Now

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Doing anything good?

A few of my favorite moments from the past week

 

 So as much as I'd love to explain all these photos right under the pictures themselves, Blogger is giving me a hard time today and won't let me.  So I'll start from the top!

See those fancy dressed up photos?  Don't we clean up well? Tim and I went with friends to an anniversary dinner for where we work and it was really nice.  I'm obsessed with the necklace I am wearing because I got it on super sale from the Gap that morning and it just happened to match my shoes perfectly.  It's so exciting when that happens.

The blue striped shoes are new as well and they were also a lucky find at the Gap.  I got them 50% off and any time that happens, you better know it was a good day.  Tim and I had gone shopping that day and because I am a child and we both love Disney, he bought me a George Sanderson from Monsters Inc. and I couldn't be more excited.  Pooh bear and the peas were the first things Tim ever bought me (for Valentine's Day.)

After those pictures was last Sunday right after Church.  It was beautiful out and it was just one of those days where you hardly wear makeup, wear a maxi dress, and hang outside with your man.  Tim has been wanting to play catch lately (only boy in the family syndrome) and so because I love him, I suck it up, put a glove on and throw my hardest.

That Sunday we also headed to Walmart so I could buy that awesome mason jar tumblr and obviously pause to take a picture with Mario (Tim's best guy friend is named Mario so we thought we were being funny).

Lastly, I had an awful day on Tuesday.  On top of putting up with crap from my University I had awful anxiety.  Tim surprised me and took me out to a great little Italian place for food and out for ice cream afterwards.  He is so amazing to me and I'm not too sure how I lucked out.

So sorry that was so much at once.  Life is busy over on my end and I can hardly keep up with myself, let alone the blog!  But I'm trying because I adore you all so much.

In other news, I am at work today and I am finding it hard to believe that it's only 11:30ish and that I haven't been here longer than an hour and a half.  I'm eager to go home even though I have an event tonight.  Womp.

I'm hoping to get the pictures up from my confirmation soon and talk a little about all of that and in the coming weeks I will be reviewing Daphne Oz's new book Relish and Joy Cho's book Blog, Inc.

Stay tuned and as always, thanks for reading :) 

A familiar feeling. Thoughts on the Boston Marathon.

I'll never forget the day 9/11 happened, mostly because I don't think any nine year old at that time could forget the confusion we all felt.  I can't say for sure if I truly understood what was going on that day, all I remember is being terrified   I cried because my mom cried and I was scared because I knew she was.  For months afterward the sight and sound of an airplane sent me running, sometimes crying.  I think most kids' parents sheltered them from the news and magazine covers, but mine didn't.  Not because they didn't want to, but because I was curious, I couldn't stand to look away from the television and I surely couldn't help picking up the publications at our local A&P.  As time went on I became increasingly unnerved because I knew more and more.  I began to understand what this world was like.

My mom brings up the same story every time we discuss 9/11.  She remembers me being so concerned that someday I would have to explain this to my children.  She told me I thought long and hard on the situation and of all things to upset me, that seemed to be the worst.  What a wise thought for a 9-year-old.  If I think back now I vaguely remember telling my dad that it bothered me that my children would learn about this day in their history classes.  My children will come home one day and ask me if I remember what it was like when the Twin Towers fell and that makes me sad.

This brings me all to today.  Yesterday, a person or a group of people bombed the Boston Marathon.  While we don't know if it was an attack sent from abroad or one sent from the confines of our country, to see the words 'terrorist attack' in the news again on our soil is scary.  But what I found to be more upsetting was the fact that I didn't feel surprised.  Disturbed? Yes. Surprised? No.  My mind quickly searched for the memory of 9/11 and I couldn't help feeling sad.  Just another thing for the history books.

My parents and Tim asked me not to go into work today and at first I fought them on the idea.  I felt safe enough to go in, I trust my county.  At the same time, I'm a little glad I didn't.  Instead, I will donate blood today and continue to pray for the runners and their families as well as the onlookers affected by the bombs.

Perfect spring frittata!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Tim and I cooked  brunch for my family the Saturday before Easter. I put up a few of the recipe's from brunch but totally forgot to put up this amazing ham, broccoli and cheese frittata!

Ingredients:

• 8 large eggs
• One package of steamed broccoli
• 1/2 pound of deli ham
• 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Heat oil in at least a 10 inch skillet over medium-high heat
• Add broccoli and ham to the the skillet
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, cheese, salt and pepper together and pour into skillet.  Make sure that everything is covered.  You want to cook this until edges are slightly set (about 1-2 minutes).
• Transfer to the oven and bake until center is set, check at 20 minutes.  Do not put your skillet into the oven if it has a plastic handle.  I transferred mine, after the edges were set, to a quiche dish which ended up working perfectly!

Enjoy!

Poll of the week!

What should we eat this weekend?!

Tim and I are looking for delicious smoothie recipes to make this weekend.  Does anyone have any suggestions?!

Comment below or let me know at hairbowsandsmiles@gmail.com!

Get to know me!

This Spring!

Tim and I have always been a spontaneous couple.  We really enjoy going and doing things with each other, even if that means we just step out of the house to grab a cup of coffee.  Most of the times our dates are as simple as that, but other times they are a little more thought out.  Like the time we made a date out of going to Crate&Barrel, pretty much one of my favorite days with him ever.

He's really, really handsome...

Anyway, I sat down the other day to start thinking of cool things we can do this spring and possibly even into the summer and this is what I have so far.  If anyone has cool ideas that they would love to share with me, please post below!

1. Central Park, NYC
2. Go to Pop Bar in NYC
3. Dinner and coffee in Princeton, NJ
4. Day trip to Washington D.C.
5. Visit some museums
6. Madison Square Park, NYC
7. Brooklyn Flea Market

Can anyone think of anything else?

A little update!

It's been a while since I've checked in and I sincerely apologize if I've kept some of you coming back with nothing new to read.  It's been so busy on my end and I am really excited to fill you all in with some separate blog posts.  For now, I just stopped by to check in and say hello.  The spring weather has been beautiful and I am currently sitting outside doing some school work.

Last weekend Tim gave me these adorable rings (top left) that I have been asking for and I was so excited to get them.  It was such a sweet gesture.  

Also, my dad just made this Mickey and Minnie sign for my room!  It's burned into wood, he's so talented!

A private moment

Sometimes when I go to write on the blog I just want it to be private.  I don't want to put it on social media so that people I know can read it.  I just want to publish it on the blogosphere for my readers and passersby to take a glance at.  Even though it has the chance of being seen by a ton of strangers, it still feels private.  As if all of you have stopped to have a quiet conversation with me.

The thing I love about this blog is simply that it's mine.  I have this outlet to share my opinions at all times.  In some ways I am still struggling to find my confidence and my voice, but this blog is teaching me much more than I ever thought.  It's teaching me to be loud, confident, proud, happy, strong and opinionated.  It's teaching me not to worry about other people's thoughts and stick up for myself.

And so even when I write something that feels private, I am learning that the best thing I can do for myself is put it out there.  If nothing else, it helps me get out of my comfort zone.

Happy almost Friday everyone <3

A little trip to Hoboken

Last Friday, Tim and I headed to Hoboken with my brother, his girlfriend, my parents and some family friends to watch Ryan's future baseball team play at Steven's University.  Afterwards we got wind of a really awesome pizza place where the slices are basically the size of your head...I'm not even joking.

Anyway, the place is called Benny Tudino's and it's obviously owned by Benny Tudino who is a nice, old Italian man that I somehow ended up meeting at the end of the night.  It was one of those places I feel like you see in Goodfellas.  Full of Italian's itching to grab a seat with Benny at the front booth.  That man must stay there all night.

At first, I wasn't feeling pizza because I'm weird and only sometimes lactose intolerant.  So at first Tim and I ordered eggplant parm sandwiches which just weren't good.  I'm not saying they were bad, I'm just saying it wasn't for me.  It was very traditional and wasn't served breaded so I felt like I was just tasting eggplant.  Not a fan.  By the end of the night, after not really touching my food, I ordered a slice of thin crust plain pizza and I was a happy girl.

Seriously, go to this place for pizza and wings and nothing else....except maybe the fried calamari.

Blog lovin!

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Easy, delicious crumb cake

When I decided that I wanted to make Easter brunch for my family with Tim I knew that I wanted to stick to breakfast foods.  I also knew that I wanted to find a simple dessert to balance all the intense, rich flavors of the other dishes.  What I decided to make was crumb cake.  If anyone has every working with crumb cake before you know it's unlike anything else.  It's a thick, dough-like batter that is difficult to spread and work with.  Having never had experience making it before I got frustrated and left most of the spreading, crumb making and cake baking to Tim, but the recipe is mine!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for 9x12 pan
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• Confectioners' sugar for dusting
• 2 tablespoons sour cream

Directions:

• Preheat oven and spray baking pan with canola oil, set aside
• Mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder and salt
• In a second bowl, whisk together egg, sour cream, milk, canola oil and vanilla
• Mix dry and wet ingredients together gradually
• Spread batter into prepared pan and set aside
• In another bowl, mix together remaining 2 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Pour melted butter over mixture and toss until crumbs form.  Sprinkle over batter
• Bake in oven for 10-20 minutes or until a fork comes out clean
• When cooled, dust with confectioners' sugar

A quick thank you...

To those of you who are reading, I owe you all a big thank you.  This blog started out as just a dream, something I never thought I'd get around to do.  I often don't have the patience to carry something like this through but the more I post the more I want to continue this.  Blogging, both reading and writing, has become a lovely past time, and I am grateful you are all giving me the opportunity to continue it.

Please keep reading and commenting and sharing this journey with me.  It means a lot :)