Hello Sunshine

Her Campus- App State!

2011-10-01T18:45:00.001-04:00

This semester, I am so thrilled to be on the writing staff for the Appalachian State branch of Her Campus! We are an online magazine that is published by women for women specifically at ASU. So far we've had articles about thrifting, campus events, the best places to find hot guys on campus, and my first article, "Three Boone Restaurants You Need to Know." We have an amazing team of so many different girls and I am so happy to be a part of this publication this year and get to know so many more new people! So whether you're an ASU student or not, go check out our articles on style, beauty, health, love, life, and all things local to our campus!

Caperisms.

2011-07-26T10:25:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, while eating roasted tomato orzo from earth fare and carefully picking out the capers, I realized, I have no idea what in the world these little briny green spheres are. However, I have been tactfully avoiding them ever since my first order of chicken piccata quite a few years ago. It started to occur to me that this isn't just about food aversions, but this practice actually has become something much bigger than using a fork to navigate through your plate and extract every undesirable object. I had developed a caperism: Something that I knew nothing about, yet disliked it solely because I felt impulsively inclined to. Does anyone really know what a caper is? If you say you do, you're probably lying. I actually looked up what these strange little objects are and further confirmed that I was not even in the ballpark range with my assumptions.

According to About.com:
Capers are the unripened flower buds of Capparis spinosa, a prickly, perennial plant which is native to the Mediterranean and some parts of Asia.
After the buds are harvested, they are dried in the sun, then pickled in vinegar, brine, wine or salt. The curing brings out their tangy lemony flavor, much the same as green olives.

A flower bud? I avoided them before, but now I can't tell if being knowledgeable about what a caper actually is is going to actually encourage me to get used to them or not. Regardless, now that I've realized all this, I wonder how many people/places/things in my life that I avoid simply because I know nothing about them and assume that I won't like them. Probably many more than I'm aware of. Hopefully now that I've made it past this first realization, I'll be able to recognize my irrational caperisms from here on out.

PS. Confirmation on the weirdness of capers: In my opinion, any food object that you can't find a mouth-watering picture of is too strange to eat. Google image results are not drool-inducing by any means.

Today is the day to: impulse shop at J Crew

2011-07-22T10:02:00.000-04:00

It's been an exciting morning in my apartment.... today J Crew has an extra 40% off sale items and free shipping. This occasion has allowed me to finally purchase the most gorgeous pair of suede heels I have ever laid eyes on...

And the grand total..... $53! Marked down from its original price of $265. Truly, not much feels better than getting exactly what you wanted for such a low price, especially at J Crew. Another great find, for less than $20....

Is there a better way to start the weekend? Doubtful.

things I find interesting on a Tuesday

2011-07-19T09:49:00.000-04:00

Grilled breakfast pizza would be perfect for a lazy weekend morning where breakfast turns into early lunch.

----

The Glitter Guide has become an instant source of inspiration for style and entertaining. Notably, cupcake fondue, one of the "5 Things You To Try This Weekend." Also, look at the shopping guides for hand-picked clutches, travel style, and dozens of other things you didn't know you wanted.

----

My ongoing obsession/stalking pattern following the Duchess of Whales has only been fueled by this new (to me) find: What Kate Wore. Literally chronicles everything that she is wearing in the public eye, while a mass of devoted fans constantly search for where she bought it all.

----

As usual, Lonny Magazine consistently delivers only the most gorgeous home and decor photos. Who ever knew that styling a bookshelf would become one of the biggest focal points of their home? Wishlist for future home: built-ins.

good/bad.

2011-02-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

I make lists for the majority of things in my life: food, school, social things, work, apartment, life choices, etc. It's only a day or two after you've made a list though that you find it again and can more clearly see what were your good ideas and bad ideas. From this weekend/week so far:

- Raspberries: good idea and worth the four dollars.
- 2 packs of Kool-Aid Jammers: good and bad idea, they don't have nearly enough liquid in them and then I feel guilty after drinking four in a row.
- Being positive: good idea. Need to do this more often.
- Continuous online shopping (browsing) while I am at work: bad idea. Turns me into a zombie and I can't afford anything I'm looking at anyway. Just unnecessary.
- Going to the gym: good idea. I hate it but I'm always glad once I make myself go.
- Cleaning out the fridge and checking all the dates on your condiments: good idea. All of ours went bad in 2010.
- Dressing for the weather: good idea.
- Procrastinating on my honors seminar paper: bad idea.
- Putting fresh sheets on your bed: good idea. Always.
- Trying to stretch the last 1/4 of your gas until going home for spring break: hopefully a good idea.
- Already narrowing down what I'm going to have for lunch tomorrow: good idea.
- Going to class without checking your email and then realizing it's canceled: bad idea.
- Looking up fun things to do this summer for motivation: really good idea.

Thankfully I haven't had too many bad ideas so far this week. Although, it is only Monday and there is plenty of time left for that.

The countdown begins....

2011-02-06T17:15:00.001-05:00

Yes. I am talking about Valentine's Day, which is one week away. It is also hated by 97% of America's population, most of my friends included. As I said last year, I am one of those people that goes crazy over February 14th, regardless of my relationship status or current take on love. I know and fully understand the claims that it is an absurd, commercialized, consumer holiday. However, if I have to pick one day a year to be shamelessly overindulgent about something, it might as well be about how much I love the people in my life. Needless to say, between all the great people that surround me, this week is going to be awfully pink and red.

design sponge.

martha stewart.

emily elizabeth jewelry.

10 Ways To: Feel Productive in Less than 30 Minutes

2011-01-31T20:40:00.000-05:00

Vacuum your room.
Make scrambled eggs and sausage for breakfast instead of eating a pop-tart.
Floss. And tweeze.
Pick at least one article in your newest magazine and read through the whole thing at once.
Throw away all the old stuff in your fridge. If you second guess it, then it's probably old.
Buy something new and exciting next time you're grocery shopping, even if you don't need it. This week: sparkling apple juice.
Make a list of all the things you want to accomplish in the next week. Any further out than that and it's just overwhelming and frequently changes. Feel free to put something on the list that you've already done, so you can immediately check on off.
Go ahead and set aside everything you need to do the work that has to be turned in two days from now, even if you don't want to do it right away. Add titles, page numbers, and other basic stuff to pages. Count out the note cards you need to study. Fold down the pages in the textbook that your homework is on.
Make your bed and/or put on fresh clean sheets.
Teeth whitening strips.

What I've learned since last year:

2011-01-24T15:48:00.000-05:00

- Kiwis are not at all expensive like I had assumed my entire life and are actually very cheap and delicious. Keep them on hand at all times.

- Putting only $5 of gas in my car at a time is not cheaper/easier in the long run and the satisfied feeling I get knowing that my tank is totally full is worth the forty bucks it takes sometimes.

- It's ok to say no to going out to eat a lot to avoid spending money. It's not ok to say no when your best friends want to go to to friday brunch after class and eat incredible food, just because. Sitting at a table next to a fireplace with your friends eating butternut squash rosemary ziti is better than looking at a bank account.

- Mittens keep your hands infinitely warmer than gloves. Try it.

- Resolutions are not a sane expectation. An ideal to-do list of things I'd like to try this year is way less intimidating/more exciting to look forward to.

- If your car has a lot of condensation on the inside of the windows, stop running re-circulate and drive with the windows cracked and the AC on for a while. It will fix itself and is not as big of a problem as you panic and assume it will be.

- Always buy easy peel shrimp when it goes on sale. Dinner feels more exciting and impressive when you're eating shrimp instead of chicken or nothing.

- Ask for student discounts everywhere you go. Noteworthy: J. Crew (for 15% off those cardigans that they have a billion colors of) and Earth Fare (on Wednesdays to buy goat cheese and/or brie). PS- Banana Republic offers a AAA discount for those of you with over-prepared dads like mine.

- Try to learn to cook something new to avoid being stuck in the pasta + jarred sauce rut you've been in for the past month. This week's attempt: wild mushroom risotto.

- Land of the Lost is a hilarious movie and is totally underrated (ok, I knew that last year too).

- Stop being unsure if what you've chosen for your life is right for you. Either do it, or don't.

- Relationships are all exactly the same and nothing like each other all at the same time. Don't compare them unless its absolutely necessary.

- Stop pretending that you don't know how much is too much.

- There is no reason not to call your mom every day.

- I still love Valentine's Day an obnoxious amount. Sorry friends and acquaintances.

- Blogging is not an obligation unless you intend for it to be. Stop feeling guilty if you haven't blogged in a while. Don't apologize when its the first time you've posted in six months. Just be interesting when you do finally write something. (Working on this.)

- William Fitzsimmons is going to be on my iPod for a long time.

- Spend the money to re-waterproof your rain jacket. You'll know when it needs to be done.

words of wisdom.

2010-12-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

[pattersonmaker]

obsessed with...

2010-11-27T09:00:00.002-05:00

I love everything about this.
[source]

perfect.

2010-11-26T22:56:00.000-05:00

Things that I've loved staring at lately via Mary Ruffle...

wish list.

2010-10-26T16:37:00.000-04:00

Is it too early to start making a Christmas list?

From Express. Although I think it's already sold out in the camel color which was my favorite... so unfortunate.

take note.

2010-10-18T14:01:00.000-04:00

via.

Life at 3,000 Feet

2010-10-14T21:50:00.001-04:00

As some of you may remember, last year I was an online columnist for The Appalachian Online, my university's student newspaper. I created a weekly column about living in Boone creatively and cheaply and learning how to become less of a tourist and more of a local. Unfortunately, policies for the paper changed and columnists are only full-time staff reporters now. While I could have applied for a position, between full time classes and a job at a local magazine and trying to spend as much time as possible with my amazing friends... I just decided to continue "Life at 3,000 Feet" right here on my blog. So, every week or so I'll be posting installments for those of you in the area or think you may be visiting sometime soon.

Here's post number one for Fall 2010, learn how to be a happy camper:

It’s been a while since “Life at 3,000 Feet” has been looking at all the best and often overlooked ways to live creatively and cheaply in Boone. For you freshmen, you’re no out-of-town visitor anymore and becoming a local all about learning and appreciating everything that Appalachian State and Boone has to offer. This really is life at the top, and this area and everything it has to offer is something that no other school in the state can attempt to compare to. Fall is in full swing and everyone is already beginning to mentally prepare themselves for another long, cold winter. For those of you that refuse to leave your apartment or dorm after that initial first-snow excitement, take advantage of the still-tolerable weather this semester before we start checking the snowman-o-meter on Ray’s every day.

While there is obviously no shortage of outdoor opportunities around ASU, once classes get busy and group project meetings and other obligations start, it is easy to go through each week without even realizing how fast the semester is going by. Scheduling aside, there are also those of us who like the idea of roughing it more than actually sleeping on the ground and drinking just-purified water that has an unmistakable iodine twang to it. I must admit, there is definitely an irreplaceable sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from finishing a strenuous trail with only required survival needs strapped to your back. But, taking everything into consideration, you’ve got to be completely dedicated to organizing, planning, and equipping yourself for a trip like that. When the task of going on an adventure not unlike those of Bear Grylls’ seems to daunting for you, a spur of the moment trip to Price Lake Campground may be in order.

For the cost of $18 per site (per night), adequate gear (or a hammock), and however many packs of hot dogs and marshmallows you want to roast over the fire, you’ve found an inexpensive and less-typical option to add to your choices of “what should we do this weekend?” While it may not be the challenging, organic experience that a more intense backpacking or hiking venture would offer, everyone should sleep under the stars at least once a semester while the autumn air is perfect and there are no mosquitoes to be found.

Resources for students such as the Outdoor Programs department at the Student Recreational Center make it simple to pull together an outing with friends, even if you don’t own the gear or have never camped before. OP rents everything from tents to sleeping bags appropriate for whatever weather you’re planning on encountering, and students receive discounts on everything, making it easy to split the cost and get going without worrying about expenses.

Julian Price Campground offers lots of sites that can usually facilitate up to two cars, and although they don’t sell firewood on location, you can typically find enough on your own around the sites to build a substantial fire. It’s all easy to figure out, just make sure to check in properly and abide by property rules. Just down the road from the sites at Price Lake, boat rentals are available during the warmer months and there are plenty of trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway to suit any day-hiker’s needs.

Info on Julian Price campground

Info on rental gear through ASU Outdoor Programs

obsessed.

2010-10-11T14:12:00.000-04:00

Shopping online for bedding is one of the most unsuccessful and aggravating tasks ever. While there are always the go-to sites to keep in mind like Pottery Barn and Anthropologie, I never seem to find exactly what I'm looking for. Using Google Shopping never yields any worthy results for me, and clicking through pages of everything but what I'm looking for is never ideal.

Today, I came across what will surely be the next store that I purchase bedding from. Meet Bliss Living Home. I'm already obsessed with the black and yellow, birds, and leafy prints that fill the site.

"anis"

"ashley citron"

"shangri-la"

white rooms.

2010-10-10T21:46:00.000-04:00

via.

fall baking.

2010-10-08T17:40:00.001-04:00

After a thorough cleaning of apartment for game night tonight, I tried out this recipe for Pecan Pie cookies. I love baking, but never want to spend extra money for specialty ingredients when it's so easy just to cook everything at home with Mom and her fully-equipped pantry and kitchen. However, once I looked over the shopping list for these, I realized that they are one of the most basic things I've ever made and requires ingredients that even a college apartment's kitchen contains.

The dough was kind of sticky and hard to manage to begin with, but after the first batch went into the oven I put the rest of the dough in the freezer and it was much easier to deal with once it was time for tray number two.

Result: I LOVE these. I plan on continuing to make them all fall and winter. They are ridiculously sweet so it is hard to eat more than one at a time, but they are quick and easy dessert that has already become one of my favorites. Definitely worth a try, especially if you aren't up for constructing a whole pecan pie during your afternoon and would rather have more time to enjoy the nice cool weather outside.

Ps. Check out teriyaki chicken lettuce wraps at Glass Half Eifful, my adorable friend Taylor's blog

all that glitters.

2010-10-06T14:47:00.001-04:00

While I am not exactly in the financial position as a college student to justify buying myself diamond jewelry whenever I see fit, it doesn't keep me from staring at/picking out pieces that I'd immediately purchase if only I had unlimited funds. I really like the idea of owning a diamond ring that isn't a diamond ring. While I will always have that romantic place in my heart for genuine traditions, it's become slightly outdated to rule that certain pieces can only strictly fit specific situations. With ongoing trends of "non-engagement" rings and even no ring at all, diamonds have become fair game no matter what they may mean to each of us as individuals.

I stumped upon the sweet little rings at Eliza Paige and all of them have a characteristically dainty, organic feel to them.

swooning.

2010-09-17T16:55:00.000-04:00

After watching 500 Days of Summer for the first time today (I know, I know), I honestly can't stop thinking about the utter perfection that is Joseph Gordon Levitt. This GQ shoot pretty much sums it up: from the clothes and styling to the setting and the essential feel of the shots themselves, definitely one of my top favorite shoots of all time.

perfection...

2010-09-04T09:42:00.000-04:00

...by Chloé.

[via]

Autumn Appropriate.

2010-08-24T22:25:00.000-04:00

To say that I have overlooked the fact that I have a blog for the past couple months would be a gross understatement. After finishing my first day of junior year, complete with classes, work, and eating every meal on campus with friends, I am a happy, busy girl. Fall is fast approaching the Appalachian region, and I could not be more excited for my favorite time of year. I've already been making notes about some autumn-appropriate things here and there to start wearing/doing/eating, but there is just simply too much to look forward to to pick just a few things to keep in mind at a time.

reading under covers on cold rainy nights.

gray boots.

menswear-inspired looks.

everything about the seasonal style of loft.

white inspiration.

2010-07-07T22:22:00.000-04:00

[via]

I'm a fan of...

2010-06-06T13:54:00.000-04:00

unique stairs

fabric inspiration

jcrew silk, stripes, and braids

everything about this yellow wedding, especially the invitation

simple dresses with ruffles

currently reading...

2010-06-03T21:13:00.002-04:00

I recently picked up a copy of Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love. I knew that I wanted to read this travel memoir before the movie comes out (although I do love Julia Roberts) because I've heard so many great things about it and any book that features dining in Italy tops my reading list. Even though I'm only forty-five pages in, I am already captivated and thirsting for a life adventure of my own. Gilbert's way of wording her personal struggle through life as she truly learned how to live for the first time is spell-bounding, and somewhat magical. It makes anyone want to take off to a destination like Rome and fall in love with a city and its language (and its food). I've really had to reevaluate my life this spring, making some big and difficult adjustments, and a couple of her revelations have really hit me hard and helped me understand that no one is really alone in their hardships. I've pulled out a couple of my favorite quotes so far; I felt completely taken aback the second I finished reading each one. As ridiculous as it sounds, this book and Gilbert's insights have spoken to my soul and truly inspired me to someday find the absolute devotion to my life's journey that is required to write such a profound book. Someday, I will get there.

"I walked home that night feeling like the air could move through me, like I was clean linen fluttering on a clothesline, like New York itself had become a city made of rice paper-- and I was light enough to run across every rooftop."

"To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have four legs, instead of two. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way, you will know God." -As told by Ketut, the 'ninth-generation Balinese medicine man'

"The great Sufi poet and philosopher Rumi once advised his students to write down the three things they most wanted in life. If any item on the list clashes with any other item, Rumi warned, you are destined for unhappiness. Better to live a life of single-pointed focus, he taught.But what about the benefits of living harmoniously amid extremes? What if you could somehow create an expansive enough life that you could synchronize seemingly incongruous opposites into a worldview that excludes nothing? My truth was exactly what I'd said to the medicine man in Bali-- I wanted to experience both. I wanted worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence-- the dual glories of a human life. I wanted what the Greeks called kalos kai agathos, the singular balance of the good and the beautiful."

iPad + Velcro = love.

2010-05-31T12:49:00.000-04:00

While I am not an Apple fanatic like many that I know... I stumbled upon this video and think it's genius!

iPad + Velcro from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

2010-05-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

Hello! I feel like I've been scrambling to get my life together these past few months, but now, the "adult" things on my to do list seem to be all taken care of!

To Do:

[x] get a job (with a great schedule!)

[x] plan a trip home

[x] clean and organize apartment

[x] find new ways to get writing experience

[ ] make business cards

[ ] see Sex and the City 2
[ ] try red velvet cheesecake

[ ] be a better/ more regular blogger (working on it)

[ ] go to the library

In other news, here are some great things I've recently discovered and loved...

Mad Hatter graduation party at La Mia Vita

Florentine eggs at From Me To You

Beautiful, unique business cards from Oh Happy Day! via A Cup of Jo

Summery calendars in the Snow & Graham shop

1 phone, 2 pieces on Shit My Kids Ruined

wednesday/sunday

2010-05-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

I don't know how summer does it, but I am already confused every day when I wake up as to what day of the week it is. I keep thinking it's the weekend when it is definitely not. The sky has been cloudy and dreary which is just not conducive to me wanting to do anything. However, I need to organize and find a job (so frustrating) and be productive in some way. Even though I love my little room in my apartment, sometimes it feels like any change of scenery would be inspiring enough to get work done. All of these look ideal-

[1,2,3]

the light.

2010-05-04T11:58:00.000-04:00

[design is mine]

today's the day!

2010-04-29T11:45:00.000-04:00

I'm 20 today!
[My life has drastically changed in the past couple of weeks and the change is continuing. I'm so thankful and overjoyed for the life I've been given and constantly excited for the future.]

looking forward.

2010-04-13T22:18:00.000-04:00

School is getting crazy (10 days left of sophomore year!) and there is so much to do before the semester is over. Summer and next year will bring a lot of different changes and opportunities into my life and I'm starting to navigate through all these exciting new changes now... job hunting, planning the rest of my college classes, new projects to create, and plenty of amazing people to spend time with during all of it. I've found that being optimistic is the most crucial thing to have when it comes to changes in life. I'm looking forward to see what is down the road for me and can't wait to see where I'll end up.

[picture]

mouthwatering.

2010-03-30T10:00:00.002-04:00

While I (surprisingly) haven't posted much about food before, eating plays a massive role in my life. I am a huge supporter of eating, cooking, shopping for, trying, tasting, and looking at food. While I would not consider myself a "chef," I believe that being a good [enough] cook is all about following directions well and being confident enough to try new things. I learned everything I know now from the most incredible cook I've ever met, my mother. Growing up, I learned the importance of cooking and baking together, but most of all... eating together as a family. Most of my greatest memories of living at home are all from our kitchen table, the four of us in my family eating fantastic meals courtesy of my mother (usually with my eager help) and talking about everything. While it wasn't unheard of for my brother and I to quote Anchorman enough to irritate our mother to no end, everything seemed perfect at dinner in the kitchen. Dinners with my family were something I came to count on and look forward to, especially through the stressful years of high school, and it's one of the first things I miss today living 3 hours away from home. I'm so thankful for all of those dinners and the quality time that came with them.

And some of the things I can't get enough of...

[pad thai]

[lemon raspberry muffins]

[shrimp + tomato with angel hair]

[chicken marsala]

[scallops seared in butter]

[bruschetta]

What could you eat over and over?

[all images via]

love affair.

2010-03-27T18:40:00.000-04:00

So, I have a confession. Over the last couple weeks I have fallen deeply in love. With brie cheese.

I first tried it at a local favorite restaurant of mine in blt form and since then, I can't get enough of it. I've now tried it wrapped in sheet pastry, grilled in a sandwich with granny smith apple slices, and swirled with honey and walnuts. It is so simple and quick to prepare that I don't think I'll make a grilled cheese out of boring american cheese singles ever again.

[via cell phone]

If you've never tried it, its a rather different kind of cheese, so be ready for something new. But seriously, try it. I'm on my second sandwich of the day filled with warm, delicious, gooey slices of my quickly-shrinking wedge.

I can't decide what to try next but these all look promising...
-Baked brie with jam
-Scallion and brie stuffed burgers
-Quesadillas with lobster, garlic, and brie
-Herb and brie omelet

fresh.

2010-03-26T18:39:00.002-04:00

I've got a new layout! But I can't seem to get rid of the text blog header since I already have a graphic as my header. Has anyone else experienced the same problem? Hopefully the glitches will be fixed soon!

Today in the graphics lab was my very first time working in the screen printing process. I loved it! It is much more tedious than I expected, but definitely very rewarding.

In other news, there's a new article on my column. If you've never heard of Geocaching, or even if you already enjoy it... read about it at Life at 3,000 Feet now.

Have a great weekend!

prints.

2010-03-22T12:12:00.001-04:00

I am pretty much the epitome of basic sewing knowledge, and nothing more. However, although I'm not exactly equipped to create things on a machine, I love looking through printed fabrics and getting inspiration from the masses of designs.

[1,2,3,4]

And my absolute favorites, all from Rubie Green.

busy life...

2010-03-21T21:41:00.002-04:00

...but new Life at 3,000 Feet column out this week!!! Hop over and read "Craving Variety."

[via]

va-va-vacation.

2010-03-06T00:07:00.001-05:00

Now that I get a non-hectic spring break away from my copious amounts of school work, I've been relaxing at home and packing up to head to the beach tomorrow with my phenomenal friends. I'm so excited for this whole week of hanging out without everyone having different schedules, cooking great food, wearing spring clothes, and enjoying a long-awaited vacation from the blizzard town in which I live.

Things I'm looking forward to the most:

-hanging out in the hugely awesome house that the adorable event-planner Taylor hooked us up with (oceanfront with a hot tub!)

-making chocolate chip waffles with whipped cream on my assigned dinner night for everyone

-long nights of ridiculousness

-walking on the beach in the morning + night

-quality time with the most hilarious people I know

-looking out at the ocean early in the day eating breakfast with everyone

-coming home to the rest of the weekend with my amazing family

Have a great week!

[pictures]

some exciting news to share.

2010-02-24T22:29:00.001-05:00

I am now a weekly online columnist for The Appalachian [online]!!! Every Wednesday, check out Life at 3,000 Feet, a column about living creatively and cheaply in Boone. It's been so exciting to create this idea and see the finished product actually published online (no offense to you, little blog). I can't wait to continue every week and I'm already looking forward to next week's article. This week's column touches on the whole "Life at 3,000 Feet" idea and shares one of my favorite sledding hills of all time. Take a look!

things to love.

2010-02-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

[1,2,3,4]

some inspiration.

2010-02-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

[via]

mental makeover.

2010-02-18T09:00:00.005-05:00

It isn't often that I take the much-needed time to clear my head and reinvent my thought process, but I stumbled upon this article and found it really interesting. While books like The Secret have already explored how the right mentality can remodel your whole life, mental makeovers like this on a smaller scale are just as exciting to try, especially if they work. I'll definitely be giving this process a try in the near future, especially now that snow days are going to pile on work in all of my classes in order to catch up. Who knows, maybe making small subconscious changes are the answer to big, conscious, every day stress?!

springtime inspiration in all this snow.

2010-02-17T11:33:00.001-05:00

While we're totally in the middle of another blizzard (and yet another legendary snow day off of classes) I'm keeping myself occupied with cozy men's pajama pants, lots of movies, and the bright sunny colors of the upcoming spring season. Here's some pieces to pep up your day, especially from my now-daily wardrobe of grays, blacks, and browns.

{only $40!}

[1,2,3,4,5]

2010-02-12T10:01:00.001-05:00

Today, I'm doing a lots of exciting things, such as...
-singing a lease for my new apartment next year
-getting the ingredients for lemon bars and chocolate covered strawberries
-doing some pre-valentine's day errands to get a few things together for this weekend
-making lots and lots of valentine's cupcakes for friends
-coming up with some ideas for a new writing project that may be happening soon

I am one of those obnoxious people who indefinitely loves Valentine's Day, no matter what kind of romantic status I find myself in. For me, the day has always meant doing something sweet for your loved ones and making them feel special. One of my favorite things to do is come up with nice surprises for the people that mean the most to me, and I love letting my friends know how much I appreciate them. Here's some of my inspiration for Feb. 14th this year...

[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]

activity update!

2010-02-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

Exciting news... I'm currently in the process of researching online marketplaces to embark on the road to developing my own little shop to sell things on. I need to do a lot of work to get enough final products together in order to launch this whole idea... but any support/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

So far I'm planning on going with Big Cartel as a shop host... it's free to try out minimal selling, which is exactly what I'm looking to do at this point with no prior experience or feedback.

As far as selling goes... so far I'm looking into little wearables (think headbands, hair clips, brooches) but am hopefully going to start doing some more work in the paper category. Stay tuned...

via.

links worth looking at.

2010-01-31T09:47:00.005-05:00

The worlds smallest library.

For all your Jack Kerouac quote needs.

Sunday secrets.

iPad humor..

Pretty new spring arrivals from J Crew... too bad spring weather won't start happening till May here...

Etsy favorites: these block-printed cards, bridge and birds, dendrite earrings.

An unbelievably small baby antelope.

"If movie posters told the truth..."

Have a relaxing Sunday!

2010-01-29T16:46:00.006-05:00

It is pouring snow outside (we are supposed to get up to 14 inches!!) and I'm inside my cozy apartment making this. It's going pretty slow so far but I can't wait until it's finished!

new beginnings and the unexpected.

2010-01-12T18:13:00.005-05:00

It's the start of a new semester and I already feel like so much is happening. Since coming back up the mountain, I've experienced tons of gorgeous snow, taking my best friend to the emergency room on a sled (more on that in a second..), starting all new classes (including an exciting graphic design class!), and now finally feel like I'm getting my life organized and ready to tackle this year. It was sad to take the little Christmas tree down, but I'm going to make more of an effort this year to be more crafty/creative and will hopefully try out some little projects to spruce up my little apartment. I also got a beautiful K2 snowboard for Christmas and am planning on heading out to the slopes tomorrow night to try it out for the first time! I had an exceptional holiday and it's going to be hard to make myself go back into school-productive mode... I'm already wary of how my online class is going to turn out. It's going to be harder to remember it than the actual work I'll have to do...

Anyway, on a more serious note... my dear roommate and friend, Emma, has a broken leg. Sunday, we headed over to a friend's house to have an epic sledding session...and we didn't quite get what we were expecting. Although we did make several successful runs down the driveway and a huuuge hill... things ultimately took a turn for the worse. Our friend Taylor went down with Emma on their little red sled for one last time... when they crashed and tumbled out like we had all been doing into the powdery snow. However, this time, something was clearly wrong as Emma immediately knew that her leg had snapped. After realizing that she was serious in her distress, we put her and her unnaturally twisted leg back on the sled and crawled her down the rest of the hill to a car. Our valiant guy friends were right there waiting with the keys and the muscles to lift her and the sled into the back seat... and off we went to the hospital.

So an hour and a half and a lot of head-spinning later, brave Emma is discharged from the emergency room with a broken tibia and fibula and lots of painkillers. I've never been with anyone during an emergency like this before and it really make me realize how important it is to stay smart and not panic for the sake of the situation. As everything happened, it was easy to see how amazing our friends are and how much Emma means to us. I'm glad that we were all with her and together to be there for her and it highlights the importance of finding your friends in college that feel like your family away from home. I'm so thankful for the people that I have in my life and that nothing worse happend during the accident. Emma will get her legit cast on friday and she will sled again, even if it means me pulling her around in the parking lot on one.

While accidents are never the best memories in our life, the people that surround us during a crisis are surely one of the best things about living. Loving eachother, taking care of eachother, that's really everything important in life. Sure, success and prosperity are important to us in our society, but in the end it will always comes down to the people that you love and how they have impacted you in your journey. Don't let a bad situation be what it takes to show someone how much they mean to you, but be thankful for your loved ones every single day. That's one of my goals for this new year, stop taking those close to me for granted and really let them know how much I appreciate their awesome selfs. To all of my friends that read this, thank you for being there for me at whatever point during my life. I wouldn't be the same person without you.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T11:11:00.003-05:00

2009 had so much in store for me that I hadn't been expecting, but I have a feeling that much more will happen with my life in 2010. I'm excited to see what the new year brings and I hope everyone has a great (and safe) new year's eve! See you next year.

Dear Santa,

2009-12-07T21:11:00.011-05:00

I've been really good this year...

[jcrew]

guess what?!?!

2009-12-04T23:11:00.006-05:00

It's supposed to snow tonight!!!
If I get to wake up to white tomorrow, I will be a happy, happy girl.

[weheartit]

constant favorites.

2009-12-03T13:00:00.005-05:00

I will never stop loving....

snuggling
peach soda
flannel
pasta
my loved ones
Christmastime
books
inspiration
snowflakes
socks
black & white
being girly
twinkle lights
windows
cooking
grinning
trees
surprises
food network
my bed

[weheartit]

What are your undying favorites?

birds of a feather.

2009-12-02T19:49:00.003-05:00

found here.

baby it's cold outside.

2009-11-30T21:11:00.004-05:00

With all of the blustery, freezing winter weather that is finally rolling in, I can't help but think every three minutes that I would rather stay in a warm bed all day. Any of these would do...

[all: weheartit]

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-11-27T16:57:00.010-05:00

So lately, everything I see has been geared towards Christmas.
And I could NOT be any more excited!

home for the holiday.

2009-11-23T18:02:00.003-05:00

After some crucial last-minute schoolwork and packing, I will be heading home tomorrow afternoon for Thanksgiving break.... finally! I love being in my house with my family and cannot wait to cook with everyone and eat sixteen pounds of stuffing. I am so extremely thankful for everything and everyone that I have in my life and I cannot believe how truly blessed I am. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving... soon it will be time to count down to Christmas!!!

[flickr,weheartit]

instant gratification.

2009-11-18T20:39:00.003-05:00

[all by me]

secrets, secrets...

2009-11-16T16:53:00.003-05:00

Most people have heard of the incredible PostSecret project by now, but I can't help but sharing anyway. People send in tons of anonymous postcards, each customized with their own secret, and they are combined and published in books and on the PostSecret website. Every sunday I check out the site to read the new secrets and occasionally pick some favorites to save. Here are some of my favorites from yesterday's secret round-up.

I only have eyes for you.

2009-11-02T17:53:00.007-05:00

Every woman has those days when you wake up needing to feel undeniably sexy. Putting forth the confidence [and sometimes effort] to do so is always worth it in that you feel good about yourself all day long and your positive mindset can revamp your entire day. Even the most subtle of flirts need an extra dose of feminine inspiration every now and then to remind them how truly fun being a girl is.

Some things define sexy for me:
-finding a dress that fits perfectly
-heels, of all types
-high-waisted skirs
-thigh high stockings
-anything classic and black
-perfume bottles
-cupcakes with icing and sprinkles
-clean, white, fluffy beds
-champagne glasses
-tousled hair
-feeling giddy in love
-silk bows
-slow, old songs

What do you consider quintessentially sexy?

[all images: weheartit]

perfect printables.

2009-11-01T23:05:00.005-05:00

Now that I have a wider range of blogs that I keep track of, I've discovered how exciting free paper downloads can be. Design-y, reader-friendly sites such as How About Orange have become some of my favorite places to visit with a fresh stack of card stock just begging to be printed on. Some of my current favorite free printables sources are...

Heirloom Paperie

Cottage Industrialist

iDiY

How About Orange

Parsiri

I am already thoroughly enjoying all that these sites have to offer... if you know of any other awesome places for free downloads, I would love to know!

slacking...

2009-10-19T19:53:00.002-04:00

So I have been completely absent from the blog world lately, I just got back from a wonderful fall break at home with my family (and the state fair)! School is not wasting any time getting hectic again so it might be a little longer until I can get it together and give Hello Sunshine some much needed blogging attention...

Hope you had a great weekend and that you're enjoying the chilly weather as much as I am!

[weheartit]

sunday is a good day for writing.

2009-10-11T12:32:00.005-04:00

We never quite fully understand how lucky we really are. Not with sadness or outrageous happiness do we actually grasp the multitude of our blessings. Every so often, we catch a glimpse of it, while looking up at the blue sky or telling someone that you belong with them. But even then, after that fleeting moment of bliss that fills your soul, you lose grip once more of what you actually posses within your being. What we do know, though, is how to give ourselves to others once we’ve been lucky enough to stumble across someone who fits. Some go about this differently than others. Like small children, they tentatively creep into companionship as if the floor may fall out from underneath them at any second. They are this way because they have a past, some etched memory of a great love in little slivered pieces. For this they should not be considered broken or weak, but strong in that they will let someone put back together all the little splinters of their heart. So much trust for someone with so much to lose, they are learning to give themselves again.

Then there are those like wild dogs. They run, blindly and haphazardly towards brick walls. People call them foolish, stupid, irresponsible. I call them young. The first time you ever become so irrevocably and undeniably invested in someone, you find yourself indeed becoming a wild dog. Typically, first loves are roaring locomotive trains that never find which track comes next when the time is upon them. They steam towards a crossroads, and then come to a screaming, explosive halt. Some people say that you never forget your first love, and most of us never do. Yet, forgetting and learning are sometimes confused. We can never erase the mental images of their face so close to yours, all the promises you thought you’d never swear again, and the way your soul felt when you realized it was all completely and utterly over. However, we move on. We watch the clock keep ticking and realize that time has, in fact, not stopped. We try to find reason in why others are smiling, when all that we can feel is empty and alone. The hurt fades, we laugh again, but we do not forget what we’ve given and what we’ve lost.

And then, all of the sudden, we realize we’re falling in love all over again, and no amount of forgotten memories is going to hold us back from becoming wild dogs all over again. Your heart is being pulled to someone else’s just like it did the first time, but you find that instead of your stomach feeling all wildly giggly, you are forcefully gripped by the realization that you are about to begin something much bigger than you’ve ever known. You start experiencing feelings of mild terror, dizzying desire, unstoppable honesty, and above all else, the undying need for more.

And that’s when you know you’ve found it.

what a weekend!!

2009-10-09T14:35:00.013-04:00

Hello!! Although this weekend hasn't even barely begun yet it's already been fantastic. Boone weather has been gorgeous and the changing leaves are in full swing!

Wednesday:
The girls and I made pizza...great success,

and then watched "My Sassy Girl." Hadn't even heard of it until now but it was adorable! I highly recommend it.

Thursday:
Lunch as usual after classes with some friends.
Then, the Blue Ridge Parkway with boyfriend!!! Such amazing weather and clear views. It's unbelievable to think that I live in a place this beautiful. Take a look...

[all photos by me]

Friday:
Little morning shopping trip to the JCrew outlet with the roommate. Found at least two things that I couldn't say no to... at least they were on sale?
Tonight- Homecoming festivities and seeing hypnotist! I love it when there are so many fun things to do.

Lately I've been thinking about getting more crafty, maybe trying some DIY apartment activities soon? I refinished a lot of the furniture for my apartment over the summer and loved the whole process of working to create something I really liked. Any suggestions? Design*Sponge has so many great ideas that I'm finding it difficult to choose...

What are you doing this weekend? Hope you're having a great day!!

hello all!

2009-10-07T17:23:00.006-04:00

It is a gorgeous afternoon and I'm in a fantastic mood... my three tests of this week are over with and it's smooth sailing from here till fall break at home with my wonderful family and friends. All the leaves are starting to change and fall is really here... only 61 degrees today! Fall is my favorite season by far, but it's also slightly panicking.... everything about fall is fleeting. It's far too easy to miss the explosive leaves, the perfect in-between weather before it drops to freezing rain, and the window of opportunity for corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and recipes that autumn seems to specifically call for. However, this year I have sworn to not waste time worrying that I've done completely everything that I love in the fall. I will simply enjoy it as if every day is the first day of fall and see how far that gets me.

[foodporndaily]

On another note, tonight is girl's night! My favorites and I are making pizza... with tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. Can't wait... and I'm assuming there will be pictures to come.

That's all for now! The rest of this week is looking promising but I'll definitely find time to post something a little more exciting than this entry... :)

Have a great hump day!

oh sunday.

2009-10-04T20:20:00.004-04:00

Even though the weather has been gorgeous and I had an amazing weekend... I'm not feeling too hot now. Let's hope it's just a cold and not any form of the flu...

Pictures to come from this weekend!

[papertissue]

Hope you had a terrific weekend!

thursday nights....

2009-10-01T18:35:00.007-04:00

first of all....

Happy October!!!

Can't wait for: changing leaves, cider, fall break, pumpkins, caramel apples, sweaters, hammocks filled with blankets, chilly drives on the blue ridge parkway, boots, the state fair, and the joys of Boone in autumn.

It's thursday night!... which means cooking steak for dinner and watching the Office! No decisions on anything to eat with the steak yet, but I think some photo documentation may occur during the cooking endeavors tonight. And hopefully the Office will be as hilarious as it's been these past couple episodes. :)

Already getting excited for friday too.... big birthday party for two of my greatest friends tomorrow night! This one is going to require more prep than usual, as it is appropriately "birthday sex" (pimps and hoes) themed.

Well, off to grocery shop with my cooking partner for the night... have an excellent fall weekend!

[lelove]

fun little things...

2009-09-28T20:24:00.018-04:00

I've been pretty busy lately but I can't help sharing these great links from all over the internet...

I want my future pool to look like this.

Living on a college campus during flu season, you wish that more people would know when to play it safe.

It's another great season for Mountaineer football!

I think the fact that autumn is my favorite season might have something to do with these. Chocolate chip pumpkin muffins?! yes please.

I didn't realize that people thought so much about planning roller coaster pictures... but I'm glad they did. bhahaha

Can't wait to do some hammocking this weekend.

Just plain awesome.

If you've never listened to Michael Alvarado and the Band before... you need to start. Right now.

That's all for now... have a great rest of the week!

wishful thinking...

2009-09-23T21:47:00.032-04:00

Now that fall is rapidly approaching the mountains, I've realized the new multitudes of adorable things I could be adding to my wardrobe if only I had an unlimited supply of money. Here are my current favorites:

anthropologie

j crew

j crew

coach

coach

forever 21

forever 21

banana republic

banana republic

Now that I've effectively procrastinated an hour longer... history studying is still calling my name. Have a great end of the week!

Breakfast in Boone

2009-09-19T13:57:00.014-04:00

I'm a huge fan of going out to breakfast. Something about starting off the day with someone bringing the breakfast of your choice straight to you is just so perfectly easy and delicious. Yesterday, the boyfriend and I went downtown to Melanie's Food Fantasy and have already made a new favorite. Known for it's organic and homemade nature, Melanie's boasts a huge breakfast menu full of huge omelets, creative benedicts, and the best french toast you've ever eaten. It's available in a classic or stuffed (with raspberry cream cheese spread) version, and it was all I could do not to ask for more bites of the plate of it that my boyfriend ordered. The plate comes with a pile of homemade whipped cream on the side and I'm already trying to find out how to make it...

(sorry for the picture quality... cell phone camera was my only option at the time)

Besides the breakfast menu, Melanie's also serves lunch including hot paninis, burgers, and plenty of vegetarian sandwich options. The inside of the restaurant has a vintage kitchen feel, with mismatched tables and bead board walls, something that's always an added bonus for me. Definitely a place to come back to when guests are in town, although the menu is affordable enough to go for no special reason at all.

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!!

First Post!

2009-09-17T19:37:00.013-04:00

Welcome to Hello Sunshine!! I'm thrilled that you're here. Now that I've finally created this little internet place I might as well tell you something about myself...

Ten things you should know about me:

I'm a sophomore, creative writing major with ambitions to someday write books.
I love wearing socks, mostly plain white athletic socks. So crucial.
I have an undying love for Nehi peach soda, flannel shirts, and any kind of pasta.
Some of the most romantic things ever to me are ferris wheels, drive-in movies, chinese food on the blue ridge parkway, sitting on the same side of a booth, and holding hands.
I'm not sure how to define my sense of style yet, but it's pretty simple, not very trendy, and full of neutrals and the color coral.
Fall is my favorite time of year. Autumn leaves and mountain weather, football, shorts and long-sleeved shirts, flea markets, hot chocolate, the fair.
My loved ones and my faith are the most important thing in my life. I have been so blessed with amazing family and friends.
I'm a firm believer in true love, snuggling, never dieting, making the bed, and always doing the things that make you happier than life itself.
I've hesitated to start a blog until now, but I know I want to do this project as a way to network, share the little things that fill my life, and write to whoever decides to actually read this.
I can't wait to see where my life is going and to find out exactly who I'm supposed to be.

So... nice to meet you! As time goes on, I hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by. Till the next post!