tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31550453947759808432024-03-18T21:59:27.368-07:00Sugar Snap Pearls {Archive}Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.comBlogger387125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-59418114011416785822015-03-02T20:40:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.717-07:00Choosing Your Next Book (Spring Break Edition)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The other day I blogged about several things I plan to bring on my Spring Break trip, but I forgot one of the most important items...reading materials! I mean how else are you going to survive the airport and plane? Plus I know I'm not the only one who enjoys a good book on the beach. Well, I have been skimming various websites, lists, and asking friends for recommendations of books to read. Maybe it is because I spend so much time reading for class in college, or maybe it was that bad spell of books I went through over the summer, but I really want to make sure I have some reassurance going into reading a book. That being said, I will really read almost anything you throw at me. I wanted to be able to give you several options for what to read over vacation so my list has books for all moods and preferences. I hope you find at least one that you enjoy! Also, don't forget to add me on GoodReads because I keep it updated with my reading list and I would love to know what you are reading!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYWU19JwhO8L0u9-Xpl3xlMNQrLkmmTT9VUrTIiU9u-AZyhzcl_2GdLKvLJ2bQOSyw4YIKKf1lasCpdj4QyfTWgddTqvwn8SDosaM57abTigf0u_FNSv63SZqs-Erk3MArHXkDMgcMZA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-28+at+11.37.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYWU19JwhO8L0u9-Xpl3xlMNQrLkmmTT9VUrTIiU9u-AZyhzcl_2GdLKvLJ2bQOSyw4YIKKf1lasCpdj4QyfTWgddTqvwn8SDosaM57abTigf0u_FNSv63SZqs-Erk3MArHXkDMgcMZA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-28+at+11.37.56+PM.png" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>If you enjoyed...<br /><br /><i>Gone Girl</i> by Gillian Flynn<i>,</i> read <i>The Girl on the Train</i> by Paula Hawkins. This book came out at the beginning of the year and has absolutely taken off in popularity. Many of the reviews related it to <i>Gone Girl</i> so you know you can't go wrong with this book.<br /><br />Jodi Picoult novels, read <i>Big Little Lies</i> by Liane Moriarty. She has several popular books published, and her latest did not disappoint critics. This is one of those books that you don't want to put down, but you won't be lost if you have to stop reading to board a plane or take a break for a couple of days.<br /><br />anything, read <i>Unbroken</i> by Laura Hillenbrand. Okay, that was vague, but this book has something for everyone. It is well-written, interesting, and tells an incredible story. I really can see any of my friends and family enjoying this book so you should definitely give it a read.<br /><br /><i>The Da Vinci Code</i> by Dan Brown, read <i>The Charm School</i> by Nelson DeMille. DeMille is one of my favorite authors and I have read a bunch of the John Corey books he writes. This book is not related to any of his other books, but I wish it would because it was so good. The ending is incredible and DeMille's sarcastic characters add a nice element to this thriller.<br /><br /><i>Pride and Prejudice</i> by Jane Austin, read <i>North and South</i> by Elizabeth Gaskell. I wish I had read this book before seeing the BBC miniseries on Netflix because I love it that much. The plot has some similarities to Austen's classic, but this less well-known novel takes place in a cotton industrial town which introduces several different factors that I really think add to the characters' complexity and make the plot a bit more relatable to a woman today.<br /><br /><i>Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?</i> by Mindy Kaling, read <i>Bad Feminist</i> by Roxanne Gay. This collection of essays should be easy to read through and it has good reviews on Amazon as being a nice combination of satire and an important message on feminism.<br /><br />historical fiction, read <i>All the Light We Cannot See</i> by Anthony Doerr. This book was named one of the top books of 2014 and with it's historical context, it's easy to see why. After looking at reviews, I can't wait to read this book!<br /><br /><i>Eat, Pray, Love</i> by _, read <i>Wild</i> by Cheryl Strayed. Reese Witherspoon portrayed Strayed in the Oscar-nominated film based on the memoir. This book is about the evolution of changing and discovering oneself in a bit of an unconventional way.<br /><br />What books are you reading this Spring Break?<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-89357283934488154772015-03-01T08:13:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.790-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Working in retail means that I am surrounded by Spring lines well before it is time to wear them in Virginia. I mean, we still have snow on the ground. Today I decided to wear a Spring-y outfit because I am just so excited to head to Florida for a week and because it is now March!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-31381291358621815732015-02-28T08:47:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.639-07:00Ten Things to Pack for Spring Break<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One week from today I will be on a plane heading south to the sunshine state for some baseball and the beach. Spring break cannot come soon enough because I am so tired of seeing wool sweaters and snow. Technically I have enough time to pack next week, but I know that if I don't start planning now then I will end up with some random items taking up valuable space and leaving behind some essential item (last year it was my Yankees hat). Plus, I am beyond thrilled to have an excuse to go through my spring clothes! I haven't laid out any outfits yet, but there are a few things that I know are crucial to pack after 4 straight Florida spring break trips.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRETb7KZXPsY1ESb3qHpDyEu9IUwqrdkBKue0wzUGTmtu8r6wBADmGOcSIeUIdYEOvwrzNLA0CK7QxJrLpEeBNo61yQ_ACHxHtRZO2G5AoSmFl2O1Wm74SsDgahgdY8rDRw9bKJw6tZ7s/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-28+at+11.44.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRETb7KZXPsY1ESb3qHpDyEu9IUwqrdkBKue0wzUGTmtu8r6wBADmGOcSIeUIdYEOvwrzNLA0CK7QxJrLpEeBNo61yQ_ACHxHtRZO2G5AoSmFl2O1Wm74SsDgahgdY8rDRw9bKJw6tZ7s/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-28+at+11.44.58+AM.png" height="608" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=150946090" target="_blank">{get everything here}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div>One: Cute, Lightweight top</div><div>This can be used for day or night, but the key is that it is lightweight. If you're going to a game, like me, opt for cotton because at least it will dry if you sweat a bit (which you will).</div><div><br /></div><div>Two: Neutral Flats</div><div>I love wearing my jacks when the weather is nicer. However, a cute pair of flats is perfect for going to and from the airport. They can also be a nice change of footwear for a chilly evening or just to take a break from sandals.</div><div><br /></div><div>Three: Hat</div><div>Another one that doesn't need much of an explanation. I showed a baseball hat because they're easier to pack in a suitcase than a sunhat. </div><div><br /></div><div>Four: Sundresses</div><div>I don't think this needs an explanation. Bring a few of these because they take up no space and are perfect for any occasion because you can dress them up or down.</div><div><br /></div><div>Five: Makeup with SPF</div><div>I always wear makeup with SPF because my face is pretty sensitive, but it is especially important to protect your face if you are going to be in the sun all day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Six: Bathing Suit</div><div>Don't be one of those people who goes to the beach, forgetting the one essential item.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seven: Statement Earrings</div><div>It is hot in Florida, at least it is hotter than Virginia. I usually opt for fun earrings over a fun necklace because I don't want anything sitting on my neck that doesn't have to be there. Plus, bracelets and necklaces have been responsible for their fair share of unfortunate tan or burn lines.</div><div><br /></div><div>Eight: Sandals</div><div>Get a pedicure (or give yourself one) and throw on those sandals that have been sitting in the back of your closet all winter. Is anyone else beyond excited for sandal season?</div><div><br /></div><div>Nine: Sunglasses</div><div>Don't get crows feet from squinting your eyes. The sun will reflect off the sand and water so it will be even harsher than usual.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ten: Cute Sweatshirt</div><div>The Florida evenings are much chillier than the days. I always bring a cute sweater or sweatshirt when I go out to dinner because the breeze really gets to you. It is really nice to be able to sit outside for meals in Florida, but, especially by the water, it is chilly enough to want a sweater and jeans.</div><div><br /></div><div>xx</div><div>erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-76107442131204102892015-02-27T05:59:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.749-07:00The Friday Five: White and Gold<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><div>Guys, the dress is definitely white and gold. Actually, this little debate that is blowing up the internet is pretty funny and there finally seems to be an explanation for the science behind seeing the different colors. Quite frankly, when I turn down the brightness on my laptop I can see the dress as blue and black. Regardless, it was pretty funny to hear what everyone thought last night!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVKjQl8e3WEmZRN01F3rNoCzBjNMrO6o4-nywntSO70m9auCmdJ7-RI6-anjUvN3dyQ3spnJUpsCuGElNrjIILLUTDuoraP0knRZQbou3V4DJHdF1ERxd08EEc-pwfwzI5EWzBWnfEB4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-27+at+8.57.54+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVKjQl8e3WEmZRN01F3rNoCzBjNMrO6o4-nywntSO70m9auCmdJ7-RI6-anjUvN3dyQ3spnJUpsCuGElNrjIILLUTDuoraP0knRZQbou3V4DJHdF1ERxd08EEc-pwfwzI5EWzBWnfEB4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-27+at+8.57.54+AM.png" height="640" width="474" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.solesociety.com/quentin-taupe.html" target="_blank">I am loving this bucket bag.</a> <a href="http://www.solesociety.com/invite/link/index/id/11799386/type/1/" target="_blank">Sign up for Sole Society here!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.thecollegeprepster.com/2015/02/youre-more-capable-than-you-think.html" target="_blank">How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.katespade.com/find-the-silver-lining-iphone-5-case/8ARU0745,en_US,pd.html?dwvar_8ARU0745_color=699&cgid=ks-sale-accessories#start=13&cgid=ks-sale-accessories" target="_blank">I love this optimistic phone case...and it's on sale!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/news/5-women-who-made-the-oscars-this-year" target="_blank">These Hollywood women stole the show at the Oscars.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/lifestyle/12-best-productivity-apps" target="_blank">We all know how I feel about organization, so this list of apps is definitely a bookmarked article on my laptop.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>xx</div><div>erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-8799143272093443842015-02-25T08:46:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.786-07:00How To: Styling an Oversized Men's Button-Down<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I have a confession: my favorite shirts are men's shirts. Not just any men's shirts though, preferably ones that are a size or two larger than I am. It's an unspoken rule in college that wearing a large shirt over norts is 100% socially acceptable, but sometimes I want to be that comfortable in my cute clothes. My solution to this is wearing men's button-downs. I have a couple of my brothers old ones, both dress shirts and flannels, and constantly wish I had more. The flannels are saved for winter finals or cozy winter nights because there really isn't a way for me to make them super cute, but I love styling the dress shirt hand-me-downs. There are so many different ways to style these shirts and everyone has a different preference. Some people can get away with wearing them without a belt, however since that is my slimmest part of my body, I really prefer to still keep some emphasis on it.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0EOyg7kH0RwIZifg75up1-NHZCQhhvkTLCi9O_1hLi_E-fdYakTomkU3KHOPMDFZLox_ih-z1_nJRxw0_vtQb-jrGuU4l6xvG7Tk3Jq9dGZ9W69sozRDvfAo6agPoCoA1_Ka5A_CPXw/s1600/buttondown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0EOyg7kH0RwIZifg75up1-NHZCQhhvkTLCi9O_1hLi_E-fdYakTomkU3KHOPMDFZLox_ih-z1_nJRxw0_vtQb-jrGuU4l6xvG7Tk3Jq9dGZ9W69sozRDvfAo6agPoCoA1_Ka5A_CPXw/s1600/buttondown.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/425449496022621520/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3JKiN-RJVfgYUJwzle8cVCABOg3P7tdjjGiaF5OKTIUhG4xb4xnfgwAOiOPYiJwEvClVSK7q0vvUpoBq4-uWBrfMTHuxOc7XtVbLBCDE5ad16ivdy3SD4gTG0AIqwPJAcWu_o1DIezE/s1600/buttondown+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3JKiN-RJVfgYUJwzle8cVCABOg3P7tdjjGiaF5OKTIUhG4xb4xnfgwAOiOPYiJwEvClVSK7q0vvUpoBq4-uWBrfMTHuxOc7XtVbLBCDE5ad16ivdy3SD4gTG0AIqwPJAcWu_o1DIezE/s1600/buttondown+3.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/516225176010675981/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobWMBlYYsN1HCIW0p_zhYLuRzC_STPOkAeGl8GP5_witqRcEqkhBqiY8nsKzB_Oy-gnpGzoRgsrKeTotqIRm6Ln9E7a8D-b6ly4pz0q5rmfZHDv3FtKSDsXLGqInTwVOUyWdIhLwTYV8/s1600/buttondown+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobWMBlYYsN1HCIW0p_zhYLuRzC_STPOkAeGl8GP5_witqRcEqkhBqiY8nsKzB_Oy-gnpGzoRgsrKeTotqIRm6Ln9E7a8D-b6ly4pz0q5rmfZHDv3FtKSDsXLGqInTwVOUyWdIhLwTYV8/s1600/buttondown+4.jpg" height="640" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/152981718564663816/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xVEKG1LeLJcIPMkEuVFSUTNNnVI3ayg_fppCNDUlLS5WqYXo3RjG_WfHLVakadON-iwL_-sTAMPNli0LGTGbUkxrBaFfngfJ8Dhrpa9bnue2_67Q6SN6Mh4F-qx8dlkIcVkpdnzwG4c/s1600/buttondown+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xVEKG1LeLJcIPMkEuVFSUTNNnVI3ayg_fppCNDUlLS5WqYXo3RjG_WfHLVakadON-iwL_-sTAMPNli0LGTGbUkxrBaFfngfJ8Dhrpa9bnue2_67Q6SN6Mh4F-qx8dlkIcVkpdnzwG4c/s1600/buttondown+2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/255438610090759421/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table>There are plenty of women's stores out there that sell buttondowns for prices that probably exceed what you want to spend on a comfy, casual outfit. TJ Maxx or other discount stores (including thrift stores) will have just as good of a selection in their men's section. If you want the fit to be oversized, you may as well go to the source where that fit is guaranteed.<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-10878207185535781492015-02-25T08:04:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.585-07:00The Perfect Shirt: Piko Tops<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">One of my friends had a Piko shirt last year and I remember thinking it was cute, but I never realized they would become as popular as they are now. Seriously, I feel like all of my friends are wearing them now, and with good reason. These shirts are so cute and <i>so</i> comfortable. <div>I got my first one in the mail the other day and I just wanted to wear it and never take it off. The lavender color I ordered is perfect for Spring and I can't wait to add more of these to my collection! For those of you not familiar with the brand, they're a bamboo shirt which is why they are so soft. While I ordered a springy color, there are tons of options and they can definitely be worn year-round. The length is great to throw on over a pair of leggings or white jeans as the year goes on. Now, if you've seen this brand in boutiques near you, you may notice that the shirts are almost $30 and the tunics can be as pricy as $35, but if you go to <a href="http://piko.com/">piko.com</a>, you can get them for $20-21! If the shirt doesn't sell itself enough already, the price definitely should. They have all different sleeve lengths and cuts depending on your preference. I really love the long-sleeve, rounded neck that I have, but you can't go wrong with any of the styles or colors. </div><div>Personally, I am really excited about this shirt for Spring Break because Florida is an absolute sauna compared to Virginia this time of year, but at night it definitely cools off and I prefer a more covering top. I am thinking of styling it with some cute wedges and fun jewelry. It would also be a great shirt for the plane ride because it is cute and comfy, the perfect outfit to cope with any layover.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgiq7bVfkdiDxVlFzDDE2HCQIy22zF51yCBkp_1ORmD401xAZ7KHdo2-cB8b214cu41m2cj5T8TtLysR22xB-0Tdjl0Bv4YDBOKcj_b0P-Yo6sDGB6YLqCi8SOZk-Dtmhh02rVLC0VpI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-25+at+10.56.09+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgiq7bVfkdiDxVlFzDDE2HCQIy22zF51yCBkp_1ORmD401xAZ7KHdo2-cB8b214cu41m2cj5T8TtLysR22xB-0Tdjl0Bv4YDBOKcj_b0P-Yo6sDGB6YLqCi8SOZk-Dtmhh02rVLC0VpI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-25+at+10.56.09+AM.png" height="640" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pikoshirts.com/products/hot-pink-piko-3-4-sleeve-top" target="_blank">shirt</a> // <a href="http://www.baublebar.com/amazon-medallion-bib.html" target="_blank">necklace</a> // <a href="http://www.donnaida.com/denim/straight-leg-jeans/genetic-denim-matchstick-jeans-arena.html" target="_blank">jeans</a> // <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R7QJZ5G/ref=asc_df_B00R7QJZ5G3558587?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=polyvore006-20&linkCode=df0&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B00R7QJZ5G" target="_blank">clutch</a> // <a href="http://www.zappos.com/michael-michael-kors-carla-wedge-luggage-vachetta" target="_blank">shoes</a> //<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=150640526" target="_blank">find everything here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to style the shirt throughout the spring. Do any of y'all have one of these? Which one should I get next?</div><div><br /></div><div>xx</div><div>erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-56575240922970898242015-02-20T11:04:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.710-07:00Friday Five: Ready for Spring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Guys, it's an important day! Do you know why? <i>Baseball is back</i>! Yes, today the Yankees pitchers and catchers report marking the official start of Spring Training and my countdown to seeing a few games over Spring Break. I am so incredibly ready for that trip to Florida. I mean, mentally I am ready...physically, I could use a few extra weeks of crunches before I go anywhere in a bikini.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jHUo89__JHpPkiR44zcv1BUFJ9dKaXmRLuC95eHtXAZ2gLygspzhBzBtpHjzlW195zMQLyZ2IPFqhtYqvPOhAEJ2Ie3tqKbXZevs1jeEvZ5h9CLZff4c-cko-HHrnNX1ytuEiDuZFBw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-20+at+2.02.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jHUo89__JHpPkiR44zcv1BUFJ9dKaXmRLuC95eHtXAZ2gLygspzhBzBtpHjzlW195zMQLyZ2IPFqhtYqvPOhAEJ2Ie3tqKbXZevs1jeEvZ5h9CLZff4c-cko-HHrnNX1ytuEiDuZFBw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-20+at+2.02.55+PM.png" height="396" width="400" /></a></div>Today's plans for me include a little spring cleaning and dinner and a movie...alone. I swear it's not pathetic and I am actually really excited about it. I am going to watch one of the Oscar nominated movies since I haven't seen <i>any</i> of them. If it's not on Netflix, I don't watch it these days.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/100064422947611309/" target="_blank">Kate Spade made the cutest, printable voting slip for the Academy Awards.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.southerncurlsandpearls.com/2015/02/spring-dreaming-all-less-than-100.html" target="_blank">Caitlin made a great list of some cute, affordable Spring items to get out of this weather funk.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-535591/?affsrcid=AFF0002&mr:trackingCode=5D66AEDC-D781-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=30153266381&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=24156051701&origin=pla&utm_source=cj&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=rewardStyle&utm_PID=4441350" target="_blank">This Sur La Table marble slab is so pretty and would be so helpful to have in my kitchen with all the baking I do.</a><br /><br /><a href="https://factory.jcrew.com/womens_clothing/new_arrivals/shirts_tops/PRDOVR~B9417/B9417.jsp?color_name=roz-floral" target="_blank">I ordered this J. Crew Factory top already because I loved the print when J. Crew had it last year.</a><br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/tips-recipes-microwave-mug-cakes#.toN82380oz" target="_blank">These mug cakes actually look delicious and I am seriously considering trying one out tonight.</a><br /><br />Have a great weekend and stay warm!<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-31444978650820897542015-02-19T12:48:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.644-07:00Pretending It Isn't Cold Outside<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It. Is. So. Cold.<br />I mean seriously, I thought I lived in Virginia not New England! That being said, I would rather be down here where it is cold, but at least I don't have to dig myself out of snow every day. Yesterday I spent some time planning my Spring Break outfits and looking at all the looks from Fashion Week and I am so ready for warmer weather. The reality though, is that I am going to be dealing with this weather for a while longer, so I am coming up with a list of ways to "beat the cold." I could list all the ways to stay warm, but I am hoping you have already figured that out, so these are ways to try to get around the cold weather funk.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcna0-Ug-5zJGcRkPjd1YXfbx9Hd0n4kSf3OdMQEQNqVwhA8zZZAXlO10El-tx1dJrKvOea_PCfiF_rd4xSmGCHxosNBzWCcWER-sciZDmP57kJPIEB9UHhiHJqOX2CbRLxz-eFIox2OM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-19+at+3.47.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcna0-Ug-5zJGcRkPjd1YXfbx9Hd0n4kSf3OdMQEQNqVwhA8zZZAXlO10El-tx1dJrKvOea_PCfiF_rd4xSmGCHxosNBzWCcWER-sciZDmP57kJPIEB9UHhiHJqOX2CbRLxz-eFIox2OM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-19+at+3.47.20+PM.png" height="638" width="640" /></a></div><br />One: Leggings under Tights<br />I used to do the double tights thing, but that was pretty uncomfortable when they rub together. Instead I am wearing a pair of workout leggings under my tights to protect me a bit more from the cold. You can wear whatever leggings you want, but I would recommend avoiding cotton or ones with stitching patterns you will see through the tights. Seriously though, I am so happy to just not be wearing pants today that this was a total mood-changer.<br /><br />Two: Hot Beverages<br />Hot chocolate calories don't count when you shiver as much as I am right now. Don't leave the house without a warm cup in your hands, it'll keep your hands warm and you get to feel warm inside while you sip your cocoa/tea/coffee. Having a wine night with your girls? Why not do a spiked cider or coffee? I mean, my apartment is so drafty that I really don't want to drink a glass of chilled anything.<br /><br />Three: Spring Cleaning<br />Clean out your wardrobe from everything you haven't worn all winter. Plus, this will make room for all the pretty things you'll be adding to your closet! Then, you can sell the stuff and buy new clothes for spring with that money...or just buy spring clothes regardless of the money you make because <i>now you have space for them</i>!<br /><br />Four: Flowers<br />There are <i>so many</i> pretty flowers in season this time of year. I mean, it may not feel like they're in season, but trust me, they are. I got some beautiful hydrangea at Trader Joe's yesterday and they had a beautiful display of tulips, too!<br /><br />Five: Check Another City's Weather<br />This seemed like a good idea...until I checked Anchorage, Alaska's weather and <i>it is warmer than Charlottesville, VA</i>! Blacksburg is colder, so you can check there...unless you live there (sorry friends and brothers).<br /><br />Stay Warm and just remember SPRING IS COMING<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-78702078205434473602015-02-13T11:32:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.763-07:00Friday Five: Missing Motivation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Okay, I don't normally struggle with motivating myself this much on a Friday because it is still a weekday, but today I am still lounging around my apartment, doing nothing. In all seriousness, I have a lot to do today, but motivation seems to have escaped me. The most important thing I have to do is get ready to have everyone over for our Galentine's Day celebration tonight! I realized that it is the perfect excuse to break out my glitter wine glasses, which have been sitting in a box since we moved in. Maggie and I have quite the collection of cups and glasses between us so I just never unpacked them.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELuH9ksIcGmrgM6cb0wiDbbO6GoXrfc3ECQ8dsWw0ROTYbZMdbtSRuANhjDxGGf_Y0Xe7ocZzbcmSQ8t2yzYOvAcrEbJSj20pU8LsapZw0tP70pxygQFiPG4CJk4nOGz83e5zaQ7CtwE/s1600/spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELuH9ksIcGmrgM6cb0wiDbbO6GoXrfc3ECQ8dsWw0ROTYbZMdbtSRuANhjDxGGf_Y0Xe7ocZzbcmSQ8t2yzYOvAcrEbJSj20pU8LsapZw0tP70pxygQFiPG4CJk4nOGz83e5zaQ7CtwE/s1600/spoon.jpg" height="532" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/100064422947459821/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table>If you want to make your own glasses, here's a <a href="http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/10/21/diy-glam-champagne-glasses/" target="_blank">tutorial</a>. I love them because people can remember which glass is theirs by which color glitter they have!<br /><br />Shopping for some new white jeans this spring? Check out <a href="http://www.thecollegeprepster.com/2015/02/white-jeans.html" target="_blank">Carly's post</a>.<br /><br />Lauren Conrad saying her favorite position is CEO is still one of my favorite interview moments every and this article has several other equally <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kristinharris/reporters-asking-female-celebrities-the-wrong-damn-q?bffb&utm_term=4ldqpgp#.ilZkxgkvwo" target="_blank">great, sassy quotes</a> from celebrities.<br /><br />I need this <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/100064422947455071/" target="_blank">coffee cup</a>...especially today.<br /><br />New York Fashion Week is going on right now and Kate Spade debuted their <a href="http://www.katespade.com/fashion-presentation/ks-fashion-presentation,en_US,sc.html?cm_mmc=ExactTarget-_-02132015_4_NYFW-_-02132015_4_NYFW-_-http%3a%2f%2fwww.katespade.com%2ffashion-presentation%2fks-fashion-presentation%2cen_US%2csc.html&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=02132015_4_NYFW&utm_content=http%3a%2f%2fwww.katespade.com%2ffashion-presentation%2fks-fashion-presentation%2cen_US%2csc.html&extgid=extg_02132015_4_NYFW&cp=1012466913" target="_blank">fall collection today</a>.<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-24671508622706342142015-02-12T08:38:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.617-07:00Celebrating Galentine's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">February 14th is Valentine's Day...or if you're single, it's Saturday. Actually, it is still Valentine's Day and there is no reason to be bitter about it. No one said Valentine's Day had to be about <i>romantic</i> love. So instead of sitting around, hating the weekend, some of my friends and I are going to do "Galentine's Day" on Friday. Now, some of you are probably like "OH MY GOSH, Parks and Rec!" and that is totally the correct reaction to have. However, I have never seen Parks and Rec, but my friends mentioned it, and we decided to turn it into a wine night instead of a brunch. Whatever, or whenever (Saturday is good, too), you decide to have Galentine's Day, here are some tips to making it fun and successful.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXzkUG88C_7GjiobZhdxEp38izqTaw0Vyc8td0QqYMW2dWuJ1fJpsr9H7K4GcmWjKth4crFpOZOd8QmE4KeaN0B3UDJYKI30CgLmZhwwX_9tnmY97NLebRc5Vzo8uX7qgK4S8UJcZ5Fw/s1600/galentines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXzkUG88C_7GjiobZhdxEp38izqTaw0Vyc8td0QqYMW2dWuJ1fJpsr9H7K4GcmWjKth4crFpOZOd8QmE4KeaN0B3UDJYKI30CgLmZhwwX_9tnmY97NLebRc5Vzo8uX7qgK4S8UJcZ5Fw/s1600/galentines.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br />One: Food<br />There are no guys around to see you eat a dozen cookies, an order of french toast, or an entire pizza. You can do classy appetizers like baked brie, or you can just throw some Easy Cheese on the table and go with it.*<br /><br />Two: Music<br />Spotify has plenty of Valentine's Playlists for whatever mood you're in. You may want to avoid the Barry White, Marvin Gaye one and focus on something a little less sexual. That being said, you don't need to blare Miranda and Taylor and hate men the whole time.<br /><br />Three: It's About Your Friends<br />This is Galentine's Day, <i>not</i> Hate Men Day. I mean, you can talk about boys, but don't have a bonfire to get rid of everything your exes gave you, like the one on Friends.** Hang out, talk about boys, talk about clothes, and basically have a normal night...but with a fun title.<br /><br />Four: Movies<br />If you want to watch a movie, I recommend "He's Just Not That Into You" or "Bridesmaids." Really, almost any rom-com will do, just avoid "Love Story" or "Titanic," the first one because it's gonna make everyone cry, the second because it is <i>way</i> too long for a girls night!<br /><br />Five: Wine<br />Okay, this doesn't <i>have</i> to be a factor, but wine nights are always fun and that is definitely what my friends and I are going to be drinking. You can even make it BYOW and then try each other's bottles of wine and see which ones you like. Or, you can all accept that you're in college, buy some Franzia, and call it a day.***<br /><br />Six: Laugh<br />Enjoy the night! Who said that Valentine's Day meant you have to hole yourself up inside and hide from the love all around? Treat it like a Friday and Saturday night because, honestly, it's just the weekend to most college students. #SingleAndReadyToMingle<br /><br />xx<br />erin<br /><br />*I do not actually recommend using Easy Cheese...is it even cheese?<br />**see below<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_L4BIYT9ZO4wHOM6hJRffY-TIDZ2rmEmBI68rYDgKnfh70LAY_pr4XQVlg2MvrLYc_lknMwf10I8ID2CM9T0mWd6R6JxsUL2AlnGQy6E26-gXn29ubzVFeimlsHEkQiteVmYpPXrlJ6E/s1600/friends+bonfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_L4BIYT9ZO4wHOM6hJRffY-TIDZ2rmEmBI68rYDgKnfh70LAY_pr4XQVlg2MvrLYc_lknMwf10I8ID2CM9T0mWd6R6JxsUL2AlnGQy6E26-gXn29ubzVFeimlsHEkQiteVmYpPXrlJ6E/s1600/friends+bonfire.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />***Trader Joe's has cheap wine, don't buy Franzia</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-69741733391595617292015-02-11T08:52:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.741-07:00All Black Everything: Styling a Monochromatic Outifit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black says it all."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">-Coco Chanel</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfu3vw9gszzmkKBXPVIbELG4wHrzwfFqeDtl9j3_ZDC7ArF6Z2sAQIezdFE5wOA_uhQrXaXxUokelW1BrVONkDWRjYoQ-Uviz2mJrLL19x4zSBseoowyce6zLIH64wfhnlsO6qD9o-wY/s1600/coco+all+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfu3vw9gszzmkKBXPVIbELG4wHrzwfFqeDtl9j3_ZDC7ArF6Z2sAQIezdFE5wOA_uhQrXaXxUokelW1BrVONkDWRjYoQ-Uviz2mJrLL19x4zSBseoowyce6zLIH64wfhnlsO6qD9o-wY/s1600/coco+all+black.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://tsyan.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/coco-chanel-black-dress.jpg" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have always loved a little black dress, and my black ponte pants from J. Crew are my favorite thing to wear in the winter, but recently I have discovered a new love for the color black. I used to tell myself to only wear one black article of clothing, at the risk of looking like I am on my way to a funeral or just really drab. But, after seeing everyone wearing black, and totally rocking it, I decided that it really isn't only associated with those things. Black makes you look chic, slim, and sophisticated. Monochromatic outfits can sometimes look like a bit much, but with a neutral, it can make even the simplest outfit look amazing. I'm probably not going to start wearing all black, all the time, but I am definitely entertaining the idea of some more black on black outfits.<br /><br />One: Mix Textures<br />A great example of this is wearing leather pants and a cotton top, like my outfit today. If you mix the two, the black doesn't look flat since they have different finishes. If you have a black faux fur vest, that would also look great!<br /><br />Two: Accessorize<br />I'm sure you saw this one coming, but you can think of a black outfit as a backdrop for an awesome necklace. If you don't want to do something loud, a subtle gold necklace can be pretty, too. You don't have to wear a "statement necklace" to actually make a statement.<br /><br />Three: Bright Accents<br />Red lipstick, a patterned shoe, colorful nails, etc. You can always add a little color to the outfit without taking away from the monochromatic theme.<br /><br />Four: Mix and Match<br />This is not the most helpful tip, but try on the black items in your wardrobe and see which ones work best together. If you do this now, you will be able to grab them out of your closet in a rush any time you're running behind or don't want to put too much effort into an outfit.<br /><br />Five: Keep it simple<br />Honestly, this outfit can be as simple or styled as you want it to be. Just because you're throwing on a black top, flats, and black jeans, doesn't mean you look sloppy. Just make sure everything is clean, not wrinkled and you don't have last night's makeup under your eyes.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJqp8H9VT9X1ZWPvB4dQytv06kUKtk0Dl_vIjahthdv6bUPQxWm-fiyDF16WLXCHhNwFMKqpHTzx9txJ5fnc3qbESPxfy9RJIJrRN4rwyBnJc-mksnR54lNZ-L73YsBwGBsiRVTJ1LGY/s1600/blackonblack7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJqp8H9VT9X1ZWPvB4dQytv06kUKtk0Dl_vIjahthdv6bUPQxWm-fiyDF16WLXCHhNwFMKqpHTzx9txJ5fnc3qbESPxfy9RJIJrRN4rwyBnJc-mksnR54lNZ-L73YsBwGBsiRVTJ1LGY/s1600/blackonblack7.jpg" height="640" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/531635930987478258/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhl0CmcjOd9EVWmeQLj9M2sSsHmKYqCzKdHttRR-WlUchbQNkfinPFv7-7aiK9kjEU-_9TZ7mJLnPxjZA2tKPlTV_BzJPdu86WCczhMjR-gHkPXjSmDlDvsF2xTra0YywDMcCPU7pdZI/s1600/blackonblack2.jpg" height="640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AX4BAbiJjxOgJ6UBB40klUzGV3A0ak7NLKaZH4uGNQbfmzBx0r8z4ZI/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0O_AZFmNqoh1m7V49sj6EUUQnNM9p-Rm3nd_KUy2HaoZD94uXZd9f3d-7DI9NMIkek4cbubzehelx_eDQ_vqcyLr2ltoiIEGBN1TED2IlJWwdskfOp7rh-loSAw0OG2SlqhGHswNmGM/s1600/blackonblack3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0O_AZFmNqoh1m7V49sj6EUUQnNM9p-Rm3nd_KUy2HaoZD94uXZd9f3d-7DI9NMIkek4cbubzehelx_eDQ_vqcyLr2ltoiIEGBN1TED2IlJWwdskfOp7rh-loSAw0OG2SlqhGHswNmGM/s1600/blackonblack3.jpg" height="640" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/560416747354852279/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NdJrnCrFZY2L7d20Vsuab8UMWHmXIxZmkNCUOQN096yc1UnuVtuk_d9TekvXc3gJ_iGVkcuTdMECH7vbXid7g69Qs65Y7r3b0PagZ6gVqryq_aqTT47lsKm2T71n0XZ_HW0oMY2Fo3I/s1600/blackonblack6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5NdJrnCrFZY2L7d20Vsuab8UMWHmXIxZmkNCUOQN096yc1UnuVtuk_d9TekvXc3gJ_iGVkcuTdMECH7vbXid7g69Qs65Y7r3b0PagZ6gVqryq_aqTT47lsKm2T71n0XZ_HW0oMY2Fo3I/s1600/blackonblack6.jpg" height="640" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404901822723393432/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0_tdZ7XO54KaJKAAx_KrjHexLAEwnMYz5r_-5GMPnG5hy9eTtyP9hzmXlgpnRbsOi7D775UcPVo8SqW3N4qvULTM4S-JpEj43FjJ5R1t0b489D6GXgi7W3wlYxGvQdu93RHjib7mbj0/s1600/blackonblack8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0_tdZ7XO54KaJKAAx_KrjHexLAEwnMYz5r_-5GMPnG5hy9eTtyP9hzmXlgpnRbsOi7D775UcPVo8SqW3N4qvULTM4S-JpEj43FjJ5R1t0b489D6GXgi7W3wlYxGvQdu93RHjib7mbj0/s1600/blackonblack8.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AXDEmQ7FeBIkf9im-aiR6DO0RB5zSK7qAQ-D4Cq7ImZhNQCd3DFIQU0/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-6424550785026146382015-02-07T08:17:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.731-07:00The Friday Five<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My new favorite part of weekend mornings is starting the day with a "progressive breakfast" with Logan. She and I are both early risers on the weekend and it is such a great chance to catch up with her. We start off with a trip to Bodo's for a bagel and after we finish that, we meander over to Shenandoah Joe's for a coffee and chat. With college winding down, I am really starting to value the little things and experiences I have here, knowing that there is limited time left. Also, I picked up my cap and gown yesterday so I am feeling extra sentimental.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXamdnjhNBLiyqQ2Wxztq2vzDvJiihb0EFEu6LeNXvNHNTUlZU3HicuSjKf89aliJDaLFsyXsR3NjensUFnNunzC_t8i7l4aPRfDCYE88PUXpnP7kMlrMF2E43adAv5jQ58Y8CrRTJjJU/s1600/IMG_1440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXamdnjhNBLiyqQ2Wxztq2vzDvJiihb0EFEu6LeNXvNHNTUlZU3HicuSjKf89aliJDaLFsyXsR3NjensUFnNunzC_t8i7l4aPRfDCYE88PUXpnP7kMlrMF2E43adAv5jQ58Y8CrRTJjJU/s1600/IMG_1440.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div><br />Are you participating in a February challenge or Spring Break diet? Here are some <a href="http://zenhabits.net/the-habit-change-cheatsheet-29-ways-to-successfully-ingrain-a-behavior/" target="_blank">really good tips</a> to change your habits.<br /><br />I know that restaurant food can be unhealthy, but <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/22/upshot/what-2000-calories-looks-like.html?WT.mc_id=2015-Q1-KEYWEE-AUD_DEV-0101-0331&WT.mc_ev=click&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1420088400&bicmet=1451624400&ad-keywords=FEBAUDDEV&kwp_0=8769&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1" target="_blank">this is crazy</a>!<br /><br />Hockey fights are significant to the sport and this is a <a href="http://www.theplayerstribune.com/why-we-fight/" target="_blank">great article by an enforcer</a> on an NHL team.<br /><br />I love effortless chic style and this article that tells you the <a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/fashion/8-parisian-style-essentials-for-the-professional-woman" target="_blank">8 pieces you need in your closet</a> to achieve it.<br /><br />Evidently D.W. was the <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/times-dw-was-the-realest-bitch-who-ever-lived?bftw&utm_term=4ldqpfp#.nuWAQkAqWG" target="_blank">sassiest little sister ever</a> and I definitely said stuff like this to my brothers sometimes...oops!<br /><br />xx<br />erin </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-62517925111383834052015-02-04T07:43:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.727-07:00Winter Fruits: Deseeding a Pomegranate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Does anyone else get super excited when they see their favorite fruit at the grocery store for a good price? I am a sucker for fresh fruit in smoothies, for snacks, or to freeze in an attempt to curb my love for ice cream. With Spring Break right around the corner, I am trying to get some semblance of a bikini body ready to hit the Florida beaches. One of my favorite winter fruits is the pomegranate. I always forget that it is actually a winter fruit since I just associate fruit with summer days, but when I walked into Kroger the other day and saw them for $0.99 a fruit, I knew I needed to scoop a couple up.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN8yFnVjWDkP-jrgMKFuTdJsh7inUwLzfII_TLdasb0ae3ivxQt0n1dTLCMzd9QVkbeRySOZj7NG2PCRVgXpfijSa_3Ok7_c410Hi5H28FDq-laI8WrYRGbByVsi0MrxB_p0GbMdOyzI/s1600/pomegranate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN8yFnVjWDkP-jrgMKFuTdJsh7inUwLzfII_TLdasb0ae3ivxQt0n1dTLCMzd9QVkbeRySOZj7NG2PCRVgXpfijSa_3Ok7_c410Hi5H28FDq-laI8WrYRGbByVsi0MrxB_p0GbMdOyzI/s1600/pomegranate.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/75646468715650016/" target="_blank">{via}</a></td></tr></tbody></table>No, I am not eating a ton of pomegranate seeds all at once, but I did freeze the seeds from several of them for snacking later, and I actually ended up liking the taste of the frozen seeds. I know you're probably thinking that getting the seeds out of a pomegranate is time-consuming and that stores sell the seeds already out of the fruit, but trust me, it's worth it. I read online that you can get roughly 4 ounces of seeds from one fruit, and when I went to Trader Joe's on Sunday, I saw seeds on sale for $5! Guys, it's a no-brainer, just take a little time while you watch Netflix to deseed a pomegranate.<br />There are a bunch of resources out there that tell you how to deseed a pomegranate, but after totally failing at the 10 second wooden spoon tutorial, I decided to stick with a more traditional method that I can easily do while watching an episode of Friends. <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cut_and_de_seed_a_pomegranate/" target="_blank">Here is the tutorial I used</a>.<br />After you finish deseeding the fruit, lay the seeds flat on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for a couple of hours. Don't put them right into a freezer bag because they will all freeze together if you do that! Once they're frozen on the sheet, transfer them to an airtight freezer bag* and enjoy them over the next couple of months!<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-19401185509565850682015-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.603-07:00A Frugal Four Weeks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Do you know why <i>this</i> February is such a great month? It's not because there is more discount chocolate on February 15th than any other time of the year, though that does make February a pretty great month in my book. February being 28 days means that it is the perfect length for a 1 month challenge. 4 weeks, that is all it takes to make a change in your habits and your life. Not only is February the perfect length for one of these challenges, but this year it started on a Sunday, so it is 4 perfect weeks. I realize that this little detail is not going to excite most people, but I found it really exciting. Personally, I am going to embark on a spending freeze for the month.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRPYIY7kWt2GMABjy-qAA5inIxWBoDaCmi8xLJBYaq7NRbiK0KdQcEoBjpMM038O4eYuVkyvUQSfxLj4z4y_szwAZKKIFdMUCZ1Wj5DhG8pC7fBYFZktjJzQtFsPaQ-QjRqlriNPtXkE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-02+at+12.18.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRPYIY7kWt2GMABjy-qAA5inIxWBoDaCmi8xLJBYaq7NRbiK0KdQcEoBjpMM038O4eYuVkyvUQSfxLj4z4y_szwAZKKIFdMUCZ1Wj5DhG8pC7fBYFZktjJzQtFsPaQ-QjRqlriNPtXkE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-02+at+12.18.49+AM.png" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BYOC: Bring Your Own Coffee</td></tr></tbody></table>There are some rules for mine, though, because I recognize that saying I am going to spend $0 for 28 days will result in starving myself and getting evicted...<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What I <i>Can</i> Spend Money On</b></span><br />Groceries<br />Rent and Utilities<br />School Supplies<br />Personal Hygiene (i.e. Shampoo)<br />Gas<br />$10/Week for Beverages<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What I <i>Cannot</i> Spend Money On</b></span><br />Clothing<br />Items I Want, but Don't Need<br />Eating Out<br />Tickets<br />Extra Grocery Items (i.e. macarons)<br /><br />Okay, so there are quite a few items in the<i> "Can</i> Spend" column, but they are there for a reason. I don't purchase those things every day, and I will be more aware of the money I do spend in those categories. The "$10 for Beverages" covers coffee meetings or getting a drink at a bar with my friends because I still highly value those experiences with friends, however, I am withdrawing the money from the bank today and I will be using only the $40 cash I withdraw on these expenses.<br /><br />Has anyone else ever done a spending freeze before? How did it go? What is your February goal going to be?<br /><br />xx<br />erin</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-30814460873487169582015-01-30T08:47:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.634-07:00Friday Five: Vacations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This has been a fun week of getting back to blogging. I went home last night for a little escape from school and, of course, to see my dog. Sometimes we all just need a little vacation, or a stay-cation if you don't have the time to get away. I love going to school just a couple of hours away from home because it means that I can come home for a home-cooked meal or meet Momma halfway for dinner on a regular basis. Remind me again why I want to move away after college? (just kidding...)<br /><br />Links I Love...<br /><br />Good news, the <strike>person</strike> people who deflated the Patriots' footballs <a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12252086&ex_cid=sportscenterFB" target="_blank">has confessed</a>.<br /><br />Most trip guides focus on all the places you should go on vacation, but this entertaining guide tells you <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/travel/america-s-worst-national-parks-c1422474452206.html" target="_blank">what destinations you should avoid</a>.<br /><br />As someone who is a bit more on the short side, I prefer heels, but this is a nice <a href="http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/fashion/a-french-girls-trick-to-getting-dressed" target="_blank">rule of thumb</a> if you're ever deciding between heels or flats.<br /><br />Who said <a href="http://theglitterguide.com/2013/08/14/grown-up-glam-school-supplies/" target="_blank">school supply shopping</a> is only for kids?<br /><br />Everyone needs an <a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/2011/12/chocolate-saltine-toffee.html" target="_blank">easy and delicious dessert</a> recipe to bring to a party.<br /><br /><br />Have a great weekend!<br /><br />xx<br />erin<br /><br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-67181284181129525622015-01-29T04:00:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.738-07:00Get Rid of the Dust Bunnies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">So I woke up yesterday, went to class, and class was cancelled! I somehow missed the email on Tuesday night and was super confused when Meghan didn't wake up to go to class with me. On one hand, I was super bummed that I woke up so early for nothing, on the other hand though, I was up early on a day when I had no other classes. Later in the morning, I went to look for a pair of flats to wear to the job fair, and, as I pulled them out from under my bed, a dust bunny came with them. I realized that I don't think I have ever vacuumed under my bed, at least since I put it there almost a year and a half ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I got back that afternoon, I went to work on cleaning my room, and I mean really <i>cleaning</i>. I pulled the bed out from the wall and picked up all the random stuff that had gotten stuck under it, and did the same with every other big piece of furniture. In the end, the cleaning and purging resulted in 3 trash bags to take to the dumpster, a full vacuum canister, and a totally rearranged room. It felt fantastic.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GYsIDQctIe7pHWD6McgjU-Rwax70qNWSjHN2DLShU7lMRHG9cCUubzGhUOT4-Aw1BSEPCxBWqRehl9L8teYMSjVhwD0fazu-5jh2wYOklXlfzuLvSlYVfFvTkyrbrAZ3hYmqXZdbaDU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-28+at+9.39.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GYsIDQctIe7pHWD6McgjU-Rwax70qNWSjHN2DLShU7lMRHG9cCUubzGhUOT4-Aw1BSEPCxBWqRehl9L8teYMSjVhwD0fazu-5jh2wYOklXlfzuLvSlYVfFvTkyrbrAZ3hYmqXZdbaDU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-28+at+9.39.34+PM.png" height="636" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sometimes a really good clean is just what a room needs. I am sure each of you vacuum and dust, at least when your mom comes to visit, but how often do you clean things that don't always need to be cleaned. I went through the drawers I stuff random papers in, I went under my couch that empty water bottles had managed to get stuck under, and I fought dust bunnies as they travelled all over my hardwood floors. Believe me when I say that I am not judging people for having a few dust bunnies, but if you are anything like me, you think there is nothing better or more relaxing than a clean, organized room. My little adventure yesterday inspired me to do a little Pinterest hunting and I came across an <a href="http://laurenconrad.com/blog/2014/03/operation-organize-how-to-keep-your-home-sparkling-spring-cleaning-chart-ilana-saul/" target="_blank">awesome checklist</a> from Lauren Conrad of cleaning tasks to do, and when to do them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIpPBBd4v7iavF6NA5FuCibI9pIAWFgR1WAMFvCjqmpYBAq59Z5XIBIK5wOAX7dKHgCCCu_ssR4AzIclBhyx7pVGVvJVBVMXf6B2vYxwfVHZwQ78CZrNc8tOc4zGnUjb-iSS0O2u5suY/s1600/lc+cleaning+schedule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIpPBBd4v7iavF6NA5FuCibI9pIAWFgR1WAMFvCjqmpYBAq59Z5XIBIK5wOAX7dKHgCCCu_ssR4AzIclBhyx7pVGVvJVBVMXf6B2vYxwfVHZwQ78CZrNc8tOc4zGnUjb-iSS0O2u5suY/s1600/lc+cleaning+schedule.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is your apartment cleaning routine?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">erin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-34301938695165260482015-01-28T05:00:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.652-07:00Becoming a Morning Person<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I have <i>never</i> been a morning person. However, there is something about mornings that I absolutely love. Waking up for my 5:15am spin class this summer had an amazing effect on my attitude towards the day and I think it is because I just felt so productive. I am a chronic procrastinator and I think that my preference for staying up late sort of enables that. This semester I am taking my first ever 8am in college...yeah, my last semester of college. It is also the only class I have on Monday/Wednesday, so when I am done at 9:15, I am looking at a wide open day. In college, I feel like, even if people have classes in the morning, the day doesn't really seem to start until noon, but since I am already up, <i>I </i>am choosing to capitalize on the day. The best way that I know to get my day off on the right foot is through healthy habits.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It is definitely a work in progress, but I am really going to work on shifting my schedule to involve going to bed at 11pm and waking up at 6am to tackle the day. Whether I get an early morning workout in, blog, or read a good book. I want to be able to have some time to do something in the mornings. I don't know if I am going to make the gym my early morning routine again, but does anyone already have a early bird routine they love? Or does anyone else want to undertake this personal challenge with me? I know it is always helpful to have a buddy system when it comes to this kind of stuff to keep each other accountable. If you are looking to start on a morning routine, here are some tips I have from doing it this summer that really made sure I got the day going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mefWurGtqQWq8j8Ld_u92A-MgAPPHI0iKHl5YQcXNXT5TkIE6xtVM6J-ayNPiYCmW__zTSISsupYWe4fZiAnZ7nrnbM5rlwAQywWrJ399CcAGGWoE2wqtBfk9hsSuVqLpo1eCTsf-EE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-27+at+10.56.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mefWurGtqQWq8j8Ld_u92A-MgAPPHI0iKHl5YQcXNXT5TkIE6xtVM6J-ayNPiYCmW__zTSISsupYWe4fZiAnZ7nrnbM5rlwAQywWrJ399CcAGGWoE2wqtBfk9hsSuVqLpo1eCTsf-EE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-27+at+10.56.36+PM.png" height="640" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One: Plan Ahead</div><div style="text-align: center;">Make your to-do list the night before and lay out your outfit for the morning. Even if your productivity is just writing emails, put your slippers by your bed and get that coffee maker ready so all you have to do is hit "start," trust me, it helps.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two: Learn to Obey the Alarm</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have gotten so, so bad at this. I have to set multiple alarms to wake up. Start to try to minimize the number of alarms you set so that you are ready to wake up on the first one.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Three: Unplug 30 Minutes Before Bed</div><div style="text-align: center;">It actually helps. I know doctors and experts have said it a lot, but it is worth repeating. I notice that I am able to go to bed much easier if I am just reading for a bit before bed. Also, I started ignoring my phone if it goes off while I am in bed...TBH it is usually a ScoreCenter update.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Four: Eat Breakfast</div><div style="text-align: center;">I found that even getting a banana down is very helpful. Just try to eat something so that you have fuel for your body to run on. Coffee is also a good fuel, but apparently we cannot exist on coffee alone...though I kind of wish we could.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Five: Have a Morning Playlist</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do not piss off your roommate by blasting One Direction or Miranda Lambert in the morning, but if there is some music that you like to sing along to or dance to, turn it on. Just make sure you are wearing headphones or have the volume low so you don't annoy roommates and neighbors.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Six: Turn on the Light</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find it harder (though not impossible) to go back to sleep once there is light in the room. Make waking up a nice process at the beginning of your transition. Turning on the light, sitting in bed, and reading theSkimm has become a nice way for me to wake up in the morning and mentally prepare myself to start the day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-83116957780004870872015-01-28T03:00:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.777-07:00Guess Who's Back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Good Morning! Guess who's back? I have missed blogging and throughout my little hiatus, I have had so many "that would be a good blog post" moments, but not capitalizing on them actually ended up being better for me than blogging about them. Blogging had become a part of my routine and I truly enjoyed both writing it and getting feedback from people about how much they enjoyed it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, at some point towards the end of the semester, I had this moment where I felt "frivolous" writing a blog post. It was due to the combination of everything going on at UVA, how I was feeling about things in my personal life, and just the content that I was writing. This is going to sound selfish, but I do blog, in part, for myself. Without the joy I get from blogging, this is a chore or a job, not a hobby on the side.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, I am not going to start blogging about all sorts of serious issues and stray away from the traditional content of my blog. Instead, I am going to do a better job of planning my posts and making sure that I enjoy the blogging experience as a whole, like I did when I first started. This blog is my little escape from the every day concerns of getting a job after college, remembering that I am in my last semester of college, and just wanting to push myself to be the best version of myself possible.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for coming back and reading my blog after so much time off. I really do love hearing from everyone reading it. I have always loved knowing that I can bring a little bit of happiness to other peoples' days (this is actually a hint at the new business venture I am launching) and I cannot wait to get back into blogging. As always, I would love to get feedback about my writing, blog posts, and what you want to see on this blog!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-81000406159744671832015-01-04T10:55:00.001-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.770-07:00Mountain Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I am currently sitting in a Starbucks in Waynesboro, Virginia after a successful trip to Walmart. Seriously though, my momma made this coffee yesterday for my drive down to Charlottesville that I absolutely loved and one of the first things I saw when I walked into the store were the K-Cups of that brand...SCORE! Anyways, I was in Wintergreen with my dad's family last night and am going back down for a couple of days of skiing and hanging out with my friends before we go back for sorority recruitment.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In honor of this little trip in the mountains, I thought I'd share a cozy outfit inspired by what I packed for the long weekend. Seriously, all wool socks and sweaters with some comfy pants. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg654WFAspZzmwAmyblSKYf7_o1xkfjumDGdixLT38jb72WH1jWYRfXX46wVb3t8QQ5Lzcd7xobCanVv_yiFdiAEGlqtPfdt9pRT4avpDdZs7Tv1xyetQNdm39gPFhaZsRr99b7qukqsXk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-04+at+1.53.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg654WFAspZzmwAmyblSKYf7_o1xkfjumDGdixLT38jb72WH1jWYRfXX46wVb3t8QQ5Lzcd7xobCanVv_yiFdiAEGlqtPfdt9pRT4avpDdZs7Tv1xyetQNdm39gPFhaZsRr99b7qukqsXk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-04+at+1.53.47+PM.png" height="640" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=145249252" target="_blank">find it all here!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-42204998213333860052015-01-04T10:55:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.669-07:00Pardon the Dust<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">The blog is getting a makeover! I am going to be working on revamping the content, layout, and debuting my next little adventure in the coming weeks. I decided to focus solely on this instead of blogging in between, but you can keep up with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! I am pretty excited about all these changes as I get ready to begin my <i>last semester of college</i>!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-55845104310884083452014-12-31T06:41:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.706-07:00New Year's Eve Survival Guide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Can you believe the year is almost <i>over</i>?! I am so excited to ring in the New Year with my friends downtown. Usually, I go to upstate New York with my family, which is fun, but as I get older, I want to really celebrate the night. This year, a couple of my friends and I are going to the Washington Plaza Hotel for a party. This is a new experience for all of us, but we are going to go into tonight prepared. Plus, tomorrow is the Winter Classic and there is absolutely no way I will not be ready to go and watch that game (in a bar, not at the game...$300 for nosebleeds was a bit steep for me StubHub). Anyways, I am packing a little survival kit for the hotel and I thought I'd share it, just in case any of you are anticipating a fun night, too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF1jWa-Pi-uDs_1QgN5Ls0OFskLEzgDdg8HeXf-AUnDKOkmfSEfEipWkyzz1s5OPcrEsthH8dEGGSsP-K4l9TzeG4qIZg9Zh9uE7KGEV2v7oUK3dGWEc-PLSp_JySLOvvqMK_tTYY0hM/s1600/nye+time+square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJF1jWa-Pi-uDs_1QgN5Ls0OFskLEzgDdg8HeXf-AUnDKOkmfSEfEipWkyzz1s5OPcrEsthH8dEGGSsP-K4l9TzeG4qIZg9Zh9uE7KGEV2v7oUK3dGWEc-PLSp_JySLOvvqMK_tTYY0hM/s1600/nye+time+square.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>{One: Water}</b></i> HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! Please drink water all day, throughout the event, and tomorrow morning. It'll keep you from getting too shambly and help prevent, or at least reduce, that hangover. Gatorade is also a good option for the morning after.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>{Two: Makeup Remover Wipes and Blotting Pads}</b> </i>The blotting pads can reduce any unwanted shine in a crowded ballroom and the makeup remover wipes are perfect for getting that makeup off when you get back to the hotel room.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>{Three: Hairspray}</i></b> It'll keep your hair big and can help stop any run in your hose. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>{Four: Boob Tape}</i></b> This stuff comes in a compact little container that you can actually fit in your clutch if need be and it is seriously a lifesaver when your dress might be a little loose in some places.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>{Five: Flats}</i></b> You may need these if your heels start to be a problem or they break, or a number of other unanticipated shoe, ankle, foot problems. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>{Six: Phone Charger} </i></b>Make sure your phone is fully charged before going to the party. If you know your phone loses charge, bring a portable charging pack in your clutch or leave a charger in your room if the party is in the same hotel you're staying in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>{Seven: Aleeve and Sunglasses}</i></b> Tomorrow morning can be rough.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>{Eight: Snacks} </i></b>Do you really want to compete with everyone else for late night food? Trust me, you are not the only one thinking that a pizza sounds good at 2 am. Instead, just bring some snacks with you. Also, eat throughout the day. Yes, you want to look good in your dress, but you don't want to look good at the expense of getting shambly because you have nothing in your stomach before you start drinkin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a wonderful, safe, and Happy New Year! I will see y'all in 2015!</div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-42265529655191052562014-12-23T08:12:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.674-07:00Gift Guide: For Your Boss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday one of my friends texted me asking for ideas of a holiday present to get for a boss. Of course, the first thing I thought of was that scene from Christmas Vacation where Clark Griswold drops off the present and it is the exact same as all the other presents the boss is getting. It might seem silly, but there are a few staple presents to give a boss and he/she probably expects to get a couple of duplicates. A good rule of thumb for getting a present for a boss is to get a present that is maybe a step above a hostess gift. Personally, I think that a nice Harry and David box is the easiest way to go. The treats are going to be tasty and nicely packaged. You can also sort of make your own box by combining a bottle of wine and some cookies or nuts in a gift basket. This may seem impersonal, but unless you know your boss well, this is the easiest way to go. Oh, and don't worry, you can absolutely run out and get something on your lunch break today if you haven't already gotten a gift!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMWvkmJjpBxDvBiFxs0LgSkqsa1jumftHMzNfS_MX4fklp85nCboYeFGen1WwtSLTFLyRPpzhWoCeRRvaBs2sI7rOlK-231fQPDlc2_6eWK-tYQ_FsQdMkdf65VazdrTTXXruB8Z94oE/s1600/Clark-present-for-Mr-shurley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMWvkmJjpBxDvBiFxs0LgSkqsa1jumftHMzNfS_MX4fklp85nCboYeFGen1WwtSLTFLyRPpzhWoCeRRvaBs2sI7rOlK-231fQPDlc2_6eWK-tYQ_FsQdMkdf65VazdrTTXXruB8Z94oE/s1600/Clark-present-for-Mr-shurley.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before you get the gift though, run through a couple of questions in your mind so you don't end up giving them something they're going to not be able to use: Do they drink? If you're giving them a bottle of wine or a nice scotch and they don't drink, you just wasted a present. This is especially true if they don't drink on principle. Are they allergic to [insert item here]? If you give them nuts and they're allergic to nuts, it is going to look like you don't know them or even worse, they might have an allergic reaction. Call me crazy, but that might cause you to lose favor with your boss. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7yMeo-ewwgyde5CjmDqKyR4TPk1dIpBYJL9Oi_R-Olk4M0Y1D8_tmqnaoslXupe2AlOZJQIll9VD6p7x41f04YyYgkPNXiJgOmfSivLjm__p0BNUdZp8iYgaSaYnXv5INzLfOd6JQy8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-23+at+10.14.56+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7yMeo-ewwgyde5CjmDqKyR4TPk1dIpBYJL9Oi_R-Olk4M0Y1D8_tmqnaoslXupe2AlOZJQIll9VD6p7x41f04YyYgkPNXiJgOmfSivLjm__p0BNUdZp8iYgaSaYnXv5INzLfOd6JQy8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-23+at+10.14.56+AM.png" height="365" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.harryanddavid.com/h/gift-baskets-tower-boxes/all-occasion-gift-boxes/328#({l:0,h:30}):s=best:p=1" target="_blank">Harry and David Snack Basket</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx30JifMlxGURrw5DaCbyZJHPvqU0Z5EHQsk5HsCbLYH5tPkLHepV6-HLZ-GCwwM3T1VBuNEviDe5dUBPgrMUDJ71hBGkIC7dSY93_3phCXIn76S9Bbc40fkX46UMfnuyLc8tpxA-Y3E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-23+at+10.20.12+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx30JifMlxGURrw5DaCbyZJHPvqU0Z5EHQsk5HsCbLYH5tPkLHepV6-HLZ-GCwwM3T1VBuNEviDe5dUBPgrMUDJ71hBGkIC7dSY93_3phCXIn76S9Bbc40fkX46UMfnuyLc8tpxA-Y3E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-23+at+10.20.12+AM.png" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.harryanddavid.com/h/gift-baskets-tower-boxes/all-occasion-gift-boxes/328#({l:0,h:30}):s=best:p=1" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Harry and David Sweet Treat Stack</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">If you want to get a bit more personal, either because you know your boss better or because you just don't want to buy a prepackaged kit, you can always bake cookies yourself. If you know your boss well, maybe a cute coffee mug and a gift card to their favorite lunch place could replace the gift basket. Again though, this is totally up to you. Remember that the gift is not actually a part of your job description, but it is polite to bring them something for all they do for you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-78740344621842050302014-12-21T21:35:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.766-07:00Winter Workout<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Motivating myself to get back into shape is hard enough, but motivating myself when it's freezing cold outside is dang near impossible. Fortunately, I have a ton of free time this break, so I have some flexibility about where and when I workout. Over the summer, I loved taking my dog for walks at the lake near my house after work. It's about a 5 mile loop around the lake so it's not too long for either a walk or run. The only problem I'm facing now is that it's so cold out! I don't mind doing things outdoors or winter, but once I get chilled to the bone, I am absolutely done having fun and want nothing more than to find somewhere to defrost. One way that I put off the inevitable chill is by bundling up in some workout gear that is designed for the cold. I realize everyone has different preferences based on what type of exercise they're doing, but for walking/running with the dog, I like to wear basic cold weather running gear with one of my puffer vests to keep my core warm, especially at the lake where it can get a bit chillier by the water.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjP14-ZL4hh1Eh6o0PYGYHiZRj3pcLF7PF1zdX63Ki8CX-Zk5cOh5ASZlOvrTysmvOcY7Ze_0wBHkapK6oImiki5FnlsYM5UobvZ-n9gEz2eQPf9yRpmagXXjZM_-DOPqAEclwltXSaU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-22+at+12.32.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjP14-ZL4hh1Eh6o0PYGYHiZRj3pcLF7PF1zdX63Ki8CX-Zk5cOh5ASZlOvrTysmvOcY7Ze_0wBHkapK6oImiki5FnlsYM5UobvZ-n9gEz2eQPf9yRpmagXXjZM_-DOPqAEclwltXSaU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-22+at+12.32.28+AM.png" height="640" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=143875849" target="_blank">find it all here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xx</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">erin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-56991494696972412662014-12-20T09:42:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.714-07:00Survival Guide: Last Minute Christmas Shopping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Anyone else have to brave the mall today/this week? I always end up having to finish my shopping the week of Christmas because of school and finals so today's adventure is nothing new to me. I wish I didn't have to go to Tysons today, but I figure it is only going to get worse as Christmas gets closer, and I may as well knock out all my shopping in this one trip. Now, I realize Tysons is a beast of its own as far as crowds and a mall goes, but there are some universal last minute Christmas Shopping tips I try to stick to, no matter where I have to go shopping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYuCftuAMLWsqIliYA-aXyLuc0a3v3oCmQG4cSLBYHuSFsVKq4NpmrWNQsyn3kPXqQnBp6DJDHB-H1KpfCqEU6q6ubYah9d72prLQt9qPsHPEOXJZgO9CBMNTEj7sbmd0aLxSFZBqCpw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-20+at+12.41.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYuCftuAMLWsqIliYA-aXyLuc0a3v3oCmQG4cSLBYHuSFsVKq4NpmrWNQsyn3kPXqQnBp6DJDHB-H1KpfCqEU6q6ubYah9d72prLQt9qPsHPEOXJZgO9CBMNTEj7sbmd0aLxSFZBqCpw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-20+at+12.41.48+PM.png" height="640" width="624" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One: Make a List</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am a compulsive list-maker so this is nothing new to me, but that list will be your best friend. You don't want to be stuck wandering around the mall wondering what you forgot or, even worse, leave the mall and have to go back later to get something you forgot. Just write as complete a list as you can and check it off as you go.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Two: Plan Your Route</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Start at one end of the mall and work towards the other end. Personally, I start in the middle because parking is easier and I just loop around hitting all the shops on one side first, and then hitting the ones on the other side as I come back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Three: Save the Big Items for Last</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't get that huge pedicure tub thing at Brookstone first. This is an exception to the route planning tip because no one wants to walk around with that massive thing the whole time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Four: Get Off Your Phone</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The mall is crowded and you staring at the phone means that the walking will take longer since you can't weave in and out of people and you are probably going to run into someone. Just wait until you get off to the side or into a store to check your texts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Five: Plan to Gift Wrap</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This comes from personal experience working the holiday season at the mall last year. It is not their fault that there are no more gift boxes on Christmas Eve. People have been coming in for a month to get things wrapped so of course they ran out. Go to CVS or something and get some gift boxes if the stores don't have any left. Again, <i>it is not the employees' fault</i>. I can't tell you how many angry customers I had on Christmas Eve last year...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bonus: Be Nice</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This goes off of #5 and also just in general. Spread the Christmas cheer and understand that everyone there is in a rush and wants to get done as fast as possible too. Be especially nice to the employees in stores, remember it's their Christmas season too and they're spending it helping you! (Yes they make money doing it, but still...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Shopping!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155045394775980843.post-21042956652209618482014-12-19T07:44:00.000-08:002017-03-27T11:44:07.607-07:00Friday Five: Christmas Break Smiles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">It's the first Friday Five of Winter Break and I am yet again blogging from the (semi)comfort of my floor while my dog is curled up at my side and SportsCenter is on the TV. I'm sure at some point I am going to get a little bored of doing nothing all day, but for now, it feels amazing. Last night Momma and I went to the Washington Ballet Nutcracker at Warner Theatre, an annual tradition of ours. If you're from the DC area, I highly recommend going. The whole show is America/DC-themed and it's a fun spin on a classic, seriously the battle with the rats is the revolutionary war and the nutcracker is George Washington, I love it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">One: Garth Brooks Performs "Mom"</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ExhZA6NEB9Y" width="640"></iframe>Garth Brooks is one of my all-time favorite artists and my momma is my best friend so I knew I was going to love this song. It seriously brought a few tears to my eyes so definitely give it a listen...just maybe not in the office.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/jacques-torres-hot-chocolate?bffbfood#.ndYZJOZYGj" target="_blank">How to Make the World's Best Hot Chocolate</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtek2aWF6xSppgswRTyJ2rxmb2nlSgGHd7f05QJX9Y8jmoSJ8APMgeGVRpBDgUm5O-CnHWNZMlGGejuvymB7ejLpi0jBRBaHVEUIogxoR8FoRej1q_d0EK31GQOoTQfYf5y43cmT6YItg/s1600/hot+chocolate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtek2aWF6xSppgswRTyJ2rxmb2nlSgGHd7f05QJX9Y8jmoSJ8APMgeGVRpBDgUm5O-CnHWNZMlGGejuvymB7ejLpi0jBRBaHVEUIogxoR8FoRej1q_d0EK31GQOoTQfYf5y43cmT6YItg/s1600/hot+chocolate.png" height="640" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This looks absolutely amazing. I have never actually made hot chocolate from anything other than a premade mix, so I definitely want to try this. Also debating using it as a base for a hot chocolate float dessert. It would definitely be too rich for me, but whenever I make food and my brothers' friends are over, I can find at least one willing guinea pig.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Three: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/12/baby-goat-benjamin-tom-horsfield_n_6317350.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063" target="_blank">This Orphan Baby Goat and His Best Friend</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Es7YdzvsybdKPNaRh7PQ2lMPK2zFMGVtQmsjTFWgLS3Udi1uHpaiD4rdkz31ytxtRYSYMrVGqRt0PcqUXPU5AxUaiaomh9nJSJ_6d5T3CYlB7fDBoWGasTuOyEV2EVRCQwxWjhA9Y_0/s1600/leaping+goat.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Es7YdzvsybdKPNaRh7PQ2lMPK2zFMGVtQmsjTFWgLS3Udi1uHpaiD4rdkz31ytxtRYSYMrVGqRt0PcqUXPU5AxUaiaomh9nJSJ_6d5T3CYlB7fDBoWGasTuOyEV2EVRCQwxWjhA9Y_0/s1600/leaping+goat.gif" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The story is super cute on its own, but I just really love watching the little baby goat prancing around. True story, once when we were visiting one of my dad's client's ranches in Texas, I almost got to keep an orphan baby goat, but Bridget was not a big fan of that idea...darn.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Four: <a href="http://www.levo.com/articles/career-advice/why-millennials-need-side-businesses" target="_blank">Why Millennials Need Side Businesses</a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWvwzoul4Fid7P9NjSF32hO8b2jGxcyyRk-rCDze73NatVgXJfFgJ7w_n7heg45k74FA5fiz1ql_Y1FHU_7DIO1HmiQf-NlxoLxId1tyhknYNu-2htI8-PGJHXiiEfFqlkDBcabDfxGE/s1600/millennials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWvwzoul4Fid7P9NjSF32hO8b2jGxcyyRk-rCDze73NatVgXJfFgJ7w_n7heg45k74FA5fiz1ql_Y1FHU_7DIO1HmiQf-NlxoLxId1tyhknYNu-2htI8-PGJHXiiEfFqlkDBcabDfxGE/s1600/millennials.jpg" height="462" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">As someone who runs a blog and is working on another business venture, I absolutely agree with this article. I believe that side gigs are important, but not only because it can provide a supplemental income. The experience I have gained and the pride I have because of this little business I have created is the real prize, in my opinion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Five: <a href="http://jezebel.com/i-rewatched-love-actually-and-am-here-to-ruin-it-for-al-1485136388" target="_blank">I Rewatched Love Actually and I am Here to Ruin It for All of You</a></span></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIaXVrjgrB2Pd4SgtDXbBfyh8Qkx8MApxcAPX1ws1pDthmnuvnoaMF0VZyn3pBCsECXiuD8Z8CnR3gRIQGIYeucJwC73CfWal0q2bEqQCLUH_VOCIDBiGlOjWae43pf1S6q0d69uEGH8/s1600/cockblocktopus.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIaXVrjgrB2Pd4SgtDXbBfyh8Qkx8MApxcAPX1ws1pDthmnuvnoaMF0VZyn3pBCsECXiuD8Z8CnR3gRIQGIYeucJwC73CfWal0q2bEqQCLUH_VOCIDBiGlOjWae43pf1S6q0d69uEGH8/s1600/cockblocktopus.png" height="306" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"cock-blocktopus"</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Well, the author could never actually ruin Love, Actually for me, but this article cracked me up. There are definitely some flaws in the story, but I don't watch it for its realistic feel. I mean, the American women in the bar absolutely crack me up every time. Also, there were two lines that I found particularly funny, so I hope that y'all find this as funny as sleep-deprived, post-finals Erin did. (if not, sorry)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xx</div><div style="text-align: center;">erin</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05422597613228619741noreply@blogger.com0