Me and My Mojito

Shirt: American Eagle; Pants: Target; Shoes: Charlotte Russe; Watch: Fossil

The other night I met up with Meaghan for drinks and dinner at the Still. Her boyfriend was in Mexico for the week for work, so a girls night was more than appropriate. I swear, when you get the two of us together, nothings off limits. Didn't even realize it was three hours later and we both had work the next morning because we were talking so much. Its so great to have one of my favorite girlfriends living so close because every once and awhile you just need a few drinks (those mojitos were insanely delicious...there was alcohol in them? say what now?), some badass greasy food and some good gossip to put you back in a happy place. Oh, and cheetah pants. Cheetah pants help too. 

Reflection: 1 Year Later

Brace yourself, some self reflection is coming your way now...

Its been a year now. A year since graduating college and let me just say, that freaks me the shit out! I've had a lot of trouble swallowing that pill. I mean, hello! I should be running a major fortune 500 company by now right? right?! Well I'm not. And that lack of career motivation bums me out. While I know I'm young and I don't have to have all the answers just yet, I do feel like I might be missing out on opportunities. That I'm not "young and carefree". I miss that feeling of walking with a purpose like I always did when I was on campus. I miss my friends. I miss the sense of community I spent 4 years building. I mean, those people were my family. My everything. And then, one day, we're all scattered like ants at a picnic. Some are in New Jersey, some in Philly, some in Pennsylvania and almost none in Maryland with me. And when you lose those relationships and that sense of purpose, you kinda feel like you lost who you are. And its been really challenging to get that feeling of "me" back. When I was in school, I felt like I was important. And living back home, where I don't really have any high school friends around, and being the lowest chain on the totum poll at work, I feel like I just fall further into the hole of the unknown and its getting harder to try and climb out. I know I'll get there one day. I know one day I'll have some answers. But god damn it, I'm impatient. I'm not saying I want to run a fortune 500 hundred company by any means (I mean, come on, I can barely manage my check book), but I would like to start working for something that matters to me. And I'd like to be surrounded by people who keep me laughing and carefree. 


But to be honest, all of this self-pity has got to go. I can't keep crying over things I can't change. Things I've made no attempts to change as a matter of fact. So, with the welcoming of warmer weather, comes a new attitude. This summer, I'm going to embrace where I am in my life and make the best of it. No, I'm not single and living with my best friend going out every weekend and drinking until I make regrettable decisions (although we all know I'd throw up before I was even capable of reaching that point when alcohols involved). And no, I'm not living with my boyfriend, playing house and planning a future. But I do have a good job, where I'm told my important regularly. And I do have friends. While they may be harder to reach, they're there, and they love me. And I do have a wonderful boyfriend who puts up with all my craziness and panic attacks. Someone who puts me first and does whatever it takes to see me smile. And for those things, I have no reason to be down in the dumps. As my one wise friend recently told me, she loves the feeling of not knowing. Of making mistakes and being confused and having regrets. Because she's at the age where she still can and no one cares. She is free to do what she wants, however she wants to do it and that's liberating to her. 


So this summer, I'm going to see more friends, spend more time doing things that make me happy (like painting, and hanging out with my sister, and ice cream dates, and going to the beach and traveling), and try to convince myself that its okay that I don't have it figured out. I'll get there. One day. 

Style Crush

I have such a style crush on Alicia from Cheetah is the New Black. Its serious. She just has the perfect mix of feminine, edgy and laid back but still pulled together. I idolize her style and usually try to keep her in mind when buying clothes for my closet. I feel like I need a larger clothing budget to be more like her, but eh, I do what I can with what I got I suppose. Check her out some of my favorite outfits from the past couple years and the source of my style inspiration:

{I will recreate this shirt. And I will find bring pink shorts. Trust me, the hunt is on.}

{She even makes a t-shirt look fabulous. I think I need more sequins...}

{She just gets me. Relaxed jeans and a tee with a fun headband. Fashion soulmates.}

{I love the mix of feminine prints and blouses with leather and black. Plus that bag MUST be mine}

{Same thing with the mix between military and feminine}

{Lace and leather and cheetah. Perfection.}

{I love pale dresses with black leather}

{I need these shoes. Need them. Love how it edges up a completely casual look}

{I need more bold necklaces. And we all know I love red pants...}

{I actually just wore a similar outfit. The pants bring an unexpected change to the basic jeans/tee combo}

{My absolute favorite look of hers. I spent hours trying to justify buying those boots and blazer. Legit}

{I love stripes and oversized sweaters}

{I can do this. Jean jacket? check! Flannel? check! Gray tee? check! Just need a statement necklace}

{I love this leather vest.}

{All white with a touch of leather. The leather breaks up the ultra feminine outfit perfectly}

{Never would have thought of putting together flannel and cheetah but if she says it works, I'm a believer}

{Simple but different}

{Second favorite look of all time from her. I just....I love it all. Again, that bag and blazer MUST be mine}

{Makes me want to try maxi dresses. But I'm tall so thats tough. Again, love the leather addition}

{Who doesn't love chambray and black jeans?}

Do you have a style crush too now? Good!

Lookbook: Rainy Sunday Stroll

Jacket: Old Navy (super old), Shirt: American Eagle, 

Pants: Gap, Shoes: Sperry (old), Scarf: borrowed from mom

April showers bring May flowers...right? When my BF Nicole and I went to Sunday brunch and then to see The Lucky One a couple weekends ago, I knew comfort was key. Movie theaters are always cold, so I wanted some layers, and since it was nothing but gray skies as far as the eye could see, I stuck with my boat shoes. Confession: I want to wear these Gap pants every day of my life, especially since I live in my jean jacket in the spring. While I like the denim on denim look for the top half, i'm not as fond of the denim on denim on denim look, if you catch my drift. So the black pants are a nice addition to my usual rotation of chambray shirts and denim jackets. 

Cookbook: Deviled Eggs

I had every intention of making these in celebration of Easter, but when push came to shove, I didn't have the patience. Thus, I ended up with plain ol' deviled eggs. Which were pretty much demolished by my dad and myself. instantaneously. Oh holidays, how you make me feel fat. 

In case your wondering (and I suspect you were not), I just used an easy peasy deviled egg recipe I had found on the Food Network, but feel free to replicate with whatever recipe you feel comfortable with. 

Dark Knight Rises

Instructions:

Step 1: Watch trailer

Step 2: Get your mind blown

Step 3: Watch approximately 238 more times on repeat

Step 2: Get pumped

Girls Weekend

After all the non-sense with my car, I so desperately needed a girls night with my favorite people. Mari, Meaghan and I hit up the mall for some pedicures, shopping and frozen yogurt, followed by sparkling wine and a Glee marathon (don't judge!). Joe, Meaghans boyfriend, wasn't so down with the Glee, but who needs him, right? 

The next morning Meaghan asked if I wanted to go yard sale-ing with her and Joe, and lets face it, who can turn down some quality yard sale-ing? No one, that's who! Joe found this sweet ass posed picture (we're talking crappy walmart portraits typically reserved for baby photos here people) of a dog standing with a bone and fire hydrant. Talk about a win! I, on the other hand, just got a Starbucks mug and some books. But it was still a successful day (esp since Meaghan and I pigged out on tater tots at Dunkin Donuts)

P.S. How cute is Meaghan and Joe's new kitty, Genny? I want one!