A Little Bit of Color and a Whole Lot of Positivity.

I am fully aware that I haven't kept up on writing.  And to be truthful, I haven't felt very inspired to write.  It's weird because I feel like I always have an opinion or something to say, but the last few months I have found that I've been critiquing myself and setting myself to an unattainable standard.  This seems to be a reoccurring theme with every rough semester; however, last semester was a completely different level of difficulty.

Now that I have finished the semester and hide a nice breather, I'm fully confident in my abilities.  As I was finishing the year up in California, I realized something about the year.  Now excuse my use of Dickens, but it was indeed the best of times and the worst of times.  I felt like I came to this point where I realized 2015 changed me in ways I didn't know I could change.  I was strengthened more than I thought was possible, and I was able to rely on God and my friends more than I ever intended on doing.  The first half of 2015 helped me discover who I was and who I wanted to be.  The second half of 2015 showed me that tough times may come, but it's ultimately what you do that determines the outcome.  I'm happy to say that even though I cried every day of finals week, I passed all of my classes.  I'm relieved to share that my worst semester is over.  And I'm proud to say that I survived 2015... barely.

In all seriousness though, I do want to invite you to look at 2016 different than past years.  I may not be traveling as often as I like, and I may not have everything planned out for my career, but I am choosing to look at this year differently (and this upcoming semester).  For one, I've decided I'm no longer going to say "I hate my life."  That unfortunately was a reoccurring statement I made last semester, but let me just be real and say that maybe I didn't hate it, but at that moment I sure didn't like it.  Instead, I'm focusing on the positive things occurring right now.  I've decided to write down one thing that I'm thankful for every day.  That may not seem like much, but it refreshes your mind with the good things.  Whether it be that great cup of coffee you had in the morning or a letter someone sent you, be thankful and positivity will follow.

Something I'm very thankful for today was the opportunity to explore New York City with my older sister Zsanelle.  As we walked and walked and walked, I told her that I HAD to go to this wall I found on Instagram.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but bare with me.  It wasn't just any wall, it was the wall of my dreams.  So today I'm thankful for a sister who didn't mind walking around Brooklyn with me to find the amazing rainbow wall, and who not just took pictures of me, but modeled in front of it as well. :)

Also, I'm thinking about starting to blog or vlog some hairstyles I do, so if you are interested let me know!  I hope everyone has a great weekend, and I'm determined to post more this year!

Right Now.

This weeks thoughts:

"The danger for dreamers who plan is that we often end up clinging too tightly to our expectations about how life ought to unfold, rushing our way toward dreamed-of-destinations at the expense of simply savoring the journey.  If our eyes are firmly clamped on one particular endpoint- the place where we will live, the career path we may follow, the kind of person we think we should marry- we risk missing out on the many great and mysterious beauties that will happen to us along the way."

Dreaming.  It's a beautiful thing.  I have career goals, places I would love to explore, I would love to have a family, and have just a life other than studying 24/7.  The problem with dreams is that sometimes I forget I'm living right now.  So much time passes me by while I'm huddled up studying at my desk that I forget to be content and happy with now.  Okay, maybe studying theorems and definitions in Abstract Algebra aren't the absolute best parts of my life, but I'm learning these things for a reason.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm twenty.  I'm only twenty.  I'm a planner and a dreamer, and most often than not I place pressure on myself that really doesn't need to be there.  This year in particular has really shown me that the things I never even planned turned out to be the best things.  Having goals, dreams, and plans are not the problem.  The problem occurs when we let those things take away from the now.  The older I get and the more I experience life, I'm realizing on a greater scale how I could be living life, but not truly living.  After all, moments are what make up our lives.  I think it's time to start appreciating and being thankful for what we do have every day, because that is what truly makes life worth living.

Outfit Inspiration:

I've been getting so excited for the cold weather because that means sweaters.  Yes.  For the past few years I've been saving up turtlenecks because they are just so cozy, but this year is particularly exciting because I've been seeing them everywhere (the runway, bloggers, every single store, turtlenecks are everywhere).  I decided to mix it up a little and pair my tan sweater with my pleated black faux leather skirt.  I love the contrast between soft and edgy, and it will definitely make another comeback this winter.  I found some super cute turtlenecks here, here, and here.  To complete the outfit I paired it with some pointy black heels and a low sleek bun.  I hope this gives you the courage to try a turtleneck this season!

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and truly cherish every moment with friends, family, and loved ones.

The Positive

I'm actually kind of laughing at myself because I wrote a blog post about a month ago explaining how I prioritize and the best way to keep your life as stressless as possible.  I would post it, but I realized that I couldn't even fulfill the expectations I set for myself.  After midterms passed, I was convinced school would turn around, and I would be able to calm down and get back to the "normal" semester I so wished I had.  Sadly enough, things got worse, my stress levels rose to an ultimate max, and I'm pretty sure I'm losing hair.

After feeling not quite like myself for some time, I guess the best way to put it is that I've had enough.  I've had enough of playing the "poor me because college sucks" act (even though it does), and I would like to share some positive and happy things in my life currently.  I mean, I think we all need a little bit of positivity in our lives even if the negative does out way it.  With that being said, I've created a list of some positive things in my life.

1.  My Wonderful Friends
     I'm just going to give a shoutout to my friends Leah, Jodie, and Kaitlyn.  These specific girls took a train from Chicago to spend time with me this weekend and helped me "de-stress."  We not only bought matching brunch shirts, but we watched chick flicks, ate ice cream, and blasted One Direction.  Yes, that's what girls do on a Saturday night. 

2.  Lush Bath Bombs
     Nothing is more relaxing than taking a long hot bath after a stressful day.  Lush stole my heart in London, and I'm addicted to trying as many bath bombs as possible.  I'm so excited to try their new Christmas bath bombs that have amazing festive scents!

3.  My Parents
     Just when I think there is no way my parents could get any better, they do.  And I love them.  My dad dropped off groceries at my place this past week because I literally had no time to shop, and my mom took me out for lunch and took me to get my nails done after my exam on Friday.  They are actually the best.

4.  Festive Candles
     Okay.  I love candles.  I bought Bath and Body's Leaves candle about a month ago.  It's gone.  So now I'm ready to bust out some more fun fall scents!  Also, Anthropologie just came out with their holiday candles, and I'm dying to get one in every scent.  I'm actually obsessed.

5.  Good Coffee
     I'm happy to announce that I'm on a first name basis with the baristas that work at my favorite coffee shop.  This is huge.  Did I mention that my name was spelt right too when I picked up my coffee?  So ya, I'm just a little happy.

I hope my list has got you thinking of some positive things in your life, and maybe you should make a list too!  When I write down what I'm thankful for, it's a lot easier to see that even though I may not love my current situation, there is always something to be thankful for.  I hope these upcoming holidays show you that in life, family and friends are what really matter.  I hope you all have a great week!

        
   

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A Travel Guide: Cinque Terre

Alright, so maybe it's been a little awhile since I've been to Cinque Terre, let alone blog about a place I've travelled to.  However, recently I was thinking about my Spring Break trip.  I then remembered I never actually talked about one of my favorite destinations on the trip.  Cinque Terre will forever be one of the coolest places I have ever seen and is a destination for those who want to explore or simply relax.  It is a region of five Italian towns carved into cliffs located on the upper Northwest side of the boot.  Cool right?  Before I visited I decided to do some research, find good restaurants, and scout out the best gelato (and yes I did find the best gelato).  So whether you just want some wanderlust, pretty pictures to look at, or a helpful guide to one of the most beautiful places on earth, I'm so happy I can share my tips and experience!

Riomaggiore

Cinque Terre is compiled of Riomaggiore (pronounced Rio-muh-zsor-aye), Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, and Monterosso.  After looking at airbnbs and hotels, my friends and I decided to opt for the little "hotel" in Riomaggiore.  It ended up being cheaper and more conveniently located then other places I found.  I love how Riomaggiore is set in the cliff and is so much fun to take pictures of.  Beware you will be using a lot of leg muscle since the town is set in a cliff.  This means that it's all uphill.  With that being said, pack light.

Manarola

Do I really have to say anything?  I mean just look at the photos.  As I was editing my photos, I got major Manarola withdrawals.  Have you ever had one of those "I can't believe this is real life" moments?  I remember having one of those as I watched the sunset and saw the lights slowly turn on one by one.  Pictures just don't do it justice, but I tried my best.  It's just a magical moment.  Before I watched sunset, I ate at the cutest little restaurant called II Porticciolo.  Order the lobster linguine.  Don't substitute anything.  A huge lobster tail comes on top of fresh pasta covered in a tomato compote.  My mouth is watering just thinking about this meal.

My suggestion for this town is to go before sunset and spend time exploring, eating dinner, and taking pictures.  When the sun starts setting, take the sidewalk to the side of the cliff and watch the sunset over the water.  When it's just getting dark, switch sides and admire the sunset hitting Manarola.  You get to watch the lights flicker on and witness something truly magical.

Corniglia

Before I actually went to Corniglia, I read that it was hike to get up to the town.  That was an understatement.  Think 400 steps to even get to the beginning of the town.  Even though I almost passed out before I got to the town, let me just say it was worth every step.  You are literally on top of a cliff and get to admire the beauty of the Italian Riviera.  Lemons and oranges grew everywhere, and I was obsessed.  It was a foggy day when I went, but even then it was gorgeous.

Vernazza

Vernazza is just a beautiful town.  I actually felt like I was walking in a real life paint sample card.  Think corals, yellows, oranges, and reds in every sort of shade.  LOVE.  The best gelato you will ever have is found here.  Gelateria Vernazza is just a little hole in the wall, but it's where I found love called tiramasu gelato.  My friend and I came back to Vernazza simply for the gelato.  This is in my top three picks of the five towns.

Monterosso

Monterosso is the largest of all of the towns!  It is full of textured walls, lemon trees, and well gelato. This town is just fun to get lost in, and is a must to go to!

Things I didn't mention:

Eat as much pesto as possible.  Pesto pizza, pesto pasta, pesto on breadsticks, just eat pesto.

Even if you don't hike, go.  I didn't hike when I went, and I enjoyed it the same as those who did.

Watch the sunset every night (even if it's foggy).

If it's raining, go and enjoy a latte, go explore in the rain, get lost, and get wet.

When to go?  I went in April, and it was a bit nippy.  I would suggest going in the summer for optimum weather.

If I didn't mention something you are interested in learning about, leave a comment below.  Here and here are some other helpful blog posts I found about Cinque Terre.  I could go on and on about my love for Cinque Terre!  I hope you get to enjoy it just as much as I did!