Day Two

So today was the second day of my second job. It is just training, however it has completely exceeded my expectations. I am already absolutely in love with the company. If you missed the memo, I am working at the Westin Resort in Downtown Phoenix. I was expecting to be in a huge conference room where it would be silent, awkward and incredibly boring. That is exactly what I didn't get. There has been Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha, and a variety of fun music with disco lights and so much talking and interaction. Not to mention, I've been fed delicious meals, breakfast and lunch, both days. Including Mahi-Mahi, Philly Cheese steaks, veggie wraps, Crème brûlée, cannolis, macaroons, I feel like I'm livin' large! I honestly can't believe I'm getting paid for this! I have never met so many executives that have been so inviting and willing to meet the employees. Well, I could honestly ramble for pages about how amazing this job is and how super excited I am to be working here, but I will save it for my family who is obligated to listen to me!

I have been wearing business clothes for the past two days, but here are a couple of shots from the other day. Excuse the somewhat odd angles, but it's the best way I found to get pictures of what I was wearing! :]



leather jacket: $16 (Buffalo Exchange)
grey zip up: $4 (thrifted)
plaid shirt: ? (I've had this forever, but I did just cot off the ties on the sides because they were awkward and too high, and wa-la! I had myself a headband!)
jeans: $30 (AE)
motorcycle boots: $21 (Ross, these are one of my fave shoes.. I wear them allll the time!)
Changed into my sweats and ready for movie night with some friends! The Fourth Kind... I hope so! I've been dying to see it! Hope you have an amazing weekend, and remember to be happy and smile, life's too short not to!
Alex

Dinner Time

So I had my friend come over last night for dinner because we were both tired of trying to cook a meal for only one person. I have been wanting to make stuffed bell peppers, and she said she already had some of the ingredients. So she brought some things over and we whipped up a storm. I have never seen so many utensils used in a meal for two, but it was worth it. We roughly followed this recipe and tweaked it a bit to fit what we had. I discovered the greatness of Minute rice last night, I seriously need to get me some. We nuked some rice, boiled the bell peppers, and cooked the ground beef and veggies. We used chopped bell peppers, chives, yellow onions, mushrooms and corn, but you can really use whatever you have around. After the meat and veggies were cooked and the tomato sauce was added, we stuffed the bell peppers with the rice, meat and veggies mixture then baked for about 15 minutes. About half way through we placed a slice of cheese on top to let and let that melt into the pepper. It came out tasting soooo good! I was so stuffed, but it was totally worth it. I hope to be having more dinner dates with her and can really start experimenting with more recipes.


We also made arroz con leche, or rice with milk, for dessert with the fantastic Minute rice. Just cook the rice, add some cinnamon and sugar and top it off with milk! My dad always had this when we got Chinese take-out and had extra rice, and I haven't had it in forever. It's so yummy!

Hope you can try making one of these yourself, and let me know how it goes! Now I'm off to work, I'm starting my second job tomorrow! I'm excited/nervous, I hope it goes well! I also have a meeting tomorrow night about my study abroad program, I can't wait to see everyone else that is going and get all the details. Yay!

The Ellen Show, say what?

So Ellen came to campus this weekend and tweeted out for ASU students to come to campus with something that starts an A, something that starts with an S and something that starts with a U- the bigger and more creative the better. So, I've been waiting for Ellen to be where I am since I was at Penn State and was so excited for her to be here. My friend and I texted each other trying to come up with the most creative ideas and ended up with an Anemone, painted ourselves blue and dressed as Smurfs, and blew up latex gloves and pinned them to ourselves like Utters. Weird... I know, but we were hoping it'd work in our favor. Jeanie, Ellen's traveling correspondent, went through the crowd and asked what people were, stopping and asking us for a brief moment. So as she called the top 10 costumes, the Smurfs were picked! From their we explained our costumes to the producer behind the camera and were selected into another group of about 5 finalists. These finalists then had to create a song for Ellen telling her why she should send them on a Spring Break trip. So we got to work in the 6 minutes we had an adjusted the song we had conveniently already made up for her to fit the topic of a spring break trip. It was really good, and we had to sing it multiple times for the camera. Then the finalists all got back on camera together and the winners were announced, we weren't them... but then she told us all the finalists get a $1000 (split with your group) and we all went crazy. Not too bad of a way to make a few hundred dollars. It was so awesome and I'm so lucky to have gotten to do this, even though they cut our song out in the final show because it was too long, but hey... we still got the money! :]

Take a look, I'm the one painted blue!

Did that really just happen?

Have you ever had a time in your life where you just stop and wonder if everything going on is really happening? Well I had one of those times this past 48 hours. I feel like I didn't sit for 2 days straight, but it has been so worth it. Mainly because I was on the Ellen show (Yes, THE Ellen show), and some pretty exciting stuff happened, but that is all for a later post because right now I am amidst finishing an essay and other pieces of homework and running on very little sleep.

This is right now.


I got this text from my Dad as I was literally running from one place to another today, super overwhelmed and busy.
"Don't forget to breathe and take time to enjoy the moment."
So I shall. Inhale. Exhale.
Alex


PS: I'll post about my Ellen extravaganza ASAP, hopefully tomorrow! :]

More than that...

So I could be sad right now, dwelling on what I'm not doing or who I'm not with and the fact that I'm alone in my apartment watching Cake Boss and eating a frozen egg roll. But I have made the decision to be happy, I have so much love in my life, why not be? Went out to a great lunch with my Grandparents at Monti's a steakhouse in Tempe that holds a lot of Arizona history, which was fitting because today is also Arizona's Birthday! Then worked, went to a meeting and then back home to change into my PJs and do a little nothing for a little. Anyways, here's what I'm most thankful for this Valentine's Day...




Well I hope everyone had a fantastic day of love, and felt the love from someone or something or somewhere :]
xoxo,
Alex

Sleepyhead

So I have loved Passion Pit for some time now, however listening to it on my jog yesterday morning reignited my passion (haha, I'm so punny) for them. So after my 7:30am class, I went to the hub on campus had some coffee and got some homework done. This is starting to be my Wednesday routine, and I really enjoy it. Instead of going home after class and sleeping, I actually get some work done and stay productive. So in honor of an early morning, here's Passion Pit's Sleepyhead, one of my favorites.





I want to see them live soooo badly, watch this and you'll see why. Granted it is a music video, put it looks like so much fun to jump and sing along!
Have a great hump day,
Alex


PS: I saw John Legend in concert last night, and he was so inspirational and is super intelligent. I love multi-faceted people! haha

Play Day

I started today waking up from one of the best nights of sleep I've had in months, and going for a fantastic jog. I thought I had a meeting at one, but it was canceled, well actually never existed in the first place. So my grandma who rode the light rail to Tempe with me, had yet to leave so we spent almost the whole day eating, walking on Mill Ave and hanging out. Lunch was at a Greek restaurant super close to my apartment that was DELICIOUS... I know where I will be eating more often! Then we got fro yo and spent the day enjoying the beautiful 70 degree weather. Later I went to my first staff meeting for my new internship with the club on campus. I hate being the new girl, it's exciting and all but I barely know anyone and don't really know what to do. I guess time will pass and I'll figure it out.
Anyways...
I was planning on doing a lot of outfit posts with this blog, and have ended up doing like none so far! It's mostly because I don't have a tripod or any effective to way to get truly good photos of what I'm wearing. So here's my attempt at some outfit photos! Enjoy!



Shirt: Goodwill, $5
Ring: I found at my work, aha
Jeans: Lucky Brand, gift
Flats: Room Rack Shoes, $15
I absolutely love this shirt, and the fact that it was thrifted just makes me even happier! The gold buttons are on the shoulder and make it a little bit more feminine, and make it possible to accessorize with gold! The ring was found in a boat at my work, weird... kind of, cute... yes!
Hope everyone had a great weekend, now I'm off to do some homework and start on an essay!

Weekend Inspiration

I just stumbled upon the greatest, most beautiful story ever. Everyone needs to read this, it is such an inspiration.

Enjoying the Small Things

"It's not about wood floors. No, life is about love and truly experiencing the beauty we are meant to know."

Have a fantastic night and a happy Super Bowl Sunday!
Alex

Brrr...

It has been unusually cold here in Arizona the past few days. I find it quite refreshing, though. I get to wear my favorite mittens, furry hats and cute jackets! It is supposed to be back up in the 70's by Sunday so might as well enjoy it while it lasts! I made some hot cocoa and bundled up with a blanket to get warm after an hour and a half of frisbee practice in 20 degree weather. I got this super cute mug from my older sister for Christmas. A for Alex, or for Awesome... or a number of other things :]



I have been so busy this week but feel like I'm accomplishing so much and living life to its fullest, and I absolutely love it!
I'm headed to go get sushi with a couple friends, then First Fridays downtown! Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share! Have a fantastic weekend!
Alex