Still young.

6 Months.

Today marks 6 months of my living in Seattle, and by now I’m pretty sure everyone has stopped reading this. For those that stumble upon this, here’s my attempt at a 6 month recap.

It started with a road trip up the west coast. Through LA, following the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, up to Portland and landing in what would be my new home in Seattle. It was so surreal driving up the I-5, seeing the Space Needle and all of downtown spread out before me knowing that this wasn’t just another pit stop, this was a city that would become mine. I arrived on my birthday and spent the day roaming around seeing what we could while I still had my brother and sisters by my side. I moved in the next day to the town home I was approved for only 24 hours prior, and after a whirlwind of a weekend of unpacking and exploring, my family left back for the desert. I was familiar with the feeling, having moved to Pennsylvania 4 years ago for the start of college, but it didn’t make it any easier. Everything I knew and the only people that loved me in this town driving away, it sounds a bit dramatic, but really is all at once a terrifying feeling mixed with a freedom that can only be experienced being somewhere where no one knows who you are. And so the adventure began…

Voodoo Doughnuts and Stumptown Coffee in Portland

Haight & Ashbury in San Fran

I have spent the past several months adjusting to my new life in the “real-world,” working in the corporate world with Amazon, discovering what Seattle has to offer, and trying to make new friends. I started playing ultimate Frisbee over the summer, but soon discovered it wasn’t quite my scene. I met who would rapidly become one of my best friends out here, sitting three feet away from me in her cube at work. I’m forever grateful being put in a department with someone my age, who graduated from the same school (though we never met), and has so much in common with me. I also met another recent AZ transplant from a connection with my sister, and she’d become the third leg of my Seattle tri-pod… the only thing that has kept me sane and mentally healthy over the months – especially with the onset of the grey weather. 

This view never gets old.

Summer was great, with the amazing weather you can actually do stuff outside in (vs. AZ’s 120 degrees). I took part in my fair share of beer fests, food fests, music fests… and pretty much anything that was going on outside with food, drinks, and people. It flew by, and I was loving it. In some ways, it felt like summer vacation.. just working 40+ hours a week. But the same in that if felt temporary, fleeting, and that I’d be returning home come September. Well Labor Day came and went, Seattle had the rainiest September on record, and it hit me like it had that first weekend in June that I wasn’t leaving anytime soon. I hit a rough patch, trying to figure out my life and thinking far too much about the future. All my dreams have come true, but if I didn’t have my family and those that love me the most around me, was it worth it? Was this where I saw myself staying for the rest of my life? Unlikely, but for how many years? The desire to return home was met with the realization that home wouldn’t be quite the same. College friends have either moved or moved on, Tempe didn’t have my apartment I felt so comfortable in, and after my visit in October I came to see that life was going on without me there. I came back to Seattle after my homecoming vacation with a new appreciation for my life out here in the Pacific Northwest.

Fall weather.

I’ve spent November enjoying a real fall (leaves that change colors and collect on the sidewalks like all the movies!!) and taking the days one at a time. Now I’m looking forward to what I’m gonna cook for dinner or my plans for the weekend, not where I think I need to be in a year or two. I still struggle some days. Being in front of a computer 8 hours a day is definitely a culture shock from running events and customer service every day, and I’m figuring out how to enjoy actually having time to myself. It’s a new concept and I don’t think I’ve totally become fond of it, I like to be crazy busy and constantly have plans with one of the many groups of friends I didn’t realize I’d miss so much.  I find myself still trying to adjust to this new climate, the lack of sunshine has gotten to me at some points, though the amount of rain has been surprisingly little. Getting used to taking the bus, getting yelled at by homeless people, and walking everywhere has been different than suburban Phoenix and college-town Tempe, but hey – I’m practically a real city girl! For now I’m choosing happiness, loving all the restaurants, streets, coffee shops to explore, and enjoying the ride.

 “Breathe in every word and every second because one day you'll be dying to have it all back again.”

Give It Up.

Throw your hats in the air. Had the most awesome graduation and grad party this weekend. Here are some snapshots from the weekend and graduation! So much love in my life it's truly incredible. Thank you too all the amazing family and friends that came out this weekend. I am so grateful for such an incredible support system.

Graduation day, with a few of my bests.

Two sets of twins!

The graduates

The most awesome grad cake in history.

My heart is so full of love. Happy thoughts!
Alex

Heart in a Blender.

Wow. I've graduated! I said that out loud for the first time yesterday after graduating barely a week ago. It sounds weird to actually say it in public. I am no longer in college. Ouch, that's painful to state. Well my life has been the largest range of emotions in the past week. Every huge excitement comes with some bittersweet goodbye. I graduated, a huge monument in the timeline of life, but that means I'm finished with college.. supposedly the best years of your life. I had an absolutely amazing beyond-words graduation party with nearly everyone I love in my life, but that came with the realization I am leaving everyone I love in my life as I venture into Seattle. I sang, danced, and laughed with my roommate as we spent our last weekend together. She left for San Diego and my apartment feels ghostly empty, and I can't stand to be in it knowing I am leaving it sooner than the unpacked-boxes against my walls would show. I'm trying to enjoy my impending venture to a new state, but almost every time I catch myself laughing or smiling it is shortly followed by the sad idea that I am leaving that person, place, thing that made me laugh.

Graduation Party

Part of my Senior pictures

Wow, this is quite the pessimistic post here. But, I'm hoping I'll look back at this in a month or two and realize it all ended up just fine in an apartment I enjoy, a roommate that's tons of fun, and a job that I thrive in. My last day of work in Arizona is tomorrow. Over two and a half years renting boats and spending my days by the lake, and it comes to an end as I turn in my key tomorrow night. So glad to move on to my grown-up job, but sad to leave my best friends at the boat house, and one of the best bosses I could have asked for over my college years. I leave for my drive up to Seattle a week from Monday and I'm still looking for a place to live. I guess you could say I'm a little stressed. So ecstatic, nervous, blissful, sad, anxious, nervous, and everything between. Well I guess I'd rather feel everything than nothing at all. And as they say, don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.

So remember to smile everyone, and I'll try to take my own advice.
Alex

Be sad, read this.

So I figured I'd share this because of how sad this made me. It's always good to share sadness, right? Wrong. But anyways, read this and:
A) be super glad you are still in college and have time to take it all in, or
B) be in a state of depression because college is ending in... like a week. So, so, so sad. There's not enough so's in the world for that sentence.

Here it is.

Real world, I am so extremely excited for you and all the greatness that is Seattle and that awesome culture and music and cool people to meet, but I am also terrified of the 2, 5, 13 and 21 on the list. Especially 21, because the number of people I know in Seattle can be counted on 1 hand... fine I'll be honest... can be counted on 1 finger.

BUT LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE AFTER COLLEGE TO EXPLORE!

Enjoy everyday, college life or not!
Alex

Future Husband.

One of my friends posted this the other day, and I just had to share. This is seriously the greatest thing I've read in a while. It is so adorable, and I'd like to think of it as completely true. I haven't been talking to anyone or seeing anyone pretty much this whole semester, okay... this whole year. But I have a lot of other things to focus on right now, so it's not too big of deal. Sometimes, of course, I let the girl in me get the best of me and get sad about my lackluster love life, but I know someday someone will turn up... and when they do I hope they are just like the author of this article, Kelly Flanagan, describes.

Check it out here.

What do you think? I totally had tears in my eyes after reading it, so adorable!
Enjoy,
Alex

Tunesday.

In honor of just seeing him last week, here is one of my favorite songs by Alex Clare.



I hope you enjoy! Have you ever heard any of his songs? Which is your favorite?
Alex

Too Close.

I was lucky enough to go to the Alex Clare concert this past week with one of my best friends Cheyenne. She burnt me his CD over the summer and we fell in love with him. The he came out with 'Too Close' on the radio, and we were so excited he was touring.

We bought our tickets, and I marked my calendar. I finally got to see a show at the Marquee when I was old enough to go to Mill Ave before. We stopped for happy hour at a couple places and then walked over the bridge to see the show. I remember going to shows at the Marquee theater and seeing all the cool older kids walking over the bridge to the venue after getting drinks on Mill. Well guess what?! I'm a cool older kid now, woo!

The concert was awesome, and Alex Clare is so cute! As my friend Cheyenne put it, "He'll make a good Santa Claus when he is older. He just kept smiling at the crown with his bearded grin and talking in his sweet British accent. His songs were so much fun to dance along to and sing at the top of our lungs. So glad I went and got to go, and enjoy it with one of my best friends.

Hooray for good music and great friends!
Alex

Country Thunder

Country Thunder, aka the time of my life, was this past weekend. I was a little hesitant about spending 4 days camping with the same group of people, surrounded by drinks, junk food, and very few showers. I thought it was going to be a little too much, and I might get burnt out after a couple days. I was wrong, and I definitely had a blast! It was my first time going to a music festival and I can't wait to go to more!

For those that don't know, Country Thunder is a huge country music festival in Florence, AZ - about an hour from where I live, pretty much in the middle of the desert. There are thousands of people that come from all over and camp for 4 days to listen to some of the biggest and best names in country music.



I was under the impression I would have electricity, and a shower, in the RV we rented. I was mistaken, so I literally went 4 whole days of showering with wet ones and water bottles, having a dead phone like 90% of the time I was there, and get this- not checking my email for the whole weekend! That last point is pretty revolutionary for me, because I am normally behind on email if I go a full day without checking it, and man did it feel so good to put my vacation response on my email saying I won't have access to email and I'll respond when I'm back in town on Monday.

Anyways, I had an awesome time with some old friends that it was so, so good to get together with and laugh and joke just like we had before.I also got the chance to make so many more new friends, and spend time with great people that all hadn't showered and loved country music - now that sounds like a recipe for a good friendship. Anddd... I got to two-step with a guy at the Toby Keith show and he spun me and flipped me in the air - so. much. fun. I definitely look forward going to another music festival, I'm thinking Sasquatch 2014?!

Have you ever been to a music festival? What was it like?
Alex

Tick Tock.

No, that wasn't a Ke$ha reference.

But where is the time going?! It's terrifying really. Not only is my time at ASU ending and it's getting closer to all my final projects being due, my time in Arizona is coming to a close and I only have just over a month to spend with my family and friends. I literally keep checking the date because I cannot believe it actually says April 17th... its almost the end of April... say what?! A mere 3 weeks until the G word (shh...graduation) that means the end of the glorious thing I like to call college life.

Bucket List re-cap to remind myself what I have done, and what I need to get on doing pronto.

• Play Frolf on campus (frisbee golf)
• Hike 'A' Mountain at sunrise or sunset
• Sing karaoke in front of strangers
• Take a pedal boat out on Tempe Town Lake; I've worked there for more than 2 years and have seen so many people praise how fun it is, whine about how hard it is, and everything in between. I'm ashamed to say though I've been in a pedal boat more times than I can count, I want the whole experience of going around the lake, even if my co-workers will make fun of me.
• Go to an ASU football game, basketball game, and baseball game at least once; I've done the first two, but want to go to a baseball game and hopefully another basketball game and enjoy being a Sun Devil fan!
• Go to a play or musical at Gammage Auditorium (ASU's amazing theater venue)
• Get a drink between or before class at The Vine; because that's just soo ASU 
• Join or create a game of sand volleyball on the SRC fields
• Take a picture on the horse in front of the Business building
• Drive through Jerry's Drive-Thru liquor; it's practically an ASU landmark and I want to say I have
• Take a road-trip and hike the Grand Canyon; now that I'm old enough to really appreciate it, and while I live so close to this wonder of the world, I really want to re-visit it
• Go to the green house on top of the Life Sciences building
• Have a picnic in the Secret Garden on campus
• Take a dip/splash in the MU fountain

I've only done two things?! That's so sad.. I need to get on it! 

Do you have a bucket list for college, or for life in general? What's on it?

Alex

Phoenix Blogger Conference!

Get excited, the Phoenix Blogger Conference is here! There are going to be some awesome bloggers there and lots of fun is sure to be had! Check out below for more details!



Hooray!
Alex

Bravery.

I don't think we stop and think about what awesome people we are often enough. Preoccupied by all the things we have to do, things we don't have time for, people we're trying to impress we never take the time to think of all the things we're doing, how great we are, and all the people that are in our lives that already love us just who we are. 

So the question came up in class, what makes you brave? If someone asked me if I was a brave person, I would generally say yes. But when posed with the question of what exactly makes my brave, it is hard to depict exactly what it is. When I think of my bravery, one main thing comes to mind. I'm not afraid to be exactly who I am. 

I am lucky enough to be surrounded with people who accept and love me for exactly who I am, and I am completely accepting of the fact that I often talk too loud, get overly excited, make lame jokes, get most places on two wheels, wear really ridiculous things from thrift stores, and a whole list of goofy things. These things are what make me who I am, and instead of trying to change, I own it and accept that some people are going to get annoyed with my over-enthusiasm and loud voice, but that's alright, because I have more than a handful of people that love me for it- or at least put up with those characteristics because they love the person I am as a whole. 

So I am brave. I accept the entire package that is me, and I'm more than proud to be Alex McEntire. Oh, and because I'm moving to Seattle to live in a brand new city where I know no one, that's pretty brave, too. 

What makes you brave?

Identity Checkpoint.

I think there are times in our lives when things happen to give us a reality check. I'm a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. That we learn little lessons from every mistake, every person, and every little instance that may seem minuscule thing that happens. You may hurt worse that you ever have, crying in bed, feeling lost and not knowing what to do when you think your heart is too heavy to get out of the fetal position in your bed. You could be on cloud 9 with the job of your dreams, family that loves you unconditionally, great friends in every social circle, and your heart is so full of happiness you almost think it's unfair to have it this great. It could take one night, a single text, 30 seconds or 30 days, but things change. These highs and lows make you stop for a second and evaluate things. Who am I really right now? Is this who I want to be? How do other people see me? Why did I get here? What am I doing at this point in my life? We go through our day to day lives and it seems like things just all of a sudden fall into our laps. You have to stop and take a look around at what is causing these things, and who is that person inside that is making it happen.


It hurts, it sucks, you ask yourself why? Well, chances are there is a lesson behind it, and there is a reason. So stop and ask yourself, how did I wind up in this position? It had to be external, like the universe is plotting revenge on all of your happiness. But maybe it's something else. What I like to call an identity checkpoint. Once a month, once a year, every few years. Whenever you stop and think about the direction your life is going and the person that you're becoming, like really stop and think about it.

I'm graduating in May, where did college go? Things happen so fast you rarely stop to think how and why and who is behind the steering wheel driving your life. I had some time to reflect where I'm going and who I am, and if it was really what I wanted or if I just was living and it happened to me and I accepted it. The great thing is, if you don't like what's happening, or who you are, you can change it! What a concept.

So it may take a really hard decision, a lot of tears, or a moment of bliss, but take a minute, or quite a few and think about it. Stop at that checkpoint and use it to evaluate you as a person, to make sure you're going to like the person you become and be proud of who you are today.

Sometimes I write whole things like this and I'm not sure if they even make sense except to me. But at least I got it out.

Take care, and choose to be happy today.
Alex

Taco Time.

So, I had an amazing dinner party a couple weeks ago with my co-workers who also happen to be some of my best friends. It was a potluck style dinner, so I thought I'd share what I made!

I made mini taco salads, or taco muffins- whatever you want to call them! I took unbaked tortillas, baked them in muffin tins so they came out in mini bowl shapes. I then filled it with taco filling. I used tofu, just because that's my preference, but feel free to use ground beef! After baking that with some cheese, I topped it with shredded lettuce and salsa for bite-sized taco deliciousness!

My friends seemed to enjoy them, and they're perfect for party snacks, or a meal! Let me know if you give them a shot!

I'd love to hear what you've been cooking!

Alex

Tunesday.

I heard this song in a commercial, and it's also in the soundtrack of Away We Go, which i want to see! I hope you enjoy!



As the days keep turning into nights. Couldn't be more true, I wake up and work and go to class and work again and then get home to make dinner and it's night again. Then at night, I just think about how quickly time is going by. Just trying to soak up every last minute of life as I know it. Enjoying it with good music makes it that much better.

Happy Tuesday!
Alex

Do Something: Phoenix

So my awesome sister is a member of an amazing group of Phoenicians that are working together to bring local artists, stylists, and bloggers together through events in the Phoenix area. The group is called the Phoenix Style Collective, and they are always planning something for locals to get together, collaborate, and just hang out. I love the idea and I'm so glad I have gotten to be a part of most of the events they've held.

My mom, sister, and I at the event!

About a week and a half ago I attended the Phoenix Puppy Love event that the PSC held at the amazing Co+Hoots. There were raffle prizes, a silent auction, and plenty of treats - all to benefit the Humane Society. So great!

I made a DIY headband with the girls from Hearts, a fashion line that advocates world awareness and change and uses recycled materials. They were so cute- check them out!

I ate way too many of these amazing treats, but got to spend some time with my sister and some cool new friends! I also tried the coffee at Greater Than Coffee which is inside Cohoots, super delicious! Check out their website and maybe I'll see you at one of their future events!

Take care,

Alex

Tunesday.

Inspired by the awesome Sasquatch line up, here's an awesome jam by a band that will be at the music festival I so badly want to go to!

Drink some tea, relax, and turn this on.



Love it!
Alex

Day of Love.

So it was Valentines Day. This fact usually makes people cringe or sing with happiness about the cute date plans they have with their significant other. I'd say I'm somewhere in the middle ground. 

I do appreciate today, as a holiday, though. Even though it's another reason to jack up the prices of candy and flowers and all things pink and red, hey- that's life! I think some people get too caught up in the fact they don't have a boyfriend or a girlfriend or someone to take them out for a romantic dinner. Today is about love, and that can come from so many different places. I spent today working, going to class, and working again at my second job... and I'm happy as can be right now. Of course I'm not saying the box of chocolates and dinner plans wouldn't be appreciated, but I have so many other things to be happy about. 

Today I chose to be grateful for all of the love I receive from all over. The amazing family that showers me with love, friends, a roommate, and coworkers who make me smile every day, and a pretty fantastic life that I get to wake up to everyday. 

So celebrate Valentines Day, or Satisfied Being Single Day, or heck... just celebrate Arizona's Birthday! But remember, today's about feeling the love no matter where it comes from.

xo, 

Alex

Tunesday.

Because this song has been stuck in my head since the moment I heard it… months ago. I love The Lumineers so so much, and I’m still devastated I missed them while they were here in the Fall.

Check this song out, and be prepared to have it on repeat as well as the rest of the album, really.

Happy Tuesday!

Alex

Fearful.

I know the cool thing to be is fearless... especially after Taylor Swift's catchy song about letting all your worries go and being completely void of fear. But, that's not always the case, sorry T-Swift. Most of the time I'd like to think of myself as being a pretty Optimistic Olivia, but some things just get to me. I think it's part of being human, darn the bad luck. 

Anyways, I have been talking to more and more people from Seattle, my future home after graduation this May. They are recommending the trendy restaurants, hip coffee shops, and the cultural and alternative things to do. I get butterflies and envision myself bundled up in my trench coat and infinity scarf walking the cool Seattle streets. I'm going to have a stable income and great job, living in one of the hippest cities in the country, and I cannot wait as I hear all the stories of the amazing city.

Image via WeHeartIt

Then it hits me, fear. Reality sets in as I figure out I'm going to be alone, with a closet of clothes, boxes of books, my stuffed Winnie the Pooh, and zero furniture. An anxiety creeps up and overcomes the butterflies of excitement and realize my family is no longer going to be a half an hour car ride away. I won't be able to drive to my Grandma's when I had a bad night and want nothing more than her couch and waffles for breakfast. My mom won't be on-call to go out for Mexican food when I just need some mom-time. I can't call my sisters to go thrift store shopping and check out the new coffee shop with me, or my dad and brother to fix whatever technology issue I tend to get myself into. It hurts, this fear, and makes me doubt my decision to move up the coast.

Then I realize, it's an amazing job that will afford me some of the greatest opportunities of my career. My family is the most loving collection of people I know, and I know they will be there for every phone call when I'm too lonely in Seattle or when I book a weekend flight to Phoenix when I can't bear the rain any longer. I've heard many times that if something didn't scare you at some point, it wasn't worth doing. So I'll embrace the fear, the anxiety, and the excitement and positivity and prepare for some hard times, but know that there is a bright future ahead of me full of love- even if the love is now 26 hours away.

Be okay being afraid, because though fearless is glamorous, fearful is real... and it's okay.

Take care,
Alex

Center of the Universe.

One thing goes slightly wrong and I think that my life is spiraling out of control. Someone doesn't text me back and I feel like no one really likes me. Why is that things so small can seem so vast and huge in our lives? I'm freaking out because maybe the guy I had my eye on, has his eye on the girl that probably has her eye on the other guy. I am on top of the world, and happy has can be, then one thing doesn't go my way and it occupies my mind like a tsunami of thoughts my brain can't raise above to get a breath of sane air. 

I was thinking about this, and as I'm going to dwell on this with my roommate she speaks before I get words out. She can't find seem to find a job, or even places to apply, for after graduation. She isn't even quite sure what she wants to do post-graduation and where she wants the direction of her life to lead. That's right - she's figuring out the direction of her life as I'm complaining that it's been over an hour and I haven't received a text back from a guy I'll get over in a month.

Where I'm going with all this is that we are all the center of our own universe. We have been told for years that 'you're not the center of the universe,' but I'd like to counter that. We are indeed the very center of our universe, it's all we know. It's the non-stop flow of thousands of thoughts a day. So when everything in my life is going right, and I honestly don't think most of the time it could be better, I have to find something to occupy my thoughts. Because perfection isn't much to think about, we have to pinpoint some aspect of our lives to spin around our heads like the washer on spin-cycle. So, while you're thinking about why you got a 91% on that paper, and not a 97%, or why you spent that extra $5 on the coffee you could have made yourself, or contemplating your future, your love life (or lack thereof), you're not alone. I just think while we're all the center of our universe, we might as well make it a bright, sunny center. So choose to think about the exciting new recipe you're going to try, or the perfect outfit you can't wait to Instagram, and have hope for your future and the exciting things to come because it's better to dream than to dwell.

Keep thinking, positively.

Alex

My ASU Bucket List.

So I made a bucket list of things I want to do in my last semester of college. Ew, I hate saying that. Can college last forever and ever? It's Monday I'm reliving my amazing weekend I just had and I never want it to end. I know I can still have fun after graduation, and don't get me wrong, I'm extremely excited for the adventure that awaits me after this semester, but I know it'll be different. I have all kinds of friends, school friends, work friends on-campus, work friends off-campus, club friends, frisbee friends. I'm surrounded by so many amazing people and get to spend my time surrounded by them, doing great things and I'll soon be moving to a city where I will know approximately one person.

My last first day of school outfit! Looking back, I probably should have chosen something a little more .. remarkable. It could have been worse, but I definitely have better outfits. Here's to a semester of fun events and good exciting outfits!

I've got 4 more months to take advantage of this wonderful thing, so I made myself a bucket list. Here are some of the things on my list:

• Play Frolf on campus (frisbee golf)
• Hike 'A' Mountain at sunrise or sunset
• Sing karaoke in front of strangers
• Take a pedal boat out on Tempe Town Lake; I've worked there for more than 2 years and have seen so many people praise how fun it is, whine about how hard it is, and everything in between. I'm ashamed to say though I've been in a pedal boat more times than I can count, I want the whole experience of going around the lake, even if my co-workers will make fun of me.
• Go to an ASU football game, basketball game, and baseball game at least once; I've done the first two, but want to go to a baseball game and hopefully another basketball game and enjoy being a Sun Devil fan!
• Go to a play or musical at Gammage Auditorium (ASU's amazing theater venue)
• Get a drink between or before class at The Vine; because that's just too college 
• Join or create a game of sand volleyball on the SRC fields
• Take a picture on the horse in front of the Business building
• Drive through Jerry's Drive-Thru liquor; it's practically an ASU landmark and I want to say I have
• Take a road-trip and hike the Grand Canyon; now that I'm old enough to really appreciate it, and while I live so close to this wonder of the world, I really want to re-visit it
• Go to the green house on top of the Life Sciences building
• Have a picnic in the Secret Garden on campus
• Take a dip/splash in the MU fountain

That's the majority of if, and I'm doing my best to mark my calendar to make these things actually happen! I'll tell you soon about some of the awesome events I have planned with my friends. 

Happy MLK Jr. Day! Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Alexv

Tunesday.

Finallyyyyyy got Ben Gibbards new album. I waited far too long to get it, but so glad I can listen to it on repeat!

Here's one of my favorite songs from the album... today anyways!



I have lots of exciting plans this semester and all kinds of upcoming events I can't wait to share. I hope you all are having a lovely week!
Alex

Tunesday.

Just fell in love with this song, I hope you enjoy!

School technically started yesterday, but because I only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, today is my first day back to school! My last first day of school, ever! Okay, unless I decide to get a Masters a few years down the road during my career path. But for now, let's just go with my last one - it's more provocative! haha



Although I loved watching an intense amount of Netflix and laying in bed for hours, it's good to get back in the swing of things! I'm hoping with a lighter school schedule I'll be able to better document my last semester of college!
Have a Happy Tuesday!
Alex

Searching for something.

Have you ever just been in a slump? Like you need one extra ingredient to make your life just right? I'm not going to lie, my life is pretty darn fantastic. But with it being the new year and winter break wrapping up quickly to a new semester. I've found my self dying for a new addition to my routine. I was thinking maybe a new job, a new sport, volunteering more, some kind of hobby to keep me engaged. You'd think with 3 jobs I'd have that covered, but my school schedule is looking dainty and I thrive when I'm super busy. I want that feeling back where I don't have time for anything and I'm constantly going from one thing to another with no down time. Is that a bad thing?

One of my good good friends and I at a holiday party a few weeks back. Dress via Goodwill, oh how I love thrift shopping and dressing so outrageously without caring.

Anyways, I'd love ideas from anyone who may have something to offer! A new hobby you've found engaging, a great place to apply, a sport or workout routine or gym to give a shot at... I'm up for anything. As one of my resolutions said, try new things, and I wanna do my best to soak up every last ounce of this final semester of college.

Hope your weekend is great!
Alex

So this is the New Year.

Happy New Year! I thought I'd write my resolutions down here so I'm constantly reminded to live up to them, because if other people know them, I'm more likely to commit.

1. Print a picture a week; either from Instagram or my iPhone, or off my Canon. I think it'll be cool to have 52 pictures at the end of the year to recap 2013.

2. Spend money on experiences, not things. Go out to eat with friends and revel in good company, don't splurge on shopping by myself. This might be especially hard when I have an actual salary, but I want to continue to live by this.

3. Read more books. I'm aiming for at least one new one a month, I know sometimes that's a little difficult, so I'm just striving to read more than I have the past couple years, which honestly wasn't much!

4. Try new things; new restaurants, new hobbies, new sports, new people and friends.

5. Be kind, be happy, worry less and smile more.

My amazing friends and I on NYE.
 Sequin blazer from an estate sale, tank from Forever 21, skirt from Ross, ring from NYC that is sadly lost on Mill Ave somewhere (so so sad about that). 

I hope you all took some time to write down some resolutions, or maybe goals for the upcoming year! This is probably going to be the most life-changing year of my life, and I am totally ready to embrace the fantastic change to come. Graduating college, leaving all of my family and friends, moving to Seattle, starting a wonderful new career. It is all so exciting and crazy I can't believe I only have a few months of class and college left and can't imagine where I will be a year from now. I hope the coming year brings lots of growth, happiness and smiles to you all.

Happy New Year!
Alex