Chocolate Lemonade

Spring Break

2011-03-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's that time of the year. At first, my plans were to go somewhere warm and lie out on the beach. Then, I thought about going to Canada with some friends, but eventually, one by one, my plans fell through. I decided to make the best of my spring break, though. In fact, I think maybe without the stress of traveling, I will end up having an even better break. After all, it is definitely nice to be able to have some free time.

Tomorrow, I'm planning on seeing Red Riding Hood with a friend. I'm so excited to see it, and I'll be sure to post a review of the movie as soon as I can. I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have been busy with school. I have not, however, stopped writing. A month ago I started writing for Boston University's HerCampus. Please check out my articles on HerCampus!

This article is great for all you Glee fans out there! I ranked my top 10 and bottom 10 songs on Glee thus far.

This article features the Boston University Women's Resource Center and one of my friends who volunteers there, and told me all about it.

Finally, I wrote this article about tips for saving money in Boston. However, most of these tips work for other cities and suburbs as well!

I love my Nook!

2010-12-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

I bought a Nook for myself this summer and I've really enjoyed reading books on it. During the semester, I didn't have all that much free time to read, and so my goal for this winter break is to read for pleasure. The great thing about ebooks is that you are free to read whatever you want wherever you want, free from judgment. I just finished an interesting read called "Matched" by Ally Condie. When I was finished I looked online to see what the reviews of it were like, only to discover it was a Teen Romance. Though at age 20 I find I am no longer a teenager, I still do love a good young adult book. Next on my list is "This Year I Will...: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution or Make a Dream Come True" by MJ Flynn.

In terms of habits I'm planning on changing, I want to:

Stop letting clutter collect in my room
Exercise at least 4 times a week
Look past brand labels and instead at quality when it comes to shopping

Anyway I find that the Nook is great for self-help books and nonfiction books especially, since you can keep lots of advice and references with you in one place. Additionally, I think I just love the way my Nook looks. It's so cute. Even the name "Nook" reminds me of how I used to read when I was a little kid, tucked into some nook in the house and curling up with a book.

Merry Christmas All!

2010-12-25T19:23:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! I am just checking in to state my intention to revisit this blog. I really do miss blogging. So, here are a few choice pictures from WeHeartIt that really get me into the Holiday spirit.

Wishing you all the best this day, regardless of whether you celebrate the holiday or not. Hope you feel loved and cared for on this day and all others.

Back to School Inspiration (and Budget Shopping Picks)

2010-08-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Watercolor Shirt

Would add just the right amount of color under navy and gray fall sweaters or cardigans

$19.80 from Forever 21

Bobby Pin

Classic and Cute, a simple accessory that can make a boring outfit more chic

$2.50 from Forever 21

Stud Trimmed Belted Dress

I'm really loving studs right now, especially when combined with classic cuts and black fabric

$24.99 from Olsenboye for JCPenney

Gertrude Boot

I'm loving the short cowboy boot, and the detailing on this boot is very fun.

$69.99 at Piperlime

Paula Cami

Going along with the lace trend, this cami would look great under a cardigan or light jacket. (Also available in Pink, Blue, Green, and Ivory)

$18.50 at dELiAs

Sierra Twill Military Bomber

I really like the way the Military trend is starting to look more wearable. The color and fit look very nice.

(Also available in Gray and Blue)

$59.50 at dELiAs

Summer News

2010-06-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been so MIA. I've been pretty busy lately with my internship. I helped out with programs for 5th graders, 2nd graders, and 1st graders and I'm also transcribing old Civil War letters. The typing can get tedious at times, but I'm learning a lot from reading these primary resources. I'd like to give an update about my novel. I currently have 13 pages.

I want to start writing some quick updating posts like this:

I am...

Reading... My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

Watching .... Desperate Housewives Season 4

Feeling... Sunburnt and sore from canoeing yesterday (but it was fun)

Thinking ... I should work on my practice LSAT book

Wondering ... How the rest of my summer will go

Planning ... On cleaning my closet, selling some textbooks online, and buying a pair of black pants

White Clothing Finds

2010-06-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

There's nothing as dreamy as beautiful white clothing in the summer. There's something angelic and ethereal about wearing something white. In terms of accessorizing, however, I think the best bet is either metallics or bold colors. Without some color white can make people look washed out. Here are my picks for beautiful white clothing and the accessories I think would go well with these pieces.

A refreshing white eyelet dress by Marc Jacobs. $268 on Piperlime.

Here's a colorful bangle that would definitely add some spunk to the Marc Jacobs dress. I usually don't wear bangles, but this one is so adorable! I love the color combo. $98 at Kate Spade

This dress has cute edges on the hem and sleeves, which spices up the traditional style of white dress.

$89 at Amazon: GUESS Katie Dress

Wouldn't it go beautifully with these Anchor earrings? They're only $8 on Amazon. Just click the image if you want to purchase them.

Happiness Project Update

2010-06-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

So far I have written 8 pages of a novel that I am trying to write. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I think part of it has to do with the fact that I am a huge perfectionist. I tend to write very slowly, reworking sentences until I get things just the way I want them.

Also, following more of Gretchen's advice, I made a purchase that made me very happy. I bought the Free People Polka Dotted dress I told you about! I wore it to the beach over a black Salinas monokini, and it absolutely made a great day a brilliant one! I will post pictures of me in the dress as soon as I find my camera charger. (Which hopefully will be soon!)

Letters to Juliet

2010-05-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Last night my Mom and I watched Letters to Juliet, starring Amanda Seyfried and Chris Egan. The movie was absolutely brilliant. It was refreshing to see a romantic movie that had good characters, funny lines, and, despite the out there plot, managed to feel believable the entire time. I quickly got home and IMDB'd Chris Egan, and learned that he also starred in Kings, a television show that is currently available to watch on Hulu. He is adorable, and also Australian! However, in Letters to Juliet he uses a British Accent and in Kings he uses an American one. I really want to find something that he is in with his Australian accent. Anyone know of anything?

Also, for your viewing pleasure, here are a few more pictures of Chris Egan from Kings.

Wishlist

2010-05-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sadly, since my internship is only paid for weekend hours, and even then on minimum wage, I'm seriously lacking on the funds front. So, instead of buying things I will post what I hope to get once I have some sort of an income. (I've applied for a few other part time jobs. Wish me luck!)

Free People's Marrakesh Dress $98

I love this dress in the polka dot pattern, but there is also one in butterflies. Doesn't this look like the perfect summer dress? I would love to pair these with nude or white wedges and then go on a picnic!

Nine West's Ponti Wedge $89

Steve Madden's Fauntain Wedge $79

Vince Camuto Empire Wedge $118

Help!

2010-05-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a request to my readers in the blogosphere for help. Recently my blog started repeating posts. I can't figure out how to fix this issue. I tried using different templates that blogger made as well as trying to revert to the older version of blogger draft. I had tried to put in a new layout using a .xml file, but then, since it didn't work properly I went back to my old template. Does anyone have any idea about how to fix my problem? I would appreciate any tips you have.

**Update** I think I have solved the issue. Please let me know if it is showing up as double.

First Few Days of Summer Break

2010-05-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

I'm finally on break, after writing about 30 pages for various papers in my History and Philosophy classes and a final on The History of Ancient Philosophy. Because my parents are working and my brother and sister are still in school, it's just me and the dog for now. It will be almost a month before my siblings are out for summer break. My brother's high school graduation is on June 25th! That's almost a month more of school than I have. My sister is also having a graduation ceremony for finishing 8th grade, that they call it "The Moving Up Ceremony," because the 7th and 8th grade is in the same building as the town's high school.

Also, I've kind of gone off the bandwagon in terms of my Happiness Project. I'm going to try and work on it more over this summer. My theme for May will be Creativity. I really want to get a head start on some creative writing that I've been meaning to do. My dream is to write a novel, but I have not written anything nearly that long yet. I've done mostly just short stories and poetry.

To help keep track of my goals to be more creative, I will post about my progress, as well as things that I find inspiring.

Right now, for example, I'm reading The Likeness by Tana French. It's a murder mystery set in Ireland and is her second novel. Her first novel, In The Woods, involves the same characters, though you don't necessarily have to read one before the other. I highly recommend it, though make sure you have a lot of free time before you read this. It's extremely hard to put down!

Photos from WeHeartIt

My First Blog Award!

2010-05-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy, it's taken me absolutely forever to post about my first blog award. But since it's my first day back from school I'm posting it now :D

Thank you so much Molly Bryn for nominating me!

Check out her blog, lessons from elephants.

The Rules:

Copy the award and place it on your blog

Nominate and link to 13 of your most-loved Bloggers

Erika

Aury

Allison

Jen
Nikolett
Orchid Grey
The Glamourous Grad Student

Casey

Krissy

Kendi Lea
Kelly
Gretchen
Lauren

So Close

2010-04-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

It's almost the end of the year. Only 9 more days until the end of classes. Only 17 days until the end of finals. Only 19 days until I'm home again in Connecticut. As the days go on, I find myself getting more and more tired of doing my homework. Yet, I have so many things left to do. I have a 10 page book review, of which I've written 7.5 pages. I have a 10 page paper on primary resources about the Crusades. A 3 page paper on Aristotle, a 4-5 page paper on the Crusades, and a 5-6 page paper on Kant. Hmm... I'm starting to think that I should begin those dreaded late night study sessions. Somehow, I've managed to do well all year without them. But, with the amount of work that I have, I think I'll have to go down that route. What do you think? Is it better to get sleep during the last stretch of school, so as not to go completely insane? Should I wake up early every morning (at like 6:00 or something) in order to get my work done? I think tonight I will try to do work until at least 11:30. Normally, I stop working around 9:30 or 10, because I get too tired to concentrate. But maybe I'll get a second wind.
Expect to hear more from me after finals! Wish me luck!

A Beautiful Wednesday

2010-04-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

Boston's high for the day is supposedly 84 degrees. Waking up early this morning and walking to class, I didn't believe it at first. But, sure enough, it is beautiful outside.

Also, I found this on WeHeartIt today. This is one of my favorite poems, by William Carlos Williams. Doesn't the plum look delicious? The title of the poem is "This is Just to Say."

What are your favorite poems? Do you have favorite poets?

My favorites are:
Charles Bukowski
Emily Dickinson
Anne Sexton
Theodore Roethke
e.e. Cummings
William Carlos Williams
Lewis Carroll

Also, I have a confession... I went to poetry writing camp the summer before I came to college. Hence, I am a poetry nerd. Maybe I'll post a poem or two of my own if I work up the courage.

Magazines

2010-04-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

I love magazines. Anyone who knows me knows that I can spend hours upon hours in a Barnes and Noble reading all the magazines I can. While I still have yet to find my perfect magazine, the BUQuad gave some suggestions for finding your perfect magazine.Cate Young's article: How to Choose a Fashion Magazine

She gives great descriptions about which personalities fit which magazines, and even shows how to save some bucks with online subscriptions.

My personal favorites are Glamour, Teen Vogue, and Self. Though they are not all purely fashion magazines, I love reading them. I do think that in enjoying magazines, though, we should all remember that these are not realistic representations of people's everyday lives. Yet, even so, I think they're really fun to read. I do wish that magazines will start to represent more kinds of women with different body types and different ethnicities. I think that some of the younger teen magazines are starting to branch out. My younger sister reads Girls Life, and I've often seen more diverse models. I remember how excited she was when she found a girl in the pictures who was Filipina. It was really nice to know that magazines, at least for those her age, are moving in a good direction.

Carey Mulligan's Hair

2010-03-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't gotten a chance to see her movies yet, but I absolutely adore her hair. I really want to get my hair cut like this, but my friends don't seem too keen on the idea. Do you like the haircut? My hair is black and thicker than hers, but I still really want to get my hair done like this.

Sincerely Yours

2010-03-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of my sorority's charity event! In the background I'm singing the solo for "First Cut is the Deepest" by Sheryl Crow and playing the guitar. P.S. I'm not really sure who made the video. I think it might have been one of my sorority sisters' friends, but they horribly butchered my name lol. No worries though! I'm totally psyched that someone recorded it.

I tried to embed it, but I couldn't figure out how to save it to my computer. Here's the link though!

My Sorority's Charity event for St. Jude's

New Layout

2010-03-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

Despite the snow that Boston got today, I felt that it was time to try a new layout. Blogger just came out with a new template maker, and while I was planning on customizing it a lot, I found this really cute, springy one, so I thought I'd give it a try. What do you think? I think the brighter colors make it easier on the eyes. I will probably need to keep trying out layouts for a while, since I'm finding myself to be pretty indecisive. But, I'm really happy now that there will be more options for me to use, since I don't know very much HTML or CSS or anything. Hopefully I'll learn some this summer though!

Also here is my wishlist of clothing items in the upcoming warm months:

A pair of yellow or coral sandals that are both comfortable and cute
Patterned skirts - I'm thinking maybe something with purple, blue, and maybe some magenta mixed in
London Soles Ballet Flats (in peach? I don't know if they even have peach colored ones but this is my wishlist after all lol)
Headband with gems or rhinestones
Yellow sundress (If only I can find a shade of yellow that will work with my skin tone)
Capri pants (in a blue that's in between powder blue and navy...)
Big, glamourous sunglasses

Writing Papers

2010-03-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Ah, the joys of paper writing. Currently I'm working on two philosophy papers. One is on Spinoza and his views on Necessitarianism and his denial of the human free will. The second one is on Plato's Theatetus, and discusses the Sophist vs. Philosopher's conflict. They're both due tomorrow and I realized that I just need a quick break to get out of my mind. Hence, another blog post!

In the past few weeks, I've been pretty busy. But since I haven't written in a while, I figured I'd do some quick updates.

Updates:

My Sorority's initiation is this weekend! I'm really excited for all our new members to become Sisters :)
I still haven't seen Alice in Wonderland, but I'm hopefully going to be seeing it this weekend
I went to the Gap and found a cute floral shirt! Finally :)
My brother got into Colorado College! He's really excited and I think that's where he'll probably end up going next year, since it was one of his top choices.

Although it's just starting to be spring here in Boston, I'm starting to feel the summer itch. I want it to be summertime so badly! And I only have a little more than a month left of school... crazy right? I think that my last exam is on May 8th. (I actually have only one exam this semester, but a ton of final papers to write)

What are you all planning on doing this summer? As for me, I'm going to be hanging out at home, and I've got an internship at my town's historical society. I'm really excited for it! I'll be learning how to curate objects and I'll help plan educational events for children.

More Finds

2010-03-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

I found just what I'm looking for! Shop Ruche has lots of patterns and textures for much better prices, which is definitely good for my budget right now.

This is their Celestial Embroidery Tank. It's only $34.99 and has great detailing.

The Rose Gold Tank is $28.99. I'm really loving the color scheme of this top.

I think this one is very playful. It's an interesting mix of color and crochet. I'm not sure exactly how I would wear this, but I really like it. Any suggestions? It's called the Color Path Tank and it's $35.99.

Their shoes are also to die for! Though, fortunately for a price of $36.99 you won't have to :) These are their Gold Studded Pointy Heels.

Now I adore this headband, but it's $16.99. I'm not sure that I would pay this much for a headband... but it really is cute. It's called the Astrantia Melody Headband.

Wardrobe Contemplation

2010-03-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Looking through my heaps of clothes to find something to wear is an almost impossible task. I've come to realize that I only wear about 20 pieces of my entire wardrobe. I lack some key basics, and I tend to buy similar things. Now is the time for my spring clothing remix.

One of the big problems with my wardrobe is the sheer number of plain, fitted t-shirts. I even have 2 t-shirts of the exact same color! (Though one is made of a stretchier fabric, and the other is slightly more sheer) I have t-shirts galore, with at least 2 or three same exact shirts in different colors!

My goal for this spring is to get some patterns into my outfits. The riskiest thing that I've worn in a while are stripes. So, today, I decided to pull out my Urban outfitters crocheted white tank top and put it under my favorite cardigan (the reddish one that I'm sure you've seen me post about a million times).

Here are some examples of the new kinds of tops I want to infiltrate my wardrobe. While they don't all have to be patterned, I definitely want either an interesting shape, or texture.

I adore this top from Free People. It's $78, but I'm sure I could get a lot of wear out of it. With dark skinny jeans and cute flats, this could be a great outfit for night. Under a cardigan and with a lighter pair of jeans, it could be my perfect daytime look. This top is shown in "Indigo" but there is also a color that is mysteriously called "Mushroom", even though it looks pink to me.

Another thing I found on Free People, a cute cardigan with a pattern on it. It is sheer in the back and on the sleeves. It definitely would be a cute addition to my wardrobe, without diverging too much, I think, from what I normally like to wear. This cardigan is also $88

I also find this top to be pretty interesting. While it's not something that I would normally pick out, the texture and shape of this silk top make it a great piece to layer under a long cardigan. (I do love my cardigans, after all) This is $66 on Piperlime.

Probably the most daring pattern I'm liking right now is this top from Piperlime. It is only $55 by BB Dakota.

Do you have any suggestions for me about where to look for cute, interesting pieces? What kind of patterns or textures are you loving right now?

Were the World Mine

2010-02-28T19:39:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing song from a musical called Were the World Mine. This movie is about a gay teen who plays Puck in a school play and discovers a magical flower that can make straight people gay. It's actually a really great story as well.

Quick Update

2010-02-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,
I know I haven't posted in a while, life has just been so hectic lately. Today was great, though. I got through my History of Modern Philosophy exam without falling asleep, met up with a friend for coffee, and got pancakes with my Sorority sisters at IHOP for Free Pancake Day.
Also, after having coffee with my friend, we went to the Prudential Center and checked out some of the clothes. I'm really loving a top from Free People, but I'm not exactly sure what kind of tank top to wear underneath it. And I can't seem to find a picture of it, but if I can find it I'll post it later.

Anyway, this got me thinking about the things I want to get for my spring wardrobe. I really have to do homework right now, but I promise a list will be up soon!

formspring.me

2010-02-12T09:02:00.001-08:00

Hey, so I just saw this thing called Formspring. I'm thinking I'll try it out. So if you have any interesting questions for me, I'll answer them here!

Go to http://formspring.me/cohalls

Hope your day is going well :)
<3 Catie

Healthy Snacks and Mindset

2010-02-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

I read a great article on how to snack healthy at I Heart Daily. They make suggestions based on your cravings. I especially love this picture: a cored and sliced apple with peanut butter in between!

Doesn't this look absolutely scrumptious?

Some of my favorite snacks are:

Toast with Peanut Butter, Honey, and Bananas
"Ants on a Log" (i.e. Celery, Peanut Butter, and Raisins)
Whole Wheat Crackers (the slightly sweet kind) with a bit of Cream Cheese
Pretzels
Yogurt with Granola
Strawberries with a touch of Sugar (This is really good b/c when you add sugar, the strawberry absorbs it while expelling some of the water. This makes it almost doubly as sweet without the need for too much sugar!)

Also, since February is the month of Self Love for my Happiness Project, here is a great article about how to love yourself. It comes from Positively Present.

The tip that really stands out for me is the idea of changing your mindset. I definitely get down on myself way too often. I would really like to feel good about my accomplishments. One of the reasons I think I do this is because I am afraid of being perceived as snobby or being seen as a girl who thinks she is way better than she actually is. There are all these messages from school, religion, entertainment, and friends that say that we ought to be humble. But I think that being "humble" does not really get people anywhere. By constantly putting ourselves down for the sake of being seen as a good person just prevents us from appreciating who we are and what we can do. I find myself sometimes pushing away compliments. I try to enjoy the compliment and simply say Thank You, but often I will say, "Oh, but I could have done this better," or "Oh, I was just really lucky," or "Oh, I don't really think so."

Do you find yourself doing this? Don't you think it's time that we start acknowledging that we are all amazing people? We all have strengths, and yes, we all have weaknesses, but that's what makes life fun and interesting. Who would want to live in a world that's perfect? Who would want to watch a movie where the main character is perfect and already has everything he or she wants?

My goal for this month is to give myself permission to feel great about myself. After all, when you feel good about yourself, you're more able to make others feel good as well. And you know what that means... more good feelings abound.

Hope you all have a great day, and remember, you're awesome :)

You Are Invited to Gilt Groupe

2010-02-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

So there's this amazing Sample Sale site called Gilt Groupe. It's invite only and they have amazing sales. It was started by two women who went to my high school!

Here's your invite. Oh and the other thing that's fantastic about it, is that registration is absolutely free.

Hope things are well, and Happy Shopping!

Sign up for Gilt Groupe!

A Friday In

2010-02-05T20:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight I'm sitting in a cafe at one of the dorms at school. The cafe does not, in fact, look like this, but I'm really loving this picture I found on WeHeartIt.

Also, I'm trying out a new layout. What do you think? I don't really know much about html or anything, so this is just one of those free ones that I found online, but I think it's pretty cute. Let me know if the text is too hard to read or anything.

I'm a bit tired, so I think I should limit my post to a few lists.

What I'm Loving Right Now

5 for $25 underwear deals at Victoria's Secret
Spanish Lattes at Espresso Royale Caffe (ERC) - they have just the right amount of sweetness in them with sweetened, condense milk
Sleep - I love sleep. Sleep is my friend and should probably be yours too. :) Hopefully I will listen to this and go to bed by midnight.
Honey Nut Cheerios - One of my favorite cereals! And I have nearly an entire box of it waiting for me in my dorm!
My sorority - I had a great day with them and today we welcomed 5 new girls into our new pledge class. I think altogether we now have about 27 girls. Yay us!
A Fine Frenzy - I know I've posted about her before, but I adore her. Listen to her music, she's fantastic!
Headbands - I want one so badly! I'm now officially on a headband hunt. I will find the ultimate headband. Wish me luck

5 Things to Appreciate (I was going to write 10, but I'm getting tired and want to go to bed lol)

Finding a pair of matching socks - for me, this always seems to be somewhat of an everyday miracle.
Sunrises - I love the moments when night turns to day. It reminds me that the world still goes on and somehow makes me feel like I have less I need to worry about.
Comments on my blog - I read all your comments and they make me feel very happy. They're so encouraging to me, especially since I just recently started actively blogging.
When someone holds the door open for you - It's a nice gesture, and one that I feel deserves appreciation.
Laughter - because, really, what would the world be like if laughter did not exist?

Lots of love,

Catie

Simplicity

2010-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Today I read an interesting post on Unclutterer called "Setting Limits with a Super Simple Month." While the goal is admirable, I am not sure whether I would want to limit the times that I go out. Living in Boston and going to school in a college town, I would feel like I am missing out on too much. However, I do recognize that it is important to have some time to yourself. Also, buying only necessities is definitely a thing I need to be working on, since living expenses seem to be eating me up alive. Why does my contact lens solution cost about $10 for the little bottle that runs out in 2 weeks? Why are sandwiches $7.50? When did the world become so expensive?

Anyway, the post did get me thinking about ways that I would enjoy making my life a little simpler. This month, February, is the Month of Love for my Happiness Project. One of the ways that I should act in a loving way to myself is by having some time for myself away from the craziness that is the life of a college student in a city.

Here are some ideas to give myself more time:

Turning off my electronics an hour before bedtime
Organizing what I need for the day the night before (No more running around going crazy trying to find everything)
Spending less time on my schedule (I tend to overschedule, which I'm beginning to see is a way of procrastinating)
Waking up earlier. (My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up and have energy at 7:00 a.m. My current wake up time ... 7:45 or 8:00.)

Here's what I would want to do with that free time

Paint my nails a gorgeous, cheery color
Make collages from my old magazines
Meditate
Do the Laundry (Having dirty clothes around makes me feel like my life's gotten too crazy to handle even the simple things.)
Settle down with a good book.

Happy Things

2010-01-31T18:45:00.000-08:00

How beautiful is my dog? I just saw this picture that my sister posted on her Facebook page, and I needed to have an "I love my dog" post. I can't remember if she took the photo or if I did. (I'll have to ask her later. Some of my dog's hair is shaved off, so this was probably taken soon after she was sick and needed an IV, but she's all better now. :)

Also, an update on my Happiness Project! Tomorrow is the first day of February. For Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project, she decided that February was the month to "Remember Love." Here are my resolutions for this month!

Write something good about myself or something good that I accomplished that day, every day in my journal.
Reach out to others by making more of an effort to spend time with friends. I especially want to spend some time getting to know my sorority's new members. I've met them only a few times, but I can tell they are really sweet girls.
I will stop myself from saying negative things about people, even when I'm really angry.
I will mail letters to my friends and family as often as I can, since snail mail really does show how much you care.
I will not let myself get myself down. If I start to think negatively, I will try to see the positive side of things.

So here's my list. I am open to changing some and adding on a few more. Do you have any suggestions?

- Catie

Accessorizing

2010-01-28T09:21:00.000-08:00

Although in the past I have not shopped much for accessories, I'm starting to realize that often it's the little things that make an outfit work. Here are some of my picks from online shopping.

Betsey Johnson Lip Stud Earrings: $25 on Piperlime

I have found yet another owl that I adore. * See my post about my Owl Ring here. This necklace is $22 on FredFlare.com

Going with the animal theme. I also found these adorable Elephant Earrings. They are $8 on FredFlare.com

Haha I guess I'm really feeling the cutesy accessories right now. But hey, Valentine's Day is soon and the entire month of February always makes me want to buy adorable things like these accessories, pretty stationary, and shaped chocolates. What accessories are you craving right now?

Memories of High School Days

2010-01-25T11:05:00.000-08:00

Look how beautiful my high school is. I'm really missing it right now. This picture looks across the baseball field towards our pond, main building, and science building. While I did not take this photo myself, I really love that there is someone who seems to be doing a cartwheel or handstand in the background.

Also, kind of random, but I'm debating about cutting my hair short like this again. This was what my hair looked like in the summer, and now it's about an inch and a half past my shoulders. Or, if I'm daring enough, I'm even considering a pixie cut. Bad idea? Let me know lol :) Perhaps it's just my insane week that's making me want a drastic change right now.

Stressed

2010-01-24T20:17:00.000-08:00

I've definitely hit a lull in my happiness project. Because Recruitment is taking up so much of my time, I haven't been able to get to sleep at a reasonable hour, or exercise. My eating has been awful, since there's very little time to have food, and yet we always have an abundance of candy. Now, don't get me wrong, I really love my sorority, but right now I'm just having one of those days that I've been trying to prevent with my Happiness Project. My life is seriously out of whack right now.

What do you think is a good way to get out of a funk? Honestly, right now every aspect of my life is stressful, and I haven't even been able to post on this blog for a while because of it.

Here is a picture of puppies that I found on WeHeartIt. It's really cute, so I hope posting this will cheer me up. Sorry that this isn't really a well-planned out post or anything, but I promise that I will try and get some good posts up as soon as I feel better! Hope things are going well for all of you :)

New Phone

2010-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

Here it is... my beautiful new phone! And just in time, too, I might add. At last check my old Rumor phone had about 2 hours of battery life, even after charging it all night long. I'm so glad that I got to get my upgrade pushed forward 2 weeks, because they couldn't fix my old phone (which was already a replacement phone for the one I had originally) due to the lack of parts. Why is it that phone companies make you sign these long contracts and keep a certain phone and then they'll stop making parts for the phone? It just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm so happy because this phone really is my dream phone. It's really tiny and light, has a touch screen but a real key pad, and has cool apps. I know it has nowhere near as many as the iPhone, but since my family has Sprint, that wasn't really an option. And this phone is actually (I think) cuter than the iPhone.

Happiness Project Update

2010-01-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

It's been a little more than 2 weeks since I started my Happiness Project, (based on "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin: Go to her blog! ) Already I feel that I have more energy. I don't require a cup of coffee to last me through the day. Pretty much everyday I've met my goal of waking up without pressing snooze, though I will admit that this morning I slept in for about 15 minutes. I have no idea why I wanted to wake up at 8:45 this morning, since I wasn't planning on doing anything until 11:00, when I went to Church.

Do you have a Happiness Project of your own? What kind of goals do you have for the New Year? If you haven't made some, why not make some right now? It's really nice to see how small changes in your life can lead to more happiness, and who doesn't want that?

Other things I am trying to pursue include trying out Yoga. I've just done some beginner/intermediate poses, but it's actually harder than I expected it to be, but enjoyable. I think I prefer it to the elliptical, which is what I normally work out on. Yoga is great because you can do it anywhere, even in your dorm room! Do you enjoy Yoga? I'm trying to learn it on my own for now, since classes in Boston can be tremendously expensive.

Photo from WeHeartIt

Things I'm Loving Right Now

2010-01-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because my sorority is preparing for Formal Recruitment, but I'm really loving the television show, "Greek" on ABC Family. You can watch the episodes online for free! Currently, I think they have every episode online. I'm still like two episodes behind and the new season is starting soon. I used to be a big Cappie fan, but I'm really loving Evan Chambers right now.

Though he does not have Kappie's ability to come up with witty one liners, his attempts, bad as they are, come off awkwardly cute. It's okay not to be funny, Evan! I'll still love you :)

Greek starts back up on January 25th, so be sure to mark that in your calendars.

Also, I recently watched a favorite movie of mine, Penelope, starring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy. Reese Witherspoon also is in this and has a hilarious character role as a bad ass mail delivery chick who rides a vespa with wings on it. For those of you who don't know the plot of this movie, it's about a girl who is born with a pig nose. Generations ago in her family, a witch cast a spell so that the first born girl would be born with the face of a pig.

So, seriously, watch this. It's a wonderful movie. And if you like it, be sure to check out Stardust, which is a movie that is much in the same vein in that there are fantastical elements and wonderful characters, as well as lessons to be learned that don't come across too preachy.

Another thing I'm really loving is gold earrings. This pair is absolutely gorgeous and only $35 on Shopbop! I love that they're simple but still beautiful.

Finally, I saw this spectacular bag on Shopbop by Rebecca Minkoff. I love the gold detailing on the bag, and the practicality of the size and shoulder strap. One thing I'm not sure about, though, is that when I first looked at this I thought for sure it was black, but Shopbop calls it Navy Blue. Am I going colorblind or what? This would have to be the blackest Navy Blue I've ever seen. Sadly, at $595 this bag is merely on my wish list, for when I win the lottery, or if I can find it on sale closer to my birthday. Does anyone know where I can find something similar to this?

Pictures found on Google Images and Shopbop and not owned by me.

Things That Make Me Happy

2010-01-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

This morning started off not exactly the way I had planned for the first day of school. I woke up to find my ethernet cord was stuck to the wall and to my laptop. :( So, here's a list of things that make me happy to cheer myself up:

Walking by the magazine rack and seeing a new magazine issue.
Reading that magazine in a Barnes and Noble while sipping on a latte. (*Trying to drink coffee only once a week is hopefully going to make this experience even more happy)
Clothing/Houseware displays at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. It makes me just want to pack up my bags and move in.
Blogging :)
Listening to new music ... I just bought Vampire Weekend's album, along with an album by "Everybody Else" and another album by "A Fine Frenzy."
Sunlight - Since we've passed the longest night of the year, every day now there is a little more sunlight.
First day of classes - While it does make me nervous to think about the work ahead, the first day of class is always great b/c everyone's full of expectations and hoping that this semester will be a great one.
My sorority - I'm really glad that I ended up joining a sorority. I almost didn't because I was worried about all the bad things I heard about sororities. I'm happy to say that my sorority does not haze and that my sisters have made my sophomore year thus far a really great year.
Trying out new accessories - I wore this beautiful necklace that my roommate last year gave me that has a deer pendant. I'll put a picture up soon. I'm just so excited I got to wear it b/c I thought it didn't go with anything that I own. I wore the jeans/dress combo that I showed you guys before and the owl ring, as well as a cute bracelet I forgot I had.
Time - I love having some free time. Today I only had an hour of class and I found out that I don't have class on Friday b/c my professor won't be in school. Not to mention we have school off on Monday!
Singing in the shower or at my voice lessons
A very cute pair of flats
My Moleskine planner
Writing in my journal
Seeing really cute dogs on the street, and also my dog Lila who is a golden retriever.
The feeing you get after going to the gym and having a nice workout.

Well, that's my list for now. Hope you enjoyed. I'm going to get ready for the gym now.

Under the Weather

2010-01-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

It's the day before school starts and I'm sick. Ugh. I've got one of those head colds with a very sore throat, dry eyes, and stuffed up sinuses. I'm running around, trying to get things done before school begins and I'm even more stressed out, but right now with a half unpacked suitcase, a ton of random things strewn all over my desk, a headache, a semi-working phone that ought to be replaced ... I'm just not sure how I will get everything done!

But this negative attitude is exactly what I'm trying to combat. So, here's my plan of attack: take out contacts, take a 20 min. nap, finish unpacking my suitcase, go to CVS to buy floss (which I left at home) and contact lens solution (which I'll probably be out of after taking my lenses out), pick up my textbooks that arrived for me in the mail room, eat dinner, clean room as much as possible, and then have some free time.

Happiness Project Update: I managed to get up early this morning and on the first alarm! I got up at 8:15 in order to get to my sorority recruitment training workshop. But even though I got up almost 2 hours before it started, I was late because I was confused about where the workshop was being held. I was on the completely wrong side of campus.)

Nail Polish, Shopping, and Other Matters

2010-01-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Since I haven't done a fashion post in a while, here are some things I'll be spending my money on after I get back to school (and start getting my paychecks at my part time job again).

My favorite nail polish brand has to be Essie. They have the best colors, the best finishes, and the polish comes in really cute bottles with even cuter names. Here are some of my favorites for this winter:

The nail polish featured above is "Angora Cardi"! Essie describes it as a "deep dusty rose."

Now let me introduce you to "Huckle Buckle," a wonderfully whimsical shade that Essie describes as "iridescent deep lilac."

At $8.00 a bottle, these nail polishes are more than worth their price. The polish also lasts a very long time, which is another reason why I love these nail polishes. If you want to buy some polish to put some sparkle in your winter, go to Essie's Website.

My picks off Piperlime include a few cute tops and skirts.

This top has a beautiful shape that exudes a kind of classic, yet chic look. It is the Cynthia Steffe Adalia Tank. Unfortunately for me, it is $95, so I don't think I'll be purchasing this unless it goes on sale or I get a big paycheck soon. You can buy this at Piperlime

And finally, an update on my Happiness Project! I am still making the bed every day now. However, I'm having a hard time trying to get up early in the morning. Hopefully this will change once I go back to school and immediately will have tons to do on my schedule again. I'm going to keep up this blog for sure, but the posts may be a bit shorter until I get the hang of blogging while at school.

January: My Happiness Project Begins

2010-01-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like this girl... so tired that I literally want to fall asleep under my books, but this semester will be different. I've decided to embark on a "Happiness Project" (Don't know what this is? See the post below) I will still post about other things, but I definitely wanted to share a bit about how my project is going. This January I will focus on ways to have more Energy, like Gretchen does in her book. Here are my goals for January... (I tried to make them simple and something that won't be too much of a hassle)

1. Wake up without pressing Snooze
2. Make my bed everyday (So I won't be tempted to fall back asleep)
3. Have a Bedtime Routine
4. Do Yoga, Meditation, or Stretching for 20 min. every day
5. Make the switch from caffeinated coffee to decaf or decaffeinated tea (Coffee on weekends is okay but only one cup)
6. Go to bed early, wake up early.
Aim for Bedtime @ 11:30 on weekdays and Wake up @ 7:30 on weekdays.
Weekends: Be asleep by 1:30, Wake by 9:30

The hardest one for me is the bedtime one. While I usually never pull all nighters on the weekdays, I've definitely stayed up way too late on weekends. Last semester I usually woke up around 8:30 on weekdays to get some homework done, but that was when I had class starting at 11. If I can push my wake up time to even earlier than 7:30 that would be ideal, but I've had an aversion to waking up before 8, so I'm making my goal more attainable for now.
Also, if you guys want a chance to win a copy of Gretchin Rubin's Happiness Project, which inspired this post, go to Snickerdoodles and please mention Chocolate Lemonade when you enter the contest. Good luck!

~ Catie

Photo Credits: weheartit.com

The Happiness Project

2010-01-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

Gretchen Rubin's the Happiness Project just reached # 2 on the New York Times bestseller list! I haven't gotten a chance to purchase it yet, since I'm still recovering from spending a ton of money this December on Christmas presents, but I went to Barnes and Noble and read the first chapter. For those of you who haven't heard about this, Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project details the changes she made in her life throughout the course of a year in order to pursue happiness. View her blog at www.happiness-project.com

What do you think of her way of finding happiness? Would you be interested in making your own Happiness Project? I think that I will try and form my own project and post on here about how it's going.

Getting into the Winter Spirit

2010-01-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went skiing for the first time in probably 2 years. The hassle of getting clothes and equipment together and my distaste for the cold made me think that I was just not made to ski. However, after the first few runs, I found myself enjoying gliding down the mountain. After skiing, I had a nice hot cup of hot cocoa. I remember when I was little my mom would make hot cocoa with mini marshmallows for me and my siblings after we came in from playing in snow forts, making snowmen, and going sledding. Hot cocoa is the perfect thing for warming you up. This got me thinking about the other things that I love about winter. I decided to make a list:

Snuggling with a good book under a blanket, while the snow falls gently outside - Snow has a way of making everything seem more at peace. This creates the perfect ambience for reading books.
Baking warm chocolate chip cookies - For some reason they always seem to taste better in the winter.
Playing with my dog in the snow - She loves sticking her nose in it, rolling around in it, etc... She especially loves trying to catch snowballs in her mouth.
Sitting by the fireplace - This always feels so nice and calming. Add roasting chestnuts on an open fire and you've got the perfect afternoon.
Ice skating - My family went ice skating on our pond again this year. There is something very charming about skating in the outdoors.
Catching snowflakes - I love catching snowflakes on my mittens and looking at the intricate design of each one. The saying really is true ... no two snowflakes are alike.
The Classic Snowball Fight - everyone in my dorm began an impromptu one during the last weekend of school. It was really fun to have everyone play in the snow together before going home for the break.

What are your favorite things about the winter? Do you live somewhere where it doesn't snow? Do you think the charms of winter outweigh the negative aspects (i.e. slippery roads, frostbite, and long periods of nighttime?)

Photo Thanks: WeHeartIt

Vampire Weekend

2010-01-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

I am so psyched for the new Vampire Weekend album, "Contra", that is coming out on January 12th. I absolutely adored their first album, which combined many different elements of music to make their own unique sound. These guys also have a great sense of fashion. While most bands seem to pick their clothing from the same "Music Hipster" wardrobe with black tight skinny jeans, and identical plaid shirts, these guys stay true to their preppy roots while still maintaining an edgy style.

I absolutely adore Ezra Koenig (the one standing in the picture above and the one in the pic below)

Not only can he sing and play guitar, he's also freaking gorgeous! So, are you a Vampire Weekend fan? If not, what albums are you looking forward to listening to this month?

Kiss This :)

2010-01-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

Origins Lipstick: Flower FusionTM Hydrating Lip Color in "Hyacinth"

I bought this lipstick today after a discussion with my friend in a Barnes and Noble. In order to start the New Year in a good way, I decided that I wanted to start to change my look a bit, so as to keep things a little interesting.

I used to wear lip gloss, but somehow lip gloss reminds me of middle school days and school dances. While I'm not trying to knock lip gloss, and certainly there are times when a dab of lip gloss will leave me feeling peppy and fun, I thought it was time to try a lipstick. Now that I've tried it, I realize that lipstick can really make me feel more confident and grown up. After all, I'm going to turn twenty years old this upcoming August! :) So, here are a few pictures with my lipstick on.

Let me know what you think. Is lip gloss better than lipstick? I'm definitely feeling this texture over some of the more gloopy glosses I've come across. What are your favorite colors to wear on your lips? Do you prefer to play up eyes, instead, or do you switch it up?

Cleaning The Room

2010-01-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

It took me almost 2 weeks after getting home from school to finally decide to clean my room. Until today, I even had my suitcase still on the floor and half opened. In the past, I have made excuses for not cleaning my room. Examples include: "I think better in a room that's not perfect", "It takes too much time," and "It's only going to get dirty later." But, when I think to the times that I have felt content being in my room, these times were generally when I had just finished organizing, vacuuming, and giving the entire room a good clean.

I recently read in a book called, "Organizing Your Day: Time Management Techniques That Will Work For You," that perfectionists will do things like refuse to make their beds because they would rather not try at all than settle for a half done job. Somehow, this description had me down to a T. I always found myself annoyed by the slightest wrinkle in my bed sheets, whenever I tried to make the bed. I guess it got to the point where I thought my refusal to make the bed was a kind of statement that said I had other, better things to do. This book, by Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims really opened my eyes to the bad organizational habits that I had. While I thought that not making my bed was important to me, what was really happening was that I was too afraid to make the bed imperfectly. Be sure to check out her website at www.messies.com

Tomorrow, I will venture into my bedroom closet and try to get rid of things that I don't need anymore. Who knows what could turn up in there!

December 31st... approximately 6 hours til 2010

2009-12-31T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, hope you're excited for the New Year! Today I went shopping with my mom and my sister. I wore the outfit featured above.

Sweater: 525 America

Tank Top: Sustainable Collective by Convoy

Boots: Bare Traps

Jeans: Madewell

Ring: Forever 21

I bought the ring when I went to the Mall with my friend the other day. It's an owl, and a very cute one, I might add.

Today, when I went shopping, I purchased this purple dress from a store called Homeward Bound. Here are a few pictures of ways I was thinking I might wear it.

Look 1: with jeans and boots

Look 2: with tights and boots

Look 3: with black tights and black/gold flats

Dress: Kensie

What do you think? Which way do you like best?

Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

My Day In Review

2009-12-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

Today I met up with a friend from high school to see the movie "Nine". It's a musical about an Italian moviemaker and the women in his life, including his friend, mistress, muse, wife, and other assorted women. I was pretty disappointed as the movie was all glitz and glam that somehow says very little. It is, ironically, the same problem that the moviemaker, Guido Contini has with his movies. (Or so they say, you never get to watch any parts of the actual movies he directed) The only good performances were by Marion Cotillard, who played his wife and Penelope Cruz, who played the mistress, Carla. These were the only two characters that seemed to have depth. I will also give Nicole Kidman credit for playing her smaller part very well. She has a great voice, as I found after watching Moulin Rouge. Fun fact: she also voices the main mother penguin in Happy Feet.

After hanging out with my friend at the mall, I went to Barnes and Noble, got myself a Caffe Latte with nonfat milk and read magazines. I'm still a little sad that I cannot find the perfect magazine to suit my interests. Reading Cosmopolitan usually angers the feminist in me. Reading feminist magazines like Bitch and Bust make me wish for more fashion advice and for something to suit my craving for "guilty pleasures." Vogue has way too many advertisements and the clothes are completely unaffordable. Lucky is nice, but caters to an older age demographic. Elle has too much of a focus on fashion. I feel too old for Seventeen Magazine and Teen Vogue, though at least Seventeen shows clothing that is somewhat in my price range. My favorite magazine is long gone. Elle Girl, which somehow managed to give the right amount of everything from fashion to book recommendations, unfortunately is no longer published. The website is still up, but for some reason it seems different than the Elle Girl that I remember. Does anyone know of a good magazine for a person like me? The perfect magazine for me would be catered towards college students and women in their 20's age bracket. It would have advice for time management, recommendations for movies and books, cute and somewhat affordable clothes (for me that usually means under $100 for most things, though I make exceptions for bags, shoes, dresses, and the occasional pair of jeans). Does such a thing exist?

These images are not my own and no copyright infringement is intended.

New Year's 2010

2009-12-27T17:19:00.001-08:00

It's December 27th, which means I'm actively thinking about my New Year's Resolutions. According to my journal, previous New Year's Resolutions included the following:

1. Finish this journal by December 31st 2010 (Last year's Resolution-- I still have a good 40 pages left in this journal, but I'm about 3/4 of the way finished.

2. Exercise More (Go to the gym at school, take a gym class - I have gone to work out much more often than I did last year, but my work out sessions declined around the second half of the semester. My record for going was 4 times in a week. I often went 2 times a week, but also equally as often, I did not go at all. I also took a Zumba class, which was scary as hell. I have never seen so many butts moving in ways they should not.)

3. Wear my hair down more often (As I write this my hair is up. Somehow I can't stand the feeling of hair against the nape of my neck. However, whenever I've gone out to dances or parties, I've begun to usually wear my hair down)

4. Be Happier (Ah the elusive Be Happier goal. While I sometimes think I've achieved it (during times that I'm happy), at the times that I'm sad I curse myself for making such a wretched New Year's Resolution. Because, after all, isn't being happier more of a life goal? I guess it's something that you try to do constantly, but often fail at doing. And since the goal of perfect happiness is pretty much unobtainable, the negative feelings from failing to achieve that perfect happiness are not really worth it.

So, this year my resolutions will include the following.

1. Don't be afraid to say no to party invites or extracurricular opportunities. I packed my schedule so much this year that I think it's time to take a chill pill. I plan on spending at least one weekend night doing a relaxing activity, either by myself (watching television shows, journaling, blogging, reading, etc...) or with friends (watching a movie, going bowling, hanging out in the dorm).

2. Going to the gym at least once a week. (This should definitely be feasible. Once I get that down, I will try for 2 times a week. More than that is probably not realistic for me at this point, and going 5 times a week and then not going for 5 weeks is not nearly as good as just going once or twice a week)

3. Taking more photographs (I haven't taken my digital camera out with me in the longest time, because a year or two ago it broke when I was at this dance and someone elbowed it out of my hands. I mean, what is the point though of having a digital camera and never using it?

4. Be more relaxed about planning (When I got the iCal I decided to record everything I did, in 15 minute intervals, which was, of course, INSANE! I need to let myself not feel bad about taking an hour to just listen to music while flipping through magazines. One can never be productive 24/7.

And with that I am done for now. Because my 5th New Year's resolution is to not make so many New Year's resolutions that I go crazy. So, I think I'll begin that now. 5 Resolutions is plenty for me. Now, what about you? Do you have any personal philosophies on the art of entering the New Year?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T16:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! This morning my family and I ate apple pancakes with maple syrup. We opened presents by the Christmas tree. I got the ipod Nano that I had been wanting forever! It's a 16GB and purple :) Then we went to Massachusetts to visit my Aunt and Uncle's place. They had invited their side of the family over as well as ours. There were lots of people and there was lots of food. My dog, Lila met their dog Boulder. Lila, a golden retriever who gets scared of buckets, boxes, and guitars, was absolutely petrified of Boulder. Boulder is this huge black dog. I can't remember what breed he is, but from a distance he looks kind of like a small bear. All in all, a very good Christmas. I'm exhausted now, so here ends my post.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night !

First Outfit Post

2009-12-24T13:49:00.000-08:00

Get excited, I'm doing my first outfit post! This is what I wore to Church today with the family. Since it's Christmas Eve, it was packed with people. Mass was going to start at 4:00 or when the Church was full. Apparently they filled up by like 3.

Anyway, is the outfit better with hair up or down? Also, I wasn't entirely sure about the color of the cardigan, but I felt like the outfit needed a little color.

Earrings: Jasminesola

Pants: East 5th (From my Mom's closet)

Shoes: FS/NY

Cardigan: Gap

Black Top: Pure & Simple

Necklace: Pearl comes from an oyster I bought in Hawaii!

Late Night Online Shopping

2009-12-23T20:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't bought something online in the longest time. You can get such cute things, and look at tons more clothing than you ever could in real life, but my biggest problem is figuring out if things fit. Also, sometimes the pictures just don't look the same as the product that gets mailed to you. Here are a few things I'm considering right now.

This is the Chane Jersey Dress by "Velvet by Graham and Spencer" $114 on Piperlime.com

Now I love the color and cut of the dress. It totally looks like something you could dress up or down. I'm thinking paired with brown or gray tights.

I'm also really lusting for this red scarf from "Love Quotes." But at $85 I'm probably not going to end up getting it. Last winter I somehow managed to lose my favorite scarf, a multishaded purple scarf from Urban Outfitters.

This last item, however, is definitely cute and on my list to buy. At $26.50 at Ann Taylor Loft, the Satin Trim Cami looks like the perfect new item for my wardrobe. Under a nice cardigan this could be an outfit for going to dinner with the family. Without the cardigan, a great going out outfit. (Though by all means I'd layer to go out in this cold)

Christmas Decorations and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-12-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

Here is our lovely Christmas tree. Complete with an Angel on top. It looks pretty nice, for a fake tree. In past years we have usually gone out to cut down a pine tree to decorate. But, this year our tree base was nowhere to be found. So, we had to settle for the old fake tree. Still, it has a nice quality to it, I think.

I wish I had been there, though, to help decorate it. Because my winter break started so close to Christmas, my family had already decorated the house and the tree without me. Those presents under the tree are from my parents. I still haven't finished wrapping mine for my family. (I happen to be one of the world's worst gift wrappers). Even my little sister can always wrap a present with more precision than I ever could. I can't believe that Christmas Eve is tomorrow. This year has gone by so quickly.

On the right is a small Christmas wreath that my Mom propped up against our windowsill. I think I may have made that Angel in Girl Scouts when I was younger, but I can't really remember. I actually really loved being a Girl Scout. Around Christmastime we would make ornaments and crafts to sell at the Christmas Bazaar they held every year at our Church. I remember we once made little Gingerbreadmen that we stuck on pins. Other popular crafts were snowflake ornaments, bags of "Reindeer Poop" and "Snowmen Poop." I think Reindeer poop was made of chocolate covered raisins and Snowmen

poop was tiny marshmallows.

Here are the ingredients that I used today to make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from scratch. I hadn't baked cookies from scratch in years. Probably the last time I did was in Home Ec in the 8th grade. Anyway, they came out great. Below are some pictures of my cookie making process and the cookies themselves.

Here are the cookies right before I put them in the oven.

The picture (left) is me showing off my kitchen gloves and preparing to open up the oven. These cookies are ready for liftoff!

Finally, here I am, showing off my hard work. Those cookies took me forever to make. But it was definitely worth it. Over the break I will try to make gingerbread, sugar cookies, or Snickerdoodles.

Winter Break: Day 2

2009-12-22T12:34:00.001-08:00

This morning I tried to post a video of myself singing Silent Night, but I can't get it to load on blogger. Oh well, maybe I'll figure it out later. (So if you see a post wishing you a Merry Christmas next April, don't get confused)

Another thing I had wanted to do was take some of my own pictures for this blog, but, unfortunately, I think I left my camera's battery at my dorm in Boston. I figure that pictures are often what draws people into reading blog posts, but then again, my blog is still quite young, so maybe I really have no idea.

In other news, all but one of my grades are in, and I somehow managed to do much better than I thought I would. A holiday miracle perhaps? Now that I can stop worrying about school (Finally), I'm trying to think of fun things to do that are relaxing (aka not stressful) but productive at the same time. I've gotten to have a minor obsession with productivity blogs and books.

Some of my favorites include http://www.calnewport.com/ He has a blog that talks about studying habits for college students. He also wrote a book called "How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less" This book is really helpful so I definitely recommend reading it before the next semester begins.

Another good website is http://www.hackcollege.com

But enough about school. While I'm sad that most of the television shows I watched this fall are on hiatus, (Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries, and Glee) to name a few, I am also excited to see Greek return this January. I'm still a little behind though, so I need to watch the last few episodes before then.

Well, I'm off to the library to return "In the Woods" by Tana French. It was amazingly terrifying. A murder mystery where one of the main detectives on the case plays an interesting role. In the 1980s he and his two friends ran into that woods, and only he came back. When they found him, he had blood in his shoes and no memory of what had happened. Then, years later, after he has changed his name and tried to leave the past behind him, he gets put on this case. Definitely read this if you have the time. I couldn't put it down, and managed to finish it in about 2 days.

Hope everyone's break is going well :)

Finals Week

2009-12-18T15:19:00.000-08:00

Oh Finals Week, how I loathe thee.

Actually I'm well past the worst of it. Tomorrow is my last exam in a political science course I'm taking on the American Judicial Process. However, it's at 9 a.m... 9 a.m. Saturday morning. How cruel can they be? As of right now I'm already dreaming of sugarplums and fairies, getting excited for Christmastime. Though because I will not be home until December 20th, it somehow already seems like I missed out on Christmas.

Let me explain: Christmas for me usually takes on the entire month of December. I love Christmas carols, nativity plays, greeting cards, eggnog, roasting chestnuts on an open fire, making snowmen and snowwoman, snow forts, paper snowflakes, and Holiday movies. It's not that I'm super religious or anything. I think I just love the holidays. The only thing that saddens me around the Holidays is the fact that I'm not half-Jewish as well. Then I could extend the holiday spirit by celebrating Hanukkah, too. Then I could join to my list of winter wonders: dreidels, menorahs, and latkes. *sigh*

I can't wait to be on my winter break. Look forward to seeing many more posts from me, as I finally will have the free time to do it.

A Post from Panera Bread

2009-08-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Because we'll be moving soon out of our apartment, my roommates and I decided to forgo the Comcast package for this month, meaning I have no internet in my room anymore. Right now I'm sitting in Panera, which is just 2 minutes away from my building, trying to get all the things done online that I need to do before rehearsal at 6:30. I may not have mentioned this, but I'm currently stage managing for a show.

Anyways, it really amazes me that I can just buy a small coffee at Panera and spend hours here if I like, on their WiFi. They even told me they have free refills, which makes me think, why would anyone ever buy a medium or large? It makes no sense to me.

Update on my Mac. I've just downloaded the Sims 3 and it works beautifully, just as the guy at Best Buy promised! Right now I'm creating a love triangle between the Glover family and a Sim called Christopher Steel. (If you have Sims 3 I believe it comes with all of the same people at first) I really like playing with the readymade people because they have their bios and a lot of it is up to chance. Whenever I try to make my own Sims I fall into the trap of spending way too much time making the people, that when I finally begin to play I've spent hours in front of the computer.

Also, I saw The Time Traveler's Wife! I love Rachel McAdams in general, so of course I loved her here. Eric Bana was great as well, and extremely good looking. Why haven't I seen him much until recently? (He also played an Australian guy in Funny People and was hilarious). I enjoyed the movie, but I think that it left out many key plot lines. I'm still reading the book, and already I found that they eliminated many details that would have translated really well on screen. Altogether, the movie was just too short. 1 hour and 45 minutes is nothing in a movie these days.

Last night, I saw 500 Days of Summer, which was utterly perfect. I watched it with my friend at the Coolidge Corner

Theatre, this amazing movie theater that used to be a Church. It was remodeled in the Art Deco style and is really beautiful. (If you're interested, I actually wrote a research paper on the theater for my Art and Architecture in Boston class). If you live in the Boston/Brookline area, be sure to check this theater out. The website is www.coolidge.org This is absolutely my favorite movie theater, and it draws out great crowds. Everyone openly laughs and cries at this place, (though at 500 Days it was mostly laughter. Who knew a movie that purported itself as an anti-romance could be so comedic?) This is definitely a great place for movie lovers. And, as I found out as I was leaving the theater, the food there is really freaking cheap! Popcorn for like 3 bucks. That's a steal in movie world!

Birthday Dinner

2009-08-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went with my brother, sister, parents, and paternal grandparents to an Italian restaurant in my hometown. It was a nice place, great food. I ended up eating way more than I should have, starting my meal with tomato bisque, going through a veal entree, and ending with Tiramisu. I won't be surprised if I gained 10 pounds from that one meal! We went out to celebrate my sister's 13th birthday and my 19th. She will be 13 tomorrow, and my birthday is on the 25th of August. I was hoping we would end dinner in time so that I could watch The Time Traveler's Wife, which came out today, but somehow we stayed there for almost 3 hours.

I am so excited to see the movie. Right now I'm on page 132 of the book. Not only is the book great so far, but I absolutely adore Rachel McAdams. She's such an amazing actress, she's beautiful, and because she's rarely in the tabloids there's no reason to hate on her. My favorite movie of hers is The Family Stone, which is such a warm, feel good movie. I highly recommend watching it if you haven't already.

In terms of my birthday, I'm a little apprehensive about turning 19. Does this mean it really is my last year as a teenager? I don't want to have to refer to myself as a woman rather than a girl because I'll feel old, which, at 19, is a bit ridiculous. Also, does anyone ever notice that the word man has a positive connotation, whereas using the word woman to describe a teenage girl somehow seems inappropriate? What is it that makes boys want to be called men and girls cringe at being called a woman? Any thoughts?

Diving into the Macbook

2009-08-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

I just got my first Macbook, and, to tell you the truth, I felt like I'd sold out. For years I'd been an adamant PC user. I thought that a PC made me look more professional, I didn't want to have to relearn how to do simple functions on a computer, and Macs are expensive. However, after only a few days using this, I've decided that I do like the Mac, after all.

My favorite things about the Mac, so far, are the iCalendar, which helps keep me organized and looks really cool, the iChat, which let me videochat with my friend from California and my friend in Michigan at the same time (haha I know people have been doing this forever, but it was my first time videochatting), and the fact that I don't have to worry about virus scans and adware anymore.

Right now, I'm searching the web for cool downloads for Macs. I found one that I'm considering, called Mojo, which is supposed to let me download music from my friends' libraries. However, I'm worried about illegal downloading in general. At my school, there's a grad student/TA who is being sued for $675,000 for downloading 30 songs! Not to mention, I am a bit superstitious in that I believe that I sometimes believe that Murphy's Law applies only to me. I've always considered myself someone who goes by the rules, partly because I imagine that the one time I break them will be the one time someone, aka me gets caught.

Any opinions on the music downloading issue? I'm actually going to take a philosophy class this fall called the Philosophy of Property, and one of the issues we'll be talking about is intellectual property and illegal music downloads.

Saturday Night

2009-08-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am tired. I spent the past two nights out late and it was fun, but, in retrospect, probably not the best idea in the world. It seems like sleep is always the last priority when you're a college student. For me, I always tried to make sure that I slept at least 7 or 8 hours. Unfortunately, that meant that when I slept only 3 or 4 or even 5 or 6 hours I felt exhausted. Some of my friends who get only a few hours of sleep on a normal basis said that they could feel perfectly fine on just a few hours. Is the lack of sleep something you're supposed to adjust to? Or maybe some people just feel more tired than others?

Okay... let's try this again

2009-07-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start blogging again! I have a lot of ideas for what I'd like to blog about, but not much free time, unfortunately. Right now I'm taking an Intro IR class and we're on our break. Our teacher gives us breaks because our class is 3 1/2 hours on Monday and Wednesday. Longest class of my life! Though, I guess I can't say I was paying too much attention. It doesn't seem like international relations is my thing, after all. So, due to my time crunch, I wanted to post a list of things I'm loving right now. So here goes...

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Skins (The British TV Show) - I can't seem to find a way to watch the rest of Series 3 because Youtube has blocked it and it's not available for purchase in the US yet. Because of this, I've been going through some of my fave episodes in Series 1 and 2
Madewell- I love love love this store! They have quality clothing for college student prices. I especially love their 15% discount for students. (I don't know if they have this everywhere, but the one on Newbury St. does)
Neverwhere by Neil Gaimon - I just started reading, it but so far it's fantastic. This guy also wrote Stardust, which, coincidentally is one of my favorite movies.
Sweet - Their cupcakes are absolutely delicious. I'll post a pic of the Pink Lemonde one, if I can find it.

February

2009-02-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Oh February, how I love and detest thee.
It's the month filled with stress and questions like "Will it be this fucking cold for another 6 weeks?", "What am I doing for Valentine's Day?" and "How many days does Feb. have again?"
Well, here's hoping that the groundhog will be kind to us this Feb. 2nd. And since it's 2009, not divisible by 4, we have 28 days this February. And Thank God for that.
Valentine's Day is soon, and, because of a lack of planning on somebody's part, I'll be spending it in New Hampshire on the Cross Country Skiing Trip at Sargent Camp. I have to admit, I'm very excited. We're going to learn how to cross country ski (I've done it twice already but not for a long time), snowshoe, hang out at the camp, and have a good ol' time. The honors program is giving us free transportation up there, which is amazing. So I bet this trip will be amazing. I'm upset, though, about BU's decision to close the camp for "Budgetary Reasons." First off, it makes no sense. Sargent makes a lot of money anyway. And couldn't they just cut a little funding instead of ending the whole thing? I had such a great time at the Sargent Camp with the Honors Program last fall. It's way too good of a thing to let come to an end.

Hey Everyone

2009-01-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

So I haven't updated in a while. But you have to admit, it's a little depressing when no one reads your blog. I probably ought to start getting the word out, but the truth is, I think it would be really cool for someone to just wander onto this, accidentally, and hopefully they'll like it. If you happen to be that amazingly awesome person, be sure to leave a comment!

Also, in other news, I've started a listography. If you haven't you should definitely should sign up. Listography is great for list lovers like me. It even generates suggested topics for new lists. Mine is www.listography.com/chocolatelemonade . Check it out, I have to admit it's pretty sweet. :)

In other news, I started classes again last Wednesday. I had a really good break and I'm glad to be back, but I am having a hard time because the guy I'm sort of seeing (we are but we aren't, which makes it really complicated) is at home, away from me. I'm half nervous he'll wander onto this blog, but he is actually amazingly technologically challenged. His own mother made his email account for him, which I'm pretty sure he doesn't even use. I'm not entirely sure, because I haven't tried emailing him. We're strictly phone calls, no letters, no emails, no facebook (he doesn't have one), no passenger pigeons, or morse code either.

On a lighter note, it is Martin Luther King Day tomorrow, which I am really excited for. There's going to be a celebration in the student union tomorrow. Paul Farmer is coming to speak! I'm really excited about that, because he's the guy we read about for required summer reading at my high school. The book is called Mountains Beyond Mountains, and you should definitely check it out.

Busyness...

2008-12-09T19:10:00.000-08:00

So I've been crazy busy since I've gotten back from Thanksgiving Break. I have no idea what I was thinking when I decided to start a blog then. Worst timing ever, right? Anyway, I'm just writing to say that I have only 2 days left of class, 3 essays, 4 exams, and 11 days left before winter break. These next 11 days will be utter hell, but then it's Jingle Bells all the way! I'm so excited for Christmas. I, unfortunately, have not yet put up Christmas decorations in my room, but you bet that I will go crazy once I get home to Connecticut. I am a little worried though that we won't be able to put glass ornaments up. (I have a beautiful golden retriever named Lila who tends to knock stuff like that over with her tail or just by running into it with her head) I love my dog, but I will be really really mad if she breaks ornaments. Haha I should post a picture of her. I have a ton of her, and a bunch of her and my little sister. They are the cutest couple in the world, in my opinion.
Till Next Time!

Money Issues

2008-12-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

So I decided today to join Mint.com For those of you who don't know about it, it's this website that links up to your bank account and displays in cute little pie charts how much you've been spending and on what. There are different categories: Shopping, Financial, Health and Fitness, Food, etc... as well as subcategories like Clothing, Coffee Shop, Restaurant, etc... It's pretty nice and I bet I'll keep using it. However, the default setting was a budget of $20 dollars for shopping. Only 20 dollars? And for a whole month? Well, shortly after signing up I got an email saying I had gone waayy over my budget. There is some way to set up your own personal budgets, but I haven't gotten to that yet. Still lots to explore on this thing. But anyway, that got me thinking to other financial troubles I'm having. Of course, what I'm talking about is the Christmas/Holiday Season. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I love Christmas movies, Christmas carols, Christmas Nativity plays, and Christmas Spirit. But the thought of trying to get really cool presents for people without losing all my hard earned money is starting to give me nightmares. It just does not seem possible.

So here's my plea to you, you most amazing readers of this blog (I'm assuming I must have readers, based on the fact that my number of views has been going up, but who knows?) What should I do? Any tips on how to spend money wisely for the Holidays? I realize I probably should be the one spouting ideas for stuff like this, and believe me I will, once I get over the sticker shock of holiday shopping, but for now I ask for a little help. A hint perhaps? :) More later.

Welcome Back to Boston

2008-12-01T17:49:00.001-08:00

I arrived last night around 10:00. There was some pretty awful traffic all up the Mass Pike. I did make it before midnight though, which was good considering I thought I would not make it onto the bus at all. There were at least a hundred people at the station, all trying to get to Boston on the 6:15. They called in extra buses and finally had us loaded up at around 7:30 or so.

The best thing was when I woke up on the bus and saw my campus. I saw the sign for the Student Village, the Prudential Center, and the beloved Citgo sign. It was strange, though I've only been here since September, it already feels like home. Boston is the best place I've ever been. Yes, I am proud to be a Bostonian.

Anyway, I better get back to work. This blog post is basically a quick way to procrastinate from reading Plato's Republic. No offense to Plato or Socrates but I completely hate this book. The dialogue is so long and everyone ends up repeating themselves. I'm sick of leading questions. Sick of philosophy really. Too bad I'm taking an Ethics class. Well, I won't knock philosophy entirely. It can be interesting at times. For example we just read Thomson's article on The Trolley Problem. It goes like this: You are the driver of a train that is heading towards 5 people who are, unfortunately, stuck on the track. Your brakes are out and so you cannot stop. However, if you turn into the other track, you will hit only one person. Should you turn the train?

It's a really interesting article. Thomson goes on with examples that get even crazier. My favorite has to be when she asks, if you are a bystander watching this go on and you can stop the train from hitting the 5 people by pushing a fat man off a bridge onto the tracks, who, because of his fatness will stop the train, ought you to do it?

Yeah, crazy right? Anyway I'm going back to reading Plato, wish me luck. :)

90210

2008-11-30T08:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'll admit it. I gave in. I joined the bandwagon. I've probably lost all credibility to my friends and family alike.

I watched 90210 last night.

I downloaded the first episode off of iTunes, pressed play... and then loved every minute of it. Admittedly the girls are skinny, the boys are completely gorgeous, the adults look way too hot for old people, and the kids look way too old to be high school students. Shenae Grimes as a 15 year old? What? I could see her as a Senior in high school, maybe. So far I've watched 3 episodes. (Or 2? I think the first thing I downloaded was a special 2 episodes in one buy deal or something) And here's what I think so far.

Dustin Milligan. I am in love. I first saw this guy in In the Land of Women where he played an awkward, dorky, but adorable guy in love with Kristen Stewart's character. (BTW I love Kristen Stewart as well. Amazing in Speak and, despite tons of people saying the movie was crap, amazing in Twilight as well.)

His character in 90210 is a suave high school LAX'er named Ethan who can get away with doing some pretty asshole things (i.e. cheating on his gf.) In the first few min. of the pilot Annie (Shenae Grimes) catchse him getting a quick BJ before class in his car by a girl who is not his gf.

Remarkably, he still remains one of the most likeable characters. His attempts to go back to that 'good guy' that Annie knew from a few summers ago seem genuine. He's the guy that it is so hard not to like.

Right now (after Episode Lucky Strikes) his competition for Annie is Ty (played by Adam Gregory), a gorgeous guy who just so happens to be the richest guy in school. He has a private jet for crying out loud, and apparently no house rules (he takes Annie to San Fran for a 'casual date'??) He also sings, and quite well indeed. Annie walks in on him rehearsing, catches a mere glimpse of his amazing movie-star looks (or TV star, or what you will) and is rendered speechless. Don't believe me? Just take a look.

So now that I'm going back to school, after the shortest vacation ever, I'm almost regretting getting into yet another tv show. I'm already completely addicted to Gossip Girl. 90210, could you be the straw that breaks my college student back? Well, with guys like Ethan and Ty as my prize for watching, I guess I won't regret it one bit.

Post-Thanksgiving Thoughts

2008-11-28T18:15:00.001-08:00

It is the day after Thanksgiving. Coincidentally, it is also my father's birthday. This is the day I choose to write my first post on this blog. Why? I have no idea, that's just the way it turned out. This morning I spent with my family, (mom, dad, sister, brother, cousins, aunt, and uncle) going to museums and walking around the city. (Washington D.C.)

In a few days I will be packing up everything and returning to school. Only about three more weeks until my final exam and I am already stressing out! I'm a freshman at Boston University. Coming from a small high school of only 560 kids, BU was a big change for me. I think I'm starting to get into the swing of things, but all it takes is one bad exam and then I know I'll be freaking out again. Right now I am taking ethics, science, humanities, and sociology course. My sociology course is called "Sexuality and Social Life." It's a really great class and I absolutely love my professor (even though she probably still does not remember my name.) Anyway the professor is young, only like 30 years old but looks even younger, is a feminist, gay rights activist, and jokes all the time about how she gave in and got married. After prop 8 passed she announced to the class that she told her husband she wanted a divorce because she didn't believe in the institution of marriage anymore. She is having us do group projects. My group chose to do a documentary on sexuality and sex on college campuses. It's going relatively well, though I really wish we had more time to work on it. It's been difficult trying to find time that all of our group members have in common. In high school I had classes 6 days a week! That's right, 6. I went to a boarding prep school in Connecticut. So, of course, when I came to college I expected to have all the free time in the world with an actual weekend. But it turns out that time flies even faster in college, when you have so many things you have to do, and so many things you want to do.

And that brings me to my newfound love... Boston. I absolutely love this city. I lived in a small town all my life, where I had to drive 20 min. to get to a Starbucks for God's sake! In Boston I can go to the movie theater, window shop (or splurge and buy one or two things) on Newbury or Charles St., work out at the FitRec, watch a play, see a concert... all just by walking! Of course, there's the T which makes my entertainment possibilities virtually endless. Now, I know that the T gets a bad rep, but in most cases it's really not that bad. I generally only wait about 5-10 minutes to get on. My only complaint is that they shut down way too early! They would make so much money if they kept the trains running past midnight (especially on the weekends). They're missing out on prime-time for college students. Students come back after parties at like 1 or 2 in the morning, and the T is closed. So what happens? A bunch of drunk kids start wandering around the streets of Boston, everyone grabs the nearest cab, storms the BUS, or just crashes where they are. Sorry, that's enough about the T. Really, I have all the love in the world for the train that brings me to Cambridge or the South End. I remember at the Swell Season concert at Agganis, this local guy sang a song about the T called Charlie Runs. Really good song actually. If I can remember what his website was I'll post it later.

Well, I guess that is all for now. I have to try and make a dent in my seemingly endless pile of homework. Thanksgiving Break is so not relaxing. It's more of a time bomb... I can hear the ticking sounds of doom calling out to me from finals week. That said, hope you enjoyed the first entry. Feel free to post some comments. And hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!