One year later...I'm back!

Wow, it's been almost a year since I've posted and I'm embarrassed to say that I completely regret not keeping up with this. My junior year in college was definitely one for the books, and I wish I had kept a blog throughout all my ups and downs.

I recently spent the last four months of college studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad and have had a hard time returning back home to the states. I made a really solid friend group abroad and being part from them made me realize how lucky I am to have met them. I found myself crying at random times and being down in the dumps until I had to tell myself to snap out of it. Why was I becoming so depressed when thinking about my time abroad when it should be the exact opposite?! Yes, I'm going to miss the exploring of new places so much and my friends more than anything, but I am so blessed to have had that opportunity.

I've re-realized that positive thinking is key. This experience taught me so much about myself that I'm excited for what is to come. I hope to use this blog to focus on the joys in life and also encourage others to do the same.

I'll expand more about my time abroad in posts to come! I look forward to sharing bits of my life with y'all once again <3

Snaps for Monday

After a wonderful weekend of relaxing in the pool with a great book and seeing the new movie, Maleficent, I'm ready to tackle this upcoming week and I'm thankful for what all it brings!

1. My first day of work as an orientation director was today and I'm sooo excited to really start working and brainstorming on the program!

2. This will be my first time I'm in Dallas for a long period of time without a million other things to do. Once my job ends at five, I'm freeeeee! No homework to worry about and no meetings to rush off to. I'm excited to start exploring and going to new places in Dallas. Tonight I went to True Food Kitchen  and I loved everything about it. I cannot wait to go back again!

The overall atmosphere was so cute and our waitress was so helpful!

I got the turkey burger with a gluten free bun, sweet potato hash, and the honey lemonade. We also got the chia seed pudding and it was to die for!! 

3. I've recently downloaded the app "8tracks" after hearing all the hype about it, and now I understand why. I was getting tired of my running playlist and these pre-made playlists definitely keep me going. You can pick your mood or a topic to search for and there are so many playlists to choose from that will fit your needs! And best part...IT'S FREE! 

4. I was cleaning out my purse the other day and found two AMC gift cards and a P.F. Chang's gift card! I'm ready to treat myself to a dinner (I'm thinkin lettuce wraps, mmmm) and a movie completely guilt-free. It's basically like it's free, right?! ;)

I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead of them to look forward to! What all are you excited about in these upcoming days? 

A Day for Donuts

HAPPY NATIONAL DONUT DAY!! The best day of the year, obviously ;) I have been tagged in numerous pictures on Instagram revolving around donuts, people have written on my Facebook wall and friends have been texting me to make sure I know today is National Donut day (silly friends, of course I know that). So I think it is very clear to us all just how much I love donuts. If I could eat donuts every single day of the year I would be so happy...and oh so fat.

This year I'm having to celebrate in a different way. Because of my daily headaches for the past four months, I am on a very restricted diet that unfortunately does not include donuts. But that is ok, because there are so many other ways to celebrate one of my favorite treats! Take a look at some of my favorite donut accessories:

1. Donut Pool Float 

Because who doesn't want to relax in the pool with a giant donut to keep you company? I have this (duh) and it is the biggest hit whenever anyone sees it! 

2. Donut Phone Case

Another item that I own, this phone case cheers me up and the pattern is absolutely adorable! How could you not want a phone case with donuts on it?! 

3. Donut Pillow

I wish I could say this is sitting on my bed in my room, but unfortunately it is not. This pillow looks as soft and comfortable as can be and also silently sends hints to others that if they go and get donuts, they better bring one back to you as well.

4. Donut Print

I love a good pun, and one that includes donuts is even better! I have this print framed in my room in a hot pink and gold frame that makes the whole print pop even more! 

These items are just a few of the things that you can purchase to celebrate today in a healthy way! ;) So either get up off your feet and go treat yourself to a donut or share your donut appreciation in some other way!! Any other huge donut-lovers out there? 

Grand Canyon Adventure

Hello everyone! I'm back in the Fort all in one piece and very very sore. I don't think any amount of running could have gotten me prepared for my little jaunt to the Grand Canyon! I went with my dad and my brother and we had such a great time, even though none of us were nearly in shape enough for all the hiking we did.

As I mentioned last week, I absolutely LOVE hiking. I rarely get to do it, but these past few days all we did was hike! My dad, brother, and I were lucky enough to get a spot down in Phantom Ranch last minute (normally people have to call a year in advance to save a spot!), so our first day we headed down the canyon around 3:00 p.m. with lots of sunscreen, water and snacks to keep us going all the way down. It was a pretty steep hike down, but we never fell and the views just kept on getting better and better.

At this point I could not stop exclaiming how it looked like we were in Narnia! It was BEAUTIFUL. 

We were worried about making it to Phantom Ranch before the sun went down, so we tried to make it down the Canyon as fast as we could! Sure enough we made it in time and our meal of bread, honey and peanut butter could not have tasted any better. We were so exhausted I'm pretty sure we were all dead asleep by nine o'clock!

We got an early start the next morning and we were ready to tackle the nine mile beast all the way back up. We saw many familiar faces on the hike up because we would rest and they would pass, then they'd rest and we'd pass, etc. etc. We eventually made it to the top (huffing and puffing and sore beyond belief) and looked all the way back down to the bottom, shocked at what we had accomplished. We hurried off to replace all of the salt we had lost from sweating so much and then got to shower...showering has never felt better ohmygosh it was glorious! 

The next day was filled with a couple other hikes, nothing as beastly as the two we did before, but still challenging. My urge to go hiking has been filled (for now hehe), but this trip definitely reaffirmed how much I enjoy it!

Every corner we turned and every hill we climbed provided us with a new view to the Grand Canyon that I never grew tired of seeing. It is absolutely stunning and I don't think any picture can really capture how beautiful it truly is! 

I would definitely recommend traveling to the Grand Canyon if possible! Have you ever been before, and did you hike down into it or just look at it from the top? 

 

Snaps for Monday

Happy Memorial Day everyone! I hope y'all are enjoying this day off, spending it with loved ones and just relaxing. I know I am speaking for everyone when offering the biggest of thanks to all the men and women who have served our country. We will never be able to thank you enough!

I have decided to start a weekly post called "Snaps for Monday" that will highlight what I am excited for in the upcoming week and will help me to be thankful for the little things! Mondays are always hard; it means a new week full of five days of work, which just brings along a whole new slew of stresses. BUT Monday also brings a new beginning for the whole week! So instead of dreading Mondays like always, I have decided to change the way I view them and see them as a fresh start for a whole new week that will bring fun and new challenges.

1. FIRST AND FOREMOST. I am soooo excited to be heading to the Grand Canyon early Thursday morning with my dad and brother! I have never been before, so I am very much looking forward to this new adventure. I love hiking, but living in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX does not really provide me with an opportunity to hike as often as I would like. So hopefully this trip will satisfy all my desires to go hiking that I have been having for awhile! For anyone who has gone before, what are some of the best trails that you would recommend?

2. I have been needing to get some new books to read for awhile and was so beyond excited to have found two Barnes & Noble gift cards while cleaning out my room (isn't that the best?!)! I'm heading over there this afternoon and I'm hopeful that they have the books that have been on my list for awhile. I've read many positive reviews of the book Love Does by Bob Goff and cannot wait to get my hands on it!

3. After going to Smart Barre almost every single day in July last summer, I'm excited to be going to my first class this summer tomorrow! It has been way too long and I can't wait to feel that awful and painful (yet so good) shake of my body.

4. I have been having daily headaches for four months straight now and tomorrow I am going in to get an MRI. I am just excited to be moving in the right direction {hopefully} to solve what has been causing them!

If you stop and think about it, there is always a lot to be thankful for and always something to look forward to. It does not have to be something so grand as going to the Grand Canyon (EEEK!), but even something simple to make your week a little brighter. So lets go ahead and snap for Monday because hey, there's a lot to be grateful for this week! What all are you looking forward to or thankful for this Monday?

J. Crew Factory Wins Again

J. Crew is home to some of my absolute favorite styles and pieces and thankfully, they almost always have a good sale, which ensures I rarely leave the store empty-handed. But, I can never bring myself to buy their jewelry because it just does not seem right to pay that much for a piece of jewelry (though they are all, of course, absolutely beautiful). 

This is where J. Crew Factory comes into play. Wow oh wow! If you think J. Crew has great deals, then you must spend some time at http://factory.jcrew.com/index.jsp. I bought these two stunning pieces of jewelry for around fifty dollars at J. Crew Factory! I am beyond obsessed and cannot wait to show them off! 

The colors on this necklace are SO vibrant and will match perfectly with the other brights in my closet as well :) 

I have always wanted to wear dangles, but whenever I hold some up, I feel as if they look disproportionate to my head. I saw these and was instantly mesmerized and found myself thinking, "Hmm for a little less than $20 I might as well buy them!" I sure am glad I did! The colors are muted enough to not be too in your face, but they are definitely a big statement piece. 

Have you found some great steals at J. Crew Factory as well? Pop on over there today to check out their 50% off women's and men's styles!!