Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn keeps popping up in my life recently, which is so random but I'm certainly not complaining! When I was home for Thanksgiving, we made a few trips to the mall and so my mom and I took some time to get lost walk around. Furniture stores used to be forms of punishment at the mall so it's so funny to me that I could probably spend an hour in one section now. I guess that's the price of growing up...

If nothing else, I like to just look at the displays. I'm fascinated with presentation of furniture and odds and ends, just because I don't think I could really "stage" anything very well. I'll stop rambling now and just share the pictures I took that make me want to just move into the showroom.

are the notebooks and coffee table books included?

I said that PB has been popping up in my life and that's no joke! When I came back to school, I overheard a couple girls talking about Pinterest and how they love following Pottery Barn. Okay, so 1) why I have yet to follow PB (I now follow them and you should too!) and 2) I don't have the adequate time needed to look at every. single. pin. So that will be a winter break task, I suppose. I seriously feel like a 30 year old woman when I walk through these stores and think about furnishing a house, but a girl's gotta dream! 

Side note, I didn't take this picture but don't you just want every single one of these blankets? Yeah, me too! 

Hometown Pride

I regularly find myself daydreaming of being somewhere else or doing something else...

And I know this isn't good... or healthy. It's to the point that I feel guilty for wishing that I'd grown up somewhere different or that I wasn't "stuck" in the midwest. I'm consciously trying to change this habit- love where I'm from and embrace my surroundings while they're I'm here. Honestly, it's extremely hard since the midwest doesn't always offer that big city excitement that I see in movies or in the lives of others. And my major has me pretty strapped down to my studies without much room for fulfilling "daydreams". I'll be the first to say that this is annoying and unbearable at times, but I'm trying to manage my place and my time to benefit my life in the greatest way possible. 

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I get most of my ideas and inspiration from other forms of media, so it was only a matter of time before I came across articles of Angela Ahrendts and her time at Burberry. Or, more importantly, the fact that she is from a small town 15 minutes away from my house. From New Palastine, Indiana to London and Burberry, I was inspired more than ever before. She went to college at Ball State and lived her dreams from there. Once I made all the connections and understood her path to "power", something in my settled. 

Contrary to what I'd read and seen everywhere else, I realized that I don't need to be anywhere else or study anything different to get where I want to be. I don't need to move and live in a tiny, expensive apartment. I don't need to dislike where I'm from or where I currently am, because success comes to those who work hard. And while Angela had to work a little harder to prove that her midwestern roots didn't hold her back from big-city lifestyle and fashion, she has surpassed many others who rely on their past to propel them into success. 

After that realization settled, I became incredibly excited. I remember the night well- I hardly slept as thoughts jumbled all around my head. How can I embrace where I'm from and use it to my career advantage? Who should I be networking with right now to ensure that I can reach my own personal equivalent to Angela's success? 

And, how can I get into contact with Angela?

okay, maybe I'm dreaming a little bit...

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But dreaming is what I'm good at. I've accepted that I like to think big. I embrace lofty goals and let them energize me. I refuse to not take advantage of my opportunities here at Purdue or in the Midwest. And, most importantly, I will not feel as if I'm trapped- because I'm preparing to do great things in this life. Just like Angela, I can be a shining star from my hometown; a big fish in a little pond who goes on to do great things...

that's what I strive for

Home, Sweet Home

Home has taken on a new meaning.

Home is where family is. Where there is good food and someone to do your laundry. Where your dog crawls up in bed with you and you can take a shower... barefoot. In the larger sense of the word, home was so under-appreciated before I left. I thought that my city was boring and just wanted to get out. Where I moved to? Not that much better, and I don't have my cozy bed to come back to. My little city is cute! All of the sudden, the local shops and activities are much more appealing.

It's not to say that the college town I live in is boring or has nothing to offer. Any hobby is covered on campus. But outside of campus, the town is more rural... that is, if I could get off campus. While there is so much to do, there's also so much homework to get done. I struggle with a constant pull of desires that I never did when I was home. Maybe that's what makes it so different. 

Or maybe it's the fact that college is different from home in the sense that there aren't parents and you can do whatever you want, but from an activity standpoint... it's really not all that different. A combination of too little free time and the fact that Purdue is smaller than home makes being away at school, well school.

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In other words, not home. 

Being home for a long weekend was great! I loved being with family and catching up with friends. I loved walking around my city, shopping, and eating- it was almost like a mini vacation with the amount I ate! 

Sadly, school can't wait for me to get my fill of home. Exams and lectures are waiting for my return... 

But all the while I'll patiently be waiting my return back home.

Top 5: September 2013

This month has been a blur!

School got crazy- midterms and studying took up my life. When I wasn't studying I was eating or sleeping. My lack of activity here on the blog was probably a great indication of this routine, but I'm happy to say that life has slowed down. The scores I received on my exams were an indicator of how well my studying tactics were working... let me just say that all is well. Not only was this a relief to not struggle through my first round of exams, but I'm able to see now that I can stress a bit less on my school work. This is wonderful news, because I was not liking my lack of free time... I would have gotten burnt out very quickly. 

Because of this horribly stressful month, there's an overwhelming theme of "comfort" to this month's list of favorites. From yummy drinks and snacks to what I did as study breaks, all of these items saved me during this month.

1. Anything Fall

The fact that I was able to start wearing boots, scarves, and hats made getting up to go study a bit more enjoyable. Having a brisk walk to class woke me up and drinking warm drinks was such a pick-me-up. My favorite drink right now is not a Pumpkin Spice Latte, I know.. shocking! I'm actually loving hot caramel apple cider. It's absolutely delicious and brings back memories of my mom's homemade hot cider.

2. Nail Polish

I think I've mentioned that my roommate has been inspiring to keep my nails pretty, but painting my nails is also a great study break. It takes enough time that I can watch a couple of YouTube videos or an episode of Sex and the City and re-charge my brain. I've been loving fall reds, greens, and blues. I'm currently wearing Stylenomics, from Essie's Fall 2012 collection, but I'm on the search for the perfect fall pink. Suggestions?

3. The News

Another way that I've given my brain a break without feeling like I'm wasting away- reading/ watching the news. Every MWF I wake up with time to relax and watch the Today Show with a cup of coffee. In between classes or during study breaks I've been enjoying FlipBoard. Everything I read is interesting, but I think it's also important for me to keep up on what's going on outside of my campus. The "College Bubble" is a real thing, which I first experienced when I heard about the US going to war and not knowing a thing about it. I immediately began searching for an app that I could use to stay up-to-date. FlipBoard has been perfect! 

Additionally, I've been keeping an eye on my horoscope. I am away that it is definitely not the current, worldwide news, but it is news. In my life. I find it fascinating to read what is in store for me and to actually compare my days to how they've been "predicted".

4. Greek Yogurt

Of course food has to make an appearance! My roommate and I have become slightly obsessed with eating yogurt. For me, I've become dependent on it as a snack since I began my 21 Before 21 challenge of not eating sweets. I love putting a few shredded almonds in there. It acts as a perfect ice cream substitute and I love that it has so much protein!

5. Home

Dorothy was right- there's no place like home. This past month I was able to go home twice, which was desperately needed. With all of my stressing at school, it was nice to spend a weekend at home and have my parents cook for me or just be there to talk to about everything. They are 100% my greatest support system, so being with them and hearing their encouraging words is what I use as motivation to study and do well. My sister is crazy, but I've missed her! She and I were able to have a date night- dinner and a movie- and just talk about her sports and school. It kills me that I'm missing out on so much of her life, but it makes being home so much sweeter since we can just love on each other rather than fight.

I am so grateful that this month has gone so smoothly, regardless of the stress. This weekend is the beginning of fall break, and I can't wait to go home for an extended period, unpack, and just be able to relax. But, I feel that October may be stressful in it's own ways. 

All I have to say is

Bring it On! 

Bittersweet Final Days

via Instagram

Today marks the final Monday that I have to wake up for high school and only 8 remaining days until graduation. It's really starting to hit me that my youth is coming to an end, in a way. Of course, college will still be fun and I'm not looking to grow up quickly by any means. But I will be essentially on my own- a big change for a girl who always has mom and dad there to fix any problems. Also, I've never been away from my family like I will be and it's all getting kind of scary!

I'm really starting to realize what graduation means.

No more 8 hour days in the same building. New people. Intelligent people! New friends. No more being watched over. More hard work. So much to do in so little time.

As exciting as the end is, it's bittersweet. 

So, for now, I'm enjoying my time at home (and in school) knowing that I'll be gone in a few short months.