21 Before 21

I've been inspired by Mackenzie's "1001 in 1001" and Carly's "25 before 25" lists.

Enough for me to make my own list of 21 things I want to do or see before I turn 21. Yes, I do realize that it's only two years. And yes, I understand that most of my life will be spent in school, working, or internships. That being said, I think having a deadline and a few major things to do will be really fun to do and see how it works out. 

So, before I turn 21 I'd like to...

1. attend the Kentucky Derby

2. Go on a vacation where I unplug and just read books on the beach

3. Attend the Macy's Day Parade in New York City

4. Run a Half Marathon... and maybe a Full?

5. Go on a legitimate blind date set up by a friend

6. Watch all 8 Harry Potter films in a 36 hour time span

7. Spend a ridiculous amount of money on concert tickets 

8. Give a 100% tip on a bill of $50 or more

9. Go to the CMA festival

10. Move in with some of my best friends

11. Learn how to accessorize with jewelry

12. Buy random gifts and give them out to the homeless on the street

13. Find an international pen pal

14. Take a class that I don't really need, but just want to take

15. Go a month without sweets (Sept 10 - Oct 10, 2013)

16. Pick a campaign, cause, event and dive into it whole-heartedly

17. Unplug in daily life (as much as possible) for two weeks

18. Go on a road trip with my best friend(s)

19. Spend a weekend with my Grandparents doing whatever they want to do

20. Apply for a study abroad program or to an international school

21. Become conversational in a foreign language (Francais?)

As you can tell, none of these items tempt fate or have me simply thinking wishfully. These are all things that I can and will accomplish by the time I turn 21. Why 21? Well I think that it's a good time frame for me to enjoy my youth and have fun. While I'm technically an adult, you're not really and adult until you're 21. So I'm taking these years of having some independence but still a kid to go and have fun. I'm also a planner, and I think that having a time frame and a bunch of random things to do is such a fun thing for someone who plans and works without much free time. In a way it's "forced fun", but it's necessary.

Because, let's face it
Life isn't life if you aren't living.

Tuesday, Shoes-Day

The shoes complete the outfit and this girl most definitely has a pair for every outfit!

I may be a little bit of a shoe fanatic, but what girl isn't?! I have a few go-to pairs of shoes for the summertime. From flats to heels, here are the shoes I couldn't live without:

 1. My Lilly Pulitzer Jelly Sandals are my go-to shoes! They're so comfortable and versatile. I found them on sale at a boutique for $19 and honestly don't know what they retail at. Regardless, they're awesome! I'm so sad that they aren't for sale right now... I think they can probably be found online. If you come across them, snatch 'em up!

A girl can't go wrong with Nike Free Runs. They're perfect for a game of tennis or running errands on a Saturday. My Free Runs definitely get plenty of use. I'm going to have to buy a new pair before I leave for college in August, and I'm loving these blue-green ones! 

Sperry Topsiders are THE classic summer shoe. They scream life on the water and are comfortable to the max! They can be dressed up or down and are perfect for almost any occasion or type of weather. While I love all of the fun colors and most of the designs (but I HATE the sparkles), I find that the classic browns get the most use and look the best- the more worn they get, the more character they have!

No matter where you're going, you've got to have shoes on so make sure they're fabulous. On days where I dress up more, I love my Lilly 1 1/2 inch wedges. They're the perfect balance of classy and comfortable. When I'm on vacation or away from home, I always make sure to pack my nude heels in case I need to really dress up an outfit.. or just want a little more height :)

What are your summer shoe favorites?

WISHLIST UPDATE: look what is currently in the mail!

Yes, I finally did it. My new Jacks are on the way :)

I'm Back!

After a brief hiatus this past week, I am back and ready to go! My time on Sanibel Island was refreshing- just what I needed to propel myself through these final eight weeks of school. Luckily, it seems that I may not have left all of the warm weather in the south! The long awaited spring has arrived! As my welcome back, I thought I'd share some of the hilights of the past week or so.

 One of the most exciting days of the trip was Disney World! I hadn't been since middle school and it was so much fun to go back and be a kid! The rides were better than I remembered, as was the food! Speaking of food, I ate way more than I should have. Every. Single. Meal. I indulged a bit lot...! But, how can you not with such good food at your disposal?!

 A week ago was when we arrived at the beach, and it was as beautiful as always. I'd start each day with a run on the beach (which turned out to be pretty painful- Sanibel is the shelling capital of the world), then I'd go up and eat, change, put on sunscreen, and head to the beach! My days were spent reading and people watching while soaking up the beautiful Florida sun. If it rained, we would just go shopping. I found a Lilly boutique on the island and ended up going there every day after I found it! Slightly obsessed. But, there's no way this vacation could have been any better. Unfortunately, I came home to some last minute homework that needs to be done... back to reality, I suppose.

Happy Spring!

Top 5: March 13

It's that time again! A new month means looking back at what all has happened in my life the last month. Good and bad, March is one month closer to warmer weather so I can't complain. This month I got into a few new habits, as well as rekindling my love for a few new ones! Here it goes, my favorites for the month of March:

1. Lilly Pulitzer

I've been a Lilly fan for a while, but this month has taken my interest to a new level. I love reading the brand blog and looking at new arrivals- either I don't look close enough on a daily basis, or new stuff is added almost daily! I also began reading a biography on the one and only Lilly P., and have gained so much love and respect for the woman that is known so well in American culture! She was such an inspiration in the 20th century, and also seems very humble and kind. I'd absolutely love to meet her.

2. Country Music

As I've stated many times before, I've become a huge fan of country music! I love Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, you name it, I probably like it! On a completely different note, the new OneRepublic album is great too!

3. MacBook

This month, my parents bought me my MacBook- more affectionately called my baby- which could be one of the most convenient presents for the whole family! My stuff stays out of their way and they stay out of mine. perfection. One thing that I haven't quite gotten used to is the function of apps on the computer... I guess I don't have the need for them at this point. I am looking for some apps (preferably free for now) that may be useful! Send them my way!

4. Running

I've been a regular runner for the past couple of years. I run for enjoyment and exercise, but I haven't been running lately because it's been such a cold winter! I have outdoor running clothes, but I just hate being cold. Anyways, being on vacation has given me the opportunity to run in shorts and t-shirts on the beach, barefoot. Can't beat that, and it'll be way too cold when i get home if it's anywhere between 70 degrees! I've ruined myself. But, hopefully I'll get in shape to run a few half marathons this summer!

5. Soda Water

Yes, a bit random, but my dad went shopping and there must have been a great deal on Perrier, because he came home with 10 cases of it! I'm not the person to demand "fancy" water, but it's been enjoyable while we've had it! It reminds me of being in Europe- since water is more expensive than beer and so you might as well get the fancy kind- and it just puts a spin on the ever important staying hydrated. 

So, there we are. These are the top 5 new additions to my life since the beginning of the month. I've had a great month of school, which ended with two weeks of vacation! No room for complaints, and the best part of the year is quickly approaching! 

What will you remember from March?

5k is for wimps!!

So, I've been running for a few years just recreationally and I'm really getting tired of my training-for-nothing plan. I've run 5ks and distances up to 6 miles, but I'm wanting to push myself a little bit more. I've been trying out different 13.1 mile plans and none of them seem to work. They pile up all the distance on the weekends and don't include any cross training to give muscles time to repair. Over the weekend, I found a plan that looks like it might be just the one for me!

I've always loved Nike.. I mean, you can't go wrong with them! They sponsored a tweet about training for a half-marathon, so I decided to give the plan a look. I love it! As soon as it warms up, I'll be running my way to a 13.1!!!

For anyone wanting to try it out with me, I'll give you week 1:

I believe it goes along with workouts in the Nike Training Club App, which is free on the app store. 

Go ahead and try it out! I won't be starting until next week or the week after, but I'll post the plans for anyone wanting to follow the plan.

Train Hard!