Words of Inspiration

My one and only pen pal, my grandma, sent me a card recently. She spoke of her and my grandpa's busy-bee lives--she was on her way to Tai Chi that morning, and they had plans to road-trip to AZ the next day to visit family--and per usual, it made me proud and thankful to have such ambitious and mobile grandparents. The contents of the letter were as charming and heart-warming as ever, with her swirly cursive covering the entirety of the card's insides. My grandma's letters can turn my day around, and this one was all the more special. Her stationery is always pretty, and this time its front displayed one of my favorite quotes- a quote that I actually used in a post below!

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air." Such simple words inspire me tremendously; they encourage me to be spontaneous and care-free. A perfect combination, especially with summer finally upon us.

What is your quote you strive to live by? I've decided this will be mine, at the very least for this summer. Here's to living freely, as Mr. Emerson would encourage all.

Checked Off the List

I keep my bucket list right inside my trusty noggin. I've tried writing down bucket list items, but you know how whenever you go to make a grocery list and all that comes to mind is milk and bread? Wait, what were those other 10 million things I kept telling myself I need to remember to get? That tends to be what happens when I try to do write out the ol' bucket list. 

One bucket list endeavor that I've always had but was more of a 'ha, we'll see if I ever actually do that' was running a half marathon. But my sister got it in her head about 4 months ago that this. was. going. to. happen. And I got swept up for the ride. So we trained for 12 weeks, running through the icy winds and the painful shin splints and the crappy days that we all have occasionally. 

Last weekend she flew her newly 37 pounds lighter butt to see me, and to run our half. The time had come. I was so nervous, but she knew more confidently than I that we were ready. When the race buzzer sounded at 7 am last Sunday and we began our run with the sun beginning to rise, I realized we were, too.

I don't think I've ever felt so tired yet so strong in my entire life. Having my sister, my best friend, by my side as I crossed the finish line made it all the sweeter. My near projectile vomiting episode that actually turned out to be just a bit of dry heaving post finish line was only a mild setback (true story, that did happen... not my proudest moment of the day). In pure exhaustion, all we could both keep saying to each other that we couldn't believe it was over. Our 12 weeks of training was up, and the 13.1 mile run complete. We'd reached this once impossible-seeming goal. That pride of overcoming such a physically and mentally enduring obstacle made me realize my overall capability, and oh how great it is.

Who knows what's next? Maybe even a full marathon is in our future!

(PS, sorry for my unannounced blogging hiatus, guys! I guess spring semester sophomore year is way busier than I expected, but I miss the bloggerverse. So expect to be seeing lots more of me again!)

Lists, Inspiration, & A New Year

I've been doing a lot of thinking and brainstorming through lists lately.  I don't know why, but my brain has just been able to think clearer in this simplistic, to-the-point method of listing.  And seeing as I've been MIA from my blog for over a whole stinkin' month (um, yikes), I figured I'd try to get back into it via this new and trusty list shenanigans.

Concerning, oh, I'd say about the past month, here are things I have done and am currently doing:

• I finished my third semester at TCU.  It was not my strongest ending academically, but sometimes it's more about actually getting past the finish line. That's all it takes to inspire me to keep going, on certain occasions. At least for me. Can you tell I'm not a big school person? I'm more of a runner.
• I got a camera for Christmas, and let me tell you, this camera is perfection. It's a Canon Rebel T3i and I'm in love. To say the least.
• I got promoted from Lifeguard in the pool of our school rec center to 1 of 11 Team Leaders of the entire facility. Big step up for little old me! I'm ecstatic that I'll be able to interact and help more people on a more frequent basis. Ecstatic.
• I also got another internship in NYC for the coming summer, this time at Eventbrite.com. I'll be organizing, attending, maintaining, helping with, and social networking for all the events for clubs, charities, etc. that the company deals with in the city. I'm. Stoked.
• I've been training for a half marathon in February with my sister. Not only have we been bonding through the physical pain and perseverance, but we both also look a heck of a lot better in a pair of jeans...just saying.
• I got a New Years kiss from a complete stranger. And I did NOT like it. No further comments on that one...
• I keep getting faced with big life decisions. Not only my own, but friend's and family's, too, that I naturally want to help them with. What is this?! Am I growing up or something? I guess it had to happen eventually.

Even though all these outstanding things have been happening to me, I've been uninspired a lot creatively. Especially in my writing, in case you haven't noticed. But then I find myself getting inspired by the silliest things. Making it to a beautiful overlook while hiking with my family. Going for 3-, 4-, 5-mile runs with my sister and our Border Collie, Charlie. Watching my brothers and interact and laugh with the rest of my family, like actually, genuinely enjoying our company, for the first time in at least two years. These things all make me happy to my core, and even if they're temporary joys, I hope to remember them and embrace them when they do occur.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is my main resolution for 2012. What's yours?

Full of Grateful

{sweater: Gap, dress: Everly, boots: Minnetonka, across-the-body bag: Forever21, ring: I cannot remember for.the.life of me where I got this cutie... probably F21}

I am so utterly grateful to be in South Dakota with my best of friends, my sister and mom.  To laugh about the oddest, silliest things and eat (way too much) and pester each other and sip coffee together in Starbucks and visit sister on her lunch while she bites the bullet of working on the holiday.  

I'm grateful for the cool, breezy fall weather and these socks my grandma knit me to keep my toes warm and fuzzy when those breezes get nippier.  And for the quick phone call I had with her and my grandpa today.  To listen to their sweet voices that I don't pick up my phone and dial often enough to hear.  

I'm grateful for the hurt and hard times that only bring me closer to the people I love, and make me a stronger, smarter individual.

I'm grateful for my opportunities. My TCU education, summer internships, jobs, privileges, traveling.  For the comfort in knowing I'm rich- no no, I'm not talking in the monetary sense, but rich in love and laughter. In health and hope.  I'm rich in support and solace.  And, above all, I'm Bill-Gates-rich in family and friends.

Lastly... I'm grateful for The Hunger Games. Those books are so stinking good.  They're taking over my life (for the second time) and I'm really, really okay with it.

Happy Thanksgiving, beauties.

Birthday Blessings

{birthday cookie cake; the tastiness of it compensated for the teeny misspelling of my name}

I feel so lucky to have such amazing people in my life to celebrate my 20th year with.  Two decades of my life complete; how does that even happen?!  I had such an incredible birthday week, and even though I was hit with a bit of the post birthday blues yesterday- as well as an oncoming, brutal cold- I can't help but just be thankful for the celebrations held all for little old me this past week!  Even the littlest things mean the world to me.
And now, I only have two days of school to power through until I get to jet off to South Dakota to see my sister, who has to work on Thanksgiving, unfortunately.  My friends always make fun of me for being excited to go to South Dakota; "I forgot that was even a state," is one of the most common reactions.  My mom and I are going to keep her company around her work schedule, and, regardless of friends' remarks, I couldn't be more elated to get to spend time with just those two, even in South Dakota!

{new boots from my amazing mama} 

{what I like to call my "birthday cake nails": OPI- Bring On the Bling & American Apparel Nail Lacquer- Coney Island} 

{brown-sugar cinnamon apple crisps. so delicious. the simplest recipe ever found here} 

{a few of my great friends at my my birthday dinner Friday night} 

{a gorgeous bouquet of tulips from my mom}  

{birthday present to myself: new piercing. hellloooo industrial} 

{such a stunning sunset that I got to witness on a run last week. I took it as another birthday gift} 

{the cutest fold-over Ugg socks, knit by hand by one of my heroes, my grandma}

Pretty Words & Nostalgic Pictures

... that really don't go together whatsoever.
Oh well.  These are currently a couple of quotes and old pictures from the summer that make me oh so happy.  Enjoy, and happy Tuesday to everyone.  Who else thinks it should be Friday already?


"Today is never too late to be brand new." -Taylor Swift


"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13


"I'd rather be working at something, than praying for the rain
So I wander on, till someone else is saved." -James Vincent McMorrow

{my beautiful (and much tanner than me) sister. such a strength in my life.}

 {a view from Brooklyn Bridge Park at sunset of the city that I find myself missing more and more everyday}

Cancer

Consuming you from within,
A black, unexpected disease.
You lose control of your health,
Of your days,
Of your actions,
Of your hope,
Of your life.
The illness thrashes like waves against your insides,
Sanding down those once solid foundations.
It causes emotions you never believed would be part of you.
That is, before the sickness enveloped your being.
Rage, depression, excruciating pain,
They change everything, everyone around you.

What is this cancer?
It's uncontrollable.
Dangerous.
Lethal.
Destructive.
Unpredictable.
The cancer of addiction.


For my brothers.  I love you.  I'm continually praying for your health.

From Day to Night,

with denim on denim.

{denim button-up: A.N.A., denim shorts: See Thru Soul, belt: Target, sandals: Bamboo}

Versatile pieces fill up the majority of my closet.  Hence the repeat of a couple pieces in this post from recent outfit posts.  Can you find them?  It's perfect for days like today, where I can go from a casual, loungey, daytime outfit and swap a few ingredients to create a cute, sassy, nighttime getup.

On a side note, my family is going through a bit of mess.  Every family has them.  No family's not dysfunctional.  I know, a double negative.  But it's true.  Even knowing that, though, I can't help feeling a little disappointed, sad, and above all else, worried.  Sorry for the vagueness; I'm still kind of sorting out my feelings.  All I know is that this prayer has been getting me through my day.  

The Serenity Prayer

"God grant me the serenity 

to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."

{jeans: H&M, scarf: Ann Taylor LOFT, wedges: Guess}