Monday, September 30, 2013

TIME IS FLYING!


Edgy chic.

Around campus with mom and dad

This weekend my parents came down to school for lunch! It was so nice! The weather was perfect and we just walked around and had some photo shoots, haha. It is so cool to show them around because although school is close to home, they don't know the neighborhood like I do. It is exciting to show them things from my perspective :)

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Outfit of the day!

I'm obsessed with this sweater and wear it too much...I know. 
Sweater: Forever 21
Shirt: Forever 21
Shorts: Primark 
Shoes: TJ Maxx 
Belt: not sure 

Smokers...

Back in January, I remember one of the first things I noticed in Rome was how many young people smoked. You would see groups of them outside of cafes, in piazzas, and even outside our school doors. I felt like it was this problem that being from Pittsburgh, I just had not experienced very much. Smokers to me were older people that started back in the 60s and then couldn't bring themselves to quit.

So...yesterday I was taking a walk around campus before I had to go into work and I started to notice something. Even though there weren't big groups of people smoking as they talked, young smokers were everywhere! My peers were smoking as they rushed to class, as they check Facebook on their phone, and even while they quickly at a sandwich.

I am trying to figure out why there is this difference in the two cultures...and why I felt a bit more comfortable with the Italians smoking. For them it seems more like a social event. They all want to stand and catch up with their friends. They want to meet new people. Plus, they seem to do it in an isolated area. The students I saw on campus in Pittsburgh were just smoking quickly between other tasks or before they met up with friends. And they did it right in front of me as I walked down the street so the smoke blew in my face....I'm not saying either is good. I have no idea why anyone would smoke, especially a young person who knows all of the harmful effects. But it is cool to look at this cultural difference and I can't wait to see what the smoking culture is like in London.

Friday, September 27, 2013

High Five for Friday

1. I got this beautiful shot of the city while I was on the bus! 
2. I watched Miss Representation, a documentary about how women in America are represented in the media (full post to come).
3. Soon I will be in London *sigh*
4. I have almost become a coffee drinker...I drink it a couple times a week and feel like an adult :) 
5. BREAKING BAD FINALE is this Sunday!! AHH I can't wait! 

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Is college worth it??

Today in my managerial accounting class we watched this video! It reminded me that my loans may be huge but hopefully they will be worth it in the long run!


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Outfit of the day!


Shirt, jeans, sweater: Forever 21
Shoes: TJ Maxx 
Lip gloss: Avon 



30 DAY CHALLENGES!!!

I recently watched this inspirational Tedtalk, and now I am going to do it!

My roommate and I were talking about how we don't want to get stuck in a rut this semester. We've realized that because we are focusing on the stress in our lives recently, we don't think we are living to our full potential. So we are going to channel that energy and attention by completing 30 day challenges!

Here's the list so far:
1) Don't press snooze!!! (9/25/13)
2) Talk to a stranger everyday! (9/25/13)
3) Watch a Tedtalk everyday! (9/25/13)
4) Learn how to skateboard! (next summer?)

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Life after college?

Is there even such a thing? For the past few months it has been all that I can think about. There are endless possibilities to choose from, and I have been trying to figure out the exact right one for me. What I've finally realized is that there are so many "right" choices that I could make, so I shouldn't worry quite so much. However, take into account that I only had this epiphany after figuring out "the plan". I have been thinking about it for the past couple of months...and right now it sounds even more perfect than I originally thought. So maybe (as I have blogged before) my obsessive planning isn't just a flaw, but a useful quality, as well. But anyways, back to my epiphany...what I mean to say is that I hope think I could take whatever life throws at me after college and still be happy. I want to always make sure that I am doing what I love no matter where my future takes me.

So....here are the main points of my tentative future:

Meet my nephew :)
London
Cross-country road trip
One more internship in PGH
Take the GREs
Graduate undergrad
Move to Seattle for grad school
Join the Peace Corps
...

There it is. It seems so simple when I type it out like that. I know that won't be the case but I think it sounds like the perfect plan (at least today it does)! It will probably change over the next few months but for now it relaxes me to know I have goals to work towards.

p.s. The grad school I am looking into is tied for 13th best in the country with NYU in Public Affairs :) If I could get in there it would mean so much to me. It would mean that I was good enough to get into NYU but chose not to go there and that would be an amazing feeling to have.



Dress for less.

A Mint and Chocolate Dream.

More from my Ohio trip...

For dessert we went to a fantastic place called Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams! It was amazing! All the ingredients were local and organic...plus it tasted delicious! 



Monday, September 23, 2013

Oh gosh...

I am almost finished with my first series of Doctor Who and...I have become one of those people. I now find myself thinking about the possibility of time-travel and aliens. Like what if I've seen the Doctor somewhere and just don't know it! Why can't I be his companion? I wouldn't mind being Rose...I'd love it actually. To mark my new found nerd status, I bought a tardis sticker for my computer! I can't wait until it comes in the mail!



Dinner in Columbus!

Once we arrived in Columbus, we went to the Short North neighborhood! It was such a cool, hip area! There were tons of people walking around, going to bars and restaurants. We ended up eating at a place called The Press Grill. It was delicious! If any of you are ever in the Columbus area I would suggest getting the mac n' cheese...it was soooo cheesy and amazing! 




Sunday, September 22, 2013

A photo shoot in Ohio :)







Lovely Find!

While visiting Sophia in Ohio, she took us to a great store called Pitaya! I got these rings on sale for $2 each and a shirt for 50% off!  

A pitstop in Pittsburgh!

This weekend Jan and I went to visit Sophia in Ohio! Before we left, I showed Jan around campus a little bit! 

Friday, September 20, 2013

High Five For Friday!!!!

1. The Cathedral is even beautiful from a crowded, moving bus!
2. It just wouldn't have been right to not include iOS7! I really like it so far...very different though
3. I am trying to justify going to get froyo every week because soon the weather will be too cold for it...right? haha
4. I am just happy to have both my Nona and my Papap in my life. They are amazing. 
5. I got to represent Haitian Families First at a student event this week and it was so cool! I am so proud to work for them! 

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Writer's block.

I am having so much trouble putting my thoughts into words...recently I have been trying to be a sponge. I just mean I am trying to listen to people and read articles and watch videos so that I learn something new everyday. This year my classes have been really helpful and are more exciting than in the past, but I have been trying to go beyond schoolwork and take what I am learning to think differently about events going on around me. Annnndddd like I said I can't seem to write down these changes...yet! I am going to keep trying because that's one of the main reasons I have this blog, to sort out my thoughts.

Plus, this weekend I am going to visit Sophia with Janelle so I will have some photos to post next week! 

Hope everyone is have a great week so far! 

Hope x

Dress for less.

Look for Less #1



Project Social T black muscle tee / Forever 21 graphic tank top / True Religion true religion jacket / Forever 21 vegan motorcycle jacket / Burberry low rise jeans / Forever 21 jeans / Dr. Martens white patent leather boots / Forever 21 laced up combat boots / Miu Miu sunglasses / Forever 21 glasses

Sunday, September 15, 2013

You are alive and you are beautiful.


Tomorrow is going to be a busy day!

I feel like over the next few days I have so much going on! I just need to relax! I will try to post a couple things I have been thinking about later in the week! In the meantime check out these links:

To see what's going on in my head go to my tumblr
A great fashion blog covering London Fashion Week
An empowering Ted Talk I watched the other day


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Vine, vine, vine, vine, vine.

My friend Holly and I just created a joint vine! Go check it out!

Bonjour, risque.

Bonjour, risque.



Topshop t shirt / Topshop clothing, $76 / Topshop black boots / Zara black handbag / Marc by Marc Jacobs stainless steel jewelry / LeiVanKash stud earrings, $245 / ASOS cuff bracelet / Topshop black hat

But I don't want to go to the gym...

I am never going to be the type of person who forgets to eat or chooses going to the gym over watching a movie, but I lately I have been trying to make some healthy changes to my daily routine!

I have been using this app (which I have used in the past and loved!) and I have been trying to do some form of exercise everyday...that's the tricky part. At first I just went to the gym alone, but now my friends are all trying to get fit too! We go running, we go for long walks (rather than taking the bus), and Kelly even has got me playing tennis! It is such a nice feeling to have fun while you exercise! There are still some days (like today) that I just go to the gym and do some abs workouts in my room, but now I use those days to let out all my stress and just have fun while I listen to music!

Plus, all this hard work will be worth it when I can run to the top of Primrose Hill in London without having to stop to catch my breath :)

Outfit of the day!!


                   Scarf: Gift
                   Shirt: Urban Outfitters 
                   Shorts: Primark
                   Ear Cuff: Tobi 
                   Earrings: Forever 21
                   Shoes: TJ Maxx

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Remembering...

9/11 is a day that everyone remembers and that everyone has their own story about. It is a day that changed the world as we knew it. I want to write something profound...something that will do this day justice...but I can't. What I can do is share this Ted Talk with you! I watched it yesterday and it made me realize that everyone struggles to put how they feel about 9/11 into words (not just me), but that the memorial and museum that is being built at Ground Zero is/will help people do just that. So if you have 15 extra minutes today, check it out and see what amazing work is being done to help honor all of the people we lost on this day 12 years ago.  


Saturday, September 7, 2013

High Five for Friday!!

1. First roommate Razzy trip of the semester! 
2. Kelly is starting to teach me how to play tennis :) 
3. Our beautiful new tapestry for our living room!
4. The past few days have be absolutely beautiful! I love the cool weather!
5. Mine and Holly's selfies always make me laugh :D

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Outfit of the day!


Everything: Forever 21

Things I can't wait to do in London (as of today)

1) To eat a full English breakfast
2) To run in Hyde Park
3) To sit on a bench at the top of Primrose Hill
4) To go to a club that was featured on Made in Chelsea
5) To go shopping (haha or rather looking) on Sloane Street

I did it...

I am officially going to London in January! I bought my ticket today from STA Travel  and got an amazing price!

I just can't believe it! I know I keep making this same post over and over again, but I have been anticipating this since I started high school...and now it is almost HERE!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Roommate bonding


This weekend has been amazing! After a rough first week, my best friends and I made the most out of our first long weekend at school! We went to the strip district, had a 'family dinner', and even took a walk to southside today :)