Autumnal Inspiration

While in a coffee shop looking out the window at the faces that passed and the feet scurrying by, I sipped (actually, drank rather too quickly..) my warm seasonal drink and was filled with bliss. Boots were being worn, scarves wrapped around some, bags filled with fresh market products, a brisk coolness in the air. The leaves are covering the sidewalks and range from colors like fiery red to golden green. It's still nice enough to spend the day walking up and down the streets to enjoy this beautiful time. From the farmer's market I have been purchasing crisp apples, sweet potatoes, apple cider, and fresh greens; taking advantage of being able to buy local, delicious, seasonal food. Remind yourself to live in each moment completely taking it all in, because they are all passing quickly. Hot tea, halloween films, candy corn, fuzzy socks, sweet cinnamon scents, (me currently). Autumn, you are all too inspiring.  

 

Happy, Happy, Sunday

I spent this morning at a local farmer's market and then headed to Sunlife Organics for a healthy shake/smoothie. College can get a bit stressful and overwhelming at times, so it's nice to take a little time and do simple things that brighten my day. Farmer's Markets are full of wonderful inspiration; from the organic and fresh food, to the bright colors, to friendly local venders, it's a blissful place to spend an hour or so. I've come up with a list of things to do to make the most of any day, but specifically weekends. These are just such simple ways to not waste the day away, even if you have nothing going on.
It's time for me to study for my French exam that's tomorrow and prepare for the upcoming week. I'm completely looking forward to these next few days! Big things are happening and I can't wait to create a few different posts about it. Happy Sunday and sending out good energy to all for a positive and creative week. xx

Making the most of your day: 
Wake up early. This is probably easier said than done for some of us, especially because I'm a total morning person. The morning's are such a lovely time. It's quiet, the world seems to be calm and all is good. Waking up early makes your day longer and you'll be feeling more energized as opposed to waking up at noon. Don't check your phone until an hour after you wake up. It can wait, your brain is just now starting the day and doesn't need to be overwhelmed with tons of information on a bright little screen!

Drink water. The benefits of drinking water in the morning are endless. Just to name a few: it boosts your metabolism, is good for your skin, and reduces the risk of diseases. Add a lemon for flavor and even more benefits! I love drinking a cup of hot green tea in the morning, as well.

Stretch a little, do a little yoga, dance around! Today is going to be a good day. Clear your head, take deep breaths, close your eyes. There are some short yoga videos on youtube that are simple for anyone to practice.

Write down a list of everything you want to get done throughout the day. I like writing these things down because I can check off all I accomplished by the end of the day. (tasks, small goals, self goals, errands, homework...)

Make a delicious breakfast. Smoothie bowl, glass of orange juice, fruit and granola, oatmeal loaded with toppings, healthy pancakes...go for it.

Exercise. You can make excuses or you can get up and do it. I must admit, exercising makes me feel a million times better in almost every sense. My mind, my body, my energy, my thoughts... Whether it's going on a hike, taking a class, or hitting the gym, exercising improves my mood and I leave feeling motivated.

Do what makes you happy. Whether it's reading a little bit of that book you want to finish, writing down your creative thoughts, going on a walk, or buying something small that simply makes you smile (for me it's little succulents, green juice, and some flowers) it's definitely worth it.

Clean. Why does life seem better when you have a clean room? It takes at the most 10 minutes to straighten your place up and get it smelling wonderful, either with fresh flowers or a nice little air freshener. You can move on with your life after you clean up and come back to a nice little area to relax!

Explore. Do you have nothing major going on today? Do something you normally wouldn't do! Yelp is one of my favorite apps to find local restaurants and shops, it's very useful for just about anything.

Yesterday's hike!

"Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself. Speak like you love yourself. Act like you love yourself." 

Sunrise Wanderlust

Wanderlust has struck. I awake early, my mind wanders off as it dreams of the world. The fact that we have the ability to travel anywhere in this world urges me to take full advantage of it.
I dream of dancing in the streets barefoot with strangers, indulging in foods I can't pronounce, listening to people's life stories, meditating in India, buying one of a kind items from local markets... simply seeing the world with my eyes wide open. To be able to take a train to the next city while scribbling in my travel journal, or even hopping on without a destination in mind. Possibilities wide open. Some things you can't learn or watch in a film, you must feel them for yourself. You must live. I believe learning doesn't just take place sitting in a desk with a book, it comes from experiencing moments. My love for exploring and adventuring is stronger than ever. My soul is craving the world.

"The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Smile a Little Brighter

There has been an overwhelmingly amount of negative news lately. As much bad that is happening around the world, I know that there is still good. I'm keeping those in need in my thoughts. People come together when tragedy strikes and that alone is powerful enough to make tremendous changes. Hearing bad news makes me want to fix everything for everybody, to make it all right, to rewind time, to stop all the bad...but unfortunately I cannot do that. Nobody can. What everybody is capable of doing is being nicer and kinder to each other. I currently have a "Pay it Forward" status that was shared to me on Facebook, which has inspired me to share some ways of kindness on here. It's easy to take one second of your time to completely make somebody's day. Be cautious of your interactions with others and be kind. It's always possible to be kind.

Smile at everybody you see today

Pay for the person behind you at a coffee shop 

Call 3 people you love and tell them 

Try not to say anything negative or complain all day 

Buy a homeless person a meal 

Surprise someone with flowers 

Make uplifting cards with a group of friends and deliver them to a hospital 

Deliver baked goods to your neighbors

Leave a positive note in a public place (restaurant, bus, restroom, etc...)

There's lots of quotes about kindness so I'm sharing three at the end of this post instead of just one.

"When words are both true and kind they can change the world." -Buddha 

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou 

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Plato

Lovely Reads for Girls

This time of year makes me want to curl up in a huge cozy blanket and read a great book. These are my favorite books I've read during the past couple of months. They are empowering, inspiring, and humorous; all written by women who are sharing a part of their story while staying true to themselves. I recommend them to all girls! Reading about other's lives is so refreshing. These 5 women have chased a dream in one way or another and have inspired me in different ways. Happy reading!

1. I Am Malala; Malala Yousafzai

Malala's unbelievable story is unlike anything I've ever read. This is the story of a seventeen year old's strong advocacy for female education. She is the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

2. #GIRLBOSS; Sophia Amoruso 
Sophia Amoruso is the ultimate #girlboss. An empowering and real book written by the CEO of Nasty Gal. It's full of fantastic quotes and it'll leave you feeling like you can conquer the world.

3. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns); Mindy Kaling
I picked up this book at Barnes and Noble to read the first page and I was laughing out loud from the first paragraph. It's a quick, fun, and easy read that is relatable to girls!

4. Not That Kind of Girl; Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham describes parts of her life, ranging from college to relationships to food, in a completely honest way. It's refreshing and different from what I expected upon reading.

5. IT; Alexa Chung
This isn't quite a novel but I look at it more as a visual inspiration. IT is full of Alexa Chung's favorite things and of course everything is lovely and charming. A fabulous read for fashion-and Alexa Chung-lovers.

 "With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?" -Oscar Wilde 

DIY Memory Box

A DIY project is coming your way and it's all about an organized place to put photographs, letters, special receipts, and memories of times you wouldn't want to forget. This idea came to me because I've been getting the sweetest letters from friends and family, taking a few polaroid photos, and having adventures that I like to write about on the back of receipts. I decided I should definitely have one of these memory boxes for the first semester of college. By storing these things in a small box, they will always have a place so you can look back and reminisce.
What you'll need:
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon
Flowers
Glue
Scissors
Stickers
An old magazine
A shoebox/clothing box/photo box

After a trip to Micheals, I had all the necessary supplies to make my own memory box. I cut up the scrapbook paper to cover only the middle section of the box, then decorated the rest with the other supplies. The top of my box includes the name of my college. Whatever your memory box is for, make sure you write the title and year! For example, if you'd like to make a memory box from Summer 2014, be sure to include that on top. The sides of this box have magazine clippings of words I cut out that I feel relate to college, which is just a little detail that makes the box more decorative. After everything was glued onto the box, I put cards, photos, and letters in it and it's now stored right by my desk. 

I can't wait to start making these for more major events in life...summer, vacations, birthday presents! If you decide to make one of these memory boxes, please send me a picture, I'd LOVE to see.

"Leave the world a little better than you found it." -Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell 

Brighten your Monday

Hello lovely human beings. It's Monday and sometimes that means dreading the upcoming week, but today is not the case. Today is a new opportunity for a fresh start. Make your Monday more optimistic starting with these simple little pick me ups.

☼Blast your favorite song on your way to work or school.
     One of these feel good songs should work perfectly, too.
     ❁Pumpkin Blood By: NONONO
     ❁Simple Life By: Casey Abrams 
     ❁ You & I By: Ingrid Michealson 
     ❁It's A Beautiful Day By: Micheal Bulbé
☼Start your day by going on a walk or jog outside to open
     your mind to the new possibilities of the week.
     They are endless.
☼Give a stranger a genuine compliment.
    Everyone could use an unexpected smile.
☼Eat a macaroon. Or enjoy a cupcake.
☼Call somebody you love and tell them.

   

Hopefully these make some of you smile today. Thanks for reading!

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -Albert Einstein  

Coffee Shop Mornings

Something about being alone in a coffee shop is so intriguing. You get to people watch and think whatever you’d like about everything. Everyone is living their own story at this exact moment here, whether they are dressed up to go to work, just rolled out of bed, chatting with a friend, absorbed in a book….it’s awesome. Wait, do you ever wonder what you’re suppose to do when you’re working in a coffee shop and really have to pee? This is me right now. Does anybody know the answer to this?? I really don’t want to leave my laptop and food just sitting here...

Anyways.

The past week I’ve had crazy amounts of inspiration for new projects and posts soon to come! I’d just like to say that you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people but instead become the best person you can be. Comparing yourself to others just leads to negative thoughts about yourself but actually nobody in the world is like you. You have an amazing set of talents, thoughts, and characteristics that no one shares, which can be turned into something beautiful. Find what you love to do and put 100% into your dreams. Go after your passions, fall in love with them, let them steer you. If things don't go exactly according to plan, you tried and you’ll eventually end up where you are suppose to be at. Rid your mind of fear as well as negative thoughts, surprising things can happen. 

Enjoy your Friday as much as possible! 

If you have suggestions for upcoming posts definitely email/tweet/instagram me! 

J U L Y

Hello there- watch this video below! Soul Pancake is the freaking best and their videos show the good in people. I could watch them all day long without getting bored.
Can you believe it's already July? The first month of summer was definitely eventful. Set some new small goals for yourself that you can accomplish by the end of this month.
And there's also a few special/quirky days in July.....
It's National Ice Cream Month
Fourth of July, woohoo America!
National Sugar Cookie Day is July 9th
July 11th = Free Slurpees at 7/11
July 24th is Cousin's Day, show your cousins some extra love.
Thank you for reading my posts on here and follow by email if you'd like to get updates! xx

Start with yourself...

Thanks Gandhi. (taken from tumblr)