craigslist adventures

craigslist adventures

Tee: Old Navy | Skirt: Madwell | Shoes: F21 | Purse: Kate Spade 

Holy ozone batman! The past few days have been hot. Really hot. Like this chica is en fuego kind of hot. Which is why I think this outfit was a stupid idea. A heat stroke death wish, if you will. The only explanation for why I'd choose to wear all black is because I'm crazy. 

In other news, can we talk about Craigslist for a moment? I'm currently looking for a new place to move into and it's been quite the lengthy process. I know I'm a late bloomer over here but this is actually my first time moving into a place with roommates. My first experience moving out was with my boyfriend years ago. I was hardly 22 and my living situation felt more like an actual home than what I'm attempting to do now. I'm still having a hard time understanding the concept of living with strangers and sharing living spaces with furniture that isn't even your own. 

So Craigslist. Is there any other reliable source out there that you have used that may be beneficial for this girl? Because so far, the search hasn't been working out really well for me. I really liked one of the places I visited but then I was told that I had to be able to cook dinner with everyone every Tuesday, go out for drinks on Fridays and list my favorite tv shows so it could be synced with everyone else's shows which everyone watched on Sundays. Another place I liked had a strange deal in which I was expected to not come home on weekends or that I would be sleeping elsewhere some days during the week. Which makes me wonder, why am I paying a good amount of money if I can't sleep there? And what the heck are you doing in that house that you feel like I shouldn't be around to see or know? 

And I know, what's so bad about cooking, hanging out and watching favorite tv shows with potential roomies? I don't have anything against it. I'd actually appreciate being able to get along with roommates except I kind of want a friendship to happen organically and if it fits with the crazy, rotating schedule that a nurse has. Sometimes after 12 hour shifts, you just want to go home, shower and pass out. I just didn't know the process of finding a place could be this hard. Don't even get me started on the, Oh you're not vegan? You don't work in international development? You're not a Pats fan? deal breakers some people seem to have. 

So yeah, Craigslist. Sometimes a strange place to venture in. But mostly, it's just interesting.

cherry blossoms, flowers & sun

cherry blossoms, flowers & sun

I know I talk a whole lot about the weather. Ok, I get it. You get it. I hate winter. And for awhile, it seemed like spring would never get here. March fooled us with a snowstorm and Easter was fah-reeee-zing! But, you guys, guess who decided to show up afterall? That's right, spring!

One of the things I love love love about living so close to DC is we get the cherry blossoms every year. I like feeling like a tourist just like everyone else. When I first saw them this year, the buds hadn't even bloomed yet. When I went today, they had already hit their peak. So I missed the blossoms at their peak but it didn't stop me from taking out my bike and riding around the city today which just really hit the spot. And Hains Point, man. It is the place to go. 

Other fun activities that have me spreading happy cheer: buying flowers for the garden and patio we just finished building in the backyard, filling the kitchen up with tulips, taking walks with family, driving with the windows down, smoothies. The little things, you know. 

So really spring... why don't you stick around for a bit?

hello hello

hello hello

Dress: Topshop | Bag: Nine West | Shoes: Old | Sunnies: Marc Jacobs

I'm completely slacking tonight. There's some stuff I need to get done but I'm putting it off to blog. That's right. My priorities are completely in line. The truth is, I'm having a bum day. No scratch that. I had a marvelous day. It was beyond gorgeous out and I spent the entire day outdoors with some people that I love a whole lot. It's more like having a bum night. Let's just chalk it up and say it's a girl thing where stupid hearts get involved. I'd like to veto a lot of the things that little pitter patter machine is making me feel tonight. 

Can we all agree it's nothing a glass of wine can't fix? ;)

a reminder to be happy

a reminder to be happy

Dress: H&M | Shoes: Guess | Bag: Nordstrom | Sunnies: Marc Jacobs

Lately, I've been going through a somewhat odd time in my life. It's silly because all things considered, I have it pretty darn good. And I know this. So sometimes, when I am emoting this strange and sad feeling, I have to remind myself how blessed I am and how others are so much happier with so much less. And that makes me feel ashamed. But, I suppose everyone goes through weird feelings every once in a while. Or maybe it is the fact that I'm turning 27 this year and eeeek, you guys, I am just not ready. The number makes me cringe, makes me want to run for the hills. Because the number is discretely yelling at me to get my life together, even though I am just now starting to feel like I am accomplishing great things. But every once in a while I get these little rainy clouds hovering over me that say I need to accomplish other things; things like settling down, having kids before I hit advanced maternal age, buying a house... But then another part of me wants to travel to South America to deliver babies, Africa to help with the HIV/AIDS population, live in Hawaii and San Francisco while being a pediatric nurse, then go back to school AGAIN... and I can't help but think if maybe I started planning too late?

It's really helped that when I went to nursing school, I met some incredible women my age who were on a similar path... not married yet, starting a new career, and most importantly they were happy! It was such a relief to know that I wasn't the only one in the world who wasn't settled. We had big plans for our future and we were working hard for it. These forever friends that I am so grateful to have made are all I need when I need a reminder that I'm actually doing quite well in womanhood. And gosh darn, when I start freaking out about 27, I can remember that it's nothing more than just twenty-sexy. Because that's what I'll be celebrating another year of. Why shouldn't women take over the world in their little black dress and high heels scrubs? It's always good to remember that it doesn't matter what your station in life is because you can always live life to the fullest. And in celebration for my current station, I'm breaking out the little black dress.

the waiting game

the waiting game

Trench: Burberry | Jeans: Madewell | Shoes: F21 | Purse: Target | Sunnies: Marc Jacobs

I just finished up another night of studying for the NCLEX when I thought the only thing that sounded like a good idea before getting into bed was to make a nice cup of tea. I was walking into the kitchen when I noticed how bright everything was outside. It's snowing in Virginia and while it's still just a dusting, it's the most I've seen all winter. Ask my immune system, who has been suffering for weeks now, how it feels and it will tell you that it's not too thrilled. It's been in the teens and low twenties over here these past few days, making anything outdoors miserable. This girl is ready for warmer weather, flowers, fewer layers of clothes, running outdoors, driving with the windows down and all that jazz.

But for the meantime, between the gym and the books, I'll be snuggled in my bed, beneath comforters and watching netflix. I can think of more terrible ways to spend the awkward phase of waiting around to becoming a licensed nurse, right?



a blazing idea

a blazing idea

Blazer: H&M | Pants: Madewell | Shoes: Michael Kors | Clutch: NineWest | Sunnies: Marc Jacobs

Well, if any of you actually know me, you'll know that I finally graduated from nursing school last month and it was kind of a big deal. At least for those of you that had to put up with me for the glorious 15 months that I would not ever do again. But here I am, at the start of a new year, still feeling giddy whenever I think about how I can tell people that I'm a nurse. It's a nice feeling considering I went through 4 years of college before and never felt proud of the degree I earned and that feeling was only intensified by my lack of contribution to society while working in the 'real world' -- ya know, the typical early twenties syndrome. Now, I'm just slowly studying my way to my NCLEX date. I'm sweating just thinking about it but that can be another story for another day.

On another note, should we talk about blazers? Look, I never thought I'd say this. But I think every girl needs a blazer in her closet. I wouldn't have been caught dead wearing one back in the day when I worked in the corporate world but I was young, blind and pretty much unwilling to go beyond a cute dress (which got me in lots of trouble at work so if I were you, I'd invest in a blazer). All I'm saying is that a blazer is infinitely adaptable. Hello 80s bright bubble gum pink blazer with shoulder pads... you pretty much just rocked my weekend attire.