Guess What?!

Forgive me for my double post today but... I wrote my first ever guest post for my friend Simply Alyssa, and it is posted TODAY! Go check it out! It's all about why I blog =)

And HELLO to any of you who may have found your way over here from Alyssa's blog! I hope you take the time to look around my little bloggy and comment/follow if you like what I've got goin on here!

Worst Date EVVEERRR!

I am not participating in every day of Neely, Amber, and Casey's Valentine's Day Challenge, but I have been wanting to tell this story for awhile so I might as well do it today with them since the topic is "Love Telling This Bad Date Story- Worst Date Ever." I know this is a long post but make sure you read to the end, because you will not believe how this date ends!



So lets go back to summer of 2010- I was 21 and living with a bunch of my best friends in a fraternity house (yes you read that right). One night we went out to a random apartment party. At this party I met a guy who I ended up talking with for the majority of the night. He was super nice and easy to talk to, so when he asked for my number and suggested we go out sometime in the next week I agreed.

He seemed interesting enough, and I figured that we would have plenty to talk about but I was still a bit nervous so I wanted to make sure our date included an activity just in case conversation lagged. I found a bowling alley in the area and we planned to go there.

He picked me up, we drove to the bowling alley, and quickly discovered we could not bowl because there was a bowling league that night and lanes didn't open up until much later than night... Bad Sign # 1.

I suggested we drive down the street to Santa Monica's Third Street and get some dessert and walk around. We drive there and begin the awful search for parking. During this drive he tells me about a web show he does which chronicles bad date stories. "But don't worry" he says, "I'm sure our date won't end up on the show." Bad Sign # 2.

My date had no cash, and would not let me pay for the parking so we drove around for at least 40 minutes and failed to find somewhere we could park for free. Conversation LAGGED this whole time despite my best efforts. Bad Sign # 3.

Finally I suggested we just head back to Westwood and get some Diddy Reese or Starbucks (anything to get out of the car!). We get back to Westwood, park and begin to walk to Diddy Reese (an awesome place where you can get choose two cookies and your choice of ice cream to make into a giant cookie sandwhich for only $1.50!) when he informs me that he is not a big dessert fan... Really?! After two hours of fail you are going to complain about cookies and ice cream?! Bad Sign # 4. Fine. We get Starbucks instead and decide to walk around Westwood with our coffee.

We begin walking the same streets that I walk all the time. As we walk I see a potentially homeless man walking directly towards us. Bad Sign # 5? I begin to move over as it seems apparent that this man does not plan to change his direction. My date moves to the other side, but not before the homeless man THREW HIS CUP OF SOUP ON MY DATE. No joke.

We turn the corner as my date picks noodles off of his jacket, and I inform him that we should probably just head back to the car as that must be the cake topper on an evening already full of FAIL. He agrees, and as we walk back to the car he informs me that our date probably will be on that web show (but assures me its not my fault).

Needless to say I did not go out with him again, despite his multiple attempts to convince me otherwise.

In retrospect I should have looked around for that supposed web show though... Oh well.

The Fault In Our Stars

And so another week begins! Happy Monday!

Since getting my Kindle for graduation back in June, I have been able to read more books for pleasure than I ever was able to during college. No doubt my favorite has been The Hunger Games series (honestly, if I had to pick one series to read over and over for the rest of my life it would probably be The Hunger Games... no joke), but I recently read a new book by John Green (one half of The Vlog Brothers on YouTube) called The Fault In Our Stars.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think many of you would too. The Amazon product detail describes it as:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
I bought this book after seeing multiple YouTuber's mention it, and I am so glad I did. I obviously expected it to be sad (the main character has terminal cancer... How could it not be sad?) but I was surprised and impressed by how often I found myself laughing out loud at the characters interactions.

It is a page turner and therefore a very quick read; I read it in a day because I just couldn't put it down. If you are looking for something to read this weekend I highly recommend that you check this book out! If you do, come back and let me know what you thought!

Also, I'm always looking for new suggestions of books to read- so if you have read anything you really liked recently let me know!

My First Blog "Award"!

My friend Alyssa, over at Simply Alyssa (I'm sure you all know her by now, becuase I have linked to her blog on many different occasions) gave me the Liebster Blog Award the other day! I'm so excited! My first blog award! 'I would like to thank...' just kidding

I tried really hard to figure out where this award actually originated, but no such luck. In any case, Liebster in German means dearest, beloved, or favorite, and it is for bloggers with under 200 followers.

Anyway, here is how this award works:

{1} Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them!

{2} Award the award to 5 of your favorite bloggers with less than 200 followers & link them!

{3}Post the award on your blog!

{4}Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet--other bloggers of course!

{5} And best of all--have fun & spread the karma!

I know that I will never blog for money, so I am all about introducing my little group of readers to anyone who's blog I enjoy (no need to save promotion for sponsors only on my blog!). This award is ANOTHER chance for me to do just that; so I will be awarding the Liebster Blog Award too...

Bethany @ Life So Sweet

Jo @ Hodge[s]podges

Ashley @ sunshine.life.love

Ashley @ Sweet Tea In Siciliy

Chelsae @ as chelsea sees it...

Hopefully none of these girls have been given the award already... but if you have, oh well, it's just a little more love, right?!

Happy Friday!

Every Summer Has A Story

It's true.

There was the epic, dodgeball-filled, summer before college.
And the summer of the apartment.
And the summer at Theta Xi.
And the summer after college, full of trips, concerts, and fairs.

Since it has been cold, rainy, and foggy here for the last week or so (and since it is the middle of the winter season) I am obviously wishing it were summertime.

I miss laying out by the pool, and being tan. I miss the sun staying up until late in to the evening. I miss wearing shorts and tank tops. I miss those summer days driftin away in to those summer nights =)

Wishing For Rain As I Stand In The Desert

I really enjoyed writing the post last week about Sunday Lane. Music is truly a passion of mine. I wish I could say that I personally am musical- a singer, songwriter, or even just someone who can play an instrument- sadly I can not do any of those things; but I can appreciate good music of all kinds. Therefore, I am going to make a habit of posting once a week about a song/artist that has stood out to me in the past week. I'll try to stick with somewhat lesser known artists in hopes that I will introduce y'all to something new.

The artist I'm going to share with you today is not new to me, nor is he particularly obscure but I have been listening to him quite a bit lately and I think you all will enjoy his music.

This is Ron Pope. The song above was the first song I ever heard from him, called "A Drop In The Ocean". My friends Jamee introduced me to this song quite a few years ago. The song has been featured  in multiple TV shows (it was on the most recent season Vampire Diaries), but other than that I've never heard Ron Pope's music anywhere else.

Ron Pope is comparable to guys like Gavin DeGraw and Ernie Halter. You know, singer/songwriter, strong, sensitive man types.

"A Drop In The Ocean" is certainly one of my favorites, but I also love"Stranded In Los Angeles", "You're The Reason I Come Home", and "Headlights On The Highway" all from his Live and Unplugged album.

He did release a new album in 2011 called "Whatever It Takes" and I'll admit I have not listened to enough of it to form an opinion about any of those songs, mainly because I tend to listen to the songs I am already familiar with because I love them so much, but I plan to make an effort to check it out ASAP!

Let me know what you guys think of Ron Pope, and of these music related posts!

Blog Title from Ron Pope's "A Drop In The Ocean"

Update & My Blogging Friends

I essentially ignored my computer and phone all weekend, which means I didn't prep any blog posts for this week like I normally do. I am getting down to crunch time with my GRE studying, and also realizing I need to put some real time into my applications (plus I still have regular stuff to do... like work...) so the blog posts may be just a little bit sparse for the next couple weeks. I apologize! And I will certainly post when I can (just probably not everyday like I've been trying to do).

In the mean time check out some of my friends blogs (and pictures of us with semi-celebrities):

Bethany- one of my best friends from both home (Fresno) and UCLA.

The time we met Stefano (from last season of American Idol). Bethany is on the  far right.

Jo- bestie and 1/3 of the best living situation ever (ROOM 6 LOVE!)

The time we met Vanilla Ice in Vegas. Jo is on the far left.

Katie- favorite and another 1/3 of the best living situation ever =)

The time we met Bo Burnham (look him up- he is a hilarious musical comedian). Katie is on the far right.

Hopefully these girls blogs tide you over while I am not posting quite so frequently. Jo and Katie are both just starting out, so maybe this will put a little pressure on them to post more =) and Bethany is an old pro, so she will have lots to keep you interested.

One other person to check out is Alyssa, of Simply Alyssa. I can't show you a picture of us because we've never met, but she is one of my favorite blog friends and she certainly blogs enough to tide you over if I don't have a post. She also just got a blog button! So click that to go check her out!

(No) Missed Opportunities

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain

Since graduating the past June, it has been all to easy for me to point out the things I wish I had done. Don't get me wrong, I did A LOT as an undergrad. I worked a few different jobs/internships, was and extremely involved member of my sorority, made some amazing friends, attended lots a great UCLA sporting events, explored LA, laughed, cried, worked hard, and slacked off. But there is still more I wish I had done.

I actually began to realize it senior year, as graduation loomed near, that there were still things I wanted to do. Lucky for me, life doesn't end after undergrad!

I know, shocking! Right?!

All of that in mind, I have made a promise to myself that I will take advantage of every opportunity that I possibly can. Yes, there will be things I have to say no to, but I plan to say "yes" more often than I say "no". 

And many of my friends have embraced a similar philosophy. I am so pleased with the way I've been able to stay in touch with my closest friends even though we no longer see each other daily. And as such, I think we do an even better job of taking advantage of the time we do have together.

I do wonder though... When I am 80, 90, 95+ years old (cuz I'm planning to live a nice looonnnggg time) what years will I look back on and say "Those years- Those years were the BEST years of my life." Right now, I think those year are still yet to come.

P.S. According to Blogger this is my 50th post =)

My Love/Hate Relationship With Target

If I walk in to Target, I am resigning myself to spend at least fifty bucks.

 I have simply come to accept that I can walk in to Target for one thing and come out with a new nail polish, fuzzy socks, a five dollar movie, and a pair of bright coral yoga pants. If I am lucky I remembered to get the thing I actually went in for...

This is why I have a love/hate relationship with Target. 

Granted it's like 89% love/11% hate.

I love it a lot more than I hate it.

Still I kick myself everytime I'm swipin' that debit card, thinking "You just needed to pick up a quick bday card to send to one person... Do you really need these adorable new picture frames?"

Yes.

I do.

Does anyone else have a similar relationship with Target?

I'm sure I'm not the only one...

I'll Be The Reckless One

On last weeks season premiere of One Tree Hill (yeah, you all know I'm obsessed by now) there was a gorgeous song I noticed in the back groud behind one of the scenes. I have a tendency to hear lyrics I like, google them, and then download the song. Well last week I heard

 "You can be careful and I'll be the reckless one..."

A quick trip to google and then over to youtube and spotify led me to the discovery of the beautiful Sunday Lane. This girl has only released one EP called "Bring Me Sunshine" but I hope she has plans to release more music soon. Sunday is a young singer/songwriter who reminds me a bit of someone like Ingrid Michaelson, or Regina Spektor. A few of her songs kind of remind me of a smaller band from here in CA called "Lady Danville", especially "Heavy Heart, Heavy Hands." Her voice is sweet and soulful, and her lyrics are relevant and beautiful.

I must say "Reckless One" is probably my favorite song on the EP, but I truly do love each song. I encourage you to go check her out on YouTube or Spotify. I honestly can't stop listening to this girl's EP. It has essentially been on repeat since I discovered it.