Starting Something Big

Can something referred to as "big" still be an understatement? Something being called an understatement suggests that it is small, so am I creating an oxymoron by saying that "big is an understatement"?

Maybe. But either which way, that is not the point.

Here it is:

This blog has officially taken on a different purpose. From now on, it is here I will map out my new journey. From the very beginning to the very end.

I should probably let you know what I'm talking about.

I am applying for the Peace Corps.

I am about one day away from submitting my application. Which is both terrifying and exciting. Mostly exciting. I think?

I wish my parents would get on board. They have concerns, naturally, because they love me and they know this isn't exactly the safest thing to do.

But I think it's the most amazing thing to do. And amazing things - adventurous things - aren't usually safe. I will do my best to stay safe, as I'm sure the Peace Corps people will do their best to keep me safe. I just have a passion for helping people, and trying new things. I really can't think of a better way to do both of those things.

Here, allow me to tell you how I feel through Mumford and Sons:

More once my application is officially submitted. I hope you'll join me on this journey. 

If not, I'm alright to go at it alone. All good journeys seem to begin that way anyway, don't they?

Stealing Rays

Pardon my absence. Boy, can school throw off a perfectly good month! School and work. Pesky little things, aren't they!? Building a solid foundation for my future can be tiresome... Woe to me. But real talk, things have gotten a tad busy. I'm glad I was able to take a moment during work today to take some pictures with Amanda for you all! Completely her idea by the way. She called me about a half hour before work started and told me to get cute, because we'd be taking pictures. Good thing she did, or else I probably wouldn't have even showered....

Shameful lazy confessions all up in this blog today!

Anywho, on to the outfits. First truly warm day in Chicago, and it showed! Everyone was out of the house today, just being outside. Amanda and I decided it was too nice of a day to wear pants. So, dresses it was! Mine was a comfortable little sun dress from Target, her's was a cute vintage getup from Anthropologie.

Dress from Target, Tree from Work

Dress from Anthropologie, Picnic Table from Work

It was windy, but we persevered. Honestly, weather-wise, today was perfect. That tiny taste of summer will last me until it's actually here. I realized that we Midwest people really appreciate good weather when we have it, because we know all too well what it's like when the weather turns ugly.

We took some fun pictures outside. Amanda is really handy with a camera. Eventually, the fun had to end, and we went back into our stuffy, windowless office...

Salutations from Customer Service Land! We are told our customers can hear us smiling through the phone. Can you sense me smiling as I type this?

Good, 'cause I totally was.

Happy weather, everyone!

Today's Outfit

Hello again, all. I hope you're all having outrageously awesome days. My day was filled with school and sleepiness. That's what I get for staying up all night the night before! I have a slight funk about me... But these things do happen sometimes. I'm sure tomorrow will lift my spirits. I'm spending the day with my god-sister Anastasia, laser tagging and movie going. Good times.

I shall ado no further! Here is my outfit:

Yeahhh, I'm a dork... Mad good weekends, everyone!

Forcing Early Bird Syndrome

I'm trying this new thing where I wake up everyday at 5:00. I did it the other day, forcibly, because I had to finish a lab for science. The funny thing was, I actually felt like I had more energy all day! So, now, I'm doing it willingly. I'll let you all know how it goes.

I finally got pictures from my friend Val's 21st birthday party! Here is the outfit that I just adore:

Skirt and shirt from A'gaci
Sarah and Val, friends from Life

Please excuse those unsightly beer cans and such! It was a 21st birthday, after all!

Now! Everyone, have a marvelous day. That is an order!

Vintage Thrifting in Wicker Park

Yesterday, my friend Amanda and I went on a little adventure in Wicker Park. Wicker Park is a super cool section of the wonderful city of Chicago. The area is known for it's cute boutiques, hip thrift stores, record stores, used bookshops, and a cafe with it's own Back to the Future Delorean.

It's basically the most magical place on earth, besides Disney World. Amanda and I had one goal: Thrift until we could thrift no longer. We also wanted to document all of our finds, so I grabbed my camera and out we went to catch the El.

BUT ALAS. No adventure is without it's set backs. It appeared that the battery had been taken out of the camera, a sad fact which was discovered when I went to take my first picture. It's quite lucky we live in the modern age, where most cell phones have cameras, so the hiccup was a tiny one.

Here are some shots of yours truly:

Waiting for the El.

If boots could complete a person...

My favorite gloves from Target.

And here are some shots of the lovely Amanda:

Ready to brave the Chicago cold.

Scarf straight from Dubai

Fantastic bag from JC Penny

As far as adventures go, it was quite successful. We had some interesting encounters with a couple creepers. Some guys came up to us with a wrinkled flier, stating it was national hug day (which, once researched, we discovered it was NOT). Subsequently, we were hugged. It happened so fast, we couldn't spurn their advances. Blast.

Then, there was the forward fellow who danced up on us, and wanted to take us shopping. His "hey baby, what's your name?" failed to woo either of us.

They weren't all creepy encounters, though! We were stopped and asked to give an interview by this Australian salon owner who was really awesome, and quite complimentary about our hair/styles. He also said we gave the best interviews he'd gotten so far, and he'd been all over the country. So, that was flattering!

I found these fantastic shoes at Buffalo Exchange, which is possibly my favorite shop in Wicker Park:

I'm deepy, deeply in love.

Amanda also found this cozy sweater at Buffalo Exchange:

Would you like some coco with that cozy?

I'll end with this adorable cabinet from a little boutique we popped into for a moment, but by our lives, we cannot remember the name of the place! Whoops...

Far too much cute.

Tonight, we venture into the city again, this time for my best friend Val's 21st Birthday party. Drunken hilarity will ensue, better pictures will be produced, and I cannot wait to show you all my outfit. It's one of my favorites!

I hope everyone's weekend has been outta this world so far. Stay lovely.

Falling to Temptation: Ice Cream Edition

After writing today's previous blog post, I got to craving. Hankering, if you will. I wanted Cookie Dough ice cream like it was no body's business. Which it, in fact, was not. (With the exception of my best friend, Adrianna, whom I promptly texted the following before making any rash decisions: "Question. I'm tired, not well, it's cold. But I seriously want ice cream. Do I go get some?") Braving the Chicago mist -- at this point, it cannot fairly be called snow -- I raced to my friendly neighborhood Dominick's.

Of course, it started innocently enough with the acquisition of the Cookie Dough, as great quests often do.

But from there, things quickly got out of hand... I spotted Cheesecake Brownie ice cream, and I froze. And not just because I was in the freezer isle either! I knew what had to be done.

I fear I fall into that classification of humans who "can't be tamed." But worry not. I have a large spoon, which is appropriately paired with my large appetite.

Blog life.

Thinking Beautiful

What a quote! It makes me think about all the things I've ever considered ugly. That old sweater. A failed relationship. Heck, even some of my friend's new hairstyles... Don't tell them that! But are all those things truly and completely ugly? If you're like me, it's likely at one point, you indeed thought they were. When it comes to looking back on past relationships, it's especially likely that things were -- or are -- a complete mess. Your thoughts can't help but focus on all the bad mojo surrounding the memories.

The thing about thoughts is this: When you have one, you instantly stem another. That's just the way our fascinating and mysterious minds work. And that is precisely the reason why many of us often find ourselves falling into an endless thought spiral. Thought Spirals are dangerous, tricky foes that pull us down and cloud our vision. They usually end with frantic phone calls to your best friend, endless hours Googling for answers, and copious amounts of ice cream.

When you think something is ugly, and you write it off as such, you're only allowing your mind to cultivate more ugly thoughts. And Ugly Thought Spirals? Well, those are the worst kind of Thought Spirals.

Taking the time to look past how hurtful, uncool, or ugly something may seem and seeing the joy, effort, and beauty in it instead could completely shift your thoughts to a happier, lovelier place. Changing your established perception is difficult, to be sure, but it's worth the time and brainpower. It may even bring you closer to gaining some insight or healing some wounds. Whenever I fall into an Ugly Thought Spiral, and I'm elbow-deep in a vat of Crazy-For-Cookie-Dough Ice Cream, I remind myself to think of all the beauty instead. I remind myself to appreciate my life for exactly what it is.

Then I continue eating my ice cream.

What? I think we can all agree, ice cream is a most beautiful thing!