Why Barnes & Noble Restores My Faith in Humanity

After work the other day, I went over to browse Barnes & Noble, the favored option to sitting in freeway traffic on the way home, heading for no plans other than homework. I picked up a dreamy salted caramel hot chocolate from their in-house Starbucks (10% off for being a member, heyyyy) and started aimlessly roaming the displays. Sometimes elevator music and sometimes modern pop plays overhead (a confusing mixture), and I sip away while walking at the most leisurely of paces. Pretty covers and cheesy titles usually catch my hopeless romantic eye, but I'm also intrigued by the biographies section that tells the stories of our world's most iconic and interesting minds.

So what does all this walking around by myself have to do with my faith in humanity? Oh, let me explain. It's awesome. The thing is, I'm not the only one wandering aimlessly while drinking sugary goodness--the place is packed! I am so weirdly comforted that there are still enough people that appreciate reading and learning to keep a place like Barnes & Noble not just in business, but booming. The world still has people that are curious and willing to slow down and get lost in a story. People still discover new worlds through text and give their children books as gifts. That's sure reassuring in our highly digital, filtered, and always updated world. 

So instead of sitting in traffic, or going home to watch Netflix, maybe stop in to the nearest B&N and take it all in. 

Current Obsessions

The Last Five Years

This is a Netflix-available movie adaptation of a Broadway musical, starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. It follows the 5 year relationship of Jamie and Cathy, but what makes it interesting is that she tells the story from the end, and he starts at the beginning, then they eventually cross paths in the middle. I'm serious when I use the word "obsession," y'all. I've been listening to this soundtrack every single day for weeks now just to learn the complex lyrics so I can sing along! When I'm having a bad day, I'll yell/sing the part where she's mad in "See I'm Smiling" or when he's upset in "If I Didn't Believe In You." Yes, I know I'm a dork. But whoa, these two just knock it out of the park. I was so impressed by their performances.

Diet Coke

Just add it to the list of ways I'm turning into my mother.

The Bachelor



Most people have a guilty pleasure in the form of reality television, and mine is The Bachelor, in all it's addicting, dramatic, and mushy glory. My biggest question this season, though, is not who he will pick; but rather, how does Caila do her hair?! I need to know. It's all my hair dreams come to life.

Josh Turner

Shoot y'all, this man can sing. His deep, classic country voice sings the sweetest, catchiest, and simplest songs. I've rediscovered him recently, and am particularly loving "As Fast As I Could."

Best in the (Insta) Business

               Carly Heitlinger: @carly

She's the author of the blog that got me reading blogs! The College Prepster is the preppy girl's dream for fashion, interior design, and East Coast weekend adventures. Also, she has an adorable pup named Teddy.

                 

                                                                                                                                    Rachel Ryle: @rachelryle 

She's an illustrator and animator, and her sketches come alive! It is so cool to watch her little stories. She's incredibly talented.



    Julia Engel: @juliahengel

I and her other 792K followers love seeing how she makes anything look chic and just wears what she loves, regardless of trend, on her blog Gal Meets Glam. Julia is my #1 style inspiration and her travels have me writing a bucket list a mile long!

                                                        Howie Guja: @howieguja









He's an incredible photographer who lives in the Hamptons with his beautiful wife and daughters. His photos are quintessential East Coast beauty, and I love daydreaming of my trip there one day (where I'll stop by to meet Ina Garten, too, of course).


  Hailey Devine: @haileydevine

I've written about her on my blog before, in this post, I just adore her! Her Instagram is filled with sweet family snaps, exotic travels, and everyday treasures. Their videos are so well made and fun, too! Her bio: " British husband, a baby, & lots of video making."


                                             Brittany Fuson: @brittanyfuson









She's an artist with such unique, relevant, and fun work. I've given her prints as gifts a few times and they're always a hit! She's even illustrated Julia up there a couple of times, and I love her planners.



             Ashley Bartlett: @quaintrellebyab

Oh, this gal. She's the most darling Canadian writer whose Insta feed is filled with pastel colors and life's little pleasures. Her blog, Quaintrelle, is well-written, whimsical, and inspiring. She recently returned from a 6 month sabbatical in Paris with her fiance...I know, dreamy!




                         Sarah Vickers: @sarahkjp




AKA the American Kate Middleton. Yeah, she's a big deal! Her and her husband's life in Rhode Island is like a preppy, New England catalog of bliss. That's partly true, actually, because the Kiel James Patrick brand is their successful business, and photos of their own adventures double as advertising material for their American made products. Her photos are beautifully crafted and her style is completely charming.

22 To Do Before I'm 22

I turn 22 (oo-oo!) in August, and I want to make the most of my remaining time as a 21 year-old. And so, I made a bucket list of sorts to fulfill before my birthday. Want to come along for the fun?

1. Eat at Lucky 13 (because I'm 21 and they'll let me in now...)
2. Take a spin class 
3. Buy some cowboy boots
4. Create a gallery wall in my room
5. Run a 5k race
6. Get a manicure
7. Take a road trip
8. Go sledding 
9. Practice basic calligraphy
10. Meet my new niece
11. Go on a hike
12. Eat at a new restaurant (Lucky 13 excluded)
13. Go camping
14. Visit home 
15. Read 2 books (NOT textbooks!)
16. Buy the order behind me in a drive-thru 
17. Volunteer somewhere
18. Go stargazing 
19. Go to a drive-in movie
20. Go to a ballet
21. Shadow an attorney
22. Go to a Jazz game

#RCG22todo Let's do this!

To Live By

Last night, some friends and I were stating our own personal mantras. I found it very interesting, telling, and influential. We get to decide what our mantra is, and we are in control of our life! Isn't that a lovely thought? Daunting, sure, but empowering, too. The very definition of a mantra, as defined by good ol' Webster, is "a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone's basic beliefs." Since it's impossible for me to pick just one, I narrowed it down to six mantras that I feel describe who I am and who I want to become:

"I can do hard things."

Repeat as needed.

"Why are we embarrassed by silence? What comfort do we find in all the noise?"

I appreciate silence now more than ever and find such value in it. If I can have comfortable silences with someone, I really enjoy their company.

"Have courage and be kind." 

Because, really, what else is there?

"Make sure everyone you love knows how you feel about them." 

I feel this is so so so important.

"Don't say maybe if you want to say no."

Back to the empowering part. It's up to you!

See life through rose-colored glasses. 

You already know.

What is your personal mantra? 

Journal Snippets

I've been making an effort this year to better record my life via journal writing. Sometimes after I finish an entry, I flip through and read random pages. Taken out of context, some lines make me grin and wonder what on earth I was writing about that day. I thought I'd share a few with you, just for fun:

• Oh, singlehood.
• To feel like less of a bum, I looked up a workout on Pinterest that coincides with the show.
• I love these kinds of stories.
• So I've got myself a lil crush.
• Can I have another weekend?
• I'm sure I'll remember this sweet, kind act for many, many years to come.
• Love my little life.
• Anyway, it's cool and sweet that people like me enough to buy me food sometimes.
• How sweet it is to be a sister.
• In the end, though, I'm a country music girl.
• I freakin' loved it.
• How wonderful it can be to sometimes have nowhere to go, no plans to fulfill, or no tasks to achieve.
• I stared out at the horizon and just didn't think about anything. It was so nice, I could have stayed there for hours.

Do you keep a journal? Why do you think it's important?

As If You Were A Child

Think of how your schedule and your health would be different if you treated yourself like a child.

 You'd probably...

eat more vegetables

spend more time outdoors

watch less TV (or Netflix)

speak kinder words

always wear sunscreen

go to bed earlier

have more fun

look twice before you cross the street

apologize more

stress less

tell people you love them more often

be told you're loved more often

Isn't that interesting? We take so much care to help children feel important, smart, and beautiful. Why does that slip away as we grow up? Yes, little kids are more capable of change, so we try to foster the growth of positive attributes and thoughts of self. However, I would argue that adults require the same care. The only difference is that kids wear their heart on their sleeve, and we adults are better at hiding it when we're sad. 

Try this little experiment with me: for one day, treat yourself with the same care you would a child. (But still go to work or school, please.) I don't mean play at the park all day. The experiment is one of mindfulness, specifically of the things listed above. See how many of them come up throughout the day. I think this unique approach could be a reality check for us in the way we are (or are not) taking care of ourselves. We deserve to be happy and healthy, and it's up to us to make that happen. Be good to yourself!

Good luck and have fun!