august

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // AUGUST

1:00:00 AM


August in two words: beautifully exhausting. 

There was so much beauty surrounding me this August, from the change in scenery as I moved from Bay to mountains, to the sweet customers of my Etsy shop. And there was so much chaos that kept August moving along, like the first week of Junior year classes and the five hours it took me to move into a side of a room. Pathetic? Maybe. 


But overall, August has left me satisfied of what was and excited for what will be. I'm launching myself in to a new chapter this year. I have new desires to be a part of other things and be apart of something bigger. I want to apply myself and I want to continue to chase down some of these tiny dreams I have. I want to be thoughtful and present. I want to treat my body better and I want to set some goals and work toward them. 


August taught me about maturity and just how old 20 years is. (Deal with that italicized "old" as you will, but I'm feeling pretty old). Helping new freshmen move in to their dorms room was bittersweet and sentimental, but I sure did love looking at their faces, their eyes, their behavior and knowing exactly how they were feeling and what they were thinking. That feeling that college is so new, that they will never get used to it, and that College will seem like a lifetime. But you do get used to it and it does fly by. 


Now I'm staring at two more semesters on Virginia Tech's campus and one semester in Switzerland. So yeah, at 20 years I am feeling quite old. 


So here is to September, to Autumn, to Junior year, and to chasing down more dreams. I'm ready for you September. 



essential oil

THINGS IVE BEEN LOVIN // 8.23.16

8:39:00 AM





Tortoise Shell Spoons....I would like 200 please. 

Love this shot. 

I've really been enjoying Alex Strohl's photography on his Instagram. He also published a book titled Alternative Living which I am sure is just filled with mysterious, small, and warm homes in the great wilderness. 

Frank Ocean's latest album "Blonde" has been on repeat all day, everyday. Working out, walking to class, showering, everywhere. Ivy is most definitely my favorite.  So worth the many years of waiting for his new material. 


Tictail is a really unique retail site and app where you can shop handmade, small business items. Every since opening my little Etsy shop I've gained a stronger appreciation for small business. 

Young the Giant is continuing to kill it with their new material. They are always so consistent and their music is always thought-provoking. 

Took a little trip to Claytor Lake, VA. The perfect escape to a small town, old fashioned, refreshing lake. 

This delicate necklace is top of the list. 

IN LOVE with my new Nikon D7000. I upgraded from my Nikon D3100 to a more intermediate, advanced DSLR. I'm trying to get more into videography, astrophotography, and time-lapse. 

I'm having way too much fun with my Etsy shop. I am over the moon and so flattered with the number of orders and support I have received. 

Been spending some time exploring the incredibly talented videographers on Vimeo. This video on a weekend trip to Yosemite captivates me. I love the amplified sounds like the shutter release of a camera or the zipping of a sleeping bag. 

Lavender essential oil has been a must to fall asleep during this first week of classes. With so much on my mind and so much change within the past two weeks, working out and essential oil really help me rest easy at night. 

These candles are so so sweet. 

A sweet quote to wander with: "If I had a flower for everytime I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever." - Alfred Lord Tennyson 


nature

RECONNECTING

8:15:00 AM

Reconnection. A word that contains both triumph and a twinge of defeat. Reconnection is admittance in drifting away from something of importance but then realizing its significance so that you must bring it back into your life. 


My brother, sister, and I were not raised in front of a television. We were raised outside, under the sun and moon, quite literally rubbing dirt in our wounds. Rain, snow, or sunshine we were out on bikes, playing in our quaint treehouse, or net fishing for tadpoles in the creek down the hill. 

Even as we grew to the age when television became a privilege and we were allowed a show or two a week, we didn't take hold of the opportunity. Instead we went camping, joined scouts, and brought our toys outside. Nature and the great outdoors is something that has always resonated with us. It led my brother to a desire to explore the world on an even greater level through astronomy and aerospace interests. It led my sister to study marine biology and curate an intense appreciation for ecosystems and human-to-nature interactions. And it has led me to a passion for photography and for hiking, two things that bring me such tremendous happiness. 


It makes me sad to think that at sometime last year, I had disconnected myself from nature. I was still spending time outside - hiking, adventuring, whatever - but I was not truly appreciating every sight, sound, and feel that I had once adored so much. 

So over the course of this past summer, I realized that I wanted to bring nature in its entirety back into my. life I spent hours in the loblollies off the side of my house, photographing their shadows. I floated on the water in my kayak after work. I began to notice the smallest details of nature that just bring so much wonder and amazement to me. Being in nature turned from a conscious effort to a strong desire. 


And so, now that I have reconnected with nature - something that has always been so prominent in my life - I feel more at peace with myself. No exaggeration. To bring something back into your life that was once so dear and was once such a huge role of your childhood is quite a sweet sentiment and quite a victory.

appalachian

Dear Sophomore Year

4:52:00 AM


It is 7:29 on Tuesday morning and I am sitting outside of my academic building where I will take one of my last final exams of my sophomore year. That's insane. The feeling is familiar yet how I felt at the end of my freshman year is so very different.

I have never before grown so personally and internally than throughout the course of these past 10 months. Sophomore year turned my world upside down. The red carpet was not rolled out for me like it was my freshman year. I discovered that you will one day have to find your own path, and whether that path remains on that smooth and flat red carpet or veers on to a dirt path, it is up to you to recognize it and either change it or follow it. I followed it. 

I feel like I can relate my journey to a dirt trail, which is ironic, as I have spent most of my free time among the Appalachian Mountains.  But the reason I would label this year's journey as one of rough terrain is because, in the beginning of the year, life was rough. Not to be dramatic, but to be real...life is not always glamourous.  Things were not what I expected nor what I had hoped for as a sophomore in college. I was struggling to balance school with social life, I was working hard to make room for every person I know into my life, and I was unsure of every decision I was making as I began truly working toward my future and life after college. 

But I figured it out. I've realized that finding balance is a life practice and though I may never grasp it fully, I will gain my balance with every new day. I've learned that relationships end and people will move in and out of your life and that is OKAY. And, lastly, I've learned that living in the present is the most important step in working toward a better, happier, future. Wherever you are, be all there. 

So yes, the trail was steep, rocky, and unstable in the beginning, but upon figuring things out, I've worked my way to the summit.  I've picked up my feet and turned my eyes toward the sun. And the view from the top is so great. It is happiness. Accomplishment, bliss, and warmth is all there is now. 

So thank you sophomore year and thank you mountains. You have taught me more about myself than I could have ever learned in a classroom or have been told by someone else. I am so grateful for these past 10 months.







10 things

ten things // 4.1416

4:39:00 AM




1. I want to fall in love to The Lumineers' new album: Cleopatra.
2. Going through a little bit of a who-am-I moment. Just trying to figure things out. But who isn't?
3. Keeping in mind those lost and effected by April 16, 2007 this week.
4. Looking forward to living by and for myself this summer.
5. Adore this video from Free People.
6. I feel like I just need to get lost in a good book for a little while.
7. "Thou shalt be free as mountain winds." -Shakespeare, The Tempest
8. This is a very beautiful hashtag to look at on Instagram.
9. I need to see one more Blacksburg sunrise before leaving for the summer.
10. I truly cannot believe that after this semester I will never take another Spring class on Virginia Tech campus.  I feel old in all the best ways.


10 things

ten things // 9.24.15

1:00:00 AM

pic
  1. The best part about being a delivery driver is seeing the crystal clear night sky with its piercingly bright stars during the early morning hours.
  2. I miss my mommy (and I know she will read this so hi mom). 
  3. I can tell a difference in my yoga practice and how I have improved with vinyasa. It's awesome.
  4. It's amazing how much more focused and motivated I am when I am crazy busy.  
  5. Recently I feel like I have been balancing my friendships in a way.  It's something that I've never had to do before and something that is actually quite exhausting.  I think I just need to figure out how to "balance" because all of these people are important to me.  
  6. I am in love with this video.  It is so important and speaks to the heart. "A person is a person because of people."
  7. I need this necklace.  Just another reminder to be present and be peaceful.
  8. Loving purple mascara. 
  9. Seeing all these students walking around at math and business expos makes me realize what I want and what I don't want in a job.  I don't want to be a business suit clone and I don't want to work in a cubicle.  But what if that's where I have to be? 
  10. I've been looking to God so much more recently.  I have truly felt his presence a few times and my thoughts tend to turn towards him and my religion more often then they used to.  It's great.

college

What I Learned My Fresh(man) Year of College

2:44:00 PM

At this point in my life, time has become one of the most precious things to me.  I have witnessed an entire 10 months pass before my eyes in what seems like 10 seconds.  These 10 months have been some of the best months of my life.  I have never learned so much and grown so quickly as I have my freshmen year of college. 


 I am completely torn between wanting to just stop time and breath and wanting life to keep speeding ahead like it is because, right now, being breathless just feels so good.  I don't think I've ever been happier and more in love with my life than this second.  My head is dizzy from such a whirlwind year and my heart is bursting with so much passion and love for life. 
Freshman year of college is nothing like anybody every described it to be. It's better. No word, sentence, or quote can do it justice because no one has the same experience.  So maybe the only word to describe it is indescribable. You just have to experience it for yourself. 

 I can say all of this because --and although it absolutely kills me to say this-- I have finished my Freshman year at Virginia Tech.  I haven't finished it...I've survived it, crushed it, rocked it, embraced it, and LOVED it. And if I can tell anyone anything right now, I want to tell the naive, anxious blonde chick who just graduated from high school what I wanted someone to tell me before I set foot on campus and before life picked up and took off, full speed into the absolutely wonderful unknown. 

 And so here they are, a few things Freshmen year has taught me:

1. Let life happen. College may be the bumpiest, craziest, most emotional roller coaster of your life.  Freshmen year is no exception. Hell weeks come in waves and so do the tears, mental breakdowns, and emotional exhaustions.  But so do the moments of unimaginable joy, untouchable happiness, and complete and utter contentedness. Take everything for what it is, nothing more and nothing less. You'll find yourself much happier if you roll with the punches and go with the flow. 

2. Your parents are your best friends. Never in my entire life have I felt closer nor more loved than right now, when I am hundreds of miles and hours of travel time away from my parents. Mom and dad are amazing.  They pay the out-of-state tuition, drive the seven hours for football games, listen to my mental breakdowns over class, and love. So don't take those precious Skype minutes for granted. 

3. Do it for YOU. Yes your parents may be paying for your tuition, meal plan, greek life, whatever...but you're the one at school.  You're the one that signed up to join the club.  You're the one that decided to go to the gym at 11pm. You're the one that decided to skip out on a frat party to study for your exam. Starting now this is your life and you have 100% control.  It's not scary, it's awesome.  Whatever you do at college, do it for yourself.  If you're going to make anybody proud, let that person be you.

 4. Don't bring your entire closet. They say to bring two weeks worth of clothing. Don't even bring that much.  If you stay on top of your laundry and have a weeks worth of leggings, yoga pants, and oversized t-shirts, you're set.  I know it sounds totally and completely cliche but it's true.  You won't wear anything else. Girl Scouts' honor.

5. Rush. There are so many rumors, stereotypes, and labels on greek life and I respect anyone's decision to be apart of it or leave it in the dust, but the greek community has transformed my life.  You find the people that will get Cookout with you at anytime of day or night, the people that will pull you to a party when they know you need it most, and, ultimately, the people that will love and support you under all circumstances.  So before you roll your eyes and let the rumors decide that you won't be rushing, look into it.  There is so much more in fraternities and sororities than what is found on the surface.  

 6. The 2am food runs are worth it. Whether you're morbidly writing a paper or you're one of the hysterical folks stumbling back from what will later be known as the party of the semester, chicken tenders and a pudding cup will make the night that much better.  And you better eat those fries and poptarts now because as soon as you graduate and start binge eating mac n cheese at 3am, its no longer funny, its a poor life decision (or so they say).

 7. Be present.  There is nothing I find more important (and nothing I struggle with more) than living in the present.  In college you spend a lot of time focusing on what exam is tomorrow, what club event is next week, and what time you need to hit the gym.  And don't get me wrong, planning and preparing for the future is absolutely crucial in university but your happiness and contentedness will thrive off of your presentness.  Take in every moment in its entirety so in those few seconds you feel alive and so when you're sitting at home on the couch from May to August you can reflect and smile on the moments that have been making up the best four years of your life. 

 8. Leave your door open. Everyone says it, yet it is still so underrated.  From the day you move in till the day you pack up your life and bring it back home, keep your creaky door wide open because its the people that come stumbling through that doorway and introduce themselves that may be your best friends.

 9. Be the person that goes stumbling through your neighbor's doorway. Get off your bed, get out of your comfort zone, and go introduce yourself.  Connections, networking, and just basic friendships are the backbone of collegiate happiness.  And trust me, on move-in day, everyone is just as awkward and nervous as you are, so go for it.

 10. Compassion is powerful. On the heels of my last few tips/lessons, I think I should conclude with what may be the greatest lesson I learned this year: compassion.  People are the ultimate foundation of your college experience.  But it is not just a one-sided relationship.  If you want your college experience to take your breath away and leave you feeling loved and indescribably happy, you need to give back.  I don't mean pick up trash off the sidewalk, I mean pull out your phone and wish your hall mate good luck on their exam that day, invite your stressed friend to the gym because you want to help, and send campus cookies to the friend that really just needs a hug and something sweet.  Compassion is how you meet, make, and keep friends. 

 11. BE YOURSELF. (Last one I swear.)  There is nothing else that I can say about this.  To some its obvious, to some it may not be sooo transparent. But seriously, if you want genuine friendships and a good time, its all you need to do.  Be confident, be you.