Cutie Tuesday and a Quick Birthday Recap

 February 1 was my 21st birthday. Friday February 1. Saturday February second was the 50th anniversary of the Groundhog Party in the Park at my school (second largest Groundhog celebration in the world). And Thursday was Groundhog TGIT (I know you can figure what that stands for). The whole school goes to the school's "restaurant"/patio and listens to live music and drinks $1 beers and show up to class hungover the next day.

For a clearer picture:

        

top: getting wild at TGIT (not short, just mid-lunge)
bottom left: came home Thursday night after midnight to find balloons everywhere (thank you, Monica!)
bottom right: the band sang me happy birthday at midnight (thank you, Blake!)

Friday night... started at Taco Diner with many Mambo Taxis and a cougar sitting next to our table taking pictures of us. Followed by the Katy Ice House and seeing all the alumns I missed so so much (back for to celebrate Groundhog). Then to the Den and from there... dislocated my kneecap while I was literally standing.

Saturday: Groundhog
(school photographers get an all-access pass aka only ones allowed on stage)

plus many bonfires, kegs, burgers, s'mores, beer, beer, beer....

and now...

for the moment you've all been waiting for...

Winner of Cutie Tuesday: Gramps Picador

for keeping watch over his home and walking around with a cigar hanging out of his mouth

how cute are my pajama pants, though

Recovery Week

 Also known as... my 21st birthday was Friday. 

I will most definitely do a small recap of the blur that was this past weekend, but as of right now, I'm just trying to recover, both mentally and physically. Not only was this past weekend my 21st birthday, on Saturday my school hosted its 50th anniversary Groundhog Party in the Park -- if it doesn't seem like a big deal, wait until you see the pictures.


As far as physical recovery goes... I am pretty sure I fractured my foot three weeks ago and I dislocated my kneecap on Friday (I was standing and it gave out, no amazing drunken stories here, sorry). But really, what's a birthday without some bumps and bruises?

Some things that have helped with my recovery:

S'mores slippers/foot warmers! From my dear friends the Ballards

for those of you who are unaware, I have a not normal obsession with s'mores...

I literally cried when I saw these 

I don't mean "literally" how some people say it and mean "figuratively"

I LITERALLY CRIED

Diptyque candle from my sister and brother-in-law that smells like heaven
I saw my sister briefly when I was at home last week and asked her about diptyque candles...

And then she sent me one for my birthday among many other gifts

She is amazing. So is Jake (didn't forget you). Oh and so is Luke, but that's a given.

Many other gifts were received by a very thankful birthday girl, but it would be tacky to post every single thing. Plus, it would spoil my thank-you notes. (They are coming!)

but first, coffee

p.s. I think the best part of my day is that first sip of coffee

&

my last sip of coffee is for sure the most stressful

The Spa Diet

Disclaimer: this is amateur hour - I'm not a nutritionist, dietitian, trainer, etc. 
just a food blogger with time on her hands 

Although this isn't my health and food blog, and this is an idea that is still in the very beginning stages of development,  I have been taking mental notes for a while know on what I've come to think of as "The Spa Diet".

It's more a lifestyle than a diet, focusing on eating clean and exercising regularly - all with the mindset that you are treating yourself. 

When I think of a spa, I think of "me time" and everything being fresh and clean and relaxing while giving a sense of renewal and energy. In practical, everyday application, this would translate into eating healthy, fresh food, exercising everyday without feeling like you're dying, and pampering yourself in little ways. To take it one step further...

 imagine waking up in a clean bedroom with the morning light pouring in through the window. You make a big breakfast for yourself while Alexi Murdoch and Damien Rice plays in the background. Egg white omelette with all the fixings, whole wheat toast, steaming coffee or tea, fresh fruit...

...Get ready for the day, sip on a refreshing glass of water. Get things done, be productive. Make a healthy lunch - a big yummy salad, something full of energy before you go to the gym. Pack your gym bag, throw a clementine in there for an extra boost, load your favorite songs onto your ipod, run a couple miles, work your abs and your arms with those non-initimidating five-pound weights. Get home, shower, light your favorite candle, feel clean and refreshed, make yourself a smoothie....

and, of course, give yourself a little bit of time in your day to sit down and blog your heart out

It could go on and on... and honestly, that sounds like the life to me. 

Cutie Tuesday

A day late, but yesterday I  actually happened to be at home and got new pictures of ze dogs 

(because I don't have 100+ on my computer already). 

Winner of Cutie Tuesday: Maddie 

for keeping me warm on an unusually cold morning in Los Angeles

. . . 

a scorned Pico

Without going into details, I got to go home for less than a day - got in Monday night and left Tuesday around 6pm. Quick trip, but it was nice to see my family and sleep in my bed for a night.

ManCrush Monday

Another Monday. I woke up in Dallas, and now I am sitting at home on my couch watching the Bachelor (roller derby? really?) in Los Angeles. Only to leave tomorrow afternoon to head back to school. 

Pictured above: new coffee table tray | Target

Not really a ManCrush*, just an excuse to talk about the Bachelor:

Des: Soulmate

Ashley: Wife

Tierra: Really? And stop snorting

Leslie H: At least she got the shopping spree

*My boyfriend is the only one I have a crush on :)

A Statement of Confusion

For many moons now, I have been in dismay at my inability to pinpoint exactly how other bloggers do it. By "it" I mean all of it. Photo collages, words on pictures, new sources, new topics. Does everyone walk around being followed by a DSLR? Does everyone have amazing photo editors?

I mean, I know how I do it - through agonizingly slow and old photoshop programs... and I get the desired results... but there must be a better way.

A few guesses I've come up with:
1. People on PCs have better photo editors than a Mac's sorry iPhoto
2. Picasa? I'm not sure exactly what they do on Picasa but I'm guessing it's involved.
3. Polyvore. I know I'm on to to something here

Am I close?

Don't get me wrong. I am thoroughly content with my own words-on-pictures art. I just can't imagine everyone in the blogosphere/pinterestland uses photoshop. Or maybe they do. 

back when I was slaving over Adobe Illustrator to make these

 Is Adobe ever involved in the process? Paint? Preview?
The suspense is killing me.

lacing up my Nikes at this very moment

I'll Pencil You In

It's the start of a new semester and I have that same excitement that I'm sure most people experience when getting a fresh start. That same one that quickly dwindles and turns into a constant and dull dread of the 1 hour and 20 minute class and of staying up until 3 am doing the homework that was assigned a week prior. Can't wait :)

For now, though, the excitement is still present and in full force. I ordered my books online (thank you, parents), got a brand spankin' new planner (I don't know why it wouldn't be new...), and a new set of fine-liner pens. Really and truly, few things excite me more than new school supplies.

Rearing to go, I woke up early to copy my syllabi into my planner... and got to see that with only two classes written down, I have all my assignments and tests on the same days. Spring semester 2013, you are too good to me.

Paper Source | 2013 Large Saffian Robin's Egg Blue Datebook

My life, my joy, my pride.

And in the spirit of snapping pictures of inanimate objects in my living room, these are my all-time favorite coasters (that keep my white coffee table looking beautiful). My roommate brought them back one day, and they have been part of the family ever since.

Anthropologie | Celestial Coaster Set