20. Write In a Journal From Start to Finish :: 21 Before 21

I've been putting this one off for a few weeks. I still haven't decided if this really is crossing one off. I did finish a journal that I've had for 2 years, and I started a new one. I got it from this local store in Wicker Park and I love it. It's so beautiful. There are all these different sections of different kinds of paper. It's really neat and only cost $10! I stuck a Polaroid on a page already and plan to do other fun things with it. I usually always have my journal with me, so it's nice to have to jot down ideas whenever I'm on the train or in Wormhole. If you don't already keep a journal, you should start. It's a nice outlet and a good record of whats going on in your life, how your feelings for someone change, and different events in your life. Of course, there are tons of other advantages as well. But those are just the ones I can think of right now.

So I guess, technically, I ended a journal and started another one.

But I love it. I write it in a lot. Even if I don't finish it in a year, I just feel accomplished.

1. See the ocean

2. Bake French bread

3. Get a passport

4. Go skinny dipping

5. Learn to drive a stick shift

6. Do a photo series of bikes

7. Publish something

8. Get my fortune told

9. Climb a mountain

10. Make my blog look nicer

11. Watch the sun rise

12. Sew a dress

13. Minimize

14. Get more comfortable writing in French

15. Get an internship

16. Cycle in another city

17. Travel without my parents

18. Find the perfect red lipstick

19. Shave my head

20. Write in a journal from start to finish

21. Leave the country

Around Town :: Ipsento

When Steph and I first moved to the apartment we live in now, we needed a coffee shop. Yes, Wormhole Coffee was close, but sometimes we didn't want to trek all the way into Wicker Park just to get a cup of coffee. Lucky for us, Ipsento is close by. I walk by it every time I go to the train, so its really hard to not stop in every single morning. Their coffee is fantastic (and roasted in house). It's cozy and inviting. The baristas are nice and knowledgeable about what they are doing. They have a breakfast/lunch menu and everything is named after an author. Love it! My favorite is the Jane Austen. One of the downsides is that they're not open very late, only until 9, but it's a good meeting spot before you venture off into the night. Going in the mornings is my favorite, though. It's quiet and I can enjoy coffee and a bagel. It's really a great way to start my day.

When you go in, try the signature latte, the Ipsento (it's made with coconut milk and cayanne pepper!) and snag a spot by the window. It makes for great people watching! The Nutella latte is also a favorite. It's like you're drinking the tasty chocolate spread. Sooo yummy!

Ipsento's storefront. 

Polaroid Love :: Vol. 2

Time for another viewing at my attempts at taking Polaroids. Enjoy!

Stack of pictures

One got stuck in my journal. An attempted self portrait. 

Vietnam History paper writing. 

Cupcake wrapper and an empty espresso cup.

The main stairs at the Art Institute. 

Ft. Sumter. 

Record playing.

Mason jar drinking. 

My Polaroids have started collecting themselves here. Love it!

Surviving Finals With Obsessions.

Blah. Finals. Too many projects and not enough motivation to finish them. Really, all it is is two Power Points and 3 tests. But it's not as bad as it looks. Coffee helps. Riding my bike in 40 degrees helps. Sitting in a coffee shop kind of helps because I feel like I have to do work so no one sees that I'd really rather be on Pintrest.

So, I'm sorry for lack of posts. Exciting things will  be happening soon, but not soon enough. So, in order to tide you over, here are some things that are REALLY distracting me!

Getting REALLY into this show, like the dork I am. 

I want this...

Got these shoes on sale from Urban. Waiting for a nice day to do pictures in.

Urban Outfitters

Vanilla and Lace added new dresses to their collection! I think I need this one.

Vanilla and Lace

Facts.

What's distracting you????

How To Survive Finals

Finals are upon us. It's a dreaded time of stress and poor eating choices. Freaking out sucks. Being overwhelmed with a lot of projects is tough. Here are 6 helpful hints on how to be more relaxed during finals.

1. Be Organized.

My nifty little organizer has a calendar that I can just glance at and know what is due on a specific date. Color coordination helps, too. Lists in the back tell me what I need to do on that specific day. I love lists. No joke. Crossing stuff off of them is the best feeling ever.

2. Eat Well!
Eating chips and chocolate and french fries my be tempting this time of year, but then you feel all sluggish and unmotivated. Instead of reaching for that bag of Cheetos, eat some pineapple or grapes. The sweetness will  satisfy you and fill you up longer than the high processed food will.

3. Stock Up On Caffeine. 
Last year when I was working on a Russian history paper, the Starbucks Double Shots became my best friend. I was able to sit and focus and knock that paper out before 2 AM. It was awesome.

4. Sleep.
Yes, large intakes of caffeine and sleeping don't really mix. But sleep is very, very important. Give yourself a time limit, like going to bed by 1 AM. It helps break up your project or paper or study time so you're not super over whelmed and you get that much needed sleep.

5. Don't Do Too Much At One Time.
Trying to do too much at one time is never a good idea. You get over whelmed by all the things you're trying to do at once and you never get as much done as you would like. If you're gonna study that Bio test and try to write your history paper in the same night, it's probably not going to work out so well. If you want to do that, break it up into hour intervals or 90 minute intervals.

6. Make A Soundtrack To Study Time.
Or just use Pandora. The two that I listen to the most are "Pumped Up Kicks Radio" and "Somebody That I Used To Know Radio". Two different sounds to help break things up. Very wonderful. What do you like to listen to while you study??

Got any study tips? Leave a comment!

Around Town :: Delicious Cafe

I think it's a shame not many people who live in Chicago (or visit Chicago) go up to North Center. I guess because its off the Brown Line Irving Park stop and it may be out of the way for some people. It's super family friendly, though, with plenty of "young people" things to do. One part of North Center that I love is Delicious Cafe. If you walk by it, you already get a sense of how cute it is on the inside. Bright walls, mismatched chairs and vintage tables fill a decent sized cafe area. Local print work, which you can buy, is tastily put up on the walls. A large variety of drinks and a good selection of food (all vegan, by the way) makes it a nice place to stop in for a muffin, or hunker down while you're waiting for a play date to end.

This particular Friday morning is quiet, Bright Eyes plays softly in the background and several people are on their laptops. I settle down at a beautiful vintage table with coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The cheese is vegan yet somehow oh so creamy. The coffee is strong and bold and Counter Culture (a favorite of mine). It's a perfect addition to this already cute neighborhood.  I want to stay here for hours, sipping coffee and people watching from the window seat. The cupcakes from the pastry case look longingly at me and it's taking me everything to not go up and buy one, which I might just do anyways.

Delicious Cafe is located at 3827 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60613


Enjoy!! =]

Books to Read :: Barrel Fever

For anyone that has ever listened to This American Life, you know that David Sedaris is a great writer. He's witty and honest and very easy to relate to. Barrel Fever is a collection of short stories and essays by Sedaris, including his famous essay "The Santa Land Diaries". Reading this on the CTA might have been a bad idea, because I couldn't help but laughing out loud. Sometimes, you think "No, this didn't really happen to him. People aren't really like that." But yeah, people are really like that. People will say mean things to Santa Elves and have a stigma attached to smokers. It's a short read; maybe took me a week to read it. It's been out for a while, so your local book store will surely have it, or the library.

Anything by Sedaris is great though. His radio essays are to die for, as well. I'm reading Me Talk Pretty One Day as well and it's hard to find a good stopping point.

Good work, Mr. Sedaris. Can't wait to see what else you have in store for us!