3.31.2012

1. See The Ocean :: 21 Before 21

Crossed the first item off of my list this week! I saw the ocean this week. Didn't go in it, but I did see it from Fort Sumter. It was beautiful and breath taking and I want to see it again.



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

3.24.2012

Joy The Baker

I feel like anyone who knows me knows how much I love Joy the Baker. Need a brownie recipe? Joy has one you can use. Want to impress a fella? Joy knows how to do that with baked goods. Care package to send? These cookies ship well. She's such in inspiration to me, both in the kitchen and in life.

When I heard last year she was coming out with a cookbook, I was over the moon excited. Steph said she'd get it for me for my birthday, as my birthday was going to be a few weeks after the cookbook came out. I waited and waited. Steph said the cookbook hadn't come yet. I was getting nervous (but I get nervous about lots of things) and worried that I wasn't going to have a cookbook by the time I met Joy on her book tour. BUT. Steph pulled through. She's a great liar. She had the book hidden under her bed and surprised me with it on my birthday. I was ecstatic, to say the least.

When I met Joy on her book tour, I was nervous and excited. Nervous that I wasn't going to get to say everything I wanted to, and excited at the thought of meeting one of the women I admire the most.

I was so excited!!

3.22.2012

What I Wore :: March 18, 2012

Birthdays are days to wear pretty things. I mean, you can wear pretty things any day of the year. But always on your birthday. This has got to be one of my favorite finds at a re-sale shop! It's a perfect birthday dress (even though I've had it since August).

Waiting for the bus.


Short and sweet and wonderful. 

Steph took these pictures. Those are her feet. 

We had to cross the street so we could get a better picture of the fabric. Tell me if you see something cuter, but I don't think you will. 

Stole the Nikon and took this picture of a cyclist. Cool, right? Maybe?

Dress :: Thrifted
Ring :: Grandma's
Shoes :: Thrifted
Ray Bans :: I found them on the bus

3.20.2012

Obsessions (Or Really Just Stuff I Like)

Summer is almost here!! I think I need a new swim suit. 


Steph got me the Joy the Baker Cookbook for my brithday!! It's totes ok that I've been reading it before I go to bed. Right?

I think I might need this print in my kitchen. 

Took this picture while waiting for the bus. I'm so in love. 

I think I might need this dress. 


3.18.2012

21 Before 21

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!! =]

Despite being 20 (it feels so weird to say that), I feel like I haven't done a lot with my life. So. Now. I have this list. 21 things to do before I turn 21. I have exactly 365 days to do this. Wish me luck!!

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

3.15.2012

Polaroid Love :: Vol. 1

Recently, I acquired a Polaroid camera. For me, it was love at first 'snap'. This thing is a beast and I love taking pictures with it. I'm still learning how to take pictures with it. If you guys have any tips, I would love to hear them!! Any requests are welcome as well. =]

First picture was of my bike! Go figure, right?

(Kind of) Washed out picture of breakfast one morning.

Steph blowing a straw at me. Again, washed out a bit =/

Tried to take a picture of a bike outside. Should have shielded it better. 

Sitting at Wormhole at their new espresso bar. If you look closely, you can see a wild barista in the background.
First day of wearing shorts without tights on!


3.10.2012

What I Wore :: March 9, 2012

Chicago is beautiful. It's even more beautiful when the sun is out. It feels like spring here in the city now. I can finally pack up my sweaters and break out the sundresses! This is what I wore while playing in the city. I was pretty trigger happy with my Polaroid yesterday. Pictures will be up soon!








Sweater:: Thrifted
Tights:: Khol's
Shoes:: Thrifted
Belt:: Borrowed from a friend
Necklace:: Gift from my mom
Polaroid:: Thrifted


Eep! This is my 200th post!! Wow. =]

3.08.2012

Books to Read :: The Immortal Class

Last semester, I wrote a paper about cycling in Chicago. It was mainly about how the city needs better urban planning in order to protect it's bikers. My professor told me to read The Immortal Class by Travis Culley. It's about bike messengers and Culley's time as one in the city. It appealed to me both as a writer and as a cyclist. Of course, I put it off and wrote my paper without it.

Skip ahead a few months later after I (finally) get a library card. I find this book in the library! I check it out and consume it like popcorn. Honestly, it was so hard putting it down. The language was incredible, and so honest. Culley writes with this anguish of his struggles of trying to get by being a cyclist, and the pains of overworking his body.


Cyclist or not, this is a must read. It's fast pace and brutal and kind of really wonderful. Please take the time to read this. You won't regret it. Promise. =]

3.07.2012

Invisible Children

In high school, I did a lot of work with Amnesty International and Invisible Children. My passion for human rights really came out then. Yesterday, Invisible Children launched a new campaign, urging world leaders that we want Joseph Kony to be stopped. If you don't know who Kony is, he is the leader of the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) and kidnaps children to fight in his army and be sex slaves. This has been going on for over 20 years, and even after several attempts at peace talks, Kony still remains at large in the jungles of Congo. I urge you to please watch this video and gain some knowledge about this tragedy and help put a stop to some injustice in the world. 


3.03.2012

More Obsessions

This song is so great. The video is pretty fantastic as well.

I swooned when I saw this! My future child will have this hanging in his/her nursery. 

Trying to live life like this quote. 

I've been craving the ocean, recently. This is a beach in Nice, which is in the south of France. Too beautiful for words.





3.01.2012

Thursday Mix Tape:: March 1, 2012

My roommate is currently en route to St. Louis, which means a quiet night for me. Laundry, homework, cleaning, etc. We don't have cable, so I like to listen to music while I do this. It keeps me motivated, too! Spring is just around the corner, so I've been in a mix of music moods recently. Lets see where this goes...

1. Ghouls -- We Are Scientists
2. Somebody That I Used To Know (Cover) -- Walk Off The Earth
3. Chicago -- Sufjan Stevens
4. The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most -- Dashboard Confessional
5. When We Fall In -- Sean Hayes
6. I Want To Know Your Plans -- Say Anything
7. Countdown -- Phoenix
8. Gay Pirates -- Cosmo Jarvis
9. Foxes Mate For Life -- Born Ruffians
10. Roll Away Your Stone -- Mumford & Sons
11. Rumor Has It -- Adele
12. Hide And Seek -- Imogen Heap
13. You Are A Tourist -- Death Cab For Cutie
14. The Quiet I Keep -- Thankful Tree
15. Carry This Picture -- Dashboard Confessional
16. Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse -- Minus The Bear
17. Fragile Bird -- City and Colour
18. Give Me Something -- Bo and the Locomotive
19. Why Bother? -- Weezer
20. Eye Know -- De La Soul

Here is a link to a playlist I made on YouTube! Click Here