Child's Play

There's something about a good pair of overalls, or an overall-dress for that matter, that makes me feel like a kid again. The huge flower pots at the VMFA seemed perfect for creating that child-like vibe my outfit was giving me. I paired it with my The 1975 shirt and white converse, for a pastel outfit. This is definitely not my usual style, but I was dying to wear this DIYed dress, and I think it worked out great.

School is officially a month away, and I am so excited! I've gotten all of my school supplies, I've started to order my books, and I am well on my way towards being ready for move-in day. My family and I just got back from vacation, which I followed up with training for my new job at school, so I am ready for my life to start moving forward again.

White Pants, Green Door

Usually, I hate the idea of pants in the Summer, but there was something about these white jeggings that made me give it a try. Honestly? I do not understand how people wear pants all day during the summer, when I took these at night and was sweating, but to each his own, I guess! They made for a cute outfit so I was willing to suffer through the pain. I paired it with a tank top, that I bought ages ago but hadn't worn once yet, and my beloved hat, that I also do not wear enough. This outfit makes me feel like a fashionable tourist or like I should be getting brunch with my girlfriends, and truthfully that is how I want to feel everyday. 

Beach Vibes Only

Ever since I've come home from school, I've wanted nothing more than to let my inner-hippie fly and dress for the beach everyday. Growing up on the water, I never really did capitalize on the beaches near my house, yet there is something about this year that has me longing to be out there reading a book everyday. From now on I'll be living in cutoff shorts and this light-weight shirt.

I haven't posted since March, which is definitely due to poor planning and hopefully will not happen again (or at least for a very long time). However, I'm finally done with school and am now starting to work over the summer for the upcoming school year. I also have crossed some items off of my 20 before 20, which I hope to share with everyone soon! 

20 before 20

Yesterday, I entered my last year as a teenager. I know everyone says it, but I really cannot believe how fast time has gone. The question has been asked, "does nineteen feel different," and honestly as with any age, the answer is of course, "no." However, I will admit that there is a sense of urgency with this age, as if suddenly it has occurred to me that I am steps away from adulthood. It has been brought to my attention that there are multiple things, (lets say 20), that I have wanted to do for a while now, but have been putting off. So, I've decided to put a deadline on myself I have until I turn 20 to try and do each of these things, and my hope is that this blog will hold me accountable to it. That being said, here are my 20 Things to Do Before I Turn 20.

1. Visit a New State

I love to travel, but for most of my life, I have only visited the same three or four states, repeatedly. Ideally, I want to venture off of the East Coast, but there are still some states along the Eastern Seaboard that I haven't seen, and would love to. Regardless, I want to see a new state in the coming year.

2. Get my Second Piercing

I was going to get my second hole pierced in my ear on my 18th birthday, the first day I would not need my parent's permission for this, but I chickened out. I will not chicken out this year, folks. (I might but I am going to do my best not to.) 

3. Go Abroad

Hopefully January of 2017 I will be studying abroad, making it the first time in my 19 years that I have left the country. I am a hopeless wanderer, and it makes me so excited about learning a new culture and being in a new country/continent. If I do not do this,  I will be extremely angry at myself.

4. Vote

This year is the presidential election. I will be doing my civic duty and voting.

5. Dye My Hair

I have also been saying I am going to do this for the past year or so, and I am finally going to go to the store, and buy the hair dye that will most likely make me cry when I see how badly I did, but I am going to give it my best shot! I'm thinking ombre.

6. Write a Love Letter to Myself to Open in 10 Years

It's been a long process of learning to love myself over these past few years, and I want to remind myself of that when I am 30. Thirty, flirty, and thriving.

7. Read At Least One Book a Month

I've really fallen out of reading for fun, and I want to get back into that. It's sad to say that my goal is one book a month, but life is busy, y'all. Also I have 19 other things to do.

8. Make a Blanket Fort and Watch Movies in it

Just because I'm technically adult, does not mean that I cannot watch movies in a blanket fort with my friends. Alex, it's happening. 

9. Be Published in Some Way Shape or Form

A magazine, online publication, newspaper, something! My career is not going to wait for me, I have to go out and get it. Also, I feel like I need this validation... I'm kidding, mostly.

10. Write in a Journal Everyday

This is going to help me become a better writer, but also is a great way to destress and reflect. Sounds like exactly what I need.

11. Learn ASL

I am honestly fascinated by American Sign Language, and have picked up words and phrases here and there, but I want to be able to communicate more proficiently. 

12. Stay Active

Or maybe, get active? I want to do one thing a day that I personally would consider active. I'm not planning on running a half marathon here.

13. Volunteer More

I volunteered a lot more in high school than I have since coming to college, and I want to get back into that. It's such a great way to do good and feel good, and I need more of that in my life.

14. Eat Sushi

I never have, and according to all of my friends I'm missing out. I plan on at least giving it a try, but I make no promises about liking it.

15. Visit the Edgar Allan Poe Museum

It's 20 minutes away, I'm a huge nerd, and I still haven't been there. This is officially my life goal and I must accomplish it. 

16. Recreate Childhood Photos. 

This will allow me to reminicse, probably give them to my mom as a present (forget you read that, mom...), and spend quality time with
my family. Plus, I really love pictures. I see no downside. 

17. Get a Member of Each Fraternity and Sorority on Campus to Come to Small Group

Recently, my Alpha Gam sister, Lindsay, and I started a bible study small group for members of Fraternity and Sorority life, and it went really well. We had four different organizations represented, but I would love to see each Greek organization on campus represented.

18. Stay Up All Night

I know this will shock my parents, but I have never pulled an all-nighter. As much as I love sleep, this seems impossible, but I want to give it the old college try. (Literally, it's probably going to be because of homework that I'm up all night, so the old college try is pretty accurate.)  

19. Log Off of Social Media for a Day

I am always on social media, so the idea of being free from it for 24 hours seems pretty hard, but I want to prove that I can do it. Plus, I'm sure it would be great for my mental health.

20. Keep My Plants Alive

So far I have one that looks like it's gone for good and another that is still alive but barely breathing. Basically, I'm a plant murderer, and I want to keep my garden alive and thriving by the time I'm 20. 

Hopefully I will accomplish everything on this list, and frankly some of these are too easy not to achieve, but they are the things that I want to do in the next year of my life. It's going to be really busy and I'm rarely going to have a chance to slow down, but that's the best part.

The Lady in Red

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! 

Whether it's an important day to you or not, Valentine's day gives everyone the excuse to wear red, and there is something powerful about putting a red dress on. I am in love with the classic shape of this dress and am even more excited about the fact that I got it for free. When I found this fur coat at the thrift store a few weeks ago, I knew they were meant for each other. I feel extremely glam-hollywood in this look, and all together it cost $40 dollars. Now that's a reason to celebrate. 

I've just started my second semester here at college, and I can already feel the stress of trying to get all of my work done. As crazy as it sounds, I honestly enjoy having a hectic schedule like the one I've had recently. Being busy makes me feel useful. However, I have neglected my blog, and that's not something I want to do, so I am going to try and be better in the coming weeks. Overall, I'm excited to continue furthering my education and to be a part of Randolph-Macon College.

The City

It might have been 75 degrees on Christmas, but it has certainly cooled down since then. I've never been a huge fan of the cold, but I'll take it over a humid summer day. I've been looking to some of my favorite bloggers to figure out how to dress warmly and chicly this winter, and this outfit it one of my creations. It all started with black jeans and an oversized-jean jacket, and from there it came down to a lot of layering. I added a pair of Converse, to make walking around campus comfortable, and this hat, which I have been obsessed with since I got it on Christmas.

It's great to be back at school again. I missed my friends a lot, and I really enjoy the class I am taking right now. However, it is still strange to me how quickly a place can begin to feel like home. Getting dinner with your closest friends starts to feel like family dinner, your bed at school begins to feel just as welcoming as the one at home, and the people you see as you walk to class are your neighbors. However, the food is not home-cooked and that certainly makes you homesick. It's not your house, but it's close.