birthday queen:

This past weekend marked my 23rd birthday in which I decided to drive down to South Florida to see my very best friends. My sole plan was to eat amazing food, drink delicious brews, and enjoy exceptional company. Luckily for me, that's exactly what I got. My best friends are simply the most wonderful people in my life, and it's weekends like this that really solidify my love for them.

Friday night we had all met up at Tap42 in Fort Lauderdale to feast on some burgers. I had never been and I was instantly impressed when I discovered Bell's Two-Hearted Ale on the beer menu. My friends bought a pitcher of Lavender Lemonade and I was the only one who actually enjoyed it :/ Their veggie burgers are divine, but nothing in comparison to their sweet potato fries. God lawd in heaven! Afterwards we mosied on other to Laserwolf, my absolute favorite bar in Fort Lauderdale, to gorge ourselves with craft drafts. At the end of the night my friend drove us home safely and I passed out to the pilot of Twin Peaks (oops).

We went to the Wynwood Artwalk in Miami the Saturday I was in town. We toured a few galleries and bars and it was such a superb atmosphere, I couldn't help but enjoy every second of it. I love art galleries and seeing tons of other people enjoying them just as much. We topped off that night with 100 Montaditos in Midtown and a visit to my good friends "the Miami boys." Despite the shattering of our vodka bottle on the streets of Miami, we all got suitably drunk and laughed until the ungodly hour of 2am.

This weekend seemed to end as soon as it began, but I'm grateful I have an incredible group of people to remember my birthdays with. I'm so lucky I get to share so many beautiful memories and body-paralyzing laughs with them. I can't thank them enough for making me the person I am today and supporting the person I will be tomorrow.

step one:

I very quickly trained my dog how to pose with a cabbage leaf on her head. Success.

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If it's one thing I know about myself, it's that I'm extremely indecisive. I have a new idea life-changing idea every other week, but not this time (GOD I HOPE NOT). Graduate school has always been a goal of mine, but my heart not only wants to go back to school, it wants to get out of the country as well. That's right, I'm putting my heart into going to England for graduate school because it's been a fantasy of mine since I was 13 and watched Harry Potter movies obsessively each and every weekend. Luckily for me it's way easier to get into grad schools across the pond, but the only thing I'm worried about is funding (and being away from my family for so long).

A 'plan B' is in the works but for right now this is what I want and I'll do whatever it takes to get there and make it happen. If there's a will, there's a way...right?

adventure is out there:

So I think I've finally settled on a short-term goal for myself and it's probably the best idea I've come up with yet. I'm going to volunteer abroad.

I've always wanted to do work with non-profit organizations and I think doing something big like helping kids in Southeast Asia or teaching in Africa would be the most wholesome thing I could do with my life at this point. I've checked out a few organizations like International Volunteer HQ, Cross-Cultural Solutions, and United Planet. Yet I think Volunteer HQ has the best prices and includes a lot of the same places as the other organizations. I filled out my application to help teach computer skills in South Africa, and I've set my goal date to January 1st. I have never wanted anything so badly in my life.

I'd have to inform my parents of my decision and I'm sure they'll back me up if I really show them how far I'm willing to go to achieve this. I will most likely set up an account with Go Fund Me, and have my friends and family help out with the cost of this endeavor. In the meantime, I should look into a part time job and other methods of fundraising.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this probably won't be my only volunteering adventure, as I've been fantasizing about doing something like this for years. There's so many places I want to see and there's people I can help everywhere. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do with my life, and I sincerely hope I can start making the right moves soon!

stuck:

After finally acquiring my bachelor's degree, I realized how tremendously unfulfilling my education really was. Criminology was interesting, sure, but what did I really want out of it other than a legal career? My hopes of becoming a lawyer have been extinguished and I find myself drifting towards Media, Art & Design. Why didn't I pursue my dreams in the very first place?

I know I'm not the only person out there wincing at their college diplomas and stressing themselves to sleep every night. I know for a fact there's a lot of people out there who are pursuing careers that have nothing to do with their poor collegiate decision making; still, I'm stuck in this rut and paralyzed by the terror of being completely lost.

In the meantime, however, I'm learning new things. I'm going to attempt some basic programming and take a course or two on CourseEra on things that appeal to my ecclectic tastes. This blog too is a outlet for my creativity as I constantly fine-tune my writing abilities. I've also signed up to volunteer at two food-packing events with a local charity, Feeding Children Everywhere, and I'm a mess of excitement because I'll be putting myself out there and doing something I truly care about.

Everything I do, I do to enrich myself. No longer will I allow myself to smoother my potential and imprison the better part of me because of social anxiety. I am doing this to better love and understand this girl I wake up to every morning. All I need to do now is stop worrying about my future and start laying the foundation for something amazing.

Damn, I feel a lot better now.

belly:

A short film by Julia Pott.

learning:

Lately I've been trying to think in terms of "what would my 'ideal self' do?" in order to combat my bad habits and build self-confidence. At first it seemed a little forced, but I'm actually starting to be more productive and positive. There's no reason why my 'ideal self' and my normal self cannot be the same person; I deserve to feel awesome about myself and my goals.
Speaking of goals, I also need to formulate a plan. I need better direction, answers, and perspective, but I'm grateful for this little hiatus between school and the working world. Now feels like a perfect time to fortify my ego with confidence and clarity.
All this inspiration came from a blog I recently discovered, Think Simply Now. It's a collection of different authors who share their authentic insights and invaluable tips on personal development. Having dealt with extreme shyness and a gross lack of self-esteem for most of my life, I was pleasantly surprised when this blog immediately rekindled a craving for understanding and loving myself. One of my favorite tools the writers provide is a list of books aimed to inspire creativity, happiness and inner clarity.

I'm thinking of treating myself to a self-date on of these days. More details soon (:

what kind of bird are you?

Today my sister and I went to the most charming theater. It was called The Enzian Theater and it's a non-profit alternative playhouse that shows independent and cult classic films. It's surrounded by these gorgeous weeping oaks and the most alluring outdoor bar (which I later learned was named the Eden Bar). My sister and I bought two tickets and mosied on over to the theater; though it was more so like a really cozy dining area where they had servers waiting on you and the most exciting menu I've seen in a while. My sister and I both ordered organic green tea and sat back to watch Moonrise Kingdom (which I most absolutely adored! [Also, I think I'm officially a Wes Anderson fan]).
The Enzian theater also hosts the Florida Film Festival, as well as collaborates with the city's park to host outdoor "Popcorn Flicks." It's the first gem I've encountered in Orlando, and it's safe to say my sister and I have become their newest patrons.

♥:


Walt Bishop ...which injuries are you apologizing for, specifically?
Laura Bishop Specifically? The ones that still hurt...
Walt Bishop Half of those were self-inflicted.