Pages

Friday, May 31, 2013

A thought for the weekend



Earlier this week I was watching a talk and interview with Sheryl Sandberg on Levo League. In the middle of the segment, Sheryl posed the question, "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" Ever since then I've been thinking of how I would respond to that question and I've come up with a long list of answers. A list of things I would do if I weren't afraid of being judged, afraid of making the wrong decision, afraid of failing. Something to ponder this weekend if you have a spare moment. And if you have a spare hour, you should check out the entire talk with Sheryl on Levo League here. It's pretty wonderful.

On another note, I'm so thankful the weekend is finally here! I plan to sleep in (big shocker there), spend time with friends, and check out an anniversary sale at my favorite neighborhood shop, Parc Boutique. If you're in Minneapolis you should definitely stop by! I also have a constantly growing to do list and lots of things that need to be accomplished this weekend. Hopefully I can find a balance between productivity, relaxation, and time with friends.

Happy weekend to you! What are your plans?

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

This Jacket

Every single time I walk into J. Crew (as often as humanly possible) I immediately lay eyes on at least one new thing I have to have. It can happen in the shoe section, the jewelry section, the sale section, or any of the other (perfectly styled) areas of the store. Once I spot this one thing, I ponder. Should I buy it? Would I wear it enough? Is it going to be in style next year? What about the year after? These are just a few of the questions that run through my head.

Then, once I've thought long and hard, I either justify it and head to the register or I leave without it and then think about it for weeks to come until it A) goes out of stock before I can make up my mind or B) ends up in my closet after all. It sounds exhausting, I know.

Now that you have this fascinating back story to paint yourselves a picture, let me introduce you to the newest object of my affection. This jacket.























It comes in a mossy brown color as well and I would just love to add it to my closet. Decisions, decisions. What do you think of this utilitarian style? Hit or miss? And is there anything at the Crew that you've had your eye on lately?

Happy Wednesday! 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Weekend Snapshots

Thank God for long weekends. Am I right? They're one of my favorite things...ever. This weekend I spent lots of time catching up on sleep and relaxing. I also did a bit of work, went shopping, stopped by Pizzeria Lola, and went to my favorite yoga sculpt class. The one downside to this otherwise perfect weekend was the dreary weather. It was chilly and cloudy all weekend. Oh how I can't wait for the warmer, sunnier days of summer.

And now it's back to work for this girl. Is it bad that I'm already looking forward to Friday afternoon? Maybe...or maybe that's just normal. Either way, I hope your week is off to a great start!

































































How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Lately



Lately I've been a little busy. Okay, really busy. I feel like I'm barely keeping up with everything, constantly at odds with some portion or another of my life. Work has been crazy. I have an internship that I love, but it keeps me very busy as well. In whatever spare time I can find I work out, just because that helps me
de-stress and makes me happy. And then at the end of every day I'm just exhausted, but I never have time to get enough sleep. I've been trying to spend time with family and friends, but that hasn't been happening nearly as much as I'd like. I read somewhere (or a million different places) that your twenties are for flailing, for making mistakes, and for figuring out who you are. If that's true then apparently I am right on track. 

Lately I've also been on the job hunt. I've had this longing to move to Chicago for years. Since high school in fact. I looked at colleges in Chicago, but the private school I wanted to attend ended up being too expensive and I fell back on the University of Minnesota. I had a lovely time there, but now that I've finished my undergrad this feeling has come back again. I want to move to Chicago. I've found over the years that I learn and grow much more when I'm in a new environment. I feel like life in Minneapolis has become a little stagnant and a little uninspired. So in the rest of my spare time (ha!) I've been searching for jobs in Chicago.

Then there's this little blog, which I have been neglecting much more than I like to think about. I either don't have time to write, or when I do have time, I have no energy to compose a post inspiring or coherent enough to publish. To be honest, I've sometimes wondered whether or not I should keep daydreamer. I know I should, and I will, because I love being a part of this wonderful community of inspiring people. And when I do have time and energy to write, it's so much fun, and so refreshing to discuss the things that inspire me and the topics that are important to me.

Erin Gates wrote a post earlier this week on being in your thirties. Erin's post focused on the decision to have children and the judgement and difficulties that often come with the fact that she doesn't have any kids yet at age 33. She is such an inspiration and has an amazing career, but I have a feeling that if Erin wrote a post on being in your twenties when she was 23, she would have said she was flailing a bit, too. I guess every decade has brand new challenges that come along with it. And so far my twenties have been a mix of confusion and inspiration as I try to figure out my life.

Please know that I don't mean to complain. I realize I have so many things to be thankful for and I am always counting my blessings. But honesty is the best policy when it comes to blogging, and lately I've been a little stressed. So bear with me if you will. Posts may be a little sporadic for the time being, but I'll still be here. You guys are the best.

image via

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Gifts for Mom



Moms are tough to shop for. Or at least my mom is. She claims she doesn't want or need anything and leaves it up to me to get creative. Luckily, creativity is my strong suit. But that's beside the point. Even if your mom isn't quite as reserved as mine when stating what she wants for any given holiday, I have a feeling she isn't handing you a wish list and making the whole process super easy.

I can't spill what I'm giving my mom for Mother's Day, (she's my most devoted reader) but I am so curious to hear what you're giving your mom as a token of appreciation this Sunday. These are some of the ideas that come to mind when I think of Mother's Day gifts.

1. Baubles. Give her a fun piece of jewelry that she wouldn't buy for herself.

2. Spa activities. A manicure, pedicure, massage, or facial will do just fine. Or even better, go to the spa with her and make a day out of it.

3. Tickets to a favorite play or concert. Sometimes the nicest gifts aren't objects, but experiences.

4. A gift card (make sure it's to her favorite store!). I know, I know, gift cards can be incredibly impersonal. But I would be lying to you if I said I'm not thrilled when I get a gift card to my favorite store (ahem ahem, J. Crew).

5. Flowers. But make sure your mom is someone who likes flowers. After all, some people don't appreciate them quite as much as others.

6. Treat her to brunch or dinner - or cook a delicious meal yourself!

What are you giving your mom, or any other moms in your life, for Mother's Day?

images - here & here

Monday, May 6, 2013

Weekend Snapshots

This was one of the most relaxing weekends I've had in a long time. I did no work, which is kind of unheard of for me. I'll surely pay for it this week but that's okay. It was worth it. I ate at a few of Minneapolis' best rated restaurants for 2013. There was Pizzeria Lola, Patisserie 46, and The Bachelor Farmer, all of which were amazing. I also (finally) watched Silver Linings Playbook, which was pretty incredible. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were perfect for their roles. And yesterday I took advantage of the gorgeous weather and went for a long run along the river.



































































This week is going to be a busy one, but my spirits are up because of the weather forecast. Could spring finally be here? I'm crossing my fingers.

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Spring Sunnies

Now that spring is here and summer is just around the corner, I'm on the hunt for a few new pieces of clothing and accessories to add to my wardrobe. One of those pieces is a new pair of sunglasses (or, as my friend calls them, hater blockers). I realize that we wear sunnies all year long, but this always seems like the best time of year to invest in a new pair.  But being that I am thee most indecisive person in the world, it seems to take me forever to find the perfect ones. There are so many styles to choose from! I've narrowed the search down to four of the most classic frames: aviator, cat eye, wayfarer, and oversized. 
































Aviator | Cat Eye | Wayfarer | Oversized

Which look is your favorite when it comes to sunglasses?

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A Weekend Wedding

This past weekend I went to St. Louis for a wedding with some friends. It ended up being the perfect little getaway. I left work early Friday afternoon and made it to St. Louis just in time for the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal turned into drinks, lots of good conversation, and a 2 am bedtime. Totally worth it.

On Saturday we slept in a little, had breakfast, took advantage of the hotel pool, (because we apparently still think we're five years old) and got ready for the wedding. I wore my favorite heels and this number from Parc Boutique. The ceremony was at five with a dinner and reception after. The entire thing was just so. much. fun. On Sunday morning we went out to brunch and watched the bride and groom open a few wedding gifts before I had to head back to Minneapolis. Overall I had a wonderful weekend.
















































Now it's Wednesday and I can hardly believe how quickly this week has been flying by. I've been really busy with work but I did have time to fit in workouts Monday and Tuesday and that seems to have made all the difference. Gotta love those endorphins.

I hope you're having a lovely week so far!