Birthday Festivities

The past two days have been full of celebration at my house! My sister turned 15 on Wednesday and my mom turned 35 (again) yesterday! Cake and ice cream were sitting around the kitchen all day with us nibbling at them frequently. I brought home a few balloons to tie on my sister’s bed post and also got her the last four Harry Potter movies for a movie watching marathon. She plans to have a big sleepover party with her 10 best friends in two weeks, hopefully this will keep them entertained.

For my mom, I took her to Annapolis for a day of eating and shopping. We ate at one of America’s oldest taverns right in the harbor. It’s been continuously operated since 1752 and people like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson frequented the establishment back in the day. Before leaving the tavern, I asked the hostess a bit about the place and to my dismay she knew literally nothing about it. She handed me a pamphlet about the historical significance of the tavern, which is where I’m getting this information!

After lunch, mom and I went to the mall near by for a little shopping. I scored some serious deals! I’ll be posting tomorrow a haul of a few things I’ve bought lately. My mom isn’t much of a shopper like I am so I felt bad I was dragging her through the mall! She does enjoy her people watching though and she sat equipped with her iPhone and water bottle. Don’t worry, I tried to make her feel special though! Throughout the day (every hour to be exact) I let her open a little gift I had wrapped up the day before and put in my bag. A few of the things I bought her were Target ankle socks with panda bears and penguins, Yankee candles, nail polish, notebook, and chocolate bars. I love to open gifts so I thought this would be fun for her. Turns out I was right!

We ended the day with some ice cream and Auntie Anne’s pretzels. I love my mom and sister so much. They’re both a very important part of my life and I hope they had happy birthdays!

Rainy Days at Starbucks

Yesterday was a rainy day in Maryland so the sister and I took some time in the afternoon to do homework at Starbucks. There’s something so nice about sitting in the coffee shop, listening to jazz music, doing work, and just watching the rain fall outside. Very peaceful. I just wanted to nap actually. When I got home, my furry gray cat, Tanzie, was sitting on my bed looking out the open window as it drizzled outside and the wind blew.

My sister was working most of the afternoon on her history and literature class. Poor kid has so much reading to do! I worked on discussion posts for two of my classes. We both got frappucinos too. Hers was a vanilla bean frap with a pump of raspberry. It tasted like cotton candy, no joke. I got a pumpkin spice frap, which was amazing and way better than the hot drink! I was surprised I liked it but I certainly did and have a new favorite seasonal drink.

Of course, Rebecca and I did the obligatory photo of our drinks that we got because they were ‘totes’ cute. I should have Instagrammed it but I didn’t. Oops. The other day I was with my best friend and her younger cousin and I took a picture of the iced latte I got from Dunkin Donuts. Her cousin, who is about 13, looked at me and said “Careful, your white girl is showing!” I about died of laughter. Then she added “hashtag ‘white girl problems.” I thought I would never recover from that one! She’s a funny kid and just says whatever comes to mind.

All in all, it was a decent day. I’m praying for motivation today because I have 2 papers, 2 quizzes, and about 12 response posts to do by Saturday night. Here’s hoping I’m productive and focused although it’s unlikely! Wish me luck and leave me good concentration tips below!

A Gilmore Girls Experience in my Hometown

Hello loves, hope your Tuesday is a beautiful one. This past weekend was a bit packed for me between homework I forgot to do, Saturday evening church services, and then dinner with a sweet someone. All in all, it was good even though I’m exhausted.

I decided I want to give you a little peak inside my weekend so I took pictures of an event I went to with my best friend and fellow blogger, Lindsey. It was called “A Taste of Saint Mary’s” in our town square. Vendors from all over our county came and were giving out small samples of their food. To taste almost everything it was about $20 total but well worth it. Great seafood, steak, desserts, and other yummy things. Lindsey and I had a really nice time walking around the square and then down at the wharf on the riverside. My town totally reminds me of Stars Hallow in Gilmore Girls during events like these. I’m for sure Lorelai and my friend Lindsey is Rory without a doubt. Now where can we find a Luke… 😉

I’ve put captions on all of the photos to guide you through my experience so hopefully you enjoy it. I certainly did. Leave me a comment about your weekend! I love hearing about everyone’s life!

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Sunset in the Country

I went on a walk with my mom on a near by country road here in Maryland the other day. The sun was starting to set and the temperature was close to perfect. I love days like this. The horses in the fields apparently did too. They were running and whinnying when we walked by them.

As much as I enjoy the city and urban areas I really do appreciate the country also. Not much noise and room to spread out. I don’t like being able to see into my neighbor’s bathroom window. Living in Washington, D.C. in the past has shown me how wonderful privacy can be. There’s nothing more annoying than taking a shower and having a window that peers into the home next to yours and feeling like you have to hide in order to avoid anyone who might also be showering across the way. On the up side though, it can be entertaining to see what they’re up to if you happen to be nosy!

Anyway, here’s a few photos from our beautiful walk. I can’t wait to post images of the leaves when they start to change color. The whole forest looks like it’s on fire!

The Summer Blues

Since we’re past the wishy washy month of June and into the serious heat of July, I’ve concocted a list of a few things that can really make you a debbie downer during these days. Call me spoiled, lazy, un-creative, whatever it may be, I don’t care. Here are 3 things that can make the summer less than wonderful.

On the Patuxent during the winter with two of my friends!

1. Heat

This is obvious. I’m not breaking ground on anything new here but the heat can really be hard to beat when there aren’t any pools around (the north east has this problem) and who wants to sit inside all day with the dry AC blowing. Not me. I get bored fast. I live on the Patuxent River and would be happy to swim in that IF the jellyfish weren’t in abundance. I’ve had my fair share of stings and I’m so over it.

2. Lilly Pulitzer 

I’m the first one to say that I love Lilly. However, I’m the last one to buy anything from there. Why? Because I’m not handing anyone $200 for a dress that probably costs less than $20 to make. Summer is the season to break out the Pulitzer prints and more power to the lovely ladies that wear the dresses! However, until I’m out of college and don’t have debt to pay off I’m going to avoid the pretty colors that remind me I’m still a college student and therefore need to “watch my pennies.”

3. Instagram on Holiday Pictures

I’m thrilled you’re in Cabo sipping a Pina Colada while dipping your toes in the crystal clear water but I’m having trouble appreciating my own blessings right now. You guys know what I’m talking about- the

Ok, I admit, this is my photo. But I’ve only sat in luxury once, I swear!

uber popular Instagrammers who seem to do nothing but travel, shop, and take selfies. Jealousy is never pretty, but during the summer months when these individuals bombard our Instafeeds with pictures from Bermuda, Monaco, or wherever else it just gets to me. Can you say #unfollow?

Thank you for making it to the end of my rant. I love you for it. I really am blessed and live in a bubble of first world problems. I don’t know what its like to go without food for days on end and I have no idea what “danger” and “threat” can actually mean (think drug cartels, radical terrorists, mortars flying through the air). Every once in awhile though, I just need to let off that steam. Today I have and I must say I feel a hundred times better!

Tell me what bugs you about the summer months. Go ahead and let go of whatever is eating you up inside by commenting below! I’m not going to judge.