Weekly Gratitude

1. After a week of not being able to eat any solid foods, I would like to thank the world for greek vanilla yogurt! You can put it in a smoothie or eat it by itself and either way it's delish!
2. I would like to thank all the volunteers this week (especially my fabulous mother!) who helped with the tornado relief this weekend. You guys are awesome!
3. I would like to thank Michael's Craft Store for supplying me with all sorts of fun D.I.Y. materials for my projects.
4. Thanks to my John Mayer Pandora radio station for always giving me an awesome playlist to fall asleep to!
5. Thanks to my car, although you're not the prettiest in the lot you always get me from point A to point B and you're super on gas!
6. Thanks to Becka for putting the time and effort to plan our whole Hampton Beach trip and trust us enough to put the hotel on her credit card- I promise we'll behave! Love you & I'm so so excited!
7. Thanks to DVR for letting me record Nick and Vanessa's Fairytale Wedding while I was at work last night, can't wait to watch with a big ol' bowl of ice cream tonight!
8. Thanks to my daddy for giving me gas money this week, who doesn't love free gas?
9. Thanks to the girl who agreed to work for me Saturday so I can meet my best friends boyfriend before he's shipped back to DC!
10. Thanks to the dishwasher, I know this sounds funny but i'm sure it's taken for granted all the time and it really is a lovely little invention that makes the lives of anyone who owns one so much easier!

Things My Best Friend Taught Me...

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Usually having a last name that ends in "T" is a total drag, you're called last in during anything important and hearing the term alphabetical order is enough to make anyone from "N" on cringe. But I do have to give credit to the alphabet for one good thing in my life and that's my best friend Ali Tyburski. She too suffers from the end-of-the-alphabet problem and if it weren't for this commonality we might have never met. Let me bring you back: 7th grade, english class I was in the front row and Ali was one behind me. We bonded over not knowing how to do one of our assignments and it's history from there! Through thick and thin this girl has seen me laugh until I cry and cry until I laugh and even though she might not know it, she's taught me a few things along the way.

1. Never be afraid to make a fool out of yourself
Ali was always the more outgoing one in our friendship and never turned down any challenge. If there was a karaoke to be sung, she was singing it and if there was a washing machine halloween costume to wear, she was wearing it. Being around her has showed me that it's fun not to take yourself too seriously and laughing at yourself is a part of life.

2. Cocky isn't cute.
Most of Massachusetts knows Ali as the five-star athlete who can give the guys basketball team a run for their money and break track records without even breaking a sweat, but what they might not know is that  she doesn't put her bragging rights to any use. Never once has she put someone down for running slower than her or not being able to hit a 3 their first try. She's humble beyond belief, allowing her to gain the respect of her coaches and competitors alike. Being cocky isn't Ali's thing and never has been. This trait makes her approachable and fun to be around because frankly, no one likes to listen to someone talk all the things they can do that you can't.

3. When in doubt, get the ice cream out!
It may be hard to believe that such a serious athlete would dabble at the chance to have an all out eating fest for the sake of her best friends broken heart but believe it! Sometimes all a girl needs is a ice cream sundae and a Sex and the City marathon with her best friend to get her mind of things and Ali's always been my go-to girl. Even though I know she doesn't always agree with everything I say it's always nice to know that I have a friend who's willing to eat some feelings and hear me rant! Sound sorta cliche but she's taught me how to be a good listener and not to offer unwanted advice (even though I still manage to slip up sometimes).

4. Save the drama for yo' momma!
We both had our fair share of drama in the past, but finally realized how much unnecessary stress it brings. Ali recently voiced her opinion on drama out-loud and is certainly a worthy method to share! She told me that if someone wants to fight with her for reasons that she doesn't feel are worth her time, she's just going to ignore the issue all together. As to why the entire girl-world come to this realization yet is beyond me, but wasting your energy on pointless drama is going to get a girl nowhere in life and I'm so thankful everyday that I have a friend who believes the same.

5.  Pursue your dreams, and do whats right for YOU.
Not quite sure if I would classify Ali as a homebody but when she made the decision to attend a college in Washington DC she made the decision to leave the small world of Charlton Mass behind, and hasn't looked back since. When you grow up in a small town like we did your parents and your parents parents and pretty much your whole family is based in and around the Central Mass area. For many, leaving this small town is a scary thought driving a whole handful of kids to go no farther than Worcester (20 minutes away). Ali knew she wanted something different and although she would be leaving behind her close-knit family and the group of friends she grew up with she did it anyways. She's been happier than ever since and by doing so has been able to pursue her running career through college and meet tons of new, interesting people. Even when a opportunity brings about a big change that may seem scary or intimidating, TAKE IT because you might regret it for the rest of your life.

Although this may not seem like a lengthy list of lessons, they are ones that I will keep with me for life. By definition, a best friend is "a friend who is closest to you", and while this may be true, my best friend is much more. To me a best friend is someone you can go to with any problem, big or small. Someone who will listen the things that are most important to you, even if they mean nothing at all to them. Someone you can laugh and cry with and someone you can trust with your life. Thanks for everything Al pal! Love you to the moon and back!

The 10 Best Things In The World:

1. Cold chinese food.
2. Girls night in. 
3. Singing in the car all by yourself. 
4. Coming home to a happy dog. 
5. Napping at the beach. 
6. Laughing so hard you cry. 
7. The feeling after giving someone a really awesome gift. 
8. Lazy Sundays. 
9. Coming home after a long trip. 
10. Conquering a fear. 

College Must-Haves

When you log onto Bed Bath & Beyond's online college department it gives you a list of must-have things for your dorm room. The same is true for many other college decor websites, but what about the other essentials that no one really tells you about? Most college campuses are a mecca for fashion trends and no one wants to be the girl with the outdated pair of bedazzled jeans! Here are some classic essentials guaranteed not to go out of style anytime soon that I personally don't think I could live without.

1. (And in my opinion, most important) A Smartphone.
We're not in the 90's anymore people! It's time to ditch that old flip phone and start begging daddy for a smartphone! Not only will having one allow you to stay in touch with the social media world, it will also allow you to instantly receive emails from your professors and family members, and keep you from being bored on the long bus rides across campus!

2. Comfy Yoga Pants
Lets face it, you're not going to want to get dressed up everyday so start stockpiling you yoga pants now kids! Here are a few of my favorites:

Lululemon Groove Pant                                                 Victoria's Secret Foldover Pant              

                      

3. Longchamp Le Pliage Tote 

Fits everything from your laptop to your gym clothes and looks cute with every outfit dressed up or dressed down. Available in colors the following colors at Longchamp.com: Black, taupe chocolate, grape, orange, peacock, red, loden, navy, bilberry, beige and graphite- So there's a color for every style!

4. Nalgene or Camelbak water bottle

Hot classrooms, long gym sessions and just being out of your room for most of the day are easy ways to get really thirsty, really fast so make sure to keep hydrated with a good water bottle that looks cool and saves the planet by reducing the number of plastic bottles wasted!

                     

5. Rain boots and a raincoat

Speaking from experience, you don't want to be caught in the rain without a rain coat/umbrella/ rain boots. No girl likes a soaked pair of Uggs so get some rain boots (Target, Gap, Walmart all have inexpensive versions) and a good rain jacket to keep you dry and laughing at all the other ill prepared gals! 

6. A little black skirt

Trust me, this is an investment every collegiate woman MUST make unless you plan on spending your Saturday nights studying! Pair it with a cute top and you're ready to hit the frats! Check out these options at Express and Forever 21! 

7. A cute planner 

In my opinion, the cuter the planner the more likely you'll be willing to plan! and If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Get organized and write things down so you don't forget due dates and the dates of important events! Lilly Pulizer and Vera Bradley make my personal favorite planners in plenty of cute designs and colors!

WARNING: Graphic Post

Well it's almost 6 AM and I'm up and about (not really I'm just sitting on the couch). But I am posting to apologize for my lack of posting yesterday due to a a minor procedure that I had done yesterday which kept me from posting.

I was born missing a tooth in my mouth and also missing the bone that would hold a tooth in my mouth. So the procedure consisted of adding bone into my gums as well as inserting a screw-like object into the fake bone so that in about 4-6 months a tooth can be attached. I have to say that despite my severe apprehension, the doctor did an awesome job and everything went very smoothly.

Okay, so I cried at first- you might too if they were about to saw your gums open and put a screw up there but after a few minutes of realizing I wasn't going to feel a thing I calmed down and stopped freaking out.

The aftermath of the surgery (what's happening right now) is probably the toughest part. Yesterday I was on an icing schedule that forced me to ice my mouth every 5 minutes for 15 minute intervals, making it hard to do much of anything but watch Top Chef Masters for the entire day. For obvious reasons, I'm also not allowed to chew anything until my gums are fully healed so I'm left to chose from Jello, applesauce, ice cream, yogurt, pudding and protein shakes. Even then I am on such a heavy does of pain medication that I often feel nauseas and have trouble keeping any food down: Exhibit A occurring last night right before bed. The last embarrassing detail is that I have stitches in between my teeth that at first glance resemble spinach or some other dark leafy vegetable. YIKES.

Hopefully I will have a speedy recovery and I will continue to blog for all of my loyal followers and all this pain will result in a beautiful smile!

Hummus Is Yummus: My Healthy Recipe

If there's one snack you can never go wrong with it's hummus! So tasty and so refreshing but some of the popular store-bought brands are ridden with unknown chemicals and ingredients that are totally unnecessary! Here's my own personal recipe that's quick and simple and super inexpensive especially if you're making a big batch to bring to a party! 

Ingredients:

2 cans of low-sodium garbanzo beans (chickpeas) 

1/2 cup sesame tahini (find it in the healthy section/international section of your grocery store) 

The juice of 3 fresh lemons 

2 cloves of fresh garlic 

1/4 cup of water 

Tools you'll need:

A food processor 

A colander 

A rubber spatula 

A cutting board 

A sharp knife 

A container to store your delicious treat!

Step-by-step instructions: 

1. Rinse your garbanzo beans in colander. 

2. Put your rinsed garbanzos in the food processor. 

3. Pulse the food processor until the garbanzos are chopped and pour in the lemon juice and water. 

4. Chop the garlic VERY FINELY. This is super important because no one likes to bite into a huge chunk of garlic. I usually wear gloves for this because I hate how my hands smell after chopping smelly garlic. 

5. Put the garlic in the food processor and pulse until desired thickness. 

NOTE: If you want your hummus to be thiner than I make it (I like mine thick) than feel free to add as much water as desired!

6. ENJOY!

I probably will never stop being completely obsessed with this song. I'm not ashamed to admit that i know every word and can often be found belting the lyrics in my car at a volume that is way too high for my talent level.

My Dorm Vision

This is the duvet cover I have decided on and I'm really excited about it! I got it online at West Elm and I think it's a real steal for only about $80! I have to say choosing my bedding was the hardest part since there's so many cute duvet covers out there but with bedding out of the way I can focus on other additions to my room to make it the perfect little study-nook!

This rug (chair not included) is a steal from Urban Outfitters for just $50! I chose a neutral color so I can use it for many years to come (hopefully). 

I really love these letters from Anthropologie but they are really pricey and I figured I can probably make them on my own! So i'll be headed to Michael's Craft Store sometime this week for some wooden letters and other craft supplies to create my own cheaper version. 

Walmart has some awesome inexpensive photo frames that allow you to really personalize your space for cheap! I love these black ones and can't wait to fill them with cute pictures of all of my best friends!

This is my favorite Lululemon poster that i'm stealing from my room at home to add a kick of color to my dorm room!

Picking out more posters is definitely on the to-do list and I already have quite a bit of stuff from last year as far as lighting and storage goes!

I'm snagging this little nightstand for all my trinkets that I like to keep next to my bed! Last year I pretty much used my fridge as a nightstand so I figured i'd upgrade this year! Not sure if I'll keep the white color or paint it black. Pretty much all depends on how lazy I am in these last few weeks of summer.

In addition to the night stand I am bringing a TV this year so I can finally watch The Bachelor at night instead of the next morning on my laptop! Yippie!

I also plan on added some cute accent pillows and luckily my mom is seamstress so the options are endless as to style and color! In addition to pillows she's also making me some pretty curtains for those mornings that I don't want to wake up with the sun!

Coffee Addict's Haul:

When you're as addicted to coffee as I am it's fun to keep things interesting. I have a Keurig brewer (prized possession), which offers many different varieties in their signature K-cup, but it's not easy to pick a brand of K-cup since there are so many. Here are the ones I have tried and what I did and didn't like about them:

Green Mountain Hazelnut:
I love this flavor! If you like hazelnut coffee this is definitely a good pick for you! It's light and not over powering and also really affordable- if you like it enough you can buy it in bulk from wholesale stores like costco or BJ's (@ BJ's- $84 for 106 K-cups!)

Van Houtte French Vanilla:

This flavor get's a B- from me. It's almost too much vanilla to be drinking everyday (even though I'm usually a vanilla fan!) and although I have a full pack to get rid of i'm pretty much sick of it. I bought this flavor at Walmart for about $11 but I probably won't be buying it again. 

Van Houtte Vanilla Hazelnut

#1, A+, FAVORITE FLAVOR! I love this flavor! It's light and fresh and tastes like something I would get from the local coffee house down the street. I teared up a little when I ran out of my sample pack- okay not really but close! This is def a good one to add to your online shopping cart, since I haven't been able to find it anywhere else. Sorta pricey since they don't sell this flavor in bulk but def a good buy!

Timothy's Carmel Vanilla Nut:

Not. a. fan. If you like a nutty coffee, go for it but this flavor personally isn't for me. I had to choke it down and still can't bring myself to drink the rest of the ones from my sample pack! Hopefully a willing house-guest will be able to get rid of them for me. 

Tully's Kona Blend:

Yum yum yum! If you're not a flavored coffee person but enjoy a nice, mild brew this one is for you! One of my favorites! Last year I was able to buy a large quantity at a local wholesale club for cheap but i'm bummed that they aren't carrying this flavor anymore. If anyone finds them anywhere for a good price let me know because I certainly wouldn't be against investing in these again!

Green Mountain French Vanilla Iced Coffee: 

It's summer and the sun is hot so i figured i'd try an iced variety to keep me cool on a hot summer day, but I must have missed some kind of brewing memo because I really can't seem to figure out how these work! The directions tell me that all I have to do is pop in this K-cup, grab a cup of ice and press brew BUT it literally brewed hot coffee into a cup of ice which is what I could have easily done with any of my other varieties. I'm baffled and probably won't be purchasing any iced K-cups until I figure out my mistake or Keurig comes out with different product that's a little more efficient. 

So that's it for my coffee review! Here's a few helpful websites to get you started on your coffee collections: 

BJ's Wholesale Club

Walmart

Keurig's Website

Weekly Gratitude

Even though this past week (7/18) went by so fast there are certainly a few things that made it memorable!

1. I am thankful to have a mother that is willing to listen to me rant and vent about things that mean nothing but another headache to her. She's been especially awesome lately.
2. I am thankful for my awesome local country radio station that keeps me guessing with a combo of oldies and newbies, all of which keep me singing loud and proud during every commute. Props 102.5!
3. I am thankful that the end of this week marks a short 5 week waiting period until I get to head back to my old stomping grounds of Durham, New Hampshire! UNH!
4. I am thankful that the horrible heat wave that plagued most of the country this week has finally come to an end although it did bring about an awesome excuse to eat ice cream for almost every meal!
5. I am thankful that my friends with air conditioning allowed me to see shelter in their homes during the dreaded heat wave.
6. I am thankful that I was finally able to taste the fruits of my labor this week with the first ripe tomato from my garden! Delish and nutrish.
7. I am thankful that my mom does my laundry during the summer and I don't ever have to worry about getting bleach stains all over my favorite articles of clothing!
8. I am thankful for knocking another book off the booklist this week!
9. I am thankful for all my wonderful twitter followers because I'm obsessed with twitter!
10. I am thankful that I got more shifts at work this week than I did last week- one shift a week just wasn't cutting it!

Great Summer Reads:

A good book is pretty much a necessity for a trip to the beach and here are a few of my absolute favorite beach-reads that deserve a spot on your Kindle wish-list! 

Poor Little Bitch Girl By Jackie Collins 

A drama-filled page turner that will keep you reading for hours! Without giving away too much juicy dirt, Poor Little Bitch Girl is the story of a tangled web of strangers, all brought together by the malicious murder of Annabelle Maestro's movie star mother. Trying to avoid lime light and figure out the truth behind the murder some fall in love and others are kidnapped and held captive by violent gang members.  All-in-all it's a juicy read that deserves to cut the line straight to the top of your summer reading list. 

Secrets To Happiness By Sarah Dunn

Secrets To Happiness is a book I hold dear to my heart mostly because I feel it hits close to home for at least 50% of the population out there. It's a real heart-warmer that tells the ever so familiar story of a breakup that Holly Fick was not prepared for. Still in love, the witty New Yorker sets out on a mission to live her life without being scarred by the memories of the Ex she still loves. She makes typical post break up impulse decisions (hers was purchasing a puppy) and has her fair share of rebound boys. A hilarious and witty read about the perpetual struggle to be happy. I promise this book will give you a good chuckle at some of Holly's cliche break-up mistakes and maybe even some of your own! 

My Summer Obsessions:

First and foremost, I would like to welcome myself to the wonderful world of blogging! Which brings me to my first summer obsession:

1. Blogs

Although summer does mean 3 months away from my college-bffs, 3 months of waitressing at the local tavern and 3 months of absolute boredom- it has allowed me to get a little creative with my time resulting in my newfound obsession with blogs! Here's a few of my absolute favorites: 

The College Prepster
Nutritionist's dream blog
Preppy Fun
Nails nails nails!

2. Long Hair

I've become so obsessed with having long hair that i've resorted to a number of extremes in order to achieve luscious locks, finally settling on an expensive bunch of extensions (shhhh)!

3. Painting my nails

Literally every day, without fail I paint my nails. What? It's relaxing. (above is the hue i'm currently sporting-for today)


4. Reading
There's nothing like a good book on a warm summer's day. I'll tell you all about my favorite summer reads in a post to follow!

5. Homemade anything
I really do love to cook and i've been putting my passion to good use with the wealth of ingredients my mom keeps stocked in our cabinets. My most recent feat was a healthy homemade hummus and i'm proud to say it's been a hit! HERE is the recipe I used! YUM!