Lushly Lavish

This post features two very grand subjects: baths and board (board is actually a synonym for food which, strangely, I was unaware of). 

Sushi platter which was grade A.. My rolls are the ones with an abundance of avocados, obviously. 

Boyfriend & I cooked up some yummy pesto pasta featuring mozzarella, zuchini, spinach, and chicken.

Another delicious dinner I cooked for him! It was a simple pot pie with perhaps the most tender chicken of all time.

My man also financed a mini lush haul for me. The two bath bombs smelled incredible- the shooting star one (blue sphere) was reminiscent of sweet tarts and turned the water a dark indigo hue tinged with glitter whereas the dinosaur egg (cream colored sphere) was a refreshing lemon citrus scent with confetti flecks of bright colors. Both bombs made my skin indescribably soft. The pink cone is a bubble bar (not actually a bar though?) called candy mountain which had a sweet smell. It made some long-lasting fun bubbles in the tub! Lastly, the item that looks like a soap bar with a flower on it was a massage bar. IT WAS PHENOMENAL. It literally melted onto your skin and had a lovely smell and feel when you rubbed it in. I would recommend this 100% to anyone who likes massages in the comfort of their home. All of this amounted to about $30, which is a bit much for items with a short life, but Lush carries quality products that are all-natural, vegan, and cruelty free. You get what you pay for. 

This is a photo I captured of the shooting star bath bomb fizzing in the water. Look how gorgeous the bath looks! It was awesome to see the pink swirl into the dark bathwater because it recreated a small nebula. If you've never tried a bath bomb before this is a great starter one because there's no possibility of being disappointed.

Winter Wardrobe Essentials!

Let me just start with this: I LOVE WINTER FASHION. There are many more combinations that can be made with layering and cold weather accessories. Also, nothing is comfier than bundling up in a chunky knit sweater, knee socks, calf boots, and a fur muffler. Here I include items that are timeless for a winter wardrobe as well as pieces particular to winter 2014/15 trends. I would put suggested colors for each article but I'm pretty sure I'd recommend them all to be black.. and I know not everyone is as apt to dress as a sophisticated goth as I am.

Stay warm!

• Wool peacoat or cocoon coat
• Mid-length trench coat
• Leather motorcycle or aviator jacket
• Fancy blazer with 'school uniform' type emblem
• Oversized chunky knit sweater
• Long button-less cardigan with pockets
• Long-sleeved turtlenecks
• Over-sized flannel button-ups
• Long-sleeved rompers with deep necks
• Ribbed riding pants
• Black washed high-waisted denim w/ rips at knee
• Leather shorts 
• Skirt made of knit sweater material
• Thick knee-length plaid skirt
• Tulle midi-length skirt
• Fleece-lined leggings
• Black tights in opaque, semi-sheer, and sheer, as well patterned ones (ex. floral)
• Knee socks and patterned ankle socks
• Lace-up knee-high boots
• Chelsea boots
• Platformed bootie heels
• Leather Vans slip-ons 
• Leather gloves
• Floppy wool hat
• Silver toned chunky statement necklace, short-chained
• Wide scarves that can double as shawls  
• Fluffy fur stole

Hungry for the Holidays

One of my favorite aspects of the holiday season is the increase of treats available. The increased amount of cookies, cakes, and sugary warm beverages is reason enough to smile and be jolly. Who doesn't love a great holiday themed dessert? Did you know that 2 out of 3 Americans will gain 6 pounds between Halloween and New Years? It's really not that surprising considering all of the winter holidays revolve around food. It's shocking that I've evaded that statistic and haven't put on that much weight from all of the yummies I've devoured each year (maybe 2 lbs. versus the 6 lb. national average). My sweet tooth persuaded me to begin Christmas baking super early. The weekend before Thanksgiving my boyfriend and I made decorative sugar cookies with a variety of sprinkles, colored icings, and cookie cutter shapes. 

This is me & the boy decorating the cookies. They were so tasty!!!! 

We also made red velvet brownies from a Duncan Hines mix. It came with a cream cheese icing to drizzle over the top which made for extra delicious gooey brownies :)

I packed him a little care package to take home with him. This adorable holiday themed box came from Michael's and was about $7. The first layer was sugar cookies with a pumpkin muffin that had a cream cheese filling, the second layer was the red velvet brownies, and the bottom layer was chunky chocolate chip cookies!

I also dropped by the grocery store today and made a little 'pick your own' 6 pack of beer with seasonal flavors. There's only 5 pictured because the 6th was a regular Stella (which is my favorite beer by the way). I figured each time I drank one I could do a little review! So below is my commentary on Blue Moon's seasonal brew.

You'll have to excuse my lack of expertise when it comes to the vernacular of beer and beer tasting. I'm not much of a connoisseur in regards to the drink.. I only started consuming the stuff a few years back because I much preferred the taste of fruity mixed drinks. Once I started drinking craft beers it was like a whole new world was exposed to me. I'm much more brave nowadays to test out a new brew. Anyhow, tonight I tried out Blue Moon's Mountain Abbey Ale, part of their seasonal collection. The description is as follows- "This copper-colored ale is crafted with roasted malts, Belgian sugar and a touch of wheat for a rich caramel flavor and a smooth toffee finish." My initial impression was indifference (more like an audible 'meh'). You can definitely pick up the sweet hints of toffee and caramel which are two flavors I typically enjoy. I don't know how I felt about the overall taste, though. It reminded my roommate and I a lot of a dark liquor.. like a bourbon or something. Although the drink was chilled, it had a warm undertone in taste. The more I sipped on it the more I enjoyed it. I think it took time for me to get accustomed to the heavier flavor since Blue Moons are typically light wheat beers. I give it a 6.5 out of 10. Not sure I'd purchase a six pack of it, but I wouldn't turn it down if someone offered me one!

I'll post reviews of the drinks as I consume them! If you know of any yummy holiday ales let me know. I love trying new flavors!   

Favorite Winter Trends & Fashion Forecasts

I would say that winter has struck out in full force, but the reality is global warming has ruined the weather's annual progression to frigidity in December. Just the other day it was in the 60's and people were wandering about campus in shorts and without jackets. Nevertheless, winter wear is taking its spotlight in these [mildly] colder months. Whenever I'm turning my wardrobe over for the new season I scour the internet for the latest and greatest. I also peel my eyes for anything that might be a fashionable egg that has yet to hatch- as in I try and spot elements that might trend later on. Here I've conglomerated several different pieces with varying stylistic details. I'll link each item so you can check them out for yourself!

Note: A vast majority of these items are exorbitant in price. Similar styles can easily be found on NastyGal, H&M, or Urban Outfitters for much cheaper! However, I am a firm believer that it is well worth it to invest in quality wardrobe staples- i.e. a solid leather aviator jacket from Burberry will keep you looking classy and stylish for a lifetime.

#1: Fur. Fur everywhere, on everything, in all its glorious fluffiness.

Mongolian Mix Biker Jacket by Topshop- $675

Oversize Shearling Aviator Jacket by Burberry Brit- $2,995

Or, if you only want an accent of fur, a stole is the perfect add-on to any thick knit sweater or plain wool jacket. It instantly dresses up any ensemble. 

Adrienne Landau Fox Fur Button Stole, Blush $2,495

First fashion forecast (although they've been around forever, I think they'll be seen much more frequently in the next few months/ even winter 2015-16): Fur pillbox hats

Faux-Fur Pillbox Hat by Helen Moore $98

#2: Tortoiseshell Accessories- I feel like the color combo is so fun and flirty. It's a more interesting take on brown tones and would look awesome accompanied with gold accent jewelry. In my head I see someone wearing a deep chocolate brown fur coat and tortoise shell sunglasses with a clean bun and it's so glamorous. 

Kate Spade New York Acetate Cat's-Eye Sunglasses $138

Tory Burch 2012 Fall Runway Bag- I have no idea where you can buy this, and I know it's from seasons back, but it's still just as visually stunning with it's detailed lucite flowers and lucite chain. 

Black Pythonprint Calf Hair Shoulder Bag by Tory Burch

Again, I'm not 100% on where you can get this but I wanted to share it regardless because of how fabulous it is.

#3: Oversized 3/4 Bell Sleeves. They have been all over the Dolce & Gabbana runway for the past few seasons and I think they look magnificent in lace. To me they're reminiscent of fancy medieval gowns when in deep hued jewel tones. 

Lace Tunic by Dolce & Gabbana $948

Lace Blouse w/ Camisole by Dolce & Gabbana $1,148

Little Embroidered Animals Flared Dress by Dolce & Gabbana $2,998

This is from Mulberry's Fall 2013 Collection during LFW. I adore the mix of wool, plaids, and a high neck with the billowing sleeves.

Lace Blouse by H&M $34.95

This design is basically taken straight off of the D&G runway but it's being sold at an affordable price (which I appreciate). 

Carrie Pleated Dress by Nasty Gal $57.80 

#4: Pearl Accenting. We've been bombarded with metal accents with studs, rhinestones, gem encrusting, and now I think we're turning to a softer more feminine look with pearl details. I wholly embrace this because it's more of a Chanel look, which I am ever so fond of. I suppose this can be my second fashion forecast.

Jeffrey Campbell Lorelei Leather Heel $101.50

Lanette Pearl Blazer by Nasty Gal $78

Vivienne Velvet Dress by Nasty Gal $66.30

Pearling Out Bustier by Nasty Gal $68

ASOS Faux Pearl Headband $18.95

Alright, that's it! Hope you enjoyed looking at this post and that it provided you with some fashion inspiration. I'm thinking about making a post about winter wardrobe essentials. Let me know if you'd be interested in seeing that! It probably won't feature as many pictures and will be in a list format (sorry if you had to scroll a lot!).

I'm a poet & I sorta know it

I've been writing all my life, whether it be short stories, the first few introductory chapters to dead-end novels, or free verse poetry. Some of my most peaceful memories are of me, twelve-years-old, sat behind the computer screen with line after line of text glowing back. When I was in high school I was a part of my county's specialty arts program- I took specialized courses throughout my four years for creative writing. Quite a few of my best friends are from those very classes. I think some of the strongest bonds are made through the connectivity art provides. When you create art, you reveal your conscience and transmit it through an interpretable medium. I spent hours with these girls sharing words from the depths of my soul, and in turn I was able to indulge in theirs. In my head I romanticize these interactions and liken them to the friendships of the Lost Generation. We were like a bunch of jaded expats sitting in the dusk of a Parisian night, sipping red wine and musing over the temporariness of life.. passing typewriter manuscripts with coffee stains between hands and occasionally adding dashes of our own ink. 
Not really.
I don't know where I was going with all that. I guess I was trying to relay how much I valued their friendship and critical input when it came to my writing. When I went to college I took an introductory course for creative writing in my first semester. I didn't take any more thereafter and would only write sparsely. The other day I was browsing through some old files and found a few poems tucked away. I thought I'd share one, just for the fun of it. Don't judge too harshly- I rarely write anymore so my poet brain is rusted. 

OF LATE

enough

plenty- a full, filling serving of dissatisfaction,

at the edge of the cycle

the restart of submission.

i can't do this anymore and i kindly ask for you to

stop fighting it. 

just let it unfold and slowly chew,

chew, loosen your tongue, file your teeth

& swallow. 

digest- understand that i do understand you;

submit to my decision to defy your submission.

new seeds will settle themselves into the

flesh of the earth,

explore and filter the soil with their roots, 

blossom into bright bulbs

that will respect promises, 

keep your heart in theirs. 

yes, i've lost it- gone off the rails

and plundered into the murky abyss of mishaps

and misshaping. too many hands

pulling on nonexistent ropes 

but i've got it on my mind.

which means i've got it in my soul

to kiss and taste him

repeatedly, like a candy-coated broken record.

tender ideas unlike calloused knuckles

(wearing the brand of relentless kneading,

failed attempts at flawlessness)

and this idea of him is mine-

something you never were. 

Stop & Breathe

After writing enough academic papers to publish my own encyclopedia (predominately on the subject of Adenovirus-36 induced obesity), recording my thoughts on here is so refreshing. I am uninhibited and free from subject compliance. The latter part of November, just before Thanksgiving break, has continuously been the most stressful part of the semester. Finals week is a close second but the open schedule and freedom from classes makes it more tolerable. I feel very overwhelmed & whenever this happens I have to remind myself to stop and breathe. Everything may seem beyond repair but nothing is ever so broken that it cannot be fixed. "Let go and let God." I regain my sanity knowing that He's looking out for me and everything will work out as it should. There is nothing more comforting than the love of God.

Anyhow, little update on what I've been getting up to (besides attending class & schoolwork):

The boyfriend & I loved making those little holiday houses before that we went back and bought a couple more for his apartment! We got glitter all over the place but the results made the mess worth it (at least in my opinion.. he may not agree considering that stuff doesn't go away for a long time).

This is from a couple weeks back but I came across the photo on my phone and had to share how adorable this little coin purse from Kate Spade is! Cute but pointless. All the best decorative things in life seem to serve no purpose other than to look good (which means they're doing their job perfectly).

This isn't my picture. I'm pretty sure I screenshotted someone else's Instagram photo because their cake looked so dang good. Donuts.. strawberries.. and cake?! All of my favorite edible things have been compiled into one delicious pink sugar bomb. This has to be reconstructed in my kitchen one day. 

Baking & Building

I know that it's been some time since I've posted on here & a lot has happened in my life that I'd like to share with you. You should see me when something exciting happens nowadays- I whip out my iPhone and say, "Wait! Let me take a picture! I wanna blog about this". I actually brainstormed a list the other evening about post topics. So believe me when I say that I have a lot planned, my only shortcomings in being a blogger are my semi-busy life and sheer laziness. 

The Holiday Season brings with it so many goodies in so many forms- there are candies, cookies, cakes, pies, breads, etc;. When the first chill bites my skin through my knit sweater I know that it's time to pull out the Christmas sprinkles and preheat the oven to start baking. The other day I picked up a pumpkin pie bar mix from Krusteaze that has a gingerbread cookie crust. It. is. SUPERB. It was also quite simple to put together and quick to bake. 

Along the lines of cooking- this weekend my boyfriend and I took turns cooking dinner for each other and the results were tasty. I did a shrimp scampi and he did a steak dinner with sweet potatoes and asparagus!

Cold weather is also an indicator to me that the decorations ought to come out. As a young adult who moves frequently, I don't have a collection of holiday decorations compiled over time to call my own. I tend to pick up a couple things here and there. On Halloween my boyfriend and I found a little kit in Target for a miniature themed house made of foam pieces. It was like a 3D puzzle with glittery stickers that finished impressively. When I saw Christmas houses at Michaels I knew purchasing them needed to happen. The other evening we took time out (collectively 3 hrs, to be exact) to watch some films and build them! The gingerbread house was for ages 3+ with some 120+ pieces and actually took longer to build than the little shop, which was for 6+ and had 240+ pieces. The age recommendations on those projects is absolute madness. If it takes two 23-year-olds a few hours to build them, then I highly doubt children could do it on their own. Also, 3-year-olds should not be playing with toys that have little pieces because I'm pretty sure that's still in the everything-goes-in-my-mouth stage of childhood. Someone made a comment which was so spot-on- "that's for the parents of the 3-year-old".. Precisely. 

Lastly, my roomies are babysitting their friend's puppy for a week while he goes back home for a wedding. It's an English bulldog named Titan who is only 6 months old. His proportions are so unbalanced it's almost comical. He trips over his own paws and falls forward because of his massive head! I love puppies but this guy seems like a handful and a half.