Winter Birthday Probz

Having a birthday in the winter is literally the worst. All my peoples born November through March, raise your hands if you agree.

My birthday inconveniently falls on December 20th, yupp five days before Christmas. At the risk of sounding like a brat, I've been getting gypped for 23 years. Friends have always been busy with family functions around my birthday time, no one is in the mood to spend any money after dropping it all on Christmas presents. Like c'mon you guys, I know Christmas is important, but IT'S MY BIRTHDAY. *stomps feet, pouts, and whines*

In all seriousness...
I haven't done anything actually fun on my birthday in many years. For year 22, some friends and I tried to go to the casino but I was suffering from a broken heart and was, in laymens terms, a fucking disaster. Crying, refusing to have a drink, trying to text my ex, the whole 9 yards. Not fun for anyone.

Last year was lowkey and we went to Margaritas and I got one margarita and a cheese quesadilla and went home and went to sleep. Definitely an improvement over year 22, but... I think I can do better.

I have these two options in my head that I can't get out, so I need a little bit of help from the blog world (if you're out there!) deciding what it is exactly that I want to do, keeping in mind that my friends oh so kindly expressed to me that they weren't born into royalty so they can't go blowing all their money just for my special, only comes once a year, day. So here are the options.

Option #1: Isolated Cozy Overnighter 
Split an Air Bnb up in Vermont with 4-6 of my close friends for a two day getaway. Highly preferably a log cabin. We can drive up by carpooling together in L's dad's minivan, saving money by splitting on gas.

I'm envisioning:
- cozy blankets and a roaring stone fireplace
- hot chocolate spiked with Bailey's
- a DIY wine and cheese platter
- a movie marathon (Harry Potter, because it's my freakin' birthday)
- board games and card games a la Cards Against Humanity
- a snowball fight outside if we're feeling frisky

It's cozy, it's personal, it's quite possibly the definition of hygge. Which brings me to option #2, which is the completely opposite vibe...

Option #2: NYC Winter Wonderland 
Take a train from New Haven to NYC to experience the Great Apple in all of it's
Christmas-ified glory (which I've never done!!!). Possibly a day trip, possibly stay one night depending on if I can find a reasonably priced hotel on Groupon.

I would love to:
- see the giant Christmas tree all lit up
- go ice skating at Rockefeller Center
- walk through Chelsea Market
- see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular (I've never seen it!!!)
- go to a bar one of my coworkers told me about that is 100% decorated in all Christmas everything
- ride a horse drawn carriage through Central Park if I'm feeling like a really over the top birthday bitch

It looks magical, something that would celebrate my birthday AND get me deep into the Christmas spirit. But it could also be crowded, stressful, and freezing cold. Which L and my friends haven't failed to point out to me.

What do you think? What would you do? 

I'm trying to plan this super in advance so that I can actually DO SOMETHING for year 24, be it cozy and warm or slushy yet marvelous. Help a sister out?

how to hold onto that summer feeling (+ tips to avoid S.A.D.)

So, Happy Labor Day!

Unfortunately, with the marking of Labor Day comes the inevitable spiral into fall and colder months. I'm someone who has actually struggled consistently with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I just realized this (along with the help of my trusty therapist) this year, so trying to prevent + treat these symptoms is a new challenge for me.

With that comes my undeniable urge to hold onto that summer feeling.

I don't know if it's just me, but there seems to be such a different mentality in the summer months. The days are longer. People are less rushed. Time spent outside with friends is more precious than time spent inside binging Netflix. Life seems a little bit lighter.

How can we hold onto that feeling? I definitely think there are a few ways to bring a summery outlook into the colder months ahead. Here are some ideas that I'll be trying to put into play.

1. Say yes to activities. 
It's so easy to say no when the weather outside is frightful. In the summer, I'm down for anything. Try to maintain the same level of enthusiasm for leaving the house to hang out with friends, even when it's more appealing to lay under four fleece blankets at home.

2. Keep your routine light + easy.
Trends tell us that we need to go dark and moody in the fall and winter. No, you don't have to! If summery vibes are what make you happy, keep your nails white and your makeup light. I know I probably will be.

3. Soak up some sun.
Wake up a little earlier to watch the sun come up or get outside for at least 20 minutes before the sun sets. Take a vitamin D supplement. Surround your living space in bright light, natural light if you can. Try to find a natural full spectrum sunlight lamp that mimics the actual sun like this one. I haven't tried one of these lamps yet, but I definitely have plans to.

4. Stay healthy + active.
Winter used to be my hibernation time, which I think contributes to my SAD (not enough vitamin D and not enough endorphins). I'll be making a huge effort to maintain a steady workout schedule. Also, my body is NOT usually keen on fresh fruits and veggies in the colder months, but I gotta force it down. Less homemade mac&cheese + more spinach salads = more energy.

5. Don't isolate.
Maybe this goes hand in hand with saying yes to activities, but try not to spend too much time indoors, alone, in your own house. Unless you're an introvert, in which case you may love hibernating in the wintertime. I am a total extrovert in the sense that I get energy and recharge from being around people. Winter is a nightmare for me, especially when heavy snow forces people indoors for stretches at time. Even going to the gym or a group fitness class and being around people is sufficient exposure to humanity.


That's what I've got so far. Good luck friends! This isn't to say that I don't ADORE certain aspects of fall + winter (both of which will likely become separate blog posts). I just have a strong love for summer and a deep rooted fear of the depressed feelings that I associate with colder, darker months.

Again, Happy Labor Day!
Do you, or anyone you know, struggle with SAD?
What are your Labor Day plans?! 

I'm working until 1pm, then relaxing hard core, catching up on Big Brother, and likely chowing down on some potato salad and a veggie burger with some friends/family :)

Leave a comment, it means so much for me to actively engage with anyone awesome enough to start a conversation on this blog!

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5 No-Brainer Ways To Have a Prettier & Happier Week

Another Monday, another fresh start.

Last week was pretty weird. If you read my Friday Favorites, you definitely know I was feeling a little bit off.

It's fine to have an off day (or week). It's all about how you recover from it.

This past weekend, Lucas and I went to New York City, baby!

Stay tuned for some better pictures from his fancy pants camera and a recap of our mini trip. For now, here is a basic iPhone photo of my attempt at modeling on our bougie chaise lounge overlooking some NY buildings.

Now, onto our regularly scheduled programming.

Here are 7 absolutely no-brainer ways to make this week prettier and happier. 

Two things we could all use more of, am I right? & I'm even going to schedule it for you. Or more like myself. These are my personal plans, but feel free to follow my lead ;)

How To Get Out of a Major Funk

I am the Queen of Funks, I think.

That sounds so hip and jazzy, but no, I am not the Queen of FUNK (which would be fun and include a lot of shimmying and hip shakin' and saxophones). No, I am the Queen of Funks, plural.

I'm sure I'm not the only person that this happens to. Perhaps my coping and adjustment mechanisms have dwindled drastically since I graduated college. I used to be much more resilient! Deadlines didn't scare me, neither did social obligations, or downing five tequila shots before hitting the bar on a Thursday night!

But now it's so much harder for me to pull myself out of a funk.

Funks can be caused by a variety of things:

• crappy weather that is depressing and unmotivating
• getting sick or injured; your schedule gets all thrown off
• having your schedule change in any way
• getting into an argument with a loved one 
• making a mistake at your job
• returning from a vacation (you can read about my tips on how to survive returning from a vacation in this here blog post!)
  

Basically, it seems as though these things all have one common factor. They all involve having your schedule change, or having a mental/emotional monkey wrench thrown into your life. 

What can you do about it?

The reality of life is that you aren't always going to be able to control your circumstances. You can only react to the chaos. You can cry about not having enough money on your iTunes gift card to buy LEMONADE from the iTunes store. Or, you can transfer $17.99 from your savings account because you're living paycheck to paycheck and #priorities obviously include having Beyonce in your life. 

How to drag yourself out of a funk:

1. Organize your priorities. 

What are your top priorities? Saving money? Finding a new job? Just getting back into your regular work out routine? Figure out what your top 3 things are and get re-invigorated about them! These tasks shouldn't seem daunting, they should seem exciting and life-affirming. The time is going to pass anyways, so why don't you figure out exactly what you want. The first step is realizing what these things are. 

2. Set a random goal that is 100% attainable. 

It doesn't have to be a part of your grand plan, or any of your large and over-arching goals. But it has to be something you can definitely cross off your to-do list, and it will ideally give you a sense of pride. I've decided that I'm going sign up for and train for a 10K run! I've never even run in an organized 5K (although I am also doing one in June). But signing up for these babies holds you accountable. You have to pay to register after all! If I'm going to spend my hard earned pennies to run, I better train myself well enough so I'm not crawling on all fours through the finish line. 

3. Write everything down. 

Everything that I just told you? Your priorities, random goals, monthly bills, obligations, appointments, meet-ups, creative landmarks, etc etc.? Write it ALL down. I've been totally crazy with my planner situation. I bought a $75 Erin Condren planner, then stopped using it because YO, STICKERS ARE F*CKING EXPENSIVE, then bought a Moleskin and tried to bullet journal. I envy the neat freaks who live by the bullet journal, but that's honestly just too much work for me. So I'm actually going to good 'ol reliable Target TODAY to try and find a no nonsense monthly planner and some highlighters. That worked for me in college so I should've learned; if it ain't broke, don't fix it! 

4. Get yourself lookin' fine. 

I don't know about you, but pulling myself out of a funk is exponentially easier when I actually feel really good about myself. This starts from the inside out (see #9), but it doesn't hurt to aid this process from the outside in. Taking care of yourself externally can also trick you into caring about yourself internally, and if that is what it takes, then get yourself lookin' fine. Do a face mask. I know you have one that you haven't used in months! Do a hair mask. Literally just walk into your kitchen and slather coconut oil all over your hair. It makes a HUGE difference. Paint your nails. These things aren't hard, but damn, they can make a huge difference in my attitude and appreciation for myself. There's only one of you. Why would you not treat yourself with love and attention?! If you're as needy as I am, you should be doing this all the freakin' time. 

5. Talk to your friends about it. 

Your friends should be your therapists and your biggest fans. If you're in a funk, reach out to them, no matter how near or far they are. My two besties live in Boston and North Carolina and we have a group message that we are literally constantly chatting in. If I told them I was having an off day and needed some motivation/inspiration, I'd be showered with compliments involving a lot of phrases like "boss ass bitch", "slaying", and "you got dis!" I hope your friends are this awesome. 

6. Get vitamin d, SOMEHOW. 

This might be more of a personal thing, but if there are too many rainy days, I inevitably find myself in a funk. My therapist thinks I might get Seasonal Affective Disorder and be one of those people who just needs to live in a sunny environment. BRB, saving up to move to Florida right now! Sunlight and specifically vitamin D have been proven to have significant impacts on your mood and even brain functioning! If you're in a funk because of the weather, take it from me and try a daily vitamin D supplement or eat more foods that are rich in the D (tuna, salmon, cheese, and egg yolks to name a few. Dairy is also often fortified with the D). 

7. Clean your areas. 

Physical clutter = mental build ups. Those are definitely not conducive to getting yourself out of a funk. Just set some time aside to de-clutter, dust, and get rid of those random receipts, Sephora delivery boxes (oops), and dirty socks that missed the laundry basket that are just hanging around the corners of your areas. 

8. Fix your relationships. 

You can't move forward if something is holding you back. If an apology is due make it. Or if someone owes you one, ask for it. Clear the air because emotional clutter is just as harmful as physical clutter to your mental well-being. You might find that your time being stuck in a funk can decrease drastically if everything is going well in your interpersonal relationships. Spread kindness and forgiveness around like confetti y'all! 

9. Freakin' meditate. 

Feeling at peace starts from the inside out. Starting a meditation practice, even if it is only 1 minute, every other day, is better than nothing. Start small. Put your phone away, or set a timer on it for the length you'd like to be mentally ~ away ~. Listen to instrumental music, or the birds chirping outside, or nothing at all. Let your thoughts float by like clouds. Notice them, but let them pass. Getting out of a funk is about re-gaining your confidence, taking action, and feeling at peace with your path. Meditation is going to help that, in big and small ways! 

10. Get this t-shirt. 

If all else fails, get this shirt. If it doesn't motivate you when you rock it in your kitchen to blend up a green smoothie and drink that sh*t while job searching, meal prepping, and face masking, I don't know what will.

Good luck with getting out of your funk! Mine was caused by a week of sickness and then a week of terrible weather and I'll tell you right now, I'm going to be implementing all of these things this week! 

How I Survived the Plague of 2016

I do not get sick often and when I do, it's bad. Very bad.

Hence the week long hiatus from this blog. I was so sick that I couldn't even bare to move my fingers. I couldn't fathom stringing together coherent sentences. What I had was worse than when I had mono in college. Type B Influenza knocked me down and curb stomped me senseless my friends.

I was only at work until 9AM on Tuesday before I knew something was wrong. I had the chills and a headache that went straight into my eye sockets. I never really get headaches either. The doctor at the walk in clinic first reprimanded me for not getting the flu shot. But I've never had the flu! Then she scared me by telling me "this is the best you're going to feel for days" and "people my age die from this". Like thanks lady, like I wasn't feeling terrible and miserable already.

Thus began the five day lay down. I feel like I honestly slept for five days straight and therefore lost basically a full week of my life. Oh well.

Here are some all star things and shows that got me through this week long hell.

The Biggest Loser
There are a ton of seasons of The Biggest Loser on Hulu and it saved me. The only bad thing was that I had terrible congestion and crying every five minutes from the show certainly did not help that. I watched a full 1.5 seasons.

Youtube
I had a plethora of Youtube videos to catch up on. I'm wicked obsessed with beauty videos so I watched about a thousand of those, followed by another thousand hip hop dance videos. So inspiring!

Lysol wipes
Miraculously, no one in my house got sick. And neither did my boyfriend, who slept with me EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. He is a clean freak though. He wiped down every surface multiple times and made me wipe my hands with Lysol wipes after each time I blew my nose.

Medical masks
He also made me wear a medical mask at all times during the first three days of my plague so like, I think that helped too.

Organic honey + lemon throat drops
Nothing helps a sore throat like lemon and honey. And my throat and chest felt like they were being ripped in half with a meat cleaver. Sorry for that imagery.

Chicken noodle soup
A classic for a reason.

Inside Amy Shumer
Laughing hurt but this helped get my mind off the fact that I hadn't seen sunshine in over 80 hours. Amy Shumer is fucking hilarious.

Bluetooth thermometer
Why use a regular thermometer when you can use a Bluetooth thermometer that syncs to your phone and records your history of temperature readings? Super handy when you're considered contagious until 24 hours without a fever, unmedicated.

Mucinex Day + Night
Dayquil and Nyquil suck, this stuff is where it's at.

Toast
My personal favorite sick food, and brings me back to elementary school days.

My boyfriend & mother
These amazing humans were literally my caretakers and I would have been a crusty old rag without them. They put a heating pad on my bag, an ice pack on my head, and a love inside my heart. Wow so cheesy. I can't help it. Their love and attention made me so grateful I was nearly brought to tears more than once.

I'm happy to be back on the blog. Writing is so cathartic that I think being away for so long is part of the reason I've been feeling so pent up and emotional. I'll be back tomorrow with how I did on my April goals and my new goals for May :)

The Two Types of College Seniors (as told by a College Graduate/Survivor)

In case you haven't noticed, April is almost over and this is absolutely nuts to me. People are showing up to the gym in droves, as they realize with this warmer weather and May approaching that, "oh SHIT it's almost summer, gotta get my body lookin' right".

And almost summer means almost graduation. 

Which luckily, I (barely) survived two years ago. I thought I'd impart some knowledge on the two types of college seniors that definitely exist at every college. These two types seem to divide aggressively around graduation time.

Usually when it comes to college graduation, people fall into one of two categories. There are those people who are totally D-O-N-E with college and cannot wait to jet set off into the real world. They're ready to start their adult lives, get real jobs, move out, get an apartment and a cat, and settle down to work and roll in the cash until they retire. In my opinion, these people are freaks of nature. 

So clearly I was not one of these people. When one of my college friends looked at me in all seriousness a month or so before graduation and said to me, "I can't wait to get out of here and start my life" I probably recoiled from her as though she had some incredibly infectious flesh-eating disease.

I looked around, spread my arms wide, and wanted to scream, "BUT HOW IS THIS NOT THE PERFECT LIFE???" 

Freedom from your parents 24/7. Any food you could possibly want within walking distance. A gym that you don't have to pack a bag and drive to. All your friends either living with you, or down the road. 

What could get better? What could possibly get better? 

(In all honesty, I do not know the answer to this question. I graduated two years ago and still, nothing is better).

So you have those people who are just bizarre and maybe don't care about all those wonderful things. They'd rather have their cat, their personal space, their privacy, and their sober Thursday nights. 

Then there are people like me. People who lived in denial about graduation until a week after they had moved home for the summer for good. People who could barely take graduation pictures with friends and family because their eyes were so red and puffy. People who wanted to cling to the laughter and freedom and debauchery of college with their bare hands, holding on for dear life. People who openly sobbed through their entire graduation ceremony. People who did not clean out their dorm room (at all) until hours after they were handed their diploma, then somehow managed to live in their college town for two weeks after graduation because they just could not handle the thought of getting kicked out and tossed to the trash, like WHAT WE HAD WASN'T REAL. LIKE WHAT WE HAD DIDN'T MATTER. 

There is definitely a beauty in goodbyes and a sadness to holding onto things that aren't meant for you anymore. Logical Danielle knew this. Desperately Sad Graduating Danielle did not accept this.

Here's what I'm here to tell you, as a survivor of this strange and horrible and wonderful accomplishment called graduating college: You will be okay, and it's fine to feel however you're feeling. 

If you're in denial, depressed, anxious, or angry, it will pass.
If you're elated, exuberant, joyful or just plain done (and people are judging you/don't want to hang out with you/won't touch you with a 10 foot pole), it will pass. 

You will adjust and you'll find a new normal, new places, new friends, and new opportunities. No matter how long it takes, believe the bad will pass and the good will come. There is a beauty in moving on. And if you aren't a college senior yet, you better live it up every second of every day, because you don't know how good you got it 'til it's gone. 

*(If you are truly having a mentally difficult time with graduation, it's perfectly okay and normal to reach out to your school's counseling program. Even if it's just for the weeks leading up to graduation and you need someone professional to vent to and help sort out your wild and emotional thoughts. Trust me, I have been there, done that.) 

Basic Makeup for Basic Betches In a Hurry

So I know I mentioned I work in a gym but I don't think I mentioned that I work the morning shift, which starts at 5am. YUPP.

Here's what one of my mornings typically looks like:

Alarm goes off at 3:58am. LOL, SNOOZE. Back to sleep. 

Alarm goes off again at 4:08am. FUCK. Jump out of bed. 

Everything is dark. Eyes not adjusting. 

Accidentally hit boyfriend in the head jumping out of bed. 

Hair looks like I got electrocuted. 

No time to shower... haha! Good jokes. 

Can't find work outfit. Trips over sneakers. 

Forgets lunch box on the way out the door. 

Somehow make it to work on time (most days) but look a frazzled mess. 

Does that resonate with anyone? As much as I try my best to prepare the night before work, there is always SOMETHING that usually goes wrong in the morning, to the point where I literally need the most basic makeup routine possible in order to look slightly presentable at work despite my disheveled state of mind.

Thus, I bring to you....

Basic Makeup for Basic Betches In a Hurry.

1. Do ya damn face. L'oreal Lumi Cushion Foundation is a GOD SEND and yes, is really all it's cracked up to be. Ideally apply this with a beauty blender but if all else fails, smear it on with that additional sponge. *thumbs up emoji*

2. Eyebrows are an important thing that I guess I never really had before I started using eyebrow products. Thanks Youtube gurus and Instagram stars for helping my brow game get more fleeky. I ain't got no time for pencils or powders in the morning, so I let this L'oreal brow gel doo-dad go to werk werk werk.

3. If I don't have time to do eye makeup (which lols, is never) I want my face to be a sparkly disco ball. Idk why that is. But the new Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Highlighting Palette is of sparkling disco goddess dreams. 

4. Pair the highlighting palette with some Milani baked blush in ANY shade (but I prefer Berry Amore) and you will literally look like a flower petal coated in shimmering morning dew drops. And who doesn't want that?! 

5. Slap on some mascara. Don't even bother curling your lashes. You aren't going for high maintenance here, you're going for "hey I'm awake and I made it to work on time, I deserve a cookie". Mascara opens up your eyeballs to look more awake and this one just happens to not clump and also be waterproof so you don't smear it all over when you yawn and rub your eyes at 5am. 

6. This is the BEST MAKEUP SETTING POWDER EVER. It's a tried and true favorite. Powder dat t-zone for oily free mornings. 

7. This $24 tinted lip balm is worth every penny. Lips of an angel. No flakes, no dryness, gorgeous color. 

Hello flawless, and welcome to your quickest, most basic morning ever. 

How to appear as though you have your shit together in 5 easy steps

Life is hard and sometimes you can't even.

I've been actually having a really hard time this month sticking to my goals and staying motivated. I don't know if I necessarily have Seasonal Affective Disorder, but sometimes I think I do, and during this time of the year, every year, I suffer a ton of lethargy and find it hard to be engaged with things I used to once love doing. So while I'm dealing with all of that, I still want to APPEAR like I have my act together.

^ I don't wear lipstick too often, but I do love that quote.

So here is a list of the things I attempt to do when trying to make other people think I didn't just spend the six hours after my work shift laying in bed, eating slices of cheese, and binge-watching The People vs. OJ Simpson.

1. Paint your nails. Nothing says "I don't give a fuck about myself" like chipped nail polish, especially if you're like me and somehow manage to get all sorts of strange brown gunk under your finger nails. I personally think it's a pain in the ass to make sure my nails are always looking good. As I type this, I have chipped pink and glitter polish from the week before Valentine's Day on there. But I feel like it makes a huge difference in the way I feel about myself and, let's face it, there ARE people out there who will judge you by your nails.

2. Braid your hair. I've been able to braid my hair since I was a little girl, I don't even remember learning how. But it will never cease to shock me how amazed some people are by a simple French braid, or even just a regular braid! When I haven't washed or brushed my hair in three days, I pull it all to the side, do a little twisty-doo-dad with the front "bangs" section of my hair, then do a nice loose side braid with the whole thing. Or French braid the front sections to your head, that one will really impress everyone.

3. Get your glow on. I can't pretend that I'm healthy when it comes to everything and tanning is one of them. Do I know that tanning beds increase the risk of skin cancer? Yes. Do I tan? Yes. I'll be honest, it's hard to work in a gym environment and not take advantage of the extra amenities. It's like peer pressure. So a few seven minute long sessions in a tanning booth can give me a big boost of confidence and make me feel like I have my act together a little bit more. If this isn't your thing then just buy some Jergens. I do hate the way it smells though.

4. De-clutter your baggage. Purse, wallet, gym bag, duffel bag, backpack. There are receipts, food wrappers, crumbs, used up gift cards, etc just taking up space and mental energy in these places. And nothing says "my life is falling apart" to me like when I open my wallet in line at Target and my cards fall all over the floor followed by 8 receipts, 3 appointment reminder cards, 2 pairs of earrings, a pair of headphones, cracker crumbs, and a waterfall of loose change. It takes three minutes to clean up your act and feel a lot better about yourself.

5. SMILE. A change of attitude can make all the difference. It's easier said than done. People know and recognize when you're frantic and all over the place. At least I do, and I know when people recognize it in me. Take several deep breaths, repeat a mantra, do a little bit of meditation wherever you are and whatever you're doing. Do you ever just see those people who look like they have it all together because they're so calm, deliberate, and slow-paced? Strive to be this way. I know I definitely do.

Now put a smile on and go out there and look like a succeeding young adult with me!

Questions: 

• Is there anything you do to feel calmer and more put together? 
• How much weight do you think appearance has in feeling put together? 

ART THERAPY

I don't know what was wrong with me yesterday but I was having an epic existential meltdown. Maybe I was over tired. Maybe I was over worked (I had to stay after work an extra half hour because I'm an overachieving employee...). I don't know but yesterday when my boyfriend came home from work he found me sitting on the floor of the living, pouting, and whining about how life is so short and I'm not going to be able to accomplish everything I want to do.

~ PAUSE ~

I try as hard as I can to flood my life with optimism and positive thinking. I don't know what is getting into me, but I think it might be the bitter cold yesterday and the dread of the next few months of winter and class that is getting under my skin. I need to find a way to address this and deal with it ASAP.

~ UNPAUSE ~

So my boyfriend and mother were obviously a little bit worried about me as I sat there stewing in my puddle of self pity and helplessness.

I have three adult coloring books and got a case of art supplies for my birthday so my boyfriend went and got those and we started coloring. I wasn't really interested in the coloring books actually; they're supposed to be zen inducing but sometimes they honestly stress me out. I'm someone who loves to finish something once I start it and all of those intricate details make it impossible to finish a single picture in one go. So I got some white printer paper and starting drawing and smudging on those with a set of colorful pastels.

And within about 45 minutes, I felt so much more calmmmmmm.

My phone was in the other room charging so I actually didn't check it once while we were getting artsy in the kitchen. So this is my advice:

UNPLUG & CREATE.

I can't tell you how wonderful it felt for 45 solid minutes to not be checking my phone and to be spending quality time (albeit silent, since I was so focused on what I was doing) to sit and create something in the space of two other humans whom I love. I can't tell you the last time I just drew pictures and colored outside of the lines.

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE

Without a trip planned yet for 2016, I am suffering from some extreme wanderlust and general anxious feelings about the future and decision making.

Lately I've been having episodes of an existential crisis where it occurs to me so clearly:

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. 

(that we know of).

I don't know why, but that YOLO phrase is echoing in my head so loudly. You only live once so what are you wasting your time for? What is it you want to do? How are you going to do it? When are you going to start? And here's a good jumping off point once you figure out what it is you want to do, both long and short term.

1. Make a vision board. I haven't done this yet but I can picture it in my head. It's a giant cork board filled with images of tropical beaches, stretches of rolling landscapes, mountains, ancient ruins, serene humans doing yoga outdoors, unbelievably athletic people in high scale gyms on Spinning bikes, sun kissed girls doing stand up kayaking on a sea of turquoise, puppies, occupational therapists at work, and books.

2. Determine, based on your vision board, what is most important to you. For me, it looks like this would be travel, health & recreation, puppies, and education.

3. Make a realistic time-line of that importance. What can you do soon and as soon as possible? Realistically, you're going to have to be looking at your finances and budgeting. Maybe I can get Spinning certified in three months but I have to wait three years to save up for yoga certification. In the meantime I'm saving up for grad school and going on mini vacation every few months, but one big vacation per year. It's wonderful to want to do everything at once, but it also has to make sense and be possible.

4. Do it. Take the first step. My first step of 2016 was realizing that if I don't get a move on applying to grad school, then sooner or later I'm going to be 30 and still not have my degree. I want it now, as soon as possible, and I have to be willing to put in the work. So I threw my hands up in the air and registered for a class at a local community college that I'll need as a pre-requisite for grad school (since I majored in Psych and decided a year after graduating that I want to be an Occupational Therapist). The phone call was my first step. Because your first step has to be action, not just dreaming about it.

5. Figure out the second, third, fourth, etc steps. In February I plan to get Spinning certified. At the end of May I'd like to go on vacation, but I haven't decided where yet. I'm going to call some grad schools next week to check up on any other pre-requisites. This is action. Make the phone call. Start the plan.

WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?!