De Donde Eres?

 

{dress: modcloth//sweater: ann taylor loft (sale)//green & blue pearl earrings: v&a museum in london}

Today marks exactly one week until the final day of classes! Hold steady, dear friends.

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Okay, I've found another television show to obsess over: Downton Abbey. Set in the early 1900's in an elite England manor, I am drooling. My favorite characters are definitely Mr. Bates and Anna, not only because of the relationship they have but because of their loyalty to the Crawley family. I also adore Mary, even though she can be a bit of b-word sometimes. The actress who plays her is brilliant. And who doesn't love Mr. Carson? And I think it's safe to say we all despise Thomas and O'Brien (but mainly Thomas).

This weekend, Scott and I went on a double date with Julie and Todd to see Titanic in 3D. We got dinner at Jason's deli and I had a sandwich on a buttery, flaky croissant with fresh fruit. Tres fantastique! Afterwards, we went for shakes at Steak 'N Shake. The chocolate chip cookie dough one hit the spot. And of course, Titanic in 3D was all I hoped it would be. Three hours of me dorking out over Leo and Kate and all the great lines. "No, Titanic go to America--in five minutes!" 

I had a group presentation in Spanish today that I hope went well. We'll see when grades are posted. 

And at work, I finally spoke to the floor cleaning/janitor guy at work in Spanish. I found out he's from Veracruz in Mexico which is the dialect I studied for my presentation! No wonder I understood him so well. He's so nice, I can't wait to speak to him some more. He always seems so lonely since he can't speak English very well. 

Until then...

Things I'm Loving This Spring

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Lately I've been watching old school episodes of The Office. After watching the entire British series, I decided that I wanted to start from the beginning and catch up on some of the episodes I missed. It reminds me of high school--Ruth, Kelsey, and I would always talk about The Office and the Booze Cruise, Diversity Day, etc. And honestly, I think I enjoy the humor way more now.

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Okay, okay. I've jumped on the bandwagon. I'm currently halfway through Catching Fire and loving it. As I'm sure most people will agree, the book is better than the movie. But I still love seeing a movie after reading the book (unless of course the book sucked). I started reading The Hunger Games after I turned in my 30-page thesis, having read ten or more academic research books. So, those who are about to judge, don't. 

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I never though I'd say this, but, I LOVE INDIAN FOOD! I used to love chicken tikka masala but ever since my journey into the more vegetarian sphere, I prefer chana masala, which is basically gingered and curried chickpeas. Throw in some naan and gulab jamun for good measure. I tried Naan Peshawri for the first time the other night with Leslie and loved it--it's a sweet naan stuffed with cashews, raisins, and coconut. 

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In addition to just trying to get through school, I'm curiously exploring the lives of the French, because they are so chic. French women stereotypically have these small closets full of elegant clothing that they wear over and over for their whole lives. To them, quality wins over quantity, a mantra I've been employing myself lately. The women also seem to eat the most decadent of foods without much exercise and are skinny as can be. Again, they're picking quality over quantity. I just want to be like, "Yeah give be a croissant, butter, and espresso. I'm good." Sometimes I think it's easy to see the beauty in life from a European's perspectives. The United States is all about chain super-stores, restaurants you find in every state, whereas the locally owned gems get closed down because they can't support themselves. It's really sad! I always support locally owned when I can. And it goes without saying that the landscape is bit less of an eyesore in Europe than America. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of beauty to be found in America but it's not thousands of years old like Europe--the free museums, the cathedrals, the open parks for lunch al fresco surrounded by all the old buildings, ahh... okay, I'll stop fangirling for now. 

Expectations

It's hard to get back into the swing of things if you haven't done them for awhile...like blogging. As senior year comes to a close, I am so ready for graduation. Every class I have left seems to have these huge looming projects and I can't wait to wash my hands of them. I'm reminding myself of last semester when all I wanted to do was come home, eat chips, and watch Bones.

But all of these great, exciting things are in the future! I'm starting my M.A. and working as a G.T.A. There are tons of exciting things going on with family this summer; my grandpa's birthday will also be a family reunion and I'll get to see cousins and aunts I haven't seen since I was, like, three. My dad's side of the family is having a 4th of July party where much of the family will be. I'm looking forward to these things so much because it's the first summer I don't have to work at UPS. Getting up in the morning won't seem like such a chore.

I also have to have kidney stone surgery again. Which I'm not looking forward to. But at least I know what to expect and will stock up with plenty of addictive TV shows and Kindle books.

Sorry this is so boring. Sometimes you just need to write.

All Work and No Play?

{sweater: forever 21//locket: online//jeans rolled to capris: ae//mary janes: online}

They say all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy. I have to admit that I work more than I play and it's finally paid off.

After being accepted to UofL's Master's program for English, I was beyond excited. But then yesterday I was offered a graduate teaching assistantship! Not only will I be paid a generous stipend, but my tuition is free! In exchange for all of that, I get to work in the writing center and be the Morton Chair Assistant for Dr. Henke. I feel like all of my dreams have come true. Well, so far.

I really, truly feel blessed. Last year, I got the Etscorn Honors Scholarship, allowing me to quit UPS. Then, I got to go to London for two weeks to study abroad! This year, it's all of the great news above. I really hope I can pay it forward someday--God, and the people He's placed in the world to help me--I couldn't have done it without their grace.

I'm ready to register for classes and it all just feels surreal--if only I can successfully defend my thesis this Monday, then I'll have it all.

All that aside, dressing like a French person has made me insanely happy lately. Rolled up jeans, Mary-Jane flats, striped tops, and no fuss hair and makeup. I've also found joy in the early seasons of the U.S. Office. Although I still prefer the British Office best (which Scott says is because I'm such an Anglophile) the early U.S. Office episodes are super giggle-worthy.

Michael Scott: As Abraham Lincoln once said, If you're a racist, then I'll attack you from the North.

I celebrated the good news by visiting my madre at work and stopping at McAlister's because, let's face it, McAlister's is just celebration food and even though I've been eating it at least twice a week for over two years, I'll never tire of the deliciousness. 

Maybe I'll even make a smoothie--whoa, things are gettin' cray. 

And did I mention how anxious I am to see The Hunger Games? I'm reading Catching Fire as we speak and I'm just taking it slow because the books are just so enjoyable. Scott and I got Oreo milkshakes from Dairy Kastle yesterday and had one of our random deep conversations. We drove by Baxter Avenue to see if it was playing but we missed it by half an hour. :( I need an intensely large bucket of popcorn and my Katniss/Peeta fix! 

Until then...

I Left My Heart in London

 

I've been burdened with the same ever-revolving thought for about ten months now. If it hadn't been for my loved ones and responsibilities, I would never have left London. (Okay, and the lack of housing and money played a role too).

At least 67 times a day, I think about London. And how I want to live there. And how great it would be to win the lottery because I would give my parents half and buy an apartment in London right away. It's not just that it's a big city--I wouldn't want to live in NYC or Chicago or LA. But London. So full of history. Everywhere you go is usually at least a hundred years old. The accent. Oh the accent. It will be the death of me. Being a train ride away from Charleston Farmhouse and Virginia Woolf's house. How I long to spend a Saturday back there again. I want to go to the British Museum and Library for free; both Tate Museums (also free); I want to sit on the Thames, chill out at the Abbey and walk around the Tower one afternoon. And I wouldn't have to drink nasty beer at the pub--they have cider. 

I feel akin to Jenny in An Education who says when she graduates she'll go to Paris and see French films, listen to French music, smoke all the time, and basically become French. This is the sort of thing that every high school and college student says. "One day." One day, I'll be here, doing this, where I truly belong. And as dreamy and wish-y as it is, I feel like London is where I belong. Where I one day wish to call home, even if it's just for a short bit of time. I want to read Brit Lit in the environs of its authors and smell the hustle and bustle of the Underground, the women with their Longchamp bags, smelling euphoric in Burberry. 

I keep trying to tell myself to list all the things I appreciate about America but the task is a bit daunting. Once you've seen a place that makes your heart spill out in happiness, how difficult is it to come back home to the drudgery of everyday life; working, responsibility, getting grades, housework, etc. And the gas just keeps getting more and more expensive.

I'm not here to say I'm a hater of my country. I'm not. And honestly, if I ever moved to London, which is a bit of a lark anyway, I couldn't go it alone. I would need somewhere there. Because I know how anonymous and lonely it can start to feel after awhile unless you're being loved and have someone else to love. 

I'm really hoping to save up enough money to go to London and Paris, each for a week, after I get my Master's in 2014. I think it would be the ultimate. Because I love French culture too! I'm just not as much of a francophile as an anglophile I guess. Oh, and the theatre! What I wouldn't give for another night on the West End out to see a play! And maybe this time I could actually make it to Stonehenge and 221B Baker Street...

Enough rambling, I suppose. I've got mundane tasks that need attending.

Food Babies Are the Best

{dress: vintage via etsy ($5!)/sweater: kohl's/shoes: online/tote: from a book binding store in london}

I am back from a lengthy hiatus! I've finished writing my thesis and it's spring break. Julie and I partook in a wonderful day of good eats.

Then Julie decided to 'sample' some shampoo that she thought was lotion at Sephora. Who ever thought it was a good idea to put out a shampoo as a tester? And why is the raspberry bottle half-empty?

 While we ate our pizzas, we contemplated, 'What should we have for dessert?'

Turns out it was school spirit cookies.

And passion tea! 

My lips were burning because I forgot to bring my chapstick and they always do that when I don't have it with me. So what do I do? Search Sephora and Bath & Body Works for chapstick samples. Then Julie and I went for tea samples... twice. Because Great American Cookie Co. thinks they can sell water for 37 cents. They want us to pay for something that covers more than 70% of the earth? No.

Life feels pretty good lately. I've been on a mission to conserve my time, money, and energy for things that truly matter to me. I've cleaned out my bathroom and room and gotten rid of garbage bags full of stuff (for Goodwill donations!). I read a book about minimalism that changed my life. I want to get rid of digital clutter, physical clutter, and mental clutter. It clouds my mind and stresses me out. Less stuff, less stress, more life. 

I've stuck with my New Year's plan to eat more vegetarian. I realized I couldn't be vegan because of my unnatural devotion to cheese and my body's need for yogurt (I'm on antibiotics for acne). I realized that I don't really miss meat from most things and prefer vegetarian versions of foods anyway. I'm not sure I'm ready to go full veggie or if I ever will, but it's nice to try something new that makes you happy. And even though my allergies are through the roof and my dress is clinging at my booty today... I'm happy. I feel like I'm on the road to a better version of me. And that's not half bad.

Scenes from the Weekend

First and foremost, I just have to say, my dog is the cutest. I have a little blanket and heart pillow for him on the side of my bed and he loves to nap and sleep during the night there. He also enjoys barking at cars and people through my window.

The majority of my weekend has looked like this. Planner open, books open, laptop open with Mazzy Star playing as I type up my thesis. I still have quite a bit to go and only two more weekends until it's due!

To break up a bit of the weekend monotony, mom and I went to our local Goodwill to sort through the racks in search of something good. I found a white blazer and another blue jean dress--this one has short sleeves. We were pretty excited that both of our finds combined were less than $20. I love finding awesome cheap things, especially when I'm in the process of paying off my credit card. 

Unfortunately, I have to go to work today and will barely make it home in time for Walking Dead to start. I hope that the traffic lights will all be green on the way!