Back in the grind.

Yesterday was my first day of the semester, and as usual, it feels as if I didn't even leave. I wouldn't say I came back to school a different person, but I certainly have a clearer perception of my goals for the next few months, both academically, emotionally, and physically.

My workload may not (read: WILL not) be lighter than last semester, as I had originally hoped, since I now have both internship and family obligations. And not to mention classes that require me to develop new skills that I'm not used to before. It's both exciting and intimidating at the same time, but I'd like to think that I'm ready for the challenges.

I want a 4.0 this semester. In the scheme of things, getting the highest GPA doesn't really matter to me, but it's a challenge. And maybe it's a good challenge. I probably won't make the mark, but if I set the bar high enough, my result can't be so bad...right?

I want to take up yoga. Zumba is super fun but I think I need a balance too. After my few mental breakdowns last semester, perhaps my mind and body need to take more breaks. The right way, not by schlepping in bed and getting lettuce from my hoagies all over my sheets.

I want to bake more. I'll be home more often this semester, and what better way to take a study break than to bake a cake or two? And once time (and money) permits, I might be able to add "macaron connoisseur" to my résumé.

I want to let go of the petty things. Life's too short to get worked up over things that really don't own up to anything. Time is too precious, and so is happiness. I can be easily irritated, and I try really hard to not let the same ol' things bother me. It's not easy and takes work, but my God will I feel a lot better.

I want to enjoy reading again. And that would require one thing: to read more. And textbooks don't count!

Who knows if I abide by any of these things, but if I fail, at least this post can hold me accountable.

A year gone, another year ahead.

{{photo}}

Today I took a three hour nap. It wasn't intended to be such a long nap, and I felt so useless when I woke up and realized that it was dark outside.

For the first time in what feels like a long time, I had a day where I didn't do anything. Right when I got home from college, I was thrown straight into the pits of retail hell and had little time to do much else (but totally not complaining, I like making a good buck when I can). Even on my days off, I had another obligation that racked my mind. So naturally, today I had my own mental to-do list that I unrealistically thought I'd finish off, one check mark at a time.

And now that I think about it, it's kind of silly of me to think that I'd clean, read a novel, cook, and bake on a day that I deemed as a "lazy" day. I've been overworked and over-stressed all year, did I ever consider that I need a break? And a true break, because this is my winter vacation, after all. After a long day, whether from work or from school, I imagine myself doing all these things to "relax," when in reality what I actually do is just stare into my Macbook screen and then pass out from exhaustion. In my free time all I do is collect dust in front of my laptop, and it's a cycle that keeps on going.

So that three-hour nap might have been much needed. Maybe it was a sign that...I just have to chill out. Mentally and physically. And I suppose today is an apropos reflection of this year.

2011 was an incredibly tough, yet incredibly rewarding year. I've cried as many happy tears as I did sad ones. I faced many fears and my limits were tested. I've had to stay strong when some foundations in my life totally weren't. And despite some of the sadness, fear, and uncertainty, I've come out of this past year and a much stronger person. I'm not as weak as I thought I once was, and on a good day, I really feel like I can do anything. And that has never happened to me before.

I've traveled to beautiful places and experienced many wonders this year, but I don't think anything compares to my realization that...my family and friends really are everything. I used to be at the edge when it came to my family, but now more than ever I've grown closer to them and find comfort in their presence, no matter how seemingly annoying they are. Adversity has a funny way of bringing us together, even if the odds might seem to be against us infinitely.

After a year of college and being away from home, I've also realized who my real friends are back home. I had a feeling that I might not speak to my high school friends after graduating, but I think more than anything, absence has made us an even stronger group of friends. They are my go-to girls, and I wouldn't replace them for anything. I feel so honored to have such beautiful, hard-working, intelligent friends who keep me in check and make me realize that...life really isn't as bad as I can make it out to be. And I made friends with equally beautiful, hard-working, and intelligent girls in college too. It's amazingly humbling and wonderful to be surrounded my such great influences in school, because they make me strive to become a much better person.

I read my 2010 post from last year, and I must say that I really am a much different person than I was exactly a year ago. I'm not completely confident in myself, but really, who isn't? I've done so much in the past 12 months and learned such invaluable things that there was no way I could leave 2011 an unchanged person. Everything has affected me positively, even the bad. I definitely have a better sense of who I want to be and what I want to become. Perhaps I am a bit more fearless and more willing to just say "fuck it!" and just...take a chance. Sometimes I look like a fool in the end, but nothing beats a lessoned learned, right?

I don't think anyone needs to change only at the beginning of a new year. Why do you have to wait till January 1st to become something better? Can't you better yourself at any time in your life? But I like to use the beginnings and ends of years as checkpoints in my life. It gives me a chance to properly reflect and look back. Of course, I won't have any resolutions for 2012. Like every year, 2012 will be what I make of it. And I hate having too high of expectations, but my God, 2012 is going to be fucking great. I can just feel it. I have so much to look forward to, so much going for me and my family and friends. How can it be bad? From scoring an internship to studying in London, I have a lot to work for. And I am eternally grateful for that.

Cheers to all in the fabulous new year. Enjoy life because quite frankly, what else could you do with it?!

The Lemon Detox

Even though I wasn't mentally in a slump at the beginning of this week, my body totally was. That's right, I'm feeling under the weather despite the beautiful weather yesterday! The unpredictable weather is taking a toll on my health, and my busy college life has been wrecking havoc on my sanity. I have the stress acne to prove it!

Yes, I have a major case of the sniffles and my head spins from sneezing a dozen times a minute. Not only do I feel fatigued, but the changing weather is beginning to dry out my skin and I'm getting stress pimples left and right. What's a girl to do?!

I do have one idea, but it doesn't entail any ointments or pills. My family has always been a strong advocate of natural remedies, and we always try those before resorting to any harsh medicines, especially when it comes to skin care. When I was younger, I had to drink turmeric juice to help heal my stubborn eczema patches. Somewhat effective and healthful, but tasted horrible.


I've been hearing about this Lemon Detox for quite some time, but I haven't really had an urge to try it out until now. It's such a simple regimen: lemon + water, lights out for bedtime, and repeat. Not only is the lemon water supposed to purify and cleanse the body, but it also can clear skin, aid in digestion, and boost the immune system. Who knew so much could come out of a lemon?

An hour or so before I went to bed, I added half a lemon (juice + zest/pith) to a mug of hot water. I also added a dash of sugar to cut some of the strong acidity of the lemon. This could also be done with cold water, but I think that hot lemon water is probably more calming at night. I plan on continuing this detox every night for a few days and hopefully I will see some results in my health and stamina.

Until then, bottoms up! Or should I say...pucker up.

Merci pour les voyages

In my art history class a couple of weeks ago, we were learning about Renaissance art, and one day in particular was dedicated to the Venetian Renaissance and the Veneto-Byzantine styles of San Marco Basilica. Bright and early on a Friday morning, my weekly section class discussed San Marco, Titian's masterpieces, and the innovation of oil painting. It brought back fond memories of this past summer as I strolled through the narrow alleys and abundant canals throughout Venice. I personally connected a lot to the subjects in art history class, mostly because I either had a chance to see some of these artworks in person, or I just had a fondness for Baroque or Classic art in general. Anyways, I shared a few of my personal insights on Venice and the basilica. It felt kind of nice to speak about my travels, mostly because they are some of the most memorable places I've ever been to.

As much as I love learning from books and classes, it's just simply the icing on the cake to be able to see some places that I had always dreamed about in travel books and atlas. I still have the whole world to see, and one corner of the world means very little in the scheme of things. But I have learned a lot when I travel to different places, not only outside of the United States but within country borders as well. I am grateful that I have been to several places, and I cannot wait until I can go even farther and around the world.

{{Paris}}

{{Milan}}

{{Venice}}

{{Lyon}}

Tie it up: scarf headband DIY

If I attained anything from my mom, it's definitely her penchant for silk scarves. She has a hanging organizer in her closet that is overflowing with silk scarves in all hues and prints that she collected from many places. I remember when we went to Paris together a few years ago, she would constantly stop to look at all the pretty silk scarves to buy. And she'll always find a way to incorporate a silk scarf into her outfit, which always comes out super sophisticated and timeless. Nothing "chics" up an outfit quite like a silk scarf.

I may not have an impressive scarf collection like my mom, but I'd like to think that my collection is gradually growing. Unfortunately, I haven't had the financial ability to shop as I please, but I make do with what I have in my scarce wardrobe for now.

One of my favorite scarves is quite possibly a gold and navy vintage-inspired print scarf I got in Paris, and it's usually my go-to scarf when I need to add some life to an outfit. But in all honesty, I've been getting a bit...bored of just tying the scarf around my neck and calling it a day. So how can I incorporate this scarf into my outfit but with a different spin?

And I figured it out. What better way to wear my favorite accessory than to wear it as my second favorite accessory: a headband.

Turban headbands have been en mode for a couple of seasons now and they've been emulated on the runways in shows from Prada and Missoni. It may seem easier to buy an actual turban headband, but it's much cheaper and more fun to make your own using a scarf you already have! I used this tutorial to make mine, et voila:

Excuse my messy hair! My scarf headband is thinner and a little looser than the one in the tutorial, but you can adjust it to your personal liking. I tucked it underneath my hair, but next time I might have it wrapped around over my hair. It's my first time wearing my scarf like this, so I will continue experimenting with this. The next time my mom inspires one of my outfits, I can now add my own personal twist to the classic silk scarf.

Halloween Treat: Chocolate Truffles

I may be in college, but I will forever be a little 8 year old girl deep in my heart. Besides the "horror" factor of Halloween, I absolutely love everything about the holiday. The costumes, the innocent, family-friendly movies (Halloweentown, anyone?!), the brisk trick-or-treating nights. And most of all...the candy!

Like many people, I have a terrible sweet tooth. I love sugary snacks the same way I did when I was younger, and quite possibly even more so!

Though I must say, as I much as I love candy, I like to switch it up every so often. And the Halloween candy available in stores starts becoming a bit...repetitive. How many chewy-fruity-juicy-explosions of tropical flavors and nougaty-caramel-peanut-butter-coconut chocolate sensations can we possibly have?!

Sure, they are all delicious, timeless, and I certainly will still munch on them even in the post-Halloween season. But there's certainly nothing wrong with bringing sweets to a higher level than those shiny wrapper-concealed candies you got for Halloween.

And thus I present...truffles! These rich, decadent chocolate concoctions are named after the wild mushrooms that they bear a resemblance to, and although they might look like simple chocolates, it's so easy to jazz them up and make them even more appetizing than they already are.

Here are some truffle recipes with added pizzazz and fun that I think would be incredibly simple and delicious. I wish I had the resources to make these chocolates when I'm at school, but I definitely plan on making these in the near future! If you have a quiet Halloween night planned but still want some indulgence, these will easily satisfy your palate.

{{Classic chocolate truffles}}

{{Oreo truffles}}

{{Pumpkin cheesecake truffles}}

Thankful Friday

TGIF everyone! I tried to blog consistently this week...but that didn't work out. It has been a hectic past few days, and all the craziness paid off when I had the honor to meet author, blogger and overall amazing woman Demetria Lucas when she visited my university and spoke to the many students in attendance. After intense planning, we pulled off a successful event and I can't be any happier about it!

My weekend will, as usual, consist of lots of homework, studying, and soccer watching. Not only will I have to keep myself motivated throughout the weekend, but I have to be sure to stay extra toasty and warm. According to the weather forecast, Philadelphia is supposed to get a modest amount of snow with a high temperature of 43ºF. Say what?!

I love that the weather is getting cooler, and this wouldn't be the first time that we get snow in October. But I'm a bit apprehensive about the possibility of snowfall. We'll see, I suppose. Until then, I have to check off the myriad of things that are on my "to-do" list today.

As I stated last week, I will write about something I'm thankful for in my life once a week until Thanksgiving. And after this very long week, I can sit back and realize that I am incredibly grateful that I have an abundance of opportunities given to me, and that I am in school and enjoying my experience in college.

I may complain about the workload, the stress, and the annoyances. I may be lazy, and I may have no control over my emotions and unintentionally let out my anger on people. But deep down I love college and I love being here. I constantly think to myself: "thank God I didn't go to school somewhere else!" for many reasons. And I would not have met the amazing people that I work with and am friends with here if I went to school elsewhere. Times may get tough, but I love learning and I love my school. Philadelphia is a great city and it's nice to be able to experience this place in a new and more mature way.

I've never been a big "school spirit" type of person, but I have no shame in showing my college pride here.