Harper's Bazaar

Recently, I was given a few old issues of Harper's Bazaar.  As any good college student starved for some fashion and general creative inspiration will I cut them up for use in my journals. Below are two of the end results.  

 A collage of photographs taken by Terry Richardson that made me absolutely swoon with jealousy.  I enjoyed pasta with some friends recently, but it was not nearly as glamorous.  It really strikes me as quite tragic that the dinner party is such a lost art on my generation.  "L'arte d'arrangiarsi- the art of making something out of nothing. The art of turning a few simple ingredients into a feast, or a few gathered friends into a festival." 

For the fall I adore the colors in OPI's collection, but my trip to London also brings to mind classic white and black.  The idea of accents and color blocking- strong statements like the heels above. I already own two of the weaved style sweaters and a pair of the fringe earrings, couldn't resist!

Cinco de Mayo

So I've been playing around on Instagram for Android again... For the most part I think it actually makes the food look kinda dark and gloomy.  In defense of the filters though, my phone camera does suck.

I hate being so limited in the dorms that I absolutely have to cook when I get the chance, hence all the food- I'm home for the weekend.  It is my personal mission to get my sisters to eat vegetables so I have to get pretty creative.  I realized after the fact that everything actually fit the red, white, and green theme of Cinco de Mayo.  Not a huge holiday in my family, so I honestly forget all about it.  Even if it was more Italian than Mexican, it was still delicious!

Agua de fresa. Water, strawberries, ice, sugar.  

Semi-homemade pizza. Tomatoes, green bell peppers, onions, olive oil & seasonings.

Green, red and white salad. Mini cucumbers, cauliflower, green bell peppers, red and green lettuce.

Fresh tomatoes with olive oil, crushed red pepper, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.  

More than meets the Ivy.

 “Impact with integrity” is more than the marketing brand for the Brennan School of Business, it is a personal mission.  The Brennan School is just one example of the colleges within Dominican University that encourages their students to live the mission of compassionate service and pursuit of truth, with the distinct purpose of creating a more just and humane world.  I believe that by continuing to improve myself through education, I will create greater opportunities to positively impact the world.  I chose Dominican because their vision not only identified with my own goals, but also the path I want to take to reach them.  They focus on personal relationships, unlike at many other educational institutions.  If you don't believe me look up the mission or identity statements.  Better yet, ask one of the nuns who you will see on campus constantly giving back to our wonderful community.  As a proud of member of Dominican’s community I know that Caritas and Veritas (Latin for love and truth) are more than the words painted on the walls- they are my educational objectives.  A university level education is the greatest stepping stone in bringing these pursuits to life. 

I have always known I wanted to work with other individuals on a personal basis, so studying psychology was no far stretch of the imagination.  For me, the individual is extremely important.  I want to learn the different theories on not only what molds the individual and his or her mind, but also how to provide support for all kinds of experiences and issues.  As a smaller university I am able to know many of the psychology professors on a personal level making it so much easier to find opportunities for collaborative research or internships, as well as support and guidance.  

I chose a liberal arts institution to help me become the best possible version of myself by incorporating a well-rounded education. What many people often forget, students included, is that we are much more than our majors.  The mind is not one sided, and neither is the soul.  All the different fields incorporated into a liberal arts education are interrelated.  Dominican fits my outlook for the future because it is very open-minded in terms of education about other cultures, beliefs, and philosophies.  This open dialogue is necessary to prepare me for the world outside of the classroom. The world does not often offer up one right answer so students must be prepared to come from a place of understanding and not prejudice, to form their own opinions, and to think critically. 

Let's be honest, It's also pretty cool having a campus that looks nearly identical to Hogwarts in Harry Potter. 

This scholarship is sponsored by CenturyLinkQuote.com.

Wander lust...

The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd.  The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. -Albert Einstein

The image is actually my itouch background, to keep me motivated.  Currently, in the process of applying to study abroad in Spain for the spring semester.  Already accepted to London in the fall.  Tomorrow is officially my last day of finals.  Yup, I can almost taste the freedom.  Cross your fingers for me!

Keep Calm & Carry On

For those days... you know the ones.
A blog of delightful surprises.
http://keepcalmandcarryaquotebook.tumblr.com/


"Don't be like the rest of them, darling."

"Sometimes God doesn't give you what you think you want, not because you don't deserve it, but because you deserve so much more."

"If you are looking for the love of your life, stop.  He will be waiting for you when you start doing things you love."

The fact that this saying comes from the UK makes me love it even more.  I cannot wait to live in London. Only four mere months away! 

Delayed Gratification

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Ernest Hemingway's six-word memoir.  It sends chills down my spine.

I mention it because I did the same exercise in class a month or two ago. I chose "because the means are my life." At the time I was enthralled with a particular quote that goes along the lines of: The ends never justify the means, because the means are your life. 

Although I have been told I misinterpreted it, let me be quite frank by saying I do not care. To me it sums up so perfectly my frustration with just about everyone my age.  Life is so much more than whats nexts and those days waiting for the weekend.  Everyone is so concerned with where they are going that they are barely scratching the surface of what life could be right now.  There is a loss of passion.  I, for one, do not feel alive if I have not recently cried, smiled, or trembled with fear.  It means I have lost touch with what is meaningful.  Yet, all I ever hear is I cannot wait to get this over with so I can go do this or be that.  What about today? What about right now? 

There will always be duties we would rather not handle, but they should never be allowed to overshadow what we love or we risk losing everything.  Its not where I end up that concerns me, it is how I get there.  Each day a lesson.  I would like to do and be a great deal of things, yet those ideas change as new inspirations find me.  Certain passions hold true- to serve others, to explore my identity, to do that which I thought I could never do.  What change are the ways I find to manifest them.  If I only focused on the outcome then all the ideas that got left behind would have been wastes of time.  I know for a fact that is not true.  Each idea, each moment led me here to this moment.  I was always meant to get here.  

Forever on the fringe,

Yours truly. 

Come and find me...

Beautiful illustrations by Kris Tate.