stressed out

Moving in and out of dorms has always been stressful, enough but moving from a dorm apartment to an off campus apartment is insane.  I took so many trips back and forth, with my things, my room mate's things, and our communal kitchen and cooking supplies.  5+ hours, after driving to Boston for an hour and a half with my bed half obstructing my view out the back of my car.   My legs are so sore today, which is unfortunate because I have my first day of work at Buffalo Exchange, 6.5 hours of being on my feet.  Oh well, it was either sore today or sore tomorrow.

Because of people's work/internship schedules, we have yet to really have the place moved in, and there is still one girl that we're subletting from who is here for another week and a half, with all of her things (including kitchen supplies).  It makes it feel half like I'm in my own place, and half like I'm a guest in someone else's house.  It doesn't help that my room has no closets, and I don't even have a dresser or desk, so my stuff is currently just strewn everywhere.

But on the plus side, we are a short block away from a tasty froyo place, my bed is in a great location by the windows, there are ceiling fans and a breeze, and I'm no longer in my stuffy on campus place.  Yes, I did get some froyo last night to destress a little bit, and it was delicious.  I just need to breathe and be calm and soon enough we will be perfectly settled in.

shoes: Target

skirt: thrifted

belt: thrifted

top: Rue 21

earrings: Charlotte Russe

happy start to summer

Summer has started with many happy thoughts!  Here's a list:

- my internship starts soon
- I ran a new personal best in the 400 meters, and continued running close to that time for the next 2 meets -- I've finally moved up in track!
- 4.0 GPA this semester, I'm proud of myself
- we move into a new apartment for the summer in less than a week
- and most importantly today...I GOT A JOB!

As of this coming Thursday when I fill out all the paperwork, I'll be an employee of  Buffalo Exchange, an amazing secondhand/resale store that has locations all across the country (I definitely recommend checking them out if you have a location nearby).  To make being hired even better, it's less than a 10 minute walk away from my summer place.  My apartment will also be a 2 minute walk from a delicious froyo place... yes, I'm excited for this summer.

There are currently Goodwill donation bins in the dorms across campus, and my room mate and I have been bin-diving.  I mean, they can't expect us to not look through bins of clothing and shoes that are just left out, right?  I feel a little guilty, but I feel like if they really didn't want people to take things, they would close it off, or make you give your items to the RA office for them to donate.  So far, I've gotten two great gems: a box FILLED with great nail polishes, and some Timberland boat shoes.

They're a little too tight, but I'm trying to stretch out the leather by using a hairdryer to heat them up while wearing thick socks...something I've seen on Pinterest.  It's been working a little bit, but they keep shrinking back.  I'm hoping that the more I do it, and the more I wear them, the better they'll fit me.  I feel a little weird wearing second hand shoes sometimes, so I remedied that by taking out the insoles and putting in some of my own.  They are cut to size from an old pair of Nike sneakers.

Outfit details:

shoes: Target

jeans: American Eagle

button down: American Eagle

sweater: Forever 21

earrings: Forever 21

on wednesdays we wear pink

oxfords: nature breeze // dress: tj maxx // bracelets: made and gift // 

This summer weather is amazing.  I love that it was even warm enough for shorts at 9am this morning.  I had a decently relaxing day, minus the fact that I had to study for a final tomorrow.  I also had an interview for a summer job at Buffalo Exchange.  It's a chain second hand store around the country, and I really hope I get the job.  They gave me a second interview for Monday, so I hope I rock it.

I wish the photo above was in focus, every time I think it's properly focused, only to get it in my computer and see that I focused the handle of my closet door.  Oops.

Yes, those are my notes under the photo of my bracelets.  History of the US since 1865, aw yeah.  All I have left of junior year is that final tomorrow, and a paper due next Friday.  It's painful but not nearly as much work as my friends have, so I can't really complain.

photography

Here are some more photos that I've taken over the course of my photography class.  If you're interested in seeing my previous post, go here.

These first two photographs were taken at the Boston Marathon.  I love the top one, it was almost an accident.  I was trying to get a shot that showed motion but with one foot in focus, but this is what happened instead.  I lucked out with the colors too, although I did do some editing to make the neons brighter.  And the second picture I took simply because my assignment was photojournalism, but little did I know that the Boston Police Department would be so important later that day, and later on that week.  Thank you random officer for letting me photograph you at the marathon, and for helping the city so much after that.

Night photography.  I love the way the bus lights look in the top photo.

And of course I took pictures at a track meet.

boston, you're my home

My heart goes out to all of the family members and victims of the marathon bombing.  It was hard enough being only a little over a mile away from the explosion, I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be there.  I'm thankful for all of the response and care that has come from across the country, and even the world.  I live in a wonderful city, and we will stay strong.

(I wish I could give credit to the wonderful artwork, but I have no idea.  Someone posted it on Facebook, and it's perfect.)

sun is shining

Warm weather has finally reached Boston!  Of course, as I type that the sky has turned a bit of a murky gray, but I promise there was actually sun and heat today.  I was itching to wear a dress, but the wind is still a bit too nippy for that, so I settled for jeans and a light, comfy blazer.

shoes: nature breeze // jeans: american eagle // bag: fossil/gift // top: h&m // blazer: tj maxx // earrings: gift

My favorite this about this blazer is that it feels like you're wearing a sweater or even a sweatshirt, but you still look classy.  I also love the polka dot lining.  It can either add interest to a plan shirt underneath, or, like today, help me get into pattern mixing.  It's also the perfect length to go under dresses-- I bought it at the same time as an amazing, coral-y, collared dress, and I can't wait to wear them together.  Both will be great pieces to wear to my internship.

Speaking of, I definitely need to go shopping to get some more internship appropriate clothes.  And no, I'm not just saying that so I have an excuse to buy more clothes, it's actually real!  I need more nice tops, a few more cardigans (to make my dresses more office- and air conditioning- appropriate), and some more flats.  I've had my 3 pairs for quite a few years, and I recently realized that they are much more beat up than I thought.  Luckily, all of those things are pieces that can carry me through the next few years in the professional world.  Ahh that's a scary thought.  I am going to try and thrift some of them to save money-- any body out there have some good tips?

got it

Guess what? I got the broadcast internship that I wanted!  I'm going to be a summer intern at NECN in Newton, MA.  I can't wait.  It was so cool being inside a real newsroom.  It was what I pictured, and yet also not at all what I'd pictured.  I'm going to learn so much being there, I don't think you get really get a feel for something like a live newsroom until you experience it.

boots: ll bean // jeans: american eagle // sweater: forever 21 // scarf: france // earrings: present

I really just want the summer to start now-- I have two internships lined up (did I talk about my Alive Campus vlogger one yet? Well if not, I'm making vlog style videos each week about college for them), a great sublet next to a froyo place, my roommates will finally be 21, and my boyfriend will be in Boston too.  Oh, and finally warm weather, let's not forget about that.  How is it that scarves are still an option?  This is an outfit from last week, but still....it needs to warm up.  I want dresses.

Thankfully I will get some nice weather this weekend, because I'm headed to Austin, Texas for a track meet.  I can't wait, I've never been before, and for some reason Texas has always seemed like a state that everyone should visit.   Maybe it's the cowboy/all-American thing.