Exploration.

Well if I can't travel, I guess reading about traveling is as close as I'll get.

I want to make one of these! The WSJ even has some events I can get start with. And these.

Mackenzie's post on traveling alone. I love reading the comments, and the photos make me so wanderlust!

Future spot for a NYC date with friends? Love all the flowers!

Can you tell whose blog I've been reading a lot? (Mackenzie's) I also found this through her blog. I want to go to that first spot in Bolivia! So cool!

I love the way WSJ does travel guides, getting different perspectives from lots of cool people in the area. Here is WSJ's Greece one.

Thanks to Carly from College Prepster for sharing this website. I could spend forever reading all of its posts.

I was on Katie Evans' tumblr, and found her guest post on Lady & Prince. One of the links to her guest post was trying out aquacycling. Seriously, this is my dream come true. I love the water, swimming and cycling. I know the next time I'm in New York, I will try this out! I would want to move to NYC just so every Saturday morning, I could aquacycle. Best. Workout. Ever. I probably spent an hour learning about aquacycling through Aqua's website.

Also, when I'm in NYC trying aquacycling, I'll definitely be sure to check out this Beyoncé dance class. Working out and becoming Beyoncé?! Sign me up.

Then I spent the rest of my night (seriously, I read until 3am) reading Lady & Prince blog. Something got me hooked, I don't know if it was the Disney posts or her adorable kids. Seriously so glad I didn't just close the tab. Obsessed. (Whoops, off topic from the traveling part of this post! Oh well, too cute to resist.) I love this NYC guide with kids Lady & Prince posted!

Following New York Times' Twitter was one of my smartest decisions. Ever. This post is about ensuring that your visit, as a tourist/visitor/guest, is helping the place and its people, not hurting it. It relates to what we're learning in AP human geography too!

These diary posts of Paris are beautifully written. Start with the first post!

What I would do to travel to a different place each week. This NYT post of "52 Places to Go in 2014" has got me dreaming of traveling. All the time.

WSJ's 2014 Travel Summer Guide. Now if only my summer could be spent traveling the world. One day. One day.

This would be a really cool way to see Rome. I'll keep this in mind if I ever have an hour layover in Rome.

I'm 99% sure if when my family and I go out of the country, (not including to Asia to visit family) we'll go to Europe. I'm 99% sure Paris, France will be on the list. My little brother is currently taking French, and he loves the culture! He has taught us all so much about French culture. Who wouldn't want to go?! And croissants. If croissants were a vegetable, I'd be the healthiest person in the world. I'll keep this article in mind when we go to Paris.

I hope, but I don't know if I'll ever make my way to Africa. I sure hope I will be able to. If not, I'll "settle" (settle meaning be honored and so blessed) with any of these safaris.

My uncle studied in the land down under for college. How cool is that?! I actually have several friends studying abroad in Australia right now. All the photos on Facebook look amazing. I would love to go! My mom has been; she said koalas are really heavy. Lol. I'd want to check out this restaurant while there! (While there meaning one day in the future. Hopefully.)

I've always wanted to go on a food tour! My friend HD's mom was telling me how HD's brother asked for tickets for a local food tour as part of his Christmas gift one year. I looked into it, and it sounds amazing! This is the Gatsby level of food tours... or should I say food parties. As quoted from The Great Gatsby: "A little party never killed nobody!" Yes please.

Snail Mail

Image via words to live by Pinterest

After seeing this quote on Pinterest, I decided to write a letter to my friend H, who's currently on the other side of the world. Since we communicate via email, I came to the sad realization that I didn't have any stationary. We really are living in the digital age. I started looking online (starting with Mackenzie's Design Darling online shop!) for great stationary I can invest in for those spontaneous letters to friends.

Writing Utensils: While I personally prefer writing in pen, I couldn't resist including these gorgeous pencils! I really want a set... or all the sets. It's like they were made for me!

#GirlyGirl Pencil Set

#ThingsWeLove Pencil Set

#WhistleWhileYouWork Pencil Set

Stationary: What's a handwritten letter without some gorgeous stationary? I've always been a huge fan of stationary.

Hot Pink Monogrammed Stationary

Hello Darling Stationary Set

City - To - City Stationary Set

Sugar Paper Letterpress Thanks Note Set

People I've Loved Logical Romance Card

Hammerpress Adventure Card

DIY Travel Postcard

People I've Loved Manhattan Map Card

Make City Postcard Set: New York

Vintage New York Postcards

Pantone Postcard Box

Paperless: Not your typical snail mail... because it's via email. But it is pretty cool to get a gorgeous, out-of-the-blue card in the midst of your flooded inbox.

Hippos

Field Bouquet

Skips A Beat

Ruler of My Heart

Since I found so many gorgeous greeting cards... stay tuned for Snail Mail: Part 2! In the meantime, start thinking about who you're going to write your next letter to! "Tips on writing a just-because letter" post coming soon!

July Playlist

Guess what time it is? The monthly highly anticipated... July Playlist time!

Yay for the July playlist!

I'm listening to it right now and ah I threw together a bunch of my favorite songs

that have been on replay recently.

I'm pleasantly surprised with the combination of music,

and I love this photo!

I'm so glad I used it as the background for this month's playlist.

It's from Canada Day celebrations earlier this month.

I love the bottom of the photo where you can see all the other people

and the guy snapping a photo on his phone.

Here's my July Spotify Playlist. Enjoy!

Inspiration for some of these songs came from one of my new favorites...

The Happy Hipster playlist by Spotify.

Go here for my June Spotify Playlist.

Bloglovin'

Last night I tried following my favorite blogs and since I couldn't follow all of them on Google Friend Connect- I was stumped. Then I realized that Bloglovin' gives you the ability to follow all your favorite blogs in one area. I quickly created an account (in less than 2 minutes- seriously!) and followed all of my favorite blogs. Quick, simple and done. 

Goodbye folder of bookmarked blogs, hello one screen with all the latest posts from all my favorite blogs.

You can follow me on Bloglovin' now! It's my new favorite way to read and keep up with my favorite blogs.

Follow me on Bloglovin' here!

My Bloglovin' feed.
It's awesome to see all the latest posts from my favorite blogs.
Check out some of my favorite blogs here.

Do you use Bloglovin'? Please follow me on Bloglovin' and all your favorite blogs! Making an account is quick and easy, the only thing they ask for is your email address.

Do you have a blog? Follow me and I'll check out your blog! I'll follow my favorites. :)

Late Nights & Long Talks

Nights like last night are the nights I cherish the most.

Let me paint the scene: it starts with a simple "Hey, are you busy?" text and "Let's hang out. Come over!" It's simple, easy- no complications, no drama, no fuss. And just like that, we just start talking. 

The night includes... 

• Trying on the other's closet (just us? We love trying on each other clothes. I just had to try on JSC's gorgeous prom dress. Love! 

JSC rocking her prom dress.
How gorgeous is it? LOVE!

• Talking about life
• Looking at cute boys' Instagrams (pretty sure that is a ritual every time we hang out- am I right?)
• Eating chocolate cake and ice cream (thanks JSC's dad! You rock!)
• Reading Lauren Conrad (life goal: to be her)'s book
• Planning future trips (so excited to post about the trip after it happens- get excited!)
• Having a GM while hanging out

And before you know it...

• Deep, meaningful conversations

Do you have those friends that you can just talk about anything and everything with? JSC and ALD are definitely two of those friends. While we are all laying on JSC's bed just talking, these are the nights I won't forget. The lunch dates and shopping trips are always fun, but just talking and being 100% genuine with each other is the best. Listening to each other's goals and dreams is amazing. So much love for these two girls and nights like these.

JSC, ALD and me ice-skating!
PS: This was from last year aka my short hair days. I miss it!
[Side bar: So excited for my hair to get long enough
that I'll be able to donate it for the 3rd time to
Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Five on Friday (Will this be late? Who knows?)

What a great week! I hung out with my friends ALD, JSC, MF and MMS a lot, and I got to hang out with my homegirl A.

I also got to attend the best swim team practice ever- it was also the only swim team practice ever. I'm not registered for swim team this year (for the first time in 5 years! I'm really sad.). I love swim team so much and that's how I met ALD, JSC, MF and MMS 6-7 years ago. They're the best and we all just get along so well.

Since I have the best summer job ever, my parents decided it wouldn't be the best for me to do swim team and have my job. However, today was drag day in swim team, where you swim in your clothes! Since JSC is an assistant coach for the team, ALD and MMS are junior coaches, and I know all the coaches and swimmers in my age group from the past years; JSC asked the head coach if I could come to drag day. She agreed! I was a little nervous because I wasn't on swim team all year and I had hoped that people wouldn't judge, but it was awesome! It was just like old times and it was so much fun.

I forgot how much I love/missed swim team. I was so glad Coach H was okay with me there, and she told me I was welcome anytime at practice- she's seriously the best. I love my friends so much, especially JSC and ALD for arranging it. Thanks guys and thanks Coach H! I really want to do swim team next year and I wish I had done it this year. Next year. ;)

To the best week ever! (Not including the summer camp weeks- that's a whole 'nother world.)

1. Hanging out with friends: I got the chance to hang out with some amazing friends this week. Whether it was the most productive sleepover ever with A, a major shopping spree, cruising around town, and late night conversations in parking lots (not shady! Just because we're broke and heartfelt conversations.). Oh and food, lots of food. Chick Fil A, burgers and fries, Pelican's snoballs, Goodberry's and Panera Chicken Caesar salads- just to name a few.



ALD and me!

2. Parks and Recreation: New favorite show in the world. (Just kidding, Gossip Girl is probably #1, but this is a close second at the moment.) I've been watching it all week, and I'm already on Season 5. It's so funny. I am Leslie Knope in real life, and I want a Ben Wyatt- real dream husband. I also love Chris Traeger. And Ron Swanson. And especially Leslie Knope. Honestly, I love all the characters. There's no character I find annoying, other than the characters you're supposed to find annoying. ;) Such a funny show and it's so witty. It's LITERALLY a must watch. (Parks & Rec reference...) PS: I'm watching it right now.

   

   Image via Wikipedia

3. The pool: I hadn't been to the pool all summer. Honestly, part of the reason I didn't go is because it's awkward going while swim team is going on. That's just me overthinking, after today's amazing practice, I wish I went to the pool more often this summer and did swim team! Oh well, no regrets. But just being at the pool and out in the sun is so nice, at least I have the rest of summer to go soak up the sun. 
4. Banana Republic: ALD wanted to go into Banana Republic during our shopping trip and I fell in love with their clothes once we walked in. So cute! I'll def be doing a Current Cravings ft. Banana Republic soon. I need to start shopping at Gap more often too. Yay for new shops! (Ooh and there's a Banana Republic factory store- I'll have to visit soon!) 

   

   Halter Shift Dress

5. Vampire Weekend: A and I had a jam session to Vampire Weekend while tie-dying (so much fun! Tie-dye is my unofficial #6 of the week.) and I forgot how much I love love love Vampire Weekend. Regretting not being able to go to their concert at the beginning of summer, but I was busy. 

   

   Image via Vampire Weekend website

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Since I don't have a Nordstrom card, today is the first day of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for me! I've been excitedly looking through other blogs' posts about the sale, and now I get the chance to share my favorite items. Hurry because everything goes fast!

'Settlement Mid-Volume' Backpack

'Elle' Drop Earrings 

insulated tumbler

59mm Polarized Sunglasses

'Plaque' Crossbody Bag

'branton square - monday' crossbody bag 

'Venture' Lightweight Jacket

What do you love from the anniversary sale?