summa squash

it's sunday and like i said on the good ol instagram last week... i'm starting a cooking series! today on an overpacked western bus i hauled two bags of groceries to my door. with the ingredients you see above i made a summer squash salad with charred corn. you can find the recipe on page 142 in the kinfolk magazine. i highly recommend. i've never really liked squash and now i'm thinking i do!  

ps: if you don't have the kinfolk issue just come over and let me cook this simple salad for you! 

reevaluate

today i spent a portion of my day reevaluating my life and collecting my thoughts. i don't know why it takes so long for me to finally break down and realize these things. i guess you see what you want to see. my heart and eyes are adjusted to the dark and it feels comfortable... but, i know that i must move forward. it's a thing.

lansing grounds

Lansing certainly holds a place in my heart. I moved to Lansing in 7th grade. I remember my grandma telling me that I get to choose the house that we will call home, which would eventually be decorated in her eccentric style; bright pink colored walls and porcelain dolls. Oh my. It was a place where I've walked along the streets day and night. A place where many firsts happened, where I got my first official job- I believe I mastered the art of making an ice cream cone. Thanks Dairy Queen! So many first experiences the list might be endless. Where my interests were formed and where I felt enormous amounts of pain. I guess these Lansing grounds shaped me into a person seeking to become something more. Spending the day in Lansing opened a lot of past feelings that were locked away. It was nice to awaken these feelings/thoughts. I definitely needed a reminder. Tonight I am back home in Chicago. The night ended with delicious tacos and a michelada from Big Star. It feels good to be home. 

This post is going to inspire a series of posts about Lansing and my memories. Stay tuned if you wanna! 

mental health day

Lately I’ve been feeling more like a dead houseplant than an actual human being. With the Chicago weather showing no signs of spring and every other little thing in life that has been going wrong. I’ve been left with no inspiration. To the point where I’ve been crying at work for no reason. Pure exhaustion? With going to school three days a week and working four AND then maybe going to a show or spending time with friends. I’ve been tired. Man, where do you find that balance? Well, today I took a “Mental Health Day”. My friend Karl told me about these days that you must take before you go completely insane and start crying everyday for no reason? HAHA, I don’t know. But, I do know that is was the best decision I’ve made all week.

Today…

Made iced coffee (recipe will be up soon)

Found some inspiration

Listened to an album that makes me feel like I’m home

Hung out with my cat

Read my book for class tomorrow

Got excited for projects I’ll be working on this summer

Today I feel alive and more like an actual human being. It’s kinda nice.

needing to repaint the bathroom and fix this picture! 

and the kitchen ceiling 

and the bathroom tub

ps: the weather is getting better!

SOAP!

I've been using a hodgepodge of a facial skincare routine for a few months now. I don’t know what my deal is. I always have an idea of what products I want to try and then I never end up buying any of them!

Cleanse: Soap (NO IDEA what brand I just know that it’s “SOAP”!)

Tone: Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2

Moisturize: LUSH Skin Drink

The only thing I actually bought is the moisturizer from LUSH. The soap just appeared and the toner is from my cousin Heather (She left it when she stayed with me for a few days last year!). My skin is not the greatest. I am almost 25 and I have a blemish here and there. It’s annoying. It’s time to get serious! I need to find a stable routine and get myself together! ; )

I don’t think I have many readers just yet.. But, hello there! Yeah.. YOU! What’s your skincare routine? What should I try? Any products you love? Please share! 

every single day

It started with a warm bed and wanting. Wanting to stay in bed at least until the sun rose. An over packed train and still wanting. Wanting to be back in that sweet little apartment on Western and Division.  I was barely functioning on a bagel with way too much cream cheese and a medium coffee with cream and sugar from Dunkin Donuts. Not to mention the 3 hours of sleep that I got last night. Somehow the day flew by. I guess a presentation and hours fiddling around with AutoCad will do that. Sitting down after a long day, usually feeling drained and lifeless I started putting together a wreath that I bought for a Halloween decoration. Yes, I know its Halloween tomorrow! How is October already almost over? It feels like yesterday I was planning all the fall activities I wanted to do.

·         Pumpkin beer tasting

·         Carve pumpkins

·         Make a fall inspired meal

·         Go to a haunted house

·         Dress up as Sally

·         Make a million pumpkin seeds

·         Sip on endless cups of tea

·         Go for long walks

·         Cuddle with the one I love

·         Make a pie

The list is never ending. It goes on and on my friend. Well the month is now coming to an end. I have done a few things on that list. But, not all. I guess I’m just trying to say working and going to school sometimes makes me feel lifeless. There are days though, where I cannot imagine my life without school. I am constantly inspired and always wanting more knowledge. At times it gets hard with work taking up a big portion of my time and mind. Oh geez, I just went on a LONG tangent. What I’m trying to say is..

Creating that wreath made me realize something about myself that I ignore quite often. I feel happiest when I am working with my hands or creating something. This little wreath has inspired me to have something like it when I have children. The empty ring will hang on the wall and each day we will create a leaf or flower to attach to the empty ring. They could either make a wish (I remember my favorite thing about my birthday when I was a little one was blowing out the candles to make a wish). or something else, maybe a lesson to be learned. Why not give my kids wishes everyday! I know this is very small. Little things every day can make big things happen one day.

Create something every day






Picture found on Pinterest- From this blog