Getting to know you ...

Last week, I discovered Annie Reeves and her blog, which is a gorgeous and fun homage to Charleston, style, food and more. I love her writing style and her photos. She posted these questions a while back, so I thought I'd take a stab at answering the same questions.  *Some questions were omitted because I just could not come up with an answer*

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?  

Do they have to be alive? No? Okay, cool. I would choose my grandmother. She passed away when I was a baby, but based on how all her friends and family talk about her, I know she was an amazing, strong woman. I think we would be close. I've always wondered. 

For what in your life do you feel most grateful? 
My relationship with my parents. I'm an only child, so I've always spent a lot of time with them. They're my best friends. We share lots of laughs, we goof around, have good talks, enjoy trying new things together. But they're also my parents. I am so confident that they have my back no matter what and that they will always want what's best for me. I'm not afraid to admit that they're always right, and I feel like that says a lot.

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be? 
To be the most outgoing person in the room. I've always admired people who can charm the pants off of anyone they meet. That's not me. I try. I'm nice and pleasant, but not charming. 

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?
Do my kids turn out okay? (I don't have any now, but I'm fairly confident I will someday)

What do you value most in a friendship? 
Someone who allows me to be absolutely be myself 100 percent of the time. Someone I can laugh with.

What is your most treasured memory? 
College. Every single day. All four years. Every tear. Every hard class. Every awkward moment. College made me who I am today. And it was just so so fun to become her. 

  

How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?
Today I went to Target with my mom, we went antiquing, and then watched The Sound of Music in theaters, and it was just the best day. We're running buddies, shopping buddies, and she is the first person I call for advice or when something weird/funny/exciting/scary/stressful happens. So yea, I feel pretty amazing about our relationship.  

If you were going to become a close friend with someone, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

I get stressed out easily. I'll probably think you're mad at me at least once.  

What would constitute a “perfect” day for you? 
It would start with bottomless coffee and bloody marys at brunch with my girlfriends. We would laugh and gossip and create hilarious scenarios in our heads and then we'd take a drive with the windows down because of course it's sunny and warm on your perfect day. Then I'd take a nap in an immaculately clean room (I really value some good, quality alone time and clean rooms). After my nap, I'd meet up with Matt and we'd go to a brewery or try a new restaurant or go to a baseball game. Anything where we're together, trying new things or sharing something we love. And I'd see my parents at some point too. And probably play with puppies.  Oh, and we'd be in Paris. 

I bought a desk and now I'm suddenly going to become productive, right?

A while back, I mentioned that I wanted to get a desk for my room in hopes that it would make me productive and organized and make my room look even more fab than before. It's only been 48 hours since me and Matt (mostly Matt) put the desk together, so I can really only speak on the third goal, but I'll keep you posted on that whole productivity/organization thing. In order for the desk to fit, I had to move a few things around, and I'm very pleased with how my room has come together. In the past week I've also added a few frames to my gallery wall and finished a monogram project I've been working on since the fall — I know, I know. I have so many ideas and things I want to accomplish, but it's the execution that always gets me.

I scoured the Internet for a small and affordable desk, and ended up picking out this one from Target.  It's ten percent off right now with code GRAD. The magazine holder and candle were impulse buys while I was picking up my desk because who goes to Target and only comes out with what they came in for?

The two photos on the right are my new addition. Those, the bench and porcelain Basset Hound are all from Home Goods, aka heaven on earth.

Look out for a tutorial on the painting and hanging a wood monogram later this week.

Half Marathon #2 in the books!

Last weekend, I crossed the finish of my second half marathon. Although I've been running consistently for a year now, I'm still so amazed that I've run not one but two halfs (halves?) and signed up for my third today! Who am I?

Getting ready for this half was a lot more difficult than the first one, mostly because training in the winter is so so so different from training in the summer. First and most notably,  in January, it's dark when I wake up and it's dark when I get home from work, so it's almost impossible to get your weekday runs in outside. No running alone in the dark for this girl! So that means I had to succumb to treadmill running, which I would not wish on my worst enemy. I just can't get myself to enjoy it. Also, I know this is news to no one, but it is cold in the winter! It was a huge challenge to stay consistent with my training this time around. So the fact that I even finished my race is quite an accomplishment to me.

BUT, I didn't just finish my race. I SHATTERED my pace. I hobbled, half-sprinted across the finish sixteen minutes earlier than in October. The realistic part of me thinks I probably started too fast to be consistent throughout the 13 miles, but the fun part of me is just like, who cares. A 16-minute PR is a huge deal, and I am so incredibly proud of myself for finishing and finishing in record time. And I didn't do it alone. Check out some of my favorite running clothes and accessories that have helped me get through all of my long runs.

 

Socks

These Feetures socks are everything. Moisture-wicking socks are so important during long runs and these are my favorite. The way they hug your feet is so comfortable. And the come in the cutest color combinations. 

 

Asics

I cannot say enough good things about these shoes. The right running shoes really have an effect on your comfort while running and afterwards. I highly recommend getting fitted for the right shoes if you're planning to train for any long-distance race

 

Sport Beans

I swear by these guys for any distance longer than five miles. They taste great, are easy on my stomach and have prevented me from ever hitting the proverbial, yet oh-so-real wall while running.

Adventures in Adulthood

Last night, my mom was explaining that I need to do something with my address and my car and pay some sort of fee. Honestly, it was all very confusing. Anyway, I got frustrated and told her that I wish I could have just turned the tassel at graduation and have all the knowledge I would need to be a functioning member of society. Well, unfortunately, my mother didn't need to tell me the world doesn't work that way. There's no innate way to just know all the intricacies that will help you get by in life. You have to learn as you go and trust those who care about you to help you figure out all the forms you need to fill out to file your taxes, how often to renew your license plates and how to get that coffee stain out of your favorite blouse.

I wish there was some resource to help me get through all the challenges I've faced in my first year living on my own. In that spirit, I've decided to start a segment on my blog dedicated to helping you guys work through some of the challenges facing girls fresh out of school and their parents' houses.

First up — and arguably the biggest change in my life — how to find your first apartment.

Select your location

If you live in an even a moderately sized city, there are thousands of apartments available for lease at one time, and it can be so overwhelming to comb through page and page of craigslist ads or Google search results, so choosing a few neighborhoods you want to live in really cuts down on looking at apartments you'll never sign a lease for. "Location, location, location" isn't the mantra of house hunters and realtors for nothing. It is SO important. First and foremost for safety reasons, but also because you want to live in an area you can see yourself in for at least a year. I'm a 23-year-old who likes to run, go out to eat and have a few drinks on the weekends, so I made sure my neighborhood gave me access to parks, bars and restaurants. Once I had a few neighborhoods in mind, my apartment search became immensely easier.

Ask an expert

Or in my case, mom. Although I've lived in the St. Louis area my entire life, I wasn't totally familiar with a lot of the city when I was looking for my place. While I was looking for apartments, I would always run the location by my mom to see if it was an area I would enjoy and where I would be safe. She was able to shoot me down or give her stamp of approval within seconds of looking at the map. It was incredible. If you're moving to a new city your mom isn't familiar with, find a friend who lives there, ask your future boss, pay a visit to scope out some areas, anything to give yourself an understanding of where you're going to be living. 

Soak in the culture

 As a first-time city dweller, living in a place that had a little something going on was so important. I always made sure my parents and I had dinner or a drink in every neighborhood I looked in. It was easy for me to see myself living it up in a lot of areas of the city, so I also paid attention to the parking situation, traffic, how loud the streets were, etc. It really helped me narrow down my search even further. 

Go house (apartment) hunting!

This is the fun part! I recommend looking into any place you have an interest in at all. Maybe the pictures were totally misleading and the bedroom is teeny tiny (darn wide-angle lenses!) or maybe the pictures were taken on a cloudy day and the place actually has tons of natural light. Looking at a ton of places really helped me learn what I liked in a place and what my priorities were. I learned that I wanted something with a little character, but maybe I didn't need a totally updated kitchen. You have nothing to lose by looking at as many places as possible. 

Be Aggresive

And after you've narrowed down your location and found that place that has everything you're looking for, it's time to lock it down. Give yourself a couple days to make sure you're making the right choice, but don't hesitate too long. If you want the place, make sure you let the landlord know as soon as you do. Call, email, text, carrier pigeon until they get back to you and you sign that lease. If you're trying to lock down a place during a busy time (right before school starts) this is especially important. I looked at my would-be place on a Friday afternoon only after my mom and I called the office all afternoon and pleaded with them to fit us in that day. And then, two days later, my roommate came to town to see the places before we were to sign a lease. The company didn't show places on Sunday, but the guy who showed me the place Friday said the unit wouldn't be locked, and if I buzzed someone and they happened to let me in, it wouldn't be a big deal. Well, you can bet I took him up on that, and my roommate agreed we found the perfect place.  

Finding my apartment and moving in was one of the most stressful things I've ever done, but it was also so fun. And, ten months later, I know I made the right choice. We love our place so much we're getting ready to sign a lease for another year.

Have you been through apartment hunting? What tips & tricks helped you get through the process?

Went two months without blogging ... AGAIN

Oops! Somehow I completely forgot about blogging again. One of these days I'll get in the habit of regularly updating this baby. Anyone who has tips on how to get in the groove of blogging, send them my way. Anyway, the past two months have been busy with half marathon training (the big day is Sunday!), holidays and enjoying the increasingly warm temperatures. A few highlights ...

MARDI GRAS! 

If you read my previous post,  you know Mardi Gras is quite a big deal in St. Louis. It's just one day but a whole month of fun. One of my favorite parts is the Beggin' pet parade. Anyone who knows me could tell you there is no way I would pass up on an opportunity to play with one dog let alone thousands. Daisy really enjoyed the parade for about ten minutes before she fell asleep on the sidewalk.

Girls' weekend in Columbia

 Me, my roommate and our friend Ashley took a one-day trip up to mine and Monica's college town to partake in the True/False Film Festival. T/F is a huge deal in Columbia and provided one of the biggest headaches and learning experiences I had during my tenure at Vox. It was a fun day of reliving the glory days and enjoying a sunny day. 

The Symphony

My uncle, dad, Matt and me spent a night at the Symphony watching the Godfather with the symphony playing the score in the background. It was a very unique experience, and they were so good that after a while, I forgot they were even there because the music sounded just like it would in the movie. 

And, of course, Brunch!

A few weeks ago, a few friends and I checked out a new area and a new brunch spot called Melt. It was so so good! Almost every dish on the menu had waffle involved. I got a 'wake & bake,' which was a waffle with sausage and bacon COOKED INTO THE WAFFLE and an egg and cheese on top. Their bloody marys were also fantastic. Brunch turned into a fun afternoon complete with a photo shoot in front a new mosaic mural on Cherokee Street. The mural is of the St. Louis flag and is a great homage to how great my city is in spite of all the challenges we've faced in the past year. 

Well, we made it through January. In St. Louis this meant surviving just a few bitterly cold days and a couple days where it was actually enjoyable to be outside. It also means Mardi Gras is, as my boyfriend says, comin' in hot. In just 11 short days, thousands will descend on Soulard for a day of hurricanes, beads and some more hurricanes. For those of you who don't know, St. Louis is Mardi Gras' second city. We in the Lou don't laissez les bonne temps roulez as much as those in N'awlins, but we throw quite the party. While Soulard Mardi Gras is amazing and so memorable, it can also be a little hectic. Here are few ways to get you through the day, with very few headaches. No guarantees for the next morning.

DO pack your purse.  Although you'll be in an area known for its bars, you will definitely need to fill your purse with more than lip gloss and mints. It will be a long day. Bathrooms will be hard to come by and lines will be long. I'd recommend packing some toilet paper, stain remover (remember, hurricanes will be flowing), hand sanitizer and maybe a snack or two. Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to invest in a portable iPhone charger. Again, long day. Lots of photo opportunities.

DON'T rely on your debit card. Because of the thousands of people partaking in the celebration, bathrooms are a struggle, and a lot of the shops and restaurants will actually charge you to use their restrooms. I paid five dollars at a flower shop and was able to use the restroom as much as I wanted throughout the day. From what I could tell, most places have a similar system and price. And trust me, it will be the best five dollars you'll spend all day. A lot of the churches will also be selling food and drinks for cheaper than the restaurants, and they don't take plastic, so make sure to hit an ATM before heading down on Saturday.

DO leave the car at home. A lot of the roads will be closed leading up to the parade and traffic will be a nightmare for the rest of the day. It's not a bad idea to take a cab down to the parade that morning and take a cab or an Uber home at the end of the day.

DON'T dress for the bars. Trust me, it is definitely tempting to dress to the nines on Mardi Gras. You'll be visiting a few bars and you will probably run into at least ten people from high school or college. And of course, you'll pose for tons of pictures. Your followers have to see how many beads you scored, right? Resist the urge to dress in your best clothes and those heels. You'll be in close quarters and who knows what could get spilled. You'll also be standing and walking most of the day, so comfy shoes are an absolute must.

I know it sounds funny to post advice about a party, but trust me. It's good to be prepared. It is a lonnnnng day. So so so fun, but long and a little overwhelming. Most importantly, remember to have fun. Even though it gets a little crazy, the entire Mardi Gras season is a blast! Hope to see you there in your best yellow, green and purple. And of course, 100 pounds of beads!

Bedroom update

Over the weekend, I stayed at my parents' house to dogsit while they were out of town. While I was away, my roommate did a little organizing and redecorating and it got me inspired. When I first moved in to my apartment, I was so enthusiastic about getting my room all set up and decorated, and I've been happy with it for a while. But recently, my room is starting to feel unfinshed — like it's missing something.

So yesterday, I decided I need to add a little desk/office area to my room. While I don't do a ton of work at home, I think a desk would help me stay a little more organized, encourage me to not spend so much time in my bed and hopefully help me stay focused and write some more! Can a piece of furniture really do all that? I hope!

I spent a lot of the day picturing a desk in different spots in my room and found the perfect spot! My bed and wall with a window create a perfect nook for a little desk and cute chair. I can't wait until the weather is warm enough for me to open the window and sit at my desk and just get inspired. I'm so excited to start desk (and accessory and drape) shopping and to finally put the finishing touches on my room! After all, it's looking like my roommate and I will be hanging around the place for a while longer than we expected!!