september

i haven't blogged in almost a month, which may be the longest i've gone without blogging! september 1 marked the end of my 5th year blogging (even though i think i celebrated 5 years last year on accident. haha oh well.). it rained for the first time this season today. i was so happy! i can't wait for the first day of fall (tomorrow) & all the cozy weather that comes with it. as a matter of fact, right now i am curled up on the couch with my new pink west elm throw. bring on the rainy & cooler weather!

my sister left on september 6 for thailand! she will be gone for at least 7 months. she will be an english teacher to 4-7 year-olds. i'm very excited for her, but miss her already & it hasn't even been a month. i'll be planning a trip to visit her soon : )

lately i've been looking for a full-time job. i applied to one at a university research center. it's in the same town (such a cute town! photo example below of the town's movie theater complete with bikes parked outside! i mean come on.) that miguel works & we would literally be working a couple of blocks away from each other - which normally would be whatever, but when you live over an hour away from the one you love, it is a definite plus to be so close. so we are rooting for this position.

it was so windy one morning while we were having our bagel breakfast before work, but i wanted to take pictures. this was the result:

even though the weather has still been so summer-like (besides today!), i've been trying to lure the cool fall weather by getting into the spirit of fall by having so many pumpkin spice lattes from starbucks & baking pumpkin bread pudding (made my own recipe & it actually turned out really good!!).

i even attended a jam & jelly canning workshop with lizzie & my mom! it was so great & for only $5 we learned so much information, made jams, & went home with over six containers each of jams, jellies, lemon curd, & apple butter! it was a great day.

future plans of mine includes:

1. helping at my church's health fair tomorrow. i'm working the registration/welcome booth! i'm actually really excited about it. haha.

2. watching this film. i cannot wait for it to be in theaters. also, it's the perfect musical pick for the trailer in my opinion.

3. taking the train to visit miguel for a few days on monday. i feel content when i'm with him. we will most likely be looking for a wedding gift as we were invited, for the first time, to a wedding together. i don't know why, but being invited to a wedding with your boyfriend makes things feel kind of official? anyways, we are excited.

4. getting a few letters in the mail (hopefully!!).

that's it for now.

oh! has anyone seen the movie now you see me?? trippy movie at the end! did not expect that! miguel & i saw it & were both like "whaaaaat?!"

ok. i think that's it now. byee!

notes

1. items from my last ikea run (all for about $20!)

2. decorations at the mexican restaurant miguel & i tried out (disappointing food)

a few little notes:

i've been busy planning my sister's 22nd birthday : ) i just got off the phone booking facials & massages for her & a few friends at the spa. i found a great place for lunch where they have three different vegetarian taco options. and i'm searching the web for a reasonably priced nikon dslr for her to take with her to thailand as a birthday gift. i hope everything turns out great! i'm excited  : )

i bought two of west elm's favorite throws today as they are having free shipping today! for both, it was only about $20! i was a happy lady.

i discovered a new photo app today called studio! it's like "over" & tons of fun. plus it's free!

i found the best homemade mushroom soup recipe. i made it & my tummy was so happy. it is such an instant comfort food!

this post seems a bit skimpy, but that's ok. i just had to share those things with you : )

ikea date with mom

my mom & i took a day trip to ikea on monday. it's always so fun to look around there. they have so many neat things. we even had a bite to eat while we were there. my mom is half swedish, so she enjoys having the "swedish" food at ikea ;)

in other news:

target is carrying all kinds of washi tape now! (it's the scotch brand)

h&m (another awesome swedish store!) has a home collection now! i'm so excited about it!

miguel showed me this baby yoga video. we were both shocked. maybe you've seen it. i'd really like to hear what you have to say about it.

lizzie & i are starting up our arts & crafts class again! we have a(nother) trip to ikea planned to pick up some decorative stones for our first project of terrariums. (the stones at home depot are more than twice as expensive!)

weird moods & other things

1. cheese & pimento bites i picked up from the filipino bakery one morning on my way home from my morning walk.
2. grapefruit for breakfast.

life has been feeling strange lately. i can't quite place it. i've been in a weird mood & not sleeping well. I hope it passes. i think it has something to do with feeling like i am in an "in between" stage in my life. i'm transitioning into a full-fledged "adult," but i'm not there yet. i'm still in my "in between" stage & i'm not liking how it is feeling. i have no more schooling to do (which is so weird!) and only a full-time job to find. it really is such a strange transition for someone who has been going to school full-time for over twenty years.

i've been looking at several positions & have sent out requests for letters of recommendations so i can apply to the positions. i don't know how to say it, but i just feel so weird. like i know i'll eventually get a job (but now it's not just a job - it's more of a career), but when? what kind of job will it be? where am i going to work? it all just makes me really nervous & i don't like the unpredictability of it all.

in other news, i attempted kaylie's hairstyle! i loved how awesome she looked while in texas with her braided updo, & i wanted to see if i could pull it off. it's a bit messy, but i think with some practice it could look better. i just loved how nice it felt to have all my hair up without feeling too heavy on top of my head : )

i still have a thing for clutches & these are top on my list.

i've been watching parks & recreation on netflix with my sister lately & we love the show! it's so funny. i don't know why i had never watched it before! that show never fails to put me in a good mood.

this dining room before & after is pretty impressive. the table & bench were made & miguel has told me many times that he wants to make a good portion of our furniture ;) makes me all happy inside.

i leave on the train tonight to visit miguel. i'm really glad i get to spend a couple of days with him, because i really need it. being apart is tough.

currently

currently:

1. i love the lady bird johnson centennial stamps i picked up at the post office the other day. there are only five, but it was just the amount i needed. lady bird johnson was an advocate for beautifying america's cities & highways, so the stamps portray beautiful flowers & trees in cities.

2. i'm eyeing these clutches/pouches.

3. i want to make this.

4. & this.

5. the restaurant i celebrated a friend's birthday at was designed quite nicely.

6. i wrote to an instagramer for the first time & i received a cute little package from here. it's neat to be branching out from blogging to find friends & pen buddies.

7. i've been enjoying the chia seed "pudding" i've been making lately. chia seeds are a great source of omega 3s & only one once contains 11 grams of dietary fiber!

this is how i make my "pudding":

1 cup almond milk (i use almond breeze vanilla)
3 tablespoons of organic chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

add all ingredients to a mason jar, screw on the lid, & shake to mix. place in the refrigerator for about 5 minutes. take out the jar & give the ingredients a good stir. place the jar back into the refrigerator for at least an hour to set. the chia seeds will get a bit gooey & it reminds me of tapioca pudding! anyways, experiment with the measurements to get the sweetness you prefer. you can also use agave as a sweetener! enjoy!

8. i've never seen annie hall before & i want to see it.

that's it for now...i'm sleepy.