Musical Maddness

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Recently I have had a playlist for almost every aspect of my life in my phone. 

Riding in my car? There's a playlist for that
Getting ready for school? There's a playlist for that
Studying? There's a playlist for that
Blogging? There's a playlist for that too! 

I am sure you get the point. Anyways, I am pretty much obsessing over some songs right now, so I thought I'd share a combination of all my playlists and call it the Hodge Podge Playlist (it's a little bit of everything) 

Hodge Podge 1

1. Bezerk - Eminem
2. This Town- From this season of Nashville 
3. Harlem - New Politics
4. Survival - Eminem 
5. Heartbreak - Gavin Degraw
6. Ride SOHN Remix - Lana Del Rey 
7. Air Catcher - Twenty One Pilots
8. Unconditionally - Katy Perry 
9. Bangerz - Miley Cyrus 
10. Fire- Ingrid Michaelson
11. Finest Hour- Gavin Degraw
12. Lux Aeterna - Clint Mansell 

What are you currently listening to?

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo 
Melissa

My Weekend In The Windy City

Hello all you beautiful people!! So, this past weekend I took a trip to where I am from, back to Chicago, Illinois. It was a bit impulsive, my dad and I bought tickets on tuesday, then on thursday we hopped on an airtran plane and flew to a place we both call home. We are the only people in our family to live in a different state so it's interesting to go home and see everyone and everything.

My outfit was so plane comfy it's not even funny. ( I wore legginings and big polka dot sweater and ugg boots!)  I read most of the plane ride there and played Pokemon on the way back.


When we got into the city on Thursday I was so excited about how cold the weather was *not kidding*, I am aching for some chilly weahter so I can drink my hot Starbucks (yes its a big deal when an addict can switch from hot to cold drinks). So anyways, there wasn't much fun to be had on Thursday minus the plane ride and the weather update. We had a pretty late flight (it left at 10:30 Atlanta time and arrived at 11:15 Chicago time). Needless to say I was ready for some beauty sleep when we got to my grandparents house.

Friday my Dad, Grandparents and I took a trip to see fall colors at a park. It was so beautiful and calming. The tree colors don't last too long up there so we were lucky enough to see some beautiful tree colors. And of course I grabbed a Pumpkin Spice Latte for an afternoon pick-me-up!

So, if you didn't know I am a hockey enthusiast *addict*. The Chicago Blackhawks are my boys. (yes, I call them my boys). I love the sport more than you can imagine, it doesn't mater who is playing I love watching. So, needless to say when I found out we were going to see my boys play I actually went a bit hysterical for a second *dramatic*. So my dad and I made our way down to the stadium about 2 hours early to have dinner (hello Italian Beef Sandwich!!) and watch warm ups. I was going a bit insane, I kid you not it was like I was home. Finally with other people who understand my obsession because they are equally obsessed. (In the south I utter hockey and people look at me funny).





I got a little loud, and yelled all the things. However, when we started to realize we were going to lose we decided that maybe we should take a "selfie". Though I have come to the conclusion you can't take my dad anywhere nice.


Sunday my cousin and I went out to celebrate my 21st birthday *a second time, because once was not enough ;)*. It was a blast, I rarely get to see her so it was a lot of fun going around singing kareoke and drinking fun drinks! 


I had a fabulous weekend away from reality, however, sadly I must return to reality *wah*. So, now I must study for a test I have on Wednesday and I must get organized for the rest of the semester ahead! So time to paint nails, and get back to the grind of studying and lack of sleep! 
What did you do this weekend? 

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo

One Day At A Time

Friday, October 25, 2013

Occasionally, I worry. (okay, I almost always worry)...call it a blessing or a curse. Any way you put it, I am a worry warthog. However, something that I (and everyone I know) worries about is the future. Like holy pumpkin spice latte the future can occasionally *always* freak me out. Talk about an exhausting topic to worry about. I kid you not, this whole trying to predict my future, attempting to make a magic crystal ball with my imagination (bad idea), trying to map out what I don't know. Yeah, it's a headache. I find myself making lists about things that are meant to happen when they happen. (like woah girlfriend calm down). It's like planning what starbucks winter drink you will drink on Christmas Eve....like um...no. Stop that. It's a bit unreasonable. (and in case you were wondering...I do NOT plan my Starbucks drinks...) *that you know of*!

I worry about if I will find a job when I graduate, if my major and minor will assist in my job findings, if I should have stuck with my pre-law/business major, if I am making the right educational decisions, if I am eating the right foods to stay healthy, if I am going to be able to be financially stable when I am out of college, if I will be able to get a dog (because I am financially stable), will I be stuck not finding a job and working a retail job (not really appealing to me, I've done that song and dance and its not my forte), will I have to wait tables, I then think to myself "god I hope *pray* I find a job".....(okay I am POSITIVE you are catching my drift)!

Anyways, it gets to be exhausting because, guess what? I can't CONTROL any of that. I can take the steps in life that make me happy and I can take each day one day at a time, sometimes one hour at a time. Because, you want to know the beauty of the future, no one, and I mean no one has a clue what tomorrow will bring.

As far as my success goes, I am realizing that I am taking the steps in my life that make ME happy, and when I am happy I am able to accomplish whatever I put my mind to. Sure, I may be at the bottom of the totem pole when I graduate working silly jobs in my field but hey, we all have to start somewhere. What would Drake say? STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM NOW I'M HERE! *not sorry for that reference* 

And, even when I become successful, independent, and graduated, there is still so much more to worry about in regards to the future. But, if I spend time worrying about the things in life I can't control I will be living in the "what ifs" and goodness knows that's not helpful to anyone.

So, every time I catch myself freaking out, or worrying like a pumaa from the lion king. I remind myself that each day is a gift and that I need to take it one day at a time.

How do you deal with your fears about the future?

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa

The most adorable proposal!

Sunday, October 20, 2013

So, this will bring you to tears...I will let it stand by itself now. Enjoy! 


Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa

It's Hump Dayyyyy

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Happy Hump Day Folks! 

So if you didn't know, I love camels. So hump day is probably my favorite day of the week. So, today let's just talk about all things camels. 

Last summer, Kate Spade (my spirit animal) came out with a whole camel collection. (hello fabulous). I about died, she came out with a camel wallet, earrings, rings, scarfs, phone cases, it was a camelpalooza and I was obsessing (and that's an under-exaggeration). I wanted to buy everything in the collection but my wallet would have been crying. However, I broke down and bought two things from the collection that are absolutely fabulous. 

First I bought these fabulous camel earrings, they are the perfect hump day accessory. (of course you can wear them when it's not hump day...but I mean, it gives me an excuse to wear them....*not that I need one*)

Then when I was getting my Michael Kors bag (sorry, not sorry). I came across this wallet...I was basically finding every single way that I could buy this wallet...because its *absolutely* fabulous. I mean sure my bank account was going to be crying for a day or two but in my mind it was totally worth it...so, I broke down and bought it, and it is still holding up after almost year round use. (quality, folks!) 


So then Geico came out with a hump day commericial- when I first saw this commercial...lets just say I went directly to YouTube to find it and watched it a couple*alot* of times. 

So for my birthday. My fabulous boyfriend got me this AMAZING shirt. I basically thought to myself, "yep, he knows me. That's a camel hump day shirt." And guess what folks, its my new hump day shirt. I will most likely wear it until it's looking old and ragged *or bucky/ratchet*. 

Basically anything camel is fabulous, you can't go wrong with anything camel. 

Do you have any camel accessories, or clothing? Or do you happen to love camels as much as I do? 

Happy hump day pretty people! 
xoxo 
Keep Calm and Carry On
Melissa


Getting Designer Clothes With Out The Designer Price

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

As you all know, I love designer brands. Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Hunter Boots, Coach, Lilly Pulitzer, and much more. However I don't really love the designer brand price tag. It makes my wallet cry and it makes me cry. While I'll admit there are some staple pieces that you must pay full price for..the majority of your clothing pieces and accessories can be found at a designer level for a less expensive price.

So here I introduce to all of you my passion: consigning.

Consigning is where people can bring in their unwanted, gently used clothes for people to re-buy them and wear them.

 There are consignment shops for EVERYBODY(it just depends on your personal style)...my personal choice when consigning is finding designer consignment shops. I personally shop at Alexis Suitcase (in Atlanta, Georgia *there are three locations*.
1. Kate Spade. 
2. Michael Kors
3. Banana Republic 
4. Loft
5. Anne Taylor 
6. Jimmy Choo 
7. Tory Burch 
8. Ralph Lauren 
9. Vineyard Vines
10 Lilly Pulitzer 
11. J Crew 
....and so, so, so, much more.
(yes I am aware that some of those brands are not "designer" but they are of high quality, *clothes that last and wear well*).

So, I have been consigning for about three years now (give or take), and my wardrobe has never been happier.
However, there are THREE major rules when consigning (or rules that I made that make consigning a little easier and a little less stressful).

1. Try not go in with an open mind (you can not consign looking for a specific item, you will drive yourself absolutely crazy and you may end up in tears in a dressing room)
2. Not every trip is a winner (I know, this stinks but sometimes you go in and there is just nothing that either appeals to you, or looks good on you).
3. Find a consignment shop that fits your personal style.
 I have been to many consignment shops, *thanks to google* I have been able to find numerous     consignment shops to try. (if you are looking for some to try, take a day and explore the shops in your area! 

So, now for the fun part, here are some of the amazing finds I have found at consignment shops. (listing from top left to bottom right)
1. Ralph Lauren Blazer 
2. Jcrew Sequin Top 
3. Nine West Boots
4. A hodge podge of a consignment shopping trip

1. Michael Kors Sweater (it looks absolutely amazing on) 
2. The Label (because duh!) 
3. A loft tank that can be dressed up or dressed down
4. A Banana Republic Shirt that is perfect for holiday parties

1. A Lilly Pulitzer bag, (brand new)...Rachael had to stop her self from buying it. 
2. A Tory Burch tank top 
3. Me in the magical Kate Spade dress
4. Rachael in the magical Kate Spade dress
(yes that is my twin, Rachael and I wearing an amazing Kate Spade dress that I found!) 
These are just some of the amazing finds that I have come across!! Do you consign, or are you interested in consigning?

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa

P.S. You can shop online at Alexis Suitcase as well! Go ahead and browse around! 

A Little On Trust

Friday, October 11, 2013

Hey there all my lovely readers! So, usually  I stray away from super personal topics and topics that are a little more...vulnerable? (if that's the right word). However, I wrote this about a week ago and I finally decided that I would post it! So, happy Friday folks! I hope you enjoy this! (it's a little lengthy  but worth it!) 

Trust: It’s a five letter word, a simple word right? It’s a word that is so easy to say, so easy to think but so hard to actually mentally accept. We are born as little infants who know nothing; our worlds are just what they are. We have no reason to not trust anyone. In fact as infants it’s the one time that we do unwillingly trust. And by unwillingly I mean our parents, they took care of us, they made sure we didn’t fall down and hit our heads, they fed us, and made sure our diapers were fresh. They began our lives showing us that we can trust them. We then grow up with them learning how to trust. And as teenagers, we break their trust. We defy them, after all those years of them building up trust and giving us trust. We grow up, turn into teenagers, think we know everything, and defy them. Breaking  the strong bond between us and our parents that once was.  Yet, they forgave us, they almost forgot what happened, forgave us, and moved on because they LOVED us.

Then as we grew up some more we began dating, we began liking people for more than their looks. We began seeing people as potential soul mates. As a girl growing up I had this expectation that my love life was going to be a romantic comedy (talk about unrealistic expectations). While there will be moments of cheesy, sappy, romantic gestures, and conversations. This is not every day. (Sorry gals, if you want a notebook kind of relationship, start acting). But, back to my point, we begin handing our hearts over to someone. (Too dramatic?) I don’t think so because that’s exactly what is happening. You are showing yourself to another person. You are showing all sides of you, the good, the adorable, the ugly, the frustrated, the angry, the fear, the sadness, basically you are showing it all. (Of course in time. Don’t get all crazy emotional..ain’t nobody got time for that). But, my point is, we start to become vulnerable…and it can be the hardest thing you actually do.

However, plot twist; there is that one relationship that kicked you to the ground. It made you wonder how you could ever be loved, or how you could ever get back on your feet again to care for someone again. Maybe you were more invested in the relationship than the other person. Maybe you were in love with them, but they were in love with someone else. Maybe behind your back they were off with someone else taking them on dates, telling them sweet things and leading you on. (also known as cheating).


You were in love with them, (okay, maybe infatuated, but it seemed like love). You TRUSTED them, you believed almost every word that came out of their mouth because you had no reason not to, or you chose to be blind. You knew in your heart that their actions did not match up with this image you had created in your head. That you were putting in more to the relationship than they were, you were doing the work for two, instead of the work for one.
Then, one day it hits you, you have a realization. Maybe on your own, or maybe it is thrown into your face in a situation and you have no choice but to see. You are not to them what they are to you. You are not theirs and they are yours.


Then, all of a sudden that trust you initially had in that person (and at this time any person) is gone; completely demolished. You have no choice but to see that you had trust in someone who broke your trust in every single way possible. There were signs, you know there were. You look back and you notice the signs, you see how you should have been skeptical, how something defiantly was not right. How 75% of the relationship was bullhonkey, and 25% (the beginning of the relationship) was legit. You feel depressed, you don’t want to leave your bed, you would rather sit and eat a pint of ice cream than go out and do something. You start realizing how many signs there really were.


Then you come to the conclusion, somehow; that you can never love again and that you can never be loved. You thought what you had was love, you thought you could trust. And now you wonder how can I ever trust again? How can that bond be built again? What did I do wrong to have this act of selfishness come upon me?
So for months you sit around and you ponder- you recover. You were just thrown to the ground and broken into a million little pieces and you have to begin to pick them all up. You have to start facing facts. Honestly, maybe you avoid facts for a while because you just are not ready to face the reality of what really happened. That there really wasn’t anything where you thought there was something. That you were making something out of nothing, that you deserved better, and that this guy, this jerk, he wasn’t your other shoe.


So again, for months things start coming together, you start to feel whole again. You have found your independence and you decide that for a while you are going to flourish in this life of being a “free spirit”. You are going to bask in this new found love for yourself. You begin to flourish, you are learning something new about yourself every day, and your relationships with your friends are at an all-time high. You wonder, “Do I even need someone? I have myself isn’t that enough?” You begin to feel lonely and you feel incomplete because you are realizing that it is not enough. You try new things to fill this gap, (shopping, trying new foods, finding new hobbies) but, you realize that you are enough for you but there is still something missing.
You realize that you have recovered that you can trust again. That all of those thoughts out of sadness and anger were false, and you  are finally realizing that you can love again.
When you finally realize that you can love again, you become skeptical at first. Because, you are starting something new and fresh (meaning, you have no reason not to trust). Yes, that’s right this relationship is now an infant, in the hands of two people who can shape its future. And guess what, you both have some type of baggage, because no one is perfect.
Time passes with this relationship and you notice, you have fear, you fear that history will repeat itself. That you are going to fall head over heels and then get crushed. However, that is no way to look at a relationship. Because guess what, this guy you’re dating now, he is not the same guy! AT ALL. And you begin to see that you are thinking of the worst possible outcome, you get afraid, and you try to look for problems because in your last relationship you had on the L-O-V-E goggles and everything seemed “perfect”. So now you are skeptical and fearful. Yet, you know that things are different, that you found a good guy. That he has given you no reason for you not to trust him. He isn’t perfect, but no one’s perfect. But you start to see that his actions are different than the last guy. He checks up on you, sure he’s busy but he thinks about you, he makes time for you, he makes you laugh, and he deals with your emotional rump at 3o’clock in the morning because he cares for you.

So then you realize that fear is

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

You realize that you need to begin to trust again, and that trust is possible. You have to tell yourself that this is not the same, he is not the same and I am not the same. And, you begin, everyday realizing that you can trust this person. You realize they will give you what you need. Sure, you’re afraid. But it’s good because this type of fear means that you have something to lose. (and you don’t want to lose it)

So I say this. Don’t forget that all wounds heal, with time everything passes, and life goes on. Don’t give up, don’t shy away from the hard truth, give yourself the love you deserve, listen to your gut and your heart, be skeptical but don’t put up barriers. It is possible to move on and to love again no matter the circumstance. There is someone for everyone, respect yourself, and know when to walk away.

Just because one idiot did something stupid, don’t let that one stupid jerk affect the rest of your life. There is someone who will see you for perfectly imperfect.


Keep Calm and Carry On 
xoxo 
Melissa 


I'm Still Alive I Promise!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

So, my blog posts have *seriously* been lacking. I have been slammed with work, that I didn't have time. So, my posts have been missing. I have had a lot of good ideas but I have just been running around making plans TWO weeks in advance, and just trying to juggle this thing called life. (it's fun, but needs a lot of attention).
I also did not realize how much blogging keeps me same, I was talking with my best friend Rachael and I was telling her how I missed my blog and she said to me "well, it's your creative outlet". It really does help you figure out things in your life even if your blogging isn't always deep and insightful. #isthatweird

Anyways, enough about my crazy beautiful life, lets talk about a subject that I am itching to cover.

Acceptance.

So, if you were to ask me where I'd be in five years ago when I was 21, I'd tell you something along the lines of, "I'd have my own apartment, I'd have a job and go to school, I'd have a life planned out ahead of me, ect. ect." Well, I am 21 now, and I am so happy with where I am in life.

I realized the other night that I am almost done with college, and I am one step closer to the real world. I have about a year and a half left (Yayyyyy summer classes). I realized that this next summer I will have to find another internship to work, and I will have to be able to get my resume looking spiffy, and I need to start looking at apartments, (I was sat in my room making mental lists for my future). I realized something, what's meant to be will be.

I can sit in my room and make some five year plan of where I want to be, how I want things to be, what I imagine them to be. But, the thing is, life happens. Whether I like it or not life does what it wants. I can not control where the next day takes me, all I can do is take it one hour at a time (I would say one day at a time, but, lets be real...a lot can change in 60mins).

When I finished making up all these mental lists, I realized that I am beyond pleased with where my life is headed, and where I am at in life. I realized that I am a smart, confident, and I have so much going for me. That the fear, and the anxiety I was having was based off of the fact that I was not being accepting.

I know how far I have come. Even better, when I realized how far I've come, I felt a wave of relaxation and peace. All that was happening was that I was coming to an acceptance with where I am in life and where I am going in life.

It was one of the best feelings you could ever have. Honestly.

Have you ever had a life realization that leaves you feeling more content than when you woke up? (does that question even make sense?)

Keep Calm and Carry On
xoxo
Melissa