Welcome to the 21st century where girls are single for longer periods of time, they are searching for the right one left and right. Grocery stores, gyms, airports, coffee shops (Starbucks), and many other places. I want to start off this post by saying yes, I am in a relationship, and yes he is wonderful and amazing but he has not always been in my life, I haven't been in a relationship since I was born- I have too been single. I have had the lonely nights with Ben and Jerry's, the midnight ranting sessions with my friends, I've been the girl on the I don't need a man train. But what I want to say is something that might take you by surprise, being single is what made me the person I am today in my relationship and as my own person outside of the relationship. Being single is the thing that helped me become a better person. 

There came a point in my life where being single was not a definer of my life (in fact when I met David I wasn't expecting to find my best friend and boyfriend). I basically said to myself that I was a work in progress that I was going to change my life for me. To some my life may have been really boring, I focused more on school than going out and partying, I focused more on what I wanted out of life and what I liked about life instead of letting another person influence my wants and hobbies. I finally said to myself that I was going to embrace being me. 

This wasn't easy, but prior to me being a girl in a relationship romping around taking cute selfies and eating copious amounts of pizza I was figuring out who I was, who I wanted to be and where I wanted to go. (I know this must sound cheesy, silly and probably very cliche).  I would sit around thinking about where I wanted to go in life. I made list after list and I sat around some nights with not a single phone call, not a single text from a guy and I never felt lonely or like I was missing a part of me. There came a point during this whole process where I felt whole as a person, I had (and still have) amazing friends, I could go to a restaurant and eat by myself and read a book, I figured out I really don't like music that yells at me, I do in fact prefer the finer things in life and it's okay because I never rarely pay full price anyways. There was a point where I had complete acceptance that my life was exactly where it was meant to be. That everything was coming into place and when the guy who was meant to be in my life appeared then all would be golden and it would still be magical and we would sit in a room together doing nothing and it wouldn't be awkward. 

And I finally found the guy that makes me  have butterflies, even after 7 months (which in the grand scheme of things is not long at all), he accents all of my best features and shows me how to be an even better person. He also knows how to make me laugh in almost any circumstance. 

However, I know so many girls who are so focused on finding mister right, having a valentine (because they must have a date for this one day out of the year regardless of if they even really like them), they are keeping themselves in relationships that they aren't even 100% in because they'd rather have that person then have no one at all. 

So here comes the punch line of this whole post. If you are single, and if you feel like you are miserable and you feel like you aren't complete with out a guy. I challenge you to try new things for you, STOP thinking about mister right and where you will meet him because if you keep looking you may look right over the perfect person for you. So, go try new things for you, do things you wanted to do in a relationship because you can do them and because you want to do them for you. Try learning something new or trying a new hobby. I know that it seems like there is no mister right for you (trust me I know). But there is...because odds are you are fabulous and you just need to find someone that is just as fabulous. But in the meantime learn how to embrace the life you are currently living, learn how to love you because that is honestly the most important part of any relationship. Before you can have a relationship with another person you have to have a relationship with yourself. 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo 

Melissa

Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?

Hello from the thawing state of Georgia. Apparently someone really ticked off Elsa from Frozen (if you haven't seen this movie you should, I promise you it's worth it!). Anyways, this week has been a week of lots of craziness. If you haven't heard....Georgia has been frozen for a couple of days now (we are pretty much thawed out!). But it was crazy town on Tuesday, I wish I wore my Kate Spade Bangle for this day because it was a crazy town all around Atlanta. I got stuck on campus for three hours because my car spun out and it couldn't make it through the ice town that was being created. It took my parents 3 hours to travel what should be a 15-20 minute trip. *insanity*. It took my boyfriend 7 *yes 7* hours to travel what should also be a 15-20 min trip to my house. It was completely insane how quickly the roads turned to ice.

(this was not a drill)

(the roads really were awful, thank goodness my parents rescued me!) 

Using any form of a car this week was so out of the question (unless you were feeling really risky). So Wednesday my boyfriend and I took a walking trip to Publix (who really was running out of milk!) 

We ended up gettting A LOT of groceries (it was definatly needed). So instead of carrying them all home we may have used a Publix cart to carry the groceries to the end of the parking lot.....(I would say it's a secret but you and the rest of the internet knows now!!) 

(also his hat is super warm and I totally wanted to take it and wear it but I just stayed jealous on the inside and fought the urges to take it!) 

While there was so much ice and craziness you still can believe that I had a little fun in the snow. 

(I really wanted to build a snowman but apparently we couldn't do that because I sing the Frozen soundtrack too much!) *whoops* 

I can't believe all the nonsense that went on this week, but I can say that I still want to build a snowman, and I don't think I sang "Let It Go" enough. 

And not once did I get cabin fever, probably because I slept a lot and watched a ton of Netflix! 

Keep Calm and Carry On

xoxo 

Melissa

Hey all you sassy cats! It's Monday, so grab a cup of coffee and smile because we are four days away from Friday. This weekend was spent doing a little shopping, and a lot of relaxing. I spent time with my grandparents who are in town and we explored the outlet mall near my house and I found this wonderful gem at Kate Spade! I leaped for joy because it has two wonderful compartments and the color is simply wonderful (oh and the price was pretty much a steal!)

This past week I was loving a lot of different things so this week it was hard to narrow it down to five. 

1. My first thing I am loving is the movie frozen. I don't think you understand how many times I have been singing "do you want to build a snowman" with one of my best friends (and annoying my boyfriend with it). I even found other ways to make the song applicable to living in the south. Like do you wanna build a leaf mannn (since we don't get snow). *I tried* 

(you should totally watch this). If you haven't seen the movie it's a must see and if you have seen the movie I think we can agree that you can watch it over and over again and it just gets better and better. (I watched it two times on Thursday (but with two different people)). 

2. Monograms: Now, this is not a new thing that I am obsessed with or loving but recently I have been finding tons of things that look so adorable monogrammed. (did you know you can get your Lilly Pulitzer planners monogrammed? I wish I knew about this at the beginning of fall semester! (all of my binders for school are monogrammed and it's perfect and fashionable!) 

3. This song is really simply wonderful! When I first heard it I got really excited because it's one of those inspirational songs that really keep you going during a study/reading session for school. 

It's one of those songs that really keeps you going but doesn't distract you from reading (which makes me really happy!) 

4. This quote has been on my mind as well this past week. By Jon Stewart

This is something that has really  been testing me this past weekend and week. However I have managed to keep calm and carry on. I believe in certain things and I have certain beliefs and I refuse to let another person influence my beliefs and values because they believe I am not doing "well" in life or that I am not level headed in their eyes. 

5. Eos Chapstick: Good lordy this product is beyond addictive and it makes your lips extra soft. With this cold weather this is an item that I keep in my purse at all times. If there's one thing that annoys me more than anything its chapped lips. Chapped lips just aren't pleasant. Also not that you should be eating chapstick but the stuff smells (and tastes amazing). 

That's it folks! 

What are you loving this week? 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo 

Melissa 

It's Monday which means the weekend is sadly over, and we are back to the grind (whether that be school or work) Monday's mean less lazy. I had a wonderful weekend, it was a fun lazy weekend spent watching Netflix and eating cookies (I'm not complaining). However some of you lucky ducks most likely have the day off today from school or work so its a three day weekend for ya'll! However Monday's still stink because it means that you still have responsibilities and things to do *yuck*!  So to make Mondays a little more bearable I thought I would start this Monday tradition of five things I have been loving this past week!

1. For Christmas my boyfriend got me a Nintendo 3DS and my favorite Pokemon character as a plush toy and it is absolutely *adorable*. I also have spent many of hours playing pokemon or tetris on my DS. It's addicting and Pokemon is really fun for me to play because I get to catch adorable little pokemon, name them and then watch them grow as I train them. (who knew this girl would start to like video games like I do!) 

                                                 

(isn't my little Togepi adorable?!)

2. I have mentioned plenty of times that I love this British band called Bastille. (love may be a bit of an understatement). I have a slight, SLIGHT, obsession with Bastille. (obsession makes me sound weird but they're adorable, they sing amazingly and I like the lead singer's (Dan's) hair *its so fun and fabulous. Anyways over my winter break I came across their new song called The Draw and it is addicting and fun. If you haven't heard their stuff you should press play below and experience their awesome alternative style. Their acoustic and acapella music is also simply amazing (youtube stalk them!! it's fun and you'll fall in love with them.  

Bastille also covered Miley Cyrus

3. There is a Dr. Seuss quote that I have on a post it note on my desk where I study and it says "congratulations, today is your day! You're off to great places, you're off and away!" With a new semester starting I have found myself a little stressed and a little anxious, but not in a bad way. (well okay the stress is bad) but the anxiousness is all about the fact that I will be graduating college sooner than I thought and that I will be starting my "adult life" sooner than expected and part of me is ready. But, this quote reminds me that even when I get discouraged, scared, anxious or stress that I am off to great places and my future is looking bright! 

4. Leggings. Home girl loves to wear leggings every day of the week, I actually had to wear jeans the other day and it was a struggle bus. Why do jeans even exist any more??? 

5. Another Bastille Song (sorry I'm not sorry!) 

This is actually a remix they did with To Kill A King...BUT it is still phenomenal and you should listen to it because it's awesome and both of these bands are fabulous. 

What are you loving this week??

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo 

Melissa

A lot of girls don't like beer, they think it's nasty and disgusting and tastes like bitter dry grass or watered down "whatever beer is supposed to taste like". However, I must confess, I am a girl who loves beers!!! I love drinking beers, sipping beers, trying beers, chugging beers, beers are just delicious to me. I personally love craft beers and going to local breweries. 

If you don't like beers but enjoy wine there is still a beer out there for you. Contrary to popular belief there are tons of fruity beers, coffee beers, and even chai beers. There is more to the beer world than PBR and Budlight (oh and you can't forget Coors Light). While these beers are affordable and come in large quantities they are not the BEST BEER EVER. 

My all time favorite beer is by Red Brick Brewing Company it's called "The Vanilla Gorilla" and it is absolutely delicious. It's a porter which means that it is a darker (colored) beer, and has a hoppy taste to it.  It also goes down easy and to me there is no sour or bitter taste to it. 

If you don't like beer it's okay it's not for everyone but let me tell you.....beer is amazing! It's better than wine, because you don't need a fancy glass to put it in to drink it. (I always feel classless when I drink wine out of a regular cup!). What's great about beers is there is a beer to drink with almost every meal (minus breakfast). 

There are tons of breweries out there, but in Atlanta there are tons of breweries that are worth checking out! My personal favorite brewery in Atlanta would have to be Red Brick Brewing OR Monday night! 

Do you like beers? Or do you prefer wine??

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo

Melissa

Hey friends! I am hosting a giveaway with tons of fabulous bloggers! Come enter to win a Naked 3 Palette!!

You know you want to! 

Keep Calm and Carry On

xoxo 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

That's Fresh Friday #1

It's Friday which means its time for #thatsfreshfridaylinkup....and the weekend!!! I  know Christmas was a while back but I thought I would share with everyone what was under my Christmas tree this year!
This Christmas I was extremely blessed and extremely thankful for all the goodies that I found under my Christmas tree! It was a very merry Kate Spade Christmas this year!

This is the newest addition to my purse collection I am obsessed with the shape and the color! Aren't you?

I actually knew these bangles would be under the Christmas tree but I am LOVING the crazy town bangle as of late...especially because New Years Eve was just a couple days ago ;) 

(because you know you want to see it again....my purse is included!) 

If you didn't know you...should know I LOVE phone cases. I personally believe you can never have enough. A while back I did a post on the Kate Spade cat case and I was so happy and surprised to see it sitting under my tree along with a fun owl friend!! For the upcoming semester I got this fun pencil pouch which of course matches one of my phone cases. And there was a dash of Lilly sitting under the tree, I am loving the bow earrings and alligator USB key chain. They are both so perfect.

The last couple things under my tree were clothes. I love the Blackhawks (ice hockey team) so it was a fun surprise to see that I had a new something to wear while going to games. The vest to the top left is Vineyard Vines and it is so comfortable and for a vest surprisingly warm! The other Vineyard Vines shirts are super baggy and comfortable (perfect for school or lazy weekends!). And the middle striped shirt is a fun Jcrew turtle neck that I wear with the vest or by itself. It's super light weight but looks great as a layering shirt! 

What did you get under your Christmas Tree??

That's a wrap for my very first  #Thatsfreshfridaylinkup be back for another next week! 

Keep Calm and Carry On 

xoxo Melissa