Dressing

Even though I have found and ordered multiple pairs my perfect jeans, what I am really excited to add to my wardrobe at the moment are dresses. It never fails that 70+ degree weather (like NYC has seen the last few days) happens overnight, (despite the fact that *shock* it happens every. single. year..) and I realize two things:

                           1. I am not prepared for warmer weather.
                           2. I absolutely hate wearing jeans when it's even the slightest bit hot out.

To solve this little "dilemma," I am getting my shop on now and stocking up for the season, starting with a few dresses. Besides being comfortable and easy, I love how dresses are just so perfect for when my brain is fried from the heat, and the only thing I can think of is how hot it is. Nothing like having the guesswork taken care of for you!

Old Navy maxi & tee dress

A black maxi and t-shirt dress are my two absolute musts. I know, this time of year isn't exactly the weather to be wearing black, but I can't help it! I love how easy they are to throw on and how they make the perfect blank canvas for a great accessory like a hat or necklace. Best of all, they are super versatile, and I especially love them for travel as they are comfortable, yet stylish. 

LOFT maxi

When I first saw this printed maxi dress on Jessica of Get Jessed Up, I knew I had to have it. The prints! The colors! I absolutely lived in this printed maxi last summer, as it saw me through BBQ's, casual dinners, and vacation. I plan to do the same with this dress. 

Banana Republic colorblock sheath dress & colorblock tank dress

Spontaneous plans seem to go hand in hand with the summer season, so being prepared for a more dressed up occasion is essential. Plus, I just really love these two dresses from Banana. #anyexcuse

Sanctuary lace dress

A lacy white dress is just one of those things that screams summer to me. While I find that most of them look like tablecloths, I love the texture and light feel of this dress from Macy's. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint! (Or I find one like it!)

What does your warm weather wardrobe look like? Do you also gravitate more towards dresses?

Monday Mantra

With a few of my friends graduating this past week and weekend, besides reflecting on my own graduation, I can't help but flip through one of my favorite books/the book I love to give for graduation, Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. No matter how many times I look through this book, something new always strikes me and it is always so relevant. While it may be considered a "book for children," I love how anyone journeying through life can connect with the story, no matter what their age may be. 

If you want to read it, click here.

What is motivating you, mantra or otherwise, for this week? 

Three Hundred

I've never really "celebrated" any blog milestones or birthdays, but when I saw that I was coming up on my 300th post, I figured "why not?" Any reason for a celebration is reason enough I say!

Honestly, I can't believe that this is my 300th post. There were times when feeling uninspired in life lead to breaks that sometimes felt like they would end up being permanent. But they never did. Why? Because I truly do love blogging. I am grateful for the way this blog has helped me to grow and explore life, the different opportunities it has presented me, and best of all, the many people I have met along the way, (some of which have become friends "in real life") whether it's in a comment or tweet, or what have you. You all are definitely my favorite thing about this blog.

With that said, lets get on to the celebration portion of the post shall we?

As a little thank you prize, one of you will win one of my newest pieces for spring, the textured small link bracelet in your choice of silver or gold. The giveaway will run from 5/17 to 5/23,  and the winner will be announced on Friday the 24th. Just in time for the holiday weekend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all who enter and again THANK YOU! xx

Egg Muffins

Guess who's in the midst of another Whole 30?

I know I said in my Whole 30 recap post that I would perhaps do another Whole 30 after Cinco de Mayo, but I didn't think it would be so literal as in the day after Cinco de Mayo. I was thinking, I don't know, after Thanksgiving? But my mom asked me to do another one with her, and I couldn't refuse. Because when mom asks, you do. (Or risk the guilt trip forever. JK my mom doesn't do that...) I'm probably only going to do another week or two with Memorial Day weekend around the corner and all.

Going a second round hasn't been hard, although I do miss chocolate and "paleofying" treats. Whole 30 or not, figuring out breakfast is still the hardest thing. Eggs are what I call my "breakfast crutch" because they don't require much thought or effort, and get the food-in-my-belly job done. While I get sick of them quite often, when I get creative outside of my usual scrambled eggs and kale, I love them. Last week was a "love week" when I combined my morning eggs with some leftover chili*, to make one of my favorites, egg muffins. I can't believe it's been a few months since I last made these given that they are so quick and easy, my main criteria for breakfast. (They also freeze well, perfect for a quick heat up/meal on the go!)

*(I call it chili. It's ground beef, tomato paste, chipotle pepper, cayenne pepper, kale and mushrooms. Whatever it is called, it's good.)

Easy Egg Muffins

printable recipe here

For this recipe I used:
1 cup (8 oz) of (leftover) chili (any ground meat will suffice)

4 eggs

Coconut oil

To begin, set the oven to 350 degrees and grease a muffin tin with coconut oil and set aside. (Cupcake liners may also be used.)

If not using leftovers, prepare the ground meat and seasonings of your choice (sausage is so good!) and set it aside to cool.

In a bowl, crack open and whisk the eggs so that they are a bit paler in color and a little frothy.

Now to assemble the muffins. Place a generous tablespoon of the meat in the bottom of each muffin well. Finish by pouring the eggs over the meat, stopping just before it reaches the top of the well.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until a knife poked into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

As hard as it will be to resist, let the muffins cool for a few minutes and if necessary, use a knife to release the muffins. Serve and enjoy!

Life Post Grad: One Year Later

Then | The best thing about this picture? The guy in the pink shirt in the back.

Today, May the 15th, officially marks one year since graduation. Three hundred and sixty five days. Twelve months. 

Where did the time go?

There was a part of me that was nervous for this day to come. No, actually I was dreading this day. I was scared this day would come and go and I would still be in the same situation: jobless and searching. This fear was accelerated a few weeks ago during my spring cleaning extravaganza when I came across my diploma in my closet and freaked out...a bit. I removed it from the shelf and gave it to my Dad with specific instructions: "Put this away before I burn it."

OF COURSE I would never actually burn my diploma-I worked too hard and went through way too much to get it. But seeing it brought about so many negative emotions. While I have been mostly positive in the last year, any emotion I had felt at some point during the last few months came rushing forward. Frustration from the many rejection letters telling me I'm a completely qualified candidate, but that there are no positions available at the moment. Regret for not doing XYZ during undergrad, even though XYZ was usually impossible. The feeling of failure because at 18 I thought I would graduate, have a job, and be on my way to owning my own business by the time I was 30. (That was one of many life plans. The other involved becoming an MTV VJ...) Then the "comparison anxiety" began. How come friend A has a job and not me? I know her GPA and qualifications were definitely not better than mine. If only had friend B's connections. I probably should have transferred to a bigger school like friend C. On and on and on and on.

Now | GPOY

I'm grateful that as I have gotten older, I've become wiser and know that while my feelings may be warranted, they are usually not true, and don't define me in any way. I'm also grateful that I have such an amazing support system, especially my parents, and friends A, B, and C. More than that, knowing that I am not alone in this situation is definitely a relief. Talking with friends and others that have been through it puts it all into perspective that "Hey,you're not a failure! You're just in the midst of a super crappy job market."

While the current hiring situation is out of my control, one thing I am in control of is my future. This last year has not just made me stronger, but has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life so far. What I never understood in Accounting and Excel during undergrad (and called hieroglyphics,) is almost second nature to me now. I've become semi-conversational in Italian (parli appena lentamente per favore), I've discovered so many new places in my beautiful city, and I've picked up some fun new hobbies. More importantly I am dreaming bigger and taking things into my own hands. I've started expanding my jewelry locally and on Etsy and I'm 99.99% sure that that venture I briefly mentioned here, is becoming a reality and I am starting my own business.  Does this mean I am completely giving up on the job search? Absolutely not. But am I going to try and pursue a few of my own dreams in the mean time. Absafreakinglutely.

I am happy that with each new day, I can see my vision of where I want to be down the road, and how I want to get there. I don't know what's to come, but I'm excited. I just know that when I look back at this post in a years time I will think, "that was only the beginning."