What I am Loving Wednesday! It's Summer!

The Red, White, & BLUE

One of my favorite holiday's is coming up this weekend and I couldn't be more excited! Fourth of July falls in the summer when cookouts, ice cream cones, and bathing suits rule. I love me a good burger, beer and fireworks after a long day lounging by the water. Usually I spend the fourth with my family at the Rivah, however this year my parents are in Europe so I will be roadtripping to New Jersey for a fun and sun filled weekend with friends!

I'll start out with some of my favorite BLUE outfits for 4th of July!

Blue by kelseaf featuring a ball skirt

Week in Recap

So this past week was again busy for me, but I had a great time. I am loving living and working in Richmond and the ability to still travel if I please on weekends.

Monday I presented my findings at work in my first real presentation. After work we headed over to race G-Force go-karts and play laser tag, it was so much fun and I loved feeling life a kid again.

The Go-Kart track, so intense!

Tuesday was a normal work day and after I went over to my favorite mall, Short Pump, to return a few things and of course pick up a few things. After, I headed to Plaza Azteca to eat with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins before heading home for the night.

My adorable cousins!

Wednesday I had nothing to do after work! I made my first trip to Trader Joes and picked up some yummy treats. I went on a quick run when I got home, made some dinner and wine and dined while watching Sex and the City 2. It was a perfect relaxing night.

SATC2, wish I had all their clothes

Thursday was busy! I went over to the manufacturing center (so cool by the way) for our IS Town Hall meeting. They are so great to all us interns and even gave us a standing O to show their appreciation. We left a few minutes early to go to a Leadership Luncheon where I sat with the VP of HR and enjoyed good food and good conversation. That night I went out to dinner with my Grandma and her friend for some great Italian and enjoyed yummy peach bellini's. Then I headed to the fan in Richmond to enjoy some nightlife with my intern friends. We even ran into more interns and one of my sorority sisters at Starlight. And on our walk home we found a polar bear. Too much fun for a Thursday!

Manufacturing Center at night!

3 Monkeys, One of the bars we went to!

Friday was a typical work day and I headed home after work to watch my sisters while my parents are in Europe. I also had to make the dreaded trip to the DMV to renew my liscence. And Saturday night we went to Rio to have dinner and my sisters favorite frozen yogurt. We came home to watch a disappointing USA loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup and went to bed.

Summer Essentials - The Tote

Everyone needs a perfect summer tote to lug around all our summer stuff. Here are some I am lusting over ...

Tory Burch Tote

Lands End Classic Tote

J. Crew - Seersucker Tote

Lilly Pulitzer - Sea & Be Seen Tote

Vineyard Vine's - Jockey Silk Classic Tote


Vineyard Vine's Mint Julep Sunny Day Bag

Roman Holiday

Almost exactly a year ago I was finishing up my 5 and half week trip to Europe in Rome. I spent the first four weeks studying and traveling in Spain followed by a week in Germany and a long weekend in Rome. Now, almost a year from my trip, my parents and their friends are enjoying their own Roman Holiday. Here are some of my favorite memories from Rome!

Reuniting with friends from school and making new friends ... in Italy!

Walking the Spanish Steps

Country Hopping to the Pope's Casa, Vatican City

Exploring the home of the Gladiators

Throwing a coin into the Trevi, I'll soon be back!

Wordless Wednesday - Southern Charm

Insights ... from the real world

Here are some simple things that I have learned or come to value in the real world.

Always say please and thank you

Those few words make a big difference. Enough said.

Carry Cash
Yes it might be a hasle but its as important as your ID. Many places do not accept credit or debit and you never know when you will be in a bind and need some cash.

Needs vs. Wants
There are a few basic needs in life, food, water, shelter (and I'll through a few others like medicine and clothes in there) but do not get needs and wants confused. You do not "need" gum or extravagant things when you have no money.

Ask if you don't know (or even if you do)

There is no point and allocating your time and resources to something you don't even know about. Ask many questions, it makes things easier, clearer, faster, the list goes on.

Walk
Yea taking the elevator is easy and parking in that front row spot is nice, but when you sit at a desk all day you actually come to cherish some time to shake out your legs (and have a easy calorie burn).

Dual Survival

I am all about reality tv, as a product of the 90’s, I grew up watching the birth of reality tv in all its glory …. Or not! Now while I love me some reality tv, I have a soft spot for all those reality game shows. Give me some action, adventure, something besides their day-to-day lives (although I love Real Housewives of OC). I have watched every single episode of Survivor, all 22 seasons and 35 episodes. Yes, I am that girl.

Well my love for Survivor has rubbed off on me, as I am newly obsessed with "Dual Survival." "Dual Survival" is a Discovery Channel wilderness survival documentary tv show similar to Bear Gryll’s "Man vs. Wild." It follows Cody Lundin and Dave Cantebury as they find themselves in a common survival situation and how they get out of it. Cody is the self-proclaimed hippie, going barefoot even in the harshest of climates and Dave, an ex-army meat-lover through some tricky situations.

My dad introduced me to the show and constantly jokes how the show could easily be a drinking game. They constantly warn of the severe dangers of tasks, the likelihood of death, anaphylactic shock, or some other paralyzing danger. While it is very interesting, it is also very funny. They make fun of each other’s very different survival styles and provide laughs along the way. Definitely check it out!

Sweet Summertime

"It's a smile, it's a kiss

It's a sip of wine, it's summertime

Sweet Summertime"

-Kenny Chesney

Doesn't country always sound better in the summer with the windows down?

O sweet summertime! I am coming to find that even in the "real world" working life, you still have a lot of great free time to take advantage of! It's nice to go home with no work/school stuff to do. I have been trying to do as much as I can to keep busy and indulge in sweet summertime.

Aren't Monday's always harder to get up for? Started my next requirement for my internship, and ice cream social during work, yes! I hit up the gym after work and cooked some chicken and potatoes.

Tuesday us IS interns went over to Headquarters (so much nicer than our office!) for a Leadership Discovery Program and actually learned a lot. We watched a video about Shackleton's Amazing Antarctic Adventure, and the story was really amazing. We then had a YRichmond event about Networking, although we just networked with ourselves the whole time!

Shackleton & his Endurance crew

Wednesday I had a few meetings and an Emerging Leaders Sensomics Lecture at the Center for Research and Technology. It was so interesting about how our senses are used and how scents are created. After work I went on a quick 2-mile run and made cookies/got beer for a cookout at Tyler's.

Can't wait for the rest of the week! And idea of the week (via Leadership Program): People don't remember what you say, they remember how you make them feel.

What I am Loving Wednesday - Summertime

Update

I can’t believe it’s already the middle of June! I have been interning for 4 weeks now (although I have yet to have a “full” week) and summer is flying by. I have been pretty busy on the regular. Usually having 2 weekday nights with fun things to do, 2 weekday nights at the gym, and the rest for grown-up errands/chores/relaxing, but I can’t complain! Here is an update on what’s been going on this past week/weekend.

Thursday we had a YRichmond event, with interns from different companies in Richmond (but it’s usually Altria dominated). We went downtown to Havana 59 to have drinks (great mojitos!), appetizers, and a little salsa lesson. It was a great time, although we were all sweaty and gross by the end thanks to no air conditioning but 98 degree weather! After, some of my better intern friends (all us WMO interns + Jessica, Tyler, and Mark) walked to The Tobacco Company for drinks/dinner and enjoyed a jazz singer. Kelly and Courtney rode home with me, and we enjoyed some girl time aka gossip!

Friday was a half day of work! All the interns had a sports park social about 45 minutes away so we left around 12:15 for lunch and travel time. Firebirds is one of my new favorite places to eat, fried chicken salad is sooo good. We caravanned down and rode go-karts, played out door laser tag, and of course, ate. It started storming so we left early and headed to a local fro-yo place, Sweet Frogs! After, I headed straight to my friend Sarah’s birthday dinner at Plaza Azteca, followed by yummy Funfetti cake at her house.

At Sarah's Birthday!

Later that night I headed downtown with intern friends Courtney, Kelly, Roz and Byron. We ran into "actual" employees and headed over to Lucky Buddha where another employee was DJ-ing, and boy did we get the star treatment. We were lead up to a VIP roped section with our own personal waitress and body guard. I could get use to that!

Saturday morning I woke up and drove to my River House to see my Mom. We lounged by the dock, got our tan on, went to a delicious seafood dinner, watched a movie, and went to bed. It was the perfect relaxing day and great to see my Mom before she heads to Europe!

Sunday we tanned a little more before heading our separate ways. In Richmond, I babysat my cousin Parker and loved being crazy with him! Now it’s back to the grind (although once again I have many fun things planned for this week!). Hope everyone else had a great week too!

Parker as Batman!

Easy Ways to Save Money

Now that I am making money, I am all about spending it. But I know with eating out all the time, getting drinks, going to concerts, and traveling all summer long, saving money is easier said then done. Here are some easy ways to save money!

Cook more meals/Take lunch to work!

While eating out may be easier, and possibly more delicious, cooking can be fun and a huge money saver.

Keep track of perishable foods

Yep, I left almost an entire pineapple go bad because I completely forgot about it. Fresh food is great, just remember to take advantage.

Do not buy coffee/soda

You save so much money by bringing your own drink or even drinking FREE water over coffee or soft drinks, and it is so much healthier.

Carpool

With gas being so expensive, why not split it and have some company on your commutes! And plan your trips so you are not going all over town for simple errands.

Take advantage of free events

Summer brings so many free events, whether its movies on the lawn, concerts, the beach or just relaxing with a book in the sun, take advantage! **Also, look into Groupon and LivingSocial!

Even if you save just a few dollars a day, it adds up and you can indulge in things that really matter.

Good Life

This could really be a good life.

I am feeling very blessed right now and can't help but smile. I am loving my new "big girl" life and while I still have many fears about the future and what it has in store for me, I can say I am really enjoying living in the moment.

My intern project is proving to be difficult and challenging, further complicated by a reliance on meeting with people in full-swing vacation season. But I truly want to prove to everyone that I can do this.

But its not all work, it has been a lot of play too. I had a great Memorial 4-day weekend at one of my favorite places, the Rivah with some of my favorite people. I hung out with friends and family the next week, went to a really cool Intern opener party, a Corey Smith concert on Brown's Island followed by hanging out with friends, and soooo much more fun to come!

So I say let summer come and take us away, we are only young once.

Shopping Overload

Today I went on a "little" shopping trip. I am a sucker for sales and good deals, and boy did GAP have that. Everything I bought was already marked down + 40% off. I bought 3 tops, a cardigan, and a skirt for $70!

I got this basic tee in lavender and white, at $6 each who does not want one ... or two?

I need to stop buying cardigans, but I rationalized that I didn't have "this" shade of blue.

Oragmi Skirt, cute for work and play!

I love my more casual ruffle top, so I decided I needed another!

I have been needing a wallet and went ahead and got this for my "birthday gift" and first Big Girl in the Real World purchase!

I have needing a new watch for my job and decided this simple tortoise shell was the perfect starter watch for me.