Blogtember: What Would You Do?

If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?

 

Travel (I know, what a cliché answer). I believe a lot of who I am comes from my travel experiences. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Europe, and would love to go back.

France 4/06

                                                          Paris 2/13

 

Spain, especially, will always have a little place in my heart, and I am dying to see places like the Amalfi coast, Greek Islands, and Prague. But I have not had the opportunity to explore much of the Americas. I took 6 years of Spanish throughout middle and high school, and an additional 6 semesters in college, plus a study abroad in Madrid to become a Spanish minor. (Fun fact, my study abroad trip was the reason I started this blog)

 

 

Puerto del Sol, Madrid 6/10

 

Now I have not practiced Spanish in almost 3 years and am definitely rusty. And one of my life goals is to be sustainable in Spanish. I remember watching ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ a few times in my Spanish career. (If you have never seen it, I recommend it)

 

 

It tells the true story of 2 young men in the early 1950’s (23 year old, pre-Marxist Che Guevara) as travel across South America on a motorcycle and experience the stark difference in social classes. They wind through the Andes, Machu Picchu, and end up working (and breaking barriers) at a leper colony. After seeing it, I always feel inspired to take a road trip across Latin America (probably not to the same extent), to experience the different cultures, sights, and people.

 

Hopefully, one day, I will be able to travel to Latin America (anyone want to send me to Brazil for the Olympics and/or World Cup?) and more of the world. Maybe I will start small with a mini-road trip here in the USA, Pacific Coast highway?

Chocolate Chip Cookie & Peanut Butter Smores

This is one of my new favorite desserts! Every ingredient in this layered bar is something I love. The addition of creamy peanut butter to this deconstructed 'smore' contrasts perfectly with the crunch of graham crackers.

Recipe adapted from and picture by cookies and cups! 

While this recipe can get a little messy (marshmellow fluff is not the easy product to spread), it is really simple and only involves layering and baking! 

Ingredients:
- Cookie Dough (1 typical serving size) 

- Chocolate Chips (or bars) 

- Peanut Butter 

- Graham Crackers 

- Marshmellow Fluff 

Take a 9x9 dish and put foil sprayed with cooking spray (this will save from the gooey mess). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Layer the bottom with your cookie dough (I used store bought break and bakes, but whatever will do) 

Sprinkle your chocolate chips on top (you may lay chocolate bars alternatively) 

Spread the peanut butter 

Crush graham crackers and layer on top of the peanut butter 

Dolop the marshmellow fluff on the crackers (spreading fluff is extemely difficult, so I dollop it on top covering around 75%) I added the additional cookie dough on top of the fluff. 

Bake for about 30 minutes of until the top is golden brown. 

Allow to cool for about 2 hours (move to fridge to speed procces up), otherwise will be too gooey to cut.

Enjoy! 

Adapted from cookies and cups. 

Nostalgia

With the start of the new school year comes the start of more nostalgia. I think this year might even be slightly harder then the last. Last year I had only been working a month and a half, and was loving my new grown-up life. Don't get me wrong, I do not want to go back to late night cram sessions, or 8am classes (although now I look back and it doesn't seem nearly as early), but I do miss one big aspect of college ... the community.

I was so blessed to go to such an amazing school and have such an amazing group of peers. Plus I had the BEST group of girlfriends. And I really, really miss them the most.

As I mentioned before, I live close to two of my best girlfriends and we dedicate Wednesday's to Girl's Night. But my other friends are spread all over ... NYC, Baltimore, DC, Florida, and LA. Last time the majority of us (because it is inevitable at least one can't come) were together was Memorial Day Weekend. Now I am counting down the days until we are reunited again (first time I will be seeing my Florida friend since graduation, ahhhh) for Hokie Football!

I always have a huge smile on my face when I reminisce all the great times we had. And although I miss the convenience of having all my friends within a 5 mile radius (Blacksburg is that small), it makes the times we reunite that much more special.

All in all, it reminds me what a blessing it is to have genuine friends that stay with you no matter the distance. Sometimes, I may feel like I am missing a little part of myself, but I remember that I'd rather have a couple golden friends then lots of bronze ones.

I'm Back, Summer Recap

Hi Friends!

I love reading everyone’s blogs and have been following diligently even when my radio waves over here at Go With All Your Heart are silent.  

One reason i have been so quiet is that,  The real world has proven to be much busier than I expected. After working a 9-5 job, juggling gym, friend, family, chores, and any social activities, it is hard for “me” time. That is why I want to make more of an effort to sit down and blog, for me. Dedicating an hour or so a week to putting my thoughts down (whatever craziness that might be), is actually therapeutic and a great creative release.

Between Memorial Day (aka the unofficial start to summer) and now (how are we already at August), I have been a busy busy bee. Traveling all but two weekends of nine, I am sad to see summer start to wind down, but excited for a quieter in the fall.

Here is what I have been up to this summer ...  

Sports filled weekend with my family

Baltimore Orioles Game

USA vs. Germany Men’s National Soccer Game

Sister’s 21st Birthday

Obligatory Richmond Polar Bear Picture

Chris Young Concert

A few pool days and good books sprinkled throughout

Cousin Date to Despicable Me 2

Relaxing Beach weekend with views all around

River City Kickball "New Kicks on the Block"

4th of July at the Rivah with all the family

DC Weekend

Enjoying some Summer Shandy pre-National's game

A trip to the Kennedy Center for The Book of Mormon

First trip to Brooklyn for a Wedding Celebration

So far, summer has been great. I hope to be able to enjoy another great month of sweet, sweet summertime.

Insta-Recap

I took a little blogging hiatus but I am back at it. Lots has happened over the past few weeks, so I thought I would catch up with some instagram shots from my friends and me. 

 

The past few Memorial Weekends have happened to fall over one of my best friends, Kayleigh, and my birthday's, which is the perfect excuse to have a reunion of sorts with all of our friends. Eight of our best friends from school (3 from Richmond, 3 from Northern Virginia, 1 from NYC, 1 from Baltimore), came to the Rivah to celebrate.

 

1. Celebrating our 23rd birthday's out in Richmond  2. Champagne Toast on the dock MDW

3. Strawberries & whipped cream (red, white, & blue) dessert   4. Girls on the dock

 

Wine and Guesstures makes for an interesting night 

  

1/2. Girlfriends posing for a Memorial Day Weekend picture

3. Kayaking + Champagne = Perfection 4. Boy and I enjoying the sun and some beer

This past weekend, my sister and I headed up north for a weekend with family. Saturday my Dad and I went on a quick run around our neighborhood before we headed to Baltimore for an Orioles Game. The home team ended up losing pretty bad, but baseball games are more about the atmosphere than the outcome for me! Sunday we headed into DC for the USA vs. Germany Men's Soccer game. My family is a total soccer family and national team games are our absolute favorite. 

 

 

1. USA vs. Germany Men's Soccer Game 2. Orioles Game while enjoying a cold beer

3. Bud Lights post first kickball game and win 4. Action shot during kickball game 

It's been a great and very busy past couple of weeks. I am excited to slow down a little and fall back into my normal routine. 

Tuesday Trends: Nautical Stripes

I love stripes. I love them so much I have to resist buying striped clothing because it is becoming quite the problem. But, I like to believe summer gives you a little bit of a reprieve. Stripes are always in style for the summer, especially nautical stripes! Whether you add some stripes as an accent piece (like that darling Tory Burch bag), or a whole ensemble (can you imagine wearing that Banana Republic maxi on a boat), these stripes make me smile! 

Nautical Stripes by kelseaf featuring logo watches

Life After Graduation Reflection

It is so hard to believe I graduated a year ago. And it is almost harder to believe that my first post grad year has flown by. Trust me, I have had my fair share of weeks, days, even hours that I thought would never end, but I have also had weeks, even months fly by. For the most part, I actually love being an adult. Sure paying bills/loans is no fun, but being able to do as you please as an independent adult makes up for that. Throughout high school and college I was pretty independent (which I contribute to being the oldest child), however I am now completely independent (most of which comes from being financially independent) which I believe is the real mark of starting that young adult phase.

Graduation and post-graduation life is scary. There are a lot of unknowns, questions, surprises that will overwhelm you. But everyday you get a little more confident and comfortable in your new phase of life. A few of the things I have learned (and am still learning) along my first year of post-grad adult life.

Cooking for one

Sometimes this is big pain, and I have therefore eaten peanut butter crackers and carrots with hummus one too many times for dinner (slight upgrade from the popcorn I would eat in college). I tend to overbuy groceries (mainly produce), and sometimes get lazy after work and gym to cook elaborate meals, so I am learning the balance. One of the best meals to make for one is omelets  You can make enough for one person, add in tons of veggies/meats/cheeses, and is cheap and easy. I have also started cooking about 3 servings of meat to take for lunch in addition to dinner (saves money too).

Keeping in touch with college friends & making new friends

I mentioned in a previous post about my weekly Girl's Nights, but many of my friends live farther away. Some as close as 2 hours, some across the country. For those friends that live close, weekend trips every so often are my favorite, but sometimes a "Happy Friday" text to your group text of BFF's is all it takes!

Making new friends has probably been one of the hardest parts of being in the real world for me. There are no classes, sporting events, sorority functions, or parties to meet new people. Plus, the company I work for is primarily middle-aged men (that's what you get in IT), only hiring about 5-7 new college hires a year. I am always looking for new ways to meet people post-grad. I joined a kickball league and met some new people through that, but would love to grow my Richmond friend base. 

 

Kickball Friends Fall 2012 

Managing Money & Keeping a Budget

 I am obsessed with Mint.com, it really helps me to recognize where my money is going to and how to save. The two biggest things I do with my money in my mind, are contribute to my 401k and have an automatic transfer of $400 from checking to savings a month. When I first started my job, I would drive down to the mall, Home Goods, wherever and just buy to my heart's content. A good amount was necessary (work clothes and apartment furnishings), but since the new year I have tried to cut down on my spending (and this starts by simply not going to the mall, I have picked up a better habit - walking around my neighborhood while chatting with my Mom).

Learning to save for my first big girl trip, 100% funded my me! 

I have grown so much this past year, and can't wait to see what the next year has in store for me!