Mimosas, Black and Being in Love

Let's have a chat about what inspires me...well first off mimosas are very inspiring as well as drinks that come in fabulous fruit instead of cups but I like to think that alcohol is not the only thing that inspires me.  Ok, honestly, I am inspired by many and I mean many things but lately it has been a lot of romantic ideas that have been getting my creativity flowing.  Weird, I know because I am a soul-less ginger who believes everything is better in black but really I have this new romanticism thing going for me.  I have decided that even though I am completely broke, like living below the poverty line and using money that is not mine to pay my outrageous rent that I must, I absolutely must have real flowers on my coffee table.  Do you know how over priced flowers are, especially because the only decent flower shop I have found is in my best friend's really overpriced neighborhood! Along with flowers I have become accustomed to writing frilly notes to everyone I know because I was inspired by sappy romantic movies that didn't have texting to talk to people (if we are friends check your mail!).  I have found myself walking around Chicago on several occasions lately smitten...which means I'm the weirdo walking around with an unusually high bun and a stupid smile plastered on her face looking at the buildings like a tourist.  But it is a romantic idea that all my dreams can come true , I can fall in love and live happily ever after like all those stories tell me I can.  I mean this idea that I can have flowers, and a charming apartment, and a handsome lover is well, inspiring.  I won't lie I am slightly delusional in a Holly Golightly kind of way (minus the cat) but it is true that I have found myself on a bender of whimsy lately.  Somewhere between looking for a job, trying to be social, and studying for the LSAT I find myself in love with so many new things, and I am not the kind of person who loves anything except sky high heels and a cup of coffee.  Somehow 5 months in this city has melted my black heart and here I am romantic ideas coupled with black blazers and ball gowns is where I have found my life lately.  I may be slightly unemployed but, everything will work out as it should.
Whatever inspires you own it!

xxx
B

Misery Business

I learned something today, nothing in life is worth being miserable over.  If you aren't happy get the hell out of dodge.  No apologies needed just go and find your happiness.  Being 23 is weird enough, no idea where my life is going, let alone how I am going to pay my bills because I had to have those $300 shoes and I really did need to eat the most expensive thing on the menu last night.  This is my life and believe me I'm well aware that my decisions are reckless but those shoes are killer and my meal was delicious.  So why should I spend any of my time being miserable, well believe me I am so over it.  Nothing and I mean nothing is worth it.

This leads to an important life lesson, growing up is about being honest.  Honest about what I want, what I need, what I feel and who I am.

That being said so far I know that I want a job I like and a guy whom I love.  Also I have decided that I want to be a force to be reckoned with, the kinda girl who walks into a room and you know she has arrived, the girl who walks like murder, laughs like nothing you've ever heard, and is the kinda girl you can't get enough of.  I have this very romantic sense of how I want life to be and I am sure as hell going to make my little dream world a reality.  I have always dreamed of this life I could have, so why not start having it now?  I dare anyone to tell me no...

Sometimes life doesn't come up all roses, believe me but maybe if I start being honest, being you know me, things will get rosier on the horizon.  Since recently quitting the misery I am already 10x the person I was yesterday so I can't begin to imagine who I am going to be by tomorrow.

My advice get honest, real honest.

xxx
B

Just a few things I have learned

Here is what living alone at 23 in a big city has taught me thus far...

1. You will need to have job experience and your blog doesn't count.
2. People do not care about what you could do, they want proof of what you have done.
3. Learn to cook.  At least 5 different meals.
4. Save your money, that new party dress or 6" heels are not necessary and you will stop wearing them after college.
5. Invest in yourself. 
6. Listen and maybe don't speak so much.
7. Your first apartment on your own will be your sanctuary, choose wisely.
8. Make sure your bed is the most comfortable place you know.
9. You will cry, get over it now.
10. People will not always return your level of honesty or care.
11. Find the silver lining everyday.
12. Wash your face twice a day.
13. Join a gym.
14. Find the perfect T-Shirt, Boots, Jeans, Sandals, and Dress Pants.  
15. Make friends with a Dry Cleaner and Tailor.
16. Make Friends
17. You will need at least one girlfriend to drink coffee and wine with.
18. Some days you will feel like not getting out of bed, put on your favorite outfit and don't come home till the sun is down.
19. The world is messy and complicated and mean.  Toughen up
20. Not everyone is mean, embrace the nice people you meet.
21. Smile.
22. Take Pictures and fill your home with them.  They will give you that extra umph when you need it.
23. Call your friends back home, they miss you as much as you miss them.
24. Send thank you notes to everyone for everything.
25. You might be thinking about going back to school, its OK! You aren't the only one who wasn't as ready as they thought.
26. Buy a book, then another, and another.
27. Forgive
28. Fake it till you believe it
29. Wear lipstick on days when putting on makeup is too much work.
30. Always have a bottle of champagne because there will be a day where you just need to celebrate making it through.
31. Get comfortable being alone, you will need days by yourself to just be.
32. You will also have days where you are forced to be alone.
33. Determine how much you are making, what your bills are and stick to your budget.
34. When you are on a date turn your phone off, this include bff dates.
35. If you like him tell him.
36. If you don't tell him.
37. Remember that life is hard but it can still be fun.
38. Stay hungry and work hard.
39. Confidence is key.
40. Do something crazy everyday.
41. 30 second dance parties will save your life. Turn up the music and sing!
42. Allow yourself to fall in love, all the time with everything.
43. Grow up but remember what it feels like to be a kid.
44. Stop over-analyzing.
45. Good shoes will take you good places.
46. Eat the cupcake.
47. Wear sunscreen, and get a spray tan instead of a real one.
48. Stop apologizing.
49. The world spins on the principle of inherent tragedy, remember this.
50. Have an opinion.
51. Learn to intelligently argue.
52. Fight for what you believe in.
53. You will have your heartbroken 6 ways to Sunday over and over.  
54. Learn to love Sunday.
55. There is no shame in spending a day in bed watching Netflix.
56.  Make friends with the guy who makes your coffee.
57.  Say yes, and figure it out later.
58.  You can go to a bar alone, dance alone, and eat alone.
59.  Learn to embrace the unexpected.
60. This is your life, you have the power to be whoever you want to so go on and do it.  Do not wait for permission.

xxx

B

Becoming Elle Woods

Do you think she woke up one morning and said "I think today I'll go to Law School"?

Yes that is exactly what happened, sort of...

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good argument.  I will even try to make a bad argument a good one at times.  If you again find yourself in the small circle of people who know me you know that my degree is in fashion merchandising.  Now regardless of whether or not you know me you have put together the pieces that yes I am a living version of Elle Woods or at least I am hoping to be.  My whole life I have been told that I would make an incredible lawyer.  So why not see if what everyone thinks is true.  But don't get me wrong I love fashion, I do and if I can spend the rest of my life immersed in it and doing something fabulous I will die happy but I have learned the world is a big scary place and why not have education on your side and why not have a degree in something you are already really good at...

I mean "What? Like it's hard?"

Ok Elle got it wrong, its going to be absurdly hard!  And believe me I will probably be taking the LSAT in 4" heels and my study sessions will involve lots of Starbucks, the only thing missing is the sorority house to make my studying a team effort.  And with my visits to salon lately helping me get back to the blonde I once loved it seems fitting to take a Legally Blonde approach.  But since opening my first study guide I have quickly realized maybe I am not so good at this whole law school thing.  This realization has only fueled my desire to take the test though and score really fucking high because if I'm going to commit I'm going to really commit.  Which means there very well might be scented paper involved and a video essay involving a hot tub and sparkling bikini.

So let the studying begin, because when I score over a 160 I am going to have some big decisions to make and Ivy Leagues to impress.  Then I will be ready to change the world one case at a time all while killin it in Manolo's and Prada (not last seasons)

xxx
B

Carrie Bradshaw Moment

I like to play dress up and from day to day act as if I am Carrie Bradshaw living the fabulous life drinking champagne and wearing Manolos.  However most days you will find me in ripped jeans and a giant sweater that is more like a blanket with sleeves but anyways I like to play dress up.  Well last night was date night and because I lost a bet and finally got a reservation we were going to be dining at best steak house in Chicago on me.  This meant I had every intention of dressing up and making a thing of it, which is exactly what I did.  Not to mention this restaurant makes the best champagne cocktail, it is straight out of The Great Gatsby so believe me this was going to be an affair to remember.  No one who knows me will find this surprising and those of you who have no idea who the hell I am well you should have a decent idea by now.

I decided an appropriate outfit would be a nearly floor length tutu, cashmere sweater and silver italian leather pumps.  I love wearing a statement skirt, specifically tutus so when I happened upon this gem in Anthropologie I knew it was love at first sight and one day I would find myself wandering down streets walking home with a gentleman and know that I was having a real Carrie Bradshaw moment.  And low and behold that night was last night.  I found myself at 11pm wrapped up in a fairytale and realizing that I am becoming exactly who I want to be.

xxx
B

ps.  I highly recommend Champagne Cocktails!

 Outfit Details: Skirt from Anthropologie, Heels from Jcrew, Sweather Jcrew, Necklace Vintage Pearls.

Let's Have a Drink

I love a glass of champagne, I could drink champagne daily if I society didn't call people that drink daily and sometimes alone alcoholics and if alcohol wasn't so expensive in Chicago.  For me champagne fixes everything, it makes an ordinary day feel like a celebration and a crappy day seem like a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of things.  Champagne makes one feel rich and glamorous even when its being drank in sweats watching Sex and the City.   It is safe to say champagne is one of the best inventions besides high heels.   I am truly the kind of girl who would be happy with flowers in her hair and champagne in her hand rather than diamonds around her neck and wrists.  Because of this I have mastered the art of Champagne Cocktails so here is one of my favorites:

Cheers!

Photo Credit

COMMITMENT: one word with a huge meaning

Photo Credit: Tumblr 

Well I signed a one year lease on my little apartment in the Chicago Gold Coast.  I spent weeks looking for other places to live and working out all the details on paper but I decided my first apartment will stay my first apartment for the next year.  I will experience all the summer festivities and the horrible winter here.  Luckily my 15th floor studio is a block from my new (second) job at Kate Spade.  Which side bar I am very excited to start because filling my days with beautiful things from a brand I adore is going to be exciting.  But back to commitment...I am officially staying in Chicago, not that I was planning on leaving after my sublet ended but it is all very, and I mean very real now.  It is also extremely exciting, like I have spent the day making my apartment really feel like home, and making sure it is everything I could want in my first apartment!

My whole life commitment has been a slight issue, I either jump in head first with no thought or I detail everything that could happen good or bad.  I lean towards planning extensively and making sure there is really nothing that could go wrong.  And typically I go with the safe option and have several backup plans.  This time I just went with my gut and let's be honest a lot can go wrong in this situation.  I have chosen to let go of all the what ifs I have managed to dream up and jump head first with my fingers crossed which I think is something people should do more often.

When you think about it making a commitment is really more exciting than it is scary.  So what if things go wrong, really, really wrong? You learned something didn't you.  The best example of this is falling in love, you can't be scared of loving someone because you could miss out on the best times of your life, you could let the best thing that has ever happened to you slip out of your fingers based on fear.  I love Chicago and yes she could royally fuck me six ways to sunday but I bet that sunday will still be my favorite day of the week.  You can't control life you just have to allow yourself to commit especially in matters where your heart flutters and learn as you go!



So here's to Chicago the biggest commitment I have made for now, come visit!

xxx
B

Photo Credit: Tumblr