growing up

At the end of senior year of high school, my friends and I constantly proclaimed, "I know I'll probably love college, but nothing will ever be as fun as high school."

And we really believed it.

It makes me so happy to think about how content we were in that phase of our lives. Naive, but happy nonetheless.

In retrospect, it's clear that while we were having the time of our lives then, the next phase was even better. And that phase has since been enjoyed and completed, and also felt like the absolute best time we could possibly have.

After spending the weekend with Katie and Sara in Chicago, I'm confident this post-graduate period will be just as amazing. I'm so grateful to have had them by my side in high school, college and again today.

We survived while Sara was in Boston, Katie was in Chicago and I was in Atlanta and being back in the Midwest together couldn't be more fun.

Now, we know ourselves better than ever before, and we know one another equally as well.

We know Sara can't drink sweet wine, so we had to take two bottles to the BYOB restaurant.
We know Katie can talk our way into anything - whether it be a spot on the patio at dinner or onto a free trolley ride - she'll make it happen.
And they certainly know never to trust my dance moves.
I don't know where we'll go next in our lives, but I know that no matter where we are, they'll be by my side. And for that, I couldn't be happier.

rain rain

After a full week of what has to have been one of Indiana's most beautiful springs, I couldn't be happier. My skin is looking slightly sun-kissed and I feel rejuvenated after spending every free moment outside.

Unfortunately, today is overcast, with rain in our future. But as long as it's out of here by the weekend, I'm OK with it. Of course, it makes it almost impossible not to think about Hunter's... Photo via apartment #34

Creature of habit

I'm a very routine person. I run the same routes over and over. I eat the same meals for months at a time. I go to the mall and shop at the three same stores. I'm habitual. And while I'm certainly not opposed to change, I find great comfort in a daily routine.

This winter, I made an effort to mix up my fitness regimen. I tried to integrate more than just running into the schedule and it definitely has had a positive effect on me. Not only do I feel fitter, but I look forward to my runs more.

With such a positive impact, I decided I need to think outside the box more regularly. The first step has been in my wardrobe. I recently found two amazing shirts in unexpected places.

The first is this Mossimo blouse that Jordan found at Target. While it's clearly not super creative to shop at Target, I generally look for more casual/comfortable clothing there. I was excited to find this shirt on sale for $14.95. It acts as an alternative to those J.Crew blouses that are very much a habit, and much more expensive. See the shirt in action on Easter.

The second is the Origami ruffled sleeveless striped shirt from Talbots. Considering the last time I went to Talbots was in elementary school and I needed to find white gloves for cotillion, I was skeptical. However, I found it in a magazine and couldn't resist the nautical feel. It's really cute tucked into a skirt, and definitely worth the journey into the terra incognita of Talbots.