LIFE: Happy National Coffee Day!

It is certainly no surprise that I am something of a coffee addict. I mean, college + fashion + journalism + blogging = most stereotypical coffee drinker ever. Naturally,  I've spent the entire day looking up coffee themed products, and here are some of the ones that have tested my self control to it's absolute limits. You can thank me later, bank account.

letteredandlined

This is the perfect little print to educate those less knowledgable.

MooseberryCases

If I could have a case with my name + coffee + a pumpkin I would be the most basic white girl ever. And not even care.

WhoDoesntWantThat

Yup, no reason to not want this one.

ArmiTee

This is the perfect sleep shirt or lazy day outfit tee. It even says so right on the shirt.

ArmiTee

Equally as perfect.

HopSkipJumpPaper

Seth doesn't even like coffee, but he knows how much I do, so this would be perfect to hand to him on our anniversary.

Don't mind if I do. What's your favorite coffee drink? Or do you prefer tea?

Enjoy the day everyone, and drink a cup or two for me! 

LIFE: bloom where you are planted

image

For some reason or another, these types of posts don't usually do very well on this blog, but I felt this was a pretty important topic that I needed to get out.

After having moved a couple of times (twice for school, and now my internship), I've realized the true importance of a quote like this. Too often people will make themselves unhappy because a situation is less than ideal or just not what they expected. Maybe the job you wanted is in a crappy part of the country, or the place you want to live doesn't have the right job for you. Maybe you were planning to get a job much higher up, and instead you're stuck at the bottom. Life will throw all sorts of curve balls we don't plan on, but the best thing to do is react them to and move forward.

Blooming where you are planted is all about making the best out of every kind of situation, because something can be learned from anything. Right now I'm living in my roommate's apartment that smells like cat litter and has dust bunnies pilled to the ceiling. What good is it going to do me to just complain about it? Instead, I've learned that regular cleaning really does make a difference (and makes it easier in the long run) and that my mom wasn't crazy all those years when she had us do a weekend cleaning of the floors, bathrooms, and kitchen. Parents really do get smarter as we get older.

Nothing turns out how we think it will. Another great quote to go along with this one is "life is what happens when you're busy making plans". It's just so true. It seems that most of the time there is nothing we can do in the long run but try our best to work toward something and then roll with the punches. If you're working in a company, looking at the CEO thinking "I want to do THAT", but you're stuck doing data entry, don't cry about it- do something about it. Whining isn't going to accomplish anything, and doing the very best data entry you can and looking for ways to improve it will not only create more purpose in you (creating a happier person), but also earn the recognition of those hiring that CEO. Taking root in a spot, making it the absolute best possible, and excelling at whatever task is at hand

 

So next time you're lamenting a terrible position or situation, take a step back and look at it for what it could be worth. More often than not, there is something to be taken from it, and think about a literal flower. Flowers that grow even in the most dried up undernourished dirt are absolutely amazing. Even more amazing than those planted in the store bought ultra-grow fancy soil. Be that flower. Be the flower that creates something out of nothing, that shocks everyone and truly flourishes in the environment that you are placed. There's nothing to lose except for the negative attitude holding most of us back.

 

 

LIFE: Shopping Snippets

I know that Thursdays are usually a beauty post day, and I had one planned out and everything, but it rained all. freaking. day. yesterday and pictures were just impossible to take inside by house. The lighting is difficult enough to work with on a sunny day, let alone a drizzly mess.

However, the rain didn't stop my sister and I from taking a romp around town for some little things I needed for my room before The Big Move. One of our longest stops was Target, and I happened to remember to bring out my camera to get a few snaps of the goings on.

Of course in true "white girl" fashion we had to stop and get a starbucks for our trip around the store. I like to use the excuse that the town my college is in doesn't have one, so being home makes it a treat. Now that Lands' End has one inside the building I'll be working from, I have no excuse and will have to keep my habits in check.

A look through the dollar bin always proves fun! Although it's turned into the $1 & $3 bins now? When did that happen? Anyway, this basil growing kit made me laugh. Seth loves basil, and I thought this was a cute little kit I would have bought for him if I wouldn't have had to send it through the mail to reach him :( 
And these little candle holders were quite nice quality given that they only cost $1 each. If I was a tea light candle person, I would have bought them.

This little journal was too perfect to pass up. It's the perfect size for throwing in a purse (possibly the one to the right?) for jotting down notes/ideas/etc. I snagged that along with a few other items from the bins, and later this week I'm going to write up a haul post of everything I bought from Target and the two other places we went into. 
I fell deeply and madly in love with this brown purse, but the price tag just didn't warrant the splurge just yet. Especially because I really need a black structured bag more than anything (see my last post here for which one I've got my eye on). Looking at it now, however, I'm glad I didn't spend the money on it. It's photographed quite orange, and that's the trademark of cheap fake brown leather, I feel.

Running errands doesn't require a sacrifice of fashion. It was just as easy to throw on a pair of jeans, a sweater, and low heels as it would have been to wear leggings, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes (and heels don't require laces!). The make-up section of Target has also gotten a makeover since I've last been in. While it is brighter, I felt that it was quite a bit smaller- am I imagining that?

PS- my blog sale is going on through May 29th, so don't miss out on that. Later this evening I'll be updating it with books and shoes, so make sure to follow me on Twitter @styleduckling to know when everything is updated! I'll also be updating periodically with new items and tweeting every time something different goes up. Don't miss out ;)

xoxo, Katie