Some Spring in Your Step

Temperatures above freezing?! With the last few weeks being a constant drudge of ice, snow, and arctic chills, the polar vortex made anyone living in Northwest Arkansas somewhat miserable. This weekend, we finally found out skies sunny and with temperatures somewhere in the 50’s, it’s beginning to feel like spring. More exciting than the weather? Spring fashions. Skirts, heels, colors! Put your jeans and boot socks away, because things have finally warmed up.

 

What’s your favorite fun trend for spring? Leave a comment below! I’ve been absent from the blog-o-sphere for far too long again, but with warm weather and happier times headed this way, I hope to get back into it very soon!

Until next time,

 

 

(All photos shot on location by myself or Cicely Samuels in Prairie Grove, AR. using a Nikon D3100. Edited with Adobe Photoshop.)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? How I Went From Brunette to Blonde in a Weekend.

I’ve wanted to go blonde for years. Years. And so a couple weeks ago I decided to jump in head first and do it myself. Let me start by saying, this is not good for your hair. My ends are scorched and desperately awaiting the haircut I have scheduled for next week.Aside from that, however, I can say that this process is trying but worth the money if you’re really willing to put in the time and dealing with orange hair for a couple days. If you can handle that, read on and good luck.

Why I’ve Decided on Independence

Well, hello, blog. Don’t worry, I haven’t totally forgotten you.

I have, however, been changing things for myself this semester. I’ve been doing something novel – focusing on me. Is it strange? Is it out of the ordinary? Not in the slightest, and yet it seems like so many women would rather focus on finding themselves a husband than perfecting who they see in the mirror.

In the time that has past since my last blog post, I have changed an amazing amount of things in my life. I’ve moved into a new apartment, and I now have 3 roommates. I’ve gone inactive from my sorority, and instead gotten a job. I have a couple offers on the horizon for other promising things, none of which I’ve decided whether or not I actually want to pursue, and I’ve gotten my grades up. I’ve decided to save up to see my grandmother in Poland again, after 7 years. All of which, I’ve managed to do with only a couple girlfriends by my side and without a man on my arm. Or in my bed.

I’m not disparaging the girls who have boyfriends. Or the girls who want boyfriends. Or the boys who want boyfriends, or the boys who want girlfriends, or the girls who have girlfriends… You see my point. That’s all fine and dandy, and I will happily attend your wedding should you decide that’s what suits you. But to the girls who are pining – who are longing for a companion or some sort, even if it’s just for one night, I urge you to take a  step back. Think about all the other things you could be focusing your energy on (ladies, relationships consume more energy than you can even imagine and the period before that is even worse, don’t try to deny it). Think about all the amazing things you could accomplish in the time you spend stalking your Starbucks barista on any and every form of social media. Even if you spend your time watching a movie instead, or eating a cake, or doing something that seems like it’s no better use of your time, you did it for yourself. You didn’t do it to impress another person, or to get the guy…or the ring in the little blue box.

Dye your hair. Pierce your nose. Take a class outside your interest. Instead of looking for someone to fall in love with you, fall in love with your life and the world around you. Take in every breath of the fall air and decide which smell is your favorite. Enjoy having your bed all to yourself, and spread out in it. You will have more than enough time in your life to have someone next to you.

Is it a cliche to choose to love yourself before loving someone else? Oh, absolutely. I don’t know if everyone actually follows the advice though. Or even thinks about it, for that matter. But I promise, in the last couple of weeks, the feeling of freedom and possibility in my life has been more intoxicating than my roommate’s punch is on friday nights. And that, my friends, is a good feeling indeed.

I’ll try to start blogging again, I promise. Until then, I recommend unfollowing anything “singlegirlprobs” or “tomyfuturehubby” or God know whats else on Twitter. You’re doing yourself a favor.

Style Sites You Should Be In On

 

A different sale everyday? Sounds a bit overwhelming, but there are a few sites that have managed to take any confusion out of online shopping and have also managed to put all your favorite sales into one, convenient location. The results are in – here are the best sites to sign up for and trust that you’ll always have the best sales sent straight to your inbox.

Top 3 Emmy Snubs This Year

 They’re here! The 2013 Emmy nominations were released a couple of days ago, and those of us who aren’t at San Diego Comic Con schmoozing it up with out favorite stars and shows have taken notice of the nominees. Although I’m reasonably pleased with a lot of the nominations, I do have a few stars that I really think deserved the nomination for what would be their category. Here’s my take.

America, The Not So Beautiful

A lot of people lately have taken to telling those who complain about the state of things in this country to move elsewhere, and see how it really is better here. While I understand the argument, and that it is sometimes true, I think those people need to take a closer look at how things really are here. I could move to Russia, and have my internet monitored by the government to “prevent suicides and child pornography”, but why move when America is doing the same to “prevent terrorism”? I could move to the Middle East, where innocents are shot in the street and their killers usually remain free. Or I could move to Florida. I could move to India, where girls are gang raped and murdered, and the government does next to nothing to prevent such incidences from happening again. Or I could stay in this country, where if a rapist is an athlete, a soldier, or ha any sort of potential, then the public will mourn his conviction – if he’s convicted at all.

There are many more things that I could say about the Trayvon Martin case, SB5 in Texas, or just the general state of things in this country at the moment, but I won’t. I’ll allow my readers to make up their own opinion when it comes to current events at this time. I will say, however, that people should not be so quick to assume that we have it better here than anywhere else. We don’t. We have many privileges in this country that one may not have elsewhere, but we also lack many that would be necessary for the U.S. to be “the best”.

Books to Read in Your 20’s

Have you seen these lists? A quick google search and you can find hundreds of these lists on a variety of websites. They usually include some assortment of genres, but nearly all include The Bell Jar, a book by a comedian (Bossypants by Tina Fey seems to be the current choice, though some still include works by Chelsea Handler), and On the Road. Although most of the books on these lists are undeniably great in their own way, though I can’t say I’ve read them all, I have a real problem with the idea that you need to read these books because you’re 20.

The Bling Ring

Living in Arkansas, I don’t always get access to some experiences that others in larger cities might. Sometimes this applies to sales at stores we don’t have, and sometimes it’s movies that aren’t the generic summer blockbuster. I was worried this would apply to the newest film by Sophia Coppola, The Bling Ring. Luckily, a couple friends and I found it at a theatre in Little Rock while there for a weekend. Although we didn’t drive 3 hours for a movie, it would have been worth it if we had.

You Don’t Think You Are (But You Probably Are)

Social media has allowed the world, and my generation in particular, to become over-sharers. That may sound a bit hypocritical coming from a 20-something sitting behind a computer, sharing her thoughts this very second, however it is in fact the truth. I try to avoid it, to the best of my ability, however we are all guilty of over-sharing.

Women are the Breadwinners? A Sensitive Subject for Fox News.

If you don’t hate Fox News yet, feel free to leave this blog at any time. Or welcome to the internet, since it must be your first time here.

According to recent research, 40% of households have a woman as the primary breadwinner of the household. According to Fox News, our children’s lives are in danger and our marriages are disintegrating due to that fact. Not to mention all the children who’s lives were ruined after Roe v Wade due to the fact that they were aborted. This is a CATASTROPHIC issue, people!

“Left? Right? I don’t see how you can argue this!”

Biologically men are more dominant? Animals have to a male dominant figure, with the women being simply complimentary? Okay, let’s not acknowledge the fact that many species of animals involve females leaders, not to mention the females that kill or eat the male after insemination. These men, however, sit in front of a camera and criticize those who do not share their identical belief set for a living, calling it “news”. Not exactly a challenging profession in any way, shape or form, especially considering the complete and utter lack of knowledge necessary, at least in the case of Fox News.

Yes, it must be so challenging for the children of women forced to work during tough economic times to overcome what their mother has done to them. How dare she leave the kitchen in order to make enough to put a shirt on her child’s back! How dare she think for herself, or be successful in any way, if it means the man might be considered less so! How dare she leave the home for any reason!

The fact that four men feel so entitled as to sit behind a camera and lament the fact that more women work now than they did in 1950 is precisely what is wrong with this country. Women making more money than men? Why, that’s clearly worse than homophobia, religious intolerance, our failing education system, hunger, poverty, school shootings, etc. Women having jobs, and working so that their families can eat, is clearly what is setting this country back from achieving it’s full potential.