Live Life to the Fullest

Some words of wisdom for today. 

One of the biggest lessons that I have learned in my time at college is to lighten up and be a little more open minded and spontaneous. While I like to be in control of everything and go by the book I've realized that life is all about the twists and turns and that is where you learn the most about others and yourself. Over my two study abroad experiences I was really able to learn how to lighten up and be open for just about anything. When you go abroad you really have no clue what you are going to be doing, seeing or what experiences and people you will encounter. 

One of the biggest and most amazing parts of my experience in Copenhagen was meeting my friends Margaret and Maddy, and even though we all lived in singles we called ourselves the roomies because we were always together. I went with Margaret to Maddy's apartment in New York yesterday and they both came back to my house to stay and catch up for the night. When the three of us our together I am completely myself and the three of us laugh and joke and we really live life to the fullest and take risks and just experience what comes our way. I truly believe that they are going to be lifelong friends because we are ourselves around each other (the good, hilarious, awkward and not so funny times). Sometimes in order for someone to realize who they are they have to find their people and study abroad is certainly an opportunity to do that! 

Have a great Monday! xox

Weekend Wishes

Striped Shirt... YSL Bag... AG Glitter Denim... Wool and Leather Jacket... Shoes

Happy Friday everyone! 

I don't know about you but these holiday weeks have me all confused, Friday feels like Tuesday and weekends come so quickly its hard to believe. I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the new year! Anyone have any New Year's Resolutions to start on? 

Some links and reads that I thought worth sharing for the week...

Just started reading Sophie Kinsella's new book called Wedding Night, its a quick read that is fun and flirty just like her other books. I also went to he library yesterday and stocked up on some other reads to keep me occupied for the remainder of the break! 

Over the course of the break I am going to try and watch at least one TED or TEDMED talk per day. So far I have succeeded at my goal and recently watched this one by Jamie Oliver that is too powerful not to share. It is a must watch regarding the eating habits of Americans today. 

Have a wonderful weekend! xox

Thoughtful

I found this quote a few days ago but it is something that I live by. I grew up with my mom telling me to always be a leader and never a follower and I've taken her advice to heart. Being original and being yourself should never be a bad thing and everyone should be proud to be original in their own way. When I was abroad this semester I was able to really tell the difference between those that paved their own way and made their own plans and those that followed along and tried to fit in with a group. There was even one experience where I was at an event with someone from my program and we were given these t-shirts and the rest of the group was wearing them around and she said "they are putting their shirts on we should to" and I immediately thought about what my mom had said and said "be a leader and never a follower." It was at that moment that I realized that the friends that I want to make and keep are those that choose to pave their own way and lead themselves and do what works for them instead of following and trying to fit in with everyone else. Of course there are times when it is important to work with the group and be part of a team but there are never any good reasons why you should change who you are to become like someone else... be original and be proud of it! 

Have a wonderful day! xox

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

 I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday filled with joy, happiness and laughter surrounded by family and friends. Today we will be celebrating with my close family and be undoubtedly eating the day away. 

Have a wonderful Christmas! xox

Travel Essentials {To The Beach...}

Longchamp Travel Bag... Tory Burch Cosmetic Case... Ray-Ban Sunglasses... Beauty Essentials {Moroccan Oil, Chanel Nail Polish, Bad Lash Mascara, Nars Lipgloss, Bain de Soleil Lotion}... Ted Baker iPad Case... Madewell Chambray Shirt... Jack Rogers Sandals... White T-shirt... J.Crew Bathing Suit... Tory Burch Caftan... J.Crew Denim Shorts... Milly Scalloped Skirt... J Brand White Jeans 

Any of you planning on getting away from the cold for a beach vacation over the break? My family went back and forth about going away and ultimately decided on staying home for the holidays... but if we did go away I would have been able to pack my bag in a matter of minutes. After being abroad and traveling so much I've figured out a way of packing one bag with the essentials and my beach vacation Longchamp would be filled with bathing suits, one pair of sandals {always Jack Rogers} and some simple day and night outfits that can be mixed and matched. Of course I would bring a few books along but on my iPad to keep it to a one bag maximum. I've found beach vacations are so much easier when you edit out your suitcase to the basics since most of the time is spent in a bathing suit soaking up the sun on the beach! 

Have a great day! xox

Holiday Break Reads

One of my favorite things to do over the holidays is to sit by the fire with a good book. When I am at school I usually only have time to read for my classes {usually neuroscience textbooks} and this past semester when I was abroad I would take flight time to read or nap. So when I am home for the break I have much more time to sit down with a good book. I always try and visit the library, refill my iPad book section and buy some good old paperbacks from Barnes and Noble. I thought I'd put together a short list of some of the texts that are on my holiday break reading list. Nonfictions are some of my favorites... as I love to read about medicine and hear wise words from professionals in all fields. On the plan ride home from Copenhagen last week I read All You Need to Be Impossibly French, cover to cover... such a quick and easy read that I really enjoyed! When I need a break from such heavy reading I will certainly go through the list of fiction books that I found as well. 

Have you read any good books lately? 

Nonfiction 

Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter 

A Reader's Book of Days by Tom Nissley

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Fiction 

Counting by 7s by Holly Golderg Sloan

Stella Bain by Anita Shreve

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls by Anton Disclafani

Happy Reading! xox

Weekend Wear

Flannel Shirt... Cashmere Sweater... Tom Ford Sunglasses... Distressed Denim... Superga Sneakers... Essie Nail Polish... Navy Dog Leash

I decided to put together a simple weekend wear outfit inspired by none other than Olivia Palermo. I love her style, she has an ability to dress perfectly for any occasion whether that be dog walking or runway events and what a better weekend outfit than a warm flannel and cashmere with some distressed denim. 

I also thought I would put together some links since I've been MIA for a few weeks now. 

My four months abroad in Copenhagen came to a bittersweet end last Sunday and although I am happy to be back in the states seeing family and friends, I will miss Copenhagen dearly. I put together a final blog post and you can see recaps from my four months abroad here! 

Now that I am home, it is back to reality for me. I am a pre-med student after all so I never thought studying abroad would be in the cards. Since I did spend so long away from school it is officially time to get back to pre-med work... I have been doing med school research and MCAT inquiry I've even started watching more TED MED talks... this one is hilarious and completely honest about the world of medicine. 

Now that Christmas is right around the corner I decided to compile some of my favorite blogger's holiday lists. For those of you that still have some last minute shopping to do check out... Luella & June's Gift Guide for the Foodie... The College Prepster's Book Gift Guide... A Dash of Details Stocking Stuffers Guide

Have a wonderful weekend! xox 

Not Enough Time

Its hard to believe but I only have two weeks left in Copenhagen. My experience studying abroad has been amazing and while I can't wait to go home to my family I will miss my new home here so much. I have so many mixed emotions about leaving and all I want to do is take as much time as possible to savor every last moment here. It just seems as though there are never enough hours in a day... 

Have a great day! xox

Little Black {Quilted} Skirt

Balance of Happiness

I've finally surfaced! These past two weeks have been pretty busy... my last study break involved a ten day trip to Barcelona, Sevilla and Morocco and then I came home for four days and left again for Amsterdam for the weekend. I'm working on putting together some blog posts and pictures asap to give you a recap of the trip. 

The trip to Morocco was unlike anything I've ever experienced before, camel rides on the beach, tours through cities that had never seen tourists before, and bus rides through the most beautiful land I have ever seen. I felt like Morocco made an impact on me that was different than any other place I had been before, it was the people that really left me wanting to come back and even see what the rest of Africa is really like. I'd love to be able to do Doctors Without Borders or something along those lines when I get older to really get a less tourist view of what Africa is really like. 

I also learned a lot from the people, one of the tour guides we had when going through Chefchaouen talked about how the people of the area lived long and healthy lives. He was probably 85 years old and was marching us up hills and stairs to reach the top of the mountain that the city is on and he didn't stop smiling the whole time. He also talked about how healthy eating and religion were two important aspects of his life and the lives of the people in the area. The people didn't live extravagant lives like many in America do rather they live healthy and balanced lives.

After so much traveling {I'm not complaining by any means} I just felt a little off balance. Healthy eating went out the door and balance was not something that was possible and I really felt it. My mindset and my health were just a little off and it took me a night to realize that sometimes you just need to frame your mind to think positively and feel balanced. 

Happy Monday! xox

Weekend Wishes

Happy Weekend everyone! 

I just thought that I'd share some weekend links...

Now that I've had more practice cooking this semester I've been pinning more and more recipes to try. I think its time that I tried cooking this (closer to the holidays maybe) and making this as well! 

Have you checked out Matchbook Magazine's November issue? The magazine is very cosmopolitan and has the perfect mix of articles, photography and pieces that make you want to shop away. 

This past Friday I volunteered on what the Danes call a mobile cafe. I spend five hours serving food off of the car to the homeless throughout the city of Copenhagen. We went to seven different stops and were able to talk with the people and serve them some warm food on a freezing cold night. I was humbled at how welcoming and appreciative the individuals were and also for the gentleman who allowed me to join him and as a million questions. Such an amazing experience and one that I am really fortunate that I took part in. I found this link that allows you to look up different organizations to volunteer in the US. I am going to try and make more of an effort when I get home to involve myself further in actively volunteering... I have been donating microloans to individuals on Kiva.org for the past couple of years but there is nothing like seeing directly where your impacts are making a difference. 

Have a wonderful weekend! xox

Window Seats

Whenever the holidays start coming around and I begin to smell the wood burning fires again I always think about curling up with a good book in a little window seat or reading nook. I found some fabulous inspirations that look so cozy and yet are so stylish at the same time! 

Have a great day! xox

Purfection

How adorable are these guys?! I just couldn't help but share... after being away from my brother (Teddy Bear) for almost three months now I have been adding away at my animals page on Pinterest! 

Have a great day! xox

Playing In The Rain

It rains almost every day in Copenhagen and I have to say I've gotten so much use out of my Hunter wellies since I've been here. I've also seen so many adorable rain boots... in all colors and sizes so I thought I would put together a list of some of my favorites that I've found so far! 

Tall boots are the best for the really bad weather... I'm partial to my Hunter wellies (I have the snake skin ones) and I throw one of my patterned inserts when its cold and I'm good to go! As you know from my bow post that I'm partial to anything with a bow, these tall boots are adorable. Another option is to add some pattern with these too.

The medium height boots have become more popular over the past year. They are more compact and certainly less weight to lug around on your feet too! Sometimes I find walking all day in my Hunters can be pretty exhausting so these options are perfect too. I love the pink and black bow options are so cute and of course you can never go wrong with some more Hunters.

Another option is the short boots which are perfect for days when it pours but you need to dress up a little bit. I love the Valentino pair with the bow (of course) and the pink and navy pair add an element of fun to a rainy day. This last pair is actually Jimmy Choo and I love how sophisticated and fabulous they are!  

Have a wonderful day! xox

Monday's Motivation

This quote is phenomenal and it really serves as a reminder that we are in charge of our own lives including the people who we chose to surround ourselves with. I've always been a firm believer that you should surround yourself with people who have positive energy and those that will support you in your goals. I don't mean that they should just tell you what you want to hear, I think some of the best people are those that can provide you with a sense of reality while supporting you at the same time. 

There are plenty of people that I have come across that I call energy drainers or those that don't put as much effort into a friendship as they should and they ultimately get demoted. I guess you could say I did a little experiment this week (I know... all science all the time) I realized that I was the one who always reached out to certain friends from home and they never really reached out to me. So I decided that this week I wasn't going to initiate contact and see what happened. The friends that I were most curious about all contacted me within two days... and I even heard from one friend who graduated from my school last year that I haven't talked to in a month or so (who I call my brother)! It was nice for a change to see not only how you value other relationships but how other people value yours. 

I hope you are all able to foster valuable relationships and know when to promote and demote the individuals that you surround yourself with to energize yourself. 

Have a wonderful day! xox

Weekend Attire

T.G.I.F... I'm so happy that the weekend is upon us and its time to get some things checked off my list before my next two weeks of world traveling and exploring galore. 

A couple of my friends back at school mentioned to me that Homecoming weekend is upon Trinity and while it would be fun to be there, I am so excited for the weekend that I have ahead. I decided to put together a football game look that will undoubtedly be worn by many tomorrow... of course the Barbour is a fall staple on my campus and since the fall chill is in the air I would pair it with a chambray shirt under this fabulous chunky sweater, jeans, hat, sunglasses and riding boots. 

Wishing Trinity luck tomorrow!! 

Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

Patterns and Pops of Color

{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Packing Perfection

{First Row 1, 2, Second Row 3, 4, Third Row 5, 6} 

Time for another travel update. I don't think I've ever traveled so much before in my life but living in Europe is so amazing, its so easy to hop from one country to another for such a short time and spend a few days exploring. I purchased a small rolling suitcase in the beginning of the semester and have been using that ever since I got it.... but I recently purchased a weekend Longchamp bag that I'm so excited to start using too. There is nothing better than having a nice overnight bag or suitcase but at the same time each piece has to be functional and have enough room to hold everything that you need. I put together a little list of what I would call the perfect overnight or weekend bags, sleek and sophisticated and all are bags that you would have forever... What do you think? 

What are your go to weekend bags? 

Monday's Motivation

Happy Monday! 

It's been a busy past two weeks... I went to Switzerland and Germany with my class for a week and then came home and my parents were visiting! I finally caught up on blog posts on my travel blog and have been organizing hundreds of pictures since I got back. It was so nice to get to see new places and be able to show my parents around Copenhagen for a bit but unfortunately it's back to the grind this week. Test and essays, class field trips, and planning for the duration of the semester is in order. 

I've been thinking lately of how quickly this semester is going by, next week is already the third travel break and then before I know it I will be taking finals and packing to go home. It feels like time is flying by more quickly now then ever and I'm trying to prepare for classes and events for next semester while trying to soak up as much of the Copenhagen culture as I possibly can. It will be all about finding a balance here these next couple of weeks and trying to enjoy every second, every bite of Danish food, and every experience while checking off the little things that need to be done for home. 

Time to get to work! Have a great day! xox

Bow Details

{Christian Louboutin Shoes, Ted Baker iPad Case, Tory Burch Wallet, Lanvin Bow Shoes} 

I've always been a person who likes to dress simply. My style incorporates a lot of classic colors with small details, colorful accents or jewels that make an outfit really pop! Bows are one of those details... I love how cute and girly bow details are without being over the top. I even played field hockey for three years in leather gloves with bows on them... thats how versatile the detail really is. I've put together some bow accessories and accents that I love and think are perfect to incorporate into a simple outfit to add a little preppy and girly flair. 

{Kate Spade Leather Gloves, Ted Baker iPhone Case, Kate Spade Earrings, Ring and Watch} 

Have a great day! xox

Weekend Wishes

After a long week of traveling there is nothing better to get back home and take some time to relax... with my family!! I am so excited to have my Mom and Dad in my city and will be meeting up with them later today to spend some time with them. It will be over two months since I've seen them and can't wait.

Here are some weekend links that I thought I'd leave you with...

Have you read And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, its a must read!

When I have the time to watch a movie I do like seeing romantic comedies but this proposal {it's real} is better than any of those... Its so cute its not even funny! A couple people at school were talking about it and I couldn't help but watch the whole thing its that adorable. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! xox

Neutrals

Mixing neutrals is perfect... black and camel is a perfect combination for 

beautiful outfits and also for serene spaces! 

Have a great day! xox

Travel Essentials

Studying abroad naturally involves a lot of traveling. I've been to Oslo, Norway... Malmö and Lund, Sweden... Munich, Germany... Prague, Czech Republic... Vienna, Austria... and of course Copenhagen in the time I've been here so far and am going back to Munich to Basel, Switzerland and to Spain and Morocco soon too! I used to be {maybe slightly still am} an over packer. I always pack extra options; anyone who knows me knows that I like to change multiple times a day from school clothes to comfy clothes and then if I go out again back to school clothes.  Traveling certainly forces me to narrow down my options and ever since I got the worlds tiniest suitcase for weekend traveling I have forced myself to narrow down. 

In terms of the carry on, however, I've learned early that less is more. I can't stand carrying around a huge bag filled with stuff through the airport. When I came to Copenhagen I had an enormous backpack filled with clothes {just in case the airline left my bags} and my computer, iPad and blanket and other odds and ends and just couldn't wait to unload it! I have narrowed the list of essentials down considerably and they all fit into my Longchamp or my Louis Vuitton Neverfull {I didn't bring it to CPH because I didn't want the rain to ruin it} when I went to Vienna, Prague and Munich I brought a fairly empty backpack and that gave me extra space for souvenirs too. 

I keep small goodies in one of my many cosmetic cases {gum, earbuds, eye mask, cards, Chapstick, chargers, socks} and then I have the rest of my essentials {passport, wallet, iPhone, iPad} and I always tuck a scarf into my bag somewhere to layer over my sweater. I started wearing a big black cashmere sweater that is almost like a shawl to keep me warm on the flights and my mom and sister got me the best blanket ever so I always make space for that as well! I keep my iPad loaded with books and online magazines and then I journal on there as well. Pretty simple! 

What are some of your go-to packing essentials? xox

Monday's Motivation

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! 

I was talking with one of my professors the other day about being present. She always gives us a five minute break during class and everyone darts their hand into their bags and pulls their phone out to catch up on social media, friend and family messages and game playing. No one is present anymore... dinners are intercepted by texts and calls, homework can't be done without Facebook in the background and instead of reading a book everyone goes online for hours. Even students in the classroom are constantly on their phones texting and emailing... to me that is the most disrespectful thing {how people can sit in the front row and be okay texting is beyond me}. 

I've learned over the course of studying abroad so far that the times that I am exploring and seeing new things are the times that I enjoy the most. Why? Because I am present completely, I don't have wifi to connect me to the outside world so I have no distractions. I've realized that it is important to take time to be 100% present and immersed into something... those are the experiences that are the most memorable and valuable! 

Have a great Monday! 

Weekend Wishes

I'm so happy to say that midterms week is officially over! It will be a busy next two weeks for me {traveling and family time} but I am so happy to be able to destress from exams and essays for a bit. I have a lot of fun things planned for the weekend... dinners with friends, trips to Tivoli and even a breakfast out will keep me going. I also want to spend some time doing homework and getting ahead for these next two weeks so I can be as present as possible in exploration and adventure. 

Here are a few quick links for the weekend...

Copenhagen isn't so keep on Halloween but they might be if they decorated pumpkins like these!

Now this recipe looks absolutely amazing... even though I miss Thanksgiving :( I might have to make it anyways.  

I had a conversation with a couple of girls in my Health Care Strategies course about counting steps {since traveling means walking EVERYWHERE} and I'm really considering putting this on my Christmas list. Have any of you heard about or have the UP by Jawbone band? 

Hope you have a great weekend! xox

Fur Vests for Fall

As the fall weather creeps up I've been noticing more and more Danish women wearing fabulous furs throughout the city. Fur coats, scarves, and fur lined sweaters are extremely popular. One of my favorite fall fur pieces is the vest. I love how it can be paired with any kind of outfit, from dresses and skirts for going out to button downs and silk shirts for day and even flannels as weekend wear! My mom has some fabulous fur vests and when I was home over winter break last year I may have borrowed a couple of them for different events. Not only do they add an element of sophistication to an outfit but the extra layer helps keep warm! 

The look above is absolutely amazing... love the combo. 

Perfectly paired with flannels for weekend below! 

Of course the classic button down and fur vest is perfect for running around for the day! 

Have a great day! xox