Thinking of you...

How often do you send cards to loved ones or friends to tell them that you are thinking about them? With texting making everything so much easier, even phone calls are a dime dozen. Instead, be old fashioned and send a card to someone so they know you are thinking about them...and do it with Cardstore! Mother's Day is fast approaching and if you haven't picked out a card yet, this site has so many options! Tell your Mom you love her with one of their amazing cards with the option to customize your card.  Take a peek at the card I chose (and creatively customized with written messages) for Mother's Day. 

Happy Mother's Day!!

This was a sponsored post by Cardstore

Ah. Relaxing.

Ever have one of those days where you are craving a glass of wine by noon?

Yes, we all do. I've been having them more than often these last few weeks.  Graduate students don't have it easy (especially when they are doing homework alongside taking undergrad finals). But my new school is amazing! I thought getting my undergrad was challenging, ha.  So...whatever is challenging you right now, just remember that no one is 100% amazing all of the time.  To counter act the good and bad things going on in your life, I thought I'd share some of the things I do when I need a moment to myself and put annoying stuff or even good stress on the back-burner (like lighting a scented candle).

• Movie Night and Takeout - Shift your focus to yummy food and a great movie. Andrew and I just red-boxed Silver Linings with Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Not only was it entertaining, but it made me feel normal. 
• Go Swimming - the feeling of floating has magical  powers.  It makes problems drift away...
• Plan a Trip - a day trip, a camping trip or a two week vacation. Knowing you can get away for a bit in the future makes you realize this kind of day won't last forever. 
• Take a Bubble Bath
• Get Creative - paint, DIY, draw or write without judgment. Just let things flow.
• Retail Therapy. I don't care what people say, buying something (even if it's small, like that new nail polish you've been wanting to try) makes you feel better.
• Get lunch with a Friend. Listening and connecting with a good friend takes some of the heat off your own life. Shift your focus to someone you care about and see what's going on in their life.
• Pick up a Hobby- I've tried gardening, it doesn't work for me...have you read my About Me page? Everything that I grow dies. So since that's not an option.  Join a book club, learn how to surf, start visiting local vintage shops or begin a cake-decorating class. 
• Read that Book...that's been sitting in the back of your closet or desk drawer for months or years.  
• Go for a walk with your pet and some music. Pop in those headphones and enjoy the scenery. Vitamin D has healing powers.
• Light a coconut candle. Did you know the smell of coconut slows your heart rate and decreases blood pressure?
• Walk on the beach. Hearing the waves, feeling your toes in the sand...focus on the things you are hearing a feeling at that moment. 
• Put in a natural sounds cd- I have a cd that plays the sound of rain and thunder. It helps me relax when my mind won't be quiet.
• Daydream. Focusing on nothing for a while recharges your brain. Just let your mind wander.
• Lie on your back. Even for 5 minutes. Focusing your attention upward and not in front of you changes your perspective. 
• Go to a yoga class. Do it! Meditation at its finest.
• Get up early and watch the sunrise, or stay up late and stargaze. It reminds you that your world isn't the center of attention. You are just a small part of a larger plan.
• Brew some tea. Sun tea, green tea, whatever. Here's some recipes (and benefits) I love.
• Go to the local farmers market and get some fresh foods for a recipe you've been dying to try and get to cooking.

What are some things that you do when you need to relax??

Blogger Crush: Amanda of Amanda Kathryn Blog

Hi all!! Happy Wednesday :) I am celebrating May with my newest blogger crush, 

Amanda from Amanda Kathryn Blog.  She's been on my sidebar since last month (as an April sponsor) but if you haven't checked out her blog yet, you are truly missing out!  As a fellow San Diego blogger, I appreciate her can-do attitude, she travels all over and takes neat pictures everywhere she goes.  She is bright and cheery and her blog never fails to impress.  Amanda keeps everything fresh with her blogging topics- from interior design to outfits to cool places she visits all up and down the Cali coast.  She finds great deals on a college girl budget and rocks everything from maxi dresses to boyfriend jeans.

Her sweetness is intriguing and addicting- so drop her a line and check out her fresh new blog!!

1. Tell us a bit about your blog... I started my blog because I have such a love for fashion and I found this to be the perfect way to express myself. It is also therapeutic in a way... it allows me to get away from all the little stresses in my everyday life and connect with people that enjoy the same things I do. I am still very new to the blogging world and learning the ins and outs of everything. I am an interior design major, and would love to eventually incorporate that aspect into my blog.

2. Favorite DIY project? My favorite DIY project that I have done would have to be my "work out jar". I decorated a mason jar (with Martha Stewart glitter, ribbon, etc.) at the beginning of the year and I put a dollar in it every time I work out. At the beginning of summer I plan to take out all of the money I have saved and buy something nice for myself, like a cute swimsuit! 

3. Favorite thing you bought last week? My favorite thing I bought last week would have to be between my green Bar III anorak and my boyfriend jeans from Zara. They are both so comfy and such classic pieces. I love things that I can make many different outfits out of!

4. Favorite recipe? My favorite recipe would have to be the chicken enchiladas I make. I don't cook elaborate meals very often, as I am a busy college student... but this is one that I feel I really have down pat. My boyfriend even tells me they are better than the ones his step-mom makes, which is a HUGE compliment considering she is an amazing cook.

5. What's your ideal girls night out? My ideal girls night out is honestly hanging by the fire with a glass of wine cuddled up on a comfy couch. I don't know why I am so mellow already at the age of 22, but I just really like catching up with girl friends in a peaceful environment. But I do have a guilty pleasure for a bar called "Sgt. Peppers", which is a really fun atmosphere with dueling piano players who remix any song you want on the piano. I drug all of my friends there for my last birthday and we had an amazing time! :)

6. What are your how-to's for relaxing? Honestly, my "relaxing" is fiddling around on my blog. Like I said earlier, it is really therapeutic for me.

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world it would be... Well, this is a tough one. Growing up, my parents took me traveling all around the world. It's what they love. And I just got home from a semester abroad in London, so home is where I want to stay for a while. But the next country on my bucket list is Australia!

8. Tell us about the love in your life- a new book, a trip you are planning, a new decor piece from Target, etc? Well the true love in my life is my boyfriend of two years. He is so supportive and always seems to have a smile on his face. I don't know how he does it since I can be a pain in the ass sometimes. But he keeps me going and inspires me to do my best!

9. Do you have a signature fragrance? Yes, I love the Versace Bright Crystal Perfume. I love it even more because it is sold for half price at all of the discount stores: Nordstrom Rack, TjMaxx, Marshalls, etc. Can't beat that!

10. Favorite movie? Oh goodness. Ask anyone I know and they will tell you I am horrible with movies. I am not one of those that can remember details or lines from movies. But from day one it has always been "A Walk to Remember." Gets me every time. I have added a lot of favorites since then, but I don't think anything can ever top the first favorite.

11. Favorite piece of advice you ever received? Would definitely have to be that the way people treat you has nothing to do with YOU, and has everything to do with THEM. My mom has been trying to engrain this idea in my head a lot lately, since sometimes I feel like I don't deserve some of the things that come my way. 

12. Tell us something about you we don't know... I am OBSESSED with yorkies. It's pretty ridiculous actually... I get giddy when I see them. My parents had one when I was born, and I think ever since then it's been my favorite dog. My boyfriend has promised me one as a graduation present, probably just to shut me up. Let's just say I'm counting down the days until graduation! Yippee!

Okay, seriously isn't Amanda awesome? I love her life and outfits and hair and everyyything about her! She's definitely one of my blogging idols and I have a giant blogger crush. Her responses are right from the heart and she has a natural talent for designing anything! I hope you enjoyed my latest blogger crush piece! 

Be sure to say hello :)

Thanks Amanda!!