How To: Coffee Cart

I heart my coffee cart. 

I found this little guy at Ikea for $49.99 and while the price was steep, it was totally worth it.  I was proud that I put it together myself with only a few grunts.  You'll probably notice a few other Ikea pieces from my wishlist that I've used to decorate it.  I am loving my French Press 'd coffee (the Upphetta in Swedish).  The strong coffee is necessary for a long day in the office. 

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Sundays in Annapolis

Annapolis. 

The loveliest nautical town in all of the world. 

We started off with brunch at Metropolitan.

And then I bought this groovy hat. 

Successful day. 

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Chestertown Farmers Market

I'm so lucky to live where I live.  

Chestertown has an amazing Famers Market on Saturdays downtown.  For me, it's about a 1 minute walk from my door.  You'll find everything there from fresh veggies & fruits, homemade wine, lavender farm products, just plucked flowers, puppies, amish treats, etc.  A latte from Evergrain & a stroll through the Farmers Market is the perfect way to kick off the weekend.  

Have you ever just searched Famers Market in Pinterest? Veggies on Veggies.

Do you have a favorite Farmers Market near your home town?

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Porch Party

My office is unlike most.  

My office is an old house, ghosts included.

Fall Family weekend approached and we thought it would be a great event to utilize our awesome porch space to kick off the school year and welcome Fall.  Thank you to all of our students, friends, faculty, staff & alumni that stopped by to make last Friday so much fun!  We love our Washington College community and are so glad you are a part of it.  

Acceptable to hang these lanterns all over my ceiling at home?  Not sure.  Thinking about it. 

 We had so much with our little lemonade & iced tea stand.  #wcporchparty

Jaclyn is from Massachusetts.. Yay Lobsters!

Jade is from Annapolis.. Yay crabs!

My awesome Voyagers!

Chuck is one of our Kent & Queen Anne's County Alumni Chapter Leaders! 

We love WC! :) 

Happy Tuesday people!

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Movie Monday

In the last week and a half I watched all of these films and musicals.
This is weird for me.  I'm not a movie person at all.

1. Evita : We all know "Don't cry for me Argentina" but I am so shocked that I had still never seen this.  When I saw that it was available on Netflix, I went for it!  Madonna was amazing and so so beautiful.  I loved this look into Buenos Aires politics.

2. My Fair Lady : Another classic that I had yet to see.  It was also my first experience with Audrey Hepburn's amazing acting & singing.  I think Roman Holiday may be next for me.  And let's be honest I'm a sucker for anything based in London.

3.  One Day : which leads me to my next movie; another London based film.  Anne Hathaway rocks.  While it was absolutely depressing, I loved the sweet ending.

4. Under The Tuscan Sun :  I've been sick for most of the weekend with a cold and this was the perfect remedy for a lazy Saturday afternoon.  It was definitely the prequel to Eat, Pray, Love in the best way.  SO early 2000's.

Have you watched anything good lately?
Comment & share below & I will add it to my list!

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5 Things I'm Trying This Fall

*mandatory Fall post* *duh* *sips PSL*

PSH yeah right, as if there was Starbucks in Chestertown.  Please.

  Everyone's freaking the fall out over fall. 

It rocks.  Tea & blankets in the morning.  Brisk walks to work. Sweaters.  AHH THE SWEATERS.  The moth ball smell from my sweaters. The pumpkin everythang. 

As with the change of every new season, I'm inspired to make a few goals of this amazing time.  It's my first #postgradlife Fall and I will be taking full advantage of all Fallish things.  Join me & make a few goals for this Fall; don't let it slip by!

1. Pick & carve a pumpkin here. (Lockbriar Farms in Kent County!) 

2. Baking -  I'm going to make real Irish scones.
3. Yoga in the morning times before work.
4. Grow a plant.  Can you guess what color flower I'll choose?
5. Paint.  I don't make enough time to do so.  I love watercolors but I need to get back into acrylic.  Now!


Have you made any goals for the Fall?  I'm already trying to carve (womp womp) out a weekend or a few days to do Fall activites, but the weekends are already so full with work and family.  

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Stress Relief

How do you handle stress? 

Does it exhaust you?  Do you have the ability to turn off your mind?  Does it wake you up at night?  Just how long is your to-do list?  Do you know how to say no?  

These are all questions that I've been faced with recently.  

Full time work is awesome.  I. Love. It.  I've always wanted to work.  I loved my internships.  I love professional development.  I'm a work nerd.  But I'm worried that I'm letting my work consume me whole.  

Some products I use to tackle my stress & anxiety. 

Yogi Kava Stress Relief Tea  // Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Scrub // Bath & Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Candle //  

I've also recently started participating in PiYo (fast paced pilates + yoga).  It's definitely more yoga heavy but I love it so much.  So much that I bought my own yoga mat.  Knowing that my mind is controlling the simply and challenging movements of my body gives me the confidence and certainty that I can control my mind. I've also been drinking lots and lots of tea.  I do still need my 1st cup of coffee in the morning to get the day going, but after that I feel jumpy and anxious.  I think coffee has a lot to do with it so I'm cutting down.  I've been drinking Yogi Stress Relief tea but also just regular green tea & peppermint tea.

1. // 6 Mindful Habits: Stop Worrying
2.  "Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace."
3.  Yoga Poses to Ease Anxiety
4. Is Stress Killing You?

Stressed out?  Let's talk about it.  I've found that confiding in my coworkers about how I'm feeling and the triggers that make me overwhelmed has helped. What helps you fight off stress and anxiety?

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Post Grad Life Series

I've started losing track of the # of weeks since graduation.  Adulthood is real and there are days where it is beautiful, exciting, and fun.  There are days where I want nothing more than to duck into a class on my way to a meeting & jaunt back to my "dorm room" on the Western Shore of campus. 

I have no roommates waiting for me there or even a key to let me in.  I am living and working in the environment that was once mine in a very different way.  That's a challenge in a lot of ways and simultaneously the most comforting thing in the world.  I already know so much which is the best part. Knowledge is power and I feel empowered daily by my previous experiences here in Chestertown.  Yet I also feel so in awe of what is to come after my time here is finished even though it is just beginning.  

I'd love to talk weekly about the changes that I'm experiencing on this new journey. This is greater than the niche of "working at my alma mater" & more specific than "twenty-something figuring it out." It's whatever I need it to be.  There will be many failures and many successes along the way but I think reflecting on them both will not only be therapeutic, but comical. 

Join me here for #postgradlife :) 

New Look!

Things are about to look a lot different around here.  

Stay tuned :) 

Travel Series: Making It Happen

Rome 2012

I get SO lost in the idea of just picking up and going back to Europe.

I found my old travel journal while unpacking my carriage house and I couldn't help but wish for all of those feelings.  Planning out trips, buying travel books from the bookstore in Copenhagen & eating carrots for dinner to pay for it, googling every major landmark & learning as much as I can beforehand..it goes on and on.  I'm now living out my wildest dreams through travel bloggers.

I am really loving World of Wanderlust blogger Brooke Saward, especially her tips on Solo Travel. Brooke is a full time travel blogger, as in she makes enough money off of her blog to travel the world and review it for people like me, sitting at home drinking tea on their couch itching to get back out there and abroad.   Her list of 25 Secret Small Towns of Europe  is enough to make me buy a ticket and go.  

ALSO: She's done a few posts on Copenhagen, which naturally makes me quite happy :) 

The Top 3 Things To See In Copenhagen

Five Foods To Try In Copenhagen

Just How Expensive Is Copenhagen

So now I am committing some time to the following: figuring out how to get back to Europe. Well I'm starting out by using Mint to understand how I spend my money & determine where I can save more of it.  I am able to set goals & track how much money it will take to achieve that goal.  

Stumbling upon this post, How I Can Afford To Travel The World Full Time, I now know that I will have to take saving super seriously.  Carrots for dinner it is! 

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Read: We Are Water by Wally Lamb

Wally Lamb's "We Are Water" is incredible, thought provoking, and aggressive in it's discussion of the modern day understanding of race, sexuality, psychology, and art.  

Those three subjects are woven into a greater conversation about family.  

Have you read any other Wally Lamb novels? 

 "The Hour I First Believed"  "She's Come Undone" 

"I Know This Much Is True"

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VOTE for Emily Raleigh & The Smart Girls Group!

VOTE HERE 

For the Marie Claire "Who Is Changing The World" Contest please VOTE for Emily Raleigh & her work with the Smart Girls Group!  If Emily wins this contest she could win a full spread in Marie Claire magazine!  

VOTE VOTE VOTE!