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Bday celebrations were had last weekend! 

Friends from all over came to ring in my day of birth with champagne and beyonce.  

It was perfect. 

Thankful for babes like these and all of the other peeps who made me feel ultra loved last weekend - you rock. 

A Year in Review

2013 was filled with so many amazing memories!  I'm sure every blog has done a little recap so I'll keep it short, but here is my year in photos! 

I finished my study abroad semester in Copenhagen.

Turned 21 with my best friends! 

I found new friendships that will last a lifetime. 

 Explored my new 'home' at the beach.

Found my way back to Capitol Hill for the summer. 

Spent lots of time loving my school + George Washington! 

 Spent time in Annapolis

 Adored Chestertown + Evergrain Bread Company

Moved to DC for the summer + spent my days wondering Eastern Market 

Started this little blog from scratch

Joined the Alumni Board at Washington College 

It's been such an incredible year and I'm so thankful to all of the family, friends, and friends who feel like family who have made this year the best yet! Looking forward to making 2014 even better with all of your love + support! 

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November Watercolor

On my 101 things in 1,001 days project I vowed to do 1 watercolor painting per month.

It's such a great way to relax.  I usually do my paintings after lunch on Fridays.

I love getting inspiration from pinterest before I start to paint. 

I totally tried to copy this pin, and the color didn't work out quite the way I wanted.

So I cut out my sketch.

Then I found this elephant, which I'm sure I'll finish one day, but until then, he will look like this.

Be sure to check out last month's doodle.

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the scariest question

An obsessive, time consuming addiction I've developed.  

Asking myself, "Who am I going to be?"

With this fall semester over and time to myself to work on my thesis and job hunt, I can't seem to turn my brain off.  There is something so powerful and exciting about knowing that there is a whole world waiting to be seen, languages to be learned, food to be tasted, and skills to be sought.  

I'm usually faced with the argument that "now is not the time to worry about that."

So when is the time?  If I'm not mapping out my future now, when is it gonna happen?  My biggest fear is that it will be too late for me to pursue a dream.   But that's the thing about dreams, you can't have them all lined up like ducks in a row.  Sure you can pay your credit card bills, keep your credit high, remember to turn in checks, papers, signatures, buy cards, etc. You can schedule every last second of your day but inspiration, growth, creativity, how do you schedule that?  I think it's so evident in this very structure, this little piece of the internet that I have.  I can't sit here and type a post to you without creativity or desire to do so. It would be forced and unpleasant and not worth your time.  Hence, my sporadic appearances and jolts of activity.  Hi.

I feel like I'm living in a constant vertigo (ha!) of teetering between the fantasy of life's fullness and the ability to be anyone.. and the reality of what will probably be.  Why is that this second questioning of doubt always springs up before I have the chance to develop a second thought or longing.

I could create something new...how?

I could be famous...and spiral into a pit of self destruction?  

I could pursue politics in DC...and end up dead like that guy on House of Cards?

I could be a successful creative and blog for a living...and work from home?

I could pick up everything and move to San Francisco...and have no friends?

I could find a studio and move to NYC and struggle to afford rent...and not eat food?

I could be an actress yet to be discovered...and be in really awful commercials?

I could get over my fear of writing...and? I don't even know. 

I could just travel the world...without any money?

I could pay lots of money to take computer classes..and then find out I hate it?  

OR. 

i could live at home

work at a restaurant at the beach 

take a job from 'dad's friend'

move to baltimore 

What's wrong with safe?  Why am I scared of safe?  Shouldn't I be grateful that I have safe?  Especially when most people in the world are grateful to have a roof.  

With graduation 3,246 hours away, how am I supposed to sleep?  I know that I don't have to have it figured all out before I put the cap and gown on, but shouldn't I have a game plan? Is anyone else feeling like this?  

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Water Color [101 in 1,001]

This past thursday I was finally done for the week.  No more papers, quizzes or thesis meetings.  I could just be for about 2 hours and it was glorious.  On my 101 things in 1,001 days challenge I promised myself I would at least do 1 watercolor per month to relax.  I love art and I get so frustrated with myself that I don't leave time for it.  So, I've decided that I will.  

When I was in Denmark I was bought this small little water color set and a sketchbook. It was so nice to just forget about my classes, forget that I'm 4,000 miles away from my friends and family and just be with me.  

I'm excited to make this a series and share with you my monthly watercolor doodles.  

Here are some of my favorites from my time in Copenhagen. 

What is your creative escape?

Muse

         

Monday inspiration from Pinterest this morning. 

img 1 / my comfort food

img 2 /  my next project 

img 3 /  something new I want to try

img 4 /  where I wish I was at all times

Working Out on the Wall

I was skimming Pinterest this morning over coffee when I saw a load pinned workouts [shocker].  These were different.  No equipment, no gym, and they actually looked fun.   I was just complaining to my supervisor that no matter how many sit ups I do, I will always have a little belly.  In the peak of my swimming career swimming 2+ hours a day and running and lifting, I still had a little pouch tummy.  

The juice cleanse thing, yeah that ended by lunch time day one.  I love solid food and I can't be productive while I'm hangry.  I was back to running a lot [for like 3, days] but then there was this heat wave thing.  Now it's cold [go home, DC you're drunk] and I'm realizing that my days are numbered here on the Hill so I better start worrying about the museums and neighborhoods I didn't check out rather than how tone my legs are.  There's a gym back at college. 

But I found this really cool work out from Self.com that I had to share!  All you need is a wall.

If you're from D.C., you know the post Good Stuff feeling; you have to reevaluate your life after you eat their food.  

{image via}

This will be me reevaluating my choices for the rest of the afternoon.  

{image via}

This one doesn't look so bad, right? 

{image via}

I'm kinda worried about this one; God did not bless me with balance.

Do you have an 'at home' workout regime? 

Does it work?  

Let me know!  

PS Check back on Monday for an exciting new series on Purple Flowers.

Off Day

Do you ever find yourself in a funk? 

You're just off and you're not really sure why?  

Well that's me this week.  There is no pressing issue in my life, I'm healthy and happy but I'm just off.  My usual spunk for the every day is not here and it makes it hard to focus at work or on anything at all.  But with situation comes opportunity, and that gave me the opportunity to figure out how to make me feel most like myself. 

I'm not sure if this will be my future go to, but for this week, it's working.

Something Habitual : I always feel a sense of accomplishment after a run, no matter how long.  I've always been an athlete, but not on land.  Throw me in the pool, no problem; land sports are tricky.  I recently found a passion for running this year.  It's a great twenty-something fad and I'm digging it.  Nike+ is also awesome and it always makes me want to keep running.  

Something Nostalgic: One of my absolute favorite movies is the Sound of Music.  I found the movie soundtrack on Spotify yesterday and I've been grinning in my cubicle all day.  I feel like performing the "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" combo in my office..however that would not be appropriate.  You know, the thunderstorm gazebo number with Ralf!?   Tell me you didn't practice that in your family room?  Oh, just me? Alright. 

Something Inspirational:  Nothing like some happy words about the human experience to bring you back to what really matters.

“You’ll need coffee shops and sunsets and road trips. Airplanes and passports and new songs and old songs, but people more than anything else. You will need other people and you will need to be that other person to someone else, a living breathing screaming invitation to believe better things.”

Something New: I saw my girl Emeli Sande a month ago at the Pride festival in DC and she just dropped a new song.  It's GOOD. 

Something Real:  TED Talks rock...but really.  I love watching them and feeling inspired or just learning and thinking.  Today I watched one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) talk about the creative process.  If you enjoy anything creative, you'll love it.  If not, just listen, her language is incredible and inspiring.  

& finally, flowers.  By the end of the week, I plan on buying myself flowers..because, why not?

There's my cure all for this weird week.  

Do you have a ritual or a go-to when things are off?

PS. It's almost Friday!

#OOTD

Happy Monday folks!

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.  I spent mine in DC attempting to unplug and unwind after an already busy summer.  I only have about 4 more weeks left living on the Hill so its crunch time.  So many fun places to visit, people to see, drinks to have, etc.  

This 4th of July weekend I wanted to be comfy and fun.  I had never paired these two pieces together before and it just felt right.  While it was a bit warm here in the district, it was the perfect outfit for me to wonder about Capitol Hill.

Sunnies: Ray Ban | Top: J.Crew | Shorts: J.Crew | Belt: J.Crew | Flats: Steven Madden

Did you do anything fun this holiday weekend? 

#OOTD

Happy Sunday!

So this was my first time doing an outfit post, and I was so nervous.  

I normally hate pictures of myself so the idea of asking someone to take a picture of me to post for the world to see was not the easiest thing.  My roommate agreed before I went out last night & I think it turned out ok?  There is a nice little patch of purple flowers next to my row house on Mass Ave that I thought would be the perfect backdrop.  

I was so excited to see my roommate & friends from Washington College at The Board Room for drinks in Dupont!  My best friend from high school, her brother's band Harmonic Blue performed at the Rock and Roll Hotel on H Street.  As always, they were great & I'm so proud of how popular they've gotten!  It was an awesome night!  

Sunnies: Ray Ban | Statement Necklace: TJ Maxx | Top: J.Crew | Shorts: Forever 21 | Flats: Old Navy | Bag: Lonchamp | Watch: Target

Do you have a new favorite outfit?  

PS: Check out my best friends brother's band Harmonic Blue, I promise you'll love 'em! 

Hi

ello! 

I've dabbled with blogging in the past, but I was feeling the need to start over.  So here's my new blog, lots of deep thoughts about life and my attempt to write down all that makes up being 21.  

A bit about me, I'm a college student living in Washington, DC working on Capitol Hill in political management.  I have 1 year left at my small, liberal arts college on the cornfield laden Eastern Shore of Maryland before I'm thrown head first into the 'real world.'  I was lucky enough to spend 5 months living in the Kingdom of Denmark and study at the University of Copenhagen.

On May 23rd, 2013 I love coffee, Europe, traveling, exploring, photographs, typography, infographics, graphic design, web design, tumblr, sunshine, rain, dogs, baseball, higher education, public policy, community development, symbolism, politics, research, blogs, friends, books, pens, love letters, handshakes, jobs, water, running, architecture, gardens, twinkle lights, dancing, london, markets, ancients, girl scout cookies, bumper stickers, purses, airports, hugs, flags, church, classical literature, film, leonardo dicaprio, lacrosse, washington college, thesis research, professors, russia, new things, learning, cities, baltimore, company softball games, walks, peer mentoring, leadership, public speaking, teaching swim lessons, diving, exercising, avocados, salt and pepper, croissants, hazelnut macchiatos, pinterest, social media strategy, internships, capitol hill, american history, library books, coffee shops, shopping, georgetown, m street, urban outfitters, doughnuts, theatre, burmese food, ted talks, the college prepster, shoes, adoption, spreading love, making smiles, holding doors, thanking, welcoming, meeting, sunglasses, nalgene bottles, bookstores, ereaders, old bay, charleston, hilton head island, jewelry stores, dominoes pizza, highlighters, georgetown, roommates, laughing, smiling, puppies, parents, grandparents, coding, cuddling, yoga, leggings, bagels, curls, polka dots, seersucker, jolly ranchers, ranch dressing, spinach leaves, coca cola, toasted marsh mellow milkshakes, camp fires, cook outs, burgers, scavenger hunts, youtube, spotify, rain on windows, the sound of music, justin timberlake, dunkin donuts blueberry iced coffee, tall men, waking up to snow, moving, free food, salad, row houses, hills, happy people, sky lights, crown molding, dressing rooms, marshalls, sparkles, hunter green, social media, communications, marketing, progress, community service, nooks, union jacks, cork, wine, dancing music, singing in the car, historic areas, castles, nonpartisan groups, clothes out of the dryer, notebooks, monograms, royalty, grass, tribal prints, apple, black and white, expelling ignorance, french, borgen, danish parliament, love yous, golden doodles, lattes, the internet, great gatsby, early mornings, early nights, driving, radio, snuggles, happy days, porch swings, mason jars, blankets, weddings, babies, rome, mailbox, stockholm, new friends, old friends, stationery, early mornings

and flowers, purple ones to be exact.  

I like thinking and thinking deeply.  Hear me out.  

Hilary