I think I am the most excited person in the world to be going to class on Monday. Honestly, I am thrilled! Do I have a big to-do list? It's massive... but I couldn't be more excited to be back in the burg. I have been busy setting up my room- which is massive, my bathroom, closet, and everything else. Pictures to come soon! It is very worldy- lots of elephants, and country prints, and pictures of my travels. I brought my tv which may be my downfall, but so far, I am loving it!

My classes have started off quite strong! The nature of my classes are relatively depressing- geography of poverty, economic development, international economics, and genocide in the 20th century just to name a few. The genoicde class is obviously going to be the most emotionally difficult, but I think it's so important to learn about this tragedies to be able to predict and prevent them in the future. I'm already spending my nights reading, and while it is interesting, it's a lot! I'm involved with a few really great projects this semester and I couldn't be more excited.

More later,

C

On January 2nd, my mom, brother, and I went to a Washington Capitals game at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The tickets were their (very expensive) Christmas presents. I think I like the idea of giving experiences not things... Anyways, out seats were fantastic! We even had tapas at this super hip Mexican place before the game. I managed to get meat balls at a Mexican restaurant- I'm obsessed. And a skirt steak thingy. It was all sooooo tasty! Here are a few pictures from the game (and the meatballs)-

That's all for now!

-C

Howdy!

I just returned from a short trip to NY to visit my great friend Kristen before she studies abroad next semester! It was so cold (I need a word more cold than cold) but also so beautiful. I try to get to the city once in the winter and once in the summer- I love the parks and the bagels 😍 and the thrill of it all.

I actually took a Greyhound bus up and was pleasantly surprised- new bus, leather seats, clean bathrooms, and wifi that worked more than half the time! And all for $35! Woooohoooo. The bus ride took longer than they said, as always, and I had to take some trains and metro to get to Kristen, and while I was a little nervous, I did it!

Monday we went into the city, went down 5th avenue, did some shopping, went to Bryant Park, and then Chelsea Market. If you've never been to Chelsea Market, you are seriously missing out! It's one of my favorite places in the world- and I've been to over 15 countries! The exposed beams, AMAZING food, cool stores, and the vibe is just unstoppable. Here are some pictures from Day 1:

Day two we headed to Connecticut (woah!!) to go to an aquarium. We thought it'd be pretty cool, but it turned out to be kinda lame. BUT:

-I got some cool animal photos

-I got to go to Connecticut for the first time!

-There were some pretty cute babies...

Here are some pictures from the aquarium:

On the last day we hung around like slugs until it was finally time to head back into the city so I could catch a ride home with my brother. I was going to take another bus (in fact I actually purchased a ticket) and then Alex pulled a boy card and was like "ohhhh yea I'm coming home tomorrow... Wanna ride?" Grrrrr. Oh well. Another one of his friends was in the car and we played some really funny games so I had a good time.

Thank you so much Kristen and your fabulous family for hosting me, feeding me, and loving me! It's always so great to be up there and I can't wait for you to have so many adventures in Spain. I'll miss you.

I'll post in a bit about the hockey game and skiing!

-C

So Christmas came and went just like it seems to every year! This was the first year I didn't wake up at the crack of dawn and run downstairs- guess that means I'm getting old. Oh well, what are ya gunna do?

For Christmas, I got my mom and brother tickets to see the Washington Capitals play in January. They loved it (thank god because it nearly broke my bank account) and I couldn't be more excited. On the bank account note, I think I'm going to have to put my credit cards in water and freeze them like they did in Confessions of a Shopoholic- that way you have to defrost it to buy something. And honestly, who has the patience for that? Sounds like the perfect way to keep my spending at bay.

It's always great to spend time with family and eat a lot and only feel a little guilty. Time for the gym? I hope that a million people don't decide to be healthy and come to my gym because it is already crowded and I'm selfish with my gym equipment. Does that make me a bad person? Whoops.

I asked for mainly money to replace my camera and kindle which were stolen while I was in Paris. So I'm on the lookout for a good deal! I am also looking at the google chrome books for taking notes in class even though I have an iPad...

I feel like I've been traveling nonstop since Florida. I'm currently on a greyhound to NYC and then I'm headed to West Virginia for some skiing next weekend. I can't wait to get the school and be settled!

Hope y'all have had a great holiday season and now for New Year's Eve!

-C

For Christmas I got a 6 month subscription to popsugar must have- am I a lucky girl or what?! I got to open my first box on Christmas! I tried so hard not to peek at all the reviews so I would have some surprises. Popsugar is a monthly box and costs about $40 but they have pretty regular coupon deals. It is marketed as a lifestyle box meaning there isn't a set theme. Here is a review of my box!

This is a Lulu Frost bracelet made exclusively for popsugar. The value comes in at over $100 which seems a bit/ a lot much. This isn't really my style so maybe I can trade it or gift it?

The Govino flutes are designed to look like crystal but are made of shatter proof material and are reusable! How cool is that? Once again, I wouldn't have chosen these but I love the idea and maybe I can host a semi-classy dinner party and use these!

How awesome are these NCLA peppermint lane nail wraps? I have never used nail wraps but now seems like the perfect time to try them.

This ModelCo mascara is full size and has great feedback. I just got a sample of Better Than Sex mascara and have been using that, but once it runs out this will be my number one mascara!

This is a "special extra," and while I understand people's concern about getting chocolate you can buy at the grocery store, it is an extra and I love chocolate! Yumm!

This caramel corn looks yummy!

This holiday paper is a little irrelevant now that it is already Christmas but oh well! Not their fault!

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with my first box however I feel like it is more geared towards older woman. If the bracelet was more delicate, it would have been a slam dunk for me. What are your thoughts on this box?

-C

Howdy!

I think I can say that since I was in the south, right? 😜 The drive from the DC area to Orlando is not new to me, but this was the first time I ever had to actually drive, making it that much worse! To be fair, it wasn't too horrible just very long- 9.5ish hours to Charleston and then 7 hours to Orlando the next day. I feel like I can get a VIP pass for a gas station- soooo many trips to the gas station. When will modern science make cars that run off of air or something?

We got to the house and nearly passed out during dinner. The next day we got up early, much to our dismay, and head west towards Crystal River to kayak with manatees. Yes you read that right! The drive was a little hefty but so worth it! We kayaked down some inlets and into crystal springs where gigantic manatees would just float under us. Wow. They are huge! And the water was so clear and blue and the trees were covered in Spanish moss- it was something out of a Nicholas Sparks movie. So surreal.

Tuesday, we went and picked up my two best friends who flew down for a few days. One who lives in New York, I hadn't seen since Halloween, so it was so great to see her. We headed right to the next activity- airboats! I felt like Khloe Kardashian because in one episode they did an airboat ride, and maybe also because my name is Chloe. But regardless, it was awesome! So noisy but so beautiful. Pictures coming soon! 

Wednesday we headed West to Tampa for Busch Gardens- if you have never been and are in the area, I HIGHLY recommend it. The park is gorgeous, and the rides were even better. There were no lines- like I ran through the line and hopped right on a ride! I got to see so many animals, touched a wallaby or maybe it was a kangaroo...? All in all, it was a perfect day. The weather was amazing, no lines, and great food- we were not even tired when we got home after a full day at the park-- now that's a miracle.

Thursday we stayed in Orlando, hung out by the pool and just relaxed. Friday we did a little shopping before bringing the girls back to the airport and then prepared for the big drive Saturday morning. I drove first so I could spend the rest of the 9 hour drive to the hotel watching Dexter in the back seat. It was great! Sunday we got home in the afternoon after a 4 hour drive through the cold front- lots of rain. As soon as the post office opened, I went to get my fab fit fun box that I had been waiting for! Review to follow! 

With Christmas right around the corner meaning tomorrow, it still doesn't feel like the season- maybe all the warm weather + Florida trip? Oh well, I can't wait. 

More later,

C

I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to post- so my pictures wouldn't be horrid, but I couldn't wait any longer! This is my first Ipsy bag, and boy am I glad I subscribed. For those of you who are new to subscription boxes or Ipsy, this "glam bag" comes once a month and costs $10. It is one of the cheapest subscription boxes (some are up to $100 a month!) and focuses on beauty products. You take quizzes to help guide the folks at Ipsy send you products you'd like. Here is a link if you want to check it out:
http://www.ipsy.com/r/1ig2

Each month, they send all the products in a makeup bag which is a great concept! Some other subscriptions send them in boxes that you'll just throw away, but these can be reused forever! 

Here is all of what I got in my bag!

This is an eyeshadow palette in neutral colors by pop beauty. I love the shades, three colors I use! This is valued at $11.

This is an NYX lipstick in a neutral pink tone. I am certainly not a lipstick person, and I honestly don't really know anyone that is, so this was a bust! But when I reviewed the product I made it clear that I do not wear lipstick, so hopefully they won't send me any more! The value of the lipstick is around $6.

This is "the one stick" by be a bombshell in "girl crush". According to the website, it can be used as a blush, eye shadow, and lip color! I've never had something like this, but as a lazy makeup wearer, this seems perfect!  Also, the value is $16 which equals more than the box! Awesome!

This is a NICKA K nail polish in a deep red- I know the pictures make it look pink but it's really red! The bottle is super cool, and I love the color, but unfortunately I already have multiple dark reds... maybe I can gift this? Valued at $5.

Saving the best for last! This is a roll on perfume oil by demeter- a company I had never even heard of. But I am so glad to have been introduced to them! This is supposed to smell like snow, it has a subtle floral scent, and it smells like winter, but would also be great for a light scent in the summer. I am already in love! They sell a million different scents on their website, I may have to sample some others! Also, this is valued at $10, a size you can buy from demeter's website! 

Overall, this was a GREAT first Ipsy bag! My favorite item is the perfume. But really everything but the lipstick will go to great use! Maybe even that nail polish.... At only $10 a month, the value is great at $48, and I cannot wait to see what the January Ipsy bag has in store for me! This is a great way to learn about new products and brands that you would otherwise be in the dark about!
Here is the link for Ipsy if you want to sign up!
http://www.ipsy.com/r/1ig2

-C

Welcome to my first post! I decided to start my seventh blog in hopes I would actually keep up with it... Seeing as this isn't my first blog, I will make no promises, but hey a girl can dream.

A little background on my current situation... I was interning at the U.S. Embassy in Paris starting in September and ending in, well, September. Needless to say it didn't go as plan, example- things were stolen, ordering art for the walls as my main project, etc. It was one of those situations where you just need to cut your losses and get the hell out. So get the hell out is exactly what I did, bringing me to my current "semester", a semester at home- away from my friends, and with no classes. While some may THINK they are jealous or whatever, think again. As someone who thrives off of social interactions and contact with my peers, this is far from the ideal situation. But obviously, I should be grateful to be able to learn the lesson that I did! Since it is already December, my anxious self is more anxious than ever to fast forward to January, so I can go back to school! I cannot WAIT to move into my first off-campus house with three great friends, right next door to four more amazing girls. Needless to say, it's gunna be awesome.

Until January, I'll be doing a little/a lot of traveling. On the docket for the next four weeks:
-a week long excursion to Orlando, Florida. Did I mention that we are driving there... Lordy Lordy! I have planned some amazing activities for myself and those that are tagging along, including kayaking with manatees. WHAT!
-a 4 day trip up to New York to visit with a great friend from school, Kristen. She lives up near the city and is studying abroad in Spain next semester, and boy am I going to miss her. Not sure if I can convince her to go into the city for the ball drop but oh well...
-a 2 night/3 day trip to Snowshoe WV for some skiing! I bought my own skis after I spent a few hundred bucks on rentals over one winter. Of course right after I bought them, the next three-ish winters were without snow. Soooo I am long overdue and could not be more excited. Plus Snowshoe is amazing! I have skiied (how the heck do you spell that?) in Vermont and that is like a hundred fifty hours away and I like Snowshoe better!

That's it (so far) for my winter travels! Also on my radar is my spring break trip to Kentucky- it is an "alternative spring break" through my school and I will be going with about 7 other students (including my best friend!!) to work with refugees! And in July I'm heading to Vietnam for a short-term study abroad! Seem random? Well I am actually quite obsessed with Asia and traveling in general. Honestly, traveling gives me loadsssss of anxiety but still I push myself. I have been to Asia twice but never to Vietnam so bring it on! More details on that when I get them.

I think that's it for now! Perhaps I will post my first subscription box review later today- Wantables intimate!

-C