Happy Monday!

So last night when I went upstairs to bed, this is what I found...

Hope everyone has a great week!!! 

Lazy Days

So, this past Friday I was able to enjoy an entire day where I did NOTHING. I literally did not leave my house or have to do anything productive the whole day. This might make some people feel lazy, but I loved it. School always gets me feeling so rundown. It can just be emotionally exhausting to the extreme. Anyway, Friday I refused to even look at any of my schoolwork. Instead, I slept past noon, watched Sex and the City reruns, read some Emily Giffin, ate ice cream, took a long bath... Oh, it was absolutely lovely. I wish I could give myself one of those days every week. I think everyone would do well with one!

In other news, only a little over a week until GLEE finally returns. Below is one of my favorite Glee songs ever. This song makes me feel all emotional and teary. I know, soooo dramatic.

Au revoir January!

My least favorite month of the year is finally coming to an end. For me, January does not bring with it much fun. There are no fun holidays, winter break abruptly ends...it's just all pretty mehh!! I have to admit though, this January was a relatively enjoyable one for me. I was able to spend a few days in Chicago with my lovely friends, had two snow days, bought some great stuff... Overall, I'd say it wasn't too dreary at all! Today when I was walking Elle Belle, I was contemplating some of the things I am loving right now, and some of the things I am hating. Here is what I came up with:

Things I am loving

1. Adele- I am embarrassed that I am just now realizing how incredible this woman sings!! I am a bit obsessed with her now, especially her rendition of "Make You Feel My Love." It's some really beautiful music.

2. Hunter boots- These all-weather boots keep me so dry!! They do run super narrow around the calf, but I love them anyway. I still need to buy the inserts to make them winter appropriate, but whenever I walk Ellie or hike around campus, I feel much appreciation for them.

3. Forever21 sunglasses- So many fun colors and super low prices (of course)... I am going to go online and buy a few more pairs this afternoon! 

4. Diet Coke Lime- I love Diet Coke (and regular Coke, too, for that matter), but that extra pop of lime is just so excellent. I have been consuming cans of this delicious drink on the way to class and whenever I am up obscenely late doing homework.

5. Starbuck's Java Chip Frappuccino- I'll admit, I feel infinitely cooler when I purchase something like a coffee or chai tea from Starbuck's as it feels much more mature and hip, but right now, I am obsessed with the java chip frappuccinos. That mixture of coffee and chocolate chips is just too divine. It's worth sacrificing looking cool.

Things I am hating

1. People who walk on the wrong side of the road- So whenever I walk Ellie, I almost always encounter these two women who WALK ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!! I thought everyone knew that you're supposed to walk against traffic, but apparently not. The only reason this annoys me is that we end up walking towards each other on the same side, and they make ME move every time! I want to tell them that I am on the correct side of the road, but I don't want any walking drama.

2. Ugg boots- I realize I am probably the only person in the world who does not like Ugg boots, but I don't care. I will admit, I own a pair, but only because they are super warm and comfortable. I just don't think they make my legs look very nice, and I feel frumpy whenever I wear them. Okay. Please don't hate me now for hating on Uggs.

3. Jersey Shore- Yes, once again I am hating on something that everyone else seems to love! So I do think Jersey Shore can be really funny sometimes, but I cannot sit there and watch a whole episode of that show. I guess I just don't understand it, and I hate hearing it quoted all of the time. Meh.

4. Quoting/Idolizing Marilyn Monroe- Now here is something I REALLY don't get- what is so special about Marilyn? I don't know why I see so many quotations by her on girls' Facebook pages or posters in people's rooms. I mean, Marilyn Monroe was a gorgeous woman, but what else did she all do? I am a huge Jackie O. fan (Can you get any more classy and fabulous than Jackie???), and I just cannot quote or idolize the woman who slept with her husband. No thank you.

Here is a video of Adele- how awesome is she?

Finally moving out!

I am very excited to report that tonight I will be signing the lease to the house I'll be renting with five other girls next September! I've been living at home and commuting to campus these past few years, and to be honest, it is quite exhausting. Living at home has a bunch of perks, such as zero rent, Wendy and Roger making my meals, a clean house, etc...but I am ready to live on campus my senior year. It's very time-consuming and tiring to drive half an hour to and from campus, and parking is always interesting (and I mean interesting as in it sucks). It also makes going out on the weekends more difficult as I can't simple walk home and crash for the night.

I can't wait to go all crazy at Ikea this summer. I've also already been on the look out for sales on duvet covers and other random household items. Ben gave me Russian doll glasses and measuring cups (I am obsessed with Russian dolls- I don't know why) for my birthday, and I got this adorable flower scrub brush from Francesca's Collections in December. Basically, I already have acquired a box of items for when I move out (much to my mom's chagrin as she hates any kind of clutter). Below is my dream room. Or one of them, anyway.


Hopefully, my current roommates don't miss me TOO much... ;)

Winter Blues?

Even though winter is one of my favorite seasons (I realize I am in a VERY small minority there!), I occasionally find myself feeling a bit down from January until March. Here are just a few things I do to get my mood back up!

1. ONLINE SHOP. (Pictured is my one of my favorite literary characters, Mrs. Becky Bloomwood Brandon, star of the Shopaholic series) Few things cheer me up more than online shopping. It is so fun to sit in the convenience of your home and browse through websites as if you're looking through racks of clothes. It is also exciting to receive packages in the mail. It's like getting a present from yourself! Anyway, my favorite places to shop online are ModCloth (Lovely and unique clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. from independent designers. Best part? FREE returns!), Forever21 (SUCH a better online selection, and you don't get frustrated rummaging around looking for items with a billion other people in your way. It's actually the only way I shop there when possible. The store gives me a headache), and eBay.

2. Read!!! Reading is one of my absolute favorite things to do- especially in the winter! It is so cozy to snuggle up in bed with your favorite book and pretend that you're in a different place for a while (and not in cold Cincinnati!). I am trying to begin "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series now, but with classes, it's been tough!

3. Netflix. I've had Netflix for a few years now, and I am in love with this company. It has not only provided me with entertainment, but even saved me in school with having obscure films required for random classes! Netflix is perfect all year round, but I especially love it in the winter as I do not have to make any video store trips. All I have to do is wait for my DVD in the mail or watch a movie online. I watched "He's Just Not that Into You" last night. Such a funny movie! 

4. Workout. Yes, I really did just type that. Let me be the first to admit, I am not the most dedicated exerciser in the world, but it really does boost your mood and make you happier once you get going! I like to jog on the treadmill while watching a Sex and the City rerun. I also recently purchased an extremely cute yoga mat, but I haven't turned into a loyal yoga girl yet. 

5. Paint your nails! This may seem odd, but I find that painting my nails fun colors in the winter really makes me a happier girl. Doesn't a little glitter make everyone happy?

6. Hang out with an animal. Something that instantly makes me smile is playing with my dog, Ellie. Petting a dog is supposed to lower your blood pressure (I think I read that somewhere), and it really does just make you relax! So go cuddle up by your favorite pet!

7. Take a bubble bath. I realize that taking frequent, hot baths is not the best for your skin in the winter time, but every now and then doesn't hurt. I love having a good book and a long bath in the winter (actually, I like that all of the time), and my absolute favorite product to use in the tub are Lush bath bombs. Lush bath bombs are absolutely amazing. You just toss one (or a piece of one) into the warm water, and it begins to fizz until it's completely gone and your tub water is soft and scented. If you don't have a Lush store nearby, check out your local Macy's (they sometimes have Lush shops inside) or refer back to number one of this post and shop online.

8. Be with friends!!! (My best friend Ben who is pictured here, is going to kill me for uploading this) The best way to combat winter blues? Go out (or stay in) with your friends! :)

Week 4...already??

Somehow, week four of the quarter has already begun at my university. We have ten weeks in each quarter, and I have no idea where the first three have gone! As I am getting midterm assignments handed out, I feel absolutely flabbergasted. I think that my quarter is flying by so quickly since I finally accomplished my college goal of only having classes on Tuesday and Thursday (while still taking 17 credit hours!). After having completed three weeks of this schedule now, I must admit, my opinion of it is split. As a commuter, I love the money and time I'm saving by not making the half hour drive to campus each day. That's been amazing. I also enjoy having more time for homework as I'm a student who works better doing whole assignments at a time rather than doing a little bit here and there. 

On the down side, I'm feeling a huge disconnect from my professors this quarter. I realize that sounds odd, but only meeting two times a week is making me feel like I'm not even in school. We have already had a snowy January, and I didn't make it up to campus Thursday because of bad weather, which meant that I had a ONE DAY school week!! That may sound nice, but it actually just made me feel really lazy. 

Well, I suppose I'm off to start working on MIDTERM assignments (!!!!). 

My new 1154 Lill bag!!!!

Today, my favorite FedEx man delivered a package I've been eagerly awaiting for three weeks now...my new school bag!!!!!! One of my best friends, Becca, works at 1154 Lill- a handbag store where you get to create your own bags, accessories, etc. Becca works at the Chicago location, conveniently located on Armitage (where there are an insane amount of fabulous shops to choose from. My bank, 5/3, also has a location on Armitage, which is a good and bad thing). When I was in Chicago in early January for New Year, Becca took me with her to Lill to design my very own "Maya" bag.

As you can see, Becca did an excellent job of helping me design my bag. In all honesty, she did most of the designing for me. It was a bit overwhelming being surrounded by so many gorgeous fabrics to choose from, and thank gosh I had Becca there to guide me along! The Maya bag is perfect for school as it has numerous pockets and ample space for my Macbook, textbooks, and so on. I can't wait to ditch my backpack and start using it. 

If you're in Chicago, you should definitely stop by the store (Brown line, Armitage stop), and if not- check out their website, where you can design items right from home.

http://www.1154lill.com/

Merci beaucoup, Becca! My bag is beautiful! 

My (Current) 5 Favorite Beauty Products

1. Eos lip balm. My friend recently pulled one of these out during lunch, and I fell in love. I bought the red one, and I have become an obsessive lip balm applier. They're irresistibly cute! My friend Jill describes them as, "A great conversation starter," and she is totally right. You can buy these at Walgreen's and really any grocery store.

2. St. Ives moisturizing body wash. I love this body wash because it doesn't dry my skin out. It's perfect for winter. I like the oatmeal and shea butter kind. It's as soothing for your skin as it smells.

3. Aveda Hand Relief. Speaking of winter and dry skin...this is the perfect remedy! Hand relief lotion is incredible for preventing (or treating) your skin from the harsh winter cold and wind. It smells nice, too. Very calming. I try to put some on each night before bed, and my hands are very thankful for that.

4. Maybelline Eye Studio eye shadow. I love this eye shadow! It's really great for making your eyes glitter. I have green eyes (arguably blue in certain light), and I like the shade "silver starlet." My friend recently just informed me that you're supposed to apply eye shadow wet (Who knew? Does that make me a makeup ignoramus?), and it really does create a much more dramatic effect (and it stays on longer). 

5. Harajuku Lovers "Love" perfume. I received a bottle of this perfume in a White Elephant Christmas exchange a few years ago, and I have adored this scent ever since. I think it's perfect all year round but especially so in the winter. I recently found a winter edition of this perfume, and the little girl is wearing a pink parka. So cute.

Glee- come back!

Has anyone else been feeling the lack of "Glee" in her life? I cannot believe that the show went on break in December and is not returning until early FEBRUARY! How cruel is that? I've been watching Season 1 of Glee on DVD recently, and I've been noticing how much better the first season was. I feel like all they have done in season two is welcome guest stars and have episode long plots instead of drama that lasts the whole season. Last season we had pregnant Quinn, Finn believing he was the father, Terry (Terri?) pretending to be with child, Will and Emma lusting after each other... And this season? The only compelling story has been that of Kurt.

Of course, I don't want to totally rip on Glee because I'm a total gleek and still adore the show. I mean, how incredible has Chris Colfer been this season? The last episode in December did give me some hope that Glee will once again return to greatness.

Only a few more weeks!!!

My favorite Glee performance of Season 2- AMAZING!

Jenna

Bonjour et bienvenue!

Hi and welcome to my blog! So- who am I? Well...

1. My name is Jenna (meaning: small bird- odd, isn't it?).
2. I am a third year English-Creative Writing major. Yes. I will most likely graduate jobless.
3. I have a goldendoodle named Ellie after the incredible Eleanor Roosevelt.
4. Have you ever read Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic series? I have way too many "this feels like something I'd do" moments while reading those amazing novels.
5. Speaking of books, I LOVE to read. I recently got a Kindle for my birthday, and I'm a bit obsessed. My favorite authors include Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin, and Jhumpa Lahiri. Oh, and I'm a total Harry Potter freak.
6. I have 72 Michael Bublé songs in my iTunes, equivalent to 4.5 hours worth.
7. I think that whatever Oprah says is true.
8. Parlez-vous français? I was once a French major and still enjoy using my favorite French phrases. I am currently attempting to teach Ellie French (Seriously). C'est très difficile.
9. I love big cities, and I sometimes loathe Cincinnati for its often small-town feel.
10. I wear leggings and dresses everyday. I can't remember the last time I wore a pair of jeans.

I've created this blog to report on my daily thoughts, activities (because so many exciting things happen in Ohio!), and ramblings. I used to read Meghan McCain's blogette during the 2008 Presidential Election, and I've always wanted to begin my own so...voilà! Hope you enjoy! :)

Jenna