A Shopping List

I stopped by the mall today and did myself proud by walking away with only this one dress [from Francesca's Collections]! It's super cute, albeit a wee bit too short.

I really need to start saving some money now that school is only 25 days away (eep!), which means I'm going to need major bucks for textbooks and food outings and other fun tidbits. 

So here's what I...

Need* :: shoes - some flats and some sandals // shorts // black jeans // non-basic tops - aka no more plain V-necks or crew necks // dresses with sleeves (check!) // a new hairbrush // dorm stuff - bigger storage containers, a rug, a standing light, maybe even a standing fan // a bike

Want :: a new pair of running shoes - those snazzy Nike Frees would be lovely // maybe a couple of things from Lululemon // all of this month's magazines - September issues are always the best // fun, unique, pretty jewelry // pretty much all of Sephora // fun dorm decor - cute prints, quirky trays for jewelry, half of the Container Store, picture frames, the works.

What about you? What are on your lists?

*Relatively.

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Sonder.

facepalm. can't find the original source of this image. if you know who it belongs to, please let me know!

sonder - n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own - populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness - an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you'll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.*

This concept is one of my very favorite ideas to ponder about (ponder sonder, ha! Giggles!) and I didn't even know there was a name for it until I stumbled across it on Tumblr today.

It always hits me really hard when I'm at an airport/on an airplane or on a busy street in a big city. Everybody walking by is the star in their own personal movie, the main character in their own book and I am just a speck to them as they are to me. There are 7 billion people in the world and we know on average - how many? 700? 2000? And out of these, I probably am only really acquainted with or have really talked to perhaps about 100. Maybe 200. And from what I know, each of these people have incredible stories to share, fascinating bits of advice, even just little out-there moments that are just so interesting. What would it be like if everybody on the planet came along with a tiny Bio button and you could just click it and know all about them? Totally creepy. But also kind of cool! OK fine, I'd settle for just everybody in the world having a blog that I could read.

What would it be like to know more stories? Real stories. Anything. Your history. Your present. Your wishes, your dreams. How did you meet your significant other? Why do you do what you do? What motivates you? What's your life motto? What's the greatest thing you've ever done?

I would love to get to know your story! Anything at all! E-mail me at perpetuallycaroline [at] gmail [dot] com and I would love to maybe start a feature out of this or even just get to know you a little better!

*Merriam-Webster and Google say that this isn't a real word, but I really, really love it so I'll just keep thinking that it is! So, also, if you know who the original author of this definition/quote is, please let me know so I can credit them!

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Falling for J.Crew's Fall Fashion

Confession time. I am delirious with giddiness right now because we are just a few weeks away from pumpkin spice lattes, football games, crunchy leaves, crisp weather, riding boots and jewel-toned coats, and all of the many more signs of autumn. 

I got the J. Crew September Style Guide in the mail the other day and let's just say... I was getting ready to sell my soul to own all of the clothes featured in it! Then, I went online and saw the Fall/Winter 2012 Lookbook and I died again. Freakin'. Please. Somebody. Give. Me!

Seriously, can someone just come and save me from myself right now? All this loveliness is about to make me go insane!

Happy Weekend, folks!

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See Ya Later, Best Friend!

(Didn't realize how long this post was going to be - whoops!)

probably the cutest picture of us ever taken (and ever will be taken because we apparently hate to take pictures together).

our Pinterest project: two mugs from the Dollar Tree, a couple of Sharpies, two hours of brainstorming, 30 minutes in the oven at 350degrees.

Let me tell you a little bit about Brina.

I've mentioned her a lot on this blog, but our friendship is truly... something. There isn't a single other person out there with whom I can be 100% candid, brutally honest, fully embarrassing. A split second after making juvenile, inappropriate, ROFL-worthy jokes, we can go straight into deep discussions. 

People often mention to us that we have our very own little language - we honestly don't even finish sentences around each other because the other person got the gist of the statement halfway through and already moved on to the next thought. Half of our conversations are in unintentional code!

Here's the thing, though. We are complete opposites, but simultaneously the same person. It's crazy! I can't even look at the things she picks out in clothing stores sometimes 97% of the time for fear that I'll get blinded by the atrocity (don't worry, she hates my choices as well) - and yet, we love the same looks on other people and have all the same favorite stores. Our personal preferences for music, movies, books, anything you can think of really - are EXTREME opposites. I hate what she loves, she hates what I am obsessed with. And yet - we hold mostly the same values, have the same pet peeves, and share a very similar world view. 

We balance each other out wonderfully. She's an artist, I'm a writer. She loves math and science, I'm a sucker for English and history. She's scared of dogs. I love them. She thinks In-N-Out is overrated. I think she's delusional. You know, all the normal things.

She's also leaving tomorrow to go back to college. Goodbye isn't a new concept for us - we've had to say it over and over again after breaks and graduation and whatnot. But it still doesn't make each one any easier. I am going to miss her so incredibly much, but seeing how exceptionally well we handled the distance last year, this year should be easy peasy lemon squeezy.

So... Brina, I'll miss you like crazy. Have a great start of the school year!

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Weekend Snapshots

I have exactly one month left until I move in to my new dorm and sophomore year begins! Being at home has been amazing for some major re-charging and re-inventing, but I am just itching to get back to my friends, late nights, California weather, and even classes! (Yeah, right.)

This is what I've been up to all weekend:

This is my new favorite work station. The formal dining room! It's the least-used room in the entire house, but I set up camp here a couple of days ago on a whim and basically just never left! With my homemade Tazo chai latte, a notebook full of ideas, and a comfy pillow, I am happy as a calm. 

My parents whipped up some of these huangchiao meat pies, a delicacy from their childhood apparently. It was super flaky and yummy, but it was even more delightful to hear them share stories from their childhood!

My back has been bothering me for a few days, so I decided some self-prescribed therapy: a hot bath, a sappy book, some lemon-sage Bliss scrub, and a L'Occitane bath bomb that smelled divine.

Baking bread on the weekends has become a tradition now between my mom and me - the aroma of fresh, hot bread is just perfection.

I haven't been to the library since I got my Kindle last year, but I have been hardcore craving the scent of real books, so I stopped by the library for some prime chick-lit. It's my ultimate guilty pleasure. On a rainy day, reading in a quiet corner with some Milk Duds or a KIND bar (my new obsession... seriously, these are so addicting) is absolute bliss.

It's going to be a bit quiet 'round these parts for awhile as all of my friends have gone back to school... Jumbo sad face. I simply don't understand why my university chose to be on the quarter system and has an out-of-whack schedule.

How was your weekend?

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Wise Words.

I found these lovely words on Pinterest today.

I love it when I find quotes and sayings that seem to be speaking directly to me.

I wanted to share them with you guys in hopes that you can find just as much meaning in them as I have!

via

via

These are both rekindling the wanderlust in me. I honestly just want to get on a plane and go somewhere right now! Anywhere! I just want to get lost and have an adventure and come back with stories to tell. I got six texts from my roommate earlier today - I was thisclose to throwing all caution to the wind and just flying to New York with her in two weeks. It really comes at no surprise, my spontaneity is at its finest when I'm with her, after all. But alas, there are reasons keeping me from going ... Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait one more month to do spontaneous and crazy things again!

(Love you, Cassandra!)

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That Perfect Kind of Day

with a cutesy-packaged chocolate bar & venti dirty soy chai by my side - ready for some hard work! //

Brina's lunch at La Madeleine (which I so sneakily stole multiple bites from) //

my lunch from La Madeleine - Chicken Friand + mushroom sauce, bread and jam, coffee //

Starbucks two times in one day - passion tea lemonade [matches my keyboard cover!] - practically sinful.

Hello everyone!

I had one of those perfectly mellow, laid back, yet productive days.

Made a Target run with my mama - that place. That place. It's my nirvana.

Then, settled down at a Starbucks with Brina to write, write, and write some more.

Took a lunch break at La Madeleine - Chicken Friand, I have no words.

Browsed through James Avery very quickly, which inspired a Michael's stop because I was oh-so-inspired to make my own jewelry. But then I realized that I am not one for jewelry-making (fascinating story I just told right there, I know it!), so I went back to my own happy place: explored Barnes & Noble for a bit - flipped through the gorgeous Cupcakes & Cashmere book, and then settled down again.

Wrote, wrote, wrote again.

For a whole day.

I'm in love with the bookstore/cafe atmosphere. I get so inspired, so productive. It must have something to do with being surrounded by millions of inspired words. Cranked out so many pages and ideas. I felt like JK Rowling, on a train - just so many ideas! 

Fell in love with writing again. That hasn't happened in much too long. 

Note to self: back at school, get your butt in the library or the bookstore more often. You will get so much more stuff done.

Over and out. Hope your day was just as lovely!

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August 12th

August 12th has always been our day - the day that we celebrate the friendship between my best friends Sarah, Mollie, and me. We are a splendid triangle of love - the good kind.

This year, we...

...indulged in some good old-fashioned southern cookin' at Cracker Barrel.

Don't knock chain-style restaurants until you've tried them! I've never eaten at Cracker Barrel before, but I am now a converted worshipper of their chicken and dumplins', mashed potatoes, fried okra, and sweet tea. I can practically see the big hair and cowboy boots and Southern belle dresses just typin' that sentence!

Then... we tried to get to the Kemah Boardwalk in time to watch the sun set at 8:01.

Alas, we were running late and had to make do with this:

Watching it in the car while blasting music and catching up!

We eventually made it to Kemah.

For two minutes, we were on a boat...

... Which took us to a secret location where this was our view! I have been to Kemah a countless number of times, but I have never been to this spot! Such a special treat.

For a long time, we just stood up there listening to chill music and watching as people milled around below...

Before moving on to do more grown-up things like making shadow puppets against a colorful wall.

But our biggest amusement of the night: feeding catfish. We literally stood by the railing for thirty minutes, watching and feeding this blob of fish. They were piled layers deep on top of each other in the water... Honestly, I found it freakishly gross, but it pretty entertaining watching them freak out over bitty pieces of food.

Afterwards, we tried to see some shooting stars, but alas there is too much light pollution by where we live. We met up with a ton of middle school friends at my friend Cody's house, where we attempted to climb the roof to see the meteors, but that didn't work out very well. So the shooting stars managed to escape us, but we still had a ton of fun and a fabulous August 12th regardless!

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7 Things

perhaps one of my favorite pictures of all time - my roommate and I at our freshman dorm formal - yes that's right, at a formal very appropriately adorned in sweats.

7 Things You Might Not Know About Me:

1. I was named after a basketball team. University of North Carolina (substitute an 'e' for the 'a' and boom boom snap, my name is born) Tarheels! Couldn't be prouder of my name or of the team.

2. I have never been able to and never will be able to take liquid medicine. Children's Tylenol, Nyquil... None of that for me, please.

3. I am TERRIFIED of pigeons. And of balloons. And of lightening, although thankfully that fear has died down just a little after craving thunderstorms all year.

4. I am obsessed with all things regarding the Qing dynasty of China. Obsessed. I could spend a whole week in the Forbidden City and would be happy as a clam.

5. Nine times out of ten, you will find me in my Lululemon leggings or my sweats. Especially if I'm at school. {See above picture.}

6. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park is quite honestly one of my top three favorite places on Earth. I want to live there.

7. If you tell me your birthday once, I will remember it forever. But just birthdays. I'm useless when it comes to any other date. Especially for history tests.

Happy Weekend, everybody! Tell me more about you!

18

National Best Friends Day

I don't observe these fun national donut-cupcake-sister-third cousin once removed-so on and so forth days all the time, but when my best friend and I are reunited after a two week separation on National Best Friends Day, we decided to celebrate it in the way we know best! 

Brina and I went to La Madeleine, one of my favorite places to eat and chat ever ever. We had a teacher date with Mrs. L and all three of us feasted on Chicken Friand. After one bite, I decided that I'm going to move to France permanently because I am completely convinced that I could live off of Chicken Friand for the rest of my life.

We chatted for three hours (three hours!) about everything under the sun. My love for Mrs. L grew and grew and grew, which I didn't think was possible. She is real and hilarious and one of my favorite people on this planet. Love her forever and a day!

Then, at Brina's house, she focused on Abraham Lincoln-centered artwork and I journalled. Creativity abounds!

an artsy fartsy capture of our artsy fartsy time.

All in all, a wonderful day!

PS. I haven't been posting a lot of pictures lately because quite frankly, I haven't been doing anything too interesting and also because I haven't been wanting to lug my big camera out and about with me. Hopefully once school starts up, there will be more and better pictures to blog about!

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a few little things...

... that make my heart happy.

baking bread with mama.

watching the Olympics with dad.

a perfect hair day.

rumbly thunderstorms.

discovering a new (to me) historical figure worth obsessing over.

oovooing with my college best friends (minus the busy bee roommate). intensive laugh session.

waking up early enough for breakfast.

homemade chai tea.

peanut butter on a dinner roll.

having the fan on and snuggling up in my favorite pink blanket.

being privileged enough to witness Michael Phelps's incredible career. and seeing it end spectacularly.

journaling in my lovely moleskine. (and discovering the hidden pocket at the back!) 

the Nike Running + app. and Nike Training Club.

having a treadmill at home so that i can have my late night runs while watching YouTube videos.

celebrity obsessions with the roommate.

my fuzzy purple chair.

discovering new blogs.

What are the little things in your life making you happy? :)

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Style Crush: Hanna Marin

Apologies for the terrible quality image that I so artfully screen-captured from last week’s (or last last week’s?) episode of Pretty Little Liars, my all-time favorite guilty pleasure. Okay fine, my all-time favorite non-edible guilty pleasure. That’s better.

I just haven’t been able to get Hanna Marin’s bright and spring-y look out of my head. You see, both lilac and coral, as well as mint, have been my summertime color obsessions, but I never would have thought to throw them together.

It’s pure genius, y’all.

Normally I would try and recreate this outfit, but I just can't do it. I want this whole outfit exactly as it is. The top and purse are Rebecca Minkoff pieces and let me just say. I bow down.

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Happy August!

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Happy August, people!

My plans for this month include: hitting the beach, going to a cafe (Starbucks) to write for a whole day, soaking up time with my friends before they all leave for college again, taking care of some back-to-school details, a potential trip up to Austin at the end of the month, and learning how to design and code a new blog layout ... so keep an eye out for that, friends!

I hope you get lots of sun, pool time, outdoorsy adventures, and a tan!

PS. A huge congratulations is in order to that friend of mine who I talk about all the time because I think it's really cool and I'm so proud of him, but... Kristian just got a bronze medal in 3m synchronized diving at the Olympics! YAY.

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