Investing in Yourself

So, no one more than me was surprised when I actually took my advice in the last post and became more productive. Which naturally kept me away from posting, because I was busy. I'm working on a good middle ground, and I've figured a lot out. Naturally, this weekend was the exception to having a better busy, but I think we all need those weekends where we make interesting life choices, and then veg out. 

I'm not one who likes to buy myself things, or spend a lot of time on me. I love people, and as such I love to be around people. I love hosting get-togethers, going out, and just being near others. But at some point we all need down time, we all need to treat ourselves. I like to think of it as investing in yourself.

Now there are many ways to invest in yourself, and every time I take some me-time it's different. One of the last times I made tea and had cookies and listened to Sinatra while I wrote. Every day I like to find 5-10 minutes of thing that will make your soul a little happier. I invest in myself that way because I will then handle life better. 

This weekend I spent five hours on the phone with my best friend. I don't know about you but having a good long talk with one of your closest friends always makes me feel better, I just don't have the luxury of living in the same town as her so we often go a month before we realize we haven't actually talked. 

I also splurged, now with an intern salary I've learned to budget fairly well. Especially when you have trips planned (say for spring break?) and want to save some of the cash, limiting your intake even more. However, I'm a sucker for a good deal. I'm even more of a sucker for a great deal on quality items. Don't get me wrong Ross and T.J.Max are normally my jam. But getting something that is just so classic and so well made that you know it will last for easily the next 7-10 years? I look at that as an investment, because truly it is.

So I'll just put a small PSA to the world, J.Crew is having the best sale I've been to yet. Now I didn't grow up on J.Crew, and I certainly didn't grow up on Kate Spade, but I've grown into them when the time (and more importantly price) is right.  To me it is an investment. 

So I had bonding time with my roommate, we did nails and a mask last night. I read a large portion of a book I've been working on. I talked on the phone with my best friend. And I bought two skirts I fell in love with. 

What did that give me? I mean besides a cute outfit to come to work in today, I was excited for work. I was excited to be productive and accomplish things. And I know that this will carry over for my whole week, and the next month is going to be kinda crazy busy for me and then I start one of the busiest semester of my college career. 

So if you're ever a little run down, a little frustrated, or you just feel like you don't want to do anything. Invest in yourself. Listen to what you're body is saying. Listen to the signs the universe is putting out for you, and remember you have to put something in to get something out, and that counts with you as well. So invest a little and see where life takes you. 

Persistently Patient

I don't think anything tries your patience more than big life events. 

I was in a friends wedding this last weekend, which just highlighted this fact to me. 

I went a few days early to help her out and make sure that everything was done. Nothing seems to bring the stress out as much as making sure all the little details you've been planning for months that always seem to fall apart at the last minute. Sure enough some things didn't go according to plan, but largely they did. The wedding happened, the reception went off with a bang (and out with a sparkle!). It was a huge success and now they are enjoying time as a newly wed couple on their honeymoon. 

This just shows you no matter what: it will happen, time will continue, and life will go on.

Now I am by no means the picture of patience. I come with a strong predisposition towards loosing my cool. Which means that it is something that I have had to work on. Two years ago, getting my connecting flight this weekend cancelled on me would have seemed like the end of the world. I didn't end up making it back to Colorado until the next day. And the kids who couldn't stop screaming next to me on my red-eye? On a flight we had been delayed because someone called in sick? I would have been frustrated, livid even. I would have thought it was going to be the worst day. Especially since I was heading straight into work.

But did it? No. 

Do you want to know my trick that I've realized? It doesn't help to get upset about things you can't fix. It's extremely draining actually. Those kids who were crying? They were up at 3 am, and the little one couldn't get his ears to pop. The crewman who called in sick? I've woken up sick before, and I don't want that spread around a plane. These were things I couldn't help. So why should I waste my time worrying about them?

Now will I be able to keep my cool on my wedding day? I highly doubt it. I still get overwhelmed, but I'm better now than I used to be and I just want to continue that. So for now? I was the calm person helping out my friend out with on her wedding day. Especially when an extra person showed up for dinner, her younger brother was loud and annoying, and when the day before the groom still hadn't decided who was going to be his best man. At the end however, everything was beautiful and it all ended up going smoothly.

Persistently Patient. 

It's my mantra, something I've tried to be better at. Especially when I became an aunt at a very young age. I sometimes would loose my cool, and you never want it to happen it's just the final straw some days. But if you let these things get to you it will seep into all aspects of your life. And you don't want to lash out at those you love. I can tell you that I am so much happier now. It's done wonders for my anxiety, so for all the perfectionists out there. Just remember to breathe and don't sweat the stuff you can't change. 

Summer Weddings

Is it just me or has this been the summer for weddings? I went to a few, and I know a ton more that have happened. It makes me just love love.

 For a really long time the idea of marriage made me cringe. I've seen so many fail, but I'd never met anyone our age that I really had faith in. That is until my sophomore year of college. Its probably because we are getting older and more mature. My favorite love story is probably my freshmen year RA and her now husband. They are absolutely amazing together, best friends who really do help each other in ways I can't even explain. They met in acting class and knew the instant they were paired together. You can see it in both. She adores him like the moon, and he worships the ground she walks on. They don't let the other go overboard either. Its beautiful, and she was always my friend but as the wedding got closer so did my relationship with him. I count both as friends now and I am so excited that they are finding jobs and living together now, starting their journey of married life. 

One of my biggest problems was trying to find something appropriate to wear, and a wedding present that I can still afford as a broke college kid. Summer weddings are so fun as they allow a bit more of a relaxed feel and you have more options. 

For clothes the most important thing to know is venue, don't wear overly dark clothes if you are going to be out in the sun for the wedding. Also if you know where it will take place you can also gauge what to wear. For instance you may not be religious, but if its a church wedding, having wider straps or even covering your shoulders is respectful, especially to some of the older family members who are coming. Here are some of my favorite picks: 

I went for two ends of the spectrum on price but they both give a wonderful example. 

The light blue can be dressed up with a cute hair do and some jewelry or left beautifully bare. Right now it's a steal for only $23.99!

The dark blue is also very light for a summer wedding, but the lace gives the appearance of sleeves maybe a bit more modest or elegant. This is very like my dress that I wore to a wedding this summer, however mine is several years old and I can't remember where I got if from, this is from J.Crew and is priced at $275.00 but would work well for many occasions. 

As for wedding gifts, I tend to go to places like Hobby Lobby or Michael which tend to have cute cheap crafts, or even pre-made if you're in a crunch! Also something for their new home is always welcome, you can find some great things in department stores. Here are two ideas that I used this year. 

The pillow is from Hobby Lobby, and towels are from Kohl's. I found some other his and hers for less at Kohl's but they weren't pictured together. I hope that this helps with summer weddings! I know of several more to come for August!

Did you have any great wedding outfit/gift ideas this summer?

Life in Fast Forward

I know I've been offline for the last three months or so, I let life catch up and overwhelm me. The best news if have right now is that I have just one more final! It's tomorrow, and I still have to study, but the freedom is so close I can taste it. We had our first rain here in Laramie and it has made me so ready for the fresh beginnings. 

I've started packing my room up because in the sorority house we change rooms every semester and aren't allowed to leave our belongings there. For the first time I am going to be staying in Laramie for the summer, and I can't be more excited. Cleaning and throwing 

After this semester with two jobs, seventeen credit hours, and a position in my house I filled up all my time and left none for fun. Something I seriously regret. It was a life experience I've had before, but not on this level. College as I've been reminded is an experience to enjoy. 

It's getting to be summer, it's getting to be time for sun, and it's getting time to enjoy being a twenty-something(as I will officially at the end of this month). 

Are you having fun plans for the summer? Was this semester crazy for everyone else?