Vida. Vie. Life.
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I’ve been unpacking from Paris (yes, I am still unpacking…) and collecting all the wonderful things I got abroad, and it feels so surreal to be back. As if it were all a dream. As if I wasn’t actually in Paris less than a week ago. I feel normal. Everything looks the same. The only thing that seems different is the fact that the weather has changed and five months have passed. But I know that’s not true.
Paris was such an incredible experience. I could talk about it for days, weeks, probably even months on end (trust me… I really could), but no amount of words could describe everything I felt while I was there, and all the spectacular, and sometimes crazy things that happened.
I thought long and hard about my goodbye study abroad Facebook status, and I found this quote:
“You get a strange feeling when you are about to leave a place… Like you’ll not only miss the people you love, but you’ll miss the person you are now, at this place and time, because you’ll never be this way again.”
And it could not be more perfect. It embodies everything I feel and everything I felt. Paris didn’t change me, it just gave me the chance to see new things and broadened my perspective. It gave me the opportunity to experience things and live in a way that I was seeing something new every single day. I got to enjoy a different sort of life for a few months, that wouldn’t have been possible in New York or Carolina.
This was one of the best decisions I have ever made. If I could go back, the only thing I would have changed would have been to have done it earlier and have done it for longer than just a semester. To every student in college or about to go into college, you need to study abroad. Don’t make excuses, especially not money. There are so many resources out there and so many scholarships that people don’t apply for because they don’t do their research. You could study abroad entirely on scholarships! (But you have to do your homework) And study abroad as many times as you possibly can. Study abroad in completely different places and make the world your playground!
I just closed one chapter, and now I am getting ready for the next one! Stay tuned to see what sort of loops this summer throws me through!
xoxo
Last Christmas, I got an Otterbox and it has been absolutely amazing! It has saved my butt phone so many times, I have pretty much lost track. It was pink and sturdy and just what I needed. Now, all I have left is the inside white part, and it doesn’t even stay together. I am pretty sure not having a case would probably the same level of protection that this case offers now.
SO! I have been in the market for a new one. I was thinking of a simple one, nothing too crazy. I went to Verizon the other day and they have a legit waterproof case (the sales guy stuck his phone in a fish tank while Finding Nemo was on… it freaked me out a little). It was cool and stuff, but no way am I getting it! So, I kept looking.
Yesterday, while on KateSpade.com I saw this adorable iPhone case!! I am in love! It is just perfect. Not too big. Not too crazy. Just enough pop for me. Maybe this can be my first purchase for my new job. (I mean, I can’t walk into a room of professionals with a case that’s falling apart and looking all dimpy!!)
xoxo
CONGRATULATIONS USC CLASS OF 2013!!!
AND most of all congrats to the seniors of the Beta Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Pi. This group of brothers is one of the most special for me because half of them pledged with me, and I can’t believe that I will come back in the Fall and they won’t be there.
These bros are some of the most amazing people I know, and the world better be ready to get rocked because they are going to do great things with their lives. Their decisions will change the world, and they will impact many more lives. They will leave their footprint.
I will miss you all very much, and it will not be the same without you guys, but I can’t wait for our paths to cross again and see what you guys have done, and what even greater people you will become! I wish you all the best in this world and good luck!
DSP : Not four years, for life.
On Monday, June 10th, I start an 8-week internship with PricewaterhouseCoopers. I had my “office visit” interview in early March and got my offer the following day. I will be an intern in the audit practice working in the New York Metro area, and I cannot wait!
It is slowly starting to sink in that real life is just around the corner and three months from now I could possibly know what I’m doing when I graduate! (Eeeeekkkk!!)
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to work in the city. My mom and dad both did/do, and I’ve spent countless days getting lost in the city and discovering new things. This summer has the potential to be great, and I know it will be.
I am so ready to take whatever this summer throws at me.
#memories
I am sorry that I have not been around to write as much. I have no real excuse, except that I haven’t made time. And I won’t have time to write about random things, because I am going to be having too much fun writing for my travel blog for the next 6 months.
whereintheworldislmp.blogspot.com ——- follow me!!
And I have another one that I’ve started. It’s a little different and (just a tad bit) easier to keep up with. It’s supposed to be “A Year in the Life” of, well, my life. Not really pictures of me, but more of things I see through the day, and what sort of sums my day up the most.
ayearinthelifeoflmp.tumblr.com ——- follow me!!
Hope you guys enjoy them! Once, I come back from my adventures abroad, I will definitely have more to write about! Until then, you can find me at my other two blogs!
À Bientôt mes amies!
butterbeer cupcakes
(makes around 18)for the cupcakes:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon butterscotch schnapps
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cream sodaFor the filling:
5 1/2 ounces butterscotch chips (half an 11 ounce package or a little less than a cup)
1/2 cup heavy creamFor the frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup butterscotch filling
1 tablespoon butterscotch schnapps
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 to 4 cups powdered sugar
Splash of cream soda (as needed)directions:
1. to make the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350º and line cupcake pans with liners.
2. in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and set aside.
3. in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. add both sugars and continue beating until well combined. on low speed, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. combine the schnapps and buttermilk. add the dry ingredients in three batches, alternating with the cream soda and buttermilk.
5. mix until just combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. fill each cupcake liner about 3/4 full, then bake for 15-17 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. cool completely on a wire rack.
6. while the cupcakes are cooling, make the filling by combining the butterscotch chips and heavy cream in a glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water. stir occasionally until combined.
7. remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. transfer to a squeeze bottle and fill each cupcake just until the filling comes to the top.
8. to make the frosting, cream the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the butterscotch filling, schnapps and salt and beat until well combined.
9. on low speed, beat in the powdered sugar one cup at a time until desired consistency is reached. Add cream soda as needed to thin the frosting.
10. frost cupcakes and drizzle with remaining syrup.enjoy!
(via everythingharrypotter)
(via mamasdrama)
Back home, Fall starts around middle to end of September (maybe beginning of October) and I used to love it. I always associated Fall with the start of a new academic year (Yay! Back to school shopping!! = my favorite). Here, at college, it’s a little different. South Carolina doesn’t like to start Fall until halfway through October (if we’re lucky), almost November! It’s weird. And then it makes me sad because I don’t really get to experience Fall. I go home for Fall break (usually third weekend in October) and it’s already cold back home, so I get Fall weather for four days and then I come back down to Carolina where it’s 75 degrees!! It’s crazy stuff!
Anyways, I’ve sort of been thinking of what else I can blog about and this is my new idea: “The Top 5” series or maybe I will just call it “The 5” series, so that it can just be lists of 5 things. And since right now I can’t seem to get Fall off my mind, here are my top 5 favorite things about this season:
1) Riding Boots | I love riding boots, especially those Tory Burch ones! (Are they not the cutest things you have ever seen?) I am in need of a new pair, I wear mine to all the football games, so they have kind of been to hell and back! (maybe an early Thanksgiving present to myself?) I also love that I can wear them with tights, leggings, and jeans, and they will look cute no matter what I pair them with.
2) Lattes | I used to be obsessed with Dunkin Donuts, but after moving to the South for school, and finding out that those don’t exist down here, I was forced to convert to something a little more local. I still haven’t caught onto the Starbucks thing, so I knew that wasn’t going to work (they are ALL over campus). So, I was introduced by a friend to this wonderful little coffee shop called: Cool Beans!. It is phenomenal! I am crazy, head-over-heels in love with their vanilla latte. I know it’s Fall, so I’m venturing out this week and trying their Pumpkin Spice Latte (get excited)!! Also, not to mention, they keep your hands nice and warm when it’s chilly outside.
3) Scarves | These are wonderful little inventions! You can wear the same outfit (give or take) everyday and change the scarf and it would look like you wore 5 different outfits! It’s great! (I don’t necessarily suggest doing that, but desperate times call for desperate measures - I understand.) I know they can be an all-year-round accessory, but I especially love wearing them in the Fall, because not only do they look cute, they keep you warm, too!
4) Pumpkin Picking | Last year was the first time (that I can remember) that I have ever gone pumpkin picking! (And I am super excited because we are going again next week when I come home for Fall break.) We took Lucas (our pup) and he had a blast! I love picking out a few and then carving them and decorating them with the mama and broski! Not to mention, we get some pretty awesome family pictures from this! (Christmas card, anyone?)
5) Thanksgiving | I had to include this in here. This is probably my favorite holiday of the year! (It’s almost tied with Christmas, but Thanksgiving gets a little bit more!) It might be the food, or the family time, or maybe that it signifies the beginning of the holiday season! (Truthfully, it’s probably the football games!) But regardless of the reason, I wouldn’t miss Thanksgiving at home for the world!
Narrowing it down to five things was hard, but these are definitely great things to love about Fall!
What are you top 5 favorite things about Fall?
I have been in LOVE with Paris for as long as I can remember. And now, that it is so close I am even MORE excited! (Beyond excited!!) Not only am I in love with the city itself (even though I have never been), I am OBSESSED with any about Paris.
My mom always says that anything Paris always remind her of me, so she got me these adorable stickers and note pad! You can write on the stickers (they’re like labels) and the note pad is great for jotting stuff down or making lists!
Aren’t they just absolutely precious?! She also got me this beautiful box:
It has a soap bar inside, but it’s so pretty and smells so great that I don’t think I am ever going to use it. I have this box sitting on my desk at school and it just looks so pretty next to the butterfly candle my momma got me!
I am also in love with stationery! I have so much of it… I definitely do NOT need anymore (but I still love buying it!). I bought the purple cards and my mom got me the reddish-orange ones this summer right before I left for school.
AND, not only are the cards super, super pretty, but the boxes they come in are gorgeous! SO, once I run out of cards, I can just keep the boxes!
I also have a ton of other things that are Paris related, but if I talked about it all, this post would never end! (I will probably make another one soon, especially once I find out that I am officially accepted and going to Paris next semester - which is a post all on its own!)
Until next time, au revoir mes amies!
