Monday, March 28, 2011

running, returning.

Spring Break in five memorable pictures; I'll make a more detailed (and food centric!) post later this week.

16 years & counting <3
My best friend Serena, who I've known since I was 5, came up to Berkeley to visit me! I got to take her to Bear's Lair :)

we discovered that we don't like guinness.
We decided to try a Guinness for St. Patrick's Day and discovered that we didn't like it, whoops.


Driving through the Grapevine the morning after it was closed for snow and black ice.


Entrance to the Contemporary/Modern Art building at LACMA.

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I got to see two of my closest friends (and members of the West Wing Crew!) Marisa and Amelia.

Not pictured (by request) is my amazing family, who were the sole reason I came home, as well as my friend Kristina because I never seem to take pictures when we hang out. An excellent break indeed!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

volume I.

I thought I'd share some of the songs I'm currently listening to. As I sink deeper and deeper into the abyss known as writing a thesis, making playlists that motivate me to work and focus has become a fun (and semi-productive?) way to procrastinate. These nine songs are some of my favorites at the moment.

Also, if you have yet to take my survey, make sure and do it! Super easy and super important :) Thanks!


"Rivers and Roads" by the Head and the Heart


"Hiding My Heart" by Adele


"Naked As We Came" by Iron & Wine


"Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes


"Airplanes" by Local Natives


"Ivory Road" by King Charles


"The First Days of Spring" by Noah and the Whale


"King of Spain" by The Tallest Man on Earth


"Rise To Me" by The Decemberists

Friday, March 25, 2011

cards & quarters.

So much for a having a regular Monday post, eh? No worries though, it'll be back next week--this week was Spring Break (and quite possibly the last one of my life!) and so I wasn't online as much as I usually am. I spent the first half of the week in LA, after a weekend with my best friend and an adventurous drive down on Sunday. We left Berkeley around 5, and soon encountered snow, accidents, and flooding, leading us to spend the night in a cigarette and apple scented motel room in Bakersfield. My life! In any case, I got to LA safe and sound by Monday afternoon and proceeded to spend the next three days seeing some of my closest friends and family. It was much needed trip home, and I'm feeling recharged after some well-deserved rest. Hopefully I'll make a picture post soon, lots to share!

I'm back in Berkeley and hard at work on my thesis. I put up my survey today...if you have the time, please take it! I've got a lot to do and I'm running out of time...I can't believe that this semester is very quickly coming to an end.

Monday, March 14, 2011

here, there, and everywhere.

Five things that make me happy!

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Another Team Alice picture, but this one is at a Harry Potter themed party. The combination of two of my favorite things...what could be better??

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I very much enjoy making silly faces at the camera. Just like many people, I've struggled with my self-confidence for years but I think I'm finally starting to love myself for who I am. I'm silly, slightly awkward, intelligent, decent looking, short, and awesome...all good things! It's okay to not always take myself--and life--so seriously. My life is a sitcom, so why fight it? Take yesterday, for example, when I slipped and fell on a bus. Could have started crying (it hurt! and I'm STILL sore), but instead started laughing. If my life is going to be a sitcom, then I'm going to enjoy having a laugh, even if it is at my expense a bit sometimes.

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Oh god, Cheeseboard. Perhaps my favorite eatery in Berkeley and definitely my favorite pizza in the world, Cheeseboard makes quality vegetarian pizzas that are fresh, delicious, and creative. This pizza is roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, mozzarella and gruyere cheese, garlic oil, & fresh herbs. PERFECTION.

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Katie (of the brilliant RedSaidBlog) is one of my best friends and I love spending time with her. So much laughter, so much love!

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Not to brag, but this is the highest grade I've ever gotten on a paper at Berkeley. I never get solid A's, always B+'s or A-'s. So frustrating to almost get an A but not be good enough...but not this time! It's an amazing feeling to see my hard work (and lack of social life) paying off.

This week is my last week of classes before Spring Break, and although I've got a lot to get done, I'm super excited because my childhood best friend is coming up on Thursday! I haven't seen Serena since winter break and I'm stoked to be able to show her around Berkeley...and by show her around, I mean eat at all of my favorite places in Berkeley in one weekend. After she leaves on Sunday, I'm packing my bags and heading down to LA for a couple of days to see my lovely family and recoup; I'll be back on Wednesday and ready to work on my thesis for the rest of my break!

Monday, March 7, 2011

shaking my confidence daily.

Feeling overwhelmed, so I'm going to copy one of my favorite bloggers (Emily of Cupcakes & Cashmere) and do a post about five things I currently love. I figured it would be a good way to keep me posting (at least once a week, every Monday) and also force me to look at five things in life that make me smile.

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Wednesday night trivia with Team Alice! My friends and I all go to our favorite campus pub (the Bear's Lair) and play trivia every week. They are such an amazing group of women and even though we never win it's always the best part of my week. Also, the staff is incredible!

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Cooking has somehow become the way that I relieve stress. This mac & cheese (which is this recipe for the actual mac & cheese and this one for the topping) was probably the best I've ever made. Amazing.

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The Yoda that my friend Elek made out of tape is absolutely amazing, and it's definitely my favorite part of my room. Looking at it reminds me "do or do not, there is no try." Got it, Master Yoda!

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Judge me if you want, but it gets me through the day...and with the amount of shit I have to get done everyday, it's necessary.

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Right, I'm a nerd. Hope you don't mind. I love Harry Potter and when I have a spare minute (or I'm procrastinating) I'll pick up one of the books and read a couple of chapters to clear my mind. I'm definitely a Gryffindor for life :)

This is going to be a long week, but I think that looking at it one day at a time as well as looking at the good things around me will help me make it through. Also, listening to good music also helps, so here's the Local Natives doing a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia," enjoy! xo