Home Sweet Home

I finally found an apartment in the DC area not too far from where I'll be working. When I say not far I mean an 8 minute walk (yes please!) This was a HUGE relief since I was nervous I wouldn't be able to find a place before I started my new position. I was lucky enough to find one pretty quickly which allowed me to head to Salt Lake City for a quick trip.

I always love going home since I don't get to often. Living across the country makes going home pretty tough! People are always curious about where I am from when I say I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Salt Lake City is such a beautiful place & I am happy I get to call it home. It's a great spot to have a family, grow up & have a nice cost of living. Those are just a few of the many benefits! Now let me show you what it has to offer (although many of my pictures don't do it justice.)

When I arrived in SLC I met up with my friend Kristi at Nailed to get a manicure. I was feeling kinda drained from my airplane ride but the mani was a perfect pick me up! There were a ton of great colors to choose from. It's always a tough decision! This time I got a seafoam green since St. Patrick's Day was right around the corner.

^^ It was sweet of Kristi to treat me to a mani as a congratulatory gift! 


After Getting our nails done we headed to the Dodo to meet up with our two friends Katie & Morgan. One of my favorite things about Salt Lake is the many local restaurants!  The Dodo is one of them, they have a good selection of sandwiches, salads, entrees + delicious desserts. They have something for everyone! I ordered one of my favorites, the Smoked Turkey Sandwich.
After dinner I went back to my parents house to hang out. The weather was seriously amazing I couldn't get over it!

^^ This felt like summer to me! In Boston it has been FREEZING & I think everyone on the east coast is over this polar vortex. Can we get some spring too? 

The next day I woke up & headed to my favorite neighborhood coffee shop, Cafe Expresso! It's always so fun going to the drive through. I have been going here since I was in high school & maybe even before (haha!) They know my whole family & always remember what I like. A grande iced latte coming right up!

My Mom & I then headed to the Red Iguana to meet my Dad for lunch. This is my favorite mexican place! They have the best mexican food in Salt Lake, I think! If you're ever in town give it a try & tell me how you liked it!

^^ This was one of the warmest days! We were able to sit on the patio which was perfect. We could hardly see, but who cares? This weather stole my heart. 

^^Margarita on the rocks to get this lunch started! Can't forget the chips + salsa...

^^ The Red Iguana is well known for their mole dishes, which are delicious! But I this time I decided to go with the chicken fajitas.

^^ I mean you can't deny this deliciousness! After our lunch my Dad had to get back to work :(.  My Mom & I sat on the patio a bit longer to enjoy the weather. I always love getting to spend time with my parents & I soak it up every chance I get. 

I was stuffed but I still wanted my FAVORITE treat (can't leave without having it!)

^^We stopped at Cafe Rio for their Tres Leches cake (the best ever!) I seriously crave this all the time it's heavenly. I need to find a recipe to make my own! 

After indulging I wanted to walk around & get some pictures of the mountains. They surround the entire valley...

^^ I miss these mountains so much! How gorgeous are they? Needless to say I love being home.

Xo,

Emily

Endings & Beginnings

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Friday, March 7, 2014 started out like every Friday except there was one thing different this time... It was my last day at work in Boston. It still doesn't feel real that I am moving back to DC in one week (eek!). Leaving a job is always surreal. I am excited to start my new adventure but there are plenty of things I will miss. First of all I had awesome colleagues, met some great friends & learned a lot.

After saying my goodbyes it was time for my colleagues & I to head to Deep Ellum for drinks.

Side note- Deep Ellum is one of my favorite spots in Boston. They have amazing drinks + delicious food, if you're ever in town you should stop by!

I wanted a photo of my two (favorite) colleagues but, Jamie thought it would be cute to photo bomb our photo (haha!).

^^ Thanks for that!! (ASOS Stripey Top, Armed & Readi Bracelet.)

^^Much better!! Then after the obligatory colleague pictures we obviously started to have fun...

^^I love this girl! It was a night full of fun & a perfect way to end a great opportunity in Boston. The goodbye weekend continued...

On Saturday my Sister, her husband & I headed to my goodbye dinner. We went to the Russel House Tavern in Harvard Square. It's honestly not my favorite restaurant but they do have good food, drinks & I really love the atmosphere. I started off with the Always Sunny cocktail which was really lovely. My sister went with her classic-- Dirty Martini EXTRA dirty (good choice.) 

I had the best company! Look at these two LOVE birds.... (Sorry about the bad iPhone picture quality.)

Then it was time for dinner (my favorite part) I got the Slow Cooked Crystal Valley Farm Chicken. 

^^ The chicken with the beets & the puree tasted really fresh. After the main course we decided to pass on dessert since we were heading to the Beat Hotel to meet up with some of my friends!

^^ I learned about the Beat Hotel through a past fling but, it easily became one of my favorite bars in the Boston area. The bohemian interior along with the drink selection & live music make this bar very swanky. I love the vibe & have been dying to go back since I first went. I was happy I chose this for my last outing!

^^So fun having my friends in one place. I feel really lucky to be celebrating a great opportunity!

 I was sad to see the night go but so happy to end it with many great friends! I got to say my "see you laters." 

The next couple of days I packed, packed & packed. Then all my stuff was off on a Uhaul on it's way to DC...

^^ Thank you Boston for so many great memories.

 "How lucky I am having something that makes saying goodbye so hard." 

Then I headed SLC (my home)... after this I will FINALLY end up in DC!

Xo,

Emily

TBT: Hitting the Road

Every time I pack I find bits & pieces of things that have made me who I am. I finally started packing last night for my move. I guess it hasn't really hit me that I am moving quite yet because I am still in my normal routine. I was talking to my friend Allison the other day, she asked if I was afraid to move & I responded saying "not really." I think this is the most relaxed I have felt before a big move for several reasons. It feels like the right time & things are falling into place.

I am pretty good at moving at this point considering I have moved more than the average person does in their lifetime (um what?). Crazy! Every time I start to pack I like to get things organized. I have a huge box of pictures, cards, tickets & memories from my entire life.  I have lugged it around with me from place to place. Why? Because it reminds me who I am, where I've been & where I want to go. I love these memories so much!

I started packing my books & I am shortly reminded what my first passion in life was, acting. Many of you don't know this but my first year of college I went to an art school in San Francisco to study film. I grew up doing children's theater, going to Shakespeare camp, attending film classes & trying to convince my parents to send me to a boarding school for kids who are artists. Needless to say it's always been a huge part of who I am....

Plays & acting books 

1. Move 

1. Find a job

1. Save money

Before I moved from Salt Lake City in 2011 I lived with Amber & Kristi. We seriously had the best times in our apartment! I wish we could all live together again because they have been hands down my favorite roomies ever. Anyway, right before I moved to DC Kristi gave me a photo album of all our fun times with a sweet note. Every time I pack I always see this & I am reminded how much our friendship has grown over the years.

Then I found a book my Mom gave me as a joke in my Christmas stocking (ha!). 

Thanks to that book I now know my dating life is pretty normal! Then just like that this box is packed up. On top is another huge piece of who I am, a member of Alpha Chi Omega. Being a collegian in the sorority & an an alumnae has been such a great experience for me. Every time I move I reach out to the alum chapter & get involved. I love giving back to an organization that has given me so much!

Then I tackle my box of memories & attempt at organizing them. I mainly got very nostalgic, a bit teary eyed & laughed at all the great memories. Apparently in 2010 my future goals were to:

Accomplished all 3! My 2010 self is very proud of 2014 Emily.

I also think it's cute I was proud I learned how to properly write a press release. I came across another dream I accomplished! Going to London to see plays & more importantly see where Shakespeare was born has always been on the top of my list. I came across my journal from my study abroad trip in London....

To top it all off, this morning I got a letter from my friend Claudia from San Francisco. The sweetest note! She just wanted to take the time to tell me how proud she is of me. I love that! Thank you my sweet friend.

I am going to get back to packing again tonight! I am off to SLC for a week to visit before heading to DC. Stay tuned for more moving posts + adventures!

Xo,

Emily

A Day in JP

I love exploring + traveling! Although, I don't get the opportunity to travel as much as I would like to... I try to explore new areas when I have time. Some days I find myself commuting back & forth from work without taking the opportunity to take in where I am, what it has to offer & get stuck in a routine. The winters in Boston are brutal! When you walk around & ride public transportation everywhere it can be easy to not explore. Since I am moving soon I want to get the most out of Boston as I can in my last few weeks here!

This weekend my friend Emily & I headed to Jamaica Plan (JP) which I have heard a lot about. People talk about the cute streets, great restaurants, colorful neighborhoods & the lovely pond (which we didn't get to!) It has been on my list for quite sometime. So why not check is out this weekend? We did just that!

We made our way downtown to catch the bus to JP. Boston is a gorgeous city so, I snapped a few pictures while waiting for the bus!

Boston Public Library, March 2, 2014

Em waiting for the bus!

Downtown Boston, March 2, 2014

Canary Square Restaraunt

Canary Square

^^ I love how bright it is inside! We got a table & made our way to brunch...

^^ I ordered a delicious drink called Sunny Morning. It sure did make my morning brighter! Yum! Moving right along to my favorite part... 

^^ I wanted to try something different than my usual eggs Benedict. I went for the breakfast tacos, they were delicious! I am always a fan of tacos & these did the trick!

^^ I noticed the table next to us & saw they had donuts. Um... I couldn't resist! I had to try one. We got the Boston cream. It was delicious to say the least.

After brunch we wandered around JP a bit. We headed home shortly after since it was cold + I needed to start packing. When I come back to visit in the summer I am making my sister take me back to the JP pond. It's fun little adventures like this that help me realize how lucky I am to have great places, people, food, etc. in my life!

Where do you like to explore around your city or town? 

Xo,

Emily 

^^ If you're ever visiting Boston, head to the library. The architecture is seriously gorgeous!

^^Emily is a doll! I am so happy I met her. She has been such a great friend to me during my time in Boston! Did I mention she is also originally from Salt Lake City, Utah? Pretty cool- I think so!

^^ On the bus heading to JP! But seriously, how cute is Boston? Love...

^^First we had to get brunch (obvi)! The bus dropped us off right in front (you can see our bus in the reflection.) We checked out Canary Square which is a sister restaurant to one of my favorite restaurants in Boston, The Salty Pig.

A Change of Pace

Where do I even start? My head is spinning as we speak. I am one of those people who will try anything once if I think it's what's best for me. Many people will tell you I am not afraid of change, I actually embrace it. It's no surprise that there is a change coming in the next couple of weeks for me. Remember when I said some big (exciting!) things were happening to me? Well here I am ready to tell you about them...

I've been looking for a new job for awhile because it was time for me to go in a new direction. Looking for a job is a necessary evil everyone has to deal with & it's never easy. Trust me! I've had times in my life where I didn't have a job, I worked two jobs, I worked for free etc. to get me where I am today. It hasn't been easy & has involved A LOT of growing pains.

Summer 2010- first internship in Washington DC

Every job has taught me something, there were things I took away from each job to apply to the next position. When I first started this journey I had no idea where I would end up. ^^ Young me in the picture above was scared, unaware of what the future would hold & I honestly had no idea I would eventually move back out to DC.

In 2011 I graduated from the University of Utah, I had an internship at the Consumer Electronics Association lined up in the summer. I was excited to be able to move to DC again + start a new chapter.

Moving to DC was a huge step in the right direction for me, even though I had no idea at the time. I knew that either way I would learn something from the upcoming experiences. When I say I had one hell of a year 1/2 in DC I mean it. I went from an internship + working at a restaurant, to working at Nordstrom & then a small PR Agency. I went through a hard break up that seemed like the end of the world to me. I was really struggling to find myself. It was time for me to take a break & come up with another plan. 

Image via Pinterest

I have mentioned before how amazing of a family I have (seriously so great) they support me through every decision. I really can't ask for more! My sister is one of the most caring people I know, she is the person who builds me up, she is my closest & best friend. She knew everything I was going through during my time in DC & gave me an offer I will forever be grateful for (I talk about that here.) 

I am not going to say that moving to Boston was the easiest decision for me because, I honestly felt like I was giving up. As you can imagine so many thoughts went through my head & I would never know if I was making the right decision unless I just went for it. So... that's what I did!

I arrived in Boston with no job, no friends & no clue what I was doing. But I did know that throughout it all I would have my sister (Amy) & her husband (Will). Moving someplace where you have an automatic support system is the best! They understand you like nobody else & when you come home crying you have someone to wipe your tears. I truly believe I was able to be successful in Boston thanks to my amazing support system. 

Being in Boston hasn't been easy but it has been a great experience. I will never forget all the friends I made here, the hard times I had at work & what it taught me, the realizations I've had about who I am, who I want to be & everything in between. I've grown as a 20 something & this chapter has been a valuable one. 

Now you're asking.... where do you go from here? Well, the past few weeks have been TOUGH I had no idea where I would be this next year. Well, I am happy to say I have found clarity in all of this!

Image via Pinterest

I am excited to say that I have recently been offered a new position in the DC area! I will be moving in the next few weeks to start & I couldn't be more excited. I believe everything in life teaches you something. This journey I have been on has been hard but, let me tell you it's totally worth it! I am extremely proud of myself. I can't wait for this new chapter & to share updates with you soon.

Xo,

Emily

P.s. Thanks again to everyone for all of your support!

Good Hair Don't Care!

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It's no lie that I am sucker for hair care especially since I have been trying to grow my hair out for the past year (which is difficult.) But I also love hair products that are great for your locks + have a nice price tag! That's why I am really excited about the Nexxus hair care prime color line. I can't wait to try these products!

Nexxus is giving you a chance to win EVERYDAY by entering your selfie on their Facebook page. I know you have a selfie!! I sure do...

^^ Can you spot yours truly in this picture? Go enter & if you try the product let me know how you like it.

Xo,

Emily

Winter Blues

Do you ever just want to get away? I do! I have been daydreaming for days about grabbing my girlfriends & taking a vacation to somewhere warm. Can't someone just fund me a mini-vacation? I would absolutely love it (seriously though.) I have a huge passion for traveling, meeting new people, exploring new areas & of course relaxing. Right now, I feel like decisions I will be making in the future are out of my hands at the current moment. This leaves me feeling anxious, aloof & wishing I was traveling. What do you do when you feel like this?

Image via Pinterest

1. Plan a trip with my girlfriends (you know who you are, lets get on this!)

1. Visit Maine

1. Day trip to Salem

1. Stay overnight in Vermont

1. Take a road trip to Newport Rhode Island

1. Cook two nights a week (I hardly cook...oops)

1. Learn how to knit

1. Go skiing before winter is over (tentative date in place)

1. Go to a concert once a month

1. Visit Allison in Chicago

This week has started off good & I am really proud of myself-- yesterday marks my one year anniversary in my current position! Time flies... it literally seems like just yesterday I packed up my room in DC to head to Boston. 

I've said plenty of times being in your 20's isn't easy! It's a time of change & uncertainty. I try REALLY hard not to compare my journey with others but, sometimes I find myself doing it. I work in digital media which means I am on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest etc. during the day. I am constantly reminded of others’ lives. It sometimes gets to me!

Instead of saying oh "I wish I could go on a trip to Italy like so & so." I want to put those statements into actions! I am starting to getting frustrated-- I keep saying "I want to do this, this, this & this" & not doing any of them. It's time for my bucket list! I will continue to add onto this but for right now here are some things I would love to do (soon!)
I am keeping this small for right now, so I can actually do them! Once I do them, I will check them off & I will add more. I want to hear from anyone out there-- how do you kick the winter blues & actually make your statements into actions? Comment below!

Xo,

Emily 

Weekend Bliss

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I always love the weekends but, who doesn't? This weekend I had a great excuse to have some friends over for a Galentines celebration on Friday. I made the delicious cookies that I mentioned here, ordered pizza, made yummy drinks & caught up with the girls. The night was much needed & of course ended with us watching our favorite music videos like Beyonce, Britney Spears, Hanson & Backstreet Boys (I am a total 90's kid.)

Cookie bags + drinks for Galentines

I put the cookies in cute little bags (inspired by these bags by Spoon Fork Bacon) to make the girls feel extra special. The straws also add a fun touch to our drinks!

^^ How cute is Courtney? 

Even though I am single I still enjoy celebrating Valentines & appreciating all the amazing people I have in my life. My darling friend Jessica from home (Salt Lake City) sent me a sweet gift for Valentines. I had no idea something was coming until I got home & I discovered a package. Even after opening it I wasn't sure who they were from & I asked my sister if she ordered me earrings. It wasn't until after opening & digging into the package that I noticed they were from Jessie!! I also, got a rose from my Uber driver which was a sweet touch to the day.

She knows me so well! Anything with a bow, I love.

The day after V-day I met up with some friends to get brunch at The Regal Beagle which is right down the street from where I live. It's a small little restaurant with delicious drinks! If you're ever visiting Boston or Brookline you should give it a try! 

Also, how can you not love a restaurant who's mascot is a beagle? Oh & check out the yummy food I had!

There is nothing better than eating delicious food, hanging out with friends & hiding away from the snow. After brunch my friend Emily and I decided to stop off at the Brookline Booksmith to cozy up to some books.

While we were wandering around the store we saw a coloring book + crayons. What could be better? We of course bought them & headed back to my apartment. Coloring is super relaxing, I don't know why I ever stopped doing it. Oh & we of course bought half priced chocolate...

Coloring fun!

After coloring I decided to brave the snow again & go out...

Braving the storm with a mini top knot.

This morning the snow finally stopped & it was actually a gorgeous day. I decided to head downtown to pick up some stuff for this upcoming week (more on that later.) I always love going to Copley Square it's one of my favorite places in Boston...

Copley Square!

After taking in the gorgeous view, I headed into Nordstrom Rack to run some errands. Before Valentine's Day, Kate Spade, was having a 75% off sale & I had my eye on a bag but it of course sold out. So today when I was at Nordstrom Rack I saw this lovely bag & I had to treat myself! I don't usually splurge like this but I felt like I deserved it (ha!).

Splurge alert! 

All in all it was a great weekend! I am nervous about this upcoming week because it is a big one for me... I can't really talk about it right now but, lots of exciting things are happening. I hope to share with all of you soon. In the meantime wish me luck & send lots of good vibes. I hope you all had a great weekend + have a great week ahead!

Xo,

Emily

P.s. we are getting more snow this week, who else is ready for spring? Bring it on...