May Flowers Wish List

I rarely even give things a second glance if they are lacking some kind of floral print, and yet here we are, looking at a wish list in May that lacks any hint of flowery design. This is certainly no insult to floral print, though, and it really just counts as a compliment towards these three lovely designs that I've had my eye on for awhile now:

• This Tiny Triangle Pendant from Moorea Seal is just one of the many creations I wish I could own from the shop. The rose gold is absolutely beautiful and it compliments the minimalist design perfectly.
• Dresses are clearly the most important item in a spring wardrobe, and I desperately wish this Merrily You Roll Along Dress from ModCloth could be a part of mine. I'd wear this adorable dress while riding my bicycle and everything would be merry and grand!
• I love the cut, pattern, and texture of this Multicolour Embroidered Aztec Bikini from Topshop. I'm trying to lose weight for bikini season (I gained more than I'd like to admit over the winter), and maybe this will be my personal reward for sticking to my goals!

Weekend Snippets

I'm back in Grand Rapids now, but I wanted to share a few photos from my weekend with my family back in my hometown. These photos make me happy and I could use that extra boost right now! It's only Monday and it's already been a very stressful week because of exams and regretting my terrible procrastination. I've been functioning on a nap-based sleep system while I finish up projects, and it's actually working better than I'd expected! I stayed up all night and I might have to do it again tonight, but I've taken at least 4 hour-long naps and I'm actually feeling like I can do this. I'm so ready to graduate! 

I hope you have a wonderful week! Happy Monday! :)

This is my dear sweet puppy, Sophie. My family got her from the Humane Society the year before I left for college, and I spend at least half of my life missing her and wishing I lived closer. I think she misses me a lot, too, because she spends a lot of time curled up on my bed sleeping in the sunlight in my old room. I miss my cuddle buddy!

I must admit, our Easter eggs this year turned out to be delightfully nerdtastic. I'm pretty proud! My parents did a few of them, but it was mostly my sister and I having too much fun covering various fandoms (Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Bob's Burgers, Adventure Time, Harry Potter, Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Star Trek).

My Dad built these bookshelves a few years ago and lined the walls of the living room in a lovely library. I love that I've inherited his book collecting obsession, and someday I hope I have enough bookshelves to line my own walls! 

An Oh-So-Refreshing Horchata Recipe

As I mentioned earlier, my sister and I decided to try our hand at making homemade horchata over the weekend. The results were delicious! I was pleasantly surprised to discover how easy it is to make this refreshing traditional rice beverage, and I'm already planning on making it again this week. If you're looking for a new summer drink (to spike, or not to spike), try it out yourself!

You will need:

• 1 cup uncooked white rice 
• 5 cups water
• 1/2 cup whole milk 
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla 
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 sweetened condensed milk 

It's just so easy to whip up!:

1. Pour the water into a blender and then add the uncooked rice. 
2. Blend for about one minute, and then let the rice and water sit in the blender for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. When that time has passed, use a cheesecloth to strain the rice water into a pitcher or other desirable container. 
4. Make sure there is no rice in your liquid and then throw the leftover rice away. 
5. Add milk, condensed milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. 
6. Whisk or mix it well and then serve over ice.

Sip it in the sunshine for a little extra joy! ;) Hopefully the grass will be green soon and I'll be able to bring it on a picnic in the near future. Enjoy!

A Visit Home//Easter Weekend

I went way up north to spend time with my family for Easter weekend. We don't do anything special for Easter, but we're dying eggs tonight and I can't wait to see how they turn out! I went thrifting earlier with my sister today and put together this outfit. I'm pretty sure it's going to be my summer uniform! I found two other floral printed skirts that fit like this one, and I'm really excited to wear them all!

I'm drinking homemade horchata in some of these pictures. We're going to see Vampire Weekend in June and my sister and I figured we'd better learn how to make it so we can bring it to the concert (they have a song called "Horchata"). I think I'll do a recipe post in the near future- it turned out amazing!

Music of the Day: Chairlift

"Bruises" is one of my favorites tracks from Chairlift's 2008 album "Does You Inspire You".

Back in the day, I listened to it all the time- usually on repeat. I decided to play it again today, and I instantly remembered how wonderful it is. It makes me so happy and I feel like it's my duty to share it, just in case you've never heard it before. It's definitely one of my favorite summer songs, particularly the parts that talk about frozen strawberries and grass stains.

As long as Chairlift is playing, I can pretend that my heart is not breaking from the snow on the ground outside right now!

April Showers Wish List

(click to enlarge)

I love dressing for rainy weather almost as much as I love the rain itself! These are just a few rainy day staples that I've been wishing I could add to my closet:

• This Stand-Out Raincoat from Modekungen makes me so happy. What better way to brighten a rainy day than with a sunny yellow raincoat? It's such a classic and works with everything!
• I have a huge orange crush on these JuJu Rain Boots from Urban Outfitters. Not only are they practical, but they glow-in-the-dark. Perfect for late night frolicking in style- cool, no?
• This Darling Daisy Travel Umbrella from Forever 21 is so springy and adorable! I've really been loving the daisy print that seems to be everywhere this spring.

♥ Happy puddle jumping! ♥

Hiking at Rosy Mound

I haven't posted in a few days because I've been so busy with school. It's the end of the semester and I'm going crazy finishing up last minute writing assignments and group projects that are all due this week. It's my own fault, of course, because I'm one of the world's worst procrastinators and I do everything the night before. I take comfort in remembering that it's almost summer, and then I'll only have one semester left of college. It's crazy how the time has flown by!

Anyway, nobody wants to hear about how busy I've been. Everybody is busy!

So in honor of the weekend and the warmer weather, I took a trip to my favorite hiking spot near Grand Haven. It's called the Rosy Mound Natural Area and it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The Lake Michigan dune ecosystem's thick forests, sprawling grasslands, and almost surfable waves are so unique and lovely. I have to pry myself away from the sand when it's time to go- I never want to leave!

It was so warm outside- I couldn't believe that there was still snow on the trails and ice on the lake! I was not wearing the right shoes for climbing snow-covered steps, but luckily there were railings that I could cling to as I trudged up and down the icy slopes. When we finally made it to the beach, we spread out a blanket and sat in the peaceful silence of the almost frozen waters for awhile. It was wonderful!

One of my absolute favorite things about nature trails is the consistent friendliness of people you meet in the forest or along the beach. Something about the shared love of nature creates this sense of kinship between you and and anyone else you pass along the way. Whether it's a simple sincere smile or an enthusiastic "hello" with small conversation, I always leave feeling happier and more connected than before.

I hope spring keeps these lovely days coming!

Now, it's back to the grindstone. See you on the other side!