Semester Survival Guide.

HOLY CRAP.

Is it just me or was this Spring semester hurled at us directly from the seventh layer of hell?!? I picture a little devil (literally, the devil I'm picturing is wee. And has a goatee that is waaaay over-manscaped.) with a little slingshot laughing his little butt off as we try to survive what has (at least for me) been a rooooough first two weeks back.

It's crazy, right?

It feels like the time we have in a day has simultaneously gotten longer AND shorter.

Like when I'm in class wishing I could be out of class because I have like 9 To-Do lists that I'm already currently juggling.... the hours feel like they've been streeeeeeetched over miles...but when I'm driving like a madwoman and cursing at any pedestrians who dare walk (not even in front of me...I'm just mad at all pedestrians all the time) whilst fighting the ultimate battle of "THAT PARKING SPOT IS MINE, I HAD MY BLINKER ON, DON'T YOU DARE I WILL WIN THIS YOU LITTLE ASSHOLE SLUG BUG! I WILL NOT BE LAAAATE"...the minutes fly by faster than...well something that's like really, really fast. Y'know?


Due to this enigma, this beast of a semester that's barely even begun to flex its claws...I think we should band together and make a list (I know, I'm not a huge fan of lists but I think this one is a little different. I think this one could keep us all just a little more sane. Listening?) A list of fabulous things to do to make a bad, busy, beastly day just a little bit better. Here are some things that I've come up with.


If you've got a minute:

-Throw on something that makes you feel lovely and take a freakin' selfie. The power that exists in a really good selfie could be JUST the thing to get you through that awful math quiz.

-Hug your dog or your cat or your favorite sweater. Find something soft and squeeze the hell out of it. It's a wonderful release of stress and a beautiful intake of love. Even from your sweater.

-Spritz yourself in a scent that makes you feel good, whatever 'good' you need to feel in that time. Find a perfume or cologne that makes you feel a)sexy b)invigorated c)delicious d)confident and spray it all over yourself. I promise you will smile.

-Eat something decadent. That can mean anything. Throw an apple in your bag and crunch into it while your stuck in traffic. You'll feel so healthy and juicy and awesome. OR. Stash a bag of your favorite totallyawfulforyou chips and revel in the "being bad never felt so good" mentality.

 

-Call your Mom. Or your Dad. Or your friend. Somebody that makes you feel safe. I don't know how many times I only have a few minutes on my brisk walk to class and I decide to spend them talking to my Mom and I feel sooooooo much better afterwords. Just that 2 minute bitch fest or that 30 second giggle fit can make you feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of your shoulders. And with the heavy ass book bags we have nowadays...wouldn't that be nice?

-Throw on a song that makes you go "YAAAAAS". Belt it in your car with the volume all the way up. Let it live inside you for a minute. Be encompassed with it's energy, it's beat. It's okay if you don't have enough time to listen to the whole thing...just get to that part in the chorus that you NAIL every time.

-Ladies (and fabulous gents) this is my biggest and bestest trick to feel amazing with only a second or so to spare. Lipstick. Put on your favorite lipstick. Dark, light, shimmery, matte, whateverrrrrrrrrrr. Put it on and feel AT LEAST 60% more fierce than you did before.

 

If you've got an hour:

-Take a bath. Seriously. 30 minutes. Extra bubbles. Cup of coffee. It's cheaper (and smells better) than therapy. Just do it.

 

                                                        (Coffee. Martini. Same diff.)

-Grab lunch with your best friend. Order something a little greasier than you would allow yourself if it was just you. Sit in a booth in the corner of the restaurant where it's nice and quiet and cozy. And catch up. Bitch. Sit and silence and shove your faces. Whatever. But being near somebody who just gets you will recharge you for the stupid night class you have later.

-Go to Target and buy yourself something you don't necessarily need but momentarily want. Just every now and then. We all drive past that seductive little minx of a store daily and say "NO. I CANNOT GO TO YOU, TARGET. I DO NOT NEED THAT ADORABLE PILLOW SET. I ALREADY HAVE EYELINER. I SHOULDN'T BUY THAT SKIRT." But sometimes, just sometimes, go in. Walk around. Get a coffee. And make a silly little purchase that makes you happy.

-Write in a journal. Just a quick scribble to release your jumbled up thoughts from your tired little brain. It'll clear some space and bring some clarity.

-Clean a little. I know, I know. Not as fun as the other items on the list. But your Mother was right when she told you that a clean house is a clean mind. I hatehatehate cleaning but holy shit do I feel so wonderful after I do. You look around at what was once your cluttered kitchen, your messy living room, and see the beautiful room you decorated like it's all shiny and new again. You'll be able to appreciate that vase in the corner and the scent of the candle just a little more. Doesn't that sound great?

 

If you've got a day:

-Sleep. Let's be real. Just let your body rest until it wants to wake up and then do any of the other things on this list for as long as you want. Or don't. It's your day. Revel in it.


These are just a few of my little techniques that I've crafted throughout the years. Try em' out. See if they have the same "hell yeah" vibe for you as they do for me.

Got any of your own 'musts' to get through a hard day? I'd love to hear!

xoxo,

Kelsey
-

Live List-lessly.

I've noticed an emerging trend on social media. Lists. You know the ones. They come in all forms ranging from ~sAsSy! fUn~~ to Super-Serious and Insightful. They have titles like

"22 Things To Do While You're 22"
or
"Why Having Kids Earlier/Later In Life Is Best"
or
"73 Life Lessons You Should Learn in your 40's"
or
"8,800 Reasons We Are All Sick Of Your Engagement Statuses"

etc. etc. etc.

And I'm here to say "STAAAAHPPPPPPPPP WITH IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Here's the deal.

I think it's great to embrace where you are in life. Live in the moment. Skip no steps. Take your time. Relish your youth. Appreciate your old age. Do awesome stuff. Be your best you at the pace that you damn well please.

And there's the catch. You. Be the best YOU.

That's awesome! Yes! Get it!

But if the celebration of your own fab life comes at the cost of shaming somebody else's chosen path...what point are you really making?

As a 23 year old engaged woman, I obviously get a little miffed when I see the thousands(sssss) of posts telling me how stupid/annoying/immature/irresponsible/trend following etcetcetc I am. They tell me that I am rushing into things. They tell me that I will one day look back on the lost "me" time. They tell me statistics of divorce rates. They tell awesome stuff that I apparently can't do or won't appreciate or whatever? now that I'm engaged to my sweet, sweet Tyler-butt.

Just today I saw a post that listed "23 things to do before getting engaged at 23".

Naturally my interest was peaked. I just haaaad to find out what I have ALREADY given up in life.

Here were a few that caught my interest:

-Get a passport
-Find your "thing"
-Adopt a pet
-Start a band
-Bake a Cake
-Get a tattoo
-Be Selfish
-Write your feelings down in a blog

Why did these stand out to me? Well because my 23 year old happily engaged ass---

-is getting a passport to travel abroad to London without my fiancé (GASP) because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and he would never want me to give up chances like this. Not that I'd let him anyways. I am woman hear me roar, and all of that.

-find my "thing". Shit if this is a requirement to do before you take the marital plunge then I know a lot of amazing people that are just out of damn luck I guess. But really though, finding your "thing" is kind of one of the big searches we human beings have throughout our whole life. If you're one of the lucky ones that find it young then HELL YEAH...but if you aren't then just keep on trucking because IT IS NEVER TO LATE TO FIND YO' THANG OKAY

-Adopt a pet? Did that at 19. Maybe I'll do it again at 26? 33? Who knows? Winston would be more than happy to share his tutu costume with a new friend. Well, maybe. He likes that tutu a lot...

-Start a band? I'll save my girl power band (The Herb Gals) for my thirties. I think my ballads will benefit from a little more life experience.

-Cake? I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A CAKE. But if I did then I will. Whenever I want. Who ever heard of somebody saying "LISTEN BITCH YOU ARE TOO OLD AND MARRIED TO MAKE THAT CAKE. PUT THE BATTER AWAY AND GET BACK TO YOUR TAXES. ALSO, GIVE YOUR HUBBY A FOOT RUB."

-Tattoos? Have three. My dad is still pissed.

-Be selfish? All the damn time. Poor Tyler, he has such a mess on his hands. I LOVELOVELOVE me time and I am so rigid about maintaining it. I am my own best friend. I love me so damn much. I spoil me. I get Me pretty clothes and glittery makeup. I run Me the most luxurious baths a girl could ask for. I treat Me to my favorite sushi and I buy Me waaaay too many expensive coffee drinks.

-Write your feelings down in a blog. Check.

Now I know the point of this particular blog post I read was to liberate single chicks and remind them of all sorts of rad things they can do that have nothing to do with tying the knot. Or liberate taken chicks that are not at all ready for that kind of commitment. And though that is lovely for them...what is that supposed to say to me? Because the guy I love got me a pretty ring and we promised to try and keep this damn good thing going till' the end of time...I can't go ThRiFtInG anymore?


This is just one example of these posts. I know they aren't written to target me or anyone else. But that's the crappy part-sometimes they still do. It gets to me personally because it gets to me personally. Just like all the other variations of these "lists" probably get to other people. Maybe even you?

So y'know what.

Shout out to all the parents that wanted to start families earlier in life . Shout out to all the couples that want to wait until later! To the couples that don't think the family life  for them, I SAY HEY! WHAT'S UP! Never let one of those things make you feel that you won't be a good parent because you're young OR old. Never let them make you feel selfish if you just don't see kids in the cards for yourself. Do your damn thing and love it!

Shout out to all of the people who go skydiving and join a book club and dye their hair and splurge on something crazy and do charity work and spend more time at home and all the other amazing stuff NOT because a list told them they had to do it in their 20's 30's 40's 100's but because they freaking wanted to and age won't define their choices. They will.


Now I know that my little rant will have no power against these little list's all over the web. Nor should it. It's just my opinion. And those posts are just other peoples. And we are all entitled. And some of them are actually pretty funny. And insightful. And if you're in a place (like we are all sometimes) when one of those lists just speaks to your heart and fills you with warmth or aspirations or contentment then hell yeah. But none of us is better or worse than any of us at any given time.

I guess all I'm trying to really say is...


Lists or not. You rock.


And so do I.




xoxo-

Kelsey

Ready, Set, PROCRASTINATE!

 Hey y'all.

 

 

So with the beast of the semester I am about to have (in a play, competing at ACTF, auditioning for graduate programs and theatre companies at SETC, passing the last leg of classes that stands between me and my college degree, AND traveling to London) you would think that I've been using this, my last week off before it all begins, to really be prepping myself so that the laundry list of awesomeness that lies ahead of me goes off as seamlessly as possible.

 

Right?

 

Wrong.

 

Instead of doing all the doings I should do...I am currently wearing a big comfy sweater, binge watching Ugly Betty, contemplating a second bubble bath of the day whilst sipping on some pinot noir.

 

Cheers, by the way.

 

 



 

Procrastination. It's the name of the game. Of my life. 

 

Here, I'll explain.

 

Me and Procrastination: The College Years:

 

You see, there has always been a bit of a pattern in my collegiate life that I've become quite accustomed to.

 

Every Summer I work two jobs- I waitress at a pizza joint and I teach kids how to act at a drama day camp. Between my work schedules I chillax. Hard. I sleep as late as I want, I watch as much mindful television as I can cram into the day (my poor fiancé, he's endured A LOT of Desperate Housewives marathons...he's such a dang keeper..) and honestly... I don't feel guilty about it. I procrastinate the day away. Why? Because I know that Fall, my beautiful autumnal mistress of the seasons, is right around the corner. And she plays for keeps.

 

Fall brings me with classes, sure, but most importantly-plays. Every Fall semester I'm usually cast in anywhere from 1-4 plays and one acts. It's a joyful, joyful time. But a busy, free time sucking, schedule cramming, under eye bag inducing time. Though I'm able to (like any true champion of their own personal sport) squeeze in a little procrastinating...I find my constant time restraints keep me an honest hard working woman. A tired one. But a working one.

 

Enter in the time of year I'm currently wasting my days away for...the coveted, pillowy, magical Winter Break. Yes. A college kids mecca. And for me it means the return of a familiar face---appearing as gracefully as the falling snow---my old friend, Procrasti. (I can call him Procrasti, but you really should get a few drinks into him before being so presumptuous. You're welcome.)

 

Next will come Spring. And it is sooOoo~ much like it's demanding sister Fall. (Fall is a girl. You're welcome again.)

 

One week left.

 

So y'know, I guess I don't really feel bad about reveling in my sheer abandonment of responsibilities. Because I know full well that when it's time to kick my butt into gear I will GET STUFF DONE. Mainly because that's my only option but also because that's how divas run their game.

 

 

Perhaps this whole post was just a meaningless little ramble written in the hopes of relieving any guilt I feel for pushing things aside just a few days longer. Perhaps it wasn't.

 

Either way...

 

It worked.

 

Now I gata' go, Procrasti has the remote and he is a WIZARD at Netflixing.

 

 

xoxo-

 

Kelsey



I think this is self empowerment?

Yesterday I felt like such a babe.

I was even going to write about it. Announce to the world that I felt great. I was going to shout about how fantastic a really good lipstick is, how it can make a girl feel so BOMBTASTIC when maybe she's felt a little low lately. How important a perfectly lined eye can be when you need to know that with a little focus and some extra concealer handy you can do anything. How lovely a little zany curl can be because it reminds us that we're different and that's okay and most of the time it's actually pretty great.

I took some shameless selfies and loved every second. I posted one and then moved on with my life. But then I thought "Y'know what?? I deserve a second selfie post. Why? Because I wanna'. People may roll their eyes or be like 'staaahp' but I will smile and love that a day can exist where a girl loves two pictures of herself." Think about it.

And then a person from a whole lifetime ago decided to post a comment that made me feel bad about the awesome chick I thought I had been that day. It doesn't matter who it was or what was said. I started no wars about it because why would I? I just quietly cried and took down my second selfish selfie in shame. Shame. I felt ashamed.

I felt ashamed by the comment. Who saw it? Why did the poster decide to post it? What about me or my page or my face made them so perturbed that they felt the need to leave a comment that could only be perceived as hurtful?

I felt ashamed by my reflection. Was this one person just the only person who had the guts (nerve) to tell me I shouldn't have felt great about myself that day?

But mainly I felt ashamed of myself because I let some person on the internet make me feel low when I knew good and well I looked great that day. I glowed like a damn goddess and I don't care if anybody thinks different because I DIDN'T THINK DIFFERENT AND IF I'M HAPPY WITH ME THEN THAT IS ALL THAT FUCKING MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It isn't about makeup or clothing or 'likes' or any of that. It's loving the you that you are. It's a hard thing to do all of the time because we're human. It's hard to get up and look in the mirror and stare at your ass and wish it was smaller. It's hard to go to school and take a test and struggle struggle struggle while the person next to you breezed through it with a smile. It's hard to find examples that capture how hard life can be sometimes because we all know it's hard so we don't even need the examples we just know! Y'know?

It's about coming to peace with who you are every single day. Some days will be rough and you may just be fussy and that's cool because tomorrow is a new day. Some days you will wake up floating with sunshine pouring out of your butt and you will feel so stinking fabulous and on those days JUST OWN IT AND LOVE IT AND GIGGLE AND LAUGH AND TAKE AS MANY FREAKING SELFIES AS YOU WANT AND PEOPLE WILL BE PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS HATEFUL AND IT'S OKAY TO BE HURT BUT NEVER BE BROKEN AND NEVER LET THEM TAKE THIS DAY AWAY FROM YOU BECAUSE YOU FUCKING EARNED IT. WE ALL DO.

 

No shame.

 

xoxoxoxo

-Kelsey

Give 2014 a break already...

Happy New Years! I hope your first day of 2014 has brought you happiness and joy and hopefully only a mild hangover.

Speaking of 2014, before we get too far in to it...lets cut it some slack. I'm sure you're thinking "Kelsey that makes no sense. It's a year, not a person. Also why should I cut it any slack, it's only been operating for a handful of hours? SHUT UP KELSEY!"

Every year, no matter what year it is, we put the stock of ALL of our future happiness into the new year and chalk up any bad to the crappy year we're shedding and leaving behind.

Though I see the logic in that mindset and I totally agree that some years seem to be truly awful for just about everyone...I think some of the blame has to go to us....right?

Here's what I mean. On January 1st every year we tell ourselves we will:

-be healthier
-work harder
-go to bed earlier
-scrapbook
-buy our dogs more sweaters
-stop overspending on luxurious items like dog sweaters

etc, etc, etc.

And the strongest of us make it to like February 4th before we

-give in to that McDonalds craving
-procrastinate that big project because it's daunting
-stay up because there's a Harry Potter marathon on and WE CAN'T RESIST THAT LIL' WIZARD NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE SEEN HIM BEST OL' VOLDIE.
-get one too many paper cuts from that damn polka dot photo backdrop stationary
-realize dog sweaters are actually really expensive and honestly the dog doesn't know why you're doing this to him anyways
-feel guilty that you put your dog through that mental ambush so you go buy him a CASHMERE one...he'll like this one. You're doing the right thing, you'll say.

And when we "fail" we say "SCREW YOU (insert year here)!!!!!!!!!"


And here's the deal, y'all. ALL OF THAT IS OKAY BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN AND OUR YEAR HASN'T FAILED JUST BECAUSE WE SET A FEW GOALS ON JANUARY 1ST THAT DIDN'T PAN OUT (BECAUSE SOCIETY MAKES US THINK THAT A NEW YEAR MEANS A NEW LIFE) BUT REALLY WE NEED TO TAKE A CHILL PILL AND REALIZE IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT AND A HELL OF A LOT OF WILL POWER TO SET YOURSELF ON THE PATH YOU WANT TO GO SO IT'S OKAY IF YOU MESS UP AND IT'S OKAY IF ONE RESOLUTION IS KNOCKED OFF TO CLEAR THE PATH FOR A NEW ONE OR WHATEVER BECAUSE AT LEAST YOU ARE TRYING!!!!

Sorry I yelled.

But do you catch my drift?

We need to stop putting such extreme expectations on this date on a calendar...and furthermore-on ourselves.

This year lets all just make the resolution to try and be our best selves.

A resolution that we should make every day, not because we feel we have to so that when our co-worker says "Hi there, buddy! Have a fun holiday? What resolutions didja' make?" we can say "BLAHBLAHBLAHSCRAPBOOKBLAH".

We've kicked 2013 pretty hard for what it did to us...but let's take some responsibility for what we didn't do for it. Let's ring in 2014 without any crazy expectations of the wonder and joy it MUST BRING US. Let's just celebrate another year filled with constant opportunities to grow and love and laugh and y'know what...maybe even eat a little healthier and go to sleep a little earlier. Or the dog sweater thing.

And stuff.

Any way about it...Happy New Year. Let's make it freaking fabulous.

-Kelsey