Facebook Sucked the Fun Out of Birthdays

Facebook birthday notifications have to be the second to most annoying thing about the website. First goes to game requests from friends who don't understand the fact that you do not and will never send them energy in whatever game is trending that month.

Most of the time I give in to the peer pressure (plus I don't wanna look like a jerk) and just go ahead and wish someone a 'Happy birthday.' Long paragraphs with inside jokes and photo collages are reserved only for the closest of friends, everyone else is stuck with a generic variation of "Happy Birthday!"

But what is a girl to do though when Facebook lets you know it's your ex's birthday? You know, the one who you didn't date for that long anyways so there was no point in even deleting him from your friend's list. Plus, you get a surge of delight knowing all your awesome adventures show up on his news feed. I cant be the only one, right?

What the hell are we to say to the men who dumped us, broke our hearts, never asked us out on that second date or worse, kind of just disappeared without a trace from our lives, but not from social media?

Maybe I'm immature, probably, but I'm not gonna wish a 'happy birthday' to a douche. Don't we all just wish Facebook would get rid of the birthday feature? On top of reminding me all damn day, not I'm expected to send people Starbucks gift cards too?!

So what do the rest of you do when it's someone's birthday who you just cant stand? Ignore it? Reply one to that text message Facebook now sends out that automatically posts "Happy Birthday!" on their wall? Or suck it up and think of something heartfelt so on your special day you're not that loser that only got a happy birthday wish from your weird aunt who comments on your weight every time you visit her?

September Revisited

Goal posts are not something I do for the simple fact that I don't need proof that I didn't accomplish I had once said I would. It's like being called out by a girl who you don't even know, except that girl is a bunch of strangers on the internet you on top of not knowing, have the ability to do so anonymously.

So that's why goal posts aren't common around here. That and to do lists are much more my style.

September was an ambitious month for me, with my recent move to the city and unemployment driving me to begin talking to the walls. I decided to be proactive and make a list of goals for the month and...well, let's just see how it went.

B L O G   G O A L S

>> {Post on a more consistent basis, preferably three times per week.} Utter fail. But I have my reasons!

>> {Write posts as the idea pops into my head, not when I'm in a rush to hit publish.} This actually happened. It was the hitting publish part that got in the way.
>> {Take photographs of ordinary objects to avoid having to use a photograph found somewhere on the internet. Last thing I need is a lawsuit over some crappy stock photo.} Done and done. Yes people looked at me like I was crazy but whatever, it's for the blog.
>> {Actually promote my posts, instead of hoping my readers will stumble upon them.} I think we all know what happened here.

P R O F E S S I O N A L   G O A L S

>> {For every 3 days I don't receive a call for an interview, apply to another job.} I applied to so many jobs I had to make a spreadsheet.
>> {Have my resume and cover letter looked over by my admissions counselor.}Didn't happen, but for a good reason!
>> {Keep up to date with job listings in the city to avoid missing any opportunities.} I finally stopped hitting refresh because I got hired!! I am working with a nonprofit organization in Washington DC, plus, I finally have somewhere to wear all my nice clothes to. 

A C A D E M I C   G O A L S

>> {Befriend at least one person in my courses, both for the simple fact that I need a friend in this city and to ask for help when needed.} People know my name, and while we're not weekend friends, I can count on them saving me a seat.
>> {Do everything I can to avoid paying 800 dollars on textbooks this semester. And I mean everything!} Does deciding I'm not buying textbooks this semester taking this to an extreme?
>> {Avoid procrastinating on assignments, because graduate school costs way too much money to get anything below an A.} I think I've done a good job at this so far, my reading are a whole other story though.

P E R S O N A L   G O A L S

>> {Visit at least one museum.}Haven't quite had the time.
>> {Incorporate one new healthy habit.} Does walking everywhere count?
>> {Try out a new restaurant.} Rita's Italian Ice is my new obsession, and it's so cheap!
>> {Read that book I bought months ago.} Didn't happen, plus I've added more books to the read list.  

September Goals :: Goodbye To Do List

I've never written a monthly goals post for many reasons. Mainly because I am convinced no one is interested in my desire to get my life in order, but also because I don't really make monthly goals. I'm much more of a daily to do list kind of gal.

With life throwing something new at me every other day though, and my blog stats steadily declining because of it, I've decided to try throwing my hopes and dreams for the month of September out into the universe in hope of becoming more accountable for what I hope to accomplish.

B L O G   G O A L S

>> Post on a more consistent basis, preferably three times per week.

>> Write posts as the idea pops into my head, not when I'm in a rush to hit publish.
>> Take photographs of ordinary objects to avoid having to use a photograph found somewhere on the internet. Last thing I need is a lawsuit over some crappy stock photo.
>> Actually promote my posts, instead of hoping my readers will stumble upon them.

P R O F E S S I O N A L   G O A L S

>> For every 3 days I don't receive a call for an interview, apply to another job.
>> Have my resume and cover letter looked over by my admissions counselor.
>> Keep up to date with job listings in the city to avoid missing any opportunities. 

A C A D E M I C   G O A L S

>> Befriend at least one person in my courses, both for the simple fact that I need a friend in this city and to ask for help when needed.
>> Do everything I can to avoid paying 800 dollars on textbooks this semester. And I mean everything!
>> Avoid procrastinating on assignments, because graduate school costs way too much money to get anything below an A.

P E R S O N A L   G O A L S

>> Visit at least one museum.
>> Incorporate one new healthy habit.
>> Try out a new restaurant.
>> Read that book I bought months ago.

I'd love to hear anything you'd like to accomplish before September ends in the comments below!

100 Happy Days Challenge :: Days 11-20

Keeping up with the challenge has been difficult the past ten days, partially because I've been so busy getting everything in my new home but mainly because I've found it hard to stay positive overall. This move has taken so much out of me physically and mentally, but something as small as this challenge keeps me focused on what's coming up next.

I'm hoping to have a very important job application submitted my tomorrow, but in the meantime these are the things that have been keeping me occupied during the past few days. I honestly almost forgot on day fourteen, so I might have to begin setting a reminder on my phone before the day is over.

To read why I'm taking part in the challenge, you can click here, and also catch up on the first ten days. I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram and comment down below if you're currently taking part in the challenge or have in the past.

DAY 11: Visiting family one last time before my move and admiring my dad's new hobby of creating the most adorable terrariums.

DAY 12: Flight number two. Yes I did take my terrarium on board the plane, and yes, I did eventually prick myself.

DAY 13: The first of many East Coast sunrises I captured.

DAY 14: I found my high school honor roll buttons while packing plus my first cell phone ever!

DAY 15: Cat sitting my favorite kind of cat, black. She kind of had an attitude but I loved her anyways.

DAY 16: God is real y'all. Chicken fries are back!

DAY 17: If over packing was a sport, I'd always be MVP. 

DAY 18: I spent 2-3 hour wandering Target, it's sort of the place I go for comfort. No matter where you are, Target is always the same. 

DAY 19: My mind has been a mess lately, so I decided to at least not let my nails follow suit. 

DAY 20: You know you've been living in California too long when you are legitimately excited that it's raining. (I lit candles guys. And maybe some incense.)

If you are participating in the 100 Happy Days Challenge I'd love if you comment you're Instagram account so I can go give you some love, and if you've already finished it(or tried to), how was your experience?

You can keep up with my progress here >>

Why Do We Travel?

**I wrote this during my last few days in California. I have since relocated to the East Coast and will soon be discussing how the move has gone**

The majority of my day today was spent running around with my mom, purchasing last minute items I was in need of before my move to Washington DC. Ordinary things that I never bother to buy myself, like shoes or new sheets, the kind of stuff your mom (or at least my mom) likes to nag about.

The day wrapped up with me purchasing a new piece of luggage because mine was beyond repair after having been lugged around the cobblestone streets of Europe and stuffed to the point that I once pulled a muscle while picking it up.

Moving to Washington DC has become this bittersweet event in my life, because while I love the idea of being back in the city and working on completing my masters degree, I have to leave everything behind once again to be happy. And that's me being completely honest, I am utterly unhappy when I'm home. Or anywhere for longer than a year for that matter. 

I'm not sure where my need to constantly be on the move stems from. I had a pretty stable childhood, we didn't move constantly from home to home and grew up in the same town my whole life. Yet when it came to choosing a university to complete my undegraduate degree in, my only criteria was how many miles I could put between myself and home. 

Four hundred miles away wasn't enough apparently because I eventually decided to study abroad, and then I grew bored of England and decided to spend weeks backpacking. Coming back from the UK to my small college town felt like a death sentence, and I can distinctly remember crying the entire flight across the Atlantic Ocean, just wishing didn't have to come back to California. 

I eventually escaped California by taking part in an internship program in Washington DC, and in those months I fell in love with the feeling of truly living in a city. 

I don't travel for the photo opportunities, the chance to learn about new cultures and definitely not for the food. When I took a moment to think about it today I realized I travel for that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when your plane lands. That feeling of uneasiness when you're not sure which way is baggage claim, you're anxious that the directions to the hotel you printed out ahead of time won't help you get any less lost, and you cant for the life of you find anyone who seems approachable enough to ask for help. 

My favorite feeling in the world is moving somewhere completely new, having to learn the quickest walk home, the way the aisles in the grocery store are organized, and adapting to the new weather. Eventually though that feeling of newness fades away, and I'm left wishing I could just pack up again and start a life somewhere new. 

Have any of you traveled somewhere new for an extended period of time, and if you, for what purpose? 

100 Happy Days Challenge :: Days 1-10

So much has been going on the past ten days I don't know where to begin, but through it all I've managed to keep up with the challenge and capture some very big moments of this year.

Tomorrow night I will be catching my flight to Washington DC, where I have a room in a gorgeous house waiting for me and my graduate program to begin. Below are my photos from days 1-10 of the 100 Happy Days Challenge, and a quick explanation of each.

I'm hoping on completing this challenge for a lot of reasons, but my biggest goal is to just capture all the changes that will be occurring during the remainder of this year. If you aren't following me on Instagram you definitely should, I post minimal selfies and promise to not use more than 3 hashtags. Check out my account here >>

DAY 1: Announcing my decision to move to Washington DC to all my friends. 

DAY 2: Found $20 while sorting things for my yard sale. Score!

DAY 3: Made very little money at the yard sale and had been up since 5 AM, bought some ice cream to reward myself. 

DAY 4: Paid my tuition deposit that secures my space as a grad student at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. You can read why I chose this school here. 

DAY 5: Went for a random walk near my home. Watsonville (my hometown) has some secretly gorgeous trails. 

DAY 6: Booked my flight to Washington DC. And surprisingly didn't pay an arm and a leg.

DAY 7: The one random day a year that my mom decides to have fast food for dinner.

DAY 8: Group photo of my Washington DC Academic Internship Program. It was snowing on us but that didn't stop me from wearing my favorite work dress.

DAY 9: A snapshot of my seventh grade yearbook. I've had haters since 2005.

DAY 10: My postcard collection has grown to 143 total.

If you are participating in the 100 Happy Days Challenge I'd love if you comment you're Instagram account so I can go give you some love, and if you've already finished it(or tried to), how was your experience?

You can keep up with my progress here >>

How to Choose the Right Grad Program

Full of so many hopes and dreams, until the DC housing situation crushed them...

Going to college wasn't something I thought about at all throughout my childhood and teenage years. As a kid I was always pretty smart, and as I grew into a teenager I was able to keep an interest in most school subjects and make good grades without having to try too hard.

Colleges and universities weren't a complete mystery to me though, with a sister who was attending a local junior college and the hours I spent watching Rory on Gilmore Girls talk about her need to get into Harvard. (Was anyone else pissed she decided on Yale?) The thing is though, I never had a passion to go to college.

It wasn't until late in my junior year of high school that I realized I had to make a decision about what life after high school was going to be for me. And with good grades and the means to attend, it was an easy choice to attend a four year university right out of high school.

My time as an undergraduate was amazing! I was involved with on campus organizations, made friends from so many walks of life, lived on campus, lived off campus, spent a semester in England, backpacked through Europe, interned in DC, and just overall worked my butt off to graduate on time with two degrees and a handful of lifelong friends.

It wasn't until a few weeks into my last semester as an undergrad that I realized I was in the same position I had been four years ago. What was I going to do next? Except this time, the concept og more schooling wasn't so foreign, in fact, it felt like it was all anyone talked about.

Being a Psychology and Women's Studies double major, I had the friends who were in the STEM field constantly telling me I had to go to grad school to be competitive in the workforce. My Psychology peers were all attending a grad program in the fall, every professor I spoke to advised I should go, the only problem was this time the decision didn't feel as effortless.

GRE exams needed to be taken to prove my competency, never mind the dozens of grades I had earned over the course of four years. Every application came with a fee, essay questions about what I wanted to do with my life, requests for resumes to hear my experience but they weren't interested enough to want it to be over a page long.

It just all seemed like so much damn work, which slightly pissed me of because hello, I finished my undergrad, I think I can handle your (overpriced) grad program.

With the stress from all the application requirements and hurdles you have to jump to talk to admissions counselors, I decided I needed to take a year off to evaluate what I really wanted to do, or more specifically, when and where I wanted to do it.

It wasn't until my now academic counselor contacted me after having visited an open house event at a school in Washington DC. I wasn't able to meet with the main admissions counselor because I had unluckily arrived just after another prospective student, but instead spent an hour talking about my goals, questions and hesitations about attending grad school at all.

A few days after I attended the open house event I received a call from the admissions counselor, and since that day I have spoken to him on a weekly basis. He encouraged me to apply to grad school, helped me through every step of the application process, and even gave me some recommendations of places to visit during my weekend trip to Boston.

Coming from a large university, it was strange to have someone on staff answer my calls at all, let alone help me find housing in a city like Washington DC, allow me rant about my student loan debt, and do what an adviser is supposed to do; help when they can and serve as a person to throw all your thoughts and questions at in hopes of making sense of it all.

This September I will be starting my graduate program with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at their DC campus. The feeling I left the campus with on that open house day is the same feeling that led me to choose UC Riverside. I felt welcomed.

Choosing a graduate school, or any type of school, is a hard decision to make, especially when you have very few people to help you navigate it all. My opinion is this; if you are asking yourself if you're ready, then you're not. But if you visit the campus or talk to a person on staff, and leave the experience feeling as if you're already a part of the campus community, go for it!

Maybe I could have been accepted into Harvard or Yale, but who needs a big name school when you have an adviser that understands your love of cats and genuinely cares about your transition to a new city and life. Figuring out grad school is tough, but once you find the right program, it's effortless.

Humpday Confessions: Adopting and Job Hunting

I confess...

>> I've been putting a little too much effort into photographing the perfect photo for the 100 Happy Days Challenge. I've just become really particular about the photos I post on my Instagram account overall.

>> The rumors are true, you do gain weight after graduation. Hopefully living off pennies in Washington DC will make me drop this weight.

>> The thing that keeps me from posting on a regular schedule hasn't been content lately, it's been photos to go with my posts. A fellow blogger in a network I'm involved with just had a company threaten to sue her, which explains the lack of GIFs in this post.

>> I've spent too many hours that I care to admit to browsing cats available to adopt in the DC area. Never mind that I have no job and haven't yet moved to DC.

>> I signed my lease today for a room in a house in Maryland, and I'm praying this doesn't end up being another scam on the internet.

>> I haven't really started job hunting in the city only because I'm scared I can't compete with the other people there. I'm straight out of college with a whole lot of volunteer experience but zero actual work experience.

>> The thought of moving across the country for three years is beginning to terrify me, but at the same time it's equally exciting. Why must our twenties be so confusing?

Make sure to link up with Kathy from Vodka and Soda!

Can You Trick Yourself to be Happy?

The 100 Happy Days Challenge is something that crossed my radar months ago, but like most other interesting things got bookmarked and buried under dozens of cat videos and DIY projects. Once I returned from my blogging hiatus I noticed that bloggers I followed we're taking part in the challenge, and some were close to completing it!

This past spring was one of the most exciting times in my life, with me living and interning in Washington DC, getting dangerously close to graduating college and just about everything else in life seemed to be going so smoothly. It wasn't until I walked across the stage and picked up my fake diploma that everything came crashing down...

This summer has been a never ending stream of stress, with grad school decisions hanging over my head, trying to find housing in Washington DC while I'm all the way in California, needing to basically toss or donate everything I own(because all I can take with me to DC is two suitcases) and just a general early twenties existential crisis.

After talking to multiple bloggers and just reading general posts about the experience in completing the task overall, I decided I was up for a challenge, but even more, I am in desperate need of some happiness in my life.

Travelling back home, no matter how short the stay may be for, just makes me feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed every day. I made the decision to go to a college far away for the same reasons why I don't enjoy visiting the small town I grew up in. I can honestly say I don't have a single friend here, there's not much of anything to do, and I overall I feel like there is no room for me to grow as a person. Being that I've been home all summer, there is no time better than now to force a little happiness into my everyday life.

My most often used excuse for not taking part in the challenge was that I didn't have a smartphone, so uploading photos every day would require me use my digital camera and then transfer the photos. I just couldn't picture myself doing that on a daily basis for longer than a week or two. Now that a friend graciously let me have his "old" iPhone, that problem is nonexistent, leaving me with no more excuses.

My hopes for the 100 Happy Days Challenge is to trick myself into being happier each day, until I eventually do start finding happiness in the small things that would usually go unnoticed. I am about to start a chapter in my life thousands of miles away from home, with nothing but two suitcases and my childish dreams. If all goes right, I'll be moving to Washington DC mid-August, starting school in September and adjusting to East Coast weather all through fall, so what better time to document my life on a daily basis?

The plan is to recap the challenge here on the blog every ten or so days, for those of you who don't follow me on Instagram. (But who totally should.) I'm incredibly competitive so hopefully that will keep me motivated enough to not bail halfway through, cause there's no way I can be part of that 71% of people who fail the challenge! My official start date is August 1st because is it just me, or does fall feel more like a new beginning compared to January 1st? Maybe it's because August means new grade level in school, school supplies, clothes (if you were lucky), etc.

Wish me luck, and if you've completed the challenge comment below with any posts you may have written about it. Or just any kind of comment, they kinda sorta definitely make my day.

July Favorites

In an effort to keep my July favorites from being unbearably long, I've broken it down into categories and forced myself to choose one winner for each. Enjoy!

F A V O R I T E   T W E E T

What would ur "photo an hour" in Santa Monica look like? We're loving this bday edition from @rarerubi.. http://t.co/EZHZYgUtLv
— Santa Monica (@GoSantaMonica) July 25, 2014

I just about screamed when I saw that the official Santa Monica Twitter account shared my birthday edition photo an hour post. I'm still screaming about it actually.

F A V O R I T E   V I D E O



F A V O R I T E   A R T I C L E

A post by Buzzfeed which perfectly summed up how it feels to leave your hometown. And just a few points about how it feels to come back every once in a while (ie Christmas cause your mom guilt trips you).

F A V O R I T E  B L O G   P O S T

Hima's 100 Happy Days journey has me desperately wanting to join the challenge.


F A V O R I T E   I N S T A G R A M

My sad at tempt at being Pinterest famous got me a few extra likes on Instagram, which by the way you should follow me on >> @whenlifegivesyourubi

F A V O R I T E   B L O G   P O S T   B Y   Y O U R S   T R U L Y

Apartment hunting in the city led me to write a rant about how great of living arrangements twenty somethings seem to find in the city. But really though, Craigslist is evil and Jess from New Girl had to be stupid to move in with total strangers...no matter how hot they may be.

F A V O R I T E   S O N G



This song for the If I Stay trailer has been playing with my emotions lately...

F A V O R I T E   A P P

This is one of those super simple yet really addicting games that secretly makes you exercise your brain. Download it, it's free and you will feel like a champion when you complete all the levels. 

Make sure to leave me some of your monthly favorites below. I just joined the iPhone family and am in desperate need of some app recommendations!

Life is Not an Episode of New Girl

Television shows such as Sex and the City, Friends and New Girl brainwash us to believe that we can live in an exciting city full of cute guys, a plethora of jobs and best of all, a reasonably priced apartment. It's not until most of us graduate college and enter the real world that we realize our friends don't have the time nor the energy to sit in a coffee shop with us all night, and brunch every Sunday with our best girlfriends is something we won't be able to afford until we're well into our thirties.

When I walked across the stage at my college graduation I was all too aware of the fact that I had no clue what my next step was. Unlike other graduates though, my time in college wasn't so typical. I had the pleasure of traveling, studying abroad and even interning in Washington DC. All these adventures set me up for a lot of disappointment when I quickly realized FAFSA would no longer be paying for my international fun.

Somehow I managed to talk my way into a grad school acceptance, I honestly think this is the way I conned myself into receiving an acceptance letter. The problem? I live in California and had made the decision to apply to one graduate program...all the way in Washington DC, you know the place, with rent prices comparable to New York City.

With two weeks before my tuition deposit was due I had the job of finding a place to fall asleep at night with a barely there budget. After talking to a bunch of friends who were equally oblivious, I decided to look on Craigslist for housing. Worst. Decision. Ever.

This is where my post title suddenly become relevant. Life is not an episode of New Girl ya'll.

Craigslist isn't full of cool twenty something housemates who live in a reasonably priced apartment with plenty of square footage. After contacting over 60 listings and being completely ignored by at least half, I was left with the obvious scams, total creepers and future kidnappers.

The fact that New Girl starts off with her finding an apartment on Craigslist so easily and in an all male apartment that is somehow spotless and full of natural lighting now just pisses me off. I've been looking for weeks and have yet to find one reputable place that doesn't ask for my social security number after just a few text messages. You know, for "application purposes."

With few options and even less time, I let the fantasy of me living in the city go for a house share in a neighboring suburb instead. Maybe if I had perfectly voluminous bangs and puppy dog eyes the house hunt would be a bit easier, but until then I'll continue to tell every scam artist I encounter to go to hell and keep hitting refresh on Apartments.com.

20 Things You Didn't Ask to Know About Me

As I was wasting time the other day I noticed my friend Noor had tagged me in an Instagram photo, which at the moment made no sense because there was no possible way she had taken a photo with me. (She lives in Pakistan, I'm all the way on the California coast.)

Turns out there's a tag going around, and in the spirit of not being rude and ignoring the fact that I was tagged I figured why the hell not? I promise to do my best and not bore you with random facts that you've read a thousand times before.

1. I eat an entire bag of sunflower seeds a day. Sometimes more. I've always had a craving for seeds and have reached the point of eating them so often that I don't need any other meals during the day.

2. I went years without drinking water. Years. Then a few months ago I was too cheap to buy anything other drinks to pack with my lunch and suddenly started drinking water.

3. I played softball for one season, and by played, I mean I stood in the outfield hoping the ball never got as far as I was. I was mostly in it for the uniform, which ended up being hideous.

4. I always carry two cell phones with me. The one that is in service and the one I prefer to take photos with. It makes no sense.

5. I used to steal books from the library because I believed the other kids weren't treating them right.

6. I'm very easily annoyed, so easily that it's hard to be around myself sometimes. But the only people who see this bitchy side of me are my boyfriends. (In the past, not as in I currently have multiple boyfriends.)

7. I don't trust the people who work in salons and wax your eyebrows. Do they have an official title? Anyways, I don't trust them, I swear they always take off wayyyy too much.

8. I've never watched The Bachelor and I have no interest in it either. Dating shows have always just felt so forced to me.

9. I've never tried most foods that people love. Like cake, donuts, all seafood, hot dogs, Nutella, steak, and about every other thing you probably couldn't live without.

Nothing sexier than a cardboard box, am I right??

10. Sophomore year in college I dressed up as a robot and it was awesome. I spent days making the costume and kept it for months afterward.

11. Whenever I meet someone new I introduce myself by saying, "Hi, I'm Rubi...with an I."

12. Every time I ride a taxi alone I will text a friend the license plate number. Just in case I'm kidnapped or something...

13. Late at night when I'm really bored I'll walk around my house as quiet as possible to see how little noise I can make. Remember that scene in Enough (the movie with Jennifer Lopez and her abusive husband) where she's trying to sneak out of the house? It's half that, half pretending I'm in an episode of The Walking Dead. All in all, I bet I look ridiculous.

14. I fist pump whenever my popcorn is done.

15. I only run if there's a prize at the end. Like a free tshirt or photo opportunity.

16. I don't put a password on any of my electronics because if I'm kidnapped I'd like the police to find clues of what the heck I was doing before it happened.

17. Now that I'm writing this list it's pretty clear I'm always preparing to be kidnapped, and to partially solve my own case.

18. I've seen almost every episode of Law and Order SVU, which is probably where my paranoia stems from. (Completely unrelated gif, I just love how they were the couple that never happened.)

19. I've pepper sprayed someone. It was actually a friend of mine who was getting on my nerves.

20. It's impossible for me to smile in a photo after I've been asked to. I just cant, I'm sorry, my face doesn't work that way!

If you made it to the end, wow. The lazy in me probably would have quit halfway through so I applaud you. Definitely leave a random fact about yourself in the comments or feel free to mock me for pepper spraying my own good friend.

And if you feel like completing the tag go ahead, this is me tagging you!

Humpday Confessions: Pregnancy and Moving to Washington DC

I confess...

>> I spent all of last week convinced I was either pregnant or dying. Turns out I've just been so stressed that mother nature came a week and a half late, because that's not something that would exponentially stress me out even more.

>> I was accepted into a great grad program in Washington DC, but I might not go simply because they charge the price of one soul for housing.

>> I've cried almost every day this week because of the stress of looking for housing, a job and trying to figure out a move across the country. Did I mention I have 4 weeks to get this all done?

>> I've been too tired to read blogs lately so I skim through Bloglovin for my absolute favorites and for any posts with an interesting title. #imactuallysorry

>> I have about 100 blog post ideas but zero patience to sit down and write about any of them.

>> Storage Wars is my current show to binge when I just give up on everything. Don't judge me, I like the drama of not knowing if they're going to make their money back.

>> With all the upcoming deadlines to get my life sorted out I forgot it was Wednesday, which turned into me forgetting to write this post until Kathy sent out an email about a link up malfunction, which means I have no chance up being one of the first few to link up!

>> There's two posts in one day because why the hell not?! Click here to see the other link up party I was fashionably late to...

Dont forget to link up your confessions with Kathy for the rest of your life. 

Fashionably Late to the Blogmopolitan Quiz

Today I'm linking up with Two Thirds Hazel because there's nothing I love more than answering questions about myself. Probably the reason I look forward to interviews. It's not too late to add your quiz to the link up so go download the quiz, choose your favorite PicMonkey font and get to answering!

Much wider than my blog width but I didn't want to strain all of your eyes.

Humpday Confessions: Facebook Stalking and Post Grad Life

I confess...

>> this is the only link up I've ever cared about because it encourages gifs and I love ranting. This link up feels like a safe place to rant.

>> I don't like fashion and beauty blogs, there I said it. I never buy the clothes featured on fashion blogs and the last time I wore make up was never. But I read them anyways sometimes because maybe I'll learn something.

>> I only ever empty the dishwasher so I can fill it up with my dirty dishes. Sorry mom.

>> I Facebook stalked my admission counselor. We're basically friends, I mean, we had a ten minute conversation about cats #unbreakablebond

>> I feel good when I unfriend someone, and that cant be normal. I should write a post about this, I dont know, it just feels great to kick someone out of your life. At least virtually.

>> I've never seen the Hunger Games movies and I have no desire to. And I'm also not crazy about Harry Potter, though I've seen a few. I know they're supposedly amazing but, I just cant...

>> I like articles written in list form. Maybe I'm a lazy reader.

>> I graduated college a month ago today and haven't even bothered to start looking for a job. Hellooooo denial!

>> I wrote this post days in advance because I NEEDED to be one of the first people to link up. I'm weirdly competitive like that.

>> Being that this is my first link up ever, I cant freaking figure out how to add the little box with the link thing! So pasting the photo will just have to do. Go check out everyone else's posts on Kathy's blog here!!

What is this blog even about?

This question has been gnawing at my mind ever since I took a break from blogging this past March. I spent weeks of my life wanting to blog but at the same time not sure if anything I had to say was exactly "relevant." After blogging for my university's admissions blog and Her Campus for years, I've been trained to only write things that will interest and benefit others in some way, which makes writing hard when I don't totally know who my audience is anymore.

I've finally started blogging again and unfollowed any "big bloggers" that I wasn't absolutely in love with because I'm human, so I like to compare things like comments, photo quality and stupid things like that that really don't make a post more interesting at the end of the day. Whenever I think of what a successful blog looks like I picture Helene in Between or Vodka and Soda. Helene manages to write about the most random things with photos that don't look like they were shot for a magazine, and people still keep coming back!

My ultimate blog crush is Kathy though, I seriously get excited when she leaves a comment on my blog. Like how the hell did she even find tiny me?! I have respect for someone that can write #limpdicksfordayyssss and not only not apologize for cursing on her blog, but have people love her even more for it!

True story, I curse more than the average person. Yet you would never know based on my blog! I don't know what the hell this blog is even about, but when I started it that was the whole point! I just turned 22, I'm single, trying to figure out grad school, and am the poster child for a confused twenty-something with loans that need to be paid off ASAP. I don't even know what my life is about right now, so how the hell is my blog supposed to have a focus?!

I think I've finally remembered what this blog's purpose was, it was supposed to highlight what being a 20 something feels like nowadays. And the truth is, it's not exciting adventures and hooking up with hot strangers. I spent today cleaning my room because my mom ordered me to and then watched an uncomfortable amount of YouTube videos.

So if you're wondering what this blog is about you might as well ask me where I see myself in 10 years, cause you're gonna get the same answer. I don't freaking fucking know. I guess that's the great thing about being a "lifestyle" blogger, you can write about basically anything and no one can say shit because heyyyy I'm a lifestyle blogger and no one really knows what that means anyways. 

For now I'm going to do my best to stop trying to find a niche, because I will never have the patience to be a fashion blogger, I've never had an ounce of interest in anything beauty related and DIY blogs are for people that don't live in tiny apartments. Like honestly, where do they put all that crap once it's finished?

Photo an Hour :: Birthday Edition

When I first started my own blog I came across a post where a fellow blogger posted a photo for every hour of the day. (That she was awake of course.) After writing the idea down with the other hundreds of ideas I think of but never get around to transforming into a post, I decided to just go for it! And what better day than my 22nd birthday?!

The photo an hour challenge is just like it sounds, every hour make sure to take a quick snapshot of what you're doing, what you're eating or what show you are currently procrastinating with. I'm not sure if there are more rules than that, but regardless, it was my birthday so I didn't bother to check.

I spent my birthday in the Santa Monica area to stay true to my promise of celebrating getting another year older in a city I've never visited. After a nine hour bus ride delayed by an additional six hours, I was so happy to get off that freezing cold bus. Thank god I packed my carry on bag with all the items necessary to not make me wanna bang my head against the window.

If you do a post like this I'd love if you linked it in the comments below! I know we're bloggers/writers but no matter how old I get, I will always wish there are pictures to accompany the words.

9 AM: No more than two minutes in Santa Monica and I found what had to be the most clever license plate number I've ever seen. My friend almost got hit by a car trying to get a photo, but hey, it was for the blog. 

10 AM: The people here were "interesting," far too interesting to attempt to snap a secret photo of them. 

11 AM: Wasn't quite ready for lunch so I instead decided to do some sightseeing. Found this lonely lock on a fence near the ocean. I wonder if they're still together...

12 PM: While hunting for a place to have lunch I snuck up on this seagull. I maybe looked crazy but I needed a photo and the sky was at it's most clear. 

1 PM: If you know me personally you'll know that chicken strips and french fries are my all time favorite food. I hate ketchup but I couldn't resist snapping a shot of the smiley face. 

2 PM: Still enjoying my birthday lunch at Johnny Rockets, it was so fun there I just didn't want to leave! Plus, they gave me a free ice cream sundae for my brithday, no proof of it being my birthday required!

3 PM: Passed the Santa Monica Aquarium on the way back from the Promenade. My failed attempt at making a fish face. #thanksgenetics

4 PM: Exploring the Santa Monica Pier. In an attempt to take a shot of the view, my friend gifted me this; the biggest panoramic shot fail ever. 

5 PM: Bought a boogie board and had to take a photo in front of this amazing mural before we hit the water. 

6 PM: Used my snack break as an opportunity to take an Instagram worthy photo...except I have yet to post it on Instagram. Is anyone else really bad at posting photos onto Instagram in a timely manner?

7 PM: With the waves getting a bit too real for my liking, we changed into dry clothes and strolled down Venice Beach for a bit. 

8 PM: While making our way to the car we stumbled upon this palm tree that seems very confused about where she's headed in life. (A lot like myself.) We laughed so hard while staring at it that it just had to be the photo for the hour. 

I eventually made my way home and fell asleep right after I showered...only to wake up at 4 AM. I know, I'm really living up my twenties. I Snapchatted my failure to be young and wild, ate some apple slices and fell back asleep. If this is what 22 feels like, I'm kinda digging it.