The 25 Best Things About Having the House to Yourself

I love living with Jake. He makes me tasty breakfast sandwiches, he's super organized, he leaves me little love notes around, and he's my favorite thing to wake up to every single morning.
That being said...
Sometimes there is just nothing better than having the apartment to myself. 
Those of you with roommates and/or live-in partners can attest - having a big chunk of time with nobody else home can kinda rock sometimes. (Until its really dark outside. Then I just get scared...)
Carrie Bradshaw describes this phenomenon as SSB: Secret Single Behavior. The things that you can only truly do or enjoy when you're totally alone in your home. 

Here are the 25 Best Things about Having the House to Yourself:

1. Total control over the remote. Obviously.

2. Eating Chinese leftovers from the carton

3. Blasting whatever music you want free from the restraints of headphones

4. Hour long baths

5. Doing embarrassing workout videos free from judgement

6. Total control over the thermostat

7. Cleaning out your pores and plucking eyebrows out in the open

8. Rummaging through the cookies with no witness

9. Walking around in your underpants with no sucking in whatsoever

10. Decorating before you can be stopped

11. Trying on lots of different outfits and hairstyles and taking pictures of yourself

12. Hour long unfiltered phone chats with your girlfriends

13. Watching the Sex and the City movie again and being able to lie about it

14. Online shopping & Pinterest mania

15. Reading on his side of the bed

16. Covering the entire living room floor with craft projects
17. Singing at the top of your lungs into hair-brush microphones
18. Sharing a bottle of wine - with yourself

19. Catching up on tabloids
20. Eating Nutella from the jar while singing along with Robyn songs
21. Sprawling across the whole couch
22. Enjoying silence
23. Making girly mixed drinks and creating Nail Art
24. Catching up on projects you've been needing to do

25. Having time to miss your honey

On The Scene: Volume One

As you may know, I effing ADORE movies.
There are SO MANY brilliant movies out there, AND within those movies: CAGILLIONS of amazing scenes.
I'm not talking just good scenes, I'm talking perfect, beautiful, remember forever, life-changing-potential scenes. Whether they make you choke on your popcorn you're laughing so hard or make you want to kill yourself. 
Scenes that make you fall in love with an idea, or a song, or Heath Ledger. 
I started writing a post about my top favorite perfect movie scenes, but as I wrote, the list got longer and longer and further and further categorized until it was clear what needed to happen: Recurring column.
Today is just the tip of the cinematic iceberg (I'm only gonna do a handful in each category), so if I'm missing something you think is vital, I'm probably (hopefully) saving it for another day. From this year's oscar contenders to silent classics, from high brow to the famous 'hair gel' scene, here is the beginning of some of my favorite all time scenes.

You may also notice I've also learned how to harness GIFs, which I'm kind of obsessed with...

Scenes Involving Music:
The Jack Rabbit Slims Dance Contest (Pulp Fiction)

Tony Manero's Big Moment (Saturday Night Fever)

Dancing in the Moonrise Kingdom Cove (Moonrise Kingdom)

"Put the Blame on Mame" (Gilda)

Singing in the Rain (Duh.)

Classics For A Reason:
"Mr. Demill, I'm ready for my closeup" (Sunset Blvd. - often misquoted)
All of Ric and Ilsa's scenes (Casablanca)

"Fasten your seat belts - It's going to be a bumpy night" (All About Eve)

The Dancing Buns (The Gold Rush)

"STEEEELLLLAAAA!" (A Streetcar Named Desire)

Cary Grant Running from the Planes (North by Northwest)

Prologues & Opening Sequences:
The giant roof-jumping, vehicle-swapping, chase/fight/badass scene (Skyfall)
The view of Ellie and Carl's Relationship (Up)

Holly getting out of the cab & eating her croissant (Breakfast at Tiffany's)

Amelie's childhood (Amelie)

Final Scenes:
The Football Field Fist Pump (The Breakfast Club)
The Interrupted Wedding (The Graduate)

Racing through the bullets (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)

George Bailey's happy ending (It's a Wonderful Life)

When he realizes why she didn't show (An Affair to Remember)

"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" (Gone With The Wind)

Winter Lovin!

I am sitting on my balcony, watching the sunset and sipping a beer. And all of a sudden - I'm COLD! I actually need to go inside and grab a sweater!!!
For anyone reading this North or East of me, I'm sure you're A) Mind-Boggled that it's taken this long for coldness, B) Shaking your fist at me in jealousy, or C) Thinking I'm a wuss for needing a sweater in the low 70s.
However, despite confusion or refute - Winter is Here!!

I am SO EFFING EXCITED!

With winter not only comes hats and scarves and tights and boots and all the countless fabulous hot spiked drinks, but also CHRISTMAS! And NEW YEARS!

It's so funny that the coldest season is associated with the most warmth of spirit. 

I love winter so so much.

I love Christmas lights and carols and stuffing. I'm mad about thinking of the perfect presents for people and fires and seeing people in from out of town. 

The sun is setting earlier, noses and cheeks are getting rosy, and the air smells crisp and toasty. It's time for hot coffee and good books, for blankets and good company. It's time for Muppets and Jimmy Stewart. 

Be prepared - the next month will include TONS of Christmas and winter related posts! Seriously - I've already compiled THREE hours of Christmas music. You're welcome in advance.

Happy happiest of winters!

What I Learned: Attending a Football Game

I'm not a real sporty girl.
Until this weekend, I had only been to one football game in my whole life, and it was my cousin's high school game about 8 years ago, and I wore heels. And was ridiculed. 
However, I somewhat redeemed my anti-sporticism this weekend and attended a football game at my alma mater! 

(Jake and I doing the Wildcat symbol)

Here's What I Learned:

• Always carry a comb
• Sports transcend people's political beliefs
• Pre-Gaming & Tailgating are awesome
• There are no stupid questions
• Sports are complicated
• The universe needs to come up with cooler band uniforms
• Football moms love kettle corn
• It makes sense why college stadiums don't sell beer
• Rivalries run deep
• If you need to get amped up, turn to Bon Jovi
• Bring Binoculars
• You know you've found true love when your honey will wait next to you in a crazy long sports arena restroom line
• There was a whole world in college I was totally oblivious to
• Cotton Candy is a must
• Sports minutes are longer than regular minutes
• Anything can happen
• Rental seat cushions are totally worth it
• Always carry cash
• Poor sportsmanship is never an attractive quality
• Chanting is fun
• Traditions are important
• Keep your chin up
• No one can resist Gangam Style 
• You can have a lot of fun participating in something you don't totally understand

Heart List 11 ~ 25 ~ 2012

Cook Books, ChicWish, This RAD Morrissey Sweater I just bought, Sneaking Cans of Champagne into Movie Theatres, Miss Moss (My new favorite blog - I'm obsessed!), Wildfox Clothes & Jewelry

Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Slims, Thanksgiving Morning Races, Maria Mena, Pose, Stuffing, Pink Roses, Whiskey Gingers, Affros, Paste Magazine, This iPhone Camera Case!

This Rookie Mag Make Your Own Stickers DIY, Design Love Fest's "Dress Your Tech" Downloadable Desktop Designs, Victoria's Secret Pajamas, AMC's film site, Jessica Hische and Daily Drop Cap, Chunky Heels

I'm Sorry, But...

I'm sorry but - one CANNOT get anything done while watching Modern Family.
It can't be done. It's too good.
Until Tomorrow.

PS - Liz and Dick was potentially THE worst product ever put into the public consciousness....
I WILL at some point watch the whole thing...

My Life, Like the Twilight Saga, is now Complete.

Full Disclosure: I read all four Twilight books and have seen all the movies.
Fuller Disclosure: I enjoyed them all.

Today, my best friend and I, along with some smuggled-in Champagne, completed our Twilight Cinema experience.
It has been 5 years in the making, and all I have to say is that it was PERFECTION.

The twists and turns, the debate over which was more embarrassing: the acting or the writing, the CGI, the soundtracks, the dice roll of directors and how Taylor Lautner was going to justify removing his shirt...

But I think the best part of it has been experiencing something like this with my bestie. There is NOTHING better than finding your best friend soul mate, and she and I will live happily forever just like Edward and Bella.

And yes, I am fully aware that I sound like I'm 13.
And I don't even care.
FOREVER.

So Very Thankful

So, this is a couple days late, but I am so thankful for so many things.
I was planning on writing this article on Thanksgiving, but I got too busy spending time with all of the things I'm thankful for, and had no time to write.

So, as I inhale leftover stuffing and green bean casserole, sipping champagne and watching Netflix, I'm thinking about how I am TRULY endlessly grateful for COUNTLESS things this year.

I'm thankful for everything from stuffing, to Art, to canned Sofia, to honesty, to the pilot of modern family. I'm thankful for every second with my phenomenal parents to seeing every Twilight movie with my best friend. 
I'm thankful for races and dinners with Jake's family, and striped shirts, accomplishing goals, and bloody mary's with my surrogate sister.
I'm thankful for all my friends who are off doing incredible things from swing dancing in Ireland to helping people heal to attending Law School to making movies, music, plays, and magic in everyday life.
I'm thankful for Jake - the most amazing boy a girl could ask for.
I'm thankful for day drinking and iPhones and freedom of speech. For PJ's, and vintage shops, and novels, and being able to successfully make rent.
I'm thankful for health, and love, and satchels, and black and white movies. For the countless people who inspire me every day of my life, the ones I know and the ones I dream to know. 
I'm thankful that I surround myself with people who are perfect ingredients.  
I'm grateful for pizza and curling irons and photography and musicals. For black tights and health insurance and democracy and kindness.
I insanely appreciate fresh flowers and the Obamas and nail art and friends who fill my entire living room with balloons. I'm indebted to my grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles for helping me believe in family and loyalty and board games. 
I couldn't be happier about the existence of dinner parties, and holidays, creativity, girl power and travel. For Disney cartoons, and new wave music, and different cultures, the internet, and having an incredible job.
I'm thankful for all of you readers, whoever you may be, for thinking I have something to say. (Or even if you don't, thanks for reading anyway. You guys rock.)
I'm so grateful for hope and fairy tales and magic and silver linings and happy endings - all of which I truly believe exist.
But most of all - I am grateful that I have THOUSANDS of things to be SO SO grateful for. 
I wish you all the happiest of holidays, and limitless things to be thankful for. 
Xoxoxo

Gobble Gobble

Happy Happy Happiest of Thanksgivings!!

I am INCREDIBLY thankful for all of you!

Xoxoxo

Second Star To The Right

Aging is a funny thing because you don't notice it until it's snuck up behind you.

Now, as a wee lass of 25, I by no means think I'm old, but there are countless distinct and definite changes that have happened to me as I've evolved into my mid-twenties that I've begun to notice.
I'm not talking about the baby laugh lines or the beginnings of grey hairs (which I've definitely also noticed), I'm talking about silent little evolutions. An ever unfolding development of tastes and preferences. 

I mentioned recently that my palette has changed - I like dark strong coffee instead of mochas, and more bitter beers. I've traded cosmopolitans and mix drinks for straight whiskey, and I actually like ordering vegetarian sandwiches half the time. (Whaaa?) 
The mall stresses my shit out, and I'm coming to terms with the fact that I need 8 hours of sleep. (And by 8 I might mean 9.) 
I'm learning that you need to communicate constantly (especially when you don't want to), that you teach people how to treat you, and that if you don't ask, the answer will always be no.
I'm losing patience with certain things and gaining patience with others, and immediately noticing the material and tailoring of clothing items.
Money doesn't slip through my fingers quite like it used to (save the occasional 60$ bar tabs) and I'm more interested in buying investment pieces than a cagillion sundresses from Forever 21.
I'm actually enjoying indulging in moderation, am exercising consistently for the first time in my entire life and I've come to accept that I like techno music. I know.

None of this is necessarily about better or worse, it's just been interesting to realize how you change and evolve.
I floss my teeth every night now! (Almost)
Now don't get me wrong - I am not saying that I've grown up. Trust me. I still throw tantrums, get too drunk, cut my own bangs, forget to pay the cable bill, and my cooking repertoire is still predominantly founded in Trader Joe's frozen food section.
I will go on a spending frenzy because I just HAVE to own something new, I fall down constantly, I buy booze instead of dinner, and I wear sock monkey slippers. 

It's just funny to see how we change.

Although... and I don't mean to brag - but I've officially kept a cactus alive for TWO years. Face.

Heart List 11 ~ 18 ~ 2012

The Silver Linings Playbook, Audible, Sam Tsui's song covers, German Chocolate Cake, This Buzzfeed Article, Swamplandia! by Karen Russel, British Accents, Peppermint Tea

SKYFALL!!!, Brain Scape Language App, The Fashion of Glee, Meatball Subs, Peplum Tops, Chictopia, This Article about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), Doris Troy, Stacy Helps on YouTube

Reading Results after a Race, A Friend of Mine's Shoe Challenge Experiment for Buffalo Exchange, The Lisa Frank Pic N' Share App!, Half & Half, Obama Dub Songs, Lamarca Prosecco

Words To Live By

Comfort Food: Buttered Noodles and Carrie Bradshaw

It's four in the afternoon and I'm in my pajamas watching Sex and the City for the eleventh-thousandth time. - Way back when Carrie still smoked, Charlotte was with Trey and Miranda's hair was in it's man-phase. 
In about 5 minutes I'll remove the fettuccine I have boiling from the stove and drench it in butter and cheese. 
I am sick. 
Not sick in the I-have-an-unhealthy-obsession-with-cheese-and-HBO way (which I also am), but sick in the runny-nose-balloon-in-my-head way. 

As I lay here guzzling diet orange soda, I realize that when you're feeling this useless, you need comfort food for body and mind. 
Guilty pleasures need to be indulged, in the forms of carbohydrates, cheese and cheesy TV.

I discovered SATC at 17, and for the last 8 years (holy shit has it been that long?!) it has been my go-to comfort show. I know every episode backwards and forwards. I'm soothed by the cosmo-consuming banter, the tumultuous relationships, the fashion, the sexual puns, the shoe obsessions and more. 

Even though some of Carrie's outfits are hideous, she's totally fiscally irresponsible, and every time I hope she won't cheat on Aidan (even though she and Big do belong together) she does, she's my bedside companion. 

Some time soon I'll get off the couch and put my contact lenses in and maybe even bathe.
Some day soon I'll eat a meal consisting of something other than butter and cheese.
And some day I WILL own an official Patricia Field Nameplate Necklace. 

But for now, I will indulge in indulgences, and get carried away.

... And yes I know how cheesy that was.

... Get it? Cheese?

... I need a nap.