a week and a day

So I found it very very fitting that my Instagram photo-a-day challenge for the 22nd (a.k.a. move-in day at college) was "home." Since I started here just about a year ago, I can honestly say Yale has become a second home to me. There's so many special places and people and sights and sounds. I've walked around campus at all hours of the morning. I've gone through some really awesome moments (sorority initiation, spontaneous dance parties right before midterms, sneaking boxes of cookies out of the dining hall) and some not-so-awesome moments (cranky all-nighters, rooming drama, personal issues). This school has seen me looking my best and looking my worst. And hey, I think you get to call anything home if you feel comfortable enough to walk around with no makeup and super-fuzzy slipper socks.

Coming back feels great. Getting settled, readjusting to my now-super-high lofted bed, catching up with friends and getting back into study-mode. It's all good.

So here's to the next eight months at "home."

And now, a little snapshop into my life. Since moving in, I've already...

1. checked out all of our favorite food places. It was a very nice grrrr surprise to some of us when we found out that while move-in day was the 22nd, dining halls wouldn't actually open until a week later. So yes. That meant eating out a lot. Which was fine, because New Haven is kind of known for its food. Great pizza. Best sushi deals. Delicious mac 'n' cheese. I guess the only thing it hurt was my wallet. Now that I've crashed all the go-to spots, I'm going to make more of an effort to try other new places.

2. had my first workout. But that was days ago. And I need to start working out more. But I think the five-floor walk-up to my room should be enough, right?

3. had my first job interview. It was for manuscript proofreading. I think I may have sounded a bit over-eager. I told my interviewer that performing checklists and finding errors in manuscripts are absolutely fascinating to me.

4. bought myself a really awesome t-shirt.

5. gone to Yale Health. seriously. not even a week here and I got sick. but don't worry. my sore throat's better now.

6. done laundry! I don't understand this but I guess because it's so hot that a couple outfit changes during the day are necessary....

7. shopped some kick-ass classes. Intro to the Human Brain. Early Modern England. Moral Foundations of Politics. they should keep me busy for a while. I mean, I already have about 200 pages of reading to do for tomorrow...

8. locked myself out of my room. so yes, first run-in with security. sigh. 

In all, I'm just enjoying being here, and I don't want it to go by too too fast. 

How has your week been? 

Liebster Blog Award

As mentioned about a week ago, I have been honored by Stephen Sluder over at Slu's World as a recipient of the Liebster Blog Award, an award given to up and coming bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Big shout-out and thank-you to Slu for so thoughtfully thinking of me and my blog! It's really made my day!

As a recipient of the Liebster Award, I have to answer some questions from Slu and pass on the love, awarding a few of my favorite bloggers with <200 followers with the same honor.

First, the questions: (these were so fun to answer! definitely check out Slu's very entertaining answers!)

1. Exactly what was it that got you interested in blogging?

I had just graduated high school and had a long summer ahead.  I was about to start college, finally scored a summer job, and it really felt like a new chapter in my life was starting. Not to mention the eighth Harry Potter movie was coming out that summer and we all know that marks an end of an era on its own! I felt this incredible need to document, and after years of failed journaling behind me, I thought why not blog? In the end, it's all about documenting and sharing and celebrating each little step.

2. What makes you smile each day?

Lots of things make me smile each day. my friends. yorkside milkshakes. my current toenail polish. getting picture emails from my parents. lying in hammocks.

3. We're all "flies on the wall," what is your dirty little secret?

Blogging is my secret. I have not told anyone I know--not family, not friends--that I blog. It's been nice to keep this blog as a more personal thing, and it puts less pressure on me.

4. How did you meet your significant other?

Haven't met him yet :)

5. What are your top 3 movies, all time?

This is a tough one, so I think I'll cheat a little! I love the Star Wars trilogies, anything with Natalie Portman and anything with Rachel McAdams.

6. How many times do you proofread your blog before you publish?

Oh, this is horrible horrible horrible. At most once or twice...sometimes not at all!

7. Rock, pop, smooth jazz, hip-hop, country, R&B, disco, (FAIL) blues?

Mostly pop. Anything that's playing on one of those top 40 radio stations.

8. 5 years... where are you?

Five years from now...I will have graduated from college. So maybe I'll be out working in whatever field I chose? Hopefully that or just about to start grad school.

9. How many blogs do you read each week?

I follow around 62 blogs.

10. Who is the best cook/chef in your family?

Nothing beats Mom's home cooking.

11. M&Ms... plain or peanut?

PEANUT!

Ok, so now it is time for me to pass on the love. I nominate these lovely bloggers for the Liebster Blog Award:

1. Haley @ Hey Colleges Read This!

2. Imee Tan @ I'm Talking...Just About Everything

3. Jamie @ Smile, Hello

4. Chelsea @ 3...2...1...

5. Becca @ Diary of a Diva

6. Emily @ Dirt Bikes & Diamonds

If you choose to accept, please pass on the love (nominate some of your favorite bloggers!) and tell us 10 things you'd like to achieve in the next 10 years. 

Happy Monday everyone!!!

Jersey Shore

I'm back! And it's so good to be back and seeing the goings-on in the blogging world. Though honestly I moved in days ago and haven't even started classes yet...and I'm already trying to scrape away time here and there to go escape with my laptop.

We spent the last few days before move-in in Point Pleasant, NJ. Each year we go--there's a beach, the boardwalk and a couple little shopping places. And some really really good food. It's very low-key and relaxing, and it was great spending some more time with my parents before I left.

Most of our days were spent at the beach. I'm actually a horrible beach-goer, but I really do enjoy it. I'm not a big swimmer, so all my time is spent sitting in a beach chair and reading. I'm also not a sun person, so I'm constantly under the umbrella. And if it gets too cool or breezy under the umbrella, solving that problem includes covering myself with towels and throwing on a sweater...not, as many people would do, getting out from under the umbrella and getting a little sun. :) 

Some things we ate: taffy from the boardwalk sweet shop, a Stewart's root beer float, a coconut patty, fried oreos (seriously. I dare you not to fall in love.), coconut shrimp, crab and artichoke dip, and some amazing oysters on the half-shell.

some things we saw:  some very pretty flowers, lots of owly things, some amazing antique finds, a typewriter, a 7-eleven (we don't have these where I live. I was so excited!), hermit crabs, filled parking lots and The Dark Knight Rises.

From the inside of Perks Cafe, a popular breakfast spot. 

what I read: all 916 pages of the September issue of Vogue. which I bought at the 7-eleven. 

oh I knew we forgot something...

Life Update: Blogging Vacay

So earlier this evening we had this staff dinner for everyone at my summer job. It was awesome. I'll miss those guys. And the kids.

So this past week has been a full one. I've been out mostly--either at work (we did an overnight with the kids which went surprisingly smoothly) or visiting friends or sleeping.

There is still so much to do to get ready for move-in day. I have to pack all my clothes (I don't even know how this will be accomplished), find room in the car for all my giant plastic containers and buy a Swiffer. I have to find my keys to my P.O. Box, write my internship essay, change my toenail polish, and figure out at least some of the classes I want to take.

We're also in need of a couch. And then we have to bring this couch up five flights of stairs.

My days are kind of filled up for now spending time with my family--which will be super relaxing. But right now, writing this at 4 in the morning, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.

So right now I think I'll just focus on things one day at a time. Which means I'll be taking a bit of a blogging break--but I'll be sure to be back by next Wednesday or Thursday.

For updates until then, be sure to check out my Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr--I'll still be posting on those along the way!

And to end this I would like to give a huge thank-you to Stephen Sluder over at Slu's World for giving me the Liebster Blog Award. It really made my day today. I'll post more about the award later next week!

Happy weekend everyone! I hope you're all in a happy place!

Link Love

Hey all! Just thought I'd share some of the awesome things I've come across on the internet these past couple weeks. They've taken my procrastination skills to a whole new level. Enjoy!

Ah, back to school:

• Seventeen Magazine compiled an extensive list of all the discounts out there that are available to college students. I've known about some, like J. Crew and Ann Taylor Loft student discounts, but a couple took me by surprise! Some phone carriers give student discounts! I just registered my account at Verizon for my discount, so we'll see how that goes. 

Some healthy living...

• As someone who is constantly at war with her skin, I found this article about causes to acne to be really really interesting and informative. 
• Your brain is one of the most important things to exercise. I definitely want to work on incorporating #4 and 5 into my routine a bit more. 

It's turning out to be physically impossible for me to go a few blog posts without mentioning adorable puppies. 

• The article's title is Puppies Being Cute. Enough said. 
• Incredible story about stray dogs in Moscow who take the subway daily to find food. What a phenomenon. 

Some awesome writing tools:

• This site analyzes a writing sample and tells you which famous author's writing your sample resembles. I plugged in a bit from my post about the Empire State Building made of pennies. Apparently I write like H. P. Lovecraft. 
• Hey, we can all be poets with this rhyme generator. 
• Here's a pretty cool prompt generator for when you decide to start a new writing project. 

Some favorite blog posts recently...

• I really enjoyed Charlotte's New Thoughts on Blogging. As the summer winds down and I prep to head back to school, I've really been thinking about how much this blog has grown and developed this summer. I've been trying to figure out for a while my reasons for blogging and what I truly want to get out of it. This blog post came at a perfect time. 
• I need to get on a train. Stat. 

Some randoms....

• I can't get over how amazing these food tips are. I keep saying to myself, why didn't I think of that?
• The Slytherin in me really really wants this snake ring. 
• Yesterday, August 13th, was National Left-Handers' Day! These are just some of the reasons why we are pretty darn special. 
• This is kind of addicting, and I don't know why. Keep going--there's a hidden picture underneath it all! 
• These are GORGEOUS!

Happy Tuesday!! 

Summer Beauty Routine

It's summertime. It's hot, sunny, sticky and gorgeous. My internship has been pretty much full-time hours, and I do prefer sleep over spending a ton of time performing some insane morning ritual. My beauty routine is generally simple and hasn't changed much (read: at all) throughout the summer.

Summer Beauty Routine - 2012 by marisoldahl 

1. Clean & Clear Finishes Mattifying Cleanser. Smells clean, gently exfoliates and helps reduce the oiliness and shininess that can build up through the day. 
2. Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunblock SPF 55. Awesome sun protection, is oil-free and noncomedogenic (will not cause breakouts). 
3 & 4. bareMinerals SPF 15 Matte Foundation in medium beige. favorite foundation so far. I've been using it constantly for about a year. great for the skin, too. my dermatologists have always recommended it. I apply it with my Sonia Kashuk Dense Blush/Powder Brush. 
5. for my eyes I just swipe on one color--I haven't really been bothering with a smokey eye. I'm loving cream-based shadows, like Maybelline Color Tattoo Crème Eyeshadows.
6 & 7. my Sephora eyelash curler makes all the difference. L'Oreal Voluminous is my current mascara. I always switch it out every three months. 
8. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. I can't go without some lip moisturizer. 
9. Korres Lip Butter in plum. really nice for some added color. 

what are your daily beauty must-haves?

Five Things

...that I'm currently doing right now.

listening to: I'm not a really big Justin Bieber fan, but my love for BSB might be unmatched. this medley is, uh, pretty awesome. I'm also listening to a lot of King's Highway. a couple years ago we saw them perform at the Stone Pony when we took a trip to the Jersey Shore. Their songs always bring back amazing summer memories--like walking the boardwalk, eating clams on the half-shell and taking long road trips to visit colleges. 

reading up on: politics. The election's just a few months away and I really want to work on being more informed. I really really like my USA Today iPhone app. During car trips I can just scroll through different articles--a more productive use of time. 

eating: fruit smoothies (just some blueberries, a couple bananas, vanilla lowfat yogurt and ice. blend and enjoy) and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. apricots are also pretty special, too. 

watching: Pretty Little Liars, Grey's Anatomy, Law and Order, and a National Geographic documentary on solitary confinement (um, nothing else seemed really appealing on Netflix...)

smiling about: going back to school (12 more days!), the september issue of Glamour with Victoria Beckham, getting some beach time soon, Indian food for dinner. oh, and my new social media buttons!

happy weekend!

A bit of inspiration...

The third prompt in my Instagram August Photo A Day Challenge was the simple word "coin."

And I have a confession: I cheated (a little bit). I actually used my mom's photo of this Empire State Building replica made out of pennies. She took this photo over a month ago. 

But never before have I seen a more powerful use of 10,000 pennies. It really is something that needs to be shared. 

This replica is currently on exhibit at my library. It was created by a local actor, Ricardo Zamudio, who was inspired by the tragic events of 9/11. In the wake of the attack, Zamudio was deeply moved by all the missing person signs he saw around the city along with the numerous pennies he found on his way to work one day. 

So he decided to unite these single, seemingly insignificant coins to build a replica of the Empire State Building. Just as the World Trade Center used to be, the Empire State Building continues as a shining symbol of New York pride and solidarity. As Zamudio said, "One penny is meaningless but when put together, pennies, like people, can create something special--a needed reminder after the 2001 attack."

You can read more about his artwork in this article here. 

So regardless of where you were when the attacks occurred, or how much they affected your life, I think Zamudio's work can be inspiring for all. It's a classic example of strength in numbers. Supporting one another and getting over petty differences is something I think we as a society need to work on. 

Seeing this exhibit at my library always makes me smile. What's inspiring you lately?

xx MD

let's talk about kangaroos now.

A week ago today I had a very special conversation with a cool little 8-year-old.

kid: Marisol, is it hard having kids?
me: well I don't really know. I don't have any kids.
kid: where do they come from? like, where do babies come from?
me: ....
me: ....
me: well, where do you think babies come from?
kid: well, my mom says they come from trees.
me: oh, okay.
kid: but then she also said they come from their mommies' tummies.
me: yep that's very true.
kid: but...but...how do they get in there?
me: let's talk about kangaroos now.

I really can't believe I have only six more days left of my internship. I am going to miss it so much. It's been exhausting--long hours, hot days and constant activity and vigilance. But I have learned a lot. I'm going to miss the staff and kids so much--I've grown very attached to them and can't really imagine never seeing them again!

I'm sad to leave, but excited to move on. A really weird but not abnormal combination, I guess.

Sleepy Bear

Happy Monday! 

So I was really really bad this weekend, and I didn't get a lot of sleep. Somehow I just wasn't that tired, so I spent my nights wide awake watching Pretty Little Liars, reading Glamour en español, drinking Sanpellegrino Aranciata Rossa (blood orange sparkling water), and starting up my Google+ Page (check it out!). 

And I guess one consequence of not sleeping is basically feeling like this all day: 

I am he, and he is me. 

Except for the fact that I am simply not as cute and adorable as that bear. 

How was your weekend? Hope you all had a more energetic Monday than I did!

xx Marisol

Five Things...

that I'll be reading this weekend:

1. My mom told me about this article about people who live in apartments on The High Line. Seeing as we just went there and that it is one of my favorite places in the city, I can't wait to sit down and read it. I think there's also some pictures involved...

2. Rapture by Lauren Kate. The fourth and final book in the Fallen series. I stampeded through the last three so I'm expecting an awesome ending. I definitely recommend the series if you are into light, chick-lit, romance-type of stories. 

3. I'll try to read up on the aircraft Intrepid. We are going to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum tomorrow in the city. I always like to be at least a little informed before I walk into a big museum exhibit. 

4. Just got an email that the first few chapters of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets are up on Pottermore. Can't wait to read more about the story from J. K. Rowling.  

5. I'm kind of in love with this new blog I found through Molly Ford's Smart, Pretty and Awkward. It's all about the fine art of "adulting"--basically a modern-day book (blog) of etiquette and proper social conduct. 

what are you all up to this weekend?

Happy Friday! 

Marisol xx

photo found on weheartit, via laced-wings

Instagram - Photo A Day August

Hey everyone! I'm so excited to tell you that I have started my very first photo-a-day challenge on Instagram. They've always looked so cool, so I'm going to try it out. Let's hope I can keep up!

Here's the challenge list:

list found here. 

Do you do Instagram challenges? Some 'grammers get pretty creative with their posts--they are always so interesting to see! 

Follow me on Instagram (user: marisoldahl) to see how I'm faring with this challenge. No Instagram? You can still check out the photos here. 

Happy Thursday! 

July in Pictures {and words}

 

1. my love for lobster has grown exponentially
2. I went to Vermont. Some of my favorite summer moments were sitting out on the dock at night, just being alone, watching the sky and listening to the silence.
3. I started reading the Fallen series by Lauren Kate -- just picked up the last one in the series today at the library.
4. I was unemployed for a day (but it's all good now).
5. I saw the Katy Perry movie. New song favorites of hers are Who am I living for? and Circle the Drain.
6. saw fireworks
7. created some buttons
8. saw Andrew Garfield in Spiderman. Oh, yeah. Emma Stone is in it too.
9. Visited the New York Aquarium. saw the penguins. and Nemo and Dory. (I can still hear the kiddies shrieking, "look everybody it's NEMOOOO!")
10. I've been trying my hardest not to let all the swimming and chlorine get to my hair. Amika hair mask has been helping me out.

In all, July's been pretty good. How was the month for you? I can't believe it's already August!!