yeah I’m wondering how it happened just as much are you are…

not sure how in the world it is already halfway through December considering I’m pretty positive it was just August like a week ago. I finished my finals today and no one died or vomited and only a few tears were shed. 246 notecards, way too many cups of coffee, and and a whole lot of google translate later I made it through. finals can be rough on anyone but thankfully by my junior year i sort of (sort of.) know the ropes and like to think i have my routine down pretty nicely. so here are some of the things that got me through this semester and probably will get me through the rest of my life without going TOO insane.

baking// alright I’ve always known my mom would one day be right when she says I would do everything the way she does it now but I never knew that day would come so darn quick. needless to say, here i am relieving my stress in the kitchen as i’ve watched her do my whole life. my creations aren’t quite as tasty as hers (yet, don’t worry mom I’ll catch up) aaandd i admit a few of the treats may contain the words: “boxed cake mix” but hey, a cupcake is a cupcake am i right? and i must say i don’t think my family has minded the random muffins, cupcakes, and cookies constantly on our counter. (below you’ll see evidence of me yet again giving in to target…it’s a problem i’m perfectly ok with)

my agenda// i got my first Lilly Pulitzer agenda the summer before sophomore year from my grandma for my birthday and fell in love with it enough to get one again this year before heading back to school. nothing keeps me doing my homework like getting to write it down in a really cute agenda. organization is one thing but feeling organized is half the act

alone time// wowza this stuff rocks and where in the world have after school naps been my whole life? seriously though, having my own time to do whatever i want, whether that be blog or bake or cuddle with my favorite pup, i’ve found out i need this time to myself and allowing myself to have it has made such a difference in my mood this semester. so that paper due in 24 hours or that spanish play you have to memorize (don’t get me started) can wait. and i promise you’ll be a whole lot more motivated to work on them once you’ve had you puppy snuggles in for the day. like c’mon.

coffee// ok you all knew this was coming. there is nothing, nothing, coffee can’t fix. truly thankful i forced myself to like it last year and now loving it isn’t even slightly forced. falling asleep is ten times more exciting when you know you get to wake up to a vanilla latte. (alright, it sounds a lot more sad that i have that mentality when i type it out)

sweet sweet friends// luckily this semester was full of reminders of why my friends rock. one of my favs was rockin’ Laura who is on dance team with me was THE BEST secret santa in the world. literally. i have not left the blanket she made me alone since i got it, you rock LT.

well here’s to break, and to more semesters to come filled with lots of coffee and lots more finals. hope your break starts off perfectly.

ALSO!!!! if you have any comments, questions or anything really..feel free to hit up xoxoallisonnicole@gmail.com because i’m REALLY EXCITED to talk to you all!

xoxo,

Ally

If there is one thing I fully admit to being utterly awful at, it’s hiding my emotions. If the shirt you see me in was my 3rd one of the day because the first TWO got coffee stains (guilty, and also guilty to proudly wearing the coffee stains all day on lazy occasions…ooops..#sorrykindasorry) on them, you’ll be able to tell by the scowl on my face. OR if there happened to be consistent solid jams on the way to school that morning (T. Swift you’re the homie) you’ll see my joyous self beaming the rest of the day. I’m pretty much an open book when it comes to my feelings and opinions, so starting this blog was one of the coolest and almost *easiest (we’ll get to the side note later) things I’ve done.

if you were to give me a dollar for the amount of times the words, “is it scary?” have come out of peoples mouths I would buy you all rockin’ Christmas presents.

to answer the FAQ’s short and sweetly: terrifying.

***there ya go. putting posts out there is one of the easiest things in the world because writing is straight up fun to me, and i love being able to put my love into words. having other people read it..not so easy. I have been guilty of walking into a class and seeing at least 3 people reading it on their iPads and just wanting to walk straight back into the hallway to avoid questions.

terrifying in the most satisfying way. mainly because the second most asked question is “why did you start blogging?” and I usually don’t play favorites, but I’ve gotta admit, answering this one is pretty up there on my favorites list, but I have yet to verbally answer with a statement I’m truly proud of considering “i like to write a lot” and “it makes me happy” have been my go-to answers so far.

answer: to sum up how insanely great life is. cheesy, I know. but in all honesty, i couldn’t be more happy with my reasoning. I’ve got some of the greatest friends life has to offer, a stellar family, and have been blessed with the opportunity to this year come to the realization of how to view life in which every day is a chance to make something really cool happen. sitting back and realizing that getting to tell my stories of little things that make me happy and facts about my day or my favorite foods just may be my part in making someone’s day. I blog to make things sparkle (or at least write about sparkly things) and to make people smile.

If I lived in a perfect world I would wake up every morning from my cozy bed in my loft in NYC with my best friend in my matching pj’s, devour my breakfast of warm eggs and avocado toast and slowly sip on the world’s best vanilla latte all while blogging about the crazy cool happenings in New York. meanwhile. Omaha is pretty neat, and I live each day in my one pair of matching pajamas (I would wear them everywhere if i could) and drink what I like to think is a pretty darn perfect vanilla latte, okay. Vanilla Kuerig cup with milk and whipped cream if I’m loose on time, but basically the same thing. and blog about the neat friends, amazing family, and sparkly goodies my little world has to offer, and I’m very alright with it.

so to all the people who stop me in the halls and tell me this blog makes them smile or tell me they get excited to see a link to my blog on Twitter, you. rock. so. much. honestly i peed a little the first time someone told me that. (jk. maybe.) but no kidding, you all mean the world to me, and honestly even the people that say they liked a certain thing i wrote about or a quote made them smile is the most amazing feeling. glad i could make your hearts happy.

so have fun, be free, and take time to love everything. because life moves really fast. smile at everything, laugh at everything, be happy with everything. and do you, because it’s the greatest feeling in the world.

you all rock beyond words.

xoxo, Allison

Hello Friends! Hope your holiday week was filled with good food and great friends, I know mine was. To catch up on the week here are a few tidbits I’ve been up to.

EATING// Potbelly sandwich shop. (now located in Omaha at 120th and Blondo) I was able to catch a lunch date with my dad on my day off school today and try it for the first time and it’s ah-mazing.I snagged a grilled chicken and cheddar sandwich and some broccoli and cheddar soup and it was very satisfying to say the least. They’ve got soups, salads, and sandwiches with a few smoothies and shakes to top it off. Stop on by and be amazed.

WEARING// matching pajama sets. alright call me a 6 year old on Christmas morning but I can’t get enough of these. i bought my first pair from Target when all of their clothing was 50% for Black Friday and i already want to go back for more. (I’m constraining myself considering Christmas is around the corner) Seriously nothing makes me feel like my life is put together like ending the day in matching pajamas (usually complete with fuzzy socks

)

LOVING// Christmas EVERYTHING. okay this shouldn’t be a surprise to any of you if you even slightly know me, but Christmas is straight up my spirit animal. Eloise at the plaza during Christmas time and I are one in the same, really. I took a free day off school today and hit up Target (it’s a gold mine) to snatch up some Secret Santa goodies and walked away with more than enough. Seriously a walk through the Christmas aisles is just asking for trouble if you give into cute shaped candy and every flavor possible of hot chocolate. (guilty)

FEELING// motivated. the days are numbered until Christmas break and that means the stress of finals is upon us. it can be a scary thing, but just taking it one day at a time and thinking about your little tasks instead of the big picture can make things go A LOT smoother

OTHER HAPPENINGS// Dominic came over the other day just to hang out and my Christmas fever got the best of both of us and Christmas shaped cookies were in the oven within minutes of him walking through the door. Baking tends to be our thing when he comes over but I don’t mind because the leftovers are usually left for me to devour when he leaves. (don’t tell him that or he’ll want in) 

And there you have it, just another week in the life of me! Hope your week is full of smiles and sparkles. Just 24 days left until Christmas! 

xoxo, Allison