1// I’m obsessed with this local boutique in town, Four Sisters, and have been in and out of the store too many times to count lately and finding out they have an online site was too much for me. But, who could blame me when they have adorable pieces like these suede shorts?!?!

2// so I may not be the most avid fan of working out, but I think I NEED this for the next time I do hit up the gym

3// got a gal pal or best friend you’re planning on spending Valentine’s Day with this year? Check out Carly’s post on what to get your best gal friends to show them your love!

4// Kate Spade is my best friend I think. & their keychains are just TOO cute for your friends who are just starting to drive. I think I’m going to order this one for one of my soon to be 16 pals!

5// 10 different style tips from some of the best movies? Sign me up.

6// I have a thing for almonds, and these almond coated chicken nugs sound absolutely right up my alley!

7// how freakin’ fun are these balloon tails? I can’t WAIT until I have an excuse to use this crafty tip that’s now up my sleeve.

8// why would you drink anything other than pink hot chocolate is my question?

9// it’s still fairly chilly where I am, so here’s a list of the BEST hot chocolate recipes

10// lastly, here’s a nice vid of Adele singing Spice Girls and Nicki Manaj in the car because WHAT ELSE DOES ANYONE NEED IN LIFE?!

For those of you who aren’t already aware: I am a severe Pinterest addict. (self promo to follow me HERE) It is an actual real life concerning issue that I am starting to worry more and more about every day as my pin count reaches 15k pins…it’s fine, i’m fine? On the bright side I think I could single handedly run this country if we one day decided to make the switch to a “DIY” democracy. Tassel garland? got a pin for it. Need a hairstyle for an upcoming dance? check the hair and makeup board. Homemade-no sugar-gluten free-what is even in these-pancakes? oh lemme pull up the recipe from my food board. Honestly though, Pinterest has GOT MY BACK.

However there is one thing they seemed to be lacking on: life lessons. Sure, my ‘quote board’ is literally a typography of worded witty wisdom hoarding corner of the web (468 pins to be exact.) , but when it comes to things that truly motivate me to live out my life to the best of my ability…I’m at a loss. So I decided to take a few of the quotes from these boards and go a little more in-depth; show my side of how I view these sets of letters.  My font may not be all that pretty and you can’t hold down and save it to your camera roll to set it as your wallpaper for motivation (but feel free to screenshot this post if you feel so much inclined..) but here are MY words of wisdom for you all. Take what you want, leave what you don’t, but above all, don’t be afraid to look into yourself and find your own source of inspiration in the everyday.

no rain, no flowers// I think this is so so so so so important for people to understand and comprehend. we can be so utterly sheltered as a society that when one thing goes wrong, we swear the whole world is against us. life is hard, really hard. sometimes we don’t get what we want, and sometimes we go through struggles that we don’t understand. but what we do have to understand, is that without the times of trouble, there can be no times of triumph. yes staying positive in these hard times is important, but we also have to remember that it is okay not to be okay. it is alright to cry for a little bit or to have a day where nothing goes right. it makes the days that go right seem all the more better.

I have learned that to be with those I like is enough// I have pretty stellar friends. & to be more specific, I count so many people as my friends. if you attend my school, we’re friends. that’s a mindset I think we all need to adapt to. you don’t have to get along with everyone you meet, and you aren’t going to. but we also have to understand that (HSM reference intended) we’re all in this together. we’re all on earth, living life, doin our thing.  so make the best of that. smile to the check-out worker at the store and give a real response when you’re asked about your day, don’t forget that your teachers are people too and they definitely won’t mind you striking up a conversation with them, eat dinner with your whole family and don’t even check Twitter once. learn that these humans around you, are just like the human you are, so let’s get along with them and have a grand time.

if you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it// whether this be a bomb diggity friendship that you should put time and effort into, a class that you feel a spark of passion for, or a dream job that you know you’re gonna have to work the booty off for…don’t let dreams be dreams. make them into goals, plans of action, reality. if you can dream it you can do it friends, actually. don’t let that just be a cheesy phrase, make small steps towards your goal and get others who love you to support you, i betcha that they will. don’t ever be afraid of biting off more than you can chew. because it is far better to choke on greatness than to nibble on mediocracy.

surround yourself with people who get it// find those friends. those pals. those buds. those sisters. hold them close and make sure they KNOW that they’re important in your life, because we all need these kinds of people. we become the people we associate ourselves with so find good ones. the real feel good warm fuzzy hey can I hug you for the rest of your life just for being a great person kind of people. I know you’re thinking of yours right now…so shoot her a text sayin so.

exist to be happy, not to impress// this is hecka important. do things for yourself, not for anyone else. do them because they make YOU happy, after all, you’re the only one who truly matters to your own self. SELF SELF SELF SELF: learn to love it.

you’re cute and all but I’m not sharing my coffee// #duh?

well that’s all my Ally wisdom for now, learn to be the best you you can and learn to love a whole heck of a lot. until next time, xoxo, Ally

pictured below: me walking into school after break

I’m officially two days into the life of a second semester senior and now I completely understand the rush to get to college. My apps are done, college is picked out and ready to go (#RockChalk), my roomie and I are patiently waiting (okay not so patiently) to become every day best friends, and I’m right now the only thing I think I’m dreading about college is not being able to pop a bath bomb in the bathtub and forget everything. Can we please start a petition to make campuses BYOB (bring your own bath???). Christmas break was needed, but as usual, it flew by and the time for real school is once again upon me. Although college is approaching fast, there is still time left for me in high school that I am not wishing to move too quickly. So, it is back to the books and routines, which my slightly type A personality was craving over break. so incase you’re in a bit of a post christmas break depression, here’s how to break the slump:

new supplies// okay this is also coming from the girl who got “excessively obsessed and slightly in love” on the “how much does stationary mean to you” quiz on BuzzFeed…but take my bias and slightly materialistic advice: pretty things make you happy. Obviously the best things in life aren’t things, but I know doing my homework is slightly less depressing in a cute notebook and a really good pen.

seeing friends again// nothing motivates me to go back to school like knowing I get to see my classmates (and even some of my teachers) on a daily basis once again. cherish the people you attend school with, if it’s anything like the community of sisterhood I attend school at, you won’t want to miss a single day.

don’t let the semester slip away// if you’re a senior, or even if you aren’t, make sure you aren’t letting the thoughts of college get to you before you’re even done with high school. study hard. work hard. dream big. laugh in class. raise your hand. be a dream student, and do it for you.

I hope your semester is starting well and isn’t TOO chilly!

until next time, xoxo, Ally