the big why

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..#sorrykindasorryon 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.

answerto 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.

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you all rock beyond words.

xoxo, Allison

a week in the life

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.
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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

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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) 

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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

 

 

 

bunches of thanks | happy turkey day

Writing this post cozied up in my warm bed watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade while Pinterest-ing and texting my sweet friends and currently couldn’t feel more blessed.

Thanksgiving is possibly my favorite holiday. Minus my mom’s killer chocolate chip molasses cookies and my grandma’s apple cider and green bean casserole, the day has always been filled with my non-food related favorite things like my amazing friends and family.

to single out a few things I’m thankful for:

my mommy// thank you for acting like I know what I’m doing with my life sometimes, and letting me know when I’m off track. she’s the coolest mom I know and my favorite memory with her is our little mini getaway to SanDiego a few spring breaks ago. thank you for letting me live my dreams and encouraging them in every way possible, love you so very much

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cream cheese donuts// found at the one and only Muchers Bakery located in Lawrence, KS and possibly the most delicious edible treat in all of Kansas. Worth the stop while you’re in the area, and even better with chocolate milk.

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snail mail// nothin’ beats getting letters in the mail and nothing beats letters in the mail more than letters from your best friends. Sweet Maddie moved down to Lincoln this summer and after becoming friends through dance we decided snail mail would be a fun form of catching up. boy is that true. coming home from school and seeing her cute mail waiting for me makes my day. (your letter is on the way gf!)

my biggest fan and super hero (also known as my dad)// no one pulls off acting like sitting though hours of dance recitals is fun quite like this guy and I couldn’t appreciate it more. my dad has been my hero for my whole life and pushes me to work hard in all I do. love him and his crimson and blue heart a whole lot (pictured below is my proudest Father’s day gift yet)

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Lush// alrighty if you haven’t experience Lush here ya go http://www.lushusa.com click it right now I dare you. And if you haven’t been inside a store PLEASE take a visit next time you’re in a huge shopping area (my christmas wish is that a Lush soon comes to Omaha) These bath goodies are heaven sent and worth a buy. (and high on my Christmas list hint hint)

to name a few more: apple pie, J. Crew socks, my sweet puppy, fuzzy blankets and dreams of NYC

Most of all I’m thankful for all of you. Thank you for being here, reading this. Thank you for supporting me and smiling along with me as I live what seems like a dream. It’s pretty ordinary but pretty special. Thanks for sharing in the sprinkles, sparkles and sass, it means more than you know.

So have a happy Thanksgiving friends, share it with the people you love, and save me a piece of pie.

xoxo, Allison