National Cathedral

A couple of weeks ago a friend and I went on a mini adventure to the Washington National Cathedral for a school project and took a million and five pictures. For the assignment I had to compare it with the Chartres Cathedral in France and I was genuinely surprised at how similar they were. The National Cathedral is such a hidden gem, I never would have thought to go visit but I had the best time. The architecture was stunning and the amount of detail in every corner of the building was incredible. I felt like I was back in Scotland, it was the coolest. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the day!

xoxo, LC

Photographer, but not really.

Hello people of the internet, long time no chat! I wish that I could say my lack of blogging can be entirely accredited to the fact that I am a high school senior who decided that it would be a good idea to apply to seven schools each with various questions and supplements, but I can't place the entirety of the blame on the college application system (despite how infuriating it may be at times). Part of my lack of blogging is on me out of sheer laziness and for that I am deeply sorry. Perhaps at some later date you may be able to forgive me, I hope that day is in the near future as my goal in life is to make as many new friends as possible, and I certainly do not want to get off on the wrong foot with anyone.

Anyway, lately I've been thinking a lot about photography/videography, and my place in the moment-capturing community. I've been into photography for as long as I can remember, in fact I still have my first point-and-shoot Pentax camera that ate up double A batteries like you wouldn't believe. I remember how much I loved that piece of junk (because let's face it, it was a piece of junk then, and is a piece of junk now) and carried it with me everyday, taking snapshots of my life as an eight year old.

I want to recapture that feeling. I remember being head-over-heels obsessed with photography and wanting nothing more than to learn about the inner-working of my camera, what made it tick and what would allow me to manipulate it to capture the best of every moment. I have a car. I have a camera. And now I have the time. What's stopping me from just getting out there and taking some, for lack of a better word, rad pictures? Maryland can be photogenic. And even it's not, it is my responsibility to tackle job of making it appear so.

This past summer was supposed to be my chance to delve further into photography and perhaps dabble with videography, and I got too caught up in the mechanics of the process. I got some awesome footage and have had a blast putting a bit of it together, but so far nothing I have created has been "wow" worthy. I think that videography might have to be placed on the back burner for a while, as I am recommitting myself to photography.

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and am in the process of working out the kinks for a website. For now, it is simply a place for me to get all of my best photos in one spot other than my hard drive, but who knows what it may evolve into. I guess you'll just have to stick around and find out!

That just about sums it up, thanks for reading!
xoxo, LC


P.S. On a totally unrelated note, a couple days ago, Casey Neistat, my favorite filmmaker of all time, uploaded this this video about why he has decided to stop vlogging. Many people have complained about the end of his vlogs and I just wanted to take a quick second to admire what he was done and his reasoning for doing so. Casey says that he has decided to stop vlogging because it is no longer a creative challenge, that he has been successful and that success has become easy and familiar. His desire to always be pushed, to always be on the lookout for the next obstacle to conquer is one-of-a-kind, and is a quality that I hope to one day master myself. Anyone who thinks they have the right to complain about this is kidding themselves, this is one awesome dude who deserves nothing but applause. That is all. Good night.

ROCK ON

My taste in music is all over the place. Depending on my mood, you may get in my car and hear anything from Chance the Rapper to Queen. If I am in a full court press mode for testing, you can bet that my earbuds will be blasting classical music ( I like my Mozart loud.) But if I'm angry or irritated, Kanye seems to be the way to go. And of course if it's raining out, or I need to feel one with the world, I like the Cold War Kids, Hozier, James Bay, or Vance Joy. I like to switch it up pretty often, and am always on the search for new music.

Because my mercurial nature is reflected in my capricious musical preference, I tend to listen to a specific playlist religiously for a couple days or weeks, and then get so irritated by the music that it doesn't get listened to for months. For instance, last week I was into relaxing and acoustic music, but this week I've been digging mostly early 2000s rock music. It isn't all from that time period, but each song has a similar vibe to me.

This playlist gets my heart rate up, is great to run to, and overall improves my mood and makes me feel like a rock star. All what I've been needing lately, don't ask me why. Sometimes the music tells me what I need before I know it myself. So here is my playlist, I recommend listening to it LOUDLY. It is entitled ROCK ON, yes in all caps, is there any other way to do it?

PS. Come on Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners is my all time favorite on this playlist, it's actually the song from this scene in Perks of Being a Wallflower. I can't get enough of that song.

Happy Listening!

What have you been listening to lately?

xoxo. LC

Traveling NYC With My Mother

Tonight I thought that I would post something little different. Despite the fact that I am a blogger, I'm not exactly sure that I would call myself a writer. I love to write, I just don't see myself as a writer per say. However I do enjoy creative writing (duh) and last year I was inspired by the essays I read in AP Lang. So here's my first ever publicized writing piece, my own essay/poem/whatever you want to call it, called Traveling NYC With My Mother, a Heartfelt and Sleepy Moment in Time. 

It is currently 1:30 AM and I am filled with a longing for New York. The city beckons like no other, and what I wouldn't give to be doing my schoolwork in that dirty little supermarket near Times Square. I listen to show tunes, not because I am a dedicated musical lover, but because of the nostalgic smile that makes its way across my face when I hear a song and remember the bitter cold we felt as walked as quickly as we could to the theater at night. Or the sleepiness I rubbed from my eyes when we left the hotel early in the morning to get tickets in the box office. I love the constant uncertainty, the thought that maybe it would be okay to have sushi for breakfast because it's the only thing we can find that won't take hours to eat. I crave the spinach and feta omelet from Applejacks diner that we ate two nights in a row because we missed our reservation at the gluten free Italian place and I long for the weird meat that remains a staple of the Hilton Garden Inn breakfast. MoMa is calling my name, and I laugh when I remember how we stood in separate ticket lines to see which one would be more efficient. I feel the need to wander the endless halls of the Met after paying fifty cents each for entrance like I feel the need for air. I miss the four hour bus rides filled with uncomfortable and uneasy sleep, and the crick in my neck that won't go away for a week. I crave hale & hearty soup, especially the hidden one at the bottom of Rockefeller square where we have to stalk the tables next to the Starbucks and follow our meal with coffee and a trip to the anthropologie that is practically next door. I miss the dingy bathroom in the bagel place where you need to bring your own toilet paper and pray you don't get yelled at for using the restroom without paying for something. I even miss that gross green tea drink I did buy there in an attempt to be trendy. New York beckons for me and I spend my nights trying not to answer its call.

Do you have any other passions?

xoxo, LC

As Seen On TV- Spencer Hastings

As I mentioned in my last post, Fall is my favorite time of year. Seriously- it doesn't get any better than this. One of my favorite things about Fall, (oh you know besides the food, smells, and colors) is the fashion. It's cold enough to stop sweating right when you step out the door, regardless of how little clothing you wear, but it's not so cold that it gets into your bones and you can't remember what it feels like to be warm again.

One of my other favorite things, regardless of the season, is to get outfit inspiration from my favorite TV characters. It's so simple and effortless, yet when I show up to school looking like I spent some serious time putting myself together, I look like I actually have the time and energy to pull myself together.

The character I tend to emulate most often is Spencer Hastings from Pretty Little Liars. Her style is impeccable and most days, I'm just as busy as she is, if not more so. Her love for coffee mirrors mine and her dedication to her schoolwork keeps me on track if I'm feeling a little lazy. My favorite looks of hers are for the colder weather, so in honor of the beginning of October, here are a few of my favorites!

image via 

I love this look because of how simple and timeless it is. I also love her hair in this picture, it's loosely curled and not in ringlets like Allison tends to do. This seems pretty easy to recreate and doesn't feature any top tier brands that I, unlike the exclusive Hastings, can't afford at 17 years old. 

image via

Troian Bellisario has legs that go on for miles, and so I, who am stuck at 5'2, tend to stay away from thigh high socks and riding boots. I simply don't have enough leg. However, I do love the concept of riding boots and skirts for Fall, it's one that I find myself recreating quite often. This look in particular is a bit too overdone for me, but I like the idea of a patterned and structured skirt with a simpler top. I think that I may recreate a variation of this with a striped skirt and plain top, or even with a simple skirt and patterned top. 

image via

This look is a bit edgier but I love her combo of the cape and riding/biker boots. The cape is extremely classic, but she makes it edgier and more versatile with the boots, a combination that I want to delve into a bit this season. Capes are also a new obsession of mine, and though I would never in a million years wear one to school, I'll keep my eye on one that isn't too expensive for college, especially if I end up in a cooler climate. 

image via

The only thing that I can't stand about this look is the teal sleeves. Aside from those, it's perfect. Between the olive blazer, the simple white button down, and the plaid skirt, I can't get enough. This look is exactly what I think of when I think Fall attire, and I have my eye on this plaid skirt to maybe recreate it. 

Who's look are you mimicking this season?

xoxo, LC

Fall Bucket List

Happy Monday/Jewish New Year/National Mean Girls Day everyone, (#it'sOctober3rd)!

Today has been extremely boring, filled with college essays and homework. Ew. However, my immense workload is slightly lightened by the fact that it's officially Fall and it shouldn't get higher than 73 degrees for the rest of the week. It's not ideal pumpkin patch weather, but it's getting there, baby steps, guys.

 When I say that Fall is my favorite season, I'm really not messing around. I love the weather, the fact that you can't go outside with a sweater or jacket, the smells, colors, holidays, (guess who's turning 18 in November??) and the food. I am 10000% obsessed with autumn and anyone who says that they like Fall more than me is, in my opinion, delusional. I mean you'd be hard pressed to find anyone happier than me on Fall's rainy, chilly, overcast days.

Obviously I couldn't be more excited for the season's festivities, so I thought that even though we're only a few days into October, I should post my Fall Bucket List!

photo via 

I'll do my best to keep you guys updated on how I'm doing with the list, perhaps doing separate posts for each one I complete...? We'll see. I've already made some headway as I've gone to one of our high school football games, but the heat was sweltering so it doesn't really count as a Fall activity in my opinion.

What are you planning on doing this Fall?
xoxo, LC

Done With the ACT???

Hi there and happy October 1st! In honor of the SAT this morning I thought I'd  confirm the rumors: Spetember's ACT marked my completion of standardized testing (until APs of course)!! A year's worth of studying, two SATs, two SAT subject tests, and two ACTs later and I finally made it to the finish line, and boy does it feel good. I worked so hard and I am also happy to report that it all payed off! Even though I'm super pumped to have finished with this, it's only the beginning as I am 100% focused on college apps now. However, in honor of its completion and the understanding that not everyone else is done, I thought I'd share a few standardized testing tips that I found extremely helpful this past year while they're still fresh. Enjoy!

ONE//Take practice tests!! This is really the only way to do it. I can't even begin to explain how helpful this was, even though it sucked. Between my first SAT and my second, I took over 75 practice sections, and it was definitely worth it. Same thing for the ACT. I hunkered down, and took practice tests until my I thought my brain would explode. Don't kill yourself over these but at the same time, there were more weekends than I care to admit in which I stayed home to take more tests rather than go out with friends. It was worth it though and I can't recommend this enough. 

TWO//Don't study the night before. In my freshman year, my APUSH summed it up about as clearly as anyone could: If you don't know it the night before then you're not going to know it for the test. So at about 6:00 PM two nights before the exam I put away all my studying materials and accept that where I am in that moment will have to be good enough. Then do something fun the night before the test! I'm not saying that you should go party until 2 AM but get your mind off of the test. I went to my football game until half-time, and was then in bed by 10. It kept me distracted and my nerves in check until the next morning. 

THREE//Don't study, but do get your stuff together the night before. The night before my test I always pack my things in my bag, and write a checklist to be filled out the morning of. This usually includes my testing ticket, photo ID, calculator, at least three pencils, a pencil sharpener, and extra eraser, two snacks, and a 32 ounce refillable water bottle. The proctor may not allow you to keep the water bottle at your side but I like to drink a lot during breaks, I find that water helps me stay alert and focused. 

FOUR//Get to the bottom of your answers. I understand that not everyone can afford the hefty price tag that often comes with tutors. However, I do recommend asking a teacher or peer if you don't understand something. The most important thing about taking practice tests is learning from your mistakes. When you get a question wrong, try to figure out why so you can avoid making that same mistake on the real exam. If you can't figure out how to get to a certain answer, or simply want to know why your answer was incorrect, put in the work! Google it, ask a teacher/parent/friend, or re-do it until you get there. I promise you won't regret getting to the bottom of what may seem impossible at first.

FIVE//Stay calm. In the grand scheme of things, your score is just a number. It does not have to define you, and remember that in fifteen years, no one will care what you got on the SAT/ACT. Many great schools are also test-optional if you feel that uncomfortable with your score. As long as you work hard and put in the effort, your score will be what it will be, don't focus on it too much. Good luck to all of you who are are still in the vortex of testing, don't worry, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! 

What are your tips for standardized testing? 

xoxo, LC

My Top Five Makeup Products!

Less than a week until senior year officially begins! Wow, that went by faster than I could have ever imagined. It's crazy to think that four short years ago I was gearing up to start high school! I remember freshman orientation like it was yesterday, and now I'm leading it tomorrow. That's insane.

However, as much as I hate to admit that school is staring, (or already started for some of you) we can't hide from the truth. And for me, with the purchase of fresh notebooks, brightly packaged highlighters, and clean backpacks also comes the purchase of some new makeup as the bare-faced days of camp come to a close. So I thought that this would be the perfect time to share a few of my favorites and what I find myself refilling or re-purchasing! Here they are! 

Tarte Eyeshadow Quad// I have no idea where this eyeshadow quad came from, but one day it just showed up, perfectly packaged in my bathroom! I, being the courageous adventurer that I am, dared to open it and test it out, only to find that I absolutely loved all four colors! The light, sparkly brown on the top left is the color I drift towards for daily wear, however I have been known to try out the darker, (still sparkly) brown on the bottom right for special occasions. It's super convenient for travel and extremely versatile, I only wish I could tell you where I got it! 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer// Funny enough, Catherine from Preppy by the Sea  did a blog post this morning on her summer favorites, and this made her list as well. I guess all bloggers think alike! While I do love this product for the summer, I use it all year round, and have been since seventh grade when I first starting wearing makeup on a regular basis. My mom had been using the regular version for ages and when it came time to buy me makeup, she discovered the oil-free version and I've been using it ever since! I've found that I go through about 2 or 3 tubes a year, depending on how often I use it over the summer and have yet to find a BB cream or lightweight foundation that works as well as this one does. As an added bonus, it has SPF 20 sunscreen! My mom's number one rule about face makeup is that it has to have some sort of SPF in it or she won't buy it for me, #palepeopleproblems, so it's a win-win in terms of coverage and protection. It's perfect for everyday use and I cannot recommend it enough, I've even gotten one or two of my friends hooked on it. 

L'Oréal Butterfly Mascara (Waterproof)// During the school year I am not very picky when it comes to mascara, almost anything I can get my hands on will do. However over the summer, waterproof mascara is not a want, but a need. Between lifeguard training, the surprise thunderstorm, or the tear-jerkingly meaningful program, at camp, threats to my mascara's wellbeing are never far away. It is for those reasons and a million more that I do not get on those buses each summer without arming myself with waterproof mascara. I often gravitate to this one for a number of reasons, it holds up both in the shower and in the pool, (or lake!) it's fairly inexpensive, and makes my eyelashes look amazing! I love it and have already repurchased it this summer. 

Stilla Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner// This is another one of those products that I've been using since the seventh grade. I'm pretty sure this was the first eyeliner that I ever used, and I still ask for a new one for my birthday every single year. If that isn't a testament to how great this is, then I don't know what is. While that also may be a testament to how little my makeup skills have improved in the past 5 years, I would prefer to look past that, and focus on how spectacular this eyeliner is! It goes on evenly  and smoothly in a matter of seconds, and always looks good. Plus it follows the same protocol as my waterproof mascara, it looks amazing and stays on just as well! 

*picture from nordstrom website*

NARS Blush in Orgasm// This blush is the absolute best! I've been using it since I was ten and only wore blush to my dance recitals and it's still a favorite of mine. So much so, that I have it in both power and cream! I tend to use the stick for everyday use and the powder when I'm dressing up a bit, but that's just me, they're both fantastic. My mom and I both use NARS blushes, they go on so well and are so easy to use so as to avoid accidentally making yourself look like you fell asleep in the sun. 

 

What are your favorite makeup products? 

xoxo, LC

Camp Recap

Hi everyone, long time no chat; it's been a couple of months so let's catch up! This may be a bit one sided but I'm willing to give it a try. 

How has your summer been? What have you been up to? Did you do anything interesting or meet any nice people since we last spoke? What was your favorite meal that you ate in the month of June? Have you developed a new favorite color since we had our last chat? Did you learn anything new or exciting since I left you?

Wow, that's awesome, thank you for sharing! Me? What have I been up to? Oh stop, you're too sweet. 

Well this summer, I spent seven weeks at my favorite place on earth, camp! I've been going to camp for the past eight years and this summer marked my ninth and final summer as a camper. Have no fear, I will be returning next summer as a staff member but having to say goodbye to my days as a camper at the place where I practically grew up was extremely difficult. Let's just say that I cried for hours and do not foresee any camp-related emotional stability in my near future. I had the summer of my life and as a counselor in training, or CIT, I met some amazing new people and learned so much about not only how to care for kids, but about myself as well. I also did some training as a lifeguard which was awesome and everything that I had ever dreamed it would be. I've wanted to be a camp lifeguard for as long as I can remember and actually getting the chance to shadow the lifeguards was an amazing opportunity for me.  

I loved spending the whole seven weeks rather than the short three week session that I usually attend, and it was so nice to have an extended break from not just school, but from the entire world. Camp is my safe place and second home, (click here to read my post from last summer about why I go to camp) but it is also a bubble and very isolating. I love it there and wouldn't trade these past seven weeks for anything, but I am happy and ready to be back. I need to get in the groove of things for senior year! I also have some exciting things planned for the blog so I'm stoked to get things rolling over here as well! 

I'll leave off with a few photos from this summer, until Wednesday! 

xoxo, LC

SADIE HAWKINS

For starters, I would like to begin with a formal explanation for where I've been for the past few weeks. It begins with an S and ends with a T. If you guessed SAT, then you'd be correct! I took the SAT (hopefully for the last time) on the 20th of February and needed some time beforehand to devote all of my attention to it, and then even more time afterwards to catch up on all the schoolwork that I had been avoiding whilst studying for a certain "stupid a** test." So, sorry for being MIA. 

Alright, now that I've gotten that off my chest, it't time to get down and dirty. Well not so much dirty, but definitely down. (Do you get it? "down," because it was a dance. Get down? Lmao I just crack myself up.)
  Last night our school had its first Sadie Hawkins dance in a few years. Unfortunately, my high school is known for our lack of school spirit and the year prior to my freshman year they held a spring dance on the same day as some big concert and almost no one showed up. So up until this year, homecoming in the fall and senior prom in the spring were the only dances all year. Fortunately for me, this year's seniors were determined to have one last dance before prom and convinced our principle to give it another shot. And from what I saw I think it went pretty well, considering the tickets were completely sold out. Anyway, I had an amazing time, and feel even more lucky than usual to have such supportive parents and really close friends. Despite how cheesy that may be.
In terms of what I wore, while I was excited about the dance, I wasn't about to go out and drop a lot of money on a brand new dress, so I did what any other rational person would do, I stole this one from an absolute stranger! (dress from free people.)

Nah, I'm just kidding, while I didn't actually buy a new dress, I did borrow this one from my best friend (with full permission,) which she had worn to homecoming in the fall. It was super comfy and if I'm being honest, with all the sparkles I did feel pretty spectacular walking around in it #princessstatus. I was not in the mood to repeat the homecoming debacle, during which I wore shoes to make me a normal height but was then forced to walk around my high school barefoot because of the lack of feeling coming from my feet after a few hours. So I ended up wearing a pair of super comfy wedges (from target of all places) and even though I wasn't super tall and they didn't exactly go perfectly with my dress, my feet thanked me and I was still shorter than my date. Overall, a pretty good decision in my opinion!
The whole night was really fun, because I'm on SGA and am responsible for a lot during homecoming, it always stresses me out. Not to mention that everyone goes all out at my school, fancy dress, party bus, fancy restaurant for dinner, etc. Overall a very stressful weekend. So sadie's was a more low-key and stress free homecoming, something I really appreciated. Enough from me, here are some pictures from the night!


owner of the dress, EHS


my date and me :)


#selfie


another date pic, how cute


night would not have been complete without a quick stop for late-night french toast and milkshakes, duh

xoxo, LC

Let's Chat About: Missing Out

According to urban dictionay, FOMO, is the "fear of missing out," a phobia that I know the better part of the teenage population suffers from. Missing out on events, especially those you didn't even know about until afterward for lack of a better word, sucks. Especially with the rising involvement of social media currently present in every moment of our waking lives, not only do you know that you missed out on something great, but you get to see it replayed over and over again from different perspectives of your friends who were there. 

Now I'm not here to trash social media, or take advice from those overprotective moms who politely require that "none of these pictures go on those internet websites you kids use because not everyone was invited!" I love social media, the internet, and sharing my life on the internet, (hello and welcome to my blog,) but that doesn't mean that it doesn't sting when I head over to check my snapchat stories and see a party that I wasn't invited or an awesome event I had to miss because of a previous commitment that I didn't even want to go to in the first place. It even hurts when I had to choose one event over another, am happy with the one I chose, but still see all the fun my friends are having without me. In that scenario it was my decision and yet somehow I still feel a sense of FOMO. How irritating is that?

This isn't random, this past weekend I was as the Washington Hilton for Georgetown's Model United Nations. It's kind of a big deal and almost everyone there is smarter than me and better than me at one thing or another, whether it be at diplomacy, or thinking on their feet, or even just writing position papers. It also happens to be the same weekend as this huge international convention for high schoolers that was located in Baltimore this year, and this year would have been the cheapest year to go because it was in Maryland. Every year they happen on the same weekend, and every year I want to go to both and know that I would have an unbelievably good time and get to see different groups of friends at both events. However, every year I choose to go to MUN because I know that in the long run it's the better option for me, as someone who wants to major in International Relations and perhaps even go to Georgetown for graduate school. And every year, I have a moment or two where I 1000% regret the decision that I've made. 

Last year it was brought on by the surprise artist at the convention, Hoodie Allen, my favorite rapper of all time. A bunch of my friends got to meet him and even though I had seen him in concert before, I was still so angry at myself for missing it. Then this year, my favorite vlogger/filmaker, who I've been watching since eighth grade, and is someone who I genuinely look up to, Casey Neistat was one of the guest speakers and I had no idea that he was going to be there. I was probably less than two hours away at the time and would have asked my parents to come pick me up and take me to listen to him speak had I known, but I didn't even think about it until I saw him on a bunch of my friends' snapchat stories. Then I watched his vlog and saw people that I've known for years screaming his name and getting a chance to meet him, now featured on his account forever. That's when I almost cried.

And it still hurts, regardless of how I got to miss it, the fact that I wasn't there sucks. Yet, while it's tempting to wallow and hate yourself for missing out, it's important to know that you are not alone. I can assure you right now that it happens to everyone. Almost every single person that I know has also missed out on something that they would have preferred to have been at, and were forced to sit through the play-by-play of everything they missed as they clicked through every social media account they owned. 

It happens to me (every year), and it happens to everyone else. The important part about missing out, is how you pick yourself up and put yourself together after it happens. While it's perfectly normal (and encouraged) to be upset for a little while, you have to take action. Last year after missing Hoodie, I bought tickets to his next concert the day they went on sale. I made damn sure I was free that time and got a chance to see my favorite artist. In terms of Casey Neistat, you can bet your a** that I'll be checking twitter for his next speaking engagement and might even go so far as to email/direct message him to make absolutely sure that I don't miss out again. So the way I see it, while missing out stinks, it's the perfect opportunity to see how much of a self-advocate you really are, and to take a risk that you might not have thought to take before, such as emailing one of your role models. :)

Thanks for reading, this brings the chat to an end, hopefully you made it this far because let's be real, it got way less depressing towards the end!

xoxo, LC

February Jams

Hey ya'll. If you've been keeping track ( I know I have) then you would know that it's been a week since I last posted and for that I am sincerely apologetic. Clearly I am going to have to plan better if I want to continue blogging regularly while I'm in school, which is something I really want to! However whether I've been absentee or not, I'm here now, with a new (kicka**) playlist, which ought to be worth something right? 

Anyway, lately I've been been super focused on kicking butt on not just my New Years Resolutions but on everything I do in life. I think the best word to describe my current perspective and how I've been approaching each day is with intention. Trying my best to make each day count and suck as much life out of them as I can. In a good way :)

 With that in mind, this month's playlist is much more upbeat and significantly better to jam to than last months which I did not blog about, but is on my Spotify account and is much vibe-ier. Actually, last month's is a bit all over the place, but definitely lower-key than February's.

WARNING: Hoodie Allen, my all-time favorite rapper to ever exist on planet earth, and the only artist who I will actually go see in concert more than twice (3rd time this March!) recently released his latest album and there are a few songs (to be read: more than 3) by him on it. So if you're not into him #sorrynotsorry you're gonna have to deal with it. Enjoy! 

Genghis Khan// Mike Snow
Victorious// Panic! At The Disco
Adventure Of A Lifetime// Coldplay
Gold// Kiiara
Hold Me Down// Halsey
Intro to Anxiety// Hoodie Allen
Are U Having Any Fun?// Hoodie Allen (feat. Meghan Tonjes)
So Close to Happiness// Hoodie Allen
The Moment// Hoodie Allen (feat. Travis Garland)
Let Me Down Easy// Sheppard
Silver City - Original Mix// Myrne (feat. Linying)
Wrapped Up// Olly Murs
Bang my Head// David Guetta (feat. Sia & Fetty Wap)
Give Me Something// Jarryd James
Cold Cold Man// Saint Motel
Shake It Out// Florence + The Machine
UGH!// The 1975
Kill Your Heroes//AWOLNATION
Cake By The Ocean// DNCE
Lush Life// Zara Larsson
We Don't Believe What's On TV// Twenty One Pilots
I Took A Pill In Ibiza - Seeb Remix// Mike Posner
Remind Me Of// Hoodie Allen

xoxo, LC

Brunch Attire

Hi everyone! Not too much has happened since I was out of school for the entire week (!!) other than my official self-diagnosis of extreme cabin fever. Even with the streets plowed it's been a bit of a struggle to get out of the house so when the snow finally began to melt I practically jumped at the opportunity to take a few pictures outside before heading out to brunch with some friends. Here they are! 

sweater (sold out but similar)//madewell - jacket (old but similar)//burberry - jeans//jcrew  - boots(sold out but similar)//target

xoxo, LC

Let's chat about: The Martian by Andy Weir

I am hesitant to call this a review, because to be perfectly honest, what qualifies me to review anything? I guess no one really needs any sort of qualification to post a product or restaurant review on the internet but still, to label this post as a "review" seems so official, and significantly more boring. 

So I've decided to call this a chat. Granted, it's more of a one-sided chat, and the topic will be about a book- but nonetheless, this is a chat, not a review. Let's get into it!

If you read my last post (which you totally should btw,) you would know that I watched Interstellar a few days ago. And it totally blew my mind. Now I don't want to spoil anything so I won't go into details but let's just say that I will never look at the space time continuum the same way again. Not that I did too much looking in the first place, but still. Wow. 

Anyway, I guess I was in a 'space-y' mood , and needed a book to read whilst stuck inside so I happened upon the Martian in my kindle library. 

It had been so long since I started and finished an entire book, just for fun, and when I was a kid I used to read all the time. I mean I didn't even know what Disney Channel was until I was probably 7 or 8. TV just never interested me, and I went through tons of books. I used to devour any book I could get my hands on.  

And I didn't realize how much I had missed it until now.

The Martian in a word was: awesome.

It was a little science-y for me as someone who hated Chemistry, but other than that it was an easy read, appeared to me to be quite plausible, (anyone who knows any better feel free to call me out on that) and I loved it. It became a little redundant towards the end, I mean I get it; he has a life-threatening problem, and miraculously solves it using science and old tools. But still, overall a fantastic read. It only took me a day to finish it, and the science of it didn't steer me away. I was able to understand most of it, and when I didn't it didn't stop me from understanding the situation as a whole, or what was going on. It really pulled me in, and is an easy read for anyone looking for a quick fix because you won't be able to put it down.
And to be honest even though I don't usually like super science-y science fiction novels, I felt like the exact science in the book added rather than took away from its quality. The only thing I thought was missing in the movie was the science; without exact proof the film felt a bit far-fetched. So while it may be a bit daunting, it really made the whole thing believable, and even more compelling to read.

I think the main problem people have with science fiction is that you are forced to suspend all beliefs and just think, "Okay, so he can do ____. Got it." and just assume that in some hypothetical future, it could be possible. But with The Martian, you didn't need to do that, because everything is actually possible.
Another aspect of the book that I felt the author did an amazing job of was developing each character. In many science fiction books, the characters and their personalities remain untouched. Weir did an amazing job of covering all his bases about how a man being stranded on Mars would affect everyone else involved, like the crew and the higher-ups in NASA on earth. The additional conflicts between the people on earth in their attempts to save Mark Watney added to the suspension of the novel and hooked you in even deeper.

Overall: 9/10
Would definitely recommend!

xoxo, LC

Jonas is upon us...and here's what I've done

I HAVE OFFICIALLY MADE IT HALFWAY THROUGH JUNIOR YEAR. 

That statement definitely deserved all capital letters because whether I did as well as I wanted to, or got as much sleep as I should have, I made it; and for that I am proud of myself. Not to mention that it was pretty touch-and-go for a while and I seriously considered dropping out of high school altogether and becoming a nun. Maybe not a nun, but I'm sure you get the point. 

Anyway that is where I've been for the past few weeks, last week was finals week and I was supposed to take the SAT this morning, (thank you @jonas for postponing that) so I've been a little busy, holed up in my room with study guides and textbooks. But I'm back now, just in time for one of the biggest blizzards Maryland has ever seen. 

So far I have been trapped in my house for almost a day. And it's getting pretty cramped in here. Not really of course, but not being able to go out has taken a toll on everyone, especially my dog who has become significantly crabbier than usual. This has effectively ruled out puppy snuggles, which I think is extremely unfair. Just thought I'd mention it. 

Furthermore, my options for things to do in the house, have grown dramatically boring. At this point I have been cordially invited to do a few of the following:

-fold laundry

-take SAT practice tests

-help shovel the driveway

-workout

-clean out my closet/room 

-read a book

So you see, as a way of avoiding the aforementioned tasks, I have comprised a list of things that I have noticed so far, as a result of being stuck inside. 

If you're trapped inside like me, then please feel free to partake in a few of the following as they have proven to be quite effective at combatting boredom. 

1// It has come to my attention that the "news teams and weather people on TV need restricted access to their thesauruses." (direct quote from my mother)

Last evening, when it was hardly misting and there were less than 2 inches of snow on the ground, the snowstorm was described as "crippling." According to the Washington Post a few days ago, the "epic blizzard" is "virtually certain to pummel the Washington area..." Those words seem a bit dramatic to me, and as of right now I have felt no cripple or pummel, but we'll see how it goes. 

2//Interstellar is the most mind-boggling movie I have ever seen.

I was literally speechless after watching a movie that took me on the longest emotional roller coaster of my entire life. I don't want to spoil anything but let's just say that there were multiple points where I actually gasped out loud and put my hand over my mouth and almost cried. I will not be sleeping soundly until I'm 124 years old. wink wink. 

3//Madewell has a great blog.

I am a firm believer in the clothes that both Madewell and J. Crew produce, but I did not know that Madewell had a blog until recently. (I think J. Crew might have one too.) They post really cool links, like this awesome personality test that I took that I feel added some serious depth into what my life is like and has the potential to be. I will be checking it out regularly and will be diligently reading up on their tips for a capsule wardrobe this weekend.

4//There is a difference between a snowstorm and a blizzard.

As I mentioned before, Jonas has practically forced boredom onto me, so I decided to do a little bit of research, (to be read as: a google search) on what actually makes a blizzard different from a snowstorm. Because why not?

According to Wikipedia:

"In the United States, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds causing blowing snow that results in low visibilities. The difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind, not the amount of snow." -Wikipedia

I'll bet your life is significantly more fulfilling now that you know this information, you're welcome. 

5// Casey Neistat has the most interesting content on the internet.

Watch his videos, you'll be inspired to do way more than you thought possible, and learn a thing or two about being a quality human being and remaining humble. If you decide to ignore this then you might actually be a horrible person. So I suggest you check him out. 

6// I have become quite good at the board game Blokus.

For those of you who don't know what Blokus is or how to play it, I leave you with this link to the rules and regulations because I am far too lazy to type them up. 

Growing up I played with my parents all the time, and now a snowstorm blizzard isn't complete without a a few games. I used to stink, but after years of practice I have become a (self-declared) blokus master. Just so you know my stats, out of the last three games we've played, I have won two and in the last round I got rid of all of my pieces. I hate to lose, so I play with no mercy* (just ask my parents) and will continue to win for the rest of the weekend because I am absolutely unstoppable. 

*As of right now it should be noted that this snowstorm as forced me to focus in on highly unimportant things, such as, hypothetically speaking, winning a board game, and if this goes on for much longer I could possibly lose the affection of every living person in my house. Will send for help if it reach a critical point. 

7// I have seen far too many photos of Bean Boots on my instagram feed. 

I love instagram. I also love my Bean Boots. I am very aware of the fact that there is a whole lot of snow outside in a whole lot of places and Bean Boots were created for withstanding snow, but if everyone who I follow on instagram would please take a chill pill and relax with the pictures of feet in the snow, it would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time, sorry for being such a complainer. 

It is here that I leave you with some low-quality pictures of Jonas taken from the warmth of my home, as that is where I have been trapped for the past day, and will most likely remain trapped for a while. Stay warm!
xoxo, LC