Candles

Let's just start off with me saying that I didn't really grow up in a candle house. My dad hates anything with a scent and the only time I saw my mom with a candle would be random occasions that were few and far between. So having just moved into a new apartment, I wanted a home smell. Something that if you smelled it anywhere's else, it would remind you of home. 

Well to start off, I hate all those tradtional smells of vanilla, lavender, etc. They are overused and mass produced and it just about makes me vomit. I absolutely love smells asscoiated to the holidays like fir tree, pumpkin, but that's just it; they are meant to remind one of the holidays. 

So a couple months back I was in my little sister's car and smelled something deliteful. Her "big" in her sorority had given her a car freshener and it was amazing. I was very shocked to find that it came from Bath & Body Works and it was called Sandalwood. Now, people, I very rarely venture into Bath & Body Works because each worker tries to convince you that what you are smelling in your hand, at that very moment. is very necessary to have in your house. So having already an idea in mind of what I wanted for the new place, I headed over to the nearest Bath & Body Works. 

Turns out Sandalwood is seasonal and was only available in the car freshener. However, a sales associate did show me one other called Mahogany Teakwood. 

This candle is one part nostalgia, since it reminds me of Abercrombie & Fitch, other part cabin in the woods. 

According to Bath & Body Works you can "revel in the cozy fine woods fragrances of mahogany, cedarwood, and oak, highlighted by delicate lavender and geranium notes."

This candle alone makes my tiny apartment, with boxes still everywhere, smell like home and I plan to buy this in bulk.

Decorate

Having officially moved into the current apartment about a month ago, I am slowly but surely decorating. Can I just say how hard it is to decorate when living with your significant other? He is the manliest of men and would just like to put a recliner in the living room along with all of his sports memorabilia. Compromise in this situation is key if I want it to look remotely presentable to people and have them come over. The only items I let him bring from his old apartment were the coffee table (marble), entertainment system and TV (didn't have one myself), and his dresser (I need my own space people). 

My mother literally hangs onto everything and passes stuff along to me on a daily basis; this goes for clothes as well (we are the same size). She gave us a couch, kitchen table (marble look-a-like), a couple rugs, and at least 5 lamps (my favorite comes with an outlet to charge your phone, since we are short on space and outlets). 

I will eventually show off more pictures of the apartment as it slowly falls into place, but here's a glance of the current living room situation: 

Remember when I said compromise? Most of my art is back at my parents place and so I was at a loss at what to hang above the couch. As it turns out, my significant other is a huge Every Time I Die fan. So when we saw them at this past Warped Tour and I saw that they had a huge flag in their merchandise tent, I thought why not? It was just the cherry on top that we got to meet them and have them sign the flag. 

August Playlist

When I was little, August always meant that it was one month closer to school, new clothes for school, and my birthday.  A fresh start if you will in September (another year older, new grade and new clothes). So even though the last playlist I featured was only about 3 weeks ago, I feel the new month needs some fresh, new songs. I have been browsing through Spotify and all of these songs sound a little cheeky and playful, the personification of August.

West Coast - Coconut Records

Hymnals - Grizfolk

Jungle - X Ambassadors, Jamie N Commons

Lake Michigan - Rogue Wave

Luck - American Authors

Dirty Paws - Of Monsters and Men 

Anything - Hedley

Young Chasers - Circa Waves

Bad Habit - The Kooks

Secrets - Mary Lambert

New York, New York

Last weekend I stayed with my friend Gio who I had met during my brief stint at FIT. Every single time I'm in New York I always try to cram as much as I can into a short period of time. However, on this trip I just kinda had my legs do the walking with very little pre-planned outings.  

The view from Le Bain 

First, I would just like to say that unless you absolutely have to, don't take a bus from Buffalo all the way to New York. It sounds like the cheapest route but in reality you can't get your sanity back. Anyways, my first night back in the city and my only wish was to go to a rooftop bar that weekend. So my wish was granted in the form of Le Bain on the roof of The Standard Hotel. In short, the view was spectacular and I really can't wait to go back to go check out the Biergarten.

The next day I decided to take Gio to the best view of the city: the top of Rockefeller Center, also known as, Top of the Rock. He had never been and it's been a while since I've been up there. I say the best view because you can see both Central Park and the Empire State Building. We spent about an hour up there just taking in the sights and so many photos!

View from Top of the Rock: Empire State Building, new 9/11 Memorial, and in the distance, Lady Liberty

After Top of the Rock and walking aimlessly around the city, I wanted to check out Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. If I were to had one drink for the rest of my life, I would be content with their vanilla milkshake. Best. Milkshake. Ever

Strung with lights, the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park would make the ideal date

On my last day Gio and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge (another first for myself). Of all the times I've been to New York, and even living there for a short period of time, I've never had a chance to make the trek across the bridge.