Beginning of the End

Woah! Y'all! Tomorrow is New Year's Eve!

Last year, I made this list of things to try: (the things I did are in red)

Be social on the weekends again.* 
Find my way back to the gym occasionally.** 
Teach myself to play guitar. 
Learn French. 
Travel to a place I’ve never been. Play golf again. 
Make a trip to New York City again. 
Go to Disney World.
Read my bible more.
Learn to flirt properly with boys.*
Have a first kiss.
Learn to play the piano.
Get a (part-time) job.
Put a smidge more effort into getting ready in the mornings.
Wake up earlier. **
Floss.
Eat more colorfully.
Change my mindset about exercise.**
Stop complaining about everything.
Be happier.
Smile at strangers.
Laugh more often.
Read more books.
Be more organized. 
Stop biting my nails. 
Find a path that makes me happy. 
Speak up.

*up for debate
**thanks, rowing



I managed to check off quite a few of these (the beauty of a long list is that you can miss a few and still feel good about yourself). Be on the lookout for an new list in the new year! Let me know if you add any of these to your own resolution lists for 2015! 

Rather than post a ton of pictures that y'all have probably already seen, I'll just post this selfie from my twentieth birthday (one of my favorite memories of 2014). 

Currently Obsessing Over...

If you know me at all, then you know I'm always obsessing over something. This weekend, the list is short but full: 

1.) Into The Woods 

I saw Into The Woods (solo!) the day after Christmas and the songs are still stuck in my head. I was obsessed with the musical a few years ago when I saw it on Netflix, and seeing it on the big screen was pretty neat. Disney did an amazing job with the production. Definitely worth the price of the ticket. 10/10, would recommend

The emotions I had listening to this song again... if you're a crier, you may want to bring a tissue or two. 


2.) Reading for Fun


I finished Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar last night and read right through E. Lockhart's We Were Liars today. 

My thoughts: 

The Bell Jar: Oh my goodness! There is a reason they call this one a classic. I was so disappointed to find out that this was Sylvia's only novel. Her writing style was my favorite kind to read. I was a little freaked out with how much I identified with Esther. I truly felt that our minds work the same way and it was so refreshing to know that someone else has felt the same things I'm feeling right now. 
Also, for the first time ever, I actually read this book slowly. I wanted to savor every bit of it, and I have a feeling I'll be buying my own copy so that I can reread my favorite passages. 

We Were Liars: I LOVE books like this one. Without spoiling it, it's a bit difficult to describe. It was about a girl who had an accident one summer and couldn't remember exactly what had happened. It was a page-turner and I finished it in one day! I kind of called the ending, but I was still surprised with it. Goosebumps guaranteed. 


3.) Fordham's Summer in the City Program


It's true, I obsessed about this last year, too. I cried, begged, and pleaded with my parents to let me go last summer, and when they finally agreed, I chickened out and got my deposit back.

But this year is different. I tell my roommate about it at least three times a week, I dream in New York, I've updated my resume, and I've visited the application page at least twelve times since it opened.

Except this year, my parents are more unrelenting than last year. My mom refuses to listen to any of my solid arguments (she accused me of trying to ruin Christmas when I brought it up earlier last week). I hate that it gets them so upset, but I know it's what I want need to do.

If anyone has advice on how to convince them that I'll be safe even though they'll be more than ten minutes away? I'm fairly certain I'll have to cut this umbilical cord with a chainsaw before we see the end of this. 

Christmas Wrap-Up

The stockings are empty, the presents are unwrapped, and I'm already back at my apartment (three nights home are long enough). Even though the Catholic Christmas season runs until January, I'm already a little gloomy thinking about throwing away our tree (and sweeping up all those needles).

Here are some festive pictures to keep you in the holiday spirit, even if, like me, you're stuck in seventy-degree weather.

At my festive apartment 

Stockings by the fireplace at home

A very Essie Christmas morning

The "Selfie Stick" was a big hit with the family


I hope you all had a very happy holiday season! 


P.S. How adorable is my Paw?

P.P.S. Most of these pictures are from my new Instagram! Follow along here :)

Toodlebelle Instagram!

Hey there! So kind of you to stop by the blog again! Remember when I said I'd get back to blogging? Well I mean it this time! The blog world is so pretty at Christmastime, as is my Instagram feed.

I created a Toodlebelle Instagram account a while back ago, but finally decided to link it to the blog and start posting to it today (I think my friends were starting to get tired of pictures of my coffee and other blogger-style shenanigans)!

If you'd like to follow along, I'm begging, please, you can follow through this link! or by clicking the cute yellow button up in the top right corner!

Yes, it's a little empty right now, but I'm sure it won't be for long! 



Happy Holidays! 

I'm Back!

To say that this past semester has been a little tough would be a gross understatement. Not only finding time to study, but managing what little time I did have proved to be too much for me. My GPA reflects my regret.

I've been out of the blogging world (read: no writing on my blog, no reading other blogs) for over a month and I'm so ready for this next month of winter break.

On the agenda: a little bit of babysitting, some shopping, baking, and a whole lot of reading.

Who remembers when I made my reading wish list for winter break? Well now it's time to get started!

These are the beauties I've already picked up from the library. 

And now, since I've been away for a while, I thought I'd share some pictures that have been collecting dust on my Instagram profile for the past month and a half. 


* the leaves on this tree are now almost completely gone *

* taken before the unseasonably cold homecoming football game #geauxColonels *

* taken on an unseasonably cold and rainy day, which is my favorite kind * 

* A rare family photo taken on Thanksgiving day *
** I don't think anyone actually likes that painting on the mantel**


Here's to hoping this holiday season is filled with lots of cocoa, books, and more blogging!