Halfway There.

I am halfway done with my Maymester and glory-be-to-Jesus I am ready to stop waking up so early. I am in no rush to graduate, for I know that early mornings most likely await me. I am not an early person (honestly, I'm not really a late person either, I'm very testy).

All I've been doing is chapter summaries, writing 30 goals for my life (it was invigorating!), and watching Parks and Rec on Netflix because watching The Office just makes me sad.
I am really excited for this upcoming week—my brother will be graduating from high school. It's a big deal. When I graduated, it was just the circle of life. When Cam graduates, it will be a full-blown, water-to-wine miracle.
The only other thing I have to report is how amazing gluten-free Cheetos are. Amen.

Maymester Madness.

Tomorrow morning I will be pulling my biscuit out of bed at the butt crack of dawn to go to school. My Maymester is starting, people! I did an August minimester last year and it wasn't half bad, given that I finished an entire class in five days. This one is a little different, ten days from 8-12 every morning, but in the end I'll have another class under my belt by the time June rolls around.

So for your inspiration (and most definitely mine), here is one of my favorite prints at the moment. There are a gazillion different ones floating around on Etsy, but this one is perfect. Have a great Monday!

via Emily McDowell etsy. 

PS—I got my grades for spring back! Five A's and one B! Holy $&*@!#, I am so proud of myself. So here's to two more semesters hopefully just like that, now that I am armed with the knowledge that I can do this. And that knowledge, my friends, is sweeter than chocolate. 

Spring Semester.

I finished my first of the three semesters I will take this year, and I'm kind of sad to see it go. I had a great schedule, I had two pretty decent (but also completely crazy) group projects with some people I actually like, and I kicked some major biscuit on tests.
I have only a few short days before I start back for my Maymester (and then a few short days before June/July classes begin), so here's how I'll be spending it.

1. Sweet tea. I have yet to partake in my reward Chick-fil-A sweet tea. I was going to indulge on Wednesday night, but I ended up getting Chipotle for dinner instead (sweet tea and Mexican is like spitting in the face of Jesus...just why?). So I have that to look forward to.

2. Norman + Weezie. I've been taking my two favorite goldens out most days around lunchtime, looking forward to not being so rushed to get to class and actually cuddle with my babies. I am getting very sappy for some reason (spring fever?) and cannot get enough of them.

3. This Friday (Friday, gotta get down on Friday) I am going to lunch with two of God's finest creations—Bridget and Mama Joy! As I'm nearing a full year without my internship, it reminds me how lucky I am that Nate asked coerced these two into helping with 2012 senior banquet. We're getting Mexican and cupcakes (and maybe a margarita, although I have to babysit later that afternoon...).

4. Dexter. Expect to hear more about this (maybe on Monday), but I am hooked on Dexter. I'm already halfway into the second season. It's smart, it's creepy, and I've added Michael C. Hall to my weird obsessions list (which I might also share in a post, it's that weird).

5. Sleep. Last night I experienced a rare, careless sleep. I wasn't making a list of what to do, I didn't dart out of bed a few seconds after turning out the light to study some more (or double check my alarm). It was perfect.

Anyone else finished with finals? What's on your to-do list during your time of peace? Let me know!

xoxo
Hannah

Makeup Bag: April Favorites

I lived last month in a haze called school. I needed a routine that I could do in my sleep yet still look presentable and I found it. Here are the all star products (and most are drugstore, holla!).

St. Ives Green Tea Scrub

I've never been brave enough to use a scrub on my sensitive skin, but this stuff is gentle and smells so good. This is a travel-size, I'll definitely be buying the full-size when I run out.

Revlon PhotoReady BB Cream (010 Light)

A cheap drugstore BB cream that gives my dry skin a dewy finish? Holla. 

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

I used this thing every day of April. Easy and travel-friendly, the matte shadows look effortless. 

Covergirl 24HR Lashblast mascara (very black) 

I used this mascara last year and our love is still going strong. No flaking or smudging, yay!

ELF Eyebrow Kit (medium)

My brows look a little sparse around the arch, so I put the wax first and then the powder with a brow brush. It looks natural and it's cheap (only $3!). 

Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells Trio

After I put a few of the matte shadows, I put the bottom pink shade on the eyelid to make things pretty.

Chanel Cream Shadow (emmerville)

I top the pink shadow with this pinky champagne cream shadow, this stuff is like lipgloss for eyeshadows, it makes everything look better. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo (barely beige)

On super crazy days, I just put this on and top it with the pink shadow. A little eyeliner to make things interesting and I'm done. This one was limited edition, but Barely Branded (which is out now) is very similar. 

Before Sunrise + Before Sunset

Encouraged by this post and this post over on Cup of Jo, I decided to watch Before Sunrise earlier this week while I was finishing up a presentation for class. A day later, I ordered Before Sunset on Amazon (some DVD orders come with a 48-hour pass to view the movie on Amazon on Demand). Now that I've seen both, I have to tell you about them.

Jesse and Celine meet on a train from Budapest, he going back to the United States soon, she returning from a trip to see her grandmother. They spend one day together in Vienna, that's it. The film is largely conversations about nothing and everything, but it all is so natural and organic that you really feel like you're watching two people get to know each other and slowly fall for each other.

The second film, Before Sunset, picks up nine years later where they are reunited in Paris for what is left of the day, before Jesse's flight back to the US.

I was so transfixed during both movies. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are so in-character and perfect that you end the films honestly believing that Jesse and Celine are out there, somewhere. They also helped write the second film's screenplay, which makes it all the more real and fantastic. There are no special effects, or any other supporting characters. The only other lead cast member is the cities which each film takes place—Vienna and Paris.

Watch them, you won't be disappointed!

PS—here's the trailer for Before Midnight. Enjoy!

xoxo
Hannah

April Playlist

I honestly have no recollection of April, all that I remember is driving back and forth between classes, dogsitting a few times, checking a bunch of stuff off my to-do list, and taking one awesome road trip. A lot of time was spent in the car, so these tunes are tried and true. You'll love 'em.

Say Hello | Jesse Thomas

So cute. I can hardly stand it.

Come On Eileen | Dexys Midnight Runners

Thanks to Perks of Being A Wallflower, I cannot stop jamming. Sorry commuters.

The A Team | Ed Sheeran

I am slowly falling in love with this man. This song has grown on me.

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) | The Proclaimers

On my way to school last week, my Spotify played this on repeat for thirty minutes before I realized I was listening to the same song over and over again. I was that out of it. 

I Lived | OneRepublic

After a long day at school, I just roll down my windows and remind myself there's something great coming.

Someday | Cary Brothers 

A song meant for night driving. I mean, match-made-in-heaven material here.

Drifting In and Out | Porcelain Raft

Another driving favorite (like I said, all I do right now). If my life were a movie, this song would play as I drive home from (yet another) disappointing date before I meant the love of my life (right now it's looking like Zach Braff). 

Another One Bites the Dust | Queen

Some people jam to Eye of the Tiger during finals. Amateurs. This one is the shiz. 

Brave | Sara Bareilles
It's a little corny, but it needs to be said (or sung). 
Thinking of You | Dierks Bentley

Finals also make me weak. So sappy country songs find their way onto my playlist and I can't stop listening.

Bachelorette.

Sometimes, during finals, things happen that we're not proud of. I've had two lemonades from Panera this week. I sang I Can't Make You Love Me along with Bonnie Raitt on my way home on Wednesday. And I watched a movie that was a little out of character for me. I blame it all on Adam Scott (not the golfer).

Bachelorette seems to take hints from similarly-themed movies like The Hangover and even Bridesmaids, but it manages to do it in a way that doesn't feel overdone. Three best friends reunite for their friend's wedding and manage to get into a tizzy the night before the ceremony. And the delightful Adam Scott is there and James Marsden (and his barely-covered butt) show up.

You might be surprised I like this movie, but I do. My favorite plotline is Lizzy Caplan's Jenny and Adam Scott's Clyde (Lord help him, that's his name), who see each other after a few years and are instantly thrown back into the drama that tore them apart. And the song I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) makes a grand cameo.

It's on Netflix right now, if you're interested. Don't judge me too harshly for enjoying it.

xoxo
Hannah