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To Dwell on Dreams

I might be the only one on the planet who hasn’t seen the Harry Potter series in its entirety.

I just finished the first Harry Potter movie, and there’s one quote by Professor Dumbledore that’s stuck with me.

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”

Now I imagine that this is just one of the many words of wisdom Professor Dumbledore will instill on my mere muggle self in the next seven movies.

I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflecting lately, and I’ve noticed that my head is often not entirely focused on the world around me.

I love to imagine. I’m always thinking up new ideas and plots or adding my spin on another creation. That’s why I’m so obsessed with movies, books and songs. Anything that tells a tale and resonates with me I keep in my own personal mental archive.

This led to a very happy childhood. The dullest of days were always vibrant in my mind.

As I enter adulthood, however, I am noticing just how much time I spend in my head.

Sometimes I think so much about writing and creating that I’m actually doing very little of it.

Sometimes I think so much about writing and creating that I’m actually doing very little of it. And I’m now in a place where there is nothing holding me back. Not only is my imagination limitless but so are the means to creating. At least in terms of having a working computer and some free time.

And I’m also realizing that my “mind palace” (thanks, Sherlock) is just as much of an oasis as an escape. Whatever stressful situations I find myself stuck in can usually be resolved by re-imagining a novel or thinking of poetry that hopefully never reaches the light of day.

Like Harry Potter, I’m staring into the Mirror of Erised, dreaming of all the things I want to create in my lifetime.

Not actually creating anything.

So many people talk about imagination being the source of all art, and it makes me wonder how much art lives in a person’s head.

I recently expressed to someone that who you are only exists when others receive it. Being kind or witty or smart happens through expression. Not through thought.

The things we hide only exist to us. By not sharing, it doesn’t exist with any tangibility or evidence to others and to the world.

So if you and I want to be creative or be that dream we see in our own personal Mirror of Erised, we should probably begin finding purpose instead of only contentment when we dream.

Lest we forget to live.

December Favorites: All Things beauty

Hey loves! Sharing with you today my absolute favorite products not just for December but for the Winter! I can’t stress to you enough how much these products come in handy during this cold and dry season! Be sure to leave a comment below on your favorite Winter Must-Haves!

Love,

Dove Thickening Ritual Shampoo and Conditioner

Hair Ritual Keratin Bamboo Leave-In

Gigi Hadid Maybelline Palette

Revlon Matte Balm in 250 and 270

Equate Rosewater Towelettes

Lapham’s Quarterly

Hello, 19~Convington, New Orleans and Denham Springs

At the beginning of January, not only does the Earth get a year older but I do too!

My birthday this year was spent traveling with wonderful friends and family. They planned so much for me and made sure my day was extra special. My birthday likes to creep up on me with it being right after the holidays

I wanted to share with you a few of my fave spots in South LA (Beware, most of them are food related). I plan on doing a specific blog post later on one of my all time favorites The English Tea Room, so stay tuned!

DOMENICA / New Orleans

http://www.domenicarestaurant.com/

This place was a surprise lunch from my friends. It was just delicious! Not only was the Italian menu budget-friendly, but there were dishes that you can’t find anywhere else! I recommend getting the Campenelle; my friend got it and there was definitely food envy.

And the ambiance. The luxurious, elegant atmosphere with just a touch of chic made you truly feel like you were transported into another city. And The Roosevelt Hotel is through the bar, allowing you to explore the lobby after you eat some yummy pasta or pizza.

The location is right off of Canal Street, so it’s a perfect place to spend the evening after a long day touring NOLA.

https://www.therooseveltneworleans.com/

AMORINO / New Orleans

A classic in Paris I stumbled upon has finally made its way to “The Big Easy.” Experience some of the best Italian Ice Cream. And to top it off, the ice cream come in it’s signature flower form! An Instagram worthy dessert.

https://www.amorino.com/mobile/en/

BRQ / Denham Springs

Bar-b-que might seem like the least possible food type for a fun and trendy day, but BRQ is the exception. BRQ has recently opened its second location in Denham, but it’s already been a big hit.

It gives a modern spin on a southern classic. The four different sauce options will change the flavor of whatever plate you pick!

BRQ is the perfect place for a casual date night or a lunch with your girlfriends.

And Pro tip: check in on Yelp for a free appetizer!

ENGLISH TEA ROOM/ Convington

I don’t want to give too much away since I’m dedicating a whole blog post to this gem, but a few teasers are crumpets, tea pots and her majesty the queen. Oh, and the cutest part of LA I’m convinced.

Thank you again to everyone who made my birthday extra sweet! And leave a comment if you like the new blog look!

Much Love,

What Manship Means to Me

Hello friends! Recently, I got accepted into the wonderful Manship School of Mass Communication at LSU. I am honored to attend such an inspiring and innovative school. I wanted to share with you all just how much Manship means to me, by sharing my essay for my application.

I’ve often considered myself having an old soul stuck in a modern world.

I thought I was a 21^st century Elizabeth Bennett, trapped by circumstance and imagination.

I turned to old novels and films to satisfy my curiosity of the world. I decided we were living in an era of post-greatness. I considered Twitter an abomination against prose and Snapchat a poor substitute for human connection.

My initial decision to major in English seemed another step towards isolating myself from today’s events because the current world didn’t meet the expectations I set up for it. I would rather analyze great works and events than risk participating in a project with the potential for greatness.

That all changed when I decided to attend the Manship School of Mass Communication.

Through just the classes I’ve taken so far, my view on the world and what I want to contribute to it has drastically changed. Learning of great projects and people no longer satisfies me. My passions revolve around creating and collaborating with others and exploring the wonders of the modern world that I’ve shied away from for so long.

I intend to study digital advertising with the hopes to begin my own advertising agency that has an emphasis on honest and creative content, blending art and advertising to connect with users in a more organic way.

Today, I still have an old soul in a modern world.

However, my mind and my heart are wonderfully modern. Both are dedicated to contributing to the larger narrative around me. I have found the balance I have been looking for. Instead of romanticizing the past, I am now embracing the opportunities modern media gives me in manifesting my imagination.

Because on further reflection, Elizabeth Bennett was, in fact, a very modern woman.

How to Begin 2019: Creating a New Beginning that Lasts

With the New Year just beginning, resolutions are rampant. Whether it be to try a new diet or to form more friendships this year, we all have an idea on how to improve ourselves this year.

The problem is, most resolutions don’t seem to work.

We’ll probably cancel our gym membership in the next two months and forget what Keto even means.

There’s a lot of controversy concerning New Year’s resolutions. It seems they are made with the best of intentions, but we often fall astray as the novelty of the holidays wears off and the normal routine of our lives reminds us that New Years is just another celebration.

But we start off with the best of intentions.

And that is what I want to talk about today. It is how to succeed in working on becoming an improved version of yourself at the beginning of this new year. Don’t make a resolution, make an intention.

The resolution to go to the gym every weekday is created with the intent to live a healthier lifestyle. The resolution to meet someone new is created with the intent to connect more with those around us.

A resolution, by definition, is created to be black and white. It is a set goal we want to accomplish. However, when we fail by a cheat meal turning into a cheat week or realizing that we haven’t responded to anyone in the past four days, we immediately assume failure.

The nature of a resolution is success or failure.

An intention is something more precious. It is an abstract concept. A goal that cannot succeed or fail but can be continually built on. The intent to improve mental health can be achieved by keeping a journal, practicing meditation or thinking positively.

When you forget or miss doing these things for a few weeks, you haven’t failed at improving your mental health, you’ve only acted less on your intent. The positive effects of spending months meditating and thinking positively don’t suddenly disappear when we neglect to work on our intention.

Intention gives you the grace that a resolution cannot. It allows you to mess up and doesn’t ignore the progress you’ve made in all the times you’ve acted on your intent. Intention doesn’t limit you to only meditating or eating healthy but encourages you to explore more avenues that strengthen your intentions.

So use this new beginning of a new year to recenter or wonder about your intentions. Do you intend on improving your physical or mental health, or spending more time with those you love or giving yourself some more me-time?

All of these goals are an intention. They are a path, whereas a resolution is only a temporary stop.

Leave a comment below on what your New Year intention is!

What Friendsgiving Means to Me

It might seem like the next big Pinterest craze, but I sure do hope Friendsgiving is here to stay! Friday, I hosted my first Friendsgiving! Company included my closest friends that go to university with me as well as my wonderful friends that went to different universities. It was wonderful to reconnect with everyone.

I’ve hosted a few other events, like Christmas parties, but this one to me just felt more important, and that meant I was more nervous! No longer were we a bunch of kids in high school acting like we don’t hang out every weekend, but we came as (semi) adults. We all cooked (or bought, but who’s checking?) our food and enjoyed our meal. We had a bit of a pie competition with over three pies. We ended the night by playing the classic “Taboo” and a personal favorite of mine “Wits and Wagers.”

I remember thinking during desert time how I truly have found “my people.” Here we are, a bunch of 18-year-olds, and we are able to have the best time just by being in the presence of one another. No alcohol, no loud music, no false laughs. We’re not the kind of people that spend time together just for the sake of going out or having a fun time (though we do a lot of both).Instead, we’re all really interested in making memories together.

Instead, we’re all really interested in making memories together.

And that is one of the things in my life that I am so grateful for. Friends who stick around just for each other. These friends are going to be there during our heartbreaks, our weddings, our job struggles and all the small little moments that make life worthwhile. Our Friendsgiving was more than just a night to spend time with one another. Each one of us showed the other that we were wanting to continue our relationship. As my first semester in college is coming to a close (wait for a reflections post soon!), I’ve learned it’s more important than ever to purposefully pursue those you want in your life. Because the biggest shift I’ve found in adulthood so far is that there are very few relationships sustained out of convenience. Instead, if you want incredible relationships in your life, it takes consistency and quality in your time together.

It makes the relationships I am sustaining now all the more beautiful.

I hope everyone had an equally wonderful extended holiday weekend filled by those they love!

Who Am I?

Today, I thought I’d share a little bit about me. I’m a very eclectic mixture of passions and pursuits, and I thought the best way to continue my blog would be for you to get to know its creator a bit more.A Manship student. Copy Editor. Designer. Cat Lady. These are just a few of the nouns I would assign myself. Sometimes I get so involved in where I want to go, I forget to remember the present. This little project is a remembrance of my daily self.