Because I'm the luckiest girl ever, I got nominated for a Sunshine Award from two of the greatest girls around: Kay & Deb. So, of course, I had to oblige. Mini intro, now down the rabbit hole.

11 RANDOM FACTS:

1) My favorite punctuation is the semicolon; I love the semicolon :)
2) I re-read parts of books or articles just to admire the way the author strings her words together. I love words.
3) Pants? Hate them.
4) I have like -0.6 patience, which means my future children are going to drive me crazy.
5) I love climbing into a made bed, but hate making my bed.
6) My favorite color is gold. Unless gold is considered a metallic and not a color. Then gold is my favorite metallic.
7) Like every other girl on the planet, I'm obsessed with peonies.
8) I'm an only child.
9) My body rejects pork 97% of the time. So I've never tasted bologna or pork chops, and pork bacon tastes like soap.
10) I talk. A lot. And I think too much.
11) I swear I'm taller than I actually am. I'll tell my guy friends I'm as tall as them and they look down at me like "umm, no, ma'am." Womp.

11 QUESTIONS:

1) How long have you been blogging?
Almost a year :)

2) What is your favorite part about blogging?
Seriously, it's the people. Like the fact that I could just shout out those two girls up there and feel totally normal even though I've never been in their physical presence. I love that. An extremely close second is just writing again, because I'm sure most of us bloggers are writers as well.

3) Do you like where you live? If no, where would you like to live?
You don't wanna get me started on this one ;) Summarily, I live in New York City and I belong to New York City. I'm starting to open my mind up and appreciate other places simply because I know I'm an NYC snob, but truly, there's no other place I'd rather be. I can't imagine I'd hate living in London or Paris though. Ha!

4) What's your favorite TV show - of all time?
Sex And The City. Hands down. No matter what shows I become addicted to, I always come back to these ladies.

5) Dogs or cats? Why?
Dogs, even though I'm allergic to pretty much everything that sheds.

6) What is your favorite season?
Indian Summer. I'm not sure if this is a local term or not (or if it's even a proper "season"), but it's that weather during late September/October when it's unusually and pleasantly warm. It's perfect.

7) Are you an early bird or night owl?
Night owl, but I really don't like it actually. So I'm more of a night owl, who's envious of the early bird out getting that worm :\

8) What do you think is the best and worst thing about being a woman?
Best: Femininity. I love being pretty and dainty and lovely. I love that being feminine encompasses both delicacy and strength.
Worst: Misconceptions about femininity. Femininity doesn't make me weak or less than or a damsel in distress. I've ranted about all of this already, right over here.

9) If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
The uber-talented, Jared Leto, actor and lead singer of Thirty Seconds To Mars. We'd have an amazing conversation about the depth of his lyrics and the outstanding roles he plays. Then, he'd perform my favorite TSTM songs, and I'd soak in his silky, entrancing voice second by second. And I'd spend the whole time staring at him of course, because he's flippin' gawwwgeous.

10) If you were given the opportunity to go back in time and change one thing in your life, would you?
Of course. Who wouldn't?

11) Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi.

So here's the part where I nominate 11 other bloggers because of the sunshine they bring into my life. I'm just gonna follow suit and list some of favorite bloggers (who can of course answer the questions/list random facts if they chose to!) because I seriously can't choose. So check them out!

Jackie @ City Girl Finding Her Place In The World

Mae @ It's a Storied Life

Mer @ Call Me What You Like

Kay @ The Kay Times

Steph @ Not Entirely Perfect

Deb @ Deborah Yanni

Erin @ Two Third Hazel

Kate & Adam @ The Florkens

Have a great weekend, lovebugs!

Things I Don't Believe In.

I was inspired by a post I saw a few weeks ago while browsing through blogs, but I can't remember which one. If anyone knows, comment below so I can give them credit!

Because every post needs at least one picture & I'm really diggin my lashes and brows in this one (see previous post).

++ Commercials. Unless I have something to get during the break or I've gotta go, I usually can't stand the dreaded commercial break. And of course, they always happen just as Katherine's voice comes out of Elena's mouth or Cyrus tells Olivia that she & Fitz are not star-crossed lovers - basically the "oh shit" moment. There's nothing worse than a commercial cliffhanger. Except maybe the cliffhanger at the end of an episode. That blows.

++ The Dentist. I can't say I don't understand the necessity. I just really really don't like going to the dentist's office. The terror from visits still lingers after burrowing* itself into my tiny little head 20 years ago. As a child, I'd always get in trouble for having a cavity, even though it wasn't my fault. I had really deep grooves in my teeth that regular brushing just can't get to. TMI? Probably. "Laughing gas" has always made me nauseous not happy, and the big ass numbing needle is freaking scary. And I just don't like being poked and prodded like a test subject on a slab of marble, okay?
     * Btw, I really like this word "burrowing". It's like I can just see it happening, that animal of fear digging it's way into my innocent little heart to dwell there foe evarr.          Just me? My Bad. 

++ Chapped lips. This is probably on everyone's list, but in this dead of winter weather Manhattan has been experiencing recently, it has become a daily annoyance of mine. I've lost track of all lip blams because I stuff them arbitrarily into coat pockets and purses. And when you've only just run out to the corner bodega for a bagel at 7am, grabbing just your wallet, and the wind hits you in face so hard that you can almost feel your lips screaming? Worst. Feeling. Ever.

++ Too much Sex And The City. Well, not literally, of course. That's... potentially, really unsanitary. Just sayin'. I've probably watched every episode of Carrie & Co. 3 times over and never get tired of it. E! always plays mini marathons on Saturdays and I'll just keep it on while I do things around the house (aka sit on the couch mesmerized and ignore the dirty dishes in the sink). When I watch the show, I fall in love with the city all over again, and feel the urge to go out and rediscover it.

++ Rejecting "my roots" because I don't have natural hair. #TeamNatural girls irk my existence. Yeah, I chemically relax my hair and wear clip-in extensions when I feel like it. So what? All it means is that I miss my bra-strap length hair and I don't miss crying my eyes out as my mother tried to detangle my 'natural' hair as a child. It most definitely doesn't mean that I reject my beautiful brown skin. I'm not throwing any shade your way because you choose to rock natural locks; let me be with my 'unnatural' hair.

++ Seeing the movie before reading the book. I just can't do it. It's like I'm programmed to reject the thought and although this has made for many awkward conversations (friend: wanna go see _____ this weekend? me: sorry, i can't. i have to read the book first), I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure this 'programming' stems from my desire to be an author myself, and the hopes that if I were ever honored with publication and further a movie adaptation, that people would read my words first. Wishful thinking. Besides, the book is always better! There are so many books I need to read because I'm anxious for the upcoming film like The Fault In Our Stars and The Maze Runner. Oh, and this 'programming' is also the reason I have yet to see Harry Potter 5-8 because I have yet to read 5-7 (I heard my favorite character died in 5 and have been reluctant to read it ever since).
Which brings me to the film adaptation I saw last night - Divergent! I was a bundle of nerves for about the first ⅓ of the movie, and I left as a bundle of tears. It wasn't perfect but it was so much better than I expected. But don't take my word for it, I cried through most of the movie because I'm ridiculous. Go see it for yourself! Like now. Hurry along :)

What are some things you don't believe in? I'm sure the weekend isn't one of them. Happy Friday!

Twenty - EFFIN' - Six

In honor of the day I turn 26 (and because I've gained quite a few followers since I last did an "about me" kind of post), I present 26 random facts about lil ol' me. And by random, I mean completely and uttering freakin' random, which coincidentally might sum me up in one word.

1) Anything the consistency of baby food is disgusting to me, including mashed potatoes and applesauce.

2) I have so much more fun making the list than actually doing things on the list. Planning for greatness? Fun. Doing the things that make you great? Not so fun. 

3) I've memorized all my debit card numbers.

4) Anytime I watch a voice competition show, I mute the t.v. during the commercials and try to sing the songs I just heard. Just to see if I've got what it takes. I don't.

5) I would've been left-handed if my mom didn't force me to use my right was I was younger. That's why it was always so strange that I'm lefty in gymnastics (lead with my left foot) because most people's dominant hand is also their dominant foot.

6) Sleeping is my favorite. I've slept for 24 hours straight before.

7) I hate walking around barefoot, but I also hate getting my slippers wet, so I step into rubber slides when I get out of the shower.

8) Everything is better when drinking it out of a wine glass.

9) I'm an excellent rollerblader but can't skate at all.

10) Every time I buy milk it goes bad in my fridge. Every. Single. Time.

11) I kill every flower I come into contact with, but peonies are one of my favorite things.

12) It totally freaks me out when someone hands me a sharp object with the edge pointing towards me. Have you no concern for my safety?!

13) For about a month in 2000, I wore a backwards red baseball cap everyday because I swore I was a Limp Bizkit backup dancer (re: Rollin').

14) If there's music playing, I'm dancing. It doesn't matter where I am.

15) On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, I check the Disney channel 2:30-4am time slot in hopes that they'll play 'Brink!'. It was on last weekend. I recorded it :)

16) I have two middle names.

17) My dream apartment doesn't have multiple bedrooms, the best view or the newest appliances. I just want an extra closet to convert into a sit-in library.

18) I really dislike asking for help.

19) I can still wear a lot of the clothes I've had since I was 14 years old.

20) I prefer cereal without milk. 

21) There's no doubt that I have an addictive personality.

22) If you know me, I swear like a sailor. I usually filter it around people I'm not as comfortable with because I think it's so unladylike.  

23) I could play Crash Bandicoot on Playstation for days straight.

24) I have a pork allergy (including anything cooked in pork grease) and it tastes kinda like soap to me.  

25) Seeing people really happy makes me cry.

26) Falling off of a treadmill or stairmaster is a huge fear of mine. It's just so embarrassing. 


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Blog-lebrity For A Day

Fancy seeing me here again. But I missed you so. Do you mind entertaining me for just a few minutes more? :)   

I recently started following Erin from Two Thirds Hazel, and caught a glimpse of this really fun quiz she created. I was super excited to do it, ergo why there's a double dose of me today. In this post, she exposes her love for Cosmopolitan magazines at a time when she probably shouldn't have been reading them, and I can totally relate. I remember spending numerous allowances on Cosmos and hiding them under my pillow whenever my parents came in like a teenage boy with a nudy magazine. But I digress.

One of the best parts of Cosmo magazines were the celebrity pieces that read like a huge fill-in-the-blank. It was always interesting to see a celebrity's handwriting and answers to random questions. So, download this quiz on Erin's blog & be a celebrity for a day!

The ABCs of Me

I admit it. I definitely stole this from my dear friend Jac a little while ago :). It seemed like such an interesting way to get to know me. Plus, I've been working on a few upcoming posts and discovered at 3am that I didn't have any posts scheduled for today. Eeep! 

So here are my ABCs. Have you done a little questionnaire like this? Link it in a comment below (or do this one) so I can get to know you better too.

{A} Age: 25

{B} Bed size: I have a full, but a queen would be perfect.

{C} Chore you hate: Washing dishes or scrubbing the bathtub because they ruin my mani. 

{D} Dogs: Waiting on C to get an English bulldog because I mean he'll basically be mine (His name will be Bully & I will love him!)

Isn't this such an adorable puppy?!

{E} Essential start to your day: I usually put on a playlist, and check Instagram, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal & emails. 

{F} Favorite color: Currently Oxblood and Mint.

{G} Gold or Silver: Recently gold.

{H} Height: 5'6ish

{I} Instruments you play: Clarinet when I was young, & does "Mary Had A Little Lamb" on acoustic guitar count?

{J} Job Title: Hopefully, a lawyer (*crosses fingers*)

{K} Kids: No.

{L} Live: Manhattan, NY

{M} Married: No.

{N} Nicknames: Kari, Karebear, KayCee

{O} Overnight hospital stays: Not for myself, but as a visitor a few times.

{P} Pet peeve: Bullying. I literally cry when I see it happening. I could never be a school teacher.

{Q} Quote: "…carrying beauty, perfect as the dusk when the sun goes down" because I was named for it.

{R} Righty or Lefty: Righty, mostly.

{S} Siblings: I'm an only child. 

{T} Time you wake up: Usually around noon if it's up to me.

{U} University attended: Pennsylvania State University.

{V} Vegetables you dislike: Broccoli, bleh.

{W} What makes you run late: Over-estimating how much time I have/losing track of time.

{X} X-Rays you've had: My knee. 

{Y} Yummy food: I've really been into grilled fish recently - tilapia, swordfish etc. Oh & Thai! 

{Z} Zoo animal favorite: Owls.

Oh & go check out this link up hosted by Her & Nicole, on Thursdays aka "Scandal Day."

Selfie

Today's topic: A self portrait.

While looking through my albums for a very "me" photo, I found this one and thought "ha! that's me." Well, at first, I thought "what the hell was that?!" because I was scrolling too fast and blew right past this strange shot. I could've chosen a much more attractive picture, no doubt. And perhaps this photo is a little scary (according to my boyfriend, a little crazy even). But I think it captures quite a bit about me. It's up close and personal (maybe even too much so), and it's not the typical selfie. But hey, sometimes I'm a bit much too handle and I'm far from normal, so it fits :)

What does your self portrait say about you?

Me & My "Silly Switch"

Today's topic: Take this short personality test and respond to your results.

Every single time I take one of these personality test, the results are dead-on. Every. Single. Time. If there are 10 characteristics predicted, 9 ½ of those apply to me no doubt. So I wasn't surprised when the personality test above informed me that I am an "Extroverted iNtuitive Feeling Perceiving" (ENFP), basically a warm, friendly, talkative individual. 

An ENFP is "enthusiastic, charismatic and creative." The extrovert in them is energized and renewed by socializing, but craves alone time as well. Our intuition leads us to focus on the world of possibilities. We tend to let our emotions and feelings guide us and frequently empathize with others. Flexibility and spontaneity as well as disorganization and procrastination plague our perception. This couldn't be truer for me if I wrote it myself. To read more about the ENFP type, click here. 

The following are a few quotes from my test results which I think explain my personality pretty damn well:

Some ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which can ingratiate them to more stodgy types in spite of their unconventionality.
I cannot count how many times I've been told that I am flirtatious to which I responded that I prefer to call it "charm." I've insisted that it's not intentional or used to make sexual advances or anything. I'm just a very friendly person who likes to flatter other people, showering them with compliments. And now I have the scientific results to prove it!

ENFPs have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Som etimes they may even appear intoxicated when the "switch" is flipped.
There are times when my boyfriend will look over at me after I've said something completely outrageous or incomprehensible and he'll say "I think it's bedtime. You are sleepy." I usually protest upon hearing this, but it's futile because my protests go something like "You can't tell me what to do, mister. You're not my daddy," after which I burst into a fit of giggles. Just putting the icing on the "you're acting like a silly, sleepy 6 year-old" cake. 

For some ENFPs, relationships can be seriously tested by their short attention spans and emotional needs. They are easily intrigued and distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting their older and more familiar emotional ties for long stretches at a time.

Ariel is the ultimate fictional ENFP.
I feel this way about makeup too, Ariel :)

Even the not-so-good traits describe me perfectly as well. In college, one of my closest friends had a nickname for me that exemplified by love for new shiny things that I desperately wanted at that moment, destined to be set aside for newer and shiner things a few moments later. She tried to talk me out of purchasing this expensive, purple patterned, knee-length over-coat that I just had to have. I bought it anyway and it's hanging in my closet right now - with the tags still attached, of course :) This trait shows up in my personal relationships as well. I am quite possibly the worst "texter" ever, and I have a tendency to get so wrapped up in conversations with friends and new acquaintances that I'll forget to return my parents' phone calls on occasion. 



So I am off to call my mom :) Have you ever taken a personality test like the one linked above? Were the results as telling as mine? Tell me about it in the comments below!

"Try Hard Not to Lie, and Have Clear Being There."

Here we go. My first ever blogging challenge, #Blogtember, created by the lovely Jenni @ Story of My Life. I've always thought I want to do one of those as I watched countless Makeup Mayhem and Vlogmas videos on YouTube. And now that I have so much time on my hands, I can.

Today's topic: Describe where or what you come from. The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

The first thing that popped into my head was the city, an idea fueled by my continuous love affair with NYC. But that'd be too easy, at least for me it would be a "cop out" of sorts. I could mention my love of writing and creating a world I preferred to live it at the age of six, the years of gymnastics training that I am convinced saved my life, or the four years away at university that allowed me to "find myself" which for the record turned out to be the same person I had always been. But there will be other, dare I say more relevant, times to discuss all of that. Of course, I technically come from my family, you know my parents and other distant relatives. But then again, don't we all come from our families (at least in the general sense of it)? And, I mean, I could talk ad nauseam about my dear father who challenges me every single day to be a better person than I was just moments ago. Or my mom, who rarely nags or asks a million questions but always knows what question to ask when I need her most. But I'd rather talk about something specific, a certain factor that makes up who I am.  

Photo Credit
Edited by me

I was raised on truth. That isn't to say I've never told a lie. I have. Probably more than the share of lies allotted to one during her lifetime. But where I come from, the people I come from - they've always taught me to tell the truth. And that's the important part. That's always kept me safe. From myself. See, no matter what I've told anyone else - that they didn't hurt my feelings when they actually crushed me, that I went for a run instead of sitting on the couch watching reruns of America's Next Top Model, that I was but a city block away from our lunch date when I in fact wasn't even dressed yet - I've never lied to myself. In fact, I don't think I can. It's almost as if my father spoon fed me truth out of a baby food jar and so it's become such a part of me, of who I am, that my body rejects anything else I try to convince myself of. "Try hard not to lie and have clear being there,"  my father would say to me since I can remember. So I'd scrawl into my diary about just how hurt I was, vow silently to myself to workout tomorrow instead of watching hungry models bitch at each other, mentally curse myself out for running so behind schedule and setting an early lunch when I know I'm a late riser. Lying to myself, one of the easiest and most self-destructive things to do, was something I simply never could do. 

See, everybody lies; whether they are bomb-dropping, life-changing lies or small, white, "your-butt-doesn't-look-fat-in-that" lies, everybody tells them. It's when you've convinced yourself of your own lies that you're in trouble. And where I come from, more aptly what I was raised on, it keeps me out of trouble, it even keeps me honest. Because if I know the truth, but I tell a story, well then I'm a fraud and I don't like the way that feels so I try hard to avoid it. It's funny, huh? The way some things come back full circle.

Thanks for reading! Are you participating in #Blogtember? If so, let me know in the comments below so I can follow along. If not, where do you come from, what makes you, well, you?