Spring Break Essentials

I will be spending over 24 hours in a car next weekend.

As horrifying as it sounds, it will be worth it. Four friends and I are road tripping to Sanibel Island, Florida for our spring break next weekend. Five girls in a hotel, zero plans or obligations, and lots of sunshine are what I'm craving right now!

I never really understood when people would say that they need a vacation from work or life. In high school, I was always relatively relaxed and took time off when I wanted it or needed it. However, lately I have really felt the stress of being a college student creeping up on me. 

Social events (which are much more stressful than they sound), study abroad applications (TBA), tough Economics classes, and extracurricular obligations have really piled up this semester, and there's been more than once that I've found myself under the covers, a giant bowl of breakfast cereal in my hands, binge-watching House of Cards to ignore everything that was going on.

In other words, I really need a week of sun, friends, and relaxation!

If you're heading out for spring break with your friends, here are a few essentials to bring with you (besides car snacks, audio books, and some good music!)

A cute and trendy carry-all:

1. straw tote 2. sport mesh bag 3. striped duffle 4. leather backpack

Also, for some fun accessories, make sure to pack:

• cute sunglasses
• a fun towel (New Yorker towels at Overstock.com are on sale and super cute!)
• quirky luggage tags 
• a bright makeup bag

1. ray-ban sunglasses 2. new yorker beach towel 3. luggage tag 4. floral makeup bag

Are you going on a spring break trip? What are your spring break essentials? 

Spotlight: Spring Sneakers

As a Massachusetts native, I always laugh when it snows here.

At the first sign of a few snowflakes, Durham, NC completely shuts down. Streets are abandoned, schools are cancelled, and people sit inside, staring out their windows, afraid to go outside.

Not me.

Polienne

Last snow day we had, there was 1 inch of snow. I wanted to buy some oranges from the Whole Foods down the street, so I got in my car, wiped the snow off my windshield, and drove down the road. Ignoring stares from people in snow boots and scarfs, hats and gloves, I coasted over ice patches and bought my oranges. 

That's how we New Englanders handle snow.

That being said, I'm done with winter. I can't wait for fresh asparagus and strawberries at the farmer's markets, cool, sunny mornings and warm afternoons, and dresses, flats, and short sleeves.

However, when winter blossoms into spring and the ground is still soaked, I have a hard time figuring out what to put on my feet. Boots are too warm, flats too delicate, and sandals are a long way away.

Enter one of spring's biggest trends: sneakers.

They are practical, comfortable, athletic chic, and super trendy. Take advantage of a trend that is as practical as it is fashionable.

Even though I tend to gravitate towards more sophisticated, feminine clothes, I love this look. You can dress them up or down, and they look great with skinny jeans, a graphic tee, and a big scarf. 

1. new balance for j.crew 2. vans for j.crew (on sale!) 3. nike for j.crew

The Weekender

~farm fresh eggs from the Durham farmer's market~

~a snow day in the south~

~duke beating university of north carolina in over time!~

~last day of the Miro exhibit at the Nasher art museum~

Chai Snickerdoodles

I went through a period of a few days (okay, maybe two weeks) where I would drink NyQuil every night before going to bed.

It wasn't good.

However, I was having a hard time falling asleep, because each time I would put my head on the pillow, my mind would race with obligations and plans and to-do lists, and I would feel like jumping out of bed and doing jumping jacks to get rid of the excess anxiety. The only way that I was able to go to sleep was with cold medicine.

Not okay.

Eventually I stopped taking NyQuil (crisis averted) and started creating other relaxing, natural bedtime solutions.

One of my absolute favorite ways to relax after a long, stressful day is a warm mug of chai tea, a few yoga poses, and some soothing lavender essential oil. My yoga instructor always uses lavender essential oil to adjust us in our final poses, and it is an extremely relaxing scent to fall asleep to.

The ritual of a mug of chai tea has become incredibly comforting. The warm, spicy drink warms up my body and signals my mind that it is time to go to sleep. It works really well! (although arguably not as good as the NyQuil....)

With this relaxing, soothing bedtime ritual in mind, I made Chai Snickerdoodles over the weekend.

These soft, pillowy cookies have the buttery, sweet taste of snickerdoodles, with the added spice of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. They crinkle in your mouth and melt on your tongue, and are best minutes out of the oven!

Head to Jelly Toast for the recipe, and bake up some spicy, comforting cookies that make the perfect bedtime snack.

Girls Who Brunch: The Outfit

brunch at The Washington Duke Inn

t-shirt: snagged at a sample sale (similar here), skirt: forever 21, 

boots: urban outfitters, bag: tory burch (similar here and here)

Loving Yourself While in College

Sometimes it's hard to feel like a real person while in college.


You study, eat at strange times, try to sleep a minimum of 6 hours, drag yourself to the gym, and see your friends in drunken, hallucinogenic states at frat parties at night. Sometimes, when I sit down and make myself a cup of tea and read the newspaper, or a magazine, I feel little tendrils of guilt creeping in, like:

"You don't have time to relax! What is relaxing? You can read the news when you're dead!"

(which is obviously NOT true, btw)


In general, I think I have a better handle on this crazy lifestyle than my friends do. I'm always the one who goes to bed by midnight before exams, goes to the gym when I want to, takes yoga classes and goes to the farmer's market.

Yet, I still fall prey to believing that I'm stuck in a sort of limbo- one in which we don't need to take time for ourselves or our relationships, one in which our well-being and sense of self don't matter.

That's why, when there are opportunities to slow down, savor a morning, and spread self-love, I jump at them.



How I show self-love:

1. Read the New York Times everyday
2. Eat a really, really good breakfast! (like the one below- yum!)
3. Keep a lot of yummy fruit and tea on hand
4. Exercise at least 4 times a week
5. Listen to and make Spotify playlists

a fruit plate at brunch this weekend

What do you do to nurture yourself?

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For Her

Here's a Valentine's Day gift guide to celebrate all of your girlfriends, mothers, sisters, and cousins. Treat them to something amazing this Valentine's Day!


clockwise from top left

1. A pair of cheeky studs (75% until 2/12!)
2. Soft, sweet pajama bottoms
3. A fun tumbler for cold drinks
4. Chic, inexpensive d'Orsay flats
5. Adorable Valentine's Day cards from Rifle Paper Co.
6. Double chocolate covered figs from my favorite chocolatier
7. A sweet pink crop top for spring