Saying Goodbye

I've sat down to write this post a few times and haven't been able to get it into words. To be honest, it wasn't something I was certain I wanted to blog about but then I found that other, less personal posts just didn't feel right to post without acknowledging that I'd been going through a rough patch. Over the summer we found out that my Mother-in-law was no longer in remission from cancer. We new that it was bad and that we didn't have much longer with her but it all happened much quicker than I ever could have expected. At the end of last month George and I flew to England and were lucky enough to spend her last few days with her and the entire family.

I've been home for a few weeks now and I have been struggling to let the reality sink in. Because we lived on different continents I was used to being far away from her and not in daily contact. Sometimes it feels like this is still the case and everything is just as it was. I can only imagine how difficult this is for George and I know we are both lucky to have each other and the rest of our families during this time.

As sad as this time has been, I have been lucky to have wonderful, kind and caring people to turn to. It seems so many of us tend to get Having to say goodbye to someone you love is incredibly painful but I feel so appreciative to have known her.

Goodbye Claire, you are very, very missed.

xoxo,
Elena

Oh the Pages I've Read // Book Reviews

I used to be a massive reader but that slowed down a bit when I was in college and working full time. I sort of forgot how much I loved reading for a while which is pretty sad. Luckily, I have rediscovered my love obsession and am now making sure I make time to read every day, even if it's just for a few minutes. There's nothing quite like getting lost in a good book but even reading a few pages will help me clear my mind and relax a bit.

Now that summer is coming to a close I thought it would be a good time to review all the books that I read over the past few months. I didn't read quite as much as I had hoped but I am still plugging along with my goal of 1+ book/month. 

Xenocide by Orson Scott Card - This is the third book in the Ender's Game series and probably my least favorite so far. I really liked Ender's Game and LOVED Speaker for the Dead but this one didn't quite click with me as well. I would still totally recommend the series and this book does have some really strong points in it, I was just a bit disappointed with the ending.

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer - I picked this up at a bookstore while traveling (I totally buy books based on their covers, btw) and I really enjoyed it. It's a really touching story about someone struggling with a mental illness. 

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window & Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson - This was my favorite book of the summer by far. I literally could not put it down. I saw this book on Design Darling's 10 Books to Read this Summer and thought it looked fun. The story is great and the writing is witty; I've been recommending this to everyone I know!

Perfect by Rachel Joyce - Not my favorite. The cover caught my eye and the teaser sounded interesting but this definitely wasn't worth the read. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - This is another must-read. I cannot wait for the movie to come out this fall! The story was totally captivating and Gillian Flynn is a very clever writer!

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - I've wanted to read this for awhile but never got around to it. It's a sad/disturbing story but I thought the perspective made it a really interesting read. Alice Sebold did a really good job of capturing and portraying so many different emotions throughout the book. I enjoyed this but it wasn't as strong as I thought it could be.

What did you read this summer? Any favorites I should add to my reading list?

P.S. You can follow along with what I'm reading on Goodreads.

What I Pack In My Carry On Bag

With all of the traveling I've been doing over the summer it has started to feel like I am constantly unpacking and repacking my suitcase. I'm honestly not the best packer, I always end up bringing way too much stuff and then I never feel like wearing half of it. One thing I am good at though is packing my carry on. I thought I would share what went in my bag this past weekend on my trip to Orlando!

1. Cute Bag - I usually bring a large Longchamp tote or a cute backpack. I pack my essentials from my purse in this and pack a small crossbody in my checked bag.

2. Reading Material - I rarely have time to read magazines at home so I keep a pile of unread ones to choose from when I travel. I always bring two good books, one in my carry on and one in my checked bag in case I finish the first.

3. iPad - I'm pretty sure this is a travel necessity for everyone. I don't like to read on my iPad (I love real books way too much) but I keep mine stocked with my favorite TV show (Inbetweeners), a few movies (I'm always in the mood for Marley & Me), and, of course, plenty of games. 

4. Make-Up Bag - I try to minimize my make-up for traveling and just bring the basics and a small eyeshadow palette. 

5. Notebook/Journal - I'm big on list-making and would rather jot things down on paper than my phone so I always bring at least one notebook with me wherever I go. Plus you never know when someone might suggest an amazing restaurant to try or museum/park to check out!

6. Chargers & Cables - I keep anything electronics related in here and always carry it on it case my bag gets lost.

7. Small Pouch - This has a random mix of little things I like to always have on hand - metro cards, Advil, Chapstick, hand lotion, etc.

8. Wallet - Obviously.

What are your travel essentials? Any favorite movies or tv shows for long trips?

Vacation // Orlando, FL

George and I just returned from a great mini-vacation to Orlando, FL to check out the newly expanded Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Guys, this place is AMAZING! I'm a massive HP fan/nerd but I am pretty sure that even non-fans would be impressed by this place. The rides are some of the best I have ever been on but what really got me is the attention to detail, they do such a good job of making you feel like you are really there!

Last time we went (for our Honeymoon), I took TONS of pictures but this time I was more into taking in all the cool stuff and didn't want to miss anything hiding behind a camera. There are so many neat little details and I'm sure there are still some that I missed! Here's a little recap with the few photos I did take:)

Hogsmeade Station for the new Hogwarts Express. So worth getting park-to-park tickets to ride this! Make sure to go both ways as they are totally unique!

Beautiful Hogsmeade.

I celebrated my birthday while we were there and George writes me a Hogwarts admissions letter every year:) This year I actually got to ride the Hogwarts Express on the 1st (my birthday)!!

Diagon Alley - so amazing. The dragon on top of Gringotts breathes fire every half hour.
 

Entrance to the Gringotts ride, probably my favorite of them all! The lines were pretty long for this one (30-90 minutes depending) but it was so worth it. Plus, there are a lot of cool things to see while you are in line so it doesn't end up feeling that long.

You can't tell from the photo but the photos under the headlines were actually moving!

Heading to Hogwarts on September 1st!

View of the outside of the expansion - they've got the Knight Bus, King's Cross Station, the shops on either side of the entrance to Diagon Alley and Grimmauld Place.

Love this view of the castle!

I obviously highly recommend visiting the park. However, make sure to take into account that it is a theme park and very busy and tiring. We went for two and a half days which was probably pushing my limits a bit. Also, definitely try to stay close to the park, either at an onsite hotel or one nearby. We stayed at the Doubletree which is across the street from the Universal entrance and it worked out great, we saved a bunch on cab fares and it was close enough to walk to the park for the day and then back at night to go to dinner at CityWalk.

Have you been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Any theme park tips for future visits?

Fall Wish List

Just a few things I've been lusting after for the upcoming season.

LL Bean Boots - Perfect for muddy hikes with Sirius (or walks with Gatsby and Kanye!) or for trips to England regardless of the season:)

Restoration Hardware Robe - I'm imagining wearing this snuggled up in bed with hot cup of coffee and a good book.

Dogeared Necklace - I have been wanting a simple gold necklace and I love (almost) all of the Dogeared ones.

Ralph Lauren Cashmere Sweater - Oversized cashmere sweater, long plane rides, enough said.

Do you have any fall must haves?

My Skin Routine

I've gotten very lucky with my skin. I didn't have bad acne growing up and I was able to get away with wearing little to no makeup most of the time. I've always gone through phases where for a few months I would take really good care (I thought) of my skin but then I would miss one day and end up not really washing my face for weeks.

Recently I decided that I needed to take better care of my skin (I even made it one of my 101 in 1001!). My skin wasn't bad per se but it was probably the worst I have ever seen it. I didn't only want to make it better for the present though, I realized that if I wanted my skin to stay healthy I would have to start taking care of it before it got damaged. Through some trial (and lots of error) I have come up with what I think are pretty good morning and evening skincare routines for me. I am still playing around with some things though and definitely open to suggestions or advice!

Morning Routine

ROC Exfoliating Cleanser - This is a cleanser that I already had. I like it because even though it exfoliates it feels light and refreshing, perfect for starting the day! Unfortunately it looks like this product has been discontinued so I will have to try something else when mine runs out.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner - Not too sure how I feel about this product...I think it does its job well but it feels a bit harsh on my skin. I might do some searching to see if I can find something better when I finish this bottle.

No7 Pore Refining Serum - LOVE this product! It makes my skin so soft and even and definitely clears up my pores.

Urban Decay Naked BB Cream - I've been using this throughout the summer in place of moisturizer AND foundation. Definitely a staple in my beauty routine. The cream has the perfect amount of color and leaves my skin nice and smooth. SPF is also a plus!

Evening Routine

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This cleanser is amazing. I have really sensitive eyes and have always struggled to find a cleanser that removes my makeup without stinging my eyes and this is definitely a winner. Added bonus, washing it off with the hot muslin is super relaxing and always makes me feel ready for bed!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Astringent - This is another winner. I love the smell and it makes my skin feel great, it's almost as if I can feel my pores getting cleaner.

DDF Acne Control Treatment - As I mentioned before, I've never had bad acne so I'm not sure this step is really necessary for me. A friend of mine had given me a tube of this to try so I thought I might as well use it. To be honest, I'm not sold on it but again that might just be because I don't really need it. Either way, it's a bit expensive for me so I probably won't purchase another tube.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - I received a free bottle of this with my Liz Earle Cleanser and I am totally in love. I don't know how to describe it but it just gives my skin a little extra oomph. I also use it in the mornings if my skin is feeling particularly dry and it does wonders.

Lush Enchanted Eye Cream - I tend to get circles under my eyes quite often so I thought adding an eye cream would sort that out for me. I've had a lot of success with Lush products recently (BB Seaweed Mask & Ocean Salt Scrub are amazing!) so I decided to give this a go. So far I like it and I LOVE that you only need to use a tiny bit.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer - This stuff is AMAZING! You only need to use a little bit and it makes your skin feel fantastic and hydrated. I love using it at night because I feel like it really soaks in while I sleep.

What are your favorite skincare products? Any must-haves I should add to my repertoire?

Goals

I've been thinking a lot about goals lately. I've always been big on making goals, whether big or small I love having something to tick off a list. Unfortunately for a long time I got into the habit of making goals without coming up with plans to achieve said goals. I was just sitting back and hoping that things would turn out how I wanted them. Basically, I was living very passively and not going after what I wanted. 

A while ago I was talking with a friend and he mentioned a leadership seminar he had gone to where they discussed making goals. The leader of the seminar had all of the attendees do an exercise where they wrote down a goal they had and then wrote down everything they would need to do to accomplish the goal. Without overthinking about it (as I often do), they had come up with a plan to achieve their goal. Even though this seems quite simple it resonated with me for some reason and got me thinking about why I hadn't been doing that to begin with.

In all honesty, I think the reason for my holding back is two-fold. One, I think that a lot of my generation has been taught that we can be/do anything. This has created a lot of "kids" with big dreams who grow up feeling entitled to their dreams. Obviously not everyone is like this but in my experience in the workplace I have noticed quite a few twenty-somethings who don't understand why they are not C-level execs straight out of college. The other thing that holds me back is my fear of failure. Again, I don't feel that I am alone in this, I am sure that most people have some level of fear or failing. However, instead of accepting failure as a possibility and going for what I want anyway, I have held back from pursuing the things that I want to prevent failing at them. Unfortunately for me, while lack of trying does prevent failing it also guarantees that I won't ever succeed.

Having spent some time thinking all of this through I realized it was time for me to grow up a bit. I can either let my fear hold me back and stay in limited jobs forever or I can throw a bit of caution to the wind and go after what I actually want. Obviously the latter sounds more exciting and so that's what I have chosen to do. While I happen to have many goals at the moment (hello, 101 in 1001) my main goal is to be accepted to graduate school for next fall. As terrifying as it is to tell people knowing that come January I may very well have to tell them that I didn't get in it is also thrilling. Thrilling to know that I am going after something I really want and thrilling to know that I just may get it. At the moment I am in the beginning stages of mapping out my application process and while it will be a lot of work I am super excited about it and having a great time planning it all out!

What are your goals right now? What methods are you implementing to achieve them? I'd love any extra input!