3 Little Things

I love writing on here about the changes I'm making in my life, whether it be in my wardrobe or in my diet.  But sometimes, I'll change something small that doesn't need much explanation but I would love to share with you all.  I still think it's important to post these things, because change doesn't necessarily have to be something big like a meal plan or a style switch.  It can be the tiniest thing you do to make you feel good.

Here are 3 Little Things I've changed this week:

I normally never use bar soap, but I've been using this new bluebonnet soap in a heart-shaped dish next to my bluebonnet lotion.  Both are from Texas Star Store in Abilene.

You've probably seen pictures of nails where the ring finger is a different color.  I've done that, but I've also seen nail like this, with a different color on the ring and pinkie fingers.  I saw it on an episode of  Pretty Little Liars, so of course I had to try it.  Wearing Peaches & Cream and Pink-Finity, both by Covergirl.

I decided to get crafty with my father's day gift bag this year.  Taking inspiration from Pinterest (you can follow me on my Pinterest), I put my dad's gift in a paper lunch sack, made the bow tie from felt, and used leftover buttons on the front. For the card I just decorated it with colored pencils.  I love the way the bag turned out and I hope that my dad will find it charming.

So You Have to Eat Fast Food...

A major factor that I considered when I became a vegetarian was that my eating habits would keep me from eating fast food.  No more chicken nuggets, burgers, or chicken fingers.  It's proven to be helpful as I continue to eat healthier.

However, I was put in a situation 3 weeks ago that I was unprepared for.  I was driving home from college with my parents, and we had to stop for lunch in a small town.  The way things worked out, the only place where we could eat quickly was Dairy Queen.  So that day, all I ate was fries and a drink for lunch.  Not very appetizing.  The problem is, it might happen again.  I have extended family that I regularly visit in Kansas and Illinois, and eating on the road often means eating at fast food restaurants.

I don't want to be stuck in that situation again where I can only eat fries, so I've been looking into fast food menus so that I'll be prepared next time.  So what does happen when you're a vegetarian and have to eat fast food?  Well, I'm about to give you some options.

Baked Potato!  Also their Frosty will always be great.

Grilled Cheese- it's technically on the kid's menu so you might not have noticed it before, but it's delicious and cheap.

Premium Southwest Salad- you can find a salad at most fast food places, but I particularly love this one.  You can get it with chicken, but it's just as flavorful without meat.

Big Fish Sandwich.  #10 on their menu, this is a filling sandwich.

Fruit Cup!  It's only a side but it is SO good.  It's filled with strawberries, blueberries, other fruit, and minimal melon.  And don't forget, Chick-fil-a's waffle fries combined with their Chick-fil-a sauce is pure heaven.

There you go, just a few things you can order when fast food is your only option!  Do any of you have good meatless eats at fast food places that I don't have on here?  Comment and let me know!

Summer Style Inspiration: Coachella

I love finding fashion inspirations from different places.  I look through pictures of fashion on runways, red carpets, and celeb street style.  However, my favorite place to look for fashion inspiration is at Coachella.  It's true that some outfits people wear to the music festival are ridiculous and sometimes too revealing, but overall, I find the fashion fascinating.

I've mentioned before that my personal style is laid back and bohemian.  At this festival nearly everyone dresses more bohemian or edgy than they normally would, and I am in inspiration heaven.


Here are my 4 favorite Coachella looks from 2 celebrities:

Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens is someone I normally look to for fashion inspiration on the street.  Whenever she's at Coachella, she kicks it up a notch and goes all out with bright prints and colors, long hair, and tons of fun boho accessories.  By just looking at her, you can tell she feels great in what she's wearing.


Kendall Jenner:

Now I'm not a fan of the Kardashian family by any means, but I enjoyed Kendall's outfits at the festival this year.  I love the giant statement necklace that she wore twice and her pairing of boots and shorts.  Somewhere in between the Kendall's bold tomboy style and Vanessa's bright hippie style is a happy medium where I'd like my style to be.

Are You Ready to Order?

Eating out has been a different experience for me lately.  I'm choosing healthier entrees when out with friends.  I've stopped reaching for burgers and chicken fingers and I'm rediscovering my love for salads and healthy sandwiches, something I've tended to neglect.

Here are a few meals I've had lately:

Veggie Club with Mac & Cheese from McAlister's Deli

Club Salad from a cafe on my college campus

Spinach Veggie Wrap with Fruit Cup from Jason's Deli

Dressing Like Me

Are you influenced by what your friends wear?  I never thought that I was until recently.  My style has always been bohemian and casual.  Most of my friends gravitate towards clothes that are simple and girly.  I started realizing that I was dressing more like them without knowing it.  Changing up your style can be fun, but only if I'm doing it consciously and having fun with it.  The other day, I went to church and then shopping with my sister in an outfit that made my feel like myself again.  I can only describe it as the most comfortable and happy feeling.

Dress: Ross, Vest: Forever 21, Sandals: Old Navy, Necklace: Forever 21

I love wearing long dresses.  I love wearing long skirts.  I love wearing things with fringe on them.  I love wearing all types of jewelry.  Sometimes people stare when I wear lots of fringe and have a head chain in my hair.  But it's what I like.  I have to learn to not let the thoughts of others cause me to dress in a different style.  I have to make sure that if I change, it's something I want.

The Family Dinner

This past weekend was very special.  Not only was it Easter, but also my parents had birthdays on both Saturday and Sunday.  I decided to surprise my parents with a trip home by sneaking into my house at 1am on Friday after a long drive home from college.  My dad found me the next morning much to his amusement.  But one question remained: What were we going to eat for Easter dinner?

I've talked about my recent change as a vegetarian (or pescetarian).  My mom had planned on making her classic Easter ham for her, my dad, and my sister.  Thankfully, she hadn't bought the ham yet, and she took me with her to the grocery store where she purchased a salmon.  I loved the end result of our Easter dinner so much that I'm going to share it will all of you.

Main dish: Salmon Sweet Potato Frittata.  It initially seemed so odd.  Salmon with sweet potato?  But it was so good!  And remember, I'm on a mission to try new things and change up what I can in my meals. The sweet potato took away some of the saltiness from the fish and made a yummy, savory frittata.

Side Dish: Rosemary Bread.  While in the bakery section of Kroger, we decided to try something we don't normally pick for bread.  For the meal, mom took slices of the bread, brushed them with olive oil and popped them into our toaster oven.

Dessert: Fruit Salad.  What could be better? Nothing.  Spring/Summer is always my favorite time of year for food because my favorite fruits are in season.  We had pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.  There's seriously nothing better.

Here's a final look at my plate for our Family Easter Dinner!

Being a new vegetarian is difficult in some social settings where I have to pick around what food I can eat without making a big deal out of things and calling attention to myself.  I'm lucky that I have a family that goes out of their way to support my eating habits even when I show up unannounced.  I've made this dietary change for myself, and by supporting me, my family is experiencing change themselves, even in the smallest of ways (like a meal).

Feeling Fancy

Jeans.  They're comfy, casual, and all-American, but they make me lazy with my style.  Since I'm in college, I usually don't spend too much thought over what I'm going to wear the next day.  Especially when I'm in a rush, there's nothing easier than throwing on a pair of jeans and one of my shirts.

So in a rushed day, I might end up looking like this:

Now there's nothing wrong with me looking like this, since it's super comfy, but after wearing the same jeans-and-shirt rotation for a few days I start to get bored.  If I'm bored with the way I look, I don't feel as alert or as happy as I would if I really enjoy what I wear.

When I went home for Spring Break, with no classes and extra time to plan my outfits, I found myself throwing a few skirts into my suitcase.  That week I wore several blouse and skirt combos and I felt happier.  When I like the way I look, I feel more positive throughout the day.

After Spring Break, I started putting together outfits like this:

Outfits like this are still casual, but adding a skirt with a piece of jewelry can change it up and make all the difference.  I've been loving the pairing of simpler shirts with printed or textured skirts.  I usually tuck in the front of my shirts and throw on a cardigan because layering is the best.  And since it's spring now, skirts are the perfect piece to bust out of the closet.