Friday night links + A wonderful weekend

via Fancy

Is it Friday already? I have to make my final decision for law school next Monday! Unless I get off a wait-list, I've narrowed down my choices to either moving to Wisconsin or staying in LA. I really like the school in Madison, but the idea of leaving California leaves me torn. What to do?

I also have to keep my resolution of taking a MIT class☺. Physics stopped me, but I'm excited to hear that Harvard is joining the game. I'll update you on when they offer the next class! (via NY Times)

The Ultimate Volcano Adventure involves exploring-you guessed it-the inside of a volcano. Sign up here. (via Black Tomato)

All of the Earth's water. (via USGS)

I love this adorable mini BBQ/herb pot. (via Charles&Marie)

13 year-old sells out a restaurant's seating for the night. I'm not sure how to feel. (via Eater LA)

How trendy are these iPhone business cards? (via swiss-miss)

Cute. And somehow chic. (via Zara)

Beautiful flower light. (via Design*Sponge)

An honest post about how blogs over-embrace perfection and sweep real life under the rug. I have to admit that I like seeing (and posting) pretty things and shy away from anything too personal or serious, but it's nice to read such genuine thoughts and opinions. (via Creature Comforts)

Have a great weekend everyone, and remember to spend time with your momma ♥.

via Fancy

Friendship + Pacts

via pretty peach peonies

A buddy and I have come up with an agreement (mentioned earlier) to slow our expanding waist-lines and keep resolutions. We have to stick to a specific exercise plan each week or be forced to pay for each missed mile. Basically, it's this pact, but without the gym and iPhone. Because finishing a gallon of ice cream is normally my kind of marathon, I've been very grateful to have such a good friend keep me on track. I find that the competition aspect as well as the idea of commitment really keeps me running. To ensure that the pact actually does what it's supposed to, we have some ground rules:

• Our exercise plans must be completed by Sunday every week.
• No rollovers.
• No canceling each other out (unfortunately).
• Find creative methods to pay each like buying lottery tickets (we're going halfsies when we win).
• Illness is the only valid excuse we'll accept for not finishing our miles.

It's been working out pretty well so far, and I hope we stick with it for at least a year. Have a good Thursday everyone, and be careful; it's the Ides of March ☺.

Leap + Year

A few notes about leap year:

• Leap year happens every four years to keep Earth's revolutions around the sun aligned with the Gregorian Calendar.
• According to an old Irish legend, women are allowed to propose to men today. Remember that terrible movie a couple years back? It's okay, I watched it for Mathew Goode in the fisherman sweater too.
• There are a number of deals to look out for today including cheaper airline flights and hotels, food/drink specials, and more. If you're near a Chick-fil-A, please enjoy those free chick-n-minis for me.

via Susanna Hertrich

I say this a lot, but where does the time go? Can you believe spring is almost here? A couple days ago, I got a magazine in the mail advertising swimsuits which amazes me because it feels like New Year's was just yesterday.

Speaking of which, how are everyone's resolutions? I actually made a vision board (I know), even though I caught an episode of Happy Endings recently and found it more banal than before. I've been trying a lot of new places (at the expense of my wallet) and well, I'm still working on my posture. MITx hasn't started classes yet, but I'll keep you updated on that. And my resolution to get fit is slowly, but steadily progressing thanks to a pact a friend and I made. Details on that later.

Have a happy leap day!

New + Newer

Resolution #4: Cut back on the old and try the new.

Embarking on a new adventure is like unwrapping a present, no? via Hellovina

Trying new things has never been a problem for me, but I definitely want to up my game this year. Now that we have technology at our fingertips, looking up a novel place has never been easier. I don't want to visit the same old fast-food joint for the sake of convenience or do the same old things just because it's familiar. I want to develop new hobbies and try different activities. I want to meet new people and visit unexplored grounds.

Even if the subject at hand is as simple as a restaurant, I would rather try one I haven't been to before. I know I've already mentioned this place, but La Descarga sounds so interesting to me. Entering a bar thru a wardrobe? It's like a grown-up Narnia. Plus, Brangelina has graced the dance floor with their moves. What other shallow reason do I need?

And since I've been taking way to long on these resolutions, I'll include my last one too.

Resolution #5: Better posture! So I can look more confident, burn more calories, and act less like a turtle. Win win win.

via someecards

The difference between confidence + arrogance

via Male Minded

Resolution #2: Work out. Flaunt it. Repeat.

I rolled my eyes when I read this. This buys into the idea that Manic Dream Pixie Girls exist or that the Zooey Deschanels (sorry fans) of the world honestly don't know how pretty they are. I'm even going to have to call Tina Fey out on this (even though I will love her forever and ever). Do you really believe they don't know how attractive they are?

Please.

I'm sure anyone who was brought up normally (and we'll debate the definition of normal next time), is aware to a degree of how good-looking he or she is. Besides, this doesn't address the ugly girls who are unaware of just how disgusting they are, or the gorgeous girls who don't show it all off. But now I'm just being nitpicky.

My point is that even though I understand this little saying is promoting the idea that we're all beautiful and that our soulmates will see that under layers of fat and acne, the truth is that most people have to work to be beautiful. And I don't necessarily mean plastic work. I mean working out, plucking those eyebrows, and getting clothes that fit. I mean eating right, going after what really interests us, and then embracing that some things about us just aren't going to change. In real life, confidence is hot.

What's wrong with flaunting what you've worked so hard for, as long as you stay humble and grateful? This is a very long way of saying that my resolution is to work out, stay fit, and be confident. It's on everyone's list, but it's on there for a reason. There will be setbacks, of course, and then there's the fact that I'm a lazy bum, but hey...I'm working on Resolution #1 too.☺

via Fancy

Smile + Believe in happy endings

via Tosca Style

Resolution #1: Smile and believe in happy endings. Also, in vision boards.

So I'm going to try listing my resolutions a little differently. The resolutions themselves aren't all that creative, so I wanted to expand on them, and also recommend this show to you guys (because y'all know how much I love TV).

I'll start by saying that I suck hard at being positive. I admit I'm a cynic, which isn't a necessarily bad thing. However, being pessimistic does have its drawbacks. For one thing, I won't grab onto opportunities because I start focusing on the negative. For another, there are times I don't fully enjoy myself because I'm over-thinking the situation. This year, I'm going to think more positively and believe good things will happen. It's a full-proof plan.

via Wit & Fancy

This brings me to vision boards, which Jane, a character in the sitcom Happy Endings fully endorses. The show's premise is like Friends or HIMYM in that we are shown the lives and loves of six friends navigating the streets of Chicago New York. There's Dave and Alex Ross and Rachel who are in an on/off relationship, Jane Monica, the neurotic perfectionist who's married to Brad Chandler, a man who enjoys his bubble baths, Max Joey, a man's man and great kisser, and Penny Phoebe, the weirdo. Max happens to be gay, Brad is African American, they make lots of 90's references, but it's pretty similar to Friends otherwise. As in... you can just leave it on, and watch it without having to put much thought into it. You can also watch it out of order so I would start with Season two. Sometimes, the characters are put in some pretty lame situations, but they make up for it with zippy one-liners and hilarious bits like wars on codes (building and health codes are fair game) or an indoor beach party.

via Yahoo TV

EW's review here. ABC link here. Hulu link here.
Give it a try while I go work on my vision board.