Vices

Whenever I get stressed, I find myself justifying any and all indulgences to soothe my nerves. Given that I am at my internship 20-25 hours a week, attending 3 classes and have my first final exam of the term in a week and a half, I am turning to every single one of my vices, almost unconsciously. Some of my top indulgences include:

Haagen Dazs:

Have you ever tried Rum Raisin? I hadn't until last week and it reminds me of the holidays - surprisingly tasty. Still, my standby is always coffee. I frequently try other brands, but none quite compare to the texture and the intensity of the flavor that Haagen Dazs creates using minimal ingredients. I can pronounce all the ingredients on the list and find them all at the grocery store, which makes me feel better about devouring half a pint.

Sleeping late on the weekend:

Normally I don't change my schedule drastically on the weekends. I still get up at 7 so I can stay in my routine and feel productive. Lately, however, 10am rolls around and I am barely rolling out of bed. I'm sure it's to compensate for the late nights of studying, but it makes adjusting to the week a lot more difficult.

Coffee, coffee and more coffee:

Even the smell of it perks me up. It can be from a street cart, I don't care, coffee makes me happy. Though, if given the choice, I prefer espresso made by Greg, a mocha from Stumptown complete with foam art, or any of Chapterhouse's creations - all are heaven.

Couch time with my dogs and a book or stack of magazines:

Pajama pants, a blanket, two small pups (one in my lap and one on the back of the couch practically wrapped around my shoulders), and a new, or well-loved, book or magazine in my hands is my happy place. I'm cozy, comfortable and my mind is getting a break from the barrage of legal language I face every day. And can you really blame me for wanting to cuddle with those pups! I'm a huge animal lover and my dogs are some of my favorite 'people' in the world.

Re-watching my favorite movies/tv shows:

This drives Greg nuts. He doesn't understand how I can watch something I have seen before again and again. I tell him, if I loved it the first time, why wouldn't I love it the second (or tenth) time? He must have every TrueBlood episode memorized by now because of me. Sometimes it is the story-line, other times it is the outfits that have me returning to my favorites. Currently on my rotation are TrueBlood, The Rachel Zoe Project, Amelie, The Princess Bride, Weeds. Netflix has been injecting my routine with a little variety, I highly recommend Sunshine Cleaning if you like dark humor or The Brothers Bloom. Otherwise, I keep going back to what I know.

What indulgences do you turn to when life gets rough?

27 and Counting...

On Monday I turned 27, which means I am now in my late twenties...I think I am okay with that. I feel very grown-up, actually, so it's probably a good year to graduate from law school. To celebrate, my husband and I went out to dinner at Supper, conveniently located a block away from our place. Prior to heading out, we took advantage of a new outfit, bag and the good lighting and took some photos.

I assure you, my chihuahua does not normally spend him time outdoors being carried in a bag. He is much more of a 'paws on the ground wreaking havoc' kind of guy. He just happened to fit in the bag, the first of my purses he could actually ride in, so it's more of a joke than a daily occurrence.

The bag is a 'vegan leather' carry-all by Shiraleah. I found it randomly at a small shop that we went to just to pick up chocolates and cut-flowers. It works perfectly as an alternative to my regular school bag, fitting my lap top and large legal tomes. Because it is a polyurethane blend, rain simply beads off of it, unlike leather, which would be devastated by Philly's inclement weather. There were several more neutral colors available, however, as I tend to gravitate towards a neutral palette in my outfits, I opted for the bright raspberry shade and it has been a fantastic offset the blacks, grays and browns that I don almost daily.

As for dinner, it was a tasty mix of small plates enjoyed in the company of our hilarious neighbor, who reminds me of my mom in best of ways. Had I not been 3 sheets to the wind, I might have remembered to take photos of the food or bugged my husband to do so for me, but as it was two cocktails later I was too giddy to be bothered with the details. All in all a fine birthday.