Favorite Podcasts

If you haven't figured out yet that I'm... not exactly like the average sophomore, I don't know when you'll ever figure it out. When I'm not Netflixing, I'm listening to podcasts. I remember when I was little, I would always listen to Adventures in Odyssey on Saturday mornings on the radio. A couple years ago I was reminiscing on those days... and heard my dad talking about Serial and some other NPR show. It didn't take long before I was hooked. Here's some of my favorites:

Criminal // one of my all time favorites. It's about crime, but not just the murders, robberies, kidnappings that come to mind when you think of crime. "Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle." I find this show extremely interesting. Each episode is so different than the previous... it never gets boring. 

Serial // The first season of Serial was incredibly popular. I listened to it three or maybe even four times, I can't remember. This whole story of Hae Min Lee's death and the complications where her former boyfriend, Adnan Sayed was involved. I honestly still don't know what to believe. If in fact Adnan was responsible for Hae's death or if there was more to the story. The second season popped up on many social accounts as there was an entirely different story to hear. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been a prisoner of the Taliban for 5 years. Season 2 of serial gives Bergdahl a chance to actually share his side of the story.

Mystery Show // First off, I wish my name was Starlee. Second off, these are some of the oddest most randomest mysteries you could think of. At the moment there are only 6 episodes, but I really hope there will be more in the future. 

Undisclosed // This a continuation of the first season of Serial. Definitely worth the listen if you just can't get enough of Adnan Sayed. 

Unsolved // I'm just now getting started on this, but I'm loving every bit of this podcast by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. All about the murder of John Zera, a 14 year old killed in 1976.

Detective // 10 episodes for 23 years of Joe Kenda's stories on the Colorado Springs Police Department. 

Stuff You Missed in History Class // by howstuffworks.com, this podcast is kind of like that weird but true thing National Geographic does. With 300 episodes covering everything from peanut butter to the great moon hoax. 

Grammar Girl // Definitely helpful to go over some little grammatical errors to prevent yourself from making more of the same errors. This show is also informational such as how words get put in the dictionary... Something I wouldn't have known without listening to the show. 

Bon Appetit Foodcast // Love food? Yeah me too.. We get the Bon Appetit magazine at my house and as soon as I discovered the podcast, I couldn't stop listening. The show is filled with interviews from food lovers, chefs, and other writers. 

Don't wory everyone. Just because I listen to crime podcasts, does not mean I'm planning to be a serial killer (just a disclosure haha!). As you can tell the crime podcasts are mostly all that I listen to, but I do have a few other random favorites as well. Let me know what your favorite podcasts are, as well as if you start listening to podcasts because of this post! Happy Wednesday! XO

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

I like to be honest with y'all.. So here goes: I'm broke as heck right now. I will not be shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.. I know I know I'm missing out blah blah blah. Honestly, not all of the sales are really impressing me.. The accessories and shoes are sticking out the most to me, so if I was to shop the Sale ... Which I'm not, my cart would be loaded with jewelry and shoes. Here's some of my favs that if I wasn't broke.. I would be scooping up at the big sale! What are some of your favs?

Recent Favorites

The last time I did a favorites type of post was mid Fall. Now I don't do "Friday Favorites" or "Monthly Favorites" on a regular schedule. Honestly, I have no idea how I've kept up with Saturday Pinspiration on a weekly basis. But anyways, I thought it was high time I wrote another favorites post! There's not really any specific theme to this other than things I've been loving lately.. Be sure you leave a comment telling me something you've been loving lately! 

That's enough of that.. let's get into some of my recent favorites......

Jewelry:

The flower necklace and the gold tree necklace were Christmas presents from my momma. I haven't worn the flower one quite yet, but it's so pretty! The gold tree necklace is super long, and I've worn it a few times. I've never seen the Divergent movie or read the book (I know, I know.. I need to.. My friends have already yelled at me for this haha) but I've gotten multiple comments on how this necklace is like something from Divergent? I don't know, but I really like this necklace. 

The pearl necklace is incredibly long. I've always wanted a pearl necklace that I can wear in two strands or three, or wear it long, or knot it... There's just so many things you can do with it and I'm so excited. I picked this up on my most recent (and very first) trip to Nordstrom Rack which opened up a new store in Harbison, SC recently! They have soo many shoes, clothes, jewelry, everything for such great prices! 

Paper:

Lately I have been loving fun little cards.. Okay scratch that. I've been obsessing over all paper products lately. Cute notebooks, stationery, cards, you name it! I found the black dress "thank you" cards at T.J Maxx, and the others at Marshalls. The notebook you see above came from T.J Maxx I believe.. I'm in love with this quote and the photo does not do it justice at all. You wanna know something funny? I've taken Spanish classes since the 3rd grade, but I love French. It's not a language I want to learn how to speak, but it is a language that is so pretty and romantic and I love it. 

Random:

Okay so at my high school, you have to take a prerequisite class before taking any other art class. Pretty sure I've mentioned this.. I don't know how I couldn't have.. but I'm really interested in photography. I could definitely see myself as a fashion photographer or a photojournalist. But anyways, I had to take Design Foundations before taking my photography class this semester. One of our many projects in Design Foundations was to create a pattern stamp, make our own design for either a bowl or platter, form the bowl out of clay, stamp our pattern stamp in it, and then paint the design a certain way, fire it, and ta da! Here's what I made.. It's not exactly what I imagined it to be in my head, but I'm not completely unsatisfied with it. It's definitely unique and original compared to the other students' creations. 

Christmas Cards:

I love Christmas. So so so much. Super special thank you to everyone who sent me a card over the holiday season. I'm talking to you Julia, Marissa, Carrie (x2 because I have the best twin), Jamie, Courtney, Kate, and Ashlee (subscribe to her YouTube channel)! I love y'all.. Thanks for taking the time to make my day:) 

Oh and P.S. See those Christmas cards in the last two photos? Those are the ones I used this season, and I still have some left if any of my blogging friends would like some Holiday cheer.. In February.. Let me know, and maybe we can start up some snail mail! 

Clothing & Shoes:

As for clothing.. I've really been loving this gray cardigan by Ellen Tracy I found at T.J.Maxx. We have a dress code rule at my school that says you can wear leggings as long as you have a top on that covers your butt. Well guess what? This cardigan goes down past my butt and is the warmest most coziest thing I have ever worn before. I love it. 

As for shoes.. I picked up these riding boots at Target because they were the last pair in the store, and they happened to be my size.. It was obviously a sign that these boots were meant for me. For the cost, they're pretty good boots. These nude taupe colored flats (similar) were also found at Target. I'm in love with this color, and I cannot wait to get some wear out of them. And of course, my Bean Boots. What would I do without them. I wear them hiking, in the rain, and just as regular boots. 

Random Favorites:

These photo was taken of me when I was super young.. I don't know the exact age.. but I came across it the other day, and it's definitely one of my favorite photos of me as a baby. 

I've been using this mug just about every day. Hot chocolate and tea is what gets me through my b-days at school.. My b-days are what I like to call my "educational days" because all my tough, core classes are on my b-days. Sometimes a girl just needs a whole cup of hot chocolate to get her through the day. 

via my Instagram // For Christmas I got this incredible Canon EOS Rebel T5 DSLR camera. I'm so so so so sooooo excited to learn more about it, and take more photos with it! 

That's about all the things I've been loving lately.. Let me know some of your recent favorites in a comment below :)

November Favorites

Can you believe it... Y'all, it's December first.

Where did 2014 go?!?! I have had this realization basically every day for the past week that it is really December and that midterms are coming up, and everything! *Panic Mode Cathleen* I haven't done a "favorites" post in quite a while. Like I just checked.. I haven't written one since July #woops 

Anyways, I'm not here to talk about my lack of consistency as a blogger... or how fast the month has gone by... I'm here to share with y'all my favorites from the past month, and things I'm looking forward to in December. 

Favorites from last month...

//one// 

This flannel was in my Favorites this Fall post. It is the most comfortable shirt I own currently. I have other flannels, but this one is my all time favorite. I got so much wear out of it last month and especially on my Thanksgiving trip to Oconee last week! 

//two//

these un-published photos from my Fur for Fall (round two) I absolutely love all of these photos so much more than my first post, but I just didn't feel like publishing a copy of the original. Glad y'all still get to see them though:) 

//three// 

The Undeniable Report has been my love lately. There are so many incredible girls that are a part of it, and Anna is the queen. I have loved getting to know the undeniabaes (you know who you are) and seeing the content published on the site. The Pinterest feed is fabulous, and basically just everyone on the social part of Undeniable is 100% amazing! 

//four//

Thanks to Carrie for getting me hooked on Project Runway! Lately I have been obsessed with Project Runway All Stars and my current favorites are Helen, Sonjia, and Justin. I really love Dmitry's work... but I really wish he had a better attitude!

//five//

The interviews that Courtney and I did.. Click here to see my interview of her, and click here to see her interview for me. We text all the time, and she's one of my favorite people from this whole blogging experience so far. Make sure you check out our interviews :) 

Looking forward to...

//one// 

I'm so so so so so looking forward to #countdown2blogmas. I'm so very excited to be a part of it! Y'all should definitely keep up with this hashtag on social media because there will be a post up each week from each girl. There are so many fabulous ideas.... Get excited y'all. It's gonna be absolutely amazing.

//two//

Midterms. I want to get them over with! I have been working my butt off to catch up because I am the Procrastination Queen (which you probably know if you follow me on Twitter). AP Human Geography has been kicking my butt and Fahrenheit 451 is pretty tough too. 

//three//

Christmas. I turn into a four year old on Christmas eve. I shake with excitement.. I stay up watching Christmas movies, and I dream about all the cookies I'm gonna get to make! It's so close y'all... Only 24 days away!!!! 

What are some of your favorites from November? What are you looking forward to this December?