Post-Grad Life: Month 3

Real life hit me quick at the end of August. As soon as I returned to Maryland after a quick trip home, post-grad life really started to happen... I was thrown back into work at my office and I also started my MBA classes and had tons of work to do for my editing job with a local newspaper. Needless to say... this week has been quite hectic and I am exhausted. What a busy week to end a busy month!

So here is a quick update on my life, post-graduation:

Work: 

• Now that undergraduate students are back on campus, I am back to doing normal social media posts and covering events for my university. It is actually kind of nice to have people around!

The best parts about visiting your hometown

After working all summer and living in my college town, I was finally able to take a week off and go back to my hometown in upstate New York. I had not been home in close to three months, which is a long gap of time, compared to how things were during my undergraduate career, where I would go home for every semester break. 

It was nice and refreshing to be home, especially because of the lack of humidity and the overall feeling you get when you are reunited with something you miss. 

Here are some of the greatest things about visiting your hometown after a long time away: 

• Quality time with friends and family 
• You already know where everything is, so your car basically drives itself

22 things that make your 22nd birthday different from your 12th

Although I don't remember exactly what I did on my 12th birthday, 10 years ago, I'm quite sure that there was singing, running around, and cake involved. I just celebrated my 22nd birthday with a trip home, before my grad school classes start, and spent it running errands in my hometown, chilling on the couch, and having dinner with Mom and Dad... and it was a great day!

Isn't it crazy, what a difference 10 years can make though? I found that long chats with friends, free coffee, quality time with family, and a bonus birthday dinner are all I need to have a special day... and I am so thankful for that.

Anyways, here are 22 things that make your 22nd birthday different from your 12th: 

1. You will be 40x more excited for your birthday if you know you will be able to sleep in
2. Your birthday is no longer an excuse to "get out of all responsibilities," though you may still be able to slack a little bit
3. You probably still have to work, unless your birthday lands on a weekend or a holiday, or you just happen to get incredibly lucky or are gutsy enough to ask for the day off

7 Hours in the airport: Tips to pass the time

It is always a daunting task to figure out how to pass the time in an airport, whether you are traveling with a very long layover, or if you are like me and just happen to get to the airport 7 hours before your flight even boards (since that's the only time I could find a ride). The fact of the matter is that you are trapped in an enclosed space, surrounded by strangers and likely filled with anxiety over whether or not your flight will be delayed or your gate will be moved. 

When I was dropped off at the airport at 2 pm, and my flight to go home was not scheduled to leave until around 10 pm, and the airport only offered 45 minutes of free wifi, I knew I would have to work to keep my spirits up. 

Here are just a few tips on how to pass the time while alone in an airport, from recent, first hand experience:

1. Grab some coffee - I knew I was in for a long afternoon, so I found the nearest coffee place and treated myself. 
2. Catch up with a friend - My best friend recently moved to Chicago, so I found a semi-quiet spot to sit and chatted on the phone with her for an hour! 
3. People watch - There are so many interesting people crossing paths at the airport. I happened to sit in a spot right by a people-mover, so I had fun watching people literally pass by me for hours. 
4. Dive into a book - I bought Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar, to put on my ipad, and got just about half way through!
5. Window shop - There is always a wide array of interesting shops in the airport, so take a look and see what you find. 
6. Explore the other terminals - Use the time before your flight to really stretch your legs. 
7. Listen to your favorite playlist - Tune out surrounding passengers and airport sounds with your go-to playlist. 

What do you do to pass the time?

Pinterest Find Friday: #4

After successfully making a trip back home to NY for the week, I have spent my days hanging around my hometown and chilling at home! Now that is what I call a vacation.

Here are some of my favorite finds this week, including a new take on coffee and homemade breakfast classics:

Post grad life: month 2

The summer is winding down and a whole new phase of my life transition is almost upon me... I have been working at my University's communication office over the summer, but things are going to change a lot once undergrads start coming back to campus, university events start, and my own mba classes begin... But I still have a few weeks until then!

Here are a few things that I have learned during my second month of post grad life:

At the Office:

• Avoid office gossip at all times - Though it is way too easy to partake in, it is unprofessional and could get you in to trouble. 

Experimenting with chia seeds

I made a trip to my local co-op market (which is actually still about 45 minutes away from where I live) and decided to make a purchase of chia seeds... something that I have wanted to try for a long time. After perusing the bulk food section, I found the tiny little seeds and argued with myself over the price. I eventually gave in, since I have been intrigued by their apparent health benefits and versatility for a while. This was my first shot at the chia seed lifestyle: