Photo Sunday: We are Going Back!

Hey all! In two weeks time YC and I are heading back to Singapore! We will be there for about three weeks. One of YC's best friends is getting married, so we are going back for the wedding.

In honor of our second Singapore trip, here is a picture from our last trip!

One of my favorite parts of Singapore is the Marina Bay with the glowing giant trees. They are gorgeous at night. I can't wait to walk through them again.

I can't wait to go back! Eeeee!

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: North Carolina Waterfalls

I'm actually writing a Photo Sunday on Sunday, aren't you so proud!

This post comes to you from a park in North Carolina.

I enjoyed hiking through the mountains and waterfalls in North Carolina. I always love a good waterfall. This one you can get really close to, as you can see in the photo, if you climb up the big rock. I enjoy our Big Foot like poses as well. Why is Big Foot always walking like that in photos? Maybe his legs are stuck like that.

Anyone else big on hiking? Love waterfalls as much as I do? I need to ask my godmother what the name of this park is again, I've forgotten.

-Alisa

Charleston Take Two!

Hey all! Sorry I haven't been around much. Honestly it's not just being busy; I've been in a blogging slump. Sometimes it's hard to maintain a blog when you aren't sure anyone is reading. I'm trying to get myself to write anyway though.

I stated this blog for myself: to chronicle my adventures so I could look back and to practice my writing. So I bribed myself with coffee, lectured myself a bit, and dragged myself here to write this.

Little rant over.

So darn cute.

Apologies

Hey guys.
I'm writing this post as an apology. I know I haven't posted in ages (since December) and I feel bad. I kept thinking that I should at least do a Photo Sunday, but then I kept not doing it.
A lot has been going on in my life, and I've been super busy...and when I wasn't busy I didn't really feel like posting.
In all honesty, I'm not sure how much I'll be on this blog for a bit. Because!

I am going to grad school! Well hopefully. I got accepted to a grad school, but I need to get student loans, housing, and a visa before I'll consider it set in stone. So I'm not going to announce where I am moving until it's 100%. While I may not post a whole ton in grad school, when I do post they will be longer and I will be traveling a lot.

Here's a super cute picture of my dad's new puppy as an apology. Perhaps I'll just post tons of puppy pictures until I have something else. haha

There will be some longer posts coming up in the next couple months.

March: I am going back to Charleston, this time my stepdad and YC will be joining my mom and I. Look forward to a more detailed Charleston post this time. We will be spending two days there.

May: YC and I will hopefully be going back to Singapore (yay!) for one of his best friends' wedding. I'm hoping that we will be able to schedule in a layover in Japan or Taiwan.

Summer: My mom and I are hoping to make a trip up to Boston and Salem before I leave for grad school.


Hopefully I'll also get my butt in gear for at least some Photo Sunday posts. Regardless, I at least plan on posting long posts and tons of pictures for the aforementioned posts!

So sorry again for my vacancy. I swear grad school planning stress is going to kill me.
I promise to try to post more.

HUGS!
-Alisa

Photo Sunday: Tom and Jerry

Hello all!

Anyone else totally in the Christmas spirit? I love the holidays and I am so pumped.
This weekend was my grandpa's birthday, so I got to go up and hangout with my family all day Saturday. We ate and drank a lot.

One of the big holiday tradition drinks my family makes is called a Tom and Jerry. From what I gathered, it is whipped eggs, warm milk, and a shot of rum.

I think they taste like Christmas. Very alcohol-y Christmas. Also, that napkin says group therapy and has a bunch of wine glasses. My family is super classy.

Does your family have any special holiday foods or drinks? Do you know why a Tom and Jerry is named that? I have no idea.

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: Etsy is the Best

Hello all! Sorry I've been getting really behind on posts. I'm the worst.
With the holidays coming up (god I have no money anymore) and some big changes on the horizon (I'll let you know when it is 100% sure), I  have been a bit scatterbrained.

I'm sorry.

Today's post has to do with all my holiday shopping. ETSY! I adore Etsy. I find the best stuff there, and the personal touch is the greatest.

Look at those charms! So cute. I ordered a present from Skeletal Dropkick for Christmas and received an email saying it was shipping late. And by late, I mean perhaps one day later than they advertised. The lovely shop owner sent me an email apologizing and promising me a small gift as an apology. Tada charms! The owner sent me these gorgeous charms as the apology!

This is why I love shopping Etsy. The sellers on Etsy go above and beyond. Honestly I hadn't even noticed the order shipped late, nor would I have really cared. I will never say no to cute free charms though.

I mean seriously. Look at that pufferfish.

Does anyone else love Etsy? I would buy all presents there if I could.

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: Dilated Pupil Monster

Hello all! Sorry I skipped last week's post. With all that was happening in France, I didn't feel like posting anything.

I don't have anything super exciting this weekend either, so please still love me.

I went to the eye doctor on Saturday because I didn't want to miss any work. I'm such a good employee.

When they dilate my pupils I always end up looking like some sort of alien or monster. There is barely and color left! It makes me feel trippy, but it looks pretty cool.

Sorry I don't have anything more exciting, I'll try to get up to something soon.

Hope all you Americans are pumped for Thanksgiving! Wooooo!

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: Fall Fashion

Hello all, sorry my Photo Sunday is once again on Monday. I'm the worst.

Today's photo is about fall fashion! Does anyone else love fall clothes more than any other clothes? I love the fall colors, like maroon, dark green, and mustard. I love that plaid fits in so perfectly. I love sweaters and scarves. And boots! I much prefer pants to shorts, especially yoga pants.

Fall fashion is best fashion.

This outfit is exactly why I love fall. Boots, plaid pants, and a giant maroon sweater. Love.
Fall is my favorite season, for so many reasons.

The fact that I actually seem fashionable in fall is one of the main ones.

Anyone else love fall? Fall fashion your favorite fashion?
Pumpkin all the things?

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: Halloween Pictures!

Hello all! Did you have a good Halloween? I did!
YC and I dressed up as Glenn and Maggie from the Walking Dead, and I personally think we rocked it. :)

Because I can't contain myself, here are a ton of pictures of us from Halloween. You're welcome!

I know it's not super in character, but this picture is my favorite.

A Weekend in Baltimore

Look at me, two posts in one day.
You're welcome.

A weekend in Baltimore wasn't much time, especially with only one full day. We really went to visit family though, so sightseeing was a secondary priority. Family-wise, this weekend was jam packed.

Probably the coolest thing we saw.

Photo Sunday: Best Pho Ever

Hello all!
I was only home for about an hour this whole weekend, so sorry for the Photo Sunday on Monday yet again. Oops.

I spent the weekend in Baltimore visiting some family, which will get it's own short post.

This Photo Sunday though, is about the yummiest pho I've ever eaten from a small spot in Baltimore that my second cousin took us too. She wasn't lying when she said it was the best.

Look at all those vegetable and tofu! Tofus? Is the plural just tofu?
I could barely reach the noodles until I ate half the vegetables, but it was worth it. It was so good. So much flavor and so well cooked. The tofu and vegetables were perfect.

It almost made me wish I lived in Baltimore.

Anyone else a huge pho fan? It is my cold weather comfort food. Anyone know any other great places to get pho? Other than you know, Vietnam, which I will get to eventually.

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: I Love Autumn

Hello all!
Autumn is my absolute favorite season! I love being able to wear leggings, jeans, sweaters, scarves, boots...the whole nine yards. I love that it is finally cool enough for me to wear my hair down without overheating. I love the changing leaves. I love pumpkin flavored things (I don't care that it's a white girl stereotype! Delicious!) I looooove Halloween. You have no idea. Playing dress up is the best.

Another added bonus of autumn is that now when I wake up for work the sun is always rising right out the window. It's hard to be too grumpy about getting up for work when you wake up to this.

Anyone else as in love with autumn as I am? What are you guys being for Halloween? Do you embrace the pumpkin?
-Alisa

Book Review: Outlander

Hey all! I did one book review ages ago, and I figured I should get back into that.
So here is my second book review, for Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

I was too lazy to retake a picture of my book, so I had to take a picture of my old picture on Instagram...I'm lazy.

I'd heard awesome things about Outlander from multiple people, and had it on my to-read list for ages. I'd just never gotten around to reading it. After receiving an Amazon gift card, I decided it was time for Outlander.

I loved it! There is so much detail in this book, both historical and cultural. The only reason I ever really read romance books is for the historical fiction. I love historical fiction, and historical romances do it so well. This book definitely falls into the historical romance genre, but there is enough action in it to qualify as straight up historical fiction and adventure as well.

For the most part I loved the main characters, though there was a scene in the middle where I got so frustrated with both of them that I had to take a break. I eventually forgave their actions and was re-hooked.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series.


Have any of you read Outlander? Any other historical fiction recommendations for me?
-Alisa 

Photo Sunday: Princess Dress

Hey all!
I'm using this Photo Sunday to show off a pretty dress I don't get to wear, and to complain about a lack of fancy balls.

My hair looked ridiculous, so I cropped my head off.
Look how pretty the dress is! I looked like a princess. The wedding I was going to wear it for isn't fancy enough though, so no dress.

Which brings me to my second point: We need more fancy balls! There should be masquerade and other such balls held somewhere. That way I can still have a reason to wear princess dresses. If I ever become rich (unlikely) I am going to have a ballroom and host balls!

Especially masquerade balls. They seem so fun.

Anyone else wish people held balls for them to dress up for? Just me?

-Alisa

Photo Sunday: Team Snap 5K

Hello all. Sorry this Photo Sunday is so late. I wasn't home at all this weekend, and then I was busy yesterday. (Plus I've been reading The Martian and I can't stop)

On Sunday I participated in the Team Snap 5k for Brain Tumor Research for the second year. I walked, because running is death.

Of course we dyed our hair purple again. This year YC did it for me, and he did a great job. Though, I managed to get it all over my neck and chest washing it. Sigh. No purple is not the brain tumor awareness color, but Jamie likes it. Jamie is the teacher I walk for, that the whole race is for. She is an amazing person who stays upbeat no matter what life throws at her, brain tumor included.

This year over 500 people participated. Jamie's speech at the beginning nearly made me cry. She is the most amazing person I have ever met.

You should all definitely consider donating to brain tumor research, or participating in a walk for awareness. Or something.

For amazing people like Jamie.

Lots of love.
-Alisa

Photo Sunday: I Got a HOPE!

Yesterday I walked in to my house to find Hope at my table! My family, Hope, and YC planned it for months. I had no idea she was coming home.

Needless to say my weekend was made. She will be here for two whole weeks!

In her honor, here is my absolute favorite picture of us.

Hope does not enjoy this picture as much as I do. I think it is the best. Also, we look exactly the same even though this was high school. Love it.

Be prepared for a post about our wonderful reunion extravaganza!

Anyone else have as super awesome of a weekend as I did?

-Alisa

Mother-Daughter South Carolina Trip

Hey all! Summer is officially over and I'm back working in elementary school. Five days in and I'm already exhausted, anyone else?

I finally have some down time today, not much mind you, but enough to write a blog post!

The last week before school started my mom and I took a trip down to South Carolina to visit my god parents.

Me and my mommy at the rainbow row.

Photo Sunday: Chimney Rock

Hello all!

School is back in session, so my trips will be a little farther in between for the next couple months. Luckily I do have some plans on the horizon!

Just last week I got back from a trip to South Carolina to visit my god parents (who are awesome). This Photo Sunday comes to you from a side trip to North Carolina to visit Chimney Rock. This is my favorite picture from the hike.

There's nothing like the view of misty mountains from atop a mountain. I love hiking, and while Chimney Rock is more stairs than actual hiking, it is still a pretty good workout. Most people drop off after the chimney part, so if you climb to the actual highest point you'll have a lot less people to contend with.

Chimney Rock is gorgeous and I recommend a visit.

Soon I'll be writing up a longer post on Chimney Rock and Charleston with tons more pictures. Be prepared!

-Alisa

Montreal Like a Local (ish)

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't posted much, but I haven't been home a lot. YC and I spent five days in Montreal and then I went to South Carolina with my mom for another five.

YC and I adored Montreal! I think part of the charm of Montreal was staying a cute little Airbnb. We were located in a neighborhood near the botanical garden, and I think we were the only tourists in the area.

The lovely botanical garden.

Liebster Award Nomination

Hey guys! I've been nominated for the Liebster blogging award. It is a way for lesser known bloggers to get to know each other. Apparently it helps get the word out about your blog.

I was nominated by Claire Wang from Adventure at Work. I know her through Aileen Adalid's travel group on Facebook (I am Aileen). Thanks to both for this opportunity to get to know the blogging community.