One of the blogs I read without fail is by a fearless Brooklynite named Meg Fee. Her story is truly inspiring, her words are some of the most beautiful I've read, and her pictures are pristine. If you're in to reading blogs I highly suggest hers. You'll instantly find yourself wanting to be her friend.

Today she posted a particular blog that I felt very moved to repost. It's a list of things to do before one turns 25. <Where was said list a year ago??> Even though I've been 25 for almost a year now I didn't think it was too late to assess this list and see where I stood. Some things really grabbed me while others were inspiring. I mean, there's obviously nothing that says I can't do some of those things when I'm 26, 27, or even 28!

So here is it. I encourage you to assess yourself on it too. Regardless of age. It's never to late to do some things that you've always been afraid of or you never thought you could do. Life's too short!

25 Things To Do Before You Turn 25

1. Make peace with your parents. Whether you finally recognize that they actually have your best interests in mind or you forgive them for being flawed human beings, you can’t happily enter adulthood with that familial brand of resentment.
2. Kiss someone you think is out of your league; kiss models and med students and entrepreneurs with part-time lives in Dubai and don’t worry about if they’re going to call you afterward.
3. Minimize your passivity.
4. Work a service job to gain some understanding of how tipping works, how to keep your cool around assholes, how a few kind words can change someone’s day.
5. Recognize freedom as a 5:30 a.m. trip to the diner with a bunch of strangers you’ve just met.
6. Try not to beat yourself up over having obtained a ‘useless’ Bachelor’s Degree. Debt is hell, and 
things didn’t pan out quite like you expected, but you did get to go to college, and having a degree isn’t the worst thing in the world to have. We will figure this mess out, I think, probably; the point is you’re not worth less just because there hasn’t been an immediate pay off for going to school. Be patient, work with what you have, and remember that a lot of us are in this together.
7. If you’re employed in any capacity, open a savings account. You never know when you might be unemployed or in desperate need of getting away for a few days. Even $10 a week is $520 more a year than you would’ve had otherwise.
8. Make a habit of going outside, enjoying the light, relearning your friends, forgetting the internet.
9. Go on a 4-day, brunch-fueled bender.
10. Start a relationship with your crush by telling them that you want them. Directly. Like, look them in the face and say it to them. Say, I want you. I want to be with you.
11. Learn to say ‘no’ — to yourself. Don’t keep wearing high heels if you hate them; don’t keep smoking if you’re disgusted by the way you smell the morning after; stop wasting entire days on your couch if you’re going to complain about missing the sun.
12. Take time to revisit the places that made you who you are: the apartment you grew up in, your middle school, your hometown. These places may or may not be here forever; you definitely won’t be.
13. Find a hobby that makes being alone feel lovely and empowering and like something to look forward to.
14. Think you know yourself until you meet someone better than you.
15. Forget who you are, what your priorities are, and how a person should be.
16. Identify your fears and instead of letting them dictate your every move, find and talk to people who have overcome them. Don’t settle for experiencing .000002% of what the world has to offer because you’re afraid of getting on a plane.
17. Make a habit of cleaning up and letting go. Just because it fit at one point doesn’t mean you need to keep it forever — whether ‘it’ is your favorite pair of pants or your ex.
18. Stop hating yourself.
19. Go out and watch that movie, read that book, listen to that band you already lied about watching, reading, listening to.
20. Take advantage of health insurance while you have it.
21. Make a habit of telling people how you feel, whether it means writing a gushing fan-girl email to someone whose work you love or telling your boss why you deserve a raise.
22. Date someone who says, “I love you” first.
23. Leave the country under the premise of “finding yourself.” This will be unsuccessful. Places do not change people. Instead, do a lot of solo drinking, read a lot of books, have sex in dirty hostels, and come home when you start to miss it.
24. Suck it up and buy a Macbook Pro.

25. Quit that job that’s making you miserable, end the relationship that makes you act like a lunatic, lose the friend whose sole purpose in life is making you feel like you’re perpetually on the verge of vomiting. You’re young, you’re resilient, there are other jobs and relationships and friends if you’re patient and open

...have a response to anything in particular? I know #6 rang many bells for me. 

HERE is where you can see the list for yourself if you like. 

and HERE is Meg's blog. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you for sharing this Meg.

Whether or not we realize it, people are always listening and judging the words that come out of our mouths

As a young girl growing up I was (and still am) in love with musicals. We only had 3 channels on our TV and most of our time was spend outdoors but when we did get the special treat of renting a video or two from the library my sister and I almost always went with a musical. There was always one musical we could absolutely agree on, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (what little farm girl didn't dream of choosing a husband from seven backwoods men???), but on the times that we each got to choose our own I, without  hesitation, went with My Fair Lady. It's still my favorite to this day. I love the music, I love the costumes, I love the story and Rex Harrison, but most importantly, I love Audrey. To me, she is perfect, not just in the movie, but in general. I remember watching her and being in total awe.

Now at the age of 25(almost 26, SSSSHHHHH) those feelings haven't changed. I've read a biography or two and even have her pictures in my living room and I still admire her. There's an air about her that just by looking at her I get the sense that spending a day with her would turn me into the lady I was meant to be. Lord knows I'm not the ladiest lady, and for many years I embraced that part of myself, even encouraged it. But this past year has made me start to consider changing that a little bit. Maybe there's something to that ladylike thing that I've been missing out on. Maybe talking like "one of the guys" isn't attractive to the right type of guys. Maybe seeing myself as more of an Audrey will encourage other people to see me as one too. Don't get me wrong, I will always love being "one of the guys" and not being afraid to get my hands dirty and being able to fix the toilet seat in my apartment on my own. But I think it's time that I find the happy medium of being a tom-boy and still presenting myself with a little more ladylike-ness.

Ironically, before I had really come to this realization, I purchased a book called How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy.  As someone who had never really gotten the whole Paris Hilton craze that happened a few years back the title alone was appealing to me. I never was, nor did I care to be, in the Hilton World, but I did always long to be a Hepburn. Come to think of it I might have been closer to a Katharine, but oh well.

Since I've been on a bit of a reading kick lately I decided it was finally time to pull this book off the shelf and read it! And what a great choice that was. Jordan writes as though she's sitting right next to you and you've been gal pals for years. While many of her references to "stupid girls" aren't in the public eye as much, i.e. Paris Hilton, Nichole Richie, and Girls Gone Wild, the message she's trying to get across is still very clear. And unfortunately Lindsey Lohan has still managed to keep herself relevant in this category. I couldn't help but feel a little glad when she mentions those girls and their antics though because of the fact that their scandalous behavior hasn't been plastered all over the news for years. It makes me feel as though there has been a slight shift in the media over the last couple years...or maybe we've replaced foolish socialites with pregnant teenagers. It's hard to tell. The point is, if I were to make this book a required reading for my daughters someday they may have some trouble relating to those specific examples. They won't know what "The Simple Life" was or how many times LiLo was arrested (I hope!). That being said, they will know the opposite side of those examples, just like I did growing up. But anywho.

I really enjoyed reading this book! Each chapter is one piece of the puzzle that makes up a well spoken, respectful lady. From how to speak and what to wear (or NOT wear) to how to attract the right men and choose the best friends, it's a great guide that's written in the most down to earth way. Jordan doesn't sugar coat things. She talks to you, says it like it is, and even makes you laugh a little. I can't help but feel like she and I were raised with similar values on many levels. As I was reading each chapter it was as though my mother were reminding me of all the little lessons she had taught me growing up. It was all information that I already knew but I think I needed a little refresher on. Somewhere along the way I had gotten the idea that being ladylike just wasn't for me and since relating to guys came easily to me I steered in that direction, a little too much. This book has helped me realize that it's time to steer back in the other direction and that there's nothing wrong with that. Being ladylike isn't a bad thing! And it doesn't mean that I can't still relate to guys, it just means that I don't have act like one to do so! Light bulb!

So as much as I'd love to go back to Audrey's time and wear house dresses while riding mopeds, a la Roman Holiday, the times have changed and I'm not that girl. And that's okay. I can, however, be a girl who speaks properly, dresses with self respect, doesn't throw herself at men, and holds herself to a higher standard, for herself, not anyone else. And if you're a girl who feels like you want to do the same than I definitely suggest this book for you. I know that whenever I need a little refresher course on getting my act together that I'll be glad it's on my bookshelf.

Go anywhere in NYC and you'll see girls dressed like this. She's timeless.

in my ear lately

I've been on a bit of a music binge lately. I was starting to feel like my television was on for too long while I'm at home and subway rides needed a little more something to make them more enjoyable. So being the cool kid that I am, I dug out my iPod nano (that's right) and started looking up new albums that I've been wanting to listen to. Thank you Spotify.
Here's the list of albums I've come to really love:

Gary Clark Jr.- Blak and Blu

Delta Rae- Carry The Fire

Mumford & Sons- Babel

Alex Clare- The Lateness of the Hour

Phillip Phillips- The World From the Side of the Moon

Bruno Mars- Unorthodox Jukebox

The Lumineers- The Lumineers

A couple curve balls in there I know, but I'm enjoying to eclectic nature of having them randomly play on my iPod. It keeps me guessing and covers every range of my moods. Plus I enjoy that the artists are all actually talented. I can't help but feel like there's a push in the music industry for real artists who make real music. Artists who play their own instruments and write their own lyrics and actually sing their songs live. Don't get me wrong, I do find myself musically entertained by the top 40 still (they can be so damn catchy!!), but listening to these songs makes me feel good on so manner deeper levels than tapping my foot along to the beat. They speak to me. And I really like it. 

If you're reading this and thought to yourseld "oh man! Sarah would really like "this album" too!" By all means suggest it! I love nothing more than swapping great ideas!

Hello 2013

Wait a tick! Didn't we just ring in 2012?? sheesh. I can't believe 2012 is over and what a year it was! Between spending the month of January traveling to see my friends, turning 25, getting Instagram, deciding to move, a family vacay to DC, my sister getting engaged, welcoming a new baby to the brood I nannied, celebrating my mom's 50th, choosing NYC as my new home, combining my 2 blogs, meeting a great new friend, stage managing Legally Blonde, and actually moving to the city, it was quite a whirlwind year. Looking back I can't help but feel blessed by the year I had. Don't get me wrong there were definitely times of stress and sadness but overall it was a pretty great year that will hopefully act as a foundation for 2013 to be even better.

As far as resolutions go this year, I haven't really thought of any that I feel strongly enough about. Just things that I've been trying to do that I'll continue to be conscious of and work on. Things like reading more books, being kinder, still trying to not use that dirty F word, and saying sorry when I should. Things that I still feel are achievable and worth working on.

Oh, and finding a second job. I kind of need one those! As it stands the job I have will only pay either my rent OR my other bills, not both. So it's pretty imperative that I find another income...pronto. And unfortunately that's proving to be a little more difficult than I had hoped. But I'm hopefully. I apply for a few jobs every day, have been on a few interviews, and will hopefully hear back from a production company next week either way about a stage manager job. Prayers and crossed fingers are appreciated.

So that's what it is. I'm looking forward to 2013. I mean come on, I'm living in the best city in the world, how could it NOT be amazing?!

In honor of 2012, here's a photo recap:

New Years in Charlotte

A Texas wedding

Happy 50th to my mama

My sister and future Brother in law

DC with the family

Colton Marshall Frost is born

Instagram....finally

I met this clown

I became a little more official

Halloween with some really great pals

The big move

I can't tell you how excited I was to see this