PostGrad

How Routine Is Unhelpful For Me

Sometimes I find myself lying in bed at night and really unhappy with the way things are going for me. But I just can’t pinpoint what is making me feel that way. I think routine has a lot to do with it.

While others thrive on the 9-5 work schedule, three days a week gym regimen, and staying at home to tidy up on the weekends – I. Can’t. Stand. It.

Every day I wake up, go to work, come home, make dinner, take a nap, go to the gym, go to bed. Nothing ever changes and when it does, it doesn’t make a big enough impact on my life for me to feel like I’m changing it up.

And the more routine my life gets, the more boring other aspects of it become. I start wearing less make up, start caring less about how I look. I don’t get as excited for vacations because I know the routine is just a three day weekend away.

I like planning ahead, I like knowing what my week is going to look like. What I can’t stand is the consistency of boredom, the feeling that things might not ever change. And then I’m reminded to switch things up. I start wearing lipstick to work and do something fun on a week day night.

But eventually, since my life inevitable revolves around routine, I fall back into my boring and unhappy ways. Routine may be helpful to some, but it sucks for me.

hc
Photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zemlinki/
PostGrad

Why Do You Care?

I’m not sure why, but humans love to get involved in other people’s business and get offended by that same business. And I’m not talking politics or about hateful people, I’m talking about day to day activities that don’t influence you at all.

We get offended over people having tattoos, the way people dress, how they aren’t polite enough, how they aren’t social enough, that they forgot to wear a bra, or they are wearing too much make up.

But why do you care so much?

If you don’t like the way someone looks, then just move on and don’t look the way they do. If you don’t like curvy girls wearing bikinis then don’t look. If you don’t like someone’s outfit then don’t go out and buy that outfit.

Some of the things we work ourselves up over or choose to be mean over are so trivial and avoidable. And I know sometimes things just pop into our heads, we don’t mean to be unkind. But I read once that the first thought that goes through your head is what you have been conditioned to think, what you think next defines who you are.

So, yes, sometimes I think “what was that girl thinking posting that half-naked picture of herself on Instagram, yuck!” But then I immediately think “at least she loves herself and feels confident, do you!”

I think we all need to step back before we react and think about why we really care about the things we get mad about especially when it comes to other people who have no real direct impact on our life. Sure, some things are justified. But it’s easier and better to just let the little things go and make way for the bigger battles – which there are plenty of.

hc
photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_bekaert/
The Hookup On...

The Hookup On: My Completed Spring Bucket List

The spring bucket list had a really slow start, the past two weeks I tried to ramp it up and get everything done because I really have no excuse as to why I couldn’t do it all! I can’t believe  we’re closing in already on the first day of summer, it totally snuck up on me! The summer bucket list will be coming at ya soon and I’m determined to get a lot more done.

  1. Visit 3 out of state/country locations
  2. Go to a NYCFC soccer game
    I’m hoping I can go to another one!
  3. Visit wolf preserve
  4. Hit over 7,000 Instagram followers
  5. Go blonder
    (coming to ya end of July, couldn’t get an appointment in June!
  6. Completely furnish my apartment
  7. Make more time for friends
  8. Learn to knit baby booties
    They are ready for my niece or nephew who is coming in August 🙂
  9. Turn 24
  10. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week
    (sort offf?)
  11. Host a game night
    Highly recommend you buy the Oregon Trail card game, it is so. fun.
  12. Treat myself to the list of lush items and clothing items I’ve been wanting
  13. Stop eating donuts every week
  14. Hit over 2,000 WordPress followers
  15. Feel healthier overall
  16. Go hiking in 3 different locations
  17. Be my best self
    Getting there at least.
  18. Read 5 books Did you accomplish anything fun this spring?


PostGrad

Why I Am Obsessed With Summer

The person I am in winter and the person I am in summer are two completely different people. From December to April you can basically guarantee that I am going to be a miserable mush that doesn’t want to do anything but hibernate.

Like actually eat tons of Chipotle to store fat and sleep for months.

I am obsessed with summer and obsessed with the happiness I associate with it. The warmth, sunshine, vacations, and relaxed days bring me to another level. You’ll never hear me complaining about how hot it is because if it’s under 75 degrees out I’m shivering and in pain.

Work is easier during the summer which makes life easier. I can take more days off without worrying, go down to the beach on the weekends, and plan vacations. The sun stays out until 8:30 pm so I can do more after work. Unlike in the winter, when it’s dark before I even get home and I immediately crawl into bed.

Summer came at just the right time for me because winter and spring (was there even a spring? It just felt like an extended winter to me) really put me down and that impacts every part of me. I was getting concerned that I was just permanently a sad person. But now that warmer weather and summer is here, I can feel it all changing for the better again.

What season is your favorite?

hc
Photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adwriter/
The Hookup On...

Portland, Maine Advice Needed!

Every time I finish up a trip, I have another one already booked and in need of planning! We’ll be heading to Portland, Maine in the next coming weeks and would love any tips from someone who has been there!

Looking for ideas on things to see, unique spots as well as landmarks. Looking for places to eat (big fans of brunch if you have any suggestions there). And looking for some low key bars to visit at night. Any and all advice is welcome!

Thanks in advance!

xoxo

Rosie

The Hookup On...

The Hookup On: My Trip To Montreal!

Over Memorial Day Weekend, I took the 7 hour drive up through the border to Montreal. Last year, I did the same thing but went to Toronto. Both times were for an early birthday celebration and both times didn’t disappoint!

We were sort of in Montreal during the off season, so some places weren’t serving brunch yet and the Olympic Tower was closed. But the city was beautiful and there were still plenty of things to do!

Things we did:

  1. Mount Royal – ummmmmm no one told me this was a legitimate uphill hike so we attempted it the first day and then just drove to the top on the last day because I was not having it lol. The view of the city from the top is totally worth it though.
  2. Olympic Park and the Biodome – the park was kind of empty and creepy, but I had never been to a biodome before and thought it was awesome.
  3. Bonseccours Market – didn’t think this was super impressive, just an indoor market.
  4. Visited the Port – which is in the coolest and most European looking part of the city, the views were beautiful!
  5. Notre Dame Basilica – very beautiful! One of the coolest things about Montreal is that there will be an amazing cathedral and sky scraper next to each other.
  6. Underground city – which is just a mall really.

Places we ate (I would recommend all of them!):

  1. Thursday’s
  2. Deville Diner – omg the food and drinks here are amazing
  3. Allo Mon Coco
  4. 3 Amigos
  5. Tim Horton’s for coffee and a donut because duh!
  6. Le Bistro Magasin General du VIeux-Montreal – yummiest brunch and cronuts!!

Tours we went on:

  1. We went on a very low key bar crawl, but met some awesome people and had a great time: click here for the tour.

Where we stayed:

  1. AirBnB in downtown

Montreal was really cool because you could get every aspect of a city. There’s a Times Square/shopping NYC feel on St. Catherine’s Street, a Central Park kind of feel on Mont Royal, and then you can be transported into Rome where there are cobble stone streets and bistros on every corner!

Seriously, you can see an amazing sky scraper and right next door will be a historic cathedral. It’s amazing!

The primary language is French, but everyone speaks English. And money-wise, using my American credit card was the best bet but we had some American money and Canadian money in our pockets just in case. Montreal was a great little getaway, I would highly recommend going if you are looking for a little bit of history, fun, Europe, Canada, and modern city all rolled into one! 🙂