...and away we go!

It's back to blog here at Twenty-five & vine. I've been seriously neglecting this little corner of the internet {with the exception of the CMF series, of course} and it's time to fix that. I'll be using Twenty-five & vine as I have in the past - a space to both share projects I'm working on, as well as to reflect on life in general.

Hope you can sick around!

Karla

New Beginnings

My, my. It's been a while since I've done this.

I've been thinking a lot about what I want in life, lately. The things I thought I would have accomplished by the time I was twenty-five. Where I'd be. What I'd be doing. Who I'd be doing them with. And although the initial onset of realizing that none of those things have happened yet was terrifying and discouraging, the more I consider it and begin to plan projects for myself, the more I start to see the opportunity that is in front of me and the freedom that I have to continue to build and change and create a life for myself that I love. 

There are things that have happened over the last two years in particular, whether through thoughtful decisions or short-sighted leaps or uncontrollable circumstances, that have certainly felt anywhere from inconvenient to insurmountable changes in the path that I thought I was on. I never thought I would regret a career change that I have invested so much thought and planning into. I never thought I would go a week without reading, let alone countless months.  I never thought I would stop prioritizing things I love to do. I never thought my mom wouldn't be here for my twenty-fifth birthday.

But I suppose that's just life, isn't it? It's life's job to throw curve balls at you and change things up constantly. And it's your job to learn to become more agile and to move with the current, but all the while not giving up on the things you believe in and the commitments you make to yourself. You may need to change them to work with new circumstances, but you don't throw them out the window completely.

So I'm working on picking up the things I put down long ago. Planning out projects that motivate me, get me learning, and that I'm passionate about. Re-prioritizing plans and remembering that the commitments that I make to myself are just as important as the ones I make to anyone else. And just like stretching out your muscles for that first jog after a long winter indoors sipping hot chocolate by the fire (or furnace) in baggy sweaters that may or may not be both for warmth and to cover up the many holiday feasts and treats you've enjoyed, I suppose you just need to start slow, be persistent, and remember to not give up.

Twenty-five.

Twenty-five.
Well my goodness this is kind of terrifying.
I'm twenty-five.
My brain keeps yelling "I've been on this earth for so long! How?!"
But also it's kind of terrifying.

Moving on. I thought I might take some time to share my birthday traditions as a means of calming myself down and remembering that it's just a birthday.

I like to throw on Sixteen Candles and eat mini fruit marshmallows. Why? I don't know. But I've done this for the last ten years and I don't see it stopping any time soon.

I also like to stay up until midnight the night before and take some time to reflect on the things I'm grateful for, what the last year has brought, and all that I have. I will also tell you that this typically happens while I'm looking out my window into the night all super dramatic-like {because a girl is allowed to be like that on her birthday. Why else would this song exist?}. 

Finally, I call my parents and thank them for the whole creating me thing. Because I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. Thanks.

I realize it's only mid-November, but this is happening.

It's time for a Winter To-do List!

I have big plans for this holiday season, so I might as well start sharing them now. The weather turned crisp and cold and wonderfully frosty approximately a week and a half ago and very quickly ushered in scarves and mittens and frozen noses and the sound of jingle bells. Here's what's on my list for Winter 2014 - would love to know what you're plans are too!

Decorate! Tree, lights, figures of woodland creatures wearing scarves... all of it.

Hot Apple Cider.

Make a homemade advent calendar.

Watch a holiday stage show.

Make homemade holiday cards.

Go for a walk in the snow to look at the twinkling lights.

Mulled wine.

Stay calm when the roads get icy and my morning commute becomes dicey.

Bake sugar cookies.

Watch the tried and true Christmas movie marathon: Miracle on 34th Street, Love Actually, and Daughter of the Bride (it's horribly great and yes, you may judge me.)

Try to leave the office by 5... 30. 5:30. 

Bake my dad some holiday treats.

Enjoy family time.

Attend a Christmas market. Or two.

Country christmas music. 

Make plans for 2015.

Signs of a Happy Sunday

I had a lovely weekend, but a wonderful Sunday in particular. I didn't get up to too much, but spent a lot of time appreciating the sunshine and the pretty things that surrounded me.

Went for a walk down by the water in the morning.

Added some flowers and basil to the outside of my house, to join the herb pot my mom made up for me last week {thanks, Mom!}

Then focused on some of the flora inside the house.

I've had this little vase since I was a child and recently rediscovered it in a box of my old things at my parents' house last week.

A mid-afternoon snack featuring my mom's homemade jam, made from berries fresh from her garden.

Whipped up a batch of Spiced Chocolate Muffins for the office tomorrow.

and spent some time reading {of course}

I ended the day the same way I started it, with a walk down to the beach to catch the end of the sunset.

And finally, no Sunday would be complete without listening to this song {with the repeat button on, of course}:

Hope you had a lovely Sunday too!

Easter Weekend Recap

Yesterday I had some of my staff over to celebrate Easter!

And by that, I really mean: I wanted to dye Easter eggs but didn't want to do it alone so I coerced my staff to come over and keep me company with the promise of free cupcakes.

It's been more years than I can recall since I last took part in this lovely little crafting tradition and I'm quite glad that it has made a comeback in my life. Because who can honestly say they don't like pretty colored eggs? In addition to the eggs we had a cupcake bar, with vanilla surprise cupcakes as the base. Spoiler alert: the 'surprise' was mini eggs hidden inside the cupcakes. Not that exciting, but it did the trick.

Other than that, I had a really lovely long weekend. I spent some time traveling over to the mainland to see friends. Other highlights include mini-golf, orca pod sightings, and learning a new song on the ol' guitar. Thorough narration and full photo documentation of these events can be found on the twitterbox and instagram, if you're so inclined to hear and see more.

First Year

{from here}

Today, I find myself missing first year.

It seems so long ago, but also so crystal clear that it could have been just days ago. My first night living on my own was spent huddled on my bed in my teeny tiny dorm room, reading. Because I sure knew how to party.  I remember - just for a second - missing high school and the ease and comfort of it all. I had no idea what was in store for me. The few high school friends that went to the same university as me lived in a different residence area and I remember feeling that I wouldn't get along with any of the other girls on my floor because they were all so outgoing. This assumption, looking back, was crazy. It was crazy for two reasons. Reason numero uno was because I had been that outgoing, enthusiastic person in high school, so why now could I not see myself in that light again? The other reason why that assumption was crazy is because those girls ended up becoming some of my best friends. Even now, almost five years later, I still don't go a day without connecting with them in some way.

midnight grocery runs. watching Martha Stewart during breaks from class while simultaneously admiring and mocking her. dressing up for formals. dressing down for playing football in a perpetually muddy field. laughing and crying along with those silly, wonderful Gilmore Girls. running around at 2am delivering secret christmas treasures to floormates' doors and pretending to be santa's elves. falling in love with John Mayer. escapades around our snowy, beautiful campus. performing in Grease the musical as the terribly annoying Patty Simcox. decorating my dorm room with inside jokes and fake letters from Conan O'Brien, written by my best friend and "hand delivered" to my door. 

As much as I couldn't wait to leave school and be done with grueling hours upon hours of lectures and studying and paper writing, I look back on it with such love now. For the first time since graduating, I actually miss the student life. It's not that I dislike the life I lead now. I appreciate that I am able to contribute to others having those same amazing experiences in university and I really do appreciate not having the thought "I should be studying right now" hanging over my head 24/7. But at the same time, I miss having my best friends right down the hall from me and being able to act like a silly seventeen year old. I guess, just like I did on that first night in my dorm room, I find myself missing the time in my life that I have had to let go of. But again, just like on that first night, I still have no idea what was in store for me. If I've learned anything from this brief trip down memory lane it's that what was in store for me then were experiences that I will never forget and have made me a better, happier, smarter, and more confident person and that - if experience has taught me anything - that's precisely what's going to happen in the next few years as well.

So bring it.

Resolutions

{Tshirt, Tights, & Scarf: Gap, Skirt: RW&Co., Boots: Roberto Vianni, Belt: Thrifted, Nail Polish: Essie's 'Turquoise & Caicos'}

Well. I suppose it's about time I get my New Year's Resolutions in order, isn't it. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, I present to you my resolutions:

Read recreationally for at least half an hour each day.

Watch less tv - go for a walk outside instead!

Don't keep junk food in the house - find a new love for healthier snack alternatives.

Go on some sort of vacation this summer. 

Floss every night.

Intentionally use cash more often when shopping in order to be more aware of how you're spending your money.

Be in bed by 11pm whenever possible on weeknights.

Plan out meals and go grocery shopping only once per week.

Take your vitamins.

Don't sleep in past 11:00 am on weekends. Because even that's ridiculous.

The Baby Shower

{Classic Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing & Gerber Daisies}

{Favors with scrap-booked tags and onesie charms}

{Uncle Jay making Baby Kayla smile}

{Baby talk time - so adorable!}

{Grandpa with his first grandchild}

{Pretty party roses}

Last weekend I hosted my niece's baby shower. It was a family affair, and for many of them it was the first time they were introduced to both Baby Kayla, as well as my new place. I had a lot of fun cooking and baking up a storm, prepping the apartment and putting together the details of the party.

Oh. And playing with the babies was good fun too.
Theyaresoadorable.

Let's Go Exploring

I had a friend come to visit last weekend and it was a great excuse to finally explore this little city I've moved to. We found some really neat little places, including a brunch place called Blue Fox. It was an hour to get it, but I can honestly say that the food was worth it. 

So worth it.

We wandered around Chinatown that was filled with these alleyways and found this beautiful secret garden. We then popped on over to the Legislative Buildings. My friend is obsessed with all things to do with the Canadian Government, so this was by far her highlight.

The next day we meandered around the park and came across a peacock. A peacock! Just chillin' out on the road.

I suppose I could get used to that.

Mr. Peacock bids you adieu.

Exam period is OVER

{Sweater: H&M, Cami: Garage, Jeans: American Eagle. This was my outfit yesterday for my last day of studying!}

Yes. That's right. I'm done. Done like dinner, {or in my case, breakfast - it was an early exam.}
 I would say that I'm officially done my four years of university, but I have an extra course to finish over the summer that is seriously hindering my ability to express my excitement by screaming "I'M GRADUATINGGGGG!!!" while running maniacally across campus. Like I saw a guy do yesterday. It looked ridiculous. And liberating.

For now, I will just have to remain contented by the fact that there is less than two months before I can make that same sort of spectacle of myself. Of course, campus is usually very quiet over the summer so there probably won't be many people around to see me acting like a crazy fool. Dang.