Welcome 2014

Finally! I'm not sure if I believe in curses or not, but my 2013 was terrible. It was awful. Absolutely horrific. Do you see where I'm going with this?

I contemplated making a post at the end of the year about what I'd learned from all of the bad things that had happened, but I don't even want to think about it. It's behind me. Upward and onward! 

So to ring in the New Year, Mike was booked at a club in Bangor called 'Tantrum' with a couple of

 other DJ's, but we had dinner in Ellsworth with his parents at a place called 'Shinbashi' first. Oh my gosh, the food was so good! Check out this foodporn. 

Much happy. So many delicious. 

We braved the roads and made a few stops to visit our favorite bartenders/owners. Stop #1 was at The Penobscot Pour House & Stop #2 was at The Phoenix Pub. We may have made these stops for Angry Orchard Cider and Cape Cods, too, but (I swear) it was purely out of friendship!

We skipped Downtown and the festivities because of the sub zero temperatures and headed for the venue. I don't have any photos of the party, but I have to say it was a much needed fun cap to the end of a "cursed" 2013. A packed club and dance floor brought in 2014 in style and I even got to spend it with my favorite person while he worked. (Ew affection).

I say there were no pictures from NYE, but I did find a few selfies I apparently took around 4am in a dark car waiting for Mike to pack up. 

And that folks, is my first selfie of the year. 

Oh, and as for resolutions - I'm just going to try and be a little more punk rock and a little less klutzy. 

Happy 2014!

Sincerely, Aspen

Fall Must Haves | Outerwear

It's already freezing here in New England, but I refuse to bust out the snow gear just yet. I wait (not so patiently) all year for fall fashion to arrive, and it's finally here!

Here's my picks for the best fall outerwear of 2013 (in my opinion) and why, if I had a bajillion dollars, all of these pieces would be sitting comfortably in my coat closet right this second. 

1. Tan Leather-Look Waterfall Jacket. (newlook.com) I mean just look at her, she's beautiful. This is the perfect jacket to throw over your day time look. Going to the office? Bam, you look great. Going out to lunch with the girls? Bam, they all want to know how you always look so put together. Meeting a hunk for coffee? Bam...you get the idea. 

2. Funnel Neck Leather Jacket. (alexandermcqueen.com) Talk about high fashion! This piece is a mix of rough and ladylike. The color and peplum waist makes it soft, but the hardware and the collar spice the look up with a little bit of rock and roll. I could see myself rocking this out to bars and nightclubs through out the cooler seasons. 

3. Burberry Prorsum Shearling Aviator. (dressed.ru) My grandfather builds and flies his own planes, so aviation has always been close to my heart. There's nothing like the soft interior that lines these jackets to keep you warm on those brisk days. To me, this is a day or night piece and one that will make you feel on top of the world. 

4. Khaki Drawstring Trenchcoat. (cichic.com) When I'm in a hurry and I don't want to spend the time to put together an outfit, this is the kind of coat I want to reach for. Can you imagine running errands and walking the aisles of your local grocery store in this stunning trench? I mean, come on, the sleeves even roll up. Talk about cute and convenient. To top it off, this jacket is under $50! 

I'm off to work on some DIY projects for future blog posts. I'm currently covered in mod podge and glitter...

Until next time!

Birthday #24

Getting older is something that I've been having a hard time with. I'm only twenty-four but I feel like life is passing by way too fast and like I just can't hold onto it tight enough. 

For past birthday's I've tried to plan my special day out weeks and sometimes even months in advance, but they would never ever work out. My birthday had always come and disaster came right along with it, no matter how hard I tried to plan everything out down to the most minuscule details. 

This year I sat back and let the universe take the reigns, and you know what? It was perfect. 

Even though Mike and I had nothing planned for the day, I was wide awake by 7:30, and just in time because my phone rang as my feet  hit the floor. My annual birthday call from my grandparents. They never fail to ring me bright and early to make sure that I'm up and enjoying my day. We talked for awhile and by the time I was saying goodbye, Mike was peeking his sleepy-eyed face into the living room where he sang me Happy Birthday. 

We left the house to get Mike coffee and stop by my stepdad's work to pick up my present from him and my mom. Unwrapping the brown paper package the minute I got back into the car (because I couldn't possibly wait until I got home) I found a notebook, and to others that may seem like a funny birthday gift, but you'd have to really know my mom to understand. 

My mom has given notebooks as gifts for every occasion as long as I can remember, but it's not the notebook that's special, it's what's inside. I've been taught from a young age to never give someone a card or journal without taking the time to write something thoughtful or inspiring in it. You'll never receive a card from me with just a name signed at the bottom. 

The notebook started out with a letter from my mom on the first page, and then opening up to the next page I found a gift certificate with instructions to treat myself to a day of shopping. I opened to the next page to find another gift card...and another...and another...and another, until I reached a gift certificate for lunch where the cards ended. 

Later that day, I checked the mail when I heard the mailman's footsteps on the porch where there was a card from my dad (who lives in Vermont). Inside I found a gift certificate to his recording studio for four hours of free recording...another amazing birthday gift!

My parents definitely spoiled me this year.

Mike and I lounged around the house for a bit before heading to lunch. I was in the mood for Greek food, and we enjoyed a quiet meal out of town.

After lunch we drove to Bullmoose, our favorite place, to buy 'Sleepy Hollow'. We'd both been dying to see the movie again, and neither of us owned it already. We found a copy for seven dollars and then drove to Walmart where we picked up some ingredients for dinner and where I couldn't stop myself from buying a few acrylic paints for a new DIY project I'm working on. 

Mike cooked me an amazing dinner and we sat on the couch in our pajamas enjoying Johnny Depp's performance in Sleepy Hollow. It had been long enough since we had seen the movie that we both forgot the ending. 

This wasn't the kind of birthday where I paraded around the city wearing a sequin dress and binge drinking my way into a birthday coma...it was so much better than that. I can go out any night of the week, but having a calm relaxing day with the love of my life, snuggled up on the couch was exactly where I wanted to be, and you know what? It was the best birthday I've ever had. 

No planning. 

Until next time!

Sincerely, Aspen

Fall Bucket List

I know that I said today would be my birthday post, but I forgot to take the pictures off of my camera before I went to work tonight, and Mike is using the camera at his gig in Downtown so the b-day post will have to wait one more day. (HUGE SIGH)

Instead, here's a list of all the things I want to do before fall ends! This is my favorite time of year, I can't get enough of it. Leave me a comment below and tell me some of the things you'll be adding and checking off of your fall bucket list!

1. Pick up coffee and a magazine for a friend. I love the idea of bringing one of my friends a steaming cup of coffee and a tabloid magazine while they're at work! 

2. Make Caramel Apples. I actually don't even like caramel apples, but they're so pretty!

3. Try a new hard cider. Confession: I have an addiction to hard ciders. Anytime Mike and I are out, I'm searching for one I haven't tried before. 

4. Get lost in a corn maze. I love doing this, but I really really want to do it at night. Extra scary!

5. Go to a bonfire. Our friends have a fire pit at their house, so I know this will happen before the fall is over. 

6. Bake a pie. Wish me luck, it'll be my first one!

7. Apple picking. It's not really fall until you've plucked a few Macintoshes off a tree. 

8. Go leaf peeping. How touristy, but really, New England is the best place for this. It's magical. 

9. Donate to a food bank. It's good for your community and your soul!

10. Carve/Paint pumpkins and bake the seeds. Because I'm so damn crafty and I love pumpkin seeds!

11. Have a scary movie night. Mike and I have already gotten started on this, but I foresee a full day of scary movies and cuddling on the couch in our pajamas in the very near future. 

Until next time!

Sincerely, Aspen

This or That

It's my birthday! Today I am twenty-four years old. I spent quite a few extra minutes in the mirror today trying to see if I looked any older, but alas, I think I still look twenty-three. I had an amazing day with my boyfriend, with lots of love being sent from my friends and family both close and far away. I took a few photos throughout the day, but I want a little bit more time to write in better detail about everything, so I'll wait and put up my birthday post tomorrow. 

For tonight, I'd like to share a few answers to a survey I found on another blogger's page. I remember answering quite a few of these on myspace (yes, I can admit that). I'm still new to the 'blog world' and I'm having a lot of fun searching around the interweb to find other's online journals!

The Survey

Vacationing in Florida or vacationing in NYC: I've gone on vacation in Florida before, and it was one of the best times I've ever had...but I have to say NYC. I'm in love with the chaos of large cities, and New York really has my heart. 

iPhone or Droid: That's like asking puppies or spiders. iPhone. 

NSYNC or Backstreet Boys: I was in love with the Backstreet Boys, they were my first cassette tape and my first concert! 

Being forced to delete Facebook or being forced to delete Twitter: To be completely honest, I'd love to delete both. Over the past year I've really tried to put some distance between me and the book. 

Fireball or Miller Lite: I don't even know what a Fireball is, but it sounds dangerous! I'm going to go with Miller Lite on this one. I heart beer. 

Full House or Family Matters: Considering I thought I was the long lost Olsen triplet...Full House. 

Dumbledore or Gandalf: Albus, hands down. If you choose Gandalf you "need to sort out your priorities." Ahhh...Potter humor. 

Dying Easter eggs or Carving pumpkins: Pumpkins! You can bake the seeds, and light them up, and decorate your house with them and throw them at oncoming traffic...you get the picture. 

NFL or NCAAF: What is The Red Sox? (Not a sports junkie)

A hangover forever or sobriety forever: You're killing me! Ugh...I guess sober forever, but I sure would miss my hard ciders. 

January or July: July, no question. I am not a fan of the first 4 months of the year and maybe I'll write about why sometime. 

Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus: I have a very unpopular opinion on this girl, meaning I don't have one. Let her do her thing, it's her life, who are we to judge?

Shark Week or Fashion Week: Sharks in evening gowns. I cannot choose here. 

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or Saved by the Bell: Iiiiiiiiiiiiin West Philadelphia, born and raised....

Britney or Christina: Christina's voice. Britney's red leather one piece outfit.  

Burrito or Burrito Bowl: Burrito -> Me. We don't need to bring bowls into this. 

Reading blogs on your phone or reading blogs on your computer:  Computer! I'm so blind that I end up holding my phone right up to my face whenever I'm reading something. I get the strangest looks from people. 

Angelina or Jennifer: I'm no fan of home-wreckers. Gotchya' back Jen. 

Doug Funny or The Rugrats: This is so tough! Looking back, I watched The Rugrats more...I grew up with six younger brothers and I thought I was Angelica Pickles. 

An open mouth chewer or a heavy breather: Ew...I guess a heavy breather, but I can't say I wouldn't go absolutely mad around them. 

I'm off to enjoy the rest of my birthday night!

Until next time-

Sincerely, Aspen

DIY Fall Decor | Dollar Store Crafts

It seems like we can't even blink without the seasons changing, and surprise, another holiday is upon us. Fall is my favorite time of year though, so you won't hear me complaining!

Christmas decorations seem to last forever, but when Autumn rolls around, it feels like I never have anything to hang up around the house to get us into the spirit. I wanted to try and bring some faux foliage indoors without breaking the bank, so I headed to the dollar store to see what I could find. 

The Dollar Tree always has an aisle filled with glassware and candles for, well, a dollar. I picked up two fall candles in scents that seemed appropriate, as well as two glass candle stick holders and a pair of glass bowls. 

It was so simple to take a hot glue gun and put these pieces together, and it took me less than a minute to do it! You could also use E-6000 glue, but I'm a huge fan of the glue gun. 

I threw some white pebbles from a previous project (but also from The Dollar Tree) into the bottom of the bowls before adding the candles on top. This tablescape is perfect for bringing the change of seasons indoors, and the best part is each piece only cost one dollar. 

Next I found this mini orange notebook while I was searching through the aisles, and I'll admit, I am a total sucker for notebooks. I couldn't leave him there all alone!

These felt shaped leaves were sold in a package, and I thought they'd be great glued onto the front.

And now I have the cutest fall to-do-list notebook!

Decorating is so much fun, but it doesn't have to be expensive! 

Until next time-

Sincerely, Aspen

Sincerely, Aspen Writes | Unaware

I don't mind falling for love

but I don't want to fall for anything.

Keep your head inside they say

but if I do I can't see the sun light my way.

Gotta keep my mind alive.

Gotta keep the noise to the back of my grind.

Hitch a ride, don't be scared

takes you tomorrow and the best feeling's unaware. 

Keep on moving strong

the path gets tricky but the rituals are almost gone

and I'm alive

the wind in the air and my eyes open wide

open eyes, open heart, open doors

-to the fork in the road of existence-

What are we here for?