Meet Lily

I mentioned in my last post that my boyfriend, Rob got me a new puppy for my birthday. If you're familiar with the fact that my beloved chihuahua that I had for nine years had passed away in January, then you probably already know how much of a hard time I was going through after losing her and dealing with her being absent from my life. With all of that being said, getting a new puppy was a pretty big step for me and it definitely wasn't a decision that I made overnight.
Even though it had been months since my dog, Gizmo, had passed away, I was having an extremely difficult time grasping the fact that she was gone forever. I found myself too many nights in a row up until late hours waiting for everyone to go to sleep and quietly crying in the bathroom. I still don't accept it and I doubt I ever will, but I knew that even though I would never in a million years want to replace who she was to me and her space in my heart, that I was yearning for the responsibilities and rewards that come with having a dog, or any pet for that matter. I also knew that getting a new dog would help the healing process in some weird way that's hard to explain.
Rob and I talked about it and occasionally I would look online for chihuahuas for sale in chicago. One time we even stopped at the nursery where we had bought Gizmo nearly 10 years prior and fell in love with a male chihuahua that they had for a whopping $1100! I was heartbroken that I couldn't take the puppy home with me, but there was no way I could afford to spend that much on a puppy and more importantly, justify putting that much money into keeping puppy mills up and running.
At the beginning of May, I came across an ad online that had three chihuahua puppies for sale and we contacted the owner for pictures and information. I fell in love with her through the photos and couldn't stop thinking about her. A couple days before my birthday (last Wednesday), Rob said to me, "Go get ready, we're going to pick up the puppy!" I was shocked and so excited. Even more so when I first saw her, because I instantly fell in love. She was perfect and everything I wanted in a puppy!

Now it's been over a week since I've had her and it's honestly felt like I've known her forever. She fit in so well with us and our family. She's love-able, playful, and well behaved at least 3/4 of the time haha. I'm so happy that I didn't wait to get a puppy because I feel so much better inside. I haven't been sad and dwelling since we've got here and through all the death and horrible times that have come into my life this year, she has brought so much light into my life and given me a new reason to wake up every morning!

I decided to name her Lily. I was dead set on naming my next dog "Luna", until I saw her. She was way too feminine and soft looking for that name, so I went with something better suited for her and I think she was born to be a Lily! She's a little over three months old and was born on Valentine's Day!

My 20th Birthday & The Best Gift Ever!

So if you didn't know already, my birthday was this past Sunday (May 19th). I think it's safe to say that the theme of my birthday this year was definitely something along the lines of complete nostalgic sadness. I'm aware that that probably makes no sense to you all, since birthdays are typically associated with positive adjectives, but to put things in simpler terms: I hate my birthday. I didn't always, in fact, I couldn't wait to grow up and become an adult [when I was younger]. However that all changed last year when my 19th birthday hit. My birthday, being May 19th, makes turning 19 my golden birthday and also happens to be my favorite number. When I turned 19, I was done. I wanted to stay 19 forever. So when my birthday came rolling around this year, I was DREADING it with every inch of childhood I had left in me.
18 was no big deal - just another number, but being able to say that I'm now in my twenties really just freaks me out. I feel like I'm in one of those movies where a parent is taking their child to school that doesn't want to go, where it ends up with the child clinging onto the side of the minivan door being pulled by their legs to their impending educational doom, except I'm a grown women clinging onto the minivan of my childhood being pulled toward the impending doom of ....adulthood.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't grow up, it's a trap."? Well if you haven't yet, don't, because it is. I imagine it's not that hard for most people, this whole growing up thing, but you're talking to someone whose favorite type of movies are animated and refuses to sleep without a light on.
I know deep down I'll always be a kid at heart, but it just feels so weird growing up.
What do you guys think about it? Did you feel similar to this at any point in your life? And if so, when do you think is an acceptable time for someone to stop sleeping with their stuffed elephant named Fredrick...?

i have no shame..

ANYWAYS, here are some photos of my birthday. There's only a few and keep in mind it's nothing special, since I felt like the whole day was a big sham and not celebration worthy, but trust me, pizza, cake, and a good movie was all I needed to satisfy my deep sadness birthday needs!

Also, keep reading to find out about the most amazing gift that I received for my birthday!

Sunday Bunday

If I haven't mentioned this before, I'm saying it now: Sundays are my freaking favorite day of the week. Why, you ask? I'll give you one good reason: nothing; Sundays = nothing. No school, getting to sleep in, catch up on a book, have some "me" time, and find random ways to blow through the half hour it takes to get another life on Candy Crush (are you obsessed with that game too?)
I'm not sure if Sundays are great for everyone, but I think that everyone should have at least one day (if you're able to) or even a couple of hours put aside to reconnect with yourself, pamper yourself, and just breathe. Simply just take some time alone to "come back to life", if you will.
In this post, I'm just going to share some things that I did on this Sunday. I'd love to hear what you guys like to do on your "off days" to relax, on whatever day that might be, so leave me a comment below and let me know!

Breakfast and Pinterest | Yoplait Light Harvest Peach & Ritz crackers w/ Port Wine cheese

Current Blush Favorites

Besides eyeshadow, blush is one of my favorite makeup items to collect and wear! The type of blush you wear can really change your look, whether you're going for a natural flush or a bronze glow - and everything in between. Lately I haven't been sticking to just one blush, or just one shade range for that matter! I've been obsessing over an array of blush hues that are all perfect for the spring/summer season.  Depending on the kind of look I'm doing, I can count on any one of these four blushes to go perfectly along with it.