If you could...

Who doesn't love taking random/fun surveys? This one in particular has been one of my favorites because it had some unique questions and I loved the "if you could" aspect for each one. So if you want to learn a little bit more about the blogger behind the blog, check out this "If You Could..." survey ;)

1. Travel anywhere, where would it be? PARIS! I've been wanting to go since I was a little girl and I would buy all these travel books and all those learn to speak French books. It's looking like a very real possibility this November thanks to my college friend who has moved there and I cannot even express my excitement :) 
2. Meet anyone, who would it be? Leonardo DiCaprio...
3. Bring anyone dead back to life, who would it be? My grandpa.
4. Be anyone for a day, who would it be? I think I would want to be a famous actress currently filming something just so I could experience what that would be like. I've always had a weird fascination with wanting to become an actress, but I know it's a totally far-fetched idea for me. 
5. Get anything for free for the rest of your life what would it be? Money? Hahaha, I wish. I guess I would really enjoy getting free Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks. I spend too much money on coffee.
6. Change one thing about your life what would it be? I hate to say it, but I do wish I was more financially stable. On a positive note, it means I am okay (and for some things even GREAT) as to where I'm at in life when it comes to everything else. But having more money would really just change a lot of things in my life that would eliminate stress and help me live a life that is more of what I want.
7. Have any superpower what would it be? Fly. I want to be like the birds. There's just so much freedom involved. No restraints. I could just flap, flap away.
8. Be any animal for a day which would you be? Thought I'd say cat? Nope. I would want to be  a wolf. They fascinate me. Beautiful creatures and I love their loyalty.
9. Date anyone who would it be? If only this survey could capture the face I just made. I don't know. I don't have a particular person and I'm not going to give a celebrity name because that's just silly. I just want to date someone who I connect with and who respects me and wants to make a serious commitment.
10. Change one thing about the world what would it be? Less violence, all around. 
11. Live in any fictional universe which would you choose? How can I choose! I was about to say the Vampire Diaries/The Originals world, but I've been on a Gilmore Girls kick lately and I've always wanted to live in a town like Stars Hollow, so I think I'll go with that.
12. Eliminate one of your human needs which would you get rid of? The need to eat. I love food, but it's just getting annoying at this point. (I realize this is a total first world problem...)
13. Change one thing about your physical appearance what would it be? I've always wanted to be at least a couple inches taller, but hey... I've embraced my shortness at this point.
14. Change one of your personality traits which would you choose? I guess I would like to change how often I get aggravated at minor things. 
15. Be talented at anything instantly what would you choose? Singing. I wish so badly that I had an amazing voice. Or at least an okay voice, haha.
16. Forget one event in your life which would you choose? None, because I believe everything I've experienced thus far has made me into the person I am today. I don't mind experiencing the bad, as long as there's some good thrown in there as well.
17. Erase an event from history (make it so it never happened) which would you choose? World War II.
18. Have any hair/eye/skin color, which would you choose? Dark blonde hair and green eyes :-x But I'm actually learning to love the skin I'm in ;)
19. Be any weight/body type, which would you choose? I guess I shall go with the cliche answer: more fit and skinny
20. Live in any country/city, where would you choose? I have too many and I can't make an accurate decision until I've visited them all. But so far it's: Seattle, Portland, New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston
21. Change one law in your country, which would you change? HA just one?! Maybe just create a law that says all student loans are forgiven. Please...
22. Be any height, which would you choose? 5'4
23. Have any job in the world, which would you choose? A business entrepreneur 
24. Have anything appear in your pocket right now, what would it be? A million dollars...
25. Have anyone beside you right now, who would it be? I'm in my PJs looking like a hot mess, so I prefer to have this alone time for right now

If you've done this survey before or plan to do it on your own blog, leave your link below so I can check it out!

Liebster Award #2: Get to know more about me!

I have been awarded with yet another Liebster award (yay!) by the lovely blogger Kristina. Since I already nominated bloggers the first time around, this time I'm just going to answer the questions Kristina provided me with. I figure it's a good way for you guys to get to know me better!

1. How long have you been blogging?
I started this blog towards the end of January, but didn't really start getting into the groove of things until the end of February/beginning of March. After I finally made my blog known to the public (on my birthday, March 7th) I got such positive feedback that it made me want to get even more into blogging and writing. Basically, I've been blogging for about 3 months now.

2. Why did you start a blog?
I've always wanted a blog, just ask my friends. I raved on and on about it for a couple years. My excuse was I didn't know what I wanted to name my blog (and I'm a firm believer in branding yourself with a good name.) Now, I don't know if "In-Between Life" is the best name out there, but it came to me one day when I was thinking about how my life is right now. I feel like I'm stuck "in-between" stages in my life, and just trying to figure out how it all works. I started this blog in an effort to reach out to other post-grads (or anyone, really) who may be experiencing what I am. It's also a way for me to pursue my writing career.

3. What's your favorite place to shop?
My favorite thrift store, Unique! Especially on Mondays and Thursdays when they have 25% off. I also love Plato's Closet (a consignment shop.) Thrift shopper till I die. Or win the lottery.

4. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

Right now I have an itchin' to visit the Pacific Northwest. Maybe visit Seattle or Portland, but what I really want to see are the forests and the coast side there. It looks absolutely breath taking and peaceful in the photos I have seen.

5. What is your guilty pleasure?

Reese's peanut butter cups. 

6. What is your biggest goal in life?

Honestly, just to be happy and at peace with myself. 

7. Who is your celebrity crush?

Okay, the ultimate one, as many people already know, is Leonardo DiCaprio. Forever <3

8. What's your dream job?

Either a blogger (and actually make a living off it) or an author.

9. City or Country lover?

I enjoy the occasional trip to the city, but when it comes down to it I'm a Country girl. I like nature, I like openness, I don't like crowds, I like peacefulness. But, one item I do have on my bucket list is to live in the city for at least a year, just to get the experience of it. 

10. What's your favorite meal of the day? (Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?)

This is a tough one because I love food. Also, I don't really have normal meal times (or even three meals a day, it varies.) I guess I'd go with breakfast, simply because I like starting off my day with a cup of coffee and toast or whatever, and getting some time to myself before the chaos begins.

11. Who is your greatest influence and why?

My greatest influence thus far in life is actually another blogger. Her name is Caitlin Boyle and she blogs over at Healthy Tipping Point. Her blog was one of the first I started actively reading and one of the reasons I wanted to start my own blog so badly. I also admire what she does. She started a program called "Operation Beautiful" that's meant to show girls and women alike that they are beautiful, no matter what. I also discovered Girls on the Run (a self-esteem and running program for young girls) through her and ended up volunteering for my own town's chapter, which was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. 

And to leave you with some pictures...

(Yoga challenge is going great... *sarcasm*)

My baby girl Leyla Binx.

Liebster Award!

I was nominated for the infamous (at least amongst us bloggers) Liebster Award by Alisia who blogs over at Boarding Together. The Liebster Award is an award that is passed along from blogger to blogger and the purpose is to help out those bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Now, I have several social media outlets for my blog and all together I think I have over 500 followers, but my blog itself is pretty new so I think I still qualify for this award. Frankly, I'm flattered that someone even recognized my blog and decided to nominate me! My blog is growing more each day (at a slower pace than I wish for, but Rome wasn't built in a day...) and it excites me when I get some recognition, especially from other fellow bloggers.

Inspiration Monday: It's the little things

Today is going to be a long day for me and just thinking about it starts to make me tired. I usually stay up late doing blog work/writing and then wake up mid-morning to have some time before my afternoon/early evening job. Today I'm working the more typical 9-5 hours and we all know that's hard to do even when you're already used to it (which I am not.) So this morning when I woke up and laid in bed for awhile, I thought to myself "what can I do to make this day, even this week, be more positive and keep myself in a good mood?" That's when I realized that sometimes life is just about the little things. Those small moments in your day that make you smile or laugh or just grateful to be alive. Sometimes it's the little things that really affect us the most. Here are the five "little things" that I came up with this morning while laying in bed, trying to prep myself for the week ahead:

1. Having a pet that sleeps with you every night and then every morning when you wake up, she gets up too and comes over to you to snuggle and purr for awhile before you have to start your day.
2. Having to google some pop reference that you have no idea what it stands for and realizing you are starting to get "old" because you are not up to date with these teeny lingoes (but having a laugh about it!)
3. Waking up and hearing the birds chirping. Hearing the hoot of an owl because it's early enough that they're still out. Looking out your window and see the sun is shining.
4. Starting your day off with a loved one, getting ready simultaneously, complaining about "what a long day it's gonna be" and "Monday's suck ugh omg bye" but knowing you're not alone in your "struggle" - everybody's tired.
5. You are alive. You woke up to a new day. It can hold just about anything. Endless opportunities await you. Maybe it'll be just an ordinary day, maybe it will be an awful exhausting day, but maybe it will be a day that changes your life forever (in a good way.) You really never know.

Have a wonderful day and a great week!

♥

T.M.I. Tag Survey

I usually don't indulge in surveys or questionnaires, but I figured it'd be a good way to let my readers know a little bit more about me. It's also a fun thing to do when you're bored on a rainy Sunday morning. I got the idea from Sydney, another fellow Her Campus Blogger! Changed the questions up a bit, but here ya go ;)

1. What are you wearing?
Yoga pants, white cami and my favorite black hood… lazy Sunday wear

2. Do you have any tattoos?
I have two, one on my wrist and another on my foot. Been itching to get my third so hopefully soon!

3. Piercings?
Just ears… I used to have my nose pierced but took it out after a year or two because the stud kept falling in :-x

4. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
It depends… for the most part I'm really quick to get ready. But then there are those days where I just can't figure out what to wear or I have to dry my hair or I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

5. How tall are you?
5'1"… or maybe it's 5'0" and three quarters but shhhhhhh

6. Zodiac sign?
Pisces… the ~sensitive soul~

7. Favorite quote?
Aw crap I have so many. I like "So it goes." by Kurt Vonnegut because it sums up life in a simple way. Another favorite is "Freedom lies in being bold." by Robert Frost.

8. What are your fears?
I think my biggest fear is not being good enough.

9. Favorite TV show?
Supernatural! Oh and Spongebob Squarepants.

10. Favorite song?
Really? This is an impossible question for me to answer. My first tattoo was dedicated to how much I love music (all genres.) I go through moments, but I have so many "favorite" songs, I can't even think of them at the moment. Off the top of my head I'll say "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton, "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" by The Postal Service, "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones, "Eleven" and "Summer Stars" by Taking Back Sunday, "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix, "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers, "Ever the Same" by Rob Thomas, "What's My Age Again" by Blink 182, "Float On" by Modest Mouse", "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay (OMG I NEED TO STOP) oh and my most recent favorite is "Not a Bad Thing" by Justin Timberlake. The end.

11. Last song you sang out loud?
That "Do you want to build a SNOWMAAAAAN" song from Frozen. In a super high pitched voice.

12. A place to visit?
I want to road trip across the U.S.

13. Favorite color?
Teal or any mix between blue and green really

14. What instruments do you play?
I used to play the violin (about 5 years) but I probably wouldn't really know how to play it again unless I did some super brushing up on my skills. I also have a guitar that I've been trying to dabble at but I have small hands/fingers and it's hard for me… but someday! (Fun fact: I used to know how to play Stand by Me) (Another fun fact: I played Stairway to Heaven with my orchestra class in 8th grade)

15. Favorite piece of jewelry?
I have a few. My Pandora charm bracelet, an antique ring I got from a thrift store and my most recent one is the necklace I got as a birthday present from one of my best friends :)

I'm not tagging anyone for this survey, but if you want to do it and post it on your blog,
feel free to leave a comment with a link to it! I'd love to check it out.

10 things I would tell my 16 year old self

Inspired by this post over at Love & Waffles, I decided it'd be interesting to look back at who I was when I was 16 and what my life was like. I turned 16 during my Sophomore year of high school, which was one of the hardest years of my life (second hardest was my Freshman year at college.) I often find myself wishing I could go back in time and give myself advice or make different choices. But at the end of the day, living life with no regrets is the best possible thing you can do for yourself. Mistakes we make, experiences we go through, however difficult they may be, they all serve a purpose. As Alanis Morissette says, "You live, you learn."

Dear 16 year old Val:

1. Take school a little bit more seriously. It may just be "high school" and pretty easy, but establishing good studious habits now will help you tremendously down the road - especially once you get to college.


2. Get a hobby. Play a sport. Do some type of extracurricular activity that you can be proud of yourself for. It will also give you something to do, something to look forward to, so you don't dwell on all the negative in your life.


3. Stop trying to impress people. Be confident in who you are. You are awesome, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.


4. Do not be reckless. Do not think you are invincible. Be smart about stupid decisions you see your fellow peers making.


5. Ignore the bitch that is purposely trying to make your life miserable day in and day out. She's not worth the trouble.


6. Allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Your heart may have been broken, but don't let that keep you from meeting new people and experiencing new things.


7. Never dwell on the past. It happened. It's over now. Move on.


8. It's okay to give yourself time to recuperate, but do not let it consume you. The more you let yourself sink into misery, the harder it will be to get yourself out of it.


9. Cut ties with those who disrespect you and/or are not worth your time and energy. The sooner you let them go, the better (and easier.)


10. You have all the love in the world to give; your heart is big and you care too much. Do not let people take advantage of that. Be strong.

To be honest, I can still use this list of advice today (and maybe you can, too.)
I have a hard time learning my lessons. I try, though, and sometimes that's all you can do.