July Favorites
In case any of you aren't subscribed to my YouTube channel, I wanted to share my July Favorites video with you. It features makeup (including Intermission Beauty!), skincare, fashion, books, and other media. Enjoy x
August Goals
Since it's the beginning of a new month, I wanted to share my August goals with all of you!
(1) Upload four videos to my YouTube channel. I haven't been uploading as much as I like to over this summer, partially because I've been traveling so much. I have one last Disney vlog to edit and then I've filmed two more videos already. I'm hoping I can get at least four videos up this month, if not five or six!
(2) Prepare for my move. There's so much to do for my move to London that I want to get a lot of it done this month. I'm working on my visa, have my housing almost set, and have been sent the link to do my registration. I also need to figure out my flights and phone plan for while I'm there. If I can get most of this done in August, I can focus on packing in September.
(3) Clean my room. Because my family has been at the beach for a lot of the summer, I haven't finished sorting through my room or even through the things I brought home from college. I definitely have to finish that this month, especially once my sister starts school on the 15th.
(4) Keep working out. I've been working out, both walking on the treadmill and doing Blogilates videos. I want to keep doing this, as I need to be ready for the amount of walking I'll be doing once I move to London.
Let me know what your goals for this month are down below in the comments. x
(1) Upload four videos to my YouTube channel. I haven't been uploading as much as I like to over this summer, partially because I've been traveling so much. I have one last Disney vlog to edit and then I've filmed two more videos already. I'm hoping I can get at least four videos up this month, if not five or six!
(2) Prepare for my move. There's so much to do for my move to London that I want to get a lot of it done this month. I'm working on my visa, have my housing almost set, and have been sent the link to do my registration. I also need to figure out my flights and phone plan for while I'm there. If I can get most of this done in August, I can focus on packing in September.
(3) Clean my room. Because my family has been at the beach for a lot of the summer, I haven't finished sorting through my room or even through the things I brought home from college. I definitely have to finish that this month, especially once my sister starts school on the 15th.
(4) Keep working out. I've been working out, both walking on the treadmill and doing Blogilates videos. I want to keep doing this, as I need to be ready for the amount of walking I'll be doing once I move to London.
Let me know what your goals for this month are down below in the comments. x
Friday Internet Finds
Happy Friday! What a week I've had: getting into a Master's program, finding out I'll be moving to London in two months, trying to figure out my visa and housing...remember last week when I said I wasn't going back to school? Oops.
With this move to London, the content on my blog will likely shift towards more West End coverage than Broadway. Of course, I'll still be covering major Broadway news and am in no way cutting myself off from that community -- I'm still planning on moving to New York after I graduate. But for now, get ready for lots of West End reviews and other London-themed content. (And if anyone has tips on cheap tickets, do let me know.)
Food Glorious Food: I figured this Buzzfeed quiz was a good pick for this week...it'll serve as my check list for British restaurants to try. I got 11/36, so 25 to go!
The Dark Lord: It's newly announced that Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo will play the titular roles of National Theatre production of Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra. I'm definitely planning on trying to snag a ticket to this production, but as it's National Theatre, it's also likely that fans across the UK and US will be able to see it in cinemas.
Stage to Stage: Josh Groban's forthcoming coffee table book, Stage to Stage, is now available for pre-order. It will be released in September and I know what the number 1 item on my Christmas list is.
Oh Pierre: Unfortunately this week, Great Comet announced that Oak (Okriette Onaodowan) is leaving the show for Mandy Patinkin to step into the role of Pierre. No offense to Mandy, but I really feel bad for Oak, especially as I've heard amazing things about his portrayal. This article from the New York Times describes why some people (including me!) are upset about this blatant show of capitalism in the arts.
So Broadway, Much Ingrid: The Great Comet's Ingrid Michaelson describes five things that make her "so Broadway" in this adorable video.
With this move to London, the content on my blog will likely shift towards more West End coverage than Broadway. Of course, I'll still be covering major Broadway news and am in no way cutting myself off from that community -- I'm still planning on moving to New York after I graduate. But for now, get ready for lots of West End reviews and other London-themed content. (And if anyone has tips on cheap tickets, do let me know.)
Food Glorious Food: I figured this Buzzfeed quiz was a good pick for this week...it'll serve as my check list for British restaurants to try. I got 11/36, so 25 to go!
The Dark Lord: It's newly announced that Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo will play the titular roles of National Theatre production of Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra. I'm definitely planning on trying to snag a ticket to this production, but as it's National Theatre, it's also likely that fans across the UK and US will be able to see it in cinemas.
Stage to Stage: Josh Groban's forthcoming coffee table book, Stage to Stage, is now available for pre-order. It will be released in September and I know what the number 1 item on my Christmas list is.
Oh Pierre: Unfortunately this week, Great Comet announced that Oak (Okriette Onaodowan) is leaving the show for Mandy Patinkin to step into the role of Pierre. No offense to Mandy, but I really feel bad for Oak, especially as I've heard amazing things about his portrayal. This article from the New York Times describes why some people (including me!) are upset about this blatant show of capitalism in the arts.
So Broadway, Much Ingrid: The Great Comet's Ingrid Michaelson describes five things that make her "so Broadway" in this adorable video.
I Am Sailing Off to London
Remember how I said that I would update you once I knew what I was doing? I'm elated to announce that in September, I'll be moving to London to pursue my Master's in Culture, Policy, and Management at City University of London!
Surprised? Yeah, me too. Some of you may remember that back in the fall I was busy researching grad schools in the United Kingdom and getting ready to apply. Then, my sister got sick and I dropped it all. Lately, I've been having a lot of trouble in the job search and was thinking about going back to get an arts administration degree because it would make me a much stronger candidate for the jobs I really want.
Last week, I checked to see if any of the universities I had been looking at before accepted students to start in the spring and discovered one of my top choices (City) still had some spots left on the perfect course for the fall! I put together an application quickly and sent it off, not expecting to be accepted. (In truth, after doing so many job applications and hearing nothing, I was kind of surprised to hear anything at all.)
Before I knew it I was filling out immigration paperwork "just in case" and then received my offer. I was pleased to accept and put down my deposit. Since then have been attempting to figure out my visa and housing for next year as I leave at the end of September.
I absolutely can't wait to live in London. Every so often I get a little bit terrified (cue the "What have I done, sweet Jesus, what have I done?" thoughts), but I'm excited to live in a land of Primark, Tesco, and tea kettles everywhere. The more I learn about the university, the more I adore it and I've strangely gotten an addiction to watching Tesco and Sainsbury's food hauls on YouTube?
Of course, I'm having a bit of a headache trying to figure out my Student Visa. In fact, me going is all pending that we're able to get the visa and it arrives in time, which is making my anxiety levels (which previously had been doing pretty well at summer) shoot through the roof. And I've got to figure out somewhere to live!
But for now, I'm so pleased and shocked that I know what I'm doing this year and it's moving to my favorite city on earth. Get excited for all kind of London content! Because, as Angelica Schuyler says, "I am sailing off to London..."
Surprised? Yeah, me too. Some of you may remember that back in the fall I was busy researching grad schools in the United Kingdom and getting ready to apply. Then, my sister got sick and I dropped it all. Lately, I've been having a lot of trouble in the job search and was thinking about going back to get an arts administration degree because it would make me a much stronger candidate for the jobs I really want.
Last week, I checked to see if any of the universities I had been looking at before accepted students to start in the spring and discovered one of my top choices (City) still had some spots left on the perfect course for the fall! I put together an application quickly and sent it off, not expecting to be accepted. (In truth, after doing so many job applications and hearing nothing, I was kind of surprised to hear anything at all.)
Before I knew it I was filling out immigration paperwork "just in case" and then received my offer. I was pleased to accept and put down my deposit. Since then have been attempting to figure out my visa and housing for next year as I leave at the end of September.
I absolutely can't wait to live in London. Every so often I get a little bit terrified (cue the "What have I done, sweet Jesus, what have I done?" thoughts), but I'm excited to live in a land of Primark, Tesco, and tea kettles everywhere. The more I learn about the university, the more I adore it and I've strangely gotten an addiction to watching Tesco and Sainsbury's food hauls on YouTube?
Of course, I'm having a bit of a headache trying to figure out my Student Visa. In fact, me going is all pending that we're able to get the visa and it arrives in time, which is making my anxiety levels (which previously had been doing pretty well at summer) shoot through the roof. And I've got to figure out somewhere to live!
But for now, I'm so pleased and shocked that I know what I'm doing this year and it's moving to my favorite city on earth. Get excited for all kind of London content! Because, as Angelica Schuyler says, "I am sailing off to London..."
The Line Where the Sky Meets the Sea
I've been at the beach all week, so naturally I can't singing Moana music and I couldn't resist the title of this post. My parents recently bought a beach condo so I've been spending my days at the North Carolina coast doing job applications on the balcony for the most part.
The other day my mom took my little sister and I down to the beach to do some photos. I couldn't resist putting on my favorite shirt of the summer, along with my trusty Madewell jeans. This white eyelet shirt is gorgeously structured and the eyelet design is beautiful but somehow doesn't show your bra. I love it because it can be paired with jeans for a casual look or with dress pants for a more business occasion.
Unfortunately the shirt is now sold out, but the jeans are still available.
Photos: Sherry Ackman
The other day my mom took my little sister and I down to the beach to do some photos. I couldn't resist putting on my favorite shirt of the summer, along with my trusty Madewell jeans. This white eyelet shirt is gorgeously structured and the eyelet design is beautiful but somehow doesn't show your bra. I love it because it can be paired with jeans for a casual look or with dress pants for a more business occasion.
Photos: Sherry Ackman
Friday Internet Finds
Happy Friday, everyone! I've been at the coast all week but working on job applications. It feels like summer is slipping by far too quickly...but doesn't it always feel like that? I almost had a breakdown in the back to school section in Target the other day when I realized that I'm never going 'back to school' again. Strange.
Winner, Winner: Dear Evan Hansen is the latest Broadway musical to recoup their investments. It's no surprise that DEH is a hit, but it's always good to see any show thriving.
The Will Power: The Globe Theater in London has announced its first live cinema broadcast. In late September, it will air King Lear hopefully in theatres across the United Kingdom. (Tickets are on sale now!) I'm hoping that they add some US dates as well. And no, I couldn't resist that Something Rotten reference.
Luck Be a Lady: This Buzzfeed quiz will tell you which musical theatre leading lady you are. I was a little surprised to get Eliza Schuyler from Hamilton, but I can't argue with it.
Ooh-De-Lally: Apparently Robin Hood is Broadway bound. The production now at the Dallas Theatre Center has its eye on Broadway; I'm curious to see what kind of adaption this musical is.
The Iron Throne: One of my favorite theatre YouTubers recently did a dream cast of Broadway and West End stars who would be perfect in a Game of Thrones musical adaption. My personal favorite casting might be Christian Borle as Littlefinger.
Winner, Winner: Dear Evan Hansen is the latest Broadway musical to recoup their investments. It's no surprise that DEH is a hit, but it's always good to see any show thriving.
The Will Power: The Globe Theater in London has announced its first live cinema broadcast. In late September, it will air King Lear hopefully in theatres across the United Kingdom. (Tickets are on sale now!) I'm hoping that they add some US dates as well. And no, I couldn't resist that Something Rotten reference.
Luck Be a Lady: This Buzzfeed quiz will tell you which musical theatre leading lady you are. I was a little surprised to get Eliza Schuyler from Hamilton, but I can't argue with it.
Ooh-De-Lally: Apparently Robin Hood is Broadway bound. The production now at the Dallas Theatre Center has its eye on Broadway; I'm curious to see what kind of adaption this musical is.
The Iron Throne: One of my favorite theatre YouTubers recently did a dream cast of Broadway and West End stars who would be perfect in a Game of Thrones musical adaption. My personal favorite casting might be Christian Borle as Littlefinger.
Review: Intermission Beauty
When I saw a Broadway themed line of beauty products on Laura Osnes's Insta-story one night, I was immediately intrigued. Imagine my delight when I logged onto their website and saw that they had one named after my very favorite show, Miss Saigon!
They have lines of both lipsticks and matte liquid lipsticks (the 'Breaking Down' lipstick is especially popular, probably due to Stephanie J. Block's love for it). If there's anything I adore, it's a matte liquid lipstick and everything about this one is magnificent.
The packaging is wonderful as well, as it comes in a cute little box wrapped in red tissue paper in the parcel. I'm quite impressed with the branding.
As for the Miss Saigon lipstick, I'm absolutely in love. I've worn it twice since it arrived in the mail and both times it stayed on for many hours despite eating. The color is really a beautiful pink, more vibrant than it would typically wear but quite lovely. The texture wasn't sticky and it dried quickly after application. The heat is on, indeed!
I can't recommend these lipsticks enough. While they're a little pricey at $20, they're no worse than your typical liquid lipstick of this quality; they're comparable in price and quality to Smashbox ($24 each) and Kat Von D ($20). They're a great little indulgence for yourself or would be an amazing gift for a friend.
I imagine you'll be seeing more of these on my YouTube channel and Instagram...I've already got my eye on the Kinky Boots liquid lipstick and the Head Shot lipstick! Let me know if you order one and what you think of it.
They have lines of both lipsticks and matte liquid lipsticks (the 'Breaking Down' lipstick is especially popular, probably due to Stephanie J. Block's love for it). If there's anything I adore, it's a matte liquid lipstick and everything about this one is magnificent.
The packaging is wonderful as well, as it comes in a cute little box wrapped in red tissue paper in the parcel. I'm quite impressed with the branding.
As for the Miss Saigon lipstick, I'm absolutely in love. I've worn it twice since it arrived in the mail and both times it stayed on for many hours despite eating. The color is really a beautiful pink, more vibrant than it would typically wear but quite lovely. The texture wasn't sticky and it dried quickly after application. The heat is on, indeed!
I can't recommend these lipsticks enough. While they're a little pricey at $20, they're no worse than your typical liquid lipstick of this quality; they're comparable in price and quality to Smashbox ($24 each) and Kat Von D ($20). They're a great little indulgence for yourself or would be an amazing gift for a friend.
I imagine you'll be seeing more of these on my YouTube channel and Instagram...I've already got my eye on the Kinky Boots liquid lipstick and the Head Shot lipstick! Let me know if you order one and what you think of it.
Friday Internet Finds
I hope all my American readers had a great Fourth of July holiday. I spent the long weekend at my family's new beach condo -- mostly, we were fixing it up to use for the rest of the summer. However, tomorrow I fly out to Florida to spend a few days with friends down there.
I wanted to squeeze some content in for the day and a half that I'm actually home, so without further ado, here's a new edition of Friday Internet Finds where I round up some of the best theatre links I've found this week.
Popular: Buzzfeed shared this quiz to determine how mainstream your opinions about musicals are. (But what I'd really like to know if who everyone's favorite Schuyler Sister is.)
Shakespeare in Space: The first photos were released of Star Wars's Oscar Issac as the tortured prince in the Public Theater's production of Hamlet and they are well worth a look. I really hope I get a chance to see this production before it closes in September as it's the intersection of everything I love (theatre, literature, and Star Wars).
Stage to Stage: Josh Groban announced that he will release a coffee table book detailing his experiences making his Broadway debut in Great Comet. More details to come soon about preordering it, but I'm positive it will be proudly displayed in my living room soon next to my Great Comet book.
The [Blog] in My Mind: If you're not already reading it, make sure to bookmark Eva Noblezada's blog which contains her insightful and often touching musings about her life and her Broadway debut in Miss Saigon.
I wanted to squeeze some content in for the day and a half that I'm actually home, so without further ado, here's a new edition of Friday Internet Finds where I round up some of the best theatre links I've found this week.
Popular: Buzzfeed shared this quiz to determine how mainstream your opinions about musicals are. (But what I'd really like to know if who everyone's favorite Schuyler Sister is.)
Shakespeare in Space: The first photos were released of Star Wars's Oscar Issac as the tortured prince in the Public Theater's production of Hamlet and they are well worth a look. I really hope I get a chance to see this production before it closes in September as it's the intersection of everything I love (theatre, literature, and Star Wars).
Stage to Stage: Josh Groban announced that he will release a coffee table book detailing his experiences making his Broadway debut in Great Comet. More details to come soon about preordering it, but I'm positive it will be proudly displayed in my living room soon next to my Great Comet book.
The [Blog] in My Mind: If you're not already reading it, make sure to bookmark Eva Noblezada's blog which contains her insightful and often touching musings about her life and her Broadway debut in Miss Saigon.
Sonya Together: This week, Brittain Ashford released a YouTube video of her and her Sonya replacement, singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, singing "Sonya Alone" together and we have truly been blessed by angels.
Review: The Boathouse at Disney Springs
On my family's vacation to Disney World last week, we went to Disney Springs for the first time. If you haven't been to Disney in a while, you might know it as Downtown Disney; it's a beautiful area with shops and restaurants.
Since we took Thursday off from the parks to recuperate a little, we headed to Disney Springs with the help of my cousin Marisa who lives in Orlando. She recommended The Boathouse for lunch, a cute boating themed restaurant that boasts incredible seafood and a wide selection of drinks.
We couldn't have been more pleased with our delicious food or the calming relaxed atmosphere, a big change from being in the parks! Everyone at the table (well, except my little sister) ordered a beer from the Funky Buddha brewery which is local to Florida. The waiter described The Floridian as similar to a Blue Moon, my favorite, and I absolutely loved it.
My mom and I both started with the Maine Lobster Bisque which was amazing. I could have done with a bit more actual lobster in it, but I feel like I can't complain because the flavor was so incredible.
For my meal, I ordered one of the specials: a Shrimp Po-Boy. My only complaint is that I have no idea how they intended for me to eat this sandwich. It was served on an incredible, but thick, baguette with fresh tomato and lettuce. I ended up eating off a lot of the shrimp before attempting to pick it up (well, after my first failed try).
I got truffle fries as my side but my sister ordered one of the "Sides to Share" to go along with her soup as her meal. They're not kidding when they say you can share the sides! She basically received a mountain of delicious truffle fries.
The Boathouse is definitely a restaurant I'll return to on our next trip to Disney. It's a bit on the pricey side, but no worse than your average upscale seafood restaurant. If you go, definitely try one of their beers and the truffle fries! x
Life Update | I Graduated??
The reason I've been somewhat silent on this blog lately is because I was busy with graduating from college and then recovering from the chaos of moving home. Yes, I graduated from university!! Normal content should resume soon, with some Disney World posts and Friday Internet Finds.
On May 20, I graduated magna cum laude from Elon University with a BA in Strategic Communications and History with a minor in French. It's strange to think that my four years are already over -- but I feel like a completely different person than I was when I started, as cliché as that is.
While at Elon, I studied abroad at the University of Sussex and the University of St Andrews, did a Winter Term trip to Disney World and Disneyland, and did internships in Raleigh, NC and New York City. I completed my Honors Fellows thesis project (and even got a scholarship for it!) on the salonnières, women who ran salons in Enlightenment Paris. I also worked for Elon's newspaper, history department, and comedy sketch TV show, Elon Tonight.
In all honesty, I have some regrets about my time at Elon and things I would do differently if I could do it over. I regret not majoring in Arts Administration or minoring in Theatre Studies. Most days, I wish that I had gone back to the University of Sussex instead of going to St Andrews (but then I remember I wouldn't have met my darling friend, Lucy, and I take it back!). And, I'm graduating with no job yet in a friend group of people who mostly have their plans sorted which has been difficult.
Those difficulties aside, I had a wonderful graduation day. I had family who had come from across North Carolina, Florida, and Illinois and friends who had flown back from being in LA all spring just for graduation week. Plus, I had my amazing roommates (one of whom was my freshman year roommate!) and other incredible friends. (And there's something a little funny in watching the first boy you ever kissed get his diploma!)
All day, all I could think of was how lucky I was to have these stupendous, kind, intelligent people beside me. I perhaps summed it up best on my Instagram post, or rather Dave Malloy summed it up best with Natasha's line in Great Comet: "And for the first time in many days, I weep tears of gratitude, tears of tenderness, tears of thanks."
Check out my video for more information and musings!
On May 20, I graduated magna cum laude from Elon University with a BA in Strategic Communications and History with a minor in French. It's strange to think that my four years are already over -- but I feel like a completely different person than I was when I started, as cliché as that is.
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| my amazing parents and little sister |
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| With my roommate Brian and best friends MaryClaire and Lauren |
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| with my best friend, future broadway star kimmy |
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| with my new diploma!! |
Check out my video for more information and musings!
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