Life Shouldn't Be Cut

But life isn't something that should be edited.

Life shouldn't be cut.

The only way you'll ever discover what it truly means to be alive and human is by sharing the full experience of what it means to be human and each blemish and freckle that comes with it.

- Iain Thomas

52 Week Saving Schedule

As I'm sure anyone can agree with me - money is the worst. Although I always had a job throughout high school and college I felt like I could never really stack up to my friends. I would forego cruises and beach trips to ensure I could eat the next week only to find out that, yes, I could have gone and done that one thing that one time.

So you live, you learn, and life goes on. As a grown up, especially when I moved away, I vowed to never let that happen again. Any trip my friends and I wanted to plan - yes! Any dinner we wanted to go to - I'll be there! You might remember when I started my first job over a year ago I wrote about how to stick to an extremely tight budget. But one thing I left out, because in my budget at the time, there was no room, was saving. 

Friends and I always chat about buying new laptops, taking trips to Europe, my insane urge to go to Bloomingdales every time I pass - pretty much anything that costs hundreds and/or thousands of dollars. Dave always says, "If you take out x amount from each paycheck you'll have this thing paid off on your credit card in no time!" Okay, U RITE, buuuuut that anxiety from seeing my credit card bill isn't worth that having something then and there. I'm the kind of person that would rather save for something and have that validation of "Oh, I worked for this. I deserve this!" I  honestly just really needed a fool proof way of saving without breaking the bank - and this is PERFECT to ensure there's a little cash in the bank for Christmas presents at the end of the year as well as a little for yourself.

I saw this on Carly's blog and everything actually adds up really quickly!

So, here's how it works: 52 weeks. Every Week you put away money that corresponds with that week. Got it? For example, Week 1 you put away $1 and Week 45 you put away $45. When looking this up I also saw it go in reverse (i.e. Week 1, $52. Week 2, $51. And so on.) Net net you save $1,378! HOLLA.

*image via

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Image taken by James Carpenter

It seems like spring has sprung all over! This weekend I'm off to the lake in Ithaca with the gal squad + the boys. I've mentioned before how much I love getting out of the city for a quick weekend away, and since its finally so nice out we'll probably be gone every weekend from now until October (only half kidding)! But while I sit and plan future weekend trips in my head...enjoy some of my favorite things from this week around the web...



Moving to New York? Live in New York? Consider these basic tips.

The best cities to celebrate St. Patty's Day

Tiny banana puddings - I want ten.

Never fuss at me for Instagramming brunch anymore.

Travel Q&A with girl crush Gwyneth Paltrow.

Would seriously be lost this election year without this handy guide.

You might be obsessed with your Fitbit.

Must have this tank with this skirt.

Happiest of Birthdays

I hate birthdays. Doesn't everyone? We usually get our hopes up to just get let down.

That's why this year I didn't set any expectations for myself. Dave and I coincidentally have the exact same birthday, so I assumed we'd have a low-key dinner the night before our birthday and then go out with friends on our birthday night. Allow me to recap my weekend...

First of the celebrations? Dinner at Gallagher's Steakhouse where his angelic mother treated us to our first steaks in months. We were surprised with mini chocolate and strawberry cakes and a very off key rendition of Happy Birthday from the waiters. I got really red, and almost cried.

As I said, I expected a low-key dinner with just Dave the night before the celebration with friends. The night before our birthday was the last night of Restaurant Week in the city, and I have been dying to go to Michael Jordan's Steakhouse. Maybe I was just dying to eat inside the Grand Central main terminal - no one will ever know. 

Those of you that don't know what restaurant week is, a slew of top restaurants in New York feature a 3 course lunch or dinner menu for $38! Score one for early February birthdays.

Dinner was fantastic, and his mom ended up finding out where we were eating and sent us a dessert wine with a note from the host wishing us a Happy Birthday. I cried. And everyone around us thought he was proposing.

The next morning my two best friends showed up to my door with mimosas, huge 2 & 4 balloons, and ChicFilA breakfast. I cried again.

The day went on, we shopped, and we ran around the city. Before dinner I got a knock on my door - a flower delivery from my group of girlfriends from Georgia. Yep - cried again.

We had a small dinner at my favorite spot, Meatball Shop, with the best friends. Afterwards a "few" (aka 20) of us met up before the initial party, and I found out that I had somehow unknowingly convinced a friend to make my favorite party treat (**cough cough** Jell-O shots). 

After was the party at Favela Cubana where friends from mine and Dave's fraternity and sorority, school, work, and friends of friends celebrated into the night!

I guess I don't hate birthdays after all... Thanks to everyone that made it so special! I love you all.