TODAY IS MY FIRST DAY OF WORK!

Wow, I'm excited!!! Finally I am going to get to wake up every day, go to work and do something I absolutely love to do. I get to be creative, use my logistical skills, and brush elbows with senators and congresspeople and so many well groomed men in suits. Heart. Freaking. Eyes!!

Anyway, as a sort of treat to myself, I went on a bit of a shopping spree, a budget friendly one anyway. Honestly, 90% of my wardrobe is from Forever21 and I'm not even mad about it. They offer trendy, affordable clothing and style options AND they have one of the best plus size lines out there. What's not to love?

One of my favorite new possessions is this faux leather satchel. I love that it has both top handles and a cross body strap that will be super useful when I'm rushing to an event or on the Metro. It's large enough to easily accommodate my 13" Macbook Air, slew of notebooks, planner, wallet, chargers, phone, and snack without looking overly stuffed. And unlike my well loved Longchamp Le Pilaeg, this satchel has plenty of structure to prevent the "black hole effect" that is nearly inevitable with larger bags used for every day.

I also splurged on some metallic rim cat-eye sunglasses, faux suede wedge booties, a striped fit & flare dress, and faux suede black flats.

Who is ready for fall?! Seeing as I indulged in two Pumpkin Spice Lattes (both hot & iced) this weekend in addition to 32 combined ounces of pumpkin spice coffee from Wawa, it's pretty safe to say I am ready for my favorite season to finally be here! But if you're not quite ready to let go of summer, here is some fall style inspiration to [hopefully] make the transition a littler sweeter.

I'm loving this black cat cross body from Forever21 as a cute and festive accessory for fall, specifically Halloween. I'm really hoping to add this adorable bag to my collection in time for fun October festivities!

Raise your hand if you need a fur vest in your life? Every hand should be up! I am loving this trend as we hit the cooler months. In the words of my sister, Hayli, adding a fur vest brings any outfit from a 7 or 8 to a 10. And I am pleased that most fur vest options are vegan :) I like the brown vests but this black one from the Asos Curve line would be beautiful for fall and winter.

I'm also loving the continuation of the felt floppy hat trend. It's a great way to wear the fabulous floppy hat beyond the summer months. Since I'm over here ballin' on a budget, I've been on the hunt for an inexpensive felt floppy hat without skimping on style. I struck gold online at Old Navy. They have an adorable felt floppy hat in the most perfect berry color for fall.

Other things I'm loving for fall: suede booties (especially for work), over sized ponchos, all things flannel, dark lip colors, quilted leather jackets, and anything burgundy. If you aren't in the fall spirit for the fashion alone, get it together people.

Usually my Labor Day Weekends are spent somewhere near a pool, beach, or backyard BBQ, but this year I set off to Chicago for a fabulous wedding weekend! A good friend and former co-worker of my mom's got married to his partner of 19 years this past weekend and it was certainly a wedding to be beat!

I got to spend a whole morning with my momma and our good friends, Gary and Janet, wandering around Chicago.

Funnily enough, my mom and I spend at least four hours of our time in Chicago in Macy's. You see, we brought short cocktail dresses for the wedding but were informed that it was long dresses only. Shit. So off we went to Macy's, which was actually a gorgeous old Chicago style building. They were having a crazy huge sale and after hours of searching, my mom and I bought evening gowns for a total of $104!!!

After lots of walking & shopping, we had a late lunch at a cute restaurant at the very top of the Macy's building. We got seated by the window and had this lovely bit of inspiration...

The wedding itself was stunning. Definitely setting the bar high for any future weddings I get invited to! The grooms were super handsome and adorable and I always have so much fun with my mom and her friends. After too many hours of drinking, eating, and dancing, I finally crawled into our hotel room at 3 AM! My poor feet are absolutely wrecked after the combined amount of walking and dancing I did this past weekend. But every blister is well worth the memories.

Thanks, Chicago! I'll see you again soon!

Step aside Olivia Pope, there's a new Capital Queen in town because I'm moving to freakin' Washington DC!!! It has honestly all happened so fast, but I couldn't feel more ready. DC has always been a dream of mine but I thought that's all it would ever be. But with a few good contacts, hard work, and a bit of luck I landed a my dream job in my dream city!

My Life in Florida
If you asked me in January of this year if I would ever move out of Florida/stop working for Disney, my answer would have been a firm no. Being able to lay by the pool, get pixie dusted in Fantasyland, and grab a Mickey ice cream bar all before work seemed like more than a dream come true for a sunshine & Disney loving soul like myself. And to tell the truth, I needed to make that move and take that job to avoid a lifetime of "what-ifs."

Ten months later, I'm no seasoned Floridian or even Disney Cast Member, but I'm not naive either. I've seen things you wouldn't even dream of, and been yelled at in languages I didn't even know existed. Working for Disney is the farthest thing from magical, but it's also incredibly rewarding. But rewarding as it is, it's mentally, physically, and financially draining. I'm at a point in my life where I crave stability. Stability in my job and the hours I work; stability in my personal finances; and stability in my health. And unfortunately Disney was keeping me from all three of those things. Working odd hours seven days of the week is difficult mentally. I could never plan in advance, it was difficult to fly home to see friends and family (even for big events/holidays). I like having a routine, actually I love it, and routine is something that just doesn't happen when you don't know your work schedule more than two weeks out.

Similarly, living on a Disney salary is difficult. Granted I spent more than I care to admit on theme park food and souvenirs, but when I broke down my paycheck and examined my spending habits, I realized it wasn't just that I was paying for over-priced bottles of water, I simply was not making enough for the job I was doing. After talking to friends and co-workers, I realized that my future with Disney was bleak financially. Cast members who I respected and admired for their hard work were barely making ends meet after 5-10 years with the company. And co-workers with young kids and spouses were constantly stressing about being able to pick their kid up from soccer or make it to that family dinner. It wasn't difficult for me to realize that living that chaotic lifestyle was not for me long-term.

Moving to Florida was honestly one of the easiest things I've ever done. My job, apartment, and friends fell into place largely thanks to Facebook. The people I've met, the things I've learned, and what I've done have helped shaped me as a person more than any other chapter in my life, and for that I will be forever grateful. Growing up and even during my time at Penn State, I felt an unspoken pressure to conform to those around me. It was never drastic changes, but small every day things that made me just a little bit less of who I really am. In Florida, I suddenly realized that those little sacrifices I had been making my whole life were no longer necessary. If I wanted to be a little weird or a little lazy, I could and never think twice about it. That little lightbulb is the single most liberating realization I didn't know I was looking for.

Looking to the Future
When I realized it was time for me to leave Florida, my first instinct was to move home to Philadelphia. I think for every early twenty-something struggling to find their place, moving home is always the default when confronted with a cross-road decision. But it didn't take long for me to remember that living at home is hard too. Yes, you save money and the simple comfort of being in a familiar place with familiar people is sinfully enticing, but it's also stifling. I grew up, went away to college, and moved 1,000 miles away for a job; I'm no longer the girl who fit perfectly into her hometown lifestyle. The truth is, what I'm looking for and what I want to accomplish is not possible at home.

My mind then quickly jumped to my two favorite cities: New York City and Washington, DC. Both full of college friends, job opportunities, and the exciting unknown. I brushed up my resume, fired off countless e-mails, and waited. I want to make it clear that this was not an easy process. Moving to a new city with still relatively little work experience and a less than clear career path is near impossible. You have to be good, relentless, and patient.

Luckily my resume landed in the hands of the owner of a boutique catering company who hired me as her event coordinator. I'll be planning parties on Capital Hill and weddings in Virginia. I have creative freedom when it comes to social media, blogging, and Pinterest, some of my favorite things! I can't say how excited I am but it honestly doesn't even seem real yet!

There are so many people to thank for getting me to this point in my life but I cannot thank my mom enough for all she has done for me. She was there when I was so lost and feeling alone, and she not just comforted me, but took it upon herself to help me find my happiness. My mom has always been my best friend and I know I would not have half the opportunities I have been given in life without her.

I know this move is somewhat unexpected and a big change from the life I had in Florida, but it's a much needed one. Being so far away from home was admittedly more difficult than I originally imagined, and let me be the first to tell you, Florida is nothing like the Northeast. I'm excited to experience the seasons again and be just a short train ride home to my family. The majority of my friends from childhood through college will be within a few hours, and a few of my friends are just a couple of subway stops away. But more than anything I am excited for life in the city and everything Washington, DC has in store for me.