Thoughts on Being a Post-Grad Twenty-Something

ahh, simpler times

I'm going through an interesting transition period in my life. I'm not sure what to call it exactly; Quarter-Life Crisis is a bit dramatic, I'm Not a Student, Not Yet an Adult is very B. Spears. Hmm, the post-Grad Funk? Oh well, call it what you will, the long and the short of it is that being in your post-grad, early twenties is a very strange place to be.

Why, you ask? Because it feels like from the time you were 5 years-old (or even before), you've been able to identify yourself by where you've gone to school. That simple fact has determined what activities you did and who your friends were. Every part of your day, week, and year could be related back to the rhythm of the school year - hanging out after school, going with friends on Spring break, everything was just neat little increments of time that you had to fit together. From one year to the next, the steps were always obvious - 9th grade followed 8th; school, summer, repeat; it all made sense. Then graduation comes, you leave school, and everything you've grown accustomed to is gone. Suddenly the next step isn't so obvious, and your life could go any number of ways. And you know what, it's a little bit scary!

You see, now when you talk to people new and old, they ask what you do. But for those of us who took the first job that came along, being defined by that seems less than ideal. Unless you're one of the very few people who get their dream job right out of school (lucky bastards), it can feel like you're just treading water, waiting for real life to start. The problem is, you don't know what that even means anymore. As a senior people would always say, "So, are you ready for the real world?" But now that I'm here, I'm wondering Is this it? Am I here in the real world now? And what the heck does that even mean??

I wish I could end this post with some awesome advice for everyone out there in the same spot as me, but the point is that I have no idea what I'm doing either! I guess one thing I know I have going for me is a strong support system. It's good to know that if I make mistakes, change my mind, or just have no idea what I want to be when I grow up, I still have amazing people surrounding me and rooting for me.

So to all the twenty-something's out there in a similar spot, I feel for ya. And to anyone who's been-there, done-that, and came out on the other side, any and all advice is certainly welcome :)

And I'm back!

Apologies once again for my temporary hiatus this past week. I missed this dear blog, but the small break was definitely helpful to keeping my sanity during the moving/settling process (plus, we just got internet back up and running). The many hours spent carrying boxes and driving back and forth was worth it though, because our new place is wonderful! It's a big upgrade from our last place and I'm so excited to start making it ours. Now that we're almost done unpacking, the real fun can begin. I already have so many ideas for how to improve this space, and I can't wait to share them! Here are a few sneak peeks at our new place (consider these the before photos), as well as some snaps from my weekend.

The entryway and living room (with some lazy girls). I'm already planning a coat/key stand DIY :)

Large kitchen (!!) and a big empty wall that won't stop staring at me! Plus, that light's days are numbered.

 The garden was yesterday's project, and it's ready for plants. The back porch is in need of serious love!

Reading Terminal Market

The rooftop bar at Revolution House for happy hour

Fozzie and Babette, there was a lot of chicken chasing going on

A man and his fork, ready to take on the day

Life Lately

Let me just say that I am sorry for the lack of activity round these parts recently, I'm don't mean to neglect you and I promise it's only temporary! You see, as I mentioned before, we got a new apartment, which means the dreaded "M word" - moving, shudder. Now I know there are probably many people out there who love moving, unfortunately I am not one of them. Actually let me clarify - I love the idea of moving, of having a new space to fill and decorate, but the physical act of packing/unpacking is just not on my list of interests. It's a necessary evil, however, and one that has been taking my focus away from my dear blog. Combine that with the fact that I've been doing a lot of scheming/collaborating behind the scenes for a new project (more on that soon!), and my time has been stretched even further!

BUT, all this should be over quite soon, and once the dust settles I'll have that much more time, pictures, and awesome content to share with you! So, please forgive my absence this past and upcoming week, I promise I will make up for it soon! In the meantime, enjoy some lovely photos of what my life has been looking like lately:

The Manayunk Bike Race last weekend

 Food trucks at the 2013 Vendy Awards, and the resulting food coma

The mess of moving, and a well deserved break with pizza, beer, and Boy Meets World!

Things to Smile About

Ten things the make me happy...

1. Summer thunderstorms, especially when I have no where to be
2. Baking goodies (and licking batter off the spoon)

3. Puppies, and by that I mean any fluffy animal of any age
4. Recapping So You Think You Can Dance with Marina
5. Margaritas on a Summer afternoon

6. My family, and all their inherent craziness
7. Having flowers all over my house (and taking way too many pictures of them)
8. Harry Potter

9. Cheese plates for dinner
10. Silly videos of goats on YouTube

This might just be my favorite MBC post to date! Share the things that make you happy below!

Selling Myself in Ten Words

Photo Credit: Jackie via her Instagram

Today's MBC prompt is to sell yourself in ten words or less... hmm..

I cook, I eat, I'm a mega-nerd, let's be friends!

It's a bit hard to sum yourself up in ten words! Ah well, I guess that's why it's a challenge, eh? Today was a very busy day full of errands here, there, and everywhere. Most notably we went to Ikea for the first time in a while, and I realized why it's good that I don't go very often, I just love everything! Now, we're well stocked on everything we needed (and probably some stuff we didn't) and are ready for the Summer BBQ season! One such purchase was a muddler, which I think I'll break in right now with a nice mojito :) Have a great Saturday night, everyone!

The thing you're most afraid of...

Day 7 of the MBC and the question today is what are you most afraid of? I wondered how I should take this one. I could keep it simple and tell you my fear of heights, or millipedes (I don't trust anything with that many legs). I could go a little deeper and say that I hold my breath when I hear a plane at night, convinced that it's foe. But I think my deepest fear is that one day I'll be faced with something frightening and I will fail to be brave. I don't know where this fear comes from, and even to me it seems silly to be afraid of a shortcoming in myself, but I am scared of being scared. I fear that one day my time will come to be brave for others and I will be paralyzed. The worst part is that there is no way of me knowing what would truly happen in such a situation. I have been fortunate enough in my life to not face many tragedies, so I have never been tested. Maybe someday I will know for sure, but for now I can only hope that when pressed I would have strength to be brave.


On a much lighter note, I'll have another post today for my dinner experience at the highly rated Amada, check back for that later!

May Blogging Challenge Days 5&6

Day 5: Profess you love for a blogging friend.

The time we unknowingly had matching outfits at Thanksgiving

Well, I'm lucky enough to have this gal as a blogging friend and real life sister-in-law! Jackie is AWESOME and someone I truly admire. She is so creative and talented, always up for a new project or adventure. Pretty much anything she touches turns out incredible, but she's always humble and quick to give praise to others. She is my kindred-hippie-spirit, making candles, perfumes, and raising chickens together! Her energy and happiness is infectious, she gives great advice, and she's someone you just want to be around. I can't say enough about how much I love this lady, my brother is a lucky dude :)

Her blog is Miss Adventurenaut, and I highly recommend you add her to your follow list. She is always posting great recipes, music suggestions, and pictures of the cutest Chihuahua Dante. Hop on over there and you'll see what I mean! And also check her out on Twitter & Instagram.


Day 6: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question "what do you do?"

I read, I write, I make lots of silly faces. I take photos, and spend time with the people I love. I spend entirely too much time online shopping without ever actually buying anything. I cook and eat and drink margaritas. I thrift and like to give new life to old things. I garden. I start projects and then take breaks (sometimes months long), but I try to never abandon them completely. I go to dog shelters and play with the pups, and then I get sad when I can't take them all home. I go out and dance, I stay in and dance. I sleep in on the weekends and make French toast. I curse too much and worry too little. I put off exercising like a champ. I love life and I try to fill my days, weeks, and months with lots of memories.

What makes you uncomfortable?

Completely unrelated photo, but a pretty bridge none-the-less

Today's MBC is to tell what makes you uncomfortable. I really had to think on this one, I'm not that squeamish and I've been an awkward person so long that I've grown immune, so there isn't too much that makes my stomach twist with discomfort. Thinking back on the last few times I truly felt uncomfortable, there seemed to be just one connecting factor; they were all situations when I just didn't know what to say to someone. Whether it be a teacher putting me on the spot for an answer I don't have, someone telling a story from their life when I have no experience or advice to offer, or even just stressing over how to answer a simple text message, I find that I feel the most uncomfortable when my thoughts and words come up short. It's not that I feel the need to always reply or put my two-cents into every conversation, it comes more from the times when my reply is expected and the other person looks at me, waiting. I'm getting anxiety just thinking about these situations!

I suppose, though, that there is probably a lesson in here. Something along the lines of really thinking before you speak, so you can add something to the world and not just fill the silence with rambles. Maybe someday I'll have read and experienced enough that when I do come up short, it won't cause me discomfort, but instead will allow me to reflect. Not today, though, today it makes me want to high-tail it out of the situation as quick as my legs can carry me (so, not very).


I hope you guys are enjoying this deviation in post content! I know that I'm enjoying the challenge of each prompt and the reflections they've lead to. If you're also doing the challenge, leave me a link in the comments, so I can read your posts!

Just a reminder to always keep light and hope...