audacious by aud: lifestyle

Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts

Three months. Three long months. That's how long it has been since I have last posted.

I could bore you with lots of excuses for why I've been so absent, but the truth behind it is - I've been incredibly lazy. I mean sure I have had a lot happening in my life and been a busy bee, but I've missed being a busy blogger. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I miss you all, I miss writing, and sharing my world with you.

That being said, there is something I'd like to share with you: I have decided to make-over I am audacious, with a new domain, a new layout, and a new purpose to it. I've officially declared myself as a "lifestyle/fashion" blog. If those words scare you away, please do not worry, I still plan to continue storytelling, ranting, reviewing, etc. I just am finally deciding to "label" myself and incorporate my first love (fashion) into my second love (writing).

Now that I have that off my back, let me give a quick update on what's been happening in the life of Audrey these past three months . . .

I've finally finished my first year of college! I have to be completely honest and say that I would have never imagined to be where I am now, a year ago. I am happy, for the most part though. I love being as independent as I am, but this whole "school for four more years" thing is kind of getting to my head... Each day I find myself hungrier for exploration and adventure. I want to be learning about the world while experiencing what it's like, rather than sitting in a classroom learning about it. I'm sure this is the first time you've heard about a situation like this, right? Anyways I'm taking advantage of summer vacation before the fall semester creeps up on me. This summer I'm definitely keeping myself busy though! At this moment, I have four different jobs. Once the synchro season finished, I threw myself into many different summer jobs to save up as much as I can. I am currently employed as a server/bartender at a golf course, a Youth & Family programs employee at the American Swedish Institute, a sales associate at a local boutique called Primrose Park, and then when I'm in need of extra hours, I pick up shifts at my father's warehouse cleaning glasses. Paying my dues, I'd like to think.

So speaking outside of the adult world of working, at the end of May, my two best friends from ASU - Drew and Jasmyne - came to Minnesota to visit me! It was such a fun weekend with them, and I think I may have helped them realize that the Midwest really isn't all that bad. Fast forward a month, I met up with them the last week of June in San Francisco for a little vacation (which I will talk about in another post). Sadly, all of my travels are over for this summer though, and I am now trying to fight the post-vacation blues for the rest of summer.

In other news, when I haven't been working or traveling, I have been doing LOTS of thrifting and shopping, and really making over my closet.. I just can't control myself whenever I step into any sort of thrift or consignment store - especially now that I'm looking for items for my new home in the fall! I also (finally) treated myself to a Moleskine© planner for this upcoming school year which has totally gotten me in this super-organized, like freakily organized. I also have a few concerts coming up and I will be sure to make some outfits posts about that. Lastly, I finally got with the rest of the world and downloaded the app called PHHHOTO ® and I am just obsessed with it. If you aren't familiar with this app, it takes 4 photos at a time and turns them into GIF sets, super cute - follow me on it! @audacious

Well, I hope you all forgive for my lack of posts.. I'm back! Now enjoy some photos of my life these past three months or so. Also, I hope you are all looking forward to the changes coming with I am audacious, I can't wait to watch my blog mature and grow!

xoxo,

Aud

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As you may or may not know, my family and I decided to take a vacation this Spring to the lovely fisherman town of Zihuatanejo (famous from the Shawshank Redemption, which would explain the Shawshank themed restaurants outside our hotel). Zihuatanejo is located right on the Pacific ocean near the equator. Joining us on this trip included myself, my mother, my father, my grandmother, my brother, and his good friend Sam.

I would go on and on explaining about how wonderful the food was, how lovely our hotel was, how nice the ocean felt, etc. But I think pictures and videos will do the best justice? So please, enjoy. I can't there is a single person I would not suggest visit this place.. My family is already planning our next trip there in February and are inviting anything that moves to come with us.

Enjoy my professional film-making skills. As you can see, I clearly know what I'm doing... *Be sure to watch in HD!*

Flying in to Zihua

At the top of this hill lies the Hotel Irma

The view from the pool (which we didn't swim in too often)

Walking through the outdoor hallways of the Irma

Hotel room view with a "naturally" heated hot tub

Another room view

Valeria's - a favorite

Coconut shrimp on coconut shrimp on coconut shrimp

One of my favorite details of Zihuatanejo

Playa Las Gatas

Favorite shop

Local church

Lil amigo

BEACH CHEESE

One last sunset before going home :'(

Well.... Have I convinced you to go yet?

XOXO

Aud

So as I was taking my Sunday evening shower, I was thinking about how much I enjoy the Award show season (specifically for the dresses) but also for the live tweets, the praise for the arts, and the small little mishaps that end up being jokes on social media and pop culture for the next 3 months. When I was thinking about this, I figured "this would be a great blog post!" Then I realized I have very limited time until the final award show for the season starts. Fifteen minutes before it starts, to be exact. To that I say, challenge accepted.

So forgive me for the lack of details and the briefness of this post, but I needed to share this all with you guys. You see, I love award shows. All of them (well, nearly all of them..). The fancier the better. I've always dreamed of walking the red carpet but not as a celebrity, as one of the members of their "posse" dressed in black, pushing them where to go to next. Someday Audrey.... Someday. But you see, to me, award shows are evenings where I can dress in my finest pajamas, eat ice cream straight from the pint, and yell at the television - What more could a girl want? So alas, here are some lil bullet points I have to share about the Oscars tonight.

While I am in no place to share predictions for who I think should win tonight (as I've only seen Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, and The Imitation Game), I figure I would at least share who I want to win, even including movies I haven't seen. Here are some of my favorite categories. (please keep in mind I am saying who I want to win, without seeing some of their movies.. Oops.)

Best Picture: Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Actress: Rosamund Pike

Best Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch

Best Supporting Actress: Emma Stone

Best Supporting Actor: Edward Norton

Costume Design: Grand Budapest Hotel

Directing: Grand Budapest Hotel

Makeup and Hairstyling: Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Song: "Everything is Awesome" from the Lego Movie (IT WAS STUCK IN MY HEAD FOR 5 DAYS AFTER SEEING THE MOVIE)

My favorite looks for tonight:

Emma Stone in Elie Saab

Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein

Zoe Saldana in Versace

Zendaya in Vivienne Westwood

Dakota Johnson in Saint Laurent

Well that's all I have time to share for now, I'm sorry for the briefness, but I hope you all enjoy.

If you want to keep up with me, I'll be live tweeting the Oscars - Follow me! @hahaudrey

XOXO

Audrey

Every year I go through the same process once the New Year hits. I decide I am going to completely makeover my life, and I mean completely. In the past it has gone something a little similar to this:

"New Years resolutions, okay. Hmm. Well obviously I want to be in shape, yes very fit. I will look like a Victoria's Secret model! Okay so work-out. I will work out ALL the time. Oh! Also eat healthy, yes, of course! I can't work out without eating healthy too! Silly Audrey. You know what? Let's just cut out meat all together and be a vegetarian. You could SO be a vegetarian Audrey. Scratch that, we're going VEGAN. Oh yes, vegan. Easy-Peazy. What else? Oh money! Yes, I am going to save every single penny of mine. No more going out to eat, no more online shopping, no more movies, nothing. I am going to save every bit of my money and put it towards traveling around the world in 80 days, only staying in 5-star hotels. That'll be easy, all I have to do is just not spend money! What else should I do in the new year? Hmm, probably learn to surf, never be caught in an ugly outfit, read 100 books, become a yoga master, and blog like 3 times a day."

I'll let you figure out how this ends up for me on your own.

This year, I'm hoping to be different. I'm trying to avoid the silly, unrealistic expectations. I've been spending time thinking of careful goals I have for 2015. With goals that reach too far and with unrealistic outcomes, it seems to just be setting myself up for failure. I really want to test myself this year though and see how long I can continue with these resolutions. Or perhaps, how long until these "resolutions" just become my lifestyle.

The first draft of my list of resolutions was quite long and it took a few edits for me to narrow it down to a short list of 2 items. So without further ado, here are my New Years resolutions for 2015.

1) Promote a healthier lifestyle.
It's a broad resolution, but my goals within it seem reasonable to me. I don't have a goal to lose a certain amount of pounds, to gain a certain amount of muscle, to be able to bench a certain weight, etc. I just want to take advantage of the fitness center at the U and just not indulge in every single one of my cravings. Any progress is a reward to me, really. And if I had to pick an ultimate goal for this, what I did was pick out a nice swimsuit I have been wanting for the longest time and once I feel confident to wear it, then I'll treat myself to it. How typical of me, my motivation is new material goods.

2) Exercise my brain more.
I've been a bit pathetic when it comes to blogging lately, not posting nearly as much as I hope to. So in the new year, I hope to write more, as well as possibly expanded my horizons when it comes to blogging and incorporate new ideas and segments into it. For example, possibly finally include some fashion and OOTDs, which I've always wanted to. I do also have some ideas in store starting in the New Year that I am very excited to share with you all! In addition to blogging, I want to finally dive into the large pile of books I've been adding to over the past six months. Rather than thinking of it as "reading more," I'd like to think of it as tidying up my books, so I can finally put them away. Lastly, I want to get more crafty. For the past 2 weeks, I've been all over Pinterest and Youtube learning how to croquet, cross stitch, embroider, etc. Since I've confirmed that I am a 70 year old in a 19 year olds body, this one doesn't come to surprise to me at all.

Well, that was the easy part. Now the hard part: sticking with it. I've been tempted to start today even just so it doesn't feel like as drastic of a change once the new year actually comes. I'm excited for what 2015 is going to bring for me, and what I can bring to it. I'm crossing my fingers and I ask you all to cross your fingers with me!

Cheers to the New Year!

When I first thought about 2014, I thought it seemed uneventful to me because nothing really STOOD out. All it took though, was a look at photos taken in the past year to realize how good of a year 2014 was for me. The year was full of endings and new beginnings. Chapters closing and chapters opening. Developing as a person and really becoming an individual. Heck, if I were to guess 365 days ago where I would be in a year, I would have never guessed that I would be going to the University of Minnesota, moving in with some of my best friends, while missing my other best friends on the other side of the country. But enough of that, perhaps I shall some photo memories of what 2014 was like for me.

In 2014, I .....

Graduated from high school

Went to Florida with high school friends for an unforgettable Spring Break

Received 3rd place at State for Synchronized Swimming for mine and my teammates Trio

Did this

Had one last Hurrah with my high school friends

Moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University

Watched Germany win the World Cup

Met these two girls who would soon become my best friends (and went to a One Direction concert with them)

Visited Paige in Flagstaff

Followed by going home with Drew and going to Disneyland for the first time

Said goodbye to some friends

And hello to other friends

Overall, the year was pretty incredible. I wouldn't change it for the world. So thank you to 2014, and a giant welcome to 2015!

I know I told you all I was going to use I am Audacious to introduce you to all of the new friends I have made here at school, but you see, I couldn't help but share this little friend of mine with you, even though I've known her before college... As a matter of fact, this friend of mine (along with a few others) will be coming down to Arizona on Thursday to spend Halloween and Homecoming with me here at ASU, and it's all I've been able to think about since they have first booked their tickets.

So please, let me introduce to you my other half, my best friend, Francine.

(Please spare with me on the amount of photos, there are just too many good ones to share)

This is Francine.

Sporting of her more infamous outfits

Franny getting into her Sun Devil Spirit

Showing her love and appreciation for the fried foods of America

So that being said, let me tell you a bit more about Francine.

Her name is Francine but goes by Franny.
If you spell her name with an ie (Frannie) she won't mind but it drives me absolutely crazy.
She's been a gymnast longer than she's known how to spell her name.
She is the procrastination queen.
She cannot finish her day without a bowl of ice cream, and I'm not joking on this. She literally has ice cream every single day.
One day in 6th grade I had said "What the poppin' toaster?!" when expressing disbelief, the next day Franny came to school with a homemade shirt, covered in puffy paint and "WHAT THE POPPIN' TOASTER" on it. When asked what the occasion was for making the shirt, she responded with "was bored."
She once convinced me she had a half brother who lived in the Dominican Republic, which of course, is false.
She does however, have a sister name Sylvia who is two years older than her, looks like the identical twin to Franny (but don't tell them they look alike, they will scoff and argue that you're wrong).
Sylvia and Franny have always been and always will the best friends of each.
Franny's favorite holiday is Christmas.
During the holiday season, she will only listen to Christmas music, and she knows the words to all of the songs.
In 4th grade, during Presidential fitness testing in gym class, Franny went above and beyond, beating all the boys, and did a total of 50 pull-ups.
Franny and I have gotten quite good at annoying each other, but we have never had a sincere "fight".
She is 75% Swedish and 25% Norwegian.
She is missing the top chunk of her ring finger, but she has a great plastic surgeon whom she recommends.
She is not only the weirdest person I have ever met, but the funniest.
My junior year of high school, Franny ruined our school's Harlem Shake video.
I know her Dairy Queen order off the back of my hand.
On my last day back home before flying out to Arizona, she tried to be all cute and sweet and treat me to an egg roll from my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, only to have her card declined, therefore I ended up treating us. The thought that counts though, right?
She drives a big white van. Not a minivan, a VAN van. We call it the Great White.
We have much more ugly embarrassing photos together than cute ones.
Since meeting in 6th grade, we have been known for having hour long conversations actually talking about many different things during that time. We still have these conversations today.
She's backpacking across Europe this summer!!
She doesn't show emotion very often, but she always knows what to say to comfort me.
She is one of the best list makers I know.
She once refused to talk to me at school one day until I responded to the note she wrote to me in crayon.
She was one of the only seniors on our high school's JV tennis team, but then again, so was I.
She loves warm weather, ocean, and sunshine like no other.
She is the only person in the universe that my cat shows affection towards.
This list could go on for a decade, but I will stop here.

These past months have been incredibly hard on the two of us, especially since we haven't gone that long without seeing each other since we have met. So excuse me for getting soppy for a moment but I think it's very relieving and comforting knowing I will always have her around regardless of distance and timezones. Now please enjoy some photos I have put together that only scratch the surface of the weirdness that is Francine.

Some evening stretches on the hood of my car

The one night she transformed into a Sarasota Surf Boy

And the other night she spend in the hospital after getting her finger chopped off

Francine as Kanye West and Audrey as Kendrick Lamar

And here is a prime example of me annoying her. (If you are wondering what is happening in this video, I was filming her picking up firewood for our campfire when a bug flew onto her face. I hesitated getting the bug at first and thought about filming it instead but then finally decided to smack her face to kill it. Good friend, right?)

Now I guess I shall also show some photos of the rare occasions Francine and I are "cute"...