audacious by aud

Howdy readers! For those of you in Minnesota, how are the hot, humid July days treating you? And for those of you outside of Minnesota, I hope your summer is treating you nicely!

I'm always on the lookout for new music, between discovering new playlists on 8tracks (a website/app that has playlists for even mood and vibe) and looking up the weirdest tags possible and constantly asking Siri "what song is playing?" when I'm listening to the radio.. Am I the only one who does this?

Anyways, I thought I'd start sharing short little playlists including some of my favorites songs of the month - starting now! Alas, here is your "Playlist by 'Dacious" for the month of July.

1) Beware the Dog - The Griswolds

2) Sedona - Houndmouth

3) Slumville Sunrise - Jake Bugg

4) No Control - One Direction (I'm seeing them in concert this month, how can I not?)

5) Here - Alessia Cara

6) Jackie and Wilson - Hozier

7) Scars - James Bay

8) 3005 - Childish Gambino

9) White Teeth Teens - Lorde

10) Great Big Storm - Nate Ruess

If you are enjoying the playlist and would like to follow it on Spotify, it is under user @dcmarine (my friend Drew and I are so cute that we share a Spotify account, so what?) and is titled "July - Playlist by 'Dacious".

Happy listening!

XOXO

Aud

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

PS - follow me on social media!

Twitter

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Medium

I'm afraid I'm falling into the habit of updating you all on mine and Audrey's life, once it's nearly the next month. So, sorry about that. I once heard this unique saying though "better late than never," perhaps you've heard it before? Let's apply that to this situation here.

ANYWAY. March was an incredibly busy month for both Audrey Hayes and I, with happy and sad events happening to both of us. So that being said, let's hop right to it!

Audrey Kruse:

This month synchro season came in full swing and whatever time I had available, I spend it cutting music, writing routines, practicing routines, repeat. Yet somehow, there is still so so so much work left to be done.. (I'm not stressed out, I swear.. I'm also not lying, this I do not swear..) I spend a full weekend in March sitting in a classroom and cold pool training to be a certified lifeguard, and sidenote - lifeguarding is not as easy as it seems my goodness! It all paid off though, seeing that I am now a Red Cross certified lifeguard. But I think the most exciting part of my March was our family vacation to Zihuatanejo, Mexico! I had already written a separate blog post about this trip, so if you haven't read it, you can read about it here! After we returned home from our trip to Mexico, the Kruse's were received a new family member, that we all can't stop gushing over... We adopted a 4-year-old yellow (more white than yellow) lab named Carson. Carson is one of the sweetest, most loving and kind dogs I have ever met, even our cat loves him! He seems to fit in great with our family and he's really getting comfortable around our home. Some things we have learned about him: He loves cauliflower, bananas, and toast. He has a favorite tennis ball that he insists we use, he will not touch other tennis balls. If two people are hugging, he will jump up and join in. He is a massive, massive cuddler. And he has taken up the nicknames of Cement-Head, Cauliflower, and 'Lil Sebastian. The last thing discovered in the month of March was that it appears that I look a lot like Justin Bieber.. Photo below.

Girl and Dog

'Lil Sebastian

Cuddle Bug

Audrey or Justin Bieber??

Audrey Hayes:

Audrey had started off her March seeing one of her favorite bands, All Time Low, once again only this time at the Wembley Arena, which I'm sure must sound familiar to a lot of you, no? Audrey has also became a nanny for two adorable British children, ages 5 and 6. A quote to go with it - "You think children are cute? Try two adorable children with British accents..." I died at the thought. The weather seemed beautiful in London, as spring is coming which led to Audrey finding herself a daily routine which includes (after class) walking through the beautiful, more touristy, spots of London (just to check up on them), before discovering hidden nooks of the cities and finding parks and coffee shops to just lie in the grass with her "homies" which are deer. While I went to Mexico for spring break, Audrey took a spring break trip with her friend Rachel to Slovenia and Italy. Hearing Audrey talk about Slovenia made me picture a kid in a candy shop... She said it was one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen. Audrey and Rachel had stayed in the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana (please don't ask me to pronounce this..) and spent lots of time just exploring the old city. They rented a boat and visited a few castles, including one castle that Audrey explained as "beautiful but creepy at night" as it was decorated in eerie yellow lights and rested on the edge of a cliff. From Slovenia they took the train to Venice, Italy and had themselves a foodie vacation. They roamed the streets and canals and ate all the stereotypical food you could imagine: canolis, pizza, bread, pasta, gelato... LOTS of gelato, etc. Finally, Audrey ended the month by coming home! Audrey flew back to Minnesota to surprise her sisters for her younger sister, Irene's birthday. I was able to briefly catch up and spend some time with Audrey, not nearly as much as I'd like though. It was a bittersweet trip for her, though. As she left, she had to say goodbye to her childhood home, since her parents had sold it and are moving at the end of April. Alas, enjoy pictures from Audrey.

Beautiful day in London

ATL at Wembley Arena

Slovenia

Audrey ft. Gelato in Venice

Venice

P I Z Z A

Venice

Audrey squared reunited!

Also a Silver Lake Crew Reunion

The three sisters in front of their childhood home, one last time.

There was one more tragic event that had happened to Audrey and I this, in addition to the rest of the population... Zayn Malik had decided to leave One Direction. When Audrey flew home, we were all able to mourn together over this horrible loss, and while the zayn-pain hasn't gotten easier, we have been able to use each others shoulders to cry on. So let us dedicate this post to our favorite amigo, Zayn. This one is for you bud. (Enjoy this vine from Buzzfeed)

XOXO,
Aud

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

Hello everyone! I know we are already nearly halfway done with March, but don't think I forgot about you all! I got very positive feedback from the last post on ON2S, which makes me a happy camper, since I love writing about someone other than myself, for a change. As the days go on I find myself missing my other Audrey more and more each day. . . But, being able to catch up with her and hear about what's going on in her life makes me all the happier! So alas, here is an update on what was going on in our lives for the month of February! And Audrey - stop doing exciting things please, you're really making me look dull.

Audrey Kruse:

February really wasn't an "exciting" month for me, but I would say it was a very productive month for myself. I find myself getting more and more comfortable and into a set schedule here at the U. My weeks are filled with classes and homework and my weekends filled with cleaning and grocery shopping, but I am really enjoying myself here. I love the school and I love my roommates and I love the people I am meeting. However, I am really getting "homesick" from going without my two dearest friends from ASU, Drew and Jasmyne. It's a weird thing to get used to because the three of us went to spending every second of everyday together to suddenly eliminating one of us from the setting. I miss them. A lot.

But anyway - back to my productivity, I would say I accomplished a lot this past month. I had figured out what I want to be studying for the next four years (as of right now, at least). I plan on studying journalism with an emphasis in strategic communication and a minor in fashion studies (why do I have a feeling this doesn't shock anyone....?) And in addition to that, I now have not one, but TWO new jobs! My first job is that I am now the assistant coach for Columbia Height's Synchronized Swim team, and I love every second of it, it fills the hole in my heart that misses synchro. My other job is that I am an on-call employee at the American Swedish Institute for their Youth & Family programs! Once again, just a dream. It's funny because these two jobs are things that I have loved doing regardless, and now I get paid for it? Amazing.

I didn't really do anything too exciting over the month, except I did spend Valentines Day with my lovely friend, Danielle and we took a lil trip to the Como Zoo Conservatory and tried to remember what summer felt like. I highly suggest everyone in the Twin Cities check it out, it's refreshing to be around all the plant life (and a sloth!). I also have been in a handful of situations where someone will come up to me and say "Hey! I read your blog!" Which leads me to wonder, how many of you are there....? I love all the support I'm getting though, so please, keep reading! That's all for me, I guess, sorry to bore you.

Como Zoo Conservatory

Just observing some plants

Made some new friends at MOA

Audrey Hayes:

I don't find myself FaceTiming with Audrey as much as I would like to, but her life is just absolute madness (the good kind!) and so I understand how it can be hard to have time to talk. We do, however, text nearly everyday and share little details about our lives and fill each other in as much as we can. It seems that she is really getting settle in over in London! She knows what coffee shops she prefers in her area, she knows the best places to sit and study, she goes on walks frequently and she's comfortable exploring on her own. I envy her for her braveness to take on a foreign city on her own and turn it into "her city". When I asked Audrey what happened in her life in the past month the first thing she said was "I was birthed" as in, she celebrated her birthday. Yes, Audrey Hayes is now 19! In celebration she got a pretty 'lil tattoo on her foot which she said hurt so badly she limped for about two weeks afterwards. We don't think she was exaggerating, do we? Talking about new looks, watch out everyone, Audrey cut her hair and now has what the Brits call "fringe" and don't worry, she looks even more adorable than you could imagine with it.

Throughout February, she did lots of exploring into new neighborhoods and areas of London including Borough Market and Shoreditch, both which she adored. Her favorite part of February, however, was when she attended her first concert at the legendary 02 arena, which just so happened to be a show with some of her favorite bands performing. She saw All Time Low with Walk the Moon and You Me At Six, which I honestly can't put into words how happy and excited Audrey was about that. She plans on seeing All Time Low again soon, in London. I asked her "How is All Time Low (an American band) so big in the UK?" and her response was "I am honestly wondering that myself."

Long story short, Audrey is really enjoying her time in London, experiencing so many new things and making so many new friends. If you want to read more about her experience, read her blog here