SOMETIMES WE TAKE PICTURES

One of my favorite parts about break is coming back to spend time with friends. I love that no matter how much time passes since we have seen each other it feels like we were hanging out the other day. In August I wrote a DIY Pinterest-worthy photo post, describing how my friends and I always want to take pictures like the ones we see on Pinterest. Our most recent get-together was no exception.

I have to say we had our moments: we got some cute hugging pictures and pretty backgrounds.

We took pictures in pairs, and even managed to get a few where everyone's eyes were open.

 These two admitted this was their first successful roomie pic of the year.

Luckily, we captured some silly moments.

We decided to get a few single shots, and I realized how much admiration I have for fashion bloggers, because I have no idea how to stand in a photo by myself. Where do I put my hands? Am I standing up normal? This feels weird.

This last one is definitely my favorite shot of the day. She couldn't resist photo-bombing, and I'm glad she couldn't, because I think it turned out great.

This holiday season I am definitely thankful for all of my wonderful friends--both the ones from home and from college. I'm lucky enough to have friends who never fail to make me laugh, and I look forward to all of the adventures we still have ahead of us. 

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS CHRISTMAS FREIGHT SPECIAL **SPOILER ALERT**

 

Pretty Little Liars has had us on the edge of our seats for years. All we are asking for is the answer to who is behind that one little letter. To anyone who was disappointed in their lack of a Halloween episode, this Christmas episode came through to give fans a quick fix of the Liars. Don't be fooled by holiday theme, this episode was packed with the usual mystery and suspense of the regular season.

After the "Fatal Finale", we were left with more suspicion of Ali than ever before. Before Mona's untimely death she assured the girls that she had proof Ali was A,  but A got to Mona before the girls could.

Mona's ghost visits Ali: In a sort of A Christmas Carol style, Mona comes to take Ali to her past. Little Alison is shown playing the piano when she suddenly discovers two presents were hidden inside the piano. She takes them out to discover two identical dresses. When her mom finds her she makes Alison repeat that she only saw one dress, because "daddy would leave them" if he found out. Who was the other dress for? Is it connected to Bethany? Does Ali actually have a twin? The scene ends with Ali asking Mona if the other dress was for Bethany, but per usual all we get is more questions.

Hanna and Spencer went digging for evidence: Hanna and Spencer ditch the rest of the crew to break into Alison's house in search of something that might connect her to Mona's murder.

Ali arrives at the Ice Ball with her army: Sydney and Jenna reveal to Emily that the only reason they are working with Ali is because they are scared of her--and they think she killed Mona. Whether or not they are trustworthy is always a mystery but, nonetheless, Ali comes prepared. Cece Drake also makes a brief appearance, warning Ali that her "former friends" are starting to become suspicious.

Everyone's relationships seems to be working out: It's not secret the liars have had their fair share of relationship drama in the series. But in this Christmas special, all of the girls have their S.O. by their side.

Hanna goes relatively unharmed, despite A showing up with a knife: While she's searching for evidence, Spencer is playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with A. After breaking a frame to create a makeshift weapon, Spencer goes to find Hanna only to find her knocked out, and A has already escaped through the window.

Ali gets a deathly scare: Mona's ghost returns to give Alison a glimpse of her grim future. We see Ali in a casket and get a brief visit from her mom again, apologizing and warning "They'll be coming for you?" But who are "they"? And is this really what they have in store for the girl who's already returned from the dead once before?

Christmas resumes: A snow storm separates the girls from their families, but they still managed to make a beautiful Christmas dinner. The episode attempts to end on a more optimistic note filled with holiday cheer. But what would PLL  be without a classic note signed, "-A" to close out the night?

This Christmas special only gave us a taste of what's to come. While we are dying to know who killed Mona, the winter season premiere less than a month away. You can tune into the new season on Tuesday January 6th. But after the teaser that followed the episode, it's guaranteed that this season will keep us in suspense until the very end.

What did you think about the PLL Christmas special? Was it everything you expected? Or did you like the Halloween specials better?

This post originally appeared on Her Campus.

9 WAYS TO ESCAPE THE MISTLETOE

You're hanging out with friends Friday night at the perfect holiday party. Michael Bublé's Christmas album is ringing throughout the apartment. You're in your favorite festive outfit, and you're admiring all the holiday decorations. That's when it happens: you're underneath the mistletoe and you're not alone. If it's not with the guy you have had your eye on, you're going to need an exit strategy.

*Internal thoughts*: This isn’t happening.

 What now? 

1. Gather some of your girl friends, and turn it into a dance party.

 2. Suggest you two hit the cookie table and dig in on the gingerbread men instead.

3. Point out something else in the room to distract him.

4. Turn the situation into an opportunity to get a few laughs from people the people around you.

5. Make up an excuse about something you're supposed to do.

6. Freak him out by quoting something like The Notebook, and then walk away dramatically.

7. Or even better: tell him you have already been through this.

8. Mention that certain time of the month. You're guaranteed to scare the guy away with that one. Works every time.

9. Or you could always go with a classic.

Hopefully you won't be in this position this holiday season. But if you find yourself in a sticky situation, it's important to have a game plan.

P.S. Results may vary.

This post first appeared on Her Campus.

WHY I HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH COFFEE SHOPS

First off, I am not sure I actually like coffee. I have had a pretty steady relationship with coffee for the past year-and-half or so. Sometimes it seems like things are going really well. I find the right coffee with just the right flavor. But the next day I do something like skimp on the creamer, and my whole day is ruined (That might be a bit of exaggeration, but it's definitely a bummer). In the past couple months I have read several articles suggesting I kick caffeine to the curb. And while I know it's probably the best thing to do, I keep going back to it time after time. I know it's wrong. It's not good for my health, and it keeps me awake at night. But what's a girl to do? It seems to be there for me when I really need it, so how do I let it go?

If we're being honest, the caffeine fix isn't the only thing I am looking for out of coffee. I like having something to sip on, especially when I am writing. I like that drinking coffee makes me feel part of a closer-knit group of bloggers that really enjoy coffee for some odd reason. And I like that coffee gives me an excuse to spend time in coffee shops.

There are many reasons I have a love/hate relationship with coffee shops. Here are a few of them:

The atmosphere 

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Love:

I love the feeling of being in a coffee shop. For some reason it makes me feel more creative. At home my creativity can go stale, because it is the same environment day after day. I need something stimulating, and coffee shops definitely fit in that realm.

Hate:

I hate that other people share this affinity towards coffee shops, and it is often hard to find somewhere to sit. In fact, as I write this I'm wedged in a an awkward crevice at table that has just enough room for my computer, coffee cup and over-sized bagel plate. Oh, and it's by the door. So every time anyone goes in or out of this place the cold draft hits me, reminding me that I live in one of the coldest cities in America.

The coffee

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Love: 

Like I said, I'm not sure if I really like coffee. And I guess part of that is based on what you define as coffee. Your coffee might be black, or it might have a little half & half or sugar. Mine usually includes a great deal of creamer or added flavors that make it taste less like coffee. Regardless, there is something about the act of drinking coffee that I really enjoy. It also makes me feel mature--perhaps, even sophisticated--when I drink it.

Hate:

This pains me to say, but I usually don't like coffee from cute coffee shops. If I am going to pay $3-4--even $5--for a cup of coffee it better be great coffee. When I occasionally get a Starbucks or Caribou drink, I know I am going to pay too much money to get a caffeinated beverage. But I also know that I am going to enjoy it. Yet time after time, I try out the little local shops, because they have vintage records on their walls or baristas that could have just gotten off from a shift at Urban Outfitters. And time after time, I am thoroughly disappointed, because their coffee tastes too much like coffee (This is also really hard for me to admit, because I really want to like coffee. It's just not working out for me).

The music

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Love:

Coffee shop music soothes me. It's calming, and not distracting. Plus, it's usually indie music that serves as a great contrast to the top 40 hits on the radio. There are even Spotify playlists dedicated to coffee shop music. My favorite is "Your Favorite Coffeehouse."

Hate:

Sometimes the music is so obscure that there's a reason no one's ever heard of it. Also, I want to be calm, but some of this stuff could put me to sleep.

The people

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Love:

People-watching is by far one of my favorite activities in coffee shops. I'm not talking about the college campus shop full of girls getting their Starbucks on. The best coffee shops are filled with creatives and twenty-somethings looking intellectual and chatting over Cherry Biscottis. Or ignoring each other over scholarly readings or their graduate theses, instead of scrolling on their iPhones.

Hate:

Like I mentioned before, it is a bit overwhelming when there are too many people at any given time. For one thing it is a bit overstimulating and distracting--especially since I prefer to sit without headphones in a coffee shop to really appreciate the whole experience. How else I am supposed to hear the music I have a love/hate relationship with? Or the squeal of the espresso machine that reminds me why people keep piling in? Side note: I love babies. I don't love babies in coffee shops.

WHAT NOT TO DO IN CASE OF A FIRE

My mom has the best of intentions. All she wanted was to make me a nice welcome-home meal when I came home for Thanksgiving break. And stuffed pork chops are just about one of my favorite meals on the planet. I. Love. Stuffing. I can't get enough of it. So I was pretty stoked for this dinner. Plus, I was getting a home-cooked meal from my mom, which made it even more exciting.

I couldn't help but grin as I pulled into the driveway, because it felt so good to be home. My mom opened the door after a few knocks, and I dropped my bags by the door as my dogs greeted me. Mom texted me on my way home to tell me that my little sister had fallen asleep, but we could wake her up if I wanted, because it was still early. When I walked in her room, she had already woken up and had a huge smile across her face. It was the best feeling in the world to see her little smile, again.

We snuggled up to watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as my mom prepared dinner. A few minutes later the fire alarms started roaring. And without further ado, I present you with:

What not to do in case of a fire:

1) Do not assume that there is not a fire just because at your apartment the fire alarm goes off every time you boil a pot of water or use the toaster. 

2) Do not panic at the sight of flames as high as your microwave in a pan on the stove. 

3) Do not scream and scare your four-year-old sister into peeing her pants. 

4) Do not yell for your mom, because you cannot remember how to react to a grease fire--even though you are in your second year of college with your own apartment. 

5) Do not go into full on freak-out mode as the flames seem like they are getting worse. 

6) Do not just stand there in fear instead of going to comfort your terrified little sister. 

So my little sister was bawling, asking if our house is going to burn down. My mom was playing superwoman putting out the fire. And I was trying to pull it together enough to make my sister stop crying. But it doesn't end there. Every fire detector in our house was going crazy, and even after the flames were out they wouldn't shut up. We opened the doors and windows trying to get the smoke out, but the alarms kept ringing.  

I took a broom and kept poking the one near the kitchen, but it didn't seem to do anything. Finally, the noise subsided, and we examined all the damage. It only left behind a burnt microwave handle, and a disfigured bottle of Dawn dish soap.

Turns out, my mom had left oil burning on the stove, and she must have forgotten about it for a few minutes. Afterwards, she tried to propose that "we" would clean it up, and to the tune of Billy Joel's 1989 hit, I reminded her, "We didn't start the fire."

No we didn't light it. But we tried to fight it. We didn't start the fire. 

 P.S. Do not keep singing this song throughout the night to tease your mom. Sorry about that, Mom.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR BLACK FRIDAY 2014

Wine red dress / Chanel evening handbag / Cartier rose gold jewelry / Nars cosmetic

The holidays are in reach, and you are more than ready for Thanksgiving break. For college students, going home means seeing family, not having to cook for yourself, and not having to buy your own food. So you are extra thankful. It means a weekend full of family, food, and massive shopping deals.

Thursday you will be a little too busy to think about Black Friday shopping. Here's what you need to know now, so you can enjoy your Thanksgiving.

 

It's no surprise that Black Friday is no longer exclusive to Friday. For years stores have been opening on Thanksgiving, seemingly opening earlier and earlier every year. People grumble over the irony of setting aside a day to give thanks for all we have while people trample each other over Christmas presents. But stores continue to open earlier, because enough people show up to get  things like a crazily under-priced 70" 3D flat screen.  

And things can get a little out of hand.

According a Forbe's article, just 28% of consumers plan on going in-store shopping on Black Friday, and 55% of Americans plan not to shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

Friday isn't the only day of sales.

The entire weekend will be filled with deals. Some retailers are spreading out their deals throughout the weekend and Cyber Monday. The horror stories of herds of people might turn some people away from shopping, but retailers are trying to provide more incentives for people shop this week.

Thanksgiving will still be a big shopping day. 

No matter how much people complain about hitting the stores on the Holiday, they will continue to open on Thursday. And this is when people are spending most of their time in the line. Some people even skip the Thanksgiving festivities to camp out for the deals.

 

You could be saving now. 

There are retailers that have details happening before Thanksgiving. Stores like Sam's Club, Macy's, Wal-Mart, Staples and more have deals all week long. Amazon even has "8 Days of Black Friday Deals." 

Major retailers will match prices.

According to Forbes, Target recently announced that it will be among the retailers that match prices. If you find something at one store that is advertised lower at another, you could potentially get the lower price.

There is an entire site dedicated to Black Friday.

If you want more information on what kinds of deals you can expect this Black Friday, check out the website dedicated to the day. You can even sign up for Black Friday alerts via email. The sidebar has a list of popular retailers that provides more information about their deals this year.

With all of the madness around Black Friday, don't forget to enjoy your Thanksgiving and spend some time really appreciating everything around you. There is plenty of time to get the deals you want. Plan ahead! If you do join the herds at the major shops on Thursday night, stay safe.

And... don't get too carried away.

 Do you have shopping plans this week?

P.S. This post also appeared on Her Campus.