FRIDAY FAVORITES

January has been an interesting month. I spent the beginning of it with friends and family from home, until I got the flu right before classes started. Luckily, I had a few days to enjoy back in Madison before classes started after I recovered. But as soon as the new semester began, life got hectic again. Last week I worked more than usual on top of getting hit with a ton of assignments quickly.

So now that I have a moment to myself, I decided to share some of my favorite discoveries from January. Here are a few of my favorites from January:

1. MY NEW RECORD PLAYER
I have been debating about getting a record player for years. While the technology may be a bit outdated, I have always wanted one. The last few weeks it has been on my mind a lot, and since realized I had been thinking about it so much and I had a gift card leftover from Christmas I finally decided to go for it.

2. HOODIE ALLEN'S "HAPPY CAMPER"
The whole album is only 32 minutes. So it is super easy to get through. I recommend listening to it all the way through the first time you listen to it.

3. ROSES
This is my new favorite song these days. It's by The Chainsmokers with ROZES. It has a dreaminess to it, yet when the beat picks up it is definitely a song you can dance to.


4. DOUG THE PUG
Following the Doug the Pug page on Facebook is one of the best decisions I made in January. It is guaranteed to make you smile.

5. BACON WRAPPED CHEESE CURDS
Does it get more American than that? I think not. I had these delightful bites of heaven a few weeks ago, and I will never look at regular cheese curds the same way.

Do you have any new favorites this week?

PEOPLE YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER

Twitter: you get 140 characters to craft your thoughts for anyone who "follows" you to see. It forces you to think about the most creative and efficient ways to share your musings. Some people are definitely better at it than others. I am on a constant search to find the best people on Twitter. So today I decided to share some of my favorite people on Twitter, hoping to spread the uncontrollable laughter and appreciation elicited by these spectacular Tweeters.

ZERLINA MAXWELL
Zerlina came to UW-Madison to speak about topics including "Rape culture" and the importance of being present on social media, particularly Twitter. In fact, her presence on Twitter has played a tremendous role in advancing her career. She has even been asked to work on Presidential matters, based on her political involvement via Twitter.

The Lamar Odom coverage is pissing me off so much bc he won two rings! The entirety of his life is not that he married a Kardashian. #ugh

— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) October 16, 2015

AZIZ ANSARI
Aziz is one of my favorite comedians. If you read "Navigating Modern Romance", you already know that he has some great advice. In fact, I found out he had a book coming out, because I was following him on Twitter. I also recently found out that he has a Netflix series coming out as well pretty soon. So if anything, follow him for laughs and updates on his work that you definitely need to check out!

During airport delays, I now randomly sign copies of my book: pic.twitter.com/741eZfTgOL

— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) July 13, 2015

BEN SCHWARTZ
Without a doubt, Ben Schwartz is my favorite person on Twitter. Sometimes I approach my own Twitter with WWBST (What Would Ben Schwartz Tweet)? He's way funnier than I will ever be, but it's the thought that counts, right? Seriously, go follow him now. Oh yeah, and he was Jean-Ralphio on Parks and Rec.

I'm confused. Was Cap'n Crunch's ship just floating around searching for hidden cereal? Was that his deal?

— Ben Schwartz (@rejectedjokes) October 13, 2015

JA'CRISPY VULCANO
Ever heard of Impractical Jokers? If not, you should definitely go watch it right now. It's four lifelong friends who have taken dares to a whole new level. Sal Vulcano is probably my favorite character on the show, and whether or not you actually watch the show, you won't regret following him.

Trying to edit your initial tweet down to 140 characters while still keeping every sentiment is the new crossword puzzle.

— Ja'Crispy Vulcano (@SalVulcano) October 17, 2015

HELENE IN BETWEEN
Helene is one of my favorite bloggers! This past July I participated in a month-long Instagram challenge started by Helene with the hashtag "#31PhotosInBetween", and it was one of the best experiences I have had interacting with other bloggers. It was so much fun to find other bloggers in such a creative way. Helene always has great content on her blog, which you won't have trouble finding by follow her on Twitter!

The Best Thing You Can Do For Your Blog >> http://t.co/T8Ohp8Z95y

— Helene (@heleneinbetween) October 16, 2015

MELYSSA GRIFFIN
Melyssa is pretty similar to Helene in the amazing content she produces. The community that she has built around The Nectar Collective amazes me, and I definitely aspire to be like Melyssa. Whenever I need advice on my blog or have a question about how to do something, I am almost positive Melyssa's blog can help!

"Unfollowers are actually a great thing. Isn’t it better to build a community of people who LOVE what you create?" http://t.co/NTxWPeZLMu

— Melyssa Griffin (@NectarCollect) October 16, 2015

ASHTEN
I have been following Ashten for a long time now, long enough to see her transition between different blogs, and I am so impressed by her. She is so relatable, and she always makes me laugh.

Just sitting here in my tiny ass closet freaking out bc I just realized every piece of clothing I own could also be worn by a high schooler.

— Ashten (@justgoleft_) October 15, 2015

And what would this post be without a shameless plug for my own Twitter account? Check out more posts and sleep-deprived ramblings on my Twitter account.

I think God misheard me. I like Coff-EE. Not Cough-ING

— Taylor Shiff (@tayshiff) October 14, 2015

Who are you favorite people on Twitter?

FRIDAY FASHION FAVORITES

Confession: I love dresses. All kinds. One of my favorite parts of summer is being able to wear dresses pretty much whenever I feel like it. On the crazy hot days that I still have to dress nice for work, I feel bad for the guys in slacks and button ups, because wearing a dress makes it much more bearable. 

Unfortunately, it's hard to find an occasion to wear a fancier dress sometimes. I haven't been to many weddings or anything. I never did go to prom. And usually it's more appropriate to wear jeans and cute top than a classy dress when hanging out with my friends. 

For now, I'll just keep browsing Aisle Style's website, waiting for the perfect event to wear a fancy dress to come along. 

Here are some of my favorites this week: 

Wedding Dresses

I think it's pretty much protocol to have a Wedding Pinterest board these days, isn't it? Even though a wedding is something I won't be planning for a long, long time, I still like browsing dresses and decorations. This dress is absolutely gorgeous. I've known for a while that I don't want anything to lavish. This one is simple and elegant, and I love the part over her shoulders. Aisle Style has so many beautiful wedding dresses. 

Cocktail Dresses

Can one ever own enough cocktail dresses? I like this one, because it adds a little flavor to the classic LBD. The lace and one shoulder definitely spice it up. 

Prom Dresses

Like I said, I never actually went to prom, but I always loved looking at prom dresses! Every once in a while, I will regret turning down my offer to prom Senior year, but mostly because I just wanted an excuse to wear a pretty dress. If I had gone, I would have been really tempted by a red dress like this one. I think there is something so fierce about red dresses, so this one definitely caught my eye. 

What are some of your Friday favorites?

*This post has been sponsored by Aisle Style, but all of the opinions within it are my own.

MY FAVORITE THINGS

For some reason the other day I started thinking about some of favorite things. I like to enjoy the little things in life, and I think that every now and again you should take some time to think about the things in life that really make you happy. There are so many wonderful pieces of everyday life that give us pleasure. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. The aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking.
2. Warm summer rain. 
3. Cute notebooks.
4. Watching movies. 
5. Snuggling. 
6. Inspirational quotes. 
7. G2 Pens--0.38mm.
8. Thin mints.
9. 3 am talks. 
10. The view from an airplane.
11. Coffee mugs.
12. Book stores and they way they smell.
13. The ways the waves crash into the shore.
14. Hugs.
15. My little sister's giggle.
16. Stand-up comedy.
17. Memorial Union Terrace.
    
18. The butterflies you get when you really like someone. 
19. Peppermint Bon Bon ice cream.
20. Looking at the stars.
21. Singing along to the radio with friends.
22. Stop-motion animation.
23. Coffee shops. Sometimes.
24. Car talks.
25. Finding new blogs.
26. Summer Nights.
27. Late-night swimming (see 26).
28. Yoga.
29. The Shirley Temples at Olive Garden--no shame. I still get them. They're delicious.
30. Watching the sunset over the ocean.
31.  Laughter.
32. Christmas lights.
33. Driving with the windows down and no particular destination. 
34. Candles.
35. Trader Joe's.
36. Cute cupcake shops. 
37. Videos of puppies, because how can that not make you smile?
38. The guitar solo in "Free Bird." 
39. Staying up until the middle of the night because you lose track of time. 
40. Outdoor concerts. 
    
41. Blowing bubbles.
42. Finding new TV shows. 
43. Deep talks with friends about life. 
44. Catching up with friends you haven't seen in a while.
45. Walking around the lake.
46. Getting a seat by the window (and outlets) in the library.
47. Arnie Palmers.
48. Unexpected adventures.
49. Hammocks. 
50. Making lists.

 There are so many more, but these are some that came to me right away. It's funny how we can find something to complain about so easily when there are so many things that we have to be grateful for. I think sometimes we just forget to stop and think about the little things that make us happy. Life is busy, I get it. But slow down every once in a while and try to appreciate the small things. You won't regret it.

What are some of your favorite things? What makes you smile?

FALL FAVORITES

Fall is a favorite of many. As much as we love sunshine and beach days, the crisp Autumn air is accompanied by some pretty fun fall traditions. This has become even more apparent to me as I started paying attention to the blogging scene. The transition from summer to fall used to be more about getting used to the new school year and switching over items in my wardrobe. But anyone who uses Pinterest knows PSLs and apple/pumpkin-themed pictures are fall-musts for many.

A few of my fall favorites:

//ONE//
Football Games
I will admit I am not super knowledgeable about any sports. I couldn't tell you which teams are better than any others in any sport of any kind. Yet, college football games are one of my new favorite parts about fall. There is so much excitement in the air. School pride is in full bloom. My favorite part at my school is admiring the sea of red herding to the stadium. Everyone is in a good mood, ready to root on the team.

//TWO//
Fall Weather
This week has been super rainy, and I am not a fan of getting unexpectedly caught out in the cold rain. It makes my naturally curly hair a frizzy poof-ball, and there's something about rain that makes me uncomfortable. My idea of a perfect fall day is sunny with a sort-of crisp cold in the air. It's warm enough to tolerate being outside, but it's cool enough to bundle up in a knit-sweater and a scarf. Yesterday was finally that day--just in time for one my roommate's birthday. It was a gorgeous day, and one of the few we may have left before the seemingly never-ending winter that is approaching too quickly.

//THREE//
Big Sweaters and Scarves
As I mentioned, my favorite fall weather involves being able to wear sweaters and scarves. They are both comfy and cute. I love looking at the fashion pins in the fall. There are so many ways to dress up a simple sweater, which definitely makes the change in weather bearable.

//FOUR//
Fall Coffee
Including, but not limited to the Pumpkin Spiced Latte. I am a sucker for a good Salted Caramel Mocha--my favorite is at Starbucks. Who doesn't love a good seasonal treat to warm them up?

//FIVE//
Boots
As much as I love my converse, they do not hold up in the winter months. I need something that's going to offer me a little more protection from the cold and the snow. Plus, boots can be super stylish. I love that you can turn a look from sporty to semi-dressy just by swapping out your tennis shoes for some riding boots.

//SIX//
Holidays
Admittedly, Halloween is not my favorite holiday. It's fun, but I am awful at coming up with costume ideas. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and that keeps me motivated on so many levels. It's a chance to get back home to catch up with family and friends. And this time of year always makes me so nostalgic. I love sitting around the table with family, talking about everything we are thankful for.

//SEVEN//
Halloween Movies
While Halloween isn't really my thing, I love all the movies about it--specifically the children ones. Any Halloweentown fans? Can we just pause for a minute to talk about the fact that is was totally not okay when they replaced Marnie in the final movie? It felt so wrong. But the first three are still amazing. I also love Hocus Pocus, Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire, Phantom of the Megaplex, and Don't Look Under the Bed.  I am not a huge fan of actual horror movies, but if there is any time for a good scary movie, it is now.

//EIGHT//
Fall Treats
Last weekend we had a birthday party for a couple of my roommates, so we decided to make a few desserts for our friends. A few weeks ago I picked up a Betty Crocker pouch and cream cheese frosting to make Pumpkin Bars. I had never made anything like them before, so I was a little be nervous. I cut them up into bite-size rectangles and I had to muster up some pretty great self-control to leave them for guests. I think I am still one up on my friend Jen, who is crazy about anything pumpkin. She even sent a picture in our group message of her pumpkin-themed grocery basket at Target one day. No matter how much you love/hate pumpkin, there is a fall treat for anyone. Fresh apples and caramel are one of my favorite fall snacks.

What are your favorite parts about Fall?