It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all–in which case you fail by default.
~J.K. Rowling
It never fails to amaze me the incredible amount of support that you all have given me this year. Thank you all for your kind and reassuring comments on my last post. I’ve read through all of them and I’m pretty sure I’m going to read through them again and again.
My awesome brother (miss you!) commented with a link to a video of J.K. Rowling’s commencement speech at Harvard University back in 2008, The Fringe Benefits of Failure. It’s about 20 minutes long but so worth the time. It was a great speech and I advise all of you to take a peek. She touches on her own anxiety post graduation and how she followed her true passion, writing. Thanks, bro!
(Source: J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo)
Her English accent is beautiful! I miss it so much from my London days 
***
So yesterday at Target, I spotted these leggings that look like denim! Believe whatcha see! They really do look like jeans–even when they wrinkle. I’m not sure if I’m going to keep them yet…
I also picked up Lady Antebellum’s NEW album!! Maggie, my intern friend from this summer, introduced me to the group and I’ve listened to the album she gave me on repeat every single drive to and from home this year. I love this group!!
My favorite mascara. Have any of you tried this? They call it ‘beauty tubes technology’ and I kid you not, they are beauty TUBES!! All you need is water to wash it off and they come off in ‘tubes.’ I’ve saved so much money on make up remover and cotton pads. Best. Invention. Ever.
Pre-workout breakfast:
Ezekiel English Muffin w/ cottage cheese and cinnamon.
+ an Apple
+ Coffee
(I also got some new on-super-clearance placemats that were $1 a piece or less!!)
Believe whatcha see….I had ice cream for breakfast! Well technically it was early afternoon already.
I finally got some pumpkin ice cream (better late than never, right). It was on sale at Target!
AND I got a new appetizer dish and small bowl. Likey?!
Now what’re those cookies? Thinaddictives Cranberry Almond Thins. Yes, they are thin and YES, they are addictive.
They are like super thin biscotti cookies. I got ‘em at Costco.
They come in individual pouches (although that has NOT stopped me from eating more than 1).
Despite the sunny 60 degree weather, I hit up the gym. I ran yesterday and 2 days in a row would have aggravated my shin. 60 min. on the elliptical and 20 min. of arm weights. Done and done.
Post workout fuel:
Believe whatcha see:
The power of 3!
1) 2% cottage cheese
2) Kefir
3) Greek Yogurt
With mango and pineapple chunks. EPIC!
Then I had a plate of s’more tropical fruit with coconut sprinkles. Doesn’t it look like a snowman or penguin face?
A Lemon Poppyseed Heart Thrive.
It was pretty good. It reminded me of a a lemon poppyseed muffin which I haven’t had in forever!
Then I met up with Sarah, Josh, Lucy, Susan and Sara at a bar/restaurant in Chapel Hill. You’ll have to wait and see what went down
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
My mom uses that type of mascara (not the same brand) and really likes it. Mascara is a MUST in my beauty routine. I just bought mascara today at Target, so maybe I’ll give that stuff a go next time =)
I love those kind of thought-provoking albeit a bit corny quotes. It is amazing how she wrote her way from being broke to being extremely $$$.
I bought that exact Edy’s ice cream one time, and had a hard time not going back for seconds…and thirds…yum
.
Oh yum yum! I actually have both fresh pineapple AND mango in my fridge right now, too. Must be channeling the “hurry up and get here tropical weather” vibe!
I’ve never heard of/seen that mascara! A dermotologist once told me a PERFECT make-up remover trick. If you don’t already have it, get a mild face moisturizer – like Eucerin. Then just use the TINIEST dab and smear it on wet fingers and around your eyes. Then wipe gently w/ a towel (we have black so I don’t worry about staining) and VOILA! It’s awesome and it’s not harsh on your skin, plus it’s practically free since you’re just using a tiny tiny bit!
I just bought one of those Lemon Poppyseed Heart Thrives at my bf’s university because I can’t find them anywhere around here! I can’t wait to try it. They had soooo many other flavors that I wanted to buy, but he insisted on paying for it with his uni meal points, so I didn’t let myself go overboard.
I’m glad all the comments helped
I love that JK Rowling quotation, it’s really quite inspirational! I think considering the amount of $$$$ she’s made, it’s probably worth listening to what she has to say 
I’ve never heard of that band – are they rock or country or? Country seems so big in the USA, I assume anything I haven’t heard of over here is country
Have a good evening!
Those thins look so yummy and very pretty, leggings that look like denim are cool, especially when you fancy wearing skinny jeans but had one to many cupcakes! x x
glad to know that the blog world gave you the support you needed!
isn’t it great that people that never met you can give you so much love?
hahha…. I got some makeup the other day too, just a impulsive purchase!
I remember seeing JK Rowling’s commencement video online in 2008, I loved it. I’ll be watching it again after I post this comment!
Thanks for the JK Rowling inspiration!
And I love your adorable dishes and bowls! I’m starting to become obsessed with buying new ones…I really need to stay away from Crate & Barrel!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lady Antebellum!! The first album was great, and I’m sure this one is too – I haven’t heard the whole things, but sit at work hitting repeat on Youtube to several songs. Good choice!
I’m always looking for a new mascara – can we see a close-up of it on your eyes!? Tubes scare me!!
I’ll have to watch the vid at work tomorrow…my internet at home is too slow because I am cheap!! LOL!
Gonna keep an eye out for that mascara. Sounds pretty cool.
Pumpkin ice cream…..sigh……
Just had me a strawberry/honey/kefir smoothie for breakie. YUM!
I really need to try Kefir…
Oh and good news! I bought EZEKS on Friday!!!!
You always have such gorgeous fruit! Makes me crave some every time I read your blog
I love the Target haul…it’s impossible to leave there without buying anything! Have a great Sunday 
my mom used to buy those cranberry almond thins! They are SO good!
i really like those leggings!! and those cranberry thins look really good! and pumpkin ice cream is definitely the breakfast of champions!
have a good weekend!
I love Lady Antebellum whenever they come on my pandora playlist
YUM love your epic post workout fuel, those heart thrives, I see them all ove the place and they look awesome, and so dense & moist! I want to try one soon!
target is really the best store ever you can walk out with cottage cheese, a new top, plates and an ipod all in one
i am sooo gona have to try that kefir combo!! freaking YUMM! that looks awesome girl!
Ooh! Love the new dishes!!
Can’t wait to hear how dinner went too:)
I LOVE that flavor of heart thrive! Yum
J.K. Rowling is so inspirational, I just love her. I just did a review for Heart Thrive, they are awesome!
I’ve been on the lookout for a new mascara. Thanks for the suggestion! Too funny that Target still has Pumpkin ice cream. And I am so intrigued by the denim leggings!
I was afraid to buy that pumpkin ice cream for fear of liking it TOO much!
yum, very exciting eats in your post today.
I looove country music! Lady Antebellum is awesome. That mascara sounds so cool yet bizzare to think a tube would fall out my eyelashes, I should give it a try once mines run out!
I think I may have to watch that speech. I really like that quote you posted…really makes you think about life and some of the decisions made! To me anyway!
I think your snack looks like a snowman!!
I am jealous of pumpkin ice cream. I like to try pumpkin of anything I see and ice cream sounds intriguing!
YUS! I love the new Lady A CD
American Honey has been on repeat since my Mom sent me the CD 3 weeks ago. I miss you! Now I’ll think of you everytime I pop in my Lady A CD!
Leggings are cute, you should keep em!
Target’s cottage cheese is my favorite, and eating it with fresh mango is my absolute favorite mix! Love the new plate and bowl-so springy! Ok you must do a fashion show with the leggings-so cute! I’m so curious about that mascara. I always used to get waterproof mascara, but then I started using the regular, which is easier to wash off, but I still put coconut oil around my eyes to get the remainder. When my Almay runs out, I think I’m going to try that!
Target is amazing. I got two pairs of jeans for under $25 there today!! Also, Lady Antebellum has been my fav since they came out
Holey Moley!! I looooove Edy’s Pumpkin Ice Cream! I bought it once, ate the entire thing in less than a week and vowed to only get it once a year! SOOO DELICIOUS!
Boy oh boy oh boy the thinaddictives look INCREDIBLE. I am a HUGE biscotti whore and if I bake a batch at home, i eat ‘em all in 2 days. YIKES. I’ve never been able to slice ‘em thin…what a good find Allie! And great pairing with the pumpkin ice-cream…*drool* that is one flavor I still NEED to try.
Fat chance of that happening this year.
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