RUN - A Short Poem

OOTN: Fanatics.com Red Sox Challenge

As most of you know, I’ve lived in the Boston area all of my life. With that being said, it can be assumed that one of my favorite past times is definitely watching and attending Boston sports games!

And, if you’ve stuck around long enough, I’m positive you’ve seen at least one past blog posts where I rant and rave about attending a wicked awesome sports game in the area.

Contrary to popular belief, not every girl who likes sports dresses like a tom boy. I consider myself to have a great sense of fashion, so of course when I discovered fanatics.com, I had to challenge myself to create a look using one of their pieces. I just couldn't resist!

Not from the Boston area? 

Do you root for a different home team? 

Is your favorite sport hockey, lacrosse, or NASCAR? 

Fanatics.com is one of the top 50 internet retail companies in the game right now. They are home to thousands of officially licensed sports items. They offer flat rate shipping for $4.99 as well as easy returns 365 days of the year! You honestly can't beat that. With a massive selection of caps, jerseys and other merch, there's something for everyone!

Seeing as it’s baseball season, of course I chose to 
re-create a look based around the Boston Red Sox.

Naturally, I went with a very classic fitted Red Sox cap.

With over 200 Red Sox Hats to choose from, 
there's something for everyone!

If I had all the money in the world, I would watch every sporting event live from stadium seats, but unfortunately being a broke Grad student and a teacher, it’s highly unlikely. The next best thing however, is getting together with a bunch of my friends, taking the T into Fenway and watching the game at one of the crowded sports bars.

Wait! Can you really wear a hat in those bars?

Actually, those bars typically have no dress code so guys and gals are welcome to wear their wicked sweet Sox hats while cheering on the best team in MLB.

Okay, so I can wear a hat, but what if I don’t want to wear
my wicked expensive $120 jersey to the bar?
I don't want sloppy bar folk to spill anything on it!

AND, what if I want to hop back on the T after the game and take it to 

Faneuil Hall and finish off the night dancing?

There's got to be a catch...

Nope! No catch. It's quite simple actually.
With some style help from fanatics.com, I’ve come up with the perfect ensemble for a night out in Boston where you can watch the game, have a few brewskies and end the night dancing.

To Purchase:   | Hat |  Top  |  Bottoms  |  Shoes  |  Bag  |  Bracelets  |

One of the greatest things about this outfit is that it 
incorporates pieces that I already own. 

By using solid colors from the fanatics.com Red Sox cap, (red and navy blue) not only am I dressed appropriately to represent my home team at the bar, but I'm also ready to hit the club after.

Nothing is worse that feeling under-dressed or over-dressed when you're out on the town.
What rocks about this whole look is that regardless of where the night takes you, you will
look and feel comfortable.

Something else I love about these pieces is that the colors can be flip-flopped. Everything that is red can be navy blue and likewise, everything that is navy blue can be red.

The color scheme can also be substituted depending on the sport (Yellow & Black for the Bruins) or for the city (Yellow & Purple for LA).

One of the reasons why I love fashion so much is that it's completely your own.
Not into crop tops? 
A little chilly outside? 
What if you're out with the boyfriend and his parents watching the game?
The crop top that I've included can be easily put back into the closet. Instead, try a cute navy camisole, long sleeve pull over, or even denim button up.

What if you aren't going to a bar? 

What if you stood on your feet all day at work? 

Depending on your mood and where you will end up watching the sox game,
the black heels can also be exchanged for black flats, sneakers or sandals, too.

How would you recreate this look?

What's your favorite item from fanatics.com?
How would you style it?!

Leave it in the comments down below!

Until next time,

xoxo Ines

The road less traveled.

I turned 24 on March 7, 2015... that was about 4 weeks ago.

Sitting here, I can think back to when I turned 16, 18 and 21. 

The milestone birthdays.

The expectations that arise with each birthday

For my 16th birthday, I invited all my high school friends over to my house and we had a giant barbecue. That's when everyone in MA get's their driving permit. 

I didn't get mine until I was 17...

When I turned 18, I went over to my friends house and they surprised me 

with a small party, cake and homemade cards.

You're expected to start buying scratch tickets because you can.

I've only ever bought one and yes, it was the night of my 18th birthday.

And when I turned 21, I decided to go out to dinner with all my friends and continue the night at a bar with the ones who had already turned 21. 

Lucky for me Brendan also got to attend this birthday celebration!

That's when you're life is expected to hit a downward drinking spiral.

I hate drinking.

I've never followed social norms and I've always been okay with that.

It wasn't until the few months before turning 24 that I started to judge myself based on how far behind at life I was...

So why 24?

When you tun 22, you're expected to be wrapping up your undergraduate college career.

When I was 22, I still had 2 years left at Lesley University!

When you turn 23, you're expected to finally be somewhat an adult. If you've followed the 4 year college plan, by now you've graduated. Everyone knows that for the next year, income will be unsteady and you'll spend all your time looking for a job. 

When I was 23, I still had a year of undergrad left.

When you turn 24, however, boom! You're an adult. You're expected to have a legitimate job with a steady income which puts your degree to work. You're expected to start putting money away so that one day you can settle down and buy a house. 

Let's just say when I'm no where near any of those things.

I turned 24, had just finished my last undergrad semester and I hadn't even received my diploma in the mail yet... I'M SO FAR BEHIND!

What ever happened to living in the present?

Going into my 24th birthday, I felt discouraged because I was about 1.5 years behind the 'typical timeline of a college graduate.'

I found myself thinking "I can't believe it's taken me so long to het here" when I should have been thinking "Yes, I've finally gotten here!"

I was so hung up on the fact that I was still living at home, working a part time job, in an after school program, with no actual tangible diploma or teaching degree.

All of my friends had graduated last year, so I was bumming on that too.

But, I'm not them. Why am I comparing myself to them?

Not to mention all these random questions I had for myself about the future.

Where should I go to grad school?

Will I ever work full time?

I'll never be able to afford a new car.

Will I ever have a legitimate teaching job?

No one will pre-approve me.

What about living in the present?

If you're always looking towards the future, you'll never live in the present.

Just because I turned 24 doesn't mean I need to be discouraged about all the things I haven't yet done in life. I will get there, whether I'm 5 steps behind or in front of anyone else.

It's important to remember not to compare yourself to anyone.

It's also important to remember that life has no timeline. 

Our society creates these social norms as a way to judge everyone against each other. 

Who's more successful?

Who's living the dream?

Who's smartest?

Who's got the perfect family? 

Who's a failure?

Who's on track?

Who missed their oppertunity?

Everyone has their own personal timeline.

As long as you are happy and in a good place that is all that matters.

Don't compare yourself to anyone.

I choose to take the road less traveled.

At first I was nervous about telling everyone I was 24. I'm not where 'I should be' according to society.

But, I've one so much I'm proud of...

I finally finished college.

 I got my diploma in the mail a week after my 24th birthday!

I was granted my teaching license for the state of MA a few days later!

I paid off my car.

I have money to splurge on myself. 

I am happy.

I am 24.

Those are the things that matter most to me right now.

Now it's your turn to ask yourself, are you living in the present or in the future?

Until next time,

XOXO Ines


------------------------------------------


The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

The good, the bad, and the ugly: My college experience

Let's rewind back to September of 2009. 

I was an eager college freshman, living out of state at Salve Regina University. I was a chemistry major and a dance minor and I had just started a new relationship.... 

While at Salve, I danced with the company. To this day I refer to them as my saviors. I don't know what I would have done without them. 

Because I wasn't doing so well in my classes (something I was not use to) I had to meet with an advisor once a week. Our conversations were great and it was in his office I realized that chemistry was not the right career path for me. I somehow always ended up talking about the dance company instead. It was the only thing at Salve that I actually dedicated my time and energy towards. 

Well, let's just say between gradually realizing that your dream school was actually your worst nightmare and that your relationship was quickly evolving into the most unhealthy relationship ever, I left after one year.

I moved back home and enrolled the following September in Community college (which coincidentally happened to be the same school my ex-asshole was enrolled in) ...

I felt like I dug myself a huge hole which I had fallen through.

I landed in a dark tunnel with no exit.

I spend the next year and a half taking as many Gen Ed classes as I could all while trying to figure my life out.

A year into community college my relationship got even worse, having gone from just mentally abusive to now also physically abusive. I was called names, told what to do, talked down to, hit repeatedly, stalked, threatened and followed around. I lost pretty much all of my friends and my relationship with my family was also greatly effected. 

There was no light at the end of the tunnel.

So, I spend a lot of my free time looking back on high school and how I use to be. 

I loved everything about high school and I used my memories as a way to cope with all the sadness and loneliness I was feeling. 

You see, I always loved dance, but I could never justify majoring in the art because, lets face it, you can't make a living off of it. But I did remember how much joy it brought me working as an assistant on the weeks in the classes for 4 and 5 year olds.

That May I decided to switch my major from Undecided to Early Childhood Education.

My life was finally getting back on track. 

I finally found a dim light at the end of the tunnel. 

It was still unreachable, but at least it finally showed up!

That June, I broke up with the evil-worless-excuse-of-a-human that I had wasted almost two years on and enrolled in my third and final semester of community college.

Everything was starting to come back. I was a strong, independent person again. I was the person I use to be. 

I even reconnected with someone who I had previously fallen for back in high school. It didn't work out then but as of right now second time seems to be the trick. We went on our first date in November of that year (2012) and the rest is history :-)

I also began  applying as a transfer student to colleges in the area. That's when Lesley University popped up in my research. It's known to be the 'Harvard of Education' and I made that my reach school.

Lucky for me, I was able to maintain a 3.9 GPA while in community college, so that of course made me much more confident applying as a transfer.

I got my acceptance letter and in January of 2013 I enrolled in my first semester at Lesley.

At this point, 2.5 year as an undergraduate student seemed more like 10. 

I felt like I was never going to graduate. I felt like that light at the end of the tunnel was getting farther and farther away.

Then, all of a sudden, that light was 

just around the corner.

Three years later, with a few minor set back, many awful administrators and a dozen weird classmates I can finally say that not only have I graduated and received my diploma from Lesley, but I have also received my official teaching license!

It took me five and a half years to get to this place. Its now March 2015 and I am the happiest girl in the entire world.

...I've never been closer to my family. I love and appreciate them.

...I have the best job and the best coworkers.

...That boy I reconnected with three and a half years ago will one day be my future husband.

We just celebrated out three year anniversary! 

...The idea of graduation has now become reality.

I finally made it out of the tunnel.

If you ever feel like giving up, don't.

If you feel discouraged, do something about it.

If you feel like things aren't going the way they should, find your voice and stand up for yourself.

I hope that my story can shed some light to someone.

This isn't just about my college experience.

This has been about my life experience over the past 6 years.

It does get better.

6 days, 6 weeks, 6 months, 6 years.

It ALWAYS gets better.

You just can't give up!

Until next time,

XOXO Ines

Celebrating 3 years with the love of my life...

On March 15, I had the honor of celebrating my 

three year anniversary with the love of my life!

Originally, we had planned to go away that weekend and spend time skiing and enjoying each other's company but because of a dance audition, we had to cancel last minute.

Regardless, we had a wonderful night. 

We went to one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Boston, Abby Lane, and enjoyed delicious gourmet cuisine.

If you are ever in the Downtown Theater District of Boston, I highly recommend Abby Lane. Especially in the spring and summer month, I suggest sitting upstairs because they open all the windows!

Anyways, we spend the majority of our night enjoying wine and beer, talking and laughing.

Because of my crazy dance schedule lately, Brendan and I hadn't gotten a lot of time to hang out, catch up and just chat like we usually do.

He's the most understanding, flexible, supportive person I've ever met and I'm lucky to have him in my life. 

It's funny because when we hit out 1 year anniversary, I can remember thinking, "Wow, it feels more like 5 years have gone by!"

But not that it's our 3 year anniversary, I find it hilarious that now I'm thinking, "Wow, it only feels like 1 year."

The reason I say this is because it literally feels like just yesterday that I met him 6 years ago in high school. Or that it feels like just yesterday when we had our first kiss outside my house 3 years ago when we started dating.

I find it interesting that in the beginning it felt like time was going so slow and that it felt as though years and years had gone by, and now I'm looking at out relationship and I honestly can't believe it's already been three years.

It's been three years of nothing but joy, laughter, support, love, listening, affection and any other synonym I can think for any f these words.

My only wish is that more people in the world got to experience what I experience with Brendan everyday. 

I love him to the moon and back a thousand time and I always will.

Until next time,

XOXO Ines

Does drinking 64 oz. of water a day ACTUALLY work?!

Do you actually drink the daily recommended amount of water? 

I know I definitely don't! 

According to WebMD: “In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day."

That being said, I weigh about 122 lbs., so I should be drinking between 61-122 ounces of water everyday.

Click here to calculate how much water you should be drinking daily!

According to Authority Nutrition and the 8x8 Rule, we should drink 8 glasses of water that are 8 ounces (64 oz. total) each. That's about two liters, or half a gallon of water. 

Why, you may ask, have I been looking into this? Well, I am always dehydrated. Because I am always dehydrated I am constantly tired and get chronic headaches. When I go to sleep, I wake up al test once, and when my alarm sounds in the morning I have the absolute hardest time getting out of bed. I also lack motivation, desire and ambition to carry out simple tasks like returning phone walls or email. Not to mention lately I have been suffering from extremely dry skin, random acne breakouts and chapped itchy lips.

I've heard through the grape vine that not only can drinking the recommended amount of water daily improve all those things I suffer from above, but it can also improve other aspects of your life, such as decrease the amount of stored fat in your legs and tummy and filter more impurities out of your body.

My goal will be to go a whole week (then hopefully a whole month) drinking at least 64 ounces of water everyday.

I am looking forward to hopefully seeing some major improvements. I understand that the will take time (much more than a week or month), but I am ready for the challenge. 

It's time for me to make a valid effort to improve my health and overall well being.

If you would like to join me on my journey, or just follow along, make sure to like, comment, +1, and subscribe to my blog!

Until next time,

XOXO Ines

I quit blogging?!

Hello everyone,

You may be asking, where the heck have I been?! 

Has Ines quit blogging?!

The last time I wrote a post was on Christmas day. I decided to tackle the 25 day leading up to Christmas and challenged myself in something I called "25 days of Blogmas". Well, that consumed my entire existence and I guess you could say that up until now I've had no motivation to continue writing.

A lot has happened since then... I mean, it has literally been three months.

I am currently sitting in my living room, on my phone. I've refreshed all my social media and nothing has changed. That's when I remembered my poor blog and all of you amazing people! I've been so neglectful and with a little extra time on my hands and some sudden motivation and inspiration, I have decided to challenge myself yet again. 

But, this time I challenge myself to never go three months without blogging again.

Since I last posted on My, Myself and Ines, I have...

1. Received my degree!

2. Been given my teaching license.

3. Made the Dean's List.

4. Auditioned for my fifth year as a Boston Cannons Dancer.

5. Auditioned to be a Patriots Cheerleader for the first time.

6. Been given a pay raise at work.

7. Applied to grad school!

8. I turned 24.

9. I went on yet another Caribbean Cruise as a grad gift from Brendan <3

So far March has been the most wonderful month!

That just names a few. There's so much more that has been going on, and each of those things above have so any more details associated with them, so for now I hope to create a blog post dedicated to each of those milestones.

Anyways, I have to get ready for work. 

It's so great to be back and I'm super excited to see where this year takes me!

Until next time,

XOXO Ines