2015 rewind

where did 2015 go? it seems like just yesterday we were celebrating its beginning. now, after 12 months that went by as if someone pressed the fast forward button, we are getting ready to press play on 2016.

i know that the second half of 2015 came with much fewer blog posts. unfortunately, theclairewithredhair was put on pause a few times because of the transition from being a full-time student to being a nine-to-fiver. 2015 was a busy year and sometimes i wonder what i was doing the kept me running around so much. but looking back at 2015, i see that i had quite the year, one that i wouldn't change a thing about. so, without further ado, let's rewind 2015.

mountains and coastal trips

many lasts at UT

graduation and a real job

island hopping in hawaii

a new zip code and a new car 

 

old and new friends

dress-up and 23 candles 

honestly, those pictures don't really do 2015 justice. from january to december, its been a big year. one word to describe it: change. i graduated from UT, started a job in franklin that i absolutely love, and had many lasts as and undergrad and many firsts as a young woman in the real world. 2015, you were fun, you were surprising, you were difficult, you were happy, you were sad. you were lessons learned and you were obstacles overcome. you've been the best year yet, but 2015, its time to say goodbye.

2016, i can't wait to see what you have in store for me. 2016, hello.

xoxo,
clp

long time no see + recap

well... its been a while... about a month to be exact. a whirlwind of a month has gone by since my last post, and so much has gone on that if i were to type it all out in a post, you would be snoozing by the end. so much has happened though, that i at least feel like a brief recap is needed... i mean i can't just skip over the whole two-weeks-spent-in-hawaii start to the summer!

hawaii was absolutely amazing (that's for you, mom). it was definitely a trip i will remember forever, and one that i am lucky i got to take. we started in oahu, staying at disney's aulani resort. i am certainly the resort kind of girl... room service, pool side service, etc. etc.! it was a life i could get used to for sure. next we hopped over to the big island, and saw lava flow upon lava flow. the next and last island we jumped to was maui, which i really had fun on. from snorkeling at molokini crater, zip lining and plenty of delicious food (pineapple and kimo's hula pie... need i say more?), maui suited me as well. the trip as a whole was wonderful. i have the best mom and dad who were able to give me such an amazing trip and a brother who puts up with me despite my carsickness on the road to hana and my strange eating habits. if you ever have the chance to go to hawaii, go. it may be a long plane ride, but its worth it.

not 24 hours after we landed, i had us moving me and all my stuff (that's the only word i can use to describe it all) into my new apartment in franklin. we got the essentials there and since then it has been a work in progress. i can't begin to thank my parents (especially my dad) for all the help they have given me. dad was like a little elf who came in and set up ikea furniture and hung pictures while i was at work! the apartment is coming along for sure, and i am loving my new home in franklin.

so, in the past month, i have been to hawaii, moved into my apartment in franklin, gone to atlanta for the kenny chesney-eric church concert and ikea. its been a whirlwind of a month, but one i wouldn't trade for anything. this summer is looking to be a good one: the annual family fourth celebration is next weekend, i have already made myself a regular at the saturday farmer's market here and i have other plans in store.

i am hoping to be able to post more now that i have gotten into a routine with my work, workout and everything-else schedule. i promise to not leave you out on a limb!

for now though, i am happy to be sitting in my apartment, with a netflix movie on and a day full of shopping in nashville behind me. i can say that i am a happy girl.

xoxo,
clp

beginning of the end

and just like that christmas was over, new years came and went, i packed up and headed back to knoxville, started my part-time job and and done with syllabus week of my last semester. where did christmas break, december and 2014 go? things are going so fast... i graduate in may. the job application process has officially begun and its both terrifying and exciting. i always like to have a plan and right now, my future is exactly planned come mid-may. however, i have full faith that something will come along and everything will fall into place.

for now though, i am going to savor my last semester here at UT. its going to be a busy semester full of schoolwork, but i'm not complaining. i plan to spend it balancing school, work and friends. as i mentioned earlier, i just started working at est8te, a high-end designer clothing boutique here right off kingston pike. i will be working on fridays and saturdays and i would love some visitors! i also want to spend as much time as possible with my friends, as we will never be living this close ever again. next year, i won't be able to walk out of my building and across the parking lot to my best friend's apartment. the friends i have made here, in alpha chi and not in alpha chi, are ones that will last forever, spanning states. and as always, spending as much time with my family is something that i intend to do. they mean the world to me, as i am missing them so much already, and who knows where my life will lead me post-graduation. we have some great trips planned: a weekend in asheville, spring break in florida and a family trip to hawaii! i am so fortunate to be able to travel like i do. i know it is going to be a memorable start to the year.

my posts have been few and far between lately, but i have been busy with the holidays and have a bit of a writer's block post-holiday. i have some ideas floating around in my head that you may see soon on the blog. until then, stay warm in this frigid weather!

xoxo,
clp

month recap + greek yogurt hummus

well, it seems that september has come to an end. where did it go? as one of the busiest months i have had for a while, i think i just blinked and it was over. its been a month full of hard work with school and some fun. i am trying to enjoy every moment i have with my friends as a senior and still working on loosening up some. i still love living in my apartment! i had the best time hosting a wine and cheese party a few weeks ago and can't wait for my florida-weekend visitors on friday!

after a week that was equal to finals last week (3 tests, 36 hours), i packed a bag and set my sights on murfreesboro. a weekend at home was just what i needed. putting everything about knoxville away for the weekend, i had a really good time at home with my family (and even the zoo animals). the old soul that i am just wanted a simple weekend and that is what i got... pancakes for breakfast saturday, a farmer's market trip, a [heartbreaking] football game from the couch and a pot of taco soup were perfect. i got to see both grandmothers, cousin and family friends! though i always hate going back to knoxville, i will see my mama on thursday and then everyone else on friday so leaving wasn't so bad this time!

i have been wanting to share this recipe for quite some time but am just now getting around to it. oil free and super low fat, this hummus recipe comes together in a flash and is perfect for healthy game day snacking! dip with veggie chips, pretzels, or homemade pita chips!

greek yogurt hummus

2 cloves minced garlic

1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained

1/3 cup non-fat, plain greek yogurt

1/2 tbsp water

1 tsp lemon juice

1. put all ingredients in food processor or blender. pulse to get started and then blend/process until smooth. 
2. best served chilled. 

(slightly modified from Cook The Story)

have a happy monday, y'all! 

xoxo,

clp

carnation ball recap

last night was the night we had all been looking forward to all semester! carnation ball! my chapter has carnation ball once every four years and it is our most talked-about formal - from dresses to hair to everything! carnation ball is put on a higher pedestal than all of our other semi-formals and deserves special attention and my attendance! i am so happy that i went! i had the most perfect shoes, dress and clutch, a wonderful best friend who did my makeup, friends that told me my hair was pretty since i was in tears about it, and most importantly, the most perfect date! the night was everything i could have planned for and i wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else besides my date and my alpha chi sisters!

j. crew dress, mudpie glitter clutch, kate spade charm heels 

kate spade charm heels 

derek, the best date! 

of course this morning i was up before seven even though it was a very late night for me! sometimes i just wish i could be a normal college student and sleep in! i guess today starts the studying for exams... i only have three and my first one isn't until thursday, but i need to get on the study-train now so i don't get behind! packing up my things at the apartment is also on my to-do list. i will be done and home for summer a week from tomorrow so i am trying to pack up everything i can! it is amazing how much stuff accumulates! i am also going to get coffee with my best friend from high school today and am looking forward to catching up with her! we may not see each other very often but when we do, its like no time has passed and we pick up right where we left off! enjoy the warm sunshine today y'all! 

xoxo,

clp