Savannah, Georgia: Where To Stay And What To Do, See, Eat & Drink

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Savannah, Georgia was the very first stop on my 16-day road trip with my best friend Mel. We left our homes in Long Island, NY at 8:30pm and drove straight down through the night and morning until we finally arrived in Savannah about 14 hours later.  

WATCH OUR ADVENTURES IN SAVANNAH BELOW:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vwDyHehNSU[/embed] Based on all of the places we went, sights we saw, and things we did, I put together a little guide to Savannah, Georgia including where to stay, what to do, what to see, what to eat, and what to drink (as well as how we liked all of the above). 

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed for four nights and three days in a cute, quaint Airbnb carriage house located directly across the street from historic Forsyth Park. Our apartment was also extremely haunted but that’s beside the point. 

 
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first stop 📍

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 The wallpaper was quirky with cartoon flowers all over it, and the carpet was funky and colorful. It was modern in design, fully functional with pots and pans for cooking, and a book loaded with recommendations of things to do in the area (of which we took full advantage). The place was a short 10-minute walk from nearby restaurants, shops, and sights and about a 30-minute walk to River Street.  Altogether with cleaning and service fees, the Airbnb cost $477.67 for three nights. If you’re wondering where to stay in Savannah, an Airbnb is a good choice if you prefer privacy but you can definitely find a hotel in a centralized location for a comparable or lower price. 

WHAT TO DO, SEE, EAT, AND DRINK

 

Food & Drink

 Tequila's Town Savannah Georgia - Tuna, Veggie, Shrimp TacosTequila’s Town: try the shrimp, veggie, and tuna tacos, and get a pitcher of peach margaritas.Lizzy’s Tequila Bar & Grill: awesome peach and black raspberry margaritas.Lulu's Chocolate Bar Savannah Georgia - toasted almond Kahlua drink and dark chocolate covered strawberriesLulu’s Chocolate Bar: the toasted almond iced coffee with Kahlua was phenomenal and so were the dark chocolate covered strawberries.Jen’s and Friends: I didn’t order anything here because I was too drunk but Mel got the lavender lemon drop martini and said it was amazing.The River House River Street Savannah Georgia - blackened Mahi Mahi sandwich with friesThe River House: highly recommend the blackened Mahi sandwich and the Shrimp Po’ Boy.  

Shops & Stores

 Savannah Bee Company Savannah Georgia - raw honeycomb apple cheese sampleSavannah Bee Company: delicious honey in multiple flavors. After trying the honeycomb, cheese, and apple sample, Mel and I each bought a raw honeycomb to take home… AND we adopted bees for $1Nourish: homemade soaps, bath, and body products that smell good and are fun to try. Brighter Day Natural Foods: in an effort to save some money, we decided to go food shopping and cook a couple of meals. Brighter Day is the mom-and-pop equivalent of Whole Foods with healthy and yummy sandwiches, salads, and groceries.Savannah Candy Kitchen Savannah Georgia - world famous pralinesSavannah’s Candy Kitchen: this place is known for its famous pralines -- and oh my god, they did not disappoint. If you go to Savannah, you HAVE to go try a free praline sample. The Coffee Fox: we both ordered Georgia Peach tea and brewed it in our own super cool mugs while we sat in big, comfy chairs and people watched through the windows.Leopold's Ice Cream Savannah Georgia - pistachio and butter pecan ice creamLeopold’s Ice Cream: home of THE BEST ice cream I’ve ever had in my life. I’m lactose intolerant and this stuff didn’t even make me sick. I got pistachio and butter pecan ice cream. A+ 

Tourist Spots & Sights

 Historic River Street in Savannah GeorgiaRiver Street: historic River Street was full of fun shops and restaurants. It was really cool walking around and enjoying the riverfront views and touristy stores. We strolled down River Street with margaritas in hand because you can do that in Savannah (which is the best thing ever).The Waving Girl Statue: in the wise words of Mel, “Florence Martus AKA “The Waving Girl” was a hopeless romantic who greeted every ship that came through the Port of Savannah for 44 years because she was waiting for the sailor she fell in love with to come back to her. To no surprise, she died with a broken heart. Don’t worry Florence, we got drunk in front of your statue in your honor.”Old Town Trolley Tours: we stayed on the trolley for the entire duration of the tour and it was extremely worth the $33. We saw tons of sights and learned a lot about Savannah’s past and culture.Jones Street Savannah GeorgiaJones Street: check out Jones Street if you want to appreciate some gorgeous trees and architecture.

 
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Wormsloe Plantation: originally greeted by an arched gateway which leads to an oak tree lined alley, this historic plantation was one of the most fascinating parts of our stay in Savannah.American Prohibition Museum Speakeasy Savannah GeorgiaAmerican Prohibition Museum: I think this is the only prohibition museum in the United States, and it’s packed with facts, photos, videos, and information about such a wild part of our country’s history. Be sure to hit the internal speakeasy before you leave (just don’t get the Mary Pickford because that drink was gross).Forsyth Park: located right across from our Airbnb, this was the first spot we checked out. The trees, gardens, fountain, and statues were so nice.

 
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The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: this cathedral is BREATHTAKING. I’m not religious but I was in complete shock at the insane architecture within and on the outside of this building.Squares: Chippewa, Oglethorpe, Johnson, Wright, Madison, Lafayette, etc. The famous bench from Forrest Gump is located in one of these squares, which we tried to find and couldn’t. We also had a heart-to-heart in one of them which you can watch at the very end of my vlog above.Georgia peach in Forsyth Park Savannah GeorgiaAnd of course, before heading to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, we finished our trip by enjoying two ripe Georgia peaches in front of the fountain in Forsyth Park. I highly recommend you eat a peach while in Savannah -- they 100% live up to their expectation. 

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful town full of interesting history, incredible architecture, gorgeous trees, and chirping cicadas. I visited knowing absolutely nothing about it and left in awe of all of the information I learned throughout our stay. It was super fun adventuring around and exploring the area without any expectations of what we were going to see and what we were going to do. The open alcohol rule was a major plus -- I don’t think I’ve ever publicly walked around with a drink in my hand before so that was fun. All I know is that I will definitely be back again someday and I’m looking forward to when that time comes. The place is definitely haunted considering it’s literally built upon burial grounds and overfilled cemeteries but I didn’t get any bad vibes from it (except in the bathroom of our Airbnb… some shit definitely went down in there). Oh, and I’m still craving those tacos from Tequila’s Town and the pralines from Savannah’s Candy Kitchen. View of colorful houses from Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia If you ever visit Savannah, I hope you get to experience all of the wonderful things we did during our stay. If you do, please let me know in the comments below! Also feel free to tell me what we forgot to do and what I’ll have to check out next time I go back.  Thanks for reading! Happy traveling. :) 

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Guide To Savannah, Georgia - Where To Stay, Where To Go, What To Eat, Drink, See, And Do

How Lyme Disease Has Changed My Life

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Not many people know this, but I have Lyme disease. I was bitten by a tick while hiking a trail in Cold Spring Harbor back in September and was diagnosed with Lyme about a month later in October.  Long story short, the tick was burrowed inside the inner calf of my left leg for about a month before it was extracted, which, thankfully, is short enough to avoid any serious long-term damage but, unfortunately, long enough to cause some health issues. As a result, the way I live my everyday life has drastically changed -- from the foods I eat and the drinks I drink to the way I exercise, the amount of stress I can handle, and the amount of sleep I need every night.  Imagine being sleepy but you’re not able to drink tea or coffee to wake you up. Yeah, that’s how I feel every day of my life.  In case you were wondering, Lyme disease is no joke... and it absolutely sucks. 

First Things First… What Is Lyme Disease?

 Lyme disease is a tick-borne infectious disease (I believe it’s also considered an autoimmune disease). The most common tick species which carries the Lyme bacteria is the deer tick (or blacklegged tick), and they exist in different sizes -- nymph ticks are tiny, specifically about the size of a pencil tip, whereas adult ticks are larger and more visible.  Once bit by an infected tick, it releases and transmits the inflammatory disease into your body in the form of spiral-shaped bacteria called spirochetes. These spirochetes penetrate deep into your muscles, nerves, and tissues -- all of which can potentially degenerate and become disabled without immediate, strong, and effective treatment. Fun fact: Ticks are not considered insects. They are actually classified to be arachnids like spiders. Fun fact #2: They are the worst. :') 

Ingrown Hair Or Tick: An Idiotic Autobiography By Yours Truly

 So here’s my story.  Last September, I went for a hike with Mel and her dog Ozzy. We hiked an entire trail over in Cold Spring Harbor right by the water. When we finished, we checked ourselves for ticks. Neither of us found anything at the time, but I got bit by a tick that would end up giving me Lyme disease.How Lyme Disease Has Changed My Life hawk + pearl The day I got bit by a tick. Cold Spring Harbor hike with Mel and Ozzy, September 2017 

*WARNING: UPCOMING TMI ABOUT REMOVING THE TICK*

 A few weeks later, I mistakenly thought the nymph tick burrowed into the inner calf of my left leg was an ingrown hair. When I pulled it out with a tweezer, the ingrown hair didn’t really look like a hair at all (and that’s because it actually had a body and legs).  A day or so after its removal, my calf grew inflamed. The removal site became surrounded by a big, red, circular rash (AKA the quintessential “bullseye” rash symptom from Lyme which I mistook for irritation from my poking and prodding). Then it started to pus. Thinking it was fixable, I applied some Bacitracin and a band-aid over it and hoped for the best.  Then came the symptoms.  

What Were My Symptoms?

 Shortly after, I started to feel really ill. I thought maybe just my iron level was low, but then that illness proceeded to get worse each and every day -- and that’s when I knew something was seriously wrong.  Here are a few of my more prominent symptoms: 

  • Shortness of breath: I would be out of breath after getting up to go to the bathroom.

 

  • Bruising: I had insane bruises on my body, all of which took forever to heal.

 

  • Irregular heartbeat: My heartbeat was irregular and extremely fast even when sitting still.

 

  • Extreme fatigue: I was SOOOOO TIRED. I’m always shot, but I was literally glued to my couch and grew more tired at the thought of moving. I couldn’t even get out of bed in the morning.

 

  • Poor brain function: My brain also wasn’t working right. I couldn’t concentrate or speak in proper sentences and I struggled to find the right words to say.

 

  • Poor vision: I was having trouble seeing straight. My vision was so blurry, and I couldn’t focus my eyes.

 

  • Decreased appetite: I went from being a girl with an insatiable appetite who went to bed excited to eat breakfast in the morning to someone who had to force herself to eat throughout the day. THIS was one of the main telltale signs that something was wrong.

 

  • Numbness, pain, and tingling: Finally when I started feeling pain and numbness in my tongue, joints, legs, arms, and other extremities, I knew it was time to figure out what was going on once and for all.

 So with a push from my coworker, I went to a local blood doctor on my lunch break... and thank god I did. 

The Diagnosis Process

 At the doctor’s office, the nurse drew a million vials of blood and took a bunch of vitals. A few days later, the doctor called me while I was on my way to work and he said, “so your iron level is low, but everything else came back normal.” Yay! Then he casually asked, “also, do you know you have Lyme disease?”  That’s how I found out I had Lyme disease.  I obviously said no. He acted like it was no big deal and called in a prescription to my pharmacy... and that was that.  After we hung up, I cried, called my parents, broke the news to them, and was convinced that my life was over. I went to work 10 minutes later, immediately told my bosses what was going on, then left to go pick up my medication. 

Antibiotics, Herxes, & Feeling Like Death: The Process Of Getting Rid Of The Disease With Medication

 During the treatment process, you get worse before you get better due to the fact that your body is killing off those toxic bacteria and spirochetes. The die-off of these spirochetes is called a herx reaction, and it literally makes you feel like you’re dying yourself. Related: On Death And Dying I was on extremely strong antibiotics (I believe Doxycycline?) twice a day for two weeks. Research states that a typical Lyme treatment cycle is about 3-4 weeks of non-stop antibiotics or even a steady antibiotic drip IV in the hospital.  A few months and more blood work later, my doctor said I was okay and didn’t need to come back anymore. It’s been 3 months since I’ve last seen him.  

How Does Lyme Disease Affect My Everyday Life After Treatment?

 So, what’s it like living with Lyme disease? It’s been about 7-8 months post-treatment, and I feel 1,000,000x better. However, Lyme never truly goes away or leaves your system, so now I’m left with lingering side effects and a changed lifestyle.  Here’s how Lyme has impacted my life every day over the course of the last few months: 

  • Diet: I try to eat an anti-inflammatory diet. I can’t eat white bread/rice/sugar/flour, processed products, or sugars. If I eat like shit, I feel like shit. Too much alcohol can also be detrimental to my health and even trigger my depression. Oh, and I can’t drink caffeine anymore either. I MISS TEA AND COFFEE (RIP to the container of dark roast Trader Joe’s coffee grinds wasting away in my kitchen cabinet).

 

  • Sleep: I need a lot more sleep in order to feel okay -- specifically about 7+ hours every night. If I run on less than 7 hours of sleep, I will be absolutely drained throughout the day.

 

  • Energy: I regularly have low energy and I fatigue easily (easier) when exercising. When training BJJ, I lose my breath and have to sit on the wall to catch my breath after going live with one or two people. My friends say I’m just out of shape, but it’s due to my Lyme.

 

  • Emotions: I feel more chronically depressed and overly emotional.

 

  • Stress: Stress affects me more seriously. I have to keep stress levels and negativity in my life at a low or else I can have a symptom flare-up. If I’m super stressed, I can become really sick.

 

  • Everything else: I still get random numbness every now and then. I still get really bad headaches. My vision is still blurry, so much so that I have to wear my glasses all of the time. I have a horrible memory (even worse than before). I still can’t recall the right words to say and I take a while to complete my sentences. I might have actually become a space cadet.

 Although my experience has had its fair share of issues, I am beyond grateful to be impacted on a much smaller scale compared to those who have gone undiagnosed and untreated for months or YEARS and ended up with serious, chronic medical complications as a result.  

What Helps To Relieve Lyme Symptoms?

 Thankfully, there are certain things I (and you!) can do to lessen the burden of living with this disease. Here are some therapeutic things I’ve found that help to relieve my Lyme symptoms and decrease the frequency and amount of symptom flare-ups I get: 

  • Eating a clean, anti-inflammatory diet
  • Exercising in moderation
  • Keeping active
  • Being happy
  • Doing things I enjoy
  • Drinking alcohol less frequently
  • Drinking water and staying hydrated
  • Medical marijuana (beware of your state's laws regarding cannabis)
  • Cutting out/down my sugar intake
  • Cutting out caffeine entirely
  • Decreasing my stress load
  • Increasing the amount of sleep I get

 Overall, I’m just trying to live my best life as healthy and happy as possible. My mom recently told me not to go hiking anymore because I could suffer from a major flare-up if I get another tick bite. Of course, I understand her concern because she’s right, and that’s a scary reality I have to face, but I refuse to accept that option. I won’t let Lyme disease ruin my life or prevent me from doing the things I love, because life is too beautiful to be destroyed by living in fear of risks and things out of our control. How Lyme Disease Has Changed My Life | Morgan Mandriota hawk + pearl Thank you for reading my story. If you have been affected by Lyme, please feel free to share your experience in the comments below. Also, if you have any questions about what Lyme disease is or want to talk about something I’ve mentioned in this post, please don’t hesitate to ask or drop a note below.  

REMINDER! Please be safe when hiking, and always, always, ALWAYS check yourself for ticks after going through grassy or wooded areas. Nymph ticks are TINY! Enjoy the outdoors but be careful.

 Here's a helpful tool to use if you're ever concerned you may have been bitten by an infected tick: Lyme disease checklist from lymedisease.org. You Might Also Like: 3 Positive Habits That Will Change Your Life 

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How Lyme Disease Has Changed My Life | What is Lyme Disease? How does it affect daily life? What relieves Lyme symptoms?

How To Make Healthy Fried Rice (Recipe With Video)

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Fried rice is one of the most satisfying meals of all time, but it tends to be full of butter, MSG, and other not-so-healthy ingredients if you order it at a restaurant or hibachi place -- so just make it yourself! This healthy fried rice recipe is very easy to make with only a few ingredients that are organic, clean, and delicious. It’s basically a knockoff hibachi fried rice recipe. [embed]https://youtu.be/hVep5u-rGYg[/embed] 

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this healthy fried rice recipe:

*Serves about 4 (unless you’re like me and eat 6 bowls by yourself, then it serves 1.5) 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil1 tsp minced garlic2 cups brown rice1 whole organic yellow onion10 organic white button mushrooms5 green onion shoots3 organic large brown eggsGarlic powder (to taste)Black pepper (to taste)Himalayan pink salt (to taste)Organic coconut aminos (to taste)  Healthy fried rice recipe ingredientsI do most of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, so I purchased all of these ingredients from there (with the exception of spices from Whole Foods). You can obviously buy yours anywhere but I highly recommend TJ’s for affordable and healthy food shopping.  

Here are the instructions on how to make this recipe:

1. Measure out 2 cups of brown rice into a measuring cup then pour contents into a pot of boiling water. Let the rice cook while you prepare the rest of the meal.2. Pour extra virgin olive oil into a pan and heat using low-medium heat. Add 1 tsp minced garlic to pan. Simmer until garlic goldens and browns, then turn heat off so the garlic doesn’t burn while you prepare veggies.Golden brown garlic in extra virgin olive oil3. Chop up one whole organic yellow onion then add to the pan with EVOO and garlic. Keep pieces big and chunky so you can taste them. 4. Wash, de-stem, and chop up 10 organic mushrooms then add to the pan with EVOO, garlic, and onion. Keep pieces big and chunky for the same reason.5. Add spices (black pepper, garlic powder, and salt) to the mushrooms and onions to taste. Sauteed organic onions and mushrooms with spices6. Wash and finely chop up 5 green onion shoots. Add to the pan with EVOO, garlic, onion, mushroom, and spices. Increase the stove heat from low-medium to medium-high.Chopped up green onions scallions on cutting board7. Move the veggies to one side of the pan leaving a space to crack open 3 organic large brown eggs directly onto the pan. Break the yolks using a utensil, then stir until thoroughly cooked. Once the eggs are completely cooked, proceed to mix the eggs with the rest of the ingredients in the pan. Let sit for a few minutes so flavors blend. Eggs and vegetables in a pan8. The rice should be fully cooked by this point. Push the eggs and veggies to the sides of the pan to create a hole in the middle, then pour the rice into that hole. For some reason, I’ve found it’s easiest to stir everything together by going from the outside rim inward toward the rice (as shown below and in my video shown above).Cooked vegetables and eggs in pan9. Stir all ingredients for about 5 minutes until everything is well blended. Add one more round of spices to give it one last kick of flavor before dishing out into a bowl.Healthy fried rice recipe10. Stop stirring once the eggs turn brown, all moisture in the pan is absorbed, and the rice is less fluffy and more crispy or “fried” in texture. Pour into a bowl and top with organic coconut aminos (soy sauce substitute) to taste, serve, and enjoy!Healthy fried rice recipeThat’s it! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below if you wind up making this recipe. Also feel free to ask any questions if you have them. Don’t forget to LIKE my video and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel to stay updated on new videos and recipes like this one!  Thanks for reading, and good luck in making your healthy fried rice dish! Happy (and healthy) eating. :) YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Healthy, Easy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats Recipe

SISU Aero NextGen Mouthguard Review

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I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu back in January, and I instantly became hooked (no pun intended). Since BJJ is a high contact, grappling-based sport, half the class always wears a mouthguard. I never really felt the need to wear one when drilling or rolling -- until I got a knee to the face and my first busted lip. Later that night, I asked around to find out which brand mouthguard is the best for BJJ. Gladiator, Impact, and SISU were the most common recommendations, but I went online to research for myself. I scoped out a bunch of different brands to see the benefits of each mouthguard, prices, reviews, and even checked out the /r/bjj subreddit to see what everyone else is using. After hours of researching (and debating which color I should choose*), I purchased my very first SISU Aero NextGen mouthguard. Stuck between the new Awesome Aqua and Purple Punch, I went with the Purple Punch color to match my favorite black and purple gi.

Why I Chose The SISU Aero Nextgen Mouthguard

The SISU mouthguard sold me for a few different reasons.

  • It’s custom-moldable up to 20 times so it will perfectly fit your teeth and mouth
  • It’s affordable (I spent $24 including tax and free shipping on Amazon Prime)
  • SISU offers $35,000 in dental coverage should you experience any damage while wearing their product
  • It’s super-thin and doesn't distort your mouth 
  • You can talk and pronounce Ss without lisping while wearing it
  • You can drink while wearing it
  • You can breathe while wearing it (breathing is always a big plus)
  • There were a ton of positive reviews online
  • The mouthguards are BPA, phthalate, latex, and PVC-free!

 

The Molding Process

Even though the instructions were easy to understand and complete, I’m a bit of a ditz so I had trouble molding the mouthguard. I heated up water in my tea kettle and poured it into a ceramic bowl about four times because I just couldn’t get it to become soft and pliable. It turns out you need to use REALLY hot -steaming hot- water (the instructions aren’t kidding)... then you can finally bend it over your teeth and mold it properly.  Overall, the process of molding the SISU mouthguard over my teeth was simple and only took a few minutes. Anyone who can read instructions should be able to complete the process with ease. 

No Bad Chemicals!

I LOVE the fact that there are no bad chemicals in this product. I’m big on the organic, chemical-free lifestyle, so this was a huge plus for me. It comforting to know that the mouthguard I’m using three to four times a week isn’t releasing toxins into my body.  

How Does It Fit?

Really well and very comfortable. It’s so tight-fitting (or just so well molded ;)) that it won’t come out unless I manually take it out. You can’t even tell I’m wearing a mouthguard until I open my mouth. My lips aren’t protruding or distorted when I’m wearing it, which is awesome. I don’t lisp when talking, I can drink water easily, and breathing isn’t an issue at all. SISU Aero NextGen Mouthguard Review 

Final Thoughts

It’s been about three weeks now and I’ve been using my SISU mouthguard while rolling nonstop. It fits like a glove, I can drink, speak, breathe, drill, and roll in comfort. On my first day using it, I got kicked in my jaw and my mouthguard caught all of the force. Even though I had a bruised chin, my teeth were fully intact, so this mouthguard totally works. It feels good knowing my teeth are protected from unexpected knees and other accidental blows to the face (and if any damage was to happen, the peace of mind of $35,000 dental coverage is priceless).  Overall, I can confidently say I love my SISU Aero NextGen mouthguard, and I highly recommend it to anyone who trains jiu-jitsu or any other similar-level contact sport. Click HERE to check it out on Amazon. * Be careful when considering different colors because some are more expensive than others. For example, Intense Red is $19.90, Hot Pink is $22.25, and Charcoal Black is $24.97.  DISCLAIMER: I may receive a commission if you purchase a product using one of the affiliate links found within this post. Clicking these links will not in any way affect the amount you pay.

An Open Letter To Every Love Lost

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This letter is dedicated to every person I’ve fallen in love with, to the close friendship that ended, to the one I steadily dated, to those who came into my life and stayed for only a little while, to all of the ones I thought were “the one,” to the ones who broke my heart, to the ones that healed my heart, and the rest who hold a special place in my heart. I’m an empath, and I feel too much. I have a brain overflowing with memories from yesterday and years ago that get stuck on replay from time to time. I fall head over heels for strangers in grocery stores and the people I swipe right on dating apps. It’s both a blessing and a curse.  If we haven’t talked in a while, chances are I think about you more than you think I do. To be honest, I probably think of you regularly -- maybe even daily. If I hear a song that reminds me of you or a moment we shared, I’ll get that sudden punch-to-the-gut and choke-in-the-throat feeling. I might fight to hold back tears or even skip the song if it hurts too much. I might smile and laugh to myself. I might do all of the above. (do I sound psychotic yet?) Well, I believe you came into my life for a reason. Whether you made me learn a valuable lesson, showed me something new, brought me to a new place, or taught me a new skill -- whether we ended on civil terms or one of us is still blocked on social media, know that I appreciated and still appreciate you and what we had.  The end of our relationship may have been hard to get over -- hell, it still hurts to think of some of you. It’s hard to “get over” people you care about. We had amazing times together. We made memories and shared stories and life goals and dreams and fears with one another. We traveled far and wide and sang in the car on the top of our lungs. We stayed up late and talked until early morning when we had important things to do the next day. We got drunk and confessed secrets and poured our hearts out and laughed way too hard over the dumbest shit. Even though that’s all behind us now, we had a fucking blast. So, to all of you, thank you. Thanks for showing me that I can learn to trust again, smile again, laugh again, and love again. It may not have worked out between us, but one day it will work out for you, and it will work out for me. You might have already found a new best friend. You might have already found the one. Maybe someone who treats you better than I did; someone who loves you harder than I could; someone who gives you what I couldn’t. Whatever you find, whoever you keep, I hope you get what you deserve and you are truly content with what you have right now… and I hope you’d wish the same for me.  Love always,

People Are Freaking The F*ck Out Over Taco Bell’s New “The Belluminati” Commercial

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Okay, first things first... if you haven’t already heard, Taco Bell is going to start serving nacho fries. *YASSSSSSS*  After breaking the news to my coworkers, one of them mentioned how the Internet is currently freaking out over something else T-Bell related -- and not in a good way.  So apparently Taco Bell released a (funny and clever) new commercial announcing their 20 new dollar-menu items while simultaneously mocking the Illuminati, calling themselves “The Belluminati.” The commercial contains blatantly obvious references to the Illuminati, the triangle, the number 20, the dollar bill, etc.  [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vZBHfyq3TE[/embed] Whereas most people would be like “lol hey, that’s pretty clever” and then move on with their life (and immediately drive to their nearest Taco Bell location), you’d be surprised at just how many people are doing the exact opposite and are absolutely flipping the fuck out over this creative campaign. It’s been called “satanic,” “evil,” and “disgusting,” among other things, like “human sacrifices 1 beef chalupa at a time.”  LOL Here are 19 intense comments made by people who are freaking the fuck out over this new Taco Bell commercial: **NOTE: Although some of these comments are religious in nature, I am NOT condemning religion or anyone’s beliefs. I am, however, showcasing comments that stood out to me made by those who have openly expressed their “disgust” for this commercial and the brand, which perfectly capture just how enraged people are over this situation… like, it has literally escalated to an issue of conspiracy and a boycott of parent company Pepsi (when the message is a BLATANT parody of the Illuminati).  So, yeah... Taco Bell has definitely sparked an outrage. Anyways, if anyone needs me, you can find me at my local Taco Bell drive-thru line once it stops snowing and I can get out of my apartment. Until then, enjoy reading the comments on the YouTube video and tweets on Twitter. That’s what I’ll be doing. What are your thoughts? Is this commercial clever or “terrifying”? Let me know in the comments below!

33 New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Set And Keep

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It’s almost time for those “new year, new me!” social media posts, amirite?!  Rather than being one of those people who brag about how they’re going to drastically change then end up stuck in the same exact spot (or worse) come year-end, it’s time to start thinking about goals you really can achieve and things you really can do to live a better life this upcoming year.   From managing your finances and improving your health to living a more positive lifestyle and building better relationships, here are 33 New Year’s resolutions you can actually set and keep in 2019: 

Finances

33 New Year's Resolutions You Can Actually Set And Keep | Finances | hawk + pearl1. Start managing and tracking your money.

On January 1, 2016, I started tracking every single dollar I spent, earned, and saved in a self-created spreadsheet. Call me psychotic (it’s fine, I do it all the time), but I highly recommend everybody does this to get a better handle on where their money comes and goes.

2. Check your credit card statements before paying every month.3. Pay any outstanding bills that have been weighing heavy on your mind (and start paying your bills on time).4. Don't spend more than you can afford.5. Earn more money by selling things or starting a freelance gig.6. Save more money, even if it’s $1 a day. 

Health

Healthy New Year's Resolutions | hawk + pearl7. Cook at least one meal a day.8. Stop eating as much fast food (or, better yet, completely stop eating it).9. Eat more fruit and vegetables.10. Drink more water.11. Exercise more often.

...AKA the classic NYE resolution. If you hate the gym (like me!), sign up for classes somewhere else, or buy a bike, or go for walks, or do sit-ups on your bedroom floor. Just do something to get more active.

 

Lifestyle

Lifestyle New Year's Resolutions | hawk + pearl12. Take an online course to learn something new.

Learn a new language or a new skill (try using Babbel, Lynda, etc.).

13. Extend your vocabulary by learning a new word every day.14. Cut back on the amount of time you're on your phone.15. Cut back on the amount of time you're on social media.16. Start fact checking things before automatically sharing them on social media.17. Spend more time in nature, even if it’s going on a walk or bike ride around your block once a week.18. Use your manners more often.

Say “please” and “thank you.” Stop interrupting people when they’re talking. Hold doors open for people. Smile at strangers. Life is better when you’re nicer.

19. Practice gratitude more frequently.

Even a simple “thank you” out loud before you go to bed or once you wake up in the morning.

20. Declutter your room, apartment, or house.

Hold onto the things that matter most and have meaning to you, and let go of the rest.

21. Improve your wardrobe.

Donate, sell, or give away any clothes that are outdated, old, don’t fit you anymore, or have been sitting in your closet since you bought them. Then go buy a new pair of socks, a couple of basics, a pair of pants or two, and some new tops. New clothes make you feel like a brand new person.

22. Travel more often, even if it's twice a year.23. Make those doctor's appointments you've been putting off for god knows how long.24. Use a calendar to remember upcoming events, bills, and things you need to take care of.25. Take up a new hobby, or find a way to be more creative and artistic.26. Stop being late (to work, school, plans, anywhere, everywhere).27. Stop bottling things up, even if it’s through journaling or writing your dreams, thoughts, or stresses to get it out of your mind. 

Relationships

Relationships New Year's Resolutions | hawk + pearl28. Stop wasting your energy on people who don't care or treat you poorly.29. Let go of grudges and forgive... even if the person you forgive is yourself.30. Express your love for the people in your life who you cherish more often.31. Spend more time with the people whose company you enjoy most.32. Start communicating better.

Say how you feel, and don’t be afraid to do it either. Best said by “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” (S/O whoever came up with this quote -- Dr. Suess or Bernard Baruch?)

33. Be more kind and loving to others, which will result in more kindness and love toward yourself. In a study conducted by BodyNutrition.org, 500 people answered the question "What have been the biggest obstacles in making your fitness or wellness resolutions regular habits?" and the results are really interesting (and different for women vs. men). Almost 40% of men said work got in the way, whereas almost 35% of women said anxiety and depression was their biggest obstacle. Biggest Obstacles In Making Resolutions Regular Habits - BodyNutrition.org hawk + pearl Whatever the obstacles that are getting in the way of you reaching your goals may be, it's time to assess how to overcome them and become the best NEW YOU you can be in 2019! I hope you can find one thing from this list and try it out this year. If you do, let me know! Whatever you decide to set as your resolution, I hope you have a happy, healthy new year. :) You Might Also Like: Happy New Year: It’s Time To Review, Cleanse & Start Anew

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly Of Living Alone

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Living alone is an absolutely incredible experience. It is one that I strongly believe everyone should have the opportunity to do at one point in their life. It’s wild how drastically different it is living on your own as compared to coexisting with other people, whether family or friends or a significant other. What happens when you live alone? What’s so different? What’s so great about it? Is it awesome? Do you get lonely? This is my shot at describing what it’s like to live by yourself -- the best parts, the worst parts, the pros and cons, the things you do, and the things you realize along the way.  

Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of living alone:

 1. You can take your pants off whenever.Sorry to start off on the no pants note… but it had to happen.2. You can take your pants off wherever.3. You’re able to invite absolutely anybody over at any time.4. You don’t have to answer to anyone.5. You cook at 2:30 in the morning.6. And drink alone until 2:30 in the morning.7. And Netflix and chill alone.8. You bundle up on your couch in a blanket and sweats for hours.9. You walk around naked. Being able to walk out of the shower completely naked for however long you want is unreal.10. You make the rules.11. You buy plants. ...you feel responsible enough to buy and take care of plants! lol12. You kill plants. I recently killed my bonsai plant by placing my space heater on HIGH directly next to it. Sorry, bud.RIP13. You get scared. It can be creepy living alone, especially at night or if you hear a weird sound. 14. You eat like absolute crap.15. You somehow lose weight... then gain it right back.16. You get to decorate and buy home decor exactly like you've always dreamed of doing.17. You learn how much different it is to food shop for one person as opposed to 3-5 people.18. You learn which foods you have to eat in what period of time to avoid them going bad.19. You waste a lot of money on food that will go bad.20. You buy and burn a shit ton of candles.You'll never have enough candles.21. You (temporarily) brag.“My apartment…” “I miss my apartment” “I lo0ove my apartment” “My landlord...”22. You dress like an idiot.Because who cares? No one’s going to see you.23. You chill on the couch for an entire weekend because you can.24. You hibernate. For days... like your friends will call you out on and be pissed at you for all your Snapchats of your TV from your couch.25. You leave dishes in the sink.26. You feel irrationally empowered taking out your own garbage.27. Your place becomes the new go-to hang out spot with your friends.28. When people come over, you want them to get the fuck out so you can be alone.29. But you get sad when people leave. Really sad.30. You get lonely. Really lonely.31. You feel awesome. Really awesome.32. You hate yourself for waiting as long as you did to move out on your own.33. You feel like a boss paying rent every month.$$$$$...and sigh about how much money you’re throwing away instead of saving every month.34. You quickly realize the value of money.35. You feel adult and old.36. You begin to cherish and enjoy your personal time and space.37. You feel a sense of accomplishment.38. You are truly proud of yourself.39. You are independent.40. You are free.God, it feels good too.41. You realize all of these things.42. ...then you remember you have to clean... and vacuum, wipe down windows and mirrors, do laundry, do towels, clean the shower... and the toilet.Ugh. What did you realize once you started living on your own? Did you start doing something you never did before? What’s your good, bad, and ugly of living alone? Let me know in the comments below! You May Also Like: 17 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self

10 Best Snacks From Trader Joe’s

in

So I’m obsessed with Trader Joe’s. I’m not kidding. I love food shopping there so much that you might find me happily strolling through the isles of my local TJ’s on a Friday night.  I’ve decided to list a few of my favorite snacks from Trader Joe’s that I keep stocked in my apartment at all times. Not only are all of these delicious but they’re actually pretty healthy for you too -- except #3 and maybe #5. 

Here are the 10 best snacks from Trader Joe’s (listed in no particular order):

 

Just Beets Chips

Trader Joe's Just Beets Dehydrated Beet Chips | hawk + pearl

Just Beets chips are literally exactly that -- just dehydrated beets. Yummy, light, and sweet with no extra filler or unnatural ingredients.

 

Whole Grain Crispbread

Trader Joe's Whole Grain Crispbread | hawk + pearl

This is probably my absolute favorite Trader Joe’s snack (or breakfast). These slices of “bread” are crunchy, packed with seeds, delicious, and really messy. Eat carefully and have a napkin nearby.

 

Gummy Bears

Trader Joe's Gummy Bears | hawk + pearl

Source: Sometimes Foodie

These are the best gummy bears in the entire world. Like I literally go through a bag every other day. It’s actually pathetic, and extremely unhealthy, but they’re so good that I don’t care... although I probably should.

 

Organic Edamame

Trader Joe's Unsalted Edamame | hawk + pearl

This edamame is an awesome snack or side paired with TJ’s gyoza.

Beware: Make sure to get the unsalted edamame in the purple bag (shown above). Sometimes I think quick and grab the green/blue bag which is lightly salted -- not that it’s a big deal, but edamame tastes just as great (and is healthier) without any added salt.

 

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups | hawk + pearl

These guys always win me over while waiting on line to pay. I couldn’t find a photo of the little bag of demons I usually buy at the register so this picture of a tub of dark chocolate PB cups will have to suffice.

 

Pumpernickel Pretzel Sticks

Trader Joe's Pumpernickel Pretzel Sticks | hawk + pearl

Pumpernickel pretzels ruined my life because now I can’t ever eat another regular pretzel for as long as I live. I’m willing to bet one bag of these pretzels that if you try them then the same thing will happen to you.

You’re welcome, and I’m sorry in advance for ruining your life.

 

Honey Whole Wheat Pretzel Sticks

Trader Joe's Honey Whole Wheat Pretzel Sticks | hawk + pearl

Second best pretzels. Pumpernickel still takes the cake but honey wheat is a close contender.

 

Contemplates Inner Peas Baked Green Peas

Trader Joe's Contemplates Inner Peas Dehydrated Peas Snack | hawk + pearl

This might be more of an acquired taste snack because any normal human that I share these with hates them. However, I am no normal human and I love dehydrated vegetable snacks… so these dehydrated peas easily make my top 10.

 

Organic Dried Mango

Trader Joe's Organic Dried Mango | hawk + pearl

Organic dried mango was my #1 OG TJ’s snack back when I first started shopping there. Still my go-to years later. However, this is a seasonal item so it’s not always in stock.

 

Simply Lite Dark Chocolate Bar

Simply Lite Dark Chocolate Bar | hawk + pearl

Although this isn’t a TJ’s original, it’s still a staple purchase for me. With no added sugar and a rich, dark chocolate taste, it’s such a good snack to keep in the house (or in your work bag so you don’t get tempted to eat the candy that sits around in the office all day like me). The dark chocolate bar with almonds is also fantastic if you’re a fan of nuts.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Have you ever tried any of these Trader Joe’s snacks? Do you like any other treats from there that I didn’t list here? If you liked this post, would you want me to write another post listing my favorite groceries that I buy from TJ’s? If so, let me know in the comments below. :)

 

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BEST SNACKS FROM TRADER JOE'S

 

The Impact Of Social Media & Technology On Our Generation

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Californication’s Hank Moody said it best: HM: People seem to be getting dumber and dumber. You know, I mean we have all this amazing technology and yet computers have turned into basically four figure wank machines. The internet was supposed to set us free, democratize us, but all it's really given us is Howard Dean's aborted candidacy and 24 hour a day access to kiddie porn. People... they don't write anymore, they blog. Instead of talking, they text, no punctuation, no grammar: LOL this and LMFAO that. It just seems to me it's just a bunch of stupid people pseudo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people at a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the King's English. Interviewer: Yet you’re part of the problem -- you’re out there blogging with the best of them.  HM: Hence my self-loathing. (Love that man. If you’ve never seen the show, then you’re missing out.) Just a decade or two ago, all of these social media apps and sites and modern-day struggles were nonexistent. Now, the majority of our generation (and the generations preceding and following) are obsessed--maybe even addicted-- to our cell phones, laptops, tablets, and computers.  People cross streets and walk through parking lots with their eyes glued to their phone, unaware of potentially placing themselves in danger of a moving vehicle. Friends party together yet spend the entire time documenting their experience through their camera lenses, adding photos and videos to Snapchat memories rather than making real ones. Couples go out to eat together and lay in bed beside each other in silence, connecting with anybody inside the little rectangle in their hands but the one directly in front of or beside them. Mothers and fathers drive around while their child rides along in the passenger seat, avoiding conversation at all costs, staring into an abyss of an online social life that’s falsely illusioned to be reality. It’s disturbing to watch happen in public. It’s also extremely bothersome when the person you’re with is doing it. It’s even more painful when you realize you’re at fault for doing it too. Sure, technology has drastically improved our everyday lives in ways -- that I won’t argue. The world of tech, software, and digital marketing has created millions of jobs across the globe. I earn my living by working from a laptop 50+ hours every week and witness first-hand how digital utilities save us an insane amount of time and energy in completing tasks that would’ve taken 5x longer if done manually.  New inventions are created every single day that positively impact us and our environment. From gasless cars to medicines that cure the previously incurable, to tunnels that transport vehicles across cities in no time (shout out Elon Musk), to 3D printing, VR headsets, and beyond. Social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tinder, and Bumble enable us to connect with people we wouldn’t have been able to connect with without it. Just by performing a simple name search or swiping to the right, relationships can form and long-lost friends and family members are able to find and communicate with one another. We can literally form bonds with anybody through dating apps, even those who live 500 miles away. It’s so easy to swipe and see who’s out there and meet people we wouldn’t have met otherwise without these platforms.  But what happens when you match somebody? Who messages first? Do either of you even message at all, or do you linger in each other’s inbox collection of the unpursued? How long do you take to respond? Who stops answering first? Who wins in the contest of giving the least fucks? Or rather who loses in the contest of giving the least fucks?  In a recent conversation, my coworker who’s in her mid-forties had said she could never have survived the dating world as it exists today. Similarly, here’s a text conversation I just had with my mom when asking her to help me pick a featured image for this post:  Although her suggestion was more appropriate, for some reason I chose a photo of a photo of a sunset. We live in a time when Facebook comments are equivalent to personally reaching out to someone via phone call or an in-person interaction; when the amount of likes you receive on your Instagram selfie validate your worth and give you a false sense of fulfillment; when “good morning” texts with kissy face and heart emojis show more affection than actually spending quality time with each other.  When does this stop? How does this stop? When do we take a step back and realize how dependent we’ve become, and when do we do something about it? Have our lives been simplified to the point of no return? Can we even return?  I don’t know, but what I do know is that I’m over this generation’s, yes, including my own, reliance on technology. It’s time to put our phones down and out of sight and truly live life through our own eyes and not through our cameras. It’s time to have conversations and make real-life connections rather than digital ones. I don’t know what it’s going to take to make this happen, or if it even can happen at this point. All I know is that it’s about time for a change, and that time is now.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, HAWK + PEARL!

in

Today officially marks one year since I launched hawk + pearl. ONE WHOLE YEAR. 365 DAYS. 52 WEEKS. 12 MONTHS. THIS BLOG HAS BEEN LIVE FOR THAT LONG. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? When I started this project, I was sticking out the latter half of my two-weeks notice at a full-time job (which prompted me to write this post: The “American Dream” Is Not A Dream At All). I was pretty confused about my future but I was good -- and I was super excited to finally start this blog and have a home for my personal writing once and for all.   Over the past 365 days, I've learned so much about writing and the power of connecting with others through words. I've also learned a lot about myself and have grown both mentally and emotionally in the process. It’s so wild to re-read old posts and re-experience moments of happiness and heartache and analyze how I’ve chosen to convey my feelings during those times through what I’ve written. Whether through writing or photography or whatever best suits you, I highly recommend finding a way to document your own thoughts and experiences... it's actually really awesome.  I could go on and on about how time goes so incredibly fast and blahblahblah, but I’ll spare you. Reflecting on this past year, here's what I feel is most important to say: To every single one of you who have ever read a post of mine, and to those of you who have made it a point to come up to me in person or text me or write to me and say you love my blog and read every post… from the bottom of my heart, and with my whole heart, THANK YOU! Your feedback is what motivates me to continue writing and keep this thing going (although I don’t publish nearly enough as I’d like to). I appreciate you beyond what any words or blog post could ever express.  So cheers to another year of experiences that inspires content that enables us to connect a little bit better. Cheers to supporting each other’s creativity and decisions to pursue what we love. Cheers to endless possibilities and awesome opportunities. Cheers to a happy, healthy, and successful future. Cheers, and with so much love, thank you again. Morgan --- Here are some of my favorite blog posts from this past year:4 Lessons Learned From My Recent Trip To Florida17 Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger SelfWhat It’s Like To Not Be A Party Girl On The Weekends, Or Ever Here are some of the most popular blog posts from this past year:Bumble BFF App Review: How My First BFF Date Went DownHarry Potter Fan Creates The Ultimate HP Monopoly-esque Board Game Called "Pottopoly"On Death And Dying 

On Death And Dying

in

How can life bless us with something as warm and beautiful as a sunset, yet give us something as harsh, cold, and incomprehensible as death?  That’s what this post is about in one 140-character sentence that’s small enough to fit within a tweet. I received a phone call today from one of my favorite college professors. I know he hasn’t been doing well, so the news shouldn’t have been a shock, but nothing hurts your heart quite like hearing the words “I’m dying” after asking how somebody you care about is doing.  As I heard his words and my brain registered their meaning, I had locked eyes upon the blossoming cherry tree standing tall outside my bedroom window. Its branches filled with hundreds of pink and white colored flowers are the epitome of the arrival of spring, yet somehow in that moment, it felt like fall. On Death And Dying | hawk + pearl Even in his current state of health, he set the time aside to call and extend an invite to his home so he could let me raid his bookshelves, because he knows just how much I love to read. How could someone as thoughtful as this be caused so much pain? How could someone so special and kind and full of life be robbed of the opportunity to experience old age and watch his grandchildren grow up? Why was he forced to retire from the job he loved so much in exchange for a new full-time position battling terminal cancer? After hanging up the phone, I went to the lake in an attempt to clear my head. I stood there, watching the sun set and the waves rush back and forth to and from shore, while simultaneously frozen, staring off into space. A million thoughts bounced around in my brain, but I couldn’t seem to focus. The wind was cold, piercing through my thin, black cardigan, but somehow, I didn’t feel a thing. On Death And Dying | hawk + pearl Standing below the color-changing sky, I found myself asking why. It’s hard to grasp the fact that once we “go” we’re gone forever. How is it possible? How is it possible to be here one moment and not the next? Why do the good ones go first and the bad ones outlive the rest? Why do the most loving people go through the most heartache? Why? Why? Why? The universe doesn’t burden us with anything we can’t handle, but something I’ve struggled with is the concept of death and dying. “You’ve seen too much of this in your life, too young,” my mom said when I told her the news -- and I guess maybe I have. I’ve lost pets, relatives, my first grade teacher, a friend while in high school, a close friend while in college, my grandmother, an ex-boyfriend, and now I’m about to lose one of my favorite college professors. Everything seems so trivial when faced with death. Text messages and Snapchats unanswered, an argument with a friend over something stupid, the asshole who cut you off on your morning commute to work -- what’s the point of stressing over such miniscule, unimportant “issues” when they aren’t even “issues” at all? What’s the point of stressing when you’re taking your breaths for granted while others are fighting to take their last? When none of that shit matters and it’s all about the little things like how much love you gave and acquired, how many sunsets you’ve watched, how many hearts you’ve healed, how many laughs hurt your stomach and teared your eyes, how many stars you’ve counted, how many smiles you’ve inspired, how many lives you’ve touched?  Some things we’ll never understand. Some things we’re not meant to understand. I am a firm believer in the saying “Everything happens for a reason” but sometimes those reasons will never reveal themselves. We can only hope that it’ll all make sense in the end. Until then, we have to keep our heads high and our spirits higher and pray it’ll all be okay, which it will. We just have to keep faith and keep on going and keep living life to the fullest every day while we’re granted the blessing to live.

How Is It Possible To Balance Life, Work, And Play?

in ,

I went out yesterday with a bunch of people I hadn’t seen in awhile, including some who asked how my blog is going. Although I regularly receive a nice flow of site traffic and positive feedback from readers, I found myself responding negatively to their question.  Technically, it’s going well, but the truth is that I’m slacking... hard. The truth is that I find myself too caught up to write on a regular basis anymore. It’s been almost two full months since I wrote and published something on here. Finding topics to write about isn’t even the problem. I have a million things floating around in my brain, but somehow I can’t bring myself to sit down and actually dedicate the time to getting it out of my head and onto this site to share with you guys.  That’s what brings me to write this post.  As time goes on, we accumulate an ever-growing list of things we’ve brushed off that should have been taken care of a long time ago. Days turn into weeks, which turn into months, and before we know it, we’ve procrastinated to the point of complete disregard.  Whether it’s a writing a blog or making a phone call or scheduling an appointment or making the time to see somebody or do something, we get so caught up in the everyday routine that an inconsiderate amount of time ends up passing by. It’s easy to say life gets in the way, which it sometimes does, but there must be a deeper reason that lies behind the excuses.  Why are we not making time for what we really want to or need to be doing? Why do we fall victim to the excuse of being “too busy” to get something done? How do we balance life, work, and play? How are we supposed to balance responsibilities with hobbies and a social life and everything else life throws our way without losing our minds or failing to do what we love? Is there a set way to accomplish this, a tip to use, or a simple rule to follow that helps make this possible? Maybe we don’t prioritize things the way we need to, and our real priorities take the hit as a result. Maybe we work too hard then crash when we finally get down time, and wind up never getting around to doing the things we know we should. In order to fix this, maybe all we need to do is sit down and figure out what and who is most important and deserving of our energy rather than coming up with faulty reasons as to why they don’t, then make sure they receive the proper amount of attention from that point forward. If we care about something or someone, we make the time, we put in the effort, and we get shit done -- no excuses.  Maybe this isn’t a universal issue and I’m the only one struggling with this. Who knows? What I do know is that I have a really blessed life, and I’m grateful for everything and everyone in it. I'm especially thankful that my inability to publish a blog post every week is the driving cause of writing this article and not anything more serious. I just can’t help but wonder if it’s possible to easily balance life, work, and play while still being able to have time leftover at the end of the day.  Thanks for reading! If you relate to this post or not, please let me know in the comments below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

3 Positive Habits That Will Change Your Life

in ,

Hi, all! I hope you’re doing well and your new year is off to a happy and healthy start. We’re already approaching the end of February, which is insane because I feel like the year literally just started. I wanted to take the time to share some things I’ve been doing this year that I feel you should be doing as well. These three habits that I recently picked up have helped me live a better life in regard to my finances, my mentality, and my goals, and I’m writing this in hopes that they’ll do the same for you. 

Here are 3 positive life-changing habits you should pick up as soon as possible:

 

1) Create and implement a monthly spending budget.

 Whether you want to understand where your money goes each month or you want to start saving better, the best (and only) way to do it is to follow a strict spending budget. Want to go on vacation but don’t have the funds? Go out to eat or drink too often and need to adjust your priorities? Have a bad shopping habit and need to reel yourself in? To create a budget, all you have to do is take an hour or two to sit down and lay out how much you can afford to spend on what every month as compared to your income. At the end of every month, assess how you performed and re-evaluate as necessary. (In my first draft of this post, I laid out my entire how-to on creating a budget but realized it was way too long. I’ll be posting it in the future in case you want to keep an eye out.) Being able to visualize exactly what you spent your money on helps you to adjust your spending habits, spend smarter, and save better. By doing so, you’ll be able to afford that vacation or purchase that high-priced item a lot sooner. 

2) Maintain a checklist of things you want to do and goals you want to achieve.

 I have a vision board in my bedroom hanging directly behind my desk (where I typically sit when I’m in my room). Here’s what it looks like:Vision Board Photo l Morgan Mandriota l hawkandpearl.comIt’s extremely large (36” x 24”) and full of notes, photos, and to-dos. I have pictures of my family on the left, inspirational quotes and photos in the middle, and goal/visualization photos of cars/homes/other things I want on the right. Across the bottom of the board is a large section dedicated to my to-dos. My main “To Do List” is located in the most visible spot in front of where my seat is (the white sheet of paper shown above), and it lists my short-term goals (to complete within 1-6 months) and my long-term goals (to complete within 6-12 months). Additionally along the bottom are tons of post-it notes created on-the-fly that are pinned in any open spot with ideas to research and things to take care of sooner than later. I update this section regularly. Why do I do this?Being able to SEE what you need to do or work for is key to getting it done. Whenever I finish a task or achieve a goal, I cross it off the list. Reminders that I have to succeed and reminders that I have already succeeded are motivation for me to keep going -- this is what keeps me on track. What do you have to do to make a vision board?Buy a large poster board and fill it with everything mentioned above (or whatever you want). Check Pinterest for ideas from other boards. Above all, make a checklist of the things you want to do, places you want to go, and the goals you want to achieve by year’s end. I promise it’ll help you make it all happen. 

3) Focus on your well-being and improving your overall quality of life.

 How’s your year going? If your immediate thought was that the year is going well, then good for you! If your answer is anything less than that, it’s time to make changes. It’s time to start focusing on yourself and improving your quality of life. How can you do this? Do any or all of the following things: Surround yourself with as much positivity as possible.Eliminate toxic people from your life.Focus on growing within your job.Treat yourself every now and then (whatever this means to you).Eat those cookies but also get to the gym. Spend some time in nature once a week.Spend less time on your phone and on social media.Listen to good music.Cook more.Eat better food and drink more water.Do what makes you happy.Be with people who make you happy.Be the type of person who makes you happy. It may be difficult to make the necessary changes in order to live a better life, but complacency kills. Comfortability is nice, but pushing the boundaries and exploring new possibilities is nicer. Take better care of yourself so you can take better care of others. Do what you have to in order to put yourself closer to (or at) the top of your list of priorities and watch everything else fall into place. Not happy? Become so. When you become happy, life becomes a lot more enjoyable in return. And that’s it!  I know this was a long post -- I’m a wordy person -- but I hope you see value in what I’ve written here and you’ll implement these three changes to your life as necessary. If you enjoyed this post, please share on Facebook and Twitter so we can all start living better this year and moving forward. Also feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Thanks for reading. :) Related Post: 25 Natural Stress Therapies That Don’t Require Medication 

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3 Positive Habits That Will Change Your Life

Snow Day Playlist: 12 Of My Favorite Songs To Listen To Lately

in ,

Disclaimer: This is a compilation of my favorite songs as of late. By “snow day playlist,” I’m referring to a list of songs that I’m playing on this snow day that I think you should be listening to as well.  It’s snowing outside. It’s cold. We’re stuck inside (I’m not off from work, but that’s what happens when you work from a laptop for a living). You’re probably bored. Let’s listen to some music. 

Here are 12 songs that are perfect to listen to on snowy days like today:

 

“Electric” by Alina Baraz & Khalid

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwWrSR8SFEc[/embed]Easily my #1 song that I've had on repeat lately. 

“Pulling Me In” by Phantoms

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=preDQQSo168[/embed]This is the newest song from the boys in charge that was just released last week. They teased this song when I saw them live back in December, and the official track does not disappoint. 

“Deadwater” by Wet

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV7ufuW0VFY[/embed]Nice, chill track for snowy weather. 

“I’ll Be Your Reason” by Illenium

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Cu-OS5zhA&feature=youtu.be[/embed]I've seen so much hype about Illenium all over the internet. I finally caved in and gave his music a shot and came across this song. IT'S SO GOOD. 

“Ocean Eyes” (Blackbear Remix) by Billie Eilish

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQeQepATL_c[/embed]If you don't listen to Blackbear, you should. 

“Everything” by SMNM

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12JqqH2ubr8[/embed]When I first heard this song, I couldn't stop listening. I've slowed down a bit but it's still great to jam to on days like today. 

“Best To You” by Blood Orange

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACinCwmWalY[/embed]I had initially been introduced to Blood Orange a few months ago and haven't gotten sick of this song yet. 

“Love Is Alive” by Louis The Child & Elohim

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5VX4K85p4Y[/embed]Actually heard this for the first time last night. Newly obsessed. 

“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yW7w8F2TVA[/embed]Perfect love song for a snowy day. 

“Jesus Christ” by Brand New

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjPyvoLXPs4[/embed]Oldie but goodie. 

“Love On Me” (Vibelingual Remix) by Galantis & Hook N Sling

[embed]https://soundcloud.com/vibelingual/love-on-me[/embed]Click here to read my write-up on this remix! 

“The Little Things” (Kasbo Remix) by Big Gigantic & Angela McCluskey

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWBWrqaNdQ[/embed]Last but not least! "It's the little things in life that I feel." (Whenever I hear this song, I think of you, Steve Larsen.)  For more music like this, follow me on Spotify! I’ve created two playlists with these songs and similar ones called ‘Good Jams’ and ‘Ain’t Like The Others’ that you’d probably enjoy if you like the songs I listed above. 

20 GIFs That Will Perfectly Sum Up Every Part Of Your Monday

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Happy Monday, errbody!  

Here are 20 GIFs that will perfectly sum up every part of your Monday (specifically if you work Mondays):

 

When your morning alarm goes off 

All images used from GIPHY 

When you finally muster up the strength to get out of bed

 

When you take that first sip of coffee

 

When you start your morning commute

 

10 minutes into your morning commute

 

When you walk into the office

 

When you’re drowning in assignments mid-day and decide to have a third cup of coffee

PS: If anybody knows where I can find this mug, please let me know so I can buy it.

 

When you realize there’s only an hour left before you leave work for the day (but you still have so much work to do)

 

As soon as the clock strikes 5PM

 

When you start your evening commute

 

10 minutes into your evening commute

 

When you take that first step through your front door

 

And you get to relax for the first time all day

 

When you remember you still have to cook dinner, do laundry, go to the gym, feed your pets, prepare tomorrow’s lunch, and run all the errands you’ve been putting off for the past month

 

When you get in the shower after the day is done

[embed]http://giphy.com/gifs/pCz1Mfcjx6g36[/embed] 

That moment when the day comes to a close and it's time to get into bed

 

The *sigh* when you set your morning alarms

 

When you swear you’re just going to sleep and NOT scroll through social media on your phone for an hour

 

When your eyes are too tired from looking at memes and unimportant tweets and Facebook statuses and you NEED to pass out

 

That moment when you finally close your eyes and get to dream about all of your big plans, goals, and fantasies that you’ll get around to fulfilling tomorrow... or this weekend… sometime... maybe.

...aaaaaaaaand repeat straight through to Thursday night. Thanks for reading! Like what you read? Subscribe or leave a comment below. If you related to this post, please give it a share on Facebook or Twitter. :) 

Pornhub Launches Free Sexual Education Platform

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"Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby": Pornhub Launches Free Sex Ed Platform, Pornhub Sexual Wellness Center

 When you recall your experience with sexual education, what comes to mind?  When I think about sex ed, I recall awkwardly sitting in my high school health class surrounded by a group of other awkwardly sitting students, all of us afraid to contribute to an awkward discussion led by an older, out-of-touch teacher on how to put on a condom and avoid dying from STDs. In one word, the whole thing was just entirely, brutally, painfully awkward. Side note: yes, my district waited until I believe about 10th grade to teach us about sex, meanwhile 75% of my peers were already giving hand jobs and fucking behind the bleachers during school football games. Whether we share a similar experience, you browsed through an encyclopedia, talked to older friends/family members, watched porn, or did some online research, you were probably still left with some important questions unanswered. Well, fortunately for generations to come, this will no longer be the case. No more “the Birds and the Bees” talk with your parents. No more surfing the web trying to find valuable, ACCURATE information. No more awkward health class discussions (well, maybe).  Announced this past Wednesday, Pornhub, one of the most popular pornography websites on the internet today with over 70 million daily users, has officially launched a free sex ed sub-platform.  As the website header states, it is a place for “real talk about sex from those who know it best.” Led by sex therapist Dr. Laurie Betito, the Pornhub Sexual Wellness Center is designated to serve as a reliable digital resource for users of all ages to ask questions, receive advice, and learn about safe sex, sexual health, and relationships.  [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwq6EPO4vMY[/embed] With new content published every week, sexperts from all over the world will be sharing tips and information on topics ranging from STIs and STDs to human sexuality, how to build trusting, healthy relationships, and more. The site has two main categories so far titled “Get Healthy’ and “Sexuality” with subcategories like “Your Body,” “Real Talk,” “FAQs,” and “Reproductive Health.” Betito will even be hosting weekly Q&As to answer any questions the community may have.  While browsing the site’s feed of content, here are some of the blog titles I saw: “You Now Have Fewer Reasons To Avoid Having Period Sex”“What Is Consent?”“Achieving Enduring Love And Intimacy.”“How To Have Safe Sex”“Top Erotic Positions For Lesbians” If that doesn’t run the gamut, I don’t know what does. All I know is that I’m planning to subscribe and become a regular reader of PHSWC. Congrats, Pornhub! Not only are you a leader in the porn world, but now you have closed the century-long chapter of ineffective sexual education and opened the door to a future of easily accessible, expert-level answers, discussions, and information for people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, and levels of experience.  Happy learning and safe sexing, everyone! Thanks for reading! What do you think about the Pornhub Sexual Wellness Center? What was your experience with sex ed? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to share this post on social media if you enjoyed it or found it interesting. **I created the featured image on this blog post and is not allowed for reuse without proper accreditation. The icons used in the picture were designed by Freepik, Zlatko Najdenovski, Vectorgraphit, Madebyoliver, and Gregor Cresnor from Flaticon.

4 Lessons Learned From My Recent Trip To Florida

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Last week, I went down to Florida with my mom to visit my grandpa. We haven’t been down there in a while, so it was nice to not only get out of New York for a bit but to also spend quality time with him (which I’m sorry to say doesn’t happen often enough). I’ve been so caught up with working full-time again (one reason why I’ve been slacking on here) and doing a million other things that I haven’t had a chance to breathe or think.  During our four-day getaway, I finally had time to reflect -- and now I’m setting aside the time to write about my reflections and share them here with you.

 

Here are four lessons learned from my recent trip to Florida:

 

1) Family is irreplaceable.

4 Lessons Learned From My Recent Trip To Florida | hawk + pearlYou only get one family. Duh. However, it’s not that black-and-white. You are brought into this world and thrown into living with a group of people without choice. Sometimes you don’t get along with your family members, and I’ve found that’s fairly common. But sometimes you're lucky and become best friends with your siblings, cousins, and/or parents, and that's something special beyond comparison. Keep in contact with your loved ones and regularly tell them how much they mean to you. Hold them close, cherish the memories, make new ones, learn from them, and always kiss them hello and goodbye. You never know what tomorrow will bring. You only get one family.  

2) Love is the point of life.

4 Lessons Learned From My Recent Trip To Florida | hawk + pearlMy grandpa is 88 years old now (or 88 years young, rather -- he might have more energy at 88 than I do at 24). Any time and every time I see or speak to him, he never fails to remind me just how much I mean to him and how much I meant to my grandma (may she rest in peace) as well. If I had to, I couldn’t count how many times he’s told me the story of how they sold their place down in FL a few months after I was born just so they could watch me grow up... I couldn’t count how many times he’s described his six-decade-long fairy-tale relationship with my grandma and how lucky he is for striking jackpot twice in finding happiness again with his new girlfriend... I couldn’t count how many times he’s told me how much he loves me and my parents and my siblings... ...and every single time he does, I can’t help but smile nearly to the point of tears. “We’re something,” he said this week, as he spoke of the amount of love in our small family -- and we sure are. Love is the point of life. It truly is. There is absolutely nothing that compares and brings joy to a face like that which is brought about by love. Pure, happy, TRUE love.  PS: That's a photo of my grandparents from back in the day. Is that not the best thing in the entire world? 

3) Travel more often.

4 Lessons Learned From My Recent Trip To Florida | hawk + pearlLife is too short not to experience it to the fullest. At times, it tends to become a routine of work, work, work, go to the gym, squeeze in time to see your friends and family, shower, prepare tomorrow’s lunch, try to fall asleep before midnight, repeat, and stress in between -- but that’s not a life at all. It’s time to book more vacations and quick trips both local and far to see the places you’ve always wanted to see. It’s time to stop worrying about how much it’ll cost to take off and do it. You need to just DO IT. And last but not least... 

4) Stop stressing.

4 Lessons Learned From My Recent Trip To Florida | hawk + pearlSitting in a window seat of a plane, looking down on the thousands of tiny, sparkling city lights, I couldn’t help but think about how minuscule our seemingly monstrous problems truly are. We tend to get so caught up in our daily lives that it becomes practically impossible to see outside the box. We become consumed by our thoughts and fail to realize that our issues don’t matter NEARLY as much as we perceive them to. Stop stressing and start smelling the roses. There are infinity things to take for granted and an equal amount for which to be infinitely grateful.  If you read this far, thank you! This was more of a personal post/diary entry than anything else and I hope someone somewhere reads it and takes something away from it.  Remember to keep your loved ones close, love more and more often, travel far and wide, and stop worrying so much. Life is way too short to do otherwise. 

12 Simple Ways To Be Less Of An Asshole While Driving

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The roads are loaded with ignorant, oblivious idiots who don’t look, don’t move, and don’t care. Are you sick of sharing the streets with these dopes? Because I am. You’d be surprised about how many ways there are to decrease your level of shittiness and become more of a decent driver. To avoid writing for a decade, I’ve comprised a short list of essential tips for anyone in need of some driving assistance -- you’re welcome.Without further ado, let’s get started! 

Here are 12 simple ways to be less of an asshole while driving:

 

1. Don’t cut people off if you don’t have to.

Sometimes it’s inevitable, but if there’s literally a mile in between that person and the next car behind them, just wait three more seconds and pull behind them. 

2. Similarly, let people get in front of you once in awhile.

If you’re not in a rush, it won’t kill you to let someone get in front of you. I promise you’ll get to your destination around the same time. Furthermore... 

3. Allow people to merge ahead of you.

See #2. 

4. Lay off your horn.

Whether it’s 0.5 seconds after the light turns green or for some other irrelevant reason, nothing grinds my gears more than someone honking their damn horn. Stop it. Just stop it. 

5. Speed up when merging onto the highway.

“On” ramps are designed for you to increase your speed to merge with traffic. Do not brake. Step on the gas and GO. Upon successful merge... 

6. Drive faster than the minimum speed limit on the expressway.

It’s called a MINIMUM speed for a reason. You’re allowed to go faster… actually, you’re encouraged to go faster! However, if you do plan to drive less than the average speed limit, at least get in the right lane. Which flawlessly leads us to #7... 

7. If you’re going to drive slowly, get out of the left lane.

It’s actually a pretty simple concept. Right lane: slow lane. Left lane: fast lane. Got it? Great. Let’s move on. 

8. Use your blinker.

Most cars, with the exception of high-class vehicles like BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, were designed with blinkers. These fancy contraptions are not only for directional purposes, but they’re also safety features. Use them. 

9. Don’t ride someone’s ass when they’re doing the speed limit.

Okay, if they’re going super slow, then fine. But if you’re on my ass and I’m keeping up with traffic, I’m intentionally going to drive slowly just to piss you off (which may contribute to being an asshole while driving, but hey, it’s well-deserved). 

10. Let pedestrians cross the road.

I’m guilty of not letting people cross the road when they’re not at a crosswalk, but I always let them go when they are. ESPECIALLY if it’s raining, hot, or unpleasant outside, let pedestrians cross. You’re sheltered inside of a vehicle. They’re not.  And last but certainly not least are these two key points... 

11. Get off your damn phone.

With the wide array of advanced technologies we have now, including but not limited to smartphones with voice-to-text accessibility and Bluetooth devices, there is absolutely no reason for you to have your phone in your hand while navigating a vehicle. Whoever is on the other end can wait for your reply. Keep your eyes on the road. Seriously.   

12. Don’t drink and drive.

It may be safe to say that we’ve all been there -- after a drink or two (or maybe even more), we’ve gotten behind the wheel. Well, STOP IT. DON’T DO IT. It’s not worth incriminating yourself and endangering the lives of others. Request an Uber. Call a cab. Have a DD. Just don’t drink and drive... please.Whether you are an asshole driver or you know someone who is, I’m sure you know at least one person who could stand to take a look at this list. So please, share this post and spread the word, and maybe together we can make the roads a better place with fewer shitty people.