Ladies, lets say it together, "I'm not interested."

As I am sure most people my age are, I am in a group chat with my friends. We message mostly in the group chat because its easier than relaying the same thing to five different people, and its way more fun! Throughout the day we send each other articles, funny jokes and pictures, and pins on Pinterest. 

Most of the time they are just for fun. But, sometimes an article or a quote is passed along that is too perfect not to share with the rest of the world-

"Stop Saying 'I Have A Boyfriend'" by Alecia Lynn Eberhardt

http://lunalunamag.com/2013/09/05/stop-boyfriend/

The article discusses her issue with women not being to tell a guy when they aren't interested. She is SO RIGHT! Every time my friends go out to a bar, there is always that sketchy guy or group of guys that won't leave us alone! Unless one of us actually has a boyfriend, I don't think we ever told a guy that in order to get rid of him. However, we aren't always as direct as we should be or use the exact words "I'm not interested." 

In fact, the one time I do remember telling a guy I wasn't interested, he asked me if I had a boyfriend. He didn't walk away or take the "I'm not interested," as a signal that I wanted him to leave me alone. Instead he assumed I was taken and that was why I wasn't interested. I never realized how dismissive he was of my request to be left alone until I read this article. The disrespect men have toward women and their wishes to be left alone when asked, is all over the bars and clubs. This won't become a non-issue until we start demanding more respect. 

so READ the article. PASS it on. and practice it!

xo E

Pretty Little A-nswers please!

Along with thousands of other girls my age, I too watched the finale of Pretty Little Liars last night. I caught on to the show four years ago and read some of the books too. Immediately, I was hooked, the combination of girly cattiness, romance and suspense is perfect! I will admit though, at times it can be extremely far-fetched and I feel like I am growing out of it, especially in more recent years. So, why don't I just stop watching the show? HA. If I could, I would. 

But, if I stopped watching the show and missed out on the big reveal of "A" I would never get over it. I have invested myself too much to stop tuning in every week. If it wasn't for their BIG reveals every few episodes or so, I may have stopped watching it long ago. This single dilemma that I know I share with the majority of viewers is why this show has been so successful. We want to know what will happen next because we have been waiting years- literally YEARS for this show to come to an end. 

I am convinced I will be 80 years old watching these girls get tortured by "A." 

While last night's episode answered some questions, it only replaced those questions with even more new ones! 

Looking forward to the new season coming out in June! 

Blindfolded

I have never been the long-term relationship type. Its not that I am dead inside or anything, but I tend to do better on my own. I have dated and done my fair share of meeting guys and hooking up, but I haven't met that guy I am willing to settle down for. Timing is also a huge factor for me, personally. The early years of your twenties are meant to be fun and wild, and I enjoy the life that I live and the freedom I have living it. 
I am constantly on the outside looking in to my friends' relationships, because thats what girls do, we talk things out. I have come to realize when girls are really into someone or like them or are in love with them, they tend to develop what I refer to as the blindfold. 
Sometimes when we are in a situation, whether that be a romantic one or not, we can get so wrapped up in it and soon we can't even see the situation for what it really is anymore. Or what it may be turning into. When my friends talk to me about these relationships, whether its to ask me for advice or just simply complain, I find it so odd that they can't see what is sometimes right in front of them. 
I have to remind myself they are unable to see this truth because they are in this situation. As a friend, I am constantly struggling with how I should approach this situation. Do I tell them the way I see it and risk hurting their feelings? Or, do I let them get to this conclusion on their own? 
I love my friends more than anything in this world, but in certain situations I don't think there is such a black and white solution to this problem. I think it depends both on the situation and the person. 
I have been in relationships where I know what I need to do, that I have decisions to make if I want to make a change and be happy again. But even though I knew this for such a long time and my friends constantly told me what I needed to do, it took me forever to act on it because I wasn't ready. 
As I get older and learn more through my own past and my friends' pasts, I try to go into any new situation with open eyes, blindfold-free. It can be hard to control that, feelings and emotions can wrap us up into feeling something we never expected to feel - there is nothing at all wrong with this. 
However, the more open we are to a situation, the easier it will be to walk away from it if it doesn't work out. So, try to take a step back and remove the blindfold. Look at your current situation - or whatever it is that is bogging you down - and try to get a new perspective. If anything, to help yourself!


xo E

"I really need a drink"

Life is hard, I don't care what anyone says. 

If it were easy though, I don't think it would even be fun- I mean, that is the point isn't it?

I can do absolutely nothing all day long, lay in my bed and watch documentaries on Netflix. Just the thought of it makes me long for a day off. 

BUT

There is always a but...

At the end of that "relaxing" day, I don't want to get up and go out with my friends. I just want to stay where I'm at, in my bed with my Netflix and snacks. 

On the other hand...

There is always another hand...

At the end of a long day at work or school -or worse, both work and school, all I can say is: 

"I really need a drink."

And there is nothing better than a beer with your friend(s) at the end of one of these days. Not even a day spent in bed watching Netflix. 

We spend the majority of our lives looking forward, making plans, setting goals. There isn't anything wrong with this, and in some cases its necessary and completely worth it. Every morning I set mini goals, sometimes even as simple as remembering to send an email I keep forgetting to send. By the end of the day the only goal I have for myself is to set aside time to relax. Sometimes that relaxation is best spent with my friends and sometimes its best spent alone in my bed. For everyone, that relaxation method is different and the sooner in your life you know what works for you, the sooner you can be the best version of yourself! 

So go ahead, have that drink. 

Tell your friends about your day, laugh with each other and enjoy yourself. 

Because...

Tomorrow will always come and life will still be hard. 

And because of that, you DESERVE a good time. 

xo E