American Horror Story

So I've started to watch this new series, American Horror Story, and boy is it good. It's like a mix of Amityville Horror and The Shining.

Basically, there's this old house from 1922 in which people throughout the years have died in from all the creepy demons and ghosts from within the house. There's so much mystery that keeps me intrigued every second of the show.

American Horror Story also has just the right amount of fear, gore, and psychological thrills that keep me on the edge of my seat. This is the story that has me asking questions and attempting to discuss theories of what is going on in the house. Seriously go ahead and get hooked, it's that amazing.

Doppleganger

Apparently there's an actress out there that resembles me: Jewel Staite, (Firefly and Serenity.) I've been told she does. Does anyone else see it?

Anyone else have a doppleganger?

The Descendants

I recently saw the new George Clooney movie, The Descendants. It's about a father of two girls trying to deal with his wife's affair while she falls into a coma as well as figuring out whether he should sell the land he inherited.

This is definitely worth a few nods for the Academy Awards. Why? Because it's all set in Hawaii. I say that because all the grief that all the characters feel as the wife dies is juxtaposed with the sunny setting and cheerful colors of Hawaii. I'd just like to hop on a plane and head to Hawaii now.

Hot Chocolate

Winter is coming (for all my Game of Thrones fans) since snow already fell in October. So now it's time to crack out the crazy christmas mugs and sip some creamy hot cocoa while the weather gets cold.

Sassy Santa

Around this time last year Gerred and I drove down to the waterfront to watch the sunset one morning. We got there and sat on a bench overlooking the water, but we were too late and we missed it. We decided to just enjoy the morning and we cracked out our silly mugs and made hot chocolate from packets of Swiss Miss and candy canes. Then it began to snow and we continued to sip our hot chocolate.

So I want that kind of magic moment again except this time with real home made hot chocolate. Here's a recipe I've found that I'd really like to follow and add a candy cane or two to.

Ingredients

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch salt

1/3 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

I think I'll even pour some into a coffee mug and carry it around in the mornings. That way it'll look like I'm drinking coffee (even though I don't) so it can give me a certain edge.

"Oh this? It's completely full of coffee because I'm hip to the scene."

Outfit Inspiration

I've been in a jean rut for awhile now. It may be a lack of clean laundry or just the fact that styling different outfits in the morning is not a top priority as the semester comes to a close. But, today I was inspired whilst grooving along on tumblr and found this outfit.

The juxtoposition between glitter and chambray made me fall in love. I had to recreate this outfit. In my own way of course.

Factory Perfect Shirt in Washed Chambray

This J.Crew's factory shirt fits in perfectly into my idea. If I ever go through with this outfit inspiration I'll probably wear my American Eagle chambray shirt though.

City Storyteller Scarf

Instead of paring this with the vest in the picture, I thought why not use a scarf instead with an interesting print. Obviously it's a Madewell scarf since it is my new obsession of scarf lust.

 Glisten To Your Heart Skirt

This Modcloth skirt is a must have. My friend Kelsey got this skirt for her sister and since then I've enjoyed it. And this skirt is certainly on my must have list!

The Archive Leather Boot

Top it all off with leather boots and you have an outfit.

Fleece

With jackets you can either go too thin or too bulky. Fleeces are the perfect in between because they are cozy and easy to just grab and go on the way to class.

The North Face Denali Zip Front Fleece

Quilted Shoulder Shep Shirt

They look so warm and comfy!

Thanks

Thanksgiving time is here. I'd just like to share with everyone what I'm thankful for:

A loving family

Scholarships to Washington College

A warm and cozy bed

College friends

Friends back home

And a wonderful boyfriend (whom I get to spend Thanksgiving with!)

Welsh Corgi

There's one dog that I know I absolutely want in the future and that's a Welsh Corgi. They're just so cute, you have to love them.

Here's some neat things about Corgis

1. Corgis are hearding dogs.
2. According to Wikipedia, Corgis are apparently good guard pets (I guess.)
3. They used to be fairy saddles in folklore.

What?
4. They live 12-15 years.
5. They have stubby legs!

And if you can't get enough Corgis here's some videos for you.

Corgi Flop

Aww

Chestertown

Aileen's sister, Amber, came to visit for the day before leaving for Thanksgiving break. So Emma, Aileen, and I took a trip into town to see what Chestertown had in store.

Our first stop was Play it Again Sam's. It's the cool place to be in Chestertown. It's basically the coffee shop hangout to any TV series.

We had some lunch and told a few stories.

Then it was off to Twigs and Teacups, a store full of quirky little knickknacks.

After our recent encounter of amazing pub food at the Dubliner, we thought this Irish Pub Cookbook was neccessary.

Check out all the cute books!

Aileen and Emma with a few of the odd things in the store.

I got this book because I've been eyeing it for a few years now and thought it necessary to get it. I can't wait to read it over Winter Break.

We all had a lovely time and I definitely got a lot of Christmas shopping out of the way, specifically for Katie and even a stocking stuffer for Gerred.

Dream Home

Sometimes I just like to think of what my dream home would look like. I blame my parents. They dragged me around while they looked at houses. We would drive around neighborhoods and my mom would admire them. They'd even take me with them to visit open houses. That was just their thing and I hated it. But ugh, now I think like that too. I like houses a lot and definitely have a sense of what I want.

 

I want a little white house in a suburban/rural area where I can see grass and trees.

The kitchen needs to be open and have granite counter tops. The reason for the granite is after moving into my house 6 years ago there were green tile on all the counters and walls like a bathroom. It was gross, but the granite we have now is lovely.

For houses, I like color. I like color on the walls or at least in spot color in pillows and curtains. Wooden ceiling beams would also be ideal.

Here's my favorite part. I'd love to have an awesome office that I could use as my photography studio.

I want the bedroom to be just as warm as this room. So that it feels like a home.

The bathroom would be huge and there would be a walk in shower as well.

And I'd love a wrap around porch with a section that's screened off so that I to can sit with my dog and read a magazine without looking at camera.

Most importantly this house overlooks the water. And there you have it my dream house. Of course dream houses don't happen right away. They are there for inspiration in the places you live in today. So I made my dorm room my dream dorm and I am quite happy in it right now.

Jewelry Frame

I've been looking for a way to hang my jewelry in my dorm for awhile now and finally found a way to do it. A jewelry frame. Aileen and I hit up the dollar store to begin our crafting experience.

Materials

Picture Frame

Lace Curtain

Scissors

Cut the lace to fit the size of the frame and pop it in before the glass.

Then you can hang up earrings. It's a nice $2 craft that's quick and easy!

Student Entrepreneur

I was recently featured in the Elm as being an up and coming Entrepreneur for my growing photography business Shannon Kirby Photography. It's nice to be recognized for my work by the college, especially next to Taylor and Leland.

Here is some of what I discussed in my interview:

"I like to bring stories to life through my photos. I think a photo is a representation of creative thought.”

“I have a lot of energy and I bring that to photo shoots. Personally relating to people and putting them at ease brings out the best in them photogenically. I think my background in improv also helps because it enables me to think on my feet and guide people to their comfort zone.”

“I’m accessible. I’m at the college. I offer a discount to students and because I am a student, I’m more sympathetic to and willing to work with their needs.”

You can read the full article here as well as the editorial.

Shabby Apple

Shabby Apple make the best dresses and on top of that every photo of the clothing looks very high fashion and editorial. Sometimes when I'm looking through I don't know whether I'm actually looking at the clothing or the composition of the photo. I mean just look at them:

Quipu

Her posture, the location, the shoes!

Lost at Sea Skirt

How could you not fall in love with this?

Gondola

This makes me want to fly to Italy so bad.

Red Baron

Love the WWI planes!

Jacob's Pillow

So. Whimsical.

Boogie Woogie

This is part of the Jazz Boutique collection. Lighting = Yes!

Shabby Apple's saw "a need in women’s fashion that was not being met. A need to make women feel feminine and beautiful for what they wear, not what they bare." And I whole heartedly agree, you can still dress flirty in these without barring it all.