Being Bold: The difference confidence makes

Lately, I've been feeling kind of like a lost puppy. I had this vision a few months ago of how my life would be right now. Since that golden ideal formed in my mind, it's done nothing but divert and crumble and fall apart. Or at least, that was what I thought. As a result of things not going exactly according to plan (i.e. I don't have a killer job lined up to start the day after graduation and my own place ready to be moved into and a puppy all picked out) I began to think that I was a giant failure. That somehow, despite my hard work and passion for what I want to do, I messed up. I did something wrong or didn't do enough or just plain failed.

Well, over the last few days and a whole lot of stress, I have realized that thinking I'm a failure is just ridiculous and dwelling on this inaccurate thought was doing nothing but make me, in essence, fail. By not believing I could do what I wanted, worked, and set out to do, I was disabling myself from that even being a possibility.

Some of my favorite seniors in my department at our senior luau last night

After talking with some people in the industry that I really admire and one of my advisers who I can never thank enough for all he's done for me, and discussing with some of the amazing, brilliant classmates who are in the same position I am, I realized something.

All those dreams I have, they didn't just go away, and all the work I put into them doesn't just disappear or not matter anymore. It matters just as much as when I put the effort in. The difference is - I stopped being bold. I stopped believing that I could do what I wanted because I faced a little rejection.

So not me. So here's the thing. Be bold, people. If you want something, do everything you can to make it happen. And if it doesn't happen, keep trying. Keep working, and don't take no for an answer. Being bold is believing in yourself. Being bold is having the confidence that all the work you put in does matter. Being bold is being willing to show people that you want to make a difference for them, that you are the right person to make the difference they are dying to see.

I have done some bold things this week, and I feel better with every bold thing I do. I feel the strength coming back to me and the dreams becoming vivid again. It's all within my reach. I just have to grab it. And I'm willing to build whatever ladder or contraption I need to to get me there.

What are you doing to be bold?

There's a week until I WHAT?! Thoughts on graduating college

Gah. Ugh. ACK. O. M. G. All reactions I've had in the last 48 hours as I realized... my college career is actually, essentially, over. In one week, I will be on the other side of college graduation with a degree and a whole world of opportunities just waiting for me to take them.

It's wild, really. The whole, "the world is your oyster" feeling. It's actually kind of paralyzing. When so many choices are thrust upon you, how do you pick a direction to take? Which road do you start walking down, and how, if ever, do you know if it was the right choice at the right time?

Fun Fact: YOU DON'T. And that's pretty freaking cool, actually.

The next week holds a whole load of crazy from picking up my cap and gown to attending the premiere of a short film a lot of my friends worked on this month to a senior pig roast, a senior luau and about fifteen hundred other things, here's some posts I have related to all too much lately.

Mashable Graduation Day GIFs:

http://mashable.com/2013/05/19/graduation-day-gifs/

BuzzFeed's 6 Reasons Why Graduating College Sucks: 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/allit86/6-reasons-graduating-from-college-sucks-8u6i

Alternatively, looking forward to my career, BuzzFeed's 15 Signs You Work in Advertising (also known as all the reasons I WANT to work in advertising)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/raremethod/15-signs-you-know-you-work-in-advertising-afi9

David Foster Wallace's Commencement Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmpYnxlEh0c&feature=player_embedded


So yeah, prepping for graduation. It's going to be one hell of a crazy ride. For those of you out there who are college graduates - what's your biggest tip to survive this week and the craziness that is the job search afterward?

The Return of Torie - and a Brand New Design!

Well, hello there blogland.

Lattes and Love has gotten a new face lift thanks to the amazing, incredibly understanding, and ever lovely Chelsea of Olive and Ivy.  And it got its face lift just in time.

Consider this the rebirth of Lattes and Love ladies and gentlemen (this is me pretending there are any gentlemen out there reading).

I've got a brand new focus, a brand new perspective and whole heck of a lot to say. And I want to hear  from you all, too! I want to know what you're thinking, what you want to see on here, and if you have any ideas to contribute, I'd love to hear those as well!

Life is about to get all kinds of crazy and awesome and I can't wait to share it with you.  So here's to the next  adventure, and the one after that. Here's to all the fashion, the caffeine, the writing, the travels, the lessons and all the moments in between.

Welcome to the new Lattes and Love. I hope you'll stick around awhile, I'd sure love to get to know you a little better.

And just as proof that I'm still alive, here's a picture of me in a fanny pack to smooth things over.

Uncertainty and beauty

Things are so much brighter than I imagined they would be given my state of mental and emotional chaos a few weeks ago. It's funny how they say hindsight is 20/20, and I think the perspective gained from writing new chapters in our lives is both inspiring and necessary.

Everything, and I do mean everything, before me is uncertain. The only thing certain is the diploma I'll receive at the end of May. I'm not sure where I'll be living, where I'll be working, what I'll be doing, or who I will be doing it with.

Uncertainty like that used to terrify me. Really, it did. I used to balk at the idea of not having a two, three, five, and seven year plan. I used to cringe at the thought that everything would not go according to what I had laid out in my head. Type A didn't even begin to describe me. But the harder I tried to control, the more things went wonky. That was when I realized something big. I had become so obsessed with an image of what I thought should be happening in my life that I had let that image take over. I'd lost myself to that image and become a stressed out shell of the happy woman I knew I was meant to be.

photo by my lovely friend Honor Heindl

So, instead of clinging to a plan that was never going to help me realize my full potential, I decided to embrace the uncertainty and all the opportunities it afforded me. It was a rocky start, and I wanted so badly to cling to the familiarity of the plan I'd had, even if it would have sent me spiraling into the funk I had determined to claw myself out of.

And now, the uncertainty is kind of beautiful. I re-found the Torie that had been missing, the version of me I love best. I re-learned how to look out for myself and do the things that make me happiest, simply because they make me happy. I feel lighter than I have in months and ready to tackle whatever beautiful, crazy things life throws at me next. Funny how uncertainty ends up being just the thing you needed to feel centered and like yourself again.

Figuring out "Normal"

Hey peeps. There's tons to talk about what with all this GFC craziness happening and so forth, and we'll get there. I just wanted to let you all know that my world is completely upside down right now.

I'm trying to straighten things out and then maybe I'll talk a little more about it, reflect on it all someday. But for now, just know that I'm thinking of all you lovely people and hope you will continue to follow along while I sort this thing out. I'm working on some post ideas to get things started again.

Crazy how things can just totally shake your sense of normalcy, huh?

Much love to you all, and I will see you soon.

So WHAT Wednesday - lazy break edition

Woah, guys. Why didn't I know about this linkup BEFORE?! It's perfect for my crazy busy mind this week. My brain is typically on overdrive, but it's been especially active this week, so today I'm linking up with Shannon over at Life After I "Dew" for some things I'm just going to let roll off my back today. So you should go link up, too.




Alright, this week I'm saying "So WHAT?!" if:

• I don't know what life will look like in six months - isn't that the beauty of it?
•  I really enjoy watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Jeopardy because they make me feel wicked smart sometimes.
• It just keeps snowing - at least I've got some new fun things to do in the snow like cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
• Workout clothes are my go-to this week. They are comfy AND cute. 
• I haven't really cooked like, at all this week.
• I'm just now realizing that I'm 21 - and that's pretty dang young.
• I don't have it all figured out - who would WANT to have it all figured out already?
• I have watched a sum total of 7 movies this week so far. 

What are you feeling "So What?" about this week? Go link up and let me know! 

My skin care must haves

March is officially here and it brought with it... MORE SNOW?! Ugh. I'm so sick of the white powdery stuff I can't even tell you.

Today, I thought I'd share with you all my favorite skincare products. I've been getting a lot of compliments on my skin/makeup routine lately so I thought I'd break some of it down for you.

First off, I should tell you all that I have very combination/oily skin. It's very high maintenance and if I get off track with my skincare routine even a little, havoc can ensue. After years of testing things ant not loving the results, this has been my skincare routine lately that I have absolutely loved.

skincarelove by bbbraden featuring philosophy skincare

(from left to right) 1/2/3/4/5/6

1. Yes To Grapefruit even skin moisturizer with SPF 15. I've been alternating between two daily moisturizers depending on how dry the conditions outside are. When I saw that Yes To was coming out with a grapefruit line, I got so excited. I love the company's philosophy and how they handle all their PR, but I especially love how committed they are to putting out excellent products that really work. This moisturizer is great for a day to day basis and applies really smooth. It's too soon to tell if it has any effect on my dark spots, but I really like its moisturizing qualities. 

2. Philosophy Turbo C Booster Powder. I'm currently on my second bottle of this and it has changed my life. You just use a little scoopful (the scoop comes with it) in the morning with your moisturizer (you rub it into the moisturizer) and it has made a world of difference in how bright and luminous my skin looks. It's a little pricey, but well worth the tag in my opinion. Plus, my first bottle lasted at least six months. 

3. The Body Shop seaweed mattifying day cream. This moisturizer is absolute perfection for anyone with combo/oily skin. It keeps mine balanced and not shiny pretty much all day long. Plus, it has been working really well with the C Booster Powder. Again, this is a little pricier than your basic drugstore moisturizer, but it's been my experience with skincare that spending a little more is well worth it. 

4. The Body Shop pomegranate firming and refreshing eye roll-on. I only just started using this because I have these annoyingly persistent bags. So it's a little soon to tell on its effectiveness, but I like the cooling effect it has in the mornings. 

5. Lush Ocean Salt. My skin isn't overly sensitive, but it isn't super tough either. When I first got this exfoliating scrub from Lush I thought it was going to be too abrasive to use often. However, I use it almost every night and haven't had any problems with harshness. The oils in it balance it out without leaving an oily residue. I have not had an issue with clogged pores with this and it leaves my skin feeling renewed, re-toned and positively glowing. Plus it's all natural and that is always, ALWAYS a bonus in this girl's book. 

6. Neutrogena oil-free acne wash pink grapefruit cream cleanser. I don't like the other Neutrogena acne wash grapefruit cleansers nearly as much as I like the cream one. It cleans deep and is so soft on my skin. I have gone through about three or four bottles of this and will keep on buying it time and time again because it is my absolute go-to for face wash. It smells divine and most definitely does the job. It helps my skin look more radiant and refreshed. 

So there you have it, my daily skin routine. I will say that since my skincare is so Vitamin C heavy, it is SUPER important that I have an SPF on. It's always important, but if you were to start trying some of these products, I just want to make sure you are aware of the increased sensitivity to the sun that can occur when you start using so many citrus-based products.  

What are your go-tos for taking care of your skin?