[1.] Josh Goot dress, $1,013 (I only recently learned of the Australian designer, but I am OBSESSED with all of his pieces. [2.] Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme, $82. [3.] Diptyque Choisya candle, $28/$60. [4.] Kate Spade Pack a Picnic Champagne Box, $98. [5.] Mistral South Seas Bain Moussant, $17.50.

I’ve been really enjoying flowers this month, more so than I usually do. In fact the flowers above were purchased on my way home yesterday. I’ve seen a lot of really amazing dresses and jewelry lately that have me yearning for a tea or picnic. There’s something really special about this time of year, and as a kid I just did not get it. I used to appreciate every other season more than spring, but now that I can do things like pick up fresh flowers just because I feel like it and drink a glass of champagne with a slice of quiche because it sounds delightful, I am beginning to love this time of year. So while this month’s wish list is composed of a lot of florals and spring season luxuries, it’s also representative of how I am figuring out who I want to be as an adult.

It’s so great that we can choose to be the people we want to be and make a life for ourselves that we are proud of. As I think about my future, both personally and professionally, I am constantly evolving and making slight changes to be more of the person I know I am and less of the person others may want me to be. For instance, I have traveled quite a bit and I definitely think learning about other cultures impacts how you live your life. However, most people go on holiday and then come back to live their lives like nothing happened, but I am LOVING the journey and process of visiting new places and bringing a slight part of that experience back home with me.

1. I have a project I am working on that will make its way over here soon; something that I am extremely excited about and I know will have you readers eager to explore new possibilities (especially when it comes to party decor).

2. I’ve been conceptualizing a project with a fellow blogger and good friend of mine, and once we trim the fat, so to speak, we will start incorporating that into our blogs. It will be a completely different type of post, platform and purpose than you have seen here so far, but will still maintain the same personality as the blog. More on that as it develops!

3. So this is quite an interesting concept. If you follow me on Instagram, you will have noticed some cleaner dishes and greener drinks lately (trying to slim down and boost my health) but I have this eager desire to learn how to cook. I blame the man in my life who doesn’t know how to cook, either. Apparently, the idea that I could just hold out for a guy who could cook didn’t work out so well. Anyway, I’ve spent the last few days [including a good couple of hours today] perusing the many recipes on blogs, websites, magazines, and my new personal favorite, cookbooks. I have the cooking bug! But all I want to cook right now are cakes and croissants, both of which I cannot eat while on this health program. Needless to say it’s going to be some time before those make it on the blog with full force, but they will. In fact, I remember mentioning something about this before (after reading a memoir involving food that had recipes throughout). That book was my inspiration for these more recent events, as well, so apparently I should be recommending the book more than anything else. In due time…

So that’s the update! I know it’s a bit of a joy-kill to say I have exciting projects in the works and not reveal, but I am so pleased with what’s to come. I have to say, guys, it’s been a journey to try and hone in on what this blog was going to be, but I’m finally in the right direction. Even if I am taking baby steps along the way.

Considering that today is St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I should probably do a post about Dublin. Now, I was only in Dublin for 36 hours last year, but I made sure to visit places that I had heard so many wonderful things about. When I think back on my time there, it really wasn’t long enough. I could spend weeks, if not months, in Dublin, Ireland. The people are lovely, the food is hearty, and it is a beautiful city. Below are some details that correspond with the photos above.

1 + 3 + 5: All of these photos are from Grafton Street. When I was there, the sun came out after a night of cold rain, and it was so nice to see the many people out shopping and enjoying the nice weather. Those flowers are from one of the many flower stands there, and you can see how vivid the colors are; truly beautiful! Lastly, what would a trip to Ireland be without some traditional Irish dancing? This jolly fella was set up in front of a storefront and had music to accompany his moves.

2: The Jameson Factory. I had never tried whiskey before, and I am glad the first time I tried it was in Dublin, here at the Jameson Factory. My friend and I went on the tour, which included learning about the history and process of making whiskey in the factory, and a nice tasting at the end. I had mine with cranberry juice. The picture is in the lobby of the factory tour, which also houses JJ’s Bar. Here, you can order a number of whiskey tastings, as well as an Irish coffee. Of all my tours in Dublin, this was my favorite.

4: The other tour I went on was at the Guinness Factory. It’s a self-guided tour, and if you buy your tickets in advance, you don’t have to wait in the extremely long line that goes out the door and around the corner. I highly suggest doing that! The tour is interactive, which is great, and takes you all over the building to show the stages of making Guinness. There is even a part of the tour that offers free tastes, or you can opt out of the tasting and learn how to properly pour a pint. At the end of the tour, you can head up to the top of the building, which offers a wonderful view of the city, and get a free pint there, if you haven’t already. I have to say, I enjoyed seeing the factory (the room where the ads are was my favorite, as seen by the picture), but I am NOT a Guinness fan. I didn’t down more than 2 or 3 sips of the brew before I gave up trying.  To each her own, I suppose.

However, [[this is important]] if you are in the Los Angeles area, I HIGHLY recommend finding a Carmela’s Ice Cream location- W. Third St. or Pasadena creamery storefronts, and other specialty stores including Jones on Third- as they have the MOST AMAZING Guinness flavored ice cream that could possibly be made. This, coming from a person who just admitted she couldn’t stomach more than a few sips. GO TRY IT.

6: As a student at university, I don’t think it’s right to visit Dublin and not see Trinity College. We were extremely short on time, so I was not able to do the tour, but next time I am in Dublin I will definitely get inside. The best I did was the lovely courtyard right when you enter the gates. How gorgeous is this? I snapped maybe 8 or 10 pictures of this quad before leaving, and this is the most picturesque one by far. The background is lovely, no one is right in front of the camera, and best of all, I’m not awkwardly posing in the middle. I can’t get over how lovely this looks!

Not pictured:

Temple Bar. I didn’t have a picture of the outside of Temple Bar to include, but everyone knows a stop at Temple Bar is a necessity.

And lastly, my favorite part of Dublin was a sentimental visit: I went to Whelan’s, the pub where P.S. I Love You was filmed. I looked for the picture the cast signed, and I finally found it right before leaving. I took a picture on my phone, and forever will remember that moment. It seems so cheesy, but that is one of my all time favorite movies, so it means a lot to my experience in Dublin, Ireland.

Happy St. Paddy’s Day, everyone!

Here is the original post:

I said in the post that I would be using random.org to choose a winner. So, without further ado….

HERE IS THE WINNER:

Congratulations, Kelly!

I will be reaching out to you on Twitter and Instagram with further details.

Thanks, again, to everyone who entered.

I’m having a case of the Mondays, but it’s not what you think. Yes, it is Monday. Yes, I’m feeling a bit melancholy. But, in this case, the two do not go hand in hand. My flight back from London was on Friday of last week, and since then, I feel like my career goals are at a bit of a stand still. I am so eager to start working on my portfolio and getting my work out there, but it seems as though it is going to be much more difficult than I had imagined. Of course I knew it would be difficult to start out in the journalism industry, but I feel as though it’s not even the bureacracy of the industry that is holding me back. No, I have three projects I am working on right now for both my personal portfolio and course work, and with all three I feel as though the work I am going to produce is not going to be up to par for the dream I have envisioned. So, this post is part rant/part request. I accept my current skill set, and I acknowledge the areas in which I can improve. This said, if anyone in the Los Angeles area with videography/film making skills is interested in collaborating on a project, give me a shout. Blogging is community oriented, right? Well, hopefully there’s a person in the community looking for a short-term project. And on that note…

wishing you a great week,

Adriana

It’s the last weekend of the month, and as such, I thought I would use this post to share a bit about how my month went. February, as mentioned in my last post, is one of my favorite months and one that is full of celebration. I recently celebrated my twenty-first birthday, not once, not twice, but three different occasions with different people in my life. I feel so fortunate to have entered adulthood (because at 20 I still didn’t feel like a full-fledged adult) with such amazing people in my life.

The insta-collage above has a few snapshots from my celebrations. Clockwise: my birthday dinner on Super Bowl Sunday at Pink Taco on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood; bright pink tulips I woke up to on my birthday; my first legal drink in the United States, a Juniper Fusion from Yard House; a gift to myself- a few new beauty products from NARS.

I spent the weekend after my birthday in Vegas where I was able to win a few bucks on a slot machine (beginner’s luck or birthday blessing?). I thought about buying the 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli bag I mentioned on my February Wishlist, but instead, I’ve booked a holiday in the French Riviera this summer with family. It seemed like a more practical use of the money and an opportunity to create some fabulous memories. Such a mature decision; must be my grown-up skills kicking in!

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you will probably have seen these images and a few more from the month, but I thought I would do a recap here, as well. At first I felt a bit guilty about (what seemed like) neglecting my blog. However, had I made more time for blogging this month, I probably would not have had as much time with loved ones celebrating. And the thought crossed my mind at least a few times a week so I’m not too apologetic.

And yet, another absence planned: I’m extremely excited to go back to London next week, as it is my second home at this point. This will be my last post for February.

See you in March–when I will be announcing my February Giveaway Winner!

If you follow me on Twitter (@tweetsbyadriana), then you know I purchased this item almost two months ago. I was just excited about it then as I am now! I have been wanting to do a giveaway for quite some time, but I wanted to find the perfect item and the right time. This is my very first giveaway and I would love feedback on whether you think I should incorporate giveaways periodically or not! Thanks in advance and look below for all the details and rules!

February is a big month for me in terms of holidays and celebrations. Between family birthdays, my own birthday, and national holidays, there is much to be celebrated during February. That said, as I celebrate a monumental birthday in my own life, I thought that one lucky person should be able to receive a gift, too!

So… enter to win this J.Crew Geometric Bouquet Necklace!

To enter:

1. Follow me on Twitter (@tweetsbyadriana)

2. Follow me on Instagram (accordingtoadriana)

3. Comment on this post with BOTH, your twitter handle and instagram name– and then leave a comment about why you love this piece and/or how you would style it

And that’s it!

This giveaway is open internationally, but you must be 18 (or have a parent or guardian’s permission) to enter. I will be using random.org to draw a winner.

Giveaway is open from February 1 until February 28 at 11:59 PST. I will be picking a winner when I return to the states in March, and will announce the winner via Twitter, Instagram, and this post on March 14!

Good luck!

1. J. Crew Cashmere Purl-Stitch Snood in “Hthr Nickel” $250 2. Bite Beauty High Pigment Matte Pencil in “Pomegranate” $24 3. Grey Zebra Hide Beach Towel from Maslin & Co. $225 4. Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in “637 Malice” (Limited Edition) $27 5. 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Satchel in Aubergine $895

February is such an important month to me for a number of reasons. Between family birthdays and holidays, there is no sight of downtime and always plenty to celebrate during February. At first, this was going to be a Birthday Wish List, but then I thought about it and decided to make this a permanent-monthly addition. However, seeing as February is my birthday month, this month’s Monthly Wish List is focused on items I would love to receive as birthday gifts. These would also be high on my list for a lovely Valentine’s Day present.

Back to BLOGSHOP….. Bri and Angela are really patient and sweet, but straightforward and in depth. I literally hadn’t opened Photoshop in almost 10 years, and was completely lost at the beginning of the class. Their instruction and tips are so great that you leave feeling like you should be teaching others how to use Photoshop. ( I shouldn’t; I’m nowhere near ready to tell someone what to do…but that’s how great you feel afterwards!) I’m still in the learning phases, but with all of my notes, my little booklet, the practice runs I did in class and my memories, I’m in a much better place with all things Photoshop.

Above all, the workshop is so much fun! For two days I was surrounded by women who wanted to learn all things blog related, were at the same pace I was, and loved their blogs/sites/creativity just as much as I do!

And in case you are curious, BLOGSHOP is just as cute as it is practical. Complete with a goodie bag, I left my experience having eaten delicious lasagna cupcakes from Heirloom LA and a red velvet from Frosted Cupcakery. Money well spent, if I do say so myself. I’ve included all my Instagrams from the two days, as well as a behind the scenes look at my photo shoot with Angela, so you can see a bit more of what it’s like.

Here is the link to BLOGSHOP!

Each year I make the relatively same New Year’s resolution: to improve myself physically. In more blunt terms, I belittle my hard work and efforts throughout the year and become determined that the next year will finally be the time that I lose every inch and pound that I rather not call my own. However, the reality of this self-deprecation is that each year I restate the previous year’s resolution without acknowledging that I have made progress. I’ll be the first one to admit that I have had my battles with yo-yo dieting, but I’ve also braved success and lost just under 30 lbs. in the past–no small fete, might I add.

So this year, it was incredibly important to me to create a new New Year’s resolution. However, when it came close to midnight, I knew that choosing a new resolution wouldn’t be effective, and in 365 days, moments before 2014, I would look back on this moment and would feel like I had let myself down.

This all led to a revelation I had, one that had been building for months, and subsequently affected my blogging for the past few months; I kept focusing on aspects of my life, and deemed them a success or a failure. In reality, I live a fabulous life that I should be lucky and thankful to have. So instead of setting myself up for future thoughts of failure, I resolve to see life as a work-in-progress. There are things about myself that I could change [and that may or may not make me happier], but there are 100 things for every 1 that I wouldn’t want to ever change.

I started this site because I wanted to create an outlet for my writing and ideas, but I also was changing career goals [to become a journalist/publisher] and needed a platform to produce editorial work at my discretion. What started as a calculated career advancement led me to four different internships, a network of like-minded individuals, and a clear view on certain life goals. Additionally, I spent parts of the last 8 months traveling around the world, living in London, exploring new cities and cultures [read: food, wine, and shopping] and defining career goals.

Now, after months of planning and hard work– I am proud of what I have created with According to Adriana. This site overhaul, the BlogShop class I have taken to improve (learn) Photoshop skills, the long hours and detailed brand conception, was all worth it, because I have taken something I care about and built on it to make it very personal and representative of who I am.

There is no one, specific resolution this year; just a number of improvements that I may or may not get to that could possibly, but might not, make me happier. If I do change something, you’ll hear about it here, because that’s what this site was created for.

Happy new year, and welcome back to According to Adriana!