December 2022

I confess… >> I spent all of last week convinced I was either pregnant or dying. Turns out I’ve just been so stressed that mother nature came a week and a half late, because that’s not something that would exponentially stress me out even more. >> I was accepted into a great grad program in Washington DC, but I might not go simply because they charge the price of one soul for housing. >> I’ve cried almost every day this week because of the stress of looking for housing, a job and trying to figure out a move across the country. Did I mention I have 4 weeks to get this all done? >> I’ve been too tired to read blogs lately so I skim through Bloglovin for my absolute favorites and for any posts with an interesting title. #imactuallysorry >> I have about 100 blog post ideas but zero patience to sit down and write about any of them. >> Storage Wars is my current show to binge when I just give up on everything. Don’t judge me, I like the drama of not knowing if they’re going to make their money back.

>> With all the upcoming deadlines to get my life sorted out I forgot it was Wednesday, which turned into me forgetting to write this post until Kathy sent out an email about a link up malfunction, which means I have no chance up being one of the first few to link up!

>> There’s two posts in one day because why the hell not?! Click here to see the other link up party I was fashionably late to… Dont forget to link up your confessions with Kathy for the rest of your life. 

For the past five years I have jumped from living at home, to a dorm room, campus apartments, and eventually my own apartment in the city. It would honestly take me a few minutes to recall all the places I’ve called home, with my constant moving caused by traveling throughout college. Even though no place feels like a permanent environment for me, I strive to make my living situation feel like home as much as possible. It’s a bit difficult though when you have cinder block walls and pages of rules outlining all the ways you don’t have a right to customize your space. The majority of the readers here are women aged 18-24, meaning you are either reading this in your bland dorm room or rental apartment. If you’ve managed to buy a place at 24, can we please be friends so you can share all your secrets with me? Up until last year I always strived to decorate my place, but moving across the country upped the need for my house to feel like a home.

Related Post: A Complete Guide to Every Roommate You Will Have in College

Now living in my own apartment, there’s nothing quite as comforting as stepping through the door every night and feeling like the place is mine. It smells like me, matches my personality, and is scattered with objects that make it feel like home even though I’m 3,000 miles away from everything and everyone I know and care about. For those of us who desperately need our security deposit back, here are a few ways to make your space feel less like a rental and more of a home. Yes, rugs are expensive. Why? I have no freaking clue! But be like me and buy a rug online, on sale, with a coupon code. My favorite website to buy a rug is Wayfair, especially because the big stuff ships for free, but Target is another great option when they’re having a sale. Investing in a good rug not only adds color to your space, but comfort for those of us who have hardwood floors. It can’t just be me who has the laziest reputation when it comes to hanging the art I buy or make. While I know many places are against putting nails into the walls, with things like Command hooks you have no excuse to not hang all your frames. Mounting a few pieces on the wall will instantly bring some life to the walls and is an inexpensive way to decorate. Every girl needs to have a plant in her apartment. Or ten. Whatever your preference is. If you are worried you won’t be able to keep it alive, I suggest buying a succulent or cactus. Those things can survive anything. Otherwise big leafy plants really brighten up a small space and look great against bland white walls.

Related Post: How to Never Pay for College Textbooks Again

My hometown is where most of American’s strawberries come from, which is why I can’t look at a strawberry without thinking about where I grew up. Apart from that, it’s tucked between the beach and redwood covered mountains. Having something in your space that reminds you of home is a nice reminder without taking over the space. Hang a canvas of your home state or display your home team’s colors in some way. I know, very random, but what’s the one thing you always find when you visit home? Cabinets full of food! How our parents manage to never run out of groceries I will never understand, but having your favorite snack when you’re feeling down is such an easy way to lift your spirits. To go the extra step, buy something grown or produced locally, like strawberries in my case. If you can bring a pet with you, do it! Two months after I moved to Washington DC I adopted my cat Max, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Having someone to come home to is the best feeling, especially after a long day when the idea of human interactions is just too much to handle.

Related Post: Things My Cat Has No Respect For

For a generation that feels the need to photograph everything from the food we eat to the junk we carry around in our purse, we don’t proudly display our photos as much as we post them. Choose a few of your favorite photographs and have them actually printed. Displaying photos is an inexpensive way to put something up on your wall or decorate countertops. Who here is guilty of unpacking then leaving the boxes sitting around for weeks? (Raises hand high.) Save yourself the pain of tripping over the junk and of having to look at it constantly by tossing out all your moving supplies! Your home won’t feel like home until you get rid of all the things that make it looked like you just arrived. Let’s pledge to stop being lazy and toss the things we just don’t need.

How do you make your space for less temporary and more like home? What do you struggle most with personalizing in your dorm or apartment?

I’ve been waiting 2 years to turn 22! Well 22 years actually, but I didn’t care much for turning this age until the infamous Taylor Swift song was released. It seems that in the blogging community it’s common to publish posts on your birthday about the things you’ve learned and the goals you’ve managed to accomplish.

While scrolling through my Bloglovin feed I found that Megan from the Artistic Brunette has also recently turned 22, which she talks about in her 22 Pieces of Wisdom Post. As of 1:47 PM today I am 22 years old, but I am nowhere near wise. I decided to do a twist on the everyday birthday post and list the things I still haven’t quite figured out by 22.

Please don’t judge me, I was a strange child that has grown into a very strange adult…and also, enjoy the photos of me during my awkward years.

1. How to drive. I mean, I can drive, sort of. If you were dying I could probably get the car to the hospital. 2. That unsubscribing from a newsletter is much easier than being annoyed every day when I receive another unwanted email.

3. How to file taxes. I’d need a job for that, “Helloooo postgrad unemployment slump!”

4. How to properly paint my nails. 5. While pulling an all nighter might still get me an A, it’s not worth the stress of that last hour before the paper is due. 6. How to change a tire, or pump gas, or any of those basic life skills. I just have never had an interest in anything car related. 7. How to curl my hair, even though I’ve seen about 200 YouTube tutorials! 8. How to properly use Twitter. The best I can do is hash tag a few words.

9. Saving money without the intention of spending it on something. Save for the future? Nahh, I much rather buy this adorable notebook from the dollar section at Target.

10. The importance of flossing. Sorry Dr.Kondo.

11. How to walk in heels. How to stand in heels basically. (I swear to God I types hells instead of heels both times, either I’m stupid or that meant something.)

12. How to run into an ex boyfriend without being awkward. I’ll just hide in the children’s section until I’m he’s left the store. (True story.)

who is this baby and why was I holding him?

13. Eyeliner? Eyeshadow? Make up in general? Pass. I rather spend my money on stationery at Target. 14. How to take things slow. Whether I’m binge watching a show, reading a book in one sitting or burning my tongue on a slice of pizza, everything has always been a race to me. 15. The art of getting dumped gracefully. I’m kinda crazy, like full voice mail inbox kinda crazy. 16. How to look genuinely happy when someone tells me to smile in a photo. I just cant be happy on command, okay! 17. I suck at video games. As in, I have trouble getting past level one. Blame my mom for pushing books on us. 18. How to keep in touch with friends. I just suck at texting people on a regular basis and keeping up with other’s lives in general.

19. How to say no to a good sale, even if I haven more than enough clothes. I.e. Forever 21 Veterans Day Sale!

20. To not trust my computer and back up my files. I cant count the number of times I’ve lost my entire music collection. 21. How to barbecue. In my opinion, you’re not an adult until you can barbecue. 22. I haven’t exactly figured out what my next step is, in regards to where I want to attend grad school, where I want to live and what exactly I want to do with my life.

When I thought of this blog post I thought it would be simple enough, but as I got halfway through I had trouble coming up with things to list. I may not have it all figured out, but as a new 22 year old, I think I’ve experienced more than most people my age. College, moving much too far from home, traveling Europe and endless heartbreaks have taught me a lot about myself. Now if I could only muster up the motivation to get that driver’s license! 

Starting your first job is stressful for so many reasons. By the time your first day arrives the excitement of being hired has faded away and all you’re left with worrying if you even meet the job requirements and if your coworkers will be giant pains in the ass. On top of everything else, you never truly know what the dress code is until you’ve been there a few days, so you risk looking way too overdressed or like one giant slob.

While I can’t tell you what to wear every day of the week, I can steer you towards stores where I buy all my work clothes whether my dress code is business casual or dress like the Secretary of Defense is coming. True story, I once got an email to wear my nicest outfit because the Secretary of Defense was visiting our office.

Because I bought most of my clothes straight out of college, with no money or type of job in mind, I aimed to keep my costs low in case everything failed and I had nowhere to even wear the freaking clothes. Most of these stores you can find in any shopping mall area, or even better, you can just pick up what you like online. Below each retailer are a few of my faves that are both in stock and perfect for the workplace!
Target is my go to store for so many reasons. Not only can I grab groceries and toys for my cat Max while there, I also spent six months working at Target in the guest services area. This means I know the return policy backwards and forwards, which is great when you’re buying things you’re not sure you need or even really want. Target doesn’t get the credit it deserves for business casual clothes, with an even bigger selection online. During major holidays Target offers free shipping no matter the size of your order, otherwise shipping costs aren’t ridiculously high and you can qualify for free shipping when you spend 50 dollars. The main reason I love Target for work clothes is because I can order everything I find cute online, try it on at home, and return it with no problems if it looks weird on me. Lost your receipt? No problem. Just swipe the card you paid with and they’ll transfer the money into your account that way. I swear this post isn’t sponsored by Target, but I really should be because I’m basically a walking, talking billboard for that store.
H&M is where you need to be if you’re looking for the perfect blazer or work blouse. While I own some pants from there, their sizing is all over the place. I own a pair of pants in size 2 and another in a size 8. Both bought on the same day, from the same store, same brand. Clearly they like to play with women’s emotions. Cardigans, blouses and dress skirts are usually pretty inexpensive. The more expensive things are usually dresses or blazers, but those are investment pieces and really never go higher than 55 dollars. Next time you’re in H&M step away from the crop tops and take a quick look at the business clothes section, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Related Post: How to Make the Best Resume with 10 Easy Steps
I have a love hate relationship with Forever 21. I love their prices (usually) but I hate what it’s become. Or maybe I’ve just grown older and less inclined to wear tops with sequins and words like swag on my body. Forever 21 is really a hit or miss when it comes to work clothes, and I definitely recommend shopping in the Love21/contemporary line exclusively.

My biggest piece of advice is to stay away from blazers from Forever 21, they will rip, and you will be pissed. Stick to buying blouses and cardigans here, wardrobe staples that you don’t plan on keeping forever, despite the name on the label.

If you are, or were once, a broke college grad like me, this is the place you go when you wanna treat yo’self for landing your top internship choice or getting hired at that job that pays you for being sick. As a skinny girl, I can admit I have no butt. Technically yes, there is a butt on my body, but it doesn’t do that thing where it curves in all the right places.

Express has managed to create pencil skirts that make me feel like one of the Kardashian sisters when I wear it, and for this I am forever thankful for. Besides being one of the few stores that sells a size zero (honestly though, why are stores pushing our size out?), Express offers so many wear to work options. Their prices may be higher than the previous stores mentioned, but you can definitely see a difference in the quality. Catch them when they’re having a sale and buy a few staple pieces for your wardrobe.

Where do you buy your work clothes from? Comment below your favorite places to find work clothes that won’t leave your bank account drained. 

Shopping for men can be hard, scratch that, impossible. Whether they’re super picky or chronically indifferent, choosing the right gift can be difficult whether you just started dating or you’ve been together for years. Luckily, my boyfriend isn’t shy about pointing out any little thing he would like to receive wrapped in shiny paper, so over the months I’ve been keeping track of all the things that have caught his eye.

And since my boyfriend is only one guy’s opinion, I also enlisted the help of a few friends who we’re happy to send me a Christmas list of items they’d be more than happy to find under the Christmas tree. Whether your brother, boyfriend or best friend enjoys movies or sporting events, you should be able to find something on this gift guide for every guy on your list. For your convenience I have added direct links to the items (or closest match) beneath each image. I will not profit at all from you clicking or purchasing anything from those links, I was just trying to save you guys some time. Happy shopping!

Links for products shown in image above

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

1. Running pants: for those awesome people that don’t use the cold winter as an excuse to stop working out. 

2. Nike+ fuelband: to track just how many more calories they are burning than you, and other stuff

3. Compression socks: I can’t explain it but guys go crazy for these! Plus, who doesn’t need new socks?

4. Earbuds: the kind that won’t fall off as they run, jump, lift, whatever happens at the gym

5. Reusable water bottle: so they can stop stealing your cute expensive ones 

6. Gym bag: so you never have to walk around with them carrying all their junk in a plastic bag again

Links for products shown in image above

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

1. Movie tickets: make it easier on yourself and buy them a gift card that can be used anywhere

2. Popcorn maker: I got this for Christmas last year and it is amazing! 150% recommend to everyone!

3. Season DVD: choose any of their favorite television shows and pick up their favorite season

4. Movie basket: if you rather DIY, fill a basket with all their favorite snacks

5. Mug: because you can never have too many mugs, especially in the winter

6. Apple TV: to catch up on all his favorite TV shows, Netflix bingeing and Hulu and commitment nights

Related Post: 11 Perfect Gift Ideas for Your Boyfriend’s Parents

Links for products shown in image above

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

1. External hard drive: this is one of those things that you didn’t know how much you needed it till you have one

2. Portable speakers: whether he needs music to work out to or clean the apartment with

3. Apple TV: everyone should have one of these or a Google Chromecast, absolutely everyone

4. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Camera: my boyfriend loves his, and loves that I carry it in my purse even more

5. Mophie charger: I have this exact model and it charges my phone to 100% at least two full times

6. Earbuds: I’ve had this pair for over 6 months now and they are in the same conditions as when I first bought them

Links for products shown in image above

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

1. Robe: I know it sounds weird, but my boyfriend went B-A-N-A-N-A-S for this robe. Don’t ask me why, but he loves sitting around the apartment in it

2. Beard kit: to help his beard feel less like straw while still letting him feel manly

3. Sunglasses: wayfarers compliment everyone’s face shape, they’re an automatic win

4. Apple TV: I swear I’m not sponsored by Apple, I just really love watching Netflix on an actual TV

5.  Wallet: most guys don’t replace their wallet often, which makes it a perfect gift that’s also practical

6. Hoodie: winter is here, buy him something you can steal from him in a couple of weeks!

After a very long week at work which never really ended (ie I worked all weekend), I decided to take some time to read through my Bloglovin feed that had been sadly ignored. Since I was so behind on reading my usual blogs, I skimmed the list and clicked through to the ones that seemed the most interesting. After reading a few post titles I chose to read two reader surveys and an income report, some of my favorite types because I’m nosy.

After reading the results of the surveys I learned that people had a lot of things to say about the direction blogging is moving towards, most of it being negative. It seems as if I had found the one place on the internet where everyone felt comfortable rallying against how to posts, blogging about blogging, and anything that starts with “5 ways to xyz.”

As someone who does two of the three things above, I was at first a bit offended, but then I stepped back and decided to see who was saying these things. People fell into two categories, total hypocrites or bloggers who had just made the jump of buying a domain name. Let’s discuss.

I totally get where people are coming from, after a while it gets old to hear people debate about the blogger versus wordpress thing. At the same time though, we have all once wondered which is better, which is why people keep coming up with new opinions, posts and suggestions. As for the hate towards listsicles (if that’s even a word) and how to posts, how often do the people complaining honestly give a shit about a weekend recap that has no real point? Really though, how many of us actually read a post that provides no value to us? Unless you are absolutely in love with a blogger and feel like you are internet friends, many of us don’t care that you visited some restaurant and snapped some pics. Oh you’re painting your house? Cool, how about also mentioning your why you chose that paint brand so I can learn something while admiring that beautiful shade of blue. Everyone has a right to write and read whatever they like, but I’d like to know when people who were doing the things they were complaining of began bashing those who like to blog with a purpose. And I don’t think I’m saving the world, but at the very least before I hit publish I ask myself,  “does this need to be read? Will this help anyone in any way?” All this blog on blog hate is just making newbie bloggers more unsure of how to get started, something they’d never figure out without all those ‘how to blog’ blogs. Which in my case, I fucking love, sorry not sorry.

So while we all may not love to read or write the same things, that doesn’t mean we need to become internet warriors and use the comment section to tear down each other’s writing. Fashion bloggers, I may not be interested in how to style that cute dress, but you’ll never find me dissing you for taking that dress for free, using affiliate links and posing the same way in all of your pictures. Do you girl! I’ll keep posting my how to posts cause there’s someone out there that needs to figure out how to write a resume, get over their ex-boyfriend and enjoy their twenties all at the same time.

Where do you stand on this side? Are you over the direction that blogging is taking and wish it would get a little personal again? Let me know in the comments below, cause like I said, I’m nosy. 

Now to happier topics, I made an exciting announcement on the blog this week about a new project I’m hoping you’ll love as much as I do. Click here or the image below for a quick rundown of how you can connect with other twenty somethings!

I just passed the six month mark of quitting my job at the law firm and becoming unemployed in one of the most expensive cities in America. Yeah, I did that. My reason for leaving my great job is simple, I am determined to complete my masters this year. Working full time and going to school part time was killing me slowly, so I spent a year saving all my extra income to prepare for the time I would spend unemployed. Had my situation been different I probably could have saved a lot less, but since I’m too far from home to live at home and too busy to pick up a part time job, this is how I’ve managed to be unemployed and still enjoy my life in the city. Living off my savings of course!

You might also like: 5 Reasons Why You Should Wait Before Going to Grad School + Why I Didn’t

Even though this is a no brainer, so many people continue to maintain their dining habits when trying to save money. You would be surprised how much you spend on meals and snacks you buy spontaneously. If you have trouble sticking to this, outline a rough meal plan for the week so you can plan when you’ll splurge and which meals you’ll cook at home.

Living in Washington DC, there is a never ending list of free events to attend. While I know how hard it is to find free stuff to do in smaller towns, get creative and enlist the help of your friends to find new places to explore. If you can’t get in somewhere for free, do your best to go during the hours when admission is available at a discounted rate.

You might also like: 6 Simple Money Saving Apps and Websites

Sure it’s not a fun conversation to have, but it’s a necessary one. Letting your friends know about your new lifestyle changes will make it easier for them to understand why you’re turning down invitations while also enabling them to keep you in mind when they hear about a fun, low cost event. It wasn’t until I went on a spending ban that I realized just how much stuff I already own. Let me give you an example. A few months ago I decided to not buy a single more hair product, especially because my bathroom seemed to be overflowing with bottles already. It’s mid April and I still haven’t needed to buy shampoo, conditioner or hair serums. By committing to using what I have, I’ve emptied out a lot of by vanity and learned what does and doesn’t work well with my hair.
If impulse shopping was a job, I’d receive a yearly bonus every Christmas. Before quitting my job I couldn’t walk into Target without spending at least $40. Nowadays I ask myself if I really need it, and if I do, I wait a full 24 hours before letting myself purchase it. Taking time away from the item usually makes me forget all about it, and if I’m really lucky, I come back to find it on sale.

You might also like: Things I Wish I Could Claim on my Taxes

Hardest but most important step of all, figuring out where all your money is going. 80% of my monthly spending goes to rent, seriously! The remaining 20% gets divided between food, random crap I find on sale, and loading my commuter card. Since I need to get to and from work, I’ve made steps to buy less stuff and eat at home more often. By making these small changes I’ve managed to live comfortably for the past six months with no income.

How do you manage to not spend all your money at Target?? Plus, keep scrolling for more posts on how to save money with little to no income!

I am a very emotional person. No matter the feeling, I am most likely crying. I cry when I’m happy, sad, angry and especially when I’m tired. The scene in Alice in Wonderland where she literally cries herself a river really resonated with me as a child and can basically sum up my emotional state of mind anytime a boy hurts my feelings.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t spend my entire day crying, but I definitely don’t fight back the tears like some people say I should. 2016 literally started off with my being dumped on the corner of a busy street in Chinatown, transitioned into me realizing I needed to live for me, and ever since has been shifting between me being a strong independent woman and a woman on the verge of tears in the pet aisle in Target. More on that later.

As a lover of random holidays that make no sense, I like to keep track of random national days throughout the year. During my latest hunt for an obscure holiday, I found that February 11 is Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. While I’ve never spilled milk and if I did I doubt I would cry, I got to think about other things I’m constantly being told not to cry about. So I did what any blogger would do, grabbed my Mac, threw some Law and Order SVU in the background, and started listing all the irrational things that have made me cry lately. Cause why not?

When you ask the stylist to cut off two inches but instead she takes off six. Spending 30 minutes waiting for the bus only for it to be so full that it drives by without stopping for you. Wanting to be a strong independent woman but at the same time not being able to carry the kitty litter container home. Waiting all day for your lunch break then realizing they got your order completely wrong.

Related Post: 10 Ways Working Full Time Changes Your Life

Losing weight to fit into a pair of pants, then realizing you lost it in all the wrong places and now the pants sag around your butt. Putting away all the photos of you and your ex and realizing you haven’t taken a decent photo without him in over a year. Spending the day watching a marathon of your favorite TV series, except they skip over your favorite episode. Sit through a 40 second YouTube add but the video buffers for so long and the page refreshes. Then another 40 second YouTube ad appears. Your cat walks up to you without being asked and sits on your lap. Finally finding enough money to buy something from the vending machine only to press the wrong button. Spending 40 minutes straightening your hair, doing your makeup and being ready to slay the day. Walk outside and realize it’s pouring rain and the wind just blew away any chance of you looking semi decent. Not sharing your blog posts all day long on social media, gaining a bunch of new followers anyways!

What’s the most random thing you’ve ever cried about? Happy or sad, I wanna know!

I left for college immediately after I graduated from high school. I packed up all my clothes and piles of dorm decorations, hopped in the truck and drove 9 hours away from everything and everyone I knew. While the decision to go to school far from home wasn’t difficult for me to make, I never realized how different my college experience would be because of it.

My junior year of college I studied abroad in the United Kingdom. I made so many friends from all over the world, but at the end of my program I had to fly home with the realization that I just might never see them again. (At least not in person.)

College is a time when you are pulled in a million different directions. Your mother might be like mine, constantly asking when are you going to graduate and move back home already. College friends will work to convince you to stay in the area once graduation rolls around, while anyone who has ever studied abroad can relate to wanting to go back to the place where we were our happiest.

I’ve recently reconnected with a friend from high school that I hadn’t spoken to in three full years! Thanks to Instagram and my new addiction to Snapchat, our friendship is as strong as the days when I didn’t yet have boobs and he had yet to lose the baby fat. With my rekindled friendship, connections I’ve made while abroad and living so far from home, I can completely relate to the feeling of being a long distance relationship friendship.

Here are some of the symptoms signs to help you figure out if you’re in the same boat as me. 

You can list the pros and cons of Skype, Google Hangouts, Oovoo and Facetime….

and if you use any of these often enough you realize that Google Hangouts is by far the best.

Small details about your day are never too small to share with your friend. 

All crucial information about my day.

Movie nights over a computer screen don’t sound crazy to you. Instead you look forward to them! You have at least once dozed off while talking to one another…

or cooked, done laundry, and/or homework together.

Your Snapchat is dominated by their name. You talk to them more than the friends you share a zip code with. You discuss visiting each other soon, even if soon is so far away.

If Snapchat says you’re best friends, it must be true, right?

Constantly trying to convince them to move in your general direction.

Study parties! Though not much studying gets done.

You’ll try writing letter or sending postcards, until one of you miserably fails. 

A lot of your talks are about things you rather not bring up from the past… like embarrassing exes, that person you both couldn’t stand in school, or some local cuisine you discovered together.

You may not know their friend’s names, but you have a story associated with every one of them.

Friend 1: “What guy? Oohh the one whose kitten you killed.”

Friend 2: “Yeah that’s him!”

We’re not all good with names… Source

True friendship is bullying them into watching your favorite shows.

Pants? They’ve been off since you answered their call.

You support whatever they are doing from a distance. If you can’t be there to buy them ice cream you will at least Facebook stalk with them. Friends don’t judge. 

Source

This is said at least once during your conversations, “Hold on, I have to pee.”

You can not talk for days, weeks (years!) at a time, but when you do it’s like no time has passed at all.

You’re jealous of people who have their best friend so close by. 

Source

And on bad days, you’re jealous of people who get to hang out with your best friend.

Source

You have a preferred method of communication. Calls, texts, emails, Facebook messages, hey, maybe even Snapchat!

Besides your mom, they’re literally the only person you actually talk to on the phone.

This past weekend was awesome. Sitting around in my underwear eating Magnum ice cream bars for lunch kind of awesome. My boyfriend wanted to go see the new Fast and Furious move and I…did not. So I did what anyone would do, insisted he go see it so I could get a moment for myself. Oh, and the remote. My Saturday started off like any other, waking up at 10, liking everyone’s brunch photos on Instagram and eating my weight in potatoes. When I decided to turn on the television I figured I was going to catch up on Real Housewives or My 600 Pound Life. I know, I have a very random taste in TV. After scrolling for a bit, it happened, stage one of watching a Law and Order SVU marathon.

You might also like: How to Survive a Trip to Ikea with Your Boyfriend

It starts off innocently enough. You decide to watch some TV but don’t know what’s on. The news is too depressing and you feel too old for anything on MTV. After flipping around for a bit you reach the destination you didn’t even know was there.
Just as you’re about to hit the channel button what’s on screen catches your attention. Wait, is that Olivia?? Hold on, is there a marathon going on right now? Yep, and you’re three hours late to it. To never miss a Law and Order SVU marathon, you can follow xxxx on Twitter. Chances are you’ve seen whatever episode is on, no matter what time it is or what channel you’re on. Die hard fans can name what guest star appears or who is Olivia’s current partner. Bonus points if you know the ADA. At this point you still feel in control. You’ve already seen this episode so it’s not like you’re gonna get sucked in. You sit down to enjoy bad guys getting caught, maybe even text a friend to tell them there’s a marathon on. The episode you stumbled upon has ended. You have less than a minute to decide if you’re gonna get up or sit and watch the next crime. Here’s the thing, I think if you have the self control to shut it off before the crime is committed you might just be able to walk away. Most of us just have to see what episode it is, and by watching the crime we decide to just watch one more. Now that you’ve spent another full hour watching Law and Order SVU you realized today’s marathon is themed. Maybe the theme is famous guest stars or crimes committed by children. I don’t know the exact science around this, but a theme makes it so much more fun to watch. It’s been three hours and you’re still watching. At this point you are either still in denial but not moving, or have given in and are surrounded by snacks and your phone charger. Settle in for the day, you won’t be doing anything productive anytime soon.

When’s the last time you got sucked into a Law and Order SVU marathon? And if you have a favorite episode, share it in the comments below! I’m always interested to know which people love most of all!