A Guide To: Dauphin Island, AL

It’s the middle of July. The sun is so hot on your skin that you’re red and lathering on SPF fifty every thirty minutes. It’s now acceptable to wear flip flops and loose tank tops over swimsuits. Sunglasses and sun kisses and sea salted hair. It’s the perfect summer on the perfect beach. It sounds like this could be the setting for a romantic novel that you would curl up to read when you’re stuck at home for the summer. But no. This is all real. And it happens at Daupin Island, Alabama.

It would be easy to file Dauphin Island under the Cute Beach Town category, because this is exactly what it is. Stretching only a mere seventeen miles long, the island is anything but your classic tourist trap. There are small businesses and tiny gift shops, a few gas stations, and the Ship & Shore. But other than that, it’s up to you to find peace and tranquility in the island. And that’s not too hard!

What To Eat.

Before you cross over that three mile bridge as you creep slowly onto the island, please make sure you get groceries. The essentials such as bread and milk and eggs, paper towels and anything else that you may need for a week in paradise. Have some recipes planned for dinners on the days that the island restaurants are closed, as they all seem to be on the same day. But when you’re ready for something that isn’t from your beach house kitchen, here are some of my favorite places.

The Lighthouse Bakery. Open most days (except for Mondays and Tuesdays), the Lighthouse Bakery is everything that you may think that it is. Coffee and pastries and sandwiches, as well as other delicious foods and desserts. Some days are specific to omelets and some are specific to biscuits and gravy. Everyday sure is amazing, though! One of my favorite items from the bakery is the cream cheese danish. So delicious.

Island Rainbow. Your hotspot for island pizza! The pizza is delicious, the ice cream is super yummy, and if you’re craving a “humdinger” this is the place to go. Since Island Rainbow is also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, it seems like everyone is craving their pizza by Wednesday. My tip to you is to head to Island Rainbow to order your pizza instead of calling in your order, because the phone is always off the hook! It is so worth it.

Miguel’s Beach’n Baja. OMG. This is my absolute favorite spot to eat at on the island. I’m a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, and Miguel’s is no exception. The burritos are amazing, the taquitos are delicious, the nachos are to die for. Really, you could get anything and be happy. Miguel’s is closed from Sunday to Tuesday, so you better go and grab your taquitos and queso (why is their queso so GOOD?) while you can!

What To Do. 

Dauphin Island really is the perfect place to just breathe. With a book and a hat and a new found love for just… being. The internet is… eh, so don’t go to Dauphin Island expecting to keep up with the Kardashians. But there are so many more things to do and see on the island that you won’t even want to see if Kylie’s actually pregnant or not!

Rentals. There are numerous little places to rent bikes, jet skis, canoes, and many other things for your fun in the sun. My most favorite is renting bikes and riding the island. There are beautiful parks to see like the Goat Tree Reserve and the Audubon Bird Sanctuary. The bikes are cute and totally insta-worthy, which counts for something right?!

History. If you’re a history buff like I am, you will fall in love with these next few things to do in Dauphin Island. Fort Gaines was once a French fort in the 16th century, and then came under control of the U.S. in 1813. It’s full of incredible war history, if you’re into that stuff, and you can even see reenactments on some days. Oh, and I definitely think it’s haunted.

And speaking of haunted, how about that Indian Mound Park?! Indian Mound Park houses an ancient indian burial ground, and many claim that you can hear chanting and and music of the tribes from many years ago. How cool is that?

Shopping. Aside from the many little souvenir shops where you can find Dauphin Island t-shirts and bumper stickers, there is The Happy Octopus. The Happy Octopus is such a cute little boutique on the island. You can find island necessities such as hats and swimsuit cover ups, and you can find Happy Octopus brand shirts to sport when your week in paradise ends. I love this boutique so much!

West End Beach. Though there’s a beach everywhere you look, the West End Beach is so much fun. It’s at the very western end of the island. There are lifeguards keeping watch, there’s usually a little shack for food, and in the past, there’s been a blow up slide! Most nights in the summer they host the movies on the beach, and it is just so amazing and fun.


Kind and generous people. Beautiful beaches, beautiful parks. Delicious food and delicious ice cream. There is nothing better than a summer in Dauphin Island, Alabama.

XOXO

When Your Best Friend is Poison

I had a friend once. A best friend. One that I spilled my secrets to. One that shared her favorite television shows and movies with me. One that gave me good advice, one that offered a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. One that was honest and kind and gentle. She was everything that a friend should be.

Until she wasn't. 

Losing a friend is a lot like a bad breakup. It's painful and it's sad and it makes you hate that person so much, but sometimes, it's actually for the better. And when you get out of that relationship, you get to see. You get to turn around and see the path of chaos and destruction that this person left in your life. And you just stand there, like oh. Okay. This is better for me. I'll be okay without them.

It took me months to figure this out. For the longest time, I was set on the idea that I had done something wrong. That maybe it was my fault, because hey; that's what she told me! I still believed her because I trusted and, quite honestly, loved her. She was my best friend, after all. I would've done anything for her. Even paint myself as the bad guy.

Now, I'm not victimizing myself. I know what happened between us. I had a hand in the falling out, too. But for the most part, it was because of her toxicity. She didn't like that I knew what was going on. She didn't like that I confronted her about it, she didn't like the fact that she could be wrong or hurtful. To make a long story short, it was best that we go our separate ways. I won't lie; there's still tension. We're not acquaintanced anymore. We don't talk or make eye contact, and we try to stay out of each other's ways.

Toxic people come in many different shapes and sizes. Some may be your parents or grandparents. Others may be friends, lovers, teachers. It's a sad thing to recognize, but it is the truth. You are extremely strong-willed and capable if you are able to weed out these people whose main goal and purpose in life is to make your own hell on earth.

It is so extremely hard to find out that your best friend is not really your best friend. It's like a stab in the back. You've trusted and looked up to and loved this person, and suddenly, they aren't there. At the toss of a hat, they have moved on to something different. Someone different and better.



I wish things were different. Sometimes I wish that things could be better again and that we weren't just ghosts to each other, passing by and not noticing or caring anymore. How one person that you trusted the most can turn into a stranger so quick is astonishing to me. I know all of these little Jeopardy facts about a stranger. Her favorite television show, favorite food. But she's a stranger.

 May you have the courage to weed out the bad people in your life. Maybe you, too, will be happy with the choices you've made. Always move forward.

XOXO

5 Books That Changed My Life

If we've never met before, let me introduce myself. Hi, Hello, I'm Grace and I'm an avid reader. I like reading stand alone books and series. I like to read late at night or early in the day with a cup of coffee. My genres and book interests change as the seasons do. I've read plenty of classics, plenty of romance, plenty of fantasy novels in my reading career. But everyone has those books that touched them somewhere deep inside, that changed them and inspired them and made them think. And I know that I have at least five of those particular books.

5. Girl Code: Gaming, Going Viral, and Getting It Done

I just want to start off by saying that I really really want to be best friends with Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser. They are the masterminds behind this amazing Autobiography. Girl Code is one of the first memoirs that I've ever read, and it is so inspiring. I love boss babes, I love strong independent women that know what they want and go for it. This story is exactly that! It made me interested in programming and coding and I wanted to grow up to be just like the for a hot minute. It's so inspiring and I think that every young girl interested in STEM should read this story.

4. Fear Street: Killer's Kiss

Another series that I was absolutely entranced by was Fear Street by R.L. Stine. In the fourth and fifth grade, I probably had about three friends. We were all what you would probably call "weird", and so when we found the Fear Street novels in the school library, we were so stoked. It was like we had a little book club. We would read a book from the series, call each other and talk about it. Talk about it at lunch and recess and everything in between. It was so much fun! Killer's Kiss was one of my favorites from the series and is one that I remember the most.

3. The Hunger Games

I'm sure that everyone has read this series and has considered Suzanne Collins their book bestie. I think that the Hunger Games is the series that really really made me love reading. I loved and hated and sympathized with characters. I wanted more for my favorites and boy did I want to kiss Peeta Mellark! (Honestly, still do. Except now I also love Finnick soooooooo) The Hunger Games made me fall in love with sitting at home to finish reading a book. I felt like Katniss was my best friend and I wanted nothing but good things for her. It also made me fall in love with Dystopian novels, which was quite exciting!

2. Bridge to Terabithia

Ugh. Katherine Paterson reached into my ten year old chest, wrapped her cold hands around my heart, and just YANKED it out. I remember reading this story in my fifth grade class. It was the first book that ever made me feel such strong emotions. It was the first book that ever made me cry my freaking eyes out. If books aren't your thing, the Bridge to Terabithia movie is actually pretty good. But please please please read the book. It will change your life forever.

1. The Outsiders

This. Book. It's got to be one of my absolute favorites of all time. I've read it so many times, and each time I find something new to love and focus on. The characters, I feel, each have one attribute that I relate to. Ponyboy's love for writing and words, Two-Bit's too big mouth. The story of friendship is inspiring. The close knit family is so incredibly lovable. S.E. Hinton, thanks girl.

So those were just a few of the books that made me who I am today. I would love to hear about what you've read and what you love to read! What books keeps you crawling back for more?

XOXO

Z is for Zoloft

Depression. Anxiety. Bipolar Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Did you cringe?

There's a bubble around the discussion of Mental Health. A bubble to disguise it, a bubble to hide it. A bubble that stigmatizes it, turns it into a monster. You shouldn't talk about it because it will get you. You shouldn't talk about it because others have it worse. You shouldn't talk about it because you're just being dramatic. That bubble gets bigger and bigger and darker and darker. You start to think that these people are right. Should I hide it? Should I keep it in this bubble? Should I tell anyone what I'm going through? For awhile, you'll decide on no. You're fine. That's what they tell you, anyway, their hot words only making that bubble bigger.

The bubble is big and strong now, all because of fear. But why? People are so frightened of the things that they don't know or understand. So frightened, in fact, that they would rather silence one asking for help just so that they are comfortable. How is that fair to the ones struggling most?

I've become very passionate about mental health and its underlying stigmas. This is because of my own personal battles with depreciating mental health. I found it hard to come out and talk about it. I felt like I was being dramatic, or sensitive, lazy or overtly introverted. That's what people told me, so that's what I believed.

I felt like I was being dramatic, or sensitive, lazy or overtly introverted. That's what people told me, so that's what I believed. 

 Have you ever lied to yourself? Have you ever told yourself that you were okay, that you would wake up tomorrow and it would all be sunshine and rainbows again? Have you ever believed it?

There comes a time when you can't lie to yourself anymore. Something is not quite right and you know it. It takes courage to come out from behind the curtains, to escape the darkness to tell your truth. It was surprising to see that people cared so much. That doctors knew what to do. That there were medications to try and people to talk to and things that would help. If I would've had the chance to talk about it sooner, I would've. I wouldn't have suffered alone for so long.


Society has always seen mental illness as a weakness. Despite all of the information we now have at our very own fingertips, things still have not changed. The stigma against mental health and wellness still lives on. We're still seen as weak, or lazy, or dramatic, even though that really isn't what is happening. It's a constant battle and struggle. We are stronger than you know.

I wish someone would've been there to hold my hand from the very beginning. Part of it is me. I didn't open up about my feelings. I've never been very good at that. But another part is society. I was sure no one wanted to know and that no one cared. Little did I know, I was so wrong.

I wish someone would've told me that it wasn't over and that I was doing my best. I wish someone would've told me that even after you start medication, even after meeting with a physician, you will still have those days. Those days where it takes all of your energy to breathe, let alone think.

The Zoloft helps, but I still have those days. Of course I do. I'm only human, fighting in my own battle.
I'm sitting there in bed, three in the morning, eyes on the green ceiling fan that doesn't match the decor of my bedroom. It's a scary place for my thoughts to be so late at night. I have to be my own savior, my own knight in shining armor. There is no room to be the damsel in distress.
I close my eyes and eventually sleep. I wake to pale light peeking through, telling me it's morning. I have my coffee, take my Zoloft. We go hand in hand these days. I do my schoolwork. I soldier on. Because that's all I can do.

XOXO

Happily Ever After | WDW 2017

You walk through the gates of the Magic Kingdom. The sweltering heat of the summer is licking at your face, your neck, even the backs of your knees. Main Street USA is there in all of its glory. It smells like candy and waffle cones and everything gorgeous and sweet, and you just want to bottle up the scent. At the center is the castle. Picture perfect: sun shining down from behind the tallest peak of Cinderella's Castle. You stand there, relishing. In the sweet smell, the jovial music, the view of Magic Kingdom that makes your stomach tickle.

You are happy. Sweaty and sunburned and happy.

Many of you know that I LOVE Disney. Movies, music, books, fashion. You name it, I've probably got it or seen it or heard it at least once. It's just been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I used to dress up in Belle's red dress from Belle's Enchanted Christmas. I used to play a Disney CD in my hello kitty radio as bedtime came, trying to get to sleep before Ursula's Poor Unfortunate Souls started because the tune used to scare me. I'm a seasoned Disney professional.

For my Sweet Sixteen, we wanted a WDW Trip. But since my twin and I are Geminis, born in the heat of summer, we decided against a summer trip. Florida in the middle of summer? No thank you. We decided to go in September and hit up Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party for the second time. The Halloween party is AMAZING and definitely a favorite of mine. So of course I would want a Halloween party as my own birthday party!

I don't want to bore you with a week in my Disney life, so I will try to keep things relatively short. Our week started off with the party, and the very next day, we checked in to The Beach Club. Oh. Em. Gee. I want to move in to The Beach Club, I want to bottle up the smell and spray it all over my body as a perfume. It's a short walk to Epcot and a pleasant boat ride to Hollywood Studios. AKA my two favorite parks. The pool is nice, the people are lovely, and you really do feel like you are at the beach. It's so amazing.

I am a food fiend. That may be why my hips don't lie at this point in my life. I love all different types of food from all different places. So, I just have to tell you that my most favorite place to eat at in Disney World is San Angel Inn Restaurante. I walked into the Epcot Mexico pavilion two years ago in January. The smells and the sights and the people just made me smile. I also felt extremely hungry. We were in a rush and didn't stay for any special meals, but I kept that restaurant in mind.

The next trip, as soon as we could get our dining reservations with the Dining Plan, I knew exactly what I wanted. And I was not disappointed! It was my favorite meal of the trip. Everything was so so so delicious. If I could eat those plantains every day for the rest of my life, I definitely would. Not to mention that their cheesecake was delicious and amazing and I definitely felt like an honorary golden girl.

Aside from loving food, I really do love roller coasters. I'm an adrenaline junkie in the safest form of the word. Roller coasters are probably as cool as it gets for me. I love fast roller coasters that flip upside down in the dark (Rock n' Roller Coaster). I love slower roller coasters that feel classic and tell a story (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). I love scary stories and drops (Tower of Terror). I love it all. I was most excited to ride Flight of Passage in Pandora.

From the very first time that I heard WDW would be adding to Animal Kingdom, I was excited. Don't get me wrong; I like Animal Kingdom. Notice how I didn't say love? It is just a half day, three star park to me. But that Pandora addition though!

Pandora captured my heart from the very beginning. Every rock, every leaf, every light has so much thought and beauty behind it. It feels like you are stepping into the Avatar film. I was looking for my own personal Jake Sully behind every tree. It is so stunning. Shoutout to Joe Rohde and all of the other Imagineers behind he project!

Now, to Flight of Passage. The queue was incredibly long, but honestly, it was worth it. I would wait eight years to ride Flight of Passage again. It is a crazy trip! It's so realistic. You feel like you are actually there, on the back of a Banshee, flying through Pandora. There's water and sound and every time that freaking Banshee breathes, I scream a little. It feels so real! It was one of the highlights of the trip for me- I never wanted to get off and I just wanted to ride again and again.

Hopefully, this post taught you something. Like which resort would make a great perfume, and which restaurant has the best plantains, and which roller coaster actually breathes. While my trip wasn't just these three things, they certainly highlighted the whole thing and made it that much better. I miss Disney always and always want to go back. Who's going to take me next?

XOXO

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things | 2017

2017 was thankfully full of a whole lot of goodness. From good weather to good food to good friends, it had it all. I have quite a few things that made it into my 2017 routine, and will hopefully make it into my daily routine as we slowly inch into the new year. 

I read quite a few books this year in a variety of different genres this year. I started a new series, enjoyed an old one, delved into the world of Amy Poehler, among other things. But my favorite book of the year would have to be How To Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather. This book held me from beginning to end. I've always had a fascination with witches and in particular, the Salem Witch Trials. So to find a book that is all of these things and then some- some meaning a cute boy next door, a handsome ghost, and high school drama- well it's just perfect. And there's a second installment that I have yet to read and I'm just SO excited about that!

Can you believe that I actually went out and saw quite a few movies this year? And can you believe that Beauty And The Beast came out this year? It seems like ages ago! It really was a good year for movies. Especially a good summer for movies. I have to say that Spider-Man: Homecoming and Star Wars: The Last Jedi are tied as my favorites of the year. I swear, I could probably go seem them both a thousand times over. SO. GOOD.

Last but not least for media is music. I feel like music got me through a lot, if not most, of the year. Which, this statement will sound totally insane once you find out what I've been listening to. My favorite EP/album this year has been Future Friends by SuperFruit. I have been a HUGE Pentatonix fan, and when Scott Hoying and Mitch Grassi formed their YouTube channel, I was over the moon. I never expected music but I was so pleasantly surprised! Other than the entire album, I've been listening to a playlist on Spotify that I've created. Every new school year, I make a new playlist of songs that I love, think of, and listen to. You can hear my Junior Year Playlist here.

Now. to all of the fun material items that I have had the pleasure to use and love this year.

The first item featured is a new favorite of mine. As you may or may not already know, I am an avid coffee drinker. This coexists and goes hand in hand with mug collecting. If you don't have fifty thousand mugs, you're doing it wrong. My most recent mug addition is my zodiac mug. I purchased this mug fresh after Christmas with a gift card, and I LOVE it! It holds a ton of coffee which is wonderful, and it also showcases my Gemini pride. Geminis: Unite!

                                                         Zodiac Mug from Target. 

My next favorite is actually a favorite for the past two years, and it is my planner. Like my mother, I love to make lists. I can't say that I'm particularly good at following them though, but I like to think that I am. This blue and white striped planner by Webster's Pages is absolutely perfect for all of my planner needs. It's small enough to travel with but big enough to read. I love to keep little Polaroids in my planner to remind myself of the great friends in my life. Also featured in this photo is  a new journal! It came in a three pack from Hobby Lobby. For the new year,
 I plan to get into either daily or weekly journaling. More to come on that- wish me luck.

Planner from Webster's Pages. Notebook from Hobby Lobby.

OH BOY I LOVE TALKING ABOUT THESE SHOES!!!!! My excitement is through the roof right now. It seems like the only big ticket item on my Christmas wish list this year was a pair of cherry red Doc Martens. Boy, did Santa deliver! I am so head over heels in love with these shoes. They make me look and feel so cool, even when wearing gnome pajama pants. If you are considering treating yourself to a pair, please get band-aids as well. Your heels will definitely be blistered after awhile, but boy is is WORTH IT!

Dr. Martens from Dr. Martens.

It's a little obvious that Denim has been my staple item of 2017. I obviously love jeans, but this year has been all about denim jackets for me. I got my first denim jacket in March before my trip to Seattle, and I haven't gone back. I feel so cool every time I add a denim jacket. And since my very first denim jacket is embellished with roses and has a collection of cheesy pins all over it, it seems to make it more fun to wear. It sure is a statement piece without the cry for attention.

Jackets from Left to Right: American Eagle. Forever 21. Old Navy. 

Okay, now on to the really super fun stuff. Most that know me know that I love makeup. I consider it to be my therapy because the act of putting it on is just so calming to me. So is it really a surprise to know that I have five makeup favorites?

First up is this fabulous foundation by the queen Rihanna herself. I'm not going to lie, I was definitely skeptical at first. The girl at Sephora matched me with the lightest shade, and after getting over the wave of shock that hit me, I had to go home to try it. First of all, if you don't blend fast you're done for. But other than that, this foundation is EVERYTHING! If you have super oily and sweaty skin, please do yourself a favor and make the splurge. It looks good on my skin, it lasts, the coverage is build-able, and you can mix it with other foundations. AMAZING!

Pro Filt'R Soft Matte Long wear Foundation by Fenty Beauty.

I like to consider myself a glow Queen. Or fanatic, if I'm offending anyone. I love weird highlighters and normal golden/champagne glows and metallic glitter goodness. So, this Amethyst highlighter by Becca is absolutely no exception. It has a duo-chrome shift and is just to die for. I always add it if I'm having a bad day, because the little hints of pink and lavender make me feel oh so magical.

Amethyst Highlighter by Becca Cosmetics.

If you have never met me before, allow me to formally introduce myself. Hi, hello, I'm Grace and I'm a lipstick addict. I love weird lipsticks and natural lipsticks and classic reds and just everything. My favorite formula is a matte formula, and that's because I seem to be talking and eating more than I think. My weird color of the year is Wicked by Too Faced. Green is just so fun and eye catching! Lolita by Kat Von D is a tried and trusted, cult favorite nude. Need I say more? A recent favorite lippie of mine is Wifey by Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Omg. Where would I be without you, Jeffree?

Top to Bottom: Too Faced. Kat Von D. Jeffree Star.

Let's talk smells. Good smells. The smells that bring all the boys to the yard. Okay, maybe I'm stretching the truth a bit. But this scent by Prada is to die for. If you love sweet smells, you will love this. Since I've got the money of a working sixteen year old, I just go for the roller ball. It's lasted me for quite some time now and it still smells like warm caramel goodness. I just want to eat it some days.

Hard Candy by Prada.

I've never considered myself stylish or fashionable. Not until recently have I wanted to present my "aesthetic" and personality to the world. I've only recently gotten into the cool trends of the year, and to be quite frank, I'm in love! I got this beret from Forever 21, and I just adore it. I don't know if it's because it's red, or if it's the text, or if it's because it makes me feel like a fancy French woman. Whatever the reason, it is a good one. Everyone should wear a beret once in their life and you can quote me on that.

Beret by Forever 21.

I don't really know how to describe my style. I don't know how to describe my style in few words. There are so many elements to my personal style that I wouldn't even know where to start! But hey, we can try. Let's start with this sick jacket. I picked it up in Disney Springs on a recent Walt Disney World trip. It was a total heat of the moment splurge, but man am I so glad that I bought it. Because it's black, I feel that I can wear it anywhere and for any occasion. It's sleek and gorgeous and adds just a hint of pizazz to any outfit. It's not overwhelmingly Disney, though there's nothing wrong with that, and it is just a stunning accent piece. Pair it with a v-neck and a choker and some red lips and you've got yourself a pretty cool look!

Jacket by UniQlo.

So those are just a few of my 2017 favorites. If you go out and grab anything for yourself, tell them Grace sent you. They won't know who you are but wouldn't that be pretty cool? I hope you all have a fabulous 2018 full of love and light and magic and fun. Don't forget to love yourself! 

XOXO