I've always been labeled as "the quiet one". A label I grew to hate so much. To me, being quiet was a bad thing. People made it sound like if you were quiet by nature, you were somehow not as great as the ones who were the life of the party. Like being quiet meant you were boring, uninteresting, complacent, not opinionated...the list goes on.

From childhood to this day, the first thing anyone I ever came into contact with said about me was "you're so quiet". And you know what I want to say to those people?

SO FUCKING WHAT

Relationships aren't like in the movies. The world isn't always rose tinted, you're not constantly laughing while feeding each other spoonfuls of ice cream, and you're certainly not fighting over who's the cutest.

But what do I know, right? In my 23 years of life, I had never been in a relationship until these past 7 months were filled with one of the most wonderful people I've ever met. We'll call him G.

G and I met in a bar - not the most romantic of places, especially when you grew up with the fantasy of meeting a handsome stranger in a coffee shop as you read your favorite book with a latte. But he is handsome, so there's that. There was instant chemistry, and his accent had me swooning the whole night. Conversation flowed so easily and it honestly felt like we had met long before and were just catching up over beers. I knew after that first date that this was going somewhere, and I was terrified.

Can you blame me? Pretty much my whole life, I didn't invest much time in the opposite sex. I mean yeah, I had crushes and fan-girled over hot celebrities (hey Johnny Depp). But when it came to actual dating, I just didn't have the interest or, quite frankly, the confidence. Plus, seeing my older sister go through heart break after heart break from total douchebags didn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about relationships and dating. So I kept to myself, invested my time in my studies, friendships, and hobbies and I was perfectly happy that way. And honestly, I would still be happy that way. But that's not to say I don't appreciate the wonderful relationship I'm in now.

But let me tell you something reader...relationships are not as easy as I thought they would be. Especially when your S.O is from another country, which adds on another layer of miscommunications, language barriers, and cultural differences. But you know what else it adds? A whole new level of understanding. I get frustrated and tired at times, but I've learned that it's just as frustrating for him as it is for me. We take steps every day to learn how to communicate with each other and understand the other's needs. Patience is key. And yes, I do have moments where I get so angry I can feel smoke coming out of my ears. But I'm so thankful he's a calm and collected person, because through his kindness and patience, we're able to talk it out and move forward. He's also just too fucking adorable for me to stay mad it him for very long.

I've also learned that compromise is a HUGE component of relationships. And when you're someone who has focused on your own wants and needs for so long, that can be a little exhausting. You're constantly thinking about what the other person wants to do, what they like and don't like, what interests them, what upsets them, what their plans are for the future, if you fit into those plans, etc etc. Like damn sometimes you just want to get a plate of tacos even though your S.O wants to get ribs, y'know? But when you really care about someone, sometimes you gotta put your own wants aside to make sure they're happy. Having said that, make sure you find a balance so that you're not the only one making sacrifices. Give a little, get a little. In the end, you both should be having new, exciting experiences together.

We're still in the early stages of this song and dance, so there's still quite a lot to learn. But I love learning, so I say bring it on.

Until next time loves!

You know that exciting feeling you get when you receive a request for an interview with that cool company you applied to? Your stomach has butterflies and you feel the urge to get up, do a happy dance, and tell everyone you know. And then, once the excitement wears off, the truth swings in and smacks you in the face: I have an interview for a job.

That excitement quickly turns to panic. "This is huge! I need a job! I don't want to be poor and starving after college! Am I even qualified for the job? There's so many more talented people out there! What if I burp while I'm talking? What if the interviewer thinks I smell?" What if...what if...what if.

Last week I interviewed for a copy writer positing at a pretty cool advertising agency in Newport. This is my dream job, so of course I felt an immense amount of pressure. And it didn't help that I'm a soon-to-be-graduate who has little agency experience (I'm literally like a baby being put in the driver's seat of a car). But I swallowed my insecurities and reminded myself that I have a lot to offer - and hey, the VP told me I have great potential and he likes the style of my work. Still waiting on that job offer though...#pleasehireme.

If you're one of the lucky people who is extremely confident and has no problem getting in front of people and talking like a normal human then, well, I'm extremely jealous of you and hate you. Just kidding, I don't hate you... a lot. But, if you're someone like me who struggles with forming sentences under pressure, then you know how stressful it is preparing for an interview. So, I'm going to give you three pointers that may help you in your own interview process.

1. Be Prepared: Make sure you do your research about the company - not only through their website, but look at their social media channels, see what outside sources have said about them, take a look at their clients, and if you really want to dig deep, look at the profiles of the people who work there to get a feel for who they are. Going in with knowledge about them will make you feel less nervous because you already have an insight into their company culture and, hopefully, you'll see yourself fitting in there.

2. Rehearse: Some people can go into an interview without needing any practice and that's great for them, but there's nothing wrong with doing a little prepping. Take some time to research some interview questions that you would expect to be asked based on the job title you're applying to. And, of course, have the typical interview questions in mind and know how to answer them effectively: i.e tell me about yourself, what are your strengths and weaknesses, why do you want this job, why are you crying? (kidding!). Just a little tip, make sure everything you say somehow relates to the job. For example, when asked "tell me about yourself" talk about what you're currently doing in life career wise, any skills you have that are beneficial to the job, and what your future plans are. You'll feel so much better having an answer already in mind and you won't feel like a stuttering idiot.

3. Listen to Confidence Boosting Music: This one has helped me so much over the course of my years of interviews. Even if you're feeling like you're so nervous you're going to pass out, listening to confidence boosting music will make you feel like a badass. That saying "fake it 'til you make it" really does wonders. But seriously, as you're getting ready for your interview or in the car on the way (or both!) blast some Beyonce to get yourself pumped up. One of my favorite go-to's is Demi Lovato's "Confident" (and the title itself is so fitting).

I think part of being an adult is learning how to put down the Pop-tarts and make something substantial for breakfast in the morning (okay but maybe just a little of the sugary stuff). Somehow, quite literally out of nowhere, I developed an appreciation for chia seeds. I used to hate the jelly yet seedy texture of them in those juices you find at Whole Foods, but then I discovered chia seed pudding and now I can't get enough.

It's so easy to make, takes like 5 minutes of your time, and makes for a perfect quickie (get your mind out of the gutter, I meant a quick breakfast). Or if you're like me and are a little too obsessed, you sneak spoonfuls throughout the day and suddenly you don't have any left for the morning. So here's how I make this little beauty:

2 cups of almond milk of coconut milk
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup maple syrup or other sweetener (less or more depending on how sweet you like it)

Whisk the other ingredients first and then whisk in the chia seeds. Leave it in the fridge covered for overnight. Or if you're impatient like I am, you can leave it to chill and set for at least an hour before digging in.

And there you have it! I like to add yogurt, bananas, and honey to mine for a little extra taste and texture. There's so many variations you can do with this simple recipe, and gosh darn it I'm going to try them all.

New York was never a "maybe" for me. It was never an option for me. It was a MUST. When I went to the city for the first time as a wide eyed 15 year old girl, I immediately fell in love. The lights, the sights, the smells, the sounds, the people, the art, the food...it was like experiencing the world for the first time all over again. I had never seen so many driven people in one place, rushing to get to their fancy jobs so that they could go home to their luxury apartments in Manhattan. What first sparked my interest in this glorious city was a little masterpiece called The Devil Wears Prada. It was my best friend's 13th birthday party, so we got to put our big girl pants on and watch a Pg-13 movie of our choice. It wasn't only the glamorous city life and Miranda Priestly's iconic snide, yet boss bitch, comments that had me drooling over this film, but it was my connection with Andy. I felt like I could relate to her: the small town girl that preferred a comfy sweater over stilettos who came to New York to be a writer. And, if you remember from my previous post, being a writer was (and is) my dream job. I told myself that when I graduate college at 21 years old I'm packing up moving to Manhattan. Bad news little Mica, I'm 23, almost graduated, and nowhere near financially ready to afford a shoebox apartment in Manhattan. Does that mean I'm giving up on my dream? Hell no. So I'm not where I thought I would be at this age, that doesn't mean I'll never get there. When I set my mind to something, I have every intention of sticking to it. I've even started applying to some writing jobs in New York...though I'll probably have to settle for a shoebox apartment in the Bronx.
Until next time loves!