It's nearing the end of April, which means that it's GRADUATION SEASON! If you're anything like me, picking out my graduation dress was one of the highlights of the year! So, I'm going to share a few pointers below on how to pick out the perfect dress to make your day extra special!

1) Make it practical!

As I was shopping for my graduation dress, I wanted to make sure it was amazing since it was symbolizing a special moment in my life. However, if I was going to be spending a lot of money on it, I wanted to make sure I would be able to wear it again for other occasions! I wore a white lace Lilly Pulitzer dress to my 2016 high school graduation (Similar). I love it because I still wear it to special occasions a lot today! There's nothing like a simple white dress to make a statement!

2) Don't order online, go try it on!

I've made the mistake so many times before...a dress may look beautiful online, but when it comes in the mail, it doesn't fit right at all! I rarely buy clothes online because I want to make sure it fits my body correctly. If you don't love how you look when you're wearing something, how are you suppose to ROCK your special day?!

3) BE YOU!

I can't stress this enough, but don't buy a certain style dress because everyone else is wearing it. Graduating, whether it's high school or college, symbolizes the coming of a new time in your life. You don't want to be stuck in the past copying other people's dress preferences. Graduating is YOUR TIME and YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT! Embrace your own style so you will be confident walking on that stage!!

-Jenna

Happy Earth Day!

Yesterday, I went to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. to celebrate Earth Day weekend, and it turned into a day I would never forget. 

This was the first time ever that I actually went out in the world and did something specifically for Earth Day. I usually just live it like any regular day but this time I decided to take it into my own hands and do something fun!

My best friend and I went to the zoo and they were hosting a bunch of Earth Day festivities. For example, they had guests write on a chalk board how they would celebrate "Earth Optimism"! There were people in booths teaching children how to plant their own flowers and games about recycling. 

My favorite part about the zoo was of course going to see the animals. It was a gorgeous day in the District so we got to the zoo super early to beat all the lines! We had the opportunity to see the pandas, get close to the elephants and even see the new baby gorilla, Moke! 

After the zoo, my friend and I went to the National Mall and road bikes from the Capital to the Washington  Monument! This was probably my favorite part of my day because I really got to experience how beautiful our Nation's Capital is. 

Overall, celebrating Earth Day was a day I would never forget. It really made me realize how amazing the Earth is and we need to change things before it gets worse. I want to be able to travel the world and experience everything this planet has to offer, from the mountains to the sea. However, nothing will ever fix it's self. So I'm going to leave off my blog post with one of my favorite childhood quotes...

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." 

-The Lorax

-Jenna

Growing up, I was brought up in a very traditional Catholic house hold- and such was taught that Easter Sunday was the holiest day of the year, even holier than Christmas. Yes, Christmas is the day Christ our Lord was born, Easter was the day he rose again, reaffirming to everyone- believers and non-believers alike- that our faith was real, that Christ really was the son of God. This day is special to me, as it should be to all Christians, catholic or protestant, as it is the day that gives our faith meaning. The abolition of our sins by Jesus Christ that allows us to continue our lives in peace.

However on this year, Easter Sunday was followed a week later by another special day; Masters Sunday.

Even though I was born and bred in the north, I have very close ties to the south, and one place that lies very close to my heart is Augusta National Golf Club. My Uncle even had the pleasure of serving as the assistant Golf pro there, it is a place, coveted as it is to many, that I identify closely with. Masters week is a time of the year where a place I love comes into the spotlight and put on a nationally recognized stage. To be able to see and know the place where so many incredible moments have happened- From Arnold Palmer’s putt to win on the 18th green in 1960, Tiger Woods’ incredible chip from off the green at 16 in 2000, Phil Mickelson’s impossible shot from the pine straw at 13, and the jump at the win on 18 in 2010, or when the golden bear, Jack Nicklaus, proved us all wrong to win his 6th and final master’s at the age of 46 in 1986 and become the oldest winner of all time. Iconic moments that all happened at a place I consider special.

While we reflect on these two special days now that they have passed us again for another year, let us not forget the meaning of both of them. One, giving people all over the world a light in their life, something that means something to them, something to look towards when life has the best of them, the other, giving us one of the holiest, if not the holiest, days of the year. You can decide which one is which.

-Jenna