So Long Sweet Summer

Summer is almost over, and I am halfway done with college. I can’t decide whether I should celebrate or  cry. I mean I don’t wanna cry, but I am sad to see my precious days diminishing. And so I sit here and can’t help but think about that dashboard confessional song from my high school days. So cheesy, I know, but read these words and tell me you can’t relate.

“So long sweet Summer

I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays

So long sweet summer

I fell into you

Now you’re gracefully falling away.”

And so I try to mentally prepare myself for the next school year. For the busyness, sleepless nights, stressful tests, coffee dates with classmates, etc. And as my summer mellows down, I do things such as:

Take cody to barking springs, (FREE FREE FREE). this photo above would be his profile picture if he had a facebook. 

We dine at the finest of the fine (@ Austin Java).

I have the greatest college dog because I can, and I do, take him everywhere with me. (@ Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso).

And during my breaks at home, I like to lay on my comfy bed with the pups. Their cuteness can be distracting, but I would never ask them to leave.

I spend my evenings laughing with these people who do nothing but bring brightness to my days.

I cherish all the friendships I have made this summer and am grateful for this community.

Getting back into the groove of things will be healthy. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of these free summer days. Go bask in the sun and sing your favorite song with the windows down and the AC still blasting cause it’s so darn hot outside.

xoxo, 
Nadeen 

Free Nights

Summer is awesome and all,

But many of us are diagnosed with this disease called boredom. And although some may crave this. It can start to  become deadly at some point..

Boredom leads to over thinking, it leads to questioning  yourself, it leads to calling randoms who you don’t normally speak to, and most importantly, it leads to wasting your precious cash monay.

Luckily, living in a co-op decreases my chances of picking up this sickness. When I’m bored, I just go downstairs and find someone who is bored, and we do something about it!

One of my house mates Al and I have been exploring the comedy scene in Austin. Last thursday night, we biked downtown and watched a FREE show at The Hideout Theatre. Not only was the show hilarious, but there is a cafe connected to it! With lots of deliciously strong coffee and juices and austiny granola bars and such. I was too involved in the hilarity of the show that I didn’t take any photos, but I did snag this one of the bar.

I got a delicious italian soda, with whipped cream on top. I heart you topo chico.

Their shows are typically 5 dollars(thats nothing for what you get!), but the 10:00pm show on thursday nights is completely and totally free!

We enjoyed this outing so much, that last night, when boredom started knocking on the door, we decided it was time to explore again. This time, we ventured off to The New Movement. We parked our bikes and seemed a little lost because this place is slightly hidden. Just look for a huge sign with a question mark on Lavaca Street.

The comedians here were alot younger, so the humor was definitely a different feel, but nonetheless hilarious.

These shows are also typically $5, but their 9:30PM Wednesday shows are FREEEEEEEEEE. And you forget how great it feels to laugh, continuously, for like 2 hours. It’s a stress reliever and it works your abs. How could you say no?!

(Reason #18272398982 why I love this city: It’s easy to have fun and be frugal at the same time)

Al and I plan to continue this habit and find plenty more of these local holes.

In the meantime, don’t allow boredom to conquer your summer days. Yes, you should relax, but get out there and enjoy yourself. There is never NOTHING to do. I will punch someone if I hear them say this.

Cody wishes you crispy days with lots of laughter and treats.

xoxo, 

Nadeen Abou-Hossa

Summertime and the Livin’s Easy

Ah yes, sweet summer… At last, you are here.

I’m ecstatic, but to be honest, I really haven’t known what to do with myself

First off, finals are over! Yay.

(Lana and I before our arabic final, sleepless and still fabulous)

But now that this is over, i’m confused. What is this weird thing called free time? How do we spend it? Relaxing? I have time to lay out and read for hours? This all feels so strange to me, but I do know it’s necessary.

I pack up my messy room, hang out with these doggies who do nothing but feed me brave words of encouragement for the big change that is about to happen in my life.

Although I will be working full time and going to school, it will still be summer. No doubt about it. There will still be crispy sunburns from the pool, late night talks about nothing with random acquaintances, lazy evenings drinking beer, and the windows down on those sunny days with my favorite death cab for cutie song playing.

So far, my summer in Austin has consisted of: 

Thrifting: If you’re in Austin, you have a plethora of shops to choose from! However, if you’re a broke college student like me, then you can’t afford most of these cool shops with trendy vintage items. So do what I do, and go to places like Savers! or in Houston, Value Village. It’s a normal thrift shop like the goodwill, a HUGE one, with so much cheap fashionable clothing! You just may have to search a little but there’s some great stuff. I snagged this vest for a few bucks. Granny or hot?

I’ve started a new book that is making me want to go travel the world alone in hopes of “finding myself.” (We’ll see about that)

And I’ve ventured out to all the hip austin eats. Julio’s is one of my favorite local mexican restaurants. It’s not the fanciest, they only take cash, and the employees won’t be the friendliest, but none of that matters when you taste the authentic deliciousness. Look at this enchilada plate that is “bigger than my head.”

But really, this is all inevitable. I also await all the new friends I will make this summer. I just moved into a co-op  named Arrakis where I will have something like 17 roommates? It’s been a huge change, but I love it so far. It seems like such a close community and it’s amazing to see everyone put in their individual labor to contribute in creating a wholesome functioning house.  I am especially excited to get to know each and every one of my housemates unique personality.

This is my new, unpacked room. Every time I go home I can’t help but  become more obsessed with my door. Be prepared for many photos to come of the cool artwork around the house! The walls are all painted beautifully 🙂

Cody seems to be adjusting well to the house as well. His main rule was to stay out of the kitchen, and as dumb as the baby can be sometimes…he is learning so fast!

During my first morning at Arrakis, I woke up to all these cookies in the kitchen with an arrow pointing to them saying, “eat me.” In this moment, with coffee brewing in the background, I knew this was going to be a great home for me.

And this is one of my roommates, Mary Elizabeth. We bonded over our mexican habit of putting spicy seasonings on our watermelon one night in the kitchen..and we snagged this hat that she’s wearing at the dollar store. Dolla dolla make you holla!!!

As I unpack my new room, I go through my belongings and think of all  these creative projects I want to start on. I’ve been realizing how important it is to document. Journaling and keeping photos in a special place (not your Facebook), will be worth while in the long run. Keep your eyes peeled for a austin project I’m starting soon involving the blog 🙂

Until next time, I am at South Padre Island lounging and spending time with family. I’m getting pretty far into my book while I’m here and I want to leave you with a part of it that left me thinking all day. I think most of us are guilty of the crime she describes.

The main character in the book, Elizabeth, explains how in her beautiful travels, loneliness still haunts her. And then on page 65, she stops and tells herself: “So be lonely, Liz. Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map with it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience. But never again use another person’s body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilled yearnings.” 

I think if we all wrote this on a sheet of paper, and hung it up on our wall, we would feel a little bit more settled inside.

I wish you all sunny days and safe travels

xoxo,
Nadeen