Urban Oasis

This week is the last week of classes before Spring Break, and it’s already halfway through! This upcoming break will be my first Spring Break within about 500 miles of home during my 4 years of college. It’s the last big break for me as a senior, and I have a pretty good idea of where I want to spend most of it: on my couch.

This might be where I want to spend my break, but un/fortunately I have friends based in DC that want to take advantage of our city. And by ‘take advantage’ I mean party like a tourist- visit all the hotspots, check out the coolest restaurants and experience every nightclub in as much time as we possibly can. First up on the itinerary: Bus Boys and Poets. It’s a cool restaurant in the chic and fashionable part of town that we’ve been planning to visit since we started college.

I’ve done tons of touristy things in the past for Spring Break, so I have a few tips and things to inspire you all who are planning to travel this time around. The most popular sites I know of for student travel discounts and information are STA Travel and Student Universe. STA travel is more comprehensive and includes plenty of guidelines for visiting different cities and many other countries. Student Universe is pretty straightforward. Its goal is to get you to your destination as quick as you can for the cheapest price. There might be better deals out there on smaller sites, but these will ensure you travel with companies that are well-known and reliable.

Hopefully, you’re not like me when it comes to packing. If I’m going somewhere for a week or 3 weeks, I usually have 3 suitcases and a backpack.

 An admirable packing plan from Knightcat

I’m not sure of the exact reason why I can’t pack light, but I think it has something to with putting outfits together. I’m encouraging you guys to do the mix-and-match thing. You know, dressing for day and night, creating a week’s worth of outfits based on one pair of shoes. I admire those of you who have this practice under your belt. For the rest of us, here’s an example from Boho Market:

I hope everyone has a exciting and safe break! Check back for pics of DC.

Are You Really Talking About the Weather?

Yes and no. This past week, the weather has impacted me in more ways than one. For starters, it turned me into a sick puppy. Yep, right before midterms. I’m not really 100% me, and I feel like my world is becoming a sort of whirlwind, pushing and pulling me where it may. But I’m going to make the most of this roller coaster ride, starting here on my blog. Being slightly uprooted doesn’t really faze me, as you might expect from someone who titles their blog Perpetual Dalliance. The truth is I’m hardly ever here, in-the-now, fixed in the moment. I’m usually escaping somewhere mentally, whether it be in another time or place. And I always love the opportunity to incorporate this into my physical world.

Early March is a transitional period in terms of weather. It’s on the edge of winter and on the brink of spring. Not quite either/or, but the combination makes for an…interesting experience. If you (and I’m in this boat as well) want the take a chance and benefit from this time, use it to inspire you to find meaning in your surroundings. Now is the time to turn the temperamental, indecisive side of ol’ Pisces into the creative, adaptable one you know it can be. So we can grab that fish by the tail and tell it “Hey, I’m running this show!”

Out with the winter/ in with the spring. Out with the old/in with the new. But not completely. There’s still a mix for the moment, a blend of distinct characteristics. This can be experienced temporary through the weather, but also in more tangible things like the items below found on PureGreenDesign blog.

A Mix of Old and New:

 What about you? What's your favorite time of the year? How could you incorporate its elements into your life permanently?

Post inspired by decor8