New Year's Eve Dresses

Whether you’re heading to a dressy party or a low key hang-out with friends, tonight's celebration calls for a cute dress. Ring in 2015 in style with some of my favorite finds below.

Dolce Vita      Lovers+Friends    Finders Keepers

Addison                         JOA

New Year's Superstitions

I don't know about y'all, but I'm very superstitious. I make a wish at 11:11 and believe in the power of good luck charms. To start 2015 on the right foot, I found these ten New Year's superstitions. While I may not try them all,  I'll probably tackle a good majority because who doesn't want a little bit of fun and luck on their side?

1. It’s good luck if the first person to enter your home is a man, preferably bearing gifts.
2. Do not take anything out of the house or risk losing things in the upcoming year.
3. If you’re looking for a year of travels, run around the block with luggage.
4. Don’t lend money or pay back loans to avoid paying out all year.
5. At the stroke of midnight, eat 12 grapes for good luck in the New Year.
6. Open the door at midnight to let out the old and bad from the previous year.
7. For peace and health, wear white on New Year’s Eve.
8. Also, wear red undies to guarantee love and passion.
9. On New Year’s Day, wear new clothes to receive more new clothes in the New Year.
10. The midnight kiss not only shows your affection, but ensures love for the next 12 months.

Midseason's Greetings

The New Year brings back some of my favorite TV shows. Like the smart cookie I am, I’m spending some of my vacation re-watching old seasons in preparation for all the new episodes. To get caught up, here’s a list of shows worth watching again and again:

The Big Bang Theory returns January 8^th

Family Guy returns January 4^th

The Fosters returns January 19^th

Girl Meets World returns January 9^th

Girls returns January 11^th

Glee returns January 9^th

The Mindy Project returns January 6^th

Modern Family returns January 7^th

New Girl returns January 6^th

Parks and Recreation returns January 13^th

Pretty Little Liars returns January 6^th

Switched at Birth returns January 6^th

2 Broke Girls returns January 5^th

New Semester, New Wardrobe

With Christmas cash and gift cards and school just around the corner, there’s no better time to go shopping for that new winter wardrobe. As the seasons shift, we may choose sweaters over tanks or boots over sandals, but what rarely changes are our favorite places to shop. So, check out some of these sites, online or in store, to find the perfect pieces to add to your collection.

                                Cusp             South Moon Under       Revolve Clothing       Urban Outfitters           Bloomingdale's                          

A DC Winter Wonderland

With break winding down, there’s only so much time left to do the many fun things in DC this winter.

To escape the cold, watch movies. You can either head to a movie theater to watch the latest attraction or pop in an old favorite at home.

In the spirit of the holidays, enjoy the performing arts. The Nutcracker is showing at Warner Theatre, but if ballet isn’t your thing try a musical or a play.

In a city like DC, take advantage of the great concerts. When I'm at school, I rarely get the chance to see a show, so when I'm in town I always try to go!

To get your cultural fix, check out the museums. The National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Natural History are personal favorites and also free!

If you’ve got money in your pocket, go shopping. Head indoors to Tysons or Pentagon mall or enjoy the outdoor ambiance and cute shops in Georgetown.

Although it hasn’t snowed yet, there’s no reason you can’t participate in other winter activities like ice-skating. Enjoy outdoor rinks in Georgetown, Tysons, or Pentagon.

Before heading back to the real world, I'm going to enjoy this DC winter wonderland!

Post-Holiday Recovery

Although this string of birthday, Christmas Eve, and Christmas feasting and festivities has been fun, it’s also been tiring. It’s time to return to a healthier lifestyle, at least for a few days before celebrating again on New Year’s.

First, it’s important to get plenty of sleep. Those eight hours improves memory, lowers stress, and keeps you from looking and feeling tired.

I also exercise to look and feel better. Although it takes some effort to make it onto a treadmill, afterwards I always feel healthier and happier. After all, exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy.

You can’t forget about healthy eating either. While your favorite savory or sweet dish may taste better, your body will thank you for the fruits and veggies.

Finally, make sure you drink water. Staying hydrated keeps your skin clear and energizes you on those busy days.

I'm excited to start the New Year off right!

Merry Christmas!

 

I woke up this morning to the sweet smell of bunuelos and pasteles and a sleepy, yet cheery family. We gathered around the Christmas tree to open the rest of our gifts and now have a low-key, relaxing day ahead of us.

Last night, I hung out with some of my cousins and today I’ll get to see the rest! Ever since I started college, I only see them all about once every three months, so I’ve grown really appreciative of our time together and enjoy hanging out with them. Today spend time with your loved ones too and have yourself a Merry Christmas!

Noche Buena

It’s almost Christmas! For our family though, the main event is Christmas Eve or Noche Buena. Every year we make buñuelos, which are fried pastries topped with powdered sugar, and pasteles, which are fried cheese empanadas also topped with powdered sugar. Then, all of our extended family and friends come over to our house where we watch holiday movies, decorate cupcakes, and catch up over a delicious feast. Finally, when the clock strikes twelve, the official start to Christmas, we open gifts and toast this grand holiday filled with family, friends, and traditions. Ahh I can't wait for the fun to begin!

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Winter

Today I basked in my post-birthday lazy haze. I took the college kid home on winter break route and spent a good chunk of my day in bed with my laptop, alternating between Gilmore Girls, How I Met Your Mother, and Parks and Recreation. I also indulged in some delicious leftover birthday cake- red velvet, my fave. 

I wasn’t totally unproductive though; I did leave the comfort of room to do a couple of chores, tidying up the house for tomorrow’s festivities. While I’m usually a busy bee, I think that every once in a while we could all use those do nothing kind of days. So I’m glad I took my mini-vacation, and if the holidays or whatever are stressing you out, join me on vacation lane.

The Most Important Day of the Year

Today is my 21^st birthday! I can’t believe how much time has gone by. Also, apologies for the somewhat obnoxious title, but come on, birthdays are the best. And I’m glad I get to spend this one with the family, who’s taking me to the DC Downtown Holiday Market before treating me to dinner at my favorite Indian restaurant, Rasika.

Not only has this past year been incredible, but these past twenty-one years have been amazing too. I’ve experienced so many new things, explored new places, and learned a lot along the way. I can’t wait to see what the future holds, so here’s to a wonderful new year!

Holiday Gift Guide 2014

The other day I went Christmas Shopping! I love going to the mall around this time of year. The giant Christmas tree, the beautiful window displays, and all the festive decorations get me excited for the holidays. I managed to buy part of my little brother’s present, but I still want to get him something else. And if you were anything like me, you may have found yourself struggling to find the perfect gift that also won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. So, check out the ideas below to guide your holiday shopping this year:

For the entertainment junkie, buy their favorite book or DVD. Your loved ones will thank you when they have classic like Steinbeck’s East of Eden or all four seasons of Arrested Development on a long flight/trip.   

For the picky ones, purchase a gift card. Your friends will appreciate the freedom to pick what they want from their favorite store, restaurant, etc. Also, if you’re unsure of what to buy, gift cards can be a pretty safe bet!

For the foodie, give the gift of baked goods. It’s sweet, in more ways than one, and your friends will love you for not only buying their favorite cupcakes or whipping up your famous batch of cookies, but for sharing the secret recipe too!

For the caffeine addict, get a cute mug. Whether they drink tea or coffee, you know it’ll be put to good use on the daily. Also, personalize your choice of mug to their personality and likes to make the gift extra special.

Hopefully, this little gift guide was helpful and wish me luck on the rest of my holiday shopping!

Welcome to Exceptional and Ordinary!

Hi everyone, I'm Melissa! Welcome to my blog and allow me to introduce myself. I’m a college junior that loves fashion, photography, literature, and travel. I was raised right outside D.C. in a family of four that has since grown to six with our two pugs Mason and Darcy, easily the most adorable part of our Bolivian fam.

Growing up, I kept myself busy with my love of books and my addiction to television and that hasn’t really changed too much. What has changed though is my personal style. Although I wouldn’t call myself a fashionista, I have been known to get my fair share of compliments, thank you very much. Also, the older I get, the more I get to travel! I only wish that I had written and photographed all those traveling adventures and any and all of my other thoughts and experiences. 

So last year, I resolved to write everyday. And this past term on my study abroad program, I even got more into the habit of documenting my experiences not only in my journal, but through my camera too. Now I’ve decided to share my personal thoughts and life on this blog; after all, there there’s no time like the present. So here I am, ready to share not only some of my past experiences, but hopefully the exciting adventures yet to come!