Tia Things

Hey gems, With the end of the year coming at us quick, I love to remind myself of the greatness that was 2019.  When I first thought about the year in review, I really didn't think much of it! I mean there were a few moments that stood out but all very natural so I chalk it up as a decent year and moved on. But when I come to think of it, 2019 was an epic year. I got my first internship at my dream work location, met all kinds of amazing people and gained so much confidence. I then went on to get my first full-time job and take my first major steps into building a career. I went on work trips, was trusted with clients and really feel as though 2019 brought me more self-confidence than any other year.  Not only this but I also got to travel to my best friend 3 times this year! More than any of the past years! I also was able to travel this summer with my family and enjoy a beautiful summer season. I really feel as though, although my social life still needs some attent...

Hey gems, I know it’s been a while but get ready because the blog is about to be busy with lots of content! If you follow my Instagram or twitter (@tiathingsblog) you know I was away for the last few weeks and am finally back home!!! This vacation couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Everyone needs a mental break every once in a while and this was definitely mine. Some family time, best friend time and lots of sunshine was exactly what I needed, not to mention TONES of shopping. One of the highlights was visiting the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where we got to see dolphins up close and personal, their training sessions and learn more about their rehabilitation. Every animal at the Aquarium is a rescue animal, from dolphins missing fins due to fishing nets(check out the movie Dolphin tales or www.seewinter.com ) to sea turtles who lost their sight due to being hit by boat propellers. All animals are given a home and a second chance! As some may know from my previous ...

Hey there my gems, I haven't been writing in quite a while but I wanted to let you all know that I am officially a University graduate!! I walked across the stage a few weeks ago and haven't gotten a chance to let you know but it's time to let you all in on how it went down! Even though classes ended months ago and I've been working full time ever since, I loved every moment of the long ceremony. Let's start with the fact that it was a three hour long event which, as much as I appreciate the speeches, was SO LONG. I honestly thought all the way up to the day of that I would be super unaffected by the whole day. I knew I was graduating, I had been working for months, I didn't at all feel sad to be leaving school and I really wasn't excited about attending my ceremony because I thought it would be long and boring. Then the day came, next thing I know my hair and nails are being done and the whole family is dressed up. I started to feel nostalgic and a lit...

MY GEMS! I'm back and today is one of my favorite days of the year! Not only is Valentine's Day romantic and beautiful, but it gives you an opportunity to remember how lucky you are and show your appreciation for your loved ones! Now, lets take a minute to deal with two side notes! First, yes I know people say everyday should be Valentine's and you should always treat your loved ones special, but this is the day to go ALL OUT! Life size teddy bear? Get it. Over-sized bouquet? purchased! Second, people hate Valentine's Day and I totally get that, but I don't consider valentines day only for couples, in fact I'm having a ladies night tonight! This day is to celebrate any and all people who mean something important to you and spoil them a little so let loose and get giving! I thought it might be fun to reminisce a little today about the most caring things that have ever been done for me! Not just romantic, because, well you'll see! So a few years ago I w...

Hey there my gems! I'm back from my little blogging break and ready to help you all out! Here are easy ways to go from your normal vibe to beyond festive! First of all, changing your accessories. Okay so just about everyone reading this blog owns a phone and therefore a case for it! It's super cheap and easy to change that case to a more festive one! I changed mine to a red and green plaid design. This way I'm not necessarily walking around with a glowing Christmas tree but a stylish festive case! Not to mention, these are so easy to get and inexpensive! I got mine for 9$ at forever 21, you can order them online for 2$ on Ebay, or get them at the mall! Most people own more red, green and gold accessories then they realize! My red Kate Spade purse, green mittens, scarves, etc. It's easy to use things you already own and make small changes that will go a long way into festivities. Go as wild as you want! Second, it's so much fun to play with festive colors and de...

Hey there my gems! The holidays are the time of year where everyone wants to spoil the important people in their lives, but unfortunately, that's not always possible. Some of us being students, newly in the job  market or low on cash for any reason makes it hard for a lot of us to give the way we wish we could. I LOVE spoiling the people I care about. I would constantly buy things for the people close to me if I could, but being a student and working part-time, that is definitely not happening.  The truth is, I've learnt that most of the time the things you don't buy, the things you make, create or do yourself, mean so much more than anything you can buy in a store. Some examples of the best gifts I've ever gotten which were homemade include poems written for me, "coupons" giving me freebies to my favorite things such as a restaurant, etc. These are just some small examples, but I also love giving DIY gifts. With the holidays coming close, here are some i...

Hey Guys! Today's blog is a super exciting one because I absolutely love tattoos! I currently have two, which are both super sentimental for me. I would love more in the future, but I really believe in tattoos being meaningful for me so I want to take my time. My first tattoo, I got when I was 17. This was actually not as hard of a battle as I thought it would be to get my parents to agree to because the tattoo was a matching one for me and my sister. We decided to get matching tattoos and knew that we wanted them to be small and delicate. We decided to get two hearts intertwined together- yes cheesy- because we often times say we consider ourselves twins. The tattoo is on our ankles and we absolutely love the location because we can hide it easily with a sock, or show it off in sandals. Looking back, I might have made it even smaller, but I can't complain it's simple and perfect. My second tattoo I got right after my 21st birthday and is a little bigger. It’s really t...

Hey there my Gems! Tis' the season to be merry and stressed as you sprint through the mall looking for those holiday gifts! I'm slightly crazy and love to be done my holiday shopping really early and this year's gifts are ALL DONE!  Let's be honest here, once Halloween passes there's really nothing else to do but plan for the holiday break! Here are some tips for those of you planning to get that holiday shopping done, how to stay organized, on budget and focused. 1. Plan ahead Knowing what items you're looking for helps you stay on budget and on time. Rather than frantically buying anything you think someone would like and then accidentally buying way too much of nothing, make a list of the people you will be shopping for and ideas for each alongside their individual budgets. Having this handy while you're shopping is really important if you want to stay on budget and not waste time. Not only will you know what to look for, but you'll know what st...

Hey guys, Anyone else feeling the weight of the semester getting heavier or is that just me? I thought today I'd do something different than my tips and tricks and just let you guys know what I'm struggling with and what is happening that is keeping life so hectic! First of all, school is school. There's no escaping it and the moment you think you're ahead, you fall three steps behind. I am definitely feeling the stress and the expectations of profs getting more and more restraining. I feel like because I love school and generally do well, people think that I never have a hard time. Which could not be farther from the truth. I have such a hard time getting through stress and putting my worries to the side. I am a self diagnosed snow-baller. If you don't know what I am talking about, I basically think of one thing that can go wrong, then everything that will snowball from there and basically I'll end up living at home forever. Next up is work, my part ti...

Hey guys, So as you all know, I'm in school and working toward my bachelor's degree. I love school, but as I move through my degree I see the future coming at me 100 miles a minute. So I thought it would be fun to share with you my goals and plans for the next 5 years, this may sounds kind of psycho in some parts but I love planning. It keeps me motivated so I have lots of details worked out. First, within six months of my graduation, I'd love to get a job, this is a little tricky because I don't want to set unrealistic goals. It's not always easy to get a full-time job but I would love to be working and getting experience as soon as I graduate. That is also part of the reason why I started this blog. It gets me experience in writing and social media, all the while giving me time to focus on school and go at my own pace. Not to mention it's so fun and gives me a hobby to free my mind of stress (a little). My dream job would be something which involves ...

Now that you've been through my Heartbeats journey with me, let's wrap this baby up in a neat little bow of what I've learned in 8 simple but important love tips to keep in mind! **Side note these apply for different relationships. (ex: Long-term, new, dating world, friendships, etc.) 1. Effort is everything. If someone isn't putting the same effort into getting to know you, making you happy, etc. as you are for them, then they may not be worth the time and effort you're putting into them. Think of your time as the most valuable thing in the world, if you're giving them yours, they should be reciprocating. If not, take the time to consider why. They may be going through something, which is totally understandable, but people can't expect you to give it your all forever without getting any time or effort in return. Every relationship in your life is a two way street. 2. Relationships are not only between 2 people. You're friends and family are...

Welcome to my world,  It seems only fair to let you into my life by starting with a little bit about me! I'm not a celebrity or an Instagram star, I'm really just a normal student that thought of starting a blog and finally decided to do it!  I'm in my last year of university, looking for jobs and internships- which is terrifying- and honestly trying not to let life overwhelm me! My family is the BOMB, were loud and obnoxious at times, but mostly full of love, passion and pizza! (Italians tend to throw food into everything so sorry in advance for that) Friendships and relationships haven't always been easy for me, I'm sure we'll go into detail eventually, but I'm finally in a great place with both! My girls are my everything, even though some live far, and most of us hibernate during the school year, they're the most hilarious and loving bunch out there! In the world of love, I have to say I'm beyond blessed, my boyfriend of two and a half year...