Sometimes you just need a venti iced Americano to make it through the day. 

I can't wait to try this recipe for shrimp tacos from honee bee. When in doubt around dinner time, just throw whatever you have on hand and roll it all up in a tortilla and nine times out of ten you are going to have a masterpiece on your hands.

Don't you just love these weekly planner pads? They're the perfect motivation to get organized and stick to all of your lists.

Rachel has outdone herself again, coming up with 15 more blog post ideas if you're facing writer's block. Be prepared to see many of these prompts showing up on here in the near future.

Job hunting stinks. And that whole "You need a job to get a job" saying is accurate more times than it's not. Not going to lie, I'm glad I'm not having to constantly tweak my resume and ask redundant questions at interviews. Jillian has a humorous take on the whole convoluted process.

On that note, here are 10 tips for job hunting. And if you can't find the job you like, follow all of the other post-grad entrepreneurs and create your perfect job. You have to somewhat enjoy what you do with one-third of your day, and while I crave stability too much to strike it out on my own, more power to you.

I decided to revisit my 30 before 30 list that I made on my 22 birthday in January. You know, just to make sure I haven't accomplished anything without even trying. I know have one item to cross off my list not even six months in. Success? I think so. Now only 29 more to go. Some of them may take a little a lot of planning and coordination. 

Visiting a continent other than North America or Europe? Well... I did spend the better part of a night researching cruises to the Antarctic. You read that right, the girl who barricaded herself in her apartment rather than attempt to walk across the iced over parking lot after falling multiple times? Yes, she considered visiting a continent that is completely ice. Maybe it's the summer heat getting to me, or maybe I've lost my mind. But at the time it sounded like a genius idea. Until I saw the 23 day itinerary and $12,000 price tag. After that I decided I'll settle for St. Luica and call it a day.

Back to what I've actually done...purchased furniture with no assembly required! And it also came with people besides myself and my dad to transport, carry up the stairs and set up. My desk and patio furniture came in boxes, but screwing in nuts and bolts with a hex key (what my dad referred to the makeshift screwdriver that comes in the assembly kit) was still my speed of DIY.

It's no surprise that student debt is at an all time high. And while I do not regret the loans I took out to attend Harding, after reading this article on USA Today College I had to take a moment to sit back and wonder what we're paying for, and what is the deciding factor when choosing a university. 

Upscale dining options (which, unfortunately Harding was sorely lacking), movie theaters, state of the art workout facilities, dorm rooms that are nicer than your parents house and perfectly manicured lawns are becoming the norm. In fact, some schools are spending millions of dollars because the facilities, not the academics or student life, are the main deciding factor when recruiting freshmen. 

Now, I conveniently lived in a newly renovated dorm and/or apartment three of my four years. I lucked out. But the other university I was looking at had all of the bells and whistles that grab a 17-year-old's attention. At that age, I wasn't thinking about the extra $10,000 a year I would have to pay for that all-you-can eat cereal bar.

It makes me wonder if we put lavish amenities as a top priority in other areas of our lives. Do we have to have that designer bag, which the label clearly visible for all the world to see? Or maybe it's taking selfies at all of the 2014 must-visit destinations to prove how much of a globe trotter we are?

Maybe it's time to step back and look where our money and priorities are focused and ask ourselves, "When I'm still paying for this 10 years later, would I still make this decision/purchase?"

If there is one thing that is almost as good as eating French food, it would be reading about French food. For all of those foodie travel lovers out there, this is a must read. Ann Mah is a diplomat's wife who treated her few years stationed in France as a culinary adventure. She did not shy away from the pork fat, smelly cheeses, and questionable sausages that are staples in regional French cuisine. She went on a culinary pilgrimage throughout the French provinces with the goal of getting to the heart of such dishes as steak frites, anduillete, fondue, boeuf bourguignon and buckwheat crepes.

Similar to another American diplomat's wife, Julia Child, Ann finds comfort and belonging through cooking and learning about France through dishes. She interviews and learns from chefs whose recipes and methods have been handed down from generations. 

While I had not heard of half of the dishes Ann journeys to find, nor would I honestly care to try them, I am fascinated by her time in Paris and France. In my opinion, she talks about Roquefort one too many times for my taste. And anyone who truly loves Roquefort (whose mold can only be grown in certain caves, yes, caves) and Camembert, well, I have to question her sanity. 

Needless to say, she weaves her newfound culinary knowledge with her memoirs as a diplomat's wife whose husband is then quickly sent to Iraq alone for a year. Many of us, alone in a foreign country may stick to what we know, but Ann channels her inner Julia Child and learns to perfect boeuf bourguignon instead. 

Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah

I hope your long weekend is off to a lovely start. If the drive home was any indication, many of you are flocking southbound to Florida. Enjoy time on the water, cooking outside and the not-so-official start to summer.

Need a little reading material while lounging on a boat deck? 

1. Taylor's description of an American summer according to Pottery Barn is hilarious and witty and brilliant. "And miniature penant flags for condiments? LOVE IT. That's just American is what it is. We love condiments and we love mini flags. God bless." Go gather all of your red, white and blue pillows, lanterns and decorative oars to prove how much you are American. USA! USA! USA!

2. I am on the hunt fora pretty jewelry stand. Who knows, maybe I will end up making my own? Any excuse to search antique stores for china plates is fine with me.

3. Did you see Lauren's gorgeous photos galavanting all over Paris in a sea of tulle?

4. This apartment tour is the epitome of bachelorette pad, with no shortage of blush, gold and sparkle. 

5. I can't get enough of these red loafers. While I am thankful I now live in a state where sandals are acceptable footwear on 90% of occasions, sometimes you need a pair of flats.

It's that time of the year. Where everything is freshly picked close to home and not shipped in from halfway across the world. Of Saturday mornings spent at the farmer's market, followed by Saturday afternoon drives to the peach orchard for the best homemade peach ice cream you've ever tasted. Food is lighter, less cooked (aka less time having to cook) and you always have sweet snacks on hand that don't leave you feeling guilty after eating the whole carton. 

Grab your market tote and a cup of coffee and see what you can find. The best part of farmer's markets is that you can usually learn a few tricks on how to pick the best fruits and veggies and what exactly to do with them once you get home. 

Is it a thing to be fashionably late to making weekly goals? Can I not feel guilty about not having big plans and goals knowing that 2/3 of the week is already over? I say yes.

If you're following me on Instagram shameless plug then you probably noticed that I'm not living like a squatter anymore! And that I can cross one item of my 30 before 30 list: buy furniture that requires no assembly. So now that I have the basics, and have a few things hanging on my walls, the real fun can begin. Feel free to share your favorite places to find decorative items/prints/etc. Oh, and don't say Ikea, because the nearest one is 5 hours away, and a furniture warehouse store is not worth that kind of drive. 

Also, I want to try one new restaurant per week, at least for a while. I went to two last weekend, so maybe I will let those count for this week. Someone who prides herself on being a fan of the foodcation can't be lulled into eating out at the same three places at home all the time.

Finally, I want to enjoy the long weekend. My days of having a summer break are over for good until I retire. So I should start making the most out of whatever vacations I can get.