bettertobeeclectic

[bettertobeeclectic]

what do you do when you're supposed to be reading your marketing textbook? Bake a batch of banana, pecan, wild blueberry bread of course 🍞 1.26.17 #chicago #happydays #baking (at Chicago, Illinois)

[bettertobeeclectic]

wishing i had this much excitement for the the beginning of the week, but might as well greet monday with open arms and a lot of excitement ✨ 1.23.17 #happydays

[bettertobeeclectic]

few things can measure to spending the holiday with all my loved ones.....and eating my weight in gingerbread men 😍12.26.16 #happyholidays #pebblebeach (at The Lodge At Pebble Beach Golf Links)

[bettertobeeclectic]

merry christmas from rudolph, santa-in-training, an elf, and christmas pudding 🎄 12.25.16 #merrychristmas #happyholidays (at Pebble Beach, California)

[bettertobeeclectic]

at Pebble Beach, California

[bettertobeeclectic]

feeling like an elf running around doing last minute christmas shopping, wrapping, and baking - hope everyone's having a wonderful holiday season ❤️12.22.16 #happyholidays #pebblebeach #california (at Pebble Beach, California)

[bettertobeeclectic]

bundled up like a babushka to hike up 6,000 feet 🐻☃️ 12.18.16 #yosemite #happydays (at Yosemite National Park)

[bettertobeeclectic]

CVG - SFO back in the home state!! ✈️☁️ 12.17.16 #sanfrancisco #happydays (at San Francisco International Airport (SFO))

[bettertobeeclectic]

there's a lot of moments that have really filled up my heart, but making these two proud definitely is topping the charts. thank you to my always loving parents, my tutors who always pushed me to my limits but were two of the most brilliant minds i'd ever met, and to all my friends both at home and at oxford - you all mean the world to me ❤️ 12.15.16 #happydays #happyholidays (at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport)

[bettertobeeclectic]

Maybe it is life itself that is the dream. The realization that we are living in a reality that is so charged with passion, awe, and wonder that we have to ask ourselves, what are we to do with this life? From a few months of a lot of self reflection, analysis, and ultimately acceptance, I want to put it out there and say that we should create our lives as masterpieces that we want to live again and again. We are creatures that transcend everything and are a manifestation of cognitive magnificence, hopes, and ambition. We are creatures of the universe and there should be nothing stopping us from being boundless in what we want to study, learn, or just be. I've also learned that words are en-generative, words are powerful, words not only express reality but they can author it; it can italicize our perception and make everything a magical and never ending incantation. We want more poetic truths. I cannot stress enough that the expansion of our consciousness, of our connection to ourselves and to others, is the most human and beautiful action we can perform. Every day should be an exercise of our own will, our ability to spread love and kindness and radical empathy. We need more eruptions of amazement, food for the soul, senseless acts of beauty. Imbue your reality with rhapsodic bliss. Spread your sense of meaningfulness. Life is a series of individual moments and it is up to us to ensure that those moments are interconnected, vital, and grand. I'd like to think I've had several moments of aesthetic epiphanies, or at least these bright eyed moments of extreme curiosity, but I must say my biggest discovery has been the realization that the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. Throughout this journey into this medieval gothic land called Oxford, I have learned more about my values, about understanding those around you, and about being wholeheartedly passionate for every moment of your life. Ultimately, all I want to say is for anyone who's taken the time to read this long passage, I hope you realize what a gift you are to this world. Thank you, Michaela xx (at University of Oxford)

[bettertobeeclectic]

heaven is a place on earth and i think I've just found it ⚜️🇬🇧 12.13.16 #oxford #happyholidays #happydays (at Oxford University Press)

[bettertobeeclectic]

every so often i'll be walking past reflections of people in the glittery-lit windows of cafes and stores and wonder who are these characters behind them? what type of coffee do they like? do they like christmas pudding? at the very least i just hope they're having a lovely and festive holiday season ✨12.11.16 #oxford #happydays #happyholidays (at Oxford Christmas Market)

[bettertobeeclectic]

when you have to hold back the urge to sprint across the lawn into the front doors like you're in some romantic, freeing scene in a movie but gotta hold back cause the porters will chase you down 🙄 12.10.16 #oxford #happydays (at All Souls College, Oxford)

[bettertobeeclectic]

bridge of sighs: skyway connecting new college and hertford college and also an excellent way to be lazy and not have to walk outside 😌12.9.16 #oxford #happydays (at Bridge of Sighs (Oxford))

[bettertobeeclectic]

ecstatic to have spent time in the emerald isle being all festive with the biggest sweetheart ❤️🎄P.S. my caption doesn't even do his justice 😘 12.7.16 #happydays (at Mary Immaculate College, Ireland)

[bettertobeeclectic]

when you throw in some americans, an aussie, and a canadian it's a beautiful thing.....thanks for filling oxford with so many magical memories ❤️🇬🇧 12.4.16 (at University of Oxford)

[bettertobeeclectic]

their pancakes were delicious and their reading selection was even better 😍 12.2.16 #oxford #happydays (at George Street Social)