The Sratty Archaeologist

I think I've been dehydrated since birth. Seriously, I never drank enough water. I'd wake up with cracked and chapped lips and a vague feeling that I was going to die of thirst but still never drank any water. Think my body was trying to tell me something? Even throughout the day, nothing. Maybe a soda here and there during a meal but I never sipped anything if I didn't have to.
Water is so beneficial to the body. The body is made up of 60% water so drinking some more helps maintain fluid balance which promotes good digestion, regulation of body temperature, and the transportation of nutrients in the body. It's also supposed to help clear up skin, which I'm a big fan of, by flushing out toxins in the body. I've also had a lot of tummy troubles recently so anything that claims it will help my poor stomach- I'm in.

Yesterday, I turned 23. You know what they say," nobody likes you when you're 23." Kidding...I hope. A lot of change has happened while I was 22, some good, some not so great. Life is always in motion and there is no stopping it. So in honor of my 23rd trip around the sun, here are 23 things I've learned.

1. You're not always going to please everybody. There's a quote I love by Dita Von Teese, " You could be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches."
2. Find your style, and own it. Who cares if you dress only black, white, stripes, and leopard print...just do you!
3. Always have a backup plan. This can be for dinner or your life plan. Life doesn't always go smoothly, be prepared and ready to adjust.
4. Everything happens for a reason. Didn't get that internship? Maybe something even more incredible is just around the bend!
5. Always write thank you cards.
6. Get enough sleep each night, only you know how your body functions.
7. If you're meeting someone important make sure your nails look ok and go in for a firm handshake. No one likes a dead, floppy fish handshake.
8. Let love in
9. You can't do it all or have it all, but you still have got to try.
10. Never be ashamed of what you love
11. Do what makes you happy
12. Enjoy every meal you eat. While I've LOVED to eat for a very long time, but my post jaw surgery diet of all liquids definitely made me appreciate a good meal even more!
13. It's ok to be selfish. Self-care is so important to your mental and physical wellbeing
14. Work hard, play hard.
15. Budget, budget, budget. Don't overspend on unnecessary things. Think about bringing tea to work instead of stopping at Dunkin or Starbs. My favourite money saving tip? Take 10% of your paycheck and put that right into a savings account.
16. Be present
17. Don't bottle up your emotions. It doesn't help in the long run.
18. Appreciate traditions and keep them alive.
19. Be grateful for family and friends.
20. If you're going through hell, keep going.
21. Wash your face and take off your makeup at night.
22. Do your readings and homework. Yes it may seem like a lot but in the long run it is only going to help you succeed and learn more. Make sure you're making the most out of your degree.
23.  Travel as much as you can, while you can.

Brunch. Is there a lovelier word in the English language? Didn't think so. Sweet or savory, hot or cold, brunch is whatever you need it to be. In my opinion, there is nothing better than waking up on a Saturday or Sunday morning, having a nice snuggle under the covers, and then starting your day off maybe a little later than usual with a great meal.
I want to share my two favorite brunch spots. These places are in complete opposite locations. One in a big city, the other in a small town. Despite the geographical differences, they serve the best brunch I've ever had.


Let's start off with the big city brunch. Located in the financial district in New York City, 121 Fulton Street has an excellent brunch menu. My personal favorite dish is the 2 egg omelet with bacon, mushrooms, and American cheese. It comes with breakfast potatoes, toast, and a small salad. The serving size is so big I usually have trouble cleaning my plate. Some other yummy items include the Fulton Scramble and the breakfast burrito. If you're in the mood for something sweet, I'd recommend the Banana French Toast.
What's brunch without some mimosas? 121 Fulton Street has a bottomless brunch option. For $25 you can enjoy unlimited Bloody Marys, Mimosas, or Screwdrivers.
121 Fulton is also great for large groups and very accommodating. Despite it being a busy Saturday morning, they had no problem setting up a large table in the side room for about 20 sorority alumnae.

My other favorite brunch spot is located in Williamsport, PA. The Sawhorse Cafe is located right across the street from Lycoming College at 303 Washington Boulevard. The menu changes every week and uses local fresh ingredients in all their recipes. If it's in season, you can bet the Sawhorse is using it to create delicious and wholesome meals.
The Sawhorse is a pretty busy place on the weekends with college students, families, and residents of Williamsport coming in for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or a quick latte. My favorite time to go is on a weekday morning. It's much less busy and I always brought my laptop to get some school work done while I enjoyed my meal and chai tea latte. Another amazing part of The Sawhorse Cafe is the decor. The restaurant is filled with art from local artists and is always changing.

Despite the changing weekly menu, there are some items they always ready to go. One of their staples is The Classic. The Classic is made of two eggs made anyway, a choice of bacon, sausage or ham, potatoes, and toast with an incredible jam on the side. Another regular item is the Beaver Run Breakfast Sandwich, which is my boyfriend's go-to item on the menu.
In order to keep up with the changing menu, make sure to like The Sawhorse Cafe on Facebook.

Hello all or should I say Guten Tag! I'm very excited to announce that I'll be travelling to Germany this May! For the first part of my trip, I'll be with some of my fellow Museum Professions students learning about the museums and cultural institutions in Germany's capital. There's going to be some behind the scenes museum tours and workshops with German museum professionals. I'm very excited for those opportunities! The bust of Nefertiti is also housed in the Neues Museum on Berlin's Museum Island, and I've been DYING to see that bust in real life ever since I was a little girl. Love me some Egyptian artifacts!

http://www.egyptian-museum-berlin.com/c53.php

The second part of my trip, I'll be mostly on my own. I'm hoping to I'll get to see Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Dresden,and maybe I'll even pop over to Vienna, Austria for a little bit.

www.neuschwanstein.de

I also cannot wait to have some authentic German food!Brats and pretzels and schnitzel,oh my!
I'll be posting my travel tips, plans, and reviews in the next few months. I cannot wait to share this adventure with you all.
If you have any recommendations on what to see, where to stay, what to munch on let me know!