The Sratty Archaeologist

What did I do before podcasts? Seriously. Sometimes I'm not in the mood to listen to music but I need to have something playing in the background while I drive to work or school. Nothing gets me through commuter hour or a long haul drive like a good podcast. Podcasts aren't just for my car. I love listening to them while I'm doing my homework or even going out for a run. Today I'm so excited to share these with you and if you all have any recommendations let me know in the comments!

Travel is a huge part of my life between road trips and transatlantic flights I've learned how to pack smarter. So my makeup bag has also matured with me. I've condensed all my travel makeup and brushes into one small bag that can easily fit into my carry on or an overnight bag.

The bag itself is from Barry M and I purchased it in Edinburgh. I was attracted to the color, size, and cheeky saying on the bag. The bright pink stands out in the depths of my carry on or suitcase making it easy to find and access when I need it. The bag is also compact enough to fit what I need but limit myself to what I actually bring. The plasticky material that the bag is made of also makes it very easy to clean. I'm not sure if you can find this exact bag but here are some similar styles on the Barry M website.

For my base, I really don't like to cake up the foundation. I prefer a BB cream or CC cream which gets the job done. I've been using the It Cosmetics CC Cream. It's not super heavy and keeps my skin moisturized but provides excellent coverage. It is also buildable so if I need more coverage I could layer it up. The CC cream also has SPF 50 which is another awesome benefit. For concealer, I bring two along. One is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment concealer. This really covers up my dark circles and lasts throughout the day without caking. If I'm having a breakout or need to do some major covering up, I also bring my Makeup For Ever Full Cover Concealer. It's waterproof and lasts throughout the day, especially if I set it with a little powder.

On the rest of my face, I bring my Elf Translucent Mattifying Powder to set my under eyes and any places that I've spot concealed. This is also super helpful because it's in a compact and has a handy mirror which I can throw in my purse if I'm on the go. For bronzer, I bring along my Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer. I find that it's a cool enough tone to contour with if needed but also generally gives my face a nice natural warmth. For blush, I have my Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday gift. It's a small version of one of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Paaarty. It's very soft neutral pink which is great to wear day to day. For highlighter, I've been enjoying the Vintage by Jessica Illuminating Face Highlighter set. It comes with 2 highlighters, one a pinky tone another a light chocolaty color. The chocolatey one is nice and subtle, which is great for day to day use.

Perks of being a museum professions student? Field trips to new museums I've never been to. I'm very lucky to say that I live in a close proximity to New York City and have had the opportunity to visit a lot of museums. Even outside NYC, I love finding new places with a historical flare.
I was thrilled to find out I'd be visiting the Museum of the City of New York, a place I'd never gotten a chance to visit before. Founded in 1923, the museum's mission is to connect the public with the past, present, and future of New York City.
First off, the day we visited was absolutely beautiful. It was a solid 70 degrees and sunny in Manhatten. I went in a little early got myself lunch on the Upper East Side and channeled my inner Blair Waldorf as I made my way up to the Museum along 5th Avenue.
The museum is located right along the park on the Museum Mile. Although it seems like the building was at one time a luxurious townhouse of a gilded age socialite, the building was actually constructed to be a museum. It fits the aesthetic of the Upper East Side perfectly. I was particularly attracted to the white marble and brick combination. A few of us waited on the patio of the museum for our professor enjoying the sunshine.
The inside of the museum is all about contrast, which I love. The gorgeous historical interiors in all of its white marble glory contrasted with the modern art installment called Starlight. The three exhibition spaces off the main lobby were all very dark spaces as well.
My favorite exhibit was called New York at its Core. In this exhibition, the 400-year history of the city is documented through artifacts and the stories of the city's "big personalities" who helped shape the Big Apple. The use of technology was awesome in this exhibit. One particularly cool feature was a large touchscreen wall. As the silhouettes of these characters walked across the wall, visitors could touch the screen and learn more about the stories of these people and how they impacted New York City. Notable figures included Jay-Z, Dutch Schultz, and Gloria Steinem.
While the New York at its Core exhibition was very sleek and modern, my other favorite exhibition was a throwback to the how the original museum looked. The Gilded Age was exhibited as a period room, showing the luxurious life of the upper class during the early 1900s. Included in this small but sumptuous gallery were portraits, Tiffany glass, jewelry, opera glasses, and costumes. The room was wallpapered in purple damask and chandeliers hung in the small area. This was such a contrast to everything else in the museum, it made the exhibition really stand out.
Another perk of being a museum studies student? Behind the scenes tours. Since I was with my Archives Management class, we got a chance to speak with an archivist and take a tour of their archives as well as see what kinds of things they collect. Getting a chance to talk to current museum professionals is such a valuable experience.
The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Check out their website. If you're in New York City, I'd highly recommend this museum.

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!