Packed up in Style

It has been quite some time since I've posted anything; mostly because I have been packing and getting ready to go back to school! With entering my senior year of college, (seriously how did that happen?) you would think I would be a pro at the whole "packing just the right amount of stuff without packing my entire room or excluding anything important". Nope... not even close! I have come a long way from freshman year, when I basically dumped the entire contents of my room into large, purple, plastic bins! Now, I attempt to seriously look through all of my clothes and see if I will actually be wearing any of the stuff that I am packing! This year I did exactly that! Only problem is... I have A LOT of clothes to choose from (pictures below will show you what I mean). Being the type of person who loves to dress up and experiment with outfits and styles and rock different looks, it is a challenge to pick out clothes that I don't want to bring with me to school. I always think "what if I want to wear this dress at some point?" or "what if we have a themed party that could require me to wear this shirt?" It is surely the struggle of being a girly girly and a fashionista! My advice to those struggling with the same problem: pack the clothes that you think will make YOU happy while you're away at school! Even though you might be limited on space, it's okay to bring that extra sweater or that adorable dress that you can wear in a bunch of different ways... be daring!

Now, the real issue is the rest of the stuff that isn't clothing related! Bedding, kitchen supplies, bathroom essentials, decorations, and most importantly accessories. ;) Happy packing!

These pictures surely show how much stuff I have... that's not even half! 

Bonus tip: bins are super helpful! I pack everything in these colorful bins and they make it really easy to organize all of my stuff! 

GASP! An empty drawer in my room.. that's something you don't see too often! 

Back to School in Style

It's that time of year again.. back to school! For some it is a dreaded time; dealing with homework, papers, assignments, and stress. For others, it is a fresh start and a chance to get back on a schedule. Although I am going into my senior year of college, I still enjoy the excitement of going back to school. Call me crazy, but it's true! I'm not exactly looking forward to the "work" aspect of school, but I am most definitely looking back to all of the fun back to school accessories/shopping! Since I was little, I always loved going to Target, Staples, etc. to pick out new notebooks, highlighters, agendas, and whatever other back to school items were available. Not much has changed at the age of 21 (I guess it's the future teacher in me?) With all of that being said, I have put together some of my favorite back to school accessories for this coming school year. Hopefully they will give you some inspiration for your own shopping!

Ah the excitement! Pictured above I have:

• Vera Bradley tote in "Heather"- I am seriously obsessed with this tote/pattern! Vera never lets me down! This bag is the perfect size to hold books/binders for school. With all of the different patterns you really can't go wrong transitioning into the different seasons. 
• Vera Bradley agenda also in "Heather"-How could I resist the matching agenda? I am a total agenda junkie. I would be lost without my agenda so I figured it was worth the investment for one that was both cute and durable! This agenda is also perfect for college students and has plenty of space under each day, a place for your schedule, and of course adorable patterns throughout! A definite must for this school year. 
• Michael Kors black wristlet- I have had this wristlet since last year, but I still think it's a perfect option for back to school. It is conveniently small in size but does the job! There's plenty of space for money, ID cards, credit cards, and even your iPhone! The handy wristlet makes it perfect for a grab and go on those busy mornings! Tons of brands have items like this, I just happen to love the Michael Kors because of it's durability and sleek style. 
• Pink travel coffee mug from Target- Of course we need an adorable coffee mug for back to school! With hectic mornings rushing to class or student teaching, I need my coffee on the go! This travel mug comes in a few different colors and keeps your coffee nice and warm on those chilly mornings!
• Assorted highlighters-Pretty self explanatory, but I love highlighters! They help to keep my notes and agenda organized and the fun colors really make things stand out! Gotta have them!
• Monogrammed post-its- Post-it notes are another organizational essential! It's hard to tell from the picture but these have a little monogrammed "C"... I am a sucker for anything monogrammed. Post-its are great for writing reminders to yourself or keeping track of your busy schedule. Again, these come in tons of styles and colors but these happen to be my personal favorite :) 

Notebooks and Folders! I love mixing bright patterned folders with plain notebooks and color-coding! These notebooks are also customizable and I plan on adding a cute cover onto them with my class information and a fun design!

Hopefully this post helped to ease the back to school blues a bit! Happy back-to-school styling!!

The Sunshine Behind a Rainy Day

Ah, what a wonderful rainy Tuesday in August. I ran out to do a couple of errands this morning and returned with some very soaked Sperrys! It was seriously raining so hard, but seems to have calmed down a little bit. I know that some people absolutely loathe rainy days... personally, I adore them. Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to snuggle up in bed (even better if you have a cuddle buddy), catch up on some reading, watch TV, and enjoy some quality relaxation time. Now what would a blog post be without a rainy day outfit idea? It's an acceptable opportunity to completely bum out and dress super comfy (not that I don't already do this on most days, but anyway). Below I have my outfit of choice. I am rocking my super nerdy, and yes, prescription glasses, my *Phi Sigma Sigma Spirit Jersey,  super comfy Victoria's Secret black leggings, and of course my natural curly hair.
*Blog post to come about my sorority style!

I am obsessed with this comfy Spirt Jersey in this adorable mint green color. I love that it has my school and sorority name but isn't overly obnoxious. It's oversized and perfect for a relaxing day of snuggling up in bed!













For my rainy days, there are a few things that are MUST haves. Firstly, my laptop.. for Netflix of course! I have been loving The Office lately, but any Netflix series or movie is perfect for this kind of day! My Kindle is another essential. I'm currently reading "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo, which is a really great read! I'm also reading (or attempting to read) a few books for school... trying to get a head start and be a good student, and all that jazz. Regardless, an e-reader or good old fashion book or magazine is a great thing to have with you on a rainy day. And of course, what would any day be without my hazelnut iced coffee from Starbucks? So grab your coziest blanket and your most snuggly pillow pet (Wonton the panda featured below) and make the most of your rainy day and enjoy every minute of time you get to relax! For someone who loves to be on the move all the time like myself, it's important to "find the sunshine" and enjoy time that you have to enjoy a low-key day... make the most of it! :)

Manicure Day

Manicure time!

I have always loved getting manicures for as long as I can remember. I mean, who doesn't love getting a bit pampered and enjoying some "me" time? Being the girly girl that I am, I absolutely adore getting a good old fashioned mani (and sometimes pedi)! The place I go to is close to home, very inexpensive ($7 + tip!), and conveniently located next to a Starbucks... what could be better? Today was one of those days where my nails were looking terrible and I decided to get out for a bit, grab my venti iced coffee and go for a quick mani! 

Unfortunately, I was not blessed with the greatest looking nails. As you will see from my pictures, my nails are pretty tiny and don't grow very much no matter how hard I try. I also have a bit of a nasty habit of picking at my nails. Sometimes I do it without even realizing. Therefore, getting a manicure helps me to keep my nails looking nice, tame those unruly cuticles, and add a fun color to my nails, while also keeping them in tact! I'm not the type of girl who gets my nails done every week with a fancy, French acrylic, but I do enjoy going for a manicure every so often! 

I always have such a hard time picking out my color nail polish from the rows of OPI and Essie polishes! Today, I went for this adorable purple color... "Full Steam Ahead"! This pretty, light purple, with a hint of shimmer is perfect for an every-day look for the month of August!

And there we have it! A successful manicure day! Hopefully I keep my nails strong and healthy and I can eventually have nice, long nails. Voila!... the finished product :) 

Confessions of a Shopaholic

This title pretty much says it all. I am a self-proclaimed "shopaholic". How does one define a "shopaholic" you may ask? Well, I am here to provide that answer for you! I find myself at Target and/or TJ Maxx/Marshalls minimum 4 times a week. Do I actually need anything? Absolutely not. Yet I somehow end up leaving with something, whether it be the latest makeup product or a "great deal on a top that I couldn't pass up". As I surf the web, I catch myself creeping onto shopping sites in hopes of finding the latest trend. My Pinterest shopping board is filled with various styles and trends that I want to explore. I can virtually go into ANY store and find something that I would like. Seriously, you name it.

Some may consider this to be a serious problem, but here's the thing, I don't always shop in hopes of buying something. Sometimes, I shop just for the sake of seeing whats out there and keeping up-to-date on the latest products. I am also a firm believer in bargain hunting. I'm no extreme couponer or anything, but I have realized that collecting rewards cards/coupons here and there can be a big help. Lets be honest, who doesn't love a free Victoria's Secret PINK lace underwear? Or $5 in CVS "extra bucks". I find that even though I am an avid shopper, I am pretttyyy smart about it. We all have our splurges, but it's important to remember to invest in pieces that will become staples in your wardrobe, makeup collection, etc. I recently spent a bit extra on two amazing pairs of jeans from PacSun. They fit like a glove and were super flattering. It made sense to spend a bit extra on something that I knew would be worth it and would last me a while. It's important to see what's out there and find what's right for YOU!

I hope this helps everyone a little bit about being a smart shopper and knowing that it's okay to be a shopaholic... but doesn't mean you have to be a "buyaholic"! Window shopping can work wonders. So, grab your shopping buddies and spend an afternoon of browsing, collecting inspiration, and okay, spending a little at the mall... I know that's how I will be spending my Friday afternoon ;)

Ok.. couldn't resist posting this picture... it's kind of a great depiction of my shopping ways :)

Summer Daze

Can you believe the month of August is already underway? It's hard to believe that this summer has pretty much come and gone already. For a fashion lover like myself, the last few weeks of summer is the time to break out all those cute "summery" outfits that failed to make an appearance in the last two months. I always find that at the start of each season, I pick out outfits that I plan on wearing and then before I know it, miss the opportunity to do so! With that being said, I plan on making the most of the final few weeks of summer fun-filled activities with bold fashion choices mixed with a laid-back, casual vibe. I have put together a few outfits for inspiration that would be perfect for a summer date night, backyard BBQ with friends and family, or a relaxed shopping day with the girls. These outfits match my personal style, but can be shifted to match your own personal style.

Look 1: Backyard BBQ

Maxi skirts/dresses have been SO in this summer and are the perfect effortless look for a summer BBQ or family/friend gathering. I love the look of a high-waisted maxi with a little lace crop top. It's the perfect balance of showing a little skin (Ooo la-la) but still being covered enough! This light blue, lace top is from a local boutique and the [sheer] maxi is from Forever 21 (you'll see a trend in my shopping staples). I paired this look with simple, black, strappy sandals from Target and silver, earrings with blue accent, also from Forever.

Look 2: Date Night

I am absolutely in love with this date night look. It's perfect for a summer night walking through town, going out to dinner, taking a stroll by the water... you name it! This super girly dress is adorable and can be warn in so many different ways. I am a huge fan of scarves and yes, I even wear them in the summer! This light-weight navy blue, floral scarf from American Eagle adds a great "pop" to this outfit and jazzes it up a bit. This white dress is from Forever, but any light, flowy dress will do for this type of outfit! I also leave these blue sandals that were a perfect match for this outfit!

***Fashion Bonus: For those chilly summer nights, a light denim jacket is the perfect way to keep warm, but still look cute! I have been living in mine since the spring!

Look 3: Girl's Day!

This final look is really perfect for any relaxed, summer occasion. Pairing dark-wash jean shorts, a brown belt, and a casual striped shirt is a safe bet, but also a solid outfit choice. I like this look for a coffee date with friends, or a long day of shopping with the girls. It is comfortable and versatile and can be dressed up or dressed down. As far as shoes go, flip-flops, to strappy sandals, to a pair or Sperrys (a personal favorite) will do the trick! *Note: Starbucks cup... What's a summer day without a cup of iced coffee in hand? ;)

Well, that's all for my first fashion blog post! Hopefully many more to come, hoping that I can stay on track and consistent with my posts. I hope these fashion ideas were helpful! Always remember to shine your brightest! <3