New Years 2015 // #ootd6

     Happy New Years Eve everyone!!! I hope everybody has fun plans for tonight and I also hope that all is safe. I am definitely excited for 2016, there's many things to come that I am looking forward to. Let me know some of your New Years Resolutions down in the comments below! AH I'm so excited :)

xoxo,

Girls Night Out // #ootd5

    Last night, I went out to celebrate a girl's belated birthday with a couple of my friends. We just got together for a quick dessert and presents, which was nice since we never have time to get together when we are all at school. The weather here is ANYTHING but winter-like. It's been warm during the day with a tiny bit of a chill at night. So I wore a long sleeve to keep me toasty, tucked into a white lace mini. I also pulled my hair into a simple three-strand side braid to keep it out of my face. Paired all that with my usual watch, long earrings and light shoes and I was good to go! I'd recommend this for any casual get-together when the weather is mild. Let me know what you think!

xoxo,

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    It's about that time of year.... What are you guys resolving? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

True Grit // Movie Review

    When my dad first proposed this movie for us to watch, I was very reluctant to say yes. Now I'm glad that I gave in! The original True Grit was pleasantly entertaining, it was nothing like I expected, but to be honest, I don't really know what I expected. I think this was my first John Wayne movie and I liked the main characters a lot. The young woman, Mattie Ross (played by Kim Darby), was independent and smart and I think I learned a thing or two about girl power from this one! This story was very different than my usuals and I was happy to be watching one of my dad's favorites with him. I would definitely recommend this, since it's a heartwarming tale of a hardened man learning about compassion and love from a very unexpected place. 

happy watching! xoxo,

Oyster Roast #ootd4

    Forgive the late morning post, but I was up quite late on account of the occasion in question :). Last night, one of my neighbors down the street hosted her annual New Years Oyster Roast and my parents and I wanted to go make an appearance and maybe see some old friends. Believe it or not, I saw one of my elementary school teachers! I got to talk to her and catch up, tell her how school is going now. It was so nice to see her as well as some parents of kids that I used to be friends with when I was little. I was already wearing this nice black tee and it was so comfortable that I decided to dress it up with a jean mini skirt and my black blazer. It came down to choosing a pair of shoes and accessories I went with my pale green Sole Societys and my staple Michael Kors tan messenger bag. My hair was rather frizzy so I swept it into a side ponytail. I received a bunch of compliments and I was surprised because of how easy this look was to put together! 

Hope this gives some inspiration! xoxo,

¡¡ Christmas Haul 2015 !!

    Good morning everyone! I hope your Christmases were successful and relaxing. :) I just thought today that I would show you some of the things that I received. 

    To start off my day, I woke up fairly early and spent time with my dad until my mom woke up. We slothed around a bit, then we got down to business... I got many presents from my grandmother including: 
- a replenishment of my signature perfume (Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel)
- a set of the SOFTEST hat and scarf from Madewell (one of my favorite stores)
- a skin care collection from fresh (which I believe is a brand from Sephora), I'll definitely try this and do a follow-up post about what I think!
- a deliciously cozy flannel, also from Madewell. 

    From my dad, I got some really nice things, I love them all because I know that I'll use them all the time:
- a speaker from JBL (it's sound quality is ridiculously good)
- an adorable compact photo printer from Canon
- a stick/pole type thing to put my GoPro on

    My mom was thinking ahead with the gifts she gave me. I'm going to France on an exchange trip in the spring and she got a couple of things with that specifically in mind:
- a skater skirt from Toyshop
- a beautiful cashmere sweater from Madewell
- a booklet of watercolor postcards and pencils (to draw what I see on my trip to send back home)
- evian Facial Spray (to refresh me when I'm dealing with jet lag)

     Well, that's mostly it for this year. I think I did pretty well, wouldn't you? Let me know how you did in the comments, I'd love to know the top gifts of 2015! 

xoxo,

Christmas 2015 // #ootd3

    This is my absolute favorite outfit for this winter season and I wanted to wear it today for Christmas. These shoes were a fall buy but I've worn them for almost every special occasion since then. The scarf was a present and I love it so much, it's the warmest I've ever had and it goes with everything. I love how this outfit makes me feel, it's so comfortable and cute. I linked the pieces down below if you wanted to look them up. Let me know if you have any of them in the comments section below!

Kimchi Blue red mini dress // Sam Edelman Heels // MICHAEL Michael Kors messenger bag // Altar'd State Earrings  // Urban Outfitters Scarf // Chanel lipstick // LORAC lip gloss

Merry Christmas! 

xoxo, 

Merry Christmas // 2015

     AHHH Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday with your families. I hope you make off with everything on your wish list and I hope your gift giving has been a success!! Let me know what your plans have been for the day and how things have gone with your families. Expect a #ootd from me later, I'm putting together my favorite holiday outfit for you all!

xoxo,

What I Gifted // 2015

    Happy Christmas Eve everyone! I don't know about you, but I LOVE giving presents, maybe even more than receiving them. There's just something about taking the time to pick out the perfect present for someone that just makes me really happy and I cannot WAIT for them to open it. Below I've numbered off a few gifts that I've put together and given to my friends and family. I thought it would be nice to share different possibilities for different personalities. 

    So for number 1, this was a small gift for one of my friends from school. She's an adorable girl who's main purpose in life is to sleep as much as possible. haha She just lies around the house doing anything that doesn't require effort. So I know that she loves cats and her two dogs, she's just a huge animal person. I saw this adorable mug at Urban Outfitters and it made me think of her. Then, I snagged a few nail polishes and rose oil from UO and a little ring bowl from Natural Life that could fit into the mug. As a last minute thought, I grabbed a lip scrub from Lush because she's been talking about this brand nonstop. All of this, I wrapped up in tissue paper and put it inside the mug. 

    Number 2 is my absolute best friend. She and I actually share a birthday so I think of her almost as a sister. We do everything together, that is, when she's not busy. This girl has a crazy schedule and she's always on the go. She barely leaves any time for herself! So when she and I went makeup shopping one day, she kept mentioning how she'd love to try some of these products but she never has the time to even get them. Haha, well I beat her to it! Now I thought she could try them as she pleased. And those Sephora sleeping masks are sure to help her chill and get some rest over the break.

    Number 3, the photography lover. First of all, I don't have one of these in my life right now, but let me tell you that I would appreciate any of these cute gifts. They're adorable and I think anyone would love these little gadgets to play with in their spare time. Even for an inexperienced photographer, I feel like they're all easy to use and don't take too much time either.

    For Number 4, I think these gifts could go for anyone, but I put them together as potential gifts for a chef or someone of that sort. I thought the heart shaped spoon was really cute and I would die for that unicorn mug :). But my real favorite is the Mr. Tea infuser. I've had one for a few years now and I have to say that I treasure it as much as any family heirloom. It's this adorable silicon tea infuser that just hangs out on the side of your favorite mug. When I first got it, I started drinking tea up to multiple times a day and it was GREAT. I think anyone would love this, there's also a Manatea, a Kittea, and a Sloth Brew that I know of. Ah, I love them so much, I'll include a link down below if you are interested in checking those out. I would say that the Mr. Tea is the No. 1 gift of 2015. 

1. For the Animal Lover // Lazy Friend

2. For the Busy Bestie
3. For the Shutterbug
4. For the Kitchen Guru

    Well, that's it for my gifts this holiday season, let me know what you gave this Christmas (or holidays) down in the comment section below. Click on the right side of the page to subscribe and share the love! Thanks for stopping by... xoxo,

Winter 2015 Night Routine // Products and Reviews

    Hello everyone!! Recently, I've been focusing on clearing up any acne prone spots on my face as well as moisturizing to avoid dryness in these winter nights. I've also discovered a whole slew of new products that I am IN LOVE with. Let's get started...

    Every night, I start by taking off my makeup with the Burt's Bees Grapefruit makeup remover wipes and I love the way they work. They leave my skin feeling very fresh and light. Then, to make sure every speck of dirt is out of my skin, I use a small sponge with the Clean & Clear facial scrub. It has these little beads that exfoliate or something haha, I love those. I have already gone through a whole bottle and bought another so I am excited to introduce this as a new staple in my routine! Next is a product that I have been using my whole life. My mom introduced me to Bio Oil as a way to get rid of scars, moisturize and even up skin tone. It really works! I tell you, it works miracles :). I use it at night since it is an oil and it wouldn't be smart to walk around withe even more oil on my face than normal. So after the Bio Oil, I try to counter act the oiliness a bit by using the oil free moisturizer from Neutrogena. It's very fresh and leaves my skin feeling cool and clean. The next product is also one introduced to me by my mom, it's a cream called Cilka. I put it along my lash line to strengthen my teeny tiny lashes. It's been very helpful, I love it! Now this next one is a new buy. They were having a BOGO sale at Lush and I bought a lip scrub for a friend and I kept the other one. It's made of sugar so it's edible after you finish using it. It's so much fun and it leaves my lips feeling SO SOFT!! To avoid them drying out, I swipe on a bit of my mint EOS right before I go to sleep. 

1. Burt's Bees Pink Grapefruit Towelettes 
2. Clean&Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub
3. Bio Oil
4. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer
5. Cilka Eyelash Cream
6. Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrubs
7. EOS Sweet Mint Balm

Well, that's all for today. I hope you liked my lineup, and let me know if you've tried any of these products. Thanks for stopping by! xoxo,

Makeup // Beauty Faves for Winter 2015

    Lo and behold, the expanse that is my makeup collection :))) I only wish I was kidding. I'm one of those people that is constantly seeding through products, so I really only end up with the ones that work best. Probably my staple in an everyday look is mascara, and I'm constantly looking and trying out new ones. The Clinique Lash Power has proven to do exactly what I need and I love it. With its large feathery brush, it produces results without going overboard. I like a natural look and this mascara really only enhances my lashes and I can layer it where I like a heavier look or I can swipe on just one coat and there's no clumping. I've found that it's a wonderful formula. For eyeshadow, I haven't experimented too much, and I like to keep it simple. Since I am in school, sometimes a few extra minutes of sleep > killer eyeshadow. But now that I am on break, I'm hoping to try a few new things out or maybe I'll get a new palette for Christmas, who knows? Sometimes though, when I'm feeling a bit more glamorous, I'll go for a light shimmery shade just to brighten, and then a matte color that matches it to soften the whole look up. Really simple. As far as lip products go, my philosophy is that you can never have too many chapsticks, lip balms or stains. My Burt's Bees is with me ALL THE TIME. Ever since I started using it a few months ago, I have literally never had dry lips. Well, now I get really boring: All I use for face products is a Maybelline BB Cream that I got one day at Target. It's actually the first face product that I have ever owned so bear with me, I'm still easing myself into the makeup world. I like it a lot though, it does a great job evening my skin tone in the tough spots and the only complaint I have is that it doesn't mattify very well. 
    I hope you like my daily lineup, I have all of the products linked down below if you would like to check those out. Tomorrow, I've put together my night routine as well as the products I use for that. 'Till next time!

Burt's Bees lip treatment / Clinique lip treatment / Maybelline eyeshadow / Maybelline tinted moisturizer / Clinique mascara / Revlon lip makeup / E.l.f lip stain / Maybelline lip makeup / Mac cosmetic

xoxo, 

Holiday Shopping #ootd2

   You would not believe this girl I saw, oh my goodness. I was walking and she caught my eye like a beautiful piece of artwork, just the way she was dressed, her hair, everything! Sometimes I see those people, the ones that I think should be appreciated for HOW INCREDIBLE THEY LOOK. It's not like this girl was drop-dead gorgeous or anything, but she carried herself like the highest paid supermodel in the world and that makes me happy. I think beauty is as much about self confidence as anything else. Something makes me think this girl would look stunning wearing a paper bag. In the 30 seconds that she was in my life, she reminded me how important presenting yourself is. This young woman was something special and I'm commemorating her by saving her beautiful outfit here on U.  

    After putting this together I want to get EVERY PART of it to wear. At least the boots though, oh lordy, are they gorgeous or not? How about you all, have you ever seen someone who just took your breath away? Let me know!

xoxo,

Get in Shape // Staying Stylish and Having Fun!

 
    Wether it is the lack of time, location or ANYTHING we all have made excuses why not to work out at some point in our lives. The fact of the matter is that exercise not only helps muscles, but it tones you skin, makes you think faster and gives you endorphins (which make you happy, haha thank you lululemon). As much as the gym can be a dreaded place, I'm here with a collection of tips and tricks that will help you look your best while enjoy your workout.

    First off.... HAIR! It's always in the way and it's almost impossible to vary in style if you are just trying to get it out of your face. Since having your hair down and flying everywhere is not an option, these are a few of my favorite ways to spruce up a boring old ponytail or bun.

        

   Though some of these might look tricky, all you really need to know is how to French or Dutch braid! These hairstyles are sure to get a huge amount of compliments and second glances.

    Now moving on to what really gets noticed.... Clothes. For most people, gym clothes are just a t-shirt and running shorts, whatever can afford to get sweaty. Normally these shirts are heavy and unbreathable, making the heat hardly bearable. If you want something that will feel lighter and let in more air, tank-tops are the way to go! Find some tanks with lower cut sides, or fun, strappy backs. These features make your shirt stand out from the crowd at the same time as making you more comfortable. If you aren't comfortable with too much skin showing, another fun option is to go bold with colors or prints. Something bright will be more likely to make you feel fresh. Fun sports bras are also a great way to spruce up and outfit.

These are some of my favorite looks from Anthropologie's new collection.

    One of the biggest points I have to make for this is that shoes are everything. I was given a beautiful pair of sneakers for Christmas and I have barely taken them off! They are so stylish that I wear them out on the town. Mine are Adidas and one of my closest friends has a pair of gorgeous New Balances, we both are so obsessed. And let me tell you, if you have exercise shoes that you can wear outside the gym, you have hit the jackpot! This means that they are versatile enough to be useful and stylish, and that's ultimate goal isn't it? ;) 

     Well, I hope you take something valuable from this, I've actually been working on this post to motivate myself to get up off my lazy bum so I promise you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. If you have any tips or tricks to have fun or stay stylish at the gym, please let me know in the comments below :) Thank you for stopping by!

xoxo,

Arts Market #ootd1

    Hello everyone! I know, it's been an embarrassingly long time since my last post but I promise, I have an excuse: finals. YES, I know, shocking. But now I'm free, I have two and half, heavenly weeks to myself. I'm also excited because now that I'm actually going places and it's winter, I can wear my FAVORITE season of clothes. Break out the scarves my friends because it's winter vacation.
    
    Today I went to a local Arts/Farmers' Market and it's been probably the coldest day yet. My goal for the next few months is not to let the cold force me into sweatpants to stay warm. I've been shopping multiple times recently and I've stocked up on some really nice pieces that I'm just starting to wear. One of my favorites is a black blazer from H&M that I can wear over literally ANYTHING. It's my first nice jacket like that and I'm so excited because it's such a statement. 

    Since dark colors ruled today, I opted for my bright red beanie for a pop of color and festiveness... festivity..? Anyway, I feel like it really pulled the darks together and definitely drew some attention away from my lazy day hair. This outfit was great to go out casually and it definitely kept me warm throughout the day.

Anyone have a favorite cold weather outfit? Let me know in comments below! 
xoxo,

It's Fall Again...

... and I am SO EXCITED!!! In Florida, it's a rare and cherished occasion when the temperature changes and fall arrives before January. Ironically, while I cannot stand the heat, I have always lived here. So you can imagine, I am ecstatic at this early season change for the chance to break out my fall favorites... :)

Nails

• For one, I always love dark nails, no matter what time of year (oops haha) I will most likely be wearing a dark color. I don't really know why, I just think it looks better on my tan skin tone. Either extremely dark or extremely light, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. When I say that I want a green nail polish, I mean that I want a green that's one step away from black. I have this INCREDIBLE army green from Urban Outfitters, given to me by a friend as a birthday present. The one pictured isn't the exact shade, but it's close. I don't think UO has my color anymore. :/

• Well, I normally do my own nails so.... let's just say that "nail art" is kept to a minimum. I do envy those girls though, the ones who post all over Instagram those cute negative space or water marbled manis. Ignoring my artistic handicap, here are a few things I wish I could do for fall: 
• 
  

Clothes

• Can we just take a moment..... Ahhhh. Seeing these things just brings serenity to my mind... This morning I woke up and tossed around a few minutes, when I threw my blanket off and felt the crisp air I thought "HALLELUJAH" and jumped out of bed to pick out my first outfit of fall. I am in love...

Food and Drink

• As you probably noticed, coffee related objects dominate. Well, it's true, I think I am addicted to my hot drinks. You name it, tea, coffee, hot cocoa.... Mmmmm. That's probably why I love the cold so much, I have a valid reason to drink so much. :) My mug collection isn't super expansive, but I hope to change that for this season. 

    What's your favorite holiday? Are you a fall freak like me?? Either way, I hope you have a fantastic weekend and enjoy the chill in the air. <3,