The Bucket List

I've never really been one to make a list of things that I want to do or see...

I guess the one thing I'm a bit spontaneous about in my life is my planning. I know, it makes no sense. But I just pick something or someplace randomly and plan from there! 

Then I got to thinking: if I don't think about the things I want to do and see, I may never be organized enough to see them all!

Enter, the bucket list. I'm working on a more extensive one, but I've got a few things though up to start with (in no particular order)

1. Go on a ridiculous shopping spree after my first big paycheck

2. Spend a summer with friends at the beach

3. Take a winter trip to Switzerland

4. Go to the Kentucky Derby... and the Carolina Cup and the Breeder's Cup

5. Do a day in the life of Blair Waldorf and visit the NYC spots that she frequents

6. Move South!

7. Spend every weekend of one summer at a different amusement park

8. Buy an ungodly amount of books to put in my home library I will someday have

9. Cook a bunch of meals and hand them out to the homeless people in the city

10. Visit D.C. in the spring

11. Take a EuroTrip all over eastern Europe

12. Watch all the Harry Potter movies in a row

To be continued...

Spring Looks

I don't know about you, but I find this time of year very challenging when it comes to figuring out how to dress. Not only does weather and temperature change day to day, but it also changes within the day! I always have to make sure that I'm dressed appropriately for certain weather in the morning, but so that I won't get too hot while in school or during the day. I find it challenging, but I've come up with some good outfits for managing this bipolar weather. I've been able to come up with a few basic outfits that are versatile and fun for spring!

1. The Cassie Dress

As we all know, Lilly Pulitzer is a genius when it comes to functional and cute. One of my favorite styles is the Cassie or Kaleb dress. It's perfect for the cooler spring days, but is also lightweight for summer. And, with some leggings, can be a cute look for fall, too! What's not to love? The dresses come in all different prints and colors. I have some basic colored ones as well as some printed. I love the flamingo print of this one! (Current Lilly Bonus: get a free bangle with any dress purchase!)

2. Gap Skimmer Khakis

I'm not really a huge fan of the normal colored khakis on me. I think they was me out a little bit. But, Gap has some awesome, affordable khakis that come in all different colors! I find Gap to be a little bit hit-or-miss at times, but these were definitely hit! I bought the navy ones to start with, since I was needing some navy pants. But, I'm trying to find the time to go back and buy a few more in a different colors! These are so perfect for spring or, again, cooler summer days and nights.

3. Blazers

Blazers are such a cute way to dress up a casual outfit. They've been one of my favorite aspects of my spring outfits, since they can easily bring bright colors to a more basic outfit. Also, depending on what you wear underneath, they provide the perfect outfit transition from day to night. Can't go wrong with these!

4. Cardigans

A girl can never have too many cardigans; that's a fact! I love wearing them on the days when it's too cold for just a shirt but too hot for a jacket or sweater. I love the J. Crew ones, because they're so comfortable and offered in so many different colors. Because I like to have one in every color, I tend to buy them from the J. Crew Factory. I just checked today, and guess what? They're on sale!! So stock up on your cardis! 

It's no secret that I love springtime and the colors that come with it! I love to incorporate those colors into my outfits. Plus, brighter outfits tend to lead to a brighter attitude!

Happy Shopping!

Spring Cleaning

There's nothing quite like the fresh smell of spring outside... but why not bring that freshness in? One of my favorite things to do in the spring is the clean! i know, this sounds crazy, but cleaning is peaceful and fun. Turn on some music, open the windows, and get going! My spring cleaning list ranges from my furniture in my room to my closet to my car to my wallet. It's a time of rebirth and organization to prepare for the best time of the year: summer!

My Room

While I don't have much to change up, I do what I can in my room. First things first, I take my heated blanket and flannel sheets off of my bed.. no need for those anymore! I put fun, springy pillows around and try to brighten the place up a bit. One of my favorite things to do is go shopping for new candles! I love going to Bath and Body Works and Yankee Candle to find yummy scents that will bring the smell of spring inside. 

My Car

I should probably clean out my car more often than I do, because I just cleaned out my car and found Christmas Trees from a holiday benefit I hosted in early December. Yes, I need to make a point to clean my car more often. Besides the Christmas Trees, I make sure that any loose papers, water bottles, cups, travel mugs, CDs (yes, I still use CDs because I don't want to invest in a new adapter for the iPhone 5), trash, anything that doesn't belong there HAS TO GO. While at Bath and Body Works, I make sure to pick up yummy air fresheners for my car. I love any beachy or floral smells! I also vacuum and windex all of the insides of the windows. To top it off, I go and get a nice carwash. 

My Closet

Perhaps the largest cleaning happens in my closet! This was the first thing I did when I got home from Florida, and is usually what prompts the Spring Cleaning monster within. I love taking all of the sweaters and flannel off of my hangers and replacing them with colorful Lilly Shifts. Just having a more colorful and fun closet boosts my spirits in the morning. I also make a point to tackle my shoes. I can finally put away my big, bulky Uggs and boots... but I make sure to leave out my Hunter rain boots for the days of spring showers :) 

My Wallet

My wallet is probably the scariest and most fulfilling part of Spring Cleaning. Mostly because I have multiple wallets for various needs: quick run to the store/ for food, shopping spree, stay in my car, etc. It's kind of frightening to see how many receipts I have stuffed in each one.. I shop way too much! But, I always end up finding a $20 bill I forgot about, or, even better, lots and lots of change. I have of $30 in change!! Talk about fun stuff! So, basically I clean out any old cards, used up gift cards, and receipts. 

The biggest thing I do for my "wallet" is to budget out the next couple of months. I think through how much money I can "expect" to get and what my necessities will be. One major change for me this year is the fact that I won't be working in college. I figured that I should probably start saving a portion of my income for my college expenditures. Because, we all know that I'm going to want at least one thing from the fall lines at Lilly, Kate Spade, etc, or a Starbucks every now and then. Saving now will allow for splurges during school for a quick morale boost.

Spring is a time of rebirth and a celebration of life. I don't know about you, but I can celebrate life a lot easier when it's an organized life! 

What's top on your Spring Cleaning to-do list?

April Showers...

I came home from vacation to beautiful, 80 degree weather. The midwest has seen isolated days of warmth this winter/ spring, but nothing lasting. But, it's been 4 days and we're still in the high 70's! Thunderstorms threaten, but the breezy warmth of spring is welcomed with open arms!

This is how I feel, waking up to the chirping birds and springtime sun!

I'm Back!

After a brief hiatus this past week, I am back and ready to go! My time on Sanibel Island was refreshing- just what I needed to propel myself through these final eight weeks of school. Luckily, it seems that I may not have left all of the warm weather in the south! The long awaited spring has arrived! As my welcome back, I thought I'd share some of the hilights of the past week or so.

 One of the most exciting days of the trip was Disney World! I hadn't been since middle school and it was so much fun to go back and be a kid! The rides were better than I remembered, as was the food! Speaking of food, I ate way more than I should have. Every. Single. Meal. I indulged a bit lot...! But, how can you not with such good food at your disposal?!

 A week ago was when we arrived at the beach, and it was as beautiful as always. I'd start each day with a run on the beach (which turned out to be pretty painful- Sanibel is the shelling capital of the world), then I'd go up and eat, change, put on sunscreen, and head to the beach! My days were spent reading and people watching while soaking up the beautiful Florida sun. If it rained, we would just go shopping. I found a Lilly boutique on the island and ended up going there every day after I found it! Slightly obsessed. But, there's no way this vacation could have been any better. Unfortunately, I came home to some last minute homework that needs to be done... back to reality, I suppose.

Happy Spring!

Beach Reads

So yes, I am officially on the first day of spring intercession!! It's about time! And while I've been obsessing over new swim suits and clothes, my hardest shopping is yet to be done: my beach reads!

Those of you who enjoy reading will understand how instrumental this purchase is to an awesome vacation! Too serious of stories can lead to a loss of the lightness of the season. A read without depth is just... well it's just boring. Nobody wants boring. So, after much deliberation and reading reviews on GoodReads, I've picked my top three!

Perhaps the most fitting read for the season, Lilly: Palm Beach, Tropical Glamour, and the Birth of a Fashion Legend has been on my list of books to read for a while. The reviews spoke quite highly of the authors accuracy and of the biography in general. I think it'll be an interesting read and will certainly be fun while in the car, on the beach, or by the pool.


That Book about Harvard has been on my "To Read" list for a while now... ever since I saw it a Barnes & Noble. The Ivy league - the culture, not just the schools- has always been of huge interest to me. This book looks funny and insightful! Just what I enjoy. I'm really excited to read this one. While it's last on my priority list for spring break, I'm hoping that I'll get to at least start it.


I've been a Hemingway fan ever since I read The Sun Also Rises for a school analysis (I know, I couldn't believe that I liked a school book either!). I actually have to read A Farewell to Arms for my AP Lit class, but it's a good read for spring break. I love Hemingway's writing style, and his stories are not a blatant love story, but still have a romance aspect to them, which is perfect. (I read too much Nicholas Sparks in middle school... no more sappy love stories for this girl!)

There's just something about the beach and a good book. After this strenuous year, I'm so ready to get lost in someone else's world for a couple of weeks while hearing the sound of the ocean. I promised myself that I wouldn't start these books until the trip down to Florida, and it's killing me to wait 4 more days! But the wait will be worth it, I just hope these books aren't a letdown.

What are you reading this spring season?

Going South: the Essentials

Spring is coming and whether you're going south for vacation or are just going to enjoy the northern sun, there are a few essentials for spring!

1.

2. 

3. 

1. The classic J. Crew chinos and VV shep shirt. The chinos are wonderful! They can be dressed up or down, and match almost anything. They're easily the best investment. The VV shirt is totally worth every cent! I love wearing these while taking night walks on the beach or while out at a windy pier. And these two together? The perfect spring outfit.

2. Caps! I used to never be a fan of wearing hats, but I've grown quite fond of them. I love big, flop hats for dressing up; ball caps I use to run in or while out at the beach to keep the sun off my face and the sand out of my hair. I love the cute colors of Ralph Lauren ones! 

3. For those at the beach, a cute beach bag is totally essential. This is actually the bag that I bought from Lilly Pulitzer and I'm in love (beach bag packing coming soon!) It's so big that it can hold almost anything and act as a second "carry on" type bag for traveling to and from the vacation destination. Next to it is a kindle. This picture actually kindof summarizes my beach time. Sunglasses, hat, and a good book. Can't get better than that! 

It's no secret that I'm so looking forward to spring break and warm weather! The closer I get, the more I want to just start packing right now! 

What are your spring essentials?

Beautiful Simplicity

There is something so beautiful about the simple things in life. 

The coming of spring has made me appreciate the little things in life.

Like a family dinner or a walk with my dog.

Hearing the birds chirping while I read and sip tea in the morning.

One way that I love bringing beauty to everyday is by small pops of color. I love colorful outfits, but I'm one to stay with a common theme. I'm not too out there. But, there is one way that I love bringing fun colors to my day: this is with nail polish! 

Nail polish is such a simple and fun way to wear a color that maybe intimidates you. Or, like me, maybe you have a favorite color but you don't like how that color looks when you wear it. Pretty nails make me feel girly and fun... bright nail colors remind me of the sunshine and summer.

My favorite color for this spring is Essie's Mint Candy Apple. I've actually had it since fall, when I found it in a makeup store in Paris! It's the prettiest Tiffany Blue, but it was just released in America this season. Of course, you can never go wrong with a red, or more fun, coral!! 

Put some fun in your life, with a simple change of nail color! 

Call Me Crazy...

So, it's finally March!!! To me, that means one thing: Spring Break! In 26 days I will be on my way to sunny Sanibel Island with my Lilly Pulitzer beach tote and flip slops in hand. Basking in the sun, reading a few books, running in the crisp Florida air... I want it all! With only a few paychecks left before break, I've got a few major items left to get. I know, I know... I'm crazy for thinking that I need any of this. But Spring Break shopping is essentially welcoming the warmth in. I'm just trying to be hospitable :)

This Lilly tote is a the absolute top of my list!! I'm debating on prints and I've had my eye on the Hold your Horses... but the Chin Chin is really growing on me. Either one will be fabulous and adorable for summer, too. 

Which one do you like best?

I'm also a lover of Sperrys... their new spring collection has me absolutely drooling! I think the bright colored ones are cute, but I just can't justify buying them because I just don't think I'll get enough wear out of them. These, though, I'd probably end up wearing every day. They're so incredibly perfect!

I'm well aware the it seems like I have a shopping problem... okay so maybe I do. I don't deny it. But I think that it's the only way to stay sane at this point. Spring break so close, yet so far away; I have tests and studying to endure before my feet touch that sand. But, it will be here soon enough & for that I'm thankful.

Top Five: February 2013

In celebration of my least favorite month coming to an end, I bring you my February favorites! These  five favorites cover a wide range, and have become a part of my daily life. Here we go...my February favorites!

1. Gossip Girl

I'm sure you could have guessed that, but seriously. Gossip Girl has become my new obsession and has become a part of every aspect of my life. From my love of Blair, to the way I dress and style my hair, to the books I read, I am inspired by the GG storyline. It grabs you and takes you with it, and I dare you to try avoiding it! I even received a hand-me-down from my cousin yesterday that, though she has no idea about my GG obsession, it fits right in: she gave me a Yale t-shirt that has been passed down for many years. I'm pretty sure I never want to take it off! 

2. Pistachios

This may be the weirdest favorite, but it's so true! I make this low-carb mix of pistachios, almonds, and dark chocolate chips, and it is a life saver! I talked about my Six Week slim down, and this is my little secret! Between this and my tea, I can satisfy my sweet-tooth, salty food craving, and keep to my diet. They aren't low in calories, though. I have to be careful with the amount I eat. But they are filling and oh so yummy!

3. Clinique Mascara

I've been a huge huge fan of Clinique products for the past few years. They aren't harsh on my skin at all, which is perfect because I'm not prone to acne or anything like that. It keeps my skin looking fresh and radiant! (ahh!) Lately though, I've been loving their makeup, which is just as perfect for my skin. Having red hair, my eyelashes a very light. Having the skin of a redhead, it's very easy for my eyes to look way too made up with minimal makeup because it looks so harsh against my light skin. The Clinique High Impact mascara is perfect! It darkens my lashes, but looks natural and not clumpy at all! And, major plus, it's waterproof!! I have a feeling that this will be my go-to for quite a while. 

4. Amazon

So, we all know that I have a serious online shopping problem.... Amazon does not help. At all. Of course I've used Amazon before this month, but never like this. It seriously has everything! All in one place. It's like Pinterest: it sucks up so much time and can leave you feeling like you need to buy and try all these new things. But with Amazon, it's all so readily available and can be on your doorstep in 3 days. And they're working towards same day delivery?! I'll never leave my home again..except to show off all of my new purchases, of course!

5. Pandora

Okay, I am not new to Pandora in any way. I way overused it when it first became popular, but then it fell off my radar. Until this month, that is. Pandora has seriously stepped up their free music and I've found a way around having to use the "skip" to skip a song...twice as many skips and hour! wooo! When I'm at home, pandora is what I constantly listen to. It's introduced me to so many incredible artists, all for free! Being the happy customer that I am, I'd like to see what ad free listening is like. and for only $3 a month, it's really not that unreasonable. The only thing that could make it better would be if it didn't suck up so much data and I could use it when I don't have wifi.

There you have it! This month has been surprisingly pleasant. I took a few personal days but worked more than usual, too. I made some new discoveries as well as reintroduce myself to the old. I'm welcoming the arrival of March, spring break, the sun, and the final months of my senior year! 

I can't wait to find next month's favorites!

Spring Scents

It's been unseasonably warm these past few days and it's getting me so excited for spring. I just imagine looking out the window and seeing the gorgeous flowers blooming and hearing the birds chirping. It makes me so happy! With all the visions of flowers, I started thinking about spring scents and what my 2013 Spring perfume is going to be. I have a few favorites for spring and one that is my year round go to.

I love finding a good perfume because it becomes a little bit of who you are.

These Clinique and Philosophy perfumes are both new for this year and they embody sun and flowers, to me. They're both pretty affordable and are light scents that are good for casual days or those days where you're missing the sunshine. They don't weigh you down and aren't going to overpower your outfit or personality. These are the kinds of scents I'd spray after the beach or pool to freshen up if I'm going to lunch or something like that. 

Clinique Happy Summer Spray | Philosophy Field of Flowers

Chanel Chance and Marc Jacobs Daisy are my signature, go-to scents that I absolutely adore! I wear the original Chance daily, but the au Fraiche version is a twist on a classic that is perfect for the spring. It's flowery and sweet- just what I like! Daisy is a classic spring scent that I love and may or may not wear all year. :) It's fun and flirty while also being light and airy. These two are my absolute favorite scents and I highly recommend them for spring or all year.

Chanel Chance au Fraiche | Marc Jacobs Daisy

Embrace the freshness of spring with these flowery scents!

Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2013

It's not surprise that I'm a little obsessed with all things Lilly Pulitzer. If I could live in sunny Florida and wear Lilly every day of my life, I would. As that isn't possible, I find myself lusting daily over the warm, springy prints and blog. My favorite print right now is Lucky Charms, which I might be going a little bit overboard on. Seriously, I want a Lucky Charms dress, coffee mug, iPhone case...basically everything. I find it to be incredibly cute and fun; it screams beach and sun to me.

As far as the new Lilly prints, I'm loving Chomp Chomp and am going to be purchasing the shorts in the Chomp Chomp print in the very near future. I just love the little alligators and I'm really liking green for this Spring season. Honestly, I don't think there's really a print that I don't like...just some that I could see looking better on me than others. But really, can't you go wrong with Lilly P.?

I think it's a fact: Lilly Pulitzer can do no wrong.

Six Week Slim Down!

I am quickly approaching that time of year: Spring Break!! I was counting down the days in class today and realized that I have exactly six weeks from today until I head towards sunny Sanibel Island. While that's exciting and it only lessened my concentration on the lecture, I realized how necessary it was for me to focus, focus, focus on getting my self prepared!

Not by shopping or tanning, but by getting healthy. I call this my six week slim down and I've been using it to recover from the horrific Christmas break eating since freshman year.

The Rules

1. Don't drink your calories! Water will become your best friend these next weeks, and don't forget tea to curb your sweet tooth!

2. Limit your carb intake to <100 carbs per day (making this a habit will increase your fat burning powers all year)

3. Fit cardio in when possible

4. Lift! Don't worry about getting bulky, as that takes a lot of work. Building muscle will get you toned and burn more fat while you aren't doing any physical activity

5. Reward yourself every once and a while. Once a week Starbucks? Don't sweat it. And work towards a goal. Mine? I want to be comfortable enough to buy one of the adorable Lilly Pulitzer swimsuits!

How are you preparing for Spring Break?

All About the Optimism

Staying positive in the winter months is always a task for me. I find that February is the most challenging, because it's been cold for so long, March (and spring break!) is so close yet so far away, and, for being the shortest month, it seems to last the longest. This year, I'm trying to smile more and be more optimistic. I figured, what better way than to list the thing I'm excited for in my least favorite month?

1. Traveling!

Next week, I'm taking a long weekend with my mom to visit a school in Arizona that I'm looking at. Even if I end up hating the school, I'm positive that the warm and sunny weather will do great things for my diminishing morale. While I'm there, I'm hoping to be a little bit adventurous: hiking around the Grand Canyon, anyone? If that doesn't end up happening, I've heard that the shopping in Phoenix is great. If there's one thing my mom and I always agree on, it's a desire to shop! It's safe to say that this little getaway may be just what I'm needing.

2. Spring Break Shopping

If you haven't already figured out, I'm quite a fan of shopping. A fat wallet is a sad closet. :-) February is my main planning month for the impending spring break and all the cute new clothes I want to get. It's a month to budget and online shop! My first package arrived today from J.Crew!! Shopping is definitely my favorite way to get through the month. I love anything from J. Crew and Lilly Pulitzer to Target and I always online shop first to make sure I'm getting the most for my money. Lots of tabs open on my computer is the most comforting (and expensive) view to me! My list this year includes shorts, a new beach bag, and some cute wedges (which I'm still on the lookout for). I'm also kinda sorta in love with these Sperry shoes. I know one thing: this is not going to be a cheap month!

3. Valentines Day...... candy

While I've never had a valentine, I do have a shameless addiction to chocolate. In my singleness, I enjoy going to the grocery store and buying all of the adorable and delicious heart shaped candy for myself and then eating it by myself! It's so bad that I have to prepare myself to NOT buy every heart-shaped chocolate I see before I go shopping. 

While February is my least favorite month, it definitely helps to have something to look forward to and get excited about. Optimism can make the worst situations suddenly become the best memories! If nothing else, smile! It releases endorphins and you become genuinely happy. (Plus, you'll look more pleasant to strangers).

What are you most excited about in February?