April Favorites

Hello there!

I'm a little late in the game but here is my April favorites post. Spring is finally here and I hope the April showers stay away! I ready for some warmer weather and sun! Anyways, April was a crazy good month so I'll share some of my favorites.

Rifle Paper Co. iPhone phone case - I decided it was time for a new phone case and I have been eyeing this one at a local boutiques in Oxford for weeks! Rifle Paper Co. makes the cutest things so I had to get my hands on it! It's pretty protective but I wouldn't recommend throwing it across the room.

Sam Edelman sandals - Over spring break, I was on the hunt for some new sandals for spring and summer and boy, are these a new favorite! The two toned straps are perfect to match any outfit. They're super comfortable and I got them on sale at DSW! They also came in black and a cute coral color. 

Go Be Lovely perfume in Thai lily - This perfume is just spring in a bottle. I have been wearing it for a few months now and I've been loving it. It's very floral and feminine which is what I prefer in perfumes.

Genocide and Holocaust Education and Prevention Month - April became Genocide and Holocaust Education and Prevention Month at Miami and in Oxford because of the hard work of the Genocide and Holocaust Education committee that I joined this year. We had a great month of events such as a film series, a public lecture, a community dinner, and a reading of the names program. I'm really proud of all our work and I can't wait to see what the committee does next year.

My Current Makeup Routine

Hello there!

Today, I thought it would be fun to do a first for my blog and talk about my makeup routine! YAY! 

Since I was a preteen, I have had a love for makeup. I would even try to recreate the looks from the makeup segment of What Not to Wear by experimenting with my mom's makeup collection (sorry, mom). As I went into high school, I toned down the colors I used and opted for more neutral looks, which I still love doing today. 

My go-to look has definitely changed over the years but it always remains simple, quick, and as natural as possible. Here it is!

The Steps

The Face:

1. Apply CC cream and blend

2. Apply concealer to under eyes & blemishes and blend 

3. Apply powder all over face & neck and blend

4. Apply blush and highlight

The Eyes:

5. Define brows and blend

6. Apply neutral eyeshadow

7. Curl lashes

8. Apply mascara

And voila!

What are some of your favorite makeup products?

November Favorites

Hello there!

Holy cow...how is it December 1st already? The fall semester is quickly coming to a close and I can't believe it. It feels like yesterday I was packing up my car to the brim and heading back to school. November was a great month though. I was able to go home and celebrate my Dad's 50th birthday, had some relaxing and fun weekends, and got to see my extended family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Besides all those fun events, I thought I would share some of my favorite products I discovered in the month of November. 

Adult coloring book. So I did it, I hopped on the adult coloring book bandwagon. I was in TJ Maxx this month, saw their selection, and couldn't pass this up. They look so fun and I've heard so many great things about them. I justified my decision because I'm going on a trip in January and I decided it would be something to keep me entertained on the plane ride. Fittingly, I'm actually going to a tropical place so I thought this one would be perfect! :)

Linen scented candle. I really got into burning candles in my room this month and decided to get a new one to get some variety in scents and I love this one. It's not too overpowering and I can still burn it for a while. This one is from TJ Maxx.

Argan oil. I have always hated blow drying my hair. I have really thick hair and it's getting long so it takes forever and a day to blow dry. Once I started to use this Argan oil, it sped up my drying time and it leaves my hair so smooth that I don't really need to use a straightener to smooth it down. After I get out of the shower, I'll put one pump on the bottom 4 inches of my hair and then blow out my hair using a flat, paddle hairbrush and voila, smooth and shiny hair! Found online and in store at Ulta.

Macaron jewelry box. This little trinket box is so cute. I only use it for decoration on my dresser but I love the brightness it adds. It reminds me of my trip to France a couple of summers ago and the memories I made there. It also just makes me hungry for macarons... 

OPI nail polish in Tickle My France-y. This has been one of my go-to shades of nail polish this month. It's a great nude, fall color and goes with any fall outfit. The only downside to this color is that it requires two coats to get a good look, otherwise it is very sheer.  

Tevas. I also hopped on the "ugly sandal" bandwagon as well...however, I decided since I'm going to a tropical location in January, I should have some good, walking sandals for the trip. And let me tell you, these are so comfortable! I like these as well because they're not too "ugly" and can be worn with many casual outfits. I found mine on Amazon - here and here are a few links if you are interested.

Hope you had great Thanksgiving holiday and a great month of November!

Thank you so much reading!

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October Favorites

Hello there!

Happy Halloween! I'm back with another monthly favorites post! Fall is officially here and I'm so excited! I love the crunching sound of leaves, the pretty colors, warm apple cider, and the fashion! October was a crazy but fun month for me so I thought I would share some of my favorite things from this past month.

Floppy hat. I'm not one to wear a hat other than a baseball hat to hide a bad hair day but I love this fall trend. I feel so sassy when I wear it and I have a lot of fun dressing it up or down. It's a little daring to wear sometimes but that can be half the fun! [From Kohl's]

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. My skin is something I really try my hardest to take care of so I love skincare products. My roommate Claire introduced me to this moisturizing gel because she had been using it and we have similar, oily skin. I gave it a try and now I'm hooked on it! It really helps to calm my oiliness but still leaves my skin feeling moisturized and not overly dry. I definitely recommend trying it out if you have a similar skin type.

OPI nail polish in Malaga Wine. One of my favorite things about fall is the transition to darker nail colors. This one has become one of my favorites for the month and the whole season. The color is very pigmented and doesn't require a bunch of coats which is a great time saver, plus OPI nail polishes tend to dry quickly. 

Suede booties. The shoe of the season is definitely the bootie and I love this trend as well. I love that they can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. This particular pair is one that I typically wear to class or a more casual, everyday occasion. [From Old Navy]

Blanket scarf. Another one of my favorite trends for fall are blanket scarves. I love scarves in general for fall and winter but I think blanket scarves can really make a statement with your outfit. They are also incredibly warm and comfortable! I got this particular one for Christmas last year and I'm so happy to incorporate it again in my wardrobe. [From Zara]

I hope everyone had a great month of October and enjoyed their Halloween! 

Thank you so much for reading!

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September Favorites

Hello there!

I'm back with another monthly favorites post! Sorry I have been absent from my blog recently. This semester of school has really been kicking my butt and I feel like I haven't had a moment of free time. I currently have a little bit of time to sit down and finally write a quick September favorites post. Even though October is almost half way over, it's better late than never right?

Here we go!

OPI nail polish in Grand Canyon Sunset. I don't paint my nails often but for the month of September, I had my toes always painted with this color. It's a great transitional color between Summer and Fall.

My pet succulent, Timothy. This month I became a mom, a plant mom. I got Timothy from our local farmer's market and he has been a great addition to my room. I didn't have a pot laying around so I decided to plant him in a coffee/tea cup I never really use and he has been doing great! Isn't he so cute!? :)

Alex and Ani Path of Life bracelet. This September marked one year of dating for my boyfriend, Steve and I! It feels I just yesterday we started dating! As an anniversary gift, my sweet boy got me this Alex and Ani bracelet. He knows me so well! The meaning and significance is so perfect too. I love to wear it everyday as a reminder of him.

Light wash, distressed denim jeans. These jeans are one of my new favorite pairs. I haven't owned a pair this light in a long, long time but I'm so happy to have these. These jeans are so versatile! I have been able to dress them up with booties and dress them down with converse. They also go with so many things I already own. And my favorite part, they were from Forever 21 and really cheap!

I hope everyone had a great month of September and is enjoying October as well! Hopefully I won't stay absent for long and my school work stays manageable!

Thank you so much for reading!

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July Favorites

Hello again!

Wow. I can't believe the month of July is coming to a close. It seems like just yesterday I was anticipating all the Fourth of July festivities! But alas, this month has come and is almost gone so I thought I would share some of my favorite things from this past month. 

1. Ok, but first coffee tank top: I'm so happy I found this shirt! If you know me well, you know I'm obsessed with coffee and it is the first thing I have in the morning. This will definitely be a staple in my wardrobe once school starts. From Kohl's.

2. Cognac ankle booties: I have been on the hunt for some brown ankle booties for ages and I was so happy when I found these gems! (And they were on mega clearance too!) They are super comfortable and are not too high. They pair perfectly with any summer sundress. From Kohl's.

3. Mary Kay blush and highlight duo in Juicy Guava: I'm in love with this blush color at the moment. It is the perfect color if you want to add a slight flush to your cheeks and the matching highlight is great at giving you that perfect summer glow.

4. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari: If you're like me and you've been missing Parks and Rec lately, this book is that perfect dose of comedy. I've never read any books written by comedians but I love Aziz so much, I just had to pick it up. It is the perfect summer read! A mixture of laughter and an interesting look at dating in the modern world, it does not disappoint. 

5. Smith Brothers tin: This past month, my aunt and uncle sold their farm to downsize. They had a moving sale to get rid of a lot of their stuff and I came across this cute little tin. It's very vintage looking and I thought it would be a cute addition to my apartment at school. 

6. Day Designer planner: You have no idea how excited I am about this planner! I just received it today but I have been excited about it for the past month! I don't want to say too much about it because I'm planning on doing a full review and a comparison with the Lilly Pulitzer planner in the future but I'm so excited to use it this school year.

What was your favorite thing from July? Also, stay tuned for an announcement coming this Saturday!

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June Favorites

Holy cow. I can't believe that it's already July! This summer is flying by and it seriously needs to slow down. Before we know it, it's going to be time to go back to school and I'm not sure if I'm ready for my SENIOR year! (shocked face emoji...I'm getting so old...) June was a great month despite all the rain we got. In honor of the end of June, I thought I would share some of my favorite things that I've used this past month.

1. 10 pack of Staedtler maker pens 

For anyone who loves to color code things in your planner, likes to take detailed notes, or just loves colorful makers, these are perfect! I've been using these pens in my Lilly planner recently to stay organized and motivated to get things done. They don't bleed through the page and the colors are very fun and vibrant. I can't wait to use these during the school year to help me stay organized. This pack is from Target.

2. Scented soy candle

When I was in Target recently, I decided to peruse the home department (bad choice) and I happened upon the candle section. I didn't really have any summer candles to burn in my room so I decided to treat myself. The one shown is a 4 oz candle and burns for 20 hours; a pretty good amount for it's small size in my opinion! And the best part: it was only $5! How could I resist? :) It is a very pretty and floral in the scent succulent garden. 

3. J. Crew Factory gold pineapple jewelry tray

I was so excited when I saw this on the J. Crew Factory website during their Memorial Day sale! It is such a cute piece for summer but I mainly got it because it perfectly matches my room theme in my college apartment. Plus it was on sale! I can't wait to put it on my dresser to hold my jewelry, keys, or other knick knacks when I moved back to school.

4. Oil absorbing sheets

I'm all about having dewy, glowing skin during the summertime but when it's because of oily skin, that's where I draw the line. I have always had oily skin but the summer months really bring out my oiliness so using an oil absorbing sheet throughout my day has really helped control my shine. These are from Kroger but you can find similar ones at the drug store, Ulta, and Sephora from a variety of brands. 

5. Anastasia brow pencil 

I like my brow game to be strong so I love filling in my brows to really make them bold. I've tried other brow products but I think this one takes the cake. It's very soft yet gives you the ability to build the product for a bolder look. The spool on the other end is perfect for blending out the product and shaping your brows to perfection. And it's all in one product! I'm in the color soft brown.

6. Clinique high impact waterproof mascara

I've used a lot of the Mary Kay mascaras in the past but recently, I decided to switch things up a bit and try this Clinique mascara. I've heard a lot of good things about the high impact mascara and thought I would see if it lived up to the hype. Let me tell ya, it did! It is so smooth on your lashes yet provides a great amount of volume without looking clumpy. This product has definitely converted me into a Clinique girl when it comes to mascara! 

7. Foam roller

This thing is a godsend if you are an athlete or someone who exercises. And unfortunately for me, I discovered that I have IT band syndrome from running so much this past year. This roller has really helped to roll out any soreness I may have and really helps with the inflammation of my IT band. It's also great to use right after a workout to prevent muscle soreness. The one shown is from Dick's Sporting Goods but they can be found at Walmart or anywhere that sells basic workout materials. 

That's all for my June favorites! Leave me a comment of your favorites from the month of June or any product suggestions you may have.

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