Hi everyone! Happy Tuesday…it’s my LAST, first week of school. These past few weeks have been so busy since I have been back to school, between training, learning, seeing friends, moving into my last college dorm and starting classes, it has been a whirlwind of activities. Am soaking it all up because I know these will be my lasts…last move in weekend, last training, last first day of school. This past Sunday, I took some time to reflect on starting my last semester of college…here’s my thoughts on it…
Senior year…here we GO!
“It’s Sunday, tomorrow is my last first day of school…EVER. It’s weird to think that after tomorrow, I will never have another first day of school. I remember my first day of Kindergarten, high school and college. All big days, and tomorrow is no less a big day.
I have always loved school and going to school. I loved laying out my clothes the night before, buying fresh supplies for the new year, taking the picture outside of our home, and coming home to a special treat from my mom while we shared about our first day. There is just something about the first day that brings me so much JOY and excitement!
I only have one more semester of college. It’s weird to think that by Christmas I will be done with school and being saying goodbye to a place that has been a HUGE part of my life story, a place where I grew, gained confidence, made lifelong friends, and created incredible memories. Thankfully, I still have a few months before I say goodbye and start a new chapter in my life.
So, what does these next few months hold? Lots of classes, homework, reading, studying, working, applying for jobs, spending time with friends, crossing off college bucket lists, doing all the senior things, and celebrating milestones.
This past week, I was at Mass and the priest shared about going all in and immersing yourself in your life and that really resonated with me. These next few months, I am going ALL IN, doing as much as I can, working my hardest, getting involved with my favorite organizations, meeting new friends, stepping out of my comfort zone, and living up my last time as a college student. I have no idea what comes after college, yes, I will be getting a job and working, but it’s exciting to not know where I could end up or what I will be doing. When my friends come back to classes after Christmas, I will be working.
Many people have told me that your years in college will be the best time of your life, and I have to agree, I love the person I have become thanks to the people I met and the opportunities I have done while in college. I have met so many people who have shaped me into the person I am today, and this school will always hold a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to see what these next few months brings…senior year…I’m ALL IN!”
I’m back to the grind after one of my best weekends, I’ve had in a long time! I headed to the Pittsburgh area to celebrate my 21stbirthday with many of my college friends.
I had the absolute time, it was such a good time that I didn’t take any pictures. Haha!
Heading to Pittsburgh to celebrate!
I headed out on early Saturday morning and got brunch with my friend Bailey before the festivities began. It was a cute breakfast cafe where we got the best breakfast tacos! YUM!
My friends and I spent the day hanging out by the pool, playing games, eating, and drinking and catching up. We all met and became friends through work, it’s amazing how one job can bring so many people together. It was so good just to relax and spend time together!
In the evening, we got dinner and went out for the night. It was so good to be with my friends and have a good time. The next morning, we got brunch and relaxed for the day before I headed back home.
Lots of memories were created during the weekend, it was so good to see all my friends and be together since we don’t see each other all the time. The weekend also showed me how important it is to stay in touch with friends and make an effort to see one another.
Me and my girls!!
My amazing friend Bailey hosted and helped plan the whole weekend which was the best gift I could ask for. We have been talking and planning this weekend for over a month and I’m so glad she made it happen. I’m so blessed to have her in my life and call her one of my best friends. There will definitely more memories made between us this summer and in years to come.
Huge shout out to this girl for planning a fantastic and memorable weekend!
Sorry for the shorter post, but sometimes it’s best to just be present in the moment and turn the phone off for a while, especially since my friends and I don’t get to see each other that often.
Moral of the story, pick up the phone and make plans with your friends whether they are near or far, you won’t regret it.
Two years…it’s amazing how much has changed since I started this blog after my freshmen year of college. Just to show how much I have changed, here’s my first ever post. I started this blog as a way to talk about transitioning and adjusting to college life along with fitness, organization and fashion and it has become so much more than that. I’ve become a better writer, more open, a stronger person and stepped out of my comfort zone with this blog.
That is just a look into my favorite posts that I’ve covered these past two years. I opened up about being homesick, getting used to college life, and home life, and back to college life. I have shared my friends, family, dogs, and favorite things with you- from tv shows, books, and ways to have fun.
This blog has been a great stress reliever, whenever I would be stressed or I wanted to share something new I learned, my blog was my go-to.
I truly wouldn’t be here without you all! Thank you for your love, support and for reading my posts every day whether it is about fashion, fitness, or day to day life. I have had so many people and friends tell me they have read my blog, follow it, or make a suggestion for it. It means so much to me that you take the time out of your lives to read about my life. This next year of blogging will be different as I will be graduating college and entering a new phase in my life. There will also be some surprises in this next year, there will be new content, different types of posts, and so many fun things in the future so stay tuned!! But not to fear, the blog is not going anywhere. I’m going to taking it day by day as I start a new adventure and I hope you will come with me on this journey.
Thank you for reading, the love, and support
Here’s to TWO years of ups and downs and taking it one day at a time.
Well, that’s a wrap on my junior year of college! This year flew by, I can’t believe that the next time I will be back at school, I will be a senior. It seems like just yesterday I was walking on campus for the first time, now in August, I will be moving in for the last time. College is an interesting concept, it’s amazing in a few years how much we grow, change, learn, and live. I can honestly say that I am a completely different person now than when I moved in 3 years ago. I can’t wait to celebrate and enjoy my last semester of college in the fall.
My mood though Junior year…well most of the time.. haha!
Today’s post is my favorite types of posts. Another semester has gone by, which means it’s time for another recap. To see what I was up to last semester, you can read about it here. I love to do these recaps to show you what I have been up to, as well as reflect on how much I have accomplished both in an out of the semester. This semester was a busy one, but filled with so many fun memories. The best way to describe this semester is the fact, I typically go to the gym on Saturday’s and Sunday’s, I always had things going on during the weekends that it wasn’t until the last weekend of the semester in May that I made it both days, I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.
As I was preparing for this post, I realized how many things I did, that I didn’t take pictures of. Although, I wish I had pictures to document the fun times and moments, it is nice just to be present in the moment and enjoy who I am with, without capturing it all for social media. So, let’s recap this semester…
First day of the spring semester…cold and quiet
January started out with freezing weather, a few cancelled classes (which was unheard of for our school) and lots of working weekends. The cancelled classes did result in some spontaneous adventures with my friends, whether it was brunch, going thrift shopping, or heading to the mall. I’ve learned this semester that some of my favorite moments were the ones that were unplanned and spontaneous, whether it was grabbing dinner with my friends, seeing a school musical, or shopping whether it was at the mall or the comic book store.
Heading into February, classes and work were on my mind, I spent a lot of time working on my Capstone biography video, which you can watch here.
Hard at work on my Senior Capstone
I also was able to have weekly lunch dates with my sweet friend Sharon, who graduated in December and weekly dinner dates with my friend Bailey, who spent this semester student teaching. It was so special to be able to see my friends even with their busy schedules.
SO thankful for this friendship
I love getting lunch with my sweet friend Sharon
I was able to sneak home for a quick visit before I left for Rome.
No shame in admitting this is my only photo that weekend at home…what can I say…I’m a dog lover
Moving into March, I spent the first several days in Rome. If you missed my recaps on the eternal city, you can read part one here and part two here.
Take me back to simpler days…
I came back to school after an incredible trip and got back into the swing of classes, work, and friends. I had one of my most memorable weekends of the semester with my friends at our Semi-formal dance, which you can read about here. The weekend included dinner, hanging out with friends, dancing, grilled cheese at midnight, sleepovers, hitting the gym and brunch.
One of the BEST weekends of the semester
I jetted home for another visit with my family which was much needed after returning from abroad.
Are we really surprised that my only picture from being at home is with my dogs?
April brought lots of the end of the semester activities. In between school work, I was able to head to a bowling outing with my friends, get dinner, go on some fro-yo dates, spend a day volunteering, and get Inducted into a Communication Honor Society.
A day spent volunteering with my best friend Danielle
Lambda Pi Eta
A more up close picture of the outfit
A quick picture with my parents who came out to support me!
I also got the opportunity to tour our Library at school which is under construction and interview our school’s president about the renovations. You can watch the interview here.
Interviewing the President of my school in the new Library
Our school also hosts a spring family weekend which as so fun, I got to see and hang out with some of my closest friends, watch a few bands perform and got pied in the face for charity…definitely a messy moment of the semester.
With some of my close friends Sharon and Bailey
Spring family weekend
It took a long time to get the whipped cream out
Like I mean three showers later…it was finally all out
April ended with Easter ended at home.
Surprise…not a picture of me and my dogs at home, but with my brothers for Easter
I finished out the last few weeks of April and May with end of the year dinners, from Honor Societies, to Department dinners, and senior celebrations as well as finals, I’m so lucky I was able to participate in these senior festivities since so many of my close friends are seniors. Next year will be different without them.
One last DQ and catch up session with this girl!
Laughing our way into Senior year…
Celebrating senior year with my friend Olivia!
Thankful for her friendship this year, my girl Bailey, always there through thick and thin.
It wouldn’t be the end of the school year without a trip to one of our favorite places, the SP…a hidden gem near our school
The year ended with working the last few days after finals and attending graduation. I was so happy I could watch all my friends graduate, although it was sad to see them move on I know they are going to do amazing things.
Gonna miss these girls next year!
Working graduation with my sweet friend Danielle, we are up next!
Whew…and that’s a wrap. Junior year was by far one of the best years and I think a lot of that has to do with a mindset. I called junior year my year of joy and I wanted to find joy in every day. Even on the days that were rough, emotionally and mentally draining, or I wanted to go home, I still looked for the joy in every day.
Although, it’s so good to be home and not think about school for a bit, I’m going to miss my friends and being at the same place with everyone. I do have some pretty exciting plans for this summer and next semester, so stay tuned!
To everyone who made this year and semester the best one yet…THANK YOU! Have a beautiful day friends! Sending love to everyone near and far…xoxo!
Hello all! Happy Thursday, I am wrapping up finals week. This week has flown by, I have been able to catch up with friends, make memories and wrap up the semester. I will be moving back home this weekend where I will be for the summer. On Tuesday, I will be sharing my semester recap-one of my favorite posts, but until then I have a look of the day that is all about spring, pastel colors. I love to add color to my outfits any chance I get, and this outfit was the perfect opportunity to channel all the spring vibes.
All Set for Spring
When I wore this outfit, I was running errands and wanted something comfortable but also chic. I got this mint green top from Francesca’s Boutique a few years back. I love how it is so versatile. I typically wear it dressed up with dress pants or a skirt, but it can be worn with jeans or leggings as well. This color is perfect for the spring and summer months, I also love that you can layer it if necessary. A long or short sweater would go perfectly with this combo.
I opted for a pair of skinny black leggings with the bold, bright top. Gap is always my go-to for long-lasting durable leggings.
My shoes are my favorite part of my outfit. I got these shoes on sale at DSW and immediately fell in love with them last year. I love how they are slides, but the pattern is so fun, bright, and colorful. These slide shoes are becoming so popular, I have seen them in so many stores. I have worn these shoes with dresses, skirts, dress pants, even rompers, but I loved how they looked with leggings and how the green in my top brought out my shoes. I will be getting a lot of use out of these this summer.
How cute are these fun flats, they can go with so many outfits!
Lastly, I had to share my new favorite phone case/wristlet. I got it last year from MarleyLilly and not only do I love the monogram but I love that I can easily fit my phone and ID/credit card and be on the go, I don’t have to worry about taking a huge purse or not having pockets, this is the perfect size for the necessities.
Who doesn’t get all the spring feels from this outfit?!
I am off to wrap up the last few days before its summer time. Have an enjoyable weekend! To all the moms out there-have a beautiful and restful Mother’s Day, thank you for all that you do, especially to my incredible mom! I’m so glad I will be home to celebrate Mother’s Day with her!
Happy Tuesday! It is finals week for me, thankfully my finals aren’t too strenuous, I am looking forward to easing my way out of the semester. With summer right around the corner, one of the things I’m looking forward to is reading a lot. I have always loved to read but being in college doesn’t always give me the time to read for fun. Don’t get me wrong, I read a lot for my classes, for example, in one of my classes, I was reading a novel a week. I was definitely getting in my 30 minutes of reading a day. However, I didn’t have a lot of time to read for fun. I was able to complete two books for fun through the Spring semester. Although, I wish it was more I was happy to get in a little bit of fun reading.
Such a fun book
I first read Jessie James Decker’s book, Just Jessie.I have always been a fan of Jessie James Decker. I loved following her show on E, listening to her new albums, and following her sweet family on social media. In her book she opens up about growing up, dreaming of becoming a singer, her career in music, meeting her husband, starting a family, creating her fashion line, but above all being herself. It was such a fun and light read, especially when I needed a break from reading textbook material all day. I read a few chapters every night so it took me a few weeks to read it, but you could finish it in a few sittings. I love when artists, actors, or influential people, write books and open up about how they got to where they are today. I find it inspiring and it encourages me pursue my own dreams. If you are a fan of Jessie James Decker I would highly recommend reading her book. She also just released a new song, Roots and Wings, which is beautiful. You can listen to it here.
Grade: A-
Another great read
I also read Matthew Kelly’s book, Rediscover Catholicismover Lent. It was another eye-opening book that made me reevaluate my faith and my relationship with God. This is the third book I have read by Matthew Kelly, I have also read Perfectly Yourselfand The Greatest Lie in the History of Christianity. Although, I liked the other books more than this one, I enjoyed digging deeper into my faith. The books really breaks down the Catholic faith, from The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality, living the authentic life, and how we should live our lives as Catholics. I read a little bit every night and I took me the whole duration of Lent to read it, it could definitely be read in a few sittings, but I wanted to reflect on what I was reading. After reading it, I wanted to challenge myself to make my faith more a priority and be more intentional with my relationship with God. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone struggling with their faith or looking to deepen their faith.
Grade: B-
If you are looking for new books to read I hope this gave you some insights on different books to try. Now, with summer rapdily approaching, I need your help picking out some new books that I should read this summer. What are your current favorites?! I need all the suggestions. Leave them in the comments below! Have a fantastic week!
It’s officially the last week of classes. I’m wrapping up my LAST spring semester and getting ready for summer. The end of the school year for graduating seniors means lots of ceremonies, celebrations and fun activities. Since, I am graduating in December, I am able to participate in a lot for the fun festivities. From Honor’s induction Ceremonies, to Senior Department Dinners, these past few weeks have busy but so fun! With all these events means lots of outfits. Today, I’m sharing a business casual look that could work for one of these events as well as a job interview or day at the office.
A preppy and spring business casual outfit
I wore this look for an Induction ceremony, I didn’t get a whole lot of pictures of my look since I was busy, but let’s break down the look.
I love these navy blue dress pants from The Limited. They are perfect for the spring and summer since they go to the ankle. Also, with a solid pant, you can wear fun and bolder tops.
I decided to wear the bright pink top. I got it from Francesca’s Boutique. I love how versatile this top is, I have worn it with jeans, leggings, a skirt, or dress pants. I really liked how it brought out the spring colors with the navy blue pants. I love to wear it with business casual outfits.
A more up close picture of the outfit
It was a bit breezy outside when I wore this wore this outfit and I wanted something to cover my shoulders. I was debating on wearing a blazer with it, but opted for a long white sweater to bring more color to the outfit. This is my favorite long sweater, I got it from the Scandal collection from The Limited. I loved how all these pieces worked well together.
I finished the outfit off with a pair of nude heels from DSW a few years ago. These shoes are comfortable, versatile, and long lasting. I have worn them for years. There is nothing better than having a good pair of heels.
A quick picture with my parents who came out to support me!
I hope this gives you some inspiration for your next business casual outfit. Don’t be afroad to step out of your comfort zone when putting outfits together.
I’m off to soak up one last weekend with my friends before we all go out separate ways for the summer. Have a great weekend! See you next Tuesday!
I hope you all had a relaxing weekend! I’m going into my last week of classes and then it’s finals week! This semester has flown by, my finals week shouldn’t be too bad, so I’m hoping to soak up as much time with my friends before many of them graduate. I always feel that pack them most into the last few weeks of school since that’s when everything is winding down. Last year, I did a fun facts post and it was so fun to do. You can read it here. Today, I decided to update it and share 10 more fun facts about me. Who knows maybe you will learn something new!
I journal every day and when I am stressed out or overwhelmed or have a problem, I always turn to journaling. I have several journals filled with thoughts or multiple word documents with thinking things out. I feel best after I write out a problem or talk it out with someone.
Journaling is the best way for me to unwind and be intentional every day
My biggest pet peeve is when people cancel plans on me, I’m always understanding especially when something unexpected comes up and someone has to reschedule consistently but it still bothers me
I love anything British, whether it’s books, movies, music, actors, the culture. I love everything about Great Britian. London, England is on my list of top three places to visit. One of my best friends is going to London this summer and I’m super jealous, I’m making them take lots of pictures for me. Haha!
Speaking of music, I have no favorite type of music, my playlists are all over the place from Praise and Worship, to 70’s hits, 2010’s workout music, top 40’s pop music, even country music and movie scores, it’s a mess. Whenever, I am out with friends, I let them pick the music since my taste is all over the place.
Just a peak into my pandora playlist…my amazon playlist is even more different
If I wasn’t a Communication major I would probably be an Education major. When I was growing up I always wanted to be a teacher growing up, but ultimately decided communication was the right path for me and I’m so glad I did since I love what I’m learning and doing.
I always have a bottle of water and gum with me, whether it’s in the car, going to class or running errands. I drink a lot of water during the day and even through the night, I keep water by my bed and typically finish a bottle of water through the night.
I prefer sweet over savory, I would rather have a big dessert than a steak dinner. Chocolate is my weakness so I will always indulge in something sweet.
I would prefer this over a huge dinner any day
I love hanging out and doing activites with friends, my friends and I go bowling and have a ton of fun even though I am probably the worst bowler…no joke, last time I went I think my score was 33…yeah, not the best score but I have a ton of fun when I’m with my friends and that’s what matters right?!
Although, I spend more time texting, I prefer calls over texts/DM’s/ snap chats etc. I find calls to be more personally and I can express myself more over a phone call than a long text or a direct message.
I love the simple things in life, for example, flowers. I love having fresh cutflowers in my room or on my desk. I love how such a small gesture can change your mood. I love the scent they bring into a room and how they can make a space feel warm and inviting.
Fresh cut flowers are a favorite of mine
And there’s 10, I hope you found this fun and enjoyable to read. These are always my favorite posts to read on other blogs since everyone is so different and it’s always fun to learn different things about each other.
How many did you know? What’s one fun fact about yourself? Leave them in the comments below!
I hope your week is off to a great start! I can’t believe how fast time is going. I only have a few more weeks left in my LAST spring semester of college! Where has the time gone?? During my time in college, one of my favorite things and one of the biggest ways I have changed is by living on my own and being independent.
During my freshmen year, I had a roommate (my first time sharing a room), and I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate experience. My roomie and I are still best friends.
Remember my sweet friend, Danielle? Yes, we were roommate freshmen year and are still close, if not closer, we see each other multiple times each week. During my first year of college, I got a taste of what it’s like to live with someone new and have your own space, that is not home.
We met during Freshmen Orientation, and have been besties since, we have been through the highs and lows of life together
During my sophomore year, I lived alone, and I gained more independence by having a room to myself and being in control of the space.
In my junior year, not only did I still have my own room, but I got my own bathroom as well. Junior year has been the best year for me for many reasons, but having my own room and bathroom has been the absolute best.
Today, I am sharing how to keep a small space cleaned and organized. I will probably update this post once I graduate but for now, here are the top things you should have in your space! I’m a girl who works best with a routine, this year I made Friday morning my “house keeping” day, basically I go to the gym, do my wash, change my sheets, clean my room etc. I like to keep it consistent by doing it at the same time every week and it’s fresh for the weekend. Here are my tips for keeping your space clean and things to have in your room.
Clorox wipes (It’s no secret, I am a neat freak, so you better believe I always have Clorox wipes to clean my room. I am also a schedule person, so every week I set aside time to clean my bedroom, bathroom and get wash done so I am living in a clean space. It’s amazing how fresh your space can feel when you wipe it down with a Clorox wipe, it gets rid of germs and keeps your space smelling clean.)
Top of my list for making sure your dorm stays clean
Pledge wipes (Another major must have. It’s amazing how much dust can collect in a small dorm space or apartment. After I clean off my surfaces with Clorox wipes, I use a pledge wipe or two to get all the remaining dust off. Pledge wipes are also great for cleaning off devices, it’s crazy how much germs and smudges can be found on laptops, tablets, and cell phones.)
I love how these work on multiple surfaces and devices too!
Small Bissell vacuum (I got a small Bissell vacuum this past year and it has been a game changer. It is super light weight, easy to store and it makes cleaning go by much faster. It’s amazing how much traffic our rooms get with people in and out, giving your floor a quick clean will make you feel much better in the end.)
Game Changer for this year, it’s amazing how much dirt and dust can be found on the ground
Command hooks (Not a cleaning item, I know. But Command hooks are a must in college dorm, although they can get expensive, you don’t want your favorite posters, pictures, and dorm décor falling down. I have command hooks everywhere in my room, they are easy to put on and leave no marks when you take them down.
Any college student can relate to how important these are to a dorm room, decorating and making the space your own has never been so easy!
Reusable Containers, Silverware, and Water Bottles (Again, not a cleaning item, but it is so good to use plastic or glass dishware, it helps save the environment from all the trash build up and it saves money. If you invest in a few good water bottles, or dishes and silverware you are saving money from spending it on plastic silverware and cases of water.)
Saving the environment and keeping things classy in college
After living in a college dorm for the past few years, these items have worked best for me and weren’t necessarily on my packing list of things to bring but rather as I have lived on my own, I have realized they were necessary. What items have you found are most helpful when it comes to living on your own? Share them in the comments below! Have a great week ahead!
I hope you all have had a fulfilling and productive week! Today’s look of the day is going to be a bit different since I am going to be talking about a fashion trend and making it your own.
One trend that never seems to go out of style is concert t-shirts. They are a great piece of memorabilia from going to your favorite concert and you can wear them time and time again, the one problem I have with concert t-shirts is knowing where and when to wear them. Just with jeans? With sweats around the house or to the gym? It can be a hard piece of clothing to wear with outfits. After collecting t-shirts from a lot of concerts, I think I found the solution. Make a statement outfit with you t-shirt.
Favorite mantra-favorite concert
I’m going to show you an outfit I styled a few weeks ago, that still looks put together even with a t-shirt. Let’s get to it!
We will start with the central part of the outfit-the concert t-shirt. Last summer, I went to see The Piano Guys in concert in New York, for those of you who aren’t familiar with The Piano Guys, you should totally check them out they started on YouTube, perform covers of hit songs as well as write their own songs. They are still an up and coming group but already have a large following. I got one of their t-shirts when I saw them over the summer, their shirt is a quote from one of my favorite songs from them. You can listen to it here-seriously such an uplifting and motivating song.
The Piano Guys
One of my favorite summer shows
Check them out on Youtube
The Piano Guys
Throwback to seeing them in concert last year!
Now, back to the outfit details, I paired this shirt with a new pair of black leggings that are fleece lined! Your girl is officially in heaven, not only are these leggings comfortable and long lasting but are now extra warm-perfect for cool evenings or chilly days. Believe it or not, I got these leggings for Christmas from the Hallmark store- you never know where you are going to find a new piece of clothing to add to your collection.
Up close of the outfit
I paired the dark leggings with my go to high black boots from DSW, which as much as I hate to say it, I think this might be my last time wearing them for the season since Spring is around the corner, as much as I am ready and here for Spring, I’m going to miss these staple shoes in my winter collection.
Closer look at one of my favorite parts-the fleece lined leggings!
Since it was still a bit chilly out, I decided to wear my long off-white sweater just to have an extra layer on. I’ve talked about this sweater time and time again but it truly is a go-to sweater for my wardrobe in every season. The sweater is from the Scandal Collection at The Limited.
This outfit is the perfect compromise for making your favorite concert t-shirts into an outfit. What are your favorite ways to wear your favorite concert t-shirts?!
