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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #9

Hi everyone! 

Happy Friday! We made it through our first week of October! Woo Hoo! It’s really starting to feel like fall as we are consistently in the 50’s degrees. 

Hello F A L L

As always, I’m linking up with  Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites. Here’s some of my favorite things this week.

J.Crew Trench Coat

I got this coat for Christmas a few years back and it’s one of my favorite things to wear in the spring and fall. Not only is it professional for the office by wearing a dress, skirt or dress pants with it, but you can also wear it with jeans or leggings for a casual look. I know I have talked about this trench coat on my blog before, but I had to share it again since I’ve been wearing it a lot over the past few weeks. It keeps me warm; I love the cut and style and quality. Even if you don’t want to go with J.Crew, I highly recommend investing in a trench coat for the spring and fall and even cooler summer nights too. 

Trail Mix

I always keep my eyes open for fun, seasonal snacks when I am out and about, and I picked up this trail mix from Target. I have been munching on this sweet treat for lunch since it’s the perfect mix between sweet and salty. There are peanuts, peanut butter chips, raisins, pretzels and chocolate chips all mixed in. It satisfies the sweet and salty tooth and tastes like fall too. I’m excited to see what other fall treats will be hitting the shelves soon.

Pinterest Boards

Speaking of fall, I have been so inspired by Pinterest lately. I haven’t decorated my front door and porch yet for fall, but when I do, I have plenty of ideas saved from Pinterest. I’ve been so inspired by front doors set up with pumpkins, mums and fall vegetables. I also can’t wait until more leaves start to change for fall walks and drives. I have spent some time outdoors and just seeing some leaves fall got me excited for what’s to come. You can follow me on Pinterest here.

Apple Glaze Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I had some leftover apples and made this delicious and sweet apple bread. It was so tasty that it could be enjoyed as a dessert with a scoop of ice cream. I found the recipe on Pinterest and will be sharing with you in a few weeks. I love using the fall as a time to test out new recipes.

Fall TV is Back!

Some of my favorite weekly shows are back on tv this week. I’ve been catching an episode of the Masked Singer here and there. It’s always a good show to put on in the background and try and guess who’s under the mask. This year they are unmasking more people each week which has been an added twist. Grey’s Anatomy returned last night! There’s a new class of interns to meet this season and I’m looking forward to seeing how their storylines unfold. Ellen Pompeo won’t be in this season as much so I’m curious how the season will go/feel without her in every episode. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

That’s just a look into my life this week.

Tell me: what are some favorite things you are loving this week? Let me know below!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #7

Hello all!

Happy Friday! I hope you all had a great week and have something fun planned for this weekend. Like every Friday, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for a new edition of Friday Favorites. Here’s five things that I’m loving this week.

New Scent: Yesterday was the start of the fall season and it happened to coincide with it being time to get a new scent of body spray/lotion. Bath and Body Works is my go-to for lotion, sprays, wall flowers, etc. I always look forward to changing scents when an old scent runs out. I tried this new scented Butterfly and loved it, it’s a fresh but warm smell if that makes sense. It would go perfect for the spring or summer season, but even would work for fall too. I liked the scent so much, I purchased a mini spray for work too. I can’t wait to use it every day.

Eyeshadow Brushes: I am always on the search for new makeup products and things that make getting ready faster and efficient. This next favorite is my no means a new invention. I found a great deal on Amazon for lots of eyeshadow brushes. This pack came in a clear case to keep them all together and in one spot. These brushes will last me a few days since there’s essentially four sponges per stick. I don’t have to worry about washing these brushes, I can just toss them when I’m done with them. I really like that the sponges don’t fall off when applying eye shadow, they provide great coverage on my lids, and they make blending easier. If you are searching for some new brushes, give these a try!

House of Gucci– Again not a new movie, but a new to me movie. I watched House of Gucci last week and loved it. I thought the acting was so well done, from Lady Gaga to Adam Driver and even Jared Leto. Leto was unrecognizable to me. I really enjoyed the fashion, the plot and the build up to the tragic ending. I learned a lot about the Gucci family that I didn’t know before while watching the film too. If you are a fan of the fashion industry, definitely give it a try. There are a few adult scenes and it is a longer movie, so just a few things to consider when planning your next movie night.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies– If you are looking for a movie snack, this might be it. I picked up these mini cookies from Target and loved them. They have the perfect balance of caramel and chocolate chip. They are bite sized cookies so you can eat one or two and your sweet tooth will be satisfied. These would be a great afternoon pick-me-up, lunch snack or movie treat. I loved popping into Target for everything, but seeing their new snacks and trying them out are always a favorite for me!

Sweet Corn– Sticking with food, I’ve been on a sweet corn kick. My family and I have been enjoying a lot of corn while grilling. We’ve enjoyed it with burgers and hot dogs, chicken, even steak. We recently tried putting corn on the grill and I’ve found that I enjoy it even more over the fire compared to boiling them inside on the stove. If you are looking to have one more cookout before the weather turns, consider some sweet corn.

That’s a look at some of my favorite things today. What are you loving today?

Categories
Fabulous living

Five Favorite Things

Hello hello! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are week’s are going well. I don’t know about you, but I’m SO ready for spring. We had a 70 degree Sunday last week and it was absolutely beautiful. I got out for a walk with no snow on the ground and got to soak up some sunshine. Even that taste of sunshine has me craving spring even more.

I always love my routines and rhythms, but I always like to try new things. Today I’m sharing five things I’ve been loving. They are a mix of products, snacks, make up, and fun things. 

  • Simplified Wellness Journal (one of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to focus more on my well-being and health and wellness. In addition to working out, I’m putting more emphasis on eating right, getting enough sleep and making sure I’m more well-rounded for my physical and mental health). The Simplified journal helps keep everything organized and help you track your workouts, how much water you drink, what you are eating and how you are taking care of yourself. If you are looking to put wellness first, this is a great resource, but you can easily keep track of your fitness and health goals in a regular notebook or journal.
I use my Wellness Journal every day
And a look at the inside
  • For makeup lovers: Since I wear a lot of makeup for my job, I stick with what I know and what works for me. However, I do like to change it up and try new things. I got this lipstick from Covergirl at Target and I love the dark pink color, It’s long lasting and I love how it goes on.
My new favorite color

  • For snacks: I always like to try different snacks and trail mixes. I saw this smores bark from Target and thought it looked fun and tasty and boy was I correct. I love anything with chocolate and the crunch of the graham crackers, the only problem is you want to be careful not to eat them all in one sitting. Haha!
A tasty favorite!!!
  • For technology lovers: Last week I did a post about my Apple Watch and what I loved about it. Since I wear it all the time even at work I purchased a few bands to switch out for dressier occasions. I bought a gold and a silver band that really dresses up the watch.
A look at the gold watch band.

A look at the silver band.
  • For shoe lovers: I love a good heel and since I wear them all the day, I love a sturdy heel too. I have been searching for years for a blue heel. I wear a lot of blue, from dresses, to pants and skirts. I have been searching for a blue heel for years and I finally found a pair at DSW. Here they are! They are very comfortable, sturdy and affordable. They also have them in different colors if you want to change out the colors.

That’s just a few things I’m loving right now. Definitely a mix of fun things and affordable too. What are some things you are loving right now?

Categories
Fashion

Fall Outfit Round-Up

Hi guys! HappyWednesday. I hope your week is off to a great start.

Now that we are in the midst of fall, I thought it was time for a fall outfit roundup. To be honest, the weather has been fairly mild, so I still am wearing some summer clothes and dresses. Some mornings its really chilly but then by 3:00 in the afternoon, it’s 75 degrees, it makes planning for outfits very challenging.

I have a feeling the deeper we get into autumn, the more I will have to transition from lighter to darker colors. I am ready to welcome fall with open arms. I’m ready for layers, sweaters and all things cozy!

Here’s two new looks, one for the office. One for a weekend or a day out and about.

Bright red for fall

This work dress is score from Amazon. I placed an order this summer and was really happy with all my purchases. To see some of my other Amazon successes, click here.

This red cotton dress is perfect for summer and fall. It’s affordable, easy to clean and great quality. It’s light enough for summer and the hot days, but a great transitional piece for changing seasons. I may even try and wear it in the winter with a blazer and tights.

I love the Peter Pan collar and the cut and style of the dress.

Overall, this was a major win for me!

If you are looking for a casual look out of the office, I have an option for you too.

A casual look

I went for a fall walk and train ride a few weeks back and it was the perfect time to break out some fall clothes. I got the top from J.Crew for Christmas and couldn’t wait to wear it. I love the detail in the collar and the puffed sleeves. It’s a classic look for spring and fall.

The vest is an oldie but a goodie. I got it from Francesca’s several years ago and it was a staple during my college years. It’s lightweight and perfect for the start of fall.

I paired the outfit with a pair of new leggings from Target. I’ve only worn them once, so the jury is still out on them, but I was pleased with the color and the comfort especially after walking all day. We will see how wear number two goes.

Lastly, I rounded the outfit off with a pair of shoe boot wedges from Payless. I wore them a lot in college but haven’t worn them a lot recently. I was happy they are still comfortable and durable.

Up-close of the top.

I will have plenty more outfits as the season goes on. This is just a start. I can’t wait for more fall weather and outfits. What are your favorite looks for this season?

Categories
Fashion

Favorite Beauty Finds

Hi everyone, happy Wednesday! It has been a while since I’ve done a beauty roundup. With the seasons changing, I figured there would be no better time than to share some of my favorite new beauty finds. Since I started working in news I have tried new products to make sure my hair and makeup last for the whole day. These are a few products that I use every day and they never let me down.

I have always worn primer since working, typically I would wear a clear one from NYX. But I made the switch to Neutrogena Green Primer. I know what you may think, green primer?! Trust me it works for me. I have red tones in my skin complexion, so the green primer counter-acts it and balances it out. It may go on green but after you smooth it out and blend it in, the green is gone and your are left with smoother skin and a blender primer. 

Neutrogena Primer

Speaking of green, I decided to get green concealer as well. Once it again, it counteracts any red blemishes or marks and leads to a smother complexion. It may seem crazy to add double the green to your face and once again this doesn’t work for everyone, but for my skin tone it has been a game changer. You can add a bit more to any problem areas you may have and it blends right in. I use both of these products just for work, on my days off, I go minimal makeup and don’t apply as much product, but for the long days, these products are both game changers.

NYX Concealer

I saw this on Carly’s blog and after she gave great reviews on it, I wanted to give it a try and let me say, I AM OBSESSED. I put this on in the shower daily and my skin is so soft and smooth. I have noticed my skin is less dry too. I also put on body lotion after the shower, but there is nothing better than soft and smooth legs. 

Olay Body Conditioner

Again, another game changer that helps me get through my mornings faster. What I love about this two in one brush is that it brushes your hair while drying it and it gives you great volume. I have only used it a handful of times but I am so happy with the finishes product. This brush works great for on the go mornings or when you don’t want to go out with your hair wet. It is definitely worth the cost and you cn find it online and in stores! 

Revlon Volumizer Brush

These are just my latest favs! What things are you loving this season when it comes to beauty??? Let me know below!!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #122

LOTD

Hi everyone! Happy Thursday after a hectic week I am looking forward to catching up on the return of my favorite fall shows…hello TGIT!

 Well it’s officially fall, even if it doesn’t feel like it quite yet. I am looking forward to wearing some of my favorite fall colors and transitioning my wardrobe. I started to change over my clothes these past few weeks. The weather has been hard to plan for, some mornings its 45 degrees when I leave for class and then by the afternoon it is hot and humid. In order to battle this challenging weather, I have found the key is to wear long pants and a short sleeve top or shorts and a long sleeve top. 

Today’s look is an example of one of those outfits. On this particular day, I have a few meetings that I had to attend so I wanted to keep it professional while also comfortable. I also wanted to get into the fall mood by wearing darker colors. 

Off to class

I first opted for dark black leggings. What I love about these is that they feel like leggings but don’t look like them. I got these from Target and I’m on the hunt for a new pair. 

Full outfit

I matched the pants with my dark black slip on sneakers, also from Target. I wanted the comfort of a sneaker but not the look of a sneaker and these did the trick.

In order to dress up the outfit, I wore a silver blouse from Francesca’s Boutique with the outfit. I also accented the outfit with black and silver jewelry to add a pop to the outfit. 

Up close of make up and jewelry

Due to the darker shades in my outfit, I wore a darker lip shade, but kept my makeup light and loose. I didn’t want too dark of an outfit for September.  I also did a darker shade for my nails. I went with a deep red to get into the fall mood.

Up close of nails

I will probably wear an outfit similar to this in the winter when it gets colder, but until then I am going to adjust my clothing to the weather. 

Have a great weekend everyone and do something the speaks fall to you!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

How I am Staying on top of my Schedule

Hey hey friends! Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had an enjoyable and fun Labor Day weekend. Although, I was at school, I did have a fun weekend with friends, and it was a great way to say goodbye to summer. Although, school started back last week for me, I’m still trying to find a good routine. Last week was all about getting adjusted to a new schedule, classes, work time and organizing all the appointments. This week is weird since we had off yesterday and tonight I’m going to a concert with friends. I’m trying my best to soak up every moment at school this semester.

I know I’m late to the game, but I am finally on the band wagon with using the calendar on my phone and laptop….I know I know, it’s a long time coming. Before I get started on how and why I am using this system now, I want to give a little bit of background on how I stay organized. 

A few years back, I did a post about staying organized with school. You can read about it here.

Let me break it down for how I stay on top of things, I have a feeling this may change once I graduate from college, but for now this is what works. 

  1. Big Desk Calendar
My desk calendar

I love to see everything laid out in front of my on my desk. I have everything color coded. Certain colors for classes, Green for school things (tutoring, dinners, meetings), Blue for Work (staff meetings, when things are due), Red for when I work, and then purple for anything else that comes up. I like seeing the month as a whole and this helps me plan better when I have new things to put on the calendar. I got this planner from the Simplified Collection by Emily Ley at Target. I put everything on this calendar- it’s basically my master one-school, work, home, family, friends. It all goes here. 

  • Small Planner

This comes in great for assignments and school work. I got this planner from Staples with the At a Glance collaboration with Simplified by Emily Ley (do you see a pattern here?!- You better believe I am getting the 2020 Simplified Planner when they Launch tomorrow!)

This has the week layout. Every day is split in two columns (The My Day and To Do). In the My Day is where I put any meetings, events, test dates or things to remember. In the To Do is where I list all my homework assignments.

What my weekly spread looks like

This is the first year that I used the monthly calendar too. Although, I love my desk calendar I was scheduling things without looking. I only write the important things in the month section like tutoring, meetings, scheduled events just so I have a reference. This planner is mostly used for school things-homework, exams, meetings for school and work things for school. 

The month of September as a whole in the month section of calendar
  • iCalendar 

This past summer, I started to use the calendar app on my phone and laptop to keep track of work things and events happening with family and friends. Since I wasn’t in school I wasn’t using a planner and since I spent most every day on my laptop it made sense to have my calendar in front of me, now I am loving it. It’s so easy to use and I LOVE how you can sync your phone and laptop calendars to be the same. I am also able to customize when I put things on the calendar and color coordinate them too. Also, the best part, by using iCalendar it keeps all my blog posts in order and I can schedule things better too.

For this calendar its divided by four topics: school (blue), blog (purple), personal (yellow) and important (red).

My four categories of what I put on the calendar

For school I only put important meetings, appointment and work commitments( no homework, no tests, no when my classes are), for blog I put down what posts are being published when, personal is activities and things with friends and family, and important are basically when the big things are due like credit card statements. This calendar is the big picture stuff, I refer to this when I am planning an event or meeting to see if I have conflicts and I always have it with me, unlike my desk calendar and planner which aren’t always on me. 

The whole month at a glance

Is it necessary to have all of these? Probably not, but it’s what works best for me. I am a super organized person, so I like to do all this and keep myself on top of everything. I am thinking once I graduate about ditching the desk calendar and just keeping a planner and using the calendar on my phone. Thoughts from any recent graduates about what works best for you? After I graduate, I want to focus on simplifying my life more and I know once I am done with school a lot of these activities will be done too, so for now I am enjoying my life with my three color coordinated calendars!

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #115

LOTD

Hi All! This week I have been taking some time off and relaxing with my family before I move back to school next week. It has been so nice to relax and unwind a bit before it’s back to school and the hectic fall schedule.

One of my favorite things to do when I want to change up my wardrobe is to mix and match outfits. I love using pieces that are worn more formally and make them more casual. 

You may remember a few years back, I wore this outfit.  I really dressed it up with a blouse and heels and wore it to a graduation. Flashforward a few years and I have worn this outfit or variations of it in different ways. 

Did someone say throwback Thursday?!

Today’s look of the day is an example of another way I have worn this outfit. 

Soaking up the last few weeks of summer

I kept the same skirt that I got from Victoria Beckham’s Collection from Target, a few years ago. I still love the bright color and detail as well as the comfort it offers. 

Instead of a dressier blouse, I opted for a simple white tee. I love the simplicity of a white shirt. Gap always carries my favorite white shirts. They are affordable and long lasting, not to mention easy to wash. 

Up close of the outfit details

I was on the go when I wore this outfit so I wore my favorite slip on sneakers with it. I wore these all through Rome, so although they may be from Target, they are long lasting!

My on the go shoes

What else is new with the outfit? I decided to chop my hair before heading back to school, I needed a change and my hair was the best place to start. 

Fresh cut for senior year

I am going to enjoy these last few days of summer before it’s back to school.  Have a great weekend!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the day #105

LOTD

Hi friends! Happy Thursday!

Yesterday, I got a bit of a break to celebrate my 21stbirthday, but today it’s back to work and back to the daily grind! I have another outfit that is perfect for the workplace! I work in an office during the summer, so I am all about business casual outfits and outfits that are professional for the office. 

Cheesing because the sun is finally shining

Today’s outfit is more on the comfortable side of things, but still professional. Growing up, I wore khakis a lot, especially for school, hello uniform! When I went to college, khakis and I needed to take a break from each other, haha! However, khakis are coming back for outfits in the workplace. I got these khakis from Target, believe it or not. I had to borrow a pair of khakis from one of my friends when I was at school and I loved them so much, I bought a pair for myself. I don’t wear them every day, but they are durable, and everyone should have a pair in their wardrobe.

On this particular day that I wore this outfit, I had to run errands, so I opted for a cotton knit striped shirt from GAP as opposed to a blouse, I did however, have a cardigan since it can get chilly at work. 

I rounded off my outfit with my suede pumps from Shoe Carnival, I know, it’s May and they should be put away but it’s still chilly outside and I’m not ready to break out open toe shoes yet every day! Haha!

More than ready for summer!

That’s the full breakdown for this outfit, very simple and affordable. Most importantly, it can be worn in various jobs, whether you are teacher, working in an office or another place of business. Where would you wear this outfit? Have a beautiful weekend! Get off the computer and get outside!

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #104

LOTD

Hello All!

It’s Thursday, almost to the weekend. This week has been busy getting into a new summer routine, but the weather has been gorgeous and it’s starting to finally feel like summer. I’m looking forward to weekends spent outside and relaxing. This three day weekend will be the perfect time to kick off summer!

Today’s look of the day is perfect for a day at work. As much as I love neutral colors, I will never say no to a bold pop of color and that’s exactly what this outfit is all about. Everything from this outfit are all articles of clothing that I have had in my closet and paired them all together to create this look. 

This is one of my favorite t-shirt dresses for spring and summer, I got it from Marshall’s and I have talked about it a lot on here. I love being able to dress it up or down depending on the function. I decided to dress it up for work with this red blazer.

 I have had this red blazer for a few years and I wish I could tell you where I got it from, but I honestly forget. I typically wear it in the winter months, I have worn this jacket with black dress pants or a little black dress. I had never thought to wear it in the spring but it worked so well. I love how it really pops against the black and white stripes. 

I also decided to use a cherry red lipstick to complement the jacket. I don’t typically do a bold lip, but I felt it worked well with this outfit. 

Also, another favorite accessory is this new necklace…any Sex and the City fans out there?! We all know Carrie isn’t Carrie without her necklace. I found a website that you can get your own personalized Carrie necklaces and I love it. It reminds me of the strong and independent woman Carrie is and how we all should remember our worth.

Carrie’s own necklace
Got my own Carrie necklace

Lastly, I wore this dress sneakers to finish off the outfit. I got mine from Target, but they were very popular last year and I have seen them on display at many places so far this season. 

I love how this outfit came together, yes it took some extra time to match it all together, but I love the end result. I know I will be wearing this outfit again this season. 

What is your favorite bold color to add to an outfit? 

Have a wonderful and restful three day weekend!