It’s Thursday! Also known as TGIT!! Anyone else out there looking forward to the return of Grey’s tonight?! I know I am ready for all my fall shows to be back! This has been a busy but productive week! I’m looking forward to a fun weekend with little to no work. It is a well deserved weekend off. I hope you have something fun planned for this weekend!
Now, that it is officially finally fall…I hope the weather continues to cool off. This past week the weather varied from being hot to rainy and cool. I’m ready for some consistent weather. The outfit I am wearing today is perfect for getting ready for the fall weather while it is still warm out.
A mix of summer and fall
I am wearing this light tank top from Old Navy. I also have it in orange and I love to wear them both with shorts, jeans, or leggings like today. I love the contrasting colors between the blue and the black.
I am wearing a pair of black leather leggings. This also have a fun print on them which breaks up the black. I got these leggings from Target. These pants were a great addition to my outfit. Although, it was sunny outside it was only in the high 60’s so I stayed comfortable with these pants.
I matched my pants with these cute dress sneakers. I got them for summer but I have worm them a lot in the fall. As always, Target was my go-to for these fun shoes. They go perfect with jeans, shorts, and leggings…not to mention they are comfortable and stylish. What more could you ask for?!
I can’t wait to bring out my fall wardrobe and wear it full time and not just mix and match outfits. Until then I am going to soak up the last bit of sunshine before the cold weather hits.
Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had restful weekends! My weekend was pretty busy between homework, work, and the semester full underway, it was hectic to say the least. I am looking forward to this coming weekend as it will be filled with activities, family, and some R&R!
On today’s agenda, I wanted to share how I organize my phone and some of my favorite apps on my phone that make my life easier and more efficient. Now, as 20 year old, I do use social media a lot on my phone both for my blog and for my own personal use. However, I am just going to focus on apps, that make my life easier and more organized. This post is not sponsored or an advertisement, I’m just sharing what apps work best in my life and how I keep my phone organized.
What’s on my iPhone?
On the first screen, I keep most of my apps in their original place. I don’t like to move my apps around too much because I like to keep it simple and not complicated. My phone, safari, mail, music, messages, and notes are all near each other so I can access them easily.
First screen
On my second screen are the more speciality apps.
Second Screen
My first row are my apps for social media which include Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and the E News app where I get all the scoop from Hollywood. I use these every day even multiple times a day.
The second row are apps that I use that are clustered based on use. (minus pinterest- another form of social media but I ran out of room on the first row). My first cluster is for school. Outlook is great for collecting my school emails, GroupMe is so helpful for group messages, Schoology keeps all my assignments in one place, Cam Scanner is great for copying notes, and Remind is a great Reminder app.
School Apps
My second cluster is for work which include Linkedin, Facebook, and Messenger all used for work purposes not fun.
Work Apps
The last cluster is all the other apps that I don’t use all the time including Contacts, Stocks, Files, Compass, any other apps that I don’t use all the time.
Extra Apps
The third row includes my personal apps which include my online banking app, my Fitbit that tracks everything on my Fitbit, my Countdown app for important days, and Sprinkle of Jesus, a great app full of inspiration.
My last row includes three clusters.
The first for entertainment; which include Amazon Music and Video, Netflix, Pandora, and Podcasts, they are tucked away so I’m not distracted.
Entertainment Apps
My second cluster has my favorite shopping and food apps which include Apple Wallet, Amazon Prime, and Panera Bread and Chipotle, my favorite eateries.
Food and Shopping Apps
Lastly, photos and videos which includes Layout, VSCO, Followers, and Repost all important for blogging.
Photos and Video Apps
Now onto my favorite apps.
– Notes
Everyone with a smart phone has some kind of notes app and it is so helpful. I use my notes every day. I keep To-Do lists, Reminders, Movies that I want to watch, and Books I want to read, Passwords, and anything else I need to be accessible at all times. I use my notes all the time and it is so helpful to have it be synced with laptop and ipad to I have all my notes with me on any device. Notes keeps me on top of anything that gets thrown my way through the day.
– GroupMe
This is one of my most used apps. It is an app just for group messages. It is so helpful to keep all my group messages in one area and not mixed in with all my other personal messages. For my job at school, we use GroupMe to communicate fast and efficiently. GroupMe is also super helpful when it comes to group projects, work meetings, or just friends making plans. This app is free and can be found in the app store. Overall, GroupMe has made my life at school much more organized
– Sprinkle of Jesus
Not an organizational tool but this app sends you positive reminders and mantras throughout the day. Whenever, I need a pick me up, Sprinkle of Jesus is always there. Some of the quotes hit close to home. They also have great content too. This is free and found in the app store.
Whew, that’s a look into my phone and what apps Im totally hooked on. Also, I keep my background fairly simple so I’m not distracted with a busy background. What apps are you hooked on and what tips do you have when it comes to organizing your phone?
I hope you all have a had a good week. My week was very productive, and this weekend will be busy due to working this weekend. So, remember when I said I couldn’t wait for fall weather? Well, I got my wish. It has been so rainy and chilly that it definitely felt like fall, which I am very happy about. This outfit is perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. I love mixing a short sleeve top with jeans. I wore this outfit to class and then a dinner last week and I loved it so much I had to share it. You may recognize this outfit as it was one that I had planned ahead for. Planning my outfits have been so helpful especially on busy mornings.
A perfect outfit transitioning to fall
So, lets break this look down.
These are my favorite regular cut jeans from Old Navy. I love the cut and style and they are perfect for fall, since you can still wear a flat or cute shoe as well as a pair of peep toe boots. These suede saddle shoes are from GAP.I love not only the color but how light they are. They can be worn in spring, summer, and fall. I love shoes that can be worn in many seasons.
Lastly, this top is from Francesca’s Boutique. I have had it for a few years and always like to bring it out to change out my wardrobe. I love the detailing on the top. It truly makes it a fun piece of clothing to add to a pair of jeans. This top would also be great with dress pants for a day in the office.
This outfit was perfect for fall weather, when it’s cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon.
I can’t wait for fall weather to set in full time, until then I will continue to transitioning my outfits.
Have a great weekend and go out and enjoy this fall weather.
Boy, September is flying by. It started out super slow but now as I am making my way through the semester, time is going so fast. This semester has been the busiest by far for me. Between working a few jobs, classes, being involved, and hanging out with friends, I am always looking for ways to be more organized and save time to be more efficient. One thing that I have started to do this year is outfit prep. Fashion lovers out there will lover the double fashion post this week.
Laying out my clothes for the gym and for a new day the night before saves time and stress
From grades K-12, I always wore a uniform to school, so I never had to worry about what I was going to wear every day until I came to college. My first two years of college, I would just choose an outfit each morning but I often be rushed with figuring out an outfit with accessories.
A real peak into my closet at school. It’s much more organized than my closet at home, probably because I only have a quarter of the clothes I own here. Hahaha
This year, I decided to not only lay out my clothes the night before (like I did for many years in the past) but also plan out what I am going to wear for the full week. On Sunday’s I look at the weather for the week and choose outfits for the whole week along with shoes, accessories, and jackets. I had plenty of time on Sunday to plan my outfits and then hang them all up. The night before I just grab the outfit and lay it out for the next morning. I am not as rushed in the mornings getting ready now that I have this system in place. It is not only a time saver but it allows me to really think about what I want to wear each day.
One of my outfits I chose for wearing this week
Now, whether you have this time or not, even just by laying out your outfit the night before saves time in the morning. On Sunday it takes less than a half hour to plan all my outfits for the week.
Another outfit I chose for this week…you may see it coming soon
What time saving tactics do you include in your week?
Thursdays are my favorite day of the week…want to know why? Because the week is almost over and there is only one more day till the weekend. Speaking of the weekend, I am getting excited for the weekend with the help of this cute outfit. By this point, you all know how I love to mix and match outfits. I love to mix and match more than I like buying new stuff…almost. I love coming up with different looks and create new outfits with things I already have in my closet. Who doesn’t like to show off a new outfit without spending a penny?
Let’s get to the details.
All smiles for the weekend
Last week, I talked about transiting my wardrobe from summer to fall, although it is still very warm outside, I am starting to wear darker colors to start getting in the fall mood. The colors I chose for my outfit are burgundy and black, even though I am in shorts and a short sleeve shirt, it still felt like a good mix of fall and summer.
I got this Fri-Yay shirt from Francesca’s Boutique. It is such a staple in my closet especially on Fridays when I have plans for the weekend. This black top can go with any outfit whether it is jeans, shorts, or leggings. I’m obsessed.
These scalloped shorts are also from Francesca’s Boutique, I have worn them a lot of this summer and last summer and I loved how well they worked with this top. The colors blended so well.
There was a bit of a chill in the air so I wore this long black sweater to keep warm, and I love the fall(ish) look it added to my outfit. I got this sweater from Tilly’s.
For shoes, I put on my favorite black sneakers. I got mine from Target and wore them a lot this summer but I’m looking forward to wearing them in the fall even more. Not only are they comfortable but also stylish.
I don’t often post selfies, but I wanted to show off my burgundy choker and how it complements my shorts.
That’s the latest out I am wearing. I know it may seem crazy but I’m really looking forward to some cooler weather so I can really get into the fall mood.
I hope your week is off to a great start. These past few weeks have been busy but productive. I always feel the first weeks of school are all about getting into a new groove and routine! I think I have established a good routine that will help me this semester!
You may have noticed that I have been quiet about fitness on here for the past few months. I’ll let you in on a little secret…I didn’t work out for the entire summer and I survived. Yes, for the person who tries to workout 5 days a week during the school year, I didn’t hit the gym once and to be honest I was okay with that.
From my pervious posts, you guys know that I had a busy summer between my job and internship, so I wasn’t able to get to the gym as much as I would have wanted to. However, I still took walks at night, swam, and did physical activities outside like playing soccer with my siblings, or running around, so I was still active this summer…just not as much as I would have liked.
I tried to eat healthier in the summer but that isn’t always easy…I like to indulge myself, especially in the summer. Overall, this wasn’t the healthiest summer for me, but a lot of good things happened this summer so it was a good trade off.
I took three months off from the gym, so where does that leave me for this school year? Back in the gym 5 days a week of course! The first day of classes, I was in the gym at 7:00 am. It was so good to get back in the gym and start getting healthier in the gym. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard at first and I had to push myself the first week or so, but it was worth it.
30 minutes of cardio to start my day
This year I plan on changing up my routine in the gym by doing 30 minutes of cardio (either on the bike, treadmill, or elliptical machine), followed by 15 minutes of weight machines, and 15 minutes of free weights, and then a cool down. I have more time in the morning this semester, so I’m devoting more time to working out. I plan on using this same routine on the weekends too.
Strengthening my legs with the leg press
Also, I have learned that it can be hard to eat healthy as a college student when you have limited food options. I’ve been trying to incorporate more fruits and salads in my diet daily and less processed foods. We are only a few weeks in, so I’ll let you know how this plan works out.
Have you ever struggled after getting back in the gym after being away for so long? What pushed you to get back?
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE summer but once September hits, I can’t wait for fall. The only problem with that is even though it’s September, it’s still super warm where I live. Although, I want to break out all the flannels, jeans, and boots, its still 80 degrees outside. Haha! Therefore, I am still wearing shorts, t-shirts and summer styles of clothing for the next few weeks but don’t worry-my white is put away until next year. Haha!
With that being said, here is what I am wearing today.
Getting in all the summer outfits
I got this fun silk-like blouse from Old Navy a few years ago and I love to wear it with shorts (black or white), capris, or even a pair of jeans in cooler weather.
Since it reached mid-80’s today, I decided to wear a pair of black shorts from Old Navy with it. I chose black to darken the outfit a bit since we are getting closer to fall weather and moving away from summer weather.
There was a bit of a chill this morning, so I wore this fuchsia sweater over this spaghetti strap top. The pink sweater also brought out the pink accents in my top. Don’t be surprised but I also got this sweater from Old Navy...shocker right?! Haha!
To continue to transition this outfit to fall, I decided to wear these fun dressy sneakers with my outfit rather than a pair of sandals. I got mine for sale at Target.
Although the weather is still so nice, and I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can, I still try to try to transition my wardrobe. I transition in simple ways like by wearing darker colors, closed toe shoes, or adding sweaters or long sleeves or pants to my wardrobe.
I can’t wait for fall to be in full swing.
When do you start to transition your wardrobe from season to season?
Ahhh! A new school year. There is something special about fresh supplies, new classes, a full schedule and lots of new material to cover. I have always enjoyed school. I love learning new things and being in a school environment. Also, with a new school year also comes fall!
I started classes last week and although the first week seemed to drag on and take forever, I’m really looking forward to this semester. I am excited for the classes I am taking as well as the things I am learning. Of course, I would be lying if I wasn’t a bit nervous about the amount of work and papers that will need to get written in the next 15 weeks. I seriously get so overwhelmed putting everything on my calendar for the semester, but I always need to remind myself to take it day by day and who isn’t up for a challenge?
In honor of a new semester, here are some of my goals/plans/ hopes/dreams for this semester.
1) Work Ahead
With a busy semester full of classes and working, it will be crucial for me to work ahead and get stuff done early so I don’t have it hanging over my head when I have other things to do and commitments. I will have my calendar and planner to keep me on top of everything.
2) Be Intentional
This is something new I want to try. I am an organized person and I always try to be productive, but I want to be intentional with what I am doing. So, if I am working on a paper I want to focus just on that and not be distracted by other things I have to do. I want to spend my time well, so I can work hard and play hard, which leads me to my last goal.
3) Have fun
Although, this will be a busy semester and I have a lot going on, I still want to make it a point to have fun and hang out with friends. I have a few friends studying abroad and graduating in December, so I want to make it a point to create memories with them before things change.
I am hoping I can accomplish these goals this semester. I always like setting goals at the start of a new year or semester and see how I do at the end.
What are your goals for this semester or school year?
It’s officially back to school season as well as the last week of August. Boy, did the summer months fly by! I have to admit, with classes back in session, I am looking forward to fall. From the fall outfits, festivities, and warm treats I am ready to start transitioning to the fall season. I love all the seasons but the transition from one season to the next is my favorite.
Since there is only one more week left in August before Labor Day, I’m trying to wear white as much as I can. This outfit is perfect for one last summer event or heading to class if you are back to classes like me.
Wearing all the white I can before Labor Day
You may recognize this top and that’s because I have worn it before with this outfit. I love to try and find clothing that can be reborn in any season and this top is the perfect example of something that can be worn all year round. I love the material as well as the small striped pattern.
The top is dark so I decided to balance it out with these white shorts-one last hurrah before Labor Day-yes, I am a firm believer of not wearing white after Labor Day. I love how the two materials and colors balance each other out.The top is from Francesca’s and the bottoms are from Marshall’s, both from a few years back but still in great condition.
Lastly, to top of this fun outfit, I decided to wear my slip on fashionable sneakers. I got mine from Target for a great price. I love how I can wear them transitioning from summer to fall. I wanted to change it up to accommodate the warm weather instead of wearing sneakers or converse. These shoes are more dresses and not as casual. They are also supportive for walking around campus all day.
That’s a peak into what I am wearing this last week of August. With Labor Day coming up, what are your plans for the weekend? I’ll be at school relaxing and catching up on homework. Have a great weekend!
I started classes yesterday and it was so nice to get back into a routine!
In honor of the first week of school, I’m sharing the books I read this summer. My goal was to read 6 books and I exceeded my goal by reading 11 books! I feel very accomplished. Today, I’m going to share a small review for each book, now I am not an expert on book reviews but this is just a little something reflecting on what books I read and if I enjoyed them. Let’s get to it!
Perfectly Yourself- Matthew Kelly
This was such an inspirational book, it allowed me to reevaluate areas of my life that needed work. I would recommend getting your own copy and highlighting it or making notes. The biggest thing I took away from this was “Thriving Not Surviving”
Grade: A-
Who Do You Love-Jennifer Weiner
This was such a good book, it was about a boy and a girl who meet at different times all through their lives. There were some twists and turns but I loved the ending. It was a fast book to read and I was hooked throughout the whole reading. This was a favorite of mine this summer.
Grade: A
This is Me-Chrissy Metz
Any other This is Us fans out there?! I loved getting to learn more about my favorite actors and actresses. I love to learn about where they come from and how they go to where they are now. This was a very moving book and I love Chrissy even more now if that’s possible! I cant wait till season 3 of This Is Us is out!!
Grade: A-
Talking as Fast as I Can-Lauren Graham
This was such a fun and light read. I finished it in two sittings and laughed a lot. I love when writers get candid with their readers! Once again, I loved getting to learn more about Lauren Graham. Also, after finishing her book, I want to watch Gilmore Girls, I have never seen it before and I am very eager to watch it.
Grade: B+
The Nanny Diaries- Emma McLauglin and Nicola Kraus
I had high hopes for this book, it was a good book but it did have an unexpected ending. My heartstrings were pulled a lot while I was reading it. It told the story of a college student nannying for a young boy and all the responsibilities that come with it. It was a good story but wasn’t what I thought it would be.
Grade: B-
Happily Ali After- Ali Wentworth
This was a funny book, I really enjoyed it. I have seen Ali do comedy so it was great to read about her from her point of view. Although it was funny, she talked a lot about parenting and her children which was great but it was hard for me to relate too. I know mothers would really enjoy it, overall it was a light read.
Grade: B-
Paris: A Love Story- Kati Marton
This was such a good read. It was a true story about how a women has to move on after her husband’s death and find herself again. She tells her story starting from her childhood to present day. It was inspirational to see how she continues on after life without her husband. It was a heavy read but it was worth it.
Grade: A-
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?- Mindy Kailing
I love Mindy Kailing and I have read her other books. This book was so funny, raw, and honest! I felt like she was reading it too me. This is a perfect book for the young adult. It was super treatable and had a great message. It was a fun summer read.
Grade: B+
Love Letters of Great Men-John C. Kirkland
Any Sex and the City fans out there?! This is the book Carrie is reading in the first movie. I loved reading these beautifully written letters. It was a perfect read to break up a stressful day.
Plus you may recognize this page
Grade: B+
The Star Attraction- Alison Sweeney
I read this while on vacation and it was a fast. It’s all about a publicist in LA and how she balances work, her relationship, and herself. It was a chick flick read and although it was predictable, it was fun to read a different genre. I could see this being made into a movie if it isn’t already.
Grade: B+
Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey-Ed Sheeran and Phil Butah
I have always been a fan of Ed’s music so it was great to read about his journey. This pictures that accompained his words were beautiful. This was a quick read perfect for a day by the pool. Once again, I always like to learn more about people that I look up to or I am a fan of.
Grade: B+
Whew, that was a long one. Thanks to those who stuck through till the end! I read a lot in the summer, which I was so pleased about. Not sure how much reading I will get done in the school year but if I do get some reading in, I’ll be sure to review it. Do you like the reviews and would you want more of them? What books did you read this summer.
