Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #46

LOTD

Hello All!

Happy April!

I hope your April’s are all off to a good start. I am back to school for the last leg of the semester. This semester and year has flown by!  My April is jammed packed, if I survive this month, I think I can tackle anything. Haha.

Today, I am sharing the outfit I wore on Easter. I spent my Easter Sunday by attending mass and spending time with family. I couldn’t have asked for a better day.  I think Spring is finally upon on, I wanted to get in the spirit with this bold print floral dress. I don’t often wear these colors, but I saw the dress a few years ago and couldn’t resist.

I actually purchased this dress two years ago from Nordstrom’s . Unfortunately, it is no longer in stock.  I wore it for my high school Baccalaureate Mass. It was held at the end of the year and I love the bright colors. I love to buy things that are very good quality so i can wear them on numerous occasions especially as I will be heading into the real world soon. I love the dark blues and greens, but I love the pop of yellow even more. I decided to bring out the yellow with these light-yellow heels from Kelly and Katie, I got them at DSW a few years ago as well. I added some simple but classic to go along with the dress and shoes.

I don’t often wear bold dresses like this, but I decided to change up my look for Easter. I often choose to wear simple colors and add bold jewelry or accessories as my statement pieces. Today, however, my dress was my statement piece.

I can’t wait for Spring to get fully underway for all things spring fashion. What trends are you looking forward to this spring/summer season?

Also, I will be out of town this weekend, to follow along with my adventures, check out my Instagram for all things travel @elspethsdaybyday

See you next week!!

Categories
Fabulous living

Let’s Get Real: Homesickness

Hello All!

Today’s post is going to be a bit more on the serious side. Besides, showing you the latest trends and how to organize areas in your home, I like to be real and honest about what life as a college students is truly like. So, we are getting real about homesickness. What a fun topic for a Tuesday. In all seriousness, let’s get real.

Before I started college, almost two years ago, I was worried about being homesick. Many family and friends had assured me I would be so busy I wouldn’t be able to get homesick, or it would go away after a month, someone had even told me that by Fall break I wouldn’t even want to come home because I would be loving school so much.

They were all wrong.

Yes, I was enjoying school, and I was making friends and I was most certainly busy, but that didn’t change the fact that I was homesick. There would be times when I was lonely, or I craved a homecooked meal or I wished I was back in my own room. But, I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying college life. Christmas rolled around, and I was told that I wouldn’t want to be home for a whole month and I would soon get bored and I would be thrilled when I could go back to school.

Nope, it was still hard going back.

Spring semester brought more hope and more experiences. But I still had my moments of weakness and some tears. Once May rolled around, I was so proud of myself for making it through a full year. I thought, if I could accomplish that I could do anything.

A few months later, Year Two rolled around. It brought new experiences, new friends, new challenges and new beginnings. I didn’t get homesick as much, mostly when I was getting dropped off from being back home from a break. I had gotten used to falling back into my routines at home, it was hard to get adjusted back at school. There were times when I was overwhelmed and stressed and wanted a break from school and just to be home, but I had to push through. That’s the thing about homesickness, you can take a bad situation and make it better.

How can you handle those moments of weakness and homesickness?

  • Have a good cry (yes, we all need a good cry to let ourselves go and feel all our emotions that we keep buried deep within.)
  • Take that time to be alone but not too long, make plans to go out with a friend to grab dinner or go to study.
  • Share how you are feeling. It may be uncomfortable, but who knows you may find someone who feels the same way and doesn’t know who to talk to about it. You can be there to help each other through it.

Homesickness is different for everyone, others don’t have it all, some only have it until their first fall break, but for few like myself, it never goes away. As I close on my second year of college, I still have my moments where I am homesick. I don’t let that dictate my life. I push through the pain, sometimes I cry, sometimes I watch my latest binge show, sometimes a phone call homes helps. But, I carry on, and I keep on living life. As i look back on the past two years, I don’t remember being homesick or sad but rather the joy, the laughter, and the memories that came with friends and family.

Whether you are a first-time college student leaving home for the first time or you are gearing up to start your first job in the new world, we all miss home, it just means you feel so much love from home that it’s hard to be without it.

Until next time,

Elspeth

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #45

LOTD

Happy (Holy) Thursday!

I am home for a long weekend for Easter Break. Not only is it a time to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection, but It’s great to be home for one last long weekend to refuel for the end of the semester.

Last weekend, I had a semi-formal dance at school, it was an exciting time to dress up and have a good night with friends. I am sharing what I wore along with the accessories. Unfortunately, I got this dress a few years ago, so it’s not sold anymore but hopefully, this inspires you to try a new bold look the next time you are shopping.

Throughout high school, I attended all my homecomings, proms, and semi-formals. I loved getting dressed up for a night with friends to make memories. However, it can add up with everything you need, and most of the time you only wear the dress once and it goes up in your closet. Lucky for me, for every formal or semi-formal occasion I have had in college, I was able to rewear something I wore in high school. This saved me money from buying new dresses, and it allowed me to wear the dresses I wore in high school again. Thankfully, dresses I wore in high school still fit and are in style.

FRI-YAY night out

Now, let’s get down to the details of this dress. I got this dress from Francesca’s Boutique a few years ago on sale! I was drawn to it’s bright color and how fun it looked. The ruffles made the dress so unique. At the time in high school and last semester, I was rewatching Gossip Girl (definitely a good show to binge watch!) and I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between my dress and the iconic dress Blair Waldorf wore in Paris in season 4.

The kinda look similar, right!?
Up close of the dress, shoes, and nail polish

I paired this bright red dress with a pair of red heels I got from DSW this past year. I wore them with a black dress for Christmas, and the red from my dress matched the red shoes so I had to pair them together. I dressed up this look with some fake diamond studs to add some bling to the outfit along with a red sparkle nail polish, it is called Pretty Pout from Chrome Girl Nails.

Nails- a red sparkle from Chrome Girl Nails

I used the KoKo Kollection face palette from Kylie Cosmetics along with the Burgundy Eye Shadow palette for my makeup.

Eye Shadow
Face Palette

When I first saw this dress a few years ago, I wasn’t sure I would like the dress since it was very bright and bold, but now it is one of my favorite dresses. Don’t be afraid to wear something that is bold. You may end up loving it.

If you celebrate Easter, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter with your family, if you don’t have a  great weekend!

Categories
Travel

Spring Break Experience

Hi friends and Happy Tuesday!

I have something new and special planned for the blog today. Although, I spent Spring Break at home and relaxing, many of my friends traveled to places near and far. Some for school, others for pleasure.

Shay and I

My best friend Shalyn (who I may have mentioned once or twice) traveled to Chile over Spring Break for a class and she agreed to share a bit about her trip on my blog. Take it away Shay!

 

“Hey everyone! Guest blogger Shalyn Vukich here! I’m a Communication and Spanish major, so Chile was the perfect opportunity for some practice!

When college students hear the phrase: SPRING BREAK, they rejoice because of everything commonly associated with spring break like warm weather, beaches, or if you’re like me, vegging out on the couch with Netflix. 😜

Spring break is supposed to be a glorious time of no stress and no responsibilities, so why on Earth did I spend mine doing schoolwork?

Okay, before you start judging me, let me explain. I have never been a fan of science, but lucky me, I chose a liberal arts college that requires 8 science credits. Yippee. Thankfully, I discovered an option that would let me fulfill 4 credits through an online environmental sustainability class and a trip over spring break. Sign me up!

Although I was not very enthusiastic about giving up my beloved Netflix time to spend a week with a professor and a couple strangers, I was beyond thrilled for a new adventure. I spent my spring break soaking up the sunny skies of Chile. Yes, that’s right – Chile – as in South America!

I visited both the capital city of Santiago and the popular tourist destination Valparaiso and Viña del Mar (popular because of AMAZING beaches!).

My favorite part of the trip was the last night. We had dinner at an Easter Island themed restaurant (fun fact: Easter Island is Chilean property), and we were treated not only to dinner but also to a cultural show. At the end of the night, I got pulled on stage to bring out my inner Shakira and prove that hips really don’t lie! After dinner and the show ended, we took the stage and danced alongside native Chileans to a mixture of Spanish and American music. It was a blast!

Aside from a quick vacation to Mexico, this was really my first time being immersed in a Spanish-speaking country. Next spring I’ll be studying abroad in Spain to really put my skills to the test. I can’t wait!

I could go on and on about this trip, but a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Why tell you about Chile, when I can show you?!

An empanada, a popular Chilean dish.

Check out these views!!
Fun Fact: Chile is actually the birthplace of the llamas.
I see, You see, we all see sea lions!
Bienvenidos a Vina del Mar!
The colorful coast side town of Valparaiso
Santiago

I hope these pictures have shown that:

1)  Chile is a beautiful country and a must see.

2) Try  to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way like I did. Why sit inside a classroom listening to a professor drone on and on about something when you can get out there and discover that experience firsthand?

I promise you won’t regret taking chances like these!

Adventure is out there. You just need to find it.”

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #44

LOTD

Hello and happy Thursday!

Today’s look of the day is giving me major Olivia Pope vibes. Any Scandal fans out there?! So crazy to think we are in the last season with only a few episodes left.

What a boss!!!

Okay, enough about tv, it’s back to fashion.  I had a busy day last week with a few meetings thrown into the schedule, so I needed an outfit that was professional, comfortable, and warm. After spending a good 10 minutes going through my clothes, I put something together that fit the criteria.

Perfect outfit for any professional.

I am wearing my favorite faux leather leggings from Target, which you wouldn’t even guess they were leggings by the look of them. I have had them for a few years and I haven’t had any trouble with them so far.

I paired them with my favorite and most comfortable suede wedges. I have been wearing these nonstop this season. I love how they are so versatile and can go with so many of my outfits. I got them on sale from Shoe Carnival last year and have been very happy with their quality.

I wore a long sleeve black top from GAP for my top although, with my scarf and blazer you couldn’t see it. I love GAP and Old Navy’s clothing especially their solid tees. I stock up on them when they are on sale. You can never have too many black or white long and short sleeve shirts.

Speaking of Old Navy, I got this scarf from there a few years ago, I have worn it with dresses, skirts, and even jeans. I love the neutral colors and pattern.

My blazer is my favorite part of my outfit. I got it on sale from Marshalls, a few years ago. Marshalls and T. J Maxx are go-to stores for me. I love the variety of clothes they have, and you can’t beat their markdowns, they are always having sales. I finished off my outfit with simple gold jewelry.

I do love pops of color, but sometimes, you just have to go with the simple, and neutral colors. I hope this showed you, that you don’t have to break the bank to look nice and professional AND, don’t be afraid to mix and match clothes.

Have a great weekend.

Categories
Fabulous living

DIY Dorm Decor

Hi friends!

I’ve got something fun planned for today. Like any college student, money is tight for me and Pinterest always tempts me to try new things.

I have two fun DIY crafts for your dorm room, apartment or home. I’m also collaborating on these crafts with my good friend, Olivia. We met through our job and classes and I’m so glad I got close to her this year. Give her blog Liv Simple a read for all things from fashion to college living. After you are done reading my blog, head over to hers to see how she put her own creative spin on these DIY crafts.

Now, onto the DIY part. The worst thing that can happen to any college student (or adult) is to lose their keys. Now, we can always say we are going to put our keys on our desk or in our purse, or even buy a plastic command hook to stick them on. But, let’s be honest, dorm rooms are kinda sterile if you don’t have decorations. So why not kill two birds with one stone and make a place to hold you keys and have it decorative. I made this cute key hook for $11!!! And here’s how you can too.

First, I got all these supplies from Michael’s Craft Store, but I’m sure you can find them or similar ones at your local craft store. I got paint, a hook, and wooden decorative pieces to make my key hook more fashionable. I spent a while on Pinterest finding what I wanted to do, but once I did I was happy with it.

Here’s your materials: a hook with a plaque (already assembled), paint, a wooden letter, and some other decorations,
Plan out how you want your key hook to look, play around with it before you paint it.
Now, comes the fun part. Paint it. Choose colors that will go nice in your room. My room is turquoise with black and white so the colors were easy to choose. Having a hard time deciding colors? You can never go wrong with neutrals.
After I let them dry over night, I assembled them the next day using a hot glue gun, wood glue would also work.
The finished product

Now onto DIY craft number 2. I am a huge fan of candles, I love how they can change to mood of a room but unfortunately, they are not allowed in my dorm building. This is a great alternative to making it feel you have a candle burning with worrying about the fire. Also, not a fan of the smells but love the look of a candle, this is another great idea. Olivia found these mason jars at Pat Catans and they were on sale for $1!!! Buy some tealights from any craft or home goods store and pop them in to the mason jar. Another inexpensive way to decorate a room. When you turn the tealight on, it will make you feel like you are burning a candle when you aren’t at all. These could go in your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, even living room, where ever  you like to put your candles. This is another inexpensive way to make your dorm, apartment, or house a bit more cozy.

You can style it on your desk
Here it is all lit up at night

These are two inexpensive and DIY ways to make your dwelling more cozy and functional. Overall, a Pinterest success. Have you had any Pinterest successes or fails!?

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #43

LOTD

Happy Thursday! Another week is almost in the books. It’s crazy to think we are almost through March.

Today’s look of the day is a bit more formal. While I was home for Spring break, I went out for the night. I wanted something that was dressy but still warm since we were hit once again with snow. This outfit not only works for a night out but for Sunday mass, or even a day in the office.

Outfit for a night out!

I got this blue top with gold and silver designs from Francesca’ s Boutique a few years ago. I usually wear it with dress pants or a skirt, I have worn it with jeans, but I like to wear it more formally and dressed up.

I got these blue dress pants from The Limited. I got them a few years ago and they have worked out great for dress pants. Their navy-blue color makes them easy to pair with other tops. They are also superior quality, so I know I cam depend on having them for a while.

I wore a pair of nude patent leather heels to top off the outfit. I got them from  DSW a few years back. I strongly recommend that every woman own a pair of nude shoes, whether they be flats, heels or wedges. They are a must have in any wardrobe. They can go with any outfit and are very versatile. I have worn these heels with homecoming dresses, skirts, dress pants, and in every season. Plus, they are super comfortable. Win-Win!!

I made the decision to change up my hairstyle for Spring. I’ve been having fun trying new styles and dos with shorter hair. If you have any suggestions for short hair, please let me know!

That’s a look into my latest fashion trends. With spring around the corner, what trends are you looking forward to seeing this season? Have a great weekend (and a safe St. Patrick’s Day!) !!!

Categories
Fun Ways to Organize

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks

It’s out with the old and in with the new. Spring is upon us which means Spring Cleaning is right around the corner. Throughout the year, I have been reading Emily Ley’s Simplified Life. It discusses straightforward ways to simplify our homes, families, and lives. Whether you love to organize like myself or don’t even know where to begin when it comes to organizing, this book is for you. When it comes to spring cleaning, you have the power to do as much or as little as you please. For example, I do it little by little when my schedule allows, some others like to get it all done in one day, choose a method that works best for you. Work at your own pace. Here are three easy tricks I have found when it comes to Spring Cleaning and organizing.

  • Clothes
I saw this on pinterest and I couldn’t resist…such great advice.

We all love our clothes and sometimes have a hard time getting rid of things. Since I am in college, it doesn’t hurt to have two closets, one at school and one at home=double the closet space. Haha! Our style should reflect out personality so when we have things in our closest that we don’t like or wear, it’s a waste of space. I make my decision to get rid or donate clothes based on: if I have worn it in the last year, if I feel good in it, and how its quality is. If I have a shirt that is stretched out and stained, then it’s in the trash. If I have dress that I haven’t worn in two years, then its donated. If I half 10 t shirts from high school, I try and weed out which ones I really need and want to keep. I keep this criteria in mind so I can make decisions fast and efficiently.

  • Work Space
Love this motto for organizers and non organizers

Whether it’s a desk in our bedrooms, home office, or work office, our work space is crucial. At school I only have the essentials in/ on my desk. That includes my blotter calendar, writing utensils, post it notes and important papers. I work my best in a clean and organized space so having a clean desk is crucial for me. We all love to see the cute and matching accessories you can get for your desk from Staples or Target but don’t let decorations take away from your desk. Remember, a desk is your place to work, not just another shelf.

  • Clutter
A tidy room is a goal we all can work towards

We all have things in our homes that we don’t have a home for. Or we got something that we don’t need now but we will need in the future. Does that sound familiar? I always like to hold onto things that don’t have a purpose at the moment (or ever). For example, I got mailed a care package a few months ago, yet I still have the box… now I don’t have plans to use it, but I will need it…right?! Wrong! Why hold onto something that has no purpose in your life?! If you don’t use it, toss it.

These tips have helped me make my life more organized and simplistic. Give them a try, if they work, great. If not, try something new. Have a great rest of your week.

Categories
Fashion

Look of the Day #42

Happy March!

Spring Vibes here on out!

Although, it may not be acting like Spring yet, I’m going to start transitioning my clothes from winter to spring. This is always the hardest part of the year, its cold in the mornings but warm in the afternoon. Its always so hard to plan ahead.  This outfit I have planned for today is perfect for chillier temperatures by giving off Spring vibes.

I love to layer my clothes and this outfit is no exception. Changing it up, I am going to start from the top and work my way down. I am a fan of GAP and their shirts. I am a sucker for long sleeves and stripes, so when I saw this on sale, I had to get it. This preppy pink is my favorite shade of pink and I love how it contrast against the gray.

I wore this thin blue vest from Francesca’s Boutique, this has been a staple in my wardrobe this year. I have mixed and matched it with so many outfits. The vest is versatile, so you can dress it up or down. For example, I dressed it down with jeggings today. The blue vest matches my blue jeggings excellent. I got these jeggings from Target. I try to stick with jeans but sometimes you have those long days where jeggings are necessary.

I wore my favorite shoe boots to top off the outfit. I wore simple gold jewelry to dress up my outfit. I typically wear a pair of gold studs and my birthstone necklace unless I have something else picked out. My go-to hair style is a simple high pony tail. It’s up and out of my face which is how I work best.

That’s a look into my closet for today. What are you most looking forward to for Spring?

Categories
Fabulous living

A Day in the Life (2/28/18)

Hello All!

I hope your Tuesday is off to a great start. I’m on Spring break this week, so I’m taking full advantage of resting, relaxing and being home.

Last semester I shared a look into my life as a college student, with a new semester and schedule, I’m sharing an updated look at a day in the life. Last Wednesday, I documented my day and here’s a sneak peak into a “typical day”

I start my day at 6:15, bright and early.
I head to the gym around 6:50. This was the sky as I walked to the gym. It’s always so quiet and peaceful in the early morning.
This is my playlist at the gym. This best of the 80’s playlist has been on repeat for early mornings at the gym. Thank you Amazon Music.
After I got back from the gym I ate some trail mix and milk for breakfast.
After I ate, I did some journaling and did a daily Lenten reflection. I always try to set aside some time every day for prayer and reflection.
I did some work and reviewing for a few midterms I had this week before class.
I am currently binge watching Parks and Rec in my free time,so While I was getting ready< i got a quick episode in.
Outfit for this Spring-ish weather.
Heading to class at 10:00, nothing but blue skies this last day of February.
My first class was Digital Media, a video production and editing class.
At 11:30, I headed to Music Appreciation, where I had a midterm.
I grabbed a quick lunch with my friend Shay, and I forgot to snap a picture. After lunch, I headed back to my dorm to get some work done before my afternoon classes.
Taking notes and working ahead for a few classes in between classes.
I headed to Advertising Strategies at 3:00 for class, we worked on updating resumes in class.
After class ended at 4:15, I headed to the library to get some reading and notes done before dinner.
Dinner with my bestie, Shay! It was mac and cheese night which is a favorite. Fun Fact: we saw each other in the gym at 7 am, in class, at lunch, and dinner. This is why she is my unofficial roommate.
After dinner, It was homework time. Editing papers, reading, and preparing for class tomorrow.
After showering and getting ready for tomorrow. I chose to unwind by watching Seal Team at the end of the day.
Heading to bed, or so I thought…turns out 30 minutes later, the fire alarm went off since someone burnt something. After spending 30 minutes outside it was time to head back in and back to bed. So much for a typical day!

And there you have it, that’s a day in the life. No day is ever normal as you can tell by the things that can thrown at me throughout the day. I hope you enjoyed a peak into the day in the life of a college student. See you on Thursday!