So khaki pants and sweaters are pretty much what I reach for when I get up to get ready these (wintery) mornings. I love how sweaters look layered on top of a button down or polo shirt. Not only do I love this outfit, but ‘Mrs. O’Leary’s BBQ’ by O.P.I. (pictured to the left), is probably my absolute nail color of all time. I just had to show it off in this O.O.T.D.!
Okay, so I am all for spoiling the ones we love on Valentine’s Day, but if you’re a college student, like me, you’re probably not made of money. I like to keep an eye out for deals and sales as much as the next person; here are a few of my tips on how to save money this Valentine’s Day:
1. Decorations. Are you hosting a Valentine’s Day party or looking to make your dorm room a little more festive? A lot of people overlook stopping by Dollar Stores when it comes to buying decorations. You can get a lot of awesome decor (from themed table cloths, plates, and centerpieces, to window decals, bathroom hand towels, and plastic Champagne flutes) for very little cash! Check out other local vendors after Valentine’s Day is over, and you might be able to find some cool items on sale to decorate with next year.
2. Gifts. When it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts, it really is the thought and effort that counts. Valentine’s Day is a day to show your special someone how much you love and appreciate them…not how much money you can drop on a fancy piece of jewelry. In my opinion, a great Valentine’s Day gift would be something handmade! Pair your gift with a sentimental card and you’re good to go!
3. Dinner. You know what is just as romantic as getting dressed up and going out on a Valentine’s Day dinner date? Cooking your sweetie’s favorite meal, getting dressed up and staying in to eat. Now I know that might seem like a lot of work, but hear me out! By staying in you get to create the perfect atmosphere for your at-home date: set the scene with candles, that special occasion dish set, and your favorite music. Plus, you will save money and avoid the Valentine’s Day rush at restaurants.
4. Flowers. Women love to get flowers…especially on Valentine’s Day. While roses and Valentine’s Day pretty much go hand in hand, a bouquet of red roses can be pretty pricy! If you plan on getting your Valentine flowers, find out what specific kind she likes. Maybe she prefers a cheaper type of flower or even a potted plant!
Christmas is a joyous and special time of year. Celebrate hope, love, and charity on this holiday with important people in your life, like family and friends!
After I wore a hole in the bottom of my large Longchamp, I’ve been on a search for a new bag for school (can you tell my mind is on school starting back!?). I started looking seriously a couple weeks ago, and I swear I went through every single brown leather tote bag I could find on the Internet! I needed something that would be appropriate to take to class, work and my internship – and would fit my 15-inch MacBook Pro, planner, books and notebooks! Needless to say, this was not an easy search…I’ve looked at enough bags for one lifetime, I think. But after nitpicking literally every single one of them, I’m going to share with you my top picks (and the one I eventually bought) and the pros and cons of each.
The Legacy Tanner Tote from Coach was my top choice for a really long time. When I first saw it online, I actually really disliked it – then saw it in the store and fell in love. Online, I thought it was monstrously big, and in person, I thought it was the perfect size! I love that this bag is professional looking, but casual enough to be able to use around campus. My only problems with this bag was the price ($500!!) and the fact that the kind of leather would show imperfections pretty easily – but the price was ultimately what made me look for other options.
The Collection Brompton Hobo from J.Crew is a little bit more laid back than the Coach bag – which is good or bad, depending on how you look at it. I was looking for something with a little more structure, but with my laptop in it, the bag had a little more shape than it does in the picture. I was really surprised my computer even fit in this bag! There isn’t a ton of space for anything else after you put a computer in – but if you don’t carry much, it’s a good, more reasonably priced option ($298). One of the things that attracted me to this bag was the fact that it had a cross-body option, as well as top handles.
The entire time I was looking, I was keeping the classic Vineyard Vines tote in the back of my mind. I was more in the market for a leather bag, but I knew if I couldn’t find anything else, I could fall back on this bag – and with its inexpensive ($95), even if I ended up finding something I liked better, it would be a good piece to keep in my closet. My drawbacks on this one was that it was less appropriate to take to my internship and the canvas would show dirt really easily.
And finally the bag I ended up purchasing – the Crosby Shopper from Cole Haan! It was kind of a stroke of fate that I found this bag. I looked at Cole Haan’s website and scrolled right on by this bag. Then yesterday, I had a couple hours to kill and ended up at the mall, bag shopping. I found a bag I liked at Nordstrom, left to think about it and just wandered into Cole Haan and came upon this! This bag is seriously awesome – the shade of leather is exactly what I was looking for. And there’s so much room inside! The salesperson opened the bag, and my jaw actually dropped. I can fit my laptop, planner, book, sunglasses case, wallet, EVERYTHING in there, and there’s still so much space left (perfect since I swear I get more stuff over the course of every day!). At $350, it’s reasonably priced for a bag I intend on using for at least two more years.
I know, I know…it’s the middle of summer and the last thing on your mind is probably going back to school. But here’s the thing: it’s actually not that far away. I’ll be moving to my apartment for the upcoming school year in less than 10 days, which means classes aren’t far behind. Plus, back to school is my favorite time of the year – buying new school supplies, decorating dorm rooms, I love it all. As I’ve been planning how I want to decorate my room this year, I have inevitably turned to Pinterest (it’s an addiction, isn’t it?). I’ve finished a few projects and have even more than I need to find the time to try. Be sure to click on each of the pictures to be led to the pin.
This was my first Pinterest project of the summer – painting corkboards to go above my desk. The hardest part of the project was measuring out the stripes – I would not be able to deal if they were uneven and I’m not a math major for a reason. But they turned out AWESOME and I can’t wait to hang them up! You can see my Instagram photo of my final product here!
These metallic cork coasters were my second project of the summer – obviously I bought cork in bulk at A.C. Moore this month. The coasters were very easy to make. I traced circles on a sheet of cork with a bug mug, instead of purchasing pre-cut coasters. After that, all you have to do is draw on them with a silver paint pen! These coasters are going to be absolutely adorable in my apartment.
And finally, one project I’m planning for the coming weeks. Somehow, from my time spent living in a dorm, I have ended up with way more Sterlite drawers than any one person really needs. They’re really functional, but not always the prettiest thing. So, attaching scrapbook paper (whether with Modge Podge or just Scotch tape!) to the inside of the drawers is a great way to make them look better!
What Pinterest crafts have you tried out this summer?!
This summer, I’m spending most of my days sitting in an office. If you’re lucky enough to have a job or internship this summer, your days are probably spent a lot like mine – pining to be outside in the nice weather, at the pool, anywhere but sitting at that desk for a minute longer. My summer plans ended up taking me to my university’s newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, as the copy desk editor for the summer and 2012-13 school year. Luckily for me, working at The Daily Tar Heel means I can show up to work most days in Nike running shorts and a T-shirt and nobody blinks. But, if you’ve got a major internship or job this summer, you’re probably spending your early mornings wishing you didn’t have to look quite so professional every day. The good news is that looking professional for this summer’s job or internship doesn’t mean you have to look boring.
Save the money you’re making this summer! Reuse pieces you bought in previous seasons and incorporate them with less-expensive, trendier pieces from this season. Buy a skirt, like this $80 green mini from J.Crew, with a white oxford shirt already in your closet and a statement necklace.
Summer lovin’ had me a blast…now I have that song stuck in my head….
When I was thinking about what to post this week, my mind kept traveling to summer vacation since I’ll be done with finals in a week. And then I thought about summer dates. Unfortunately, when we both go home, my boyfriend lives 2+ hours away. But it’s only more inspiration to make the time we spend together this summer really fun (also, lucky for me, he lives on the summer paradise that is Cape Cod!). Summer is a great time to catch up with friends and family that you missed all year while you were at school, but it’s also the perfect time to go on some really great dates.
Whether it’s your summer fling or a long-term romance, these are all great ideas that will have you laughing and having fun together!
Image via sf.funcheap.com
1. The drive-in. This is a date that I tied this past weekend, and it was a BLAST! It’s perfect solo or for double or group dates. Usually they charge per car, and it’s not that expensive. The old school feel is a great bonus, and definitely ads to the fun. Also, going to the drive-in means you get to see a double feature. Definitely a bonus! My recommendation? If you don’t have a trunk you can open up and lounge in, bring some lawn chairs, load up on blankets and bring plenty of yummy snacks. The one thing I didn’t like was that because of the double feature, you’ll get out LATE…like 1AM late. So definitely stock up on caffeine too. Visit driveinmovie.com to find one near you!
image via bleacherreport.com
2. Baseball. During the summer, I work at a minor league ballpark and it seriously is one of the best parts of the season. I have so much fun just working there, and I know from when I was younger that the games are a blast for the fans too. I can only imagine that it would be an awesome place to take a date. There are a bunch of minor league teams across the country, and it’s usually an affordable alternative to seeing the big leaguers. Plus, there’s usually some awesome promotions and giveaways, so I suggest checking the calendar to see what’s in store before you go.
inage via weheartit.com
3. The beach. This one is pretty much a no-brainer. Grab some towels, fill up a few water bottles, lather up in SPF, and don’t forget your bathing suit! There are so many things at the beach that can make a date fun: swimming, building sand castles, or playing games like frisbee, corn hole, and ladder ball. Or, even just going for a romantic walk along the shore. Swoon. Seriously, the beach can’t be beat.
These are just a few ideas, but there are literally tons more. Maybe I’ll include a part two later in the summer!
Have you been on any spectacular summer dates? Leave it in the comments!
I think the best thing about springtime is all of the cute outfits. My friend Jackie stopped by my house this morning, and I loved her look so much that I asked her to pose for an OOTD picture LOVE the red pants!
On Jackie:
Capris: Old Navy
Top: Francesca’s Collections
Sweater: American Eagle Outfitters
Flip-Flops: Francesca’s Collections.
I’m a huge fan of colored pants right now, but I’m so scared to try them!! I was out shopping yesterday, and in literally every store I went into there were colored jeans or khakis. Bold primary colors, pastels, neons…every type of color was represented. And I saw them everywhere, from American Eagle to Forever 21 to even Ann Taylor! I think I’m going to have to buck up and try this trend soon, because it looks like so much fun! We’ll have to see what happens.
This outfit is something that I wore earlier this week to my Student Government meeting at school. I’m so excited that I can wear skirts again! Skirts or shorts with a sweater=my spring/summer uniform.
What I’m Wearing:
Sweater: Gap
Skirt: J.Crew (it’s seersucker!!)
Skinny belt: Ann Taylor
Sandals: Jack Rogers
Misc: pearl necklace and earrings, J.Crew tortoise shell headband, Michael Kors watch, signet and claddagh rings.
Do you have any cute spring outfits? Comment below! I’d love to do a feature on what readers are wearing!
Who’s ridiculously excited that Gossip Girl is back? I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know I’ve been going crazy without my weekly dose of the Upper East Side for the past month or so…I’ll refrain from posting spoilers from last night’s episode (mostly because I don’t have a TV and I haven’t gotten around to watching it online yet), but I’m beyond thrilled that it’s returned. And as any good preppy girl knows, Blair Waldorf’s style is always impeccable and worthy of replicating. In terms of Blair Waldorf, here’s the essential items you need to feel like you’ve just stepped out of the Upper East Side.
Overstated headbands. It’s easier to find crazy headbands for little girls, like this organza flower headband from crewcuts. But you can make your own by taking a plain headband and attaching something like a flower pin or hairclip to it.
Bright colored heels. Blair is never spotted without cute shoes, of course. Bright colors such as turquoise and bright floral patterns are a great way to channel Blair through your footwear this spring.
Basic blazers. In her Constance Prep days, blazers were a staple of Blair’s wardrobe on the show. Blazers are a great “in between” piece for spring weather. A bright pink blazer would perk up any outfit, or keep it classic with a more understated piece.
Cool sundresses. The summer episodes of Gossip Girl are filled with great styles that aren’t often seen throughout the rest of the season, and Blair is often wearing floral sundresses. Now that the weather is getting warmer, it’s the perfect opportunity to break out looser sundresses in fun patterns.
LOVE the red pants!
