February 27, 2015

Friday Finds

Well... I'm smack dab in the middle of midterms.  This week I had 3 tests, and next week I have 4 more, a project, and a presentation! Oy.  I will probably not be leaving the library if I'm being honest. My parents are also coming into town for the weekend, which I am really excited about, but it was definitely poor planning on my part because of all the work I have!

Onto my finds...


Oscars Photo Booth



Can we take a moment to talk about the Oscars "photo" booth??? One of the most gorgeous photo booths ever, if you can even call it that.  I saw this picture of Jennifer Anniston and just about died, it's so gorgeous.  It's so cool that it was taken at the afterparty and not in a full on photo shoot.

THE Dress 
I logged onto Facebook last night and saw a girl posted a picture of this dress and asked "What color is this dress?", I thought "hey, that's stupid. it's obviously white and gold" and kept on browsing the internet.  Then, I get to twitter and see that someone else has posted a picture of the dress, but this time it's blue and black! So, I went back to the original Facebook post I saw, and IT CHANGED COLOR.  I was so freaked out so I did a little research, and apparently this dress has BLOWN UP over the internet.  Blue and Black? White and Gold? The Debate of the night.  I'm sure if you were anywhere near social media last night you've seen this for yourself.  So, what color is the dress to you?



February 26, 2015

Tips on Posting Consistently



When I first started my blog, I posted very randomly.  There would be a post and then nothing for a month and a half.  Earlier this year, I decided that I wanted to change that, and I would try and post everyday (Monday through Friday), and I'm very happy that I've been able to accomplish that goal, but it hasn't always been easy.  Sometimes it feels like I have nothing to write about, and I sit with writers block for a few hours before something comes to me, or I have so much work that I feel like I might not be able to balance it all.

I've come to a method that works really well for me to have my blog posts planned out ahead of time so that I'm ready to post them each day!

One // Find Inspiration
Reading can be the best way to find inspiration for blog posts.  Whether it's a magazine, buzzfeed, or another blog, reading someone else's work can be great at sparking ideas for your own! (Though it is important to make sure there ideas are your own).

Two // Brain Storm
When I have a spare few moments I sit down with my computer and open up blogger.  If something comes to my mind I'll open up a new post and title it.  If I have some specific ideas I'll jot them down in the post before scheduling it and saving it.  That way, I have an idea for a post on that day and can go back to it later.  I usually have a weeks worth of posts scheduled at a time.  Some are completed while others are just a title!

Three // Back Up Posts
I have a few posts that I have in my drafts on blogger that could be posted at any time.  I hate to say it but these posts are sort of fillers.  Unlike a "Friday Finds" or "Spring Break Essentials" type of posts, these don't have to do with a specific date so they can be posted at any time.  Having a bank of a few safety posts is really helpful in the situations where you either forget to draft up a post or realize that you never wrote anything past the title (I'm guilty of doing this sometimes!)

Four // Weekly Posts
Having a series that goes up weekly can be really nice when it comes to posting consistently.  For example, on my blog I have "Friday Finds".  It's nice to have these posts to rely on to share some things I've found over the week that want to share, but also so that I know each week what one of my five posts will be.

Five // Take a Break
Don't push yourself to crank out a ton of blog posts all at one time.  If you're not feeling inspired, then you won't produce great content.  Taking breaks and doing something fun can bring your greatest ideas, so don't sweat it if you are having writers block!

Have any other tips? Leave them in a comment! 

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February 25, 2015

Deciding on a Major

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to study business.  It's just what I always expected to do.  I'd hear stories of people changing their major five times before graduating and I always thought "hey that won't be me because I want to study business".  Well, I don't want to study business anymore.  Last semester I took mostly business prerequisite courses (in addition to the courses required by my school).  I was only thinking business because that's all I really knew.  I didn't know what other majors were out there, until this semester.

Since coming to my school, I knew I would be interested in the Fashion Media program.  I thought maybe I would pick it up as a minor, or a double major with business.  I am currently taking the first course in the program: Fashion, Media, and Culture.  I absolutely love this class.  So far we've been learning about the history of fashion and are now up to the 1940s.  It made me realize how much I hate learning about economics in my prerequisite course.

This got me thinking of what else was out there.  I started doing more research and I realized that the Fashion Media major was everything I was looking for.  Taking classes in Journalism, Photography and Visual Culture seemed so much more interesting than Economics, Statistics, and Accounting.  I realized that if I didn't feel excited to go to class now, would I ever be excited in a job in that field later on?

Since then, I've looked into majors in Journalism, Graphic Design, and Advertising, and I can't wait to see where my research and coursework takes me.  It's so awakening to realize that I don't have to major in Business just because that's what I thought I would want to major in.  There's so much out there that I haven't even discovered yet and this is just the start.  I can't wait to find something I love and be proud to call it my major.


February 24, 2015

10 Timeless Prom Dresses

While looking for prom dresses my Junior and Senior year of high school I was completely frustrated when I was constantly searching through over bedazzled dresses with insane cut outs.  I wanted something classic and mature, but every time I typed in "Prom Dress" to my google search, that's not what came up.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to this problem.  Jeweled dresses are nice, but there's a point where it can become just a little too much.  Even though I'm not looking for a dress this year,  I wanted to share a few of my picks that are available in stores now.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

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February 23, 2015

Lately on Instagram

Happy Monday folks! This week is going to be a tough one for me as it's the beginning of midterm season (oh yay...).  Thankfully spring break is in two weeks or I don't know how I would get through it.  My favorite procrastination activity is taking and editing pictures for my instagram, so while I've been studying recently I've been catching myself playing on VSCOcam or Afterlight.  It's been a few weeks since my last instagram update on here so I thought I'd share a few of the photos I've snapped recently!





What have you been instagramming recently? 

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February 20, 2015

Friday Finds

This week just flew by.  I've been so busy lately with tests and projects that I don't know where the days are going.  Suddenly it's already the weekend!

Last week I sent a few of my friends from high school fun letters in the mail.  It took awhile to get to them, but I'm happy to hear it brightened their days!


Now on to my finds for this week...


Shorter Hair

I'm finally getting a much needed hair cut this week.  My hair is way too long (it hits at my natural waistline!).  It's getting pretty annoying to deal with so I am thinking about getting it cut pretty short instead of just a trim.  I am going to a new hairdresser since I'm at school so that makes me a little nervous.  Normally at home, I let me hairdresser do whatever since I trust her and know she won't do anything that I would hate.  Olivia Palermo's hair is so gorgeous and I love the length of it in this picture. I'm debating on getting it cut to a little past my shoulders, like she has it in this picture! What are your thoughts?


Dwight Howard: In the Moment
Last weekend, after attending one of my school's basketball games, I came back and turned to netflix (classic).  The game was a pretty big one for my school, which lead us to move further up in the rankings (yay!).  I decided to watch the Dwight Howard documentary since I was in a basketball mood already.  I am a huge fan of sports documentaries, and this one didn't disappoint! It was so inspiring and I'd highly recommend it.  One of my favorite quotes from the film was, "It's not the good times that make us great, it's the challenges that mold us into doing great things".  I think there's a lot to learn from the documentary past the basketball inspiration.


J.Crew New Arrivals 
Everyone is talking about J.Crew's newest arrivals, and for good reason! There's a lot of fresh and bright items that make me so excited for the upcoming spring season! I've been dying for a denim vest and this one is just perfect! This bracelet! So adorable to slip on with a few others to make the perfect stack.  I'm obsessed with this "hello" t-shirt especially since that's my go-to doodle.  For some reason whenever I'm bored in class I'll write hello in cursive over and over.  I don't know why, but it's so relaxing to me! I also am obsessed with this striped shirt (how cute would it look with a denim vest?) Also, best part is that it's all 20% off with the code SHOPPINGTIME!

February 19, 2015

Ready for The Beach

Spring break is coming up sooner than I can believe! Just two weeks before I leave my dorm behind for a week and trade in the cold (okay, let's be real, Texas isn't that cold) weather for the Florida sun.  I am so excited to get back to the beach and have started to already gather some things to pack away in my beach bag!


I always make sure I have a hat on me while at the beach (vineyard vines baseball hats are my go-to).  After a long day in the sun, my face usually gets a little sensitive, so having a hat near by is so nice.  I can get my face out of the sun while still enjoying the day.  You'll also find my cover up in my bag (my favorites are from roberta roller rabbit)!  Cover ups are great to throw on while traveling to and from the beach and for when you want to take a stroll along the shoreline.

I always sneak in some form of entertainment that won't be ruined by a little water or sand.  A book is perfect for that (right now I'm reading Still Alice).  Floating at the bottom of my bag is most likely my headphones and sunglasses (How cute are these Ilestevas? I've been seeing them everywhere recently).

What's in your beach bag?

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February 18, 2015

10 Things on My Wishlist

As spring break fast approaches, I've been eyeing a few things I would love to bring along with me on my trip.  Bright colors and fun prints make me so excited that the winter is coming to an end, even though Texas winter is nothing like the winters I am used to.  We have had some cold days in the 30s (not even that cold) and very warm days in the 80s!! I feel so silly complaining when the weather is cold here while my friends and family back home are sitting in -5 degrees! But when you're used to warmer weather, the 30 degrees feels pretty freaking cold!

Do I like pink?

Zinke Starboard One Piece
Fun one pieces are so popular now and I love that this one has the detachable peplum! I'm a huge fan of zinke- they have some really fun suits, and this one is definitely high up on my Wishlist!

OndadeMar Bengal Embroidered Cover Up
I added this cover up to my likes on Shop Bop a few weeks ago and then I saw it on Gal Meets Glam and new I had to have it!! I'm still a little weary on the price tag, and weather or not I need another cover up, so it's still sitting in my likes section for now! I just love how bright and fun it is.

Kendra Scott Kelsie Necklace
I'm a sucker for simple long necklaces, and I really love this Kendra Scott one in Magenta! I realized I don't have any pink necklaces like these, and since pink is my favorite color I haven't been able to keep my eye off of it!

Swoozie's Monogram Tervis Tumbler
I've always loved the look of a simple monogram in a tervis tumbler.  This swoozies one is so perfect! However, I don't know how much I'd use it here at school because I hardly ever drink out of cups as I do not have a dishwasher so washing them is quite difficult!

Loves Affect Shelly Necklace 
I've gushed over my favorite Loves Affect tassel bracelets a few times, and I've been lusting over this tassel necklace! It's so beautiful and perfect to throw on to instantly spice up an outfit!

J.Crew Floppy Hat
J.Crew makes this gorgeous navy floppy hat and I love it! I've been looking for a floppy hat for a while and seriously regretting not purchasing the one I tried on in urban outfitters this past summer! This one is great because it's simple and I love the fact that it's navy because anyone can tell I'm not a big fan of black!

Design Darling Pink Picture Frame
This picture frame is just the cutest!! I love the pattern.  I'm a sucker for photos (everyone knows I'm the one who makes everyone take a picture) and I also love displaying them.  I have pictures taped all over my walls with gold tape but would love to add a picture frame to the hutch above my desk!

Show Me Your Mumu Portabella Dress
Now, whenever I'm shopping I can't help but think of what I'll be wearing when I study abroad in Italy this summer.  I love this dress and think it would be great for exploring Italy.  I'm not a huge shorts person and I definitely gravitate towards dresses in the warmer months, and I love how casual and chic this dress is!

Nike Air Pegasus 31 Running Shoes
I've been eyeing these cute pink nikes for some time now.  I have a pair of grey nikes that I've used for years but I feel like bright colored nikes are so in now! These are so adorable.

Moon and Lola Mini Monogram Necklace
I love the look of a mini monogram necklace layered with other things.  I have a few monogram necklaces that are normal sized but sometimes I feel like I want something more mature looking and simple, while still wearing my monogram.


What's on your wishlist?

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February 17, 2015

How I Edit My Instagrams + Favorite Photo Apps

I've gotten a lot of questions over on Tumblr recently asking if I would share how I edit my instagram pictures.  Since I usually don't use just one filter, or even a filter at all, it was a little difficult to answer in the question, so instead I'm blogging about it today!

Recently I've been just adjusting some of the qualities instead of using a filter! Here's how:

First I'll open up Afterlight.  Then I like to start editing by adjusting the brightness.  Almost always I'll make the picture waaaay brighter.  


Then I like to add some contrast, which I feel like adds some depth to the photo.  It looks less white-washed now.


 Then I'll bump up the exposure a tiiinnny bit.

 And for this picture that's all I'll do! I'm happy with the way it looks so I'll crop it into a square and upload it to Instagram!

Some other apps I like using:

VSCOcam Perfect for some pictures, but not all.  I love the way the filters look because they add a professional quality, however they aren't as bright as I'd like so I usually save this app for pictures that don't end up on my instagram.  

FaceTune Yes, this is the "photoshop" app, but I promise that's not why I like it! This app is great for photoshopping out some things in the background that are an eyesore or blending weird shadows! I don't use this app often but it's great to have just in case!

Papelook This app is great for collaging.  I hate the typical pic stitch collages so if I have to put a few photos together I use this because it's more creative and like an actual collage because I can tilt the photos at different angles and even have them overlap if I want! 

February 16, 2015

Reipes I'm Dying to Try

Pinterest is always the first place I look when I'm looking for recipes to try out.  There's an endless amount of recipes on the site so I always have luck finding exactly what I'm looking for.  It makes me so sad that I don't have a kitchen to cook in while I'm at school, but I do pin a lot of recipes to my Tasty Treats board to try while I'm back home!





I'd also highly recommend checking out the Pretty Pasta tumblr! It's my favorite because they have gorgeous pasta pictures and actually include the recipe, unlike some other blogs!

February 13, 2015

Friday Finds

Last weekend I learned how to make gold foil lettering using gimp so here's a fun graphic I made with my favorite quote!


Now on to my finds....


Lennon & Maisy "Boom Clap" Cover
This cover actually gave me the chills.  I can't stop listening to it.  I am obsessed with the voices from these two and have been a huge fan since their "Call Your Girlfriend" cover, and love them on Nashville!! Anytime they put out something new it's surely a treat, and this cover is no different! Ugh I love this.

Today's Friday Finds is a little short because I posted an outfit post today so make sure you check that out too!



Outfit: Valentine's Day + Link Up

I don't normally post outfits on Fridays (usually it's Friday Finds), but when Ashley of Private School Prepster contacted me to join her and Claire's (Simply Darling) Valentines Day outfit linkup, I couldn't say no! All of the other blogs that are included are so great so be sure to check them out! They're linked over on Ashley's blog!!




*so squity*








sweater (similar here) - scarf (similar here)- jeans - boots - bag 

I have a secret...I was sweating while taking these photos.  It was 75 degrees!! Dallas weather is so strange, one day it could be in the 40s and then the next it's almost 80! I planned this outfit out a few days before taking the photos so I had no idea it would be this warm, but it's still definitely better than freezing east coast weather!

February 12, 2015

Books to Spice Up Your Bookshelf

I've mentioned before my obsession with this desk hutch that I purchased at the beginning of the semester.  It's freed up so much space on my desk and allowed me to add more personal touches to my room.

  
 I brought some cute smaller books I had laying around my room at home back with me because I knew I'd want to display them.  I really loved how they looked so I added a few more!






February 11, 2015

Dorm Accessory Storage

After sharing my Dorm Makeup Storage  I got a lot of requests asking me to share how I store my jewelry in college.  In a tiny room, storage can be hard to come by, but I've found some great ways that work to store all of my jewelry without taking up too much room.  I may or may not have a lot of jewelry so I was worried going into college that I wouldn't be able to find a way to have all of my favorite pieces with me at school.


February 10, 2015

101 in 1001 Update

I'm so happy to report that just one month into my 101 in 1001 project I have already crossed off a lot of things on my list!


Back when I was home for Christmas I tried out this recipe for cauliflower pizza and while I was really hesitant to how it would turn out, I was pleasantly surprised! It was so yummy and I'm so happy I tried it out! I'm also addicted to cauliflower now!


I also went for tea with my mom while I was home.  We went to the Mandarin Oriental at Colombus Circle and it was incredible.  Here's a link to the whole blog post I wrote on the fun day!


I'm also so impressed with how my Artifact Uprising books turned out and I am so happy that I finally put my photos from my two favorite trips into books! 





February 9, 2015

Valentine's Day Goodies

Valentine's day is just a few weeks away so whether you're looking for a gift for a friend, or yourself, here's a few of my favorite picks!





February 6, 2015

Friday Finds

Yay for the weekend!!!! Friday Finds get me so excited because the stressful week has come to an end, and it's time for the weekend!


bkr
I got a bkr water bottle for my birthday last week and have been taking it everywhere with me.  It's the perfect size for on the go because it fits comfortably in my bag with books.  I love that it is a glass bottle but the silicone sleeve protects it from getting chipped or shattering.  There's also no condensation which is a big plus for me because I had getting the notebooks in my bag wet.

Benevolent Jewels

I'm so excited to announce that I've become a Benevolent Jewels ambassador! I love all of the things that they sell (everything is so fun)! And now you can get everything for 20% off with the code ECODE20! How awesome!!! 



If you're ever in the Dallas area you must try to find the Easy Slider food truck!!! Honestly, their sliders are the best I've ever had.  My go-to is The French Revolution style that is comprised of an angus beef patty, prosciutto, gruyere cheese, grilled onions, and a little bit of dijon mustard- seriously one of the best meals.  If I could be on that show on The Cooking Channel (or maybe it's food network) "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" this would be it!! There schedule is up on their website and it's definitely worth checking out! 







February 5, 2015

Favorites on Etsy

Etsy has been my go-to for dorm room décor.  It's great because on etsy the possibilities are truly endless.  Weather you're looking for a vintage wedding dress or a monogram decal, etsy has it all.  Etsy is a great site to purchase handmade items that are of great quality.  I get a lot of questions on my tumblr asking me if etsy is safe, and my answer is always yes! I've never had a bad experience using etsy so I would highly recommend browsing the site if you haven't!

via
LifeisRosier
I purchased the sign pictured above from one of my new favorite etsy sites and I am completely in love with it!! Not only do I love it because I (still) love Shake It Off but I also think it's a great reminder to shake the hard stuff off. The sign is really made of great quality and I loved the packaging it came in!

MontanaJC
I purchase all of my monogram decals from MontanaJC! They always come in a timely fashion and the quality is great too!

Brittany Hill Boutique
I am still not over how much I love my tassel garland! It's such a great addition to the wall next to be my bed and I am contemplating ordering another one to put on the wall that I have the Shake It Off sign!

LovesAffect
Loves Affect is one of my new favorites! I got the tassel bracelets for my birthday and haven't stopped wearing them since!! I am eyeing a few of there necklaces now...


Capucinne
I absolutely love my monogram ring from Capucinne.  It's probably one of the best purchases I've ever made.  I love how dainty it is, which is hard to find in a monogram ring.





February 4, 2015

Feburary Playlist

It's hard to believe that the first month of the year has already passed us! Here's Feburary's playlist! Enjoy!

What songs have been stuck in your head recently? Leave them in the comments! 



February 3, 2015

The Liebster Award {Discover New Blogs}

Yesterday the lovely Isabella from Yep It's Prep nominated me for the Liebster award.  The award is a really cool concept where bloggers get to nominate other bloggers, and in turn people can discover new blogs! Once nominated, you answer a few questions generated by the blogger who nominated you, and you come up with questions of your own.

I'm so excited to have been nominated by Isabella.  I absolutely love her blog and she's the sweetest person.  I'm surprised that I don't think I've mentioned her on here before! I'd highly recommend checking out Yep It's Prep on instagram as well!


Isabella's Questions:

If your house was burning down and you could only save three objects, what would they be? What a tough question, but I would have to go with my Computer (I have everything on it), my camera, and my favorite bracelet! 

What is your favorite clothing item that you own? Check out next Monday's post but I'll give you a hint: check out my most recent OOTD ;) 

How do you find inspiration for new blog posts? I usually get inspiration by thinking of things I would want to read.  I also love getting inspiration from other bloggers and my tumblr followers! If you have any ideas for future posts please shoot me a message on tumblr!

What is your favorite quote and why? I love the quote from John Green's Paper Towns, "At some point you gotta stop looking up at the sky, or one of these days you'll look back down and see that you floated away too".  It was my quote for my senior year yearbook and I think it's great because it highlights on the importance of staying humble!

What made you start your blog? I started this platform of DoS about a year ago because I wanted to be able to post lengthier and more creative posts that my ones on tumblr!

In your opinion, what is the most difficult part about running a blog? I can sometimes be hard to get organized with posts and make sure I have them planned out ahead of time, but looking back on each week it's so nice to know you successfully posted each day with content you're proud of. 

What's the one food you couldn't live without? I'm a sucker for Mac & Cheese!

What song instantly puts you in a good mood? Recently that's been Shut Up and Dance by Walk The Moon! 

What is your dream job? I would love to work in Social Media in the fashion industry! I don't know exactly what that would entail, but I know that's where I want to be.  

What/where is your favorite place in the world? The city so nice they named it twice.  New York will always have a special place in my heart no matter where I am.  

What are three goals you have for this year? I would love to host some guest bloggers (*cough* Isabella look out for me sliding into your inbox), put together a few collabs, and host a giveaway!

Here are the 11 bloggers that I'll be nominating:
  1. Abby from Belle of The Ball (also check out our collab from earlier today!)
  2. Shannon from Prep Avenue
  3. Alexandra from Prep of The South
  4. Rebecca from Life with rMe
  5. Catherine and Julianna from Preppy by the Sea
  6. Cara from Caralina Style
  7. Natalie from The PDX Prepster
  8. Shelby from Lucky Day 
  9. Victoria from The Timeless Prep
  10. Brianna from Gingham and Glam
  11. Claire of Precious as a Peony 
Now... If you've been nominated, answer the questions listed below in your own post then find 11 bloggers to nominate and ask them 11 questions.  

Questions for my nominees: 
  1. Where did the name of your blog come from?
  2. What's your favorite season and why?
  3. If you could be invited to any show during fashion week which would it be?
  4. Is there any app on your phone you don't think you could live without?
  5. Finish the sentence: I'm at my happiest when...
  6. Name one TV character you'd like to trade places with for a day and explain why they're your pick. 
  7. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
  8. What color is your go-to nail polish choice?
  9. Are there any jewelry items you never take off?
  10. What's one thing you can't leave the house without?
  11. What's your favorite thing about having a blog?
If you answer my questions in your own post be sure to leave the link down below so I can read them! :)

February 2, 2015

You Need This Jacket

This jacket is hands down the best purchase I made in 2014, and also possibly the best purchase I've made ever.  I had been dying for a leather jacket for ages but didn't want to fork up a ton of money.  When I came across Piperlime's Coated Moto Jacket I was delighted by the price (now $44.97!!!!!).  Upon more research finding out that it wasn't a jacket, but a sweater that's coated in leather, and that was the icing on the cake.


All the comfort of a cozy sweater, but the edginess of a leather jacket.  I also am obsessed with the fact that it's navy!!


Do ya'll have any holy grail clothing items? Let me know in the comments!

 

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