Valentine's Day Girl Gift Guide

Kate Spade Canvas tote | Heart eye mask | Bobby Brown makeup kit | Kate Spade watch | Fancy heart phone case | Moonstone Pandora ring | Kendra Scott earrings 

I personally don't think that Valentine's day is a holiday to get big extravagant gifts but more of small and personal gifts. I do think that Valentine's day should be filled with pink and sweet treats. I am so excited because this year I get to make Valentine's day boxes with my preschoolers. I love all of these gifts and hope you do too!

January Favorites

1. Batiste dry shampoo 2. Better than sex mascara 3. POREfessional 4. microdelivery peel mask 

5. Vaseline chapstick 6. Lizzy James necklace 7. Kate Spade agenda 8. Kodiak cake muffin cups 

9. Starbuck logo to go mug 10. Lärabar 11. Yankee candle charming scents

1. If you have never tried this dry shampoo I highly recommend it. I have used some pretty bad dry shampoos recently and this one beats all of them. This line also has one that is for brown hair and blonde hair which sprays the color brown or yellow to match the hair color. That will be my next purchase.

2. I've been hearing so much hype about this product so when I received the mini one in my Ipsy box I was pretty excited to try it out. And let me tell you the hype about this product is so try. It is hands down one of the best mascaras I have ever used, it leaves your lashes full and adds length.

3. I just received this for Christmas and it was another product that I've heard a ton about, and it's now one of my favorite makeup items. It makes your skin feel so smooth afterward and really helps to keep your face makeup on and looking fresh all day.

4. This mask is so unlike any mask that I have ever used. I talked about this mask in my favorite travel size face mask post where you can see all my other face masks that I'm loving right now.

5. This chapstick is a life saver I love the packaging and it leaves your lips feeling so refreshed.

6. This bracelet/ necklace from Lizzy James is also something that I have shown on the blog many times. This necklace can also be a bracelet, I personally like it more as a bracelet, which you just wrap it around a few times and attach it together.

7. You may have seen this agenda in my refreshing for a new semester post. I just recently started using it because the semester has just officially begun and I am loving it. It's really nice to write in something I'm excited about.

8. THESE ARE LIFE CHANGING. You need to try this NOW! My mom and I are obsessed with these because they taste amazing. It's a cup that has a mix it is and all you have to do is add 1/4 cup of water (or milk for extra protein) and then put it in the microwave for one minute. Then out comes a perfectly moist muffin that is so delicious. There is a blueberry, double chocolate, chocolate pumpkin and an apple cinnamon oat. They also have a flapjack on the go mix that I've never tried but definitely will soon. The best part is that the owners were on shark tank (which I have an obsession with).

9. One thing I love is to bring coffee into work or school with me and it makes it easier when you have a good nice cup to do it with. It is a little heavy but it's so cute it's worth it.

10. These are delicious they are all natural and gluten free. I like these as a snack during classes when I am on the go all day long. The chocolate Peanut butter is my favorite, but I really want to try the banana bread one and the chocolate chip brownie.

11. This Yankee candle charming scent is so cute. It hangs from your rear view mirror and it almost reminds me of a big Alex and Ani bracelet. There is a sphere that hangs down that can open, you can then add in the scent which looks like a small sphere of chalk and it gives off a scent and looks so cute. You can also get charms that hang with it like a cowboy boot or an anchor.

Some of my other favorites from this month:

Ariel yoga has become one of my favorite activities. It is just like regular yoga but you are on this band that hangs from the ceiling. It's an amazing experience and it has really opened my mind to the world of yoga. I think next I want to try a hot yoga class. I just love the idea of a small amount of time for myself and to clear my mind. The ariel yoga made my body feel so much better, usually when I wake up in the morning my back hurts, and it hasn't in the days following the class.

This show is so different than anything I have ever watched which is refreshing because tv can sometimes seem repetitive. This show is about Eleanor who dies and goes to "the good place" but the twist is that she should really be in "the bad place" because she was a bad person. The show is full of surprising events and can get slightly emotional. The season finale was last week but it can all be watched online and I think Hulu. 

Check out this song here

My favorite song this month has been lipstick by Runaway June. This song is about how girls shouldn't let boys walk all over them I think it's a girl empowerment song. The song says "you better love somebody who ruins your lipstick not your mascara." I love this cause it is so true, you need to find someone who treats you well and not someone who makes you cry all the time. And this music video is so cute and Luke from the bachelorette is in it!

2 Year Blog Anniversary | Cutest LBD

There are so many big decisions you will make as you go along in life and these decisions will have a huge impact on your life. Such as picking a college, choosing a job, getting married and starting a family. You go into these decisions knowing that they will alter your life. Then there are small decisions that won’t have as much of an impact, like cutting your hair and painting your nails. These have a low impact on your life and aren’t quite as life changing (although cutting your hair can be quite life changing). But sometimes in life, there are small decisions that end up leaving a huge impact on your life. For me, this was starting my blog. I started my blog 2 years ago as sort of a creative outlet and something that I can work on in my spare time. Little did I know that this would end up being a 2-year project that has no end in sight. I love everything that has to do with blogging. I love finding new content, taking photos of anything, things I never would have thought of taking, (like my makeup that is always dirty but I cleaned and strategically placed so that I could photograph it and then write a few paragraphs about it… weird.) but love doing so. I love figuring out how to add in new features to my blog and so much more.

One thing that was hard for me in the beginning, was that these things don’t just happen overnight. You can’t put up a post and expect people to come searching to read it. You need to work for this, you need to build relationships with readers and have a set schedule and make a plan for what you want to put out there on your blog. All of these things I personally think are really important for a person to think about when starting a blog.

There are many things that I learned from blogging that now help me in my everyday life. For one, time management, this is sometimes a struggle when it comes to juggling school, a job, and trying to finish a blog post. It’s currently 11 o’clock at night and I had school all day then went to my part time job worked out and I am finally able to sit down and start working on some posts. Time management? You have to do what works for you. I also learned about deadlines. Deadlines are something I did for myself more than anything, to challenge myself. I like to post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, this can be really hard some weeks especially around midterms and finals. (This is when time management comes in handy… I’m still working on it…) From starting this blog I have learned more about HTML and coding than I ever thought I would. I also learned the importance of editing photos and the perfect time of the day to take the photos. With all of these things I learned, I still wouldn’t have it any other way. I am still learning new things and shortcuts on how to do things and I love that.

Outfit: BCBGeneration: Flutter sleeve dress | Target: shoes SOLD OUT (similar) | Kendra Scott: bracelet SOLD OUT (similar) 

Now on to the fashion aspect, how cute is this little black dress. This LBD is from BCBG and I am obsessed. It is the perfect staple to your closet because it can literally be used for any occasion. I actually just wore this to my little sister’s, best friends sweet 16 party and it was perfect. It’s the perfect dress for a wedding or even a business event to look professional. I love LBD’S because you can make them fun with the jewelry and shoes that you decide to wear with it. I have been loving these strappy heels and I think that they add a fun touch to the outfit. I'm really sad that they are sold out from target but there are so many other pairs that are so similar I love these from Nasty Gal, I actually might like the pointed toe a little more than the open toe.

Valentine's Day Date Night Outfit

Top: Cold Shoulder ruffle | Pants: (Similar) jeans | Shoes: SOLDOUT (similar) |  Necklace: Dogeared | bracelet: Lizzy James Clutch: Kate Spade

I actually love valentine’s day; I feel like there is this stigma around valentine’s day that is negative and a sort of dread for some people. I just love the thought of love. Even though this will be my third valentine’s day with Kyle and I love spending it with him, I think there is so much more to this holiday than just a date night with your significant other. I personally think that this is a time that we should spend loving each other, sharing and spreading the love. Tell the important people in your life, like your mom and girlfriends how much you appreciate and love them. It doesn’t have to be an extravagant present sometimes just a handwritten note will mean more than any present ever will.

This year Valentine's day is going to be on a Tuesday and unfortunately, Kyle left to go back to school yesterday (always a sad weekend for the both of us). But the good news is, is that he is going to try to come home that weekend so we can go skiing. I'm planning on putting up a date night idea post soon so be on the look out!

Living Room Decor Inspiration

Plush throw | Floor lamp | Fringe studio candle | Wall art | Gold and marble tray | Throw pillows

Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser 

Kyle and I just redid our living room downstairs and we are loving it. Now that the holidays are over and the new year is in full swing I feel like I can finally concentrate on making this little space feel a little homier. Right now we need some things for the walls and some décor for our desk and TV stand. And of course, new throw pillows and blankets because you can never have enough of either. Our color scheme is pretty much gray and neutral colors but I tend to go in the direction of what décor I like the most when picking the color scheme. I found so many great items at Nordstrom and Target that I loved.

Cozy Gray Cardigan

Outfit: Old Navy (Similar Grey Cardigan)  | Hollister (Similar Black jeans) | Gap White short sleeve tee | Nordstrom (Similar black booties) | Lizzy James bracelet | Dogeared pearl of love necklace

Life has been pretty hectic lately, a while ago I was in a very small car accident but it still isn't fixed. The car is still drivable but due to the accident there is electrical showing so the car won't pass inspection and my inspection ran out last month. We ordered the part to fix it and it was supposed to be here on Friday and still hasn't gotten here. My semester starts up today so the stress of school is soon to start in (ahhhh)... so now that my little rant is over we can talk about this cozy outfit.

I love an oversized cardigan to get you through the tough days like I'm having. This outfit is perfect to be cozy for working at the preschool and sitting through lengthy classes. This old navy cardigan is my favorite clothing piece in my closet, I find myself constantly reaching for it in the morning. My mom bought me these jeans and I love that they are high waisted. It makes them easily transform from day to a night look.

Refreshing For The New Semester

It's that time of year again when all the college students have to get back into a routine of waking up for an 8 am class, writing 10-page papers, and freezing while walking across campus (at least in upstate New York we will). Getting back into the swing of things can be really hard for me, especially since I have been sleeping in until almost 10:30 every morning. Waking up early was not one of my new year's resolutions in case you can't tell. This semester I don't have any 7:00 am's (thank god) but I do have a couple 9:00 am's and with my school being a 20-minute commute I do have to wake up earlier than most. There are a few things that I have found to make the semester easier for me and I hope they make it easier for you as well.

1. Get new supplies...
This is something that really helps me to get excited and feel refreshed about the upcoming semester. I typically only use one notebook with 5 subjects because I have found that has kept me the most organized. Although I am taking a few different classes this semester so I think I may use single notebooks this semester and see how that works out.

2. Start prepared...
I think that it is really important to start prepared for the semester. One way is to check your school email, I know personally I haven't opened up my email once over break but it could be really helpful too. As I said earlier I'm taking different classes this semester and one of them is figure skating. My college requires everyone to take 2 gym classes in order to gratuate. Although this seems like something people would dread it's actually quite fun, one of the classes you can choose is clowning. Yes, I just typed out on my computer that in college you can take an actually clowning class as a gym class. Here is a direct quote from my college website about the class: "Beginning skills of clowning including single & double stunts, tumbling, mime, juggling, balloonology, circus arts, make-up, costuming, etc." There is also bowling, jogging, jazz dance and many others. So now that my rant is over I can get to my point... my figure skating class is off campus and surprisingly there are like five different ice skating rinks in the city around my school so I am waiting on an email to find out where our class is going to be held. Sometimes professors will email you telling you to get the book before class so you will have it for the first day of classes.

3. Have a good mindset...
Tell yourself that you can do this and have a positive vibe toward your school work. Something that always helps me is to get something that makes me excited for the upcoming semester. This time it's my new Kate Spade 2017 planner. I am so excited to start to use this and fill it with homework but more importantly lunch dates and parties. But for someone else, this could be a new set of colorful pens or a new pencil case. It should be something that you'll be excited to use throughout the semester...maybe this is just me, but for me, it works.

This planner is currently on sale at Kate Spade HERE for only 18$

Let me know what works well for you to prepare for the new semester.

My Favorite Travel Size Face Masks

My skin doesn't like much (it's very sensitive) but there is one thing in particular that my skin does not like and that is the cold that the winter months bring. With this extra sensitivity, I am super careful with what I put on my face during this stressful time. I love face masks but hate when they break me out and hate even more when I pay a Sh*t ton of money on one that makes me break out. Cause lets me honest face masks are FREAKING EXPENSIVE, but there are some drug store ones that are pretty good. I tend to buy the travel size of face masks if they are available in that size for a couple of reasons. One being that it is an inexpensive way to try out the product to see if this is something that will work well with you. Second I typically like to switch up my face products so that my face doesn't get used to something and then stop working. I like to have a few good face masks to rotate through and this way you can keep trying new products with the travel size and not have a ton of leftover product with the full size. It's good to know what ingredients are in the products you are using. I know that I cannot use proactive products due to some of the ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide. Try out new products and use the process of elimination if you are unsure what is causing the irritation.

Formula 10.06 | Peel Mask, Strawberry Mud Mask, Orange Mud Mask: I originally started with the peel mask of this line and I loved it because I think it is so fun to peel them off. I actually bought it from Old Navy of all places. Then I went back around Christmas time and they had a set of all three of these. The peach colored one is a peel off mask and the other two are mud masks. Each mask leaves your skin feeling super smooth and hydrated. 

Glam Glow | Full-size supermud, Travel size set: Honestly if you haven't tried a glam glow mask you are really missing out. There are really pricey but they are so worth every amount of money that you spend. These face masks really work at least for me so the travel sizes and the smaller sizes that are a little less expensive are available and you will fall in love.

Microdelivery | detoxifying oxygen peel: This is the most interesting mask I have ever used so far. I am always looking for unique and different masks that can make my skin care routine fun. I received this one from my brother's girlfriend from Christmas (Shout out to you Kait!) and I fell in love. There are two steps, the first step is the black bottle this is a charcoal mask and you apply and fully coverage layer. The second step is the white bottle and this is applied over the top of the black charcoal mask. The second layer activates the first and begins to foam, it is so fun! The last step is to take off the mask. The plastic piece that it comes with is a derma blade, and to use this you act as though you are shaving your face to remove the product. Then you rinse off the access and your skin feels amazing afterward. For this mask, you have to follow the instructions because I waited too long in between the two steps and it didn't work. But it is one you definitely have to check out. 

One last tip for trying out face masks is the samples from Sephora. Sephora will give you an example of anything that you ask for. I've never been denied a product to try so I'm not sure if there is something that they won't give you but almost all face masks they will give you a sample of. The sample is usually good for 2-3 tires to you can really get a feel for how your skin is going to react. 

Let me know what face masks you're loving!