The Little Things

When it comes to making posts as of late, I know I would definitely be classified as LAME. I know it's not an excuse, but I've been super busy with school, and planning for interviews. My spring break is coming up during late March, so my blog should be more entertaining then!

image via WeHeartIt

In the mean time, enjoy this post filled with a bunch of random things, from nails, to the simple things in life.

-One of my friends showed me this AWESOME website about a nail salon in London. If you're a nail polish fanatic like I am, their website is definitely worth checking out.

-We all appreciate the little things in life. Sometimes we need to be reminded of them. The little thing I am appreciating today: Taking your makeup off at the end of the day.

-Adore Taylor Swift's wardrobe? This blog tells you where to get replicas or exact pieces of clothing she has worn.

Here is this week's list for MUSIC MONDAY:
1. 'Rolling In The Deep' Adele <--recommended by my pastry chef BFF
2. 'Lucky' Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat, Glee version
3. 'Giving Up The Gun' Vampire Weekend
4. 'Strawberry Avalanche' Owl City
5. 'Sunburn' Owl City

36 Ways to A Better You

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did in 2010.
7. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
8. Sleep for 7 hours.
9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
10. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
11. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
12. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
13. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
15. Dream more while you are awake.
16. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
17. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner of his/her mistakes from the past. It will only ruin your present happiness.
18. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
19. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
20. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
21. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
22. Smile and laugh more.
23. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
24. Call your family often.
25. Each day give something good to others.
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
28. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
31. Do the right thing!
32. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. The best is yet to come.
36. Your inner self is always happy. So, be happy.

List via Tumblr

All images via WeHeartIt

Elephants of Gold

Aside from a few small things, this month has been one of the best ever. Here are several reasons why:

-My BFF, K, and I got FLOOR SEATS to the Taylor Swift concert!!

-My other BFF, B, who goes to college out of state, will be coming home for his spring break this week!

-It snowed for a whole 10 minutes today, while the sun was out. Enough to get footage for one of my side projects, but not enough for people to get into accidents. YESS.

-and the last reason:

Last February, Emily, of Cupcakes and Cashmere posted the most adorable outfit featuring a vintage  elephant necklace. I spent weeks in search of a piece similar to it, but had no luck. This past weekend (more than one year later), I came across the perfect replica. It was instant love.

elephant necklace: Nordstrom B.P. $17 //lace tank: Love On A Hanger via Nordstrom Rack //white tank: Banana Republic //cardigan: Old Navy

FAQ

{a bracelet that reminds me of Taylor Swift.}

My week in pictures, and new FAQ section! That is all.

{the basket next to my desk. i keep all my old school work in this.}

{my leopard print snuggie and "grown-up" bed sheets.}

{one of the most wonderful scents ever.}

{a re-organized closet.}

Dear Taylor

image via WeHeartIt

Oh my goodness. My friend K (Pearls and Politics), just told me about the cutest thing ever. Remember the song, 'Enchanted'? You know, the one Taylor Swift wrote for Adam Young of Owl City? Well, he wrote her a reply.

"Dearest Taylor,

I'll be the first to admit I'm a rather shy boy and since music is the most eloquent form of communication I can muster, I decided to record something for you -- as a sort of 'reply' to the breathtaking song on your current record. This is what I wanted so badly to tell you in person but could never quite put into words:

Everything about you is lovely. You're an immensely charming girl with a beautiful heart and more grace and elegance than I know how to describe. You are a true princess from a dreamy fairy tale, and above all, I just want you to know... I was enchanted to meet you, too.

Love, Adam."

So... freaking... adorable.

Blackout

t-shirt: Psst! via Nordstrom Rack $8 //leggings: Jalate via Nordstrom Rack $16

Lately, I've been trying to find ways to cut down my morning routine... all for the sake of sleeping in. Yes, it's true. In college, you have the choice of picking two of the following three: sleep, good grades, and a social life. As unfortunate as it sounds, I have chosen the first two options.

I've come to discover a great time saver to be simplicity. More specifically, keeping my outfits to a minimum.  Here's an example of a technique I use: a plain black ensemble can serve as an ideal canvas for creating the perfect outfit for any occasion (especially class!).

Whether you are going for a more casual or fancy look, all you need is a plain black shirt and a skirt/pair of leggings/jeans. Once you have achieved this, raid your closet for your favorite accessories, pile them on, and you'll be ready before you can say "I love SWEATshirt DRESSshirt." :)

scarf: gifted from a friend //cardigan: HIP via Nordstrom $35 //boots: Star Ling via Nordstrom $60 SALE

t-shirt: Psst! via Nordstrom Rack $8 //skirt: Lush via Nordstrom $25?

necklace: Urban Outfitters //heels: Payless Shoes $20

P.S., My Life As Liz season 2 is finally here! OMGLKADJ;FAK;DJF;SDL!!

Less Than Three

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all images via WeHeartIt

Over the years, I've learned that the 14th of February is more than just a day for couples. For many years, I dreaded this holiday for reasons you can probably guess. Along with bad experiences, came learning opportunities. In my teen years, as I was too consumed in envying girls who had boyfriends during a time which Valentine's Day fell, I neglected to notice all of the love I was getting from my friends and family.

Last year was a hard year to get through, and I only have my friends (both real life and blog world) to thank for the sanity I have today. So, please don't feel sad if you don't have a significant other to celebrate the evening with, because there is so much love around you already. :)

That said, here are 11 songs for every type of love. Listen to them, dance around, and have a FANTASTIC MONDAY! Happy Valentine's Day! I love you all!

1. 'What A Wonderful World' Louis Armstrong
2. 'Catch Me' Demi Lovato
3. 'Enchanted' Taylor Swift
4. 'In This Diary' The Ataris
5. 'Dance Forever' Allstar Weekend
6. 'With Me' Sum 41
7. 'Friday I'm In Love' The Cure
8. 'You've Got A Friend' James Taylor
9. 'Always Love' Nada Surf
10. 'Falling For You' Colbie Calliat
11. 'Single Girls' Laura Jansen <-- my new favorite!

Feeling down in the dumps? Check out 11 Ways to Get a Happy Heart.

XO,

SWEATshirt DRESSshirt

For Less

I can't be any more thankful for the fact that tomorrow will be Friday. The words TGIF never sounded so good. My life has been incredibly hectic lately. I had two midterms this week as well as a terrible cough. Bleh! 

On a brighter note, I wanted to share with you guys this great deal I came across. If you're looking for a good pair of combat boots and are on a budget, you might want to seek out Target. See the deets below.

image via here

Left: Steve Madden 'Troopa' $99
Right: Women's Xhilaration® Kashana Lace-Up Boots via Target $29.99


P.s., who will be celebrating Singles Awareness Day on Monday? *raises hand* ;)

Skin Routine

In the past, I have made several posts about the love-hate relationship I have with my skin that mostly consisted of hate. Well, I have some good news. I finally found a routine that works for me! I've learned that for my type of skin (oily and very sensitive), the best routine is a simple one. All of the products I use are pictured below.

Random tips for sensitive skin:

• If you don't already have a makeup remover, I highly suggest you work one into your routine (especially if you use liquid foundation). My favorite is Clinique's Wash Away Gel Cleanser.
• A great face wash I would recommend is Cetaphil. If you have skin problems like me, and have tried virtually everything under the sun, I would suggest giving this one a chance. Sometimes it's best to shy away from those harsh acids and peroxides. Warning: Cetaphil does not remove makeup very well.
• For a natural glow, exfoliate at least once a week. I usually use 3 uncoated aspirins (asprin has salicylic acid in it) every other night as a face scrub.
• If you have oily skin, a good moisturizer a consultant at Sephora introduced to me is Murad's Oil-Control Mattifier. This product works wonders. I highly recommend asking your local Sephora for samples to try it out.
• A good product to use for acne scarring is Mederma. It's a bit pricier than other drugstore products, so if you wanted to get the one without sunscreen, just so you know... it works the same.
• Having a sunscreen for your face is important (obviously). A good one, especially for Summer, is Clinique's Redness Solutions green-tint daily protective base.
• Make sure all of your products are oil-free.
• And lastly, an apple a day, keeps the dermatologist away. I've been eating 1+ apples a day for almost 3 months now, and it has really made a huge difference on my skin.

One Year

You guys. Today marks the one year anniversary of my first blog post! I can't thank everyone enough for all of the support. It truly means a lot.

Cheers to another great year filled with friends and inspiration!

XO

images via WeHeartIt

Birth Story

image via WeHeartIt

Today, a friend of mine shared with me this inspirational story. It's about a woman who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with Down Syndrome and how she came to accept the path God intended for her to take.

I highly recommend reading it if you have ten minutes or so to spare. It will truly give you a different perspective on life.

XO