Topshop Homecoming

In the past couple of months, I have noticed Topshop popping up a lot more, especially in the dress category.  What is great about Topshop is that they have pretty affordable dresses that are perfect for homecoming.  The other great thing, you can definitely use them again and again.  

 

I personally love the baby blue shift dress I found on their site.  It would be a great homecoming dress, but is still casual enough that I can get lots of use out of it later.  The floral peplum is a little fancier, but another great option for homecoming!

 

What do you think about Topshop for homecoming?

Five Essentials for Productivity

Last weekend, I was contacted by Kabbage-- an online company that provides small business loans.  Kabbage asked if I would be interested in writing a post on my top five essentials for productivity, along with some other bloggers.  I thought this would be such a great post for the blog, so here is a little run down of what helps keep me productive...

1. Journal: Having a journal is great for a variety of reasons.  For bloggers, like myself, it is great for jotting down inspiration for posts.  I keep one on me at all times (one in my backpack and one in my purse) so I can write down anything that comes to mind!

2. Coffee: Although I have tried to break my coffee habit, I just can't do it.  Now that I am older I need it to keep me going, plus I just love the taste.  Coffee is also a great way to take a little break while working, which is super essential to keeping me productive.

3. Food: Food, like coffee, is something I can't live without.  I am a snacker, so I constantly eat small bites throughout the day; however, this habit always helps me stay focused.  By eating, I can get a little break and also keep my energy up!

4. Email: Having some sort of communication, for me, is key to getting work done.  I work on a lot of collaborations and with editing for The Undeniable Report, it is great to have constant, fast contact with our writers and CEO.

5. Breaks: Last, but not least, breaks are an essential for my productivity.  I am not one of those people who can just sit down and study or do homework for long periods of time, so I usually take a short break to give myself some time to relax.  Breaks always leave me feeling refresh and ready to get more done!

What are your five essentials for productivity?

 

Finally

This start to the school year, as most of you know, has been really crazy for me, but I think I am finally getting settled in.  My classes are becoming more of a routine and my SAT studying is close to it's end-- I take the test in a few weeks, so fingers crossed I do better this time around.  Falling into a routine has made everything so much easier.  The only thing I am still getting the hang of is timing out my homework, blog, clubs, and SAT studying perfectly.

Sometimes it doesn't work out, but I am slowly getting a better estimate of how much time I should be spending, and on what.  So far blogging has gotten better because I have been able to block out time before I go to bed to write, but I definitely need to get more inspiration; and I now know when I have time and when I don't to do homework throughout the day, so I know how early I should be getting assignments done.  It is honestly so relieving to have most everything figured out!

So, that is a little update on how school has been going for me; hopefully it will stay this organized!

Do any of you have something you want me to write about?  How do you keep track of your time?

 

Fall Boots

I think most of us can agree that boots are the shoe most associated with fall, and I can hardly wait to start bringing mine out again this year.  Currently, I own one pair of riding boots, Hunter boots, and a pair of high heeled black boots-- compliments of Seth's mom who couldn't fit in them haha!  I love all three pairs, however, I can't stop looking into getting a few more.  The two pairs of boots I really want to get are bean boots and booties.  In the past year, they have become so iconic and I would love a pair to style for the fall!  Here are a few of my favorite fall boots! 

links

Suede is definitely making a comeback this fall-- not that it ever particularly went out of style, but I have noticed a lot more of it used this season, especially with boots.  I am loving some of the suede options above!

The navy tassel booties I have pictured are so great, and they are only $90, which is a pretty good deal for suede booties; and, of course, I love the navy bean boots from L.L. Bean.

What fall boots are you loving?
 

Lusting Over This Tote

When I saw all the pictures from Kate Spade's spring collection, I was so excited!  I feel like Kate Spade always has amazing spring designs.  This year, they opted for a sporty, yet feminine look, which is a trend I am totally on board with.  Even though I loved all their items, I can't get my mind off of this cute tote.

 both images via Kate Spade

The heart tote isn't something I would normally be drawn to, but I am pretty sure I have to have it when it comes out this spring.  I don't know the price, but I have already started saving haha!

What did you love from the Kate Spade spring collection?

 

 

Peach: Sweeten Your Life in 9 Minutes

A few weeks ago, I got invited to join this great new app called Peach!  The slogan for Peach is "sweeten your life in 9 minutes", and it is so, so true.  If you don't know what Peach is, it is a shopping app that holds auctions on designer items such as Chloe, Burberry, Kate Spade, and tons more.  The catch is that you only have 9 minutes to place a bet on the item.  Once the auction is over the person with the highest bet wins, but they only have to pay the second highest price!

After trying the app out for a few weeks, I have most definitely fallen in love.  It is such a fun app to use, even if you don't win and when you do, you usually get a great deal; however, make sure you you want the item you are bidding on because if you have the highest bid, then you have to purchase; but there is return shipping if you are unhappy with your purchase!

 

If you would like to be a part of Peach, comment with your email below and I can invite you, but I can only five people, so comment fast!

Are you a part of Peach? What do you think?

Mary Jane and T-Strap Trend

I am loving the Mary Jane and T-Strap trend I am seeing this fall.  They are seriously two of my favorite shoe styles because of their classic style and timelessness, plus they pair so well with the school girl look.  Here are a couple pairs that I am loving!

links

I also featured the Seychelles ballet flats because they definitely fit the bill!  I think they are so cute and great flats for fall!

What is your favorite shoe trend this fall?

Anthropologie Picks

Anthropologie is one of my go-to stores.  I always make Seth stop in with me when I go to the mall because I just love being there!  The atmosphere is so comforting, unique, and, for some reason, makes me feel at home.  I also love Anthropologie's selection of clothing, accessories, shoes, and knick knacks.  They have such a huge selection and there is always some little hidden wonder each time I go to their store.

This fall, I am totally loving their new (and old, but still amazing) items!  Here are a few of my picks!

links

Aren't the ballet flats just the cutest?  They are perfect for the school girl trend this fall and would definitely be a staple in my wardrobe, thus I might be investing in a pair.

The hand lotion I picked is also fantastic.  I picked it up in the store a few weeks ago for my purse, and I love it.  The scent is amazing and my hands always feel so great afterwards!

Do you love Anthropologie?  What are some of your picks from their site?
 

Where Have I Been?

What an exhausting past five days!  I was at camp Wednesday through Friday and then had the CSO opening night gala that Saturday.  It was definitely hectic, but totally worth it; however, I didn't enjoy camp quite as much as I thought I would.  I got almost no sleep, was sore from nonstop hiking, and by the end, was just completely exhausted-- not to mention, I got the weirdest sunburn ever on the back of my legs!  Even though I didn't love camp, it made me realize just how much I love home, shopping, Seth and his family, my family, and everything else I could possibly be thankful for.

After getting through three days at camp, I came back for a glamorous night at music hall with the CSO (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra).  We got hear great performances from Miri Ben-Ari and Lang Lang.  They are both such amazing people and I loved reading a little bit more about Lang Lang's achievements.  He is seriously today's Bach or Beethoven.  Besides the performances, there was great food, company, and dancing.  Seth and I were there till almost 1:00 AM and we were so ready to crash once we got home.

Sunday was just a relaxation and catch up day for me, so I don't have much to report, but I would like to give a HUGE thanks to Anna, Natalie, Katelyn, Alex, and Victoria for helping me out this week.  I honestly don't know how I would have been able to post, so it was great have some of my best blog friends fill in while I was gone.  If you haven't checked out their guest posts, please do!  I loved every single one :)

What have you been up to lately?

 

Tips for the College App by Victoria

Hey, y'all! My name is Victoria and I blog over at Memphis Made. You might remember me from a linkup Hunter & I did together at the beginning of August.

Today I want to talk to you about my tips for nailing the best college essay possible. I am a freshman in college now, and know that I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the essay I wrote my senior year of high school.

If you are applying to college, you are likely dealing with either the Common Application or a school-specific application. I personally had both, and I know lots of you do as well!

1. The word limit is not flexible at all.

On the Common App, if you go even one word over, it will be cut out of your essay, and although you may have submitted 651 words, the school only sees 650. Following the word limit also shows that you are capable of reading and following simple instructions, and if you can't do that, most colleges will wonder if you are capable of handling more complex guidelines.

2. Peer edit.

I'm sure you can see why it's so imperative that your grammar and punctuation be correct. A misuse of their/they're/there can make a school think that you didn't care enough about your essay to proofread it. This is where your friends/teachers/parents come in - they can read your essay for mechanics, and pick up on something you might have missed.

3. Choose your words carefully.

Chances are, you'll have less than 750 of them no matter which application you are working on. The purpose of the essay is for a college to get to know you more as a person while also canvasing your communication skills. The key is to be concise and be careful not to repeat yourself. Again, peer editing can help you make sure you aren't rambling by the end!

4. Relate to the prompt.

Interject a few personal anecdotes throughout your essay or use a personal story and then relate it to the prompt. It's important that you reflect a little bit of yourself in your essay. The school wants to get to know you on a more personal level than your activities resumé, so take the opportunity to show them.

5. Revise. And then revise again.

I started my essay for the Common Application towards the first of September. I wanted to make sure that I would have plenty of time to work on it, and as we all know, good writing takes time. Your first draft will not be your final product, and that's perfectly ok. You will go over that essay again and again until you are absolutely sick of it, but you'll know when it's finally perfect.

If you are a senior in high school, remember to relax and have fun. There's more to senior year than the giant storm of college looming on the horizon!

 xx, Victoria

 

Summer to Fall by Alex

 Hi Guys! My name is Alex from Monster Misa and I will be filling in for Hunter today while she is out of town. Although Labor Day has come and gone we still technically have a couple more weeks until the end of summer. This is always a weird transition period for me because I'm putting away my white linen and sun dresses but it's still too hot to break out the sweaters because that summer sun is still hot! So finding the perfect transition pieces are crucial to beating the heat but still looking appropriate for this time of year.

For the outfit I designed, I picked out a silk cut out tee in black--the material and cut-outs say "it's still summer" but the color says "hello fall". Pairing that top with a pair of boyfriend jeans that can be rolled at the ankle, white converse (which work no matter what the season), and a great magenta cross-body bag (a great fall color) and you have an outfit that works well into October!

What are your go-to summer/fall transition pieces?

Boyfriend Jeans // Silk Cut Out Tee // Converse // Cross-Body Bag // 

Bolt Hinge Bangle // Initial Ring

Fall Essentials by Katelyn

Hi there! I’m Katelyn and I blog over at A Sprinkle of Kate! I’m so excited to guest post for Hunter today! I had the luck to meet Hunter while at the Smart Girls Summit in New York City and we were fast friends! Today I’m going to be sharing with you my fall essentials! I know it’s only September, but I know how much a lot of us love fall! I’m so excited and I seriously can’t wait until the weather cools down. Although it is difficult to say goodbye to summer, it’s exciting to look forward to fall football games, pumpkin patches and apple picking! These are my fall essentials! 

Boots // Every girl needs a fab pair of boots in her life. Whether they be classic riding boots, combat boots, bean boots or Hunter boots they are essential for fall! I just bought a pair of Frye riding boots and I’m obsessed with how versatile they are! 

Button Up // These are perfect for fall! I cannot stress how many ways you can wear these! Under a jacket or vest or just on it’s own it is the perfect everyday piece for fall. J.Crew Factory has super cute button ups (along with a gingham one that is now in my closet!). 

Military Jacket // In the fall the weather tends to be pretty mild, but it does get chilly in the evenings and a military jacket is the perfect way to keep warm. I bought one from Gap last year and I have worn it so much! 

Scarf // Scarves are the perfect way to accessorize without making a huge statement. I recently found a burgundy scarf from Forever 21 for only $5 (what a steal)! It’s the perfect scarf for the fall. These can be worn over sweaters, shirts, button ups even! They also add a fun touch over a vest! 

Quilted Vest // Unless you’ve been living under a rock you probably know how much we bloggers love the J.Crew quilted vest! I bought a navy one and I’m obsessed! I’m wishing for cool weather just so I can wear it! 

What are your fall essentials? If you like what you just read be sure to check out my blog A Sprinkle of Kate for more! 

Xo, Kate

Dorm Favorites by Natalie

Hi Prep On A Budget Readers!

My name is Natalie and I blog over at The PDX Prepster, Its nice to meet you all via this guest post. Hunter is one of my favorite people ; )

But enough about me, you probably want to know what qualifies me to give advice about dorm living. Well I spent this past year living in a shoebox. The tiniest of tiny dorm rooms, and had to make the absolute most out of my space. Funny how an apartment can feel like such a palace when just 3 months ago my "kitchen" was in my office that was below my bed. You get the idea, here were 4 little dorm things that helped me get through my year. 

1. An area rug- Ultimate necessity if you want your dorm room to feel more like home. Dorm floors are usually cold and hard. Do your self a huge favor and grab yourself an area rug. Your mornings will go 100% better.

**Split the cost of an area rug and other large items with your roommate to slim down on spending, allows you to splurge on other dorm goodies!** 

2. A few dishes- People will often say bring paper plates instead or don't bring anything at all but I found that a mug or two and a few utensils didn't hurt. I was always very popular when a pizza was delivered due to the fact that I had plates.  #win

3. Jars, bins and containers- You don't have a ton of space to work with, any little thing with storage will help you store all the extras. Bobby pins, nail polish, cotton balls, Chapstick, earrings, rings, headphones. All of these things need a place to go so think about what you can use to store them.

4. A Keurig- Or any coffee maker really. My Keurig not only saved me money (I'm an avid latte connoisseur) but it saved me time. Running late to class? Brewed my own coffee and took it to go. Stuck in a snowstorm with my friends? Instant hot cocoa bar. Working late at my desk? Decaf brewed in 5 minutes. So so helpful.

Best of luck with the new school year! 

xo, 

Natalie

www.thepdxprepster.com

More Info on Undeniable by Anna

Hey everyone!

It’s Anna from Undeniably Anna, and since Hunter is away and so kindly asked me to do a guest post, I thought that there would be no better topic than our big project, The Undeniable Report!

I have been getting a lot of emails lately, with readers continuously asking me things like when are we going to launch? how can I get involved? and what exactly is Undeniable now?

Well, I’m here to give you some answers and some updates on whats in store.

What exactly is Undeniable now?

For those of you who have read the fabulous issues of Undeniable that came out in May, June, and July, you know that we were an interactive online magazine. After Hunter would edit each article, she would send them to me and I created each layout in a word document. It was extremely tedious and time-consuming and I really started to resent it (after the night before our last launch date the entire file got deleted and I had to start from scratch and didn’t even sleep that night). But as time went on, the more and more we grew. One week we got over 10,000 views! I quickly realized that continuing on as a magazine was not going to cut it. I went to my dad for some advice, and since he has been in the magazine and digital publishing business his entire life, he knew exactly what needed to be done. That was the end of Undeniable Magazine, but it was also the beginning of The Undeniable Report. The Undeniable Report is going to be a website dedicated to stories on lifestyle, fashion, beauty, business, and more. There will be plenty of awesome features I can’t talk about just yet, but I promise it will all be awesome! (How could it not be with Hunter’s help?!)

When are we going to launch?

  

Initially, we were scheduled to launch on September 1rst, but then I realized it just wasn’t going to happen. So you can look forward to seeing the site up and running on October 1rst! Mark your calendars everyone!

How can you get involved?

 We truly have a place for everyone at Undeniable. So, if you are interested in writing, managing a social media account, working with sponsors, etc send an email to anna@undeniablereport.com and I can get back to you as soon as I get it!

I think I can speak for Hunter and I both when I say that I am so excited, not only to be working on this project but to be working with such an amazing team of girls. This really has so much potential to grow even more, and we couldn’t do it without you readers, and all of our writers.

xo

Anna

I'm Off to Camp

Since I am senior, I get to be a counselor at a local camp for the 6th graders.  I have such fond memories of going to camp in 6th grade myself, so I really can't wait to be back again.  It is kinda funny though because I am definitely not an outdoors person.  To be honest, camping kind of freaks me out.  It has to do with the heat and the insane amounts of mosquito bites I get-- it seems they just swarm me whenever I go outside; however, it looks like it is going to be pretty cool this week, so it won't be too bad.  Because I have a specific packing list for camp I thought I would share what I'm taking in my duffle!

Also, since I will be at camp, I will have some great guests posts throughout the week!  I can't wait for you to read all of them :)

 

What do you take camping?  Any suggestions for me?

 

Shop Six Twenty

After my International Princess Project post went live, I was contacted by Angeli, owner of Six Twenty.  I was so excited that she saw IPP's pin on Pinterest about my blog post and I couldn't wait to find out more about her company.  Once I read her initial email, I got on to find out a little more about the brand and I fell in love.  Six Twenty has some awesome pieces and is also all American made, which is so hard to find nowadays.

Another thing I love about Six Twenty is their price.  Each piece of clothing is crafted in the U.S.A and sold straight on their site, that way the price can be lowered for items that are of great quality.  A couple of the fabrics they use are silk and modal, both of which are really high quality fabrics.  The shirt Angeli sent me is absolutely fantastic!  It is a modal Crew Neck Tee in Pink, for Breast Cancer awareness of course!  This shirt is so soft and perfect for a casual look, which is how I chose to style it.  The only thing to be cautious of with the shirt is that it runs a little small and certain colors must be worn with a nude/skin colored bra; however, the shirt is definitely a staple to wear time and time again!

If you haven't checked out Six Twenty, I totally recommend you do.  Their pieces will become a staple in your wardrobe that you'll never get tired of wearing!

Have you heard of Six Twenty?  What do you love about their company?

GiGi New York Fall

Since GiGi New York is one of my favorite brands, I thought I would share a few of my favorites from their fall collection.  Every time GiGi releases a new collection, I always find myself falling in love with the colors and designs.  My all time favorite, however, has to be their All In One Clutch.  It is perfect for everything and there are so many great color choices every season; plus, they are a pretty good price when they go on sale at the end of the season.  Other than the All In One Clutch, here are a few other favorites from this Fall's collection!

Madison Crossbody/All In One Clutch/Keychain/Wallet

Are you a fan of GiGi New York?  What are your favorite fall styles?
 

Now, My Weekend Update

Sorry for the huge rant yesterday, but I was freaking out.  Honestly though, writing posts like that really helps me clear my mind and gets me refreshed so I can think of more to write.  That said, my weekend was fantastic.  It was well deserved, relaxing, and wonderful-- also, I got a bunch of college stuff done on Monday, so go me!  I think I have everything figured out for the most part, now I just have to get it done!

Anyway, here is a little recap of what went down this weekend and yesterday!

1. I got this Six Twenty shirt in the mail and cannot wait to style it for the blog!  It is so soft!

2. Seth has decided he wants to become a cobbler... just kidding, however, he does want to see if he can craft some shoes.  I will most definitely keep you updated on the progress of that.

3. Undeniable is starting to get so serious and I cannot wait for everything to be finalized!

4. Seth's sisters dressed me up this weekend and did my makeup,hair, and nails.  It was a little bit rough, but it was so much fun!

5. Lastly, as I am looking for college audition pieces, I have become obsessed with this song.  You NEED to check it out.  I think this might be the role I was destined to play on Broadway!

What was your Labor Day weekend like?  Anything fun happen?  I always love to hear from you in the comments :)

 

College Fears... Again

This Labor Day weekend was definitely a well deserved rest for me!  It seems like I have so much going on this year, and yes, I know I say that a lot.  Every post I write has been starting with "oh my gosh, I have so much going on this year!", but, I actually do!  All this college stuff is crazy and stressful and amazing, all at the same time.  I think the most nerve-wracking part about all this college stuff is the audition process.  I am applying to NYU, Juilliard, Boston University, NKU, and UC, all of which have extensive audition processes for the musical theater and acting programs I want to get into.

I feel like college just kinda comes up behind you and grabs you when you least expect it to, and that is how I feel right now.  I feel like everything is just coming all at once.  Guess what!  You have to have this in by this date, and, make sure you are prepared for this and that... and so it goes.  It is getting easier as I start getting more information, but I cannot wait to finally have all my auditions ready to go.  That means, at least this is what I think, that the most stressful part is over.  Once I get to auditions I get memorize monologues, which I love to do (and, I might add, I am not being sarcastic about that haha).  For most of the auditions I even get to sing and dance, which I can't wait to do.

My mom always says, the worst thing they can say is no, but that is the worst thing, no joke.  Not just the fear of failure, but the fear that all I have wanted to do for my whole life doesn't get me where I want to go; however, I know I am not the only person who feels this way.  I think all of us seniors, unless you are one of those lucky few, agree that college is one of the most stressful, yet most exhilarating processes of our life.  So, I am just going to do my best and try not to worry, well at least not too much.

How are you dealing with college fears?

P.S. This was supposed to be a weekend recap post haha!