Looks for Valentine's Day

I like to plan ahead, which always includes my outfits, especially when they are for special occasions.  Valentine's Day is one of my favorite days of the year and I love picking out the perfect outfit for the day-- this year that includes a new dress from Anthropologie (I promise I haven't broken my resolution; I have spent no savings money!), some nude heels, Jo Malone perfume, and my favorite Chanel lipstick!

If you are still struggling to pick out your Valentine's Day outfit, or if you just want to get some ideas, here are a few looks I put together!

dress/top/pants/necklace/earrings/tote/clutch/flats/t-strap heels
I love that dress from Anthro.  It's not the dress, but it would be gorgeous for a more formal Valentine's Day!  The metallic ballet flats or the t-straps would look adorable, and of course the Kate Spade clutch-- totally wish I could splurge on that or the tote!

If you planned on doing something a little less formal, I thought a peplum top paired with pink pants would be perfect!  The metallic ballet flats would probably look best, or even a pair of converse; and, of course, you could pair it with the Kate Spade heart tote, which I have had my eyes on since the last spring fashion week!

What are you wearing for Valentine's Day?  Do you like to plan ahead?
 

 

Punjammies for Valentine's Day

One thing I love are gifts that give back and Punjammies is just that!  My mom and I first found Punjammies a couple of years ago while searching around for some different gifts and we instantly fell in love.  Currently Punjammies is offering a free set of Valentine's Day cards with every order and free shipping when you spend $99 or more; plus, your purchase helps the International Princess Project get women out of sex slavery, so it is truly a gift that gives back in the best way!  Here are a few of my favorites! 

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Punjammies would make a great gift for Valentine's Day or for yourself :)

Have you heard of Punjammies?

 

 

Sloane Tea

After following their Instagram account and researching a little more about their company, I knew I had to get my hands on some Sloane tea.  All of their blends looked amazing and I thought their containers were so pretty!  Lucky for me, Francois Payard in NYC carries some of Sloane's teas, so I picked up a tin for myself to try...

And, it was nothing short of fantastic.  Sloane's teas taste absolutely delicious and a teaspoon of leaves goes a long way.  I was able to use just that much for about three cups of tea, which is pretty great for tea leaves. 

Another thing I really like about Sloane, the quality they ensure.  Sloane takes pride in knowing that their teas come from some of the best tea gardens around the world, meaning you will be getting some pretty high-quality tea!




 If you are looking for a new tea to try, I definitely recommend Sloane-- you won't be disappointed!

Are you an avid tea drinker? Have you tried Sloane tea before?

 

A Girl Can Dream Right?

Ever since leaving the city, I now want two things, A Frenchie and a Louis Vuitton Speedy 25.  The Frenchie I could probably pull at one point in my life, but the bag, I know it will be one of my first luxury self-purchases!

 When I thought about it more, I realized just how great it is to dream.  I know saving up money to buy a handbag sounds silly, but once I get that first great job and have everything settled, getting something for myself that I have always wanted will be a great way to celebrate.

Although it is just a dream right now, it is dreams that get us through and help us achieve the goals we want in life.  Setting milestones for ourselves helps us get to where we want to be and makes the long steps seem even more achievable.  Giving myself the dream of having a designer handbag makes me want to work even harder to get to where I want to be and I know one day I will make it!

Keep dreaming because if you work hard enough, dreams do come true!

The Scala Rain Hat

It hasn't really been raining, but who doesn't love a cute hat; and this rain hat is just perfect!  I decided to wear it around New York City, as it is freezing cold, and it did just the trick, plus it looks adorable on-- think Paddington Bear, but for women haha.

Anyway, here is how I styled this cute hat!

 Do you have a favorite hat?
*this post was sponsored by Lipton Publicity*
 

A ModCloth Styling

With winter on its way (maybe??, since it seems to be coming late to Cincinnati), it is time to start layering!  For this little project I decided to use some clothes from ModCloth, and I was super happy with the items they had!

ModCloth has some great coats, sweaters, cardigans, and tons of cute blouses!  For this outfit, I decided to go for a french look-- think tons of pastel, bows, and feminine touches!  Fair warning though, this may not be the best option for someone in extremely cold weather.  I haven't been anywhere too cold yet, so this is definitely something I could see myself wearing!

blouse/sweater/trench/skirt/hat/heels

One thing that is great about ModCloth is their wide variety of items and designers-- I feel like it is one of those stores where anyone can find something they like!  I tend to lean towards more of their 50s, french inspired items because they are so unique!

The cute rabbit sweater over the blouse with the trench coat is seriously a dream outfit for me!  I think it is just too cute; and pair it with the heels-- I'm in love!

My personal favorite in this post, though, has to be the tulle skirt.  It is currently out of stock right now, but make sure you sign up for ModCloth and have them let you know when they get it back in stock because it is a great deal and super cute!

What are your favorite layers for winter?

*this post was sponsored by ModCloth*

 

On the Road

 via

Well, a short post from me today, as I am headed back to NYC!  I have about eight more hours left until we arrive and I can't wait!  This week I will be auditioning for colleges (super excited, but also starting to get nervous) and visiting with Anna.

Let me know if you have any breakfast/lunch/dinner options for while we are there!  We would love to try something new :)

 

The National Exemplar: A Local Cinci Favorite

I have had the wonderful chance of getting sick for what I believe to be the third time this year, and right before college auditions nonetheless; however, I have been trying to make the best of it and have been slowly getting better.  Luckily my parents have been a huge help!

Over the weekend they thought it would be nice to go out to dinner before we leave town, so we went to the National Exemplar, a local Mariemont and Cinci favorite.  We don't go out to eat to often, so this was a really fun experience and I thought it would be the perfect chance to share some outfit pictures and a dinner option, if any of you happen to be in Cincinnati!

This skirt is my absolute favorite piece right now.  I have repeated the outfit like three days in a row (once for work and twice for going out to run errands).  It is so whimsical and I just love wearing it because I get so many compliments!

Now, as far as the dinner goes, I really liked it.  The National Exemplar is known for their breakfast-- trust me it really is amazing-- but their dinner is equally as great and luxurious.  If anything, I would recommend getting one of their seasonal small plates, as they are about the size of a meal, but a little smaller, leaving plenty of room for dessert!

For my dinner, I tried their Duck Confit (a seasonal small plate) and it was perfect!  I loved the way it tasted and that it came with some fingerling potatoes.  I also got a side of green beans.  For dessert, a wonderful mixed berry cobbler with vanilla ice cream!

If you are ever visitng, definitely try The National Exemplar out and let me know what you think! 

A Healthy Me

 
If you know me personally, or if you have been following along for a while, you have probably picked up on the fact that I am not the healthiest person.  I really want to change, though, especially since my parents and Seth are worried about me.

Now, I'm not that terrible, but I definitely have NEVER made the healthiest choices throughout my life.  I don't like working out, I have always loved sweet things, and I haven't done much to change that.  I have been blessed with a great metabolism, so weight has never been an issue, but that can change very quickly.

Luckily, I am still young and I can still make the changes I need to make to be healthy.  From now on I will not be eating unhealthy options (maybe a sweet here and there, but not as much as I have been used to).  I am going to start eating more fruits and veggies, especially during my lunch, as that tends to be my biggest meal of the day.  

I honestly can't wait to get started, maybe I will even start working out eventually haha!  But, anyway, I do want to give Seth a huge thanks for being so supportive.  He was the one who sat down and talked to me about this the other day and it was just what I needed to hear-- thank goodness for supportive boyfriends haha!

What are your favorite healthy foods?  Anything I should try?  I would love to find some new recipes!!

 

When Your Boyfriend Goes Out of Town...

 (Ellie gets the struggle too haha)

It is always super weird for me when Seth goes out of town, and I know, that sounds pretty bad; however, when you spend so much time with someone, how can it not be odd when they aren't there?

Regardless, I have decided to make the most of it because there is really no point in moping around!  I plan on getting some extra hours in at work and getting tons of college stuff done (i.e. monologues, CSS, FAFSA, etc.).  

It feels like I am running out of time to get everything done and it is honestly the worst feeling!  So, here is to memorizing non-stop for the next few days, filling out all of my financial information, and getting sh!t done haha!

Have any of you been facing the college time-crunch?  How have you been handling it?

What Is with This Weather

I tell you, Ohio weather is crazy.  Last week we had a delay due to wind chills and below zero weather, and now it is raining; and, to top it off, we are going to be nearing 50 degrees by the end of this week, like what?!?!

Anyway, with the weather being so bipolar, there are certain pieces I always have on hand!  

Hunter Boots/Joules Boots/Trench Coat/Rain Hat/Umbrella

I think Hunter boots or some sort of rain boot is a must for every woman.  They come in so handy for colder, snowy weather and are perfect for rainy days as well; plus, they last a long time.  I had a pair of the kid's Hunter boots for three years before getting a new pair-- the reason I got a new pair: I dropped a milk carton out of the car, it splattered, got all over the boots, I didn't wash it off, the enzymes stained the rubber.  If that accident hadn't happened, I would still be wearing those boots 24/7!

I also recommend having a coat that can function as a rain jacket, or both a winter coat and rain jacket!  I can't even begin to tell you how many times a year I pull out my trench coat or my peacoat!

Hopefully the weather will calm down soon haha!

What is your weather like?

Time

While grappling for post ideas last night and munching on some popcorn, I thought to myself, it is amazing how much time I have spent thinking and not coming up with anything.  So, thus I came across the subject of time.

It is amazing how fast time flies; how what seemed like four, long, never-ending years of high school really felt like one; and how fast college auditions and deadlines came up, when they seemed like they were months away.  Time is so fleeting and so precious and it amazes me how much of that time we don't even realize passes.

With it being the new year and all, I have been thinking of trying to make the most out of 2015.  I want to be able to spend time with the people I love and I want to make a difference in the world, even if it is small.  I want to relish in every minute I have and try something new, and I think 365 days is a pretty good time frame to do that!

So, here is to time and a bright new day!

Dange Dover: Perfect for College

Now that it is 2015, I have started thinking about college even more.  Among all of the super important things, like the FAFSA and my auditions, I have tried to bring in some of the fun things as well, which includes what I might need for college.  I love daydreaming about my dorm and all the cute accessories I, of course, need in order to make it through ;)

One item that I can't stop hoping for, however, is a new bag.  After having the same backpack for six years, I think it is time for me to get something new and something a little more sophisticated-- that's why I love the Dange Dover tote so much.

This bag would be perfect for college and I could use it after college for work as well!  I mean, this bag holds literally everything, plus it is super durable.  And, not to mention, the tote is fashionable and sophisticated-- perfect for any college girl.  Now I just need to cross my fingers and hope my parents will go in half for it haha!

What is your favorite college bag?  Any other totes I should look at?

 

 

The Ideal Living Room

I feel like a lot of us plan our future apartments or homes, at least I do haha, and I thought it would be so much fun to create my own living room using some of my favorite stores!

For my perfect living room, I have always wanted something modern with a vintage twist and I thought Modani had some of the perfect pieces to create this look.  I especially love their couches because they make a great starter-piece and centerpiece for any living room.

I also used a few of my favorite products from my favorite stores to add a little personal touch-- here is my ideal living room... hopefully Seth approves haha ;)

Couch, green, pink, and grey/pink pillows, lighting, coffee table--Modani; rug-- Anthropologie; vase and 8 by 8 prints-- Design Darling; eye mask pillow and 8 by 10 prints-- History in High Heels Preppy Printshop; Mug-- Ashley Brooke Designs

I must say, I would be pretty happy if this was my living room.  I think the vibrant colors would be so much fun and I have always wanted my own gallery wall for prints-- I think Ashley's prints and Amy's photos would be a great addition to anyone's gallery wall!

What does your perfect living room look like?

  

Kate Spade Swim Collection

When I got the email that Kate Spade created some swimwear, I almost broke my New Year's resolution.  Kate spade is one of my favorite brands because everything they have is so cute, so of course their swimwear was perfectly adorable! 

I think I may know what I will be considering buying after my three-month hiatus!  Here are a few of my favorites!

Bow Bandeau Bikini/Beau Bandeau One Piece/Color Block Bikini

 Aren't these just the cutest?  The blush colored, bow bandeau one piece is perfect-- it's too bad I hardly go to the beach or pool haha.

Are you a fan of the Kate Spade swim collection?  What is your favorite suit?

 

 

So, How Was Vacation?

Now that I finally have things back in order, here is a little overview of my winter vacation went... It was WONDERFUL.  I hardly ever get away from work and Cincinnati, so it was great to be somewhere else for a change and enjoy a small break.

I had never been to Chicago (well, once when I was like five, but I don't remember any of it), and I must say I really like it.  The streets are so clean, the shopping is great, and most people we met were really nice and welcoming; however, I still plan to live in NYC haha.

We also traveled to Minneapolis, home to the Mall of America.  Seth and I didn't get any pictures because it was a) too cold and b) everyone, except us, got the stomach flu, so we didn't go out too much.  Nonetheless, Minneapolis is a really fun city and the Mall of America was pretty darn amazing-- it literally had everything!

Now for some pictures of the Windy City!

   
What did you do over break?  Any fun vacation details?