Style Me

I love a nice, clean, chambray button up.  Summer is the perfect time of year to dress up one of these casual "tomboy" shirts with feminine jewelry, a skirt, or a dress!

Clockwise from top left: 1, 2, 3, 4

The chambray shirt I own is denim, but I love the look of the red one! I've also seen some other bright colored ones at different stores, but I haven't had the courage to try one on. 

Most people think of chambray button ups as a fall shirt, but everywhere you go in the summer has air conditioning, so it is nice to have something light and breezy that still keeps you covered enough that you don't have to carry a jacket.

What do you think? Do you have a chambray shirt? Do you wear them more in summer or fall?

2012 Reading Challenge: Midpoint Update

So far, I'm two books behind for the year.  It could be a lot worse--I could be five behind in the last week like I was last year! I'm going on vacation in a few weeks though and should be able to breeze through a few while I relax on the beach. I've already got a few lined up that I am going to take with me!

I thought a good way to catch everyone up with what I've been reading is by going through my highest rated books.   

I'm not going to lie to you, this book was very sad. I cried for most of the second half of it, actually.  Despite that, I really really REALLY love this book.  It's so honest and believable and you really feel like you're friends with Hazel and Gus too.  It has really high highs and really low lows, but it is 100% a book worth reading, and you'll be better off having read it.

There are so many "If you liked the Hunger Games trilogy... read this" lists, but seriously. If you liked The Hunger Games, read this.  Veronica Roth is slightly older than me and yet she has created this fascinating and all-encompassing dystopian world.  I did prefer Divergent to its sequel Insurgent (released May 1), but they are both just so good.

Everyone I know who has read Steve Jobs liked it.  It took me a long time to read it.  It took me too long to read it, but once I decided I was going to finish it I was able to.  It is pretty slow starting out--in the pre-Apple days--but I found it a lot easier to read once he and Woz met and started Apple. It took me 3 months to get 1/4 of the way through and a weekend to read the last 3/4.

What are your favorite books that you've read so far this year? 

Key West Aloe

I was recently at Bealls shopping with my mom and noticed that they had some body products from Key West Aloe on clearance.  I have sensitive skin and I get sunburnt very easily, so I knew that I had to try these out!

Key West Aloe began in Key West, FL and is now sold in stores across Florida and online.  Besides being a good remedy for burns and sunburns, aloe has been clinically proven to boost the immune system, balance blood sugar levels, promote healthy skin, heal woulds, support the digestive tract, and enhance cardiovascular health. With all of these benefits, who wouldn't want to try  some products with aloe in them?

Clockwise from top left: Aloe Max 100, Key Lime Mist, Really Good Doggie Deodorizer Spray w/Aloe, Mango Hand and Body Lotion

Hiatus = Over

Haha sorry about that. I graduated (I promise) but am not going to grad school (yet) and only have a part time job (for now) so we'll just have to start updating this more often, won't we?

Things I Love Thursday: Free Food

I'm really lucky that I get so much food for free. I haven't been shopping for actual groceries since the second week of school (three weeks ago). This is my guide to eating free in college.

Step 1: Make Friends

Friends will invite you to parties where they have free food. Usually it's homemade too, which makes it a MILLION times better. Also, if your friend has a meal plan some schools allow them to swipe you in so you can use one of their meals. I don't know anyone who has used up all of their meals in a semester, so if you don't mind dining hall food now and then this is a good option. If you don't like dining hall food, you must have never tried the salad bar. Or pizza. Or dessert.

Step 2: Join a Club

Many clubs on campus don't require you to pay dues, and all of the club meetings I've been to have served food. Find something you're interested and go to the meetings to learn AND eat!

Step 3: Don't be Afraid of Lines

If there is a long line at a table or tent, that usually means the food they're giving out is good. It's worth it. Trust me. 

Super Bowl 2012 Commercials

I'm a Sports Business minor, so last night in class I got to talk about Super Bowl commercials the entire time. There weren't very many GOOD commercials this  year, and the overall sentiment with this year's ads was disappointment.  These are some of the ones I liked most. Try to find the common thread.

2012 VW Beetle

Sketchers

Budweiser "Here We Go" Rescue Dog

and my favorite...

The Coca Cola Polar Bears!!!

I really love animals. Dogs are my favorite (obviously) but these polar bears are just TOO cute! What was your favorite commercial?

101 Blog Posts!

Blogger keeps telling me I'm only at post number 99, but I went through and added up post numbers and yep. Post 100 was yesterday.

I thought about doing something interesting today and decided against it. The number 101 just isn't as cool sounding as 100. But there is one thing about "101" that I love.

101 Dalmatians! When I was little this was one of my favorite movies! Cruella DeVille scared me half to death, especially in the live action version, but the dogs were so cute that it made up for it. One of my friends had a stuffed animal toy of Wizzer, the dog who has lots of accidents. He would actually go to the bathroom (squirt water)... I was so jealous!

Things People Say

My own clean version of "Sh*t ____ Say". I'm obsessed with these videos. These are some of my favorites

"Sh*tuff Christian Girls Say"

This video is so accurate. My friends and I say stuff like this all the time.

"Sh*t Nail Polish Addicts Say"

This video basically sums up my life. And my friend Pam's life. We are nail polish addicts and don't care who knows.

"Stuff Orlando Magic Fans Say"

Best video ever. If you love the Magic (or love to hate them), you'll appreciate this.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, I thought I'd make a post about my two favorite NFL teams!

Even though my dad grew up in West Virginia, he has always been a Miami Dolphins fan.  When he and my uncle moved to Florida they started buying season tickets. We HAVE to like the Dolphins otherwise we would be disowned.

But if you don't follow football the one main thing you should know about the Dolphins is that they're never really good. I still cheer for them every week but I have another favorite team as well.

The Indianapolis Colts are my other favorite literally for one reason--Peyton Manning.  Peyton played at Tennessee and my mom's family is from Tennessee.  My mom and I are basically just doing our duty to UT by cheering for Peyton, but my dad thinks I'm crazy for liking two teams.

This year, I've basically spent the whole season being REALLY EXCITED about Andrew Luck.  At first it looked like Miami would get him and now the Colts are going to get him! I'm not sure if I'll continue to cheer for Indianapolis after Peyton leaves (He is literally the only reason I cheer for them. I can't stress that enough.), but Andrew Luck is definitely sweetening the deal.

Do you like more than one NFL team? Am I crazy? Should I keep cheering for the Colts (the answer is yes but I probably won't.)?

Also a random note, is it weird that I don't even like the Packers but would love to be a shareholder?

Candle Haul

I went candle shopping yesterday at Yankee Candle! I hadn't been in the store in a  long time and the ladies in the one by my house were almost rude! I think I will do my next Yankee Candle shopping at Cracker Barrel where everyone is nice and not pushy.

I did get two candles though! I don't think either of them are new, but they are both new to me.

The first candle I found was the small jar candle in Buttercream. Did you know that Yankee Candle's small jars last 25-40 hours? That's almost the same as how long the Slatkin candles last for me, and those are twice the cost! Buttercream smells just like buttercream icing. I really like sweet scents so I knew I had to pick this one up!

If you buy this online it's $10.99, but when I got it at the store it was only $5! This is from the Pure Radiance collection, which is supposed to glow differently than their other candles because it has a new wick. The wick in the small candles looks the same as the wick in their regular Yankee Candles though, so I'm not sure if we are being gipped or what.  The store was almost sold out of the small ones (because they were $5), so out of the few I had to choose from I liked Key Lime the best. It smells delicious though and offers up to 20 hours of fragrance.

January Favorites

As usual, I didn't make a video SO I will do a January favorites post on here!

This is the pink gel I used on my nails for most of January and I can totally tell a difference on them.  They are stronger, thicker, and breaking MUCH less than usual. My nails are naturally pretty weak but this gel coat has made them look and feel a lot better.

I think that this is my favorite B&BW scent to wear EVER. It is the right amount of vanilla with other sweet notes, but it doesn't leave you smelling like you poured vanilla all over yourself.  It's also HUGE. I got a bottle before Thanksgiving and even with wearing it most days and using it as a room spray it has barely been used. 

The cutest hand sanitizer holder I've ever seen. Best $5 I spent all month.

I could talk about each Bobbi Brown product I've loved this month, but that would end up as a favorites post all on it's own. I use (and love) the Corrector, Creamy Concealer, Moisture Rich Foundation, Blush (Desert Pink or Desert Rose--great for fairer skin tones!), and Bronzing Powder (Golden Light--also great for light skinned people!). I got all of it for Christmas and I don't know how I lived without her products!

Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadow in Tough as Taupe. When I'm having a lazy day I just use this as an all over lid color. It is great and really blendable for the first 30 seconds, then after that it stays all day! Great product from the drugstore, really worth the price!

When I'm not feeling super lazy, I can throw together an eye look in a few minutes with the Naked2 palette from Urban Decay. Another Christmas present, this product has all the shadows you need to create a cool-toned very neutral eye. I love the packaging, the pigmentation of the shadows, and even s, and even the brush and lip gloss that came with it! It's a really great product and although it's pricy ($50), you get 12 very pigmented and high quality eyeshadows.

Things I Love Thursday: Winter

I should clarify. I love Florida's winter.

NOT THIS YEAR THOUGH. It is in the upper 70s and low 80s in Orlando right now. I can't even wear cute fall clothes because it feels like summer outside!

Since it's Groundhog Day I thought I'd let everyone know I am hoping for 6 more MONTHS of winter, not just 6 weeks. It's still too hot in Florida. Eventually I will not be complaining about the weather. I promise.

Etsy Finds: Valentines Day!

If (unlike me) you have a Valentine you're probably looking for a creative and personal gift for them. LOOK NO FURTHER. I have the solutions to all of your Valentines Day problems via Etsy.

(via)

This banner is perfect to decorate with for any Valentines Day event! Whether you're just planning a dinner or having a huge party, a paper banner is a great crafty touch.

(via)

This print is so cute! If you have a girlfriend who loves tea and pink, getting this print framed would be a great gift that would stay out all year! Much better than chocolate or flowers that only last a few days.

(via)

Everyone should want to smell nice! This handmade soap is made from scratch and has a fresh, outdoorsy scent.  It's a gentle soap so it will even be good for guys with more sensitive skin. 

Springtime Nails!

OKAY I hear you. It isn't spring yet. However, I am in a very spring-y mood with temperatures in Orlando still hovering between 75-80 degrees EVERY DAY. It is wayyy too hot for it to still be January!

Anyway, these are my favorite spring-y nail polishes! They go from easiest to wear (right now) to things you should wait (if you aren't adventurous) until spring has officially sprung to wear.

Essie's Happily Ever After

Essie's Topless & Barefoot

OPI's Mermaid's Tears

Sinful Colors' Unicorn

OPI's Elephantastic Pink

You can buy the Essie colors and Elephantastic Pink (OPI) at Ulta. If you really like Mermaid's Tears (OPI), I'd look for it on Amazon--it was a LE release with the Pirates collection. Sinful Colors is sold at drug stores.

Almost to 100 posts... time to recap

Now that I'm nearing post #100 (consecutive days, I might add), I thought it would be a good time to recap what I've been posting, what's been popular, what I enjoyed writing, and what I am good at writing.

I've got a few ideas for new blog series that deal with school (getting organized, how to study, retaining what you read...), and I've got some posts sketched out for those topics.  However, I don't know if anyone would actually be interested in reading it.  Whenever I post about books I get fewer page views, and my nerdy stuff has the least page views of any topic I have posted on!

My most popular posts (which are Miss Piggy's Closet and Things I Don't Like That My Peers Tell Me I Should) aren't really the type of thing I post the most.  I actually really enjoyed writing those two posts (which make up about 10% of my total views), they just take a long time to write.  So let me know, are you guys more interested in seeing the more popular funny posts from me, would you rather see more beauty posts, OR do you like the nerdy stuff? Let me know and I'll post more of that as we turn the corner to 100 posts (in about a week!!)

My apologies

I've spent 10 hours this weekend at a freezing cold hockey rink.

I am a little sleepy and totally forgot I had a blog. Whoops.

Rediscovered Favorites

Some things that I have been loving recently that I loved LOTS before and totally forgot about .  Whoops!

Yankee Candles.  I have been so happy with all of my Slatkin candles (which are cheaper than Yankees most of the time) that I abandoned all of the Yankee Candles that I have loved for so long.  I'm pretty displeased with Slatkin & Co's spring collection for B&BW though, so I have rummaged around my room trying to find yummy smelling candles and BOY I am so glad I still have these! I have some leftover Slatkin candles form Christmas but once those are out I will be buying a few more Yankee Candles!

I took a break from painting my nails for about a month (OMG! I know, right????) My nails were breaking and that kept causing my nail polish to chip really quickly so I just wore a gel coat while trying to get my nails back up to par. They are finally starting to look and feel like REAL NAILS again, so I restarted painting my nails! The color pictured is Sparrow Me the Drama by OPI, which I got last May. It isn't my favorite from the Pirates collection, but I still love it! It's the perfect dusty rose.

I watched Arrested Development a few years ago (my freshman year in college... I feel like all that I think of when I look back on that year is the plethora of TV I watched. That really explains my grades fro back then.) and I haven't rewatched any of it until recently.  I'm not rewatching episodes, but I have been  watching several YouTube clips of funny moments from the show or "Best Of" reels.  It was a really funny show. I miss it.

January Non-Beauty Favorites

Mid-week next week I'll have a January beauty favorites video up on my YouTube channel, but I also (obviously) have liked non-beauty things during the month of January! 

I am seriously obsessed with QVC. Whenever I am bored or need a quick study break, I just turn QVC on from their website (you can watch them on your computer if you don't get the channel!) and spend 10-15 minutes with the host learning all about some product that I don't need. After you watch the pitch you feel like you really need whatever it is they are talking about!

'

Similarly, I'm still loving The Pioneer Woman. Her website is perfect for a quick distraction (one article) or a REALLY lazy afternoon (an entire category of articles). I watch her show with my mom and made one of her recipes (Citrus Butter Cookies) around Christmas. They were delicious. I recommend them highly.

I've started using a Keurig I got when I was in high school again.  Pressing a single button is a lot easier than using a hot water kettle to boil water, pouring it over a tea bag, then pouring out the extra water you had to add to get to the minimum. I'm not really a coffee drinker, but I do like the DD French Vanilla K-Cups. The Bigelow Green Tea are my favorite though!

I've been doing a lot of research on innovation for one of my classes (Entrepreneurship in Sport and Entertainment), and this guy keeps popping up everywhere. I think I've said before how much I love Apple (MacBook pro, iPhone, iPod shuffle, regular iPod...), and the more I learn about this guy the more fascinated I am by him. I'm currently reading his biography (loooooooong book), and even though he was a jerk to a lot of people, I still like him. He was an innovator, and if you want to be successful in the world today that's what you need to be.

Things I Love Thursday: Offices

Secret obsession confession time... I seriously LOVE looking at others' offices.  I'll look at anyone's office, I'm not picky, but my favorites to look at are those of famous people!

Einstein's office. This makes me feel better about the piles of paper that tend to accumulate on my desk!

Martha Stewart's work office. Obviously super clean and streamlined.

Will Self is a British author who I have never heard of, but apparently he is famous. He organizes his stories in post it notes, which looks crazy cool.

The office of another British author I've never heard of (but is apparently famous)  Ciaran Carson.   I especially like the tea and the bookcases!

I can't wait until I have my own house/apartment and can decorate the office area how I want. When my study space is pretty, neat, and organized, I enjoy sitting down to do work!

TOMS Valentines Collection

There are new TOMS. Obviously I am going to show you pictures.

PURPLE GLITTER. How cute! I love my pink glitters, and I think I would love these just as much!

Mint Metallic Linen Classics. My first pair of TOMS was a pair of light blue linen classics, and I loved them! I think they were my favorite pair ever... just so comfortable! These aren't really metallic, they just have a subtle sheen that makes them appear a little shiny.

Valentine Women's Classics. These hearts are too presh. I love pink so I think these would be great... casual but still totally adorable!

There are two floral patterns, but the Corbel Women's Vegan Classics are much brighter and more fun than the Pink Primrose. Honestly, I'm not sure how/when/where I would wear these, but I definitely wouldn't complain if they ended up in my closet.

Do you wear TOMS? Which of the new patterns is your favorite? 

Grocery Shopping!

I don't keep a full pantry at school. I basically live two places (home and school apartment), so it's not necessary for me to keep a full stock of every single thing I like to eat at school.

I keep most of my food on top of the refrigerator in my room, but I keep things like pasta in the pantry so they will be closer to the stove. I can get kinda lazy sometimes! This is what a typical shopping list looks like for me. I grocery shop for Diet Coke and usually 1 or 2 other items every week, but most of the list I shop for every other week/every 3 weeks.

Diet Coke (24 pack, two 12 packs, or three 2 liters and a pack of bottles)

Rice Krispy Treats

Clif Mojo bars in Peanut Butter Pretzel

Birds Eye Voila in Garlic Chicken

White Chicken Lean Pockets

Pasta Roni in Angel Hair with Herbs

Sabra Hummus

Stacy's Parmesan Garlic and Herb Pita Chips

Goldfish Colors

Materne Apple-Cinnamon Applesauce

White rice

Cheese

Prepackaged lettuce for salads

I don't do so well cooking ahead of time because my kitchen at school is always messy. One of my roommates has been known to leave dirty dishes with food on them in the sink for over a week, so I honestly use the kitchen as little as possible.

I really wish I had more time in my schedule to plan out meals and make things. I love baking, but my kitchen stinks (figuratively AND literally... because of the dishes) so it's hard for me to get anything done in there without getting frustrated. Did you have troubles with your kitchen in college? I feel like all I do is eat junk food. I really wish there were healthier choices that filled me up and were easy to fix.

Talk Nerdy to Me...

Y'all, I'm a nerd.

I'm not saying this because I'm smarter than everyone else I know (because I'm not) or because I work harder than everyone else I know (even though I do), but because I am genuinely a nerdy person. I like nerdy things. I always have and I probably always will.

For instance, I am obsessed with productivity. I am always trying to find the best way to be/stay organized and keep my life/papers/thoughts/computer organized too. 

Cal Newport's Study Hacks blog is my favorite. Just... period. It has given me a lot of great ideas that I've implemented in my academic life, including giving up Facebook, going on "autopilot", and how to avoid "deep procrastination".  His tips won't work for everyone, and some of them don't work for me, but they are all definitely worth reading about. He also does case studies about successful people and discusses ways to implement their habits into your life.

There's also my obsession with NPR. And my 50 book challenge. And (my favorite) The Washington Post Social Reader app on Facebook. It's okay to get on Facebook if it's to read the news, right?

Weekend in Review

So over this weekend I...

1. Took the GRE

2. Ate at Chilis AND Chick Fil A (my favorite restaurants)

3. Spent 10 hours working at my hockey job.

But numbers 1 and 3 are totally cancelled out because tonight I am going to Disney to see my friend who is visiting from Georgia!

Technically tomorrow is still my weekend, but I've got some project meetings and homework I'll be doing, so that totally doesn't count.

Hope all of you had a great weekend!

What I'm Reading: 1/21/12

This is all I read this week. I've been so busy with the GRE that I've been neglecting my readings (for class and pleasure, sorry mom!). Okay so I've done most of my class reading, but this is the only book I finished this week. I loved it. It was beautiful. If you haven't read anything by John Green before I'm not sure I'd start with this (just because it's so intense), but I recommend it very highly. I do cry when I read books on occasion, but I bawled through the end of this. Like, crazy crying on par with when I read The Notebook. 

If I was asked which of John Green's books to read first, I'd definitely respond with this one. Alaska is the kind of book (like TFiOS) that transcends its genre of Young Adult Fiction. Just because it's about teenagers doesn't mean it only applies to them. I read this while I was in high school but I will probably go back to it this year and reread it.

2012 Book Total: 2/50

GRE DAY.

Well everyone, today is the big day!

At 12:30 PM today I will sit down for what is quite possibly the most important test I will ever take.  The quite possibly is there in case I ever take the LSAT which is much more important.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, today I am taking the GRE so that I can go to graduate school and be a self-sufficient adult and stuff.

I'm a lot more mature than the people I go to school with but I still feel way too young to be almost done with college! WAYY too young to be going on and getting my Master's degree!  Can't I just live at Disney World until I'm like... 30? 30 is a grown up age. 20 isn't.

Yeah so this post is basically just me pouting about being smart and graduating early and doing things that normal adults do. I get it. I have to do it. But that doesn't mean I have to want to, right? Am I crazy? I seriously think I'm the only college student who feels this way.

Fire Alarms

As I sat down to write my blogpost at about 11:30 last night, the fire alarm in my building went off. 

Now this isn't the first time the fire alarm has gone off this year. Last semester my friend's roommate caught something on fire in their kitchen and we were stuck outside of the building for over an hour. I was miserable and swore that the next time one went off I'd take my laptop with me.

Guess what I forgot last night? My laptop.

Once I got outside (sans laptop), I decided to go across the street to the computer lab. I figured (and was correct in my figuring) that it would be pretty empty at almost midnight on a Wednesday night at the beginning of the semester. 

I had to print a syllabus out for one of my classes, but after that I started getting bored. They have some really cool group work stations that weren't in use, so I grabbed a keyboard and mouse so that I could try one of them out. It was so nice! I really want to use a TV as my computer monitor now!

At about 12:30 I got back into my apartment. No fire, just some stupid person pulling the alarm. With all the technology we have there should be a better way to determine whether or not to make everyone leave their rooms to go be unproductive out in the cold!

Rain rain go away...

It's so hard to get out of bed on a rainy day... whenever I have a hard time waking up I know it's going to be a rainy outside! It takes a while to pick out an outfit when it's rainy because your clothes will get wet and you have to sit through class in whatever you wear!

I always make sure I carry a tote bag on days when it rains. I usually carry a backpack so that I don't mess up my shoulders more than I did in high school, but in the rain it is hard to make sure that a whole backpack stays dry. You could even hold the tote in front of your body if your side is getting wet!

I like rain coats because they'll keep anything you wear underneath dry! I see too many people walking around in the rain without a raincoat OR umbrella! I usually have both, but if I forget my umbrella in the car I can manage easily just with a raincoat.  Duck boots are good because they aren't as bulky as normal rain boots... makes it easier to sit in class with those shoes on!

Home Decorating

There is nothing I find more relaxing than looking at someone else's house and seeing how it's decorated. I think that's why I love House Hunters so much! 

I dream about having my own house (or condo. or apartment) and getting to decorate it how I want! You know, put paint onto the walls and nails into them...

Organizing a cute little mudroom...

Having a HUGE porch (preferably with rocking chairs, but I'm not picky)...

Putting all of my books into a cute library...

Planting vegetables and herbs in the backyard...

And (obviously) having the most beautiful kitchen ever. You know, the simple things.

(All photos from Pinterest. Click the photo for its source.)