Comfort Factor

The worst thing about being a neuroscience major are the tests. Seriously. I understand that they expect us to want to know the material, but I don't know when in my life I will ever have to be able to recite the twenty amino acids or the glycolysis cycle. However, I can't exactly rebel against my Professor and refuse to take the test, so I've spent my weeks studying and cramming my head with lots of biology terminology. By the time the test came around, there was no way I was going to take it in any sort of actual outfit. Luckily, no one on campus bats an eye at probably the fiftieth girl that they've seen in a sweatshirt and leggings. So I threw on my comfiest shirt (with just a hint of sass), my trusty leggings, and a cozy pair of socks and boots.

(shirt - Brandy Melville; leggings - Lululemon)

(lipstick - Revlon in Cinnamon Spice)

(socks - Urban Outfitters; boots - Jeffrey Campbell)

Never Going Back

Hi there! 

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm the queen of impulse purchases. Specifically, those purchases you make when you're waiting in line and are surrounded by bins of pretty things. A few months ago, I was at Urban Outfitters, and sure enough, as I was waiting in line, I started browsing through their various knick-knacks. Although I managed to put most of the things I had picked up down, I couldn't resist picking up this brush:

It was blue, and pink, and I had vaguely recalled hearing that the brand was cool. When I opened it up at home and used it, it was love at first site. Normally, I'm not able to brush my hair when it's dry, because it ends up being a completely frizzy mess. However, one swipe of my Tangle Teezer and my hair still retained its wave. Needless to say, I was very impressed. I don't think I've picked up another type of brush since!
Lately, school has been very difficult. Having been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I've spent the semester dealing with various side effects and never-ending exhaustion. Plus, way too many bio tests. Therefore, nothing made my week more than receiving a surprise package from the lovely folks at Tangle Teezer. To my delight, I opened the box to find two other brushes from their line: the compact styler and the aqua splash. To say that they lived up to my expectations is an understatement. 

The compact styler has to be one of the most ingenious inventions ever. Seriously. It comes in two pieces, one of which serves to protect the bristles when you're not using it. Having tried way too many awful travel brushes; I was ecstatic to receive this one. I love to travel, and brushes always seem to take up half of my toiletry bag. And when you're backpacking through India, you want to maximize as much space as possible. I love that I can just throw this brush in my bag and not have to worry about the bristles. Plus, it's really shiny. Which is definitely a bonus.

 The second brush that they sent me is the aqua splash, which is a completely waterproof brush that you can leave (and not have to worry about) in your shower. 

Because it's completely hollow, you don't have to worry about gross mildew build up, which is fantastic. As someone who has taken to only washing her hair once or twice a week, I like to make sure that when I do, my hair gets a thorough treatment. Although I would comb my conditioner through my hair, I was always skeptical as to whether I was actually able to coat all of my hair. Plus, I seemed to always end up with conditioner residue. After using this brush, however, I am over the moon. I don't think my hair has ever been this soft, and it also felt like getting a mini scalp massage in the shower :) 

Anyway, I'm so glad that I was able to add these brushes to my arsenal, and I highly recommend them. Seriously, you'll never go back to normal brushes! I'm sure several of my friends will be getting these as stocking stuffers, and I can't wait to get my hands on some of their "magic flowerpots" for the girls I babysit!

Test Shots

Life has been crazy lately; it seems like I make page long to-do lists every day, and although posting on here is always on them, it unfortunately always seems to fall by the wayside. In what seemed to be my biggest attempt at procrastination yet, I decided to pull out the over the top makeup and goof around with my camera. Here are some selects :)

(eyebrows - avon's glimmersticks in tawny; eyes - face stockholm's kräm-ögonskugga in siden, mac penultimate pen eyeliner in rapidblack, chinese brand of 'hi-tech waterproof mascara'; Cheeks - benefit's watt's up, face stockholm for j. crew blush stick in pinched; Lips - face stockholm for j. crew in chili flake)

(Chipped nail polish - essie's tarte deco)

Whirlwind

Cindy Lou Who

When I'm at school, it seems as though I can wake up on a Sunday, and in the blink of an eye it will be Friday. Time seems to pass incredibly quickly, except for when I'm in Organic Chemistry. Consequently, I rarely find time to pull myself together, opting for leggings and a muscle tee over an actual outfit. But with the weather being so nice lately, I had to take advantage of it. Since I was running late to class (as it seems I always am....maybe I should stop taking so many naps), my top knot ended up making me look a little bit like a Dr. Seuss character, but I decided to just go with it, because hey, it kept my hair out of my face during class :) I promise I'll have more posts up soon!

(scarf - lf; shirt - brandy melville; shorts - american apparel; sandals - birkenstocks)

I am a horrible blogger

Hi there,

I have now been at college for exactly 5 weeks. It feels like I've been here for months. I swear I will try to write a real post this weekend (I feel like the boy who cried wolf over here!) but I have so much to talk about and so many outfits to share :) So, in the meantime, here is one of my pre- horrible Allentown weather outfits!

For the occasional sunny days here, a cropped tank and high waisted shorts have been my go-to outfit. Simple, and I never get sick of it.
(glasses: oliver peoples; shirt: out from under; shorts: american apparel; shoes: saltwater sandals)

Hunky Dory

My other big birthday present this year was a new pair of sneakers. I have a pair of Nike Frees that I wear to the gym, and I wanted to get another pair that I'd wear on a more daily basis. They weren't at the top of my list, but when I saw that Nike was doing a collaboration with Liberty of London, I knew I had to get a pair! I was able to customize them on the Nike website, and I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. Although they're a little bit more blue than I thought they'd be, they're super comfy and I know I'll get some good wear out of them! I forgot to take photos the two times I've worn them out so far, so some photos of just the shoes will have to suffice :)

Naturally, when I found out I could customize them, I had to add my favorite phrase to them!

An Inevitable Change

 A new school year always brings change. This year, the big change was getting glasses. Bad eyesight runs in both sides of my family, so it was pretty inevitable that I would eventually have to get glasses. Although I can see pretty well, they'll be helpful for seeing the board and driving. I'm just lucky I don't have to wear them all the time! I had to quickly find a pair before I left, and I decided on these Oliver Peoples. It's a frame I never would normally have chosen, but I'm glad they got them (and I think they make me look smarter!). So far it's been an interesting experience, and I hope I adjust to them soon!

(belt: grandmother's; dress: love)

Birthday Bag

One of my favorite ways to procrastinate is by online shopping. I love hunting for deals, and have been known to cross check items across many different websites. :) I'm also signed up for websites like Gilt and Hautelook, and when I'm really putting off work, I check my email for their daily deals. Awhile ago, I randomly checked Gilt and saw that they were having a Marc by Marc Jacobs sale. Never one to pass up an opportunity to get a Marc Jacobs back, I immediately checked out the sale. When I saw this bag, I fell in love. I've been looking for a nice camera bag for ages, and haven't had much success. Although this is still a little tight for my T3i and lens, I couldn't be happier! Even though this sale was months ago, we decided to put it away until my birthday. And I have to say, the wait made it that much better :) I can't wait to start using it, and my 19th Birthday is off to a very good start!

It's the prettiest dark blue leather!

I love the detailing - I can't stand when bags are over the top!

Life, Lately: Vacation Edition

In less than 12 hours, I will be back in Pennsylvania, moving into my dorm. It's crazy to think how fast this summer has gone, and I'm still not quite ready to let go of my summer mindset. For the most part, it was a great summer - I got to go to the beach for the first time in years, and I was kept busy with seeing friends and work. I'm dreading the idea of going back to organic chemistry and calculus, but I'm hoping that the transition won't be too bad ;) and since I just love Ocracoke so much, I can't resist sharing some photos from the trip! More can be found on my instagram, too :)

I will never, ever, ever get sick of these sunsets!

One of the best feelings ever: doing yoga on the beach in my blackmilk R2D2 swimsuit!

Maxed Out

I know I've been terrible lately with keeping up with my blog. I'm pretty sure everything I've posted lately a third grader could write, and I apologize for that. Coming back from vacation, I've plunged head first into the week-before-college chaos. My days have been filled with doctors appointments (some good, some bad), packing, seeing friends, and of course, some birthday celebrations :) It's been crazy, and when I come home I usually last five minutes before I pass out; which means that there has been little time for blogging. Hopefully I'll get back on track soon, and have a couple fun posts up. 

In New York, it's already starting to feel like fall. I've worn jeans the past few days, and carried around a heavy cardigan. Between the rain and the cooler temperatures, I feel as though summer is slipping away from me. And the weather is going to be even worse in Pennsylvania. So for now, I'll try and hold onto the memories of sitting and reading on the beach, and try to get some final uses out of my summer wardrobe. 

(hat: goorin bros; necklace: gift; tank top: brandy melville; skirt: brandy melville; shoes: saltwater sandals)

Basic with a Twist

A while ago, FACE Stockholm sent me a couple products to review. I wrote about the nail polish here, and the other product they sent me is their latest Dream Cream Eyeshadow. Overall, I was very happy with the product! It glides on like a dream, and the color stays all day. I was sent the color Siden, which is an opalescent grey-pink. Since Siden is such a light shade, it did require some building up, but the end result is a beautiful neutral that can be paired with anything.

Ocracoke

This week I'm finally back in Ocracoke, North Carolina. As much as I'm a city girl, there's still a part of me that feels most at home on the beach. My family and I used to go to Ocracoke every year, and this is the first year since 2009 that I've been able to go back. Whether it's taking a walk to the Pirate's Chest or Albert Styron's Store (abbreviated ASS, of course), buying my groceries at the Variety Store, or going out on the porch to find, gasp, actual constellations in the sky, I am so happy to be back here. I've been spending my days taking photos, reading on the beach, catching up on Orange is the New Black, and boogie boarding. More photos and posts will be up soon, but for now I'm enjoying my little bit of vacation before I head back to school! 

Not pictured: the lovely burn I got after one day at the beach!
(Sunglasses: Ray-Bans; Shirt: Urban Outfitters; Pants: borrowed/H&M Kids; Shoes: Tevas)

Holographic

When it comes to nail polish, I'm usually a creature of habit. I frequently fall back on my trusty bottle of Essie's Tart Deco, and if I'm not sporting that, it's usually a similar pastel shade. However, FACE Stockholm recently sent me one of their newest Holographic Nail Polishes to check out. I chose the shade Athena, which is a silvery shade reminiscent of holographic sticker sheets. At first I was a little nervous about trying such an eye-catching shade, but after trying it out, I am head over heels in love. 

(Nail Polish: FACE Stocholm's Holographic Nail Polish in Athena [c/o])
Apologies for the messy manicure - I was in a hurry!

Georgetown or Bust

 Last weekend made me realize just how much I missed my friends from college. When I'm not seeing them every day, it's easy to forget just how close we all were. Luckily, I got to feel like I was right back at school on Monday. I started the afternoon by I counting down the minutes until I could leave work, because I was so exhausted from all of the festivities. But of course, going home so quickly was apparently not an option :) I don't know how, but some of my campers managed to convince me to have a playdate with them. Somehow, I ended up at their house with another co-worker, and before I knew what exactly was happening I was being served Phish Food and being asked to play with dolls. It was a lot of fun, even though I couldn't stay for very long. My friend Gaby (who will be my lovely, lovely photographer next year at school!) and I had tentatively made plans to hang, and I was so excited when I realized we could actually go meet up at Georgetown Cupcake :)

Lazy Curls

In general, I am a very lazy person. Unfortunately, this means that more often than not, my hair gets pulled up into a pony tail, because I'll fall asleep with it wet and it'll be a frizzy mess when I wake up. There's nothing I love more than having my hair in beautiful braids, but I don't have the talent or time to do that on a regular basis. However, I may have finally found a way to make my hair look good with minimal effort on my part. A while back, I received a sample of Living Proof's anti-frizz styling cream, and I used it religiously. The only problem was that after I used up my sample, I threw away the container without looking at the name. Needless to say, I've spent the last year trying to remember the name of this product, and trying various other brands to no avail. Luckily, I got an email last week from Sephora, advertising Living Proof. As soon as I looked at the email, I knew this was it, and immediately ordered a full size bottle of the anti-frizz styling cream, along with one of Sephora's Beauty Insider Perks, which included several other products from the line. I received the products at the end of last week, and have fallen in love all over again.

 Usually, when I put product into my hair, it's easy to tell. My hair will become weighed down, or will appear greasy. This means that for the most part, I've given up on trying products, especially ones that boast the ability to make your hair shiny and sleek. Living Proof's products are pretty much the only ones that I can put in my hair. The products feel completely weightless, but manage to keep my hair in natural waves and feeling silky smooth. I've now found my favorite way to do my hair, and it allows me to compromise between having my hair up, and then having it fall down in beautiful, natural looking waves.

(nourishing styling cream; prime style extender; amp^2)

Flowers & Cutouts

I'm sorry for the lack of regular posting lately, it seems that even though it's summer, time has a habit of getting away from me. I spent this weekend seeing tons of friends (more on that later), but I did want to get in a photo of one of my planned outfits :) I bought this shirt a couple years ago, but I haven't worn it nearly as much as I should have. It's one of those shirts that seems to taunt me while sitting in my closet. I decided to finally wear it, and I'm pretty pleased with the result. I love the cut out trend, and this shirt is the only one whose cut outs actually seem to be semi flattering on my figure. 

Swing

As much as I love my work, it can get exhausting at points. So exhausting, in fact, that the only logical thing to do was to spend my lunch break doing a little bit of shopping to relax. Basically, I shouldn't be let into an American Apparel when I have store credit and am delirious due to lack of sleep. As much as I love my friends, they are not very helpful when it comes to getting me to not purchase things :) I walked out with this skirt, after my friend told me that it was impossible to own too much denim (and since I didn't own a denim skirt, it was definitely time to invest). I'm very happy I did, because it's hard to find skirts that are appropriate work length. By pairing it with winged eyeliner, red lipstick and a flowered shirt, I felt a bit of a vintage vibe, but that might only be in my head :) Needless to say, I think it will become a staple in my wardrobe, and I'm very happy my friend convinced me to get it!

(shirt: urban outfitters;  necklace: brooklyn flea; skirt: american apparel; shoes: converse)

Comfort Zone

Today was one of those days where the thought of putting on anything requiring effort was out of the question. I somehow managed to hit my head and subsequently sleep for 22 hours on Friday, so I spent my weekend in a sleep induced haze. The only somewhat productive thing I did this weekend was getting a haircut, which I was in desperate need of after a few traumatizing at home and salon dye jobs. Although today's outfit may not have been the fantastic one that my still professionally styled hair deserved, it was just what a semi-rainy Monday called for. Everyone has a different outfit that they immediately reach for when they're feeling this way, and I can say for sure that my go-to outfit is a tank top and jeans. Whenever I'm unsure of what to wear, I know I can fall back on my pretty extensive collection of graphic tees and tanks for inspiration. I'm pretty sure that I'm singlehandedly keeping Brandy Melville in business, because, on days like this, their graphic shirts seem to be the only thing I want to wear. Luckily for me, they're pretty inexpensive :) Also, sorry for the horrible photo quality today - these were taken after a very, very long day at work!

(tank: Brandy Melville; shorts: American Apparel; shoes: Toms)

FACE Stockholm for J. Crew

Before about a month ago, I never wore lipstick. A self-proclaimed chapstick addict, I felt that that was enough. I was always nervous about smudging my lipstick, having it on my teeth, having it bleed, etc. However, this all changed when I decided to randomly pick up a lipstick while standing in line at J. Crew. It was on sale, and I thought why not? The color looked pretty, and I did need to start stepping out of my comfort zone. As soon as I put it on, I was so happy I had decided to buy it. The color was "French Martini" and it's sheer, semi-shiny pink color perfectly complimented my skin tone. Of course, I was so excited by this that I immediately had to go back and pick up several more- at $4.49, they were a steal (and I was paranoid that since they were limited edition, I'd never be able to find a color like this again). I also decided to pick up the other two colors in the line, "Peony Pink" and "Chili Flake", to see how they compared to "French Martini". I am so glad I did, because these three lipsticks have definitely made me into a lipstick person.

left to right - Peony Pink, Chili Flake, French Martini