24th Birthday

This past Sunday was my 24th birthday, so I broke out these pretty little cupcake (no raging at the clubs over here - mostly eating) earrings for the occasion and celebrated all weekend long :)

On Friday I got a manicure for the first time since *gasp* my senior prom. I get pedicures regularly, but have always done my fingers myself... I'm thinking regular gels may be worth it though after having these fab nails for a few days.

A co-worker brought these beautiful cupcakes into work for me - they were red velvet and sooo yummy!

On Saturday my boyfriend and I went golfing, made a pit-stop at Kate Spade for these perfect little wedges, and then we ended up at one of our favorite restaurants, Mezzo, in Downtown Dublin. We always get the mussels & meatballs for appetizers. They're the absolute best. 

On Sunday (my actual birthday) my parents, grandma and I went to Molly Woo's for lunch after church. It instantly became a new favorite after Maggie took me there a few weeks ago to ask me to be her bridesmaid!

We finished the weekend off with cake, ice cream and a few presents. It was a wonderful birthday weekend and I'm so happy to have spent it with my favorite people! Now let's keep dancin' like we're 22....

Bobbi Brown (New + Old Favorites)

Well, this is what happens when you procrastinate buying new makeup... for months.

I hate spending money on makeup, but can't deny that Bobbi Brown is the makeup that works best for me. For the past few months I've been keeping my makeup routine pretty simple: foundation, powder, bronzer, and eye shadow, but I thought I would try incorporating some of Bobbi's newer products (as well as some of my old favorites) into my everyday routine.

The Bobbi Brown Art Stick is too cool for school. It's basically a giant, chunky colored pencil that you can use as lip liner (if you're into that), lip color, as well as blush. To be honest, I have no idea how to use this as blush but supposedly you can. 

I was originally intrigued by this because I have rather larger lips and find that regular lipstick tends to bleed a little outside the line of my lip, and this fab little art stick allows me to really get close to the edges and draw in the line. Plus, it's super cute. 

I rub my eyes a lot throughout the day. I know I shouldn't but I find myself doing it all of the time, and subsequently all of my eyeshadow rubs off onto my hand. Unless.... I wear Long-Wear Cream Shadow underneath my normal shadow. You can most definitely wear this alone as well, but I find that it works great to layer it underneath another eye shadow that you love ( I layer the Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in "Sunlight Gold" on top). 

I actually used to use this every single day, but completely forgot about it after I ran out and procrastinated buying a new one. I'm sooo glad this is back in my life.

I used to use Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner that came in a little pot that you applied with an extremely fine brush - I loved the gel, but the application time was extensive and I oftentimes would mess up and have to wash it off and start all over. Which is why I about died when I saw that Bobbi created gel eyeliner in a stick. 

It is PERFECT. I have such a hard time finding eyeliner that stays on (this stayed on all day + through my workout), has a thin tip, and is easy to use. Bobbi's Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner meets all my criteria. 

My FAVORITE J.Crew Top

Last year I bought a navy polk-a-dot top from J.Crew that ended up being my absolute go-to top by the end of the summer. It's one of the most transitional pieces of clothing I own in the fact that it can be worn with a statement necklace and patterned shorts or with the J.Crew Minnie Pants and a Schoolboy Blazer for work. 

I've been kicking myself for not buying all three colors when they were on sale last summer, so I was thrilled when the "Factory Tiered Lace Tank" appeared on J.Crew Factory this morning....

My favorite thing about this top is that it's got some weight to it - I can't stand all of the tissue tees that J.Crew has now, because I feel uncomfortable with how transparent and sloppy they look at times. You don't get that with this top, and the polk-a-dots are too cute.

Oh, and did I mention all J.Crew Factory new arrivals are 40% off?

Go snatch one up before they're gone!

#ShortHairDontCare

This "mini-makeover" actually happened two weeks ago now, butttt I never got a chance to tell you all about it! I had been contemplating cutting my hair  for a while, but I have a little anxiety when it comes to getting my haircut so it takes me a while to finally "pull the trigger". 

However, after a little encouragement from my friend Erica (Fashion Meets Food) and some Pinterest/Instagram haircut browsing... I finally did it!

For this cut I actually tried out my mom's stylist at a different salon, and told her I wanted some length off... and let her decide how much we cut off (terrifying). We actually ended up cutting about 5 inches off (more on the layers), and I am in LOVE with how it turned out. 

However.... I'm already counting down the days until my next appointment. I'm contemplating more of a classic bob look instead of the lob (long bob) that I currently have. All thoughts/ideas/opinions would be appreciated! 

Insta Lately

My life lately.... (via Instagram).

Working in Columbus' Arena District has really put me more in touch with the city I was born and raised in. Growing up I always stayed in the suburbs, but now I love going out and exploring/supporting Columbus businesses like Homage, The North Market, and Pistacia Vera.

(All of which tend to end up on my Instagram quite frequently).

I wore calf hair Kate Spade flats on Thursday, and then it snowed while I was at work... definitely not ideal conditions for flats and/or calf hair.

I also wore this J.Crew sweater on Thursday and was told the shoulder embellishments look like the angel the Grinch made for Martha May Who. 

I can't say I disagree... 

2013 Year in Review

I kicked off 2013 with my family in the most magical place on earth - Disney World.

That was my third time at MGM (excuse me... "Disney's Hollywood Studios") for New Years Eve and it never dissapoints. There is always a huge dance party at Mickey's Sorcerer Hat and fireworks in true Disney style at midnight.

In February I went to my first outdoor hockey game at Soldier Field in Chicago, and although Miami lost to Notre Dame it was such a fun experience.

Oh, and a few months later we finished our season as CCHA regular season champs.

In March I went to Siesta Key, Florida with my dad and brother for my last collegiate spring break. Surprisingly one of my favorite parts of the trip was timing my nightly runs so they would end with a sunset over the lake/pond... not quite sure what it is but there are definitely alligators in there (I may have had a close encounter which resulted in my run being extended).

On May 11, 2013 I graduated from Miami University (on a miserably cold day).

"To think that in such a place, I lived such a life." 

On May 20 I started an internship with my favorite sports team - the Columbus Blue Jackets (doing my absolute dream job). I LOVE going to work every single day and couldn't be more thankful that I'm able to do something I enjoy for a team I'm passionate about.

So this is a little shallow, butttt getting these shoes (for my 22nd birthday) may or may not have been a highlight of my year. They're just absolute perfection. 

Happy New Years from me to you - let's make 2014 a great one :)

Miami University Class of 2013

This past weekend I graduated from Miami University.  I majored in Professional Writing with a concentration in "Writing for Markets" and minored in Marketing, so I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. However, I have yet to receive the actual diploma (they only gave us the case) because final grades haven't been turned in yet....let's hope I didn't fail anything.

The family before the ceremony  - it was a really cloudy/chilly day, but thank goodness it didn't rain. I can deal with cold, but rain and my straightened hair DO NOT mix. The first ceremony was outdoors and was for all of the graduates. 

Officially a graduate in these pics!

My friend Kierstin and I had a photo shoot around campus in our caps and gowns - this was one of my favorites in front of the famous Miami lantern.

 

Later in the day I had my divisional ceremony, which was so fun because the majority of my friends were also in the College of Arts and Science, so we all got to sit next to each other for the ceremony and received our diploma cases one after the other. The picture on the left is of us waiting for the ceremony to start; our feet were absolutely killing us. 

Fun Fact: I took my wedges off during the ceremony (around 8:00 PM) and I had been wearing them since 10:00 AM....I went to put them on before we were supposed to walk on stage and my foot was too swollen to fit in. Thankfully I managed to jam my numb foot in the shoe and made it across the stage with shoes on.

Last Day of College (Classes)

Today marks my last day of college classes....in order to commemorate the event I took a "last day of school" picture and compared it to my very first day of college picture. 

First day of college classes (August 2009) v. Last day of college classes (May 3, 2013)

This is also proof of how advanced cell phone cameras have gotten - I think the first one was taken on an LG Envy Touch as opposed to an iPhone 5

I've been trying to soak up my last spring at Miami over the past few weeks. Not too many people have the opportunity to walk around what Robert Frost deemed "the most beautiful campus that ever was". You can definitely see why...

Yeah, we were randomly having a spring carnival the day I took this picture - nbd. 

My last, and only, final is on Tuesday morning and after that I will officially be done with school work...and on to graduation on May 11.  Assuming I don't fail Spanish.

Lately...

Things have been super busy for me with my new internship, classes, homework schedule, workout schedule, etc.... My personal life really hasn't been too eventful as of late, but I thought I'd update you on what I've been up to.

I've been wearing lots of bright colors to combat this dismal February weather

I've been changing my cell phone wallpaper on a daily basis - 3initials is such a great app

It's been snowing....and now melting

Like I said, lots of bright colors...

Watching lots of Miami hockey - there's only 3 more home games in the regular season :(

I've been missing my puppy so much. I make my mom send me a daily picture.

What have you been up to lately?

(p.s. you should follow me on Instagram)

My Last Set of Classes

I always find it interesting to find out what kinds of classes other people are taking since in college there are a seemingly unlimited number of classes to choose from. So since it is my last semester of college I thought I would share my last set of classes with you...

{Spanish 202}

Yuck. I really really wish I was good at Spanish, but after 4 years of it in high school and 3 semesters of it in college I have just accepted that it will never come naturally to me.  I'm actually surprisingly good at reading Spanish - the grammar and speaking part of it is just difficult for me. 

{International Marketing}

This class is getting increasingly interesting every time I go to it. In the class we are split into groups and have all been assigned a country (I'm Brazil).  Throughout the semester it will be our job to figure out how to utilize social media in our "country" for a specific P&G brand, and at the end of the semester we will present our projects to the actual P&G brand leaders.  

{The Literary Marketplace}

This class is really interesting - so far we have mainly focused on how the literary world is changing due to e-readers, but tomorrow we are starting a social media project (right up my alley). 

{Children's Literature}

So far we have read Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte's Web, Bridge to Terabithia, and Tuck Everlasting....while Holes, The Hunger Games, and other fun books are still to come - enough said. 

{Professional Writing Senior Capstone}

All seniors at Miami are required to complete a senior capstone, which is essentially a class that culminated everything that you have learned within your major into a giant class project.  We are still getting the gist of what our project is, but it sounds like we will be creating some type of elaborate trail map for a nature sanctuary using InDesign.

What are you currently taking? What was your favorite class in college?

....my absolute favorite would have to be "History of Western Dress" - a class I took freshman year for a required art credit that was all about the history of clothes.

Throw(way)back Thursday

I thought I'd have some fun and post some pictures from back in the day in honor of Throwback Thursday - I think I'm ages 4-7 in most of these pictures. 

I Instagramed this one today - it's one of my favorites.

Me with my three best friends growing up - Marisa, Jennifer, Ariel, and I

Fun Fact: Jennifer, Ariel, and I were each born exactly a month and a half apart (Jennifer = June 1st, Ariel = July 15, Me = August 30)....Marisa was a year older. 

Jennifer and I did everything together growing up. If I remember correctly this is from our first day of Preschool (we have play-dough in our hands). 

Ariel moved away so it was just the three of us in this first day of school picture (check out those shiny, white Keds). 

If you participated in #tbt link to it so I can see!

21st Birthday Recap

So Thursday, August 30 was my 21st birthday....

 

On Wednesday night a few of my girl friends and I went out to celebrate. I loved how everyone pulled up the world clock on their iPhones and counted down until it was officially "my birthday." The picture on the left is my last picture as a 20-year-old and the one on the right is the first picture of me as a 21-year-old :)

Thursday after classes my friends and I went out for a birthday dinner. Since school just started 2 weeks ago it was the first time we all got to hang out together, and we had a blast. My brother and his roommate even came out to celebrate - and Andrew (my brother) even bought my meal which I thought was very sweet.

 

On Friday, Andrew and I drove home for the long weekend and celebrated my birthday with my family, we had super cute cake pops, cupcakes, and....

....a Hello Kitty cake! 

My parents surprised me with a little blue box for my birthday present. The necklace is a little circle with an "E" in the middle, and I looovee it. It looks great with a lot of my new clothes (which I'll have to post about later this week), but I'm kind of irritated because it's already got some tarnish on it. I would have expected it to stay clean longer than 2 days....oh well, I'll just have to have my mom send me my polishing cloth :(

Overall, it was a great birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better few days!

Having Issues.

My J.Crew leopard top finally arrived from being on backorder when I was home for Thanksgiving, and I eventually worked up the courage to wear it. I really liked it, but I'm not quite used to wearing button down tops yet. I always feel like they make me look bigger, and look a little weird untucked. How do you wear yours?

Top: J.Crew, Jeans: J.Crew, Boots: Frye