A Week of Outfits

Even though I have been trying to post an outfit post once a week for y'all in 2017, I definitely feel like a lot of my outfits go unseen here on Chic in Carolina. I've mentioned this before but seniors at my high school are allowed to dress up in business casual wear in lieu of the uniform I've sported for the past three years (and different uniforms for elementary and middle school). On a day-to-day basis, I'm either dressed up for school or in workout clothes for barre class and nannying.

I shared one of these posts with y'all back in September and wanted to share another installment of it. Knowing I wanted to do this post really inspired me to switch things up and not wear my favorite dresses 8 million times on repeat, maybe I'll do them more often! Another thing to note is that I do tend to wear older pieces in my closet on a day-to-day basis so not everything featured has a link to it but I will add all of the brands!

Monday 2/20 OOTD: Faith Formation Class
Lou & Grey Dress (sold at Loft) ⎢Blush Tory Burch Miller Sandals ⎢Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace in Magenta ⎢Fitbit ⎢Similar David Yurman Bracelets

I had Monday off of school but still had my Faith Formation class to teach so I opted for a more casual outfit. I bought this dress from Loft last summer and it's so comfy- can't wait to wear it more in the coming months!

Tuesday 2/21 OOTD: Class

Lilly Pulitzer North Carolina Murfee Scarf (which I wore in my senior pictures) ⎢Lilly Pulitzer Mint Sweater ⎢Loft Pants ⎢Gold Jack Rodgers

So this outfit is very similar to this outfit I posted on the blog a few weeks back, only with navy pants to make it business casual appropriate. My mom and I have both been loving this outfit- she totally stole the entire outfit from the blog post for a dinner last week haha! Proves how amazing this outfit is!

Wednesday 2/22 OOTD: Class + NHS Induction

Loft Top ⎢Kate Spade Skirt (styled here) ⎢Kate Spade Heels (in the powder patent color) ⎢Monogram Necklace

I gave a speech at our NHS Induction Wednesday night as an outgoing officer so I wanted to look a bit more put together. This Kate Spade skirt is such a staple in my wardrobe (despite looking very summery) and heels really add to any outfit!

Thursday 2/23 OOTD: Class

Lilly Pulitzer Swing Dress (styled here) ⎢Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace in Magenta ⎢Tory Burch Reva Flats ⎢Similar David Yurman Bracelets ⎢Fitbit

I wear this outfit a bit too outfit but it's so cute, I can't help myself. This Lilly dress is definitely one of my favorites, which says a lot as I love my Lilly. I've worn it countless times to school this year and may or not have styled it the same way although it looks cute with riding boots as well.

Friday 2/24: OOTD: Class

Lilly Pulitzer Cardigan ⎢Lilly Pulitzer Iona Shell (styled here and here) ⎢Vineyard Vines Skirt (styled here) ⎢J. Crew Factory Necklace ⎢Nude Tory Burch Miller Sandals ⎢Fitbit

This skirt is another staple in my wardrobe and even though it's sold out at Vineyard Vines, it is available at Tuckernuck. I love Lilly Iona tops as well for warmer weather and really love how this outfit came together for a chic yet fun outfit for school!

What do y'all typically wear in a week? Let me know in the comments!

My Chic Week: February 17-23

Happy Monday y'all! So this post is going up a bit later than usual- I usually aim to have my My Chic Week posts go up on Friday mornings but last Thursday night, I had a ton to do for school and since I had a few assignments due on Friday night as well, this post didn't go up as usual. I decided to push the post till today so here we go but this week's MCW will go up as usual haha!

Two Fridays ago, my school had a dress down day so I thankfully was able to dress a bit more casually than usual, which was nice for a busy day. I had a few assignments due and then also nannied after school.

Since my trio to visit Clemson on Saturday (the 18th) was canceled on the last minute, I unexpectedly had the entire day free, which was really nice as I had no homework that weekend. My mom and I went to go shopping with our family friends, which was fun as we picked up a few baby gifts and then just walked around.

I found this mug at Francesca's and thought it was so funny!

After lunch, I decided to catch up on the Bachelor as I didn't get around to watching that Monday's episode till then.

We had some family friends over for dinner that night, which was a lot of fun. I wore the outfit from last Thursday's outfit post all day Saturday and loved wearing more spring-ish clothing!

 

Sunday was another laid back day and I started things off by running a few errands with my mom.

The weather has been so nice this past week so we enjoyed sitting out by the pool (not in swimsuits of course haha) for a bit on Sunday. Kona was hilarious as she kept on climbing up on the wall that surrounds the pool deck.

My blogger bestie, Riley of Northern Prepster, was driving south on Sunday to visit USC and I was so excited that her trip brought her right by my house haha. We were able to meet up for a few minutes, which was so fun! We met for the first time last spring break and even though we live several states away, we text all the time so it was so fun to finally to see her in-person.

After saying hello to Riley, I went to a barre class, which definitely kicked my booty haha.

After barre, I came home for dinner with my family and our family friends who were staying with us for the weekend. We had ribs and then for dessert, we had brownies with homemade thin mint ice cream, which was amazing.

I feel like I have been talking non-stop about the weather but it was so gorgeous and we spent some time Sunday night hanging out on the porch. Definitely makes me excited for spring and warmer days ahead!

I had Monday off last week, which was so nice as I was able to get a lot done. I woke up a bit earlier than I usually do on days off so I could go to a barre class before going to nanny for a few hours.

I picked up some coffee for my boss and I on the way and then went to the park for a few hours, which was a great way to soak in the beautiful weather.

After nannying, I ran a few errands and hung out at home for a bit before going to teach my Faith Formation class at church. I had a low-key night as I ate dinner, showered, and then watched the Bachelor.

Tuesday wasn't too crazy as I had a normal day of school and then nannied afterwards. My Kate Spade order came in and I was so excited- I ordered these heels for a few events coming up and I was so excited that I wore them the next day!

Wednesday was a fairly busy day as I had a project presentation first thing in the morning. I had a Calc test the next day so I spent the afternoon studying for the day before going to my school's NHS Induction.

Other my Calc test, Thursday was a fairly normal day for me. After school, I nannied, which was fun as we were able to go to the park for a little bit.

via my Instagram

Last week on Chic in Carolina:

A College Update ⎢Why I Stopped Drinking Soda ⎢5 Things You Should Do Every Night Before Bed ⎢Ready for Spring

Happy Monday!

Ready for Spring

Is it just me or are y'all so over winter and ready for spring? Even though North Carolina hasn't had super chilly temperatures this winter, we have had so many nice days lately that it makes me so excited for spring.

This time of year, I always get a little "spring fever" and just get tired of my winter clothes. This outfit is such a perfect compromise as it's suitable for warmer days but isn't let's wear tanks and shorts!

My sweet mom picked up this Lilly sweater for me during the last sale and it's so perfect for this time of year (and I found it online so it's linked below!). I've styled this Kate Spade top before on Chic in Carolina but it is honestly perfect for any season and I just had to add sandals because I was just too excited haha!

Top- Kate Spade (similar) Cardigan- Lilly Pulitzer Jeans- J. Crew (this year's version) Sandals- Tory Burch Sunglasses- Kate Spade (similar) Watch- Kate Spade Bracelets- David Yurman (similar) Purse- Tory Burch (similar)

Happy Thursday!

5 Things You Should Do Every Night Before Bed

About a month ago, I share with y'all 5 Things You Should Do Every Morning and I thought it would be great to do a similar 5 Things You Should Do Every Night. I love routines and especially at night, what I do right before bed definitely dictates when I get to sleep and how I wake up feeling the next day. Some are tasks or aspects of my routine that you may not of heard of before while others you probably have but sometimes you just need a reminder to do it haha.

1. Wash your face/take off your makeup
I know what you're thinking. Everyone and their mother tells you to do this but sometimes you don't care. Washing your face or at least taking off your makeup helps your skin look and feel so much better. I feel that whenever I don't wash my face as diligently, I tend to breakout more as well. Washing your face makes your face feel fresh and clean, which is so nice before going to bed.

2. Charge your devices (in another room)
Waking up in the morning and realizing that your fun is about to die isn't the funnest way to start off your morning so help yourself and plug your devices in before you go to bed. Removing sources of light is an easy way to get a better night's sleep so charging your phone in the hallway or where ever helps you sleep better and also for you to go to bed earlier as you can't stalk someone on Instagram for three hours haha.

3. Read for a few minutes
Similar to the last tip of disconnecting at the end of the day, I've lately been trying to get into a routine of reading for a few minutes before going to bed. Reading is a lot more relaxing that going on your phone or watching TV so it is definitely a great thing to include in your routine.

4. Lay out your outfit for the next day
As any girl knows, picking an outfit for the day can be very time consuming at times but picking your outfit the night before saves that effort as all you have to do in the morning is put on your clothes! 

5. Tidy up your room
This may be me being a clean freak but cleaning up the random messes around my room before going to bed is definitely helpful in starting off the next day fresh. Cleaning my room the night before, or at least putting a pile of laundry away, makes less for the next day and one less item on my to-do list.

What would you add? Let me know in the comments!

Why I Stopped Drinking Soda

Happy Tuesday y'all! This morning will definitely be a hard one getting back into the swing of things after a long weekend but the good news is there's only four days left till next weekend!

Today, I'm sharing a health related post that I've been wanting to share for a while with y'all. Right after the start of the new year my freshman year, I decided to stop drinking soda for a little bit, thinking either for a few months or whatever. I haven't had a soda since and I would definitely say that it's a great way to be healthier without a ton of effort.

from my Instagram

The empty calories

Some sodas have so many calories in them (like 200 calories for one soda) and if you opt for the zero calorie option, you add a ton of chemicals (which I'll talk more about below). Personally, I would rather "spend" my calories on food (or dessert haha) than mindlessly drink it in a soda that will not fill me up, which will lead to eating even more calories.

It saves money

Whether going out to eat or just at home, drinking soda definitely adds up. Water or other drinks, like tea, are typically much cheaper at restaurants so the money you save definitely adds up over time. Buying soda at the grocery store is another expense so it adds up as well depending on how much soda you drink. Cutting it out of your diet is a great way to be healthier and help out your wallet at the same time.

The Chemicals

A general rule of thumb is that if you can't pronounce the ingredients on the label, you shouldn't eat it. Sodas have so many chemicals in it and even though I'm not the most healthy person in the world and do eat packaged food and what not, I rather avoid it especially when it comes to soda.

Less carbonated beverages=less bloat

A bloated stomach is never fun and the carbonation in sodas and other drinks definitely don't help with that. Cutting out soda is an easy way to cut out some of the bloat you may feel.

The cravings

After not having soda for three years, I honestly don't want it anymore as it doesn't really appeal to me anymore. The first few months were tougher but now, I don't really feel the need to drink soda anymore

What do you think about giving up soda? Let me know in the comments!

A College Update

Happy Monday y'all! I'm so excited to have the day off today as even though I'm not doing anything particularly exciting, it's still fun to have the day off. As many of y'all know, I'm currently a senior in high school and it's starting to get to crunch time in terms of college decisions. I have two more schools to hear back from as well as some scholarships as well so hopefully I'll be able to share the final decision with y'all soon!

So now time for the update haha! I've heard back from two schools (at least somewhat) in the past few weeks so I definitely wanted to catch y'all up on that as I've been letting y'all know throughout the process in the past few months (as in this post and this post).

At the end of January, I found out I was deferred from one of the schools I applied to (I'll share what school later on), which honestly was disappointing as it's never fun to find out you're deferred from any school. I'll be hearing the final decision from there in April but it is a very competitive school in terms of admissions. Only five kids from my school got in so most people who applied were deferred.

Just last week, I found out that I was accepted into Clemson University and that I was accepted into their Elementary Education program as well! I am super excited and will be visiting this Friday. I said in Friday's My Chic Week post that I was visiting last weekend but we decided to postpone our visit so we could have more time to visit.

from my visit to Clemson last January

Thanks for reading and Happy Monday!

My Chic Week: February 10-16

Happy Friday y'all! I'm so sorry that this post is going up a bit later than usual but I had a lot of stuff due today so unfortunately this post was put to the back burner. But I think better late than never certainly applies haha!

Friday was another busy day. School was crazy as usual and then after school, I had a quick meeting before going to a barre class. I came home to grab my stuff and then nannied for a few hours!

Saturday morning, I was up earlier than usual to go to an 8 AM barre class. After class, I came home and then got ready for the day.

The real fun of the day was meeting of with Amy of Pastel N Pink for brunch. We went to Tulepo Honey Cafe in the South End neighborhood, which was so yummy! I had the Sweet Potato Pancake, which was amazing and Amy's meal look good as well. The restaurant was super cute and had some great people watching as well.

After brunch, we walked around South End and took outfit pictures (which y'all saw in Tuesday's post) before heading back home.

I had a fairly quiet afternoon as I worked on some homework, blogged, walked the dogs with my mom, and then went to Mass with my family.

Sunday was a relaxing day, which was nice after a busy week. I slept in and then later in the day, I facetimed with my blogger bestie Riley of Northern Prepster. We talked for such a long time and it was so fun catching up with her. After our call, I went to a barre class and then worked on homework, blogged, and ate dinner with my family.

A sign of a productive Sunday!

Mondays are always crazy for me and this one was super exciting as I found out about one of my colleges after school! I'll be letting y'all know more next week so stayed tuned :) Other than that, my Monday was very normal with a few quizzes, my Faith Formation class, and going to Pure Barre.

After school on Tuesday, I left a little bit earlier than usual to go nanny so I could go to Starbucks to look for the Lilly Pulitzer S'well bottles and to fill up my car with gas. I was so excited to find two left and to buy one of them. They are a bit pricy but I know I will get so much use out of it plus it's too cute that I had too.

I then stopped at the gas station to fill up my car, nannied, and then did the little bit of homework I had that night (second semester, I love you).

On Wednesday, I had a presentation due and then a test, which is always fun. But I also have a long free period on Wednesdays so it is super nice to get a lot done and be productive. After school, I nannied as usual.

A few of y'all on Instagram asked me if I love my Tory Burch tote and I absolutely do! Mine is the Thea Tote, which unfortunately is no longer available. My mom bought it for me while we were in New York last spring as a birthday gift and I use it all the time.

Compared to the rest of the week, I had so much homework on Thursday, which was a bit crazy and the reason behind why this post is going up later than usual. I had a seminar to go to during lunch and then I nannied after school.

I made these "hamburger" cookies for a project and they turned out so cutely!

On my Radar this Week:

1. College Touring! Tomorrow, I will be touring Clemson again (see my first visit here) with my family friends who came down to visit this weekend so they can visit a few schools. One of the schools they wanted to see was Clemson and since that is one of the schools on my list, I decided to tag along! Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter for any updates while I'm there

2. The Day Designer Midyear Edition is being released at the end of March and I think I'm going to buy one for my freshman year of college this fall. Be sure to let me know if you have a Day Designer!

3. Love my girl Riley's letter to freshmen as a second semester senior

4. One of my AP Psych assignments this week was to come up with 5 positive and 5 negative personality traits and to have 3 family members or friends do the same, which was so interesting to see! Definitely a cool exercise to do

5. Seriously loving the Lilly new arrivals! My favorites are this shift (graduation contender?), these shorts, this top, and this shift

This week's blog posts:

Fitbit Alta Review ⎢Mint Sweaters & Lilly Scarves in South End ⎢5 Unexpected Ways to Use your Agenda ⎢How to Use your Free Period More Effectively

Happy Friday y'all!