Lately... (Part 3)

Happy Thursday y'all! I love posts where I'm a bit more personal with y'all so I thought it would be the perfect time to share another edition of a "Lately..." post (see my first one and my second one).

In these posts, I share a bit more of what's going on in my day-to-day life that y'all may not catch in my "My Chic Week" posts that go up every Friday morning. These posts are super fun for me to write and are fun to look back on later as well!

Eating... a few too many Girl Scout cookies! Our order just arrived the other day and they are such a perfect treat- Thin Mints are my favorites!

Drinking... coffee with vanilla creamer! I have AP Psych first period so I love saving my coffee to drink during class haha!

Listening... to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You", Zayn and Taylor Swift's "I Don't Want to Live Forever", and Dierks Bentley's "Black"

Wearing... this wrap I bought at my Pure Barre studio last weekend. I bought it on Friday and have seriously worn it just about everyday since as it is so soft and comfortable!

Loving... the unseasonably warm weather North Carolina is experiencing right now! Even though the Northeast is undergoing a blizzard right now, it has been in the 70s the past few days, which makes me so excited for spring!

Reading... The Vacationers! I have admittedly been reading this since Christmas Break but I really like it so far!

Watching... the Bachelor! Over the past few years, I have really stopped watching a ton of TV but The Bachelor is definitely my guilty pleasure during the week!

Needing... to make a trip to the mall. Ok, I don't need to but I realized I haven't been since November (!!!) and I have a few things I need to pick up (like a new brush head for my Clinique brush that's like a Clarisonic) and a few stores I want to pop into (hey J. Crew & Lilly!).

Excited... for fun summer trips! Senioritis has definitely set in and I cannot wait to travel this summer. My family is still finalizing our vacation plans but I think we're going to go to the beach at some point and then also head up to our lake house in Upstate New York. I'm hoping to take a trip to Charleston with one of my besties as well!

Wanting... these notecards, this sweater, this sleep shirt, this dress, this coat, this facial spray, this skirt, these colorful leggings, this top, this romper, this candle, and this dress

Hoping... for college notifications! The waiting game is killer y'all- I have a few more colleges to hear back from and then various scholarship notifications as well. I'll be heading to two schools for scholarship interviews and then I should hopefully hear back from all of my schools from April 1, a little later than I hoped but it is what it is!

What have you been up to lately? Let me know in the comments!

5 Things I Never Leave the House Without

During the school week, it always seems I'm on the go. Granted, I love having a busier schedule but I have definitely adapted to being this busy haha. I've learned what items and products are handy to keep with me to make full use of my time and to make things a little easier.

I love this style post of more of a look into my day-to-day life so let me know if you would want to see more similar posts!

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are one of those things you don't really think about until you need them haha. I always like to have a pair of sunglasses with me, even on rainy days, because you never know when you'll need them!

A Water Bottle

I seriously don't go anywhere without a water bottle. My friends jokingly make fun of me because I bring my Corkcicle (one of my January Favorites), a liter of SmartWater, and then my coffee with me every morning but I always want to make sure I have enough water haha.

A Sweater/Popover

Depending on the outfit, I usually bring a cardigan with me to school and then for nannying and just running errands, I either wear a popover or bring one with me. It's definitely helpful to have with you, especially if it's chilly out or there's a lot of air conditioning!

Lip balm
I swear I have a bottomless supply of lip balm between my purse and my makeup container in my room. My lips get so dry in the winter so it is definitely helpful to keep lip balm with you. Now that I'm thinking of it I should probably get rid of a few of those lip balms haha ;)

A phone charger
A bit of a disclosure here: I keep my car's phone charger plugged in at all times but it is so handy when you're out and about as often as I am. When I'm driving from one place to the next, I can quickly plug in my phone and let it charge during the drive, which is super helpful on busy days

What do you never leave the house without? Let me know in the comments!

February Wishlist

It's starting to get the point in the season where all I want is it to be spring. My Instagram feed seems so be full of sunny vacations, my favorite stores start putting out spring-ready clothing items, and I'm pretty much over winter (even though it's been pretty mild in North Carolina lately).

I love pulling together wishlist posts every so often (be sure to check out last's spring wishist, summer wishlist, and fall wishlist) for y'all as it's so fun to choose different clothing items that have caught my attention as of late and also to look back on what I loved (and bought) from past wishlist posts. Even though it's not spring weather yet, that didn't stop me from pulling different warmer weather items for y'all that I know will come in handy this spring (especially with graduation around the corner)! Be sure to follow my "wishlist" Pinterest board as well!

Tuckernuck Dress- This dress caught my attention a few months ago and I think it would be perfect to wear to school. So perfect for spring and would be so cute with a pair of gold Jacks.

Elsa Top- It's no secret I love Lilly Pulitzer Elsa tops and this one in one of the new spring prints is just too cute

Blush Bow Backed Off-the-Shoulder Top- This top is a bit more trendy that pieces I typically gravitate towards but how can you say no to that bow? So cute!

Navy and White Striped Millers- I have two pairs of Millers already but this pair is stunning, I mean they're navy and white striped!

Vineyard Vines Off-the-Shoulder Top- This top is just so darling- it would look so cute with white pants or shorts with a pair of sandals!

Sweater with Ruffle Bottom- I love that this sweater is spring-y yet still can be worn now. The ruffle is so cute too!

Kate Spade Heels- My nude heels have definitely seen better days and these Kate Spade heels are stunning. They're definitely pricy but I love how classic and chic they are!

Periwinkle Bell Sleeve Top- This top is so chic and ladylike and I just adore the periwinkle color! It's not terribly expensive so I have a feeling it will be added to my shopping cart soon

Shift Dress- I'm a sucker for a Lilly shift dress and this one is so cute! The colors are gorgeous and it is just asking to be worn on a beach trip!

What is on your wishlist right now? Let me know in the comments!

How to Prep for the Week Ahead

Mondays are never fun but lately I've found that there's a few things I can do over the weekend, especially on Sundays, to make them go a little more smoothly. A smoother and easier Monday is definitely a plus in my book, so here are a few of my tips and tricks for preparing for the week ahead.

It is, of course, now Monday so these tips can be done either on Sundays or even throughout the week!

Schedule your workouts

This has become a part of my routine since starting taking Pure Barre classes last June (see my post about my first 100 classes here) but at the start of each week, I schedule all of my classes for that week. Having my workout scheduled into my calendar helps me actually get to class and workout during the week.

Make a to-do list for the week

I find it really helpful to make a big to-do list with various action items you want to accomplish, like mail the birthday gift or order more moisturizer from Sephora. I usually also include various events for that week, like Tuesday: NHS Meeting. Making one big list is helpful because it helps me remember the smaller tasks I need to accomplish and put on my daily to-do lists.

Clean out your purse/backpack

During the week, my purse and school bag tend to accumulate a lot of junk inside of it. Removing trash, putting lose change into a jar, throwing away receipts are all great ways to clean out your bags in preparation for the week ahead.

Catch up on sleep

I always try to go to bed a few minutes earlier on Sunday nights as I know it will help me start the week off on a good note. Sunday nights I usually have a lot less going on as my homework is done and I don't have to stay up later to finish it, making it easier to go to bed early.

Update your agenda
My agenda is my life saver for keeping my life together (see how I organize mine here) and the weekend is the perfect time to update your calendar with events and deadlines that have come up. This makes your agenda ready to go come Monday morning!

Lay out your outfit for the next day

I don't do this every night but I find it helpful to lay out your outfit for Monday the night before. It saves a few minutes in the morning and also gets you excited for Monday because you know you get to wear the outfit you picked out

Clean out your inbox

I know during the week my inbox tends to pile up and just generally be a mess by the time Friday rolls around. Taking the time to sort through my emails, respond to the ones I need to, and then sort them into various folders (I did a whole post on email organization here) is a great way to be productive over the weekend. Starting the week with your inbox at 0 really helps to start the week off fresh and save a little more time as you don't have to do the cleaning on Monday morning

Enjoy "me time"
On busy days during the week, I don't always have time to relax or have "me time" so I always make sure to include that into my weekend whether that means painting my nails, read a book, watching an episode of Gossip Girl, or taking long shower.

Put away your laundry
You know that pile of laundry that constantly builds up in your bedroom? Sundays are the perfect time to put everything away. Not only will your room be less messy, it will always save time in the morning as you don't have to hunt for the one shirt you need to wear that day.

Accomplish one organization item
Nothing too crazy here- take one organization item off of your to-do list and do it. Whether it's cleaning your makeup brushes, washing your sheets, or cleaning your bathroom, do one thing to start your week on a more organized note.

How do you prepare for the week ahead? Let me know in the comments!

My Chic Week: January 27- February 2

Happy Friday y'all! This week has definitely been an interesting one with the beginning of a new semester and a new schedule and adjusting to that. Homework has been heavy some nights and light others so I haven't had a lot of time to work on this post, which is why it went up a little later than usual. Anyways, let's catch up!

As mentioned in Monday's My Chic Week post, Friday was the second day of my Senior Retreat and my roomies and I woke up earlier than we realized we needed to for breakfast. Even though it was initially annoying due to the fact we could of gotten more sleep, it was nice to sit with a cup of coffee and just talk with each other and other classmates.

The rest of our retreat was spent in prayer, our small groups, and Mass. Towards the end of the day, we all wrote affirmations for each other where we basically wrote each other notes. After going to school with some of my classmates for 10 years, it was so nice to tell each other what we admire about each other and also hear what our classmates wrote about us. Our bus was a bit late picking us up but we had some extra time to write affirmations.

After getting home, I caught up with my family as my grandparents came into town since my parents were in Hawaii for an event this week. My mom and I walked the dogs and then I enjoyed a low-key dinner with my family.

Saturday morning, I slept in before going to a Pure Barre class. After class ended, I picked up a juice from a local juice bar that was so yummy and a great way to kick off my day.

After being away for two days on retreat, I had a fairly long to-do list of things to catch up on so I spent most of Saturday morning and afternoon doing that. I nannied on Saturday night, which was a lot of fun!

Sunday morning, I was up bright and early to go to a barre class. I was really productive on Sunday, working on some blog posts, schoolwork, and other random items.

I made these cookie bars (from a recipe I found on Pinterest) Sunday morning and they were so yummy. Sunday night, I had dinner over at Annaliese's apartment so the cookie bars were a perfect dessert. It was so fun catching up with Annaliese for a while and then getting an early bedtime before another busy school week.

Monday was definitely an interesting day as it was the first day of second second (read my reflection on first semester here) and I started my new schedule, which has been weird haha. After school was busy as I had my Faith Formation class, stopped home to quickly eat dinner, and then go to a barre class.

Tuesday was a fairly normal day as school was pretty normal, I had a meeting during lunch, I worked on homework after school, and then I nannied.

Wednesday started off on an early note as my brother and I were up bright an early to go to a service project. School was pretty busy and then after school, I nannied.

from my Instagram stories

Yesterday wasn't too busy thankfully and I didn't have too much going on other than nannying after school and I actually wound up leaving earlier than usual, which is always good.

from yesterday's post

On my Radar this Week:

1. As I mentioned before, my parents have been in Hawaii this week, which has been making me miss our trip back in July so badly. Be sure to check out the recaps of the trip: days 1 & 2, days 3 & 4, day 5, day 6, days 7 & 8

2. Lilly released the first batch of their Spring collection the day and even though I'm not a fan of some of the pieces, I have found a few pieces I really like (such as this shift). What are y'all's thoughts on it?

3. I just downloaded this computer wallpaper for February and it is so cute

4. Sarah shared her proposal story on her blog this week and it was such a sweet post!

5. Brighton started a series on blogging tips with a post on finding your niche and it is definitely a must-read!

This week's blog posts:

My Chic Week: January 20-26 ⎢100 Pure Barre Classes Later! ⎢Halfway There (First Semester of Senior Year Reflection) ⎢January Favorites ⎢Shifting into February

Happy Friday and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Shifting into February

Happy Thursday y'all! I am so excited that the weekend is here as this week was my first week of class of the second semester, making it feel even longer than usual haha.

The weather here in North Carolina has been crazy as yesterday, when I shot these pictures, it was 70 degrees out! I love warmer weather so I am definitely not complaining but it is a bit confusing on what to wear to suit both the temperature and the season. I took my cardigan off for a few of these pictures and wasn't even cold that's how warm it is.

Moving past the weather and onto my outfit, I am obsessed with this shift dress that I bought at the beginning of January in the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale (which you can read my tips for shopping it here). This is the Cathy shift and I actually have another shift in this style from last spring that I absolutely adore. Unfortunately, Lilly's brighter prints aren't always appropriate for winter but this print is loud enough to be recognized as Lilly yet still in a more subdued color palate for the colder months, although I am planning on wearing it during the spring and summer as well!

Shift Dress- Lilly Pulitzer (similar) Cashmere Cardigan- Lilly Pulitzer (similar) Flats- Tory Burch (similar) Necklace- Kendra Scott Sunglasses- Kate Spade (similar) Bracelets- David Yurman (similar) Fitbit Alta

Happy Thursday y'all! Only one more day till the weekend!

January Favorites

Happy February y'all! January flew by it seems like and with the start of the new year brought trying out some new products and rediscovering some old favorites as well. I always like to start the month by looking back at the last's month's favorites, whether it be a clothing item, a beauty product, food, or something totally random! You can check out all of my monthly favorites posts here and let's jump into January!

January also has a certain motivation to it as it is a fresh start and coming back from Christmas, you are rejuvenated. January was a busy one for me as my school had our midterm exams two week after we came back from Christmas instead of before like we have in years past. This meant that January was full of studying, taking exams, and then prepping for a new semester- my last one of high school (be sure to check out my reflection on first semester here)!

J. Crew Striped Pajamas

My grandparents gave these to me for Christmas and I am seriously in love! They're so soft and comfortable- I have them in a size up than usual, which makes them a bit oversized as well. I seriously have worn them almost every night in January haha!

Drybar Curling Iron

In all honesty, I'm still in the process of perfecting curling my hair with this curling iron but I'm so excited about it. I had previously used a curling iron I randomly found in our guest room my freshman year and was definitely in need of being replaced. I went to the Drybar when I visited New York last April and thought their curling iron would be perfect! I really love it so far! This video is a great tutorial on how to use this curling iron!

Corkcicle

A fun story behind this one, I bring a water bottle to school with me everyday and used various Lilly tumblers the past couple of years. They break so easily and I've probably gone through at least 10 because they have fallen over and just broken. My mom knowing this continual cycle of breaking water bottles gave my sister the advice to get me a more heavy duty one for Christmas. She picked out a hot pink Corkcicle and put a monogram on it, which is so perfect!

Hunter Rain Boots
I've wanted these boots for a while and I was so excited to find them under the Christmas tree. They brighten up any rainy day and are surprisingly comfier than my old rain boots and my bean boots as well!

First Aid Beauty Moisturizer 
Not a new favorite, but with it being winter it has definitely come in handy lately. This is a bit pricier than your typical moisturizer but worth it for smooth skin!

Pure Barre Tank
My uncle gave this to me for Christmas and I have been loving wearing this to barre class. Even though it is cold outside, it gets warm in the barre studio so I am not a fan of wearing long sleeves to class in the winter. I love to wear this top to class and layer a popover over it for walking in and out of the studio. It also doesn't hurt that it is super cute!

Fitbit Alta
I am planning on doing a whole separate review post on my this product but after my Fitbit Charge (read my review for it here) broke back in October, I went a few months without a Fitbit. A few weeks ago, I was talking about ordering a new one and my mom asked me if I checked the warranty on my Charge to see if they would replace it. A few minutes with customer service online later, I was given a 30% code for any new Fitbit (I could of gotten a replacement of what I had before for free but wanted to try the Alta) and ordered my new Fitbit. It has been great so far and really does encourage me to do be a bit more active throughout the day!

Tory Burch Wallet
Another Christmas gift that I am so excited about! This wallet was featured in a few of my wishlist posts (here and here) and it has definitely been put into use since receiving it a few weeks ago! I love how classic it is and it is also big enough to fit your iPhone inside, which is definitely handy!

Vineyard Vines Skirt
During the week, I wear one of my J. Crew City Mini Skirts at least once a week (see how I styled my navy one and then how I styled my black one) but when I was in Florida over Christmas Break, I found this skirt in the sale rack in Vineyard Vines. I have seriously worn it multiple times to school and it is such a timeless style and so cute. See how I styled it in this blog post!

Target To-Do List
After my last exam a few weeks ago and going out to lunch with a friend, I decided to go for a Target run where I found this super cute to-do list. I mention to-do lists in like every single one of my organization posts and this one is so pretty and not terribly expensive either!

What were your January Favorites? Let me know in the comments!