New Year, New You

As cliche as they are, I am a fan of new year's resolutions. Actually I'm a fan of every- day resolutions. I don't think anybody needs an excuse to reinvent something about themselves. However, I understand the practicality behind allowing yourself ample time to prepare for the beginning of your "resolution period".
Every year I fluctuate on my resolution (and staying faithful to it). A common one among women is to diet or to workout more, but staying true to that shouldn't come just within the time frame of immediately before or after the holidays, when you've eaten the most and spent more time at the mall than the gym. That's a resolution that should ultimately be a goal to attain, not necessarily an instantaneous turn around of your dietary habits. Another one that is really common among high school students is to organize themselves better. Time management and multitasking are difficult in high school... trust me I know. Often teenagers use the new year to rearrange lockers or backpacks, and hope that a more stable organization system will segway them into success in the classroom.
My resolution for this year? Since I'm off to college in the sunshine state I will practically be living on the beach! Which means a perfect tan but dried out post-ocean hair. Sun and surf are actually very damaging for your hair. Humidity causes frizzing and split ends and chlorine or salt cause color to fade and thin your hair out. So to prep my long hair- that I have been growing out tirelessly since sophomore year- I've decided to use minimal heat on my hair for the school year. This means no straightening or curling- GASP!
I've purchased some Bumble & Bumble serum to help repair my ends. I've also purchased some foam rod curlers which are the curlers that are sans heat and made for sleeping in. With these secret weapons I am going to learn to love my natural hair. Once I'm caught up in the craziness of college I will not have time to roll out of bed and do my hair for hours on end so why not start loving my bedhead now! No, it won't be bedhead, but it won't be pin straight or glamorously curly every day.
My resolution is pretty low- key but I am sure that every girl out there cherishes her hair the way I do and would love to give it some well- deserved R&R.
Lemme know your new years resolutions in the comment queue below! Good luck resolvers!

Happy New Year!

 

A "Picture" Perfect Holiday

There is nothing that makes me feel bubblier than holiday pictures! Pictures of all things Christmas-y have consumed my Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr for the past few weeks. So, I am spreading the holiday cheer by passing on my collection of adorably merry pictures.

Happy Holidays! 

Tis' the Season

Tis' the season for gift giving! Every year I struggle with finding the right gift for each of my family members and each of my friends. I aim to give gifts that are unique and special and truly indicative of my relationship with that individual, but I have to stay finance- friendly because of the low budget that my teenage salary puts me on.

For the ladies in my life:
O.P.I. is America's (really the world's) best nail polish line. The polish is known universally for it's clever. quirky color names and amazing quality. At any local Ulta, Sephora, or your local department store, O.P.I. is sold for $8.50 a bottle, making it a perfect gift for every girl in your life! I have been buying my friends different shades of O.P.I. every year, as the company produces newly inspired shades every season. This season the best- selling O.P.I. collection is the Skyfall line, inspired by the new James Bond movie. The colors are stunning and very versatile. A bottle of this polish will last approximately three years!

   Another cute and clever thing- that is hot on the market- follows a trend referred to as bracelet- stacking. It is wearing multiple bracelets at one time in an unorganized kind of clump with no necessary pattern or common theme. It may sound kind of unflattering and strange but it allows for a touch of character in every outfit. Currently Forever 21 and H&M sell pre-arranged bracelet sets for anywhere between $4.00 - $7.00.

This mixed set is from Aldo and Etsy combined totalling at $20.00 for all 8 bracelets.

This set is also divided between Claires and Forever 21 totalling at $25.00 for all 7 bracelets.











I am a huge believer in giving a gift that LASTS! If I can find something that is versatile and will go to good use for longer then a few months then I feel I have succeeded in the gift department. However, sometimes I take the easy- out and just go with a gift card. I find that a Target gift card can accomplish anything and everything! So it may just be the perfect gift for the guy in your life. Or, if you have the kind of man who cherishes experience- based gifts, check out Groupon.com. I have also been purchasing an inordinate amount of Starbucks gift cards this holiday season!

Why I Love December

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I wanted to share my most favorite things in the fashion world and why I'm so grateful that they exist in my wardrobe or on my vanity for this season!

1.Dresses
2. Red Lipstick
3. Mascara
4. Big, Cute, Comfy Sweaters
5. Perfume
6. OPI Nail Polish
6. Chiffon Skirts
7. Rings (and Blingy Watches :))
8. Sparkles
9. Blush (Specifically Chanel Rouge) 
10. Leggings and Printed Tights
11. Anything Lavender Colored

Funny how this list changes and evolves year by year...

The Trend That Stays...

Fall fashion season is drawing to it's yearly close, and true fashion observers are keen to see which trends will have longevity. Many trends are staying on the spectrum for next season. There is one trend that will definitely be staying in the spotlight for the chilly seasons this year: OVER SIZED SWEATERS!

Now it is easy to misinterpret this trend... By "over sized" I do not mean so disproportional to your body that it makes you look like a fuzzy abominable snowman. It should be "over sized" enough to wear comfortably with leggings or form fitting pants.

Prints adorning these sweaters range anywhere from cute Christmas related sayings- the classic "naughty or nice?"- to tribal prints, sparkles, crochet, and color blocks. However, be careful not to overkill the power of a print.  

Forever 21 seems to be offering the best selection of comfy, cute sweaters for affordable prices. Other prime locations (where I have personally purchased my sweaters) are PacSun, Love Culture, and Urban Outfitters. They also serve as great gifts for all the girls on your shopping list! 

Winter Whimsical

SHS is always an exciting place to be close to Thanksgiving break, but it can be hard to have fun when you're freezing. And, it’s definitely getting colder and colder by the day!

I have been lighting fires every night while I do my homework and warming up with chai tea. The last lingerings of Summer have definetley faded away by now. I have pulled out all of my knits, hats, and scarves and packed away my Summer swimsuits and shorts.

Key to beating the cold weather: lots of layers! My jean jacket is a key piece in many of my layering uniforms, as well as both my tan and black leathers. When it gets really cold, sometimes one of my North Face fleece sweatshirts gets bundled in too. If you can find a great jacket that is versatile you are pretty much set for the season. Boy- cut blazers and vintage band jackets also serve wonderfully as layering pieces in chilly weather. Plus, they are a dime a dozen at any local Forever 21 or H&M. 

Here are some Winter outfits put together on a whim: