Gift Guide for Every Girl on Your List

It's starting to feel like we're in the peak of holiday shopping, so today I thought I'd share with y'all a gift guide that's sure to include something for every girl on your list! A while back I asked y'all what kind of gift guides you wanted to see, and I received an overwhelming response mentioning ideas for every type of girl imaginable. So, rather than posting a million separate gift guides, I thought it would be way more efficient to give them to you all at once! This way, whether you're shopping for your mom, sister or bestie on a budget, you're sure to find something perfect! 

Friday Favorites

Hey y'all! Happy Friday! Today is my last day of classes for the semester, and I am PUMPED about it. I can't wait to start sleeping in and winding down both this weekend and throughout winter break. I still have a paper and two online exams I need to complete before I go home, but for now, I want to share with y'all all the new arrivals and sales that are worth shopping! Cozy sweaters and winter accessories make for some of the best gifts this time of year, so I made sure to include plenty of those below, too! 

The Most Charming Skirt Under $20

Forever 12 button midi skirt | Similar top | Calvin Klein bralette | Similar shoes | Madewell Transport tote | Pearl stud earrings | Similar necklace | NYX butter lipstick in "Root Beer Float"

Those of you who follow me on Instagram may recall this darling outfit from Thanksgiving. I spent the holiday in New Orleans, where the temperatures were much more tolerable, and I was ecstatic because that meant one more week of wearing my favorite fall outfits! I know it's December now, and this may no longer be the most practical thing to wear depending on where you live. But, I absolutely love it because it's so comfortable and feminine. Plus, my skirt is less than $20, so if I were you, I'd grab it now! 

Cyber Monday Gift Guide

Plaid blanket scarf | Velvet jewelry case | Faux fur robe | Tortoise hoop earrings | Pink chenille throw blanket | Marble circle earrings | Spotted crossbody bag | Sam Edelman boots | Balloon sleeve sweater | Voluspa glass jar candle 

Good morning and happy Cyber Monday! It's officially the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to celebrate than with some major sales?! I've never participated in Black Friday shopping, but Cyber Monday is my jam! Plus, thanks to the blizzard that plowed through Kansas yesterday, I've been able to spend this joyous occasion nestled in bed rather than in a classroom. So, basically, you could say this is one of the best Mondays ever. 

Weekly Favorites

Hey y'all! Happy Sunday! I usually post my weekly favorites on Fridays, but between driving home for Thanksgiving break and an internet outage, it just didn't happen. I couldn't justify skipping this post for another week, though, because there are SO many things I want to share with y'all – including tons of new arrivals and a can't-miss Nordstrom sale that ends TODAY!!! So, happy shopping, and I'll talk to y'all in a couple days from New Orleans!

3 Ways to Journal

The moment I sit down to journal is typically the most peaceful time of my day. I'll light a candle, put on some instrumental music and write about whatever is taking up space in head. Daily journaling is a habit I started my sophomore year of college, and surprisingly, I haven't stopped since. It began it as a way to make sense of all the thoughts going on in my head as well as a way to record my life in a manner that felt natural to me. Now I'm not saying daily journaling is for everyone, but I am a firm believer that it is one of the best ways to learn about yourself, capture memories and clear your head.

The Perfect Plaid at Public Hall

Top: Madewell (sold out, similar here) | Jeans: Bling (similar here) | Shoes: Gap Factory Chelsea boots (currently 60% off!) | Earrings: Kindred (similar here) | Necklace: Gold hammered necklace | Watch: Daniel Wellington leather strap watch | Lips: NYX butter lipstick in "Root Beer Float"

Yesterday, in an effort to solve my seasonal dilemma (Fall? Winter? I still don't know!) and hype myself up for a class presentation, I decided to swing by Public Hall – a coffee shop here in Manhattan. I've never been the biggest fan of public speaking, but recently, I've found that pumping myself full of caffeine helps me get through it better haha! Does anyone else do something like that, or is it just me?? Anyways, once I ditched my coat, I lounged around in this incredibly comfortable and versatile plaid shirt I've had since July. It's one of those pieces I firmly believe you can wear year-round and is perfect for a variety of occasions. 

The Perfect Dress for Fall + Winter

Dress: ASOS Corduroy shirt dress | Earrings: Kindred (similar here) | Shoes: Gap Factory Chelsea boots (currently 60% off) | Lips: Revlon Colorburst lip balm in "Sultry" 

Hey y'all! Long time no talk! If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I was busy in Chicago this past week. I'll talk more about that in a second, but despite it being a beautiful city, the weather was nothing short of miserable. Then, right after I got back to Kansas it decided to suddenly turn into winter! The snow we got yesterday is so pretty, but if you don't already know, cold weather is not my thing! So, is it still fall? Is it officially winter here? I'm not sure! But what I do know is that this burgundy shirt dress is perfect for both seasons! 

Friday Favorites

Hey y'all! Another weekend means another round-up of my weekly favorites! The cutest new arrivals just don't stop coming, and I've also started getting into podcasts, so be sure to check that section out, too! I'm not sure how exciting this weekend will be for me. I'm going to spend a lot of it catching up and getting ahead on class assignments because I'm taking a trip to Chicago next week! While I'm excited to go, it also means I'll be missing three days of classes, so I'll be putting in work this weekend to make sure everything goes smoothly. 

Fall Staples Under $30

Top: Abercrombie satin cami | Cardigan: Old Navy camel sweater | Jeans: Similar here | Boots: Sole Society (old, similar here) | Earrings: Gold hoops | Necklace: Gold hammered necklace | Watch: Similar here | Lips: Revlon ColorStay stain in "Parisian Passion" 

Hey y'all! Happy Friday Jr.! I've been doing a little updating to my fall wardrobe recently, and this black camisole is quickly becoming a staple in my rotation. The beautiful lace detailing makes it the perfect top to layer underneath cardigans, and at less than $30, you can justify getting one in every color! The satin material is so smooth, and in my opinion, the little buttons add the perfect feminine touch. It's been fairly warm in Manhattan lately, so for today's look I chose to pair it with my thin, camel-color cardigan from Old Navy. This is another piece that's just under $30, and for a comfy cardigan that be layered tons of different ways, it's quite the steal! 

Living in the Moment

I love blogging. I truly do. It's hard to put into words what I like about it, except there's few other outlets that allow me to truly explore my creativity and feel purposeful doing so. There's no other feeling like creating the perfect photograph, putting my thoughts into relatable words and being a part of such a supportive online community. Although, if you ask what my least favorite part is, the answer is easy. 

Tips + Takeaways From My Summer Internship

Hey y'all! This summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern at a digital marketing agency in Kansas City. As a print journalism major, it wasn't necessarily what I always envisioned myself doing, but let me just say, it was such a valuable and eyeopening experience that I'm now so thankful I jumped at the chance at. I know a lot of you are probably at the point where you're either searching for a summer internship or, if you're like me, hunting for big-girl job, so I thought now would be the perfect time to share a few of the biggest things I took away from the experience and some tips that could be helpful for those of you taking this step soon! 

Friday Favorites

Yesterday on my Instagram story I had y'all vote on whether you wanted to see my Friday favorites or read about my summer internship today. Well, the votes were so close that I decided to share them both! Honestly, I'm pretty excited that the votes panned out this way because there were so many cute new arrivals yesterday that I couldn't imagine not sharing them with y'all, and I feel like this is always a fun way to kick off the weekend. So, enjoy browsing some cozy fall pieces and be sure to give my post about my summer internship a read, too! 

Patchwork Cardigan

Cardigan: Red Dress Boutique multi-color cardigan (also available here) | Top: Altar'd State pocket tee | Jeans: Similar here | Shoes: Similar here | Socks: Similar here | Earrings: Gold hoops | Necklace: Hammered necklace | Watch: Similar here | Lips: Revlon ColorBurst lip balm in "Sultry"

It's officially the time of year when I can't go anywhere without someone saying, "I bet it's your favorite season right now!" Spoiler alert – it is, but what happened to the good old days when I didn't have to give my name every time I placed an order at Taco Bell?? Anyways, the leaves just started changing colors here in Manhattan, and I am loving it! If you ask me, fall makes everywhere look so beautiful! Also, the weather is finally starting to mellow out a bit, so now I can start wearing all my cozy fall sweaters like this adorable patchwork one from Red Dress Boutique! 

Friday Favorites

Hey y'all! Happy Friday! It's another rainy day here in Manhattan, surprise, surprise, but despite the weather, I'm excited for the weekend! From Homecoming festivities to relaxing at home, I'm looking forward to it all. I actually have all of my homework done prior to the weekend starting, too – a rarity recently – which makes it all that much better! Before I head off to my last class and put on my best cowboy gear for the parade tonight, I want to share with y'all my favorites from this week. This week's new arrivals are so good, and I already know I'll be adding a few of them to my cart later this weekend!

Madewell Silk Scarf

Scarf: Madewell silk scarf | Shirt: Madewell central shirt | Skirt: Red Dress Boutique denim skirt (on sale!) | Shoes: Similar here | Bag: Madewell transport tote | Earrings: Pearl stud earrings | Lips: Revlon ColorBurst lip balm in "Sultry"

I'd like to start today off by giving a little shoutout to my sister. She's been rocking the silk scarf trend for months now, and while I've loved tying them in my hair, I never thought I could pull them off around my neck like her! But, I'm happy to report that I styled it like my sister this week, and I'm loving it! Paired with a white button down and denim skirt, this patterned bandana from Madewell was the cherry on top of this transitional fall look! Madewell's silk bandanas are by far my favorite because they're so soft, come in tons of patterns and are the perfect size for any purpose – scarf, headband, hair bow, tie it onto your bag, you name it! 

Meet Aspen

If you know anything about me, you know I'm crazy for cats. They've been my best pals for as long as I can remember, but for my first three years of college, I had to live without one and gosh, was it hard! Now that I'm living in an apartment, I'm so so so happy to say that I'll never have to go without again! Which leads my into the whole point of today's post...

Friday Favorites

Hi! Happy Friday! Is it just me or did this week feel like the slowest one ever?! I'm not sure if it's because I didn't have to go to half of my classes this week or what, but at least it's finally the weekend! It's looking like it's going to be a rainy next couple of days, too, so I'm very excited to just relax, curl up in some blankets and continue watching Gilmore Girls. But, before I go comatose in front of my TV, I want to share with y'all a few of my weekly favorites! 

Fall Reading List

Contrary to popular belief, I'm passionate about a lot more than just clothes, and in the spirit of sharing more here on my blog, I thought I'd take a moment to talk about my greatest love: books. I've enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember, and the amount of books I can breeze through over the course of a season is a tad overwhelming. Over the summer I caught up on a bunch of older titles that I had my eye on for a while, but now I'm ready to share with y'all a few newer books I'm excited to dive into this fall!

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday y'all! I was looking through a few of my past posts to make sure I covered all the bases for today, and I hadn't realized the last time I shared my Friday favorites was in November!! That's crazy! I can't believe how many months I went without showing y'all the cutest new arrivals and awesome content other bloggers are creating. Thankfully, to kick things back off, this week is a good one filled with tons of cute summer clothes and other things I've been loving lately! 

Achieve Balance by Determining Your Priorities

Balance can be delicate concept. In one moment everything can feel perfectly aligned, and in the next, it can all feel like it's spiraling out of control. But despite its delicacy, balance is SO essential to cultivating a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Honestly, it's so vital that I decided to get out of my ~ writing comfort zone ~ and share with y'all exactly how I developed an unshakeable balance in my life.

Spring Staples Under $50

Raffia cross body bag | Bell sleeve sweater | Silk bandana | Flounced sleeve polka dot top | Denim jacket | Silk bow barrette | Smocked gingham tank | Suede sandals | Crochet one piece swimsuit

I have my fingers crossed for some consistent spring weather here in Kansas soon, but with temperatures continuing to fluctuate between the 30s-60s, I'm just going to stay cuddled up inside and online shop for pieces I'll *hopefully* be able to wear soon! 

How to Fight Dry Winter Hair

I try to heat style my hair as little as possible in my day-to-day life. I hate the sound of hair dryers, so I always try to let my hair air dry. But I also can't leave the house with damp hair when temperatures are freezing outside! Due to this dilemma I find myself blow drying my hair and heat styling it more than ever throughout the winter, and in years past it has led to my hair looking dry and exhausted. 

Cropped Turtleneck Sweater

SWEATER: Target turtleneck sweater (sold out, similar HERE) | SKIRT: Scoobie (available in stores or sarah@shopscoobie.com, similar HERE) c/o | SHOES: Target (old, similar HERE) | EARRINGS: Francesca's mini tassel earrings | LIPS: NYX butter lipstick in 'Root Beer Float'

You all know how a trip to Target goes; you walk in for one thing and come out with waaay more. Well this adorable and cozy sweater was the result of a Target trip gone awry. I walked in to pick up a tissue box, and the next thing I knew my friend Macy was holding up this sweater that I couldn't resist! Unfortunately, this exact sweater is currently sold out, but this outfit is super easy to recreate with similar pieces!

Rainbow Row

SWEATER: Impeccable Pig sweater | BRALETTE: Altar'd State bralette | JEANS: American Eagle jeans (similar HERE) | BOOTS: Hunter gloss rain boot | SOCKS: Hunter cable knit boot socks | EARRINGS: Pearl stud earrings | LIPS: NYX butter lipstick in "Root Beer Float"

One of my favorite sights while I was in Charleston was the pretty homes both on Rainbow Row and along the Battery. Walking by the bright homes added a cheerful vibe to the otherwise dreary day, and I couldn't get over seeing flowers in December the entire time I was in the city!

Rainy Day in Charleston

TOP: Urban Outfitters thermal | CARDIGAN: T.J. Maxx (similar HERE) | JEANS: Flying Monkey jeans | BOOTS: L.L.Bean boots | EARRINGS: Pearl stud earrings | NECKLACE: similar HERE | LIPS: NYX butter lipstick in 'Root Beer Float'

Rainy days typically put a damper on any outdoor plans, but my family and I didn't let it stop us from enjoying our first day in Charleston the weekend before Christmas. I braided my hair, slipped on my Bean boots and headed out the door eager to explore all day.

5 Step Routine for Moisturized Winter Skin

I think we can all agree that winter is brutal on the skin. Just last year I remember asking my roommate Macy how to get rid of the flaky skin on my face, and she introduced me to moisturizer for the first time! Oh, how far I've come since then... This winter I've stepped up my skin care routine to preserve and hydrate my face as much as possible with Saranghae's 5 step routine, and wow, my skin is thanking me! 

Rose Sweater + Junior Year Goals Update

SWEATER: J.O.A. off the shoulder sweater | JEANS: American Eagle jeans | BOOTIES: Target (old, similar HERE) | EARRINGS: Francesca's (old, similar HERE) | LIPS: NYX butter lipstick in "Root Beer Float"

Hey y'all! I'm back! Sometimes we all need a break, and between a lot of traveling and the holidays I thought this past month was the perfect time to recoup and get re-inspired. While I have quite a few posts in the works from my recent trip to Charleston, I couldn't wait to share with y'all this off the shoulder sweater! It's so cozy and warm, which has been much needed during the freezing days we've had in Kansas lately, and the rose color is so pretty, maybe even appropriate if we have a cold Valentine's Day this year! 

My New Year's Resolutions

"By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be." -Mark Victor Hansen

Happy New Year! For the first day of 2018, I took the time to lay out a few personal goals and aspirations for the year ahead. When I was younger I used to think of goals and dreams as only tangible things like a job, a husband or a house, but I've come to realize that they can also deal with the intangibles like the person I want to become. As I look at my 10 New Year's resolutions, I can see that I'm shaping this year up to be one of personal growth, and hopefully by sharing these with y'all too I can hold myself more accountable!