Holiday Gift Guide: Men

For part two of my Holiday Gift Guide, let's talk about what to get the men in your life.

TIE | Ties are a standard gift, but lots of fun patterns and colors can make them a little more interesting. Opt for a festive Christmas plaid or a design with their university logo so that it's a bit more personalized to the individual. 

COFFEE TABLE BOOK | Some guys simply love coffee table books about their favorite things! Cars, movies, whatever they are interested in - you can find a coffee table book about it. I know some guys who could spend hours looking at these and learning more about their favorite topics. They'll make a great addition to any man's library.

CUFF LINKS | Cuff links are a super fun way to add a personal touch to dress attire. These racecar cuff links are so cute and I think they add the perfect silly touch without being too over the top. There are tons of great options for cuff links if you're looking to get them for the men in your life!

PERSONALIZED FLASK | For the over-21-years-old dude, a needlepoint flask is such a fun gift idea! I think it would make a great gift because it can be personalized with initials or even a picture of something they love, and it's not something most guys would buy for themselves.

WATCH | I don't think you can ever go wrong with watches. This one in particular can be worn daily and matches every outfit, making it the perfect piece. Plus, Daniel Wellington is so popular right now and his styles are timeless, so you know that it can be worn for years to come and will never go out of style.

BOTTLE OPENER | This golf bar bottle opener is super fun! It's so small which makes it easy to carry around on the go, and it's a bit more fun than a traditional and plain bottle opener. Once again, these come in a variety of styles - my friends have this one and they think it is absolutely hilarious!

KEY FOB | Guys always have a ton of keys and things to be carrying around, and I've noticed a lot more guys carrying keys on their belt loop or in their pockets. This monogrammed key fob can keep your keys in order, and easily clips on to a belt loop, duffel bag, or anything else!

SUNGLASSES | You can never go wrong with a pair of shades. The classic Ray-Ban aviators are great for guys because they are always in style and can be worn no matter what his fashion style.

WALLET | I've given wallets as gifts to guys before, and they are always a huge hit! It's such an essential and something guys get lazy about buying when their old wallet starts to fall apart, so it makes a fabulous gift and your guy will thank you!

COLOGNE | Once again, cologne is a classic. Having a signature scent is so nice and who doesn't love a guy that smells great? It's like a gift that keeps on giving - he'll think of you when he wears this cologne, and you'll have a guy that smells AMAZING.

Holiday Gift Guide: Women

Welcome to my Holiday Gift Guide series for 2015!! Today's post is all about what to get the women in your life, from moms to sisters, to even best friends or yourself.

PEACE SIGN DECOR | I think this is absolutely cheeky and adorable! I've been thinking about how I would want to redecorate my room at home or ways I may want to spice up my apartment next year, and I think this cute peace sign would look absolutely fabulous on a coffee table or nightstand. How cute!

RING | BaubleBar came out with a few rings along the same line as their Mason Ring, and I am in love with them. This style is great because it's so simple and has no rhinestones or embellishments, and yet it is unique because of its spacey design.

PERFUME | Perfumes are always a great gift to give because they can be very personal and there are so many to choose from. I love all of Marc Jacobs's scents and love the packaging too! If you're hesitant about what perfume to buy, I suggest the Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler so that your gift recipient can try out multiple fragrances and redeem a full size of their favorite one! 

PLEASURE READING | It's difficult to get pleasure reading done during the year when things are busy and people are in school. However, breaks are a great time to crack open a new book, and I think Mindy Kaling's book would be a great choice! I haven't read it myself, but I know that it's what I'll be choosing to read over winter break.

LUXURY LIPSTICK | For your makeup addict, a fancy lipstick line one of Nars's Lip Pencils would be the perfect addition to their collection.

BLANKET SCARF | Who doesn't love a good blanket scarf?! One part scarf, one part blanket, and in every plaid to exist. There's bound to be an option for everyone! And they keep you sooo cozy when it's chilly outside.

LACE UP FLATS | These flats are super cute and totally on trend. Great for any shoe lover, they will add the perfect touch of uniqueness and pizzazz to an otherwise simple winter outfit. They're also much more interesting that a Plain Jane ballet flat, making them totally worth the buy.

BOLD EARRINGS | I live in these Kate Spade earrings. They match just about everything and come in every color in the spectrum (even glitter). I don't know a single person who wouldn't love to receive a pair of these; they instantly make any outfit just a little bit dressier.

GEODE BOOKENDS | Another houseware purchase, geode bookends are unexpected but girly and whimsical. The bright colors add a pop to any room and they can really spice up a bookshelf or bedroom for an extra touch of chicness. These really get to the Environmental Science major in me *heart eyes*

SUNGLASSES | How cool are these Illesteva sunglasses? Their styles are becoming so popular with sunglass fans, and there are so many combos of frame and lens colors to mix and match. I love these bold green lenses because they give off a mysterious, X-Ray vision type look. I think Kim Possible could totally rock these.

JEWELRY TRAY | Jewelry trays are fantastic because they can be used in any and every way! Great for keys, earrings, or other odds and ends, everyone can find a home for a jewelry tray. The white and gold makes it super fab.

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Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!! Tomorrow is going to be a day full of family, food, and thankfulness and so I wanted to take a minute to remind myself of all the things I am so incredibly thankful for.

I am so happy to be home this week with my family, relaxing and spending time catching up in the middle of a hectic semester. The week is already flying by so fast, but I know that soon enough I'll be home again to celebrate Christmas and have a longer stay back home. Taking a "break" from work is really great and I love being with my parents and sister (and my brother of course, but he goes to school with me #woohoo #twinlove).

As much as I love being home, I have started to miss my friends back at school and hope that they have safe, healthy, and happy holidays with their families as well. I can't wait to see them again and fall back into our usual Tuesday night dinner, Sunday chapter meeting, and casual hanging out routine so that we can chat about everything that we missed while we were home.

Theta's formal is coming up the week we return to school, and so I've been thinking a lot about how Theta has shaped me over the past year. My outlook on life has certainly changed dramatically and I have learned so much about myself and my aspirations through Theta. I'm itching to get back to campus and go through recruitment on the Panhellenic side of things!! I hope that all the freshmen and Potential New Members find their home and grow to be as in love with their sorority as I am with mine.

It's been wonderful to take this week to reflect on the things I am thankful for and remember to appreciate things that I often take for granted. I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving and spend the day doing something fun! Do you have any cool Thanksgiving Day traditions?

Turkey Day

The past few weeks, I've been browsing the Internet with the hopes of finding the perfect outfit to wear on Thanksgiving. With hundreds of capes, red sweaters, jeans, and heels in all sorts of combinations, and after looking at every pattern of blanket scarf to exist, I think I've found the style inspiration for what I'm going to wear this coming Thursday. 

Pairing a tissue thin turtleneck under a sweater dress is not something I would have thought to wear, but after seeing it on Caitlin Covington, I knew that this would be the look to rock for Thanksgiving. Sweater dresses are great because they are 1) so in season, 2) always fashionable, and 3) save room for extras (and pumpkin pie!)

Here's a look at how Caitlin wore this outfit: 

(source)

I am such a fan of this look and know that I will be wearing it again and again once I'm back to school for those chilly autumn days at the end of the semester! I'll even throw on black tights and a chunky scarf for when it gets really cold. How do you like to stay warm fashionably?

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Pout or Polish?

I was thinking the other day about just how much I hate red nail polish. I can't tell you why, and I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to why this is, but I just absolutely don't understand the idea of wearing bright red nail polish on your fingers. I have plenty of friends who love the shade, and more power to them, but I can't remember a single time when I've walked into the nail salon and thought, "Huh, I think I'll get red nail polish today." 

This got me thinking about how I choose to embrace boldness as part of my beauty routine, and I realized that I would much prefer to rock a bold lip than a bedazzled manicure. While I still shy away from dark lips sometimes because I feel as though they are so attention-drawing in a school setting, I do love putting a dark berry or wine, bright reds, and all shades of hot pink on my lips.

Yet when it comes to my nails, I almost always opt for a neutral shade. Even in the summer time, I tend to reach for Mod About You by OPI instead of a hot pink or coral (The bright, almost white-ish pink looks amazing with a tan!!). Beiges, grays, and neutral darks are my go-to nail polish shades most of the time. Just ask my mom, who literally hunted down Essie's Spin the Bottle after I realized it was the perfect nude.

Whether you choose to deck out your lips or your nails, the fall is a great time to experiment and try something new. Who knows, maybe I'll even opt for a red mani?!

Which do you prefer - fun lipsticks or unique nail polish?

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Sleep Chic + Stay Cozy

Today I'm talking about my favorite ways to have a comfortable, cozy night in during the winter time. In just a few weeks, I'll be home for winter break and it's insane how quickly this semester has flown by!! For nice relaxing nights this winter, here are some of my favorite tips.

ONE | Pick up a good book

I never have much time for pleasure reading during the school year, but when I'm home for breaks I enjoy reading things that aren't for school. This winter, I hope to finally read Mindy Kaling's books - I've heard so many great things from friends!

TWO | Pamper yourself with new makeup and beauty products

I don't know about you, but buying new makeup is always so fun for me. Especially during the winter time, it's so nice to purchase a new dark lipstick, a great new body lotion (#dryskin), or an amazing bath product. 

THREE | Host a girl's night in with your friends

Having a fun night with friends to simply eat snacks, watch movies, gossip, pamper, and be girly is always needed when you're home for breaks. I love having little Christmas or holiday get-togethers with my girlfriends and staying cozy during our time home.

FOUR | Treat yourself to luxurious sleepwear

I recently came across the website Adore Me, which has an extensive line of lingerie, undergarments, sleepwear, and more! With just a few clicks through a short quiz, you're signed up for their monthly subscription service to all things lingerie and sleepwear! Having beautiful new pajamas or underwear always makes me feel chic when I'm getting ready for bed. I picked out a few of my favorite items above, from robes to lounge pants to pajama sets! Pajama sets are my absolute favorite in the winter time for staying warm and looking chic. I always opt for a pajama set on Christmas morning and they make me feel so grown up (yay adulting).

FIVE | Chill out with some Netflix

There is nothing better than a good movie or TV show for having a cozy night in during the winter time. I'm working my way through Gilmore Girls (yes I still haven't finished), and I can NOT wait to watch it more once I am home. Having a go to show or movie is one of my favorite things to do when I just want some nice, quiet alone time. Add blankets and you're all set!

SIX | Build a warm fire

If you think there is anything better than a warm fire in the winter time, you're absolutely wrong. Fires are the epitome of coziness and winter warmth, and building a fire is a great way to get comfortable and relax before bedtime. The sound of a fire crackling and glowing the the background while I'm cuddled on the couch or bed is my idea of the perfect winter night inside.

SEVEN | Try a new winter beverage

Instead of opting for your usual tea or coffee, there are so many incredible ways to spice up your drink this winter time. A warm tea or coffee with the right add-ins can take your drink to a whole new level and keep you warm from the inside out. I love beverages with cinnamon, peppermint, or gingerbread in the winter, and there are so many different drinks to try, either at your local coffee shop or at home! Experiment with something new and you just might find your new go-to winter drink.

Christmas Playlist

If you're anything like me, you love Christmas time!! I wanted to share my Spotify Christmas playlist with you all because I'm pretty sure it's on point and the most comprehensive list of every song that exists.. Let me know if there are any great Christmas songs missing.

Which do you prefer - modern versions or the old school originals for Christmas songs? I prefer the originals! One of my favorite Christmas songs is O Come All Ye Faithful sung in Latin by Nat King Cole (and of course anything sung by Josh Groban!)

How To: Pack Light for a Week at Home (Thanksgiving Edition)

For a week home over the holidays, there's no need to pack 100 different outfits for every day! These twelve pieces will have you covered from the train ride home all the way through the Thanksgiving turkey and Black Friday shopping!

DAY ONE // Black turtleneck, Dark wash jeans, Cape or Plaid blanket scarf, Black booties

DAY TWO // Pink fuzzy sweater, Suede skirt, Riding boots

DAY THREE // Cable knit sweater, Plaid pants, Riding boots

DAY FOUR // Pink fuzzy sweater, Dark wash jeans, Tassel necklace, Black booties

DAY FIVE // Black turtleneck, Suede skirt, Black booties

DAY SIX // Cable knit sweater, Dark wash jeans, Riding boots

DAY SEVEN // Black turtleneck, Plaid pants, Black booties

And of course, for an autumnal touch, add in dark lipstick when you see fit! My favorite dark lip is Black Cherry by Revlon.

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I am so so so excited to go home and have lots of turkey and stuffing! What's your favorite Thanksgiving food? Also do y'all have any good book suggestions for the upcoming winter break?

Fall Fancy

This past weekend my Theta chapter decided to have our fall photoshoot. We all dressed in maroon and mustard (I was one of the few who dared to wear this quirky yellow shade), and the photos came out unbelievably cute! We took the photos from 3-5 PM, right during the Golden Hour, and the lighting was so great that my friends decided I needed blog photos then and there. Thank you so much to Kate who took these beautiful photos!! 

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I love this outfit so much because it combines a few things I really love for the colder months - big plaid, turtlenecks, and dark lips! I've already worn this skirt a bunch of times and have styled it so many different ways. Plus this turtleneck is a classic that you can dress up or down depending on the occasion! I'm so glad I had this mustard cardigan stashed away in my closet because it came in handy and really pulled the look together. 

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PS. What types of holiday posts would you like to see in the next few weeks? Comment below!

Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal

Happy post-Halloween, everybody! This time of the year is filled with so many great traditions, and one of them is the ugly Christmas sweater. Every winter, my dance company hosts a super fun holiday party, and this year I want to wear a tacky sweater! I've always wanted to own a goofy Christmas sweater, and even think that some of the silly options are more cute than stereotypically ugly. I compiled some of my favorites below - both men's and women's, because I feel that these sweaters are overall pretty unisex - and I have to say I'm really digging the snowman face and the crazy wrapped-in-tinsel sweater! Do you love the ugly Christmas sweater tradition too?

SHOP UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS:  

Stella & Dot Trunk Show

Stella and Dot has some incredibly beautiful pieces that I always eye via social media or worn on other bloggers. I was so, so excited when our Service and Philanthropy Director, Lizzy, informed my chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta that we would be hosting a trunk show with the company, and that 20% off all proceeds would go toward our national philanthropy! 

I have been browsing the webpage for the trunk show looking at all the cute baubles, and loved the woman Leah who was our stylist for the event!! We bonded over blogging, pretty jewels, and branding over social media. Check out some of my favorite items from the trunk show, and get shopping!! 

These picks are my favorite from the trunk show and they are definitely on my wish list! Stella and Dot is great because their variety of products can match any personality or style, great for every single woman on your shopping list this holiday season! I'm seriously eyeing that Pearl Spike Ring - I love that it's adjustable so it will always fit!

SHOP THE TRUNK SALE HERE!

6 Things to Keep You Healthy at College

What do you do when you start to feel that cold coming on? Even if you didn't catch the Freshmen Plague within the first two months, as the weather cools down there is always some reason or another than illness breeds on college campuses. I'm writing this from my bed right now, as I manage an oncoming sore throat, cough, and potential fever, and so I'm here to share some ways to stay healthy and keep the sickness out, or at least fight it if you're already feeling under the weather.

Who else loves the new emojis!?

1 // Really utilize your Vitamin C

Whether it be orange juice, Emergen-C tablets, or something else, your body needs to get the right amount of Vitamin C to fight illness. If you feel a cold coming on, or all your friends are starting to get sick, make sure you protect your body by stocking up on Vitamin C which will attack germs and boost your immune system.

2 // Stop sharing and sanitize

I'm just as guilty as every other college student for sharing snacks, taking a sip of my friends beverage, or constantly being around people who are feeling under the weather. While not always intentional, it's important to give ourselves some distance when we're not feeling well, and to make sure that we're keeping things sanitary as to not spread the germs around.

3 // Sweat it out!

As we all know, toxins can be sweat out through your body. Most of the time, I like to sweat out my toxins by exercising, but when I'm feeling ill, exercise often makes me lightheaded or can leave me feeling worse. In this case, sweat out those nasty germs by bundling up under lots of layers and blankets when you go to bed at night. You'll feel super gross when you wake up, but a nice relaxing shower in the morning will leave you feeling much better than you were the night before.

4 // Hydrate your body

Water is so important and we often forget about it! Always be hydrating your body by carrying a water bottle with you. I am much more likely to drink water if I have a water bottle in hand, and this will help keep you healthy. While water has a plethora of benefits, it can also help flush your system and keep you germ and illness free!

5 // Maintain a balanced diet

Similarly to water, we frequently forget about all the fruits and veggies we should be eating while on a college dining plan. Make time to swap your normal pasta or taco bowl for salad every once in a while, to maintain healthy levels of all those important vitamins and minerals!! 

6 // Get lots of sleep

On a college timetable, sleep is often the one thing we go without so that everything else can get done. However, this is harmful to our bodies and can cause you to spiral further and further into the feeling-sick abyss. Make sure to get lots of sleep and formulate a schedule, that way you're not always up until 2 AM working on projects. Try your best to get to bed by or before midnight every day.