Christmas List

I don't know about you guys, but I love getting inspiration from other peoples Christmas lists. I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I'm hoping for this year! 

1. Pure Barre Membership

I was really skeptical about Pure Barre, I've never loved working out, but holy moly, this class made me want to kick some ass. I fell in love with their whole program. It's super intense, fun, and works your entire body. 

2. Aerie Underwear

I know this is weird, but there is nothing I love more than new underwear. Aerie undies are so soft, comfy, and come in a ton of cute colors. You can't go wrong with 10 pairs for $30.

3. Amazing Grace Ballet Rose

Okay I have to admit, I was an asshole and bought this for myself in Ulta the other day. I couldn't help it. It smells so pretty and so clean. It's a very fresh scent, and I've already received so many compliments on it! 

4. Michael Kors Cindy Crossbody, Large, Oyster

I adore crossbody bags. They are so easy to travel with, and they can really dress up an outfit. I love this one because it's not too small, not too large, it could fit my wallet for sure, and a couple of necessities like chapstick, lady supplies, and my keys! 

5. Milk and Honey, Rupi Kaur

I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this book of poems. I would absolutely love to try something new. I'm really never a poetry buff but I need to know what all the fuss is about. 

6. Vans Sk8-Hi Sneakers, True White

I think these looks so cool, with jeans and a flannel, or with leggings and a cozy sweater, I love the Hi-Top design. 

7. BeatsX Wireless Earbuds

Now that I'm really trying to become a gym rat, I now understand the need for wireless headphones. Seriously that cord is a pain in the ass, and I think these white ones look so cute! 

8. Crest 3D White Strips

I know this is weird, but I would never buy these for myself. It would be so wonderful to find these under the tree this year! I'm a little bit obsessed with dental hygiene and white teeth, my teeth need some TLC. 

Holiday Dresses Under $100

Crushed Velvet Belle Sleeve Dress- Gabby Skye

$98.00

I am all about velvet this holiday season, it looks classy, and can be dressed up with heels and jewels, or dressed down with tights and boots.

Fit & Flare Velvet Midi- Old Navy

$44.99

Gillian Shimmer A-Line Dress- Francesca's 

$48.00

I think metallic dresses are so great because THEY are the focal piece of the outfit, it doesn't take a lot to finish the look besides a great bag and maybe some earrings! 

Sequin TShirt Dress- Soprano 

$65.00

Jumpsuit with Pockets- J.Crew Factory

$70.50

Cold-Shoulder Swing Dress- Old Navy

$39.99

Gold Pleated Fit & Flare- Vero Moda

$56.25

Twill Shirt Dress- Old Navy

$36.99

I love this plaid dress because it's perfect for the more casual Thanksgiving or Christmas, but could totally be worn again! With boots and tights, I would wear this to work or school. And who can beat $36.99?!?! 

Ruffle Cold Shoulder Shift Dress- Felicity & Coco

$58.40

High Waist Flare Dress- Lord & Taylor Design Lab

$59.99

OOTD: Fall Fun!

Top: Old Navy Jeans: Old Navy Jacket: J.Crew Shoes: Steve Madden 

Bracelet: KJP Bag: Longchamp 

Fall Favorites!

What's not to love about fall? The leaves change colors, we get to bust out our favorite cozy sweaters, and there is a crispness to the air that is positively intoxicating. As it is my favorite season, I have decided to share some of my favorites with you, be it clothing, drinks, foods,  places to go, and things to do! Let me know what you love about fall in the comments! 

1. The J.Crew Downtown Field Jacket; this thing is so versatile! And amazingly it's pretty warm. The moment it's chilly enough to wear this, I know fall has begun! You can find it in store and online, though it is a bit pricey at $148, the quality is unbeatable. 

2. Trader Joe's Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix; I don't have enough words to describe how good this stuff is. Seriously my family and I discovered it last year and are absolutely addicted. With a little whipped cream and cinnamon, they are the perfect Sunday morning breakfast! 

3. Harbes Farm; Located on the east end of Long Island, Harbes Family Farms are the epitome of Fall. They have the best apple cider donuts, a massive corn maze, a beautiful farm stand with fresh vegetables, and of course pumpkins as far as the eye can see. It has become a family tradition to spend the day out east taking tons of pictures and eating roasted corn until we explode.

4. Sperry Duck Boots; while we all know about the classic L.L. Bean Duck Boots, did y'all know Sperry makes almost the exact same shoe?? And it's cheaper?? Hello! Get with it folks! Sperry has adorable color options and the fleece lining keeps your toes toasty! 

5. Cozy Crewnecks; I have a crewneck from college that has been through the wash more times than I could possibly count, leaving it soft as hell. It is my favorite thing to throw on with leggings and converse when I'm heading out to do some shopping! 

6. Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha Latte; I will drink this hot or cold, in fact I would inject it if I could. The PSL is garbage and we all know it. SCM is WHERE IT'S AT. 

7. American Eagle Flannels; They are truly the softest thing in the world. If you hold out for Black Friday, they usually have them for only $20 each, which is more than half off. They are well worth the wait and can be dressed up or down! Pair with boyfriend jeans for an effortless look, or wear with a leather mini skirt and tights to spice things up! 

8. J.Crew Camp Socks; these are so cozy!! (Can you sense how much I love cozy things?) And they look great peaking out of duck boots or a good old pair of combat boots. J.Crew always has a ton of colors and patterns. At $16 a pair, they will honestly last forever. 

9. Mums; Mums mean fall, they are vibrant and hearty, I buy as many pots as I can and decorate indoors and outdoors. Plus they make a great background for instas! 

10. Apple Crisp; I don't know how to explain to you why you should be eating apple crisp 24/7. It is perfect. Warm it up and put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top- HEAVEN. And truly what is Thanksgiving without Apple Crisp? 

48 Hour Cure for Post Grad Blues

Shirt: Charlotte Russe Bralette: Aerie Jeans: Old Navy Shoes: Jack Rogers Bag: Anne Klein (Similar)  Lightening Bolt  Ring: Pura Vida

Thriving on a Budget

We all want that incredible, classy, trendy style, but it is NOT CHEAP. It is so hard keeping up with today's trends when I only have about $30 in my wallet at any given time. Through my four years in college I feel as though I really mastered my bargain shopping and wanted to share some of these tips with you all! 

1. Retail Me Not: I really don't know why people aren't using this app 24/7. Basically it locates you, and shows you all the coupons that are available at the stores you're shopping in. Lets say I'm in Michaels, all I have to do is enter Michaels in the search bar and they show me every coupon and deal available! It's so cool and I've seriously saved so much money this way. Retail me not has coupons for in-store and online, and all their coupons are verified! 

2. Shoe Shopping: Okay, I know this one is going to sound crazy, BUT, look in the kids section. Now I'm not telling you to go buy light up TMNT Sneakers (unless of course you want light up TMNT sneakers) but you can get some great Nikes for $15-$20 cheaper than adult sneakers. Most of the time they are exactly the same shoe, just marketed differently. I just bought a pair of Nike Tanjun sneakers. They are a little boys size 5.5 (equivalent to a woman's 7.5). They are absolutely identical to the adult Tanjun. There isn't a single difference in the shoe, but there is a difference in price. I only paid $50 for them, while the adult sizes started at $65. No one will ever know that you're wearing youth sneakers, and you'll have an extra $15 in your pocket for Chipotle. 

3. Target Cartwheel: This app is life changing. As we all know- Target is a holy place. Well it's about to get even better. Cartwheel is an app and all you have to do is scan each item you pick up while shopping. The app will get you Cartwheel exclusive coupons for certain brands and products. While you're at checkout, you show the cashier your barcode and once they scan it, all the discounts are registered and you save some $$$! It's so easy. 

4. Subscriptions: Okay, I know getting a million promotional emails is annoying, but they can actually get you a lot of great deals. My tip is to set up a separate email account for all of your promo emails from different stores and websites. You only have to check it every few days to see what kinds of sales are going on. Plus, many stores offer coupons exclusive to those who subscribe to their emails! 

5. Rewards Programs: Tons of stores are hopping on this train. The one I find most useful? Ulta's Ultamate Rewards! I've been an Ultamate Rewards member for years and I have seriously saved a ton of money. You get a point for each dollar you spend, and once you reach 100 points you get $3 off your next purchase, then $6, then $12, all the way up to $100 off! Plus if you get your hair done at Ulta, (10/10 recommend Emily at the Ulta Salon in Patchogue) it is really easy to rack up points. Rewards members get a ton of exclusive offers like early access to new products, plus cute samples and freebies. Ulta is not the only store doing this! There are plenty of places that offer rewards programs like Sephora and American Eagle.

6. Holiday Sales: We all know about Black Friday, but what about Memorial Day sales? And Fourth of July? So many companies offer some great discounts during these holiday weekends where you can pick up a few things you've had your eye on. This Fourth of July I scoped out some good discounts at KJP.com and was able to buy my first rope bracelet! My best advice is to buy things you've had your eye on for a while during these special sales. I've wanted a KJP bracelet for a long time, and it felt so good to finally get one, plus save some money! J.Crew and Loft always have awesome holiday sales as well! 

Sag Harbor, NY

Top: J.Crew, Shorts: J.Crew, Purse: Kate Spade (Similar), 

Sunglasses: Primark Bracelet: David Yurman

The Test Lab: Garnier Micellar Water

Hey Pals,

It's been a while since we entered the The Test Lab! I recently purchased the Garnier Micellar Water. Now that I've been using it for about a month- I wanted to give you my thoughts!

First of all- it's so easy to use. I usually pour some on to a cotton pad and apply it to my skin in circular motions starting with my eyes (because that's where the most gunk is!) The water really breaks down my mascara, and takes off the rest of my makeup easily. I'm usually done after wiping down with just two cotton rounds.

I really like this product because there really isn't much to it. There aren't a million chemicals, it's really light weight, and it's not harmful to my sensitive skin. It smells really clean, and it doesn't kill you if you accidentally get it into your eyes.

Here's the problem- it's winter. The air is freezing. My skin is already dry. This product- thought it claims to be hydrating, really dries out my skin. I had irritated dry patches after a week or so of using it. I had to really amp up my moisturizer routine after using this product which maybe isn't such a bad thing, but still I expected it to add to my moisturizing routine, not so drastically negate it.

Overall, I recommend this product. It's so easy to use, it is a great tool for those late nights when you feel like you just don't have it in you to take care of your skin, and it really is pretty natural. Just be careful if you have sensitive skin like I do, and make sure to moisturize daily!

First Day of School OOTD

Well Hello friends and pals!
It's been quite a while hasn't it?
Well my senior year (*gags*) has just begun and I thought I'd share my Last First Day of School outfit with y'all! All the details will be at the bottom!
xxox

High-Waisted Shorts (Gap) Linen top (Marshalls) Espadrilles (Forever 21) Bracelets (Alex & Ani) Sunglasses (Target)