21 Friday Mar 2014
Posted in Beauty and Fashion
Tags
collage, fashion, revlon, spring break, sunscreen, swimsuit, Target, tortoiseshell
I’m so excited to finally be done with winter quarter! I’m headed to Florida with my family tomorrow for a much-needed vacation. Here are some of my spring break must-haves, and they’re all from Target!
24 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Beauty and Fashion, Life Tips
Tags
coffee, collage, college, dr rescue, essie, fashion, greenroom, make up for ever, makeup, maybelline, nail polish, notebooks, office, Old Navy, products, school, snow, Target, winter
Also known as: things I can’t live without right now.
Old Navy Vintage V-Neck Tee // I bought one of these tees online on a whim to get free shipping, and I couldn’t be more in love with it. It’s soft, the sleeves are long and cozy, and it is thin enough to be layered under a sweater but thick enough to wear on its own. The tee is perfect for those days when I don’t want to change out of pajamas for class… it’s so comfy!
Old Navy Frost-Free Vest // In case you haven’t heard, it’s really really really cold in Chicago right now. So I’m cold all the time, even indoors. I wear this vest around the house and in class: it keeps me warm but isn’t too bulky. I even layer it under my big winter coat when I go outside. I told you it was REALLY cold!
Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 28E // I use this product almost every day. It’s a perfect light rose gold/beige/taupe that makes my eyes pop without looking too over-the-top. It’s a crayon, so it’s super easy to apply, too!
Maybelline Master Precise Eye Liner // This is my absolute favorite eye liner. It makes super thin lines, so it’s easy to use even if you struggle with liquid liner (like me!)
Maybelline Baby Lips Dr. Rescue in Berry Soft // In winter, lip balm is a necessity. My lips get soooo dry all the time, and this balm is my favorite for keeping them soft. It has a little bit of color, but nothing too bold.
Essie Nail Polish in After School Boy Blazer // I’ve been loving navy lately, and this polish is sophisticated and pretty. I like to wear it with a rose gold glitter accent nail if I’m feeling motivated.
Notebooks // I’m still obsessed with Target Greenroom notebooks. They withstand my other office supply obsession: flare pens. Greenroom paper is thick and sturdy, so the pens only bleed through the paper a little bit. And they’re cute, too! Check out how I use my notebooks here.
Coffee // It’s getting to that point in the quarter where my planner is starting to resemble a novel. Coffee (hot or iced, I don’t judge) is always a must-have.
What are some of YOUR winter necessities?
01 Wednesday Jan 2014
Posted in Life Tips
Tags
binder, class, college, folder, greenroom, Lilly Pulitzer, organization, organizing, school, Target
Happy New Year! To ring in the new year, I’m sharing my organization system for college. It’s no secret that I like organizing. A lot. And organizing my school stuff saves me so much time each day because I don’t waste time searching for things I need. Here is the system I use.
I love my Lilly Pulitzer agenda. I received several packages of stickers for Christmas (thanks mom and dad!) and they’re so helpful. I love that they come with fun stickers too, like “me day” and “mani-pedi”. It’s just as important to schedule fun stuff as it is to schedule time to study!
I use a small notebook to take notes and make study guides for each class. These notebooks are from the Greenroom line at Target, and I love them. I carry the notebooks I need in my tote bag to each class. These notebooks don’t take up much space, and they’re so cute!
I labeled each notebook with stickers that I found at the Target dollar section.
I use one folder for all current handouts, and I bring the folder with me to every class. When I’m studying for a test, I use binder clips to attach all the handouts for the class together. When the test is over, the packet of handouts goes into my binder.
I keep a binder for each year. Once a test is over, I put the handouts from before the test into my binder. Before finals, I go through all the handouts and throw away the ones I don’t need. I put the handouts that I do need into sheet protectors, and use the binder to study. This way, I have the handouts organized so I can refer back to them for later classes.
How do you stay organized for school/work?
13 Friday Sep 2013
Posted in Beauty and Fashion
Let’s face it: when you’re crunched for time and exhausted in the morning, the last thing you want to do is use your energy creating a cute outfit. The solution? Neutrals! Because they always match! It’s so easy to look polished and pretty with an all-neutral look. Here’s one of my staples outfits.
J.Crew City Mini // anyone who know me knows that the city mini is my go-to skirt. I have one in black and one in green plaid, and I wear them all the time. They’re cute, comfortable, easy to tuck shirts into, and they even have pockets! J.Crew, unfortunately, didn’t release any new city minis this season. 😦
White long-sleeved shirt // I like the Bowery Supersoft V-Neck from Gap.
Black ballet flats // Mine are from Target.
Tortoiseshell hair clip // These J.Crew ones are expensive, but unbreakable.
Nude skinny belt // This one is reversible!
Gold chain link necklace // Another from Target!
What is your staple outfit when you have no idea what to wear?
30 Friday Aug 2013
Posted in Thoughts
Tags
august, boyfriend, cookie, daisy, dog, frozen yogurt, good life, influenster, ottoman, photos, swirlcup, Target, voxbox
August is almost over, which means it’s time for a collage of photos that didn’t make it into other posts, but were just too good to skip posting.
Clockwise from top right:
1 // The boyfriend and I!
2 // Daisy’s guilty face! Reminds me of this video.
3 // Shameless work selfie! Pretending to look all official.
4 // We ordered a cupcake for a co-worker who was leaving for college, but we needed to order more from the bakery so they would deliver it to our office. Oh, it was such a problem! 😉 I ordered this grumpy cookie!
5 // A new storage ottoman from Target – I love that it’s round instead of square, and the pattern is adorable. I can’t wait to move back in to my room at school, especially when it feels like EVERY other college has started already.
6 // My Influenster Good Life VoxBox arrived a few days ago! Check back for a review of the items in it soon.
7 // Frozen yogurt with the boyfriend! We went to SwirlCup and it was delicious, but I wish they had a wider selection of yogurt flavors. In a perfect world, every fro-yo place would have every yogurt flavor and topping at all times. A girl can dream! He got plain yogurt with fruit, while I got peanut butter, cake batter, and chocolate yogurt with every chocolate topping they had. Typical.
What was your favorite part of August?
24 Wednesday Jul 2013
Posted in Wordless Wednesday
Tags
brownie, chocolate, cupcakes, dessert, outside, pasta, pattern, photography, photos, print, sign, strawberry, Target, wednesday, wordless
Clockwise from top left:
1 // Delicious takeout pasta with tomato basil sauce and mushrooms
2 // Such a pretty table!
3 // View from my work… if my office had windows! So I guess this is what the view would be.
4 // July 4th white chocolate-dipped strawberries that my aunt made! This photo is waaay overdue: these were beautiful and delicious.
5 // Caramel-filled brownie
6 // Tiny easel
7 // Pretty printed notebooks
8 // Funniest sign ever.
9 // Cupcakes!! The ones with the cookies on top were cookie-dough flavored and divine.
22 Saturday Jun 2013
Posted in Thoughts
I’ve been having major writer’s block lately. I keep starting posts, getting discouraged, and never finishing them. Or I finish a post but don’t feel like taking pictures to go with it. Call it laziness, because that’s what it probably is, but in the meantime, here is a collage of photos I’ve taken so far this summer. They’re a reflection of how I’ve been spending most of my time: at Target, by the lakefront, and with Daisy. And work. But it would be strange to take photos there.
What is your favorite place to be in summer?
17 Monday Jun 2013
Posted in Beauty and Fashion
Tags
I like being able to see all my makeup when I put it on in the morning. My old organization system didn’t have enough space, so I needed a new way to have everything at my fingertips. I got some metal buckets and white chipboard boxes from Target for $1 each at the Dollar Spot. They hold all my makeup, and the entire thing only cost $5. I love that it’s easy to add more buckets or bins to if I need more storage.
How do you store your makeup?
22 Wednesday May 2013
Posted in Beauty and Fashion
A cute sleeveless blouse can seamlessly transition from a workday outfit to a casual summer look. I’m working as a research assistant this summer, and while the lab attire isn’t as formal as the outfit I put together in the collage, it’s definitely a step-up from denim shorts and sandals. When you plan ahead, it’s easy to throw a few key pieces into a bag, change after work, and go straight to your night plans without missing a beat.
All of the items in this collage can be found at Target.
I’m linking up with several link parties today!
What are your summer plans?
30 Tuesday Apr 2013
Posted in Thoughts
Tags
archer farms, chocolate, class, college, emergen c, espresso, geneologie, little things, nail polish, school, stress, studying, Target, trail mix, whale
Hi lovelies 🙂 I’ve been super busy lately, so I’m sorry if I’ve been slow to respond to your comments! When I’m overwhelmed with work, I try to appreciate the little things that make me happy. Here are some of these things as of late.
Archer Farms Dark Chocolate Espresso Trail Mix
My friend Veronica introduced me to this trail mix, and WOW it is addicting. The chocolate-covered coffee beans give you a jolt of energy, making it a perfectly indulgent study snack.
(Productive) Study Breaks
Painting my nails is my favorite way to take a study break. Notice the autism notes in the background? It’s productive, but it gives your brain a break! Confetti nail polish is great inexpensive polish. I got this bottle (called “Not Your Mother’s Pink”) for $2, and it goes on smoothly and lasts for a fairly long time without chipping. It comes in plenty of fun colors, so it’s great for when you want to try a new, fun color but don’t want to splurge.
One Less Thing to Worry About
My research assistantship grant proposal was accepted, so I’ll be getting paid this summer! Thank goodness.
Veggies and Hummus
It’s finally gotten warm in Chicago, so my sorority sisters and I have been spending a lot of time on our porch lately! On Saturday there was a concert on the quad, so we picked up some snacks at Whole Foods and hung out. I got this roasted red pepper hummus on sale, and it was delicious!
Free Stuff
I liked Emergen-C on Facebook, and they sent me free samples! I tried both flavors, and they were both pretty good! Surprisingly, I liked the Tangerine flavor better than the Lemon-Lime flavor. I usually love lemon-lime flavored drinks, but this one just wasn’t tart enough for me. The tangerine flavor was refreshing and sweet. These drink mixes are full of vitamins, and very tasty!
Also, Geneologie was generous enough to send me a cup koozie and a tank top. An employee also sent me a lovely handwritten note… I felt so special! Geneologie is a really cool sorority merchandise site where you can customize everything from water bottles to running shorts.
What little thing have you been loving lately?
Courtney Em 