Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from me to you!

I hope you are having a wonderful & blessed day with your family, friends, and loved ones.
(View the original outfit in this post)

--Caroline

Framed for the Holidays

I wore this last week to a little holiday get together a past Premier Hostess of mine put together, so naturally I wanted to be decked out in Premier! I wore a jewelry styling technique called framing, where you frame a smaller, shorter necklace with a longer one. This draws the attention to the center necklace, the perfect way to showcase a more sentimental necklace. In this case, I just used a bold pendant as my focal piece. I kept the rest of my outfit simple, with a lightweight sweater that's perfect for Florida, skinny jeans, and comfy Toms with a pop of color. 

Outfit Details

Thrifted Vince Sweater / Zara Skinny Jeans (similar) / Toms (red option)

Premier Designs Jewelry: Avery necklace, Shades of Chic necklace, Pompeii bracelets,  

--Caroline

Five Friday Favorites: Fall Outfits

With November winding down, I figured it was time to do a round up of some of my favorite fall outfits I've shared in the past several weeks. And since it's Friday, I'll pick my top 5!

1. Marsala & Leopard Print

2. Fall Formula

3. Floral Coat for Fall

4. Stripes & Leather

5. Ponchos & Booties

Which outfit is your favorite? I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! Since Kyle worked, I spent the day relaxing, blogging, and doing absolutely no homework; such a treat. They invited family to the fire station for Thanksgiving dinner, so that was fun :) I also made my first pie ever, and it turned out to be a success!

Check back next week for a fun series on 5 different ways I styled my plum corduroy skinnies!

--Caroline

Five Friday Favorites

I hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas yesterday, I know I did! Today's post covers the past two weeks, and all the fun I've been having over break thus far. It truly is so nice to put classes on hold and just enjoy this beautiful life with family & friends. Some of my favorite things thus far? Read on...

1. Hanging out in Daytona! Whether I'm enjoying the decor of one of our favorite restaurants in Daytona, waking up with a morning jog on the beach, or taking a detour on Kyle's motorcycle to visit his paramedic friends at work, I always enjoy spending time in this beach town.

2. Looking cute, even when I'm just finishing up my last minute Christmas errands.

3. Our Christmas cruise of course! Read the full trip details here and the packing details here.

4. Being able to share Christmas celebrations with both Kyle and then my family. I flew home yesterday, on Christmas Day, just in time to do all of our family Christmas traditions and to spend some time in Colorado. I'm very blessed and very thankful!

5. My study abroad trip to Florence, Italy is becoming more real by the minute! I officially booked my flights, and then for Christmas I got a new suitcase, and an assortment of clothes and shoes perfect for the trip! I cannot wait!!! (for more information, check out my Donate page!)

I hope your Christmas was wonderful and merry and bright in every way!

--Caroline

Merry & Bright

I want to extend to you, my beloved readers, wishes of joy, happiness, and love on this beautiful Christmas Day, and for the rest of the holiday season. Thank you for your love and support, and I hope that you and your families have a Merry Christmas!

--Caroline

Winter Cruise: What I Packed

As I mentioned yesterday, Kyle and I recently got back from an absolutely wonderful 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. I've done an Alaskan cruise and  a European river cruise, but this was my first cruise down south! We had a blast, and really enjoyed having a break and some time to ourselves before Christmas. You can read more about the details in yesterday's post, but today I'm sharing what and how I packed for this amazing trip!

When I was packing to leave Tallahassee, I was packing for the cruise, warmer Daytona weather, and cold Colorado weather. Overwhelming to say the least! To make things easy on myself, I pre-packed a smaller suitcase just for the cruise, which was filled with a set amount of outfits. I took an afternoon and tried each outfit on, making sure I knew what undergarments to pack, what jewelry to pair, and what shoes I needed.

Since the ship had nightlife, I wanted to pack a nice outfit for each night that would work for both dinner and going out, if we wanted to. I packed a different outfit for every day, keeping in mind what we might be doing both on the ship and off. I also packed a couple extra tops, an extra swim bottom, and a couple different things that would work as a swim coverup. 

I definitely overpacked. I didn't wear one of the outfits I brought for night (which was an extra one more for going out, which didn't happen really). There was one of my "day" outfits I didn't wear, as well as two unused extra tops. We didn't end up working out, so my workout outfit and tennis shoes never got used. My black heels never got worn (too dressy after a day in the sun!) and my spare swim bottom didn't get worn either (to be expected). There were some jewelry items that went unworn, but again I knew, being the jewelry-loving lady that I am, that that would happen!

Even though I over packed in some regards, I was missing a couple key things, namely in the form of outerwear. Both Kyle and I didn't really think about it being windy up on deck at night, and so I was really happy I brought a maxi dress for dinner on the first night! I certainly could have used a wrap or cardigan or something for walking in and outside at night, as it was a little chillier than I thought. Next time! 

Do you cruise in the wintertime? Any packing tips?

--Caroline

Winter Cruise For The Holidays

Over the weekend, Kyle and I got back from our wonderful cruise to the Bahamas! It was an amazing trip, a great break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and a great time to reconnect and spend time together. This was my first "fun ship" cruise, but I've done both an Alaskan Cruise and a European River Cruise with my family. At only three days, it was short but sweet in every way!

After getting on board, we wandered around and checked out the ship, seeing all it had to offer and enjoyed some beverages that we got weaseled into purchasing (they are good at that! we learned quickly to say "no!"). We lounged for awhile, took a little nap, and then got ready for dinner. And after dinner, we had to take some fancy pictures, because why not? When in Rome! Rather, When on a Cruise! 

The next day, we spent the morning up on deck before we docked in Nassau, Bahamas. We had brought Santa hats with us, and since the ship had festive decor we fit right in! After an afternoon out on a catamaran and snorkeling with the reef fishes, we got all dressed up for dinner. It was festive, dressy night, so I wore my sparkly dress and wedges. 

 

On the final day, we sunbathed up on deck in the morning, where we fell asleep in the sun. This of course made us even more tired, so we spent the day relaxing and resting. After dinner, we saw the second comedian on board (after seeing the other one the night prior) and after laughing our butts off we fell asleep, knowing we'd have to wake up early to disembark. 

We had so much fun, and certainly enjoyed our little Christmas vacation! Now back to reality... Check back tomorrow for details on what and how I packed for this winter cruise!

--Caroline

Linking Up With: Walking In Memphis in High Heels and The Fashion Canvas for the Trend Spin Linkup! 

Five Friday Favorites: Holiday Survival & Guy Gifts

As you read this post, Kyle and I are enjoying a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas! So in the spirit of something new and exciting, I'm switching up today's Five Friday Favorites to share some things that I cannot go through the holiday season without...

Christmas movies. White Christmas is hands-down my favorite holiday movie, and definitely makes my overall favorite movies list. You can't go wrong with great songs, dancing, and Bing Crosby's blue eyes! A close second on the holiday front is the original How The Grinch Stole Christmas, which my family and I usually watch while we decorate the Christmas tree. Coincidentally, it is also my favorite Christmas book, which my dad used to read to me nearly every night in December growing up.  

Snow. You can take the girl out of Colorado but you can't take Colorado out of the girl! I might have moved away for school to get a break from the cold, but I do love a good snowfall. There is nothing in the world like waking up to see a fresh blanket of snow covering your lawn. 

A good book & soft blanket. The Christmas season always means a break from school, and therefore a time to relax and catch up on reading for fun! My favorite thing to do is cuddle up on the couch, book in hand, with a blanket and hopefully a cuddly kitty on my lap. I just finished One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus (absolutely phenomenal!), and I'm about to start Wild by Cheryl Strayed. 

Making new traditions. Because Kyle and I have been dating so long, we've started to develop our own little holiday traditions which I love. It's definitely an adjustment; this year I'm trying to spend parts of Christmas with both him and my family back in Colorado, by spending Eve with one and Day with the other! Some might think it's crazy, trying to do both, but to me it's important to make new traditions while still keeping up with the old ones. 

Hot chocolate. It doesn't matter what flavor it is, as long as it's hot, in a big mug, and has a peppermint stirrer in it! Sometimes the best things in life are the simple things. 

Usually one of the biggest obstacles in "surviving" the holiday season is getting something for everyone on your list. As a woman, I know how easy it is to get gifts for other women. Sparkles? She'll love it! Gift card to her favorite store? Perfect! Anything spa or pampering related? Best gift ever! But shopping for guys? Guys are hard to give gifts too! A man can only have so many socks, ties, watches, games, shaving kits, cologne, etc... But what else is there? Enter Man Crates, who self proclaim that...

We say 'no' to ugly neckties, cologne samplers and executive trinkets. 

We don't save wrapping paper, we don't do ribbons.

We ship bragworthy gifts for guys. 

Gifts that you can't wait to arrive because you know the recipient will love opening them.

Gifts that people gather round at the office, people following the sounds of wood being torn from wood by the included, laser-engraved crowbar.

We are Man Crates, and we deliver awesome gifts for men. 

Man Crates provides a unique gift option for guys that will have them talking about it for weeks! From a Zombie Suppression Crate, to a Hickory Grilling Crate, and everything in between, Man Crates is sure to have something for every man on your gift list this year! They even have an Exotic Meats Jerkygram, and gifts that come in ammo cans like the Ammo Can Poker Set. While I already picked out gifts for the guys on my list, something tells me someone will be getting one of these sometime soon! 

I hope the holiday season is finding you and your family healthy & happy. Wishing a happy weekend and happy last minute shopping, my lovely readers. I'm looking forward to sharing cruise details with you next week!

--Caroline

That's A Wrap!

Letter Tags / Pine Accent / Stripes / Vintage Ornaments / Chalkboard / Black, White & Gold

Wrapping Christmas gifts is one of my favorite things to do during the holiday season. I love to pick out the paper, pick out trimmings like ribbons and bows, and see it all come together. This year, with me spending most of the month in Daytona, I will be wrapping here and shipping everything home, just in time for Christmas. Drawing inspiration from the images above, this is the look I settled on...

And that's a wrap! (Sorry, couldn't help myself!)

--Caroline

Welcome Home: Living Room

Well, this post has been a long time coming. You may remember back in November that the Welcome Home series started with a post about my outdoor spaces. The intent was that the week after I'd share my living room, then so on so forth. So here's why that didn't happen, and the reason comes in the form of a confession: I dislike the custom art I made for my living room. It makes my eyes hurt every time I look in it's direction, which is every time I come out of my bedroom. The piece was a DIY project gone astray, and it's just not how I envisioned it. 

The weekend after I posted about my outdoor spaces, I had plans to fix it, just in time for Monday to post pictures. That didn't happen. And it still hasn't happened. SO why am I posting it now? What changed? Well, every guest my roommate or I have had over as commented on my art piece. Positively commented, as in they like it. After it happened a third time, I finally just decided that who knows when I'll get around to it, and since it seems I'm being too critical on myself them I will just post a picture of my living room like I've been wanting to all along. So without further ado, here is my living room and attached dining room! As you can see, there has been some decorative accents for the holiday season added, and hopefully you won't judge my DIY art too badly!

It's nothing too extravagant, but for two college-age women I think it's pretty great! The couch is my roommates from Ikea, the side chair is a Ross find, and the "coffee table" is a vintage Army trunk. Lamp, shade, pillows, throw, and the little accents are either from Target or HomeGoods. Some were borrowed from my mom's collection back home; thanks mom! The New York art was a HomeGoods find, and the vintage license plates are from a flea market. And finally, our bar-height table was a purchase from a budget furniture store in Thomasville, GA. All the wall paint and flooring were those included with the apartment when we moved in... I feel like I should say this because I'm truly not a fan of carpet. 

Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed this little tour and have a fantastic Monday!

--Caroline

Black & White

Vest (originally c/o Groopdealz but similar here, here, and white tweed version here)

old GAP tee / iT! Jeans (similar) / Justin Cowboy Boots

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed any time off you had over the weekend, and were able to spend time with family and friends. I'm so glad I was able to go home! In fact, the outfit I'm sharing today is actually what I wore on the plane home last week. My mom snapped a picture just before we headed to Target. As you can see, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to many trips to Target every week!

But now back to my outfit... I recently scored this designer-inspired vest on Groopdealz, and was so happy it came in the mail in time for my Thanksgiving trip! It ended up being the perfect companion to the Colorado weather this time of year, and a stylish one at that. The stylish design of it is exacerbated by the clever use of pattern mixing, something I've definitely been fond of recently. And I would't dare travel out west without my cowboy boots! I actually like wearing them when I travel, because they are pretty simple to get on and off, they keep my feet warm but not hot like riding boots do, and they are just fun!

What do you wear when you travel? Where did you find yourself this weekend for the holiday?

--Caroline

Five Friday Favorites: Thankful

It's so nice to be home right now for the Thanksgiving Holiday! And being home has got me thinking about all the people I'm thankful for...

1. A family that loves me, believes in me, and pushes me to always do my best. 

2. Friends who I've known for forever that I know always have my back.

3. Some 200 sisters that push me to be the best Alpha Phi I can be.

4. A boyfriend who loves me, respects me, has become a best friend, and makes life fun.

5. My sisters in Premier Designs Jewelry who inspire me, encourage me, and have brought me closer to God.

And because I can't limit it to 5...

6. All the people who have touched my life in some way throughout the years; dance instructors, professors, mentors, Premier hostesses, hairstylists, and, many more.

God has blessed me with so many amazing people in my life, and I'm so so thankful for that!

And on a more funny note... 5 things I Love/Hate about Colorado:

1. My hair dries SO FAST. It took maybe 7 minutes yesterday to blow it dry, not the 10-15 it takes in Florida. Love!

2. Because my skin has gotten used to the humid air in Florida, the dry Colorado air makes me skin produce it's own snow, albeit not the kind you really would want to play in. Enter layers of thick lotion (the Shea Moisture lotions are the best, found at Target or Ulta). Hate :(

3. I have my stash of vintage jewelry, shoes, and purses that have been handed down to me from both sides of the family at my parent's house, which you'll see reflected in some upcoming outfit posts. Love!

4. While I love all of our animals so much (2 dogs, 2 cats), being away for awhile causes my allergies to flare up, in addition to the other plants and such in Colorado that I used to be accustomed to but then I moved... Hate :( 

5. Noodles and Company. Niccolos Pizza. Train horns in the morning. Blustery fall air. Aspen trees. My old room. Familiar places. Memories. These and more I Love!

Have a great Friday, my lovely readers! I'm so thankful for all of you as well, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Take the time to enjoy and cherish those you love. 

--Caroline

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! I'm thankful I get to spend the holiday at home with my family in Colorado, a first since I started at FSU. I hope you all are able to enjoy the love and company of family and friends today, and enjoy all the traditions you may have. God Bless!

--Caroline

Sales & Sparkles

Taking a little homework break to share some great sales going on right now and later this week!

- 40% off at Piperlime with code EXTRA CHIC

- 30% off at GAP with code HAPPY

- Free shipping over $50 and 50% off everything at J. Crew Factory with code THANKS

- 30% off at J. Crew with code GETFESTIVE

- 40% off at LOFT now, no code needed!

And on of my favorite online stores is having a great Black Friday Sale...

They have a lot of great sparkly gifts, under $100! Perfect for any girl on your list.

Dress / Bag / Earrings / Clutch / Watch / Skirt / Top / Pants

Happy shopping!

--Caroline

Five Friday Favorites

My oh my, a lot has happened this week...

1. School, school, school! I'm up to my eyeballs in end-of-the-semester due dates!

2. In Wednesday's post, I mentioned how I'm wearing more tunics recently. This is a better look at how I styled this cozy tunic for a chilly day! I got the olive green version at my local Target, but I think they only sell one color online currently. But it's sooo comfy!

3. As I'm sure you all heard on the news, there was a shooting on the FSU campus late Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Thankfully my brother and I are fine, as are all my close friends. It's crazy to think that something like this could happen here in Tallahassee, and to the place where every student has spent at least one late night studying. My heart and prayers go out to the students in the library at the time, the victims and their families, and the shooter and his family as everyone tries to make sense of everything.

4. I spent Thursday evening working away on my massive amounts of homework, and watching Christmas Hallmark movies. My favorite? The Nine Lives of Christmas. Cats, firefighters, and Christmas spirit. What more can a girl ask for? Nothing! And for a Hallmark movie it really wasn't too cheesy... no more than any other chick flick.

5. The week started with homework, and it's going to end with homework. I'm trying to get everything done so I can properly enjoy my Thanksgiving at home in Colorado! That being said, I might be a little absent next week on the blog, as I focus my energies on schoolwork and then family time.

Have a great weekend!

--Caroline

Girlfriend Gift Guides

Girls are complicated, but shopping for a gift for the favorite girl in your life (friend, sister, daughter, significant other) shouldn't have to be. Enter me, lover of shopping! Here are some gift ideas to get you started for The Girly Girl, the On-The-Go Girl, and the Decor Diva. Happy shopping, my friends!

The Girly Girl

Scarf / Book / Makeup Palettes 

Skirt / Eye Mask / Hair Clip

I have a makeup palette from Stila, and it's literally perfect. I'm in love! Also, every girl should have a leopard print scarf--definitely a fashion must.

The On-The-Go Girl

Calendar / Water Bottle / Bag

Notebooks / Passport Case

This bag is perfect for trips abroad! It came with me last summer, and it will definitely be coming with me again. The number of space it has is incredible! 

The Decor Diva

Agate Coasters / Vase / Candle / Lucite At Sign

Throw / Wire Word Sign

If you have never smelled the Volcano candle from Capri Blue than you are in for a treat--it's the best smell ever! Also, I'm all about both agate and lucite accents in the home, and I fell in love with an ampersand version of the lucite at sign at HomeGoods but convinced myself not to bring it home. Totally regretting that now; I think I'll cry into this amazing throw to feel better! lol!

--Caroline

Throwbacks of Costumes Past

In keeping with last week's nostalgia and in honor of Halloween being tomorrow, I thought I'd share some of my favorite costumes from my past! Not pictured is the very epic costume I came up with in 5th grade: a cat-witch-princess. I couldn't pick just one, so I decided to be all three at once! I'm sure it looked amazing. (Not!)

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's: This was my costume my senior year of high school, and after Halloween my science teacher continued to call me Audrey. So I guess that means I played the role well?

Mrs. Peacock from Clue: My first Halloween at SCAD, this is what I wore. My dad even made me a noose and mailed it to me. Bad parenting? Nah, he just was happy to play with making knots.

Queen Midas: Another look from SCAD. Let me just tell you, everyone went all out for Halloween, although I guess that shouldn't come as a surprise considering it's an art college. The gold body paint I used stained my shower floor for a couple weeks after Halloween! Such a fun costume though.

1920's Flapper: This was for a sorority date function, and I already had a dress that worked as a flapper dress, so I was pretty happy about that!

Katy Perry: Rockin' that blue wig! My friend had a Katy Perry themed party, and I was at a loss on what to wear until I realized I had the perfect sequin & nude dress hanging in my closet, and all I was missing was a blue wig!

So what did I decide to dress up as this year for Halloween? Stay tuned!

--Caroline

DIY Halloween Ideas

Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Even though I'm not 100% sure of my Halloween plans yet, I need to start thinking about costume ideas, since we are about 2 weeks away! Since I'm on a college student budget, I'd love to be able to shop my closet, or pick something I can find easily at a thrift store. I already have a blue wig, which would work for the Katy Perry costume or Thing One & Two. I can pull some white pieces together for the Flo costume, and I have everything minus a good hat for the scarecrow costume. I love the uniqueness of the Girl With A Pearl Earring costume, and that fuels my love for art. And in all my 22 years of Halloweens I haven't seen a strawberry, a Morton Salt Girl, or a recreation of the iconic V-Day photo. I'm certainly all for originality!

How will I ever decide?! What are you wearing for Halloween?

--Caroline

DIY Fall Wreath

Last week my roommate and I decided to have a little girls night, and we had some of our friends over for a fall dinner party. Last minute, I decided that our front door needed a little fall decoration, and after sticker shock from pre-made wreaths at the store I set out to make one myself. My impromptu decision ended up being a success, so I thought I'd share my process!

First step? Gather materials! I used a 16" styrofoam wreath circle, two types of ribbon (burlap and a silky copper), and a fall floral piece. I also used sewing pins throughout the process. All purchased at Michaels, and my total cost was just under $30. I started by taping the floral piece to the wreath. Then, using pins to keep the burlap ribbon in place, I wrapped it around the wreath, starting underneath the floral piece.

I continued wrapping the burlap, using pins along the way to keep it smooth. Voila! Then, I added the second copper colored ribbon, tacking it with a pin underneath the floral piece. I wrapped it loosely, to keep the wreath lighthearted and fun. For the hanger piece, I used leftover burlap ribbon to create a loop, which I attached with probably more pins than was necessary. If I'm being honest, there is probably a better way to attach a hanging loop, but this was an impromptu project and I just did the first thing I could think of!

And then, with everything complete, I hung it up on the door, adding a little extra bow on top! I'm pleased with the outcome, and the whole project took me about 30 minutes; I finished just in time for the party!

Have you every made your own wreath before? Any tips?

--Caroline