Back to School: Tops

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 Personally I like to keep my outfits pretty plain and simple when it comes to going to school. Tops like a plain v-neck or tank are great because you can dress it up with either a statement necklace or a dainty necklace and look pulled together without being too dressy.

 Another one of my favorites are breezy tank tops that are somewhat sheer. These are super easy to throw on with a cami underneath and if it gets colder you can add on a cardigan. The lightweight material means that you won't get hot sitting in a classroom and with these types of tops you don't have to worry about accumulating wrinkles throughout the day.

 My last option are button down shirts, ones especially like the coral colored 'Blythe' top from J.Crew. These might be more for young adults but they can easily be dressed down if you unbutton a few buttons and tuck it into a great denim bottom.

 Hopefully this post helped give you some ideas for school appropriate outfits, any of these tops will make you look cute without looking like you're trying too hard. Next up in this series is...hair & makeup!

Back to School: Bottoms

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 Transitioning into the fashion of going back to school I decided to split it up into 2 posts. Instead of doing back to school outfits I decided to pick out some bottoms and tops that could be mixed and matched, after all most students don't have the budget to blow on a piece only meant for a certain outfit. I figured it would be easier for everyone involved this way, hope it's okay!

 Picking out jeans for school can be tricky, they need to be lightweight so you don't get hot sitting in a classroom and you want them to be nice and structured but comfy at the same time. This is precisely why jeggings are perfect. They look like denim but are thin like leggings, they stretch to keep you comfy, and they go with just about any top in your wardrobe. I also like these white jeans (they'll look great with your summer tan!), as well as these rolled jeans which give a laid-back vibe without being capris.

Shorts are a great alternative to jeans, especially if the weather is still hot out. The mint green ones are right on trend, the khaki colored chinos are a great staple to have, but the dark distressed denim pair are my favorite.  
Back to school tops are up next!

Back to School: Backpacks

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{click any of the items above for a direct link!} 

 Time for back to school, and everyone knows what that means...BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING! I know, I know everyone is dreading heading back to the classroom and hitting the books again come August but let's ease the transition back into academia with some cute accessories! This little collage of my favorite new school bags should be perfect for anyone of any age.

 Colorful backpacks are great for a teenager looking for a fabulous way to dress up essentials while a sleek tote bag is ideal for a college student or young adult who needs something that is functional and fashionable.

 My personal favorites are the Longchamp Le Pliage in 'Bilberry'(duh I did practically did a complete post about how much I'm in love with this bag), the functional good ole' Jansport backpack (I had a bubblegum pink one that I used for YEARS), and the trendy neon Marc Jacobs quilted tote (although you might have trouble convincing Mom that this one is just for "school" :) if you know what I mean).

Hopefully this little 'Back to School Series' is helpful...next up is bottoms, picking out jeans and shorts that are perfect for the classroom!

Sally Hansen: Good to Grape

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Remember when I wrote that post about Sally Hansen 'Midnight in NY' here,  I totally forgot about how much I loved that brush and the consistency of the polish.  So while I was strolling through Walgreens looking at the Essie stand I came across this random bottle of Sally Hansen and figured it was worth a shot.

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'Good to Grape' is a creamy mid-tone purple color that comes off as an almost jelly-like consistency.  It also had that wider, flater brush that is perfect for getting a nice even coat every time.  I found this color to be opaque in 2 coats which is great during the summertime when you're looking for that color you can quickly slap on.

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Overall, I'd recommend this color, I didn't have anything like this so it was a nice addition in my collection.  It is quite a normal purple color though there isn't really anything special about it so if you have a lot of purples in your collection I'd say pass on 'Good to Grape'.  

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.

Wishful Monday

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How freaking cute are these?  Kate Spade has been coming out with accessories, bags, and clothing decked out in bows for years and they just keep getting better and better.  I'd personally go for the plain gold bangle, but the other colors are cute as well!

{buy here}

Not sure if I would ever have enough spices to fill even one of these jars but I just love the idea of them.  Anthropologie always has such cute little additions for apartments, can you just imagine a few of these stacked up in your kitchen? Precious.  The chalkboard label is cool too so you can change out what you keep in each container.  

{buy here}

I've been meaning to get this book for a while now and I just keep forgetting.  It's on my 'to buy' list, I swear!  Pretty simple really, I love Ellen Degeneres why wouldn't I want to read her book? Interning or working for her is my not so secret goal in life.  

Essie: Turquoise & Caicos

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If you apply this color in two thin coats, you get a beautiful tiffany blue turquoise color that's perfect for the summer.  I had always heard a lot about this polish but never really looked at it in the stores or anything since I wasn't too big a fan of blues and greens back then, I stuck loyally to my baby pinks, reds, and nudes.  Let me just say, I am so happy I've finally started to branch out into other colors...better late than never!

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This closeup shot really shows how creamy and almost jelly the consistency of this polish is, it looks nice and opaque and stays on for days!  I think I wore this polish for about a week straight without noticing any chipping or smudging, which is quite a feat when you're talking about a girl who changes her polish normally 3x a week.  

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This is a shot of my sister's nails, she liked the color when I bought it so we had matching nails for a while.  I'm not a huge fan of nail art, I like my nails plain and creamy but she decided to add this pink tribal stripe effect on her ring finger that actually looks really great with the 'Turquoise and Caicos' color.  

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.  

On Trend: Dainty Rings

On Trend: Dainty Rings by emilychiemi featuring rose jewelry

I love these dainty little rings, even the look of a single gold band on your finger instantly classes up any outfit.  I've been contemplating buying a little band similar to the one in the top corner for a while now, but felt like my fingers were a little too chubby.

To solve this problem I tried on one of my sister's rings that had a little bow on it, turned the ring around so the bow was hidden and wore it for a while to see if I liked the look.

I have a ring from a friend that is a ridged gold band that I wear on my ring finger daily and I really liked how that one looked with the thinner band around my pointer finger.  These rings are great for stacking or layering on a single finger or a bunch of different fingers.

I LOVED it.  Now, all I have to do is save up so I can get a dainty gold band of good quality that'll last me a long time.  

OPI: Aphrodite's Pink Nightie

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This is a great mid-tone to baby pink that is perfect for when you're looking for a polish you can slap on and match just about any outfit.  This one isn't actually mine, it's my younger sister's that she actually got as a gift.  Well she got her first bottle as a gift but we all liked the color so much that she recently bought this second bottle.

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I might be mistaken, but I do think that the formulation of this polish has changed a little bit.  This second bottle seems to be a little thicker and a bit more opaque, but hey..I'm not complaining!

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'Aphrodite's Pink Nightie' is another one of those colors where the finish is so shiny that a top coat isn't really necessary but I always suggest putting one on, just to make the polish last a little longer.  It was nice and opaque in 2 coats, actually pretty opaque in one coat but the color was a lot lighter pink that it was with the second coat.  

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*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.  

Wishful Monday

I've been thinking about starting a weekly routine for a while now, something similar to what Emily Schuman does on Cupcakes & Cashmere if you've ever seen her 'Five Things' blog posts.  I like the idea of something like that as well but I figured that I should do something on Mondays, something to make me happy at the start of the week.  Mondays are always such a drag I figured sharing something like my current wishlist would make it fun! 

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How do I not have one of these bags yet?  I first saw these when my friend had come home from college about 4 or 5 years ago.   I remember she had a red one and I didn't really think that they were that cute although very functional and practical.  Last year while at school I told myself that I would buy it if I got good grades after first semester.  (Obviously that didn't happen...1st year away from home, living in the city, new friends...what's a girl supposed to do, study? )  Anyway I just keep putting it off because I can't quite justify the $150 price tag for a nylon tote.  I'm sure I'll get it sometime soon, I can already see how useful it would be, I just need to set a goal to reach first.  

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These bubble necklaces by J.Crew have been on practically every single blog out there.  I've recently taken a liking to statement necklaces and this one just seems to be calling my name.  But man, that price tag hurts just to look at.  Especially considering how often I would wear a necklace like this I just can't do it.  I've been putting it off and thinking that I'll save up the money while I look at the J.Crew website daily, but we all know I'll eventually buy the knockoff on Ebay from China.  Come on, $15 compared to $150, tell me you wouldn't do the same thing.  

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I'm a big fan of plain stud earrings, be it pearls, diamonds, or just plain metal balls.  Personally I have a rounder face so dangly earrings aren't the most complimentary for my face shape.  I like to stick with studs and I've been on the hunt for a new pair.  Colorful little numbers like this just seem so fun!  

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After all the hype I finally bought a Nars 'Orgasm' blush about two years ago.  During my freshman year of college it was definitely my most loved blush.  I was a bit apprehensive about dropping the cash on a blush but let me tell you it was so well worth it.  Surprisingly it ended up lasting quite a long time too, I still have it and you can see about 50% of the pan.  Since it's summer I've been relying on my trusty 'Benetint' from Benefit, but I definitely see myself purchasing another one of these babies in the future.  

Sephora by OPI: Mermaid to Order

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It's funny how I wrote my last post about wanting to take a break from bright colors, and then I follow it up with a color like this.  I purchased 'Mermaid to Order' from the Sephora by OPI line and it couldn't be farther from a dull color, it is a bright and reflective teal blue color with a great shine.  

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This photo is really just to show how reflective the color is in the bottle as well as on the nails.  The name is perfect because as you can see above it looks just like the color of a mermaid's tail.  

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This isn't exactly a color that I'd wear very often but it is a nice one to have in your collection when you're looking for a fun color.  My younger sisters seem to use it more often than I do which is great because we have two bottles of it.  That just goes to show how enticing this color is, I bought it twice without realizing that I already had it!

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*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.  

Recipe: French Toast

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 I must admit, I didn't actually make this recipe, my sister made it for herself this morning.  Why she made an entire recipe for herself I'll never know, but I'm sure glad she did because the picture above looks unbelievably appetizing.

*adaptations are shown in {}. 

Fluffy French Toast
Recipe adapted from All Recipes


1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 pinch salt
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract {doubled}
1 tablespoon white sugar
12 thick slices bread {only used 6 slices, had leftover mix though}


-Measure flour into large mixing bowl.  Slowly whisk in the milk.  Whisk in the salt, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar until smooth. 
-Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium heat.  
-Soak bread slices in mixture until saturated.  Cook bread on each side until golden brown.  Serve hot.
-Add fresh fruit of your choice, and powdered sugar if you want.  

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Essie: Sand Tropez

                                    

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I've been focusing on brighter colors for the summertime but I decided that I wanted to take a break for a few days and give a nude polish some love.  I'm borrowing this from a friend, but after using it I think I might have to pick up a bottle for myself.  It may not be a color that I'd reach for on a regular basis but for days like these when I don't really care, it finishes off my nails nicely.  

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Essie 'Sand Tropez' is the perfect nude for when you want a creme finish to your nails but not much color.  Back when I was dancing we weren't allowed to have anything other than clear nail polish on our nails, and I hated it.  This is a great alternative for that kind of situation, it makes your nails look clean, polished, and also makes your fingers look longer than you've ever imagined.

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 One coat of this was pretty opaque, but two coats covered up any sheer spots giving full coverage.  I can see 'Sand Tropez' being a staple in any polish collection for any sort of professional function or anytime you need more of a subdued color.

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Puppy wanted to get in the shots, so I gave her one of her own :)

*natural sunlight, 2 coats, Canon T3.