Back to School Essentials: Lap Top Cases

Well it's that time of year again and for the first time in three years I actually get go back to school shopping! (Always the best part of going back to school right?) I've already picked up a few things, but I've been waiting to do most of my shopping until I get to Louisiana. I got my new computer a few weeks ago, so now I need to invest in a cute laptop case right? As always I need y'all guidance, which one should I pick?

I'm loving the Marc Jacobs one in particular. 

Cream Dreams

I'm absolutely in denial that today begins my last week in DC. While I'm ready to trade in my spanx and heels for flip flops and yoga pants, I'm not ready to leave this city that I love so much. So, while I'm all sad and depressed over here I wanted to give y'all something pretty to look at. Normally summertime is all about crisp white, but I'm loving peachy creams right now, so I pulled together a few must have pieces.

Friday's Fancies: Style Icon

Like any good southern girl I'm kind of obsessed with Reese Witherspoon, so for today's style icon theme who else could I choose? Her simple feminine look often comes off as effortless yet chic.

So here's my take on her style. I love the combination of the structured cardigan with the softness of the lace dress, and a little touch of chanel never hurt anyone, am I right? 

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend! I'll be packing up my life and selling the majority of my possessions. Sounds fun right? 

Quoted: Up Next

a little thursday inspiration for you

Beauty Shopping at Costco!

Who doesn't obsess over Costco? While I always seem to spend way more money than I intend to, you can't beat that ice cream at the end. Well, on your next trip to the big box giant you need to stroll through the beauty section because Pati Dubroff (celebrity makeup artist) has just created a line of products exclusively sold at Costco! You read that right, Costco. Check out this gorgeous Perfect Palette. 

It comes with twelve gorgeous shades, matte, shimmer and glitter. Oh and you get a matte black liner too. Just looking at the palette the colors remind me a lot of the UD Naked 2. But I'll let y'all decide

I will tell y'all, I haven't actually picked this up yet, but when I stumbled across it online yesterday I was far too excited to keep this little gem of a palette to myself. Can you believe this is only $17.99? Such a steal. 

Weekly Wants: Gilded Clutch

Since I'm moving I've had to put all shopping on hold for the last several weeks and let me tell you, it's driving me nuts! I've been online window shopping like a fiend and I've discovered so many pieces I need to add to my wardrobe. Today's obsession is a gold clutch.

Shop the picks here:

I seriously need one of these. I think the Express one will definitely arrive on my doorstep once I move. Not only are clutches great for a night out on the town, but I love little bags to compartmentalize my ginormous bag.

So what are you obsessing over right now? What's your next addition to your closet? 

Pink Chic

Remember back in the day, when pink hair was all the rage? First there was Gwen Stefani, then Pink, and the super trend setter Avril Lavigne. Some where deep down, the fourteen year old Emily has always wanted to have pink hair. Well this weekend my dream came true thanks to a very pink hair chalk from my latest Beauty Army box. Hair chalk has been a trend for the last few years, but I finally took the plunge to try it. I promise its super simple and you essentially rub a super pigmented powder on your dry hair, set it with some hairspray and you're good to go! When you rinse it out all the powder goes down the drain.

Dress {similar} | Shoes {Polo} | Watch {Michael Kors} | Necklace {similar}

Photos taken by KAJ

Note to all my blondie blondes out there... It doesn't necessarily fully wash out in one wash. So be careful. I walked around all day Sunday with a slight pink tint to my ends. But it was still fun for a night! What do y'all think? Would you try pink hair for a day?

PS. I went to the Southern Blog Society meetup in Charlottesville yesterday with the lovely Julie, Cathy, Heather, Jenna, Brittney and Madeline. It was so nice to finally meet some of my favorite DC blog girls in real life! You need to follow them all immediately!

Friday's Fancies: Summer Sandals

Happy Friday y'all, we've made it through another week! Is it just me or is this summer flying by? The days certainly seem long, but the weeks keep getting shorter! Thankfully though we still have quite a while left in sandal weather! For this Friday's Fancies Sandal Extravaganza I'm crushing on a few different styles to get me through the rest of this balmy weather.

I think those silver Steve Maddens are my favorites. What about y'all? Don't forget to head over to Long Distance Loving with {AV} for a little more sandal fun.

Hope y'all have an amazing weekend y'all! Stay cool!

Thursday Randoms

It's another Thursday and I'm loosing steam, so I'm writing another blog post in bullet form. Hope you enjoy.

• Did you see May Books on Groupon right now? 12.99 for 1, 24.99 for 2. I have one and LOVE it. Great deal. I'll be making my academic calendar with them for sure.

• Speaking of groupon, I finally bought a "learn your dslr" class. Hopefully that means y'all will be seeing more pictures around these parts. 
• I just bought a very bright neon pink blazer on crazy sale at gap last week. I have no idea what to wear it with. Thoughts? I'm thinking blues? tans? whites? 
• I got my eyebrows threaded for the first time last week at the newest Shobha salon just south of Dupont circle. It was quite the experience. Blog post to come. I got to catch up with some lovely bloggers though! So fun
• I cannot wait for the Southern Blog Society Meet up in Charlottesville this weekend. I so excited to finally meet some of my blogging favorites. 
• Did you hear? 50% off Frappuccinos through July 16th. This is happening. Today. If I can bare to head out into the heat.
• How cute is this skirt. Gray and Gold? Definitely on the top of my wishlist.  
• I finally got my new computer for school yesterday! I'm leaving the mac land for a lenovo. Honestly though, the one I got was comparable to a mac book pro (15 inch) and it was essentially half the price. I do have to learn windows 8 though... there's definitely a learning curve for this mac girl.
• I LOVED getting to catch up with a few of my favorite gals this weekend. 

• I cannot believe I'm leaving DC in 16 short days. Cannot BELIEVE IT. 
• Even more so, I cannot believe that I'll be back in a classroom one month from today! It's been three whole years... hope I remember how to take notes :)
• How absurd is this weather? It feels about 25 degrees cooler in New Orleans than in DC right now. Absolutely ridiculous. 

Summer Nails

I don't really know when it happened, but in the last few years I've become a bit of a nail polish junkie. I sorted through my collection this weekend, tossing any bad polish that won't me relocating to New Orleans with me. Unfortunately I've been left with an array of dark "winter" shades, but very few options for summer. So what's a nail junkie to do? Go shop the Essie 2013 summer collection. Duh.

This summer I'm absolutely loving the light nail trend. Opaque whites, pinks and blues feel fresh, a trend held over from Spring that I fully approve of.

What nail colors are you loving this Summer? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Colorful Satchel

I am a girl who loves a structured bag.

I love how a simple and chic satchel bag can completely change an outfit for the better. This summer I'm especially loving carrying around my bright green kate spade. I have come to believe in brightly colored bags, as they really can make all the difference in an outfit. Instant statement piece, color blocking, or simply as a way to up the chic factor, I don't think you can go wrong with a bright fun satchel this summer.

Unfortunately I imagine life as a law student will not afford me the budget to endlessly shop the gorgeous bags below a girl can dream right?

Which one would you pick up to get you through the rest of summer?

Quoted: Dreamer

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Friday's Fancies: Tank Top and Tangerine

Well y'all, we've made it once again! Another week down. This summer is absolutely flying by! I only have THREE WEEKS left in DC and I'm crazy excited about these last few adventures I'm going to have in my favorite city (hopefully the weather behaves).  Now for this week's Friday's Fancies theme is "Tanked" and we are all professing our love of tank tops. Now, I'm going to be honest with y'all, I'm not much of a fan of those loose slouchy tank tops that the hipsters seem to love. So I went a little more preppy with my look, I hope y'all approve.

J.Crew j crew / MICHAEL Michael Kors skinny pants / Cole Haan flat shoes / Topshop satchel handbag / Statement necklace

I'm so in love with the coral and turquoise combo for summer. It's just so fresh and bright. Perfect. Hope you girls have a fabulous weekend! If you want more Friday's Fancies Fun head over to Long Distance Loving and join the party!

Currently

Listening to CNN's nonstop coverage of the George Zimmerman trial. I'm so ready for this trial to be over. Anyone else?

Loving that it's Thursday already! This week has flown by! And after this I only have 3 weeks of work left!

Drinking iced coffee. It's too darn hot for regular

Reading an Introduction to The Study and Practice of Law in a Nut Shell. Super exciting.

Wearing a cream v-neck sweater I picked up on super sale from the gap, my thrifted micro-pleat blue skirt and my favorite beige heels. Going for comfort today.

Thinking that I can't wait for the exciting changes to come in the next few weeks.

Feeling excited, optimistic and a little anxious.

Wondering what I should have for lunch. I'm thinking a trip to Taylor's is in order

Realizing that I only have 23 days left in DC! Where is the time going!!!

Happy Thursday y'all!

June Beauty Favorites

Even though we are ten whole day's into the month of July, I still want to share with y'all my june beauty favorites. June was a month of quick and easy makeup for me. It's hot, it's humid, and I love sleeping in, so my morning prep has dropped off to less than 20 minutes (including a shower). Actually some days it's even less than that.

1. Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner (Black)- Instead of bothering with primer and a trillion different shades of eyeshadow, I've been forgoing the stuff all together lately! Instead, I've opted for a strong black liquid line. Still makes a great impact, and I'm loving the new look. This eyeko liner is seriously my favorite liquid liner pen out there. I've had it for almost a year and it's still going strong!

2. Covergirl TruBlend Minerals- This is a loose mineral powder foundation. I love the medium coverage of this stuff, and it's been a favorite of mine for years! There is a slight shimmer in it though. I love it for summertime, but if you're looking for a matte loose powder, this isn't it.

3. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream- While I haven't done an official test of ALL the drugstore offerings of BB creams, I have tried quite a few. For my oily and splotchy skin, I've decided this one is my favorite hands down. Pretty great coverage for a BB cream, long wearing (especially if you set it with a powder foundation) and it has an SPF.

4. Covergirl Eyeshadow Trio in Cafe Au Lait- An oldie but a goodie. The perfect trio of bronzy browns for summertime. I love the pigmentation of these shadows, and honestly you really can't beat the value of the covergirl trios and quads. Plus they take all the guess work out of shadows, which is great when you don't want to "play" with shadows in the morning.

5. Viva La Juicy La Fleur- I'm absolutely loving this light and sweet floral perfume this summer. Best of all, it seems to linger for hours which many of my other scents don't do in summer.

Moroccan Madness

We continue to get closer and closer to the big move and I keep getting more and more excited! Since I'm still a bit too far away to start taking tangible steps towards getting decor for the new place (I don't have room in my car!) A while back Betsy took us on a tour of her new place and I fell in love with her fabulous rug. Ever since then I've been on the hunt for my own version.  I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a rug, but as always I need y'all's wonderful counsel on a style/color.

Moroccan Trellis Wool Rug / Luna Flatweave Moroccan Trellis Purple Wool Rug / Alliyah Handmade New Zealand Blend Wool Rug  / Handmade Flat Weave Moroccan Wool Area Rug

To give you a little insight into my thoughts on color schemes I've come up with a few options.

Option 1. I'm thinking about gray, hot pink, navy blue, white and light pink. (Super prepster girly I know).

Option 2. Same general vein, but trading black for the blues. This is pretty much the color scheme I have going on in my room right now. Grey walls, white bedding, pink curtains. I love it, but am I ready for a change? Maybe.

Option 3. Completely different. Grays with teal and orange accents. Okay, this is completely different. I'm thinking Gray walls, white bedding, dark gray furniture with maybe a fun piece or two in one of the accent colors. A fun teal rug, and a few orange pillows. I don't know that this color scheme screams "me" but I'm really liking it right now.  

In the end I'm going to paint my walls a light gray. I want my room to be a soothing oasis away from the craziness of school, but I also really like having a pop of color to make me happy. So, now that you know what I'm thinking... Which rug should I go for? 

First Impressions: Philips Sonicare PowerUp

*I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as a part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Lets talk about first impressions. In about a month here I start at a new stage of my life, at a new school, in a new city. We all remember those first day of school jitters, but this time around I'm definitely feeling more anxiety than a few butterflies in my stomach. So in an effort to put my best foot forward I'm planing on making a few adjustments to my appearance before school starts. A new hairdo, a different makeup routine, maybe a new outfit or two, and most importantly a pretty white smile.  

Recently I was given the chance to test out a new Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush, specifically the PowerUp. Usually I'm not one to fall for sweeping promises made in advertisements, but when I saw that with the Power Up I would have more brush strokes in one day than I would in a whole month with my manual toothbrush, my interest was certainly piqued. I already drink too much coffee and red wines have become my drink of choice, so I can definitely benefit from some deeper cleanings. I've never used an electric toothbrush, and honestly assumed that they weren't much better than a trust manual toothbrush from the dentist.

(Don't judge, this was really me brushing my teeth at the end of the day)

After only a week of using the PowerUp I'm able to tell a huge difference in my teeth. They feel so much cleaner when I'm done brushing, it's like going to the dentist. Love that! I swear my whitening toothpaste is working better which I attest to the fact that my teeth are cleaner.

I can't wait to see what they'll look like in a month when I actually start school! Honestly I can't believe the difference between an electric toothbrush and a manual one. While I'm still holding on to my old manual toothbrush it's been banished to my cleaning bin, let's hope it works better on grout stains than it did on my teeth. I mean come on, just look how far the toothbrush has come over the years!

Grab your own Power Up at Walmart (on sale!) for less that $20! You can't beat that!

Friday's Fancies: Fourth Fun

Hope y'all all had a great fourth yesterday! I spent my day relaxing, watching baseball, drinking beer, watching fireworks and being kept up late into the night with "bombs bursting in air" seemingly right outside my window.

This weekend I'm just hanging out enjoying DC living while I still can! What are y'all up to?

Dorothy Perkins / Flat shoes / Havaianas , $23 / Hat Attack fedora hat, $155 / Sheriff&Cherry pink sunglasses

I'm thinking this would be a perfect look for a cookout this weekend don't you? I'm kind of obsessed with those flats too :)

Four Things: Fourth of July Fun

I can hardly believe it, but July 4th will be here tomorrow! Growing up Didn't the 4th always feel like the "middle" of summer? This year is just flying by.  My Dad's Birthday is July 4th, so my 4th is usually focused on celebrating him and America!

This year I'm unable to be with him, but I'm certainly looking forward to having the day off to relax and celebrate the USA here in the nation's capital. 

The four things I looking forward to this year are 1. Fireworks. 2. Yummy treats. 3. Fun Americana nail art and 4. Fresh berries.  Is there anything better? If you're heading out of town this weekend stay safe and have fun! I have to work on Friday, so I'm sticking around, but the DC countdown is on so I'm definitely going to try and get out and enjoy the city. 

Beauty Box 5 Review

*I was provided with a press sample to review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.*

We all know I have an on-going love affair with Birchbox and last month I talked about my new found obsession with beauty army. Well I have another one for y'all.

Beauty Box 5. 

How it works: for $12 a month (or less if you increase your subscription length) you get 4-5 deluxe beauty samples ranging from drugstore to high end, some cult favorites or some vegan products. The folks a Beauty Box 5 are committed to introducing you to your new favorite products. 

What I got:

MODEL Co Illusion Lip Enhancing Pencil - Full size ($20) - This is a nude lip liner allows to to create the perfect lip shape i.e the perfect pout. Super creamy, long wearing, and it comes with a sharpener on the lid! Genius. 

Blinc Mascara - .02 oz  ($3.68) - I've actually already tried this product and I loved it! "Tube your lashes" don't paint them. This mascara basically wraps your lash in a tube that not only lengthens your lashes, but the mascara stays put all day and night! No flaking or smudging. I love it! But you definitely need a good eye makeup remover at the end of the day. 

Bodyography Foundation Primer - .53 oz ($15.90) - I received the clear primer and I have to say it's awesome. So silky smooth, great at reducing shine, odorless. All around great primer. 

Jean Pierre Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues - full size ($1.99) - These help absorb that dreaded summer shine, and they do a great job. They definitely are more absorbent that other brands I've tried so I like that I only need 1 sheet for my whole face. Not 2 or 3. 

Brazen Eye Shadow Full size ($7.49) - This is a loose mineral eyeshadow. My sample is in "birthday suit" which is a tad dark for me, but has great pigmentation and is a gorgeous matte lid color. I've never really used loose eyeshadow, but I like it! 

What I thought: Great box! I was really happy with everything I got. I thought it was a good mix of low and high end products, and the sample sizes were great! If you do some quick math my box was worth $49.06 so not a bad return on a $12 investment. 

Bedroom Workspace

First of all, don't forget today is the last day of google reader's life. I'd love for you to keep following along with me and this little blog as I take on law school and life in Louisiana. All you have to do is click here!



A few things have changed since we last chatted about my New Orleans plans. I was 110% set on living by myself, but after a trip down there I realized that wouldn't really be the best plan for me moving forward, so I ended up finding a fabulous three bedroom right next to campus. I can't tell y'all how excited I am to get down there and enjoy having a grown up walk in closet (first time in my life!) and my own brand new bathroom.

But, this now means that instead of locating my home study space in the living room,  I'll need some sort of desk situation in my bedroom.  That is where y'all come in. I need some opinions.  Should I just make a cute little corner of the room into a pretty desk space like this?

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Or do I devote more of the room towards a work space? Really make sure I have space to spread out, put up shelves to hold books or other pretty bobbles? 

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I love this last look especially. That desk is amazing! Anyone in Louisiana know where I can pick one of those up?