Friday, January 10, 2014

Feel More Organized Right Now


For those of you who read my New Year's resolutions post, you'll remember that January was my organizational month. For the most part, I have been much more organized (the boyfriend agrees) but I have not posted very much about it on here.

For me, organization is really a state of mind. I know there will never be a point where I have everything together, but sometimes I can have a lot of things together. And when I start small, I am encouraged to get bigger things in order.

Here are 10 things you can do right now to kickstart your organization:

1. Clean out your bag
Take everything out of your bag and make sure nothing is left inside (even random gum wrappers/dust particles). Then wipe down the outside- if it isn't cloth- with a warm paper towel and some gentle soap. Then fill it only with the things you need.

2. Do laundry
Drop off your clothes at the dry cleaners, run a load of wash or just get everything into a hamper. Keep dirty clothes out of sight is the main point. And when you get everything cleaned, put it all in it's right places on nice hangers or folded neatly.

3. Change your sheets and make your bed
A nicely made bed can make any room look 10 times cleaner. I make my bed first thing when I get up and change the sheets weekly. That way, my day is off to a relatively neat start.

4. Go through your email
Unsubscribe from websites that email you multiple times per day, delete irrelevant emails and respond to things you've been putting off. Essentially, make sure your inbox has zero notifications. This gives me serious piece of mind.

5. Clean out your desk
If you have more time, clean out your desk. Even cleaning out one drawer a day is progress. Just make sure to keep things neat by taking the extra 10 seconds to put things back where they came from.

6. Update your agenda
This is one of my favorite things to do. I write down every assignment, social event, appointment, meeting, friend's birthday, etc. in my agenda. I usually do this about once per week but sometimes more because information always seems to be coming in. Writing these events down not only helps me remember them, but also allows me to make sure I can commit to everything I want to do.

7. Sort through your make up/skincare products
I have a make up/skincare drawer that I weirdly enjoy organizing. I lay everything out neatly and then wash all of my make up brushes so things are sterile (I recommend BeautyBlender Brush and Sponge Cleanser). This also prevents bacteria from getting into my make up which makes my skin much clearer.

8. Clear floorspace
Getting things off the floor (i.e. clothes, bags, shoes) and into where they need to be is a great way to get organized fast. Taking out the trash and opening up floorspace makes a room look much bigger and cleaner. Plus, picking things up takes about 5 minutes.

9. Organize your closet
This takes some time, but nothing makes me feel more organized than cleaning out my closet. Taking everything out, trying it all on, and then rearranging it neatly makes getting dressed so much easier and more fun.

10. Actually clean
Wipe down your counters, clean the windows and dust off your lamps. Nothing feels (or looks) better than a sparkling clean environment.

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Tortoise Shell Everything

I have a serious obsession with anything and everything tortoise shell. In fact, I wear it so much it has basically become a neutral for me. It is flattering on every skin tone and hair color (on brunettes especially!) and goes with any outfit. Here are some of my favorite tortoise shell items:












Happy Friday!
xoxo


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Baby It's Cold Outside

I am seriously freezing now that I'm back at school. It was nine degrees this morning. Nine!

Thankfully, I came prepared with snow boots, rain boots and a couple warm coats- who knew staying warm could look good?!

Here are some of my favorite cold-weather fashion picks:

Cozy Coats

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Travel Essentials

I'm headed back to school very soon and have been packing my things, which always takes so much more time than expected.

 One thing I can pack on a moment's notice? A carry on. 
Here are my essentials:

Travel Essentials



Passport Cover: My boyfriend bought me the cutest red passport cover (he has extremely good taste) that is perfect for traveling especially because the bold color stands out in the mess that is my purse. 

Cable Knit Socks: Call me a grandma, but I get so cold on planes. I'm definitely that person wearing a coat the entire flight. I always bring an extra pair of super warm, knit socks for when I fly. Really helpful!

Glasses: I have not-so-great vision (probably the result of reading under the covers my entire childhood), so flying without contacts or glasses is not an option. For longer flights when I can potentially sleep, I wear my glasses and bring a pair of contacts with solution in my carry on.

 Perfume: I always feel so gross after I fly, so I spray some perfume on right after I get off the plane. 

Lip Balm: Especially in the winter, lip balm is a must. On planes, the air is so dry that I constantly reapply lip balm the entire flight. 

Moisturizer: I also pack a mini moisturizer in my bag. I use a really gentle unscented one that I can use on my face or hands to keep them moisturized. I also make sure to drink a ton of water.

Book: My main activity on planes is reading. Depending on the flight length I bring 1-2 books. It's nice to be able to unplug from social media to just get absorbed in a great story.

Other things I don't forget?
Earphones and Emergen-C

Bon voyage!
xoxo

Friday, January 3, 2014

December Favorites

I know this post comes a little late, but here are my favorite things from December (and, well, early January):

Red
I am seriously obsessed with the color red. Because my closet is pretty monochromatic (mostly black), red is the perfect pop of color for any outfit. Be it red nails or a red coat, this vibrant hue is sure to liven up your look.

Plaid
A classic plaid scarf is quintessential winter wear- not only does it add to an outfit, but it also keeps you super warm. Lately, I've been loving (surprise) a red plaid scarf I got for Christmas. It looks great with everything! 

J. Crew Jewels
Somehow, J. Crew always gets it right when it comes to jewelry. Their statement necklaces are bold and sparkly without looking too gaudy or fake. Especially tucked under the collar of a button up shirt or peeking out from under a scarf, these necklaces add just the right amount of sparkle.


Bumble & Bumble
Bumble and Bumble hair products epitomize what every girl looks for in a hair care line: a range of products that give you the best version of your hair. Bb products can give you anything from shiny strands to lots of volume to full curls or pin straight styles. They also smell incredible- my favorites are their Straight Blow Dry Creme and Hairdresser's Invisible Oil


Drybar
As you possibly know, I went to Drybar to get a blowout a few weeks ago. It was incredible. Read more about the experience here.

Lattes
A completely random favorite, but I have made a switch from drinking cappuccinos to drinking lattes. Since I don't usually eat breakfast (please don't remind me how unhealthy that is), a latte definitely fills me up more than a cappuccino and also has a less intense espresso flavor that I like. Delicious!

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
I saw this movie recently and absolutely loved it. It was hilarious, quirky and sweet- somehow reminding me of 500 Days of Summer but it didn't crush my hopes at the end (seriously though, how depressing is that bench scene?!). This happy movie about finding a sense of place and purpose was based on James Thurber's short story (read it here). I would highly recommend this!

Welcome 2014 and here's to a great January!
xoxo







Thursday, January 2, 2014

2014 Organization

Happy 2014 everyone! As January is my organization resolution month, I'm all about planning ahead before school starts up next week. Here are some of my favorite desktop calendars, list papers and personal agendas to keep organized.

Perpetual Calendars



Note Paper



Agendas Sugar Paper / Kate Spade / Hermès / Louis Vuitton / Bon Journee

And here's an older post featuring my back to school planning tips if you're headed back to finish up a semester or start a new quarter!

xoxo

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

14 Truths for 2014

Happy New Year! There really is no better feeling than a fresh start. That being said, 2014 has some big shoes to fill. 2013 was a truly wonderful year!


Here are 14 truths to inspire you to be your best in 2014:

1. "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." -Henry Ford

2. "Tell the truth, or someone will tell it for you." -Stephanie Klein

3. "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." -Audrey Hepburn

4. "We cannot become who we want to be by remaining what we are." -Max DePree

5. "Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% how I react to it." -John Maxwell

6. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." -Agatha Christie

7. "Be kind for everyone is fighting a hard battle." -Aristotle

8. "There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs." -Unknown

9. "In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take." -Unknown

10. "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." -Steve Jobs

11. "It isn't what we say or think that defines us. It's what we do." -Jane Austen

12. "Life has been immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it so seriously." -Hunter S. Thompson

13. "There's a power in looking silly and not caring that you do." -Amy Poehler 

14. "You can do anything, but not anything." -David Allen

Happy New Year!
xoxo









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