5 Great Literary Meals

A friend of mine inspired this post when she asked me which literary characters I would want to have dinner with. I ended up thinking about the best scenes involving food in literature. Here are my favorites.

ONE: Breakfast (or Second Breakfast) with Bilbo Baggins of The Hobbit

"I am a good cook myself, and cook better than I cook, if you see what I mean. I'll cook beautifully for you, a perfectly beautiful breakfast for you, if you won't have me for supper"

TWO: Lunch with Pooh from Winnie the Pooh 

"It's more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, 'What about lunch?'"

THREE: Dinner with the Finches from To Kill a Mockingbird

"The kitchen table was loaded with enough food to bury the family: hunks of salt pork, tomatoes, beans, even scuppernongs"

FOUR: Dessert with Laura, Mary, Ma & Pa from Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

"Laura and Mary each had a pan, and Pa and Ma showed them how to pour the dark syrup in little streams onto the snow"

FIVE: Drinks with Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby

"Here's to alcohol, the rose colored glasses of life"

Bon appetit!

xoxo

16 Facts About Me

Some of the people who read this blog know me really well, but others haven't met me or barely know me at all. I'm taking a break from fashion/books/beauty to share some things that make me, well, me.

1. I sleep diagonally. No matter what size the bed is, I always wake up with my feet in one corner and my head in another.
2. If I could, I would drink coffee constantly. Caffeine doesn't really affect me, I just love the taste of a good dark roast. I love to cook and bake- especially cupcakes- but my favorite thing to make & consume is oatmeal. I eat it almost every day for breakfast (my favorite meal!). So strange, I know.
3. I'm a workout nut. In high school, I danced and kind of ran (read: walked) cross-country. Winter of my senior year everything changed. I started working out regularly and it's become my greatest stress release.
4. I have a water bottle hoarding problem. I mainly use CamelBaks but I also love my Sigg Swiss + Lululemon metal bottle.
5. My closet is color coded but my purse is a constant disaster. I try to fix this by using small bags, but now that I'm using my Kate Spade Little Minka, there are bills and change floating around.
6. Speaking of what's in my bag, I also always seem to have a lottery ticket with me. When I turned 18 I wanted to get carded for something, so I bought a lottery ticket. Now, every once in awhile I buy one to try my luck.
7. I drink tea every night and try to read a little bit of something before going to bed. I have a hard time falling asleep if I've just been texting or on the computer, so getting away from a bright screen is important for me.
8. I brush my teeth 3 times a day minimum. I've always been sort of crazy about oral hygiene.
9. I'm terrible when it comes to responding to text messages. I wish I could mark them as "unread" or flag them after I read them so I don't forget to reply. On the other hand, I reply super quickly to email because of the "mark as unread" option.
10. My most prized possession is a raggedy stuffed bunny named Rainbow I got for my first Easter when I was 4 months old. I bring her wherever I'm traveling or living.
11. I have many irrational fears including fire, spiders, open water and being late. I also hate sleeping (even though it's super important, I have a hard time falling asleep which makes things frustrating) and being wet (especially rain). 
12. I've never not finished a book. Even if I don't like a book, I just have to know how it ends. I've always been very curious which leads me to...
13. I'm a compulsive researcher. I love learning completely random and useless facts. For instance, the other day someone asked me the difference between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Weirdly enough I had recently read an article explaining that there is just a slight difference in the amount of artificial sweetener in the products, but it's mainly a marketing scheme. Also, if you eat a polar bear liver you will probably die from an overdose of Vitamin A. And it's impossible to hum while holding your breath. Thank you BuzzFeed and StumbleUpon.
14. I have a Field Golden Retriever named Biscuit. She's adorable and a drama queen. I love taking pictures of her in all of her hilarious poses.
15. I've never broken a bone, had a cavity or gone into surgery (except wisdom teeth I guess...). I do, though, wear contacts and had to get braces in middle school.
16. My favorite color is pink, favorite holiday is Thanksgiving followed by Christmas and then Halloween, favorite food is peanut butter or carrot cake, favorite animal is a hedgehog or quokka and my favorite number is 16.

Hope you learned a little more about me!

xoxo

Breaking Up with Your Break Outs

Break outs are the worst. I don't have much acne, but when I do break out I feel like that's all people can see. While some breakouts are inevitable, I've been able to minimize them by making some lifestyle changes that give me bright, clear skin most days. Read on for tips and tricks to beat break outs!

Picture and Information Adapted from This Article

1 & 3: Bladder & Digestive System — Drink more water! Also, digestive issues are linked to this area so make sure you're getting lots of fiber in your diet.

2: Liver — Slow down party girl! This area is linked to poor liver function, so cut back on the alcohol for a little while.
4 & 10: Kidneys — You're dehydrated! Cut out alcoholic beverages, caffeine and soda. Limit yourself to one cup of coffee a day, and replace with naturally caffeinated, anti-oxidant rich green tea!
5 & 9: Respiratory system — Got allergies? Pop some allergy meds and most likely more than just your stuffy nose will clear up. 
6 & 8: Kidneys — Dark circles are often caused by allergies, dehydration or lack of sleep. If you're sleeping a lot and you drink plenty of H20 consider visiting an allergist to get tested for a bigger problem.
7: Heart — Check your blood pressure and make sure you’re using oil free make up.
12: Stomach — Detox for a couple of days- try to cut out processed foods that are full of breakout inducing sodium and sugar. Opt for a diet rich in unprocessed fiber and protein. 
11 & 13: Hormones — Stress and hormonal changes are the hardest to fix, but you can get rid of breakouts in these areas by changing your lifestyle for the long term. Up your water intake from 8 glasses a day to about 12. Get an intense workout in 5 days a week (you should be sweating!) for at least 30 minutes per session. The endorphins released during your workout will fight stress hormones that cause breakouts. To combat hormonal breakouts that are often associated with puberty, try to add a multivitamin (specifically rich in B vitamins) to clear up your skin. Add superfoods like sweet potatoes, acai berries and avocados to your diet. Make sure to get at least 9 hours of sleep per night if you really want flawless skin. If all else fails, visit your derm who can check for a hormonal imbalance.
14: Illness — Can be a sign of your body fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Drink extra water and get extra rest.

My skin is super sensitive to my lifestyle. When I'm going through a period of emotional or physical stress, I often break out as well as if I stop working out. Getting 10 hours of sleep sounds ridiculous, but when I get a particularly persistent break out, I apply Kate Sommerville's EradiKate on blemishes before bed with a Q Tip and turn off my alarm to catch some extra zzz's.

Also, while we're talking about sleep, I read this article in The UK Daily Mail about a woman who didn't take off her make up before going to bed for 30 days straight (yikes). During that month, her face aged ten years. Yes, you read that right. Ten. Years. So, ladies (and gents- not judgement), make sure your take off your make up before hitting the hay. And if you're too tired to do your whole face washing routine, try Philosophy's Purity Facial Cleanser or Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser- both are safe to use for removing eye make up as well as removing dirt and debris!

Here's to clear skin!
xoxo

Four Finds For Fall

So it's August. Which means next month is September which in my mind equals autumn- my favorite fashion season. As the nights get cooler and the days get shorter (ugh why), it's time to make a few fashion swaps.

ONE: Switch Your Shoes 

As temperatures drop, switch from flip flops to ballet flats, sandals to boots and wedges to pumps. Wear these with bare legs or paired with tights.

         Frye Veronica Back Zip Short Boot
  

 Sloane Cap Toe Pumps

   VC Signature 'Nancy' Loafer

TWO: Transition With Tights

Tights are the best! While I love a classic black (my favorite brand linked below), I also like to play with glitter, different textures and other colors. Stick to a dark color though to keep your legs looking lean.

HUE Opaque Black Tights

Polka Dot Tights  

   

Burgundy Tights

THREE: Slip On A Sweater 

Button ups are a great basic to throw on with any outfit. A loosely knit cable knit will look amazing over anything with a collar. Or, try a sweater that looks a little more refined.

  Tweed Sweater 

 Boyfriend Cardigan

Classic Cable Knit

                                               

FOUR: Shop for A Scarf

Don't reach for the wool yet- a cotton, polyester or light cashmere blend can wake up an often-worn ensemble.

   New York Map Scarf 

 DVF Braden Silk Scarf    

 

Fade Stripe Scarf

                                       

Happy summer!
xoxo

College Chic: Bedding

College is getting closer and closer! Time to finish up shopping for your new dorm room. Remember to buy Twin XL sheets and a Twin Comforter! Here are some awesome bedding websites to consider:

PB Teen Dorm

Trina Turk Bedding

Lilly Pulitzer Bedding exclusively at Garnet Hill

Serena & Lily

Dena at Bed Bath & Beyond

Pine Cone Hill

Tommy Hilfiger

Happy shopping!

xoxo

What's Your Number? (The Enneagram Test)

I used to hate personality tests. I took this one in high school that told me I was going to be a brick layer. I'm not even kidding. Brick. Layer. Anyway, I always felt like the results of past tests were so negative- focusing on what could bring me down rather than how I could really maximize my own strengths. Enter the Enneagram Test. Based on a series of questions, the Enneagram Test assigns numbers to different categories, representing how strongly you match up with the categories. Ultimately, one category usually stands out and is your "type." The nine types are: reformer, giver, motivator, artist, thinker, loyalist, generalist, leader and mediator.

Take the test here!

I, myself, am Type 3: The Motivator. According to test results, at their best Threes are achievers- they know how good it is to develop themselves, contribute their energy and help motivate others. Threes are driven and like to be productive. At their worst, Threes are motivated by the desire to appear successful or please others. 

So, check out the Enneagram Test to figure out what makes you tick and how to maximize your potential! Have fun!

xoxo

Keeping it Neat: Make Up Brushes & Products

We use makeup to cover up our imperfections, right? Well what if your makeup brushes or beauty/skincare products are causing your breakouts because they're home to pore blocking bacteria? These tips will have your products squeaky clean and might even clear up your skin:

Part 1: Cleaning Brushes

I clean my brushes every day after I apply my make up. I simply use an anti-bacterial brush spray like this one from Sephora, and wipe the brush on a piece of tissue or a towel and allow the brushes to air dry. This takes about 10 seconds per brush, but doesn't get all of the bacteria off. So, once a week I deep clean my brushes (okay, sometimes more). To do this, I use three ingredients: antibacterial dish soap, olive oil (or coconut oil works too) and water. To do this yourself, pour about 2 tablespoons anti bacterial dish soap and two tablespoons of olive oil onto a dinner plate. You can mix them around if you want, but it honestly doesn't matter. Take one brush and dip it into the olive oil and dish soap. The dish soap sterilizes the brush while the oil conditions the bristles so they don't become brittle. Swirl the brush on the back of your hand or on a clean plate to loosen up the product that is on the bristles and evenly distribute the soap. Then run the brush under lukewarm water and squeeze the bristles. The water should come out a bit murky. Continue to run the brush under water and squeeze the bristles until the water comes out clear. Then dip the clean brush into the oil/soap solution and rinse one final time. Leave these laying flat to dry so water doesn't get into the handle and loosen up the glue that connects the bristles to the wood. Do this for all of your brushes and they'll be squeaky clean!

Part 2: Sanitizing Makeup & Skincare Products

You will need rubbing alcohol for this.

Sanitize your make up once per month or anytime you share it. Do not share anything that goes into a tube such as mascara or lipgloss as these cannot be sanitized.

Lipstick: Dip the bullet into the alcohol and allow to air dry. Alternatively, you can pour the alcohol into the spray bottle and spray the bullet.

Foundation/Concealor: Clean the pump or dispenser part of the product with alcohol and squeeze out a little bit to make sure you're starting with a fresh product.

Powders: Powder blushes, bronzers and eyeshadows don't usually house much bacteria. Wipe these off with some tissue but do not spray alcohol on them as it will change the texture of the product.

Tubes with applicators: While you can't really sanitize mascara or lipgloss, at least clean off the tube and the cap with a bit of alcohol. 

Part 3: Expiration

Throwing away makeup that isn't fully used up or face cream that still has a little bit inside may seem like throwing away money. It isn't worth keeping old products though- they look bad and can cause breakouts- or even worse, infections/allergic reactions. Toss anything that smells funny or has reached it's expiration date. It is helpful to write the date you first used a product in permanent marker on the container (not glamorous, I know), somewhere on the packaging. A product's expiration date is marked like this:

This means that you have 12 months to use the product from the date you opened it before it expires. Keep this in mind if you're like me and try out new products all the time- the best way to prevent waste is to use one item up completely before opening/purchasing a new one (okay, except in the case of eyeshadow).