2019 Reflection + Goals For 2020

i used the exact same image when i wrote my goals for 2017!

On paper, 2019 was a really great year. I traveled, spent time with my family, saw some of my favorite bands in concert, and even had the biggest weight lifted off my shoulders when I received multiple job offers for after graduation! Yesterday I shared my highlights throughout the year, and it was nice to take a step back and realize how many great adventures I had throughout this past year. However, to me, 2019 was a bit of a disappointment, and it all had to do with my mindset.

Highlights of 2019

Happy second to last day of 2019! I wanted to share my annual post of curated highlights throughout the year. Tomorrow I plan to pop back in and share a more in-depth reflection of my year and some goals for 2020, but in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this little walk through my last twelve months! I would love for you to share your highlight(s) of the year down below, too!

If you're interested, you can find my highlights of 2018 here and 2017 here.

My Christmas List

Christmas 2017 in Dallas

How is Christmas one week away!! The entire concept of Christmas really hasn't occurred to me this year, especially not until I finished my last final yesterday and my dad *finally* asked me for my Christmas list ;) kidding, kind of. So, as usual, I'm sharing it here in case any of you, like me, haven't thought about adding anything to your own list until the last minute.

Gift Guide: The Girl Who Has Everything

Welcome back to another gift guide! The gift guide for the girl who has everything is truly one of my favorites to put together every year. Coming up with fabulous, pretty gifts for the girl who seemingly already has everything she could want is just so much fun.

Shop the gift guide:

1 // Initial Necklace love this for an everyday piece!
2 // Gold chain bracelet ...and this too! would be a great addition to a little stack
3 // Zodiac sleep mask
4 // Holiday pajama set you can never have enough
5 // UGG Slippers the cutest
6 // Silk pillowcase set
7 // Chanel Mademoiselle Perfume the best scent ever.
8 // Acne Scarf one of my best friends has this and it's so cute!
9 // Essential Oil Diffuser
10 // Rainbow Ring loooove this.
11 // Beautycounter Lip Gloss Set a clean beauty brand!
12 // Silk scrunchies
12 // Pink candle
14 // Monogrammed travel jewelry case

xoxo

November Favorites

Is it just me or did November go by faster than any other month... ever??? I feel like Halloween was just last week, and now I'm in my last week of classes and thinking about Christmas gifts!!! Here's what I loved throughout November:

My Cyber Monday Purchases

Admittedly, I've been spending far too much money this semester and need to start dialing it back. We are talking major retail therapy being had over here when things are good, when things are bad, and when I'm bored.... which is a lot if you knew how much I've been skipping class lately. ....yeah, senioritis is so real.

Running 15 Miles (+ new running playlist)

On Friday I ran 15 miles!!!! I know that might not mean much to anyone else, but to me, I am so excited about this! The half marathon I did about three weeks ago was previously the most I'd run, and then on Friday, I decided to push myself and just see if I could do even more than that!

Small Business Saturday

Is it just me, or did Black Friday feel very chill yesterday? Admittedly, I didn't participate in it at all this year. I didn't feel like rounding up a huge list of sales when I knew I wasn't going to be shopping them myself. Truthfully there was just nothing I needed to buy, and I'm not quite in the mindset yet to begin shopping for all of the people on my list. However, I do want to share on here many Small Businesses that we can support today because I think I would feel less guilty when I know my purchase could really brighten someone's day.

Gift Guide: The Graduate

Hello, hello!! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday! Heading home for Thanksgiving to see my grandparents and family has, of course, led to the answering of many questions regarding post-graduation plans. This inspired me to put together a little gift guide for anyone shopping for someone graduating in just a few weeks, or in the spring. Leaving college, starting a job, or moving into a new apartment are all huge milestones that should be celebrated with something special!

Especially today on Black Friday when there are so many great sales, investment pieces like some of these can be scored for a great deal that rarely happens at any other time!

If you know someone who has recently accepted a job or will be doing a lot of interviewing in the coming months, a few professional essentials include:

Nice ballet flats

Classic heels (40% off on Bloomingdale's right now!)

An everyday leather tote (30% off with code GIFTWELL)

A polished, timeless blazer

An everyday watch

For someone graduating and moving into a new apartment, some thoughtful gifts include:

A personalized set of wine glasses (20% off + free ship w code FRIENDS)

A chic bar cart (something she might not want to splurge on herself right away!)

A candle or print that reminds her of her hometown or college town! (more cities here!)

And for anyone who just deserves a timeless, nice gift, I think the following would make great gifts:

A signet ring (this is 14k gold on sale for 65% off... probably the best deal you will ever see on a gold signet ring!!)

A nice perfume for special occasions (this is the best scent ever. three of my best friends wear it religiously for special occasions. it is gorgeous!)

xoxo

Gift Guide: The Fit Girl!

After sharing about my half marathon experience, I thought it would be fun to do a gift guide specifically focused on fitness and wellness products! I personally have a few of these things on my wishlist this year, and a few others are current favorites of mine that I think any girl interested in health/fitness would love to receive!

Running My First Half Marathon!!!

AH! I am so excited to share this!! On Sunday I ran my first half marathon race, and it was amazing. I want to document my experience and answer all questions in one spot, so please read on if you're interested!

I want to get the basics out of the way before I jump into the post!

Gift Guide: Gift Under $50

Hellooo and Happy Monday! Today feels extra festive because not only is this the first installment of my 2019 Gift Guides, but there's the prettiest snowfall happening outside my window, and only two weeks left until Thanksgiving! Today I am sharing gift ideas under $50 to kick off the holiday season. This is one of my favorite gift guides to share because there's truly something for every girl on your list (best friend, mom, sister, cousin, roommate, etc!) at a great price point.

(for more gift ideas, the HOLIDAY SHOP is officially open! I will be updating it throughout the season; check it out here!)

November Home Decor

Happy Friday everyone! Last night I popped into Anthropologie because I had to take a quick trip to the mall in Madison to return something. While in the store I was reminded how fabulous Anthro home decor pieces are, especially during the fall and winter seasons. Being in the store definitely inspired me to search for some holiday decor pieces to share with all of you. I mean... the delectable candles, cozy throws, and little accessories everywhere were really too fabulous not to share. While I definitely plan to do a few gift guides for the hostess, maybe even the home, and for moms/aunts/etc in the coming weeks, I wanted to share a little roundup right now if you're looking to spruce up your space for the holidays around the corner!

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

When it comes to getting dressed for school this time of year, I have to be very strategic about how I layer my outfits. There are few things that make me more uncomfortable than freezing on my walk to class only to show up dripping in sweat under my scarf, parka, and sweaters. Fortunately, I've figured out my formula by now and have found that creating a capsule wardrobe for yourself makes getting dressed seamless and successful, morning after morning.

Trader Joe's Cheap Wine Review (VIDEO!)

The long-awaited, Instagram-emphasized Trader Joe's cheap wine review video is here! If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I shared on Instagram a few weeks ago that I wanted to buy a bunch of inexpensive wine at Trader Joe's and film a video trying them all with my friends. The day has finally come, and the video is here!

October Favorites

Tomorrow's Halloween!!!!! I can't believe it. I love Octobers and I'm always sad to see them go. This month there have been so many things I've been loving. From new favorite beauty products to a newfound addiction for hot sauce, I'm excited to share my October obsessions! Warning: there are a lot.

Fall Palette

I can't believe how long it's been since I last shared a formal outfit post! Taking consistent outfit pictures has never been my strong suit, but I'm always happy when I do get around to it and can share more outfits with you.

Fall Sweaters Under $50

What better way to refresh your fall wardrobe than by adding a few sweaters to your repertoire? I've rounded up nine chic sweaters that would make for versatile closet staples all season long, at the best price point.

Easy and CUTE Halloween Costumes 2019

Hellloooooo and happy Halloween szn! My mom is the biggest Halloween fanatic of anyone I've ever met, so I've grown up always taking Halloween very seriously. In college, Halloween is such a fun holiday to celebrate because everyone always dresses up in fun costumes and has themed parties. Last year my friends and I went to an insane, spooky party and all dressed up as goth girls. This year I'm not sure exactly what our plans are, but I'm already brainstorming costume ideas. Below I've crafted a few costume ideas and easy, cute ways to recreate them.

Hanging Out Alone + Anthro Finds

This past weekend all of my roommates were gone, leaving me to my own devices and an entire apartment to myself! I live with three of my best friends, and I generally consider myself a dependent person (one of my New Year's Resolutions was to become more independent!), so when I found out I would be in the apartment alone for the weekend, I panicked a little. I thought about going home for the weekend but I ultimately decided I should just stay, get a lot of homework done, be productive, and relax.

Interview Tips, Tricks, & Secrets

Today is my big interview! I'm so excited about this opportunity, so please wish me luck! In honor of this, I thought I would share my best interview tips with you all. With three internships under my belt, I've done my fair share of interviews and I would like to think I have a decent grasp on how to handle them! (I don't want to jinx it though!!!) I can talk about myself all day long, so I'm really lucky that interviews don't stress me out too much. However, I know that not everyone feels this way, so I want to share some specific tips that genuinely make a difference for me when it comes down to having a great interview.

My Fall ~Vibey~ Playlist!

Oh, I can't even begin to describe how elated I am that it finally looks, feels, and smells like fall over here!!! Fall is by far my favorite season. Big sweaters, crisp air... it's so precious. This month I've been adding songs to my monthly playlist as always, but I also made a bigger, seasonal, fall ~vibes~ playlist that I wanted to share. It's actually a continuation of an OG playlist of mine, but I just love the vibes it gives off. It's the kind of indie/folk/alternative, chill, mellow, but just really quality music that makes you feel like putting on a huge sweater to go for a walk and get a latte. Ugh. I can't stop listening to it!



Specific artists I am especially into: Mt. Joy, The Head and the Heart, Whitney, and Shakey Graves. Of course, these are some of my all-time favorite bands anyway, but especially in the fall they just fit my mood so well.

Are there any artists that put you in the fall mood?

xoxo

Fall Interview Outfit Ideas

I have a very exciting interview coming up in less than a week that will not only require a business casual outfit but a little trip across the country as well! I am so excited about this opportunity and I'm crossing my fingers that I can share more will all of you soon if it goes well.

The dress code is business casual, and as I began to outfit plan for the interview, it became quickly apparent to me that finding a balance between looking professional without being overdressed is actually kind of a challenge! I know I'm not the only one struggling through interview season right now, so I've rounded up some professional, interview-appropriate attire for all of you going through the same thing!

Going Out Clothes!

Now that I am 21, I love that we can openly talk about going out in college!

At school I really love to go out, which probably comes as no surprise to any of you who follow me closely on Instagram :) So far this year it's been a little challenging to balance work and play, but it definitely hasn't stopped me from wanting to get dressed up and go out with my friends!

What I've Been Loving Lately

image via

I thought it would be fun to finish off the week by sharing a few things I've been loving at school recently! It's a pretty random assortment, but I'm excited about everything and wanted to share these things with all of you!

One Month Into Senior Year

I originally planned on writing a pre-Senior Year post sharing my thoughts heading into my final year of college. However, as I mentioned earlier this week, time just starting going too fast, and the next thing I knew it's already been a month into the school year! At the very least, I figured better late than never to share where I'm at with this school year and my goals for the rest of the year and post-graduation.

Shoes I'm Loving for Fall

Hi!!!!! I can't believe I haven't posted anything in almost an entire month! Heading back to school and starting my senior year has made for quite a busy few weeks, and to say I've had a lot going on would be an understatement. From very challenging classes to attending the career fair and applying for jobs (which is almost like a job in and of itself...) to just spending a lot of time hanging out with my friends, every day has felt busier and busier.

my outfit above: j.crew top // vintage lee shorts (similar) // CDG x Converse high tops

Napa Valley Recap

Welcome back to part 3 of my California recaps! I promise this is the last one! After a couple of days in San Francisco and Sonoma, Wednesday through Friday morning were spent in Yountville, which is just a short drive from Downtown Napa! Thursday was our first full day in Napa, so we went all out again, hitting a few different wineries and exploring as much as we could!

Birthday in Sonoma: Recap

Welcome to part two of my California trip recaps! After San Francisco (recap here!) we spent two days in Sonoma, two days in Napa, and then our last day back in San Francisco.

San Francisco Recap

Hi!!!! I can't believe I'm back from California, officially 21, and it's my last week of summer! I mentioned in my New York post last week that it's so crazy how you can look forward to a trip for so long, and then it just comes and goes so quickly! My mom and I had been planning on doing a Napa Valley trip for my 21st birthday for forever, so it's wild that it's already over. I also think it's funny how I'm actually 21 now, because I was the last one of all of my friends!!! The! Last! ONE!

The Importance of the Perfect Tote

In my back to school essentials post on Monday I mentioned how using a tote in place of a backpack isn't the most practical option. However, having a nice, everyday tote bag is non-negotiable for college girls! Personally, I received my everyday leather tote for my 16th birthday and have used it almost everyday since. I can't think of one other thing I own that has gotten more use (except maybe running shoes or sunglasses) than this bag, and I've gotten more compliments on it and comments like, "I wish I had a bag like that!" a million times!

Making My Apartment FUN

oOOOOooOOh now that we’re finally 21 over here let’s talk about pregames!! Today’s post is in partnership with xbox (!!) and I’m very excited to chat about their new Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.

21!

20 years ago today with my mom, lol

I'm officially 21!! I'll be spending the day at a few different wineries in Sonoma with my mom and enjoying my first sips ;) We had an amazing weekend in San Francisco and arrived in Sonoma yesterday; I can't wait to share photos of our trip once we get back! Tomorrow we head to Napa for a few days for more wine and exploring!

xoxo

Back to School Essentials

How can a student possibly concisely list off the essential items for the back to school season?! Personally, going back to school means loading up my car multiple times to move into my apartment multiple times, and making multiple random purchases that are all deemed absolutely essential because... tis the back to school season. So, I'm probably not the best person to determine what needs to come back to school with me and what is totally unnecessary, but I do know for sure that there a few things I wouldn't be able to live without...

24 Hours in New York City

I chose to split up my recaps between my weekend in the Hamptons and my two days in the city. Although both are obviously in New York, they're so different to me that it doesn't really make sense to combine them. My adventures in the city were pretty quick, but still fun, as always. Let's get into it!

Hamptons Weekend Recap

Returning home from New York late Wednesday night was bittersweet, as it always is! The long weekends I spend on the East Coast with my dad and his family each August are trips I look forward to all year long! It’s crazy how I wait and wait for these weekends to roll around every summer, and then they just go by so fast.

Senior Year Apartment: Before Photos + Plans

Some of my favorite posts I've written the last couple of summers have been a part of the Small Space Decor series that I began when I started college. From dorm decorating to moving into off-campus apartments with roommates, I've been styling my own small spaces for three years now and it's seriously one of my favorite things to do. At this point I've cultivated a nice little collection of decor pieces that have worked well in my different small spaces, but with my particular layout this year there are a few more purchases I'd like to make. Of course I am not going to stray far from my blue-and-white/gold theme...

My Internship Recap + Reflection

I can't believe my internship is already over and done with! My last day was on Friday! They said the 10 weeks would fly by, but I really can't believe how much they did! Although some days felt long, the weeks went by so fast, the weekends even faster, and the entire thing is already behind me! I want to reflect on my experience and share how it went with all of you. Warning, this gets long!

Off to New York!

Ah!!!!! I can't believe my internship actually ended yesterday and by the time this goes up I'll be in New York for the weekend. I've been looking forward to this trip all summer and I'm so excited to see my dad's side of the family and spend the weekend in the Hamptons!

Summer Book Reviews (Part II)

I promise I didn't forget about this post! This is long overdue but I am back to share the second installment of what I've read this summer. If you missed the first one, you can check it out here!

Current Obsessions (Beauty, etc)

It's been a couple of months since I've gone through one of my phases of really, really loving a curated selection of products.. but the bug is back! I have some new ~obsessions~ I haven't been doing much shopping this summer, but with trips coming up this weekend (!!!) and another next week for my bday (!!!) I've been more into shopping lately and have a few exciting things I just have to share!

What I Did in July

Oh wow. Last month was insane. I did so much that the entire month is already blurring together. I apologize in advance if this isn't the most interesting post! I just want to recap my month for future reference.

July Playlist + New Music Releases

Helloooooo my favorite month of the year! It's August!!!!! Happy leo sznnnnn! I'm biased because it's my birthday month, but I really do love August. Every year this means fun vacations, the end of whatever summer job I've been up to, and this year, the excitement of turning 21. In Wisconsin this also means it's finally perfect summer weather... in the 70s most days and not too hot like it has been for the last couple of weeks!

July Wishlist + Recent Purchases

A few things that have been on my wishlist for the last couple of weeks...