This Week's Top 10: Recent Favorites, Fall Shopping

in love with this home tour - image via

 1. Happy Friday, hello November, hope everyone had a great Halloween, and happy holidays I guess?!? Haha, this week has been kind of crazy! I am personally a fan of Halloween and loved watching the parade here in NYC on Tuesday night. I really tried to soak up as much as I could of October before waking up to holiday gift guides and holiday party ideas all on social media Wednesday morning.

2. Now that we are moving into the holiday season, I've begun my annual gift guides! I personally haven't even started to think about gift-giving, but I know a lot of people are far more proactive than I am, so I wanted to get the gift guides going. I started yesterday with "my wishlist" to give inspiration to anyone trying to think of something to ask for when their mom, aunt, grandmother, etc. inevitably asks! 

3. Of course, I also published the November mood board this week! If you're new, I make these free desktop & iPhone wallpapers every single month!

Spring Finds Under $200

I've found so many cute pieces for spring, all under $200, and rounded them all up here for you!

Shop the collage:

Spring Dresses for Any Occassion

Whether you have a wedding, graduation, bachelorette party, or any other event coming up in the next few months, you're bound to find a spring dress in this round-up perfect for the occasion! I did a Q&A recently over on Instagram and I received so many questions about where to find dresses for special occasions this season. I actually found it so much harder than usual to put this particular assortment together, so I totally understand the difficulty! Everything was either $600+ or a little off... but the dresses I've included here are exceptions to that, and each one is as fabulous as the next in my opinion! I tried to keep the majority of the dresses around $200, which is usually a fair price point, at least for me.

Fun Home Decor Finds

Can you believe I've lived in NYC for almost a full year?! The time has truly flown by. I am SO excited to share that a couple of months ago I was able to renew my lease and I'll be staying in my apartment for another year. I am absolutely thrilled because I love my apartment, and it's truly an amazing deal for what it is (wonderful location, natural light, dishwasher, decent size for an NYC apartment, molding on the walls lol). Rent prices are crazy in the city right now, and I feel grateful that my rent, which was already a great deal because I moved during Covid, was raised only 10%. I was honestly so worried it would be raised up to the pre-pandemic price, which was like $1200 more than my current monthly rent. Thankfully, that did not happen, and I am thrilled to be staying in my apartment for another year.

Valentine's Day Inspired: Pretty Pink Things

I got a targeted IG ad yesterday for the cutest matching set I've ever seen (for just $40!) and immediately ordered it. I don't think I've ever done that before, but this was too cute to pass up! It inspired this whole round-up of pretty pink pieces for Valentine's Day... whether these items end up as little gifts for yourself, your best friend, your girlfriend, your sister, or whomever else, I hope you find something you love! 

This Week's Top 10

image via pinterest

 1. After two weeks in Wisconsin, I am officially flying back to the city tomorrow!!! I'm looking forward to it, but I've truly loved being surrounded by nature and plenty of space over the past two weeks.

2. When I get back to my apartment I think I want to do a little decorating for fall! I love these velvet plush pumpkins, and I'm definitely going to pick up some fall candles- this one seems to be a seasonal favorite, but this one and this one look like great options at a lower price point!

3. Speaking of fall shopping, yesterday on the blog I shared 70+ pieces I'm loving this season, and most are under $100. Check out the blog post here!

70+ Fall Pieces I'm Loving

I haven't been blogging much the last few months, and I've noticed how much less inspired I've felt as a result, especially when it comes to getting dressed. I always have an itch this time each year to step up my outfits, so I thought I'd do a little "research" for all of you and share some of the pieces I've found! 

In addition to the college, I've included 70+ pieces below for you, and most are under $100!

This Week's Top 10: Books, Weddings, and Lots of Sneakers...

image via town & country

1. I finished The Alchemist this week and absolutely loved it. It's a pretty quick read so I would highly recommend it. If you don't know what The Alchemist is, it's a classic fable written by Paul Coehlo, and it's sort of a mystical, metaphorical story of a boy who goes out on a search to discover his personal treasure and learns many life lessons along the way. It's essentially just a metaphor for life and following your dreams. I found it peaceful, heartwarming, and honestly, really encouraging. I gave it five stars!

2. Up next I am reading The Most Fun We Ever Had, and The Idea of You. I started The Most Fun on the plane last weekend and I am loving it so far. It's the story of four sisters, all going through their own individual crises right now, while their parents are living blissfully in retirement, more or less completely unaware of what the daughters are going through. It is really light so far but I just know something juicy is going to happen! 

3. After I finish that one, I picked up The Idea of You to read next!! I am SO excited to read this one because Grace Atwood (one of my favorite bloggers) has given it the highest praise and it's been on my list for sooo long. I don't even know what the premise is, I just know it's going to be great.

13 Table Lamps I'm Loving

image via

I'm finally starting to get back into the mindset of making apartment decor progress. When I moved in April, I was so overwhelmed with making a bunch of big-ticket purchases and just getting the basics into my apartment, and then I was out of town so much in July I just didn't really realize that my goals for my apartment had been put on the back burner and there are so many ideas that I have to make this space great and feel more complete! I am mostly just looking for art and decor, which is the fun part. 

Perfect Pieces for the Start of Summer

It feels like just yesterday the sun was already set by 4pm, and I barely went outside for fear of hypothermia. But... somehow it's actually mid-May, and I couldn't happier! The sun is up at 8 PM these days and that is a sign that summer is upon us! I head back to New York this weekend, and then I am on Martha's Vineyard at the end of the month for Memorial Day. I am so excited about the warmer weather and some beach days ahead that I rounded up a ton of pieces perfect for this start of summer.

Graduation Dress Roundup

I got a DM from one of you asking me to share a round-up of graduation dress ideas, and I absolutely loved the suggestion! I actually shared a similar post last year when I picked out my graduation dress that I never wore (lol... bought for graduation that didn't happen and then never even did grad pics but it's fine I'm over it) but I'm back again with this year's edition because I am excited and happy for all of you getting to graduate this year-- even though your celebration might look different than expected, you have accomplished so much and it's fun to dress up and take photos no matter how you're celebrating! I just love doing round-ups like these and I am so happy to help. 

In My Cart Under $100

dress from free people

I feel like I haven't shopped in forever. I bought a few things for my trip (Rhode Island recap here + Hamptons recap here), but (somehow!) that was already over a month ago. Even though I'm at home not doing much, I have been getting drinks outside with friends, which obviously, that calls for a cute outfit! I also hate not having something cute to wear for Instagram photos, as dumb as that sounds. It's August next week, so what better excuse than my birthday month for sprucing up my wardrobe?! 

Below I've rounded up some cute things I'm loving right now, most under $100, everything under $150!

Graduation Dresses (All Under $200!)

Even though graduation is postponed, I am still on the lookout for a white dress to wear for graduation photos! I love the tradition of wearing a white dress for special occasions. Obviously, I could mix up the colors, but it just feels right... we had to wear white dresses for my high school graduation, so it seems appropriate to wear one for college graduation, too! 

This Week's Top 10

image via Pinterest -- what I wish my WFH set-up looked like

Omg, can I just say that the content this quarantine is getting me so excited?! I've been so motivated to blog, as it is the most productive way for me to procrastinate school. Is that a good thing? Unsure.. but if it's wrong, I don't want to be right.

This Week's Top 10 is so packed that I actually had to organize it into categories, LOL.
I hope you enjoy it!

H O M E
1. EXCITING NEWS! So, we moved into this house the summer before my senior of high school. I love this house... it's close to downtown while still feeling like a cozy, quaint suburb. It's absolutely gorgeous around our neighborhood, and I get the best vibes. HOWEVER. There is one thing that has driven me crazy since the get-go, and it's our kitchen cabinets. I despise the cabinet pulls. They are black, and they are so ugly, and I think about it every single time I take a picture of something in my kitchen. WELL, this quarantine has found my mom and I redoing our cabinets and pulls!!! I am ecstatic. I cannot wait to share the transformation! It's a small upgrade, but I think it is going to make a huge difference.

2. On this topic, Studio McGee, one of my favorite interior design accounts to follow, recently released a collection at Target! There are some very cute things, all at great prices! I love the neutral theme. You can click to shop a few of my favorite pieces from the collection below:

F O O D
3. Going vegan isn't something I think I will ever actually do, but the concept intrigues me. I think about it a lot. I support veganism and absolutely love the effects it seems to have on (most peoples') bodies and the environment. Jess's blog post on her recent transition to a vegan diet really has me wanting to try it.. maybe I could make the switch just a few days a week?

4. Man Repeller (yes, I'm obsessed) posted my favorite article.... of all time, possibly. WEIRD FOOD COMBINATION SNACKS!!! The article gave me some really good inspo for future snacking endeavors... My personal favorite snack combinations are Frito's dipped in sour cream, and grapes dipped in peanut butter. I'm sorry... I know it's weird... this is something I've been keeping to myself for a while, and I finally feel enough validation from this article to share.

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

5. I just discovered Scribd and thought I'd share! It's an app with magazines, books, and audiobooks, and they're offering a month free with no credit card required. How nice! I've never listened to an audiobook before, so I'm thinking I'll download the app and give it a try! I have heard great things about Jessica Simpon's memoir!

6. I watched episode 23 of 20/20 the other night because (1) my friend recommended it to me, and (2) after reading Verity, I've been strangely obsessed with morbidity. This particular episode (The Chameleon) is about a serial killer, and not only was this absolutely fascinating and horrifying, but it held my attention, which is very hard to do.

7. Taking a long walk and getting outside has made me feel much better about the amount of time I spend in my bed these days. I love listening to a podcast while I walk, so if you need a little motivation, let me recommend Gals on the Go, NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, My Favorite Murder, or The Morning Toast!

(addition: I just read this thread on Twitter... a professor wrote the things she's experienced with students since the transition to online classes. It is so sweet, thoughtful, and eye-opening. Worth a read)

S E L F - C A R E
8. I love painting my nails; it always makes me feel more put together. I posted about my favorite red nail polish on my Instagram Story the other day, and I was surprised how many of you actually cared what my favorite polish color is... haha. If you're in need of a bright, classic, gorgeous red, this (called "red-iance") is my all-time favorite!!
Also love this post by Krista on how to get the perfect at-home manicure!

9. I've been missing my Daily Stoic book so much since I left it at school. It is the best way to do a little self vibe-check every morning. It just really puts our lives into perspective, which is nice in times like these, where we need an extra reminder of what is in our control, and what is not.

10. Here's another reminder to encourage you to do a little personal writing during this time! If you need a quarantine activity, whether you're bored, need to get your thoughts out, or just want to feel a bit more productive, you can check out my writing prompts here.

Happy Friday, even though everyday kind of feels like the weekend anyway...
xoxo

This Week's Top 10

(what I wish my quarantine set-up looked like -- photo via Harlowe James)

All of this time stuck at home has found me behind a screen more hours of the day than not. While I am doing the best I can to get outside, move my body, and still live in some sort of a routine, I am finding myself on Instagram, reading the news, and consuming content more than I otherwise would be. That said, I've found a variety of things I have seen, watched, or read this week that I think are worth sharing. And they're not (for the majority!) pandemic related.

I Miss Newport... + Packing List

I'M SEEING THE ROLLING STONES TONIGHT! I am so insanely excited!! My dad and I are seeing the Stone tonight in Chicago because he got me tickets for Christmas... ahhh, I can't wait to share more! Anyways-- onto today's post:

Every summer I find myself succumbing to a seasonal longing for my favorite place in the world: Newport, Rhode Island. If you've been a longtime reader, you're probably no stranger to my Newport obsession! I have visited Newport almost every summer of my life, and my dad even lived there when I was in high school! I am half convinced I'll get married at the Chanler on the Cliff Walk, where I took my senior photos (that I'll never not be obsessed with, thus had to include in this post)... ugh, it's just the best place.

Outfit Roundup from Insta Stories (Vol. II)

similar sweater here and here // "f" initial belt // similar denim shorts

Hi everyone! Today I am back with volume two of outfit roundups from Insta stories. I shared the first edition of this post about a month ago which you can find here, and I got some positive feedback so I thought I would do another. Just to note, a lot of the pieces pictured below are linked to something similar. A lot of what I'm wearing are pieces from previous seasons, so they're no longer available or online. I usually try to link to the same retailer that the product is, but to a piece that is currently available. Enjoy!

This Week's Top 10

1. Happy Fridayy! I'm so excited for this weekend because I'll hopefully be finishing up redoing my room (cannot wait to share my new favorite piece!), and then on Sunday I'm having a pool day with my roommates for next year. We haven't all hung out yet together since school almost two months ago because of different work schedules, so I'm really looking forward to spending the day together.

2. I placed my first order on Princess Polly this week and I am really looking forward to trying everything on. I think I'll do an unboxing or try on videos on Insta Stories, so stay tuned! I have heard so many great things from YouTubers, so I really hope I love what I ordered!! I have generally bad luck with online shopping and always place orders of five or more pieces because I usually have to return a lot of things.

3. This week on the blog:

--My chill out playlist

--An outfit post from the Milwaukee domes/conservatory/botanical gardens (who knows what the real term is honestly)

--Six ways to wear a bandana from the same outfit

--A running update + what I eat (a highly requested post!)

Outfit Roundup from Insta Stories (Vol. I)

shop my dress here -- under $30!

Today I'm compiling a lot of my recent outfits from Insta stories and linking where to shop similar pieces. Having a relatively "manageable" following on Instagram (not sure of a better word for it), I don't get an overflow of DM's everyday, but I always get at least a few questions about where pieces are from that I share in my stories. I try to post my outfits daily, especially when I'm going to my internship, because I think that serves as particularly useful inspiration for what to wear in a situation that is new to a lot of girls my age!

10 Things Under $100

Happy Thursday, babes! I've spent the last couple of days working on an 11 page paper due later this morning, and I'm happy to have that over and done with. I couldn't find a time last night to get up a blog post for this morning, but after finishing off the last touches of my paper I wanted to pop in and say hi. I've been doing a lot of shopping lately getting ready for summer, which is now only 12 days away. I wanted to share a little round-up of budget-friendly buys in case you're looking to spruce up your wardrobe, too!

xoxo