my future (dream) bedroom.

Good news ya'll! It turns out I'll finally be moving closer to campus in the near future, and I can hardly wait to decorate my new room. I am all for making my bedroom a cozy, chic place to call my very own. That being said, I have literally spent way too much time on Pinterest gathering ideas about color schemes, decorations, linens, accents, and storage ideas. I tend to change my mind on interior design ideas quite frequently, but I really do hope that my bedroom turns out to look similar to the ideas I have put together in the little collage below! I am aiming for a chic, yet young and eclectic vibe. What do you think? Any more ideas?

PAINT: I'm thinking about painting the walls a light, soft gray color with a coral horizontal accent stripe on at least one, maybe two walls.

LINENS: I absolutely love the look of crisp white! This particular duvet cover is from Anthropologie and costs an absolute fortune. In a perfect world, I would snag it in a heart beat. But rather than spending $400 on a comforter, I will be on the look out for a less expensive knock off/copy cat (let me know if you find a similar one some where)! For sheets, I am considering either a solid or patterned coral color.

PILLOWS: I am a huge fan of having a ton of pillows, both comfortable and decorative. I'm hoping to find a handful of cute, multicolored, patterned pillows for my bed. They are an easy way to incorporate a lot of colors without being terribly overwhelming. All the pillows in my collage are from Pier 1!

ACCENTS: In my new house the floors are all hard wood, so I'm definitely going to need an area rug! I'd like a rather plain rug with some kind of a simple pattern. As the pillows will incorporate a lot of color/pattern, I want to keep the rug minimal, like this light gray rug I found on overstock.com. To make the room chic complete, I'll add a few key accents like the feminine Pier 1 lamp and mirror above.

I honestly cannot wait to get started decorating my new room and starting fresh in a new town with new friends!

Trender Bender - My Favorite Trends

The longer I attend school at CU, the more I realize just how fashionable Boulder truly is. People from all over the country come to Boulder in pursuit of a first-class college education, and with them come a wide variety of fashion influences. Kids from the coasts and big time cities tend to set the trends around campus; however, Boulder natives stand their ground as their hometown offers an a number of stylish boutiques and upscale chains. Sprinkle in the kids between the coasts that know a thing or two about fashion and you have one ecclectic and fashion forward campus! HOWEVER, being a poor college student makes it a bit more difficult to stay on top of the newest trends and styles that seem to be constantly changing.

All that being said, with a new semester of school fast approaching, I've been on the look out for some trendy, yet inexpensive pieces to spice up the ol' wardrobe. I enjoy trying new styles and putting forth my best effort to keep up with all of the fun and often times quirky new trends. Today, I turned to Forever21 in search of some fun examples of the trends I will hopefully be getting a chance to try out this semester.



1. BUTTON-DOWN BLOUSES. I adore this look! These blouses always look clean and classy. There are a number of different variations of this look: solid color, pattern, high low, cropped, tie front, etc.! Different styles allows for more opportunities to flaunt this look.

2. EMBELLISHED COLLARS. Collars of all styles are making quite the comeback! From traditional tailored collars to youthful peter pan collars, collars are everywhere! COLLARS! When bringing things back into style designers generally alter some part of the garment to make it fresh and exciting! In this case, collars are being embellished for a quirky and unique style to make your own!

3. BLACK & WHITE. The contrast between black and white has never been more exciting! This trend seems to slip in and out of style quite frequently, and this spring it's most definitely in! If you are bored of the contrasting color block look, try a piece with a black and white pattern.

A New Year Calls for New Goals

Humanity has done it! Through all of the ups and downs of the past 365 days, we have officially made it to the year 2013. As we all know, a new year gives everyone the opportunity for a fresh start. That being said, it's time to get to work on drafting up the latest list of resolutions. I'm hoping that my top 10 resolutions will not only guide me in making the right decisions this year, but also help me to make this the best year yet! Bring it on, 2013!

ONE: Learn to focus more on the positive side of things and less on the negative.

TWO: Eat healthier; it's as simple as that. Less snacks, fast food, and desserts!

THREE: Take advantage of the fact that I live with a personal trainer. I need to work on listening to my brother's exercise advice.

FOUR: Work on becoming a better Christian.

FIVE: Learn to recognize and be thankful for everything I have rather than fixate on the things I think I want.

SIX: Try to save more money!

SEVEN: Cook more meals at home and go out to eat less. This should help me achieve number six!

EIGHT: Work on keeping in contact with the people that I love.

NINE: Blog more often, as writing and reviewing are pretty much the essence of my major.

TEN: Embrace the "forgive and forget" mantra - no more holding grudges.

A Little Reflection

After seeing a friends facebook status made in reflection on the past year, I thought it would be interesting to do a similar post on my blog! This last year has been a whirlwind of change; successes as well as failures, happiness along with the briefest of sadness, and times of excitement along with periods of calmness. Although some events were welcomed and much needed, others took me by surprise, for better or worse. The following is a compilation of what happened to me throughout 2012. I sincerely challenge you to think about the past 365 days...as even the smallest of miracles or mishaps can change your life in ways you may never have thought possible.

x. I was officially accepted as a transfer student from Metropolitan State University of Denver to Univeristy of Colorado at Boulder.

x. With a great deal of nerves, I began my first semester as a CU Buff in the spring of 2012.

x. I have made absoultely wonderful friends from all over the country. Friends that will soon become roommates!

x. I have lost touch with a number of close friends.

x. I was accepted to the Journalism Program at CU - a dream of mine since I was a junior in high school.

x. I have been given the opportunity to host several of my friends out here in Denver and have been able to show them around the place I now call home.

x. I witnessed my first true double rainbow...all the way across the sky!

x. I have been blessed to have made several trips back home to enjoy the land of 10,000 lakes.

x. I have lost one of the most beautiful and loving kittens.

x. I stood outside in torrential down pour and wind to see a less than stellar performance by Smashmouth, and had a great time with some amazing friends.

x. Spent several weeks boating, tubing, waterskiing, and playing sand volleyball with great friends and family in Minnesota and Wyoming.

x. Endured several trials and tribualations of heartache with people very close to my heart.

x. Took several road trips across Minnesota with my best friends.

x. Welcomed a new baby cousin into this world.

x. I voted in my first presidential election.

x. I've missed a great deal in the lives of my closest friends back home.

x. And most of all, I've learned that things don't always go as planned, but everything truly does happen for a reason. Patience is a virtue.

"Clothes are your uniform for the battle of life" - Karl Lagerfeld

Hey all! I just recently got my hands on the newest issue of Glamour, and as always, I'm head over heels about every last thing they've decided to share with us little people of the world! This issue is the "Fashion Edition" which, in my mind, incresases the excitement factor for all women and men (?) that care to indulge in the fashion tips and advice provided by the best professionals in the business. Speaking of the best professionals in the business...another reason this issue ups the ante? Their guest editor for this September issue is Victoria Beckham! You know, the ultra posh (get it?) fashion icon with one of today's most sought after clothing lines...she definitely knows her stuff. I hope my previous ranting and raving got you encouraged to go out and get a copy of your own. BUT if for some odd reason it did not, I'm going to share a few of my favorite fashions from this issue in an effort to get you as addicted to the mag as I am. :)
Every season, fashion trends change and adapt. In general, fashion is all about being new and fresh!However, some ideas and concepts within the fashion industry are recurring or repeated throughout time. So, a couple of your favorite pieces from a few years ago could very well have another 15 minutes of fame headed their way.  All that being said, I want to show you some of the brilliant and fun ideas and pieces I will totally try this fall -all thanks goes to the fashion experts at Glamour!

1. Baroque embellishments.
Throughout the magazine, I noticed a number of embellished and embroidered tops and dresses. "Baroque" style can be very diverse depending on designer, colors used, ect. All in all, SO CUTE!



 2. Pull Over Sweaters

Fall calls for comfortable and cozy pull over sweaters. You may have a couple of these stored away from a year or two ago!

3. Patterned or Printed Pants
I've been seeing these every where and I LOVE them. You've got to work the confidence factor in a pair of these!



Just a few of the ideas that I found myself going back to throughout the magazine. I've officially decided that my wardrobe needs a make over... There are a million different styles to try out this fall and I can't wait!

make-up must-haves

If you are at all like me, you tend to look like a lost puppy the minute you step up to the make up counter at Macys. You wander the aisles or display cases having no clue as to why you even decided to take your chances here in the first place. There are so many products, so many colors, so many choices!

Take foundation for instance. One would assume this has to be one of the easiest products to buy, as all you THINK you have to do is match your skin tone. However, there are many more things you need to take into consideration before you drop the big bucks and make a purchase. (Quality make up is NOT cheap these days...) For example: What is your skin type: dry or oily? Do you want liquid foundation or powder? If you want powder, do you want pressed or loose? Do you want an application brush? If so, do you need the liquid application brush or the powder application brush? What brand do you want? The same goes for mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, blush, EX CETERA. It may be one of the most overwhelming shopping experiences a woman will ever go through. So maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but make up products have seriously not done well by me, so I have a right to hold a bit of a grudge.

Nonetheless, I've put together a post that lists my favorite products that I have been lucky enough to discover prior to spending hundreds on random beauty products just to realize I have bought the wrong shade...and I've already opened it so there is no chance of a return.

If there is one thing I've learned about make up, it's that quality matters. If you want make up that lasts an eight hour work day AND that doesn't make you look like you have eight pounds of make up on, then you have to be willing to pay the price. You cannot get by using the cheap purple N.Y.C. eye shadow you bought in the the seventh grade. Don't even try. My two most coveted make up brands are Clinique and Mary Kay. I like to think that each of these brands sits right in the middle of the road in regards to pricing; not as cheap as CoverGirl or Revlon, but also not as spendy as Estee Lauder or Lancome. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of quality products you can purchase from the less expensive brands, I just wouldn't make a habit of it. So, here are my favorites!

Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer 

I love tinted moisturizer in the summer because it is light and airy. You definitely don't feel as if you have a heavy layer of foundation plastered on your face. Another plus is that there aren't many shades to chose from, leading to LESS confusion as to which will look best with your skin tone. This particular moisturizer also has an SPF of 30 to protect your skin from harsh sun rays! 

Clinique Blush - 108 Cupid

I love Clinique blush! This is the same blush my grandma used to have and I loved using it, so I got my own! It stays on all day long without any issues! If you look a little sleepy, a small amount of bright blush will make you look a little more awake!

Clinique Eye Shadow - 101 Buttermilk & 84 Twiglet

Clinique eye shadow is awesome for a number of reasons. First, it is very soft and smooth. Second, it's light weight AND long-wearing. Plus, all of their shadows have been clinically tested for even the most sensitive eyes.

Almay Liquid Eyeliner - Black

I use liquid eyeliner because it's much easier to apply, leaves a cleaner line, and stays put through a long day. It looks like a really tiny bottle because it is, BUT it lasts and lasts. Almay is a pretty nice brand as well! Very user friendly :)

Clinique Lash Power Mascara - Black Onyx

I have never been able to find a mascara that stays on my lashes from morning until night. I don't rub my eyes or cry on a daily basis, so I didn't know why nothing would last. Then I came upon the long-wear formula from my beloved Clinique. It is the only mascara that I have EVER used that literally stays put for an entire day. Plus, it comes with a tiny little brush to get great extension and volume.

Mary Kay Lip Gloss

You just need the tiniest bit of this gloss for your lips! It definitely adds a little pop of bright color for a summer face!

Well, that's all I've got! It's not much but it's definitely a start! Each one of these products is awesome and I highly recommend them for anybody looking to try a little something new! ALSO, the ladies at the Clinique counter are usually incredibly helpful. So, if you go there looking as lost as myself, you'll be most likely be in very good hands. Oh, and if you have any advice you're dying to share about your make up must-haves, post a comment!

 

Summer TO DO!

Good afternoon blogosphere! I have officially finished my sophomore year of college at CU Boulder and with all this extra time on my hands I hope to channel my focus and energy into my blog! So, here it goes!

As most of my close family and friends know, I am an avid list maker. I LOVE lists. I also love being able to cross each item off with a sense of great accomplishment. I like to think of each list as a series of goals that can help and/or better me in any which way. I mean, without goals how are you supposed to have the necessary determination and drive to accomplish anything in life? Take that deep life lesson and run with it...

Okay seriously though, my post today is a list of "to dos" for this summer. I'd like to make this summer the best it can be; milk it for all it's worth. To do that, I tried to think of a few things that would not only make this a summer to remember, but also take a majority of my time off to complete rather than a few simple tasks that can be finished within a day or two. Here's a list of the top 5 things I hope to achieve for the summer of 2012!

1. Learn to cook - Maybe I'll buy my very first cookbook after wandering the foreign aisles of Williams Sonoma or Peppercorn. Or, say I'm feeling quite adventerous... I could take a cooking class?! The possibilities are endless. And since I'm starting from scratch there's so much to learn. It will most likely take me all summer to gather my patience and learn the very basics, but you've got to start somewhere!
2. Get in touch with my crafty side - This summer I plan to put Pinterest to the ultimate test. I continuely find adorable and creative ideas to pin to my "Things to do" board (that's another list entirely in itself). I hope to take the time to attempt a craft or two...or 20! Stay tuned! I'll definitely post my adventures throughout the summer!
3. Explore Colorado - I realize that this is a fairly vague concept. It could mean anything... and it does! There is so much to see and experience in Colorado! Festivals, art shows, concerts, farmers markets, sight seeing, national parks, museums, famed local restaurants, and the list goes on. I want to see it all, try it all, do it all! It's an entirely impossible idea, but it's worth a shot to at least discover what I'm missing, right?
4. Go on solo hikes - One of the best features of Colorado are the mountains. They are one of the most beautiful sights a person may ever experience, and being IN the mountains is a whole other story. The peace, serenity, and high of making it to the top are incredible feelings that just might allow me to accomplish this goal. It may be the toughest thing to get myself to do, but in the end it will be worth it!
5. Immerse myself in music - The music scene out here in Colorado is unlike anywhere else. The variety of genres, musicians, and venues is truly boundless. I've been told that one of the most unbelievable places to see a concert is at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It's this amazing venue built into the giant red rocks of Morrison, CO. To make things even better and all the more enticing, the line up for this summer is pretty impressive!

This seems like a very short list to last me the entire summer, but when you think about it, each one of these aspirations encompass' a great deal of activity. I can hardly wait to get started and I hope you will keep checking back for updates as the summer continues! In the mean time, what are your plans for the summer?