Reflection : New Years Resolution #6

2014 Resolutions Post
June was such a great month. School ended on a high note - only because exams were over, I got to get back into the swing of blogging after the lack of posts in May, and I got to catch up on sleep, create a fun and easy breezy summer routine, and just relax. A lot of people tend to go for crazy summer plans, in which they're gone the mass majority of the summer traveling place to place (the case for me last summer), but I have truly enjoyed just hanging low and getting lots of work done. 
This month, I concentrated on blogging which was great. Like I said, June was my month to catch up on blogging and put a lot of time and effort into publishing better and solid content. (I hope you've felt the same way as the reader!) I also started my  own series, Tea Talk Tuesday, to highlight bloggers that I love. I also joined a new blog group, the SITS girls - and have loved being part of such an upbeat and encouraging group of girls.  I also found a few new blogs that I absolutely love and read every morning. One of my most recent findings is of my friend Claire's blog, Adventures in Deutshland. This fall, Claire is coming to SOA for Vocal, and I am so jealous that she gets to spend the next month and a half in Germany. Her blog is just her simply writing what her time is like there and how she's enjoying her experience. 
My blog's first birthday is the 2nd - and I am so excited to write all about what this year has been like for me. I had big dreams of creating a fun little post, but with the next two days that I have planned it may not be happening. (but still, fingers crossed!) 
And to end, July's resolution may be and/or omitted until next month. During July, I am supposed to focus on Travel, but I am not traveling out of state (I'll be going to Greenville for 2 weeks in 6 days) until August, and August's resolution is Organization (I have to get back into the swing of things for school!) - so I may just combine the two and have one massive month to get lots done! 
This week I have a lot planned, between 2 doctor appointments, getting ready for camp, and blog tons, so I need some massive motivation to keep me in good spirits! 
Have a great Monday!
xoxo

On My Radar { 06 . 27 . 14 }

This week was super chill, which was just what I needed. In just 9 days I head off to camp for two weeks, so this next week is going to get hectic, between writing multiple posts for my time away and getting packed, rehearsed (I have to perform the first day I get there!), and finalizing the last few details. 
ONE :: The Fault in Our Stars + Anne Frank Kiss I LOVED The Fault in Our Stars (crying one minute and laughing the next, what's not to love?!), and soon after I saw it with my friend Cathie, this article from NBC News popped up on my Facebook News Feed. I don't necessarily agree fully with what the reviewers and critics are complaining about, but it was interesting to see their point of view and to see what made them cringe halfway through the movie.  After Hazel and Gus climb 3 flights of stairs to see Anne Frank's home, Hazel (with her terrible lungs) is out of breath. One of the most culminating moments of the book/movie is when Gus and Hazel share a memorable (and adorable) kiss in Anne Franks' living room. But, critics aren't so happy with the scene because they don't approve how such a happy moment can take place in one of the saddest moments in history. (I'd like to hear your perspective, comment below!) 
TWO :: JacksGap Collaboration I love Jack and Finn Harries (#mcm forever and always) and their very creative videos and daring adventures. One of Jack's recent videos is a challenge/collab with his viewers/readers of his blog and videos, to make a short video stating the following : What Do You Fear and/or What Do You Love? The boy's goal is to create the largest YouTube collab, and I definitely want to take part - and would love it if you would join me! 
{ via this post }  THREE : Eveleyn Henson Free Downloads A while back, Carly from the Chicago Prepster blogged about Evelyn Henson's adorable tech wallpapers! Since then, I've been obsessed and have so many saved to my phone to change at different times! Eveleyn makes lots of the quotes/wallpapers you see all over Pinterest and Tumblr which I am in love with. 
FOUR :: Gentle Ways to Take a Break Summer is the perfect time to take a break, especially between camps, jobs, internships, school, and chores! This post shares 55 ways to take a break - some are easy to think of and others are more creative. I am definitely going to continue referencing this throughout the summer and into the school year! 
FIVE :: 10 DIY Projects from Design Darling Summer also means lots of free time, and I am always looking for fun projects to do instead of blogging or reading (or watching Netflix, no shame)! I really want to try painting the inside of my door, creating a porcelain jewelry stand, or the gold leaf frames before summer ends! 
What links are you loving this week? 
Have a great weekend! See you girlies on Monday! 
xoxo

6 Can't Miss Blogs

I've shared some of the blogs I can't go a day without reading previously on the blog, but over the course of a few months, these favorite blogs have shifted and now there is a new group of blogs that I'm excited to share with you! 
During the school year, reading blogs is the very first thing I do in the morning - alarm goes off, iPad/phone comes out (this is probably very unhealthy but oh well), and I'm checking Social Media and catching up with the same blogs on Bloglovin. Now that it's summer, I've had time to search around and find a few more blogs that are absolutely darling and that completely catch my eye every day with every new post. I've added their buttons to my home screen on my phone and have also followed each of the blogs on Bloglovin. 

ONE :: The Blonde Prep, Frannie  Frannie loves to cook and dress classy, and both definitely shine through on her blog. Frannie is constantly sharing some of her favorite recipies and I look forward to trying some of her recipies in the near future! (Doesn't this salad look delicious?!) Frannie recently started running and eating more raw fruits, which I really admire since I recently took up biking and have been struggling to find motivation some days! Her blog helps tons! 
TWO :: Citrus and Style, Caroline Over time, I followed Caroline on social media sites and was so excited to find out she had a blog for herself! Her blog title explains it all - she has a love for citrus (cooking, lifestyle) and style! Caroline writes great motivational posts, such as ways to stay in shape! (And I can't forget to mention her impeccable outfits!)
THREE :: The College Prepster, Carly Heitlinger I will always love Carly's blog. Her posts are constantly being bookmarked by me and I find myself always referencing old posts at various times throughout the week. Carly also loves to read, so I definitely look up to her for book suggestions and I think that if we were every to chat about books, we would instantly click.  And I can't get over that adorable puppy, Teddy, and her boyfriend, Garrett! And her life in NYC makes me want to live there. #someday
FOUR :: History in High Heels I found History in High Heels while packing for Italy because of her intense Travel section on her blog. I fell in love with her classic and fun posts, and now that she is in Italy herself, I have loved following along on Instagram and by reading her posts and viewing her outfits. I am so jealous that she is currently in my favorite travel destination - I wish I could go back and be one of her students! 
FIVE :: Sailing the Sea of Style, Sloane Kratzman I was introduced to Sloane's blog by my friend Kira and since then I have loved viewing Sloane's outfit every day. She is a rising freshman who has impeccable style and lives just outside the big apple - what's not to love?! Sloane has so much going for her and her blog and is definitely one of my new inspirations! 
SIX :: York Avenue, Jackie And last, (but not least!) Jackie from York Avenue has the picture perfect life in a flat in NYC. I live vicariously through her UES lifestyle and her blog simply covers all the bases - reading, style, and food. 
What are your daily reads? I love adding to my never ending list! 
xoxo

On My Radar { 6 . 20 . 14 }

This week has flown by! I can't believe it's already Friday. This week was such a great week, since I finally got back into the swing of blogging, finished up my collab with Tiny Prints and Julep, and felt very productive each day. I also started working out with my dad, (we bike 6.5 miles 5 days a week) and we have shaved 4 minutes off since our first ride last Friday! I also spent some time this past week with some girlfriends downtown for the first time since school got out which was super fun and it was nice getting to catch up with them. 
I have so many links I want to share with you these next few weeks! I wish I could share 20 each Friday but I think that would be too overwhelming! 

ONE : Smart Girls Group - June Magazine I've been a Smart Girl Blogger for quite a few months and have always enjoyed their emails that appear in my inbox. They are filled with inspiring articles, links to new bloggers, and headlining blog posts that lead me to find many websites that are "bookmark worthy" (guys, this is why I have so many links coming at you this summer. they've all piled up and I finally have time to share them all). While scrolling through these emails, I have always noticed the Smart Girls Magazine each month, but have never taken the time to sit down and read it. OMG. I have been missing so much motivation and fun articles that I wish I knew about sooner! I've left a few (read : 8) of my favorite articles.  pg. 21 - Smart Style (insanely gorgeous pictures!)  pg. 29 - "Blogger Lookbooks" (lead me to find Amy V. Norris and read more about Sydney Carver - interview to come next month!)  pg. 51 - How Your Period Affects Your Health (a must read! what's actually behind the PMS and cravings and what you can do to help during that time of the month!)
pg. 53 - Fun In The Sun (5 Ways to Get Active outside!)  pg. 63 - Interview with the blogger behind Corals and Cognacs!  pg. 81 - Smart Reads (I am always looking for books to add to my reading list, and #GirlBoss is no exception!)  pg. 85 - 10 Ways to Look (and Feel!) Like Sunshine (so inspiring and perfect for summer!)
pg. 99 - Welcome to Cornell University (as a sophomore, I have so many colleges that are on my radar, and after reading about Cornell I definitely want to look into it even more!) 

TWO : Blogs I'm Loving Corals and Cognacs and Amy V. Norris - I found both of these blogs while reading Smart Girls Group emails but I am so glad that I followed them on Bloglovin' and added them to my "Blog Bookmarks"! I cannot wait to add them to my daily reads.  Essie Button - I've been watching Essie's YouTube videos for quite a while and when I finally realized that she had a blog of her own I had to add it to my list as well - and I am so glad I did! I love her blog design and her posts are so so fun! 

{ via post }

THREE : How To Flirt It's summer ... so why not try some new techniques before school comes back around? LOVE this post from the sisters behind PopCosmo! 
{ via } FOUR : Summer Bucket (and Reading!) List I've been out of school for almost 2 weeks and I am constantly looking for things to do and books to add to my (LONG) list of summer reads. So many of my favorite bloggers have been publishing Summer Reading posts and it isn't helping (you can look at my liked list on Bloglovin' and view a few of them!) Below I've listed a few of my favorite Summer Reading Lists and fun things to pass the time on those days that you're super bored!  1. Summer Reading List from Smart Girls 2. Summer Projects 3. 5 Fabulous Ideas to Kick Off Your Summer 4. Summer Reading List from Create

FIVE : 8 Things That Reveal a Woman's Character As a daughter of God, this list of eight qualities is eye opening and very intriguing. I am thinking about making this list on a sticky note to hang above my desk as a constant reminder! 
I'm going boating this weekend and then I'm planning to hang low Sunday and get some blogging done for the rest of the week! Come back tomorrow for a special post to ring in Summer with my essentials! 
What links have you been loving? 
xoxo

June : Blog and Writing

New Years Resolution "Guide"

{picture via}

Happy Monday! 
Can you believe we are halfway through the year already? It feels like just yesterday I was reflecting on 2013 (and here!) and getting ready to write my resolutions out for this year. 
I haven't been doing too well on my New Years Resolutions these past 2 months, but with school out and more time on my hands, I cannot wait to commit to blogging and writing this month! I have a good number of blog posts that are ready to be written, and I can't wait to get back to blogging more frequently. (I wrote 7 posts in May - It isn't ok.) 
Here are some of my post ideas for the month:  Lots of Outfits - J. Crew Scalloped Dress, LBD, Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, Gap, etc.  Beach and Pool/Summer Essentials Benefits of Sponsorships/Joining a Blogging Network Summer Reading List Prep Essentials  Friday Fours/Fives Style Watch Gallery Wall  and more ... 
I would love to hear what you want to see these next few months. I really want to do a fun Q&A, but my goal is to get to 400 Instagram followers! 
I plan on having 3-5 posts a week this month, and hopefully next, but I will not be posting on the weekends, as I commit those towards getting more blogging done and family activities! 
How are your resolutions going? Any tips on keeping the motivation up? 
xoxo

Reflection : New Years Resolution 5

2014 Resolutions Post
Guys. May has been crazy. With the school year ending, Spring Concerts, and finals all happening around the same time, there's bound to be chaos. I officially ended my Freshman Year today and I can't wait for summer; I have some big goals and 3 months of no stress sounds really nice at this point. 
This month I focused on Literature, and I said that I hoped to complete 4-5 books ... that didn't happen. I finished Gone Girl and I cannot wait for the movie to come out this fall. Gone Girl tells the story of Nick and his wife Amy, who mysteriously goes missing the day of their 5 year anniversary of marriage. The book goes back and forth, speaking from Nick's Point of View and then Amy's, which I ended up really liking because I felt like it gave more depth to the book. I don't want to give too much away, but Nick is set up for his wife's disappearance which causes you to choose a side while you are hearing what Nick is going through, as well as Amy. The author, Gillian Flynn, has 2 other books that are very similar to Gone Girl, which are both on my summer reading list for this summer (It's such a long list - post to come soon!!) 
After finishing that novel late in May, I started A Million Little Ways and am just about to finish it. I cannot wait to share with you what I learned from it. It was an eyeopening novel and a "self discovery" novel in the spectrum of Art. 
This Monday I will be discussing my goals for June, as my resolution is based on the Blog and Writing! 
xoxo

ITALY : Reflection

It’s the last day to enter the GIVEAWAY!

Italy Related Posts : Introduction // Verona // Venice // Ravenna // Florence // Rome Day One // Rome Day Two

After six posts filled with pictures of Italy, my mini-series is over and all the pictures (this is a lie ... I probable have 500 more I could share ...) have been shared. I’m so glad that I got to share this experience with you!

I think that the best part about this trip is the everlasting memories I made with 28 other students from a department that I am so lucky to be a part of. It’s such an honor to go to a school where I do something I love everyday - even though some days are really tough. (SOA just got ranked #3 in the state, after Governor’s School!) I don’t think I could ask for a better experience. Honestly, I just can't put it into words. If my sophomore year is my last year at SOA, and I do end up going to the Governor's school for my junior and senior year, what an amazing trip to have in my memory with the department I spent 5 years in. I can't wait to see where the Department goes in the next few years.

With this all being said, it's no question this trip was memorable.

And I’ll never forget …

walking down the roads in Rome with Jamie, laughing about how I had lipstick all over my face because of the swatches I made while at Sephora a few minutes earlier

staying up way too late, laughing so hard my stomach hurt

getting gelato almost every night

that fun Zumba “party” on the walk to the bus

tasting my first Italian pizza

performing outside the Colosseum, at the Pantheon, in the streets of Venice, and more

spending my first Euro

getting locked on the balcony by my friends (shoutout to Kellen and Mariah) in Florence

throwing one too many coins into the Trevi Fountain

running around Rome in the rain, trying to find our restaurant

seeing my friend tear up as we said goodbye to our tour guide on the way home

coming up with plans on how we could stay longer

walking around Venice in my choral dress and seeing the Italians stare

...

After experiencing Europe, I know that I have to go back. There was so much about it that we just weren’t able to experience and I want to go back and be even more submerged into their culture and way of life. I just want to go back.

If you ever get the chance or are offered a chance to go overseas, take the offer and go. It’s worth the money you’ll spend and the time you’ll prepare getting ready for it. You may second guess yourself - but trust me, you’ll never regret it.

And even if you don’t ever get the chance - you can still make unforgettable memories on unforgettable trips with your best friends.

Travel and have fun.

xoxo

Reflection : New Years Resolution 4

{Read my New Years Resolution “Guide” from January!}

{April Resolution : Exercise}

I was really pumped for this month back on April 1st, but by the 30th I am completely drained. School just got really busy and the motivation to get out and work out was low. (And I mean low).

I think that seeing even Carly from The College Prepster get out and run after a day at work gives me some motivation! And seeing that Kira, someone I see every day and is also drained (what High Schooler/College Student isn’t?!?) but still goes and works out motivates me.

I really want to get out and run, bike, do some core exercises, etc., but like I said, the last thing I want to do when I get home is go back out. I am mentally and physically drained when I get home.

What are your tips? Because I would love to hear them!

Come back tomorrow to see how I am going to tackle next month, which I am pretty pumped about.

xoxo

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY!

ITALY : Do What the Romans Do!

Florence // Ravenna // Venice // Verona // Introduction

After exploring a little around Rome and being completely submerged in history, we definitely did not get a break as we headed into the Vatican City for the morning, followed by lunch, shopping, and our last Concert Performance at the Pantheon!

One of the biggest downsides to doing so much walking on our last day was that everyone was exhausted. 7 days in a foreign country really does take a toll on your energy levels. (And being with some of your closest friends doesn't always result in the most reasonable bedtimes!)

Inside one of the 13 (yes, 13!) Vatican Musems.

It is said that if you spent 1 minute at each item in the museums, it would take you 12 years to walk through them all!

Exterior of the Vatican

Vatican Gardens

Vatican Gardens

Large “Square” inside the Vatican

Hall of “Rugs” and ornately painted ceilings!

Entrance into Sistine Chapel

One of the downsides of going into many old churches is that photos are strictly prohibited! So, I wasn't able to take any photos inside of the Chapel.

Exit out of Sistine Chapel, into St. Peter's Square

We were in Italy the weekend before Easter, so here is the Square all set up for Easter Sunday! 

Inside St. Peter's Basilica

Similar to the Colosseum, I had all of these preconceived mental pictures in my head of what the Vatican would look like, how St. Peter's would look like, and the reality exceeded these expectations. Thinking about how long it took to build, paint, and completely "furnish" this church is something I can't even fathom! It was really neat also, because on the floor of the basilica in the center, there were tick-mark like things that showed where other large Cathedrals compared. I got to visit the National Cathedral in D.C. last Spring, and so being able to see the comparison was insane - I thought the National Cathedral was big!

The Pantheon

Exterior of The Pantheon

Best tour guide ever - it was bittersweet to see her go the next morning!

Tomorrow I will be writing a closing to this mini-series! It's been fun being able to share these memories with you and hearing how much fun some of my readers had in these similar locations.

xoxo

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway!