Blouses and Booties

It is Day 2 in Arizona for me and I am still loving it.  The fresh air combined with the beauty of the mountains and endless cacti (which is my new favorite word), are breathtaking.  After two rounds of horseback riding today, I pulled my sister aside to take some pictures for me.

Today i wore my ripped blue jeans on the dude ranch and some cute ankle booties I borrowed from my mom.  I cuffed my jeans to show a bit of skin along with my boots.  Cuffed jeans are one of my all time favorite looks and paired with some booties, you cannot go wrong.  On top I wore a sheer blouse since today was pretty warm.  Finally I added a silver bracelet that I got for Christmas and it screams Arizona.  

Shirt | Jeans | Boots | Bracelet

To see my first day in Arizona pictures, click here.

xoxo
Emma

Dude Ranch Style

For the second half of my Christmas break I am in Tuscan Arizona at the Tanque Verde Dude Ranch. The scenery is beyond stunning and the weather is perfect.  Everywhere you look there are more and more cacti and mountains surround you.  Over the next few days I'll be horseback riding, hiking, doing yoga, and taking some art lessons... some much needed relaxation.  Of course that means my outfits will be a bit more casual, but why not look casual and cute?

The obvious fashion choice for the dude ranch are flannel shirts, jeans, and some cowgirl boots, so on my first day thats exactly what I chose.  Except my boots are combat boots- not cowgirl.

Added my new leather bracelet that I got or Christmas.

Cant forget my favorite scrunchie from Garage.

Shirt | Jeans | Boots | Bracelet

xoxo
Emma

Maxi Skirt in California

On Christmas I received this maroon and black maxi skirt form my mom from the store Tilly's.  I put it on my list a while back in November and had completely forgotten about it until I opened the present and I couldn't be happier with it.  Today my family went to an event in LA that required nicer clothing, no jeans or t-shirts, but nothing too fancy.  I thought my new maxi skirt would do the job.  I paired it with a white crop top, which is like my favorite shirt ever, and a jean jacket.  I kept it simple with only a necklace as an accessory, but also a cross body bag.

Loving the unique pattern on the skirt with my suede cross body.

If you read my last blog post here, you know that for now I cannot post the direct links to the products I am wearing because of slow Internet where I am staying, but I will link the website for now.

Jean Jacket | Shirt | Skirt | Bag | Shoes | Necklace

xoxo
emma

Christmas Outfit

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This morning I woke up around 7:15 and 30 minutes later was opening presents.  My favorite gift was my Canon Rebel T3i from my parents, so the camera will be an upgrade for this blog, resulting in quality pictures.  Then the family went on a walk for about an hour together and afterwards we had some down time, of course i took advantage of that time to take blog pictures.

My outfit unfortunately isn't in the Christmas spirit, but I think its pretty cute.  I got new Gypsy pants from Tilly's from my mom so I paired them with a plain white tank top, grey sweater, and a cute necklace.  For shoes I wore sandals, which I've worn every day during my trip to California since they're the only sandals I brought...big mistake.

Sadly, the wifi is slow where I am staying so I'm unable to link where I got my clothes.  I'll list the store, but will be unable to link the direct product for now.

Pants | Shirt | Sweater | Shoes | Necklace

xoxo
Emma

LA Live Review + Outfit

I'm spending my Christmas break in LA with my mom's side of the family.  I'm super thrilled because I could pull out some of my summer clothes since the weather is in the seventies.  I even got to bring out a pair of my favorite sandals that I haven't seen since September.  Today was day one and we didn't do much.  I started my morning by hiking with my mom and grandmother and then went to a high school to practice volleyball.  Around 12 pm my cousins, uncle, grandpa sisters, dad and I headed to LA Live for lunch and some walking around.

We had lunch at a place called Louis about 10 minutes from LA Live.  Lunch was amazing, I'll do a post on the restaurant later, but LA Live was a bit disappointing.  Usually there are events there which you can check out ahead of time on the website, but since it was Christmas Eve there weren't any, and many shops were closed.  I'd say LA Live is best for eating lunch, and during Christmas they have an ice skating rink, so that too.

I wore a shirt from Tilly's which was perfect for the weather in the low seventies, along with a simple pair of light blue jeans I picked up three days ago at American eagle.  I also bought the hat I am wearing at American Eagle and I cannot say how much I LOVE it.  I'm obsessed and it pairs with EVERYTHING.  If you frequently visit my blog, you'll be seeing much more of this hat.  Then I brought my black cross body and wore my favorite sandals from Marshall's.

 

I'll be in California the next few days and then I am traveling to Arizona.  I haven't blogged much this December so hopefully I'll be posting a lot during my travels.

xoxo
Emma

10 Ideas for a Relaxing Spa day at Home

If you're going to be staying home over winter break, it can sometimes get boring.  One of my favorite things to do is invite all of my friends over and host a mini spa party.  If you plan the day before, you can ask each guest to bring a treat, you provide the spa highlights, and the day will be amazing and so relaxing.

10 Ideas for a Relaxing Spa Day at Home

Rainy days, snowy days, boring days, and lonely days... plan ahead and invite your friends for a day or night of relaxation.  Everyone will love it!

The room where you do all the spa activities should incorporate an actual spa essence.  Scented candles and soft music are good ideas, along with towels because it is bound to get messy.

Some actual activities ideas are: face masks, which you can either purchase or look up a recipe online to make, which is really fun.  While you have the face masks on an are letting them soak in, obviously you'll need sliced cucumbers for your eyes because that is what is seen in all spa nights in movies.  DIY foot scrubs are always a blast too and I found one online that I really love.  if you want to make your own DIY foot scrub click here.  Some people may opt around this, but self tanner could be exciting to try, and if not, scented lotion to smooth your skin is an alternative.

Nails are probably the most important part of the night so line up all your nail polish colors and ask friends to bring some of their favorites too.  Take turn giving mani-pedi's and hand massages like you're really getting your nails done.  Hot rocks are awesome to put on lotioned legs during a pedicure like they do at some nail salons.  If you don't have hot rocks specifically made for massages, smooth rocks from outside heated in boiling water work really well too.

Make sure you have food and drinks.  I think champagne glasses with something like sparking apple cider or raspberry lemonade really captures the spa vibe.  Desserts are also a must.  Ask your friends to bring a dessert whether it is cookies, cupcakes, or candy and set up everything in a cute buffet line.

So whether you're spending the night with a group of friends, or solo, treat yourself to a special spa day and it will not disappoint!

Happy Holidays

xoxo

Emma

P.S.  I will be spending the next 10 days in California and Arizona so if I'm not blogging a ton, you know why.  I promise I'll take a lot of outfit pictures and do hotel/itinerary reviews when I get back.

If you want to see pictures from my trip, scroll to the end of this page and click on the Bloglovin' link so you're updated when I post them.

Holiday Gift Guide: last minute mom edition

If there is one person you should get a really nice gift for, it should probably be your mom.  Mom's do so much for you and probably are buying you a ton of gifts for Christmas, so buying a thoughtful gift is important in return.  Here is a last minute gift idea with gifts ranging from $15-$100

*quick tip: split the price of one awesome gift with siblings.  If what you buy is $60 and you have two siblings, each of you only pay $20!

1. Earrings

This year my mom requested earrings from my siblings and me.  We split the price between fifty-eight dollar earrings from Sundance.  They have super cute earrings ranging in price.  If you want to spend less, check out Francesca's or J. Crew Factory.

2. Exfoliator

Any kind of pampering skin care will probably put a smile on your mother's face.  Laura Mercier has a range of high quality products for reasonable pricing.  If you're not sure of what products your mom uses, try giving her a gift card!

3.  Soap

Soap seems like a basic gift, but if you splurge on some really nice soaps that also smell delicious (make sure you find out your mom's favorite scent!) then the can make a really nice gift.

4. Dish Towels

In my family, we change the dish towels to correspond with the seasons.  I love seeing new towels laid out and you can buy them at a fair price here.

5. Ugg Slippers

This may be one of the more expensive gift ideas, but an awesome choice!  Ugg Slippers are so comfortable and look cute with pajamas, also a must if you're living in New England.  

6. Naked Basics Palette

Sometimes we forget, but Mom's like makeup too!  The Urban Decay Basics Palette has 5 neutral colors and throws together a sleek natural look. I think it is the best palette idea for mother's who are going for the casual, but cool look.

Hurry and order your gifts now because Christmas will be here before you know it!

xoxo

Emma

Garage Sweater Dress Review

About 2 weeks ago I went Black Friday shopping and as you may have see on my blog sharing my Black Friday experience, I bought a sweater dress from Garage.  It was $20, originally $40, so I got a really good deal.

I wasn't sure if I would wear it a ton, but I actually love it.  You can't go wrong with a sweater dress during the holiday season and they can be styled in so many ways.  A find myself wearing most of mine casually to school. Dresses are one of those looks that seems like you tried and put a lot of effort in your outfit, but in reality you just threw on a dress.

I paired this dress with some tall brown boots, a casual black dress, and a knit blue scarf to keep me warm since it was a frosty day.

 I've been loving knit scarves, the one I am wearing above was knit by my mom.

I parted my hair down the middle (I know, big risk!) and then made a small braid on each side coming from the part, and tied back my hair into a low ponytail. I was unsure about the look, but now think it is adorable.

Couldn't be happier with my purchase! 

Dress | Vest | Boots | Scarf (similar)

 xoxo
Emma

Secret Santa Gift Ideas: Teen Girls

Every year I become involved in some sort of Secret Santa arrangement whether it is with a group of close friends, my lunch table, one of my school classes, or my camp friends. I've realized that there is no better feeling than giving the best gift, it feels even better than receiving the best gift.  Here are 6 ideas for gifts, all under $20!

1. Wallet $11.99
Wallets were one of the cheapest, yet cutest gift ideas I could think of.  I love switching up the bag and wallet I use from season to season, so the more wallets the merrier!

2. Holiday Candle $12-$22
Holiday Candles smell amazing and once it hits Fall I have a candle burning 24/7.  In my opinion the best smelling ones (and long lasting) are from bath and Body Works.  They are generally $22, but right now are on sale for $12!

3. Eye Makeup Brush Kit $14
If you know you are buying for someone that loves makeup, a brush kit is perfect.  You can never have too many makeup brushes and I love the bright colors of the Sephora kit above.

4. Scarf $11
I love this knit scarf from Forever 21.  They have a ton of cute scarves for less than $20 and scarves are a must to get through the winter, particularly if you're living in New England like me!

5. Monogrammed Mug $17
I found a million holiday themed mugs, I love this cute monogrammed one which adds a personal touch to your gift.  Perfect for sipping hot chocolate or coffee on the snowy winter days!

6. The Body Shop Gift Sets $13
The Body shop has scented gift bags that come with mini sizes of a variety of their products.  The one shown above is the Shea Butter body bag and it includes a body butter, shower gel, hand cream, bath lily, and complementary gift bag (this one is a personal favorite of mine).

xoxo
Emma

Christmas List 2014

Ah it is finally December.  December is easily the best month of the year in my mind since it has Christmas, my birthday, New Years Eve, and barely any school.  This December I already have my blog schedule made and I'm super excited to be having many holiday themed blogs, about 3 a week.  I'm going to try to stick to my schedule and post every Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

And without further ado, my Christmas list:

These are the main gifts I am hoping for this year.

1. Camera
I would love to get the Canon Rebel T3i, however I am looking forward to any new camera in general.

2. Makeup
I have a whole long list of makeup for Christmas.  It ranges from a new beauty blender, Bare Minerals translucent powder, Naked 2 palette, and on.

3. Pillows
I want a whole new theme for my room.  This winter I want to transform it into more of a Bohemian vibe, so I want the elephant pillowcases pictured above.  I also am hoping for a bunch of unique little pillows to spice things up.

4. Clothes
Clothes are a must on every girls Christmas list.  This year I want a bunch of the comfortable gypsy pants for my trip to the Dominican Republic.  in the Dominican I'll be teaching at a school so we must wear pants for the dress code.  In the hot weather, gypsy pants are perfect!

5. Comforter
Along with new pillows, I desperately want a new comforter to go along with transforming my room.

6. Suede Cross body
This cross body from Urban Outfitters is beautiful and it will match with basically everything, therefore it is a priority on my list.

7. Jack Wills Leggings
My friend has a pair of these leggings and oftentimes I steal them from her, so I decided I should get my own.  They're great for lounging around, lazy days, and perfect for sleep away camp, ski trips, etc.

8.  Bath and Body Works Candles
From my sisters I asked for candles since they're not too expensive and I adore them.  Although it is common I forget to blow out the flame, Bath and Body Works has the best smelling candles.  I'm also asking for a ton of soaps from there because I have my own bathroom and am very particular about the smell of the soap.

That is basically it!  My birthday is around the corner too so hopefully I can receive most of my list!

xoxo
Emma

My Black Friday experience 2014

If you're like me, Black Friday is one of the best days of the year.  Not going to lie, part of the reason I love Thanksgiving is because of the day that follows.  My friends and I went shopping at midnight until 3 am, as we did last year.  Going to the mall at night feels so fun and different, even though there are so many crowds, it is an experience you must try once in your life.

Here are the purchases I made and the deals I received this year:

The first store I went to was Pacsun.  Right when they opened the doors to the store I was there.  It was pretty crowded, but they had some awesome deals.  The entire store was buy 1 get 1 50% off...including the Brandy Melville merchandise which is so rare!  Brandy hardly ever has a sale.  Additionally, all denim was buy one get one free.

I only bought two Brandy Melville shirts.  Both shirts were $22, but one was half off so the total was $33 (saved $11).

I got a black and white striped crop top which isn't the exact as pictured above, but that was the closest I could find on the Brandy website.

I then got this adorable crop top and I already know what I am wearing with it.  Something about this shirt I love.  Partially because it has my favorite color combination- gold and blue.  Unfortunately this t-shirt is not on their website, but they have many similar ones here.

Next, I went to Garage which also had some great deals.  I bought a sweater dress for $20 (originally $39) and a scrunchie which was $6.50 and not marked down.  My total was $26.50 (saved $19)

I only could find the scrunchie online, the dress shown above is similar. 

My friends and I then went to American eagle, but I didn't find anything worth it for me.  After, we went to Tilly's and I bought a bralette and a flowy shirt.  Neither were marked down because Tilly's did not have good sales.

 In total I saved $30 which is pretty good!  Some stores have great deals, others...not so much.  Just have to find the right ones.  I love Black Friday, it gives a little thrill.  Plus, there is no better feeling than finally curling into your bed at 3 am after a long night of shopping.

xoxo
Emma

Thanksgiving Day Overview

I do love Thanksgiving!  What is better than eating as much food as you want with your entire family and getting dressed up?  The answer is: nothing.

My family and I got up around 8 am and ate pancakes. Then bundled up and went on a scavenger hunt in the woods.  This was our second annual scavenger hunt, but it is becoming a tradition.  My mom hides little presents like mascara, chap stick, money, and candy and writes clues as to where they are hiding.

After an hour of walking through the woods with my dog and my family, we all headed home and got dressed for the big meal.

My relatives lives on the other side of the country and we spend Christmas with them, so for Thanksgiving we are on our own.  Last year and this year we ate at the Langham Hotel in Boston, which has the most amazing Thanksgiving dinner.  They have everything from traditional dishes to a whole seafood station, kids section, and even breakfast station.  Not to mention the place always looks absolutely stunning.  They also have so many desert options!

I ended up wearing a simple dress with my combat boots and just a pair of nylons.  it was very simple and comfortable, but I regret wearing a tight dress because by the time I finished my meal and then desert, I had a huge food baby.

They had a fake red carpet which my sisters and I took about 100 pictures in front of.

Dress-  I cannot find this dress anywhere, I purchased it at Nordstrom Rack for $41 and it is from the brand Tart.  Similar dress here.

This is where we ate- however I did not take this picture.

 The most delicious deserts!

I hope you all had an amazing Turkey Day!  Of course I am going black friday shopping in a few hours so I am very excited.  I will be blogging what I purchased and the deals I got from that shopping trip shortly.  (Here)

xoxo
Emma