Neiman Marcus Atlanta | Couture & Charity

Atlanta readers! Meet my friend Paris Rouzati at our Sweet Lemon Magazine Holiday Party!

NEIMAN MARCUS ATLANTA invites you to a night of...

COUTURE & CHARITY benefitting Pencils of Promise

Hosted by:
Paris Rouzati

[Creative Director of Sweet Lemon Magazine]
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[Blogger at The Style Pundit]

Join Sweet Lemon Magazine for champagne & sweets, great music, models, and amazing raffles for Neiman Marcus...all for a great cause! Remember, 75 million children do not have access to basic education worldwide. Just $25 gives a child an education for a whole year. Join our campaign, and make a difference in someone's life.

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Eight iPhone Apps You Don't Need (but should download anyway)

I've only had my iPhone for just about a year. The first app I downloaded was Instagram (of course). And then I promised myself that I wouldn't become an "app addict." For a while I was pretty good, and then all of a sudden... I realized I had pages and pages and folders and folders of apps. I've organized and cutdown quite a bit since my realization, but I kept my favies!

In case it wasn't already sufficiently clear, I am a huge nerd. Most people are surprised until they talk to me for more than five minutes. At some point in the conversation they'll give me a weird look for something weird I said. Like my bizarre (and thorough) obsession with the endocrine system. Or my personal challenge to memorize Excel functions. Or my general love for numbers of all kind.

I kind of associate apps with nerdiness, but more in the backend development way.

But I do love my apps!!!

(For this I'm ignoring the "usual" social apps.)

Pocketbooth | This was one of the Starbucks apps that they give you a code for a free download. Elana and I are obsessed with photobooths. So much so that we are in the process of hunting down every. single. one. in NYC. We've made great progress so far. This app is seriously fun. It's kind of like my Instagram Photostrips tutorial minus the actual DIY part. You can save to your phone, share on social media, and even have printed (and then shipped).

Mint.com | I talked a little bit about Mint.com in my post about sticking to budgets. This is a great app if you're on a budget (like me)! It's convenient and quite customizable for individual's needs! I generally know where I am within my budget, but taking the app out to confirm that I cannot buy another pair of shoes is really great.

Uber | This app is available in a handful of cities. But even if your city isn't included, it's still worth a download because you might travel to a city where they have it! The service is essentially a private car so you don't have to hail taxis. My experiences with taxi cabs in the city is that you can only get one when you don't need it right away. Because when you're in a rush, they're never available. That's almost one thing you can count on. With Uber, it knows your location with GPS and tells you where the nearest Ubers are.... and it tells you how long until it shows up. Brilliant. (You also pay with the app since your credit card is saved.)

Flashlight | You don't think you need it... until you need it. Go ahead and download it. It might sit dormant for a couple of months. I promise, however, that it will come in handy. Guaranteed. 

Starbucks | I use it primarily to find the nearest Starbucks. Yes, you could walk three blocks and stumble on the next one, but it is actually more useful than you'd think. My favorite feature is that the app tells you if the locations are open or not. You can also save your usual drink, download the "single of the week," and pay for your order with a linked card.

Shazam | Tagging songs is one of my favorite things to do. I've mentioned before that I never used to be into music. But I get it now. This is an amazing way to find new artists, save tags to songs you want to download, and end bets for those "Oh, what's the name of this song again??"

8mm | INSTAGRAM FOR VIDEOS!!!!!!! I have so much fun collecting vignettes and experimenting with the different filters. They make videos a lot more interesting with very little extra work. This is a video I made last December with the app!

Goodreads | Ah, I save the nerdiest for the last!!! If I'm out and about, I nearly always pop into a bookstore (or two). They're everywhere. Barnes and Noble is such a horrible (read: amazing) place for me to go. But I also love other independent and quirky stores. Instead of writing down the name of a book that piques your interest (let's be honest... those pieces of paper tend to disappear), you can scan the barcode and add the book to your "to read" shelf. LOVE. You can also update your status in a book and keep track of your reading progress on the go.

What are your favorite "not necessary, but fun" apps? 

xoxo

PS This is what a Photostrip from Pocketbooth looks like!!! Evann, Elana, and me!

Being in Control

I had an epiphany a couple of days ago while walking to the subway stop on my way to work. It really did feel like an epiphany. The thought seemingly dropped from the clouds and landed in the front of my brain. Of course, in true Universe fashion, a few moments followed throughout the week that completely solidified it.

Before I go through the epiphany... let me give you a little background. I really like to be in control. Maybe a little too much. But, for better or worse, feeling "out of control" is one of the worst feelings for me. I don't like surprises. Plans and punctuality are two of my best friends. I also have a little bit of a problem when it comes to trusting other people, but I've definitely made some strides in this department over the past couple of years.

Frankly, I feel much happier when I feel in control. But lately I had been feeling like I wasn't in control of anything. I felt like I was on a treadmill going full speed and couldn't find the button to slow down or to even stop the stupid machine. I was growing frustrated as I felt the treadmill increasing speed– steadily, but increasing.

I woke up at 5:05 per my usual morning routine. (Oh yea, I like routines!!!) After showering, I got in bed.... in my robe... and got some emails answered. I finally went back into the normal swing of things, ....In the back of my mind I was thinking about all these things that I felt like I wasn't in control of. The thoughts– as thoughts do– grew. And continued to grow until they had a life of their own.

It wasn't until I was turning the corner to enter the subway station that it dawned on me.

I seriously was in control.

I wasn't happy with what I was doing, but it was me that was doing it! I did feel better for the thirty feet to the subway knowing that (yay!) I actually was in control. During the 16ish minute ride to 14th street though, I was working through the process of how I needed to be happy with my decisions, or else figure out a way to change them.

1) Do I love what I do on my blog? YES.

2) Am I getting the experience I need (and want) from my (amazing) job? YES.

3) Do I like spending time with my friends here in the city? YES.

3a) Is it worth sacrificing a few hours every night to just hang out? Duh.

4) Is meeting new people and new companies worth the extra time and energy? YES x 498372.

5) Are all of my side projects things I really want to do? YES.

Once I took inventory of this, I realized how I was letting my control issue dictate the way I felt about L I F E. Oh-so-wrong approach.

Growing up, I always felt like I had to do things. I had to do X because it "looks good on a resume." I had to do Y because my parents expected me to. I absolutely had to do Z because my professors required it. The school gave me no option but to take the ten "required" (but utterly uninteresting) classes to graduate.

Once I graduated I felt completely liberated. I turned down job offers that weren't "me." I could move to any city in the world that I wanted to. (That alone was the best feeling, even though I couldn't picture myself anywhere by NYC!) I could pick one of my favorite but back-burnered hobbies of painting back up and travel the world as a starving artist. I could bootstrap the company I've always dreamed of running. I could get married and start a family.

I took control and did exactly what I wanted to do. But over the past few months, the routine has become.... well, routine. (That's the funny thing about routines...) And that's when I let everything start to get to me. I twisted the truth in my own head and let it affect me.

My rigidity can be a little much. I hang on to systems, best practices, numbers, and routines like a religion. But, at the end of the day, it's me. My personality. My internal wiring. And if something is really not working, I can change that. Because, after all, I'm in control.

With all of that on the table, there were a couple of things that I had been pointing fingers elsewhere that really ended up swinging right back to me. (Point your index finger and three fingers point back to you! Eep!) I can't go into the specifics, but I've set some systems to remedy this and with two days under my belt, I feel REMARKABLY better.

Have you ever felt "out of control" in a situation, only to find out that you really were in control the whole time?

xoxo

Giveaway :: Stephanie Johnson

Stephanie Johnson sent me the latest Arctic Gold Collection and I am in love. The box was waiting for me when I got home to Florida for Thanksgiving break and even though it was quite late at night, I tore into the box. My mom was with me and she promptly "claimed" one of the pieces. (And when my sister returned home, she claimed one as well!) That's how you know it's amazing. Three people with three distinct styles all falling in love with the same collection!! 

The pieces are seriously beautiful. They're perfect for traveling, but I really think they're great to organize large handbags and school/work totes. What I especially like is that they're sparkly, but with sequins and not glitter. I love both the way it looks and feels!!! (For me, that is a huge bonus!)

HOW CUTE?! Let's discuss.

The iPad case is my favorite. It's perfect for the winter months– but let's be honest, I'll probably use it year round.

The cases are the best for storing jewelry, electronic chargers, makeup, nail polishes, etc. while traveling. 

(I also think it's fun for a cute "going out" clutch for the absolute essentials!)

Enter below to win the entire collection!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

xoxo

Favorite Things | A Fun Holiday Party Idea

This is definitely one of the best memories I have from high school. It's a lot of fun. It requires a little bit of planning and with December (eep!) right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start organizing.

Who | This kind of party works best with a small, close-knit group of friends. (Although, see the "alternative"** in the how section if you need/want to invite a ton of people.) While some parties work well with lots of mixes of "friend groups," this one will be more successful– and ultimately more fun– when everyone knows each other. Think of it this way, get a group of friends that would all buy nice holiday presents for each other anyway!

What | "You get a car! You get a car! YOU get a car!" Well... not quite, but sort of. Oprah's Favorite Things list always gets a lot of buzz. But we have our own favorite things from the year too. This is the perfect way to coordinate a friend group's gift exchange from the year. Everyone walks aways with each other's favorite things.

Why | Is it just me, or do you think that gift giving can be... awkward. You can't bring gifts to other parties with non-recipients and it's a little weird to do one-on-one exchanges sometimes. This is the PERFECT way to accomodate this! Your closest friends and your favorite things. Plus, this way, you're getting all of your friends the same, amazing thing and there's no "comparison." Oh... and it's just plain fun!!! The reveal is always super exciting– like our own Oprah show!

How | The way I recommend doing the party is by having a set number of friends and each person brings their favorite thing for each. For example, I think six girls (including yourself) is a good number to aim for. In this case, I would select my favorite thing and bring five of them to the party. (Of course, wrapped and ready to go!!) When you're going to tell your friends about the party, be as clear as possible on the invitation. Also... hint: Set a budget. $15-$20 per item is good. (That would come out to someone spending $75-$100 and crossing five friends off your gift giving list!)

[**Alternative: Everyone brings one of their favorite things at maybe a higher price point.... and then you do a secret Santa/white elephant/grab bag kind of exchange!]

The next step is finding your favorite thing. In previous parties that I've hosted, people have brought: fancy lipglosses, a pair of earrings, monogrammed blankets, mani/pedi gift cards, photo albums filled with pictures of all of us, Vera Bradley Diddy bag, J. Crew pajamas, etc.

I can't say it enough: THIS IS SUCH A FUN PARTY.

For locations, I recommend a house or a comfortable restaurant. We've done it a couple of times in my house in Florida, but we also went to a tearoom one year which was a blast!!

More Favorite Things Ideas:

Essie Nail Polish ($8) + Minted Rose Lip Balm ($7)

Sugar Paper Kraft To Do List ($13)

J. Crew Bow Socks ($12.50)

Acorn Earrings ($18)

Have you hosted a similar party? What would you bring as your favorite thing?

xoxo

PS Check out some pictures from older parties!

How to Style a Barbour Jacket

I've been on the fence about Barbour jackets for a while now. Nearly every girl at Georgetown (#janehoya) had one. The minute cooler weather rolled around, you couldn't walk from the front gates to Lau (our library) without seeing at least ten... on both the girls and the guys. The jackets are super masculine and rich with history.

"The Barbour story began in 1894 in the Market Place in South Shields. Today the 5th generation family owned business remains in the North East, with Barbour's headquarters located in Simonside, South Shields. Although it sources products from around the globe, Barbour's classic wax jackets are still manufactured by hand in the factory in Simonside and each year over 100,000 jackets are processed via the central, subsidiary and local customer service operations."

via Barbour

I have to admit that the masculinity intimidated me a bit. But, I'm officially sold. It's turned into my go-to jacket for casual errand running, quick trips to Starbucks on early weekend mornings, and less-than-ideal weather conditions.

Tuckernuck (a longtime College Prepster favorite) sent me the women's navy Beadnell jacket to review and it's been love ever since.

click here for the original post

I just so happened to run into my friend F.E. Castleberry (of Unabashedly Prep!) on the Upper East Side while wearing it. Fred, of course, is never without a camera charged and ready to go. He took this shot a few blocks north of the Met. Definitely swing by his original post for the full body shot! The way he captured the beautiful light that day is a little bit mesmerizing. I forget how amazing New York City can be until I see it captured like this.

I'm seriously guilty of walking and reading emails on my phone... or worse, responding to emails on my phone... while walking. I forget to look up and take it all in. I'm so happy this moment and this light is saved forever!

via Instagram

In this picture, I'm wearing: skinny jeans, riding boots (similar), ruffled blouse, and a Brooks Brothers sweater. I really like the androgynous jacket and sweater, but the feminine details of the blouse delicately emerging from the collar and the sleeves. (And I live in my riding boots.... live in them.) 

As far as styling a Barbour jacket goes, I really think that anything goes! It's not something to really over-think. Wear with leggings (gasp!), hunter boots, and a chunky cable knit sweater for a super relaxed casual (and cozy) look. Or simply throw on over whatever you've planned to wear for the day! Somehow... it will just work.

Thank you Fred for the photograph and Tuckernuck for the amazing Barbour jacket!

Do you have a Barbour? How do you/would you style one?

xoxo

PS I version is published on Lucky Community!!! There's a contest going on right now about posts with boots, so I would love it if you voted for the article! Thanks :)

Sponsor :: Rutherford Papers

Rutherford Papers has been a sponsor of College Prep for quite some time now. One of the things I love most about the online stationery and gifts store is that they really take pride in having amazing customer service.

"Basically, our goal at Rutherford Papers is simple: We want you to find the paper that fits your style and have a great time choosing it."

With the holidays right around the corner, Rutherford Papers is a great place to pick up some presents, hostess gifts, and stocking stuffers!

I think these personalized platters would make the most perfect hostess gifts! If you're heading to someone's house for a dinner party or even an extended weekend trip, how cute would these be? The blackwatch is such a festive print! I think I'd bake some bread (like... zucchini bread!) and wrap it up with some cellophane and a big ribbon. Perfect!

These personalized notepads are the perfect stocking stuffer. I personally go through a notepad every month or so, and I know that I'm not the only one with this paper addiction. Get one (or two) for your paper obsessed friends and family members!

I really love these personalized iPad cases. iPads are pretty fragile things and need protecting... plus, if you've ever been in a meeting and everyone pulls out their lookalike iPads it's crazy! Make yours stand out!

Personalized Ice Bucket | Personalized Coasters | Personalized Platter

Fun!

xoxo

Five SURPRISE Gifts

Not into traditional gift giving? Or, do you need to get a gift for someone who "has everything"? Or do you need to get something for a recipient who's hard to please?

I typically buy presents for my friends and family members because I know that they'll like something specific. But, sometimes I really come up short!

These ideas are fun little things that you can do to surprise that hard-to-shop-for family member or friend. Plus, they're extra fun because they're unexpected and a little bit unusual! Some of them require a little bit of planning (and maybe some help from an accomplice).

1. Monthly Subscription Box | Sign your friend up for a month or two of her favorite subscription box. Whether it's Birchbox or Julep or whatever.... it's a fun way to surprise her! This is great for girls who talk about signing up, but haven't quite pulled the trigger yet! If you do more than one month it's an extra surprise that continues even after the holidays!

2. Fun Friend "Date" | Tell your friend (or sister or mom or cousin, etc.) to dress a specific way and tell her you're picking her up at a specific time. Give as little information as possible– blindfold if necessary! Go see a movie that you're both dying to see. Take her to a concert with your mutually favorite band. Go paint pottery. Have a mini-roadtrip to an ice skating rink. Go antiquing! Do something that you both enjoy. It's extra special if it's something both of you have in common with each other... do "your thing."

3. Photo Albums | This seems kind of lame... but when was the last time you printed pictures? You can print pictures from Facebook now (or at least download the HQ ones), but doing a little investigative digging is the best option. Have someone help you (like her boyfriend/mom) to get the digital files and go on a printing spree. Print everything from her latest vacation pictures to ridiculously old prom pictures!

4. To-Read Books | If she's nerdy (like me) and has a Goodreads account, see what's on her to-read shelf and buy the books for her! Start early and search on Amazon for the best prices. Buying lots of books can get expensive, so be sure to be smart about it! Wrap the books with a big ribbon and she's got a mini-collectors set. (Some friends might have a board on Pinterest with books too.)

5. Pre-Paid Manicure | A lot of my friends go to the same nail salon and we've become friends with the ladies who do our nails. Swing by the salon and pay for your friend's next manicure. How fun would that be to get your nails done, and right when you go to pay, the lady tells you it's already paid for! (This is like the beauty version of paying the toll for the car behind you!!)

Do you have any suggestions for fun, unexpected holiday gifts?

xoxo

PS Don't forget to shop the Kate Spade cyber sale! Hurry– it ends tonight!!!

Kate Spade Surprise Cyber Sale

Kate Spade's Surprise Cyber Sale just started!

There are some really great deals!

Portola Valley Janine 

Oak Island Striped Adrianne

Sweet Spot Short Necklace

Hurry! Ends tomorrow night!!!

xoxo

My Makeup Routine

Because I spend so much time on my hair every morning, I tend to have a really quick makeup routine. I actually didn't wear makeup until my senior year of high school. Unless I was going to a school dance, I really didn't wear anything. (Actually, now that I think of it, I used some sort of MAC powder because I thought it was "cool.") While on a school trip, one of the girls I was sharing a hotel room with put makeup on me. I think it was the first time I realized that makeup didn't have to feel like a mask.... eventually I started wearing mascara... and then eyeliner... and slowly I had built a little routine. Oddly enough, I haven't changed the routine in quite some time. It's simple and easy and works for me.

As a disclaimer, this is typically what I wear on a regular day. If I'm feeling up for going out (!!!), I might wear eye shadow... might. I'm quite finicky with my eyes and they're quite sensitive to begin with. They tear up spontaneously and I rub them all the time. (Horrible habit, I know.)

So here's what I do for a normal day:

1. Apply Tinted Moisturizer | I love tinted moisturizer as opposed to foundation. It's super light and blends in much better with skin. (If I need extra coverage for blemishes, I use this stick before applying the tinted moisturizer.) As with any type of lotion I use, I only use moisturizer with SPF. One really good thing about tinted moisturizer is that it's pretty forgiving when it comes to the shade of your skin. For the most part, I'm pretty fair. But during the summer, I might get a shade or two darker just from being outside in the sun.... however, I can wear the same shade tinted moisturizer year round. For foundations, I have to have a summer shade and a winter shade, which gets annoying– especially if I'm in between.

2. Use Eyeliner | This is the one thing that I simply feel naked without. All you girls out there who look amazing without it... consider me jealous. Even if I'm rushing out of my apartment, I've likely used a little bit of eyeliner. Right now, I'm loving the Bobbi Brown eye pencil in hunter. It's a nice dark green. I don't like super black eyeliner, so this is a nice change from the browns/charcoals I typically lean towards.

3. Dust Bronzer Across Cheeks | If I use blush, I use a bright apricot shade. However, I typically go for a basic bronzer. I look sick if I don't wear a little bit of bronzer, especially during the winter. I don't go overboard or anything, just a hint of color on my cheeks where the sun would naturally add color (if I didn't coat myself in high SPF all the time). I was using Cargo bronzer, but I finally got to the bottom of the pot. [Side Note: I'm not sure if that's ever happened to me before!] I went to replace it, but Sephora doesn't carry the brand anymore, so I opted for (surprise, surprise) Bobbi Brown bronzing powder. It is so natural. Most bronzers have "shimmer" in it, but this is super matte and natural.

4. Swipe Mascara | if I'm going to skip a step ever, it's this one. I really am not into mascara. I like the way it looks, but I hate putting it on and I dislike not being able to rub my eyes! I have to say, I always buy whatever the cheapest tubes are in CVS. Expensive mascara makes my eyes burn, which seems counterintuitive, but oh well! I think right now I'm using an orange tube that says NYC on it. (I bought it while I was packing my room up to move to NYC.... #Iamlame.)

5. Add Some Color to Lips | Whether it's tinted lip balm or the perfect shade of lipstick, I try to put something with a little color on my lips. Throughout the day, I'll apply regular lip balm– I may or may not be addicted to Burt's Bees. Starting off with a little color in the morning is the way I like it... by the mid morning, my lips are kind of stained, but it's nice, light, and natural-looking.

What's your morning makeup routine like?

xoxo

The Perfect Shade of Lipstick

I have finally found the most perfect shade of lipstick. I've really been searching for months. I went to the Bobbi Brown counter to pickup some of my favorite products and stumbled on this subtle shade. It's not pink and it's not too light. It really just enhances lip color as opposed to covering up and/or changing.

I was initially skeptical about calling this the perfect shade... because I think lipstick looks different on every person. However, both my mom and sister tried it and it was a hit. (Note: The three of us have three very different skin tones.)

Bobbi Brown Uber Beige

I'm oh-so-happy with it!

What's your go-to shade?

xoxo

Holiday Gifts under $50 (for guys!)

Did you think I was going to forget about the guys in our lives?! Whether it's your dad, brother, cousin, significant other, or just friend... here you go!

(Seriously, I think shopping for guys is so hard. They're picky and don't like saying what they want. Girls, I think, are much better at expressing what they want!)

I kept most of the items under the "practical" and "masculine" categories. Things that are not girly, and that your guy will actually use. Year round. Hopefully.

(1) Printed Boxers, $18.50

(2) Smathers and Branson Key Fob, $25

(3) iPhone Alarm Clock, $40

(4) Flannel Pajamas, $45

(5) Ball Cap, $45

(6) iPhone Case, $45

(7) Knit Tie, $25

(8) Lanyard Hitch Bracelet, $40

(9) Leather Flask, $42.50

(10) Shot Glasses, $38

What are you getting the guys in your life?

xoxo

Thanksgiving

I'm (somewhat sadly) returning to Manhattan tonight. Spending a week at "home" was seriously just what I needed. I've (happily) neglected my inbox, watched more than a few hours of television, and spent lots of time with my family!

Per Heitlinger tradition, we spent the morning doing our hair and makeup for an afternoon photoshoot for our holiday cards. We take them very seriously. This year there was no crying– win. (Well, there were tears, but those were only because I'm so sensitive to the sun. We have some great outtakes.) Our Thanksgiving dinners are always super casual and this year we had some friends join us for dessert. We sat out on the porch for hours just laughing hysterically and relentlessly teasing one another. The whole day was perfect.

an outtake from our shoot

The weather cooperated completely and our porch dining tradition continued.

HUGE thank you to Elizabeth McKay for my new dress!!!!

Also tradition, I get stuck hanging the lights.......... My mom has serious issues when it comes to me standing on a chair in precarious situations. Like the one time when I was on a chair, on a bed, to hang a lantern. And she was laughing instead of holding the legs steady. Oh yes, so funny.

For context, watch the first 30 seconds of this.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

xoxo

Holiday Gifts under $50

With Thanksgiving behind us, I guess it's kind of time to start thinking about holiday presents for friends and family. This gift guide has twenty ideas, all under $50. I also chose things that I would absolutely buy my (female) friends and family members in a heartbeat. For the most part, I also tried to steer clear of "holiday" gifts because I prefer to buy presents that I know my friends will be able to use time and time again throughout the year.

Happy Holidays

20 under $50 | gift guide

(1) Llama iPhone Case, $18.50 

(2) Leather Colorblock Luggage Tag, $30 [add embossed monogram!]

(3) Leather Colorblock Pouch, $49.50

(4) Baggu Printed Bag, $10

(5) Printed Sleep Shorts, $39.50

(6) K Studio iPad Case, $36

(7) Dotted Gloves, $35

(8) Anchor Key Chain, $25

(9) Scotty Studs, $48

(10) Idiom Bangle, $48

(11) Soy Wax Candle, $24

(12) Butter London Lips & Tips, $25

(13) Design Sponge, $35

(14) Classic Wide Bangle, $22.50

(15) Liberty Crystal Braid Bracelet, $39.50

(16) Letterpress Celebration Set, $39

(17) Infinity Pouch, $48

(18) Makeup Pouch, $25

(19) iPhone Case, $40

(20) Memo Pads, $6

What's on your holiday gift shopping list?

xoxo

Sister, Sister

I have so much to be thankful this year. I mean, I am seriously brimming with gratitude right now. I can't even begin to describe it.

I am thankful for...

Graduating from Georgetown

Moving to NYC

Working for an amazing company with amazing people

Having my health in tact

... and most importantly, being a part of the absolutely best family in the world.

I talked about some of the reasons why I'm thankful for my parents in a Levo League article, but I only briefly mentioned my sister. So I'll discuss that here.

I love my sister. Even though I was initially jealous of her at birth, I have no words for how lucky I am to have a younger sister. We have had a handle of "fights" in our childhood, but they always resulted in us sending secret notes to each other from our separate rooms. I would definitely describe our relationship as close. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

We're just a hair over two years apart and we could not be more different from each other. Obviously, we look completely different and we have different strengths and different interests. I think we were made to be the perfect sisters. Sometimes I hear about other sisters being super competitive with each other, but we don't have that. Stacy excelled at sports and I was just a big nerd. Stacy is an amazingly creative writer with an unfair knack for playing musical instruments and capturing light in photographs.

I've really missed my sister and in a sense I think it made us even closer. As we've grown up, we've really become great friends.

With such distinct personalities and styles, we decided to style each other. Stacy dressed me in an outfit that she loves and I dressed her in one of my favorites.

This is what ensued:

Talk about an identity crisis! We were both incredibly uncomfortable. (Admittedly, that loose shirt was actually comfortable, I did not feel comfortable!) Poor Stacy was not feeling that skirt... let alone the shirt + sweater combination.

I actually had a lot of fun playing around... so not me, but it's fun to pretend from time to time!

I think that Stacy looked so so so adorable!

Ahhhh, now that's better.

So we took these pictures at our old high school which is literally just down the block from our house. We took these pictures in the middle of us switching outfits. They're half and half!

Oh, I love this girl so much. I think sisters are the best things in the entire world.

"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.  ~Marion C. Garretty"

Fall in Florida

This is fall in Florida. Sunny and beachy. The sun is warm and the breeze is cool off the water. After three months of Manhattan living, I've missed the coastal shorelines of Tampa. It is so bright. 

Sweater, J. Crew

Shirt, J. Crew

Skirt, J. Crew (similar)

Pearls, J. Crew (similar)

Loafers, Eastland (similar) 

xoxo

PS Thank you Stacy Heitlinger & Jing Jing Lin

Cute Ankle Booties

Okay. Honestly? I didn't like these the first time I saw them. But then I really loved them. Kind of out of the blue. One of the girls in our office has a pair of black ones and oh, they're cute. She totally convinced me that they're perfect for the winter months!

Now that it's getting much (much) colder, I wear my riding boots nearly every day. They're perfect for a lot of my outfits, but sometimes I want something a little bit different. I think the ankle bootie is going to be just that. I think they're going to look cute with everything from adorable dresses and tights to skinny jeans and chunky sweaters.

The crazy thing is that the boots are literally everywhere. From Zara to Old Navy to Nordstrom to J. Crew and a ton of other places. The prices are pretty all over the place as well. This is great since there is really something for everyone. And they come in a bunch of different colors. I seriously can't decide between leather (real or otherwise) and suede.... and even the colors!

From top to bottom:

ONE | TWO

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THREE | FOUR

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FIVE | SIX

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SEVEN | EIGHT

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NINE | TEN

Which pair would you choose?

xoxo