Kendra Scott Charity Event

I've come to the decision that instead of giving you long updates about my life in one scattered post, I'll just update you on the events individually! Yay, so first up... a much loved Kendra Scott Charity Event!

I'm currently the VP of the UNICEF club at my school. UNICEF's current fundraiser is raising money for the Nepal Earthquake victims. We wanted to help raise money, and I knew that Kendra Scott did lots of charity events, so we reached out to our local Kendra Scott. They were super sweet and told us that we could have a charity event at their store. On a certain day, for a two hour period, 20% of that Kendra Scott's store's proceeds would go to UNICEF! 

Unfortunately, there was a bit of commotion and time constraints with our school, so the event wasn't allowed to be done through the school, so we couldn't hang up posters through the school. However, we had the event done outside of school. It was a really fun event!

I bought a necklace for myself and a charm for a friend's graduation present. Since we didn't really get to advertise as much as we wanted, not a ton of people from our school showed up. However, there were lots of shoppers for a Tuesday night which was awesome! I'm always glad to shop at Kendra Scott (and help a good cause!).

Me, SS and AV
My necklace is Kendra Scott (the design is not available anymore)

Panera for dinner is always a good call

Here are the pieces that I got:

Mara Pendant Necklace

Love this!

This is the necklace I got for myself! I'm not sure if the color is exactly right as the pic I picked from the KS website, because my eyes aren't 100% sure, but I think this is the one! I love this delicate necklace and I wore it for the first time at work training yesterday. I love how it goes with everything and I think I'll be wearing it all the time from now on!

Goldstone Charm

How cute is this?

I was looking for a graduation present for my friend KP (more about her to come in my Prom post!). I really liked this charm and considered buying it for myself, but then I realized it'd really compliment her eyes! It was perfect. I just need to buy a necklace chain for her!

Rayne necklace

Wearing it for the first time!
So many compliments!

There was a raffle for this necklace that I loved, and I was lucky enough to win! I entered 5 times before the deadline and I was beyond delighted that I won! It's my favorite necklace and I was considering buying it, but good thing I didn't!

Kendra Scott is amazing on helping out with charity events, so if you ever want to do an event with them, reach out to them! And their jewelry is the cutest ever! Thanks Kendra!

I'm Back!

Sorry for the long long long absence! It's been a jam packed month between school, extracurriculars, AP exams, SAT and the ACT twice! I hope to be back for good!

Quick 5-Minute Recap about my life: Chaos! After stressing about my calc AP exam (which was today and I feel alright about!), and just trying to get through school, prom planning and all that jazz... I feel a lot better about life just with two of my AP exams done. Only 3 more to go!

Prom planning is very very very fun! Prom is almost here (and I still need to get my dress altered, shoes, and boutonniere for J! I'm very thankful that I didn't make the plans for my group, because as much as I love planning, planning a prom for 700 students is enough for me! :) We are getting catering from Daniel's at a friend's house and we are getting ghetto-looking (and cheap) party bus (with a stripper pole!). I'm getting ready with AV, SS and some other friends, and J and I are getting photos taken by A (who can't wait to meet J!). I can't wait!

Shot from my backyard on Earth Day

I've gotten three J.Crew items this week! I love online ordering; it's so exciting to wait for something to come in the mail, and see the item when the package finally comes!

My phone case came in first!
I've been needing a new phone case for so long.
I love it so much!

I love this men's flannel shirt.
So cozy and comfy!
Probably not the best for spring... but I can never say no to a flannel!

And finally... the necklace for prom!
I love it so much, and it turned out to be even better in person!

The best part about AP exams?! 50 minute lunches! (We typically have a 40 minute lunch... and this 50 minute lunch isn't fully enforced, so you can go a little bit over!) I only have morning exams, which means plenty of 50 minute lunches for me! :)

My favorite place with my favorite boy, J!
It's like the Subway for pizza- too good!

Cinco de Mayo at my fav fast-Mexican place: Chipotle!
Mexican is always much needed... especially after a calc exam!

I love love love fresh flowers! I saw my favorite flowers in Fresh Market and couldn't resist taking a snap:

Peonies are my favorite!

I sadly can't post any prom-prep photos yet, but I'll definitely post them after prom! (All of it: the set-up, buying the prom decorations for hours at AC Moore with J and our advisers, prom preparation, and lots of online orders!)

I also got my summer camp schedule today! I'm so excited to be working again at the best job ever this summer! I'm working 7 weeks (which I think is a lot, but a lot is great!). I'm really hoping that I'll be able to do everything I want this summer: from hanging out with friends, getting ready for college applications, and going on lots of adventures! (The bucket list coming soon!)

That's a quick (not so quick, sorry) recap on my past month or so! (I'm probably forgetting a ton of things, so that's the Sparknotes version!)

Lots of posts coming soon! (Slowly but surely, I promise!) Thanks for sticking with me! :)

Prom Dresses (The Ultimate Guide)

As you may or may not know, I'm planning the prom at my school this year with J! We are so excited. Here are some tips that I've learned...

Before you start looking...

• Know your budget: this is the most important part! There's nothing worse than falling in love with a dress way out of your budget. Figure this out with your parents before doing anything.
• Know your size: this is helpful for ordering dresses online and reducing the chance of having to exchange sizes (just such a hassle!). 
• Know what you like and dislike: you might figure this out as you start looking at dresses and trying them on, but if you know beforehand, you can set filters on websites and let the staff know at the store. Things to think about: dress color, sleeves/sleeveless/strapless, dress length, slits, cut-outs, jewels, etc. On the other hand, keep an open mind if you're not 100% sure, you may find the perfect dress that isn't what you were envisioning.

Where to go...

• Trustworthy sites over sketchy online sites: that dress is super cute AND it's super cheap... but the website is some site you've never heard of and looks a bit sketchy? Sometimes it's too good to be true. I'd rather pay more for a dress you can trust with a good return policy. Always google the website and its reviews (don't trust the reviews listed on the site- they're typically all mysteriously positive!). 
• Discount sites and outlets: if you don't want to spend $98502 on a prom dress, I totally understand! We're in the same boat. I don't see the point of buying a super expensive prom dress that you're only going to wear once. Yes, you can resell, but there's always risk in that. The BCBG outlet is always a popular choice to go, and 6pm.com is the best hidden secret. (and totally safe! Promise! Make sure you check its return policy though because I've never returned anything from there.)
• Check back often: There are typically occasion sales where they discount some of the prom dress styles, so check back for your favorites at the various websites and stores!
• Check out other sections: Don't limit yourself to the "prom" section. There are lots of gorgeous dresses in the bridesmaid and evening gown sections!

My Recommendations 

• Nordstrom
• Dillard's
• Belk
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Nordstrom Rack (lots of short dresses!)
• David's Bridal

Found a couple of contenders you want to buy?

• Check the return policy: just in case. My family are huge fans of Nordstrom's return policy; it's awesome. 
• If needed, find out how much alterations cost: this might just be me because I'm short, but I will probably need my dress altered, if it's complimentary with your purchase, take advantage of that!
• Do a double take to make sure it's good: It has happened to me, I bought something, and when we got home, we realized there was a tiny tear or something small, but yes, noticeable.

Belated February Playlist

Sorry for my lack/slack of blog posts these past two months. To make up for it, (I promise I actually made this in February) is my February Playlist. From me and J's song (Thinking Out Loud) to the song I listened to so many times that I don't know how I'm not sick of it (I Wanna Get Better); it's a good playlist. Enjoy!

February Playlist

Staycation-ing

It's finally spring break for me! (Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been totally out of it and just trying to keep up with life as it is, I'm back: refreshed and ready!) However, I'm not partying it up at the beach or anything. I'll be at home and relaxing. However, that doesn't stop me from wanting to go on lots of adventures!

Here are my favorite things to do while stay-cationing...

• Hammock-ing and reading. I really want an Eno to get some fresh air and read some new books on my Kindle. Here are some of the books on my list.
• Grab your camera and go around town (with a friend!). Go go go. Window shop and take lots of photos of your surroundings along the way. Here is one of my favorite photos for inspiration: 

  

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• Do all of those crafts you've been wanting to do forever! (Here are some of my favs! And some more here!) 

  

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  Who wants to make me one? I'll pay! Sooo cute!

  

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  I have so many of these plastic animals!
  They look so elegant spray painted!

  

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  Love these oyster shells! So easy and so elegant!

• Redecorate your room. Hang up all those photos you've always wanted. (Check out here for inspiration!) 

  

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  Love these painted affirmations! So inspiring.

• Get that summer bod ready. No need for a spring break bod? Might as well get a head start on that summer bod. Check out these tips! 
• Whip something up in the kitchen. Because what's better than jamming to music and cooking something new? (Here are some of the recipes I'm ready to try!)
• Relax! That's the best part of break, right?

Hope everyone has a great time either vacationing or staycation-ing! 

Five on... Who Knows? Not Friday (Sorry bout it)

Please don't mind that this girl is procrastinating on blog posts. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Well this week I was only at school for half a day. Yes... half a day. It was pretty amazing. The snow/ice/slush combination hit us on Monday night, and just to be safe of icy secondary roads, we haven't been back to school yet. It snowed a little bit more on Tuesday afternoon. (I think it was Tuesday? Either that or Wednesday.) I didn't do much, I stayed up late, woke up (relatively) early, and didn't do much during the day except stay in the house.

I did hang out with my friends who didn't have school on Tuesday. It was awesome to see them, freeze my toes off (I'm the stupid one who wears thin socks with rain boots!), go sledding, and warm up at JSC's house while Snapchatting, editing future Instas, and just chatting away. It was nice to be reunited with my friends.

50 Shades of Snow... from my window.

I thought that photo (above) was pretty cool! Haven't seen that on Insta yet. ;) I love watching the snow fall. It's mesmerizing.

Yay for no school and snow days with my friends!

Left to right: me, JSC, ALD and MF

I got this shot of the girls sledding and it's one of my favs!
MF, JSC and ALD

I stayed inside the house for most of the week! Ah! I'm ready to leave. I was telling J how exciting it was to go grocery shopping... just to get out of the house. When you're stuck somewhere for too long (especially inside somewhere), it sucks. Times like these make me glad I don't live in a tiny, cramped apartment in NYC. Too small for me to stay there for several days! 

Thankfully we've been buying lots of take out to keep us all sane, including sushi, Chipotle (twice), tortellini, and lots of random food.

Without further ado... my five on Friday!

1. Lemon-cucumber water: Quick story: so we had some iced tea and I was talking about how I wanted lemon with the tea. My dad bought me some lemon, but we were already done with the tea. I went on to my second-favorite alternative drink with lemon (well third- second is with San Pellegrino), water! While chopping up an entire lemon (I'm a huge fan of lots of lemon), my mom suggested adding cucumber, since it's something people do to detox. I love the concept of detoxing- taking out all the toxins? Sounds good to me! I tried it, and I'm a fan. 
   
2. Avocado: I typically don't get guacamole with my Chipotle, although I do love me some guac. We had lots of avocados at home this week, so I made my own guac. Chipotle's flavor totally changes with some guac, dang! It is a whole new world. I could eat guac forever and ever.
3. The West Wing: My new favorite show. Ever. My mom told me I'd love it, and my boy GM said the same thing. I started one episode, wasn't totally into it, but decided to restart it and I'm hooked like a fish on a hook babyyyy. I love all the characters and the development. It makes me want to work in the West Wing a gazillion times more. I love Charlie, I'd want his job fresh out of college. I love all of their jobs though for real, Sam Seaborn's job is awesome! I wish I was that talented of a writer though. It's an amazing show! Try the second episode, I promise you, it gets gooood.
4. Snow: There's nothing prettier than watching the snow fall. I took my first timelapse of the snow falling. J and A were impressed, so I was hype.
5. Pinterest: After my girl H got a Pinterest this week, I was hype to rediscover my love for it! Follow me here! It'd be pretty cool for one of y'all to be my 900th follower! ;)

Have a great rest of your weekend/Sunday! :)

Five on Galentine's Day!

Happy Galentine's Day y'all! After I watched Parks and Recreation, I fell in love with the concept of Galentine's Day. A day to celebrate your gal pals and how awesome they are!

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Today was an early release day, and today was the day that singing valentines and roses were distributed! Singing valentines are my favorite thing ever. It's an annual tradition that honors chorus does where they sell singing valentines to raise money for their chorus trips. The chorus breaks off into small groups and sells love songs that they sing. This year's song choices included All Of Me, What Makes You Beautiful, Lean On Me, Hey There Delilah, I'm Yours, Love Story and Where You Lead.

Singing valentines are so cute, awkward and embarrassing. The group comes in the middle of class and the recipient gets to sit in the front of the classroom as the group sings to them! I love them, and they're really good. They have dance moves and everything! Some even have guitar playing.

I sent two: one to SS and one to J. SS knew hers was coming, but J didn't know about his! It was very exciting. Sadly, I don't have the two class periods that the singing valentines came with either of them, but we talked about it and I asked people in their classes! It was really fun. SS sent me a singing valentine as well, and it was really cute! I got Hey There Delilah, which consisted of four boys and one playing guitar! It was so good, and I was smiling the entire time because I was so embarrassed/enjoying every second of it.

One of the volunteering clubs also had a sale on roses, with the proceeds going to the Brown Bag Ministry. I love love love flowers! I think they're absolutely gorgeous. My sweet friend GM, my twin, got me one, as it started off as a joke! SS got me one too. They absolutely made my day.

I'm so appreciate of all the great friends I have in my life and Valentine's Day (and any day) is perfect to express feelings of gratitude and love towards each other!

Here we go, here we go, my five on Friday...

1. Flowers: Forget candy, teddy bears or jewelry, I'd much rather have flowers and love notes. I'm the most sentimental person ever, so I'd much rather have a list of ten reasons why you enjoy spending time with me, or a personalized mixtape, or photos of the two of us. But there's something so lovely about fresh flowers that I just can't resist.
2. House of Cards: New favorite show. It's so addicting. I went with J to lunch (PDQ) this week and got him hooked onto it. You know... BFF probz. I love politics, as crazy as it all is. Call me crazy that I still want to go into it! ;)
3. Cough drops: My BFF this week. I've been waking up with sore throats all week and cough drops and hot water make me a happy Sam.
4. Cheesy Valentine's Day Cards: They make me chuckle. 
    

   

   Images via Tumblr

5. Hey There Delilah: Because it was stuck in my head all of today. It's still the most beautiful song. 

Sorry this was supposed to be posted yesterday (Friday!). Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!