Walgreens: Bad News for my Bank Account

     I have made terrible mistake. This afternoon after work I casually dropped into Walgreens to grab a simply tube of mascara and walked out with about $40 of stuff I totally did not need. I do this every time, doesn't matter if I have a list, someone with me, set a timer I always get sucked into those stupid beauty products!

     Today I got facial wipes which are wasteful and frankly not all that useful, but they came in that pretty grapefruit color packaging. I also got acne spot treatment, even though the stuff I have at home is better and some hair product that I probably won't use.

     Why do I do this to myself? I have admittedly pretty terrible self control with most things, and with cosmetics I am a complete failure. Maybe that should be one of my goals for the month.

What can't you resist buying?

August Goals

     Every month I list my goals for the month, things that I can start and finish that month. Here are this month's top 10 priorities.

source: quotesvalley.com

1. Cook dinner once a week
   
2. Stop fiddling with my hair
   
3. Tidy room at least every other day
   
4. Exercise more
   
5. Do two blog posting in a day once a week
   
6. Actually do my dry cleaning
   
7. Get my slacks tailored
   
8. Renew my passport
   
9. Plan vacation for winter break
   
10. Laugh at least once a day

Cubicle Confessions: Office Wardrobe Essentials

     This summer was my first "real" job. I had worked before but babysitting and as a camp counselor, so when it came time to get dressed for the office I had a lot of questions. Now Silicon Valley is much more casual than say, New York but there is a lot of variance within each company. You need to dress to fit in with the consultants in suits and the developers in jeans and hoodies. I have my own style but it is built off staples that every working girl should have.

1. Blazer -- This is great for work and school. It immediately makes any outfit look more put together. I really recommend H&M for blazers. So often college students look like they are playing dress up in their mother's clothes when wearing blazers. Make sure it fits your shoulders perfectly, and go with cotton, not wool for a more youthful look.
   
   
2. Button-Up -- Again, you can wear these everywhere. A pattern is good for the office, show off you individuality and make the often boring work attire pop. A chiffon is also good for a more feminine feel and won't show sweat marks (offices have strange micro climates, be prepared).
   
   
3. Watch -- In the age of cellphones a watch makes you look mature and put together. Splurge a bit for one you will wear every day. Kate Spade makes great ones in the $200 range. Perfect as a graduation gift.
   
   
4. Black Heels -- Go low. Do not get a 6" stiletto. You will regret it. Comfort is the most important thing. I have a pair of mary jane heels from Soft that I can walk miles in. Walkability is crucial because even though you sit at your desk for hours you will likely have to trek to another building, to lunch, to the subway. Spend whatever necessary to buy a pair you can actually wear.
   
   
5. Graphic Print Tee -- Great to dress down a pencil skirt or slacks. Don't get any logos or writing though, that is unprofessional.
   
   
6. Pencil Skirt -- Great for the office and formal events in school. Just make sure that if it is tight it goes to just above your knee.
   
   
7. Slacks -- An office classic. Buy a black pair, then a navy pair, and then a fun pair (I have a bright pink pair and an eyelet pair). Make sure you can wear most of your tops with a pair before you buy.

     Office wear can be a lot of fun to put together. Don't think you have to wear certain things just because you are in an office. Just remember to keep it classy and age appropriate. If you are 20 don't wear matching suit sets from Banana Republic, mix and match. Some great stores for the working girl on a budget are Banana Republic for spendier staples, Anne Taylor Loft for their great sales, J. Crew, and H&M. With the right wardrobe the sky's the limit.

School Packing Essentials

     School is starting soon! Some of you are starting in just a matter of weeks, and some (like me) have a little longer, but either way it is never too soon to start packing. I am known to pack for a weekend trip over a week in advance, so for something as big as moving into my dorm I usually start a month early. Here are my 5 essentials for any big pack, not things I can't forget, but things that make the whole process so much easier:

1. Trunk by Seward -- Having a trunk in your dorm is somewhat life changing. It is great so storage of out of season clothes, sheets, towels, and anything else you can think of. Also, it is the perfect coffee table that doesn't waster space. Pack all you winter clothes in it and ship it to school 1 week before you arrive. Make sure you write a detailed list of what is in there, so you don't have to open it until the leaves change. Oh, wheels are great, get one with wheels.
   
2. Notebook -- Make and remake lists! The first draft never has everything you need, and has a lot of things you don't need. Jot down anything you might forget and keep lists of what you pack where. This makes a huge difference unpacking. The first night you want to find you pajamas and party dress and leave the rest for tomorrow. Also, have a sorting system for what goes in what boxes/ suitcases that way you can unpack only what you need.
   
3. Garbage Bags -- There is no better time to sell/donate/toss old or unworn clothes then when packing. Stress about overweight bags is a great motivator to bring only what you need and wear. Dorms are small, even the nice ones don't have space to keep things you only wear once a year.
   
4. Phone -- Take pictures of everything. This goes along with inventory lists. Plus, it gives you a visual so you can quickly check if you actually brought that Lily shirt, or left it at home.
   
5. Post-Its -- Again, label and list everything. Mark what is coming, staying, and going to Goodwill

     Overall, the biggest piece of advice I have is put thought into it. Your wardrobe will be changing a lot this fall so clear some room to embrace your new dorm room chic. If you feel uncomfortable or childish don't bring it. If you don't have four outfits for each piece, leave it. I recommend leaving some clothes at home for when you visit or if you change your mind and want it. For the other stuff, desk organizers, lamps, storage I cannot stress how much better it is to wait until you get there. Address storage needs as they arise and you will save money and have a better solution.

Happy packing! 

New Lily Arrivals for Fall

Lily Pulitzer just released their new fall line and it's pretty fabulous. I love the new patterns and the big florals are so on trend. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Alene Patterned Peplum Top

Arlington Dress

Beckett Dress

Colleen Romper

Dune Top

Jet Set Wide Leg Trouser

Liza Short (favorite new pattern)

Sherlynn Dress

Skipper Printed Popover

The new prints are a bit different from classic Lily, the pastels, the art deco, and the big butterflies so cute. I can't wait to get back to school where the Lily store is a block away from my dorm.

What are your new favorites?

Technology Sucks

GAAAHHHHH!

     Today is not going my way technology wise. I recently got a new, super nice 24" acer monitor for my macbook. The excitement level was off the charts. As a nerd, new gadgets make any day feel like Christmas. Today however it was not meant to be, cuz cool story bro, most acer monitors don't work with os x. 

     Thankfully, I was given the monitor so no money lost, but still so sad :(

Day Trip To San Francisco

     Today my mom and I decided to take a spur of the moment day trip to San Francisco, our favorite city in the world. San Fran has so much to offer: great architecture, landmarks, food, and people. We started the day with Dim Sum, a must do for a city with a great Chinatown.

Dim Sum is such an experience. I try at least one new thing every time I go, this time was chicken feet. While they were surprisingly good, the dumplings are still my favorite.

Next we went to the Ferry Building for coffee and macaroons at Miette. I recommend going down the Embarcadero to Pier 49 and to the Royal Academy and the Exploratorium if you have time. Even as an adult it is the coolest thing, though I am a huge nerd.

After some shopping at Macy's, and getting our brows waxed at the Brow Bar we went to the J-Pop fest in Union Square. The music was pretty awful but it was on our way to dinner at Kuleto's, a place my mom has been going to for 30 years!

Here's my outfit for the day: jeans, a chiffon button from Banana Republic (similar), Barbour style jacket from Ralph Lauren (similar), my vineyard vines tote with school colors, and my trusty Kate Spade watch. San Francisco can get windy so always bring a coat, but it can also be shockingly bright even when it's cloudy so I had my nike hat in my bag just in case.

Hope your weekend was great and have a good week!

Wear to Work

     I just got this great shift dress at Forever 21. Now, normally I would never buy a dress there; they are too short, too poorly made, and rarely work appropriate. But this one is! It is kinda perfect for work and any daytime events. Plus it's only $22.50! I love finding pieces that look like they cost a lot more than they did, and this definitely does. Also, a great excuse to splurge a little on the accessories. Below are two ways to rock this frock.

     Kiel James Patrick Bracelet                   Forever 21 dress                            J. Crew Sweater

        Lily Pulitzer Shoes                                                                             Sperry Topsider loafers

Any great steals for the office? let me know!

Book of the Moment: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

I just finished Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg. Sandberg is the COO of Facebook, a graduate of Harvard, and mother of two. Lean In is a must read for all girls; she perfectly articulates things that I have felt and witnessed in school, the workplace, and daily life. Sandberg encourages all girls not to tear ourselves and each other down, and to fight for what we want. Women have come a long way in the battle for equality, but the game is still stacked against us.

A must read for women of all ages and careers; a thought-provoking read that presents important information in a highly readable manner.

Buy it here

New J. Crew Arrivals

The new August items just came in at J. Crew! This may or may not be my favorite part of the month. Here are some of the best pieces. Some are new or just new takes on their standards

Cashmere seems so grown up and sophisticated, but this sweater is still fun and young. I'm thinkin' my first cashmere for christmas?

A great Barbour style

The new painter tee colors and stripes are super cute. I've had one for years and am thinking about adding this one to my collection.

Chambray shirt dress, I am totally replicating this outfit. The baseball hat is fun and goes great with the oxfords.

The classic silk blouse. I kinda want one in every color.

Good god J. Crew is fabulous

Weekend Home

My trip home this weekend was absolutely wonderful, and just what I needed. I had a barbecue with some old family friends, helped my mom move, and did some shopping. Here are a couple of pics

Don't me and my sister look like twins?

Packed the truck all by ourselves, about 6 times. We definitely earned our keep. 

Denim is great for manual labor since it hides dust and dirt. I love my Banana Republic jean shorts (I have two pairs), and keds are great for kicking around.

I just love this photo. There are ones where we are all looking at the camera but this has so much life in it. I'm rocking my classic loose bun and my favorite necklace.

Dinner with the family, wearing my jean shorts and an H&M blazer. A great way to dress up an outfit for going out on a warm evening.

Shoes of the Moment

Here are the 6 pairs of shoes that I am coveting most right now:

1. The Tory Burch Juliet - I have some really edgy tall leather boots, but these are so sleek and put together. They are a bit pricey so I'm saving up for when they come back in stock this fall.
   
2. Steve Madden - I love this style of heel with the thin strap over the toe. I have a nude pair and am dying to add a black pair.
   
3. Etta Heel - The classic staple from J. Crew, every girl needs a pair. They come in so many colors and materials everyone can find the perfect fit.
   
4. Minnetonka Cally Slipper - These are great for hanging around the dorm, I've already gone through a cognac pair and want to try the navy.
   
5. Cole Haan Oxfords - Oxfords are a great alternative to heels for the office. Cole Haan shoes all come with built in Nike Air so you know they are incredibly comfortable.
   
6. Bean Boots - For any girl who lives where it snows, rains, or drops below 40 degrees these are a must have. They keep your feet wonderfully cozy and last forever.

Hope your monday has been as fabulous as these shoes

The Room Makeover

While visiting home this weekend, I noticed my sister's room was a terrible mixture of hand-me-downs, trophies, and unhung pictures. As any good older sister would do, I completed the $200, 6-hour total bedroom overhaul.

Here are the before pictures:

Generally a mess and completely devoid of any real style, design, and kinda ugly.

So here's what we did:

• Cleaned out all the drawer, shelves, and closets and tossed or donated everything unused or unnecessary.
• Picked out favorite posters, knick-knacks, pictures, and vinyl records to display. It helps to pick a color scheme to help with this process.
• Foraged for furniture around the house. So often tables, chairs, and lamps are in really bad places and would look so much better in a different room.
• Things we bought (all from Target and only $100 dollars):
• Duvet cover and sheets
• accent pillows
• storage bins
• lamp
• lots and lots and lots of command hooks
• Now use those command hooks and hang just about everything, put those posters up on the walls, hang purses, jackets, and accessories. 
• Put some time into placing pictures, trophies (pick just a few to display), and accents

Below is the final product:

A new duvet, posters on a smaller wall, and a matching lamp

Hang a selection of awards on command hooks, hang records with similar colors with command strips.

Placed a bin to hold remaining records, put books with the theme colors, and whittle down the number of books on the shelves. Also pick cohesive frames.

Note the much less overwhelming number of trophies, add a bin for odds and ends, and add a mirror.

We took a chair from the guest room, hung an old mirror, and bought a new pillow that matches the sheets. 

So in one afternoon we gave her room style, a put together feel, and some much needed color. It was fairly cheap, totally easy and makes the room so much more inviting and pleasant to be in. I love being a weekend warrior and doing something that really makes your house a home. So what will you do next weekend? Let out the preppy weekend warrior in you and show me the results.

Love List

This week is all about summer. I’m headed home this weekend for a barbecue, karaoke, and family fun, so I thought I’d talk about the things every girl needs for some summer fun.

1. Leather sandals – I got these ones at Kohls. They are real leather, stay on better than flip flops, and look chic with everything.
   
2. Clarisonic – This is a must have for every skin type. I have acne and this is a miracle. Dirt and oil build up is a real problem in sweaty summer months, and this brush removes them as well as most facials I’ve had.
   
3. Sunglasses – My current favorite pair are $5 from Payless Shoes. They are funky, fun, and no big loss when they get stepped on. I am a huge fan of cheap sunglasses.
   
4.  Nike hat  – This hat looks cute with just about everything and sunburn does not.
   
5.  Phone – Great for pictures, weather, keeping in touch, and keeping you entertained; it is the perfect summer accessory. I have a great wallet case so I never leave my debit card and ID behind.

What are your summer must haves? Let me know and I hope your weekend is fabulous.

Home Sweet Home

I'm on my way for a quick weekend, and I could not be more excited! Family, friends, and food are really the most important things, and all will be abundant this weekend. It's a quick flight home but packing the right things is still critical, so I thought I'd share my must have travel item with you.

The Tote: mine is a great zip up canvas version of the classic Longchamp. I hate the original and the canvas lasts way longer.

1. Earbuds -- Listen to music, movie, or have an excuse to ignore people.

2. Mints -- way better than gum.

3. Lotion -- Aveeno is one of my favorites for the dry airplane air.

4. iPad -- I simply don't leave the house without it. Plus a cute Kate Spade case.

5. Phone -- My wonderful new Samsung Galaxy with a card case to hold my ID.

6. Notebook -- Moleskine notebooks are a must have, and ever so chic.

7. Bandaids -- Great for blisters and the daily life of an accident prone girl.

8. $5 bill -- You never know when the cafe will be cash only or when you'll need to tip.

9. Wallet -- My Cole Haan wristlet holds everything, even my phone.

10. Earplugs -- I sleep on planes, no matter the time of day so these are a must.

11. Hair ties -- Emi Jay ones are great, don't crease or break your hair, and very trendy.

A couple other things I always fly with are: a big scarf that doubles as a pillow and blanket and J. Crew rouser socks cute and warm.

I hope your weekend plans are as fun as mine!

Cubicle Confessions Pt. 1

This summer I am an intern in the heart of Silicon Valley. It has been a great learning experience, figuring out what I want to do and who I want to be. There have been surprises, disappointments, good times and bad.

Half way through the summer here is my list of the 5 most important things I've learned

1. Not all interns work for free -- As an engineering major working in finance I get paid, well. Don't worry that you can't intern because you won't get paid. As long as you stay out of entertainment you can get quite a nice paycheck.

2. You are not competing -- This is not like the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn movie. I am not in any sort of competition; in fact I'm the only intern in my department. The most important thing is that you work as hard as you can, and be an asset to your boss

3. People, even important ones, want to meet you -- My company offers speaking events with all its major executives. I have eaten lunch with my VP. Go to networking events and put yourself out there; write an email to your boss' boss introducing yourself. People love to see other excited about the future of their company

4. Housing is expensive -- When searching for internships, keep this in mind. Maybe plan to stay with relatives (this is what I'm doing, free rent, food, and a car to borrow it is awesome), find some roommates, or stay close to home.

5. You will have down time, which is hard -- Except for maybe investment banking you will have down time, get bored, leave early, and pester your boss for more tasks. Stick with it and imagine your gorgeous resume after this.

To New Beginnings and Summer Fun

The last year has been one crazy wild ride, that I wouldn't trade for anything. I started college across the country away from all my friends and family, began a new sport, got my first job, and learned a lot of lessons along the way.

I have no idea where this blog will go, but I've thinking about it for a while and decided to give it a go. I promise myself that I will post every other day for the next 4 months. Exceptions being midterms and finals week. (I had to write that down to really commit).

I will discuss style, surviving college, and all my favorite things. If you have anything you want to see let me know.

Let's see where this journey takes us; to new beginnings and summer fun.