A B i t G r a c e f u l.

Finding the perfect gift for a loved one is such a satisfying feeling! During the Christmas season, I love browsing, choosing, and wrapping gifts for my family and friends. So I have put together a gift guide post, featuring three different sections: Stocking Stuffers, Gifts for Friends, and Gifts for Parents. I always find myself looking for unique ideas of affordable stocking stuffers. UncommonGoods has loads of cute options , including this Couch Guestboo k  and Personalized Birthstone Mineral Soaps .  If you've never heard of UncommonGoods , they are an incredible brand that focuses on sustainability, organic products, and supporting small manufacturers and artists. Here are some more stocking stuffer ideas, including a book on how to take care of indoor plants (something I totally could benefit from having) and a trivia game, perfect for Christmas day! NO DRAMA CLUB FLASK || MARIO BADESCU FACIAL SPRAY || URBAN BOTANICS || POM POM BLANKET || WORLDLY WIS...

Ah it feels so lovely to be able to afford my favorite brands again. About a month in to my London trip, I dropped my almost full bottle of Revlon Colorstay Foundation on my big toe, cracking both the bottle and my nail. My nail survived, but the bottle did not. Whilst traveling to Paris, the entire bottle, after I wrapped and taped it closed, still managed to spill open and I was forced to throw the mess away. I went the next two months foundation free, which did not prove to be better or worse for my pretty normal skin. I was going to buy the same one, which is my absolute favorite, but I was disheartened when I went to Boots to find that the price was too absurdly high. Grant it, I understand that it is an American brand but STILL this is ridiculous. So the foundation is almost DOUBLE the price in the UK. I decided it was not worth it. So now that I am home, I have bought it again for the lovely, and reasonable, price of $9.99 at Target.  I used it today for the fir...

So it has been a very exhausting couple of days moving back home for winter break. Living in London for a little over four months was the most incredible experience. I will do a post soon highlighting my favorite parts and giving anyone who wishes to travel some advice.  The day after I came home, my mom, my little sister, her best friend, and me went to Sephora and then to Target - probably my two favorite places that I had missed the most. I bought several things at each that I needed after running out of in London. I figured the first post I would do should be on what I got for free for my birthday from Sephora. I am super excited about these two sample sized products because I think I will actually get a lot of use out of each of them.  I have used the mascara once and I love the brush. I used the lipstick once so far as well and I think it is a lovely color.  What do you think of Make Up For Ever as a brand? What is on your makeup wish list this Christma...

Winter Inspiration - what defines yours? I think gold is going to be my color this season! xx

Ah hello! So I am going to do BLOGMAS again this December, but since my month is going to be such a whirlwind, with me moving back to the states and then two weeks later going on vacation with my family, I am going to try for most days and be happy with that :)  I can't believe it is December already - these past four months in London have flown by and it is already almost the new year! I have been so happy that my free time here in London lately, despite my five finals and moving process, as well as trying to squeeze in all the things I still need to do and buy, I have been blogging. Blogging can be very touch and go for me sometimes, particularly when I am feeling overly stressed, but I have had such a great fall that I haven't really felt overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. So, here's to the future, starting with the countdown to Christmas through BLOGMAS <3 I hope everyone's December is filled with excitement and happiness! xx

Hello everyone!  So I saw this idea on Pinterest to start the new year off with an interesting project: Starting January 1st, take an empty jar and fill it with notes of good things that happen throughout the year. These can be anything from accomplishing goals, memories worth saving, funny moments with friends, surprise gifts, etc. Then, next New Year's Eve, empty it and see all the awesome things that happened that year.  I am going to give this a whirl and hopefully have the jar over-flowing by next New Year's Eve :) Do you think you will try this too?  xx

Hello everybody! Happy Blogmas Day 25 :)  I am pretty sure that I am in heaven right now! I got my dream camera - the Rebel EOS TSi (600D) - from my parents this morning and I couldn't be happier.  I just thought I would show you some of my gifts. I hope that you had an amazing day as well! Merry Christmas  ♥

Happy Blogmas Day 24! I am so excited because technically it is Christmas as I write this at a bit past midnight. I have had a wonderful Christmas Eve and I cannot wait for more good times in the morning. Here are just a few pics to show you what my day has been like: I watched Veronica Mars for several hours this morning... it was very stressful but amazing as usual. For any V Mars fans out there, I watched Season 3 Episode 9 - OH MY GOD.... enough said.  Then I got ready with all of this makeup... I used my new Sephora Baked palette and I am already in love with it! My little sister, my mom, and I took a few cute photos.  We then went to my uncle's for my mom's side of the family party! This photo is of my little sister, my dad, my older brother, and me :) After the party we went to Christmas mass at my church. Then home and watched several home videos we made as kids and then all split off to our rooms for bed! I better go to sleep soon because when...

Happy Blogmas Day 23! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve :) Here are a few photos highlighting my day. Hope you enjoy! My Aunt Cathy, my mom (sitting), and Mary posing as we show off some of the cookies - today we made over 250! Sephora Collection MicroSmooth Baked Winter Wonderland - an early X-mas gift from my Aunt!  (Left to Right) Connor my younger brother, Mary my younger sister, me looking sickly pale, and Patrick my older brother

Happy Blogmas Day 22! Only three more days till Christmas :)  Here are some of the most festive spots around my house. We already have so many presents under the tree and I am so excited for Christmas morning! I think my family members are really going to like what I got them all.  Our Christmas tree  Our fireplace with stocking hung Our dining room table with mason jars that my sister and I made, as well as some goodies! This is only about half of the gifts...

Here is a list of my favorite things of this season: 1. Being with my happy & healthy family. 2. Listening to Christmas carols in the car. 3. Putting up the Christmas tree. 4. Baking and coloring cookies with my family. 5. Wrapping presents. 6. Watching Christmas movies. 7. SNOW! 8. Being able to wear festive sweaters, cute mittens, and warm scarves.  9. Decorating our home to make it feel very Christmasy and warm. 10. Christmas scents (candles, wax warmers, sprays, etc.) What are your favorite aspects of this wintry season? I celebrate Christmas so most of mine surround that but whether you do or not, I would love to know your favorites!  xx

Happy Blogmas Day 20! These past two days have been so good. I went to my little sister's Christmas concert at school and afterwards we went out to dinner as a family. I am definitely cherishing all the moments I get to be with my family this winter break. Here are some photos: My little sister and her best friend Christine (and other classmates) Some of my little sister's class - they are in 8th grade. Me and Mary My three siblings - Mary, Connor, and Patrick My dad, me, and my mom! Hope you enjoyed! Christmas is only 4 days away :) xx

Happy Blogmas Day 19!  Tartan is such a winter essential. I got inspired by this skirt on Polyvore and now I want all of this. Would you wear this outfit or something like this? What is your favorite element to this set?  xx

My older brother decided that it would be a marvelous idea if he wrote my blog post for today. I just got home about an hour ago and have been sitting on this futon next to him, going about my own business, and this is what he wrote: Today, I came home to Cleveland!  It was an exhausting and long flight.  I sat next to two men from Guam who were going to Cleveland on a “special” business trip.  My bestie Gabby got a 100% on the paper that I edited for her.  She is so silly.  I have to proofread all of my friends’ homework. #englishminor Now for the topic of the day: this pizza I’m chowing down on.   It is muy delicioso.   I don’t normally speak in Spanish because I’m an Anglophile, but when I do, I’m flawlesso.   The pizza was made by mi mamá and she instructed mi hermano to put the leftovers away after I was finito. It is so nice to have Market Day food and not dorm food. Mi favorito. Next topic of today is my slight fangirl death obsessi...

Hey so tonight is my last night of this semester and of being in New Jersey until January 27th. I go home for three weeks, NYC for a theatre workshop for two weeks, and then Vermont/Canada for a week of debauchery with all my friends.  I finished my last final and was feeling pretty weird. I mean, my final went well but I had been studying for a full five hours before and then took my two hour final. My brain was pretty fried I guess. I headed back to my room, overstuffed my luggage for about an hour whilst blasting my girl Ellie, went out with my friends for dinner to a local bar, and now I am sitting here about to watch Veronica Mars and then Catching Fire as I sip a Halloween Magic Hat I have had since October.  Not too exciting... but here are a few pictures: Anyway, moral of this post is to check out Laura Marling . She is amazing and her voice is so raw and addictive. GIve her a listen and let me know what you think.