NYC Field Trip

So yesterday I had a school trip for one of my classes at school, interior design. 

We hit a few stops in the city including FIT, the New York Design Center, and the site of the Freedom Tower.

It was really interesting to go to the showrooms in the design center and see how the industry works.  

Although interior design is not a career I plan on pursuing, I really enjoyed learning about the different aspects of the job. 

FIT was also extremely interesting.  When I was younger and wanted a career in fashion, I really wanted to got to FIT.  Now being there and touring the school, I don't see myself fitting in there. However their programs looked really amazing and I'm sure going to school in the city has great perks!

Then lastly we went to the Freedom Tower downtown.  It was definitely a bittersweet feeling seeing the tower going up and just remembering all the lives lost that day.  When the tower and memorial is completed it will definitely be a beautiful tribute to those who died that day.
Anyway, I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures I took at the design center!

Obsessed with the mirror in this picture and the gray textured draws! 

Isn't this headboard just beautiful?

How amazing would it be to have a light fixture like this hanging in your house?

xoxo

DIY Holiday Gifts

So last week I wrote a post about DIY decorating, but today I wanted to share some super easy, super inexpensive DIY gift ideas!

This holiday season I've been trying not to spend a lot of money on presents because I'm saving for a trip (which is super hard!).

However, I don't want this to cause gifts for friends and family to be any less great then I would normally gift.

Lately, I've been seeing great DIY gift ideas on Pinterest and thought I would share them with you guys!

Truffle Hot Chocolate Balls

Make some of these and throw them in a super cute mug and voila - you have the perfect hot chocolate kit!

Candy Sleighs

These are great if you have to make a lot of gifts!  You can even use these if you're giving a gift card as a little something extra.

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

I love gifting bath stuff.  I feel it's something that people don't usually buy for themselves and really appreciate.  I love how colorful this scrub is!

Cookie Ingredient Jar

I think this is perfect for gifts for co-workers or teachers!  I love the way this is packaged in the jar! 

Have you ever given gifts you made yourself?

xoxo

December Birchbox

I was so happy to find my Birchbox when I got home from a long day of school the other day.
It came at the perfect time!
So this month, they included products "that will help you look a feel your best".
I was really happy with my box this month!

And since it's the holiday season, if you're looking for a gift to gift, I totally recommend the Juicy perfume (smells really pretty!), the Balm blush (perfect for so many skin tones), or the lip butter!

Juicy Couture Juicy Couture (Full-Size $19-89) - If you love florally scents, you will love this one.  This is absolutely perfect for the girly girl.

Mox Botanicals Pomegranate & Fig Lip Butter (Full-Size $16) - I really like this! I have a slight obsession with chapsticks and am so happy to add this to the collection!

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo (Full-Size $32) - It's a gentle shampoo that is perfect for girls who wash their hair everyday (like me!) because it won't strip your hair of essential oils!

theBalm cosmetics Hot Mama (Full-Size $20) - The color of this blush (and eyeshadow) is absolutely beautiful and is neutral enough that it's universally flattering.  And I'm in love with the vintage/pin-up girl packaging - so cute!

Birchbox Extra: Tweezerman Filemate (Full-Size $5) - A girl can never have enough nail filers!

Also included was a coupon for Rent the Runway!  I've always wanted to rent a dress from this website however I haven't had an occaction where I've needed one.  If you have a holiday party coming up and don't want to put out a lot of money for a stunning outfit, definitely check it out!

xoxo

Sunday Snapshot [12.16.12]

I had so many posts that I wrote to put up this week but I guess I forgot to schedule them...whoops!
I promise I'll post them this week!

This week was super crazy!  Between school and my birthday (I turned 17 and got my license!), there was hardly any down time.

Now there is only one week standing in between me and winter recess!

I'm super excited for Christmas and can't wait for the holiday break from school!

This week I'm going on a field trip to NYC for one of my classes which is really exciting!  I haven't been on a field trip for school in years so it's defiantly a treat!  It's for my interior design class so we're going to a design firm, The New York Design Center,  FIT, and a few other stops.

I went into the city yesterday and saw the tree in Rockerfeller Center and the Fifth Avenue window displays!  I love NYC during Christmas time.  It's such a magical place!

And as I'm writing this post, I'm taking a break from writing my paper for English.  We have to write an abstract definition for a word, and the word I chose  is friendship.  I'm having a really difficult time writing it though. I know what I want to say however am having trouble putting it into words in a logical way that makes sense.
(kind of like this post...sorry it's all over the place!)

Anyway, I'm pretty much all done with Christmas shopping and am so excited to give everyone their presents!  Just one more week to get through before the holidays everyone!
We can do it!

What will you guys be doing this week?

Whatever you'll be doing, hope you have a great week!
xoxo

Sunday Snapshot [12.9.12]

I can't believe how it's December already.  It seems like this year went by so fast!

I'm super excited for Christmas though!  It's without a doubt my favorite, favorite time of year!

I was extremely excited when I started hearing Christmas songs on the radio!  Christmas music always puts me in a cheery, happy mood.

So today I wanted to share my top 10 favorite Christmas/Holiday songs!

What are your favorite holiday songs?

xoxo

DIY Christmas Decor

There's nothing better to do to get into the holiday spirit then a little decorating!  

I love decorating our house for Christmas.  It's just makes me so happy and excited for seeing family, watching christmas movies, and of course the holiday food.

I usually  buy a little tinsel and string on some ornaments, however I saw these cute DIY crafts that I think would be super fun to use as decor!
If you try out any of these crafts let me know!

Ornament Wreath

Love this!  It looks super easy and it looks so much cuter than a plain, regular wreath that everyone else has hanging on their door!

Glitter Fruit

To be completely honest, I love anything glittered.  Glitter is extra essential during the holidays and I think these faux-fruit glitter pears are perfect to put in bowl and display on the kitchen table!

Cranberry Candle

I love the color of cranberries!  I think this would look so pretty at the Christmas dinner table!

Advent Calendar

I just bought an advent calendar, but I think this one is so adorable!  I love how each piece of the calendar is different.

Star Branch Wreath

Another wreath, i think this one is super cool!  All you need are some sticks and a hot glue gun!

How do you decorate for the holidays?

xoxo

Just a little R & R

"Social life, sleep, grades: pick two."

#storyofmylife right now.  That's basically the reason why I haven't been so active on this blog for the past few months.  With the first semester a little more than half way over, I'm starting to learn how to handle all the stress from school and not let it consume my life.  I get really bad anxiety so it's hard to handle at times.  I usually just shut everyone out and either read or listen to music by myself and it usually helps tame the anxiety.  Since I know that I'm not the only one stressing right now, I thought I would share some ways to handle it and relax!

1. Hot Drink: A warm, comforting drink usually always does the trick.  I like either a warm tea with sugar or hot chocolate.  I try to stay away from coffee because it just makes me more awake and jittery in stressful situations.

2. Face Mask

• Love, love, love the Freeman face masks!  They are available at most drugstores and at drugstore.com.  I've tried all three of these and love every single one of them!  My face always breaks out when I'm really stressed or over tired, so these are perfect for calming down skin.

3. Soothing or Upbeat Playlist - Sometimes I need some slow, soothing songs to clam nerves.  Other times I like to jam out to upbeat dance songs.

• Favorite Calm Songs: basically anything John Mayer - favorites include Your Body is a Wonderland and Gravity and anything Ed Sheeran - love Autumn Leaves and Gold Rush
• Upbeat Songs: Love Timeflies, Justin Bieber , and Taylor Swift

4. Magazines or a Good Book

• Love a good gossip magazine: People, InTouch, USWeekly...you name it I love it

5. Fuzzy Socks

• A must! Especially now since it's Fall and the temperature is dropping!  
• Love the ones from Old Navy - they are really soft and extremely cheap!

What do you do when you feel stressed?

xoxo