Two Days, Two Ways

What I'm wearing (yesterday): Old Navy jacket, Zara sweater, Banana Republic outlet jeans, Gap city flats, Thrifted necklace, Kate Spade outlet tote

What I'm wearing: Old Navy jacket, Gap tee, Banana Republic outlet jeans, Toms shoes, H&M tube scarf, Mondani bag via Steinmart

No, you're eyes aren't playing tricks on you...I wore the same jeans and jacket two days in a row. Life has been very busy lately which meant I put off laundry for far too long, leaving me with very few options. This morning I was in a hurry and very tired (I went to a 7 AM spinning class!), so I grabbed the first thing lying on the floor, which turned out to be my clothes from yesterday. While I will admit it's not the most sanitary thing in the world, it was a great way to showcase how two pieces can be combined with different accessories to make two entirely different looks. Yesterday's look was a bit more polished with the ballet flats and pretty necklace, while today's was much more student-esque and laid-back. Don't you love the leopard Toms? I've been wanting Toms for a long time but could never decide on a color. When I saw that they were making leopard ones, I knew I had finally found my match! They're absolutely perfect for long walks around campus, and their neutral pattern helps them fit in well with the rest of my Fall wardrobe.

Cozy Sweater Weather

What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet sweater, Zara red jeans, Gap City Flats (sale), Earrings via the Pink Box, Kate Spade outlet tote

Fall weather is officially here which means I get to start bringing some of my new back-to-school clothes into the rotation! I found this sweater at a great price at the J.Crew Outlet a few weeks ago; I've said it once and I'll say it again: I LOVE the J.Crew Outlet! You'll definitely be seeing more of this sweater this Fall/Winter. Although I must say, as excited as I am to bring out my cozy sweaters and boots, I'm not too happy about the bitter cold weather that will soon follow. I wish the weather could just stay this way until April (minus all the rain!) Wouldn't that be nice? Also, a special thanks to Natalie for taking all of my pictures lately! That girl has my back, and I love her for it! I'm really enjoying taking pictures at different places around campus; I'm hoping to hit all of the great spots around campus before the year is over!

Settling In

What I'm wearing: J.Crew sweater (sale), Forever 21 maxi skirt, Banana Republic outlet sandals, NY & Co. outlet necklace

I know you haven't heard much from me lately, but I've spent the last week or so settling back into my school routine and catching up with all the friends that I spent the summer without. It feels great to be back, but it's always a little difficult to adjust to a new schedule, apartment, etc. Now that I'm finally feeling situated, back to blogging I go! Natalie took these pictures for me on Thursday over by the infamous Mirror Lake on campus. Isn't it pretty?! Our campus is always at it's most beautiful in the Fall. Speaking of Fall, I'm already getting excited for Halloween! I bought the first part of my costume this weekend and already have the rest of it planned out. I've also been consuming more than my fair share of pumpkin spice lattes. Isn't this season the best?!

The New Place + Fall Fashion Inspiration

It's a new school year, which also means I'm living in a new apartment. As much as I loved my room last year, I think I like my new one even better. My favorite part of moving into a new space is adding all of the little touches that make it feel uniquely mine.

It's a little smaller than my room last year (and don't even get me started on the closet), but I love the cozy feeling and hardwood floors.

My window seat! Cushion, blanket, little pillows, and pom poms all made by my mom and I.

I think this is the project I was most excited about, and I love how it turned out! It was super simple; all I needed was 3M sticky hooks, clothes line, and clothespins. Such a great way to display all of my pictures and favorite quotes (all taken from pinterest)!

At first I couldn't decide how I wanted to use these DIY pots, but they ended up being a great way to display all of my bangles.

We all know how much I love pinterest, but nothing beats an old-fashioned real inspiration board. These are the looks/styles I'm feeling for Fall.

DIY Extravaganza

When I got back from New York, I had a few weeks before I had to be back at school. I filled my days with quality time with friends and family and LOTS AND LOTS of crafts! My mom is also really into crafting and DIYs, so it's something we enjoy doing together. She even has a pinterest now! Here are some of the projects we worked on (all from pinterest):

Supplies: fabric, flower pots, modpodge
This project didn't actually turn out as well as I expected. The first pot pictured here turned out best, but some of the others were lumpy and the fabric didn't lay quite right. Inspired by this.

Supplies: wine glasses from dollar store, chalk paint
I love how these turned out! This project was SUPER easy and now I have wine glasses that can be customized depending on my mood. The only drawback is they are not machine washable. Inspired by this.

Supplies: more glasses from the dollar store, vitrea glass paint.
Another easy project! All you do is paint the glass, wait a day, and then bake them to seal the color. And these ARE machine washable! Yay! Inspired by this.

Supplies: ribbon, beads
No DIY extravaganza is complete without a little handmade jewelry. The only hard part about these was getting the ribbon to go through the small bead holes; we used wire from another project to help push the ribbon through. I couldn't be happier with how these turned out! Inspired by this.

I also made some tissue paper pom poms and painted clothespins for another project, which I'll be showing you in tomorrow's post on my new apartment!

Timing

What I'm wearing: Victoria's Secret PINK tee, Forever 21 maxi skirt, Banana Republic outlet sandals, H&M necklace, Vintage cuff bracelet

I've been looking for a maxi skirt since early spring, and I finally found one...right when summer is about to end. Rather unfortunate timing, but I'm determined to get some good use out of it before it gets too chilly out. And did I mention it was only $13?! Yes, I give you permission to stop whatever you're doing right now and run to your nearest Forever 21 and snag one for yourself. Come on, you know you want to! I wore this outfit on Tuesday night for dinner with an old friend who I hadn't seen since before I left for New York. I was so happy I got to see her before I left again for Columbus. As you're reading this, I'm back in Columbus, sitting here in gym clothes looking very unglamorous, but sometimes that's necessary when you've had a whole day of moving boxes and organizing. I'm looking forward to sharing pictures with you of the new place all decorated up with my DIYs once my internet is installed (hopefully by Monday). Until then, have a good weekend!

Day 17: A New Person

What I'm wearing: Old Navy vest, Urban Outfitters maxi dress, Target sandals, Forever 21 necklace, J.Crew canvas tote

I'm a brunette! It's definitely taking some getting used to because it's such a big difference from my old hair, but I think I'm really starting to like it. I was in the mood for a change, and since I vowed not to cut my hair until it's long enough to donate, dying my hair was the way to go. It turned out a little darker than I wanted, but it's growing on me. Between the hair and how much my style evolved this summer, I feel like I'm going back to school a completely different person. Speaking of school, I think I'm going to be closing up shop a little early on this 30 for 30. The reason I did this round of 30 for 30 was to help me narrow down what clothing to pack when I moved to my second apartment in NYC. During the time I was living there, I also wasn't taking regular outfit pictures, so technically I probably have already worn 30 outfits-worth, but there is no documentation of it. The items I chose just really aren't suitable for the student lifestyle, and since I'm heading back to school tomorrow, I think it's time to call it quits on this one and move on. But no worries, there are definitely more 30 for 30's in my future! Here's a recap of my third 30 for 30 (or should I say 30 for 17?):

What look is your favorite?
*You can see my first two 30 for 30 recaps here and here.

Everybody, Everywear: Colored Pants (and Day 16)

What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet tee, Zara jeans, Target sandals, Hand-me-down scarf, UO earrings

I was way excited when I saw today would be colored pants day over at Everybody, Everywear. Not only do I have red jeans, but they're also part of my 30 for 30! It's funny because when I first bought these pants, I actually almost returned them because I was afraid to wear them. But after a wear or two, I was hooked and now wear them all the time! I think the 30 for 30 helped a lot in changing my opinion of them; when you only have a limited number of items to choose from, you have to learn to love/work with what you've got. Here are all of the ways I've worn them since I bought them in July:

And there are many more ways to come! Also in a completely unrelated note, the next time you see me (AKA tomorrow's post), I'll be a BRUNETTE! I decided it was time for a change, and although it's going to take some getting used to, I think I like it. Can't wait to hear what you think!

Day 15: The Half-Way Point

What I'm wearing: Equipment blouse via TJ Maxx, J.Crew outlet skirt, Steve Madden wedges via DSW, DIY necklace (inspired by this)

This outfit is possibly my favorite from my 30 for 30 so far. Sometimes an outfit just comes together, and it's love at first sight! This is also the blog debut for two beloved items that I acquired this summer: my Equipment blouse from TJ Maxx and my Steve Madden mary-jane wedges from DSW. The wedges are SUPER tall but still easy to walk in. I wore this outfit to my cousin's bridal shower on Saturday, and I was towering over everyone! I'm also a little obsessed with my new necklace I made as part of the craft fest my mom and I have been having. I made it in two other colors as well...it was so cheap and easy! Keep your eye out for a big DIY post coming soon with all of the projects I've been working on!

From Poofy to Sleek

So the lovely folks from Misikko.com were kind enough to send me the Hana Professional 1.5 inch flatiron to test out and review. This is my first ever product review, so I was pretty darn excited about it! Those of you who are regular readers know that I frequently wear my hair up in ponytail or bun, which masks my hair's true identity: thick, poofy, and a little unruly. Even when I straighten my hair, it usually gets a little wavy before the end of the day. So I was thrilled when I tried out my new Hana and discovered that my hair stayed sleek and straight all day, even through an afternoon of shopping and trying on clothes. This flat iron IS a little pricier than the one I had previously, but I would say there is definitely a correlation here between price and quality. I'd definitely be willing to pay a little extra for better looking hair. If you're in the market for a new flat iron, Misikko has a wide range of them...check out a list of their top 10 here.

Day 14: Opposites Attract

What I'm wearing: Old Navy cardigan, Gap tee, Zara colored denim, Target sandals, NY & Co. outlet necklace

This outfit is about the exact opposite of the weather we've been having: cold, rainy, and gray. But the dreary weather hasn't stopped me from wearing my brights. I threw this outfit together last night for an impromptu dinner with my mom and brother, and I must say, it's getting harder to use my 30 for 30 items now that I'm home in Ohio. Most of my picks were meant for wearing to my internship and aren't as practical for everyday casual wear. I also wasn't sure if the folks of Ohio were going to be able to handle my red pants, but I didn't get a single weird stare at dinner. Ohio, I may have underestimated you.

Day 13: An Easy Outfit

What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet chambray, Gap Always Skinny jeans, Target sandals, Hand-me-down scarf, J.Crew tote, Vintage earrings and bracelet

I'm officially in back-to-school mode, spending my days shopping and crafting to get ready to move into my new apartment in Columbus. Easy outfits like this one are a must for days filled with running errands all over town. When I arrived home from NYC, I had an unexpected box waiting for me from my aunt, filled with lots of little presents like a Christian Dior book, a fabric flower, and some hand-me-down scarves that she doesn't wear anymore. This scarf is one of them, and I absolutely love that I can easily throw it on and add a ton of color to my outfit. Also keep an eye out for a post coming soon about all of the DIY projects I've been working on. For a sneak peek/where I got my ideas, look here, here, and here.

Day 12: Doing My Research

What I'm wearing: Anthropologie top (sale), Gap blazer, Zara colored jeans, Target sandals, Urban Outfitters earrings, Mondani bag via Steinmart

I've noticed that over the past year or two, I have really become a "researcher" when it comes to shopping. Take this top, for instance. I saw this top on Anthropologie.com and absolutely adored it. I pinned the yellow version and dreamed up lots of ways I would wear it if it was mine. When Anthro had a big sale over Memorial Day weekend (which also happened to be my birthday), I purposely went in searching for this shirt. And I found it, for $30 less than the original price. I have found that when I research an item and really think about the purchase ahead of time, it helps eliminate buyers remorse and helps me fill my closet with things I love, not just things I decide I need spur of the moment. Right now I'm in fall clothing research mode, mainly focusing on tall riding boots and some new jeans. What can I say, I'm definitely a type A personality...a planner to a T!

September

It's September! On the one hand, I can't believe how fast this summer flew by, but on the other, I am beyond excited for all the great things that are coming up this month. Here's my little timeline for the awesome September ahead:

September 7th: Zara's online shop hits the USA! Being from the Midwest, where the nearest Zara is in Chicago about 5 hours away, this is VERY exciting!

September 8th: Fashion week begins! Although I am no longer in NYC, I will definitely be keeping up with the online coverage from home! The ones I'm most excited for? J.Crew (of course), Rebecca Minkoff, DVF, and Michael Kors.

September 13th: Missoni for Target! I'm a sucker for Target designer collaborations, and this one is no different. I've got my eye on some silk scarves, printed flats, and amazing housewares!

September 14th: America's Next Top Model: All Stars! I actually haven't watched the show in a few seasons, but I'm excited to see some old favorites come back. Personally, I'm rooting for Shannon from season 1 and Brittany from season 4... I've got a bit of a bet going with one of my co-workers from this summer. Let the games begin!

September 15th: I move into my new apartment in Columbus! This means lots of
back-to-school shopping in my immediate future and lots of reunions with friends.
Although I'm sad that this is my last time getting to do "back to school" things,
I'm really looking forward to the school year ahead.

September 20th: The new season of Glee begins! I am a HUGE Gleek, so this makes me very, very happy! And how cute does the cast look in this ad for Fashion's Night Out?!

What are you excited for this month?

*photo credits: Zara, Target, Top Model, Glee