My Favorite Initial & Name Necklaces

A Look Back at 2019

What I Wore: Tropical (& Affordable) Swimsuits in Jamaica

In June, we took a trip to Jamaica with two of our friends and stayed all-inclusive at Sandals Negril and can I just tell you... I'm STILL not over it. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and we had the best time. But instead of going on and on about how awesome it was, I just wanted to pop up a quick post about some of my favorite swimsuits (all from Target, because their swim options are fabulous this year) that you can get for a great price. I'll show you a few of the bikinis and one-pieces I wore, which were both cute and durable for everything from lounging by the pool to snorkeling in the ocean, and I'll post some similar options as well. Enjoy!

Easy DIY Mixed Planters

Say hello to our new home, sweet home! Yep, that's right... our new house is finally finished and we're all moved in! Well, almost. Does unpacking ever really end? And decorating? Now that's a whole separate animal. I'm slowly working my way room by room and trying to remind myself that every inch of our house doesn't need to be (and quite frankly CAN'T be) decorated immediately. It's so hard to resist. To help with this process I've been focusing on the areas in the house that we use the most (kitchen, living room, etc), but I couldn't neglect the one spot that I knew everyone would see first when they came to visit - our front door! While our yard has been fully landscaped and looks great, our entryway was looking a little bare in comparison. It's not a large space, but by simply adding a doormat and throwing together some mixed planters, it looks much more cozy and inviting. Making our own planters was super easy and I love how they turned out. If you're considering making your own, here are a few tips:

Best of Beauty: 2017

We're already about a month into the new year, and I've been thinking a lot about all the new products I tested and tried in 2017. While I have some long-time favorites that I continue to re-purchase again and again, I'm always on the hunt for the next best thing when it comes to beauty products. Since I'm picky about what I choose to splurge on (especially without knowing if I'll even like it!), I typically trial new products by purchasing travel sizes, cashing in my Sephora points for a sample size, or even just buying a knock-off drugstore version for a cheaper price. And again, since I'm picky, it takes a lot to WOW me. So most of the time, I'm not super impressed by the hottest new beauty product (I'm thinking I should do a post about what popular items I wouldn't purchase again?), but every now and then I do find some winners! Today I'm sharing five of the best beauty products I tried in 2017, that I definitely plan to purchase again and again.

A Look Back at 2017

Happy new year, friends! 2017 was an amazing year for me, filled with tons of new experiences and exciting adventures, and I'm forever grateful. Before jumping into 2018 with my long list of goals and resolutions, I felt the need to pause and look back on all the wonderful things the past year had to offer and share my favorite moments of 2017. I also wanted to take a minute to thank you all for your love and support. I started this blog on a whim, as something to do in my spare time. I never really planned on sharing it with anyone and even when I did, I certainly never thought anyone would read it. So, thank you. Thank you for reading, following, and supporting this blog, and in turn supporting me. You guys are awesome and I wish you nothing but the best in 2018!

My Favorite Fall Treat: Pumpkin Roll

I'm so excited to share this recipe with you guys because it's been one of my favorite holiday desserts for years. My Nanny has made pumpkin roll every Thanksgiving and Christmas for as long as I can remember, and every year I can't get enough! It's SO good! Plus, now that I've started making it myself, I can happily tell you that this recipe is super easy. Trust me on this: if I can make it, you can too. Pumpkin roll is the perfect treat for fall and will definitely be a huge hit at any party or get-together. Just don't forget to make an extra roll to keep all to yourself!

Date Night with Tacos & Tequila

Thank goodness it's Friday!! I'm currently running off of very little sleep and quite a lot of coffee thanks to the craziness of this week, and I still have to make it through a laryngectomy conference today before I can finally relax and enjoy the weekend. I'm so close! Anyway, in my tiny moment of spare time I thought I'd share a quick post with you guys about what I wore last Saturday for date night. James & I went to The Flying Iguana in Neptune Beach and enjoyed the BEST tacos and drinks. We love it there! As far as my outfit, if you haven't already noticed I'm definitely a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, but I thought I'd dress it up slightly with heels and a neckline detail. 

Looks I Love: Fall Fashion Trends

Although it might not feel like it in Florida, fall is officially here! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather will begin to change soon, so I can enjoy hot pumpkin spice lattes and attending football games without burning to a crisp. But, in the meantime I wanted to share some of my favorite fall trends with you guys. I might not be able to wear some of them yet, but hopefully you can!

My Favorite Instagram Accounts

Surprise surprise, I haven't been too active with my posts lately. Whoops! Am I the worst blogger ever? Possibly. But oh well. I'm in the middle of summer finals right now so things are a bit crazy, but after Thursday I'll be enjoying 3 wonderful weeks off. HOORAY! In the meantime, I thought I would share some of my favorite bloggers & Instagram accounts with you guys. These bloggers are all so lovely and their posts are always the prettiest AND most inspiring. They make my eyes and heart happy when scrolling through my Instagram. Check them out!

A Weekend in Asheville, NC

This weekend we celebrated our one year anniversary in Asheville, NC. While our trip may have been short, we had the best time eating, drinking, and exploring our way through this colorful, hip city. With art on every corner, murals on every wall, and gorgeous mountain views everywhere you turn, Asheville definitely takes sight-seeing to a whole new level. We could have easily spent our entire weekend just snapping pictures of street art and visiting all the studios in the River Arts District. Asheville is also known for it's awesome culinary scene, which some call Foodtopia. The city is full of local dive bars, killer food trucks, and several award winning restaurants. And of course, let's not forget the beer! Named Beer City in 2009, Asheville has more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the United States. Beer, art, and mountain views? It's like this city was made for us.

One Year

Today is our anniversary. It marks one year of marriage to my best friend. It marks a year filled with silly jokes, random adventures, tons of made-up songs about Bella, road trips, burrito cuddles, living room dances, new friends, late nights, car karaoke sessions, and multiple attempts at mixing the perfect moscow mule. More importantly, it marks a year filled with more love and support than I ever could have imagined.

Apartment Living: Bringing Farmhouse Style to Small Spaces

Since we moved into our apartment, it's been my goal to make it feel as warm and cozy as possible. Although we only plan to spend a few years here before (hopefully) purchasing our first home, I've always felt it should still look and feel like a "home" in the meantime. Just because we aren't living in our awesome spacious farmhouse yet (let me dream my dreams, ok), doesn't mean our little apartment can't feel like one! Today I'm giving you a peek into our living room and showing you how I made the most of this little space. You'll see that I love neural colors (white & wood are the BEST together) and botanical accents. Other than our chair and entertainment center, nothing was over $100! Decorating does not have to be expensive!

Looks I Love: Wedding Guest Dresses for Spring

Spring is here and wedding season is in full swing! My little brother is getting married this June, so I'm currently on the hunt for the perfect dress. I know "florals for spring" isn't ground-breaking news in the fashion world (thank you, Miranda Priestly), but I can't deny my love for bright pops of color and fun, floral prints this time of year. Cold shoulders and ruffled sleeves are trending, and I can't get enough of these looks either. Here are ten of my favorite dresses at the moment, that incorporate these spring styles I'm loving and are sure to make you the most fabulous guest at any upcoming wedding:

Monday Motivation

5 Face Masks I Love

When spending a night in, there is no better way to relax than by pouring yourself a glass of wine, lathering on a good face mask, and kicking back in a giant bubble bath. Your heart is happy, your skin is happy, and you basically feel like a goddess. What's not to love? If you're in need of a mini-spa night like this, but are lacking a decent face mask, here are some of my favorites:

A Day in Historic Fernandina Beach, FL

Spring Break 2017 is here! While I'm loving having the entire week off, I definitely wish the rest of my family & friends could enjoy it with me. I have to admit, I feel guilty lounging around and tanning by the pool while everyone else is busy at work. Just a tiny bit guilty. A teeny tiny bit. Ok, so I don't really feel that guilty, but hey, I've earned it! Who said going back to school didn't have its perks?

Hello Again!

I'm baaaaack! Has it really been six months? I can't believe it! As I mentioned in my last post (way back in September, yikes!) I started grad school, so I've been busy focusing on my classes, clinicals, and volunteer events around town. But the good news is, I'm LOVING it. I love what I'm doing, I love what I'm learning, and I love that I'm helping others and making a positive impact on their lives. It's the BEST.

Life Lately

To be honest, I kind of have a love/hate relationship with blogging. I love having a place of my own to share decor ideas, beauty products, and generally just all of my favorite things. I also love the blogging community. I love meeting fellow bloggers and I'm always inspired when scrolling through all of your lovely posts. However, blogging takes A LOT of time and energy. I can't tell you how often I feel like I have great content for the blog (whether it's a fun outfit I threw together before a night out, or a simple recipe that turned out amazing, or even just a great experience we've had while trying a new place in town), but I didn't take any pictures. I never think to grab my camera in the middle of cooking dinner or to pause for an outfit shoot before going out. It's just never on my mind. On one hand, I'm happy I don't think to stop and document these things, because it means that I'm mentally present in the moment. Living in and enjoying the moment has been very important to me since Day 1 of creating this blog. I didn't want to become that person who can't go anywhere or do anything without making a big fuss over getting pictures for a blog post. It interferes with simply enjoying the experience and the company of loved ones. But on the other hand, isn't it kind of your job to document these moments for your blog? If you want to blog about it, you have to take pictures of it. It is what it is. So while I might be living in the moment and feeling good about the cute outfit I wore out or the delicious dinner we ate, it's frustrating to also feel like I'm constantly missing the opportunity to share it with you all.

Skin Saviors

I've said it before and I'll say it again: looking fabulous truly does start with healthy, happy skin. But while we all dream of waking up with poreless, blemish-free glowing skin, I know it's not actually that easy. #IWISHIwokeuplikethis! In a previous post (7 Skincare Favorites), I mentioned my own struggles with my skin and shared some of the best products I've discovered over the years. Although I still love all seven items, the search for the best skincare products never ends and I have since found two new products that are absolute game changers. I've seen the biggest transformation in my skin since using each of these and I couldn't wait to share them with you!