Nail Polish - Favorite Colors for Fall!

Put away those summer shades and make room for some amazing and eccentric fall nail polish colors! Fall is definitely one of my favorite times of the year and nail polish is one of my favorite beauty products. Luckily, for a few moths during the year I get to combine my love for both fall and nail polish! I always try my best to keep up with the nail polish colors that are currently in style, I rocked mint on my nails and toes pretty much the whole summer! But, now, it's time to move on to fall and switch your shades!

Raspberry

Show off your chic side from day one with a bold, raspberry polish! It's an unexpected, darker shade that's more exciting than plain black nails, but not quite as overtly girly as a bright pink.

Try:  
1. "Laurel Canyon Lolita" by NCLA, $16, shopncla.com  
2. "Pulp Fiction" by Sonia Kashuk, $4.79, target.com  
3. "Intuition" by Seche, $8.50, Ulta and salons  
4. "Don't Make Me Wine" by China Glaze, $8, salons

Dark Cherry

If you and your crush have plans to walk through the park drinking maple lattes, give your mani a subtly romantic vibe with some this deep cherry polish. It's a bit more mysterious than your average red, and the darker shade pairs perfectly with cozy fall flannels!

Try:  
1. "Dinner Party" by Candie's, $8, kohls.com  
2. "From The Heart" by SpaRitual, $10, sephora.com
3. "Lost on Lombard" by OPI, $9, ULTA  
4. "Control Freak" by Sephora X, $9.50, sephora.com

Model Confession - "Why I Quit Fashion Week"

Fashion Week is something that is looked forward to, by many people, for months and months. A lot of time, hard work and preparation goes into each Fashion Week pre-party, after party, event and Fashion Show. If you're not sure what Fashion Week is.. it's a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know what's "in" and what's "out" for the season.

Now, while this seems fun and exciting, it can be tiring and very stressful to some people; especially the models. While I was doing my daily browse through Cosmopolitan's website, I came across an article called "Why One Model Quit Fashion Week." This article immediately interested me because who would ever want to drop out of something as fabulous as Fashion Week? However, as I began to read, I started to understand why she made the wise decision. 

The life of a tall, gorgeous runway model seems glamorous and heavenly. But for this model, walking in fashion shows was anything but.

Modeling isn't all drinking Champagne on yachts and being told you're fabulous. Runway modeling especially can be brutal. Ahead, one anonymous model shares the story of why she left the runways.

I'm Back and Blogging!

Good morning everyone! If you frequently read my blog, or follow me on one of my social networks, you've probably been wondering what I've been up to considering I haven't blogged in ONE WEEK! Eeep! I know it's very unlike me to go that long without blogging but I have a very justifiable reason..... I started school again! For those of you who don't know me from Adam, I am (technically a sophomore in college but since all of my credits didn't transfer) a freshman in college. I do not dorm or live on campus because I am only about 20 minutes away from the beautiful and amazing college that I attend. 

So, what does school have to do with me blogging? Good question. I've been super busy! I had my first week of classes and I'm just trying to get settled in and enjoy my college experience without overwhelming myself. I took Sept 2nd and 3rd off from work to get some school shopping done and prepare myself physically and mentally for the loads of school work that I was expecting to be thrown at me. If you're looking for copybooks or school supplies I got mine from Wal-Mart, they're really cute and super cheap.

Mead Five Star 1-Subject Notebook, Two Pockets, College Rule, 100 Sheets
 - $3.12 ea.

Discount Designer Dresses at Rissy Roo's!

One thing that comes with a new school year are new school dances. Although prom and homecoming are fun (once you get there) it tends to stress a lot of people out; wondering who's going to ask you, what friends you're going to go with, how you're going to do your hair and (most importantly) what dress you're going to wear! Picking a dress can be very troublesome and most people actually dislike school dances because they'd rather not spend $500+ for a dress that can only be worn a limited amount of times. Well, I'm here to lift some of that weight off your shoulders because I found a GREAT website that offers (100% authentic) DESIGNER dresses at a very affordable price.

Rissy Roo's is a well known formal boutique in Linwood, NJ. I've gotten my junior and senior prom dresses from there and I felt like a princess in each of them. They have over 8,000 dresses on their website, but that's not the best part. They're currently having their "Sizzlin' Summer Sale" which offers designer dresses at CRAZY LOW PRICES! Save 50-90% off authentic designer dress styles from Sherri Hill, La Femme, Faviana, Tony Bowls, Alyce Paris, plus more! Sizzlin' Summer Sale items start at a mere $19.99 and they're flying off the pink ribboned racks at Rissy Roo's, so let's start shopping!

Below are my favorite "Sizzlin' Summer Sale" dresses, however there are many many more on the website!

Sherri Hill (style 2541) - $398.00 ON SALE $199.99

Superb Student Discounts (Part 2)

Good morning! Yesterday, I wrote a post on some great student discounts from your favorite retail stores. As I was researching and writing the list, I wondered if retail stores were the only places to offer student discounts. After an hour or so of searching and typing, I got a great list together of hang out and food spots that offer amazing student discounts. Let's start saving money!

Cultural Experiences and Entertainment

• AMC Theatres: student discounted movie tickets every Thursday

• The Art Institute of Chicago: $50 annual student membership, plus other various discounts within the Art Institute

• Broadway in Chicago: Ticket prices as low as $14.50 for select performances

Superb Student Discounts!

Most people are not too excited about the start of another school year but I am overly excited because the start of school means the start of student discounts! Back to school is a huge deal for most retailers and it tends to bring a lot of money into their stores. Parents take their children out (or the children just go alone) and start to stock up on some fresh clothes for the school year. If you're in the mall and you're torn between two stores and one is offering a student discount, which would you shop at? The one with the discount of course! Student discounts are a great feeling because you work very hard in school all year long and deserve the discount awarded to you by your favorite retailer.

Retailers that offer student discounts:

1. Urban Outfitters - 10% off (on select dates only)

2. Topshop - 10% off

3. Shoebuy.com - 10% off

4. Ralph Lauren Rugby - 15% off

5. The Limited - 15% off

Alex and Ani

I've been hearing lots and lots of talk about Alex and Ani bracelets, so, I've decided to check them out for myself and post about them! If you're sitting there scratching your head, wondering, "What is an Alex and Ani bracelet" .. No worries; that's what I'm here for! There are three main and very important facts about Alex and Ani jewelry. 

1) They are made in America.

"Alex and Ani is a company dedicated to creating products of unparalleled quality and beauty that promote consciousness and unity. Manufacturing in the United States and reusing and recycling materials is an integral part of Alex and Ani’s mission as a conscious and eco-friendly company. Alex and Ani’s collections are not only eco-friendly, they are made up of powerful, meaningful, and spiritual pieces, which uplift and inspire all who wear them."

2. They are Eco-Friendly

"The Alex and Ani aesthetic underscores the idea that what is pure and natural is most beautiful and creating jewelry from recycled materials enriches the beauty of each piece. Founder and creative designer Carolyn Rafaelian embraces a philosophy that is based upon using eco-friendly, recycled materials made entirely in the United States. Because of this, Alex and Ani is able to purchase metals from local mills who have received recycled scraps from refineries, which in turn, use those pieces and sell their scraps back to the Mills."

3. They are infused with "positive energy"

The Benefits of Failure

Good afternoon! So, yet another week that I will not get to post a video blog because the internet connection in my house has been down for TWO weeks now; which is extremely disappointing. I am currently sitting at a coffee shop near my house just so I can upload this blog post. If you can't tell, I'm pretty upset that I haven't posted a video yet, I put an immense amount of my time and effort into this blog. Whenever I get a free moment, I'm either writing up a draft on my phone or jotting down potential blog post ideas for the future. I'm not complaining at all because I choose to write and it's something I love to do, its just frustrating that something as small as an internet connection is standing in the way of me upgrading the stature of my blog with videos; but enough sad talk! I have a great, absolutely remarkable, video that I would like to share with you today. It tops ANY video that I could ever post.

Anyone who knows me, knows I admire J.K. Rowling more than just about anyone else on this earth. (And I am also undeniably obsessed with the Harry Potter novels) This video is J.K. Rowling giving a speech at Harvard college's 2008 graduation ceremony.

"Extremely Upsetting Facts About the Class of 2017"

Good afternoon! While I was at work this past week I stumbled across an article called "32 Extremely Upsetting Facts About the Class of 2017" and I thought it was absolutely genius and I knew I had to share! The class of 2017 are this years freshman and it documents all of the things 90's kids got to experience that they didn't. This article is curtosey of BuzzFeed.com .. Check it out!

1. They have never lived in a world with monthly texting limits.

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Via commons.wikimedia.org

2. Or in a world where they've had to look up directions and print them out.

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Via theoldschoolrecords.com

3. Or where they weren't able to skip through commercials.

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Via es.123rf.com

Back to School Backpacks! (On A Budget)

Now that September is rolling around, I'm totally in the school spirit. I recently wrote a post called Back to School Bags (On A Budget) and typically after every post I write, I ask my friends for opinions. After the Back to School Bags blog all of my friends were surprised at how inexpensive each bag was that I listed; but the post couldn't help but make us all feel nostalgic for our grade school back pack days. Each bag I posted in the Back to School Bags blog was either a tote bag or a handbag big enough to carry your school necessities. While my friends and I fell in love with each bag I posted, we all miss the days where you looked forward to picking up your funky colored JanSport backpack; which all of your books and pencil cases fit into perfectly.

JanSport "Overexposed" - $35.00

 

I love JanSport! However, now a days, JanSport isn't as popular for the high school and college crowd.. But I'm here to show you some backpacks that are! Who doesn't love a good backpack?

For men:

Tilly's "MI-PAC Nordic Backpack" - $31.99

(Available in different colors and patterns) 

Attention All College Freshman!

A few days ago, I got asked to write a blog on college essentials and advise for incoming freshman; which is such a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?

I decided that I would start with the advise part of the blog since it would consist of a lot of writing.

I had a ton of questions that I wish I would've asked before leaving for college and I faced a lot of things that I wasn't prepared for. I'm not going to lie, I was TERRIFIED to start college. I was also a little frustrated because I was already a freshman in high school and now I had to start all over as a freshman again; however, college is very different than high school. For example, you're living on your own, completely on your own. You will have to cook, clean and decide when you want to do your homework and study because there will not be anyone breathing down your neck telling you to do those things.

Starting with food, I would definitely learn some quick recipes that you can whip together before or after class. When I was going away to school I didn't even think about cooking, it didn't cross my mind, I just figured I would eat whatever I could find and whatever was quick; which is something you DO NOT want to do. Take a day to sit with your parents, or Google some easy recipes, and learn learn learn. You will ruin your body if you do not eat healthy. You will gain weight and all of the unhealthy food will run your body down and make you extremely tired; which isn't good because you need all the energy you can get in college!

Another important thing

Duct Tape DIY's

It's already 7:00 pm! Today flew by before I even had the chance to consider blogging! Sorry for the late post, I had a birthday in my family and we celebrated all day with a shopping spree (on a budget of course)! Now, here I am blogging at 7:45 and I feel bad because it's super late but I'm going to make up for it!

For today, Sunday's, "mini post" I found this GREAT YouTube video from a very famous vlogger Blair Fowler. I was scrolling through her videos and this one caught my eye, especially because school is starting back up soon. The video is based on a very fun and inexpensive DIY for some back to school accessories.

All you'll need is an exacto knife and some duct tape! Yes, I said duct tape. Hard to believe, right? Watch below!

Back to School Bags! (On A Budget)

Good morning! It's been raining non-stop in New Jersey but it looks like it may clear up today! I hope it does because I really have to start squeezing in those beach days before school starts again! Although I love the summer and the beach, I really enjoy school, too. I love getting dressed for class, meeting new friends and professors and learning things that broaden your knowledge beyond belief. Think about it, each little thing, or topic, that you learn something about is one more thing that you know. If you pay very close attention in every class, you will be filled with so much knowledge that you won't know what to do with it! Every year before school starts, I go shopping for a "School Bag;" which is a bag I could use for some of the semester and one I can cram all of the stuff I need to use for class in. These days, most people just carry a handbag and call it quits because they think backpacks aren't the most stylish things; however I'm going to show you some greatly priced bags that can accommodate your love for fashion as well as those troublesome textbooks!

 Joyce Leslie "Into the Wild Fringe Tote" - Originally $19.99 ON SALE: $10.00

Fringe is great for the fall! As well as the black color with golden accents.

Joyce Leslie "Day in the City Spiked Mint Tote" - Originally $19.99 ON SALE: $10.00

Mint is the most popular color this season and so are the spiked appliques on this fashionable tote!

Wet Seal "Geek Canvas Tote" - $9.90

Steal Hayley Willams' style with this adorable geek tote bag!