Pinterest Find Friday: #4

After successfully making a trip back home to NY for the week, I have spent my days hanging around my hometown and chilling at home! Now that is what I call a vacation.

Here are some of my favorite finds this week, including a new take on coffee and homemade breakfast classics:

Preppin' for Spain

Packing for this two-month long trip is a bit tricky... I am bringing one medium sized suitcase, a backpack, and my medium-sized purse. 

I am about to be very honest right now: I am a chronic overpacker. When I went to study abroad in London for three months last year, I brought one huge suitcase, a carry-on bag, a backpack and a purse; mind you, it was winter, so I had boots and scarves and coats. 

This time, I have tried to really limit myself on what I am packing for this, essentially, two-in-one trip. For the first half of my time abroad, I will be doing a lot of moving around, and for the second half, I will be staying in one city, for the most part. Not to mention that the entire first week will be devoted to hiking 100 kilometers in the summer heat. 

Here are some of the things that I am packing for El Camino: 

 

I have a great backpack that I bought from L.L.Bean, which I will be using as both a daypack for El Camino and a school/travel backpack for the rest of the trip. It is super light and sits comfortably. Pilgrims who do the "real" version of El Camino carry their entire lives on their backs for however many months they are hiking, but since we are going with a tour, there is a bus who will be carrying our suitcases and my family and I only need to take what we want on us for the day (thank God). Perhaps, in the future I will do the entire El Camino pilgrimage, since next week will be just a taste of it.

I invested in a great pair of keen hiking sandals. They are so comfortable! Unfortunately, I could only fit into the kid sizes (I wear a size 5), so I went for a classic brown color, as opposed to the teal women's sandals that I had originally wanted.

I am bringing a total of two pairs of running shorts that I will be wearing while hiking, since they are my favorites and are super comfortable and easy to wash. I am also packing four non-cotton shirts for hiking in. Three are short sleeved v-necks, and one is a tank top. I know that sunburn is basically inevitable, but I can at least try to keep it off my shoulders for as long as possible, since there is where I burn the most. 

I will also be able to use these clothes after El Camino, which is really great. 

A few other things that I am taking for my time on El Camino are a water bottle, bandanas, a hat, and sunblock.

Now, for the rest of the trip, I wanted to pack clothes that were flexible, easy to pair with each other, and light since it gets so hot in southern Spain. 

I have noticed that I own a whole lot of navy blue, gray, and creme colored articles of clothing, so I stuck to that color scheme. I will be able to add a few pops of color to my outfits with jewelry and a few pairs of colorful shorts. Essentially, my entire wardrobe (for the trip) can be mixed and matched to create a whole bunch of looks. Hopefully, it won't look like I am wearing the exact same outfit in every one of my photos. 

I am bringing along my trusty thrift shop purchased purse, which fits all the necessities in it, looks classic, and is rather hard for thieves to pry open, since I sometimes have trouble opening it myself. 

Very recently, I was able to purchase something that I have wanted for a very long time: a Panama Hat! Mine is from J Crew and it is the "natural" color.

Theodore Roosevelt made the "Panama Hat" cool when he wore it while checking out the Panama Canal. My good friend, Ernest Hemingway also wore this style hat on his big game hunting trips to Africa. And now, my name can be added to the list of people who made the Panama Hat awesome.

In addition to the above stated objects, I am taking a journal (which is an absolute MUST for anyone going on the trip of a lifetime YA HEAR?), some notebooks and normal books for schoolwork and project notes, one swimsuit, one pair of jeans, one windbreaker/rain jacket, one sweater, two little cover up sweater things, pjs, two belts, techy essentials, batteries, four pairs of shoes, and cosmetics.
Learning from my past travel mistakes, I am also taking a locker lock (cause ya never know), a hand mirror (for perpetually poor lighting in hostels, hotels, and accommodations), a jackknife (tucked away in my checked bag while flying), and an extra camera card.

I am not 100% done packing, but I am working little by little and hoping that I do not forget anything. I know that the next two days are going to be very long and full of moving around, but I love traveling and I cannot wait to get to España.

“In order to write about life first you must live it.”- Ernest Hemingway

Parka Weather

  

 

I've spent at least some of the past two winters in Maryland and there has never been this much snow... ever. I'm not complaining because I'm used to it, being from upstate New York, I was just surprised by the presences of more snow than just a "dusting." 

 Last week, it snowed a ton in Maryland! My classmates and I were hoping that they would cancel school, and I bet that they would have, had it not been finals week. We trudged through wind, sleet, and icy conditions to get to our exams. 

 

I was actually pleased by the amount of snowfall, not only because it made everything around my campus look beautiful, but because it gave me the excuse to wear my most favorite winter coat; the olive green parka that I can be seen wearing in almost every one of my photos from my study abroad trip to London. 

Take a look at some of my past posts, it is an ethereal coat that was basically sent to me from God.

I bought my parka from a thrift shop during one of my first free afternoons in London. When we first got to London, it was colder than I had expected it to be. I don't quite know what drew me to it (since it smelled really smokey) but I am so glad that I bought it! I took the huge jacket to our flat and put it in the washing machine and it has been a great companion on several of my trips.

It is a longer coat and has huge pockets that can fit mittens, my phone, my camera and even a bottle of water!

After I had bought it, I noticed just how many other young female Londoners were wearing similar parkas. I was pleased to find that I fit right in with them and their styles.

The only thing that I wish I could change about it is the fur lining the hood. It is kind of an orangy color that I'm not really partial to. 

This coat is kind of worn and could use some mending, but it has sentimental value, so I could never get rid of it.  

I am trying to figure out a way that I would be able to change the faux fur lining on the hood, and I am also on the lookout for a similar parka that may look a bit nicer. 

I definitely want the same olive color and length; these two things are the most important. I think I may like a gray-ish faux fur lining and buttons that go down the front. 

Here are some that I have found online:

This parka is from ASOS and, although it is not really olive green, the darker gray goes really well with the fur on the hood. It does not look as long as my current parka, but it seems to be long enough. The price is reasonable for a good coat. 

This is honestly all I could ever want in a parka. It is also from ASOS and I enjoy everything about it, except for the price.

I will continue to be on the hunt for the perfect, reasonably priced parka, but I know that, even if I do not find one this season, my trusty London parka will have my back.

Fashion Friday: 11/22/13

If I were a pessimist, I would start out by saying that this has been one of the most stressful weeks of my life, but since I try not to be so negative, I'm going to go ahead and say how thankful I am that I survived this week and that it is finally Friday.  

I owe a big thanks to the contents of my sweater drawer, because my trusty pull-overs have helped me get through this week without looking like a mess. 

For some reason, when I was around fifteen, I refused to wear sweaters... I would only wear cardigans or zip-up hoodies so that I could show off the shirt that I was wearing underneath them. Though this makes sense, I do not know why my past self decided that sweaters were unacceptable. 

The sweaters pictured above are all ones that I have acquired within the past year. The one at the top of the photo (and at the bottom of the pile) is from pull and bear. I am still so very proud of myself for finding this lovely, light sweater, with its delicate shoulder cut outs and slit in the back at a store on Oxford Street, in London, and purchasing it for around £10. I also bought a peplum shirt there for £3. That is my kind of shopping trip!

The next sweater was also bought while in London. I love how unique it is. It is from Europe's version of F21, Primark.

The maroon sweater is from a fabulous thrift shop in my area. It is made of wool and is from Eddie Bauer. It is so very warm and cozy. Although the bottom of the sweater is not fitted in the way that I would prefer, if I could wear it every day, I would. 

Next is a comfy creme jumper from the Gap. This sweater is a classic, however I have just begun to appreciate it for its true value. I was wary of wearing sweaters tucked in for the majority of my years on this earth. Even though you may not have anxiety of untucked shirts and sweaters, here is a photo from pinterest of a simple outfit with this kind of sweater.    

At the very bottom of the first photo is a quirky sweater that I bought at a thrift shop near my hometown. it has parrots on the sleeves and is a great conversation starter. A sweater like this is meant to be worn with long hair tied back, so that people can really see the details along the sleeves. 

Cheers!

Fashion Friday: 11/15/13

 

(Please excuse my awkwardness)

 Ahem, RAWR. 

So my boyfriend and I were discussing over text message, whether the animal that is cross stitched onto my sweater is a cheetah or a leopard... I vote leopard, but either way, it is fierce and cuddly at the same time.  

It is fall and Maryland weather drives me crazy. I love days like today when it is just above 50 degrees. It is just chilly enough to have to wear a sweater and maybe a light jacket or a vest and either flats like mine or boots are valid footwear options. I thoroughly relish in sweater weather. 

Winter weather is quickly approaching and I'm not all about that just yet. I'm going to miss the bright Autumn colors and leaves that litter my campus and surroundings. Watching the trees change colors and lose their leaves from day to day will never not impress me.

I just recently bought this sweater on a whim at PacSun and the vest, which is my new favorite Fall item, is from the Ralph Lauren Outlet store by my house. Here is a similar one that I was able to find online (But I bought mine for much cheaper). 

Today, one of my peers told me that she liked my eclectic style and I have found that I'm just really not good at accepting compliments. 

My response: "ehhhhhhhh" followed by some mumbled thank yous.

Go ahead and enjoy this rift that I found in a parking lot:

Trendspotting

 

I have absolutely no idea where this summer has gone. It certainly has not been a "summer vacation"as they were called throughout elementary and high school. I have been working between 25- 40 hours a week this summer and it has left very little time for anything else. 

I am very lucky to have a job, and I am even luckier to work for one of the largest retail companies in the world. I am a sales associate which means that I am surrounded by trendy clothes at all times. It amazes me that I know exactly where the majority of products are in our department store sized space.

My store sells trendy clothing at cheap prices and targets a wide range of customers. The majority of the customers that we get are young teenage girls.

I have found that the two most sought after products lately have been....

Cotton maxi skirts

and

High waisted denim shorts 

I am still very much attached to my hi-lo skirts, but I do have one maxi skirt that I bought from Primark while in London. I also own a maxi dress that I love. It is pictured above and is very comfortable. I like the old- time feeling of having to hike up your skirt to climb stairs.

The shorts pictured above are from Forever 21 and I bought them a few weeks ago. I love them! They are a bit short but they cover everything necessary and Lord knows I love tucking my shirts in. Forever 21 has a huge variety of high rise shorts, but the best ones sell out quickly. I tried to find the lighter version of these shorts in my size the day after I bought them, but they were all sold out!
Happy hunting!

Closer and Closer

I cannot believe that I leave the US in a little under a week. It is insane how quickly this break has gone by. I have gotten a lot done... though I am still behind on packing. I do have an idea of what I will bring though!
I have plenty of sweaters for the damp, London weather... I also have good boots for walking the city streets. I am so excited to be living in the big city! I have always been intrigued by New York City... I almost went to college there. I am sure life will be much different in the city from how it is in my middle- of - nowhere college in Maryland and my hometown in upstate New York. I am going to take in every minute of it.
I wonder if these boots are acceptable in England... I'm really not sure. Maybe people will give me silly looks... but I don't care. They are my most favorite pair of boots at the moment. They make me feel invincible: I can walk through tall grass or water and they are so silent. They are great for prowlin'.

Larisa T.

     Larisa is a Political Science and French double major and describes her style as artsy and formal. She rarely wears jeans. Dresses and skirts with thick tights are her winter staples. Larisa has been pleased with the chilly weather that we have been experiencing so she can show off her diverse scarf collection. She told me that she owns around thirteen kinds of scarves, which come in different colors and patterns.

“I actually have a scarf organizer in my room” she said.

            With colder weather quickly approaching, it is easy to just draw a neutral colored winter jacket around your shoulders and walk out the door. A bright scarf like Larisa’s adds a pop of color to an outfit that would have otherwise been plain. At the beginning of the semester, Larisa had a pop of color that brightened up her outfit each day; her hair was dyed a vibrant purple.

            Boots are a staple in the winter. Even before the snow hits, boots can keep feet much warmer and more comfortable than flats or sneakers. Larisa bought her boots in Montreal, when she went on a trip with her Chorale group over last spring break.

            “There was about four feet of snow and my suede boots were just not cutting it” she said.

Larisa has been able to use her French skills in many instances, including her trip to Montreal. She also studied in France last summer.

            Larisa told me that she gets many pieces of her wardrobe from her aunt, some of which are vintage. 

 “She knows my style and she actually gave me this dress which is from the 1980s” stated Larisa. Sometimes clothes that are hand- me- downs are real treasures.

            Larisa hopes to go to Law school and work in the Human Rights field in the future.

Flowery Power

I have not been posting lately because I have been much too busy with school and out of class activities. I am also getting ready to go to London after December Break.
I was really excited to wear this outfit today because dress is from a vintage store. I bought it last year but I have not been able to wear it because I did not have the right kind of slip. I got one as a hand me down from a friend and I could finally wear it! I love it. The sleeves have ruffles that make me feel like I am in another era. I get the same feeling when I wear my oxfords.

Impromptu Photo Shoot featuring Emily

 Emily just cannot help but look cute sometimes. So I asked her to be in my blog again! Surprise surprise! Her yellow corduroy pants make her stand out among a sea of college students walking to class, all in black Northface jackets and Ugg boots. Mustard yellow is just a great color for fall. It is unique and bright. 

 I had a really fun time editing these photos. I just bought a Photoshop program and I'm learning how to use it little by little. It has encouraged me to use my camera more often so that I can experiment and edit more and more photos.

Rebekah H.

Rebekah is one of my best friends at college. She is a sophomore, like me, an RA and a Theology major. To go along with her major, she is getting an emphasis in youth ministry and secondary education so that she can someday be a youth minister or religion teacher. I can already tell that she will be great at whatever she does. Rebekah is probably one of the most caring people that I know. She is also quite popular here at school, seeing that she is friends with everybody; From the freshman to the huge basketball players.
Over the weekend, Rebekah and I, along with some of our friends, walked to a thrift store about a mile away from our school. I have found some great buys at thrift stores before, such as one of my favorite leather bags for $8.
Rebekah found a lot of items that just fit her and her personality, perfectly.The shirt that she is wearing in the photo above is actually long sleeved and shiny. It reminds me of a circus and I love it! She also bought the Lacoste sweater for $3 at the thrift store.

It was clearly owned by a man before. A really great part of thrift shopping is all the little treasures you find while looking for wearable clothing. James Pauley lived or is living somewhere and bought this sweater however long ago. It comes with a story, and Rebekah is just continuing the story.
Within the first sweep of the clothing section of the little thrift store, I did not find much. However, after some hard looking, I found some treasures, each for just $3.

 This sweater is perfect for the cold months ahead. It is really heavy but comfortable. It is also good quality. I love the purse. It is not as heavy as the last leather bag that I bought while thrifting and I think that is why I like it so much. I will most likely be bringing it to London with me.

 This shirt is from Eddie Baur and I thought that the pattern was really interesting. After trying it on, it was a little oddly shaped but I still like it a lot.

 This is the patchwork detail on a large Lee sweatshirt. I love it! I wore it all day Sunday. It is so warm and comfortable. I could sleep in it! At first, I thought it was a grandma-y sweater, but after thinking about it, I realized that I was in love.

This scarf is a little itchy, but the cool blue just called to me. I wore this today with a longsleeve shirt and jeans. It brings a pop of color to my outfits, seeing as most of the clothes I own are the same colors (black, gray, navy blue, army green, tan).
This thrifting trip was a huge success. I am going to have to go more often, especially because I bought all these things for less than $20. It also goes to a good cause. The proceeds from the particular thrift store that we went to go towards helping the Daughters of Charity.
How nice!

Noelle and Emily

These are my roommates/ best friends and they let me photograph their outfits last Sunday. We had gotten all dressed up to go to mass.

 Emily is an International Studies major. She also plays field hockey and loves to chat. She is my best friend and I am soooo glad that she is going to London with me next semester. I would be a lot more nervous if I didn't have her to go with me. We are going to be rooming together and taking almost all the same classes together.

 Noelle is a science major and she wants to be a pediatrician "when she grows up." She is starting a pre-med club on campus and she loves to yell at our tv while watching Raven's Football. The team is her pride and joy. She is also my best friend.

<3

Morgan C.

Morgan is a sophomore who knows how to dress for chilly, fall weather. She would usually describe her style as “preppy/ casual,” but this outfit is all about being warm and comfy, while still looking stylish.

            “I own about fifteen v- neck sweaters” said Morgan, when I asked her about the go- to items that she has in her closet. You can never have too many sweaters. Personally, I am drawn to articles that have just a little bit of a design on them, just so they are not plain. I especially liked the detailed knitting in the front of this sweater.

            The piece that stood out to me the most about this outfit was Morgan’s skirt. Usually around this time of year, plaid is found on plaid shirts. This skirt was refreshing and perfectly suited for fall. I asked if there was a story behind it and she told me that she had to go to two different stores in order to buy it.

“I knew the skirt was on sale, so I went to the store to buy it but they did not have the right size. My sister and I drove fifty minutes away to get it.” She had been hunting for a good deal.

            A good pair of boots is also ideal to have for the fall. I live in mine throughout half of the year, during fall and winter. Morgan’s boots are combat-esque, like a toned down pair of Dr. Martens.

            “I got them when I worked at a shoe store, so they were half off” Morgan stated. She believes that dressing nicely should not have to be expensive.

            “I like to look for sales or spend more money on a piece I know will last me for a long time.” As a college student, this is the best way to shop.

hi-lo dayyy

This is my best friend Emily! Her and I decided to wear our hi-lo skirts to class today (actually, they're both mine. but I let her borrow one).
I adore my skirts. They're so easy to pair with anything! They look very elegant as well.
I tried out my Dr. Martens (which were given to me by my best friend Amanda's grandmother). I was nervous about wearing them because I never see real people wearing them. But today I took a risk. I think they looked alright with my outfit... however, they gave me horrible blisters! I wore thick socks too... they are comfortable besides the part that rubs against my ankle. I guess they are just not good shoes for walking. I still love them though. I will be wearing sandals for the rest of the day.

Emily B.

This is Emily! She will be my first feature in this blog. Emily has been my friend throughout high school and she has an amazing style. She actually received the "most fashionable" senior superlative in our yearbook.
Emily goes to college in New York City and spends her free time people watching... she hopes to start a blog about the cute couples she sees from day to day.
My fashionista friend would describe her style as,
"90s grunge mixed with modern day... what's the Addams family girl's name?"

Wednesday Addams 

Emily's signature outfits are all black; goth but not goth.
This particular outfit has a story to it:
"The sweater always reminds me of a date that I went on with an ex- boyfriend," she says with a smile.
Her boots are Dr. Martens, the first pair that she ever bought and she got her purse from a cute Italian man while on a school trip abroad.
"We were on a cute cobblestone street and I was between this bag and another, prism- shaped one. I should have bought both."
Emily and I had a nice time walking through the village. We caught up and celebrated her birthday over froyo.
There is no doubt that she will be featured again in this blog.
Cheers!

Update!

These next few weeks will be very busy for me... I'm working a lot this week, celebrating my birthday this weekend and getting ready to go back to school! I'm a little stressed. I'm disappointed that I havent been able to interview anybody yet... I've been chickening out... always finding excuses not to hand them my business card. I think it will be easier when I have a little more time and fewer distractions.
This is the outfit that I wore to work yesterday:

 I am in love with this skirt... I only bought it about a month ago and I've worn it a lot! It goes with anything and everything. I had to think a lot about buying a hi-lo skirt... and I'm so glad I decided to get one!

My photographer (my mother) and I were experimenting with lenses from a nice camera that my mom has had for a while. I think the photos came out very cool!

This is the lens.
Have a lovely day!
xoxo,
Angela

Fashion Friday!: Hitting the Beach

Summer is totally the time to go to the beach to relax the days away... There isn't really a beach around here... but if you do live in a beachy place or go on vacation, you know that you need cover up clothes and outfits that you can just easily change into to go from the beach to the boardwalk to dinner to anywhere! I could have done better with this outfit... but I had limited time and inspiration ;)

I love this shirt... it's easy and it's interesting. The embroidered design is lovely. It's great to wear over a tank top or a bathing suit. The frills are super cute too! They show just the right amount of belly. Brown shorts go with anything (almost). I would also wear this shirt with a long, light skirt... like they do on the beach in magazines. I don't own a long skirt like that though!

This necklace is very important and special to me. I have always loved ships and the ocean... so when my family went on vacation to Maine a few years ago, I was on the lookout for a special sea-inspired trinket to remember the great times we had. The ship's wheel is unique. It was difficult to find. I had to bypass a lot of seahorses and anchors to find it but I wear it all the time! It reminds me that I'm at the bridge of my life (like the bridge of a ship) and I'm in charge of where I go. I use the ships wheel to steer.
Soooo metaphorical!
Also, with this outfit.... noshoes are the best kinds of shoes to wear... sand feels best on barefeet.

Wanted: denim shirt

I usually try to plan my outfits ahead of time... especially for work, class and church....
I find that the best time to plan is when I'm in bed, with my eyes closed but when my brain is still functioning in the real world. The other night I planned an entire set of outfits that all included a denim shirt that I had seen at work earlier that day! My outfits were perfect for transitioning from work to going out. So functional. So comfy! The main problem here is that I don't own a denim shirt... I've been saving my money to find the perfect one!
I would wear my denim shirt with a plain t-shirt underneath and maybe jeans that were a different shade, or my green slacks.
I could also wear it over a dress or with a skirt that has a nice pattern.

http://www.forever21.com/images/model_front/11408814-02.jpg
This one is a little too dark for me... It says "faded" but I would like one that is a little more interesting.
This one  is apparently unisex. But even if it isn't, I would go with the light wash indigo. I know that I would be able to wear this with more of the clothes in my closet than a denim shirt with a darker wash... I have too many dark/navy/black clothes in my closet anyways.
This one looks so interesting! I love tribal styled kinds of clothing. However, this would take some thinking to make an outfit or a set of outfits...
Oh wow .... this shirt is super cute

This is from Forever 21 and is just adorable... hmm let's see. I wouldnt be able to wear this to work or to church... but it looks perfect for being out n about! I love the western feel that it gives to any outfit. I would wear it with colorful shorts, a long flowy skirt or pants of a different shade.

ahhhh if I had enough money I would buy them all.
When I do happen to get my perfect denim shirt... I will post my outfit ;)
Have a super day!
-angela