Watercolor Wishes

(One) Breasted Roller by Dimdi (Two) J.Crew inspired earrings 

(Three) Poppy watercolor print (Four) Purple flower print 

(Five) J. Crew inspired necklace (Six) Dahlia watercolor print

Ever since I can remember, I have had a love affair with watercolor. Not just watercolor paintings, but the whole visual of soft, pastel, muted colors that make us cheerful when looking at them. When shopping for anything from accessories to polish a look, to even home decor pieces that give a room character, these beautiful colors are what catch my eye. 

Statement jewelry is all the hype right now! But since they are quite trendy pieces, I like to find them for a low cost! The two I have pictured are both J. Crew inspired (you know I love J. Crew!) I've also been on the hunt for small little decor pieces that will add that "Carrie flare" to my new apartment. I have pictured 4 prints (8x10) that I would like t0 purchase and frame for my new room. Everything I chose today is from Etsy and all come at affordable costs!

What catches your eye most often when shopping?

XO, Carrie

Store // Toss // Wear

As seasons change, so do our outfits. But just because a new season has arrived and the fashions change doesn't mean we need to run to the mall and buy every trendy piece on the market. The best thing about seasons changing is actually that you can incorporate what you have worn in past seasons, but make them "new" by styling them a bit differently. 

Today, I'd like to introduce the first post from a series I think is very appropiate for this time of year, featuring {Store, Toss, Wear}. This is exactly what is says. I am going to talk about items you may own and whether you should store them for another season ahead, toss them because they are simply outdated, or items you should be wearing right now. 

STORE:Leather Leggings

While your leather leggings aren't necessarily "spring-y", they WILL make a come back next fall and winter. So hold on to those babies! Tuck them away for now, and they will be ready for you when you pull them back out in a couple months.

TOSS:Flare Jeans

Flare jeans. Yes, you probably have been hanging on to your favorite jeans from several years ago, but sorry gals, flare jeans have fallen off the radar. If you can't seem to cut yourself off completely, try a nice tailored trouser instead!

WEAR:Colored Pants

Warm weather is here which means colored pants are in full force! Brush the dust off your favorite pastel jeans from last season, because they are all the rage this season as well!

I hope you found my advice to be helpful! Keep an eye out for upcoming posts from this series!

XO, Carrie

Tips for Surviving Finals Week

Yup, it's that time of the year again! Finals are nearly here and another school year is coming to a close. Being a student can be tough...seriously! Finding the motivation to stay tuned in and focused for 4 months straight isn't all that easy. But because I know a large majority of my readers are college students, I thought I would share a few tips on getting through finals week. While I am no perfect student by any means, I do think these tips make for a less stressful week to get through!

1. 1. Make a plan. Determine how much study time you will need for each exam and plan out when you be studying for that test.  Once you have a plan, chances are you’ll feel more confident and less stressed! 
2. 2. Get enough Z's.  Sacrificing sleep for studying might seem like a good idea, but if you’re tired you’re not going to absorb information as well as if you’d had a good night’s rest.  
3. 3. Take breaks. You will study more effectively if you take breaks. Need a few study break ideas?  Go for a jog, grab coffee with a friend, or watch a short T.V. show. 
4. 4. Find a study buddy.  Study groups can help you to be more productive.  Plus, it’s so much more fun to study in a group than on your own! 
5. 5. Eat Breakfast. Studies have found that eating breakfast may improve short-term memory and attention. Students who eat breakfast tend to perform significantly better than those who don’t. 
6. 6. Eat right and stay hydrated.  Brain foods such as fish and berries can help you to concentrate.  Try not to eat too many sweets and carbs, as tempting as this might be – you’ll just end up feeling sluggish.  Lastly, make sure that you’re drinking enough water. 
7. 7. Breath!  Before you take the test, take a few deep breaths to release tension from your mind and body.  Be confident about what you know and try your best to stay calm and relaxed.

I hope that you take some of these tips into consideration and that you find them useful in the next week or two. Good luck on your finals everyone! 

XO, Carrie

OOTD: Cute 'n Casual

Hey friends! Since I haven't posted one for quite some time, I thought I would share an outfit I recently wore. This super cute and casual look is just perfect for the weather we have been having here! I wore this out to get my nails done with some friends and then out to lunch!

Outfit Details:

Blouse- H&M

Jeans- H&M

Boots- Target

Purse- Aldo (last summer)

Necklace- Francesca's

Watch- Fossil 

Phone case- J. Crew

Succulents & Such

Ok, so we all probably know what a cactus is. But have you ever heard the word "succulent"? I figured since the workers in Lowes weren't familiar with the term, I better provide a definition before I confuse everyone, including myself, as I am NO expert! 

According to trusty wikipedia, a succulent means "fat plant" or a plant with thickened leaves and that can easily retain water. So, with that said, they are very similar to the concept of cacti. However, cacti ARE succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. Riddle yourself that....... 

But outside of all these boring botany definitions are these beautiful and fun house plants. Before I knew how adorable they were, what drew me to them you ask? They are SUCH low maintenance. They claim to be drought resistant, purify the air, and of course add beauty and nature to a room. Living in an apartment with minimal sunlight makes it hard to keep a plethora of greens growing. So with a little research, I think I have finally found the perfect plant for indoors! :)I found these at Lowes.

How exotic are these flowering cacti?

Beautiful leafy succulents

More mini assorted succulents

The details of this cactus top is unbelievable,
not to mention the gorgeous color. 

These are the two new "pets" I ended up bringing home!

Do any of you have indoor plants you haven't had trouble growing? If so, let me know!

XO, Carrie

Hey Sailor!

Dear Spring, oh how I continue to long for you! One of these days, the sun will be beaming down on us and maybe even that day will come where we wish it wasn't so hot. But as for now, I'll keep hoping for heat. 

After a much needed cleaning of my closet the other evening, I can't help but want to go wild and replentish my closet for spring and summer. I feel I am at that age where I no longer like anything from what I wore in high school simply because my style is changing. I know that for sure. I want to get rid of everything...I seriously mean just about everything, and start from scratch.(Where do you all take your used clothes? I'd like to know!) However, that would take a lot of time...and let't not forget money! So even though I am 'trying' to stay on a budget, I have been spending a lot of time online hunting for the perfect things to add to my collection. 

If I could define my ideal style, it would be........preppy, classy, & nautical. Like J. Crew for example. The store just does it for me. So this collection of goodies today is what my "want list" wardrobe is currently being inspired by! 

1// Sperry Top-Sider 2// J. Crew 3// J. Crew Factory 4// Splendid

5// Baublebar 6// Stella & Dot 7// Tory Burch 8// J. Crew

I hope everyone is having a great week!
 
XO,Carrie

My *FIRST* Video: Full Face Makeup Routine

Hello friends! I am SO excited to be sharing with you my very first video/ makeup tutorial. I've always loved the idea of me being a "vlogger" to better communicate with you all, on top of being a blogger, but I never have considered cameras and filming to be my niche, or even know much about it for that matter. It was requested by a few friends of mine to share my foundation routine so I went ahead a filmed a video on basically what I do when I get ready (makeup wise) in the morning. Remember, this is my very first go at it. I am by no means an expert with filming and editing. I have A LOT to work on in that department! Even learning how to talk to a camera alone in your room is going to something to get use to. However, I had a lot of fun making it and am looking forward to making many more! Please let me know if you have any suggestions! :)

Products used:
Revlon Colorstay foundation (240-Medium Beige, Normal to Dry formula)
MAC Prep+Prime highlighter (Radiant Rose)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (Medium Plus)
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Wet 'n Wild Ticket to Brazil Bronzer
Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Fearless
Revlon Colorstay shadow stick (shade Torch)
Urban Decay Naked Palette (shades Naked and Toasted)
Tarte- The Brow Architect 
Loreal Power Volume 24H Black Smoke mascara
NYX Butter Gloss- Creme Brule

XO, Carrie