Vest Week Ever Christmas Wear

I hope everyone has enjoyed the Vest Week Ever as much as I have. You can never have too many good themes. Today was also our office holiday party, so I got to incorporate our Blue & Gold Friday with festive accessories. The vest is once again from our University Bookstore, that I got on sale back in early fall. 

My Sweatshirt is from Etsy

Scarf is Betsey Johnson from Zulily 

Vest Week Ever Day 4

Today's Vest Week Ever is what I like to call Business Wear. The vest is from our University Bookstore. I have had this for several years now, and it's great to show school spirit. The shirt is also another great find years ago from J.Crew Factory. 

And since's it's been forever since I have done a Top 3 Favs, here you go! 

1. Taylor Swift- Blank Space

Yes, like everyone else in America I am obsessed with Taylor Swift's new album 1989. This video is just so many kinds of perfect. One of my favorite songs from the album is Out of the Woods.  

And I must say, girl can rock a spray tan. 

2. Betsey Johnson Tartan Scarf from Zulily

Ask anyone on my snapchat, I can't stop wearing this scarf. Over Thanksgiving Break I wore it every day, and I am not ashamed. It's super comfy and the perfect size.

3. Dry Bar- The Morning After Kit

I recently ordered this off of Sephora, and I love it. The dry shampoo smells great, although it can be a little strong at first. And the shower cap really keeps my hair from frizzing. This would make a great gift for Christmas. 

Vest Week Ever Day 3

Today's vest is my absolute favorite. Thanks to Lands End on this perfect winter/holiday vest. While you can't really see my skirt, it is from J. Crew Factory and I have been debating on getting it for months now. I can't tell you how many times I put it in my shopping cart and then decided not to purchase it. Well when J.Crew had a 60% off sale, I decided to go for it.  

I have been so pleased with this purchase. It literally goes with everything. 

The chunky white scarf is from Old Navy. 

The blue sweater which I purchased from Target a few years ago for my school's homecoming, goes great with this wintery festive mix. 

In other news this week, America's Royalty met England's Royalty at a Net's Game. So naturally I tweeted the following "Jay & Bey met William & Kate tonight at a Nets game.On a side note-Somewhere in America Miley Cyrus is still twerking #breaktheinternet"

Vest Week Ever Day 2

Today's vest for #TheVestWeekEver is from Old Navy. I purchased it and the shirt online back in early October. I love this vest so much, that I chose to wear it to the Garth Brooks concert at Rupp. Considering I have been a huge Garth fan since Friends in Low Places was on the radio as a new hit, I had to make sure I was wearing the most appropriate outfit to finally see him live. 

I also like shopping on oldnavy.com, because I have the option to order many things in tall. While I am 5'6, I have a long torso and short legs. So when I can I buy my shirts in tall, to have that extra length. 

My brown chunky scarf came from Fancy.com Like many other subscription sites, you can pick to have a one time or monthly fancy box arrive at your door. There are many options to choose from. You may pick a celebrity box like Nicky Hilton or T-Pain for 39 dollars, or you can do a mystery box at $10, $20, $40 and pick for a man or woman. I chose the $20 mystery box and loved all of my goodies that I received. 2 of my favorite goodies are the scarf and a pair of sunglasses. The scarf alone is worth at least $20, so you really do get your money's worth. They also make great gifts for those hard to buy for people in your life. 

Vest Week Ever!

Today starts the Vest Week Ever! This week I am going to share my vest of the day. You may also see a lot of plaid thrown in the mix this week as well. I am combining my two favorite obsessions of the season vests and plaid in my every day work flow. 

Monday's vest is actually a vest I have own for many years now. It's from the Gap outlet and it's been great as a go to never out of style vest. It does have a hood which has come in handy for many Black Fridays when standing in line outside of Target. 

The plaid shirt I am wearing is from Old Navy and I got it on Black Friday for 50% off. It's very comfy and is a nice relax fit. It also gives adds plaid into the mix. 

Be on the look out for Tuesday's #vestweekever 

Smelly Mellie

Oh Shonda thank you for taking over ABC on Thursday Nights. I have been a Grey's fan for years. I even purchased some of the Meredith Grey collection from New York & Company years ago. Which makes me think about how much I miss that cardigan. 

Last Thanksgiving Break I binged on Scandal and have been completely obsessed ever since. I am #TeamJake. No shame here to admit.  I will say I do feel for Fitz and Olivia but deep down Jake is the better option. Some of the Fitz/Olivia scenes are the most real emotions I have ever watched on TV. Like every other girl in the country, I would love to have my own Vermont life. 

While I love OPA, Mellie has been my homegirl. After Mellie wore a kimono one Ep this season, I looked for the same one online. Sadly I did not want to spend 89 dollars, so I found one similar-ish on Amazon. (Haters keep on hating, but I love my kimono) It's a great piece that you can lounge around in or while getting ready for your day. 

After watching tonight's Scandal (which I always rewatch the next day or so to pick up on things that I miss) I like the rest of the Twitter World lost it when Fitz called out Mellie by calling her Smelly Mellie. 

Now let's briefly talk about the new addition to #TGIT- How to Get Away with Murder. I will say that it definitely will make you want to tune in the following week to see what is going to happen next. But Shonda just gives you a tiny bit of a huge story line each week, I get super confused on what has happened and what is happening. Also there are moments where I loose interest, but the final few moments each week will blow your mind and you have to tune in next week to see what else is going to happen 

I am not quite ready to write it off just yet, I just need lots of recaps. 

I could listen to Lana Del Rey sing a grocery list, but that would mean I would have to make a grocery list.

Seriously, why am I not over listening to Lana Del Rey every single day? Ever since Midtown Music Festival, I have been obsessed with her music. I have tried to listen to other artists during the day at work, but I always end up going back to her. I must have listened to Diet Mountain Dew 200 times. I have moved on from that song, to Old Money which you can find on her newest album "Ultraviolence" 

I will say, the first time you listen to it... you will hate it. I did. But give it a couple listens on the ol' itunes and you will be hooked. 

This past weekend, my school hosted it's breast cancer awareness game. While getting ready for the game, I realized that I do not own pink clothing. I have a few pink dresses and one pink cardi, but that is it. So I stacked my accessories and the pink Bauble Bar bracelet I got a month ago, was the perfect accessory. It also gave me an opportunity to wear my Lilly Pulitzer blue and pink rope bracelet that I have had for years.  

Occasionally, I try to be domestic, (which for some reason shocks people) so on Sunday I broke out the Kitchen Aid and baked some Candy Corn Cupcakes. I love fall, just as much as every other basic out there, but Pumpkin Spice on most things I can do without. I am not a fan of the PSL, sorry not sorry. So when I was in Kroger last week, I picked up some Candy Corn frosting to try. Hoping it was much better than the watermelon limited edition frosting that I bought over the summer and threw away. 

The cupcakes ended up being a nice treat for my coworkers on this dreary Monday. Let's see if I can keep up with this cooking thing people do lol. 

She's the Oldest One Here

I would like to start by thanking my parents for giving me such youthful looking skin and while I am in my thirties, I still look like I should be in my early twenties.

Left- High School  Right- Two years ago
God bless genetics!

There have been times over the years when people have mistaken my age. My friends favorite story to tell is when we went to eat at a sports bar after a collegiate basketball game and they all checked IDs. They checked mine at first with no issues, we are about to walk in when the security guy stops and said he made a mistake and thought I was under 21. (PS. I was 30) A good friend of mine responded with "Wait, she's the oldest one here" so now it's a running joke wherever we go.

Fast forward to 2014 and this past week. Since it was indeed homecoming weekend, I attended a local establishment and they carded everyone as they entered. They stopped me and asked if I could state my address, to make sure I was who I said I was. Once again, I was the oldest one there in my group. Yes, I have changed my hair since my last ID photo was taken, but really? Do I look that much different? Naturally, I took it as a compliment and thought to myself, "Yep, I still look like a college student." I also believe that by working on a college campus and being surrounded by students they keep you young. It's everyone who works in higher education's fountain of youth, that and benefit makeup ;)

Fast forward to last night. I attended my sorority's initiation, because a very close friend of mine whom I have watched grow from a child to an adult was being initiated, and I got to be part of that.

It was a lovely evening, and will always be a special moment I got to share with her.

Afterwards, a group from the chapter went to dinner. As we were leaving another new member came up to Deveney and me and said, "It's really cool that your mom got to be here tonight." SHE THOUGHT I WAS HER MOM. Just five days before someone thought I was under 21, then last night someone else thought I was old enough to have a college freshman as a child. I am still trying to process all what happened. So I am just going to go watch Gossip Girl, listen to Taylor Swift and go buy a new North Face Jacket to cope.

My Top 3 Favs of the Moment

I know I have been slacking for a while. A few weeks ago, I went to Midtown Music Festival with some really good friends. It was amazing and I got to see so many absolutely amazing artists. Maybe I will get around to doing a full recap some day lol. After Atlanta, I got sick and before I knew it was my alma mater's homecoming last weekend. It is always good celebrating my school which has grown so dear to me.

Today's post is a quick things that I am currently loving.  

1. My amazing new Kate Spade "If these walls could talk" phone case. I have had an otterbox case on my iphone 5s for almost a year, however it really didn't survive Midtown, so I needed to find a new one. Found this little gem from katespade.com on sale. (Side note, very rarely you will see me purchase something full price) It's a hybrid case, which means it came with a bumper. After my tragic phone disaster of 2013, I get a little nervous about my cases. 

2. Taylor Swift- Shake it Off

This was definitely the theme song of HoCo 2014. Everywhere we went, we made sure this song played. It's so upbeat and fun, you just can't help dancing. I am counting down the days until 1989 is released. 

3. OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark 

Now that it's October, I can wear my all time favorite nail polish OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark. It is that perfect deep dark purple that just screams fall! I may not be all about the Pumpkin Spice Latte's  (PSL) but fall to me means LPAD.

Mindy Kaling is my Soul Sister

Yesterday, I said that Amy Poehler was one of my TV besties. Which is true, howevs, Mindy Kaling is my soul sister. If you haven't read her book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" Go download it on your kindle app now! 

Mindy is that person you want in your life, who actually says what your inner self is thinking. 

Last night, the 3rd Season of her show "The Mindy Project" premiered and it was simply amazing. All of the characters were on point, and the writing team on this show is one of the best out there now. I really wished this show was an hour instead of 30 minutes.

  While yes, we were all excited to finally see Mindy and Danny's as a real couple... 

but Tamra had some of the best quotes of the night. Including "Sorry I got too many celebrity phone numbers to be leaving my phone alone."

I really hope that we get to see more Tamra this season.


Oh if you missed the last 30 seconds of the show, go back and watch it online. Trust me on this life choice.

BaubleBar

I recently made my second purchase from BaubleBar. They had actually sent me a coupon for $5 dollars off and I couldn't pass up that deal. 

I just love their packaging, and they really do take their time to make sure it looks perfect! 

I opted with this purchase to go with a String Fling, which means you get to pick 3 bracelets (perfect for stacking) for $25. With my coupon, I got 3 for $20! I really liked this Pink Frosted Links bracelet by itself. I am going to use the other 2 to start my stack collection. 

BaubleBar is great when you need to find just the right accessory to go with a specific outfit. It also is a great place to purchase birthday gifts for friends. Actually, my first BB purchase was a gift for a friend and she just loved the unique necklace I picked out for her. 

If you are interested in BaubleBar just click here for an invite

I leave you with 2 words- FREE SHIPPING 

Happy Birthday Amy Poehler. Now go enjoy some JJ's waffles Leslie Knope style

Some days you just need one of your TV besties to tell it like it is. Thanks Amy Poehler and Happy Birthday!

For more quotes from Amy, check out this amazing BuzzFeed

September's Ipsy Bag

I love Ipsy! For almost 2 years now I have been a loyal Ipsy customer. Prior to joining Ipsy, I
was a member of a similar monthly subscription company, but found very quickly the variety and multiple travel size products that Ipsy brought to me monthly was so worth more than the 10 dollars I was paying. People ask me all the time what do you use all of those bags for? I use them all of the time. Instead of digging around in your purse for lip gloss, bobby pins or even an extra phone cord I can find them quickly in the right Ipsy bag!

I typically carry a tote bag for work, just throw a coordinating color Ipsy bag and I have my jump drives, ink pens and whatever else I may need for a meeting.

Yes, not every month you are going to simply love every single product they send (sometimes you just wish it was a different color.) I am still happy with my products, and this month's goodies are no exception.

First, I love the bag. The color is a great transition for fall and the little studs give it that little
extra edge.

I was super pumped for the Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in Basic Instinct by Cailyn. While I am not familiar with this brand. I thought the light weight gloss was not too heavy and didn't have that sticky feel. The color is nice, a little more on the coral side once I put it on. But still a nice color leading into fall.

I typically enjoy the facial exfoliant scrubs that I get. Even though I am slightly over 30, I still
have oily acne causing skin. On a daily basis I usually use Clean and Clear Deep Action
Exfoliating Scrub. So when I tried Nourish Organic's Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser, the first thing I noticed was the shampoo like texture and smell. I actually had to double check and make sure this was a face cleanser. The smell was ok, and my skin does feel soft but I will mark this as ok and will keep in my travel bag.

It's always great to see an eyeshadow brush in my bag, and this month's dual tip will be a great addition to my brushes. I was actually needing one with a smaller tip crease brush so I am sure this brush will be added to my daily eye makeup routine.

Pacifica has always been a nice brand that Ipsy sends. The brow pencil was one of the best brow products I have ever used. So when I saw that I have received eye liner pencil in gun metal, I know will it will get a lot of use.

I have not had a chance to try Caviar's CC Cream Leave-In Hair Perfector. But I will say, it
smells just like old school Pantene, which is not a bad thing! I have naturally thick curly hair, with the top layer sometimes struggling to curl. So I am hoping this will be a nice heat protector and anti breakage for the days I straighten my hair, and won't leave my hair looking flat and greasy.

Overall, I am very happy with the Sept. Edition. Visit www.ipsy.com for more information about signing up for a subscription. 

Laughter Through Tears is My Favorite Emotion & Other Random Facts

It all started with a Lisa Frank Diary. Just like every other girl growing up in the 80's I had my fair share of Lisa Frank apparel (this also includes a birthday party theme.) As a child, I thought my Lisa Frank Diary was just the perfect spot to talk about life like most girls did. However, I loved making lists. Top movies I enjoyed, favorite Christmas presents, Barbies and all of their accessories. Then like most diaries that were kept at this age, I just stopped writing down stuff down.

Let's move on to high school. It was the late 90's at this point and everyone was all about some America Online and the Internet. After creating my first yahoo email address, I quickly started collecting people's emails. "What better way to correspond with people than to send them an electronic mail!", I thought. So one day, I created my first "electronic blog" it was a daily email I would send out titled "The Daily Dose of Me" Once again I was talking about random pop culture moments, songs that I was jamming out to, and just my thoughts in general. And for some reason, people seemed to enjoy it. I would get replies back with, "I love starting my morning with this." And if I missed a week, I would get emails asking if everything is ok. 

Soon came college life, and before Facebook there was Xanga. My friends and I lived and breathed for Xanga. A place where you can post anything you want and have friends comment = many hours wasted on the computer. Xanga was king for quite a few years, until a little thing called Facebook came along. I remember the day my school got FB. I was working a summer camp the summer before and a few of my teammates went to schools that had FB accounts. I was soooooo jealous. More than anything I wanted to have a FB account. I didn't have to wait that long, because within the first few weeks of grad school, my wish came true! Yes, I dabbled in myspace, because it was trendy. But FB that was where it was at. 

After graduation, I still couldn't quite leave the college life, so I started working at my alma mater. Which leads me to present day, and my current career- Social Media. What once started off as something I did for fun, has turned into my job. I can truly say that I love what I do, and I am blessed that I enjoy what I do. 

Which brings me to today and the reason I am starting this blog. It's no secret I love online shopping and discussing current pop culture events. True Life: I took a personal day for Michael Jackson's funeral.

So sometimes trying to discuss these topics, one needs more than 140 characters. Also today, I had 2 coworkers at separate times tell me, I need to start a blog on these very topics. So... it is what it is bro. 


Now to leave you with 10 things you may need to know about me. 

1. I love Mt. Dew and not Diet Mt. Dew, but the hard stuff. 
2. Dolly Parton is my spirit animal 
3. To quote Ms. Parton in my all time favorite movie Steel Magnolias, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." And yes, it really is my favorite emotion. 
4. Online shopping is my life. Being an hour away from the closest mall will help feed that addiction.
5. Beyonce and Jay Z are NOT getting a divorce, so stop talking about it. 
6. My ipod mix is the most random mix you will ever see. It can go from Iggy, to Lynyrd Skynyrd, with some Elton John thrown in there, followed with George Strait and finish off with some Missy Elliott. 
7. "Well I was born in a small town, and I live in a small town. Probably die in a small town."- John Mellencamp (See what I did there)
8. One can never have too many J. Crew cardigans. 
9. Occasionally I have been told that I sometimes act like a 12 year old boy. 

10. I bought Jay Z and Beyonce stickers for my Lilly planner.