Sweet Summetime

by Julia

Okay so it’s not summer time yet but it’s starting to feel like it! Today I wore my uniform for the very last time (after 13 years) and next week is my final week of high school before summer! Everything is happening so fast, so my friends and I have been trying to enjoy all the little things lately- like tie dying and splatter painting our uniforms Below are a few sweet things that are making summer come a bit early!

Burt’s Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit ($3.00)- I have been using the original Burt’s Bees lip balm for years and absolutely adore it! So, naturally, I was thrilled when I saw this pink grapefruit version in Safeway the other day. This without a doubt smells and tastes just like grapefruit (not sweet and processed but true pink grapefruit)! It gives the same clear shine and softness of the original but with a twist- love it!

Essie’s Poppy-Razzi Collection ($8.00 each)- I never really got into nail polish until high school when I became best friends with Allie and Catherine, who are nail polish fanatics! Essie’s newest Spring 2012 collection is probably my favorite Essie has released in quite a while. The names are darling and the collection is home to bright punchy colors perfect for spring and summer! My favorite is Camera (a “brilliant coral pink neon”)! From left to right: Lights, Camera, Action, Bazooka.

Lady Antebellum’s album “Own the Night” ($10.99 on iTunes)- I have loved Lady Antebellum for quite awhile now and think that Own the Night is there best album yet! It is full of powerful lyrics, beautiful melodies and harmonies, and a song for whatever mood you’re in. My favorite songs off the record are “When You Were Mine,” “Cold as Stone,” “Friday Night,” and “Dancin’ Away with my Heart.” Check it out and tell me what you think!

 

 

 

 

On the Cusp

by Julia

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a very happy Easter last Sunday (and if you don’t celebrate Easter I hope you had a fabulous weekend). Just yesterday my mom and I ventured into Georgetown for some shopping at stores we don’t usually have access to. One store that we fell in love with (and will definitely have to visit again) was Cusp by Neiman Marcus. In my opinion, Cusp is a combination between Anthropologie, Intermix, and Urban Outfitters. It offers high end brands such as Robert Rodriguez, Diane von Furstenberg, Gryphon, and Rag and Bone, and therefore has an awesome mix of uniquely beautiful clothes! My favorite thing I bought there (and new obsession) is a skirt from Pleasure Doing Business. It is a five band, pleated skirt that is stripped with neon yellow, neon pink, black and lavender. I can’t wait to wear it this spring and summer with tank tops and t-shirts and in the fall and winter with cardigans and tights! It’s nothing like I own and I can’t wait to dress it up and down all year!

Cusp in Georgetown, DC

this is the skirt I bought (which is sold out I believe) with a slightly different color variation

Elie Saab Spring 2012 Couture Collection

by Julia

The other day I was on Tumblr and came across one of the most beautifully exquisite dresses I have ever seen, and that was pretty huge for me since I am constantly flipping through fashion magazines and watching couture shows online. So I looked more closely at it and found out that it was part of Elie Saab’s 2012 Spring Couture Collection (click to see a slideshow of the collection). Now it is safe to say that I am thoroughly obsessed and enthralled with the entire collection (especially since prom is right around the corner- I’ll do a post on my dress and hair and all that fun stuff as May gets a bit closer). The collection is made up primarily of sparkly pastels, what’s not to love right? The dresses are absolutely stunning and are embroidered with flowers, crystals, and ribbon. Somehow Elie has transformed pastel party dresses into sexy floor length stunners, the next one more beautiful than the one before. Scroll down for some of my favorite pieces!

Summer Excitement: Billabong, Aerie, & Essie

by Julia

Hey everyone! School is winding down so I will definitely be posting more regularly! I’m so happy to be back Since this year is coming to an end I look forward to sharing a lot of fun stuff with you all including: prom fashion, graduation dresses, and Beach Week essentials (its an east coast thing!). So keep checking back!

Today I just wanted to share with you three fun things that are getting me stoked for the summer!

First is this “Mermaid at Heart” tank top from Billabong that I picked up in North Carolina at a local surf shop chalk full of Roxy, Volcom, and Free People (it took all my will power to not snatch up everything in sight)! I particularly love this shirt for two reasons. The first is that I have always loved mermaids- since before I was born my family has had a house right on the ocean so I grew up fantasizing about the Little Mermaid. Second is the material of the actual shirt; it’s super swingy and has a jersey feel to it- perfect for hot days and cool nights! I can’t wait to wear this with color bandeaus, too!

Lately, I have also been loving bandanas. I couldn’t find a picture of my current favorite online, but it’s from Aerie and is teal with a peach and navy design. I have always been obsessed with head bands (as seen here, here, and here) so bandanas just seemed like an natural extension of my love for these hair accessory! I love wearing them with my hair in a ponytail or bun- cute and super simple.

Lastly, I have been adoring Essie’s new nail polish, “A Cut Above.” This polish is described as “shattered pink diamond glitz” and it has of the smoothest glitter polish formulas I have tried! I was at first skeptical of the pale pink color- I don’t really like pastel polish on me since I’m not exceptionally tan- but I have totally fallen in love with this hue! The glitter comes in two sizes and layers really nicely. One of my best friends and I recently bought this polish together and she did 2 coats and I did 5 (it dries pretty quick, promise!) and they both looked equally flattering and eye catching. And at $8 a bottle I will for sure be stocking up on this polish!

KONY 2012- Make Him Famous

by Julia

Hey everyone! I’m so sorry for such a long absence- things have been crazy, busy on my end, but I hope you all have been enjoying the New Year, Valentines Day, and this beautiful March!

Before I return to my regular fashion-based posts I want to pass along a very important message to all of you. I’m not sure how many of you have already heard of Joseph Kony (hopefully a lot), the leader of the LRA in Uganda. He is the man behind the thousands of child soldiers AKA Invisible Children that are abducted, given a gun, and made into killers at a very young age. He has got to be stopped… and we can do it if we have everyone’s participation. Please watch the video linked below: change lives, change the world. Please share this with everyone you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

 

Maybelline Bouncy Blush

by Julia

Recently out, Maybelline’s newest product is ground breaking! Dream Bouncy Blush is exactly what it sounds like: a blush that bounces back to the touch! And since it has Maybelline’s famous “Dream” adjective in front of it, it’s bound to be soft and moose like. Not only is it a good price ($8.00), but the colors are to die for! These blushes are incredibly soft and super fun! I can’t wait to try out all the colors!

Two Thousand Eleven

by Julia

2011 was wonderful and magical year for me, and I hope it gave you all lovely memories to look back on. Some things that truly made it special for me was: my grandmother turned 90, I saw my favorite singer (Taylor Swift) in concert, my older brother went to college, I got into MY first choice for college, my mom reached her 5 years cancer free, and I reached my senior year of high school. I have so many things to be thankful for and I hope you do to. Here’s to a happy, healthy, fun, creative, and new year. Enjoy! Cheers, Julia of RG