Kidogo Kidogo Giveaway!

Happy Monday everyone!

I'm back with an amazing giveaway for you all! Besides doing giveaways, one of my favorite things to do on my blog is highlight brands with a social conscience.When Kim, co-founder of Kidogo Kidogo, reached out to me I knew I had to help spread the word about her brand! To over simplify things a bit, Kidogo Kidogo sells iPhone cases. But wait, there's much more to the story! For every purchase they donate a cell phone to a woman in need. Let's file this away in the 'Why didn't I think of that?" category.

If Kidogo Kidogo sounds like a foreign language to you, that's because it is. Kidogo Kidogo means "little by little" in Swahili. The main mission of this company is to put technology in the hands of women in Tanzania. When you buy one of their iPhone cases, you're doing a lot more than just purchasing a new accessory. For each case they sell, Kim and her sister purchase a cell phone for a women in Tanzania. There, cell phones are pre-paid and owners can purchase credits at shops all around the country.

We all know that cellphones are much more than just a way to communicate now. They're a watch, a flashlight, a calculator, a camera, a radio and so much more! In Tanzania, mobile banking is also gaining popularity, and these cell phones help women make secure baking transactions.

How do the women get these phones? Well, the phones are distributed through established non-profit partners already working in Tanzania. They are also currently partnered with FINCA, a global charitable microfinance organization, whose mission is to provide financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets, and improve their standard of living. Also, they have partnered with an environmental NGO in Tanzania, Sea Sense, and designed an adorable case featuring a sea turtle design. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the sea turtle case will be distributed to Sea Sense who works closely with coastal communities in Tanzania to conserve and protect endangered marine species.

See all of the cases here!

So now that you know about the company, it's time for the giveaway! By entering below, you could win the case of your choice from the Kidogo Kidogo website! Please note that they currently only make iPhone cases and only for the 4/4s and 5/5s models! I'm starting the contest today (March 31st) and it will run until April 9th at midnight (eastern time). There are only a few simple rules:

1. Entries must be domestic (United States only--sorry!)

2. As always, honesty is the best policy! I will be checking entries and I reserve the right to pick another winner if I find entries to be dishonest.

3. I will contact the winner via e-mail or twitter depending on what information I have from you. You will then need to respond with what case style/design you would like. If I don't hear from you within a reasonable amount of time (usually a few days) I will have to pick another winner.

That's it! Sorry to be so formal (it's so unlike me, I know!) I just want to make sure there is zero confusion with the process. But that's it, you can enter below and good luck! Don't forget to comment on this post and tell me what case you would pick if you won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


P.S. If you have any more questions or would like to know more about this company, don't hesitate to contact Kim! She's the sweetest and will be happy to answer any questions you have or just chat!

 

March Blogger Swap!

My first time participating in the March love in a box blogger swap! I was paired up with Sabrina from Simply Sabrina! Before I chat more about the swap, go check out her blog! She has amazing style and posts the best outfit ideas. Go give her some love and tell her I sent you!

First off, I think we can all agree that Sabrina did an amazing job! Between Estée Lauder, Zoya and healthysexyhair I was in heaven! I swear that bloggers all have this telepathy thing going on. We all know exactly what other bloggers love! The only thing I loved more than getting a box myself was picking out all the goodies to send back to her! Seriously I love shopping for gifts, and I'm already plotting what I'm going to give my April swap!

Here's an inventory of what I got from Sabrina:

1. Pop Beauty lipgloss
2. Estée Lauder makeup remover
3. Healthysexyhair leave-in conditioner
4. Zoya nail polish
5. Green statement earrings
6. Cross necklace
7. Bronze cream eyeshadow

Everything in the box fit me perfectly! I already use the leave-in conditioner almost everyday! Seriously, how did she know?! It's the telepathy thing, I'm telling you. Tons of thanks again to Sabrina for giving me an amazing box!

Also, if you're a blogger and are interested in signing up to do the blog swap, I believe they're still accepting people for April! Go sign up today so you don't miss out, it's so much fun! Sign up here!

I can't wait to see who I get paired with for April!

xo Sydney

T.M.I Tag

So this TAG has been going around like crazy on YouTube! I don't have my camera set-up yet, but fingers-crossed I will soon. In the meantime, I thought it would be a fun change of pace to answer them on the blog! There are so many different versions of this that I basically just picked out the questions I wanted to answer. So this definitely isn't the exact TAG you've seen but it's my own unique spin on it!

Let's get started, shall we?


1. What are you wearing? 
I'm currently sitting in my bed wearing pajamas and fuzzy socks. That's pretty much my uniform when I'm being lazy at home. 

2. Do you have any tattoos?
YES! I have one on my wrist and I want more! 

3. Piercings?
Just my ears...although I have considered a belly button ring. I'm too scared though!

4. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 
I'm actually really quick at getting ready in the morning! I can usually do everything in under 30 minutes!

5. How tall are you?
5'10'' ... I'm really tall!

6. Zodiac sign? 
My birthday is July 14 so I think that makes me a Cancer? I honestly don't really pay attention to zodiac or know anything about it.

7. Favorite quote?
This is probably the hardest question ever! I really love one by Maya Angelou that says "Success is linking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." 

8. OTP (One true pairing)? 
Cory and Topanga from Boy Meets World...always! 

9. What are your fears?
Wow, this is pretty deep! Honestly, right now my fears are mostly about the future. For example, failing a final exam, not getting a job, being homeless etc.

10. Favorite TV show?
I actually did an entire blog post about this! Just go read that, I have too many favorites! 

11. Favorite flavor of candy?
PEACH. I'm obsessed with peach flavored everything! Also, anything that mixes chocolate with a fruity flavor. So chocolate covered strawberries are basically my favorite thing ever. 

12. Favorite song?
John Legend's 'Ordinary People'. Also anything by Lana del Rey and Coldplay.  Other bands/artists come and go, but they're my all time favorites.

13. Last song you sang out loud?
One Direction's 'What Makes You Beautiful'. Hey, at least I'll admit it, right? It's impossible not to sing along if that song comes on!

14. A place to visit?
London and Australia are currently at the top of my list. Honestly though, there are SO many places I want to travel to!

15. Favorite color?
This is really hard. Probably light gray? That's weird but I love any light, neutral colors! Also navy blue and blush pink are gorgeous! 

16. Have you ever been in a physical fight?
Hahahaha no! Definitely not! I've thought about punching someone in the face before (though I would never actually do it!), but that would probably do more damage to my hand than their face. I'm a total wimp. 

That's it! Is it weird that I love answering random fun questions like that? I really want to start doing more posts like this!

Most of these TAGs had 50 questions, but that seemed like way too many to fit into a blog post! I definitely don't want to bore anyone. Rather than tag specific people, I'm tagging anyone who reads this! If you want to answer these questions please do! I'd love to hear your responses so leave them or a link to your blog post in the comments!

xo Sydney

You Smell Nice

I feel the need for a bit of a disclaimer before I begin this post: I am in no way a scent connoisseur. Honestly, I know next to nothing about perfume! Most days I'm lazy and I forget to wear it altogether. But I still love it anyway. Probably because I have an irrational fear of smelling bad. It can be sweaty body odor, bad breath, any bad smell really. Watch this clip of Spongebob to get a better idea of how I feel the world reacts when I don't smell so great:

Yeah, I'm probably overreacting but it's a serious concern of mine! Also, other people smelling bad or having noticeable BO is one of my biggest pet peeves. I'm always the girl that gets stuck next to the smelly homeless guy on the bus. No offense intended to homeless people, they just don't smell that great. So in order to avoid burning the face off of other people, I always try and load up on perfume before I leave the house! In the likely case that I forget, I'm usually carrying a bottle with me at all times.

Since I know nothing about scents, the way I decide if I stick with a perfume or not is based on the reactions of other people. This might sound shallow, but I love getting the 'you smell nice!' compliment. Don't we all? Typically a scent that I gravitate towards will be described as "floral" or "fresh" and sometimes "fruity". I really have no idea what those words mean! But, rather than repeat myself a thousand times in this post, all of these perfumes are along those lines! So here we go:

1. Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche
I'm pretty sure 'fraiche" means "fresh" in French, but don't quote me on that. That would make sense though, wouldn't it?  Like I said, I love scents that are 'fraiche' and clean and not heavy at all. I'm definitely not one for the musky, 'Abercrombie & Fitch model' scent. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Abercrombie & Fitch models, but I want them to smell like that. Not me.

2. Vera Wang Princess
Now, I've never met a princess in real life, but I'm pretty sure she would smell just like this. This aptly name concoction was actually the first perfume I ever owned! Major 'awwww' moment right? I'm basically all out of this and I've been meaning to repurchase it for a while! When fickle old me buys something again, you better believe it's good! 

3. Coach Poppy
I actually stole this one from my sister. Oops! Oh well, she never wore it anyway (probably because she never had a chance to). This is the sweetest smelling of all three of them and would probably give most people a serious headache. I'm all about the sweet scents though, so I can practically bathe in this stuff! 


And that's it! That's not my entire perfume collection (we'd be here for a while if I showed you that) but those are my favorites! Plus they always rake in the compliments, and if you don't want that then you're definitely lying to yourself. What's your go-to scent? Tell me in the comments, I'm looking for a new one to try!

xo Sydney

Help A Sister Out!

Hello lovelies!

Today, I have a very special task for you all! My sweet, gorgeous, amazing blogger friend Megan from Lush to Blush is taking part in an incredible contest and she needs your help!

Because of her fantastic style, Megan is a finalist in the "Boyfriend Jeans Challenge." Basically this contest is being held by Skype and she could win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to London! You all know how obsessed I am with London, and while I'm extremely jealous she might have this opportunity, I knew I had to help out!

Voting for Megan is super easy and takes less than 30 seconds. I know we can definitely help her win, so please take a second (or 30) to vote!

VOTE HERE! 

Want to know a little more? You can read Megan's original post about the contest here! You can also read more by going directly to the voting page here! Remember to vote for Megan Elliot!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and vote! I know Megan really appreciates it!

xo Sydney

How Pinteresting

It's not a secret that I'm obsessed with Pinterest. I think pretty much everyone is. If you're not obsessed with it, what are you doing with you life? Productive things? Oh, ok then, carry on.

If you're like me and like to waste the day away doing unproductive things, then keep reading. Pinterest (and, admittedly, also Tumblr) are downward spirals for me. I go on for a quick 5 minute study break and a few hours later I've lost all motivation for school work and life in general. Since that's (already) happened more than a few times this week, I decided it would be fun to share a few things I found on Pinterest that I'm going crazy for! This was extremely hard to narrow down because there are oodles of gorgeous/delicious/adorable/creative/pure genius/(insert another adjective here) pins to be pinned. I'm always looking for new people to follow, so let's be Pinterest friends! Ok, now on the good stuff:

1. How gorgeous are these peonies?! The blue and white vase they're in is just perfect and really makes them stand out! Not only does this make me so glad it's spring, but I also makes me wish I had my own (non-college) apartment to decorate! Some day, I will have a vase of peonies just like this!

2. These DIY pom-pom balloons are just about the cutest things ever. I'm dying to have a party now (any kind of party really!) just so I can make these. Of course my birthday has to be all the way in July...boo!

3. There really isn't anything better than deep fried ravioli. They're one of my favorite foods ever! I love non-deep fried ravioli too, but frying just makes everything better. There's nothing revolutionary about this recipe, they just looked too good, I had to include them!

4. Pinterest has some of the best quotes! I could spend hours and hours searching through words of wisdom boards. I saw this one and thought it was too perfect.

5. This week was full of intense studying. But really, when aren't I doing intense studying? The College Prepster pulls through once again and gives some great advice for pulling crazy study sessions! I should definitely try and plan out my life as perfectly as Carly does.

6. One of my favorite things to do is take a long, hot bath. These homemade lavender and chamomile bath melts look so heavenly! It's the perfect way to de-stress. That's something that I really need more often!

7. I saved the best for last! Of course I had to have two food pins on here. I am obsessed with oatmeal pies! The only thing better is oatmeal cupcakes! I'm seriously already pulling out my mixing cups and bowls to whip these babies up. They look SO good.

What are some inspiring things you've found on pinterest this week? Follow me to stay up to date on what I'm pinning!

xo Sydney

Singing in the Rain

Classic Trench Coat// H&M Blouse// Henri Bendel Umbrella// Longchamp Le Pliage Tote// Dark Wash Skinny Jeans//  J. Crew Necklace// Hunter Original Tall Rain Boots 

Spring is almost officially here and it's by far my favorite season! Although I love it, living in Florida means dealing with rain--a lot of rain. It rains in Florida consistently all year round, but Spring and Summer are the worst! I don't love the rain, but I definitely know what I'm doing now when it comes to dressing for it.

For me, the most important element are rainboots! With all the old sidewalks around campus the puddles are brutal--you practically have to swim through them. I was finally fed up with having soggy shoes so I invested in a pair of Hunters. I cringed at the thought of spending $140 but they really are so worth it!

Next, is (obviously) a good old umbrella. I bring one with me every single day. Seriously, I don't leave the house without it because it will rain if I don't. That isn't just a theory anymore, it's a fact. In Florida, it never just rains. No, it hurricanes and monsoons and if you're not prepared, you will look like you just swam laps in the pool.

The rest is really up to you! I always like to stay pretty warm when it rains, because being rain-soaked in the air conditioning is the worst. First world problems, am I right? I love a classic trench coat so this is the perfect opportunity to rock one! Also, jeans and a white top are necessary because that's basically what I wear everyday. I told you, I'm really not that interesting.

Shop some more of my favorites here:

What's your go-to outfit for braving the crazy spring weather? Tell me in the comments!


 xo Sydney

Tea Time

Happy Saturday Everyone! 

I know I say this every weekend, but I don't think I've ever been so happy that it's Saturday before. It was a long, long, week of exams, essays and just annoying life stuff. But now, finally, I can do nothing but sit in bed, write up some blog posts, and drink a nice cup of tea! Pretty good segway there, right?

Truth be told, I wasn't always a fan of tea. That's putting in lightly, I downright hated the stuff. I thought it tasted like dirt, leaves and sticks and who would want to drink that? In my defense, some tea does taste like that. I just loved sugary Starbucks lattes too much and tea pales in comparison.  In the coffee-vs-tea I will still choose coffee every time #sorrynotsorry. But once I (reluctantly) realized I should be healthier, I opened my eyes to the world of tea. Turns out there was much more to it than dirt, leaves and sticks. So I'm sharing some of my picks for your next tea time. These choices are perfect if you want to drink tea but don't really like it that much...if that makes sense? 

 

Tazo Wild Sweet Orange

Yogi Peach DeTox

Arizona Green Tea

The Republic of Tea 'Get Gorgeous'

Celestial Antioxidant Green Tea

Stash Tea Company Wild Raspberry Hibiscus

Tazo Passion Tea

Good Earth Vanilla White Tea   

And that's it! As you can see, they're pretty much all sweet and fruity teas. Oh well, I like what I like you know? Also, for someone who proclaims to not like tea very much, I have a lot of it. That could also just be my hoarding problem. I hope you enjoyed and leave me some tea recommendations in the comments! 

Side note- I've also been messing around with new blog design and I'd love to hear some feedback! I liked my last design, but I'm really trying to make my blog simpler and more true to my style. I love that this design is super clean but still a little quirky. I feel like it better suits my personality! What do you think??

xo Sydney

Say Yes To The Dress

Ok, is anyone else as obsessed with the show 'Say Yes To The Dress' as I am? I really hope so, and if you're not, you should be. Shame on you. I kid of course, but seriously, it's a good show! I'm talking about the original, at Kleinfeld in New York City. Not the one in Atlanta or wherever they have a spinoff now. I used to watch the marathons every time they were on TLC! And maybe I still do, but that's besides the point.

The point of this post is: dresses, why you should say 'yes' to them, and which ones you should wear. Dresses are, by far, my favorite thing to wear in spring and summer are dresses! They're super easy to throw on and you don't even have to think about it! I love it when I don't have to think. Sometimes my brain just needs a rest.

So when you're shopping for your spring wardrobe, stock up on dresses! You won't go back. Shop some of my favorites below! Warning: pretty much all of them are from either Forever 21, J. Crew, or H&M. It's pretty obvious where I like to shop.

Forever 21 Day Dresses · Forever 21 Dresses · J.Crew Day Dresses


What's dominating your wardrobe for spring? Dresses? Skirts? Shorts? Tell me in the comments!

xo Sydney 

5 Minute Makeup

This week is a crazy one. For some reason, the test Gods are plotting against me this week and I have four exams in a matter of 36 hours. Life is just cruel some times isn't it? Whenever I have a super busy week, the last thing I want to do is spend hours getting ready. I'm tired, I really don't care what I look like. However, rather than scare the $%*# out of everyone at the library, I devised a quick and easy makeup look! This one takes 5 minutes (sometimes less!) and leaves me looking (somewhat) like an actual human being! Let's go:

1. Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation 
I'm probably the last person to try this foundation, but I recently picked it up at the drugstore and I love it! I usually steer clear of wearing foundations on a daily basis, but this one has really light and natural looking coverage so I don't mind it. 

2. Rimmel Natural Bronzer 
Admittedly, not my favorite bronzer. It's the only one I have at the moment, however, so I'm making it work! Don't get me wrong, it's not horrible it's just not fabulous either.  I feel like bronzer is necessary after the foundation to give a little shape to my face and make me look alive. It has a shimmer in it, which I'm not a fan of but it doesn't make me look orange! For a pale person like me, that's definitely a plus!
 
3. bareMinerals Flawless Application Brush
Brushes aren't really my area of expertise (I usually just use whatever one is laying around at the time) but I really do like this one!  I use this to apply the bronzer and it does a great job. As you can tell from the photo, I really need to stop being lazy and clean it.

4. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
I love cream eye shadows because I'm really lazy and they're really easy to apply! This color looks great and doesn't take hours to blend in. Plus it won't crease or wear off throughout the day which is super important to me. 

5. Urban Decay Naked Basics 
I use the lightest color in this to highlight a little if I have time. Also, I use the light brown shade to fill in my eyebrows if I feel like they need it. My eyebrows are weird like that. Sometimes they need filling in, sometimes they don't! 

 6. Maybelline The Falsies Mascara 
The best mascara! Seriously, I've tried basically every mascara you can get at the drugstore and I always come back to using this one. I have long lashes, but this takes them to another level! Plus, you don't have to put on like 5 coats to get good results! One coat and you're done--great for a quick look!

7. Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
For everyday, nothing beats a pink lip balm in my book! This one is fab because it matches my natural lip color really well! Also it's really moisturizing, which I love, and the color lasts a long time. The Lip Butters are a staple in my makeup collection, I have about five of them randomly floating around at the bottom of my purse!


So that's it, I'm back to studying now! What's your 5 minute makeup routine? Any products I should try? Give me your recommendations in the comments!

xo Sydney

Starbucks Giveaway!

 Hooray for another giveaway! You know what makes any Monday morning (a little) better? Coffee. Always coffee! My Kate Spade giveaway is still going strong, but this time I'm pairing up with some other awesome bloggers to do a Starbucks Giveaway! I'm a HUGE Starbucks addict, a just a coffee addict in general. I actually used to work at Starbucks last year, and boy was that an experience, but that's a different story for a different day. If you love coffee as much as me and my co-hosts, this is the giveaway for you!

First of all, a massive thanks goes out to Kerri for putting this giveaway together! She's fabulous and you must go and check out her blog! Also, shout-out to my other co-host  Rebeka from Southern Ervin Living! Go check out her blog also and support my fellow southern girl! Ok, now on to the giveaway: 



Kerri / Rebeka / Sydney

a Rafflecopter giveaway      

P.S. I actually have TWO giveaways going right now! Want to enter for a chance to win $100 to Kate Spade? I thought so, well then just click here to go over and enter!  

Kate Spade Giveaway!

Happy Sunday!

Confession: giveaways are probably my favorite thing to do now! After my first giveaway ended last week, I couldn't wait to do an another one! So this week, I'm lucky enough to be a part of not one, but two amazing group giveaways! The first one up is a big one. Snaps for Allison of Allison Leighann for being the mastermind behind all this. She's amazing, and I know you'll love her blog so go check it out! Anyway, back to the giveaway! For this one I teamed up with 13 other fabulous bloggers to give one lucky reader of our blogs an amazing prize: a Kate Spade gift card! Y'all know how much I love Kate Spade...I'm dying to enter this myself! That's not allowed though, so please enter so I can live vicariously through you! There are also two other amazing prizes that the winner will also receive. Check it out:

$100 to Kate Spade

Bow Decal

Half Glitter/Half Pink Canvas

There aren't many rules - participants can be from anywhere!

However, please do not follow someone to just unfollow them a day later.

Entries will be checked!

So please make sure to be honest with your entries. :)

I wish you all good luck and hope you find these women to be as charming and beautiful as I do.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
xo Sydney

How To: Celebrate St. Patricks Day

Happy almost-St. Patrick's day everyone! Admittedly, this is one holiday that I usually let pass without a big fuss. Meaning, I definitely don't go the pub and drown myself with Guinness. So I decided to formulate a plan to celebrate in a little more subdued way: eating, watching movies and shopping. My three favorite things to do! Check out my top ways to celebrate this year and tell me how you'll be celebrating!

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1. Drink A Shamrock Shake

Oh boy! Forget St. Patrick's day, shamrock shakes are one of my favorite things about the month of March. I don't know what makes these things so good! I'm usually not a fan of mint-flavored things but I love these!  If you're not into supporting fast food chains (I totally get you) Yahoo posted this awesome article that shows how easy it is to make your own. Check it out!

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2. Watch The Luck of the Irish

Does anyone else miss the old days of Disney Channel original movies as much as me? 'The Luck of The Irish' is one of my favorites!  To sum it up super quickly: a guy turns into a leprechaun...and basketball has something to do with it. Ok, I don't remember the plot much myself, so I'm due to watch it again! I couldn't find anywhere to watch it online, so if you know a place please share! I have a bunch of these old movies on VHS though...yes, I still have a VHS player. Although, I'm not sure if it still works!

3. Shopping!

The best way to celebrate any holiday, really, is to shop. So, use St. Patrick's day as an excuse to add a little pop of green to your wardrobe! Although I'm a strict budget at the moment, I couldn't help but create a little wishlist of green things I would buy. Check out my pics below:

J.Crew Cashmere Sweaters · ModCloth Day Dresses · Target Necklaces



How will you be celebrating St. Patrick's day? Crafting, eating, or pub crawling?! Tell me in the comments!

xo Sydney

5 TV Shows You Must Watch

If there's one thing you should know about me it's that I love TV. I love everything from Keeping Up With The Kardashians to Live! With Kelly and Michael (formerly Regis). Yes, I actually watch that show because I'm actually a 70 year old grandma. Anyway, my point is, I really love me a good TV show. My favorite thing in the world to do is curl up in comfy clothes, eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's and binge-watch some Netflix. I can't be the only one who loves to do this! So next time you're planning a night in here are five shows I can't get enough of:

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1. Scandal

Over spring break, I sat down and watched every episode of scandal on Netflix and Hulu plus. I had heard SO much talk about the show that I finally caved and decided I had to check it out. Thank god  I did! I really don't know what I was doing with my life before I started watching this show. That sounds melodramatic but it's really not because the show is that good. 

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2. Parks and Rec

If you have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor (like me!) and love pop culture references in your comedy, this is the perfect show for you.  I binged-watch this show over the summer and some of my all-time favorite jokes come from this show. Without it, we wouldn't have Galentine's day! I'm a huge Amy Poehler fan, so it doesn't hurt that she's the star and the brains behind the show. Go watch it, if you haven't already, it's just hilarious!

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3. Revenge 

If you love Scandal, you'll probably love Revenge too. It's a similar idea--totally different plot line, but lots and lots of drama! Gotta love the drama! What I love about this show is that when it starts to get boring and kind of ridiculous the writers pull some magic and BOOM! It gets really good again and I can't stop watching.  This is one show that I love watching just to see what drama and plot twist comes up next! Also, I really want Emily's double infinity tattoo...it might be my next one!

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4. Modern Family 

Oh modern family, how I love thee! I own every single episode of Modern Family. Yes, every single one. I think I've seen each episode at least five times and it still never gets old! The day it became syndicated on USA was probably the best day of my life. Is that pathetic? Regardless, I'm obsessed with this show! It's hilarious, earnest and just warms my heart. Somehow, the writers always manage story lines that are funny and entertaining but still realistic. It really feels like it's your family!

 

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5. How I Met Your Mother 

 This show is kind of a sensitive topic for me right now because there are only 3 episodes left! Only 3! I started watching this show when I was in sixth grade...and I'm now a sophomore in college. Crazy! After nine seasons, HIMYM will always hold a special place in my heart. Yes, it can be cheesy at times but that's exactly why I love it so much. Every season (except the current one, I believe) is on Netflix, so go have a serious power marathon if you've never seen it! I will be bawling my eyes on March 31st when the series finale airs. I'm tearing up just thinking about it!


Ok, now that I've shared what I love watching right now I have a challenge for you! In the comments, pitch me your favorite show and why you love it so much! I'm looking for another show to binge-watch on Netflix so sell me on one! Also, feel free to chat about how much you also love any of the shows I listed here. I'd love to discuss theories/rave about how wonderful it is! 

xo Sydney 

Scallops For Spring

Topshop Scallop Neck Tank// Dorothy Perkins Black Scallop Hem Shorts// ASOS Scalloped Satchel// Kate Spade Scallop Bangle// Chloé Scalloped Leather Ballet Flats// Mint Scallop Statement Necklace// Random Jar of Tulips 

This might be news to some of you, but I'm obsessed with scallops. I'm not talking about the shellfish, I really don't enjoy eating those. Scalloped hems and edges have been popping up all over the place this spring and I'm super excited about it!

My obsession first started when I purchased the infamous J. Crew scalloped dress! I Think it's still available in the factory store, so hurry before it's too late! It's crazy how fast things at J. Crew can sell out--add a scalloped hem and it goes exponentially quicker! Anyway, it all started when I bought that dress and now pretty much every purchase I've been making for my spring wardrobe has some sort of scalloped feature. I love how it can take a classic (dare I say 'boring'!) piece and make it a little more interesting! It's still classy though, not like fringe. Sorry to all you fringe lovers out there but I detest fringe.

Another purchase I recently made is actually featured in the picture! It's this gorgeous scalloped satchel from ASOS. I really should have known better than to just aimlessly browse the ASOS website. That's so dangerous, I want everything! If you're interested, the bag is on sale right now for just over $30 which is an amazing deal! I'm an instigator #sorrynotsorry

Ok, enough rambling about scallops! I'd love to know what you're favorite trends for spring are? Are you loving scallops or are you over it? Let's chat in the comments!

xo Sydney

Mind the GAP

Confession time: I've recently fallen in love with everything on the Gap website! In all honesty, I used to think that Gap was the ugly stepsister to J. Crew. I couldn't have been more wrong! Their new spring arrivals have me drooling! Check 'em out:

 

 Pastels and stripes galore! I think I seriously just fell in love! I did place a big order last week and once it comes in I'm planning on doing a haul/outfit posts with all my new goodies!

What are some brands you're loving for spring? Any surprises?! Please share in the comments I'm still looking to expand my spring/summer wardrobe!

xo Sydney  

All images from Gap 

Manicure Monday

  

It's mani Monday! I know, I know, I just did a post about nail polish last Thursday. But honestly, I've really been loving nail polish lately, and I'm not sure why! For someone as perpetually lazy as I am, changing my nail polish twice in five days is a huge deal! Usually I just let my nail polish go until it's all chipped off. It's disgusting, but hey, it's the truth.

This time I chose another old favorite of mine, Essie's 'Butler Please'. Essie is probably my favorite brand of nail polish. I'm sure I'm mentioned that a thousand times before, but really, I love their color selection and formula! It always lasts a really long time on my nails. And again, because I'm so lazy, that's really important! 

I love, love, love this color because it's cobalt blue! I love cobalt blue so much I actually dedicated an entire blog post to it! This color is pretty daring for me, but I love that it still manages to look really chic. Edgy + chic = the perfect combo! 

What are you wearing on your nails this week? Any shade or brand I need to try next week? Tell me in the comments! 

xo Sydney

TAG: Blog Your Heart Out

I was tagged! Horray! This is my first time being tagged and, as you can probably tell, I'm pretty excited about it. First of all, thank you SO much to Sarah from Seriously Shallow for tagging me! Also, I really love the name of her blog. If all blog names were honest, I think they'd all be called 'Seriously Shallow'.

So, now on the questions! In case you're new to tagging, basically there's 5 questions for me to answer and then I tag some others to do the post!

Questions:

1. Who/what encouraged you to start blogging?

This is a good question! I guess I encouraged myself to start blogging? I had always wanted to start a blog I was just a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing. My biggest influences in wanting to start a blog were the other bloggers that I read consistently! Carly from The College Prepster and Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere are two bloggers that (unknowingly) gave me the push to start blogging! I really admire how they've managed to turn their blogs into a full-blown business. While I don't really see my blog taking off like that, I definitely admire their business-savvy skills! That got a bit off topic, but seeing that drive and love for blogging really turned me on to the idea of starting my own!

2. How did you choose what topics to start blogging about?

I blog about random things that I love! So that's typically a lot of beauty and fashion things and also some recipes and random musings about life thrown in. There's honestly no science behind what I choose to blog about. I don't really do 'research' into trends or what other bloggers are talking about. I just blog about things that I like! 

3. What is something most people don't know about you?

Oh gosh! There are so many things. Probably that I have a deathly fear of choking and issues with claustrophobia. I can't eat hard candy, lollipops or anything of the sort because I'm too afraid of choking. Is that weird? Probably but I just can't do it! And I can't be around someone else when they're eating anything like that either. Also, I get seriously claustrophobic. I'm kind of embarrassed by it, so I try to hide it as much as possible. The whole not being able to breathe thing just really messes with me! I think that explain the fear of choking also.

4. What three words describe your style?

Haha I always struggle to describe my style! Mostly because it changes on an almost daily basis. I guess three words would be: feminine, simple and classic. 

5. What do you love to do when you are not blogging?

Sit in my pajamas, eat ice cream and watch movies. True story! It might sound lame and really unadventurous to some but nothing makes me happier than that!

Ok so that's it! Just five, simple questions! I really like this tag because it's short and sweet but still lets you know a little more about me! So I tag any bloggers reading this that want to share a little more with their readers! Just answer these 5 questions and let me know that you did!

Tag, you're it!

xo Sydney

Image from Pinterest

Midi Skirts

1. Tibi Nacy Jacquard Full Skirt

2. Topshop Pink Button Through Midi Skirt 

3. Topshop Moto Floral Midi Skirt  

4. River Island Two-tone Pleated Midi Skirt  

5. Joie Fola Skirt  

6. River Island Coral Pleated Midi Skirt  

Raise your hand if you're ready for spring! Yeah, I thought so. I'm going to try to do a little spring series on here where I highlight some fun trends that I'm loving! Usually, I'm awful at following trends. Honestly, I wear what I like and what I feel comfortable in. If it's trendy, great! If it isn't, oh well! 

This spring, I'm going to be wear midi skirts (and dresses!) probably everyday. Midi is the new maxi anyway, in case you hadn't already heard. I'm loving the midi trend because, since I'm so tall, maxi skirts ended up being midi skirts on me anyway. There's something very retro-chic about the length. It's feminine and conservative but doesn't look as heavy as wearing a maxi skirt. Does that make sense? I don't know, whenever I see someone wearing a maxi skirt, I start sweating! Plus showing some ankle is pretty scandalous, am I right? 

Anyway, I'm hoping to push myself out of my comfort zone and wear one in a bright, spring color! I'm really loving the hot pink one from Topshop! I originally thought it was a little bit overwhelming. That much bubblegum pink can make me sick! But I'm actually really loving it! And it's only $60 which is a really good price!

What are some spring trends that you can't wait to rock? Tell me in the comments, I need more inspiration for my spring wardrobe! 

xo Sydney

Waterlogue

I've officially jumped on the waterlogue band wagon. Does this sound like a foreign language? Allow me to enlighten you.

That's waterlogue. Goregous right? Basically, it's an iPhone app that turns your photos into beautiful watercolor paintings in a matter of seconds. I had no idea this app even existed until everyone's favorite blogger Carly (a.k.a The College Prepster ) posted about it. Since I'm a devout reader of her blog, I decided that if it was good enough for her it was good enough for me! Click to see her original post here, it's quite cool!

Anyway, I'm a wannabe Carly-clone so I downloaded it and haven't regretted it since! By the way, it isn't free. I know, I know I complained about it at first too and almost didn't pay for it. Almost.  Honestly, I think it might be the best $3 I've ever spent. Besides the $3 I donated to help feed homeless kids at the grocery store this morning...I guess that was nice, too.

Ok, enough rambling about a stupid app. Just go download it now! Oh, and make sure to post your pics to Instagram so I can see! Follow me here and I'll follow back! I can't wait so see the beautiful works of art y'all come up with! 

What other apps are you loving right now? Anything I NEED to download?! Tell me in the comments!

xo Sydney

Manicure Thursday

So I missed manicure Monday...by about three days. So instead, I'm going to try to make Manicure Thursday a thing! Admittedly, it doesn't have the same ring to it, but for one week I think it should be ok! This week I went back to an old favorite: Essie's Mint Candy Apple!

I've loved this color for years, mostly because I'm really trendy and obsessed with anything mint. If you're not obsessed with mint, you're obviously lying.

What's your classic,  go-to nail polish shade? Tell me!

xo Sydney

Leather and Plaid

 

You'll have to excuse the lack of photos in this post because I'm struggling a bit with my camera skills. I really need to invest in a nice, digital SLR camera, but they're just so darn expensive! Oh well, I guess it's an investment, right? I'm just really unhappy with how my photos are turning out! Also, I need to work on my modeling skills but that's a different issue.

I've been planning on posting this look for a long time! I feel it might be a bit out of season since spring is near (yay!) but for those of you still braving the snow this is a good option! You'd probably need to add a coat, but still! I've had this Topshop (faux) leather jacket for the longest time! You can see that I've grown out of it a bit in the arms (it's just a littleee to short) but I still love it!

Since I love going for the classic + edgy combo, I paired it with a classic J. Crew plaid button-down and my favorite pair of Bauble Bar pearls. I also added my favorite black booties that are actually from Target! You can honestly find the best stuff at Target! It takes a bit of luck, but they've been putting out some really chic stuff lately! 

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Wednesday! Don't forget to enter my awesome Chloe + Isabel giveaway that went up yesterday! 

What I'm wearing:  

Topshop jacket//J. Crew plaid top// H&M circle skirt// 

 Target booties and tights// Bauble Bar pearl necklace

xo Sydney

Chloe + Isabel Giveaway!

 

You like? Well you're in luck! For my first giveaway, I'm going to be sending one lucky reader this amazing necklace from Chloe + Isabel! In case you didn't know, I work as one of their merchandisers. So basically it's my job to sell the jewellery! 

Chole + Isabel is a fashion jewelry brand devoted to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through social retail. Their handcrafted jewelry is sold exclusively through Merchandisers (like me!) in order to give them a more meaningful opportunity to make money and build their resumes with valuable skills. 

I've had an amazing experience with the company and highly recommend applying to become a merchansider yourself! You can find information all about it here! Also, if you want to see more of the jewellery, you can shop my boutique! Definitely check it out if you have a chance! Even if you don't love anything they have great outfit ideas and style tips. I'm constantly getting ideas from the website! 

So, back to the giveaway. Although I work for Chloe + Isabel I purchased this necklace myself (granted I did get a 50% discount on it) because it was one of the best sellers! I thought for my first giveaway, I wanted to give one of you something that was truly unique and special! I would love for you to enter and leave me a comment saying how you would style the necklace! 

xo Sydney 

(this is the necklace you will receive!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best Dressed- Oscars 2014

 Happy Monday! I'm sure you're pretty overwhelmed by/sick of hearing Oscar's news but I couldn't let an opportunity to chat about gorgeous dresses pass me by! I did a post like this for the Golden Globes and The SAG Awards but the Oscars are by far my favorite award show of the season. I was extra excited for this year because the nominees were awesome and my girl Ellen DeGeneres was hosting!

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1. Lupita Nyong'o
 Lupita was my favorite of the entire night. No competition! I really don't have the words to describe how much I love this dress. The color is gorgeous, and the whole this is so flow-y and gorgeous like the ethereal African goddess that she is. After a fashion moment like this and a major win for best supporting actress a huge fashion or beauty campaign is definitely in her near future.

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2. Jennifer Lawrence
Hooray for J-Law! My girl crush looked like perfection last night! I have to admit, I was kind of surprised she pulled out this look because I haven't been loving her red carpet looks lately. I mean, she always looks hot but sometimes I question her fashion choices (see my post about her Golden Globes dress here). I usually don't love peplum but her body looks bangin' so clearly I'm just bitter and jealous. Also, love her jewels and the color looks amazing on her. That's all I have to say really, just keep being amazing Jenn!

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3. Amy Adams
When I first saw this dress I thought: yawn! But then I realized this dress is everything I love in dress-form. It's sleek, simple and navy. Gorgeous! It's super-chic and it would have been the perfect dress to saunter up to the stage and accept that award.  I was really rooting for Amy to take home the prize last night. I feel like she's been nominated a thousand times! Ok maybe not a thousand, but still. I'm really cheering for her to win an Oscar sometime in the near future. There's always next year, Amy!

So that's it! I decided to keep my post simple because the internet is over flooded with Oscar-buzz at the moment and it's all kind of crazy. Oh, I almost forgot! If you haven't seen this selfie yet, where have you been hiding?

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Ellen posted this to Twitter/Instagram and seriously almost broke the internet.  I completely understand why. I mean, it's all my favorite people in one photo! I can't...there are no words! This is currently the wallpaper on my computer/iPhone/anywhere else I can find to put it. Someday when I go to the Oscars (LOL) I'm definitely taking an epic selfie like this.

Who was your best dressed last night? Any favorite moments? Tell me in the comments! 

xo Sydney

February Favorites

It's officially the first day of March, which means another month has come and gone. It's also Justin Beiber's birthday, so...yeah. Not sure why I even mentioned that because I really don't care. Anyway, it's time for my February favorites! I could gab on about how I can't believe it's March and the year is going by so fast and how my life is flashing before my eyes, but I'm sure you know/understand/have the same feelings so I'll just get to the products I'm loving right now! 

1. Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Scrub 
My skin hasn't had the best month. My usual Cetaphil just hasn't been cutting it lately. A friend recommended the Neturogena grapefruit line and I think I'm in love! It's not a miracle product, but it did help. It's also gentle, smells amazing, and it's pink! Bonus points for cuteness, obviously.

2. Estée Lauder 'DayWear' BB Cream 
I think I've found my new favorite makeup item. Ok, that's a pretty big statement, but I'm crazy in love with this BB cream right now. I hate wearing foundation during the day (or anytime really) so this is perfect. It's light, gives just enough coverage, isn't greasy, and has SPF. That's mega-important because I'm lazy and will always forget SPF if it's not in my makeup. 

3. First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
 I think I'm obsessed with this brand now. As someone with crazy sensitive skin, this brand is perfect! Everything is gentle yet effective and that combination is extremely hard to find. I think these face pads are the main reason my skin cleared up towards the end of the month. They give you that amazing glow but don't sting or burn the skin.

4. Sour Patch Kids
Ahem. These may be the reason my skin was acting up this month. Actually, my diet in general might be the reason. I've been on a junk food kick lately and it really needs to stop! And it will...tomorrow. 

5. Benefit Fake Up Concealer 
I talked about this when I did the post about all my favorites from Benefit but I've used this religiously this month! It's amazing for underneath you're eyes because it covers dark circles but looks natural. That's the most important thing for me. I hate the look of concealer caked on underneath the eyes. Yuck!

6. First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Purifying Mask
 My favorite face mask! I'm not a huge face mask person because most of the time they just really irritate my skin. This one is great because it cleans out those pores but doesn't dry out my skin. Never thought I'd fine one that does that! Seriously, all face masks dry out my skin. Even 'hydrating' ones! It's frustrating, but now that I found one that I like I'm sticking with it!


7. Estée Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Mascara
Two Estée Lauder products in one post? I think another brand favorites might be in order because I'm loving all of their stuff lately--or at least the two products I've tried. This mascara rivals the Benefit 'They're real!" as my favorite mascara. The length you get from this mascara is incredible! It does smudge a bit, but the dramatic look you get is more than worth it!

8. O.P.I Nail Polish in Samoan Sand 
I'm going to go ahead and declare this the most perfect nude shade ever. Ever! It's the only color I've worn all month. I could probably wear it everyday for the rest of my life and be just fine. Seriously, it goes so well with my skin tone because it's a slightly pink and apricot toned nude. Plus, nude nails make me look chic and sophisticated--well, as much as nail polish can.

So that's it for February favorites! I'd love to know the products you were obsessed with this month, so tell me in the comments! I'm looking for products to try out in March so please give me some awesome suggestions!

xo Sydney