Gift Guide for Valentine's Day

Top Row: Le Creuset Ennameled Cast Iron Heart // Stay Matte Lip Liquid (Fire Starter) // Champagne Truffles

Middle Row: Blessings Jar // Tapas Fondue Set // Heart-Shaped Measuring Spoons

Bottom Row: Coffee Mug Warmer // Double Heart Pendant Necklace // Peony Rose Water Candle

Hello, loves! Valentine’s Day is exactly one month away, and I thought it would be helpful to share this gift guide with y’all for fun ideas!

Though Valentine’s Day isn’t as big of a gift holiday as Christmas or someone’s birthday, there’s still is a lot of thought and creativity that goes into it when getting something for your partner or spouse. I remember being in elementary school and when we would get boxes full of sweet cards from every student with kind messages and compliments, it was something I definitely enjoyed. I honestly wish we could still do stuff like that in adulthood! Though this year I don’t have a partner to get a gift for, I think it’s still fun to share ideas like these, which are also good for parents, siblings, friends or other relatives as a way to let them know how much you care about them!

After doing a little research, I believe these gift ideas listed above would be PERFECT for that special someone, female or male! The heart-shaped necklace, measuring spoons, and cast iron are so cute and fun with the holiday, and usable for all year round! I absolutely love the idea of the fondue set, especially if you’re planning to stay in for your date night! Nothing says I love you more than cheese and chocolate fondue! Speaking of chocolate, I found these boxes of champagne truffles that are very popular and bestsellers around the holiday, so it made sense to include them in the gift guide. I’ve never actually had them, but they sound delicious. So if you end up getting them, let me know if they’re worth the purchase! The ceramic blessings jar might be my personal favorite. I think it’s such a sweet idea to use it as a way to count your blessings and remember what you’re grateful for. Altar’d State also has a really cute one for $24.00! The coffee mug warmer is also a really nice idea for that coffee lover who’s always warming their mug up but might be tired of using the microwave constantly. Even if they don’t like coffee, it’s great for tea, hot chocolate, apple cider and other hot beverages! Lately, I’ve been loving rose water scents, which is why I think this candle from Target makes a great little gift. It also has a touch of peony in it, and can be used when springtime comes along! Lastly, the Fire Starter Stay Matte lip liquid is my current favorite red lipstick, which is perfect for any gal who loves a little pop of vibrance, especially for a holiday with red as a signature color ❤️

What are y’all’s plans for Valentine’s this year? Or Galentine’s? Or both? Comment below and share with me!

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I Finally Graduated!

It’s finally official, y’all! A little over a week ago, I *virtually* graduated from college!

That’s right. Eleven semesters later, I’m officially a college graduate! It’s so crazy to think five years ago I was just starting out and had little idea of what I was getting myself into, nor knew where life was gonna take me. After all the assignments, projects, quizzes and exams which felt endless (I’m thankful for coffee and Quizlet to help me get through all that), I now have a Bachelor’s degree! Now I have something new to put on my resume and LinkedIn profile! Even though it’s been a little over a week, it still hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m sure once mid-January comes around it will feel weird not going back for classes, especially since I have a lot of friends who still have a few semesters left. On the bright side, I don’t have to worry about looking at another syllabus ever again! Nothing stressed me out in college the way syllabus deadlines did 🤣

In all seriousness though, I’m SO thankful I got to attend Kent State and be a part of one of the best fashion programs in the world, and I will forever be honored and grateful to be a Flash! I never would have imagined or hoped for my graduation to take place during a global pandemic, but I couldn’t of asked for a better college experience. I have so many memories and moments from these last few years that will always make me smile, and now I look forward to taking everything I learned, both in my studies and about myself, as I continue to pursue the dreams and visions God has blessed me with.

On a side note, even though I didn’t get to walk the stage for commencement, I had a really cool opportunity to meet Todd Diacon, the president of Kent State University! It was SO random, y’all. I was taking my grad pictures back in November in front of the School of Fashion with my roommate Katie, my photographer. Todd was inside the building filming his speech for graduation when he noticed me outside. He asked his assistant to see if I’d be interested in getting a picture with him, and of course I said yes! Don’t worry, we both wore our masks 😷 He was so cool, and we even got to toss our caps together! It was such a cool moment from my last semester in college that I will never forget! I just hope I wasn’t too awkward around him considering that he basically is a celebrity here at Kent 😂

Katie, who’s a creative GENIUS, took all of my graduation photos and they turned out to be so amazing! I could barely decide which ones to post since there were so many that I liked, so I put them in a little slideshow for y’all to check out!

Any Kent State alumni or college graduates reading this? Got any advice for life post-college? I could definitely use some 😊 Comment below anything you want to share!

My white chenille sweater dress is from Red Dress, an Athens, GA-based boutique. The dress also comes in mauve pink! And the off-the-shoulder grey dress I also wore is from BCBGMAXAZRIA. This dress I’ve had a little longer, so it’s unfortunately no longer available. I did link a few similar dresses below!

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Last Minute Ideas for Christmas Gifts

Hey, y’all! It’s officially the holiday season and I couldn’t be any happier! I’ve been so eager to get into the Christmas spirit ever since the pandemic started 😂 Though this time of year can be super joyful and enchanting, it can also be a bit of a hassle, specifically when it comes to gift shopping. While I love gift-giving, I definitely struggle with trying to find the most unique and sweetest ideas that will light up the faces of my loved ones. Often I worry that someone is going to get me an amazing and thoughtful gift I didn’t ask for while I give them something that turns out to be not as special compared to what they got me. I also tend fall into the habit of waiting till it’s only weeks away from Christmas, thanks to something called finals week … Praise Jesus that I’m almost done with college for good! 🙌🏻

Thankfully, I have gotten a lot better at planning ahead, setting budgets and keeping track of what I want to get for everyone on my shopping list, and that’s what inspired me to make some gift guides to share on my blog. So if you’re like me when it comes to last minute shopping, this post is here to help ya out! I hope these ideas give you inspiration and reduce any stress you may be feeling at the moment. After all, it’s Christmas! It’s all about being joyful and not stressed out! So grab a mug full of hot chocolate, review this list, and shop away!

For Her

Top Row: Animal Print Sweatpants // Fuzzy Open-Toe Slippers

Middle Row: Olive & June’s Winter Collection // Personalized Starbucks Cup

Bottom Row: Blissy Silk Pillowcase

A few gift ideas for the ladies … Olive & June was kind enough to send me their latest 2020 Winter Collection featuring eight nail polishes (as well as a top coat polish!), and I’m absolutely in love with all the colors! The Blissy pillowcases are also a big hit right now. Not only do they help give you better sleep, but also protect hair and skin. What could be better than that, ladies?! Along with that, personalized Starbucks cups are a big gift trend at the moment as well. Who doesn’t want their name in a cute font while drinking their coffee or water? You’ll never lose them either! And of course thanks to quarantine, comfy loungewear is back in style. These leopard print joggers are so comfy and chic, I wear them all the time! You can also get these comfy and chic animal print fuzzy open-toe slippers to match as well 😉

For Him

Top Row: Sudio TOLV Wireless Earbuds // Electric Back Massager

Middle Row: YETI Rambler 30 Oz // Sherpa-lined Flannel Hoodie

Bottom Row: Thor Hammer Bottle Opener

For the men … this one took me a lot longer to come up with ideas because men are honestly hard to shop for 🤣 I will say this Thor hammer bottle opener is perfect for the guy who loves both beer and Marvel movies. I’m not a beer drinker, but I love Marvel and I would totally use this! This electric back massager is also a game-changer that makes the perfect holiday gift. I don’t actually own one of these, but I know they’re super useful and I envy those who have them! A few other items for the men include the Sudio TOLV wireless earbuds (who I recently collaborated with on Insta!), a sherpa-lined flannel hoodie from Land’s End, and a YETI Rambler 30 Oz. I have no doubt that any guy would love to receive these gifts under their tree on Christmas Day!

For Anybody

Top Row: What Do You Meme? Adult Party Game // BURST Sonic Toothbrush // Furbo Dog Camera

Bottom Row: Keurig Coffee Maker // DASH Mini Waffle Maker

For anybody … let me start off by saying the What Do You Meme? game is a HIT! As a lover of funny memes, it’s one of my favorite games and it’s absolutely fun and hilarious to play with friends and relatives! Another gift idea that’s very nice and beneficial is the BURST sonic toothbrush, which is proven to whiten and clean teeth thanks to the charcoal bristles. It’s also electric, which helps clean them pearly whites ten times more! The Furbo dog camera is also super popular these days and is the perfect gift for any dog lover. It helps them see and interact with their furry pals even while not home, and it shoots out treats! It’s so much for both the humans and the doggos! And of course, a Keurig coffee maker and DASH mini waffle maker because who doesn’t love coffee and waffles?!

Who else is super excited that Christmas is almost here?! Remember, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. There’s so much more to the holiday than the presents under the tree. It’s about surrounding yourself with beloved friends and relatives and cherishing the special love and joy that comes this time of year ❤️ Enjoy every minute of it!

Merry Christmas, y’all!

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Fun Ways To Enjoy Autumn During a Pandemic

Happy Sunday, y’all! I’m so happy that it’s officially autumn, my favorite season! Who else is with me?! Just don’t remind me of the freezing winter weather coming up 🥶

Though this year things may look a little different since we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, I think it’s still good to cherish this beautiful season and take part in the festivities. I wrote out a list of some of my personal favorite things to do in the fall that are still good to do right now, and I want to share them with y’all if anyone needs some inspiration. Do feel free to comment your favorites and if you have any ideas to share as well!

1.) Go on a hike

Personally, I think fall is the best time of year to go hiking. It’s not too hot or too cold out, and it’s so beautiful to see all the colors of the leaves on the trees and ground! Me, my mom, my roommate Abby, and her mom recently went on a hike on the Towpath Trail (which is close to Peninsula) and we couldn’t get over how beautiful it looked outside, also not to mention it was perfectly mild temperature-wise! Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Summit Metro Parks are great places in NE Ohio to find hiking trails. Not only do you get a glimpse of the Midwest in autumn, but also a lot of exercise!

2.) Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard

Farms and markets are still open to the public and harvesting everything that’s in season right now. If you live in the NE Ohio area, Szalay’s Farm & Market and Beckwith Orchards (where I took the pics for this post) are a few of the many best ones to go in the fall. They certainly are my favorites, and I can’t wait to continue that tradition with my husband and children someday!

3.) Host a socially distanced bonfire gathering

The smell of bonfires have always been one of my favorite scents. They always remind me of chilly autumn nights and bring back good memories with family and friends! Even though we’re being restricted from having large gatherings, bonfire gatherings outdoors can still occur as long as everyone is in safe distance from one another. I certainly don’t want to miss out on getting cozied up next to the fire while making s’mores and sipping hot apple cider! I just hope you don’t mind your hair and body smelling like bonfire smoke afterwards 😂

4.) Buy some cute fall decor

I definitely have a greater appreciation for fall decorations now than I did when I was a kid. Every time I visit a retailer and see all the decor for Halloween (not the super gorey and scary ones 😖) and Thanksgiving, I light up with joy and excitement! I got these super cute ceramic pumpkins in navy blue and orange from Target for $10.00 each. Definitely going to be keeping them and using them for many more years to come!

5.) Dress up for Halloween (even if you don’t go out!)

Although Halloween has never been my absolute favorite holiday, I still always have fun dressing up in a costume. What other time of year can you get creative like that? Not very many! This year there’s a lot of restrictions for going out for Halloween due to COVID-19, but I still think it’s a fun idea to wear a costume even if you’re just going to be with close friends or relatives. Y’all can still have one heck of a good time together for the spooky holiday! My roommates and I are thinking about doing a fun group costume together, possibly The Wizard of Oz (one of my all-time favorite movies!). Any of you got other suggestions for us? Let me know in the comments!

And as for my outfit, my sweater is from Francesca’s and my jeans are from American Eagle! You can shop the look in the link shown at the bottom of the post!

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