Caroline's Cookout + Bonfire Playlist

 
 

Looking for a playlist for your cookouts and bonfire gatherings this summer? Look no further than this post!

The one thing I love most about this playlist is the variety of different decades it features. There’s a good amount of songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00’s, and recent times. There’s something for everybody! All these songs make me feel nostalgic and remind me of summer nights spent at a cookout or around a bonfire while hanging out with friends and relatives. Those are definitely some of my happiest memories and something I most look forward to every summer 🧡

Feel free to comment any good songs that may be missing from the playlist!

Cookout + Bonfire Music 🔥

 
 

Mother's Day Gift Guide

 
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Happy Sunday, y’all! Mother’s Day is only two weeks away from now and I was inspired to post a gift guide to help anyone with last-minute ideas! My sister, dad, and I love to spoil our mom with special presents every year. It’s so fun to get creative and thoughtful with gifts, and seeing her reaction is always so worthwhile. So if you’re looking for some ideas for what to give your mom this year, below I linked some ideas that should bring a smile to her face!

If any of the items displayed attracts your interest, just click on the image and it will re-direct you to the site of the shop. I do receive some commission for each purchase made (at no extra cost to you!) when you shop through the links, which helps me keep doing these kinds of posts 💕 So, if possible, please shop using my links!

Favorite Candles for Spring

 
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I don’t know about y’all, but nothing makes me more happy about springtime than fresh scents. Walking into a florist, sweet treats, outdoor grass after winter fades away, and of course, candles!

I feel like candles are more popular and used for the fall and winter seasons because of the cozy vibe it gives off, but that doesn’t make spring and summer candles any less special! Honestly, when March finally arrives, something I absolutely look forward to besides warmer weather is lighting an aroma with a lovely floral scent in the house! Plus, springtime is sometimes deceiving here in Ohio as some days it randomly decides to snow 🤣

Anyway, getting to the point, I wanna share the springtime candles I’ve been loving lately with y’all!

1.) Lavender Vanilla

This is one of the spring candles that we’re currently selling at Francesca’s, originally made by DW Home Candles. To be honest, I never would’ve imagined the idea of lavender being combined with vanilla. But put the two scents together and you create a scent from heaven. Every time I’m at work, I can’t stop smelling it when I’m not busy on the floor or at the register lol! Plus, the jar is so pretty and has a beautiful watercolor artwork!

2.) Freesia Lily

Once again, another candle made by DW Home Candles and being sold at Francesca’s! I personally like the lavender vanilla one, but this one definitely has more of a floral scent! It also comes in a decorative jar and contains lily, musk, white floral, citrus, jasmine, and much more!

3.) Rose Water

I’m honestly convinced that rose water is one of my all-time favorite scents, no matter what season. I love how the jar it comes in is actually more simple (as most rose water candles come in a pinkish tone) and that it’s soy blended! It certainly is a smell that brings me peace no matter what 💕

4.) Lilac & Iris

Lilac is one of my mom’s favorite scents, and I bought this candle for her as soon as I saw it! They have a very fresh and sweet scent, and probably my favorite one out of all flowers. It mixes really well with the iris and creates spring in a jar. Plus, this specific candle is now on clearance for only $6.98!

5.) Wick Citrus Peony

Finally, a candle not from Francesca’s! 🤣 Target does have a fantastic selection of candles for every season, I honestly recommend them all! When it comes to springtime though, you can never go wrong with a fresh peony scent mixed with citrus. Strong but mostly sweet and peaceful!

6.) A Sunday Painter (Scarlet Citrus)

Though I’m an absolute sucker for Anthro’s capri blue candles, you honestly can’t go wrong with this one when the mild weather starts kicking in. Plus, the glass paint and art on the jars are STUNNING! It’s like looking at stained glass windows inside a church! 😍

I also recommend checking out Bath & Body Works for spring-themed candles! I was too overwhelmed to pick even a few to share on here because they’re all just so amazing ☺️ Definitely go to a local one nearby and try out the scents to see which ones you like best!


Are you lighting any candles for spring in your space at the moment? Comment below and let me know what you’re currently loving at the moment!

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Gift Guide for Valentine's Day

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!

 
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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 😂

 
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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!

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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

 
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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

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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

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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

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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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