What I Got For Christmas | A Delayed Haul

Hello lovely reader! I hope you are enjoying your January 2016! This post is one that I have done previously and it is also something that I always look forward to reading from other bloggers. I don't know why we all find this so fascinating but I am definitely one of those people who like to see what other people got. Even though "What I Got For Christmas" posts have become quite popular I still find it necessary to say that this is not in anyway a post of showing off, like I said earlier it is just a way to share things that I like because maybe you will too.

First I will show you what I got in my stocking basically it's a bunch of treats and I was quite excited to find these goodies. I got two holiday edition Cliff bars, which are my current favorite flavors, one being spiced pumpkin and the other iced gingerbread. I also got a package of Cadbury chocolate because they are my absolute favorite chocolates and a pack of holiday edition goldfish also another favorite. And finally I got two Pepperidge Farm treats one being a mini pack of the Milano cookies and another mini pack of the chessman minis.

This first item I received is this Alex and Ani bracelet. These bracelets are a fantastic go to gift because they come in Darius finishes and each charm has a special meaning behind it. They also look super cute the more you get because you can stack them. My mom and cousin absolutely love these bracelets and have a fair few. This was my first one but definitely not my last.

 Next are two books that I received both the fashion themed and absolutely hilarious. I have started reading tales from the back row and it is interesting and entertaining especially for someone who is interested in working in the fashion industry one day. The second book was more of a joke gift but it is actually a really nice book that I saw online a bad a month ago it is a nursery rhyme book but all the lyrics have been changed into fashion related theme this and situations. The illustrations are gorgeous watercolors and the nursery rhymes are quirky, cheeky, and fabulous.

Now onto some makeup, my best friend sent me this "Lorac Pro To Go Palette". I have been using it for the past couple weeks and I would definitely recommend it. The colors are great being that they are neutral. I have been using the brown shades for my every day look but you could also use the darker colors to create a smoky eye more suitable for the night time. The pigmentation of the colors is great and they blend very nicely. The pallet also folds up, as you can see, to become compact, perfect for throwing in your day bag or for a weekend trip.

As I have mentioned before lipstick has quickly become my current makeup obsession so when I opened this I was quite excited and ready to try all the different colors. I had never used Clinique lipstick before so I was interested to see if I would like it or not and I can honestly say that I do. I have been wearing the first and fourth lipstick from the left the most lately, both being more neutral and lighter tones but I am excited to try some of the bolder colors as well.

Now let me begin by saying that when it comes to celebrity perfumes, I am usually quite the skeptic, however, I was given a sample of this at an event and I genuinely liked the smell! It's sweet and light and a more girly scent, but not overwhelming. The bottle is also nice, so if you haven't next time you're out give it a spritz and a sniff!

Yes, I joined the marble laptop bandwagon. I had seen these all over Tumblr and Instagram for months and was so happy when I opened this! I know a lot of places are offering them now, but mine is from a website called UNIQFIND. They send you a clear laptop case and the marble contact paper and then you apply it to the case. It's super easy and I'm pleased with the end result!

Me receiving these two CD's will come as no surprise to many of you as I have raved about both of these artists recently. I have listened to each of these CD's multiple times and I think they are fantastic. Both Adele and Alessia are great storytellers who portray messages that many people can relate to. My favorite songs on these albums change daily but currently off 25 my favorite is "Remedy" and from Know-It-All, "Stone".

Cute, comfy, and cozy. I love Adidas sweatshirts and I can't wait to wear this one. (Also a bit of a monochrome fan....90% of my closet being black, white, or gray)

Saving the best for last, I got a sewing machine! Words can not describe how thrilled I was to open this present and see what I had received. If you are a beginner sewer like me, I would highly recommend this machine. I am currently working on sewing a cape and it has been running so smoothly *knock on wood*. There are so many things I want to make and I cannot wait to create!What did you get for Christmas?? Xx

Chicago Shopping | Mini Haul

Hi lovely reader! Yesterday I shared my "Chicago Photo Diary" with you and today I wanted to share some of the things I purchased while in the city with a mini haul! 

One of the first things that I purchased was from Sephora and it is this "fresh cream" rollerball by philosophy.  It smells absolutely delicious, like cupcakes and frosting at a sweet soiree. It is by far     one of my favorite scents that I have owned and I will definitely be purchasing a bottle when my rollerball runs out!

I love this t-shirt so much! I purchased it from the Disney Store and think it is absolutely perfect. The black bands around the neck and sleeves sold me for sure. The only downside to it was that it was a large, but I think with a careful wash, it might shrink a bit and be perfect with some skinny jeans, classic reeboks, and a scrunchie. 

Speaking of scrunchies, I purchased these two from Topshop. I love the prints because I think that they will go with a lot. They also have the wiring in the bow bit so that you can adjust them to lay how you like. 

I have been really into marbled things lately so I was excited when I found these double sided earrings at Nordstrom. The marbled ball goes in the front and then the gold cubes in the back. I like that they are versatile too, if your hair is down you don't really see the backs as much but with an updo, both sides show and make for a cool look.

Last but not lease, I purchased these Steve Madden "Purfect Flats" from Nordstrom Rack. I was drawn to these because the neutral and black color will go well with most of my closet and also because I see these as being able to be worn with jean shorts and a tshirt, as well as a nice summer dress.

So there are some of my favorite purchases from my time in Chicago, where do you like to shop in the city? Xx

Summer Style 2015 | Haul

Hi lovely reader! Another week, another Monday. I hope yours was nice. I am more than ready to share this post with you, finally some fashion! I'm hoping to create a few lookbooks using many of the clothing featured here, so stay tuned for that. This is a combination of a bunch of shopping trips that I have made within the past few months, from various places. I organized the post by store and will try to link as many of the them as possible, if you want to check out any of the pieces for yourself. 

Ok, so the first store is one of my go to's and that is TJ Maxx. I know that they don't have locations everywhere but I know that they do have international affiliates (TK Maxx, etc.). I love it because you can get not only name brand clothing at a lower price but also unique brands that are not sold in many, if any other stores. And you can shop online, which I was unaware of until recently!

The first thing I had purchased for the summer from TJ Maxx was this daisy and gingham print crop top. I like this top because it is light and airy, the ruffled sleeves can be worn so that the top offers bare shoulder or a sleeveless look. It works great with higher waister denim shorts or even a nice black skirt, and some sandals.

Next is this short sleeve Juicy Couture sweatshirt. I purchased this quite a while ago and am happy I did because now TJ Maxx has tons of sweatshirts and dresses with this style of fabric. It's great for a summer day or evening where it's a bit cooler. Perfect with a pair of darker denim jeans shorts and some sandals for a simple and chic look.

Now where I live, I have gotten zero use out of this next item, but I am holding on to hope that one day soon, I will get to use it! It is a plastic beach bag by Izak. I had been wanting to get a plastic style beach bag because they are easy to keep clean and personally I prefer the look of them over a canvas bag. I thought the lip print was fun and cute, and I can't wait to use it.

This piece is one of my favorite yet most difficult pieces that I have purchased. It is a midi length dreamy blush skirt, with a light and flowy layer of tulle and I love it. However, I am yet to find the perfect top to wear with it! I'm thinking a black cropped top of some sort, so if you have any suggestions of a specific top you think would pair nicely with this, leave a link or a comment below!

This dress is probably the piece that I am most excited about just because it's different, fantastic quality, and the price I paid was fabulous. It is by Kate Spade Saturday, which as you may know is no longer. It is somewhat structured and I hope to get lookbook pics in it so you can see how it looks on. In my opinion it is very modern and chic and I am kind of obsessed with it. 

This lovely little swing dress is actually from American Eagle. Now personally, I don't do much shopping there but they do have some things that are more my style from time to time and this dress is one of them. It's a swing dress with two square pockets on the front that basically blend in with the floral print. There's a button and keyhole in the back for a nice detail. I like it also because it can be dressed up or down. I usually pair it with some bengals and tasseled sandals.

Now onto my absolute favorite store.....drumroll....H&M! They are without a doubt "my store", every time that I go there I know I can find something, the styles of their clothing fits perfectly with my personal style. 

My first H&M purchase for this haul were these black and white spotted pants. They are supper comfortable and the fabric offers a great amount of stretch. I love a good skinny pant and these are perfect. I think they are nice too because they are versatile as far as seasons go. They can be worn with a nice mock neck top and smoking flats or a white t-shirt and some white sneakers.

This next top is just a simple navy and white striped tshirt, I purchased it to wear under overalls after seeing this look countless time on Tumblr. A bit confirmative but what can I say, I love the look!

The H&M portion of my haul concludes with this free flowing swing dress. As soon as I put this on, I just want to twirl in circles! The print is shades of blue and white and I love to pair it with tan sandals and a few bangles. Again it is great for the cooler days, with the three quarter sleeve length. This dress has been my go to for the day when I need to look a bit nicer but still want to be comfortable.

This skirt is also a piece that I am beyond excited to have. I purchased it off Nasty Gal a long time ago and it is ah-maze. As you can tell, it is a mesh skater skirt with the most perfect amount of shape and fullness, ugh I can't! Again though, sad times because I cannot find a top that I like with it, so if you have any suggestions, please share! I have so many visions for looks with this skirt in the lookbook and am excited to bring them to life!

Last but certainly not least are these lovely shoes. I purchased them from a Nike Outlet and they are one of my most favorite pairs of Nike's that I have owned. I love the color and they are super comfortable.

So thus concludes my "beginning of summer haul"! What have you been purchasing? Xx

Jeweled Prints & Cozy Knits | H&M Haul

Hi lovely reader! I hope you had a good week and enjoy a relaxing weekend! My lack of posts is due to the fact that school has started back. I've been rather busy and focused on trying to get back into the swing of things. I did however plan a bit ahead and take pics for this post whiles still at home. I did lots of shopping over break and I'm pretty sure 90% of what I bought was on sale. All of the items I bought in this haul were due to H&M's fantastic sales! 

This first sweater I got is navy with stars on it and comes from the LOGG division. It's not oversize but it's not fitted either, a bit in between which I like. I have been wearing it with skinny jeans and my brown Chelsea boots. 

This next top is also from the LOGG division. It is a grey sweater but has more of the look and feel of a sweatshirt. It's a baggy through the torso and is a tad longer in the back, perfect to wear with leggings and sneakers or boots. 

These leggings pose a question. They are made from a knit sweater material and are perfect for lounging around in. I still can't decide if they'll be worn out ever. (Do you think they look to much like pajamas?) 

This dress was probably the best deal I got and my favorite piece. I got this dress for $7 regularly $40! It's made from a scuba material and I am obsessed with it. It's fitted through the torso and then has a fuller skirt due to the thick fabric. I just think it's something different and a bit quirky. Love it!!

Have you got any good deals lately? Do you have any of these pieces? How do you wear them? Xx