Lilly Pulitzer for Work

Right now, I'm trying to develop my wardrobe for a more professional atmosphere in the future. However, I still want to maintain a youthful feel and incorporate pops of color. That's where Lilly Pulitzer comes in! I love their Elsa tops because you can wear them with jeans for a casual look, nice pants and wedges for a night out, or under a suit or with a pencil skirt for work. I also have a pair of Lilly Travel Pants, which are great for a business casual workplace. They're like leggings, but are dressy, (and still comfortable!). On that note, the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale starts Monday at 8:00 AM EST. You can get some great deals on Lilly during this time, and after when everyone is selling what they don't want ;). I probably won't get much (#brokelawstudent), but here's what I'm hoping to snag.

Elsa Top "For the Halibut"

Elsa Top "Poolside Blue First Impressions"

Virgina State Murfee Scarf

Do you wear Lilly Pulitzer to work? What are you hoping to snag in the sale?

#tbt: Italy Edition

Last summer, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome for a month. It was amazing to see all of the Classical buildings and monuments I had only read about, while still experiencing the modern as I adapted to the Italian lifestyle. I left Italy with a deep love for travel. My confidence in myself also grew as I overcame my fears to ask someone for the price of something or to learn a whole new transportation system. Today I thought I would share some of my pictures from the trip (plus it's fun for me to relive!).

Luckily I got to Italy literally the week before they closed the Trevi Fountain for a massive restoration project. I threw many coins in it during my month there and even saw a proposal!

The Pantheon, beautiful at night!

The interior of the House of Menander, one of the most intact structures in Pompeii

One weekend was dedicated to Pompeii. We climbed Mt. Vesuvius, and the climb was hard, but this incredible view of Naples was worth it!

Paestum is a little known site near Naples. It has several Greek temples, so you get a little taste of Ancient Greece while still staying in Italy. There were hardly any people there when we went and I think its definitely a must see!

Oh hey there Pope!

We went to the Tuscany region one weekend and learned to make pasta and tasted wine at this beautiful winery. It is one of the only wineries that employs and encourages women winemakers so it was very cool to this women's college graduate!

Other Highlights of my trip: GELATO (my favorite was the Champagne from Giolitti mixed with Dark Chocolate), pizza, getting to see my best friend who had been studying abroad all year, watching the Italy World Cup game in one of the public squares, the Vatican City Museums (takes all day but a must to see the Sistine Chapel), window shopping near the Spanish Steps and on Via Condotti, and sight-seeing in Florence.

Did you study abroad in college? Where are you traveling to next?

Favorite Summer Nail Polishes

Summer is one of the best times for nail polishes as you're wearing sandals most of the time and can show off your brightly colored toes! My favorite tones during this season are bright pinks and blues. There's still a few weeks of summer left (especially here in the South), so take advantage while you can. 

essie "mint candy apple" // opi "pink-ing of you"

opi "i eat mainely lobster" // opi "you're such a buda-pest"

essie "bikini so teeny" // deborah lippmann "mermaid's dream"

My favorite nail polish brand is definitely OPI, but Essie also makes some of the best colors. Deborah Lippmann is also great quality, but I usually just buy really unique colors like this one, because of its high price tag. 

What are your favorite nail colors during the summer?

Currently...

Reading: Life After Life, by Kate Atkinson is really enjoyable so far. I don't want to give a whole lot away, but it is a good blend of fantasy and history, as it takes place during WWI and WWII. I'm also reading One L, by Scott Turow, since I start law school orientation in little over a week! Also feel free to add me on GoodReads, so you can always see what I'm reading!

                                                      

Listening To: How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is Florence and the Machine's new album and it is SO GOOD. It is a little lighter and more pop-py than her first two albums, but I think it may be my favorite. 

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Watching: I went and saw Paper Towns this week with my mom. I just read the book, and the movie stayed pretty true to the novel, but I liked how it focused more on the road trip aspect of the book. The actors were all great, and you definitely don't have to be a teen to see it. 

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Wishing For: These sunglasses. I definitely don't need a new pair right now, but I love Warby Parker (I own two pairs of glasses) and would be very happy if these magically appeared  in my purse.

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What are you currently up to? Have a great weekend!

Ulta Sale: What I Bought

I'm an Ulta member, and every year they send out a big 20% coupon around this time. Only, this time, it works on everything (with very few exclusions). I usually stock up and get quite a few things. It also usually comes right before school for me, so its a great time to shop. Here is what I got this year.

Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Masque-So I've been having quite a few breakouts lately, and the nasty, cystic kind. I had never tried any of the PTR products before, so I got this kit, and this was my favorite product out of the bunch. I use it as a spot treatment every night, and it really dries up your blemishes fast, while not drying out the rest of your skin. Plus it has a minty, clean scent, not the sulfur smell you would expect.

Lipstick Queen Hello Sailor-I'm starting to use lipstick more (#adulting), and I have a few inexpensive ones from Revlon, which are really great and what I'll stick to more often, but I love the color changing ones from Lipstick Queen. They feel more like a balm and give you great color. I was going to get the Frog Prince one, but then tried them both on in the store and liked Hello Sailor more.

Maybelline Full & Soft Thick & Healthy Waterproof Mascara-I wanted a cheap waterproof mascara to wear to the pool and beach, and this fit the bill! I wore it to the beach last weekend and it held up the whole time. It gives your lashes some natural oomph.

BareMinerals Precision Face Brush-I got one of the starter sets for the BareMinerals foundation, and it came with a decent brush, but this one had stellar reviews, and I had to try it. I've only used it twice, but I already love it, because it gives you natural, yet full coverage, without looking cakey.

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Palette-This is one of Maybelline's new eye palettes. Despite its low price tag, the colors have a pretty rich pigment. You can easily create everyday and smokey looks. I would recommend using it with a primer though (this one is my favorite).

Did you get anything from the Ulta sale? What are some of your favorite makeup products?

Meet me!

Hi all! I am so excited to start this new venture of mine and hope you will follow along! To begin things, I thought I would share ten (hopefully) fun facts about me!

1. I just graduated from Sweet Briar College and am headed back to Virginia to start law school at the University of Richmond in a few short weeks.

2. I love horses! I had my own horse in high school, and rode all four years at Sweet Briar.

3. As you can probably tell from the title of my blog, I have a passion for reading, and just about any genre: classics, fantasy, memoirs, young adult, etc.

4. I play the cello, and was actually planning to go to college for that for awhile until I changed my mind. I still play regularly and took lessons all through undergrad.

5. My parents adopted a beagle last year that we named Lilly and I've loved spending time with her while I've been home. Animal rescue is an important cause to me, because there are just so many animals out there deserving of a great home! #adoptdontshop

6. While I love Lilly Pulitzer and bright colors, I'm trying to transition my style to a more classic feel, with more neutrals and pops of color. Any shops you all recommend would be great!

7. Along that line, navy and pink is one of my favorite color combinations, so get ready to see that when I share pictures of my apartment!

Feel free to comment, and I hope you come back to read more!