Can anyone believe that January is almost over?! This month has gone so fast it's sort of scary. I decided that this year I want to round up my favorite things of the month or what I'm currently dying to buy or just bought and am loving. This will be a new series on Daily Dose of Design on the last Friday of every month! I figured this would be a great way to share what I'm dying to have and also keep track of what I want... kind of like a live, ongoing wishlist! ; ) Let me tell you, it's hard to pick less than a million (sarcastic, kind of) things for a roundup like this but it's worth a shot!
Here's what I'm currently craving:
Even though Valentines Day is still a few weeks away, gift giving and outfit decisions are in the works! Dressing cute for a Hallmark holiday like Valentines Day is a lot of fun - especially because of the colors. There's so many ways you can incorporate cute colors for outfits. Here's two different looks for Valentines Day that I'm loving this year:
Working out and getting fit is one of the most popular New Years resolutions, but for me, I've made getting fit something that I've been committed to since last October. Since then, I've found a ton of great workout gear that are essential for getting a good workout in - and also for looking cute while you do it! Some of my favorite things to buy are active wear pieces because they're so cute, comfy and can sometimes even double as everyday errand-running outfits too. (like, you know, Home Goods trips!)
Compression leggings, workout tanks and cute Nike's are things I can never get enough of and things that you can never have too many of, too! Here's some of my favorite workout essentials:
The harshest months of winter are just beginning in New York and although we haven't had much of any snow yet and warmer than normal temperatures, it's pretty impossible to even think that we'll get it this good all season long! I've been mentally planning some vacation ideas in my head along with spontaneously booking them as well and all I can think about is sunshine and warmth! I always try and get as tan and make my skin a glowing bronze when I'm away and at home during the summer time too. As I get older though, I've begun to realize how important taking care of my skin is. There are much better ways (and even safer ways) to get glowing skin and keep your skin safe, too. Plus, who wants to age faster? Not me!
Something most of us fail to realize is how important keeping our skin healthy, hydrated and sun-safe is. I know I do and that's why this year I'm pledging to protect my skin with the Your Skin Is In program run by the Melanoma Foundation.
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If you've ever watched the oh-so-popular HGTV hit Fixer Upper, then you're likely just as obsessed with the show as I am. I think it's safe to say I've seen every episode at least twice and I never get enough of Chip and Joanna! From their upbeat personalities, adorable love for each other all the way to the amazing things they do with a house that is flat out scary, there's no getting tired of Fixer Upper. Not only is the family gorgeous but so is Joanna's style of decorating - something we all wish she could do for us!
Joanna's style is rustic but modern with farmhouse twists and elements of reused decor. She never fails to amaze all of us and no matter what style the couple on each episode is in search for, Chip works to find the right home and Joanna works to save it. My favorite episode to this day is where they renovated a home for their carpenter, Clint, and his family. Seeing the home they took the couple into - it was seriously hard to believe it could be saved - but Joanna always is able to see past the worst of the worst in a home.
It's a sad reality to believe that we can't all move to Waco, buy a really old and destroyed home and have Chip and Joanna do a complete overhaul renovation for not a lot of money at all. But let's face it - unless this dynamic duo starts traveling the country, the best we're going to get to Joanna Gaines' style is to try and decorate like her.
Here's 10 ways to make your home resemble an elegant farmhouse and answer the burning question: What would Joanna do?
We had an unseasonably warm December in New York; it was 70 degrees on Christmas! But that's a thing of the past because it's now absolutely freezing and leaving the house without a coat isn't even a thought. We were supposed to be headed to my sister's varsity gymnastics meet today but all after school activities were cancelled due to "impending snow" (it has yet to do anything...).
Staying warm is so hard and looking cute while doing it is important! There's so many great pieces to help keep you warm and look stylish at the same time. I always say I love summer - and I do - but I LOVE winter clothes! There's something so fun about picking out winter sweaters and cute boots to match.
Here's some of my favorite cold weather essentials you need to own:
It seems crazy even to me that I would need hair extensions since I have fairly long hair, but I'm so glad that I was able to try these Irresistible Me extensions! I was skeptical at first and had never heard of this brand but now that I've tried them, I love them and they're such great quality too.
Once I realized that extensions can be used for more than adding length, I immediately said "count me in". I always am trying to have more voluminous hair and it seems like the only time that happens is when 1.) I get my hair cut/done at the salon or 2.) I spend 3-4 hours on it and am going somewhere fancy or special. I've tried tons of products and since I have fairly long hair that is also pretty full and heavy, it always seems too flat for my liking. Let me tell you - these extensions are perfect for adding volume! Especially if you tease them, I've found them to be so amazing for making me look like I put a lot of effort into my hair on any given day.
I was sooo happy when I found out that I was chosen to receive the CoverGirl VoxBox from Influenster! This is my second VoxBox in the past few months and it's like a gift that comes in the mail to look forward to each and every time. (My first VoxBox review can be read here!)
CoverGirl has always been one of my absolute favorite drugstore-brand makeup brands and I got to be one of the first to try two of their newest products. Trying new makeup is always fun and I happened to need a new mascara to try - and I think I found a new favorite!
Every year I try and make myself a decent sized list of goals that I want to achieve throughout the year and then I break them down by month in hopes of making them easier to accomplish. By far my biggest accomplishment of 2015 has been creating my blog and achieving the point of success that I'm at in under a year.
With that being said, I have much bigger goals for myself in 2016. This is also the year that I'll be graduating college (sorry, what?!) and many more big, exciting events that I cannot wait to share! There is no better feeling than having an entirely clean slate to work off of in 2016 though, and I'm so excited for what is in store this year!
I have a TON of things I want to accomplish this year both personally and having to do with blogging, this list is longer than expected...
As every new year begins, we all have resolutions and ideas of what we want our year to look like as a whole: eat better, exercise more, increasing income, bettering yourself, the list is never ending. Having a whole 365 days (366 this year - leap year!) sort of gives me anxiety in hopes of making the most of every day and having a great, memorable year.
Recording your goals and taking measures to make sure that you have the best year yet is important to not feel as if the year has gone to waste.
Here's my top 13 ways to make sure that this year is the best one yet:
Happy New Year!!!!
Here's to an amazing, prosperous, healthy, safe and happy 2016! This will be the year of big things, great change and amazing experiences. I SO look forward to see what 2016 has in store for me - Happy New Year everyone!
XOXO
