2013 Resolution Reflections

I thought it would be fun to do a little reflection on my resolutions for 2013. The last time I looked at these reflections was exactly a year ago today, so it'll be interesting to see which ones were completed and which ones weren't.

one // become more organized

I would definitely say this was successful. I have a coupon organizer and to-do list notebook, both of which that I use daily. They've made my life so much more organized!

two // find better study habits

I found study habits that work really well for me. I even posted about them! The outlines and flashcards I make help me to do really well on quizzes and tests.

three // read more

Unfortunately, I didn't read as much as I wanted, which disappoints me. I made the mistake of over-packing my summer with three different internships, and it was way too much for me to handle. I barely had any time for myself. Summer is the time that I love to read a ton and just relax, but because I had so many deadlines for all of my different internships, I didn't have any time. Also, because I've been so busy with school, work, and sports, I haven't had any time to read during school weeks.

four // develop a better blog

I can happily say that I believe this happened. I gained way more readers and page views this year than I had in 2012, and I've successfully done reviews and giveaways with companies. I couldn't be happier about how my blog turned out!

five // gain creative insights

I haven't had much time to do crafts, but I did decorate my own cork board and make a couple of cute cards. I was happy with how all of those came out!

six // make more money

Yes! After getting my job this summer, I've made a good amount and money and saved a lot of it. I love having money around whenever I need it!

seven // become more confident

I have become more confident!

eight // exercise more

I did exercise more this year, but I didn't exercise as much as I was hoping to. I just have to come up with some good workouts and motivation!

nine // find out how to become a good cook

Well, I've realized that I'm not exactly the best cook. But cooking isn't exactly my thing either, so I'm okay with that!

ten // go on adventures in the summer

Like I mentioned earlier, because I took on way too many tasks, I didn't have much time for myself. Therefore, I didn't exactly go on "adventures" this past summer. However, I did have fun when I was able to have time for myself, which is good!

eleven // journal more

I haven't journaled that much at all, and I wish I got the chance to. I had so many things that I wanted to write about, but I just never got the chance.

twelve // stop worrying and stressing so much

This definitely wasn't successful at all. School gave me tons of anxiety and stress and caused lots of breakdowns.

I would say half of these were successful, but I'm looking forward to creating my new resolutions for 2014!

How successful were your resolutions for 2013?

My Christmas

I had a wonderful Christmas! I got so many nice things, and I couldn't ask for any more. I got a Lilly Pulitzer charger in Tropical Pink Lulu; clothes from Vineyard Vines and Ralph Lauren; a J. Crew Excursion Vest; jeans from Abercrombie; Nike sneakers; money; gift cards; and scratch tickets. I'm so thankful for everything I got!

However, the best gifts I had were the gifts of friendship and family. My family and friends mean so much to me, and I'm so thankful I have them. They helped Christmas to be especially great!

How was your Christmas?

Giveaway :: Frost It All Etsy Shop

Meg from Frost It All Etsy Shop is kind enough to do a giveaway with me as well! It's such a great way to celebrate the holidays. However, this giveaway will be done differently than all of the other giveaways I have run. This giveaway will involve Pinterest!

Here is how to participate:

1. Pin the image below.

2. Email me (ash.mas19@gmail.com) the link to your pin with your name.

3. I will write down a number with your name next to it.

4. Next Thursday, I will pick the winner using a random generator.

You can enter once a day! However, you have to pin the image different times; you can't just use the same link. I will be checking!

What do you like from Frost It All?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone! As Carly Heitlinger said in her Prep Talk, take this time to be present with family and friends - turn your phone off, shut your laptop, put your iPad away, and just enjoy the moment.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! xo

Getting Work Done Over Break

For those of you who don't have any homework to do over winter break, consider yourselves extremely lucky! Midterms for my school are always a couple of weeks after we get back to school for winter break, so my winter breaks are always ruined doing study guides.

However, I always want to enjoy my breaks by relaxing, reading, catching up on sleep, and watching Netflix. So, I have developed a little system that I now use to get my work done quickly and efficiently. Check out the system below!

one // devote a day or two

When I need to do my study guides, I devote one or two days over break to doing study guides versus doing a little bit each day. I find that if I were to do a little bit each day, I would get stressed out because everything isn't all finished. If I spend one or two whole days to doing study guides, I can usually get them done in just those days and have the rest of break to do whatever.

two // create a to-do list

Create a to-do list with everything you need to do. My to-do lists basically consist of all of the study guides I need to do. Once I complete a study guide, I cross it off the list!

three // get the unknown information done ASAP

On all of my study guides, there are things that I don't know the answers to because I haven't gone over them in my class yet. So, right when I learn about those things when I get back from break, I fill out the rest of my study guide ASAP.

As always, procrastination is never the answer. Just make sure to get everything done as fast as you can while still giving your best work, and you should be fine!

How do you get work done over break?

Winter Favorites

Hey y’all, I’m Raegan from She is Fierce; I’m so excited that Ashley is letting me guest post today! I love blogging about my favorite things so today I decided to share my winter favorites.

1. I am in love with this cape from H&M. It is so chic and very different from the traditional trench coat that you see this time of year.

2. My go to outfit during winter/fall is a sweater with leggings and riding boots, this sweater is perfect. The length isn’t too short and it looks so comfy.

3. For whatever reason grey is slowly becoming my favorite color. Miss Fancy Pants by Essie has been on my nails for a good month and I love gray sweaters because they’re so easy to dress up.

4. Winter is my favorite time to wear dark lipstick and this color is dark without being way too dark. Chubby sticks last forever and I love them!

5. Don’t let the price of these boots steer you away, I promise you, they’re worth every penny! I am obsessed with my riding boots and wear them every chance I get. Since they’re black and brown they go with everything, which is why they’re worth the price. If you don’t want to splurge, they are everywhere and it is so easy to find a cheaper pair.

6. These black booties are so easy to dress up or down and the best part is they’re from Target. They would go great with a dress or jeans.

I hope this helps you pick out things for your winter wardrobe! Thanks for having me today and Merry Christmas!

Raegan

Ugly Sweater Party

On Friday night, I went to an ugly sweater party with a group of friends and it was so much fun! It was full of laughs and food. My friend Alex came over before the party so we could go together. I actually went kind of try-hard on my outfit that night because ugly sweater parties only happen once a year so go hard or go home, right? I ended up winning for the ugliest sweater/best outfit, which was so funny! I wore a sweater and socks from when I was literally seven years old. I have no idea how either of those still fit me, but hey that's fine by me! I also wore a Christmas pin that I had when I was little and took a green and white striped bow meant for tying around presents and tied it around my head as a headband.

Sam, Bridget, and me.

Alex and me :)

Steph and me!

Alissa and me.

Alex and me again!

The whole group.

What I won for winning the ugliest sweater/best outfit!

My whole outfit!

Have you been to an ugly sweater party this year?

Last Minute Gifts :: Gift Card Edition

Sometimes the holidays can sneak up on you so fast that you don't even realize it. November and December are such busy months with the holidays, midterms/finals, etc. that we often don't have time to get gifts. So, I put together a little gift guide for last-minute gifts! The gift guide consists of gift cards, which is awesome because who doesn't love gift cards? Check them out below!

What are some last-minute gifts you have in mind?

Christmas Outfit Inspiration

I tend to dress up for two holidays: Christmas and New Year's Eve. I love picking out an outfit for Christmas that is cute, comfy, and festive. If any of you are having trouble coming up with an outfit, check out this outfit I put together below!

shirt // skirt // shoes

What are you planning on wearing on Christmas?

Review :: Frost It All Etsy Shop

I recently came across Frost It All, and I'm absolutely obsessed. Meg, the owner, is so sweet and helpful! She sent me stationery and four monogrammed decals, and they're all so cute.

stationery

I haven't gotten a chance to use the stationery yet, but I plan on using it for thank-you cards for my Christmas presents. The stationery is printed on durable paper, which I love. I haven't found a use for my decals yet, but I plan on using them as soon as possible!

What do you like from Frost It All?

Tyler's Birthday

Today is Tyler's 17th birthday! This is our third year spending his birthday together, which I'm so happy about. We were going to go out to dinner last night to celebrate along with going out tonight, but the snowstorm got in the way. So, we'll be going out tonight and I'll be giving him his present then!

So happy birthday T, I hope you have the best birthday ever! I love you :)

Ugly Christmas Sweater Ideas

'Tis the season for ugly Christmas sweater parties! Ugly Christmas sweater parties are so much fun because they're like a blast from the past - Christmas sweaters from the 80s and 90s, which were considered fashionable at the time, are worn and laughed over. My mom has a couple that I'm able to wear. If you don't have any, you can always look for some at thrift stores or make your own.

I was searching through Pinterest when I found cute ideas for ugly Christmas sweater parties, which involve making your own sweater or making a completely tacky Christmas outfit!

"happy holla days"

Christmas tree

matching dress and suspenders

reindeer

What are your ideas for an ugly Christmas sweater?

Easy Holiday Outfits

1Hi ladies! Lauren from Side of Sweet Mint will be guest posting for me today about easy holiday outfits. Enjoy! xo
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With the holidays just around the corner, I can't be the only one tearing apart my closet looking for an outfit that hasn't been worn in a while. I get so anxious around the holidays looking for a great outfit that looks good, but doesn't look like I'm trying to hard. {You 'gotta balance, right?} I'm here to dish out my ideas for simple, yet stylish holiday couture. 

Lazy Breakfast: My family always has a lazy breakfast during the holidays. You know, those days when you wake up late, watch some late-morning TV, brunch around the fire, and just relaxing. Somehow [who knows why!] there is always a camera involved. You have to make sure you look good for the camera. 

THE OUTFIT BREAKDOWN: 

Patagonia Sweatshirt / Lululemon Leggings / Moccasins /

BEAUTY BREAKDOWN: 

Side Braid / Swish of Mascara 

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The Fancy Party: We all get those invites to the amazing Holiday party and trust me, there are going to be a lot of guys there. Ladies - this is your time to shine. Cancel all your late afternoon appointments (unless beauty related) and make sure you sparkle {because you will!} My top tip: double check your teeth. You never know when you might get a little bit of hor d'oeuvres stuck in your teeth. Bring some tic-tacs too!

 THE OUTFIT BREAKDOWN: 

Sparkly Holiday Dress / Bold Heels

BEAUTY BREAKDOWN: 

Curls / Pretty Makeup (don't make it too bold) 

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Afternoon Dress: Come on ladies! Everyone comes home for the holidays, so you've got to be on your A-Game. Simple, but classy. Start off with a classy long-sleeve t-shirt (Victoria's Secret is a great place for simple long sleeve in every color!}

 THE OUTFIT BREAKDOWN: 

J.Crew Downtown Field Jacket / Skinny Jeans / (Shoe of your choice) 

BEAUTY BREAKDOWN:

Simple makeup / Hair Down

What do you think about these outfits? What are your go-to outfits?

Christmas Playlist

Christmas music puts me in such a good mood, so right when Thanksgiving ends, I make sure to start listening to it. I've loved listening to it with my mom ever since I was little, so I have tons of favorites! This upcoming week is my last week of school before Christmas break, and I have tons of homework, tests, etc., so I'm definitely going to be listening to these songs below to help me power through my work.

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

Winter Bucket List

Creating my fall bucket list was fun, so I thought it would be fun to create a winter bucket list! I'm excited to see if I'll be able to do most, if not all, of these ideas.

What's on your winter bucket list?

Daily Schedule

One of the things I write in my to-do list notebook every day is a daily schedule. In my daily schedule, I devote different times to doing different things. For example, I'll usually set aside an hour for blogging and emailing, two hours for physics homework, etc. Creating a schedule really helps me to stay on task and make sure I don't procrastinate. It also helps me to make sure that I have enough time to do each task that I need to do. Here is an example of one of my daily schedules:

I have found that making a little schedule for myself also helps me get things done more quickly because I'm able to see in front of me everything else that I have left to do. I usually give more time than I think will be needed for each task just in case something happens that will cause me to actually end up needing more time. That way if I do end up needing more time, my whole schedule won't be thrown off! If I end up finishing a task earlier than I had planned, I just move on right to the next task.

How do you keep track of what you need to do?

What I'm Thankful For

I completely forgot to do this post before Thanksgiving, but I thought now would be a good time too because Christmas is about giving back to others and continuing to show what you're thankful for.

I'm thankful for...

{one} my family, friends, & boyfriend // I would be nowhere without any of these people. They are always there for me when I need someone to talk to, help me out when I need advice, and make me happy.

{two} my education // I'm lucky enough that my parents are able to afford my high school education. Most of my teachers are excellent, and they are always willing to help me out!

{three} my blog & followers // I absolutely love my blog and all of you! All of your comments, kind words, and emails make me so happy. You make me love my blog even more than I already do!

{four} clothes, house, & food // I am so thankful to have clothes, a house, and food. I often take all three of these for granted, but I will always be thankful for them.

These are only the major things that I'm thankful for, but I'm thankful for so many more things as well. Try to keep in mind the things you're thankful for throughout the holiday season!

What are you thankful for?

How To :: Have The Perfect Secret Santa Party

The older you get, the more popular "Secret Santa" parties become. For those of you who have never heard of "Secret Santa," it's when you get together with a group of friends, pick a name out of a hat, and buy a gift for the person you picked. However, you're not supposed to tell the person or anyone else who you have. It's supposed to be a secret! Then you plan a day for a party where you all get together and try to figure out who had who.

Secret Santa is a great alternative for buying each one of your friends a present because it saves so much time and money. Buying a present for one person and then having a party with lots of food, laughter, and Christmas spirit is just as fun! However, there is a lot of planning that goes into Secret Santa parties to keep them fun and to make sure that each person stays secretive. So, I put together a little itinerary to help you out!

one // picking a person

Grab a hat and put each person's name inside of it. Have each person pick a name, but make sure they don't tell anyone. Decide where to have the party and when. Make a price range for the gift - somewhere between $20 and $30 is usually good. Hand a black trash bag to everyone - they will put their gift in it so people can't figure out who gave what gift.

two // planning the party

Whoever is hosting the party has the best part of the deal. Make sure to create a Christmas music playlist, come up with fun games/activities to do, and decorate so everything is all Christmas-themed. Have everyone bring some type of food (appetizer, main meal, dessert, drinks, etc.) so that there is plenty to eat.

three // having the party

As each person arrives to the party, have them place their gifts in the same spot. Once it's time to open the gifts, each person can just grab a bag until they find the one that is addressed to them. As each person opens their gifts, have them guess who gave it to them!

I've been to a couple of Secret Santa parties before, and they're so much fun. They're great because you're so excited about finding out who had you and seeing if the person you had can figure out if it's you!

Have you been to a Secret Santa party before?

Gift Guide For Men

Guys can either be really easy to shop for or really hard to shop for. So, I put together a little gift guide that you can use if you need to buy something for a guy for Christmas this year!

hat // belt // socks // flip flops // phone case // bottle opener

As you can see, all of these gifts are from Vineyard Vines. VV is the perfect store to buy men's gifts!

What do you think would be a good gift for men?

Christmas Styling

Hi ladies! Chelsea from Sports Direct is guest posting for me today. Enjoy! xo

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December is here and I'm finally on the countdown to Christmas but whilst the month is just getting started and people are still at school and work, it can be hard to think of the holidays. However, don't worry because if you dress right your fashion can make you feel festive. Check out these Christmas styles that are sure to get you in the spirit.

one | tartan

All around the World people sing the Scottish New Year song, 'Auld Land Syne'. Tartan is associated with Scottish kilts so wearing this latest trend is sure to get you feeling festive and ready for the New Year. It's also one of the biggest trends at the minute so it would be wrong not to be wearing this style now! Look for red tartan prints in particular, as red is obviously the number one Christmas shade.

two | Christmas jumpers

The clue is in the title as to why these will get you in the spirit. The cheesier the jumper, the better! You will literally be wearing Christmas. This year 3D designs can be seen everywhere and are so much more fun that a standard 2D jumper!

three | sequins, glitter, velvet, etc.

These are normally found on party dresses, and with lots of parties happening right now, these are must haves that will make you feel the yuletide glow.

four | chunky cardigans

We all love to team these with our favorite pair of skinny jeans but the weather normally doesn't let us dig them out until this time of year- so make the most of it. 

five | cute coats

Just like out knitwear, coats normally stay at the back of the wardrobe...until now. Go the whole hog and team your knits with a cut coat, hat and scarf. Wrap up warm because Winter is here and soon there will be snow (hopefully!).

Inspired to find some festive outfits? Take a look at Sports Direct's Fashion Outlet for the latest Christmas fashion outfits!

Celebrating Christmas With Friends Cheaply

Christmas is about spending time with the ones you love and showing all that you're grateful for. Everyone loves to celebrate Christmas with their friends, and sometimes that can be really expensive if you want to buy a gift for every single one of your friends. So, why not celebrate it cheaply while still being able to be like them? Check out the different ways you can celebrate below!

one | dinner

Grab a group of friends and go somewhere nice for dinner! Even though there wouldn't be any gifts, you still get to celebrate Christmas and dress nicely.

two | Yankee swap

Yankee swaps are extremely common. Set a maximum price and buy a gift. This can be done at someone's house with food, music, movies, and more!

three | secret Santa

Secret Santa is becoming more and more popular. Put the names of your friends in your group in a hat and have each person pick a name to see who they're buying for. Set a maximum price and plan to have the party at someone's house! I like secret Santa a lot more than Yankee swap because I know I'll most likely get a gift that I'll like and be able to use since my "secret Santa" knows what I like.

How do you like to celebrate Christmas cheaply?

Outfit :: Comfy & Chic

I don't get the chance to do outfit posts a lot, but when I do, I make sure to grab the opportunities! I recently invested in Ralph Lauren cable knits over a month ago, and I'm super happy with my decision. I've been constantly wearing them because they're so warm, comfy, and stylish!

I consider the outfit in this post to be comfy and chic. It's comfy because it consists of a cable knit, leggings, and Sperry's, but it's chic because it looks cute as well.

My leggings are from Under Armour, and I love them so much! They're thick, warm, and comfy. They are designed for sports (I wear them during cold soccer games and while skiing), but I love wearing them with my outfits as well.

What do you consider comfy & chic?

Favorite Winter Activities

Even though  I love winter, there isn't always a lot of things to do because of the snow and how cold the temperature is. So, I thought I would share what my favorite winter activities are! I'm always open to hearing new ideas, so let me know what you love to do in the winter as well.

What do you like to do in the winter?

Giveaway :: hedoepaper

I am so excited to be hosting a giveaway with hedoepaper! This cute little Etsy shop has tons of fabulous notepads, stationery, etc. Any of these items would make great gifts for the holidays, and this giveaway is right in time for the holidays! The winner will receive a personalized chevron notepad. So cute!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! xo

Holiday Desserts

I don't make desserts often, but looking through Pinterest has inspired me to make some type of holiday dessert! I've pinned multiple holiday desserts that all look delicious. The recipes seem pretty easy to follow, too. These desserts would be great for parties, friends, or just to share with your family. Check out my favorites below!

peppermint cake

peppermint puppy chow

peppermint fudge

peppermint float

Which holiday desserts do you want to make?

Easy Gifts For A Prep

Having a preppy friend can either be super easy or super hard to buy presents for during the holidays. It's easy because you know exactly what kind of stores are preppy, but it's hard because most things can be pretty expensive. So, I put together a little gift guide that you can use if you have a preppy friend and need to buy a gift for her! The gifts aren't too expensive, and they'll make great gifts.

agenda // phone case // portable charger // wallet // hat // thermos

You can always buy gift cards to places such as Panera, Starbucks, Pinkberry, etc. If you want your price range to be higher, basically anything from preppy stores would be a good fit.

What would you buy for a prep?

Gift Guide

Hi ladies! Today, Lauren from Pretty Pieces will be guest posting for me. She is doing a little gift guide, which is a fabulous idea. Enjoy! xo

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GiGi New York clutch / J.Crew earrings / Polo Ralph Lauren scarf / Billabong gloves / Bobbi Brown lip gloss set / Philosophy body lotion / Deborah Lippmann nail polish set / Juicy Couture perfume / Archie Grand Notebook / Christmas Cookie Yankee Candle

one | JCrew earrings

These gorgeous studs are a colorful way to spice up an outfit.

two | Philosophy lotion

Philosophy always has the best scents and this one is great for the holidays.

three | Deborah Lippmann nail polish set

every girl needs sparkly and festive nails during the holiday season and this set comes with a cute cosmetic bag.

four | Christmas Cookie Yankee Candle

This is, hands down, one of my favorite Yankee Candle scents, it literally smells like sugar cookies baking in your house.

five | Archie Grand Notebook

For starters, this is perfect to write down who gave you which gift!

six | Gigi NY all in one clutch

This comes in so many cute colors and holds just enough stuff.

seven | Juicy Couture perfume set

I've loved the Juicy scents for years and the smaller sized bottle is good for travel

eight | Polo Ralph Lauren scarf

This classic pattern will never go out of style.

nine | Billabong gloves:

I love the classic print and fur trim on these gloves.

Happy Holidays!

-Lauren