1. Feeling stressed? You're not the only one, trust me. I get really bad anxiety, and I have learned over the years that stress can be unavoidable. If you are stressed, here are some of my tips to help relax.
2. I love my volleyball team more than I can describe. Although we need to fix some things with how we're actually meshing on a volleyball court, I love these girls to pieces and I am so grateful to play next to them everyday. Our team dynamic is really just amazing. This is one group of people I will really miss next year when I am off at college! I adore my princesses!
3. It's almost fall, and Williams-Sonoma once again has my favorite soup in the world available. Their pumpkin bisque starter is perfect for those brisk fall days. Find it here or in stores.
4. I read this amazing "This I Believe Essay" by a high school senior. Her quote, below, really resonated with me.
5. My friend kAb's post on high school is perf. (here)
6. I have my fall music playlist on repeat. Missed the post? Find it here.
Fall is my favorite season for music. I just have such a better appreciation for music when school starts, because it is one of my vehicles for relaxation. Most school nights I listen to my "and now we're seniors" playlist on Spotify while I do my homework. These are some of my favorite songs from that collection.
Isn't it crazy that July is literally just around the corner? I feel like summer just began, but we are already a third of the way through. #wut? This summer, you will see a lot of these "Saturday Six" posts, because I always find myself stuck inside. (Even though I would 100% rather be at the beach... no matter where I am and what I am doing) Here are some of the things that I have been lusting over this week!
1. These prints, introduced to me through "Prep Avenue" (a great blog run by an adorable college sophomore). I love finding great small retailers like these! This is my personal favorite print:
2. Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews: Andrews is always a solid option when I am on the prowl for a good summer read, and this book was no exception. I just finished the book, and I was really wrapped up in it! It's one of those books that had me staying up late and waking up early just so I could finish! It follows the life of a 32 year old interior designer from Madison, Georgia, who caught her fiancé and her maid of honor going at it during her rehearsal dinner. A fun read, for sure!
3. Creatures by Shannon Saunders: I simply cannot get this song out of my head. This girl is seriously talented. British musicians > anything! Keep an eye on Shannon Saunders for sure.
4. Venice: I have always wanted to go to Venice. It looks like an absolutely stunning place. Pinterest has been chalk full of stunning photos of the city recently. My favorite, below.
5. This top designed by one of my long-standing blogger-idols, Sincerely Jules. I could see it styled with J. Crew chino shorts or even jean cutoff shorts! Very versatile, very summer.
6. As I have confessed before, I am utterly obsessed with hydrangeas. I have even written a whole post on them. #sorrynotsorry My friend kHr and I could not give up the opportunity to take a picture with my favorite flower!
Whenever I am on the beach, I always have the radio or my phone by my side, playing my favorite songs for the summer. Here are my favorite picks this year for beach music (across a few different genres)
COUNTRY:
BEACHIN' | JAKE OWEN
I GOT A CAR | GEORGE STRAIT
SUNTAN CITY | LUKE BRYAN
FRIDAY NIGHT | BRAD PAISLEY
FOLLOW YOUR ARROW | KASEY MUSGRAVES
DRINK IN MY HAND | ERIC CHURCH
WHATEVER SHE'S GOT | DAVID NIALL
BOTTOMS UP | BRANTLEY GILBERT
YEAH | JOE NICHOLS
FEELIN' IT | SCOTTY McCREERY
DOIN' WHAT SHE LIKES | BLAKE SHELTON
LIVE A LITTLE | DEAN ALEXANDER
ALTERNATIVE / ROCK:
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP | BEN HOWARD
OVERJOYED | BASTILLE
FEVER | THE BLACK KEYS
AMBER | 311
FLAKE | JACK JOHNSON
HOME AGAIN | MICHAEL KIWANUKA
AWKWARD | SAN CISCO
SLEEPING WITH A FRIEND | NEON TREES
RAGING FIRE | PHILLIP PHILLIPS
POP / DANCE:
RATHER BE | CLEAN BANDIT
SUMMER | CALVIN HARRIS
SING | ED SHEERAN
DO MY THANG | MILEY CYRUS
CLASSIC | MTKO
SHOW ME | MINT ROYALE
AM I WRONG | NICO & VINZ
JEANS (GESAFFELSTEIN REMIX) | LANA DEL RAY
COLOURS | GROUPLOVE
MY LOVE | ROUTE 94
I hope all of y'all have a great summer! I am all over this place this summer, volunteering, nannying, at the beach, and traveling. I'll hope to be on this blog all the time, but in the meantime I am studying for my last few finals so wish me luck!
Somewhere that I have always wanted to go is to the Coachella Music Festival. Its the perfect combination of fashion, music, and great weather! Here are some of my favorite looks from Coachella, both this year and in 2013! (Courtesy of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar)
And Coachella would't be Coachella with out the... music (of course!) Here are some of my favorite videos from Coachella!
Tonight I can finally catch my breath. Since coming back from France, every night has been hectic and stressful. Honestly I have been stressed out of my mind, and seeing all of the seniors getting into colleges has been both motivating and at the same time really freaky. Next year, I won't have any seniors to look up to, no older people at all. It's really strange to think about.
I have finally made up all of the things that were pushed back from my trip to France. HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders, but I also have two huge projects that are literally right around the corner. But I just have to keep working my hardest, and eventually it will all be finished!
Everyone in my school right now is deciding what courses to take next year. Its kind of stressful and kind of exciting at the same time. (I keep saying that. I feel like that is basically my life at this point) I can't decide which science I am going to take, but I am pretty sure that I will be in the highest level math that my school offers, because I was recommended for it and I trust my teacher's judgement pretty soundly.
Recently the little amount of free time I have had has been completely wasted. I really want to stop wasting my time scrolling through Facebook and tumblr and actually doing something a little bit more concrete, like working ahead, reading a good book, writing a blog post, or baking!
Oh and prom is in like 10 days or something. I am going with my best guy friend, and I am really happy about it all! I have honestly no idea what to expect going into this! I am wearing an "erin erin fetherson" dress that's not mind-blowing, but I like it! Not too showy or anything.
Another thing that has recently come to my attention is that I have barely any clothes for this spring! I need to get on this ASAP. Literally all of my dresses are too short which is bad considering that I am like 5'9" or something so that makes it even more noticeable. I have been looking online for weeks but I have not found many cute, affordable, and unique options. #constantstruggle
Plus, since coming back from France my style has changed yet again. I have such random outfits everyday people probably have a very hard time defining my style. One day its preppy, one day its literally "what is she wearing??" Sorry, I honestly need to decide what my style is and just stick to it!
I really want to buy some cute rompers for the summertime! Thats one thing that I keep seeing and I am getting so inspired! I have the cutest outfit ideas picked out for when I go to Italy and England this summer!
And on top of all that, I have early dismissals from school at least two days every week until mid May. So busy, but I can't wait for my birthday thats coming up and OMG SUMMER.
Oh and if you are in the mood for some really good music to listen to, check out this full set of "Of Monsters and Men" from Coachella last year. I wrote this blog post with it playing in the background. I love listening to concerts on youtube. So entertaining.
Who's excited for my first Music Monday? I am! I love music. Who doesn't? Here are some of my top pics for the late winter! I have a VERY diverse taste in music. I love alternative, country, 90's pop and rap, you name it! Most of these songs in this post will be more low key alternative songs. That's what I find I am more in the mood in for the winter! In the summer, watch out, it'll be a complete 180!
No Scrubs (Cover) | Bastille: I think I have expressed by obsession with Bastille before? I love so many of their songs! I recently found this live cover of theirs and its so addicting. I think I have been listening to this song on repeat for an hour. No shame. It's really just that good.
It's actually kind of funny listening to TLC's original version in comparison, because Bastille's version, in my opinion, is just perfection. Some of my other favorite Bastille songs are "Flaws", "Pompeii" and "Things We Lost in the Fire".
James Vincent McMorrow | We Don't Eat and Mia Wray | We Don't Eat (Cover): I am obessed with her cover, and the original song. (I linked both!) I promise you that this song has made me cry multiple times. It really just connects with me on a whole different level.
The thing I love about Mia Wray is how she does it all herself, and she obviously spends so much time making her videos. Her voice is perfect! I love how she really mixes up how the song sounds, while keeping its integrity.
James
Vincent McMorrow is someone I would LOVE to see in concert. His voice
really just touches my soul. The first song I ever found from him was
"Higher Love". I found it a few years ago, and I guess that was when my
obsession with him started! CHECK. HIM. OUT! (I also love his song "Early in the Morning, I'll Come Calling")
I And Love And You | The Avett Brothers: I love music that is only vocals and instruments. I think that the Avett Brothers, and this song especially, are great examples of that category.
Other songs on my Spotify that are definitely worth checking out:
This post was originally going to be a Friday Five when I started it a few days ago, but it got pushed back so now... Saturday Six?
1. Painting Results: I got my light switch plate and mason jar that I painted a few weeks ago back, and I'm loving them! I put one of my Vineyard Vines stickers on my ceramic mason jar, and put some of my pens in it!
2. I recently watched the movie "Take Me Home" on Netflix. Its a highly acclaimed romantic comedy with a much more "indie" feeling than most rom com movies I watch. It follows the cross country road trip of Thom and Claire in a fake NYC taxi cab. Great movie!
3. I can't believe that in three months I will be in France for the French Exchange. Like what?
4. Music: One of my recent artist obsessions is Bastille! I think that they are amazing! Besides their most popular song, "Pompeii", some of my other favorites are "Things Lost in the Fire" and "Flaws". I hope you check them out! All of those songs are off their album "Bad Blood".
I listen to all of my music through Spotify. If you don't have an account (it's free!) I highly recommend that you sign up! I think I might do another long music post soon.
5. This quote I found in the New York Times Sunday Styles section a few weeks ago. (The Styles Section of the NYT is actually my addiction.)
"I always tell him, ‘After we die, we have to find each other in our next life.’ I also tell him if I die before him, I really want him to fall in love again. But in our next lifetime, he has to find me, not her. That’s the deal." -Meghan Milewski
I am not sure whether or not I believe in reincarnation. I have heard theories before that you are always reincarnated with your same family unit, with the members in different roles. It's an interesting topic to think about. No matter my thoughts on the subject, I feel that this woman's love for her new husband is so strong, it really moved me.
6. KJP and Sarah Vickers engagement: Okay if anyone doesn't know this power couple, let me introduce you! Kiel James Patrick is a New Englander and clothing and accessories designer. His site is here and this is his tumblr! His fiancé's name is Sarah Vickers, and she runs one of my favorite blogs, Classy Girls Wear Pearls. They have been dating forever, and they recently engaged! They have the BEST style. Also, they have all these amazingly stylish friends who hang out together and work together and do these extremely preppy and admirable things. (Can you tell how obsessed I am with them?!) I love her friend Sadie Zucchi's style the most out of their whole gang. I have been reading Sarah's blog for a few years now, I highly recommend.
Here's their engagement photo! (taken from KJP's tumblr)
Here are some of my favorite shots from Sarah's blog:
Trust me when I say that these aren't even all of her shoes. SO jealous!
In the fall, I listen to very music than I listen to in the summer. In the summer I am a HUGE country music kind of girl. I also love pop, and anything that makes me feel happy and relaxed. In the fall I listen to darker, more folksy music, and more singer-songwriter style. (There are some exceptions to this, as you will see!) I have found almost all of my favorite music from tumblr, or from this blog post (written by my favorite girl on tumblr!). I have recently gotten a spotify, so this is basically my "fall" playlist from there!
(Song Title | Artist)
Death's Song | City and Color
Fred Astaire | San Cisco
Black Flies | Ben Rector
Mountain Sound | Of Monsters & Men
Brother | Matt Corby
Slumber | NEEDTOBREATHE
When A Heart Breaks | Ben Rector
The Cave | Mumford & Sons
Awkward | San Cisco
All I Want | Kodaline
Only Love | Ben Rector
Untitled | Matt Corby
Drive All Night | NEEDTOBREATHE
John's Song | San Cisco
Let Her Go | Passenger
Hopeless Wanderer | Mumford & Sons
Note: Driving to school, I just put in my Mumford & Sons CD, so thats 90% of the music I will be listening to! So all those songs should be mentioned, but I thought that would be excessive.
Hope y'all check them out and enjoy them as much as I do!
I just got home from Duck a few hours ago. I am totally exhausted! Some notable things to mention were how I went parasailing again, and how I drove a wave runner/jet ski for the first time. Firstly, parasailing is amazing and anyone who is not deathly afraid of heights should definitely try it. It really is not that dangerous at all, and it gives you the best views you could ever imagine. Jet skiing is sooo much better when you are actually driving the vehicle! You feel such a rush and so free, but that probably sounds really strange. I will share any photos I will get from the trip as soon as I get them! I am beyond thankful to my friend kHr for inviting me two years in a row. We've made so many amazing memories.
Secondly, clothing update! I am so excited to finally have purchased the seersucker bandeau bikini from J. Crew. I love seersucker, and having a seersucker bikini will be such a great investment.
I think it will be great for my yearly summer trip to Nantucket, my favorite place on Earth! It is one of the only places where I can really unwind and enjoy myself. My family loves the island like one would love their childhood home. ACK for life!
Last summer, I was obsessed with Lennon and Maisy's cover of the Robyn song "Call Your Girlfriend". I just was messing around on YouTube, and found this cover of the same song by Dutch singer, Christopher. His voice blew me away, and he is so cute! His version is very relaxing and simple.
Monday I will be visiting William and Mary. So excited! Can't wait to judge my family's favorite college for myself.
