Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide

Gift shopping shouldn’t be stressful, but if you (like me) wait until the last minute to do gift shopping, I’ve got you covered. Most of these items can be bought in store and, if not, most websites are currently offering to ship before Christmas. I tried to think of gift ideas for every kind of person in your life; from makeup guru to music lover. The items I listed vary anywhere from $8-$99, so there’s something no matter how high or low your budget may be. Enjoy and happy holidays!

Lots of love,
Angela

1. Sephora Favorites Liquid Luxuries Perfume Sampler ($65)
This gift works for pretty much anybody on your list of people to buy for! This sampler has 15 of Sephora’s most popular selling perfumes so not only do you get to try 15 new perfumes but if you find that you have a favorite you can go to Sephora and exchange the voucher for a full sized bottle!

2. Crosley Record Player ($99)
If you want to splurge on a gift, a record player is the perfect thing to get someone! Pair it with their favorite album on vinyl and you’re set! If someone you know already has a record player, buy them a vinyl or two as a gift! I have a record player and getting one of my favorite artist’s albums always puts the biggest smile on my face. 

3. Lush Cosmetics Wrapped Gift ($29.95)
Lush has the cutest wrapped gift sets for not only the holidays, but any occasion! They have so many options that include lotions, bath bombs, bubble bars, soaps, etc. Honestly, who doesn’t love natural and amazingly scented bath products?

4. Alex and Ani Bracelet ($28)
Alex and Ani have so many options for every single person. On their website, you can shop based on occasion, personality, holiday, color, or personalization. It’s the perfect personalized gift for anybody in your life!

5. Real Techniques Core Collection Brushes ($17.99)
This brush set is perfect for anybody beginning their makeup collection! Their brushes are great quality for a very reasonable price. They also have other gift sets, for someone who already has staple brushes like these, which include exclusive brushes not sold separately!

6. Lat & Lo Jewelry ($54)
I absolutely love the concept behind Lat & Lo. They create bracelets, necklaces, and rings with custom latitude and longitude coordinates of your choosing! Whether you inscribe it with where you met this person, where they are from, where they spent the best day of their life, etc. the possibilities are endless. This is such a personalized and beautiful gift for absolutely anybody in your life!

7. Candles from Anthropologie ($12.60)
Anthroplogie has the cutest candles for great prices. A good smelling candle is something anybody would appreciate, especially if it’s one as cute as the ones they sell here!

8. Mugs from Anthropologie ($8.40)
For the coffee/tea lovers in your life (and we all have them) a cute mug is the perfect gift idea! Anthropologie has ones with cute phrases, cities, initials, and so many more. Just like the candles, they’re also very reasonably priced!

9. Coloring Books ($16)
The fact that coloring books are becoming a trend is a strange concept, but honestly, anything that’ll let me feel like a kid again is something I’m excited for. Giving this along with some colored pencils or markers is such a fun and easy gift idea.

10. Leather Backpack ($65)
Getting a leather backpack has honestly saved my life. I carry around pretty much anything a person could ever need in my purse (ask my friends, they call me the mom of the group) and a purse sometimes just feels too heavy on your shoulders. A leather backpack makes lugging around all that stuff so much easier while still looking cute! For that person in your life who, like me, carries the world in their bag, this gift is a lifesaver!

Taking a Break From Finals

After this week I can officially say I’ve completed my first semester as a sophomore in college! Finals week is the most stressful time of year as a student. Staying up until 4am to study while drinking so many cups of coffee you lose count isn’t all that uncommon. I think it’s necessary though to take some time for yourself during those agonizing couple of weeks. Enjoying some time out of the house (away from that desk covered in notes, textbooks, and flashcards) definitely helps reduce stress and allows you to focus better when you get back to it.

I think it’s important to find things that help relax you whenever things get hectic and overwhelming. Usually for me, that involves listening to music, writing, or going on adventures with friends. Since it is Christmas time, I decided to take a break from studying to do one of my favorite things during the holiday season: gift shopping!

Since here at home it’s still around 80 degrees everyday, I opted for a simple t-shirt dress and thigh high boots. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for outfit details!

Lots of love (and if you have them, good luck on all your finals!),
Angela

Wearing: Brandy Melville dress | Charlotte Russe boots | H&M sunglasses

Fall in Florida

The worst combination: loving fall/winter fashion and living in Florida. It’s hard to enjoy thigh high boots and turtlenecks when, most days, it’s a low of 80 degrees.

This past weekend, the temperature finally hit 70 degrees (yes, that’s on the verge of cold for most Floridians) so I took it as an excuse to pull out my favorite leather jacket. Don’t get me wrong, I wear this jacket a lot, but this was the first time all year that I wasn’t completely melting underneath its exterior.

More exciting news! After two years of searching for boyfriend jeans that fit me, I finally found a pair! I have to admit, it’s been a long, hard struggle and I almost thought about giving up a few times, but luckily I didn’t. The look on my face when I tried them on and realized they fit was most likely very embarrassing.

Anyways, my roommate and I went to our favorite part of town for lunch this past weekend and did a bit of exploring while we were there! Something about the weather finally changing makes venturing throughout the city that much more fun.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom for outfit details!

Lots of love,
Angela

Wearing: Brandy Melville top | Brandy Melville jeans | Zara jacket | Forever21 backpack | La Moda booties | Belt thrifted

August Makeup/Beauty Purchases

MAC Matte Lipstick (Velvet Teddy): I’ve never been hugely into lipsticks, but through the use of liners I’ve gradually gotten more comfortable using them. On myself, I don’t like a shiny finish so I really wanted a nice matte lipstick and MAC’s Velvet Teddy was the perfect choice. I’ve heard a lot about this lipstick (everyone seems to love it) and now I understand why! It’s matte but doesn’t leave your lips feeling dry and the color is absolutely gorgeous.

Maybelline The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette: I’m not one to gravitate towards bold, colored eyeshadows and have recently been on the hunt for a low priced palette with a variety of nude shades. The Naked palette by Urban Decay is slightly out of my price range so when a friend recommended this one to me, I couldn’t say no! I absolutely love the colors in this. It’s the perfect variety of colors for an array of nude looks.

Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion: A friend recommended this eye primer to me and after she gave me a sample, I knew I needed to go out and buy it, and now I don’t know how I ever lived without it! This eye primer keeps eyeshadow intact for hours and in any weather condition/circumstance (ex: a day trip to Universal Studios and a concert). Both times, by the end of the day, my eyeshadow still looked like I had only just applied it. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone!

Urban Decay Setting Spray: As someone who lives in Florida (dealing with constant humidity and heat), I was desperately in need of a good setting spray. After watching some review videos on Youtube, I decided on purchasing this one. Between how long my makeup lasted before I used this spray vs. how long it lasts now, I can definitely see a difference! Don’t get me wrong, if you have oily skin like me, you’ll still have to blot/touch up through out a long day, but not nearly as much!

LUSH Dark Angels Cleanser: LUSH is an incredible company that uses natural ingredients in their products, doesn’t test on animals, and really believes in being as green as possible. There are so many unnecessary ingredients in face products nowadays, most of them being harsh and not good for the skin. I really wanted to find a cleanser with natural ingredients and after hearing so many good reviews about Dark Angels I decided to try it out. The natural ingredients in this product have really helped give my skin a nice matte, yet refreshed, feeling. For it being my first LUSH product, I’m definitely satisfied and will definitely be shopping there again!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (Stockholm): I absolutely love this product! It applies smoothly, dries perfectly matte, smells so good, doesn’t cost much at all, and is long lasting.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: In almost any makeup tutorial video I’ve watched on Youtube, a Real Techniques brush is used. When I began looking for a new foundation brush, I instantly remembered the countless times I’ve heard people raving over the expert face brush. I haven’t had the chance to use this brush yet since I’m still on the hunt for a perfect new foundation to pair it with, but when I do I’ll be sure to post a review on it! (Also: if you know of any good foundations for oily skin, let me know in the comments!)

Real Techniques Setting Brush: Another brush on my list of ones to buy was a setting brush. I haven’t had the chance to use this brush yet either because I want to find a good setting powder to pair it with, but when I do I’ll include it with the review on the expert face brush!

(Not pictured) Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask: Similar to the LUSH cleanser, this contains charcoal and helps with acne breakouts. I actually purchased this after I bought the cleanser because I really liked how the charcoal worked for my skin. I really like that this is a mask, really allowing the product to treat and extract any dirt, oils, etc. from your skin and, unlike most masks, it doesn’t leave your face feeling dry!

DIY Room Decor: Prada Marfa Sign

If you love fashion (or watched Gossip Girl as much as I did) you’ve seen the iconic Prada Marfa sign. These signs are sold online from anywhere between $50-$200 depending on the size. I really wanted to incorporate this famous sign in my new room but on a college students budget, that probably wasn’t going to happen. I began watching some DIY videos on YouTube and realized that I didn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars, and with a trip to my local crafts store, I could make the sign myself!

What you’ll need:
Canvas (16 x 20 in. is what I used)
Black acrylic paint
X-Acto knife
Scissors
Pencil
Sharpie
Paint Brushes
Ruler
Prada Marfa sign printed out (size of your choice, depending on how big you want it)

Begin by cutting out the letters with scissors or an x-acto knife (depending which is easier for you) and making sure you like the size of them on the canvas.
Lay out the letters/numbers/arrow on the canvas and use the ruler to make sure they are straight. Once you position them exactly where you want them, begin by tracing them with a pencil. 
Once you’re done tracing the letters and are happy with how they look on the canvas, begin tracing the letters with sharpie. This will make it easier later once you begin painting. After tracing all the letters with sharpie, begin painting! I used small, flat brushes (even for the bigger letters) to really ensure that I would have good control in applying the paint. If you have any lines you want to touch up (for example if you accidentally went over some of the outlines) use white paint and a small brush to cover it up! If not, you’re done! Here’s the final piece hung up in my room! I am absolutely in love with it! Let me know if you’ve started any DIY projects lately or if you might be trying this one!

Lots of love,
Angela

Our Adventures

When you grow up and live in the same town for 19 years, things can get somewhat repetitive. So, when summer began, I set a goal for myself. I began making a list of all new coffee shops, art museums, gardens, and restaurants that I’d never been to before. A few days ago, I took a trip to a nearby art district where I tried a quaint coffee shop and saw some of the art walls. Coffee, art, and good company made for a lovely day.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom for outfit details!

Lots of love,
Angela

PS: Sorry for my absence. I have lots of exciting things planned for these next few months and will be posting regularly again!

Wearing: Brandy Melville dress | Forever21 boots | H&M bag | H&M sunglasses | American Apparel necklace

Versace (Couture: Fall 2015)

Versace kicked off Paris Haute Couture Week yesterday and Donatella absolutely delivered. The unexpectedly softened-up, romantic collection did not disappoint. The models seemed to float down the glass runway over thousands of beautiful orchids in seventies inspired looks. Donatella maintained the Versace look with several black pieces amongst a sea of dusty pastels and her signature corseting visible under light, floaty fabrics. The collection showed a great deal of diversity with everything from feathered ball gowns to minis paired with sky high platform boots, countless textures, and a variety of embroideries and appliqués.

Check out a few of the looks from the runway show below and be sure to let me know what you thought of the collection as well!

Lots of love,
Angela

#mycalvins

You’ve seen them everywhere… on countless Instagram feeds, websites, blogs, and have maybe even worn them yourself. It started as an ad campaign in 2014 with models and celebrities taking pictures in their Calvin Klein underwear and hashtagging it #mycalvins. This elastic waistband has been iconic for years and with the help of celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Poppy Delevingne, and Miranda Kerr it quickly made its return. A little over a year later, the #mycalvins trend is still going strong.

It took me a while to get comfortable with the thought of wearing an underwear or bra as a statement piece, but at last, here we are. I’ve been following some of my favorite celebs in this trend and with the help of their outfit inspiration, I put together two outfits; one including the Calvin Klein Modern Cotton Short underwear and the other including the Modern Cotton Bralette.

Be sure to let me know in the comments if you’ve been/will be sporting the #mycalvins trend!

Lots of love,
Angela

Wearing: Calvin Klein underwear | Brandy Melville top | Forever21 backpack, shoes | American Eagle jeans

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Wearing: Calvin Klein bra | Forever21 jersey, shoes | Topshop jeans | Sunglasses Charlotte Russe (not available online)

Cannes 2015: AmfAR Gala Favorites

AmfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS Gala is always one of the top fashion highlights during the Cannes Film Festival. This year’s attendees did not disappoint, making it so hard to narrow down my my top ten picks. After long and hard deliberation, here’s my ten favorite AmfAR Gala looks… and be sure to comment and let me know whose looks you loved!

Lots of love,
Angela

Jourdan Dunn in Vera Wang

Chanel Iman in Zuhair Murad

 Diane Kruger in Chanel

 Barbara Palvin in La Perla

 Joan Smalls in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

 Irina Shayk in Atelier Versace and Harry Winston

 Zoe Kravitz in Vionnet

 Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein Collection and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes

 Dita Von Teese in Ulyana Sergeenko

 Gigi Hadid in Tom Ford and Aquazzura shoes

Get the Look: Taylor Swift at the Billboard Music Awards

Nobody had a better Sunday than Taylor Swift. It all began with her and her all-star Bad Blood squad on the red carpet (which made all of us wish we were a part of it) and as soon as the awards began, we witnessed the incredible music video. After watching the video, the historic night began. She won eight Billboard Awards through out the night, including Top Artist, Top Streaming Song, and Top Billboard 200 Artist, making her the top winning Billboard artist of all time with a total of 20 wins.

Swift looked absolutely gorgeous in a Balmain SS15 cutout jumpsuit, but unfortunately it isn’t available online and even if it was, it would be a bit out of my price range. She paired the jumpsuit with Brian Atwood ‘Tribeca’ platforms and a custom-made Edie Parker clutch that said “Bad Blood” on the side. Taylor finished off the look with a smoky cat-eye, nude lip, and textured bob.

If you loved her winning look, here’s how you can get it for less:

Nasty Gal $78 | Revolve Clothing $149 | Boohoo $30 | Revolve Clothing $189

Lots of love,
Angela