What's In My Bag: Travel Edition

With the holidays ending and everyone hitting the road, there comes the dilemma of what to take in your purse while traveling, especially when you're taking a plane. As someone who spends a lot of decent amount of time on a plane traveling from TX to NYC, I am constantly switching my school bag or my internship bag into a carry-on bag.

The carry-on is something every one should master, even if you don't travel very often. Since I will be abroad next semester I really have to get this down (looking at you, discount airlines). So, here are my absolute must-haves when on the road.

For shorter trips (a week or less, but it always depends on where I am going) I like to bring just my iPad since I can do pretty much everything on it, I have a portable keyboard, and it holds all my books. For longer trips, I bring my laptop, but now that I have a MacBook Air (which weighs nothing) I find myself bringing it along more and more.

That little pink stick is the greatest invention ever- a portable charger. My dad bought one for me online (unsure of the brand but this one is similar) and I bring it everywhere. It's great for long day trips into the city where chargers are scarce or long plane rides with unreliable seat outlets. It has saved me many, many times.

I always have sunglasses with me, even if it's cloudy. These Ray Ban club masters are my new obsession and I can't stop wearing them!

Since I jumped on the blanket scarf trend over Thanksgiving (I have this one from Charlotte Russe, right now it's only $5!!) I have been wearing mine nearly every day. I love bringing scarves on planes to use as a shawl, blanket, pillow, or just to hide my static-y plane hair.

Pretty much everything else here can always be found in my purse (even the M&Ms, sometimes you need a snack!). I bought this Anne Klein bag for $20, unused, at a resale store and it has become my go-to bag- it's even big enough to fit my laptop!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and you all have a Happy New Year!

The Holidays are Here!

Can y'all believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow?? And you know what that means- Christmas is coming! The holidays are one of my favorite times of the year- I can't wait for the tree to go up and to exchange presents on Christmas morning. I know some people already have their lights up, and a few start listening to Christmas music at 12:01 on November 1st. I try to contain my excitement and wait at least until after Thanksgiving (although Zac and I did watch Love, Actually last week).

Since the holidays are coming, that means it's time to start thinking about holiday outfits! The good thing about being in college is that most of my 'holiday parties' require little more than a crazy Christmas sweater or a pair of red jeans. But I still have a few formal events and of course Christmas events with my family. I wanted to put together a few looks that will work for any holiday gathering, whether you're sipping cocoa by the fire or laughing over cocktails at your office party.

1. This is totally something I could wear to my casual-dressy Christmas Eve celebration with my family! I sometimes all the time overdress, but this is the perfect mix of casual with a little festive sparkle. The hot pink skater skirt is a fresh look amongst a sea of red and green, and the sequined Alice + Olivia top add just enough glitter! The black tights and ankle boots help tone down the rest of the outfit.

2. If your Christmas is a low-key affair, this combination is festive without being over the top. And who wouldn't love to wear those plaid loafers all season long? 

3. I have been lusting after this Kate Spade dress since I first saw Carly from The College Prepster rocking it at NYFW. Since it won't be in my budget for a long, looooong time, I can still dream, right? This all-Kate look is something I would love to rock at a fancier event like Zac's formal, but you could wear it at a cocktail gathering or maybe even an office party if it's held at a venue other than your workplace. 

I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving! I've been home since Thursday, and thankfully avoided the winter storm that's about to batter the North East! Fingers crossed there's better weather when I return to school...Happy Thanksgiving! 

Oheka

Anyone who has seen the new Taylor Swift video for 'Blank Space' knows it was filmed on a big, beautiful estate that looks like a replica of a European palace. Most people don't know that the video was filmed entirely at Oheka Castle on Long Island.

Built in 1919 on the highest point on the island, Oheka is one of the most famous mansions on the Gold Coast. Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, and Royal Pains were all filmed here, as was the classic Citizen Kane (it was the replacement for Hearst's San Simeon estate), and it served as inspiration for Gatsby's estate. Most people know it now, of course, thanks to T-Swift. I actually just watched the video for the first time Saturday morning (mostly because I wanted to see Oheka and mostly because people won't stop talking about it!).

Zac and I visited Oheka last weekend for dinner, and I already want to move in (yeah, that'll never happen). You can, however, stay in the guest rooms in the castle, or host a wedding or event. Kevin Jonas, Megyn Kelly, Joey Fatone, and Anthony Weiner have all been married at Oheka.

This is actually the valet parking area when you pull into the estate after driving up the massive driveway (which is where they're riding horses in the video). 

via YouTube

Look familiar?

Duck spring rolls and calamari to start.

Chicken for Zac...

And salmon and shrimp for me!

Unfortunately they didn't allow us to ride bikes around the study...

Trying to sneak into the suites...

Outfit details: Dress, Prabal Gurung for Target (available on ebay). Heels, Cosmopolitan (they look just like the Valentino Rockstud heels only they were $12!). Necklace, J. Crew.

Marley Lilly Blogger Review

Exciting news y'all! I've been selected to take part in the Marley Lilly Blogger Review Program!! I actually received my first package before I received my e-mail- let's just say it was a nice surprise in my mailbox!

Not only did I receive this adorable bracelet but it came with the cutest Marley Lilly stickers inside a little package addressed to me with my monogram!

If you're not already familiar with the site, it's basically a southern/preppy/monogram-obsessed girl's dream. I've been obsessed with their app forever, since it lets you create custom monogrammed tech backgrounds or binder covers.

If you can't already tell I'm obsessed with monograms- vests, necklaces, hats- if it's not moving, monogram it. So obviously, Marley Lilly is the place for me. The bracelet I received is actually on sale (!!) right now, and comes in 6 different colors- or you could just buy all 6 and wear a new one every day of the week!

Besides the super cute little tassel, I love that the chain links are so large, making it more of a statement piece that you can still wear every day. And like I said, anything monogrammed works for me!

I'm super excited to be a part of this program and I hope y'all will check out Marley Lilly!

Sweater, Target (similar). Chain link bracelet, Marley Lilly (I'm wearing the burnt orange version). Bangle, Henri Bendel.

Halloweekend

Some people love going all-out for Halloween, or Halloweekend as it has become known, but to be honest I miss trick-or-treating with my friends- we were really into group costumes, and went as the Stepford Wives one year and Greek goddesses the next! I don't love parties, however, I will always take an excuse to dress up! So, I wanted to share my costume from the weekend!

I'm also not really one for sexy costumes (it is freezing up north put some clothes on ladies!), so I drew a little inspiration from my fellow Texan, Wes Anderson, and his fantastic movie, Moonrise Kingdom. 

"Dear Suzy, Where?"

"Dear Sam, When?"

Our costumes were super cheap- and by that I mean they were free. The clothes are all my own, and the binoculars and Zac's actual boy scout uniform were borrowed from a friend. I don't remember the last time I actually bought a Halloween costume, but I'm going to guess it was early middle school. 

Speaking of sexy costumes, I stumbled upon this hilarious Buzzfeed article from last year: 21 "Sexy" Halloween Costumes That Should Never Have Been Made. History in High Heels also shared a great article ripping the "Sexy Ph.D." costume on Amazon. Apparently anything can be made sexy??

Happy Dia de los Muertos!

My friend went as McMurphy from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and my inner literary fangirl freaked out. I love clever costumes!

The day after Halloween we had a little Zeta party, complete with decorations and a mummifying contest involving our e-board, including my little!

Scary...

Not so scary!

I hope everyone had an awesome (and safe) Halloween!