New Buys

Over the past month or so, I've picked up some new things, either bought with my own money, or by giveaway, or by gift card. I'm excited to wear these new things now that the weather is getting cooler and it's really starting to feel like fall. Yay!

Nordstrom's Elodie Colorblock Shirt {buy here}
(Outfit post with this shirt coming Tuesday!)

Nordstrom's Peter Pan Collar Shirt {bought on sale}

 Bow Charm for Headphone Jack {buy here -- I got it for free}

 Native American Spirit Charm {bought in Vermont by my dad}

 

Sterling Silver Twist Ring {bought it in Vermont}

 

 InPink's Mixed Metal Beaded Chain Necklace & Earring Set {buy here -- got it via giveaway}

 InPink's Black Rhinestone & Cord Bangle {buy here -- got it via giveaway}

 Stuart Weitzman Brown Suede Heels {thrifted}

 Max Mara Striped Cashmere Sweater {thrifted}

Target's Xhilaration Peplum Top {buy here -- bought using giftcard}

Target's Xhilaration Strappy Peplum Dress {buy here}

I also got a cool glass skull at Target, two pairs of corduroy pants that I thrifted for $5 each,

and Betsy Johnson loafers from T.J. Maxx, but I forgot to take pictures of them.

What do you think of what I got?

What new things have you gotten recently?

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Inspired By: Jane Austen Book Covers Part 2

I knew I couldn't move on to other Inspired By posts until I had done all of Jane Austen's lovely novels. Sometimes when I don't feel like reading anything else, I'll just re-read Pride and Prejudice, Emma or Persuasion, my favorites. Which book is your favorite?

Check out the first part here.

Persuasion

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Persuasion is the story about Anne Eliot, who must live with her choice of breaking off her engagement with Frederick Wentworth after being persauded to do so by her family. Eight years later and still unmarried, Anne encounters her former love. Since this novel is the most heartbreaking, all the covers seem to echo that with dark colors and rainy settings. To keep with the theme, wear a red dress and brown shoes or jeans and a burgandy cardigan, and don't forget an umbrella!

Emma

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Light and fun, Emma follows Emma Woodhouse, a rich, spoiled girl who lives with her father and who likes matchmaking. Unfortunately, meddling in other people's lives doesn't always go as planned for her or for them. Since the first cover is embroided, I went with a bohohemian look for one outfit. The middle cover is classic and the other is modern, so I updated a trench coat and cloche with a blue dress and trendy booties.  

Mansfield Park

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Mansfield Park is the story of Fanny Price, a poor but intelligent girl, who at age ten goes to live with her rich aunt and uncle. She grows up with her older cousins, but is only really attached to Edmund Bertrum, who is the most good-natured. The whole house is distrupted when a brother and sister duo, the Crawfords, arrive and it creates love triangles. Wear a flowy dress when entertaining guests and a green peplum top with mint green jeans while practicing for a play.

What do you think?

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(Book covers via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9)

How To Not Be A Quitter

I've never been a quitter. I don't believe in giving up on something just because it's difficult. Yes, sometimes writing a 20-page paper makes me want to pull my hair out or being in grad school makes me want to just give up and find a job instead, but once I start something I like to finish it. I need to finish it.

 

Giving up on small things is okay. If I don't like a book, I'm not going to force myself to read it. Why waste your time on bad books, right? Not finishing a painting or sewing a pillow or small project is fine, too.

 

But how do you not quit the big things?

 

MAKE IT IMPORTANT TO YOU!

 

There have been many times (more than I like to admit) where I thought I should quit grad school, but deep down it's important for me to finish. Personally, if I gave up halfway through I would regret it forever. I don't like leaving things unfinished. Not only that, but I want it on my resume and I like learning and I think it would look bad if I started but didn't get the degree.

 

That's why it's important to me.

 

You have to figure out how to make your thing (be it saving up for a house, opening a business, working on a group project at work, writing a novel, fixing your car, teaching yourself a language, etc. ) important to you.

 

Here are some tips:

 

Figure out WHY it's important to you!

 

Do you want to learn a new language because your boyfriend's family speaks it? Have you always wanted to open your own cafe? Do you want to study to be a lawyer because you want to help people or because you've always loved the law?

 

Get to the heart of why you shouldn't quit in the long run. Ask yourself the hard question: Why do you want to do this?

 

Figure out if it's going to affect your FUTURE!

 

Will getting this job help you pay off those credit card bills or student loans? Will opening your own business give you future connections and better job opportunities? Will finishing that project on time get you on the teacher's good side so that you can get a college recommendation?

 

Even if it hurts you at first (financially like opening a restaurant, or emotionally like leaving someone), will it help you later on?

 

Figure out if it's going to affect OTHERS!

 

If you don't do your share of that group project will you be harming others? Do you want to save money for your children's college eduation to help them?

 

Will your thing help or hurt your family or friends? Will it change the way they see you?

 

Figure out HOW you will make it important to you!

 

Maybe you'll practice guitar every Tuesday and Thursday for two hours. Maybe you'll study French everyday to get good grades in that class. Maybe you'll stop drinking Starbucks coffee to pinch pennies so that you can open your own bookstore.

 

What are you willing to do or sacrifice in order to get your goal accomplished?

 

Once you figure out why and how your goal is important to you, and you ask yourself these questions, you'll be one step closer to not being a quitter. And you'll be one step closer to finishing your goals!

 

Good luck out there!

 

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Outfit: Subtle Pattern Mixing

Red polka dots shirts and dresses remind me of 1950s pin up girls. I thought I'd just put that out there. Does it remind anyone else of that?

Since I don't own any printed pants or many patterned skirts, I thought I would be subtle with my print mixing. Polka dot shirt and leopard print flats. Not two patterns I would usually put together, but it works because the shirt is bright red and the flats have bright red bows. It's easy to mix and match when there are similar (or in this case, the same) colors in your outfit.

Shirt // eBay
Jeans // Forever 21
Flats // Payless (by Brash)
Brown bracelet // old
Glasses // Bonlook

What do you think?

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Inspiration: Sweater Weather

It's sweater weather! In New York, it's been cool and breezy lately, enough to warrant thin sweaters and colorful scarves. Yep, I already brought a circle scarf with me to school. It's been chilly in the evenings, even reaching down the low 50s. Since I get out of class at 8:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and don't get home until 9:30, I want to be snug and warm.

This is my Pinterest inspiration as of late...

 What's inspiring you today?

P.S. -- I've added more clothes to eBay!

Check out what I added here!

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(Images via Pinterest)

Fall Wishlist

Tomorrow is the first official day of fall! Is anyone else as excited as I am? I can't wait to wear cardigans and not look like a weirdo because everyone else is wearing shorts (the weather man deceived me that day). Below is a list of goodies that are currently on my wishlist.

 

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Isn't that cardigan so cute? And I love those purple moccasins. I usually buy a new pair every year because I wear them to death.

What's on your fall wishlist?

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Inspired By: Jane Austen Book Covers Part 1

I've loved Jane Austen's novels for many years now. Admittedly, I saw Pride & Prejudice (2005) first and then fell in love with the novels afterwards. But I'm so glad I read Austen's books because her characters are unique and realistic and her stories are engrossing and just plain fun to read. There's a reason people have been snatching them up since they were first published in the early 19th century, and why there's always new movie and TV version coming out.

Since they're so popular, the book covers are always being updated -- modern, minimalist, Twilight-inspired, etc. I don't know about you, but I love seeing the new ones and how they translate to the story within.

Northanger Abbey

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Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey follows Catherine Morland, a young woman who loves reading Gothic novels. After meeting the Tilney's in Bath, Catherine is invited to stay at their estate, Northanger Abbey, which she believes will be exotic and dark. Though it's not, there are mysterious rooms in which no one is allowed to enter. Since the story has Gothic elements the covers have dark colors, burgandy, red, and purple, which is perfect for fall! Wear a casual white dress, burgandy coat, and floral flats for a day out on the town, and floral jeans and a wine-colored peplum top for class or work.

Pride and Prejudice

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Jane Austen's most famous novel is about love, family, and of course pride and prejudice in 19th century England. Outspoken Elizabeth Bennet and haughty Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy make this novel a true classic; this story has had women of all ages swooning for two centuries. The cover is constantly getting a new makeover, but these three felt both Edwardian and modern. Wear a white dress with gold embellished shoulders for going out dancing and white jeans and a feather print top for exploring the countryside.

Buy a shirt or sweatshirt by Out of Print that looks like the cover on the right!

Sense and Sensibility

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The more modern covers of Sense and Sensibility, the tale of two sisters who find love in unexpected places, called for fun, updated outfits. I like to think that the blue dress and floral shoes would be worn by Elinor, the more sensible daughter if she were alive today (and real), and that the gold dress and heels would be worn by Marianne, the romantic younger daughter as she flirts at parties.

What do you think? Do you like being inspired by book covers?

Any book covers you want me to do?

Stay tuned for more Jane Austen next week!

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(Book Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9)

Etsy Faves

Now that I've been in school for over three weeks I've finally gotten into the swing of things. It's always a bit of an adjustment from doing and reading what I want all summer to sitting and listening to someone for two hours and devoting a good portion of my time to homework. I'm not complaining though; I chose to go to grad school, I like all the classes I'm taking, and I love learning.

 

Anyways, these are some goodies that I favorited on Etsy...

 

 Hogwarts Alumni T-Shirt by Sun Dog Shirts

 Typewriter Keys Necklace by Bohemian Whim Sea

 Galaxy Clutch by Galaxy Garments

Outfit: Tucked

I wore this outfit to work and school, but by the time I got home it was dark, so I wore it again for fifteen minutes the next day just to photograph it. I usually never tuck my shirts into my jeans, but I think it kind of works here. Although I think next time I should try it with my high-waisted jeans.

Lately, it's actually been mild during the day and chilly here in the evenings and I'm loving it! I love sweater weather! I also love saying it -- sweater weather, sweater weather, sweater weather. Try saying that five times fast. Ha!

I know this picture is blurry, but I still like it.

Pinterest Love ♥

Just an assortment of pretty things I've pinned lately...

Need to figure out how to do this braid!

 

And this nail design!

 

 I wish this was my bedroom

Happy Birthday, Ben + Gifts for Math Geeks

Today is my brother Ben's 22nd birthday!

Happy birthday, little brother! Man, have you grown so much. I remember when I was taller than you, when people used to think that we were twins, when you used to do an impression of a goat on a mountain, when we could trick people into thinking one of us was the other on the phone, and when we used to complain about our parents together (and still do).

And now you're turning into a dapper young man with some serious math skillz and a big heart.

I'm so glad I wasn't an only child because life without you (and Leo) would have been super boring!

♥ ♥ ♥

In honor of my brother's birthday, I'm doing a gift guide for math geeks because Ben's on his way to becoming the best accountant in the world (and no, I'm not exaggerating).

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There's tons of math geek stuff out there, so whether you're buying for a girl or a guy, for a math teacher, accountant, or physicist, you'll always be able to find something. For the proud mathmatician, there's an iPhone case and pins; for the partier, there a pi ice cube tray; for the girly girl, there's jewlery, and for the I-can't-work-without-coffee math geek, there's an equation-covered mug.

Have a great weekend!

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