Outfit: Bright Florals + Birthday Giveaway!

Happy birthday to me!!!! Today I turn 27, but half the time I feel 16 (probably because I look youthful and have no idea what I'm doing half the time) and the other half I feel 80 (because most days I just want to stay home and read). How old do you feel most of the time? 

Last year I did a 26 Before 27 list, but completely forgot about it. I realized that I don't want my year to be dictated by a list of goals. Yes, goals are great, but if I don't complete them then I feel like a failure. And really, the only goal I care about is being a published author one day. I've found that making a few key resolutions in January (and picking a word for the year) works best for me. I like knowing that I'm working towards one or two big goals instead of 27 small ones. What kind of goals do you like? 

Top: Red Clover | Jeans: American Eagle | Shoes: Payless

Lipstick: Marc Jacobs in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 

Since it's my birthday and I really appreciate you all coming back 

to my blog three days a week, I'm doing a giveaway! 

Today, you have the chance to win a $15 Starbucks gift card, a cute "yay" mug,

a mini Benefit Roller Lash, a Beedooto Luna Lovegood magnetic bookmark

& a Deathly Hallows hair clip!

Open to residents of the U.S. only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Birthday Wishlist

My 27th birthday is on June 22nd! Yep, I have a very young face. (I moisturize...and you know, genetics.) Since I clearly don't have enough Harry Potter merch in my life (bold-faced lie), here are few items I've been dying to get, especially Hermione's wand. I kick myself, like Dobby, every time I think about the fact that I didn't get it while I was at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a few years ago.

Since birthdays really mean you should celebrate all month long, I already bought myself a present I really, really wanted, which is this beautiful marsala-colored camera bag. And a few books: The Shadow Queen, The Queen of Hearts, The Rose and the Dagger & Love Charms and Other Catastrophes.

WISHLIST:
♥ Maybelline ColorSensational Vivid Matte (there are so many pretty colors!)
♥ Cozy Daily Hermione Granger Mug
♥ Hufflepuff Pennant
♥ H&M Ankle Boots
♥ Hermione's Wand
♥ Frost Beard Reading at the Cafe Candle (this candle makes my apartment smell like a bakery!)
♥ Books: Vinegar Girl, This Savage Song & Ruined
♥ WFrancisDesign Luna Lovegood Pillowcase

Happy Friday!

Are there any Harry Potter items on your wishlist?

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26 Before 27 + Birthday Giveaway!

Is today June 22?! Then it's my birthday! Hooray!

I celebrated all weekend of course! On Friday, Avra, Sunny, and I had tea and scones, went to a street fair where there were acrobats, ate tacos, and stumbled upon four old men playing jazz in a small coffee shop. On Saturday, I went into the city with Avra and Sunny to meet up with some of my favorite bloggers at Laduree in Soho, then my friends and I got gluten-free dessert at Babycakes Bakery, and falafel at a small restaurant in the Lower East Side. On Sunday, my family went out to an Italian restaurant to celebrate Father's Day and my birthday. We ate THIS giant dessert. Talk about an awesome weekend! 

Of course, I'm going to celebrate a bit today by getting something super delicious for lunch at work!

Every year I like coming up with a list of practical and fun list of things I want to accomplish, but first let's see how I did with last year's list. 

25 Before 26

1. Finish my novel

2. Visit Jackie

3. Visit Lauren & Sarah

4. Go my cousin's wedding in Texas

5. See the High Line

6. See the Brooklyn Bridge

7. Have a group giveaway on my blog

8. Take a photography class

9. Meet Martie

10. Meet Naomi & Jason (met them twice!)

11. Go to the gym at least twice a week (worked for 6 months!)

12. Start a new series on my blog

13. Keep up with Kristin's awesome NovelTea book club (I've read some of them!)

14. See another movie alone (Pitch Perfect 2)

15. Learn easy smoothies recipes

16. Keep drinking at least two glasses of water a day

17. Make use of the library more (it's like my new home)

18. Visit more new-to-me local restaurants and places

19. Put money aside every month for my student loans

20. Find awesome birthday presents for everyone I love

21. Have fun this summer

22. Only buy new clothing that I really, really love

23. Keep doing more product reviews

24. Get better at talking to people

25. Wear lipstick more

And now my new list:

26 Before 27

1. Finish the first draft of my new story

2. Cut out soda for at least one month (I'm starting this tomorrow!)

3. Keep drinking at least two glasses of water a day

4. Learn easy smoothie recipes

5. See the Brooklyn Bridge

6. Take a trip somewhere, anywhere

7. Meet Martie

8. Have a group giveaway on my blog

9. Get an e-course on photography

10. Take a short blog break 

11. Get rid of things in my room that don't bring me joy

12. Get my underarms and legs waxed once because why not

13. Use up some candles I've had forever

14. Get a gel manicure 

15. Get the new illustrated Harry Potter (!!!)

16. Possibly attend BEA (it's in Chicago in 2016)

17. Cut myself some slack

18. Take a day trip somewhere

19. Keep up my correspondence with my pen pals

20. Go to the farmers' market

21. Complete Code Academy

22. Listen to all the current episodes of Welcome to Night Vale

23. Try any exercise class 

24. Go to two author readings

25. Write two short stories

26. Meet another blog friend IRL

What do you think of my goals?

What are some of yours?

♥ ♥ ♥

As a thank you to all of you for being so awesome by stopping by my little slice of the Internet and being wonderful blog friends (seriously, thank you!), I'm giving away a Too Faced Melted Lipstick (you get to pick the color when you win) and a $25 gift card to Starbucks! It's an international giveaway*.

*Starbucks gift cards bought in the U.S. don't work outside the country, so if someone from outside the States wins they'll get two lipsticks instead. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

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My Birthday Wishlist

OMG, guys! On June 22nd, I'll be turning twenty-six! Twenty-five sounds young, but twenty-six is most definitely getting towards the late twenties. Oh jeez, I'm almost towards my late twenties. I'm getting old! At least I look sixteen, so I can be twenty-six again in ten years! Haha!

My Wishlist:

♥ Conair Portable Steamer -- So my clothes will actually be wrinkle-free without having to iron.

♥ Dior Glow Lip Addict -- I've been wanting this forever!

♥ Melted Too Face Lipstick -- Who says you can't splurge a little on your birthday, right?

♥ Urban Outfitters Crescent Moon Dish -- Love this!

♥ Ban.Do Girl Talk Bobby Set -- So freaking cute. 

♥ Target Gladiator Sandals -- These sandals are awesome!

♥ Camera Hood -- I feel like I should have one of these for my camera.  

♥ Modcloth Heart Candle -- I always need more candles. 

♥ Converse Sneakers -- I've been wanting a new pair of Chucks for years. 

♥ Off The Page & The Girl At Midnight -- Books!

♥ Modcloth Printed Dress -- This dress is so pretty and I wish it wasn't so expensive. 

Happy almost birthday to me!

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My Mom's 60th Birthday Present

My mom's 60th birthday was yesterday and one of her presents were letters from her friends and family (I also chipped in to buy her a heated seat massager). Early last month, I wrote up an email and sent it to everyone she knew (family, friends, coworkers) saying that her birthday was coming up and that I would love for people to send in letters saying what they love about her and including a favorite memory they have of her. Slowly but surely the letters and cards started trickling in! 

This idea all started when I saw two blog posts (one from Nothing But Bonfires and one from Inchmark) three years ago and I knew I wanted to do it for my mom's birthday. The only problem was I didn't want to do it for any birthday, I wanted it to be special, a milestone. So I waited three years for her 60th birthday. I guess I'm a very patient person. Haha!

While I didn't get 60 letters like I wanted (I got 40), it's not the number of letters that counts, but the thought behind them and the fact that everyone was so eager and happy to write my mom a letter saying how much they love her. 

As of writing this, I haven't given her the letters yet, but I'm sure she'll love them. Who wouldn't want letters and cards from people saying how much they love you, right? You can see a few of the letters and photographs that people sent in below. 

What do you think of this idea?

What do you do for your parent's birthdays?

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Outfit: My 25th Birthday

This past Sunday was my 25th birthday! I'm now a quarter of a century old! It's actually strange to think that I'm 25 years old. It's not that I thought my life would be completely different from what I imagined as a teenager (I have a job that I love and I'm mostly independent), but I kind of hoped I would be living on my own and be in a relationship. Sadly, I'm not making enough to live alone, and as to the second: there are just some things you can't rush or apply for. I'll just have to be my lovely, charming self while batting my eyelashes! Haha!

Anyway, about the outfit: I didn't wear this dress this past weekend, but I did wear it at a work event a few weeks ago. It was an all-day event at the Ritz-Carlton, so I wanted to look a little fancy, so of course I threw on the sparkliest necklace I own. But I also had to be comfortable since I was on my feet all day, so I went with my black ankle-strap wedges. 

Dress: Forever 21 | Necklace: Sammydress (only $6!) | Bracelet: Alex and Ani

Shoes: Kohls (old) | Lipstick: Covergirl's Smoochies in #Luv U

P.S. -- Have you entered my birthday giveaway?!

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My 25th Birthday Giveaway!

My 25th birthday is on June 22nd and to celebrate, as well as to thank all of you for being amazing, loyal readers, I wanted to have a giveaway! You guys are seriously wonderful people! Reading your comments and talking with you about style, books, and life makes me so happy. I'm glad I've been able to get to know you all over the past two and half years, and I hope to learn more about you all. (That's one of the reasons, I'm planning on continuing my Dear Reader, Who Are You series.)

Anyway, this isn't a super big giveaway, but it's just a little something to say THANK YOU!

The winner will receive: 
♥ Ban.do frills tumbler
♥ Ban.do chitchat and frills carryall duo
♥ Revlon perfumerie nail polish in Ginger Melon
♥ Jonathan Adler x B&N set of four notebooks

Open to residents of the U.S., Canada, and U.K. only.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a wonderful weekend!

I'll be relaxing, eating cake, chilling with friends and family, 

and counting all my birthday money so I can buy my new camera!

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Birthday Wishlist

My 25th birthday is in a few weeks! I can't believe that on June 22nd I'm going to be half a century old! Doesn't it seem like the years go faster and faster? In the blink of an eye, I'll be eighty with four grandkids. I'm excited to have a low-key celebration with my friend Avra. Her birthday is a week before mine on the 15th, so we want to go to Alice's Tea Cup to have tea and their warm, buttery scones. It's the best way to celebrate your birthday if you ask me!

My Birthday Wishlist:

♥ Pink eShakti dress -- So pretty and I love the color

♥ Kate Spade glasses ring -- Too cute!

♥ Alex and Ani feather bracelet -- I already bought this and I love it!

♥ Colorblock bag -- I don't need anymore crossbody bags, but I like the colorblocking

♥ Stila Stay All Day lipstick -- I've heard great things about this lipstick

♥ Ban.do frills tumbler -- I love my chevron tumbler, but I have to say this one is so adorable

♥ Camera bag -- Sturdy, burgundy, made in the U.S. 

♥ Canon Rebel T3i -- WANT! I have over $400 towards it already!

♥ Shop Ruche polka dot dress -- The most darling dress ever

What are you hoping to get for your birthday?

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Life Lately

Some of these pictures are from around my birthday, but I figure it's never too late to show off fun pictures, especially if they remind me of my birthday, and who doesn't want to be reminded of that? During the last month, I got a ton of wonderful presents, went to the city a lot, drank lots of summer peach tea, and got new beauty products.

Jackie and I // Avra and I // My present to Avra (from JewelMint)

Wake up and smell the flowers! // Lunch at Alice's Tea Cup // Grand Central Terminal

Graffiti on Spring St. // New Lush products // Discovered a free library with Kristin

New nail polish // I want to look good in these bikinis! (via Target & ON) // Gift from Brittany

Love my new clothing from SearsStyle // July Glam Bag products // Gifts from Rachel

Have a great weekend!

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Outfit: Birthday Celebrations

I wore this while partying it up in New York City for Avra's 23rd birthday last Saturday. And then wore it again on my birthday with a mint-colored tee and flat sandals. A bunch of us girls took the train down for her birthday, ate and drank at a tapas bar called The Barrel, which I would highly recommend, and then hung out and laughed it up at The Boiler Room, which is a gay bar that I would also recommend because they have really cheap drinks. Yes, we went to a gay bar for no reason. 

This embroidered skirt is a new favorite of mine. I love the mix of bright and dark colors and the fun embroidery. It's just so perfect for summer. I'm going to be wearing this skirt everyday all the time. I also can't wait to wear it this fall with black tights, boots, and a slouchy sweater. 

Top // old
Necklace // old
Belt // eBay {metallic belts}
Skirt // American Eagle Outfitters {similar, similar, similar}
Wedges // ShoeMint
Earrings // old {similar, similar}
Ring // Forever 21 {similar, similar}
Bag // Old Navy {similar, similar}
Lipstick // Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch
Glasses // Bonlook

Have you been into embroidered clothing lately?

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