Do's And Don't's for High School Freshman

Hey y'all!

I'm finally a senior in high school. As cliche as this sounds, it feels like it was just yesterday that I was a freshman. I can thankfully say that I have made it this far and I am ecstatic to be graduating in less than a year now.

Throughout my entire high school career, I have learned very important lessons (good and bad), but I really wish someone had told/warned me about certain things. I've compiled a list of a few things that I believe every student should know before they graduate high school.


Five Easy Tips on How to Relax

Hey y'all!

Back to school is usually a stressful time for everyone. I actually have just begun my senior year of high-school, and although my classes may not be super challenging, applying for colleges/scholarships can really stress a girl out. So I figured, why not share with my readers a few ways that I relax when my mind is on overload?


How to Style Jack Rogers


Causal Prep

Casual Prep

Who ya wit?

Causal Prep

Southern Prep.

Hey y'all!

My absolute favorite purchase of all time has to be my Jack Rogers. (If you're new to my blog, then you'll soon learn how in love with them I truly am.) Although I only own one pair--the classic Palm Beach Navajo Sandal in white--, I definitely will be purchasing more. One hundred and ten dollars may seem steep for a pair of sandals, but I, for sure, have got my money's worth out of them.

I have owned my sandals for over a year and they are still in great condition. I've worn them to the beach, dinner dates, and even just while running errands. I never fail to get compliments on them.



Beach Bag Essentials


Hey y'all!

Summer is sadly coming to an end soon. But my family is taking advantage of it by sneaking in a beach vacation to South Padre! The beach is one of my favorite places to go, so you could definitely call me a beach bum.

Since I like to go to the beach fairly often, I figured I should share some of my beach bag essentials!

  • A good tote - As someone who likes to take a lot of stuff to the beach, it's so important to have a big sturdy bag. This one in particular holds a ton (I'm talking like a puppy if you really wanted to) and bonus points : It's waterproof!

  • Cover up - I'm not a big fan of walking down to the oceanfront with nothing on but a bathing suit. I think a lot of people are this way! I'm not sure why it just feels weird to me. I always like to get a big t-shirt to wear as a cover-up because it's comfy and super casual.

  • Bathing suit - If you're going to the beach, this is clearly something important to bring. I usually opt for bikini's just because I think that's what looks best on my body type. But if you're not into that, there are so many cute one-piece options on the market!

  • Beach towel - Another "duh" item, but also a super easy one to forget. My family has specific towels to take to the beach since they kind of get all sandy and gross after we use them!

  • Sandals - I wear my Jacks pretty much everywhere. This sounds kind of weird, but I usually put them in the water because it makes the leather get tighter, which I prefer since they stretch out the more you wear them. So if you own a pair that is a little too stretched, try putting them in the ocean water!

  • Sunscreen - For me, it's important to have a sunscreen that smells good. It seems silly, but it's just something I look for before I purchase one! I also prefer to buy the spray sunscreens with lower SPF since I want to get tan, but not burnt. 

  • Baseball hat - I don't like my face getting too much sun exposure, so I always always always bring a hat with me. I also use it over my face whenever I decide to take a nap (which usually happens when I'm at the beach)

  • Sunglasses - The beach is always really sunny so it's important to keep sunglasses with you at all times. Especially if it's a white sand beach, the sun will reflect off of it and make it even brighter. Protect your eyes!!

  • Water bottle - Hydration is key. Bring a cute water bottle with you to keep encouraging you to drink up.

  • Bluetooth speaker - Playing music is a great thing to do at the beach because it drowns out the sounds of kids screaming and seagulls cawing.

  • Books and Magazines - I like to bring a few books I've been too busy to read plus a few gossip magazines! Reading is a great way to pass time.




Dorm Sweet Dorm

Hey y'all!

Every summer brings an entirely new class of kids heading off to college. New faces, (possibly) new places, and new surroundings! It's possible with all these experiences that one can get a little homesick.

So how do you make your dorm room feel a little more like home? Well, you decorate and personalize it, of course! It may not be perfect, and let's be honest, the rooms can be pretty cramped. But why not have fun with it?

Below I have included some tips and tricks with click-through links of examples! Then some pictures from my dorm Pinterest board to help inspire you to create your perfect little home-away-from-home.

Cooler Painting 101

Hey y'all!

As a typical southern girl, I swoon over Pinterest and how talented some girls are at painting coolers. If you have a Facebook, (let's be honest, who doesn't?) definitely check out the group called 'The Cooler Connection'. It's literally a huge public forum for coolers, bubba kegs, and flasks! Plus everyone is super friendly and more than happy to share their advice and personal stories.


Netflix Recommendations

Hey y'all!

Hopefully everyone reading this knows what Netflix is. If you don't, then you're missing out. For a small monthly fee, you can watch as many television shows (or movies) as you want. There's no limit. It's wonderful!

Every girl has had their fair share of "Netflix Marathons"(meaning that you literally sit home and see how many episodes you can watch in a day (or two!)). 

Here's what I've been watching lately!

M-I-Z-Z-O-U

Hey y'all!

The lack of blogging this week is just crazy, my apologies! But, over the weekend, I was out of town. Megan invited me a few months ago to go visit her brother in Missouri and it was also a chance to get to visit Mizzou's campus.


Lust List

Lust List Blog Post

Hey y'all!

Recently, I have been adding a crazy amount of things to my 'LOVE' board on Pinterest. Mostly clothing and jewelry in bright colors and fun patterns. What can I say? I'm a typical Southern white girl who is daydreaming about the return of Spring.

Plus, I've had my eye on Lilly Pulitzer's new Spring line (seriously, this season's prints are fabulous)! My personal favorites are "In the Garden" and "Sunny Side".

Truth be told, I already bought the January Skort which features multicolored lion patches. 78$ later, and I still have absolutely no regrets. I got it in a size double zero--which was surprising because normally in Lilly shorts I wear a size 2 or 4. Let me tell you, this skort literally fits me perfectly. It feels like it was MADE  for me. Absolutely the best purchase I have ever made.


Four Wheels and Good Feels

Hey y'all!

Friday, the 21st, was my sister's 19th birthday. Our family friend owns a ranch so all 8 of us-- Becca, Buck, Jana, Lenore, Dave and I, plus the two pups--headed up there on Friday. It's such a beautiful place with a pond and tons of land. Plus, it's nice and quiet.

The best part? No cell phone service. It's the perfect excuse to not have to deal with anyone. Not that I don't love interacting with people, but sometimes it can be nice to not have to constantly respond to someone.

3 Quotes Everyone Needs to Read

Hey y'all!

Since we're all friends here, can I just be real for a minute? These past few days have truly not been the best. In fact, the entire month of February has not been my favorite. I haven't really been feeling like myself much at all.

When I'm down in the dumps, I like to keep myself preoccupied. Some of the things I like to do include:

Hang out with real friends - The reason I used the word real is because we all have those friends that will let us cry for hours and just vent about life. Or they may be the person who tells you exactly how it is and you know that's what you need. I always consider if I need to be babied or realistic, then go from there on which friend to consult with.

- Write - Journaling is such a great way to get out feelings! It might feel silly, but I'll give you a few ideas to get you started! Some examples are a letter to someone (maybe someone you are mad at, haven't talked to in a while or who has passed away), advice to your past self, or even just a simple rundown of your day. If you want prompts, you can purchase a daily journal -- this one lasts for 5 whole years! I find that this is a great method to let go of frustrations and anger. Plus it's something you can do anywhere at any time since it's calming and quiet.

- Sleep - This is an obvious one. I think we can all agree that we have days where the best solution is to just go home, draw the blinds, lay down and curl up in your sheets. Definitely, don't spend all of your free time doing this, but somedays it's just necessary.

- Spend time with family - I think this one is very underrated. I know I argue with my parents sometimes, but in all honesty, my parents are my best friends. When I'm sad, they usually know how to fix it. We'll bake, watch movies or play video games. It's nice not having to worry about anything else.



What Makes You So Special?

Hey y'all!

Okay, so the title of this post sort of sounds like a first grader taunting another child. Forgive me for that, but I could not for the life of me think of another name. Plus--it goes along well with what I want to blog about today.

What makes a person special? 

It seems vague and confusing and leaves lots of room for comments. But it's a serious question. Why are you important? Why are you valuable? What makes you different from the person next to you?

Some people may say it's their attitude about things or their outlook on life. Maybe something about how they were raised or where they grew up. The people around them have influenced their lives in positive (or negative) ways and that has shaped the person they became.