All the Basics.

Striped Shirt, Black Blazer, Pearl Necklace: Forever21.

Boyfriend Jeans: Aeropostale.

Black Heels: Thrifted.

♥ Hello there! ♥

I'm back from spring break and feeling good about the month and a half I have left of school. I didn't do too much over break besides a bit of thrifting and hanging out with my family, but it was perfect nonetheless. I did end up going on a date though! No, not with red headed soldier boy. I actually never heard back from him after our first date; I think he just understood that I wasn't really interested. But this date was with a boy from my home town whom I've been friends with since we were in middle school. Who knew dates could be actually enjoyable and not completely awkward? It definitely helps if you know the person before hand, that way you can relax and just enjoy the date instead of worrying the whole time about embarrassing yourself. Which I'm sure I still did anyways, but for some reason it just doesn't bother me like it would if I was with someone I wasn't previous friends with.

This is a super basic outfit that I'm sure every single personal style blogger has on her blog. Striped shirt, tailored blazer, boy friend jeans, and simple heels. It all works so well together and I can't help but join the fan club on this outfit combination. There's something very classic about it that I love and hope to adopt more of this element into my wardrobe as I grow older. My roommate is really good at dressing very streamlined and put together in a timeless manner, but I tend very often to over do everything about my outfits. I'm hoping that Italy will simplify me and help me understand the importance of good basics rather than constantly competing pieces.

I've missed you all and am glad to be back! x

With much love, Lauren.

Warmth.

Apple Dress: Forever21.

Leather Jacket: H&M.

Heels: Thrifted.

Hat: c/o OASAP.

Lipstick in MAC's Lady Danger.

Hi everyone! ♥

I was just thinking today how frightening it is that after my spring break is done this week, I'll only have about a month and a half left of school before I return home for summer. Like my freshman year, I don't know quite where my sophomore year has gone either. It worries me to be half way done with college because after high school, you know the next step in your plan. Going to get a degree. But from after you get a degree...your life can go in a million different directions. What I'll do, where I'll live, who I'll be with, what I'll make. I'm known to worry too far in advance, but I just can't help but think about these things because they are approaching faster than I realize.

Being home, although I do love it, makes me miss Kent. I miss hearing the train at night and the witty banter my roommate and I have about things. I miss having my evening cup of tea, and walking to the student center every morning to try a different coffee drink at Jazzman's. And I just miss my classes and friends and the life I've built for myself there, and it makes me sad I only have a little over a month left of this year. Because I won't go back this fall...I'll be in Italy, which is a whole other thing to wrap my mind around.

Sometimes I just forget how old I am, but how young I am at the same time. 20 feels both like I've lived through so much, yet I've experienced nothing. It's exciting and terrifying to realize I'm going through the time in my life with the most changes and where the rest of my life will be defined based on these actions I take. Just interesting, deep thoughts that are probably far too heavy for a fashion blog.

So I'll leave you with the question I still ask myself two years after buying this dress--are they apples or peaches? x

With much love, Lauren.

This Star Won't Go Out.

Hello there! ♥

These are my photos from an extended weekend in PA spent with Hannah, who I met through blogging, for her 16th birthday! I fell absolutely IN LOVE with her kitty Alexei and I think he liked me pretty well back-- showering me with kisses in the first photo above. We also snacked on Dunkin' Donuts and had the perfect ladies night complete with popcorn, hot tea (check out that perfect mug!), and girl talk. 

Laura came on Friday where we went out for Pakistani food; a first for me! I am not adventurous in any aspect of my life, but especially food. So I was super surprised at myself to like the things I tried out!

For Saturday we worked on setting up for the party in a super cool venue that was the perfect mixture of rustic and cozy with awesome local art on the walls. Glow sticks, fairy lights, and balloons filled with helium were the perfect little touches to the venue we added. All three of us girls spent a few hours getting ready and I taught them the magic of hair rollers; you'll never go back to a curling iron once you use them.

The evening was just nice and relaxing getting to talk with people and see Hannah's happy face light up amongst all her loved ones. In lieu of gifts, you could donate to a very inspiring charity called This Star Won't Go Out which you can check out more information here. Later in the evening Landon Austin and his best friend Aaron played which was so, so phenomenal. I've followed his youtube channel for a year and it was strange to meet him in person, but he was so kind. I had them sign a napkin for me! Ha, I'm such a fan girl. 

It was wonderful to attend such a beautiful and special part of this lady's life; I can't believe my 16th birthday was nearly five years ago. I hope she had a wonderful night she'll always remember; it was such an honor to be there! x

With much love, Lauren.

Shedding Glitter.

Sequin Gold Dress: c/o Faviana.

Scalloped Heels, Earrings: Thrifted.

Lipstick in MAC's Russian Red.

Hi everyone! ♥

I'm back from Pennsylvania and officially on my spring break here in Ohio! But here's a little flash back to Saturday night for what I wore for Hannah's birthday party. 

Hannah, Laura (of Thrifting Through Life; it was so wonderful to meet her!) and I got ready for a few hours before the party which was something I've forever wanted to do, strangely enough. I always got ready by myself for all of my proms and homecomings in high school and missed out on that 'girl bonding experience', so it was awesome to be able to get to do that still! This is the first time I've worn this dress just by itself; the last time for my fall swing dance party in November with a skirt over it. It's such a special piece to have in my wardrobe!

I'll be posting photos of the party tomorrow--such a pretty and fun affair. x

With much love, Lauren.

Saturday Night Fever.

'Meow' Sweater: Aeropostale.

Circle Skirt: H&M.

Blouse: Clothing Swap.

Flats: Thrifted.

Hair Bow: Forever21.

Lipstick in Wet N Wild's Rose Bud.

Hello everyone! ♥

I hope you all are doing really well! I am officially on my spring break, but I'm not back in my hometown yet-- I'm actually in Pennsylvania! I'm attending a birthday party for Hannah, a blogging friend, and have been staying with her family since Thursday and the party is tonight! I'm incredibly excited to get dressed up and have fun; I'll make sure to show you photos from my weekend soon ♥

Miss you all-- It's been an all over the month for blogging and emailing and such...I need to get it together! x

With much love, Lauren.

Seasonal Confusion.

Striped Crop Top, Loafers, Necklace: Thrifted.

Cardigan: Kohl's.

Circle Skirt, Wide Brimmed Hat: c/o OASAP.

Tights: c/o Lulu*s.

Lipstick in MAC's Diva.

This is such a weird set of photos. Everything looks distinctly fall from my outfit, the scenery, and even my lipstick choice. For it being mid-march this was a weird outfit selection, but maybe it'll help some of you who are entering into Fall in the southern hemisphere? It's not too ideal for us in the Northern Hemisphere, ha.

In other news, I wanted to update you all that I did go on that date! I met the guy for coffee last Friday; which I'm always up for getting off campus to get some good, local coffee. The guy was nice. He was super gentlemanly and endearing. But he just wasn't for me. He didn't do anything wrong per say (except lift up his shirt to show me his tattoos ahem), but he just wasn't the type of guy I'm interested in, I guess. He right for some girl out there, but not me. I'm at this weird place right now where I'm open to dating, but not really ready for a relationship quite yet.  There is a difference between the two I've come to understand. And it wasn't until I got out of a five year relationship that I realized how scary dating actually is. It's really, really terrifying to give your whole self to another person and just dedicate so much of your time, effort, and affections towards them. In the end, you either break up or you get married, and I just haven't really come to terms with either of those ultimatums yet. I don't want to really go through another break up (last one was not fun to get over), but nor am I anywhere close to wanting to be married. 

So I guess I have to give and take and just kind of do the best I can. Because I really don't know how to date. I was 13 when I entered the relationship and a few days after my 19th birthday when I got out, and haven't been in anything since. So really, it's like I'm still a 13 year old girl who has no idea how to do any of this... and sometimes she just wishes boys would go away so she didn't have to deal with them, ha. 

But I know I'm only 20. And that I over think things and worry about things way too far into my future. For now, I'm going to just breathe and enjoy the journey.

With much love, Lauren.

Wet N Wild MegaLast Lipstick: Rose Bud + Mauve Outta Here.

L: Mauve Outta Here R: Rose Bud.

Hello everyone! ♥

Up until recently I felt like Wet N Wild had this stigma in my mind of really cheap, low quality makeup. It probably had something to do with the time I bought a lipstick for $.99 my junior year of high school from the brand to be Barbie...and the lipstick smelt bad, tasted bad, and was the most awful shimmery mess I could put on my lips. 

For $1.50- $2.00 a whack I thought these semi-new "Mega Last Matte" lipsticks WNW came out with would be more or less the same as that one years ago. But after loads of people recommending them to me + reading reviews I decided to try them out for myself!

I originally wanted Rose Bud SO badly after seeing swatched and checked five different drugstores in my area to find it, and then a friend told me it was discontinued. Disappointed I still wanted to try the line so I got Mauve Outta Here first. A few months later I randomly found Rose Bud out of the blue at Wal-Mart, so it is possible to find. (And apparently if you can't find it in stores, it's available here, too).

♥ Packaging

It isn't the greatest to be honest, but you can't expect much for the price tag. It's fairly flimsy, but I haven't had a tube crack yet from throwing it in my purse (and my $17 Lime Crime ones are almost all cracked, so). The thing that bothers me most though is that the lipsticks don't screw down all the way into the tube, so you have to be super careful not to knick it when putting the cap on.

♥ Formula

It's true to the matte finish where there's no gloss or shimmer to either of the colors I have. I have a bunch of matte finishes from MAC, and would say that the WNW are less drying and have less of the 'caked on' look that my MAC ones do, which is pretty impressive. So if you like matte lipsticks, you'll enjoy these!

♥ Opacity

None of my natural lip color comes through when I have these lipsticks on. Completely opaque color.

♥ Wear Period

Both lipsticks, probably since they're matte, stay on for a good 4-5 hours with no eating, and a bit less if you do eat or drink a lot during the day. I feel like they don't fade nicely though as the day goes on, and leave weird, unattractive stains on my lips, bleeding to the outside, as well. 

♥ Color

The selling point for me on these lipstick, in particular the two shades I have, is the color. I have searched high and low for colors like Mauve Outta Here and Rose Bud and no drug store, or even my beloved MAC, carries anything like these. Haven't found a dupe yet. 

Mauve Outta Here has slight blue undertones, but nothing overwhemling because I usually don't like blue toned pinks on my skin. However,I love this one! It's the perfect neutral, every day pink that is subtle enough to not have people out-rightly staring at your lips, but still noticeable in a pretty way. Although it is a unique color, it is not quite as special as Rose Bud.

Rose Bud is beautiful. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. I highly recommend this lipstick if you're an aficionado. It captures the romantic color of real roses, and adds such a pretty flush to your lips that again, is subtle and somewhat natural, but still adds that extra 'something.' It's almost like having a light strawberry, redish pink stain on your lips, and I find it suits so many of my outfits and makeup looks. 

If you can get ahold of these lipsticks (especially Rose Bud!) I definitely recommend, especially if you're new to the lipstick territory. They're a great way to see what colors work well for your skin tone, have an easy to apply forumla, and don't break the bank. x

With much love, Lauren.