A Merry Christmas to All!

Cat Christmas Sweater: Target.

Tan Slacks: Zara.

Black Scalloped Heels: Thrifted.

Red Bow Headband: Forever21.

Lipstick in MAC's Lady Danger w/ Lime Crime's Carousel Gloss over it. 

Just popping in to wish you all a beautiful and merry Christmas. Hope you get to spend today with those you love! I'm especially thankful this year to be reunited with everyone in my family ♥

With much love, Lauren.

Life Begins After Coffee.

Life Begins After Coffee Shirt: Aeropostale.

Black Velvet Skirt, Long Cardigan, Flats: Thrifted.

Hi there everyone! :)

Only a few days until Christmas now! Since I spent half of December in Italy, it feels like it sprung up on me this year and I don't feel mentally prepared at all. It just doesn't feel like it should be here already! But, it's going to come whether I'm ready or not. I've been spending the last week with my family, running Christmas errands, baking, wrapping, and all the sort. It's nice to be back and snuggling with my little sister every night :)

Right after Christmas things still won't slow down, and I'm back to traveling actually! Not out of the US thankfully (for a little while anyways I hope!), but I'm going up to Wisconsin with my boyfriend and his family for five days. It should be really fun! I hear it is a winter wonderland with SO much snow. Looking forward to spending some time with Ryan after having to do a long distance relationship in Italy for four months. Hopefully I can take lots of beautiful winter photos to show you all and perhaps and outfit or two ♥

With much love, Lauren.

We Never Go Out of Style.

Pink Scalloped Coat: c/o OASAP.

Polka Dot Top, Earrings: Thrifted.

Boyfriend Jeans: Aeropostale.

Black Bow Flats: JCP.

Kate Spade Bag: Gift from my friend Hannah!

Lipstick in MAC's Chatterbox.

Hi there! :)

I think every girl has that one aspirational brand she would just buy everything from if she had the money. Kate Spade has kinda always been that one for me. It is quintessentially the "girl" I aspire to be. Put together, classically quirky, feminine, professional, independent and "knows what she wants." I just dreamily look in the store on occasion and stalk their website + social media pages thinking about what I'd pick out it I could afford it. I didn't think until way after college, or maybe even ever, I'd own a piece from the brand butttttt.... my dream has come true!

Sitting on my bed for me when I came home from Italy was a gorgeous, patent, Kate Spade purse. This is what dreams are made of, guys. My long time, sweet blogging friend Hannah and her family gifted it for me for my 21st birthday! My birthday was in August, but I knew a "present" had arrived for me right after I left; so I had to wait all of these months to finally get it. I honestly couldn't have been more surprised or thrilled-- I am forever thankful to my friend for such an amazing and perfect gift!

Me and my bag are going to be the best of friends I have a feeling!  ♥

With much love, Lauren.

At the Core.

Nordic Sweater: c/o OASAP.

Plaid Skirt, Cream Blouse, Cut Out Boots, Necklace: Thrifted.

Beret: AA.

Going to Europe for four months changed me in a lot of ways, but at the core of it all I'm still the same. I suppose I thought that this big life change would weed out all of the parts of myself I didn't like. I really don't know why I thought that, but I did. I thought that if I did this trip which was so outside of my comfort zone, that I would become this outgoing and socially confident person.

I'm still not.

A struggle that I've found since not even being back a week in Ohio, is that I simply can't find the words to talk about my trip. I keep running into people I know around town who saw my trip on Facebook or instagram or my blog and of course, they ask how it was. And I never, ever know what to say. I usually start by saying it was great, but I'm glad to be back, and then I always get the same perplexed stare of: "what the hell is wrong with you?" I stutter and stumble around trying to explain that Italy was nice, but it just wasn't what I expected and that it was hard for me, and that I'm glad to be home because I missed it. But how do you explain to someone in a two minute small talk conversation everything you went though and how it just wasn't what you thought it would be? How do you explain the homesickness, the awful roommates, the not fitting in, the realizations within yourself that you found that maybe you didn't want to find? People don't want to hear all that. They want to hear how great Italy was.

Sometimes I just want to say that. "Yeah it was the greatest semester of my life and I can't wait to go back." It would be so much easier. I probably wouldn't sound like a complete idiot when they try and ask me questions I don't have the right answer to. I probably wouldn't sound like a complete spoiled brat who just spent four months in Italy and didn't completely enjoy it. And I probably wouldn't feel the shame, disappointment, and strangeness when I tell people-- "it was just... okay."

There were times when it was great, times when I was having the time of my life. But as a whole, I didn't. I just didn't. It's not my fault, it's not Italy's fault, it's not anyone's fault. It is what it is. And there's so much I can't explain to all of these people where I feel I can give an answer that satisfies me that they understand what I went through over there. 

I just don't know what to say to anyone.

With much love, Lauren.

New Romantics.

Pussy Bow Blouse, Houndstooth Skirt: Thrifted.

Black Heeled Boots: H&M.

Black Wide Brimmed Hat: c/o OASAP.

Lipstick in MAC's Diva.

Hello there! x

Brrr, I was spoilt in Italy weather wise-- it never really got below 55 degrees there. Ohio has snapped me back to reality though with snow and cold to welcome me home! I don't really mind (for now anyways) because like being back in nature, the weather just feels like home. It's all I've ever known, and sometimes the cold and snow can be so refreshing and inspiring. 

I've loved coming back to having a full wardrobe again! Near the end of my semester I was dressing heavily European influenced, but since being back I seem to have reverted to my old ways a bit. I'd like to take the direction of my style into a classic, 1960's inspired feel; a mix of my roots in vintage, my experiences in Europe, and a sophistication of growing older. I went thrifting today for some new key pieces and came away with some I'm pretty pleased with! A black velvet circle skirt, and brown plaid skirt, a pair of funky leather tie boots &....I managed to find a pair of YSL heels! Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the label. Such a lucky find!

Talk to you all soon! x

With much love, Lauren.

Home is Where the ♥ Is.

Nordic Sweater, Green Skirt: c/o OASAP. 

Plaid Scarf: College Store Manhattan.

Tan Hat: Brandy Melville.

Oxfords: Clothing swap, originally Forever21.

Hello, hello from OHIO! 

I arrived back safely to the states Sunday night and was finally reunited with my family. It's been a busy past few days unpacking all my stuff, seeing people I've missed, and trying to recover from jet lag. I'm just so happy to be back. In some ways it really feels like I never left, but rather I was just in a four month long dream and I've finally woke up. Being back in nature especially feels so nice. The peacefulness of it all and just seeing trees, grass, and open land makes me so happy. Perhaps why I didn't care for Italy as much as I thought was the whole living in a city. I just don't think I'm cut out for it. My spirit runs on the rejuvenation I receive through exploring nature and being immersed in it; it's also where I always feel most connected to Christ, as well.

Anyways, I was pleased to shoot some outfit photos today and be back into my favorite little forest. I've missed you! x

With much love, Lauren.

Golden Rose.

Faux Leather Jacket, Checked Dress: H&M.

White Blouse (underneath): Forever21.

Beret: AA.

Black Boots: Random shop here in Florence. 

Lip Color: lip liner in Kiko's #712.

Hi there guys!

I'm nearly done with my time here; just four more days! Can hardly contain my excitement till I see my family...I've been trying to live it up here in Florence while I'm here though. Seeing the sunsets over the Arno, eating gelato every day (cinnamon, mmm!), loading up on cappuccinos...Some things I'll really miss. I know I moaned and groaned about the coffee here all semester, but I've actually grown to really, really love it. I'm pretty sure Starbucks or anything of the sort won't be able to compare ever now. I'll have to try and cappuccino there when I get back and let you know! 

I was in Kiko the other day (an amazing Italian makeup store, kind of like NYX) and was swatching some lip liners on my hand. I've never really understood lip liners, but as I've gotten into a wider range of colors in my lipstick collection over the years & have been pulling out my darker shades for winter.... I realize they are kind of necessary. I went in looking to match one for my MAC's "Rebel" but found this shade I'm wearing on my lips instead actually! I wasn't into Kylie Jenner's overdrawn, pouty lips in the beginning, but now I kind of dig them...this lip pencil reminded me so much of the color she wears, so I picked it up for only 2.50 euro which is super cheap! Even though it's a liner, I love how you can also wear it as a matte sort of lipstick and it stays on so long. My roommate and friend Haley liked it so much that she went and bought one for herself today, too! I really recommend trying it if you have a Kiko by you. x

With much love, Lauren.

Ireland Snapshots.

Hello there! ♥

Here are my snapshots from IRELAND. Gorgeous, gorgeous Ireland. I absolutely loved it, and if I had to choose one place to be my favorite all semester...this would probably be it. Everything about it is charming-- whether you're in the cobblestone streets of the city or the fairy tale country side. I stayed in Dublin for a day, visited the Cliffs of Moher, and then went to the little town of Galway for Christmas markets. Each amazing in their own, unique way. I found the people to be so friendly, the rainy weather right up my alley, and the food to be hearty and home-y.

It wasn't long enough to just spend two and a half days there, and my #1 destination to go again someday again is Ireland. There's just so much I didn't feel like I got to see, especially the countryside. I love you, Ireland, hope to see you again soon! x

With much love, Lauren.