New Years Resolutions

Since it is Monday and also happens to be the 1st of the year (at least in Hong Kong where I currently am) I thought that I would share my New Years resolutions with you all as well as my NYE outfit.

101 Things in 1001 Days

I saw this idea for the first time on my favorite bloggers blog, and just instantly fell in love with the idea of doing something like this. What "this" is, is the 101 things in 1001 days list. It is less than a bucket list and more than a to-do list so it is kind of the perfect thing. It took me a couple weeks to complete mine, but that's what makes it so special is that it took a lot of time and thought.

Transition Wear

If any of you live in the South like me, then you know we are slowly but surely starting to get some fall weather. Our mornings here in Alabama are always in the high 50s or low 60s, but by afternoon we are still in the 90s. With this kind of weather, it can be hard to dress, especially if you can't just throw a sweatshirt over your workout wear and take it off in class when you get too hot. Unfortunately, you can't live all your life in workout wear, which is what this post is all about -- what to wear to be seasonly appropriate, even when it is still a million degrees. 

Faves Under $50

Sometimes I feel like bloggers in general always share things that are a little pricey, including myself. So today I thought that it would be fun if I shared my favorites under $50!

I am so obsessed with these, but you guys know this by now! These are $38 and are an absolute staple in my wardrobe now. They are so comfortable and they instantly spice up your outfit if you can see the lace peeking through.

Bauble Bar Jewelry 

Now I only have two things from them, but they have beautiful jewelry that is always pretty inexpensive and really good quality. I am dying for that choker!

Sonix Phone Cases

I absolutely love phone cases because no matter what kind of phone you have, a cute phone case always spices things up! I love the Sonix ones because they are such cute cases for a good price. Not only are they protective, but they have designs that will suit anyones taste. 

Nail Polish

Unless you are buying Christian Louboutin nail polish, all nail polish is going to be under $50. OPI is my personal favorite brand because I love their brush size because I find that it is so much easier to paint my nails with their brush. My all time favorite color from them is "Charged Up Cherry", but for a more neutral color I love "Romper Room" from Essie. 

Benefit Roller Lash

This is my all time favorite mascara, there I said it! I have never used a mascara that holds curl as well as this one does. It is super black and makes me look like I have false lashes on. It is absolutely incredible and I 100% recommend it. If you watched my Everyday Makeup Tutorial from yesterday, you will be able to see how it works in action! 

I hope that you guys enjoyed this post, I have never done something like this before, so let me know if you would like more of these kind of posts in the future! 

xoxo,

Abbey

Get Your Greens

I have mentioned in past blogposts that I have been struggling with my stomach a little bit and because of that, I have been trying to eat a little more clean. So today I thought that I would share with you guys what my current favorite smoothie recipe is! 

All that you need is: 

A Blender

A Handful of Kale

1 Granny Smith Apple 

1 Banana 

Almond Milk (Enough to Blend)
Protein Powder (Optional) 

I like to use a Nutria Ninja to make my smoothie, but a Vitamix or a Magic Bullet will work just the same! I add the kale, apple, banana and almond milk to the nutria ninja and just blend, blend, blend. I like to blend mine until it is more of a juice consistency because I find it easier to drink.

I like to drink this either alone, with a Lara Bar or with some avocado toast. This takes two seconds to make, so it is great for the girl on the go. 

As a side note, at home I always added protein powder, but I don't have any with me at school currently so that is why I don't show it in these photos. I recommend vanilla protein powder to add extra yumminess! :)

I hope that you all enjoyed this post! I love cooking/making things, so let me know if you guys would like more recipes either on here or on my YouTube channel. And remember, get your greens people!

xoxo,

Abbey

The Absolute Coziest

I absolutely love being cozy, even when it isn't necessarily "cozy" weather (aka Alabama in the summer). My favorite brand to curl up with is Wildfox. They have the best quality lounge wear that is insanely cute and insanely comfortable. 

I own 3 Wildfox jumpers and am constantly wanting to expand my collection. I always buy my Wildfox pieces at either Nordstrom Rack or Saks Off 5th or on a random discount website. Wildfox is always super expensive (even though it is worth it) but being a college student, I can't always spend $100 on just a baggy beach jumper…do you know how many Papa Johns pizza's that could buy me?!

My advice to you is to check Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th everyday. I personally think that Saks Off 5th has a better Wildfox selection, but Nordstrom Rack has its gems too. I always look on the Wildfox site to begin with to see what I need to keep my eyes peeled for in the future. I'm telling you that good things come to those who wait because the two baggy beach jumpers I'm showing I originally fell in love with on the Wildfox website and I bought them for almost 50% off! So wait people, you can thank me later.

As you can tell by the photos, I typically wear my Wildfox pieces while looking like hot mess. But if you put your hair in a high pony, throw on big sunglasses and walk with confidence on your way to class, maybe people won't judge you as much (at least thats what I tell myself) ?!

I hope that you guys enjoyed seeing these and that you gained some knowledge on how to buy Wildfox on a budget! I also linked below what is next on my Wildfox wish list..let me know if there is anything that you have your eye on, I'd love to know!

xoxo,

Abbey

Hell No Cardio Baggy Beach Jumper: Saks Off 5th Burger Queen Baggy Beach Jumper: Saks Off 5th

Wildfox Mantra Sweatshirt (Not Mine, But Similar): Saks Off 5th

Currently Wishing For: 1, 2, 3

Back to School: Outfit

When I was in high school, all I cared about was my first day of school outfit. For some reason I felt like it was going to set the tone for the entire year because if I killed my outfit, I would kill that school year..where I got that logic I do not know. 

I always liked wearing jeans and a cute top on the first day of school because lets be real, classrooms are always freezing and you can never go wrong with jeans. I personally didn't go to a school that had uniforms and they were pretty easy going when it came to dress code, but regardless this outfit will most likely fit all of your dress code requirements! Jeans, a cute t-shirt, sandals and a backpack are the absolute essentials when it comes to your first day of school outfit.

 Now that I am in college, my first day of school outfit stress is only what T-shirt I am going to wear that day. Writing this post made me think of how fast high school went by. I cannot believe I am a sophomore in college, time truly does fly people!!!

I hope that you all enjoyed this post and that it gave you a little bit of inspiration for your first day of school outfit! 

xoxo,

Abbey 

Top: Free People Jeans: Paige Shoes: Tory Burch Backpack: Patagonia 

Back to School: Beauty

I am a huge fan of the "less is more" mentality when it comes to makeup. I have never been one to cake on foundation, fill in my eyebrows or wear a lot on a day to day basis just because it is not my style. For the second installment of my back to school series, I thought I would share with you all what makeup essentials you should have for this school year! Whether you are 13 or 30, every person needs these 5 things.

Concealer 

I have actually stopped wearing my CC cream and I now just wear concealer because I find that it is all I need. Even if you like a full coverage face or a more natural approach, everyone needs a good concealer. This one is my favorite because it is high coverage without being cakey. 

Blush 

My best friend Katie always says that everyone needs blush regardless of their skin tone and I have to say that I completely agree with her! If you don't put on blush, your face can appear a little flat (which is never fun). My favorite blushes right now are in the Jaclyn Hill x Becca champagne pop face palette, which is unfortunately sold out, however I used the MAC pink swoon blush for years and absolutely loved it.

Mascara 

This is a no brainer…if you do not put on mascara, it is 100% a sin. Mascara will instantly brighten your eyes, make them look bigger and just overall make you look more awake, which we all need during the school year. I love the Benefit roller lash because it gives my lashes so much volume and length. 

Lip Product 

I think that lip products are so personal because some feel more confident in a bold lip, some feel confident in a glossy lip and some feel confident in a matte lip. I am personally a matte girl because it still gives your lips a little something, but it doesn't make too much of a statement. My all time favorite matte lips are from NYX from their soft matte lip cream range.

Highlighter 

Now, some of you may disagree with me on this, but I totally think that a highlighter should be on your back to school makeup list! Whenever I put on highlighter, I instantly feel so much more put together because feel like I look glowy and youthful. I love the Laura Mercier highlighter because it is so natural and gives your skin the healthiest looking glow. 

I hope that this helped you guys in figuring out what should be on your back to school beauty wish list! 

xoxo,

Abbey

Back to School: Supplies

I thought that I would start off the first week of August by doing a back to school series. Today, I will be sharing with you guys my absolute essentials when it comes to supplies. Be sure to stay tuned this week for the rest of my back to school series!

1. A Backpack

Obviously everyone needs a backpack to carry all of their supplies in! I used to have a Northface backpack, but I honestly hated it because it was literally reflective. I always joked with my friends that they could see me coming from a mile away. To solve that problem, I purchased a new backpack that I am so excited to start using! It is from Patagonia and I love the way it fits and the overall style of it.

2. Pens

Since I am in college, I take most of my notes on my computer, but in some classes I take notes by hand. If that's the case, these pens are my saving grace. I'm not kidding when I say that they changed my handwriting. They are an overall thin pen that makes your handwriting instantly look neater. You guys have to try these out!

3. Expanding Folder

I've taken 15 hours each semester and am doing so again this upcoming semester. 15 hours means 5 classes, so a folder like this is perfect for keeping your syllabuses, handouts or anything else that your professor hands out. It is also nice because this never leaves my backpack, so I never have to worry about grabbing the wrong folder. I got mine in the $1 at Target, but regardless these are always really affordable!

4. Portable Charger

If you are to get one things off of this list, get a portable phone charger. My friends always joke that I would totally win the "phones most likely dying" award. My phone literally is always dying! But I started carrying this in my backpack and it has totally saved me. I charge it every couple of days, so when I need it, it is ready to go.

5. Emergency Bag

I would also recommend keeping an "emergency" bag with you. Next year I will be living in an apartment off campus, so I will no longer have the luxury of running home if I need something. All I do is use a little makeup bag and I fill it with all of my "emergency" items. I typically keep tampons, hair ties, Advil, tide to go, hand sanatizer, things like that. You will be shocked at how much you use this!

I know that you all are probably not looking forward to getting back into school mode, but I assure you that if you have these things, you will be a-ok! 

xoxo,

Abbey

Handbag Trifecta

Every girl needs a handbag, needs three handbags. The tote, the cross body and the "different" one.

Totes are essential because they are great for when you are traveling, when you are headed to the office or just need to carry more. My personal favorite totes are from Longchamp. They are waterproof (hello YES) and they are super sturdy. I have had the same one since 7th grade and it still looks great. It has been to everywhere with me! I cannot tell you enough how many times I have washed the inside and outside of this bag and it instantly gives it a makeover. If you are going to invest in a nice tote, get this one because it won't break the bank, but it will do its job!

Crossbody bags are my personal favorites because they are literally so easy. You can throw them around your side or over your shoulder and you don't have to worry about them. The great thing about crossbody bags is that you can get ones that are super inexpensive or more expensive. I used the same Zara cross body bag (that I had had since 8th grade) up until this past Christmas. My mom gave me a new Gucci cross body bag and needless to say, I am absolutely in love with it. I carry it everyday and it is definitely my favorite bag. Crossbody bags are the #1 bag that you guys need in your life because of their easy-going style.

I said "different" one above, because I think that every girl should have a bag that they love regardless of the style. That bag for me is my Louis Vuitton speedy 35. This bag actually has a really cool story to it, so I am going to be doing a "what's in my bag video" on it on my channel soon, so keep a lookout! I love this bag because this style has been around for years and it will never go out of style.

I hope that this post helped you if you were trying to decide what handbag you should add to your closet! 

xoxo,

Abbey

Must Have Lip Colors

Everyone has certain lip colors that they can't live without. I know I cannot live without my nudes, my fun pinks and my occasional statement lip colors. I thought that it would bet fun if I shared with you guys my must have lip products!

To start, I have three different nudes that I cannot live without. The first one is my MAC Hue lipstick. It is a glaze which means that it has a nice sheen to it, so it is not matte but it is not completely glossy either. I love to wear this alone or layered with another favorite gloss of mine.

That other gloss is my beloved NYX butter gloss in Vanilla Cream Pie. This is once again beautiful alone, but it is especially beautiful layered on top of the MAC lipstick which is how I typically wear it.

My last nude is from Maybelline and it is from their Vivid Matte Liquid collection. I have the shade Nude Flush and it is my perfect "your lips but better" color. It dries completely matte without drying out your lips. I cannot describe how much I love this color!

I also love my pinks because I love that they aren't exactly nude and they aren't exactly a statement either. My first pink that I love is from NYX and it is from their soft matte lip cream line and it is in the shade Istanbul. It is such a beautiful color and wears really well.

I also love one from the Tarte lipsurgance line and it is in the shade Charmed. It is a "don't think about it" color because it looks great with any makeup look. These also have a nice minty sensation too, it isn't over powering, but it is strong enough to wear you notice it, which I personally like. I don't think that this shade is available anymore, but here is a similar color.

With regards to statement lips, I never really do hot pinks as much as I do red lips. My all time favorite red is from NYX, once again from their soft matte lip cream line and it is in the shade Ibiza. I love how it is more of a muted red, but still makes a statement.

If I am going for a super bold lip, I will wear my Kylie Cosmetics lip kit in Mary Jo K. It is a beautiful, bold red and looks absolutely stunning with more of a minimal makeup look. I have already done a review on this lip product and you can read that here.

I hope that you all enjoyed this post and that you maybe added some colors to your wish list! 

xoxo,

Abbey