Primark Haul January 2015!

My friend, Alli, and I went to Primark today to do some much needed retail therapy. Oh, how I've missed Primark! I bought some lovely things so if you'd like to take a look, you can watch the video below. xx



Friday Internet Finds

My first Friday Internet Finds written from Scotland...how exciting!

1. Let's start out with the most important Buzzfeed quiz of all time: which Marauder are you?

2. I've been trying to turn myself into a morning person for years...and this Thought Catalog article has almost convinced me that it's worth giving up my 2am Cool Ranch Dorito binges in exchange for super productivity at 8am.

3. This roundup of fashion Instagram accounts to follow is simply genius. #nomorestyleruts

4. I didn't get the watch the SAG awards red carpet like I typically do, but this College Fashion article filled me in on the best dressed. My personal favorites were Emma Stone and Sarah Hyland; who were yours?

5. Louise's latest video about her Valentine's Day themed Lush haul was so nice to watch. It made me wish I had a bathtub here so I could have a nice yummy-smelling bubble bath!

Dorm Tour Video!

Hi everyone,

If you'd like to check out where I live at the University of St Andrews...here's a little video for you. Enjoy! xx


Monday Favourites

(You might notice that I used the British spelling of favourites. Since I'm in Scotland, it just seemed like the right thing to do.) 

Last night, I was watching some of Jim Chapman's "Favorites" videos which inspired me to write a post about some of the things I've been enjoying lately.

My H&M Hat
I went into the H&M in the middle of town the other day, in search of a way to waste an hour and a new hat. I'm very fussy about hats and it's hard to find one that I like, but I spotted the perfect one on sale for just 5 pounds! Back home, I always feel a bit strange wearing a hat around like people are going to judge me, but I wore my new hat into town yesterday and I never felt better.
"And I've got that red lip classic thing that you like..." 

Love, Tanya
The reason I was watching Jim's videos in the first place was that I was inspired by the book I bought yesterday. Tanya's book wasn't supposed to come out until the 29th, but it hit some stores early so I snatched up a copy. It's honestly the most lovely book I've ever owned; it even has a ribbon! The photography is incredible, it has a wonderful variety of topics, and Tanya's writing is superb. I think I'll be spending many a night curled up in bed with my new book.

My favorite part thus far was reading what Tanya wrote about how she and Jim got together. The cutest!
I tweeted this photo and Tanya favorited it...
I almost died from excitement!

Scrambled Eggs with Spinach and Pancetta 
I'm not much of a cook at all, but I tried making eggs on my own for the first time last night and they were actually very yummy! I fried up some spinach and pancetta in my new frying pan before adding in an egg...which made for a very lovely dinner, when paired with some toast. There's nothing like overcoming your fears, whether that's cooking eggs or wearing a hat out.

Those are some of the things I've been loving thus far this week. What about you? What are your Monday favourites? 

Carrie's Book Club January Box


You may know that I'm quite obsessed with Carrie Hope Fletcher, who is one of my favorite YouTubers and West End Actresses. I recently got her January Book Club box in the mail. It's an adorable Peter Pan-themed assortment of items and I wanted to share it with all of you!

What I'm Packing to Study Abroad in Scotland

Packing for study abroad is a monstrosity. Your bags can only weigh 50 pounds, your parents can't easily ship you something you've forgotten, and your room in your host country has to fit everything you packed into it.

And today's the day I leave with my three suitcases.

You may remember my post from this summer when I showed you exactly what I packed to study abroad in Brighton, England. Unfortunately, you won't be getting pictures this time (five weeks is a lot easier to pack for than five months!) but if you want me to film a video showing what I packed, let me know in the comments.

Without further ado, in three suitcases, for five months, I packed...

4 t-shirts
4 black tank-tops
2 black camis
Booty shorts (for wearing under skirts and dresses)
Tights
Workout shorts
Yoga pants
Ravenclaw sweatpants

3 pajama t-shirts
2 pajama bottoms
1 bathrobe

13 shirts
3 button-downs
2 dressy shirts
1 long-sleeved crop top
5 sweaters
2 dressy tank tops
6 long shirts to wear with leggings

5 dresses
4 formal dresses
1 ball gown (Sounds strange right? But St Andrews actually has balls!) 

Leggings (6 pair black, 1 pair black and white print)
Silky pants
2 pairs of high-waisted jeans
2 circle skirts - black and maroon
Chic sweatpants

2 men's flannels
3 sweatshirts
Zipper hoodie
3 hats
3 pairs of gloves
3 scarves - red, black and white infinity, leopard
Black overcoat
Leather jacket
2 cardigans - black, grey

Sneakers
Combat boots
Hunter rainboots
Slippers
Black dress heels
Black Oxford heels
Tan flats
Tan boots

Doesn't include anything except clothes and shoes. If you're interested in other things, just let me know! 

Friday Internet Finds

Happy Friday everyone! Typically, I'm super excited for Friday but this one is a little bittersweet: it's my last one in the US for five months!

1. This Buzzfeed article on where to shop based on your favorite celebrity's fashion is genius. With 14 different celebrities, you're sure to find a new favorite store!

2. Speaking of celebs, I was fairly proud of myself that I didn't miss a single question on this "How Well Do You Know Taylor Swift?" quiz. #trueswiftie

3. Louise of Sprinkle of Glitter wrote a beautiful blog post about teaching her young daughter, Darcy, to love princesses for their smarts and kindness, not just their beauty. I'm learning so much from Louise about how I want to parent one day.

4. Ever wanted to know "Which Famous Emma Should Be Your BFF?" I was very excited to find out that Emma Watson and I would be great best friends.

5. College Fashion wrote a fabulous article on how to dress like a model-off-duty. #yesplease

Things to Look Forward To || The #KerralinaListProject

I recently discovered the British blogger Kerralina and I'm absolutely loving her blog posts and YouTube videos. As someone who's trying to build up a more successful blog and YouTube channel, it's so wonderful when I can draw realistic inspiration from other university students. Know any young bloggers/vloggers? Please send them my way!

In any case, Kerry has started a series of lists which she calls the #KerralinaListProject and is encouraging other bloggers to do them along with her. Yesterday's post was called "Things to Look Forward To," which is something I definitely wanted to talk about!

Without further ado...

Things to Look Forward To 

  • seeing my friends on Saturday for brunch for the last time before I leave
  • moving to Scotland
  • long airplane rides (strangely, I actually love them!) 
  • having public transportation in St Andrews
  • Nandos and Pret... #yum
  • having my own bedroom and bathroom 
  • history classes
  • working on my YouTube channel
  • adorable British mailboxes 
  • writing a travel blog 
  • seeing Carrie Hope Fletcher in Les Miserables for the third time!
  • UK Netflix
  • cute coffee shops to hang out in 
  • going to California for the first time this summer
  • Vidcon!
  • moving into an apartment with my best friends 

There are so many exciting things happening in 2015 and I can't wait for them to be started! If you use this hashtag on your blog, please share the link with me in the comments so I can check it out.

Defying Gravity || What to Wear on the Airplane

In honor of the fact that one week from today I will be making the rather long flight from Raleigh to London (and then from London to Edinburgh), I thought I should share some airplane outfit ideas with you. When you're taking a long flight, you want to be comfortable...but you also don't want to be that girl in her pajama pants and sweatshirt. I put together three different looks to give you inspiration for any long flights you might have ahead.

Shirt, Jeggings, Coat, Beanie, Socks, Flats
If you're one of those people who can stand to wear jeans on the airplane, I applaud you. I just can't do it. Nope. 

So when choosing my jeans look, I picked a pair of high rise jeggings: they're softer and the high rise ensures that they won't be sliding down in your seat. I paired it with a soft tee shirt that says New York City to go with the travel theme and a great cargo jacket. The leopard print flats add some glamour to the outfit, but I included a pair of socks to trade them for once you're in your seat! And finally, I included a beanie in case your hair looks like a mess when you get off the plane like mine always does. 


Shirt, Leggings, Jacket, Boots, Scarf
 This is definitely the look that most resembles what I'll be wearing a week from today. I paired a long tunic shirt with high waisted black leggings for the comfiest look possible. I layered a beautiful faux leather jacket over that and black booties -- two items that would take up too much room in your suitcase, but you definitely want to get to your destination. To break up the monochromatic look and keep you warm on the cold airplane, I added a leopard print scarf.

Dress, Cape, Socks, Boots, Sunglasses
This is definitely the most fashionable outfit of the three and the one I might wear if I was immediately going somewhere after landing. This comfy cotton dress looks more special because of the lace panels on the shoulders and the frilly socks sticking out of your lace up boots adds to the "I'm sweet, but not too sweet" vibe. I added a black cape as a jacket; I always want to cuddle up in a blanket and read a book when I'm on the plane and this cape allows you to do that! I also added a pair of sunglasses for that terrible time when you get off the plane and out of the airport after a red eye flight and your eyes just can't adjust to the light. 

What do you like to wear on the airplane? What do you wear one of these outfits? Let me know in the comments below. 

Friday Internet Finds

This week has been absolutely crazy! With my days so busy, I've definitely valued my time in the evenings when I sit down with a cup of tea and take a ramble around the Internet...

1. I'm highly focused on how best to pack for going abroad right now and this incredible article from The Everygirl on "3 Simple Tips for Packing Your Carry-on" is definitely going to help me.

2. I loved this Buzzfeed quiz called "What Kind of Disney Princess Are You?" I was very excited when I got Revival Princess...especially when the picture included was of my favorite princess!
3. Speaking of princesses, check out this article "In Defense of Disney Princesses." It questions the idea that only the Disney princesses of the past few years are good role models...and as someone who grew up wanting to be like Belle and Mulan and Pocahontas, I definitely agree! 

4. Have you seen Mangomini's illustrations before? When they started popping up on my Pinterest feed, I fell in love. Cute drawings and great fashion...what more could I want? 

5. Hello Giggles! imagines what a current casting of Friends might look like. I'm definitely down for Sarah Hyland for the role of Rachel Green. #yesplease

P.S. Can you believe this is my 100th post? It seems crazy to think about how much this blog has grown since I really became serious about it a little less than a year ago. Happy 100th post everyone! 

My Favorite "Get Ready with Me" Videos

I wanted to share some of my favorite "Get Ready with Me" videos from my favorite YouTubers. I've recently become more interested in makeup and trying out new products because of all the videos I've been watching!

I love love love Zoe Sugg and her most recent Get Ready with Me video is so adorable. I use the Tarte Mineral Powder that she uses in the video and it's my favorite. I would definitely recommend it!

Who doesn't love a good Sprinkle of Glitter video? This video of Louise using all the products from Zoella's line to get ready for her line's launch is just too cute. (Personally, I recommend the Zoella bath bomb bar.)

I recently discovered Ingrid Nilsen and have been flying through her videos! I laughed while watching this video because I bought the Covergirl foundation she uses in the video the day before I watched it. It's quickly become a favorite of mine; it provides enough coverage without feeling heavy.

Who is your favorite beauty YouTuber? Give me suggestions for who to watch in the comments!


7 Tips for Cleaning Out Your Closet

Every January, I get the urge to go through my entire closet. Is that just me? This year, I actually needed to because it allowed me to see exactly what I own which will make packing for a semester abroad much easier!

Here are seven tips for any of you who are trying to clean out your closets:

1. Set aside at least a few hours, but ideally a whole afternoon. Cleaning out everything in your closet is hard work. Split up sections if you need to, but commit a chunk of time to the process. You don't want to be rushed!

2. Tackle one section at a time. I did dresses and skirts, then outerwear, then shirts, then shoes, and so on.

3. Donate. I always feel better about getting rid of clothes when I know they're going to be put to good use. You can sometimes even find specific places that take women's business clothes to help women who are trying to get jobs but can't afford nice clothing.

4. Think about the last time you wore an item. If you haven't worn it in the last year, you might want to consider getting rid of it (unless it's formal wear, of course).

5. Take this as a chance to reorganize your closet! An organized closet will make getting ready in the morning a lot easier.

6. Put on some music or a favorite TV show to help move the job along. I put on Taylor Swift's latest album to jam along to while I worked and it certainly kept me in an upbeat move. Maybe even challenge yourself: for example, can I finish sorting through these t-shirts by the time this album ends?

7. If you have an item in good condition that you can't bear to just donate, offer it to a friend. Or better yet, hold a clothing swap for you and your friends to all bring your unwanted clothing to and trade!

Good luck cleaning out your closets. If you have any tips of your own, share them in the comments!

Hello 2015 (Reviewing 2014 and Looking Ahead)

Source
2014 was a momentous year for me and truly a year of many ups and downs. It was filled with travel, blogging, and hard work not to mention many firsts: my first time studying abroad, my first airplane ride alone, my first 25 page paper. Admittedly, I had a very difficult fall semester that I struggled my way through. But I've survived and am ready for 2015! 
I will spend nearly half of this year in Scotland at the University of St Andrews, studying history and blogging (and hopefully teaching myself to vlog). I have lots of plans for my study abroad blog, this blog, and my new tripod. I’ll also be applying for internships for this summer. I’ll venture out to California for the first time, to visit friends and go to Vidcon (!!!). Then, I’ll return to Elon in the fall to live in an apartment and delve further into the life of a communications student. 
There are so many things I hope 2015 will hold (my first date? my first ball?). I've created three New Years Resolutions to try to guide myself with: 
  1. To love myself and take care of myself — eat healthy, exercise, keep up a skincare routine, read more, use a positive inner voice. 
  2. To not let my fear of being hurt and the pain of my past experiences keep me from opening my heart and taking a chance. 
  3. To create content — writing, blogging, videos. 

Do you have New Years Resolutions? Share them with me, please! xx

Friday Internet Finds

Happy 2015! What are your New Years Resolutions?

1. This "What Would Be Your Best Subject at Hogwarts?" quiz is the most important one you'll ever take. #transfigurationsalltheway

2. Michelle Phan offers some great tips for how to have a successful 2015.

3. Need more inspiration? Rachel of The Haute Notes offers advice on how to keep your New Years Resolutions!

4. So I'm know I'm totally late to the game on this one...but I've discovered Goodreads and I'm loving it! You can even set a goal for how many books to read in 2015 and then see your progress towards it.

5. You all know how much I love Carrie Hope Fletcher and her New Years Resolutions video is so inspiring, I couldn't resist sharing it with you!

Books I Read in 2014


These Girls by Sarah Pekkanen
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Never Have I Ever by Katie Heaney
The Elite by Kiera Cass
The Selection Stories by Kiera Cass
The One by Kiera Cass
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Lady Margaret: A Memoir by E.M.G. Routh*
The Reign of Henry VIII: Personalities and Politics by David Starkey*
Thomas Cromwell: the Rise and Fall of Henry's Most Notorious Minister by Robert Hutchinson*
The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Go Down Together by Jeff Guinn*
Fugitives by Emma Parker and Nell Barrow*
The Lives and Times of Bonnie and Clyde by E.R. Milner*
My Life with Bonnie and Clyde by Blanche Caldwell Barrow*
A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
Consecrated Dust by Mary Frailey Calland
Girl Online by Zoe Sugg
Hot Scots, Castles, and Kilts by Tammy Swoish

Books marked with an * were read for school, but were read in their entirety. 

I can proudly say that I read many more books in 2014 than I did in 2013 (8 more to be exact). I finally read books that I'd been meaning to for a long time (The Fault in Our Stars and The Bell Jar). I fell in love with a new series and got to go to a book signing for its author (The Selection Series). I was absolutely heartbreakingly disappointed by a book, but made it to the last terrible page (The Devil Wears Prada). My goal is to read at least 25 books in 2015...who's willing to hold me to that promise?

What was your favorite book you read this year?
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