Five On Friday

Life has been filled with so many exciting things lately, but my top five would have to be...

1. 18th Birthday Soirée 

 

As you know from this post I turned 18 earlier in the month. Last weekend some friends and I went out for dinner to celebrate my big day! 

2. College Acceptances 

I am so happy to reveal that I have officially been accepted by all of the colleges to which I have applied. More to come about my decision later! 

3. Senior Mother & Daughter Luncheon

 

 

 

My school hosts a very special event every year for the seniors. The ladies have a luncheon with their moms and the boys have a BBQ with their dads. It was such a beautiful event and it was filled with so many sweet memories! The end of the event was used as a time for mothers to share what was on their hearts and let me tell you... there was not a dry eye in the room! I have been looking forward to this event for years as I have been watching the older girls go to it since I was a young student at my school. I will treasure this day forever!

4. The Monogram Queen Got Her Own Machine!

 

That's right, I am official. As a birthday gift from my parents I finally got an embroidery machine and I have slapped my monogram on just about everything that I own. I'd love to hear tips or tricks from any of y'all that are experienced with embroidery machines! I definitely love mine so far. 

5. Pearls and Pastries Love

 

If you have yet to discover the lovely etsy shop known as Pearls and Pastries you have been really missing out! Their sequin hangers are to die for. I recently ordered some of their prints because they have been running a really great $4 print sale lately, and my bathroom has never looked so fab! Be sure to check it out! 

Hope y'all have a fab week! 

XO,

Some Thoughts

Hello, and I hope you are having a wonderful start to your week!

Typically I share lighthearted things on here such as quotes, photos, shopping, crafts, etc. but today I felt that I needed to share something a little different. Lately I have been in a very unique place in my life and in my relationship with God and I feel blessed beyond measure! Many months ago marked the end of a bit of a rough patch in my life which lasted about a year. At the time I had no idea that anything was wrong, but now it is glaringly obvious when I look back. The people I was surrounding myself with were simply not nurturing the person I was trying to become, in fact they caused me to become very unhappy, negative, and judgmental. I found myself spending ridiculous amounts of time talking about other people and simply just trying to be 'better than everyone else.'

Silly simple elements of my personality which I now have learned to cherish most about myself were suppressed by these people I was around, and that is so sad to think I let it happen! For example, I am a complete morning person. I am by no means rude or obnoxious to those who don't wake up as quickly as I might, but I just wake up with ease {most days}. When I was staying with friends on a trip, I would get up in the morning and make them all coffee and serve it to them in bed, which they completely loved! It brought me so much joy to do this small little thing for them, and they appreciated it so much because they hated getting out of bed in the mornings. All of that to say, there were actually people in my life who would try to make me feel bad for being a morning person! They made me feel strange, annoying, or too "glass-is-half-full."

God shaped us to fill each other's voids. Silly as my example may be, my "morning person" attitude was a blessing to the girls I was rooming with, but at the same time it was a blessing to me that they were "night owls" so they would let me shower and get to bed as early as I liked, because they were going to be awake late anyways!

I also feel that I have a positive outlook on life overall. I try to see things in other people's eyes, hope for the best, and live every day to the fullest. Once again, some of these people in my life at the time would make me feel like I was foolish for being happy and enjoying life. They made it seem that because I wasn't bitter and angry as they were that I was not experiencing life and all the bad things in it, or that I was simply living an easy life. That is so far from what I see as true now! My life is very busy and stressful and at times I just don't know how I will get through the day, the week, or the month, but I can't always control that. God gives me the immense gift of waking every morning and enjoying His beautiful creation, why on earth would I waste that being hung-up on little struggles?

All of this to say, there is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing someone who God perfectly shaped try desperately to please others who do not value their worth. I actually had someone make a list about all of my faults! At the time, I was so distressed and full of grief because I thought that I was a bad person. While a few of the things they had pointed out were genuine character flaws that I try to work on through God's help, many were huge elements of my personality. Do not let the precious qualities of who you are be insulted and tarnished by those who simply do not appreciate you for all the you are!

I know this quote is used all the time but it perfectly applies to this post!

Photo via Society6

So shine bright, sweet friends! And remember that you were fearfully and wonderfully made by God! Let Him burden your heart for the things that you need to work on, and then remember that your sweet personality is a gift from Him, surround yourself with people who will cherish it!

XO,

You Can Quote Me...

Hello!

I am so excited about this post. I can't begin to tell you.

I am a major fan of quotes. They express so much in a tiny little statement. If I'm having a bad day, reading a quote can change my mood and focus. Quotes can turn me from sleepy and grumpy to fab, fancy, and determined.

If you think I'm crazy, you obviously haven't been reading the right quotes. So here are my top 20! Where did this snazzy little list come from you might ask? I have a note on my phone that I keep all my favorite quotes on that I started back in the 9th grade. Whenever I hear something that makes me go "aha!" or inspires me in some way, I jot it down. Because it would be tragic to forget anything this fab.

1. "A woman is like a tea bag: you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." -Eleanor Roosevelt

2. "Being well dressed is a beautiful form of politeness."

3. "Oh no, the white house is on fire; I had better tell my husband." - Dolly Madison

4. "Feminists want to be treated as men's equals. I want to be treated much better." -TSM

5. "Being true to yourself never goes out of style." - Elle Woods

6. "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." - Coco Chanel

7. "You need to relax. I'm addicted to shopping, not meth." -Babe Walker

8. "Life is a fashion show and the world is your runway."

9. "Go insane, go insane, throw some glitter make it rain." -Ke$ha

10. "You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches." - Dita Von Tesse

11. "Eat diamonds for breakfast and shine all day."

12. "I only drink champagne on two occasions: when I'm in love and when I'm not." - Coco Chanel

13. "More is more and minimalism is, quite frankly, a bore." - Kate Spade

14. "Life's a party, dress like it." - Lilly Pulitzer

15. "I like my money where I can see it... hanging in my closet." - Carrie Bradshaw

FYI... These quotes are totally about sass, style, and lightheartedness - not so much about virtues or deep meanings. They are about snapping you out of a bad day. These quotes are the things that make me want to get dressed up on a Tuesday. I adore and collect quotes that are full of sound advice, but that simply isn't what this post is all about!

I hope that the rest of your week is beyond fabulous!
XO,

Life Lately

Hello & happy Tuesday!
Life has been crazy lately, partly why I did not blog much last week. So, I thought I'd fill y'all in on all the busy, fab, and fancy fun I had while I was on my mini blogger hiatus!

On Tuesday I turned 18! Wohoo! It was the best birthday I have EVER had! My friends went way above and beyond in honor of my big day and I felt so special. If you can even believe it, this photo doesn't even contain all of the goodies I received. The final total was a batch of brownies, three bouquets of flowers, 6 balloons, a sheet cake, 18 regular cupcakes, 12 mini cupcakes, a batch of funfetti cookies, 4 macarons, and a comfy pair of sweatpants from Victoria's Secret. The craziest part of it all is that this was just to celebrate my birthday at school! Most of my friends said they had gifts for me when my actual birthday party rolled around. The highlight of the whole day by far was when my friend Atlanta who I did the Blogger Breakfast In Bed with surprised me by creating a Gossip Girl themed scavenger hunt all around school! All in all it was such a sweet, special day and my friends went above and beyond what I ever would have imagined!

Also for my birthday I grabbed myself the C. Wonder Signature Tote which I am obsessed with! Be sure to read all about these fab bags here.

On Wednesday I did something very rare and took a "mental health day" and stayed home from school {ok, I basically just skipped}. I never EVER do that, but I was so exhausted and I was just getting over being sick and it was no fun to do homework the night of my birthday either, so I decided that a day to myself was much needed! I finally got out of the house later in the night when I met my friend and went for a walk around Worth Avenue and the beach.

Fast forward to Friday and my momma & I were outlet mall shoppers! I had no school so it was the perfect day to go shopping. It was grand opening day of the new Palm Beach Outlets and we were super excited to finally have an outlet mall only 20 minutes from our house. I was most enthusiastic about the J. Crew store for sure. You can follow this link to see me on the local news talking about the outlets opening. I was a little disappointed because while caught up in all the excitement of being on camera, I ended up sounding like a tad bit of an airhead. Oh well!

Perhaps the best part of the entire day was when about 10 minutes to opening time, they opened the front door early and I excitedly rushed in! I was walking around the store gathering my favorite and sought-after items such as the scalloped dress and pixie pants when I noticed that everyone else was standing outside the store still. The manager walked by me and commented that the staff meeting would be starting in five minutes. I was very confused and then I realized what had happened just as she did! She smiled and told me that she had thought I was an employee! Luckily, she was super sweet about it and she even let me continue shopping around despite the fact that they were not even open yet. It was an experience I will never forget and I guess I can truly go down in history as the first-ever customer at J.Crew's Palm Beach outlet! Stay tuned for a post later on about all my finds from the outlets. This was my outlet mall shopping outfit, I guess I understand why they thought I was an employee!

Blazer & White Pom Pom Tank: J.Crew   |   Jeans: Michael Kors
Flats and Crossbody: Tory Burch   |    Mug: Alice + Olivia for Starbucks

My daddy also surprised me with this beautiful flower bouquet and sweet card for Valentine's Day. He's the best! Dad, I know you're reading this... thanks & I love you!

On Sunday I spent some time finishing up this great book! It was such a fun read with so many twists and turns, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone, it was simply charming!

The rest of my weekend was filled with work, babysitting, and homework, but luckily I had no school on Monday either due to President's day. I enjoyed going to the beach with one of my close friends Jordan which was such a relaxing time. I haven't been to the beach in what feels like a million years so I actually ended up slightly sunburnt...oops!

Now enough with all the fancy fun, I am back at school today! Hope y'all are having a great start to your week!

XO,

Searching For Summer {Bags}

It's already feeling like summer here in Florida {just kidding, it always feels like summer here} and so I have been on the search for the perfect summer bag. Then I fell in love with the C. Wonder "Signature Tote." Be sure to grab one of these beauties, because I definitely can't get enough of mine! It is just roomy enough to fill with everything you could possibly need, but it is also lightweight and versatile too! I have the gold cork version and I love that it could easily be used at the beach or for shopping around during the day and then could still be used at night for dinner out!

            

What color or print is your fave??
XO,

Love From California

Hello lovelies!

Like many people, I have my typical list of places that I shop in the mall and online, but I unfortunately don't venture too often into other stores. Recently I was shopping at the mall with my friend who wanted to go into PacSun, somewhere I typically don't go into. While waiting for my friend to try on a few things, I ventured into the accessories section and fell in love with this line of socks! They were so affordable and had the most adorable details like lace, ruffles, and feminine colors! Be sure to check out the full accessories line here!

               

Hope you have a happy, happy Monday!
XO,

The Liebster Award

I was nominated for this fancy thing called a "Liebster Award" by Caroline over at Pink and Green Pearls! I adore this concept of networking with other new bloggers, and it's such a fun way to get to know people while doing it!

Here's how it all works:

1. List 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the questions of the person who nominated you

3. Create 11 new questions

4. Nominate 11 new bloggers that have less than 200 followers

11 Facts About Moi:

1. My middle name is Erin and when I was young I hated it, but when I was in middle school I considered going by it as my first name!

2. Sweets are my definite weakness

3. I love anything social and adore making new friends {virtual or in real life}

4. I have lived in the same house my entire life!

5. I have also attended the same Christian private school for 14 years now.

6. When I am living on my own later in life, I want to get a blonde pomeranian and name it Coconut... but Coco for short!

7. I won a competitive cheerleading state championship when I was in 10th grade.

8. I am obsessed with ICE drinks and lemon Pellegrino. 

9. I have way too many backpacks and tote bags for school, so I like to switch every one or two weeks just to mix it up!

10. I am an only child

11. I am the editor of my school's newspaper, The Lion Ledger

Caroline's Questions

1. Why do you love blogging?

I love the way it allows me to express myself! I love that I can chat with y'all about whatever is on my mind... whether it be my opinion on something, a purse that I'm dying to buy, or something I'm going through personally, and everything in-between!

2. Navy or black?

Navy all the way. I have never owned much black and it's definitely just not me. I recall when my grandmother died when I was about 8 I actually didn't own a single black item of clothing so I had to just wear brown because it was too late to go out and buy something! Of course I have learned to embrace black more since then, but navy is still my fav.

3. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

This is a tough tie. I love elephants and I think they are just the coolest thing ever. Also, I think it would be super fun to be a giraffe just because of how tall they are! 

4. Favorite holiday?

New years for sure! I love the fact that you are starting fresh, but most of all I love looking back on all of your accomplishments from the year prior!

5. Favorite book series and why?

I don't do much reading because of all the AP classes that I am taking in school, but I will say that I recently read "White Girl Problems" by Babe Walker and laughed so hard! It was hilarious. Whenever I read "for fun" I try to read something lighthearted and easy so I can take a break from all the intense AP reading.

6. Your favorite thing to blog about?

Talking about my opinion on things is definitely what I enjoy most. When I did my series on the way I see life, I just had such a great time sharing the way that I try to live. I definitely want to continue with that series this year!

7. Style inspiration?

I get inspiration from so much. I snap pictures and write down ideas from things I see on the street, pinterest, instagram, magazines, and so much more!

8. Favorite Lilly Pulitzer pattern?

Tough decision for sure! "Fallin In Love" "Tusk in the Sun" and "Spike the Punch" are my favorites of things that I own.

9. What should I watch next on Netflix?

I watched the whole Gossip Girl series three times so definitely watch that if you have not already. Currently, I am watching Grey's Anatomy which I am really enjoying too!

10. Best birthday memory?

In 11th grade my best friend had an edible arrangement sent to me while I was in history class! I seriously felt so special.

11. Favorite blog?

Without a doubt, Fancy Ashley is my all-time favorite blog!


My nominees! These are all some lovely blogs which I've been following lately. Due to the fact that most of the blogs I follow are over 200 followers, this was everyone else!

With Pearls And A Stethoscope 

I Believe In Pink

Petite In Pearls

Southern Lilly Lady

Hope y'all enjoyed learning a bit more about me and I hope you check out the fab bloggers that I nominated!

XO,

Five on Friday: Widsom from the Word

This week has been a roller coaster for me. I've been more stressed than usual about my schoolwork and the decisions about college have been becoming more real and more difficult. I am so blessed that my friends are as amazing and supportive as they are, I really don't know what I would do without them! I'm looking forward to my long weekend next week and hopefully I'll get a chance to go to the beach and get some {much needed} sun!

Due to all the craziness going on these past few weeks, I thought that this "Five on Friday" was a perfect place to share 5 verses that I have been so uplifted by lately. Whenever I'm doing devotions or listening in church or bible class, I always bookmark and highlight verses that are meaningful to me. If I'm going through a rough time and want to look toward what the Lord says about it, I always flip through my bible looking at the passages I have marked and highlighted. These verses are just a few which really stuck with me this past week, and I hope they will encourage you too!

          

I hope y'all had a wonderful week, and I hope that you're weekend is blessed! Stay encouraged, because God really does have a plan for your life. While that plan may include heartache, frustration, or confusion at times, it is all for His pure and holy purpose!

XO,