Graduation Dress Help

Hey guys,

In about two weeks, I will be graduating from college! I'm so ready to be done, let me tell you!

Anyway, I've been trying to decide on a graduation dress. Of course, I've been eyeing some Lilly Pulitzer dresses but I can't decide. So if you can help me pick one, that would be awesome!

First, is the Shianne V-Neck Dress for $148:

Then, the Briella Fit and Flare dress for $188 also really tempts me too.

The third dress is the Bella Fit and Flare for $188.

 

Another dress that I really like is the Becky Dress for $188.

 

 

The Ollie Fit and Flare is gorgeous, but I kinda worry about wearing a bra with it. It's also $198

 

 

Next, is the Lexington dress for $198.

 

 

Finally, if I decide against Lilly Pulitzer and want to go a more affordable route, I have this cute Target chevron dress already.

 

 

So tell me what you would wear! I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

A Review of My Large Lilly Pulitzer 2013-2014 Agenda

As you know, I'm obsessed with my Lilly Pulitzer agenda. I can't wait to use it not only because it's super cute, but also because it's great for keeping me organized for college.

I thought it would be fun to take a look at the inside of this year's agenda, especially for those that are wondering about whether they should buy it or not.

First of all, my agenda is the large size agenda (with the hardback cover) in True Navy Tiger Lilly. I love the design on the cover (with all the little tigers) and love the sturdy feeling of the hardcover.

 

 

Inside the cover is a little white folder page (I like to keep little notes or important papers in this when I attend my sorority chapter meetings) and then there's a page covered in cute little pictures. The little bunny is definitely my favorite!

 

Then of course, there's a page that tells the story about Lilly Pulitzer, which I think is super fun to read when you are stuck in a really boring 2 or 3 hour class. That's from my experience at least.

 

 

Then the next page shows a quick look at every month for the next 17 months. Which can be pretty handy if you are wondering about a date in the future. I don't find that I use this feature a whole lot though.

 

 

 

Following the multiple month views, is the entire month at a glance pages. So basically it shows all 17 months up close so you can plan things like sorority recruitment, finals, vacation breaks, and other things that help when looking a month view. Once again, these are super helpful for me, because at the beginning of each month, it has one of these too.

 

 

 

Next up is a cute little page that has lines where you can write Days to Celebrate. So if you need to remember all of the birthdays of those important people in your life. This also is something that I didn't use last year.

 

 

A sort of helpful page that follows this is the important dates page, which includes even the Kentucky Derby in true Lilly fashion.

 

 

 

Then multiple note pages follow.

 

 

 

A new, fun page that is included in this year's agenda is the horoscope page. Once again I see this being something really fun to read in a boring class. But the illustrations are adorable and it all keeps with the cute, light-hearted theme of this agenda.

 

 

 

Okay, so now comes the fun, meaty part of the agenda: the actual months and agenda portion. Each month opens up with a cute little design page (my favorite parts) and a little quote. Below I show all 17 months, so if you want to be surprised, don't look too far below!

 

 

 

Following the design page, there is a month-long glance at the days. Once again, I think this comes in handy when you need to map out your time or plan for stuff in advance. So I like to include philanthropy events, recruitment events, sisterhoods, big tests, papers, and cancelled classes to this page. This is a really handy part of the agenda.

 

 

 

And following that is the more detailed, day views. I love that each day has a lot of lines to write down assignments and due dates. One thing I wish they incorporated was a box for notes. So instead I usually just post a sticky note on the right side of the right page and right down my to-do lists there. Of course my sticky notes are Vera Bradley because they have to be cute!

 

 

So that is the conclusion to the tour of the agenda. I think it's a great investment for the money and something I'd recommend all college students to have. Plus the designs always brighten my day too.

 

And like I promised, below are all the month designs! There are some really cute ones this year! Which month is your favorite? Personally I love the September with the foxes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It Came and I Love It!

Hey everyone!

I got an exciting thing in the mail this week!

My Lilly Pulitzer agenda in True Navy Tiger Lilly! It's so cute and I can't wait to use it this school year!

It's the first school supply I have bought for my final year of college! I can't believe it!

Let me know what school supplies you are excited for this year!

Agendas: Lilly Pulitzer or Vera Bradley?

Hi guys!

I know it may seem a little early to be thinking about things such as agendas for next school year, but because Lilly Pulitzer recently started pre-orders on their agendas, and Vera Bradley came out with a trio a month or two ago, I think it would be fun to compare them, especially since I’ve used a Vera agenda twice and a Lilly agenda once.

Last year I struggled with this seemingly easy decision for months, trying to decide which adorable agenda to get for my junior year in college.

I absolutely loved my experiences with my Vera Bradley agendas the two years before it, always loving the cute prints, adorable little notes about how today is something like National S'more day (they have lots of those scattered throughout the month-long views. I received tons of compliments on them, and was super willing to pay the $18 (I just looked that up and I'm sure I paid along the lines of $25 for it, or am I just going crazy?). The cuteness level is sky high on these little gems.

Then last year I learned about Lilly Pulitzer (hey, I'm from Colorado, the nearest store is in Dallas as far as I know), and heard about the massive following of those agendas. So I decided to do something different and buy a Lilly one. I totally loved it, and still use it for my summer classes. Not only is it adorable, but I love how the months vary in different designs, that there are lines to write on for the day/week views, and that once again, the cuteness can't be measured. I received tons of compliments on it as well.

So if you are thoroughly confused now as to what agenda is better or what will make your college life easier and more colorful, don't worry. I don't think you could make a wrong decision. But from a person that has used both agendas, here are the positives and negatives to each agenda.

Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda

New Green Coronado Crab

 

I Loved:

-The variation month to month in design. I liked how October had pumpkins, May had flowers, and February had hearts in last year's. Maybe this is weird, but it made me look forward to every new month.

-It's super girly and fun. This can't be denied with all the flowers, pink, and cute little designs.

-It comes in hard-cover, which I didn't have last year. I think this is good and bad. As far as a good thing, I think it's more durable and easier to write on.

-There are so many views of days, weeks, and months in this, it's ridiculous. There's at least three different ways to view things, whether you are a big-picture person, or a day to day person.

-The stickers that come with it hard adorable. And there are additional sticker sets (Ummm...like the really cute Greek Sticker kit) that you can purchase usually for $6.

-This is a huge thing, and probably my favorite thing about this agenda: it has lines on the day view. I hate when my writing is crooked. Plus it kept it organized and less messy looking.

-There are four different sizes available, so there's one for everyone!

Didn't Love So Much:

-It doesn't come in soft-cover this year. If you are like me, and overpack your backpack, hardcover can be obnoxiously heavy when mixed with a Bio book that weighs ten pounds.

-Since I live in Colorado, the shells, lobsters, crabs, and beaches seem a little weird.

-I feel like with the cover print I had to settle last year and would have to settle this year.

-More expensive.

-There's a lot of features in it I didn't use.

-Too much white space in the day/week views. That's me personally though.

Now let's move on to Vera Bradley's...

Vera Bradley Student Agenda in "Go Wild"

 

I Loved:

-Of course the prints. If you love a print, you get a lot of it. My current favorite is Go Wild, which looks so cute!

-The cute little pictures of what special random day it is. The illustrations are the cutest.

-How colorful the day/week views are. I loved it.

-Available in soft-cover

-Inexpensive (compared to Lilly)

-Smaller in terms of thickness. Both are the same in other measurements. But this is lighter

-Cute stickers that coordinate with the print.

-New agendas have slightly more variation.

-Comes with a bookmark to keep place.

-Month tabs on sides make it easier to see

Not So Lovely:

-Usually there's only three colors. This year because they came out early with a spring 2014 agenda, there might be six.

-Previously, there was hardly any variation between months. They would just take the primary print, and then it's secondary print (like the little print inside of the VB bag or wallet) and alternate. The spring ones now have slightly more variation. So if you buy a Go Wild agenda, you will also have a few months with Lilli Bell and Plum Crazy. I like having my December be kind of Christmasy and so on, so this was the biggest draw back for me.

-No option for hardcover.

-There's one size, which maybe too big for some and too small for others.

I'd like to add that the newest Vera agendas now do have lines to write on the for days, so that's a huge addition! It's super cute!

 

So I hope that kind of breaks down my thoughts on them. I think you can't go wrong either way, and both make fantastic agenda for college students. While Target has some super cute ones, and of course many Universities give away free ones, I think you can't beat a Lilly Pulitzer or a Vera Bradley!

As for me, you may be wondering which one I'm picking up for my final year of college. In that case, I'm definitely leaning toward the Lilly Pulitzer Large Agenda in True Navy Tiger Lilly:

True Navy Tiger Lilly

 

Feel free to tell me which agenda you prefer and why? Any specific print you are loving?

Be sure to take a look at my full review of my large Lilly Pulitzer agenda for more details!

 

 

Simple Pleasures

Hey everyone!

School is crazy as always, but it’s the little things that can make stressful days and busy nights a little happier. They say that the key to being happy is being able to appreciate the little things in life. So during this busy week, these are some of the things that brought me the greatest amount of joy.

First, this week marked the first day of February. You probably don't know it, but Valentine's Day has become my second favorite holiday to decorate for (besides Christmas of course). I love the red, pink, hearts, dots, ladybugs, cupcakes, and the pure happiness that this holiday evokes for me. Even though I have a boyfriend for this special day, I'm pretty sure I'd still love it if I were single. Another highlight of February (besides the mere fact that January is over), is this page in my Lilly Pulitzer agenda. I love it so much!

 

This past week also marked the discovery of my new Starbucks obsession! It's a vanilla latte with added raspberry syrup. It may not be a new invention to the world, but it is a super fun change for me. Not only is it pink (see, I'm a little Valentine's Day obsessed), but it's sweet, warm, and cozy.

 

A joy that I'm always appreciative for is my boyfriend. He is my strength. He keeps me strong, focused, and wants nothing more than my happiness. Having his hand to hold (even if it's not everyday due to distance), is the greatest joy ever. Words can't describe how much I look forward to our nightly chats, whether they last three minutes or an hour. They are so precious to me.

And there's nothing like wearing your most favorite sweater in the world. I absolutely love this one from American Eagle, which my mom bought me for my birthday. I love the lace stripes on it, and I especially love it paired with this black infinity scarf from Pac Sun.

Finally, one of the easiest ways to brighten any day is buying a new nail polish. I recently spotted this one on Pinterest, and when I found it at Target, I had to pick it up. It’s this really pretty berry red. It has a lot more purple than this picture shows, and it’s such a lovely color. It's Essie's Plumberry.

What simple things bring joy to your life?

 

August Favorites

Hope everyone that is in school or college is having a great first couple weeks (or week, like me)! I know mine has been super busy with classes and sorority stuff, but that's just how it goes sometimes!

So I thought that I'd take a break and share some of my August favorites right now!

I just want to mention that this is by no means a "fall favorites." It just so happens though, that a lot of the items are fall related, mostly because I love fall. And I got a lot of it for back to school.

Candy Corn Pocketbac

 

So I kinda bought this stuff from Bath and Body Works on a whim. See, I had a coupon for a free signature body care item of my choosing if I spent $10. So since I was already spending like $5 on some handsoap I needed for school, I decided to stock up on some of the cute fall and Halloween pocketbacs. Candy Corn is the first one I’ve tried and so far I’m in love! It smells maybe a tad more caramel than you’d expect, but it’s so yummy smelling! I definitely recommend it!

 

Skunk Scentportable

 

He might seem a tad random, but this skunk Scentportable holder is one of my favorite things I bought from the back to school shopping trip to Bath and Body Works. See, it’s kind of a running joke with my family since we have two skunks that have been pretty much calling our backyard their home all summer. So, when I went to college, I wanted something to remember them. Plus, I think it’s super adorable! It’s currently living on my sunvisor in my car, and I absolutely adore it!

 

Leaves

 

Even though I showed the candles, I picked up the scents in Wallflower and Scentportable form. Right now, leaves resides in my car, and it seriously makes me so happy. It’s this refreshing, but cozy, cinnamon apple smell (not what I expected, but that’s good!). Every time I drive someone in my car, they always comment on how good it smells. And I have to agree. After just having it two days in my car, I went right out and brought another to stock up!

 

Pumpkin Cupcake

 

When I smelled this in Bath and Body Works earlier in August, I instantly fell in love with this cozy sweet fall scent. It’s like, spending time in the most amazing bakery ever. I love the pumpkin, I love the sweetness, and it instantly makes me want to wear sweaters and drink hot chocolate! Like leaves, I have gotten so many exclamations of how great my room smells with it! This is something I also stocked up on after trying it out!

 

Baby Lips Tinted Moisturizer in Cherry Me

 

I held out for the longest time with this. But I finally gave in and bought it…and fell in love. It feels awesome on my lips, which is sort of rare because I hate the feeling of lipgloss or anything on my lips. I like the little pop of color too. Perfect for a busy college girl’s morning!

 

Philosophy’s I Love Candy Corn Cleanser

 

This was one of my most anticipated back to college purchases! And it’s so worth it! As you’ve noticed already, fall smells are my weakness. Actually, fall ANYTHING is my weakness. And this Candy Corn scent is perfect. It’s sweet, has lots of caramel in it, and makes me want Halloween! The smell just engulfs the room when I shower and has a really good staying power on my skin. Definitely a great purchase! Plus, I love how Philosophy’s cleansers leave my skin soft, smooth, and most importantly: itch free!

 

 

Lilly Pulitzer’s Soft Cover Agenda in Multi Floral Punch

 

Yep, with the start of school, it’s finally time for me to use this adorable planner! And I honestly, couldn’t ask for more! I love the lines and spaces to write. The illustrations and pictures and quotes just brighten my day! It’s so pretty and cute! Definitely my favorite school supply that I bought. I must say, I think I’m now a true convert from Vera Bradley Agendas to Lilly Pulitzer.

So what were some of your August favorites? Let me know!

It Came!!!!

My Lilly Pulitzer agenda, that is! It came and I'm so excited!

See, there's me excitedly hugging it! And I am completely in love with it.

In case you are wondering which one I got, it's the new soft cover version in Multi Floral Punch. I love the colors and all the flowers. It's so girly and pretty and just makes me want to go to school!

There is so much about the planner that I already love, but I think the pages that show the month, with the little sayings are by far my favorite! Here are some of the months that I think are the cutest:

September

It is the month of my birthday after all! And the whole cheers theme is perfect since this year is my 21st birthday. It reads (in case you didn't whip out your magnifying glass to read it): "Cheers to never saying goodbye to summer." Awww!

October

Words cannot describe how much I love the pumpkins for October. And I know there's no way you can see it, but there's a tiny little mouse right in the middle. Adorable. The saying is: "Pick me! I'm the prettiest pumpkin in the patch."

December

The floral is so pretty, I can't even describe it. I'm gonna have a fun first semester with all these cute prints. It says: "Buy me presents...Pretty please!"

February

February just makes me so happy! I absolutely love the hearts with chocolate and the little envelope!! Awwwwww, so sweet! Of course, the saying is just as sweet: "Chocolate covered anything, please."

May

I love the Lilly roses, to say the least. And I've already said the little saying outloud like five times because it's so fun. "Hooray, hooray it's the first of May... Outdoor parties can start today!" While I'm sure this is correct for many places in the country, I know it's not very true of Colorado, but whatever! (If this were Colorado themed it would have bitter cold wind and a snowman, honestly...not that cute. At least not in May).

July

Finally, just look at July. If this doesn't make you long for the 4th of July, I don't know what will. "Lilly in the sky with diamonds."

I can't wait for school to start to use my planner. Not only is it great for scholarly purposes, it's so freaking adorable!! I'm 100% sure I made the right decision when it came to Lilly vs. Vera this year. And who knows? Maybe I'm forever gonna be a Lilly agenda convert....