UPDATE | SUMMER PLANS

In my past summers, all I've done is hang out with friends occasionally and just lounge around. I knew that I definitely didn't want to do that again this summer, so I decided to do something about it. So, I contacted a family friend at my local Alzheimer's Association chapter and got an internship doing event planning for their upcoming walk in October. I love event planning and it's definitely something I want to pursue more of in the future. 

Since that is only 2 days a week, I decided to get a retail job as well. Through a mutual friend, I heard about this new store, called Garage, opening in my local mall. I had never heard of it before since it is a Canadian brand. It's super exciting because I am working at the first California store ever opened. It's super exciting.

There is nothing I hate more during summer than being lazy, so it's so nice to be busy. My other friends have jobs around the same time as mine so we will all be doing something productive, then be able to hang out after or on days off. 

Another thing I have planned this summer is a few trips. For 4th of July, I will be going to my family's summer lake house in New Hampshire. It is a huge tradition for the whole family to get together so I am very excited for that. 

Lastly, the last trip I have planned (for now) is a road trip to Southern California with 3 of my friends. We will be spending most of the time at Disneyland, but will also be exploring around L.A. and Malibu. It's going to be an expensive trip, but I couldn't be more excited. 

I also have a lot of awesome content planned for the blog. I'm super excited for this journey of inspiration.

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A DAY IN MY LIFE | FRESHMAN COLLEGE STUDENT

7:45 - My first alarm goes. There are either 2 things that happen. One, my body is used to waking up at this time, so I just lay in bed and go on my phone until I absolutely have to get up.

The other option is that I hit the snooze button and fall back to sleep until ultimately, I force myself out of bed at 8:20. This is the latest time I will allow myself to stay in bed.

8:20 - Brush teeth, wash face, do skincare routine

8:30 - Do my makeup

8:45 - Out the door

9 - Breakfast at the dining hall

9:20 - Class

10:20 - Take the shuttle to the downtown campus

11:30 - Class

12:30 - Take the shuttle back to the main campus

12:50 - Lunch at the dining hall or food court

1:30-3 - Me time. During this time, I like to de-stress from the day by watching YouTube or Netflix. If not, I will take some time to work on my blog.

3-6 - Homework if I have it. Surprisingly, I haven't had almost any homework in my classes, which is great. As finals approach, I will take this time to start making study guides for tests or going over my notes.

6:15 - Dinner at the dining hall

7:30 - Workout. On Wednesdays, I like to go to a 7:30 Zumba class, but other nights I'm sorta just doing my own thing. Maybe I'll go run on the treadmill for a little bit and then come back to my room and do some body-weight exercises.

8:45 - Shower

9-11:15 - This time is either for homework, face-timing friends, working on my blog, or chilling. Recently, I've been working on my blog because I am trying to write as many posts as I can for the upcoming weeks since I will be so busy.

11:15-12 - This is normally around the time where I go to sleep. If I don't have a lot to do, 11:15 is the earliest, but a lot of the times I will stay up later watching Netflix. It really depends on the day and how much work I have for my classes.

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INSTAGRAM UPDATE | SEPTEMBER

Labor Day at Maggie Daley Park - "sweat my ass off in the windy city #indiansummer"

Rainy day - "Chicago, why are you so bipolar??"

from a little boutique back home

"missing philz and this day" 

#tbt because i'm still crushing on my friends' tattoos"

"early birthday dinner with my parents @ RPM Italian"

"can't live without ya! #nationalcoffeeday" 

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EXPLORING CHICAGO | BELMONT

Hey guys! Ever since I started college in Chicago, I have taken every opportunity to go explore. Recently, my friends were going to get tattoos (I'm not 18 yet - my birthday is actually this Saturday!) so I thought I would go with them. For some reason, I was really curious about the process of getting a tattoo and wanted to see it for myself. We got off at the CTA stop Belmont and had to walk a while. On the way to the tattoo shop, there were also a lot of cool things to photograph. 

Here are some of the photos that I took! I hope you enjoy them!

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OOTD & PHOTO DIARY | LAST DAY IN THE BAY

Hey guys! I'm so sorry this post was late! This post was supposed to go up before my last one "college update | move in" but there was a small mixup. I apologize for that. 

Anyway, this post is all about my last day in the Bay Area before heading off to college. I wanted to spend as much time with my friends as possible before leaving. I spent the majority of the day with my friend Brittany exploring. We went to a new coffee shop in Los Gatos, went window shopping, and even went to Palo Alto. 

I went to dinner with my friend Robert who I hadn't seen in a while. No matter how long we go without seeing each other, it's still like the last time we saw each other. 

what i'm wearing: forever 21 polka dot high waisted shorts | SO by Kohl's tank top | converse slip ons

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COLLEGE UPDATE | MOVE-IN DAY

Hey guys! This post should have been made a month ago, but better late than never, right? That's what I tell myself. 

So... A month ago I started college! I moved in on August 19th and it was the longest day of my life. I woke up super early in order to go to Bed Bath & Beyond and Target to pick up stuff for my room. I bought mostly everything here because I couldn't bring a lot from California. SO, i moved most stuff in on the first day and then went shopping the second day for more things I needed. 

Honestly, it was a crazy few days, but totally worth it. College has exceeded my expectations! So cheesy, I know! 

DAY 1:

the view from one of our windows

the view from our other window

DAY 2:

decorating is finally done!

i think i may have too many beauty products? 

so lucky to be on this beautiful campus! 

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BOOKS I READ | SUMMER 2015

As I said in my How to Enjoy Reading post, I have recently gotten into reading, when I have the time. . If you haven't read that post, click here.

This summer, I wanted to try to read at least 2 books that I was genuinely interested in. This was a big step for me because normally, I don't really do much with my summers. I am proud to say I read way more than 2 books. It helped that I read most of these on airplanes where I had nothing better to do.

1. PAPER TOWNS BY JOHN GREEN
Contrary to popular belief, I was not a fan of this book. I enjoyed the first part, where Quentin and Margo go on their midnight adventure. But after that, I thought that the plot was boring; nothing really exciting happened. I was hoping to see a hopeful ending after a boring plot, but I was disappointed. The ending was uneventful. I did not like this book. It got to the point where I had to buy the audio book just to finish it.

2. TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE BY JENNY HAN
I actually loved this book. At first, I thought this book would be a bit too young for me, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. As you can kind of guess, it's about a girl who writes "love letters" to guys once she is over them, but she never sends them. There's a letter to her first kiss, a boy from camp, and even her sister's boyfriend. One day, the letters get sent out and she has to deal with her past loves face to face. I started it on a plane to Chicago and finished it the next day; it's a super easy read. This book kind ends so abruptly that you almost need to have the second book on hand.

3. P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU BY JENNY HAN
This is the sequel to To All The Boys I've Loved Before. This book honestly picks up right from where the first one left off. I loved this book so much. I read it on the plane back from Chicago. Again, it's a super easy read. This book also ends kind of abruptly. I really want the author to come out with a third book to the series.

4. STOLEN BY LUCY CHRISTOPHER
This book is amazing; I think I read it the fastest. It is about a teenage girl named Gemma who gets taken by a 26-year-old man named Ty in an airport. He takes her to a house in the middle of Australian dessert where there is no other people or houses for hundreds of miles. Don't worry if you think this book is going to be too violent because it's really not. Ty doesn't do anything super harming or sexual toward Gemma. All he wants is to have a companion. Honestly, I did not think I was going to like this book that much, but I ended up loving it. It is told in the second person point of view so it really gets your attention. I highly recommend this book!


5. THE SELECTION SERIES (THE SELECTION, THE ELITE, & THE ONE) BY KIERA CASS
I really loved this book series! It's basically like the Bachelor but royalty edition. The main character, America, takes part in the Selection, where girls "compete" for the heart of the prince. These 3 books just detail the process that America goes through while getting to know the future King. Again, I read these books super quickly. I think they were super easy reads for a 17-year-old. The second and third books pick up right where the one before left off, so I suggest having all 3 books on hand.

Let me know if you guys enjoyed this post! It's a little different from my normal beauty/fashion ones.

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PHOTO DIARY | OUTER BANKS, NC

Hi guys! You saw a little sneak peak of my vacation to North Carolina in my last post with my OOTD. I thought I would share with you just a few more pictures from the trip! I'm really upset that I didn't take more! I did post some on my snapchat but totally forgot to save them! If you want to see my OOTD from this trip, click here.

I hope you enjoy the pictures that I took even if there aren't that many!

OOTD | LUNCH & SHOPPING IN THE OUTER BANKS, NC

Hey guys! I recently went to The Outer Banks in North Carolina for a family beach vacation. I basically wore bathing suits and pajamas the whole time. This is basically the only put-together outfit mI wore on the trip. I wore this on the last day to a family lunch then a girls shopping day. 

I hope you enjoy!

WHAT I'M WEARING : BRANDY MELVILLE CROP TOP | AMERICAN EAGLE SHORTS | NORDSTROM BP CARDIGAN | RAY BAN SUNGLASSES

P.S. I apologize for the terrible picture quality! This was taken on my iPhone 5 but I recently got a new phone that takes even better pictures! 

CURRENT CANDLE COLLECTION | AUGUST 2015

Hey guys! Today's post is all about candles! I loooveee candles! My absolute favorite candles are winter candles because they smell the best, so cozy and warm! I also love to light a candle when it's cold outside, curl up in bed, and watch Netflix or work on my blog. 

You must wonder... "Casey, if you loooveee candles so much then why don't you have more?" Well, because candles are freaking expensive. I like to get my candles from Bath&Body Works, but even Yankee Candle is very expensive. At least for a broke teenager. I also am not allowed to have candles in my dorm in college (I'm still so upset!), so I have to use what I have first before I buy more. 

I don't buy candles very often, but when I do I buy them on sale. I love the Bath&Body Works 2 for $22 (or something like that!) sale on 3-wick candles. 

I also love getting a few of the mini candles to test out a scent before I commit and buy a 3-wick. Other times, there are some candles I smell in the store that I don't even need to think twice about buying so I just get the full size.

If you are nosy like me and love seeing people's collections, here is my current candle collection.

I bought these candles wayyy back in the day, about 7 years ago. I honestly don't even know why I haven't burned them yet. They are AMAZING Fall candles.

I loovee my mini candles!
Leaves, Marshmallow Fireside, Lakeside, Eucalyptus Mint (so fresh! one of my faves!)

Lilac Blossom. These were a gift from my friend Erica.  

My most recent purchases. Endless Weekend. Smile (Pink Lemonade Punch) and Island Tiare Flower. 

I hope you enjoyed this look into my candle obsession. If you have any candle recommendations, please leave them below! And don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' so you don't miss another post! 

NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE HAUL 2015

Hey guys! I thought I would update you the things that I purchased from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! This is the first time I have been aware of it and been able to purchase some things that I need for college without totally breaking the bank.

1. CONVERSE GREY SHORELINE SLIP ON SNEAKER

2. KATE SPADE AUGUST 2015 - DECEMBER 2016 LARGE PLANNER

3. MINI M.A.C. CLEANSE OFF OIL

4. BP LONG DRAPE CARDIGAN

5. LUCKY BRAND BETWIXT BLACK BOOTIE

6. NORDSTROM "LAZY MORNINGS" LOUNGE PANTS

7. TEN SIXTY SHERMAN THERMAL HENLEY
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This set was made on Polyvore. To follow me on Polyvore, click here. To view this set, click here

RECENT BEAUTY PURCHASES | JULY 2015

Hey guys! I thought it would be nice to share with you the beauty items that I bought in July. I hope you enjoy! Let me know if you are interested in hearing a review about any of these products.

1. BARE MINERALS FLAWLESS COMPLEXION ESSENTIALS KIT
You are able to choose most of what comes in the kit. I got the Original Foundation SPF 15 in the color light, Blush in the color vintage peach, Original Mineral Veil, Correcting Concealer SPF 20 in the color Light 2,  a mini size of the Original Prime Time Foundation Primer, the Flawless Face Brush, the Tapered Face Brush, and the Max Coverage Concealer Brush

2. FIRST AID BEAUTY SKIN RESCUE DAILY FACE CREAM

3. MINI M.A.C. CLEANSE OFF OIL

4. THE ORIGINAL BEAUTY BLENDER

5. ST. IVES FRESH HYDRATION SPRAY LOTION - OATMEAL & SHEA BUTTER
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This set was made on Polyvore. To follow me on Polyvore, click here. To view this set, click here

HOW TO ENJOY READING

I discovered a love for reading at the end of last year during an English class. The teacher I had gave us a deadline to finish a book by; it didn't matter how fast or slow I read it. I just had to finish it. I absolutely loved this technique. 

Other teachers would give me a couple chapters to read for the next class. My problem was that I didn't have enough time every single night to read. So, my new teacher's technique worked perfectly. I read when I could and when I was in the mood to. That semester, I read every single English book I was assigned. I don't think that has ever happened to me. Ever. I think I just hate being forced to read even when I don't have the time.

If you want to start leisurely reading books, then here are my top tips and tricks.

1. FIND YOUR NICHE

Find out what you like to read. Is it blogs? Is it short stories? Is it thrillers? Whatever it is, find it. Experiment with different books. Read through some at the bookstore or read samples of e-books before you purchase them. Before I purchase an e-book, I ALWAYS buy the sample first so I can "test" out the book to see if I like it. This way, I'm not going to be reading something I absolutely hate.

2. READ ON A PLANE

Reading on a plane to me is the easiest because there isn't much else you can do. You can watch TV but what if there's nothing entertaining on? I recommend putting your light on (if it's dark) and reading a book. You can even put your earphones in and play some low lyric-less music. I find that is the perfect thing to cancel out the noise of that loud baby or the guy snoring next to you. Whenever I am on a plane, I read a book so quickly and end up finishing it during that flight (if it's more than 3 hours).

3. READ BEFORE BED

Reading before bed will ease you into it without overwhelming you. Before you go to sleep, take a half hour or so and just read a book. It will clear your mind and relax you before you sleep. If you seem to really like the book you're reading, maybe increase your reading time to 45 minutes the next night. 

4. READ E-BOOKS

I definitely prefer e-books as apposed to hard copies for many reasons. One of the reasons is that I can't see how much of the book I have left. I know for e-books you have the thing at the bottom notifying you of your page number or your percentage, but I just take that away. To me, seeing that I've only read 1/10 of the book is daunting. For some reason, I just want to quit. I just prefer reading on an e-book and not focusing on where I am in the book. When I finish it, I'll be so surprised. Like, "Wait, what?!"

I hope you found at least one of these tips helpful. If you are curious about the books I have been reading this summer, follow me on Bloglovin'; I will be posting that in a few weeks.

SKINCARE ROUTINE | JULY 2015

Hey guys! I decided to share with my skincare routine with you in the hopes that it will be helpful for some of you. I have battled with acne for as long as I can remember. At the start of this year, my acne worsened on the lower half of my face. I have been to the dermatologist and have been trying almost everything to try to keep my acne at bay. I hope this post helps you in some way! 

Cleansers

I know what you're wondering! Casey, why do you need 3 cleansers? Well, they all have different purposes to me. I am thinking of narrowing it down soon, though.

1. POND'S Cold Cream Cleanser - I absolutely love this to take off my makeup. You put it on dry skin and the oil in the cleanser just dissolves your makeup. It's amazing. The only problem I have with this is that you have to use a wet washcloth to take it off and it gets really messy and inconvenient. Currently, I am looking for an alternative oil cleanser that takes off makeup easily. Let me know if you have any recommendations!

2. PanOxyl - This was prescribed to me by my dermatologist to help my acne. I use this about once a day in the shower, sometimes with my Clarisonic. Honestly, I notice a huge difference in my skin when I don't have it. I try to keep a backup at all times just in case that happens. 

3. Bioré Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser - If I am not taking a shower and I need to wash my face, I use this cleanser. I haven't noticed a big difference in my skin since using this so I may discontinue.

Toner

I think I have always used a Toner. I used to use a Clean&Clear one but it was way too strong for my skin. It made my skin irritated and dry. I really love this LUSH Tea Tree Water Toner Water. This toner is targeted toward acne-prone skin. I honestly noticed a huge difference in my skin when I started using this. I highly recommend it even though it is a little more on the pricy side.

Moisturizers

When I was younger, my parents used to tell me not to moisturize my skin if it was already oily because it will just make it more oily. I believed them for a while until I was introduced to YouTube and everyone says to moisturize even if you have oily skin. I cannot believe how much a difference moisturizing made to my skin. It was so much less oily. I highly recommend moisturizing, even if it just at night. 

1. Kiss My Face Sunscreen for Face&Neck SPF 50 - I started using this after I was constantly getting sunburned on my face due to the acne medication I was taking. (which I'm not taking anymore!) I needed something that was going to protect my skin and it did. I highly recommend using a sunscreen everyday!

2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin - I don't really see a difference in my skin when using this moisturizer. Some other moisturizers I have liked are the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer and the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+. If you're looking for a moisturizer, I recommend any of these. 

3. Sweet Almond Oil - I heard almond oil is amazing for your skin so I have started integrating into my routine. Sometimes I will add a drop or two to the Neutrogena moisturizer or into my foundation to make it look more natural.

Acne Treatments

Since going to a dermatologist, I have been prescribed 2 topical medications to treat my acne. I use Aczone in the morning; it targets my breakouts. I use Adapalene at night; it targets acne scarring. These 2 products do seem to help a bit but I am going back to the dermatologist soon so she may switch up my medications.

Masks

I really enjoy doing masks. I probably do either one or two during the week. I have never used this Feeling Beautiful Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Mask but I am excited to try it. This was just the only one I have at the moment. I think my favorite mask is the Bioré Self Heating One Minute Mask. When you add water to this mask, it becomes warm. I really love this mask because I feel like the heat from the mask really opens up my pores and cleans them out. Some other masks I like are the Origins Clear Improvement Mask (when I am having breakouts) and the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask (for when my face becomes too dry/I'm on an airplane).

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Let me know if you are interested in more skincare posts! 

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 2015

I can't believe I've graduated from high school! It went by so quickly! High school was filled with a lot of up and downs, but I am so thankful for not only the education I received but the friendships I have made and experiences I have had. I am leaving high school with the best friends I have ever had. Senior Year was the best year of my life. I accomplished so many things that I never believed I could do. I'm sad that this part of my life is coming to an end, but excited for the next chapter! Chicago, here I come! 

I hope you enjoy some pictures from the ceremony and reception.

WHAT I'M WEARING: EXPRESS DRESS | IVANKA TRUMP WEDGES