Hey there! Welcome back to the blog or if it's your first time here: Hello! Nice to meet ya! This (long overdue) post is all about my must-have summer essentials. I'm not gonna lie, it is an eclectic set of items, so if you find yourself thinking "hmm ok" dw I'm prolly thinking it too. I hope you enjoy and maybe even find some new things you wanna try out! WAIT! Before I get into it, I just wanna plug my Summer Redemption playlist. I created it myself and added some bangerz! It's so lit I deff consider this a summer staple. You can check it out here (Apple Music). If you wanna quickly pause to go bump this playlist while you continue reading, I wouldn't be mad at it (tbh I'm pretty about it). 1. DON'T THROW SHADE, WEAR 'EM Feeling lazy and don't wanna do your makeup? No problem just pop on some shades! Wanna look fleeky and also protect those eyes of yours? Look no further! They really are a versatile accessory that I think everyone needs not just in the summertime, but all year round tbh. Most of my shades are from either Francesca's or Sunglasses Warehouse. Sunglasses Warehouse is great for those "on trend" glasses that could potentially go out of style soon. That way you can snag some trendy shades without breaking the bank. 2. BUMP THOSE BEATS IN THAT SUMMER HEAT I have this cute little portable JAM XT speaker that I use every single day. The sound quality is actually really nice for a tiny speaker like this. You can bring this with you poolside or to the beach, it even has a clip so you can hook it to your pants. It allows you to bring your music literally everywhere you go. In fact, i'm actually using it rn while I make this post (listening to my fire playlist ofc *always plug*)! 3. PLAN IT LIKE IT'S HOT I use this adorable Recollections planner to keep my day on point. It has a bunch of lists that I reference throughout the day so I don't forget anything important. It's slim and sleek so you can deff pop this in your purse when you're on the go. I also picked up some adorable stickers (Recollections) to give my planner an extra pop! These items are super cheap at Michael's, so if you're ballin' on a budget you can still cop 'em! 4. PORTABLE ILLUMINATI SHIELD This Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Stick has been an absolute life saver this summer. It's so small and portable, I always have it with me. It literally applies the same way you would use a glue stick. This one is my favorite sunscreen stick bc I find it's not as greasy as others. I absolutely hate getting any kind of sunburn so this product gives me life! 5. BIZ-CASUAL FEET SNUGGLERS These Jack Rogers have been my go-to sandals since the beginning of time. I have worn these bad boys from places like the beach to fancy nights out with the gals. Ofc you don't have to get these exact shoes, but I think everyone should have their own kind of staple nude sandals. A pair that you can literally wear with anything and everything. BUT if you were planning on splurging on sandals anytime soon, these Jacks are my number one suggestion! Hey! You made it to the end of the post! I hope you enjoyed reading it and found something new you wanna try. If you have some summer staples that you wanna share, feel free to leave them in the comments below! Happy summer stapling! (lol what?) With Love, Maria
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Hello friends! Time has finally come for those bittersweet (mostly bitter) back to school commercials. Getting new stationery and office supplies has always been my fav part of classes starting. So, I picked out my top purchases from this shopping spree and decided to do a little haul to get you inspired and (maybe) excited for the 2016-2017 school year!!
Sugar Paper-Target
I mentioned the Sugar Paper brand in my previous blog post, and I had to put it in this one because their products are so darn cute! Sugar Paper paired up with Target and made a line of office supplies that I just couldn't resist. There are many other products in their line that I did not purchase. You can find them all here!
Calendars
Calendars and planners are a college student's best friend. I decided to get a wall calendar (similar) to pin up on my cork board for a quick month overview. My Kate Spade agenda is a must every year! I keep track of all my assignments on it. The smaller calendar was more of an impulse buy. It was adorable and matched my color scheme, so why not?!
Desk Accessories
A desk isn't complete without a little charisma. I decided to pick up a classy frame from home goods to give my work space a personal touch. I also got a jewelry dish (similar) that matched the theme for all my odds and ends. Although tape dispensers (1, 2) aren't really accessories, I thought they added some much needed dazzle!
Pens & Pencils
Every classy girl needs some chic writing utensils in her stationery haul. I was able to find all of these pens and pencils from the Target dollar spot. Each set was only a dollar, so I had to get them. There were so many different styles available, but I only got a few. If you want to see what else they had, hit up your local Target!
Post-It Notes & Pads
Sticky notes always come in handy during the school year. Whether you need to mark something in a book or remind yourself of important plans, you can use these things for absolutely anything! These notepads are also from the Target dollar spot! They were all a dollar each as well. The Target dollar spot is where my paycheck goes to die haha!
Although classes may be dull, your school supplies certainly don't have to be! I hope you found some stationery/office inspo from this blog post. This was my first "haul" so bear with me, I'm still learning the works. If you liked this kind of post and want to see more (or didn't like it), please let me know!! May your 2016-2017 school year (or year in general) be the best year yet!
Happy stationery hunting! Happy studying! Fill your life with nice shoes, warm smiles & plenty of dreams With Love, Maria
Lately, I've been discovering some new things that are, well, delightful! I wanted to share my new findings with you guys so I could spread the happiness. Here are links to a few of my favorite things. I hope you enjoy reading this post & it puts a smile on your face!
1. Sugar Paper is at Target!
2. This incredibly fun playlist. 3. The world's cutest hedgehog on Instagram (trust me, this account will make your day)!! 4. My ultimate favorite book! If you haven't read, I highly suggest. 5. A compilation of cute vines containing the most adorable kids I have ever seen (props to Buzzfeed for putting this together)! 6. These darling homemade treats for your little (or not so little) four-legged friend. 7. One of my absolute favorite lifestyle-fashion blogs ever! Major Instagram envy as well. 8. This graphic tee (it gives me life). 9. This truly glam pool floatie. This is included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, so better grab it now ladies! 10. DIYs to die for!
I wish you the best of luck on your individual pursuit of happiness, and hopefully one of these delightful things brightened your day! This was just a quick little post that I really wanted to share with you guys. I thought it added a little flare to the blog. Thanks for reading!
Happy delighting! Happy living! Fill your life with nice shoes, warm smiles & plenty of dreams With Love, Maria
America's favorite weekend just passed, and I really hope y'all enjoyed it! This year especially, I had a lot of fun. So much so, I decided to blog about it. That way I could share all my memories with you guys! Without further ado, here is my fourth of July recap!!
In the Kitchen
Food on the fourth is always important. It's no Independence Day without summer's staple fruit: watermelon! There was no way I could not have some this past weekend. I also tried something new this year. I made an American flag pie (stars & stripes, the whole works)! I have to admit, it came out a lot better than I thought it would. If you want the recipe, you can check it out here!
All-American Outfit
Shirt: Lands' End Shorts: Vineyard Vines Shoes: Sperry (similar) Watch: Juicy Couture
The 4th of July is the one day the whole country agrees on a dress code. Red, White, & Blue. This was the perfect outfit for the day! I decided to go with my fav button down with the tiny blue anchors, along with my trusty navy blue shorts. I love this classy New England look!
Patriotic Pick-Me-Ups
On the fourth, you can never be too patriotic!! Even my dog, Pierre, was feeling those 'Merica vibes. I had a USA flag bandanna from Michaels that I tied around his neck, and voila! He became an all-American pup. All of the items I bought were very cheap. I got the napkins from Walmart, the flask is from Marshalls, and the glitter & koozie are from Target. Easy way to keep it patriotic on a budget!!
Even though everyday is Independence Day, on July 4th you get to make memories that last a lifetime with the ones you love. I love this country of the free because of the brave! I hope you enjoyed reading this post!!
Happy July! Happy summer! Fill your life with nice shoes, warm smiles, & plenty of dreams With Love, Maria
Over Memorial Day weekend my friend and fellow blogger, Shannon Germain aka The Time Traveling Foodie, and I planned a little dinner party. She created the whole menu and handled all the food aspects of the dinner party. If you would like to know more about Shannon and her side of the night, check out her blog here. Otherwise you can read my perspective of the dinner party!
The Invitations
Sending out the invitations was one of the things on my to-do list. This made the dinner seem a lot more formal than a usual hang out. Instead of just making a group message, I also wanted to give the girls a cute reminder that can also double as a keep-sake! We wanted everyone to know that this was going to require their best behavior & summer outfits!
The Dinner Table
The dinner table is one of the most important aspects of the party (not to mention the most Instagram-able). The set up determines how formal the evening is. We were able to use the Germain's old family china for the salad plates and silverware, giving the theme a little personal charm. The floating candles and flowers were set in mason jars for a rustic feel. This gave the dinner party a classy yet summer artsy tone.
The Guests
From left to right: Julie, Me, Lindsay, Anna & Sarah
LC X MC
The people you have over for an intimate dinner party like this is very important. When you're with good company, nothing else matters. Shannon and I decided that a party of six was the perfect size. We didn't want to overwhelm ourselves by inviting too many people. At the end of the day, as long as you're with the ones you love, everything will be just fine.
The Food
Good food & good people are all you really need to have a good time. Shannon pulled out all the stops with hors d'oeuvres, a delicious poppy seed salad, and a very filling entrée of lemon chicken, asparagus, and potato gratin stacks. For more on desert and the rest of the great eats, check out Shannon's post on The Time Traveling Foodie!
The Dinner Convo
They may be old friends, but the conversations will never be. You never run out of topics with the right company, but every once in a while, the convo needs a little steering. Shannon and I came up with a few conversation starters that can bring us to new discoveries. The topics ranged from cute and reminiscing like, "how did you meet everyone at the table?" to juicy and interesting like, "share something you haven't told anybody". By the end of the meal, there was definitely a lot of laughter at the table.
The Goody Bags
I was in charge of making the goody bags and handing them out to our guests. I wanted the goodies to stick to the theme of the night. Shannon and I both decided that "The Day After" kits would be best. I went on Pinterest and looked for ideas of what to put in the bag. I stopped by Target and picked up a pack of Kleenex, face wipes, mini packs of Advil, breath savers, and some Shout to go. It was a cheap and cute way to show our appreciation for their company!
"We didn't realize we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun."
At the end of the night, everyone was having a great time. No matter what we were doing or what we were eating, I knew we would all have a lot of fun. With a little planning and coordination, Shannon and I were able to pull this off, and I know for a fact you could too! I hope you enjoyed reading about my lively night with my friends, and hopefully you do the same this summer! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me! As always, if you have any type of blog post you want to see, please let me know! Happy planning! Happy partying! Fill your life with nice shoes, warm smiles, & plenty of dreams With Love, Maria
The weather here in State College has been getting much warmer. Spring is (hopefully) just right around the corner. Since the seasons are starting to change, I decided that I should make a few changes in my life as well. Time to do some new things, and get out of that winter hibernation. Here are a few things you can try to make you a happier college student, and end this year on a good note.
1. Venture out of your coffee (or beverage) comfort zone
As you know, I am a huge coffee fan. I realized every time I order or make a cup of joe, it's always the same thing (Pike Place roast). I decided to try a lighter roast when I went to Starbucks and it tasted amazing! If you haven't had the Blonde roast at Starbucks before, I highly suggest it! Even if you're not a huge coffee fan, you can still try this! Instead of grabbing your go-to beverage (OJ or Peach Tea, etc.) and get it in a different flavor (Apple Juice or Pumpkin Spice Tea, etc.)! Even if you don't like it, at least you tried something new!
There's no such thing as "too much Starbucks"
2. Add a little inspiration to your blank wall
Over winter break I went shopping and got a few frames to spice up my room. I put them on the painfully blank wall in my dorm. It will keep your morale up (at least enough to keep you from going insane) 'til the end of the semester. It's a quick fix to any boring patch of your house, apartment, or dorm. You don't even have to paint or hammer anything, you just gotta use a few Command Strips and you'll be all set!
Pink & gold are always a classy girl's fav colors
3. Start keeping a journal
I've always been meaning to start some kind of journal for quite some time now. Writing in a notebook is a great way to decompress and reflect on your thoughts throughout the day. I find this to be very therapeutic, especially if you're going through a rough patch (Tbh, who isn't having a hard time rn? We're in college, we're always having a hard time). Keeping a journal can also help you reflect on what happened in the past. Before you know it, you'll see how much you grew!
Always monogram your journal
4. Make a bumpin' spring playlist
It's simple: new season, new music. Listening to different music can really put you into a new mood. I decided to make this playlist for when I'm lounging by myself, cracking down on some homework, or just walking to class. I created a mix of some newly discovered songs with some older songs that I used to love (and still do), but haven't listened to in a while. Good music creates good vibes, so let those good vibes flow!
You can check out my playlist by clicking on the button below
5. Treat yo'self to a little something special
It's been an especially stressful time lately, so you deserve a little something for yourself! Whether it's as small as getting guac on your burrito at Chipotle, or as big as a new pair of shoes (or three... whoops), you should treat yourself to it! You just finished all those midterms and are halfway through the semester, I think it's time for something just for you. It's a good way to reward yourself for getting this far, and before you know it, you'll be done! Don't worry kids! Hold onto your sanity, it'll be over soon!!
The question isn't if you should have the cookie, it's how many cookies should you have?
Summer 2k16, here we come! I don't know about you (I'm feelin' 22), but I am so ready to be done with the school year! Freshman year has been great and I love it here at Penn State, but I can't wait to relax for almost four months! I hope my spring tips were able to help you in some way, and maybe you tried a few yourself! I know that we can make it and finish this year with a bang (a good one of course)! As always, please feel free to leave any questions or comments. If you want to contact me personally, you can check out my "Contact" page and use your preferred medium.
Happy spring from Happy Valley! Fill your life with nice shoes, warm smiles, & plenty of dreams With Love, Maria
"Hi, my name is Maria and I'm a shopaholic."
"Hi Maria." Everybody has their weakness, mine happens to be spending tons of money on things that I think I need, but really just want. It's been so bad that I even got my roomie into it. I have honestly created an online shopping monster (sorry Kim). In the long run, when I look back at this part of my life, I'll probably slap myself. Moving on; just in case you were wondering if you were a shopaholic as well, these are some common symptoms that I definitely have (in fact, I'm online shopping as I type this). Here are my confessions, from a professional shopaholic...
1. You LOVE getting packages in the mail.
Online shopping definitely has its perks. There's no driving to the mall, waiting in line, or having to search the entire store for the right size or color. But the one thing that gets me super excited is receiving those packages in the mail. Some stores put their products in cute boxes, increasing my excitement for any order. There's definitely something about expecting a package in the mail that seems to lift my mood (or maybe it's me trying to justify my purchase)...
Whoops...
2. You purchase the most random items.
I recently bought business cards a few days ago. Business cards are handy when you actually hold a position at a business, but as you know, I do not. This purchase came into my mind when one of my suite-mates showed me her business cards, and of course being the shopaholic I am, I went online and ordered some for myself. I thought that they were super cute and professional, so how could I not get them. Although I have no idea when I'll ever need to use them, they look really cute sitting on my desk...
They even match my agenda!
3. You think you're preventing an economic recession.
Trust me, I take Econ 104 right now, I know what I am talking about. When people read articles or see news segments about an upcoming recession, they start saving more money. The only thing they're doing is hurting the economy and even quickening the recession. What kills economic growth the fastest? Households no longer spending their money on goods and services. When people stop spending money, firms start losing money, and when firms start losing money we go into an economic recession. Now we wouldn't want that, would we? So instead of worrying about all the shopping I do, you should start thanking me for keeping the U.S. economy alive!
Don't worry, I'm majoring in this stuff...
4. You find going to the mall therapeutic.
Finding time to go to the mall in college is already pretty tough, so when you do get the chance to go, it's like the stars are aligning. You can even feel the excitement on the drive there! Finally stepping into your fav store makes your breathing uneven while your heart flutters with joy. When you finally find the perfect piece of clothing that completes your outfit that you just recently bought, you can't help but feel on top of the world (kinda like Beyoncé). At this rate, you might end up investing in real estate at the mall so you can sleep there...
Well said, Rebecca Bloomwood.
5. You always feel guilty right after a shopping spree.
Once you get home from a nice day at the mall, buyer's remorse hits you like a rock. You sit down and think to yourself, why the hell did I get this? Trust me, I've gone through this a few times. There are things in my closet that I haven't worn since the day I tried it on at the store. But then you remember how much you loved it when you first saw it sitting perfectly on display, so after all that you can never seem to stop your shopping addiction (probably going back to the same store the next day).
We feel you Ms. Bloomwood.
6. You lose track of your purchases.
You don't even want to know how many receipts I have stashed away in my desk drawer. With all this hardcore shopping going on, it's hard to keep an inventory. Just the other day, I went to the commons desk to pick up a package and I had no idea what I ordered. If you really think about it, it's like a little surprise! Kinda like, "Let's see what past Mar ordered to give to present Mar". OOOH, and if I guess what it is correctly I can reward myself with ordering something else! I like the sound of this game already.
Looks like I guessed correctly...
7. You can make anything a reason when shopping.
When shopping, a good shopaholic always has her Why to Buy It list handy. The reasons range from, "it matches the color of your eyes" to "you just finished a rough week, treat yourself". I'll let you into a little secret, all of those reasons equate to one sole thing, "I want it and I'm going to get it". If you went around thinking that every time you bought something, you might start feeling bad about your habits. That's why you come up with clever reasons that make perfect sense (maybe only to you, but that's all that matters). In the end, it really comes down to four words...
My life motto!
In all honesty, during the process of writing this blog post, I went online shopping and bought a few things already... Anyways, I hope you found this post entertaining (or helpful). Now, maybe you have a clue to if you're a shopaholic or not. And don't worry, even if you do emit some of these shopaholic symptoms, it's going to be alright! Welcome to my world (trust me it's a lot more fun anyways). Remember: Life is short, buy the shoes. Happy shopping!
Stay preppin', stay smilin', and most importantly, stay dreamin' With Love, Maria |
Meet MariaHello! I'm a professional shopaholic & monogram aficionado studying at Penn State. I hope you enjoy my blog!
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