10 ITEMS TO ALWAYS KEEP ON YOUR DESK

have to admit, I've become one of those office supply junkies! Anything covered in gold glitter, or mini items with polka dots on them, you can bet I own them. This school year I ditched the binders and decided to change my system and create more of a filing system, like an office. Folders, clothes pins, paper clips, and mini staplers, are now apart of my school supplies! However, I realize not everyone is in school, therefore I've created a list that everyone should keep beside their laptop for their office/desk. Let's dive in!

1. Portable Phone Charger: I bought one specifically for my trip to Oahu last summer, and it's so handy! I love having it to throw in my purse so it's with me everywhere I go. It's great to keep with you either at class, or your desk.

2. Snacks: If you work in an office, this one is a must! My first week of starting my first official part time office job, I didn't have any food, or physical items that I use daily, and it was a challenge. When your staring at a computer screen for hours on end, you start feeling sluggish and it becomes hard to stay focused. I love to keep almonds, peanuts, beef jerky, gluten free cinnamon and honey crackers, and popcorn by my side at all times, because I tend to get light headed if I don't eat! Bad, I know. Oh and don't forget about that bottled water too, it really does help!

3. Day Planner: Ah, this thing goes everywhere I do! I never know who may have a question about my schedule, and I will babysit on the side, so I always need to know my week that's ahead of me. This is great to have as well, in case your boss asks you to take on more hours than what's expected for the week!

4. Playlist: I know, this tip isn't physical, but it sure lifts my spirits and therefore is an essential. My first week of starting my work I was so bored, and felt tired quickly. Once I added music into my routine for logging into the computer, I was set to go!

5. Gum: Never know when your gonna need a breath refresher after lunch, or for a meeting! And...not gonna lie I can finish a pack in a week!

6. Notepad: This one is a given, but I like to keep inspirational and cute notebooks around to jot down any thoughts I have during the day when I'm at the office. It keeps my life more organized, and honestly it makes my space look adorable!

7. Wallpaper: Yep, a cute desktop wallpaper background puts a smile to my face overtime I sit down and log in! Seems silly, but an inspiration quote seems to do the trick, and it's a great reminder for the rest of my day!

8. Hair Ties: I love to keep the decorated one's from Forever 21 in my desk, because they won't hurt your head and cause a headache! Plus bobby pins are great to keep, because I can go from beauty waves to an elegant up-do in a snap.

9. Eyeshadow Primer: Ever wear any glittery shadows, or smokey eye makeup looks? Well, you probably know what it's like to have your eyeshadow crease, or when it needs to be retouched. I've found that primer does the job, by simply using a tad on your ring finger and it instantly removes the harsh lines.

10. Flats/Heels: Depending on your style at work, but after a long day heels can be very uncomfortable. To make the day a little more bearable, throw on some flats and you'll be set!

MY FAVORITE IPHONE PHOTO EDITOR APPS

diting photos is so much fun to me, and you'll never see an Instagram photo unedited! Girls who edit have a bad rap in society photoshop and not loving their true selves. Even though I understand that too much is just not even real anymore, but editing a few flaws, or brightening the lightning doesn't qualify as crime in my book! Editing a photo isn't just simply whitening the teeth, making the subject slim, or adding makeup. Rather, it's creating a collage of photos, adding sisters and quotes, changing the colors, and adding borders! So all the photography editing apps below all provide these different types of editing effects to your photo! One or two of them might cost, but the majority below are free! What are some of your favorite apps?

AMB: Of course most of you have heard of the app created by A Beautiful Mess, but It just so happens to be my favorite! This is always my go-to app and I love how you can add fun doodles to your photos making them more personal and creative!!!

Doodle Snap: This is such an awesome app, and so fun when you have those non-serious selfies! This app isn't always my first choice but it's fun to have as a backup or as something fun to play around with.

Aviary: Okay this app includes everything from photo filters, teeth whitening, and cropping! This is the most helpful app I have on my iphone because it's a lot like Pic Monkey which I use for my photos here on the blog all the time!

Collage World: So if you like making collages, then I promise you this app is perfect for you! I love the way it lets me rearrange each photo, making different shapes and sizes! Even the color of the background changes and there's text options as well! I've had this app for about three years now, and I hope to never get rid of it.

VSCOcam: This app editor has the best filters and makes my photos so sharp and full of color! It's of course one of the most popular iphone photo editors so I had to include this to my list! It's easy to use and only takes a few seconds to do!

REIMAGINING YOUR INSTAGRAM FEED

The theme of your instagram is becoming a true work of art. If a photo doesn't fit with your theme, it will not be posted. Every theme has something special about it, maybe it has neon pop of colors, white border, white wash filters, or only selfies. I know girls who will purchase certain novelty treats just to match their theme. Or who will spend hours searching for the perfect backdrop for outfit of the day. And...I'm afraid I too am guilty of this! It's funny how you will do a certain something all for the perfection of your instagram feed, isn't it?

My theme is a little bit all over the place, however with a few things in mind while posting. From the photo you can see the pop of color, white border, and simplicity in my product styling. I have a few tips on how to maintain or create an instagram feed, because I love growing and changing up my photography skills, so let's begin!

                                                          TIPS & TRICKS 

PICK A THEME YOU LOVE: Photo's have the power to speak a million words without actually voicing anything. Browse through the popular feed and explore what colors, and ideas really speaks who you are. You don't have to copy anyone, rather use your own ideas and photography skills.

REPEAT EDITING FILTERS: This one is important because the way you edit your photos can either make them all the same or completely different. I use AfterLight, and it's my favorite. I'm able to create the white border theme, along with brightness and increase of saturation!

DON'T RUIN THE THEME: This may seem simple, but trust me it's hard to stick with! It's always fun to post about your daily activities and special times with friends, but if it doesn't match the theme, don't post it. Every photo needs to be on fleek ;).

BUILD UP THE THEME: Try to constantly post with the same theme in mind, that way your gallery will look full and it will give your new followers the right outlook on your profile.

BENEFITS OF KEEPING PLANTS AROUND

ove plants like me? Good, you've clicked on the right blog post! Today I'm sharing a few helpful tips to why plants should always be placed in your house/room/space! Flowers, succulents, it doesn't matter, because each are the perfect touch for any space to cheer you up and brighten up your area. 

Don't Need a Green Thumb - Yep that's right. Don't know how to keep a plant alive? No worries, that's what succulents are for! As much as I do love flowers, I don't keep them in my room (like never), instead I make cute little succulents pots, just big/small enough for my room/space. I love that by keeping these cute little guys around, they don't demand too much care or attention.


Brighten Up Your Space - This one is probably the number one reason why I keep them in my room. As you can see in the photos above, I keep them on my shelves, books, and by my window seal. I love the green pop in my room, and the idea of having something living in your room, for me is a great touch!


Plants Keep You Happy - It's been studied that to keep plants around make a person feel as ease and happy. Whenever I have plants in my room, I love being able to see the growth and progress of my succulents. Also, an adorable pot always puts a smile on my face! Color is a magical thing - so it's a bonus to have a cute plant or succulent with a bright pop color of your pot!

4 THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN I FIRST STARTED BLOGGING

tarting a blog isn't easy. It takes time, and a lot of work to make it become what you dream. Followers don't come flooding through. Success doesn't happen overnight! So today I thought I'd share with you four things I wish I would have known when I began blogging. All of these tips truly work, and should definitely be taking into consideration.

1. BLOGGING TAKES TIME
Blogging isn't easy, nor simple. When I write and plan for a blog posts it usually takes me close to an hour, and taking some snapshots for the post can take another hour. Honestly, I don't think I spend enough time blogging, but here's my tip no matter if you're a new blogger or been in the atmosphere for five years. You can always add in more posts as you go. Set your bar low, and then work your way up. If you have expectations that are too high, and can't meet them ultimately your stats will go down!

2. OFFER SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Creative content is the most important aspect about blogging! If you're starting your own blog then consider branching out of your comfort zone and trying new things. The bloggers that have the spotlight are constantly trying new hobbies, DIY's, and fashion trends!

3. COMMITMENT MATTERS
This concept comes into play with an editorial calendar! Keeping up on your weekly scheduled posts is important! If you're interested in seeing how you can plan out your weekly/monthly posts then check out a post I recently did!

4. SUCCESS DON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT
This is the one tip that speaks volumes! I still have to remind myself this one! Success doesn't just happen, instead it takes months if not years to gain spotlight. I have a post that talks in depth about this topic, so I won't say too much here.

Learning Along The Way

Lately I've noticed a trend in the comment section of the blogosphere and social media, and even my own blog. You receive those comments that say "If only I wasn't an awful cook," "Oh I wish I could do that," "I'd love to try that out."

Here's the thing, you guys. You don't just create a blog and automatically become the most skilled photographer, or number one in fashion posts. When you were born you had to learn from the very beginning and teach yourself. Of course certain skills weren't developed from the start, it took practice and then more practice. The same goes for blogging. Blogging is a process of continual growth and new opportunities. You can do anything you want for there are no limits, you just have to do it.

Everyone is born with talent and natural gifts. Sure, talent gives those an advantage but it can only take you as far as your hard work does to get there. Practice and hard work is what makes people successful. As a blogger I didn't know anything about natural light, or using manual on my camera, I had to be taught. I had to figure it out on my own and learn for myself. I had to figure out what works best for me. Blogging doesn't come with a manual of instructions, therefore the sky is the limit. You can make anything happen if you want it bad enough.



I think that's the problem with our society today; we don't want it bad enough. Imagine what would happen if we stopped saying "Oh if only I could do that," or I'd love to do that." Sometimes fear of failure holds us back more than we realize. I know it does for me. Scared of people judging and rejecting, therefore our wishes and dreams are put on the backfire because we'd rather go without than suffer from embarrassment. But here's the thing. Through our mistakes, or the things we aren't gifted at we learn so much. We are able to grow from it and change dramatically. Practice only makes perfect. If we simply do not try, then how do we know that we suck? How do we know for sure we can't do it?

Let's not quit before we start. Don't put your goals and dreams on the backfire. Let yourself be bad at things. I think most of the time we don't see people's progress, but rather their immediate success and accomplishments. We can't see their practices, failed projects, or ruined pieces. A blogger isn't going to post a terrible outfit post with bad lighting, and horrible angles. Nor recipes that turned out awful. But through this post are a few photos to prove that even us bloggers mess up all the time, and are still learning. I believe there is great strength in weakness. These photos are of my room when I haven't touched it for days, french macaroons I couldn't perfect, and an outfit photo that turned out super bad because of the lighting.

These photos prove that I started out with no idea of what I was doing. Again, I had to figure it out, and compare my work with others to see where I needed improvement! I am constantly comparing my blog, photography skills, and writing with other bloggers, and I have to admit it discourages me all the time to sit down and begin blogging! Sometimes I feel like what I have to share isn't good enough, or worth sharing. I mean who is going to really read my stuff and be inspired by it? But honestly if I never opened my laptop and started jotting down by ideas on a blank white page...I would never have started a blog. Remember to not compare someone's process with your beginnings.

I encourage you to start a blog, etsy shop, youtube account, or photography even if your scared. I still can be embarrassed about people reading my blog, because I cannot see their reaction, nor know if they are ripping it apart. Whenever my friends tell me they watched my latest YouTube video, I cringe in my seat because of the fear of negative comments. One thing that keeps me going and that I have to remember whenever I put myself out there for others to see is; I blog, and make videos for my own enjoyment. If I love writing my thoughts down, or sharing my latest makeup routine than I cannot let anybody's opinions stop me from making it happen! 

3 FAVORITE DEVO APPS

Recently I've come across some wonderful devotional apps! I'm not one for reading on a tablet, rather a book in my hand is what I prefer especially when I'm doing my devotion in the morning. I like to be able to highlight, and mark up my pages and take notes. On my iPhone I find that it can be challenging to do some of those things, but I've been using a few different apps when I'm low on time in the morning I will whip out my phone and it works just fine! Hopefully these apps can help and inspire you, like they have been for me! Comment below and share what apps you love for a good devotion in God's word, I'd love to be familiar with more!

SHE READS TRUTH
This devotional is my favorite that I'm sharing with you today! The layout is so clean and simple which makes it very easy to figure it out. One feature that caught my eye was that they offer free lock screen wallpaper photos for your iPhone! I believe I've downloaded every image they've created. Their different topical devo's are titled plans, and they vary on the number of days they last. For example one plan is all about hospitality and it runs for 24 days. The only downfall is not every plan is free, they usually cost $1.99 for the whole package, but one nice thing is your able to sample the first day to see how you like it enough to purchase it! The writing style of these women are amazing and I love everything they have to say! So helpful and these devo's are the perfect way to start my morning!

DAUGHTER OF THE KING
This app is perfect for the everyday use! I love that this app doesn't require any type of purchasing and everything is free. Every day they post a new little devotional and I believe It's available for one week, but then after that so many new daily posts come up and some old ones get lost. Another great feature is there's a section for prayer, and you can type up some of your requests and send them in, and they have a prayer team that will support you! I found that to be very neat. Theres not more to say other than I love, love, love this devo!

DVO
This devotional app is a ot like She Reads Truth in the way it's set up and the fact that it has plans you can purchase. I really like how helpful this app is, and everything they have to say! Again, this app has some really pretty photos to go along with their plans, unfortunately you cannot download them, but it's nice to see them in the format of the text! Definitely be sure to get this app!!

Airplane / Traveling Essentials + Tips!

Two weeks ago I found out that I am going to Hawaii!!! I can't believe it, and I'm super excited. I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. I'm going with my grandparents and my friend Alex. It's going to be a great trip and I can't wait until I set my feet in that Hawaiian sand. We are going to be staying in a resort on the beach which is so amazing. The island we are staying at is Maui. I've heard it's so beautiful, so I can hardly wait. My grandparents have been a few times and love it there, so I'm excited to check it all out. Funny thing is, I actually left for this trip today, so I posted this airplane / travel post yesterday, while I was getting ready for my flight. The plane took off at 7 a.m. in the morning which meant I had to leave my home at like 5 a.m. so of course I needed to get up even earlier to get things ready! So long story short, I was up extremely early yesterday ha-ha.

While Alex and I began planning for this trip, I had so many notes all over my room of everything I wanted to bring and reminders of what items to pack for the flight. So many old memories came back to mind when I went to Virginia last year in April, so I felt more repaired this time when it came to packing and what specific carry on essentials I needed for Hawaii. The airport and plane experience was already under my belt so I felt a lot more confident about the whole thing. This time around I definitely had more a routine and system that worked from Virginia, so I thought I would share a few tips and tricks when packing for any trip!

 

 

 I love to bring my own snacks on the plane because 1. you never know how expensive things can get and 2. not every airport has a lot of options or even big food courts, so it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll usually pack fruit like strawberries, banana, apples...quest bars which are like protein bars that can be supplemented for a whole meal, and pretzels or chips are all great quick and easy snacks you can grab out and not worry about it making a mess. With the tight and fast schedule when traveling, finger food snacks are the only way to go.



 Magazines and books are definitely an essential I cannot go without. It makes the time fly. Plus you never know if the plane will have Wi-Fi (every plane I've been on, you have to pay for it) so it's nice to have a back-up plan that you know won't fail. Also these are great to have on the entire trip too, not just for the plane ride. But you certainly need to charge up the electronics because they just might come in handy.


 This is probably the most important out of all. Dress comfy. This is huge for me because I want to feel so comfortable when having to sit during a long flight. Airplane seats are comfy but they can feel uncomfortable after a few hours so when you wear over sized and easy "flowy" outfits it makes a huge difference. So go casual and wear something plain. When going through security it just makes life so much easier when you don't wear jewelry, belt, shoes that are hard to take off and put back on, a heavy jacket, and any hair accessories with metal. All of these items you will have to take off, so when you can avoid wearing it the better off you'll be and the faster you can hurry off to your flight.

 Yes skip those lines when you can! The last thing you want to happen is when your already running late and there's a long line. So instead skip this process by printing out your paper work when you have a chance to, at home.

 So this is kind of hard to do, but it helps so much. For one, you can skip the lines of checking in your big suit case, and two you don't have to worry about your luggage getting lost. Believe me that's no fun, I know because it happened to me when I went to Virginia!


 Oh yes, don't forget about your airplane backpack essential's!! This is another awesome way to store fun items to make time fly, while your on the plane but also you can pack even more things and they don't have to go in your carry-on or suit case! I think this is the most important part when it comes to traveling so here are some of my essential's that I love to have right beside me at all times!
- gum so your ears don't pop
- headphones, great when you want to listen to music or watch a movie
-a good book or magazine
- snacks
- notebook and a pen because I love to write or brain storm for my blog posts
- sunglasses (not inside the plane but I keep them in my backpack)
- camera only because I love taking photos of the clouds :)
- phone/I-pod of course!
- hair tie, bobby pins, maybe a headband if you need/want to fix your hair!
-a pillow for your head (sometimes I do this, not always cause it's just one more item to carry; personal preference)
- oversize comfy sweater incase it gets cold


p.s. the winner of the giveaway is Courtney Dyson!! Congrats, and I will be emailing you soon.

Finding Your Style // How to Organize Your Wardrobe

Organizing makes a world of difference! Having a clean closet helps you see all that you have and doesn't make you feel overwhelmed with all you have. Even though I have tons of clothes hanging in my closet it seems like every morning I still stand there and just stare at my overflowing closet but still feeling like I have nothing to wear. Maybe it's because I feel overwhelmed by everything I have and don't know where to start, or just that I have my favorites and tend to wear them everyday but then complain that I have no clothes! So I figured out that organizing really helps in the morning when choosing that perfect outfit.



 Get rid of everything you don't wear. Donate it, sell it, or throw it away. Do whatever you can to get rid of it, so you can have more space for new items. When I go threw this process I ask myself these questions; does this still fit me? will I really wear this? okay how old is this? is this really me? These questions help me eliminate so many clothes!



 Keep everything where you can see it. Don't hide your shoes in the very back of your closet, or place your favorite outfits at the bottom of the drawer. Display your most favorite and cutest outfits in your closet nicely, or place your most worn boots on a rack. This helps speed up the process in the morning when getting ready so your able to see all you have. This way your able to clearly see what pieces you can use to put together a cute outfit. When you keep everything in clear vision, your able to prevent lost items, or forgetting that you even own it. I also love to display my most worn jewelry. It reminds me all that I have and that way I'm able to wear things I don't normally pick out.

 Change our your closet seasonally. When winter comes its time to break out those sweaters and scarves! And in the summer I will switch out my drawers and put my shorts in my top drawer and put my jeans in the bottom, where I normally don't open. I'll break out my shoes for those certain seasons. This helps to change your mindset on what you can wear in those seasons. You don't have to switch out everything, but just the clothes you know are so impractical for that season. For example I don't put away all my tank tops in the winter because I love wearing my jacket over them.

 

 Figure out what you need to complete a cute outfit. Once you have organized your clothes your able to see what new pieces you'll need or even want. When you get rid of old shoes and clothing pieces your able to see what you would like to replace.

Finding Your Style // Understanding of all Fashion Styles

The very first thing to do when finding your style is, to know about various styles. That way you can select one that suits you best. When considering and examining each style, think about which ones would look best on you, and which one's are the most practical. Which style are you going to be able to wear the most? Which style is the most affordable for your budget? I love so many different styles, but some I cannot pull off, nor do I feel comfortable in them. You may find that you love all these styles, and don't know which one can be "your" style. Therefore when you go shopping try to look for all different styles that you like, try them on, and then decide which ones work best. It is important to remember to choose a style that you love, instead of one that is trendy or most popular. In each  category I give below at the end I provided words that described that particular style. This can help when your out shopping and you don't know what exactly your looking for. So when you look at certain clothes hanging on the rack you able to use those words and see if they match those clothes you gathered!

Style is a very personal thing. It is a statement and it tells a story. It is a way for women to stand out, and be noticed. So really make sure you go with a style that portrays the look you want. It tells the world the right message. Fashion can clearly give a certain type of image, and therefore explains your personality and character.  It's so interesting that just by looking at a girl you can tell who she is, and who she wants to be. It can be the way she shows her body, or the text that is displayed on her shirt.  So be sure that, your image matches with who you are underneath as well as what your wearing on the outside.

 

The country girl look is one of my favorites! I love have rustic it can be, yet so girly. I love the cowgirl boots, and hats. With this style you can wear jeans, or dresses your options are wide! To me this look is so comfy and perfect for any occasion. I own cowgirl boots and wear them with everything. The best thing about this style is that you can add any pieces to it, and I bet 90% of the time it will match! I love wearing this style in the summer, and for school! Words to describe this style; rustic, plaid, comfy, blue jeans,  & simple.



Vintage goes a lonnng way back! Its feminine and girly. This style consists of high heels, hundreds of dresses, string of pearls, and cute straw hats. Its perfect for spring, and summer. This style is rare, but so beautiful. Depending on how bold you are...this style doesn't really work for school or work, but is great for church, or social outings! Words to describe this style; old fashioned, floral, feminine, pearls, & colorful.

Preppy Style is one of my favorites. It's so elegant and girly. Because I'm a high schooled students this style does nothing for me...I'm simply too young (in my opinion.) But this style is so easy to add pieces to, as you can see in the first photo she's wearing jeans. All she did to make it look more dressy was add a navy blazer over her plaid shirt! It gave it that effortless look. Remember you don't have to go all out to make an outfit look preppy! Its adding staple pieces that are dressy and very sophisticated. For inspiration Kate Williams (aka the Princess) it a great gal to gather ideas from. Her style is absolutely gorgeous and is very classy. Words to describe this look; classy, elegant, sophisticated, & dressy.

Bohemian is so beautiful and girly to me. This style is great for a girls night out. Boho tends to be a little more dressy and therefore isn't something you could wear everyday to school, work etc. Sometimes, depending on the pieces this style can be a little too flashy, but as long as you add a more modest clothing pieces to it, it can be beautiful. But this style is awesome for the summer and beach days. Here are some words to help you describe this style; flow, free, girly, lace, white, loose, & feminine.

(source for all photos, is pinterest)

Urban Casual is definitely my style. Its comfy, simple, yet very cute and stylish. This style is perfect for school, work, or fun night outs. It works for all ages! With this style you can add some trendy pieces along with some classic styles. Urban tends to be very clean and plain. Its not crazy with patterns or colors, but rather mellow and sophisticated. Words to describe this style; plain, casual, simple, comfy, loose, & modern.