The Perfect Bedding

Hi everyone! 

I'm sorry I've been so absent lately - like I explained last week, I just moved back home from college and am still in the middle of unpacking and getting organized. On top of that, I am also helping my sister get ready for her sophomore year of college and that involves me going shopping with her, helping her decide what to pack, and physically packing up her stuff..... otherwise it wouldn't get done and everything would be a mess! So that has slowed down my unpacking and organizing as well as slowed down any blog time I have. I haven't even been reading my favorites on a daily basis! After this week I hope to get back to a regular process (fingers crossed!).

Unpacking and organizing has really given me a drive to completely purge my belongings and redo my room. I've been ruthless these past few days going through my closet, boxes, and little trinkets and really trying to keep only the things that are important to me and things I love. Well, I definitely have the urge to redecorate! I'm just really tired of my room at home being a total mess and full of old junk. It's depressing and disorganized and doesn't really reflect me anymore. So what am I going to do? Redecorate on the cheap! Right now I am working with a room with pink walls and white furniture (what was I thinking). I have a throw pillow I bought ages ago that has two sides, one with pink and gray polka dots and another with yellow and pink flowers with mint leaves, and that is serving for my inspiration. I am looking for a solid but textured gray duvet, mint sheets, a geometric patterned gray and white rug, and a small accent piece of furniture (hopefully something thrifted and repainted!). Easy, right? Well not really - I have a twin sized bed (and my parents are not having the idea of me getting a new bed after 22 years) and most of the beautiful, "grown up" bedding I like is not available in twin sizes! Major buzzkill. I've been hunting all over the internet but I'm still kind of stuck. So...

What are your favorite stores/online shops for bedding?

Here's my bedding inspiration!

I am obsessed with the Solea bedding from Anthropologie!! This duvet is so pretty and I love that it is solid gray with a little bit of added texture. Unfortunately, it is sold out in twin BUT it is on sale for anyone who might like it and have a bigger bed! I am just picturing it with mint or light pink patterned sheets and my bed and my walls... It looks so beautiful in my head!

If you know of any good places to look for inexpensive bedding, let me know! I am planning on hitting up some Bed Bath & Beyond stores in the next few weeks to search for end of season sales too. 

xx, Amy

PS. Here's my bedroom inspiration pinboard! 

Back to College Finds: World Market

Hey everyone! 

Hope your week is going well - it's Wednesday so we're halfway to the weekend! 

Now that it's the end of July, that means back to school is officially upon a lot of people. Sadly for me, I won't be going back to school (but maybe a new apartment!? Stay tuned..... my parents need some convincing) but even for postgrads, now is a great time to pick up some fresh goodies for your place! I am going to be featuring some of my back to school finds from different stores over the next few weeks, so if you're interested in dorm/apartment/home decor, stay tuned! 

I recently stopped into a World Market by my house just for fun. When I think of World Market, I think of the paper lanterns I bought in bulk when I was younger and hung all over the ceiling in my room (probably not my finest interior decorating moment....). I haven't been in the store for years but I was surprised at how many great things I spotted while there! Beautiful furniture, versatile home goods, gotta-have-them-all picture frames, and tons of cute kitchenware. World Market is back on my big-girl home decor radar. Obsessed.

Here are my favorite finds from my trip and what I would have wanted to use when moving into my dorm, only four short years ago.... #nostalgia. 

found these in store (for a steal!) but didn't see them online - check your local store for similar items! 

this style is sold out online but might still be in stores // similar

merci latte bowl // check in stores for the others! 

merci mug // bonjour mug

Decor tips: 
-Use cute little bowls for jewelry or desk storage. Leave one by your bed so you can place your everyday jewels in the dish before hitting the hay! I also have a small bowl right by my door to hold my keys and sunglasses when I get home - I haven't misplaced my keys since I gave them a designated spot!
-Add some dimension to your dorm walls by putting pictures in a frame! These multi-frame units only require one nail or command hook on your wall.
-Use various boxes to hold hair ties/headbands, scarves, or desk supplies on a shelf. It keeps everything in one place and allows you to stack! I used a photo box every year to hold cards sent to me by my family and another box to hold desk supplies when I only had one tiny drawer in my desk.

What did you think of this post? What would you like to see in future Back To College Finds posts? 

xx, Amy

PS. I'm obsessed with those latte bowls... the "Oh La La" one is especially cute.

PPS. Follow me on Twitter! @leopardspotblog

Bringing Jorts Back

Hi everyone!

The temps in Wisconsin have hit the high 80's recently and it's officially time to put away anything but the lightest, easiest clothing. After spring break I decided my old denim shorts were not cutting it anymore, so I began hunting for a new pair. After trying shorts from Gap, American Eagle, J.Crew Factory, and the like, I stumbled upon these shorts from Old Navy. I picked them up on a whim and they're now my favorite shorts! The back pockets are the perfect size and have great placement - not too high, too far apart, or too low!

These shorts have a 3.5 inch inseam and can be worn cuffed or uncuffed. I like wearing mine cuffed but I might try out the new pair uncuffed and see how I like it. I find the shorts run true to size - I wear the same size shorts as I do all other bottoms at Old Navy but they run slightly larger than say, shorts from J.Crew. 

I paid $15 for my first pair and earlier this week I snagged a second pair for $12. Not too shabby! Hurry over to your local Old Navy store or OldNavy.com to get a pair - here's the link!

While you're shopping, check out Old Navy's Rockstar jeans - I love them! Right now the jeans are priced starting at $12.97!

This dress is also fab! I wish I had seen it in store but it might find its way into my online shopping cart... link here. 

Have a great Tuesday!

xx, Amy

Latest Lust: Leather Handbag Love

Hi everyone!

Since I've been back in my apartment and had full access to the internet (!!!! I'm still geekin out about it, internet, I love you!), I've been catching up on the latest goods from my favorite online retailers. While I've been looking around, one item has been particularly catching my eye: a structured leather tote. Some of my favorite Instagrammers and bloggers have been featuring some new arm candy lately and I've caught the bug.

I love carrying a tote to work or shopping - I can fit everything (and then some) into it! An umbrella, a Tervis, my large wallet, a cosmetic bag, a snack, my sunglasses, even a couple of small purchases... and if I know I'm going to be doing some heavy duty shopping I can throw in my reusable shopping bags and be set! I've been rocking a bilberry Longchamp for the past four years and I'm kiiiiiiind of ready for a different alternative. Here's the beauties that have caught my eye: 

Leather Handbag Love by leopard-spot featuring 100 leather handbags

one // two
three // four // five
six // seven

I really like all of these.... in a perfect world I wouldn't have to choose just one! I have a slight obsession with Tory Burch products (we're in the same sorority!) and I have been pining over a Tory bag for years now - maybe sometime soon my dream of owning a Tory Burch bag will come true!

Linking up with Sara from Pearls & Curls (With a Hint of Bourbon), Chloe from Rainbows & Honeysuckle, Hayley from A Beautiful Exchange, and Jordon from Love Always, Nancy J! 

Happy Wednesday! Halfway to the weekend :)

xx, Amy

#walmartfinds

If you follow me on Instagram (which you should! My username is leopardspot), you've probably seen a couple of recent pictures tagged #walmartfinds. Why? Because I've been at Walmart almost every day this week, which is probably more than I have ever been in my life, and I have found some pretty awesome things. First, a chevron insulated tumbler. Second, those insulated mason jars that everyone seems to have or is looking for right now. Third, red velvet Chapstick. And finally, a maxi skirt that fits and is long enough - not to mention the perfect price!

I actually found two perfect maxi skirts at Walmart, both by the brand Faded Glory. Unfortunately, the skirt I really loved was sold out in my size so I tried another maxi skirt on and really, really liked it. For $12.94, I really couldn't go wrong, so I bought it in black and in coral! I'm still going to hunt for the other skirt (which was a buttery soft knit, perfectly drapey, super comfortable, and also featuring a smooth wide elastic waistband) but if I don't find it, I will still be happy with what I've got!

I also found a pretty fab maxidress there too, also by Faded Glory. It's $15.44 (um, hello, another perfect price point!) but if you're looking to buy, consider sizing down at least one or maybe two sizes down. I tried on a large and I was swimming in it! I could have gone for a medium at least.

I wish I could add pictures to this post, but I will update it later with some - I planned on copying the stock photos from the Walmart site but alas, they don't allow it. Anyways, next time you stop by Walmart be sure to check out their clothing (and housewares - the Better Homes and Gardens line is fab!)! There are some gems hidden amongst the Duck Dynasty gear and bulk food.

The Search for The Perfect Black Maxidress: Old Navy

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! Today I am bringing you part one of my maxi-dress hunt featuring dresses from Old Navy.

So I was stupid and returned the maxi-dresses I bought from Old Navy without taking pictures of myself in them first (#bloggerfail). I'll attempt to review them here using stock photos from the website for you!

Before I start reviewing, I am approximately 5' 8" tall with a long torso. I normally wear a size 12 or size large and only sometimes need to buy long or tall items. I also have substantial blessings in the chest region, so that might impact fit a bit. Just wanted everyone to know this ahead of time since I can't include photos of myself in the dresses.

First up: the Women's Jersey-Tank Maxi Dress, size large regular

Review: I tried this dress on and immediately said, "This looks like a tent!" It was very wide and loose, cut with an A-line shape. The length was also extremely short (and disappointing) - it was nowhere near as long as the dress on the above model and instead showed about six inches of foot and ankle. I contemplated returning the large and re-ordering it in a medium tall instead, but was persuaded by my mom and sister not to.

Verdict: No. Too short and too wide. Good for shorter ladies who are looking for a dress to flow over the lower half of the body, might work out for slightly taller ladies. Would look great belted as well! Returned it.

Next up: the Women's Jersey-Drawstring Sleeveless Maxi, size large tall

Review: Alllllllmost passable. Almost! This dress fit really well (I loved the modest v-neck and thick straps, and the cinched waist was nice to add shape) but was just slightly too short. If I wanted my maxi to hit a little above my feet it would work. But for a 5' 8" woman looking for a floor length dress, a tall sized dress that is not long enough ended up being a pass for me. 

Verdict: No. Too short. Also, this dress is a bit more columnar in the bottom half as opposed to voluminous and floaty. Runs short, even in tall sizing. Take note!

Last dress: the Women's Tube Maxi Dress, size large regular. 

Review: I wanted to love this so, so much. It was a great dress that fit juuuust right through the body but the length was again just a tiny bit too short. This one I am contemplating reordering in a tall size - maybe when they go on promo and I find a coupon code. 

Verdict: No (for now). Potential reorder in a tall size. Note: the ombre colors run longer than the solids. I looked at the two, solids and ombres, in the store when I returned the dresses and the ombre in a large regular would have been the perfect length for me. Again, maybe if it drops to a nicer price and depending on how much I wear dresses this summer. 

Lucky for me, I did find a dress that could pass from Banana Republic Factory Store the other day for 50% off and I ordered one from J.Crew Factory as well for 50% off so we'll see how things work out! 

Have a great Friday and a great weekend!! Happy June! 

*Note: this is in no way a sponsored post, I am just hunting for dresses and they had a pretty good selection! This in no way clouds my opinion of Old Navy and I hope it doesn't affect yours - every store has a miss every now and then for everyone. 

The Great Maxi Dress Debate

Happy Thursday everyone!

I have been hunting and going on and on about "the perfect black maxidress" for ages now.  On Tuesday, I think I found one that might be meant to be.

The only thing is.... it's about an inch too long so I have to pick up the hem every time I walk. Perfect for wedges, not so perfect for flip flops and sandals.

So.... my question is:
How long should a maxidress be? 

This long? 

or

this long? 

Okay, how cute is this maxi!?! Kind of obsessed...

Help!! The length issue is the ONLY thing keeping me from finding "the" perfect dress... well that and having, you know, a limited wallet. I need your help and advice!

Have a great day!

Lilly Pulitzer Gifts & Accesories on Rue La La Today!

Rue La La will be featuring Lilly gifts and accessories on their site today at 3PM ET!

Things normally sell out fast, so set your alarm and get ready to shop! If you've never purchased before, most of the time things come in bulk (4 mugs in a "set" instead of just 1, 4 glasses instead of just 2, 2 koozies instead of 1) so this is the perfect time to stock up on goodies for yourself (dorm room/apartment living anyone??) or for gifts!

If you don't have a Rue La La account, click here to sign up!

Happy Shopping! 

Summer Reads

Hi everyone!

I am back after way too many finals, way too much stress, and graduation. I'll be sharing pictures from graduation tomorrow (I'm still trying to get my life back in order from finals week... ugh) but in the meantime, I need some advice!

Source: Burns Photography

I need books to read this summer. I plan on spending a lot of time sitting out on patios, by the lake, or on my balcony reading and enjoying the city this summer.

What are your favorite books? New, old, anything! 

I just finished Something Blue by Emily Giffen. I love the movie Something Borrowed so I was excited to see what happened afterwards from Darcy's point of view.

 

I started watching Game of Thrones last summer and when I was home my sister lent me the first book of the series and I was hooked. I read all of the other books that summer (okay, I might have started one and not been able to finish it until spring break but whateva) and I have been waiting for my sister to finish A Dance With Dragons. I will be bringing it back to school with me after my trip home next week! 

But really..... I need some suggestions! I will finish A Dance With Dragons in under a month depending on how much reading I do daily in between work and enjoying my last summer in Madison. I don't have any particular genres that I prefer so I'm looking to you guys for help narrowing down the vast number of books that are out there!

Happy Friday!

Keeping it short and sweet today (since it's already late in the day... oops). I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend - I know I will be busy studying for finals and working, but I also get to see my boyfriend tonight and all day tomorrow so I have no complaints about that! I'm going to squeeze a little bit of relaxation in tonight since I will have finished my THIRD and FINAL paper due in the past THREE DAYS. And then I have four finals to study for. Ugh. I do not wish this kind of torture on anyone.

Anyways... here's what's on my mind right now:

Shopping for a graduation gift? Check out my gift guide here - there are lots of unique gifts at varying price points so give it a look!

Old Navy Rockstar Jeans are $19 this weekend - use the code ONLADIES20 for 20% off on your order of women's clothing through 5/13!

I am also loving this shirtdress from Gap. It's currently $31 at my local store (I stopped in today to buy a little something for the boyfriend) and I'm torn between blue and orange (I can't allow myself to buy the pink because I will never wear it). 

Finally, enjoy this cover of one of my favorite songs. So beautiful and so different than the original! 

Alright, back to writing that paper! A delicious cup of coffee from a local coffeehouse (fair trade and organic! Fancy!) and lemon water in my Tervis are getting me through this. And knowing that I will have a break tonight once I finish :)

Enjoy your weekend everyone! 

PSA: Old Navy Rockstar Jeans are $19!

Old Navy Rockstar jeans are $19 or under right now. 

I've heard really good things about these jeans, so I'm finally going to bite the bullet later today and order them (along with the compression leggings the lovely Jordan posted about today that are finally back in stock in black!). Since they're a blogger staple (or so I've heard) I thought I would share the money saving news! 

Basically this just means that I have to order a zillion pairs so I can get them at the $19 price and then return the 20 pairs that don't fit later. I already feel bad for the salesperson that has to deal with that order. I would mail it back, but I want to keep my $7 or whatever the fee is. Sorry..... 

Do you have any sizing tips for the Rockstar jeans? If you have a pair, what is your favorite color/wash?

Happy Thursday! 

Searching & Shopping: I Need Your Help!

I am searching for THE black maxidress. 

One that is long enough to hit the floor and not shrink after washing (even on cold and line drying). One that is opaque. One that fits a 5' 8", size 12 lady. One that doesn't require an elaborate undergarment to wear (I would prefer wearing a regular bra over strapless). One that is affordable. 

Really, I'm desperate. I've checked Old Navy, Gap, American Eagle, J.Crew, etc., and nothing. The closest I got to was one from Alloy, which has the potential to be embarrassingly see through.

Here are some of my online finds:

I am loving this blue striped version as well as the black!

Maci Maxi Dress, $19.90-23.90 from Alloy

(This is available in XS-XXL and in extended lengths!! Crazy!)

Gabrielle Rocha Hally Dress, $65 at Zappos

Alternative Apparel Racerback Maxidress, $68 at Zappos

Alternative Apparel Go Fish Dress, $68 at Zappos

(This one seems great because of the ruching at the hips, which would hopefully disguise any.... imperfections, so to speak)

And finally, once I get my maxi, here are some of my favorite ways to potentially style it!

source

source

source

Any reccomendations? Any favorite tall girl shops? Help a sista out!

What I'm Loving Wednesday: GroopDealz

When did it become Wednesday!? I mean, I'm not going to complain because I can't wait for this weekend (my last sorority formal, waddupppp, and I have a handsome date to boot) but it still sort of snuck up on me! Anyways, I'm here today to share one of my favorite websites right now, GroopDealz. 

My obsession with this website has reached a new high, thanks to the knockoff J.Crew rose statement necklace I just recieved in the mail. If you aren't familiar, GroopDealz is a flash sale site, kinda sorta like Groupon and kinda like Etsy. They have a ton of cute, affordable jewelry, home decor items, gifts, and more. I mostly check it for the jewelry (they have some awesome J.Crew-like pieces on a regular basis) and for things like monogrammed items or iPhone cases. Today I'm going to feature my favorite pieces currently on the site! 

First, the J.Crew inspired rose necklace! Each necklace is $19.99 and comes in any of the colors features above: turquoise, black, mint, coral, gray, yellow, or white. 

I just got mine in the mail last weekend - I am obsessed! I can't wait to wear it. 

 Next up, this pave heart ring which is also a J.Crew dupe! I tried the J.Crew version last winter but I was in between sizes in the small/medium/large size system so I passsed. Then I found this ring on GroopDealz, immediately ordered, it and I love it. One of my favorites - it is small and delicate and I like it enough to make sure I won't leave it in a bathroom or something. Best part about this ring? It's only $3.95.

My last favorite: these solid color infinity scarves! Each scarf is $8.95 and you can pick coral, gray, mint, ivory, or yellow. These are perfect to add a pop of color to your spring wardrobe, and considering how many people are still stuck in chilly climates right now (seriously, where is spring!?) I don't think we are retiring the scarves officially yet! 

So these are my favorite items right now... let's see which ones end up in my shopping cart and in my closet! I am debating another rose necklace, this time either in yellow or mint! 

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Some Wisconsin Weekend Shenanigans

Hi everyone! 

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I'm linking up today with Sami from Sami's Shenanigans for the Weekend Shenanigans link up. 

My weekend started on Thursday afternoon. I had a 7 page paper due and a meeting with one of our deans to figure out a graduation requirement snafu, so once I was done on Thursday I headed home to relax. I finished the last few current episodes of Revenge, took a long hot shower, made some high waisted denim shorts (check 'em out below!), and waited for my boyfriend to get into town! Once he did we hung out and watched an episode of Game of Thrones (he's really behind!) and fell asleep reeeeally early... very exciting, I know! 

Friday was way more exciting - I got my first pair of cowboy boots! They were my birthday present from my boyfriend. He unexpectedly had the day off so we had planned on making a road trip to a store a few hours away to find some but we got lucky and there was a horse expo in Madison so we only had to make a 15 minute trip (and pay an arm and a leg to get in) instead! These Ariat boots were the winners - I liked the plain brown leather, classic look, and minimal ornament. I wanted something simple so I wouldn't feel pressured to be "matchy matchy" with a certain color on the boot and instead get used to working them into my wardrobe as a "brown boot" and not a "cowboy boot", if that makes any sense. 

Ariat Heritage Western R-Toe

Brand new and fresh outta the box!

Since we were at the horse expo and because it was cold, we walked through all of the barns on the way back to the truck. I got to indulge my inner child and pet all of the horses and relive the days where horses were the coolest. The best part was when we discovered MINI HORSES! They were pretty much the size of my childhood golden retrievers - could you imagine having one!? I wanted to take all of them home and their full size counter parts... if only. 

Once I got my boots, my boyfriend and I headed back to campus because I had to work (woo!). He hung out at a local... establishment and befriended one of the .... drink pourers and basically had a grand old time while I was doing my thang at the store. Since I gave him my keys to my apartment, he decided that instead of making me walk home and buzz myself up, he would come and meet me at work to walk me home (cue the awws). While he was waiting he may or may not have looked like a homeless man, which once my co-worker and I figured it out, gave us a pretty good laugh. After he picked me up, we went to a local barbecue place and got dinner. We were both wayyy too hungry to snap a picture of our food before we started eating so I only got a picture of the cider I tried, ACE Fermented Berry Cider. I liked it, it was tart and light and almost reminded me of wine. A nice change of pace from the craft beers I normally drink! The boyf and I both got pulled pork sandwiches with a side of mac & cheese - I mixed some of my pulled pork into the mac & cheese and topped it with some BBQ sauce... yum! Can't wait to try making my own version of that soon. 

ACE Cider (click for website)

Saturday was the big show day. It was my first cow (or any animal) show so I was kind of quiet and followed my boyfriend's lead all day. I was trying not to stand out too horribly as a newbie/"city slicker" and I was trying to stay out of everyone's way as they prepped their cows for the show. While the weather was supposed to be in the 50's and sunny, it ended up being very windy and very very cold in the show ring itself. The boyfriend and I were not exactly prepared for that and we should have worn another layer under our jackets.... we were in need of some coffee and extra warmth (read: Bailey's) after a couple of hours. Once we got some of that we were set for the remainder of the day. I learned some handy dairy cow judging things from my boyfriend (he's kind of really good at it.... national college champ kind of thing kind of good) so hopefully by the end of the summer I will have learned a thing or two! His knowledge plus my art history background (see, I knew it would pay off someday!) should make it a bit easier for me to learn. After the show, we headed to dinner at Red Robin (#yum) with his best friend and his girlfriend. We were starving and absolutely demolished our food plus two extra baskets of fries (whoops!). Once we got home we were in such a food coma plus completely tuckered out from our day that we took a looong nap and ended up missing out on everything going on that night.

Sunday was uneventful. I almost missed work (oops) and when I got there it was so slow I only stayed for a couple of hours before leaving. I did get a white oxford and tried on a couple of sweatshirt tees - super comfy and casual! I love them and will be picking up two (green and gray) later this week. When I got home I relaxed and watched a couple of episodes of Smash - I love the show and cannot get enough of it! I also decided (on a spur of the moment whim) to cook my boyfriend dinner because he had a rough day at work. I had a serious craving for pasta and instead of heating up some jarred pasta sauce (obviously I had to do better than that for the boyfriend!) I checked Pinterest for some spaghetti sauce recipes. After consulting I came up with a pretty good version! Not my grandma or mom's recipe, but it did in a pinch. Seriously - it was so easy I have no idea why I ever bought jarred pasta sauce in the first place! I even made cheesy garlic bread from "scratch" and despite me completely forgetting to add garlic to the topping mixture, my boyfriend loved it. "It will be even better the next time you make it because you won't forget the garlic!" Hey, if he's happy then I'm happy. 

Look for the recipe coming soon!

Whew! Well forgive me for being a little bit late on this one - hopefully I can make it up with some of the awesome things I have planned for this week! 

Denim Recommendations/Help

As Lent draws to a close, I have been looking around online for new jeans. I am in desperate need for new ones! The jean I am looking for is super stretchy, slim fitting to the ankle (so a super skinny cut or jegging), minimal back pocket detailing, and a dark wash or rinse color.

I've heard great things about the Old Navy Rockstar jeans, and I'm going to order them in a tall size to hopefully get something more proportional for my 5' 8" body.

I've also heard good things about J.Crew Factory denim. I'm hoping to get to my local store to try them on over Spring Break. 

What are your favorite jeans? What brand and style are they?

Almost-Spring Cleaning

It's that in-between time of year where the temperature goes from cold to warm and springlike and back again, classes are taking their toll, and the to-do lists are piling up. For me, crazy days of classes combined with hanging out with friends and my boyfriend have been leaving me feel like everything in my life is a mess - especially my room in my apartment!

A major source of my cleaning stress is laundry. It seems like I always have either a ton of laundry to wash or a ton of laundry to put away (and putting it away is ten times more difficult than washing it!). To be honest, I think I just need to do loads throughout the week to make it all manageable. I end up washing the same few items that I wear repeatedly (leggings, my favorite jeans, quarter zip sweatshirts, v-neck tees, layering tanks) and digging through all of my clean laundry just to find it, leaving my room in shambles.

But in reality, perhaps my biggest problem is that I love to shop - and I don't wear nearly as many of my purchases as I should. I decided (on a whim) to stop shopping for Lent. It's something I've noticed several other bloggers are doing as well. My thought was, "If they can do it, why can't I?" and after I decided to commit to it, I keep thinking how great it will be. I will be forcing myself to work with what I have instead of buying new things. I will be taking a good hard look at the items in my closet and getting rid of what I don't love (and returning anything possible!). And another thing that my shopping ban is doing is motivating me to work out more so I can look great in the clothes I have instead of taking the easy way out and buying new items (I have noticed that my clothes are not fitting the way I like anymore - I want to tighten up my exercise and eating habits to get myself to a healthier and happier mental and physical state!). Of course, the final bonus is that there will be extra cash in my wallet now - definitely something I need as a college student!

Put away all of my laundry. Do the laundry that has been piling up. Organize my clothes in my closet so everything is accessible and won't become a mess when I'm in a hurry! Return at least one item in my "returns bin" (especially the returns to the store I work at!). 

Obsession: J.Crew Factory Jewelry

As a seasonal employee at J.Crew and a huge jewelry lover, one of my favorite things to do is check out the latest jewelry at J.Crew and J.Crew Factory! I love their necklaces and bracelets because they make it so easy to make a statement. I wear several pieces so often that they have become my signature items and my friends are constantly looking for similar pieces to get the same look!

Here are my current favorites from the new arrivals at J.Crew Factory:

J.Crew Factory Stone Chandelier Necklace

Now the question is - which color do I want? 

J.Crew Factory Brass-Plated Crystal Necklace

My favorite co-worker has this necklace and wears it all the time - it's beautiful with anything, even layered with other necklaces! 

J.Crew Factory Stone and Dotted Flower Necklace

This necklace is insane. It would be gorgeous with a white collared shirt (buttoned all the way up, of course). 

J.Crew Factory Gold and Crystal Link Bracelet

A perfectly scaled down version of the ever popular Pave Crystal Link Bracelet from J.Crew. 

J.Crew Factory Neon Stone Studs

I normally pass on earrings (they get lost under my long hair) but I love the pop of color these add! Since they are studs, the color stays close to your face (meaning it won't get lost in your hair!). 

Someone take my credit card away from me. Or surprise me with these as a gift... 

If you're in a shopping mood, use the code GETMORE until midnight on the 12th to get 30% off final sale items at J.Crew Factory! 

Have a great week everyone! 

P.S. My boyfriend said he got me J.Crew jewelry for Valentine's Day... Can't wait to see what he picked out! He definitely did his research!