Friday Favorites

Hello beauties! 

I'm very excited about my first post on Friday Favorites! It was hard not to put 20 things on this list. I love summer because it gives me the opportunity to try new products and recipes.

1. I picked up the Peach Bellini candle during Bath and Body Work's semi-annual sale. It. Is. Ah. Mazing. Seriously, do yourself a favor and get this candle. The sent is perfect for this season.

2. I hate any drink that has tea in it. I always have and I never thought I would find a drink that I liked. Well, never say never. I tried the iced green tea lemonade from Starbucks and fell in love! 

3. Tresmme's No Frizz spray has saved my hair from humidity. This is an awesome product that won't break the bank.

4. The HD foundation from NYX is the BEST foundation I've used to date. It's light and does the job. It is very similar to Sephora's HD Forever foundation, but it's about $30 less. Can I get a heck yes?

5. I am love, love, loving gingham right now. The button down from J Crew is perfect when you can't think of what to wear. 

What are your current summer favorites? 

Cooler Guide

Hello!

One of my summer goals this year was to paint a cooler for myself. Last year I made one for Drew, and I was pretty proud of how it turned out. I've been asked by several people what I did exactly to make it.

 So, for those who were wondering....

Step 1: Sand, Sand, Sand. Sanding helps smooth out the surface so you can have an easy time painting.

Step 2: Spray paint the entire cooler white. Tape the sides and top of the cooler with painting tape. 

 

Step 3: Choose the base colors for each side. It is also helpful to know the design for each side early on. 

Step 4: Paint away! The majority of the cooler was free handed, except for my monogram. To learn how to trace on a cooler, check out this blog post. 

Step 5: Cover the cooler with modge podge. This will prevent the paint from chipping. 

I hope this was helpful. Coolers are great gifts to give to your friends, boyfriends, siblings, etc. What is a summer goal you want to accomplish for this season?

Weekend Update

Hello Lovely Readers!

I have been super busy lately and haven't had time to update my blog (cue sad music). So I thought I would give an update on what I have been up to. 

1. I started my internship last week, and it's been an awesome experience so far. I'm interning with Mattress Firm, learning the tricks and trades of the sales and business world. I've already learned a lot, and I can't wait to see what else this opportunity brings. 

2. If you know me, you know that I LOVE giving myself manicures and experimenting with fun colors. I thought it would be cute to try a chevron pattern...

Obviously it took me several times to try to make it look like a seven year old didn't do my nails. I finally settled with this: 

{Colors: Lights, Marshmallow, Crown Me Already!}

Next time I will order these cute press-on nail stickers that Caitlin featured on her blog, Southern Curls and Pearls. 

3. Cookies! I decided to make my co-workers some of my famous chocolate chip cookies. I will post the recipe this week. :)

4. Finally, a very special Happy Birthday to my favorite person in the world! Drew is currently in LA for his internship, but I know he is having the best time celebrating his 21st in sunny Cali. 

Happy Memorial Day!

Although I wish I could have been on the lake or by the pool like most of you, I was still remembering all of those who have sacrificed so much for us and our country. I think it's important that we appreciate them year round, so here are a few (and super adorable) ways that you can! 

I found this picture on my Tumblr, and I love it so much! It's currently my Facebook & Twitter cover photo. 

I love these tanks from Kiss My Southern Sass and Shop Lauren James. They are perfect for showing your 'merica pride by the pool or running around town. 

This is currently my favorite scarf in my closet. I've already worn it about three times! It is light, so you can still wear in during summer cookouts or on a date night. Even better, it comes from my favorite store ever (Fiore Boutique). I'm not biased or anything ;)

Sunnies: Nordstrom.

Instagram.

Did you all have a great Memorial Day? I had a great time at work today with my awesome co-workers and On the Boarder for lunch! To top the day off, The Bachelorette is on tonight! I'm thinking of doing a few posts on this season...hmmm...stay tuned. 

What I Wore: PR Study Tour

Hello!

For the past two weeks I was apart of KSU's PR Study Tour. During this time my classmates and I learned the ins and outs of agency life, internship advice, and what some of the leading PR agencies look for when finding new team members. It was an amazing experience and I gained a great amount of information and insight in PR. 

Part of the class requirement was to dress professionally. I love getting dressed up, and I wanted to take this opportunity to make new outfits that are both business appropriate and show off my personality. 

1. Top- Michael Kors (thrifted, similar style here). Skirt- H&M. 

2. Top- Old Navy. Skirt- The Limited.

3. Jacket- Entourage. Top- Francesca's. Skirt- H&M.

4. Top- Michael Kors (thrifted, similar style here). Skirt- The Limited. Necklace- J Crew. 

Purse & Shoes

Surprisingly enough, everything I'm wearing I bought on sale! I had a great two weeks "playing dress up," and I will hopefully be dressing like this everyday after I graduate. Do you have a favorite place you like to shop for your professional wardrobe? 

Porter Novelli

A warm and welcoming environment, friendly smiles, and an office with a view. What more could you ask for in a PR agency? I wasn't sure what Porter Novelli was going to be like, but after I stepped off the elevator I could sense the dedication and commitment that the agency provides. 

Porter Novelli's main goal as a PR agency is to transform the opinions, beliefs, and behaviors of those who matter most to their clients. They offer expertise in cause marketing, B2B, internal communications, media relations, media training, and many more. 

The one area that interested me the most was their real-time reputation specialty. This service provides clients with round-the-clock monitoring of the issues most important to them. During the tour we were able to visit the radar room, where the monitoring specialists were working on things like real-time tacking and mitigation, issues monitoring, and trend analysis. 

The Atlanta office of Porter Novelli was gracious and willing to answer all of our questions. I loved seeing and hearing their success stories in the PR world. They are a growing agency with with 90 offices worldwide. You can follow their Twitter to keep up with the latest ongoings here. 

Have you ever considered working at an agency that focuses on topics such as healthcare and real-time reputation management? 

Sleeping Beauty

Hello!

I am often complemented on how great my skin looks. I always love hearing this because I love taking care of my skin. I think it's extremely important to treat and care for your skin every. single. day. 

Since I am asked frequently what I use on my face I thought I would share my nightly bedtime skin routine! 

Before starting I always wash my hands well and remove my contacts. Clean hands are crucial for a clean face.

1: I start by wiping my face with L'oreal's Ideal Clean makeup remover wipes. I do this even if I didn't wear makeup for the day. 

2: I then take my middle finger and ring finger (the two cleanest fingers on your hands) and use some of Jarrow's coconut oil. Starting at the bottom of my neck I make upward, circular motions until I've covered my entire face. 

After I've covered myself in coco, I take a few cotton balls and gently remove the extra dirt/makeup. 

3: For the grand finale I use one of my absolute favorite products, Mario Badescu's Enzyme Cleansing Gel. This is an amazing moisturizer. I feel so fresh and clean after applying it on my face. 

Using the same technic with my fingers I do upward, circular motions on my face. Remember, a little goes a long way.

I love all of the products listed above. They help my skin breathe and glow. 

Do you have any favorite products you use before bed? I would love to hear what makes you feel like Sleeping Beauty!