Nine thousand.

9,000.

This is the best early birthday gift a girl could ask for.

To have people view and appreciate, constructively criticize and compliment your work is the best feeling in the world. 

And this little engine that could just reached

 9,000 page views.

Some of you may stumble upon this, 

click past, and simply gaze over the most recent post.

And I still appreciate your glance. 

To those of you who make it a point to read this, 

I genuinely thank you from the bottom of my heart 

for taking the time to follow along with me. 

You mean the world to me. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Xo, 

k.

July Instagramistory : My favorite month so far.

Throwback Thursday.

 #TBT

Things have changed a lot in the last few years.
Things have changed a lot in the last few months.
But whenever you get the chance to look back and remember little things that once made you smile, do it. 

I just stumbled upon pictures from an old blog I used to write during my junior, and senior year of highschool.
SO just like instagram, here's a #throwbackthursday, #tbt, (#fml) look back at those years of  "blogging".



  

     I remember not telling anyone in school about my blog, but would just post links on my facebook. I was so scared of what people would say, what they would think. Would they mock me? Would I make myself look like a fool infront of my peers?

You want to know what else changes over the years?
Everything. 
Feelings. Cares. Worries. Life. 

I remember saying to myself after a couple of people had made little remarks to me about my page, "why would I ever even do this to myself. I need to delete this whole thing. I need to just stop, and erase it all. This is so embarrassing." 

Fast forward four years, and none of that matters anymore. Those remarks were just words in the wind, and they're long gone. Whether you chose to let them choke you, or let them shape you, is your choice. 

So look back at your old photoshoots. Remember how you felt, and think of how you feel now. Never let the past hold you back from a beautiful future. 

I hope everyone is having a beautiful July. 

And a thrilling #tbt. 

Love you all, 

-K.

July.

Hello everyone :)

I'm going to start by apologizing for the lack of posts as of lately. I've been really busy with work, and trying to get stuff together for school which is shockingly happening in less than two months. It's crazy how time flies, as cliche as that sounds, but it really is. 

I just want to thank everyone also, for taking the time to read and follow along with my rambles. As of now, my page has 1900 views. I am utterly amazed at that number. I would never expect that, ever, and I am honestly so proud of how far this little engine has come. Once again, thank you, YOU, whoever you may be reading this now, for doing just that. It means the world, the universe, and everything in between to me. 

I hope everyone is having a beautiful, steamy July so far. Six days in  and we're burning up here in New York.  I wish everyone of you a relaxing, and gorgeous July. It does fly by, as I said before, so even in the midst of everything we have going on in our crazy lives, we still need to take time to enjoy the sun once in a while.

For me, this page is an escape into a world of everything I love. I love to write, and I love style and beauty and I love sharing it with you. So once again, thank you for coming along on this journey with me.

If there is anything you'd like to see this month, please let me know in the comments below.

Have a lovely day, my friends.

Until then, 

K. 

Polished.

Nail Polish Haul : Urban Outfitters 

From left to right:

Bright lights: Sheer gray toned polish with round multicolored large glitter

Tiny Shirt: A neon bubblegum pink

Scorcher: A clear polish with large multicolored glitter and fine silver glitter

Sunshine: Bright, sunny yellow

The best part about buying these? Since it's the end of the season, it's out with the old and in with the new for most stores...so I purchased all four of these polishes for $1. They're normally $5 each. 

Winning.

Have a good week everyone!

Until then,

-K.

NOTD: Bright Lights

Nail Of The Day: Urban Outfitters - Bright Lights 

 A little multi colored glitter never killed anyone.

                                                                                -K.

ITunes Loving: Summer Jams

ITunes Loving : Summer Playlist 2013

Added some more music to my car playlist these past few weeks. ( I literally cannot stop.)

The thing is, most of these songs are not new. They aren't current, and maybe they're from way back. Take this as you may, but who cares if a song is from 10 minutes ago, or ten years ago? If you can jam to it, why not love it?

Here's what's (kinda) new :

Everything is Alright - Motion City Soundtrack

That's So You - The Rocket Summer

Overrated - Less Than Jake

Grand Theft Autumn - Fall Out Boy

Beauty In the Breakdown - The Scene Aesthetic

Red Dirt Road- Brooks and Dunn

Joey - Sugarland

Always the Love Songs - Eli Young Band

Johnny and June - Heidi Newfield 

I'm Only Me When I'm With You - Taylor Swift

Friends In Low Places - Garth Brooks

Til My Last Day - Justin Moore

Your Song- Ellie Golding 

Come On Get Higher - Sugarland 

Airliner - Julia Sheer

Knock Knock - Mac Miller

What is your go to summer car song? 

Let me know!

Until then,

-K. 

Blog loving - advice style?

Hey guys,

So clearly you can tell by this page that I love writing about and reviewing products. But writing in general is something I really really adore doing. I think most people could write something better than they could possibly say it. It's an easy way you express yourself. 

Recently, I was excited to hear that an advice piece I wrote for " Get Smart Coaching" is going to be published on their website either 5/27, or 6/3! It's a column piece directed towards upcoming high school graduates, and my advice on how to handle these last few weeks of school. 

Here's their mission statement : 

"Get Smart Coaching's mission is to make sure every young  

women on the planet knows how awesome they are. Through positive use of social media 

young women can change the world."

All of their social media links include:

https://www.facebook.com/getsmartcoach
http://www.thegetsmartcoach.com/Home_Page.html

I think this site is an incredible outlet for women, both young and old to give advice to us fellow girls. If we have the knowledge, why not spread it?

Look out for my post and let me know what you think!
Until then, 
-K.

What's in my bag? May 2013

Hey guys, 

I am so obsessed with watching the " what's in my bag/purse" type of videos on youtube. I'm not sure what it is about them that I love, but I always like to see what other girls carry with them! I guess it's nice to see what other people consider their essential bag items.

So above is everything I'm carrying right now on a day to day basis, dumped out on my floor, minus about 300 receipts, and Starbucks straw wrappers. 

 Some beauty items I always carry. I know, 4 hand sanitizers. I cannot stop myself from buying them. I can always find myself reaching for them. Three lip balms is sufficient, right? The Nivea lip balm is my new favorite, but the baby lips and Nivea cherry are so good. I always carry the nailpolish I'm currently wearing just in case of chips. This one is Revlon's " Cool Beige". A bobby-pin can always come in handy, and so does a small mirror ( the pink snowflake round thingy. Good description, right?). The small red container is actually something you may not see all that often. It's paper soap strips. I always try to carry some sort of soap( just in case you use some kind of public bathroom, and they don't have soap!). Vanilla scented body lotion never leaves my bag. The two pink bottles are both perfume. The one is a Travalo, that I have filled with MAC's Turquatic perfume, and the other is an old Paris Hilton Perfume.

Above you can tell that I'm actually a huge nerd. Yes, that is a 1935 calculator( for my business math class). Under is my favorite thing in my purse. I swear by using an agenda, and it's managed to keep me organized for the last four semesters in college. I monogrammed it with a vinyl sticker I purchased off Etsy. Two huge paperclips may seem silly, but I have a class that requires us to print out like five power-point presentations at a time, and they actually are a life saver. I'd take a mechanical pencil to a pen any day, that's why there's a couple there, but since I am in college I do actually have to grow up sometimes and use a pen. Along with a  highlighter, I keep a mini stapler and hole puncher. I told you I was a nerd.

The rest of the crap is miscellaneous. Two pairs of sunglasses, a hair tie, and loose change that I haven't yet put into that black coin purse. A gold ring, an extra contact, and ear buds. All that's left is a giftcard, my business card, and a ticket stub from the most incredible concert I've ever been to. 

And that's all of the junk I pile into my purse. I typically have my phone in there as well, along with a notebook. I use to carry my books in my purse too, but I usually will only do that if I'm carrying my longchamp tote. 

What are your purse essentials? Am I missing anything?

Let me know!

Until then, 

-K.

Mayday, mayday..

Dear Earth, 

Could ya slow down just a little bit so that maybe this year wouldn't fly by so fast?

Is it actually May 2nd already, or is this some kind of sick joke? 

Just curious,

Love,

The girl in disbelief.

Now, I'm not sure if it's just me, or students in general right now who are loving and absolutely hating the month of May. I think there are general pros and cons to each month, but May really enjoys confusing the hell out of all of us. Here's my pro's and cons..

-Pro: It's finally starting to warm up, and there's not 18+ inches of snow on the ground!

-Con: All of the really obnoxious and disgusting bugs decide it's okay to come out...and it's actually not okay.

-Con#2: It's still about 65 degrees here, which in theory is not THAT warm. Apparently, someone sent a memo to girls that it's okay to wear shorts ( and when I say shorts I should actually be saying underwear with a denim lining) with Ugg boots. WHY. Please someone explain to me why Ugg boots with shorts was ever considered "trendy" by anyone, anywhere, ever..

-Pro: The spring 2013 semester is almost over, which means summer is right around the corner..

-Con: You read it, the spring semester is almost over. I have two weeks left...which also means that finals week is in one week..Stress anyone? I think the most terrible part of finals week, is that you know that it's coming, but since it's so nice out you neglect your notes and decide to drive around and relax...or maybe that's just me.

Alright, I'll stop whining for now. I'm really genuinely happy that it's May, and it's finally starting to feel like spring. This semester in college was my absolute hardest. Shout out to me for saving two math classes until my last full semester. Thank you, advisement board, for not telling me what a terrible decision that was. Anyone who is in their final semester of school knows that the stress right now is out of control. I find myself thinking all the time, " when did we all grow up?" I feel like I was just walking across the stage at my high school graduation, when in two weeks, I'll be walking across the stage getting my Associates degree. 

    

I find it insane how fast time flies. It's so very cliche, but here's how I see it. I've had my IPhone since 2011 

( which seems like last year, right?) and I was going through the pictures on it.  I have pictures from prom, and graduation, and senior day (circa 2011). I have photos of my god daughter  from the day she was  born up (2012) until about a week ago. This beautiful, precious little (not-so-)baby anymore has grown up right before my eyes. She now can walk...and talks a mile a minute. Wasn't she just born? It's easy to see how fast time is really going as you see someone grow. 

PS: Just want to give my best friend of 20 years the biggest congratulations in the world for receiving the most incredible internship opportunity in the world. No one deserves it more than you, and I am so proud. 

London's waiting. And I'll  be waiting for stories when you get home!

April wasn't too bad, right? And even if it was, it's now long gone. 

Here's to the pro's of May, and the months to come. 

Here's to the sleepless nights and studying that are to come as well.

So here's to us, and another month in the history books.

I hope you all have a lovely May.

Thank you for following along with me through April, it means the world and more to me.

I'll be sure to post more soon.

And until then,

-K.

Just another ramble, social media this time.

Being in the world of fashion 24/7 as a student is an amazing thing. Knowing trends, forecasting, and what all the celebrities are up to is a must. In 2008 I signed up for Facebook, the ultimate social networking website. ( before that was of course myspace, and we won't discuss that because I wore zipper earrings in my profile picture..) There is a HUGE world to be explored online, and if you're reading this, you may have clicked the link off of one of my sites. And I thank you kindly for doing so.

I've been introduced to the world of beauty gurus and fashion blogs like dulcecandy.com and so many others who inspire me on a daily basis. I find myself looking to ready daily posts instead of watching garbage reality tv ( don't get me wrong, I love Scott disick as much as any other girl) because I can learn about fashion not only across the country, but across the globe.

My top 5 YouTube gurus currently:

- sarahbelle93x

- itsjudytime

- dulcecandy87

- zoella & sprinkleofglitter

- akaydoll

Most of these women are my age, if not older, and are not only extremely popular on YouTube, but most run blogs and are noticed on social media as well. It's an incredible platform.

My social media contacts:

Twitter : @kristenicoleeee

Instagram: @kristendari

Who are your favorite bloggers?

Let me know, I'd love to read some new ones!

Until then,

-k

I built my life around you.

I need to vent.
So if you're not ready to hear me ramble, I'd run now.
Maybe I'm being over dramatic, or maybe I'm just crazy. But it's half past midnight and I was going through old photos on my phone ( and honestly I cannot believe I've had my IPhone for this long) and seeing pictures of my hometown are really hitting me hard.


I've lived here my whole life. 
Twenty years. 
Never been south of Virginia, never been west of Pennsylvania, and I've been up to Maine. What sick inner conscience is telling me to pack my boxes full of those twenty years and move to a new state, that I've never been to, and start a new life? Is it strange that I want to leave? Is it? I know I need a change. I know I can do this. But talking about it, and actually doing it are two completely different things. 


I'm excited.
And please family if you're reading this don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited. I am excited for a fresh start out of this tired old town. I know there are better things for me south of the Mason Dixon. I am beyond blessed that my family is so incredibly supportive of me. I just wish I could see the future. I wish I could see where I'll be in five months, ten months, two years, ten years. Don't you? This is where the whole religious debate comes into play, and I'm not even going to get into that. But, if God or a higher power does exist, does he have a plan for me? Is my future laid out and I'm just strolling along a pre-determined route? Okay, maybe I am crazy.

Crazy is buying place settings for a table of four before you have a down payment on an apartment. Crazy is buying canisters, Windex, and dish soap for a kitchen that you've never seen. Crazy is falling so in love with a place you've never been. Crazy is me. I am so determined to make my future as bright and as beautiful as I possibly can. I hope you, whoever you are reading this (if you've hung in there this long, I sincerely thank you) is as excited as I am for what lies before us. 

This world is sick, and cruel as we've seen in the past week. There's a whole lot of evil out there. My issues are ridiculously stupid compared so people who have been through the hand that the world has dealt them this week. I pray for you, to whoever is up there. I pray that like I said earlier, your future is bright. Take each step as it is. Take a deep breath. We're all in this together.( I'm rambling. I need to do this though. If anyone has ever found comfort in writing, or any form of expression, you'll know how relieving this is after a long day.)


There's an incredible song on the " We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things" album by Jason Mraz called Details in the Fabric. It features James Morrison and has been my serenity for the past five years. When I'm high, (no, not literally), it brings me back down, and when I'm low, it lifts me back up. If you've ever heard it, you'll know what I mean. Maybe to me it just has greater meaning, but I have never been so in love with a piece of music in my life. I'm listening to it right now, and that's why I'm raving about it. I've been so stressed lately, between school and work and making these crazy future plans that I'm making.
Anyway, there's a line that says:
" Are the details in the fabric, are the things that make you panic, are your thoughts results of static cling? Are the things that make you blow, hell no reason go on and scream. If you're shocked it's just the fault of faulty manufacturing." 
And that made me fall in love with this song.
And it brings me back down.



End rant.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Thank you, once again, if you've read along this whole jumbled mess of a diary entry. I appreciate it. 
We're in this together.
I'll talk to you all soon.
Until then,
-K.


" And everything will be fine."

Out with the old, up with the new.

My name is Kristen. 

I am a 20 year old fashion merchandising student from New York. 

I'm on a journey, and I'm deciding to document it.

And, I'm inviting you with me. 

This blog is going to consist of fashion, beauty, home&decor and random posts about my upcoming move.

Hopefully, it will be helpful and offer advice to anyone who is at the same stage, or anyone just looking for a place to relax. I love learning from other people. Learning about style, learning that there is a difference in styles between states, or even just towns. Tips and tricks about beauty, from hair to makeup and skincare.

I have love for all things fashion, as I said above I'm a student in the fashion industry. I will be moving from my comfort zone to a whole new world in a state that is hours away from here. It's going to be wild. Not in the stereotypical college crazy wild definition. Wild in the context of being new, and a new outer body experience.

I find comfort in knowing that there are people out there who are just as stressed with finals, projects, and pressure as I am. Not that I would wish anyone stress, it's just nice to know that you're not alone in this world. It's big, and it's scary.

As time goes on, so do we. Every day is something different. We work, we play, we love, and we continue. 

I hope you all enjoy this ride. 

Until then, 

- K.