World Traveler

Oh hey, it's almost been two weeks! Where in the world have I been, I bet you've been wondering?

No? Oh awkward.

Haha but really I have been MIA for almost 2 weeks and I'm here to explain. Also to catch you up on what has been going on.

Well the last post was two Wednesday's ago and that Thursday I ended up driving down to Wilmington for my best friend's wedding! It was such a beautiful wedding, I'll insert pictures below, but needless to say it was very hectic and I really didn't get the opportunity to sit down at my computer to do much of anything, nonetheless blog. So here are some pictures from her lovely wedding :)

Some of the other bridesmaids and I.

The beautiful bride!

Their first dance!

Father daughter dance

Avengers cake for him

The table we sat at, whoops not family of the bride!

Sparklers to send them off!

It really was beautiful and I had such an amazing time celebrating my best friend marrying the man of her dreams. I'm so glad I could be apart of it.

From Wilmington I decided to visit a friend and make the long trek up to Washington D.C.! Yes, the nation's captial.

While I didn't spend much time there, I did end up getting to see some sights and even go to a Nationals game! Overall it as a fun trip and I would love to go back. Maybe not take the metro again, yes I may have gotten lost - clearly I am not meant for the city, but I would definitely go back :)

After DC I came home and honestly didn't do much. I got sick, felt like crap and laid in bed all day. I also worked, so my life has been pretty boring. 

However, right now I am at the beach! My family has rented a beach house here for the last two weeks of summer and I am so excited! My last two days working at Francesca's are this Thursday and Friday and I have a retreat this weekend, but come Monday I will be back at the beach soaking up the sun during my last few days of summer vacation. I will update you guys about my trip sometime next week when I have more pictures.

Other than that, I promise to update this more! I have been sucking lately, but I pinky promise I'll be better :) (not that anyone really cares, haha)

Until next time,

Casey Rose

OMG, Shoes.

Let's get some shoes, let's party.

If anyone knows what I am referring to, you have my utmost respect.

Anyways, this week's Wish-list Wednesday's is all about shoes! Since it is nearing the fall, unfortunately, all of the fall lines are coming out and this means boots! Boot's galore - probably one of my favorite things in this world. They are so easy to slip on, adorable, and comfortable! Can't go wrong with that combination. Here are a few of my favorites for the fall.

These are the Tory Burch 'Keirnan' Boot that can be found at Nordstrom for $495

While yes, this may be the most expensive boot, there is just something about Tory. Don't get me wrong I understand it is a little ridiculous to pay an ungodly amount of money for a name, but there's a little part of me that just can't help it. They are beautiful, simple, and could go with everything.

These are the Enzo Angiolini 'Saevon' Boot that can be found at Nordstrom for $149.95

These are a little more wallet friendly. I think you'll begin to notice with the boots I choose that I like simplicity. There isn't much going on with this boot but I love it. For my personal style, I want my shoes to compliment my outfit, not be the center of attention. I believe these do the job.

These are the Halogen 'Keri' Tall Boot from Nordstrom for $229.95

To me these look like the Frye boots, which I like. Frye does it well in that they are simple yet elegant, however they are way too overpriced. Personally if I am going to pay that much for boots they better be one of my favorite brands (Tory) or literally make my legs look like a supermodels. Anyways, these boots are so cute and so simple and I love them.

As you may or may not have guessed I'm in the market for a new pair of brown boots for fall. Last season my favorites that I had worn for at least 3 years broke. I was so devastated. Now I could have them repaired but I figured they are so old that they would have to go soon anyways, it just wouldn't be worth it. Either way, hopefully one of these pairs I listed today will be in my closet soon. Also, I know Nordstrom's always has a pre-season sale before their new fall stuff comes out. Hopefully I can grab one of these during that sale for a discounted price! I'll keep you guys updated.

Until next time,

Casey Rose

Sisterly Love

Sister (noun): A girl or woman who shares a common ancestry, allegiance, character, or purpose with another or others, specifically

You can never underestimate the power of a sister. They are someone who will always be there for you. When you need to laugh, cry, or just someone to talk to - they're always there for you.

I have made some incredible friends this past year since joining Pi Phi and I can proudly call these women my sisters. While in the traditional sense we may not be blood related but we share a common allegiance, character, purpose, and believe it or not ancestry. Now ancestry may not be your common mom or dad but we do have founders and these founders have since caused this ripple affect in allowing me to call all of these women around the world sisters.

I never realized where I would find them either. My grandma is my sister. One that I will always cherish forever. I learned soon after my initiation that my aunt is a Pi Phi. It really is funny how many people I learn are Pi Phi's.

It was funny because we were in Panera Bread the other day discussing recruitment and this women comes up to our table and asks if we were Pi Phis (she must have seen the sticker on my laptop). Well she immediately reaches for my hand to give me a handshake, I was later embarrassed to find out she was giving me the secret handshake and I didn't even realize it...either way it was so cool to run into someone out and about who shared a similar past as me.

We may not be blood related but the knowledge that only us as sisters possess is incredible. It's amazing how much we share, our common interests, beliefs, it's hard to find that any place else.

Even though I did not grow up with any blood sisters, I am lucky because I get to call thousands of women across the world my sisters and I wouldn't have it any other way. So thank you Pi Phi, for filling my life with beautiful, successful women whom I look up to on a daily basis. I couldn't have asked for a better ancestry.

Until next time,

Casey Rose

High on Life

If someone asked me to describe my style in three words I would probably use girly, conservative, and preppy. But for whatever reason, I am always envying how these (as I like to call them) 'hipster' girls dress. You know the ones, that are so tall and skinny, wear high waisted shorts, cut off shirts, and combat boots. I love that style and even though I would probably never convert my closet to dress like that at all times, I think adding a little flair from people or trends that inspire you is completely fun and a great way to spice up your wardrobe while also staying a little bit in your comfort zone.

So today for Fashion Friday I will be talking about a recent purchase I just made from Urban Outfitters. Yes, I bought high waisted shorts. I had bought a pair from American Eagle years ago, loved them to death but unfortunately grew out of them and they also weren't as high waisted as I probably would have liked them to be (since I have a longer torso and high waisted to some is like barely scraping the bottom of my belly button). Anyways, I bought the shorts below from Urban Outfitters and immediately fell in love and knew I had to get them.

Now if you know me at all, if I were to get a pair of high waisted shorts - these would be them. But while I must say even though these might have been made for me, it took me a lot of pairs to be completely sure. I had tried on so many shorts, ones with fringe, ones without, different colored washes but these were the ones I kept coming back to. They were $60 and I almost didn't get them because they were $20 more than the exact same pair, the only difference was the lace on the side and I didn't really know if I could justify paying $20 for lace. However, I convinced myself and I am so happy that I did. These were the perfect length, again I am a little more conservative so I wasn't a huge fan of the shorts that were showing a little booty. And they also were high enough to cover my belly button, another huge plus! Also, the lace = girly...need I say more?

My advice to you if you are in the market for a good pair of high waisted jean shorts is try on as many as possible, in as many washes, lengths, and styles as possible. A good place to start would be Urban Outfitters just because they almost always have them and from there you can find ones you like and maybe find them for cheaper elsewhere, but at least you know what you want.

Now that I had my recently purchased shorts, of course I couldn't wait to go home and try them on and make as many outfits as possible! Here are a few of my favorites...

This first one I have actually already worn out to dinner with my friend. The shorts are BDG Erin High-Rise Denim Shorts from Urban Outfitters. The shirt is (old) from Urban Outfitters. And the necklace is (old) from a local boutique.

I loved this look because I feel like it is so nautical. This shirt I have owned for the longest time now and every time I put it on it just reminds me of summer, I don't know why but I love it.

The next look is kind of more casual. It is something I would probably wear with cowboy boots to a summer concert. I wore something like this when I saw Chiddy Bang, only I had on low rise jean shorts. I like this because since the shirt is a crop top, you don't see any of my stomach (which I am insecure about) and it high lights my favorite parts of my body - my arms and neckline.

The shorts again are from Urban Outfitters. The top is (old) from Forever 21. And the necklace is the Tinley Park Floral Necklace from Francesca's.

This last outfit isn't exactly my favorite, maybe because I didn't really try to make it look as nice as I could have, but the concept of it I love. This is a look I would probably wear to a party with wedges. I love these kinds of tops, I have two of them and one in a dress form...I'm also looking for a white one, yeas I realize I'm crazy. However like I said before it high lights my favorite part of my body - my upper body (shoulders, arms, neckline, etc.)

Again, shorts from Urban Outfitters. Top is from a local boutique and the necklace, again, is from Francesca's.

I hope you all enjoyed this Fashion Friday. I think this post kind of relates back to the first post I had ever written on here. It was about how even if a style is 'meant' for a certain body type, you can still rock it and make it your own for your body type. I certainly do not have the skinniest figure and I know I have some hips. Plus this whole high waisted shorts deal doesn't do wonders for your ass, sorry about it. But I am in love with these and I think I made them work for my body type :)

Until next time,

Casey Rose

Neck Fetish

I've come up with another alliteration...ready for it?

Wish-list Wednesdays! Woooo

So get ready! This week's topic is necklaces!

The first necklace I have been loving ever since I laid eyes on it. It was originally a J Crew necklace priced at way more than I ever would intend to spend on any such necklace, so I did some digging of my own and found this beauty on an Etsy shop for just $18, now that's more reasonable.

Okay I feel like the world's biggest copy cat with this necklace. Yet another J Crew necklace that everyone in the world was fawning over. But lets face it, this necklace was practically meant for me. Roses? Casey Rose. It needs to be mine, soon. This beauty was also found on an Etsy shop for $28

Lastly what every woman seems to have in their possession nowadays - a monogram necklace. For whatever reason I can't seem to bring myself to spending $70+ on a little necklace. I don't know if it's just I find it much more justifiable to spend that money on clothing, something that will actually cover my body, or what. But looking back on all the dumb clothing purchases I've made in my two years of wanting one of these and I could have easily had one by now. But alas, I can only dream. This 1 inch monogram necklace was found on an Etsy shop, again? shocker, for just $64 (I can do that right?)

There you have it, the first installment of Wish-list Wednesday. Mom you'd better be reading this, because I do believe that someone's birthday is coming up in a months time ;)

Until next time,

Casey Rose

Ocean to Ocean

Hi! I realize I suck and that I haven't really posted on this blog in forever. Last weekend as you may or may not know I was in San Diego for a conference for Pi Phi. I was planning to keep this blog updated while I was there but there was no internet and any down time I had was dedicated to sleeping. So I will try and make it up here!

I had so much fun making new friends and learning lots to take back to my chapter when the fall comes around. I can't tell you exactly what we talked about, mainly because it would take up four pages, but the majority of the conference was dedicated to voting in the new Grand Council as well as different sessions that you could go to to focus on what is a main need for your chapter.

I went to a lot of the Recruitment sessions because our chapter is new and we still aren't totally awesome at recruiting. I learned so much and got so many ideas from different chapters. I even got to speak with someone from Alabama, who has a pledge class the size of our whole chapter...yeah seriously..., and just listening to the way she does things on a Greek heavy campus was so interesting and gave me lots of ideas to try out when I returned in the fall.

So my rant is over and even though I couldn't fill you in on everything, I hope the pictures that follow make up for it :)

Off to San Diego!

The pretty fountain behind the hotel

The view from my room - gorgeous

The pretty harbor with the San Diego Sky line

The $75 Rugby shirt I HAD to have.

The pretty letters for convention

Night one's dessert, so precious and so good!

Cookie Shine!

Philanthropy project on the last day

Throw what you know!

Sis Mullis, the cutest Pi Phi ever

Grand President being sworn in!

Before the Carnation Banquet - last night's dinner

The plane ride home :(

I hope you enjoyed a few pictures from the trip. I had an amazing time and want to go back!

Until next time,

Casey Rose

Thank God for the Red, White, and Blue

Happy (day after) Independence Day everyone! Yesterday marked the 237th birthday of the USA! 'Merica.

So in honor of America's birthday I thought I'd show you my outfits of the day! (Yes outfits, as in multiple) I had an outfit that I wore to work as well as an outfit I wore to a friend's party. Enjoy!

This is the outfit I wore to work today. The dress is a 'ballet' style dress from Francesca's from a long time ago. Scarf is also from Francesca's, I've also seen a similar scarf from Free People. Belt is from TJ Maxx and shoes are flats from Steve Madden.

My arm candy of the day was my white watch from Michael Kors. The two bracelets are from Francesca's as well as the scarf in the background.

This is my party outfit. The top is old from Francesca's. The skirt is also old from J Crew but they have similar styles, not the same color, on the Factory website. And the shoes are the Silver Navajo's from Jack Rogers.

This is a PicStitch where we saw the fireworks last night. It was in Chapel Hill on the UNC football field. Even though I am a die hard NC State fan and it may have been a little uncomfortable being on Tar Heel stomping ground, it was a nice place to see fireworks.

I hope your Independence day was full of fun and friends! Happy Birthday America!

Until next time,

Casey Rose