Back to Reality

...Oh there goes gravity...no one? Ok.

So my first day back to work was today and it was...work. I really wish there was such a job where I could just shop all day, wouldn't that be the dream life? It would also be a very expensive life. I did some shopping between when I got back from the beach on Tuesday to when I had to babysit that night and it really did some damage to my wallet. But every piece I bought was justified (sure it was...) so I didn't feel too guilty for buying them. The pieces posted below I believe will get a ton of use! They are clothing staples that will be in my wardrobe for years to come. The necklaces, however, were just because I want to build my jewelry collection...justified right?

This LBD is from a local boutique, it is the perfect jersey material that can be dressed up or dressed down. How could I pass it up?

This is how I styled it for work today with a new necklace as well.

The reason I bought this tank, aside from it being super cute, was because I really don't have a lot of yellow in my wardrobe and I decided that I needed a yellow shirt (my reasons are ridiculous...)

And here it is styled with one of my favorite necklaces from Francesca's

These two are shown styled above. Left from a local boutique and right from Francesca's.

(Coral alternate here, Mint alternate here)

These bad boys are my new babies. I have been eyeing them ever since we got them in at Francesca's. I wore them to work today and never had to take them off, they were so comfortable! These (here) are from Francesca's for $64 (I had a gift card and my employee discount, so of course it was justified), but I also found the exact same pair for $30 at Target (here).

Happy Shopping!

Till next time,

Casey Rose

Beach Bum

Almost a week later but I am back! I really didn't mean for it to be that long in between posts. My goal was to try to have 1 post a day, however I was just at the beach since last Friday until yesterday at a house with no internet. While it was a little annoying not being able to get on my computer and fiddle around, it was nice to be away from technology for a while just relaxing and spending time with good friends.

I went with a group of my friends from school and I couldn't think of a better way to end my sophomore year and start my summer vacation. The first two days were perfect weather and we sat on the beach almost all day. Me being as fair skinned as I am makes me get burnt pretty easily. However, I was proud of myself because I normally get fried that first time I go out for the summer and I only got a little burnt in a few areas! Go sunscreen. The next day was pretty cold so we just hung around the house and the last day (Tuesday) was clean up and go home day. While I am happy to be home, I do wish that I was back at the beach. The trip was all too short. Hopefully I will be able to go back soon, but I don't doubt that will be an issue living so close and all. Until we meet again ocean! It's been real.

Good ole' solitaire to pass the time

Till next time,

Casey Rose

Bye for now

And here we have it, another year has come and went. I can't believe that in the fall I will be starting my Junior year of college! It really felt like it was just yesterday that I was so anxious to get started, now I'm wishing the time would slow down. This year has brought me so many opportunities and so many wonderful people into my life that I now can't imagine my life without. And I know the next two years are going to change me even more, for the better. But until then, we have this summer to get through. And I assure you, it will be one for the books. I can't wait to get started, so get ready, here we go.

Till next time,

Casey Rose

Study Break

It's finals time for most college students. Whether you are just starting or just finished, no matter what stage you are in the general consensus is always the same...

Exams suck!

There is something simply unnatural about having hundreds of college students crammed in the same place (a library most likely), hyped up on caffeine, and going off of less than 2 hours of sleep. There is no wonder why they call it hell week. Seriously, if the devil were to invent something - it would be exams. In fact he probably did. 

Anyways, the point being that exams are awful - always have been, always will be. The problem I have found is that most students do not cope with the stresses of exams in a good way. In fact just this morning my friend told me she went to the counseling center and cried to someone for a straight hour! (Although she is graduating this semester, so I can't really blame her). But most college kids do the same thing! They get extremely emotional on limited hours of sleep and seriously, some people just snap. And to think that there are ways that this all could have been avoided!

Study Breaks. One of the most crucial aspects to studying for exams. No seriously, it's probably more important than actually studying. Taking a 'good' break consists of letting your mind do something other than cram information into it for a little while. It lets it rest so that it doesn't explode at the end of exam week. A good break also isn't too long, because we all know those kids that are always 'taking a study break' (Although I can't really talk - I accidentally took a study break nap that lasted for 3 hours, whoops!). There needs to be an even balance. And when I say study break I do not mean go consume massive amounts of alcohol or smoke illegal substances to clear your mind. That is not healthy. What I mean is let your mind go do something fun! Get up and get out of that book stack that you have planted yourself into and let your eyes see something other than your Chemistry book for the up-teenth hundred time.

Here are some of my favorite things to do on a study break:

• Talk to your roommate
• Attend a fitness class
• Work out!
• I cannot tell you how important this one is! Exercising stimulates your mind and not only helps you de-stress but helps you absorb information once you actually get back to studying.
• Go get some ice cream/frozen yogurt 
• Limit this one, surviving off of sugar isn't a good idea either
• Watch a show on Netflix
• Have a mini dance party in your room
• Take a shower or a bubble bath
• Bath is preferred but I know most dorms do not have them
• Play a game
• Call a friend or parent

Lastly, my all time favorite:

PLAY WITH PUPPIES!!!

I'm such a dork, don't mind me. But seriously can you think of something better than playing with cute baby animals? I mean I certainly can't. 

Last week in the middle of exams my boyfriend and I visited our local SPCA and played with the animals that were there (mainly puppies, but cats and older dogs are allowed too). It was seriously the best break ever. You get to laugh, smile, and get puppy kisses. It doesn't get much better than that. So please enjoy the pictures I took and if you do not have an animal shelter that lets you play with the animals, hopefully at least looking at them will help a little bit.

And I had to add some of my sorority's President's new addition to her family! So precious!

Stay sane and happy studying!

Till next time,

Casey Rose

Hello and Welcome!

Hello! If you are reading this then I must be doing something right. This is my first time trying a written blog. The way I see this page going is to highlight different events in my life, almost like a diary, as well as displaying my favorite fashion and beauty products and tips.

I get a lot my of my fashion and beauty inspiration from YouTube beauty guru community. To be honest, some of these girls have made me the woman I am today. I know it may sound cheesy but these girls taught me how to essentially 'be a girl'. They taught me how to apply my make up, which products would keep my awkward, High School freshman, untamed hair to actually stay straight throughout the day (something that, at the time, was a life changing moment). I never really went to my mother for those types of things, instead I had these women from around the world that were essentially my role models.

I also take a lot of my inspiration from the woman I am around on a daily basis. Living in North Carolina for my whole life has led me to surround myself with the 'preppy-elite' as I would describe them. Where the dress code is Lilly Pulitzer (anything and everything), J. Crew, and top it all off with your Jack Roger Navajos and monogrammed necklace. The bigger the pearls the better and no outfit would be complete without a Michael Kors watch. These were the staples of these women's closets. And admittedly have grown to be mine, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

My love for fashion began when I got my first retail job my Senior year of High School. I was amazed with all of the beautiful clothing that I was constantly around on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure I pumped my whole paycheck right back into the store for at least the first 3 months of working there. Either way I started exploring, and not just my store. Working in a mall that had a Nordstroms less than 300 feet down the hall really did wonders for my wardrobe (not so much my wallet). As my closet grew so did my knowledge. Working in retail taught me how to accessorize and that it was okay to take risks when it came to fashion.

However the one complaint I have to all of these different fashion bloggers and beauty gurus (and it's nothing personal), is that you are all too damn skinny. Excuse my french. I realize the world we live in today puts such stress on the ideal weight you need to be in order to be 'beautiful'. It has made it very hard for young girls who may not be a size 0 to think of themselves as pretty. I believe beauty comes from the inside. Needless to say, I am not a size 0. In fact I am a size 8-10 and proud of it! I have learned to embrace my curves and learned to not beat myself up about not being as thin as someone else. We are all made differently and some people just aren't destined to be size 2's! It just isn't in your genes! That's why I want to inspire the curvy girls to show off what you have! To not be afraid to try the trends because you are worried it won't look as good on you. Even if it doesn't look the best on you, trust me there is something that will and you can incorporate it somehow into your wardrobe that will flatter your body type. So stick with me guys and we'll conquer the 'norm' together.

So here I am, a poor college student just hoping to pass my last exams and escape for summer. I'm an average girl. No glitz, no glamor, it's just me. And if that's enough for you, then welcome. I'm so happy to have you. If not, no hard feelings, thanks for giving me a shot! Either way, thanks for stopping by and getting to know me a little bit better!

Till next time,

Casey Rose