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Liebster Award

Liebester Award

This is my third time being nominated for a Liebster Award but my first time actually following up on it. I was so honored to be nominated by Jess from Bookworms in Dresses a few days ago – a huge thank you goes out to her for that!

Basically, the Liebster Award is passed down from one blogger to another. The blogs that are nominated have under 200 followers and usually pretty young. It’s a great way to build community relationships among bloggers and give exposure to those that need it.

Liebster

The rules for Liebster Awards are:

1. Thank and link a person who nominated you.
2. Write the rules and display the award.
3. Answer 11 questions and write 11 of your own.
4. Nominate 11 other bloggers (who have less than 200 followers on their blog) and don’t forget letting them known that they have been nominated.
5. Write 11 facts about yourself.

Liebester Award

My Q&A from Jess

Do you like receiving snail mail?

Of course! Who doesn’t? My boyfriend and I would write letters to each other while we were living in different states. There’s something very special about knowing somebody took the time to hand-write something for you. It’s the absolute best!

Give your favorite color a quirky crayon name.
Well, my favorite color is pink (duh!) so I would name it “Piglet”

What was your favorite childhood cartoon/TV show?
Spongebob! And Boy Meets World!

You have $20, what do you spend it on?
Food or coffee! That’s what I spend most of my money on anyways.

Favorite fruit/veggie?
I loveeeee watermelon, strawberries, and raspberries!

Beach/mountain/city? Pick one.
Well I would want to vacation at the beach, work in the city, and live in the mountains. Does that work?

Favorite book you recently read, or favorite book of all time?
I recently jumped on the bandwagon and read The Fault in Our Stars which was surprisingly really incredible. I loved how much it made me think about life and relationships. My favorite book of all time..that’s just too hard to pick!

Do you have an image in mind for your dream house? What is it? (You can post pictures too!)
Definitely a house on the smaller size – I like cozy homes. It would be white or light yellow or light blue. There has to be a porch – maybe a wrap-around! Lots of windows for natural light to come in. I’d want to be in the mountains or somewhere really beautiful and by some body of water for sure!

You can take a week vacation to a fantasy world (TV, movie, book, comics, etc) where would you choose to go?
Hogwarts! I’m obsessed with Harry Potter

Who would play you in a movie about your life? (Why?)
Amy Schumer for sure. We have the same sense of humor and kind of similar look! 

Put a playlist to your average day!
Anything country!

 

My Questions:

  1. How did you get started blogging? What advice do you have to new bloggers?
  2. What’s one beauty product you swear by?
  3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  4. What’s your favorite philanthropy/charity?
  5. If income and skill were irrelevant and you could literally have ANY job in the world, what would it be?
  6. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? (or maybe just felt like you had rock hard abs haha!)
  7. Who is one person you know in real life that has inspired you?
  8. What’s your life motto?
  9. If you had endless money to spend at ONE store, where would it be?
  10. When you’re having a rough day, what’s the one thing you know will cheer you up?
  11. If you had to take one book with you on a deserted island, what would it be?

 

Blogs I Nominate:

Amanda from The Trendy Times
Amelia from Bitty Tidbits
Em from Work Love Laugh
Jessica from The Pen & The Needle
Michelle from Midwest Beauty on a Budget
Erika from Bearika Rose
Miranda from Sew Cute
Rachel from Rachel Things

 

 11 Facts About Me:

  1. I am obsessed with Starbucks – the drinks, the company, everything
  2. I’ve never broken/lost/cracked my phone (watch me break it or lose it today now that I say that)
  3. I absolutely cannot stand flip flops – especially when guys wear them. Yuck!
  4. I went to Cambodia on a service trip two years ago
  5. I studied at Cambridge University in England for a month when I was 15
  6. When I was younger, I always pronounced “favorite” as “fravrit”
  7. I can’t keep nail polish on my fingers for more than five hours. I’m addicted to picking it off.
  8. I love roller coasters, cliff jumping, and thrill rides. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie as long as it’s relatively safe.
  9. I think making someone laugh is one of life’s greatest joys
  10. I cry way too easily – happy tears and sad tears. That being said, I also laugh too easily!
  11. Family is my #1 priority

 

 
6 Comments
June 19, 2014 by
Lifestyle

Peanut Butter, Banana, and Cinnamon Overnight Oats (With Chia Seeds!)

overnight oats

overnight oatsI am a firm believer in breakfast. Not only is it crucial to the rest of your day, but it is so delicious! I could honestly eat breakfast foods for every meal of the day.

A huge breakfast trend on Pinterest and blogs lately has been overnight oats, so I decided to give it a try. I found a great recipe to use as a guide from Domesticate Me here and tweaked it a bit to fit what I wanted. This recipe includes oats, chia seeds, peanut butter, banana, almonds, honey, cinnamon, almond milk, and  vanilla.

Overnight oats are an incredibly simple, fast, and healthy way to eat breakfast. They can be eaten on-the-go or as a delicious morning treat. I love how versatile they are as well – there’s  a million different variations!

This recipe seriously turned out amazing and I can’t wait to try variations on it. I was incredibly full after eating one serving – I ate at 7 a.m. and did not feel hungry again until around noon!

Ingredients (serves 2):

1 ripe banana
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup almond milk (unsweetened or vanilla – I used vanilla!)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
1 teaspoon honey (or light agave)
1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Instructions:

Slice banana and place slices in a medium sized bowl. Mash up banana with a fork. Pour the remaining ingredients in the bowl. Stir mixture until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated. This may require some extra effort as the peanut butter and bananas are harder to mix in. When mixed completely, pour into glass mason jar or air-tight container. Place in refrigerator overnight. Enjoy bright and early in the morning! I loved putting some sliced almonds on the top for an added crunch – so good!

Ingredients: chia seeds, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, peanut butter, banana, almond milk, and oats

Ingredients: chia seeds, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, peanut butter, banana, almond milk, and oats

Put sliced bananas in a bowl

Put sliced bananas in a bowl

Mush banana in bowl with fork

Mush banana in bowl with fork

Combine all ingredients with mushed bananas

Combine all ingredients with mushed bananas

Stir all ingredients together until fully incorporated. Make sure the peanut butter is completely integrated!

Stir all ingredients together until fully incorporated. Make sure the peanut butter is completely integrated!

Store overnight in a glass air-tight jar in refrigerator

Store overnight in a glass air-tight jar in refrigerator

Top with sliced almonds in the morning and enjoy!

Top with sliced almonds in the morning and enjoy!
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June 5, 2014 by
Lifestyle

All About My Road Trip

As most of you know, I had been M.I.A. for a bit due to moving from Orange, California to Woodinville, Washington. It was so much fun! My incredible boyfriend, Charlie, drove down (by himself!!) to pick me up from school and then we made the journey back together. I have to say, 20+ hours in the car doesn’t seem so bad with your best friend by your side.

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We stayed the night in Santa Cruz and Redding but also stopped for a bit in San Francisco! My favorite part of this trip (besides singing super obnoxiously in the car) was seeing the scenery change so drastically. It’s incredible to know that in just one hour, the terrain can completely change from smooth beaches to rocky mountains.

I have never been to the Santa Cruz boardwalk or the Golden Gate Bridge, so it was such an adventure for me to finally go. Both were amazing! The Santa Cruz beach was full of the best people watching, the smell of fried food (we ate an entire funnel cake on our own for breakfast), bright colors, and just happiness. The Golden Gate Bridge was much bigger than I anticipated – it took my breath away!

I took a ton of footage during our trip (granted, I’m no expert) and compiled it into a fun video to share with y’all! I also have some great pictures to share as well.

I’ll be making another blog post soon about how to survive a long road trip like this, so if you have any of your own personal tips, share them in the comments below!

10415645_10152432388300535_1140708496153912996_n     7.28.23.22.2ef1p11.213.315.216.2

 
4 Comments
June 4, 2014 by
Lifestyle

Jardin Del Sol – My Sister’s Wedding Venue

This is where the bride and groom will stand during the ceremony. It overlooks a huge grass field. Just stunning!

I had the immense privilege of seeing my sister’s wedding venue, Jardin Del Sol, this weekend! It was so incredible to see it in person and got me so excited to help her with decorating and planning!

This incredible wedding venue is located in Snohomish, Washington. The outdoor atmosphere creates a concept of untamed nature that is effortlessly elegant.

Chloe and Ron have chosen a blue, white, and green color palette, so everything will be decorated differently (but it looks amazing as it is too!).

For all of my Thetas out there reading this, there were pansies EVERYWHERE! It was definitely a sign (:

What advice to you have for Chloe as she plans her wedding? It is a little over a year away!

This is where the bride and groom will stand during the ceremony. It overlooks a huge grass field. Just stunning!

This is where the bride and groom will stand during the ceremony. It overlooks a huge grass field. Just stunning!

The bride walks through this archway and down the aisle here

The bride walks through this archway and down the aisle here

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This is the bridal dressing room where the bride, her mom, the grooms mom, and all the bridesmaids get ready

More from the bridal dressing room. I love the white-washed look of the wood!

More from the bridal dressing room. I love the white-washed look of the wood!

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This barn is where the bridal dressing room is

The happy couple looking out at the reception area! They are so cute

The happy couple looking out at the reception area! They are so cute

This was a beautiful floral arrangement that was an example of one of the venue's vendor's work. So stunning! I love how they incorporated the ladder into it!

This was a beautiful floral arrangement that was an example of one of the venue’s vendor’s work. So stunning! I love how they incorporated the ladder into it!

Dance floor!

Dance floor!

The smoking patio is super posh!

The smoking patio is super posh!

This is the men's lounge area where the groom, groomsmen, and dads can hang out while the bride gets ready!

This is the men’s lounge area where the groom, groomsmen, and dads can hang out while the bride gets ready!

There's even a fire pit! This place has it all

There’s even a fire pit! This place has it all

Just a random super beautiful archway that guests can walk through

Just a random super beautiful archway that guests can walk through

The ceremony area is so gorgeous! They will have different chairs, but it's amazing no matter what

The ceremony area is so gorgeous! They will have different chairs, but it’s amazing no matter what
3 Comments
June 3, 2014 by
Lifestyle

Why I’ve Been M.I.A.

Hello beautiful readers!

I just first of all want to apologize for not being present the past couple of weeks. Life has been hectic for me as I’ve finished up final exams and projects, moved from LA to Washington, and started my brand new internship. Hopefully, I will get back into a regular schedule with my internship and everything. Having a schedule will help me carve out time to write and get back into my blogging groove. I miss writing and connecting with y’all so much, so I will definitely make it a priority to make time for blogging.

In the meantime, please check out my Instagram and Twitter as those are much easier and quicker for me to update! This weekend I will try to finish up a post and video about my road trip as well as my transition moving from LA to WA.

I hope you can all forgive me for being so busy lately! Trust me, I want to be writing. Thank you so much for all of your patience, it means the world!
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May 29, 2014 by
Lifestyle

Guest Post: 10×10 Guide to Mastering Road Trips

Erica Road Trip

I have my last guest post for y’all! This one is brought to you by Erica from Coming Up Roses – one of my favorite bloggers and also one of my sponsors! She’s such a sweetheart with such a passion for life and is fiercely loyal to her faith – something I greatly admire.

Since I’m about to embark on a huge road trip from Orange, California to Woodinville, Washington with Charlie (my best friend/boyfriend/biggest fan) and Erica is ALSO about to go on a road trip with her boyfriend, she decided to write a post for you all about surviving those long hours in the car. Wish us luck being trapped in cars with our stinky boys!

I hope you love her post as much as I do! Definitely listen to the songs she recommends, they’re great!

Connect with Erica

Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Google + // Bloglovin’

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

10×10 Guide to Surviving Mastering Road Trips

Hey there! I’m no Madeleine – I’m brunette and approximately 3,000 miles east of her. But my roots are small town, and I’m equally obsessed with bargain-driven style and fighting (not literally) to end bullying. I’m Erica, I blog over at Coming Up Roses, and I’m way stoked to be on Madeleine’s space today. Plus, I’ve always wanted to time travel, so simulating a 4-5 hour time difference is only fitting, right? Speaking of traveling…

Road trips are always made out to be the epitome of a dream-come-true summer: top down (and hands up n’ out), the perfect sunnies on and the perfect people around you, all screaming singing top 40 hits and sipping iced coffees from some drive-thru or pit stop.

It never really works that way, does it?

Forget doing your hair – the wind has gotcha covered.

You never realize how uncomfortable car seats are until you’re in one for 8+ hours.

And let’s hope you’re reaaaaaally good at “holding it” when the nearest bathroom isn’t for another 50 miles.

But, I’m a look-on-the-bright-side kinda girl.

Wind-drying my hair sounds efficient, 8 hours in a car means a lot of Spotify sessions, and at least most rest stops have Starbucks, right?

I’m about to be celebrating the survival of another year of college with a road trip from Philadelphia -> Chicago with my Love.

 

In the hopes of helping your summer tripping, here is a 10×10 survival kit:

10 riding-with-the-top-down jams: (just listen right now – I promise, they’re too good to wait!)

For the second 10 (10×10, remember?), I’ve got snacks, sprays, accessories and an easy-riding outfit to keep you casual car chic. Is casual car chic a thing? Of course it is.

Erica Road Trip

To munch on: Popcorners (1). These triangular popcorn chips are probably popped in the oven of God, because they’re so fantastically addicting. AND they come in Sea Salt, Cheesy Jalapeno, Caramel, Butter, Sweet Cinnamon, White Cheddar, and Kettle (yum, yum, yum and yum again). Keep snacks light, especially when on-the-go; pack a few packs of fruits and veggies in plastic baggies for a healthier boost around the 7th hour in the car. By then, you’ll just need raw sustenance.

To spray: Bath & Body Works body sprays are good for road primping, because suffocating you or the driver with an overpowering scent is asking for a headache and an even longer ride. I love Cashmere Glow (2) for a sexier sweet smell. If you’re like me, you’re really picky about scents and you cannot cannot cannot handle foul ones, especially in enclosed spaces. Long car rides = enclosed spaces for long periods of time. Play it safe and just spray.

To chew: Stride Sour Patch Kids gum in Red Berry (4). Satisfy the sweet tooth without rotting it out. It actually is sour before it’s sweet, just like SPK promises. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

To accessorize: Steve Madden pink n’ orange sunnies (8), a two tone boyfriend watch (3), and an internationally relevant infiniti scarf (7) – because why not show some global pride on a cross country trip stateside? A road trip is definitely not the time to be blinded by rays, so be sure to pack spares just in case you sit on yours (been there, done that). Time is of the essence when you’re on a road to who knows where, so chunky hardware watches are what’s up. And saying you don’t want a flag scarf is like saying you don’t want world peace.

To moisturize: Suave’s Moroccan Oil body lotion (6) doesn’t have an overwhelming scent either, but it’s super creamy and moisturizing to keep you in tip top car shape. Even though your is confined within borders (relatively speaking), feel exotic with Moroccan Oil. There’s nothing better.

To wear: Studded gladiator sandals (5). Mine are from a street-side shop in Spain (no worries, I flew there), but get similar ones here.
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May 23, 2014 by
Lifestyle

Guest Post: Decorating with Etsy

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I have a third fantastic guest post! This one comes to you from Patty who blogs at Atlantic Chic –  a lifestyle blog she recently started with her sister Michelle. They are Jersey girls who love fashion, makeup, and traveling. Patty also blogs at Reach Your Peak, which is her original blog. Check it out for health and fitness tips and workouts!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Decorating With Etsy

Have you heard of Etsy? I’m sure you have, but if you haven’t, it’s a website where artisans can sell their crafts…anything ranging from art prints to jewelry to home decor.
I love Etsy, and even have my own Etsy shop myself, which I’ll talk more about at the end of this post. Buying things helps support artisans who are really passionate about their craft!

So if you’re trying to decorate (or re-decorate) your room or apartment, here are some great pieces you may want to check out!

Pillows
 
14×14 Coral Throw Pillow With Insert – $18.00
14×14 Rose Pillow With Insert – $35.00
14×14 Decorative Pillow (From my Etsy shop!) – $45.00

 

Prints

Gold and Silver Foil Pink XOXO Handmade Art – $18.21
 
For all you HIMYM fans. Different sizes available.
8X10 Friends Typography Print – $18.00

 

Kitchen
Wild and Free Coffee Mug – $15.00
11×14 Print – $15.00

 

How cute are all of those? Here’s a little background on my Etsy shop. My mom and I started it because we wanted to make cute gym bags. Most gym bags are boring colors, and we wanted bright, colorful prints. Our bags are also water resistant outside and inside!
But we also wanted to do this for a good cause. We teamed up with Manitos, which is a charity started by a woman in Brooklyn, NY. She started this charity to help children diagnosed with cancer in the South American country of Paraguay. This holds a special place in our hearts because my family is from Paraguay.
10% of all proceeds goes back to Manitos. We are actually visiting Paraguay this summer, so we plan on going to the Children’s Hospital and buying things the hospital may need.
Please check out our Etsy shop and take a look around! Some of are bags are custom made, so you choose a fabric from our swatches and we’ll make you the bag…your bag will be one of a kind!
What did you think of my Etsy finds?
Do you shop on Etsy?
 
 

Patty blogs at Atlantic Chic, which is a lifestyle blog she recently started with her sister Michelle. They are Jersey girls who love fashion, makeup, and traveling. Patty also blogs at Reach Your Peak, which is her original blog. Check it out for health and fitness tips and workouts!
No Comments
May 21, 2014 by
Fashion Lifestyle

Guest Post: The Real Monsters in Your Closet

The Real Monsters 2

I have another amazing guest post for y’all!

This one is brought to you by Hoda, an Iranian activist and fashion blogger from Oklahoma going to school in Chicago. Her blog, JooJoo Azad, meaning “Free Bird” in Farsi, is filled with photography of personal style and discussions on social-responsibility within the fashion industry. Warning: this site is more than just pretty pictures.

Hoda’s post covers a very serious topic – brands that are violating human rights, damaging the environment, and conducting business in an unethical manner. Personally, I have a hard time boycotting certain brands that have these violations, so I commend Hoda in her effort to boycott them and truly make a difference. I definitely need to be more conscious and aware of where my clothes/shoes/accessories/etc. come from. Sometimes we are blind consumers and do not think about the history behind a single product when we really should.

You can find Hoda on her blog, Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

THE REAL MONSTERS IN YOUR CLOSET

So I guess our childhood fears were warranted, after all~

But unfortunately, the real thing is much more terrifying than anything my imagination could have constructed and placed in my closet…
The Real Monsters
A recent investigation launched by Greenpeace East Asia found that “hazardous chemicals have been found in children’s clothes and shoes made by major brands including Disney, Burberry, and Adidas” that are not only being washed into waterways across the world and contaminating drinking water, but are also dangerous to the children wearing their clothing! Such “little monsters” hiding in the clothes in children’s closets have the ability to enter our bloodstream and do anything from promoting tumor growth to altering hormones and mutating reproductive organs! Now that’s something to really fear for!

Disney, American Apparel/Primark, GAP, and Addidas are already on the Boycott List (we’re on top of our game! c; ) (also p.s. now that I so conveniently put the link here for you, so you might as well take a look!), but for this detoxing campaign specifically, there is more you can do that just boycotting these brands! Let’s take active action to end their usage of these toxic chemicals in their children’s clothing!

The Real Monsters 2

(Photo via Greenpeace, toxic chemical waste via GAP)

Educate yourself!

Interested in the deets? Check out Greenpeace’s full report here!

Also, get the list of all the brands that have committed to detox–and those that need a bit more…pressure c; here!

Tell these brands to clean up and detox now!

Tweet to @adidas
Tweet to @gap
Tweet to @disney

Sign the Manifesto! 

Join the global movement and add your name to the list of people who care about fashion and ethics!

Check it out and sign here!

Spread the Word! 

The more people that take action, the more pressure we can put on these companies! Blog/share/tweet/email/talk about this issue! Already with your support Burberry, Zara, H&M, and others have agreed to detox, with the latest brand committing to detox on February 10th, 2014! Hooray! Let’s keep this momentum going!

 Together, let’s make these toxic monsters just as imaginary our childhood fears
2 Comments
May 20, 2014 by
Lifestyle

A Week of Guest Posts

Hi everybody! It’s that time of the year again: final exams. Since I’ll be busy studying my booty off, I’ve lined up some fabulous guest posts for y’all! I’m so excited to share them with everybody as they come from some incredibly talented women. I’ve listed them below so that you can check them out beforehand and get to know them! I hope you enjoy their posts as much as I do.

My lovely guest writers for the week

Samantha from Samantha Reads

Hoda from JooJoo Azad

Patty from Atlantic Chic

Erica from Coming Up Roses

Abbie from The Pink Paperdoll

I’ll miss you all this week but I’ll try to check in every now an then to reply to comments and whatnot. A HUGE thank you to my guest writers – you all are so amazing!
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May 18, 2014 by