The Best 16 of 2016

Can you believe 2016 has officially come and gone!? As I am getting ready for all of tonight's festivities, I wanted to take some time to reflect on 2016 and share some of my favorite memories from this year. 2016 brought some of the most amazing opportunities of my life. The places I was able to travel, the people I met and built relationships with, and the many adventures I went on with my friends and family both in New York City and at home in Vermont are experiences I will remember and cherish for years to come.
One of my favorite experience from this year was having my first ever internship in the fashion industry! Working with the Visual Merchandising team at Ann Taylor's headquarters was one of the most eye opening opportunities I have had since attending FIT. Another one of my most cherished memories from 2016 was my study abroad trip to London, Berlin and Florence over the summer. Getting the exposure to the cultures of different fashion companies from countries around the world was a learning experience you just can't get from sitting in a classroom. It was a truly a trip of a lifetime.
I am so thankful for these opportunities and the many others that 2016 brought me. I can only hope that 2017 brings many more (but it will be hard to top)! Keep reading to see a few snapshots that captured 16 of my favorite moments of 2016 and be sure to stay tuned as we enter 2017!! I can't wait to continue to share new and exciting posts with all of you- some of which are already in the works!!
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and my blog throughout this eventful year! I hope you all have a wonderful night ringing in the new year! Cheers!!!

The Best 16 of 2016.... 
 

1. Central Park after Storm Jonas

2. The redesign and relaunch of Kiss of Pink!

 3. Spring Break in Atlanta with my sister, Maria

4. Celebrating my 20th birthday with the Biebs (sorry, not sorry)

5. Interning at ANN Inc. with the Ann Taylor Visual Merchandising Department

6. Finishing my sophomore year at FIT with these beautiful friends

7. Studying Abroad in London, Berlin, and Florence

8. Spending the summer in Vermont with my forever friends

9. Move-in weekend for Junior Year! - Exploring NYC with Mom and Dad 

10. Maria comes to NYC!

11. Starting junior year off right!...Rooftop parties with the FIT crew

12. Fall Break trip to Florida with Taylor to visit Kari at Eckerd College

13. A weekend trip home for leaf peeping season!

14. Christmas in New York City- Afternoon Tea at the Plaza

15. Ending the fall semester with more beautiful friends

16. Home for the Holidays

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Feeling Festive with FOTO

At this time of the year, I am always hustling and bustling around trying to get things ready for Christmas. There are so many errands to run, gifts to buy, decorating to do, and places to be! This year, I will be doing it all with my new favorite tote from FOTO in hand! Known for their adorable, personalized camera straps (you can see mine in a past blog post here!), FOTO has recently launched a bunch of new products- including this bag! All of their products are made from durable, genuine leather and are 100% American made. They also donate 10% of the proceeds from every purchase to support Fotolanthropy, a non profit organization that documents inspiring true stories. My favorite part about FOTO's products is they can all be personalized! I have my monogram on my camera strap as well as on my new tote! The tote is perfect for running all of your holiday errands. It sits very comfortably on your shoulder and can hold everything from your camera, wallet, and other personal items, to your purchases and presents- and maybe a candy cane or two for a little sugar pick-me up while Christmas shopping! The bag also makes a great Christmas gift, along with FOTO's other new products such as luggage tags and leather bound journals! Check out the pictures below to see my tote in action while searching for the perfect Christmas tree and then make sure to head over to the FOTO website and check out their products for yourself! Happy Shopping!

~ Details ~

Tote - FOTO

Christmas Countdown DIY

Now that Thanksgiving has passed...let the count down to Christmas begin!! From here on out I am in full on Christmas mode (even though I have been in the holiday state of mind since Halloween). I just love all the decorations and the warm, cozy feeling that this season brings. As a kid, I always loved waking up each morning during the month of December and getting to open another door on my advent calendar as Christmas day got closer and closer. This year, I'm taking on a slightly different approach to an advent calendar and decided to make one myself! This advent calendar is so easy and fun to make, so cue the Michael Bublé Christmas music, and lets get started!!
Here's what you will need:
- Printable number template (I downloaded my numbers from Simple As That Blog, which I found on Pinterest.)
- Scissors
- Thumbtacks (I used these adorable gold bow tacks from Michael's Craft Store!)
- A pen
- A bulletin board (I bought this framed, burlap bulletin board at Homegoods, which I use above my desk. I simply removed everything from it and will use it temporarily for the advent calendar!)
- Adhesive letters (My glittery gold letters are from Target)

1) The first step is to print and cut out all of the number tags.

2) The second step is where this calendar becomes a bit unconventional compared to your typical surprised filled advent calendars you buy in stores. After you have cut out all of your number tags, flip them all over and randomly select one at a time. On each tag, write in a fun Christmas activity for you and your friends and family to do together. This calendar will be a source of inspiration for you to find different ways to spread Christmas cheer throughout the month! Take a look below at a few of the activities I wrote on mine for examples of what you can write!

3) Once all of the tags have been written on, lay your bulletin board flat and arrange the numbers as you wish, leaving a bit of room at the top of the board so you can add a heading to the calendar with the glittery adhesive letters.

4) Next, take your tacks and simply pin the tags into place. Once they are all pinned down, peel and stick your adhesive letters to the board.

5) I propped my advent calendar up along side a mini Christmas tree and reindeer decoration to add a little more festiveness to the display! You can also hang ornaments off the corners of the board, like this sparkly snowflake!

And that's it! So easy and so cute!! I love this DIY calendar because it focuses on the spirit of the season and will help you bring your loved ones together and create memories. Each day, remember to remove the tack, flip the tag around and re-pin the tag to the board. Before you know it, your board will be covered in inspiration for fun Christmas activities (and you will be one busy bee)!!

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Breezy in Blush

It has finally cooled down to fall temperatures in New York! Last Saturday was the perfect day to take a walk through central park to see the foliage. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to wear my new favorite, blush pink coat, now that it was cold enough to wear it! It also just so happens to perfectly match the color-blocked blanket scarf, sent to me in a care package from my managers back home at Talbots! I was so surprised and excited when I received the package from them. It was so sweet of them to think of me and made me excited to go back to work with them when I go home over winter break later this year. The scarf is so versatile; I have already worn it with multiple outfits! It has quickly become my go to scarf for fall and winter. The best part is that for the month of October, Talbots had donated 20% the proceeds from each scarf to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Under the coat and scarf I wore a simple black turtle neck, paired with skinny jeans, and black booties. These booties were a steal! Would you believe they are from Forever 21!? I have gotten so many compliments on them- you would never guess that they are under $35, nevertheless extremely comfortable! Take a look at the pictures below to see the complete outfit and check out the details at the bottom to get the look for yourself!

~ Details ~

Coat - Old Navy | Try These 1 / 2 / 3

Scarf - Talbots

Turtleneck - Uniqlo

Booties - Forever 21

Earrings - Kate Spade

Purse - Kate Spade

Fall Getaway to Vermont

This past weekend, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a quick trip back home to Vermont to get a little taste of the fall I have grown up knowing. Living in New York City, it is one of the many things I miss about Vermont. The changing leaves just don't have the same affect as they do back at home. Of course, it is hard to compete with the mountains that give Vermont it's breathtaking views at this time of year. Seeing as it is still 80 degrees in the city, the cool, crisp air instantly put me in the fall state of mind.
The first stop was the apple orchard! No fall weekend is complete without apple picking. As you probably could have guessed, I couldn't resist the sugar covered cider donuts sold in the country store by the orchard! Yum!!!
On Saturday, my parents and I got an early start on the day and went for a foliage drive. With a pumpkin spice latte in hand, we started by driving up through Cambridge, where we made a stop for breakfast, then came back down around through Jeffersonville, to Smuggler's Notch. We drove up and over the Notch, and continued on to the Stowe Mountain Resort, where we rode the gondola up Mt. Mansfield! The view from the top was beautiful!! It was definitely worth making the trip home for.
I'm so grateful to be able to go home so easily when I am missing simple things like this. Although I love living in New York, Vermont is the perfect place when I need a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. I'm so lucky to call such a beautiful place my home.
Take a look at the pictures below to see the adventures from apple picking and the gorgeous colors of the foliage from the top of Mt. Mansfield! You can also get a glimpse into all the activities by watching the short video I made, linked below! Enjoy!

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~ Outfit Details ~

Jacket - Banana Republic, Try These: 1 / 2 / 3

Scarf - Try this one

Boots - Sperry

Vest - Patagonia

Turtleneck - Uniqlo