gone hunting

for a new jacket, that is!

I'm going to the UK this summer. So excited! Of course, that means I've been shopping around for a new rain coat, since England, Ireland, and Scotland are known for their wet weather. As I was reading I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks (AWESOME BOOK by the way go check it out) I noticed a picture of the Vogue UK editor wearing an adorable outfit.

Similar to this but not quite...this is from 2011, while the picture in the book is from 2008.

Anyways, it was the same black jacket as pictured above, a blue/white/red plaid button down tucked into black skinny jeans, and black Hunter wellies. Casual traveler perfect. Effortless yet chic. I gotta say, I am currently obsessed with classic English style. And it dawned on me that I needed that black Barbour jacket. For those of you who don't know, Barbour is a classic English brand that makes high-quality classic, military-style outerwear for men and women (along with other things). Unfortunately, the jackets are circa $500. I've been lusting over these:

This is the one Emma is wearing! Love!

Another Barbour...love the utility style!

Maybe later in life when I have a job...

Since the Barbour jacket is out of my reach, I've been searching for something similar. Kind of military or utility style, water proof, lightweight, in black, navy, or even olive. Here's what I've found:

J. Crew's Downtown Field jacket. A lot cheaper than the Barbour, but still a little steep. And no hood.

Abercrombie's Olivia jacket. Not sure if its waterproof, but exactly the style I'm looking for!

Another Abercrombie. The Brittany jacket. I would probably get it in black, but I do like the blue!

Final jacket from A&F - the Tatum. The description said this is water-resistant, but its a tad boring...

Hollister's North Jetty jacket. I really like this one as well. Much better price too!

The Hollister Emerald Cove jacket. This one was the cheapest, but it only comes in red :(

Hollister and Abercrombie seem to have some good options. They still aren't cheap per se, but they are a far cry from Barbour's pricing. And they still have that preppy-classic utility feel. My parents have found high-quality rain coats that aren't super expensive, but they aren't really "stylish" enough for me, more sporty. I have a bright pink rain coat from Land's End that I like, but I wanted something that would make me look less tourist and more local, while still being practical. A trench coat is an option, but I'd like something with a hood. I do have a military-style olive lightweight jacket with hood, but I was hoping for something thats more water-resistant. I probably will have to look for something a little more expensive for the quality I want...something tells me Forever 21 might not cut it this time. 

Speaking of Forever 21, my haul WILL be up soon! I just need to edit, which I haven't gotten around to doing. This is the problem with videos...too slow to createvfor someone as impatient as me! But I will try to get it up tomorrow. Or at least edit tomorrow so I can post early in the week. 

Well, its almost one in the morning and I have some lines to memorize before rehearsal tomorrow that I really don't know (whoops). See you all soon!

xoxo, Andi

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welcome, 2013!

Hey guys!

I decided to write a post today since I knew my post-Christmas haul post isn't going to go up until tomorrow. I was watching some videos on YouTube of people's favorite things of 2012, which inspired me to do my own top ten favorite things about good ol' twenty-twelve. Not necessarily all beauty and fashion related, mind you! I wanted to just do a fun, personal post. (Psst- that doesn't mean my favorite clothes won't be included!) Without further ado, let us begin!

1. Going to NYC with my besties for my friend's sweet sixteen, spending way too much money, and having altogether an awesome time.

2. Putting on Macbeth over the summer. Even though it was a small cast, we pulled through. I think it was an awesome show. I got probably more acting time than I'll ever get again, and I got to play roles (read: Macbeth) that I'll never get to play again. I learned a lot, met some cool people, and got to try a ton of new things, from a murder mystery improv show to doing silent Japanese mask theater.

3. Getting the solo in White Christmas for my choir concert. Even though I messed up, I worked hard and proved I deserved that solo. And I composed myself as quickly as possible after the blunder. I learned one mistake doesn't define you as a bad singer. What defines us is our choices (as a wise wizard once said), and my choice was to get back up as quickly as possible and accept compliments with grace.

4. Going to Japan this past summer. The most amazing two weeks of my life. I saw so much. It was incredible to make so many new friends and be so immersed in a culture. I loved connecting with the other Japanese students, and I miss it every day. It was an experience I'll never forget.

5. Loving, and losing. There have been a lot of guys that I've liked this past year. A LOT. And I don't think any of them worked out...but thats okay. I'm not super confident and happy being single, but I try to remember just because one guy (or four guys) don't like you, it doesn't mean you will never find love. There's a whole lot of world out there, and a heck of a lot more people.

6. Seeing One Direction live. Alright guys, honesty time. I love One Direction. Yes, the band. Yes, you can laugh. I know not everyone loves them. But I am obsessed and seeing them live and in concert was one of the most amazing nights of my life. 'Nuff said.

7. Knowing my friends have my back. I've made some mistakes, and had some self-esteem issues. Its nice to know that when you're down, or when you mess up, your friends are there for you. And I know mine are. They genuinely care and I love them more than anything.

8. Finding the perfect homecoming dress. It was quite the ordeal, trying to find the right dress that wasn't crazy expensive. But my mom chipped in, and I found this amazing, perfect, classy LBD at a local dress shop. I felt confident, pretty, and sophisticated in it. Its tight, but not slutty. Simplet, yet elegant, but not stuffy. Its perfect. I think it helped make that night actually, even if it didn't go exactly as planned. Being dressed for the occasion makes it that much better.

9. Becoming a model! Well, kind of. I got the opportunity to model in that national magazine Girl's Life this year! They use real girls in their "Love Your Bod" section, and because I've interned there the past few summers they contacted me and asked me to be in their Holiday issue. Go check it out at your local grocery store- I'm in the Dec/Jan issue of GL, page 33, right next to the Babylips ad.

10. Starting The Fashion Collective. This year, I started a fashion club at my school. Not just any fashion club though- one sponsored by a real styling company, LITTLEbird! My boss, Jess, at GL got me the connection to the CEO of LITTLEbird, because Jess knew the CEO wanted high school fashionistas. Its an amazing opportunity for leadership at my school and for making a connection with someone in the industry. Its hard, managing and planning all the activities, but I love doing it because I have a passion for fashion (thanks Bratz).

Alright, I can't stick to just ten!

11. Joining cross country. Another tidbit you may not know about me- I'm kind of a health nerd. I love exercising and being healthy. I try to learn as much as possible. I even have a fitness tumblr too! (Check my actual tumblr for the details.) Anyways, this year, I decided I didn't love field hockey that much and I switched over to cross country. Its tough. Tougher than any other sport I've every played. But I LOVE it! Well, love/hate it :) I love how in shape I am, and my teammates. Hate the workouts and the meets, but you feel great afterwards. Nothing beats that runner's high! And I feel so accomplished, like I can conquer anything. And surprisingly, I'm not all that bad at running!

12. The Shakespeare Trip. I'm in a Shakespeare class at my school. In case you couldn't tell, I'm an English/History nerd. I love that stuff. Along with acting. So naturally, I signed up immediately for the Shakespeare class, which goes on a trip every year for a few days to a theater in Virginia to see plays and go to a workshop. It was so much fun! The plays were amazing, the actors were unbelievably brilliant, and being with my best friends made it, well, just that much better. Plus, we got free gelato every night. Schwing.

13. My friend's end-of-school party. At the end of tenth grade, my friend had his annual end-of-school party. This year was especially fun and significant. I had an awesome time, as expected, but I also got to know my friends a lot better. The usual game of truth or dare had an interesting start that, well, lets just say was big news. Now, it doesn't matter. I've actually become even closer with this friend. But it was a night I'll never forget.

And finally...

14. Starting this blog. I had a YouTube channel,  a tumblr, a Twitter...but it wasn't enough. I wanted something serious, that could make a big impact. That's why I decided to start this blog. I knew if I wanted to be a writer or journalist, I needed to start writing. That's what really turned me on to starting a blog. I want this blog to be a place for me to express my love for fashion and beauty, for me to practice my writing, and something that could be a professional platform that could launch me somewhere new someday. I'd love to work at a fashion magazine when I'm older, and I know writing is the way to get there. So thank you all, for reading this!

Well, that's that. My top moments. If I think of more, I'll return and edit this later...even though I have one more day before its 2013 haha :) Hope you all had a wonderful year, and lets all have an awesome new year!

xoxo Andi

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shopping!

say hello to my dad in the background!

you can't really tell, but the AE bag is massive!

Hello all!

Shopping today courtesy of my Christmas returns/gift cards. Here's a sneak peak of the haul :) I'm really excited because I got some great deals (run, do not walk, to your nearest American Eagle Outfitters for some super sales) and picked up a lot of stuff actually. Normally when I shop, I don't get a lot. But I guess when its not really your money, you spend more! Free bra from aerie, $90 worth of clothes for $30 from American Eagle, clothes from Forever 21 with my giftcard, magazines from Barnes & Noble with my giftcard...it was a good day! Sorry for the low-qual pictures though. I didn't bring my real camera with me, so I'm stuck with the Mac webcam. But I'll be doing a haul when I get home, and I'm sure you'll be seeing the clothes in upcoming outfits!

Today I wore a Forever 21 sweater with AE skinny jeans and my riding boots- nothing special. Plus no camera, so I didn't think it was worth a grainy webcam picture for a cerulean sweater and some denim. My makeup was:
light champagne shadow on the lid (Clinique Come Heather palette), medium taupe brown in the crease/outer half of the lid (Covergirl single eyeshadows in Tapestry Taupe), brown eyeliner smudged on the upper and lower lash line (Maybelline Unstoppable liner in Cinnabar), black/brown mascara (Covergirl Lashblast Volume). Posietint, High Beam, and Dandelion on the cheeks, Benetint on the lips.

I'm loving the berry tint that the Benetint gives! I don't think I put enough on because it faded pretty quickly. I wasn't sure how pigmented it was going to be or how long it would last, so I applied it with a light hand. Tomorrow I'll probably go heavier and maybe even apply it on my cheeks? I'm not sure though, I'm really loving the Posietint/Dandelion/High Beam combo right now. I'm just really happy in general with this daily look, so thats what you'll be seeing a lot of over the break!

Until next post,
xoxo Andi

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post-christmas wishes

This set was made using Polyvore. Find me here!

Hello lovelies!

So, after going through all my wonderful Christmas presents, I found that there were a few that needed to be returned. Along with that, I got some giftcards AND my free bra coupon from aerie came in the mail! Returns + gift cards + free bra = MALL TRIP! So here are a few things I'm obsessing over and would love to pick up tomorrow/order online soon. Enjoy! Happy shopping!

xoxo Andi

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christmas day look

Merry Christmas! (again!)

So, right now I'm blogging in a sweatshirt. Where is the outfit post you ask? Well, as much as I wish there was one, the sweater I was wearing must be returned :( It was a cute grey and mint fair isle sweater from American Eagle that I received this very morning from Santa. Unfortunately, its a tad small AND its very itchy. . . I think it also gave me a rash. So, no outfit pictures for today. I was wearing the sweater, dark wash skinny jeans from Delia's, and my staple pearl earrings. Not a very fancy look, since we were just having some family over for a late lunch/early dinner. I did get an adorable gold bangle from Michael Kors (thanks to my aunt, who works there! score!) and some classic gold ball studs from my grandma.

My makeup was using my new favorite little set from Benefit, Feelin' Dandy. It comes with a tiny Posietint, a tiny High Beam, a small Dandelion, and a small Dandelion lipgloss. This was another present from Santa which I asked for (you'll see on my Wanelo) and I'm obsessed! It gives my skin a gorgeous glow without being overly pink, perfect for my fair and prone to blushing skin. The Posietint is a perfect pink, Dandelion gives a really nice glow to the whole face, and High Beam looked great on my cheekbones. I also tried out my sister's new Urban Decay eyeliner, the 24/7 pencil in Zero (a matte black). It goes on creamy and pigmented, smudges really well, then sets and stays! I love it, and to tell the truth I'm a little jealous that she got a whole set of the liners.
Face: Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation mixed with Paula's Choice Daily Matte Moisturizer, L'Oreal True Match Concealer, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, Benefit Posietint, Dandelion, and High Beam.
Eyes: Clinique Come Heather eyeshadow palette (champagne color all over the lid), NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Madrague (darker matte brown in crease), Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero (smudged on upper and lower lash line), Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara in Black-Brown and Maybelline Volum'express Turbo Mascara in Blackest Black.

Tomorrow I'm off to see some more family, so there probably won't be an OOTD post- we'll see if I'll be doing any other posts. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

xoxo Andi

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christmas eve outfit!

hai

so model-y, I know :)

Dress: Forever 21, Vest: Kohl's, Belt: Forever 21, Tights: Kohl's, Boots: Marshalls, Earrings: Vintage

Hello lovelies! Merry Christmas to you all!

I can safely say Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the beginning of winter, pulling out all of the cold weather clothes, the lights, the smells of pine, cocoa, and vanilla, the music, and the overall cheer. I love gifting the perfect gift and spending time with my family. Ever since winter break started, I've been relaxing with Christmas movies and eating lots :)

My family had a simple Christmas Eve gathering, just my parents, my sister, and I at my grandma's house for dinner. I went with a casual dress, and "winterized" it with a knit sweater vest and grey tights. The rosy gold belt adds some sparkle, and the brown riding boots are the perfect preppy touch. As you can see, these boots are my go-to winter/fall shoe! Really high quality riding boots are a great investment- they can be worn with a dress, jeans, leggings and they will last a long time!

If you want to see how I did my hair (heatless curls that come out really well!) just let me know in the comments.
For eye makeup I did a "cinnamon cocoa eye" which is by one of my favorite beauty gurus on YouTube, who you can find here.

I'll be posting my Christmas Day outfit later. Happy Holidays!

xoxo Andi

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glitter & red

Hello lovelies! Today I have a "nail of the day" post for you all. Ever since I got this L.A. Colors set from my friend, I've been dying to try the reds. I don't have really any reds in my collection, so this was perfect!

The solid red is a nice dark-cherry. The sparkles, surprisingly, have a plum tint along with red glitter unlike most sparkle polishes which are clear. Together, these two colors make a gorgeous dark sparkly red, perfect for Christmas! I realized that they make an oxblood with sparkle, a color that has been very trendy this fall/winter. Like I said, I don't have any reds in my collection, and I'm really pleased with how the polish turned out. And the quality is good too! I only needed one coat of the red and one coat of the glitter. Both of the polishes had nice wide brushes and made even coats on my nails. I can't wait to try more of the colors! After Christmas, I'm planning on using the black polish with gold half-moons for New Year's Eve- and I'm sure I'll be doing another nail of the day.

That's all for now, see you tomorrow with my Christmas Eve outfit post!

xoxo Andi

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