The Big Cut

                                                           

First off - Happy New Year!!

                                                                                                                                                                         

In February 2014, almost two years ago, I decided that I was going to grow my hair out to donate it.  It is something I have always wanted to do, but have never done it.  I decided that I was just going to do it!  I have always kept my hair a little past my shoulders and just a straight across cut.  So, it is not like I needed to grow it out a ton, but a few inches takes my slow growing hair awhile.  I didn't want to wait forever till I would donate my hair, but I didn't want my hair to be insanely short afterwards.

My hair has definitely been longer than ever.  It looks pretty and I like being able to put it in a braid, but sometimes my hair would get in the way and was annoying.  Occasionally I would measure how long my hair was, just for fun and to see how much more I would need to grow it out so I would have a little hair left on my head.  I decided that I was going to cut it over break!

I looked around on the internet at different places that I could donate my hair to.  I decided on Pantene Beautiful Lengths - mainly because they only required 8 inches.  I wasn't sure where I was going to get it cut.  But, my mom kept asking me when I was going to do it.

On Monday night, Mom suggested that she just cut it.  We needed something a little exciting to happen.  At first I wasn't sure about it, but I started it think about it and it sounded fun!  So, we did it!  We followed the instructions online.  If I would have gone to a hair salon, they probably would have cut it and then I would have sent my hair in.  So, really it wouldn't matter where my hair was cut.

I wasn't sure how I would like my hair being short, but I am really liking it.  I actually think the way my hair turned out right after it being cut in the ponytail, was really cute.  But, it needed to be cleaned up some... especially in the back.  And, my mom wanted to do that too.  Why not?  It will grow back.  Mom cleaned it up and then wanted to add few little bangs.  It is really cute!

Before:

During:

^^Just using fabric scissors.  Ha.^^

After:

^^My hair right after it was cut.^^

Winter Boots

So, I got some winter boots for Christmas.  They were one of those gifts that I picked out.  I didn't think of blogging them until now.  My mom and I were thinking that I probably need some boots - especially for walking around campus in the middle of winter.

At first, I was thinking I wanted to get some Bean Boots from L.L. Bean.  But, before Christmas they were on backorder until March.  Being aware that I needed some boots, I paid much more attention to the boots girls were wearing campus.  It ended up coming down to either getting a pair of Aldo or Sorel boots. 

I ordered each to see which one I liked better.  The Sorel's were really warm, but a bit more chunky.  The Aldo's fit me a bit better, in that they weren't so bulky, and were easier to walk in.  I wasn't sure that they would keep me as warm as the Sorel's though.

I ended up keeping the Aldo Zylia boots.  I love them!  They have definitely been warm enough and they are supper comfy... and cute!  Now, these winter boots aren't ones that I would go play in the snow in - they are more on the fashionable side.  And, I think they look kind of Norwegian (I love my Norwegian heritage!).

I am glad I decided to go with these!

A New Fall Outfit

Each season I seem to have one outfit that is my favorite.  I will wear it a lot and it is my go-to outfit.

This outfit actually is not too new.  I haven't worn it much though, because I have been saving it for fall.  I got the pants in Paris... I wish I could go back to get more!  And, the shirt is from American Eagle.  I can tell that this is going to be my go-to outfit this fall.

Paris. Here I Come.

Yes.  On this Tuesday, July 1, my grandma will be taking me, my mom, and my aunt to Paris.  My aunt will already be in Europe, so  she will actually be just meeting us in Paris and then she will fly home with us.  This trip in sorta in celebration of my 18th birthday and my mom's 50th.

I AM SUPER EXCITED!!

 I am trying to pack super light.  I am bring mostly skirts and one pair of shorts.  I have decided that I like only wearing skirts or exercise clothes... no pants.  Skirts are really just the most comfiest things to wear.  Two of the skirts that I am bringing share the same top.  I am also bringing spandoes and a slip for under my skirts, two sets of pjs (my most worn out ones that I planning on throwing out soon, so if I have to do it in Pairs to make room for new items, I won't feel bad about it), one big cozy sweatshirt for the plane, one exercise outfit (I don't know if I will be doing any exercising, we will be doing lots of walking, but just in case), one small sweatshirt, slippers, and of course socks and underwear.  

 I am bringing only two pairs of shoes.  I didn't have any shoes that would be good for walking a lot in and that would look nice with dressing up a little, so a couple weeks ago I got a pair of the Keen Sarasota.  I have been breaking them in and they are really comfy.  They look cute with a lot of different outfits.  And, they look way better in person than they do online.

 My toiletries are pretty simple.  In my travel case I always keep a toothbrush and toothpaste, a contact case, a travel size container of contact solution, and some other random things.  This last spring I got some Pretty in Pairs body wash and lotion.  I have been using it for the last couple weeks to make sure I would be pretty in Paris.  And, I am going to put it in a zip-lock bag in my checked bag to bring with to make sure I stay pretty in Paris.  I don't wear make-up much, and if I do, it is just a little mascara.  So, I am bringing some mascara.

These are the two bags I am bringing.  I am going to check the pink duffel bag so that I don't have to carry it all over the airport and I am going to bring the black one as my carry-on.  I think I am going to bring just my normal purse as my purse.

In my carry-on I am going to bring on change of clothes, in case I get separated from my checked bag, and some contact solution, case, and glasses.  I will also put whatever I decide to bring with me on the plane in there.

Of course, there is a lot more random things that we are bring.... can't forget the passports.  My mom is bring lots of Paris information.  We are going to bring a jar of peanut butter in one of our checked bags, and some other snacks so that we don't have to buy everything.

I still need to find some things to entertain myself with on the long plane ride.

What I'm Wearing to Baccalaureate...

This last spring, I was walking through the mall with my mom.  We weren't shopping, we were just running into a store quickly to return something.  In the window of a store, I saw this outfit.  It was a store that I had never heard of before, Madewell (a couple of days before, though, my mom had seen someone with something from this store on their blog).  I thought it was cute and so did my mom.  We peeked into the store.

I ended up trying the shirt and skirt on that the mannequin had on, which I am wearing hear (the mannequin was also wearing a jean jacket).  I loved the outfit.  Skirts are so comfy!  We bought the outfit, saving it for me to wear to baccalaureate.

It has been hard saving this outfit to wear... I can't wait to wear it!  I did wear it for Mother's Day though, and that is when these pictures were taken.

In the pictures I am wearing my new rain boats from Joules, but I don't plan on wearing them for baccalaureate.  I just got some red sandals from Target the other day, and I am thinking I am going to wear those... I have had a hard time finding shoes to wear.

I love the things I can find when I am not really looking for anything... that is when I have the best luck!

Boots from Joules

One of my birthday presents was to order a pair of boots from Joules.  I was super excited!  They are all so cute, so it was a hard decision on which ones to get.  It would be fun to have one of the patterned pairs, but I'm afraid that I would have a hard time finding something to wear with them.  So, I decided to just get a plain pair, and navy blue goes well with a lot.  They came faster than I thought they would.  I have actually gotten to wear them on some rainy days.  I was afraid that once I got them all the April showers would go away.  (I hope the April flowers bring May flowers though.)

My Purse.

Before I went to NYC, I thought it would nice to have a good purse.  I usually just have used my Nike draw-string bag, but I am getting kind of sick of using that.

I asked my mom if I could get a purse for an early birthday present.  My mom was up for that.  My mom has the Keen Harvest III Mini Messenger and she loves it.  We looked around at purses (on the computer), for one for me.  We mainly looked at other Keen purses.

My mom thought the one she has would look a little too big on me, and there were only two colors - the one my mom has, which I didn't want to have the same color, and a gray that I wasn't too crazy about.

I ended up getting the Keen Emerson Bag Washed Linen.  My first impression was that it was too small. But, I put everything that I would possibly be needing it - wallet, camera, kleenex, a granola bar or two, phone, etc.  It all fit fine.

So, off I went to NYC with my new purse.  I came back loving it!  The size was great for me.  If I was my mom, it would be definitely too small.  But, for me, who doesn't need much, it worked out excellent!

 This purse has lots of pockets!