neon pink

H&M dress (similar) | Chanel sunglasses (similar) | Nordstrom cardigan | New Look shoes | Swank necklace | Swank bracelets | Kate Spade bag (similar)

It has been great to break out the brights lately, and I couldn't resist my neon high low dress! You may remember it from last summer when I wore a similar ensemble. This time I paired it with a cardigan (still a little chilly for May), new accessories, and flat espadrilles.

xo-ally

studying for my "final" final...

My view the other day studying on the grass

I've had a pretty easy week so far in terms of finals, which I didn't expect considering I took 18 credits (the max amount) this semester. On Sunday I had a speech final, but we just went out to a restaurant and gave short speeches. It was so much more fun than a test! 

Since I took some finals early, I just have one more test left tomorrow morning (8am....so early for me....) and I'm about to go to the library. My "study outfit" often consists of leggings or Nike shorts with a t-shirt, but since I was out and about running errands today, I wanted to wear regular clothes instead of gym clothes. (But really - sometimes I feel out of place wearing gym clothes off campus. One time I wore Nike shorts and shoes to the doctor's office and he asked me if I was on the cross country team....#awk have any other college girls experienced this? Haha) anyways, this is what I wore this afternoon and will wear to study. The whole outfit is SO comfortable, especially the denim shorts. 

I also finally found a graduation dress! I had been looking and looking, to the point where even buying online wouldn't work because it wouldn't ship soon enough. Finally I just went to a little boutique and found this mint and pink dress! Perfect for spring and just the right amount of daytime formal for graduation. And it was only $42 - you can't beat that steal.

Haha you can see my purple pillow pet in the photo :P

Have a wonderful Wednesday, lovelies!

xo-ally

friday's fancies - shoes, shoes, shoes

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is shoes, shoes, shoes. I'm loving these shoe styles for spring :) and crafted a spring pastel outfit around a fabulous pair of Miu Miu pumps below.

From left to right: mint heels, cork flats, pink loafers, green flats, gold heels

dress, necklace, bag, shoes

I'm reaaaally thinking I might get that Vince Camuto bag soon! It's on my list and I have a gift card....hmm ;) we'll see. And as much as I'd like those pink Miu Miu pumps to be on the shopping list, they definitely aren't due to the price, haha!

Enjoy your Friday!

xo-ally

friday's fancies - project polka dot

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is Project Polka Dot. I love the black and white polka dot sweater so I built an outfit around it! The peplum top and scallop shorts make the outfit a little less casual but not too dressy. The trendy sunglasses, bold bangles, statement necklace, and bright nail polish complete the look!

top, shorts, sandals, necklace, bracelets, sweater, nail polish, sunglasses

xo-ally

friday's fancies - pretty in pastels

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is pretty in pastels. This light yellow lace dress is classic and pretty, and goes well with stack of pastel bangles. The bright pink shoes add even more color!

dress, pink bracelet, mint bracelet, yellow bracelet, shoes

xo-ally

dresses for vegas

I'm going to Las Vegas for part of spring break, and I'm so excited! Our basketball team will be playing in the WCC tournament and I can't wait to go. I am currently in the market for some dresses to wear in The Vegs. I want to look polished but fun without spending a lot of money (since I don't know how often I'll wear these dresses post-Vegas.) Here are four frocks I'm admiring:

one, two, three, four

I'll probably only need two dresses, maybe three. Which one(s) should I go for?

xo-ally

current shopping list: mint colored everything!

Yes, I know it's still January. Spring is around the corner! (In a couple months, give or take?) When stores begin to stock spring attire, my mind flashes forward to the days where I don't have to wear a coat or scrape the ice off my car in the morning. Ah, pure bliss.

I'm loving how both brights and pastels are huge this spring. I'm currently crushing on everything mint colored. It's subtle but can still be just as girly as a ballet pink.

Even though it snowed today (and yesterday, and the day before that) I can't help but get excited for the upcoming season! I already purchased white jeans recently, and here are a few spring mint pieces I'm lusting over.

Mint chino shorts. Love.

A mint hair bow!

Mint skinnies. The colored denim trend is stronger than ever and these jeans would be perfect for a cool, spring break evening!

Along with the colored denim trend, we're seeing bright colored exercise leggings in every hue imaginable. I already have avatar-blue leggings from lululemon, but these mint wunder under leggings are so adorable!

A smidge brighter than mint, but still a soft green nonetheless, this girly dress is calling my name.

Okay, okay, I'm stretching the dresses in this post a little too far with color, but this dress is great for spring too!

Let's bring it back to actual mint now. This plain tee is just asking for a statement necklace!

What's on your spring shopping list? Are you going to add mint and other pastel colors to your spring wardrobe?

xo-ally

turquoise hi-low shirt

Shirt: Free People Jeans: DL 1961 Flats, beaded bracelets (right wrist): Nordstrom Bracelets (left wrist): F21 Watch: Michael Kors

Today I am wearing a "hi-low shirt." The style is also known as the "mullet." Shirts, skirts, and dresses with a shorter cut in the front and a longer cut in the back are very trendy right now. I decided to subtly dip a toe into the trend with this shirt - which would be perfect with leggings as well. Here are a few dresses and skirts in the style:

From Free People

From Nordstrom

From Urban Outfitters

I wonder how long this trend will last! I don't mind it for the season, as long as the mullet haircut doesn't come back in style...What do you think of the hi-low/mullet trend?

xo

st. patty's day recipes

When I went to Ireland last summer, the food was amazing! It was a nice break from Italian pasta and paninis - which were also amazing - and it was the first time I had regular eggs and potatoes in a while. With St. Patrick's Day coming up this weekend, I've seen plenty of recipes popping up around the web that are Irish or Irish-inspired!

While these would be good any time of the year, why not whip up a thing or two to get into the holiday spirit?

"Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Bailey's Irish Cream Cheese Frosting"

 

click here for the image source and recipe!

Doesn't the name alone just sound wonderful?! Not only does Bailey's Irish Cream taste like the alcoholic equivalent to a chocolate milkshake, but the cupcakes are under 200 calories each! These would be perfect to bring to a party.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

click here for the image source and recipe!

I love Shepherd's Pie. From its looks, it may not seem very appetizing, but I promise - it tastes good! Since a whole Shepherd's Pie is pretty heavy, these mini pies are a much lighter alternative.

"Hint O' Mint" Chocolate Chip Cookies

click here for the image source and recipe!

I recently saw the mint chocolate M&Ms at the grocery store and was excited to see a recipe that uses them! I haven't tried them, but they sound delicious baked into a cookie. This recipe also shows that the cookies would be great as a sweet (sweeter?) sandwich, putting mint ice cream in between two cookies!

Irish Soda Bread

 

click here for the image source and recipe!

The soda bread I tried in Ireland didn't have raisins in it, so I think you can leave those out if you want. My first meal in Ireland was fresh salmon on soda bread with coleslaw. It was so good! Click here for a gluten-free soda bread recipe.

I'll be really busy with dance and traveling this weekend, so I don't know if I'll have time to make any of these. If I do, however, I'd love to try the cupcakes. If you've tried any of these or will be making them soon, let me know how they turn out!

xo