Forever21 MANIA!!!!

So, wow. Haven't posted in a long while. I've been super busy, and I guess haven't had much of anything of interest to anyone else to chat about. Until this past weekend that is.  We FINALLY got a Forever21 in Columbia. It's about time! They had a soft opening on Friday, and had the grand opening Saturday. The mall opens at 10am, so I figured I would stop by around then to avoid some of the Saturday-shopping crowds.

Oh. My. Lord.

I popped in around 10:40, and NEVER in my life have I seen a crowd like this in a store. To say that it was packed would be the understatement of the century. Our local hits radio station had a table set up in one corner, a DJ cranking out super loud dance hits was in another corner, 147 employees were running around like crazies, mall cops and other independent security guards were roaming around. This place was a mad house. I waited in line to try clothes on for about an hour and a half and waited in line to check out for about an hour and 45 minutes.

Why did I do that? I was there 4.5 hours. I got some good stuff, but dang, not that good! Needless to say my back was killing me and I was starving at the end of that trip.  After saying all that, it was kinda fun scrounging for cute things and milling about with all the other people who were also excited about finally having a F21 in the area!

This weekend was a great one to say in the least! Friday I went out with the girls. Saturday I of course shopped at F21, went to my old dance studio's end of the year recital and went out with a bunch of old friends that were in town, and today I spent the entire day out on the lake with friends! So much fun! Can't wait for a wedding weekend in Clemson for Memorial day in just 5 days! :)

Hope everyone has a fabulous week! ta ta

Weekend Fun

So, I know I'm a few days late, but Happy Easter.  We spent the weekend at my parent's mountain house in North Carolina.  We explored around, hiked to a waterfall, had a delicious Easter Sunday lunch, and did lots of relaxing! Here are a few pics from the weekend!

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! There are so many fun Spring things to look forward to! Hasta.

Spring Finds

Gap

Gianni Bini-Dillards

Aldo

Testament from Piperlime

Aldo

Gap

Lulu's

Banana Republic

American Eagle

These are some of the goodies that I have picked up on some of my recent spring shopping trips! I hope to get some outfits posted soon, but I've been sporting my work uniform of jeans and a tee shirt pretty much everyday! I am also a tad lazy with the camera! 

Happy Monday! 

Things that make me HAPPY!

I've been a little bit in the dumps this week from just sitting at home and not getting out much except for work.  I don't know if this is TMI, but I have had the WORST cramps this week. I mean, seriously debilitating. I have never been in so much pain as I was yesterday morning.  Sometimes I hate being a girl!  Bleh! haha. So to help me remember how blessed I am and to remind me how many things I have to get excited about, here is a list of a few things that are currently making me H-A-P-P-Y right now! 

1. Waking up to a gorgeous spring day! It is going to be 80 degrees today! yahoo love it! 

2. My mom surprised me last night and brought me 2 lovely decorated petite fours that were DELICIOUS! I love little surprises like that. 

3. Looking forward to spending a weekend in Clemson. I'm leaving Friday night right after work.  My boyfriend couldn't come to visit last weekend so I absolutely cannot wait to spend the whole weekend with him in the most wonderful place in the world, CLEMSON! 

4. Being able to cross off items from my 'Spring Wish List'. My shopping trips have been extremely successful lately, and I have been able to buy some great stuff! Pics will be posted soon! 

5. Getting a random text from someone I love that just simply says "I miss you" or "I love you". It makes my heart smile for the rest of the day. 

6. The wonderful people who sell their wares on Etsy.  All the people  I have talked to on that site are the nicest, most helpful people in the world. It makes me cheery to know that there are so many people out there that are so kind and willing to make you happy with the products they share with us!  

What makes YOU happy? 

Have a fabulous Thursday....TOMORROW IS FRIDAY!!!!!!

Layne :) 

Shoppertunity.

I love to shop. I love a good sale. Whenever I find a good deal, my mom tells me I can never turn down a 'Shoppertunity'.  By her definition a shoppertunity is finding a fabulous deal that you just can't turn down. Or actually, it doesn't have to be a great deal, it can just be anytime you justify purchasing something you really, really want! haha

We went on a mother-daughter shopping trip to SouthPark in Charlotte, NC as we do every season. It's always so much fun! I racked up with 2 pairs of shoes, a scarf, white jeans, a chambray shirt, and a silk tank top.  As if that didn't already blow my bank account, I ordered two tops online today, one from Piperlime and one from Lulu's thats featured a few posts below! I cannot wait to get them in the mail! Hopefully I can put some outfits together and share some pics of fabulousity.

On a different note, a momento of venting, if you will: I am sick of my job! There are officially 9 more weeks of school left (including spring break, not that I'm counting or anything...). Don't get me wrong, I love my little nuggets I get to work with, but the job as a whole is getting supremely old. I've taken a few days off here and there, but I am in serious need of vacation.  I'm also currently in the process of finishing all my applications for internships this fall, and as soon as this last one is done, a celebration will be in serious order!  The due date for all of them is actually May 5th, so I'm proud of myself for getting everything done about a month early. I should be hearing back around mid-June, so keep your fingers crossed for me...I'm going to need it!

Posts of outfits to follow! :) Have an excellent Monday night!

Turquoise and Caicos

So on this incredibly rainy and stormy morning, I thought it would be the perfect time to review my new springy nail polish, Turquoise and Caicos by Essie to lift my mood! My old college roommate Caroline visited me for the weekend a few weeks ago.  While we were making a pit stop in the drug store, I mentioned trying to find a fun new nail polish for spring. A week later she mailed me a fun little thank you package that included this fun new polish! It was exactly what I was thinking of! How sweet! 


I usually just stick to pinks and reds, but I loved changing it up for this tropical aqua color! Perfect for spring! And the name is adorable!  My second graders at work loved it too.  They picked up my handsand stared at my nails all week! So cute (Hope that wasn't a sign that only second graders should be wearing a color like this...)! Now if only I was actually in Turks and Caicos....


PS. Sorry for the close ups of my sick-nasty cuticles...

PPS. Excuse the glittery thumb...I was in Target and wanted to try out the sparkles in the store..haha

PPPS. I hope my hands don't look that  wrinkled and gross in real life!

PPPPS. (last one I swear.) If you look at Turquoise and Caicos on the Essie website, it appears much darker in the picture.  It is much more vibrate and bright aqua on the nail. Hope that helps...

Also, since I'm in my review mode, I wanted to mention the new Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm.  I first noticed it after being advertised in Instyle and Lucky Magazine this month.  I went to my local Target later that week and picked it up in Rose (a red).  It's about $7 which isn't too bad!  I almost want to go back and get it in the deeper red, Red Dahlia! It is sheer color, which is good for me since I don't really have the balls yet to wear a bright red lipstick.  It brightens up my face while still looking really natural.  The 'featured' ingredient is Shea Butter, and is really moisturizing.  This being said, I find that the color doesn't stay long, and I need to reapply often.   

It also comes in a super cute little case, that is probably meant to be thrown away, but I actually keep mine in it so that it's easier to find in my purse!

I'm partial to the reds, but here are the other colors it comes in, they are all so pretty!




Have you tried Burt's Bees new Tinted Lip Balm? What do you think?

Dreary Saturday!

Hello my beautiful non-existent followers! 

This weekend was the one of the first weekends I have had to relax and do nothing in months! I have every weekend in April all booked up as well, so I'm trying to enjoy doing nothing. It's hard.  Today was quite rainy and gross, so I stayed in most of the day relaxing and cleaning my disgusting bedroom. I feel so much more rejuvenated now! :) The boyfriend is stopping by on his way back to school from spring break for a few hours tomorrow and I am so excited!! I haven't seen him in a few weeks! 


I've been meaning to do a post with some outfits, but my photographing skills are less than fabulous, so it might start off kinda rough. Oh well, no judging, right? Obviously no one is reading this yet anyway! Ha! 


I follow many different fashion blogs, and LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at the outfits these creative and wonderful ladies put together.  Here is my problem: I love fashion, and clothes and putting outfits together, but it just doesn't really seem practical for me to have/wear these fabulous outfits.  I think part of it is my living in the suburbs of a city in South Carolina. People just don't get dressed up much, and I am not one to really draw a lot of attention to myself.  Also, I think the crowd I run with is another factor.  I hang out with a lot of people that are still in college and dress super casual most of the time.  I also hang out with a lot of guys, and they are always in typical khaki shorts and tee shirts!  I don't like coming across as trying too hard or high maintenance!  
    I know people say you should dress in a way that fits your personality and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, but that's easier said than done for me.  Now, I'm not saying I wish I could have the balls to wear 8 inch platforms and tutus to Target, but it would be nice to have some extra confidence to dress a little edgier!  I find it hard dressing for the occasion.  It just seems like everyone is always so predictable and casual.  I think I need to start stepping out of my comfort zone a little and let my fashion inspirations carry over to what I actually wear going out and in my day to day life.  


Advice? Thoughs? Cares? Worries? Am I alone in this? Probably! haha