ugly sweaters = photobooth

 

In the midst of finals, my roommates and I decided to throw a little shindig for a small little study break for yummy food, How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey edition), ugly sweaters, good company and some great laughs. Moments before the party, I had a epiphany! Let's have a photobooth! It's not quite as fabulous as professional ones, nor is my flash high-end, however, we turned our back porch into a photobooth! It was a hit :)

We got to capture some wonderful moments and even better [ugly] sweaters. I even added a prop box for added fun. Aren't my friends wonderful?

Ps. BLOGGING WORLD, I'M OFFICIALLY BACK!
No school or work for a whole month :D

Outfit Post // Sisters Edition

Finally! Another outfit post. I'm beginning to enjoy these...especially when I get to take pictures with my younger sister. I decided to do a little photo shoot on Thanksgiving Day. It was less awkward because I wasn't take pictures of just myself this time, but what was awkward was that we took photos in the "Bark Park" of my mom's apartment complex...hmm. Need I say more?

Well blogging world, I introduce to you my little sister Megan. Gorgeous, driven and I hear her older sister rocks ;) Enjoy our little photo-op. A few hours later we stuffed out faces and bellies full of lovely Thanksgiving food. We then proceeded to hang out with our adorably cute cousins and play the best game of Pictionary with everyone I had ever experienced. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Warning: This post is photo heavy. We just had too much fun!

My outfit: Dress//boutique, Shoes// found here - Old Navy, Tights + cardigan//Target, Bracelet//Gift, Purse// Michael Kors, Glasses//found here - BonLook,

Hair inspired by: Sara Lynn Paige
Megan's: Dress//Mom's, Shoes//Charlotte Russe, Blazer//Silvina's, Earrings//found here - Forever 21, Belt//JCPenny, Tights//Mine

PS: Isn't her nail polish adorable?!

Now, are you ready for the self-timer-awkward-but-arguably-cute-photos?

I love this little girl to death. Can't believe she's already 16! Yow-za!

Well, I trek back up the mountain to Boone tomorrow for a few more weeks of fundraising event planning, assignments, papers, exams, group projects, photo editing, work and uh, you know, college stuff. Finals are coming up, so all my college friends, best of luck to you :)

My break home was nothing short of necessary, relaxing and beneficial.
Hope everyone had a wonderfully safe holiday!

An aDORAble Halloween!

Finally!
The Halloween costume is revealed! Ta-da! Introducing Dora the Explorer! At first I was going to be Kourtney Kardashian so I could have a reason to wear "classy" clothing and red lipstick, but since I decided to work this weekend, I needed something family friendly, comfortable and inexpensive. The orange shorts and pink shirt was bought at Goodwill, pink socks at Wal-Mart and the backpack was purchased in Charleston this past summer [thanks to my Aunt!]. I just added eyes and a mouth :) All the kids kept saying "Where's map?!" and I had to tell them he was too tired and stayed at home (even though honestly I was too lazy to make one haha)

Enjoy the pictures!
Hope everyone had a wonderfully safe Halloween. Can't wait to see pictures of everyone's holiday.

What has been your favorite Halloween costume?

Giveaways to check out!

+ Gentri is hosting a giveaway from the lovely, "Secret Life of Bees!"

Vegan meal + game night

Some of my friends & I love home cooked meals & game nights.
So why not have both in one night?

Last time we cooked butternut squash lasagna & played "Bang." This time we cooked scalloped potatoes and eggplant bacon using this recipe (which happens to be vegan) and played Apples to Apples! My goal this month was to not eat meat...and that's why my good friend Melissa has been introducing me to yummy vegetarian & vegan options. [Sidenote: She's a vegetarian!] Even after I start eating meat again, she's probably the best person to cook with vegetarian meals with because she's great at it. ;) We're going to accomplish baking next time, VEGAN baking. Aren't Melissa's the best ;)

Here's a glimpse into our fun-filled evening last Sunday!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!
Rumors (and weather.com) say it may snow here in Boone tomorrow.
I don't think I'm quite ready.

Just a heads up, I have a ton of ideas for future posts and plans for this blog. I'm hoping I can implement them and squeeze it all in with the limited 24 hours per day!


Thank you to everyone who reads this little blog.
Seriously though. I've already made some great friends and connections.
Hopefully we can all meet one day :]

a little project or two

Ah, it feels nice to finally breathe air that is not full of Sociology of Work & Organization terms + concepts! My roommate + I have spent the last few hours making up acronyms to remember these ENDLESS terms.

Anyway, here's a glimpse into a few projects I've been working on.
Since I've moved away from home, my mom likes to "dump" all my belongings from her apartment so that I can now take full custody of my "junk." Among those things, I found this frame that I decorated when I was probably 14. (My room used to be pink + I tried to draw a tree...) WELL, before completely tossing it, I realized that I could TOTALLY redo this and make it more [21 year old] Melissa friendly.

Here are the results:


Another wonderful project I'm a part of is The Small World Project, hosted by Bree over at The Art of Being Cool. It's week three so I've sent my third letter to Katie! I'm still awaiting my letter from Sasha this week. I've had such a great experience anticipating snail mail, learning about my fellow blogger friends + writing letters! Here's the two letters I received yesterday! One from the cute + creative Katie from Kitty Snooks and another from another sweet Katie :] Thank you both!

 

Aren't they so creative and cool? I knew Katie from Kitty Snooks would have a fabulously artsy letter...being in art school and all. I LOVE the way she wrote my name. I wish she could create a font so I could use that on everything! She was so sweet to try and send me a pin in the mail from Canada (since I collect them), but it got lost :( I am so touched though! She drew me a cute little Halloween-inspired illustration too! I loved how the other Katie made her envelope out of a math page! So creative. You two rocked my world yesterday!

Have a blessed Thursday :]

Ps. I've totally a-ddicted to Friday Night Lights. I can't wait to blog about it! I have 12 more episodes left! Yippee! Off to bed! I do need to have a functioning brain for my exam tomorrow.

Also! Got some new content up on Her Campus Appalachian State you need to check out -
+ Upcoming Movies You Don't Want To Miss [written by yours truly!]
+ Campus Celebrity: Aaron Simpson from New River Boys
+ 6 Fall Recipes Everyone Should Try [written by Laura]
+ Anxiety Answers for the Collegiette

Go on, read along!

Exploring downtown Raleigh with Lena

I absolutely love weekends.

Especially when they are filled with exploration, friends, celebration, frozen yogurt, thrifting and a camera to capture it all. Among other great things that have happened this weekend, I'll share with you a little photo blog about my adventures with my friend Lena! I met her via Her Campus and since she was visiting her grandparents in Raleigh and I finally got to go home for a weekend, we just had to hang out together :]


Photos of our adventure in the local antique shop Father & Son:

Here are some Her Campus articles you need to check out!

+ Stress Relieving Tips for the GRE (written by yours truly!)
+ The Lowdown on Guy's Style at ASU (collaborative article with all HC Writers)
+ Keepin' it Classy on Campus (written by Lena!)
+ 5 Steps to Starting Over After a Breakup
+ Ways to Feel Productive in 30 Minutes or Less!