The Perfect Travel Outfit

TODAY, I am flying up to New York City to visit some of my best friends from school! I haven't been to the city since I was ten years old, so you can't even imagine how excited I am. To prepare for my trip, I have been reading some of my favorite blogger's posts about there favorite spots in the city and of course watching Sex and the City! I cannot wait to go to the thrift stores that Shannon over on Prep Avenue visited on her spring break! Thrifting and Lilly Pulitzer are two of my favorites things, so I can't wait to see what hidden gems I'll find. We will also be heading out to the Hampton's to catch up and spend time on the beach! 

No matter what the season, I always wear the same outfit while traveling because of the comfort and versatility. During the Fall and Winter, a pair of boots and a puffer vest are the perfect addition to make the outfit warmer, while in the hottest days of the Spring and Summer I might swap out my converse for a pair of sandals. 

Top: J. Crew Factory // Leggings: Forever 21 // Shoes: Converse // Tote: Longchamp Le Pliage Large // Scarf: Lilly Pulitzer // Necklace: Personalized From Me To You 

I am someone who always gets cold. No matter what the temperature outside, if there is air conditioning on I will be wearing a sweater. For this reason, I tend to dress on the cozier side while traveling, especially because to me air planes are always freezing cold! If you are not the kind of person who tends to get cold you could always wear leggings with an oversized short sleeve top to ensure a cute and comfortable travel outfit! 

Comment down below your go to travel outfit and necessities! 

Love, 

Lilly Pulitzer Agenda

I could not be more excited to start using my Lilly Planner for this upcoming school year! If I haven't said it enough, I absolutely love being organized and making lists! For this year, I chose the Large Agenda in Jellies be Jammin'! Jellies be Jammin' is my favorite Lilly patter from this season, but I am kind of bummed that they left out the orange color for the planner. Because I am in college and tote the agenda around in my backpack everyday, I think the large size could not be more perfect. Once day I'll definitely try out the jumbo size!

Of course I had to add a monogram! I chose a small, light grey, script monogram and I think it adds the perfect, classic touch.

Now onto the nitty gritty of the planner! It is a fifteen month planner that runs from August to December. In my opinion, I would rather it run for just a year to not only save paper, but because I buy a new one every year anyways. Before each month, is a bright pattern with a witty quote and then a monthly outline! I absolutely love this year's agenda and cannot wait to start using it! 

After I get into the swings of things with school, I'll be sure to do a post on how I use my agenda to stay organized! 

50 Facts About Me!

Inspired by Prep Avenue's post, I decided to write my own 50 Facts About Me! Coming up with this list was a lot more difficult than I would've ever thought. I ended up asking my friends and family for help. 

Here's a picture of my family on our trip this summer to Greece! 

1. I'm a twin, my brother is almost a minute older than me

2. I love cats and have two sisters named Itsy and Bitsy

3. My favorite food is spaghetti, or any pasta for that matter

4. I was born in Lexington, Kentucky and will always be a Wildcats fan! 

5. I love to clean when I get stressed

6. My Lilly planner is my lifeline and I don't know what I would do if I lost it

7. Christmas is my favorite holiday, our decorations come out every year on Thanksgiving 

8. My biggest pet peeve is when people don't respond to text messages

9. I consider Black Friday a holiday  

10. I am a Tri Delta, and could not be more proud!

11. and my chapter just won the Three Star Award, naming us the best chapter in the nation! 

12. Exclamation marks are my favorite punctuation!

13. I played volleyball for 8 years, both club and for my school

14. I love HGTV, especially House Hunters and Fixer Upper 

15. I worked at Jersey Mike's Subs during high school and am working again this summer

16. Jesus Christ is my savior, and I live everyday to glorify him 

17. Making lists is one of my favorite things to do

18. Shopping is the best form of cardio, especially at TJMaxx 

19. My life is monogrammed, it's the perfect girly touch

20. Blue and green and my absolute favorite colors

21. I'm a perfectionist 

22. Country music is my all time favorite 

23. I have every Taylor Swift song that has ever been released 

24. and have seen her in concert twice! 

25. I have my black belt in Karate and earned it when I was 12 years old

26. My closet is completely color coordinated from shorts to tops to dresses! 

27. Basketball is my favorite college sport, Go Cats!

28. I love going to the gym, especially to yoga classes

29. Harry Potter movie marathons make every weekend better!

30. I would rather buy vintage Lilly than the newer patterns
31. My dream is to work for the FBI and live in D.C. 
32. Being organized makes me happy 
33. I love to travel and can't wait to study abroad, hopefully in Spain!
34. I am an absolute homebody
35. Kids are my absolute favorite, and I can't wait to be a mom 
36. Having red hair makes me different, and I love it
37. I'm obsessed with nail polish and do my nails almost once a week!
38. Instagram is my all-time favorite social media! Follow me @emilygrace240 
39. I'm such a people pleaser, I'm not happy unless everyone around me is too
40. I would rather eat something salty than sweet
41. I'm extremely determined, and try to complete everything I set my mind to
42. I get claustrophobic really easily and am scared of elevators and subways!
43. Crime shows are my absolute favorite to watch! Bones will always be my favorite
44. I'm a lefty! 

45. I would rather be cold than hot
46. My mom is my absolute best friend and I always get told I'm her mini me! 
47.  Stripes are my favorite pattern and I wear them almost every day!
48. I could spend hours wandering the aisles of Target and not get bored
49. I can't study without music playing and country is my favorite
50. This blog has been a dream of mine for many years and I'm so happy to finally make that dream come true! 

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about me! 

Love, 

Fashion Friday: Summer Sandals

Top: Left, Middle, Right

Bottom: Left, Right

I am such a sandals person. They are the perfect shoe for all occasions during the summer. Living in South Carolina means you wear sandals from March to October and I have accumulated quite the collection over the years. Here are a few of my favorites! 

1. Jack Rodgers are a staple for every closet! They are super versatile and can be worn to the beach, on a day filled with shopping, or even out to a nice dinner. My junior year of high school, I even wore Jacks to prom. While they are pretty expensive, I got mine for a great sale price on Gilt and you can occasionally find them on Rue La La as well! 

2. I have been absolutely lusting over these Tory Burch sandals this summer. I love the strappy gladiator look and if you're willing to splurge, these would be so perfect! 

3. Rainbows are the perfect sandal for the beach or for walking around campus at the beginning of the school year. They are super comfortable and even mold to your feet. Rainbows come in many different styles and color, but personally I love the classic thick strapped tan! 

4. When I found these glitter accented sandals in the sale section at Target last summer, I bought them immediately! They were extremely affordable and are nice enough to wear out to dinner with a summer sundress! 

5. Let's talk about Chaco's. With out a doubt, they are a Southern staple. I bought my pair my junior year of high school, four years ago, and have been wearing them constantly since then. They are extremely comfortable and are the perfect walking shoes. From hiking, white water rafting, to walking all around Italy and Greece this summer, Chaco's are the perfect shoe! They come in so  many fun colors, and now you can even create your own! 

Love, 

A Passion for Justice

Whenever I tell someone that I want to go into Forensics, they give me an intrigued look and then usually say something along the lines of "well, that's interesting." I then explain that I am double majoring in Biology and Leadership Studies and then plan on getting a graduate degree in Forensic Science. 

Every conversation I have ends up with the question of, why? 

On June 16, 2012, Marley Lion was innocently shot and killed while sleeping in the back seat of his parked car. Marley had just graduated from my high school and one of my older brother's friends. He was known to everyone at our school as someone who always had a smile on his face and a guitar in his hand. He was captain of the basketball and lacrosse teams and all around an influential guy. Receiving the news of his death was absolutely life changing. Although I didn't know him well, the impact his death made on the community solidified my desire to go into forensics. The four men responsible for his death were caught in just over two weeks and sentenced to a life in prison one year later. Marley finally got the justice he deserved and I was able to learn what justice really means. 

By definition, justice is just behavior or treatment, or the quality of being fair. I wrote out my internship here and here, and have absolutely been loving every other experience that I've had since then! Its really opened my eyes to how America's Justice System works. You all learn in high school about the courts, but let's be real; who really paid attention in their US Government class! 

Because of my internship this summer, my passion for justice and the legal system has really been solidified. I truly believe that victims need to have a voice and criminals need to face the punishments for their actions. My view point may change over the years as I gain life experience, but for now I could not be more excited to pursue my education and passion for justice. 

Instagram Lately

A beautiful sunflower I found while watering flowers in my backyard! 

A DIY monogram made with Lilly Pulitzer paper! 

Representing Tri Delta during a gorgeous sunset after our chapter was awarded the Three Star Award naming us the best chapter in the nation! So proud to be a Delta lady.

Walking the Cooper River Bridge one morning with one of my best friends from high school! 

Spending some quite time on the beach one morning before work! This peace is what I will miss when I head back to school.

Reminiscing on my family's vacation earlier this summer to Italy and Greece. I absolutely fell in love with Santorini and will definitely be back! 

I hope you enjoyed this little snippet into my daily life. Follow along on my Instagram for more of the fun! 

Love, 

College Registration Tips

College registration can be somewhat of a daunting task. There are so many choices that are offered each semester, and without guidance its easy to sign up for an upper level class or one that is not going to be what you expect. Going into college not knowing what you want to major in makes the decision of what classes to take even more difficult.

Luckily, going into my very first semester I was pretty confident that I wanted to study biology. It was a subject that I loved all throughout high school, so before registration I just emailed the head of the biology department at my school and asked what introductory classes I should be taking. He was super kind and more than willing to help me out! 

If you don't know that you want to major in, most colleges require general education courses as well as a freshman seminar. Both are perfect options for first semester classes. 

Here are a few tips on how to make the registration process a little bit easier! 

1. Rate My Professors-This we site is absolutely fantastic! They have information about professor for about every college in the nation! While some of the reviews are older, from what I've seen they're extremely accurate about the nature of any given professor. I just this site for every class that I need to take! 

2. Ask Upperclassmen- it's simple, the upperclassmen have experience. From they're friends and classes they've taken, the upperclassmen have a wealth of stored knowledge on the classes at your school! 

3. Choose classes that interest you- now, I know this seems like a pointless tip, but it is definitely something I try to remind myself when choosing my classes. Even if a class isn't in your major track; if it interests you, you'll most likely do well which will ten boost your GPA. Last semester, I took and Intro to Anthropology class and absolutely loved it which resulted in an A! 

Love,

No Buy July

via

This month I am attempting to accomplish a "no buy." Yes, I said accomplish. I am a shopping addict and so this is honestly going to be one the verge of impossible for me. At one point in time, I always have multiple tabs open each with full carts. My goal for this July is to save the money I make to buy something special and a little more expensive than what I would usually spend. I'm thinking maybe a Kate Spade Purse or Gramercy Watch!

Sadly, I have already broken my no buy after a very short 13 days. J. Crew factory is currently having an amazing sale with 50% items that are already on sale with the code saletime. This sale was too good, I just couldn't pass it up! I bought this sweater, shorts, and cardigan! I'm actually so excited for these pieces. They have been sitting in my online shopping cart for a long time just waiting to be purchased.

This weekend, I also went to TJ Maxx and got a really cute tribal printed romper with pom-pom details and some cropped workout leggings. Truth is, I'm doing really badly at this whole no shopping thing. I'm hoping that I'll successfully complete my challenge. Wish me luck! 

Love, 

Fashion Friday: Chino Shorts

I have a problem that I need to admit to y'all: I'm addicted to Chino shorts. Because I am so tall, 5'9" to be exact, most jean shorts are way too short on me. I also prefer to wear longer and looser shorts, so I have found that 3 inch Chino shorts are the perfect alternative. I have found that J. Crew Factory has the best chino shorts especially when you can find them on sale! They are also offered in tons of awesome colors! As a Lilly lover, the Callahan shorts are always on my holy grail list. This season, I really hope to get them in the Multi State Patch and She She Shells print. 

Top: Left // Right // Bottom: Left // Right 

Love,

Fourth of July Recap

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. It is the perfect time to wear red, white, and blue, which is one of my favorite combinations! I  also love to spend time on the beach with friends and family, eat good food, and watch some fireworks.  Not to mention, South Carolina was named the most patriotic state in America!

To start off the day, a few of my friends and I headed to the beach bright and early to try and avoid the crowds. Let me tell you, it was absolutely the most beautiful sunshine filled day. 

Because of all of our busy work and travel schedules, this was the first time that a big group of my high school friends were able to get together!  Of course we had a quick photo shoot filled with funny photos! After a full day at the beach, we headed back home for a quick nap and to get ready to watch the fireworks. 

One of my best friends and I were able to go on her family's boat to watch the fireworks that they shoot off in the Charleston harbor. We watched the sunset over our gorgeous bridge, ate pizza, and reminisced on the high school days and our first year of college. 

  
It was such an amazing day, and I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way! 
How did you all spend the fourth?

Love, 

Summer Reading

Throughout middle and high school, I dreaded receiving the summer reading list. Going to the library to find the four or five assigned books was the last thing I wanted to do on my two months off from school. Because I'm in college, I now have the leisure to read what I desire. The books that I have collected to read this summer are all over the place when it comes to genre. 

So far I've finished Gone Girl, The Husband's Secret, and Bones to Ashes. All three are great reads that I would definitely recommend. These three all fall under the crime and mystery category which to no surprise is my all time favorite. 

I'm currently reading The Prime Minister's Secret Agent which is the court book in a series by Susan Elia Macneal. This series is an easy read that takes place in England during World War II. I read the first three books in the series last summer and am excited to get into this one! 

I can't wait to read Something Blue by Emily Giffen, the sequel to the book made movie, Something Borrowed. Definitely a movie that I would recommend and I can't wait to read the sequel. I found Emily & Einstein at our local book swap and honestly the main reason I picked it up was because my name is in the title! 

What are you favorite summer time reads? 

Love, 

Bloglovin'

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12517467/?claim=xmxbmmnu3ez">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I've just added bloglovin' to my blog! Follow along to get updates on my latest posts! 

Love,

Fashion Friday: Statement Necklaces

I am such a sucker for a good statement necklace. They are the perfect accessory to any outfit and instantly add a more formal look! Because statement necklaces are a vibrant trend that one day will sadly go out of style, I tend to buy those on a cheaper side. Here are a few of my favorites that I have recently found! 

Top: Left // Middle (Similar) // Right

Bottom:  Left // Middle // Right

There are so many great places to find statement necklaces, so I linked a few of my favorite shops down below! 

1. Etsy- I absolutely love etsy for all things jewelry and monogram related! The individual shops allow for a cheaper alternative for the popular styles of statement necklaces.

2. GroopDealz- because it is a flash sale website, GroopDealz does not always have a consistent stock of items, but if you check everyday there are always a few amazing pieces available! 

3. Ebay- similar to Etsy, Ebay is the perfect place to find similar styles to the always popular J. Crew necklaces. Most of the pieces are typically from China, so it may take a few weeks for it to arrive but it is definitely worth it! 

4. J. Crew- In my mind, J. Crew was the pioneer of statement necklaces. They started the craze with the classic, colorful bubble necklace. Because of the awesome sales that can be found on the factory website, I have never purchased a J. Crew necklace full price! 

5. Forever 21-Most of the pieces found at Forever 21 are admittedly cheap, but that doesn't mean that you can find a diamond in the rough! I recently found a gorgeous pearl cluster necklace that unfortunately is no longer on the website! 

Let me know of other great websites to find statement necklaces for a steal! 

Love, 

Charleston City Guide

Taking inspiration from Mackenzie Horan's New York City Guide, I decided to create a Charleston City Guide series! After moving to Charleston in 2009, I have absolutely fell in love with this city and all that it has to offer! From the beaches to the restuarants and not to mention the amazing shopping, over the next few weeks I'll share with you all my favorite places in Charleston!

To start off this series, I couldn't help but talk about the beach. There is nothing better than feeling the warmth of the summer sun on your skin. Everyone who knows me can attest that being near the water is my absolute happy place. Whether its paddle boarding, boating, or at the beach, I try to spend as much time as possible near the water while I'm at home. 

My absolute favorite beach to go to in the Charleston area is Sullivan's Island, especially Station 18. You will mainly find local families on this island because there aren't many rental homes for tourists. It's usually not too crowded and there's always plenty of space to lay out with a group of friends! There are also so many great restaurants all in walking distance from the ocean, one of which I will be mentioning in a later post! 

Each of these pictures have all been featured on my instagram account, (@emilygrace240) go check it out! 

Love, 

My Internship Experience: Week 2

For my internship this past week, I worked at our town's Municipal Court. In this court, the judge tries criminal and traffic cases up to a DUI. Anything else goes to the Magistrate Court downtown. Back to the fun stuff, throughout the week I was able to observe the court's proceedings, help out in the office by filing tickets, mailing out bench warrants, and even sitting on the bench next to the Judge! It was such an amazing experience and I definitely learned a ton! 

What I learned this Week:

1. Show Up On Time: Well just show up for that matter. The court waits for no one. If your court date is scheduled for 8:30 am, just show up. The worst you can do is have to pay your entire ticket. Most judges appreciate the fact that you actually come so they reduce the fine.

2. Dress Professionally: The judges I worked with always made a comment when the defendant dressed up. For guys I would suggest wearing khaki pants and a collard shirt, and for girls I would suggest a nice dress or a skirt. Here are two outfits that I wore during my week at the court. 

Left: Top: Banana Republic (Similar) // Skirt: Banana Republic (Similar) // Necklace: Etsy

Right: Top: TJMaxx // Cardigan: TJMaxx (Similar) // Skirt: Banana Republic (Similar) // Necklace: Forever 21 (Similar) 

3. Don't Steal From WalMart- You will get caught. I know this sounds silly, but really. The number of people who try and steal from WalMart is unbelievable. 

Love,