Cool Comebacks

Return, recover, triumph and improve - these are all synonyms for the word comeback, which is exactly what some pieces of the past are doing this fall.  Whether it be a t-shirt with shoulder pads, or a black patent Mary Jane, vintage pieces are coming back with a vengeance.

Here is a list of some of the coolest comebacks we can expect to see this season:
1. Shoulder pads
2. Mary Jane shoes
3. Oxford shoes
4. Structured satchels
5. High rise, wide leg jeans
6. Trousers   *my personal favorite!

The beauty of pieces that are making a comeback now is that they are guaranteed to make a comeback sometime again in the future.  Comeback pieces tend to do so over and over.  In other words, any of these items are a fair investment!

Solace in spice

As I unwind and settle down from a very busy day I cannot wait to get in bed.  My throat hurts, my eyes are heavy and all I can dream of are cozy pajamas and the warmth under my heavy down comforter.  To my dismay, the weather nor my workload seem to be getting any better this week.

I'm a little hungry after all the energy I've exerted studying, and after an unsuccessful rummage through my kitchen I've concluded a bowl of chili seems to be the only thing that would ultimately satisfy my taste buds.  Unfortunately, I have neither the energy nor the resources to craft chili at this hour, but I'm happy to share my favorite recipe.  This recipe is my dad's and I think I'll put in a request for this when I'm home on break this weekend.

There is nothing better than a warm, spicy, flavorful bowl of chili.

As a relatively dissatisfying substitute, I've resulted to some throat losengers and a cup of tea.

Goodnight everyone.

Ingredients:
1 large white onion
2 bell peppers (any color)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Chipotle chili powder
1 lb can of diced tomatoes
2 cans red kidney beans
1 Qt box of chicken broth
1 lb of lean ground turkey

To make:

Cook onion and peppers in oil over medium heat in soup pot. 

Add ground turkey and cook till brown.
Add spices and cook for a minute or so before adding tomatoes with juice,
beans, chicken broth and salt and pepper to liking. 

Bring to a boil and simmer for about a half hour.  

Serve warm with some cheese on top or crunched up tortilla chips.

Sloppy chic

[Audrina Patridge with a messy side braid http://bit.ly/9mlqHz]

As I was catching up on some reading via Elle magazine's website, I paid particular attention to the hairstyles.  I have become increasingly bored of my normal hair routine which consists of blowing my hair straight and wearing it down.  I desperately needed inspiration for a new look.

My hair is naturally wavy and thick so I was really hoping to find a look that could work with the natural texture of my hair.  The first look that seemed to pop up over and over again was the messy side braid.  The messy side braid is effortless but still maintains the ability to be worn day and night.  It was seen on countless runways during fashion week and celebrities wear this style for a day out shopping or red carpet events.

It's perfect for girls with naturally textured hair because the texture is what really makes the braid work.  If your hair isn't textured however simply use a texturizing wax or spray to create the feel needed to make the braid.  This tutorial (BellaTV) shows exactly how to create the braid.

The next look that I noticed repeatedly was the high bun.  For years, a sleek bun has been considered the chicest of all looks.  What's great about this bun is that it can be worn messy or really clean.  I'm a big fan of buns and always wear my hair in a bun to class when I've got little time to style it.  I was excited that I can justify my lazy look as a trendy one now.

Don't let raindrops stop your exercise regime.

I always find it somewhat of a challenge to make my way to the gym on a gloomy, rainy day.  The prospect of watching the Food Network under the covers is always more appealing.

Today was no exception.  When I woke up to see dark rain clouds outside my window I was considerably tempted to snooze for the next hour until class.  The appeal of the newly downloaded music to my iPod didn't even make for motivation to hit the treadmill this time.  (Though, it usually does.)

While I lay in bed debating if it were worth it to get some endorphins flowing I wondered if there were anything that could convince me to go to the gym.  It didn't take long for it to hit me...clothing probably could.

If I were wearing a new work out ensemble, then there would be no stopping me from showing it off in the gym; the same way wearing a new outfit out at night always makes for a revived sense of confidence.

These are my favorite lines of activewear:
lululemon athletica is a great line of fitness gear.  Their bright clothes, although a bit pricey for a college budget, are of incredible quality.  If you can't afford the pants or jackets opt for one of their headbands which come in a variety of colors and will add a touch of fun to a simple workout outfit.

Forever 21 has come out with a line of activewear that is reasonably priced and trendy.  There's no feeling guilty about inexpensive clothes that encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Take that rainy day.  You can't stop me from making it to the gym. 

The importance of a desk

[My desk before]

[My desk after]

[small decorative bowls and a plain desk calendar with colorful post-its add a fun touch]

[coffee mug as a writing utensil holder, a pretty paperweight, bright post-it's and a journal my dad gave me. i love to write anything that comes to mind down in there]

If you are a writer you know how important it is to have a place where you can sit down, relax, be alone and inspired for your writing.  However, when you are a college student it's hard to define this kind of personal space for yourself. 

I live in a house that nearly 50 other women call home too.  There is rarely a time where I'm alone with my thoughts.

Fortunately for me, I have a room all to myself this semseter.  My room, although my own, still feels so much like a dorm room as opposed to a homey bedroom.  There are so many restrictions in decorating that I sometimes feel it's impossible to make my dorm room feel cozy or representative of myself. 

When I was blogging at my desk the other day, I decided my desk was so utterly lame and typical.  I didn't feel the slightest bit inspired as I sat at it writing.

My desk is the standard college dorm room desk: plain, made of wood and not very exciting at all (see above before picture.)  On a low budget I was able to make my desk feel a little more clean, a little more invigorating and a little more presentational of my personality.    

When I went out shopping for some new desk related items I pictured myself like Carrie Bradshaw living in a tiny NYC apartment (except mine's a significantly smaller dorm room in PA) with my desk as my own little space to be creative and put my thoughts into words.  I also pictured Emily's office space posts from the home improvement section of her fabulous blog cupcakes and cashmere.  I have to admit, these are the two women who really sucked me into the world of journalism in the first place.

With a few small touches I was able to make my tremendous improvements to my small desk space.
I added:
-small decorative bowls to hold paper clips, binder clips, etc.
-painted coffee mug to hold my pens and pencils
-a large desk calendar with bright post-it notes to mark important events
-magazine racks to hold my textbooks and notebooks
-pictures of friends and family in fun picture frames
-a cute notebook for any ideas that come to mind

Trend that transitions: High Waisted Shorts

[A pair of high waisted shorts that I borrowed from a friend]

Now that it's officially fall, it's time to say goodbye to some of my favorite summer staples.  It's time to put my espadrilles and sandals to the back of the closet and bring forward my booties and clogs.  I must say my goodbyes to easy summer tunics and allow my sweaters make it on my hangers.  However there is one of my summer staples that I plan to keep around for the first several weeks of fall: my high waisted shorts.

A high waisted short is a great piece that transitions from summer to fall.  All summer I wore my high waisted shorts during the day with light and easy tanks and sandals.  When making an evening look with the shorts, I'd pair them with a fun pair of wedges on my feet and a blazer worn over a bustier on top.

It's easy to take the shorts into fall because you can layer them over tights and boots on the bottom and cropped sweaters or blazers worn over a thin long sleeve shirt on top.  Something I also love about these shorts is that they're perfect worn day or night.  They can be worn with sneakers, boots or high heels- meaning you get your money's worth, something all fashionistas love.

For those of you in the market for a pair, stores like Topshop, Urban Outfitters and American Apparel have great high waisted short options for fall.  Whether they be denim, floral or a solid color these shorts are a great trend to try.


American Apparel Shorts
Urban Outfitters Shorts
Topshop Shorts

Ombre Hair

[Rachel Bilson loves the ombre hair trend]
http://bit.ly/9jQbQp

This past weekend I left the beautiful grounds of Lehigh's campus and headed to my favorite city in the world: New York City.  While in New York I couldn't help but notice a strange trend on the streets downtown.  Downtown New York is known for being the trendier scene, so I was really intrigued by the hair trend I was noticing down there.  I came home and did a little research about this look and found out that it has a name: ombre hair.

Ombre hair is hair that is dark at the roots and then deliberately lightened all the way to the tips.  Believe it or not, celebrities are loving this look.  Ashlee Simpson, Drew Barrymore and Rachel Bilson are all style icons who have their hair done in such a way that looks like their roots have come in dramatically.

To be honest, I think this look is way cool, but I'm not sure how professional it looks.  I can't imagine being in an industry other than the fashion/cosmetology/entertainment industry and being able to pull off hair that looks as though you've failed to be back at the salon in a few months.

Nonetheless, I think it's an incredibly trendy look and I'm excited to see if this low maintenance trend carries on.  In fact, I'm disappointed that I spent half of my paycheck in August to cover up old highlights that began in the middle of my head.  I'd never have had that done had I known it was socially acceptable (and cool) to have hair that says, "I'm low maintenance."