FRIENDS DINNER

For Marathon Monday (Patriot's Day), my friends and I made some delicious, home-made guacamole and quesadillas. Okay... so maybe Heather did most of the work and Anya and I just drank wine and ate and watched. Regardless, it was delicious. Below are the pictures I took to document the master at work. 

(Wanna know a secret? Make sure you read the whole post!) 
















*Like this post? Good! You'll be seeing a lot more of Heather coming very soon!

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As a former collegiate athlete, I tend to gravitate towards athletic clothes any chance I get. I’ve pretty much worn anything even remotely acceptable to the gym, some of which I’m not necessarily proud of. Lately, I’ve been really trying to step it up when it comes to my gym attire. Not only does it make me look like less of a hot mess, but it keeps me motivated because sometimes you have to look good to feel good right? 

Allow me to introduce you to Sweaty Betty. If you don’t know of them already, you probably should. They carry everything from yoga pants to sports bras, athletic tanks to ski jackets. If that doesn’t constitute a one stop shop, I don’t know what does. Most of their clothing is right on point with prices at other large retailers so there shouldn’t be a huge sticker shock. Plus, the quality of the merchandise is solid.


sweatybetty


Of all their selection, I’m really into the sports bras and leggings. For someone (like myself) who is more well-endowed than most, having proper support while working out is absolutely key. The Galaxy Padded Bra has thick straps and comes in a really cool pattern so you don’t have to feel like you’re strapped into some ugly mess of fabric. It has an adjustable strap too so that you can customize the fit to your body and the sweat-wicking material makes it perfect for the warmer weather that’s creeping in.

 For leggings, I recommend trying the Chandrasana Yoga Legging or the Supta Reversible Yoga Leggings. Both have a streamlined design and come in colors other than just black which make spicing up your workout wardrobe that much easier. They also have seams that prevent chafing which is a HUGE plus in my book. Do yourself a favor and buy them both so you don’t have to decide – I’m giving you permission! 

Click over to SweatyBetty.com to start shopping now! If you’re also a Sweaty Betty fan, leave a comment! I’d love to know what you think.


OOTD: EASTER










OOTD: Dress- J.Crew; Shoes- Target; Necklace- South Moon Under; Earrings- Haven

WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND

(via pinterest)

Welcome to the Weekend crazies! It's Spring Fest at Gettysburg College this weekend and I'm so sad I'm not going to be there getting weird in the ATO basement (shout out to all my Chi O's!). Instead, I'm doing what any respectable alumni does when they can't join in on the fun... I'll be sipping margaritas and blasting music while cleaning my apartment. Maybe I'll finally finish the 195 Webster series?? (who knows hehe). Enjoy the Spring weather and have a great weekend everyone! 

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

MUSIC








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I don’t know about all of you, but I am SO ready for my toes to be free to wiggle in the sun. Gone are the days of hiding my pedicure in my Uggs. It’s now time to set those babies free and allow them to be admired for their wonderful shade of Essie (I’m a huge nail polish snob). 

 I’m always on the hunt for a solid pair of flip-flops because I wear through mine so quickly. Insert Reef. You may remember them from back in the day when sandals with patterned straps were all the rage. Well Reef seems to have gotten a makeover and let me tell you, it’s awesome. Not only do their promotional pictures make me want to drop everything and be a surfer girl, but they have so many more styles and colors to choose from in regards to footwear. Overwhelmed by all of the choices? Don’t worry, I picked my three favorite styles for you.

www.reef.com


1) Shaded Palms - In my opinion, this sandal is the perfect summer sandal. They’re unique enough that they stand out but subtle enough that their detailing compliments any summer outfit. Ringing up at $56, these shoes are a solid contribution to your warmer weather rotation. 

 2) Gypsy MacrameI love this take on the classic leather sandal. A nice alternative to standard leather flip flop, the Gypsy Macrame has a great woven strap that comes in different colors. I love the simplicity of is and the comfort level is through the roof. For $40, they’re a steal and would make a great addition to your wardrobe.

 3) Guatemalan Slide Perhaps I’m biased because I have a love affair with all things Guatemalan, but I’m obsessed with these shoes. Super colorful (but not in an obnoxious way) and made out of sturdy materials? I’ll take five. Not only are they cute but they also offer more support and a lot more cushion, making these a perfect walking sandal (or festival sandal). $60 is an investment I’m definitely willing to make for these bad boys.

 I’d love to hear which ones you like! Make sure to leave a comment below. Happy Shopping!

*Note- when choosing your size for Reefs, notice that they don’t do half sizing. Make sure to consult the sizing chart to find the best fit for you.

CURRENT BEAUTY FAVORITES

The first blog post I ever wrote was about a beauty product. I love sharing my new finds with people and was realizing the other day that I haven't done a beauty post in a wicked (yeah, I said it) long time! So, here we go:

[shopping details at the bottom of this post]







TRESemme Fresh Start, Volumizing Dry Shampoo- I absolutely love this stuff. I've tried other brands and just haven't gotten the same results. The only word of caution I give you is: make sure you comb it through your hair or else you will see traces of white residue. Also, it definitely has a more pungent smell than others I've used but if that doesn't bother you, I highly recommend trying it.

Living Proof- P.H.D. Styling Cream- If you haven't been told about my obsession with Living Proof, let me enlighten you: I adore it. About two years ago, while I was looking for jobs before moving to Boston, I responded to a Craigslist ad for hair testers. Little did I know it was for Living Proof! Recently I was able to be a hair model for their educational class at the Mitchell John Salon on Broad St. My reward for letting professionals practice on my hair was a ridiculous box FULL of Living Proof products *swoon*! Anyways, meet P.H.D. (Perfect Hair Day) - really any product from the P.H.D. line is fantastic but this one is quick, easy and actually delivers. Since using it my hair has been easier to manage, shiny, and noticeably healthier.

Nivea Creme- Back in high school I had a foreign exchange student from Austria. One day, while snooping around her room (I mean hello! She was so cool I wanted to know everything about her) I found a series of Nivea containers. Obviously I had to try all of them and I instantly fell in love with this cream. It's heavier than what you would expect, so I only use it at night, but it works. I would recommend using a small dab and fully rubbing it into freshly washed skin. You may feel like your pores are being clogged at first, but I assure you they're not (however you may feel a little oilier than usual).

Revlon Colorburst Mattebalm- This stuff, THIS STUFF! I'm a huge lipstick fan. My biggest complaint though is that I always need to reapply to achieve the pigment of color I want. To be honest, I bought this stick on a whim at a CVS near North Station. Let me tell you, I'm so hooked. It doesn't smudge. It's a pencil so you get the control, but the consistency is soft enough that it's easy to blend.

First Aid Beauty, Eye Duty Triple Remedy- My friend Jess works for this company and gave a group of us this to try. Well it's amazing. The metal tip fights puffiness under my eyes and the concealer moisturizes and is light enough that it blends perfectly. I haven't used my actual concealer since I started using Eye Duty. Very highly recommended.

Find these products at ULTA Beauty or Sephora!
Enjoy!

EARTH DAY | MASSMUSINGS x TOBEBRIGHT


Today's post is extremely special. Not only does it feature a killer giveaway (make sure you read the whole post!) but I'm collaborating with my long lost soul sistah, Tilden from To Be Bright. I met Tilden via Lucky Community after I saw her style posts and wanted to wear every single outfit she wore. I'm not one to be bashful so I stalked her blog and emailed her, knowing that she would be super cool. Luckily my instincts were right and we've since become friends - we are even planning a trip to NYC together this summer! 

Tilden's blog started as an online portfolio where she would occasionally feature personal style posts. Over time these posts gained more notoriety and she claims that this helped steer her blog in a different direction. Now she blogs mostly about fashion and "the occasional lifestyle post". I love that Tilden shares my affinity for connecting with other bloggers and learning form their success. "[My] favorite thing is the opportunity to create partnerships and friendships with others that are genuinely passionate about the blogging industry". 

One of the things that Tilden and I found that we have in common is a love of laid back style and connecting with nature. Hence, our guest posting feature in honor of Earth Day! We have both featured earth tone inspired looks to honor the day and lead into our awesome and charitable giveaway. 

{scroll to the bottom for a special giveaway!} 









OOTD: Shirt- Asos; Jeans- J.Crew; Jacket- J.Crew; Sunglasses- Urban Outfitters ; Booties- H&M; Necklace- South Moon Under; Earrings- Haven; Bracelets- Kate Spade and Boutikey 

Make sure you check out Tilden's Earth Day inspired look too! 

Oh yeah... and about that giveaway!

Because we love Mother Nature and want everybody to love everybody we have chosen to collaborate with Serengetee and Pura Vida on a fantastic content. Serengetee offers an entire collection of products, each featuring a custom design that is connected to a cause. Pura Vida donates portions of their profits to help artisans in Costa Rica obtain jobs. Both organizations are doing their part to better and support the planet so naturally, we wanted in too!



We are giving away an amazing Serengetee backpack and Pura Vida bracelet! Gain entries by completing the tasks listed below. The winner of the giveaway will be announced on both MassMusings and ToBeBright on Tuesday, April 29th. Good Luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway