massmusings

When I first got my ears pierced at age 9 1/2 (that half really mattered at the time okay?) my mother told me I was only allowed to wear studs because otherwise I would rip my ears. Well, now I have an irrational fear of saggy earlobes as well as an affinity for stud earrings. I'll admit, I went through a stage in middle school and high school (okay so maybe more than just a stage...) where I only wore dangley earrings. Now I will occasionally break out a gorgeous pair of chandeliers for a function, but day to day is chiefly studs. Thus, I give you this week's SSS- colorful stud earrings to take us into Spring. 

The Splurge is Morgan Stud Earrings in Teal by Kendra Scott Jewelry. I love Kendra Scott and think that her jewelry is simple yet still gorgeous. These particular earrings are a unique take on the classic stud. They have extra prongs and the shape is more geometric which adds higher visual interest. 

The Save is Kate Spade New York Small Square Stud Earrings. This earring is slightly more square in shape which I love. It's a classic stud from a great retailer and I adore the color. Definitely a must have for Spring!

The Steal is Jessica Simpson Primrose Earrings. Simple and streamlined, these earrings are great to throw on when you need a go-to for when you're running out the door and need something that will match anything. 

If you like what you see here, visit my jewelry Pinterest board for more great deals and inspiration. 

I have to be honest, I was a little annoyed yesterday when I saw Glitter Guide's pin about how they are so in love with Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush. Why was I annoyed? I have been using this blush forever! It's not new! You know how sometimes you feel a little territorial about something you really like? I don't know if I have the right to be irritated; there was no article that I could find to go along with it (just a pin with a link to the Ultra product site), so I can't tell if there was a new color that they loved or if they truly were just discovering it. Either way, for some reason it struck a nerve with me. 

Regardless of how emotional that pin made me feel, the people at Glitter Guide are absolutely right. This blush is awesome. It is super easy to apply with your fingers and a little bit really does go a long way. It's also very light so it looks sheer and doesn't make your face feel like it has cake batter smeared all over it. With a price point of about $8, it's affordable too! Try it out, I bet you'll fall in love just like everyone else. 

Good morning my lovely followers! You may have already noticed some major changes that happened this weekend! WELCOME TO THE NEW MASSMUSINGS! I'm so thrilled to have launched my newest layout and I promise, this time it is definitely here to stay. Feel free to take a look around, visit massmusings on all of the social media platforms, and also check out my page on the Lucky Magazine Community!

As always, thank you all for your continued support and readership. It truly means the world to me and I'm so happy to be able to share really cool things with you. Speaking of really cool things, keep an eye out for an extra special OOTD post coming up featuring Liz Mollica Photography! 

Congrats to Lizzie V for winning the KENSIE GIVEAWAY! You will be contacted shortly regarding details for collecting your item. Thank you to all who entered and look out for more great giveaways and posts on massmusings going forward! 

It's the time of the year when I start to get really sick of this weather. I like snow as much as the next person but only when it is a fresh, powdery, winter wonderland and it's around the holidays. Sometimes I can make it all the way through January, but typically once mid-February rolls around, I'm out. 

To lighten my mood and heighten all of your spirits, I have decided to showcase a few options of tan, suede boots for the coming months. Yes, I know, suede is so easily ruined by water. However, if you brush out your booties once in a while, I have found that they actually hold up pretty well against the slush and snow. 

The Splurge is Tory Burch Leena Suede Mid Heel Booties. At $385, they are definitely at the high end of this spectrum, but not bad enough that they are completely out of reach. I love the quality and classic design of Tory Burch apparel, so this was a sweet find. 

The Save is MICHAEL by Michael Kors Silvy Ankle Boot. These are a solid option especially because they have a side zipper which many people prefer and, I'll admit, makes it much easier to slip on and off. Coming in at $130, it's not a bad deal either. 

The Steal is H&M Suede Boots at $48. A fair price for a solid pair of booties. I have a similar pair that I purchased last year and still wear routinely. I have to say mine are beat up but that's only because I have been way too lazy to clean them regularly. If you're like me and don't make time for footwear care, I suggest purchasing these at this low price so that you don't feel guilty when they get dirty. 

Happy Shopping!

P.S. Today is the final day of the kensie giveaway. Make sure you enter if you haven't already as winner's will be announced tomorrow! 

It's HERE! The kensie giveaway is now live and waiting for all of you to enter! Just follow the prompts below to engage in social media while simultaneously entering the giveaway. It's that easy! GOOD LUCK! (for complete OOTD post, click here)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
US and Canada residents only

Also, a song for you this Monday to get you pumped up for your work week.. or day off if you are lucky enough to have a three-day weekend.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! 

Like what you saw in my last OOTD featuring Kensie jeans? Well guess what?? Now you can enter for a chance to win Kensie item of your choice! The giveaway starts Monday, February 17th at 12AM and runs until Friday, February 21st at 12AM. Make sure you're on top of your game and use all of your chances to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a fantastic weekend and remember to tell the people you love just how much you love them today!

P.S. Splurge, Save, Steal will be returning next week on a new day! Now you can look forward to Thursdays for all of your thrifty tips and tricks :) 

Today I am featuring one of my favorite brands, kensie! I hope you are just excited as I am because there's a special giveaway coming up in the very near future! Check back frequently for updates and chances to enter. 

Jeans- c/o kensie; Shirt- J.Crew; Belt- Madewell; Shoes- Vince Camuto; Bracelet- J.Crew; Watch- Anne Klein; Necklace- J.Crew

Photography by LoSoFancy

P.S. If you're feeling kind of blah about Valentine's Day, please refer to my post last year. Also entertaining if you want to see how amateur my blog was when I first started. 

Today is my final update on my Eat To Live cleanse. I'll be honest, I definitely didn't follow it as strictly as I could have. But you know what? I'm totally okay with that because I haven't felt this good about what I put into my body in a really long time. 

First things first, I could never be a vegetarian, I just love meat way too much. That being said, I haven't missed eating meat as much as I thought I would. It's only been about three weeks and the only type of animal that I can remember eating (besides milk and eggs) is one fish at a restaurant. Other than that I've been getting super creative with my salads and eating about a bag of spinach a day (I'm not even kidding you, I really go through about one large bag per day). To supplement the veggies and to just switch it up a little bit, I have been blending my own fruit smoothies every day as well. In order to keep full, I allowed myself to finish the entire blender throughout the day- each blender holds about 3 full glasses. 

Unfortunately during the cleanse I caught the flu. I was leveled on my couch for four days and wasn't really eating much of anything. This was probably my biggest struggle while cleansing because I was eating a lot of toast (BRAT diet always makes me feel better when I'm sick). I thought that this would send me completely off track but it actually didn't. I was able to hop right back on the fruit and veggie train about three days into the flu and everything fell back into place with ease. 

I think my biggest take-away from doing this cleanse is that my body was starved of nutrients. I found that even though I was not necessarily eating unhealthily, I was relying too much on processed foods like power bars, and neglecting fresh, clean and natural foods. Going forward my goal is to continue eating as many fruits and vegetables as I want, drinking at least two Nalgenes of water a day, and to slowly add back in meat and cheese. I'm also going to try hard to find other creative ways to get protein into my diet and other creative ways to cook following Eat To Live as closely as I can. 

Hopefully my experience with Eat To Live has helped some of you re-evaluate the food that you are consuming. If you take anything away from my cleanse I hope that you realize it is not about limiting what you eat or restricting calories. It is about feeling healthy, listening to what your body needs, and feeding it accordingly. Add some exercise to the equation and you're on your way to feeling your best and feeling confident and that is what really matters.  

As I mentioned in my Snow Day Essentials post, it is absolutely necessary to have a few good books on hand for days like today (it's really snowing in Boston!). If you are especially interested in the history of fashion and want to gain more inspiration from non-blog sources, these books are great staples to add to your collection.

First up is Alexa Chung's book IT. I first became inspired by Alexa when her tv show aired in 2009 on MTV. Her effortlessly cool style and spunky personality really contributed to my own sense of style. I just love her. Up until now, I have only been skimming this book at Anthropologie whenever I go shopping. However, today I finally pulled the trigger and bought my own copy on Amazon. I can't wait to read it cover to cover!

Next on my list of must-haves is I Love Your Style by Amanda Brooks. I initially came across this book while reading a J.Crew style guide a few years ago. Since then, I have read it a million times and continue to reference it for inspiration. In fact, it was instrumental in my soul-searching before starting this blog. Even now, when I'm having days void of creativity, I'll flip through the pages of this book and become reinvigorated. I highly recommend it. 

Lastly is The Impossible Collection of Fashion published by Assouline Publishing. Assouline Publishing produces some of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. Gorgeous pictures, vibrant colors, and interesting facts make up most of their "coffee table books." This particular book is extremely expensive and is certainly an heirloom to be coveted. I can only hope to one day have my own copy, but until then I'll just lust form afar. 

Happy Snow Day to all who are stuck inside! I hope that you're enjoying a cozy read by a fire place (or at least sitting by a heater while you work from home). 

Shirt: Madewell, sold out (similar)
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: DV by Dolce Vita
Sunglasses: Prada
Necklace: Kensie
Midi Rings: Francesca's


This past weekend I stayed close to home in Newburyport, but I did get out to enjoy some of the warm 45 degree weather!  I definitely took advantage of it by taking some outfit photos without a heavy coat, because I know the snow and cold will be coming back soon!

xx Tine



How wonderful is her blog? I've been so happy to keep in touch with this wonderful blogger and we have so many things in common on our "list." Make sure you follow her on social media and keep your eyes peeled for some more collaborations!

I don't know about you, but the snow in Boston is really coming down and the forecast says it's not going to stop anytime soon. What do I do on snow days? Well I used to pray for them every night and go through the typical rituals of course. You know, spoon under your pillow, pajamas on inside-out, and your boots under your bed. Now that I'm a working adult, snow days aren't as exciting, but working at home can have it's perks! Regardless of your situation, follow these tips for a successful snow day:

If you're going to be outside:

* Wear hats and mittens - I can't tell you how frustrating it is when I see people without these items. Hats are so crucial to keeping body heat and if your excuse for mittens is because you can't use your phone then you have been living under a rock. They make finger-less gloves and gloves with special tips for texting.

* Scarves - Scarves are such a cute way to layer and accessorize a winter outfit. I'm still crushing on infinity scarves because they look effortless and you don't have to worry about figuring out how to tie them. A definite must for any outdoor snow day activities.

If you're going to be inside:

* Find a cozy blanket - There is nothing better on a snow day than curling up in front of the TV or fireplace and relaxing. Make sure you have a great blanket to keep you warm and cuddly. I find that the softer the better on cold days. The softer it feels the more luxurious your day off is right?

* Mugs - While you're at it, you should invest in a quality mug. I'm talking something really well-made and decorative. Hot coco, tea and coffee have never tasted better. 

*Books- It doesn't matter if you're reading a book or writing in one, you should always have one for a snow day. Movies are great but for big storms, you'll want to stimulate your brain. Get creative and write a poem, or get lost in a book full of great characters. Either way you're sure to be entertained. 

I'd love to hear what you all like to do on snow days! Post your favorite stories in the comments section below and as always, thanks for reading!