2014 Bucket List

Every year I come up with ambiguous New Years resolutions that aren't quite measurable (be more organized, more patient, etc). Instead, this year I'm making a 2014 bucket list. Years ago I started an ultimate bucket list and I figure I should try to cross something off each year. SO! Here's what I hope to accomplish this year....

1. Go skydiving (Brooke & Blaire you must come through with me here)

2. No meat for a year

3. No fast food for a year (don't let that midnight Dons trip temp you!!!)

4. Run a half marathon (thinking Chicago...who wants in?)

5. Spend less money on clothes and more on experiences

6. Blog at least once per week

   6.1 Blog more about being Young & Fearless

7. Drink less at one time (need to lower that tolerance for everyone's sake)

8. Live "Young & Fearless" (as we all should)

   8.1 don't stress out over school

   8.2 who cares what people think? Pulease

   8.3 get a tattoo?? Maybe stretching it there....replacing bulletproof with "fearless"

As today is my birthday I'll add a post tomorrow about the NYE! Keep y'all posted 

Enjoy xx

[Food] Laduree Fabricant de Douceursis

As if we haven't had enough sweets.....

Laduree Fabricant de Douceursis is a famous Parisian macaroon cafe. Although there are shop all over Europe, the is only one in the US and that would be in the "Big Apple" of course. In my previous trip to NYC I got to taste test a couple and I have to tell you it was worth the 45 minute wait around the block. The shop offered more than just macaroons. The shop was staffed with all France natives and our macaroons were gift wrapped in the recognizable boxes. The satellite location was successful at making you feel like you really were in Paris for those short 15 minutes you spent inside. 

All-in-all these macaroons made for a good pair for Brittany and I's wine night at her place and we watch "The Internship" <which I highly recommend!

Laduree Fabricant de Douceursis offers a E-store to order these delicacies straight to your door! 

2 Chocolate Coconut, Raspberry, Chocolate, Pistachio, Salted Caramel 

Enjoy! xx

[Trend] The Cape

The cape has been in style for a couple seasons now. I know with Christmas just passing, people won't be making new purchases for a little bit. But when it's that time....I've put together a collection of capes that aren't going to break the bank. There are tons of expensive ones everywhere, so here are a few affordable ones.

My inspiration for this post came from my sister (Brittany) when she was wearing a cape to the movies last night. I could not stop laughing when I realized the struggles of wearing a cape. The pictures below explain....wearing a shoulder purse with a cape was not the best idea. She was forced to look like a dinosaur since it was to cold to have her arm out. I suggest a top handle or cross-body to finish your outfit off.

Cape: Nordstrom-Trouve

Trouve in Black (Sale).  Nasty Gal (Plaid).  Nasty Gal (Dress).  

ASOS (Cardigan).  ASOS (Bonded)

I wanted to say what my favorite is but the truth is I love all of them! Obsessed with the Nasty Gal cape-dress because it is so different and would be perfect for the charity event that I attend every year where we need to wear black! Also, obsessed with the plaid Nasty Gal cape because I am always one that likes to stand out, and I've never seen a cape like that. The first black cape is the same one my sister owns but in black (which is my Achilles color) and it's on SALE! Always love getting more for my buck :)

I also put together a little roll of pics off Pinterest that are a little out of my budget. Just a little inspiration for styling that I love!

 ASOS

Monica Rose for Lovers + Friends (Similar)

Adrienne Landau (Similar)

Enjoy! xx

[Gifting] The Sabon

I found the ultimate Christmas gift while in NYC visiting my sister for Thanksgiving. After finishing off our second Starbucks for the day, we took refuge in this sweet bath products shop in the Upper West Side called "Sabon". Nothing makes you feel grimier than walking around New York City, especially after hoping off the subway. This boutique offers a free hand treatment where you can walk away feeling like a new person. The boutique has the hand-washing station in the middle and has an associate wash your hands for you. You get to try out tons of different soaps and body scrubs. It's basically impossible not to purchase something because you feel so clean. 

 My favorite thing I tried was the Body Scrub -Pachouli Lavender Vanilla scent.

Sabon also offers tons of gift packages that are great for the holiday season. We found them as perfect gifts for our parents along with candles as well. 

Sabon offers tons of soaps, body washes, scubs, candles, oil, etc. I'm telling you...these things are bath heaven. They have boutiques in NYC, Chicago, and Miami right now, but you can also order online. Check them out.

[Music] American Authors

Just discovered the band American Authors and I think it was love at first listen. It turned into a full blow obsession when I saw this music video. It might sound familiar since I snagged this tune from the Delivery Man trailer. These guys live in Brooklyn and I want to find them and be friends with them!

[Trend] Chelsea Boot & Rolled Jeans

I've been wanting a pair of short brown booties for a while now, but I haven't been able to justify buying a pair of brown combat boots because I keep expecting them to go out of style. Although I am glad my black combat boots have gotten their fair wear through 3 seasons now (here), I am happy to see a new brown bootie standing out this season. I am dying for a pair of Chelsea boots, and I hope they stick around for a couple of years. 

BDG Urban Outfitter

Top Shop

Trotters via Nordstrom

Frye

I mean obviously I end up liking the most expensive ones (Frye) because I can't make anything easy for myself. They give that rustic feel that Frye always eludes, and pulls a little at the Texan heart inside me. Realistically, I am wanting the Trotters Chelsea boot, which surprised me as much as it did you. I usually perceive Trotters as an old lady shoe brand. I have never spotted fashion-forward pieces in their assortment, but if you didn't see the label they're perfect! Although I haven't seen them in person, they look like a high quality leather, and I like the medium brown color. If you're not looking to break the bank, the BDG Chelsea boot offered by Urban Outfitters is only $59.00, and can definitely do the trick for a Chelsea Boot craving. I'll be hunting around this weekend trying to find my right Chelsea fix, and to blow of all the steam from finals week. 

Side note: I'll also be shopping for is a nice pair of cuffed jeans. I want a pair that is balanced between the super skinny "jegging" and the boot cut. I am imagining wearing my Chelsea boots with a pair of rolled up jeans that hit right above the ankle to show off about an inch of skin between the boot and the end of the jeans. This may be crossing over to a little boy-ish style, as I initially got the idea after seeing a man wearing his combat boots this way, but fingers-crossed girls can pull it off to? With the right styling..... I'll keep y'all updated.

Happy finals week to all my I-core friends! I'll post a study playlist soon!

Enjoy! xx

[Wish-List] Leather hat & Thanksgiving Cravings

So as many of y'all know...school (specifically I-Core) has taken over my life, and that's why I haven't posted to the good ol' blog since school started. But! It's my goal to change that and update more often :)

With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, I think most of my posts are going to center around my "Wish-List." While everyone was tailgating this past weekend, I took the opportunity to go home and relax...and by relax I mean window shop (my happy place). I added quite a few things to my wish list, especially since I'll be heading to NYC for Thanksgiving and there's no better excuse for new clothes than a holiday.

I have been craving a leather baseball cap for quite some time now. I ran into this leather hat by Zara...so I guess the "window-shopping" idea was a bit of a fail. I also linked a couple other choices, but I love the Zara one because it has a zipper detail along the brim. Plus, it was great to hide under on my flight back to Indianapolis where the snow awaited. 

Forever 21

ASOS

BCBGeneration

BCBGeneration via Nordstrom

As much as I wanted to buy everything, I did manage to create my current "Wish-List" for my trip to NYC in a couple of weeks:

•       I have a mini obsession with Ray Bans, so these Erika ones are a must have this winter. 

•       I've been lusting after these Stella & Dot bracelets for about 4 months now, and I'm reminded every time I read Atlantic-Pacific, she definitely works the gold & silver combo.

•       I'm obsessed with the socks and short boot trend, and these Top Shop booties create that visual effortlessly. I'm picturing these babies with opaque tights, a leather skirt, a J.Crew-esque sweater, and a bright sparkly necklace for my Thanksgiving attire....just a few things missing from that equation still.

•       To top it all off, this wool camel coat with leather detailing from Zara. I've needed a knee length coat for quite a while, and the leather detailing was so flattering on. However, I found it a little tight if you're planning to wear a sweater under it, so I suggest sizing up. 

If you happen to be in NYC on Thanksgiving, hopefully you'll see me working this outfit. But first, my finals week to get through!....

xx Enjoy 

[Music] Road Trippin'

When we were little, the thought of the end of summer vacation was torture. Now in university, it’s all my friends and I can think about! I have been studying abroad this summer in London, so this summer went by to fast for me. However, I’ve been home for just 2 weeks, and jokes over…time to see my friends again!

For those of you that are out-of-staters like me, there’s only one thing standing between you and your magical second life called “college” …the never-ending road trip. 

For me, this trip cross-country from Texas to Indiana is a dreaded 14 hours! So to help you and myself get through it, I’ve made a couple of essential road trip playlist! With my Texas roots and my Indiana life, my music can go in polar-opposite directions, so I thought I’d put together a playlist for each. Also, If you haven’t heard of Spotify? Download it. NOW…Enjoy

As I’m leaving the great state of Texas, I like to kick on the country…and as much as I like the new tunes coming out, there’s no better time than a road trip to belt out those classics.

Dirty South:

1. College – Pat Green (…I do have to say Pat Green dominates road trip music)

2. Young – Kenny Chesney

3. See You Again – Carrie Underwood

4. Famous In A Small Town – Miranda Lambert

5. Summertime – Kenny Chesney

6. Feels Just Like It Should – Pat Green

7. Let Me – Pat Green

8. When I See This Bar – Kenny Chesney

9. Southern Girl – Tim McGraw

10. Gone – Montgomery Gentry

11. Hey Girl – Billy Currington

12. Carolina – Parmalee

13. How Do You Like Me Now? – Toby Keith

14. One In Every Crowd – Montgomery Gentry

15. Round Here – Florida Georgia Line

16. Friday Night – Eric Paslay

17. All My Friends Say – Luke Bryan

18. Way Back Texas – Pat Green (Personal Favorite)

19. Taste – Josh Abbott Band

Around 3 hours in when I leave Texas and I’ve come down off of my “road trip high” of going back to school, I like to switch on some hipster tunes and watch the states go by from the bed I have surely constructed in “shot-gun”.

Hipster Hymns:

1. On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons

2. Supersoaker – Kings of Leon

3. Counting Stars – OneRepublic

4. Breezeblocks – alt-J

5. We Are the People – Empire Of The Sun

6. House of Balloons / Glass – The Weekend

7. Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips

8. Royals – Lorde

9. Red Hands – Walk Off the Earth

10. American Girl – Tom Petty And The Heartbreaker

11. Cherry Bomb – John Mellencamp

12. Sloom – Of Monsters And Men

13. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine

14. Pretty Lil’ Heart – Robin Thicke, Lil Wayne

15. Brething Electricity – The Electric Sons

16. So Good To Me – Music junkie

17. Patient Love – Passenger

18. All the Little Lights – Passenger

19. Give Me Love – Ed Sheeran

20. Another Love – Tom Odell

21. Hold Me – Tom Odell

22. We Used to Wait – Arcade Fire

23. Nothing Arrived – Villagers

24. Valentine - Dispatch

Now for my favorite playlist! When you’re in the home stretch to school, and all you want to do is bust out of the car dancing! Some of these songs are those cheesy ones that everyone’s to embarrassed to admit they like…so I’m doing it for you. This is when I MUST put on my personal pump up music.

Road Trip Ritual:

1. Wake Me Up – Avicii

2. Blurred Lines – Robin Thick, T.I., Pharrell

3. Wine & Chocolates – Theophilus London

4. We Can’t Stop – Miley Cyrus (Had to…)

5. Ignite Cherie – The White Panda

6. Same Love – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (feat. Mary Lambert)

7. Hurricane ( CHVRCHES Remix) – Ms Mr

8. Love Somebody – Maroon 5

9. Recover – DEXTERS

10. Pompeii – Bastille

11. Fame Is for Assholes – Hoodie Allen, Chiddy

12. Next To Me – Emeli Sande

13. Fall Into The Sky – Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams

14. I Will Wait – Mumford & Sons (PERFECT TO BLAST)

15. I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston

16. I Could Be The One – Avicii, Nicky Romero

17. Get Up – Bingo Players, Far East Movement

18. Dancing In The Moonlight - Toploader

19. Blessed (Avicii Edit) – Tom Hangs, Shermanology

I start my road trip in 4 days, so if anyone has suggestions for me to add to my playlists please comment or email me at dpatt0015@gmail.com !!

Enjoy x