My Study Abroad Experience In Photos

Photography has always been an extremely valuable medium to me. Photos allow you to remember experiences exactly how they happen, but only the best parts. That's how I would like to look back on my past - remembering the best parts and forgetting the negative. While there were definitely pros and cons and ups and downs to my study abroad experience, these photos mean the world to me because they remind me how truly lucky I was to witness the beauty that lies in other parts of the world for such an extended period of time. These photos allow me to vividly relive the "pinch me" feelings I got every time I saw a breathtaking monument, natural landscape or sunset. 

Today is December 31st and watching everyone post recaps of their best experiences of 2017 inspired me to make this post. I can't thank God enough for this 4-month-long experience because it taught me so much and gave me some pretty incredible memories and stories.

If you are interested in reading more about my study abroad travels, below are links to some of my travel posts! 










Rome, Italy

Velvet Holiday

You may be surprised that one of the best (and most underrated places) to shop for holiday apparel is boutiques! I find that lots of holiday apparel sold at popular, widely known retailers can be sooo overpriced, whereas boutique apparel is typically under $100. The hardest thing to find at popular retailers are reasonably priced cocktail dresses for the holidays – I rarely find anything good for less than $200! Mint Julep Boutique (sign up for their newsletter and get $10 off your purchase!) is a great example of a boutique that sells trendy holiday apparel that won't break the bank. For this post, I am wearing two Mint Julep pieces that would be great for a holiday party – this velvet floral dress and pair of pumps (that are surprisingly comfortable given their height!). I paired the heels with these shimmery socks, which I think add a unique element to the outfit and are a trend I've been loving lately. Unfortunately, Christmas is coming up in the next couple of days, but it's not too late to shop for New Years Eve apparel!

Feelin' Purple

On the go

Gift Guide For Mom



I always think spend the most time brainstorming what to give my mom for Christmas because she's the absolute most important person in my life. Many of these choices (or variations of them) are gifts I've given to my mom and the past and she was so happy to get them – and better yet, she actually got a lot of use out of them. The best part is that most of these gifts are under $100! 

Gifts Under $25

1. Monogram keychain // 2. Bath bomb set // 3. Personalized GPS coordinates wall print (I got this for my friends last year with our school's coordinates!) // 4. Mini Waffle Iron // 5. Kate Spade Tumbler // 6. Bandana (comes in so many colors/patterns!) // 7. Pom pom hat // 8. Archipelago 'Bergamot Tobacco' candle // 9. Face mask set

This one goes out to all you broke college students out there! I usually have so many people to buy for during the holidays for that I have no choice but to keep my budget $25 and under per gift. Happy shopping!