Conflicted!

Ok, so I've officially decided the universe does not want me to own a pair of flat black leather boots. I posted previously how I had gotten a pair of Enzo Angiolini boots and they started to rip in half. So, I return them and patiently tried to hold on to my Nordstrom gift card to buy a new pair. Well, when I was home on Easter break, I spotted a pair of Steve Madden boots with a chunky zipper up the back that I loved, and they were on sale!

I was sold!... Until the pair I tried on was completely ripping inside. I gave the boots the benefit of the doubt and had them order me another pair. I just received the boots today and guess what. Yup, they are also ripped. Ugh! So here's to more bad luck with ripped boots.

For the time being I have officially given up on finding another replacement pair of boots, since the weather has been beautiful and 80 degrees the last two days, so onto other things. And now here is where my dilemma falls.

I want a good, secure closure, small bag to bring with me to Spain. I am becoming petrified of people telling me about horrendous pick pocketers! I would love to use the Nordstrom gift card from the boots to buy the bag so I don't have to shell out any other money from my pocket to get it. I found two bags that I love.

The first

Michael Kors Charlton - $138

The second

Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. - $198

The first fits within my gift card budget. Great. But then ShopBop throws a wrench in my plans and has its 20% off sale and the M.A.C. is included and brings it right into my budget, only I can't order it from ShopBop with my Nordstrom gift card and I wasn't really looking to pay out of my pocket for it. To make matters worse, I tell my friend, and she tells me she can get me the M.A.C. 50% from the boutique she works at! How could I possibly be tempted any more!? I am so conflicted with which bag to go with. I guess I'll have to try both on next time I go to the mall to return the black devil boots! Who knew shopping was so difficult?

Which bag would you choose?

And can please anyone tell me where to get some good boots that won't rip!!

P.S. I was distracted from the horrid boots by the fact that when I went to get the package, I was surprised by 2. The second was the J.Crew leopard iPhone case that I had been wishing for. Andrew sent it to me as a surprise. So sweet!

xoxo

Holly

Catch Up!

I've been meaning and meaning to post but school just literally consumes my whole life lately! I did really well on my midterms so I guess it pays off but I really can't wait for summer! Last weekend I went home to spend Easter with my family and Passover with Andrew's. I like getting to celebrate different holidays and traditions (and I love me some homemade matzah ball soup). Also going home and Easter meant I got some new clothes!

Here's some of what I've been up to through pictures!

These are my favorite shoes lately. I love anything striped and these seersucker Sperrys are no exception.

Dying Easter eggs! My family has a tradition to "battle" our eggs. We ram them together until one person's egg cracks and then they lose.

Froyo because I officially whooped Andrew's butt in March Madness.

Beach & Boat Shoes <3

Andrew and I at the beach.

Lent is finally over! First time having ice cream again with this GIANT chipwhich. Go big or go home.

Hopefully I'll have time to post again sooner rather than later!

xoxo

Holly

Midterm Madness

Ah! This past week was jammed packed with school work and so will this upcoming week! I can't believe it is already time for midterms, I feel like my classes just started. Assignments, papers, tests, projects - they never stop! I literally have about 8 things due in a 4 day school week. It's a good thing that I am so organized with everything so that I stay on top of my assignments and get as much done early as possible. I literally don't know what I would do without my planner!!

I had my study abroad orientation this weekend and we got our tentative itineraries which I am super excited about. I need to take some time and start looking more into things I need to prepare for Spain! I would love to have my own device to access the internet but I am wary of bringing my laptop, I am thinking about renting or buying a used iPad instead. Anyone know of any places that rent iPads?

And here's a quick picture of a statement necklace to dress up a casual striped shirt that made me happy this week. :)

xoxo

Holly

My First Wedding Expo!

Okay, so obviously I'm obsessed with weddings. Enough to get me to wake up before 6am on a Sunday, which let me tell you..is not an easy task. Today I volunteered with a club that I am part of at school called Special Events Society which is a student chapter of ISES. We worked the Simply Elegant Platinum Wedding Expo at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston!

The owner of Simply Elegant Expos, Gina Karlsson is a woman on a mission. Besides running these wedding expos, she also has a several other ventures. One of the most prominent is her magazine (Simply Elegant Platinum Weddings Magazine) which I got a copy of today and it is great. She also runs Simply Elegant Linens and Platinum Weddings Group. All for a woman who majored in nursing, impressive.

Celebrity wedding planner, Collin Cowie, was present at the event. He gave a presentation, which I am so sad I missed because I was upstairs preparing for the crazy chaos of a fashion show that was about to ensue. A lucky couple won a free wedding valued at $200,000 and Collin is planning it! I would absolutely die for that. Luckily we got a picture in with him that I wish was up online so that I could post it here.

When my day started soooo early, I was thinking 10 hours of volunteering! I am literally going to die! That is how many hours I work at my paid job between two days! Haha! But it actually went by pretty quickly and there was a bunch of different jobs to do which I enjoy more than just sitting around waiting for time to pass. I started off helping set the tables, then went down to manage and coordinate all the vendors coming in through the loading dock. So many of the vendors were so thankful and appreciative that someone was down there controlling the traffic flow in and out of the one loading dock and that they had people to help bring up all their supplies to the ballroom, so it felt good to have my help appreciated. Next we greeted brides and their guests as they arrived and handed out copies of Gina's magazine (which hits stands in New England next week) to all the brides. Then I got to be a dresser for the bridal fashion show. I am used to quick changes from when I danced, but trying to switch girls into different bridal gowns in 3 minutes and completely pin them because they were swallowing the models up was no easy task. Forget accessories and bouquets, we were lucky they were dressed on the runway. Through everything we had to work with for the fashion show I think we did a pretty good job. Then we got to walk around and enjoy the expo ourselves and taste some yummy cake. Finally we helped clean things up a little and then the 10 hours were over and we were back on our way to Providence!

All in all, it was worth the early morning wake up and just further reconfirmed the fact that I definitely want to work in the special events field, especially weddings! I hope I get to work another wedding expo soon!

xoxo

Holly

I Hope You Dance

Today I was watching the college dance championships on TV. It made me really miss dancing and competing. I started dancing when I was only 4 years old. I started competing when I was 11. Then in high school I was accepted into a performing arts program as a dance major. Even my first two years at college I took a dance class every semester just to try to fill the void of dancing for hours every single day of my life for so many years. I haven't taken a dance class in a year and tonight jut made it very real. I have dance to thank for most of my best friends in life, and the most amazing memories with them.

For my own selfishness, I hope one day I have a little girl and that she loves dancing just as much as I did. That way I can experience it somewhat all over again (but not as a crazy mom like the ones on Dance Moms..although I have seen my fair share of crazy experiences like that in real life)

Having a passion in life is a great thing.

Embrace what you love.

xoxo

Holly

Happy Spring!

It is officially Spring and I am loving this perfect sunny mid 70's weather! Not too hott, not too cold. And I can start breaking out brighter colors, sandals, and dresses with bare legs (they're in desperate need of a tan though). Today was a pink day!

Tomorrow is my first test of the trimester, they really do go by so fast, I feel like they just started and I am already doing projects and taking tests. This beautiful weather isn't helping either, all I want to do is sit outside and enjoy it.

Just a quick post for today!

xoxo

Holly

Weddings..or Basketball?

Normally I am not the type of girl to be interested in sports nor do I pretend to be. Even when I went to Maryland which has some pretty good sports and free tickets..I still didn't go. Butttt get some kind of bet involved and I will be right there screaming more than any of guy. Case in point - March Madness. This is the second year I have made my own bracket. Andrew and I play against each other for our own personal bet. This year it's fro-yo if I win, Chipotle if he wins. So for the past two days I have been watching nonstop basketball and checking scores on my phone during class and work like a crazy boy, screaming at my television when they miss the basket at the buzzer. I thought I would take a little break from my sports mania to watch TLC Brideday! My favorite! So here are my thoughts on tonight's episode of Four Weddings.

Sarah - Monster truck limo? Woah never seen that before. Definitely not my style. Also not a fan of the ceremony chairs, they look like plastic chairs you'd have at a backyard BBQ. Very country and western. Horseshoes, cowboy hats and boots, tea, lemonade, keg.. works for them and their theme. Table decor is too grandma's house for me, I think there's a way to do country and stay contemporary. Buffet of BBQ food..obviouslyyyy. Country is clearly not my style and since everything in the wedding from the dress to the food to the venue all sticks to the theme it's hard for me to get around. Props to her for planning a wedding under $10,000 though, not something I think I could do! Overrall score..5!

Ashley - Alice and Wonderland theme! Such a bold theme isn't for me but I think it could be really fun to attend. The ceremony is after the sun has already gone down, I like how the lights strung around make it look romantic. Chair covers..blahhh. I think they always look tacky and like you need to cover up an ugly chair underneath. The courtyard for cocktail hour looks really cute with red and black paper lanterns hanging! I love signature drinks! Lots of things to keep with the theme well in this wedding; croquet, tea pots, cards. Hookahs at a wedding though...not so much. Overrall score..8!

Dena - Pretty simple outdoor country club ceremony. I don't like her bouquet made of daisies. I love daisies, just not in a bridal bouquet. Awkward that the event is not separated from others at the country club. Not a good move on the facilities part. A buffet dinner, not something I would do for my wedding. The decor was pretty simple, but I liked her colors. The tips from her kindergarten students for a happy marriage is adorable. The theme seemed more pink daises then kid themed? My overall score.. 6!

Shannon - I think the antique keys with table numbers attached and hung on a tree is cute. Wait..it's been four months since they've kissed?! Why was that not explained further? Anyway, love the flower petals set up like keys down the aisle, great use of theme. I like the reception space with the antique looking chandeliers, a little draping, and purple uplighting. I don't think there was an option for dinner, a big no-no for me, I think you should always give people some kind of choice. Card board cut-outs of the bride and groom...kind of strange? I don't really know how I feel about it. My overall score.. 6!

Ashley's got my vote in this one! And the winner is...Ashley!

Eeeee I cannot wait to plan my own wedding one day! Or hopefully assist in planning others in the meantime! That is why I am getting into events, to help bring people happiness on their special days!

xoxo

Holly