Thoughts For Thursday: About Me

I've seen re-introductions floating around on Blogland so I thought today would be perfect to re-introduce myself! (Thanks Caitlin & Natalie for the idea!) One of my favorite parts about blogging is finding and learning about women in this wonderful community! It's also fun to learn fun facts because you never know what could spark a conversation! If you're new or found me through the link-up, welcome! I'm so happy you're here! 
Name/Age/Location: Kate, 21, Philadelphia suburbs. Would love to move south for grad school though! 

Work: Currently a student (senior at Penn State...still wondering where the time has gone!) studying Communication Science and Disorders. During the school year I've been working at a daycare and when home on breaks I nanny and work at Coach
Family: Aside from my parents, It's me, myself, and I. Only child status- whomp. 
Hobbies: Photography, the beach, shopping, blogging, fishing, traveling
What you'll find on this blog: A little bit of everything! From weekend recaps to recipes and what I'm currently loving! 
My Favorite Things:
Movies: My Best Friends Wedding, Parent Trap, Princess Diaries, The Blind Side, Christmas Vacation, The Proposal (and a million others- rom coms of course!!)
Books: Something Borrowed, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants...and I'm sure half of the books on my nightstand that I haven't gotten to yet..... Music: Country, oldies + most of the new songs on the radio. If it catches my attention and I like it, I'll listen to it but country is my #1 jam 
Obsessions:  Pinterest, candles, flowers, weddings, Kate Spade, German Shorthaired Pointers and Labs, 
Color:  Pink and Navy; or any shades of pink and blue 
Items:  Canon Rebel T1i, planner, phone 
Standard Coffee Order: Dunkin Donuts: Iced Coffee w/ cream + sugar  Starbucks: Hot Chocolate or Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher. Depends on my mood
Standard Bar Order: Rum + Coke, Baybreeze or a glass of Pinot Grigio. If I'm drinking beer- Blue Moon
Favorite Food: Eggplant Parmesan 
Favorite Places to Shop: Loft, Gap, Old Navy, Nordstrom, J. Crew 
Bedtime and Wake up Time: Now that school back in session, bed time usually depends. During the week I like to be in bed by 11 and wake up around 7
Celebrity Crush: Two opposite ends of the spectrum but...Tim McGraw or Zac Efron

How did I start blogging? I've always been a journaler (is that even a word??) and jot my thoughts, feelings, ideas, etc. I have been following photography blogs for quite some time. I had also been reading other blogs and one day I just decided to give it a try! In the beginning I honestly had NO idea what to write about (and really still don't!) But this little blog has come far in the past year or so, and still has a long way to go! I'm so glad I started! It's so fun and love the community + women I've connected with! 
Why do I blog? As a fun way to document + look back on life in college (for now). Once I graduate in May I hope to continue blogging although I'm not sure how exciting my life will be post grad ;) 
Anything else you want to know about me?! Feel free to ask or email me!  Linking up with Annie and Natalie today!

Back to School Products: School Supplies

It's no secret that pens, pencils, highlighters, planners, notebooks etc. are one of my favorite things in the world. The school girl/teacher/SLP-to-be in me LOVES when August comes around just for a perfect excuse to freshen up with some of those necessities!  \ macbook pro | | A macbook pro was required for my major and I'm so happy I purchased this baby three years ago! I don't know how I ever lived without a mac but barely remember how to use a PC- which I basically grew up using! 
highlighters | | Hands down favorite highlighters ever- mostly because of the smear guard when using pencil or freshly drying ink
binders | | Durability is the first thing that comes to mind when picking out binders. From personal experience I found the "Better" binders from Staples are super durable and have used them for at least  two semesters! 
notebooks | | Really any notebook will do :) 
pencils | | Mechanical pencils are what I prefer, these and these are my favorites!
tumblers | | Because every girl needs a cute tumbler to carry her beverage in right?! These are my two faves: Lilly and Tervis! 
iPad | | Best.Investment.Ever! School + personal related!! 
pens | | Love me a nice fine tip pen and I'm a happy girl! These Staedtler pens do wonders! 
planners | | Confession: I'm slightly planner obsessive. I'm currently using my Erin Condren Life Planner- I do like it, but not sure if it's totally the one for me during this semester. Last semester it worked well, this one I think I need a different lay-out. Otherwise highly recommended. Once January rolls around I'm switching to my Emily Ley Simplified Planner- which I'm ordering next Wednesday!! (eek!) Excited to try this one out since I've heard great things too. Lastly, I just started a blog planner/calendar through Lilly Pulitzer {Large Agenda} and it's perfect for keeping track of all things blog related (at least for me!) 
post-its | | You just can't go wrong with post-its
Happy Wednesday, friends!!   What are your favorite back to school supplies? Link ups: WYWW, The Hump Day Blog Hop

That time we took a Family Vacation {OCNJ 2014}

Perfect weather? Check.  House packed with family? Check. Sunscreen, sunsets, and memories made? Check, check, and check!
How has it been over a week since we've been back from vacation!? Definitely still wishing I was laying on a beach with my toes in the water instead of being in class. Sigh. The wonderful beach life!! Our week down the shore was absolutely beautiful! Sunny, 80* and perfect waves! Except on Tuesday we had rain torrential downpours all day + night. I have to say though, rainy days at the beach are the best. And much needed! 
I let the pictures do the talking! There are quite a few! Don't say I didn't warn you :) Embarrassed to say most of these were taken with an iPhone! 

Clancy's + The Beach Club are two of our favorite places on the ONCJ Boardwalk! So of course we had to stop before we got out of town!!  Clancy's Mac & Cheese + Sweet Potato fries are both to.die.for!!

Thanks OCNJ for another fun-filled family vacation!! See you next summer! xo

oh hey friday!

ONE | |

Currently obsessed with my Alex and Ani bracelets that my Momma surprised me with! I totally see what the obsession is and hope to be adding more to my collection soon! Do you have Alex and Ani bracelets? What's your favorite charm?

TWO | |  Wednesday night we celebrated our last "Mother/Daughter Send Off" dinner. Bittersweet for sure! Post coming next week!! 

THREE | | Fresh chop also happened this week!! It's amazing how different your hair can feel and look with just an inch or two taken off! 

FOUR | | Heading back to PSU tomorrow to start SENIOR year. Excuse me while I go cry! Where has the time gone?!!?

FIVE | | In the midst of packing and crazy days this week these two quotes stuck with me... And luckily my week wasn't as bad as Britney's ;) 

Linking up: Meet @ the Barre, September F A R M

A Day In the Life {Summertime Nanny edition}

Today is my last day nannying for my favorite kiddos this summer. Bittersweet for sure. These kids are my cousins. So the bond is quite special and thicker than most other kids I've babysat. Spending countless hours a week with them for almost 12 weeks makes saying "goodbye" even more upsetting. Well it's not really goodbye forever because they're family- but you get the point. 
We've had so much fun this summer and too many laughs to count. Getting back into the school grind is really not my idea of fun. Am I right?!
So this is how most of my days went:
7:00am- Wakeup 7:15am- Get out of bed after my alarm blaring 7:20am- Get dressed + ready for the day 7:45am- Stopping at Dunkin for my iced coffee 

8:30-4(ish)pm- We did a variety of activities ...most mornings it was tennis + swim practice 

....some days it was hanging out at the pool 

Drinking Arnold Palmer's by the pool + reading...is this even real life?! #LifeOfASummertimeNanny

...and some days we had fun days at home

....other days it was doing junior golf in the morning- my favorite and new sport I'm taking up ;) 

...and there were a few special days when I was in the middle of running around doing dropoffs/pickups up from camp I was able to spend some time seeing these beauties!

Linking up with Natalie and Annie today! 

Oh Hey Friday! {Puppies + Lilly + Nail Polish Goodness}

Friday is the best day as always, but this friday is extra special!! As of this afternoon I'm on vaca!!! Hallejuah! Can't even tell you how much needed this is! Before we rush to vacation let's catch up from the week! There was something extra fun + special about this week that I can't quite put my finger on!  Favorite Moments- As I was thinking back I realized there was more than just one favorite moment- more the merrier!  -Meeting Cookie & Chloe: My momma has two therapy dogs that come into her classroom once a week. Monday I took the kids I nanny for, my cousins, to meet Cookie & Chloe! We had the best time and the pups were sooo sweet as usual!! I would've taken them home if I could've!

The Girls know how to open presents!

-Car Wash: Early Kids took it upon themselves to wash my car which consisted of spraying it down with a hose! I asked where the soap was and they said the car didn't need it..HA!

Favorite Drink No secret that I love an Arnold Palmer. But the past few weeks I've been good at saying away from them. However I tried Nantucket Nectars Half & Half! This definitely comes in as a close second! Light & refreshing- summer perfection!

Favorite Nail Polish

Pre-vaca mani's are necessary right?! Well anywho, my nails were in desperate need! I went with the color "I Eat Mainely Lobster"....thanks OPI for the chuckle!! Beachy, coral-ly goodness. Yep, just made up my own words!{Excuse the poor pic quality- iPhones never show the true reflection of the colors anyway!}

Favorite purchases 

-Lilly Pulitzer planner in Jellies Be Jammin- No explanation needed ;) 
-Coach Phone Wallet- I confess that this was somewhat of an impulse buy, but I know I will get so much use out of this wallet! There's a slot for cash, cards + phone. Not to mention it's in my favorite color, like ever!!! This little babe was hiding behind all of the other wristlets and as I was straightening up the tray that morning I saw it- instantly in the hold bin. #employeeperks needless to say, I gave the wallet a great home!! 

Favorite summertime snack: Blueberries!! We are SO fortunate to have 4 blueberry bushes in our yard from the previous owners! I love being able to pick the berries right off and be able to eat them and not worry about all of the yucky chemicals that are usually sprayed on them!

Catch up with y'all when I return!! Follow me on insta for beach/fun updates!! 

Monthly Faves {July}

July was definitely a good month! In some respects it seemed quick but looking back at pictures and everything it seemed I accomplished so much! Coming up with my favorites was slightly difficult this month- there were just so many things to include. And many I'm forgetting! (that's what I get for writing the post the night before- keeping it real!) Happy to be linking up again with Mia and Kelli for another edition of Monthly Faves!! 

ONE: Neutrogena Wet Skin- with nannying and being in the sun almost everyday, this has been my favorite sunscreen. Having sensitive skin makes it hard to find sunscreen that doesn't irritate. I've had absolutely no problems using this- I'll consider it a win!! 

TWO: I have every intention of doing an update on my favorite hair products soon- but for now, here's a sneak peek! Oribe Maximista Spray is one of those new faves. After going to a new salon my hairdresser recommended this volumizing spray for my thin hair....amazing!! My hair hasn't felt this healthy in years! 

THREE: Being totally honest- when my momma brought these Enjoy Life choco chunks home I was slightly unsure. I mean how can they be  dairy, nut + soy free and still actually taste good. Boy was I wrong!! They taste just like chocolate chips! Definitely recommend these chunks if you have allergies!! 

FOUR: Cute + polarized sunglasses- Ralph Lauren has you covered! Now that I have a pair of polarized sunglasses, I'm never going back!! It was definitely worth the investment and make a TOTAL difference when driving- for the better!

FIVE: If you've been around my blog long enough (well, this month) you'll know I purchased a new lens. To say that I'm in love is a slight understatement! Each day I'm learning new things about the lens which is super exciting!! 

SIX: I was on the hunt for a new beach bag- my poor Vera Bradley was falling apart + was so hard to get the sand out. I came across this L.L. Bean Beach bag and am honestly in love with it!! I decided to go with the large size which was perfect! It's so easy to clean too from the nylon fabric- no more issues with sand!! :)

SEVEN: Frozen grapes!! So delicious + the perfect snack! Need I say more!?

Hop on over to link up with Mia and Kelli! What did you LOVE this month?!

August Goals

I'm already cringing that it's August. Where did my summer go?! Keeping August goals short and sweet because let's be honest, with vacation + going back to school, there's no time for fun activities.  Le sigh. 
July goals recap:
-Finish the book that I'm reading before I start a new one Finished Bloom and started The Beach House by Jane Green
-Purchase a new camera lens YES! And I LOVE it!! Still practicing!
-Post at least 5 more times Done!
-Have a beach trip ....ummm no. Not happy about that one
-Clean out + organize my closet - this happened on August 2nd- still counts right? ;) I had every intention of doing in July...

-Finish The Beach House -Enjoy vaca!!!! -Order textbooks -Visit a winery + do a wine tasting -Soak in the last few weeks of home + friends
Have a great Tuesday, friends!

Weekending

Can I replay this weekend over and over and over? It was one of the best in such a long time- guess it makes up for the others :) Perfect combination of relaxing + getting to see best friends. 
Friday night was spend laying on the couch- not exciting but much needed!
Saturday was spent cleaning out and reorganizing my closet. Prior to, I was dreading the whole process but once I got into the groove of it, it became exciting. Still missing half of my shoes and handbags though (school transition-yuck)!! Closet is definitely no where near how I would like it organized, but for the time being/before going back to school- it works. How do y'all store your bags? If you have any suggestions, send them my way! 

After cleaning + organizing, I met up with my bff for dinner + it was PERFECT! So relaxing + fun! We went to Pag's Pub and had a killer pizza! One of the best I'd ever had! Great night to catch up since it was about the second or third time we had seen each other all summer!! 

Sunday the girls and I made a special trip to King of Prussia mall! Even though it's not a far drive we don't go very often. It was a treat...and we sure did treat ourselves to a few nice purchases ;)

Proud new owners of Kate Spade bags!! Our first KSNY- but definitely not our last ;) {I'm biased but I think this is one of my new favorite pictures. Just so FUN!! + a great memory!}

And side note: I surpassed my posts already than I did all of last year- we're making progress people!