Happy December

Happy December! Christmas is only a bit away and I am so ready. The lights, movies, music, food, drinks, scarves and outfits...oh man, I'm excited. 

Here is a simple outfit idea I love. It combines casual, cozy & girly into one hunter-green focused look.

What is your favorite part of Christmas?

xoxo
HaileyGrace

Marc Jacobs "Lolita" Palette

This is a classic eyeshadow palette that received a lot of hype a few months ago in the blogger community. While I have owned it for a while, I have recently started to use it as my go-to palette for a simple eye shadow look. 

The packaging of this is amazing & screams elegance. The shadows also do not disappoint, with neutral shades in both shimmer and matte, this palette is great for a quick eye shadow look. While I do wish the shadows were a bit more pigmented, layered over a cream eyeshadow base like the Maybelline color tattoo, they work wonderfully. 

Here are a few close ups of this beauty: 

 

xoxo

HaileyGrace

Copper-obsessed Bandwagon [Home Decor]

The first step is admittance. I undoubtedly have a copper, gold & white marble obsession. The good news is that I'm clearly not alone judging from the home decor section of many stores currently. I am eagerly awaiting a chance to peruse the Target home section, but over the past few months I have collected a few copper gems I look forward to decorating with in the near future.

Without further ado:

Geometric Candle Holder: Target 

Decorative Jar: Target 

Tealight Candle Holder: Gift 

Tin Candle: Lou Lou 

Wire Basket: Gift (Home Goods) 

xoxo

HaileyGrace

Last-minute Greek goddess Halloween costume

Quick, it's the day before Halloween and you don't have a costume...or do you?

If you have a long white or cream dress, gold jewelry, gold ribbon, gold & white eye shadow and sandals then you have a Greek goddess costume. Simple, adaptable & comfortable. 

I had the most fun with my makeup: I did a bronze contour, white & gold smokey eye and added white & gold swirls on the left side of my face for a more whimsical look. 

Here is the look I came up with using things around my house:

xoxo
HaileyGrace

Halloween Makeup: Vampire [Inspired by The Vampire Diaries]

Happy Halloween Week! 

I went to a Halloween party this weekend and decided to be a unique and original costume -- a vampire. *sarcasm* This look is inspired by my recent obsession with watching The Vampire Diaries (I'm on season 5 and in love.) 

I decided to do a purple and red smoky eye, a bold cat-eye eyeliner and veins coming from my eyes. The trick to add dimension to the veins is to draw them on lightly with red or purple eyeliner, coat with a layer of your foundation and repeat until you are happy with how they look. In addition to The Vampire Diaries, I drew my color scheme from the ipsy bag "alter ego" vampire tutorial by Christen Dominique. I topped the eye look off with dramatic lashes.

For my base I mixed a light coverage foundation with white face paint to get a pale skin tone and contoured heavily with gray eye shadow. I then used translucent powder to lock this makeup in place. I finished the look with a nude lipstick and gloss and just a hint of "blood" from red & black face paint.

And here is how it turned out: 

What are you being for Halloween?

xoxo

HaileyGrace

National Coffee Day [video]

Today is National Coffee Day and I deemed it the appropriate time to speak openly about my love for coffee and where it began: 

Anyone who knows me personally or even those who see me daily, coffee cup in hand, knows that I am an absolute coffee fanatic. I fell properly in love with coffee almost seven years ago now when I decided to go coffee cupping with my brother-in-law and sister (before I liked black coffee) at Ceremony Roasters on West Street in Annapolis. At the time, I pretended like I liked the taste of black coffee and knew what I was talking about when describing the flavors and scents. Despite this first experience, I returned and before I knew it, I loved all things coffee! 

I am the only one who drinks coffee in my household, so a single-cup pour over is the way to go! While I normally drink my coffee black, I have a major appreciation for the beauty of coffee when you first add a splash of cream. Seeing as it is only National Coffee Day once a year, I decided to capture this: 

                              

What is your favorite type of coffee or favorite coffee shop in your state?

xoxo
HaileyGrace

First day of Autumn

September is a month that brings much joy to me. There are two main reasons for this, both of which I will conveniently be posting about on this space. The first is today, which marks the official first day of fall! The second is National Coffee Day, which comes at the end of this month. 

Autumn is by far my favorite season, it brings the holidays, the crisp air, the warm clothes, the pumpkin flavored goodies, delicious lattes and cozy evenings by the fire. The thought of these things as I'm writing this is enough to make me fall obsessed all over again. 

It seems fitting for me to show you one of the Autumn outfits I am looking forward to wearing: 

xoxo
HaileyGrace

Let's take notes!

It is no secret that I am stationery obsessed. Therefore, I use a new semester at school as an excuse to buy more notebooks, pens, pencils and planners! Here are a few of my recent finds:

 

Travel Endlessly Journal: SS Print Shop

Day Designer: Target 

All Other Items: TJ Max

Do you have a favorite notebook or a stationery obsession?

xoxo
HaileyGrace

The back-to-school blues?

I know the drill. New outfits, fresh notebooks and syllabus week. Beginning my senior year in college is quite surreal, but it leads to a thought-provoking start to the semester. Some will say these are the best four years of your life while others believe post-grad life is where the real freedom and experience steps in. So, what do I believe? 

My past three years in college have given me more independence, confidence, responsibility, motivation and knowledge. I have met some of my closest friends along the way in both my first school in New Jersey and the University of Maryland. These positive elements of college have also been mixed with stress, sleepless nights, anxiety and pressure. Like most things in life, it is not about the situation, but your attitude toward it. I learn daily how important it is to take the good things with the bad because that is life itself. 

As I embark on this last year of school (unless by some circumstance I go to grad school in the future) I am excited to spend more time with friends, further enhance my knowledge & skills in the public relations field and better myself daily. But I am not entering this year with the mindset that these years are the best of my life, rather that they are a part of the experience of life as a whole. I like to think that I have better things coming in regards to this blog, my career, my relationships and more. That these are some of the best years of my life, some of many. 

Happy first day of school. 

Watch this space for a "Through the years: Back-to-school Fashion" 

xoxo
HaileyGrace

Back to School [OOTD]

It's that time of year again: classes, studying, late nights & a ton of coffee (though that's every day)

Back to school

Despite the fact that summer is over & I'm beginning my final year of college (which is simultaneously exciting and terrifying) I love any excuse to find new Fall outfits! This one is a cute look that is casual but still dressed up with a statement boot. 

            

                                                                                       Shirt: TJ Max

                                                                             Cardigan & Boots: Kohls 

                                                                                       Jeans: H&M

What is your favorite thing to wear on the first day of school?

xoxo
HaileyGrace

Back to School Haul [Video]

So...

It is that time of year and oddly enough, it is my final "back to school" time ever. I am entering my final year in college and I truly cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. That having been said, I went out on a little shopping excursion looking for Autumn basics: rich colored pants, solid blouses, cardigans and boots...let's say the mission was successful. I filmed a video of all I bought if your curious what clothing I deemed essential for Fall. Happy back to school!  (I know...I know...there is no such thing. None the less.) 

xoxo
HaileyGrace

California Love [Newport, Seaport Village, Balboa Park]

Of the independent cafes I tried, I found my favorite at Newport Beach. On the boardwalk by the beach rests Newport Coffee Company & I couldn't get enough. My favorite was a classic iced latte: refreshing & energizing.

I then ventured to an adorable taffy shop where I strategically picked one of each flavor that piqued my interest (except for the birthday cake flavor...I added a few extra pieces.) 

We spent majority of the day here on the beach, shelling. Newport was one of my favorite beaches of the trip because you had a bit of everything. You could lie on the beach, shell or swim in the water, walk the boardwalk or ride bicycles. Not to mention the absolutely stunning view. 

Seaport Village & Balboa Park was another beautiful (tourist) spot. The culture & shops are fun and welcoming. I will definitely return here next time i'm in town. 

This iced cappuccino speaks for itself. (YUM.) 

These shorts were a little purchase on the trip from the Fashion Q at La Jolla. 

I finished my last night in California spending a bit of time with my dad walking the beach & watching a "California sunset." I feel so grateful for experiencing such an incredible vacation. I cannot wait to return. 

Much Love. 

xoxo 
HaileyGrace