Britney is on InStyle

It was recently announced (earlier this week!) that Britney Spears would be the cover girl of InStyle's January 2014 issue, featuring a beautiful  Dior gown.

The issue will pop up on news stands starting December 13th, according to InStyle's sneak peak of the cover.

Personally, I think its a great opportunity for Spears to be featured in the magazine, considering the last glossy cover I remember seeing her on was that of a tabloid/gossip magazine.

Will you pick up a copy?

Surprise Care Package

Today, I was surprised with a care package from my parents on the eve of finals week.  It was a perfect boost to morale as I needed to engage in the right mindset to prepare for exams.  Only to my surprise, it did not consist of typical package items...

 The package included 3 holiday themed cake-pops, and six delicious chocolate-covered, sweet strawberries.  It was the perfect indulgence.
These treats were ordered from Shari's Berries.  Check out the website for great deals on holiday treats like Chocolate Covered Oreos, or Handmade Peanut Butter Bark and an assortment of Holiday Gift Baskets.  Shari's Berries has great deals, and is offering 20% your order of $29.00 (Code 200FF29) among other great deals. Shari's also has a great 2-day delivery deal of a dozen roses for day one, and then a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries the next day!
The site also includes sister sites like ProFlowers, featuring beautiful floral arrangements, and Personal Creations, featuring personalized, heartfelt gifts.

Companies like this make sending care packages and little pick me ups a piece of cake-- or should I  say strawberry?

Gone Girl: A Novel

I wrote a week or so back that I would start reading Gillian Flynn's novel Gone Girl as it has been loaded on my Kindle for over... a year... I am ashamed to say this book was just sitting on my electronic bookshelf without being read for so long.  I made the purchase when Gone Girl was at the height of its popularity. And due to work, school, and well life... I never got around to reading it.

Well, let's just say that leaving this book sit around for a year will be on a list of regrets.  Gillian  Flynn completely captured by interest and my brain as she pulled me into the mystery of Nick and Amy Dunne's obscure, psychotic marriage.  Don't let that turn you away.  This novel was a page turner as I became desperate to solve the mystery of Amy's disappearance.

Flynn sets the novel up in three parts, with the first containing old diary entries leading up to her disappearance written by Amy, and Nick's current thoughts and dealings with his wife's disappearance on their fifth wedding anniversary in a small, Missouri town.  The other two parts expose the climax and to discuss it would just reveal too many spoilers.

This novel was complex in its mystery yet kept the reader's attention through its humor, wit and romantic tendencies.  In a case like this, it becomes natural to pick a side: Victim or Accused?  But through Flynn's writing, I was falling in love with both Amy, the woman who is described as men wanting her and women wanting to be here, and surprisingly, Nick.  Even though he is quickly pegged as the number one suspect in Amy's disappearance.  Both characters are flawed making them realistic.  Yet both characters are brilliant, keeping the reader wondering what they will do next.

Bottom line: Looking for a read to exercise your brain yet fall into a couple's romance? Read Gone Girl, it will blow your mind as the plot unfolds.
Check out Amazon to grab yourself a Kindle, paperback or hardcover copy of the novel.

Color of the Year 2014

Early December: this is always my favorite time of year, not just because the holiday season is blissfully upon us, but because Pantone releases its "Color of the Year".
Following 2013's Color of the Year, Emerald, Pantone selected Radiant Orchid to be 2014's celebrated hue.

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According to Pantone: "Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."  Want to know more? Check out Pantone's Radiant Orchid page.

How do you feel about the this jewel-tone purple hue?  Personally, I think it is a color of optimism and provides us with motivation to break into 2014 with excitement and enthusiasm.

Looking to add some "Radiant Orchid" into your style routine?
Try some lip gloss or even nail polish:

Gloss: Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lip Gloss in Lavender Lavish

This was a limited edition color for Fall 2013. You may be able to pick it up at local drugstores.

Nail Polish: Essie - Splash of Grenadine, Nordstrom or Ulta

Even the Today Show celebrated the Color of the Year:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Will you embrace it?!

Pink Chevron

Here is a quick OOTD post from Monday.  I had a presentation in my first class, and I wanted to look professional and put together, considering I was presenting on the fashion industry...
I did some Black Friday shopping and picked up this top and skirt at Francesca's.

The top is not on the website, may be a new arrival.

Skirt.

Shoes.

Take A Little Savasana...

Wondering what a savasana is? Well its a Sanskrit term used to describe the yoga pose of total relaxation.  I began taking yoga classes last year with my swim team, and fell in love with the challenging, rewarding and relaxing exercise.

Yoga has become an extremely popular form of exercise in Western culture over the past few years.  Yoga was developed in Ancient India, and has been adopted throughout Hinduism Buddhism religions.  While the sanskrit language which the poses are named in can be intimidating, not to mention the extreme pretzel-like poses, yoga for beginners is fun and a perfect stress release.

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Being a college student, stress is always a component of life.  But taking one class a week, offered for free by my school, allows an hour for me to find my center, gain perspective and relax my mind and body.  According to the Mayo Clinic, yoga provides health benefits, like stress reduction, a great physical workout, and the management of chronic conditions.  It is becoming an overwhelming trend amongst athletes to take up yoga to gain flexibility.  These athletes range from professional hockey players to club level rugby players.

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Afraid you won't be able to do that pose?  Well don't worry, because not many people can.  Besides, a yoga class is considered "practice" and who nails their first goal at their first practice?  There are several different types of yoga, like hot yoga or the several types listed here, on Women's Health.  I have taken classes like anusara, hatha, bikram, and power yoga.  Each brings something different to the body and the mind, and the best part-- each features levels from beginner to expert!

The top two reasons as to why I take yoga is to develop a balance of mind and body (destress!) and it provides me with manageable challenges.  There are so many expressions of each pose, and if one week I can go further in a certain pose, I can feel accomplished.  But if I don't, that's okay too.  Yoga is very individualized, and there is no pressure to achieve the deepest expression.  There may be expressions that my body physically cannot achieve due to my bone structure.  And that is perfectly acceptable in the yoga-world.

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I forgot the best part of yoga, so I guess there are three reasons as to why I love yoga: the Savasana.  Each yoga practice works the body to make it tired in preparation to rest... aka savasana.  Lying flat on your back, every muscle relaxed, eyes closed, full breaths leaves the mind an opportunity to find center and reward itself for working so hard.

Bottom line: Take yoga to find peace in a stressful life.  Or take yoga to develop strength.  Or take yoga to try something new! If you are afraid of yoga, try it with a friend, or a group of friends.  Just don't compare yourself to what your friend may be able to do and you can't.  Its all about you for an hour and no one else!

Did I hook you? Forbes claims the top 10 "yoga friendly cities" are:
1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA
2. Seattle-Tacoma, WA3. Philadelphia, PA4. Washington, D.C. & New York City6. Baltimore, MD7. Boston, MA8. Portland, OR9. San Diego, CA & Boise, ID
Now, head out and find a yoga studio!

Holiday Fun

Happy December! I was to share a holiday photo featuring the incredibly large Christmas tree on my campus. My friends and I held a quick photoshoot to grab some great shots. Here's one of them: 

And another:

Xoxo, Katie