8 Weeks = 8 Minutes (and other things I learned this summer)

I know everyone says that summer goes by quickly, but seriously…where does the time go?? I swear my first day of work was just a week ago, yet here I am, sitting at home after 8 weeks of a fulltime internship back in Beantown. I am cringing at the date of my last blogpost, so in an effort to make up for lost time I decided I would round up some of the key lessons I have learned from my whirlwind of a summer.

Just another sunset in beautiful Beantown

Beantown Bites: Vegan Ice Cream???

If I had to chose only one dessert to have for the rest of my life, it would most definitely be ice cream. I grew up in a family of ice cream lovers, our freezer constantly stocked with at least 4 flavors and a few pints of gelato. One of my best friends from BU, Nicole, shares with me a love of ice cream, and introduced me to one of the yummiest and most unique ice cream spots in Boston.

Photo Diary: A Hike Through Blue Hills

One of the incredible things about living in Boston is that one minute you can be immersed in the hustle and bustle of downtown, and two blocks later you find yourself in a quaint, quiet, and woodsy neighborhood. It's the perfect balance- there's always something to do, but you also have the opportunity to get away and find a quiet haven if you need a breather (a blessing during finals week).

Go-to Spring Nails

Spring is officially here! Although I can't exactly dress for warmer weather just yet (thanks, Boston), I can celebrate the season with my favorite warm-weather nail colors. I love my darker jewel tones in fall/winter, but I always get eager to mix it up and start wearing pastels and brights. Today I'm going to take you through my top 6 nail colors for spring.

Budget-Friendly Ulta Haul

Ulta is my all-time favorite beauty store. I love the combination of drugstore and high-end products they carry, and they also always have promotions and coupons. I recently popped into my local Ulta while home for spring break, and I'm excited to talk about the new goodies I picked up!

Beantown Bites: The Best Grilled Cheese

In this little series, I want to show you some of the best food places I discover in Boston. There are an overwhelming number of restaurants in the city, so each time I go off campus for a meal I try to discover something new. Recently, my friend and I trekked into Allston to test out Roxy's Grilled Cheese, and it was certainly not disappointing.

College Birthday Celebrations

Although I’m in my second year of college, I still get a little pang of homesickness when my birthday rolls around. Two days ago I celebrated my 20th, and I have to admit that I did miss my mom’s home-cooked birthday meal and the little decorations she would hang up in our kitchen. However, there are so many great ways to celebrate with friends at school, and being in a city leaves me spoiled with options!

A Valentine Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday in terms of color scheme. It’s also a great opportunity to treat yoself (and others I guess) to some adorable gifts and sweet treats! Here are some of my personal favorite ideas that suit a variety of budgets.

The Five Minute Routine: College Makeup (Drugstore Edition)

As mentioned previously, having 8 am classes everyday makes me sacrifice much of my typical morning routine for sleep... However, with these quick and easy products on hand I can always find time to slap some makeup on and look a bit more put together.

Healthy Dorm-Friendly Breakfast Ideas

With 8 am classes every day this semester, I tend to put sleep above everything when it comes to getting ready in the morning. That being said, I can’t skip breakfast unless I’m tryna fall asleep and lose focus in class (which I’m not). Here’s what I stash in my dorm room to fuel me up and actually keep me full for most of the morning:

Winter Fashion Staples

With second semester right around the corner, I created a roundup of my winter fashion essentials. Coming from Florida, my first Boston winter (the snowiest on record, of course) was not easy. However, these frequently worn items made the cold so much more bearable:

Liz Loves: Lush

About five years ago I discovered Lush Cosmetics through a Michelle Phan YouTube video, and ever since it has been one of my favorite beauty brands.

My Photo Diary: Day Trip to Newport

Over Thanksgiving break, my sisters, boyfriend, and I decided to take a spontaneous road trip to Newport, Rhode Island and explore its beautiful historic mansions.

Winter Skincare Swapout

As we head into the colder months I tend to swap out a few of my skincare products in favor of gentler alternatives.

My Favorite App: One Second Everyday

I'm pretty boring when it comes to apps. I typically just stick to my socials and maybe an occasional game or two for when I'm traveling. But that all changed last year when I watched a One Second Everyday video created by my friend during her first semester of college at Vanderbilt. Beginning in 2015 I downloaded the app as a means of documenting the best four years of my life.

Top Ten: New Year's Fashion Finds

Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean you can't sparkle from head to toe... Here are some of my favorite New Year's fashion picks that can be used as inspiration for a night out regardless of the season!