Sew Cute

I'm a girl with a lot of clothes, so having a small college closet is less then ideal. Luckily, I have mastered some tips and tricks to survive living in a dorm, a sorority house, and an apartment with weird or small closets. Luckily, my current apartment has a gorgeous walk in closet! But, I still have to organize things very efficiently to make sure I can have all of my favorite items with me while at school. Here are a few tips and products I use to organize my closet.... 

Thin hangers | Velvet or thin white hangers are key. Big chunky plastic hangers add a ton of bulk. I usually only use these for sweatshirts and sometimes sweaters. Otherwise I use the velvet hangers you can find at Target, Walmart, TJMaxx or really anywhere! They also prevent your clothes from falling off, which is super annoying when you have a tiny closet and you have to dig to find your clothes who fell down. 

Double hanger system | My double hanger system from The Container Store saves lives. It basically doubles your space. I normally hang my t-shirts, sweatshirts, and cardigans on my bottom area. Then let my tops and dresses hang up above. This hanger system was a major help living in my sorority because our closet had a funky layout. So, having the extra hanging space below was super beneficial. 

Color coding | I am a major fan of color coding. So, I organize my clothes by color. That way if I know I'm looking for a specific top it's easy to locate. I also try and organize by sleeve length but it doesn't always stay that way. But, either picking sleeve length or by color is a great way to keep your closet organized. 

Rolling rack | When I lived in the dorms I had a rolling clothing rack that went under my bunked bed. This was a major help because I only had a wardrobe in my dorm. Having the extra hanging space was great for my dresses and some skirts. Most of my clothing needs to be hung up, so living in dorms and my sorority was a major challenge! Luckily I have way more hanging storage now. 

Bins | A more obvious one, but bins are also super helpful. I store my scarves/ winter accessories and extra towels and bed linens in fabric or soft bins. This way they don't take up drawer space, but they are easy to access. 

KJP pearl earrings | Kate Spade tote | heart bag | heart sleep mask 

Michelle watch | Michele watch strap | Sugarfina bento box | sprinkles lip scrub 

pink lace bra | glitter phone case | postcard | greeting card  | embellished earrings 

Kendra Scott earrings |  Kendra Scott cuff | cocktail ring

It's never to early to start thinking about Valentines Day! Whether your single or in a relationship Valentines Day is an excuse to wear pink and to buy clearance candy at Target. Let's be honest that is one of the best parts of the holiday.

But, here is a fun and flirty gift guide for any gal you may be buying for this Valentines Day. Whether it's your girlfriend, mom, best friend, or sister any of these gifts would make a girl smile on February 14th!

What are you gifting for Valentines Day? Let me know in the comments! A Valentines Gift Guide for Him is coming soon. 
XOXO 
Miranda 

I went all winter break without my Ipsy subscription (it gets shipped to my apartment and I left before it arrived!), so I was super excited to pick it up the first week of break. So far I have gotten three Ipsy bags and I have been impressed with all of them. For me, it is the perfect mix between skincare products and actual makeup. Also, I've been loving trying new things out without a huge commitment. 

This month I got a pretty wide variety of products. The lip treatment came super in handy because my lips have been incredibly chapped. Darn you cold weather! Also, you can never go wrong with a travel size mascara. Those are my favorite! 

But, here is a short review on the products I tried this month....... 

Hanalei lip treatment | After one use I already saw a difference in my lips! Recently my lips have been absolutely awful. During this time of year they always get dry and even cracked. So, this thick vaseline like treatment is perfect for that! 

Beau Gachis concealer brush | Brushes are great to get in subscriptions! I normally don't buy makeup brushes so it's nice to try out different brands through Ipsy. 

mPrincess mineral eyeshadow | This eyeshadow is in a gorgeous bronze metallic shade. Normally I use bronze and brown shades on my eyes so I am all over this loose eyeshadow pigment. 

Tarte deluxe maraca oil | This face oil is great to add into your skincare routine. Normally I don't like oils because I'm not a fan of the smell. But, this one has little to no scent which is perfect. Also, the bottle design is great and easy to use. 

theBalm Cosmetics mad lash mascara | This mascara gave me major length with some volume. If you are a lengthening girl you have to give it a try! Also, the brush is super unique. I've never seen anything like it!

After dinner at The Empire we shopped around downtown Naperville making stops at Anthropologie and J Crew. Anthropologie had the cutest stationery section display! There are two things I am a sucker for: a fabulous store display and stationery goods. 

The Lilly Pulitzer After Party has officially been announced! You can shop the sale starting Thursday January 5th at 8am until Friday January 6th at 1pm EST!

Every year, for a while, I have shopped the Lilly sale and have come out with some great pieces, for super affordable prices. I normally never buy Lilly full price. At the After Party Sale I make sure I get enough pieces to fill my Lilly needs for the entire year. As a college student it just isn't realistic to spend $200- $300+ on a cute dress. 

So, here are my tips on how to shop the Lilly After Party Sale the smart way and how to do it on a budget! 

Step 1: Set up an account 

Before you even think about purchasing anything, be sure to set up a Lilly Pulitzer account on their website. Be sure to include the shipping address you want your items to be shipped to, and a credit card you want to purchase your items with. This will eliminate you spending valuable time imputing information like your address and credit card number at checkout. 

TIP: Adding items into your cart doesn't reserve them. If you know 100% you will die without something checkout immediately! Popular items will go fast and you have to act quickly. 

Step 2: Pre-shop 

Now that you have set up an account start to pre-shop as I call it. Write down items you know you want. For example this sale I am looking for a graduation dress and some casual everyday pieces. If you really want to be prepared look up item names and print names you have your eye on. This way you can go straight to those items without shifting through pages of product. 

TIP: Know your size! Go back and check other Lilly pieces you have to make sure you are ordering the correct sizes. If this is your first time purchasing from Lilly look on the size guides. Items cannot be returned! But, you can always sell it in a Lilly swap group or on Poshmark. 

Step 3: Be ready! 

After the appropriate prep work, now it is time to wait. Make sure you are up and ready to go RIGHT when the sale opens. If you aren't refreshing your page over and over again you will have to wait in the virtual line for quite some time. I usually try and work on multiple devices, if you want to be hardcore. Have the site up on multiple computers (if available), your iPad, your phone, EVERYWHERE. This way if you finish one order you can be in line on another device. Double check you are logged into your account on all devices! Also, if you live near a Lilly store, go to the store! You can shop online and in store, so if you have a store close by take advantage. I usually shop the sale early online, then go to the store at opening. This way you can see pieces in person and try and get anything you couldn't get online in store. 

TIP: Be prepared to not get everything you want. Items sell out fast, it isn't an unlimited inventory. If you want a popular piece your chances are more slim of getting it. I've always gotten a ton of great pieces! But, if you are dead set on one item you have to be prepared if it isn't included in the sale OR if it sells out. 

Step 4: Have fun! 

Some people get cut throat when it comes to the Lilly sale. Remember, it is just clothing! Sure it is upsetting if you can't get pieces you were hoping for. But, at the end of the day Lilly is supposed to make you happy! Don't get caught up in being upset you couldn't get everything on your list. 

TIP: The site has had problems in the past. Just be patient! It may seem like you are waiting in line for forever, but you will get your turn. 

TIP: New items have been added on the second day of the sale. So, go back and check every now and then after you shopped the first day to look for new items. Also, follow Lilly on Twitter! They usually make announcements about new items there. 

Looking for more information? Check out these helpful links! 

Lilly's Q&A about the sale

My tips post from last sale 

What I bought at the last Lilly sale

Have questions? Leave them in the comments and I'd be happy to help! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

I paired the printed skirt with a simple solid turtle neck to balance out the print. This turtle neck from J Crew is so soft and comfortable. When I was little I used to hate turtle necks, but I've been loving them recently as layering pieces. 

Watch: Michele