Weekend Snapshots

This weekend my boyfriend and I headed to Des Moines for a Saturday adventure. We started the day by stopping by Hurts Donuts, a new donut place in town. It was delicious! From crazy flavors to some classics Hurts was any donut lovers heaven. After donuts we shopped around some nearby boutiques then hit up Nordstrom Rack and Homegoods. Then we headed downtown Des Moines for Zombie Burger, another local favorite. After eating we did a little window shopping then headed back to Ames for a low key night in. Check out my snapshots from the weekend......

What did you do this weekend? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

College Series: How to Organize a Small Closet

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. 

What are your favorite ways to organize your closet? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Wanderer Bracelets + COUPON CODE

Wanderer Bracelets are handmade in Bali and are the perfect addition to any look. I am now a rep for Wanderer Bracelets! I love supporting brands who help provide jobs for people in need. Wanderer Reps gives opportunities for artisans in Bali all while giving you an adorable casual accessory. 

Want to purchase your own Wanderer Bracelet like this customizable coordinates bracelet? Use the code MPOLLITT20 for 20% off your Wanderer Bracelet purchase!! This way you can try out Wanderer Bracelets for a super great discount. 

My favorites: custom coordinate bracelet | arrow wrap bracelet | Lima beads bracelet 

What is your favorite Wanderer Bracelet? Be sure to share a picture of your bracelet with me if you end up purchasing! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

REVIEW: Recent Beauty Finds

Maybelline Big Shot Mascara | This mascara is easily one of my new drugstore favorites. I haven't had good luck with drugstore mascaras in a while. So, when I got this mascara through Influenster I was eager to try it out! I'd say it lengthens very well and gives good volume. Sometimes it can be clumpy, but overall it does a great job for the value! 

Maybelline Dream Cushion Foundation | I've been loving this cushion foundation for on the go or quick touch ups. When I saw that Maybelline had a cushion I knew I wanted to give it a go. Cushions are a huge makeup trend right now so I had to see what the fuss was about. I have to say it's great for foundation on the go! Slip it into your makeup bag or purse for easy touch ups. 

Glam Glow Wet Lip Balm | My lips have been killing me recently. So, I went for a more high end lip balm to see if it would make a difference. I like this one from Glam Glow because it gives you moisture while also giving a glossy look. I don't think it saved my lips, yet at least, but for an everyday normal lip balm I think it's great! For now I'll have to stick to Vaseline to fix my lips. 

Currel Wet Body Lotion | In this seasons Walmart beauty box I got the Currel wet body lotion. Although it's not as good as the Nivea in shower lotion, I think it is still a great moisturizer and perfect for people like me who hate lotion all over their hands. 

L'Oreal Ever Curl Shampoo, Conditioner, and Cream | I have wavy hair but I always style it in curls. After I used this shampoo my curls were less frizzy, no static (that's been a huge issue for me), and my hair was super smooth. After getting these through Influenster they are for sure my new go-to hair products. 

What are some beauty products you have been loving or tried recently? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

I was sent L'Oreal Ever Curl Shampoo, Conditioner, and Cream and Maybelline Big Shot Mascara for free to review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to brands like Maybelline, L'Oreal, and Influenster who support Sew Cute Style! 

Valentines Gift Guide for Her

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 

OOTD: The Ruffle Jacket

All of this cold and gloomy weather calls for a little delayed holiday cheer. I don't know about you, but my family waits a while to take down our Christmas tree. For me I wish the holidays wouldn't end! Especially when it's gross and gloomy outside. But, Valentines Day is coming so I am excited for candy and a ton of pink and red! Truth be told, I've already been snacking on Sweettart hearts since I've been back to school. 

This look features one of my favorite gifts I received for Christmas! I first saw this jacket on Sarah KJP or Sarah Vickers and I knew I had to have it. When I found it on sale on J Crew's website I knew it was meant to be. 

The jacket is a little cropped and features amazing gold detailing. Plus the adorable ruffle on each side of the buttons is way to cute for words. Essentially this jacket was made for me. Dressing down blazers has been my new favorite thing. Pairing them with jeans or a even a simple skirt is a great cute way to wear blazers in a new way. 

For accessories I layered two of my favorite necklaces of the moment. This tiny dainty monogram necklace is perfect for a simple look. Then to add a little something extra I wore my favorite KJP single pearl necklace. I love it because it is short so you can layer it with different pieces. 

Where it's from: 

Jacket: J Crew 

Shirt: J Crew 

Jeans: Paige Denim 

Necklaces: KJP and Baublebar

Watch: Michele 

Bracelets: Alex and Ani 

Boots: Madewell 

What is your favorite way to wear blazers? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

December Ipsy Review

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!

What did you get in your Ipsy or Birchbox? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Winter Break Snapshots Pt. 3

For the last part of my winter break my best friend Mariah came to visit! During breaks we love to visit each other because Mariah now goes to grad school at Iowa. So, I don't get to see her often. While she's in town we always go shopping and eat a ton of yummy food. 

Shake Shack is one of my all time favorite restaurants. Naturally, we had to take a trip to get a delicious burger and fries. 

We also tried a new restaurant that is located in Downtown Naperville. The Empire is a fun burger and sandwich place that has an impressively long cocktail and booze menu. We had spiked warm apple pear cider. It was on their seasonal menu and it was delicious! Our food was great too! 

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. 

Thursday morning was a early one as we were shopping the Lilly After Party Sale! We stopped at Starbucks for a much needed pick me up. 

Check out my Lilly After Party Sale post to hear more about my shopping experience in store at Oakbrook plus online. 

Did you have a winter break from school or some vacation time? Let me know any fun activities you did! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Winter Break Snapshots Pt. 2

Winter break has flown by! But, I'm recapping some fun Snapshots from break. One of our first fun activities was going to a Blackhawks game! It's kind of becoming a yearly tradition to go over winter break. Although the Hawks lost, it was a fun night and I got to eat stadium food. The nachos there are seriously my favorite! 

Then came Christmas, aka the most wonderful time of the year. I love the holiday season! Between decorating the house, watching Christmas movies, and dressing up it is my all time favorite holiday. 

Be sure to checkout this ootd post! 

Something new we tried this year was the lights at the Morton Arboretum! It was really cool! Although it was freezing out it was amazing to see all of the Christmas lights. The lights were put to music and had really cool affects.  

What was something fun you did this holiday season? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

Lilly After Party Sale: What I purchased + sale experience

I shopped till I dropped, literally, yesterday at the Lilly After Party Sale. You can still shop it! But, I am more then done my fair share of shopping this past week. But, I picked up a few cute things from this After Party Sale that I am super excited about! I'm LOVING the dress I picked up. I've never seen the print, but I am a sucker for purple and elephants. So, I knew I had to pick it up. I also picked up three casual tops. Most of my Lilly pieces are skorts or dresses so I wanted to mix things up a bit and pick up some different pieces. Now I think my Lilly collection is coming together very nicely! 

My experience this go around wasn't as great in the past. I anxiously waited at my computer for the sale to start and I got a good spot in line in the virtual line. Luckily, I got onto the sale within fifteen minutes, so around 7:15am my time. Then once I was shopping items weren't getting added to my cart, things weren't loading, and then the site crashed. I was so upset! In the past I have never had problems since they created the virtual line. But, there I was locked out of the sale. Even though I could see the items I couldn't purchase anything. 

So, my friend Mariah and I got dressed and headed straight to the store. We called ahead yesterday and asked if they were opening early. They said there would be staff there at nine so we showed up right at nine (actually 8:45 but we got Starbucks to stall for time). The nice employees let us in and we were the only ones in the store. Although they only had two small racks of sale merchandise, Mariah and I found some great pieces! Mariah, of Chambery and Champagne isn't a Lilly girl and she even found some super cute pieces!  

Despite some website issues we still found some great things. Plus we checked back at lunch to shop online and we both ended up finding other items that were recently added. So, overall it was still a success! What I learned from this sale is that starting at 7am doesn't always workout. Waiting until the crowd dies down is way less stressful! Plus, they were always adding styles and there were still a TON of items left even by 1pm. 

Now for the fun part, here is what I picked up from the Lilly After Party Sale 2017! 

L: Willa top in Tipping Point, some prints and sizes still available! 

R: Bay dress in Play That Trunky Music, not available. 

This purple dress is probably my favorite item I picked up! This go around I really wanted to get more casual everyday pieces. I love my Lilly shifts, but I wanted stuff I could easily just wear for casual days or to a potential job.

L: Elsa top in Bright Coral, a TON of Elsa tops still available! 

R: 2016 Christmas Ornament 

This sale I purchased my FIRST Elsa top! Everyone raves about these tops but I have never taken the plunge to purchase. But, when I saw this solid coral one in store I had to get it. It was more the 50% off so the deal was great. 

L: Lenore skort in navy 

R: Neveah one shoulder top in navy 

I picked up a navy skort because I love the one I already have. It's nice getting some neutral pieces to pair with printed tops or bottoms I already have from Lilly. 

What did you pick up from the Lilly After Party Sale? Are you still shopping? How was your After Party experience? I want to hear all about it in the comments! Also, be sure to check out my haul on my Instagram story! 

XOXO 

Miranda 

How to Shop the Lilly After Party Sale!

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 

OOTD: Christmas Plaid

Plaid is the perfect holiday print. I've had this skirt for a while, but I love pulling it out for the holiday season. With the green, red, and navy it screams Christmas to me! 

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. 

Overall, I kept the look very simple. I wore this just hanging around the house before Christmas officially began. The weather in Chicago got into the 30's so I wanted to take advantage of the weather while it is on the warmer side. Yes, it is sad that 30 degrees is warm to us! But, as I am writing this it is almost 50 degrees! So, I will for sure be taking advantage of this weather. 

Where it's from: 

Skirt: J Crew 

Turtleneck: J Crew 

Tights: Forever 21 

Shoes: J Crew 

Bracelets: KJP, Alex and Ani

Watch: Michele 

Earrings: Kate Spade

What is your favorite way to wear plaid during the winter? Let me know in the comments! 

XOXO 

Miranda