For my bag lately, I've been carrying around my Longchamp Le Pilage shoulder bag for when I'm not working from home and decide to take work to a local coffeeshop. I can just throw my laptop, charger, planner, phone, wallet, and maybe an extra hair clip or water bottle into it—zip it up—and feel confident knowing no one is going to reach in and take anything out. I don't know how people walk around the city with open tote bags—makes for an easy target if you ask me. 

I top the look off with a pom pom hat, maybe some shades, and can never forget my apple watch these days. My favorite feature is just being able to limit my notifications by just seeing who has texted me on my watch and not having to fully dig into my purse only to find I need to update my phone to the most recent version. Who would have known another piece of technology would actually make me more present than I was without it?

Summer felt a lot like limbo and not being so sure as to what to do with my time. August, being my favorite month, of course, always blinks past while fall sneaks around the corner. I have to say, being in lockdown has had its benefits. One being, I'm not overly anxious going back to school. Partially because I know I'll be home for awhile until I can move back into the city, but also because I just cannot wait for cozy nights in and Harry Potter marathons with Cooper snuggled up after a long day of online learning. I will miss football season actually. Even though DePaul doesn't have a team, it's the spirit that brings out the true fall feelings, amirite? 

It was really easy to just stay home when we were told to stay home, but me and so many others are itching to get out and take advantage of the summer time there is left. However, I feel like things are slightly shifting to a new "busy normal," with many schools already back in session and peaks of falling leaves and cooler evenings approaching. So, here is my monthly roundup:

01. Begin planning for my senior year. Now that moving is out of the question, I've been getting acquainted with my professors and their way-to-early syllabus postings that I cannot ignore because I'm Type A and need to prepare, as you know. This year will be different, but I'm going into it with an open mind, more excitement than anxiety, and ready to enjoy my last year of college. I've been so uptight and structured these past three years, so I am ready to manifest a go-with-the-flow mentality—as quarantine has taught me so well. I have two internships already under my belt, so I am ready to take on my next professional journey come winter or spring. 

02. Taking my camera out more. I will be fully honest—I have failed at being more creative with my photography skills. For one thing, iPhones are great for photography, so whenever I think I need my camera, I opt for my phone instead because it's easy to use and is always on me. Being at home has been uninspiring to say the least, and I'm kicking myself for not bringing it to Oregon last week (yes, I had a fun getaway out there!). Maybe it's the limited number of lenses I own or lack of motivation to switch up my style. I mean, photography takes. time. I want to start doing more creative flat lays, possibly interior themed posts, and find a new style that I like shooting. 

03. Start a running goal. I quit my yoga membership recently due to the pandemic and haven't been inspired to start it back up again. I feel at my most healthiest and motivated when I actually want to be doing yoga, but it has felt repetitive, so I got into running on the treadmill and around my neighborhood to switch things up a bit. I found out that a vibing playlist does wonders for people who get bored while they run like me. I get up early and make a goal to run at least a mile straight to boost my energy and usually my mood is set for the day. For a while, I felt like I was in an inactive funk, but I think my body just craved something else, and that's okay! 

04. Thrifting, thrifting, thrifting! My sister Melissa and I have been super into thrifting this summer (socially distanced, of course) and there's something about the thrill of the hunt. Not only is it exciting, it's also sustainable! Usually, I'm not looking for anything in particular, but big blue mason jars have been at the top of my list. You can find me in the knick knack section going through all of the picture frames, that are far too overpriced regularly, or at the book section. Clothes can be tricky, but I just found a pair of Sorel boots, which I am actually selling on Poshmark, and you can check out here! 

That's my month for you all! Pretty laid back before classes start. It's hard to look even a week ahead nowadays, does anyone else feel that way? How does your September look? 

Since summer has been different, to say the least, my family and I have been continuing to take precaution when we leave the house. I think it's valid to say that after all of that staying at home, many of us have felt like we've needed an excuse to get out. Even to the grocery store. On occasion, my mom and I will hit up some stores, but we're still really weary of where we're going and if it is even necessary to go there. 

I can officially say that all of my Christmas shopping is done. Usually, I'm even more ahead of the game and I have it all figured out before December. I love gift-giving. I know I have talked about not being materialistic and what impact we make as consumers, but hey, the holidays are the time to spread a little consumeristic cheer. Especially when it comes to the people that I love. 

When it comes to gift-giving, I'm all about the personalized sentiments, but every now and then I think it's definitely okay to hit the high road and splurge on something really nice for a person who is undoubtedly well-deserving of it. Perhaps this can be used as a wishlist for those women in our lives or a little hint for those guys looking for some inspiration. 

Handbags and accessories are always great gifts to give. In fact, that was one of the things I got my mom this year. I know a lot of people have a specific brand, style, color, or material they love—bags are just the key to a girl's heart. Something petite and as vibrant as this Calvin Klein Cora Crossbody is the perfect size and statement. It's the perfect Christmas red, too. 

As much as I honestly love receiving fuzzy socks, sometimes it's okay to go above and beyond, especially for a jaw-dropping moment, by gifting this Gucci GG Marmont Card Case Wallet. It's a timeless piece and will be a long-time love of mine. 

No need to panic—my gift guide is here to inspire and enhance your gift-giving ideas. Treat the lovely women in your life because you and I both know socks may not just cut it this year. While I do think practical gifts can be well-loved, I'm def asking for a new calendar lol, sometimes going the more luxurious route may be a really nice surprise for someone not expecting it. 

My favorite part of gift-giving is seeing the receiver's reaction and the whole process of opening up a present. Just the small joys in giving make my heart feel full and warm. Who's on your gift-giving list this year?

I remember being late to the ear-piercing game. I was in fourth grade and like most kids, getting your ears pierced was a right of passage. Everyone I knew had birthstone studs in their ears and each day a new friend would come running into class oo-ing and goo-ing over their new jeweled studs.

As much as I hated the idea, I couldn't bear to let my friends and of all people, little sister, have hers pierced without mine first. So, sometime at the beginning of fourth grade, my mom happily dragged me to Claire's and squeezed my hand.

I remember waiting until my ears healed to change out the peridot studs with my older sister's diamond hoops or ones that dangled with rainbow feathers. I was willing to try it all, even if my sensitive ears couldn't handle the plastic.

Over the years, I've struggled to wear eccentric earrings mainly because a lot of the frilly and fun ones are made out of plastic, nickel, or are silver-plated, which have always made my ears itch uncontrollably, so I've avoided them for a while. I would always have to wear sterling or gold earrings, which weren't always the most reasonably priced. Recently though, I've been wearing a lot of minimal gold studs...

I've always loved the look of minimal jewelry, wearing pieces here and there. Sometimes I won't think too much about what jewelry I'm wearing and will occasionally switch out a ring or a necklace every now and then. If you're interested, the necklace I wear every day is the Cosmic Balance necklace from Alex and Ani. I've gotten many compliments on this necklace and people are so fascinated by it because of the design and also the fact that it's expandable! 

Like my gold statement necklace, I've found a new love for my luxe gold medallion studs and adore their simplicity. There's something about stacking simple earrings like these 14 karat gold medallions or crystal bar studs that will always be timeless and worth the investment.

The bar earrings that I'm currently wearing are from American Eagle, while I couldn't find the exact pair, they have a wide variety of earrings to choose from. This six-pack of metal hoops and gold bar studs would pair nicely with these medallion studs.

While these may not be a bold statement, I think their classic and simple elegance will appeal to any lucky person you might gift these to this holiday season. 

These have already turned into my go-to everyday pair of earrings and are my favorite new addition to my treasures. I love long-lasting pieces and quality I know every gal deserves to own. What's in your jewelry box?

This post was in collaboration with Nakturnal. 

01. Tomorrow I'm actually going to see one of my all-time favorite bands since my freshman year of high school, Bastille, perform for the third time. I've gone to every one of their tour concerts for every new album they have released since 2015. I always think about artists that I've listened to throughout different stages of my life and Bastille has been the most prominent and influential to me. They've really adapted an alternative indie-pop sound that I've always vibed with and I don't think I'll ever stop listening. 

02. This month will be the start of my writing tutor journey! I've never been a tutor before, but when I was looking into on-campus jobs, this one seemed to align perfectly with what I love and do pretty much every day. It has been a lot, to be honest, I mean starting a new job and learning the mechanics has been a bit to take on at first, but I know I will develop a rhythm and a feel for it as I continue to practice more this month. So far I have completed all of my tutoring observations and will be leading a tutoring session this week, so we will see how it goes! 

03. The fam and I will be heading to Door County, Wisconsin later this month for a fall break outing. In the past, we used to camp up there in Peninsula State Park, but have just been so busy lately that we haven't been able to make a trip. It's the perfect fall weekend getaway. There's pumpkin picking, fall fests, cozy bonfires by the lake, kettle corn, drive-in movie theaters, and my favorite part is always the tunnel of deep reds and vibrant yellows of trees as you drive into town. Door County is the definition of the perfect fall. 

There is so much to love about this season and I'm sure many feel the same way. It's a new month and a new change that I am taking in with a cozy embrace and of course with a Netflix binge of Gilmore Girls. With all that is good, I've learned to also take this month to let some things go—just like the leaves. What is your favorite thing about fall? 

The color range and designs of Vans amaze me. I chose the Vans Old Skool Pro Marshmellow and Black skate shoes. For all the colors I had to choose from, I stuck with a classic neutral. As much as I love white shoes, I was able to avoid the whole white-turns-into-yellow situation by just purchasing a pale yellow color instead. There's something unique about owning a pastel shoe and also just the classic black stripe in the middle that I love. 

It also has mesh along the sides to ensure durability and suede on the toe, which is something I've never seen on a sneaker. I feel like Vans are becoming the new Converse of our age as I see more and more people wearing them. I already have three pairs and am eager to find new styles and designs. 

I will link, here, to the other pair of Vans that I own so you can check out those, too. Vans has a wide variety of styles, designs, colors, and sizes for you to choose from and I would really recommend checking them out if you're due for a new pair or are curious to see their options. I would honestly love to be a Vans ambassador or something, ha! 

Every year I think I wear out my winter shoes and find myself always on the hunt for winter boots—chelsea boots in particular. I just love the look of them and their durability in the elements. The main pair of shoes I wear are strictly boots and tennis shoes during the winter. I'm one of those people who own only like three pairs of boots and ends up wearing one of them every day. I'm a big advocate when it comes to finding really great quality shoes, even if it means spending a little more. I mean you wear them on your feet! 

After probably a month of endless online boot searching and really deciding if I wanted this specific pair, I decided on the Timberland Courmayeur Leather Chelsea Boots that I happened to get discounted at Macy's and sadly they don't carry them anymore. I think Instagram ads made me buy them, but oh well! Because look how cute they are! I was not a huge fan finding out they were real leather, however, I know that Timberland is a pretty respectable brand and the quality of the shoe is amazing regardless. They source their hides from acceptable locations throughout the US and places that cattle have been raised under the USDA guidelines, whatever that really means, so they strive to be aware and responsible for their animal welfare. I know this is a very important factor for some people, so I wanted to credit that. 

The simple and minimal design of the shoe itself is just the look I was going for, but the chevron stitching and craftsmanship of the shoe blew me away. Not only is it extremely comfortable, but they're also so easy to slip on and the tread makes it better to walk through snow and ice on undesirable Chicago blizzard days. All of the Chelsea boots I could find had pointed toes, and I really was happy to find that these were rounded and had a bit of a platform as well! As opposed to the classic Timberland work boots I've seen everyone wear, I'm glad I didn't jump on the bandwagon because these are the best boots I've ever owned. 

I never feel guilty when it comes to investment purchases and things I know I'm going to get wear out of. Especially things you can wear during winter weather conditions and need to have when unpractical boots get you stuck in the snow or you slip on black ice. For some reason, I struggle to find boots I love and I've had some other Chelsea boots that were cheaper and wore out faster. There are many options out there, but I was so pleased to find these and hope Timberland keeps them coming! 

The price of these and the material is something to consider, but I believe in quality made shoes and it was about time for me to switch out the old ones I wore so much. Some brands I would also recommend for Chelsea boots are American Eagle Outfitters, Urban Outfitters, and H&M. They have a wide variety of boots, but nothing that really struck my interest. Has anyone else been on the hunt for anything lately, especially for the holiday season? 

It's that time of year again in Chicago when the weather gets even more unpredictable and the fashion gets even more confusing. One day it feels like the middle of July and the next feels like the middle of crisp November. My favorite part of back to school, as most peoples are, is the much needed back-to-school shop. 

A lot of my friends know that I love getting things ready for school and my wardrobe being one of them. New shoes and jeans are always at the top of my list because I wear them both on the daily. What can I say? American Eagle jeans are my go-to. 

One of my favorite picks this season are these Vans Ultrarange Rapidweld casual sneakers in the color desert sage. First of all, this faded mint green has got me feelin a type of way. It reminds me of the sage I saw when I visited the Grand Tetons over the summer and I just drooled when I saw these. Funny enough, I saw them on a girl while we were at the airport waiting to go on our trip. 

They are the perfect casual walking shoe and I've never owned anything like them. Neither have I had a color like this in my shoe collection. I have wider feet, so I would recommend sizing up a half size, but other than that they have been the most comfortable shoes to wear to class and around the city. 

I am also feeling these taupe jeggings I bought from American Eagle and these are the Ne(X)t Level Low-Rise Jegging and they are just as soft and stretchy as they proclaim. You really can't go wrong with American Eagle's jean selection and they have an abundance of sizes, styles, and washes for everyone. They're a mandatory back-to-school stop for me. 

That's right, I am on the scrunchie bandwagon and I am loving it. Everyone I know is obsessing over these 90 themed hair accessories for quite a while and I just had to get on it. These are from Urban Outfitters and are the Days of the Week Scrunchies. They're awesome to hold your hair up in a cute bun or even to just wear on your wrist. I always have one somewhere around. 

What is your back-to-school fashion essential? 

I'm single like a Pringle and I know a lot of people will be on Valentine's Day this year. However, that does not mean you can't go out and celebrate it with all of your fellow single ladies! I'm not a hater of Valentine's Day and I believe that everyone shouldn't be down in the slumps because they're "alone" this year again. This time of year is the perfect time for honing into ourselves and celebrating who we are. I know it sounds cheesey, but self love is so much more important and if that means sharing this day with family and friends, right on! 

Recently, I have been wearing this extremely warm faux Old Navy dress coat. I was not able to find it online, but there are many online like it. I was looking for a coat like this that I could wear with dresses and long cardigans and it is surprisingly very warm. It has a zipper and pockets, too. It's probably one of the warmest dress coats I have ever owned. 

This dress is perfect for this time of year because it is actually long sleeve. This Zara dress is so classic and embroidery is so popular right now. It is the perfect Gal-entine's night out dress. I love the detail and many colors on this dress. 

I paired it with a very cute Urban Outfitters satchel bag and these amazing blue suede Zara boots that were on sale for only ten bucks. A major steal. I am just in love with these deep teal color and have never really worn this color on my feet before. The chunky heel makes it so easy to walk in them, too. I think these oversized shades really do and can block out the Valentine's Day haters. Ha. 

If you're planning on staying in for Valentine's Day, by all means, you do you! I hope this motivates or inspires at least one person to still go out and have fun on this day full of love and sappy romance. It is never bad to celebrate yourself and to hone in self love! Look hot and be hot for yourself :) I know I'll be.