2012 was a very odd year.

It was pretty good but had it's down falls, like every year. I learned a lot about myself but also fell into bad habits.

It was one of my better years, not too much drama and a lot of good stuff such as becoming Vice Archon of my sorority chapter, making new friends, decreasing my anxiety, starting this blog, getting published a few times, and learning more about what I wanted to do.

I had a lot of success this year and I'm looking forward to the good things that will happen in 2013. I knew 2012 wasn't going to be the greatest, I felt in on New Years Eve but 2013, it feels different.

I don't know if it's my inner Taylor Swift (and her obsession with the number 13) but I like the sound of 2013, it feels special.

Maybe that's just my optimistic outlook but I really do think that 2013 has wonderful potential.

On another note, New Years is not my favorite holiday; I don't like all the hoopla, I'm not about the parties--in my opinion, it's overrated.

What I do like about New Years is the ability to start over--the clean slate that you are given and the fact that you have an entire year to reinvent yourself, to do the things you've been wanting to do.

Every year I make a list of resolutions that I never keep but this year, I am going to make it different. My 1st resolution is to keep my resolutions, or at least most of them.

I decided that I was going to make a list filled with goals and things that are possible to achieve--I'm not writing down some pipe dream that I know have no shot of coming true.

I am going to do my best to stick to this list and hopefully this time next year, I will have them all crossed off !

2013 is going to be my year, hopefully it will treat me as well as I think it will!

What are your New Years resolutions/goals?

Happy New Year everyone :)

This year I discovered a lot of new companies and brands. Some were new to me, others were new to the world. It was exciting to become familiar with these brands and buy their products...they've now become my favorites!

Maybooks

I discovered these adorable notebooks at the beginning of the summer and I've become addicted; I've purchased four of them and I'm constantly looking at new designs to satisfy my addiction.

The soft covered notebooks are yours to customize, whether it's your sorority name, monogram, or cute saying. You pick how you want the entire notebook to look. They're too small to use for class but perfect for a planner, spare notebook, or any other of your paper needs. I use mine for a journal, a planner for my sorority, a random notebook, and one for the blog.

Maybooks is now called MayDesigns because they've brought notecards into the mix which are perfect. The customer service is incredible and you could tell that the product is made with love and care. 

I will forever love and be loyal to Maybooks.

Kate Spade

Kate is an oldie but goodie. I remember when I was younger my mother always had something Kate Spade but I forgot about her for a while. This year, I rediscovered Ms. Spade and all of her glory.

I've bought a few things from her this year, including some phone cases, iPAD cases, and a clutch; for Christmas I got a new wallet and a cross-body bag.

Yes, Kate Spade is a bit on the expensive side but I don't mind. You are definitely paying for the leather and quality of the product but it is so worth it.

With each Kate Spade item comes a little green card that tells you how to care for your item and on each card comes an adorable saying such as "She tucked her coral lipstick away and floated back to the party."

SO CUTE!

I am simply obsessed with Kate and I am looking forward to buying more of her in 2013!

Birchbox

I'm pretty sure you are all sick of hearing me talk about Birchbox but I simply cannot stop! Buying this box of beauty samples every month has improved my make-up routine and made me more conscious of what products I'm using.

I was never much of a make-up gal but this completely changed the way I think about make-up. It's only $10 a month and it's so much fun. I love getting new products in the mail every month, it's a special surprise that you treat yourself to. 

It's not just the products and idea of Birchbox that is wonderful, it's the company itself. The customer service is great and everything runs smoothly when dealing with them.

If you have the extra money, definitely sign up.

Lilly Pulitzer

This was definitely my #1 during 2012. As a sorority girl, I felt it was my duty to start liking Lilly and I definitely did. 

I bought so many accessories in a variety of Lilly prints, it was obnixious. My little made me a Lilly paddle, I finally got a Lilly scarf, and lets not forget my Lilly planner.

The story of Lilly Pulitzer is a great one and I love what it stands for--fun, strong, empowering women. Lilly is fun and carefree, I'm totally in love with the brand!

I went Lilly Pulitzer crazy this year and I'm sure 2013 will be even more Lilly-fied.

What were your favorite brands and companies in 2012?

New Years is approaching quickly and 2012 is officially coming to an end. We get a clean slate, a fresh new start, and a whole slew of new mistakes (and resolutions) to make. 

This year was a good year for beauty, in my opinion. I discovered some great things that I now cannot live without.

I've blogged about most of them but there are a few things that slipped my mind while writing.

1. Revlon Lip Butters

2. Ped Egg

I haven't spoken about this yet so here we go. I have really dry skin, my feet are the worst by far. This little gem is like a pedicure in your own home. It takes away all the dry skin on the bottoms of your feet, leaving you with smooth skin. Add some lotion afterwards and you are good to go! This is a serious winter lifesaver.

3. Essie

I will be doing a "Favorite companies" blog so Essie really should be included in that but I just fell in love with all Essie nail polishes this year! I have too many in my nail polish bag and my collection keeps growing. The formula is the best I've ever seen and it goes on so smoothly. My favorite has to be Eternal Optimist-- it's a perfect pale pink that is great for summer or winter weather.

4. Eyeko Eyeliner

I meant to blog about this but kept forgetting. I received a generous full size of an olive green color of this liner in one of my Birchboxes and I fell in love. I usually stuck with black eyeliner but I really just wanted to use this particular one so I kept using the green. With the points I racked up on Birchbox.com, I bought another liner in Black. This is a liquid liner that isn't too liquidly; you apply it as a marker, the tip resembles that of a Sharpie and it goes on smoothly. It looks fabulous too. This was definitely my #1 favorite of the year!

5. John Fredia Frizz Ease Finishing Creme

This stuff saved my hair in 2012. I have a lot of thick, curly hair which is prone to frizz, even in the cold winter months. After I finish straightening it, if my locks need a bit of shine or help with frizz, I apply this creme and it smooths it out. It's not heavy for a creme and doesn't make my hair oily. It's a lifesaver! 

What have been your beauty favorites of 2012? Let me know in the comments :)

I think that perfume is one of the best parts about being a woman. There are so many different scents out there and you're able to play around with all of them until you find your favorite.

Floral, fruity, lavender, vanilla, light, strong...there are so many different kinds to choose from.

Marc Jacobs Daisy

This is my favorite perfume ever; it's a light floral scent that screams fun and flirty. There are so many different scents that pull together in this bottle--jasmine, vanilla, grapefruit..the list goes on. I've had this bottle for two years and I use it sparingly, only on special occasions. 

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift

I will pretty much buy anything that Taylor Swift sells so when I heard she had a perfume, I was psyched. I usually hate celebrity perfumes but this perfume smells incredible. It has a scent similar to Britney Spears' "Fantasy" but not as sweet. It's filled with raspberry, vanilla, and a touch of peach. It's very playful and is just strong enough to wear every day.

DKNY Be Delicious

This was the first perfume I fell in love with years ago. It just smells so good! It is nothing but a perfect apple perfume but not too strong. It has just enough scent for you to smell great without an overpowering aroma. One might think an apple perfume is gross but this is the best smelling perfume I've ever worn.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

This is definitely on the pricer side but it just smells wonderful! This is my aunt's go to perfume and I've definitely snuck into her room once or twice to use it. This is a more mature scent that has a bit of musk to it. It isn't really sweet but more sensual; it's elegant with a touch of floral. 

What are your favorite scents?

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

I almost like Christmas Eve better than the day because the excitement builds! You see your presents under the tree, you go to eat with your family, and then you just want to go to sleep so you can wake up !

I love Christmas, the entire season but this year I'm a bit of a grinch because I feel like Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas. It's disappointing. 

My mom says it's because I'm getting older which is probably the reason but still, I wish I felt more Christmasy.

I think as the day goes on, I'll get more excited, hopefully.

I'm heading to my grandma's house to be with my dad's family and eat the delicious seven fishes that us Italians take pride in on Christmas Eve.

How are you spending the night before Christmas?

Enjoy the night everyone! Hope Santa is good to you tomorrow morning !

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! 

What better way to celebrate Christmas then with a Christmas manicure?

I decided to be extremely festive and go with Essie's "Leading Lady" and "Blanc." I used my Sally Hansen Invisible top coat and Julep Maven Quick Dry Drops.

I've never used "Blanc" before but it has a very clean, white color. After two coats, it almost resembles white out but I like it, it looks nice. 

"Leading Lady" is a great red glitter color from Essie's Winter Collection. I like it but I wish it was a tad bit more sparkly. 

This to me is the perfect Christmas manicure; I'm not good with designing my nails, drawing stripes or Christmas trees on it so what is better than simple, sparkly red and white?

Merry Christmas Eve everyone :)

The countdown is on, Santa is getting his sleigh ready, and people are still doing last minute shopping.

I really feel that Christmas snuck up on everyone this year because no one is prepared. The roads are a mess and the stores packed...it's a jungle out there!

Stocking stuffers are my favorite gifts of all! They're cute, practical, and usually stuff you didn't think you would need but have use for.

My stocking was always my favorite thing to open Christmas morning and as I got older, that never changed.

Here are some great stocking stuffer ideas!

1. Pinch Provisions 'Glitter' Mini Emergency Kit

I've had my eye on these bad boys for months now. They are the perfect gift for the girl who never is prepared. This trusty little kit has everything you could ever need on a given moment: clear nail polish, earring backs, safety pins, lip balm, and so much more. I always see them at Sephora by the check out counter but now they've moved up to places like Nordstrom. They also come in fun glitter colors now! Who can resist glitter?!

2. Lilly Pulitzer Koozie

This is the perfect gift for the preppy girl in your life. If you love Lilly, this is a great gift; it comes in so many fun patterns and works whether you enjoy drinking or not. 

3. J.Crew Factory Polka Dot Socks

I've been seeing these everywhere and I want a pair so badly! Socks are the perfect small gift because you can never have enough! Polka Dots are SO in right now and with J.Crew, there is no better combination. I'm hoping my mom read my mind and bought me a pair of these!

4. Nail polish

Essie Winter 2012 Collection: Beyond Cozy

You can never go wrong with nail polish; every girl loves it and even if they aren't the best at painting their own nails, starting their polish collection might encourage them to start. I always get so excited when my mom puts a bottle in my stocking; it's the perfect gift!

5. Personal Notebook/Journal

  In my opinion, you could never have too many planners or notebooks; I always find new uses for them. This notebook is so cute with the adorable saying and bright red color. Anyone would love this!

What's your idea of the perfect stocking stuffer?

This is the time of year where I attempt to bake and craft all the lovely things that I've pinned to my Pinterest boards.

I jumped right into it last night and tried a fairly simple "recipe" that I really couldn't mess up even if I tried.

I've been seeing these candies all over Pinterest and decided that they were worth the shot.

They don't necessarily have a name but all it is pretzels, Hershey's Kisses, and M&Ms. You place the pretzels on wax paper on a cookie sheet, preheat the oven to 250 Degrees, place the Kisses on the pretzels and place in the oven for 3-4 minutes.

Take the pretzels out of the oven and quickly place the M&Ms right on top of the softened chocolate; put them in the fridge for about an hour and a half until they are hard.

The finished product is sweet, salty, and delicious!

They are the perfect Holiday candy and so easy to do, how could you not make them? 

I am a huge book worm; I love reading a good book and getting lost in the world the author has set up for me. 

During the school year, I rarely get a chance to sit down and read because I'm so busy. That's why over this break, I am making a true effort to read as much as possible. 

There are definitely a few books that I have been dying to read and I really want to get through them!

1. The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe 

Who isn't fascinated by this iconic woman? I know I am, always have been but I have never gotten the chance to read up on her. I bought this book for $5 at one of Barnes and Nobles sales during the summer and completely forgot about it until I found it in my desk drawer! This will be one of the first books I tackle!

2. Lilly

My main girl Lilly Pulitzer--she has become an icon for me over the past few months and I am simply obsessed with the Lilly Pulitzer brand. I stumbled upon this book by Kathryn Livingston while searching Barnes and Noble.com and knew I had to read it immediately. I really just want to learn more about who Lilly was and how she became the Queen of Pink and Green.

3. I Shouldn't be Telling You This-Kate White

This book was written by former Cosmopolitan editor in chief, Kate White. I watched Ms. White on Levo League's Office Hours last week and was amazed by how incredible she is! (She even retweeted and favorited some of my tweets and I was dying!)

During Office Hours she offered words of wisdom and advice to young women getting started in their careers. I think this book will be extremely helpful to young women everywhere in understand what they need to do in order to have the most successful career they want. Who else better to learn from than a Cosmo Girl herself?

4. Paris in Love-Eloise James

I feel like people everywhere have been talking about this book! It's been on my wish list for quite some time now but I really want to start it. It sounds like an "Eat Pray Love" type of memoir where a woman just up and moved her life to Paris. It sounds interesting and I am fascinated by Paris--sounds like a win-win!

5. Burned-Sara Shepard.

I cannot get enough of Pretty Little Liars, whether it's on my television screen or I'm reading about it in book form. It's so scary and deceitful...it's the perfect young adult novel. I do wish that Shepard would've ended the series at the 8th book like she planned but I don't hate the continuation, it's definitely satisfying my Rosewood cravings.

This is the 12th book in the series and I just downloaded it onto my Nook' it doesn't take me long to read one of the bad boys, it'll take me no more than two days so I can't wait!

What books are you looking forward to reading over Christmas break?

Can we please take a hot second to discuss the AMAZING finale?

I thought it was amazing but I think I was just so fragile, emotional, and excited, anything would've satisfied me.

After six seasons of constant turbulence, fashion trends, and scheming plans, Gossip Girl came to an end on Monday.

This season went by way too fast but everything that needed to be tied up, was. I was pretty content with everything.

Lets get started:

Chuck and Blair! My beloveds! I love nothing more than Blair Waldorf so when her and Chuck first got together, I was completely disgusted. I loved Nate and Blair more than anything, they were perfect but once the writers started putting Chair together, they became the ultimate Upper East Side power house.

I couldn't get enough of them and the way that they never really were together, the way things kept getting in the way, made everything that much more exciting.

I was happy though to finally see them get married! That was the highlight for me--after all this time, Blair and Chuck were happy!

Dan Humphrey: I have always hated Dan; ALWAYS! I never saw one redeeming quality in Lonely Boy but it just so happens that he was the one in charge all along. 

I won't say I'm disappointed because I'm not but I was secretly hoping it was Georgina or Serena or Derota behind the computer screen. Having Gossip Girl be Dan was perfect though; he was the outsider but secretly, he was the most popular one of all. It makes complete sense and I love it!

Guest Appearances: I love how they brought back Jenny, Eric, Agnes, Juliet, and Vanessa for the reveal of Gossip Girl--it showcased how many people Gossip Girl had affected over the years. I really loved Kristen Bell's guest appearance; a lot of fans were hoping that the voice over of our favorite gossip gal would show her face and she did! 

Those were my top favorite things of the night; I'm not a huge Serena fan so I could really care less about her but I was happy with her and Dan getting married. I did always love her with Nate though...

In the end, Gossip Girl spoke her final words and now we will not be entertained by the scandals of the Upper East Side anymore. 

It's sad because I've been watching this show since high school; I longed to be Blair Waldorf in her cool uniform and stylish headbands. I loved her bitchy ways but how vulnerable she was at the same time. 

This show made me proud to be from New York and made me dream of living in Manhattan some day.

Gossip Girl, whether you like it or not, changed pop culture and affected it in more ways than one.

I'm going to miss everything about the Upper East Side but I guess that's why we have DVD box sets!

Until next time...XOXO Gossip Girl <3

I am in complete and utter shock at this moment.

I've been struggling all day with how to form my emotions and I have no words, just tears and a heavy heart.

When I heard the news that someone shot up an elementary school I felt complete heartbreak. As the day went on and the death toll went up, my heart felt heavier. It became more real.

This shooting happened so close to home; the shooter lived in Jersey. Having it happen a mere hour away from where you live makes it so much more real, it hits so much closer to home.

I just cannot understand what goes through someone's head; how sick does a person have to be to stand in front of a classroom filled with 20 five year olds, look them straight in the eye, and end their lives?

Those children were innocent; they did nothing wrong in their short lives and now, they will never have the chance to live the life they deserved. 

It makes me sick, it breaks my entire being; those parents send their kids to school today expecting nothing to happen. They were going to go back later and pick them up. It was just another day.

Imagine the parents who fought with the kids that morning? The ones who MADE their kids go to school, despite the children's resistance.

Those parents will live with this day for the rest of their lives; they have to bury their children, all because of some sick person.

I don't know how many more people have to die in order for the government to do something about gun control. 

It should've happened after Columbine, it should've happened after Virginia Tech, it should've happend after Aurora but now 20 children are dead, because some asshole had access to a gun.

I understand that it's the 2nd amendment but the Bill of Rights was written over 200 years ago; times have changed and order needs to be restored. People should feel safe where they live, where they attend school, and on the streets. 

My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with everyone in Newtown; the victims, the families, the survivors--those children who survived will forever carry this day with them. Their classmates, their friends, their peers are dead because of some 24 year old who lost his job.

It sickens me and makes me just weep with heartache. 

Hug your loved ones a little tighter, kiss your brothers and sisters goodnight, spend time with your family, and never go to bed angry...just cherish your life and never take things for granted.

#PRAYFORNEWTOWN

I know I say it every single month but you really need to go sign up for Birchbox. It is so worth the $10 a month; everything about Birchbox is just wonderful!

This month Birchbox spiced up the box because of the Holiday season that we're currently in and that was a nice little surprise!

As usual, there were great products that I can't wait to use!

1. Juice Beauty: Stem Celluar Repair CC Cream

I've used BB Cream before, that provided by Birchbox, but now that CC cream is becoming a "thing", I can't wait to see how this treats my skin!

2. ModelCo: Shine Ultra LipGloss

3. Nick Chavez Beverly Hills: Advanced Volume Shampoo

This sample shampoo is a pretty great size for a "sample". I haven't used it but I will the next time I wash my hair.

4. Nicole by Nicole Richie

I have always had a soft spot for Nicole Richie; she cleaned up her act beautifully with hubby Joel Madden and her two gorgeous children. I love her! Her perfume is AMAZING! I want to buy a full size ASAP. It has a fresh, floral like scent but it's not overpowering. It's sweet but just enough to not make you sick. It's incredible; one of the best perfumes I've tried in a while.

5. La Fresh: Eco Beauty Health Hand Sanitizer

This is the Birchbox bonus for this month and I'm pretty happy. I love hand sanitizer and use it more than I should so two hand sanitizer wipes is a great bonus. I haven't tried them yet but I'm excited to.

Also, as an added bonus, I received $50 off an order of $125 or more on RentTheRunaway.com ! How exciting is that? I've never used RentTheRunway but now I have a reason to!

Go sign up for Birchbox! You will not regret it :)

Being part of a sorority is one of the greatest things you can do to improve your college experience. It has completely changed my life in so many ways; there are so many wonderful things about being in a sorority...

Sisterhood, philanthropy, fun events, friends, family...but one thing that everyone LOVES is our letters, the t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants that we wear proudly with a smile!

You can pretty much put your letters on anything and everything...similar to a monogram.

There are hardly any actual stores that sell greek gear but there are a few great websites that provide services to fraternities and sororities. 

1. Something Greek

This site is my go-to for everything Greek. The store is about a half hour away from my hometown; it's located in Hempstead, Long Island and it's just perfect. They have the best customer service, so many different products, and you can customize as much as you like. If you aren't in a national organization but a local one, that is not a problem. Something Greek will take care of you, either way.

There are so many different products; everything from American Apparel v-neck t-shirts to wooden paddles to clipboards.

On the SG website, there is a generator so you can pick your letters, your pattern, border, and garment color; this allows you to see what your product will look like before you purchase it. This is something I haven't seen on any other greek website therefore Something Greek is my FAVORITE!

2. JennaBenna

This is such an adorable sorority apparel website. It has regular color and print patterns but that isn't the special thing about Jenna.

Jenna Benna has LILLY prints! They have VERA BRADLEY prints! They have VINEYARD VINES prints! This is what makes Jenna the go to place for all sorority girls!

I haven't seen another place, besides Etsy where you could get designer prints like these. They have so many different prints and different products, it's almost overwhelming. You could prep-ify clothes, bags, jewelry, even buttons! The possibilities are endless!

I purchased a Lilly printed shirt from JennaBenna during the summer and it's beautiful; I chose a tangerine shirt with the print Beverly Hills Bubbly. It fits great, it washes great, and it's Lilly! What is not to love?