It's a really sad day for a lot of people out there. It's the day that we've been dreading for the past few months but I can't believe it's finally here.

No, I'm not talking about my impending graduation that will hit me like a ton of bricks in less than two months but the finale of one of the greatest shows on TV, 'How I Met Your Mother'. Tonight, we will watch Ted and the Gang for one last time. We may or may not get closure because I honestly don't know how the writers are going to tie everything up in an hour but I have faith.

It's time to say goodbye to the show that has given us all so many life lessons, laughs, and good times. It taught us how to properly look good in a suit, to always steal the blue French Horn, and that nothing good happens after 2 am.

Granted I have not been an avid watcher since the start but binge watching the entire series in one week at the beginning of last summer was the best decision of my life. I've gotten so much joy from this show and it really has become a staple. I can't believe I waited so long to watch it.

To commemorate the ending of Mosby and Co, here are my top 5 favorite HIMYM moments (in no particular order).


1. "The Robin": If this isn't on your list, I can't trust you as a person. Barney finally worked up the nerve to put away his playbook and ask Robin to marry him. We've watched this couple flip flop back and forth for almost the entire series and finally, Barney is no longer the Barney we have to come to love and hate. He gives one final play before taking the leap and sealing the deal. This to me is one of the most romantic moments on television and it makes me tear up every time. 


2. Marshall's Father Dies: This is probably the saddest moment in HIMYM history. I can't explain how hard I cried over the two episode arc from when Lily tells Marshall his father didn't make it to the cemetery and "final last words". Ugh, it gives me all the feels and was so out of character for HIMYM that it just worked so well. 


3. Lebenslangerschicksalsschatz: This is probably my favorite montage/voice over/quote of the entire series. It makes so much sense and it basically is the entire message of the show rolled into one short moment. It's when Ted finally realizes that he needs to wait for the love of his life instead of looking for her and it's the moment we see the yellow umbrella for the actual first time, being held by the mother. This is where the final part of the series begins and I love every second of it. 

"If you have to think about it, you have not felt it." 


4. Barney admits his feelings for Robin: I know I already named a Swarkles moment here already but I love them too much. This scene literally kills me every time because even though we're meant to believe that Barney is helping out Robin and just kidding around to get the guy to break up with her but we all now know that this is when Barney admits he is still in love with Robin. It is hands down one of the best speeches on HIMYM ever.


5. We finally meet the Mother: This is what the entire series has been leading up too. This is the moment viewers have been on the edge of their seats for. When I finally saw this episode and we saw the Mother, I keeled over in a mess of tears. It wasn't even sad but it was just so unbelievable that she was finally in front of us, yellow umbrella and all. It still gives me the chills.

Aside from the best moments of 'How I Met Your Mother', the show is known for their running gags and I definitely, like everyone else, am going to miss my favorite ones.

Interventions

Robin Sparkles

Legendary

The Slapbet

My Monday nights are not going to be the same without this amazing show and I'm sad to see it go. 

What are your favorite moments from HIMYM? 



My goodness, I haven't done a manicure Monday in ages! That's due to my tight budget and the fact that my local drug stores do not have the latest Essie collections or any other polish worth buying.

Before Spring Break, I went to Harmon's Discount Store near my school. I've never been and when I walked in, I died and went to heaven. They had so many beauty products for such a discounted price, I didn't believe it was real. I went a little crazy and bought some stuff I needed for vacation but also bought some stuff I didn't.



One of those impulse purchases was from Essie's Winter Collection, a gorgeous blue polish titled "Parka Perfect". Even though it was from an older collection and not a summer color, I needed it. 

It definitely looked more grey in the bottle and once I painted my nails, it turned an ice, cold blue. I think it's perfect for the weather transition we're in right now and I'm kind of in love with it. 

When I go home next, I'm going to need to make a serious trip to my drug stores to find the new Essie collection because well, have you seen them?


I'm in LOVE with this Resort collection. I need them now!



The week after Spring Break is always the toughest. It's even worse when you're getting back from Punta Cana and transitioning back into freezing NYC weather. All I wanted this week was to be back on the beach, it was just severely depressing.

There were multiple things that helped me get through the week and for that I'm grateful!



1. Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM: My social media was blowing up with this news over the past two days. I've seen that Sprinkles had one of these fancy ATMs at their California store but NYC has not been graced with one yet...until now! The ever popular cupcake store made these ATMs famous and they finally opened one at their Manhattan store this week. This means your sugar cravings can be cured at all hours of the day, even when the store is closed.



2. Relay for Life: Iona College is hosting their first Relay for Life on April 12th. All clubs and organizations are participating, including my lovely Phi Sigma Sigma. Me and my sisters are doing our best to raise as much money as possible. Relay for Life is something close to a lot of people because it raises money for cancer, something that affects more people than you think. Because Relay for Life is getting so close, I'm getting really into it and want to raise as much money as possible. Any donation helps , even $1. If you can, please go to my page and help save a life :) 



3. LaurenBergerInc.com: If you didn't know, I'm an InternQueen Campus Ambassador. The InternQueen i Lauren Berger, an incredible woman who has created her brand helping younger, college students score their dream internships. She is the self made queen because she has held over 15 internships so she knows exactly what makes an all star intern. This week she launched her fabulous new website, LaurenBergerInc.com. It's a great resource for all those launching themselves into the real world. I'm kind of obsessed with it. 



4. Birchbox SoHo: It's no secret that I'm obsessed with Birchbox. Not only do I adore beauty products and the entire concept of the subscription service, I think the brand as a whole is doing everything right. The image, the marketing, social media--they are on top of their game.  The lovely Founders and CEOs Katia and Hayley are taking things to the next level. The New York Times published a beautifully written article about the pair this week and their plans to open up the first ever Birchbox store in SoHo, Manhattan this summer! You'll be able to build your own Birchbox and purchase full sized products, instead of ordering online. It sounds like heaven and I cannot wait!

5. 60 Tips That Can Save a Girl's Life: This blog post went viral this week and I'm kind of obsessed with it. Some I was aware of, some were new to me, and others it was nice to be reminded of. I'm going to bookmark this and read it whenever I feel a little down.

What are some of your favorites of the week?


I have an extreme love/hate relationship with my hair. It's sometimes the bane of my existence and then other times I'm in love. I have the curliest, frizziest, most unruly hair possible that usually takes me anywhere from an hour-2 hours to blow dry and straighten. It's a literal nightmare.

When I was on Spring Break, my hair was a mess as it was expected. The heat, humidity, saltwater and chlorine did absolutely nothing good for my tresses. I let my hair dry naturally which is a curly, frizzy mess but sometimes if I style it properly, my curls will actually look nice.

When I got home, my mom took one look at my hair and treated me to a nice blow out at a local salon; it was so nice to have my hair professionally done just for the heck of it. 

My mom and others have always asked why I never did the professional straightening treatment like the Brazilian Keratin (these types of treatment permanently straighten your hair for a significant amount of months, literally everyone's dream) and my reasoning is always that I do like to have curly hair sometimes. I love my curls when they come out good but when they don't, it makes me second guess everything.

I decided that over Easter break, I'm going to get the Keratin treatment done because I'm 100% over my hair. I need some easiness in my life and what better what to start than by never having to straighten your hair? 

In the meantime though, I needed some alternative to hold me over. I have a lot of hair products but nothing ever works quite good enough. I vowed that I didn't care how much I had to spend, I needed a good frizz maintainer/straightening tool. 

I never expected to find something this amazing.

Ever Straight has all these different kinds of hair products that are kind of on the expensive side but are well worth it because they work wonders. They have everything from Keratin treatments to Moroccan Oil shampoo, it's basically a hair gold mine. 



After browsing for a bit I chose the Brazilian Keratin Therapy Flat Iron Spray; you blow dry your hair completely and then separate your hair into sections, spray the sections and then flat iron over it. When you're done, mist the spray all over your hair to complete it. 

I used the spray this morning and it's completely changed the way I do my hair. I sprayed a lot of it all over my hair and then ironed over it and it honestly made such a difference.

My hair was easier to straighten, left it soft and shiny and didn't take as much time as it usually does. My hair is super straight today and it feels healthier.

The spray was about $10 but it was so worth it! I'm actually excited to straighten my hair now because it's made such a difference.

What are your hair secrets? Let me know in the comments! 



A few weeks ago I was contacted by Megan about her company Decor 2 UR Door, a dorm bedding website that sells gorgeous bedding, decor and accessories for college aged girls. I was immediately intrigued because you know I love anything along these decorative lines. 

I was first taken with the website. It's just so pretty! It's also extremely organized and so inviting to the consumer. Decor 2 UR Door has something a lot of other websites like it doesn't; the ability to refine and advance your search by color and print. It makes searching for your perfect bedding even easier.

All the products are so stylish and perfect for the college girl, whether you're a freshmen or a senior. There is something for everyone, which I love. 

There are so many different products on Decor 2 UR Door it can borderline be overwhelming. The variations of the designs and the actual products are awesome. You can pick and choose exactly what you want.



My favorites have to be the "Bed in a Bag" because you get everything you need for your dorm room; a duvet cover, a sham, and two pillows. 



They also have some crazy accessories such as Monogrammed wall art decals and chair covers(which I think have to be my favorite).

If you don't find exactly what you're looking for on Decor 2 UR Door, you can create your own; they give you the ability to design everything from the duvet cover to a headboard

If you're moving into your first college dorm room, getting a house off campus or just have the desire to redecorate your room at home, check out Decor 2 UR Door. They have pretty much everything and anything you can imagine. 



The best part about Decor 2 UR Door? They have MONOGRAMS! Another great thing about Decor 2 UR Door? One lucky Royally Pink reader is going to have a chance to win their very own monogrammed pillow! Just enter the Rafflecopter below :) 




Good luck!


I'm severely depressed and I don't know when I'm going to snap out of it. I do not want to be back here in chilly NYC but would rather have a drink in my hand, on the beach in sunny Punta Cana. Me and my friends had been planning this trip for months and in the blink of an eye, it's over. I can't even begin to explain how fast it went; I felt like I had just arrived when I was packing my bags to return home.




It was an interesting week, as you can imagine; 15 fraternity and sorority college students, some who were best friends and others who were strangers. Imagine 15 college students traipsing through an airport together at 6am. It was really aggressive (aggressive was the word of the trip); we were cranky and bitchy and rude but we had a lot of laughs. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

As you can imagine, I don't travel well. My nerves are always high and I get really anxious but traveling with my friends was a lot different. I was really calm and the plane ride was actually a lot of fun.




Once we got to Punta Cana though, it was on. An all inclusive vacation was the best thing to happen to me and my friends. All we could eat and drink for five days straight. There was no place I would rather be. 

The weather was positively beautiful; laying on a beach all day and partying all night was perfection. The resort we stayed out was definitely not what I imagined; there were a lot of families and hardly any Spring Break college students so me and my friends definitely made our own fun.

The trip did not come without tensions; I got really, really tan and eventually looked like I was deformed. I got stung by a bee and my lips got really swollen. We went on a cruise and I got sea sick and threw up off the side of the boat. My friend Tayler got his wallet stolen but then returned, stepped on glass and cut his hand. My other friends cut their toes and got really bad sunburn. It was really aggressive all around. 

That made the trip so much better though. I don't mean to humble brag but me and my friends are truly some of the funniest, most outrageous people out there. We kept saying ridiculous things that I wrote down in my phone because they were too insane to not write down and remember. 

This vacation really made me fall deeper in love with all my friends because they're truly one of a kind.




With beautiful weather, good vibes and great friends, you can truly make the best out of any situation. This trip was the definition of that; of course it was a typical college Spring Break in some aspects but being with my friends made me realize that you can make your own fun, no matter where you are. 

My Spring Break was filled with incredible memories, lots and lots of laughs, and my best friends. Seriously, these people became my family...literally. We kept pretending we were on a family vacation but I guess you had to be there #Griswolds. 



Punta Cana 2014, you will be missed. I wish I was on the beach with a Banana Mama in my hand or at the Bellini Bar. Now it's back to reality and time to face the truth...I graduate in less than 2 months.

Cheers to #SpringBreakForever


It's now 24 hours until me and 14 of my closest friends are on a plane to the Dominican Republic. My excitement is truly unreal and I've been a stressed out mess all week. Between finishing up midterms, sorority initiation, tanning, packing, and running around to get everything I need, it's been a rough one. I need a vacation just from preparing for vacation!

Packing is such a process because you never know what you are going to need once you get there. I love having options for outfits and I overpack when I'm going somewhere for one night so for me, it was all about prioritizing.




I made check lists on check lists to try to remember everything I need. It's crazy and if you've ever gone on a trip like this, you understand my pain. It's also my first actual vacation without my parents so I don't have my mom breathing down my neck to make sure I remembered everything.

Here are some tips for packing lightly but efficiently for Spring Break:

1. Only the essentials: DO NOT OVERPACK. Do you really want to pay the extra money to go over the 50 pound limit? I don't. Plan accordingly and ahead of time. If you're going to a beach vacation for five days, don't bring 10 bathing suits. Think about it, you'll only be wearing a bathing suit and cover up during the day and dressy clothes at night. Don't bring too many pairs of shorts or too many dresses. Bring at most, three extra outfit options so you have a choice in what you'd like to wear.

2. Plan with your friends/roomies: If you're going away with your best friends, pitch in on stuff. Instead of everyone bringing a blow dryer or straightener, bring one or two per room. There's no need for everyone to bring shampoo and conditioner, buy a large one at Target and spilt the price. It'll free up some space in your suitcases and it'll be cheaper for everyone in the long run.




3. Roll your clothes: Instead of folding your clothes or laying them flat, roll them. Yes, they will be wrinkled but there will be so much room in your suitcase. You can stack the clothes on top of each other and pair them side by side, tuck them into the nooks and crannies of your suitcase. It'll take a little more time rather than just dumping everything into your suitcase at once but it'll save you space which is all what packing is about.



4. Pack in compartments: Utilize the compartments in your suitcase; pack your undergarments and bathing suits in those zippered parts to allow more room for shoes and actual clothing in the main part of your suitcase. As for toiletries and makeup, buy little pouch bags or makeup bags to keep everything together and save space. Also, if everything liquid is together, it'll be harder for them to spill out all over your clothes. #Nightmare

A few other traveling tips:

-Pack your carryon last so you don't forget anything!
-Keep your passport, drivers license, tickets, and money together in a separate little bag so everything is altogether.
-Don't forget to pack your chargers and wires for your electronic devices!
-Even if you're on a beach vacay, bring a pair of sneakers because there might be some outdoor excursions you want to go on that require sneakers.
-Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane to save space and weight in your suitcase.
-Don't bring expensive jewelry, you don't really need it and God forbid it gets lost.
-Pack your shoes on the bottom so you can stack clothes on top and they won't get dirty.
-Download new music and update your iPod before you get on the plane.
-Look up the weight and other travel restrictions before you get to the airport.

Whenever I have traveled in the past, my carryon is my favorite bag to pack! That's where all the good stuff is and the most important because it'll keep you occupied on the plane. Here are my Carry On Essentials:



-Ipad, iPod, and cell phone: they'll all keep you occupied and a lot of airlines now have WiFi on the planes
-A book or magazine: If you're not the e-book type, bring a book or magazine to keep you occupied and entertained.
-Motion Sickness Medicine: I get ridiculously motion sickness and nervous on planes (as you can imagine, (#TypeA) so my Dramamine medication is a must whenever I fly
-Ear plugs and gum: No one enjoys the feeling of having your ears pop as the plane takes off and lands. Be prepared!
-Sunglasses: You'll want/need/beg for them as soon as you get off the plane!
-Change of Clothes: Some hotels and flights don't line up correctly so you might not be able to check in as soon as you get to the hotel. To get every bit of time in on your first day, pack a bathing suit, cover up and pair of sandals to change into quickly so you can hit the beach ASAP.

Point of Interest: Put ALL liquids in your suitcase; if you have them in your carryon, it's sure to be a disaster at the airport. 

What are your travel and packing tips for any type of vacation? Tell me in the comments! 

Happy Spring Break everyone!!!



  
This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own

A few months ago, I wrote a post about the fabulous new app called Frankly but I'm back again to tell you about some of the latest updates. It's a messaging app that allows you and your friends to share text messages but with some added bonuses and twists.


Frankly takes texting to the next level, it's better than iMessage or any other text app because it allows your text messages to disappear (if you want them too). I mean, tell me that doesn't sound like the perfect cure on a Saturday morning?

The other great thing about Frankly? You can unsend text messages!! That is a saving grace in itself. We've all been there when we send a text message without really thinking of the context and wish we could take it all back. Well, Frankly allows you to do that.

It even tells you when your messages are screen-shotted; that could be dangerous for everyone! I screenshot my messages way too much (#guilty)


Frankly has even gotten a new look with updated colors, stickers, and more so you can personalize your messages with your friends.




Another new and unique feature is that you can create an anonymous group chat with your friends, invite them in, and because no one can see who the other people are, you can talk candidly with everyone. It's anonymous so everything said sort of is secret.



This post is coming at a perfect time because it's Spring Break season so if you're traveling out of the country, you can download Frankly and text your friends and family who also have the app for free, as long as you have a WiFi connection!

I've been using Frankly over the past week and it's truly a great messaging app. I usually stick with iMessage because nothing else seems as useful but I really do like the fact that your messages disappear and that you can unsend a message. It's college students answered prayers!

I'm definitely telling my mom and sister to download Frankly for when I go on Spring Break this weekend so I could keep in touch with them without getting bombarded with charges.

Frankly is definitely worth the FREE download, you won't regret it! Click this link to download the app!


The countdown is really on right now; I leave for Punta Cana in FOUR days. All my clothes are purchased, packing has begun and my nail appointment has been made, now all we do is wait. It's definitely going to be a hectic week of preparing but the end result is going to be incredible.

I, like every other girl, have a lot of trouble shopping for bathing suits so this has been a long shopping process. Because I hate shopping for bathing suits and summer clothes so much, I made the odd decision to buy the same bikini in five different colors. My mom thought it was weird but I see no problem with it.

It was also a task to not overpack but bring enough clothes to satisfy my ever changing outfit moods. I haven't put together my outfits yet but in reality I need five bathing suits, five cover ups, and five night outfits. I won't be wearing much else during the day besides a bathing suit and cover up and then wearing a dress or dressy shorts at night. It shouldn't be that difficult but I'm a 21 year old girl so it is.

I also know I'm not the only one struggling with this, fess up ladies!

Here are just some ideas of what to wear on Spring Break!


Spring Break Beach


For the beach, keep it simple; don't go crazy with make-up because it'll just wash off in the water or sweat it off in the sun.

Spring Break Night Out

For at night, I still wouldn't go crazy because it'll be hot and if you keep the accessories to a minimum, it'll be less to pack. Also, I worry way too much about my items getting stolen or my luggage getting loss.

Stay tuned for more Spring Break posts as the week goes on! 

What are your favorite outfits for Spring Break getaways? Tell me in the comments!


As a blogger, there are certain brands and companies that you lust over and wish an email from them would pop up in your inbox. Last week, my blogger dream came true when Jennifer Taylor, the Jack Rogers girl, emailed me and asked if I'd help promote the latest giveaway from Jack Rogers.

I'm pretty in love with the Jack Rogers brand; both their products and their image. Jennifer does a fabulous job at running their social media.



This His + Hers giveaway is being held by Jack Rogers and Chubbies. It's totally perfect for the start of Spring Breaks everywhere. You'll be entered for the chance to win a pair of Jack Rogers for you and a pair of Chubbies shorts for the man in your life. This is the dream giveaway for sorority women and fraternity men everywhere.

It's very simple to enter, just go to the Jack Rogers Facebook page and enter your email on the giveaway tab. You have nothing to lose! 

The giveaway ends on March 14th so hurry up and enter!

PS: Mackenzie Horan of Design Darling did a fabulous career spotlight on Jennifer Taylor ; go check it out and be inspired!


It was another insane week and I almost didn't make it through. No, that's a complete exaggeration but it was definitely stressful. Between work, school work, blogging, planning and job hunting, it was getting on my last nerve. Thank God it's over!

The good news is that this time next week, I will be packing up and preparing for my first trip out of the country with the greatest group of friends ever to PUNTA CANA. I'm so excited I could scream!

To wind down the week, here are five of my favorite things I've found.


1. Movie Title Break-up: I saw this somewhere on the internet a few weeks ago but just got around to watching it this week. It's a video of a couple where they break up, only using movie titles. It's completely hilarious, in-genius and entertaining. I'm curious if the break-up was actually real (I doubt it was) but this was really clever!




2. Sweet Potato Gnocchi: I'm trying to not eat carbs as much anymore(by carbs I mean bread and pasta) and for the most part, this week went very, very well. Tuesday, I had a lot of time on my hands and I've seen this recipe for Sweet Potato Gnocchi before but never had the time to try it out. Usually when I make recipes off Pinterest, they fail but this one came out SO good. I'm so proud of myself and they weren't that hard to make. I'll definitely be trying this again in the future.





3. TS-2 Heat To Straightening Brush: I saw this little gem on Pinterest but didn't think it could possibly be real. A brush that straightens your hair like a flat iron? And it's less than $10? Is that even possible? I'm really curious to see how it works and I might just have to buy it and find out.



4. Spring Break Articles: I love HerCampus and all the articles featured on the site. Sometimes they have the funniest GIF featured articles that make me crack up but are also hilariously true. This week they posted an article called "What Spring Break in College is Actually Like" and it was just perfect, so spot on. #8days


5. Lilly Pulitzer Accessories: I was looking at the Lilly website yesterday and I saw that there were some brand new accessories featured on the site. My favorite is the glass catchall tray in Tusk in the Sun; I might have to add this to my Lilly collection!
This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

I know I just recently wrote a post about prom dresses but the season is coming nearer and nearer. My sister is still searching for a prom dress and it's pretty much all I hear about. Dress shopping is really difficult, it's not something that is fun (at least in my eyes it isn't).

Aside from prom season it's also wedding season and formal season so dress shopping is becoming more and more common, also more and more annoying. It also gets to be pretty expensive, especially if you're attending more than one formal event in a season. No one wants to be caught in the same dress twice. 

It'll be okay though because there are more and more sites out there that are helping out the cause.

JenJenHouse is an awesome website that sells not only gorgeous prom dresses but all other kinds of formal wear as well! The minute I clicked on the site, I was in shock at how beautiful the dresses were. I was also taken back by how cheap they are.

If I could've worn a beautiful prom dress for $130, I would've jumped at the chance. 

The website is super easy to use also; my sister has been looking online for dresses and for prom, I would never recommend that but in the end, it works out. JenJen House has all these awesome filters you could use to narrow down the exact type of dress you want.

That kind of takes all the guess work out of shopping because you're able to ultimately, create your perfect dress.

JenJen House has some of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen, I'd like to buy one for myself to wear whenever I feel fancy because, seriously, they're stunning.

Here are some of my favorite prom dresses featured on JenJen House






If you can't tell, I definitely have a type of dress that I like. I love chiffon dresses because they look so elegant and flow so well. I also LOVE red dresses, mostly because they look good with my skin complexion. 

You also can't go wrong with a sweetheart neckline, which looks great on almost everyone.

In the end, there is a perfect prom/formal season dress for everyone. You'll find yours.

Check out JenJen House and check out the rest of their gorgeous dresses!


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