Music Monday: 10th Anniversary Hits - 2005/2015

by Danielle

Highlights from 2005's Billboard Top 100 to help you ring in the New Year.

A Perpetual Catholic School Girl's Take on New Years Resolutions

by Maria 

Has it already been a year since we vowed to implement a new all-natural skincare routine, to have the most organized Spring semester yet, to start writing that novella? Let's spare ourselves some disappointment in 2015 and take a page out of the Catholic guide to aiming low. I've been attending Catholic schools since 1998. Primary schools, single-sex high schools, two Catholic Universities, even a brief flirtation with Jesuits. Between Louisville and New Orleans, I've only lived in overwhelmingly Catholic communities that have provided me with countless unique lessons in pragmatism. Always befriend the nuns. A little leg stubble keeps the navy blue crew socks over the ankle and insures avoidance of wardrobe violations. Give up nail-biting for lent when you've never so much as gnawed off a hangnail. I have a 22 year degree in narrowly sidestepping Catholic guilt and feel the call to evangelize.

Set yourself up for success in the New Year. Resolve to drink more coffee. To make more thirsty instagram comments. To buy more books that you don't intend to read but look fabulous on your end table. Let's each channel our inner Catholic School Girl Forty Days Before Easter Sunday and pick something doable this time. You're welcome.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a #TBT

Two birds, one stone 

Five Outfits for Five Christmases

by Maria 

1. This Christmas, it's just you, Mom, and Dad. Everyone else seemed to have their own plans, or perhaps it's always been just the three of you. You'll probably end up at midnight mass or one of those nativity pageants with live camels and donkeys at your local megachurch depending on your religious affiliations. Cords are generally foolproof. Heeled boots are equal parts fancy and conducive to frequent sitting and standing if it's mass and walking form the stadium-sized parking lot if its the pageant. A fur headband is just a cossack hat gateway drug but Mom might side-eye this one a little less. Military outerwear because you'd have rather gone to see The Nutcracker but were overruled. 

2. You're attending the same extended family Christmas in small town hell that you've rejected since your terrible twos. Prepare for lectures from Grandma about the True Meaning of Christmas poorly planned gift exchange games. Wear a blazer to remind everyone you're an adult but flats and distressed jeans because you're still fun and cool. Yes, you have to listen to your racist uncle's annual tirade but there are babies and probably a dog or two you get to play with as a consolation prize for maintaining the peace. 

3. A new significant other invited you to spend the holidays with his family and you are most certainly neither Christian nor Not Religious But Spiritual person that still buys a tree and bakes sugar cookies each year. I wouldn't overdo it with an theme-party quality ugly Christmas sweater or gratuitous red and green. I'd keep it conservative with a crew-neck sweater in a muted jewel tone and a skirt that goes at least to the knee. Low heels. Peacoat. A sense of humor. I believe in you. 

4. For whatever reason, you either couldn't or chose not to return to your hometown for the holidays. Instead, you and the few friends who have also stayed behind put on a celebration of your own. Alternatively known as Friendsgiving's edgier sister, or the guilt-trip Christmas. This is where you take the sartorial risks. Clashing colors. Crop tops. Lucky, lucky you. 

5. You're a newly settled, well-established, bonafide adult and deeply regret your decision to host family Christmas for the first time. A brand new apron, obviously. Sleeveless dress because you're going to get hot with all of that cooking and running about. A cardigan for when you can sit for long enough to cool down and remember it is indeed December. 

However you do or don't celebrate, we hope you do it happily and safely. 

A Simple Winter Skincare Routine + How To Wear No Makeup

by Maria 

Admittedly, I've been blessed with fairly clear skin. I deal with a few minor blemishes and breakouts every few weeks, but have never dealt with any severe skin problems. I have combination skin that dries out quite a bit in the winter, and have recently fallen in to a pretty simple, effective routine. 

The only products I use daily are witch hazel (a natural astringent, any brand will do, buy literally the cheapest one from the nearest drugstore), Egyptian Magic as an all-purpose sort of moisturizer, and original Noxzema Cream Cleanser. 

I cleanse with the witch hazel (and a cotton ball/pad) and moisturize with the Egyptian Magic when I wake up and before I go to bed. I usually bathe in the middle of the day (after class and before whatever I'm doing that evening) and cleanse with the Noxzema. I'll moisturize again after bathing. 

This certainly works for me as well as anything could, but nothing will prevent occasional breakouts if you're prone to them. That's nature. That's life. And I know it's difficult, but when you're having the Worst Skin Day Ever I'd absolutely recommend simply sticking to this routine (or whatever has proven effective for you) and forgo makeup altogether. I know. I know. You'll feel uncomfortable and self-conscious and a whole lot of other negative emotions the first few times you do it but you won't regret it when your skin clears up in half the time. 

I'd also recommend that you dONT TOUCH YOUR FACE throughout the ordeal and draw as much attention to your eyebrows as possible. Mascara is fine too. Keep your outfit fashionable but sleek and simple. Wear a cozy sweater you absolutely love. It'll all be over soon. No one will notice.

What Your Favorite Mid-2000s Celebrity Fragrance Says About You

by Maria

Let's engage in a bit of short-term nostalgia and give the most recent past decade credit for being the uncontested golden age of celebrity fragrance. Did you own one? A few? Sniff a sample at the mall and beg your mom to buy it for you? Envy a friend whose mom obliged? Read on. 

Glow by JLo 
You retired this light floral scent for something like Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue in your late teens and Balenciaga Florabotanica as you entered young adulthood. You abandoned your midwestern roots for the city years ago and have gone to great lengths to hide them. Friends would describe you as effortlessly cool because you double-majored in trying really hard to appear as though you're not trying at all and finance. Your persona is calculated but your taste is impeccable.

Curious by Britney Spears 
Equal parts power-bitch and absent-minded intellectual, you subsist on Thai takeout but can make a nice black coffee. You studied abroad in Spain and spend your Saturday nights combing social media to destroy any evidence that suggests you ever wore a sequinned slip-dress in Ibiza. We can find you on LinkedIn.

Fantasy by Britney Spears 
You, however, had neon lime green bedroom walls as a preteen well into young-adulthood. Perhaps you still do. It matches the pink and green Republican elephant bumper sticker which complements your fluorescent Nike frees.

With Love by Hilary Duff 
As a self-proclaimed yoga-mom in training, you don't look miserable as you choke down green juice and splurge on a small glass of white wine every third saturday. You're a connoisseur of floral rompers and DIY tea-lights. You've just broken 1k Instagram followers. But god, you're so likable.

L L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani 
Your pop-punk phase at the end of the last decade slowly evolved into something more mature over the course of your years at a medium-sized Southern liberal arts university. You've traded your dramatic side-bangs for a sleeker violet-lips-leather-jacket brand of edge and have since graduated to TokyoMilk Femme Fatale.

Heiress by Paris Hilton 
You always seem to find yourself on the wrong side of fad history. You probably owned a Von Dutch trucker hat and I respect the hell out of you for it.

Music Monday: Travel Playlist + Reading Material

by Maria

Your semesters have probably ended, and you might be traveling today like me. I compiled a little playlist mostly for my own benefit but you're free to listen too. In addition, look for some recommended reading material under the cut.




(And I've started listening to Serial like everyone else and you probably have too)