OPI Suzi Loves Cowboy

December 7, 2015
natural light 

Hello everyone! I realized that I haven't talked about nails in quite a while, so I thought I would share my most recent manicure with you. Sunday afternoon my sister and I headed to the nail salon, and while I had every intention of getting a deep Christmas-y red I walked out with something different!

Holiday Wish List 2015

December 1, 2015

I know that the holiday season is about so much more than gifts, but between my birthday and Christmas I always compile a list of things I wouldn't mind receiving. Last year I also posted a holiday wish list, and I think/hope it helped you all get ideas for your list to Santa, or things you could get your friends (also my mom reads this and she really wants to know what I want)!

Thanksgiving OOTD/Recap

November 27, 2015

I'm writing this as we are winding down on Thanksgiving day, and I wanted to provide not only an outfit of the day but also a recap of how my day went.  I woke up at about 8:45 AM this morning so I could watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which I absolutely love! To be completely honest, I wasn't very impressed with the parade this year. There were no performers that I absolutely loved, but I was happy to see my favorite floats and balloons such as Snoopy and Charlie Brown!

Thanksgiving Dance 2015

November 22, 2015
Last night was the Thanksgiving Dance, which is a charity event organized by a committee of girls from the three high schools in my district.  This year I was selected to be on the committee, and I had a great time making posters, selling tickets, and helping to decorate! I don't have tons of pictures to share because the dance isn't very popular in my grade, so I only popped in for a couple hours.

Book Talk: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

November 12, 2015

If you haven't heard of The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, then you must have been under rock for the past 10 months, or not following my literature Pinterest board!  Ever since the book was published in January of this year I've been seeing countless reviews and praise for it on the internet, especially since it's being turned into a film!

11.09.15

November 9, 2015

Book Talk: #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso

October 6, 2015

I just posted a few days ago a post about how I barely have time to read, but I made time for this book. Sophia Amoruso's #GIRLBOSS has been on my to-read list for a while now, and when I received an email from my library that it was back in I didn't hesitate before checking it out; here we are a week later and I want to buy it!

Night Skin Care Routine

September 24, 2015

During the school year, my skin and I do not agree. I'm constantly busy, and usually stressed which makes my face break out! To fight my acne, I use this combination of products for my dry, sensitive skin.

Sweater Weather

September 16, 2015

 It's been awhile (about 6 weeks) since I did an outfit post, so I thought I would show you what I've been wearing lately. It's nearly fall (only 1 more week) and I've started to notice the weather getting chillier! It's definitely not cold yet, but between the cool mornings and AC at school, I've been wearing this cardigan on a weekly basis.

How to Make Money as A Teen

September 11, 2015

From experience, I know that it can be hard to make money during high school. I'm always busy between blogging, school, extracurriculars and volunteering (and sleep); and even if I had time for a job during the year there aren't always jobs available. Over the last two years I've found some solutions that work well for me, and may help you as well!

Healthy After School Snacks | #BloggersBTS

September 1, 2015

This week is (unfortunately) the last week of #BloggersBTS, and the theme is food! When I read that the theme was going to be food, I immediately thought of healthy after school snacks, because I know how tempting it can be to go home and overload on food while watching Netflix or doing your homework! A tip I learned, is to pick healthy snacks, and not eat while you are working, because you are sure to over eat and spoil your dinner (I sound like a grandparent, but it's true!).

Book + Movie Talk: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

August 30, 2015

As you all know I love reading, so whenever I finish a book that I particularly enjoyed, of course, I want to share it with you all. I'm obviously not going to share every book I ever read with you, but if you want to keep up with what I'm reading you can follow me on Goodreads!

Back to School Make Up

August 22, 2015
It's been quite a while since I've done a makeup post, so I figured I'd start back up with a back to school post! Makeup for me during the school year is very inconsistent; some weeks I love wearing a full eye look that takes 20 minutes to do, and some weeks I throw on some mascara and call it a day. Then of course there are weeks in between, where I do super simple makeup! Whenever I think of back to school makeup looks, I think of something super quick and easy to create!

Dealing with Rejection

August 20, 2015
Dealing with Rejection

Hello everyone! Today I'm back with a bit more of a serious topic, how to deal with rejection. Everyone experiences rejection at some point in their life, and sometimes dealing with it without becoming pessimistic or even depressed can be difficult.

Agenda Organization - Kate Spade Agenda | #BloggersBTS

August 10, 2015

I'm back bright and early on this Monday morning to share with you my second installment of #BloggersBTS! Last week's theme was fashion, so you can check out my Back to School Fashion Essentials for ideas on what to wear this school year! This week's theme is organization, and as you all know I love my agendas! Unfortunately, my Lilly Pulitzer agenda post from 2013 is no longer up, but last year's Kate Spade Agenda organization post is still available, so you can read that one as well. Over the past 2-3 years, I've figured out what works for me as far as organizing my agenda, so I hope this helps you guys!

Back to School Fashion Essentials | #BloggersBTS

August 7, 2015
Back to School Essentials

Hello, and welcome back to my blog! Today begins my annual back to school series, except this year will be a little different. You may have noticed the #BloggersBTS in the title of this post; I'm so excited to announce that I am a part of the link up hosted by Cathleen from Classy Cathleen and Nicole from Empire Styles! This week's link up theme is fashion, so today I'm showing you six of my back to school fashion essentials! Also, I don't know about you, but I'm digging the blue, black, and gold color scheme!

Sight Seeing Part 2 | London, England

August 4, 2015
side view from gardens

As you may know, today - Monday- was our last full day in London. You may be thinking "Wow! Only 3 days in London, what a short trip?!" (I've been getting it a lot from friends), but our family prefers shorter vacations, it's a personal thing. Any who, today was by far our most busy day, so I'l stop with this into and get right into the post!

Art & Food | London, England

August 3, 2015


I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's post, which was day 1! Also, make sure to check out my friend Ruth's posts about her experience in London earlier this summer!

Sight Seeing Part 1 | London, England

August 2, 2015
Yesterday concluded my first day in London, and it was such a whirlwind. From the minute I stepped off the plane I was experiencing mixed emotions, from exhaustion to excitement. Saturday was our easy day, because we were all so tired from the 7 hour flight and arriving at 6 AM London time, which was 1 AM our normal time.



Bringing Abercrombie Back

July 29, 2015

I know, I know, you may be shocked and surprised by the title of this post, but yes, this lace-y blue number is from Abercrombie & Fitch! I'm not sure about you, but where I live Abercrombie is sooo 7th grade; I don't know a single person at my school who still wears it.  

Exploring the City | New York City, NY

May 26, 2015

Saturday was jam-packed with activities, so I'm glad to be back in the car writing this post. We started at about 8:30 AM with breakfast at the hotel cafe. I had an apple cinnamon pastry, yogurt with granola, and a chai tea latte!

Museum Hopping | New York City, NY

May 24, 2015

This year, my family is spending Memorial Day weekend in NYC! We drove up on Friday, and we're driving back down on Monday. We've planned out full schedules for Saturday & Sunday, and I'm super excited to share them with you all!

A Pop of Color

May 22, 2015

Now that spring is in full swing and summer is quickly approaching, I've gotten used to warm weather, dresses, and tank tops! Where I live though, the morning and afternoon temperatures don't like to coordinate. The other day it was about 70 degrees, but raining which left a bit of a chill in the air.

Little Black Dress

May 19, 2015

Good morning! This past weekend I did some shopping with my family and friends for summer clothes! I didn't get a whole bunch, but I am super excited about what I got.  

Graduation

May 11, 2015


College graduation season is here, which means the end of the year for us high schoolers is near as well. This past Mother's Day weekend my family went to my cousin's graduation.

AP Exams Outfit 1

May 7, 2015

To explain my recent absence, today I took my first AP exam in art history! I've been M.I.A. from social media because I've been studying like crazy. My next and last AP exam for the year is Wednesday, and then I'll be back to posting regularly! This is the outfit I wore for my exam today!

Sunday Brunch

April 27, 2015

This past Sunday, my friends and I organized a surprise birthday brunch for two of our best friends! We had about 14 girls at the breakfast, and it ended up being a huge success. I had other plans for the day, so I didn't want to dress up too much. I went to the mall the night before and purchased this top from Forever 21. It's definitely one of those tops that can be dressed up or down, so I dressed it up with hoop earrings and nude heels for brunch!

Study Tips

April 21, 2015
The entire month of April I've been swamped with school work, my normal course load, and studying/reviewing for my AP exams (specifically statistics and art history) leaving me with basically no free time or sleep. I've been figuring out a system that works for me, as far as getting the most out of my studying, so I wanted to share some tips with you all!

Smithsonian Museum | Washington D.C.

March 31, 2015

Hello! I'm back today to tell you all about my second day in our nation's capital. Today was another day of walking around the Smithsonian museums.

American Art Museum and Shopping | Washington D.C.

March 30, 2015


This year for spring break my family (minus my sister, she's in Europe!!) decided to drive up to Washington D.C. We left at about 1 pm on Saturday and arrived in D.C. at about 6:30pm! 
We woke up at about 7:30am on Sunday, and got ready for breakfast. We ended up having brunch at Old Ebbitt Grill which was only about a minute walking from out hotel.  I ordered the Apple French toast, and it was delicious (sorry, I forgot to snap a picture before I ate it)!

Everyday Jewelry + Spring Jewelry Wish List

March 8, 2015
Spring Jewelry Wish List
Hello! I love reading everyday jewelry posts, because I think the jewelry someone wears daily says a lot about them! Today I'm sharing with you all my everyday jewelry as well as a pieces I'm lusting over for spring.
To accessorize any outfit, I always wear my rose gold monogram necklace. Unless I'm wearing a statement necklace, my monogram necklace is always around my neck. I received this necklace in Christmas of 2013, from ILoveJewelry, and it is the 1.25 inch in rose gold with a 16" chain. I switch up my earrings pretty regularly, but the most often I wear simple pearl studs or my Kendra Scott Elle Earrings.

I found these super cute bracelets a while ago on Etsy, and they've stayed in the back of my mind. They can easily be paired with any casual spring/summer look, and add a pop of color to an otherwise simple look.

This Lulu's bracelet is super edgy, and the perfect way to toughen up a more feminine look. It isn't super flashy, so it's the perfect bracelet to throw around your wrist on your way out the door!

Pearls are a year-round must-have, and this pearl ring is no exception. This dainty ring, adds a little extra class to any outfit, and I'm yearning for one this season!

I saw many girls on the BloggersWhoBeach trip wearing these earrings, and new that I needed them in my collection! These turquoise earrings just scream SPRING BREAK to me, and get me excited for warmer weather.

After receiving my Kendra Scott Elle earrings for Christmas, I've been itching to get my hands on a new piece from KS. The 'Rayne' necklace can be worn with so many different outfits from casual to dressy, which puts it at the top of my wish list!

You may have noticed, but I've been getting more into bracelets lately. A good stack on your wrist can turn any outfit from boring to chic, and this cuff is a basic that can be worn with anything. My favorite part about this cuff is that the majority of the bracelet is simple, so the thick 'T' cuff stands out!

I hope you all enjoyed this post, leave a comment down below letting me know what jewelry you have your eye on for spring!

*This is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*

Find the Perfect Skinny Jean

March 3, 2015

Finding the "perfect jean" can be hard.  Unless you're a character in 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' I'm sure you don't share jeans with your friends, because you have different body types. Even if you have the same body type, you may be different sizes or just have a different preference in pants. I've been on the hunt for the "perfect jean" pretty much for the past 3 years, and I've been through more pairs than you can believe. Today, I wanted to share with you my adventure finding the perfect jean!

Spring Fashion Wish List

February 27, 2015
Spring Fashion Wish List


Hello all! Today I'm sharing with you six items I'm lusting over for this upcoming spring season. 

J Crew Painter Tee with Zips | $34.99
I think simple striped tees like this one are super nautical, and easy to wear. Throw it on with white jeans and sandals, and you have an easy yet put-together outfit!

SixKisses Dark Blue O-neck Falbala Hem Vest | $9.99
Navy peplum tanks can easily be dressed up or down, depending on the day. This type of top is great on all body types, making it a staple for the summer and spring.

Sperry Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe | $88
These shoes are easy to slip-on with any outfit, and the dark brown contrasts well with lighter colors.  Again, they looks great with white jeans and work well within a wide range of social events.

Forever 21 Flouncy Pleated Cami Dress | $22.80
This pleated dress is a bright color, something I'm trying to wear more of. Paired with a statement necklace as pictured above, this dress would be great for brunch, baseball games, or even a casual beach bonfire!

Shop Sosie Molly Striped Dress | $44
I've been absolutely obsessed with Sosie for a while now, and I'm in love with anything seersucker; which makes this dress a must-have in my book. It's super easy to accessorize, and a classic summer dress that can be worn for years to come!

Steve Madden 'Seaside' Wedge Sandal | $79.95
Wedge sandal's are my go-to shoe once the weather gets warm. This pair caught my eye, because of the metallic gold straps! I would wear this shoe with both of the dresses mentioned above, and the tops as well. It goes with almost everything, and would be perfect for something like a beach wedding!

I hope you all enjoyed my spring wish list! Leave me a comment below letting me know what you've been lusting after :)

*This is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.*


Octavia

February 19, 2015

Hello friends! Where I live we've gotten about an inch of snow, which means no school (I know, we have it easy). I thought I would take advantage of my days off and show you an outfit I've been loving.

Book Recommendations

February 16, 2015
Hello! One of my goals for the new year is to try and read more. When I was younger I used to read all the time, I'd go to the library, check out 4 books, and be back a few days later. I've gotten so busy lately, that reading for pleasure has become less of a priority. In the past month and a half, I've read 5 new books, and reread a few old favorites. Today I want to share with you all some recommendations!

Warm Winter Days

February 9, 2015


Hello! It's been a while since I last posted, but I'm making up for it with an outfit!

Easy After-School Workouts

January 19, 2015

Hello and happy Monday! Today I'm excited to share with you 3 ways that I workout during the week after school.


During the year I don't play a sport, aside from the occasional tennis with my dad; that being said, staying healthy is important to me. One of my favorite things to do after school is run. Running alone can be dangerous, so I like to go for a jog or bike ride with my sister when she's available. Whenever I run or bike, I use the app Map my Run, to track how far I've gone in how long.


Days that my sister isn't home, but I want to get in a good workout, I use the Nike Training Center app. The program has good 15 and 30 minute workouts, focused on different parts of the body. It's a great workout that's not too difficult, but definitely works. The app also features special sports specific workouts from famous athletes.


Last but not least, when I'm short on time I love the Seven Minute Workout App. It jam packs 1 minute workouts for every part of your body in just 7 minutes! Great for mornings before school, right after school, in between studying, etc.

I hope you all enjoyed this post, leave a comment telling me what you like to do to workout. Also, make sure to follow my Pinterest, and check out my fitness board!

Instagram

January 11, 2015

Hello! I hope you all are having a wonderful day/night/whatever time it is when you are reading this! A few days ago, I made a new Instagram just for my blog.

It has the same name, misslaurenalston, as my old page; this page is solely for you, my readers, to see the things I'm loving, as opposed to what my friends and I are up to! As always, my links are in the sidebar so you can click there to follow me! I've also added a new feature on the side, that displays pictures from my instagram. Make sure to head over there, and show me some love♥︎ 



Sitting Down with Shannon Hessen aka Prep Avenue

January 5, 2015

Hello everyone, long time no see! I decided to take a break beginning the day after Christmas into 2015, and spend time with my family! On January 3rd I had the pleasure of sitting down with Shannon from Prep Avenue and asking her a few questions, voila!
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