Claudia Carlson: February 2015

Birthday Wish List xx

My birthday is March 7th, which one week from tomorrow!! I am lucky that my birthday falls during my spring break, so I will be able to spend it with my family at home. I usually don't make a wish list, and let my dad decide what he would like to get me, but I decided it would be fun to make a little list. Dad, you are still more than welcome to pick out whatever you want, but I wouldn't mind something off this list either! ;) Also, I am not saying that I need anything either, these or more wants. I am perfectly content with everything I have right now!

ASOS white stripe dress / BDG short sleeve dress / Piperlime Collection patterned blouse / Levi's blue skinny jeans / ASOS genuine leather shoes / Converse white low top shoes / J Crew bucket bag / Ray-Ban mirrored aviator glasses

What do y'all think!?

Xo,

Claudia

SNOW!!

Being the Florida girl that I am, I am not used to snow. Yesterday, we had a wonderful snow day in Oxford, Mississippi. I woke up at 7:30 a.m. to a glorious text that classes were cancelled for the day. I got to sleep in a little longer, and then went to breakfast with my friend Will. After that we went to play in the snow! I was really surprised with the amount of snow, I was not expecting this much snow to fall. So fun!! Usually, I am always against any type of cold weather, but I really enjoyed the snow.

playing with the snow with this sweet puppy

snow, snow, snow!

with the buds! about to push charlie down the snow in this wheel chair they found.

pushing charlie

another puppy!

#selfie!

snowman!!

Classes are also cancelled for today!! Lucky me!
#OleMissSnowpocalypse2015

xo,

Claudia

why did you start a blog?

Welcome to post number 34 of my blog! I still have no clue what I am doing, but I am having fun and learning a lot. I have followed blogs ever since I was a sophomore in high school. We had the one-to-one Mac program at my school, so I had a laptop with me at all times. During some of my classes, I would catch up on reading the blogs I follow. (Sorry mom & dad, and the teachers at CHS)! I have always been enthralled with blogs and the people who write them. I am so happy that I have started one of my own, and I love reading other peoples!

So why did I start a blog? As I have said before, the main reason I started one was to improve my writing skills as a journalism major. I also love to use the blog as a creative outlet, and to chronicle my life. As a college student, everything goes by so fast, and I would like to remember it for years to come. It's a wonderful way to keep my family updated with what I am up to in college. Being 6 hours away is hard, but I love knowing they can keep up with everything I do through reading my blog!

I did not start a blog for the recognition, to earn money, or become "blog famous". I get really excited when I find a new blog to read, or when someone new comments on one of my posts! I know my blog is more personal, so it may not interest everybody, but I really do love everyone who takes the time to read what silliness I have to say, or what I did over the weekend!

Blogs that I love to follow:

If you have any blogs that you love to follow please let me know, I am always looking for a new blog to read!

Why did you start a blog!? I would love to know!

Thanks for reading!!

xoxoxo,

Claudia

Birchbox

I have heard a lot recently about the Birchbox, and being the beauty product lover than I am, I had to try it out. It's subscription where you receive 4-5 beauty product samples for just $10 a month. If you like the sample, you can go back to the website and order a full-sized one. You can receive points, and all kinds of things. I just love the idea of trying new samples each month- I am a sucker for samples.

I wanted to wait to write this post until I had the chance to test each product out and see how I feel about them. Here is what I got in my February box!!

Subscribe for Birchbox

A shampoo for color treated hair. It smelled minty, and lathered very well. I have never colored my hair, so I have no comments on that aspect of the product. Buy full sized Minu shampoo here.

I loved the smell of this perfume, and would love to add it to my collection. A great scent for spring. Buy Harvey Prince Hello perfume here.

I love the fact that this is a BB cream and sunscreen in one. I would probably use it as a primer before my makeup, or when I don't want to wear makeup, but would like minimal coverage and sun protection. Buy Coola sunscreen here.

I have very sensitive skin, and this lotion is not very moisturizing. I love it for my hands, and has a nice subtle scent. Buy Gilchrist & Soames body lotion here.

I loved this benefit mascara. It was exclusive in my birch box because it has not come out yet. It will be in stores February 27th. If you are looking for a mascara that will hug each lash and separate them, this is the mascara you are looking for. Pre-order Benefit Roller Lash mascara here.

This is the only product I did not use. Like the Minu shampoo, this is for color treated hair. I decided since I have not colored my hair, I will save it for when I have colored my hair. Buy Minu hair serum here.

Xo,

Claudia

M.I.A

Happy Monday!! Well, I have been missing in action for almost a week. I missed blogging!

Last week was a really busy one for me. I drove back to school on Monday, but I did manage to get a post up for Tuesday. I was cursed with a horrible migraine on Wednesday afternoon, I couldn't even get out of bed. Thankfully I was all better by Thursday, and one of my best friends from high school, Molli, came in town! It was such a fun weekend, and I loved showing her all around Oxford. She is transferring here in the fall from FSU, and I couldn't be more excited!! It was a freezing cold and rainy weekend, but we had a great time! I showed her around the square, all the yummy places to eat, and we lounged around watching Dexter (my latest Netflix obsession) and gossiped for hours. I have gotten so bad about taking pictures, we didn't get one real picture together this weekend. Sad. :(

delicious breakfast at Big Bad Breakfast (no meat on Friday's during Lent)

the only picture we got this weekend!

I am also trying to drink a gallon of water a day. I usually don't get nearly the water that I need on a daily basis, and I believe it's causing my headaches and preventing me from feeling 100%. I am going to try and drink a gallon of water a day to help me feel better, help my skin, and my whole body. Water is amazing for you and there are so many benefits, I encourage everyone to try and drink a gallon a day!

I am in Starbucks right now with my friend Audrey. We just finished studying for a Journalism midterm that we have tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

I hope y'all have a wonderful and fast week!!

Xo,
Claudia

Weekend Fun

I had the best weekend in Pensacola celebrating Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day!!

Here is a recap of my weekend... (I'm very disappointed with myself for hardly getting any pictures this weekend; guess I was just having too much fun!)

Friday:

Friday, I had lunch with my wonderful parents at Seville Quarter, and then got my nails done with two of my best friends, Emily and Molli. That night, I went to the Mardi Gras parade downtown with some of my high school besties. It was so great getting back together with them; it felt just like old times!! We had a lot of fun at the parade!

freshly manicured nails

Saturday:

Saturday was Valentine's Day, but also my little brother John's birthday! He turned the big 1-4!! We went to his middle school basketball game, where I was pleased to have gotten one of his baskets on video!! He had a great game- they killed the other team.

with the birthday boy after his game!

the fam after john's game (minus our mom)

happy birthday, john john!!

After John's game, I went to get sushi with Kyle, and then we ate another dinner with his parents. My parents went to a Mardi Gras ball that night, they had a wonderful time! After dinner, Kyle and I went to the pet store to play with puppies!! They were so cute; I wanted to keep them all.

#snapchat

so in love

Sunday:

Sunday was a very long and wonderful day!! I went to church with my family and Kyle, and then to my grandparent's house for breakfast. After breakfast, I went to the Mardi Gras parade on the beach with Kyle, Molli, and her boyfriend, Jace! We had a great time, but I didn't catch a lot of beads!!

kyle <3

with molli at flounders before the parade

I traveled back to school on Monday, and now it's back to reality and back to school work.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Xo,

Claudia

home for the weekend!

Yesterday, I went to all of my classes, took a quiz, and then drove 6 hours home! I was exhausted by the time I got home, and I guess my family was too, because they all went right to sleep. I can't say that didn't annoy me a little (hehe), but I am so happy to be home with them and really looking forward to this weekend!!

home is where the beach is…

(to see more pictures like this ^ from my beautiful beach, check out my post about home!)

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!

Xo,

Claudia

Pink, Hearts, and Beads

I love just about every holiday, especially Valentine's Day! I don't get why everyone always says they hate it, you don't need a significant other to love V-DaY!!! Pink, hearts, candy, and pink!! What is not to love about it!? Valentine's Day is also my little brother John's birthday, another reason it's so special! <3

This year, Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day are all in the same weekend. Two holidays in one!! My parents will be spending their Valentine's Day at a Mardi Gras ball, I can't wait to see them all dressed up! I, on the other hand, have two Mardi Gras parades I will be attending- one downtown and one on the beach. Maybe I will be lucky enough to catch a dinner with Kyle on Saturday night. ;) We shall see!!

With all these events coming up, I have been thinking about what I want to wear! For Saturday, definitely something pink and sweet. For the parades, the one downtown is at night, so I was thinking leather pants, for the beach parade, maybe a long sleeved dress and booties.

Here is an outfit idea board to help me choose! What do y'all think!?

Mardi Gras Parade #1, downtown @ night- I already have everything for this outfit, so I just had to put it all together! My favorite item is the Alexander McQueen necklace. My dad bought it for me two Christmases ago, and I wear it with everything!

Valentine's Day Outfit- I ordered this playsuit on ASOS, for Valentine's Day. I really wanted to wear light pink, it's so pretty and feminine. I already have the shoes, and the lipstick (which btw, is one of my favorites). I just need to get some funky earrings, gold bangles, and a "C" necklace, and I'm ready for v-day!

Mardi Gras Parade #2 @ beach, afternoon- I love the look of a classic, black long-sleeved dress. Reusing the jewelry I wore on Friday night, and adding a cute bootie. I have everything except the black dress. I will have to pick one up when I'm back home!