June 22, 2016

Origins GinZing Eye Cream


Up until recently, I was under this false impression that eye cream was reserved only for women older than myself and for those fighting off wrinkles and sagging eyelids. I didn't think it was something that my twenty-two year old self needed nor would get much benefit out of. However, I quickly learned that this was not the case, and that there is quite honestly an eye cream for everyone. Anti-aging, brightening, firming, smoothing, lifting, and hydrating...you name it, and I promise they have it. To be perfectly honest it can be a bit overwhelming to try and narrow down what will be good for you, there are just so many!

Being the big Origins fan that I am, when I decided it was time to give eye cream a go, they were the skin care company I turned to. I have been so impressed by all of their other skin care products that I knew it would be a good place to start. As always, I was not disappointed. I was sold on the GinZing Eye Cream after reading it's promise to brighten and de-puff. Being a full time nursing student this summer, I feel like my eyes are in constant need of a little pick-me-up. After three twelve hour shifts at the hospital this eye cream is exactly what I need.

This eye cream is my best friend these days. Even on the mornings I feel like I am running on empty, it makes me look fresh faced like I just got a full nights sleep. It refreshes, de-puffs, and brightens, which is exactly what I need at this point in my life. Cheers to that!







xo. G 

June 20, 2016

Summer Bucket List


With a huge smile on my face, I am thrilled to officially welcome back summer!!

Although I have pretty much been in the summer mode for quite a few weeks now, June twentieth still brings me so much happiness knowing that it is officially the start of summer. It never ceases to amaze me every year just how fast the season flies by. Summer starts and before you know it the Fourth of July is here and gone, and it is already Labor Day weekend. Time flies when you're having fun I guess!

Although I don't consider this summer much of my own because of how much time is dedicated to nursing school, I am still determined to make the most of the time I do have.  I thought it would be fun to make a summer bucket list of things that are a must for me in these warmer months.

Enjoy and happy summer!

1. Fireworks 
2. Vecchitio's Italian Ice 
3. Go hiking 
4. Host a backyard bash 
5. Night swimming 
6. Bonfire with s'mores 
7. Country concert 
8. Weekend getaway 
9. Stony Creek Brewery 
10. Yankees game in the city 

p.s. enjoy the longest day of the year! 

xo. G 

June 11, 2016

Friday {Saturday} Finds No. 5

Hello friends and hello weekend! My oh my, what a week it has been.. crazy to say the least. It was my first full week of summer classes and clinical and to say it was busy would be quite the understatement. As you can tell by the name of this blog post, I had every intention of getting this post up yesterday but eighteen hours of class and thirty-six hours at the hospital this week just did not allow for that to happen! But what can you do? Sometimes you just can't do it all, and that's okay!

On any note, I hope you all had a wonderful week and enjoy checking out the things I found in my (little) spare time this week. May your Saturday be full of sunshine, iced coffee, and JT's new song!




Never Forget You / Close // I discovered Louisa Wendorff, a singer-songwriter, a couple years ago, and was blown away by the many amazing covers she has done. She has a beautiful voice, and the creative gift of bringing together two different songs in the most perfect way. Not going to lie, sometimes I like her cover of a song more than I like the original! It was this song that I originally stumbled upon, and I immediately became obsessed. I spent more time than I am willing to admit exploring her YouTube channel. Since then, I have followed her musical journey, and her latest release is nothing short of amazing. Anthem Lights (also amazing) was perfect for the collaboration of Never Forget You / Close. Go check it out. I promise you will be impressed!

Tavik // While shopping the Nordstrom half-yearly sale last week, I came across this brand. I had never heard of it before, but I very quickly made myself familiar, especially with their swimwear line.  I told myself that I was not going to purchase any new bathing suits this summer because for one I will have very little time to spend at the beach or by the pool, and secondly because I already have plenty of swimwear from past seasons. Well let me tell you that that plan quickly went out the window as I perused the swimwear section. It was all just too good to resist! I decided to compromise with myself and just get a top. It came in the other day and I am in love. I may or may not still be debating on getting these bottoms to match...

Must Reads for June // Pleasure reading has always been something I have associated with summer. It may or may not be because as a kid growing up my mother always pushed (yes, it was not by choice) my sister and I to read as many books as we could. At the time I didn't quite understand why she wanted us to read so much, nor did I want to, but as I got older it all started to make sense. I yearn for those summers with so much free time, as I wish I could just spend my days reading for fun. In my opinion there is nothing quite like reading on the beach, and reading by the pool takes a close second. Although I don't have as much free time as I used to (especially this summer) I still make it a priority to read as much as I can for my own happiness. Thanks to the suggestions on this list I have a feeling I will be finding myself in a Barnes & Noble very soon picking up this summer read..

Best Ice Cream in NYC // Ahh, ice cream. I'm not sure there is anything I can't turn down quite like a trip to the ice cream parlor. It is pretty safe to say that if someone suggests or offers going to get ice cream, I will be there. New York City might give ice cream a run for its money however, as it is quite possible I love it more. The thought of ice cream and New York City sounds like absolute perfection to me. I just might have to add 'try out all 22 NYC ice cream shops' to my 101 in 1001 list. There are most definitely some trips into the city in my near future!


xo. G 

June 03, 2016

101 in 1001

I have always considered myself a dreamer. There are a million things I hope to do, places I want to see, and goals I want to accomplish. When I came across Mackenzie Horan's 101 in 1001, I thought it was the most brilliant idea ever. I was so inspired to make a list of my own, so that is exactly what I did! I'm not going to lie, coming up with a 101 things I want to accomplish in 1001 days was not as easy as I thought it was going to be, but I did it. I am so excited to see what I can accomplish by March 1st of 2019 (woah).

I learned early on that setting goals is important, and that writing down these goals is even more important. I think it is easy to say you want to do something, but then never act on that desire. However, I have heard time and time again that writing down your goals keeps you accountable for them and more likely to accomplish them. By creating my '101 in 1001' list, I am more aware of my goals and very eager to accomplish them!

In my opinion your twenties are the most perfect time to really focus in on the things you want to do in your life and actually go out and do them! It is one of the few times in your life where you are for the most part free to do as you please without the constraints or distractions that can occur later down the road. I want to make the most of this wonderful time and do as much as I possibly can. With this list I plan on doing just that. Let's see what the next 1001 days bring!

Personal (10/25)
Run a marathon
Unplug for 24 hours
Become a certified spin instructor
Read ten new books 
Go a month without shopping 
Get my first apartment 
Move out of Connecticut 
Buy a car 
Go two weeks without coffee 
Don’t eat meat for a month 
Go to yoga on a regular basis for a month 
Don’t get Starbucks for a month -December 2017
Move to Manhattan 
Run three half marathons (2/3)
Invest in a classic handbag
Get a 4.0 in nursing school 
Inspire someone else to create a ‘101 in 1001’ list 
Learn how to tie a tie 
Read for at least 30 minutes before bed for a month 
Give back to a cause Im passionate about 
Reconnect with high school french teacher 
No sugar for a week 
Go makeup free for a week 
Do 15 pull-ups 
Go to bed at 10 pm for a week straight 

Professional (5/14)  
Graduate from nursing school - August 2016
Get my first real job - March 2017
Create a Connecticut Guide
Create a hundred blog posts on F&F - December 2017
Professionally redesign blog
Start a new blog series - June 2017
 Buy a nice camera
Buy custom blog domain - January 2017
Get to know/meet other bloggers
Have experienced photographer shoot blog photos
Create business cards
Attend a conference of any kind
Do a collaboration blog post 
Take a photography class 

Friends & Family (4/11)
Take a trip with my mom & sister - Charleston, April 2018
 Reunion trip with college friends - Florida, March 2017
 Vacation with high school friends
Family vacation to a tropical destination - Florida, October 2017
Paris with my mom & sister
Visit family friends in La Jolla
Go out on the golf course with Dad
Have mom teach me how to cook three of her best recipes
Buy my parents an apple computer
Professional family photos - Florida, October 2017
Rent a house on the cape/vineyard for a week with friends 

Travel (5/16)
Travel to a new state - South Carolina, 2018
Travel to a new country - September 2016
Travel to a new continent
Paris - September 2016
Take a girls only trip - Charleston, April 2018
Go camping (real camping)
Visit my uncle and cousins in Australia
Visit Nantucket
Go to the Top of the Rock - NYC, October 2017
Visit three destinations in California
Get back to Chicago
Stay at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI
Get back to the Caribbean
Visit Charleston - April 2018
Spend more than two weeks traveling - September 2016
Visit the Lone Star state 

Just for Fun! (17/35)
Learn to ski
Brush up on my french
Go to a winery - Italy, September 2016
See a new Broadway musical
Watch a meteor shower
Watch a sunrise - Italy, September 2016
SoulCycle - May 2016
Visit three museums - September 2016
See the New York City Ballet - December 2018
DryBar - December 2017
Play (attempt) a round of golf
Take a calligraphy class
Hot yoga class
Watch the Today Show out on the plaza
First ‘splurge’ purchase
Try a Barre class
Helicopter ride with aerial views of NYC
Go on a road trip
Host my first dinner party
Skinny dipping in the ocean - Adriatic Sea, September 2016
Rooftop bar - Spain, September 2016
Go skydiving
New Year’s Eve in NYC - December 2016
See Taylor Swift in Concert
John Mayer live - August 2017... amazing
Walk across Brooklyn Bridge - NYC, October 2017
Watch three new TV series in their entirety
Surprise someone
Ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza
Try fifteen new restaurants (15/15)
Go to five new breweries (1/5)
Brunch
Attend a farmers market - Union Squre FM,  September 2018
Go wine tasting - Italy, September 2016
Play tennis - Summer 2018


Thanks for following along on the journey to accomplish my goals! I will keep you updated on how I am doing and on what I have accomplished. To make it easier to follow along, I have added a '101 in 1001' to the menu bar at the top. Be sure to check it out! I hope I have inspired some of you to make your own list and set out to accomplish your dreams! 

xo. G 

June 01, 2016

Hello June!



Welcome back June! I think it is safe to say we are all extremely excited to see you (and summer) again! Although I have been out of grammar/high school for quite a few years now, the arrival of June will forever remind me of the end of the school year and the start of summer. Thinking about all of the things that come along with with start of summer makes me just as excited now as it did when I was younger. There are lots of sunny days, ice cream cones, outdoor concerts, new bathing suits, thunderstorms, barbecues, warm hazy nights, and beach days ahead. Ahh, just thinking about it makes my heart happy. 

Hope you all are just as excited as I am! Cannot wait to see all that summer has in store for us. Enjoy! 


Gin & Tonic Upgrades! // I don't know about you guys but I love a good gin & tonic. I love the simplicity of the drink and there is just something so refreshing about sipping it especially in the warmer summer months. I know gin isn't for everyone, but if it is be sure to check out these ways to step up your G&T game! 

25 Things About Life // Does anyone ever wish they could go back a few years and tell their younger self what they know now? While this is unfortunately not possible nor helpful, as we can't change the past, what is helpful is taking the advice of those with a few years on us and, believe it or not, a hell of a lot more wisdom. There is nothing wrong with learning from those who have come before us. I say take advantage of it as much as possible! 

Adult Pool Party // With the start of summer comes the start of pool parties! Growing up with a pool and parents who love to entertain, I have been part of many summer parties by the pool. It's no surprise that the love hostess & entertain rubbed off on me. Whether you have a pool or not, these fun tips will ensure you throw a great summer bash! 


Things I'm Loving... 

June Wish List...

xo. G