I'm a college grad... now what?!

        Well… where can I begin? First off, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and minor in Social Justice. I started this blog right before I came to college, and now it’s over. I know it’s cliché and overused, but time really does fly. It’s crazy to think about how I’m done with school for the rest of my life (thank god) and I’m starting a whole new chapter. 

A big part of me is sad but the other part is relieved and excited. This past semester has been tough - my classes s u c k e d, but I got through it! Overall, I can say my time at OU was amazing. I grew so much in 3.5 years and was really able to find myself (for the most part). I’d be lying if I said I completely knew what I was doing and had things all figured out. After all, I’m only 21.

       One of my favorite college memories included my sorority, Delta Gamma. DG is filled with the most outgoing, caring, funny and sweet girls. I seriously couldn’t have asked to be surrounded by a greater group of friends. There was always someone there for me no matter what, and I’ll never forget all that it’s done for me, and I’ll cherish it forever.

Of course college was filled with the highest of highs and had some of the lowest lows, but that’s life, and again, I’ve learned an incredible amount from it. I’m going to miss the little things like Saturday football games, going to Campus Corner and grabbing Starbucks and looking around at the boutiques with a friend, eating lunch at the sorority house and catching up with different people, and just walking around the beautiful campus in general.

       The whole thing is so bittersweet, but all good things must come to an end. I’ve experienced so much- from living in a dorm, to a sorority house filled with 90 girls then to an apartment with 3 of my closest friends. I took advantage of opportunities including OU Nightly, our student newscast, and internships.

     Now for the big part… what’s next? Well, after interning at KTEN News in Denison, TX this past summer, I realized I really want to pursue news in my career. A couple months after that, they offered me a full-time job as a reporter for the station. I start January 7th! I can’t believe I’m like a ~real~ adult now. Anyway, I have so many mixed emotions about the future. I’m so excited and scared at the same time. I’m curious to see what’s to come, and I hope to take y’all along for the ride.

transition to fall | my last semester of college

Hey guys!

Long time, no talk! School has really taken over literally every aspect of my life, and I feel like I don’t have enough time to post a lot. Whenever I’m not super busy with school, I try to spend as much time as possible with my close friends and surround myself with the amazing people around me since I'll be gone from Norman soon. I have less than 3 months until I graduate college which is absolutely insane (still have no idea what I’m doing with my life, but it’s fine lol). But I’m just taking it day by day to figure out what I could do right after graduation that would make me truly happy. I have a couple of things in the air right now, and I’m eager to see what the future holds! Wish me luck!!

Now onto the reason you probably clicked on the post - the outfit... I wanted to give a quick shoutout to my good friend Harlee for taking these amazing pictures! Follow her photography page on Instagram here. I’ve been doing some online shopping lately here and there and have found so many cute pieces. This outfit specifically, I had all the items before I went on my little spree.

I should probably mention this… after the first five minutes of shooting pics, it started raining a lot so that’s why my hair is looking a little rough 😬 - it was completely curled before! Maybe the rain adds a little something to the shoot though, right?

Let’s start with the fitted tee from Zara. The reason I love this is because it has the perfect fall colors, is super flattering and comfy. You can wear it with leggings and a cardigan for class or to stay casual in general, or dress it up a little more with jeans like I did here or even a skirt.

The jeans - omg. Every time I wear them I think of NYC. I got them at the Forever 21 in Times Square (highly recommend!!) They’re so unique, and I love the assymetrical fraying on the ends.

The shoes & belt - Target. For. The. Win. I got these sandals this past summer and am obsessed with them! They’re seriously the most comfortable shoes ever and go with so much. 10/10 recommend these! For the belt, I’ve been searching for a brown leather one for a while that wasn’t expensive, and here we go, Target does it again. 

Bag/Jewelry - I got this purse in Italy and have worn it so much, I added a keychain from Anthropologie to the side of it to add some color. My jewelry is all over the place… from David Yurman, to Etsy, to World Market.

I hope y’all like the look! I can’t wait for it to actually start getting colder (tomorrow I think!) Fall is for sure my favorite season, and I already have more looks to share with you guys coming soon! 

Thanks so much for reading :)

MD COMPLETE ACNE CLEARING SYSTEM REVIEW

Hey guys!

I wanted to share my thoughts about this acne clearing system from MD Complete that you can find here.

I love trying out new skincare products so I was super excited to be able to collaborate with another great skincare brand! I’ve tried soooo many different products, brands, etc. so I feel like I know what’s good and what’s not. 

The kit comes with a 3-step routine along with 5 vials of Healthy Skin Probiotics. I don’t have a huge problem with acne but I get small breakouts every once in a while. Usually I have to reapply a cream several nights in a row for it go away but with these products, I kid you not the blemish is completely gone the next morning. 

I can tell the formula in the products is pretty strong and may irritate sensitive skin a bit when it’s first applied and dry it out the next morning where the blemish once was, but that goes away soon after. I saw some incredible results online for more severe acne cases you can find in the link above.

I definitely think these products are worth giving a shot if you wanna get rid of breakouts super fast! If you decide to purchase items use the discount code: MDCGOTMECLEAR at checkout for 15% off & get free shipping when you spend more than $35!

Talk soon :)

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by MD Complete 

Nordstrom anniversary sale 2018 top picks

As most of you know, the Nordstrom Anniversary sale has been going on for card holders and will be open to the public on the 20th! I have early access and things are selling out SO fast already. What makes this sale different from the rest is that most of these items are completely new or are Nordstorm's best selling items and go to their original, full price after the sale. Long story short, these aren’t the left overs. 

I gathered some of my favorite items that are still in stock with at least a few sizes left so they’ll be up for grabs if any of you are interested. I chose items that were more on the affordable side (for Nordstrom, at least). I’ll have to say though, I was kind of surprised that a lot of items were still pretty expensive even after being marked down a fair amount, but there are also a lot that are a really good price. I’d say it's about 50/50. For this post, I included just clothes/shoes/accessories, but you should definitely check out the beauty and home decor categories! 

Here are the details on my favorites:

1. Topshop Bubble Satin Wrap Dress: Love the red color & also comes in black! I’m considering ordering this for sorority recruitment this year.

2. Ray-Ban 53mm Polarized Round Sunglasses: I’ve been on the hunt for new sunglasses and was actually considering purchasing these exact ones before the sale, and I’m so glad I waited to buy them - they’re about $67 off! I got them the first day of the sale and have been wearing them nonstop!

3. Madewell Waffle Stitch Sweater Jacket: This looks sooo comfy & warm - but I really have to stop myself from buying jackets/sweater/cardigans because I have way too many.

4. Vince Camuto Kochelda Over the Knee Boot: This color is perfect! It’ll go with absolutely everything - very tempted to buy it while it’s still on sale/before it sells out!

5. Zella High Waist V-Back Ankle Leggings: I have a pair of Zella leggings that are super comfy and flattering. I saw this and loved the white! I would’ve ordered it but there aren’t any smalls left unfortunately. 

6. Free People Fearless Love Bell Sleeve Shirt: So cute!! There are two colors and I love them both. I feel like you could easily dress this shirt up or down.

7. Caslon Hooded Cardigan: Like I said before, I really don’t need any more cardigans… this color is just so pretty, and I love the cinched waist making it figure-flattering. It also comes in 4 other colors!

8. BLANKNYC The Great Jones Raw Hem Skinny Jeans: The shade of these jeans are perfect, and if you’re considering buying any, I’d recommend these! They’re not as expensive as the rest of the ones on sale. 

9. Madewell Mini Transport Perforated Leather Crossbody Bag: This comes in another color too and anything Madwell is great quality. I considered getting this for work but it wouldn’t fit my laptop. Still love it though!

10. Naturalizer Dempsey Boot: These are sooo nice. I love tall brown boots and I heard these are super comfortable. They also come in black!

11. Woven Heart Chenille Sweater: Another sweater I want! I tried this on in store in the mustard color (sold out) and it’s so soft and comfy, they run big so I would order a size down. You definitely wouldn’t regret buying this one.

12. BaubleBar Krystal Faux Drusy Drop Earrings: These earrings are so pretty! They also come in other colors, but these are my favorite. I’d also buy them if I didn’t have a ridiculous amount of jewelry already lol

That’s it! I hope y’all enjoyed reading and remember to shop the sale ASAP before it’s all gone or goes up in price!

Talk soon :) 

SKINCARE ROUTINE FEATURING NEUTROGENA ACNE PROOFING CLEANSER AND SCRUB

 Hi guys :)

Today I’m going to be talking about my nighttime skincare routine featuring Neutrogena’s new acne proofing products. Neutrogena has to be my favorite skincare brand. It’s affordable and works so well clearing my skin and making it super soft. These are the products I use every night before bed to help keep my skin clear, and click any of the products to shop them directly!

1. NEUTROGENA MAKEUP REMOVER CLEANSING TOWLETTES: This is the easiest, fastest way to remove makeup and these are the only wipes that will take it all off - I’ve tried so many different brands! I found that the source of my breakouts is from not removing my makeup entirely especially around my chin, so this is a really important step. I know most of us hate taking off our makeup at the end of the day, so this just makes that step a little easier.

2. NEUTROGENA ACNE PROOFING CLEANSER: I use this to clean my face after removing my makeup with the wipes. It gets rid of any left over makeup and clears my pores to prevent any breakouts. I love this step in my routine because the cleanser smells so so good and my skin feels super soft and clean after.

3. NEUTROGENA ACNE PROOFING DAILY SCRUB: I actually like to use this twice a day, morning and night, which is what the instructions suggest to do. It makes my skin super smooth in the morning before I apply my makeup as well as helps clear my skin at night after removing all the makeup.

4. MARIO BADESCU FACIAL SPRAY: This is also one of my new favorite products that I use morning and night! This refreshes my skin and keeps it from getting super dry throughout the day.

5. FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR CREAM: This moisturizer is a little more expensive than the rest of the products mentioned but definitely worth the extra money. I put this on a couple of minutes after the facial spray helping it glide on my skin.  

6. UP & UP BENZOYL PEROXIDE GEL: My final step is what I use to spot treat breakouts if there are any.

I’ve found that this nightly routine is what helps my skin stay so clear. Ever since using the new Acne Proofing Neutrogena products, I have hardly had any breakouts because it really has been helping prevent them. The products thoroughly and gently eliminate dirt as well as fight acne to clear any breakouts. It's safe for sensitive skin like mine and helps it protect against future breakouts. I highly recommend checking these products out :) 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Neutrogena but all opinions are my own.

WHAT I’M UP TO: LAST DAYS WITHOUT RESPONSIBILITY

Hi friends 😊

I can’t believe it’s already June! Time seriously flies by, and it’s honestly so weird how this is my last summer break from school ever. After this, I have just one more semester to go - then it’s real adult time!

For right now, I just have today, tomorrow and Sunday until my internship at KTEN News starts! It’s so exciting that the path towards my broadcast journalism career is officially beginning. As mentioned in my previous post, I’m taking 2 online courses, as well, to knock some hours out of the way and have a lighter load during my final semester in college. I know I’ll be super busy, but I really wanna keep up with my blog as best I can because I love it so much!

Now, moving on to what I did today and what I’ll be doing these next couple of days before I start my internship and classes...

Today, Friday: I spent the day with a couple of my best friends from high school. We got sushi, walked around some shops, got coffee and caught up — the usual! At night I’ll be going to a birthday dinner which is always an excuse to get dressed up.

Saturday: I’ll be spending the day with my cousin, and I can’t wait! She goes to school in New York, and I hardly get to see her so it’s always a great time to catch up when we're both in town. She’s also taking me to a vegan restaurant, so we’ll see how that goes lol

Sunday: I’m going to be preparing for my internship, packing for the week since I’ll only be there Sun-Thurs, come home for a couple days, then pack for the following week, etc. This is my plan as of now since it’s an hour away. Later in the afternoon, I’ll be checking in to my hotel. I'll then get started interning early Monday morning!

NOW… let’s talk about the outfit. 

These pants are the cutest, and I’ve worn them so much! @moda.shopstevie sent me them, and I’m absolutely in love! 😍 I highly recommend grabbing a pair - If you do, make sure to use my discount code SHEREEN15 for some money off! These are so comfy, light, not see-through and definitely some of my go-to pants! 

You can wear them with a simple white top tucked in or pair it with something a little different and fun like this wrap top from SheIn. It’s sooo flattering, I love it! 

If you wanna shop this look, be sure to sign up & follow me on the LiketoKnow.it app!

That’s it for now! Wish me luck this week 🤞

LIFE UPDATE + GO-TO CUTE SUMMER LOOK

Hey guys - long time, no talk!

First, let’s talk about life…

My junior year in college came to a close, and now I’m on my much needed summer break. This past semester and school year as a whole was crazy and filled with so many ups and downs — needless to say, I’ve been waiting for this vacation!

I have quite a busy couple of months ahead of me though, so I can’t get too comfortable. I landed an internship at KTEN Studios in Denison, TX and I’m super excited! I can’t wait to learn so much and see what opportunities this brings me and what it will do for my journalism career. I’ll be sure to do a blog post about my experience at the end of the summer!

Next, I’ll be taking two online classes throughout the next few months of break so I can have a lighter load my final semester of college in the fall. All I can say is TIME FLIES. It’s insane, and I’m not ready for it to be over but I know it'll be done in the blink of an eye. (I’m not ready to be a real adult lol)

Finally, I’ve been a lot more focused on my health and getting into better shape especially since I have much more time and am living at home, so no more excuses! It’ll be hard when I start the internship and classes, but I gotta make it work! If you want to know more about what I do to exercise, my routine, etc., feel free to leave a comment or DM on Instagram here.

Now, let’s talk fashion…

I loved putting together this outfit because it’s so easy to throw on a simple top with cute pants. The ones I'm wearing are from Zara, and this was my first time wearing them! Comfy, printed pants are my go-to in the summer time because I automatically feel stylish and put together, especially when throwing on my favorite Steve Madden wedges! 

I’ve been dressing up just about every day because I never do when I’m back on campus. I’m always in an over-sized sorority t-shirt, Lululemon shorts & sneakers (basic). I’m definitely over it, so dressing up makes me feel refreshed & better about myself. It’s the little things 😉

I can’t wait to update y’all and write about my summer experiences while interning and hopefully traveling!

Talk soon :)