back to school

This week my break from school ends and I head into semester #5 of my MBA (if you don't count my summer sessions). I'm excited to continue learning and to be one semester closer to graduation. It's tough working full time and going to school part time, but I definitely enjoy it. That might change in the middle of this semester, though, which features finance as my core requirement.

I have always been a fan of inspirational quotes, and I'm loving this sign. It might be a good thing to hang near the front door, like Michelle did in her home, so I remember to be awesome all day, even through my classroom hours.

back to school

The long weekend flew by! I spent some quality time on the Cape with some of my favorite people from my 4 years of college. What a fun weekend :)

Here are a couple of images from our time on the beach, thanks to my trusty iPhone. We had a couple of perfect beach days and couldn't have asked for better weather.

T and I topped off the weekend by running some errands yesterday and doing a little shopping for "back to school" clothes. I was really excited to find a fabulous pair of jeans and a (conservatively) beaded navy sweater at Banana Republic for a steal of $45 total. Bargain hunting at its best!

And now, for me at least, it's back to reality/school. Working full time and going to school part time definitely takes up a lot of my waking hours, which means I'll probably be posting less, but I promise I won't neglect this little project. And if I do, please yell at me via Twitter.

image via

Fall prep: alternatives to ballet flats

Like every girl in America, I have a collection of ballet flats for the days when I want to be more comfortable and casual. Luckily for us, this Fall is bringing some great alternatives to the ballet flat, like smoking slippers (with embroidered details), brogues, moccasins, and more.

Clockwise, from top left: Embroidered smoking slippers bring some more color to an otherwise plain (in most cases) shoe. Look out for blinged versions of the smoking slipper (Steve Madden has some), including colorful details and even studs. // Brogues bring a back-to-school vibe to any outfit. Just avoid wearing them with a pleated skirt and knee socks. // Minnetonka has a fabulous line of moccasins that are comfortable but can still bring style, like this bow version or their beaded versions. // Another loafer option from Gap (theirs come in a multitude of colors). // Pointy-toed flats from Steve Madden are saucier versions of the ballet flat. // These oxfords are stylishly casual and are one of my favorites because of their simplicity. // The wingtip and brogue details on this silver oxford make it a perfect choice for adding some shine.

back to school necessities

Because I'm a part-time MBA student, I feel totally okay saying I have to go back to school shopping and putting a budget towards that. Here are some items that are on my list this year as I'm getting ready to head back to the classroom.

Clockwise:  I need to get a little more organized with mail and keys, so a wall-mounted mail organizer would be perfect to add next to the door. // Pretty toiletry bags can be used to carry pens, highlighters, etc., or lipsticks, glosses, and bobby pins. // Umbrellas are much more fun when they have dog silhouettes on them! // These twig pencils caught my eye - not exactly practical, but they're seasonal and would be cute in your living room. // A practical (yet fashionable) tote - this one from Foley and Corinna - can easily go from the office to the classroom. // Even if you don't use pencils on a regular basis, these "Things We Love" pencils from Design Darling are too cute to pass up. // Colorful notebooks are much easier to spot and grab on your way to class - and this one, from Three Hip Chicks, can be monogrammed.