Barre, babe!

Happy Wednesday, loves!

I've been so busy lately! I hate when my life feels rushed. I'm going home for the weekend, and it's going to be a much needed break. Lately, I've found myself loving Barre classes. It's such a great way to de-stress (and it's a very challenging-but amazing workout!) I go to Barre3 here in Knoxville, and it's an awesome mix of ballet, yoga, and Pilates exercises! I bought my membership at the beginning of January because my friend recommended it to me, and I am seriously obsessed! So if any of you are looking for a change for your normal workout routine, I highly suggest Barre classes! They can be a little pricey, but I know the Barre3 studios have a student discount if you're in college like me! 

I hope you're all having a great week! Just a few days left until Friday! 

P.S. my water bottle is a S'well bottle! Have y'all heard of them? They have the cutest prints and colors, and they really do keep your drink cold (or warm) all day long. I love mine! You can view their website here. Mine is the Exotics Collection.

XOXO,

TAY

sneakers.

Is it really already Monday again??

I'm convinced the weekends are getting shorter and shorter. I had such a fun, relaxing weekend with friends! Saturday night, a bunch of us went out to a restaurant here in Knoxville where a live band was playing. It was the perfect time to break out two of my new favorite clothing pieces….

These boyfriend jeans from Nordstrom and these quilted sneakers from Target! 

The sneakers are only $25…and they're almost an exact replica of the Steve Madden version (which are $60!)

I'm obsessed with these shoes. I also purchased them in leopard print. They're so sporty and fun, but they can also be super casual or more dressed up! They're perfect with jeans or leggings and a chunky sweater or slouchy flannel. Honestly, they look good with everything. I'm super excited to wear them in the spring with blue jean shorts or a shorter, sporty skirt! 

I bought the boyfriend jeans last weekend from Nordstrom. I've been looking for a reasonably priced pair that fit me well! Because I'm pretty short, several pairs I've tried have looked entirely too slouchy on me. When I stumbled across these, I fell in love. The fit is perfect, and they (like the shoes) can be dressed up or dressed down. I love the slightly edgy look of boyfriend jeans! Super comfy, too!!

I hope you all have a fabulous Monday! 

It's raining here, and I have class from 8-3. (The worst combo!) However, I've been attending Barre classes (which I absolutely love), so I'm hoping to be able to make it to a class this afternoon. So challenging, but it's a major stress reliever! I already feel stronger. Have any of you ever taken a Barre class??

Have a great day!!

XOXO, 

Tay

Five Face Faves

I love products. Face products, skincare products, makeup products…you name it, I love it. So today I wanted to give a summary of my five favorite face products! These are the products that I use daily and that I cannot live without--my Five Face Faves!

From left to right:

Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil (Light), Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream, Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer, Clinique Acne Clearing Gel, and Mac Fix+

Josie Maran Argan Oil (Light)

I. am. so. obsessed. with. this. stuff. Seriously, it's great. I'm sure everyone has heard of it, but it's worth mentioning because it is hands-down one of my favorite products I've ever used. My skin is very oily, so the initial thought of putting more oil on my face completely freaked me out. I contemplated for about a month over whether or not I should pay the $48 for this 1.7 oz bottle, but I'm so glad I did. I'm going on month 6 of the same bottle (which still has a little under half a bottle left in it), and now I don't know how I lived without it. I apply it every night after washing my face. I squeeze 2-3 drops onto the back of my hand and pat it all over my face. I've seen a dramatic difference in the amount of oil my face produces (WAY less since using this) and the texture of my skin is better than ever. So, if you're on the fence about paying the price, I promise it's worth it--plus, it lasts forever!

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

First of all, it's Bobbi Brown. When are her products ever not amazing? This eye cream is wonderful. I never used an eye cream before about a year and a half ago, and I'll never go back. I don't think I realized how dry and dehydrated my eye area was until I started using this. The skin surrounding your eye is extremely delicate. It should be treated with extra care and should always be well-moisturized. I use this every morning and every night, and I store it in the refrigerator so it cools and soothes my eyes when I wake up in the mornings. Another plus, your eye makeup application will be flawless after using this. It's $50, but I highly recommend it! One pot lasts me 6-7 months with 2x daily use.

Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer

I use this every morning after washing my face. I use one or two pumps, and I rub it between my fingers for a few seconds to warm the lotion up in my hands. Then I just apply it evenly to my face! It has an SPF 15 so it's slightly protective and perfect for every day use. It's very lightweight and it absorbs in seconds. 

Clinique Acne Clinical Clearing Gel

I get occasional breakouts pretty much every month. One or two pesky pimples always seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times! I apply a small amount of this gel to each pimple whenever they pop up, and it seems to take the redness down a bit. I've used it for several months and I really love it.

Mac Fix+

I don't even think I need to do much explaining for this product. It's everywhere, but I know why. It's amazing. I hold it a few inches away from my face and spray a quick mist every morning to wake me up and freshen my face. It's even more perfect for applying makeup! I spray it on before and after makeup application, and it sets my makeup for the day! Plus, it leaves my skin refreshed, glowing, and natural looking. I couldn't live without it!

What are your favorite skin products?? I have so many, but these are the ones I can't go a single day without using!

Happy Tuesday!! 

Warmth.

Happy Wednesday!! 

We're halfway through with the week already!

I drove back to Knoxville yesterday and spent the entire night unpacking. Every time I go home for a break, I take my entire closet back with me because it never fails that the one article of clothing I'll need is the one I didn't bring back. Then, I regret this decision every time I have to come back and lug it all back in. Struggles.

Classes started back for me today, and I have a full day on both Monday's and Wednesday's (but hallelujah for Syllabus week!) So as I'm typing this quick blog post during my break, I'm realizing today how extremely thankful I am for warmth. My 20 minute trek to class from my little house in this 29 degree weather does nothing more than make my nose run and make me want to stay cuddled up in a blanket. 

So, what better way to warm up and cozy up in your room than with your favorite candle?

I thought I'd share with you mine. 

These candles are my all-time favorite. Seriously, they rock. 

If you've never had a Tyler Candle, you're missing out! They have the most lovely scents, and the candles are so classy and pretty. The one I'm burning currently is called Winter Wonderland--perfect for the terribly cold temperatures today. 

Some of my favorites for the winter are:

Mulled Cider

Warm Sugar Cookie

Winter Wonderland

A Christmas Tradition

Family Tradition

Cabin Fever

They're all to die for.

I hope you all have a fabulous hump day!

XOXO,

TAY 

Relaxation

Happy Sunday!!

Sunday's are in a close race with Saturday's for my favorite day of the week. I love the calmness and the feeling of being able to lounge around all day and do absolutely nothing. We got up this morning and went to church, and it was one of the best sermons ever. It was so uplifting and put me in the best mood, and it was the perfect message to start off 2015. 

Here's what I wore to church! I decided to go with only one arm today. (haha)

My turtleneck is from Old Navy! I'm sure you guys have seen it everywhere. They're so popular because they're perfect layering pieces (and SUCH a steal--I snagged mine for $9). My oversized cardigan is one of my favorite brands, Mystree! I bought it from a local boutique here in my town, and it's easily one of the most comfortable yet versatile pieces I own. I'm wearing my favorite Paige Tall Frye boots and just a simple pair of leggings!

I promise I'm working on getting better with my photos! 

I hope y'all had a happy Sunday!!

XOXO,

TAY

Resolutions.

Happy New Year, loves!

I have some explaining to do. I definitely didn't realize how hard it was going to be for me to learn how to balance classes, family, friends, and a blog! I'm working hard at finding that balance. My schedule for this upcoming semester is much more flexible than last, so I'm really going to try to get back into the swing of things, which leads me to my New Year's resolution…

I'm going to try my hardest to continue & keep up with my blog.

Doesn't it feel like that's everyone's New Year's resolution? It probably is. But I'm really, really excited about it. I loved starting my blog at the end of last year. It's such a fabulous way to share and express what I love and what I'm learning with everyone who wants to read it! I'm realizing that keeping up with a blog takes a lot of work and a lot of consistency, so that's my goal for this year! I'm super excited about it and I couldn't be happier to see where it takes me. 

So, just for an update, my Christmas break has been nothing short of amazing. It's been so relaxing! The Christmas season is my absolute favorite. It puts me in such a good mood and everyone seems happier around the holidays! We enjoyed so much family time and SO much food…seriously I have GOT to get back in the gym! 

As for 2015…I rang in the New Year in downtown Nashville with some of my best friends! We had a blast. Nashville is one of my favorite places on earth!

What's wrong with this picture? :)

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year! I'm so excited to keep up with y'all this year! (Also, I'm still trying to figure out my blog name. That's the hardest part!! I haven't come up with anything that I'm content with yet. How frustrating!)

Love, 

TAY

Sunday...Funday? (and a new name!)

Hey y'all!

I'm so sorry I haven't posted lately! I'm really going to try to start managing my time better...it's just been hard to find that initial balance! School has been overwhelming lately with studying and tests, but the hectic-ness will be over for a while after my last exam on Wednesday. I hope you guys have had a great Sunday! It was a beautiful day here in Knoxville, but I had to enjoy it through the comfort (or lack thereof) of my desk. I studied all. day. long. Bummer!

I'm sure you guys noticed...I changed the name of my blog! Light Pink & Lilies was my temporary name until I could think of something a little more...original. How sad is it that it took me an entire month to come up with the name "Pineapples and Pinstripes"?  I'm honestly the most indecisive person in the world. 

I've been gathering my ideas and sorting my thoughts over the past couple of weeks, and I'm finally starting to get more organized for my blog! I promise everything is going to keep coming together (and I am not going to go this long without posting ever again)!

Now that I got all of that out of the way...

Here is the new shirt I ordered from J.Crew that I promised I would show you guys! (I know that was forever ago...)

(Also working on better lighting and backgrounds for my pictures)

So this is it! It's an oversized black and champagne striped turtleneck, and it is so perfect. I'm all about stripes. Honestly, I have about four shirts in my closet that look almost identical to this. But I can't help it. It's a problem. The material is just a tad thicker than I thought it would be, but I love it. I have yet to wear it simply because it hasn't been cold enough yet here in Knoxville! But when I do, I know that it'll be a staple piece in my closet for the next few years. Pair it with skinny jeans or leggings with boots or booties or flats, pair it with a great flare jean and a cute fall wedge, pair it with a vest or an oversized sweater, pair it with mixed prints (cheetah, duh). Seriously, the possibilities are endless. I love buying investment pieces--pieces that I can see myself wearing next year and the next, and pieces that I can see  myself wearing with almost anything. I love it!

Want it? Here it is! And it's 25% off! Perfect. 

 I hope you guys like the new name, and I'm excited to really get back into my blogging kick full-force!

XOXO, 

Tay

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Hey guys! Quick update today. I'm so, so sorry I haven't posted since Friday! This weekend was crazy, and I've spent all of today in classes and getting work and studying done! Fall break starts Wednesday, so I was trying to get ahead. Tomorrow I'll have much more time, and I'm so excited to show you guys my J.Crew purchase and my game day outfit from Saturday!

 In the meantime, here's the yummiest cookie recipe ever. It's so simple, and it's definitely my go-to. Fix them, guys. You will not regret it!

Cake Mix Cookies:

Ingredients:

1 box of Pillsbury golden butter cake mix (or any flavor, really! Strawberry is great, too, but I've found that Pillsbury cake mix works the best.)

2 eggs

1/2 cup canola (or vegetable) oil

1 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions: DO NOT follow the directions on the cake mix box. All you do is combine the cake mix, the 2 eggs, and the oil into a bowl. Mix it all together really well (just stir--don't use a mixer) then fold in the chocolate chips! So easy. Then, I just drop some of the dough onto a cookie sheet in about 1 inch "globs". Don't roll the dough around in your hand, just semi-shape it and drop it on the sheet! This adds to the texture of the cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes, and you're done! If you fix these for a crowd, they'll be gone in five minutes. If you fix them for yourself, well, they also might be gone in five minutes! They're so, so good. 

Enjoy!

Hope you all had a great weekend and an amazing Monday.

XOXO

Tay

FYI

Hey guys! Today has been such a busy day...I could just crawl in a hole and not come out until next week. I'm finally having a minute to sit down and do something other than studying and running around, so I thought I'd let you guys in on lululemon's online warehouse sale (In case y'all didn't already know!)

It started this morning and ends tomorrow (Friday), but there are still some great things left! The prices aren't marked down quite as much as I'd like, and my size is gone in most of what's left, but I managed to snag another pair of Groove Pants this morning for just $59! You can never have too many...

I just wanted to fill y'all in on that (if you're as obsessed with lulu as I am). UT has a game this weekend, and my best friend is coming into town as well! So, I probably won't get to update as much as I'd like to this weekend...but I'll try to get a post in at some point tomorrow or Saturday with my game day outfit!

GO VOLS!

I hope everyone had a happy Thursday! 

XOXO

Tay

Sunshine and Granola

Happy hump day, you guys! The sun's finally shining here in Knoxville today, and we're on the downward slope to the weekend!

...and speaking of downward slopes, my eating habits these past few days have been majorly slacking. Football weekends kill me. It's so easy to get off track with healthy eating when fast food and greasy hamburgers are so convenient. I don't know about y'all, but when I eat badly over a span of several days, I can seriously feel myself getting sluggish and having a complete lack of energy. My healthier eating habits are starting back today! With that said, I thought I'd share one of my favorite breakfast/snack/light lunch combinations. I usually eat this for breakfast, but today, it was my lunch! And oh my gosh, it's so yummy. 

How good does that look?? And it's so fast! On my busier days, I find myself gravitating towards this for lunch instead of breakfast because it's so easy to whip up between classes, and it gives me a nice kick of healthy energy. 

It's just one cup of vanilla greek yogurt (I use Chobani) and a handful of granola (I love Bear Naked's Vanilla Almond). Then, I sprinkle in whatever fruit I have on hand! Currently, I have an abundance of strawberries and blueberries, so that's what I used. Next, I sprinkle on about 5 or 6 chocolate chips (just to be a little bit rebellious--and the yummy chocolate flavor is perfect with the fruit!) And finally, to top it off, I squeeze pure honey over the top. YUM. I promise y'all will be obsessed with this. 

I hope everyone's Wednesday is going well! I have my Business Law class to go to this afternoon, then I plan on taking it easy tonight. I've done well this week on not procrastinating my work, so I don't have many obligations today! Sounds like a perfect night to paint my nails... 

Have a great day, y'all! 

P.s.- I have a J.Crew order that should be coming in sometime this week. It's just one item--but I'm so excited about it. I can't wait to show y'all!

XOXO,

Tay

Currently Loving

To say I'm sick of the rain is an understatement. I usually love when it rains--in moderation; however, it's been nonstop rain for the past three days! All I want to do is absolutely nothing. 

Anyway, tonight I thought I would share with y'all the color that I'm currently loving obsessing over! Seriously, I'm finding myself wanting everything I own in this color lately. It's absolutely the definition of fall, and I know you guys probably feel the same because it's EVERYWHERE this season. 

the color is...

PLUM!

 otherwise known as Deep Berry. or Bordeaux. or Wine. or Dark Purple. or Burgundy. 

Seriously, there are so many names for it, but you get the picture. So here are 5 plum-colored items that are on my wish list right now! You really can't have too much of this color this season. I promise. 

1. These beautiful Hunter High Gloss Boots in Bright Plum! I own black currently, and I think this color is not only gorgeous, but it can act like leopard print--as a neutral. Seriously, it matches anything. 

2. This Tory tote is everywhere it seems like, but there's obviously a reason for that. It's perfect. The perfect size, the perfect color, the perfect style...this is definitely the highest on my wish list.

3. This Topshop sweater. It's oversized, it's burgundy, and it's a sweater. What's not to love? 

4. This NAIL POLISH. My absolute obsession. I love Essie, and this polish in 'Bahama Mama' is perfection. I'm buying this tomorrow. 

5. These Free People over-the-knee socks! Who doesn't love boot socks? These will add the perfect pop of color this fall to any outfit. 

Okay, so I know this is getting long, and I know I'm becoming repetitive, but do you see why? This color is everything. It's perfect. It's amazing. It matches so much. If you don't have this color in your closet for fall, you're going to need it. For sure. 

I hope everyone has had an amazing Tuesday! It's almost hump day, which means it's almost the weekend. YAY. 

What is y'all's go-to color for this fall? Let me know! 

XOXO, 

Tay

Happy October!

YAY.

The time has come...I've finally gotten the time and the courage to start my blog! I can't believe I'm actually making my first post. Being an avid fashion and food blog follower, this is something I've wanted to do forever...wish me luck!!

I'M GUESSING YOU WANT TO KNOW MY NAME, RIGHT?

My name's Taylor! I'm an only child and I'm currently a student at the University of Tennessee (go VOLS!) where I'm majoring in Marketing. I love family, friends, fashion (duh!), jewelry, writing, music, coffee, fitness & baking (which definitely don't complement each other), dogs, and the beach. I was the proud owner of a precious Boston Terrier, Emma, who I loved dearly for 13 years until I lost her almost two weeks ago to cancer. Needless to say, the past few days have been completely terrible. However, I'm finally getting inspired to start my blog...and I definitely think I owe it to my sweet puppy. I know she would be proud, and I know you guys will be hearing about her a lot! 

I'm hoping that you guys will love what I have to say! (and I'm also hoping you'll bear with me as I try to figure out exactly how to work my website :))

It's been an incredibly stormy day here in Knoxville which means that today was basically good for nothing once I got done with class--except doing homework, napping, and baking! So in honor of my first post, I thought I'd let y'all in on a little fall treat--and it's one of my favorites!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS:

What you'll need:

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup melted butter (equivalent of 2 sticks)

2 eggs (beaten)

1 2/3 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1 tbs. pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup chocolate chips

What you do:

It's seriously so easy! All you do is just mix the dry ingredients together in one bowl, then mix the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. Then, combine the dry mixture into the wet mixture and stir together until completely combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, and ta-da! Your batter is done. Told you this was easy! I use medium-sized muffin pans and fill the cups 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 20-25 minutes on 350 degrees and you're done! They're so simple, so delicious, and so perfect for fall! 

YUM!

I like to eat these for breakfast, but they're honestly perfect for any time of day. I made them on Friday of last week and my roommates had devoured them by Saturday morning! Maybe they'll last a little longer this time ;)

I think they go perfectly with a Soy Chai Latte from Starbucks- my fave! 

XOXO,

Tay