YouTube Series to Watch: Inside The Wardrobe...

Like most millennials, I have spent more days than I'm willing to admit scouring the depths of YouTube. In this, I have found amazing fashion videos that are inspiring and noteworthy. It is about time that I share this YouTube knowledge of mine. In this new series, I am going to share some of the best videos/series I have found on the internet that I keep going back to.

The first series that is being highlighted comes from one of my favorite YouTube channels, British Vogue. They're content is original and has given me insight into the industry that cannot be found anywhere else on the internet. By far my favorite series of theirs is Inside the Wardrobe. Starting out as a way to see how French women get their style, this playlist has turned into a nice peek into some of the best dressed women's closets. 

Fashion stand outs such as Mirada Kerr, Camille Rowe, and Olivia Palermo share their best buys, favorite pieces, and best shopping tips. I have watched every video at least three times in order not to miss a great outfit, a vintage bag, or a customized piece (who knew that Suki Waterhouse also loves a good monogram). Whether you're trying to be more Parisian in your style or want to dig around in celebrities' closets, this YouTube series is for you. 

xoxo,

Maggie

chic sun protection

So, if you can't already tell, I am quite pale. For years this bothered me, but then about two years ago I had an epiphany to embrace this to the max. This means I am the queen of sun protection! While everyone is looking nice and tan in their Instagram pics, I'll be having nice, damage free skin for years. Even if you are someone who tans nicely and doesn't sunburn the second you walk out of your house, sun protection is an essential year around practice. Here are my tips to making sun protection chic. 

hats // Everyone loves a good hat. And by everyone, I mean me. I own a wide range of hats for sun protection: wide brim, baseball, floppy. Not only do hats shade your face, they protect your scalp. Sun spots on the scalp are some of the hardest to detect and ultimately can cause the most damage. Just do your self a favor and start a nice hat collection.

light weight button downs // I absolutely LIVE in my extremely broken in denim button down. When there is a nice summer breeze in the air, I throw it on over a tank top to block the sun on my arms, shoulders, and back. I keep it in my purse throughout the summer so I can throw it on at a moments notice. The best materials for the summer are chambray, 100% cotton, and linen. 

swim shirts // I know that this totally sounds like something your mom forced you into when you were younger, but hear me out. I can't really be completely exposed to the sun at the beach for more than say, four hours. Problem is, I would love to be out longer than that! I throw on my lightweight swim shirt from Land's End to solve this problem. It's breathable but can get wet. This is also great for water sports such as paddle boarding. J. Crew also sells a great swim shirt. 

Even when taking all these precautions daily, I still wear a broad spectrum 30 SPF sunscreen everyday. You can never be too safe, kids!

xoxo,

Maggie

cozy dorm room

I pride myself on my ability to make a dorm room feel like a home. Not to brag, but last year I made my incredibly small room feel cozy, homey, and relaxing. While you might get a few looks on move-in day when you bring in a lot of things, it's completely okay because you'll have the best room in the building. Here is how I make a small, cinder block room feel like a home.

find your aesthetic // Yes, I know, aesthetic is the most over used word that is now losing its meaning. But hear me out! Decide what exactly makes you feel at home and at ease. For me its bright colors, patterns, and lots of texture. To achieve this, I had a couple of rugs, many (many) throw pillows, a bright color scheme, and paintings on the walls. 

rugs // Unless your one of the lucky ones with hardwood floors in your dorm, you probably are going to end up with a cold hard tile of some horrible color. Rugs are going to cover up the tile, add warmth, and absorbs noise (your neighbors below will thank you). I got the orange polka dot rug at Ikea and another plush gray rug at Target. Any decent rug can be purchased anywhere really; I suggest also looking at Big Lots and Wal-Mart. 

headboard // Universities typically offer the wall or a slatted frame as a headboard. One of the best parts of my dorm was my padded headboard. It was comfortable to sit up against and made my bed feel more complete. Mine was purchased from Decor 2 Your Door, but if you're crafty there are plenty of tutorials on Pinterest to DIY.

pouf // This was probably the most popular item in my room. The pouf traveled around my suite so everyone could enjoy it during our Cards Against Humanity nights. For a small room it's the perfect seating because it takes up little to no room and can be moved around. Mine was purchased online from a retailer in India, but they also can be found at Target, on Amazon, and Wayfair. 

lamps // Overhead fluorescent lights are the absolute worst things ever. They're unflattering, feel artificial, and are hash. During the day, keep your blinds open and enjoy the natural light. As you see from my photos, my window was quite small and didn't offer much light. To solve this problem is used lamps to light my room. The soft light gave a calmer feeling to my room. All my lamps came from Ikea because I swear to god they are the masters of lighting. 

gallery wall // I have several Pinterest boards dedicated to my love for gallery walls. Creating large gallery walls in my dorm room successfully covered up the cinder blocks and added a lot of personality. My gallery walls consist of canvases, prints, a clock, cork boards, pictures, etc. 

desk organization // Having a perfectly organized desk makes going there to study a lot more relaxing. A desk full of clutter is added stress. My suggestion is a desk hutch. My dad made mine so I was able to customize it to my taste. The Container Store is a great store that sells desk hutches that fit the generic dorm room desks. 

So hit up Pinterest, communicate with your roommate, and get shopping! 

xoxo,

Maggie

Pamper Night Must Haves

There is nothing I enjoy more than a pamper night. The absolute worst part about living in a dorm is not having a relaxing bathtub. But when I get the luxury of being home or being in a hotel, I love to take advantage and pamper myself. Here are my must haves for a relaxing pamper night.

1. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores // I am only on my first bottle and I already consider this a holy grail product. They are not kidding with clear improvement; the second I wash it off I notice cleaner pores and brighter skin. At the end of a long day I love how much this mask wakes up my skin. 

2. White Sand Body Scrub // The body scrubs at Bath and Body Works are fantastic (I also suggest trying their sugarcane scrub). Unlike a lot of their products, their is not an overpowering scent. This is great during the summer time when exfoliating is important for prepping skin for the sun. 

3. Bunch of Carrots Bubble Bar // Everyone has heard of Lush's bath bombs, but have you ever tried their bubble bars? Run the bar under running water and it creates a beautiful, picture perfect bubble bath. Most are unscented, so it can also be paired with salts, a bath bomb, or oil. 

4. Shea It Isn't So Foot Cream // I love this line from Bath and Body Works, their True Blue Spa line. Their lotions are very rich and perfect for after a bath and post exfoliation. I love lathering my feet in this cream then putting on socks to let the lotion soak in over night. The next morning my feet are soft and ready for summertime sandals.  

5. Lavender Oil // Back in the days I would good about going to yoga class, my instructor would always put a few drops of this in our palms to breath in.  Originally I got this for that purpose, but then I discovered putting a few drops in my bath. The smell is amazingly relaxing, and after the bath fills the whole house. 

6. Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt // Any old epsom salt would do, but I like the scents of the Dr. Teal's. I actually put epsom salts in every bath and foot bath I take to relieve any muscle aches and pains. During a pamper night though, I take it one step further by adding the scented one. 

7. Volcano Candle // What more could I say about this candle? It's perfect and probably the only candle you need in your life. If there is a fan club for candles, I'd be the president of the Volcano Candle Club.

8. Satsuma Body Butter // Most scented lotions irritate my skin and give no results, but this one is different. The think consistency moisturizes my skin leaving it soft and glowing. The intense orange scent is my absolute favorite. All Body Shop body butters are classic and amazing products, but this one just takes the cake for me. 

What are your pamper night mush haves?

Spring and Summer Shoes

When warm weather comes, I typically throw on my Rainbow sandals and don't remove them until the first leaf falls. This year is different though. I am loving the trends for the spring and summer footwear. This past year I fell in love with Birkenstocks and I'm never looking back. Beyond my Arizonas, I am loving laces and gladiator sandals, combine them and it's even better. Espadrilles and ballet flats continue to be a springtime staple, but switch them up with laces and straps. Here are the shoes I will be living in (or dreaming of) during the warm weather days.

Lace-Up Pump // Cutout Booties // Huarache Sandal 

Gladiator Sandal // Lace-Up Espadrille // Tall Gladiator Sandal

Embellished Lace-Up Sandal // Birkenstock 

Block Heel Sandal // Quilted Sneaker // Strappy Flat

What are your staple shoes for the spring and summer?

Spring and Summer Accessories

Spring is here, though some days in North Carolina, it feels like summer. With each new season comes new inspiration. This season, I am loving layers: layering necklaces with other necklaces and maybe even throw in a square scarf. Add another layer with a floppy hat (multitasking as a cute accessory and sun protection). Round lens glasses are all the rage, along with bags with fringe. And the perfect thing to pair with the great sunshine... a patterned throw blanket to lay in the grass. So bask in the sun, and spice up your springtime outfits with these accessories. 

Bucket Bag // Cactus Necklace // Panama Hat

Round Ray-Bans // Collar Necklace // Beaded Bracelets // Half Moon Necklace

Multistrand Beaded Necklace // Blanket

Charm Statement Necklace // Square Fringe Scarf 

What are your go to accessories for the spring?

Somehow every year, Pantone hits the nail on the head with the colors that we will love for the upcoming year. This year's colors are rose quartz and serenity. A big jump from last year's marsala, rose quartz is a slightly deeper ballet pink and serenity is a soft sky blue. These two pastel colors look good on all skin tones, can be worn in a variety of ways, and can even be extended into hair color. This year, Pantone predicts we will be pairing these colors with silver gray, olive green, fig purples. Here are some of my favorite pieces sporting rose quartz and serenity. 

Nail Polish // Lipstick // Purse // Coat

Loafers // Beanie

Jeans // Sweater // Phone Case // Ring

Coat // Sandals // Necklace

Sneakers

Nail Polish // Eyeliner // Sunglasses 

Hat // Purse 

How do you plan on wearing rose quartz and serenity in your wardrobe this year?

2015 was a fantastic year. I graduated high school, did a little bit of traveling, start college, and all in all just felt myself grow. Here are some of my favorite things that made this past year so memorable.

Moving to Raleigh, NC // I love change and this was an amazing change. I started college at NC State in August and that meant moving to Raleigh. Leaving my hometown was certainly a big difference, but I love all the opportunities that Raleigh has to hold. I'm right at home in a large city. The parks, the shopping, the culture: it has so much to offer. Also, as a lover of good public transportation, this city makes it so easy for me to get around. Which is also a bag thing considering I spend half my time in Cameron Village. 

Mindy Kaling // What a woman/writer/comedian/actress/my current life coach. Right when I start school, I read her first book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and Other Concerns. Each chapter inspired me and had me laughing until I cried. This Christmas I received her latest book Why Not Me. This quick read convinced me that she is my role model of the year. And did I mention fashion icon? Gotta love a woman that matches her Birkin to her shoes. 

Birkenstocks // If you told me that my favorite shoe of the year would be Birkenstocks I wouldn't have believed you. But here I am, writing this after going out today in my socks and stocks. They're comfortable, versatile, and classic. I love these copper ones because they add a metallic flair, and another great choice are the all white Arizonas which I hope to add to my collection soon.

Watercolor // I have been very into painting for the past couple of years, but this past year I was all about watercolor. It is relaxing and easy to clean up. After long weeks of studying, I love to spend my weekends painting picture after picture. (Also, I loved feminism and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt this year hence the painting.)

The Carolina Panthers // Do I need to clarify that I am not a bandwagon fan? Follow me on Instagram (@magshill) and you will see my weekly throwbacks to all my years as a Panthers fan. I'll admit, it was hard to be a fan during their 1-15 seasons, but I was there. This year has been so rewarding and exciting. Sometimes, it doesn't seem real. Between Cam's dabbing, my lil Luke doll, Jonathan Stewart's music videos, and their constant ESPN coverage, I'm having the time of my life following my team. For extra love, I highly suggest adding the Panthers on Snapchat; you'll thank me later. I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for my favorite team. 

What did you love in 2015?

16 Goals for 2016

Instead of resolutions, this year, I decided to makes goals. With the help of these sixteen goals, I hope to say yes to new adventures and make 2016 my best year yet. I plan on keeping my blog reader's updated with my progress.

What do you hope to accomplish in the new year?