One month.

After this week, there is only one month that stands between me and a flight back to California. I've been feeling exceptionally homesick lately, and I think that winter break is the only cure. 

Life isn't always easy, and I certainly don't expect it to get any easier. I try to stand strong, often because it seems like there is no other option. However, sometimes we just need to admit defeat and go home. 

There's quite a long laundry list of tasks and assignments that I must complete before I am dropped off at JFK once more. While they seem daunting, I know that the promise of home will motivate me to take on every single one. 

I feel very confused and lost about a lot of things right now. Life doesn't always give us the answers or the reasoning to why things happen to us in the moment. We might discover these answers later in life, or we might never discover them at all. And that's ok. 

This quote by Paulo Coelho has inspired me with its pure honesty. We are the ones that decide what changes our lives. We make the decision as to what affects us and overtakes our emotions. I don't want to let frivolous things affect me any longer. I'm better than that; I'm stronger than that. 

I will make it through this month. I will make it home--and everything will be ok.

J. Crew November Style Guide

It's no secret that I love J. Crew. With Jenna Lyons at the helm, the retailer has become known for the impeccable styling of its pieces, especially in its monthly style guides. The perfect balance between preppy and elegance is always finely maintained, and the feeling of effortlessness is always present. 

What I love about the November style guide is how it seems to ease us into the winter, featuring my ever-favorite color navy and burgundy (a close runner up). While I love New York's reputation for transitioning to all-black, chic outfits in the winter, I wouldn't mind mixing it up with these more welcoming tones. 

J. Crew just may have me looking forward to more chilly days.

Edith Head turns 116.

Yesterday, Google honored the 20th century costume designer Edith Head on what would have been her 116th birthday. While I am a day late, I felt as though a proper tribute was in order. 

Costume designers and stylists alike typically go unnoticed--but they often have the hardest jobs in the fashion and entertainment industries. They create the images that become iconic in our culture. They create history. Head won eight Academy Awards for her costume designs that appeared in films like Roman Holiday, All About Eve and A Place in the Sun. 

Head was responsible for many of the unforgettable dresses and outfits that we associate with the Golden Girls of Hollywood. She worked for both Paramount and Universal Pictures. She regularly dressed and designed for Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor--yet so many today have never even heard of her name. 

People like Edith Head deserve so much more recognition than they receive. I couldn't be more delighted that Google decided to give Head a new life on their homepage yesterday. 

A Place in the Sun (1951)

All About Eve (1950)

Roman Holiday (1953)

The woman herself.

Fun fact: Edith Head is actually the inspiration behind the character "Edna Mode" from the Incredibles. Can't you just imagine her yelling, "Pull. Yourself. Together!"

On birthdays and milestones.

Yesterday was one of my best friend's birthdays, and it also happens to be yet another month anniversary for Kyle and I. My friend has always been the type of birthdays to think of birthdays as both happy and sad--she loves to dwell on the fact that yet another year has passed, and that we're only getting older. 

It made me think how interesting it is that we put so much emphasis on birthdays and other milestones in our culture. Today, girls are known to turn their birthday celebrations into week-long extravaganzas (yes, my friends and I are guilty of this) and couples seem to celebrate every week of being together. 

Perhaps we celebrate to avoid thinking about the time that is passed, or perhaps give these dates meaning merely as an excuse to throw a party. I love celebrating milestones--but I am also the type of person that thinks every day should be celebrated. 

I believe that even the simplest of moments in life can be made special if we take the time to cherish them. Every moment is fleeting--so why not celebrate? Throw on your party dress, add a little lipstick to your pout. 

Life is a beautiful thing. You will never be this young again, so have some fun. Every day is different, and should be embraced because of that. 

Sometimes I struggle with spending too much time wishing it away. And that makes me sad, because I will never get that time back. I want to spend my time being happy, and creating happiness for others. 

As my guest ballet professor said last week, "If you send out good vibes to the universe, they're sure to come back to you." It's time we stopped wishing away time, brushing off birthdays and anniversaries. These days are what remind us of the happiest moments of our lives--and why should we push those moments away? 

//image via Kate Spade New York's Pinterest

Things I adore...

Tory Burch's new home collection. Tory Burch is certainly taking over with the recent launches of her new beauty and home collections. I love her home collection particularly because you get to see more of her quirky side--these needlepoint pillows are so cheeky. Shop the full collection here. 

The new HarpersBazaar.com. The magazine just relaunched their website this week--and it is gorgeous. I could spend hours playing with all the elegant and innovative features. 

C. Wonder Friends + Family Sale. I have been a C. Wonder devotee ever since I scored the perfect navy quilted jacket with a hot pink lining for 75% off last Black Friday. I jump at the sign of any sale. I've been eyeing their sweaters, especially the adorable Scottie Intarsia. 

Something I don't adore: Conde Nast discontinuing its internship program. Conde Nast announced this week that it will be discontinuing its internship program next year. I can't even begin to say how disappointed I am--this is what I've been working towards since my freshman year of high school, when I decided I wanted to go to college in New York to pursue internships at the most well-known fashion magazines. Read more about it at Refinery29. 

Everything's going to be ok.

I've been dealing with a lot of unexpected stress lately. Oddly enough, it really hasn't been a result of classes or schoolwork. My life has simply been presenting me with strange surprises at the most interesting times--and it's definitely taking some getting used to. 

I've been making my way through these obstacles in stages. While I may not be able to hurdle over them, I carve my own path in due time. I'm learning how to accept different things in different ways, and I can feel myself growing because of it. 

While I despise vague blog posts and social media updates, I felt as though this was necessary. I needed to send this into the void. So in honor of one of my most beloved films, I say goodnight dear void. Thank you for listening.

"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don’t really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight, dear void."

-You've Got Mail (1998)

Things I adore...

Fall treats. Fall is my favorite time of the school year. Nothing is better than the crisp weather that's just perfect for pairing a cable knit sweater with worn-in boots. Lately my roommates have been coming back with plenty of treats from home, including freshly picked pumpkins and hot-out-of-the-oven apple cider donuts (which I love, and I sincerely lament the fact that we don't have them in California). Check out this homemade recipe on Say Yes to Hoboken. 

How (Exactly) to Look Like a French Girl. This beauty feature by Refinery29 is cheeky and cute (and completely helpful). Who doesn't want to look like a French girl?

SoulCycle. I've heard about SoulCycle from other bloggers for ages, but I've never had the opportunity to take a class. Until recently. One of my sisters in my sorority works at the SoulCycle studio in Scarsdale, and was able to secure a free month of classes for students at our college. I am in LOVE. It's so painful, but so exhilarating all at once. I am definitely going to mourn my loss the day these free classes end. 

The Sartorialist: Fall inspiration. The Sartorialist used to be the first website that I visited every day in high school. It was my style bible. I haven't been checking it as much lately, and it's definitely something I regret. I was perusing the site today and this photo resonated with me most--I feel like it captures the style I want to channel this fall exactly. Sign me up for grunge-y plaids, leather boots and paradoxical cable-knit sweaters.