100th Post // Unbelievably Proud And So Very Thankful!!!

Wow. I really cannot believe that this is my 100th blog post for Emily and Dot. While that feels like so many I know it's just only just the beginning! I started this blog on a whim, essentially as a New Year's resolution and although it was a rocky start (one post and then a two month break before starting up again) I ended up on a roll.  I chugged away with my weekly posts, and some ghastly photoshop pictures, throughout a few months of the school year until the end of the semester when E and D came to a screeching halt.

This summer, there have been a lot of changes both in myself and in my life around me. I've shared a few tidbits on here over the past few months; I finished up my sophomore year and had to come to the realization that half of my college career is now over, moved out of my childhood home from downtown to the 'burbs, I studied abroad for the first half of the summer and truly had the experiences of a lifetime, settled into a new work schedule at home and ultimately dealt with some personal life changes as well. E and D proved to be the perfect outlet to express myself and look a little deeper into what I like, what makes me happy and even where I see myself in the future.

Emily and Dot has been such a great learning experience and I'm so proud of myself for revving the engine once again after I was a little definitely burnt out. I had never been a person who consistently kept up with a journal or a diary however with Emily and Dot I finally found an outlet that I truly got hooked on. This blog has opened up so many doors that I never would have thought possible. I've been so lucky to meet so many confident, driven and stylish girls from all across the country and I can't wait to continue working, collaborating and getting to know even more wonderful women. After a few months, and a hundred posts later, I'm really starting to see the fruits of my afternoon blurbs and I feel like this is the perfect time to share some of these things with you all!

Besides my recent invitation to the {HerCampus} Blogger Network some truly exciting things are happening that I never would have expected. I'm am absolutely thrilled to announce that I am now one of the contributing bloggers to the {Marley Lilly} Blog, {The Monogrammed Life} and I could not be more excited to work with this fantastic company! Also, I am happy to announce that I am now on the Undeniable Report team working as the Editor of the Business Column! You can check out the latest issue of the Mag {right here}! Over the summer the magazine has been going through a major facelift but stay tuned for our first issue to come out on September 1st!

I am so so unbelievably thankful of all the opportunities that little Emily and Dot has welcomed and I am unbelievably proud of the growth over the past few months. I sincerely want to thank all of my readers who have stuck with me through my awkward ramblings (like this one…) and all of the bloggers who I have already had the joy of working with in this crazy blogo-sphere that we so love. I am so grateful to have met you all and I can't wait to see what is in store! Keep sticking around Emily and Dot for the big things to come in the next few months, I couldn't have done it without you all.

Always,
Emily
                    

Make Your Mornings Count!

I appreciate the days when I can sleep in. I really do, sometime's its exactly what you needed after a hectic week. It can feel so refreshing and rejuvenating however, sleeping in multiple days in a row just ends up making me feel sluggish. On my days off this summer, I've been setting an alarm an hour before my body would naturally wake me up. Spending a little bit of extra time in the morning slowly easing into the day has got me feeling even more refreshed than sleeping until the last possible minute I can.

I've gotten to squeeze all of my little morning staples into that hour so much more efficiently and it really starts my day off on the right foot! As soon as I get up I stay in bed for a few minutes checking the weather and text messages on my phone. I stretch then get out of bed and head to the kitchen where I answer emails with an overflowing bowl of Cheerios in front of me. Getting this out of the way early creates a clean slate for the rest of my day, I know exactly what I need to accomplish and I'm automatically on the ball! Besides emails and some last minute post tweaks I also get a few minutes to scan the web for the news, great sales and cheesy youtube videos before refilling my now empty bowl of Cheerios! The absolute best part of waking up a little earlier than usual is that I'm not rushed! I get leisurely wake up and I'm never scrambling to jump in the shower and get ready. Easing into the day is so underrated!

So read the paper, a magazine or a book and start your day off right! Just a few extra minutes can really make all the difference!

Emily

Back to School: Pack it or Tote it?

Whew! Can you believe it? It's time to go back to school! Time to pack up your new bedding, that overflowing box of frames, time to convince your Mom that you really need to bring all 50 pairs of shoes and time to try to squeeze in that last suitcase of t-shirts into your overflowing trunk. So while you're packing all of these obviously necessary essentials don't forget one of the most important things you're going to need at school… something to carry all those books! Whether you're running to class or running to the gym you're going to need something thrown over your shoulder and why not do it in style? Each of these options have that perfect balance between practical and cute! Now all you have to decide is do you want to pack it or tote it?

Personally, I have a few totes at school as well as my trusty backpack. I love having my {LL.Bean backpack} for those rainy days when I'm lugging way too many books to the library for a long night. I've had it since high school and it's held up all these years however I am eyeing some of these {Herschel Supply Backpacks}! While I always have my backpack stored away for large book hauls, I like to change it up for classes. One of my absolute favorite totes is an embroidered {LL.Bean tote} hat I got as a gift from my sorority Big! It feels especially scholastic and the sturdy sides can keep their shape even under the weight of my laptop! I also keep an assortment of Large {Longchamp Le Pliage's} because they're my ultimate go-to! Their simple colors can go with any style and they're also super easy to clean (big plus)! For some other options to carry your books in style, that would look even better with personalized embroidery, check out {this adorable backpack} and {this preppy tote} from Marley Lilly! (Girls, keep these in mind for sorority gifts!) How cute are they?!

You definitely don't have to sacrifice your style with these practical yet stylish backpacks and totes, so what's your style? Do you pack it or tote it? What do you plan on lugging your books to and from the library in this semester?

Emily
{See image links here}

                   

The Liebster Award! Pass it on!

Whoop whoop! The Liebster award is flying around right now and I was lucky enough to be nominated by two awesome bloggers ~ {Dressed to a Ti} and {Fresh Faced}! You should definitely take a look over at their blogs! So what's the Liebster award? It's a way to showcase up-and-coming bloggers with less than 200 followers, gain some publicity and connect with other new bloggers! Sounds perfect! 

                  

{Rules}

1. Post 11 facts about yourself.

2. Answer the 11 questions provided by the person who nominated you, then create another 11 question set for the next group of nominees. 

3. Choose 11 people to nominate with under 200 followers then link them in the post

4. Let your nominees know they've been tagged!

So here we go, 11 facts about myself!

1. I am heading into my Junior year of college at a small school in Memphis, TN and the fact that I'm a  junior sounds absolutely crazy to me!

2. I'm studying International Business and I'd love to do Marketing when I get out of college!

3. I also have a minor in International Studies and I spent the first half of this summer studying abroad in Europe! *whirlwind!

4. I'm an avid runner and my favorite time to run is right at dusk! It's such a great way to clear your head and breathe in some fresh air!

5. I play both the ukulele and the violin!

6. I never go anywhere without a moleskin notebook.

7. Despite my efforts to eat healthy, I could live off of powdered donuts. (Yikes!)

8. Brunch is my absolute favorite meal of the day. Can you say Mimosas and French toast?!

9. One of my most cherished possessions is a Canon DSLR that I splurged on in high school. One of my best decisions to date.

10. I am proud of my stationary collection addiction and I write letters every chance I get. 

11. (I'm not a hoarder but) I like keeping small mementos of my favorite memories in a box in my room.

Now for Meghan's questions!

1. One thing I can't live without?

       My friends. No question about it!

2. Who do you admire the most?

       Probably my parents 

3. Coffee or tea?

       Chai tea! My absolute favorite! Hot, iced, frozen, anything!

4. Best book you have read?

       This is tough, I'm such a book nerd. The Fountainhead and Catcher in the Rye are two of my

        favorites but Harry Potter definitely makes the list too!

5. Why did you start your blog?

      Really, I started it on whim and I ended up getting hooked!

6. Favorite food?

      The most amazing food I ever ate was a four cheese pizza in Reims, France 

7. In which country would you live for a year if you had the chance?

       London, England! (I'm hoping to intern there next summer!)

8. What is your biggest addiction?

       I hate that I'm so attached to social media! Instagram is my kryptonite! 

9. One fashion trend you don't understand?

       Crop tops. There is way to do them conservatively and chic but there are few that I have actually

       seen pull this off. 

10. Are you a kindle or a book person?

       Book, there's nothing better than an overflowing bookshelf.

11. What is your biggest pet peeve?

       Disrespecting people of authority, whether that's children talking back to their parents or students

        ignoring a professor in class. Show some respect people!

Whoop whoop! Now it's your turn!

1. Favorite drink at a coffeeshop?

2. Favorite fashion trend going on right now?

3. If you could shop at only one store for the rest of your life what would it be?

4. You have a plane ticket tomorrow for one country anywhere in the world. Where are you going?

5. If you could only have three apps on your phone (besides calling/messaging), what would you pick?

6. Dream job?

7. Favorite guilty pleasure television show?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. The first three websites you look at when you surf the web?

10. Where is your dream vacation?

11. Why did you start blogging?

I nominate….

Connie at {Prep Northwest}

Kacky at {Gals + Grace}

Kerri Ann at {A Trendy Peace}

Carrie at {Carrie on Blogs}

Kate at {Long Island Prepster}

Eliza at {Eliza's Ramblings}

{This definitely isn't 11 girls so if you fit the bill, under 200 followers and haven't been nominated yet, simply comment below with your URL and attach the Liebster Award to your blog as well! I'd love to check it out!}

Always,

Emily

Looking Back on Instagram!

I love Instagram. It's definitely my favorite social media site (oh, I love blogger of course!) but I've always been one of those people who is constantly snapping photos of the things around me. I like being able to remember little moments or the little things I saw that made me smile and Instagram is such an easy and instant way to show these photos to all of my friends and followers! I thought I would showcase a few of my recent Instagram photos and give you a little insight behind them! 

This is probably the best example of why I love taking photos. It's all about seeing the little beauties around you like these gorgeous yellow daisies by the sidewalk or this awesome sign on the way into the book store. Gotta love it. 

A lot of this summer has been characterized by the big move from my childhood home at the very beginning. *Tear So what does this mean? Weeks of picking out and painting rooms and searching for the perfect antique side table for my room!

Despite my fairly preppy style and love of things like straighteners and nail polish I'm a total outdoors addict. I just can't get enough and summer has let me live this addiction out to the fullest. I'm taking full advantage while I've got the time!

Here are some of the other typical summer things that I'm lovin. A few tennis matches, sparklers and a Cook Out milkshake. 

The recent purchases! A.J. Morgan sunnies, Swedish Hasbeens and Emily Giffin books. Loving them all! 

If you don't follow me already, you definitely should {Emily's Instagram right here}!

Leave your Instagram name below and I'd love to check your pictures out!
Emily